S.D. Smith's Blog, page 11

Happy Birthday Ember Falls!! We’re celebrating with a GIVEAWAY so read on!

“Where’s the next book?” is a question frequently repeated soon after The Green Ember and The Black Star of Kingston were released.

The stage is set. It’s war. Morbin Blackhawk, slaver and tyrant, threatens to destroy the rabbit resistance forever. Heather and Picket are two young rabbits improbably thrust into pivotal roles.

The fragile alliance forged around the young heir seems certain to fail. Can Heather and Picket help rescue the cause from a certain, sudden defeat?

My Place Beside You
My Blood For Yours
Till The Green… Ember Falls

After much anticipation, Ember Falls made its way to delighted fans.

 “But no cause is greater than my love for you.

I fight because you are in my heart.”

Lord Rake

Was The Green Ember always meant to be a series? Watch the video to see what S. D. Smith has to say!

Here’s what YOU have to say about this second installment of The Green Ember Series.

Have you had a chance to review this book? Let us know what you think on Goodreads, Amazon, or Audible. Your reviews mean so much!

Fun Fact: Ember Falls shares a birthday with National #KidsTakeOverTheKitchenDay. (Yes, that’s really a thing!)

Encourage the kids to get creative and come up with a tasty Green Ember inspired treat. Here is some inspiration: 

We love to see what you create. Use #rabbitswithswords and tag @sdsmithereens and @thegreenemberofficial on Instagram or Facebook!

If your bellies aren’t too laden with delicious snacks, head outside for a vigorous game of Bouncer.

Bouncer

Bouncer is a game played by the bucks and does, including Jo Shanks, of Halfwind Citadel.

For this game you will need:a kickball (or any ball, really)large hoop or something to make a circle (i.e. rope, etc.)How to play:

Lay the large hoop on the ground and kick the ball high into the air.
As soon as it lands its first bounce, make haste to catch it.
Whoever grabs the ball first must race to touch the ball down in the circle on the ground before being tagged.
If the player is tagged, they must kick the ball high again and the game resumes.
After a score, the scorer kicks the ball high to begin the next round, resuming the chase.

We love seeing you play and create in The Green Ember World. Here is what you’ve been up to:

Share with us on the socials for a chance to be featured in our next birthday celebration!

New to The Green Ember? Get started with the first audiobook for FREE.

Also free: coloring pages when you Gimme 5!

If you want your very own copy, Ember Falls is available at the S. D. Smith Family Store (where you get the best deal) and is also available on audiobook and eBook (and print) at Amazon and your favorite bookshops.

Free Printable

Prester Kell touched his ears, his eyes, his mouth. As he did so, he sang, and though no instruments accompanied this song, most of the assembly joined in. “Let us hear with humility, see with generosity, speak with honesty…”

Ember Falls

We want EVERYONE to get something from the birthday festivities so we’re giving you a blank coloring quote.

Print it out, color it in, frame it, and get creative! We’d love to see what you come up with—show us by using the hashtag #rabbitswithswords and tagging @sdsmithereens & @SDSmithAuthor.

Get PrintableFree eBook!

Today and tomorrow only, Ember Falls is FREE on Kindle! Get it here. Ends September 14th.

Did you know: if your library partners with Hoopla, you can listen to ALL the audiobooks for free?! Make sure to check with your local library & follow the recommended reading order.

More Birthday Fun: Giveaway!

In honor of this special birthday, here’s what we’re giving away:

( 1 ) Complete SIGNED Set of Green Ember Main Series, Green Ember: Archer Series, and Green Ember: Old Natalia (10 books in total!)
( 1 ) Complete set of ALL Green Ember Audiobooks (10 audiobooks in total!)
( 6 ) SIGNED copies of Ember Falls
( 6 ) Ember Falls Audiobooks

For a total of 14 winners!

To Enter: 

September is Read a New Book Month. Comment (here / Instagram / Facebook) with a new book you’ve read or one that’s on your list!

Rules:

Must have a U.S. mailing address. Must be 18 or older. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by or associated with Facebook or Instagram. Void where prohibited.

Thank you for celebrating the book birthday of Ember Falls with us!

Check out these other birthday celebrations:

Happy Anniversary Ember’s End. The Green Ember Finale’s Book Birthday!Happy Birthday to The Black Star of Kingston!Happy Birthday Ember RisingHappy Birthday to The Wreck & Rise of Whitson MarinerHappy Birthday to The Archer’s Cup

The post Happy Birthday Ember Falls! appeared first on S. D. Smith.

