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  • allisonteboauthor

    allisonteboauthor
    QOTD: What's a story that fills you with hope? H QOTD: What's a story that fills you with hope? 

HAPPY HOBBIT DAY!

What’s this? Two posts in one day? Allison never does that. But I’ve been wanting to post something on Hobbit Day, so here we are!

Being a slightly counter-cultural being, I of course am talking today about HARFOOTS: those protoype hobbits featured in the controversial show The Rings of Power. I personally adored the Harfoots, far more than I did the Hobbits, and I’ve had this blog post brewing in my head for a whole year. 

Yes, I finally wrote a new blog post! “How The Hobbits Restored My Hope” is now up on my author website. 

https://allisonteboauthor.com/2023/09/22/how-the-harfoots-restored-my-hope/
    Happy release day, @worldofvindor! If you had tol Happy release day, @worldofvindor!

If you had told me a few years ago that I would one day be publishing alongside Emily Golus: I probably would have laughed. Back then, I was just a wide-eyed fan of this remarkable author. So how incredibly amazed I am today to now count this author as a friend and fellow conspirator in A Classic Retold. I am so grateful for everything she brings to this collaboration and so excited and proud of her latest brilliant contribution to the literary world!

A MINI REVIEW

Reworking Les Miserables into a short retelling is a boggling feat for any author, but it is one Emily Golus handles not only with aplomb, but with an originality that defies conventional fantasy.

This take on the classic tale is told from a truly unique narrator: a female goblin. I cannot even begin to tell you how refreshing it was to read a fantasy that wasn’t narrated by the typical “hot and youthful” female. Valshara was one of the most original and lovable main characters I have read about in a long, long time!

This unique narrator (coupled with the refreshing lack of romance), were merely two small factors that make this book wonderful. Emily Golus is a master at world-building, and Crack the Stone is no exception! The meticulous attention to detail and culture makes a novel by Golus a rich reading experience. In addition, her themes never fail to move me to tears: Valshara’s arc is guaranteed to make you cry.

This poignant story of sacrifice and maternal love will linger in your heart and mind long after you reach the final page. Once again, Golus knocks it out of the ballpark!
    “𝑱𝒐𝒚 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕 “𝑱𝒐𝒚 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔, 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒚 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉-𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒔.” – 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒆𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝑩𝒆𝒐𝒘𝒖𝒍𝒇

Almost one week, come and gone, since publishing my latest novel. 

It’s still sinking in that Break the Beast is FINALLY out in the wild. I was burdened with this story for so long, I’m still trying to come to grips that I’m finally free of it.

In many ways, writing Break the Beast wounded me: there was a toll on my mind, body, emotions, and spirit. Beyond my normal chronic conditions, there really were times when I was drafting Break the Beast where I felt ill.

It was like a two-year fever. I was burning up with the relentless compulsion of the Holy Spirit to finish it and get it “out there,” while at the same time fighting a wrestling match with the demonic resistance that came against me and this novel.

Break the Beast was hard. I had to dive into places I didn’t want to be, draw on years of pain that I honestly wish I hadn’t experienced, and camp for twenty-three months amongst a story that was the antithesis of my usual writing.

I have to admit I didn’t enjoy a particle of this experience. But I was obedient, and that was singular victory I could wearily cling to when I couldn’t dredge up much excitement on release day.

But I have now been surprised by joy. My DM’s have been filled with readers reaching out to me about how Break the Beast is speaking to them, shaking them, carving away the layers to shed light into dark places. I’ve been humbled, amazed, and surprised by a dawning gladness.

There was a cost to Break the Beast—but there was also a prize. At long last, the words the Holy Spirit wished to say, through my novel, are touching hearts. A worthy prize indeed.

All Glory and all praise to the Almighty: for He was the creator of the inexplicable power that forms gems in the darkness and blades in the fire.

