Author: Rae Graham

Resident Hufflepuff-Hobbit, tea addict, and YA author writing fantastical tales with heart and hope.

I Buy Myself Chocolate

Love is in the air. Diamonds are on sale. Couples are making plans…. And the rest of us are over here cracking Singles’ Awareness jokes 😂

But this Valentines’, I’d like to take a moment to point out that singleness isn’t a curse. That love comes in many forms. And being single doesn’t have to translate as ‘Forever Alone,’ or ‘Incomplete,’ or even simply ‘Career Focused.’

I get the struggle that mindset brings! I get feeling lonely and unwanted. I get watching all your friends pair up and aching to have that too. I always thought I’d be in the stay-at-home-mom club by now.

But clearly God has another plan for my life. And I’ve been learning the past several years how to be ok with that. It really boils down to my focus. I can choose to sit on the couch binging rom-coms and feeling sorry for myself. Or I can spend my time investing in the relationships I do have. With friends. With family. And ultimately with God, the only one who can truly complete me.

And hey, if He entrusts me with a husband and kids somewhere down the road? I’ll take it and praise him! But I’m not going to wait for the blessing I expect or demand before doing so. I refuse to make my life a holding pattern while waiting for ‘something better.’

For now, I buy myself chocolate. And that’s OK.

Go with hope, friends 💛

Wishtress Review

I have this unfortunate habit with the really good ones where I not only binge, but am constantly skimming ahead and giving myself all the spoilers. Much to the chagrin of my author side 😅 Wishtress was one such read! And I’m already itching for a re-read.

Synopsis:

She didn’t ask to be the Wishtress.

Myrthe was born with the ability to turn her tears into wishes. It’s a big secret to keep. When a granted wish goes wrong, a curse is placed on her: the next tear she sheds will kill her. She needs to journey to the Well and break the curse before it claims her life–and before the king’s militairen track her down. But in order to survive the journey, she must harden her heart to keep herself from crying even a single tear.

He can stop time with a snap of his fingers.

Bastiaan’s powerful–and rare–Talent came in handy when he kidnapped the old king. Now the new king has a job for him: find and capture the Wishtress and deliver her to the schloss. But Bastiaan needs a wish of his own. When he locates Myrthe, he agrees to take her to the Well in exchange for a wish. Once she’s fulfilled her end of the deal, he’ll turn her in. As long as his growing feelings for the girl with a stone heart don’t compromise his job.

They are on a journey that can only end one way: with her death.

Everyone seems to need a wish–the king, Myrthe’s cousin, the boy she thinks she loves. And they’re ready to bully, beg, and even betray her for it. No one knows that to grant even one of them, Myrthe would have to die. And if she tells them about her curse . . . they’ll just kill her anyway.

Things I Liked:

Atmosphere: It’s a perfect wintery tale with Germanic vibes and a brilliant magic system!

Characters: The characters are so complex. Heroes and villains alike! I honestly can’t decide who I’m drawn to more, Myrte or Bastiaan. They’re both such burnt little cinnamon rolls with beautiful healing journeys. (But honestly, Runt is my favorite character on the whole 😉) Also, I’m a very sensitive person and often tears come as easy as breathing. So I very much admire the control Myrte has over her emotions.

Themes: As always with Nadine books, I loved the subtle use of allegory and redemptive themes. Especially the themes of motherhood and unconditional love.

My Rating: 5/5

Into the Unknown

Well, it’s another new year! Full of exciting possibilities and intimidating unknowns.

I always go through this awkward caught-between period at the start of a year. NGL, I spent, like, the first two weeks of January in denial that 2022 was over. Then dove headfirst into making PLANS! Because obviously, a plan magically forces the possibilities to solidify and unknowns to materialize. Riiight?

Am I weird? Maybe. But I’m certain I’m not alone on this one. So here are my top three tips for when the possibilities and unknowns collide. (Aside from lists and color coded calendars. That’s a given for any situation 😉)

  1. Foremost should be prayer. I say ‘should’, cause I’m honestly not great about following through on this one 😅 It’s something I absolutely need to work on. But I have found when I go to God first and ask his peace and guidance in the situation I’m less likely to spiral. The path may not clear immediately and unknowns still loom. But I’m much better prepared to handle them.
  2. Center in the familiar. When overwhelm comes knocking, take a step back and enjoy a small comfort activity. For me that’s often cozy blankets in front of the tree (Yes, it’s still up.), tea in fancy china (What’s the point of pretty things if they hide in a cupboard forever?), or a bath (because I can have those now!)
  3. Take baby steps. I get it, our society values multitasking and the pressure to get it all sorted now is real. But maybe you don’t need to run three races at once. There’s a lot to be said for the quality focus brings. Choose one attainable goal and take small achievable steps to reach it. Then move on the the next one. You’ll still reach those finish lines, I promise!
  4. Bonus! Lean on others. We were not made to do life alone. Excited about something? Share it with a friend and ask to take part in their joy as well. Worried or unsure how to handle a situation. Go you a trusted mentor for help. Good crit partners are valuable for more than a manuscript 😉

What’s one thing you’re excited for and one thing that intimidates you in this coming year?

Chronic Illness

I talk a lot about the mental health aspects of Giselle’s curse, but not enough about the closely related chronic illness. A topic just as important! And very personal to me.

See, I was born at 25 weeks and spent months in the NICU. But I grew into a healthy child. Sure a little thin and needed a fair amount of orthodontics. But nothing major.

Then puberty hit and it was like being a passenger in a slow motion train wreck. Hypothyroid, hypoglucose, scoliosis, a cycle that wouldn’t stabilize… By the time I started working on this book, I was juggling several medications, battling frequent fainting spells, and working through regular bouts of insomnia.

