Author J Roe

Writing quirky characters on redemptive journeys

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Christmas Shopping for the Usual Bookish Suspects?

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Are you Christmas Shopping for the usual bookish suspects? Maybe you love being a blessing each Christmas and getting unique thoughtful gifts for the book nerds in your life … but you’re all thought out? Well, we believe that if you are here, it’s because you’ve found value in our little boutique business and our unique brand of book love speaks to you. Let us help you with the teachers, pastors, homeschooling families, grandkids, and so many other classic or even off-the-beaten path book nerds on your list!

We believe these suggestions, pairings if you will, for the bibliophile most matching the following descriptions will help your shopping go smoother this year. At least, that’s our hope! Happy shopping, friend!

Usual Suspect: Christmas Crazy Book Lover

Perhaps you’ve noticed a great love for the holidays in many of my books, whatever pen name I’m writing under. Whether you are a rom-com lover enjoying Tess and Garrett’s fun fake-dating Christmas love story in The Facts and Fictions of Love or Rapunzel’s first look at Christmas in Beyond the Tower we think these bookish ornaments, stockings and decorations will help your book lover’s heart melt in this sweet season!

Ornaments your book lover will, well, LOVE:

Christmas Stockings for your book lover

Christmas Candles for your book lover:

Usual Suspect: Book Dragon and Fantasy Lover

Do you have a book dragon on your list? Someone who LOVES to hoard their treasure of books and adores dragons (and possibly tons of other mythical creatures?) After you have gotten these book dragons Rapunzel’s Journey (yes, the sorceresses do love to shape-shift into creatures like DRAGONS, leviathan, and more are featured on the lovely covers) you’ll want to click through some of these lovely fantasy inspired treasures.

Usual Suspect: Loud and Proud Book Nerd

You know you have a true book nerd when they love chatting about how high their TBR stack is and how they have surpassed their Reading Challenge over on Goodreads. It’s probable they read in several genres, so once they’ve opened their actual book presents (please do consider bookish Tess and book nerd Rapunzel as fun reads for them!) these gifts will “pair well” with those paper or hardbacks!

For the Book Nerd Who Loves to Wear Her Love Loudly:

But there are those Book Nerds that might something a little more miscellaneous:

Wishing You and Your Usual Bookish Suspects a Merry Holiday (With Lots of Reading Time)!

Is this a complete list? By no means! Will I be adding to it as I think of things and write you more books? ABSOLUTELY! Until then, I’ll be over here, reading, shopping, and hoping to hear more from you in between my chats and laughing sessions with my crazy characters. Mucho love!

About the Quirky Author

A lover of faith and fantasy inspired fairy tale retellings and utterly obsessed with sweet romantic comedy books, JacQueline (aka Jackie Q.) enjoys telling stories, asking God hard questions, and laughing with her family and friends. She lives in North Alabama with her amazing karate husband and three book-crazy children. She takes every opportunity to drink coffee while wearing dangly earrings and the color purple.

*qualifying purchases will profit the author and her family with affiliate income to continue writing stories to delight more readers at no additional cost to you. 😉

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3 of Our FAVORITE Flawed Heroes

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Horizontal image of dark ominous sky and sea with text: Our FAVORITE Flawed Heroes

My favorite stories are those with a flawed hero. As a genuinely flawed individual I find them relatable. This means I inadvertently fall in love with protagonists that have some serious issues. They may have issues with their fathers, they may struggle with a curse, they may even be so gifted with brilliance that they can’t seem to have normal human relationships. Yep, sign me up, these are the strange, difficult heroes I am here for.

Flawed Hero Jarron, The False Prince

I just want to go on the record as saying that no one writes complicated heroes like Jennifer A. Neilsen. Seriously, she is the best when it comes to showing you all the challenges and never smoothing them over. She lets each hero explain himself, but only after you want to smack him a dozen times or so. Then you think, “Oh! That’s why you are the way you are!” And, yes, that’s why her deeply flawed characters are some of my favorites, because they are real people.

