Grace A. Johnson's Blog: Of Blades & Thorns, page 15

First Place Winner: Baby Names by H.S. Kylian

Well, my short story picture prompt contest has come to a close, and believe me, y'all, it was SO. STINKIN'. HARD. to pick just THREE stories to share with y'all! Every single one was so good - unique, touching, heartfelt - so y'all may be seeing a few more than three stories coming your way in the coming weeks! *winks*

But I had to pick a story to take the cake, now, didn't I? So I chose Baby Names by H.S. Kylian...a sweet and sorrowful historical story based on the prompt below! I know y'all will enjoy this beautiful story it as much as I did!

the prompt Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaMarch 1962

Five days had now passed since she was told the results. Five days and she still couldn’t move past the numbness, much less work up the courage to tell her husband.

Vivian Matthews sat on the rug in the library, gray eyes staring into the blazing fire nestled in the brick fireplace. She wanted to feel happy. She wanted to run into Johnny’s arms and kiss him and tell him their prayers had been answered.

But her feet didn’t move. They kept her rooted to the spot, in the room she had always been the most comfortable in since her marriage into one of Philly’s well-to-do families.

Will there truly be a child in that crib this September? She gnawed on a perfectly-manicured fingernail. Will there be first steps, first words? Mischief glinting in blue or gray eyes? Will there be wedding bells someday? Grandchildren to fill the empty space left behind?

“Viv?”

She looked up at the doorway. Johnny came over and sat down beside her, giving her a look that was a mix of concern and curiosity.

“Are you feeling alright?” he asked, his blue eyes searching hers.

“I…” Vivian clamped her mouth shut, her thoughts tripping all over the place as she tried to figure out how to string the words together to tell him.

“Do you need anything?”

She shook her head. “No.”

“You sure?”

“Yes.”

“Then what’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You haven’t been yourself for the past few days. What’s going on?”

She swallowed and looked away, back at the fire, her chin quivering. Johnny slid his arms around her shoulders and pulled her closer.

“I…” Vivian worked her jaw around and swallowed again. She wet her suddenly-dry lips and whispered, “I’m pregnant.”

“Huh?”

“I’m pregnant,” she repeated, louder. She looked up, watching as his face changed and settled on a mix of all the emotions they had felt the past four years.

“You…you are?”

She nodded. “Johnny, I know this is a wonderful thing, and I know we should be happy, but I’m…I’m scared. I-I don’t know if...”

Her voice broke and she wiped at her tearful eyes, struggling to keep back the sobs. I don’t want to cry. I don’t want to feel hopeless. I want to hope. Hope that we’ll finally get to hold our own child in our arms. But what if-

“Viv?” Johnny’s voice broke through her thoughts. “Hey.”

She sniffed. “What?”

He gently tilted her chin up and smiled softly. “May I have this dance?”

Vivian furrowed her brow. “What?”

“May I have this dance?” he repeated, getting to his feet and pulling her up with him.

“Johnny…” She sighed, giving in and allowing him to take her hand and waist. Within seconds into the dance, she rested her head against his chest, listening to the soft thump of his heartbeat. There were times it skipped a step, yet today it didn’t seem to be doing that.

Johnny started humming a love song, then sang it, softly.

After a few minutes, she mumbled, “You’re awfully calm for a man who’s just found out his wife is pregnant after...after everything we’ve been through.”

A moment, then, “I don’t think it’s completely sunk in yet.”

Vivian lifted her head off his chest and met his gaze. They had stopped in the middle of the room, the crackling of the fire and the ticking of the grandfather clock merging together in rhythm.

“What if…” She pressed her lips together.

“Hey, none of that.” Johnny tilted her chin up. “I know it’s normal to be worried that we’ll lose-” He cut himself off and took a deep breath. Clearly, he was thinking of the past four years.

Vivian placed her hands against his chest, waiting.

“Viv...whatever happens, we will continue to trust in God and His timing,” Johnny said. “In the meantime, let’s start arguing over baby names.”

She laughed. “Hopefully, we won’t have to argue that much,” she said. “I’ve already got the perfect name in mind.”

“Which is?”

“John Josiah Matthews.”

Johnny blinked. “Another John?”

Vivian nodded. “John Josiah Matthews III, I should say.”

He sighed. “Oh boy. What’re we gonna call him to tell him apart from me and my father?”

“Well, if your father goes by plain John, and you go by Johnny, then there’s only JJ and Jack left.”

“JJ Matthews?” Johnny shook his head. “Nah. Jack Matthews sounds better. Far better.” After a moment, he added, “So you think it’s a boy?”

“Oh, I know it’s a boy.”

“Hm. I say girl.”

“Boy.”

“Girl.”

“Maybe we’re both right and it’s twins.”

Johnny chuckled and kissed her.

* * *

April 1983

Twenty-one years. Twenty-one years of hopes and dreams and plans that her pride and joy would follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.

Gone in an instant.

A soft knock came at the door, followed by her husband’s voice. “Viv?”

She didn’t move from her spot in the middle of their son’s room. The bed was haphazardly made, clothes were tossed over a chair, and the desk was a disaster.

“How could he?” she whispered, as John’s footsteps approached. His hands settled on her shoulders, and she could almost hear the thoughts swirling in his head.

Vivian wasn’t sure whether to be mad at him or not. When their son had made his last stand, she had looked to her lifelong companion for help, only to be met with silence.

“I had so many high hopes for him,” Vivian said. “Such high hopes. But he chose her. He chose her over us, John.”

Silence. “Them.”

She half-turned, looking up at him.

“He chose them, Viv,” John said, quietly. “The baby is his too.”

Vivian yanked away from him and crossed her arms.

“You heard them admit they were wrong,” John continued. “Why won’t you forgive them?”

“This wasn’t in the plan!” Vivian whirled around, releasing her arms to her sides and clenching her fists. “He wasn’t supposed to fall in love with-with her in the first place! She’s just a-a-”

John frowned and crossed his arms. “Just a what, Vivian? Just a waitress? Is that what you were going to say?”

She turned away, still clenching her fists.

“You were a librarian when I met you, and my mother’s father was a coal miner. How is that any different than Maggie being a waitress?”

“It’s different because your mother acclimated to this life! I acclimated! Margaret-you saw how uncomfortable she always was with the parties and functions and whatnot. She never wanted this life!”

“Jack doesn’t want it either.”

“It doesn’t matter! He’s our oldest child! The oldest always stays according to family tradition; you said so yourself!”

“Jack is not me!” John snapped.

Vivian blinked, surprised.

John sighed and released his arms, taking a deep breath before speaking. “I’m sorry. Sweetheart, Jack is not me. He’s not you. He’s Jack. He’s never had a mind for business like this. You saw how he was as a child – always climbing trees, always getting muddy-”

“Every boy does that-”

“It doesn’t matter; Jack has never been and probably never will be the kind of man who can stand still longer than five minutes. He needs to be doing things with his hands, he needs to be outside, in the fresh air and sunlight.”

Vivian turned away, hot tears burning her eyes.

“You’ve said yourself you wanted him to be more responsible.”

She wanted to point out she had said that in the context of Jack being in the family business and leading it someday, but kept her mouth shut.

Once more, John came up behind her and set his hands on her shoulders. “He’s getting married, Viv, whether we like it or not. He’s going to have a wife and child to care and provide for. What more could teach a man responsibility?”

She pressed her lips together. “You don’t understand,” she whispered. Louder, she said, “You’ve never understood.”

“Never understood what?” He gently turned her around. “That because you grew up poor, you wanted to give our children everything you never had? Clothes without frays and holes, opportunities, a name with a good reputation?”

Vivian swallowed, looking off to the side at Jack’s dresser. A multi-colored puzzle cube sat on top, unfinished.

Yet, it was too much. She yanked herself away from John and left the room, moving one foot in front of the other until she reached the library.

The fire crackled and the grandfather clock chimed, bringing her back to the day she had told her husband she was pregnant with Jack.

He hadn’t been born in September, which was when she had been due; instead, he had made his appearance into the outside world on August 17, nearly three weeks before he was supposed to be born.

Supposed to be. Supposed to be this, supposed to be that.

Vivian rubbed her arms, suddenly chilled despite the fire. Oh, Lord, this is hard, she thought. So hard. I never wanted him to leave like this.

A tear slipped down her cheek. She quickly swiped it away.

John appeared in front of her, and without a word, took her by the waist and hand and began leading her around the room. Too tired to fight back, she acquiesced and buried her face into his chest.

When was the last time we did this? Her brow furrowed. It couldn’t have been when Tori was a baby...was it?

John stopped and wrapped his arms around her, mumbling into her graying hair, “They’re not that different than we were.”

She swallowed, hard.

“Eddie was going to take over for Dad,” John’s voice wavered upon mentioning his older brother. “And we were going to have a little farm in the middle of nowhere. With chickens and cows…”

“A couple of sheep,” she mumbled.

“And nothing but a beat-up pickup truck to take us everywhere and anywhere we needed to go,” John finished. He pulled back and attempted to kiss her. She jerked her head away, and after a moment, he left.

Nothing but the ticking of the grandfather clock and the dying crackle of the fire filled her ears. She knew her husband was right. Knew that their son was doing the right thing.

Yet why was it so hard to accept?

* * *

July 1983

Jack sat down on the bench inside the entryway and untied his work boots. Dirt and sweat clung to him, creating an odor that Maggie was sure to wrinkle her nose at.

After prying off his boots, he stood and made his way to the back of the house, taking a quick detour to poke his head into the kitchen to catch a whiff of the dinner cooking in the oven Lasagna?

As he passed by the spare room they had designated for the baby, he stopped. Maggie was inside, arranging and rearranging a quilted blanket on the rocking chair in the corner by the window. Sunlight streamed in, creating a golden glow around his wife’s red hair, safely tucked back in a braid. Wisps of hair fell into her face, making her look cuter and prettier than she already was.

He stuck his hands in his jean pockets and leaned against the doorjamb, glancing around the room, even though he already knew how it was set up.

A crib against the far wall, a changing table against the next, and a pale yellow dresser along the wall to his left. A crocheted rug on the wooden floor, a watercolor painting hanging up on the wall to his right, and a small toy box for when the baby was old enough to play.

He sighed, heavily. Despite telling Maggie shortly after they were married back in April that two things could be true at once—that they could regret their sin yet still be excited about the baby because the baby was innocent of how he or she was conceived—he still struggled to believe it.

“Jack?”

He started. “Hi, sweetheart.”

Maggie set the quilt down, then started over. He met her halfway and kissed her deeply. It was promptly interrupted by the baby kicking so hard he felt it.

“Youch!” Jack feigned injury. “What’re you doing in there, kiddo? Playing soccer?”

Maggie laughed. On an impulse, Jack placed a hand at her waist and took her other hand, then began leading her in a slow dance around the room. “Jack Matthews, what’re you doing?” she asked, teasingly.

“Can’t I dance with me wife?” he replied, just as teasingly and in an exaggerated Irish accent that he had taught himself while listening to his maternal grandfather.

Maggie giggled. “I’ve been thinking,” she said as he gently twirled her out. “We haven’t picked out any names for the baby yet, have we?”

“You’re right, we haven’t,” Jack replied, pulling her back to him. “What were you thinking?”

“Well…if it’s a boy…” She got a mischievous glint in her eye and he shook his head, stopping in the middle of the room.

“Oh no. No, no, no. No John Josiah Matthews IV. We’ve got plenty of Johns in my family already.”

“What about as a middle name?”

He shook his head. “Nope. I’ve got two second cousins with the middle name John.”

“Hm.” Maggie looked thoughtful. “What’s your mother’s maiden name again? O’...”

“O’Connor,” he said quietly. He furrowed his brow. “Connor Matthews? Is that what you’re thinking of?”

Maggie nodded. “I was thinking we could do it to honor your grandfather,” she said.

“Well…” Jack swallowed. “If we did that, then Mom would hate us even more.”

“But it’s not her child, is it?” Maggie said softly. “It’s ours.”

“You’ve got a point,” he mumbled. “Besides, it would be kind of nice to honor Grandpa like that.”

“Kind of?”

“Okay, drop the ‘kind of,’” Jack said. “But what would we do for a middle name?”

Maggie shrugged.

Jack sighed, and ran through a couple of names in his head. “Hey, what about Reid?” he asked. “Connor Reid Matthews.”

“Connor Reid Matthews?”

“Yeah, that way he can have both of our names,” Jack said, smiling.

“And if it’s a girl?”

“Then we can name her…uh…Nora. After my grandmother.”

Maggie pursed her lips. “Connor Reid Matthews…that’s got a nice ring to it.”

He kissed her again. “It does indeed.”

about the writer

H.S. Kylian (also known as Hannah) has been in love with writing since she was nine, really got into it at thirteen, and discovered the gem of story structure at eighteen. When she’s not writing, she’s daydreaming about writing while doing other things such as knitting or photography. She lives with her family and a couple of cats and dogs in the beautiful PNW.

You can connect with her on her website here!

Wasn't that precious?! *heart eyes* Let us know what you thought in the comments below!

Have a story of your own to go with the prompt? Feel free to share! *grins*

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#winner #winningstory #shortstory #historicalfiction #contest #writingcontest #storycontest #contestwinner #firstplace #writingprompt

Strike Out Challenge

This challenge is gonna be fun, y'all! And very personal, so y'all beware...y'all may discover some deep, dark secrets about yours truly. *winks*

Thanks to the lovely Saraina Whitney for tagging me! Y'all check out her post here!

The rules for the tag are simple (like, so simple that they don't have rules): just strike out whichever of the items on the list you've done! And you can explain the how, when, and why of it, if you like! And I guess you can tag however many people you want...and link back to the person who tagged you...and have FUN!

Kissed someone – I wish. *coughs* I mean...no. Not in that way.

Gone to a rock concert – Oof, nope. As much as I love rock, nope. I don’t do concerts...and neither do my parents, for that matter. Fine by me.

Helped someone – Yeesh, I should hope so!

Gone fishing – Yes! And I’d do it more often if I had the patience...and the assurance that I could eat the fish afterwards.

Watched four movies in one night – Oh, gosh. No. Just watching one takes way too long as it is, due to having so many little siblings.

Lied to someone – Pft, never. I’m known ‘round the world for my honesty! (If you caught that reference, God bless you, lovely person.)

Failed a subject – Now I really mean never. Couldn’t dare ruin my perfect GPA.

Been in a car accident – Thank God, no!

Been in a tsunami – Also thank God, no! I...I honestly don’t think I could handle a natural disaster. *shudders*

Watched someone die (including pets) – Pets (other people's, not mine) and livestock, yes. People, no.

Been to a funeral – Unfortunately, yes.

Burned yourself – Oh, gosh, so many times. I still have a scar from one...and once, I burned myself on our curling iron, and I ended up with the brand name etched on my arm when we attended a family Christmas party.

Run a marathon – BAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Never.

Spend over 10,000 bucks in one day – Dude, I’ve never even seen 10k. Let alone possessed it. Never mind spent it. Much less in A DAY. Wow.

Flown on an aeroplane – Not yet!

Written an 18 page letter (front & back) – Whew. I can write a pretty long letter, but this? This is commitment, y’all.

Gone skiing – Nope. I am a Southerner who never travels, so there ya have it.

Lost someone you loved – Yes...in more ways than one, I suppose.

Got into trouble for something you didn’t do – ALL. THE. TIME. It’s my purpose as the oldest child.

Stolen a book from a library – …Pretty sure I gave all those back...

Gone to a different country – Man, I wish!