Here is Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key:

We have Cory Godbey to thank for this wonderful cover illustration. And well done to J. C. Smith for the cover design. Speaking of J. C. Smith …

The Authors

I wrote The Green Ember Series for my children. Now I’m writing my next series with my son!

“We already live in a fantasy world. The fact that we aren’t continually astonished and humbled is evidence that we are captured by an evil enchantment that must be broken. The best, most faithful stories help do that. They let us see Reality, by looking at something made-up for a few hours. Author Heidi Johnston says that stories that tell the truth about the world God made are ‘not an escape from reality, but an escape into reality.’ She’s right. The Lord of the Rings books are an escape into Reality. Narnia is an escape into Reality. We hope this book, with its rural accent, is too.”
– S. D. Smith & J. C. Smith

Pre-Order DateMark your calendars: Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key will be available for PRE-ORDER on October 4th!

The post Jack Zulu COVER REVEAL! appeared first on S. D. Smith.

Prefer to watch? Check out the video version. 

Hey Friends,

This is one of my best stories for anyone who has anything they want to share.

I was your typical shy kid in many ways. If you could have seen me–for most of my life–you would have said, “Oh yeah, that’s an introverted, scared, and shy kind of a guy.”

I loved music, and I got a guitar for my sixteenth birthday. Hidden away in the room I shared with my brothers, I wrote songs on my new guitar. I wanted to share them, but didn’t have the confidence. When we had people over for dinner, my mom would encourage me to get my guitar and play one of my songs. I would reluctantly agree.

I got my guitar, and started strumming & singing.

*mumble mumble mumble*

“What? Huh?” The guests leaned in with their hands cupped behind their ears.

I was whisper-singing.

And I did that for a long time. That was how I interacted with people. At the time, the story I told myself was, “You’re shy and you’re humble. You just don’t want to show off.” And I really believed that for a while. Then it clicked for me.

I was not humble and shy.

I was proud and afraid.

If I was truly humble, I would have sung out. If I cared more about the people in the room than myself and what they might think of me, I would have sung loudly so they could hear. I would have tried to give them a gift.

But I wanted to protect myself. Pride and fear is at the root of a lot of our orientation toward others—whether or not we want to show up and share our work.

God has given me a gift and I’ve got to show up to it. I’m being disrespectful to God when I am proud and afraid. The prouder I am, the quieter I get. And the quieter I am, the less generous I am toward those I’m called to serve.

What I wish I had done…
What I want to do the rest of my life…
What I beg you to do is…

Sing loud.

Sing loud with a humble heart.

Give those gifts away. You’re given a gift—not to hoard, not to hide. You are given something in order to share it.

If you’re like me, that’s probably a big deal. It’s hard. I get that. But that might be the bravest—and humblest—thing you do.

Show up and share.

Sing loud with a humble heart.

For Young Writers:

I originally shared that story during my session with Brett Harris during the Young Writer’s Summit.

I believe that most writing success is the result of determined writers who show up again and again and don’t stop working. I wasn’t born with all the writing skills I have today, but because I put in consistent work and practice, I have now written eleven books!

Putting in the work can be hard, however. It takes a lot of persistence, determination, and encouragement – and young writers struggle if they try to do it all alone.

That’s why I highly recommend you consider The Young Writer’s Workshop. TODAY IS THE LAST DAY ENROLLMENT IS OPEN.

This program gives writers the community support and training they need to start making progress with their writing. You don’t need to do this all by yourself.

You can click here to learn more about it before enrollment closes TODAY.​

I’m on your side,

Sam

The post If You Have Something to Share With the World, You HAVE to See This appeared first on S. D. Smith.

Hey Friends,

If you have a young person who enjoys writing, they won’t want to miss my interview today at the Young Writers Can Change the World Summit, hosted by Brett Harris!

During my session, I’d love to help you and/or your young writer see the value of their writing and equip them to better write fiction that is more than just entertainment.

In the interview, we will be talking about:

Creating a compelling storyWhat to do when your story feels like it’s ‘falling off the tracks’How to craft characters and plots readers will love

My session is today (Friday), August 19th at 4 PM EDT.

Click here to register for the summit and receive instructions on how to access my session.

Register Now

Don’t have a young writer? Send this to a friend who does.

FAQ: Will the sessions be available to watch after they stream?

The summit replays will be available in the content library for YWW members to access. (I HIGHLY recommend joining YWW.)

Already signed up? While you wait for 4pm to roll around, check out some of these interviews I’ve done.

