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The Colours of Life #1
The Colour Red
“Maybe,” he whispered, “red can be a beautiful colour, after all.”
Twelve-year-old Jay hates and fears the colour red. To him, it represents the murders of his parents and the menacing danger that surrounds him in the cutthroat criminal-controlled section of Kalsyia’s biggest city. He also intensely fears the police, having witnessed an incident of brutality. Life for him is one eternal round of fear and anxiety.
When a traumatic event occurs involving his adored older brother and a red pickup truck, Jay finds an additional reason to hate the colour red. And when he is attacked, accidentally runs into a group of policemen, and is caught, Jay is certain that death is imminent. But to his astonishment, he is instead freed and placed in a foster family.
Officer Randall was one of the officers who caught him, but he is kind and understanding, and his wife is very sweet. But Jay still fears them and is hesitant to allow them into his heart. And he is particularly afraid of the Randalls’ adopted son, Orlando, who vividly reminds Jay of his worst abuser.
But as time stretches on, and Jay gets to know the Randalls and Orlando better, he begins to wonder… perhaps not everyone and everything is the same. Can he learn to love and trust these people, in spite of what similar persons did? Can the colour red come to mean more than death and danger?
Twelve-year-old Jay hates and fears the colour red. To him, it represents the murders of his parents and the menacing danger that surrounds him in the cutthroat criminal-controlled section of Kalsyia’s biggest city. He also intensely fears the police, having witnessed an incident of brutality. Life for him is one eternal round of fear and anxiety.
When a traumatic event occurs involving his adored older brother and a red pickup truck, Jay finds an additional reason to hate the colour red. And when he is attacked, accidentally runs into a group of policemen, and is caught, Jay is certain that death is imminent. But to his astonishment, he is instead freed and placed in a foster family.
Officer Randall was one of the officers who caught him, but he is kind and understanding, and his wife is very sweet. But Jay still fears them and is hesitant to allow them into his heart. And he is particularly afraid of the Randalls’ adopted son, Orlando, who vividly reminds Jay of his worst abuser.
But as time stretches on, and Jay gets to know the Randalls and Orlando better, he begins to wonder… perhaps not everyone and everything is the same. Can he learn to love and trust these people, in spite of what similar persons did? Can the colour red come to mean more than death and danger?
204 pages, ebook
Published August 1, 2020
1 person is currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Katja H. Labonté
31 books349 followersKatja H. Labonté is a Christian, an extreme bibliophile who devours over 365 books in a year, and an exuberant writer with a talent for starting short stories that explode into book series. She is a bilingual French-Canadian and has about a dozen topics she’s excessively passionate about (hint: that’s why she writes). Katja writes both contemporary and historical fiction, as well as non-magical historical and contemporary kingdom fiction, and covers themes of worth, love, peace, and Christian growth. She spends her days enjoying little things, growing in faith, learning life, and loving people. You can follow her life journey, find free books, browse her services, and more on her website and blog.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
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December 26, 20232023 review:
It’s not the best thing ever. it’s not even as great as I thought it was. But I love it so much despite its flaws, and I want to keep it as it is—as a tribute to younger me, whose life it completely changed. I grew and matured and changed so much over the writings and rewritings and revisions of this book, and all the sequels, and I want Jay and the books themselves to show it. I refuse to give in to perfectionism any longer. TCR is coming once the final edits are made, this fall, D.V.
—————
2021/2022 review:
Dear Colour Red,
I have a history of having sudden flash fiction ideas that snowball into novels. But I really didn’t expect you to. You see, I have a habit of making up random stories and scenes in my head and just writing them out and seeing where they go. They can get rather elaborate and even long-lasting. Originally, that’s what you were. I started a random story about a girl writer who was writing… and as I began to think out the words she was writing, she was forgotten and only her story remained. Looking back now, I see that story was the product of many videos, a contemporary police book I’d just read (Healing Their Hearts by Cleopatra Margot), the current WIP of a friend, and a story-in-my-head that had been going on for a long time. But at the time, the story was utterly new and quite dazzling.
I soon got off my swing, where I do most of this story-spinning, and went inside to help with supper. But I didn’t forget my story. And that night when I sat down to write with my friends, I told them of my story and how I wished I could write it.