Gambled in a casino – Um...is that even legal for a girl my age?

Been in a school play – Do church musicals count?

Taken a lie detector test – Nope...but I’d love to! I think...

Voted for someone on a reality TV show – Nah. Don’t watch “reality” TV.

Read more than 20 books a year – Oh, absolutely!

Gone to Europe – *sighs* One of these days...

Had a surgery – Thank the Lord, never!

Had stitches – Same here!

Ridden a tuk-tuk (autorickshaw) – Nope, but I imagine it’d be fun!

Had more than 5 IM conversations going on at once – Oh, yes. I am such a scattered multi-tasker.

Been in a fist fight – Fight, yes. Fist, no. I can’t throw a decent punch, and fortunately no one has ever attempted to throw one at me, so I’m good for now.

Had a pet – A pet cactus named Langston, yes. An animal? Never, and I don’t want that to change any time soon.

Petted a wild animal – Dude, what do you think? Absolutely! Baby deer (it was the cutest), snakes, fish, rabbits...basically whatever has stayed still long enough and isn’t a cat.

Had your own credit card & bought something with it – Debit card, yes. Credit card, no. And probably not ever.

Dyed your hair – Unpopular opinion here...but I don’t even believe in hair dye, much less have I ever used it. (I did wanna have pink hair as a kid, though. Thanks to Stephanie from LazyTown. I mean, who doesn’t??)

Got a tattoo – Again, against my personal beliefs. *winks* Plus...that’s just...really frightening.

Had something pierced – OKAY OKAY I’M HOLINESS SO WHAT. *chuckles* Seriously, though, I could pass for Mennonite or something.

Got a straight A – Of course!

Taken pictures with a webcam – Ew, hate to admit it, but yes. And they sucked.

Gone to sleep with music on – Oh, absolutely! I used to every time as a toddler, and as I got a wee bit older, we had the most wonderful white noise player. *sighs*

tags + clean copy Kristina Hall Vanessa Hall Lillian Keith H .S. Kylian

Kissed someone –

Gone to a rock concert –

Helped someone –

Gone fishing –

Watched four movies in one night –

Lied to someone –

Failed a subject –

Been in a car accident –

Been in a tsunami –

Watched someone die (including pets) –

Been to a funeral –

Burned yourself –

Run a marathon –

Spend over 10,000 bucks in one day –

Flown on an aeroplane –

Written a 18 page letter (front & back) –

Gone skiing –

Lost someone you loved –

Got into trouble for something you didn’t do –

Stolen a book from a library –

Gone to a different country –

Gambled in a casino –

Been in a school play –

Taken a lie detector test –

Voted for someone on a reality TV show –

Read more than 20 books a year –

Gone to Europe –

Had a surgery –

Had stitches –

Ridden a tuk-tuk (autorickshaw) –

Had more than 5 IM conversations going on at once –

Been in a fist fight –

Had a pet –

Petted a wild animal –

Had your own credit card & bought something with it –

Dyed your hair –

Got a tattoo –

Had something pierced –

Got a straight A –

Taken pictures with a webcam –

Gone to sleep with music on –

My fellow bloggers are more than welcome to steal this tag, and y'all can answer any of these in the comments below! (No, I'm not wildly curious if any of y'all have ever been in a fist fight...or kissed someone...pft. *chuckles nervously*)

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#tag #blogtag #aboutme #abouttheblogger #challenge

Romance Q&A Pt. 4: Love Songs, Heroines, & Christian Content

This just might be my last installment, guys! I'm out of questions now, so unless y'all have more (BRING 'EM ON!), I'll be taking a break from romancifying y'all for a while!

Seriously, though, I am so excited about this mostly-final post! Kayti, Rylie, and Riley's questions were PHEMONENAL, and even though I've included my usual amount of rambling (y'all see now how I was able to write a 200k novel), I hope I've offered some helpful tips and tricks! Thank y'all again for submitting so many fabulous questions! This has been SO fun!

(And it's also made me realize how little I actually know about things. Like, I have experience, but no "technical" knowledge, you know? So suffice to say I literally make these things up on the fly after examining how I've done things/seen things done before. *chuckles nervously* Hence why nothing makes sense.)

kayti's questions

How do you build romance between a character who is hardened/distant and one who is extremely tender? (If that makes sense)

SUNSHINE X GRUMPY!!!! AHHH I LOVE THIS TROPE!!!

Anyway, yes, that makes PERFECT sense, Kayti! In part because this is actually a very popular trope/dynamic in romances that pretty much everyone adores…but it can be tricky to pull off in a way that’s realistic, authentic, and healthy!

I think I’ll try and answer this two ways. First, we’ll go over common mistakes in writing sunshine x grumpy romances and how to avoid/fix them…then I’ll give y’all some examples from my own work! (Rina and Xavier are grumpy and sunshine, respectively, and so are Keaton and Daisy!)

Mistake #1: The characters are inauthentic. Your gruff hero is either too gruff and your fluffy heroine is too fluff. Or your hardened heroine isn’t so hard after all, and your gentle hero is just brutish as the next guy. Sometimes, balancing such starkly contrasting personalities can be difficult, especially when it comes to making their personalities shine without being forceful. The main problem is usually telling.

Instead of saying “He was a tough, cold man” or “She was so sweet to everyone and quiet as a churchmouse,” show your readers their personalities. Show the hero grunting rather than speaking, shrugging things off rather than facing them head-on, turning everything into a fight, or getting annoyed with everyone (especially the heroine). Show the heroine being gentle and calm with the hero, playing with kids, noticing little things that upset others that no one else would notice, sacrificing her time or money to help out, or being exactly what the hero’s been missing in his life.

On that note, you’ll have to balance what’s their personality and what’s baggage (so to speak). If they have a character arc and the other character influences them, some aspects will change–but not everything. Be aware of what’s innate to your character and what they learned through life experiences, and only change what’s necessary. They can be kind and thoughtful and still be as grumpy as heck. Or the tender character might develop some thicker skin, but she’s still gonna be compassionate and caring.

The best character development is done through exhibition, not explanation. And if you can lay a strong foundation for their characters early on, their dynamic will be stronger, their relationship will flow more smoothly, and their arcs will be spot-on!

Mistake #2: The romance is unrealistic. Opposites may attract, but like marries like–so to make a romantic relationship flow well and actually progress beyond “oh, they’re cute,” you need to establish a connection between the two characters. Whether it’s a physical connection (i.e., they work together on a project or she’s his children’s governess) or something more personal (i.e., they both are quiet or enjoy the outdoors), as long as you give your characters a reason to stick with it and see past their differences, you’ll find your romance becoming more real by the minute!

I highly recommend giving them some common ground on both a tangible and abstract level–they should share values, standards, and convictions, while also sharing interests and likes. No, they don’t need to be carbon copies, but they need to have something to talk about and relate to apart from the weather.

Mistake #3: Their relationship is unhealthy. In a similar vein, a relationship that is founded only on something superficial or on the surface isn’t going to end well, nor is one where one party gives and the other takes. With a sunshine x grumpy romance especially, it can often seem unbalanced. The grouchy, broken character is always taking comfort from the optimistic, compassionate character and only giving grief in return. Or the only reason the sunshine character likes the grumpy one is because they’re (1) good-looking or (2) a charity case or pet project.

They need to have a healthy relationship, where there is connection, change, and consideration. If you can avoid the first two mistakes–having flat characters that have no real connection to each other–then you should be able to knock out this last one by utilizing the characters’ commonalities and character arcs to make them into the partners they need to be. In most romances, their relationship is tied up into a neat bow at the end of a book, but even if you continue their story and leave room for improvement, you need to show a level of healthiness in their relationship before you wrap up the story–otherwise, why write about it and romanticize a relationship that visibly toxic?

For example, the sunshine character needs to see the grumpy character for who they truly are and love them unconditionally, inspiring change instead of fixing them (*coughs* otherwise you have a mother character like moi). And the grumpy character should learn to let their guard down and let others into their life to love and cherish them…and even though being grouchy can be part of their personality, they should also learn to respect and appreciate others and treat them well!

Now, for le exemple (BEWARE OF SPOILERS)…

Rina & Xavier. (Just gonna do them since this answer is already extremely long.) In Rina’s case, being grumpy was not part of her personality, but her way of adapting to and coping with grief (plus Xavier kinda ticked her off by upending her world, so I’d totally be smarting off at him too). And for Xavier, his sunshine tendencies came specifically from his kind, Christian heart…and he was seriously intrigued by and attracted to Rina right off the bat, so naturally he was gonna be nice to her. By identifying how and why their personalities were what they were, I could write them more strongly and authentically!

Their connection started off physically, since Xavier had been charged with bringing Rina back to her birth father, and therefore they were on the same ship together. But, they began to bond emotionally over family stories (they were both raised by pirate captains) and shared experiences (*cough* Xavier was a murderer too). By giving them common ground and having lots of character interactions, their relationship was given time to develop and blossom naturally. (I say naturally, but keep in mind that this book was only 25-ish chapters and 75k words, so I did do a little bit of rushing, but no more than is typical for most romances.)

Their change began when Xavier realized he couldn’t fix Rina and needed to let God work on her rather than (1) forcing his beliefs on her and (2) forcing her to like him back. (Granted, this was all in his head and he never really did any actual forcing.) Then, because Xavier had made headway in Rina’s life and prompted her to rethink some of her life decisions, she made an effort to do better and seek mercy and change, thereby finding it in the arms of Christ, thanks to her family’s and Xavier’s guidance. Once she was born again, she was able to work past her grief and rejoice rather than mourn. (Plus, she was reunited with her birth father and learned the truth about her past, which diminished most of her grief over her uncle’s death.) By allowing them a moment away from each other, they were both able to contemplate how they’d been treating one another and what their true feelings really were, and of course complete their character arcs for this novel, giving them a fresh, healthy start to their romantic relationship.

Hopefully all that makes sense! It’s actually really easy to work with this dynamic, because there is SO MUCH CHEMISTRY that can be developed when you create deep characters and establish an emotional connection, so if you can focus on giving them a great foundation and work towards a strong character arc, you’ll find the romance flowing perfectly!

How do you write a good romance from one POV? And it's the girl...(Rissy wanted to know this)

To be honest, I have never done this, and mainly because of how you do it (gimme a second and I’ll expound). Writing a single-POV romance from the heroine’s perspective is actually very common (AND works perfectly for love triangles), but I find it falls flat because I absolutely must have as many POVs as possible and fully develop literally every relationship and subplot.

However, such convoluted stories don’t work for everyone, and in many cases (like with YA/coming-of-age novels or a romantic subplot), you only need one POV to develop the romance smoothly and authentically.

So, to break it down for ya, here are the main things you’ll have to do to ensure your one-sided romance really works.

Focus on the heroine. Obviously…but also not-so-obviously. When you can’t get inside your love interest’s head, you don’t need to be pushing to flesh him out and give him this long story–you need to keep your focus on the main character, your heroine. Her arc, her backstory, her emotions, her thoughts, her ideas, her dynamic, her relationships, her experiences, her personality…that’s all that matters. The love interest is literally just a side character, as secondary as any other. So remember that. Don’t try to pour too much into your hero, or your story will feel incomplete.

Make your love interest perfect. Okay, okay, not really perfect–he needs a few flaws. But giving him too many flaws or trying to give him an arc will basically ruin your story. Your heroine will get lost in all the dude’s issues, and you’ll find yourself struggling to emphasize him as much as you can without including his POV–which is HARD. Instead, give him a strong, straightforward but unique personality that will shine through and stand out. Use him as a helper and “sidekick” for the heroine, guiding her and offering her something and helping further develop her and her character arc. For example, even though Xavier does have a POV in Held Captive, he honestly doesn’t need one. He doesn’t have a character arc, and he only serves to take attention from Rina, who is supposed to be the focal point of the story. Because of that, he falls flat as a hero, but he would’ve made a perfect love interest because of his bright personality and compatibility with Rina. Make sense?

Develop the dynamic. So you can’t really develop your love interest’s character without (1) including his POV or (2) convoluting the story and taking away the heroine’s spotlight…which means you’re gonna have to develop their dynamic instead. The dynamic is how the heroine and her love interest interact with each other, their chemistry, how they compare and contrast. Their interactions are going to reveal so much more about his character than trying to info-dump backstory is going to. Make sense? So focus on crafting a few extra scenes that showcase his personality and how he and the heroine interact, developing their relationship, rather than trying to develop his character. For example, one of my favorite dynamics is Keaton and Julius. (Yes, it’s just a bromance, but it’s so good.) Keaton has a POV, but Julius doesn’t, so it’s all “one-sided.” That said, Julius’ character comes through so strongly through his interactions with other characters, and by focusing on Keaton and how he sees Julius, I’m able to make their dynamic stronger and their relationship even better.

Include other characters. Like I mentioned with Julius, having other characters who know him and interact with him makes his character much more developed–which thereby makes his relationship with Keaton stronger. The same goes for your heroine and her love interest. Include other characters who lend insight into the love interest and help shape their relationship. (And that sums up my shortest tip ever…)

There’s a lot more that goes into writing a single-POV romance, but when it comes to making it strong and developed without it feeling incomplete or messy, these tips should give you a great foundation! (Hopefully. You can take it with a grain of salt since I don’t really have much experience with single-POV romances. Just drawing from observation, past mistakes, and whatnot. *winks*)

How do you blend a romance and redemption arch?

NOW, you have come to the right place, my dear! I could probably go on…and on…and on…and on…about this topic, because it’s (1) what I have ALWAYS written (for the most part) and (2) SUCH a multi-faceted aspect.

But, since I just TMIed you with a ton of info in my last two answers, I’m gonna stick to the main tip you’ll need when it comes to blending romance and redemption arcs.

(This one will surprise you.)

Drum roll, please…

BLEND THEM.

*coughs* Yeah, that wasn’t surprising at all…and I know it seems like a no-duh…but I’m serious. So many romance-redemption combos are written like each aspect should be separate parts of the same story. Like, they can be blended into one book, but they shouldn’t be a direct result of each other, if that makes sense.

For example, you’ll find a lot of romances that have a bad-boy hero who works through his struggles on the side while dealing with a heroine who gives him a ton of crap but admits she’s attracted to him. OR a broken heroine who gets all her problems resolved in the background (with the help of secondary characters) but puts her relationship with the hero in the limelight. OR where one or both of the characters have issues but never really talk about them with each other or actually confront them in their relationship.

Guess what. That’s (1) unrealistic, (2) unhealthy, (3) not actually blending the two elements, and (4) just not a good idea story-wise.

To really and truly, and most important, accurately blend a romantic relationship with a redemption arc (or two) is to have them interact and correspond with each other. The heroine needs to witness the hero’s problems, the hero needs to see the heroine at her worst state, and together they need to build each other up, inspire one another, and be lights. No, they can’t be each other’s savior…but they do need to point each other to Christ.

They also need to be a driving force behind the redemption arc. Either the heroine gives the hero an ultimatum or the hero won’t pursue a relationship with the heroine because they’re unequally yoked (y’all please keep that in mind when writing redemption arc romances) or the hero wants to become “worthy” of the heroine… Whatever works for your story, of course, but as long as the romance actually plays a part in the redemption arc and vice versa.

*sighs* I just rambled my way through that, didn’t I? Here, lemme break it down.

Make the character’s (or characters’) struggles an active part of the story. Reveal their problems/struggles to their potential love interest. Use the love interest as a motivator in the redemption arc.

