The Storyteller | Mary Vee

Road Trip! I'm excited to take you with me. This destination is 18+ hours. We'll cross most of the United States. Although, today being only two days after the Shri Lanka church bombings, I wish I could go and help. For this cross country drive, the bags are packed. My sister, who is going with me. will arrive soon. I am so thankful for her company and help. My broken arm is still mending, (I am on a no weight restriction)...BUT  the arm is slowly getting better. The purpose of this trip is a book tour. At the destination, I will teach classes on how to write a story about a quest and sign books already purchased by students. This is going to be so much fun. THEN, after the work, my three sisters and I will drive down to Waco and have a fun sister day. I hear there is much to see in Waco. Have you been to Texas? What should we see there? The book I am taking is my new release. A fantasy. If you are looking for a story like Lord of the Rings, Chronicles of Narnia,...

Photo by Mary Vee Caesarea on the Mediterranean, Israel Once upon a time, in a land far away... Readers of my newsletter travel to interesting places with me. Virtual travel style. No need to pack. No visas or passports needed.  We take trips four times a year to interesting places. This month, in honor of the Easter season, we visited a few places in Israel. We saw the aqua ducts built by Herod two thousand years ago. The slope is only one degree, perfect to keep a continuous flow for the nine-mile structure. There is more! In the newsletter. Every month, I send the new readers to our group a virtual trip newsletter to welcome them. Like the other trips, I take the photos and provide links to videos whisking you right there from the comfort of your home. We have gone cliff climbing, hiking, white-water rafting, zip lining, sailed on a pirate ship over the 23 letters sent out so far. Want to join us? You are invited. Here is the link to sign up: Mary Vee's ...

Photo by Mary Vee Look what my family discovered! A bookstore for rare books across the alley from... Photo by Mary Vee A bookstore for used books. Field Trip!! No need to ask if we bought books. The paper bag ripped from the page turning contents only moments after we stepped outside the bookstore for used books! Creaky floors.  Quiet. Comfy, worn chairs. Lower level loaded with shelves and more books. (Be sure to duck, low clearance.) We barely scratched the surface during this visit. This is a definite repeat. So when did you last visit a bookstore of any kind? Would you like to hear the sounds?  Here is a very short video.  CLICK TO WATCH Speaking of books, I have news. My latest book is now available!! The day the king of Aerlis heroically dies and his lovely queen is viciously carried off to the dark north, dragons invade the land. Crops and homes near the border burn to the ground. Prince Gilbert m...

The sky may have been gray, but the temperatures were a delicious Spring 57 with no chill in the slight breeze. Photo by Mary Vee Look what will be here soon!! Green. Lots of green! Sleeping Bear Dune scenic drive, Traverse City I opened the windows and cleansed the winter closed-up smell. THEN Yes, I went for a walk and soaked in the scents, marveled at the buds on the trees, the grass green after a refreshing snow melt, spring flowers poking through the earth's surface. And, at this moment anyway, no bugs.  Win-win!!  Nature is waking. Easter is on its way.  The days are longer. We should take a walk together. That's what I will plan for next week's post. In the meantime, I want to share with you And am so excited to tell you About the release of my new book, Fire and Thorn, a Fantasy.  It a perfect gift for Easter. What better gift to give than a book? Geared for the young adult audience, but also ...

Once upon a time.... Most stories with this beginning take place in a setting from long, long ago.  Dragons. Knights. Castle. Secret passages. Quest Today's rules of writing prevents authors from using this fabulous opener. This doesn't mean these stories can't be written, they just can't start with those words. And so I would like you to meet my new fantasy novel very much about a once upon a time but without the opening words. Fire and Thorn is scheduled to release sometime between April 4 and 10. Perfect for an Easter gift especially for young adult readers. Available in paperback and ebook. Here is what the story is about: The day the king of Aerlis heroically dies and his lovely queen is viciously carried off to the dark north, dragons invade the land. Crops and homes near the border burn to the ground. Prince, Gilbert must give up what he wants most to save his father’s kingdom and himself.  The Keeper of the Kingdom advises Gilbert ...

Great news comes in packages. Last week I shared one friend's new suspense book release. Scroll down if you missed this fabulous post. This week, my good friend, Kathy McKinsey announces her new book,  All My Tears . I have read these stories and have been so touched by the five women's lives portrayed in this book. Stories of hope, forgiveness, and more. Kathy belongs to the same ACFW critique group 201 as my last guest and me. I'm so excited to share this second release from our group! Kathy writes heart-warming women's fiction. She has seen the rough side of life. From these experiences she pens stories destined to help readers who either walk similar paths or know someone who has.  Kathy has a heart for sharing God's love for us in her stories. She asked to share her thoughts with you: ALL MY TEARS,  releasing April 2,  is a collection of five novellas about women fighting battles within themselves. Fear; addiction; regret; anger at God a...

I connected with a gifted critique group through the American Christian Fiction Writers Association years ago. I credit them with teaching me the bulk of what I know about writing. Accuracy. Clarity. Compelling. Interesting. Stories. Dave Arp is one of those amazing author/critique members in my group. He writes mystery suspense. His specialty is telling believable stories. He does this by taking pieces from his life experiences and weaving them into fast-paced, page-turning, riveting suspense stories.   Dave's work has been recognized by Agent Terry Burns and Pelican Book Group. The result is his new release: ORB Just so you know, Dave did not ask me to do this post to promote his new book. I offered because as a reader, I felt ORB was that good! Without further ado, let me introduce Dave Arp. David has spent the past 35 years in the oil industry, drilling wells offshore and onshore, from Texas to Asia to the Middle East.  His thirst for storyt...