Vanessa Hall's Blog

After waking up in an abandoned building and having no memory of how she got there or who she is, Sadie goes on the run. She might not know anything about the last thirty-something years of her life, but she knows she’s in trouble. When Adam, a man claiming to be her husband, finds her and tells her the wild story of how she ended up in that building, can she trust him? Better yet, can she and Adam survive the danger stalking them—and find some semblance of a normal life together?

From Kristina Hall, author of women’s Christian fiction, comes a suspense novel featuring high stakes, faith, and a hint of romance.

Order Now!

After waking up in an abandoned building and having no memory of how she got there or who she is, Sadie goes on the run. She might not know anything about the last thirty-something years of her life, but she knows she’s in trouble.

When Adam, a man claiming to be her husband, finds her and tells her the wild story of how she ended up in that building, can she trust him? Better yet, can she and Adam survive the danger stalking them—and find some semblance of a normal life together?

From Kristina Hall, author of women’s Christian fiction, comes a suspense novel featuring high stakes, faith, and a hint of romance.

Pre-order here!

Well, hello there, long-lost friend! It’s been a bit since I’ve popped onto my dear ol’ blog, but I’ve been thinking of posting for awhile now. I hope your 2025 is off to a lovely start – if you’re like me, it’s been a cold start!

But before we get too far into 2025, let’s look back at 2024.

The first part of the year, author-wise, was marked by the release of my novella that was a part of the Black Rose Anthology. I can hardly believe that anthology was released less than one year ago –it feels like years ago! Regardless, A Life’s Cost was my foray into the world of fantasy, and I have to say, making up your entire world and all the rules that relate to it is pretty cool. I can actually silence that voice in the back of my head that tells me whatever I’m writing isn’t realistic – because it’s realistic in my created world! Incorporating aspects of Gaelic culture and language (including those names I’ve heard a fair bit about, haha!) was fun for me, and I left the story open-ended enough that I could pick the story up again if I want to. (But in truth, I just couldn’t bring the story to a full end in the word count. Wordy I shall always be, I’m afraid.)

Anyway, if you’ve forgotten what A Life’s Cost was about or want to read it, you can check it out! Lots of my friends are included in this anthology, including my amazing sister, Kristina Hall. (Her story is such a ray of sunlight in comparison to mine—thank the Lord for people who have some humor in their writing.)

The first part of the year was really lacking in writing (the novella had been finished quite a bit earlier), and I really had no time or energy to try to write as my attention was focused on my teaching gig. However … a big bonus of teaching is summer break!

As I’ve detailed before, I’d planned to publish Unforgiven (Grace Sufficient, #4) in the summer of 2023. However, the Lord had far different plans, and I was only able to slightly edit parts of the book during that summer. But when I came home for summer break … it was on.

Rare photo of the author editing.

Like most summers spent editing, I don’t remember a lot of my break, but God’s grace was so evident in the editing process. There were definitely lots of ups and downs (the arcs in the book—I was so stressed out by how to get all of the characters and their assorted relationships from A to B!), but overall, I had an amazing time editing. I do vividly remember some times of editing—one of those when I was ranting to my dear mom (thanks, Mum!) about the confusing plot. Bless the hearts of people who live with authors—we are on another level of insanity sometimes. But I also have wonderful memories of the my final edit when I had one of the most gripping, intense editing sessions I’d ever experienced—definitely not something that usually happens after you’ve worked on a book for months!

So that’s all to say—when God calls you something, He’s going to give you the strength and the grace to get through it. He is good and faithful!

So, thanks to the Lord alone, Unforgiven was published last summer, and it’s a story that’s near to my heart.

After Unforgiven was released, I went right back into teaching mode, prepping for the new school year and jumping back into a busy, non-writing schedule. However, that writing thrill still had its grip on me for a few more weeks, and I was able to write a novella that falls after Unforgiven.

