tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post6711335490466712175..comments2024-03-23T02:45:17.058-04:00Comments on Tales of Goldstone Wood: Interview Feature: Rachel Starr ThomsonAnne Elisabeth Stenglhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09462605949792523331noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-77903957552801718802013-12-02T12:20:04.592-05:002013-12-02T12:20:04.592-05:00That's a great question! It's actually har...That's a great question! It's actually hard for me to answer because I read in pretty much all genres. The only ones I don't touch, as a rule, are horror and romance. But I do like some books that are sorta kinda classified as horror--"The Resurrection" by Mike Duran and "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," to give a contemporary and classic example--and I like stories with romance, just not romances. My two favourites of the latter are both by George MacDonald: "The Highlander's Last Song" and "The Shepherd's Castle" (original titles "What's Mine's Mine" and "Donal Grant.")Rachel Starr Thomsonhttp://www.rachelstarrthomson.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-53228122286249343512013-11-30T15:49:15.235-05:002013-11-30T15:49:15.235-05:00Are there any books you like even though you don&#...Are there any books you like even though you don't normally read the genre?8Galadrielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03121966867701210958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-52380325987310001462013-11-27T11:42:26.844-05:002013-11-27T11:42:26.844-05:00Rachel,
Thanks! That is really cool. I definitely...Rachel,<br /><br />Thanks! That is really cool. I definitely agree. I have also been seeing, more so than ever, how vital unity within the body of Christ is!<br />It's wonderful you're writing books about that. May God inspire more words! :)<br /><br />-ShantelleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-52285507293197174892013-11-26T17:21:29.098-05:002013-11-26T17:21:29.098-05:00Hey Shantelle!
Thanks, I hope you check them out!...Hey Shantelle!<br /><br />Thanks, I hope you check them out! The body of Christ is really important to me, and in recent years I've really seen how significant unity is--in helping each other grow and in standing against the enemy. I've also seen the negative side; what happens when people who should love one another and act in loyalty turn on each other instead. That's what inspired the books to begin with. Since then they've taken on a life of their own, and if you're looking for allegorical(ish) connections, you'll find a lot here about topics like spiritual warfare, forgiveness, prayer, and identity.Rachel Starr Thomsonhttp://www.rachelstarrthomson.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-53486740500626537272013-11-26T15:47:58.008-05:002013-11-26T15:47:58.008-05:00Hmmm... your books sound very intriguing, Rachel. ...Hmmm... your books sound very intriguing, Rachel. I think I might just have to read them! :)<br />Can you tell me some about what inspired you to write this series? Christian fantasy/allegories are amazing, and they all have a different touch to them! <br /><br />Thanks! -ShantelleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-13082347062495916422013-11-26T15:33:00.300-05:002013-11-26T15:33:00.300-05:00You're very welcome, Meredith! Thank YOU for t...You're very welcome, Meredith! Thank YOU for the great discussion. Like I said, I ended using this concept again in RENEGADE. Our God is amazing, truly beyond what we can put into words or even really conceive of in thought. Stories like these from the Scripture are amazing glimpses into the reality of who He is.Rachel Starr Thomsonhttp://www.rachelstarrthomson.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-5372318996231833062013-11-26T14:49:24.688-05:002013-11-26T14:49:24.688-05:00Oh, thank you for the Scripture references. We...Oh, thank you for the Scripture references. We've actually been studying about the construction of the Tabernacle and the Israelites journeying from Egypt in my congregation's Bible study. Your thoughts make sense, and I remember when the Israelites first reached Mount Sinai. Boundaries had to be erected, for God's presence was indeed a consuming fire which they could not safely approach. Moses was their mediator, and I think the Scriptures even describe how his appearance changed after meeting God face-to-face. I think we often forget how utterly pure God is, that He dwells in inapproachable light. Only He made it possible for us to come to Him, because we couldn't do it ourselves. Amazing!<br /><br />God bless you.Meredithnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-52530657343110141462013-11-26T12:46:41.049-05:002013-11-26T12:46:41.049-05:00Thanks, Elisabeth--and it's fun to see you her...Thanks, Elisabeth--and it's fun to see you here! Your comments about EXILE were so encouraging.<br /><br />On the NEO screen, I have the type set slightly smaller than the default, so I can see about six lines at a time--a paragraph or so. You can scroll up to see more. It's definitely clunkier than a computer screen, and I do miss that, but in a way even that keeps me moving forward rather than constantly doubling back. I wrote the first three Oneness books almost exclusively on the NEO; at this point, I have pushed through the block enough that I can write on the laptop to some degree again. But I go back to the NEO anytime I get really stuck.Rachel Starr Thomsonhttp://www.rachelstarrthomson.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-32733470353556795722013-11-25T22:46:59.671-05:002013-11-25T22:46:59.671-05:00I find the idea of a digital typewriter fascinatin...I find the idea of a digital typewriter fascinating, Rachel, and can see how the lack of internet would be a big asset for the writer's blocked. I'm curious: Can you move back and forth in the text to see what you've already written? I'm thinking I'd miss the ability to move around chunks of text: Can you do that? <br /><br />Mostly, though, I'm impressed and inspired by your determination to push through writer's block...and having read <i>Exile</i>, I'm grateful you did!Elisabethhttp://www.elisabethadams.