How to Support an Author Without Paying a Cent

 

Some Christian authors in Australia are selling tons of books and are able to write full-time for a living. BUT NEWSFLASH! Most of us aren't. In fact, a lot of Christian authors in Australia only sell a few hundred copies of their book or less. 

If you're traditionally published, you would typically get about 10% of the royalties, though contracts do of course vary. So if your book retails for $20, you might get $2 per book. You don't have to be a maths genius to work out that you need to sell a lot to make much. 

And in case you think the publisher is 'sitting pretty' on all the profits, they are only getting a small percentage as well because they're the ones who've paid for all of the editing, cover design, layout, distribution and so on. They have to sell a lot of copies to recoup their costs before they even start earning anything on your book. 

If you've indie-published, you get to keep the profits. YAY! But you may have spent thousands to produce the book in the first place, so you also have to sell a lot to get back the money you've invested. 

This might sound grim, but it's not all about money. Presumably, you've written your book because you feel God has given you a message that He wants you to share. However, that's difficult if it's not actually getting into the hands of readers.

The most obvious thing you can do to support an author is to buy their book. However, there is a cost-of-living crisis in Australia at the moment and a lot of people simply can't afford to buy extras such as books. But never fear! There are a number of ways you can support an author and help raise the profile of their books without spending a cent.

Order Books For Your Library

As part of the Australian Lending Right Schemes, eligible authors can receive some compensation when their books are being borrowed from libraries. However, their book has to make it into the library first, and that's where you come in. Libraries have budgets for new books and they are looking for suggestions, so why not request some? 

Check with your library first, as they would have a system in place for doing that. For example, my local library has an online form you can fill out for requests and they allow you to have three requests in at a time. They won't always purchase a book you request because it has to meet certain criteria and be something they think other readers would also like. Sometimes, they will get an inter-library loan for you instead of purchasing the book. However, you never know until you ask. I've successfully requested dozens of books for my local library over the years. Why not give it a try?

Once the book is in the library, other readers can discover it and read it. If they like it, they might request more books from that author or purchase books from that author. Win-win!

And if you've finished reading a book you own, think about donating it to your church library or a local neighbourhood library or street library. You never know who might be touched by it.

Write a Review

Consider writing reviews of the books you read and put them on sites such as Goodreads, Koorong, and Amazon. Reviews can help to increase the visibility of books on those sites so that readers can find books they might like. Remember these types of reviews are for readers. You don't need special qualifications. Just say what you liked or didn't like about the book. A review can be any length, but you can do a really good one in just four sentences:

• First sentence - What is the genre or what is the book about?
• Second sentence - What specifically did you like?
• Third sentence - Was there anything you didn't like or that didn't grab you?
• Fourth sentence - Something positive to end on, such as your overall impression or your suggestion regarding the type of person who might like this book.

Did you know that if you put a review on the Koorong site, you get points towards their reward scheme? So for every dollar you spend and every review you submit, you accumulate points towards a voucher. I think it's only available for Australian citizens, so check the details. Also, check the guidelines for the particular sites you use. Amazon has quite a strict set of guidelines and you have to have spent a certain amount in the last year to be eligible to review an item. Goodreads is often a good place to start as it's very reader friendly. 

If you want to write a review for every book you've ever read, then go for it. However, most of us have limits to our time and energy. Think of the books you've read recently, and maybe start by writing a review for someone who doesn't have many other reviews or ratings on the site. The author who already has 2000 reviews really doesn't need you to write another one for them. The person who only has two reviews could really use your help. Unless of course you hate their book and your poor rating will negatively impact their overall ranking. This can create a conundrum. There may be something about the book that you want to warn others about. However, if it's just not your cup of tea, maybe think about whether you really need to put that review up. There's nothing wrong with constructive criticism. In fact, it can even give more credence to your review. However, don't nitpick either.

It goes without saying that your review should be your own honest opinions. I've made a decision not to put up a negative review for authors I know personally. If I can't honestly give their book at least four stars, I don't review it at all. But everyone has to make their own decision about this. Don't give a five-star review if you didn't like the book, or worse if you haven't even read it. If you think people wouldn't do that, I saw a five-star review once in which the reviewer said something like, 'I haven't read this book yet, but I know I'll love it.' Please don't do that.

