Just a quick update to why I haven't been blogging a lot this month --"Real life" has been crazy-busy, mostly having to do with my last semester of #libraryschool.

Earlier this month, I was studying for Orals.  For our program, in order to graduate, you have to take a hour long oral exam in front of two faculty members where you talk about topics such as your professional philosophy of librarianship, ethical issues such as intellectual freedom and access to library resources, programming and outreach, and digital library collections.  The biggest hurdle is that there were no notes allowed (which totally freaked me out) but I passed!  So, as long as I get passing grades in all my classes this semester, I will be graduating with my MLIS degree in mid-May.  ^_^

And then, I've most recently come back from a spring break trip, in which my family was able to visit my grandparents for the first time in several years.  They don't have internet, so it was nice to relax, take a break from school, spend time reconnecting with my grandparents and other family members, and to be "unplugged" for a bit ...

1. Hakari Mikagami

Finally, I haven't posted about creating costumes a lot, but one of my good friends commissioned me to sew a Hakari Mikagami cosplay for a upcoming anime convention --I'm hoping to have that done next week.  I've never played the video game this gorgeous prosecutor is from (Ace Attorney a.k.a. Gyakuten Saiban) but her outfit is really awesome-looking and I'm excited that I've gotten my very first cosplay commission.

I've seen other bloggers do monthly "wrap up" or recap posts, so I thought I'd try it out this month ... because it sort of fits with my topic today. =)

In March, by participating in several blog tours (two which included book giveaways), I was able to interview Dani Pettrey (one of my fave romantic suspense authors), Ruth Logan Herne (my Seekerville friend and prolific author), and reviewed Rachelle Dekker's latest dystopian, The Calling.

So while I didn't really post a lot this month, I have a backlog of book reviews that I'll be working on writing up --including part two of Jill Williamson's epic new fantasy novel!

Finally, the reason for the title of this post.  Some of you may remember last year when I reviewed J.L. Mbewe's fantasy novel, Hidden Secrets.  Well, Jennette is running a birthday bash on her blog and had a story contest where she asked her readers to write out a scene in which you remove Desmond, "the other half" to protagonist Ayianna's upcoming arranged marriage.  So, I've written my first fanfiction drabble and decided to eliminate Desmond from the story ... Project Runway style. ;-)  You can take a look here and please vote for my story (before Friday) if you like it.  The winner gets an ARC of the sequel Darkened Hope, which released later this year and I really want to find out what happens next!  ^_^

1.  Image (c.) Capcom Co., Ltd.

(c.) 2016 by Tyndale House Publishers

The Calling is Rachelle Dekker's follow-up to her romantic and suspenseful dystopian debut, The Choosing.  Dekker delves into exploring the concepts of fear, control, and hope while keeping you turning the pages with intrigue and suspense!

Title: The Calling [The Seer Trilogy #2]
Author: Rachelle Dekker
Published: 2016 by Tyndale House Publishers

About the Book:

Remko Brant had never been so sure of anything as escaping the Authority City with Carrington Hale. But bravado comes easy when you have nothing to lose. Now a husband, father, and the tactical leader of the Seers, Remko has never had so much at risk.

As he and his team execute increasingly dangerous rescue missions inside the city, they face growing peril from a new enemy. Recently appointed Authority President Damien Gold claims to be guiding a city shaken by rebellion into a peaceful, harmonious future. But appearances can be deceiving. In order to achieve his dangerous ambitions, Gold knows he must do more than catch the rebels—he must destroy the hope their message represents . . . from the inside out.

With dissension in his own camp—and the CityWatch soldiers closing in—Remko feels control slipping through his fingers. To protect those he loves, he must conquer his fears and defeat Gold . . . before one of them becomes his undoing.

The Artist Librarian Review:
In The Choosing, one of the characters I wanted to learn more about was Remko Brandt, so when I found out he was the main protagonist of The Calling, I was thrilled.  In The Calling, he's much more fleshed out as a character, moving beyond simply being Carrington Hale's love interest (and now husband).  It's a roller-coaster of emotions following Remko's and the rest of the Seers' (followers of Aaron and his Father) journey throughout the novel.  Dekker isn't afraid to ... remove characters from the story, so that feeling of, "no one is safe," kept me on the edge of my seat. 

New characters were also introduced in The Calling.  My favorites were Wire (the teenage tech expert) and Jesse (a young lone archer with a mysterious past).  While The Choosing honed in on the search for a serial killer, the suspense in this novel stems from much more intrigue.  My emotions are shot after reading this --as I got to know the rebel Seers, I didn't want to think of any of them betraying the group.  With hidden agendas, betrayals, and subterfuge, the stage is being set for an intense finale.

