End of the Year

 Wow, it's been quite a year, hasn't it? Just me? Hopefully not. 

Anyways, I decided I'd pop in and show a few little clues into what I've been doing this past year. This will include books I've written and read, new movies, music I've listened to, artwork, and a little bit of looking into the future. 

If there are no questions, let's dive right on in.

WRITING

Wow, I only just realized how much writing I've gotten done this year. I have fully finished FOUR whole novels/novellas. To be fair, one of them was mostly written last year, but I completed the first draft this spring. And one was a collab with a friend, but I think it still counts? Anyways, here's a brief blurb and word count for each finished story.

To Die is Gain

Wilson Tomas is doubting himself and the good he can actually do in the world. He's a Christian with lying as his number one hobby. Smuggling is the only thing he can think of to make himself feel like he matters, but bringing a few illegal books around seems so lame compared to the risk he's taking. But when a suspicious soldier grounds him with the people he was smuggling to, maybe he can find the answers he desperately needs. But the last he expected was... Ariel.

Ariel Johnson needs her brother back. And she will get him, no matter the cost. But when her dangerous and reckless plan backfires, she is forced to become something she is not. There is nothing about her that screams betrayer. But if it saves Israel, she'll do it. Until she meets the Underground church and meets the Savior. Her brother's fate lies solely in her hands, but how can she save him by betraying her new family?

As these two teens struggle through their new lives and issues, they try to understand what it truly means to live for Christ... and to die for him.

So I've talked a bit about the Martyr's Saga, and I'm probably going to continue to, because this is just my favorite series I've ever written. This next book is the third book in the series titled the Heroes Saga i dont like calling my series "something+saga" that's crazy  and it's VERY different than To Die is Gain. It's much lighter and more written for fun, and the series was started much earlier in my writing career. This is also the collab I wrote with my friend.

Heroes of the City

It has been at least three years since the heroes were in civilization. Since then, they have all developed their powers to something... well, powerful. And, in some cases, dangerous. All of them have been castaways in some way, shape, or fashion, but now that they're together, it's time to face the past.

Juli just wants to be normal, but with Rian's power becoming more and more random and dangerous, there's no way life can go back to the simple middle school days it had been. Ellysa is still struggling to understand how to cope with her family's death, and becoming the leader of this chaotic bunch is not the ticket. But she somehow forgets that she isn't the only one who lost family. Michael is still trying to navigate the unknowns of who he is now as maybe things with Emma are getting...complicated. The Grant sisters want to go home, but with the unknown kidnappers on the loose, it just isn't safe. 

As the gang struggles, rumors of the bandits's return start circulating. And when one of them goes missing, maybe it's time to accept outside help.

Like I said, it's a pretty simple and less mature story than some, but I still ADORE it with my whole heart and soul. It's just so FUN to write. Next up is one that is also pretty simple and probably more enjoyed by a younger audience, but I still love the characters.

The Last Phoenix

Perpetua Ar-Kan has only one mission: restore the nearly extinct race of phoenixes. She is ready. After all, she's been practicing for this moment for years. Bring back the phoenixes and heal the dying world she lives in. The only thing she's not ready for is-- Kalleb Chyr-Ja. 

A hooligan with crazy magic powers on her quest? No way. He just isn't someone she's willing to trust. But when the duo is attacked before the quest even starts, they are forced to put aside their differences and team up. Their journey is fraught with danger, fear, mistrust, and a menace as old as the phoenixes themselves, but Perpetua and Kalleb will stop at nothing to finish their quest.

After all, who can refuse the dying command of the last phoenix?

Hope it sounds interesting, because there's gonna be something more about it later ;} ;} Anyways, this last one is probably known by at least some of you regulars.

Take Up your Cross

Sienna desperately wants to prove herself as a smuggler but can't seem to stop getting caught. With the famous Wilson Tomas gone, this is her time to shine. But Wilson returns, defeated and heart-broken, with two new companions. And when the foursome gets sent on a mission to the missing Christians in a recently destroyed town, Sienna might finally have her chance to prove herself.

Keith just wants life to go back to normal. He wants to know that his parents are safe at home, not part of the many missing citizens of their city. But with that fateful raid, he has to protect his twin sister- but can he, when he doubts himself? When he doubts his faith?

When an unexpected and shockingly calculating villain reveals herself, Sienna, Keith, and their companions are forced to trust each other to survive. But with two of their company doubting themselves, can they find their way to safety... and rescue their captured friend?

So, that was the majority of my writing this year. I've started several stories that haven't been finished, some of them I just wasn't feeling and others are still in progress, but these are the ones I've finished! Tell me which one sounds the most intriguing to you, and I'll go more in depth on it next.