Enter another diagnosis: Hypotension. Another medication: take by mouth three times daily. And I remember thinking as I wrote “At least none of my symptoms include unceasing pain. Poor Giselle. She’s going to hate me 🤣 I sure hope I’m portraying this right!”

Well, Giselle got her revenge this year 😝 I now know what chronic headaches feel like. She still got the short end of the stick. But I’m very much not a fan.

For everyone who’s daily routine involves a minor freak out over “Did I take my medication and was it the right one?”

For everyone who cries when the alarm goes off because they’re already exhausted and don’t know how they’re possibly going to make it through the day.

For everyone who pops pills like candy and still can’t find relief.

For everyone who feels like a failure because the to do list keep growing but their capacity shrinking.

I SEE YOU. GISELLE SEES YOU. And I hope her story makes you feel a little less alone.

Go with hope, friends 💛

Autumn Snow

Do you handle surprises well? I sure don’t.

Well, some I don’t mind! I relish a good plot twist, and you’ll never hear me complain about a surprise chai 😉 I’m just not a fan of surprises disrupting my carefully laid plans 😅 Such as snow in November.

My first reaction to this scene was one of frustration. I had been looking forward to my annual leaf burn. The yard desperately needs it and I haven’t had a bonfire all season. Honestly, how did we go from drought to snowfall in the space of a week? Dang it, Missouri!

But then I noticed the beauty. The contrast of a white world framed by bright autumn flowers. So, I settled down on the couch with a steaming mug and watched the mosaic of snow and leaves dance in the wind. Let the first snow excitement seep in.

Turns out, I needed that surprise. Maybe disruption isn’t always a bad thing. Failed plans most often lead to something better. God knows what he’s doing. The hard part is learning to let go. I might be taking baby steps, but I’ll get there eventually! And so will you.

Go with hope, friends💛

Black Friday Deals

Black Friday is just around the corner! Brining you all the shiny deals.

We’ve got:

  • $0.99 Kindle & Free in KU.
  • $10.00 Amazon paperback and signed copies.
  • 30% off all other items in my shop
  • And if you subscribe to my newsletter you’ll receive an extra 10% off in your inbox!
  • This will also be your last chance to snag my autumn bookmarks.

Have a lovely Thanksgiving!

Same Same, But Different

‘Same same, but different.’ ~A Thai colloquialism.

Often used in the market to sell you something not the same at all 🤣 But also used for subtle nuance and drawing connections cross-culturally.

Comp titles. As a reader, I love them! But as an author… let’s just say it’s complicated.

Maybe I overthink the process. Wouldn’t be the first time😉 But I always worry it’ll end up misleading. Especially for stories that are a bit more niche. Or comping very well known works.

🤔 Is some basic allegory and one chapter heavily inspired by the Lucy/Aslan dynamic really enough to compare my debut with one of the most beloved Christian Fantasy novels of all time? 🤔😅🙈

So, instead of sharing comps I’ve come up with, here are some connections my brilliant readers have felt strongly enough to comment on!

  • If you have read Margaret Rogerson’s ‘An Enchantment of Ravens’, then this book is right up your alley! It’s got the fairytale vibes, the unlikely heroine, and her struggle to love and accept herself as he is. ~Goodreads
  • Beautiful, lyrical writing with a creative storyline and intriguing characters. Sucks you into a world of magic, darkness, and light and helps you see the world differently. Reminiscent of the Tales of Goldstone Wood. ~Goodreads
  • This novel reminds me a bit of John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress but with a more subtle allegory for our modern age. ~Amazon
  • It reminded me of a cross between Heartless by Anne Elisabeth Stengel and The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. ~Amazon
  • A thrilling, imaginative quest story that reminded me of all my favorite old medieval quests with whispers of Narnia and a bit of a Christopher Nolan’s Inception thrown in. ~Amazon

Greywolf’s Heart Review

I had the great pleasure to share a booth with C.M. Banschbach at Realm Makers this July! One of the many perks? I got a signed copy of her newest release before they sold out 😊

Synopsis:

A man born for war. A bastard raised in contempt. Only together can they defend their tribe from slaughter.

Fierce-hearted Comran is the chief’s son and the favored choice to be the next leader. Then his father chooses Comran’s half-brother Etran for the role, straining the loyalties of the tribe and reinforcing the distance between the two men. When Comran is offered the role of battlewolf, he is ready to do his duty—but expects no friendship in return.

Steady Etran has long been shunned as the chief’s bastard. Becoming the chief brings even more hostility, so he offers Comran the title of battlewolf to maintain tribal unity. But can he trust this reckless warrior as his general when Comran has never stood by his side?

As tensions mount within the tribe, a traitorous act leads to war. Comran and Etran must overcome their inner demons and fight for their brotherhood before the Greywolves fall to their worst enemies.

What I Liked:

Complicated Relationships: This story is at the core about a dysfunctional family learning to heal. I loved the accurate portrayal of this messy process. Redeeming broken relationships while acknowledging the pain and struggles that comes with it.

Action Packed: From battle games, to assassination attempts, to full out war with devastating consequences, this one was incredibly hard to put down!

Disaster Boys: Comran and Etran are a pair of absolute disaster boys whom I adore. Especially Comran with his penchant for snarking off to villains and body-slamming armed men who get too close to his family.

Giant Wolves: I’m absolutely a cat person in general; but, I must admit I’ve got a thing for wolves. And a wolf the size of a horse with a magic bond to it’s owner? I’d take one of those any day!

My Rating 5/5

A beautiful story of brotherhood and healing set amidst an action packed backdrop of rugged wilds, giant wolves, and war.