The only things I found incredulous were decisions made by a certain character near the climax.  Though it was believable that it could possibly happen if someone gave up hope, I couldn't wrap my head around it.  I basically wanted to give that person a slap on the head, but I digress ...

While The Choosing focused more on identity, The Calling mainly deals with fear.  This is one place where Dekker's writing really shines.  While the spiritual and conceptual elements of the novel are very strong, in context they are believable and it didn't feel too preachy.  I think it could easily cross over into the general market if the spirituality (with echoes of Christian themes) are seen as part of the worldbuilding.  While especially applicable to YA or teens because of the concepts of identity and fear, I feel that adult audiences would enjoy the novel as well.  It feels a bit more deeper than your ordinary YA dystopian. 

I appreciate that both of the novels in Dekker's Seer Trilogy thus far have had satisfying closures. While of course there were unfinished threads, they weren't major cliffhangers.  I didn't feel betrayed or played with, like a gimmicky "I can't believe the author ended the book like this!"  That being said, you will want to know what happens next --thank goodness book 3 comes out later this fall!

[Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes.]

As a part of The Calling blog tour, read on for an interview with Rachelle!

This book is written from Remko’s perspective. Did you face any challenges writing from a male point-of-view? 

There was definitely a looming pressure as I started to write the book. As a woman writer, I wanted to make sure Remko felt masculine and authentic, so I was constantly aware of how he sounded, and how he reacted. Once I got into a flow with his character though, it started to feel more familiar I didn’t have to think about it as much.

In the book you talk a lot about surrendering to fear. What does this look like and how does this help us to not be afraid? 

I think sometimes the natural reaction to fear is to hide from it, or try and push it away. It’s the idea that if we can’t see it then it must not be there, but we all know that unless dealt with the unseen things often come back to bite us. The only way to face fear is to walk through it; surrendering to Father God and letting Him reminder us of our true identity. Only then do we really see that the light within us is always greater than the fear we face.

The theme of identity from The Choosing continues in The Calling. Carrington reminds herself, “When you know who you truly are, you realize there is no war left to fight at all.” How does this statement apply to our Christian faith?

For me this is simply a reminder that God is still God. Regardless of my circumstance or how I view the world, the Father is constant and hasn’t changed. He has already won the fight, already conquered death, already set me free. It’s only when I forget who He calls me and who He is that I feel the need to fight against life instead of surrendering to Him and letting Him be God. 

Do you relate to any of the characters in The Calling in terms of how you’ve faced and handled fear in your life? How so? 

Of course, every character I write ends up having some reflections of things I’ve faced personally. You can only write what you know, as they say. I, very much like Remko, have the tendency to be in “my head” too much when faced with fear, and I struggle to let go of the need for control and simply surrender. That’s one of the main reasons I decided to write this story. 

What do you hope readers will take away from the story? 

I hope they take a moment to see themselves as children of the Father. I hope they see that true freedom and fearlessness rest in surrendering, and that when they stand with the Father than nothing can stand against them. There is incredible peace in that truth, and I hope, like I am beginning the experience, that readers feel that same peace. 

What can readers expect in the final book of the series?

Characters they know and some new ones I hope they’ll love! More questions of identity, and fear, but the characters will also be looking at forgiveness and letting go. I’m really happy with the way the final book played out, and I’m hoping readers will be as well.

Thank you, Rachelle!  With the ending of The Calling, I'm so glad that the last book is being released this fall!

About the Author: 

The oldest daughter of New York Times bestselling author Ted Dekker, Rachelle Dekker was inspired early on to discover truth through storytelling. The Choosing was her critically acclaimed debut novel. Rachelle graduated with a degree in communications and spent several years in marketing and corporate recruiting before making the transition to write full time. She lives in Nashville with her husband, Daniel, and their diva cat Blair. Visit her online at www.rachelledekker.com.

What was the last book you anticipated or couldn't wait to be released?  Did it live up to your expectations?

Today, it's my great pleasure to introduce you to another of my author friends I met through the  Seekverille writing blog, Ruth Logan Herne (better known as Ruthy).  Read on to learn more about Ruthy, her latest novel, and get a chance to win a copy too!

