Get to Know the Author

I’ve been seeing some new faces around here lately, and it has been such an encouragement to me to read your comments and hear from you in general, dear Reader!

I’m especially pleased that a few of you who have been reading quietly for a while have felt comfortable saying “hi” here and there, as well!

Whether you found me through a group we’re in together, because I commented on someone else’s blog you were following, or you came here because you’ve already read and enjoyed my books (or if you found me some other way that I haven’t thought of) WELCOME!

A couple months ago before I went on a short hiatus, I invited you to ask me your questions so I could do a sort of “get to know me” post since I haven’t done one in a while.

And boy did you deliver on the questions! Thank you so much! A post like this really doesn’t happen without YOUR help and input, and I am very grateful that you felt comfortable asking away!

Personal, Writing RuminationsJenelle SchmidtJuly 6, 2021 Comments

Happy Independence Day!

The Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays.

Today we celebrate our freedom from oppression. From tyranny. From other forms of government that seek to control and dictate what we can be and think and say and do.

Today, we celebrate OUR INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Music, PersonalJenelle SchmidtJuly 4, 2021 Comments

An Echo of the Fae: Themes and a Sequel Sneak Peek

When writing a book, knowing what themes you want to explore is generally a good idea.

But I almost never start with that. My writing is driven by a weird mixture of world-building, character, and plot. Plot usually comes last. The world and the characters come first… and which one comes first varies from story to story.

An Echo of the Fae was no exception to the rule. As I explained earlier this week, a lot of the story came together after I had figured out who the players were and what the world looked like.

For me, the themes usually stand out to me more after the story is written, and one of my jobs is to pull those themes out and polish them off in the editing stages.

Some of the themes in this story surprised me, but I am quite pleased with how they wove themselves through the plot.

ideas, Technical Aspects, My Books, Personal, Fairy Tales, CharactersJenelle SchmidtJune 28, 2021 Comments

Ask the Author + Fan Art Contest Reminder + Hiatus

Farewell for now.

cue the “So Long, Farewell” song from The Sound of Music

Well, friends, the hiatus doth commenceth. The blog and all my social media hidey-holes will be fairly silent and empty here for the next month!

But never fear!

PersonalJenelle SchmidtMay 21, 2021 Comments

Movies That Are Better Than Their Books

Let me begin by assuring y’all that I am a self-proclaimed, certified book dragon.

I LOVE books.

Ever since I learned to read, I have devoured books at a fairly unhealthy rate. (My daughter, reading over my shoulder, wishes to protest that there is no such thing as “reading at an unhealthy rate”) I maaay be inclined to agree with her.

I’ve gone through all the usual phases: dog stories, horse-crazy stories, a couple of rounds of fascination with vampires, and then I settled happily into fantasy and have dwelt there ever since.

Movie Reviews, Personal, Reviews, ReadingJenelle SchmidtMay 17, 2021 Comments