Faith D. Cox's Blog

Life is busy. From morning until night, my daily schedule remains full. Can you relate? It seems I never get everything accomplished. Does that sound familiar? As a writer, my work is never finished. One story ends and another begins.

Writing is one of life’s passions for me. But, should I enjoy time away from my stories? Yes, at times… and probably more than I do. However, although writing is work, it is also in the fun category for me. So, should I really pull myself away from my quirky, bumbling characters? Well, …

A couple of weekends ago, I had the opportunity to enjoy some fun bonding time with my adult daughters and husband. (Those protagonists and antagonists were just going to have to wait for their life revelations until another day.)

My younger daughter is often times busy with sports. There were a couple of pickleball competitions locally that she participated in, and my husband, older daughter, and I went to enjoy and show our support. I know I’m probably behind times, but it was the first time I had seen pickleball played. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and my daughter even brought home a medal! What a champion, and I was there to see it!

My older daughter is an author and copy editor. Much of her time is spent behind a computer. However, on a recent Saturday afternoon, local writers had a get together to meet a couple of writers that were coming to the area from out of state. Since I’m also an author, they welcomed me to their gathering. It was a great time shared with my daughter and to meet other writers in person and chat a bit.

It’s important to take time out of a busy work schedule and enjoy something different… at least once in a while. There is no one I would rather do that with than my family, but it was also nice to visit with others at the events. A dose of fun every so often can add quite the perfect ingredient to the adventure of life.

Share Your Thoughts (Feel free to leave a comment!)

What family time have you enjoyed lately?
Do you have a job that also fits into the “fun” category?
Do you have any upcoming family events planned?

500 Words of March

500 words every day doesn’t sound like much to write, or does it? To some, it may seem an impossible amount to create every day for a whole month. To others, it is only the beginning for each new day. Some days I wrote more, and a couple of days I wasn’t sure if I was going to reach 500 due to a few unexpected things that popped up. By the end of each day (excluding a couple of Sundays which is allowed,) I met the goal! It’s a great challenge and an excellent way to get so much accomplished in a single month!

Want to join next year? Here’s the link to keep an eye on sign-up dates:
https://andreareneecox.com/500-words-of-march/

Book Available for Purchase

Are you looking for something to read?
Do you need a gift?
11 Authors – 11 Short Stories – Each one about a novelist!
https://faithdcox.com/books/

Faith’s Faithful Friends
Interested in volunteering?

Faith’s Faithful Friends Street Team is now open for sign-ups!
YOU are invited to join the adventure!
All required is to help spread the news, as you feel comfortable, about my writing projects! https://faithdcox.com/faiths-faithful-friends/

Screenplay News

You’ll Remember Me
Logline: A young photographer captures memories for others, but due to a temporary memory loss, she can’t remember her own husband.

Do you have six minutes? https://youtu.be/Vw7fNC9R_NI?feature=shared
– Written by Faith D. Cox and filmed and produced by Tennessee Valley Christian Filmmakers
Thank you for viewing, sharing, and commenting!

Awards for You’ll Remember Me
March 2025 – Short-Filmz Online Film Festival
Exceptional Film Award
March 2025 – International Christian Film & Music Festival
Nominated Most Inspirational Award (Results in May 2025)
November 2024 – Shepherd’s House International Film Festival
Best Christian Micro Short Film Award
November 2024 – Knoxville International Christian Film Festival
Gold Award – Mini Film
Gold Medal – Director – Brad Roberts
Gold Medal – Screenplay – Faith D. Cox
Gold Medal – Lead Actress – Jessica Claire Crosby
Gold Medal – Lead Actor – Christian Daschle
Gold Medal – Composer – Becca Anderson
Gold Medal – Sound Mixer – James Burton
Gold Medal – Cinematography – Cassidy Rickels

All of Faith’s screenplay awards and nominations may be viewed at https://faithdcox.com/screenplays/.

Screenwriting Agent: Eagles Wings Entertainment/The Brock Agency, Inc.
Beverly J. Brock – (828)781-2917
beverly@thebrockagency.com

Bible Verse

“Seek the Lord while He may be found;
Call upon Him while He is near.”
Isaiah 55:6 (NASB)

Gold Award-Winning Screenwriter and Author

Faith D. Cox is a Gold-award-winning and Multi-award-winning produced screenwriter. She discovered her love of writing with a fourth-grade class assignment and carried around her spiral notebook for weeks to pen the story. She followed her dream and now, years later after homeschooling children and having an after-school tutoring business, she is a published author and professional screenwriter of family-friendly, heartwarming works. She still carries paper and pen wherever she goes so she won’t lose those instantaneous revelations. Faith writes screenplays, children’s books, middle grade books, and women’s fiction, romance, teen, and tragedy. She has a heart of compassion and is devoted to God, family, and writing as she shares God’s love to encourage, inspire, and entertain through laughter and tears.

Faith welcomes new friends and comments!

Website: https://faithdcox.com
Blog: https://faithdcox.com/blog/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/faithdcox
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/faith-d-cox
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/faithdcox
IMDb: Published Books/Links: https://faithdcox.com/books/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FaithDCox

Dear Readers,

Welcome to March!

As Spring is on its way, it makes me think of new beginnings… trees budding and flowers blooming!

Fresh beginnings in life, however, can begin in any season… any day!

Words can create something new. Words can be the beginning of a new friendship. Words can be the beginning of a new job. Words can express excitement, fear, or gratitude.

This month, I’m participating in “500 Words of March.” It’s a writing challenge to write at least 500 words every day throughout the month. Maybe for some, it’s a small amount of words to write in a day. For others, it’s more than could ever be imagined writing in a day. Well, I’m somewhere in between those two scenarios.

No matter if you write three words or 3,000 words (or more) in a day, the challenge is about writing… devoting time to get words written. You might not receive a winner’s badge at the end with 500 words per day, but you might discover you have some words to write!

(It’s officially too late to join this writing challenge for March 2025, but you can still write on your own and check out Andrea Renee Cox’s website for her other writing camps. The next camp is in April, and sign-ups are mid to late March.)  

As I write stories, the words will hopefully be read by others someday.

What will the readers glean from those written words?

As I prepare to write, and during the writing process, I pray. I ask the Lord to give me the words He wants me to write… the messages He wants me to share with others. I don’t know what stories the readers will enjoy and what words will speak to their hearts, but God does.

How do you use words?

Every word is important… short or long, it has a purpose.  

What words have you read or heard today? How did they make you feel?

What words have you written or spoken today? How did they make others feel?

Are your words pleasing to God?

Are they encouraging and inspirational, or are they hurtful and degrading?

Words speak.

Share Your Thoughts (Leave a comment!)

How have words made you feel today?

How will you use words when writing or speaking to others today?

How is your vocabulary? Do you need to learn some new words?

Book Available for Purchase

Do you enjoy reading or know someone who does?
https://faithdcox.com/books/

Street Team – Do you want to join?

Faith’s Faithful Friends Street Team is now open for sign-ups!
You are invited to join the adventure!
All required is to help spread the news, as you feel comfortable, about my writing projects! https://faithdcox.com/faiths-faithful-friends/

Screenplay News

YOU’LL REMEMBER ME
Debut short film at https://youtu.be/Vw7fNC9R_NI?feature=shared
Do you have six minutes?
– Written by Faith D. Cox and filmed and produced by Tennessee Valley Christian Filmmakers
Thank you for viewing, sharing, and commenting!

You’ll Remember Me
Logline: A young photographer captures memories for others, but due to a temporary memory loss, she can’t remember her own husband.

I just found out this month that You’ll Remember Me has won the following award/nomination:
March 2025 – Short-Filmz Online Film Festival
Exceptional Film Award
March 2025 – International Christian Film & Music Festival
Nominated Most Inspirational Award (Results in May 2025)

Previous Awards for You’ll Remember Me
November 2024 – Shepherd’s House International Film Festival
Best Christian Micro Short Film Award
November 2024 – Knoxville International Christian Film Festival
Gold Award – Mini Film
Gold Medal – Director – Brad Roberts
Gold Medal – Screenplay – Faith D. Cox
Gold Medal – Lead Actress – Jessica Claire Crosby
Gold Medal – Lead Actor – Christian Daschle
Gold Medal – Composer – Becca Anderson
Gold Medal – Sound Mixer – James Burton
Gold Medal – Cinematography – Cassidy Rickels

All of Faith’s screenplay awards and nominations may be viewed at https://faithdcox.com/screenplays/.

