Hello and welcome!
These beginnings are often awkward, so let’s be conversational and start with small talk. I’m CJ, and while I do various, sundry, and manifold things, this blog is mostly about one of those things. I write books. Very soon now, I’ll be releasing the first book in a trilogy I wrote back in 2012. Galleries of Stone, Book 1: Meadowsweet is undergoing its final proofreading pass. Once all the loose ends are taken care of, I’ll click “publish” and send my story out into a wider world.

To kick things off, I’ll address some of the questions I’m already being asked:

Why are you publishing under a penname?
This website and penname are probably the closest I’ll ever get to having a secret identity. But C. J. Milbrandt’s not really a pseudonym; it’s my maiden name. I’m published traditionally with both Thomas Nelson and Zondervan (divisions of HarperCollins Christian) as Christa Kinde. Those writings include tween/teen fiction, Bible studies, workbooks, devotionals, and contributions to a devotional Bible. My writings under this penname embrace my love for fantasy and fairy tales. And that means magical mountains, imaginary races, moving statues, and as many wild and impossible things as one lady can make up before breakfast. Differing genres often mean a different audience. It’s that simple.

Will I be able to buy print books?
Not yet. For starters, the Galleries of Stone trilogy will only be available in digital format. If you don’t have an e-reader, that’s no cause for dismay. There are numerous free reading programs that you can download onto your desktop computer. Eventually, I would like to make my books available in print … and as audio books. But this is where we’ll begin.

Did I hear you say that the books will be illustrated?
Yes! Well, let’s make that a qualified yes. My cover artist, Hannah Christenson, loved my idea for creating spot illustrations to use as chapter breaks throughout the books. They’re small, ordinary items that are part of Tupper’s world. I’ll share a sneak peek at some of those in another post … next week. [If you haven’t yet, make sure to sign up to receive an email every time I update the blog. Then you won’t miss out on all the fun!]

Will there be more to the series?
I get this question a lot from folks who read the full trilogy on my website, and the answer is definitely yes. There’s a second trilogy planned, as well as a series of short stories. I’m looking forward to sharing more of the Meadowsweet family’s adventures for years to come. ♥

Is Galleries of Stone the only stuff you’ll publish as C. J. Milbrandt?
Nope. I’m working with my illustrator Hannah Christenson right now on lining up covers, cast pictures, and spot illustrations for a children’s book series that’s tentatively scheduled to release in Fall 2014. And I have another YA series in the works. Busy, busy, busy!

So there we have it. A beginning has begun. Again, I urge you to follow this blog for the latest news and updates. You can also find me on GoodReads, where I’m learning the ropes and slowly adding/rating favorite books.

CJ