This week I came across a special lady who lost a friend to suicide. Her friendship   was a gift of light that she gave, but it was not enough to save the person.   It is painful to watch her struggle with feelings of guilt. I have a family member who attempted suicide 5 times. Suicide is a battle that those left behind continue to fight long after the person has left. The “what if” questions are a relentless torture that robs you of your joy.  Find help. Reach out to a support group. Process your feelings before they become a trap to you.  This photo by Engin Akyurt really reminded me of how we can get trapped by the bondage of other people’s emotions.  Do not be afraid to reach out to others after a suicide.  Your story may help someone to find healing as you journey together.  In my second book of The Chronicles of Nadine, I write about the journey of despair and hopelessness that can tra...

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...

As an author I often get asked "Is this book is like Game of Thrones? Well, yes, and no. It has a complex  and vibrant set of characters. But there are some core differences. The dragons in The Chronicles of Nadine are an intricate part of the series. They are  creatures of legend and fear, who villagers  are compelled to slay. But their true purpose  unfolds along with the characters in this series.  However, unlike the Game of Thrones, The Chronicles of Nadine is a series that embraces a core moral compass that, is so often lacking in society and in some modern epic fantasy.   Not that there is no decay in society. The series has its fair share of murder, failure, and betrayal.  But at its core, there is a striving to overcome the struggles that often cause men and women to turn away from the light. It is possible to write an epic fantasy for Young Adults that does not need erotica, nudity or foul language to w...

Have you ever made a devastating choice?   The one that leaves you crying out, “Oh God, what have I done? “  It is painful watching those we love struggle with life-changing decisions. I have made them. And sometimes my friends have made them. There were when I had to cradle a friend in my arms as I would my children. My heart cried out for them trapped in choices they could never undo. There are some choices that we can patch up and fix. Sometimes we emerge stronger than before.  And sometimes we can only ask for the lesson in our pain.  But what I have come to  realise is that in every painful situation , there can be a purpose. A time to help others who have stumbled along the path. When you have decided out  of fear and regretted it, have to courage to help others make better choices.  The temptation is to cocoon ourselves and pretend it never happened, but reach out and love others when they need it. www . kimvermaak.com https:/...

We all face giants at some point.  For David, it was Goliath. For Nadine, it was Muquin. For someone else, it may be debt or a toxic relationship. But they all have the power to trap up.  To keep us captive to fear.  In the series's first book,  Muquin represents what many of us would cower from.  Seriously, if I woke up one day and saw my village being burned down, I would look for the first Uber out of here. Yet. Muquin holds a key to a destiny that Nadine never imagined.  When Nadine was desperate for a way to rescue her family, she took the first steps.   I knew that I wanted to change my life, to catch hold of that dream that I always wanted… to write books that help people find their courage. But fun fiction ones that speak to the hero buried inside you. I love motivational books. But novels allow you to be the hero inside them. To identify with the characters.  I w...

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...