November 2025
- Jenny M. Cavender
- Nov 8
- 5 min read
Author Update
GUYSSS!!! Can you believe it?! It's November 2025! The countdown is on! Only a few short weeks until Blood of the Forgotten officially hits shelves! We’ve already heard amazing things from ARC readers (and yes, we may have shed a proud tear or two.).
To celebrate, we’re throwing a giveaway!
Here’s what’s up for grabs:
- A book from your wish list
- A $20 Amazon gift card
- Fun stickers and bookish goodies
Here’s how to join the fun:
- Follow my TikTok page (you’ll find the link on the website) then be sure to like and tag one friend on the Giveaway Tiktok video for 1 entry. (this is necessary, because how else will I know your handle???)
-To really boost your odds: subscribe to the newsletter for 5 extra entries!
The giveaway closes Thanksgiving Day, and the lucky winner will be announced on Black Friday (November 28th) over on TikTok!
We’re so excited to finally share Blood of the Forgotten with the world, you know, that paranormal romantic thriller that’s filled with danger and a delicious slow-burn tension that’ll have you yelling, “JUST KISS ALREADY!”
Get ready, friends. The countdown has officially begun.
Scribbles & Spotlight
Step into the world of Eltaris: an epic fantasy adventure that weaves dragons, deities, and dreams into a story like no other. When Amaya sets out to uncover the truth behind the strange and surreal forces shaping her world, she finds herself tangled in reality-bending mysteries that blur the line between nightmare and destiny. Perfect for readers craving something extraordinary, Eltaris is a character-driven journey through magic, myth, and the unknown.
Find author Marina Gabriela here:
And follow her monthly newsletter: https://substack.com/@marinagabrielaauthor
So, tell us… are you a plotter, a pantser, or a “wild middle child” of both?
I would definitely consider myself the "wild middle child" of both! I tend to write random bits and ideas until I get stuck. Then I plan and research. When I get stuck again, I go back to fill in and expand on those ideas. Rinse and repeat until the story is complete!
This is a perfect way to remain flexible and give characters room to be themselves!
What’s one line or quote from your book that still gives you chills?
"... Amaya forced her thoughts to infiltrate the defenses around his mind. With the voice of many, she spoke.
‘You forget yourself, Y Draig. I am creation, but I am also destruction....’”
Oof, chills. My goosebumps have goosebumps!
What’s one thing you want readers to feel after closing your book?
A satisfying end, with perhaps a bit of hope that lingers with them long after they close the pages of Eltaris.
I absolutely love that. We all could benefit from hope. Thank you so much for sharing your story!
Eltaris is available through most major retailers! Visit https://marinagabriela-author.my.canva.site/ for the full list!
Snack Attack: Banana Oat Cups
You know those family moments in November when the house smells like cinnamon and laughter’s bouncing off the walls? Yeah, this snack is that feeling in every small bite.
Warm Banana Oat Cups: the comfort snack that hugs you from the inside out. Mash a ripe banana, stir in some oats, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and a handful of dark chocolate chips (because chocolate addiction is real for some people). Scoop little mounds onto a baking sheet and pop them in the oven at 350°F for 10–12 minutes.
Prepare to enjoy your mini golden bundles of coziness. So soft, so sweet, and just the right amount of gooey. Perfect for sharing with friends and family… or not. I won’t judge if you “sample” half the batch while everyone’s distracted by family drama.
Giggles & Groan
Why couldn’t the toilet paper cross the road?
It was stuck in a crack.
Writer’s Wisdom: Writing Female MCs That Actually Slay
We’re talking about female main characters today, and I’m here to spill the tea on what not to do and what’ll make your girl leap off the page and live rent-free in your readers’ minds.
3 Things to Avoid
The “Pick-Me” Heroine If she’s constantly reminding everyone she’s not like other girls, please... just don’t. She can love black coffee and combat boots without tearing down every other woman who loves pumpkin spice and eyeliner. Balance, besties.
The Emotionless Ice Queen (with No Reason Why) Cold can be cool, but give her layers! If she’s emotionally unavailable, there better be a reason. Trauma? Survival mode? Assassin training? (Hey, I get it.) But don’t make her flat … make her fascinating.
The “Oops-I-Fell-Into-the-Plot” Girl Let’s retire the character who has zero agency until someone else saves her or tells her what to do. Even if she’s scared, confused, or in over her head, give her a spark of choice. Something that says, “I may not know what’s happening, but I’m still in it.”
3 Things to Do
Give Her Flaws and Fire Readers love a mess with a mission. Let her screw up, overthink, and occasionally set emotional fires she didn’t mean to, but let her grow. Imperfection is what makes her human and unforgettable.
Let Her Be Smart in Her Own Way Intelligence doesn’t always mean straight-A grades. I’m talking street smarts, mmkay? Maybe she reads people like an open book or knows how to hustle through chaos. Let her strengths shine, even if they don’t fit a “traditional” mold.
Make Her Feel Real Give her a nervous habit, a favorite snack, or an oddly specific pet peeve (like people who use speakerphone in public). The little things make her alive. When she feels real, readers fall harder. And that’s the goal, isn’t it?
Stay tuned, because next month we’re diving into the do’s and don’t’s for writing our male MCs! And that is gonna be delicious—INTERESTING. I meant interesting.
Verses & Victories: The Beauty in Discipline
Let’s talk about a word that tends to make people squirm a little: discipline. It’s gotten such a bad reputation. Somewhere along the way, “discipline” started sounding like “punishment,” and we forgot that it can actually be a form of love.
Even God’s discipline gets misunderstood. Some people are scared of it … like if they mess up, He’ll turn His back. But here’s the truth: the Bible says He disciplines those He loves. That means His correction isn’t rejection. It’s affection.
God’s discipline doesn’t look like human discipline. It’s not rooted in shame or disappointment; it’s rooted in love, guidance, and growth. When He corrects us, He’s teaching us. Refining us. Strengthening our faith so we can stand firm when life gets messy.
He already knows we’re not perfect. He’s factored every wrong turn into His plan for your life. Every single one.
Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that His plans are “for good and not for harm.”
So even when you feel like you’ve fallen short, He’s still working it for your good (Romans 8:28). You can breathe, be still, and trust that He is God—and God is good. (Psalm 46:10)
Look at that, I just smacked you with a bunch of verses. You know why? Because those are weapons to use against negative thoughts. Keep your sword sharp, soldier!
So, don’t let perfectionism paralyze you. You don’t have to get it all right before you start. Move forward in faith. Let go of the fear of failing and the fear of His correction. Because if He’s correcting you, it only means one thing: He loves you.
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