DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1.Thomas felt incomplete because of his plague. Have you ever had an injury or an illness that made you feel that way?
2.Thomas was caught between two sides—the Keepers who wanted to be free of oppression and the Igniters who wanted to be free to use color speech as they pleased. In the end, Thomas realized he had to find the truth for himself. What ways can you search for truth or seek the source of matters relevant to you today?
3.When Thomas started figuring out his own stance on the war, he felt like he had to stay in the plot so as not to let everyone down. Do you ever find yourself being swayed by pressure from others?
4.Some people—like Catesby—are very passionate about their cause. They are easy to follow and cheer for. What are some pros and cons of a persuasive personality?
5.Emma treated Thomas as a regular man—acknowledging his difference and accepting him as he was. Her treatment of him taught him to respond the same way to her when she revealed herself to him. Is there someone in your life who is different or has a difference? How can you show them love as they are?
6.Have you ever felt like you needed to hide your true self? Why?
7.Sometimes we fear things we can’t control—like White Light. What do you think is a healthy approach to these fears?
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Books are not meant to be written alone, just like life shouldn’t be lived alone. So many people walked me (okay, cheered and carried and dragged me) through the wild journey of writing Fawkes. Picture me blubbering and stuffing my face with chocolate as I try to make it through this list of thank yous:
First and always foremost is my everything. Yahweh. You are Father; you are savior; you are helper. I used to picture you as always serious, but the journey of writing this book revealed to me a delightful playfulness in our relationship. Thank you for answering every single one of my panicked prayers over my writing.
Mister Ninja—my greatest encouragement and greatest love after our true Leader. No romance I write comes close to the one we’re living. Mom, Dad, Liza, Shawn, Binsk, and Melanie—I don’t think you realize how much your love and support makes me cry. You are my favorite story. The Brandes clan—for all the games, ice cream, laughter, and wildness that keeps me sane between all the deadlines.
Karen Ball and Steve Laube—my cheerleaders who first saw “me” in this story. Who kept me writing for the right reasons. And who are my champions.
To my sisters: Mary Weber—you handed me this story nugget and then helped keep me from going completely crazy with my writing mood swings. Thank you for such endless soul care. Sara Ella—your pep talks and Skype calls and motivational texts and dear, dear friendship made this book possible. Ashley Townsend (aka: Marianne Dashwood)—my first ever fangirl. You squeal the loudest and totally get me. You are cherished more than you’ll ever know. <3 Eleanor
To my fantastic publishing team: Becky Monds—you suffered through the terrible first draft and yet saw the heart. Thank you for reading the story and not the words. Jamie Chavez and Jodi Hughes—for tolerating all my preferences and helping me get this story where it needed to be. Amanda Bostic—for being our fearless leader. Kristen—for blowing my mind with this cover. I’m still drooling. Paul, Allison, and the rest of the TN crew—for your tireless energy and all you do for us authors. <3
To Erik and Donna Thoennes—for allowing me into your home and for hearing the heart of my story. Those conversations were a turning point for me, where I no longer feared writing Fawkes poorly but instead committed only to writing it faithfully. And to the Thoennes kids—I still hope to write a book-turned-movie that you will all star in someday. ;-)
Allen Arnold—for listening to my fears, for praying over me and my book, and for seeing the heart of this story. Katie Grace—for being my Owl Ninja and my go-to person for all the things and all the word wars. Katie Danforth—for cheering me through literally every stage of writing this book. My beta readers Ashley Townsend and Rosalie Valentine—that extra little duel between Thomas and Henry was for you. Jill Williamson, Lindsay Franklin, S. D. Grimm, Emilie Hendryx, Clint Hall, Kara Swanson, and all the other dear authors who are my cherished community.
To my Ninjas—for loving me, encouraging me no matter my busyness, and for always sending Oreos. (I’ve left a little something for you in Chapter 8.) To the Mitchtams—you guys helped me knock out the ending in three days. Camp NaNo for the wiiiiin! To my Realmie Roomies: Katie Grace, Tricia Mingerink, and Ashley Townsend—for understanding that if I didn’t write to candlelight I would die.
Thank you to the Wildly Unbalanced Writers, OYANers, Enclave Authors, my Biola family, CCH, and the Speculati for being my people. Thank you Mister Guard at the Tower of London who told me all the secrets about Guy Fawkes and sent me on a merry chase to find Ambrose Rookwood’s signature carved in the wall.
To research authors Antonia Fraser, Ian Mortimer, John Paul Davis, and David and Ben Crystal—for writing history books and dictionaries that allowed me to truly breathe life into Thomas’s world.
And of course, to my readers: Despite the umbrella term, I truly adore each and every one of you. Every note, every comment, every message is such a balm to my heart. Thank you for reading Thomas’s story and being my friend no matter if you like my books or not—you are what’s important to me. <3
Shalom.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photo by Emilie Hendryx from E. A. Creative Photography
Nadine Brandes once spent four days as a sea cook in the name of book research. She is the author of the award-winning Out of Time series and her inner fangirl perks up at the mention of soul-talk, Quidditch, bookstagram, and Oreos. When she’s not busy writing novels about bold living, she’s adventuring through Middle Earth or taste-testing a new chai. She and her Auror husband live in a Tiny House on wheels. Current mission: paint the world in shalom.
Website: NadineBrandes.com
Instagram: NadineBrandes
Facebook: NadineBrandesAuthor
Twitter: @NadineBrandes
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