Skip to content
Liz Koetsier

Stories unlock your courage.

  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • Stories
  • Contact & Follow
  • Newsletter & Free Story
  • Library
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • Stories
  • Contact & Follow
  • Newsletter & Free Story
  • Library

Instagram

ink.lizard

✒ Christian Fantasy Author/ 36
👇FREE STORY 👇
🔱 Brave daughter of The King
🐈 Cat mama #jemmananigans
🐝 Hufflepuff

Liz Koetsier
👍 Would probably place among the top 3 in USA C 👍 Would probably place among the top 3 in USA Cat Olympics in the Loaf Tournament. 🍞 Wouldn't you think? Vote for Jemma, everyone.
A u t h o r  I n t e r v i e w with Victoria Lynn A u t h o r  I n t e r v i e w with Victoria Lynn 🥀 I'm so thrilled to share with you this mini-interview with @victorialynnauthor in celebration of release day for This Life of Mine with @theglorywriterspress! It's been a blessing to get to know her, and I know she has put her heart & soul into her newest book baby.  🥀 Which POV did you enjoy writing the most? Who surprised you the most? ~ It's always so hard to pick between book children.... LOL! but I think I 'enjoyed' Dilara more only from the standpoint that her story is one that challenged me. It's one that felt like a discovery the entire way and her's while not necessarily surprising me in a large way, really surprised me in the sense that I was finding out more about her on every page that I wrote. Her character and voice was strong from the get-go and it wasn't through my doing. It was like she was talking to me and my heart felt undone in new ways of compassion for women in her situations.  🥀 What places inspired the world of Elira?  ~ Oof... Honestly, it's very vivid in my head. Lots of the mountainous rainforests in the PNW really inspire me. The two times I've gone I've been looking around in wonder feeling like I stepped foot into this magical world of nature that reminds me of Elira. It also is hugely inspired by European culture and landscape as well. Think Scotland, the british coast and isles etc.  🥀 What do you want readers to take away from this story? ~ I hope they find hope but are also moved to action. The fight for life and freedom is simply getting started and there is so much we can be DOING for women in Dilara's position and their babies. I hope that readers see these women the way God does, with so much compassion and heart to serve and heal and restore them to hope and a life fulfilled in Christ. I also hope that it encourages them to greater trust and surrender to the Lord and inspires them to know that God can use them, no matter how broken, weak, or ashamed they are.  Thank you for taking the time to share @victorialynnauthor! 🥀 Short synopsis is in the comments & links will be added to my stories. 🥀
Happy St. Patrick's Day! I have no idea if I have Happy St. Patrick's Day! I have no idea if I have even a smidgeon of Irish in me (doubtful) but my heart feels Irish sometimes. Can that count? As a child, one of my grade school assignments was to pick a country and write an essay about it. I chose Ireland for no particular reason and ended up falling in love with the pictures of the green, rolling hills, and the fuzzy, hardy ponies. Later, my grandma would take me to "Travelogues" at a local high school, and one of them was of a trip in Ireland. These core memories rooted themselves into my memory and shaped a deeper interest into anything Irish, mostly music and mythology. I was spellbound by the charming magic of this emerald country, and I don't think I ever woke up from that dream. In 2017, a part of that dream became reality on a 5-day trip to Ireland (so short!) with the sophisticatedly charming @shan_josephinemathai . I was scared to pieces to leave the USA for the first time but she was a pro and soothed my anxiety with her adventurous, zealous love for people and culture. I want to go back someday so, so much. [If you scroll back in my feed I have posted a few other photos here & there of us on the trip together.] Here is a gnarled, mystical tree covered in moss today, where perhaps an impish faerie might be hiding. Have you ever done something so magical and wonderful, something you had dreamed of doing for a long time? (Even if it was a small thing, it counts!) What was it?
