Instagram Giveaway for Of Hope and Honor!

Of Hope and Honor 

is one month old today! 

To celebrate the 1-month release anniversary, 

I am doing a paperback giveaway

for Of Hope and Honor

on Instagram.

Want a chance to win a paperback

copy?

Find all the rules on Instagram

at 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DW5tpjvjfGU/

The entry period runs from April 9, 2026 12:00 pm CDT

to April 13, 2026 11:59 pm CDT.

Michelle Emmanuelli ~ Author Interview

 Today, I'm thrilled to introduce you to 

Michelle Emmanuelli,

author of several upcoming releases 

including Of Might and Mettle.

1) Who is your favorite comfort read author? 

I’m very much a mood reader (even from week to week), so I would say a “comfort read”, to me, is feeling comfortable knowing what to expect of a book from an author I trust. I have quite a few authors that would fall into this category, and I really love Madisyn Carlin’s books. Each one is so different, but I love that I already know they’re going to be snarky, full of action, and heartfelt (and usually include some hilarious animal companion). 

2) What do you most like about this genre that you are writing in?   

I really enjoy the lighthearted, cozy aspects of fairytale retellings. Some of them can be really action-packed and tense, but for my current series, The Toymaker’s Chronicles, I love how a fairytale world can feel so fun and inviting while also promising an adventure!

3) What one book would you recommend that everyone read? 

This is not a fiction book, but one nonfiction book that completely changed my perspective is Every Woman’s Battle by Shannon Ethridge. I read it about five years ago, and I make a habit of reading it every couple of years. It’s pretty convicting, and I recommend it for younger single women especially.

4) Who is your favorite character in your book/story? 

My favorite character in Of Might and Mettle has to be the troublesome wolf pup, Peluche. This three-pawed menace gets himself into all sorts of mischief, and there’s a few running jokes throughout the book that directly involve this cuddly creature. 

Fun fact: “Peluche” is a Spanish word meaning “plushie”, “teddy bear”, or “stuffy” (it depends slightly based on context), and there’s more fun Spanish flair in Mettle where that came from! 

5) Is there a specific line or scene from (Of Might and Mettle) that you feel directed the entire story in a specific direction? That is, if it were not in the story, everything would have changed?

Ah, there’s quite a few! But I do have a particular favorite that encapsulates rather well the main themes of the book:  

“You are porcelain,” he said, “but not fragile. Beautiful in outward appearance and strong throughout. And wherever you are weak, mija, be happy. God’s strength is made perfect in our weaknesses.” 

Of Hope and Honor ~ Release Day

 I'm thrilled that Of Hope and Honor

is celebrating its Book Birthday!

That's right, one of the stories that I have been

working on for the last year is finally here! 

Here is a little bit about the three stories that my fellow authors and I had so much fun bringing to life.

Rémy and the Rats by M.K. Minnick
A town beset by a plague of rats. A young man, struggling to make his way in the world. A surprising inheritance that might offer the solution to both. But when Rémy is double-crossed by Saint-Thaddée’s treacherous mayor, he will have to choose between forgiveness and vengeance—either giving up on his dreams, or reaching out to take them by force. Will he take matters into his own hands, or rest in a Hope worth trusting?

Water's Gift by Meagan Myhren-Bennett (me)
When Princess Aveline’s brothers are lost seeking the legendary Water of Life, she joins forces with Prince Arthyr, who seeks the healing water for his father. United by shared loss and guided by their faith, they brave a perilous path into the Alundras Mountains, where obedience means survival and trust is imperative. To save their families, they must trust the Master to guide their steps as their shared quest draws them together.

Beneath Sand and Stars by Kelsie Engen
Princess Coral, fourth in line to Tepor’s throne, refuses to be claimed as a prize in a royal marriage race and flees into the desert, knowing capture means death. Disguised as a servant in a northern palace, she finds hard-won freedom, purpose, and an unexpected connection with a kind prince. But when a Fae-ordained test and a deadly plague threaten to expose her, Coral must choose between hiding in safety—or facing the truth.

I totally fell in love with Aveline and Arthyr, 

and can't wait for you to enjoy their story. 

I retold the fairy tale The Water of Life for this story

and did a mashup with another fairy tale also

titled The Water of Life. There were similarities in both--three brothers

and a quest to find and bring back some of this healing water.

But the reasons for bringing it back differed in both tales.

It was fun weaving these two tales together while

making the story my own.

Author Interview with Katherine Weda

 Today, I'm thrilled to share with you, my recent interview with Katherine Weda, one of the authors in the upcoming book Love & Loyalty.

Who is your favorite comfort read author?

Gosh, this is a hard one, but I'll try to give a straightforward answer. I love Joy Jenkins, who is the author of a contemporary novel, A Secret Service, along with the companion series, Open Case File, which is comprised of three one-shot collections following the characters from her novel. I have read A Secret Service at least once a year since purchasing it back in 2022. Joy and her characters never get old, and I hope she writes more someday.

Who, past or present, is one author you would like to mentor you?