It’s been a long time since Colt Stafford shrugged off his cowboy legacy for shiny Manhattan loafers and a promising career on Wall Street. But when stock market manipulations leave him financially strapped, the oldest son of legendary rancher Sam Stafford decides to return to the sprawling Double S ranch in Gray’s Glen, Washington. He’s broke, but not broken, and it’s time to check in with his ailing father, and get his legs back under him by climbing into the saddle again. ​

​He doesn’t expect to come home to a stranger pointing a loaded gun at his chest— a tough yet beautiful woman that Sam hired as the house manager. Colt senses there’s more to Angelina Morales than meets the eye and he’s determined to find out what she’s hiding...and why. ​

Colt’s return brings new challenges. Younger brother Nick has been Sam’s right-hand man at the ranch for years and isn’t thrilled at having Colt insert himself into Double S affairs. And the ranch’s contentious relationship with the citizens of Gray’s Glen asks all the Stafford men to examine their hearts about what it truly means to be a neighbor. And as Wall Street recovers, will Colt succumb to the call of the financial district’s wealth and power—or finally the courage to stay in the saddle for good? ​

Multi-published, bestselling author Ruth Logan Herne loves God, her family, her country, dogs, chocolate and coffee! A country gal with a heart for the big city, Ruthy likes nothing more than to write the kind of books she loves to read, and she's even more happy that now she gets paid to do it! She's been married for a Very Long Time and she and her husband Dave live on a small farm in upstate New York where lake effect snow buries them on a regular basis in winter. But that's all right... it gives her more time to write! Connect with Ruthy online at ruthloganherne.com or on Facebook, Twitter, & Goodreads.

Ruthy, thanks for stopping by The Artist Librarian!  It seems like you've published hundreds of Love Inspired books. :-P Was anything different about writing or publishing a full length novel with Waterbrook Multnomah?

Jen, I’m so glad to be here!!!! I feel like I’m truly in Hawaii!!!!! :-)  Well, yes and no. I’d already started doing big books with Franciscan Media, and they published Refuge of the Heart last September (2015) and just published More Than a Promise this past week, so that was exciting! And dipping my toes in with them and Waterbrook was just plain fun. Waterbrook had changed their schedule after contracting me, so normally we wouldn’t have two books releasing within two weeks of each other, but I honestly think it’s advantageous to both stories because first: They’re so different! One is more of a women’s fiction romance…

And Back in the Saddle is more of a family saga romance, imagine “Bonanza” meets “Dynasty”… three motherless men, a father who has created a dynasty out of angry, restless energy, and the loss of mothers for all three boys-now-men… So for this one, I was able to delve into family and town relationships much more than in a Love Inspired story. 20,000 words extra is a big deal, right?

But this wasn’t hard at all. I’ve always written longer stories, and when Love Inspired contracted me, I had to learn to write with that quicker curve… and I did it! Help from Seekers and Melissa Endlich to coach me along the way, and it worked!

Ah, that's right!  I totally forgot Refuge of the Heart was published last year ... With my art background, I have to ask: What was the book cover design process like for you as the author? How much input (if any) did you have in the final cover art?

Waterbrook was marvelous about the covers. First…. Um, GORGEOUS!!!! Colt’s cover is totally perfect for his story, the prodigal coming home to what he knew first. Yeah, he left in anger… but it will always be home because that’s how it is. You can come home again… you can mend relationships… you can make choices… So I love this story for all of those reasons! Then when the cover is done, I have approval rights, and who in THEIR RIGHT MIND would diss that cover???

No one.

So that was fun!

I think the cover definitely fits too!  It sort of reminds me of Diana Palmer's book covers (I remember shelving her contemporary cowboy romances at the library all the time).
Why should people read fiction? Why do you write fiction?

Let’s answer the second question first. I write fiction because I have always, always, always wanted to tell stories. From the time I was a little kid, I made things up constantly. I thought I was normal. (See, that’s a misconception so many of us have, because to us WE ARE NORMAL…). :-)  But to the rest of the world, we might be considered borderline nut jobs with voices in our heads. Now the voices are paying me to develop them, and I’m okay with that! And Jesus was the ultimate story-teller. He taught with stories.

I do, too.

He showed better ways and better choices by analogizing and creating parables.

I do that, too. And here’s why: I was a poverty-stricken kid from a very shoddy background. Books were my escape. Books were my balm in Gilead. Books took me out of the crazy I lived, and tucked me into a reality I longed for.

If nothing else, books should always be around to help heal the hearts of today’s children, just like they helped heal mine… and develop my fighting spirit!... so long ago.

Aw, I'm trying to imagine a "little Ruthy" now ... ;-) What inspired you to write this story?

Money.

KIDDING!!!!

I’ve been dying to do a cowboy series and when Waterbrook seemed interested, I developed the idea for them and they bought it. But the long story is…

During the crash of 2008 I saw lots of young college educated investors go home. My two sons in New York City watched their friends' jobs dissolve out from under them. All those years of college and training, gone. And there was little recourse.