Make sense? Some AMAZING examples of books that accomplish this are ANYTHING by Julie Lessman! *winks* Y’all know I’ve gotta throw in the Romance Queen…but seriously. All of her novels include a spiritual redemption and/or growth arc…and they’re so well-done! In her upcoming release, A Hope and a Prayer, the heroine Hope provides the alcoholic hero Bren with, well, hope, and something to fight past his struggles for. She prays for and with him, always seeks the best for him, upholds her standards and sets boundaries for their friendship, and eventually offers an ultimatum when she fears she can’t trust him. In the end, Hope’s endless love and faith in God–as well as her refusal to bend–soften Bren’s heart to the prodding of the Holy Spirit!

(And, you know, same goes for my novels. *winks*)

These were great questions, Kayti! I hope my answers help! *grins*

rylie's questions

Ok, so I know there's Enemies to Lovers and Love Triangles as romantic tropes, but I was wondering, what other tropes are out there and what is your favorite trope to write? What is your least favorite trope to read? (cause I figured you won't be writing romance with tropes you don't like)

Let’s see, here’s a list for ya!

Friends-to-lovers Forbidden love Second chance Marriage of convenience/arrangement/obligation Secret identity Royalty/billionaire Small town Good girl, bad boy Sunshine x grumpy Secret baby

And I could go on. There’s tropes for each type of romance (historical, contemporary, fantasy, YA, Harlequin, Love Inspired, etc.), and some tropes have tropes. *facepalm* It’s legit, peeps.

As for my favorite…ENEMIES-TO-LOVERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As if y’all didn’t know or haven’t noticed yet…

I haven’t necessarily written a marriage of convenience/arrangement yet, BUT I know it’ll be one of my favorites when I do!!!

And I don’t mind love triangles either, but I go about them much differently than most people.

Now, my usual disclaimer…when it comes to least favorite tropes, it’s really hard to claim a certain one as a “least favorite.” Because I’ve read books with that trope that were extremely well-done and others that were just very poor. Same goes for my favorite tropes.

So, most of the time, I don’t particularly enjoy forbidden love, secret identity, secret baby, and second chance tropes. BUT, again, some of the best novels I’ve read employ these tropes in a fantastic way!

(All this said, there are TONS of other tropes that I like/dislike…these are really just some of the main ones.)

What does the bible say about romance?

Man, I could be here all day with this one…two of the main topics (yes, main) of the Bible are none other than love and marriage. From “love stories” like that of Jacob and Rachel, Isaac and Rebekah, Ruth and Boaz, Esther and Xerxes, David and *coughs* Michal/Bathsheba/Abigail, etc., to the greatest love story ever told–God and His people, Christ and His Church, the Bible is full of examples of romance and what it should (or shouldn’t, in some cases) look like.

To boil it all down, the Bible says that “love is patient and kind, love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends” (1 Cor. 13:4-8a). It commands husbands to love their wives “as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25a). It reminds us that it is better to marry than burn with passion–for passion and sexual desires are a natural part of how God created us, but it should be reserved only for marriage (1 Cor. 7:9)!

It records God’s creation of and intentions for marriage–that the woman be a helper for the man (Gen. 2:18), that God has put the two together as one flesh and are not to be separated (Matt. 19:4-6), and that marriage is to be held in honor above all (Heb. 13:4).

Marriage is also used as a symbol of God’s relationship with us–that as the bridegroom rejoices over his bride, God rejoices over His people (Is. 62:5), that we have been given to Him as a virgin bride (2 Cor. 11:2), and that we will be presented to Christ as His Bride at the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19). Of course, it’s also used in reference to God and the Jews, such as in the book of Hosea, Isaiah 62, Ezekiel 16, and multiple times throughout the book of Jeremiah.

BUT, whenever someone brings up romance in the Bible, my absolute favorite place to point them to (and one of my favorite books in the Bible period) is Song of Solomon. This book has it all–mushy poetry, physical attraction (yes, it’s biblical, believe it or not!), and beautiful declarations of love. Most importantly, however, it is a reflection of how God loves us, longs for us, and sees us as beautiful and worthy…and how we ought to seek after Him, yoking ourselves to Him eternally, and loving Him above all else!

(It’s also just a great reference if people start bashing romance and saying it’s evil.)

So there you have it, folks! That’s what the Bible says about romance–love, marriage, sex, etc.–in a nutshell!

You mentioned this as a question, but I want to know what YOU believe about romance in books.

I believe it can–and should–be God-honoring and healthy, giving readers an example of how God loves us and how a Godly romantic relationship should (or shouldn’t) be. It’s also a relationship like any other that deserves authentic, natural, genuine representation in fiction–especially beyond ticking off all the boxes on the “romance genre” list or being a tool for temptation/immorality.

I’ve also noticed in recent years–both in my life and the lives of other readers–how romance novels can have a deep impact on people. Now, I don’t mean a negative impact or influence (although, if you’re reading erotica, secular, or Harlequin novels, that’s exactly the case…but those also aren’t real romances; they’re the devil’s cheap version).

Personally, they’ve helped me strengthen my convictions and standards. They’ve given me examples of relationships I can learn from (y’all, I have learned a LOT about the importance of communication and honesty, lemme tell ya). They’ve prompted me to get deeper into the Word of God and seek Him in everything–especially romantic relationships. They’ve inspired me to grow as a person, specifically a potential partner/spouse for someone in the future.

And I’ve witnessed in other’s lives how they’re a reminder of God’s love, and are relatable and relevant for what a lot of readers are going through/struggling with in their personal lives. And this goes for anything in life…but it seems that romance, marriage, sex, love, etc., needs to be talked about more, because it’s a part of everyone’s life in some way, whether they ever marry or are in a relationship or not.

Make sense?

So that’s what I believe. What about you?

What is too much romance?

Is there such a thing? *gasps*

Seriously, though, I gotcha, girl, and there’s two ways I can answer this question.

First of all, having too many romance elements is definitely possible, and it’s when the story becomes repetitive and cheesy. What exactly is too many differs from story to story, author to author, but typically having one or two elements repeated three or more times in one book OR having one or two common tropes repeated in three or more books by the same author is typically repetitive to me.

Second, you can have too much sexual content (entirely different from romance in its essence, by the way), and for that, that’s when we (1) start to go outside of God’s boundaries (like sexual immorality, either glorifying it or just being gratuitous about it) and/or (2) writing explicit sex scenes. You can write non-sex scenes that are still romantic and what have you, and you can write about sex without actually describing it (“they made love” is my preferred way of putting it)...but once you cross that line and get detailed about it (even between a married couple), I’m gone. Fortunately, I’ve never heard of a Christian romance going that far.

(That said, some “Christian romances” have seemed to glorify or at least be “netural” about sexual immorality, and that is a BIG no-no.)

Otherwise, I’m not so sure you can have too much of it. *winks* There’s so much of it all around us–in our own lives and others–and it’s such an integral part of life itself! *cues “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?”*

What is a Godly romance?

According to Grace’s Comprehensive Writer’s Dictionary: a romance novel and/or romantic relationship within a novel that provides the readers with a healthy example of a romantic relationship and brings glory and honor to God by following His precepts and exuding the traits Paul praises in Philippians 4:8.

And that can take many faces, but that’s the gist. That’s what readers should gain from the story, the takeaway, so to speak. That God has ordained marriage and blesses those who follow His commands, that sex is reserved for marriage and is beautiful within those bounds, that a threefold cord (God, man, and wife) is not easily broken, and that when you seek God and delight yourself in Him, He will give you the desires of your heart–especially marriage to a spouse who loves Him with their whole heart.

What do you NOT include or read in books as a Christian?

LANGUAGE. Like, I know that was probably not what you were expecting me to yell at you, but let’s face it. I’m pretty lax on a lot of content–there’s plenty of violence, alcoholism, murder, piracy, prostitution, etc., in my books. All portrayed biblically, of course, and never glorified, but it’s there. And y’all know I love me some romance, so of course I can get mushy sometimes. Naturally, I enjoy reading other gritty but biblical Christian fiction!

But one thing I absolutely do not like–I will never include it nor do I approve of it in Christian fiction–is profanity. I hold to Philippians 4:8 and the many Scriptures that call profane speech, unwholesome talk, and swearing wrong.

I also don’t tolerate nor include explicit sexual content or even non-explicit content that glorifies immorality. I won’t shy away from issues like lust, rape, trafficking, premarital sex, etc., but it ain’t pretty, folks. Just like in real life.

Lastly, the BIGGEST no-no is homosexuality. If y’all have been following me on Instagram, y’all may have noted my *coughs* fiery opinions about that…but seriously. The Bible is quite clear about homosexuality being a sin–just like anything else–and therefore I don’t see it as something in need or deserving of “representation.” We don’t give murder represention or rape representation. Same goes for homosexuality. THAT SAID, I greatly appreciate Christian novels that actually talk about it biblically and boldly. Whether it’s like Francine Rivers’ Mark of the Lion trilogy that portrays a culture saturated with immorality and spotlights a beautiful redemption story or a novel that follows someone’s struggles through that sin–whatever the case, if you’re bringing glory and honor to God and you’re following His Word, BRING IT ON! Otherwise, no, thank you.

(And you can argue with me all. day. long. or say whatever you will, but you won’t change my mind. Trust me. The peeps on IG already tried, and I ain’t budging.)

So, yeah. Basically, I won’t include anything sinful. I’ll portray it (y’all can learn about the difference here), but I won’t glorify it or romanticize it. It’ll always be written from a biblical perspective, whatever the issue. Same goes for what I read!

riley's questions

How do you write a likable romance heroine that isn't basically letting the hero pull her along through the story? (A struggle I'm going through right now with my own WIP, XD)

Easy. Switch the focus onto the heroine.

Give the heroine a monumental decision to make…have her rescue the hero (emotionally and/or physically speaking)...put her in danger…make her fight…literally ANYTHING. Put her in direct conflict with a central aspect of the story or something.

That said, to me personally, it really isn’t what the heroine does that makes her likable or active in the story; it’s simply who she is. So many of my favorite heroines don’t really do anything grand—Ivy, Hope, Elsie, Lizzy, Ella, Em—they’re just themselves. Not focused on being the boss or the hero or getting into all kinds of trouble. They’re just unique, amazing girls who make a huge impact by helping the hero. Even if that means giving him a kick in the pants, they still help the hero, point him to the Lord, and inspire him to become a better man, one worthy of the heroine’s love.

That said (again), I LOVE a heroine redemption arc (Rina and Charity), in which the heroine is a boss, gets into trouble, and needs the hero to help her. Again, though, it’s not really about what these heroines do; it’s their internal struggles, their personalities, their flaws and redeeming qualities, etc., that make them shine.

So, start by creating a heroine who’s unique and makes an impact not by what she does but who she is—whether that’s a positive or negative impact. Then, give her some extra page time and put her in the spotlight to either showcase how she helps the hero or how the hero helps her!

Is there any song that, just, when you hear it, it gives you "waltzing around a ballroom with your dream guy (whether he's fictional or not, lol)" vibes?

For a minute, I didn’t think I could answer this question, BUT THEN.

I remembered.

My all-time favorite classical song that literally gives me the warm fuzzies and sweeps me away every time I hear it…

Fur Elise.

I don’t know why, but this song speaks to my soul and I adore it and it would be a dream come true to dance with my fictional-and/or-nonfictional dream guy.

What's your LEAST favorite romance trope?

If I had to pick one least favorite…probably forbidden love. There are a few forbidden love romances that are well-done, but only a few. To me, I just feel like this has potential but isn’t ever handled correctly. So perhaps it’s less than I dislike the trope and more that I dislike how it’s written.

Who are five of your favorite fictional couples? (besides the ones you've written. ;) Yes, I realize that probably made it 3 million times harder to answer.)

Dude, yes, it did!!! Let’s see…classically speaking, Scarlet and Rhett from Gone with the Wind and Lizzy and Darcy from Pride and Prejudice. Modernly speaking, Charity and Mitch from A Passion Redeemed by Julie Lessman and Beth and Sheridan from To Treasure an Heiress by Roseanna M. White and Ella and Jack from A Midnight Dance by Joanna Davidson Politano. OH, and to make it an even six, Roxanne and Cassius from The Colonel’s Lady by Laura Frantz!

Man, that was hard.

What's your favorite thing about romance in fiction?

WAIT. Only one?

No, seriously. I don’t think I can pick just one thing. Omgosh, girl. Gee whiz.

Okay, okay. Lemme try…

Probably just the romanticness of it. I know that’s such an obvious answer, but humor me. I love being swept away into a love story that’s beautiful and chaotic and heartrending and sweet and passionate and stressful (for me at least). I love getting so caught up in the emotions of the story, in the hearts of the characters, in the whirlwind of their relationship. I love shipping and fangirling and gushing and getting those warm fuzzies, you know?

It’s like Christmas…just more Valentine’s Day-ish.

(*groans* That stunk. But…that’s exactly it.)

So, yeah. My favorite thing is getting to be a part of something wonderful. It’s only fictional, but that’s the best I can do until I have an actual relationship.

(Anybody know any cute guys that are strangely reminiscent of Mr. Darcy? Because it’s a truth universally acknowledged that a single woman who loves romance must be in want of a husband.)

What about y'all? Any favorite - or least favorite - tropes? Top romance recommendations? Additional advice? More questions? Feel free to gab it up in the comments!

I dunno about y'all, but this has been the most fun, and I've been so grateful for this opportunity to share all about one of my favorite things - and so astounded by how many AMAZING questions I've received!

If y'all've missed my previous posts, find them here, here, and here!

Thank y'all so much for joining me for this lovely Q&A (see what I did there?)! I hope y'all have enjoyed it as much as I have! If there's anything else y'all'd like to see full-length posts about, topics you want tips for, or an entirely different subject you'd like a Q&A for, just let me know!

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#romance #qanda #romancewriting #christianromance #passion #authenticity #characterization #development #writingtips #writingadvice #writing #subplots #repetition #romancetropes #christianwriting #romanceheroes #heroes#heroines #content #christianfiction #christiancontent #thebible #scripture #love #redempion #pov

Coming Soon: Worthy of Legend by Roseanna M. White

Guess what's coming soon to a bookstore near you!

No, not Bound and Determined - at least, not yet. I'm talking about Roseanna M. White's upcoming release (which I can't wait to read and fall in love with), Worthy of Legend!!! I'll spare y'all the gushing, because boy! do I have a lot to share today!

about the book

The Secrets of the Isles, 3

1906

After a summer of successful pirate-treasure hunting, Lady Emily Scofield and her friends are forced to hide the unprecedented discoveries they’ve made, thanks to the betrayal of her own family. Horrified by her brother who stops at nothing to prove himself to their greedy father, Emily is forced to take a stand against her family—even when it means being cut off entirely.

Bram Sinclair, Earl of Telford, is fascinated with tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table—an interest he’s kept mostly hidden for the last decade. But when a diary is unearthed in the islands that could lead to a secret artifact, Bram is the only one able to piece the legends together.

As Bram and Emily seek out the whereabouts of the hidden artifact, they must dodge her eager family and a team of archeologists. In a race against time, they must decide what makes a hero worthy of legend—is it fighting valiantly to claim the treasure . . . or sacrificing everything in the name of selfless love?

preorder your copy giveaway + sneak peek

Can't wait 'til September? I feel ya! Fortunately, Roseanna will be sending out a sneak peek of Worthy of Legend EVERY DAY to everyone who subscribes HERE! (Sneak peek started August 15th.)

I know y'all are gonna LOVE this exciting, adventuresome historical romance!

And I know you'll also love the chance to WIN your own copy of Worthy of Legend on Goodreads!

