Theresa Van Spankeren's Blog
September 5, 2025
Now on Kobo
I made the big decision to move off of exclusivity on Amazon and start offering book 1 of The War of Destiny series on Kobo as well. It is my understanding that it is more popular in other countries such as Canada and Australia among others. I've also heard that some US readers are moving away from Amazon as well.
I am planning to start offering book 2: Pursuit into Darkness on Kobo as well, hopefully before the end of the year.If things go well, I hope to offer the entire series on Kobo within the next year or so. In the meantime, you have Kobo, you can grab a copy of Lost Soul
and start the journey today!
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/lost...
I am planning to start offering book 2: Pursuit into Darkness on Kobo as well, hopefully before the end of the year.If things go well, I hope to offer the entire series on Kobo within the next year or so. In the meantime, you have Kobo, you can grab a copy of Lost Soul
and start the journey today!https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/lost...
August 16, 2025
KIndle Countdown Sale!
Currently,
Between Darkness & Light is on sale for 99 cents through August 21st! It is available for US and UK readers. It is also available for Kindle Unlimited.
Plagued by people only she could see and hear, Julia betrayed her ka-tet, those she called family to Valentino, King of the Vampires. They think she is of unsound mind and shun her. As she tries to repair her relationships, she fears the apparitions’ return. Following her leader’s sudden disappearance, Julia is forced to seek help from fellow ka-tet member, Matthew. Their once-close bond has become unveiled hostility. Matthew has been living apart from the others since Julia’s betrayal. He has crafted a new life for himself within the powerful Medici family of Florence. Julia’s arrival is neither expected nor welcome. As enemies close in, Julia and Matthew realize that something much more sinister is at play. Destiny itself is being tampered with, and they must discover who or what is the cause before it destroys them.
** Trigger warning: This book contains descriptions of self harm and related issues. **
Between Darkness & Light is on sale for 99 cents through August 21st! It is available for US and UK readers. It is also available for Kindle Unlimited.Plagued by people only she could see and hear, Julia betrayed her ka-tet, those she called family to Valentino, King of the Vampires. They think she is of unsound mind and shun her. As she tries to repair her relationships, she fears the apparitions’ return. Following her leader’s sudden disappearance, Julia is forced to seek help from fellow ka-tet member, Matthew. Their once-close bond has become unveiled hostility. Matthew has been living apart from the others since Julia’s betrayal. He has crafted a new life for himself within the powerful Medici family of Florence. Julia’s arrival is neither expected nor welcome. As enemies close in, Julia and Matthew realize that something much more sinister is at play. Destiny itself is being tampered with, and they must discover who or what is the cause before it destroys them.
** Trigger warning: This book contains descriptions of self harm and related issues. **
May 24, 2025
Late Night Musings about Movies, Games, etc. and Empathy
My husband and I have watched several movies we have gotten for Christmas over the last year. They have ranged from Scooby-doo cartoons, to The Last Voyage of the Demeter, Wonka, and Deadpool and Wolverine. Our latest adventure was the new Twisters movie.
We have some different tastes in movies – He enjoys the Purge and Saw movies among others, whereas I don't like them due to violence and bloodshed in disturbing and realistic sort of settings. My tastes changed over the years – I used to watch Hellraiser and make bets with friends from high school who would get grossed out first drinking Welch's grape juice.
Cue Deadpool and Wolverine – to which my husband pointed out had probably more blood than any of the Saw or Purge movies according to him and I laughed a large chunk of the way through it. What was so different about it that I reacted like that? Maybe it was the stress I was under, but I actually think it was because I knew it was fantasy as Deadpool had been transported through time and space several times by then and the bad guys were shooting lasers at him. (Hubby couldn't understand my reaction, which surprised even me a bit and has teasingly said I he should make me watch those movies.)
Finally we watched Twisters where I had more “normal me” reaction. I've seen the first one many times, the first time when I was in high school, and parts were a bit scary back then, but I didn't cry (much). In the new one, I was saddened at the start. Then in a scene partway through while characters were taking cover as a tornado strikes a rodeo and people get sucked into the vortex, I found myself talking to my hubby about how people are just scared, the panic and freeze, and don't know what to do, and then I was sobbing uncontrollably.