As with almost all of my novel publishing projects, I experienced a ton of burnout—except if I wrote about the people I had just finished writing about! I just become so attached to my characters that it’s hard for me to think or write about anyone else, I guess. So I got to write a fun (well … maybe not fun) novella about Vlad and Katya two years after Unforgiven. Yay for Vlad being a man of God and Katya not hating him!

I’m still a little uncertain what the timeline looks like for that novella, but it’s been a sweet and impactful experience for me to write that novella. As with most writing projects, the Lord teaches me through my character’s lives … and this one was no exception.

And that wraps up 2024!

As I look ahead to 2025, the writing portion of my life is perhaps not as clear-cut as it was last year. I knew I wanted to edit and publish Unforgiven last year, but I don’t really have a project that’s ready to dive into editing and publishing. And currently, I have at least one idea bouncing around my head, but I’ve really been struggling to find the energy or will to write even when I have the time. I’ve been trying not to force my writing and to completely surrender it to the Lord.

So that might mean Vlad and Katya’s novella in the near future, or it might mean I won’t be publishing anything this year … and that’s okay. I’m so thankful that I was able to write an entire series over the last four years (or rather … six, given when I first wrote that first rough draft.) Life comes and goes in seasons, and God gives us certain ministries for certain times. Don’t worry, though, I’ve still got that writer’s hunger in me!

And that’s enough about me! What were your favorite writing moments of last year? Do you have plans for 2025?

I hope each of you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving! I’m just popping on here to let you know about the massive Black Friday sale that is happening with hundreds of amazing books. Every book that is on this sale is either .99 or FREE! Check out the link below.

Black Friday Book Sale

All five books in the Grace Sufficient series are on sale – so that means you can get the whole series for around $5. That’s a pretty good deal if you ask me. There are also so many other brilliant books on this sale, including Trouble in Dry Springs by Kristina Hall, IRON by Madisyn Carlin, and many more. Go ahead and snag yourself some great deals!

Dry Springs hasn’t seen the last of trouble.

Ira Burke is surviving—just barely thanks to an injury that about stole his ability to hold down a job. The fact that the new saloon owner finds him a threat further complicates matters, as does the town matchmaker’s attempts to marry him off to the woman who helped him during the war.

Patience Ashbee arrives in Dry Springs to care for the younger sister she hasn’t spoken to in six years. What she doesn’t expect to find is an acquaintance from the war—or the dangers that follow her all too closely.

Because peril has once again come to Dry Springs.

From Kristina Hall, author of women’s Christian fiction, comes a historical novel featuring high stakes, faith, humor, and a hint of romance.

GOODREADSPURCHASE LINK

If you enjoy Westerns, you have to check out Peril in Dry Springs! And now is the best time to do so – both Peril in Dry Springs and the first book in the series, Trouble in Dry Springs, are on sale for $.99! Check out the first book below!

Purchase Here!

THE FIGHT HE GOT WASN’T THE FIGHT HE WANTED.

It’s 1780, and North Carolina is a battleground. Backcountry scout Benjamin Woodbridge is guarding a Patriot camp when he sees the king’s men pursuing a civilian. Never one to stand by while someone is in trouble, Benjamin steps in to help the stranger and finds an unexpected ally.

But the same British officer who targeted the stranger is also targeting Benjamin’s settlement. After Benjamin is wounded on a lonely mountain trail, he watches Sunrising fall to the man who crushed his father’s cause nine years earlier. Benjamin’s fight has come home to the very people he wanted to protect—his shy younger sister and the woman who has given them both a home.

Now, with the help of some unlikely comrades and the indomitable Aunt Kate, Benjamin must fight for what he loves before Sunrising goes up in flames. But only if he can fight himself first.

Perfect for fans of Christian historical fiction and tales of bravery and redemption, Patriot at the River combines engaging characters, daring action, and biblical truth. Read now and step into an adventure of faith and freedom.