Screenwriting Agent: Eagles Wings Entertainment/The Brock Agency, Inc.
Beverly J. Brock – (828)781-2917
beverly@thebrockagency.com

Bible Verse

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Thy sight,
O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.”
Psalm 19: 14 (NASB)

Gold Award-Winning Screenwriter and Author

Faith D. Cox is a Multi-award-winning, Gold award-winning, produced screenwriter! She discovered her love of writing with a fourth-grade class assignment and carried around her spiral notebook for weeks to pen the story. She followed her dream and now, many years later, after homeschooling children and having an after-school tutoring business, she is a published author and professional screenwriter of family-friendly, heartwarming works. She still carries paper and pen wherever she goes so she won’t lose those instantaneous revelations. Faith writes screenplays, children’s books, middle grade books, and women’s fiction, romance, young adult, and tragedy. She has a heart of compassion and is devoted to God, family, and writing as she shares God’s love to encourage, inspire, and entertain through laughter and tears.

Faith welcomes new friends and comments!

Website: https://faithdcox.com
Blog: https://faithdcox.com/blog/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/faithdcox
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/faith-d-cox
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/faithdcox
IMDb: Published Books/Links: https://faithdcox.com/books/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FaithDCox

Happy February, Readers!
Please help me welcome Author Bethany Willcock!

Today I’m here to talk about my (somewhat unlikely!) writing journey and hope it might encourage someone who feels overwhelmed at the thought of trying to fit consistent writing into an already busy schedule.

No matter how effortless many authors seem to make it look like, let’s face it: writing can be very overwhelming, particularly when your plot and characters are simply not co-operating the way you need them to! Perhaps you, like me, work another full-time job that makes taxing demands on your mental and physical abilities; or, like me, you may even suffer from a chronic illness that often leaves you exhausted and unmotivated, even battling things like chronic fatigue, migraines, and extreme brain fog. But you desperately want to carry on writing, you feel that the world could benefit some day from a book, story, or poem that you’ve written. You just have no idea how to fit it in consistently around everything else that’s going on.

I run a home bakery that celebrated its fifth birthday last September. BakerStreat has been a wonderful blessing to me, and I was amazed at how fast it grew from literally nothing! I built it up from scratch to the point where I’m now supplying several shops and coffee shops, doing regular Saturday markets, and baking for private orders. Since I have no employees, I built the business website and social media platforms myself and have to keep those constantly updated; as well as advertise, deal with orders, source ingredients and supplies, and keep all the books. Although I love the work and am super grateful for the way it’s grown, at times BakerStreat can be quite demanding, especially when my illness leaves me flattened once or twice a month and I can barely get out of bed, much less make it to the kitchen.

At first, I had no clue how it was going to be possible for me to continue with my writing and stay on top of everything that running a new business demands, and for a while my writing was virtually non-existent. Before starting BakerStreat I had been writing as a fun hobby, on and off. I’d never really taken it very seriously, although I always hoped that somehow, one day in the future, I’d find a way to actually publish something. The year I opened BakerStreat was also the first year I’d tried participating in any kind of online writing group, and to my surprise I discovered a circle of young women who took their writing very seriously and wanted to encourage others in their efforts. For the first time I felt that I could actually make something of my stories. But then a month later I opened the bakery, and all thoughts of writing were pushed aside for the next three years.

It had taken me a while to settle into the new routine with BakerStreat, and during that period my illness had flared up for the first time so I was learning to juggle everything around that too. But once I felt a bit more confident, I started to wonder if I might try my hand at writing again. I’d always loved mysteries; I’d grown up reading books like “The Famous Five”, and later “Sherlock Holmes” and some of the works of Agatha Christie and Anna Katherine Green. I was annoyed at how few good new mysteries there were on the clean/Christian market, and was determined to try write a few myself, basically, all the mysteries I wished I could read, but couldn’t because they hadn’t been written! So I joined another online writing group, reconnected with the circle of motivational girls, and started working on a new mystery whenever I had a free moment, like when a cake was in the oven or I was waiting for dough to rise.

This was rather haphazard in the beginning because I was still learning how to find time for everything, and the first few writing camps I attended I wasn’t even able to reach my goal, and twice dropped out halfway through the month. I wasn’t even thinking of writing seriously at that time, I was just having fun chatting to the girls and writing bits of a mystery every now and then.

But then they decided to start making camp anthologies, which were free to write for and easy to submit stories to. I only decided three weeks before the deadline to try write something for one, and I’m still not sure how I managed, because it was a busy month for the bakery too! But somehow I started, finished, and submitted what became my first published story, an Edwardian-set mystery in the style of Sherlock Holmes called “Everything”, within three weeks!

After that had been published, I was content to rest on my laurels and carry on writing randomly like I’d been doing, but suddenly the whole situation had changed. Readers were loving “Everything” so much more than I’d ever expected, and some were demanding a sequel – a series! I was stunned, and for the first time wondered if it was possible for me to rethink my daily schedule to fit in writing regularly. Writing had always been difficult for me, and my health was making it harder than ever to focus on a story, especially a mystery, which in some ways is extra-challenging, but unfortunately the only type of story I could ever write well.

I was slowly realising that it was no good trying to write in the daytime, there were too many distractions. If I was going to get anywhere with this, I had to change my mindset and start treating writing as another job, just like I treated BakerStreat. Running a home bakery on your own requires dedication, commitment, and a set plan, and that was going to be the same idea with writing.

I read that Anthony Trollope had this same approach to his books; treat writing like a real job. He set aside a certain time every single day to write, and his family and friends knew that he was not to be disturbed during that period. Inspired by this, I created something similar for myself at night, after the rest of the family had gone to bed and I knew I’d be left undisturbed for a couple of hours. Something else I discovered by accident was that I personally find it helpful to sip on something while I write, it keeps me focused on the story and motivates me to go faster. So I’ll sit with a glass of lemonade or gingerbeer, and only allow myself to take another sip when I’ve completed a paragraph, etc. I’m only allowed to finish the glass when I’ve finished the chapter. That also allows me a moment to glance over what I’ve just written and prepare the next paragraph, without getting distracted by something else, like my phone.

In this way I managed to not only start reaching all my goals at every camp, but also finish and publish two more Edwardian mysteries and make a series. Then I wrote for and was accepted into the Novelists in November and Fingerprints in Frost anthologies by Wild Blue Wonder Press, and currently have about four other writing projects on the go as well. I’m still running BakerStreat during the day, and writing at night. I’m afraid I haven’t reached Anthony Trollope’s system of writing every day yet, my health unfortunately doesn’t allow that, but I find that if I can write every day for only three or four months each year, I’ll still make wonderful progress and keep my writing skills from getting rusty. I also set aside time in the months when I struggle to write to keep my author social media platforms and blog up-to-date, as well as advertise and promote my previous books to keep them fresh in people’s minds. I can’t stress how important this step is, and especially when you’re feeling unmotivated and maybe irritated at yourself for not writing. This boosts the sales of your books and helps you feel like you’re still actively doing something, even if you can’t write.

I encourage anyone feeling overwhelmed to try out at least some of the following steps, whatever suits you and your time, health, and other obligations. Not everything works for everyone, and that’s okay. The most important thing is to remember that any and all progress, even just a line or two, is still progress, and a bad page is easier to edit than a blank one. If you have a thought or idea, jot it down. You may not look at it for years, but one day, inspiration will grab you and you’ll be able to break through whatever mental block was limiting you before, if only for a few days.

Set aside even just fifteen minutes a day to jot down a few lines and be as dedicated to this as possible.

Find your genres. When I first started writing I wrote all kinds of things, and most of them were very poor. When I discovered that mystery and historical fiction were the two things I could write well and enjoy, I adopted those and stuck faithfully to them. I’m not saying never go out of your comfort zone, but when you’re exhausted and juggling work and health, that’s not the right time.

Find your people. This is so important. Writers who motivate and encourage other writers are the driving force behind many a book.

Find your motivation. Find what helps and keeps you going. Whether that’s sipping lemonade after every paragraph or rewarding yourself with chocolate, flowers, or coffee (yes, I know authors who do this!) every time you finish a goal, find what works for you and do it. (Personally I buy myself a new research book every time I get published.)

Try not to let your jobs overlap. Don’t be thinking of your regular work during writing time, and don’t brainstorm story ideas while you work. Focus on each task as it comes, and they won’t seem so overwhelming.

Don’t focus on or worry about sales. Remember how many famous authors were not famous in their own lifetimes. Just because something’s not popular now doesn’t mean it never will be. Remember that the written word is deathless, and through it you will be connecting with readers hundreds of years from now. Don’t write for sales, write because you have something to say that you want recorded for future generations.

