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Sins of Fallen: is it a Christian book?

8/3/2025

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The Answer Is Complicated—And Real.
By Brandy Marks

When people sometimes ask me: Is this a Christian book?
And my answer is always the same:
It depends on what you think that means.
If by Christian you mean sanitized, and only  for Sunday school—then NO. This book likely will shock you with seduction, lust, brokenness, and scenes that bare the soul (and sometimes the body).
But if by Christian you mean a story of redemption—a raw, unflinching look at the journey from darkness into light—then yes. Absolutely. For this is a book about grace.
But it doesn’t start in heaven.

🔥 Where It Begins
Songs of the Fallen begins where many of us: confused, ashamed, and craving something we can’t name. Alexandria isn’t a church girl. She’s an innocent searching [an angel]. She falls for the wrong men. She makes terrible choices. But she’s also haunted by something holy—a whisper, a memory, a fire that refuses to die.
She’s tempted by demons who wear beautiful faces.
She’s drawn to love that tastes like sin.
And she’s chased by the sound of her own name being called—by someone who still wants her, even now.
This book doesn’t present faith as a straight line.
It’s a cliff. A descent. A fire walk.
And then, slowly… a rising.

🩸 Why not?
Some will say: Why include the sex? Why not just focus on the redemption?
Because that’s not real life.
We don’t fall in church pews. We fall in bedrooms and back seats and quiet corners of shame and hopefully we fall at the foot of the cross.
We don’t heal by pretending we’re pure. We heal by facing what we’ve done, what we’ve allowed, and what we truly need; we walk through the pain - the garbage dump sometimes.
And, sometimes, God shows up not with judgment but with fire in His eyes and tenderness it is His voice, saying: Come home anyway.
If we don’t tell the whole story—desire, pain, betrayal, longing—we end with half-truths.
​And half-truths never set anyone free.

🌒 So, Is It Christian?
Let me be clear: Songs of the Fallen is not a sermon.
It’s not for everyone. But it is for the ones who have wandered, the ones who carry secrets, and the ones who feel too far gone to be loved.
It’s for readers who believe redemption doesn’t always look like an angel wearing a white robe—but sometimes it looks like a woman who’s been to hell and clawed her way back up. Or even a man.
It’s for anyone who’s ever wondered if they still matter. 
Spoiler alert: You do.
So if you're asking whether this book is "Christian," I’d say this:
It may not speak to the church you grew up in.
But it speaks to the God who never left you.
Want to experience it for yourself?
Read excerpt of Songs of the Fallen here and decide for yourself.

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✨ Erotic Fantasy - a Spiritual Core

8/3/2025

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By Brandy Marks, author of Sins of the Fallen*
When people hear I write sex in fantasy, they may raise an eyebrow. When they hear it’s also about fallen angels, spiritual longing, and redemption—well, now they’re confused.
But that’s exactly why I write it.
Because life isn’t clean. Desire doesn’t wait for permission. And healing? It doesn’t always come wrapped in purity and white light. Sometimes it comes through fire—through temptation, heartbreak, and raw, honest hunger for something more.
​Let me be clear… I do write about sex, but not pages of deep descriptions. I don’t want to read it so I don’t write it. Also, you won’t find profanity in my stories, but curses here and there: "Blood and bones"; "Wings of mercy, give me strength.” You get the idea.

