S.D. Smith's Blog, page 27

The Wreck and Rise of Whitson Mariner is available now and I’m delighted with it! I hope you’ll give this little book a chance. The reviews are starting to come in! (Below.) Get it today…

At our store HERE (or bottom of this post).

At Amazon HERE.

At Audible HERE.

 

 

 

 

The post New #RabbitsWithSwords Adventure Released! (Enthusiastic Reviews Coming In) appeared first on S. D. Smith.

Here are FIVE incontrovertible reasons you should get and read The Black Star of Kingston today!

 

1. FOMO Fo Real

Yep. If you’re a Green Ember fan but haven’t grabbed Black Star, you ARE missing out. You will not appreciate The Green Ember Series main three (so far) books as much if you skip Black Star. You gotta understand the past to understand the present, dude.

2. New Book Necessity

You won’t be ready for the new #RabbitsWithSwords book out this Christmas if you don’t. That’s right, lovable chump, the new book is a sequel to Black Star.

 

3. It’s a fun, quick read.

War and Peace? Ain’t nobody got time* for that!

*S. D. Smith INC and its subsidiaries and chains of hotdog stands and dolphin straw manufacturers would like to emphasize that reading long books is gooder than the author implies and would like to disavow the author’s churlish dismissal of both War and Peace. S. D. Smith INC loves War and loves Peace and especially loves them when they are united for a super long book he hasn’t read yet. Offer limited to USA. Offer not valid in California unless a nosy bureaucrat gives his reluctant approval after delivering a severe and pious scolding. Void in Guam. Avoid in Guano. 

4. Three Words: Battle at Sea

It features a civilization-defining battle at sea! That’s right, a huge-slash-important BATTLE AT SEA.

  *

*S. D.  Smith INC and its empire of gluten free car dealerships does not know how to dance and apologizes for this misleading and frankly downright libelous image of words. Illegal to sue in Sue’s Sewing Soiree, but offer valid for invalids in Valencia. 
5. It’s on a crazy sale RIGHT NOW!

Jump. On. It. 

 

The post Black Star WEEKEND FLASH SALE! appeared first on S. D. Smith.

I got another email. Another letter. Another Facebook message. I heard it from another beautiful family who waited in line to get their books signed. I hear it all the time.

“We are a military family. We love your stories because…”

I’m from a military family. My dad (right) is a combat veteran, as was my grandfather (below). My mom (right) waited at home, pregnant with my oldest brother, while my dad was at war on the other side of the world. I grew up on stories of honorable service and among those who honorably served. I don’t always agree with United States policy (I doubt any of us do), but I have always had tremendous respect for, and profound gratitude toward, each and every man and woman who signs up to serve us in the military.

Maybe that shows in my stories. I didn’t write these adventures for that reason, but I’m delighted to hear from military families repeatedly that they feel respected when they read. But more than respect, what I hear again and again (from so many wives of men who serve) is that the stories help their kids understand what their dad does.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that. It always fills me with a gratitude and a wonderful humility. (It’s a feeling of being small, but having done something that mattered.)

This has been a gift to me. Because it means that I, in some small way, have been able to serve those who serve. I have had the privilege of serving their families, often while they are away and in harm’s way.

I know I just said I felt humble, but I also feel proud to see these stories find their way into the hearts and homes of the brave warriors whose vocation is to protect my family’s lives and freedom.

This is why I dedicated The Last Archer, with gratitude, to all veterans and their families.

A lovely military family sharing reading time with Daddy far away.

I write about heroes and heroines. These men and women (and their families) live it. God bless all who serve.

Almighty Father, we commit to thy loving care all those servicemen and servicewomen upon whose faithfulness the welfare of our Armed Forces depends. In the fulfillment of their duties give them patience, loyalty, and courage; and grant that those who are sustained by their toil may remember them with gratitude; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

~An Anglican prayer from the Armed Forces Prayer Book, 1951~

 

(L-R: My [Great]Uncle James, my Papaw, and [Great] Uncle Merrill)

The post Why Does The Green Ember Series Resonate So Strongly With Military Families? appeared first on S. D. Smith.

(Check out the official rules, if you’re not sure how this works.)