Wondering why I love this series so much?

Just read my reviews of the previous two books, The Nature of a Lady and To Treasure an Heiress, to find out!

I dunno about y'all, but I'd jump at the chance to win AND receive a free sneak peek EVERY DAY!!! Trust me, y'all won't wanna pass up any opportunity to read this novel!

Have you read anything by Roseanna M. White before? What about the first two books in this series? Lemme know in the comments below!

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#comingsoon #upcomingrelease #historicalfiction #historicalromance #christianfiction #romance #giveaway #preorder #preordernow #sneakpeek #entertowin #roseannamwhite

Author Interview: Lillian Keith

What first inspired you to write?

I don’t quite know. I mean, I was starting to write down ‘stories’ when I was around 6-7 years old, and that was about horses (I was a horse-obsessed kid *lol*). Looking back, I guess I wanted to record my stories on actual paper, rather than just tell my dolls (who couldn’t repeat the stories back to me. Sadly, I’ll never know the epic tales I told them *sighs*). But I do remember as I got older, I started writing more stories for school assignments. My parents really encouraged me to keep growing in my gifts.

What are some of the driving forces behind you and your writing now?

Oh, let’s see. There’s my family, especially my parents, who believed I had what it took to be a published writer; the strong desire and gift for writing that I know came from God; and my own personal desire to hold my book in my hands and then share it with the world.

Can you name any authors who have inspired your voice in different ways? How can you see their influence in your writing?

Wow, there’s so many authors who influenced me, so I’ll list three. I think Elizabeth George Speare was a big influence in my writing, mostly in how I wanted to weave deep themes into my stories and create relatable characters. Also, I remember, when I was younger, I tried to emulate Gertrude Chandler Warner, because her stories had fun sibling relationships, plus amazing adventures and throw-backs to safe, care-free times. And Patricia Maclahclan’s gentle, but moving stories encouraged me to try more realistic stories that were simple, but impactful.

What are some of your most favorite books/genres—to read and to write?

I really like reading middle grade books in almost all the genres (fantasy, dystopian, contemporary/realistic, and historical.) As for writing, it’d be pretty much the same (although I haven’t done so yet, I dream of attempting historical fiction someday!)

What do you do when you aren’t writing?

I’m either watching tv with my family, exercising, working on a craft project (usually needle felting), helping take care of the house, or trying to get back into reading. Oh, does blogging also count? *Lol* I’m also hoping to find a free-lance writing job (but we’ll see where the Lord leads me on that.)

Looking back, what has changed for you as a writer—be it how you write or what you write about?

Hmm, I’d have to say that the themes of my stories have gotten deeper and I feel like I’m getting a better handle on creating characters. Before, it was fun to write about them, but I don’t think I felt a true connection to them until I grew more in skill with my writing.

Out of all of your books, which one is your favorite? Why? (Bonus question: who is your most favorite character?)

NOO! Not the hard, dreaded question of favorites!! Okay, I’d say the Bible… *realizes Grace probably meant fiction* *sighs*. Okay, I’d say Walk Two Moons or Medallion. As for favorite characters, I’d say All of Them. All of Them is a very nice character, and pleasant to talk to. Plus, they take you on some of the most amazing adventures ever! *lol*

What does your writing process look like? Do you pants? plot? How long does it usually take you to write a novel?

I’m a bit of a mix of both. I like to plan, or outline, the main story, but then I’ll usually pants the individual scenes and dialogue (unless I come across a really great line during the brainstorming process; then I’ll find a way to incorporate it into the story if it’ll fit.)

What led you to choose self-publishing?

I suppose the main reason was that I liked the idea of creative control over my work. That, and the fact that my audience was more of a niche one. I couldn’t see my stories making it into the mainstream market, which was fine. On a side note, I learned from others that self-publishing can teach you to see the business side of publishing a book, and I feel like that’s true. I wanted to understand that and practice my skills in that area. I’m still learning a lot, but I feel like it’s been rather rewarding to do so (despite the hard work *haha*. Really, it does take a lot of time and perseverance!)

What are your thoughts for other aspiring writers on writing and publishing?

Pack for yourself a big bag of patience and perseverance, because the journey is long, and it’s hard, but if you really want to see your book in print (or even just completing your first manuscript), then keep going! Having your work grow you in your skills, or touch the lives of others and encourage and inspire them is well-worth the effort.

Should We Tell Her? is your upcoming release—can you tell me a little bit about it?

Ah yes, I’m so excited for it to be out! So, it’s a summer story about three sisters whose mom is in a coma. It’s about how they try to cope with her being gone, but it isn’t easy because the youngest is only two and can’t understand what happened. The other two sisters try to help by creating a make-believe game through postcards from around the world and saying it’s from Mom. The whole story is told by the oldest sister, Aspen.

Which part of SWTH was the easiest to write, and what was the hardest? Where did you stumble and second-guess yourself in the writing of this novella?

I’d say that the scenes with the kids interacting with each other were pretty easy, as I could picture their characters clearly in my mind (and the sisterly banter was just fun). The hardest is and always will be the ending (plus the title and synopsis XD) because I want to get it right, but that’s when I sometimes get really stuck. Also, this wasn’t an action story (kinda like my previous story), so trying to find ways to build suspense without telling the whole thing was rather tricky.

As for second-guesses, I’d say that hit me after finishing the first draft, then going into the second, because I was afraid it wasn’t exciting enough. I was also worried about it dragging. Like I said earlier, this wasn’t an action/plot-driven story, but way more character-driven. I love compelling stories, but I wanted to be sure there was the right balance of both.

What do you want your readers to take away from this story?

I hope they see that they don’t have to struggle alone, but rather, lean on those they trust (especially family and close friends!) and stick together to help each other through difficult times.

Have you ever experienced any discouragement as an author? If so, what inspired you to persevere?

Yes, absolutely! There were times I wanted to quit because I doubted that I would get to publish my book, and I wouldn’t make it as a writer. Maybe it would turn into a whole disaster. But a firm pep talk from my mom helped set me back on the writer’s path. That, and prayer for strength to persevere, or rereading encouraging messages from fellow writers and friends has helped me a lot.

What are your greatest aspirations for your future, be it as a person or as a writer?

My greatest hope is to keep growing in wisdom and understanding of God’s Word, so He can lead me down the path He wants for me.

What has being a writer taught you?

I’d have to say patience and perseverance are a big aspect of what I’ve been learning (because I do struggle in those areas *sheepish grin*). But I also realize that sometimes I hold a bit too tightly to how I think publishing my book should go; then something will happen to throw me off track or push back my deadline. And learning to be okay with that, and adjust accordingly, has been a lesson I feel that the Lord has been walking me through.

about the book

“Mommy’s in Africa,” You kept saying, and you smiled for the first time since Mom hadn’t come home.

And suddenly, I didn’t want that smile to disappear. I didn’t want to hear your pleading voice asking over and over when Mom would come home. And I didn’t want to see the disappointment in your eyes anymore.

When summer turns to tragedy, twelve year old Aspen and her younger sister Wren struggle to cope. But how can they when their youngest sister can’t understand what is happening? Will they be able to pull together to help each other or will they fall apart?

snag your copy about the author

Lillian Keith (you can just call her Lily for short!) never grew out of her love for children’s literature. She has been telling stories all her life, first to her dolls, and then to her family, and hopefully to more kids in the future. She’s the author of the short story, An Apprentice Escapes, and the middle grade novella, Should We Tell Her?

Aside from writing, you’ll often find her feeding wild rabbits, arguing with spell check on Google Docs, or talking with her imaginary friends *ahem* story characters. Feel free to drop by her site and say ‘hi’. She loves meeting new people, hearing from excited readers, and making new friends (be forewarned, though. She loves puns and may try to sneak one into the conversation when you’re not looking!)

the tour

Saturday, August 13th

,The Introspective Introvert — Kickoff Post, Spotlight, and Giveaway Announcement!

,Kristina Hall — Sneak Peak and Book Review

Sunday, August 14th

,Joy C. Woodbury — Spotlight (and possible book review)

Monday, August 15th

,The Misty Mayflower — Behind-the-Book Interview, and Book Review.

,Vanessa Hall — Sneak Peak

,Grace A. Johnson — Spotlight and Guest Post

,Sisters Three — Author Interview and Sneak Peak

,Rooted Scribbles — Behind-the-Book Interview, and Spotlight

,Saraina Whitney — Author Interview

Tuesday, August 16th

,Amy The Beloved — Art and Music Post

,The Pencil Sisters — How to Make a Postcard

Wednesday, August 17th

,Grace A. Johnson — Author Interview

Thursday, August 18th

,Saraina Whitney — Sneak Peak

Friday, August 19th

,Allie Anderson — Behind-the-Book Interview

,Vanessa Hall — Book Review

,Alicia Marentette — Spotlight, Sneak Peak, and Guest Post

,Into My Writing Journey — Behind the Book Interview

Saturday, August 20th

,Sparkle Girl— Sneak Peak, Behind-the-Book and Character Interview, plus Book Review

,Rewrites With A Faerie Pen — Sneak Peak, Character Interview (Curtis), and Book Review

Sunday, August 21st

,The Introspective Introvert — End of Giveaway

the giveaways

Y'all see that s up there? Yep, that's right! That means Lily is hosting not one but TWO giveaways!!!

The first is a US giveaway, and the winner will receive a signed print copy of Should We Tell Her? + a trio of tiny character dolls (Aspen, Wren, and Piper) and a homemade postcard!

The second is an international giveaway, and the winner will receive a code to redeem a free e-copy of Should We Tell Her?

Y'all can enter below!

I don't know about y'all, but Elizabeth George Speare and Gertrude Chandler Warner were also huge parts of my childhood (I am I the only one who still rereads the first Boxcar Children book???)...and I LOVED Lily's questions!

What about y'all? Did y'all enjoy our interview? Do y'all love (or at least loved) middle-grade fiction?

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#authorinterview #christianauthor #indieauthor #blogtour #entertowin #middlegrade #newbook #newrelease

Spotlight & Guest Post: Should We Tell Her? by Lillian Keith

I have got one PACKED post for y'all today! Everything from a book spotlight to a guest post to a giveaway (*cheers ring out because we all love free stuff*) - we've got it all...and it's for none other than middle-grade author Lillian Keith's latest release, Should We Tell Her?

I haven't read middle-grade in literal years (since I was about seven or eight), but I know this sweet story will be loved by readers of all ages, and y'all won't wanna miss your chance to learn more about it AND its lovely author!

Not to mention, Lily's guest post is SO inspiring!!! So let's dive in, shall we?

about the book

“Mommy’s in Africa,” You kept saying, and you smiled for the first time since Mom hadn’t come home.

And suddenly, I didn’t want that smile to disappear. I didn’t want to hear your pleading voice asking over and over when Mom would come home. And I didn’t want to see the disappointment in your eyes anymore.

When summer turns to tragedy, twelve year old Aspen and her younger sister Wren struggle to cope. But how can they when their youngest sister can’t understand what is happening? Will they be able to pull together to help each other or will they fall apart?

snag your copy When Dreams Become Reality

guest post by Lillian Keith

I’ve always loved the idea of seeing my story in book form. Even as a little kid, I’d have some folded paper stapled together to form a booklet (don’t worry, I usually had an adult do the stapling for me!) Then, I’d ‘write’ stories in them and sometimes I’d draw pictures to go with it. (My personal career as a book illustrator was short-lived, thankfully.)

When I was about eight or nine, I had a two page story typed out for school (well, actually, my mom did all the typing. I dictated.) I remember when we printed it out, it felt so surreal to see my words on a page. An actual page. With my words in shiny black printer ink.

For the next several years, I wrote short stories for school. They’d usually get printed out, and for most of them, I stored them as a collection in a three-ringed binder. I never got over how fascinating it was to see your very own words in print. I even tried finding ways to bind the 8 ½ x11 inch paper into a book with my stories printed on it. I never did succeed in that.

During my teens, I sometimes dreamt of becoming a famous, successful author, with my stories on bookshelves and in libraries. They’d be epic, moving fantasies with equally awesome covers, just like my favorite books growing up. Wow, wouldn’t that be so cool to have them sit together on my bookshelf? Wouldn’t it be so amazing to finally see my words printed on a book page?

Of course, I figured that that was just a dream. I mean, where did one start to become a published author? Perhaps I’d get a regular job and keep writing on the side (because seriously, did I even have what it takes to get there?)

Well, I didn’t take the author dream seriously until my mom sat me down after I just finished highschool. We talked about what direction I wanted to take. Maybe work as a librarian? Or get a job at Hobby Lobby? (which was a favorite store of mine.) Or I could go on to college. But working as a full-time writer and become an author? Pfft.

But wait, what had been a constant in my life (aside from God and my family, of course)? Writing. How would I feel if I gave that up forever? Never write another word again? Could I find other things to fill my free time and be happy with that? What if I had no more computer time or notebooks to fill characters and story ideas with? These were the questions and thoughts given to me.

At that point, my face must’ve turned a bit pale. If all means of writing, even just a little idea, were taken away forever, would I be okay with that? Absolutely not. It was then that I realized how much writing was like breathing to me.

I suddenly knew the path I wanted to take (even though I still wrestled with doubts about it working.)

And thus, I was launched down the author road. It involved writing, writing classes, research on publishing routes, finding a target audience, learning about marketing, writing, writing, and more writing. Oh yes, and everyday life in between too. But also growing in my writing and figuring out the route I wanted to take as a writer.

Long story short, when I first learned that you could have total creative control if you went the indie route, I knew at once that that was the way I wanted to go. Maybe it was because I’ve always tried to transform my own stories into books and this was a sure-fire way to do so or maybe I’m just a control freak XD. But I fell in love with the idea of doing it myself, even if it was going to be hard. I mean, really hard.

As in, a lot of research for a print-on-demand service, building a following, formatting, editing, cover design, more marketing, etc, etc, etc. And of course, there were bumps along the road that you didn’t quite plan for, nor did you think to look up during your research. And I almost quit. I almost wanted to give up. But my drive (and dream) for holding my own book in my own hands kept me going.

Then one day, after I uploaded my first story to KDP and sent for proof copies, they arrived (much later than I expected, but they still came). And I finally got to hold my story in my hands. I even sat an official copy on the shelf with my other favorite books. Sometimes, I still flip through the pages, marveling that I can finally see my words in print. It’s rather surreal.

There’s still a lot I’m learning about self-publishing. And at times, it’s still a learning process (and a bit of a pain lol). But my dream of getting my story into an actual book form came true. It just took a lot of perseverance, patience, and hard work.

Do you dream of holding your own book in your hands? Then I believe that you can get there!

about the author

Lillian Keith (you can just call her Lily for short!) never grew out of her love for children’s literature. She has been telling stories all her life, first to her dolls, and then to her family, and hopefully to more kids in the future. She’s the author of the short story, An Apprentice Escapes, and the middle grade novella, Should We Tell Her?

Aside from writing, you’ll often find her feeding wild rabbits, arguing with spell check on Google Docs, or talking with her imaginary friends *ahem* story characters. Feel free to drop by her site and say ‘hi’. She loves meeting new people, hearing from excited readers, and making new friends (be forewarned, though. She loves puns and may try to sneak one into the conversation when you’re not looking!)

the tour

Saturday, August 13th

,The Introspective Introvert — Kickoff Post, Spotlight, and Giveaway Announcement!

,Kristina Hall — Sneak Peak and Book Review

Sunday, August 14th

,Joy C. Woodbury — Spotlight (and possible book review)

Monday, August 15th

,The Misty Mayflower — Behind-the-Book Interview, and Book Review.