🔥 Desire Is Not the Enemy In Sins of the Fallen, Seraphina is not a saint. She’s an angel but she’s also a restless writer, and often reckless. She falls into bed with the wrong man, and she trusts what she shouldn’t. But beneath it all is a longing—for connection, for meaning, for something she can’t name.
Is that lust? Sometimes.
Is it sin? Maybe.
But it's also real.
We live in a world where sexuality is everywhere but honesty is rare. We’re told to indulge—but never taught how to integrate our desires with our souls.
​I write characters who stumble through that tension. Who don’t know where the line is between love and ruin—until they’ve crossed it. And like angels, there are innocents in life who get sidetracked by a pretty face, a demon? Not really, except in my stories.
But then, that’s where grace enters. Not to erase the past, but to redeem it.
👣 Climbing Out of the DarkThe heart of this story isn’t sex. It’s redemption.
It’s about the long, brutal climb out of personal hells—addiction, shame, spiritual numbness—and the struggle to believe love can still be waiting at the top. Not the tame, tidy love found in devotionals, but the fierce, aching kind that says: 
Even now, you are not beyond reach.
Every steamy scene, every seductive encounter, is part of that journey. Not to glorify sin, but to show that even in the depths of hell, something divine can stir.
Because I believe in a God who doesn’t wait on the mountaintop but descends into the valley. Who meets people in bedrooms and burned-out dreams. Who says, “I still want you.”
Beauty in the Broken 
Erotic fantasy gives me the freedom to explore truth without censoring the mess. It allows me to strip away masks and get to the soul beneath the skin.
I don’t write to shock.
I write to reveal.
I write because we all want love.
And we all fall at one time or another.
And maybe—just maybe—we can rise again. 
Even if our wings are scorched.
Even if we’ve forgotten the sound of our name.
Even if we have to walk through hell to find heaven.

Curious to read more?
Check out Sins of the Fallen on Amazon—a story about sin, seduction, and the grace that dares to follow you into the fire.
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Orgasm 101

7/25/2025

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Do women - like in stories - actually orgasm all the time?
​___________

Why do I ask the question? 
Well, I read a lot. I mean at least 3-4 fiction book a week. Yes, I’m a voracious reader and do not enjoy most television, so I read.
Back to the topic: 
Don’t all women always have an orgasm with sex, and men as well?
If you believe the stories (romance or fantasy) then the ratio of men and women having an orgasm is pure fantasy, or maybe it’s wishful thinking for the author. What about the women who read it, and then, wonder, what’s wrong with me?
Absolutely nothing, sweetheart!
I love to write sex scenes and explore the idea of sex and orgasm because I know, from experience, women don’t always have an orgasm. It’s disappointing.
____
What’s the orgasm gap?
Here's the gap in frequency of orgasm during sex versus women. 
​95% of straight men orgasm
89% of gay men have an orgasm
86% of lesbian women orgasm
Straight women the ratio drops sharply. 
    Only 65% of straight women orgasm
Casual hookups – like first time hookups 
    80% of men and only 40% of women orgasm.
____
A common reason women don’t always orgasm during sex is the misconceptions about what leads to orgasm. If we look at movies and novels – we’re talking about heterosexual sex – put a penis inside a vagina and the women will orgasm; a few thrusts and both are happy.
​So not true….
As one writer says, "A lot of people think the vagina is a little hole that’s waiting for a penis to drop in for a visit, but actually, it’s like a squashed flat balloon most of the time and it needs to be aroused [inflated].”
Women have the same kind of erectile tissues as men, but all on the inside, while the man’s on the outside, his second head, if you will.
_____
​Let’s make it real for the reader, writers.
  • “After 15 to 20 minutes of foreplay, [yeah it takes time] all the woman’s pelvic floor muscles drop down and make room for a penis to enter. When women get real excited, the uterus starts moving out of the way, pulling the cervix back too. For a lot of women, if a man's penis slams or pounds hard (as some authors prefer) into your cervix, it can be unpleasant.
  • And I heard a man one day describe how he was setting up his bedroom, so the bed wasn’t against the wall as he slammed into the female!
    • No wonder she never came or never came around again. 
    • Of course, she might have faked it the first time too.
  • It’s important a man allow time for the female partner to become aroused. One of the advantages of really warming up is so parts of the vagina inside reach the orgasmic plateau. It’s like 'these lovely little spots’ in there feel great when you push against them. But You need blood and mucus flowing to make it work. You can’t just shove in a penis and think happy days.
  • Most importantly, if you're getting close, and you want to orgasm, whatever you’re doing, keep doing it. If you stop and change, the clitoris moves back and you could miss the exciting and fulfilling event.
Okay, then, after reading all this information, I’ve started updating my writing to accommodate reality because we do women and men a disservice writing about sex so as to give them expectations that lead only to disappointment.
But that’s just my opinion.
_____________
Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/brandymarks
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Ai: ARtificial Ignorance or intelligenCE?