And lastly, don’t feel discouraged because you don’t write as much or as often as someone else. Set yourself realistic and manageable goals and celebrate when you reach them. Remember that if that day you only have 20%, and you give 20%, you in fact gave 100%.

This has been so much fun doing a blog swap with you, Faith, thank you very much for having me!

To contact and follow Bethany:  https://linktr.ee/bethanywillcock?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=caf3c1f3-114e-4444-9973-3ce04e8a5e8a

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
Do you enjoy mysteries?
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed and you have tasks that need to be accomplished?

Book Available for Purchase

Do you enjoy reading or know someone who does?
https://faithdcox.com/books/

Street Team

Faith’s Faithful Friends Street Team is now open for sign-ups!
You are invited to join the adventure!
All required is to help spread the news, as you feel comfortable, about my writing projects! https://faithdcox.com/faiths-faithful-friends/

Screenplay News

“YOU’LL REMEMBER ME”
Debut short film at https://youtu.be/Vw7fNC9R_NI?feature=shared
Do you have six minutes?
– Written by Faith D. Cox and filmed and produced by Tennessee Valley Christian Filmmakers
Thank you for viewing, sharing, and commenting!

“You’ll Remember Me”
Logline: A young photographer captures memories for others, but due to a temporary memory loss, she can’t remember her own husband.

Awards for “You’ll Remember Me”
November 2024 – Shepherd’s House International Film Festival
Best Christian Micro Short Film Award
November 2024 – Knoxville International Christian Film Festival
Gold Award – Mini Film
Gold Medal – Director – Brad Roberts
Gold Medal – Screenplay – Faith D. Cox
Gold Medal – Lead Actress – Jessica Claire Crosby
Gold Medal – Lead Actor – Christian Daschle
Gold Medal – Composer – Becca Anderson
Gold Medal – Sound Mixer – James Burton
Gold Medal – Cinematography – Cassidy Rickels

All of Faith’s screenplay awards and nominations may be viewed at https://faithdcox.com/screenplays/.

Screenwriting Agent: Eagles Wings Entertainment/The Brock Agency, Inc.
Beverly J. Brock – (828)781-2917
beverly@thebrockagency.com

Bible Verse

“Honor the Lord from your wealth,
And from the first of all your produce.”
Proverbs 3:9 (NASB)

Gold Award-Winning Screenwriter and Author

Faith D. Cox discovered her love of writing with a fourth-grade class assignment. She carried around her spiral notebook for weeks and penned the story. She followed her dream and now, many years later after homeschooling children and having an after-school tutoring business, she is a published author and a Gold- and multi-award-winning professional screenwriter of family-friendly, heartwarming works. She still carries paper and pen wherever she goes so she won’t lose those instantaneous revelations. Faith writes screenplays, children’s books, middle grade books, and women’s fiction, romance, young adult, and tragedy. She has a heart of compassion and is devoted to God, family, and writing as she shares God’s love to encourage, inspire, and entertain through laughter and tears.

Faith welcomes new friends and comments!

Website: https://faithdcox.com
Blog: https://faithdcox.com/blog/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/faithdcox
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/faith-d-cox
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/faithdcox
IMDb: Published Books/Links: https://faithdcox.com/books/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FaithDCox

Happy New Year Readers,

Welcome to 2025!

Are you following the same path as last year, or are you choosing a new one?

Was last year a great success, or do you need to adjust some things in your life?

What are your feelings about this new year? Humdrum, melancholy, anxious, overwhelmed, excited, eager, hopeful, etc.?

Me? I’m excited and hopeful… with a bit of being overwhelmed.

I am excited about the current projects I’m working on and the ones in my mind that I haven’t had time to write on paper yet. I’m hopeful to get a few published this year… and that brings me to the overwhelmed part of not knowing enough yet about formatting and covers to get my works available for you, but I have goals! I’m determined to figure out the publishing process… or ask for some assistance.

What path will you create in 2025?

At the beginning of a new year is a good time to reflect, dream, and set new goals!

If you crossed into 2025 on the straight path, I hope you’ll continue marching forward with your dreams and goals and enjoy the beautiful scenery and receive abundant blessings!

If it’s time you reconsider a few things in your life and you entered into 2025 approaching a fork along your path, I wish you well choosing your direction and hope it brings you many happy dreams, accomplished goals, and bountiful blessings!

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

What are your feelings about the new year?

How does your path ahead look?

INTERESTED IN ENTERING A GIVEAWAY?

Share your thoughts about your 2025 pathway no later than January 24, 2025, and you’ll be entered into the giveaway of my latest bookmark and receive a bonus sticker from my short story, My Heart Still Sings, in Novelists in November anthology. One winner will be randomly chosen and contacted no later than January 27, 2025, to receive 5 bookmarks and 5 stickers – 1 for you to keep and 4 to share! – To qualify, you must live in the United States (due to postage costs) and enter your email address so I can contact you if you’re the winner! – If you are more comfortable with emailing me your email address, please send it to faithdcox@yahoo.com and type “Bookmark Giveaway” in the subject heading. After the giveaway is concluded, all emails will be deleted. They will only be used for this giveaway.

Book Available for Purchase

If you enjoy reading, or know someone who does, your purchase is a way you are able to help me directly with my writing career. Available at https://faithdcox.com/books/.

Reviews on social media sites are appreciated!

Street Team

My street team, Faith’s Faithful Friends, is now open for sign-ups! You are invited to join the adventure! All required is to help spread the news, as you feel comfortable, about my writing projects! https://faithdcox.com/faiths-faithful-friends/

Faith’s Faithful Friends agree to:
*Receive emails with current news and suggested, but not required, ways to help
*Promote books and screenplays on social media sites and in your local community with family, friends, etc.
*Receive electronic book swag inspired by my books and screenplays
*Receive by mail physical book swag inspired by my books and screenplays (Optional for U.S. residents only, due to shipping costs, if you give your mailing address on the sign-up form)

Screenplay News

Have you had 6 minutes yet to watch my debut short on YouTube?
I wrote the screenplay, and Tennessee Valley Christian Filmmakers filmed and produced it.
Thank you for viewing, sharing, and commenting!

“You’ll Remember Me”
Logline: A young photographer captures memories for others, but due to a temporary memory loss, she can’t remember her own husband.

Awards for “You’ll Remember Me”
November 2024 – Shepherd’s House International Film Festival
Best Christian Micro Short Film Award
November 2024 – Knoxville International Christian Film Festival
Gold Award – Mini Film
Gold Medal – Director – Brad Roberts
Gold Medal – Screenplay – Faith D. Cox
Gold Medal – Lead Actress – Jessica Claire Crosby
Gold Medal – Lead Actor – Christian Daschle
Gold Medal – Composer – Becca Anderson
Gold Medal – Sound Mixer – James Burton
Gold Medal – Cinematography – Cassidy Rickels

All of Faith’s screenplay awards and nominations may be viewed at https://faithdcox.com/screenplays/.

Bible Verse

“Thou wilt make known to me the path of life; In thy presence is fulness of joy; In thy right hand there are pleasures forever.”

Psalm 16: 11 (NASB)

Gold Award-Winning Screenwriter and Author

Faith D. Cox discovered her love of writing with a fourth-grade class assignment. She carried around her spiral notebook for weeks and penned the story. She followed her dream and now, many years later after homeschooling children and having an after-school tutoring business, she is a published author and a Gold- and multi-award-winning professional screenwriter of family-friendly, heartwarming works. She still carries paper and pen wherever she goes so she won’t lose those instantaneous revelations. Faith writes screenplays, children’s books, middle grade books, and women’s fiction, romance, young adult, and tragedy. She has a heart of compassion and is devoted to God, family, and writing as she shares God’s love to encourage, inspire, and entertain through laughter and tears.

Faith welcomes new friends and comments!

Website: https://faithdcox.com
Blog: https://faithdcox.com/blog/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/faithdcox
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/faith-d-cox
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/faithdcox
IMDb: Published Books/Links: https://faithdcox.com/books/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FaithDCox

Dear Readers,
Please help me welcome Andrea Renee Cox!

I am honored to have my daughter, and fellow author Andrea Renee Cox, as our guest today. I am blessed to be published again with her in a second anthology… Novelists in November.

How to Fit Writing into a Busy Schedule

by Andrea Renee Cox

Writing is not easy to fit into a busy schedule. Let’s look at some ways it can be done.

#1 Write while kids are in school.