,Vanessa Hall — Sneak Peak

,Grace A. Johnson — Spotlight and Guest Post

,Sisters Three — Author Interview and Sneak Peak

,Rooted Scribbles — Behind-the-Book Interview, and Spotlight

,Saraina Whitney — Author Interview

Tuesday, August 16th

,Amy The Beloved — Art and Music Post

,The Pencil Sisters — How to Make a Postcard

Wednesday, August 17th

,Grace A. Johnson — Author Interview

Thursday, August 18th

,Saraina Whitney — Sneak Peak

Friday, August 19th

,Allie Anderson — Behind-the-Book Interview

,Vanessa Hall — Book Review

,Alicia Marentette — Spotlight, Sneak Peak, and Guest Post

,Into My Writing Journey — Behind the Book Interview

Saturday, August 20th

,Sparkle Girl— Sneak Peak, Behind-the-Book and Character Interview, plus Book Review

,Rewrites With A Faerie Pen — Sneak Peak, Character Interview (Curtis), and Book Review

Sunday, August 21st

,The Introspective Introvert — End of Giveaway

the giveaways

Y'all see that s up there? Yep, that's right! That means Lily is hosting not one but TWO giveaways!!!

The first is a US giveaway, and the winner will receive a signed print copy of Should We Tell Her? + a trio of tiny character dolls (Aspen, Wren, and Piper) and a homemade postcard!

The second is an international giveaway, and the winner will receive a code to redeem a free e-copy of Should We Tell Her?

Y'all can enter below!

If you love sweet, touching stories about family and friendship, you're gonna love Should We Tell Her? (Dude, the one time I can't use an exclamation mark. *sobs*) Y'all don't forget to enter the giveaway and check out the other posts in the tour! And stay tuned for my upcoming interview with Lily!

yours in spirit and script,Grace

#spotlight #newrelease #guestpost #newbook #middlegrade #giveaway #blogtour #christianauthor #entertowin #selfpublishing #writing

Romance Q&A Pt. 3: Kisses, Chemistry & Why I Write Romance

I don't know about y'all, but I am SO excited for this installment in my Romance Q&A series! Probably because I get to talk about some of my favorite things...kisses, chemistry, God-honoring romance, and more!

PLUS, if y'all read all the way through, you'll find an excerpt from Prisoner at Heart!

This post is jam-packed with goodness, so I won't keep y'all waiting any longer!

issabelle's questions

What's the book that got you into romance? (Both reading and writing.)

It was none other than The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson. My first foray out of middle-grade allegorical fantasy and apocalyptic fiction (yes, I used to read a ton of that, believe it or not) and into YA medieval romance.

After reading The Golden Braid, I devoured the rest of Melanie Dickerson’s books, and began scouring the shelves and Christian Book magazine for similar-looking/sounding titles. I soon found The Baron’s Daughter by Lynn Morris, and from then on, I became an avid reader of Christian romance–specifically historical romance.

It didn’t take long for me to want to create my own stories–and of course, they had to be historical romance! At the time, I was into fashion design, so instead of writing outlines, I would design my heroine and write a few details about her/her story off to the side! For the most part, those early stories stayed entirely in my head, and it wasn’t until several months down the road that I actually began writing them. I just couldn’t wait!

(Oh, and I copied this answer from my previous post, if that’s why it seems familiar. *winks*)

What's your favorite romance trope?

ENEMIES-TO-LOVERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The end.

Oh, but if it’s an enemies-to-lovers marriage of convenience/arrangement, EVEN BETTER!

Who's your favorite ship in your own books?

Oof. That’s hard. Like…gosh. Are we just talking my published books or, like…all of them? Yikes.

Um.

Oy.

Well…I do really like Kit and Chloe (from The Gift of Her Heart). I literally created them for the sole purpose of being able to ship them together. So, yeah.

But like.

I mean, I love Rina and Xavier (mainly Rina), and Crimson and Elliot (they are hilarious and so adorable together), and Keaton and Daisy…but I just…augh.

To be honest, I can’t tell y’all about some of my favorite couples, because y’all, uh, haven’t necessarily met them yet, and it’d be SO spoilerly.

Let’s just say…Book #4 will (hopefully) be a double romance.

OH. There is this one thing…

Well.

I won’t say. Y’all will think I’m crazy.

What's the hardest part about writing romance?

Dealing with naysayers. And that’s not even part of the actual writing. Mainly because the writing comes easy for me (and romance is the only thing I don’t overthink).

Anyway, putting it out there for others to read once I’ve written it is hard. There are a lot of people out there who just despise romance or simply don’t understand it, so dealing with readers like that is a huge challenge. I totally respect their opinions, but in some cases, it’s kind of like…why did you bother? If romance is your least favorite thing on the planet, why are you reading a romance? Or why waste your breath complaining anyway? Especially if they didn’t read the book but just want to throw their two cents in…just…why?

I dunno. I’m not good with negativity. I know that comes as a surprise, but seriously. I’d just rather people move on with their lives…

Anyway, just having the courage to put my love stories out there to begin with and to continue writing them is probably the hardest thing! Because I know they honor and glorify the Lord (at least, that’s my intention), and I know that’s what I’ve been called to write, and so I persevere…and I hope y’all will too!

What's the cringiest, most cliché book you've ever read?

As far as cliched goes, I don’t know…I typically handle cliches better than most readers–it’s really just unrealistic drama that bothers me.

But the cringiest? Oh, my gosh. HANDS-DOWN The Duchess and the Dragon and Pirate of My Heart by Jamie Carie.

Those two…they’re honestly disgusting in just how badly the romance is written and how toxic and disturbing some aspects are. And I rarely ever acknowledge anything as toxic, so there’s that.

What's your best tip for writing God-honoring, realistic romance?

Waaaiiiit a minute. Only one tip? GOOD GOSH GIRL! I have to boil an entire art form down to ONE TIP?

Gah.

Seriously, though, my best non-technical tip is to pray, seek the Lord, and study Scripture. Think of crafting your romance story like actually living out your real-life romance, and put as much care, consideration, and prayer into it. From using friends and family as examples to talking to people in relationships to applying God’s Word, prepare yourself to write your love story just as you would living it! Not only will that, of course, help you grow as a person, it will also make your story that much more meaningful, authentic, and powerful!

Technically speaking…be bold, be balanced, and be authentic. (Yes, these are points from an article all about realistic Christian romance, which you can read HERE.) Be bold and passionate about the romance and the faith elements—don’t shy away from things out of fear that will really enhance your story and make it more impactful! Balance the spiritual content and romantic content in a way that is natural and healthy. And authentically portray faith journeys and romantic relationships!

saraina's questions

Why do you write romance?

In part because I absolutely adore it and can’t imagine not writing it! I’ve always loved romance and princesses and fairytales and all the lovely fluff that comes with it, and as I’ve grown and matured, I have come to see that I still do love those girlish elements…and the soul-deep relationship romance is, the beautiful feelings God has given us, the amazing journey He takes us on, and the glorious blessings romance and marriage are.

Because romance in real life means so much to me, how could I ever leave it out of what I write? And so I do write romance because I love it, because it’s beautiful and lovely and deserves to be treated and portrayed how God created it, and because it’s simply fun to cultivate those fictional relationships with all their facets and flaws and lead two characters in a dance of love!

On a deeper level, I write Christian romance because there is no such thing as romance apart from God. I’m serious. I’ve tried reading those clean, sweet romances that have absolutely no Christian/spiritual/faith content in them…and it’s just not the same. There is no love or passion or commitment or selflessness–it’s all platitudes, superficial emotions and attraction, with no real substances. Not to mention, what’s the point of cleanliness without our God-established morals? Even if you’re going the subtle route, you must acknowledge the existence and impact of God.

I also write romance because,, as my friend ,H. S. Kylian said, “I get so tired of people saying it’s ‘refreshing’ when a book they read has no romance or when they brush it off as ‘fluff’ – I’m like, ‘We live in a fallen world where sin has distorted romance, marriage, and sex, and you want to call it ‘refreshing’ when a book doesn’t have romance???’ If anything, we need more romance, not less…” And so I’m committed to creating romances that promote traditional relationships, that emphasize purity over pleasure, and reflect Christ’s love for His church, even when the world wants to write it off as outdated and Christians want to eschew it.

What are your least favorite romantic tropes and why?

Ah, least favorites! Let’s see…to be honest, it’s less about the trope itself and more about how it’s handled. For example, one of my favorites is marriage of convenience/arrangement–however, very, very few novels I’ve read have actually written it well!

So while these tropes may be my least favorite in terms of their structure, they can and have been written exceedingly well!

Forbidden love. Mainly because it’s centered around marital affairs, and even if it’s not, it’s still disrespectful. That said, you can include forbidden love vibes in a story and make it very intense, emotional, and poignant…or you can write a forbidden love romance that’s actually handled tastefully–there just aren’t many of them. Secret identity. Now, if the character is a spy or superhero, bring it on. Otherwise? It’s just too much drama and whining for me. *sighs* Secret baby. I just…if you want to be biblical about it, please. I’ll read it all day long. But if you’re just throwing in secret pregnancies and premarital sex for the heck of it, you can hit the road, Jack. Second chance. I have read a couple I adored…but for the most part? This trope bores me! I guess because I’ve already missed the blossoming of their romance and all the firsts in their relationship. It’s just sad.

Have you read a Christian romance that went too far for you?

...No. At least, not that I can remember. In terms of content, what bothers me the most is not necessarily the detail, but the context! Like, you can have a closed-door, fade-to-black romance that’s cleaner than a whistle…but if the characters aren’t doing things God’s way, forget about it. And when Christian authors condone (or at least don’t shine a negative light on) things like impurity and premarital sex, I’m liable to put it down right then. (Unless I have to review it, in which case, prepare for a low rating, buttercup.)

That said, I’ve never even heard of a Christian book with a full-blown sex scene (again…not that I can remember), and there are ways to include it without being gratuitous.

How do you define romance (aka is secular "romance", romance)?

Firstly, secular “romance” is absolutely not romance. The world wants to capitalize on hormones and fleshly desires by marketing a night of pleasure as romance. Even worse, it wants to prey on our God-given desire to be loved and treasured by convincing us that whatever Tom, Dick, or Harry who gives us the time of day will provide those things.

#lies

Only God can fully satisfy us, and it is through Him that a romantic relationship can bring joy and be full of love. It’s only those who truly seek after Him who can love, treasure, and sacrifice for their loved ones.

When it all boils down to it, love and romance are two different things. Romance comes from love, but love is not romance, if that makes sense. Love is a choice, romance is an experience. Therefore, that experience looks different for everyone–and for some, it’s expensive dinners and nights out dancing. For some, it’s quiet evenings by the fire with a cup of cocoa.

However you experience romance, however you show love to others and they respond in turn, the true heart and meaning of romance stays the same, and that’s a soul-deep feeling, one that builds and uplifts rather than leaves people feeling empty and dry.

I honestly recommend reading Song of Solomon to get an idea of what true, God-given romance is supposed to look like! It is, in part, physical attraction and appreciation and kisses and whatnot…but it’s also that intense and pure desire for another person–a desire that God has given us for the purpose of reflecting His love for us and, of course, procreation. *winks*

What is your answer for those who say romance novels only set you up for disappointment?

#1: You are responsible for your expectations. Not a book or movie or TV show. Not your mother, grandmother, or best friend. If you use romance novels–which are fictional, by the way–as a basis for how your life should go, that’s on you. Not the book, author, or genre. And that’s a mentality that needs correcting, a mentality that can apply to ANYTHING–not just a romance novel.

#2: You’re not supposed to settle anyway. It’s not a bad thing to have high hopes or want a man who treats you right, and if that’s what’s included in the books you read and that’s what you hope for and expect for yourself, then that’s okay. In fact, keep reading those books! You shouldn’t assume that just because you live in the real world, you’ll have to settle for a toxic or passionless relationship. After all, when you delight yourself in the Lord, He will give you the desires of your heart. He will give you a desire for a loving spouse and good, God-honoring marriage…and then He’ll deliver!

#3: Instead of setting expectations, set standards. So many people refuse to see the importance of romance novels, stating that it’s porn or disappointing or distracting or whatever. But there is a positive to every negative, and one of the positives of romance is that it can help you define your standards.

For example, a lot of people bash having crushes. But guess what? Even though I may have “wasted” time or “given my heart away” to guys who never noticed me, I grew in leaps and bounds through every crush. Had I not crushed on this one guy when I was 12, I never would have realized that what I truly desire and seek in a man is one who’s sold out for God and lives for Him.

So rather than getting caught up in expectations and hopes, use that as a moment to reflect and pray, to consider what you want in a spouse/relationship. Romance novels should be examples for us of either what to do or what not to do–so look at it like that!

What are your secrets for writing kissing scenes?

AHHHH FINALLY THIS QUESTION!!! I AM IN ROMANCE HEAVEN NOW!!!

Bless you, Saraina.

SO. As far as writing kiss scenes goes, everyone’s idea of how it should transpire differs. Some people prefer cut-and-dry “They kissed” scenes, while other authors will go on for three pages just describing the kiss. (Not in an icky way, of course.)

And some authors prefer to focus on the emotional/mental aspects (what the character think/feel), while others stick to describing their actual actions.

Me? I like all of it. Seriously. There’s a time and a place for each aspect, and knowing what goes where is really the first step to writing an epic kiss scene.

For example, cut-and-dry kisses work great for (1) super short pecks and (2) the eighteenth kiss in the book. Naturally, I don’t like it when authors repeat actions/scenes in a book, but sometimes it’s unavoidable, so sticking to a “He kissed her” instead of describing how he kissed her seven times is great.

That said, the first kiss, last kiss, kiss-in-which-they-both-respond, I-love-you kiss, basically any kiss that has a purpose/meaning should be described. Be as subtle or detailed as you like, but don’t let the readers miss out on this very important milestone!

On that note, the second step is giving each kiss a purpose. This has taken me a while (*coughs* three novels) to learn, but fortunately, I can look back and see how each kiss in my romances has a purpose. Maybe it’s something silly, like to get the love interest to stop rambling, or something truly meaningful, like to seal their engagement–either way, don’t just throw a kiss in “because.” Be intentional and purposeful about it! That way, your readers will have a deeper experience, AND it’ll be easier for you to write your characters’ reactions!

Lastly, find your balance. I personally prefer half physical, half emotional for my kiss scenes, which is really giving everyone the best of both worlds, but it’s up to you to find your own balance in how you write kiss scenes!

For an even better example, I’mma share one of my absolute FAVORITE kiss scenes, from Prisoner at Heart. This one isn’t my favorite because it’s super passionate or playful or unique or any of that (all those kisses are in The Gift of Her Heart, my most romantic and comedic and favorite work to date *winks*)...but because it’s purposeful, meaningful, balanced, emotional, and perfectly timed.

Basically, this moment (again, one of my favorites) is when Crimson and Elliot, my heroine and hero, finally let their guards down and bond over shared loss and pain. They begin to see each other in a better, more selfless light, and then they’re able to share more…like something beautiful and new and full of hope!

(Note: this excerpt is really long. Why? Because I love this scene, and you need all this to fully understand the poignancy of this moment.)

(Another note: the first part is from Elliot’s POV and the second part is Crimson’s.)

She expelled a breath, her tight muscles loosening. “So now you know,” she said, her voice still in the sweet British accent of hers that she’d been hiding beneath that rough tone, only reminding me of how little I knew of her.

