Month: July 2019

26 Days!

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment

// EXCERPT // 
Dumphey crouched down beside Betin. He swiped his clammy hands on his jerkin, not able to shake the thought that he knew something more than he realized. “He trained you to take his place.” He didn’t doubt it as he watched Betin grip the dagger again. Its blade flew expertly over the staff, creating angles that didn’t make sense to Dumphey, but seemed to please Betin. “Betin, are you out for revenge?”     
Betin’s freckled face pulled tight in concentration as he ran his fingers over the wood he had just shaped. His movement was quick and sure. Finally, he spoke. “Not revenge. Vengeance is of the Lord.” He paused again and took a deep breath. “Oh, how I wanted to. That eve when he hung. Every part of my being wanted to rush forward and kill Barat and the others. But such are not the ways of the Lord.”

“Why are you here, then?” Dumphey asked.       

“Every man has a choice. He can choose blindness concerning the evil that surrounds him, or he can choose to make a difference. I am determined to be the latter man—to fight for justice in this land. I just need to be patient until I can. Until I can do all in my power against Feroci.”

27 Days!

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment

“Befriending the Beast” was dedicated to one of my friends, Aimee. 

“The Secret Slipper” was dedicated to my grandparents. 

“Protecting the Poor” is dedicated to my Uncle Reuben and Aunt Iris…

You have become my third set of grandparents. I cannot with words express how much your lives have impacted mine with your love for God, the church, and your family. I know that you love me like one of your own, and I cherish all of the memories I’ve made with you. Thank you, especially, for supporting me in my writing and always asking when the next book is coming out.

28 Days!

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment

Have you read any of the “original” Robin Hood stories? I had to read at least one, and I settled on Howard Pyle’s. 

// REVIEW // 
My review is a bit torn between two. Robin Hood in this retelling was nothing but a rogue and restless fellow. There was no King Richard for whom he was fighting behind the sheriff’s back. Instead, he was just at odds with the sheriff and the sheriff could not overcome him or his men. So, there really wasn’t much noble in Robin’s character here. That, I really couldn’t admire.     

On the flip side, the humor in this was hysterical. I had several laughing aloud moments. I can appreciate good wit, and the merry men surely had it. Of course, as with any wit, it did go too far at times.     

There was a heavy theme of drinking throughout the pages. The only form of Christianity would be the priests who cares more for their purse than their parishes (which was to be a revealing of hypocrisy). There was next to no romance (sorry, no maid Marion in this book, besides her name being mentioned once). It’s possible that the songs they sung could have had some questionable content, but I’ll be honest and confess that I skipped over the poetry, so I don’t know what they contain.    

A good way to think of this book is as a collection of short tales of Robin Hood, as the flow wasn’t exactly novel-type.      

The adventures were a mix of fun and some with which I could not approve (they just lacked the integrity and nobility that I have seen in Robin in other retellings). I could revisit some of the stories and cannot say I wish I hadn’t read it.

29 Days!

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment

// Excerpt //

Life in Abtshire had always been unfair, Feroci punishing the commoners at his own whims, caring nothing for the limitations of the aged or young. When he had hauled Zuzene away, Dumphey had been a small lad, Noel only a babe. There was nothing he could do for his grandmother. He had grown up, adjusted to life with Zuzene in the dungeon, never fully understanding why she was there or why Feroci never released her. She avoided his questions on the matter, so he submitted to the fact that he could do nothing about it. ’Twasn’t what he liked, but he had grown complacent, calloused to the cries of men and women falling under Feroci’s rule. Until Lia.

30 days!

Published on by Amanda Tero2 Comments
A month until release day! Wow, how could it have come so quickly?! And yet… it has almost seemed like it has taken forever, because I’ve been waiting SO long to share Dumphey’s story with everyone! In the next thirty days, it is my goal to bore everyone out with quotes and tidbits from Dumphey’s and Noel’s story to where you have to know the ending (after all, it’s likely someone could die…). 😉 
JK… I’ll try not to bore you out. Just whet the appetite. 

Announcing… Wedding Score!