In my new story “Melting-Pot Thanksgiving” (MPT, published in Novelists in November), Sarah Jones writes while her foster children are in school. Those eight hours are when she dives into creativity to create stories that will entertain and encourage middle schoolers.

For me, when I don’t have edit jobs, I write during school hours as well—not because I have kids (I don’t) but because I tutor middle schoolers after school hours. If I get my word count in before my students arrive, I get the evening off to enjoy family time and a movie.

#2 Shut off distractions.

In MPT, Sarah sometimes forgets to silence her phone. This tends to steal some of her writing time and makes it difficult for her to refocus after a difficult conversation with her mother. When she remembers to silence her phone, Sarah has very little trouble meeting her word-count goal for the day.

For me, I actually focus pretty well with background noise. However, I have discovered that music without lyrics is much better for my focus than music with lyrics. It also helps if I use headphones because that helps block out other sounds in the room. Once my headphones are on with lyric-less music, the rest of the distractions are typically “shut off” for my writing session.

#3 Write after the house is quiet.

In MPT, Sarah debates whether she should write for a brief time after her kiddos are asleep. Those are extra minutes that might help her reach that word-count goal if she was distracted with a phone call during her regular working hours.

For me, my favorite time to write is once my door is locked for the night. That would mean tutoring is over and I have my house back to myself—all should be relatively quiet and conducive for exploring creativity. This is typically when I turn on a hockey game or a movie and only listen with half an ear because writing is definitely happening. When I’m on an edit job and meet my page-count quota before tutoring (doesn’t always happen, but the dream is for it to do so!), these evening hours are the only ones I typically get for writing during the weekdays. I try hard to make the most of them.

#4 Write during errands.

In MPT, Sarah brainstorms silently while driving her kids around. Even though she communicates and remains present with her children, she still finds moments to think through aspects of her stories so that she won’t feel blocked when she’s able to get back to her laptop.

For me, I’m a passenger during errands because I don’t drive (there’s definitely a story there, but it’s for another time), so I grab a notebook and pen and work on a story. This could be brainstorming, like Sarah, or it could be drafting or even revising printed-out chapters—anything to make progress during these idle minutes of sitting in a car. Occasionally, I’ll even take my laptop and work on a story that’s only on my computer. On rare occasions, I even pull out my notebook while in the grocery store to make notes that I’m certain I’ll lose if I don’t jot them down immediately. That’s just plain good practice for a writer, to keep a notebook with them at all times for just such a moment.

How do you find unique pockets of writing time in your busy schedule?

About the Book

Novelists in November – a Wild Blue Wonder Press anthology

Novelists in November is a Christian short story collection featuring eleven emotional tales of authors finding their calling in Christ and pursuing hope, joy, and inspiration. This anthology contains touching stories from contemporary and historical fiction authors with a mix of romance, women’s fiction, and mystery!

Andrea Renee Cox: “Melting-Pot Thanksgiving”
Bethany Willcock: “And As She Talked”
Hannah E. Gridley: “Reasons to Be Thankful”
Katja H. Labonté: “Act in the Living Present”
Faith D. Cox: “My Heart Still Sings”
Kellyn Roth: “Tollemache House”
Katie Zeliger: “Finding Beauty in the Suffering”
Shira J. Rodriguez: “The Lost History of Lavender Lockbourne”
Heather Flynn: “Pages of Grace”
Avrie Swan: “The Sound of Healing”
Kelsey Bryant: “Between Moor and Mountain”

About Melting-Pot Thanksgiving

Melting-Pot Thanksgiving by Andrea Renee Cox

Can she create the Imperfect Perfect Thanksgiving?

Sarah Jones has many responsibilities on her plate, but Thanksgiving wasn’t supposed to be one of them. When asked to host the holiday, she can’t push aside the task, even if it means dealing with her mother’s interference. As Sarah juggles meal preparations, a tight writing deadline, and guiding her two foster children through difficult life events, she must also find the courage to buck high expectations and family traditions. 

Will the trials of strained communication, disappointment, heartache, and altered plans strengthen Sarah’s God-given novelist dreams? Will this imperfect yet dutiful daughter find a way to craft the perfect Thanksgiving dinner?

Book Links

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D7KX58NB
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/novelists-in-november-a-wild-blue-wonder-press-anthology-by-kellyn-roth-and-katie-zeliger
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/215022493-novelists-in-november
Wild Blue Wonder Press Shop: https://wildbluewonderpress.com/novelists-in-november/

About Andrea Renee Cox

Born and raised in north Texas, Andrea Renee Cox is a born-again child of God who enjoys writing stories that inspire, copyediting fiction manuscripts, tutoring middle school students, and going on road trips with her family. Whether she’s working on historical or contemporary, women’s fiction, romance, or romantic tragedy, she uses her skills in research and writing techniques—as well as a large dose of prayer and guidance from God—at every turn in the journey to produce the best story of her ability every single time. Her books may be found on her website, and readers are welcome to follow her blog and subscribe to her newsletter for the latest updates in her journey. 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/andreareneecox
Blog: https://andreareneecox.com/blog/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/andrea-renee-cox
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/andreacox
Newsletter: https://andreareneecox.com/newsletter/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/andreareneecoxauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/screenwriter87
Website: https://andreareneecox.com

Street Team

My street team, Faith’s Faithful Friends, is now open for sign-ups! You are invited to join the adventure! All required is to help spread the news, as you feel comfortable, about my writing projects! https://faithdcox.com/faiths-faithful-friends/

Faith’s Faithful Friends agree to:
*Receive emails with current news and suggested, but not required, ways to help
*Promote books and screenplays on social media sites and in your local community with family, friends, etc.
*Receive electronic book swag inspired by my books and screenplays
*Receive by mail physical book swag inspired by my books and screenplays (Optional for U.S. residents only, due to shipping costs, if you give your mailing address on the sign-up form)

Screenplay News

Have you had 6 minutes yet to watch my debut short on YouTube?
I wrote the screenplay, and Tennessee Valley Christian Filmmakers filmed and produced it.
Thank you for viewing, sharing, and commenting!

“You’ll Remember Me”
Logline: A young photographer captures memories for others, but due to a temporary memory loss, she can’t remember her own husband.

Bible Verse

“for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2:11 (NASB)

Wishing you and your family a very “Merry Christmas!”

Sunshine Blogger Award

Thank you, Andrea Renee Cox, for the nomination for the Sunshine Blogger Award! I’m grateful to have my blog considered as one of the sunshine places to visit in the social media world.

What is your favorite genre of movie?
A good heartfelt dramaCozy sweaters or sundresses?
Cozy sweatersWhat’s the movie that made you fall in love with vintage films? (If you haven’t yet fallen in love with them, give Roman Holiday a try.)
One of my favorites is It Happened on 5th AvenueWhat’s a book that is comparable to your current work-in-progress?
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls WilderWhat would your ideal work space be like?
A closed-door room with a desk and chair, an additional comfy chair, some plants and flowers, a bookshelf with some empty space for my future published works, and a serene window viewWhat soundtrack can you not live without?
I don’t have a favoriteIf you could go anywhere in the United States, where would you go and why?
I don’t have a preferred place. It would be wherever my family is.What is a motto, verse, or proverb you live by (or that reflects the way you live)?
“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Deuteronomy 6:5 (NASB)What is your favorite type of book swag?
I enjoy printing bookmarks to promote my works, and it’s fun to receive bookmarks from other authors to see their projects.Have you ever attended a conference of any type? Share what type and if you’d go back again.
I’ve attended local writing camps. I’m not sure that counts as a conference, but I would attend them again.What is the Bible verse you’re clinging to right now?
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…”
James 4:8 (NASB)

Faith D. Cox discovered her love of writing with a fourth-grade class assignment. She carried around her spiral notebook for weeks and penned the story. She followed her dream and now, many years later after homeschooling children and having an after-school tutoring business, she is a published author and a multi-award-winning professional screenwriter of family-friendly, heartwarming works. She still carries paper and pen wherever she goes so she won’t lose those instantaneous revelations. Faith writes screenplays, children’s books, middle grade books, and women’s fiction, romance, young adult, and tragedy. She has a heart of compassion and is devoted to God, family, and writing as she shares God’s love to encourage, inspire, and entertain through laughter and tears.

Faith greatly appreciates the writing and reading community and welcomes new friends and comments!