For so long, Crimson Wilde had been a name no better than a curse. A girl you’d want to avoid, a threat, an enemy. A reminder of the pain inflicted upon Rina and myself. But now...the more I was around her, the more I learned about her, the more I realized that she wasn’t just another Wilde, cold-hearted and cruel. She was a beautiful girl who hurt, who had pain of her own, memories that haunted her.

She was more than just a name. She was a face with eyes deeper than the ocean. She was wrists that had been scarred. She was a mother without her child. She was a heart that had been broken.

***

“Elliot, will you please say something?” He was being quiet, too quiet. Just staring at me, mouth turned down in a frown, eyes half-closed, focused below my nose. On my lips? Heavens, I hoped not. I had just revealed my deepest, darkest secret, and the last thing he should be thinking about was kissing me.

“You’re scaring me, old man.” Because the chill that was creeping up my spine was not one of pleasure. And because it was not our close proximity that had my heart beating at one hundred miles an hour.

All right, all right. Not true. But surely one was entitled to a lie or two every once in a while, aye?

I set my finger beneath his chin, forced him to look in my eyes. He did, settled his hand on my cheek again, putting my every sense on high alert, stoking my blood and warming my skin. Why, oh why, did he have to affect me this way? And especially when I was leaving!

“I’m so sorry, Crimson.” His voice was painfully sincere, but instead of making me feel better, easing the pain, it only fanned a flame that I’d thought long burned-out.

“I didn’t tell you for pity, Mr. Fulton,” I growled, struggling against his hold. Pity was the last thing I wanted, exactly what I didn’t need. What everyone gave, no matter the problem. Which was why I preferred to keep my problems to myself.

Elliot didn’t release me. In fact, I could’ve sworn he held me tighter. “I didn’t mean it that way, little Wilde. I meant that I’m sorry for treatin’ you like just that, like you’re nothin’ but a Wilde. I’m sorry for what happened to you, yes. But mostly, I’m sorry for bein’ so fed up with myself an’ my anger that I didn’t notice that other people hurt too.”

Wait. What?

He was apologizing for the way he’d treated me. For being blind to things not there for him to see. Wow. Rina must’ve really gotten to him. Because no one I’d ever met would ever be so...so apologetically sweet. Which didn’t make sense to even me, but I had made my point.

Elliot Fulton wasn’t like Jonas. Like Da, Randal, any other man in my life. He felt. He cared. He understood.

“But no one asked you to notice. And I-I didn’t ask for you to be sorry. You don’t have to apologize. I don’t...don’t really care,” I told him, shaking my head against his hand.

He smiled just a little, his mouth barely visible beneath his beard. He really needed a shave, but that, I supposed, was a conversation for another day.

“Y’know y’do. Ye care about a lot of things. About yer siblings, about Ellie. An’, though ye’d ne’er admit it, ye care about bearded ole bears like me.” He tweaked my nose just like he did with Leo, his grin a bit wider.

Who knew he could be so perceptive?

I suppressed a laugh, a sob, a curse—whatever was trying to barge past my lips. And took a step back even though I really didn’t want to. “I never said anything about you being old. Just bearded.”

He raised a thick brow. “So ye be meanin’ I ain’t old? What a compliment, especially comin’ from you.” Then he lifted a finger into the air, raised his other eyebrow. “An’ ye’re not denyin’ it!”

Now he was the one that didn’t make sense. “Denying what?”

“That you care”— he drew me closer, his arm around my waist, his hand on my hip—“about me.” He leaned in until our noses brushed, until the air I breathed in was the same he breathed out. Until there was no escape.

Even if I wanted to.

But I needed to.

“Elliot, you know—”

His mouth cut my words off. His left hand trailed up my arm, leaving tingles on my skin, moving up my shoulder and to the back of my neck. Tilted my head back, tangled his fingers in my curls. Parted my lips, blurred the lines between want and need, between reality and dream, between the warning bells and the thrum of my pulse.

My muscles ached, tightened with the gnawing pain of a long-ignored hunger. My fingers clenched into fists, balling up the fabric of his shirt in my hands. I had to let go. Needed to. So badly.

Because I was leaving. And it was for the best. And if I let this go too far, I’d regret it.

But then my back arched. All resistance fled, succumbed to the heady sensations his touch induced. My fingers loosened, climbed up his chest, over his shoulders. My mouth moved against his, melting into him. Then there were no bells. No thoughts. No oughts and needs and should’ves. Only Elliot. Only me.

Only us. Now.

And nothing else mattered.

What do most romances get wrong/what is the biggest flaw you see in most romance books?

Hmm…well, there are the technical things. Unintentionality, repetition, lack of detail, lack of chemistry between the hero and heroine, lack of emotional connection, pure lack of likeable characters/shippable relationships. I mean, some romances just shouldn’t. be. romances. I would literally rather read a book with no romance at all than read a poorly-done romance.

But when it boils down to it (that’s the second time I’ve said that, isn’t it?), the main flaw is that people simply don’t understand what romance is anymore. Authors included.

Not only do people misdefine romance in reality as being a dating relationship that ticks all the boxes or hot and heavy sex, authors have gotten it into their heads that romance is a genre. A style. A category.

BUT IT’S NOT. I literally cannot stress this point enough.

Romance is a relationship, for crying out loud! And when you really understand that and write accordingly, your story won’t be cheesy or boring or unrealistic or cliched or icky. It’ll be real.

And I actually DID write a post about this, and you can read it ,HERE!

Any tricks for writing chemistry between the hero and heroine?

YES YES YES!!! I actually have plans on writing a full-blown post about this, so I’ll keep this answer short.

Chemistry is all about how your characters interact with each other. Period. It’s literally that simple. When your characters can clash and cooperate, you’ve got chemistry. They hit each other and explode, but in that process, they’ve come together to make something better than themselves alone. (Dude, that was profound.)

For example, Keaton and Julius have some of the best chemistry in my books…and they’re certainly not my hero and heroine! But the fact that their personalities are so different (Keaton’s grumpy and quiet; Julius is like an annoying puppy dog) and yet they’re forced to work together makes their bromance-in-progress so much fun! Keaton is annoyed by Jules and disagrees with him 99% of the time; Julius is unnerved by Keaton and intentionally does things to bug him. But they’re better together–stronger, more well-rounded, building each other up, etc. They still have their witty arguments and comedic banter, but they also contribute to the story in a wonderful way.

Do the same with your hero and heroine. They’re like two superheroes with entirely different powers and motives, both fighting for the same thing–which is basically a romantic relationship. Give them contrasting personalities and similarities that can unite them. Give them moments in which they disagree and moments in which they stand together. In the end, they’ll overcome their differences to be stronger together–to be one.

How to go about that? Glad you asked! I’ve got a couple ideas here you might wanna try out!

Pay attention to your characters’ differences and commonalities, even if that means making a Venn Diagram. Have fun with comedic situations, funny encounters, banter, and arguments—you can cut out what’s fluff later and keep what contributes to development! Learn about romance tropes and figure out which one(s) fit your characters—that’ll help guide the direction of their romance and give you examples to refer back to. Develop your characters’ relationship/background without their romance—whether that’s in an outline, prologue/prequel, or through backstory. Take a few scenes to just enhance their relationship, through conversations, collaboration, and more, without throwing in kisses and mushy speeches. *winks*

Y'all don't tell me I'm the only one who loves Crimson and Elliot. *sighs* Y'all are gonna LOVE their scenes (however few they are) in Bound and Determined, and - OH!

What's this I hear?

*turns aside* Yes. Mmhmm. I see.

*turns back to the crowd* I've just received word that ONE lucky commenter will receive a special sneak peek of Crimson and Elliot from BAD! All you have to do for a chance to win is let me know who your favorite ship from my books is! (Bonus points if it's a ship I haven't even shipped yet...if that makes sense!)

And if y'all have anymore questions, the form is still open, and any questions in the comments will count toward my next Q&A post!

Missed my last posts? No problem! You can read them here and here!

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#romance #qanda #romancewriting #christianromance #passion #authenticity #characterization #development #writingtips #writingadvice #writing #subplots #repetition #romancetropes #christianwriting #romanceheroes #heroes #heroines #excerpts #prisoneratheart #kisses #kissscenes #chemistry #boundanddetermined #giveaway #crimsonandelliot #sneakpeek

The Remarkable Blogger Tag (and a secret surprise)

Buckle up, y'all, because you're in for a treat! Not only am I super excited to share this epic tag by Simply Selina, which the lovely E.G. Bella nominated me for, but I also have a special surprise to share with y'all if you can read all the way through!

Pretty sure that just upped the suspense up (I hope), so I'll cut my intro short and dive right in!

(PS: The questions I answer were created by Lucy @ Elsie LMC!)

the rules Add the featured image Tag your post with #theremarkablebloggertag Pingback to original post Mention the creator Share something unique about you Answer the nine questions the person who nominated you has asked Ask 9 nine questions for your nominees Nominate 10 – 15 people Have fun!something unique about me + questions

Um. I can breathe, for one, which differentiates me from 109 billion people who can’t.

Well, I’m really not that interesting of a person (if you don’t believe me, my brother and sister couldn’t think of anything unique about me, and I ended up turning to Google, which apparently doesn’t know me any better *coughs*). So...something not-so-average about me (that I like to brag about) is that I’ve never been in the hospital except when I was born (I have visited other people, but have never been admitted myself), nor have I ever had a tooth cavity.

(I told you I wasn’t interesting. Or unique. Or different.)

Ooh, but I am descent from one of the first Jewish families in America—a rather prominent family, in fact. My however-many-greats-grandfather has a Wikipedia page. Pretty proud of that fact.

And, little-ish known fact, I wanted to be a ballerina for about twelve years of my life before I finally accepted the call to be a writer!

If you could live in any type of home, anywhere in the world, where would you go and what house would you choose? (Like a treehouse in New York or something!).

I LOVE THIS QUESTION!!! I would live in a quaint but roomy cottage in a small Scottish village on the coast (or a recently restored ancient Scottish castle, but that’s a stretch *winks*)!

What is your biggest pet peeve?

Biggest? Good gosh. There are so many, all of equal peevishness. Hmm. Probably people being easily offended. I’m just so offended by how offended people are. Augh.

(I hope y’all can hear my mocking yuppie accent. It’s really the icing on the cake.)

What would you tell the you that started your blog if you could go back to that day?

Dear me from two years ago...YOU MISSED YOU TWO-YEAR BLOGOVERSARY!!!!! YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF.

No, seriously. I just realized like right this moment that I totally forgot my second blogoversary was August 1st. Wow. (In my defense, that’s also a familial birthday, so I was busy celebrating.)

Well, happy belated second birthday, Of Blades and Thorns. Y’all remind me to run a special giveaway next year, okay?

OR HEY WAIT. LET’S CELEBRATE TODAY!!! Just stick around to the end of this post for a post-anniversary celebration!!!

Anyway, for the real answer to that particular question...I’d probably tell my beginner-blogger self to keep at it and commit to it. To find my audience and create a beautiful internet haven for myself and my community. To seek God in all I do, and remember that He’s given me this platform for a reason!

(Actually, I’m pretty sure that’s what I needed to hear today...)

Is there one song out there that you think everybody should listen to?

Oh, wow. Um. Dadgum. This is tough. To be honest, I have no idea. I listen to a lot of old/obscure music that most people would turn up their noses to, and I can’t really think of any like life-changing songs I’ve heard. *shrugs* If y’all wanna cry though, Cinderella by Steven Curtis Chapman and Letters from War by Mark Shultz make me cry almost every time.

BUT WAIT. THERE IS ONE.

When we sang this song in church (the first time I’d ever heard it), it moved me so much. I just...yes. Y’all must listen to Too Good to Not Believe by Brandon Lake. (To be honest, it’s nothing like actually experiencing the song, but it’s still so good.)

If there were no limits in life for a day, what would you do first and last?

No limits? At all. I’m assuming y’all know that I take this to include time limits too. Which means one day could go on for a hundred years or more...and I could do absolutely EVERYTHING. Move to Scotland, backpack across Europe, tour the Holy Land, become queen of the world, dance in The Nutcracker, write a million books, produce and star in several film and TV series, learn how to time travel and meet Jane Austen and Henry Morgan and Grace O’Malley, become a pirate. The list goes on.

And if we’re really breaking down the limits, see revival break out and everyone on the planet gets saved. Literally my biggest dream.

Have you set yourself any challenges for the year?

Well, get certified as a small business marketing manager (one class to go, baby!) and publish Bound and Determined. That’s about it, although I may be developing some more personal/spiritual goals...we’ll see.

How many blog posts have you written so far?

I currently have 387 posts published (in two years), but I have written and deleted, written and never posted some, and written some for other blogs. So we could round it to 400 if ya wanted.

Does your blog have a niche or no?

Absolutely!!! It’s, like, insanely niche-y. (Or is it just niche?) My main focus is on young, Christian female writers and readers who love romance and history—but of course I have some older readers, some not-into-romance readers, and some fantasy writers!

Do you have any advice for helping a blogger get out of a writers rut?

I do, actually, in the form of a blog post! (Go figure.) Y’all can read that HERE, but to sum up, some of my top tips are:

look for inspiration on social media, Pinterest, other blogs, etc. write on impulse (aka, write the first thing that comes to mind and see what happens!) read old posts to reignite your love for writing start a convo with your readers (they’re great motivators)nominees + questions

Some of the most remarkable bloggers I know are (drum roll, please)…

Kristina Hall Vanessa Hall Issabelle Perry Saraina Whitney Kellyn Roth Sarah Baran Joelle Stone R.M. Archer Lillian Keith Kristianne Hassman Allyson Jamison Ryan Elizabeth Emily Charlotte Maya Joelle Joy Caroline Jenna Terese

(And these are literally just the first ones that came to mind...there are SO many other amazing bloggers I follow!)

My questions for y’all are…

Pineapple on pizza? Yea or nay? (Sorry, I had to.) What was your very first blog post about? Who is your favorite follower? (Hint: there is only one right answer: Grace.) KIDDING KIDDING. (But also not.) My REAL question is...who has been one of your biggest supporters in starting and maintaining a blog? What first prompted you to start a blog? If you could write any post about anything thing, what would it be? What’s your favorite part about being a blogger? (Probably getting to hang out with me, but you don’t have to say that. I already know how you feel. *winks*) What’s your most favorite blog post EVER (that you’ve written, of course)? What are your goals for this year? (*coughs* Kinda stealing one of Lucy’s questions here.) What’s the wackiest nickname anyone’s ever given you?

ALSO. GIVEAWAY. JUST LIKE I PROMISED!!!

One lovely US winner will receive a SIGNED print copy of my devotional (plus a matching bookmark), With Fear and Trembling...and one international winner will receive a digital copy of the devo (plus a downloadable phone wallpaper)!

All you have to do to enter is answer one of the questions below in the comments. Now, each question is worth a point (aka, your name in the proverbial hat once), BUT if you answer multiple questions, you get an extra point for each one. Make sense?

#1: What’s the wackiest nickname you have ever had?

#2 What’s your most favorite part about my blog, Of Blades and Thorns?

#3 What would you like to see more of here on le blog in the future?

May the odds be ever in your favor (and the Force be with you too, of course)! I hope y’all have enjoyed this post, and will have a lovely rest of your week! (Me? Oh, I’ll be celebrating my birthday tomorrow. Hint, hint. *winks*)

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#blogtag #blogger #aboutme #abouttheblogger #blogoversary #ofbladesandthorns #giveaway #entertowin #devotional #loveyouguys #iamashamedofmyself #butiamsothankfulforyall #yallareamazing #ithoughtiwasgonnasaysomethingbuticantrememberwhatitwas #ithinkimolderthanireallyam

Welcome to August! (July Wrapup + August Goals)

Y’all. This is literal insanity. I’m serious. Google “what is insanity” and it will say “the fact that it is already August.”

