Trinity...Best War Dog Around!

                I know that this blog is supposed to be about my adventure as a new writer, but part of that journey includes doing a lot of reading and studying of incredibly talented writers.  Especially since my next project is a military one!  SO, that being said, bear with me while I tell you about an amazing new book I read today.

                As most of you know I am a sucker when it comes to three things: one, suspense, two: animals, and three: the military, so it was completely logical I would find Trinity fascinating.  Ronie Kendig is a military brat who has an amazing gift for writing military suspense without dumbing down the danger and tactics involved with active duty.  I was a touch skeptical beginning the series after my favorite character (I will refrain from naming names so I won’t spoil) was killed in the conclusion of her first series, but I was willing to give it a try.  The new series is entitled A Breed Apart.  It is all about the brave and loyal Military War Dawgs and their amazing handlers. 

                The first book is about a beautiful Belgian Malinois (not to be confused with a German Shepard) named Trinity and her handler Heath.  After a tragic ambush following bad Intel Green Beret Heath is left with a TBI (tragic Brain Injury) and suddenly unfit for duty.  Suddenly left without purpose and a job Heath is desperate to find meaning in his life and faith.  Left only with his loyal best friend Trinity, who was deemed excess after Heaths discharge, an old friend gives him what the Army won’t; a second chance.  Armed with a new team Heath returns to Afghanistan to boost the morale of the troops he left behind.

                Don’t be fooled, this is no safe tale and his new mission is far from boring.  From the moment his boots hit the ground in Bagram (which was interesting to see incorporated after all Daddy’s stories of the base) nothing goes as planned.  The TBI causes dreadful headaches and occasional blackouts making Heath not only a former soldier, but a liability to the men he fought alongside only a short year ago.  Heath and Trinity meet a beautiful “surveyor” who steals their hearts.  Though the two have only known each other a couple of days this is where the story hits full throttle. 

                What began as a noncombatant tour quickly turns into a search and rescue mission pushing Trinity and Heath to their limit to save the woman who has wormed her way into his heart.  This story is nonstop action, adventure, and intrigue.  Armed with numerous plot twists of espionage and unclear loyalties between nations (including evil Russians!), don’t expect to put this one down until it is finished. 

However, as thrilling as the tale is and gripping as the action proves perhaps the most compelling aspect of the book is the characters themselves, especially Heath. Everyone comes to a point when they question their path.  They yearn to discover their purpose.  Maybe this hit a little close to home for me as I lay awake night after night praying to find God’s purpose for me.  While at least Heath knew originally what his purpose was, when that is ripped away in a moment, he’s stuck and searching.  He aches to find something fulfilling to accomplish.  A new mission.  However, at every step fear tightens its grip and pride tangles his feet.  Torn between returning to the job he loves and putting the men he respects and considers brothers at risk, he must choose to put his faith in creator who promises to have his back.  With Trinity in tow, Heath must put his faith in action.  Kendig doesn’t sugar coat his struggle or water it down to a more manageable dose, it is raw and relatable.  His journey is not an easy one or one paved with happiness, but then again God never promised it would be.  If anyone tells you growing up and finding your way is easy they are lying and Kendig masterfully inspires normal, average readers that with God all things are possible through her story of a broken soldier and his loyal partner.  She reminds us all just as Trinity saved Heath, God always has a bead on us and always has our back.

                Trinity is a heartwarming story that reminds you that with God all things are possible even if you don’t think you have the strength to carry on.  In short, go out NOW and buy it, read it, and take the lesson to heart.  Kendig is an amazing writer I can only hope one day to emulate.

And A Little Launch...

It has been a little while since my party, but as you can imagine life has been a whirlwind since.  However, since my out of state friends were unavailable to attend I wanted to let everyone know how amazing the night was. 
First of all, how was I late to my own party?  I say I needed to make an entrance.  Yes, that is my story and I am sticking to it.  I even had to do my makeup in the car so as to not be too terribly late.  I have never been one to really worry about what to wear to an event.  I am a jeans, shirt, and chucks/cowboy boots kinda princess, but for this event I was in overdrive trying to find the perfect dress!  Don't worry, I found one! It was great and very unRachel. 

