Sara Francis's Blog: Secretary's Scribbles

Wow, it’s 2020. Normally, I wouldn’t start off with an inspirational post, but this message is important. It’s something that has irked me as a writer (and a person) for years and I couldn’t come to terms with it until now.

There are days where I’ve been disappointed with myself as a writer and my accomplishments. (Everyone has those days whether it’s work, home life, school.) Looking at my writing, I wondered if it was good enough. I paid attention to numbers, social stats, and lately, stars. Star ratings and book reviews.

I counted how many reviews my book has gotten in its 3rd year as opposed to another indie book that’s only been out a week. My small number appears bleak in comparison. I feel like my books and I are alone, not reaching as many as we should.

That number brought me down to where I wondered, “What’s the point?”

I wished more people left reviews. I asked one to help but he refused, saying he never left reviews. He told me over and over again that he never wanted his opinion to change another’s.

After more disappointment and frustration, I realized he wasn’t talking about other readers.

He was talking about me. He didn’t want his words to change the way I felt about my own work.

While he’s given me praise and support in person, he didn’t want to fuel the flame of frustration and disappointment I had been experiencing. I couldn’t see it at the time, but even though it hurt, I realize he is right.

I don’t write for stars. I write for the universe. I write for myself. I write because my King gave me the gift. I want to give it back.

So if my stories only touched the lives of a handful, that’s more than plenty. I accept that I’m where I’m supposed to be, doing what I’m supposed to do.

I know you get discouraged from time to time. Maybe you started a project, someone said something, so you felt weird and started to give it up. My advice to you is to forget about seeking approval. You started that project because you enjoyed it. Because it’s something you love to do. Never forget that. Do what you love because you love it.

So that’s my advice for the New Year! Hope you had an awesome 2019 and I can’t wait to see what 2020 will bring.

I had the wonderful pleasure of meeting Matt Mikalatos in person before he released The Crescent Stone! We have kept in touch and I’m so excited to announce the release of his next fantasy book! (Read to the end to find its title and release date!)

Matt Mikalatos







Author of
The Crescent Stone (and a whole heap of others)
Genre: YA Fantasy







1) What inspired you to write?

I’ve loved stories ever since I was a kid. I wanted to be an actor through high school, but when I got into college I started writing instead and realized I really loved the freedom of making my own words and stories. It took off from there! 

2) What was the hardest scene/post you ever had to write? What was the easiest?

I think the things that are hardest for me to write are questions about my favorite and least favorite things! Hahahahaha. I say something and then ten minutes I’m like, “WAIT I JUST REMEMBERED ANOTHER THING!” Oftentimes the last scene of a novel is easiest for me… sometimes I even know the last line of the book before I start seriously writing. The whole book should be working up to that moment, so you have so much information and such a large pattern to work from, it makes it easier. Hmmm… actually, my second novel I had a really hard time getting it started. I wrote eight chapters, realized I had the wrong start and the wrong characters and then I tore it all apart, threw that away, and started over!

3) How do you select the names of your characters?

The Crescent Stone is interesting, because the human characters are pretty diverse, coming from different nations, cultures, and ethnicities. So I do a good amount of research usually, and I have some friends who read and give me feedback, too. For instance, some of my Native friends told me the name of one character was too stereotypical, so I changed his name. The other thing I do a lot of times is come up with a name and then — I am ashamed to admit it — I search Facebook and see if any real life people have that name. If they do, I take that to be a good sign that it’s a realistic name!

4) While writing, did the story go as planned or did it take a turn you didn’t expect?

With The Crescent Stone, I knew certain scenes, but I didn’t know some of the steps along the way. And… well, there’s this one character named Jason Wu who always tells the truth no matter what. So sometimes I would have a plan for a scene and then Jason would open his big mouth and tell the bad guys what was going on. Or he would reveal a secret to someone. Most often if something goes in unexpected directions it’s because the characters do something I wasn’t planning on. There are definitely times when they are fighting me or the plot. I’ve been frustrated with Jason more than once. He literally outsmarted me in the second book, and figured out a solution to a problem that was supposed to take him three chapters of adventure to get to the end of, and he just unraveled it in a couple sentences. I love those moments because they bring a truthfulness to the text, and of course it’s delightful as the author to have some surprises along the way.

