Welcome back to the Extra Edition newsletter! I’m excited to bring you bonus content each month with a special inside look at my novels and the history behind them.
Behind the Design of Sparks Fly Upward
Curious how the cover of Sparks Fly Upward came together? The process was similar to the first two Larksong Legacy novels and the infographic below brings all the pieces together.
Want more inspirational photos from Sparks Fly Upward? Head over to my Unsplash board.
Snow on Easter?
March is always a questionable month in my hometown of St. Louis; it could be sunny, rainy, or even snowing. In fact, there were three years where it snowed on Easter – 1917, 1940, and 2018 (photo above), with 1917 holding the record accumulation of one inch. In my novel, Broken Lines, our female MC, Amara considers snow a sign of hope, so I loved being able to incorporate this historical snowfall into her pivotal turning point with our male MC, Emil. For those who haven’t read the story, you’ll find a snowy teaser below, or a fun reminder for those who have already finished the story. This scene begins with Emil and his nieces and nephew who have come for Easter dinner.
Light snow began to fall, a soft layer of white covering the cobbled street and front yard. Never in Emil’s twenty-one years did he remember snow on Easter. Maybe it was some sort of omen and probably a bad one.
“Uncle Emil!” Isa cried, gripping him around the thighs. “Did you see? Did you see?”
Abigail tugged on his hand, her perfect russet curls bouncing. “Can you believe it? Snow on Easter!”
“Like a fairy tale,” whispered Molly, eyes wide.
“Silly girls.” Henry rolled his eyes and walked into the living room, his giggling sisters chasing at his heels.
Then later…
Emil skipped away from Amara, dancing through the snow, kicking up flurries all the way to his Runabout. With a pirouette and a bow, he hopped inside to fiddle with the dashboard instruments and through it all she laughed. It burst from her like a fountain until she had to brush tears away, until both her face and her stomach muscles ached from the joy of it.
Easter is on March 31 this year. Do you think we’ll get snow in Missouri? Would you like to have a snowy Easter in your city?
For the Love of Little Women
Did you know that the idea for Larksong Legacy originally evolved out of an idea for a retelling of Little Women? I grew up watching the 1949 and 1994 versions of the movie yet, surprisingly, I never read the book. Horrific, I know. All the belles are swooning in distress.
With time on my hands during my social media sabbatical, I decided to finally read this classic, followed by a viewing of every movie version. Having been written in 1868, I expected the novel to be fairly dry and difficult to get through its 467 pages. But when people say that something “stands the test of time,” they were clearly referring to this novel.
Many 19th century critics labeled Little Women a “children’s story,” for it wasn’t considered highbrow and literary enough for adult readers. I think it was actually ahead of its time. The writing style is similar to many 21st century historical fiction novels, easy to read, and with fun conversations between characters. Each character is distinct in their own way and extremely relatable. There are many scenes about faith, marriage, motherhood, illness, and grief that show how years may pass, but we still experience the same emotions and situations. I copied down so many beautiful quotes that hit exactly right. All authors can relate to this one: “She did not think herself a genius by any means; but when the writing fit came on, she gave herself up to it with entire abandon, and led a blissful life, unconscious of want, care, or bad weather, while she sat safe and happy in an imaginary world, full of friends almost as real and dear to her as any in the flesh.“
To conclude, each movie has its merits and, when watched all together, they cover almost everything in the novel. The 1994 version is still my favorite, followed by the 1949 version. If you’ve read my book, Twisted River, 1994’s Mr. Brooke is how I picture Hugo Frye, except shorter and stockier. While I liked the 2019 version, I do not recommend watching it first, as it assumes you’re familiar with the story.
Masterpiece Theater also has a fun quiz to find out which March sister you are. Happily, I got Meg, who is exactly who I think I’m most like, too! I’d love to hear which sister you relate to.
Until next month, happy reading!
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
Kelsey
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