NADINE BRANDES once spent four days as a sea cook in the name of book research. She is the author of the award-winning ROMANOV, FAWKES, and the Out of Time Series. Her inner fangirl perks up at the mention of soul-talk, Quidditch, bookstagram, and Oreos. When she's not busy writing novels about bold living, she's adventuring through Middle Earth or taste-testing a new chai. She and her Auror husband are building a Tiny House on wheels with their Halfling children. Current mission: paint the world in shalom.

Exodus: Gods and Kings — BellyFlop

When the movie Noah came out, there was an uproar. Blog posts left and right, commands to go see it, commands to stay away, and more offensive and defensive action than in a football game. Thus, when the next Bible-based major motion picture released — Exodus: Gods and Kings — we were all… Continue reading

Official Title for Book Two and Sneak Peek!

As promised on last week’s blog post, here’s the official title of book two! I draw all my titles from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. We’ve had some great guesses, but only a few people guessed correctly. So, without further ado, book two will be called… I wrestled with this title for a… Continue reading

Death Reigns. . .No More – Guest Post by Gillian Bronte Adams

How do fantasy books tie in with Easter? Well, I’m pleased to introduce to you my fellow Enclave author, Gillian Bronte Adams who is celebrating the release of her new book, Out of Darkness Rising. She shares how the plot of her story is very similar to the world of death we… Continue reading

Writing Update: Can You Guess the Title of Book Two?

Today I’m having a Facebook party to announce the title of book two! About the party: The party is a relaxed get together on Facebook to both celebrate the six-month anniversary of A Time to Die and to announced the title of the second book in the Out of Time Series. There will be giveaways,… Continue reading

Another Cinderella Story. . .And Why I Loved It

For some reason, the Cinderella story is the fairytale redone most often. It can be easily disguised in the time period of your choice, leaping over boundaries between realistic or fantasy. And it’s gripping every time. Frankly, Cinderella’s never been my go-to fairytale. I’m more of a Beauty and the… Continue reading

Adventuring Author: Dogsledding

I live in the type of place where I can post on Facebook, “Anyone have dogsledding connections? I need it for book research,” and the next day I get a message from a friend saying, “I can get you a ride!” (Al, you’re the best!) I know, I’m spoiled. So yesterday… Continue reading

“There’s Nothing Godly About Patriotism”

A professor once told me this to my face. “There’s nothing Godly about patriotism.” Now, you have to understand that I was raised by a mom who was born Canadian. She fell in love with the morals upon which America was built and finally, after a lot of work and studying,… Continue reading

4 Types of Novelists — Which One Are You?

Are you a plot-first novelist or a character-first novelist? When I started off as a writer, these were the only two options presented to me. I was informed that spec-fic authors are usually plot first, so that’s what I labeled myself as. Yet…it never really fit. For some reason, I never… Continue reading