Elicia Hyder's Blog

A New Journey

For a few years now, when I’ve not been writing, I’ve been working and volunteering within the senior-adult community at a local assisted-living home.

I’ve noticed something. For all the right reasons, we’ve locked up this most-treasured demographic in really safe rooms. Safe, often, to wither away.

Ask anyone in senior care. There’s a real and growing need to keep seniors engaged. This has led me to start a new ministry.

Angel Care seeks to provide non-medical comfort care and companionship to the 65+ community always free of charge.

Weekly events and 1-on-1 visits and outings have been my life for the past few years. I’ve supported my mission through book sales and gifted supplies from my friends and readers. (I write angel fiction—adorable, right?)

Now, I need some more help.

In the spirit of hospital Candy Stripers, I am putting together the Angel Cart.

This rolling cart will be stocked with FREE snacks, drinks, books, puzzles, personal-hygiene items (like Depends), and more. A few volunteers and I will take the cart room-to-room at a local assisted-living facility, mostly as an excuse for a visit (engagement).

To build this cart, I need help. So I’m hosting my ever first art auction, over on eBay! Hopefully, this will be the first of many.

100% of all proceeds support the mission of Angel Care to residents age 65+ in middle Tennessee.

You can also donate to Elicia Hyder for Angel Care or buy from this Amazon Wish List. At this time, donations are NOT tax deductible. but I am working on gaining 501(c)(3) non-profit status, so please stay tuned as Angel Care grows!

Thank you for your interest and support.

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Dear Phil, Pop Pop, Pops,

It’s been a fast year since you left us.

But I planted the 6-Week Peas in the spring, just like I told you I would. Even as summer draws to a close, I check each morning for those delicate, purple blooms.

Before the first harvest, those blooms grew into pods long and green and plump. There are fewer now each day, the pea pods growing shorter and ripening quicker than when they first appeared. They get hard and dry fast, which feels like a metaphor for the world since you’ve been gone.

The peas have fed us (me, happily; my husband, begrudgingly) all season. They’ve fed my neighbors and friends too.

They’ve provided LONG hours (you didn’t warn me about this part) of shelling—time spent with my kids, chasing green peas all over the kitchen. We’ve turned it into a contest. Addy reigns supreme with distance, one pea shooting all the way to the living-room stairs.

I’ve given dried pods to everyone I know who tends a garden. Spreading your beloved peas throughout my tiny corner of existence.

And each day that I step into the garden, I wear your old, soft, red-plaid flannel. It keeps the vines and tomato plants from making my arms itchy.

It still feels like one of your hugs.

I miss you. Your kids, grandkids, and Jolene miss you.

Maybe even the peas miss you, as they’ve nearly dried up on this the anniversary of your departure.

You may have thought the world had forgotten you even before you left—but you’re still here, inside all of us, and you and your memory will grow again next Spring.

I still love you, Pops.

Even more than I did a year ago.

Want some 6-week peas for your garden? I’m happy to share seeds. Send me a message or leave a comment below.

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AI-generated image of Sloan Jordan McNamaraA Brand New Soul Summoner Story

The corner of a white envelope peeked out from the front slot in the mailbox. 

Weird. “I know I checked that earlier.” 

But who knows? I’d been existing in the hazy daze of sleep deprivation for the past year, since the day Iliana was born. Motherhood wears on the brain cells.

I shifted into park and got out of the otherwise empty car, looking all around to ensure I was alone. We couldn’t be too careful these days.

“Hey, sexy.” The familiar voice over the security speaker by the iron gate made me jump.

I smiled. “Hello, husband.”

At the teal mailbox, I pulled down the front flap. The envelope came down with it, jutting out from the mail slot. I plucked it out and turned it over.

There was no stamp. No address. Only “Sloan and Nathan” handwritten in cursive.

My head whipped up and scanned carefully around.

“Hey, Nathan?” I called toward the gate.

“Yeah?”

“Has anybody come by today?” I asked.

“Not that I’m aware of. Why?”

As I slipped my finger under the envelope’s flap, I scanned the trees, listening carefully for any movement in the woods. If I said the least thing slightly alarming, Nathan would summon the cavalry. Which would be on a whole new level now that Azrael had given him a tank. An actual tank.