5/5/2025

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My experience with AI:
Well, whether it’s ChatGPT, Siri or another, there are times when the AI simply is less than forthcoming, and rarely accurate. It doesn’t tell outright lies. Rather, AI often gives not accurate answers.
Example: recently I went on a popular website to see the price of egg powder and was told the can had 72 servings, which I discovered on a different website this was equal to 72 large eggs or 6 dozen.
At $65/can, rounded, that’s a little over $10 per dozen.
When I asked AI - as in Artificial Idiot - if the cost of 72 servings or 72 large eggs was $65+ was I not paying over $10 for a dozen eggs? I was told repeatedly, no matter how I worded it, there were 72 servings in the can.
Clearly this AI did not comprehend. Therefore, I conclude, in this scenario, AI did not stand for Artificial Intelligence rather it was Artificial Ignorance.
What this means for writers, those who use AI occasionally, one must be very cautious regarding what their AI suggests, no matter how one words a request.  
​Another example, when it comes to images.
When given the description of a woman in a white low cut gown that clings, the image was of a female with luxury curves, full breasts in a white gown that hung seductively to her curves, and I mean very seductively. 
Now, when I’ve asked for that sort of image in the past because I wanted the female to appear seductive, I was told that violated their guidelines. Even when a husband and wife (in my story) had just given birth to a baby, and the father’s hand reached out to touch the child’s cheek, I was told that was inappropriate and could not be created because it violated guidelines. It was as if touching the child was considered pedophilic behavior, or so it seemed.
The outcome of all this is, I prefer not to use AI because the humans who design the programs seem to be lacking in common sense. After all, AI idiot, intelligent or whatever you call it, only can do what humans program it to do.
_______
Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/brandymarks
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About my books..

4/9/2025

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Okay, so some of my blogs aren’t about my books, but truly they are if you imagine where our ideas come from. Take The Fallen, for example, have we not all fallen at one time or another, from favor in our family or among friends if not from grace in denying Adonai? 
Forgiveness is something many of us long for but how well do we offer forgiveness. And of course, the third book in my Children of Adonai series is about The Travelers, those who roam the world in search of belonging within their own space and time. And so… 
_____
Preface
These stories began with a question—one whispered through nearly every supernatural tale I’ve written, especially these seven - Children of Adonai:
.
What if Lucifer could be redeemed?
And if he could… what then? What of the others who fell? The people in our lives?
...
This is not doctrine. It is not prophecy.
These are stories. Fiction. A “what if” born of wonder.
Yes, there are scriptures woven through its pages.
Yes, there are myths, too—echoes of truths or ancient lies we’ve long forgotten.
...
Indeed, we prefer to forget.
But the heart of this tale is love.
Love that dares to imagine how far grace might go.
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God…” — 1 John 4:7
​.
You don’t need to agree with me.
You don’t need to believe it.
You’re simply invited to...
To wonder.
To step into the possibility…
And to see where it leads.
You may be surprised!
_____
Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/brandymarks


