I have my first book releasing soon, that I created ALL of the illustrations!

I have created my kids' books using many different resources and people to help me create them, but as of today, I finished creating my first book in which I have made every illustration!

Bear The Brave is a tale inspired by my very own dog, Bear.

The book tells the story of Bear spending his time outside, scared because the stray cats in the neighborhood bully him for not barking or growling at them. Luckily the nice cat pumpkin tells him that he doesn’t have to let their words hurt him but rather he can choose to love the stray cats.

Though my end is now finished I still await the approval from my publisher…
So, be on the lookout for this new release, and while you wait order one of my other 7 books available!

Lindsey Forkel

November 14th, 2024

Author friends can make or break how your book sales are…

I have understood this author's tip the longer I have been on social media, and it has changed my sales.

When you can not only find your niche but then find other authors in that niche that are already established and support you that is HUGE.

On TikTok specifically, I tend to interact with probably around twenty authors on a regular basis and just having that community to ask questions to be friends with, and also share your posts can make writing and all of the stress and joy that much better.

So, let me just say from the bottom of my heart, thank you to all of my author friends!

Lindsey Forkel

October 19th, 2024

Woah! It's been a while!

Life for everyone is crazy right now and I am no different!

From the last time, I added something to this, I have written 11 more books!!! Even though they aren't all published I can't help but be grateful to the Lord for giving this overflowing creativity.

In just a few days I have three books to release, and I feel like I am sending a part of myself into the world with every book I write and release.

It can be hard to take the good AND the bad when you feel like you are offering a part of your heart for others to critique but I also can't wait for those who will enjoy the books I am releasing on the eleventh and the many more to come!

Lindsey Forkel

October 9th, 2024

How I can reach others through writing!

There is a huge population of people who love fantasy books. (me being a part of that)

Fantasy books are fun, and bring out the adventurous side of us, but lately, they have taken a darker turn.

The most popular fantasy books on the market now are filled with inappropriate language and sexual content.

There is so much more for us in books.

A big part of my writing is using broken people and leading them to the one who can heal them.

I want those reading my books not to worry about the content.

And in the process of giving them clean fiction, lead them to the Lord!

February 27th, 2024

Lindsey Forkel

It’s FINALLY release day for my 2nd book!!!
The You You Know is officially available to order through my website, Amazon, and Kindle Unlimited!
There is so much joy in my heart for this book to meet your hands!

This book is completely different from my first book. My first book wasn’t bad, but this one definitely has more difficult topics, and is for an older age range. 

Part of growing as an author is figuring out needs in your writing and what needs to be written and writing it.

There is a problem with mankind and their identity. We don’t know who we are and the said reality has led to many sad endings.

The You You Know centers on a future where everyday you experience The Switch. A government resolution to rising suicide rates. Every day, you switch bodies, leaving our main character Nova Aviva to question everything, including who she is.

So the question is this…

Do you know who you are?
Rediscover who you are called to be in my new book, The You You Know!
Order yours today!

February 19th, 2024

How does a Christian author write a book with difficult topics?
I Wrote a book called The You You Know, and it has difficult topics.

Why did I do it? Because if God doesn’t get to own the power over difficult situations, then it will be left to our worldly interpretation.

There is self-harm, suicide, broken families, and much more terrible things that happen in our world. 

I wrote what I did, not to continue our cycle but to help people break free from their past, know who they are and know where their identity comes from.

You don’t have to be alone in your pain.

There is someone who knows the you, you think only you know.

There is someone who loves you and calls you his child.

February 13th, 2024

Lindsey Forkel

How I write…

There is definitely a process for my style of writing.

I learned early into writing my first book that I can’t follow an outline. I can make one and follow it, but it would leave me unable to find the creativity inside me.

Most times when I sit down to write, I have to start a sentence and then the rest comes pouring out of me. I believe I have the Lord to thank for that gift.

When I write, I can rarely do it in my house. From animals roaming to things I want to clean, I get easily distracted. 

I typically write at my favorite coffee shop or Chick-fil-A. I put on my headphones with a volume that will probably give me hearing damage and let the story unfold how it’s meant to.

Whatever I write, whether it’s good or bad, I can guarantee I will enjoy tuning out life and enter my own world.

February 8th, 2023

Lindsey Forkel

TikTok and how hard it is…

I never imagined myself having a TikTok.

I wasn’t against it but I didn't find it interesting.

Now that I have one, I found the upsides. The community.

There are so many talented individuals that I have watched and liked.

I have been trying to gain a following, in hopes of my book reaching more people, a harder mission than it sounds.

But at the end of the day I know that the Lord will let everything out for good and if TikTok is a way he wants me to do work in honor of him, he will let it do what it needs to.

January 2nd, 2024

Lindsey Forkel

A little bit about the books I own

I own over three hundred books!

I have three bookcases in the “office” area of my room. 

I have books in almost every genre, mostly because I have always said “ I will read any book, as long as it has a good twist.”
Horror, romance, YA, mystery, thriller, dystopian, EVEN AMISH!

I have a whole shelf filled with books in an amish setting. 