(*coughs* Joking, joking…but also not.)

I just…I cannot believe it. I feel like I have accomplished absolutely nothing in the last seven months. (Let’s see, finished BAD, started an editing business, published a devotional, got Instagram…okay, okay, I take it back.) And, naturally, August is probably gonna be the busiest month yet, since we’re (1) celebrating three birthdays in mi familia this month (one of which is mine, hint hint *winks*) and (2) dealing with a baby in a cast.

Yeahhhh, my baby brother (all right, so he’s nearly four, practically grown) fractured his leg in two places (looooong story) and will be in a cast until around the beginning of September. He can’t put any weight on it, can’t get it wet, can’t do, well, anything, so we’re doing it all for him, and it’s like he’s a little tiny baby again, which he just was. *sobs* (They grow up so darn fast.)

So, suffice to say my August plans may be pushed back to September. Like, for example, publishing Bound and Determined. I’m not setting an official release date, because I literally have no idea whatsoever when I will actually be able to publish it. *sighs* Bear with me. At least I can confirm that Tell Me You Love Me (my romance anthology) is coming soon! We’re finalizing the cover and beta edits now!

Anyway, enough about all that. On to the meat of today’s post…

what i did last month

Wanna know the truth? I watched a crap ton of TV. Correction: I watched a ton of Kickin’ It. PLEASE, someone tell me I am not the only one who is absolutely in love with this show!!! Like, the dynamics, the humor, the adorable cheesiness of it…Kick and Leolivia (the ships are the best part)…and just Jack.

(Y’all, I need help.)

(I love Jack.)

(He’s positively fabulous.)

(AND Y’ALL HIS HAIR.)

(I need a life.)

ANYWAY.

I also edited my butt off—and still have editing to do, on both mine and my clients’ projects—and am almost caught up on my beta-reading.

AND I REVEALED THE COVER FOR BOUND AND DETERMINED. So there’s that. Definitely one of the highlights of my hectic month.

(Anyone wanna guess what the other highlight is???)

this month’s goals

For this month? I’m not gonna lock myself into anything (as per usual), but I do need to finish my three different editing projects, plan the cover reveal for TMYLM, and—you guessed it—start back to school. *sobs* I dread this so much. I know it’s only one class, but y’all. I have no time anymore.

(Correction: I have time…I just only have about three hours a day I can manage.)

monthly progress

I, uh, may have written a little? I’ve started a fun short story for my Instagram stories, and I wrote a flash fiction piece for Joelle Stone’s writing prompt, but that’s about it. At least I’m still writing…

And brainstorming. A lot. I may have created three new Pinterest boards for some ideas I’ve come up with.

reading highlights

I had great visions of reading three books this month, and I honestly don’t think I read squat. *flips through her reading journal* Okay, so I literally only read one novel...and I probably wouldn’t have read it had I not been sick for several days at the beginning of July…BUT, it was exquisite!

Between Two Worlds by Cheyenne van Langevelde was, to sum up my thoughts, strong in all the areas Mark of the Lion had been weak. (And I love Mark of the Lion, so…) The prose was simplistic but vivid, the romance was subtle but sweet, the story was fast-paced but realistic. I just adored it, and I am so thankful to have had to chance to read it and absolutely cannot wait to read more by Cheyenne!

top blog posts Contest + Questionnaire Cover Reveal: Bound and Determined by Yours Truly Romance Q&A Pt. 1: Married Couples, Subtlety, & the Importance of Romancefollower updates

And this new section is basically where I can info-dump all of last month’s/this month’s goings-on! In other words…

I HAVE A SHORT STORY CONTEST! It’s nothing extravagant, of course, but it’ll keep you busy if you, for some odd reason, have a ton of time on your hands and nothing to do. Or you just wanna procrastinate all the things you have to do.

Either way, if you wanna learn more CLICK HERE, and if you’ve already written something to submit, you can do that HERE!

I also have a form in which you can submit any and all romance-related questions you have for an upcoming romance Q&A post!!! Y’all can have fun with that HERE!

Welp, that sums that up! So. What about y’all? How was y’all’s summer? Any fun vacations? Any binge-watching of old Disney Channel sitcoms??? Or was that just me? Lemme know what y’all did, read, watched, listened to—all of it—and what y’all plan to do this August in the comments below!

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#monthlyupdates #monthlyprogress #updates #readinghighlights #progressreport #shortstorycontest #submit #qanda #romance #topblogposts #goals #ilovejack

Romance Q&A Pt. 2: Cheesiness, Subplots, & Favorite Tropes

DUDE. Y'all gave me some TOUGH questions, lemme tell ya. I had to do a LOT of thinking on these, and I still don't think my answers are good enough. In some cases, I do more rambling and make very little sense (hopefully I'm clear enough); in other cases, I wasn't sure if I even knew the answer (Faith, your questions were LEGIT), so I just did the best I could; and for the rest of them, I feel like my tips/advice are a little outside-the-box, so take what I say as a supplement rather than the full-meal-deal, you know?

Anyway. Enough jibber-jabber! I hope y'all enjoy this post as much as I enjoyed wracking my brain - I MEAN, writing it!

joelle's question

Should I have romance in every story, even if it's just between side characters and not the MC?

Yes and no. Yes, you should always have examples of God-honoring romantic relationships…but, no, those don’t always have to be fleshed-out into full-on love stories.

(I kinda expound upon this in my answer to Faith’s question about minor subplot romances, but I feel like that answer made no sense, so I’ll try and be clearer…and briefer…here.)

For example, your MC may have parents who have a strong and loving marriage, or their best friend may be in a romantic relationship, or the MC may even be married, but their marriage isn’t the main focus of the story. These are examples of romance, but not a full story.

A full-story/full-plot romance isn’t going to fit in every single book, so don’t feel like you have to develop an entire relationship in every story. Just like you don’t summarize how the MC met and became friends with all of his buddies in the book, you don’t have to go through the course of every single romance–even if it does involve the MC.

That said, if it’ll fit in the story, do it! Or include seasons/stages of developing relationships–like a story of three friends, one of whom just got married, one who’s about to be engaged, and another who just met the love of their life–to spotlight certain aspects of romance.

Whatever you feel like the story needs, put in! You can always cut out characters or relationships or such during the next draft or while editing…or you may find that example or full-plot romance is perfect for your story!

faith's questions

How do you write romance without engaging your own heart? How do you write it without dreaming of yourself in that position, obsessing over it, putting yourself in your character's shoes and making it an idol, if that makes sense? Or, in other words, how do you write a love story without fantasizing it as your own?

On one hand…isn’t that the point? Aren’t truly good romances supposed to be a reflection of our own desires for a relationship in our lives, of our relationship with Christ? Aren’t they supposed to be examples of wholesome, beautiful, and honorable relationships? Aren’t you supposed to put a piece of your heart into it and write something you would want?

On the other hand, I do understand your point, Faith, and to be honest? I’m VERY guilty of dreaming about my own future love story (*coughs* I’m working on being less obsessive, more surrendered)...but one thing I never do is put myself directly into my characters’ shoes. Why? Because I put them through a lot of crap, and I personally don’t wanna be a murderer or slave or any of that, even if my heroines do end up with some pretty fabulous guys.

So, (1) surrender yourself. Trust God with your future, with your relationships, with your desire for romance and marriage (which, believe it or not, is a desire He has given you). Delight yourself in Him and His plan for you, and He’ll give you the desires of your heart. (This is still something I’m learning, especially the trust part, so don’t think I’m preaching to ya.) If you can lay that down at His feet and let Him handle it, you’ll be less inclined to obsess over it.

That said, there’s nothing wrong with making up stories or daydreaming about some things, as long as it’s fun and games and it doesn’t affect you, your heart posture, or your actions. Make sense?

(2) Don’t make characters you’d wanna trade places with. I’m only half serious, but if you really struggle with wanting to be your character and have the love story they have, just give them a fatal flaw or traumatic backstory. Or consider the flaws and traumas they already have rather than sugarcoating their story, you know? OR, again, focus on letting God write your love story rather than expecting something you come up with.

On that note, remember: it’s your character’s story. Not yours. You’re not a Regency belle or female pirate or prima ballerina–you’re you, and you will have your own unique, meaningful, and absolutely beautiful love story! (Which could lead me down a rabbit hole of reasons why you might fantasize over romances, but I’ll spare you the psychological evaluation. Unless you’re really interested, of course…)

(3) Put a positive spin on it. Use that as a chance to do some serious self-examination, to strengthen your convictions, to determine your standards for yourself and your potential future spouse. Look at it as an example–would you be dishonest like your hero? Or would you be open and truthful when you’re in a relationship? Would you refuse to communicate like your heroine? Or would you be calm and rational and work through problems together with your partner one day?

The list goes on…but there are a lot of ways that fictional relationships can have a positive impact on us as writers and readers, and help us prepare for relationships and strengthen our convictions and standards!

On a similar note, what boundaries do you set for yourself/suggest setting for yourself emotionally when you write romance? Are there any good verses or passages you turn to that deal with this?

Hmm. Emotional boundaries. Naturally, what I said above applies–I don’t put myself in my character’s shoes (or create a character who’s basically me…tried that and failed miserably…multiple times) or imagine their love story as mine. But beyond that, I haven’t ever really thought about this. I guess because I get so emotionally attached to every aspect of my stories anyway…

But in the same vein of my previous answer, if you struggle with getting way too attached to your romance, try not to put a great deal of yourself into them. Find a balance between putting in your heart…and putting in your soul. Yes, write a story that means something to you and speaks to you, and pour a little of yourself into every character and every relationship (because that’s gonna happen anyway; welcome to the life of a writer *winks*)...but don’t lose yourself in it. Don’t write it to satisfy you in some way or to take the place of what God has for you.

Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Isaiah 55:8-9 says “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” And Proverbs 16:9 says “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”

God’s plan for your life, His love story for you, isn’t going to be exactly what you imagine or what you desire. It’s going to be better. It’s going to be God-ordained, God-orchestrated, and blessed by Him–and that’s more amazing and desirable than anything we could ever conjure up!

So, do what David says in Psalm 37:4, and “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). Keep your focus on Him in all you do or desire…and dedicate everything you write to Him, because His amazing plan applies to your stories too, and He has a purpose and a destiny for them as well!

Just remember that it’s your character’s story (and God’s story, foremost), not yours. It’s their romance, not yours. And even though it should be structurally like the kind of relationship you want (i.e., loving, respectful, pure, etc.), it shouldn’t be exactly the same. God can and will use what you write to uplift you, strengthen you, and bless you–but He won’t use it to satisfy you or fix you or any of that. Only HE can do those things.

Anyway, I hope that answers your question, Faith! Of course, praying is one, if not THE, most important thing you can do as you write, so always pray for wisdom, guidance, and peace!

How do you write a female MC in a romance where the woman is proactive in the story ('cause a story is kinda boring if the MC reacts the entire time) but the man leads the relationship?

Ooh, this is a tough one. First of all, it all depends on your characters. If you have a heroine who’s quiet, timid, and non-confrontational (or downright fearful or anxious), chances are she’ll never be noticeably proactive in the relationship; but if you have a heroine who’s dominant, stubborn, and strong-willed, she could easily take all of it over. And, of course, do you have dual POVs (hero and heroine), or just one? Who is really the main focus of the story? Is the hero more of a beta or alpha male? Is it a character-driven story or a plot-driven one? Is the romance a subplot or a main plot? If it’s the main, do you have other subplots?

All of this–and much more–contribute to how your heroine is going to act within the relationship and the story as a whole, which means I could be here all day trying to answer this question.

BUT, instead, I’ll just dive straight into how I have written stories like the one you describe–because that’s pretty much all my romances thus far.

(I’m gonna write this next bit like mini case studies/story examinations, so there’ll be a lot of information AND spoilers.)

Rina & Xavier: Rina is naturally a more domineering heroine, while Xavier is an in-the-middle male (neither alpha nor beta, just a mix of both). Rina and her arc are also the main focus of the story, while Xavier–though he does have a POV–is more of a sidekick, so to speak.

However, Xavier falls in love with Rina first, opens her up to the idea of a relationship to begin with, initiates most of the kisses, and leads her in other areas (i.e., spiritually, physically, and emotionally).

Crimson & Elliot: Crimson and Elliot are like twins, personality-wise, and neither are interested in relationships…but Crimson kickstarts theirs after an accidental kiss and continues to open Elliot up to love and forgiveness by worming her way into his life. Both of their arcs and POVs are equal in the story.

That said, Elliot is the one to admit his feelings first and propose. He’s also first to get saved and work through his problems (basically, his arc is completed before Crimson’s), so he acts as a guide for her throughout the rest of the story.

Daisy & Keaton: Keaton is a serious alpha male with anger issues and problems all around…but Daisy is the experienced and pushy one, who initiates a lot between them and basically shoves Keaton into a relationship he’s not ready for.

But, Keaton is the one who makes the final decisions, and Daisy submits (which, trust me, is a very good thing in their case), and Keaton’s influence in Daisy’s life is what helps her overcome her past.

(Dude, I just summed up a LOT in just a few hundred words. Wow.)

Have you noticed anything in these three examples? Even if my heroines are more proactive in the story than the heroes or go so far as to initiate the relationship and pursue the man…the outcome of the relationship rests on the hero. AND, the main aspect, the hero is the one who serves a purpose in the heroine’s life. Yes, Crimson helps Elliot and Daisy helps Keaton–a great deal, because Lord knows them boys needed it–but, in the end, the girls’ arcs are the last to be resolved, and it’s only with the guys’ guidance and love. (And God’s, of course, but He uses them. *winks*)

Basically, the hero fills a hole. The hero steps up. The hero puts in the effort. The hero is the cause of the most change.

Yes, the story is focused on the heroine, but it’s the hero who’s the focus of the relationship. Make sense?

So, case in point, to make the hero lead the relationship while the heroine leads the story, make sure your focus is placed accordingly. Have the hero’s arc concluded first (or maybe he doesn’t have an arc at all…but I don’t typically recommend this unless the hero is just a love interest and not, well, a hero). Have the hero make the most change in the heroine’s life (in conjunction with God, of course). Have the hero initiate the relationship or at least make the big decisions. Have the hero do the pursuing.

And leave the story–like major plot twists/decisions and deep character development and simply more page time–to the heroine!

Hopefully that makes sense. If you need more details, I recommend reading the romances in question! (Yes, it’s self-plug time!)

Is it possible to make romance a minor subplot and still make it edifying and God-glorifying? Do you have any tips on how to do that?

Oh, absolutely! And I’d venture to say it’s easier than writing a full-plot romance that’s edifying and God-glorifying!

Let me explain. Look back at those examples in my last answer. In just a few words, I summed up my characters and their relationships in a way that was brief, concise, easy to understand, and–most important–drove my point home. However, if you read the entire novels (from 75k to 200k words long, by the way), you probably wouldn’t really get the same point. There would be so many other aspects, so much conflict and emotion and intensity and struggles and trauma and just stuff, that convoluted the story and made the basic thread harder to find. Like a needle in a haystack, y’know?

