Grace A. Johnson's Blog: Of Blades & Thorns, page 28

Why I Became an Indie Author (Indie Author Week)

Interestingly enough, I think I’ve been asked why I self-published more so than I’ve been asked about indie authors in general...so maybe this should have been my first post. *shrugs* Either way, buckle up, because I have quite the tale to tell!

Actually, I’m going to keep it short, because I’m supposed to be writing Bound and Determined right now…

From a surface level, I became an indie author (in other words, I self-published my books) because there weren’t really any other options. As a thirteen-year-old girl with a raw, unpolished manuscript who didn’t know jack-diddly-squat about the publishing industry except that I’d have to sign a contract, what was I supposed to do? My first attempt at a proposal was absolutely horrendous, and there were virtually no publishers in my genre who accepted unsolicited queries. Scratch that. If you’ve read one of my books, then you know that there are virtually no publishers in my genre period.

So when my aunt suggested publishing through Amazon, I set aside my dreams of traditional publishing and began researching Kindle Direct Publishing.

(Let it be noted that my idea of research is watching one video and reading 300 words, deeming that sufficient, then immediately jumping right into the trial-and-error stage of exploration and discovery.)

A week later, what was I doing? Uploading my manuscript and clicking Publish.

Now, that might not seem like much of a publishing journey, but at the heart, I was more than an impatient and clueless child who went after the first thing that came her way. Nay, I strove for freedom and independence, for ease of operation and simplicity, for uniqueness and creativity.

I didn’t want to sign a contract. I didn’t want to abide by the rules of the publisher, who dictated how many books I could write in a series, how and where and when my books would be sold, what I could do with my books. I didn’t want to be without control or authority. I didn’t want to be told what I could or couldn’t write, or to feel forced to write for an editor, agent, publisher, or market.

I didn’t want to wait. I didn’t want to wait until I’d completed Novel #84 before an agent ever took an interest or a publisher ever accepted it. I didn’t want to wait on responses and rejections. I didn’t want to let my book—no matter how bad it was—to sit on a shelf (figuratively speaking, of course, as it was technically on my computer’s hard drive at the time) for thirty years.

No, I wanted to be myself. To be in control. To have the final say over what happens to my creative endeavors and intellectual property. To work by my own deadlines and at my own pace. To publish what I wanted, unpublish what I wanted, and rewrite what I wanted. I wanted to put a story out into the world that I believe is Holy Spirit-inspired and God-breathed (the typos I will take credit for).

That is why I became an indie author.

What about you? Why did you become an indie author? Why did you not? Why are you considering becoming one? Do you want to know more about the process? If so, you’re in luck! Wednesday’s post is all about becoming an indie author!

#nationalindieauthorday #aboutme #selfpublishing #indieauthors #indie #indiepublishing

Bookishly Yours, Grace

What is an Indie Author? (Indie Author Week)

Today is a very special day, my friends. Why? Because today begins a week-long celebration of indie authors...all in honor of National Indie Author Day on the 13th of this month! I am super excited for all the amazing posts coming every day this week, as well as the author spotlights I’m doing on Facebook! I hope y’all will join me in learning more about indie authors, what they are, who some of my favorites are, why I became one, and how you can become one too!

My introductory post is, of course, an answer to the question…what is an indie author?

That is a very good question. To be technical (and rather obvious), an indie author is an author who is published independently of a traditional publishing company. An indie author could be indie-published (meaning they’re published by a press that is independent of a company...like Enclave or Whitefire, for example) OR they can be self-published, which means they published their book themselves (typically through a print-on-demand service or e-distributor such as Kindle Direct Publishing, IngramSpark, or Draft2Digital).

But who really cares about technicalities, am I right?

In truth and at heart, an indie author is driven by love for writing and love for readers. An indie author strives for quality but also for beauty. An indie author isn’t concerned with marketability or profit (although profit never goes unwanted), but rather with telling the stories on their heart. An indie author is pure and raw, edited some but not edited out. An indie author shows their heart, not the cliché content algorithms revolve around. An indie author is a reader before they are a writer, focusing on what makes a good book rather than a good hook to create an unforgettable (in a positive way) experience for the reader. An indie author is part of an eclectic community of other indie authors from all walks of life, who work in harmony and support each other. An indie author is everything, from the editor to the designer to the marketer to the customer service rep. An indie author is independent of all the trappings of publishing politics.