S. D. Smith InterviewsFaith, Story, and the Moral Imagination | Anglican AudioWhat If Rabbits With Swords Fought For Hope in a Mended Wood? | The Green Ember with S. D. Smith | Fantastical Truth by LorehavenTalking Books, Stories, and Play with S.D. Smith | The Superpower of PlayConversations With Writers About Writing | The Habit with Jonathan RogersS.D. Smith Tells Exciting Children’s Stories, Illuminated By Classic Virtues | The FederalistConnecting Moments of Boredom and Running Wild in the Woods to Great Storytelling – Interview with Author S.D. Smith | 1000 Hours Outside

Find more interviews here.

Thanks for reading! I’d love to see you at the free writing summit.

We’re on your side,

Sam

Shop The S. D. Smith Family Store

The post Don’t Miss my FREE Session for Young Writers Today! appeared first on S. D. Smith.

Hi Friends,

Do you have a young writer in your home?

If so, you won’t want to miss my session at the upcoming Young Writers Can Change the World Virtual Summit!

Too often, young writers don’t realize how much they can do when they take their writing seriously and realize their full potential.

They don’t need to wait until they’re forty to start finishing projects they’re proud of.

That’s why this free summit aims to give writers the momentum and tools they need to start making a difference with their writing right now—even if they’re still a teenager.

The free summit will take place from August 15-16.

At the summit, I’ll be speaking on “Fiction Is More Than Just Entertainment”.

Want to join in?

If so, click here to register for free and learn more about the event.

FAQ: Will the sessions be available to watch after they stream?

The summit replays will be available to everyone the entire two days of the summit (August 15-16). After that, they’ll be moved to the content library, so then only YWW members will have access to them. (I HIGHLY recommend joining YWW.)

Register NowSam’s Book Recommendations

I’m pretty sure there are large numbers of kids who know these stories better than I do. I regularly hear from kids who have read The Green Ember Series multiple times, some in the tens and twenties. If I had to go up against them in a trivia contest, I’m positive I would lose!

I’m honored, of course. But I’d advise moving on to other books. The Green Ember is a good gate and I hope that my books are an intro to a kind of story, not the end of the search. I think of this, from C. S. Lewis:

Here are two wonderful new books I recommend: (watch this video for more in depth reviews)

The Forgotten King  by Kenneth Padgett & Shay Gregorie, Illustrated by Stephen Crotts

“A beautiful parable with an ending unlike anything I’ve ever read in fiction. Wonderful. Too true to not be good!”

The Sower  by Scott James, Illustrated by Stephen Crotts

“The Sower is a lovely, lyrical gift. Its accessible blend of truth and beauty, in words and images, is nourishing and timely. I love it.”

Also on my recommendation list:

A Place to Belong | Amber O’Neal JohnstonThe Path to Peace | Ann SwindellLittle Prayers for Ordinary Days | Tish Harrison Warren, Katy Hutson, Flo Paris OakesThe Biggest Story Bible Storybook | Kevin DeYoungWild Things and Castles in the Sky: A Guide to Choosing the Best Books for Children | Leslie Bustard, Carey Bustard, Théa RosenburgThe Lazy Genius Kitchen | Kendra Adachi100 Days of Adventure | Greta Eskridge

And now, my daughter Anne is back with another book review that she would like to share with you!

Dealing With Dragons | Anne-Girl Reviews

As is often the case with princesses, Cimorene doesn’t want to be one. She is sick and tired of learning how to look pretty, use proper etiquette, and other frivolous, impractical things like that. She would rather learn Latin, fencing and cooking. She has heard of princesses often being captured by dragons, and decides that would be a preferable alternative. So she sets off to find a dragon to be captured by. Eventually she finds Kazul, and offers to fulfill the traditional role. Kazul is surprised, but the two soon become friends.

I found this book to be enjoyable and refreshing. It seems cliche, with rebellious royalty and all that, but what I liked is that Cimorene is polite about it. She doesn’t stomp her foot and yell at her parents. She’s sensible, practical, and just wants to be more useful. She wants to have an interesting life. I am a great lover of princess books, so I may be biased. But this story turns fairytale stereotypes on their heads, portraying witches and dragons as good characters, and wizards as evil, which I know isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea. It’s an enjoyable story if you take it with a grain of salt. It might not be for everyone, but I found it to be a charming and pleasant play on a classic princess tale.

Dealing With Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
Anne-Girl Reviews

Thanks for reading! Don’t forget to register for the free writing summit.

We’re on your side,

Sam

Shop The S. D. Smith Family Store

The post FREE Writing Summit Featuring S. D. Smith + Book Recommendations from Anne & Sam appeared first on S. D. Smith.

