Welcome Lore Keepers, old and new!
You may have received my email last week about my switch over to Substack. If not, check out the archives (or don’t, doesn’t matter to me). Regardless, strap in for a ton of updates as I share just what’s been keeping me busy this past month. (Hint: it’s mostly exciting book updates.)
Book Spotlight
“You’re right.” I faced her, but she remained in profile. “We live in darkness from the moment we’re born. But even one light dispels hundreds of shadows.” At her words, the walls grew in brightness, illuminating her face.
I turned away. “I don’t have any light to offer. Not anymore.”
She touched my abdomen and I met her eyes. “You aren’t walking this path alone. Others will come alongside you if you let them.”
“Other people bring too much heartache.” My tears fell to the stone, causing lichen to spring to life.
Xena brushed the new plants. “We were made to walk with others. Alone, we can’t become who we’re called to be.”
—Excerpt from Lily’s Passage
Reading
Fresh Baked Lies by Gloria Fennimore
I’ve had the privilege of reading a friend’s debut novel as she works toward publication. While a completely different genre from Lily’s Passage, FBL shares some threads and themes with my work. It’s been a joy to encounter her story and I can’t wait to see it out in the wild later this year!
Quote to Ponder
“Tam and he were just as alone on the Quarry Road as they had been that morning, but in some way he felt as if the entire village were with them. That others knew and believed made all the difference.” —Robert Jordan, Eye of the World
This quote reminds me that though we may feel as if we walk alone, the support and silent encouragement of others can give us strength to continue the journey.
Updates
✨ My final cover design is in the works! Thank you for all the helpful feedback on the first rounds of mockups. By my next newsletter, I should have a big reveal ready for my Lore Keepers.
✨ Proofreading is underway! I’ve submitted all my back matter (Author’s Note, Index of Plants, etc.) for editing as well, so the next stage is formatting and layout.
✨ I had my first *official* marketing call to talk about my current options for book launch etc. Thanks to the massive word count cuts, I ended with a surplus credit of a couple thousand dollars in my publisher’s account. That means I have marketing options that I never would have considered before! The Lord truly provides abundantly.
✨ I’ve been taking time off writing to do some reading, but I’m ready to jump back into drafting in May. Though I’m a little intimidated to pick up Holly’s Portent again, the book won’t write itself!
✨ “Laurel’s Price” also needs a revisit. This poor short story has been lingering in my unfinished pile for months, and now is the time to commit again.✨ Finally, I’m in the early stages of building my launch team for the fall. While I don’t have any of the framework in place for signups, here’s something to think about: if you’re the kind of person who loves young adult fantasy, has some extra time to commit, and resonates with the message there’s always a light in the darkness—you may be a good fit for my launch team.
Lore
Writing feels like a solitary endeavor. But the further along I get on my publishing journey, the more I realize how necessary others are. Without others to encourage, support, and guide me, my ministry would be far less potent. We sharpen each other so we can each become who we’re called to be.
The scene featured in the Book Spotlight was a relatively recent addition to Lily’s Passage. But funny enough, I can’t imagine the story now without it. Once I got into the flow of my rewrites, I found many places lacking in potency. To remedy that, I dug into my major themes for inspiration.
In the wake of the Covid lockdowns, I started afresh on Lily’s Passage with the intention of distilling its true message. Among others, one resonant idea was that we never walk alone. During a time of uncertainty, isolation, and loneliness, I felt this theme was imperative to highlight in my story. And though the social landscape has changed since then, the desperate need for community has not.
It is my hope that those who walk the journey through Lily’s Passage find some comfort and hope. For though my characters may be fictional, the truths they uncover are real.
We were created to be in community. Whether we serve together or create together, our connections with fellow humans shape us. And more importantly, we must be in community with our Creator, for He provides all that we lack.
As the wind blows,
Sydney Frusti