At long last . . . joy, over all of this, I am able to have, despite my wounds.
    Lasting impressions… 🍁 books I think about o Lasting impressions…

🍁 books I think about often:
I’ve had Beowulf on the brain lately. For obvious reasons. 😂

🍁 characters I think about often:
I think about the characters from the Chronicles of Narnia all the time. I’ve been thinking about Nikabrik lately and have a blog post or caption rumbling around in my head for him and what his arc is REALLY about. Stay tuned . . . 👀

🍁 a recent quote that stood out to me:
I was reading a book called Defiant Joy by Stasi Eldredge and she talked about how Jesus interferes in our lives. I thought that was the most interesting choice of words and I’ve been meditating on it. It summons up quite a different picture from the more commonly used word “intervenes.” “Interferes” is often used in a negative light: that person who just won’t leave well enough alone, always ramming their oar in, discussing you with others, making plans for how to run your life . . . “Intervenes” summons up images of being saved when we really want to be: “interferes” implies being saved when we DON’T want to be. But Jesus has the RIGHT to interfere, and we ought to thank Him forever that He does seize us and mold us and worry over us and discuss us and waylay us. Humanity doesn’t just need intervention; it needs interference. We need a divine and holy “meddler” to interfere in our stubbornness and blindness. And Thank God that He sent His Son to do just that.

🍁 books I want a tv show/film adaption of:
I think an adaption of the Space Boy webcomic by could be amazing! 

🍁 books I want to reread:
Lightfall (the graphic novel) by Tim Probert, Dark House on the Moss by Constance Savery, and Tale of Two Princes by Eckart Zur Nieden. All of these are on my autumn reading list. 

🍁 books that are high on my TBR:
All of the books in A Classic Retold. I’ve read Crack the Stone by @worldofvindor, Steal the Morrow by @jenellelschmidt, Summon the Light by @tspecfiction and Unearth the Tides by @authoralissajzavalianos, but I’ve yet to read the books by @songsofheroes @hkayewrites @rosies_bookshelf and @ninaclarebooks! 

I stole this tag from @e.kmeyer - who always has the best captions and best bookish games! 
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QOTD: How would YOU answer these quest
    Doing an ebook giveaway and author Q&A for Break t Doing an ebook giveaway and author Q&A for Break the Beast!
    “𝑺𝒐 𝑰 𝒑𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝑮𝒐 “𝑺𝒐 𝑰 𝒑𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝑮𝒐𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝑯𝒊𝒔 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒈𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒖𝒑𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒖𝒎𝒑𝒉 𝒂𝒕 𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕.” – 𝑩𝒆𝒐𝒘𝒖𝒍𝒇
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After nearly two years, Break the Beast (and the first book in the multi-author series #AClassicRetold) is finally out in the world. 
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During one of the hardest seasons of my life, God moved through me to enable me to write the hardest story I have ever written. Break the Beast was my own Grendel - my own dragon that felt undefeatable. And yet, the fight is done, despite it all. 
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All glory to the Almighty, Who’s sword cuts sharpest than all others. 
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Break the Beast is now available in ebook, paperback, and Kindle Unlimited. Stay tuned for hardcover and audiobook updates.
    Break the Beast releases TOMORROW. 🎉 What’s Break the Beast releases TOMORROW. 🎉 

What’s one of your most anticipated releases for the last few months of 2023?

Fun Fact: I listened to a lot of Steven Price’s music when I was drafting Break the Beast. I’m going to be sharing the official playlist for my story very soon!
    QOTD: What is one of your author dreams? Mine ha QOTD: What is one of your author dreams? 

Mine has been to have my books turned into audiobooks. Audiobooks have always been such a massive part of my life: from long car rides to sick days to extracurricular activities, I feel like I had an audiobook playing in the background for most of my childhood, and I still listen to audiobooks constantly as an adult. Somehow, in my mind, having my books for sale on Audible always seemed more like a "you have arrived as an author" moment than having my stories in paperback. 