Take, for example, Sage/Jarron from The Ascendence trilogy. Based on two of Neilsen’s real-life students, this complicated orphan/prince is constantly in trouble, causing trouble, and getting hurt. His mind never rests and as he strategizes several moves ahead of each foe he encounters, he keeps us flipping pages. If all heroes were as frustrating and as fun as Jarron, we might never go to bed but stay up all night reading.

Girl on bed reading with text: If all heroes were frustrating AND fun, we would stay up all night reading.

Flawed Hero Prince Edmund, Under the Curse

To say that Prince Edmund is deeply flawed would be putting things mildly. When he first appeared in the middle of my story about Rapunzel, I really didn’t know what to do with him. Even though he and Rapunzel kept parting ways, he always managed to reappear when I least expected him. I finally got the point, he wanted a chance to tell his own story. So after writing the first three books that tell the story from Rapunzel’s point of view, Under the Curse begins where we left Edmund and finally we get some answers.

Unlike Rapunzel’s beloved, Prince Edmund has a dark side, has been cursed by a sorceress, and struggles with some deep-seated anger towards his father. His backstory is messy, his intentions unclear, but his potential is evident. One might say that what he really needs is a good woman who can help him find his way. More about her in my next blog.

To receive the Rapunzel’s free origin novella, you can sign up for my newsletter here. Of course, you can skip ahead in the series and order your copy of Under the Curse to learn more about this unlikely hero.

Moodboard collage of flawed heroes with text: What Makes a Flawed Hero our FAVORITE? Bitter backstory, prideful downfall, guarded

Flawed Hero Prince Ren, A Curse so Dark and Lonely

Despite some of my misgivings about the inconsistent heroine in this book, the complicated hero won me over. A fairy tale retelling of Beauty and the Beast, Ren has been the beast caught in a curse that causes him to repeat the same season over and over until he can find a maiden to love him. But this season will be his last chance, the curse is coming to an end.

What Ren doesn’t plan for is a maid who comes not just from another world, but from another way of thinking. The best part of this book was not just how Ren related to the lady in question, but to his man-at-arms, Grey. The brotherhood between these two humanized Ren and caused me to long for him to be released from the curse. The agony that Ren went through knowing he had caused so much devastation each time he transformed into a beast also turned my heart towards him.

Vertical image with Spiderman taking off his mask with text: Our FAVORITE flawed heroes

What do you think?

So, what’s your take on any of these? Do deeply flawed heroes make you snap a book shut, or turn the pages faster? Are you someone who longs to know more about their motivations and backstories? Share your thoughts in the comments or on social media and tag me!

About JacQueline

As the author of  The Journey series, a young adult fantasy retelling Rapunzel’s misadventures, JacQueline also wrote Memoirs of a Headcase: Held by the God of Hope, to share hope in the battle against chronic pain and depression. Currently she lives in North Alabama with her karate husband and three book-crazy kids. All opinions expressed on this website come from her own experience. Do not substitute it for professional therapy or medical advice. Any affiliate links used on this website will provide additional income to JacQueline’s family at no additional cost to you.

If you are a reader wanting to connect with JacQueline, you can get a free book here. Each month you will receive book recommendations and other booknerd fun.

Are you a writer or an author looking for help? JacQueline has been writing all her life and loves meeting others who think writing is living. As an author coach, helping other writers on their journey gives her joy. Schedule your free coaching call to learn what steps you should take next now.

Photography: Kyle Johnson, Nicole Wolf, Ian, Hunter Newton, Joey Nicotra.

Social media images: JacQueline Vaughn Roe

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Why Prequels and Origin Stories are Our FAVORITES

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Have you given thought to why prequels and origin stories are some of our favorites? The beginning fascinates us, doesn’t it? The world’s best-selling book, the Bible, opens with, “In the beginning . . .” and we are introduced to the God of heaven and earth, what was good–and what went horribly wrong.