“There’s a letter in the mailbox,” I said.

There was a beat of silence. “You know that’s what they’re designed for, right?”

When I held up my middle finger, he chuckled.

I pulled out a thick piece of white paper, fancy parchment with a heavy grain. Fitting for the neatest penmanship I’d ever seen. Definitely couldn’t be from anyone born in this century. Nobody writes in cursive anymore. I flipped to the back.

“Hey, Sloan?” Nathan asked.

I glanced back toward the gate.

“I like your butt.”

I laughed and shook my head. Then my eyes scanned the script. “Oh, God,” I said with a gasp and covered my heart.

“What’s wrong?” Nathan’s tone was no longer flirty.

“It’s a letter.” I walked to the gate and turned the signature toward the camera. “From Father John.”

“Whoa. What’s it say?” Nathan asked.

I read the letter aloud.

Dear Sloan and Nathan,

I hope this letter finds you both well and filled with the joy that parenthood brings. As you embark on this remarkable journey with your precious daughter, Iliana, there are truths that I must share with you.

As you well know, Iliana is not an ordinary child. As the offspring of an Angel of Life and an Angel of Death, she carries within her the certainty of extraordinary abilities. Some have been active since she was in the womb. Others are forthcoming.

On her first celestial birthday—which falls not on her actual premature birth date but on the date she was meant to be born, July 11—Iliana will begin to manifest her superpowers. As you know, these powers, inherited from her angelic lineage, are vast and wondrous.

Each angel birthday will bring powers anew. Expect them to emerge in unpredictable ways, in no specific order.

It is important for you both to understand that while these abilities may seem overwhelming at times, they are integral to Iliana’s destiny. Embrace her uniqueness and nurture her gifts, so they come as naturally to her as breathing.

As her parents, you have been chosen for this critical task. Your love and support will be instrumental in helping Iliana accomplish greatness this earth has never seen. Evil had a plan to use her for destruction, but I tell you now, she will bring hope in the world’s darkest hour.

You are never alone. Eden watches over all of you with great care and affection, and the Council stands ready to offer guidance and assistance.

In closing, I want to express my deepest admiration for the love and devotion you have already shown this special child. Your journey together is just beginning, and I have every confidence that it will be filled with wonder, adventure, and boundless love.

Eternally,

Father John

“More powers already?” Nathan asked.

“Tomorrow,” I said with a grimace.

We were already struggling to contain the powers Iliana already had. Every time she cried, it rained. And, in case you didn’t know, babies cry a lot. On the upside, our property’s springtime bloom that year had rivaled the gardens of the Biltmore House.

“Where’s the letter from?” Nathan asked.

I looked at the envelope again. “There’s no stamp or postal markings at all.”

“It was hand-delivered?”

“Looks like it.”

“Huh,” Nathan said. “I’ll go back through the cameras.”

Something told me he wouldn’t find anything. The Father’s ways were certainly not our ways. If he’d wanted us to see him or whoever delivered the letter, we would have.

“We should probably clear our calendars tomorrow,” I said, worry growing in my heart. “It might be an interesting day.”

“Hey,” Nathan said, suddenly perky. “If tomorrow is another birthday, we should definitely get another cake.”

A snort escaped my nose. Leave it to my husband to always find the bright side with a sugar high. “I’ll see you in a minute,” I said, walking back to my car.

“Sloan?”

“Yeah?”

“I love you.”

I smiled. “I love you too.”

With a loud buzz, the iron gate parted and I started up the winding mountain road. As I drove, my mind scrolled through the list of powers of an Angel of Life and an Angel of Death: healing, telekinesis, fire starting, energy manipulation, flying, resurrection . . .

I gulped.

Execution.

As if child-rearing wasn’t complicated and exhausting enough. Now we’d be raising a toddler with killing power? Geez. More and more I wished the Father didn’t think us so capable. 

But which new superpower would come first? I mentally crossed my fingers, praying for something easy, like discernment, or useful, like shielding others from supernatural danger.

However, if I’d learned anything at all in the past few years, it was a plain and simple truth:

We were not that lucky.

