One of the new hobbies I dove into this year was bullet journaling --a customizable planner/journal system that you create yourself.  It's taken the social media world by storm (especially Instagram) and consequently, I've begun to look into lettering and other methods to decorate and be more creative in my bullet journaling.  These three art journals from the Ellie Claire line of Worthy Publishing would be great for anyone who enjoys things like Bible art journaling, adult coloring books, lettering or bullet journaling!

paper momentos or keepsakes, a ribbon bookmark, a elastic band closure (a must have in my opinion since there is the pocket element), and a elastic loop on the spine to hold a favorite pen.  A cloth spine helps the binding lay pretty flat as well.
Published: 2018 by Worthy Publishing
Review:
This journal is a companion of sorts to calligrapher Krystal Witten's Faith & Lettering DIY book.  Filled with small practice prompts, step-by-step "how to draw" visuals, and 15 minute drills, you can incorporate what you've learned in your Bible art journaling, devotions, Scripture lettering/calligraphy, and more.  Witten's inspirational letter art is featured in full color next to lined paper (left) and also dot grids (below).

Examples of sidebar/column style lettering art (popular in large margin Bibles designed for art journaling) are also included, with space to trace over the Bible passage or design, and blank spaces to practice.  Interspersed are "Pro Tip" 15 minute practice sessions which highlight different types and aspects of lettering/calligraphy to work on daily.  Examples include serif/san serif fonts, flourishes, banners, and other elements.

This journal also measures 7"x9", includes an elastic loop at the spine to hold a pen or two, and flat lay binding from a flexible cloth spine.

I've already begun incorporating some new elements into my bullet journal thanks to these books (see my Instagram @TheArtistLibrarian for some sneak peeks)! 

Do you enjoy bujo, lettering, or adult coloring?  What are your favorite creative outlets?

[Disclosure: I received complementary copies of these journals from the publisher for review purposes.]

"Waiting on Wednesday"/"Can't Wait Wednesday" is a weekly meme now hosted by Wishful Endings, where you feature a yet-to-be-released title you're anticipating! Today, I am happy to be participating in the official cover reveal of Nadine Brandes' next historical fantasy, Romanov!

Title: Romanov
Author: Nadine Brandes
Release Date: May 7, 2019 by Thomas Nelson

© 2019 by Thomas Nelson

About the Book:

"The history books say I died.

They don’t know the half of it.

Anastasia “Nastya” Romanov was given a single mission: to smuggle an ancient spell into her suitcase on her way to exile in Siberia. It might be her family’s only salvation. But the leader of the Bolshevik army is after them . . . and he’s hunted Romanov before. Nastya’s only chances of survival are to either release the spell, and deal with the consequences, or enlist help from Zash, the handsome soldier who doesn’t act like the average Bolshevik. Nastya’s never dabbled in magic before, but it doesn’t frighten her as much as her growing attraction for Zash. She likes him. She thinks he might even like her . . . That is, until she’s on one side of a firing squad . . . and he’s on the other."

Why I'm "WoW" about Romanov:
So when everyone thinks about a historical fantasy retelling of Anastasia Romanov's story, I'm sure most picture the 1997 Don Bluth animated musical ... Or at least, I did as seen in my bookstagram post below:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Artist Librarian (Jen) (@theartistlibrarian) on Sep 27, 2018 at 1:35amPDT

While the actual life of Anastasia Romanov is quite tragic, she's had a vivacious fictional life in various films, novels, and even a Broadway musical mostly based on the aforementioned animated movie. Because of my love for Don Bluth's Anastasia and enjoyment of Nadine's previous books ... Let's just say my expectations are high! It's gonna be a loooong wait until May 2019.

Also, this cover!  My initial reaction was that while the layout was well composed and designed beautifully (art school wasn't a total waste, guys, haha) --I was concerned that it doesn't quite scream YA fiction --it looks like it could be an adult historical novel (perhaps an intentional thought?) ... nothing says fantasy about it either. But it is growing on me the more I look at it and I have seen similar YA fic covers ... =)

To get updates and learn more about author Nadine Brandes, be sure to check out her website!

What do you think of the cover? Have you read any historical fantasy novels? Want to talk about the animated (or Broadway) Anastasia? Leave a comment below! Also, if you've participated in "WoW" feel free to share!

Throwback Thursday to a novel I read for my Books and Literature for Young Adults course during "library school." We had to chose an ALA (American Library Association) Teens' Top Ten nominated novel and write a "booktalk" and review for it.

© Scholastic

Title: The False Prince (The Ascendance Trilogy #1)
Author: Jennifer A. Nielsen
Published: 2012 by Scholastic

"One of the great books I finished last week was The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen, whom you may know as the author of the Underworld Chronicles, a humorous fantasy series.  This is the first book in the Ascendance trilogy, and was voted #2 of the 2013 Teens' Top Ten. If you enjoy medieval styled fantasies (or even if you don't), The False Prince is definitely worth a look.

'Four boys, one treacherous plan, and an entire kingdom to fool.'