I digress.  It was heart melting to arrive and see all my friends and several of my teens waiting to help celebrate the release of my book.  (I think some of them were only there for the cupcakes, but I will take what I can get.)  Those who had already purchased my book brought it to be signed.  It was the weirdest feeling actually signing books that had MY name on the cover.  Talk about unreal!  My teens decided that we needed to kick the party off with some Cupid Shuffle.  I have mad skill and it was time to put it on display.  While only my teens participated I loved sitting back and watching them have fun with one another being their own weird selves, which ultimatly is the point of my book! 
To end the night I had one last surprise up my sleeve.  CONFETTI GUNS!! Umm...yes! They were supposed to be one time use, but my girls proved the label wrong and we were provided with several minutes of entertainment and everyone got in on it!

The night was not all about me, I also wanted to thank each of the people who helped make all of it possible.  My Mom: she has always been there for me, no matter what.  Through teachers who I swear have a shot at the antichrist gig, through the world ending middle school years, and the focused domino years of high school.  She has been there through college and the tough process of becoming an adult.  Always there with encouragement and love.  And my Dad: who brings logic and perspective to every hairbrained idea and dream.  Who realistically kept pushing when I told him I wanted to write and his answer was "then do it." He too has gone through a lot of change the last couple of years and as he has tried to figure it out, he has shown me that as long as we keep God as our focus it will always work out. We just have to stay faithful.  He never made me doubt I was his princess and will be forever.  Then came my 2 best friends. Heather has had to deal with a lot from me over the years.  For crying out loud the girl lived with me for 4 years!  She's great, if I text at 2 am she is there with whatever I need.  She always provides a distraction when needed and a prode when I get behind.  And Samantha who is my rock without even knowing it.  She is a great listener and always knows exactly what to say.  I have amazing backup I hope one day I can share and support them in some new endeavor.

As the night came to a close I couldn't help feel like Rapunzel (yes I am making a Tangled referrence).  As she sat in the boat with Eugene she suddenly realizes all her dreams are about to come true.  In a second the excitement is replaced with fear.  What now?  It's then Eugene tells her you find a new dream.  My dream has just come true, so what's next for me?  Go bigger!  I found out I need to sell 500 books by November to be considered successful, so my dream? Hit that goal and know that 500 girls are being reminded they are loved by a great and merciful Lord who always sees them as princesses!

It's official!

Maybe Walt Disney had it right, "it's fun to do the impossible."  Now I may not be building a franchise or world of my own, but for me getting a book published seemed pretty impossible not too terribly long ago.  I was that geeky little kid who sat in the back of the classroom and sped through her work so that I could pull out my latest book and escape the classroom and enter a world or intrigue, or fantasy, or another country.  I always dreamed one day I would have a story of my own to share with others.  Who would think this could actually happen? 
If nothing else this process has taught me more than I could have ever imagined.  I have learned patience.  This process has taken almost a year and has hit numerous speed bumps and yet it is happening!  I have also learned that there is nothing a ton of prayer and good backup can solve.  Every step of the process has been bathed in prayer.  My friends have been behind me every step of the way, celebrating the victories and reminding me to stay strong in the trials.  However, can I just go ahead and say that nothing can prepare you for the moment you come home from a dreadful day of work and finding a box from your publisher on your doorstep.  Talk about taking my breath away!
Inside the box was my dreams breaking through the night and finding their way into the light! My name in print! A story I am passionate about and one a cannot wait to share. 
In the process of a year the story has changed a bit for me.  What started out as a story reminding my kids they are important and chosen has also taken another tone.  A young lady that went to school with some of them committed suicide after being bullied.  Bullying has become a MAJOR issue especially with the middle schoolers.  While bullying is wrong, it saddens me that these kids believe the horrible things they are told.  This story reminds them God loves them and they are made by a saviour who loves them. 
So, in conclusion, never give up on your dreams.  With God anything is possible.  If Disney can be trusted "if you can dream it, you can do it."  If this is the case, this adventure has only but begun for me.  My dreams get much bigger from here.  Wait for it, world here I come!

One Step Closer

Oh my goodness! Any obstacle you could imagine I assure you I have had to overcome in the completion of this book, from illustration fun, to misplaced paperwork, to simple misunderstandings.  It is crazy how difficult this process has been and how many gray hairs I am sure you can now find on my 25 year old head! However, it has been completly worth it.  Today I got the first reassurance that this is what I have dreamed of.  I received my cover! There it was in my email begging to be opened and shared with the world.  The first thing I noticed was my name in print right next to my dear Abby I have come to love over the last year! 
I appreciate all the support and patience that you have all shown in this process and know I couldn't have gotten this far without you all!  I am so anxious to have you all read it and love Abby like I do.  So for those who have been with me from the start of this crazy adventure and for those who are just stumbling across this new chapter of my life, here is a peek at the front cover of No Ordinary Princess!