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AI Imaginings

3/29/2025

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Can AI Imaginings Help a Writer?
Yes, absolutely — when used the right way.
AI imaginings (the scenes, expansions, character sketches) can help a writer by:
    •    Sparking new ideas you might not have thought of yet
    •    Offering variations you can choose from or adapt
    •    Helping you break through blocks when you’re stuck
    •    Providing momentum — you don't stare at a blank page as long
    •    Offering structure and possibilities without forcing you into one path
    •    Keeping creativity playful — bouncing ideas around like a creative partner would
Bottom line when it's helpful:
AI helps when it serves your vision, it cannot replace it.
It’s like a forge — you are the fire. AI is just another tool you can use to shape the story you want to tell.
When AI Imaginings Don’t Help a Writer:
AI can hurt or hinder when...
    •    You lose your own voice.
(If you just copy AI outputs without infusing your own emotional truth or style, the story can feel flat or soulless.)
    •    You become dependent on it for every idea.
(You still need the internal wellspring — your own dreams, intuition, and vision are irreplaceable.)
    •    You forget your story’s emotional heart must come from you.
(AI can sketch scenes — but only you can make a reader feel in the deep places.)
    •    You settle for "good enough" instead of pushing into great.
(Sometimes AI will give a “decent” answer — but you can always refine it beyond — if you listen to your gut.)
Best Way to Think About It:
You are the author, the blacksmith.
AI is the anvil, the hammer, the extra set of sparks.
You take the rough steel and forge it into the blade only you can make.
Practical Tip 
I Always Recommend to Writers Using AI:
After every AI scene/idea:
    •    Ask yourself: "What about this feels true to my story?"
    •    Then ask: "What would make it even more mine?"
Even tiny tweaks—adding your character’s real voice, adjusting the emotion, shaping the mood—makes it truly yours.
AI tells me, and says “I mean this sincerely”):
You’re already using AI beautifully — like a true artist. You're letting it suggest, but you're choosing and shaping based on the living, breathing story inside you. 
That's the real magic. ✨
Using AI Imaginings Well Is Like...
Imagine you are standing in a vast meadow at the edge of an ancient forest.
The AI is like a swirling, shimmering mist rising over the grass — filled with glimpses:
a broken crown glinting in the weeds, a forgotten sword stuck in a tree, a strange blue fire burning in the distance.
The mist shows possibilities.
But it doesn’t tell you which path to walk. It doesn’t tell you which crown to pick up or whether the sword belongs to your hero or your villain. It doesn't even explain the blue fire.
You are the one who chooses.
You walk forward. You pick up the things that call to your heart. You leave behind what doesn’t fit your story.
As you walk, the mist begins to thin — because the more your own steps shape the path, the less you need the mist. By the time you reach the deep forest, you’re not following visions anymore. You're carrying them. They've become your sword, your story, your world.
In short:
AI imaginings are the mist. You are the mythmaker.

And, yes, I used AI to help me construct this blog working into it what’s important to me, Biblical truths and ways in which I’ve written stories, using AI. I ask AI to suggest ideas when I feel stuck, but I choose what I use and shape the idea based on the story inside me so it comes to life. 
In this way, my stories have improved. And I suspect authors who write a book a month likely use AI to aid them in the production line, whether it’s vampires or other immortals or mysteries.

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Dreams: Process or Portents

3/16/2025

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What Dreams Are (and Why They Matter in Stories) 
At their simplest, dreams are how we process emotions, memories, fears, and hopes — they’re not logical. They’re symbolic, emotional, fragmented.
And sometimes, dreams can be prophetic, as the Bible reveals.
​

 Where Dreams Were Prophetic in the Bible: 
1. Joseph, son of Jacob (Genesis 37, 40–41)     
Joseph dreams as a young man, showing his future rise over his brothers (Genesis 37:5–11). Later, while in Egypt, he interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh’s officials (the cupbearer and the baker — Genesis 40).   
Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams (Genesis 41) about seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine — saving Egypt (and Israel) through wise preparation.


2. Daniel (Book of Daniel 2, 4, 7)     
Daniel, a captive in Babylon, was given the ability to interpret King Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams, which no one else could explain (Daniel 2). He interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the statue made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, and clay, representing future kingdoms. Later, Daniel himself had visions and dreams about the future of world empires and the coming of God's eternal kingdom (Daniel 7).