The land of Carthya hovers on the brink of war and needs a strong king to lead its people.  Nobleman Bevin Conner schemes to save the kingdom (and gain some power himself) by placing King Eckbert's long lost second son, Prince Jaron, onto the throne.

There's just one problem:  Most of the nobles assume Prince Jaron to be dead after pirates attacked and destroyed his ship five years ago. 

Taking four orphan teens who resemble the young prince, Conner gives them two weeks of intense training in swordsmanship, riding, history, manners --the education of a royal. The deception will give them a life of wealth and power beyond their dreams. But only one boy can be chosen:

Will it be quiet and humble Latamer?
Tobias, intelligent and eager to please?
The most athletic and strong, Roden?
Or will it be Sage, a defiant street thief?

When it is revealed just how devastatingly far Conner is willing go for his deception to succeed, the teens realize their lives hang perilously at sword point.  Can they even trust each other in this world of secrets, intrigue, and lies?  Full of action, readers will keep the pages turning in this fast paced adventure novel.

Can a pauper become a Prince? 
Find out in book one of the Ascendance trilogy by Jennifer A. Nielsen."

Medieval style fantasy worlds were my favorite as a teen. While only 342 pages long, The False Prince has 54 short chapters. I wouldn't be surprised if it was written with reluctant readers in mind.

Our protagonist Sage has sarcastic, quick wit, and an even quicker tongue which often gets him in trouble. While female characters were a bit lacking, they were there in a supportive friendship role, but I think it worked with this type of fast paced, tight plot. Oh, and that plot twist! Maybe some will think it cheap (I felt almost betrayed for a moment), but I don't think teens would be disappointed with the ending.

The novel also plays with themes of identity:  Is your role in life something you can pick up, try out and cast aside? Teens often experiment with who they are as they discover or mold their identity, how they want others to see them, etc. so I saw echoes of that in this story, though with much higher stakes. One review I read called it "Game of Thrones meets The Hunger Games." Content-wise, it's a bit of an exaggeration, but you can see elements from those series such as medieval political intrigue and teens caught up in a life or death, high stakes competition.  All in all, I enjoyed this novel and quickly went to seek out the remaining books in the trilogy.

Anyway, you probably noticed my blogging frequency totally drop these last few years and I'm about to tell you why ...

After graduating from library school, the only full time librarian positions I could find were temporary, substitute positions. I basically was a substitute librarian for about a year which was both exhilarating (both confirming my love of children's and teen librarianship and that this was what I felt God was showing me I was meant to do) and nerve-wracking (the uncertainty of temporary positions, having no work benefits and paying for my own insurance and things like that).  I learned A LOT and then I was interviewed for and hired for a permanent position as a Circulation Assistant in my local public library system.  I took it, seeing it as "my foot in the door" since my librarian applications seemed to go nowhere (it appears that I didn't have enough experience as a librarian to be interviewed).

But while I know it's a blessing to have a permanent full time job and also have learned a lot in my current position, I've really struggled with my desire to be a librarian ... It's been hard to watch other librarians and reference staff do their job and wish that I was there instead.  I've also been on a handful of librarian interviews during the past year and not been selected each time ... Perhaps internally, I was a bit arrogant in assuming that I'd be able to find a permanent librarian position easily within a year of graduation.  I used to think, "If I could just get interviewed, just give me a chance, and I'll get in." But I haven't been the right fit for all these libraries, I guess ... or maybe I'm not good at interviews?  These experiences have been very humbling and also make me doubt myself at times, though I'm really trying to look at these "rejections" through a positive lens.


However, I came across a box of these "received for review" books recently ... Even if I've ordered or promoted these titles in person, I still have a backlog of reviews I should write about and submit online.  I apologize deeply to the authors and publishers who have been waiting for so long.

So my plan is to post at least 4 times a month, ideally 1-2 times a week, half of that being reviews and the other half fun stuff like lists, pics, cosplay progress/tutorials (like I've wanted to forever), maybe some posts about my new hobbies (i.e. collecting K-Pop albums and music since last year and Bullet Journaling this year) ... I also would like to update my blog with a new look or layout, BUT my priority will be posting new content first.

My first read of 2018! I'm glad the review date got extended for this tour, but I can't believe I never got around to reading one of Roseanna M. White's books before! Music and mystery in Europe during the first world war makes for an intriguing storyline...

Title: A Song Unheard [Shadows Over England #2]
Author: Roseanna M. White
Published: 2018 [Bethany House Publishers]

About the Book:

If Betraying Her Heart Means Saving Countless Lives, Will She Find the Courage?

Willa Forsythe is both a violin prodigy and top-notch thief, which makes her the perfect choice for a critical task at the outset of World War I--to secure a crucial cypher key from a famous violinist currently in Wales.

Lukas De Wilde has enjoyed the life of fame he's won--until now, when being recognized nearly gets him killed. Everyone wants the key to his father's work as a cryptologist. And Lukas fears that his mother and sister, who have vanished in the wake of the German invasion of Belgium, will pay the price. The only distraction he finds from his worry is in meeting the intriguing and talented Willa Forsythe.

