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Elizabeth Van Tassel

From Diamonds to Wildfires,
Stories and Life Lessons from the Ashes

Elizabeth Van Tassel

Middle Grade Fantasy Author, Public Speaker

I write Middle Grade Fantasy. You might uncover a gem or two. You’ll definitely find legend and adventure.

Elizabeth Van Tassel writes compelling middle-grade fantasy. She brings her knowledge and expertise in gemology to the page and infuses her love of folklore into modern adventures filled with mystery.

A wildfire survivor, Elizabeth also understands both the power of loss and the power of hope. She shares her story of resilience and creative flair at public speaking events and in her writing for magazines and blogs. Elizabeth lives in the Northwest with her two sons and husband of more than twenty years. She loves wandering through gardens, exploring lakes, dabbling in painting, savoring her favorite coffee, and dreaming up stories with other writers.

About ElizabethWriting Wildfire Story
Elizabeth Van Tassel
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Recent Thorn & Vine Posts

Author Elizabeth Van Tassel holding Warriors Against The Storm Anthology

Warriors Against The Storm Anthology

October 9, 2020

I wanted to share some good news and thank you all for your prayers and support the last several months especially! As some of you know, I’ve been working on fundraisers for a dear author friend who lost her home and wellness to mold poisoning. As a wildfire survivor who’s had to rebuild her own life, I couldn’t just sit by and watch as Mary Weber and her family dealt with so much (more background HERE). So, I reached out to friends and over time we built a big team—and the team has just done something AMAZING. It has been… 

Read More

Dust Blog Tour Stop #12 and Interview

June 11, 2020

Hey Lost Boys and Girls welcome to the Dust Blog Tour which features my friend author Kara Swanson with her amazing Peter Pan retelling called Dust. It will debut on July 21, 2020 and I would highly recommend a pre-order. By participating in the whole blog tour, you can read many interviews with her and also win gorgeous swag. But watch out for Captain Hook along the way! To get in the mood, I brought all my treasures together with Peter Pan and Wendy and the family – including this map and teapot and mug. And pixie dust. So, without… 

Read More
A Walk In The Gardens With An Author's Eye with author Elizabeth Van Tassel garden house and flowers in background at Filoli Gardens.

A Walk In The Garden With An Author’s Eye

May 15, 2020

A Moment of Beauty at Filoli Gardens I received the most wonderful email last week saying, with precautions in place, a local historic garden I love to visit (and want to write about some day) was opening this week. You can bet I was there the day and moment they opened with my mask (that makes me look like a gangster) and took a walk through their beautiful paths that twist around the historic home. In case you also need a moment of beauty while on lockdown or as things ease and open in your area (we are at over… 