So this is 36. I'm a different person than me at So this is 36. I'm a different person than me at 26. You wouldn't have recognized me. I couldn't imagine the changes that were about to happen in my life, from learning to step outside of my cozy Michigan bubble, to realizing I had an different trail to blaze and books were going to be a part of my life, and to gaining so much more than I ever dreamed God could have for me. It was good, but it was hard. If you look back on a person's Instagram account and think it looks like picturesque journey, just remember that beauty is born from trials. Have you ever seen what a dancer's feet look like under the glossy satin shoes? They're twisted, brown, and bruised. Scars build us up and give us more empathy, the ability to see wider and further and be stronger and braver. This gives me hope that, whatever comes this next year of my life, there is light ahead and I won't be alone. There's something great in store. I'm excited to live it.
Cover reveal + Giveaway! Happiest of cover reveal Cover reveal + Giveaway! Happiest of cover reveal days, Haylie! (@therealhayliehanson)! Luminaut #3 Shadow Ender closes this shining trilogy with a powerful, suspenseful ending. Shadow Ender releases on April 20, 2023. Giveaway entry info is below the blurb & details. (Spoiler warning for books 1 & 2 in this blurb) Callie’s Light Cores are gone. She’s imprisoned in a desert world. Her Seer Toran blames her for the death of his sister. Oh, and the Queen Beyond the Stars is one step closer to destroying the multiverse. So, things are just great. To make things more fun, formerly evil, mostly undead (and still smoking hot) Nate Ormandi arrives to help Callie and her friends. And he’s got Toran’s very much alive sister with him. Surprise! However, as Nate and Callie work to conquer the death maze, Toran keeps leading them into traps. Is Callie’s grumpy Seer trying to get them killed, or is someone else pulling the strings? Time is running out. The Darkness is stronger than ever. As the line between enemy and ally blurs, the last Luminaut will face a terrible choice, one that will change the whole multiverse forever. Comp Titles: Maze Runner (James Dashner) To Best The Boys (Mary Weber); Star Wars and Pacific Rim films. Steam Level: 2 - Romance but no sex Trigger Warnings: Off-page parental death prior to events in the story, PG-13 level sci-fi/fantasy violence. To Enter the Giveaway: 🌟 Follow me, @ink.lizard, @therealhayliehanson, and @hiddenhollowbooktours 🌟 Like this post & comment which country you're in! 🌟 Tag a Bookstagram friend Extra Entry: 🌟 Share in your stories for 24hrs tagging @therealhayliehanson & @hiddenhollowbooktours 🌟 Find the other tour hosts using #HHBTShadowEnderReveal and enter on their posts as well Rules: *US Only *Ends at midnight EST on 3/2/23 *Must be willing to give your mailing address to Hidden Hollow Book Tours and Haylie Hanson *Don't follow to unfollow. You will be banned from all future Hidden Hollow book tours *Must be a public Instagram account to verify entry *No Giveaway accounts allowed *Not affiliated with IG *All prizes will be sent by the author, not HHBT
February is Fantasy month! I know, I'm kind of lat February is Fantasy month! I know, I'm kind of late to the game since the month is half over, but it has been a waaay busier month than I predicted. I am currently ready Stormdance by the vivacious Michelle M. Bruhn (@michellembruhn) which *technically* isn't released until February 28 but I signed up for ninja status on cover reveal day and got my copy early, mwahaha. It is fabulous and wonderful and so cute just as I knew it would be. I have high praises for all these pretty books. Do you see any that you have read? ⚔️ Elven Alliance #1 Fierce Heart, Tara Grayce ⚔️ The Dragon Singer Chronicles # Stormdance, Michelle M. Bruhn ⚔️ The Chronicles of Ilyon #1 Resistance, Jaye L. Knight ⚔️ The Savage Damsel and the Dwarf, Gerald Morris
🐈️ I have a little shadow that goes in and ou 🐈️ I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me,⁠ And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.⁠ He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head;⁠ And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.⁠ ⁠ ☀️ One morning, very early, before the sun was up,⁠ I rose and found the shining dew on every buttercup;⁠ But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepy-head,⁠ Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed.⁠ ⁠ -verses 1 & 4 from a poem called My Shadow by Robert Louis Stevenson⁠ ⁠ Happy birthday, fur friend! Jemma is full of spice but she brings comfort and joy into my home. My roommate introduced me to this poem when she noticed that Jemma follows me from room to room. It's so cute.⁠ ⁠ Do you have a fur friend who follows you like a shadow? 🐈️
