We are pleased to welcome Kristen Stieffel to the L2L2 Publishing family!
Her novel, Alara’s Call, captured us immediately with its imagination, fierce battles, and political intrigue. We are certain this fantasy novel will capture your heart as well.
Here is a quick synopsis:
Many novels feature heroes who fulfill ancient prophecies. Alara’s Call is about a woman who gives new ones.
Alara sees visions of other people’s futures, but that can’t solve her present problems. A young clergywoman, she has been assigned to a mission abroad but longs to lead a congregation in her homeland. Her father, the leader of their country, jeopardizes her dream and her safety when he coerces her into what he calls a diplomatic mission. But it’s a ruse. The trip is meant to end with her marriage to the crown prince of the foreign nation Makut, where members of Alara’s faith are persecuted.
Despite heroic efforts by her friends, sworn to protect her, soldiers break into the inn where Alara has taken refuge. A skilled martial artist, she holds them off valiantly, but she is outnumbered. They overwhelm her, and she is captured.
Imprisoned at the foreign king’s palace, Alara hopes they will honor the diplomatic treaty. But the Makutians, interpreting in their language the treaty her father signed, insists she marry their crown prince. Alara must decide if she is willing to serve God anywhere, even though preaching in Makut might cost her life.
This novel is brilliantly written. Its characters are vibrant, and the adventure doesn’t stop for a moment.
We cannot wait to bring you this wonderful book!
And now a little about the lovely author herself.
Kristen Stieffel is a writer and freelance editor specializing in speculative fiction. She has edited a variety of projects, including business nonfiction and Bible studies, but she is a novelist at heart and has edited novels in many genres for both the general market and the Christian submarket. She is associate editor of Havok, a flash fiction magazine focused on science fiction and fantasy.
Kristen provides a full range of editorial services: copywriting and ghostwriting; manuscript critique; developmental, substantive, and line editing; copyediting; and proofreading. A key part of her business is mentoring writers so they can improve their skills, navigate the publishing process, and serve their audiences. Kristen sees teaching as her primary gift and approaches editing as an educational opportunity.
Kristen is a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association, Christian Editor Connection, and American Christian Fiction Writers, where she served several years on the board of the Central Florida chapter. She is also a mentor with Word Weavers International and serves on the planning committee for Realm Makers, the only conference for Christians who write speculative fiction.
As co-chair of the Florida Writers Association youth program, Kristen teaches at and helps organize its annual conference and leads an online critique group for middle and high school students. Other conferences she has taught at include the Florida Christian Writers Conference, Speculative Fiction: Southeast, Realm Makers, the PENCON Christian editors conference, and the national conference of the Editorial Freelancers Association.
Prior to becoming a freelance editor, Kristen worked for twenty years at Orlando Business Journal, a weekly newspaper for executives and small business owners. After serving in both the advertising and graphic design departments, Kristen transferred to the newsroom as a page designer and copyeditor. During her ten years in the newsroom, she wrote more than a thousand articles, columns, and opinion pieces. One of Kristen’s favorite tasks was writing and recording a daily stock market report for a local radio station.
An elder in the Presbyterian Church USA, Kristen serves as clerk of session at her church and teaches adult Bible studies. Despite living in Florida, Kristen is an avid knitter. In the state that pioneered air conditioning, most sweaters are worn indoors.
Kristen’s publishing credits include “Immolation,” a contemporary flash fiction story in the anthology Revisions: Stories of Starting Over, October 2015; “The Elven Maid,” a fantasy flash fiction story in the July 2015 issue of Havok; and “Flight,” a science fiction novella in the anthology Medieval Mars, July 2015.
This is most definitely one author you’ll want to follow. Check out Kristen’s website (www.KristenStieffel.com), or her Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Google+, and Pinterest pages.
We cannot wait to get this incredible book into your hands!
Happy Reading!
~The L2L2 Publishing Team
P.S. Just a quick reminder that submissions are only open for 10 more days.
And, Reconciliation’s cover reveal and release date are coming soon.
Thank you so much!
*Headshot by Emilie Hendryx of E.A. Creative Photography. Used by permission.