Some of the best loved literature, though, does not begin at the beginning. The authors published their stories and only later went back and published what set everything into motion. Those prequels, or origin novels, are cherished by the raving fans who adored the originals.

Prequels and Origin Stories: The Hobbit

If you love fantasy books, chances are you are familiar with The Lord of the Rings. Perhaps you traveled with Frodo and his companions on that fateful journey to destroy the ring. You know Middle Earth, tried to learn elvish, and despaired when the fellowship of the ring had to separate.

I like to imagine what it was like for the first readers to get their hands on the massive tomes written by J.R.R. Tolkien. Were there book clubs in little pubs all over the United Kingdom? And as they closed The Return of the King, how many of them had questions about Bilbo Baggins and his journey?

Tolkien was a brilliant, wordy man. The world-building he created for his series was vast in breadth and depth. Each character so well-formed, each people group so complete, that it wasn’t difficult to see the backstory was just waiting to be told. And so we were gifted with the origin story, the tale of how the ring came into the possession of Bilbo, and what began it all.

I, for one, am so grateful this prequel was shared with the world, aren’t you? Who doesn’t want more about the world’s best mentor, Gandalf?

Prequels and Origin Stories: The Magician’s Nephew

The beloved writer and theologian, C.S. Lewis, was not only a contemporary of J.R.R. Tolkien, but a close friend. I love hearing stories of their literary and writing group, The Inklings. Though the men differed in how they thought stories should be told, many of their readers like to group their fantasies together.

Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia begins with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, in which the Pevensie children discover the world of Narnia and help free it from the curse of the White Witch by the aid of Aslan, the lion and ruler of Narnia. Written as an allegory to lead readers to see the story of Jesus’ Christ sacrificial death and resurrection in a new light, the book has become a perennial classic.

But how did Narnia come to be? And how did a wardrobe in our world become a portal to carry children to Narnia? C.S. Lewis, a man of great thought, decided to answer these questions when he penned The Magician’s Nephew. The story was so powerful that a controversy arose as to how the books should be numbered, since this prequel was actually number six in the series. But I enjoy reading it as number six, right before the end. I love how Lewis put it there intentionally, as part of the allegory that leads people to think of their own “in the beginning” and who created them.

Prequels and Origin Stories: Before the Tower

I suppose it should be no surprise that these great men, and others like them, eventually inspired me to write my own prequel or origin story. My series began with what happened to Rapunzel after the witch had cut her hair and thrown her from the tower. I had always wondered, how could she survive in a world that was unknown to her? How would she make friends? What would she think of the God that the witch had taught her to hate?

In answering some of these questions while writing Beyond the Tower and the sequels, I found other questions. Who was the witch and why did she hate God so much? What could have twisted the woman to become the type of person who would incarcerate a young girl in a tower and isolate her from the world of men?

While most people have heard one version or another about Rapunzel, Before the Tower focuses on the relationship between two sisters whose lives are unraveled by greed.

Sneak Peek

“Give it to me now!” The old woman leaned close to Eufemia’s face, grabbing her hand. Katterina watched her sister instinctively step back. The putrid smell wafted near the two sisters as the old woman gave a gruesome smile showing her rotting teeth. “You think you smell better, little brat? You think you’re a beauty? It will be your curse! All you long for you will never be able to hold, all you reach for will be taken from you. You will die alone and lonely. All your birds will have wings and they will leave you crippled. Mark my words, child.”

Get your free copy now

One curse. Two secrets. Betrayal in the garden will lead to Rapunzel’s tower.

Once upon a time there lived two sisters who imagined their lives would be simple. They would spend their days in their small, little village keeping their father’s goats until they wed.

But not all stories have a happily-ever-after and beneath the fairytale’s sunshine lurks the shadowed side.

Once grown, Eufemia leaves home to be drawn into a life of powerful dark magic. She’s always longed to be special, to undo the curse placed on her when she was just a child.

Katterina grows wary of who her sister is becoming. And temptation calls her, will she steal the one man Eufemia has always wanted?

