Wild Geese Flying + Plenilune Cover Reveal

#dailyjoyfulness
"All men--all peoples--rise in the east like the sun, and follow the sun westward. That is as sure as night follows day, and no more to be checked and turned again than the wild geese in their autumn flighting."
- The Lantern Bearers, Rosemary Sutcliff

Though through the wind-blown passage of time, like the wild geese flying away in the sky, acute moments of pleasure, and joy as well as grief and sadness grow more dim and vague over time, and yet there is a whole host of memories to treasure and soak up as well. I have always longed to be a recorder of such memories, through little gleams and iridescent scratchings of my pen, halting though they may be. And though I am not able to always write up such memories faithfully as they happen, I should like to share them by and by on Fullness of Joy with you all. So here are a few things, a few updates, both happy and sorrowful. Yet all filled with the Lord's comfort and strength! 

Last week, my grandma (Dad's mum) passed away, after many years of illness and suffering. Dad, Mum, and my sisters and I will miss her so much! But now she's with the Lord Jesus in rest, in His Arms of healing and joy, and be with Him is far better, and that gives joy to us as a family in the sadness of her passing; and trusting that one day, we'll see her in Heaven is something we look forward to very much. The Lord is indeed a wonderful Comforter! Also, it has been really touching, with the encouragement He has given to us through the support and condolences of sweet friends. Thank you all, very much! 

For a more happy memory, back in July of this year, our family went on a three-week trip to England, staying over in London, Oxford and Cambridge throughout the course of our stay; it was such a memorable, rich and joyful time and I can't wait to share with you on my blog soon more about what we did while we were there, along with a load of photos! It might take a while to write and upload the photos though, as my computer is rather slow-loading, and also I am quite pressed for time these days with lots of school-work and such. But anyway, without exacting any promises, I shall definitely try to come up with a few stories and photos of our time in Britain for you to enjoy :).

And on a totally random note - I have started driving. 
permission to freak out on my behalf given.

Also, I am trying to stay calm trying to finish some twenty-something PACE's before the end of November; enjoying perfecting my violin pieces into great pieces of music while pressing on with E melodic minor scales and fine tuning octaves and thirds; still scrubbing pans; furthermore I'm thinking of participating in NaNoWriMo again this year as "a certain glee has overtaken me to write", you know? I have just finished the first three "Love Comes Softly" books by Janette Oke, which I enjoyed surprisingly well. Now I am reading "The Moral Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ" by J. G. Ballet, "All Creatures Great and Small" by James Herriot, and "Lantern Bearers" by Rosemary Sutcliff.

Speaking of books, I have something rather special to share with you all today. Ever since I first met her and her sister Abigail through their blogs, Jennifer Freitag-- or Jenny as her friends mostly love to call her-- author of the historical novel, The Shadow Things, has had a great influence on me as a writer over the past few years, and in the way she's inspired me (as well as many other young writers) to view words and stories, faith and literature in a totally rich and meaningful way. I'd be fibbing to say I've always agreed with her point-of-view on some points, but the stuff I have learnt from her on the art and glory of stories and a faith-inspired worldview that colours one's tales with glory and beauty has far outweighed those points, I can tell you! To Jenny, I owe her my love of Rosemary Sutcliff (who has become a favourite historical-fiction author), Anne Elisabeth Stengl's Tales of Goldstone Wood series (which is a favourite modern fantasy series for me), and a growing interest in ancient legends and mythology (born initially from Tolkien and Lewis' stories). I can well remember the lengthy comments I used to leave on her Penslayer blog asking her about the topic of faith in fantasy, and the element of magic in myths and fairy-stories. Some of the things Jenny would share helped me grasp the difference between "recapturing the wonder" of life in a way that brings back glory to God, versus a twisted pagan form of sorcery and worshiping the created rather than the creator in modern fantasy stories. Another thing that I have learnt, though not exclusively, from Jenny was through her encouragement that I should read and educate myself in reading different books of  philosophy and history; ignorance is rarely a virtue! I think what I have most enjoyed and learnt though in knowing Jenny has been through her own writings, and seeing through snippets of her own novels "in-the-making" how she puts to practice those things, and writes with a rare golden pen and blaze of flaming colour stories of battle, legend, glory, suffering, blood, crowns and faith. For a long time, we readers of The Penslayer blog have been reading glimpses of her "planetary fantasy" books with bated breath, eager for the actual, whole live thing. . . 

And now, finally, we can all get this chance! Plenilune, the first in her planetary fantasy series is coming out on the 20th of October, and today we actually get to see the cover-reveal! 
I actually really love this cover - it is both intriguing and pleasing to the eye and while mythological and grim-of-face with the flames and helm on the woman's head, I have to say that I appreciate that the cover is not overly dark or improper. I would have been disappointed if it was; instead it captures something of the ancient legends in the woman's upright stance, in the shield by her, and the flowing leaf-branch on her shoulder that makes me want to read this book so much. And to match this wonderful cover, here is what Plenilune seems to be about. . . 
The fate of Plenilune hangs on the election of the Overlord, for which Rupert de la Mare and his brother are the only contenders, but when Rupert’s unwilling bride-to-be uncovers his plot to murder his brother, the conflict explodes into civil war.