So you can imagine how thrilled I am to announce that The Reluctant Godfather, my very first novella, is now available on Audible. My (English!) narrator did such a good job bringing my firstborn book baby to life. 

You can purchase the audiobook via my stories or by clicking on the link my profile!
    QOTD: Do you like epigraphs in books? An epigraph QOTD: Do you like epigraphs in books?

An epigraph is a short quotation or saying at the beginning of a book or chapter, intended to suggest it’s theme. 

I love epigraphs in books, it has a fictional prophecy feel to it: as if the events of your chapter are being foretold. 

I was determined to have epigraphs in all of the books for #AClassicRetold and was even more determined to include epigraphs from Seamus Heaney's translation of Beowulf in #BreaktheBeast. I adore Heaney's translation of Beowulf with all my heart: it's the version that made me fall in love with Beowulf, so it only felt fitting to include it. 

Unfortunately, I couldn't get permission to quote Heaney in my book, so I had to use the one version of Beowulf that is in the public domain. 😢

I went through all the right channels, talked to the agent at the publishing house and, after a month or more of waiting, had my request turned down.
 
Why the Seamus Heaney estate refused my request was not given. 

As always, I’m going to follow the example of Fonzie from Happy Days and chalk it up to, “When you’re this cool, they’re out to getchya!” 😎
    QOTD: Who is an author you admire on Instagram? QOTD: Who is an author you admire on Instagram? 

I've admired @h.s.j._williams for years, both as a person and a writer, so you can imagine how blown away I was to receive her author endorsement for my upcoming release, Break the Beast! Thank you so much, Hannah.

Who is an author you admire? Tag them below!

You can preorder Break the Beast in my stories or via my profile!
    (excerpt from a private message shared in the Clas (excerpt from a private message shared in the Classic Retold Facebook Group on June 22nd 2022). 

“PRAISE REPORT.

Hey ladies! I am timidly excited to say that I have, at long last, settled on a story for A Classic Retold!

As you all know, I've been bouncing erratically from one story to another since last October and there's a reason for that.

When I first conceived this collaboration, it was partly because I wanted to write a retelling of BEOWULF. This idea was very deep in Christian symbolism and rather intense and serious so . . . it scared me. I didn't think I was good enough to write it. I doubted. "I'll stick with lighter retellings - that's what I can do quickly and easily."

Cue almost 7 months of me NOT doing it quickly and easily, but struggling with every subsequent idea. Writing was impossible, nothing was working. And then a few weeks ago, in a panic, I was praying and the Holy Spirit asked me: "Well, what about Beowulf?"

This was the story that I was afraid to try because I knew it would stretch me and challenge me and force me to grow as a writer. This was the story I didn't think I was good enough to write: the idea was TOO beautiful; I couldn’t capture it properly. This was the story that had SO much archetypal symbolism, I was afraid it would come across as corny.

But, I knew, in my heart, at long last, that this was the one I was supposed to write. I've surrendered and I've accepted the harder story. I'm retelling Beowulf!

Anyway, I wanted to share a little about how God is using this collaboration in so many ways - and one of them is to trust Him more than I have for any other project, believing that He'll help me craft my toughest redemption story yet.

Thanks for praying with me and for bearing with me as I bounced from project to project. I've been working on Beowulf the last couple of weeks and I'm happy to say that I've been slowly plodding along on it and, more importantly, I know I'm finally on the right track. My heart is reassured and my fingers are busy.

I'm hoping to share the summary soon and ask for brainstorming help with the title!”

QOTD: Has there ever been a book you were scared to write or read?
    GIVEAWAY! 🎉 My book, The Goblin and the Dance GIVEAWAY! 🎉 

My book, The Goblin and the Dancer, is turning two years old this Sunday! I can't believe it. This book changed so much for me as an author and brought about so many opportunities. I'm a little emotional that it was this book that became my first audiobook: it's very special to me. I am forever grateful to that first wonderful collaboration #AVillainsEverAfter

To celebrate, I am giving away TWO free audiobooks of The Goblin and the Dancer to two lucky winners! (US only)

 
HOW TO ENTER.
1. Follow me.
2. Save this photo.
3. Share in your stories and tag me.
4. Tag five friends!