For any of the sites, you would need to include a disclaimer if you have received a book for free. For example, 'I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher for the purposes of review, but these opinions are my own'. Sites like Amazon don't allow you to review a book if you've had anything to do with its production (e.g., publisher or editor), but check specific guidelines.

I hope I haven't made this sound too complicated. The main thing to know is that reviews help, especially if the author doesn't have many of them. Your review doesn't need to be long, but be specific and honest, and maybe pick up some bonus points from Koorong in the process.

Engage with Social Media

We live in the age of social media--Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), Threads, Goodreads, TikTok, YouTube and no doubt many more that people my age have never heard of. I don't claim to be an expert on social media, but I do know there are these mysterious things called algorithms that determine who sees your posts. You might have 500 friends on Facebook, but your post will only appear towards the top of the newsfeed for some of them. If you have an author business page, it can be even worse, especially if you post an external link to a blog post, event or newsletter; or if you use any key words like 'giveaway', 'sale', 'competition', 'book launch', and so on. 

The algorithms seem to have tightened up over the last few years. I understand that social media platforms are not charities and that it costs them money to keep them going. But it can be tough if you're a struggling author and just want to let people know that you have a new blog post out.

I don't pretend to understand how all of these algorithms work, but one thing all of these platforms want is engagement. Once people start liking your posts, commenting on them or sharing them, then more people will end up seeing them. So you can help an author by doing all of those things. Not only does it increase the likelihood of their post being seen, but it's also encouraging. I'm sure many of us can think of times when we've put a lot of effort into a blog post, but no one comments. Those little bits of encouragement can help us to keep going when the going gets tough. 

Sign Up for Author Newletters

As the algorithms on social media have gotten tighter, author newsletters have become more important. For many authors, it's the main way they can let their readers know about their books, upcoming events, giveaways and so on.

This is a tricky one, because most of us get more emails than we can handle and we don't want more 'spam' to add to the mix. I must admit that I've sometimes subscribed to a newsletter and later unsubscribed because it was coming too frequently or it didn't contain anything of real interest to me. However, if authors give their readers something of value rather than just always urging them to 'buy my book', readers will want to subscribe and read their news. 

Try signing up for some newsletters of authors you like. If they pose a question to readers, spend a minute to respond. If you like something they said, tell them. If they've got a link to their latest blog, read it and leave a comment on the blog site. Some of these things only take a minute or two, but they can mean a lot to an author.

Pray

Sometimes authors will put prayer requests on social media or in their newsletters, and we can join them in their prayers. However, we could also get into the habit of praying more for each other. (I'm writing this to myself too, as I often forget to pray for fellow authors.) We can pray for the books or other manuscripts they're currently writing, we can pray for upcoming events, we can pray about personal issues that are affecting their ability to write, and we can engage in spiritual warfare on their behalf. The enemy is not going to be pleased if any of us are writing Christian books that can impact others, so we can expect attack. However, praise God that He is stronger and His Word will prevail. I felt like I was under attack in the days leading up to my latest book launch, and it meant a lot to know that the members of my home group were praying for me. Everything went smoothly, thanks to God. Let's not neglect the importance of praying for each other.

Caveats

Are you feeling overwhelmed by all of these ideas? The good news is that you don't have to do them all. In fact, that would be impossible. We all have things that we need to do each day and social media can be a big time waster. However, it also has its advantages. It doesn't take long to 'like' someone's social media post, write a comment on their blog post, or answer a question they've asked in their newsletter.

There's also the 'do unto others' principle. If you're an author and you want people to write reviews of your books, comment on your posts or sign up for your newsletter, you need to be willing to do the same for others. I've written a previous post on that topic and you can read it here. We're all part of the Christian writing community and we operate best when the whole body is functioning well and supporting each other.

So what about you? Are there any of these things you could do right now? Are there a couple of these things you could do sometime this week? If we're intentional, we're more likely to do it, so let's support each other as part of God's team.

Have you already tried some of these things or do you have other suggestions? I'd love to hear your responses.

