All posts by Morgan L. Busse

Morgan L. Busse is a writer by day and a mother by night. She is the author of the epic fantasy Follower of the Word series and the award-winning steampunk series, The Soul Chronicles. Her debut novel, Daughter of Light, was a Christy and Carol Award finalist. During her spare time she enjoys playing games, taking long walks, and dreaming about her next novel.
Writing

Realm Makers 2015 Recap

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Now that I’ve had enough rest for my brain to properly function again, I wanted to recap my time at Realm Makers while it’s still fresh on my mind :).

For those of you who don’t know what Realm Makers is, it is a conference for Christian writers of speculative fiction (fantasy, science fiction, time travel, steampunk, etc…). And not just book writers, but screen writers, manga writers, and even illustrators. This year was Realm Maker’s third year and wow has it grown since I first attended two years ago! One hundred fifty attendees, stellar teachers including David Farland, Rober Lipaurulo, and Jeff Gerke, and lots of great classes.

This year was a different year for me. Instead of going as an attendee, I was one of the teachers and mentors. And I loved it! I loved meeting one-on-one with budding writers and brainstorming with them, helping them with their character development or story arc, or just encouraging them on their writing journey.

I also loved teaching. I have been blessed with wonderful teachers in the past and I now I am in the position to pass on what I have learned. I taught a class on how to show the gospel through fiction without preaching and participated on the fight scene panel. Both were well received and it warms my heart knowing that I helped other writers.

Of course, one of the best parts of Realm Makers is the costume banquet. I don’t know of any other conference where you get to dress up as a favorite character or genre for dinner :).  Here are some of my pictures from that evening (along with other moments at Realm Makers):

David Farland and Morgan L. BusseDavid Farland and Me 🙂

Enclave Publishing AuthorsFellow Enclave Authors

teddi andme steampunkSteampunk!

where's waldo?I found Waldo!

fellow steampunkMore Steampunk!

critique partnersMe and My Critique Partners 🙂

Realm Makers 2015 was a blast! I can’t wait until I can go back.  And for those of you interested in my steampunk costume, next week I will be doing a post on how to build your own costume without breaking the bank. So stay tuned!

Writing

Food in Fiction and Dressing like Your Characters

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coffee dateI’m so excited to have my coffee date this month! I had more questions come in from my readers than space, so I’m breaking up the questions between this month and next month. There are some fun questions this month, so let’s get started 🙂

Maegen asks: If you were to create a recipe based on any inspiration/idea from any of your books (current or future ideas) what would it be?

It’s not really a recipe, but more of something I’m curious to try. While doing research for Heir of Hope, I looked for things people would eat while traveling along the coast, something easy to find and cook. One thing that came up in my search were seagull eggs. Apparently they are a delicacy in Norway and wouldn’t be that hard to find along the coast. I never ended up using that particular food, but I always wondered what seagull eggs would taste like!

Thanks for the question, Maegen!

Lisa asks: Have you ever dressed like one of your characters?

Yes and no. I have one outfit I use for cons, conferences, and even Halloween. It’s a steampunk outfit that has slowly evolved over the years as I’ve added more and more pieces to it. When I first created my outfit, I was writing fantasy. However, last summer I started working on a steampunk series. When I dove into book two, I realized the outfit I’ve been wearing for the last few years is the same one my character wears in the second book. So maybe you could say my character dresses like me 😉

I will be sharing pictures of my outfit next week after Realm Makers, and will also be sharing a post about how to build your own steampunk outfit out of things you can find around town the following week, so stay tuned.

Thanks for the excellent question, Lisa!

The fourth Friday of every month I take questions from readers about almost everything: writing, fantasy and science fiction, even about my life. If you have a question you would like answered during my coffee dates, feel free to ask below and I will answer it at the next available date. Thanks!

Writing

You’re Not Going to Please Everyone

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I had a handful of reviews come in a couple weeks ago and every single reviewer did not like my books. Ouch! Some stated why, others were left blank with less than stellar stars. What is a writer to do with reviews like these?

For a while, I walked around the house with their words bouncing around in my head. Should I have…? What if I had…? Or maybe I’m really that bad.

Then I looked up and realized something: I’m not going to please everyone. The moment I admitted that to myself, a huge load was lifted from my shoulders. Let’s face it, that is the truth. No one can please everyone. There are going to be people who don’t resonate with my story, or don’t like my writing voice, or my characters, or my descriptions, or fill-in-the-blank. That’s just life.

So what do I do? I keep writing. I have a unique voice that I’ve tried to change in the past and it didn’t work (check out my blog post Surprised By My Own Voice). I like my voice, it is who I am. It just might not resonate with others.

I will continue to write stories that I love. If I don’t love the story, it will be hard to come to my computer and write it each day for the next year.

I have been blessed to work with editors I respect and agree with. There are many editors out there with different ideas on how a story should be written. Because of that, what I write and how it is edited will not be as appealing to those who come from other schools of thought. And that’s okay.

Writing is one way I worship God. I wrestle with themes, questions, and ideas and ultimately create a story that I give back to God. Through every story I write, I am reminded of who God is, how much He loves me, and there is a reason I am here on this earth. Even if no one else picked up my book and read it, I would have joy in simply giving my story to God much in the same way a child draws a picture and gives it to her papa.

