Future Flowers, Whispered War-Cries || featuring Caroline Rutledge

 

Hello Friend!

I hope your Christmas weekend was blessed! *hugs* I savor the traditions, having all the siblings + their families home, and so much rest and laughter. ♥ And I'm sad that carols are done until next year; I enjoyed the joyful reminders to worship, thus I may be singing them all year long yet. *wink*

But. With future flowers, whispered war-cries releasing in four days, here's some little fun stuff for you!

Kindle pre-order opened! Click the link below to claim your copy! 

Want a sneak peek into the book?

Read on to see both a lovely interpretation of a poem in art form by the artist Caroline Rutledge and the poem itself!

When God sparked the idea to have illustrators join this project, Caroline was one of the first to pop to mind. Not only is she a dear friend + sister in Jesus, but she also illustrated The Torch Keepers! And she jumped on board! What an honor to have her illustrate three poems in the anthology. This girl is beautiful in so many ways, and I thank the Lord for her! 

bio:

Caroline is a beauty-creator to the core, and her fingers thrive when holding a pencil, paintbrush, or doing latte art. She spreads color and enlivens every bare chalkboard, wants to turn empty walls into vibrant murals, and her school papers were lined with the happiest doodles. Her goal is to make things that remind her of the beautiful splendor of creation. She also loves her family like crazy and fills her room with plants.

Instagram: @ruthie_anne

What was your favorite childhood game? Where would you travel to if you searched the world? And what was your favorite part of Christmas this year? Let's chat below!

For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Psalm 103:11-12

 

~♥~

A New Book Publication this New Year's Eve?!

 

What if I told you I have a brand-new book release for you on New Year's Eve?

That would be crazy! Two books in one month?! *covers face*

But God seems to delight in doing impossible things. So He gave me a book, and I'm ready to slip it into your hands in EIGHT DAYS.

And here's the title...

future flowers, whispered war-cries:

poetry of a Kingdom

Oh guys, I can't say how special this book is to me.

It's an anthology of poems from over so many years... poems I cried through, laughed through, that shaped who I am. They're stuffed full of rich colors and joys and war-cries and stories and truths.

They all point to the fact that God is faithful. His Kingdom is coming. And this girl will be found waiting.

Simply put, they're war-cries. It's been my dream to have these poems in print, to grab them as a reminder of Truth, as a reminder of His faithfulness and an urge to travel on, even when everything fights against me.

AND there's bonus features:

Incredible artists collaborated to illustrate multiple of the poems!

A "behind the poems" section has stories, encouragements, and fun facts of what inspired the poems!

Are you as excited as I am?!

God already answered prayers in this book. After publishing The Tale of Honey-Water Farm and receiving sweet, amazing encouragement from readers who are soaking in the story, I had only two weeks to finish this book.

And there wasn't a cover.

But God.

He always does that. *wink* He takes an impossible situation with people (like me) who are completely inept... and He is faithful.

In many hours of crammed designing and dreaming and deleting, my cover designer and I finished.

We have a cover. And it's absolutely beautiful, guys.

AND I get to release it on our first day of snow?!

Without further ado, here's the cover we prayed over, labored over, and God supplied!

Presenting...

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future flowers, whispered war-cries:

poetic truth of a Kingdom

coming December 31, 2022

Synopsis

a war is waging, and a King is coming.
thus, these poems sing.
they utter war-cries of faith for the one thick in battle.
they whisper teardrops of hope for the aching soul.
and they overflow in dancing, giggling worship because of love.
in stories and colors, emotions and beauties,
they’re an anthology drawing together to testify to the King
through heartfelt moments and
genuine truth
and in free verse and rhyme and behind-the-scenes stories.
an arsenal of indie artists are featured within their pages,
and laughingly, these more than eighty poems sing of joys to come
(like a poem with giraffes).
may every word
stir one’s heart to live for that Kingdom.

Do you see that snowy-mountain-y goodness on the cover?! Ahh, doesn't it make you wanna bundle up and tramp through the outside snow and celebrate the Christmas goodness that Jesus came, and He changes everything?!

Keep your eyes open for more updates and sneak peeks into the book AND for a release in eight days!

Are you a snow-loving soul, or do you prefer bundling up with a hot mug (or both!)?

What's a favorite poem or poet of yours, or do you rarely read poetry? Let's chat below!

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and rehid. Then out of his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field.

Matthew 13:44

~♥~

The Tale of Honey-Water Farm book release!

 

I sit here humbled and blown away to say, "The Tale of Honey-Water Farm is published."

It wasn't me. Yes, I put a lot of work and hours and heart into these stories, but I'm blown away by a truth:

God knows the beginning from the end.

I'm here, just now seeing the end. But He already knew. Way back last year when I first heard of these hilarious, fun-loving characters, He. Knew. It was all Him:

God gave Ms. Debbie characters 6+ ago, and she should have forgotten them. She didn’t.

Other book proposals that didn't stick, and this one shouldn’t have either, but it did.

I can’t come up with story ideas on my own. He poured out inspiration and excitement.

I couldn't find a book title. He answered prayers and gave the perfect name.

 

Every step of the way, God made this story come alive! From chapters He filled with stories to the cover vibrant with farm feels I could never create on my own, God supplied. In the release party, He surrounded me with people who cheered this dream on. In the publication, He was there too.

This isn’t Hosanna or Ms. Debbie’s story; we gave it to God, and He was faithful.

That’s what this release party is about.

For me, it feels like an end, because it's my end of the creating process. But for you, it's a beginning.

Welcome to the world of Honey-Water Farm!!

I think you're gonna love it. *bear hugs*

Ahh! It's available on Kindle and paperback AND arrives before Christmas! *jumps up and down*

So. Ready for the release fun things?

First, the giveaway is over! I'll be picking the winner soon and will message them a congratulations! 

Second: three lovely gals signed up to be part of the book release on their own sites! They featured a fun book character with photos, bios, and more! These girls are a blessing, and I encourage you to hop to their sites and cheer them one, enjoy sneak peeks into the story, and wait for your paperback to arrive in the mail. *wink*

Meet Handsome Hansel the Horse

by Lillian 

https://lilliankeithauthor.wordpress.com

//

Meet Sheila Shear the Sheep
by Alicia

marentettealicia.wordpress.com

//

Meet Nelly the Nanny Goat

by Erika

writtenrest.wordpress.com

And third: the first 15 people to order a paperback win a free gift in the mail!

I've been looking forward to this. ;) Message me with confirmation of your purchase (a screenshot or receipt) + a mailing address!

And that's a wrap!

Thank you for everything, dear reader. I couldn't do this without you all and could do nothing without Jesus. He's awesome. ♥ Thank you, Friend! *more hugs*

Enjoy the story. *more hugs*

Just as all things pertaining to life and godly conduct are now ours as a gift bestowed by (God’s) divine power, on account of our knowing the one who summoned us for the sake of his own honor and renown.

2 Peter 1:3

 

~♥~