An indie author is more than a name on a cover.

What about you? What do you believe defines an indie author? How do you view indie authors?

#nationalindieauthorday #indieauthorweek #indieauthors #authors

Bookishly Yours, Grace

Welcome to November!

Here we are, y’all. The second to last month of the year. November. Boy, has time flown. Just think—last November, I was blogging about and the flat-earth theory and the election. I also released an updated version of my Christmas novella, The Gift of Her Heart, and was still working on Bound and Determined. This November? Well, I probably won’t get that much done, but I do have one really big goal for this month…

But before we get into that, allow me to announce the winner of my first ever paperback giveaway of Prisoner at Heart…

Em Seaver!!!

Congratulations, girl! Thank you so much for entering the giveaway! You should see your prize in your mailbox in a couple weeks!

For all of y’all who didn’t win...thank you for entering, subscribing, following me, and sharing about the giveaway! As newsletter subscribers, y’all will have the chance to win many other prizes in the future, so y’all keep an eye on your inbox!

Now, why don’t we get into wrapping up October and setting some goals for November?

What I Did Last Month

Surprisingly, I think I did quite well on October’s goals, even if I feel unaccomplished.

First and foremost was school. I made a 95 on both finals, if I remember correctly, and so far my third and final class has been a breeze. So we can check that off the list! Secondly? Well, I set some pretty lofty goals for Bound and Determined. Right then, not that lofty, as I was aiming for only 12k—or four chapters. I wrote one chapter and the start of another...not quite what I was hoping for, but November promises lots of progress. Thirdly, I wanted to write and submit a short story to Kads’ writing prompt contest. You’ll find the winning entry here...and you’ll also remember that I never did include the link to the contest in October’s post, which I had intended to do, but alas. Such is the way of life. Lastly, I participated in Erika Mathews’s and R. M. Peterson’s Write for Life blog tour in honor of Respect Life Month and the release of Erika’s latest novel, Sustainer’s Smile, and Ryana’s novel To Save a Life last Friday. I wrote a post thanking y’all for being prolife, a spotlight for Sustainer’s Smile, a spotlight for To Save a Life, AND a review of To Save a Life as well! I also featured Erika Mathews’ in an interview and a guest post on my blog for Christian writers, Book Nations!

This Month’s Goals

I literally only have one goal this month. Now, there are things I want to do, no doubt about that. I want to write an article for Book Nations...about...something. I have no idea yet. I want to post once a day this week in honor of National Indie Author Day on Saturday. I want to review at least three books. I want to submit articles to the Dragon Slayer contest. I want to survive school. I want to celebrate Thanksgiving. I want...yeah, a lot. BUT. I’m not going to force myself to do any of these things, because y’all know what my main goal, above all else, is?

21,000 words in Bound and Determined.

Technically, if I could write more like 42k, that would be INSANELY AMAZING. Because then I’d be finished. For the most part. But I am definitely not pushing myself to do that. I’m simply using November—and Write in Faith Camp—as my month of progression. If I can write 21k this month, I can write 21k next month, and I can have BAD finished (for the most part) by the end of this year.

My fingers are crossed, people. And, for that matter, so are my toes.

Because I’m striving for this goal, I am unofficially going on hiatus for the month. Now, I do have a series of blog posts planned for one week, along with a corresponding series of Facebook posts, but that’s all I’m pushing myself to do blog-wise. Otherwise, y’all may not see me liking your blog posts or responding to your emails in a timely manner. I mean, I will get to it...just not immediately.

Monthly Progress

I briefly mentioned above that I wrote a chapter and a piece last month...which amounts to a total of 3,500 words. I know, I know. Soooo much, am I right? Not.

But, y’know what? Could’ve been worse! I’ve been on this one-chapter-a-month thing since...April, really. I mean, last November, I wrote five chapters in a month, which is about 20k. Surely, if I could do it then, I can do it now… Really, my issue is that I don’t write every night. I used to write every night, even if only a hundred words or so. But recently? I’ve been doing blog posts, book reviews, chatting with friends instead of actually writing. Like tonight, for instance, I am writing this post instead of writing Bound and Determined…

But it’s worth it. When else would I be able to complain about how little progress I’m making?

Ah, to be honest? I think it’s less about progress and procrastination and more about timing. I’m waiting for the opportune moment to finish this...because I think God has an opportune moment for it to be released.

