K.A. Ramstad

Welcome to the Summer Bash!

UPDATE: Don’t forget to join the Summer Bash and enter the giveaway before midnight CDT. There you might win a copy of Of Dangers and Dreams, which includes my dire wolf story. https://www.facebook.com/events/914301054738888/990916297077363/

Hi, Summer Bash guests! Party crashers are welcome, too.

For those of you who followed me for a while, you may already be familiar with what I write. However, let me share more about my writing journey by answering Who, What, Where, How, and Why questions.

WHO am I?

I’m K.A. Ramstad (of course), a creator of fantasy and fairy tale retellings. I write for children, middle grade, and teens, and you’ll see me write a review on a picture or middle grade book every once in a while.

WHAT got me into writing?

While I have enjoyed writing stories since I was a kid, what helped me launch into the career of writing was, of all things, reading a fanfiction story. It was a fun gender bended retelling of Sleeping Beauty (where it’s the prince who’s sleeping), and it got me intrigued with the idea of writing tales.

Reading, as well as watching movies, fed my love for stories in general. Additionally, the book God of the Fairy Tale by Jim Ware opened my eyes to see that even secular stories like Cinderella illustrate God’s truths without being on-the-nose. With Cinderella, she was a girl who went from rags to riches, just as Jesus started His life on earth in poverty but now rules as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. How cool is that?

WHERE did I learn more about the craft of storytelling?

I became a member of Realm Makers, a Christian group where authors get together virtually and learn from each other. I even joined a critique group through them. Let me tell you, when I shared my writing with my critique partners, I realized I had a lot to learn when it comes to creating a novel. It isn’t just slapping words onto a page and thinking you wrote something interesting. It’s called art for a reason. So, I took my critique-ers’ suggestions and improved my art.

But critique groups aren’t the only way of developing one’s writing, which leads to the next question.

HOW did I improve further?

Did I mention Realm Makers’ has a conference? I attended three of their conferences online, and they’re the best writing events I’ve attended. There’s so much rich information they offer you, and they’re taught by well-known authors like Nadine Brandes, Steve Laube, Kathy Tyers, Steven James, and more.

Oh, and there’s always writing books. The ones I recommend are:

Story Trumps Structure by Steven James

Carla Hoch’s Fight Write books (if you’re interested in writing believable fight scenes)

Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi’s Thesaurus series (The Emotion Thesaurus, The Positive Trait Thesaurus, The Emotional Wound Thesaurus, etc.)

5 Editors Tackle the 12 Fatal Flaws of Fiction Writing by C.S. Lakin, Linda S. Clare, Christy Distler, Robin Patchen, and Rachel Starr Thomson

WHY do I write fairy tale retellings?

There’s something about fairy tales that tend to stick with me, particularly their plots involving:

Heroes and heroines braving dangers.

Characters being redeemed and experiencing unconditional love.

People rising up from deathlike sleep.

It’s especially awesome that they’re retold in a way that allows me to experience them in a fresh way.

I discovered Beyond the Bookery, a publisher that releases fairy tale retellings, through Liv Hammonds’ blog. It was that post that announced openings for writers to submit their works. I couldn’t pass the opportunity, and I happened to have a story at the back of my head that would turn into a fairy tale. That story became “Friend of the Dire Wolf,” and it’s a Little Red Riding Hood story that’s now in the anthology Of Dangers and Dreams.

So, if you’re looking for publishers for your story, search the Internet. Even use keywords like “fairy tale [or whatever genre] submission.” You’ll never know what you’ll find.

Bonus Question: What’s next for me?

I’m now writing a middle grade fantasy that’ll be released in December. It’s an Ugly Duckling retelling, where the main character is a pup adopted by a family of stray dogs. The problem is, she’s different from her littermates. She jumps in the snow in a funny way, and her fur turns gray during the summer, causing her littermates to tease her. Not only that, but someone ventured to say she’s actually a fox. Is it true?

In the end, she finds a new family and discovers she has a superpower. What is that superpower? This Elf on a Shelf clip gives a clue.

The fox creating the Northern Lights is from Finnish mythology. However, with my MC, I have her just create the blue light, and other foxes contribute to the Northern Lights with their colors. As you can imagine, these foxes are a fellowship and a family.

How does the MC view humans? She isn’t sure of them at first, but she finds some who are not only nice but also enjoy her unique quirks.

Whew! That’s a lot I just shared. I hope you had fun during the Bash, and enjoy the rest of your summer.

Don’t Forget! It’s A Giveaway by Me

Beyond the Bookery’s Summer Bash is coming to Facebook. It’s your chance to win a free copy of Of Dangers and Dreams, featuring my retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. That’s right, it’s F-R-E-E.

On June 30, you’ll see a special post by me at 5:00 PM MST. You’ll see how I got into writing, tips on how to be a better writer, and more of a sneak peek of my upcoming middle grade book Starlight.

Don’t forget. June 30 is my special post, and below is where you can find out more about the Summer Bash.

Summer Bash on Facebook

Beyond the Bookery’s Summer Bash is Coming…and I’m in It!

You may have already heard about the Summer Bash hosted by Beyond the Bookery. It’s an online party where you can explore different authors and potential favorite reads. There’s even a giveaway to win cool stuff, like BtB releases, highlighters, and fun goodies like a possible crocheted bookmark.

And guess what? You’ll get a chance to win your own copy of Of Dangers and Dreams (featuring my dire wolf story)!

The event is on Facebook (which will also feature a guest blog post from myself), and it’s happening June 26-30. The link with all the details is here:

Beyond the Bookery’s Summer Bash

For more information about Beyond the Bookery, as well as a peek at their books, check them out at their website:

Beyond the Bookery

Happy Father’s Day – With a Book

Happy Father’s Day to all you dads out there.

