I have been playing around with possibilities for cover art for The Milana Legends. There are so many different styles out there. Honestly, it's just a dream of mine to someday have them all with illustrated covers. I think that comes of growing up loving Narnia, and books that had a little illustration at the beginning of each chapter.  Maybe it's the kid in me, but I still like trying to guess what's going to happen based off the picture.

​I'd love to know what kind of art draws you to a fantasy book? For yourself? For kids?

I'm curious what you think! If you have a sec, answer these quick questions for me! (doing so will NOT add you to a mailing list).

I've decided that launching a book is like releasing butterflies (which is something we do around here). It's exciting, and those closest to you all gather around while the little bug dangles off your finger, stretching its new wings.

There are a few, precious moments where you pass the little fellow around, and then suddenly it flaps its wings and Whoosh! It's off and on its own.

And that's very much how it feels to launch a new book! It comes back proofread, and you gather around with the betas while it stretches its wings. They dry and get stronger, and flap a bit, and next thing you know the pages are as ready as they will ever be, and Whoosh! off it goes!

If you'd like to gather round and watch the fourth Milana Legend take off, you can find it here.

Oooh.  That's a good one.  To be honest, I was pondering Israel, and how hard it is for an entire nation of people to hold up their end of a covenant.  Then I started wondering what would happen in a fallen world if the covenant were made with a single family?  And then I really started wondering, what would happen when God's Son came to that fallen world, to die for their sins?  A family that was really walking closely with God would recognize the Messiah they had been waiting for, and if they were in charge, how could the Messiah end up dying?

So, those were the questions I set out to explore when I started The Milana Legends.  This was so deeply buried in my head, that when I chose the colors for the imperial family, I picked the same blue and white that Israel uses, without realizing it!  

Ever read about a really amazing fictional dog and started to want one?  Here's what our life with an Aussie is really like:

Seriously.  'Cause it really can happen.