Letting Go
Because stories are meant to be shared.
How has this summer been for you, dear reader? For me, it has been a season of change, with each week bringing a new set of challenges as I’ve worked to finish renovations on our new home, fix up our old one to go on the market, and sort through the clothes, mementos, and possessions that my husband, children and I have accumulated during two decades of life in our beloved house on Skylark Drive—and giving a whole lot away.
After what seemed like an unending series of hurried scrambles to get the house in pristine order for one showing after another, we have a buyer and are working hard to get everything in place before the school year starts back—which, for us, is August 3. It has been a season of sweaty labor and long days, but we’ve also made time for celebrations: a day at the water park, birthday parties with family and friends, and a great Fourth of July with fantastic fireworks. I’m doing my best to give thanks for all the precious memories we’ve been given and to trust that God has good things in store for us in our new home and neighborhood.
It’s a season of letting go in another way, as well. My next novel, Heart of Stone, releases August 4! Last month brought a final flurry of proofread edits before the manuscript went to print. Now the story is out of my hands—which, for me, is always a scary thing. Letting go of these characters feels like a preview of what I imagine it’ll be like when my children grow up and leave home. Will they find their place in the world? Will people be kind to them, befriend them, give them a chance? Have I prepared them well?
I know I’m not alone in this. Nearly every author friend I’ve talked to, almost every book on writing craft that I’ve read, talks about the challenges inherent in setting a story loose into the world. But stories are written to be shared, and they need to be allowed to do just that. Otherwise, as Orson Scott Card put it, they become like houseguests that have overstayed their welcome, lying around on the couch and eating everything out of the fridge.
I hope that I can do for my readers what Frodo does for Sam at the end of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy.
In the next day or two Frodo went through his papers and his writings with Sam, and he handed over his keys. There was a big book with plain red leather covers; its tall pages were now almost filled.
“Why, you have nearly finished it, Mr. Frodo!” Sam exclaimed. “Well, you have kept at it, I must say.”
“I have quite finished it, Sam,” said Frodo. “The last pages are for you.”
With all my very favorite books, the ones that have stayed in my heart for years, there really is a sense in which the story goes on long after I’ve read the last page. The characters now live inside me as friends, and my imagination fills in the blanks of their continued adventures. Certain lines and descriptions come to mind in times of joy or struggle. Their story becomes part of mine.
And so, dear reader, as I release this next book into your hands, know that the last pages are for you. If my tale takes on a life of its own inside you—like the history and folklore that inspired it have done in me—then my hopes for Heart of Stone will be well satisfied.
Quote of the Month
Character Intro: Meet Ludmila
A final character introduction for you before Heart of Stone releases! There are many more characters I could share—and perhaps I will—but Ludmila is already irked with me for ignoring her this long. So without further ado…
Ludmila Titovna is a gorgeous young lady from St. Petersburg who has just arrived in the “wilds” of the eastern Ural Mountains as the secret fiancée of Yuri Chuganov, the heir to the vast Bocharov mining estate. She’s cunning, cultured, and willing to do whatever it takes to survive in a world where wealthy nobles and landowners call the shots and an advantageous marriage makes all the difference between luxury and lack. But secret engagements are a tricky business, and Ludmila will have to do her utmost to make her plans succeed—especially after Yuri becomes enamored with a peasant girl named Lilia.
Author News
Heart of Stone releases August 4! Have you pre-ordered your copy yet? Heart of Stone pre-orders are available in paperback and hardcover from all major online book retailers (Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, etc.) and in e-book on Amazon. The best way to order, though, is through Owl’s Nest Publishers—you’ll receive a small gift with your order (like a special Heart of Stone sticker or bookmark) while supporting my work and the vision of Owl’s Nest to publish true, good, and beautiful books for tweens and teens!
The Carver and the Queen is the July teen book pick for the Owl’s Nest 2026 Summer Book Club! With the sequel, Heart of Stone, releasing next month, it’s the perfect time to dive into the characters and world of Carver—or revisit them again. On July 30, Owl’s Nest staff member Lisa Varner will lead teen participants in a video chat of the book, followed by a Q&A with yours truly. (Parents and siblings are welcome to join the “room,” but discussion will focus on the thoughts and questions of the teen readers). Book club is free, but registration is required to attend the virtual book discussion. Register today!
In June, I had the honor of being a guest on the podcast A Literal Journey, hosted by Seth Adam Smith. Listen in as we talk about why fairy tales matter, the power of historical fantasy to convey timeless truths, and how an old copy of The Hobbit kindled my childhood imagination and continues to shape my author journey. Check out Seth’s other interviews, too: his podcast has a fantastic lineup of authors and screenwriters!
A Final Note
One last flower photo from my Skylark Drive garden…Here’s to great memories and new ones to come!
Congratulations on finding a buyer for your home, and congrats on your upcoming release! So much good letting go!