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Author: Tracey Dyck

Sunshine Blogger Award

Tracey Dyck 31 Comments

Hello! I’m currently off in some secret location on a vacation with my family, so this is me speaking to you from the past. I needed a quick post to schedule for today, since I hate to leave this place lonesome and deserted, and a tag seemed like just the thing.

I’ve done the Sunshine Blogger Award before (a Q&A is about as easy as it gets, thank goodness). This one comes from the lovely lass who goes by the name Blue, over at To Be a Sennachie. Thanks, Blue!


1. How are you today?

As of the day I’m writing this, very well, thank you! My brain is racing a hundred different directions because I’m on the verge of flying away to Realm Makers. (But as of today, I’m probably sitting in the sunshine with a book in hand and feeling much more relaxed.)

2. What’s one thing you love about your job/school?

I enjoy the mindless organizational aspect of restocking the store (I work in clothing retail), but I love the endless stories of customer interactions more. Character fodder, you know! Takes all kinds to make the world go round, and I’ve seen some rather interesting kinds during my two years at this job.

3. Know any other languages?

Besides English . . . no. Does a handful of words I’ve made up for fantasy novels count?

4. What’s one thing you adore- but think you will be able to give up for the rest of your life?

Oi, this is a hard one! If I adore something, naturally I’ll want to keep it around for the rest of my life, or at least for a good long while! But . . . I suppose if forced, I could give up movies. Though I’d hate not getting the chance to see the rest of the Marvel movies. And the eventual new Narnia movie. And all the rewatches of LOTR and the Hobbit that I want to partake of. And every single Disney reboot they come up with. And all the funny, tragic, moving, suspenseful films I want to see. GAH, I CHANGE MY MIND. I couldn’t give up movies! How about chocolate? I’d miss it terribly, but I’d rather feed my mind and heart than my stomach.

5. What’s one thing you despise- but think you will be able to endure for the rest of your life?

Bureaucracy! Red tape! Political correctness! I hates, it precious! (I’m really a harsh little rebel somewhere deep inside, but I tend to keep that shady corner of myself hidden from the public eye.) But being as this is the world we live in, and this sort of nonsensical lack of common sense and justice is entrenched so deeply, I suppose I may have to endure my fair share of it. Though I would like to affect some changes during my lifetime. How, you ask? By burning it all down and starting a benevolent dictatorship on my own little island–ah, I kid. Mostly.

6. The doorbell rings. You answer it, and find the future you at the doorstep.  What do you do?

Invite her in for chai lattes and gingersnaps, knowing she simply can’t resist those, and ply her with questions. Most importantly, how did she get where she is today, is she happy there, and what’s one piece of advice she’d give her younger self (aka me).

7. Have you ever gotten lost, but enjoyed the experience?

I’ve probably gotten turned about in the woods someplace, but there’s always been trails around. Any other times I’ve gotten lost, it’s been driving around in the city, and I do not enjoy that.

8. Do you have any culinary quirks?

I am a messier baker than my mother. *wink* I can’t help but leave flour dust in my wake! And I don’t particularly enjoy handling raw meat, though I’ll do it.

9. Imagine that a theme song from a film or show played every time you entered a room. Which theme song would you want it to be?

Ohhhh, THIS is what you were referring to, Blue, when you mentioned this question was familiar! (On my brother’s blog, I believe?) Anyway, I’d probably pick something light and airy and vaguely epic, with Celtic undertones. Like THIS, perhaps? But if I’m being more accurate, it would probably be something quirky and strange, like Radagast’s theme music.

10. Where would you rather live? A houseboat, a mountain cabin, a farmhouse, or an apartment overlooking the whole city?

The mountain cabin, if you please! Although the farmhouse would be my second choice. I’m not fond enough of the rocking sensation of boats to live on one, and a city–though fun at times–makes my tree-loving soul feel cramped.

11. Where’s Waldo?

Good question. If you find him, you’ll make a killing, because I’m sure there are a good many people who are wondering the same thing.

***

Aaaand I would come up with a set of new questions and tag more people, but I’ve run out of time! Feel free to pick some of these questions to answer in the comments, though! I’ll see you in a short while, and I’ll probably come dump an overly long post full of Realm Makers stories. Until then, fare thee well!

