S.D. Smith's Blog, page 38

Are you sick of this picture yet?

The Green Ember is…Kind of a Hit?

Shew! This has been a little bit bonkers. Somehow we continue to see more and more kids and families find our story. I’m so grateful to all of you. You are the people making that happen. I hesitate to use the word “hit,” but thanks to you, I don’t know what else to say. We just received our third printing (and twice as many in this printing) and already over half of them are accounted for. I don’t want to brag. Really. I just want to celebrate with you all the fact that something pretty special is happening. We are so grateful to you, for you, and we’re excited about where this adventure is headed. It’s honestly not all fun and games, but it is an incredible honor.

Some new book news below, but first, a little journal-ish entry….

A Day in the Life

(I wrote this recently.)

Today was a great day. I was privileged to spend an hour with a small class of 3rd graders who were about halfway through reading The Green Ember as a class. Their teacher, Patty, is a friend from church, and she began reading the book to them a few weeks ago. I got to read them their next chapters and then field really intelligent questions from the class. It was an honor and really fun! They were so interested and engaged. Their enthusiasm was catching.

I left feeling so encouraged. It was the most fun I’ve had at this author gig in a long time. I think that’s because sales sometimes can just feel like numbers. So, while it’s exciting to see more people getting the book, and it’s gratifying to read positive reviews, it’s different than getting to be there in person and see the excitement and anticipation on the kids’ faces. The next best thing is getting mail from readers, especially kids and parents who loved reading the book together as a family. I LOVE hearing from kids and getting drawings. But nothing beats meeting the kids in person. Honestly, and you may find this hard to believe, but the visit lifted me out of a bit of a slump. I was starting to struggle to feel the way I think I should feel about this amazing journey we’re on with the book.

I think I’m just learning how to live in this new reality. I love so much about it, but it is very hard work. It’s a challenge to balance all the urgent demands of two full-time jobs (at least), a young family of six, and all the other things life has for families.

So, please hear me when I say I am so deeply grateful for every kind word of encouragement, every email, letter, hug, and pat on the back. I love hearing from your kids. It’s amazing. It’s so wonderful to know the story is connecting with families. If you think of it, please pray for me and my family. As my friend Andrew Peterson so eloquently sings, “It’s not war, but it’s a fight.”

Black Star News

I am so excited about the new prequel novel coming your way this summer. If you loved The Green Ember, I think you’ll enjoy The Black Star of Kingston as well. It’s shorter, so there’s not as much room to develop things, but it’s going to be a fun look into the backstory of characters mentioned in Ember. If you ever wondered what happened to the rabbits from the prologue, then the answer is coming.

Zach Franzen has completed the cover art and right now Paul Boekell is working with publisher Andrew Mackay on cover design. Hopefully it will be as awesome as this was.

That was Paul poking fun at me after I asked him to make the author name slightly bigger. Read about that and the very exciting story that Paul and his family are living right now, right here.

I got great story feedback from Helena Sorenson Aman and now it’s on to other editors. We’ve got the same gang back together who did such a wonderful job with The Green Ember.

I had hoped to provide you with a cover image, but it’s not quite there yet. But I do have this…

(That is what’s known as a little tease.)

Can You Please Help Us Out With Something Exciting?

We want to make The Green Ember an AR (Advanced Reader) Book. This will help in a number of ways. Many kids only read books with this label because they receive credit for it in this program. So, this is a bit of a wall. It’s hard for small publishers to get on the AR, but if they hear from people all over the country, then it will help tremendously (especially if you’re a teacher–but every one helps).

Your part is very easy. Here are the steps.

1. Go to this site. Renaissance.com 

2. Then click on Customer Center (Top Right)

3. Create a profile. (Just takes a few seconds.)

4. Click on Customer Center again (Top Right)

5. Scroll Down to AR Support (on the right column)

6. Then click on Suggest AR Quizzes

7. Then fill in the form like this:

Quiz Type: Literacy Skills

Book Title: The Green Ember

Author First Name: S. D.  (note spacing)

Author Last name: Smith

ISBN #: 0986223506

Publisher: Story Warren Books

Estimated Interest Level: Middle-Grade (4-8)

It looks like this image…

Thank you so much!

