Pens Pages & Pulses

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Cover Reveal: The Garden of Lost Things multi author series

Enter fantastical worlds and hunt for lost treasures in The Garden of Lost Things! I have the extraordinary privilege of participating in this series along with some of my absolute favorite authors and close friends!!!! The series The Lost Wish: An Aladdin Retelling by Courtney Ranger (yours truly) — https://amzn.to/4wiisq9 The Lost Island: An Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves Retelling by Megan…

Cover Reveal: The Garden of Lost Things multi author series

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A new favorite AuthorTube channel?

Recently, writing has not been the easiest for me. I find myself doing just about anything to avoid it. Which, considering that I have a book releasing in a month (have I even talked about that on here) is probably not a good sign. A week or two back, I found a YouTube video that brought me to tears. It was about wondering if God still wants you to be a writer. Funnily enough, I’d been talking…

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Trigger warnings: ruining literature one list at a time

*sighs* yes, I know I’m going to make a few people upset at me, and I’m trying to steel myself for the fallout, but I still felt that this was important to share. Recently, I have seen several posts and commentaries about trigger warnings on social media that I have found deeply troubling. They made me ponder on some of the… concerns I have with the expectation some readers seem to espouse about…

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Book Review + Giveaway: Harlow Morgan and the Sky City

About the Book Book: Harlow Morgan and the Sky City Author: Lyndsey Lewellen Genre: Middle Grade Steampunk Fantasy Release Date: November 15, 2025 Harlow Morgan: airship pilot, trouble magnet, possibly glowing. Airship pilot-in-training, Harlow Morgan is a wiz in the sky—but her father’s disappointment on the ground. In the steam-powered nation of Corshire, where science reigns and magic…

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Book Review: Falling for the Huntsman by Leialoha Humpherys

He’s the evil queen’s huntsman. She’s the witch from Hansel and Gretel. Blurb Two villains. One shipwreck. A queen’s betrayal that could ruin them all. Alaric, the infamous huntsman who once saved Princess Sereth, has built a brutal whaling empire without her crown or favor. Feared, powerful, and as untouchable as the sea, he’s the kind of man no one crosses. But when a mysterious ambush…

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Taking writing lessons from a perpetually inebriated pirate

I’ve been struggling with writer’s block lately. Like I’ve been seeing some of my closest friends make extraordinary progress on their WIPs while I’m sitting staring at a blank page, feeling like everything I write will be garbage or worthy of a sale. I want to write a bestseller. Something readers will love and tell other readers about. Something that will have an impact. Something that will be…

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Cover Reveal: A Lie to Rend by Courtney Ranger

Yes, you read that right. It’s my turn to have a cover reveal!!!!!!!!!! And it is just about the prettiest thing I have EVER SEEN in my whole life! First things first let me share a little bit about A Lie to Rend! A Lie to Rend is a fantasy retelling of Thumbelina with Christian themes and no animal characters (besides an adorable hunting dog). It is the first book in my series Redeeming the…

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Join my cover reveal team!

In May, I will be releasing the first book in my first fantasy fairy tale retelling series. The book is called A Lie to Rend from my series Redeeming the Throne. I would like my cover to make a big splash on its cover reveal day, and I could really use your help. I would be so honored if you would consider joining my cover reveal team. All that would be expected is to share the cover reveal on…

Join my cover reveal team!

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We need more Mary Davises in fiction

One of my favorite book series of all times is the Love Comes Softly series by Janette Oke. It is a story featuring a frontier family as they learn to grow closer to each other and God. They experience love, joy, heartbreak. In my opinion, this series is one of the most powerful pieces of fiction ever written. Marty Davis is the protagonist of five (I’m pretty sure) of the books and is the…

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Some sad news...

I have some sad news to share with you.  I had planned to publish a story in an anthology in collaboration with Beyond the Bookery. Unfortunately, I was unable to finish my story as planned and will not have a story included in the anthology.  I would like to thank everyone for your love and support of me and my writing. I hope you will still give this anthology a read. Madisyn Carlin and…

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AI is going to steal my books, but I can't care about it

Or at least I shouldn’t care about it too much. I keep hearing of new ways AI is encroaching into everything I use. Google Docs, my email, Microsoft Word, Amazon… it feels inescapable. The further AI sinks its ugly, sharp claws into everything, it becomes harder and harder and harder to keep it from stealing the precious words I’ve written. And let me make myself clear, as the copyright holder…

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A Christmas story about grief and loss?

In my recent release, In Thy Tender Care, I felt compelled to write a Christmas story that dealt with some heavier themes than you might expect for a Christmas romance, and I did it intentionally. A few years back, I experienced a difficult Christmas. I had experienced a loss, and I didn’t know how to cope. I remember the horrible feeling of sobbing into my pillows while I could hear the joyful…

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Book Review + Giveaway: Love on the Horizon by Penny Zeller

About the Book Book: Love on the Horizon Author: Penny Zeller Genre: Christian Historical Romance Release Date: October 28, 2025 Will she find a fresh start in Horizon? Magnolia “Mags” Davenport has not had an easy life. When the opportunity arises for her to move halfway across the country from Chicago to Horizon, will she get the new beginning her heart craves? Four things of importance…

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ARC reading wasn't supposed to change me...

I remember the first time I heard of the concept of ARC reading. I was in fifth grade. An author came to do a book signing and presentation at my elementary school. In passing she mentioned that, as an author, she gets lots of books from other authors in the mail. A new reason for me to want to become an author was cemented in my head. Instantly, my ten-year-old brain conjured up images of the…

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Book review + giveaway: Dueling Hearts by Vickie McDonough

About the Book Book: Dueling Hearts Author: Vickie McDonough Genre: Christian Historical Romance Release Date: November 11, 2025 She blames him for her brother’s death, and he’s determined to make amends. But as family secrets and forbidden longing pull them closer, they must choose between pride and the chance to heal. Carina Zimmer has spent years hating the Bishops for destroying her…

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Book review: THORN by Madisyn Carlin

This book was INCREDIBLE!!!! First of all Lyndon is the most preciousest baby ever!!! He’s SO SWEET, and I’m SO GLAD Madi *FINALLY* gave him his story (I’m PRAYING Ward will be next….). Felice was also SUCH a sweet FMC. Her struggles felt real and relatable, and that girl needs some HUGS. The funniest scenes in this book were all because of the racoon. The raccoon ALSO needs her(?) own book.…

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Book review + Giveaway: Maggie and the Maverick by Erica Vetsch

About the book Book: Maggie and the Maverick Author: Erica Vetsch Genre: Christian Historical  Romance Release Date: October 13, 2025 A jaded lady marshal and a stage driver with a past—bound by duty, tested by lies, and drawn to a love that could change everything. A wary lady marshal and a reformed stage driver—entangled by secrets, shadowed by danger, and tempted by a love neither dared…

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