Author: admin

Recent/bestsellers/ comparable to Montaland stories

When I’m preparing a story to be published, I’m supposed to come up with comparable titles—books like mine that have sold well and were written in the last two or three years. They are one of the most important tools book buyers use in deciding whether or not to buy an author’s books.

It’s been hard, really hard.  There isn’t much popular fantasy out there that is light, recent, and distinctly Christian. My stories are not retellings of Bible stories. They aren’t allegories or parables or cleverly disguised sermonettes.

I fall back on C. S. Lewis’s Narnia stories and Lynne Jonell’s Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat series, even though they don’t fit the time frame. I’ve included E. D. Baker’s The Frog Princess books–they’re not Christian, but they are light and fun to read.  I’ve stretched things to include Andrew Peterson’s The Warden and the Wolf King and S. D. Smith’s rabbit books, because they are written by Christian authors. 

The reason I’m writing this post is to ask for your help. There’s one more story coming in the Montaland series—Benk and the Ugly Princess.  I’ll need comparable titles for it!  If you know of any recent popular fantasies for 8-12 year olds, please share with me!   

DISCOURAGEMENT A LA FERNPEOPLE

Sometimes I need to listen to my own characters. In Fernpeople, Janna tells stories when her strength ebbs, and the stories strengthen her. I’m a storyteller too, so I can identify with that. I’m sure that sounds strange since I’m the author, but I bet other authors know what I mean!! Your characters can be bigger than you are!

Petten becomes furious when he hears discouraging news and rushes into action without regarding the people with him. It’s not until Benk yells at him that he sees what he’s done, but he immediately recognizes his mistake and works to change. Okay, yes, I suppose I could work on admitting fault instead of pointing out all the faults of other people–over and over again, an unending poisonous spiral that isn’t worth it.

Benk withdraws when he gets discouraged. He doesn’t want to talk about it; he just withdraws and tells himself negative things. Unfortunately, I can identify with this too. The self-enforced quiet makes him more understanding of other people, but it’s not until he breaks down before the Maker that he is freed of the weight of his own mistakes.