5) Are you proud with the work you’ve done or do you wish you could’ve done more?

Super proud. I really did my best on this book. My editor, Sarah Rubio, was a big part of this… she has a way of taking what I thought was good work and bringing out something great. 

6) If you could live in one literary universe, what would it be and why?

I’d be pretty happy in a superhero universe, I think. I want super powers! I was going to say Harry Potter but all that schooling to get powers that superheroes get for nothing!

7) Do you find it hard to keep your Faith in your writing career?

Not so far! I’ve found that other Christian writers are supportive and kind (mostly), and that my writer friends who are not Christians are also caring and supportive. If you’re running with the right people, the professional writer community is quite friendly and really wants you to succeed. My writing career mostly brings me happiness and good feelings… it’s other parts of my life that are challenging sometimes!

8) What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

I know everyone hates when authors say this, but it’s really the best possible advice which is why we always say the same thing:

Read voraciously and write consistently.

The more you read and the more you write the better you will be as a writer. And don’t read garbage. Try to read books that, for the most part, are written by people who are as good or better than you. If you read a terrible book, do it with clear intent (i.e. “Why did this become a bestseller?” or “How did this get published?”). Keep reading, keep writing, and then submit your work to professionals (agents, magazines, publishers). Keep doing those three things and you’ll be traditionally published eventually.

The second book in ‘The Sunlit Land’ series is going to be released AUGUST 6TH! It’s called ‘The Heartwood Crown’ and its cover is just as gorgeous of the first and its story just as compelling!

About: After destroying the Crescent Stone, Madeline returns home, bringing Shula and Yenil with her. As her health continues to deteriorate, Madeline feels the Sunlit Lands calling her back. Meanwhile, Jason, Darius, and the rest of the inhabitants of the Sunlit Lands fight for survival and freedom. The magic that fuels the land is failing, threatening to destroy them all. Will Madeline’s return save the land and its people? Matt’s signature humor and epic storytelling are once again on full display in The Heartwood Crown.

To learn more about Matt Mikalatos and his books (and to get ‘The Heartwood Crown’ on August 6th), visit his website ( www.mikalatos.com)

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4-Stars is the New 5.

I’ve been doing Tae Kwon Do for over a decade. I love the art and have dedicated so much of my life to it. (I even had my own martial arts school for a brief period of time). Trophies and medals from years of winnings reside proudly on top of my shelves.

After years of bruises, discipline, and dedication, I finally was promoted to 3rd Degree Black Belt in November 2018 (3rd dan was originally the highest degree in our Chung Do Kwan style). Being in the game so long with decent experience one would think that I’d seen it all.

That’s never the case.

Twice a year, the Chung Do Kwan (Blue Wave) schools in the North East host tournaments. Everyone gets together for this fun, competition. However, there are times you never know what to expect.

The previous tournament (early Nov 2018) before my promotion left me bruised, limping, and a little down. It was the first time my performance had not been quite what I expected. While I had a great time with my peers/opponents and was placed in a division higher than my own, I still felt a pang of disappointment.

Once again, I felt like I had failed and I wasn’t good enough. There was some bar I had set for myself that I didn’t reach.

On May 11th, 2019, I participated in my first tournament as a 3rd Dan (degree). I approached this one with a different attitude than the previous. My expectations weren’t “prove my skills” or “be the best”. Rather, it was “test my skills” and “do my best”. I lowered the imaginary bar of expectations and felt a sigh of relief.

The day of the event, I felt good. When my division was called, I took a few deep breaths (breathing in the albuterol of my inhaler) and went up to the judges with a different mindset. They explained the rules and we prepared to start. Another peer and I were called up first to demonstrate our form: Jah Un. I closed my eyes and waited for the command. My heart thumped in my chest. When we were called to ready, I breathed out and felt the thrill of the art when she commanded us to begin. The rest was history. My forms, sparring matches, and board-breaking demonstrations were all done with enthusiasm and determination.

[image error]L-R: Sah-buhm (instructor) Jamie vs Me

After an hour of non-stop competing, I had placed 3rd place in both Forms and Sparring.