He paused the movie and said, “Oh no, I think this movie is a little too realistic for you,” and we had to take a half hour break or so for me to calm down.
Afterwards, I found myself wondering why I could laugh at the blood in Deadpool and Wolverine where I find it disturbing in other movies, and indeed, didn't even need to see much to break down watching Twisters. Well, in the first one, as I stated before I was well aware that it was an entirely fantasy fictional world where the bad guys are two-dimensional at best with sci-fi/magical weapons and I saw them that way. In Twisters, the people in question were also two-dimensional at best, but they were represented as normal people – people who could be your neighbors, friends, family.
I know I have an exceptional sense/gift of empathy I've had since I was a small child. When I was younger, my friend's family took me to an Easter play/re-enactment at their church of the events of the crucifixion and Resurrection. At the end of the play, as others erupted in joy, I was bawling in my seat, thinking of the pain Christ went through at the end of his life. When questioned by my friend's family as to why I was crying, that I should be overjoyed, I stated this to them. They were bewildered and didn't invite me back to anything like that.
Finally, I think I figured out what was different between the movies. Although the characters in Twisters who die in the storms are nothing more than throwaway actors/actresses for the shock of the plot, my mind started spiraling into creating identities and backstories for whom those “people” might have been. I've only seen two Purge movies (partway at least) and just ads for the Saw movies, but I realized I did the same thing.
I am a writer with strong emphatic tendencies – it's why I didn't go into social work as I first planned. I could never separate myself enough from my clients to be helpful. I try to set walls/boundaries so not to be overwhelmed with other's emotions, but occasionally a movie (or book, or even a video game – Breath of the Wild I'm looking at you) strikes just the right way, and well, I react like this. Real or fictional, I tend to unintentionally “feel” their emotions. I believe this helps me create stronger more realistic characters in my books, but I am sometimes caught unawares by characters whom the creators/writers never intended to have meaning for the viewer, or by my own creation.
Is it normal? Probably not. Is it who I am? Yes. For better or worse.
We have some different tastes in movies – He enjoys the Purge and Saw movies among others, whereas I don't like them due to violence and bloodshed in disturbing and realistic sort of settings. My tastes changed over the years – I used to watch Hellraiser and make bets with friends from high school who would get grossed out first drinking Welch's grape juice.
Cue Deadpool and Wolverine – to which my husband pointed out had probably more blood than any of the Saw or Purge movies according to him and I laughed a large chunk of the way through it. What was so different about it that I reacted like that? Maybe it was the stress I was under, but I actually think it was because I knew it was fantasy as Deadpool had been transported through time and space several times by then and the bad guys were shooting lasers at him. (Hubby couldn't understand my reaction, which surprised even me a bit and has teasingly said I he should make me watch those movies.)
Finally we watched Twisters where I had more “normal me” reaction. I've seen the first one many times, the first time when I was in high school, and parts were a bit scary back then, but I didn't cry (much). In the new one, I was saddened at the start. Then in a scene partway through while characters were taking cover as a tornado strikes a rodeo and people get sucked into the vortex, I found myself talking to my hubby about how people are just scared, the panic and freeze, and don't know what to do, and then I was sobbing uncontrollably.
He paused the movie and said, “Oh no, I think this movie is a little too realistic for you,” and we had to take a half hour break or so for me to calm down.
Afterwards, I found myself wondering why I could laugh at the blood in Deadpool and Wolverine where I find it disturbing in other movies, and indeed, didn't even need to see much to break down watching Twisters. Well, in the first one, as I stated before I was well aware that it was an entirely fantasy fictional world where the bad guys are two-dimensional at best with sci-fi/magical weapons and I saw them that way. In Twisters, the people in question were also two-dimensional at best, but they were represented as normal people – people who could be your neighbors, friends, family.
I know I have an exceptional sense/gift of empathy I've had since I was a small child. When I was younger, my friend's family took me to an Easter play/re-enactment at their church of the events of the crucifixion and Resurrection. At the end of the play, as others erupted in joy, I was bawling in my seat, thinking of the pain Christ went through at the end of his life. When questioned by my friend's family as to why I was crying, that I should be overjoyed, I stated this to them. They were bewildered and didn't invite me back to anything like that.