Reading Highlights

An Uncommon Woman by Laura Frantz. Anything by Laura Frantz is absolutely GOLD, and this novel was no different! To Save a Life by R. M. Peterson. This book is so bittersweet and beautiful...so powerful. It’s a must-read for everyone! (You can read my full review here!) Imagine by the Teen Writers Nook family. Well, apart from my short story, this anthology was FABULOUS. I am utterly amazed and overwhelmed by the amount of God-given talent these young writers possess! What a blessing they are! Fairest Son by H. S. J. Williams. Oh my gosh, y’all. There is a reason why I don’t read fantasy. Because I simply love it too much. Especially beautiful, romantic allegorical fantasy that just heaps poetic prose and lovely symbolism on top of amazing characters and an intriguing plot. Yep, that was Fairest Son. Man, what a book.

Top Blog Posts

Know the Novel Part 1: Introduction Faith-Filled Romance: A Writer’s Guide to Christian Romance Thank You for Taking a Stand Giveaway!

We had a busy month in October, my hearties, and a right consuming one up ahead! What are y'all's plan for November? Any of y'all participating in NaNo or a writing camp? What's on your TBR for this month? Have you read any of the books I mentioned above? Better question: to pumpkin spice or not to pumpkin spice? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

#updates #monthlyupdates #goals #wrapup #reading #favoritebooks #popularposts #badnews

Bookishly Yours,Grace

Review: To Save a Life by R. M. Peterson

Y’all, oh y’all, oh y’all. This was one of those. One of those books that is more than words. One of those books that weaves a story so real and bittersweet that suddenly typos don’t even catch your eye. One of those books that leaves you staring at the ceiling for the rest of the night. One of those books that simply rips your heart to shreds.

Ryana warned me going into the book with an author’s note in the front...this is not a book for enjoyment or entertainment. This is a call to action.

She was right. (Well, of course she was. She wrote it, after all. She would know.)

But before I get into the powerful message of To Save a Life, I want to talk a little bit about the book as a “book.”

I read an unedited review copy, so there were a few typos and errors in the copy I read...that said, I was surprised by how few there actually were, so there’s no doubt that the finished product is very high quality. Peterson’s prose itself was very strong and clear; there wasn’t much unique or outstanding about it, which would typically be a disappointment in most reads. However, I think the simplistic of her writing style enabled me to better focus on the story and message rather than fawning over poetic strings of words, you know?

The plot was nuanced, well-developed, and smoothly paced, which I appreciated, showcasing several different perspectives and storylines without cluttering the story. The fact that she didn’t come at abortion from one solid point of view, but instead showed many different sides, cases, and arguments gave the story a full, well-rounded quality that really made her message that much stronger.

Speaking of the message, everything was done and told with love in this book. Unlike what most people assume when they think of pro-lifers or Christians, Peterson delicately, knowledgeably, and tenderly depicted certain scenarios in which women seek abortion, not in a way that dismissed or disrespected them, but in a way that was full of love and truth. Was I surprised? Not at all, because this is how true Christians behave, despite what the media and Hollywood would have you think.

On that topic, Peterson’s characters were all so beautiful! I adored Roman and Stephani, who were so sweet and loving! Their characters and backstories were well-developed and strong, even though I personally think that Roman acted way older than twenty-two. I had him pegged at thirty or so.

As for Amber and Chad, I think they were a perfect example of parents seeking abortion. We often think of people so misguided as cruel, extremely leftist, or even ignorant. While that may be true in some cases, the typical abortionist is actually as kind and considerate as the next person and may even come from a more conservative household. Not all of them are prostitutes and feminists. In fact, some are married women who just don’t want another child. (Trust me, I’ve read my fair share of true stories…)

Hence why Amber and Chad, your average joes leading average lives, really embody that struggle so well. Then Joanna, on the other end of the spectrum, you could say, adds another layer of depth to the message Peterson portrays, showing that not everyone seeking abortion comes from the same walk of life...and that not everyone who chooses life will choose it again or be sold out for life in general.

Which is another theme I think Peterson weaved into this story—regardless of what happens, we as Christians and pro-lifers should do whatever we can to encourage and care for those who seek abortions. Even if they don’t choose life right then and there, we’ve planted a seed in their hearts that won’t easily be removed.