Madisyn Carlin is an author I would love to have mentor me. She is an author who has written so many amazing, wonderful non-magical Christian fantasy novels and novellas and I wish I could pick her brain for how she delivers such complex and gripping stories that keep readers turning pages without the magic.

If you could have a cup of tea with anyone, who would it be?

I would love to have a cup of tea with a number of people, including three well-known British authors, but I think what I would enjoy most is sitting down with both sets of grandparents (3/4 have passed on now) and talk to them about what life was like as they were growing up. 

Who is your favorite character in your novella?

Do I have to pick just one? Fine, I'd have to say I enjoyed writing Malakai's character, even though I relate to Esther. I don't know how to explain it, I just really enjoyed writing Malakai's perspective scenes, and seeing things unfold from his point of view. Again, I do relate to different aspects of Esther and Malakai's characters, as both represent parts of me, Malakai is just, somehow, more relatable.

What is a favorite part of writing your novella?

My favorite part is including pieces that link back to the original fairy tale. I have, of course, taken liberties in this retelling, such as the fact that Malakai is not the crown prince (as he is often portrayed) and the fact that Esther's father is still alive (whereas he is dead before or dies soon after the start of the story in the original and many retellings). 

Also, I really enjoyed working with sibling bonds/dynamics, especially since I have a younger brother and wanted to portray an active sibling relationship (whereas other works in progress don't have such strong of a sibling element). I am giving a disclaimer now: any and all interactions between the royal children are inspired by but not directly copied from, my own interactions with my brother. 

Is there a specific line or scene from Project Dance that you feel pointed the entire story in a specific direction?

Without giving too much away, I think that the scene between Malakai and his brother, Adam, right before the first ball, is very powerful and after I added it, I went back to earlier chapters and tweaked some things to make it even more meaningful.  

What one question would you like to be asked, and how would you answer it?

I would love to be asked "what's next?" by my readers, since I have so many ideas yelling at me for attention that it's hard to keep track.  

The funny thing is, when I thought up Esther and Malakai's story, I didn't intend for there to be more in this world…but then I met a whole cast of characters along the way and began to learn their stories, several of which we begin to see hints of in this novella. School is, at the moment, my priority, but I am already hard at work plotting and brainstorming the next book(s). 

I'm keeping most of it under wraps for now, but my newsletter subscribers will be the first to know any updates. However, one thing I can share is that almost all of the books I have planned in the Kingdoms of Havengard have at least one main character introduced in my Love & Loyalty novella. 

Thank you, Katherine, for taking time to let us get to know you. I know I'm looking forward to reading Love & Loyalty. If anyone wants to preorder the book you can find it at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F9S4975F

Want to keep up on Katherine Weda? You can connect with her online at the following links.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author.k.weda/

Newsletter Signup: https://author-katherine-weda.kit.com/a7455e0a4e

2026 is Here and Bookish News!

 Hope everyone had a lovely holiday.
I have submitted my story, Water's Gift, which you will be able to
enjoy in March 2026.

I can't wait for you to read my retelling of
The Water of Life, 
which will be published in 
Of Hope and Honor.

Preorder the ebook for only $2.99
(Now on sale for 50 % off)

https://us.amazon.com/dp/B0F9S7NT5B/

Tropes Of Hope and Honor

Do you love clean, no-spice fairytale retellings? Our fantasy fairytale anthology, Of Hope and Honor, comes out March 10, 2026, from Beyond the Bookery! Here’s a sneak peek of some tropes in the three novellas in the anthology!

Water’s Gift by Meagan Myhren-Bennett (@bloomingwbooks )

Beneath Sand and Stars by Kelsie Engen (@kelsieengen )

Rémy and the Rats by M. K. Minnick (@mkminnickbooks )

Which trope are you most excited about?

You can preorder the eBook for 50% off the regular price at
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0F9S7NT5B

Guess the Fairy Tale Retelling ~ Of Hope and Honor

 

These Lying Dreams ~ Review

These Lying Dreams: A 1920s Sleeping Beauty Retelling

The Rose Heist Tales: Prequel

By Emma Donovan

Welcome to Bite-Sized Books! A quick read that delighted my senses. I loved the hints at Sleeping Beauty and the Gothic-vibes the story gave off. Not super scary just a tantalizing whisper that passes through, like a glimpse of something out of the side of one's eye.

Evelina Fairchild hears something that troubles her, but fearing that she will not be believed, sends a letter to her solicitor. Not-so-long story short, the solicitor sends David Peregrine in his place. But things just seem off to David, so he decides to nosy about to figure things out.

Soon, he discovers just how dangerous this crumbling estate really is. I loved this book and hope for more from this new-to-me author. This was a clean read that offered just enough mystery to keep my attention while providing a story short enough to be enjoyed in one sitting.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

A mysterious letter brought David Peregrine to the home of a reclusive client, former concert pianist Evelina Fairchild. But once he arrives, Evelina has only lies to tell, and her home seems less a refuge than a prison.

The more he investigates, the deeper he's drawn into a web of illusions, secrets, and madness. If he can't sort the truth from the lies soon, more than one life might be lost.