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-34952910649277996502013-11-25T19:02:12.785-05:002013-11-25T19:02:12.785-05:00CajunHuntress (cool name), you definitely have to ...CajunHuntress (cool name), you definitely have to read these in order. Every book builds off the last one and it will be hard to keep track of who's who if you jump in the middle. Great question!<br /><br />Bethany, thanks for commenting!<br /><br />Meredith, I love your take on that. I hadn't thought about it in that context, but that Scripture does connect. The particular Scriptures that inspired this thought (and which actually come into play in RENEGADE too) are a number of verses during the Exodus era. Israel was walking very close to God at that time--his presence was literally in their midst. And a strange thing happens when the people fall into sin: fire will break out in the camp (or, in some cases, disease). For me those verses called to mind the statement in Hebrews that our God is a consuming fire, and I realized how dangerous God can actually be to those who are not clean before him. So that inspired the "exile from Eden" concept you'll find woven into the Seventh World Trilogy.Rachel Starr Thomsonhttp://www.rachelstarrthomson.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-31168348615870786402013-11-25T18:58:20.734-05:002013-11-25T18:58:20.734-05:00Anne Elisabeth, thank you so much for having me on...Anne Elisabeth, thank you so much for having me on here! I enjoyed the interview and am excited about the questions too :).<br /><br />So here we go ...<br /><br />Allison: to be honest, my biggest motivation is that I WANT to write. I want to be able to write more, and more easily, and to do it as a career. And that will never happen if I don't press through. As far as techniques go, two things have really helped: One is that I stopped trying to write on my laptop (which is my editing machine, primarily) and started using an AlphaSmart NEO, which besides having no Internet access, is dedicated to writing. The other is that I committed to just writing one sentence at a time. I can't plan out a story right now--that's where my biggest block is--but I can write one if I just keep letting one sentence lead to the next.<br /><br />Laura, I'm honoured that you're interested outside your genre! I'm calling these contemporary fantasy. Paranormal works too.<br /><br />Molly, thank you! My covers are created by Mercy Hope; the people on the covers are models, but we got the pictures from stock photography sites. You can connect with Mercy (and my e-book formatter, Carolyn Currey) here: http://yourbookonline.wordpress.com<br /><br />Ryebrynn: thanks, I'm glad you think so! I don't have a favourite book other than the Bible. I like so many and for many different reasons. But I'll take this opportunity to promote one of my favourite modern authors: Jeffrey Overstreet writes beautiful fantasy with gorgeous prose and deep meaning. Check out his AURALIA THREAD.<br /><br />Anon: Thanks! I hope you enjoy COMING DAY as well :).Rachel Starr Thomsonhttp://www.rachelstarrthomson.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-14726246203160895072013-11-25T18:03:50.759-05:002013-11-25T18:03:50.759-05:00Congratulations, Ms. Thompson. Your books sound f...Congratulations, Ms. Thompson. Your books sound fantastic!<br />I love your thoughts on Eden and that God exiled Himself from Adam and Eve's presence so as not to destroy them. That is such a beautiful picture of His love and purity. Do you have a specific verse of Scripture that you base this theory upon? It makes sense to me in light of Jesus' question on the cross: "My God, why have you forsaken me"? God the Father exiled Himself from His son since He cannot stand in the presence of our sins. Thus, when Jesus bore our sins, the Father had to leave Him. Hope this makes sense.<br /><br />God bless you.Meredithnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-53725798485145899922013-11-25T16:05:13.450-05:002013-11-25T16:05:13.450-05:00I always get excited to see new fantasy fiction wr...I always get excited to see new fantasy fiction writers! Bethanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06789059980825996281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-20198382331518329922013-11-25T15:07:40.776-05:002013-11-25T15:07:40.776-05:00So is your Oneness series written so you have to r...So is your Oneness series written so you have to read start to finish, like the Harvest Series by Tessa Afshar? Or is it more like Anne Elisabeth's where each story is kind of separate from the next, and are mixed up chronologically and focusing on different sets of characters? Domhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09496614689049191013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-53087949604021467862013-11-25T13:34:24.845-05:002013-11-25T13:34:24.845-05:00I really liked your first trilogy although I'v...I really liked your first trilogy although I've yet to get to the third. I'll be checking into these! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-8901433711644748702013-11-25T13:31:26.926-05:002013-11-25T13:31:26.926-05:00Wow! These books sound really good!
If you don...Wow! These books sound really good! <br />If you don't mind me asking, Miss Thomson, what is you favorite book? Why is that book your favorite?<br /><br />-RyebrynnRyebrynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03849670168099288393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-89954013046142077702013-11-25T13:08:54.159-05:002013-11-25T13:08:54.159-05:00I'm adding these to my book list! Do you hire ...I'm adding these to my book list! Do you hire someone to create your book covers? Are those people models? Mollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14814840750991556084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-11425658953825975522013-11-25T12:57:15.501-05:002013-11-25T12:57:15.501-05:00Wow this book sounds outside my usual genre that I...Wow this book sounds outside my usual genre that I read, but I am very interested in reading this! Fascinating how theology was your inspiration! What would you categorize the series as in genres? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-1143522315629839902013-11-25T07:43:17.766-05:002013-11-25T07:43:17.766-05:00How do you find the motivation to keep writing thr...How do you find the motivation to keep writing through writer's block? Do you have any techniques to help you overcome it?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06401287896327956210noreply@blogger.com