And, of course, there was Cammie. (Y’all, I couldn’t help but think of my aunt Cami, who used to be a Carter, whenever I read her name. Let it be noted that my aunt Cami is nothing like Cammie Carter Tate.)

Instead of creating a heartless witch with no motivation but to destroy the world...Peterson gave us Cammie. In all her brokenness, tenderness, and misguided desire to help women, Cammie was both the villain and the victim, and her story is one I can’t wait to read! Admittedly, I struggled a lot in the first few chapters with Cammie’s views and the lies she believed, because it hurt my heart so much knowing that so many other people see things the exact same way...but after a while I toughened up. You have to be tough to read this novel; it is not for the faint of heart, my dears.

All in all, To Save a Life is an exemplary novel. R. M. Peterson gave us the most powerful pro-life fiction story I’ve ever heard of, let alone read. I couldn’t have said it better myself, to be honest. This is a novel that all Christians need to read, one that all pro-life supporters need to read, one that all those on-the-fencers need to read, and one that all pro-choice individuals need to read, if only for a glimpse into how we see things.

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About the Author

Everyone has a Heritage. Something that makes them who they are. Your family history determines a lot of that for you. Mine is simple: I am a Christian. I am an American. I am from the South. And I am an Author. I will leave that legacy behind one day.

Here at Life of Heritage, my goal is to share my Heritage with others. To make an eternal difference in future generations with compassion. I hope that as you look through my blog posts, my books and my pictures, that you may be inspired to share your heritage with others! But most importantly, I hope that everything I do here will bring Glory and Honor to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

You can connect with R. M. Peterson at her website LifeofHeritage.com!

#bookreview #review #prolife #WriteforLife #blogtour #Christianfiction #contemporaryfiction #prolifenovel #comingsoon

Bookishly Yours, Grace

Review: The House That Didn't End by E. K. Seaver

Y’all are probably tired of me talking about this novella, since we’ve been through an author interview, cover reveal, and probably three other posts about it...but out of all of the jabber going around about The House That Didn’t End, I have yet to review it. Until today!

I actually had the pleasure of unofficially beta-reading it (back when it was a serial on E. K. Seaver’s website), and later edited it not long before it was published. I finally got around to reading the final version, so now it’s time to share just what I think about this unique fantasy novella!

Let’s start with the technicalities (as per usual)... Novellas are typically one of literature’s worst innovations. I’ve read enough poor, underdeveloped, and uninteresting ones to know. That said, Seaver manages to avoid falling for any of the classic blunders (did you catch the reference?) by giving us a story that is fast-paced but not rushed, developed, and engaging! Best of all, she leaves room for a sequel!

Seaver’s prose is almost classical, which I hadn’t expected, because her other work I’ve read doesn’t have the same flavor. Despite that, it worked very well for this novella, as did the slightly omniscient style. I think the balance of description was off a bit, as a few elements seemed very vague at times...and yet, she didn’t err to the more skimpy, tell-it-like-is-it side. With a bit more focus on certain aspects, she would have a perfect balance, I should think!

Although the loose ends we’re left with are neatly arranged to make way for a sequel (at least I hope so!), I feel like the beginning was too far ahead, if that makes sense. The story begins some time after Ly and Jackson have found the house, leaving out the whole event of them finding it to begin with. And if this were any other house, it wouldn’t be a problem. But that’s the thing. It isn’t just any other house, so I think including a scene with Ly and Jackson meeting and finding the house would have made the story a wee bit stronger.

As for the characters… From the start, Ly has clear motives, a lot of snark, and an arsenal of J words (I cannot express how much I enjoyed her nicknames for Jackson). She had a strong personality, even if it wasn’t the easiest to define (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing), and she was fairly well-developed for a novella character.

Jackson was a little bit harder to grasp. His presence at the house...either it wasn’t mentioned or I’ve already forgotten. His motives seemed a bit more vague, as well as his personality. That said, he has such great potential, and I really did like his character. He’s one I want to see more of!

As for our villainess, Hecate, her character probably possessed the most strength, clarity, and development of all. I won’t go so far as to say that these lovely character traits actually made her character itself lovely...but from a technical perspective, she was jam-up, jelly-tight, as my dad would say!