Reviews and Interviews

I was so honored to be the guest on Circe Institute’s Podcast, hosted by my friend, David Kern. We are big fans of Circe, but not fans of how hard it is to pronounce. This interview is definitely low-key (my wife said it made her a little sleepy), so you might enjoy it if you want to hear more of my heart as a storyteller, a West Virginian, a sometime African (for real), and if you need a cure for insomnia.

Here are some of the best reviews I’ve seen lately.

This one is by Liz Cottrell from Living Books Library. It’s called Dear Mr. Smith.

Reading To Know did a nice review here. 

I enjoyed this from Jenny at Heart of a Mother.

Author Talks

I mentioned above about being in a class where my friend Patty teaches, and that was a real thrill.

Alderson

It was an honor to be invited to a wonderful event in beautiful Alderson, WV. Brittney Cassity did a tremendous job organizing and leading the event. I’m so grateful to her. Andrew Mackay (publisher, friend, Canadian fer-ner) and I shared a table with local celebrity author Belinda Anderson. It was great to finally meet her and to buy her latest book. I got to ask her some questions and she was very gracious with this rookie. I’m grateful. I met Eric Fritzius, podcaster, actor, and author. That was a pleasure and I nabbed his new book as well. (Dude has a golden voice.) There were other kind people and it was a delight to meet them and to be around my people, West Virginia authors.

Oddly enough, our readers have been from all over and, though we’ve gotten great support from many local friends and family, we haven’t had much time yet to connect with West Virginia readers. I want very much to do more local events, and this was a great start.

(I caught this pretty lady reading a rabbit book.)

I’m so grateful for friends new and old who have begun creating events for me.

Upcoming Events

I used to play soccer in high school with Brenda Conley’s son and am friends with all her kids. Mrs. Conley contacted me recently and has brewed up an unbelievable event at her school in May. I can’t wait to go to Ravenswood Grade School on May 22. I don’t want to share all the details, but she is ensuring that all the kids go home with a copy of the book! Wow.

Melanie Johnson, a wonderful lady whose kids have been in a Classical Christian homeschooling group with ours, is organizing an event in Lewisburg for May 28. I’m excited about this! If you are in the area, please come out to the Open Book in Lewisburg at 3:30 on May 28.

I’ll be in Charlotte for Inkwell 2015 in June. That’s going to be amazing. I’ll be talking to parents there on Saturday and then speaking at church to kids at CAC on Sunday.

I have a couple of events planned for October (in Nashville with The Rabbit Room and on-line with The Read Aloud Revival Membership Site). More on this later. But if you haven’t heard of The Read-Aloud revival, you need to get on the podcast, and join the membership site. It’s amazing.

I have to take off work for these events, so I can’t do as many as I’d like. But that said, I would love to do some more.

I would love to come to your school, or homeschool group. If you are “inner-ested” please contact Andrew Mackay at:

[email protected]

Are These Essential Oils Gluten Free?

Not exactly the same thing, but there’s a lot in common with the Gluten Free Religious Movement and the EO Religious Movement. This either will make you laugh, or offend you. Possibly both?

Things of the Month Things

Book of the Month: The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson. Do you have these? Listen, if your family loves The Green Ember, then you will definitely love this incredible series. Andrew is more than just a singer and a pretty face. (Well, two outta three ain’t bad.) Sincerely, AP is a friend and he’s been very good to me. But the story is amazing apart from that. It’s just wonderful. Get it!

Music of the Month: The Milk Carton Kids. Michigan. Great.

Movie of the Month: The first two-thirds of Interstellar? No, let’s go with the entirety of Cinderella. We loved it, from 3 year old girl, to crusty old man (me). All six of us, half-boys and half-girls, loved it. Well, half of us are boys and half are girls. We are not all half-boy, half-girl. Though that would guarantee a reality show, I guess.

Writing Tip of the Month: Stop reading writing tips looking for the silver bullet and read Paradise Lost. Despair. Realize you can’t ever do that, then just relax and stick it to the snobs by doing what you can do. Create something. Ship something that isn’t ready. Tell people about it. Invite them to enjoy it. Be prepared for hard things. Keep working.