As Valentine's Day inches closer, my social media As Valentine's Day inches closer, my social media feeds are filled with an overabundance of Singles Awareness Day posts, and some fluffy happy ones from those in my life who have significant others. This, plus a post by Rae Graham @writerraesbooknook, and a conversation with a friend have led me to reflect on this whole idea that singleness is the “not yet” of life, that we’ve trained our minds to think of life in two parts: before marriage, and after marriage. It's the idea that living doesn’t actually happen until Part 2: After Marriage. You are crowned with a ring on your finger, and somehow this gives you the purpose to live you have been waiting for.⁠ ⁠ Several years ago, I was about to leave a weekly Bible study when a friend followed me out, stopped me, and asked to talk. She was frustrated with being dealt the single card, and tired of waiting for life to begin. What she wanted to know from me was how I went on, seemingly so content and happy. My answer was a single word: purpose.⁠ ⁠ The truth was that I had not always been content. (And, just so we are clear, being content is not the same thing as no longer wanting, but that is a separate topic.) There was a time when I was very unhappy that I didn’t get “my turn” to experience certain things. The more I thought about when it was going to be my turn, the more I understood that I did not have any control over what was going to happen to me. I was wasting time not living when I was already alive. ⁠ ⁠ Then the personal question for me became: what am I going to do about this? Obviously, live. But how? With purpose. Fine, but what is my purpose? ⁠ ⁠ (continued in comments)⁠ ⁠ *P.S. The photo features the A Wind From the Wilderness by Suzannah Rowntree @suzzannahsnaps which has nothing to do with the post but it's an awesome read and it was pretty cover and photo.
Surprise! The Elven Alliance is getting some beaut Surprise! The Elven Alliance is getting some beautiful new covers. @taragrayceauthor author, I am stunned at how breathtaking these are. In celebration of the new covers, you'll want to read this whole post so you won't miss out on anything. I adore this elven-steampunk series (even though I am not typically a romance reader.) They are stuffed with just the most fun fight scenes, and very fluffy clean romance that is so light on the kissiness so it's just perfect for my preferred level of romance, lol. Also, who on #bookstagram doesn't want an arranged marriage into an Elven family? Seriously. The designer for these new covers is @saramorelloart, and typography is by@derangeddoctordesign Personally, I think they did a fabulous job. *round of applause The extra special news you may want to know is that Tara is launching a Kickstarter campaign next week to help her fund these new covers. You can find a link to the Kickstarter on Tara's account, under her bio. Kickstarter rewards will include~ 🗡️ signed copies of the Elven Alliance series in the new covers 🗡️ signed copies of the old covers (both paperback and hardcover) 🗡️ LOTS of sweet swag 🗡️ AND exclusive hardcovers which will *not* be available on Amazon For the first 4 days of the Kickstarter, all the swag pack add ons will be on an Early Bird special.
I am so honored to share with the cover for This L I am so honored to share with the cover for This Life of Mine by Victoria Lynn! (@victorialynnauthor) Isn't it lovely? TLoM is book 2 of The Chronicles of Elira, a non-magical fantasy series published by @theglorywriters. The release date is March 22, 2023. ⁠ ⁠ Personally, I am looking forward to hearing more of Marcus's story. He was my favorite character in book 1 and Victoria promises us he gets more attention this time around. ⁠ ⁠ ⚔️⁠ The mountain king of Rusalka unleashes his anger on his people after the downfall of his treaty with the bordering country of Elira, and refugees are fighting for their life to escape his abuse. ⁠ ⁠ Marcus is compelled to join a convoy and lend his medical skills to those in need at the Eliran border, but fighting his own illness and doubt shakes his faith in new and trying ways. ⁠ ⁠ When a young woman with a painful past finds herself in his care, can he be the hands and feet of Christ to her? Or will her past claim her soul forever? With political tension, a battle in the making, his own chronic illness and needy refugees in abundance, Marcus finds himself fighting for his life… and the lives of others.⁠ ⚔️⁠ ⁠ Pre-orders are available in Ebook, paperback, and special edition hardcover formats!⁠ ⁠ Also, the pre-order BOXES are brimming with goodies, but there are a limited number of boxes. Boxes include an illustrated hardcover edition with bonus scenes and an Eliran map, a custom Edenmade Co. candle inspired by the book, 2 custom stickers, 4 main character art cards, 4 landscape/ scene artwork cards, 5 servings of book-inspired specialty tea blend, an aesthetic bookmark with an inspirational quote. FREE US shipping! For the paperback, hardcover, book box & merch, visit: www.victorialynnblog.com/shop