“So why don’t you?” demanded Kassie.
“I don’t know how. I can’t. It’s all stuff I haven’t experienced,” I answered.
Nevertheless, Kass insisted I write down the scenes anyways before I forgot them. (Thank her for me.)
So I wrote out my rough outline. And I wrote out the scenes I remembered, bemoaning that I’d forgotten some and also forgotten the best parts. And then I went back to the beginning and started writing the story. If I remember correctly, I got over 2,000 words written that night. And we were off. I had my message, my plot, and my characters.
This was on the second-to-last week of May. As social media and the entire U.S. (or so it seemed to me) erupted into chaos, I was burdened with the message that filled my heart: Stop judging people by anything but what they are themselves.And I kept writing.
I ran into some obstacles. You took place in my made-up country of Kalsyia, but… what was Kalsyia?? I had to figure that out. So I did world-building. I drew a map. It was fun and frustrating. Slowly things began to come together… the people, the history, the geography, the current events…
And I kept writing. The words just poured out. I had easily over 1,000 words almost every night. But I also hit places where the words wouldn’t come and I didn’t know what to do… and had to brainstorm and look at my outline and ask for ideas.
I feel like I say this every time, but you were a book of big firsts.
I wrote you during my first and second university courses, and in the midst of a lot of other issues. You were a way God used to help me manage the stress and fear of adulting, university, the whole riots/police defunding, the coronavirus, and more. He used you to bring me a lot of peace as I focused on love and comfort instead of hatred and uncertainty.
You had my first official Pinterest mood board and I love it so insanely much.
You made me cry so much while writing you. Even more than Broken did.
You didn’t hit much further than 50k—only 65,000 or so. But for once I didn’t care. Your size didn’t really matter. Your message mattered.
You were the WIP I wrote during our first King’s Daughters’ Writing Camp. You had the largest group of fangirls I ever had. You also started an awful lot of conversations and gained me an everlasting reputation as a conversation starter.
But more importantly: you tackled one of my biggest writing handicaps. The “I don’t rewrite” handicap. For years I told myself that having to rewrite a book meant it was bad. But as I wrote you I realized that I really had to rewrite Chords. And that was okay. I hadn’t had all the puzzle pieces back then. But it had had to be written anyways. It was bad, but God had really used it so mightily in my writing life. It hadn’t been a waste. As I wrote you, I had to keep going back and writing big and small scenes that I had forgotten but were necessary. Over and over and over. You were the book that, more than any other, tackled topics I really had no clue about and had to swallow my pride, backtrack, and rewrite. It was frustrating. But I knew it was okay. It was just part of the writing process.
You were the first book where I got into disagreements with dear friends over the theology. You drove me to the Bible to find answers for myself. You made me pore over Bible verses to figure things out.
You were the first story where I had official beta-readers. That was fantastically exciting. Their critique was a huge blow to my pride, even if it’s barely begun. But that was needed. I had to be reminded that critique was necessary. That’s why last year critique was so hard for me. It was to prepare me. To show me that it’s okay if the first draft is trash.
You drove me to do actual research, even more than Broken did. (But why do you two insist on making me research that horrible medical stuff?)
You were the book that God used to snap together the puzzle pieces for things that had been really frustrating me.
You were the first of my stories that didn’t teach me a huge message I’d been needing. Rather, God used you to show me how far He’s taken me. To show me that last year, awful as it was, was really useful to me. That His plans are perfect and no trial is ever wasted.
You took a trope I adored and finally crafted a story about it.
You took my silly story in my head that will never be written out and wrote it out in another way.
You were the first time I wrote out a message that God has really been lying hard on my heart.
And you fulfilled my lifelong goal of writing about policemen.
You were a story I put both a lot and a very little of myself into.
You brought me heartbreak towards the end, when something I badly wanted didn’t happen. But God got me through it, and now I have no bitterness.
Again, God used you to show me how far He has brought me since this time a year ago, with my puny 48k novel that needs to be severely rewritten. I can’t even begin to list all the ways I’ve grown since then.
