Welcome, Starlight Readers!

Is it May already? Where has 2026 gone? I feel like we just celebrated the new year and survived a snow/ice storm. Now I'm wrapping up the homeschool year with my kiddos and getting ready for the big Realm Makers Conference & Expo.

What are you looking forward to in the next couple of months?

The last month has been a whirlwind of crazy activity around here. My son was the gatekeeper in the Wizard of Oz, he got to sing and dance and be a little kooky (which totally fits his personality).

For Realm Makers, I got to help host the Reader's Choice Award voting and the Spring Book Festival in the RealmSphere. We had 3 evenings of Author Q&As with the Reader's Choice Award nominees ... so fun!

And best of all, the last Sunday of the month, all 3 of my kiddos were in the first group to be baptized in our new church building! I wouldn't have cared where they were baptized ... my mama's heart is just so very proud!

(A total of 13 people were baptized that day!)

Praise the Lord!

And now, it's my birthday month. Welcome to May, y'all! I love my birthday month. I'm a hobbit, and I love giving away things on my birthday.

If I can swing it, you may see another email later this month with a discount or free books from me and/or my publisher. We'll have to see what happens. Muahaha ...

For now ...

Reply to this email, doing any of the following:

• Answer any of the various questions in this email
• Let me know what you'd like to see in these newsletters
• Let me know you shared about my Kickstarter
• Just say hi!

You'll be entered to win a copy of one of the books mentioned in this newsletter. Your choice which one! (Paperback copies!)

The Kickstarter for Ember Unleashed is FULLY FUNDED! Thank you to everyone who has participated so far.

BUT WE'RE NOT DONE YET!

We still have a few days left ... and we have stretch goals to meet! If people would like some extra goodies in their treat baskets ... or early access to the books themselves, we must press on!

Ava's life is struck by trauma and now she's on a quest to get her ember under control before she hurts someone close to her.
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Alaric is desperate for a way out of his own life, especially when he discovers his father is up to no good ... and his plans mean Alaric will have to go against everything he believes in.
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Both of them need to get their lives under control before the world around them is set on fire! 🔥🔥🔥​
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Back my book on Kickstarter today! Let's make this happen!

DON'T FORGET TO SHARE!

Aside from Ember Unleashed, I've been working hard on Books 2 and 3. My editor is working on her first round of edits for Book 3, and I just finished applying her edits and suggestions to Book 2. Later this month, we'll switch out.

Here in about a week, I'll be focusing on Kickstarter fulfillment and Realm Makers prep!

There hasn't been a lot of time for reading and such in the last couple months, unfortunately. I hate that. Often my brain is too tired from everything else to focus.

I've been binge-watching Teen Wolf. Never seen that before. It was actually pretty interesting until I got to this last season ... then I kinda lost interest. Ugh.

What I'm Reading:

Proclaimer is up for the Realm Makers Reader's Choice Award. I got to interview Megan a couple of times, and she is so fun. I'm loving this trilogy! The only way to save her people is to betray the king she vowed to protect.​ ​ Buy now

Pre-Order

Alien meets The Handmaid's Tale You don't want to meet the latest dark fantasy story from the founder of Realm Makers! Buy Now

Self care is so important.

No, please don't scroll by.

Too often, we dismiss our own needs in favor of the needs of others: our family, our job, our friends, our church ... the list goes on.

And, biblically, this concept is encouraged. (See Phil. 2:3-4, 1 Cor. 10:24, Rom. 12:10, etc.)

However, when we continually put others needs above our own to the point where our physical and mental health are compromised, we cease to be of encouragement and help to those people.

Self care doesn't have to look like (and perhaps shouldn't look like) spending a bunch of money on yourself or over-indulging in something.

But it can and should look like:

• Spending time with God
• Eating healthy
• Walking/Exercising
• Spending time in nature
• Spending time with loved ones
• Enjoying a hobby

When we do these things on a regular basis, we are more physically and mentally prepared to help others. OUR cup is full, and we are ready to pour into others out of OUR excess.

We are less than two months from the annual Realm Makers Conference & Expo. If you're within a few hours of the St. Louis area and you love geeky stuff, you should check us out.

You can get into the Expo just to shop around for free (with a coupon code). Or you can get one of the other tickets and get access to the screenings and other content as well. Lots of cool stuff to see.

If you're a writer, there's a full-out conference going on, which I'm always so excited about. I don't get to attend sessions live anymore. But I get to watch the replays. So valuable!

Also, in the beginning of April, we went to see Project Hail Mary. LOVED. Did you get to see this movie? What did you think? I have a favorite new sticker/GIF. LOL Don't forget to #ShineBeyond! Blessings, Ralene

P.S. Don't forget to enter the giveaway by replying to this email!