Secrets Kept is Released!

I am tickled to pieced to present Secrets Kept by J.L. Mbewe.

NOTE: be sure to scroll down and enter for a chance to win a lot of wonderful prizes! Including a signed copy of Secrets Kept.

Jennette is a friend, colleague, and an amazing woman!  We sat down and visited about this exciting release of her first full-length Novel. Here's what we said:





Jennette, Welcome to my porch!  I am so excited about this book. I loved the story and I cannot wait for the sequel. But enough about me. Tell me: I think Christian Fiction writers always have an amazing God moment or two when they write their stories. Did you have one? What was it?

It’s been going on 10 years since I started seriously writing and my memory isn’t want it used to be. Ha! But what comes to mind is the day I was reading through the parable of the talents. The one where they are supposed to do something with what they received from their master, and God asked me, what are you doing with what I gave you? And I was like, what did you give me? And the word writing popped into my mind, literally, I could see it. So I set out to write. Who knows where this will go, but I am writing. ;-)

What inspired you to write Secrets Kept?

My spiritual journey. When I started out, having no clue about the industry, I desired to create an allegory of how truth can set us free, but not obvious like Pilgrim’s Progress or Hind’s Feet on High Places. Yeah, that didn’t last long. I abandoned the idea of allegory after the second rewrite as the characters took on more life than chess pieces and the real story began to unfold. 

Are any of your characters based on a real person? Can you tell us who?

None of my characters are based on real people. Sorry to disappoint!

How much and what sources did you use for your research to get the time period right.

After I got the rough draft done, I spent a lot of time surfing the web and borrowing books from the library researching ancient history up through the 1600’s to get an idea of what life might be like during those times, but then I branched out from there. And I probably spent way too much time thinking about the lay of the land and how that would influence weather patterns. I did buy a Lord of the Ring’s Weapon and Warfare book. J

The made-up language seemed authentic, what was your secret to creating that?

Oh, I don’t know if I can reveal that yet. ;-)

What are your hobbies, other interests besides writing?

Hmmm…parenting? I love playing board games/cards, etc., with friends. I love being creative whether it’s painting, drawing, sewing, cooking, baking, etc. I love outdoorsy type activities. I love collecting rocks, and it shows. You should see my kitchen! Oh, and reading!

Can you tell us something interesting about you that most people do not know?

Um…hmmm… I have swords? Or is that just expected? Sorry, I’ve got nothing!

LOL, Jennette, I think having swords is unusual, but then again, who knows. I think you are an amazing woman, writer, and a wonderful mom and wife. Thank you so much for taking the time to share with me and my friends about this exciting season in your life. I love it that God asked you to articulate your stewardship and you stepped up and delivered!  Not everybody is so courageous! I pray many, many successes with this book and all the others that will follow!

Thank you so much for inviting me to your blog! 

Of course!  Jennette, you are welcome on my porch any time!!!

Secrets Kept

by J.L. Mbewe

With a curse, she will build an army.
With the dagger, she will undo the last sacrifice.
But first the sorceress must find the secret keeper.

Torn from her homeland and thrust into a betrothal against her wishes, Ayianna learns her family has a deadly secret that now has her on the run. She joins forces with Kael, an embittered half-elf, and Saeed, an elderly High Guardian, to seek answers to her father’s death, the destruction of Dagmar, and the plains people’s bizarre behavior.

Ayianna discovers there is more at stake here than just her mother’s disappearance and her familial duty to her betrothed. The sorceress has cursed the plains people, and it is a race against time to release them before the sorceress resurrects an ancient evil.

Find it at Amazon and Goodsreads.

More from J.L. Mbewe!  Here are three short stories which are related to Secrets Kept. Really good reads, I might add! 

Welcome to the World of Nälu!

The Tales.

 

 Can a desert princess find love with a foreign king?

Johari lives in the shadow of her beautiful sister until a foreign king notices her, but in her haste to prove herself worthy of affection she finds herself compromised and on a difficult journey to make things right.