I like to read Amish books sometimes because they have a comfort and simplicity to them, and I never have to worry about what is in them.

Whatever type or how many you have, physical books are better than E-books!

Lindsey Forkel

October 20th, 2023

Names, Names, Names

I wanted some of the names in my book, A Voice Of Life to be unique.

They might not all sound original, or special, but I choose them with meaning.

1. The name Nadia means "Hopeful"

2. Baxter means "Follower".

3. The name Farren is of Latin origin and means "Wanderer".

4. The name Oswin is of English origin and means "God's friend".

5. The name Alden means "old friend or wise protector".

6. The name Oliver means "gift of god"

Looking at the book after knowing what some of the names mean, you may see some different aspects to them.

Nadia is hopeful no matter the circumstances.

Baxter will follow Nadia and The Voice through anything.

Farren, (Nadia’s mother) chose to wander to find what she could call home, even if it led her into the unknown.

Oswin knew things because he had a close and personal relationship with The Voice.

Alden was able to help Baxter and Nadia with his wisdom.

And lastly, Oliver is obviously an adorable gift from God.

I hope you can see things in a new light and if you haven’t bought your copy of A Voice Of Life, todays the day!

Lindsey Forkel

October 12th, 2023

I have been working non-stop on my next book

I am not ready to disclose what it is about, but I can give you a question related to it.

How do you see yourself? And what do you base your identity off of?
Some would say they base who they are on what others say they are, and others on what they think they are that day.

Though how you see yourself may change everyday, your Identity remains the same.

If you base what you think your identity is then it is unstable and you may have problems with self confidence.

But if you know what your identity is, how you see yourself can be set aside and you can rest in truth.

So at the end of the day, what is your identity? And who gives it to you?

Lindsey Forkel

October 2nd, 2023

My Top 5 Cozy Books To Read This Fall

These are in no order, mostly because I love them all,  and because they are all very good and worth the read!

Here’s my list, with brief descriptions.

1. Fifth Avenue Story Society by Rachel Hauck

A sweet story of romance,  forgiveness and making the right choices even when it's hard.

2. Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joann Fluke

A cozy mystery that leads to a long series of books I am still in the process of working through.

3. The Sahar Of Zanzibar by Shirley Gould

A rollercoaster rolled up in a small book.

4. The Noticer by Andy Andrews 

A beautifully written story that examines and helps to point out things most wouldn’t see.

5. A Voice Of Life by Lindsey Forkel

My book!

To hear more about these books in the weeks to come, check out my book recommendations! Some are already there and others will be making it there soon!

Lindsey Forkel

September 20th, 2023

My very FIRST SPONSORSHIP

I am excited to announce that my new book, A Voice Of Life by Lindsey Forkel, is sponsoring the second episode of Tennessee Family Vacations up and coming podcast, Top Tenn!

Tennessee Family Vacation is an informational website, Giving guidance on family oriented places and events. Their new podcast Top Tenn gives you fun places to go to with your family this fall.

I am so happy with the reach of my book so far, and I am hoping to see it in many more people’s hands soon!

Lindsey Forkel

September 15th, 2023

Why is Fall my favorite?

Fall has always had a special place in my heart.

Not only do I like the colorful changing of the leaves, the pumpkins, Halloween, and everything fun associated with fall, but my birthday is also in the fall!

With my birthday right in the middle of the season I have always partaken in fall activities as part of my birthday festivities.

Pumpkin patches are always a win in my family. 

We will eat popcorn, go to a corn maze and obviously pick a pumpkin. 

My favorite part has to be the drive over though.

Usually a pick a book and bring it with me for me to read while driving over.

I hope you enjoy this coming season!

Lindsey Forkel

September 8th, 2023

How do you read books?

There are so many ways to read a book.

I know most people when they think of reading they think, “ oh i will just go sit down and read a book.” but there’s more to it.

You can either take a month to read a single book or a day.

You can either read a page slowly absorbing every sentence, or skim through a single page multiple times until you get the information needed.

Or maybe you do all these things.

I have been guilty of all of these at different times.

I think the one thing we can all relate to is that there is nothing better than sitting down uninterrupted with snacks and drinks handy on a rainy day cuddled up with a blanket and a good book!

Lindsey Forkel

August 30th, 2023

It’s been a while!

I have had a lot going on lately.

Between my own personal accomplishments lately, the publishing of my first book, and the current writing of my second, I have been busy to say the least. But I am back and better than ever!

It’s interesting how I got to where I am with my new book now being released. 

It all started with me thinking through ideas for books. 

I have always loved the idea of writing a book, but I never thought it would be a reality. 

One day I was on a break from working at my local coffee shop, and while looking up at the tree beside me I thought of it.

It struck me and at the moment I couldn't think of how this story would unfold.

Most days the story wrote itself, but on others I sat for hours staring at the screen with barely any words written.

Even some of my favorite scenes in the book I was just writing, and all of a sudden,  I thought “what if?” That “what if?” spun out and into the book I have now available to the public to read. 

As I go through whatever this next chapter of my own life holds, I think the best thing I have gained through my writing experience so far is that the best things happen when you trust that something will happen even when you don’t think it will.

