Dear Friends,
It has been an incredible year for us and I just wanted to write and say thanks. This year you helped us share The Green Ember Series with tens of thousands of new readers!
I believe in these stories and I’m honored they have found a place in so many homes. I get the most amazing messages, letters, drawings, and cards from readers all over. It’s so encouraging to me and I wish I could share them all with you. I’m genuinely not entirely sure what it is, but there is something about these stories that is resonating with children and families. My guess, based on the feedback I’ve gotten, is that many folks are hungry for New Stories with an Old Soul. (I know my family is.) Maybe it’s the thousands of people I’ve blackmailed. Who knows? But for me, there is nothing like hearing from these kids. What an incredible privilege. I am blown away by their enthusiasm!
Like everyone, I squirm a little sharing “success” stuff. The lurking terror of the “humble brag” lurks terrifyingly like a lurker who terrifies. But I’m genuinely convinced that you are part of the story behind the stories and that your investments (of many kinds) have been crucial. You’re in on the work, so I want you to know at least some of what that has meant.
Best-Smeller
This year The Green Ember Series books were best-sellers on Amazon many times in multiple categories. The category bestseller thing on Amazon can be misleading, of course, but the books have sold incredibly well. I’m also very grateful that the books continue to be positively reviewed, with nearly 900 reviews, over 90% of which are 5 stars. Those reviews help so much. Thank you to all of you who have (or will) take the minute to help us out in that way.
Look Out, J. K. Rowling
Amazon ranks authors based on sales of their books. I’m usually in there in certain categories, but I was surprised to find that two different times this year I reached the Top 100 Overall. My highest rank was at #51. I still kind of can’t believe that. (Don’t worry, Miss Rowling. I think you’re safe, because if you sneezed on a grocery list and put it on Amazon, it would sell a billion copies in five seconds.)
Audio Adrenaline
Our audiobooks have also made a big splash and, thanks to a good sale Audible ran, The Green Ember became the best-selling audiobook in the world in July for a short time. All the audiobooks continue to sell well, and receive mostly good reviews from listeners. Although, the bad reviews are secretly some of my favorites. (But don’t go doing me a “favor” by posting a bad one!)
LA LA Land
I was delighted to be invited to fly out to L.A. to meet with studio executives and filmmakers about the potential for a movie version of The Green Ember. There’s nothing major to announce on that front yet, but there is real interest and I hope to be flying out west again soon for more meetings. It’s a long process, I’m learning, but I’m excited by the very real potential for translating these stories onto the screen.
Make Homeschool Conferences Great Again?
I was invited to be a featured speaker at the Great Homeschool Conventions in Texas, South Carolina, Ohio, and California. This is a major improvement over my many years struggling through the Mediocre Homeschool Conventions. I look forward to being at all four GREAT ones in 2017 and seeing many of you again, or meeting you for the first time! These are special events for homeschooling fams who want to be encouraged and equipped in their calling. I’m excited about my talks, but more so about getting to talk to you!
New Shtuff
We had a successful Kickstarter and release of Ember Falls: The Green Ember Book II.
We launched new products including Heather’s Necklace and Picket’s Sword. 
We released Joel Clarkson’s newest record, a musical soundscape for The Green Ember, Melodies for the Mended Wood vol 1. It’s excellent! Here are five of the tracks for free (the whole album is only $5 for the moment).
The Future!
Yes, there are more books on the way! God willing, I will share more Whitson Mariner stories and, of course, more of Heather and Picket’s quest for the Mended Wood.
We are NOT going to announce WHEN the next books are going to be released until we know FOR SURE. We learned that lesson the hard way with Ember Falls. We don’t want to generate expectation for a release date we can’t reach. It will definitely take longer than any of us wish.
We are still a very, very small operation. I still work a day job and have many other responsibilities. I have a family, including one wife and four young kids who need me. They are my priority. My work as an author, while enormously important to me, is still something I can only do when I can find/make time for it. I hope that one day I can do it full-time, and your unbelievable support is making that a real possibility, but the reality is I’m not there yet.
I know the wait is tough. I appreciate how much you (and/or your kids) care about what happens to Heather and Picket! I care too. I hope, when it’s all over, that you’ll be satisfied by the big story.
I am a profoundly imperfect man. I’m aware that I’ve received more than I’ve given, that I’m the recipient of amazing grace in a million ways. Thank you so much for being an ally and an investor in this storytelling adventure. Who knows where it might lead?
If you think about it, please pray for me and my family. We feel blessed by your love and support in this calling. Thank you!
The LORD bless you and keep you,
Sam
We just finished book 2 & I’m so delighted by this tale! My two young boys love it as well & we can’t wait to hear more about Heather & Picket. Thank you for these amazing stories & being used by God in this way! Praying for you & your family & we are telling everyone we know to run out & read these books!
Thank you so much, Michelle! That is very kind. We are so grateful for your prayers.
-Sam
What an adventure!! My husband and I along with our four kids have thoroughly enjoyed your books. We just completed “Ember Falls” and immediately began looking for the next book :-). They are all singing, “It will not be so in the Mended Wood” around the house. May the Lord continue to bless you in this ministry and provide for your family.
