Beauty of Life

 

  Spring is time for new life, right? So my sister showed me a partly done nest in a backyard tree. It wasn't high up, and so easy to see. Not to long after, I heard there was an egg in it. Of course, I had to take a picture of it. What an wonderful opportunity! :) Now there are four eggs, and I don't know if there's more than that in one robin's nest at a time... So below are the robin egg pictures. :) It's great to get this kind of photo of God's workings. New, beautiful life in the spring!

 

 

I was actually thinking of a bird landing this lamppost or something of the sort. I look out, and, Oh. There one is. I took the picture through the door glass, but I still got a good picture. (: It's so nice to go outside and hear the happy sound of birds chipping up in the big, leafy trees, and all around. Right now, the world is full of life, and it's wonderful. (:
    

      This one above I took another day, but it looks like the same kind of bird.


    I went outside to take pictures and after awhile, I started following this tiny purple butterfly around. Last year I think I got a picture of the same kind, but only with it's wings up. I think this one below is kind of mystical. It looks like it could have some long eyelashes, and it has this fluffy feathery body. Its a beautiful thing, and I'm very glad God took care to give the tiny things great detail as well as the large things.

 

While driving, we pulled over and I got to take some pictures of the bright, as well as sweet smelling canola fields. This top one is probably my favorite, but I wish I would've taken one where you could see the whole field stretching out, instead of just the edge. 

 

   Oh, and the last is just a fun picture. :) I like practicing with rings, and I really like this one. I love those dandelion fluffs. :)

A Dream Not Imagined: Cover Reveal!

    Hi, everyone. Let's take a break from photos and look at my sister's, (so proud :D), cover for her very first book!! It's a non- magical, Cinderella retelling novella titled A Dream Not Imagined. I am very pleased to say that I illustrated the cover. :D So cool to think that a real book has my artwork on it. An author designed the cover, as well as added the light beams coming from the lantern, making it look truly amazing. Anyway, here is the lovely cover!!:)

About the Book

A MAID, a PRINCE, and a DUKE. A GARDENER, a STEPMOTHER, and a secret...

     Ellie Abbington, a beautiful yet unassuming young woman, quietly longs for her life to change. Too privileged to associate with the servants—too underprivileged to associate with her own family; she dreams a dream of a prince and a happily ever after.

     But it could be that her own stepsisters, conniving Dezmarie and easily-influenced Adelaide, are dreaming the same dream...of the same prince.

     In the end, are dreams even all they're made out to be? Especially with deep and long-hidden secrets about to be unearthed?

A Dream Not Imagined is a non-magical fairy-tale novella based loosely on the classic tale of Cinderella.

Tentative Release Date: June 2015

My Review

A Dream Not Imagined is a lovely retelling of Cinderella, without magic, but with a message far more significant: Let God write your love story- your life story. The "Cinderella" of the story is fair and kind Ellie Abbington. She poses as a maid to her family, which consists of her slightly abusive father and her stepmother and two stepsisters, who are unkind and often order her about. 

But will she always be a maid? Perhaps the prince will fall in love with her, and take her away from this life of service. And what is the life changing secret that has been kept from Ellie for years? 

What a wonderful story! And the vital lesson should be heard by every girl. 

The character Ellie was wonderfully done. Not perfect, but still with a sweet and kind heart. She is pretty easy to relate to. (: 

Then there is the cool and smooth, yet unkind stepmother, the mean and flighty stepsisters, and so on. The love story was a light, sweet one, and just so wonderful. (: 

A Dream Not Imagined is a new way to see how a beautiful Cinderella story can turn out being. 

I recommend this book to fairy -tale retelling lovers, and someone who likes a sweet love story. the ages vary, as for the fact it doesn't have anything inappropriate for children.  

About the Author

     Shantelle Mary Hannu was born in the mountainous west, spending her golden childhood years there. Since then, she has relocated time and again with her parents and seven siblings, making cherished memories in both the South and Central United States.

     A Christian homeschool graduate, Shantelle has a passion for writing and all things books. From a young age she’s been penning tales with a hope of sharing with the world adventurous and soul-stirring stories that bring glory to God.

     A Dream Not Imagined, a fairytale novella, will be her first published book. She’s currently preparing a full-length fantasy novel for publication as well, and working on its sequel.

     Shantelle blogs at A Writer’s Heart: http://shantellemaryh.blogspot.com/ about her stories, favorite books and movies (with reviews), healthy wheat-free recipes, and hosts fellow authors, among other things. One of her joys is connecting with fellow writers and readers! You can also find her on:

Facebook: Shantelle Mary Hannu, Author

Twitter: @shantellemary 

Goodreads: Shantelle Mary Hannu

Google+: Shantelle H. 

 Pinterest: Shantelle H. 

Bloggers Participating in the Cover Reveal

Hayden Wand at The Story Girl

Skye Hoffert at Ink Castles (+ review)

Claire Banschbach at Claire M. Banschbach – Thoughts and Rants

Amber Stokes at Seasons of Humility

Ghost Ryter at Anything, Everything

Deborah O’Carroll at The Road of a Writer

Serena at Poetree (+ review)

Jaye L. Knight at Jaye L. Knight’s Blog

Alyssa-Faith at The American Anglophile

Natasha H. at Through My Lens (+ review)

Hannah Williams at The Writer’s Window

Laura Pol at Crafty Booksheeps

Brittney at Brittney’s Book Nook

Jesseca Dawn at Whimsical Writings

E. Kaiser Writes at …The Adventure Begins

Lena K. at Read, Write, Laugh, DANCE

Allison Ruvidich at The Art of Storytelling

Shannon McDermott at Shannon McDermott’s Blog

Tricia Mingerink at The Pen of a Ready Writer

More Spring Bliss

 

Here are some more pictures of Spring. (: I love the one below, but it had a telephone pole in it (I hate that) so I edited it out. Looks way better now. (:

 

These bumblebees are so cute and plump! One day there was one that kept hovering by our door window. Love them. (:

     Lake Barkley in Kentucky (three above photos).

So I hope you enjoyed those pictures. And just to mention, soon I'm going to be revealing the cover of my sister's first book!! It's a Cinderella story called A Dream Not Imagined. So keep an eye out for that. (: Learn More

Girls for Tea

Today I took a photo shoot in this pretty setting of vintagey and little girls.(:  Hope you enjoy looking at them.  

 

                                   

 

 

             

 

Happy Easter!

 

Happy Easter to all! (: Jesus has died, has risen, and offers us all His free gift of salvation. We are unspeakably blessed to be objects of God's unfailing love.(: To all who have not excepted God's amazing gift, you should do it now.

 

"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:5 

 

...Awesome!!