Here’s a book for grades K-3 about a dad who, even though he’s on the road working a lot, he still takes time to visit his kids. Here’s Brian Monica reading “Always My Dad.”

I Have Another Book Coming!

Yep. You read it right.

Remember when I told you I have a story about a fox that makes light for the Northern Lights?

I found a publisher for it! It’s going to be the same publisher that did my “Friend of the Dire Wolf” novella. This new book, called Starlight, is fit for a middle grade audience who loves fantasy and fairy tale retellings.

For those who haven’t read my past blog posts, this story is essentially an Ugly Duckling retelling where instead of a duckling, it’s an Arctic fox. The fox’s name is Starlight, and she was adopted by a family of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. She grows up feeling like the odd one, as she nose-dives into the snow, which is something dogs don’t typically do. Her fur also changes color per the seasons, and during the summer, it turns into a dingy gray.

But like the Ugly Duckling, she learns who she really is in the end. For a bonus, this is a Christmas book.

[This photo represents Starlight’s “ugly” season, where she has gray fur during the warm months.]

[Here’s Starlight during the winter, where she’s out of her gray coat.]

[How does Starlight add to the Northern Lights? She sweeps her tail across the snow, and blue light wafts into the night sky.]

Writing Adventure in Your Story

Writing a search-and-rescue story? Imagining a mountain-climbing expedition? Looking for ideas on how to write an adventure story and make it as plausible as possible?

Check out this article on Hannah Ruth Johnson’s site, where guest M. Liz Boyle shares tips on research and character development. One advice I love is directly asking professionals on how to flesh out certain scenarios. Experts like search-and-rescue dog handlers, small airplane pilots, etc. That way, you get deep insight on their careers and the world of outdoor rescue missions. Also, if you’re a homeschooling parent, it’s a good excuse to teach your kids about real-life heroes (and maybe go on a field trip).

Keep reading!

Make Adventure Accessible: Tips for Researching and Writing an Adventure Novel from M. Liz Boyle

Tribute to C.E. White

You may have heard the sad news, but author friend C.E. (Connie) White left this world in April after an intense fight with cancer. She is with the Author of Life now, so cancer didn’t win the battle, but let’s pause to remember her as a thought-provoking storyteller and a serious, die-hard follower of Jesus.

I wrote a review of her picture book When Your Dragon Is Too Big for a Bath, which was posted on Jennifer Hallmark’s blog. Click on the button to learn more.

My Review of Dragon Book

She also wrote the middle grade novel Vincent in Wonderland, which I got to read before it was published. Let me tell you, it’s a unique twist on the classic story and the historical artist. Lorehaven wrote a review on it, so click here to learn more:

Lorehaven Review on Vincent in Wonderland

There’s a prequel to the Vincent book, too, and I’m currently listening to the audiobook version of it. I say it’s an intriguing story so far, and it’s great for fans of A Wrinkle in Time. If you’re curious, here’s Lorehaven’s review:

Lorehaven Review on The Worlds Next Door

Rest in peace, Connie. I and your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ will see you soon.

First Lines of my Novella (Plus My Co-Authors’)

Still haven’t picked up a copy of Of Dangers and Dreams? Here are the first lines of my and my co-authors’ novellas in this volume of fairy tale retellings.

“Water Maiden” by Jenny A. Bee

I’ve been told that when I was just a baby, I was only content in water, be it bath, puddle, or the beautiful Whulge that flowed past the headlands of our home.

“Nottingham” by Liv Hammonds

Once upon a time, in a kingdom called Sherwood, there was a small, poor village called Nottingham.

“Friend of the Dire Wolf” by K.A Ramstad

The voices of the inn’s guests reverberated in the common hall as they stayed up that night and drank mead.

To learn more about Of Dangers and Dreams, check out the Amazon link. It’s available in both Kindle and Paperback.

Of Dangers and Dreams on Amazon

Happy Early Mother’s Day – Plus A Book Honoring Moms

I want to wish all you moms a Happy Mother’s Day!

There’s also a book for kids that celebrates an attentive and resourceful mom. It’s actually the sequel to Rose Wolves, a graphic novel I reviewed on Jennifer Hallmark’s blog.

Book Review on Rose Wolves

In Rose Wolves Book Two: Out of the Blue, it shows the girl going on a picnic with her mom. She introduces her mom to her old friend: a Rose Wolf, or a wolf that lives part of his life as a rose in a bush. In this book, sadly, the rose bush wilts during the cold season, which means the Rose Wolf is gone during that time, leaving the girl grief-stricken. However, her mom uses her cleverness to bring a Rose Wolf to life, and it involves grafting a twig into a plant. This Rose Wolf is different from the original Rose Wolf, but the girl loves him just the same. You’ll witness the joy as she bonds with him, and *spoiler alert* she does see her old Rose Wolf friend again. This is especially great if you prefer happy endings.

Sounds intriguing? Check this book out, especially if you love stories about children with their pets and loving family relationships. You’ll also get a kick as you see the main character play with her beloved Rose Wolf (including the Wolf knocking chess pieces over). It’s also fun to see the girl celebrate the holidays with her new wolf friend, which includes singing Christmas carols. As a big bonus, moms will cheer for the mother as she thinks of ways to keep a Rose Wolf alive during the cold months.

Enjoy this book (It’s on Hoopla, by the way.), and enjoy your holiday!

Don’t Forget About Fairy Tale Frenzy

To all of you who bought Of Dangers and Dreams, which has my dire wolf story, thank you so, so much.

There are more Fairy Tale Frenzy books, too, all published by Beyond the Bookery. Both contemporary and fantasy retellings are included. Take a look at these gorgeous covers.