Two sisters, once each other’s refuge, will lay the foundation for Rapunzel’s imprisoning tower by their greed and betrayal.

My gift to you is this free book you can get here.

Your turn: share a favorite prequel you have enjoyed in the comments here or on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter and tag me.

About JacQueline

As the author of  The Journey series, a young adult fantasy retelling Rapunzel’s misadventures, JacQueline also wrote Memoirs of a Headcase: Held by the God of Hope, to share hope in the battle against chronic pain and depression. Currently she lives in North Alabama with her karate husband and three book-crazy kids. All opinions expressed on this website come from her own experience. Do not substitute it for professional therapy or medical advice. Any affiliate links used on this website will provide additional income to JacQueline’s family at no additional cost to you.

If you are a reader wanting to connect with JacQueline, you can get a free book here. Each month you will receive book recommendations and other booknerd fun.

Are you a writer or an author looking for help? JacQueline has been writing all her life and loves meeting others who think writing is living. As an author coach, helping other writers on their journey gives her joy. Schedule your free coaching call to learn what steps you should take next now.

Social Media design by JacQueline Vaughn Roe, cover design by Sara Oliver Design.

Photo Credit: Wen Photos, Mira Cosic, Ricardo Helass.

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Celebrating the End of a Hard Year

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This is not the end

How can we say we are celebrating the year if it was hard? If you’ve been struggling with illness, grief, job loss, or relationship issues, maybe you don’t know how. One look at my KanBan board reveals rows and rows of sticky note goals that haven’t been achieved and moved into the “CELEBRATE!” column.

When we are dealing with obstacles thrown into our path during life’s journey, discouragement tells us we are failures. But, what if we look beyond the planned success on our vision boards? I think there are things each of us have learned, perhaps the hard way, that are worth recognizing. Why not end the year celebrating those victories so that we can begin looking for such treasures in the New Year?

As you can see, I haven’t been able to “clear” my “to-do’s” on my KanBan Board.

Celebrating the Year: Recognize when coping becomes healing

I remember when I was younger a well-meaning teacher told me that coping was unhealthy. It was the path of developing strategies to avoid what needed to be dealt with. Being young and impressionable, I took her word for it and began to despise the word. I scrutinized and judged everyone around me who used coping mechanisms to survive.

But I’ve been trying to recover and heal from several things this year. For months, I was avoiding pain, both physical and emotional. Most of us have done this at one point in our lives, and there’s a cost. For me, migraines became debilitating and led to a dark depression riddled with suicidal thoughts.

My counselor has reminded me that we have to live our lives, not escape them. We must journey through the low points to reach the other side of healing. I’ve had to learn to process pain differently and try several different ways of relieving it because my body doesn’t respond well to many medicinal or natural remedies. Developing coping mechanisms to process has helped me work through my issues.

Prayer walking and #walkthankful

Below I use links to a fitness resource I have found essential for my chronic illness issues. Here is the link to their free open house during which you can try out all their courses and workouts free for the month of December. If you use any of these links, please know I will receive a small affiliate payment that will cost you nothing extra ONLY if you decide to invest at the end of the open house.

Recognizing I have to deal with the pain in my life, including the aching loss of my sister, I have begun moving my body again. Last November, right before my sister’s death, I joined the #walkthankful challenge by Fit2B. In it, you take a walk every day for the month and contemplate what you are thankful for. My life had become about migraines and my sister’s brain-injury, so I wanted to participate even if we couldn’t do it every day. I loved those short walks with her and I miss them.

Taking walks after her death felt impossible, but I knew I needed the warmth of movement to heal. So I began prayer-walking, pouring out my anger and anxiety to the God I was having a hard time trusting. As I walked through the pouring rain last spring, I cried. During the blazing hot months of summer, I shielded my eyes with sunglasses and decided to keep walking, keep praying, keep sweating. My mind would drift and it became less and less about my pain and more about the beauty the Creator had surrounded me with. By the time November came, I was ready and needing to walk in gratitude, even though it hurt to live through the horrible anniversary of her death.

