So…. it’s taken a lot of getting up of nerves before I decided to actually post this. Like — a lot of nerves.

Most of you already know that I have been working on a book that, Lord willing, I am hoping to publish in the near future.

Today, I am going to give y’all a little sneak peak into my WIP. Are you ready? (Not gonna lie, I’m not really. But we’re gonna do it anyway!)

THE RULES:

• Thank the person who tagged you & link to their blog.
• Link back to the creator, Katja @ Little Blossoms for Jesus, & add the tag graphic. 
• List the rules. 
• Answer the questions. 
• Feel free to add snippets!
• Tag as many or as few people as you wish & let them know they’re tagged. 
• Add a clean copy of the questions at the end of your post for the “tagged.”

1. Has your WIP a working title? If so, tell us! If not, have you any idea of what it might be?

My WIP’s working title is “Though War Should Rise Against Me”. The title is actually a quote from a Bible verse — Psalm 27:3.

“Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.“

2. Have you a synopsis for your WIP? If so, give it to us! If not, can you give us a blurb on what your WIP is about? 

This is a very rough blurb that is probably not what it is going to be in the end because things are still changing, but we are going to give it a shot anyways.

“Ethan Matthews never knew what it was like to have a normal childhood much less what it was to have someone who cared about him. The army is his chance to finally be accepted. But when things take an unexpected turn and betrayal leaves him reeling in pain, can he find a way to keep going?

Luke Leeson is determined to even the score of his brother’s death at Pearl Harbor and protect his mom and sister. Every breath he takes is aimed at finding the justice that is deserved. Thrust into a position he doesn’t want and taken to a prison against his will, he struggles to grapple with his longing for justice.

Is God’s love really able to reach into even the darkest places? Is it strong enough to melt the hardest hearts? Together, Luke and Ethan must choose — Hate or Forgiveness.”

3. Have you a working/mock cover for your WIP? If so, show us! If not, have you an idea in mind?

I don’t have one currently available to show, so I’m going to pass on this one.

4. How did you get the idea for this story?

This story deals with topics that are very close to my heart. The very first idea that I had for this book actually was as a result of a research paper on POWs of WWII that I had to do when I was in my freshman year of high school. That is really where the idea got its start, and then it snowballed into what it is/is going to be now.

5. How long do you think it will be? Is it longer or shorter than you thought it would be?

When I started writing it, I originally was guessing it would be somewhere around 50,000 words long. The first draft ended up at roughly 57,000. With my current draft, I expect it to be closer to around 90,000-100,000 words. I honestly can’t believe it has come as far as it has though, and I’m excited to see where it will end up.

6. Who’s your favourite character so far?

This question is like asking a parent to pick a favorite kid. I mean, how on earth am I supposed to pick one character to be my favorite out of all of the characters in this book?

If I have to pick though, hands down it would be Ethan Matthews. His story is so easy for me to write compared to some of the other characters. I’m not sure why though, seeing as he was technically not even supposed to be a main character when I first started to work on this project. But he is— and here we are…

7. What’s your favourite memory related to this WIP?

My favorite memory so far would have to be being able to finally share my first draft with my family. It took me quite a while for me to finish my first draft of this WIP. During which time, none of my family had any idea what it was even about. They didn’t even know what era it was set in. Finally, when I finished my first draft, I was able to share it with my mom, sister, and brother in order to get some much needed feedback from them. Then I got the privilege of finally telling my grandma and great-grandma that I was writing a book. My great-grandma has always told me, for as long as I can remember, that I needed to write a book, so being able to tell her that I am writing one, felt amazing. So yeah, probably my favorite memory was getting their reaction of it when I first shared it with all of them.

8. Any special person(s) who helped create it?

Oh my. I couldn’t even begin to tell you all of the people who have had an impact on the writing of this book (and I’m sure, will continue to.)

First of course, my family. I probably would’ve completely given it up if they hadn’t been keeping me accountable to it and encouraging me to keep going. I know that while I continue work on this book, they will keep pushing me to stay the course. If not for their constant encouragement, this book wouldn’t even be to the stage it’s at. I think I would’ve given up long ago. We have spent many hours brainstorming different plot holes and characters.

9. What’s your favourite scene so far (if you can tell about it without spoilers!)?

Hmmm, I’m not sure my favorite scene can be shared due to spoilers in it. Y’all will have to wait on that for a future post.

10. Can you give us a snippet? 

“Ethan crawled to the soldier closest to him, keeping low to the ground. His stomach turned at the sight before him. The entire left side of the man’s chest had been blown open. Blood sprayed from the wound, mixing with the dirt to form a reddish hued mixture. Ethan flinched. It was the first casualty he had seen up close. 

If this is a taste of what is to come, it’ll be a miracle if any of us survive this war.

The screams of the soldier jarred him from his thoughts. He reached for the medical pack each man was required to carry on his person. Tearing open the packet of sulfa powder, he emptied the contents over the gaping wound. The soldier grabbed Ethan’s hand, his whimpered cries barely rising above the sound of the battle. 

“Please, don’t let me die. I don’t want to die.” The soldier’s eyes shone with terror. Ethan looked away from the man’s gaze.

“You’re gonna be alright, soldier,” he lied. What else could he say? He knew it probably wasn’t true, but how could he tell him that he was dying? That he would never see another day? 