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Fantasy in My Veins (#SilmAwards2017)

Tracey Dyck 26 Comments

Well, my friends, the 2017 SilmAwards have come to a glorious and bittersweet end. If you missed any of the presentations, I finally got around to putting a list at the end of my own presentation post, which you can find HERE. Thanks for joining us in this epic event!

Now, to wind it all down on the very birthday of Lord of the Rings, we’re throwing a party to celebrate Tolkien and all things fantasy! Feel free to join in with your own blog post or update on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/whatever, using #SilmAwards2017. The more the merrier, of course. (And one side of me is chuffed as chips that this coincides with Realm Makers–how appropriate!)

Last year I presented a small smorgasbord of Lord of the Rings stuff–quotes, pictures, musings on what the books and movies and soundtracks mean to me, etc. Today I wish to broaden my view with a reflection on my reading history, and fantasy as a genre.

* * *
picture via Pinterest, graphics my own

Fantasy is my literary homeland.

See, I grew up in a family that treasured stories. My parents read to me copiously as a child. I vividly remember afternoons snuggled up next to my mom with a picture book, prodding her awake and asking her to reread pages when she grew sleepy and began slurring the words I’d memorized . . . evenings gathered around the kitchen table to eat night snack with my siblings while my father read a storybook of our choice . . . trips to the library every three weeks, during which my family of six would haul out 60-70 books at a time . . . lonely bus rides during my earliest elementary school years (prior to homeschooling) when I would bury my nose in a book and ignore the noisy teenagers in the back seats . . . I even recall bedtimes as a teenager, when my dad read a chapter of a novel to me every night just for old time’s sake.

I remember learning to read. I remember my parents telling me that books were like picture windows. When one learns how to read, one can go through those windows into another place.

I remember grade one, when a beloved teacher taught me the bare bones of crafting a story: beginning, middle, and end. She unlocked the first of many doors into a world of making my own magic.

I was hooked.

The moment I mastered beginner readers with stories like “The cat sat on the mat,” I reached for bigger books with longer sentences. From there I jumped to novels like Anne of Green Gables, which was marvellously long and dense for such a young mind, and full of words I didn’t yet understand. As I outgrew animal stories about puppies and horses, I discovered the mystery genre. The Boxcar Children, Jigsaw Jones, Nancy Drew, and Mandy Shaw books held me in suspense and piqued my fascination with the unknown, with secrets to be discovered and trails to be followed.

But the moment a young classmate recommended The Chronicles of Narnia to me was the moment that changed the course of my reading years. I distinctly remember climbing to the second floor of my school library and hunting down the name C.S. Lewis. That day I went home with a copy of The Magician’s Nephew, and I was utterly enchanted.

I was rather young at the time, perhaps eight years old. My parents were wise enough to put the rest of the series, which was a wee bit over my head, on hold for when I turned ten. Yet another clear memory: the day they put a massive tome containing all seven Narnia books in my hands.

There was no looking back. I had found a world that entranced me, inspired me, kept me captive and set me free all at once. The idea that another world might be as close as the next wardrobe nestled somewhere deep inside my heart. Here was a genre that deepened my understanding of reality by stretching my vision into realms beyond my own. Here was a genre that strengthened my hands with the courage of a knight and filled my heart with the compassion of a hero. A genre that allowed me to soar on dragon’s wings.

Thereafter followed several years of testing my mother’s patience every single time we visited the library. I very quickly exhausted their supply of age-appropriate fantasy, plagued my mother with cries of “I have nothing to read!” and subsequently turned down every thoughtful suggestion she made that fell outside the realm of my beloved fantasy. (God bless Mom.) She eventually managed to help me stretch my horizons, and I found enjoyment in a collection of other genres as well.

Older horse stories took me to Thoroughbred races and equestrian shows. Frank Peretti took me to wild jungles with the Cooper family. Melody Carlson immersed me in the elitist ranks of drama-loving high school girls. Countless other authors introduced me to all sorts of wonderful things.