Anita Knowles
Nassau, Bahamas
Hi Anita!
I’m so happy to hear that your family enjoyed the books. Thank you for the kind words and encouragement!
God bless you and yours, my sister.
Sam
I’m very thankful for having come across your story and website S.D. Smith. I’ve been looking for good, Christian authors that write children’s authors. And it’s been tougher than you might think finding that. It’s been an inspiration finding you knowing I wish to become a children’s author someday as well. Showing ways that Christ has saved us through stories is absolutely powerful! Although you don’t directly profess your Faith you definitely give hints and I’m thankful for that. I understand much of the world would be turned away at the name of Jesus Christ. I hope you keep firm and bold in your Faith above all else through this journey S.D.. I’ll be praying for you and, again, I’m thankful having found your site!
I am grateful for your prayers, Cam. God bless you.
This commendation may be dubious as it comes from a pea loving person. But it is possible that peas are what you are missing. A dose of those lovely little green garden jewels may be just what you need to give you the energy to complete the next book – asap. My 13 year old son was crying this morning, because our internet was down and we could not order book 3. (This is a typically stoic child.) He started book 1 on Saturday at 4:00 p.m., book 2 at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, and was ready for book three at 9:30 a.m. on Friday. (He took a brake for strep throat on Monday and Tuesday.) He cried some more when he learned that there is no book 3. He is comforting himself with The Black Star, but, he has informed me, it is small comfort – though an utterly engaging tale. (Already finished. Started Friday at 12:30 p.m. finished by 6:00 p.m. He had chores and errands etc. which wasted some time…) He told me we needed to drop every expense in our life and underwrite book 3 for you. (I explained about you having to work a job to buy peas for your wife and such.) The suspense is killing him….. I had to search all over the internet and listen to a few of your interviews (he joined me for one) in order to find word that there would indeed be another book. (Not sure what emotional trauma he would have sustained had I learned book 2 was the end…. He’ll probably have to eat some peas to get through this….) Thanks for an engrossing book. (I personally stayed up far past my bedtime last night listening to my own audio copy. I had to get all the way to chapter 18 or something to find a reasonably peaceful place to pause. Thanks.) And thanks for writing a book that has my 10 year old son absorbed in a story. He is also acting un-naturally. Walking around with a headset on listening … going to bed happily !!!!! listening… listening on the way to town…. Good stuff…. The swords from our Narnia era have come out again, and a cry of “Red-eye Garlicson is coming,” has just resounded on my ears. We will not hold our breath waiting for book 3 but, almost. Thank you. We wish you God’s richest blessings in all your endeavors. Heidi (happily home educating mom to three.) p.s. The kids looooove Joel Clarkson’s reading. They told me to be sure to ask you to have him read the entire series. And they would like it made into a movie – only if the movie producers don’t “mess up the story and get it all wrong, like they usually do…”)
Thank you, Heidi, for that engrossing note. 🙂
I’m so sorry it was difficult to find out news of Book 3. I have it in the contact info, but a lot of people don’t see that. So, I need to make that more accessible.
I was reminded of the need for speed relating to Book 3 about 8,000 times this weekend as I met and signed books for lots of kids.
I’m glad your son has enjoyed the books and I’m glad he’s hungry for more.
I shall do my best. The best a man on a pea-free diet can be expected to do.
Grace and peace,
Sam
Thank you for The Green Aaaugh! and its sequel, Aaaugh Falls! To explain: I read these to my four munchkins as a bedtime story. They only get a chapter at a time. Mr. Smith, your continual cliffhanger chapters bring a great deal of enjoyment to myself and my wife on a daily basis because the end of each chapter is accompanied by my slamming the book shut, smiling and announcing, “That’s the end of the chapter!” This is immediately followed by the unified “AAAUGH!” of all four kids at full volume, indicating both that they have been hanging on every word and are considering mutiny involving beating the narrator with couch pillows in order to swarm me and finish the book right then and there. Although I read the books with different voices for each character (one possible reason for the stay of revolution), I suspect the impetus to hold an Aaaugh Rebellion is exponentially growing. Thank you for this wonderful set of books. As an added bonus, I’m excited to tell them at the end of Ember Falls that it’s not the final book (mwaa haa haa!), and that the prequel doesn’t end the series either. At the time of that announcement, I expect you’ll be able to hear “AAAAAAAAUGH!” from West Virginia…and we’re in Idaho. Marvelous work.
P.S. To be fair, I don’t read ahead, so I suffer both anticipatory internal and aural external Aaaugh Syndrome while reading. Thanks again for making bunnies with swords a topic of debate in our home!
This is so fun. I’m VERY happy to hear a positive spin on the Elephant in the room who is hanging on a cliff. I support the AAAAUGH Rebellion with my most fervent passions and I would be very happy to contribute arms (cushions) for the struggle.
Bear up, young fighters!
I am very grateful for this fun, encouraging note!