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nikiflorica
- Aug 5, 2020
- 2 min
The First of Many Wonders
The past few months have taught me a lot about myself—for one thing, that I spend way, way too much time in my own head. Novel-writing is my passion, but it can be an all-consuming one, and once it reaches that point, I usually start to feel it. It's the same with any task, any undertaking. As long as my physical goals are kept in perspective and balanced with my spiritual life, things feel manageable. I have God's peace with me, His Presence beside me, and they keep my goals
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nikiflorica
- Jul 15, 2020
- 2 min
On Guard! A Fib To Watch For in Fiction
Last night, somewhere around midnight, I finished a YA fantasy duology that proved disappointing. Despite engaging writing, a unique concept, and really solid characters, I was unbalanced by the overarching message of moral relativity that seemed to come out of left field. Essentially, at the end of the first book, the reader is told that life and its choices are not black and white, but a spectrum of all the shades of grey in between. And while it's true that every choice ca
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nikiflorica
- Feb 5, 2020
- 2 min
Oh, the Lessons I'm Learning . . .
Writing The Heir of Ariad was a lesson in patience, awaiting God's inspiration in the steady, perfect doses that always came according to His timing, which (as an obvious aside) turned out to be perfect. Publishing The Heir of Ariad was a lesson in trust, facing uncertainty after uncertainty, stress after stress, and needing to learn the key to breathing deeply in the peace of God's presence. To putting everything into His hands and letting go. Marketing The Heir of Ariad is
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nikiflorica
- Jan 1, 2020
- 2 min
Adventure Awaits in 2020!
Today (aside from being Tasnil the Usurper's birthday) marks the first day of a new year, a new decade, and what could be a new chapter in all of our lives. It's been an eventful year, speaking personally. By the grace of God, I published a book, attended an Heir of Ariad Launch Party (and against all laws of introversion, enjoyed it), took part in a book signing, went to Nationals with my school's Symphonic Winds, and lost both my guinea pig and beloved great-grandmother wit
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nikiflorica
- Dec 17, 2019
- 2 min
Come and See Jesus!
At the start of the semester, a friend of mine took the initiative to resurrect a Christian club at our high school from a group that had existed in past years. It's been such a blessed and rewarding experience to meet with Christians every week within a school setting, and today more than usual, since, in the spirit of the season, it was the day of our Christmas service! Shaking up our usual proceedings for the occasion was a lot of fun. We met in the school music room, sang
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nikiflorica
- Dec 4, 2019
- 2 min
Blind and Blurry
Sometimes answers come slowly, through doubt, like an ice-blurred windowpane that melts into clarity one steady droplet at a time. We don't tend to think in those terms, especially when it's our prayers soaring to heaven for relief. We tend to want the answers now, this minute—instant healing, instant direction, instant results—forgetting that sometimes we need to endure a time of doubt before the answers are made clear. Jesus healed a blind man in Mark 8 in a way that may se
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nikiflorica
- Nov 20, 2019
- 2 min
Cracking the Salienne Code
Despite having spent time with her through the many, many drafts of The Heir of Ariad, when it comes to Salienne (sah-lee-ENN) of the Rain Realm, I feel like I've barely scratched the surface. Anyone familiar with Ariad will know Salienne as the fearless and unyielding Silver warrior who takes her role as a sister extremely seriously. If you're not familiar with the story (which *nudge, nudge* can be remedied here) allow me to sum up Salienne as a fierce, indomitable female c
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nikiflorica
- Oct 2, 2019
- 2 min
October News—Verse of the Month!
Well, it's Wednesday—the first of the month—and since October Wednesdays only come around once a year, it's another simple blessing to be thankful for. In honour of the occasion, I thought I'd start something new, a continuation of a great new tradition I've recently begun with my family. In Sunday School, memorizing Scripture verses was a necessity, an integral part of church life. I may not have appreciated it enough at the time, but I'm thankful now for the plethora of ver
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