I don’t know who you’ll touch. I don’t even know who’ll read you. I don’t know who will hear and heed your message. I don’t know what other message God will use you to teach. I don’t know if you’ll fulfill my goal and be published or not. I don’t know if you’ll end up having to be totally rewritten. I don’t know anything.
Except this: God gave me this story for a reason. My time has not been wasted writing it, no matter what. He’s gonna use you, or has used you, somehow, for me or for somebody else.
And His plan is perfect.
I love all my characters. But Jay is my “baby,” now and forever. Officer Randall will forever be special to me… for a very special reason that maybe someday I’ll share. And Orlando will always have a very special corner of my heart… for another special reason that I may never share.
You, C.R., are the first book of many.
It’s sad to say goodbye.
But I can’t wait to start your sequel.
So, goodbye, C.R. I don’t know where you’re heading or what your journey will be. But I know that the Master Storyteller has a perfect plan for this little book I’ve written.
Lovingly, your author
———
2020/2021 review:
And just like that, I’m done. 119,741 words. 573 days. 453 pages. Thousands of supportive messages. One journey.
I have no clue what’s next but I know God does & He’s got this. This may not be the final lap, but I’m grateful to be here.
It’s not the best thing ever. it’s not even as great as I thought it was. But I love it so much despite its flaws, and I want to keep it as it is—as a tribute to younger me, whose life it completely changed. I grew and matured and changed so much over the writings and rewritings and revisions of this book, and all the sequels, and I want Jay and the books themselves to show it. I refuse to give in to perfectionism any longer. TCR is coming once the final edits are made, this fall, D.V.
—————
2021/2022 review:
Dear Colour Red,
I have a history of having sudden flash fiction ideas that snowball into novels. But I really didn’t expect you to. You see, I have a habit of making up random stories and scenes in my head and just writing them out and seeing where they go. They can get rather elaborate and even long-lasting. Originally, that’s what you were. I started a random story about a girl writer who was writing… and as I began to think out the words she was writing, she was forgotten and only her story remained. Looking back now, I see that story was the product of many videos, a contemporary police book I’d just read (Healing Their Hearts by Cleopatra Margot), the current WIP of a friend, and a story-in-my-head that had been going on for a long time. But at the time, the story was utterly new and quite dazzling.
I soon got off my swing, where I do most of this story-spinning, and went inside to help with supper. But I didn’t forget my story. And that night when I sat down to write with my friends, I told them of my story and how I wished I could write it.
“So why don’t you?” demanded Kassie.
“I don’t know how. I can’t. It’s all stuff I haven’t experienced,” I answered.
Nevertheless, Kass insisted I write down the scenes anyways before I forgot them. (Thank her for me.)
So I wrote out my rough outline. And I wrote out the scenes I remembered, bemoaning that I’d forgotten some and also forgotten the best parts. And then I went back to the beginning and started writing the story. If I remember correctly, I got over 2,000 words written that night. And we were off. I had my message, my plot, and my characters.
This was on the second-to-last week of May. As social media and the entire U.S. (or so it seemed to me) erupted into chaos, I was burdened with the message that filled my heart: Stop judging people by anything but what they are themselves.And I kept writing.
I ran into some obstacles. You took place in my made-up country of Kalsyia, but… what was Kalsyia?? I had to figure that out. So I did world-building. I drew a map. It was fun and frustrating. Slowly things began to come together… the people, the history, the geography, the current events…
And I kept writing. The words just poured out. I had easily over 1,000 words almost every night. But I also hit places where the words wouldn’t come and I didn’t know what to do… and had to brainstorm and look at my outline and ask for ideas.
I feel like I say this every time, but you were a book of big firsts.
I wrote you during my first and second university courses, and in the midst of a lot of other issues. You were a way God used to help me manage the stress and fear of adulting, university, the whole riots/police defunding, the coronavirus, and more. He used you to bring me a lot of peace as I focused on love and comfort instead of hatred and uncertainty.
You had my first official Pinterest mood board and I love it so insanely much.
You made me cry so much while writing you. Even more than Broken did.
You didn’t hit much further than 50k—only 65,000 or so. But for once I didn’t care. Your size didn’t really matter. Your message mattered.
