Have you ever met someone who has told you to “just get over it?”  Sometimes this is easier said than done. We all face our own challenges. No one set of people has the same circumstances, but sometimes journeying with others who are facing challenges and who overcome them can encourage us.  I know that when I was a teenager; I found my courage through books. I did not find courage through people overcoming small trials, rather I found courage when reading about people who overcame massive trials.  My mother used to tell me that if we all threw our problems in a hat, we would probably want to take our own troubles back out again when we compared our problems to others. While I do not believe that it is true in all circumstances, I know that no one can fully understand my personal trials. However, I can learn of people who have overcome similar trials or can bring a fresh perspective to me. This week I released my Novella. This Prequel Novella deals with the nastier...

Diary of Dorothea Copyright Kim Vermaak 2020 700AD  Day 1 - Morning  Lockdown with a Dragon  The horror of the day lurks in my mind. When my children are not watching I feel a wave of fear rise inside me.  The deafening shriek of that fearsome beast ripped me from my sleep. Adrenaline surged through me and a kind of terror covered me as I watched the flames erupt from the beast’s mouth.  Nicolous had raced ahead to see what the danger was and ordered me to stay with the children.  But the fear of not knowing what was out there had compelled me to follow him.    Then I saw her.  Enormous, fierce and unyielding in her anger. As I recall her body now while everyone around me is asleep, I can see the ferocious beauty in her shimmering silver form as the light of the flames danced over her scales. There was grace in her flight as her massive form covered the sky.  But I did not perceive that when she first invaded m...

Cabin fever is a claustrophobic reaction to being stuck indoors for prolonged periods of time.  It results in some mood problems. Some of them include irritability and lack of patience.  Patience? Yes patience.  Now I get it… I just self diagnosed my lack of patience without a psychology degree. But in all seriousness we have just come through a spell of rain and flooding in our area, so that can make you feel isolated and a little guilty for the kids being indoors so much.   Today the rain has started again.  If your feel the need to get out and experience some sunshine, so do your kids.  But what if there is no sunshine? For some people, depression, frequent napping and food cravings raise their heads as symptoms of cabin fever.  Reading can assist.  In fact, using your brain, is a known remedy for easing some symptoms of cabin fever.  That is the reason that we love books that create imagery and build ...

I was 15 when I felt afraid.  I knew beyond a doubt that someone had spiked the drink that I had just had.  I had a neighbour who I had popped in to say hello to. He was not there, but a group of friends were. I knew most of them. They were chatting and laughing, and I accepted the refreshment they offered. I did not know about spiked drinks then. But to go from a sober, nervous girl to someone so drunk that I was throwing up made me know something was wrong. It was when I felt fear.  I did not want my parents to know that I was drunk. I went to one bathroom and washed off the mess from my blouse. I thought if I could just let it dry on the balcony, I could go home and not have to answer questions about where I had been and with whom.  That is when he came,  To check if I was all right. He used words to tell me I would have to accept what was coming after all; I was the one without a blouse on.  Many of you will scream, “Foolish girl....

There is some protection in writing during the early hours of the morning.  That is for the protection to others and not to me.  Why do I say this?  Because that is the time that I do the least damage.  You see when I am in writing mode; I become the silent monster. It is the time that I am most likely to snap or say something inappropriate that will flood my body with guilt. My logical calm approach to steering people into a direction that will allow them to consider other people’s opinions evaporates with the steam that my fingers produce on the keyboard. Just this morning we had to get the cats ready for their sterilization appointment. So I did not complete my word count and knew that I would have to expand into normal working hours to meet my target. One of my tribe of fellow authors who has never met the silent monster posted a very endearing image and my critical gene stepped into the arena. Why?  because I was writing a scene in my book that had...

Do you have a historical or fictitious character that you think you are most like?   I had to think hard about this question myself. I started off by researching real medieval characters in history. At first Joan of Arc came to mind for me.   I could well imagine dressing up as a man to take a journey to confront the King of France and standing up against the enemy of my King.   But I have always had a fear of being burned.  The reports that she endured being burned at the stake without crying out makes me think otherwise.  I would have cried out.  If I was living in a medieval fantasy, one of my dragons would have rescued me.  Perhaps it would have been a Silver Wing Dragon.  Because in the Series The Chronicles of Nadine, the Silver Wing Dragons are the custodians of Spiritual Wisdom.  So it would be fitting that a Silver Wing Dragon would rescue Joan of Arc. That would make me a hybri...

This week something happened that sent fear coursing through my veins.  I felt the physical effects and for a while; I felt unable to function.  It is the kind of  fear that my character King Radolf in the series The Chronicles of Nadine uses to rule his kingdom. While researching the world’s greatest villains, I learned that many of them had something traumatic happen  to them in the past.  One that they processed in a way that made them want to extinguish their own fear and weakness by dominating others.  They feel entitled to the pain they inflict on others.   But true strength lies in learning from our pain.    The question is… will you shrink back or will you learn and grow?   Please share what you have learned from past fears and how you have overcome them? #Christianauthor #medievalfantasy #overcomingfear #medievallife #Christianfantasyauthor #Warriorwomen #girlswithswords #booksonamazon #bo...

Questions that Readers Ask What is your inspiration? My middle child inspired the book.  She is a bit of an adrenaline junkie, tormenting us with her tree and roof climbing tactics.  She is also a fiercely independent and stubborn person but has moments of such tenderness when she is with her cat.   She represents the multidimensional facets of strong women. Sometimes as strong women, we are seen in a one-dimensional way.  That we can overcome anything. That we are difficult and high maintenance. Yet strong women can have moments of utter despair and fear when faced with monumental tasks. Strong women often feel lonely and isolated.  As if the expectations of others of what they believe us to be somehow separated us from offers of help, compassion and sympathy. I portrayed the reality of frustrations and tears intermingles with passion and fearlessness.  Not that we are afraid.  It is that we push through the fear a...

I want my readers to get the second book as quickly as possible. In today’s scene, one of the sworn protectors of Lady Christine finds there is an intruder that has infiltrated her tunnels. I chose this photo by Jeremy Bishop on Pexels , because it shows what these underground tunnels in my book are like. Tunnels are a key theme in many parts of the series. In each of our lives, there are hidden parts. Some are unknown to us. Some represent our inner strength, still to be discovered . Then there are some hidden parts others use to lay traps for us. The intruder in this scene poses a big risk. Nadine is not yet trained . Danger looms and their heroine still has to go through her rights of passage. Evidence of an intruder shows a vulnerability in their defences. What are your vulnerabilities? What are your plans to reinforce your life and relationships? For those of you are tracking my progress, this scene is another 786 words. So at this morning’s co...