A brand new Soul Summoner adventure begins with Angel Baby Gets Her Superpowers, Year 1
PRE-ORDER NOW

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Guess what came today??” get it first:

Subscribers to my monthly-ish newsletter will get release info first! I pinky-swear I’ll never SPAM you.

The post Angel Baby Gets Her Superpowers appeared first on Elicia Hyder.

Angel baby

This year, I bringing a passion project of mine to life. A Soul Summoner children’s book! 

What would you do if your infant daughter suddenly developed a superpower? What if it was a telekinesis? Imagine those terrible toddler years! 

That’s exactly what happens to Sloan and Nathan on Baby Iliana’s first birthday. 

I love this book, y’all. It’s told in rhyme, with colorful and beautiful illustrations that capture my vision for these characters completely. Each scene is hand-drawn, something rarer and rarer in this digital age!

FINGERS CROSSED!

The book is halfway finished, so things are looking good for a possible Christmas Delivery, but this isn’t guaranteed just yet! 

Please stay tuned for Kickstarter updates to track Santa’s timing. 

I can’t do this without your support, so please order on Kickstarter!

The post Angel Baby | A Soul Summoner Children’s Book appeared first on Elicia Hyder.

It’s very rare that any of us are given the chance to rewrite history, but that’s exactly what’s happening in the Hyder house this weekend. First, let’s rewind a couple of decades to the beginning of this story.

It was prom season. I was sixteen.

My best friend said, “Uh . . . so . . . I couldn’t get anyone to go to prom with me. Wanna go?”

I agreed, but with a promposal like that, is it any wonder I stood him up?

In my defense, I didn’t completely leave the high school quarterback hanging on prom night. My girlfriends and I met up with him at the dance. But, back at home, his mother was pissed. Her baby son’s senior prom would only come around once, and his date hadn’t shown up for pictures.

She’s my mother-in-law now, and I think she’s forgiven me. Yes, my first prom fail—and my second—was with my husband, Chris.

This photo was taken weeks after prom fail #1. Weren’t we adorable?

Prom was at the Biltmore House. (This is still my biggest flex from my high school career.) The center courtyard of the restaurant was our dance floor. Under its open roof, our group danced in the starlight. It was dreamy. Romantic. The perfect night for two best friends to fall in love . . .

Knowing what I know now, that was probably his plan.

Instead, Chris and I didn’t speak at all. We danced to ONE song. Ironically, it was “The Invisible Man” by 98 Degrees. Think I write good emotional turmoil and foreshadowing? I’ve got nothing on the universe. Seriously, listen to or read the lyrics of this song:

Crazy.

Fast forward a year to my senior prom. My girlfriends all got ready together. I wore a satin teal (shocker) dress, rhinestone heels, and makeup—something rare even today. Then I watched as one-by-one my friends’ dates arrived.

Finally, I called my “date.”

“I didn’t get my tux,” was his excuse.

It really wasn’t payback. Or even an oversight. I found out many years later that Chris didn’t get a tux because of another girl—but that is neither here nor there. (I married him, Holly, so suck it!)

Twenty-four years later, we’re finally making it up to each other.

For those who don’t know, my husband is a cop. This year, he took a position at a local high school.

Guess what that means???

Now THAT! is a promposal! In Bora Bora, no less! Swoon.

(Side note about the music: That year of prom, I dragged him to see Titanic at the movie theater eleven times. It’s a big deal in the Hyder house.)

In a way, our prom story (as flubbed up as it was) kicked off our life together today. The first book I ever published, The Bed She Made, is a very, very loose retelling of our history. The prom stories are fictionalized in that book’s prequel, To Be Her First.

To Be Her First is on sale right now through the weekend because . . .

Our third-time’s-a-charm prom is going down on Saturday!

I’ll be getting ready with our very own seniors—our two daughters. You can bet your fanny I’ll be posting lots of pictures online.

And for the record—his damn tux is already hanging in our closet!

I love this man, y’all. Life keeps getting better and better.

Who knows? Maybe it’s time to write a sequel.

About the Books

To Be Her First and The Bed She Made are YA (Young Adult) and NA (New Adult) respectively. These novels are Friday Night Lights meets Dear John, set in the 90’s.