Okay, so now you’re probably wondering why I am telling you this lengthy story? Oh wow, all that work for 3rd and 3rd, woop-dee-doo. What’s the point? If you’re a writer, you’re probably wondering what this has to do with your life?

The answer is this:

I have never been as proud or as happy with any other Tae Kwon Do performance than I have been with those 2 bronze medals.

The experience that was shared with those medals is what was important. Each one held a takeaway that I learned and I hope you leave here with. (They both relate exactly to how I react to 4-Star reviews):

1) Remember, you don’t know everything.



[image error]Sah-buhms (Instructors) Hayley [1] and Jamie [2], Sam-don me [3], and Sam-don Hope [4]

If I knew everything already, what’s the point in continuing? The bronze medals showed me that I am doing great, but can still do better. It was an honor to stand on the 3rd place podium beneath two of my instructors who became my peers. I was able to look up to them and be inspired to continue and become better.

So the next time you get a 4-star review or a lower place in a sport, don’t look at it as you failed. Take it as a learning opportunity. Ask yourself these questions: “How can I learn from this? What can I do to become better?” Rather than wallowing and whining, you can do something about it. You can turn those 4-stars into a 5 or that bronze into gold and you’ll feel much more accomplished doing so.

2) Do it because you love it.



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I came, I saw, I conquered. I had so much fun competing. Sure, I came off with bumps, bruises, and pains in my chest but every moment was spent out of good sport. Honestly, I don’t think any other art has as much fun and sportsmanship as ours (I may be biased, but ya’know). When we’re done beating the crap out of each other, we hug, give pats on the back, and encourage. There was no poor sportsmanship and I’ve made great friendships with my opponents.

Whether you fight or write, do it because you love it. If your peers don’t have “good sportsmanship”, don’t worry about them. Encourage them and if you don’t receive it back, move on. Don’t lose your focus or your dedication because someone else is dragging you down. The love and thrill you feel for writing or your sport should not be hindered. In the end, the only one who’s stopping you is you. Don’t set your bar so high that you can’t jump over it.

At the end of the day, I was proud of what I had accomplished. I knew I wasn’t perfect and I had room to grow and that was all right.

I was happy, I was inspired, and that’s what matters.

Thanks for taking the time to read this post. I hope that you can find joy in your own life when you experience those Bronze or 4-Star moments. Remember, don’t beat yourself up if you don’t meet your expectations the first time. With determination and an open mind, you will grow, improve, and feel even greater when you receive that Gold medal (5-star review).

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Hello Terran Tribe! I feel like it’s been a while since you’ve actually heard from me. A lot has been going on that I feel like everyone should be aware of! Besides, I’m excited and would love to share it with you all.

If you don’t follow me on my social media channels, then you may not have known that I graduated from Full Sail University with my Bachelor of Science in Media Communications. I earned the title Valedictorian with Advanced achievement, awards, and a 4.0 GPA.

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You’re probably thinking, Wow, Sara! That’s great. Good job. Now you can finally get a move on and finish that third book.

Well….that doesn’t mean I’m done with school. What most people don’t know is I now started my Graduate program at the same school to earn my Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology. I just finished my first class and so far so good! It’s going to be tough, but I’ll manage.

On top of my Masters, I have another awesome surprise for you all. I started my first fulltime job working as the Social Media producer for LEGOLAND New York! YES, LEGOLAND. The amusement park focused on the LEGO brick. I’ve just finished my first week and it’s been amazing. I’ve met so many great people, already helped out with 2 events, and am looking forward to the days to come.

Wow, Sara, you sure are busy! Are you ever going to have time to do book-ish things?

That is a good question! I actually have a special event coming up.

The 3rd birthday of the first book of The Terra Testimonies, The Isles, is on June 4th, 2019. To celebrate, I will be having a birthday party! Along with a physical event, I will be releasing something very special: an anniversary book edition featuring a brand new book cover! I won’t reveal what the cover looks like until the day approaches. In the meantime to prepare for the re-release, I will be posting more and more about the characters in THE ISLES across all my social media platforms. Be sure to follow to stay updated!

