Greetings, Lore Keepers!
Finally, spring is in full bloom. Through the strange rainy weather for this time of year, I’m reminded that even nature is full of surprises. And oftentimes, life comes at us before we have a chance to draw up our battle plans! Such is the case for my family lately. We have many moving parts working together in a delicate dance, so small wonder I’ve been feeling behind on—well, everything.
Book Spotlight
The settings in Lily’s Passage may be fictional, but they are based off real places. And like our own world, there are few places untouched by conflict.
Farrah and Asken’s world is torn apart by war. They represent a generation impacted by the actions of those who walked before them. Decades of secrets and mishandled power led the world to turmoil, but all hope isn’t lost. While it may seem unfair that they suffer for crimes they didn’t commit, they symbolize the bright future that awaits when individuals take a stand for all that is good, true, and pure.
Reading
After visiting the Romans 8:28 Bookstore in Enumclaw, WA at the beginning of the month, I’ve been reading Running on Broken Legs: My Journey to Joy by Elinor Young. What an inspiring story of perseverance in the face of impossible odds! If you enjoy memoirs or missionary stories, this is a book for you.
Research
My fiction writing has been at a standstill this month, which means my research life has been less than thrilling.
Updates
Lots of important updates this month!
✨ In case you missed it, the excerpt for Lily’s Passage is now live on my Etsy. Snag your copy here to begin your adventure through Alderdale and to aid in my fundraising efforts.
✨ Registration for my fundraising campaign is now live! The campaign will begin April 15th and end on May 27th. Even if you already receive my regular emails, you must fill out the registration to participate in the campaign. I would love to share my vision with all of you, so consider signing up even if you don’t want to donate!
✨ I had an amazing time connecting with other AZ writers at a workshop hosted by Redemption Press a couple weeks ago. It’s always so encouraging to talk with those who are walking the same path to publication.
✨ Check out my new Linktree for all the ways we can stay connected!
Lore
Much of Lily’s Passage takes place in uncultivated lands between settlements. Perhaps that choice was subconscious. When I penned the original draft of the story in my youth, I’d recently been transplanted to a place far from where I grew up. My adolescent mind chose writing as the medium to process the upheaval in my life, even if I didn’t recognize it at the time. The forests and rivers of Alderdale remind me of my childhood home, just as the mountains of Bellhaven speak to another home I would inhabit for a time.
What I didn’t see as a teen was that even in our times of wandering, the Lord provides. Just like He fed the children of Israel in the wilderness, so He gives what we need in our times of trial. I’m reminded of this truth in my present life, where the future is shrouded in question marks. But through all the long nights of worry and waiting, I know that there is a plan for the road ahead—even if I can’t see the whole map.
Sometimes the vast wilderness before me seems like uncharted territory. And when I read Lily’s Passage during edits or cross-referencing for the next book, I can relate all over again to Farrah and Asken’s wanderings. I think this will always be the case. Because between every oasis lies a season of wilderness to reflect upon. I take heart knowing that even when I may feel lost in an endless desert, the wanderings serve a greater purpose than my mortal eyes can fathom.
As the wind blows,
Sydney Frusti
