You might be wondering what Shards is. Well, I’m glad you asked.

Shards is a novella I wrote for my internship at the ministry organization Network 211. The story was posted on their website Journey Online. Here’s a synopsis:

18-year-old Elisabel Kent wants nothing more than to be accepted at Zenith University and study music so she can fulfill her deceased mother’s dream of becoming a professional violinist. Unfortunately, she has to lie to get there––both to her father and to the university itself.

If you’re interested in reading the story, here’s the first chapter! You’ll find the rest of the links on the website. There are twenty-three chapters in total.

However, on the website, I didn’t have an opportunity to give you an inside look into the story. So, here is that inside look!

Themes for Shards

Shards is quite different than my normal writing. It’s realistic fiction, not fantasy, and it seems so simple––a girl trying to get into a college so she can achieve her dream. But it became so much more than that.

Originally, my focus was on Elisabel’s attempts to forgive her father. But as the story shaped, I discovered that she was wrestling with some of the deepest longings of the human heart. How much do lies cost? How do we honor those who passed before us? What does it mean to be happy?

Those are difficult questions to answer.

Music

Music plays a large part in Shards. Elisabel, her deceased mother Aria, and her Grandma Leona are all talented violinists, and Elisabel’s goal during the story is to get into Zenith University so that she can become a professional violinist.

Why did I choose music? Well, for one, I am a cellist. (I would have made Elisabel a cellist, but the story called for violin.) More importantly, music is an incredibly powerful medium that can heal and inspire but also wound and depress.

One song is repeatedly featured during the story: “Méditation” from Thaïs by Jules Massenet. Here is a recording of that song.

Isn’t it beautiful? The song has such emotion and passion that I knew it would be right for Aria Kent’s favorite song and for the big moments in the story. Perhaps it moved you when you listened to it. I know it moved me.

Images for Shards

Who doesn’t love Pinterest? I made a collage for Shards using PhotoGrid and pictures from Pinterest. (I do not own any of these pictures.)

The images I used can be found here, as well as the rest of my Shards Pinterest Board.

Also, speaking of images, that lovely image at the top was taken by Rebekah Grahlman, who is a fantastic photographer!

Is the Story Over?

Not at all. Elisabel and her dad have a long way to go. Plus, Elisabel will have other problems that have nothing to do with her dad. I’m writing short stories not only about Elisabel but also about Gwen and Whitney and other characters in Shards, and I hope you’ll stick around to read them.

Well, I hope you’ve enjoyed an inside look into Shards. This story made me laugh, cry, and examine myself. How do I define my happiness? How far am I willing to go to achieve that happiness? Who knows; maybe it’ll do the same for you.