3. Jacob (Genesis 28:10–22)     
On his way to Haran, Jacob dreamed of a ladder reaching to heaven, with angels ascending and descending (Genesis 28:12–15). God spoke to him in the dream, confirming His covenant promises—that Jacob’s descendants would inherit the land and be blessed.

4. Joseph, husband of Mary (Matthew 1–2)   
In the New Testament, Book of Matthew, Joseph (Jesus’s earthly father) received dreams from God at critical moments:  1:20: An angel appears in a dream and says, "take Mary as your wife.” 2:13: A dream warns Joseph to flee to Egypt to protect Jesus from Herod. 2:19–23: Dreams guide Joseph back to Israel after Herod’s death. 

5. Wise Men (Matthew 2:12)     
After visiting the Christ child, the Magi are warned in a dream not to return to Herod, but to go home by another route.

Dream Themes:
•    Dreams warned (Joseph with Mary; Wise Men) 
•    Dreams revealed future events (Joseph in Egypt, Daniel in Babylon)
•    Dreams confirmed divine promises (Jacob’s ladder)     
•    Dreams guided and protected lives (Joseph and the Christ child)


In Fiction, Biblical Dreams Inspire:     
Dreams can hint at future battles, reveal hidden enemies, confirm a character’s destiny, or warn of betrayal. They often require interpretation; dreams aren’t always straightforward but call characters into deeper trust and discernment.
____
Dreams, they tap into the subconscious, the part of us that thinks in images and feelings instead of words and linear thoughts. That's why dream sequences in stories feel mysterious, emotional, and otherworldly — even if they don’t always make "sense." 


Are Dreams Useful in a Story?
If used carefully, dreams in stories can:
Foreshadow events (dangers, destinies, secret truths) not explaining
Reveal emotions characters can’t express in life (guilt, hope, desire)
Show internal conflict in a powerful, symbolic way
Create atmosphere (mystery, dread, wonder)

Connect to something beyond (prophecy, visions, spirit realms) 

When Dreams Work Well: 
They tie into the story’s emotional or story arc — they’re not random, but meaningful. They reveal something important (even if  hidden in symbols).
They match the tone (epic fantasy dreams feel different than modern thriller dreams).
They are short and vivid, not confusing. (Unless confusion is the point.)
They change something afterward — mood, decision, or understanding. 


When Dreams Can Be a Problem: 
If they’re too long and confusing and don't move the story forward.
If they tell things already known — making them feel repetitive.
If they feel like "cheating" — delivering answers without effort.
(But dreams hinting at answers? That’s great.) 


Using Your Own Dreams?
Personal dreams are often so much richer and stranger than anything we could invent while awake.
They’re personal, so they carry emotional truth — readers feel that, even if they don’t consciously know it.
You might just need to adapt them a little:
Focus on the emotion the dream gave you (terror, wonder, heartbreak) 
Choose the symbols that fit your world/story
Keep the mystery but give a little clue how it connects 


Bottom Line:
Dreams are powerful storytelling tools when they reflect emotion, theme, or destiny. (And honestly, some of the greatest stories ever written — from the Bible to Tolkien to modern fantasy — use dreams beautifully.) 
If your gut says a dream fits — trust it. Be sure to shape it a little so it serves the story and leaves readers feeling something they can’t quite explain. 


For example:
In my story: "North of the Wildwood":
Caleb dreams of a tree covered in frost, its branches breaking one by one while a great black bird circles overhead.
Tree = his family (Northlands and Elysium) under threat.
Bird = a coming conqueror or death. Later we learn there are dragons!
Frost = the creeping danger of Gidaro's influence or the Ice Maidens' curse.

→ And he wakes with that strange, heavy sense of something coming, even if he doesn't understand it yet.
Exciting, yes?