Producing a tablet of morphine from the medical kit, Ethan helped prop the soldier’s head up. Blood slicked Ethan’s hands, making it hard to hold onto anything. 

“Get me home, please,” the soldier’s voice had become more of a whisper than anything. “I don’t want to die.”

Ethan looked up at the scene unfolding around them. His eyes searched the area for the telltale Cross insignia of a medic. 

A hollow thump and jerk backwards returned his gaze to the soldier in his arms. The man’s eyes stared up at Ethan — blank, empty, lifeless. A bullet had hit him squarely in the heart.

Ethan sat in a shocked daze. Blood, blackish-red and sticky, oozed from the round hole in the soldier’s chest. Ethan turned at the touch of a hand on his shoulder.

Dale knelt beside him, his face smudged with dirt. “The medics are here now. Let’s go, we’ve done what we can,” he said.

Ethan looked back at the lifeless soldier in his arms. His dogtags were hanging out of his uniform in a haphazard way. Ethan reached out and flipped one over. His breath caught in his throat as he read the name: Cpl. Frank Vernon.

That name would be etched into his memory with as much precision as the picture of the soldier’s pain filled eyes. Ethan hadn’t known him well. He mostly just knew him in passing, but he was from their platoon. That seemed to make it all the worse. He was the first man Ethan had seen die.

 He slowly laid him down on the ground, and followed Dale back to their squad. His mind was numb. Watching a man die in your arms had a way of doing that to a person.”

11. Is the story still what you thought it would be or has it thrown you a couple curveballs?

Absolutely not. It is so far from what it started out to be. In fact it is still changing so much! Wow, it has been a whirlwind of changes from what it was originally. I had a totally different idea of what it would be then what it actually is now.

12. Is there a Bible verse, poem, hymn, picture, or quote that helped shape this story?

There are so, so many that I couldn’t even list them all. A few of the top ones though would be:

“For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:38-39

“You can’t always be strong, but you can always be brave.” ~Anonymous

“It takes more courage to suffer than to die.” ~Napoleon

“And suddenly life wasn’t about living. It was about surviving.” ~Anonymous

13. When and where have you done most of the writing so far?

Most of my writing on this book has been done early in the morning before the rest of my household wakes up. The majority of it has been done in the recliner in our family room and, when the weather’s nice, outside on our back porch. I do sometimes write at the table in our kitchen, but not as often as the other places.

14. Where do you get inspiration for this story?

I find inspiration for this story in a lot of different things. I find it in music, Bible verses, quotes, pictures. One song that always inspires me with this WIP is “Settled at the Cross”.

15. Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I am a certified plantster. I am really just a mix of the two. I do plot some, but I also very much fly by the seat of my pants. It makes for an interesting ride sometimes.

16. Do you have a little ritual before you start writing?

Because I usually write in the morning, I always read my Bible and have my quiet time with God first. Then typically I sit down with a mug of coffee and maybe something to eat, and I get situated. From there I will pray, before I start actually writing, that God would bless my writing and that it would glorify him. I also will usually get up some quiet instrumental music to play while I write.

17. Are you thinking of publishing this story?

Lord willing, 100%. I fully intend to publish this WIP if the Lord allows me to. It still is going through the refining stages though so I’m not sure really when that will happen. I am anxiously looking forward to the day when I finally can say I am a published author though, and release my book to the world.

18. What things have you learned while writing this story?

I have learned that first drafts are messy. Really. Really. Messy. At least, mine are! I also learned that it is ok to have a messy first draft.

I have also been learning that I can do absolutely nothing in my own strength. I am simply not capable. The only way that I can do anything is through the strength of my Saviour alone. Without Him, I fall flat on my face every time.

Practically speaking as far as things I have learned for the book itself, it ranges everywhere from battles of WWII, medical first aid protocol during WWII, weapons, etc.

It has definitely been a growing, learning curve!

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Thank you, Katja for leaving an open tag for anyone who wants to do it!

I Tag…

Madi @ Madi’s Musings

Vanessa Hall

Kristina Hall

Allyson Jamison

Autumn @ Bursting Through The Darkness

Bethany @ A Ruby in The Rough

Hannah @ More Than Just Reading

Anyone who wants to do it!

THE CLEAN COPY: 

1. Has your WIP a working title? If so, tell us! If not, have you any idea of what it might be?
2. Have you a synopsis for your WIP? If so, give it to us! If not, can you give us a blurb on what your WIP is about?
3. Have you a working/mock cover for your WIP? If so, show us! If not, have you an idea in mind?
4. How did you get the idea for this story?
5. How long do you think it will be? Is it longer or shorter than you thought it would be?
6. Who’s your favourite character so far?
7. What’s your favourite memory related to this WIP?
8. Any special person(s) who helped create it?
9. What’s your favourite scene so far (if you can tell about it without spoilers!)?
10. Can you give us a snippet? 
11. Is the story still what you thought it would be or has it thrown you a couple curveballs?
12. Is there a Bible verse, poem, hymn, picture, or quote that helped shape this story?
13. When and where have you done most of the writing so far?
14. Where do you get inspiration for this story?
15. Are you a plotter or a pantser?
16. Do you have a little ritual before you start writing?
17. Are you thinking of publishing this story?
18. What things have you learned while writing this story?

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There it is, folks! Hopefully you enjoyed seeing a tiny peak into the craziness of my writing. Prayerfully in the future, you will be seeing a lot more!

A. M. Watson

Hebrews 13:8