You were the WIP I wrote during our first King’s Daughters’ Writing Camp. You had the largest group of fangirls I ever had. You also started an awful lot of conversations and gained me an everlasting reputation as a conversation starter.
But more importantly: you tackled one of my biggest writing handicaps. The “I don’t rewrite” handicap. For years I told myself that having to rewrite a book meant it was bad. But as I wrote you I realized that I really had to rewrite Chords. And that was okay. I hadn’t had all the puzzle pieces back then. But it had had to be written anyways. It was bad, but God had really used it so mightily in my writing life. It hadn’t been a waste. As I wrote you, I had to keep going back and writing big and small scenes that I had forgotten but were necessary. Over and over and over. You were the book that, more than any other, tackled topics I really had no clue about and had to swallow my pride, backtrack, and rewrite. It was frustrating. But I knew it was okay. It was just part of the writing process.
You were the first book where I got into disagreements with dear friends over the theology. You drove me to the Bible to find answers for myself. You made me pore over Bible verses to figure things out.
You were the first story where I had official beta-readers. That was fantastically exciting. Their critique was a huge blow to my pride, even if it’s barely begun. But that was needed. I had to be reminded that critique was necessary. That’s why last year critique was so hard for me. It was to prepare me. To show me that it’s okay if the first draft is trash.
You drove me to do actual research, even more than Broken did. (But why do you two insist on making me research that horrible medical stuff?)
You were the book that God used to snap together the puzzle pieces for things that had been really frustrating me.
You were the first of my stories that didn’t teach me a huge message I’d been needing. Rather, God used you to show me how far He’s taken me. To show me that last year, awful as it was, was really useful to me. That His plans are perfect and no trial is ever wasted.
You took a trope I adored and finally crafted a story about it.
You took my silly story in my head that will never be written out and wrote it out in another way.
You were the first time I wrote out a message that God has really been lying hard on my heart.
And you fulfilled my lifelong goal of writing about policemen.
You were a story I put both a lot and a very little of myself into.
You brought me heartbreak towards the end, when something I badly wanted didn’t happen. But God got me through it, and now I have no bitterness.
Again, God used you to show me how far He has brought me since this time a year ago, with my puny 48k novel that needs to be severely rewritten. I can’t even begin to list all the ways I’ve grown since then.
I don’t know who you’ll touch. I don’t even know who’ll read you. I don’t know who will hear and heed your message. I don’t know what other message God will use you to teach. I don’t know if you’ll fulfill my goal and be published or not. I don’t know if you’ll end up having to be totally rewritten. I don’t know anything.
Except this: God gave me this story for a reason. My time has not been wasted writing it, no matter what. He’s gonna use you, or has used you, somehow, for me or for somebody else.
And His plan is perfect.
I love all my characters. But Jay is my “baby,” now and forever. Officer Randall will forever be special to me… for a very special reason that maybe someday I’ll share. And Orlando will always have a very special corner of my heart… for another special reason that I may never share.
You, C.R., are the first book of many.
It’s sad to say goodbye.
But I can’t wait to start your sequel.
So, goodbye, C.R. I don’t know where you’re heading or what your journey will be. But I know that the Master Storyteller has a perfect plan for this little book I’ve written.
Lovingly, your author
———
2020/2021 review:
And just like that, I’m done. 119,741 words. 573 days. 453 pages. Thousands of supportive messages. One journey.
I have no clue what’s next but I know God does & He’s got this. This may not be the final lap, but I’m grateful to be here.
August 23, 2024
Rtc when this beautiful book is published, but for now... I just love it sooooooo, soooo, much.
February 16, 2022
Beta read-- My goodness, this is seriously one of my favorite books and I've already recommended it to several friends. I love the style, the AMAZING characters, and the messages. *happy sigh* This book made me smile so big at some parts and sob at parts even on the second or third read of it. It's so, so good.
5 stars, a favorite book of mine for sure. One that I love reading and has taught me so much. I may post a proper review closer to publication.
5 stars, a favorite book of mine for sure. One that I love reading and has taught me so much. I may post a proper review closer to publication.