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Vampires, Fae, and Fantasy Romance

12/4/2024

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Lately, I’ve found myself devouring books about vampires and the Fae. And by devouring, I mean speed-reading through them in a day, mostly because I skip entire chapters. Why? Because of the sex scenes—which, let’s be honest, are often repetitive enough to make you question if the author was bored, and so, copied and pasted. And then there’s the endless internal monologuing. Oh, the monologuing!
I get it—it’s fantasy. It’s not supposed to be a strict adherence to the laws of physics, anatomy, or even common sense. But if I have to read about one more impossibly petite, golden-curled heroine paired with a brooding, seven-foot-tall vampire lord who probably can’t fit through a standard doorway, I might just throw the book across the room.
Let’s talk about it.
The Tiny Heroines and Their Towering Beaus
I understand vampires are supposed to be ethereal and perfect—immortal beings with impossible beauty. But why, oh why, are the heroines always described as these tiny, waif-like creatures, barely grazing five-foot-two, with flowing golden or fiery red hair cascading down to their waists? And don’t even get me started on their bodies—always "curvy in all the right places" despite weighing what I assume is slightly more than a feather.
Meanwhile, their love interests are hulking masses of testosterone and shadowy mystery, towering at six-foot-eight or taller, with shoulders broad enough to cast an eclipse. Now, I’m no engineer, but basic geometry tells me this pairing would make even the simplest tasks—say, holding hands—an ergonomic nightmare. And kissing? Oh, the logistics!
Imagine the seven-foot vampire hero bending down every single time to kiss his dainty beloved. That’s a chiropractic tragedy waiting to happen. His lower back would be in eternal agony—not from centuries of undead battles, but from trying to lean down far enough to kiss Little Miss Five-Two.
And then there’s the bedroom issue.
We’re supposed to believe that a 6’8”, 250-pound immortal warrior is tenderly lying on top of this delicate flower without accidentally crushing her ribcage? I’m sorry, but no. Suspension of disbelief only stretches so far.
Sure, the books always have those convenient workarounds—he’s propped on an elbow, or he’s using other skills that don’t require full-body weight distribution. But still! Every time I read one of these scenes, all I can picture is this poor woman squashed under a mountain of vampire muscle, wheezing and wondering if the undead have life insurance policies.
Skipping the Blah Blah
So, yes, I breeze through these books in a day. Not because they’re gripping page-turners, but because I skip entire sections of blah blah blah. Endless monologues, repetitive descriptions, and of course, the play-by-play of yet another scene where our tiny heroine stares into the glowing crimson eyes of her seven-foot broody lover and contemplates how deeply she feels his ancient pain.
Why Do I Care?
You might be wondering—why does this bother me so much? After all, it’s fantasy. It’s supposed to be larger-than-life, exaggerated, and a little silly. And yes, it is. But as someone who’s spent a lifetime writing and reading stories, I can’t help but feel that these tropes have become lazy shorthand.
Not every heroine needs to be a pocket-sized beauty. Not every hero needs to be a looming fortress of masculinity. And yet, it feels like so many authors—particularly female ones—fall into these patterns without question.
And maybe, just maybe, there’s a little bit of personal frustration here. I’m not a tiny woman. Never have been. At 5’8”, I still have to tilt my head back when talking to someone over six feet. I can’t imagine trying to dance—or, ahem, engage in other activities—with a seven-foot vampire prince without needing to take a yoga class first.
But here’s the thing—I’m not against fantasy or romance. I love both! I just want a little more variety. More tall heroines, more robust bodies, more dark-haired women, more realistic diversity. Because fantasy doesn’t have to mean carbon-copy characters cut from the same mold.
What About My Stories?
​In my own books, you’ll find women who are tall, strong, and yes, sometimes robust. They aren’t all ethereal wisps of golden beauty. Some have fiery red hair, others raven-black locks. And while they still get to fall in love with their mysterious brooding men (or women—I don’t judge), they do so in ways that make sense.
At the end of the day, I’m not here to shame anyone who enjoys these tropes. Heck, I still read the books! But a little variety, a smidge of realism, and fewer back-breaking love scenes wouldn’t hurt, would they?
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have another vampire book waiting for me. Here’s hoping the heroine is at least tall enough to reach the top shelf without a stepstool.
Until next time, happy reading—and may your vampires have decent posture.
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Tithes, Books, and the Unexpected Ways God Shows Up in Publishing