Finally, I think I figured out what was different between the movies. Although the characters in Twisters who die in the storms are nothing more than throwaway actors/actresses for the shock of the plot, my mind started spiraling into creating identities and backstories for whom those “people” might have been. I've only seen two Purge movies (partway at least) and just ads for the Saw movies, but I realized I did the same thing.
I am a writer with strong emphatic tendencies – it's why I didn't go into social work as I first planned. I could never separate myself enough from my clients to be helpful. I try to set walls/boundaries so not to be overwhelmed with other's emotions, but occasionally a movie (or book, or even a video game – Breath of the Wild I'm looking at you) strikes just the right way, and well, I react like this. Real or fictional, I tend to unintentionally “feel” their emotions. I believe this helps me create stronger more realistic characters in my books, but I am sometimes caught unawares by characters whom the creators/writers never intended to have meaning for the viewer, or by my own creation.
Is it normal? Probably not. Is it who I am? Yes. For better or worse.
January 16, 2025
Welcome 2025
Welcome to 2025 (hoping it is better than 2024!) I hope everyone had a good holiday. I unfortunately was sick with Covid for the 3rd time, but I am on the mend!
I am excited to announce that I am working on the 6th main book of the War of Destiny series, featuring a narrator that many fans seemed to fall in love with. Yes, Lane is back for a brand new adventure. I am currently on the start of the first draft. I am very excited to be working on this!
In the meantime, Book 1
is still only 99 cents to buy.
Book 3 is currently on an after Holiday sale for 99 cents as well.
All caught up on the main series? You can always dwelve into Matthew's adventures after book 2 in the recently released "An Ember of Hope."
It is only a $1.99. The entire series is free for Kindle Unlimited.
I am excited to announce that I am working on the 6th main book of the War of Destiny series, featuring a narrator that many fans seemed to fall in love with. Yes, Lane is back for a brand new adventure. I am currently on the start of the first draft. I am very excited to be working on this!
In the meantime, Book 1
is still only 99 cents to buy.
Book 3 is currently on an after Holiday sale for 99 cents as well.All caught up on the main series? You can always dwelve into Matthew's adventures after book 2 in the recently released "An Ember of Hope."
It is only a $1.99. The entire series is free for Kindle Unlimited.
September 7, 2024
Givaway for Book 4: Fallen Soul
I am giving away 100 copies of Book 4 of the series. It is open to US readers and runs to Sept 25th A great way to add to the series and/or to your Halloween reading!
https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...
Edited to correct date
https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...
Edited to correct date
August 23, 2024
Author Insights about "An Ember of Hope"
** Interesting Tidbits***
An Ember of Hope: War of Destiny was a side story that I never planned on. I have to thank (or blame) several of my fans (and beta readers for book 4) for suggesting the idea. Although Matthew's time with the Medicis is documented in books 3 and 4, it was strictly a part of the backdrop of those stories. Until those beta readers asked me if I ever planned on exploring that time in Matthew's life.
I remembered laughing and saying I had no plans to do so, that I had no ideas beyond the simple fact that I knew he was working and living alongside the Medicis during his separation from his vampire family.
And so it was for over a year, until I was heading back to work from lunch when I was struck by a portion of the dream sequence in Chapter 2. I spun the tale from there, believing it was simply going to be a series of journal like entries that would serve as posts/blog bonus content of events that ocured between Pursuit into Darkness and Between Darkness & Light. Instead a compelling full novel eventually emerged. Imagine that?
Have you ever had a book that came from the tiniest spark of inspiration, a suggestion of others?
An Ember of Hope: War of Destiny was a side story that I never planned on. I have to thank (or blame) several of my fans (and beta readers for book 4) for suggesting the idea. Although Matthew's time with the Medicis is documented in books 3 and 4, it was strictly a part of the backdrop of those stories. Until those beta readers asked me if I ever planned on exploring that time in Matthew's life.
I remembered laughing and saying I had no plans to do so, that I had no ideas beyond the simple fact that I knew he was working and living alongside the Medicis during his separation from his vampire family.
