💌 Sara Ella's September Newsletter
Encouraging Words in a Heavy Season, Glass Across the Sea Preorder Gifts & Write by Candlelight Invite
Dear Friend,
One of my favorite musicals of all time (aside from Wicked) is She Loves Me. If you’re familiar with the film You’ve Got Mail (also a forever favorite), you can guess the gist of the musical’s plot.
In She Loves Me, the main characters—who are anonymous pen pals—write letters to each other, and they begin their letters just as I have begun this one: Dear Friend.
I like to think of my readers and fellow writers with that mindset. I know it’s a pretty common way to begin an author newsletter. It’s nothing particularly unique or catchy or even creative. But it’s true. And truth is what I hope to share as I continue to grow and write in this space.
This has been a difficult year. September in particular has been . . . heavy. Honestly, that word doesn’t feel quite adequate enough to describe the emotions of the past few weeks. I’m a writer, so I tend to turn to a thesaurus when I can’t think of the right words. And yet, even the thesaurus did not provide the words that fit. Not exactly.
I suppose sometimes there are no words. And when there are no words, the only place left to turn is God’s Word. This year especially, I have been reminded what a refuge and comfort Scripture can be. I wrote about some of the trials my family has faced this year in my post titled “Finding Light in the Darkness.” I shared my thoughts about grief and loss and all the ways God continues to be who He is—faithful and unfailing.
Recent events have proven the world is full of darkness. But even while that remains true, the greater truth is that light ultimately shines through.
I’ve been working on this newsletter for weeks. It was really supposed to go out much earlier in September, but many times what I think is “supposed” to happen is not what ends up happening at all.
This year has shaken me to my core. It has brought a complicated miscarriage, the passing of my father-in-law, and the unbelievable tragedy of Charlie Kirk’s death. I’ve found myself asking God, “Why? Why so much heartbreak in such a short span of time?”
His answer came through His Word, as it most often does.
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” — James 1:2–3
The word “steadfastness” in that verse is also translated as “endurance” or “patience.” We are called to wait patiently in our faith, through every trial. And we are to do that waiting with joy, knowing that the more trials we face, the more patient we grow. And the more patient we grow, the more rooted we become in what we believe—so that nothing may sway us.
And friend, if you follow Christ, you may have noticed this is a season of swaying. I certainly feel it, and maybe you do too. There are so many opinions coming at us from every angle. This season reminds me of Jesus’s words in Matthew 7.
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.” — Matthew 7:24–25
Our faith is to be founded on the Rock. We are to be planted deeply and remain steadfast, so that when the winds of trial come we cannot be moved.
Charlie said he wanted to be remembered for courage for his faith. His memorial was a testament to that. And the forgiveness his wife, Erika Kirk, showed to the man who took her husband’s life is a shining example of what it means to walk like Jesus.
My favorite part of the memorial’s worship service was when Brandon Lake called everyone to give their attention to “the One Who created us, Who loves us the most.” I get chills every time I watch this clip. Though it was heartbreaking this event even had a reason to occur, it was also uplifting to see so many believers coming together to worship the Lord and remember a man who showed us what it means to live out Paul’s words in Philippians 1:21—“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
“Death is not the end. For those who trust in Him,
you can be sure that death is not the end.”
— Brandon Lake
Here’s what’s true: Death is not the end. Darkness is not the end. Not for those who put their faith in the King of kings. This is why my author tagline has always been “happily ever after is never far away.” Because, though this life guarantees heartache and death and pain, I know how the story ends. The enemy does not win. And I think we can all sing a “hallelujah” for that.
If you’re still reading, thank you. I’m so grateful for your time and support. I know, like me, you probably have a full plate. Many things are vying for your time, and the fact that you’ve taken a moment to read some of my words truly blesses me.
Despite all that’s happened this year, there is still so much to be thankful for as we enter the autumn season. I’ve struggled with finding the balance between grief and joy. And I’ve come to find that the two aren’t mutually exclusive. We can find joy while still being in the midst of sorrow.
I hope some of my words bring you a little joy today. And I invite you to settle in with me for a bit as I share all that’s happening in my life this season.
September Highlights
🎁 August Giveaway Winner + Enter to Win 8 New Reads!
⭐ Book Review Spotlight: Glass Across the Sea
✍️ Writing Workshop: Head vs. Heart Story
📖 Book of the Month: The Things We Can Change by Karyne Norton
🔖 Glass Across the Sea Preorder Gifts First Look: Claim Yours Now!
🏆 Upcoming Events + Teen Readers’ Choice Awards
💻 Paid Subscriber Zoom Event Invite: Write by Candlelight🕯️
Featured on Instagram
Tabitha Caplinger is a brilliant author and sweet friend who never fails to offer encouragement and truth in every post. She’s about to launch some new merchandise in her Live Chosen shop in October. I’m so excited about the Stronger than Darkness tees, especially. Check out her Instagram and give her a follow!
🎁 August Giveaway Winner
Last month, I made the transition from FloDesk to Substack. It’s been a learning curve, but in such a good way. Thank you to all who stuck with me as I moved to this new space.
As promised in my last FloDesk newsletter, one random entry has been chosen. Congratulations, Liv H! Liv said her favorite fall treat is a decaf PSL with oatmilk! I’ve ordered mine that way on many occasions, and I can promise it’s delicious! Liv won the $15 Starbucks digital gift card and an E-ARC of Glass Across the Sea.
I run giveaways as often as I can to send a little “thank you” your way. Your support means the world!
