Greetings, Lore Keepers! A new year dawns and with it, beautiful possibilities. Along with my usual updates, I want to highlight a brand new section that will be appearing in future newsletters—the book spotlight! Though similar to the Lore section, Book Spotlight will exclusively feature bits related to my upcoming work. Character sketches, setting descriptions, thematic exploration—prepare to embark on a journey through Alderdale in Lily’s Passage, a story of magic, mystery, and finding our place in the world.

Book Spotlight

Discovering who we are. The quest for truth. Seeking a higher purpose. These ideas resonate with us because chances are, we’ve all wrestled with the big questions of life. Such themes appear in the pages of my writing, because exploring the hard topics help us understand what it is to be human.

Lily’s Passage is the beginning of a journey for Farrah and Asken, both physically and metaphorically. Farrah learns the hard way about growing up and the sacrifices required for love. She gets more than she bargained for by leaving home like she always dreamed. And Asken finds that sometimes the hardest battles are the ones fought within ourselves. The village girl and the social outcast may not seem like heroes to their war-torn world, but both must rise to face the challenges before them—or risk losing everything they hold dear.

Reading

Confession time—I’ve done very little reading lately. Aside from the first pages of The Reason for Flowers by Stephen Buchmann, I’ve hardly picked up a book other than to reorganize.

However, I’ve been listening to The Worried Writer Podcast by Sarah Painter which has been thoroughly enjoyable. If you’re interested in writing, publishing, or just curious to hear other authors’ ideas on the creative process, give this podcast a listen.

Research

Did you know that roadrunners hunt rattlesnakes? Or that powdered yucca roots can be used as soap? My research has taken me all over the desert southwest this past month, and I’m continually amazed by how much I still don’t know about the place I call home.

Updates

Lily’s Passage is 25% funded. Expect to hear more about a crowdfunding campaign coming soon to get this book launched into publication. 2024 is the year!

Holly’s Portent drafting is well underway. I’m extending my personal deadline to the end of February to get the first draft written. After that, I’ll probably take a short break from novels to focus on other publishing and writing goals. (But never fear—book #3 of the trilogy will be underway within a year!)

I’m growing my online presence slowly but surely, and I’ve so enjoyed my little community across various platforms. My supporters are a huge reason I do what I do, so thank you for being a part of the journey! And if you know someone who might enjoy my work, please tell them about me <3

~Facebook: Sydney Frusti – Author
~Instagram: sydneyfrusti
~Goodreads: Sydney Frusti
~Pinterest: Sydney Frusti 
~Etsy: Poppy & Myrrh → new drops coming soon!
~My website: sydneyfrusti.com

Lore

Have you ever seen a cactus in bloom? Or canyon flowers sprouting from barren stone? In the midst of harsh conditions, desert plants still manage to grow in ways that seem to defy nature. These specimens do more than merely survive—they thrive.

My word for the year is THRIVE, which means “to grow vigorously; to flourish.” Like the inspiring plants found in my Sonoran Desert home, I aim to be full of abundant life in 2024.

As far as writing is concerned, here’s how I plan to thrive:

~Staying consistent in my writing routine
~Filling my creative well with things like good books, deep conversations, and the beauty of nature
~Making time for “divine appointments” in my schedule
~Planning for success so that my goals happen!

Last year, I planted seeds of publication and saw my dream begin to grow. Now my task is to tend to that dream so it can flourish and bear fruit—a published book by the end of 2024. This year, I’m making the most of my resources to grow in the soil I’m planted in.

As the wind blows,

Sydney Frusti