S.D. Smith's Blog, page 24

FIRST 1,000 SIGNED! These are all the books available this Christmas! Looking for a special gift for beloved family or friends? Maybe you’re eager to get all the books signed? If so, jump on this quick. It’s a huge discount and we’re excited to share it with you!

—> SDSmith.net/DEALS 

~Note About Signing~
I’m signing the first 1,000 books of the All Books MEGA-BUNDLE (not first 1,000 orders). We also will not be able to answer questions about whether or not your order was in time to be signed. We understand the desire to know, but we are a small family operation and if we checked all those order questions we’d do nothing else! We will err on the side of signing more, not less, than promised. Thank you!

Reminder: These books are preorders and will ship December 9.

The post LIMITED TIME Christmas Deal on All S. D. Smith Books–SIGNED! appeared first on S. D. Smith.

Just days left to get in on orders for the new and limited run blue oath shirts. Soft, durable, and great for adults or kids, these shirts make for excellent Christmas gifts.

https://sdsmith.net/store/

The post Last Chance to Preorder “My Place Beside You…” Shirts for Christmas! Ends Nov 30. appeared first on S. D. Smith.

We sold out of the mugs pretty fast. But we may have a limited run again next year. If you’re interested, join the waitlist!

The Oath Mug Waitlist

The post Popular Green Ember Mug Waitlist appeared first on S. D. Smith.

Our Best #GreenEmberKidArt for Q3 (July-Sept)

and the best #GreenEmberKidArt winner is…

By Lindsay, age 11! Congratulations!

And…

Our Randomly Selected Kid Artist Winner for Q2 (April-June)!

By Leah age 4 , Congratulations!

Congratulations to the winners!

Follow this tag: #GreenEmberKidArt to see the wonderful art by the kids (posted by parents) on Instagram.

And here for the same tag on Facebook.

#GreenEmberKidArt 2019 Official Rules

Official Rules: To enter, simply share your child’s Green Ember art (publicly) on Instagram or Facebook. Use the hashtag #GreenEmberKidArt (along with #RabbitsWithSwords and #TheGreenEmber if you would) and tag Sam’s author account in either Facebook or Instagram (both for more entries). Please indicate the child’s age. Use of child’s first name or picture is optional, and up to parents’ judgement. Parents are entering for kids. Kids may not enter on their own. Good luck!

Quarterly Winners

1) Randomly Selected Kid Artist!
EVERYONE who does the above is entered to win this! Any age. Any skill-level. Just have fun!Prize: Wild Glee, Contagious Joy, and $20 Gift Certificate at www.SDSmith.net/Store!

2) Best #GreenEmberKidArt of the Quarter
This will be the piece judged (by our secret, unscientific formulas) to be the “best.” Age will be considered, so each will be judged against expectations appropriate for the artist’s age. Come all ye diligent artists!Prize: Unimaginable Glory, Prodigious Esteem, and $25 Gift Certificate at www.SDSmith.net/Store!

Year-End Winners

A GRAND PRIZE will be awarded in both categories at the end of the year. All quarterly winners of the “Best” Category are entered for one Grand Prize.

Everyone who posts (according to the rules) is entered for the Random Grand Prize!

Grand Prizes will include an on-line Author Visit with S. D. Smith, a signed set of the The Green Ember Series, and more!

Note: Q1 (Jan-March) Winners will be announced in April, Q2 (April-June) Winners will be announced in July, Q3 July-Sept) Winners will be announced in October, and Q4 (Oct-Dec) Winners will be announced in January. 2019 Grand Prize Winners will be announced in January as well.

The post Q3 (July-September) #GreenEmberKidArt Winners appeared first on S. D. Smith.

I’ve been working hard the last few weeks sharing about the new books, hustling to remove obstacles for families who are keen on these new stories with an old soul. It’s easy to lose the big vision in the hustle and hurry of urgent tasks. But again and again, you guys are reminding me why good stories matter. My friend Heidi says the best stories (anchored in truth, goodness, and beauty) are not as escape from reality, but an escape into reality. She’s right. 

Your notes of encouragement, in messages online and in the mail, are helping me remember the big picture. You’re helping me see beyond the veil of clouds to the Mending. 

Often these notes are just joyful expressions of a shared adventure as a family. But I’ve heard from families whose reluctant readers have fallen in love with stories after beginning with The Green Ember. I’ve heard from more and more military families who feel understood and appreciated. I’ve heard from countless missionary families who feel encouraged. Most sobering, I have notes from many families who say they have felt joy and hope in the midst of serious illness—often of a child—while walking together through these books. 

I don’t take these notes lightly. They mean that we are allies, and that my modest reinforcements have arrived and helped in some small way at the front in which you are so heroically fighting. I have so badly wanted to be an ally to you. Your battle is crucial, because it’s another fight for the hearts of your children against the ever-threatening darkness. I’m on your side. 