And, speaking of giveaways, I’m currently running a Fall Reads Giveaway with seven other author friends on Instagram. There’s still time to enter to win eight new reads for the cozy season! Giveaway ends Tuesday, September 30, 2025.
⭐ Book Review Spotlight
The reality of writing books is this: Not everyone will connect with your words. You can pour everything you have into a story and still receive criticism and low stars. Criticism isn’t just possible, it’s inevitable. I learned a long time ago that scrolling through reviews is not always the best way to spend my time. If I did, I’d likely never write another book again.
Because once a book is out there, it’s out there. I can’t change it. My stories will resonate with some, and they won’t be right for others. And that’s okay. I write for the glory of God and can only hope He will use my words to point my readers to Him.
It is a pleasant surprise, however, when my publisher sends me a positive review from an industry publication. When I received this starred review from Foreword in my inbox this month, I was floored. You can read the full review on their website. It’s just a reminder of God’s goodness and grace. Writing and revising this book about broke me. But I suppose that’s why God laid it on my heart to write a book about finding hope amidst brokenness in the first place.
It’s hard to believe we are less than a month away from release day. I’m nervous and excited for this story to finally reach your hands. I pray that, in some small way, if you read it, Noelle and Dante’s story blesses you. A big thank you (and hug) to all my early reviewers!
✍️ Writing Workshop: Head vs. Heart Story
My latest Writing Workshop Series is all about the Head vs. Heart Story. In this series, I wrote about why your heart story matters, the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone, breaking free from the lies I believed early on in my career, and more.
If this sounds like the workshop for you, the full three-part series is available now. Part 3 includes the complete slide presentation download. Read through it (or listen with the text-to-speech feature in the Substack app) at your own pace.
📖 Book of the Month
She traveled back in time to forget all she’d lost in the future. He loved her enough to let her go. But neither realized the viral outbreak they were tasked to prevent wasn’t the real enemy.
The Things We Can Change is a standalone science fiction thriller with time travel, viral outbreaks, amnesia, and a dash of sweet romance, and will appeal to fans of The Terminator and Bourne Identity. If you like soft science fiction with fast-paced action, plot twists, character depth, and mind-bending time travel, you’ll love this book.
🔖 Glass Across the Sea Preorder Gifts
Newsletter subscribers always get the first look at anything new, and that includes preorder gifts. I’ll be revealing all gifts for Glass Across the Sea preorders on Instagram in October, but if you’re reading this, you have a chance to claim your gifts early—before they’re gone!
Everyone who preorders a signed hardcover from my local bookstore, Changing Hands, will receive physical & digital gifts. For those of you who ordered from any other retailer, please note that physical gifts are very limited. Once they’re all claimed, only digital gifts will be available. That’s why I give my newsletter subscribers first dibs. Submit your receipt via this form to claim your gifts, which include:
A Glass Across the Sea Lighthouse Bookmark (Designed by
)A Glass Pumpkin w/ Lamplighter Parables Quote Sticker (Designed by
)A Signed Bookplate (or Signed Hardcover if you Preordered from Changing Hands)
Noelle’s Pumpkin Peasant Bread Recipe (Digital Download)
A Very Special Digital Wallpaper Art Gift To Be Revealed! (Designed by Mariposa Aristeo)
🏆 Upcoming Events + Teen Readers’ Choice Awards
I am thrilled to announce that I will be teaching at StoryCon again in 2026. The event takes place in Salt Lake City, UT, February 27–28 at the Salt Palace Convention Center. I’ll be teaching my class titled “Infinity Rejections and Beyond: Why Criticism is Critical to an Author’s Growth” for both the Adult and Teen Tracks.
I hope to see you there in person. Buy my books at the event, or bring your own for the book signing. And, if you feel so inclined to nominate any of my books for the Teen Readers’ Choice Awards, I’d be honored. Nominations are for teen readers ages 13-19 only. You can nominate any of my books for the Best of the Past Decade category. If you’ve had a chance to read an early copy of Glass Across the Sea and loved it, I wouldn’t mind if you dropped it in the Young Adult Fantasy category. ❤️
To see other events I’ll be attending, visit the events page on my website.
💻 Paid Subscriber Zoom Event Invite: Write by Candlelight 🕯️
I have been itching to host my first-ever quarterly Zoom event! I hope you’ll join me for an hour of encouragement, fellowship, and writing sprints by candlelight. (Because who doesn’t love candles?) Light your favorite candle, and come ready to write (or edit) together. I’ll be giving away my favorite candle of the month to one attendee. (Pssst! It’s a Glass Across the Sea-inspired candle from Lamplighter Literary.) To protect the privacy of attendees and keep our space safe, this event is for paid subscribers only. All registrations will be verified before approval.
Introverted? No worries! You can keep your camera and mic turned off and just listen and join in the comments if you wish. The replay will be available within a week following the live event.
When: Friday, October 10, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. PT
Where: Zoom (Keep scrolling to gain access to the registration link below the paywall. If you can’t see it in your email due to the cutoff, be sure to view the entire message in a new tab and scroll all the way to the bottom.) ⬇️
When more friends use your referral link to subscribe (free or paid), you’ll receive special benefits.
Get a 1-month comp for 5 referrals
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So Long, Farewell
That’s the news for September. As always, please don’t hesitate to reply via email or leave a comment on this post. I love hearing from you! Until next month, happy reading and writing and everything in between!
Ways You Can Support Me
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