Website: https://faithdcox.com
Blog: https://faithdcox.com/blog/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/faithdcox
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/faith-d-cox
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/faithdcox
IMDb: Published Books/Links: https://faithdcox.com/books/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FaithDCox

Dear Readers,
Today, I’m giving a BIG shout-out for Novelists in November anthology! This is part of the Novelists in November Blog Tour! Please see the full tour schedule below. You may visit the host Kellyn Roth on her blog to find more information.

Novelists in November is a Christian short story collection featuring eleven emotional tales of authors finding their calling in Christ and pursuing hope, joy, and inspiration. This anthology contains touching stories from contemporary and historical fiction authors with a mix of romance, women’s fiction, and mystery.

Featured Stories/Authors

Melting-Pot Thanksgiving by Andrea Renee Cox
And As She Talked by Bethany Willcock
Reasons to Be Thankful by Hannah E. Gridley
Act in the Living Present by Katja H. Labonté
My Heart Still Sings by Faith D. Cox
Tollemache House by Kellyn Roth
Finding Beauty in the Suffering by Katie Zeliger
The Lost History of Lavender Lockbourne by Shira J. Rodriguez
Pages of Grace by Heather Flynn
The Sound of Healing by Avrie Swan
Between Moor and Mountain by Kelsey Bryant

Mother-Daughter duo published together!
An extra special blessing for me is that I’m being published with my daughter Andrea Renee Cox!

My Heart Still Sings by Faith D. Cox
Seventeen-year-old Kaylee McKenzie has her heart set on winning a Summer Olympics gold medal—not creating a fake protagonist for a writing contest with a bunch of geeks… until an afternoon adventure forces her plans to change. Will she sink with grief, or can she resurface through her pain?

Melting-Pot Thanksgiving by Andrea Renee Cox
An imperfect daughter must pull off the perfect Thanksgiving while meeting her tight writing deadline and helping her two foster kids deal with difficult times.

Preorder Goodies + Giveaway
If you preorder before November 19, 2024, you’ll receive preorder goodies and be entered into an exclusive giveaway:
https://wildbluewonderpress.com/novelists-in-november/

Blog Tour Giveaway

Everyone who enters the blog tour for the release of Novelists in November will be entered to win a free paperback copy of the novel and a $25 Amazon gift card!

Enter the giveaway using the link below:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/cbb544c922/
Rules
Entrants must be 18+ or have parental permission to enter. This giveaway is open to US and international winners.

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, Nov. 11th
Intro Post by Kell @ Lilacs & Reveries
“Write Into Fall Tag” by Andrea @ Andrea Renee Cox & screenwriter87 (Twitter/X)
Anthology Spotlight + Interview with Andrea Renee Cox  by Sara G. Miller @ Baking Up Stories
Interview with Heather Flynn by DevotedToHope @ Devoted To Hope
Interview with Shira J. Rodriguez by Moriyah Cordova @ Fable Rose

Tuesday, Nov. 12th
Anthology Spotlight by M.C. Kennedy @ Graceful Reflections & Instagram
Anthology Spotlight by Faith Gilliosa @ Faith on the Farm
Interview with Andrea Renee Cox by DevotedToHope @ Devoted To Hope

Wednesday, Nov. 13th
Anthology Spotlight by Faith @ FaithDCox.com/blog & FaithDCox (X/Twitter)
Anthology Spotlight & Interview with Faith D. Cox by DevotedToHope @ Devoted To Hope
Interview with Bethany Willcock by DevotedToHope @ Devoted To Hope

Thursday, Nov. 14th
Interview with Andrea Renee Cox by Alena @
Anthology Spotlight by Lorelei Angelino on Facebook
Interview with Katja H. Labonté by DevotedToHope @ Devoted To Hope

Friday, Nov. 15th
Resharing of “Write Into Fall Tag” by Andrea Renee Cox @ screenwriter87 (Twitter/X)
Anthology Spotlight by Riley G. @ Nerd of the Arts
Guest Post from Kellyn Roth by Rachel Leitch @  ProseWorthy
Anthology/Story Review by Moriyah Cordova @ Fable Rose 

Monday, Nov. 18th
Interview with Kelsey Bryant by Faith Blum @ faithblumauthor (Instagram) 
“Release Day Tomorrow” by Andrea Renee Cox @ Andrea Renee Cox & screenwriter87 (Twitter/X)

Tuesday, Nov. 19th (LAUNCH DAY)
“Introducing . . . Novelists in November” by Kell @ Lilacs & Reveries
Anthology/Story Review by M.C. Kennedy @ Graceful Reflections & mckennedy.author (Instagram)
Interview with Bethany Willcock by Faith Gilliosa @ Faith on the Farm
Anthology Spotlight by Moriyah Cordova @ Fable Rose 
Anthology/Story Review by DevotedToHope @ Devoted To Hope 

Wednesday, Nov. 20th
Guest Post & Giveaway by Faith D. Cox @ Deena Adams’s blog
Anthology/Story Review  by Emma @ Emma Crooks + newsletter & Anthology Spotlight on emma.crooks.books (Instagram) 

Thursday, Nov. 21st
Guest Post from Kellyn Roth by Cate VanNostrand @ Southern Story Scribbler
Anthology Spotlight by Naomi Sowell @ naomisowellwrites (Instagram)  

Friday, Nov. 22nd
Wrapup Post by Kell @ Lilacs & Reveries
Resharing of “Release Day Tomorrow” by Andrea Renee Cox @ screenwriter87 (Twitter/X)
Interview with Katja H. Labonté by Riley G. @ Nerd of the Arts
Guest Post from Kellyn Roth by Moriyah Cordova @ Fable Rose

Faith’s Faithful Friends Street Team Begins!

Would you like to support me in my writing journey? My street team, Faith’s Faithful Friends, is now open for sign-ups! You are invited to join the adventure!

Faith’s Faithful Friends agree to:
*Receive emails with current news and ways to help
*Promote books and screenplays on social media sites and in your local community
*Receive electronic book swag inspired by my books and screenplays
*Receive by mail physical book swag inspired by my books and screenplays (for U.S. residents only, due to shipping costs, if you give your mailing address on the sign-up form – this is optional)

Screenplay News

My 6-minute short film released early on October 4, 2024!
I wrote the screenplay, and Tennessee Valley Christian Filmmakers filmed and produced it.
Thank you for viewing, sharing, commenting, and giving it a thumbs-up if you enjoy it!

“You’ll Remember Me”
Logline: A young photographer captures memories for others, but due to a temporary memory loss, she can’t remember her own husband.

Bible Verse

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9 (NASB)

Faith D. Cox discovered her love of writing with a fourth-grade class assignment. She carried around her spiral notebook for weeks and penned the story. She followed her dream and now, many years later after homeschooling children and having an after-school tutoring business, she is a published author and a multi-award-winning professional screenwriter of family-friendly, heartwarming works. She still carries paper and pen wherever she goes so she won’t lose those instantaneous revelations. Faith writes screenplays, children’s books, middle grade books, and women’s fiction, romance, young adult, and tragedy. She has a heart of compassion and is devoted to God, family, and writing as she shares God’s love to encourage, inspire, and entertain through laughter and tears.

Faith greatly appreciates the writing and reading community and welcomes new friends and comments!

Website: https://faithdcox.com
Blog: https://faithdcox.com/blog/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/faithdcox
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/faith-d-cox
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/faithdcox
IMDb: Published Books/Links: https://faithdcox.com/books/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FaithDCox

Dear Readers,
Please help me welcome Katja H. Labonté! She is a fellow author in Novelists in November anthology being released November 19, 2024.

Today, I’m here to talk about Act in the Living Present, my story for the Novelist in November anthology. Honestly, that was one of the hardest stories to write. I don’t know when I started it exactly, but I know it was hanging over my head for weeks, even months. I didn’t have an idea. Worse, I didn’t have a message. I write primarily to sort out my emotions/thoughts and it’s through my writing that God shows me the lessons He’s teaching me, so usually the story I write is first and foremost a theme, and secondly a story.

Well, this was all around March 2024. I was drained, exhausted, worried, you name it. Life was a little chaotic around then and mostly, I was struggling heavily with guilt, shame, and anxiety. I was 23, without a real job, and totally unsure of what to do with my life, procrastinating doing anything because I was scared of messing up, and horribly shamed because I didn’t know what to do. I was lost… and I was freaking out because I had a ton of anthologies I wanted to enter, and a lot of writing issues. In fact, I wrote and immediately shelved a story because of how horrendous it was.

At some point, Bethany Willcock, my trusty partner in crime—er, writing—suggested a Secret Garden x Little Princess mystery, and I jumped at the idea. That didn’t get me much further, though… I still had no message, no idea what to write, and no idea how to start, either. I scrawled a few brainstormy notes and spent day after day hoping something would magically turn up.