I’m not going to please everyone. I need to remember that. But that’s not my job anyway. My job is to write the best story I can and pour my soul into it. That is what I can control and will continue to do.

How about you? Do you sometimes get caught up in wanting to please everyone and feel depressed if you don’t? How do you overcome that?

Christian Life

Doing What’s Good for You

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It’s not always easy to do what’s good for you. My husband hates vegetables. Taste, texture, even smell. It wasn’t until a couple months ago he finally starting adding them to his diet in the form of a veggie protein shake, that way he can slug his veggies down. I decided to join him in slurping those veggie shakes, partly because if we are both doing it, he’ll more likely drink it in the morning and partly because I could use more veggies in my diet.

There are some mornings I don’t want to make those shakes. And there are some mornings I would rather have something else (like a doughnut, yum!). But I tell myself, “No,” and then I go and make those shakes. And I am always glad I did!

Shake
Our morning veggie shakes, yum!

As I was making our shakes this morning, I realized how this applies to other areas of my life. There are days I don’t want to read my Bible or pray. I’m energized and ready to tackle my to-do list and the thought of pausing for twenty minutes to have my quiet time feels deflating. But I’ve lived long enough to know that I need to center my day around God, and so I head to my room, get on my knees, and pray. I never regret taking that time out each morning.

The same goes for my writing. There are many days I don’t want to write. I just want to be a regular mother and take care of my family. But if I don’t write, the story doesn’t happen and deadlines are not met. So I put aside my tasks (I’ll admit, it’s not hard to say no to laundry!), sit down in front my computer, and write out my word count for the day. Sometimes the words flow. Sometimes I feel like I would write faster if I just pounded my head across the keyboard. But in the end, I am always happy that I took the time to work on my book. Each day of writing brings me that much closer to a finished manuscript.

How about you? What do you not always enjoy doing, but you know is good for you? And how do you feel when you do it?

Book Reviews

New Cover Reveal for The Seahorse Legacy

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I am really excited to share the new cover for The Seahorse Legacy! This is one of my favorite books and I am eagerly anticipating the final book, The Sunken Realms, coming this summer 🙂 If you want to read my review of The Seahorse Legacy, click here: The Seahorse Legacy. And don’t forget to continue on with this post to enter for a chance to win some fantabulous prizes including an amazon giftcard!

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a Pirate, bound by a centuries-old oath 

As Keeper of the Seahorse Legacy, Cazien de Pollis is a King among pirates, divinely appointed to dispense justice on the seas. Bound by the sacred oath of a long-dead ancestor, he must fulfill a contract to wed the green-eyed Oracle’s Daughter named therein—or risk losing everything he and his people hold dear. But at nineteen, with the identity of his betrothed only recently revealed, Cazien resents the contract—and the urgency within him to see it satisfied.

a Knight, determined to prove her calling

Erielle de Gladiel returned from the quest for the Remedy, changed. Not only are her formerly-blue eyes now a brilliant shade of green, but she must don gloves to hide inky evidence that her prophetically-bestowed title, the Oracle’s Daughter, demands more from her than the task already completed. Erielle’s dearest-held dream is realized when she is knighted by her King, but unbeknownst to her, that very honor jeopardizes the prophesied purpose to which she and Cazien have been called.

a Legacy, demanding surrender

Just as Cazien summons the courage to collect his bride, dark rumors and darker deeds crawl up the coasts, calling its guardians, the Seahorse Pirates, into action—and Cazien away from Erielle. But even though the Oracle’s Daughter knows nothing of the contract to which she has been consigned, Cazien’s enemies have somehow learned of his interest in Erielle. And if they reach her before his ancestor’s weighty oath is executed, the Seahorse Legacy will be forfeited . . . and darkness will be given reign.

The third book in this series-within-a series, The Seahorse Legacy begins an epic re-imagining of several fairy tales, combined–including an unexpected twist on The Twelve Dancing Princesses. This romantic adventure will conclude in Eyes of E’veria, Book 4: The Sunken Realm, coming late Summer 2015.

And now for the cover!

The Seahorse Legacy

And for the prize: The prize package includes:

1. custom skin for reading device (or phone) featuring the new book cover

2. temporary tattoos “Official Pirate Crew — The Seahorse Legacy”

3. $10 Amazon giftcard

Click here to enter: Rafflecopter giveaway

Serena ChaseSERENA CHASE lives in Iowa with her husband, two teen daughters, and a big white dog named Albus. A frequent contributor to USA Today‘s Happy Ever After blog, Serena is an avid reader of young adult fiction and inspirational romance and has become a respected influencer within those communities. When not engaged in her varied roles within the publishing industry, Serena can be found coaching her local high school’s Color Guard, watching action movies, and dreaming about someday living in a cottage by the sea. Connect with Serena Chase on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter (@Serena_Chase) and visit www.serenachase.com to subscribe to her newsletter and gain access to exclusive, subscriber-only content.