EXTRA ENTRIES

1. Sign up for my author newsletter (link in profile - counts as three extra entries. Let me know in the comments if you do)
2. Give me an audiobook rec! (counts as one point)
    QOTD: What's on your plate this week now that the QOTD: What's on your plate this week now that the holiday is over? 

I've got a lot of work for my upcoming book release to do, including sharing about The MAGNIFICENT website for A Classic Retold! It’s an all-in-one landing page where you can preorder the books, meet the authors, find trigger warnings for each book int he series, and explore other works by the authors. Visit AClassicRetold.com to see it for yourself!

A huge thanks to Mike Golus at @takeshapestudio for designing the site.

#multiauthorseries #cleanfantasy #noblebright #noblebrightfantasy #classicretelling #classicbooks #christianfantasyauthor
    IT’S GIVEAWAY TIME. ⭐️ ⭐️ . . My upcomin IT’S GIVEAWAY TIME. ⭐️ ⭐️
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My upcoming epic fantasy retelling of Beowulf releases in just TWO WEEKS and I am celebrating by giving away a signed paperback to one lucky winner! 🎉
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Follow the steps below for a chance to win.
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HOW TO ENTER.
1. Follow me.
2. Save this photo.
3. Share in your stories and tag me.
4. Tag nine friends! (one friend to represent each book in the multi-author series #AClassicRetold
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EXTRA ENTRIES
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1. Sign up for my author newsletter (link in profile - counts as three extra entries)
2. Join the launch day team for Break the Beast (link is also in stories and profile – counts as four extra points)

3. Say BEASTIE below in the comments to let me know you’ve done the extra steps.
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(US only)
    QOTD: What is your favorite children's classic? Pe QOTD: What is your favorite children's classic? Peter Pan? Winnie the Pooh? Charlotte's Web? The options are endless! 
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I am so excited to at long last reveal the FINAL COVER for the upcoming multi-author series #AClassicRetold. Isn't it beautiful?? I love how mysterious it is. Don't forget to swipe for the blurb!

You may have noticed that the cover reveal was delayed slightly, but it's here at last, and I am so excited because we are only a few weeks away from publication for the first book in this amazing series. 

You can preorder Riddle of Hearts in my stories!
    If you were watching my stories yesterday, you saw If you were watching my stories yesterday, you saw a day in the life for someone with chronic pain/illness (a rather good day, to be honest). So, I wanted to share a few tips today of things that have helped me navigate my life. If you have health struggles, I recommend these practices. 

# 1 PRIORITIZE: What is the number one thing that HAS to get done today? I’ve had to really dial my daily to-do lists to absolute necessities these days. And that’s a good thing. Learning to prioritize, whether you are healthy or not, is one of the most valuable lessons we can learn. Do the most important thing and pat yourself on the back—you still accomplished a LOT, considering the situation. 

# 2 PACE YOURSELF: Try “padding” every activity with rest periods. Frustrated by so much resting? Then make the rest periods “count.” Listen to an educational podcast. Video chat with a friend. Watch your favorite movie. Do your devotions. Listen to an audiobook. Even if we’re flat on our backs, we can still be making progress and making resting a rich experience.
 