The End

Okay we have reached the end of this newsletter. If you think about it, life is like a newsletter. One second you’re bragging about your book and the next minute you’re asking people to request an AR Quiz and buy your next book and to book you to come speak to their precious children for some reason. Ya know? It’s uncanny.

Seriously, God bless you all. Even you people from Ohio. And thank you from the heart of my bottom. I mean, the bottom of my heart.

I’m on your side. Thanks for being on mine.

Sam

(Our family last summer preparing to see our soccer team, Liverpool.)

You can’t imagine how this music (below) takes me back. It takes me back to a dusty township and dirty children, smiling wide, excited to come to church. It takes me back to Africa, to the beautiful Zulus I shared life with as a boy. My father, who planted a Zulu church along with a Zulu pastor, used to joke that you could tap the next five Zulu men you met and if you put them together you’d have the Mills Brothers. This is no insult to the Mills Brothers, a group we love. Instead, it’s an only-barely hyperbolic expression of how incredibly gifted Zulu people are as singers. Almost all Zulus can sing, but perhaps no group is more famous than Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo is legendary in South Africa, hailing not too far from where I lived. But they are also well-known internationally, most famously for backing up Paul Simon on his classic album Graceland. (Here they are singing Diamonds on the Souls of Her Shoes live.) You might also actually recognize them from a Lifesavers commercial.

They are wonderful. They remind me of a powerfully formative period of my life.

I love all their music, but hearing them sing Amazing Grace is particularly poignant. Why?

Because the composer of that song, John Newton, once captained a slave ship trading in African slaves. This is, of course, well-known and was dramatized in the film about Newton’s friend William Wilberforce named, “Amazing Grace.” That all these years later, an African group would sing Newton’s song so beautifully is a kind of glorious irony. The Gospel shattered Newton’s way of life, and the music born of that beautiful breaking has circled the globe and is sung by Christians everywhere, including Africans.

Including Zulus, a people I will always love.

Goodreads Book Giveaway


The Green Ember
by S.D. Smith

Giveaway ends April 11, 2015.

See the giveaway details

at Goodreads.

Enter to Win

 

The man who designed the cover of The Green Ember is named Paul Boekell. In fact, after an early version of the design, I asked Paul to make the author name just a bit bigger. “I think I know what Sam is after,” he said. “This will definitely be the final version.” So with some excitement, I clicked on the attachment. This is what I saw.



Awesome, right? I laughed so hard when I saw this that I nearly busted an actual, for realsies, literal gut. Only one gut, but still, you need every single gut you have in order to thrive, according to Science.

 

I have known Paul for most of my life. He was a fellow MK (missionary kid) and we shared plenty of awkward mission’s conferences as kids. I broke his wrist in a pickup game of basketball over 20 years ago (he was guarding me too close). And I’ve been imposing duties on him for the last few, but not “dead-guy duties.” Yet. He’s the (alive) guy responsible for all those beautiful text and image treatments we feature at Story Warren every Tuesday. He’s a pastor in a church where men wear flannel a lot. He’s an amazing photographer. He took the picture of me that I use everywhere, including on my book’s back cover. Paul is a good man, a godly man, and someone I’m very grateful to have for a friend. His story and mine cross in several places. I’m grateful for these intersections.

Now his story, and that of his wife and kids, is about to cross with another soul. A soul far away from their home in West Virginia.

I’m really exited about this. Paul and his wife Sarah Beth are adopting a little girl from Columbia. They have three boys now, so this precious girl will be their first daughter. This story is about that girl. About this family. But there’s more.

 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.”
(Ephesians 1:3-6 ESV)

 

For the Boekells, it’s about more than the amazing love they have for this girl, more than rescuing her from being an orphan and adding to their own family. It’s not less than that, but it’s more. They are living a story, a story that is a sign of The Story. And The Story, where it involves people, is about adoption. In love.