Author Bio

Nola Lorraine loves weaving words of courage and hope. Her inspirational historical novel 'Scattered' was shortlisted for the 2021 CALEB Awards. Her second book 'Comfort Zone: A 40-Day Devotional on the Father of All Comfort' was published by Armour Books in March 2025. She would love to connect with you through social media and her newsletter. For more information, see her website at www.nolalorraine.com.au

Photo Credits

Featured photo was taken at the launch of the anthology 'Symphony of Grace' edited by Anne Hamilton and Ruth Bonetti. The photo shows 17 of the 22 authors. Nola Lorraine author photo by Wayne Logan at Encouraging Photos. All other photos from Pixabay. Library by naobim, woman typing by jane13b, social media by AzamKamalov, newletter by LadyBB, and prayer by doungtepro.

Hidden Under a Pile of Words

By Jeanette Grant-Thomson 

I write because I love it. I enjoy every sentence, even the corrections, the amended versions of my novels, the reworded versions of other people’s stories. I’ve written ever since I was about six or seven and I only stopped for a few years after becoming a Christian.

Why did I stop?

Because I was so enthusiastic about my new-found faith, I didn’t want to do what I was concerned might be wasting time. I soon discovered that the closer I grew to God, in his presence my mind would be filled with ideas for poems, stories, all sorts of things. I came to believe he considered writing one of my gifts.

Picture the scene.

I was living in a valley at Bardon. At the top of the hill lived a Christian friend of mine. He had a magnificent view. I had none at all. All I had was an old flat with a rickety verandah.

So I prayed.

Me: Lord, how come you bless that man more than you bless me?

God: He’s using his talents.

Me: Well, what do you see as my talents?

God (impressing it clearly so I had no doubt): Writing and praying.

The very next morning I was asked to write some things for my church. Sunday School books and tracts. Then Teen Challenge asked me to write their newsletter. That led to Jodie’s Story, my first actual book. Which led to my being asked to write my next two biographical stories. (This all took years, of course.)

I found writing biographies easy. There was the story, with its obvious pivot points and suspense, all ready-made. All I had to do was put it into words.

Writing novels

So from there to novels. An obvious step. But … in my novel writing, I face big challenges. Often I begin a novel with my setting. Beautiful or interesting settings intrigue me. Take my current WIP, Returning to Riverview. It’s set partly at beautiful Kenilworth Homestead on the Mary River. I lived there on and off for many years and grew to love that property. My first visit there inspired a journal full of poems. Kenilworth features in many of my blogs. I loved the images it evoked.

The old tree with its heavy load of vines – 

    Old man tree, 

    Dying, 

    With your vine-laden back hunched against the wind, 

    Bony knuckled branches clutching dry air. 

The high mud banks of the river with flood water rushing past, surging up the banks, rearranging the shape of the bank like a potter at work (well, God the Great Potter was at work) swirling and scouring, sculpting and carving.

Photo by Elvira Meridy White 

So, as I write Returning to Riverview, I’m enjoying sharing these wonderful images as my protagonists, Claire and Vivien, see them.

But oops! Where’s my story gone? That famous narrative arc is covered in images like vines over the tree. In fact you can’t find the plot for vines. Isn’t it time my protagonist – er – did something? Or something happened to her? She’s lost! Well, for the purposes of the plot, she is anyway.

So, as a lover of beautiful settings and interesting characters, I wrestle most with the very bones of the novel. Its structure or narrative arc.

So what can I do about it?

First I pray – along the lines of ‘Help, God! Give me discernment to see what is a necessary part of the setting and character-building, and what is sheer self-indulgence.’

Then I proceed to tighten it. I am much more ruthless than I once was. Unless I were to feel I could write a beautiful literary novel like Marilynne Robinson’s Pulitzer-winning Gilead (don’t worry, I have no such illusions), I aim for a traditional narrative arc. That means, from what I can glean from various gurus I’ve heard or read, my first pivot point should be about twenty percent of the way along. Maximum thirty percent. Ouch! And I have to finish off the novel quite soon after the climax or main pivot point. (Opinions do vary.)

My desk is cluttered with copies of my novel I’ve printed out to read.

I understand one has to ask oneself, does this (each) scene take the narrative forward at all? If the answer is ‘no’, it has to be deleted or radically shortened. After doing that, I remove some unnecessary words and try to simplify any awkward sentences.

So I’m currently doing that with Returning to Riverview. I’m happy enough with my beginning. I feel it captures the readers’ attention and leads them into the novel. Now to get the action happening soon enough to keep their attention.