Goodbye story of 2022, welcome story of 2023. What Goodbye story of 2022, welcome story of 2023. What stories will you create in 2023?   “Let us not grow weary of life.” Twice this year I had the honor of beta reading for @mrs.carter_theauthor and this line from these novels has followed me across 2022, tracing my steps. This beautiful story unravels the experience of loss, aching for joy, and finding it even amidst pain. Would any character’s victory matter without first experiencing a struggle? And the same is true for us. So you made it to 2023. Every inch may have been fought for, and because of that, it means something precious to you. That’s wonderful. It means you have an opportunity to build upon this small spark a wild fire of new things, experiences, better habits, stronger relationships. It made you stronger, more courageous.  In 2022, I left behind a good-but-a-little-bit-cramped life, and stepped into open space and new opportunities. I’m looking forward to seeing what story God is unfolding in my story in 2023. *Special thanks to Kaitlyn for her permission to post a quote from her book baby, soon to be in your hands.
I am SO excited to share this book cover with you! I am SO excited to share this book cover with you! I am stunned by this work of art by the incomparable Kirk DuPonce. I am a huge fan of these stories. They are beautifully written and have a heartfelt message if bravery and finding your voice, featuring the most adorable, witty dragons in existence. Highly recommend! Stormdance (book 2) releases on February 28, 2023. Pre-orders are open now (even for paperbacks!) And the first 50 to purchase and fill out the preorder form here are eligible for swag (physical prints of the cover art, a piece of character art with Alísa & Sesína, and a quote bookmark, plus a digital expanded teaser for the book): https://www.michellembruhn.com/buy-links Also, if you're interested in join the street team to help with the launch, visit @michellembruhn's account. ⚔️ The dragons have answered Alísa’s call. Now, in order to unite the races and end the war, she must find slayers willing to do the same. But humanity’s long-engrained fear and hatred of dragonkind are far louder than any argument she possesses, and when a rival dragon clan encroaches on Me’ran, it’s all she can do to keep the people from calling the largest slayer clan in the east to eradicate all draconic presence. Leading dragons is one thing—leading humans is another. With the voices and fears of her past rising up against her, Alísa wonders how she ever thought she could be the one to unite the races. As storms within and without threaten to drown all she holds dear, Alísa must decide—run for cover to protect herself and her dragons, or stay in the only place she has a chance to bring peace. But how can she make peace between humans and dragons when she can’t even make peace with herself? ⚔️
What is your favorite Christmas tradition?🕯️ What is your favorite Christmas tradition?🕯️ My family has so many special, memorable traditions that we enjoy repeating, year after year. As my family expands and we grow older, some of these favorite things have changed. I will miss the day of cooking and preparation for our Christmas Eve dinner by candlelight. In recent years, this has looked a little different as we try to fit it around everyone’s comfort level, but I still think so affectionately on the past. When my siblings and I were young, my parents let us choose the menu- which was always tacos and sparkling grape juice (I don’t care what you say, my grown-up tastebuds still think it is way more delicious than any wine)- and afterwards we would attend a local nativity, invite my grandma over to open some stockings or gifts with us, and eat lots of cookies. Now, dinner by candlelight has looked more like lunch with dimmed lights and drawn shades to “fake” the magical evening effect, and our adult palettes choose a variety of dishes instead of just tacos. The neighborhood children who put together the darling live nativity we used to attend have grown up and the event has dissolved. My grandma celebrates the Lord