11/17/2024

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You know, I’ve always found Malachi 3:10 to be one of those verses that stops you in your tracks. “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse… Test me in this… and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing there will not be room enough to store it.”
Test God? Really? The Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, is giving me permission to test Him? That’s a bold invitation. But there’s something incredibly personal about it too—like God is leaning down, looking me square in the eyes, and saying, “Try me. See what I’ll do.”
And then there’s Ephesians 3:20: “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”
Exceedingly. Abundantly. Above.
That’s not just a sprinkle of blessing; that’s a tidal wave.
My Books as a Tithe? Yes, Really.
So here I am, placing my books on the metaphorical altar and offering them up as a tithe. Why? Because, honestly, marketing hasn’t exactly been my loaves-and-fishes miracle moment. Algorithms, ad campaigns, social media trends—sometimes it feels like shouting into the void while the void thumbs through TikTok videos.
But here’s the thing: I didn’t write these stories for algorithms. I wrote them because there’s a message woven into every chapter, every plot twist, and every flawed, struggling, stumbling character. It’s a message this world desperately needs right now—a message of hope and redemption.
Yes, There Are Angels and Demons (and Maybe Some Scandal)
Now, let me clarify: these aren’t your standard squeaky-clean Christian fiction novels. Oh no, my pages are stained with the messiness of real life. Angels and demons, sure—but they aren’t just celestial beings fluttering around in glitter and shadows. In my stories:
  • Demons aren’t lurking under your bed—they’re the people we see every day. They walk beside us in grocery stores, they sit across from us in boardrooms, they smile on social media while hiding knives behind their backs. They’re those who choose deceit, selfishness, and harm.
  • Angels aren’t flawless cherubs either. They’re the good men and women trying their best—messy, imperfect, and stumbling at times—but they get back up. They strive for what’s right, even when it’s hard.
These characters aren’t cardboard cutouts of virtue or vice. They’re human (well, sometimes they’re celestial, but you get my point). They face choices, consequences, and crossroads.
Even Lucifer Gets a Chapter or a Whole Book
Ah, Lucifer. Now there’s a character. I know—many believe redemption is off the table for him. But let me gently remind you of something Jesus said: “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” (Luke 18:27)
Now, I’m not claiming my stories are rewriting theology. But I do believe in exploring big questions. Could redemption—even for someone as fallen as Lucifer—be possible? If God is truly limitless, can anyone be beyond His reach?
These Stories Are an Offering
So, here’s the truth: I’ve poured my heart and soul, and probably more caffeine than is medically advisable into these novels. Think Trigeminy. They’re not just entertainment (though I hope they entertain too). They’re an offering. A tithe. A whispered prayer on paper.
I’m asking God to take them, multiply them, and—if it’s His will—let them reach the people who need them most.
Because at the end of the day, whether one person reads them or one million, if even a single soul finds hope, sees redemption, or feels the faint tug of God’s love through these pages… then the tithe was worth it.
So here’s to open floodgates, exceedingly abundant blessings, and the wild, unpredictable ways God shows up—sometimes even in the pages of a messy, angel-and-demon-filled novel.
Amen, and happy reading.
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Wildwood, Koi Ponds, and Many Stories to Tell