But fantasy remained my One True Love. From the beginning of my teenage years, Bryan Davis and Wayne Thomas Batson pulled me into worlds of dragons, slayers, quests, and swords. More recently, authors like Anne Elisabeth Stengl have painted heart-rending images in my mind’s eye of love and loss and beauty all wrapped up in another realm. And so many other authors in between have done the same.

I’m thankful for all the genres I’ve read, no doubt. But fantasy is where I feel most at home. Fantasy is often where I experience the greatest joys and deepest sorrows as a reader. It’s where my imagination takes flight. And most importantly, it’s where I see facets of the real Author’s character the clearest.

pictured above: The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis // Liberator, Bryan Davis //
The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien // Halt’s Peril, John Flanagan // The Door Within,
Wayne Thomas Batson // Heartless, Anne Elisabeth Stengl // The Bones of Makaidos,
Bryan Davis // White, Ted Dekker // The Return of the King, J.R.R. Tolkien //
Prophet, R.J. Larson // Raven’s Ladder, Jeffrey Overstreet

In Aslan of The Chronicles of Narnia, I witness His sacrificial love.

In King Eliam of The Door Within, I see His blinding glory.

In the actions of Billy, Bonnie, Professor Hamilton, Sapphira, and their friends from the world of Dragons in Our Midst, I see what great warriors of the faith are capable of doing.

In the Prince of Farthestshore of Tales of Goldstone Wood, I see my Savior wooing me to His side, and in the song of the wood thrush I hear Him calling me to His path.

In the waters of Elyon from the Circle quartet, I find transformative joy.

In the Keeper of the Auralia Thread, I sense His mystery.

In the courage of hobbits, the strength of men, the wisdom of elves, and the determination of dwarves in Lord of the Rings, I see treasure hidden in jars of clay. I see what happens to the small and insignificant when committed to the hands of One much greater.

I escape into fantasy not to avoid the trials of this life here on earth, but to find wells of inspiration that bolster my faith to face them.

And that, my friends, is why I call fantasy my homeland. These books and more echo the cry of my heart for something beyond this world, for something greater than myself, for wonders hidden beneath what my eyes can see–and to all those desires, I hear my Father answering yes, yes, yes.

Yes, the unseen is more real than the seen. Yes, I AM greater than you yet know. Yes, I have hidden jewels of wonder in the crevices of your days, and the final treasure trove awaits beyond the veil of this life. Yes, I am here. Yes, I am present. Yes, I care. Yes, I am the One who compels you to a quest of your own, the One who charts your best path, the One who infuses your weary limbs with strength, the One who promises a crown to all those who stay the course.

Perhaps I stray too close to the ditch of exaggeration, but I think not. God knows what best speaks to our hearts, and I think He finds pleasure in my delight over the fictional worlds I travel. Whatever mouthpiece will speak the loudest, the clearest, is different from person to person. But as for me, the far-flung reach of fantasy is one of the greatest calls I hear.


It’s a call I have listened to for years, and it is one I shall return to again and again for years to come. For me, fantasy is woven into the song of my Father.

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Subplots and Storylines – July 2017

Tracey Dyck 33 Comments

(I almost wrote 2018, you guys. Scary.)

Hello! Whew, it feels like a massive party has been happening around here, what with the fantastically epic SilmAwards going on! I hope you’ve been having as much with it as I have. (If you missed it, click HERE to check out who won the Wisest Counselor Silmaril.) The awards take a break over this weekend, but then on Monday, the next post will go live!

If you’re looking for a schedule of the awards presentations, Deborah has a handy one right here.

In the meantime, S&S is coming to you a week early. “What!” you say. “July isn’t over yet!” I know, but in a matter of days I depart for Realm Makers (which will require a recap post, trust me). And after that’s over, I’ll be away on family holidays and shan’t return to the internet until sometime during the first full week of August. Hence the early post.

July thus far has been a little less crazy than previous months. We celebrated Canada’s 150th and my dad’s birthday. One afternoon, I went out for a spontaneous coffee date with two friends I hadn’t caught up with in a long time, and it was good to step away from writing for a couple of hours. I spent a fun day shopping in the city with my mom and sisters. The week after that, I took my brother to the city too, and we enjoyed shopping, watching Spider-Man Homecoming, having milkshakes, and listening to a super long, super amazing playlist he put together for my novel The Brightest Thread. (I love my family, guys.)

