Category: Writing

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Jesus Was Born-What Happened Next? 3rd Day of Christmas

Gospel Medley Writer's Block: My Experience

Jesus Was Born-What Happened Next? For the 3rd Day of Christmas, you’ll enjoy this Christmasy excerpt from my non-fiction book, The Gospel Medley.

What happened between the shepherds’ visit to the manger and the wise men’s visit to the house? Read on, you’ll find out! Plus, you’ll read another momentous prophecy and testimony about Jesus soon after His birth.

That’s not all–my other twenty-five gifts are below for your reading pleasure, not just this one gift! You don’t have to unwrap them–just click on them.

Let me know what you think by clicking here or emailing me at [email protected]. As always, everyone who responds with a comment or email will get a free book from me.

My past gifts to you are here:

Gospel Medley cover spread

Half of Your Gifts! – Jesus Was Born

If you want to keep track of all my blog posts and get free books you can subscribe to my newsletter by clicking here.

What Happened After Jesus Was Born? From The Gospel Medley

Your Twenty-Fourth Literary Gift What Happened After Jesus Was Born?
The Gospel Medley back cover

 (After Simeon’s prophecy in the previous post)

36 There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, 37 and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn’t depart from the temple, worshiping with fastings and petitions night and day. 38 Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem. 39 When they [Joseph and Mary had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.[1].

[1] Joseph and Mary eventually returned to Nazareth but moved to a house in Bethlehem by the time the wise men visited. Since Herod died in March of 4 BC, this episode had to take place before then but after Jesus’s birth. “All these things” included the circumcision (nine days) and the purification (thirty days) plus at least three days for travel and three days back. At least two months passed before they fled to Egypt. We know the wise men visited them while they resided in Bethlehem. After their flight to Egypt, they returned to Nazareth.

What Happened After Jesus Was Born? The Next Episode in Jesus’s Life

Your Twenty-Fourth Literary Gift What Happened After Jesus Was Born?
The four icons of the four gospels

The Flight to Egypt

Matthew 2:13–23 

13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the young child and His mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy Him.”

14 He arose and took the young child and His mother by night, and departed into Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod;

that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”[1]

Herod’s Slaughter

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out, and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men. 17 Then that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying,

18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; she wouldn’t be comforted, because they are no more.”[2]

19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, 20 “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who sought the young child’s life are dead.”

21 He arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee, 23 and came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.”

Footnotes from This Section

Your Twenty-Fourth Literary Gift What Happened After Jesus Was Born?
Back cover detail

[1] Hosea 11:1 – “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.”

[2] Jeremiah 31:15 – Yahweh says: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.

What Happened After Jesus Was Born? Conclusion

What do you think of your third day of Christmas gift? Let me know right here. Don’t forget, I’ll give you a free book after I get your email.

If you like The Gospel Medley, you can subscribe to my newsletter here to see all my blog posts and get free books every month. Or you can just stay at my blog, checking back every day until Christmas.

Get your autographed copy of The Gospel Medley by clicking here.

Psst! Audible lets you listen freely to my books. Click here right now to find out how.

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Jesus Life Story for You – On Sale

Gospel Medley Writer's Block: My Experience

Jesus Life Story for You. You’ll enjoy this excerpt from The Gospel Medley. The Gospel Medley contains the gospels in time order. Here’s an excerpt from my non-fiction book, The Gospel Medley below. It’s on sale from September 21-28, 2025.

What happened between the shepherds’ visit to the manger and the wise men’s visit to the house? In this last of a two-part series, you’ll find out! Plus, you’ll read another momentous prophecy and testimony about Jesus soon after His birth.

Let me know what you think by clicking here or emailing me at [email protected]. As always, everyone who responds with a comment or email will get a free book from me.

Jesus Life Story for You – Is here:

Gospel Medley cover spread Jesus Life Story for You

If you want to keep track of all my blog posts and get free books, then… Subscribe to my newsletter by clicking here.

What Happened After Jesus Was Born? From The Gospel Medley

Your Twenty-Fourth Literary Gift What Happened After Jesus Was Born? Jesus Life Story for You
The Gospel Medley back cover

 (After Simeon’s prophecy in the previous post)

36 There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, 37 and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn’t depart from the temple, worshiping with fastings and petitions night and day. 38 Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem. 39 When they [Joseph and Mary had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.[1].

[1] Joseph and Mary eventually returned to Nazareth but moved to a house in Bethlehem by the time the wise men visited. Since Herod died in March of 4 BC, this episode had to take place before then but after Jesus’s birth. “All these things” included the circumcision (nine days) and the purification (thirty days) plus at least three days for travel and three days back. At least two months passed before they fled to Egypt. We know the wise men visited them while they resided in Bethlehem. After their flight to Egypt, they returned to Nazareth.

What Happened After Jesus Was Born? The Next Episode in Jesus’s Life

Your Twenty-Fourth Literary Gift What Happened After Jesus Was Born?
The four icons of the four gospels

The Flight to Egypt

Matthew 2:13–23 

13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the young child and His mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy Him.”

14 He arose and took the young child and His mother by night, and departed into Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod;

that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”[1]

Herod’s Slaughter

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out, and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men. 17 Then that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying,

18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; she wouldn’t be comforted, because they are no more.”[2]

19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, 20 “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who sought the young child’s life are dead.”

21 He arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee, 23 and came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.”

Footnotes from This Section

Your Twenty-Fourth Literary Gift What Happened After Jesus Was Born?
Back cover detail

[1] Hosea 11:1 – “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.”

[2] Jeremiah 31:15 – Yahweh says: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.

Jesus Life Story for You – On Sale Conclusion

What do you think of your free excerpt? Let me know right here. Don’t forget I’ll give you a free book after I get your email. It’s on sale from September 21-28, 2025.

If you like The Gospel Medley you can subscribe to my newsletter here . You’ll get to see all my blog posts and get free books every month. Or you can just stay at my blog, checking back every day until Christmas.

Get your autographed copy of The Gospel Medley by clicking here.

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Free Plotting Lessons Part Two from Author Andy Zach

Happy Mother's Day

Free Plotting Lessons Part Two – Just when you think you’ve learned all you can about plotting, then you discover F. This, of course, is a follow up to Free Plotting Lessons Here from author Andy Zach, my previous blog post.

What do you get? First, you learn about hooks.

Free Plotting Lessons Part Two from Author Andy Zach – Lesson 3 – Start with Your Hook

 

Free Plotting Lessons Second
A pirate hook for Writing Paranormal Privateers First Draft

 

Second, you learn how to fill in your scenes.

Lesson 4 – Fill in your scenes

Finally, this lesson includes a free spreadsheet from me, Andy Zach!

Happy Mother's Day
Andy Zach smiling about his new novel, Paranormal Privateers. Click to get it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free Plotting Lessons Second Lesson – Start with Your Hook

What’s a hook? An irresistible opening to your book that intrigues the reader and forces them to read more. And more. And more.

A hook is a plot device. It can be:

  1. A startling or mysterious statement
  2. A dramatic or deadly situation.
  3. A heart-tugging situation – heroine tied to railroad tracks, a child in a fire.

How do you write a hook?

First, I’ll give you some examples.

From The Hunger Game, by Suzanne Collins, you have this: 

Free Plotting Lessons Second
The Hunger Games Hook
Paranormal Privateers Progress Update
Zombie Turkeys front cover. Click to get a copy!

Doesn’t that set off questions? Who is Prim? Who is the narrator? What’s the ‘reaping’?

From the sublime (in terms of book sales) to the ridiculous: my own novel Zombie Turkeys hook.

 

Zombie Turkeys – Chapter 1 Bartonville

 

Zombie Turkeys Chapter 1 Icon
Zombie Turkeys Chapter 1 Icon

He felt different. More energetic, more alive. He bred with female after female in his flock without tiring. He stayed awake through the night. The turkey feared no predator.

Then a turkey hunter shot him.

The setting sun overlooked a crisp, clear evening in early November. South of Bartonville, Illinois, a farmer had leased his wood lot to two turkey hunters. Big and burly in their bulky camouflaged outfits, they had just bagged one.

“Good shot, Pete!”

“He’s a big ‘un!”

Pete and Bob walked up to the tom turkey, bleeding on the cold ground. The rest of the flock had scattered into the woods. He had exceptionally good plumage and weighed perhaps twenty pounds. Pete reached down and picked him up by the neck.

“He weighs at least twenty-five pounds!”

Then the turkey’s eyes opened—and gleamed red. He kicked with his spurs and pecked savagely at Pete’s arms and eyes. Dozens of his hens attacked the men from behind.

“Gobble! Gobble!”

He felt different. More energetic, more alive. The turkey had no memory of being shot, but a certain turkey satisfaction at killing his killers. He also enjoyed pecking at their dead meat. He had always liked frogs, but this meat tasted better. The boss turkey led his flock down the road, in search of more predators to eat.

More on Hooks here:

See Book Bub’s article on hooks: Start Your Novel with a Bang! 12 Ways to Hook Readers

Now you practice writing an irresistible hook! Submit it in the comments to this blog. The best hook gets a free ebook: Zombie Turkeys or My Undead Mother-in-law.

If you don’t want to comment, just send it to me here.

Free Plotting Lessons Second – Fill in your scenes

Each scene MUST serve a purpose.

  1. Advance the plot: X does Y to Z.
  2. Develop your characters. Make them real people with strengths and weaknesses: X is unfaithful but hardworking. Z is loyal but dumb.
  3. Give the reader information. X was abused as a child, but very kind. Z was happy as a child, but has a secret. Engage the reader. Make them care.
  4. Ideally, do all three at once in the same scene, in every sentence.
  5. Finish with a hook for the next chapter. Force the reader to read the next chapter!

Review your plot outline. Pick one chapter and break it into scenes.

What happens first? Then what logically flows from that event? What do the characters do? How do they react? Portray the effects from each scene. Tug at the reader’s heart.

For your next exercise, break one of your chapters from your outline into scenes. Post your outline as a comment or send it to me. I’ll randomly select one and send you a free ebook.

I didn’t have a scene chart with Zombie Turkeys, and I struggled. Then I learned about scene charts from Rachel Aaron in her book:

2K to 10K: Writing Faster, Writing Better, and Writing More of What You Love

 My scene chart from chapter one of my second novel, My Undead Mother-in-law:

Free Plotting Lessons Second
My Undead Mother-in-law scene 1 spreadsheet entry
Paranormal Privateers Now
Andy Zach and Brenda Sutton at Chambanacon

To get your copy of my scene spreadsheet, just contact me.

That’s it! Now you’ve finally gotten the whole class I taught on plotting. Ask me any questions you want. I’ll answer each one.

Your friendly, neighborhood, comic paranormal animal author,

Andy Zach