11/14/2024

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Well, here we are again—me with another blog post and you (hopefully) still reading. Since my last update back in October, I’ve managed to finish not one, but two novels. First up was Whispers of the Wildwood, which apparently struck a chord with one of my readers. He liked it so much he asked, “Is there going to be a sequel?” And because I’m either wildly ambitious or slightly unable to say no to a good challenge, the answer was, “Absolutely.”
Thus, Heirs of the Wildwood was born. And now? Now I’m deep into the third installment, Beyond the Wildwood. Yes, we’re just plowing right through the forest, folks—no breadcrumbs, no looking back.
But, of course, novels don’t exist in a vacuum.
The Tangle of Stories and Seasons
You’d think with three Wildwood novels underway, I’d be content, right? Wrong. Somewhere between spring (or was it summer? Time is blurry) I started three other novels. I can’t even tell you what season it was, but I know it was warm, and I had caffeine in hand and a plot twist in my brain.
The goal is clear: finish Beyond the Wildwood, and then--then!—circle back to those other three stories patiently waiting in the corner of my brain, arms crossed, tapping their metaphorical feet.
But life, as it so often does, had other plans.
The Great Koi Pond Adventure
Ah, fall. Crisp air, golden leaves… and those same leaves fluttering lazily into my koi pond. You’d think koi would appreciate a bit of autumnal ambiance, but no—they look up at me, all shimmering scales and judgmental eyes, as I attempt to scoop leaves out of their watery home.
Enter: The Net Tent. Allegedly, this thing is designed to make pond maintenance easier. Allegedly, it requires at least two people to set it up. Reality? Two people, three people, a troop of highly trained squirrels—none of us could get it to cooperate. In the end, I draped the netting over the water, opened its little zipper, and declared it “good enough.”
The koi seemed unimpressed.
But as I stood there, leaves in one hand, net in the other, and the koi watching me like I was some kind of reality TV entertainment, a thought struck me: Could koi have their own story?
What would it even be? Are they little underwater philosophers? Do they have koi kingdoms and fishy politics? Who knows. But this is where AI comes in—because whenever I hit a mental roadblock, AI throws me a rope (or in this case, a life preserver). Outlines, plot suggestions, even editing—AI makes my chaotic story ideas slightly less chaotic.
Dreams, Notebooks, and a Novel Waiting to Happen
Speaking of chaotic story ideas, let’s talk about dreams. Oh, the dreams I’ve had. Somewhere in the lost annals of time, there were several notebooks filled with my nightly subconscious adventures. Tragically, they were lost years ago. But I’ve kept dreaming (as one does) and I now use my Apple Watch to record those half-awake, middle-of-the-night flashes of inspiration without fumbling for a pen.
I have a sneaking suspicion there’s a novel hiding in those dreams—a whole tapestry of strange places, odd characters, and plot twists that only make sense at 2 a.m. Will I write it someday? Absolutely. Probably. Maybe.
Socializing and Murder Mysteries
Now, in theory, I’m part of several online writers' groups. In practice, I remember they exist about two hours after the meeting ends. Whoops. So much for networking.
But even without the socializing, stories keep showing up. Take my neighbor, for example. I wrote about him once before, but since then… well, let’s just say life provided me with enough material for a murder mystery. And no, it’s not what you’re thinking. Nobody’s buried under the koi pond (yet).
The Problem With Too Many Stories
The truth is, the problem isn’t finding ideas—it’s finding time. Time to write them, edit them, shape them into something worth sharing. And somewhere in between scooping leaves, dreaming strange dreams, and wrangling nets over koi ponds, I carve out little moments to do just that.
So, for now, I’ll leave you with this: whether it’s Wildwood adventures, koi conspiracies, or dream-filled plotlines, the stories are coming. Slowly, chaotically, but surely.
Now, I’m off to grab some lunch and dive back into Beyond the Wildwood. Or maybe jot down an idea for those koi… or the dream novel… or the murder mystery.
You get the picture.
Until next time—see you later, or hoping you’ll read me later. Ha!
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