The Journey Durant Novels To Be Her First (Prequel to The Bed She Made)$2.99$0.99 Author: Elicia Hyder
Series: The Journey Durant Novels
Genre: Contemporary Romance

At sixteen, Journey Durant hasn’t yet experienced her first anything. No first boyfriend. No first date. No first kiss. But, that’s all about to change.

More info →Signed Print The Bed She Made$3.99 Author: Elicia Hyder
Series: The Journey Durant Novels
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Tag: Recommended Books

Journey Durant’s father warned her, “Someday you’ll have to lie in the bed you’ve made.” But she didn’t believe him... until now.

More info →Signed Print

The post The Prom Sequel appeared first on Elicia Hyder.

Be ONE of three lucky winners selected to win a signed copy of  DETACHED through our Goodreads Giveaway August 15th -31st. The giveaway is open to the United States and Canada.

ENTER THE GOODREADS GIVEAWAY

All I want is freedom from my dark family legacy, but my father’s death opened a gateway, unleashing a bloodthirsty enemy. And as much as I hate this new power within me, it might be the only way to save the city I’ve sworn to protect. ~ Saphera Nyx 

Clever, fast-paced and Sexy AF! Detached is another win fro a veritable queen of Urban Fantasy. I’m hooked. I love Nyx, and I want more! So much more! – New York Times Bestselling Author Darynda Jones

Winners will be announced 8/31

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Today’s giveaway for #FREESWAGFRIDAY is this Saphera Nyx themed water bottle. It comes with my new custom stickers attached. ︎  Aren’t they gorgeous? Seriously, I’m sticking them everywhere!

I made two, one for me and one for a lucky Hydernation member. 

TO ENTER:Tell me in the comments, where would you put these stickers? Bonus points if you tell me your favorite one. Claim extra entries for commenting on the Facebook post in Hydernation.  We’ll randomly draw a winner from all entries on Monday. Good luck!

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BETWIXT BY DARYNDA JONES

New York Times and USA Today bestselling Author Darynda Jones will be joining us at our next Hydernation Book Club on Monday, August 30th at 7 PM CST. We will be discussing Betwixt, book one in the ‘Betwixt and Between’ series. You are going to love this book! 

And if you haven’t met Darynda yet, you’re gonna love her too. She’s one of my all-time favorite authors—and humans! 

This book takes Defiance Dayne from her beloved home in Phoenix all the way to Salem, Massachusetts to find out why someone who she doesn’t even know would bequeath her a house. She feels at home in Salem, even safe and decides to give it three days. But then even that changes when people begin begging for her help to find lost objects. They think she’s a witch and before long, Dephne wonders if they are right. 

Our Book Club is something I look forward to every month, mainly because I get to hang out with all of you. Hope to see you then! 

REGISTER HERE

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The Hydernation Book Club was created this past February because I wanted to share my love for books and create a community to talk about them. We have previously read Detached, by yours truly, Runaway Fate by Elizabeth Hunter, Danger in Numbers by Heather Graham and Throwing Shade by Deborah Wilde.  Our most recent book club – our FIFTH – was on June 28th and to say it was an EPIC night is an understatement. Our guest was the talented and amazing Charlaine Harris! Yes, you read that right!   I’m a huge fan. My book shelves are filled with every single book that Charlaine has written, and my writing has definitely been inspired by hers. Her accolades are too numerous to mention and her talent in writing paranormal books is unmatched. She has written books for over 40 years! We discussed An Easy Death, Book 1 of her Gunnie Rose series, for a solid hour. She was humble, engaging and answered our many questions happily. We discussed the many different worlds she has created, and how each of them are unique and surprising. In her words, she doesn’t want to be that author who writes the same thing over and over. And she doesn’t! The Gunnie Rose series is definitely different from her previous book series’, with a wisp of western added into the storylines. “I like books that have a western feel,” she said. “And I try to add experiences and memories that I have lived through.” Catch the full replay here: The second book in the series is A Longer Fall, followed by Book 3, The Russian Cage. Charlaine is currently working on Book 4, The Serpent in Heaven, which should be released in February 2022.    July Book Club:Our next month’s book club will meet on July 26th at 7 PM CST. We are reading Capture the Crown by Jennifer Estep.   Jennifer will be joining us to discuss the book. Click here to register.

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