(they are all re-employed now, though, and a few have gotten married!)

Seeing that, I wanted to create a reason for a man who wiped the dirt of his hometown off his heels (much like Jesus did and instructed his disciples to do) to have to go home… and to realize it wasn’t quite as bad as he remembered. And that goes back to a grown-up vs. a child’s perspective.

Oh, I'm glad they were able to find jobs again!  The city or the country and why? ;-)

Both. I was raised in Rochester when it was a great city to raise a family. I’m no stranger to city living. But I’ve been on a farm for almost thirty years, so this is ingrained now, too…

I love both. If I had to leave the farm today, I could tuck myself into a city neighborhood and do fine as long as I had a little spot for a garden. I love going to big cities, I love going to New York, I can walk for hours and hours and hours and just love on the craziness… but then I’m always happy to come back to the green and golds of the country.

Ooh, I had a feeling you'd choose country (guess I'm only half right though, LOL). Back in the Saddle features cowboys --do you have any favorite westerns (any media: book, tv, film)?

Oh, gosh, I love westerns. I love those old John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart westerns, and I’m over the moon in love with Lonesome Dove… And of course Tombstone…. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance… The Snowy River movies from Australia. My whole family LOVES those! Tom Burlinson and Sigrid Thornton??? Great romance! Dances With Wolves? Oh be still my heart. I could go on naming them for a long time, and my husband would count all the Clint Eastwood movies… I’m not as big a fan, but I did love Unforgiven…

Can you give us a hint on what you're working on next?

Oh my stars, yes! I’m in a spring collection with two other “Year of Weddings” authors and our print copy is coming out in April! “Toss the Bouquet” is me with Janice Thompson and Amy Matayo, doing romance from inside the wedding industry! My story “All Dressed Up in Love” is based on the great things I learned in eight years of being a bridal consultant… so much fun, Jen!

Home on the Range and Peace in the Valley are done, and I’ve got my third Franciscan book coming out in September, The First Gift and my second Grace Haven book, “Her Unexpected Family” (Love Inspired, I love my Love Inspired books!) coming out in August and then there are two Christmas novellas coming in the fall… One historical collection (can’t name names, contracts aren’t signed yet) and a contemporary collection from St. Martin’s Press…. And you know I love writing Christmas stories! So that’s plenty for one year, right??? :-)

Right now I’m working on things for next year… Rory’s story for Grace Haven #3 and I’m working out details on a fun trilogy concept that might just catch someone’s eye… if they like sweet towns, quirky characters and heart-tugging romance with babies!!!

Oh, my goodness, plenty for one year and then some, Ruthy! LOL  --Thanks for answering my questions!

Jen! It’s been a pleasure, absolutely! 

--For me I have a premise in mind. For example for the Alaskan Courage series it all began with a movie I happened to watch with my family about cave divers. It got me thinking—I wonder what people are crazy enough to do something so skilled, amazing and dangerous for a living. From there I started to think how fun it would be to write about a family of adult siblings who pursue adrenaline-packed adventure for a living. Since I’d seen the cave diving movie, I knew I wanted the eldest sibling to be a cave diver and then I moved to setting. After some research I decided on Alaska as the perfect setting for a wide range of adventures, a gorgeous backdrop and a wilderness with an innate sense of danger (if you aren’t properly prepared). 

With Chesapeake Valor it began with the setting, then the characters and then a ‘what if?’ Once I have those factors I sit down and write. I love seeing the story unfold as I write and getting to know the characters during my first draft. 

Alaskan Courage series (c.) Bethany House Publishers

--My publisher is so gracious. They ask for images of whom I picture as my hero and heroine, along with any other images I’ve used for inspiration. I’m a very visual person so I typically have a good number of pictures to send them. They also ask if I have any ideas for the background or if there are any book covers that I particularly like the feel of. My publishers have completely exceeded my best expectations with each and every cover. I’m very blessed to get the privilege of getting to work with such a talented team. 

--I think people should read fiction because it lets you travel to far off places, to experience life through another’s eyes, to live vicariously through others—all by simply opening the cover of a book. 

I write fiction because I love the power of story. I love how story can transport you into a completely different world, how it can make you laugh or cry, and how a good story stays with you forever. 

--Thank you so much for having me!  ~Dani 

Bonus Giveaway: Bethany House is also running a Maryland-themed sweepstakes with over $500 in prizes! Click the banner below for more info:


What'd you think of Dani's interview?  What would you ask her?  Feel free to leave any questions or comments below!