Home from an awesome book tour trip to Arizona. I LOVED being at the AFHE convention, meeting thousands of amazing families. We had a blast!

Signed thousands of books.
High-fived hundreds of kids.
Heard more encouraging/moving stories about how these Green Ember stories have touched families. Met more members of our elite sales force (aka Ember Moms who love to share their authentic experience with others).
Sang along with hundred of smiling Green Ember fans to Picket Packslayer and more at Green Ember LIVE! What a huge honor this is. I hadn’t been to one of these in a long time and it was really special.

Also, the AFHE leadership was fantastic. It was easy to see where their hearts are. We LOVE teaming up with awesome allies to serve these incredible families.

I LOVED being in Arizona. I very much hope to be back!

Arizona Meet Up

We had a pretty last-minute get together at a coffee shop in Phoenix and I loved meeting a group of Green Ember fans!

Thanks for the encouraging conversations and high-fives!

My place beside you,

Sam

The post AFHE Convention & Phoenix Meet Up | S. D. Smith Book Tour appeared first on S. D. Smith.

Prefer to watch? Check out the video version (& stay for the outtakes).

Hello friends,

It’s time to announce the winners for this quarter’s Green Ember Kid Art Contest!

But first we’d like to thank everyone who took the time to create and submit. We received submissions ranging from ages 5 to 36 in various formats such as print, digital, clay, Legos, poems, and more. It was difficult to choose a winner but we’ve selected 2.

The first prize (Wild Glee, Contagious Joy, and $20 Gift Certificate at www.SDSmith.com/Store!) goes to a Randomly Selected Kid Artist. EVERYONE who submits art is entered.

And the winner is… Colin, age 10!

The second prize (Unimaginable Glory, Prodigious Esteem, and $25 Gift Certificate at www.SDSmith.com/Store!) goes to the Best #GreenEmberKidArt.

And the winner is… Elisabeth, age 13

Congratulations to these winners!! We received lots of great submissions. Here are some of them. Watch this video to see more!

The contest for the next quarter starts now so here are the official rules:

Please submit 1 original piece per quarter. If you have more than one, hold onto it until our next quarterly contest opens up (every 3 months). The next contest ends in September and winners will be announced in October.

We look forward to seeing your submissions!

Good luck,

Sam

Shop The S. D. Smith Family Store

The post Green Ember Kid Art | Q2 Winners appeared first on S. D. Smith.

Two cool things…

1. I’m coming to Arizona this week!
2. ANYONE ANYWHERE CAN WIN—> I’m also giving away TWO complete SIGNED SETS of ALL TEN Green Ember books.

How to enter to win?

Easy…

LET YOUR ARIZONA AREA PALS KNOW ABOUT THE EVENT IN ARIZONA!
I’ll let you figure out how to do that best (one way is obvious), but once you give them the news and say something like, “you better go see S. D. Smith & Green Ember LIVE in Phoenix, sucka” or something like that, then comment here and you’re entered.

Actual details to pass on to your AZ pals:
S. D. Smith in Phoenix at the AFHE Convention!https://afhe.org/detailsGreen Ember LIVE is super-fun on Friday night!YOU CAN REGISTER AT THE DOOR

(Please refer registration questions to AFHE.)

Rules:
Must have a valid mailing address. Must be 18 or older. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by or associated with the Galactic Empire. Void where prohibited. This giveaway was created in a factory where tree nuts were mashed into chocolate.

Winners will be selected and notified on Monday, July 18.

The post Giveaway ALL Books SIGNED + Arizona Event appeared first on S. D. Smith.

Hi friends,

On July 15 & 16th I will be in Phoenix, Arizona at the 38th Annual AFHE Home Education Convention presenting a new unreleased Green Ember story LIVE! Join me for a sing-along time that’s a mini storytelling concert. New art from the illustrator, Zach Franzen, will also be featured.

Tickets may only be purchased by AFHE Convention attendees through the registration process. See the registration page for details.

At the convention, you can come and meet me, buy some Green Ember merch & books and get them signed! Along with Green Ember LIVE, I will be hosting two workshops:

How to Coach Your Creative ChildChristian Storytelling: An Escape into RealityHow to Coach Your Creative Child

“Your creative child needs encouragement, but also needs guidance and discipline. Join Green Ember author S. D. Smith as he discusses how to help kids gifted in and keen on music, writing, and the arts to say “yes” to their gifting and “no” to the destructive and selfish behaviors associated with artists.”