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Find Me On Instagram

TITLE REVEAL! I am excited to participate in a tit TITLE REVEAL! I am excited to participate in a title reveal for an anthology honoring the life and legacy of author Lani Forbes.​​​​​​​​
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Lani was a very close friend who passed away earlier this year after an eight-month battle with cancer, leaving behind her husband and three young children. Her award-winning debut novel The Seventh Sun released in 2020, touching many lives through its powerful themes and relatable characters. Though she was only with us a short time, she had a meaningful impact on our author community and the many readers who have followed her and loved her work.​​​​​​​​
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The Sun Still Rises, a young adult fantasy anthology which will be available in 2023, is a collaborative effort among several authors to support Lani’s family and honor her legacy with all proceeds will going to Lani’s family. The theme for this anthology is “bringing light into dark places,” meaning keeping hope in difficult circumstances, as Lani did herself. We hope this tribute will continue her light a bit longer in all our hearts. ​​​​​​​​
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Stay tuned for the upcoming cover reveal and more information in 2023 and help spread the word.​​​​​​​​
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You can help build momentum and awareness for her work by sharing these images and joining the Lani's Legacy facebook group to keep updated on progress too! (located here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/379827850276719)​​​​​​​​
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#laniforbes #thesunstillrises #yalit @laniforbes #theobsidianbutterfly #thejadebones #theseventhsun #ageoftheseventhsun #yabookstagram #titlereveal #lightindarkplaces
"It will not go out of my mind that if we pass thi "It will not go out of my mind that if we pass this post and lantern either we shall find strange adventures or else some great change in our fortunes." - CS Lewis, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe​​​​​​​​
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Can you relate to this wonderful story? I am standing under a colorful lantern in Disney World, transported to Morocco through this doorway. The glow of possibility: what's around the next corner? The dealing with high heat in the 100s. The dashing through crowds to discover a quiet corner in #Epcot . I can relate to this story moment for several reasons.​​​​​​​​
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In Save The Cat novel editing vernacular, this is the "Theme Stated" moment where the essence of the upcoming transformative journey is exposed. It's that point where the main character can either listen to a warning, or will just brush by and ignore it - usually regretted much later. I am on that precipice myself making some great personal changes this summer. It is so hard! At every turn it's easy to get sidetracked into doubt or being overwhelmed. But as Paul said, I "press on".​​​​​​​​
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I once had a very ornery rose bush on the side of the house - but it produced the most gorgeous, large, fragrant blooms. Not often, but when it did - spectacular. And you know where it grew best? By the trash. Yep. Sometimes it takes clearing out the old to leave room for those gorgeous blooms to follow.​​​​​​​​
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It is hard to make "friends" with new habits, new ways, but I believe there is worth in the quest. Indeed, you cannot hit the target if your aim is fundamentally off in one respect. Working on editing my books has taught me much about editing my life choices and direction.​​​​​​​​
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Wishing you adventures that bring wholeness and refreshment.​​​​​​​​
#wallsofdisney #morocco #disneygrammers #disneylover #disneylife #disneyinspired #disneymom #disneymoments #amediting #savethecat #writerslife #authorlife #mglit #kidlit #amwriting #booklover #ilovebooks
“I want adventure in the great wide somewhere.” - Belle from Beauty and the Beast​​​​​​​​
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Here I was in the town where Gaston is celebrated, nearby the Beast's castle in Magic Kingdom, settling in with a good read. In reality, today I'm clearing out my pantry and making way for healthier choices - a big project, but this pretty corner that the Disney imagineers created captures where my heart longs to be - in the words and worlds of creativity. But sometimes you can't welcome new adventures until you set up groundwork for wellness and strength. The adventure I'm joining in involves lots of veggies and walking and getting stronger. Note that I'm calling a personal challenge an adventure. Having a child who always looks for fun and joy gives me the courage to ask that even of salads and weightlifting and organizing. ​​​​​​​​
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Whatever adventure you're on today, I'm wishing you well! What are some challenges you're tackling to clear the way for your creativity to flourish?​​​​​​​​
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#littlegreenbook #amreading #disneywall #disneywalls #disneyig #disneylover #disneylife #disneyinspired #disneymom #waltdisneyworld #wdw #disnerd #wallsofdisney #ilovedisney #beautyandthebeast #bookstagrammer #bookish #booknerd #disneybook #booklover #bookaddict #bookphotography #authorlife #booklovers #bookworm #kidlit #mglit #belle #healthychoices #adventuring
So thrilled to celebrate the #bookbirthday for my So thrilled to celebrate the #bookbirthday for my dear friend @saraellawrites #thewonderlandtrials which released this week! ​​​​​​​​
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The Wonderland Trials is a YA dystopian fantasy (with a pinch of sci-fi). ​​​​​​​​
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♥️♠️♦️♣️♥️♠️♦️♣️​​​​​​​​
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All Alice Liddell wants is to escape her Normal life in Oxford and find the parents who abandoned her ten years ago. When Alice receives a rather cryptic invitation to play for Team Heart in this year’s annual—and often deadly—Wonderland Trials, she must find her way into the Wonderland Reality if she wants to play. The stakes are raised when she discovers players go missing during the Trials each year—and it’s up to Alice and her team to find them. Follow the White Rabbit into this topsy-turvy fantasy where players become prey, a sip of the wrong tea might as well be poison, and a queen’s ways do not always lead one where they ought to go.​​​​​​​​
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#thewonderlandtrials #enclavepublishing #saraella #newbooktuesday #yadystopian #yafantasy #retelling #yaretellings #yalit #bookish #bookrelease #aliceinwonderland #booklover #disneygirl #youngadultbook #booknerd #booknerdigans #bookstagram
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Testimonials

Hear what others are saying about Elizabeth Van Tassel

—Pam Farrel, author of 47 books including bestselling Men Are Like Waffles, Women Are Like Spaghetti

“Elizabeth’s life is a testimony and tribute to her wisely walked words of wisdom. She IS RESILIENT in every sense of the word.”