Find it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, and Goodsread

 

What if all you knew had been a lie?

The teaching of the Guardians has guided Semine's footsteps since her infancy. When her mentor shows up with information contrary to what she's been taught, she doubts her decision to follow in their footsteps. She must decide if there is life beyond what she has always known or embrace a new, mysterious path and reject the Guardians' legacy.

 Find it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords

To what lengths would you go to save the world?

Elothryn keeps the darkest secret of Nälu: The cursed dagger of Raemoja. A weapon powerful enough to release the greatest evil from the underworld. For generations, his family has lived without incident until now. The hunters have his scent and will stop at nothing to reclaim the dagger. Elothryn and his son flee, seeking help, but will they find it?

Find it on Amazon and Smashwords

Coming soon: All three Tales of Nälu in paperback!



Author: Jennette Mbewe

Writing as J. L. Mbewe, Jennette is an author, artist, mother, wife, but not always in that order. Born and raised in Minnesota, she now braves the heat of Texas, but pines for the Northern Lights and the lakes of home every autumn. She loves trying to capture the abstract and make it concrete. She has two short stories published in The Clockwork Dragon anthology, and is busily creating worlds inhabited by all sorts of fantasy creatures and characters, all questing about and discovering true love amid lots of peril. Her debut novel Secrets Kept and her short stories set in the world of Nälu: Desert Rose, Dragon Thief, and Indestructible are now available. She is currently living her second childhood with a wonderful husband and two precious children who don’t seem to mind her eclectic collections of rocks, shells, and books, among other things. For more information about her journey as a writer mama and all things creative please visit her at http://www.jlmbewe.com/

You are going to want to keep an eye on this author. Here's how:

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Follow this Blog tour all this week:

October 16^th

J. L. Mbewe: Release Day Kick-Off

The Writer’s Window: Meet the Characters Part 1

Sitting on the Porch with Lynn: Interview

In Darkness, There is Light: Excerpt

October 17^th

The Wonderings of One Person: Meet the Villains

Lightly Salted: Guest Post

Aaron DeMott: Excerpt

Writing without Compromise, Clare Davidson: Top Ten favorite YA novels

October 18^th

J. L. Mbewe: Top Secret Project Reveal

Anne Elisabeth Stengl: Meet the Characters part 2

Emerald Barnes’ Dreaming Awake Blog: Interview

Pauline Creeden: Dream Cast

Sheila Hollinghead’s Rise, Write, Shine: Review of Dragon Thief

Welcome Jennette Mbewe and Secrets Kept

Today I would like to welcome an author I enjoy reading and knowing, Jennette Mbewe. She is here today as a guest post to promote her book Secrets Kept.

Be sure to enter the giveaway at the bottom. Jennette Mbewe and I are two of three authors of The Clockwork Dragon and we are giving a paperback with all three authors' signature, or you could win an e-copy of Jennette's short story, Desert Rose.

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With a curse, she will build an army. With the dagger, she will undo the last sacrifice. But first the sorceress must find the secret keeper.

Torn from her homeland and thrust into a betrothal against her wishes, Ayianna learns her family has a deadly secret that now has her on the run. She joins forces with Kael, an embittered half-elf, and Saeed, an elderly High Guardian, to seek answers to her father's death, the destruction of Dagmar, and the plains people's bizarre behavior.
Ayianna discovers there is more at stake here than just her mother's disappearance and her familial duty to her betrothed. The sorceress has cursed the plains people, and it is a race against time to release them before the sorceress resurrects an ancient evil.

****

I have asked Jennette to share with us how God has been a part of this journey in publishing Secrets Kept.

Welcome Jennette.

First I want to thank Lynn Donovan for participating in the cover reveal yesterday and for allowing me to share with you all my journey today. J

About ten years ago, I was reading through the parable of the talents. The one with the master, the three servants and a bag of talents. Leaving on a trip, the master entrusted his servants with the talents, and upon his return asked: What did you do with what I gave you?