Another highlight was strawberry picking. Come on, who doesn’t love getting down on their hands and knees between the rows and hunting down the brightest, reddest berries? But the best part is eating them afterward. Strawberries everywhere–with cream and sugar, with ice cream, with yogurt, with cake, with waffles and whipped cream, with French toast. EVERYTHING. Strawberries have a way of making it feel like summer (so does pea shelling, which we’ve also been doing).

(*looks at above paragraphs* Apparently I can talk about food for just as long as I can talk about life happenings. Ha.)

Oh! Before we move on, I have to share one of the biggest things that happened this month. You know how I applied for college this fall? Well, recently I was told that I was put on the waiting list–I would have to wait a full year to get in. Needless to say, I was disappointed. But all the delays in my life thus far have ended up being really good things, and God has used them to take me down better paths than I had set out for myself. So I was resigned to spend a year working at my job, trying to get my writing out there, and seeing what unexpected opportunities God might bring my way.

But a week after getting that email, I got another one saying I’ve been accepted after all! A few students dropped out, making room for me this fall! Classes start at the end of August (which is ridiculously close, you guys). It’s a two year course in business administration. I never would have thought of taking something like this, but I’ve come to realize that a) this can help me start a financially stable career, and b) this will also help me in the writing/publishing field, because authors are essentially small business owners! Anyway, this is a big answer to prayer! And life is going to be changing yet again in just over a month.

On the Screen

Yep, you guessed it again: more Once Upon a Time. Still slowly going through seasons 2, 3, and 5. After a decidedly blegh episode in season 5 (called Ruby Slippers, for those who may be wondering), the season is looking up again. Or rather, looking very bleak for the characters, but much more exciting for me. Can’t wait to see the last few episodes!

I mentioned it above, but I must say it again: I saw Spider-Man Homecoming in theaters and LOVE LOVE LOVED IT! There was a tad more language than I expected, but other than that, this was the perfect Spidey flick. I love Tom Holland’s performance, because we finally have a Peter Parker who looks and acts exactly like a high school teenager. Don’t get me wrong, Andrew Garfield was fantastic (and Tobey McGuire . . . eh, he gets points for being cheesy and nostalgic), but Tom Holland brings out the things that make Spider-Man Spider-Man.


The movie was funny, endearing, down-to-earth, and still had its intense moments. I was literally on the edge of my seat near the end. That plot twist. Wow. And it was so great having Tony Stark around for a bit. I love seeing him play mentor. The villain had a more grounded/realistic backstory than some, the high school dynamics were the best, and Ned was a hilarious best friend/”guy in the chair.”

I wish I had a more cohesive mini review to share, but my thoughts are all over the place. It’s one of those movies I have to see again!

On the Page

Scorpia by Anthony Horowitz
Probably the best Alex Rider book yet! It still feels like a kid playing James Bond, but this book had a more complex plot. I think Alex is growing up. He discovered more about his father, was faced with some pretty difficult choices, and had to get out of even worse scrapes than before. My favorite scene was near the beginning when he’s stuck in a flooding prison cell in Venice! Kind of reminded me of Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation a little bit.
Four stars.
Solitary by Travis Thrasher (audio book)
I read started reading the Solitary Tales back in 2013. I remember loving it back then. The writing style isn’t particularly beautiful or complex, but that’s why it’s so easy to fly through. Listening to the audio book over the last couple months (what can I say? my drive to work is too short), I couldn’t speed through the story, but it was cool to “reread it” now that I know how the whole story ends.
I’d forgotten how dark and hopeless it gets, but I don’t mind because I know that Chris, the main character, is embarking on a journey to find light. Even if he doesn’t know it by the final page of book one. Meanwhile, the web of secrets strung over the little town of Solitary is intriguing and terrifying. It’s still suspenseful the second time around, because I don’t remember all the ins and outs.
Anyway, back to the audio format: four stars for this one. The book itself gets five stars, but I enjoyed the narrator of the last audio book I listened to (Crazy Dangerous) more.
Reapers by Bryan Davis

I’m in the middle of it right now, and expect to finish before I leave. I’ll have more thoughts to share in next month’s S&S post, but for now I’ll say that the pace is picking up, and I’m quite enjoying myself! Phoenix is a very different protagonist than most of Bryan Davis’s. He’s still principled, but not to the extent of someone like Billy Bannister or Adrian Masters or Nathan Shepherd. (Although I’m still figuring Phoenix out, so don’t take that as my final say on the matter.) I look forward to seeing where the second half of the book goes!