So, yeah! That’s just a taste of what’s been going on in the life of SF. Thanks for reading and keep an eye out for more updates!

Lord of the World by Msgr Robert Hugh Benson



Rating: FIVE STARS

Millie Florence is a young indie author who released her first book at age 13. I had the pleasure of connecting with her via social media and we have a lot in common: she was (is) homeschooled, always had a deep passion for writing, and loves to have fun! I had the pleasure of interviewing her and learning more about her and her writing journey.

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Millie Florence



Author of Honey Butter and Lydia Green of Mulberry Glen

Genre: Middle Grade Fiction







1) What inspired you to write?

To be honest, I can’t remember a time when I didn’t love telling stories and reading books. It’s

seemed to always be a part of my life. Before I could read, I listened to classic children’s books on audio. A Little Princess, the Secret Garden, and Anne of Green Gables were some of my favorites, and I could probably recite some of their passages from memory now; that’s how many times I listened to them!

Before I could write well, I would walk in circles around my bedroom telling my stories out loud to a recorder I got for Christmas. Or I would dictate my stories to my parents, who would type them down for me. It must have been a tedious task! My stories were mostly fantasy with dozens of made-up words and strange names. But I am certainly grateful for their help.

2) What was the hardest scene/post you ever had to write? What was the easiest?

Chapter 16 of Lydia Green of Mulberry Glen was definitely the hardest. It’s got to be the most emotional, complex, and metaphor-filled chapter I’ve ever written. I cannot tell you just how many times I went over it, trying to make sure that the reader could understand what I was trying to communicate. Not to mention that a lot of my heart and own personal experiences went into that book, and that chapter was where everything condensed. It was both a personal and an artistic struggle.

3) How do you select the names of your characters?

It depends on what I’m trying to do. Often the name comes with the character. When I had the idea for Jamie and Laren’s characters in Honey Butter, the names were just there as if they had always been. It was the same with Lydia from Lydia Green of Mulberry Glen.

Other names are trickier. Some I make them up completely, (Like Prehna) some I find on baby name websites or naming books, (Like Zale, Zamilla, and Coran) sometimes I use words from other languages (Like Castra and Terra, which are Latin).

4) While writing, did the story go as planned or did it take a turn you didn’t expect?

All stories have a mind of their own. Even though I’m the one writing it, my stories are always the ones in control, and yes, many unexpected twists and turns occur. I can’t really give a specific example, because a lot of the things I don’t expect to happen turn out to be big reveals and plot twists in the final copy. So whenever a reader tells me “I did NOT see that coming!” my answer is usually “me neither!”.

5) If you could live in one literary universe, what would it be and why?

The Lord of the Rings! Specifically Lothlórien; I mean, the tree’s leaves are yellow all year round! That’s my kind of forest! Plus, I’ve always loved Tolkien’s interpretation of Elves and Elven culture. The magic and peace of their world is something I can only dream of. When I was around nine, a friend and I tried to learn a bit of Elvish. It didn’t last long, unfortunately, but it was a lot of fun!

6) Favorite Book and Why?

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett because it really teaches you the importance of selflessness, thankfulness, kindness, and imagination. It had a profound impact on me when I was little, and still does today. Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery because that book will never, ever, ever grow old. Every time I open the book and read it, it makes the world feel more beautiful. I’ve been told by several people before that I am a modern Anne Shirley. Irrepressible, imaginative and a classic

chatterbox! The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart. I’ve read this one more recently, but I’m still a child, so I’m counting it! It’s filled with kid power and meaningful metaphor, and as I like to say, It’s the quintessence of a children’s adventure book. I cannot say enough good things about this book and I really look up to Trenton Lee Stewart, he is an excellent author!

7) Do you find it hard to keep your Faith in your writing career?

When I first started writing Honey Butter, that was definitely something I pondered a lot. But over time I’ve learned that your writing doesn’t have to be explicitly Christian to communicate the truths of love and light that God wants us to communicate. My faith is with me in every sentence, every outline, every chapter, every book. God gives me these stories for a reason. My job is to write them and share them. Simple as that.

