Natasha Woodcraft - Writes, Wrongs & Songs

It’s my turn again on the “More than Writers” blog, discussing sitting on a manuscript and its relationship to The Princess and the Pea 😀



https://morethanwriters.blogspot.com/2024/07/sitting-on-manuscript-by-natasha

Sitting on a manuscript, by Natasha Woodcraft Last month, I talked about building rest into your writing process. It’s a hard thing to do. Part of it, for me, is ‘sitting’ on a manuscrip...

For those who receive my newsletter, you may be interested to know the first babies have arrived. I’m not excited… much! Eeek!

If you don’t receive my newsletter, you may not want to after knowing it contains random things like quail chicks, but… you can get a free copy of The Wanderer’s Sister if you sign up. That might make up for it 😅

Avigail is stunned when her brother returns from a journey ranting and raving about her husband’s betrayal. As she digests the news, she relives key moments in her relationship with her husband, the agony of her difficulties in childbirth, and the effect of her murderous brother’s actions on the family who never speak about him.

Three women support her while the men stay silent. But will Yahweh join them, and heal her broken heart?

Grab your free copy now! Link in bio ➡️

Salvation.

Did you know that the Hebrew is yesha’ i.e. yeshua, or in Greek – Jesus?

And that the word also carries connotations in English of these ideas: to liberate, deliver, prosper, bring safety & victory.

However, as David uses it in Psalm 27:1 (A verse that features heavily in Wanderer 3)
“Yahweh is my light and my yesha’,” he is describing the hope and welfare he has in the midst of strife due to his covenant with God.

In other words: Salvation isn’t deliverance OUT OF a situation, but is deliverance WITHIN a situation.

Blew my mind.

Thank you, Jesus. This is you. The deliverance IN our every situation.

Did you realise you can get a FREE spin-off Wanderer novelette just by popping your email in on my website? It’s true!

Head there now to grab Avigail’s story… a story of hope amidst rejection and suffering.

Have you seen the new beautiful second editions of my books yet? Check out these beauties! Thanks to and for the fabulous redesign!

It’s a beautiful place for a writing retreat…
I tried to stay “off grid” while I was there but now I’m back and recovered enough to share. This beach is a 15 min walk from the Writing Kingdom Stories retreat in gorgeous North Wales where I had the huge privilege of speaking, praying, worshipping & being encouraged this weekend.

Finally recovered enough to share with you some photos from the Writing Kingdom Stories retreat in gorgeous North Wales where I had the huge privilege of speaking, praying, worshipping & being encouraged this weekend.

Individual pics are 1. leading worship with my wonderful writing ‘sister’ Alexandra Banwell and 2. With my publishing partner, stand up
Comedian and all round special person, Joy Velykorodnyy!

I led a session on using the Bible as our writing inspiration, looking particularly at how stories can unravel lies and unveil truths. They are so powerful!

Kayin is The Wanderer. His legend looms large, shrouded in a curse that’s become his life's defining mark—a man untouchable, unable to farm or settle. In the shadow of centuries, his descendants succumb to darkness, invoking the very curse that has haunted their forefather to shield themselves from the consequences of murder.

Now The Wanderer recounts his chronicle, confronting the weight of his guilt, unveiling his shame, and exposing the far-reaching aftermath of his parents' expulsion from Eden. As Kayin unfolds the heart-wrenching saga from his perspective, he revisits the moments that dismantled his youthful faith and the forbidden love that drove an irrevocable wedge between him and his brother, with tragic consequences.

Why did God favour his brother's sacrifice while scorning his? What transpired during their final, fateful encounter in the field?

Shame about the punctuation misunderstanding (I didn’t realise British standard was single quote either until I got edited 😅) but apart from that, a fab review. Thank you!

The Wanderer Reborn Book review of The Wanderer Reborn by Natasha Woodcraft.

The Wanderer Scorned Book review of The Wanderer Scorned by Natasha Woodcraft.

I’m up to Jonah in the Bible in one year. I really enjoyed this absolutely brilliant summary of Jonah this morning. Oh, how it makes my fingers itch to write the novel… 😅

Do have a watch!

Book of Jonah Summary: A Complete Animated Overview Watch our overview video on the book of Jonah, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The book of Jonah is a subversive s...

I’ve been extremely quiet the last few weeks. I’ve been head-down trying to get the 2nd draft of Wanderer 3 finished. We’re almost there - 2 chapters left!! I’d appreciate prayers as I finish this part of the journey and as my critique partners look over the manuscript, that we’d all hear from God on any improvements that need to be made. Thank you ❤️

My wonderful writing friend, Joy Margetts, is giving away a copy of my book! Do sign up to her newsletter if you want one. If you love my books, I’m pretty sure you will like hers! Also faith-based and gritty, but set in the beautiful landscapes of medieval Wales & the Cistercian Abbeys.

FREE BOOK? Really? Yep! Every month I am offering a free book as a giveaway prize. You don't have to pay to enter, you don't have to answer a difficult question, you don't even have to tell me why you would like to win. All you have to do is sign up to my email newsletter! I send out a newsletter, just once a month, with news about my writing, exclusive money off offers on my books, and the chance to win every month. This month's featured book, is Natasha Woodcraft - Writes, Wrongs & Songs' incredible 'The Wanderer Scorned'. Head to my website to sign up and I will automatically enter you into the draw! 😁 www.joymargetts.com/contact

I’m on the More Than Writers blog today chatting about Book marketing. What does that have to do with the target in my field (and my cat)?! You’ll just have to read it to find out! 🤣

https://morethanwriters.blogspot.com/2024/04/shooting-arrows-in-the-dark.html

This morning my reading was in Psalm 104. I couldn’t help but sing along with my own words from this song. A fireside song, complete with fire crackles! ☺️

https://youtu.be/tVTKFCo57hM?si=u12dSj6pJGOBFcMB

In Wonder at Leviathan (O Yahweh Elohim) Original Song from The Wanderer Reborn by Natasha Woodcraft In The Wanderer Reborn, one of the themes is 'finding your song': finding your ability to praise God despite circumstances. This song comes near the end of t...