So, when you’re working with a subplot, think of it like a summary (like the ones above). You get to bypass all the extra stuff, all the back and forth, all the nonsense, and just zero in on the purpose of the relationship. Maybe that’s to be an example to the main characters, or to inspire the heroine, or (if it’s between the MC and their love interest) help them throughout the course of the story. And, in the end, the reader can gain a clearer message from that relationship than they could a messy, 800-page long romance.

How does that make it more edifying/glorifying? Well, same thing: the message is clearer. Even if it’s “subtle” or “short and sweet,” it’s still going to be easier for the reader to find, because they won’t be digging through the haystack for it.

For example (again), in Bound and Determined, Keaton and Daisy put out so many mixed messages for the readers throughout their relationship. One minute, they’re doing things right. The next, they’re making big mistakes. Even though I have solid themes and messages, and the ending will make it clear to the reader how they should have gone about a relationship, this full-plot (well, somewhat full-plot) romance isn’t meant to be an example. It’s simply meant to be a story, and as such, it’s a realistic, dramatic mess.

However, if they were a subplot romance, I could’ve forgone a lot of the bumps in their relationship and created one that was simpler, cleaner, and more poignant.

I digress.

Your subplot romance won’t have the fleshed-out aspects of a full-plot romance; therefore, you’ll be able to focus on the main message/purpose of it, which could be to follow God’s will, obey His commands, wait for marriage, etc. The subplot romance will serve as more of an example, whether that’s directly to the readers or to the main characters. Therefore, as long as you have a message/purpose behind the romance, you’ll be able to glorify the Lord with it!

So, in summary (because I just wrote a haystack to get to my needle here):

Give your romance a purpose and a message. Think of it as an example rather than the whole story. Focus on the meaningful elements rather than backstory or unnecessary moments. Don’t force too much into it (i.e., conflict, romantic elements, development); just keep it subtle and to-the-point.

Maybe that’ll make sense. Who knows. *shrugs*

lillian's questions

What first inspired you to write in the romance genre? (i.e book, author, etc).

The year was…shoot. I can’t remember the year. But I was about ten or eleven, and it was The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson. My first foray out of middle-grade allegorical fantasy and apocalyptic fiction (yes, I used to read a ton of that, believe it or not) and into YA medieval romance.

After reading The Golden Braid, I devoured the rest of Melanie Dickerson’s books, and began scouring the shelves and Christian Book magazine for similar-looking/sounding titles. I soon found The Baron’s Daughter by Lynn Morris, and from then on, I became an avid reader of Christian romance–specifically historical romance.

It didn’t take long for me to want to create my own stories–and of course, they had to be historical romance! At the time, I was into fashion design, so instead of writing outlines, I would design my heroine and write a few details about her/her story off to the side! For the most part, those early stories stayed entirely in my head, and it wasn’t until several months down the road that I actually began writing them. I just couldn’t wait!

Any favorite romantic tropes? Least favorite?

Favorite trope? Easy. Enemies-to-lovers. I can’t live without it; it’s in almost every book I write (in a subtle way, don’t worry), and all my favorites have at least a touch of it! The conflict, the grittiness, the rawness of it is just so intense and gripping and beautiful and I love it, okay? Make it an enemies-to-lovers marriage of convenience (or arrangement), and you’ll have me hooked on the blurb.

A well-done friends-to-lovers or love triangle is always good too, and honestly I enjoy any trope, as long as it’s authentic and uniquely written. Tropes go downhill fast when writers use them to dictate their characters and plot, rather than the other way around.

But if I had to pick some that I’m typically not a fan of…forbidden love (you rarely see it in clean/Christian fiction, so you never see it in a wholesome light); secret identity/lots-of-lying (*coughs* y’all know my thoughts on this one…usually not the best, although there are one or two that I enjoyed anyway); and second chance (it just bores me, but A Heart Adrift by Laura Frantz actually kept my attention).

The thing about tropes, though, is that 100 novels may have the same trope and every single one of them stinks…but then one comes along and blows them all out of the water. Or vice versa. It really all depends on the author and how they handle the trope!

What's the biggest challenge (in your opinion) in writing romance? Easiest thing?

Wow. We’re getting deep into it, aren’t we? *chuckles* To be honest, I overthink everything except my romances, so it’s hard for me to pinpoint exact things like this, even in hindsight.

Perhaps the biggest challenge is less about writing it and more with having written it. I know that makes no sense, so hang on. For the most part, it’s pretty fun and easy for me to write the romance, but putting it out there for others to read once I’ve written it is hard. There are a lot of people out there who just despise romance or simply don’t understand it, so dealing with readers like that is a huge challenge. I totally respect their opinions, but in some cases, it’s kind of like…why did you bother? If romance is your least favorite thing on the planet, why are you reading a romance?

TO THOSE OF Y’ALL WHO DON’T LIKE IT BUT DON’T COMPLAIN (*looks at Kristina*), GOD BLESS YOU. It means the world to me to have readers who enjoy my books regardless of what they don’t like or agree with, who see my stories for what they are and understand my heart behind what I write! Thank y’all for being so lovely and supportive and not complaining about the romance! Hugs all around!

So I guess that’s the biggest challenge: putting up with readers who dis romance and with misconceptions about romance, and just having the courage to put my love stories out there to begin with and to continue writing them! Because I know they honor and glorify the Lord (at least, that’s my intention), and I know that’s what I’ve been called to write, and so I persevere…and I hope y’all will too! *passes out more hugs*

As for the easiest thing…getting excited about it, mainly! It is SO easy (and, again, fun) for me to just be excited and inspired about my romances, to ship my characters and fangirl over my heroes, to bring them together over the course of the story.

If you could break down writing romance into specific steps, I could probably give you a better answer, but there you have it. Romance is written differently from author to author, story to story, and there’s really no way to boil it down to an easy thing and a hard thing. For example, it was insanely easy to write the character interactions between Keaton and Daisy…but not Rina and Xavier (obviously, since I cringe reading them). But, the more romance you read, the easier it gets all around to create shippable couples, write character interactions, be realistic and yet creative, and put your stories out there for others to read, despite what they may think about them!

blakeney's questions

How do you write a romance without being cheesy?

I LOVE this question! It’s actually what prompted my post about romance being a relationship and not a genre (y’all can read that ,HERE), and one of my main points is repetitiveness. What makes most romance books/movies feel cheesy, cliche, and stilted or unrealistic is simply repeating certain elements, tropes, etc., over and over again.

I ranted in my last Q&A post about Hallmark movies and character dynamics, so I won’t repeat that *winks*, but Hallmark is a great example of how repetition fails. Repeating tropes, settings, character archetypes, and more throughout your romance stories makes each one fall flat, because you’ve already done something similar.

That’s a basic concept (even though Hallmark doesn’t understand it)...but on a deeper level, this applies to an individual novel. Repeating scenes, actions, and conversations in any kind of book will quickly make it seem boring, lifeless, and cheesy. Like a bad sitcom that constantly reuses the same dumb joke.

So, instead of having five scenes of the characters eating breakfast or three side characters that die…or, in the case of a romance, three scenes of your hero and heroine dancing, five arguments about the same issue, six kiss scenes, and twelve “I love yous,” limit it to one or two really meaningful scenes. Have one tear-jerking declaration of love, three kisses that each serve their own purpose, and one beautiful date night or dance or moonlit stroll scene. And rather than five separate arguments, lengthen one fight and make it last a couple chapters–the more realistic conflict and drama, the better, am I right?

And, of course, the no-duh answer…be realistic! Don’t rely on Hallmark to teach you about romance. Read classics, talk to people you know in relationships, observe those in your life, and learn from trustworthy sources. Naturally, your romance shouldn’t mirror anyone else’s (even someone in real life), because your characters are totally unique…but using reality as a reference will always enhance the authenticity of your romance!

For example, if you’re writing a contemporary romance, don’t resort to love poems, flowery speeches, and grand romantic gestures. Most people these days would choose a box of chocolates over mushy poetry to show their love (note: most…this is entirely dependent on your characters, of course). If you’re writing a historical romance, don’t include a bunch of kiss scenes and flirting; go with the poetry and speeches and long walks and witty repartee. And if you’re going with a subplot or weaving a romance into a mystery/suspense, don’t force romance where it shouldn’t go–like a kiss or “I love you” after someone dies–and instead focus on bringing the characters together through their experiences and struggles.

I could go on, because there are many reasons why a romance may seem cheesy (especially if you’re the one writing it; sometimes we writers doubt how good our work really is!), but this should be enough to keep you from falling for any of the classic blunders. *winks* (If you caught that reference, please lemme know!)

How do you make it flow well?

This is honestly a hard question for me to answer, probably because the last thing I think about while writing is flow/pacing (except for the first few chapters). Not in a negative way, just that I get swept away in the story and don’t really pause to think about that until I’m finished. Plus, I overwrite, so it’s no big deal if I have to cut or trim a scene or two to make the story flow smoother.

So lemme boil it down to two points…

Number 1: be intentional. Even though I probably do write too much and my books may be too long (Bound and Determined is over 200k words, after all), I could walk you through (almost) every individual scene. I could give you the order of them, what occurs in them, and why they matter to the story. Not because I have a strict outline that tells me all that from the get-go, but because I’m intentional. I have a lot of “fluff” scenes, yes, but they all serve a purpose in characterization, drawing out suspense, reinforcing my themes, or explaining certain things–I never just write a scene for the heck of it. There’s always a purpose.

When you can be intentional about what you include in your story and how you write it, giving each scene a purpose, you can eliminate that cheesy repetitiveness we talked about and have a romance that flows naturally and smoothly. Now, this can happen in the plotting/outlining stage, the first draft, or when you edit–whatever works best for you, as long as you’re focused on making sure each scene/chapter contributes something to the story.

And guess what…not every contribution has to be geared to the romance, which brings me to my second point.

Number 2: be flexible. Have a scene where the hero bonds with the heroine’s younger brother or the heroine has a talk with her mom. Have a chapter that focuses on the plan to storm the castle or escape the evil prince. Take a break from the romance to focus on the storyline/plot or on character development–because, in the end, you’ll end up making the romance even stronger!

For example, I have about 128 scenes (rough estimate here, folks) in Bound and Determined. And literally only 10 of those are moments where the hero and heroine are alone together (in an appropriate way, that is). The rest of the time, they’re interacting in a casual way around other people, or they’re alone with their thoughts, or the scene is in another character’s POV, or they’re simply focused on *coughs* breaking certain people out of jail *coughs*. And I have read countless romances where the hero and heroine don’t really interact heavily with each other very often (Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion, anyone?)...yet the romance is so smooth and lovely and realistic.

As crazy as it it, cutting back on the moments between the hero and heroine (goodbye, repetition) and allowing them to develop relationships with other characters, explore their own character, and become a part of the overarching plot makes them and their relationship stronger and more realistic–plus, it’ll keep the romance from moving too fast!

And being intentional and making each moment count keeps it from seeming stilted even when you shift your focus!

Maybe that made sense…I may have to muster up some recommendations that fit these points!

And, as always, it never fails to (1) not overthink it, (2) use reality as a reference, and (3) let your characters lead the way! *winks*

How do you mix the romance aspects with other parts of the story?

I feel like I just answered this in the question above…being, yes, being intentional about your scenes and being flexible in what you include is KEY to seamlessly combining romance and other plot lines. But, again, to pull from Bound and Determined, it helps SO MUCH to simply make the romance part of those “other parts.”

For example (sorry about all the examples; it’s just so much easier for me to explain things this way), in BAD, Keaton and Daisy would never even meet each other (*coughs* again) if it weren’t for the main plot point: Daisy going in search of her younger sister. Keaton and Daisy wouldn’t interact with each other if it weren’t for their shared childhood, and Rina wouldn’t help Daisy if it weren’t for her connection to Keaton, and Rina wouldn’t end up in trouble if she’d never tried to find Daisy’s sister.

Make sense? (Probably not, but just roll with it.) Already, the entire plot of the book is dependent upon the romance, and vice versa. They’re not one and the same, because the plot isn’t the romance, but they are completely intertwined.

So start there. Think about who your characters are, how they know each other, and why they’re together, and base your plot on that. Or base your characters on the plot–either one. That just depends on if you’re a character-driven writer (like me) or a plot-driven writer!

As you continue writing and journey into the middle of your story, keep weaving each side of the story (the romance side and the non-romance side(s)) together. Maybe half of the characters’ bonding takes place while they’re training to fight the enemy. Or the turning point in their relationship is when one of them switches sides. Or they truly begin to fall for each other because of how they treat others, interact with certain characters, or react to specific situations.

And this applies to the thematic aspects or character arcs in your story. Themes of forgiveness can be tied to issues in their relationship; the gamophobic hero learns to trust and commit because of the heroine; or the heroine learns to let others in when she allows the hero to help her. The list goes on.

Establishing these sorts of connections is a very important part of the outlining/plotting and drafting stages of writing, so make sure you get an early start on this, and you’ll find all the pieces of your story falling into place!

m.c. kennedy's questions

What are your favorite/least favorite romance tropes and why?

(This is the same answer to Lillian’s question…)

Favorite trope? Easy. Enemies-to-lovers. I can’t live without it; it’s in almost every book I write (in a subtle way, don’t worry), and all my favorites have at least a touch of it! The conflict, the grittiness, the rawness of it is just so intense and gripping and beautiful and I love it, okay? Make it an enemies-to-lovers marriage of convenience (or arrangement), and you’ll have me hooked on the blurb.

A well-done friends-to-lovers or love triangle are always good too, and honestly I enjoy any trope, as long as it’s authentic and uniquely written. Tropes go downhill fast when writers use them to dictate their characters and plot, rather than the other way around.

But if I had to pick some that I’m typically not a fan of…forbidden love (you rarely see it in clean/Christian fiction, so you never see it in a wholesome light); secret identity/lots-of-lying (*coughs* y’all know my thoughts on this one…usually not the best, although there are one or two that I enjoyed anyway); and second chance (it just bores me, but A Heart Adrift by Laura Frantz actually kept my attention).

The thing about tropes, though, is that 100 novels may have the same trope and every single one of them stinks…but then one comes along and blows them all out of the water. Or vice versa. It really all depends on the author and how they handle the trope!

Do you prefer romances that span multiple books or condensed into a single novel?

Ah, that depends. If you have enough character development/arc and plot to keep the story going, then YES! I LOVE long, slow-burn, continuous romances! But some stories are simply better as a single novel, in which case I’m satisfied with that! I really don’t have a preference, I suppose.

Who’s your favorite fictional couple? (Top 3 is acceptable. ;-))

(Going with book couples here, because movies/TV shows are a whole other story…) Probably Charity and Mitch from A Passion Redeemed by Julie Lessman…El and Ky from Unblemished by Sara Ella…and Ella and Jack from A Midnight Dance by Joanna Davidson Politano… And maybe Scarlett and Rhett from Gone with the Wind, for good measure. To be honest, I usually play favorites with the hero and heroine, and I rarely ever like the heroines, so finding a couple I really, truly love (and not just a hero I adore) is pretty rare.

Have you ever read a story in which the love interests decided to permanently part ways at the end?

Only one…*sniffs* Gone with the Wind. *sobs* Perhaps their parting was not permanent, but it certainly felt that way. *continues sobbing*

Otherwise, I don’t think so. I love happily-ever-afters too much to willingly read something so tragic. *sniffles*

Maybe that all made sense and was helpful...lemme know what y'all thought in the comments! And if you have anymore questions, feel free to drop 'em below OR submit them to the Q&A form HERE!

Missed my last post? No problem! Here she is!

What about you? Who's your favorite fictional couple? Have you ever read a book with a not-so-happy ending?

yours in spirit and script, Grace

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