According to my notes, on February 7th I began Autumn Music, a contemporary autumnal short story about a girl living in a cabin in the woods, struggling with writer’s block. But writing was like pulling teeth and Autumn Music did NOT want to be written. I kept fighting until finally on March 6th God suddenly struck me with a lightning bolt of an idea: a theme and idea for a Novelist in November story, which I promptly forgot and then had to piece back together. Eagerly, I began to write a genre I had never tried before: WWII. I love WWII fiction and nonfiction, but I never wanted to write it. But this time, everything fell together, somehow. My story focused on a 23-year-old orphan named Myriam Margaret Carey, newly immigrated from Canada, whose brother had gone MIA and who, being penniless, had to go live with an unknown aunt in Yorkshire or something.  I had a poem to weave into the brilliant theme, some fantastic ideas for Secret Garden and Little Princess elements, and a boatload of unexpected enthusiasm. The story flowed marvellously well, and for the first time in a long while, I WAS REALLY WRITING.

This all lasted for four delightful days. Then I realized my little retelling (by now entitled Something Bright in All) wasn’t going to be in Novelist in November after all. The crazy story decided it was gonna be a novel. So I returned to Autumn Music, which wanted nothing to do with me. I finally gave up on it and tried to come up with a new idea for Novelist in November.

So that’s where I was when in late March I travelled with my sister to spend 3 days with some dear, dear friends during their holiday. That night we watched “I Heard the Bells” (2022). I was enthralled. I related so heavily to Longfellow’s writing block and depression… and I adored his poetry.

I think it was around 11 P.M. that the golden idea struck.

What if I wrote a prequel to Something Bright in All?

So the next morning, when everything was quiet and everyone else started writing, I cracked open my computer and brainstormed. I already knew I wanted a story based on a theme. And after a lot of researching I decided to go with what I had originally decided on, Longfellow’s A Psalm of Life, which I had long adored. (I should always go with my first ideas. It would save so much time if I learned this.)

But then I had to actually write this shiny story idea.

And around 11 A.M. that morning, I settled at my friend’s kitchen table, opened a new document on my computer, and started writing. I just went crazy, doing whatever my mind said and going with the flow. By lunch time, I had about a thousand words and oh-so-much excitement. I remember I reverted incessantly to my story as we took our hike that afternoon. I was even more hugely inspired when we watched “The Man Who Invented Christmas” (2017), which focuses on Charles Dickens struggling with writing, and motivated me intensely.

I didn’t write much for the rest of the visit, which was crammed full, but eventually, once I got home, I was able to flesh out my idea for real. And here it is, in all its glory:

Act in the Living Present. It’s inspired by The Secret Garden + A Little Princess, but being a prequel/prologue it only retells the beginning, the part where both main characters become orphans. The rest will come in Something Bright in All! Set in 1938 Québec, it features Myriam Carey, a wealthy young writer with unloving, uninvolved parents, struggling to find her purpose in the world, both generally and as a writer.

Yes, the theme came, finally. When everyone else seems to have their life figured out, whether it’s uni, working, marriage, or even family, it’s pretty tough to be a girl wondering what your purpose is in life… and that’s what God had to talk me through, in the shape of a story. I can’t spoil the story, but I assure you this tale comes from my heart—the deepest, rawest parts of it that the Lord is slowly working on.

And then there were other things worked in too. You see, I’m a Mixed Culture Kid (MCK), with my mother being an anglophone English Canadian and my father being a francophone Québécois. I’ve grown up bilingual, but due to various life circumstances I’ve found myself more comfortable speaking, thinking, and writing in English. But there’s a catch—I speak English like a French person, or rather, I speak French with English words. Grammar, figures of speech, and the little bits of language are hard for me, and French will always be the language of my heart and the one that I think is the most beautiful… yet English is the language of my voice. It’s hard to explain.

Anyways, there’s also a whole aspect of political and cultural tension and struggle between Canada and the rest of Québec. I’ve internalized a lot of anglophone hate about my people + culture over the years, and it wasn’t until I was an adult that I started to take pride and satisfaction in who I am and who we are. Then the opposite end of the balance happened—I started to feel guilty because I wasn’t a “good enough” Québécoise, because I love England and prefer English to French in writing and conversation. Because of the tensions between the two cultures, I’ve never really written about my people before, and this story was my first foray into writing, in English, about me and my culture… my first attempt to explain us and share my love + pride. I had so much fun sneaking in bits of my personal family into the story!

And if you’re curious, I did finish Autumn Music after all. An all-wise Father knew what it was fitted for: another anthology I’d signed a contract with. Through that story, he taught me about being okay with having a different life than what the world calls “good.” Being okay with not having a prestigious title or well-paying career or the expected achievements. And you know what? Turns out the main character of Autumn Music is Myriam’s great-granddaughter.

Myriam and I still have a long way to go. God keeps teaching me new things and asking me to write them down. I’m intimidated by what He’s calling me to, but I know that while I can’t do it, he can… and really, the only reason why I’m here is because He’s asking me to be. (Do you know how stressful publication is? I’d much rather just write my little stories for me and bury them in my blog for a few faithful readers to find. )

I guess the moral of all this is: no writing is ever wasted; trust God’s plan; and keep seeking, because He says you will find what you need.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, he’s laid a new story on my heart and I’ll have no peace till I type it out.

Katja H. Labonté is a Christian, an extreme bibliophile who devours over 365 books in a year, and an exuberant writer with a talent for starting short stories that explode into book series. She is a bilingual French-Canadian and has about a dozen topics she’s excessively passionate about (hint: that’s why she writes). Katja writes both contemporary and historical fiction, as well as non-magical historical and contemporary kingdom fiction, and covers themes of worth, love, peace, and Christian growth. She spends her days enjoying little things, growing in faith, learning life, and loving people. You can follow her life journey, find free books, browse her services, and more on her website and blog littleblossomsforjesus.wordpress.com.  

BOOK NEWS

NOVELISTS IN NOVEMBER ANTHOLOGY
Novelists in November is a Christian short story collection featuring eleven emotional tales of authors finding their calling in Christ and pursuing hope, joy, and inspiration. This anthology contains touching stories from contemporary and historical fiction authors with a mix of romance, women’s fiction, and mystery!

11 Authors – 11 Stories!

My story – My Heart Still Sings by Faith D. Cox
Seventeen-year-old Kaylee McKenzie has her heart set on winning a Summer Olympics gold medal—not creating a fake protagonist for a writing contest with a bunch of geeks. However, during an afternoon adventure, her lifelong swimming dream is ripped away. As she struggles with physical limitations and grief, will her friends remain by her side? Will she become a swimmer-turned-novelist or hide in her wheelchair as the world passes her by?

A Favorite Quote from “My Heart Still Sings”
“Could there be anything more embarrassing, and boring, than spending hours making up stories about fake characters?“

Preorder Goodies + Giveaway
If you preorder before November 19, 2024, you’ll receive preorder goodies and be entered into an exclusive giveaway:
https://wildbluewonderpress.com/novelists-in-november/

BLOG GUEST
I was honored to be a guest on Story Anchor’s blog. If you would like to read the article and say, “Hello” to hostess A.B. Swinborne, please go to https://storyanchor.blogspot.com/2024/09/faith-d-cox.html.

SCREENPLAY NEWS
Happy surprise! My 6-minute short film released early on October 4, 2024!
I wrote the screenplay, and Tennessee Valley Christian Filmmakers filmed and produced it.
Thank you for viewing, sharing, commenting, and giving it a thumbs-up if you enjoy it!

“You’ll Remember Me”
Logline: A young photographer captures memories for others, but due to a temporary memory loss, she can’t remember her own husband.

SUBSCRIBE BUTTON
I am more than a bit slow learning new technology to get things accomplished that I would like to have accomplished. I finally figured out how to insert the “Subscribe Button” on various pages of my website. Are you laughing? Oh, I’ll chuckle right along with you! You know the saying, “It’s hard teaching an old dog new tricks.” It seems quite fitting at times.:)
If you’ve been trying to subscribe and couldn’t find that tiny, single button, you should be able to more easily subscribe now to my website. I appreciate each one of you!