Now, from a less technical, more personal and ranty perspective… Y’all know that, as much as I love fantasy, fae and magic and whatnot are not my forte (I make an exception for Lewis and Tolkien). Honestly, fairies and dragons and what have you, I’m more lenient on, simply because...well, I just am. Do I have to have a reason? *raises eyebrow* It’s magic that bothers me, as the Bible makes it clear that any kind of magic - doesn’t matter if you think it’s real or not, or if it’s portrayed as “good” or “bad” - is witchcraft and of the devil. Now, other reviewers have gone into more detail regarding the magical elements of The House That Didn’t End, so I won’t bog you down with the particulars. Nor will I dis Seaver for her views, nor will I complain about the content, because I knew all about it before I read this book. I will just simply state that, yes, it’s a bit disconcerting and, yes, I view such things as thoroughly evil. If it bothers you as well, then The House That Didn’t End is not for you.

Don’t write Seaver off your to-read list, however, because I know for a fact that she has many non-magical, Christian projects in the works, which I am very excited about!

Otherwise, the content is clean. The only cussing is in candy. (I’m sorry, but that was just too good.) But y’all know I refuse to do content reviews, so now the only remaining question is: what did the self-appointed Princess of Romance (I will not steal Julie Lessman’s title of queen) think of the romantic elements?

I’ll put it like this: if you don’t like romance, you could still read and enjoy The House That Didn’t End. Sure, you could call it a stereotypical case of insta-love that was way too rushed...but, c’mon, Jackson’s a fairy dude, for crying in the rain. “Fae fall in love fast,” as he says. So, in sticking with the Disney fairy-tale vibes, I think the romantic subplot was well-done, even if the story was not what I would classify a predominant romance.

All in all, there were definitely some red flags that I don’t approve of, but I did enjoy the story regardless, and I certainly think any fantasy lover or fairy-tale fan will enjoy The House That Didn’t End too!

And, seriously, can we all just take a moment and cry over how stinkin’ beautiful that cover is? *sobs*

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

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About the Author

To find an E. K. Seaver, you must set a trap. The best option is to lure her in using chocolate, blankets, and a typewriter, but if none of those are on hand, spare books and Broadway music can be easily substituted.

She prefers to be wild and free, though. Whether it includes adventuring through the Rocky Mountains or curled up at a local bookshop, she uses her freedom to produce art. From books to scarves to paintings, Ms. Seaver strives to honor her King in every aspect of her creative works. She desires her stories to hold meaning beyond the tale and attempts to follow in the footsteps of storytellers who came before her.

You can find her and her wild adventures at ekseaver.wordpress.com or on Instagram @ekseaver.author

#thehousethatdidntend #ekseaver #indie #newrelease #novella #fantasy #fairytale #youngadult #ya #bookreview #review

Bookishly Yours, Grace

Popular Romance Tropes and How to Pull Them Off!

You’ve used tropes in every story you’ve ever dreamed up.

That may seem like an exaggeration, but it’s true. Tropes are the fuel behind every good story, the foundation for every book. They’re the prompt or concept that makes itself clear before we create characters or worlds. And they are probably one of the most valuable and fragile things in writing.

Even though there are tropes in every genre, some of the most iconic are romance tropes. They’re not confined to just the romance genre—these tropes are exactly what makes the romantic subplot in your favorite fantasy epic or historical novel, or even the idea behind the non-romantic relationship between the protagonist and a secondary character.

More often than not, authors rely too heavily on the mechanics of their chosen trope and don’t focus enough on their characters and plot, leaving their story cliched and uninspired. Today, I’m going to tell you how to pull off four of the most popular romance tropes—friends-to-lovers, hate-to-love, forbidden love, and the love triangle—while still creating deep, authentic relationships!

Friends-to-Lovers

Description: two old friends fall in love with each other. Usually, one will begin to develop, or has already developed, feelings for the other, but won’t admit them for fear of their reaction and/or losing their preexisting relationship. Eventually the hero and heroine reevaluate their friendship and, in the end, pursue a romantic relationship.

Examples:

The Lost Heiress by Roseanna M. White A Passion Denied by Julie Lessman Love, Life, and the List by Kasie West

This trope is my least favorite. I shy away from it in the books I read and the ones I write, because authors rarely put as much effort into creating a believable, meaningful relationship between the hero and heroine. I’m not sure if that’s because they’re already friends or simply because the friends-to-lovers trope lacks the facets that most other tropes do.