Christian Storytelling: An Escape into Reality

“Storytelling is everywhere, from Netflix and Disney+ to advertising and politics. Should Christian families be ignorant of the how and why of storytelling? In this talk, bestselling author S. D. Smith shares insights on how Christian parents can wisely think about the challenges and opportunities of storytelling. Christians should be at home with storytelling. After all, we follow a storytelling God.”

For more information about the conference, including on-site registration info, visit here.

Event FAQ: I want to see the Green Ember LIVE! Will you stream the event, publish the new, unreleased story Sam is reading? For now, future in-person events are the only places this story will be shared.

Host S. D. Smith

Sam enjoys meeting readers, firing imaginations, and encouraging kids to live out a great life story.

“Whenever I have the opportunity to hear S. D. ‘Sam’ Smith speak, I always come away thinking and smiling. Sam has a unique ability to connect with his audience, whether with children or adults—he is personal, relational, knowledgeable, and engaging. But even more than that, he is motivated—he cannot hide his own enthusiasm for what he has to share. His connection with children is never just an act, but a genuine extension of his own life at home with four children. Sam is that rare combination of being a successful children’s author who also loves and naturally connects with kids, and that will make them want to connect with books and stories. He makes them think and smile.”

Clay Clarkson, Monument, CO

If you would like to host an author event with S. D. Smith, such as Green Ember Live or a conference presentation, fill out this form here or email [email protected] with questions or proposals.

We look forward to seeing you at a live event!

We’re on your side,

Sam & Team

The post Green Ember LIVE | S. D. Smith Author Event appeared first on S. D. Smith.

It’s the confluence of Father’s Day and Juneteenth (both yesterday) and West Virginia Day (today, happy 159). So, let me tell you some of what my dad taught me about race growing up in our beloved Mountain State. 

I played ball with black kids and had black coaches as a kid. I heard about the klan and got really scared—for them and, for some reason, my own safety. My dad had to tell me about their history and explained why it’s wicked to look at skin tone instead of heart for condemnation or commendation. 

Dad actually didn’t do a lot of explaining. Mom did more of that. (I’m so grateful for her instruction!) Dad was always a “follow my example” kind of leader. He was a good teacher, but I learned most by just watching how he treated people. Growing up, I never once had even the slightest notion that he looked down on black folks. 

We went to a church that was in a white area, and our church reflected that. But dad took us to black churches to visit. He was friends with black pastors and so I had great experiences at (very long, enthusiastic) services that shaped my childhood. Many of my heroes were black men and women.

When we moved to South Africa, it was during apartheid and Nelson Mandela was in prison. There was a practice of all black men of any age being referred to by white folks of any age as “boy.” So a teenage white kid would call an elderly black man “boy.” And even an elderly black man would call a white young boy “boss.” All whites were “boss.” But my dad, contra mundum, would call every black man he met “boss.” He never really lectured me about it, but I saw it, and I followed his lead. 

He treated black folks differently than other people did. He treated them with love and respect.

My dad loves West Virginia more than anyone I’ve ever known, and he loves being here more than anyone I’ve ever known. A creed I learned as a child was, “I’m West Virginia born, and West Virginia bred, and when I die, I’ll be West Virginia dead.” He bleeds gold and blue. 

Still, this mountaineer at heart left his beloved home to spend a significant part of his life loving and serving poor Zulu families alongside a Zulu fellow-pastor. I was often with him in dangerous Zulu townships at night, where attacks on white visitors were frequent and deadly. I was often with him when he would preach in a building where “kill the whites” was written as a warning on the wall. 

My dad didn’t have to tell me he loved black people; his life showed it. 

I love Juneteenth. I love the story of bringing good news all the way to its edge that the wicked practice of slavery was ended in our country. Thank God for those who fought to end that inhuman institution—including many white folks. And I love West Virginia Day, because I love my home state—a state where black folks have always been free and able to vote, though Confederate soldiers were not allowed to for many years. 

Things are far from perfect, and I’m always sympathetic to hear from those most impacted about the ways they aren’t. But I’m grateful for the goodness I have seen in my dad and what I’ve learned by following him. 

I love my dad. He taught me the good news about Jesus, the King of Kings who gathers from every tribe and tongue of every color. We aren’t the same in the body of Christ, but we are one. Dad lived with kingdom values in the face of the zeitgeist. He saw people in light of the law of love and not the law—or customs—of a culture. (A crucial lesson on may fronts.) He showed me how to judge a man fairly, and shared his deep love for our home. 

I’m grateful for my dad. My hero. A good man. 

God bless all good dads and let freedom ring in West Virginia and beyond!

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