I felt that God was asking me the same. What are you doing with what I gave you? And I was like…um…what did you give me? What talent, gift, skill have you given me? I think I had been so busy looking at everyone else and their talents that I overlooked what God had given me. Writing. It wasn’t like I heard an audible voice or saw a burning bush, the word “writing” just popped into my head. So I sat down to write a book. I had no clue where to start. I knew I wanted to write an allegory. A kind of Pilgrim's Progress meets Lord of the Rings. Yeah. That idea kind of disintegrated, but we won't go there. Ha!

So, I had point A, point G and point Z of my story, but had no clue about the rest, but my husband told me to just sit down and write. And write I did. The basic story in its most roughest of forms poured from my mind and my fingers flew across the keyboard to keep up. Sometimes I'm thankful I was so naïve and hadn't had to deal with the inner editor yet.

In the next couple of years I rewrote and edited that book hundreds of times. Every time I got close to thinking I was done, I learned something new about writing fiction and had to rewrite it all over again. I researched the internet, read books on writing and tried to apply what I had learned. Each time there was always something new. I felt like I was plowing dirt with my head and not getting very far, very fast. But slowly, it started coming together, taking shape. Life was breathed into the characters, and the World of Nälu was becoming more real.

"If you don't find a career using this talent, it would be a sin!"

The journey had its ups and downs, and during the dark moments, I would find something that kept confirming what I was doing. Small things like coming across a box of childhood things, memories I had completely forgotten about. The little construction paper books I wrote and illustrated as an eight year old, sure I'd be an author one day. A short story that won first place in middle school, and a high school English paper the teacher wrote on, "If you don't find a career using this talent, it would be a sin!"

All of it, I had forgotten about, and now here I am, in the middle of living my dream. My first novel will be released this fall, and let me tell you, once the ball starts rolling, it ROLLS! Yikes! But it's all good. I can't wait to share with you all The World of Nälu, and all the adventures to be had there.

****

 

Thank you Jennette. This is an awesome story. I think you have been a good and faithful servant with the talents God has given you. I love the note from your teacher. Thank God for people like this whom I believe He intentionally puts in our path for such a time as this!!  :) I pray God's continued favor upon your publication. It's worth repeating: I love this story and I know other's will too. 

 

Soon, I'll post my review of Secrets Kept. In the mean time, but sure to put it on your TBR list.

Stalker info for Jennette:
Facebook
Pinterest
Twitter
Her Blog Living Life Balanced Between Reality and Dreams

 

Jennette's Bio:

Writing as J. L. Mbewe, Jennette is an author, artist, mother, wife, but not always in that order. Born and raised in Minnesota, she now braves the heat of Texas, but pines for the Northern Lights and the lakes of home every autumn. She loves trying to capture the abstract and make it concrete.
She is currently living her second childhood with a wonderful husband and two precious children who don't seem to mind her eclectic collections of rocks, shells, and books, among other things.
While living life balanced between reality and dreams, she is creating worlds inhabited by all sorts of fantasy creatures and characters, all questing about and discovering true love amid lots of peril.
Her debut novel is coming this fall, and in the meantime be on the look out this summer for short stories set in the World of Nälu.




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Cover Reveal - Secrets Kept, by Jennette Mbewe

With a curse, she will build an army.

With the dagger, she will undo the last sacrifice.

But first the sorceress must find the secret keeper.

Ayianna discovers there is more at stake here than just her mother's disappearance and her familial duty to her betrothed. The sorceress has cursed the plains people, and it is a race against time to release them before the sorceress resurrects an ancient evil.
Torn from her homeland and thrust into a betrothal against her wishes, Ayianna learns her family has a deadly secret that now has her on the run. She joins forces with Kael, an embittered half-elf, and Saeed, an elderly High Guardian, to seek answers to her father's death, the destruction of Dagmar, and the plains people's bizarre behavior.







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Check out AltWitPress.com for more publications by JL Mbewe and other Christian authors