Also, it's not to late to enter the No Ordinary Princess contest, details are listed in the previous post.  The bracelets are in and they are AWESOME, just putting that out there.  As always be sure to check out my website for other updates and to see all the Extraordinary Princesses in our lives! 

Contest!!! Contest!!!

So, as most of you know we are at the critical stress/excitement stage of the unveiling of my FIRST book!! I want to first say Thank you to everyone who has helped make this a reality! I never would have guessed in my wildest dreams I would actually see my name in print let alone telling a story that weighed so heavily on my heart.  Thank you for prebuying it, sharing the links with your friends, and just always being there to encourage me when I was ready to give up (who knew accomplishing your dreams could be so hard?). 
As a contest/thank you I need your help once again.  No Ordinary Princess is about a young girl who isn't your ideal princess, she doesn't wear dresses, she isn't popular, she isn't perfect, but as Abby will learn God uses us all in special and unique ways.  As a christian girl we are all princesses.  Our father is the King of Kings! Not only should we be proud of this, but we should tell everyone! So, here's is where you come in.  Whether you have bought your book for you, or your daughter, sister, granddaughter, whomever find a picture that declares to the world you/she is a princess! Share them on the facebook fan page.  Include a caption explaining why it shows a princess and what makes your princess extraordinary!  I am going to pick my favorites (ie all of them that are appropriate) to post on my official website at www.rachelnjohnson.com for the world to see as we count down the release!  Here I'll start!

This is me and my mom.  My mom is not only the prettiest princess I know, but she has shown me what it means to be a Godly woman and role model.  She may irritate me and annoy, but she means well and I do love her.  She has a heart of gold and she is my extraordinary princess!

I can't wait to hear from all of you.  Here's the best part, not only will your picture be posted as described, but you will also get an official No Ordinary Princess bracelet to be shipped with your book if you ordered from me or message me your address and I will get it to you!  Let's brag and show off our princesses!  God makes no mistakes and he has called us all! Let's proclaim it!!

My First Blog EVER!

As I am sure you are all aware by this point I am in the middle of a CRAZY adventure!  I won't bore you with the details of how I have gotten to this point, but I will tell you where I am at, so here we go!
Life is full of these life moments where you remember where you were, what you were doing, and who you were with.  Moments that change your world forever.  Your first boyfriend, first kiss, where you were when the towers in NY fell, you get the drift.  I haven't had many of those moments, the day I got saved, and when I got into the University of Georgia, but this Saturday was one of those moments.  With one of my best friends in the passenger seat I took off East to Savannah. 
For any of you who have made the drive from Athens to Savannah you understand the drive was uneventful, but we had a great day in the historical city.  First we met with Samantha's brother, sister-in-law and the cutest pirate in training ever for lunch at the Pirate's House! I would love to say I found my prince charming and we are going to live happily ever after, but Sam stole my pirates heart! He held a gun to her head and taught her the lingo, I was a little jealous, but she did look hot in the pirate 'stache!
No trip to Savannah is complete without a trip to River Street or at least the sweet stores on River Street! Is it bad most of money was spent on candy?  We also went to the Cupcake Emporium, anything Emporium has to be amazing and this was! Banana cupcake with chocolate icing mmmm....just saying, try it!
All this was to lead up to my life changing moment.  I met my illustrator, Jessie Hill, at Leopold's!  All of a sudden a normal day turned into a dream come true.  Ever since I was a very little girl I have wanted to write.  I've had these pictures of characters in my head dying for their stories to be told and now as I sat with a classic video camera in front of me and a jukebox to my right, it was happening.  It was like the first step for my dreams to come true in a place devoted to showcasing one man's adventure in making movies! When Jessie opened that folder and I saw my Abby looking at me, I had to remember this was real (the dripping peppermint ice cream helped a little).  All of a sudden my dreams were a reality! They had seeped into reality!  This is happening!

Now the next step of photography and copyrighting begins, with all your help this book is on its way! So much of my heart is in this story, when they say you learn more about the author than the character it's very true! I can't wait to share this tale with all of you who have made this possible! God is good all the time, and all the time God is good!  Here is a sneak peek of what is to come: