Inside:

Pacing January

Name change for this newsletter

Writing and publishing news!

Recent Reads

Free spec fiction books!

Please note: I imported a BUNCH of new readers from book funnel and missed checking the welcome email box. (Grand of me.) So if you’re new, WELCOME . I have a couple different types of emails that go out, so be sure to change your settings if needed.

Hello dear readers,

I’m pleased to announce I that I was not a hypocrite regarding my previous newsletter rant on priorities and not being over-busy. As an idealist with no chance of recovery; all too often, I spout platitudes that are much easier said than done. But not this time. This month, I’ve prioritized taking a walk, prayer and meditation, and homemade sourdough—things that force you to use the brakes and actually live in the present. I said ‘no’ to other activities and people that I truly enjoy and care about and I survived to tell the tale. I’m here to tell you that I don’t regret it. So here’s your reminder:

Though we’re not exempt from hard things and work, we were still made for beauty and joy. As much as is up to you, live with intentionality.

A couple more medium-sized housekeeping thing before announcements and other fun things:

I don’t normally talk much about my faith in my newsletter. That’s not what it’s for. I write wide fiction and I’m here to tell you what I’m writing, how it was inspired (usually a hike or a strange podcast) and where you can read it. Maybe it’s spiritual New Year’s fervor or by chance I’m just reading more faith-based books simultaneously, but this newsletter is full of it. If you’re new around here, not a person of faith and not a fan, maybe stick around one more.

Second, you may (or may not) have noticed the name of this newsletter changed. If you’ve ever read or watched The Voyage of the Dawntreader, you may recognize the Spell To Make The Unseen Seen that Lucy uses to make the dufflepuds visible.

My fiction work often weaves together seen and unseen realms to draw out deeper themes. Upon reading that newsletter names should communicate something more than “elli’s newsletter” (duh, right?🤦🏻‍♀️), I realized this spell is often what I’m attempting with my writing and art—to pull back a curtain on things that are hard for us to see. It made me think of this quote by Bruce Lee:

Don't speak negatively about yourself, even as a joke. Your body doesn't know the difference. Words are energy and they cast spells, that's why it's called spelling. Change the way you speak about yourself, and you can change your life.

I love to think of words as magic. If God created the world with a word, how are they not? And on that note…

Writing Updates

In one of my newsletters last year, I promised myself and my readers that I’d be published in 2025 or, if a traditional publishing opportunity came along, at least have a book on the way. Well, while you were busy reading Season Two of The Shantyman, I was busy checking in on my manuscript queries and submitting short fiction for publication. While I can’t quite confirm rumors regarding the former yet I am pleased to report that one of my short stories, Killer in the Neitherness, will be published by Havok on February 17th for their Mystery Monday story that day!

Important deets: The story will only be available to non-members for one day! So please mark your calendars! I’d encourage you to consider subscribing so that 1) you can vote for my story to be in their anthology and 2) because there are great short stories released every week to give you a sort of literary hors d’oeuvre that you can consume in the little moments of your day. (Say hello to your new favorite toilet read—better than scrolling!) Membership to Havok is only 1.99 for three months or 4.99 for a year.

New Art and Art Collaborations

Flabbergasted is the only appropriate word for the state I’m in. My art is gaining popularity and I constantly ask myself why and how. To my shame, I was tempted to be a little salty about it. I wondered why people would pay for my below average art but no one (not quite true considering recent events) will publish my above average writing. Then I remembered how much I share art—good, bad or downright ugly—because I don’t mind if people don’t like it. I’m not an artist. I’m a writer. But since writing is my passion, I tend to be self-conscious about it. So, as you can see, I’m working at getting my writing into the world but in the mean time, I’ll be grateful for every single art sale!

In addition to creating an art landing page on my website here (Art Page), here are a few collaborations you can look forward to and some sneak peeks.

Freezout Collab I live near a super cool Wildlife Management Area, Freezout Lake, where thousands upon thousands of birds stop mid-migration. There are over 200 species that have been spotted there, but people especially love to see the colossal flocks of snow geese take off early in the morning. You can look forward to activity packs with maps and stickers, posters, art prints and maybe even hats and t-shirts.

I have a couple more collaborations for fellow authors that are still top-secret, including scenes from some favorite classic adaptations similar to this inspired by the 2005 Pride & Prejudice (and my favorite local photographer, Allison Heikkila).

Until I can let you in on those, I’ll share a couple of recent doodles below in honor of St Brigid’s Day tomorrow. You’re welcome to print the B&W version of the St Brigid’s cross as a coloring page for your children or yourself. (May have to go the full post on my website here.)