 

So, as you no doubt know, it’s crazy expensive to adopt internationally. This is going to cost the Boekells ca. $41,000. They are raising money. I think it would be a great way use your money. For $20, you can share in their story by becoming a part of the puzzle. Here’s Paul…

 

- We have purchased a 500 piece puzzle in hopes that family and friends interested in supporting our adoption will “purchase” all of the pieces – the

 pieces will then represent those who helped bring our daughter home, those who are forever a part of our story.
- Each piece is a minimum donation of $20. You may choose to be one piece of the puzzle or several – completely up to you!
- YOUR name (or chosen word/initials) will be written on the back of each piece you represent.
- Here’s the fun part…Once completed, the puzzle is going to be hung in our little girl’s room as a beautiful keepsake of this adoption story we are living out. Even better, the frame will be double sided! So, we’ll be able to take it off the wall, turn it around, and point out to our daughter the names of all you wonderful folks that helped bring her home, that helped make our family possible. How amazing is that?!

Since you are reading this here, it means that your story and my story, for some reason in some way, is intersecting. I’m glad for that. Thank you! And now it’s intersecting with the Boekell’s story. Why? Maybe in part to bring a little girl from Columbia to West Virginia to become a beloved daughter in a home imbued with the light and love of Christ.

 

So, join in, yeah? If the Lord is calling you to it in joy, be a part of the puzzle.



(Here’s a link to their site. You can also join their journey on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.)

This will be exclusively available here and ONLY today, 4/1/15.

We are very excited to announce a new partnership with Disney/LucasFilms to bring a new edition of The Green Ember. 

Limited supply. GET YOUR COPY HERE!

Thanks, Will Silander. 

 

We are NOT that perfect family that sits together by the fireside every night after gourmet meals reading Shakespeare to the babies. But we are on a journey. We are sharing time together reading aloud, experiencing a shared story, and creating a common history. Nothing can quite replace the experience of a family on a journey together. What’s even sweeter is finding your family isn’t alone, that there are fellow travelers on the road, some who’ve been going longer, some shorter, but all on the same path. This is what it feels like to join in the Read-Aloud Revival membership community.

And what great fellow-travelers we have!

If you know us or read here often, you know that we owe a lot of gratitude to Sarah Mackenzie for how she has enthusiastically shared The Green Ember, and for how much we’ve seen her book, Teaching From a State of Rest, impact our homeschooling community for good. But more than that, we’re also grateful to Sarah for leading the way in this revival of the old custom of shared, oral storytelling. She’s been a voice on the rooftops calling families to come together around true, good, and beautiful stories. We are so grateful for her invitation back into that tradition, for her ongoing inspiration, and for being so active about sharing the best resources for this adventure.

Now she and her team have launched The Read-Aloud Revival Membership Site. It’s excellent! For a mere $5 a month you can join in with the many other families who are on this journey, including ours.

I urge you to take a minute and check it out. 

Read-Aloud Revival Membership Site from Sarah Mackenzie on Vimeo.

Hello!

I’m delighted to be sharing this newsletter with you. It has updates on my next book(s), a link to a recent interview I did, and fewer jokes about essential oils than ever! Like the lemming said to the other lemming, let’s jump right in.

Classy Appalchians

The Pods That The Pigs Did Eat

I want to share my news about upcoming books, but first this. I was thrilled to be the guest on the most recent episode of The Read-Aloud Revival with Sarah Mackenzie. Now, Sarah has been a champion of The Green Ember, sharing it with so many families, and I was profoundly honored to be her guest. I love the pod and have listened for months, so it was a thrill to be on. Here’s a quote someone grabbed out.

“We do need to go for the heart. The heart is where the affections are moved. A good story aims for the heart and it carries the mind in the same action… sometimes we have loved truth so much that we have scorned beauty and scorned grace. I feel like we need to lay hold of one and not neglect the other. I feel like good storytelling is dripping with truth, but it goes for the heart, it goes for the affections.”

I also said “sort of” and “kind of like” a lot. Something I was thrilled to notice.

Like I said, Sarah has been an advocate for our book and I’m so grateful for her. It’s amazing to me that someone I had nothing to do with connecting the book to (she found it browsing one night) has been one of—if not—THE most influential people recommending the book. I have her endorsement prominently placed on the book page at my site, along with other reviews.

“I don’t usually tell people that there is a book they absolutely-must-no-questions-HAVE-TO-without-a-doubt read. But this one? How shall I put this? If I could choose only one book for my kids to read this year, this would be it. How’s that for a recommendation? Go get it! Officially our favorite read-aloud ever. I’m recommending this to everyone who happens to lend me their ear for 5 seconds. From the Read-Aloud Revival to S.D. Smith: thank you for giving us this beautiful gem!”
—Sarah Mackenzie

Wow. What an honor. We are so thankful for Sarah!

