Was it worth it?

Have you ever done something you shouldn’t because you wanted to do something special for someone? Was it worth it? Like ditched school so you could go meet a friend? Or just to make a point? Or have you volunteered for something because it was the “right” thing to do even though your heart wasn’t in it? Have you ever kept a secret that no one should keep? We’ve all done it. Was it worth it?

So many ponderables – was it worth it?

Angelina, Katie, and Trek all made that decision in Jewels of Kidron. In the end, they all suffered from their lack of honesty and authenticity. Now, there’s a word. Authenticity. That word has been tossed around so much that it’s lost most of its stuffing. Most of the time, I have to look it up to be sure I’m using it correctly. I looked it up. Eventually, I got to words like genuine and sincere. I bet I’d get down to “real” if I dug deep enough.

The point is – as you read their story, I’m asking you to determine whether each of them did the right thing and whether it was for the right reason or the wrong reason. And does it really make a difference? Was it worth it? For instance, if you found out that someone stole something because they wanted to give you something special, do you really think it’s that special, or has it been spoiled knowing that it was stolen? In that case, was it really the thought that counts? It can be hard to navigate the line between someone’s poor judgment and the thoughtfulness behind their action. And what do you do when a friend falls off the wagon and does something pretty stupid? Something really wrong. What do you do then?

Answers or just more questions?

I can’t answer that for you. You might find the answer in Jewels of Kidron https://satiamapublishing.com/product/jewels-of-kidron/. Like every author, I hope the story I have written will cause you to pause, think, and become aware of choices and consequences you might not have considered. I do know making good choices can be painful.

I’m anxious to find out if your conclusions are different than mine. Let me know what you come up with in the comments.

Things I’m reading and watching to prepare for my next two books:

The Librarian of Burned Books by Brianna Labuskes https://www.amazon.com/Librarian-Burned-Books-Novel- is very thought provoking in regards to how people had to weigh their own safety against the evil done to their friends and neighbors in Nazi occupied Europe. This makes me think about how my characters deal with right and wrong.

Wings by Aprilynne Pike https://www.amazon.com/Wings-Aprilynne-Pike/dp/0061668052 It is important to read how other authors have melded the real world with the world of fantasy making it a good read for young adults.

Netflix – The Dragon Prince https://www.netflix.com/watch/80212353? This is a wonderful example of reflecting the diversity of today’s society in a way that is natural and without a lecture or sermon.