every day in Heaven. But one special, favorite tradition has remained, and it’s sweet and good. Every year, a box is placed under the tree marked “From: Jesus” and we all act surprised about it. (The kids love the surprise, just as I did when I was young!) My dad opens it, and it contains letters and a Bible. Each letter is addressed to each child, and has a few iconic pictures of them and Psalm 139:14 inside letting them know they are a gift from above. Then, we open the Bible which is marked to Luke 2, and read the true Christmas account. God's marvelous gift to us. I love how simple, memorable, and impressionable this tradition is. May your Christmas be filled with joy and peace,and may your hearts, not just your arms, be filled with blessings. 🎁
✨ What is your favorite part of the Christmas se ✨ What is your favorite part of the Christmas season? ✨ One year, I acquired several days of vacation which I had to use before the end of the year. To make the most of it, I scheduled them all the week between Christmas and New Year’s, thinking it would be so relaxing. It was relaxing, but I also found myself wishing I had spent more time involved in the preparations for Christmas with friends and family instead of the quiet aftermath.  I realized that what I love most about this season is the anticipation. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are wonderful, but there is something special about enjoying the preparation with loved ones. Cooking together, cleaning together, eating together, making messes together, planning to surprise one another. The moments these things actually happened was grand, but the anticipation leading up to it all was what made it grander. Memories made with time last the longest. Much love, bravelings. Enjoy your Christmas time! If you did not get your link to my epic Christmas playlist DM me and we’ll figure it out together. :)
D a i c a n ' s H e i r, by Jaye L. Knight is fin D a i c a n ' s H e i r, by Jaye L. Knight is finally here! ⁠ ⁠ We have patiently awaited this next installment in the Chronicles of Ilyon. I am now so thrilled to share with you the gorgeous cover, and announce that pre-orders are live! Congratulations, @jayelknight! The release date is sometime in early 2023.⁠ ⁠ ⚔️ For three years, the Resistance has suffered under oppression—first from Emperor Daican and now from his daughter. In her quest for vengeance, Davira has ripped Arcacia apart, and more blood is spilled every day. Newly married, all Jace and Kyrin want is to be able to live their lives in peace. In order to do that, they must help restore the rightful heir to Arcacia’s throne.⁠ ⁠ ⚔️ Carrying the weight of everyone’s hopes for the future, Daniel works every day to be the leader and king they have all fought so hard to see him become. With the Resistance and their allies from all across Ilyon united behind him, he prepares for a final confrontation with Davira. But to do so will require facing the full might of Arcacia’s military and Davira’s wrath.⁠ ⁠ ⚔️ When Jace and Kyrin become the primary targets of her ravenous hatred, Daniel finds himself in a race against time to stop his sister and avoid the bloodbath she is determined to unleash. Can he find a way to protect his loved ones and bring peace to Ilyon or will Davira succeed in bringing them all to their knees and destroying everything they hold dear?⁠ ⁠ Preorder link: https://www.amazon.com/Daicans-Heir-Ilyon-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B0BN26TZMJ/
✨ 3 things you might not know about snow ✨ ❄️ Snow has a smell. I can’t describe it to you, and all the words I could use will sound cliche. It is sharp, but old and fresh at the same time.  ❄️ Snowy, winter nights are not as dark as you might think. The snow is so pure, it reflects light and you can see a long distance even in darkness. The sky becomes purple instead of pitch black like it does in summer.  ❄️ Snow has sound. The sound varies depending on the kind of snowflakes that fall, but the big, fluffy flakes (the prettiest ones) sound as soft as mouse foot-falls. A tiny “puff” as they touch ground. I have really sensitive ears, so maybe this helps, but the best way to hear it is to close your eyes so you’re not distracted by everything else. ✨ My December newsletter has been crafted and your Epic Christmas Playlist is ready to go! You should see it in your inbox next Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. If you don’t see it, check your spam folder or DM me.