Buy Now!Endorsements

“A fast-paced tale, Patriot at the River captures the spirit of the American Revolution in spades. Through courageous flesh-and-blood characters in the Carolina backcountry who are the embodiment of soul liberty, this well-layered novel offers a fresh look at freedom and those who fought to win it not only for themselves but generations to come. Huzzah!”

—Laura Frantz, Christy Award–winning author of The Frontiersman’s Daughter

“I am so impressed with Jayna Baas and this story! Intense, at times heartstopping, richly textured and steeped in an authentic Carolina backcountry voice. Reading it felt like visiting old friends that I hadn’t yet met.”

—Shannon McNear, Selah Award winner and author of Daughters of the Lost Colony

“If you’re looking for a story filled with adventure, faith, biblical values, history, and characters you’ll love, look no further than Patriot at the River.”

—Kristina Hall, author of Trouble in Dry Springs

About the Series

Patriot at the River is the second book of the For Liberty and Conscience trilogy, which combines early American history with Christ-centered fiction. Though Patriot at the River can be read as a standalone, readers will enjoy the return of several characters from the first book in the series, Preacher on the Run.

Author Bio

Jayna Baas (pronounced as in “baa, baa, black sheep”) is the author of Preacher on the Run and director of The Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network. She writes and edits from beautiful northern Michigan, where she strives to give readers faith-filled adventures bursting with relatable characters and biblical truth.

When she’s not writing her own books or editing other people’s books, Jayna seeks out new adventures on the screen, on the page, and in the kitchen. She also loves to spend time with her great family of real people and the family of pretend people who live in her head. (Yes, she does know her characters are not real. No, she does not want you to tell them she said so.)

Although her love of words extends to multiple genres, Jayna’s favorite story is this: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Learn more at booksbyjayna.com, join her newsletter, or connect with her on Goodreads.

Giveaway Info

Time: 12:00 AM September 30 – 12:00 AM October 14

Prize: One signed paperback copy each of Preacher on the Run and Patriot at the River, the first two books in the For Liberty and Conscience trilogy. All entrants will receive a promo code for Jayna Baas’s online store.

Notes: US mailing addresses only, 18 and up or with parental consent. No purchase necessary. All entrants agree to join Jayna Baas’s email list.

Enter!

Maybe you’ve looked at the recommendations in your reading app or the “new books” shelf at your library and wondered if it was worth trying to find truly Christian fiction. If you’re a writer, maybe you’ve looked at the books ranking above yours in the Kindle Store and wondered if it was worth trying to write truly Christian fiction.

First, let’s discuss what some markers of “truly Christian fiction.”

Truly Christian fiction tells the truth.

Obviously, if we’re talking about fiction, “telling the truth” doesn’t mean the story actually happened. But it does mean the story tells the truth about God and people. As Jordan Peterson says, fiction is the distillation of truth.

For some readers, a book is Christian fiction as long as it doesn’t include profanity or on-page intimacy. For others, a book is not Christian fiction unless the sinner’s prayer is prayed—and the more times the better.

But readers, beware.

If characters don’t experience consequences for their actions, or if they are simply victims who have no responsibility for their own choices at all, that’s not the truth about the order God has created. If a story goes on its merry way until someone mentions God, and then the story stops so the characters can read from the author’s script, pray a prayer, and discover all their problems are magically solved, that’s not the truth about how real life and real faith work.

The book of Esther never mentions the name of God, yet his truth is clearly displayed throughout the entire story. But countless other books have claimed to represent God while distorting his character and principles. In the Christian Publishing Show’s excellent podcast about the four laws of Christian storytelling, the fourth “law” is to tell stories with honesty and courage. Look closely at the books you read and write, then ask yourself, “Does this story tell the truth?”

Truly Christian fiction strengthens our walk with God.

Telling the truth can mean talking about hard things, and some writers take that and run with it. But the Bible is clear: We are to speak the truth in love.

Is it loving to subject readers to things that tear them down instead of building them up?