There’s also a conference I went to last year: Realm Makers. It’s a Christian Speculative Fiction Writing conference. I highly, highly recommend it; it was a few of the best days of my life, and I will definitely be attending again this year. The website is www.realmmakers.net if you want to check them out.

8) What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Writing, like everything else in life, takes practice. So keep doing it, because you will only get better and faster. I’ve heard it said that writing won’t get easier, and in a way that’s true. When you grow, the challenge grows with you, but so does the reward. To temper that a bit, you should also remember that writing is about life, life is not about writing.

Sometimes as writers we get so caught up in character development and words counts and other details that we forget what we’re really writing about. One of my favorite writing quotes is

“How vain is it to sit down and write when you have not stood up to live.” – Henry David Thoreau

Above all, however, know that you can do it! Your dream is not impossible! I did it, I published a book, and I’m really not that different from you.

Millie Florence is a fun, loving, young writer. Her next book Lydia Green of Mulberry Glen will be released March 23, 2019! Be sure to check out her website for more details and to purchase a copy of Honey Butter: millieflorence.com

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This post’s question is from @morganmurdick_author on Instagram:

I was wondering how long it was before publishing your book when you launched your author site?

This question has a short answer and a long answer. I will give the short answer here and save the long answer for another blog.

Author Sites: Do I need one (if so, when)?

Every writer who plans to be published (indie or traditional) needs to have an author site. There is a great debate as to whether it is necessary or not. From my professional experience as a media communicator and an author, I say yes. You need it.

Don’t think of the author site as an eCommerce site. That’s not what it’s only about. Of course you want to sell your books through it, but that shouldn’t be it’s main function. Let your author site serve as your writing portfolio. This is where you will showcase your talent and who you are as a writer. You want people to know the mastermind behind the stories. Showcase it with your own, personal site!

Now, when you need the site:

Honestly, I would create your site as soon as possible. Why? Many reasons.

1. Get used to the platform.

If you are planning to create the site yourself, definitely start sooner than later. You are going to want to learn the ins and outs of the site before you start showcasing it to the public.

It’s easy to make a site, but it’s hard to make one that works.

What does that mean? It means a lot more goes into a site than meets the eye. You want a professional, branded site. That takes time and thought. (I will write another post that dives more into site creation.)

2. Contact Opportunities

You never know if there’s an agent or publisher on the prowl, hungry for young stories. A website is a professional way of saying to them, “Hey, I’m a writer. Check out my stuff”. They will be able to see what you are doing, learn more about you, and potentially contact you if interested. (This also doesn’t only mean publishers. It could also mean other writers/authors who are looking for connections!)

3. Showcase

This was kinda the point I made before the points, but it’s important so I’m going to say it again. Use your site as your portfolio. Show off what you can do! Get users pumped and excited that you are writing a story. Give them sneak peeks that you couldn’t do over social media. Do whatever you can for further engagement and traffic to your site.

These are three reasons as to why you need a website early, but there are plenty more! If you don’t know what to put on your site or how to make it do not fret! I am a professional Media Communicator. Meaning, I know the ins and outs of CMS site creation! I will write another blog to help you out.

If you have a question, just let me know and I will be glad to answer!

Happy writing!

The Dry by Jane Harper



Rating: FIVE STARS 

[image error]A.J. Cattapan



Author of Angelhood, Seven Riddles to Nowhere

Genre: YA fantasy; middle grade mystery







1) What inspired you to write?

I’ve always loved reading. I was one of those kids who actually enjoyed participating in the library’s summer reading program. I made up stories when I was young, but the first time I really thought about becoming a writer was when I read Anne of Green Gables for a book report in sixth grade. When I closed that last page, I thought that if I could write a book that touched other people’s hearts the way that one touched mine, then I would have the coolest job in the world!

2) What was the hardest scene/post you ever had to write? What was the easiest?

I honestly can’t think of individual scenes that were hard or easy to write. The plot for Angelhood came very easily. In fact, it came while trying to work on the plot for Seven Riddles. I was so stuck on working out the riddle-solving in my middle grade mystery that I began to despair that I would never actually be a novelist. I thought, “My writer career is over before it’s really begun!” And that’s when I got the idea for a story about a girl who thinks her acting career is over before it’s begun . . . and that was the start of Angelhood. Within three days, I had the story plotted out and all the characters mapped out.