December 29, 2021
Review coming when The Colour Red is published! :)
March 9, 2021
I'm not going to do my usual rating system on this book since it hasn't officially been released yet!
This book surprised me in a lot of good ways! With the mentions of the police and all that that entails, I expected this to be an action-packed story with heart-stopping scenes, moving from crazy event to crazy event.
It's not that kind of story, and I loved it!
This is a story that is written in a slower style. It's a good read to jump into after a high-octane read. It's the kind of book that lets you catch your breath and get a deeper message from the story.
Jay stole my heart. That child gutted me in the best way possible. I struggle with some anxiety, and I found myself relating to many of his inner feelings, even though I certainly haven't gone through anything close to what he has. But the writing is so compelling I think anyone could relate to it in some way.
Orlando is such a sympathetic character, and I love his parts! I personally hope to see a lot more of him in the coming books! The Randalls are so endearing, and I really can't think of any characters I didn't enjoy reading. Well, except the bad guy, but he didn't get much screen time *halo*
The personalities came out so well in the story, and the consistency of their arcs was impressive!
And can we talk about the Faith elements for a moment? The salvation explanations, the fact that yes, some lost people do talk about God, and the fact that nothing felt preachy were all elements that I just adored! So many Christain books these days mention people praying or maybe going to church here and there. Shallow. I was glad to pick up a book that gave me some meat!
Overall, this is a book that I look forward to reading again and again! Highly recommended!
This book surprised me in a lot of good ways! With the mentions of the police and all that that entails, I expected this to be an action-packed story with heart-stopping scenes, moving from crazy event to crazy event.
It's not that kind of story, and I loved it!
This is a story that is written in a slower style. It's a good read to jump into after a high-octane read. It's the kind of book that lets you catch your breath and get a deeper message from the story.
Jay stole my heart. That child gutted me in the best way possible. I struggle with some anxiety, and I found myself relating to many of his inner feelings, even though I certainly haven't gone through anything close to what he has. But the writing is so compelling I think anyone could relate to it in some way.
Orlando is such a sympathetic character, and I love his parts! I personally hope to see a lot more of him in the coming books! The Randalls are so endearing, and I really can't think of any characters I didn't enjoy reading. Well, except the bad guy, but he didn't get much screen time *halo*
The personalities came out so well in the story, and the consistency of their arcs was impressive!
And can we talk about the Faith elements for a moment? The salvation explanations, the fact that yes, some lost people do talk about God, and the fact that nothing felt preachy were all elements that I just adored! So many Christain books these days mention people praying or maybe going to church here and there. Shallow. I was glad to pick up a book that gave me some meat!
Overall, this is a book that I look forward to reading again and again! Highly recommended!
January 1, 2022
He's gone through so much. . .
I was so excited to get to read this story. I'd heard so much about it and knew that it was something that I needed to get my hands on ASAP. And I ever glad I did. Jay is such a likeable character and reading everything he went through (*glares through tears at the author*) just made me want to wrap him up in a hug and never let him go. All the pain and the flashbacks and tears. . . This book is real, but with hope. Hard, but with love. True, and with The Truth. The Colour Red touched my heart in a way that not many books of this day do. It's a story and a message that needs to be heard.
It's a book that you won't soon forget.
I was so excited to get to read this story. I'd heard so much about it and knew that it was something that I needed to get my hands on ASAP. And I ever glad I did. Jay is such a likeable character and reading everything he went through (*glares through tears at the author*) just made me want to wrap him up in a hug and never let him go. All the pain and the flashbacks and tears. . . This book is real, but with hope. Hard, but with love. True, and with The Truth. The Colour Red touched my heart in a way that not many books of this day do. It's a story and a message that needs to be heard.
It's a book that you won't soon forget.
Read
February 5, 2023A beautiful, beautiful story!!!! 😍😍
December 31, 2021
Review to come when it's published :)
January 23, 2022
RTC when book is published! :)
March 26, 2022
Full review for when the book is published, but for now, it is such a beautiful book!!!
It is heartbreakingly sad, but so joyful at the same time! I love it! Katja is a fantastic writer.
It is heartbreakingly sad, but so joyful at the same time! I love it! Katja is a fantastic writer.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews