Music that Inspired The Song in the Shadows
If you've followed me for any amount of time, you know that music plays an important role in my writing process. Even when my fingers aren't on the keyboard, I'm listening to songs that remind me of moments in my books, characters, story arcs, and even emotions I experience writing certain scenes. Listening to these songs helped me to develop the story in my mind long before it ever hits the page. The Song in the Shadows was no exception to this process. So many of the songs on this playlist have become some of my all-time favorite songs,
Hand-Painted Whimsical Gothic Maximalist Wallpaper
There's a name for this... I never knew there was a name for my aesthetic until my sister (an interior designer) said to me once, "You're such a gothic maximalist." I had never heard the term maximalist. Minimalist? Yes, all the time. It's all the rage these days. But I suppose much like most extroverts assume introverts are just one social event from being converted (we're not), I think mainstream designers assume everyone is a minimalist. Hint: we're not. I can never find what I like in big box stores, mostly because big box stores focus on what's trendy and...
The Birth of the Chalam Chronicles
One thing I get asked a lot is, "Where did you get the idea for your books?" I think somewhere back in the annals of history (read: one of the past acknowledgments) I mentioned that these books started in my brain when I was a kid. That is absolutely true. I remember lying in the clover patch in my backyard next to my dog, looking up at the sky and imagining a fantastical world beyond ours. I wondered if I could ever visit it; I wondered if it would have the same redemption story as ours. Over the years, that
Stand By Me // Ben E. King Cover
My latest cover is live on YouTube. Whenever I listen to this song I'm immediately transported to my childhood, dancing on my father's toes in the formal dining room in front of our massive '80s stereo, listening to Motown on his collection of 45s. Aside from the fact that this is an incredible song, it also happens to be quite possibly the world's most perfect. So here's my love letter to those days. Enjoy!
The Music that Inspired The Stag at Hand
As many of you know, I always make a playlist for the book I'm writing. It's a way of inspiring me to write certain scenes, to get me in the mode, and to connect more deeply with each character and their respective journeys. As a musician, I suppose it was inevitable that music would play an integral role in my writing. So today, I wanted to share with you the playlist I listened to ad nauseam during the writing of The Stag at Hand. Each song has particular meaning for moments in the book, or characters themselves. But I
Why Book 6 is the Most Difficult Book I’ve Ever Written
I think some of you are going to be a bit taken aback by this next book. There are reasons for that, namely that the content is a lot darker, the subject matter is a lot heavier, and the imagery is a bit bleaker. No, I'm not going through an existential crisis that I projected onto these pages. The truth is, I pushed myself to write something more honest than I've ever written. I took off some of the dampers I had self-inflicted and allowed myself to explore some of the darkest themes I have personally faced. Abuse. Neglect. Fear.
The Music That Inspired The Chalam Færytales
I listen to music when I write. It helps set the mood for certain scenes, helps me to get my mind and soul into the moments I'm creating. It's my own version of method acting, I suppose. I have a playlist for each book from the series* which you can find on Apple Music. Some of the songs that particularly inspired these books are below. If you don't know of them, you need to. They are epic and breathtaking and a story unto themselves. Inspiration There are many songs that inspired me while writing these books, but these are a
The Most Wonderful Time // Christmas EP NOW AVAILABLE
Guys, I've been wanting to do this for years. Transitioning into working for myself full-time has been such a sweet process, affording me the opportunity to do things I've been wanting to do for years. This Christmas EP is a work of love and a fun project that I am so excited to share with you. It's available across all digital distributors and it includes two original Christmas songs, as well as a rather dramatic and over-the-top version of O Holy Night. (You're welcome.) All songs are written, arranged, composed, and performed by moi (except of course, I did not
The War and the Petrichor // Official Trailer
I've been writing this series for more than five years now. And this book is the culmination of Ferryl and Adelaide's story. While it's not the end of the series, it is the end of this particular storyline. And it feels surreal to be releasing it into the world. Thank you all so much for joining me on this journey. I hope you love this book as much as I do. The War and the Petrichor The Chalam Færytales Book V Get it Here
In Egregious Lapse in Judgment, Christian Author Includes Sex in Her Novels
Dear Mom, if you're reading this, I'm sorry. Sex has never been a comfortable topic for me. Partly because of my upbringing, and partly because of my faith, sex has been, for the majority of my life, somewhat of a taboo. Even after marriage, there were aspects of my sexuality that I could not bring myself to terms with (because God forbid a woman should not only enjoy it but... you know... want it). But here I am, writing this, knowing that people I know will read it. Knowing my MOM will read it (good lord in heaven). Maybe even
The Story I Almost Didn’t Tell
Dear Christian, I'm sorry my books offended you. I almost didn't release these books. That's right. When I started writing The Promised One, it was for fun. A labor of love. But I had no intention of releasing it. No, not because I didn't think it was good enough, or because I was suffering from imposter syndrome. I almost didn't release this book because I knew I was going to take the series in a direction that most of my Christian community would not understand. You see, if you've read my books, you know two things: they're blatantly spiritual, and
This Blood / O The Blood
Easter is on its way... let's get some church™ up in here. If you remember a few posts ago (read: tons of posts ago), I got to sing this with the great Rita Springer herself when I was part of the choir at Gateway Church. To this day, that is THE single most powerful performance I've ever been a part of. Now, I'm no Rita, but I tried to do her justice. She's a legend.
Rescue
I get asked about this one a lot. After all, it's an incredible song by a phenomenal singer. I'm not mad about covering it, but here's to hoping I did it justice.
His Eye is On the Sparrow
I'm an '80s kid. I cut my teeth on Sister Act and Sister Act II. So of course, I had to sing one of my favorites from the movies. Because in these uncertain times, it's a reminder I needed.
The Perdurables // Official Trailer
It's here, my friends! The official trailer for The Perdurables, The Chalam Færytales Book IV is out! I'm so excited to share this one with you. It's a book I never planned to write, but a story that wouldn't quit hounding me until I gave it its day in the sun. So without further ado, I present to you the latest trailer, my friends. Enjoy!
Wicked Game
I've always loved this song. From the time I was young, it would come on the radio and I would stop just to listen to its haunting melody. Its hypnotic repetition. Its romance and its heartbreak. Fast forward to my writing days and I find my characters within the depths of songs. This one for me is the song of Michael and Delaney. It's their story—hers and his. So I decided I should sing it for them. It's only fair that I should serenade fictional characters, right?
When Did We Start Demanding Miracles?
It is not great faith to demand something of God. Let me repeat that. It is not great faith to demand God to do anything. But that's what's happening today. And the #WakeUpOlive movement is only a symptom of a much bigger, and much more terrifying problem in the modern Church. A Worldwide Movement A few days ago, my Instagram feed started to fill with post after post from prominent Christian leaders. All of them cried out in great faith, and all of them were asking one thing: for God to resurrect a little girl from the dead. Immediately, my
Non Sequitur: You Would Have Made a Fine Grand Duke
I thought I'd try something new. A way to share with you my WIPs without giving away spoilers or plot points. So I'm calling this "Non Sequiturs." A place in which I share with you random bits from current projects for you to get a sample of raw, unedited manuscripts, whilst simultaneously peering behind the curtain of what it's like to write a novel. So today, I bring you this Non Sequitur, lovingly entitled: You Would Have Made A Fine Grand Duke. Let me know your thoughts in the comments! “It’s a pity you were not born male,” Ezra said.
My Interview with Voyage Dallas Magazine
My Interview with Voyage Dallas Recently, I had the privilege of being interviewed by Voyage Dallas Magazine, a local magazine dedicated to the entrepreneurs and visionaries in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, metroplex. In the article, you'll learn a little bit about my journey from musician to author to publisher, and what's in store for the future! Check out the article below! [av_button label='Voyage Dallas Interview' link='manually,http://voyagedallas.com/interview/mee-morgan-g-farris-granbury-texas/?fbclid=IwAR3daI800SuZ_fqBdH9vm7QKIugAZCMed_E4TD77t1EfjhET4QFnntORO7c' link_target='_blank' size='x-large' position='center' label_display='' icon_select='no' icon='ue800' font='entypo-fontello' color='theme-color' custom_bg='#444444' custom_font='#ffffff' av_uid='av-2fb3e0' admin_preview_bg='']
Happy Birthday, The Promised One!
Happy Birthday, The Promised One. You're still my favorite. I can't believe it's been a WHOLE YEAR since The Promised One made its debut in the world! What a year it has been! In celebration, for one day only, you can get 36.5% off the signed edition of TPO on my website only! (36.5. Get it? 365 days. I mean, you get it, right?) #CleverMarketing Just use the code TPOBIRTHDAY at checkout! Get your copy here! And if you already have one, pick one up for your friends! [av_button label='TPO Signed Edition' link='manually,https://www.morgangfarris.com/product/the-promised-one-signed-edition' link_target='' size='large' position='center' label_display='' icon_select='no' icon='ue800' font='entypo-fontello'
The Novels God Himself Is Not Allowed to Read
I want to inspire you today. I hear this a lot: "Gosh, Morgan, is there anything you can't do?" And I cringe when I hear it, to be honest, because DEAR SWEET JESUS, YES THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS I CANNOT DO. Just the other night, I went to play Top Golf with my friends and, well, let's just say I proved my ineptitude for anything remotely athletic. I'm a spaz, to be quite honest. While God may have gifted me in the artistic arena, he definitely did not see fit to bestow even an iota of coordination into
2018: A Look Back at My First Year In Publishing
What I've learned, what I'm changing, and what to expect for 2019 » When I look back on this year, I have to admit that it has been full of surprises—some good, some not so good. As most of you know, my first novel was released into the world in January of this year, with the second following in October. It has been a whirlwind of learning curves and exciting moments (like when book two became a number one new release on Amazon), but all in all, I have enjoyed every minute of my first year in publishing, and I'm
Women Are Not Stronger Than Men
I see this a lot in my reader groups: people (particularly girls) asking for recommendations of novels with strong female leads. And then inevitably, fifty people comment with various novels they love and recommend. And almost exclusively, the novels feature ass-kicking women with hyper-masculine tendencies and abilities that somehow mark them as “strong.” And inevitably, I roll my eyes. Now let me just say that I will be the first to admit that I’m a Sarah J. Maas fan, and she is the queen of writing ass-kicking female leads. And I am fully aware of the hypocrisy of my own
Shallow Art Does Not Good Theology Make
Shallow art does not equal good theology. Let me say that again. Shallow art does not equal good theology. If art isn't authentic to the human experience, it's not art. There. I said it. *breathes* This topic can be...touchy, to say the least. For Christians, anyway. I think we're scared... I've avoided it, to be honest. I thought to myself, "If someone brings it up, then talk about it. But don't open that Pandora's Box. It's not worth it." People have brought it up in my inner circle. But I can tell that they, like me, weren't sure what to
The Perfection of Imperfection
We all have them. There is no one exempt from their trappings. They haunt us. They chase us. They inhibit us. Sometimes—SOMETIMES—they even inspire us. Imperfections. Bad habits. Quirks. Temperaments. Attitudes. Flaws. Call them what you will, we all have them. And as a writer, I look to exploit them. Because let’s face it: perfect characters are, well... BORING. Like our dear Prince Ferryl with his impulsivity and idealism. While those traits can be a good thing, they can also be a very bad thing for a man who is to inherit a kingdom. That idealism often comes back to