On the Writing Desk

As you know, the Silmarillion Awards have been going on this month, which sort of counts as writing–at least part of it.

Other than that, I clocked my writing time again this month: about 30 hours spent writing and/or editing The Brightest Thread. As I edited, I wrote in a few new scenes and added touches of description, contributing another 6,665 words to the manuscript. Now it stands at precisely 68,727 words. Not quite as close to my 70k goal as I wanted, but at this point that’s all I have in me to add. After days of slow progress, including taking my laptop along on the drive to and from church a few Sundays, just to get more writing time in, it’s a relief to be done!

I think The Brightest Thread is the strongest novel I’ve written to date, despite the fact that it’s also the shortest. I’m excited to pitch it next week and see what kind of feedback it gets! Even an unfavorable reaction is a learning experience, so it’s impossible to lose out.

In other writing-related doings, I finished up session 12 of The Creative Way (the writing course by Ted Dekker I’m slowly going through). I also designed business cards and wrote up a one sheet for the conference!

Farewell for now, my friends!

Although I’ll be using the internet whilst at the conference, after that I’ll be unplugging for a week. You won’t see me around here for a little while. However, I hope to schedule a few posts to go up during my absence, so it won’t be completely quiet on Adventure Awaits.

One of the scheduled posts will be for the end of the SilmAwards on July 29th. All of you are welcome to join in as well with your own posts (blog or otherwise) to celebrate all things Tolkien and fantasy! There are no rules. Feel free to write a tribute to Tolkien, pen an ode to Samwise Gamgee, start a discussion about favorite elements of fantasy, share a collection of quotes, include a gif or two (or three hundred) from Lord of the Rings, make a list of favorite fantasy novels, or whatever you like! (Remember to use #SilmAwards2017 on social media!) I’ll catch up on it all when I return.

Take care, my friends! I look forward to sharing my adventures with you! And if any of you are coming to Realm Makers–I’ll see you there.

How has your July been? I hope you’re having a fantastic summer. Bet you’re craving strawberries now, thanks to me.  If you’ve seen Spider-Man Homecoming, what did you think of it?

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Silmarillion Awards – Winner of the Wisest Counselor Silmaril

Tracey Dyck 43 Comments



Me: Hello, everyone, and welcome to the final phase of the 2017 Silmarillion Awards! It has been a rollicking adventure indeed, and we can’t thank you enough for your enthusiasm and participation this year. To kick it off, I’d like to welcome up a very special character from Middle Earth to present the award for Wisest Counselor. *peeks over shoulder* Um, a very special character from Middle Earth. *clears throat* A certain wise counselor . . . to present . . . Ahem, it appears our presenter has yet to arrive–

*a pointy grey hat pokes out from backstage*

Gandalf: Not so, you fool! *strides onto stage and snatches mic* A wizard is never late, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he intends to. I was merely arranging celebratory provisions for later.

Me: Apologies, Gandalf. We’re just happy to have you here. My friends, allow me to introduce Gandalf the Grey, also known as Mithrandir, the White Rider, Greyhame, and Stormcrow, among other names. He is certainly the wisest counselor anyone could meet in Middle Earth. *bows and exits stage*

Gandalf: Thank you. Now then. Where were we? Ah, yes, the time has come to award the Wisest Counselor Silmaril to the character deemed most worthy by all of you. *sniffs* You’re a much nicer audience than I find in Hobbiton, did you know? Taller, yes, but rather less noisy.

Ahem. Five characters of great wisdom contended for this Silmaril, but only one may receive it. And the fellow who secured the most votes is deserving indeed. I shouldn’t be surprised, really, but even the very wise cannot see all ends.