# 3 DON’T COMPARE (BUT ALSO COMPARE): It’s easy to look at someone who is healthy and envy their ability to do things easily, but thinking like that will only lead to unhappiness. Cut the comparison (if you’re really struggling, try to eliminate triggers: like social media, as much as possible) And remember, you don’t know everything that is going on in someone’s life. Every life holds sorrow. A woman I know who had a steel rod inserted in her spine once responded to someone’s sympathetic comment with a cheerful: “Everyone has limitations.” And this is where good comparison comes in. You don’t have to look far to see your blessings or to see how incredibly fortunate you are in whatever situation you’re in: there’s a lot of wisdom in “it could always be worse.” When I’m really tempted to hate my life: I try to pray for someone I know who has pretty much lived her life in a hospital. It reorientates me from self-pity to gratitude. 

These are just a few things that have helped me and I hope they help you!

QOTD: How do you look after your physical/spiritual/mental/emotional health?
    QOTD: Do you like audiobooks? I am thrilled to a QOTD: Do you like audiobooks? 

I am thrilled to announce that, at long last, The Goblin and the Dancer audiobook is now completed and available for purchase!

It's actually been available for a month, but ACX has been giving me no end of trouble with my account (still hasn't been fixed - keep your fingers crossed for me. 😂). ANYWAY, I decided not to sit on good news any longer and am sharing about it now, despite the difficulties! 

CLICK ON VIDEO TO HEAR A SAMPLE!

Didn't Johnathan do an AMAZING job? I couldn't be happier with his performance: he truly brought my book to life in all the ways I had hoped and dreamed. 

It was actually during the production of this audiobook that I found out Johnathan is a brother in Christ, all the way across the pond in Ireland! So when you purchase this audiobook, you are supporting TWO Christian creatives, not just one! 😍

Link to buy is in stories and profile. 

So let's discuss: do you listen to a lot of audiobooks?
    QOTD: Describe the world or setting of the book yo QOTD: Describe the world or setting of the book you are writing or reading!

·  Cold, desolate lochs and tarns.
·  Wild tossing grasses on windswept moors.
·  Pale stately birch trees, glistening white in the moonlight.
·  Smoke-filled wooden halls with rush floors whispering underfoot.
·  Dark waves crashing against white chalk cliffs and sandy, silver shores.
·  Underwater caves, where an oily pool causes warped reflections to dance across rock ceilings.
·  Rocky crevices and stark ravines hidden amongst the moors.
·  Black, ashy plains leading to burning pits of dragon fire.

These are some of the settings you’ll find in my upcoming release, Break the Beast! These bleak locales are a real departure from my previously published works and I can’t wait to share them with you all.
    QOTD: Do you like symbolism and allegories? I pe QOTD: Do you like symbolism and allegories? 

I personally love them both, and I think of them as entirely different things. Today I'm taking some time to explain my thoughts on both topics and how future readers will find Break the Beast full of (predominantly) symbolism, rather than allegory. 

SWIPE FOR MINI BLOG POST.
    QOTD: does the book you are reading or writing hav QOTD: does the book you are reading or writing have a location inspired by a real place?

When I’m drafting a book, I do research on interesting places to gain inspiration for my novel’s locations.

Break the Beast has multiple locations by real world places! (SWIPE FOR INSPO PICS)

 
1)  The place where Beowulf makes landfall in my story is inspired by the white cliffs of Dover and Culver’s Hole in Wales.

2)  Wookey Hole in England was used as partial inspiration for the cave of Grendel’s mother.

3)  The end finale’s location was inspired by the interior of Fingal’s cave in Scotland and the Darvaza gas crater (also known as the Door to Hell) in Turkmenistan.

4)  Grendel’s haunt was inspired by the Oare Marshes in England (also known as Marsh of Daemons and the historic home of Grendel according to certain legends).

5)  Parts of England’s Lake District, such as Pavey Ark and Stickle Tarn and Scotland’s highlands (specifically Glen Etive) were inspiration for the general country of my fictional Frisia.

Even when I’m writing about fictional worlds, I love using real world places as inspiration. To me, it enriches the descriptions and gives the story a sense of realism—however subtle.

Your turn! I'd love to hear your answers to this.

(Images from Google)
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  • I am a participant of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Read more on my full disclosure page.

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