As most of you know, I was working on an audiobook early last year that life put on hold. Well, I’m back at it! Taking a quick pass to finalize those previous chapters. Then I’ll be cranking out new 😊Shooting for an April release 🎉
Follow me on Goodreads for the play-by-play updates!
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 💛
‘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!
To Slay a Curse is getting an audiobook! And I’m doing it myself!
I’ve always liked reading aloud. But gotta admit the idea of narrating and producing a whole audiobook totally intimidates me 😅 It’s been a huge learning curve, but I’m finally getting the hang of it. And pretty proud of the results😊
Projected Release: September 2022
Today is To Slay a Curse’s first birthday 🥳 Giselle asked me to make a wish for her when I blew out the candle. Any guesses what it was?
And it happens to be a beautifully cozy Sunday afternoon. So why not grab yourself a cupcake and curl up with this free e-book? Yes, you read that right! My book baby is FREE ON KINDLE for the next five days! Click the image below to get your free ebook. Happy reading everyone!
I’ve got a Christmas surprise for you! I’m starting a NEWSLETTER! Get quarterly updates, early access to big news, exclusive content, and more! Plus, a free short story just for subscribing!
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Got some fun updates for you today!
First off, To Slay a Curse is now free to read with your Kindle Unlimited subscription! And it looks like they’re running a two month special right now. So if you’ve been debating whether or not to try it out, now would be a good time. But if you don’t have/want KU, don’t worry! The Kindle e-book is for sale and the paperback is still up on most major retailers.
Second, I’ll be doing my first book signing next month! If you live close, or just really enjoy road trips 😝, stop by the Cape Girardeau Library on October 16 between 2-4 and pick up a signed copy of To Slay a Curse, character art, or some of my custom bookmarks! If you’ve already got a copy, you are more than welcome to bring it for signing.
If there is one thing I will gladly take a beating for, it is the healer who was a mother to me. And the daughter who has followed in her footsteps-my sister in spirit who greets me with a question.
To Slay a Curse
Last week, I talked a bit about found family and how that has played a role in my life. For this post, I want to focus on the theme as it applies to sisterhood.
I come from a small family. Just one brother about two years younger than me. As a kid, I would see my friends with their sisters and kept hoping my parents would give me one too. Cause’ obviously, Mom just had to visit the hospital and bring home a present 
Alas, it never happened. Pretty sure they made a pact after my brother No one needs two of him 
So, I’ve basically gone through life adopting sisters for myself! Which works out quite well, actually. You can stick round for the fun and go home when they get annoying
Ok, but in all seriousness, these girls have been my life force through the years. Sometimes very different from me in personality and interests, but always there when I need them with a hug and encouraging word. And no matter how much time passes from parting to meeting, we can pick up right where we left off.
They are the Ami to my Giselle. And I wouldn’t make it through life without them. So, to all my sisters in spirit, know that I love you so much I wrote you a book 
And I can’t wait till our next meeting!
Tell me, who is your Sister In Spirit?
What are some of your favorite books that celebrate food?
I am a true hobbit and love books that feature a good feast. Aside from The Hobbit; Redwall, Narnia, and Harry Potter come to mind. In fact, I believe most of them have their own cookbooks now. Which I am dying to get my hands on!
When I was writing To Slay A Curse , I knew I wanted to make food A THING. (Ok, it’s probably more a thing in my head than on paper. But I tried, right? 😉) So, I channeled my love for baking into Ami’s character. She’s much better at it 😂 But the one thing she can never quite get right are her mother’s tarts.
Ever since, I’ve wanted to try them myself. I spent hours on Pinterest hunting down the simplest recipes, but never got around to making them. Imagine, then, how happy I was when The Writers Sanctuary provided me with not only a recipe but an excuse to bake one in the Ren Faire Conference I attended recently!
I can now sympathize with Ami. These things are hard to get right! I always envisioned hers as raspberry, but unfortunately that attempt didn’t turn out and I thought it best to stick to the instructions 😅 But when I did, they were delicious!
Have you ever tried tarts? What did you think?
To Slay a Curse has an official playlist now! Listen here!
Writer Rae Graham 