Do any of you have an area of writing where you struggle? What is yours? How do you deal with it? 

Jeanette Grant-Thomson is a north-Brisbane based Christian writer and speech and drama teacher. She has been writing since her childhood and has had a variety of things published, ranging from poems to novels and biographies to film scripts (she also directed the films in her more energetic youth.) She has had five books – novels and biographies – and many shorter stories published.

Author page – www.facebook.com/jeanette.grantthomson

The Right Write-Life Formula

by Anusha Atukorala

Years ago when I was desperate to conceive my second child, a well-meaning friend suggested that I needed to pray in a certain way in order to have my prayers answered. Hmm...! Isn’t God more interested in my heart than in any prayer formula? God did not give me a second child. But many years on, He blessed me with two lovely daughters in Christ, satisfying my heart’s desires for 3 children—one son and two daughters. The parents of my "daughters" did all the hard work! I had the joy of having them without changing even one nappy! (A great idea, God. Thank you.) My prayers may have been frail and faulty, but they were answered.

More recently, when sharing my health struggles with another (also well meaning) friend, she asked if I prayed daily for good health, telling me it has worked for her. She implied that it was a must in order to receive healing. I do spend plenty of time with God each day. I do talk to Him often. But I don’t ask God for healing every single day, because I don’t think it matters. God knows my heart. Even if my words aren’t quite right or the number of times I pray not the perfect number, I can count on Him to give me His best. After all, it’s not my impeccable prayers which bring results but the mercy and love of a faithful God.

The only Prayer formula I know is not to have one. Instead I seek the Giver of all good gifts. And oh, it’s been a thrilling journey. So … what’s the correct Write Formula if there such a thing?  I’ve spent hours learning the craft. I’ve attended conferences (fabulous times), borrowed a plethora of books from the library, (and read them from cover to cover), written articles and essays, poetry and songs, books and blogs. Perhaps unlike prayer, there IS a right Write Formula? Yes, I believe there is!

It’s true that in order to do most things well, we need instructions to guide us and help us stay on par. We can’t play a game of Cricket or Tennis or Footy without rules, could we, or there would be mayhem. We can’t write a sentence without using grammatical rules or it would not make sense. But what about the right Write Life? Does that have rules too? 

Jesus did not come to bind us with rules and regulations. He came to release the prisoners and set the captives free. As Christian writers, we can take a joyful leap across the chasm of legalism and into fields of grace. Perhaps the biggest decree for our writing lives is that there are no rules? There is only GRACE! Precious, glorious, bountiful grace. The Grace that overflows into our lives as we seek to live for God and for His glory.

Grace means that …

1.     Despite my sins, mistakes and imperfections, He still calls me to write for Him.

2.     It’s not following His laws which will help me thrive as a Christian writer but desiring and seeking intimacy with Him.

3.     If He calls me, He will equip me and help me. It’s as simple as that!

4.     As Paula Vince shared with us so beautifully last week, success as a Christian writer is very different from the world’s view of success

5.     God will use even the deficiencies and failures in my Write Life to touch and bless others

6.     Perfection may often be unattainable but I can aim at excellence

7.     God’s ways are often unusual, unexpected and unfathomable but always trustworthy

8.     My writing may not be exceptional but when I do my best, led by His Spirit, miracles happen

9.     He will always give me a second chance

10.  When I yield to the Holy Spirit. He will use my words, weak and frail as they might be, to prod and poke, to lead and lift, to bless and build

11.  We are each not called to be a carbon copy of other writers but free to pursue our own calling

12.  Most importantly, it’s His glory that we are on about, not our own

So how do I grow into a Christian writer? By spending time with Him, by following the Spirit’s leading, by using my time wisely, by learning writing skills (yes, following those rules), walking in integrity, allowing Him to shape me. being part of the body of Christ and by helping other writers thrive.

Grace frees me to become the writer I was meant to be.

Grace gives me wings to partner with the Holy Spirit.

Grace spurs me on to dare to change the world through words.

Let’s do it! Let's dance in fields of grace!

Anusha’s been on many interesting detours in life, as a lab technician, a computer programmer, a full time Mum, a full time volunteer, a charity director, a full time job chaser, until one golden day (or was it a dark moonless night?) God tapped her on her shoulder and called her to write for Him. She has never recovered from the joy it brought her. She loves to see others enjoying life with Jesus and does her mite to hurry the process in her world through her writing and through her life. The goodness of God is her theme song through each season, as she dances in the rain with Jesus. Please stop by at her website to say G’day to her. Dancing in the Rain. She’d love to see you there.