Bonding with children and friends

What shouldn’t have surprised any of us is how God layers our days with support if we open our eyes. I had started counseling again, uprooting some bad habits and developing some healthier ones. My children often go on walks with me. My youngest loves chattering away happily as we discover secret pathways through our suburban neighborhood. Friends through FaceBook pray for me and my family, reaching out as we continue along. Fellow readers and writers on Instagram and Twitter have sent messages of support. I’ve even had readers of my books check in on me, people who feel like they know me simply because I have shared stories with them.

This linked-up community of chronic illness warriors has been a lifeline to so many, but I think it can go far beyond that. I believe people long for connection, but sometimes we have to take steps to make it happen. A year ago, when my sister Joy died, neighbors reached out to me. On her birthday, I made cookies in her memory, and went door to door delivering them. I did it because I wanted to do something good. Why not take the little bit of energy we have and do nice things for others? It took the focus off of me and my pain and placed it on others. I know we can’t do it all the time, but this was worth it. Though surprised, my neighbors and I had nice chats. My plan is to do this every year on Joy’s birthday.

Celebrating the Year: what to do with unmet goals

Over the past year, I thought I would have written two more books than I have. Instead, I’ve been processing, journaling, learning what I need to in order to survive this season. When I write my next memoir/Biblestudy, I pray it will have the depth and resolution it needs to help others. I can celebrate publishing Before the Tower and Amidst the Castles, but . . . It’s hard to let go those that didn’t happen. Each of my writing projects took longer and more out of me than I anticipated. I bet you understand. Those obstacles really take it out of us, don’t they?

I don’t yet have a great grasp on how long it takes me to accomplish things, but I do know I won’t quit until I have completed each project. The last novel for this year, Within the Spell, is finally through edits. It came out today, just in time for Christmas. *Deep Breath* It’s been a hard journey, but I’ve made progress and it’s worth celebrating this year. We learn, right? Let’s look at the next year and keep striving, but not pushing too hard or too fast.

Please share with us, what unexpected lesson learned can we celebrate with you? What path did you travel that you might not have wanted to, but you’re stronger for having traversed?

JacQueline Vaughn Roe

About JacQueline

As the author of  The Journey series, a young adult fantasy retelling Rapunzel’s misadventures, JacQueline also wrote Memoirs of a Headcase: Held by the God of Hope, to share hope in the battle against chronic pain and depression. Currently she lives in North Alabama with her karate husband and three book-crazy kids. All opinions expressed on this website come from her own experience. Do not substitute it for professional therapy or medical advice. Any affiliate links used on this website will provide additional income to JacQueline’s family at no additional cost to you.

If you are a reader wanting to connect with JacQueline, you can get a free book here. Each month you will receive book recommendations and other booknerd fun.

Are you a writer or an author looking for help? JacQueline has been writing all her life and loves meeting others who think writing is living. As an author coach, helping other writers on their journey gives her joy. Schedule your free coaching call to learn what steps you should take next now.

Graphic Design for Social Media: JacQueline Vaughn Roe. Contact her for help with graphic design or other author services.

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How to Survive the Summer with Kids and Chronic Illness

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There seemed to be a bit of a panic in America as the school year ended. Did you feel it, too? Maybe it was just me, but I felt a sense of wide-eyed fear that soon I would have my three home ALL DAY LONG. I wasn’t ready. I write for a living and my work-in-progress was lacking some serious progress. Is there a book on how to survive the summer with kids and chronic illness?

As I have struggled to balance life with chronic illness, I have wondered how to keep everything under control. How do I take care of my family, myself, and contribute financially? As grief over the violent death of my sister has set in, this has become an even greater concern.