To assure the minds of the lord-electors of Plenilune that he has some capacity for humanity, Rupert de la Mare has been asked to woo and win a lady before he can become the Overlord, and he will do it—even if he has to kidnap her.
En route to Naples to catch a suitor, Margaret Coventry was not expecting a suitor to catch her.
I am definitely looking forward to owning and reading Jennifer Freitag's novel, Plenilune, come the release date - if the reviews are anything to go by, it will be well-worth being penslayed yet again by Mrs. Freitag!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
JENNIFER FREITAG lives with her husband in a house they call Clickitting, with their two cats Minnow and Aquila, and their own fox kit due to be born in early December.  Jennifer writes in no particular genre because she never learned how, she is make of sparks like Boys of Blur, and if she could grasp the elements, she would bend them like lightning.  Until then, she sets words on fire.
Living with her must be excruciating
Plenilune
by Jennifer Freitag
October 20tth


Stay tuned for an interview with Jennifer Freitag on Fullness of Joy on the 9th of October! 

Comments

  1. My condolences on the loss of your dear grandmother! Even knowing a loved one is in heaven is still hard for those of us still living here. But also knowing that you've made the choice to join them someday in the same Place definitely gives us something to look forward to, right? I love this quote from C.S. Lewis: "The fact that our heart yearn for something Earth can't supply is proof that Heaven must be our Home."

    Wow! England?? Europe?? Okay, I'm jealous. ;D Yes yes yes, photos, please!

    The cover for Plenilune is AMAZING!! Not what I was expecting and yet absolutely perfect. It is fascinating, intriguing, and definitely draws one in.

    Have a blessed week!
    Sarah
    sarah-plainandaverage.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you so much for your sweet words of condolences, Sarah! Oh yes, it is very hard, even when you know a loved one has gone on Home to be with the Lord, to miss them and know you will never see them on earth again. Makes you indeed long for Heaven all the more, just like C. S. Lewis points out in this beautiful quote!! Thank you :).

      Ah, well, it was only England and not any more of Europe, alas. Also the three weeks there allowed only such a glimpse of Great Britain as could be seen through our time in London, Oxford and Cambridge. But it was beautiful and just so amazing!

      Oh yes, I will be posting the photos of England soon, Lord-willing, as soon as I get back from my NaNo online break in November :).

      I really appreciate your sweet comment, Sarah. It was so sweet of you!
      Blessings,
      - Joy

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  2. So you read the first "Love come Softly" books. *squeals* I adore those books... but you already knew that... ;) =D

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    1. *grins with her dear Emily friend* YES! I LOVED THEM!!!! I need to read the rest of the series now! And yes, I do know how much you love those books *laughs*

      Love you, dear Emily!! <3

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  3. How lovely to read your post, Joy! Driving is most exciting, and do enjoy the journey. :D 'Tis a wonderful privilege, and opens up all sort of opportunities--driving sisters places, running to the library, Christmas shopping, etc.

    I heartily second the requests for pictures from your trip to England. They would be wonderful to see. Oh, and you're doing NaNo! I am a wee bit envious, as I probably won't be able to do it this year. Do have a lovely time, and I will pray for your goals. Slow uploading pictures are a wonderful thing to do while writing. :D I do that often myself--just set them going, and then pull up the story and away we go!

    And your recommendation of Jenny's book was lovely. There is nothing like a good friend to give a glowing recommendation, and you have certainly done so here.

    God bless!
    Schuyler

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    1. Schuyler! Here I am at last. :) I do hope you forgive me for my tardiness in responding here :p.

      Aw, thank you for your sweet, encouraging comment. First off, I am very much excited as well to start driving! While trying to overcome my terror that the car actually moves with me behind the wheel, and while learning not to stress and clamp down so hard on the steering wheel, it is actually a fun experience. So blessed to have a great driving teacher, and yes, that is precisely my motivation for learning as well: To help my family, and prepare me for when if I have to start driving to uni :p.

      Photos of our time in England will shortly be uploaded to both Google+ (for photos with us in it) and on blog for the stories of our time in England, don't worry :). As soon as I am back from my blogging break! I am very excited about sharing that special time with you all, in fact. *sighs fondly at the wonderfulness of the trip*

      If I should say the total truth, I am technically not really doing NaNo. The break is helping me reach my goals for my studies, mostly! But I have written a few hundred words, which is something, isn't it? :) I bet you are writing more than me, without NaNo :D.

      Thank you, Schuyler. I *was* a little nervous writing this recommendation, just because I haven't read Plenilune yet. Nonetheless, Jenny has been a powerful inspiration to me personally, and I loved her work with The Shadow Things. I guessed a recommendation for Jenny as a writer was the best I could personally do to publicize her novel, before I had actually read it.

      I can't wait to write a jolly big recommendation for you and your novel once you publish "War of Loyalties"! ^_^

      God bless!

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