The counsel this gentleman has provided his friends has most certainly changed the courses of their lives, and perhaps even saved some. Like I always say, all we have to decide is what to do with the time that has been given us, and this man has decided to do a great deal of good with his. He knows that it is not our part to master all the tides of the world. Instead, he pours all of his strength and considerable heart into guiding the tides under his control, and surrendering the rest to his Master.

Though he has walked through times of sorrow and seasons of waiting, he has stayed the course. He is a beacon of light to those who follow in his footsteps. Others may claim the title of hero in his tale, but if not for him, the road would have taken a very different turn indeed.

My friends, may I present the winner of the 2017 Wisest Counselor Silmaril:

Professor Charles Hamilton!

*a smartly dressed older gentleman with wild grey hair rises from the front row and joins Gandalf on stage*
Professor Hamilton: *in a British accent* My, your fireworks get better every year, Gandalf.
Gandalf: I should say they do. Congratulations, young man. *hands over the Silmaril* This is yours to keep for a lifetime.
Professor Hamilton: Young? *smiles* Compared to you, perhaps. I am honored to receive such a prize, though I must that any wisdom I possess is thanks to the very Source of all wisdom. I merely listen to Him.
Gandalf: And that is precisely what makes you wise. Now, before we acknowledge the runners-up, I would like to take a moment to honor you, Professor, by calling up a scene from your past. *waves staff*
*translucent image appears over the stage*

The professor grasped [Excalibur] and limped toward the central pedestal. He knelt at Bonnie’s side and placed the sword in Billy’s hands, wrapping his own fingers on top and elevating the blade. Billy opened his eyes and tightened his grasp on the hilt.

“William,” the professor said, softly, “what now is your weapon?”

Bonnie could see Billy’s eyes reflecting the professor’s shining face, enhanced by Excalibur’s glow. She held her breath, waiting for Billy’s reply.

“Truth,” he whispered, his voice rasping. “Truth is my sword.”

The professor nodded, his eyes now flashing, and his voice erupted in deep, echoing tones as if Billy’s answer strengthened him. “And what now is your defense?”

Color returned to Billy’s face, and his jaw tightened. His voice surged with emotion. “Faith . . . faith is my shield.”

*image fades*
Professor Hamilton: *blinks back tears and beams at a row of young people in the audience* How well I remember that day.
Gandalf: As I thought. It was a turning point for one of your young charges. For using your wisdom to strengthen weary bones and direct wandering hearts, ladies and gentleman, I present to you Professor Hamilton!
*thunderous applause*
Professor Hamilton: *bows, then leans over to whisper* By the way, it is an honor to meet the namesake of a certain cat.
*sounds of a scuffle*
*a cat yowls and streaks away between chairs*
Someone in the audience: Walter! I told you to hang onto him!
*chuckling, the professor takes a seat*
Gandalf: I cannot forget the wisdom of four other magnificent characters, and I thought it might interest all of you to find out how they fared in the voting round. *pulls scroll out of his robe and consults a list*
Professor Hamilton from Dragons in Our Midst – 34%
Puddleglum from The Chronicles of Narnia – 23%
Albus Dumbledore from Harry Potter – 21%
Prince of Farthestshore/Aethelbald from Tales of Goldstone Wood – 18%
Beana from Tales of Goldstone Wood – 4%
*a marsh-wiggle, wizard, prince, and goat incline their heads respectfully from the front row*

Gandalf: To all who did not win this year, I will not say do not weep, for not all tears are an evil. You have all performed admirably. Once again, congratulations to the dear professor. *looks around* Now . . . what am I supposed to do? Just–leave? Introduce someone?
Me: *hurries back out* Not to worry, I’ve got it. Thank you, Gandalf! Make sure to follow along with the presentations, everyone. Tomorrow the winner of the Least Competent Henchman will be announced, an event you certainly won’t want to miss. Happy Silmarillion Awards 2017!
[Note: excerpt taken from The Candlestone by Bryan Davis]

EDIT: For your convenience, here are the links to the award presentations! (Will be updated as they are posted.)
Most Magnificent Dragon
Most Loyal Friend
Most Nefarious Villain
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