Reading

Okay, well, I am ashamed to say I have not done much reading at all this year... Way too much writing, I guess? But I have read some, so here are my favorites from this year:

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

With the exception of Stellarlune, I read all eight and a half other books. Now, this is definitely NOT my favorite series. Flashback and beyond was... I'm not going to say "trash" because there were some parts that were really good, but they were really boring in my opinion. I DID really enjoy Keeper of the Lost Cities, Everblaze, and Neverseen, and count those as some of my very favorites. Lodestar and Nightfall are very good too, but I like those three mentioned above better. 

And for any other KOTLC fans out there, I don't have a Sophie+anyone ship currently. In my opinion, it's highschool crushes being made into something really extensive. except Dexphie, which i truly loved with all my heart ANYWAYS. KOTLC. YAY. READ IT.

Ascendance Series by Jennifer Nielsen

I did the first three a few years ago, but I got the newest two this year for my birthday, and so I read them this year. And I gotta say, they were pretty good. I hadn't ever thought this was one of the series that needed continuation, but Jennifer Nielsen did a great job of it. The characters were very them, and I appreciated the villain that was closer to a match for Jaron than some of the others. One thing I didn't really like was the timing, the fact that it was between The Shadow Throne and that last paragraph in The Shadow Throne --not gonna say the paragraph or any of the events so as to not spoil anything-- because it just felt a bit too soon, but everything else was great.

Search for the Astral Dragon by Bryan Davis

I have to say I love this book. I was a little iffy with some of the other newer Bryan Davis books, so I went into this one very hesitantly, but it was great. It's definitely for younger audiences, but that didn't make it any less powerful for me. I don't really know how to explain what I like about it at this moment, but it is still amazing, and I recommend it.

Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan 

Um okay. I... am very mixed about this series. I've always been very alert about the Percy Jackson books, mainly because, well, Greek gods and demi-gods and stuffs. But... this one was different, because there were some things that weren't Greek/Roman mythology. I really didn't like how one of the side characters got a slightly LGBT arc. A lot of people say I'm over reacting about it, considering it's a modern, non-Christian book and it's only one character, but it's something that's all over everything, why would I want to seek it out farther? Also, the last book was VERY anticlimactic in my opinion, so... I don't really know what to say about it. The first two books were fine, but after that... nope. Not really. So I'll just say I don't like this series

Tales of Goldstone Wood by Anne Elisabeth Stengl

Yes, I have this series before. No, I didn't just get one of the books. Yes, I did a whole series re-read. Yes, I still love them. I STILL ADORE THEM OH MY FREAKIN' WORD THEY ARE INCREDIBLE.

Anyways. I think I'll stop myself right there and move out of reading into the next section. 

Movies

Ooh, what have I watched that's new this year... hm... wow, this was the year of lots of grown-up-ish movies.

Interstellar

I had forgotten that it was only this year I watched this movie. At least I think it was this year.... Well, it was this year I started listening to the soundtrack so we'll count that. 

Anna and the King

It was... interesting. Not my favorite style movie, but still very good.

I am Not Ashamed

~sniffles~ I- ~sniffles~ I just... ~sobs~ THIS MOVIE Y'ALL. One of the first ones that made me literally CRY watching it. I just... I just can't.

1917

TBH, this was one of the first WWI movies I have ever seen. I don't actually know

much about this time period... Anyways, the movie was interesting. I wasn't a fan of

the amount of language in it, but the style was pretty cool.

Godzilla 2014

I liked it. My sister thinks I'm a little crazy for that opinion, but I liked it. It, uh, is 

actually my first monster movie I've seen.

Kenobi

So, even though this is a series, I'm still counting it here. Technically I watched it in burst on Youtube, but... I did watch all of the first season in that fashion. It was okay, not my favorite Star Wars but alright nonetheless.

Music

Well, this was quite the music year for me... I heard lots of new songs and artists this year. This was probably my biggest Spotify wrapped year, at least so far. I guarantee some of the next years will have many more minutes listened to. 

Here's my top songs playlist

Yes, there was a lot of instrumentals. That's what I listen to while I do school and writing and stuff. Here are a couple of other favorite playlists:

Instrumentals  Favorites

Also, I got the chance to go to TWO concerts this year: For King and Country in April and Andrew Peterson last week.

I sadly do not have any photos from the For King and Country concert, but I do have plenty from Andrew Peterson's Behold the Lamb of God show.

  

 

Art

Yes, I am going to show off some of my artwork from this year. These are the pieces my family has dubbed my best works. Let me know what you think.

 

   

Alright, I think that's all for the moment! I hope y'all enjoyed this little year-end wrap up! 

A really fast look into the future, I've already mentioned the New Years story coming out soon. After that, I'm hoping to finish up Winera's story and go more in depth about some of my other stuff. If any of y'all have suggestions on what I should later, go ahead and let me know.

I'm planning on doing a Q and A some point soon, so if y'all want to start thinking about questions, I'd be very happy! 

Thank you for being a great part of my year!