Our Best #GreenEmberKidArt of the Month Winner!

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drumroll…..

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Congrats, Madelyn (age twelve)! This is unique and amazing!

And now…

 Our Randomly Selected Kid Artist Winner!

 

By Paloma, age ten! Congrats! Well done!

Congrats to the winners!

This was fun! Don’t lose heart if you missed out this month. Try again! Remember, all winners are entered for the Grand Prize at the end of the year!

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.

It’s wonderful stuff!

Well done, all!

The post #GreenEmberKidArt OCTOBER Prize Winners Announced! appeared first on S. D. Smith.

This lovely long sleeved version of the popular “oath” Green Ember shirt will only be available to order for a few more days. October only! When October is Oct-over, this shirt be unavailable once more. I LOVE this shirt. And hundreds of you do too!

We get asked why we don’t carry this design year-round. I wish we could. But we are a small operation and carrying two shirt designs in all the various sizes in our inventory doesn’t quite work for us. But, we are glad to offer it for this limited time!

You can also get this wonderful shirt in a combo with the new book!

Below, the very popular short sleeve version so many treasure. This one available is the same shirt, same soft quality, only longer in the sleeve area.

The post Last Chance to Snag Beloved Green Ember “My Place Beside You…” Shirts appeared first on S. D. Smith.

I apologize for the late announcement for Septembers winners. We were on the road and announcing a new book! 

(Check out the official rules, if you’re not sure how this works.)

Our Best #GreenEmberKidArt of the Month Winner!

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drumroll…..

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This was from an eight year old! Well done! Congrats, “S” from North Carolina!

And now…

 Our Randomly Selected Kid Artist Winner!

 

By Emma, age eight! Congrats!

Congrats to the winners!

This was fun! Don’t lose heart if you missed out this month. Try again! Remember, all winners are entered for the Grand Prize at the end of the year!

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.

It’s wonderful stuff!

Finally, a special mention for this beauty made by a six year old! Wow! It was so close to taking the top prize and we agonized over it. Well done! Keep creating!

Well done, all!

The post #GreenEmberKidArt SEPTEMBER Prize Winners Announced! appeared first on S. D. Smith.

This was so much fun! Sarah and I did live podcast events all over the country this year to support our new books. Sarah has taken some of the audio and released it today on her mega-hit (echo: mega-hit-mega-hit-mega-hit!) RAR pod. Check this out. It’s a certifiable hoot. Also, consider rating and reviewing the RAR pod. Sarah has been a tremendous advocate and dear friend. Gina and I love her!

The post LIVE with S. D. Smith and Sarah Mackenzie! appeared first on S. D. Smith.

FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY: Long sleeved versions of the old oath design are available to preorder ONLY IN OCTOBER and will ship when the new book is ready. We get lots of requests/questions about this shirt design and we wish we had the capacity to carry both shirts all the time. But, we are very happy to bring back this classic in a new long sleeve in time for Christmas. You can get just the shirt, or the combo of new book and shirt together and save a bit. (Both below.)

The post Original #RabbitsWithSwords Oath Design T-Shirt AVAILABLE FOR LIMITED RUN appeared first on S. D. Smith.

Great news! My newest book, The Wreck and Rise of Whitson Mariner, is available to pre-order now! This thrilling follow-up to The Black Star of Kingston is another swashbuckling adventure featuring our intrepid #RabbitsWithSwords. Set sail for high adventure in Tales of Old Natalia 2!

 

The post New S. D. Smith Book Available for Pre-order NOW! appeared first on S. D. Smith.

(Check out the official rules, if you’re not sure how this works.)

Our Best #GreenEmberKidArt of the Month Winner!

.

drumroll…..

.

.

.

.

This was from a 7 year old! Well done!

And now…

 Our Randomly Selected Kid Artist Winner!

By Tilley, age 5!

Congrats to the winners!

This was fun! Don’t lose heart if you missed out this month. Try again! Remember, all winners are entered for the Grand Prize at the end of the year!

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.

It’s wonderful stuff!

The post #GreenEmberKidArt August Prize Winners Announced! appeared first on S. D. Smith.