Lindsey Forkel

August 20th, 2023

What are your priorities? How do you put God first?

These are questions that we as Christians have to think about.

In my upcoming book, A Voice Of Life, Nadia has to decide what matters most in her own life. But why?

People look at our lives to see how we live.

Whether it’s a new Christian looking for guidance, or an atheist looking for fault in your beliefs.

God looks at our hearts and the devil also looks for ways to attack us spiritually.

In everything I do I have to think about a few things.

How will I think about my actions after doing this?

Will I have guilt about how I live as a Jesus follower?

And lastly, how would I feel if I knew God saw what I was doing?

The last one weighs the most on my heart in my actions.

Whether I chose the right thing or not, God sees what we do and where we put him in our lives.

So the question I hope you ask yourself today is, Who do you think of first when making a decision? Who decides how you make decisions?

May 31st, 2023

Lindsey Forkel

Who knew things were so hard!

Through supervising the editing process I have come to appreciate it more and more.

There is so much to perfecting a book.

It’s reading and rereading over and over until it’s just right, and keeping an author's voice among the ongoing changes.

I love my editor. She is absolutely amazing and works so hard to make my dream a reality.

Stay tuned for the release date announcement!

May 19th, 2023

Lindsey Forkel

My calling 

When I think of when I started wanting to write I think back to the first short story I wrote that I can remember.

It was called Camp Cross, a story of a troubled teen coming to a Christian camp and falling in love with Jesus and a boy.

It’s a cheesy story, I know, but at the time I was proud of myself.

I told my sister about it and I would work on it while on the way home on Wednesday night after church.

I was seven or eight at the time.

As I got older, I have realized more things I have felt called by God to do.

One of the things I have been called to do is my job as a children's pastor.

I love all that I do to help children become closer to God.

I have also been working towards going to college to get a teaching degree, so that I can be a middle/high school English teacher.

I thought I would have to wait years before beginning my writing journey.

I am clearly not following that exact life plan now.

And soon I will be able to say before I am even an adult that I am an author.

May 6th, 2023

Lindsey Forkel

Who is a voice of life in your life? 

During the writing of my debut book I examined my relationship with my friends, family, and God.

It’s important to discern who sows life and who sows death in your life.

I know that sounds dramatic but it’s true. And there are only two options.

In life, someone who is a voice of life encourages you to do more.

They want you to grow closer to God and are an example of that.

Even if they are newly Christians, or curious about it, it makes a difference in who is helping you to look towards God. It also makes you think your relationship is fine where it is.

That’s when settling happens.

There should never come a time in your walk with God to settle. For me that’s a difficult concept to put into practice in my life.

We want to be comfortable, but there is a difference between being comfortable in God and trusting him, and seeing no room for growth.

People who sow death in your life could be anyone. 

People with wrong standards, beliefs, or relationships that affect your walk with God.

Unless they are moving you towards Life with God, isn't that death?

To sum it all up, keep pushing yourself for more, and don’t settle in your relationship with God.

April 29th, 2023

Lindsey Forkel

It's Done!

The writing process of my first book is finally finished, and it is now up to the editor to work magic.

Through this last stretch of writing my mind has been everywhere.

I would write one sentence, then jump back five chapters, then forward and you get the point.

My mind would not stay still.

It’s odd how I didn't know how it would end.

When I sat down and wrote the ending, I didn't realize I was about to end it.

I let God take control, lead the story where it needed to go and I wrote the last sentence.

I sat outside the coffee shop where I work and was like, “I did it! I actually did it!” 

When I gathered my thoughts I started calling my family to let them know the good news.

Now I just wait for it to be completed.

Hopefully A Voice Of Life will be in your hands soon!

April 27th, 2023

Lindsey Forkel 

Writing A Voice Of Life is coming to a close

Once editing begins I can give a more accurate time frame, but for now it looks like it will be just about a month until it is released.

With this news I can tell you a bit about our main characters.

Nadia is the oldest child in her family, and with that comes the responsibility to care for her family. This trait has leaked into every aspect of her life making her seek perfection.

Baxter wants to have fun because he never got to as a kid, but he is strong and dependent. 

Together, they will discover what really matters in their lives.

Read A Voice Of Life when it is released to find out how their friendship plays out.

Lindsey Forkel

April 20th, 2023

Nearing the finish line.

Life has been a whirlwind.

A Voice Of Life is in the final stages of writing, with editing to follow.

My own experiences played a big role in this book.

The voice of the Lord is amazing and describing it is a challenging task.

In my own life I have heard the Lord through my thoughts. 

I have heard it through how I feel.

And I have heard it from others.

The Bible talks about the Lord's voice in so many ways.

In the Old Testament it is described often as a loud booming voice, similar to thunder. (which you will see in the book.)

It speaks through a bush, the sky, and Jesus himself.

Through A Voice Of Life my hope is that you hear it more in your own life in ways unique to you.

That your relationship with God would grow, and He would encourage you to do amazing things. 

Soon you will see the lengths Nadia, (our main character) will go to in order to reveal the truth she has found.

Lindsey Forkel

April 13th, 2023