There is wide variety in what Christians consider edifying, and with good reason. We’re each in a different place in our walk with God, and we each have unique strengths and weaknesses. Something that tempts you may not tempt me, and vice versa. The apostle Paul made this clear in Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 10.

However, I think we can agree that we should not needlessly expose ourselves to evil or temptation. This is why decisions about language, violence, and morality are important—not because sin does not exist or we want to ignore it, but because sin does exist, and we’re not immune to it.

The Bible is the greatest example of edifying literature, and it certainly does not shy away from hard topics. Nor does it shy away from the reality of romantic love. But have you ever stopped to notice how the Bible describes these issues? We often see them reported in a distant, matter-of-fact manner or veiled in poetic terms. As early American preacher John Leland put it in his own eighteenth-century way, “When it was necessary to treat of things rather indecent, it is wonderful to see what euphonisms [sic] are used by the sacred writers, and throughout the volume gravity and chastity of dialect is found, and nothing to provoke obscenity, levity, or confusion.”

Christian fiction may not check all the boxes for every reader’s personal convictions or temptations, but it should strive to strengthen our faith rather than compromise it.

Truly Christian fiction reflects Christ.

Of course, books that are not labeled as Christian can still reflect a biblical view of the world. But Christian originally meant “like Christ.” If we’re going to put that label on a novel, the story should point readers toward him.

Does a story showcase the glorious truth of Christ’s redemption, or does it leave you with the message that you just need to try harder to be a better Christian? Do Christian characters learn to draw their life from Christ, or do they wallow in guilt and end the story still feeling like they’ll never measure up? Does the gospel change people, or is it just a band-aid for their problems? Is God’s true character on display?

Christ is everything beautiful and excellent. That should come through in Christian writing, but not only in what is written. It should also come through in how it is written. Our Lord spoke the world into existence. He made order where there was none. He defined a beautifully detailed pattern for the Tabernacle and for the new Jerusalem, and he was honored by David’s instructions to musicians to sing unto the Lord and play skillfully.

This, my fellow writers, is a call to excel at your craft. And this, my fellow readers, is a call to expect that excellence. 

But is it worth it?

Is it worth it to try to read and write books like this? Is it worth it to fight discouragement when you see yet another anti-God novel win an award and shoot to bestseller status?

See, here’s the thing. Christianity is true. And as C. S. Lewis famously said, “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”

If Christianity is true, then it is the only thing that accurately explains the world around us. If it is the only thing that explains the world around us, then it can hold its own against all comers. And if it can hold its own against all comers, then it will set people free, as truth inevitably does.

Understanding this big-picture view of the gospel reshapes my view of storytelling. Why would I want to tell a story that does not align with what is true about the world? Why would you want to read a story that backs down from the one reality that can change people’s lives? Why would we want books that reduce the gospel to a stage lecture or a magic wand or a bumper sticker?

And understanding this big-picture view of the gospel equips us for the times we read books that are not labeled as Christian or don’t live up to the Christian label. Knowing who God is, who we are, and how his principles work prepares us to discern truth and error wherever we find it. 

The next time you feel discouraged by what you see in the bookstores and on the digital shelves, step back. Remind yourself that your God is bigger than all of it. Remind yourself that his truth is the only truth, and his truth always wins. Remind yourself that he is the truth, and he is your life.

Then ask yourself, are stories that tell that truth worth it?

Perhaps your answer will be that such stories are not only worth it but inevitable.

—

If you’d like some recommendations for thought-provoking books, including some truly Christian fiction, some secular classics, and some nonfiction, grab your copy of Patriot at the River before October 17 and forward your receipt to info(at)booksbyjayna(dot)com to get a list of “Ten Books to Read When You Finish Patriot at the River,” plus some other fun bonuses as well. Or join Jayna Baas’s email list to get a monthly book review.

Danger lurks in the shadows.