How to Survive the Summer with Kids and Chronic Illness - authorjroe.com - When parenting ideas for the summertime clash with chronic illnesses, the question of how to live with chronic pain and grief often comes up. My parenting isn’t perfect, but I have found that God has something for each of us in difficult seasons. #friends #friendships #motherhood #momlife #chronicillness #spoonie #spoonies #spoonielife #summertime #parenting #inspirationalquote #devotional #Biblestudy #joy #hope #quotes #bestquotes #Biblequotes #grief #depression

How can anyone do it all? There’s a fundamental flaw in this question. Can you see it? No one can or should try to do it all. And the more we try to control things, especially when we have chronic or grief issues, things are going to go wrong. The first couple of weeks of summer found me sweating with the effort of not screaming everyone into silence. (Not recommended when you have daily migraines.)

Pain and Fear had Begun Controlling Me

There was something vital missing. Can you tell what it was? I was missing perspective–lacking wisdom. The first step was to recognize that cowering in my house in pain and fear wasn’t controlling these emotions–the pain and fear had begun controlling me.

My best friends from college and I used to get our families together every summer, but the last few summers we haven’t been able to. When the invitation came for us to travel to help for a week at their church, my family decided we would make whatever sacrifices were necessary to make it happen.

How to survive: Moving Forward

If I were to write a book on how to survive, I would say, “Go spend time with wise friends.” Armed with painkillers, sunglasses, and earplugs, we descended on their unsuspecting home for a week of fun and chaos. We crammed five adults and eight children into one house and one camper. In the mornings I took painkillers and headed to the chapel of their church. While others were bouncing in and out of loud activities, I was literally pacing in circles and praying.

Years ago, I had been the song leader and the drama teacher. I had kids shouting and jumping. But this summer I just couldn’t. I could still hear more noise than I have recently been able to tolerate, and I tried to use the week to desensitize myself. And you know what? I loved the time alone with God. We talked about what the kids were learning about Him that week and a great many other things. I’ve never made myself be quiet and pray for three hours at a time and the exercise was calming.

How to Survive the Summer with Kids and Chronic Illness - authorjroe.com - When parenting ideas for the summertime clash with chronic illnesses, the question of how to live with chronic pain and grief often comes up. My parenting isn’t perfect, but I have found that God has something for each of us in difficult seasons. #friends #friendships #motherhood #momlife #chronicillness #spoonie #spoonies #spoonielife #summertime #parenting #inspirationalquote #devotional #Biblestudy #joy #hope #quotes #bestquotes #Biblequotes #grief #depression

In the afternoons, I retreated with my friends to the back porch, letting the kids take over and sprawl around the house. Like my time with God, I found comfort and wisdom. I found healing. I discovered that I needed to relax, and I remembered that I needed to enjoy this hectic season. Sure, I wouldn’t be as productive business-wise during these few short months, but I could learn to live in the moment, use this time to reaffirm my love for each member of my family and knock out work in the afternoons or evenings.

How to Survive: Capturing and Exchanging Anxious Thoughts

That week gave me hope. I began listening to music again, which is healing even if somewhat painful. Returning home, my family and I tried to find creative ways to have fun together. But the grief was still heavy, the pain ever-present.

My thoughts were becoming too dark and I was returning to such a deep depression that there seemed no point to living. I know this to be a lie from the enemy, the one who longs to destroy those who love Christ. Still, the lie was making its nest in my thoughts and I needed to evict it. I found a local counselor and began the difficult process of sorting through this minefield of grief that has wreaked havoc with my already-tenuous health.

My counselor has already reminded me of the necessity of capturing and exchanging anxious thoughts in order to heal. Sounds amazing to us who struggle, right? But to do it, we have to look what we fear in the face. We must call it by name. I don’t want to. I guess I’ve been hiding in my house instead of facing the anger and pain of my sister’s horrific death.