And so it was for over a year, until I was heading back to work from lunch when I was struck by a portion of the dream sequence in Chapter 2. I spun the tale from there, believing it was simply going to be a series of journal like entries that would serve as posts/blog bonus content of events that ocured between Pursuit into Darkness and Between Darkness & Light. Instead a compelling full novel eventually emerged. Imagine that?
Have you ever had a book that came from the tiniest spark of inspiration, a suggestion of others?
June 6, 2024
Preorder for An Ember of Hope is up
Whoa, didn't expect this up until tomorrow! The preorder for An Ember of Hope is now up on Amazon! It is for the e-book version and is half off for preorders. It and it's paperback version are scheduled to go live on August 9th.
If you want to preorder a kindle copy, you can follow this link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D6C211H6
If you want to preorder a kindle copy, you can follow this link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D6C211H6
April 7, 2024
An Ember of Hope
Due to illness, I have not done a proper update on what is coming up in the War of Destiny series. I wanted to give a full update on what is happening with an upcoming release - slated for early Summer release.
An Ember of Hope" is a side story to the main series, following Matthew after he left the ka-tet following the events of book 2. It chronicles Matthew's struggles with grief and emotional trauma from his imprisonment by King Valentino, and how he comes to befriend the powerful Medici family.
Creating a mortal persona, He finds a sense of belonging and contentment in their world, but as much as Matthew desires to masquerade as a human, he is not. And when Valentino makes a bold move to upset the mortal balance of power, Matthew assumes the role of protector - a role that shouldn't be difficult for a fire elemental of his age - except his element hasn't worked correctly since his imprisonment. Deep in enemy territory, Matthew believes he is alone. He may be the only vampire able to stop Valentino's plans, but he'll also learn that help and friendship can come from unexpected places.
An Ember of Hope" is a side story to the main series, following Matthew after he left the ka-tet following the events of book 2. It chronicles Matthew's struggles with grief and emotional trauma from his imprisonment by King Valentino, and how he comes to befriend the powerful Medici family.
Creating a mortal persona, He finds a sense of belonging and contentment in their world, but as much as Matthew desires to masquerade as a human, he is not. And when Valentino makes a bold move to upset the mortal balance of power, Matthew assumes the role of protector - a role that shouldn't be difficult for a fire elemental of his age - except his element hasn't worked correctly since his imprisonment. Deep in enemy territory, Matthew believes he is alone. He may be the only vampire able to stop Valentino's plans, but he'll also learn that help and friendship can come from unexpected places.
January 23, 2024
Upcoming sale!
I am excited to announce that War of Destiny: Book 3 will be on sale, starting Jan 25th - Jan 31st for US readers, and from the 26th through Feb 1st for UK readers.
It is the book that answers some of the deep and troubling questions that arose out of Book 2: Pursuit into Darkness surrounding Julia's actions and the fallout.
**The book does include the topic of self-harm and related issues.**
Please drop me a comment or question! I love those!
It is the book that answers some of the deep and troubling questions that arose out of Book 2: Pursuit into Darkness surrounding Julia's actions and the fallout.
**The book does include the topic of self-harm and related issues.**
Please drop me a comment or question! I love those!
December 23, 2023
Happy Holidays!
I wish everyone a safe a happy holiday season! I am sure you are busy getting the last minute things just right! I had a sale on some books back in October, but as promised if you missed the sale, you can find some books discounted now.
The sale is great for last minute gifts for the readers in your life, or if you get some amazon/kindle giftcards to use to stock up on books on your wish list, several of the books of the War of Destiny series remains, or are on discounted pricing through the 29th.
-is only 99 cents year-round!
- On sale for 99 cents through Dec 29th through Kindle Countdown.
- On sale for 99 cents through Kindle Countdown through Dec 29th.
The sale is great for last minute gifts for the readers in your life, or if you get some amazon/kindle giftcards to use to stock up on books on your wish list, several of the books of the War of Destiny series remains, or are on discounted pricing through the 29th.
-is only 99 cents year-round!
- On sale for 99 cents through Dec 29th through Kindle Countdown.
- On sale for 99 cents through Kindle Countdown through Dec 29th.