Writing

New Book Contract

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Contract SigningI’m excited to officially announce that Enclave Publishing has offered me a contract for my new steampunk series, The Soul Chronicles, and I have accepted (here is a picture of me signing the contract). The first book, Tainted, is scheduled to release Spring of 2016! So be watching for more news like covers and official release dates 🙂

Writing

Interview with Relz Reviewz and a Mention in USAToday

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So a lot happened this week in my little writing world. First, I was asked a couple weeks ago if I would do an interview with Relz Reviewz. Of course I said yes 🙂 That interview went live this week, so head on over to their site to check out my latest interview (which includes little tidbits like if I could go back in time, where would I go?):  relzreviewz.com/morgan-l-busse-discover-more/

Secondly, Heir of Hope was mentioned over at USAToday’s Happy Ever after as one of “must-read romantic fantasies.” Wow! And to be listed with authors like Jessica Evanders and Mary Weber made it even sweeter! To check out the post, click here: www.usatoday.com/story/happyeverafter

When you’re a writer, you have your good weeks and your not-so-good weeks (those that require lots of chocolate to get through). This was a great week! I thank God for these bits of encouragement to keep on going 🙂

My Books

The Story Behind Heir of Hope

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This week I am a guest over at Behind the Scenes. I share the real story behind Heir of Hope: the darkness I went through and how I channeled that into the final book in the Follower of the Word series. It is my hope that others find encouragement, and that in the darkest times of life there is light.

Here is the link to the article: www.castlegatepress.com

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Writing

Rooglewood’s Third Fairytale Writing Contest

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I am excited to let you all know about this writing contest! Love fairytales? Ever wanted to write a story based on one? Then check out Rooglewood’s writing contest!

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Rooglewood Press is delighted to introduce their third fairy tale novella contest—

Five Magic Spindles, a collection of “Sleeping Beauty” stories

The challenge is to write a retelling of the beloved fairy tale in any genre or setting you like. Make certain your story is recognizably “Sleeping Beauty,” but have fun with it as well. Make it yours!

Rooglewood Press will be selecting five winners to be published in the Five Magic Spindles collection, which will be packaged up with the phenomenal cover you see here. Maybe your name will be one of the five listed?

All the contest rules and information (how to enter, story details, deadline etc.) may be found on the Rooglewood Press website. Just click HERE and you will go right to the page.

Rooglewood Press’s first collection, Five Glass Slippers is available for purchase, and our second collection, Five Enchanted Roses is scheduled to launch on July 27, and is currently available for pre-order. Be certain to get a copy of each and see what previous winners did with their wonderful retellings.

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And now for the cover for this new collection!

Five Magic Spindles

Cover Illustration Credit:

This cover illustration was rendered by Julia Popova, “ForestGirl.” You can find out more about this gifted artist on her website: www.forestgirl.ru

Personal

Painfully Shy

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For as long as I can remember, I have always been scared of people. One of my first memories is busting into tears when my mom asked me to go ask the cashier a question. I couldn’t do it! Talking to a person—any person—terrified me. I never grew out of this fear. Every time school started, whether I was starting a new school or returning to an old one, I would feel sick as I walked into class. For the longest time I never played sports or joined clubs because of this fear.

However, as I grew older, I grew more adapt at hiding my fear. My mother taught me to always have a list of questions ready to ask people so I wouldn’t feel trapped in those awkward pauses. I would hide in the bathroom and calm down before coming out with a confident smile on my face. And if things became too much, I could go hide in the corner, or better yet—go home.

In college I discovered I was an introvert which means I gain energy from being alone, but lose energy around people. Great! There are people like me! Until one day I asked my husband if he felt like throwing up every time he met someone new. He gave me the strangest look and said no. Wait, I thought everyone felt nervous when meeting new people (or needed a barf bag). There were actually people out there who didn’t feel this fear?

The more I asked this question, the more I realized that even most introverts are not shy, they simply cannot be around people for a long time since it drains their energy reserves. I, on the other hand, not only have my energy drained, I’m petrified when I’m around people.

A double whammy. Introvert and shy. And no matter what I do, both of these traits are built into my DNA. I cannot change either characteristic, they are part of my core being.

Because of that, I’m still shy. I shared a couple years ago when I attended my first American Christian Fiction Writers conference I took the elevator down, saw all the people, and took the elevator right back up to my room and hid for an hour. Even last week as I was driving to my book release party, I felt ill and wanted nothing more than to hide in the bathroom. Instead, I prayed and got out of my car. Admittedly, it took me about ten minutes before I felt comfortable walking around the room and greeting people.

I write this because there are others out there like me, although we have never met because we were most likely hiding in our hotel rooms or bathroom ;). I decided I would not let my shyness cripple my life. Every time I am afraid to meet someone or take a chance (like teaching a class), I consider what I would regret if I didn’t do it. My desire more often outweighs my fear. It’s like jumping off the high dive, you don’t spend a lot of time thinking about it or you will convince yourself it’s not worth it, when it is. Instead, you jump.

So if you meet me at a conference, party, or even church and I have a green tint to my face, it’s not you, it’s just me fighting my shyness. Give me a moment and I’ll be ready to talk :). And if you are shy, take the plunge (and have your barf bag ready!).