Last weekend I planted my first fig tree in my wonderful new walled vegetable garden. It was a lot of work! I dug out a 1/2m square pit, dig down 0.8m deep (more than half my height!) lined the hole with slabs and rubble and then planted my tender little sapling with a good dose of plant food. I did it all (almost) without help from Mr Woodcraft ☺️

It reminded me of Kayin’s first planting expeditions with his fig tree saplings in The Wanderer Scorned. We’ve learnt a lot about how figs best grow and fruit since then, but the process is just as exciting. Let’s hope my little tree is as successful as Awan’s!

When you spot a review that compares you to the author who inspired you to write… 😲😭🤯🤩🥳

Please celebrate with me! The Wanderer Scorned “Facelift version” 😁 (Second edition, with Broad Place Publishing) is now available in ebook, paperback and Brand New Audiobook!

Experience the story of Cain & Abel like never before - from Cain’s harrowing point of view!

Don’t forget – Last day to enter this giveaway is tomorrow!

Don’t miss this chance to win books!

If you enjoy reading historical fiction set in the times of the Bible (like mine), you don't miss this giveaway! If you enter, you'll get at least twenty chances to win a free book or audio from one of these great authors or a BluRay of “The Chosen.” PLUS many of these authors will give a FREE BOOK to each person who subscribes to their newsletter. That's a lot of free books 🙂

Enjoy!!

Use the link below:

https://kingsumo.com/g/iry8kr/march-2024-biblical-fiction-aficionados-newsletter-sweep

I do enjoy lazy Saturday mornings where I get to sit in bed and pause after a week of early rises and panicked packed-lunch making. Every time I draw the curtains, I’m blessed by my view. It’s pretty blustery out there today but it’s so much better than staring at a computer screen. If I’m really lucky, my cat Loki will come and give me cuddles while I’m enjoying my morning prayer time (as he’s just done now). He is rather distracting though… 😍

It's me on the More than Writers Blog today, curiously (precariously?) linking the writing journey to planting potatoes. Yup...

Do have a read!

Planting Potatoes: What are you waiting for? If you’ve been reading my blogs for any length of time, you’ll know I love a good metaphor. Well, I’m not sure if this is a good one or not,...

Don’t miss this chance to win books!

If you enjoy reading historical fiction set in the times of the Bible (like mine), you don't miss this giveaway! If you enter, you'll get at least twenty chances to win a free book or audio from one of these great authors or a BluRay of “The Chosen.” PLUS many of these authors will give a FREE BOOK to each person who subscribes to their newsletter. That's a lot of free books 🙂

Enjoy!!

Use the link below:

https://kingsumo.com/g/iry8kr/march-2024-biblical-fiction-aficionados-newsletter-sweep

Coming soon....

”And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; and it spoke to him.“
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭7‬:‭89‬ ‭ESV‬‬

In Exodus, Moses is up a mountain. In Leviticus, Moses was outside the tent (Lev 1:1). Now, in Numbers, he’s in it. Now the altar is consecrated, he can hear God’s voice coming directly from the mercy seat. Again, it’s a concession - the mountain should have been enough - and God offers us all the mountain! But this mercy seat in the tabernacle is for the wider people of Israel, to enable God to come down from the mountain and dwell with them.

Sometimes we can have mountain top experiences, through Jesus we have access to that most holy place. It’s easy to wish we were up that mountain all the time! But most of the time, God makes us dwell with the people, at their level, in order to show his goodness in a broader place. It’s harder, it requires sacrifice, but it’s his will to make a way for others to see him.

My prayer today is that I wouldn’t just be seeking the mountain, but I’d be seeking God’s will in the places where it’s hard, but where he wants me to be.

I wrote a little hymn this morning – first in a while, so thought I’d share it with you:

Precious Saviour, still my refuge,
How I need you by my side.
Precious Saviour, still my refuge,
Hold my hand, in me abide.
How I need you, Oh I need you,
Walk along with me each day.
Every hour, every minute,
whisper unto me your Name.

Precious Saviour, still my refuge,
All my life I give to you.
Take the little in my hands,
Consecrate it, make it new.
How I need you, Oh I need you,
Precious Saviour you are mine.
And I love you, dearest Jesus,
Friend of sinners yet divine.

Precious Saviour, still my refuge,
What life throws I cannot take.
But with you beside, within me,
I surrender all my ways.
How I need you, Oh I need you,
Every path illuminate.
Til the day I stand in wonder
With my Jesus at the gates.

©️Natasha Woodcraft 2024

Public service announcement. This whopper is going to take a while (read:forever) to edit but it is done! THE END! 😲😅🤭

It’s my turn on the More than Writers Blog today, thinking about God: The Master Storyteller. There’s a little venture into the early chapters of Exodus and how they inspire me to write Biblical Fiction.

https://morethanwriters.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-master-storyteller.html?m=1

The Master Storyteller If you’re reading the Bible in one year, you’ve likely started Exodus this week. As I was pondering it struck me, not for the first time, ho...

Congratulations .m.griffins on the launch for Crumbs off Heaven’s table, a new series! I’m perpetually behind and haven’t quite finished, but am loving what I’ve read so far. I’ll be posting a review soon, so look out for it…

My morning views. The sun has finally joined us & I’m feeling a lot better too. Thank you all for your prayers & concern.