Hey hey, it's Monday, and I need your help! Plus, Hey hey, it's Monday, and I need your help! Plus, I have some updates/ housekeeping notes for ya. I'm still figuring out how to manage #bookstagram and all the things since moving but Christmas is just around the corner! Last year my Epic Christmas Playlist was quite popular so I'm considering opening it up again. Is this something you all want again?? Drop a comment or emoji if so! If there is enough interest in opening access to the Epic Christmas Playlist (it's very epic) I will likely be sending out a newsletter to subscribers right after Thanksgiving so you'd have a whole month to listen. If you're not already subscribed, you may want to check that out soon! Secondly, I can't believe how close we are to Thanksgiving now, it's been a lot of fun decorating new space and,if you've been keeping up with my stories, it's true, I'm writing again! I have no permanent deets to publicly share yet, the plot is feral (because I discovered I can arrange playlists in order of events in my head, but outlines are evil 🤷‍♀️). This is probably the weirdest way to plot a book ever but it's working. This bae is an Egyptian -inspired fantasy with a small and scrappy little ebony dragon and the MC is very insecure but fierce and I love her so much. There is also a love interest and a troublemaker. You're welcome. That is all I will say on this front. Finally, I have yet to update the free story advertised on my landing page. Since Ember is currently shelved temporarily, and life changed so quickly, I haven't had time to decide how to update this, so the free Ember & Ice short story may possibly be removed in the future. I'd recommend grabbing it now if you want to read it. All the sign-ups for these things are in the link in my bio!
"The folk of Faerie are not all kind...." ⁠ ⁠ "The folk of Faerie are not all kind...." ⁠ ⁠ ✨ In the days of yore, it is said, Faerie-beasts walked in the world of men, waiting to carry away the innocent and unprotected. And no one is more innocent than Ella Whittington, sixteen years old and suddenly possessed of a dazzling fortune.⁠ ⁠ Ella's dizzying rise to fame is watched by the skeptical Miss Constance Hanover, who soon suspects that society's darling is in danger. What she doesn't suspect is that her efforts to uncover the truth will drag her into a world of spies, magicians, and secrets more astonishing than she ever dreamed possible. ✨⁠ ⁠ Happy cover reveal day, author Emily Hayse! I am so honored to share this breath-taking cover with the world. And, can I also add that this synopsis is stealing my heart already. I love fae stories, and how cool is a 1920’s fae stories with magicians and secrets? So much intrigue! Yours, Constance releases on December 27, 2022.⁠ ⁠ Emily is hosting a giveaway on her Instagram account, @songsofheroes. Pre-orders are also live, and links are available at her account as well.
🎇...Remember, remember the Fifth of November. 🎇...Remember, remember the Fifth of November.
At long last, I am settled enough to share with yo At long last, I am settled enough to share with you some pieces of my moving story. Once, when I was in a very low place and everything seemed to be going wrong, I asked God to show His glory through my life. After I got my home, I knew that it was important to share this story with you to see His grace, too. ⁠ ⁠ 🍃⁠ ⁠ It wasn’t until August that stopped to breathe in the sunshine and air, when all the big things were moved in- me, Jemma, furniture, and roommate. When I was small, I spent all summer dreaming. I dreamt about “things that are, things that were, and some things that have not yet come to pass.” (A little Galadriel for you because mood.) But too many shattered hopes and broken paths have made it so much harder to dream as an adult. There is wonder in growing in wisdom, but an ache that comes with understanding things more deeply. I pray, I wait- that is all I ever seemed to do: wait.⁠ ⁠ 🍃 If you would like to read the rest of this story, please visit my blog (link in bio) for the full version.⁠
Load More Follow on Instagram

Elizabeth's bookshelf: currently-reading

Scarlet Moon
Scarlet Moon
by S.D. Grimm
tagged: currently-reading
Reclaiming Shilo Snow
it was amazing
Reclaiming Shilo Snow
by Mary Weber
tagged: currently-reading

goodreads.com

Subscribe to Follow This Blog via Email

Subscribe here to follow this blog by email.

Join 9 other subscribers

Archives

  • October 2022
  • January 2021
  • April 2020
  • August 2019
  • May 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
Uncategorized

Live Bravely in 2021

January 2, 2021
By EKoetsier
Savona Theme by Optima Themes