But danger presses in from every side, and Willa knows what Lukas doesn't--that she must betray him and find that key, or her own family could pay the same price his surely has.

The Artist Librarian's Review:
I first heard of Roseanna M. White when she was still an indie author, but I'd always wanted to read her historical fiction.  Now I'm wondering why I took so long to do so!  

A Song Unheard continues not long after the events of A Name Unknown (the first title in this series). Though there are slight spoilers regarding the protagonist of the previous book (as usual with trilogies in the romance genre), I felt like it can be successfully read as a stand alone (since I haven't read the first book yet).  Willa Forsythe's adoptive family of street urchins and strays possess unique "talents" that lead mysterious Mr. V to recruit them for secret government assignments. The musically gifted Willa is tasked with getting close to violinist Lukas De Wilde, whose father was a cryptologist and is perhaps in possession of a valuable cypher key.


Though some might say that Willa's photographic-musical-memory is too much of a trope (she can pretty much play any piece of music after hearing it once), I think it was plausible just enough to work --or at least, I had a willing suspension of disbelief.  I liked that the mystery/suspense aspect isn't as intense ... it was like a romantic historical cozy mystery (with spies)!  I also enjoyed the second storyline that takes place in Germany-occupied Belgium.  While the climax and conclusion wraps up a little too neatly, as a HEA (happily ever after) fan, I can't really complain.  The romantic and faith elements were satisfying to me as well, but my favorite part was Willa's brother, Barclay --I sincerely hope he's the protagonist of the next book (I ... think I personally connected with him as much as Willa).  I also felt like the historical elements were such that I felt like I learned a lot (just because I was less familiar with the time period) but without info dumps.  So overall, I enjoyed my first Roseanna M. White novel and am planning to find a couple of her previous historicals to read this year.  Do you have any suggestions?

About the Author:  

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

 What's the most memorable novel you've read that features music (historical setting optional)?

[Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes.]

Can you believe it's a new year? Hoping to make this blog more active in 2018 --What have you been up to lately?

Title: A Song Unheard [Shadows Over England #2]
Author: Roseanna M. White 
Published: 2018 [Bethany House Publishers]
About the Book:

Willa Forsythe is both a violin prodigy and top-notch thief, which makes her the perfect choice for a crucial task at the outset of World War I—to steal a cypher from a famous violinist currently in Wales. Lukas De Wilde has enjoyed the life of fame he’s won—until now, when being recognized nearly gets him killed. Everyone wants the key to his father’s work as a cryptologist. And Lukas fears that his mother and sister, who have vanished in the wake of the German invasion of Belgium, will pay the price. The only light he finds is meeting the intriguing Willa Forsythe. But danger presses in from every side, and Willa knows what Lukas doesn’t—that she must betray him and find that cypher, or her own family will pay the price as surely as his has.

Behind the Scenes with Roseanna M. White:
I started playing the piano when I was 7. I didn’t discover any long-dormant genius or anything, but I liked it. When my sister quit, I kept playing. In middle school, I switched teachers, and moving from the lady at my church that I knew so well to someone who was just my piano teacher made a difference in how I applied myself. It deepened my love of music. We all know how some random moments stand out forever in our memory. One such for me happened on the school bus. I was sitting with my best friend, talking about the new piano piece I was learning. “Via Delorosa” means Road of Sorrow, and it’s a song that tells musically about Jesus’ journey to Golgotha—ending with the faint chime of the nails being driven into his palms. As my beloved Mrs. Peto went through this song with me the night before, I remember her circling a D♯ that I’d missed and saying how important that note was. That it made the whole line weep. That it would make the hearers weep. An epiphany so huge I had to share it with my friend. A well placed sharp could make music weep! Who knew? That was but one lesson Mrs. Peto taught me in how music could evoke things words never could. A woman of strong faith, she also taught me how a song could preach the Gospel. Music can be medicine. It can be hope. It can be tears. It can be truth. Music can be Jesus to a hurting heart that turns its back on words. This is a lesson I never forgot, and I had it always in mind as I was writing A Song Unheard. In this story, both my hero and heroine are musicians—violinists. But Willa (who is SO STUBBORN) wouldn’t listen to words of faith from any of the people in her life “suddenly spouting such nonsense.” But then, in her darkest hour, she hears a slip of melody. And she realizes it’s the Lord. I pray as readers move through the story of Willa Forsythe—violin prodigy and top-notch thief—that their spirits’ ears hear more than words, more than just a story. I pray they hear the Lord whispering that ultimate song. The one that says, “I love you.” Want to hear the song Willa eventually wrote in the book? You can! The violin music in this trailer is officially dubbed “Willa’s Song” and written specifically for this book. I hope you enjoy it!

A Song Unheard ~ Book Trailer from WhiteFire TV on Vimeo.

Thanks for the inside look Roseanna! Check back for my review later this week!

About the Author:
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.