It was just going to be a short story. And, it was just going to be "an idea for sometime." Within three months (THREE MONTHS!), the Lord had given me time, ideas, and help to make one question into a novella and published. Wow! I'm seriously overwhelmed here, y'all!
First things first. A few weeks back, I had a little guessing game, for how many words would end up in Belle's story. I didn't know what this number would end up being, and it was such a blast to see over fifty people join in the fun! My personal guesstimation was that Befriending the Beast would end up being 14,000 words. I was one of the closer guessers (no, this wasn't on purpose), but several people guessed even closer to the final word count than I did.
So, what was the final word count? According to Microsoft Word...
14,409!!
The closest guesser was Eliza Noel! She guessed 14,389 words and will get a paperback copy of Befriending the Beast. Runner-up was Alicia Ruggieri, who guessed 14,372 words, and will receive an eBook.
Yep, about double my original word count. :)
But, maybe you've not heard anything about the story yet. So let's move on to Belle...
In case you can't watch the trailer, here's about the book:
Belle
has returned unannounced to the castle to restore her relationship with the
king, her father. Her hopes are dashed with the devastating message: "The
king refuses to see you." Convinced that God has led her home, she is
unwilling to return to Lord and Lady Kiralyn.
Time
is running out for the decision that will change her life. When tragedy
strikes, will she and her father be pulled further apart or knit together?
Could she stay at the castle even if she will never see her father again?
And, as I like all things reduced-prized and free, here's two things I don't want you to miss out on!
1) Reduced price!
Purchase
Link
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01L2IDEUQ#nav-subnav
2) Giveaway! (of course)
U.S.
Giveaway: Enter to win one of two paperback copies of "Befriending the
Beast"
International
Giveaway: Enter to win one of two eBook copies of "Befriending the
Beast"
One last thing: if you're on FaceBook, author Faith Blum and I are joining together to have a super fun party this afternoon (2-4 Central Time) to celebrate the releases of our new works. Of course you're invited to join us, if you're on FB!
Congratulations!!!! The book trailer is beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this book!! I kind of have always been partial to Cinderella... :)
ReplyDelete//PeculiarOnPurpose.blogspot.com
//ModestOnPurpose.blogspot.com
My favorite fairy tale is "Cinderella".
ReplyDeleteMarilyn
My favorite words are "The Lord Is My Shepherd I Shall Not Want".
ReplyDeleteMarilyn
My favorite fairy tale? Unfair! Well ... Cinderella ... if I MUST choose one ... :P
ReplyDeleteFAVORITE fairy tale? You expect me to choose?! I'm deeply insulted. Well. I guess Cinderella ...
ReplyDeleteOoh, favorite Bible verse ... I guess ... I don't really know! Psalm 23 is kinda cliché, although I really like that one ... how about Joshua 1:9? I like that one a lot. :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!! *Befriending the Beast* looks altogether beautiful, by the way! :)
ReplyDeleteMy favourite fairytale... I can't choose! But I do love the *Beauty & the Beast* retelling *The Wulver's Rose*, by Hayden Wand.
And a verse that encourages me when times get tough would probably be Jeremiah 29:11; it's such a wonderful thing to know that God is watching out for us! <3
oliviakfisher.blogspot.com
My favorite fairy tale is Beauty and the Beast. Probably because of the Disney version because I LOVE that Belle is a bookworm!
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite Bible verses is Romans 8:28.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite fairy tale is probably Beauty and the Beast.
ReplyDeleteWhat is your favorite fantasy story?
ReplyDelete@ Emily - thank you! I had fun making it!
ReplyDelete@ Kimberly - *big smile* It does my heart good to hear that! :) :) :)
@ Marilyn - I think Cinderella wins out. ;) Beautiful verse!
@ Kellyn - HAHA! Sorry for the insult. ;) ;) Love both those verses!
@ Olivia - thank you so much! :) Haven't heard of Hayden Wand. That is a beautiful verse, yes!
@ Kim - definitely like the books. ;) Beautiful verse!