As you color, you could listen to a YouTube video or a St Brigid’s Day mass such as the Caherdavin Parish livestream(even if you’re not catholic—I’m not—or even religious). I love these books to learn about St Brigid and distinguish her from Brigid the goddess. Three out of four are children’s books, but I don’t think we ever grow out of them. And they are a great, quick way to learn a few things about nearly any topic.

St. Brigid, the Celts & the Early Irish Church by Justin R. McCarthy (.99 ebook)

Brigid’s Cloak by Bryce Milligan with gorgeous illos by Helen Cann. This is a children’s book, but it’s one of my top ten picture books of all time and follows the written history of Brigid very well. It reminds me of the light coming to all mankind and how there is a God seeking out all people, even my own culture, for all of history.

Brigid and the Butter, another lovely kids’ book by Pamela Lova and Apryl Stott

And finally, the Life of St Brigid, Abbess of Kildare by Jane G Meyer. The illos by Zach Lynch are good, but I love the book for the Celtic knotwork on every page!

Recent ReadsThis post contains affiliate links. If you tap and shop, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you:)Besides the above I’m currently reading:

Seconds by Abigail Wilkes: I’ll post a blurb below, but this book hits the sweet spot of historically inspired yet imaginative world-building. If you enjoyed my Endling spin-off novella, To Dance On Paths Of Starlight, you’ll LOVE Seconds. There are even pyramids. It has heavy sanctity of human life and redemption themes.

In the pyramid city of El-Pelusium, all second-born children are banished to an island of madmen for fear of a power they are rumored to possess.
But Miki isn’t just a Second, she is a Fifth.
Nineteen years of hiding behind false identities and away from the public eye has left her with unmatched anxiety. But when a chance encounter throws her in the path of the new young ruler of the Pyramid who is hunting for answers—and a friend, Miki must dodge the very person with the power to banish her.On top of it all, a madman from the island claims being a fifth-born means something. But listening to him would make Miki as mad as him. Unless he is right. If so, the system Miki’s fragile world is built upon, and her very life, are in the balance.

Still reading Orthodoxy by GK Chesterton - I know people are tired of hearing about faith deconstruction, but I can’t quite relate. I’m watching my friends tear away burdens from their shoulders that parents, churches, abuse, trauma or legalism have heaped on. They’re finding beautiful, solid truths underneath it all, and it’s giving them something to cling to and rebuild upon.

I wouldn’t use the word deconstruction for my own faith journey, but I’ve definitely had to sort through the various things I’ve been taught and throw some into the flame. I wish Christians would trust that, like Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians, if anything they believe and teach is true, it will withstand the fires of deconstruction and doubt and healing. I feel like Chesterton’s journey is roughly similar to my own, so I’ve finally jumped into this book that’s been on my TBR stack for far too long.

Recently Finished:

Within Arm’s Reach by Ann Napolitano: Despite being a national best seller, I only gave this book two stars. Then why share it you ask? Because I know some people would enjoy this book; I’m just not those people. The author admitted that she’s grown a lot since she’s written it, which is author speak for I’m a little embarrassed that I wrote this but people are still buying it so I can’t make it disappear. The very things I disliked about it may be exactly what you’re looking for.

First of all, the writing wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t exceptional either. This means that you might get lost in the story but probably won’t find yourself stopping to admire gorgeous language. Maybe that’s just what you need.

Second, the characters and their problems were super relatable—too relatable IMO.

The story introduces you to five generations of Irish-American drama with a couple of Italian marry-ins. In them, I saw my Italian/melting-pot father, my Irish-American mother and all my aunties and grandmothers. But that’s all. I read hundreds of pages rehashing all of the love and pain and dysfunction and religious misunderstanding that I see around me and…for what? In the end, they (we) all just continue the cycle. If the writing had been evocative or lush with beauty or if there had been a greater sense of hope for future generations or if she had shown us the way out, I would have adored this book. If.

Nonfiction reads: I also recently finished The Confessions of St Patrick, The Irish Famine by Colm Toibin and Diarmaid Ferriter (a little dry but heart-wrenching nonetheless and an interesting way to ingest history from multiple perspectives) and a tiny book on the rosary that was the best explanation and invitation I’ve ever read. It included alternate options for protestants and those of us who are more denomination-fluid.

Free Books

Authors have to help one another out! We’re all looking for just the ride readers. A bunch of us got together to tell you about our books in hopes that you can find a few books that are up your alley. All of the authors in this giveaway are part of Realm Makers, a group for authors of faith who write speculative fiction. But the books aren’t all necessarily Christian books.

Tap here to browse the books. If you like my writing, you might like Beneath The Dome, Automated or The Way of the Wielder. Be sure to tap through a read descriptions and not judge every book by it’s cover. There are 25 books and these are just the few that caught my eye!

Thanks for supporting my writing (and art) by being here.
Happy adventuring, literary and otherwise

Elicia Johnson

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