Your notes are fuel for my desire to serve and love you the best way I can. So, I’m working on the stories. Honest, hard, hopeful stories. Not sneaky-teachy, or manipulative and dominating. Not allegory, but applicable (to use Tolkien’s words). Real stories, the best this West Virginian can do. I’m getting them ready for you. We are all complicated creatures with complex desires and aims. But I have no doubt about the main mission of my vocation. I make these stories for you, to delight and quicken your heart, because I love you and I want to serve you. 

God bless you. Keep up the fight. I’m on your side. 

Thanks for letting me know that you’re on my side, too. 

The post Author as Ally: S. D. Smith’s Green Ember Notes From the Front appeared first on S. D. Smith.

Preorder NOW ONLY AT SDSMITH.NET/STORE!

For a limited run, these very popular shirts are back in stock for PREORDER. Soft, breathable, and durable, these shirts have been a family favorite for all ages! The only difference between the new and older version of the “Oath” shirt is color.

The new ones are navy and white, instead of grey on grey.

New shirts on left, older model on right.

Preorder NOW ONLY AT SDSMITH.NET/STORE!

The post Beloved Green Ember “My Place Beside You” Shirts Are Back! appeared first on S. D. Smith.

Sally Clarkson. Clay. Joel. Sarah. 

Let’s start with Sarah. I met her years ago when we both were new writers for The Rabbit Room. We did a session together at the RR conference and I was blown away by her brilliance and ability to speak so winsomely in public. I didn’t know her parents, but I met Clay and we hit it off. Then I met Sally, too. We loved them at once. I had no idea they were these incredibly popular sages, and now I’m kind of glad I didn’t. I just met them on their own merits and found them to be a profound gift of wisdom and encouragement. They have been wise guides and ever-encouraging friends ever since. Sarah was one of the very first people to read The Green Ember. It was a time when my confidence was low and the manuscript was a million miles from where it would get. Still, she saw something there that foretold the kind of response we eventually found in many others. But at that time, she was a very important voice telling me it was the right thing to proceed. To dare and share. So I did. I’ll always be grateful for her early, encouraging voice. (She blurbed my first book without any hesitation.)

A captivating story with sword-bearing rabbits, daring quests, and moments of poignant beauty, The Green Ember is a tale that will delight and inspire young readers to courage and creativity.”
–Sarah Clarkson, author of Caught Up In A Story

Years later, I was standing around a fire with Clay and Joel at Andrew Peterson’s house and we were talking about audiobooks. I was looking for a reader for The Green Ember. Joel volunteered to send in a sample and Clay talked about how Joel was the family story reader. Not long after I was listening to his warm narration and varied voices bring my story to life. My family voted. Joel got the job. Some months later, his version of The Green Ember audiobook was (for a few days) the best-selling audiobook in the world and later became a finalist for Audible’s children’s audiobook of the year. 

There’s more to tell. Our bonds with the Clarksons go deep, and we are deeply grateful for them. 

Sally has new books out and a podcast, a blog, and she is producing and sharing incredible content every day. Sarah is making amazing books. Joel is making books, music, and more. Nathan is making films. Joy has a podcast. Clay is writing books and music and being the kind of guy I want to be when I grow up. They are all doing so much. And we’re grateful. 

God bless the Clarksons!

The post How S. D. Smith Connected With Sally Clarkson’s Family appeared first on S. D. Smith.

Preorder NOW ONLY AT SDSMITH.NET/STORE!

The end is here. Heather and Picket face off for the last time with their tyrannical foes in this final installment of the main Green Ember Series. The Mended Wood flickers dimly in the vision of the rabbits of Natalia, as they battle bravely for their survival and a hopeful future beyond. 

My place beside you; my blood for yours, till the Green Ember…ends.

The end has come, and you’ll be on the edge of your seat with all the twists and turns you’ve come to expect from this series. Honor, sacrifice, and surprises abound in this thrilling finale.”

Carolyn Leiloglou, Author of Noah Green: Junior Zookeeper and the Garage Sale Pet (Spork 2019), Library’s Most Wanted (Pelican 2020)

Preorder NOW ONLY AT SDSMITH.NET/STORE!

The post Ember’s End: The Green Ember Book IV AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER NOW! appeared first on S. D. Smith.

This handcrafted “My Place Beside You” Oath mug is inspired by Eefaw Potter himself. Enjoy your morning tea or coffee with this beautiful piece of authentic pottery from the world of The Green Ember Series. 

Preorder NOW ONLY AT SDSMITH.NET/STORE!

The post Green Ember Mugs Available in LIMITED PREORDER appeared first on S. D. Smith.

Preorder the new books, along with shirts and mugs, here!

The post The Green Ember Book IV Announcement! appeared first on S. D. Smith.