BIBLE VERSE
“Do not be wise in your own eyes.
Fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your body,
And refreshment to your bones.” Proverbs 3: 7-8 (NASB)

Faith D. Cox discovered her love of writing with a fourth-grade class assignment. She carried around her spiral notebook for weeks and penned the story. She followed her dream and now, many years later after homeschooling children and having an after-school tutoring business, she is a published author and a multi-award-winning professional screenwriter of family-friendly, heartwarming works. She still carries paper and pen wherever she goes so she won’t lose those instantaneous revelations. Faith writes screenplays, children’s books, middle grade books, and women’s fiction, romance, young adult, and tragedy. She has a heart of compassion and is devoted to God, family, and writing as she shares God’s love to encourage, inspire, and entertain through laughter and tears.

Faith greatly appreciates the writing and reading community and welcomes new friends and comments!

Website: https://faithdcox.com
Blog: https://faithdcox.com/blog/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/faithdcox
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/faith-d-cox
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/faithdcox
IMDb: Published Books/Links: https://faithdcox.com/books/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FaithDCox

Hello, Readers!

Please help me welcome our guest this month… A.B. Swinborne!

“The great stories, Mr. Frodo, the ones that really mattered…Folk in those stories had a lot of chances to turn and go back. Only they didn’t because they were holding onto something… That there is some good in this world. And it’s worth fighting for.” 

-Samwise Gamgee, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Hello everyone and thank you Faith for hosting me! My name is A.B. Swinborne and above is my favorite quote from the Lord of the Rings movies. Darkness hems us in but light prevails. Good versus evil. The protagonist against the antagonist. That’s what makes a story great, isn’t it? 

In today’s storytelling world, going anywhere from books to movies, that is about all we get on average. So why are some so painful to read or watch while others grab us and hold our attention for hours on end? The answer is just two simple words: character growth. There aren’t many developing characters. 

As an author and avid reader, this is something I’ve seen as a growing trend in the storytelling world. Fast plots, cute romance, lots of tension, but no development. The characters don’t grow with the story and so the readers and viewers don’t care. 

Less and less of today’s stories are truly impactful or God honoring. And thus, reader after reader picks them up to get cheesy romance or momentary thrills, then puts the book down and forgets everything. They don’t stick with you and they don’t matter. And more than anything else, they are not the stories we should be consuming. 

A bad story is one that we don’t care about while reading or watching it. A good story will at least be entertaining, but it is great stories that stick. They stick because the character’s growth taught you something or helped you through something. 

The Lord has given this world stories not just to entertain but to teach. Whether you’re a writer, a reader, or both, I hope that this is something that will stick with you. 

. . . . .

Thank you everyone who read this. I hope that it was informative and helpful. If you have any questions feel free to drop it in the comments. I’ll do my best to respond. And if you’d like to support my writing you can join my email list or subscribe to my blog. 

Thank you again Faith for hosting and supporting me. 

. . . . .

A.B. Swinborne is a young author who has published on Kingdom Pen and Havok, and she posts weekly on her blog, Story Anchor. She has also written several full-length stories such as the freebie for her email list, which is a historical fiction about a Jewish boy right before World War 1. These and other stories are focused on God and His glory. When she’s not writing, Abigail can be found enjoying a good book or tending to her garden.

Blog: storyanchor.blogspot.com 

Email List: https://story-anchor.ck.page/b0d556afb4

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/Story_Anchor/

BOOK NEWS

NOVELISTS IN NOVEMBER ANTHOLOGY
Novelists in November is a Christian short story collection featuring eleven emotional tales of authors finding their calling in Christ and pursuing hope, joy, and inspiration. This anthology contains touching stories from contemporary and historical fiction authors with a mix of romance, women’s fiction, and mystery!

11 Authors – 11 Stories!

My story – My Heart Still Sings by Faith D. Cox
Seventeen-year-old Kaylee McKenzie has her heart set on winning a Summer Olympics gold medal—not creating a fake protagonist for a writing contest with a bunch of geeks. However, during an afternoon adventure, her lifelong swimming dream is ripped away. As she struggles with physical limitations and grief, will her friends remain by her side? Will she become a swimmer-turned-novelist or hide in her wheelchair as the world passes her by?

A Favorite Quote from “My Heart Still Sings”
“Mom grabbed a tissue and dabbed at my tears, but I was most certain one tissue wasn’t going to make much difference.”

Preorder Goodies + Giveaway
If you preorder before November 19, 2024, you’ll receive preorder goodies and be entered into an exclusive giveaway:
https://wildbluewonderpress.com/novelists-in-november/

SCREENPLAY NEWS

My short screenplay YOU’LL REMEMBER ME has completed filming!

Release date: October 26, 2024

Logline: As the temporary memory loss occurs again, the young female finds a stranger in her house and must decide if his evidence proves he’s really her husband or some psychotic stranger in her house.

Faith D. Cox discovered her love of writing with a fourth-grade class assignment. She carried around her spiral notebook for weeks and penned the story. She followed her dream and now, many years later after homeschooling children and having an after-school tutoring business, she is a published author and a multi-award-winning professional screenwriter of family-friendly, heartwarming works. She still carries paper and pen wherever she goes so she won’t lose those instantaneous revelations. Faith writes screenplays, children’s books, middle grade books, and women’s fiction, romance, young adult, and tragedy. She has a heart of compassion and is devoted to God, family, and writing as she shares God’s love to encourage, inspire, and entertain through laughter and tears.

Faith greatly appreciates the writing and reading community and welcomes new friends and comments!

Website: https://faithdcox.com
Blog: https://faithdcox.com/blog/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/faithdcox
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/faith-d-cox
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/faithdcox
IMDb: Published Books/Links: https://faithdcox.com/books/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FaithDCox

Readers, please help me welcome Author E.F. Buckles!
She has included her links so you may give her a follow, and/or feel free to comment on this blog and say, “Hello!”

Hi, everyone, and a big thanks to Faith for hosting me today. My name is Elizabeth, I write under the penname E.F. Buckles and I am a Christian who loves to write. While not all of my work is explicitly Christian Fiction, I make sure that every story I write, short or long, has God-honoring themes, such as truth, justice, and hope.

I didn’t start writing until my college years, but God planted the seed in my heart early with a voracious love of reading! Speculative fiction is my area of expertise. (Fantasy and scifi, to be specific). While I love reading all genres, the speculative ones are special to me because of how they let us ask “what if,” and I feel that these genres are at their best when they cultivate a renewed sense of wonder, not just for a story world, but for the real world. When I write, I feel like I’m imitating the creative nature of my Father God. My efforts are imperfect, of course, but His strength is made perfect in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9) and I pray that He guides my pen so that my stories ultimately point to Him.

I have dreams of having my novels published someday, but in the meantime, I’ve had two short stories published, with a third appearing in a new anthology this October! The anthology is called “Charlottesville Fantastic” from Whitaker Lyon Press.* The concept behind it was for people to write stories set in and around Charlottesville, Virginia (where the press is located) but with a speculative twist. My story, “Thaw,” is written from the perspective of a dragon who was turned to stone inside the borders of Shenandoah National Park, and she is stuck that way, observing the history of the park, until a young girl finds her and visits her regularly. As the dragon begins to care about the girl, the love in her heart thaws her from her stone prison, which is why I titled the story, “Thaw.” The anthology has an expected release date of October 15.

My favorite thing about this story is the way that it combines fantasy with a real-life location. I had a lot of fun researching the park in order to write it, and you might be surprised what things I had to research! Did you know that settlers lived in that area before the government took the land in order to create the park? To this day, you can still find ruins and other evidence of the old homes that were abandoned.

And when I needed to know how the park goes about building new trails, my mother shared with me that, when she was young, she participated in the “Youth Corps” program, which is a summer work program that the park has for teens where they do things like build new trails and learn about conservation. The corps is still an active program to this day, and it found its way into my story, too! 

I hope that everyone who reads this story enjoys it as much as I enjoyed writing it, and that it points you to hope.

If you would like to follow me on social media, I am most active on Instagram @efbuckleswriter, though you can also find me on Pinterest and Threads under the same handle, and @Eruvandi on Twitter. I hope to figure out a newsletter before too long and I will announce it on these sites when I do, along with any future publishing news.

*Please note: I have not read the other stories in the collection and therefore cannot make statements or guarantees about the content therein, such as language, violence, or innuendo. The publisher set a PG-13 limit when they made the call for stories, so please keep this in mind if you choose to pick up the anthology. My story, “Thaw,” has no language or innuendo but does hint that a young girl is dealing with physical abuse at home. However, there are no graphic descriptions of abuse, and the story points to hope for her future.

OTHER BOOK NEWS

NOVELISTS IN NOVEMBER ANTHOLOGY
Novelists in November is a Christian short story collection featuring eleven emotional tales of authors finding their calling in Christ and pursuing hope, joy, and inspiration. This anthology contains touching stories from contemporary and historical fiction authors with a mix of romance, women’s fiction, and mystery!