So give her podcast a listen. It’s always great. Also check out her site, and her wonderful book which my wife is soaking in, Teaching From a State of Rest. Absolutely excellent stuff. Soon she’ll have a membership site starting. We are definitely going to jump on that day one.

(The brilliant Burr children newly of Franklin, TN. Loved meeting them!)

Third Printing of The Green Ember!

Yes, you read that right. Thanks to people like you, Sarah, and a growing many more, we are prepping to order our third printing of The Green Ember in as many months. I’d like to play this cool, but this is so exciting! I absolutely cannot believe it. And although it’s terrifying, we are going to order more this time. So we hope sales won’t stop, or we’ll have a LOT of books to prop up broken stools, or whatever. So please don’t stop sharing the book.

It’s exciting to be on this journey and so I’m grateful that you have been along for the ride. It means so much to have friends sharing links, photos, and stories of families enjoying The Green Ember. It bucks us up!

(Our friends in Capetown, South Africa, the Haynes family!)

 

Four Steps to An Amazing Gift That Will Change Your Kids’ Lives

1. Get each of your children an MP3 player (affordable),

2. Buy the audiobook at our store or Audible.

3. Load it up!

4. Give it to the astonished kid.

5. Pat yourself on the back. You are a great parent.

Note: Later, if you add more audiobooks, you will be sharing something genuinely transformative. 

 

New Book News

I mentioned this in the pod with Sarah, but I am very excited about the fact that we are working on a shorter novel, a prequel to The Green Ember called The Black Star of Kingston. I can’t wait to share this with you. Some of you may have received a special limited edition of this where my son Josiah did the illustrations. But this is an expanded version with Ember artist Zach Franzen back with a cover and interior illustrations you will love! He’s a genius. He’s working on it right now and I assure you that YOU (subscribers) will be the very first ones to see the new cover.

Zach’s been sending me little preview sketches, not by any means fully formed. But I’ll share one with you here.

#RabbitsWithMalDeMer

Pretty exciting, right? Yes, this adventure will have rabbits at sea. But they will also have swords. And they will use them. I’m finishing up the writing now and we are hoping the book will be available in time for Inkwell.

What is Inkwell?

I feel bad for mentioning it now, but it’s our Story Warren Family Conference set for June 20th in Charlotte, NC. Why do I feel bad? Because it’s already sold out. It sold out in just one day. You can still get on the waiting list, here.

Inkwell is about unbottling imagination. It’s a chance for kids to meet and learn from incredible, humble heroes like Zach Franzen, Randall Goodgame, Rebecca Reynolds, and Andrew Peterson. It’s a day to experience mentorship, instruction, and delight!

I loved Inkwell last year and I can’t wait to meet and serve families from all over once again. I’ll be speaking to parents and taking responsibility for all the mess-ups. (They will probably really be my fault.)

Author Talks

I recently went on a little trip, speaking in Charlotte a couple of times, in Nashville, and Memphis. My partner and publisher Andrew Mackay drove me all over and we had a great time. It was a really fun trip and I enjoyed each stop, but especially meeting kids. This included some very special kids who have read and loved The Green Ember (and I know this because they actually quoted long passages to me). So fun! What a treat.

One highlight among many was meeting Dr. George Grant. We had the privilege of listening to Dr. Grant give a history lecture at Franklin Classical School and then I had the honor of speaking to the students.

I also got to spend time with a great pal and fellow Mountaineer, Eddy Efaw. Eddy is an amazing artist with a heart of gold and we did a little scheming about some stuff I hope to be able to share with you soon. As always, you’ll be the first to know. I loved being at Harding Academy. What wonderful people.

Here are some images from the trip!

If you’re interested in me coming and giving a little talk to parents, kids, convicts, or some combination of all three, let us know. The best place to contact is [email protected]. I have limited opportunities, sadly, but if you are interested, let us know. And do not fear, I will wear that grey sweater no matter what temperature it is.

I Know What You’re Thinking

Where are the essential oils jokes?

