Hello, fellow travelers! It’s hard to believe February is already upon us, but the desert is starting to leave behind its morning chill in favor of afternoon heat. Wildlife is alive with color, and my allergies leave little to be imagined. Hints of spring leave me longing for the newness and rebirth the season brings. New beginnings, fresh perspective, growth—though spring is a little ways off, my heart is full with motivation and gratitude for this time I’ve been given.

Book Spotlight

If you had the chance to leave everything you knew behind, would you take it?

In Lily’s Passage, Farrah dreams that something greater than her small town life awaits her, if only she could leave. Feeling trapped by her mother’s expectations, she thinks her only way to escape is with a charming ambassador from the capital city. But she soon finds herself swept up in a greater adventure than she planned for, with hard choices before her that will alter the course of her life. Farrah then begins to understand what her mother tried to say all along—that home is something we often don’t appreciate until we’ve left it behind.

Reading

Following Fate by M.A. Frick is my top read of the month. I was fortunate enough to be chosen as an ARC reader for this book which releases late February, and I’ve been thoroughly enjoying it so far. If you like fantasy romance with lots of dragons, mysterious magic, and a strong female lead who’s good with a weapon, check out Forcing Fate (the first in the series) before you pre-order your copy of Following Fate.

Research

Marketing and fundraising strategies have been my focus this past month. I’ve been doing lots of market research on the YA fantasy genre, getting input on various graphics and campaign pieces, and bouncing ideas off of pretty much everyone around me. What many have said about independent publishing is true—an author is their own team of one from a book’s conception to its launch! But I’ve enjoyed honing all the skills that networking, marketing, and fundraising entail, and I know they’re areas I’ll be utilizing quite a bit in the future.

Updates

Lily’s Passage is 26% funded! Fundraising efforts this month include prepping for my email campaign that will officially launch in April (though there will be a chance for early-access goodies, so stay tuned) and TWO craft fairs near the end of the month. Though I’m going to be pretty exhausted, I couldn’t pass up the chance to appear at a game store full of other nerds. If you’re in Arizona, find me:

• Monday, Feb. 19th at J and J Gaming Factory (Glendale) from 4 – 8 pm
• Saturday, Feb. 24th at Church at Cactus (Peoria) from 9 am – 1 pm

Holly’s Portent is coming along, but I’ll most likely be extending my personal drafting deadline again. As much as I’d like to get working on revisions for this book, I need to put much more creative energy into fundraising if I want to be published by the end of the year. But I’ve so enjoyed how the story of book 2 is turning out, so I won’t complain about the extra time to revel in writing it.

Lore

Some places are just special. When I set foot in a stretch of desert untouched by the urban development around it, I feel at peace. When I stare up at the night sky and hear the calling of owls over the distant mountains, I feel alive. When I stand on the dunes overlooking Lake Michigan with the wind buffeting my body, I’m awestruck.

In our earthly home, there are places that shape us. I call these areas “sacred ground.” My own life has been shaped by many types of sacred ground. From my childhood forests in northern Michigan to my mountain years in Flagstaff to the desert that always welcomes me back home, nature is a part of who I am. Being close to the earth helps me remember my Creator and give thanks to the One who sustains me.

Sacred ground is an important piece of Alderdale as well. Throughout my fictional world, readers and characters alike encounter areas that speak to them and shape them. Whether through tragedy or beauty, the sacred ground forms a piece of who they are and leaves its mark on their lives. For my characters, the connection is built into the story I’ve written. For my readers, finding that ground may be unexpected. But whether the encounter evokes memories of a real life place or longings for an imaginary one, my hope is for readers to come away changed. Because we all need sacred ground where we can approach in reverence, willing to be transformed.

As the wind blows,

Sydney Frusti