Her first book "Enjoying the Journey" comprises 75 little life lessons and 16 colour photos. Her second book "Dancing in the Rain - words of comfort and hope for a sad heart" will be published in 2018 by Armour Books. Please stay tuned.

Prayer

by Linsey Painter

For many, this time of year is a time of Lent and focusing on prayer. I’ve written a prayer for this community. It’s not a complete prayer. Please add your own prayers in the comments so that we can lift up one another and encourage each other.

Prayer

Abba Father you are the ultimate in creativity. We can create because you have made us with imagination and the ability to appreciate and put into writing the complexity of this world that you have made.

Thank you for the gifts that you have given us. Help us to share your love through written words.

Help us as we work to be fuelled by your Spirit and inspired by you. May we have courage to speak the truth.

Thank you for this community of writers who love and trust in you. Thank you that we can to bring glory to you through the words that you give us.

Help us to encourage one another, to lift one another up to you and cheer each other on as we walk together.

Thank you for the generosity of spirit and the joyful sharing of knowledge that happens within this writing community. Help us to out—do each other in loving and doing good.

May the words that we write and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing to you.

Give us wisdom in how we write and what we write. Give us wisdom as we seek to share with others what you have laid on our hearts.

Help us to remember that this world—a----nd recognition in this world—is not the ultimate goal—b----ut seeing your Kingdom come.

Linsey Painter loves to write stories that focus on growing young hearts and exploring joy and courage in the face of life’s challenges. She and her husband work with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) and live in Cairns with their two rambunctious boys. Linsey grew up in Indonesia and is an expert at rolling her ‘r’s and eating nasi goreng. She has since lived and worked in Papua New Guinea— yes she has seen a bird of paradise and Arnhem Land— no she didn’t encounter any crocodiles. www.linseysusanne@blogspot.com

Interview with Jack Haines

By Ian Acheson

Photo courtesy of Rendeeplumia/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I had the opportunity to sit down with Jack Haines, the hero of Angelguard. In a long wide-ranging interview that covered various topics including Jack’s faith, dealing with grief and the loss of loved ones, to his passion for ball sports and a hidden talent, Ian was able to share an excerpt with us on Christian Writers Downunder.

Thanks Jack for your time today. Perhaps fill us in with what occupies most of your days.

Ian, it’s my pleasure. I spend most of my weeks during the academic year teaching organisational design, leadership and entrepreneurship to students at the one of Australia's leading Graduate Management Schools. I also run my own consultancy business where I share my learning’s as a student of business with a small number of global clients.

And what about when you’re not working?

Running around being exhausted by two daughters, two-year-old twins. As a single dad it can be a lot of work. I’m blessed that my dear mum, Louise, moved into my home after Sarah, my wife, passed away last year. Mum cares for the girls while I’m working. I’m fortunate that I’m able to do a lot of preparation work at home so I can be within earshot of the family on most days.

Last year was a traumatic time for you. Are you able to share a little about how this impacted your walk with the Lord?

As you can imagine it was really tough at first. We were living the life, busy work and enjoying being a family of six, and part of a wonderfully caring church community. Then bang, tragedy struck, that family was halved and all of a sudden I felt terribly alone having to care for my two little ones. It was a real test of my faith. At first, I blamed God, but through His gentle reassuring touch He ministered to my broken heart. It’s still healing but what I’ve come to appreciate is that God wants us to depend on Him. Not just for the big things in life, but the everyday. So each day when I rise I seek Him out and ask for His help in everything I’m doing that day: caring for Gracey and Catie, teaching my students, being a son, friend and brother.

You confronted real evil last year on a few occasions. What was that like?

Fortunately, I can now only remember the joy I felt when we were together on the train heading towards Circular Quay. What happened after we crashed has now become a blur, until I woke in the hospital to be told Sarah and my two eldest had perished at the hands of a terrorist. Those first moments on hearing that news I expect I’ll never forget even though I was on heavy painkillers.