How to Survive the Summer with Kids and Chronic Illness - authorjroe.com - When parenting ideas for the summertime clash with chronic illnesses, the question of how to live with chronic pain and grief often comes up. My parenting isn’t perfect, but I have found that God has something for each of us in difficult seasons. #friends #friendships #motherhood #momlife #chronicillness #spoonie #spoonies #spoonielife #summertime #parenting #inspirationalquote #devotional #Biblestudy #joy #hope #quotes #bestquotes #Biblequotes #grief #depression

How to survive: In This Together

If I say that I trust God is going to “work all things together for the good” even I cannot in my finite mind fathom HOW (see Romans 8:28) then I have to believe there is something here not just for me, but for you, too. Yes, you. You may not know me well, or you may know me very well, but you are reading this intensely personal blog because you are either a) struggling like me and searching for joy or b) just love me lots and lots. Whichever is the case, we are in this together. And I think we need that. Just like I needed to see my friends in Texas and work at something greater, I need us to connect and become stronger as we get through this.

Guess what my assignment is? She told me I have to go outside each day and face the sunshine. I know it will be painful, but yesterday (when my pain level was around a 5), but I was able to do it. My son, who is still young enough to want to, reached for my hand and walked me around our neighborhood to their various bus stops while we waited for my girls to get home.

How to Survive the Summer with Kids and Chronic Illness - authorjroe.com - When parenting ideas for the summertime clash with chronic illnesses, the question of how to live with chronic pain and grief often comes up. My parenting isn’t perfect, but I have found that God has something for each of us in difficult seasons. #friends #friendships #motherhood #momlife #chronicillness #spoonie #spoonies #spoonielife #summertime #parenting #inspirationalquote #devotional #Biblestudy #joy #hope #quotes #bestquotes #Biblequotes #grief #depression

I have other assignments including journaling and trying to return to my karate classes, too. Yes, that last one has a lot to do with getting me back in the company of good friends. Something as simple that and yesterday’s walk is like telling the grief, the depression, the migraines, ALL OF IT, “You’re not the boss of me!” Today I hurt a bit more, but I’m going to do my best to fight anxiety and get out of the house, go be with people I love and enjoy them. Allow myself to see and be seen again.

For Those of Us Hurting

For those of us hurting and wondering how to survive, we must allow good people, wise people to come beside us and offer their help. Bit by bit, we will become ourselves again. We won’t ever be exactly the same. The hurt has altered us forever and given us a different view. But, we can adjust and live a different life, capture these negative thoughts and discover what God has for us in this new and different landscape. We aren’t alone. This may sound simple, but I know it to be extremely hard.

So, friend, you’ve read all the way to the end. Why? Are you just concerned for me or do you relate to some of what I’ve been going through? I truly believe we are stronger together. We need one another to make it through this life, especially if we are in a season of struggle. Is there anything I can pray for you? I like to pray as I walk and since I have many walks in my future, it would be my privilege to lift you up. Let me know in the comments or on whatever social media platform or messaging system you feel comfortable using.

JacQueline is the author of Memoirs of a Headcase: Held by the God of Hope as well as The Journey series, a young adult fantasy retelling Rapunzel’s misadventures. She uses her writing to share stories of hope and joy. JacQueline currently lives in North Alabama with her karate husband and three book-crazy kids. All of her writing is from her own experience and based on her opinion. It should never be substituted for a professional therapist.

How to Survive Graphic Designs by JacQueline

Photo Credit: Jason Blackeye, Paola Chaaya, Jared Erondu, and Levi Guzman

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Do Stories Need a Message?

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Do Stories Need a Message - authorjroe.com - I pray that my faith-based fairytales lead to digging past shallow answers. My dreams for these stories go hand-in-hand with your dreams for discipleship. - #booksworthreading #youngadult #yafantasy #amreading #readingforpleasure #read #reading #BYNR #beautifulbooks #SummerReading #ChristianParenting #parenting #middlegradebooks #booksbooksbooks #momlife #goodreads #bibliophile #bookworm #booklover #booknerdigans

Jesus loved to tell stories and crowds gathered near as He would reach out. He painted the world around in colors some would gravitate towards while repelling others. We know Jesus didn’t allow the reactions of His listeners to change His method; He kept sharing, kept loving, kept reaching, kept pushing.