11 Authors – 11 Stories!

My story – My Heart Still Sings by Faith D. Cox
Seventeen-year-old Kaylee McKenzie has her heart set on winning a Summer Olympics gold medal—not creating a fake protagonist for a writing contest with a bunch of geeks. However, during an afternoon adventure, her lifelong swimming dream is ripped away. As she struggles with physical limitations and grief, will her friends remain by her side? Will she become a swimmer-turned-novelist or hide in her wheelchair as the world passes her by?

A Favorite Snippet from “My Heart Still Sings”
“I rolled over and punched the alarm clock as my head bobbed to the upbeat tune of ‘My Turn Now.’ Steven Curtis Chapman certainly knew how to put a pep in my step at five a.m.“

Preorder Goodies + Giveaway
If you preorder before November 19, 2024, you’ll receive preorder goodies and be entered into an exclusive giveaway:
https://wildbluewonderpress.com/novelists-in-november/

SCREENPLAY NEWS

My feature screenplay SAVING ROSEBURG RANCH
placed as a Semi-finalist!
Logline: Never wanting to be a mother herself after being abandoned by her own at the age of nine, the female rancher must convince her younger brother to take guardianship of their ten-year-old orphaned, city kid, nephew dropped on her doorstep that neither desire to rear, while she attempts to discover the culprit trying to steal her three-generation ranch and leave her homeless.

Faith D. Cox discovered her love of writing with a fourth-grade class assignment. She carried around her spiral notebook for weeks and penned the story. She followed her dream and now, many years later after homeschooling children and having an after-school tutoring business, she is a published author and a multi-award-winning professional screenwriter of family-friendly, heartwarming works. She still carries paper and pen wherever she goes so she won’t lose those instantaneous revelations. Faith writes screenplays, children’s books, middle grade books, and women’s fiction, romance, young adult, and tragedy. She has a heart of compassion and is devoted to God, family, and writing as she shares God’s love to encourage, inspire, and entertain through laughter and tears.

Faith greatly appreciates the writing and reading community and welcomes new friends and comments!

Website: https://faithdcox.com
Blog: https://faithdcox.com/blog/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/faithdcox
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/faith-d-cox
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/faithdcox
IMDb:Published Books/Links: https://faithdcox.com/books/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FaithDCox

I am excited to share a variety of updates with you this month! I have book news and screenplay news along with photos of sunflowers from my small, first-time ever personal sunflower garden, and photos from a fireworks show our family attended in celebration of our country’s freedom.

Not only is My Heart Still Sings a title of a short story I’m going to share with you, but my heart does still sing about all the blessings the Lord has given.

BOOK NEWS:
Do you enjoy reading! Do you need a birthday or Christmas idea for those readers in your life?

My Heart Still Sings was accepted into NOVELISTS IN NOVEMBER anthology and preorders are now available! Do you like to read? Do your family, friends, or coworkers enjoy reading? The anthology is comprised of 11 contemporary and historical fiction stories by 11 authors! Goodies and an opportunity for a giveaway are available to those who preorder before the official release date of November 19, 2024.

My Heart Still Sings by Faith D. Cox
Seventeen-year-old Kaylee McKenzie has her heart set on winning a Summer Olympics gold medal—not creating a fake protagonist for a writing contest with a bunch of geeks. However, during an afternoon adventure, her lifelong swimming dream is ripped away. As she struggles with physical limitations and grief, will her friends remain by her side? Will she become a swimmer-turned-novelist or hide in her wheelchair as the world passes her by?

A Favorite Story Quote
“Success isn’t always measured in gold, silver, or bronze.”

ABOUT NOVELISTS IN NOVEMBER ANTHOLOGY
Novelists in November is a Christian short story collection featuring eleven emotional tales of authors finding their calling in Christ and pursuing hope, joy, and inspiration. This anthology contains touching stories from contemporary and historical fiction authors with a mix of romance, women’s fiction, and mystery!

11 Authors – 11 Stories!

Preorder Goodies + Giveaway
Do you want to be one of the first people to receive a copy of Novelists in November?

Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D7KX58NB

Paperback: https://wildbluewonderpress.com/product/novelists-in-november-paperback-preorder/

If you preorder before November 19, 2024, you’ll receive preorder goodies and be entered into an exclusive giveaway:

Preorder Goodies and Giveaway: https://wildbluewonderpress.com/preorders/

Please share this article with your family and friends! Maybe they would like to claim a copy of the book and their own goodies.

Do you like to review books? Please feel free to share your honest review!

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/novelists-in-november-a-wild-blue-wonder-press-anthology-by-kellyn-roth-and-katie-zeliger

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/215022493-novelists-in-november

Your support is greatly appreciated!

About the Short Stories
Melting-Pot Thanksgiving by Andrea Renee Cox
An imperfect daughter must pull off the perfect Thanksgiving while meeting her tight writing deadline and helping her two foster kids deal with difficult times.

And As She Talked by Bethany Willcock
A writer seeking rest and quiet in a country inn finds herself spiraling down a path of seeming insanity when her story starts randomly coming to life around her …

Reasons to Be Thankful by Hannah E. Gridley
A woman is in search of new dreams after losing the life she loved in a near-fatal accident, but when she has trouble finding words for the next novel in her series, she might lose that dream too.

Act in the Living Present by Katja H. Labonté
In 1934 Québec, a young woman has one burning question: How does one make her life and writing worthwhile?

My Heart Still Sings by Faith D. Cox
An Olympics-bound swimmer meets with a life-changing accident and struggles to resurface through her pain.

Tollemache House by Kellyn Roth
A newlywed author Effie Harriot must finish her next novel in a month—or risk her family’s livelihood.

Finding Beauty in Suffering by Katie Zeliger
When Rowena’s best friend surprises her with a NaNoWriMo retreat at a German castle, she must confront her unresolved grief and rekindle her faith amidst a community of quirky creatives.

The Lost History of Lavender Lockbourne by Shira J. Rodriguez
A young and timid bestselling author with terminal leukemia must look for the parents she lost in a foreign country before her time runs out.

Pages of Grace by Heather Flynn
An overworked woman struggles to find her purpose in life amidst tough work decisions while also trying to rediscover her joy in writing.

The Sound of Healing by Avrie Swan
A young woman with a dark past must confront her memories in order to achieve her dream of becoming an author.

Between Moor and Mountain by Kelsey Bryant
A thirty-year-old woman with broken dreams travels to Scotland, longing to regain hope and restore her ability to write.

SCREENPLAY NEWS:

This is my second year in a row to place on “The Hot 100 List” with Capital Fund Screenplay Contest!

MIRANDA’S SILVER CHRISTMAS
The single photographer, amidst a bungled relationship, has six months to overcome the austere board of directors’ strict guidelines and keep a promise she made to her dying mother and find a daughter by Christmas.

SUNFLOWERS:
This is the first year I’ve planted sunflower seeds. Here are a couple of my beauties!

FIREWORKS:
These photos are from a small town in Texas that new how to display a sensational fireworks show in celebration of our freedom! These are just a few photos I took from the 45-minute show. HAPPY BELATED 4th of JULY!

Faith D. Cox discovered her love of writing with a fourth-grade class assignment. She carried around her spiral notebook for weeks and penned the story. She followed her dream and now, many years later after homeschooling children and having an after-school tutoring business, she is a published author and a multi-award-winning professional screenwriter of family-friendly, heartwarming works. She still carries paper and pen wherever she goes so she won’t lose those instantaneous revelations. Faith writes screenplays, children’s books, middle grade books, and women’s fiction, romance, young adult, and tragedy. She has a heart of compassion and is devoted to God, family, and writing as she shares God’s love to encourage, inspire, and entertain through laughter and tears.

Faith enjoys living in Texas and spending time with her husband and two daughters. Whether it is taking a casual walk around the neighborhood, watching an entertaining movie, or going on an occasional road trip, she values the time the Lord has given her with her family. If you’re ever through North Texas, you might see Faith waving at you as she sits on her porch having a piece of dark chocolate or a fresh cup of tea, or she might be in her kitchen making her much-requested banana bread.

Faith greatly appreciates the writing and reading community and welcomes new friends and your comments!

Website: https://faithdcox.com
Blog: https://faithdcox.com/blog/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/faithdcox
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/faith-d-cox
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/faithdcox
IMDb:Published Books/Links: https://faithdcox.com/books/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FaithDCox