Book Birthdays and Creative Recovery

My first novel is ten years old! And we have gifts & prizes!

It was January 2015 and I had no idea what I was getting into. I’d tried writing stories before and never gotten very far. But this novel somehow stuck.

There was something about it. I was writing something I hoped my then five year old daughter would want to read when she was a bit older, maybe when she herself was ten. My first novel was really for her, but then it became so much more for me.

I began to uncover or recover my creative side… through words. I deal in words all the time. I preach sermons, I write posts, emails newsletters, dabbled in blogging back in the day. But these words were different. A story and a world and characters emerged from nowhere, and over time, I began caring deeply for these completely imaginary people and places. Del Ryder, Crimson, Sam, Phil, Guy, Emma, Kita, Mr. Thicket, and the Land of Azdia — I miss you.

How did that caring for the imaginary and the joy of writing sneak up on me like that? Recovering creativity through writing fiction surprised me, almost as much as some of the plot twists even as I was the one writing them!

And yes, now, that first novel, Del Ryder and the Crystal Seed, is ten years old, published on June 20, 2015.

I always say it is a perfect book for 8 to 12 year olds and then adults. There’s not enough angst for the teenage crowd. It is an adventure story full of wonder that will make you feel like a kid again if you aren’t one already. At the core of this story is hope—hope that good will prevail in the end. So if you need a hopeful, fun, adventure story right now, this might be for you!

That first novel kicked off a four-book series and a prequel novella, though when I first started writing I had no clue it would go there. Last year, I put together a hardcover edition with the whole series in it, plus a map and a commissioned illustration and new cover. It was such a fun project to do!

And here we are celebrating this 10 year book birthday!

So On to the Gifts and Prizes!

Prize #1

One person can win the Hardcover Edition of Del Ryder: The Complete Series (You will not have to pay shipping, as long as you live in Canada, USA, or UK)

This is a premium book, which usually sells for $59 CAD + shipping, which is not cheap because this 800+ page beauty might be “light reading” it’s actual weight is… um… weighty.

Prize #2

One person can win a paperback of the book that I’m celebrating — Del Ryder and the Crystal Seed (ships to Canada, USA, or UK)

How to Win a Prize

Entering to win is super simple and your odds are really good because my readers, though encouraging often letting me know their delight in and love for the story, are… well… small in number. But, I really wanted to celebrate this milestone with something fun for a reader or a potential new reader out there.

Here’s all you need to do… Leave a comment or share this post. That’s it. Super easy. (Note - this is going across a few platforms).

Your comment can be as easy as “congrats!”

Then, I’ll pick two people at random (one for each prize) and I’ll be in touch!

Note: If you win, I will gladly send your book to a friend if you want to give it to someone you know.

You said something about Gifts?

Yes. Well, sort of. I wish I could just give a book to everyone who wants one. So, the next best thing is a major sale. I have my own store where every Del Ryder title is currently on sale (eBooks and Physical books), and the Hardcover Edition is only available there.

So, if you don’t win… check out the store for the best prices you can find!

Happy birthday Del Ryder!