Have you ever found that as a parent or discipler, you’re not sure what story to tell to make your point? I have had those moments. I know that when the Savior walked this earth, He used stories to enlighten and confound. God gave me a deep desire to use storytelling with my children and those He has led me to shepherd. Like many of you, I have been surprised at how God teaches me even as I am teaching others. I was excited He began leading me to not only write books but to include a discussion guide in the back of my novels.

How do I teach this kid?

The crazy part? As much time as I am spending working on each discussion guide, I know that some of my readers may not look through it. My daughter admitted to me, “I usually skip that.” I get it, and you know what? That’s okay. I wrote it to be approachable and thought-provoking to younger readers. But I am actually hoping it will be read by YOU! You parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, small group leaders, Sunday school teachers, and mentors all may not have time to read the entire series of novels, but the guide can facilitate deeper conversations.

Do Stories Need a Message - authorjroe.com - I pray that my faith-based fairytales lead to digging past shallow answers. My dreams for these stories go hand-in-hand with your dreams for discipleship. - #booksworthreading #youngadult #yafantasy #amreading #readingforpleasure #read #reading #BYNR #beautifulbooks #SummerReading #ChristianParenting #parenting #middlegradebooks #booksbooksbooks #momlife #goodreads #bibliophile #bookworm #booklover #booknerdigans

The stories I tell are part of a larger journey. I believe we are each on a journey that God has planned from the beginning of time. (see Ephesians 2) He desires that each of us come to know Him in an extraordinary way. I pray that my faith-based fairytales lead to digging past shallow answers.

Christian books for teens

My dreams for these stories go hand-in-hand with your dreams for discipleship. It’s why our hours are spent praying and studying. This is why we look to God for the best ways to love and reach beyond ourselves. It’s our way to prepare these young missionaries to go light the world with His truth.

So what kinds of questions can you expect Rapunzel to ask while she is on her journey?

Is God good? Is He trustworthy?

What is greed? Why does it destroy?

Should I forgive? Can I forgive without God’s help?

The arc of the first three books explore Rapunzel’s struggle with her need for a Savior. She becomes a young woman in a world she was unprepared to live in. The next three books will go a little deeper into how God can redeem those things we are ashamed of and make all things new. My heart is that as I am publishing, you will find these books to be both entertaining and useful. Please reach out to me if there is anything I can do for you. I look forward to serving you in the near future.

If you need a pre-taste of what’s ahead without commiting to buying the first or any of the series yet, I can relate. My gift to you is the free origin novella, Before the Tower, that introduces the young girl who chooses the wrong path and becomes the witch who will one day imprison Rapunzel. This novella sets the stage for the discussions regarding greed, forgiveness, God’s goodness, and sovereignty.

About JacQueline

As the author of  The Journey series, a young adult fantasy retelling Rapunzel’s misadventures, JacQueline also wrote Memoirs of a Headcase: Held by the God of Hope, to share hope in the battle against chronic pain and depression. Currently she lives in North Alabama with her karate husband and three book-crazy kids. All opinions expressed on this website come from her own experience. Do not substitute it for professional therapy or medical advice. Any affiliate links used on this website will provide additional income to JacQueline’s family at no additional cost to you.

If you are a reader wanting to connect with JacQueline, you can get a free book here. Each month you will receive book recommendations and other booknerd fun.

Are you a writer or an author looking for help? JacQueline has been writing all her life and loves meeting others who think writing is living. As an author coach, helping other writers on their journey gives her joy. Schedule your free coaching call to learn what steps you should take next now.

Do Stories Need a Message - authorjroe.com - I pray that my faith-based fairytales lead to digging past shallow answers. My dreams for these stories go hand-in-hand with your dreams for discipleship. - #booksworthreading #youngadult #yafantasy #amreading #readingforpleasure #read #reading #BYNR #beautifulbooks #SummerReading #ChristianParenting #parenting #middlegradebooks #booksbooksbooks #momlife #goodreads #bibliophile #bookworm #booklover #booknerdigans
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