Pam Farrel, author of 47 books
including bestselling Men Are Like Waffles, Women Are Like Spaghetti

—Kathleen Freeman, Northwest Christian Writers Association Program Coordinator

“Our NCWA group had the pleasure this week of hearing Elizabeth Van Tassel speak. She was professional, fun, and a delightful speaker.
In her talk, she took us through disaster, story-telling skills drawing us in, and fabulous pictures holding us. She pulled our hearts… Read more “—Kathleen Freeman, Northwest Christian Writers Association Program Coordinator”

Kathleen Freeman,
Northwest Christian Writers Association Program Coordinator

—Soncee Partida, Director of Development, Maranatha Christian Schools

“Elizabeth exudes infectious enthusiasm! There is no smell of smoke, no after effect of ash, no char from the flames that claimed all her worldly possessions.
Hers is a joy genuinely journeyed. Her remarkable story of resilience will leave you forever changed.”

Soncee Partida,
Director of Development, Maranatha Christian Schools

– Debbie Hamer, Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) mentor director

“During her children’s young years, Elizabeth was a compassionate leader and sought to help other MOPS moms by sharing her stories of endurance and miracles. When she spoke to our group, her hope to rise above difficult circumstances encouraged many.”

Debbie Hamer,
Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) mentor director

-Sara Ella, young adult author for Harper Collins/Thomas Nelson

“As a mom, I’m always seeking clean adventure reads for my girls. Elizabeth’s storytelling can only be described as magical. Her passion for the Word shines through her writing. Tweens (and adults) will be swept away by Elizabeth’s imaginative story-world.”

Sara Ella,
young adult author for Harper Collins/Thomas Nelson

-Sally John, novelist, Family of the Heart Series, Side Roads Series, and others

“From being my cohort in surviving a wildfire, to using her perspective of resilience to inspire others, Elizabeth’s enthusiasm helps her audience and friends find fresh hope.”

Sally John, novelist,
Family of the Heart Series, Side Roads Series, and others

– Nadine Brandes, young adult author for Harper Collins/Thomas Nelson

“Elizabeth’s passion for the life story God’s given her helps youth and parents alike to rise above the weight of this world.”

Nadine Brandes,
young adult author for Harper Collins/Thomas Nelson

– Bob Hamer, former undercover FBI agent. Author of American Heroes of the Homefront

“Elizabeth and her family have faced great challenges and refused to let their light dim. We’ve walked in their home’s ashes and witnessed their medical miracles first-hand. What Elizabeth has crafted helps others live with more resilience whatever they’ve faced and will help this generation… Read more “– Bob Hamer, former undercover FBI agent. Author of American Heroes of the Homefront“

Bob Hamer, former undercover FBI agent.
Author of American Heroes of the Homefront

– Sandra H. Esch, President, San Diego American Christian Fiction Writers, author of the Amber Leaf Trilogy

“Elizabeth has an uncanny ability to see a broader picture and the energy and generosity of heart to share it with wit and wisdom. To say she lit up our audience is an understatement.”

Sandra H. Esch, President,
San Diego American Christian Fiction Writers, author of the Amber Leaf Trilogy

– Tina Radcliffe, Harlequin Love Inspired author and Seekerville Blog

“Elizabeth is the real thing. She radiates joy inside and out. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, and it’s evidenced by joy. That’s the message she lives and delivers.”

Tina Radcliffe,
Harlequin Love Inspired author and Seekerville Blog

Great Gems

Mysteries, Intrigues & Inspirations

 

Resilient Book Reviews

Good Reads to Inspire Adventures

 

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