@ Christian - I would have to agree with you there. ;)
@ Victoria - hmm... I'm not sure that I've ever actually read anything that qualifies as "fantasy." :)
Psalm 68:11 "The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it."
ReplyDeleteThis seems like an awesome book! My favorite fairy tale is Beauty and the Beast, so I'm excited to read this!
ReplyDeleteA Bible verse that helps me wait on God's timing is Isaiah 40:31.
My favorite fairy tale retelling is A Dream Not Imagined by Shantelle Mary Hannu!
ReplyDelete-Polaris
My favorite IS Beauty and the Beast! that's why I was so excited for this story! And it does NOT disappoint! <3
ReplyDeleteI have always liked the fairytale story of Rapunzel.
ReplyDeleteMy verse is Psalms 18:30
ReplyDeleteMy favorite fairytale is The Sleeping Beauty. But I prefer the Disney version to the Brothers Grimm story.
ReplyDeleteBeauty and the Beast is my favorite fairytale--I even had a B&TB themed wedding! What a beautiful cover, too, Amanda!
ReplyDeleteThat trailer was beautiful! Was that you at the piano?? I am so glad I won this book. I already started reading it. I got to the part where he says that her father refuses to see her, and then...I had to go to bed. Uggghh! :) Can't wait to finish it!
ReplyDeleteI like the movie, "Disney Descendants". I don't know if that counts as a fairytale retelling :)
ReplyDeleteThis book sure looks interesting, and I've been curious as to its story. Love to read over ti sometime.
ReplyDeleteI love many verses. Prov. 3:5-6. 1 Cor 10:13. Col 3: 17,23
ReplyDeleteMy favorite fairy tale? I have many. A Wish Made of Glass (book), The Firethorn Crown (book), The Wild Swans, Sleeping Beauty (Disney), Beauty & the Beast (Disney), Cinderella (Disney), etc..
Congratulations!! :)
ReplyDeleteIf we're talking Disney fairy tales, I've always loved Beauty and the Beast. Also Mulan and Tangled. I also like The Snow Queen tale as well.
My favorite fairy tale is a retelling of Cinderella is a movie called Ever After with Drew Barrymore. Thanks for the giveaway and good luck everyone.
ReplyDeleteI'm not very familiar with most of the Bible, so I don't have a favorite verse that helps me to wait on the Lord for his timing. I do like the verse John 3:16 the most, though.
ReplyDeleteWhile waiting on the Lord, especially when I do not understand, I find comfort and promise in Romans 8:28, with "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called a according to His purpose."
ReplyDeleteJanice
pjrcmooreATwindstreamDOTnet
My favorite fairy tale is Beauty and the Beast, to look beyond the outside of a person.
ReplyDeleteJanice
pjrcmooreATwindstreamDOTnet
@ Grace - love that verse!!
ReplyDelete@ Becky - love that verse too! :)
@ Polaris - yes! I very much enjoyed "A Dream Not Imagined." I had to buy the paperback. ;)
@ HisPrincessWarrior - aw, thank you! <3
@ Kristen - that's a fun story! :) And such a beautiful verse, yes!!
@ Darcy - I don't know that I've ever seen the full Disney, but I know the gist of the storyline. :)
@ Rachelle - I remember seeing pictures of your wedding! Such a fun theme!!! :)
@ Abigail - haha! Yeah... those parts when you have to just put it down. ;) ;) Hope you finished it by now! No, it wasn't me on the piano. I wanted to do it, but ran out of time so I grabbed some royalty free music from incompetech.com.
@ Eliza - hmm, hadn't heard of that one before!
@ Tyler - I'm sending your order of BtB your way today! :) Hope you enjoy it!
@ CC - ah, you've got a lot of nice favorites. ;)
@ Claire - thank you! I've not watched all of those yet, but I know the general storylines. :)
@ Debbie - John 3:16 is definitely a beautiful verse with glorious promises! :)
@ Janice - I was just reminded of that verse this weekend! What a beautiful promise!!
@Amanda Looking forward to it! :)
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