3) How do you select the names of your characters?

In a word: . It’s a great resource when you want a name with a specific meaning. For example, when it came to name one of the key guardian angels in Angelhood, I looked up names that mean “guard,” and I found the name Warren, which became the perfect name for the guardian angel who becomes the mentor for my main character Nanette, a new angel who needs to “earn her wings.”

4) While writing, did the story go as planned or did it take a turn you didn’t expect?

The ending of Angelhood was a surprise. I can’t say more without giving it away! Seven Riddles turned out pretty much as I expected once I was finally able to fix the problems with the riddles that are involved. The riddles are all related to the artwork inside churches in Chicago, so figuring out how all those riddles were going to tie together took about a year of researching and visiting the churches that are featured.

5) Are you proud with the work you’ve done or do you wish you could’ve done more?

I’m proud of what I’ve done. What I wish is that I could find the time to hammer out the sequels to both books. I have ideas for both, but with a full-time teaching career, working on a doctorate program, speaking at writing and educational conferences, and hosting a TV show, I haven’t really found the time. Gee, I wonder why.

2018 has come to an end and 2019 is upon us! It is the start of a new chapter in our book of life. But the question is, what are you going to write in it?

In this short blog, I am going to give you a few suggestions for New Year’s resolutions and then offer some tips on accomplishing those resolutions. Some may be obvious, others not so much. We’re already half-way through January (*le gasp*), but that doesn’t meant it’s too late to make some resolutions!

Time’s a wastin’; let’s hop to it! First, the obvious:

1. FINISH THAT BOOK!

I know you all have outstanding writing projects that you want completed. However, do you know how you plan to complete them? Are you going to go all in at once or take it a little bit at a time?

Resolution 1 Suggestions:

It’s January, so start planning! Give yourself a deadline right away. Let’s say I want book 3 done by September of 2019. That gives me nine months to let this baby grow and develop. (No puns there). What I would do is plan out my schedule month by month with charts and mini-goals within. Give yourself baby steps to reach and by the end of it, you’ll be running.

2. GROW YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWING

Get out there! Let readers know about your work. So how do you grow your social media?

Resolution 2 Suggestions:

Post consistently; keep that feed growing!

Make connections. Contact people, make friends! That’s the best way to grow in an organic following and in your own writing community.

3. TAKE MORE CARE OF YOURSELF

Whoa, this one seems quite different than the others. In fact, this is the most important.

Before I explain, ask yourself these questions:

How much did I stress over my book this past year? Did I fill my life only with work work work and not focus on taking care of my own mind? Were there times where I hated writing more than I loved it?

These are legitimate questions that you need to honestly answer. For me, I tend to stress way too much about my books and writings especially with starting SF Publishing. But sometimes we take it a bit too far and end up hurting ourselves more than we help ourselves. This year, I really want you to focus on taking the time to care for yourself.

Resolution 3 Suggestions:

If you feel like you’re stressing about your book, leave it alone for a while. Take a break. Meditate. Pray. Talk to a writer friend or get some advice. Whatever it is to alleviate stress (as long as it’s a moral, healthy way).Working while you’re on edge does not always produce the best result. Breathe in deeply and try again.

Make time to read. I know for me I feel like I do not read at all. A mini resolution for me this year is to read more books. I’ve probably read about seven books this past year which is a breaking-record for me. That might seem terrible to some of you, but for me that’s great. With my long commutes to work and back and then my online college assignments, I managed to make a little time but not enough. I want to triple that number at least. Reading is the best research.

Finally, don’t give up on yourself. I know that a lot of times we doubt ourselves and compare our work to others. I really want you to do less of that this year. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again;

Be inspired, not intimidated.

Everyone’s work is different. Let the world inspire you and motivate you, not drag you down. Stay positive and tell yourself, “My work is amazing. I’ve got this.”

These are my 3 resolutions for you. I know that you can accomplish them. If you need further advice or tips throughout this year, let me know! I’m always happy to help.

Happy New Year!