Published on by Amanda Tero5 Comments
Most girls dream of their wedding days. Except me. I’m too busy practicing piano to be the live soundtrack for everyone else’s weddings to think about my own. I’ve survived most of my twenties with harmonious chords and pleasant days. So why is it that now, at twenty-seven, a discordant feeling presents itself? Is there a solid solution to loneliness when there is absolutely no potential husband on the horizon?

I am beyond excited to announce a new project: “Wedding Score.” When a writer writes, they put a little of themselves in each story. I did with the entire Tales of Faith series. With other short stories I’ve written. But nothing comes from the depths of my heart like this one. Pianist? Yep. Single? Check. Struggling with contentment? Been there, done that. I have yearned to write this story since 2016, but the timing was never right. Today, the timing is right.

After having four siblings and countless cousins and friends marry, there have been so many lessons God has taught me in the singleness journey. Yet, if you look at bookshelves, you really don’t find many stories about that. They’re about finding the one true love. Falling in love. But what about staying content when there really isn’t hope on the horizon? When you really don’t know what the future holds–staying single or getting married? What then? This is the message I explore in my upcoming novella and I look forward to sharing it with the world in October, Lord willing!


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Adding Angst | Blot Tour Stop at Faith Blum Author

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment

Ever read a book where you are just as torn apart as the character? Yeah. That’s what angst is.

 In “The Secret Slipper,” the biggest lesson I learned was about upping the stakes—intensifying the angst. I want my readers to feel it with my characters. But I usually fall flat in my first attempt (courtesy of my personal lack of emotion) and have to edit to add it. For me, it’s an ever-learning process of upping angst.     

Join me today over at Faith’s blog for my thoughts on adding angst to your story.




It’s modern… it’s musical… it’s… a new project!

Published on by Amanda Tero4 Comments
*ahem*

I have another new project going on right now.

Yeah. Not the Horseback Librarian project. That one is in the hands of some alpha readers, so progress is slow on that story right now. And, I mean, I had to write something… right…?

Right now I’m working on… well, I’ll just leak out what I’ve leaked out on social media (so if you follow me, you already know this ;)). Each day this past week, I’ve given a new clue for what the new project is all about.


Day 1 – Modern
There’s a new project on my desk and I’m super excited to share it with you!!! Keep a lookout each day this week for clues about it. I’ve had a few people guess that I’m writing another historical fiction—wrong! This time, I’m going modern! 😄 And it has been FUN!!! Tomorrow I’ll share a little more.



Day 2 – Pianist
For the first time, I am writing about one of the things I know best: piano! So, we have a modern story where the MC is a pianist and a piano teacher. I have loved throwing musical elements into my writing! What’s a musician-based book you’ve read?

Day 3 – Short Story
So… I may have already spilled this bit of info, but my new project is a short story! I think… if ten chapters and about 12k words can still be categorized a short story? If may be breathing on the neck of novella. What do you think? Is 12k a short story or novella?

Day 4 – First Person
I haven’t written in first person POV since “Letters from a Scatter-Brained Sister” (which was one of the first publishable short stories I wrote). Modern fiction just couples well with first person. And I love the style it helps me have—whimsical, humorous, and casual. Which point of view do you like to read? First or third?

Day 5 – Stephanie
And we have a name! The modern pianist maybe-short-story (maybe novella?) written in first person is about Stephanie—or Steph, as her friends call her. She’s a single 27-year old who lives on her own about thirty minutes from the main hubbub of the city, teaches piano, and is a pianist. Anything more might be spoilers…

Day 6 – Contentment
The theme of Stephanie’s story is contentment. Psalm 37 is a powerful backbone to the message of contentment for her. What are some verses that speak to you about contentment?

Day 7 – Caiden
“I shook my head as I grinned. If we weren’t cousins, I would have definitely had a crush on him when I was a teen. Short-cropped dark hair, a slight grunge instead of a full-fledged beard—well, that wasn’t there as a teen—and a well-built frame that boasted of Caiden’s diligence to the gym.”

Next up…
I’m sharing the title and cover soon! Keep your eyes peeled!!