Author Life Journal - 12/9/2024

Holiday Writing Time!

The holiday season is here, and for me, that means writing, writing, writing! During the month of December, I take time off from writing newsletters to focus completely on writing books and stories! This December, I am drafting a new episode of the Night Rider Adventures and a new novel! As I write this post, I have an almost three-inch-thick pile of notecards I used earlier this year to plot the book I am about to write. I am definitely a plantster and always start out planning and plotting in great detail. But as of today, I am almost to the part where I put it all aside and let all the planning take shape on the page without the help of my notes and cards! But first, I have to pull out my fantasy world map and update it with places and names!

I am looking forward to getting deep into the writing process again, as my personal favorite part of writing is the initial construction of the story! This book is one I have had on my mind for probably over a year now, and I have been itching to get started on it. If you want some fun teasers, all I can say for now is to sign up for my newsletter here! I will be dropping hints and leaving a trail of clues as I go!

I wish you the best holiday season yet! Enjoy a break, some fun time with family and/or friends, and, of course, a good book!

Sincerely,

Ondrea Keigh

Current Read: Mossflower: A Tale of Redwall by Brian Jacques

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Children's Book of the Month - Humphrey's First Christmas

This sweet children’s book is an adorable take on the story of baby Jesus. It tells of Humphrey, the camel who carried the treasures the wise men delivered to baby Jesus. As this young camel goes through what he feels is an unbearable challenge, he learns humility through a simple encounter that changes him to his core.

Review

Probably one of the cutest and heartwarming versions of the story of baby Jesus, this short children’s book is sure to make you laugh and tug at your heartstrings. From the hilarious illustrations (and the comedic relevancy of the main character's name) to the camel’s ultimate encounter with the King of kings, Humphrey’s first Christmas is an excellent addition to any holiday collection!

My favorite thing about this book is the ending. I won’t give it away, but the author does a great job of clearly showing how Humphrey’s mind changes, and his humility is prompted by a special interaction with a special someone. In my opinion, the way the beginning and end are written is a great way to show children what it means to have a humble view of ourselves and show the main character’s development. But this book’s ending would not have been nearly as great if it weren’t for the fantastic illustrations that tell Humphrey’s story with humor and bright colors! With each image capturing your attention down to the smallest details, the art drives the story forward as we feel Humphrey’s struggles progress from page to page. By the time you get to the end, you really understand how deeply Humphrey is changed by his unique encounter!

With the holiday season here, this book might be just what your collection needs! Let’s see what our family reviewers thought of this cute story!

Family Reviews

Kate and Josiah

Kate gave this book three stars, saying she “appreciated a different take on the Christmas story.” When asked why, she responded, “Because it's nice to read a new Christmas book.”

Kate's son Josiah wasn’t as much of a fan of this book, giving it two hearts. Though his younger brother Elijah liked the “Horsey’s” (I think he is referring to the camels).

Emily, Christine, and Peter

Emily gave this book three stars, saying, “The illustrations are adorable! I loved the camel’s expressions, they really added to the story.”

Her daughter Christine seemed to agree with her mom, giving this book three hearts, saying she “liked how the camel gave away his blanket” because “He felt warm because he gave away his blanket to baby Jesus.”

Peter also gave this book three hearts, saying he “liked the silly faces of the camel because they were silly!”

Alyssa, Chandler, and JJ

Alyssa gave this book five stars, saying that her favorite things about it were the “Illustrations and moral of story!” and explaining that the “Illustrations are beautiful and hilarious!!!”

Chandler also loved this book, giving it five hearts and explaining that her favorite parts were “The baby and the nose part about the camel.”

JJ also loved the book, sharing that his favorite parts were “Beebee (baby) and doggie (camel) and the nose.”

Alyssa ended her review by explaining that both Chandler and JJ were “laughing so much!”

Thank you, family reviewers, for sharing your thoughts on this book! Readers, I will see you next year! Have a wonderful holiday season!

Author Life Journal – 11/12/2024

New Book!

The Gate has been published!!! I am so excited to have the full trilogy out! You can find it in paperback and eBook format on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited. Go get your copy now! Please you are reading this and have read the book, please leave a review! I can't wait to hear what everybody thinks of this book!

Sincerely,

Ondrea Keigh