Well, as someone probably never might have said, “All bad things must come to an end.”

I kid. It can never, ever stop.

The Blast to Smithereens One Question Essential Oils Quiz of All Quizzes

What did one Essential Oils purveyor say to two of her friends? Answer at bottom.

Interviews and Reviews

Our friends in Seattle, the Haney Clan!

I’ve been floored by how The Green Ember has been reviewed at Amazon (nearly 100 5 star reviews!), especially since I don’t know 99% of the reviewers! But more than that, it’s been a pleasure to read emails, letters, and other comments from families who have shared their experience. I’m so happy when you reach out and I try to get back with you (or your kids) fast-ish. There were a few reviews and interviews on blogs and these were my favorites.

Kindred Grace—I loved doing this interview and I’m grateful for how elegantly Gretchen Louise presented it. Gretchen Louise also did a kind review.

Imagination, Family, and Masculinity: An Interview With S. D. Smith –Tim Briggs of the Church at Charlotte asked some good questions ahead of my visit there.

Things of the Month Things

Book of the Month: Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull. An insiders look at the founding and flourishing of Pixar. This book is full of insight for creative people, leaders in particular. Why is Pixar so far ahead of its peers? This book reveals much.

Color of the Month: Not Clear

Quote of the Month: “It is easier to build strong children, than to repair broken men.” Fredrick Douglas

Music of the Month: Drew Holcombe & the Neighbors. I took Gina to see these dudes at Mountain Stage for her birthday and they were great. We’ve been fans of Drew’s wife, particularly through Rain for Roots, but we’re new to Drew. Worth it. Check out this video for proof.

Quiz Answer

A: “Double, double, toil and trouble. Fire burn and cauldron bubble.”

Okay, this was a long one, I know. Thanks for reading. Thanks for caring.

God bless you!

Sam



(Our family recently, while our friend Breann was visiting! Grey sweater alert.)

This is a veritable collision of amazingness. If you have a kid who loves to draw, tell stories, or really anything, then you will want to read this.

My pal Zach Franzen (illustrator for The Green Ember) is featured over at the Amongst Lovely Things blog, hosted by my friend Sarah Mackenzie, and the result is wonderful. Zach’s post is an absolute must read. I am biased, but it’s so very, very good. Here’s a sample.

Hospitality is a hallmark of a Holy imagination.

Hospitality as an artistic goal collides directly and forcefully with the cult of self-expression. C.S. Lewis famously stated: “Of every idea and of every method the Christian writer [or artist] will ask not ‘Is it mine?’ but ‘Is it good?’” By contrast, the cult of self-expression exalts in “mine” more than it exalts in “good.” Its adherents do not create art to serve others. Rather, it suggests that art and others bend to the artist.

Get over and read the whole thing. Plus, there’s a giveaway for one of Zach’s Mouse Kits. We have one and we love it, even decorating it for Christmas. 

Why do the arts matter? Why does Beauty matter?

I don’t believe I have ever heard a better explanation than the song Why It Matters, by Sara Groves. I can still remember Gina coming to me years ago while I typed away at my first novel, battling discouragement (as always), and saying, “This song is what you’re doing.”

I hope so! Even if it’s just in a small way for a few people, I hope so.

We love Sara Groves in our home and this is one of many reasons why. She (like Andrew Peterson) always seems to be singing about our life. Do you have that experience too?

Thank you, Sara. Like a single cup of water, oh it matters.

Lyrics below. Here’s the record, Add to the Beauty (and it’s wonderful).

Why It Matters by Sara Groves

 

Sit with me and tell me once again

Of the story that’s been told us

Of the power that will hold us

Of the beauty, of the beauty

Why it matters

 

Speak to me until I understand

Why our thinking and creating

Why our efforts of narrating

About the beauty, of the beauty

And why it matters

 

Like the statue in the park

Of this war torn town

And it’s protest of the darkness

And the chaos all around

With its beauty, how it matters

How it matters

 

Show me the love that never fails

The compassion and attention

Midst confusion and dissension

Like small ramparts for the soul

How it matters

 

Like a single cup of water

How it matters

—–

Are there other songs, or expressions of soul, that are like this for you? 

Reading. Regan. Really funny.