We’re all familiar with the Bible verses that tell us about what Satan and his workers are all about. John 10:10, “the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;” well I’ve seen the results of his handiwork firsthand. All the atrocities that occur in this world should remind us that evil does exist and as far as the enemy is concerned it’s a full-bloodied assault for our souls.

But the second half of that verse tells us we have the ultimate warrior on our side: Jesus. He has come that we may have life and have it to the full.

Even though there’s still sadness, I know God’s in charge, He’s crazy about me and as I mentioned before I’m learning to give over more of myself to Him. My prayer life has become such an important part of my day. Even days’ that are incredibly busy I make sure I give time to be in His presence and thank Him for all that He has blessed me with.

That’s all with have today. Further excerpts will be made available in the future.

If you’re not familiar with Jack Haines, his story can be found in Angelguard, the first novel in the Chronicles of the Angelguard.

Angelguard reveals the timeless supernatural war that continues unabated and it’s intersection with our physical world. In bringing the warring angels and demons to the forefront of a rollicking tale that crosses the globe, it highlights the ferocity of this conflict. The physical story focuses on three survivors of separate acts of terrorism that occur within weeks of each other. 

The power of prayer in engaging heaven is a second prominent theme of the novel. 

Ian Acheson is an author and strategy consultant based in Northern Sydney. Ian's first novel of speculative fiction, Angelguard, is now available in the US, UK, Canada and Australia. You can find more about Angelguard at Ian's website, on his author Facebook page and Twitter

The Writer's Prayer

On a recent adventure, I accompanied my Beloved on a business trip to Malaysia. He did his thing in the corporate arena, and I got to spend my days at the keyboard, spitting out those words we all love to chase. 


I had no internet. (Gasp)


No household chores beckoned, and there were no kids to drag me out of my writing world. I did have a very kind 'butler' (I know... don't hate me!) who serviced the hotel's lounge where I spent my hours. 


She delivered a steady stream of coffee whenever my cup ran dry. She replenished the buffet, where tropical fruits and sinful pastries winked at me all day. And, she smiled her encouragement when I took laps of the room to stretch my legs and roll my author shoulders. 


Can you imagine a more perfect writing day? Food and drink on tap, and total quiet. Once the breakfast traffic faded, I was glad to call that lounge my own for the rest of the morning, and well into the afternoon. I know you will not be surprised to hear, my word count reflected the benefits of full-time writing. I slammed that word count, and doubled it for good measure!


And then I had to go home. 


Home to the real world, which in my case, is sadly understaffed in the butler department. 


In my real world, words come slower, chased by the many demands no one could ever juggle, as well as I'm meant to. Here, my words are couched in the realities of life which dictate mood and enthusiasm. Tempered by commitments. Shadowed by my other loves. 


So how do we reconcile the requirements of writing, with life as we know it? From where do we snatch the minutes to add to our chapters?


I know from experimentation, an hour of my time is worth between 600 and 1000 words. But what if I sit for my allocated writing time and my head is not in tune with the task? How do I find 'Author Dotti' when 'Mama Dotti' is still in the room with a basket of washing on her hip? How do I dismiss 'Friend Dotti' when she still needs to cry for a sister, or 'Real Dotti' when her own burdens are too heavy?


I have found the best way to secure myself for writing, is to centre myself in Christ. Over the years I've collected writer's prayers which help me face the writing hour under the banner of Him who loves me most. 


So here's my prayer for 2012, penned by Sandy Tritt. Better than a butler, it's a New Year's gift, from me... to you. Be blessed. 

The Writer's Prayer

Open my mind, Lord. Grant me the talent to write with clarity and style, 

so my words go down rich and smooth, 

like fine wine, and leave my reader thirsty for more. 

Open my heart, Lord. Grant me the sensitivity to understand my characters...

  their hopes, their wants, their dreams,

 and help me to confer that empathy to my reader. 

Open my soul, Lord, so I may be a channel to wisdom,

 and creativity from beyond my self. 

Stoke my imagination with vivid imagery and vibrant perception.

But most of all, Lord, help me to know the Truth,

 so my fiction is more honest than actuality, 

and reaches the depths of my reader's soul. 

Wrap these gifts with opportunity, perseverance,

 and the strength to resist those who insist it can't be done.  

Amen

..................................

Dorothy Adamek writes Historical Romance. Visit her at her blog Ink Dots.