Aimee Walthers never expected returning to her childhood home would result in both a stagecoach robbery and coming face-to-face with Wyatt MacAllister, her childhood nemesis. Tasked with caring for her orphaned nieces, she determines to ignore Wyatt and survive the days of grief and mourning. Her plans are shattered when an unexpected evil arises, intent on silencing anyone whom it deems a threat.

Deputy Wyatt MacAllister never expected to almost die during a stagecoach robbery investigation. Determined to catch the criminals, he reluctantly joins forces with Aimee …who is both a target and one of the few who can identify those responsible.

As their enemies close in and questions remained unanswered, threats increase in severity and lives are endangered, bringing the chilling realization that danger—and death—are closer than Aimee and Wyatt imagined.

Heart of Strength is part of Hearts of the West, a series of standalone Christian historical romance novellas.

Purchase!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
MadisynCarlin is a Christian, homeschool graduate, blogger, voracious bookdragon, and author. When not spending time with her family or trekking through the mountains, she weaves tales of redemption, faith, and action.

Want to connect? https://linktr.ee/madisyncarlin

If you have read any of my books, you probably know by now that I’m a big fan of Eastern European/Russian fiction. However, there’s just not a lot of that in the Christian fiction market. But I have a wonderful series for you today that has elements of this genre within it! Though not based in an actual Eastern European country, Shards of Sevia is a fantasy series with a taste of Eastern Europe and so much more! Check out the latest in the series below.

War brought Radoslav and Dunya together. If she hadn’t become a refugee, and he hadn’t taken a job as an interpreter at the camp she was sent to, they never would have met. Now, they’re taking the first tentative steps toward a peaceful future for themselves and their adopted son. Settled in a fishing village far from the conflict zone, they have good reason to hope the worst of their troubles are behind them. They could not be more wrong…

Goodreads Link: Inseparable (Shards of Sevia, #6) by E.B. Roshan | Goodreads

Purchase Links: https://books2read.com/u/38LLjr

Author Website: Roshan Publishing – faith, hope, love, and great stories (wordpress.com)

Pain is inescapable, storms brew, and the darkness only seems to grow as the light shrivels.

After an assassination attempt on the newly crowned prince leaves Kahtan with lingering side effects, he wonders if he’ll ever make it home. Death seems to be on every wind, and with the Mazleahian army dwindling by the day, allies are needed in the ever-encroaching war. But the journey to Half-Gale with assassins and the Dragon Prince on their trail is no easy feat.

Bonds will be formed, truth will come to light, and sorrow will threaten to drown them. But if they hope to keep Prince Merickson on the throne all of them will have to search their hearts and answer the question, “How much are they willing to give?”

Goodreads Pre-Order About the Authors:

Kayti:

Kaytlin Phillips is Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction and Fantasy author. She’s a homeschool grad who spends her days praising her Savior, reading, writing, blogging and annoying her sisters with random thoughts. She is the fifth child out of seven and resides in the mountains of Western North Carolina.

Check out her books World of Silence, a Middle Grade Fantasy, and Emberling, a Young Adult Fantasy. 

Linktree (Including all Kayti’s links): https://linktr.ee/kaytlinphillips

Rissy:

Marisa Philips is a teen author, saved by the grace of God! She was born and raised in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina. She is the sixth child out of seven and has been homeschooled her whole life. She likes to write fast-paced stories that catch the attention of all and that will hopefully inspire them in a wonderful way.

She published her first book two years, Emotional Commotion: A Short Story Collection.

Pinterest: Pinterest

Goodreads Author Profile: Marisa Phillips (Author of Unfortunate Events) | Goodreads

Jaidie:

Jaiden Phillips is a teen author residing in the mountains of western North Carolina. She has six older siblings and one set of amazing parents!

More often than not, you can find her sketching one of her wild ideas, writing out a scene for a book, or giving her sisters a healthy dose of sarcasm.

Check out her The Guild of Thieves, a YA Fantasy adventure, and This Gray Canvas, a Middle Grade Contemporary!

Linktree (Including all Jaidie’s links): https://linktr.ee/jaidenphillipsart

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