When I took a moment to ask myself why I felt such a lack, I thought of two of the most important aspects of this trope and why they matter more to a friends-to-lovers romance than anything else.

#1 A background on a cross-gender friendship

Before you even begin writing a friends-to-lovers romance, the very first thing you need to know is how/why your hero and heroine are friends. How did your hero and heroine meet and become friends? Not only in the physical aspect—such as where and when they met—but also from a mental/emotional standpoint. Did your hero stand up for the heroine when she was being bullied in middle school? Is your heroine best friends with the hero’s younger sister?

One of my few friends-to-lovers romances, which also happens to be my current WIP, is all about two old friends who try to rekindle their relationship after years of separation. My heroine Daisy used to be best friends with my hero Keaton’s younger sister, and because their families lived next door to each other and Keaton helped out on the neighbors’ farm, they were always together. When Keaton’s sister passed away, he and Daisy grieved together, and their common loss strengthened their bond, even though they’re eight years apart in age.

Physically, they became friends because they’re neighbors. Emotionally, they became close friends because they lost a best friend and sister.

Knowing and understanding the background of their friendship helps strengthen their romantic relationship and gives you a starting point to work from. Regardless of which trope you use in your romance (or even in a non-romance novel), the background on your characters’ relationship is foremost.

But feelings will always get in the way, which brings me to my next point.

#2 A good reason to not be in a romantic relationship

Now we know how and why your hero and heroine are friends—they live next door and go to school together. Their personalities complement each other, and they’re always standing up for one another and doing what’s best for their friend. It’s a picture perfect relationship, right?

So why aren’t they in a romantic relationship?

The most common reason out there is that they’re afraid to lose the awesome friendship they already have. In some situations, this is a good reason, and in others it’s kind of shallow. You decide for your story and characters, but whether this is the reason or not, you still need a perfect motive.

Are they vulnerable to romantic relationships in general? Have they lost friends due to bad decisions before? Are they afraid that they’re not what their friend needs for a lifelong partner? Do they think their friend could never have feelings for them? (Which begs the question, why would they think that?)

These are just a few of the reasons you can choose from, but remember that only one is right for your characters. Get to know them and their goals and fears, then you’ll begin to understand why they think they’re better as friends.

Once you’ve discovered their reason for staying friends, I suggest you let your characters recognize them. Have them consider the possibility of a romantic relationship (if not in the book itself, then in the past), and decide they’re better off as friends. Maybe even go so far as to have your hero and heroine go out on a disastrous first date, then make a pact to remain only friends. Not only does that strengthen their relationship, it also gives the plot more intensity.

Speaking of intensity, here’s a kissing tip for you! If your characters have been friends for years, I doubt they’d lean in all of a sudden to kiss each other. So, the best way to sneak in a kiss but keep it realistic is to take advantage of the moment (in more ways than one). Every memorable, heart-stopping kiss (in books and real life) is borne of emotion. Use sadness or joy to inspire a quick kiss. All you need is one impactful moment to affect your characters, and pretty soon they’ll be dreaming of more.

Hate-to-Love (or Enemies-to-Lovers)

Description: two enemies fall in love with each other. However, the conflict between them prohibits their romance from sprouting early on, so it’s up to one or both characters to resolve the issue—or risk losing their newfound love.

Examples:

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell Han and Leia from Star Wars

I could write an entire book about enemies-to-lovers romance—there are so many possibilities! I love reading and writing this trope above every other one—in fact, most of my romances are hate-to-love.

When it comes to writing this trope, the rules are fairly simple, and it’s very easy to get creative. In a story where the characters have known each other for a while, you can employ the cat-and-mouse technique (the hero and heroine bounce alternate between tolerating and hating each other); or when the characters are newfound enemies, it helps to go headfirst into their disdain for each other and create a slow-burning romance.

Sometimes, enemies-to-lovers will sneak up on you. Maybe you didn’t intend for your characters to be rivals, but their personalities or goals clash and make the hero and heroine butt heads at every turn. Or, on the flip side, the characters were never supposed to fall in love, but they united over a common goal and ended up burying the hatchet. Your characters can and will surprise you, so it’s always a good idea to get to know them and develop them carefully to ensure your plot remains strong and believable.

Which brings me to my first tip on how to create a strong relationship between your hero and heroine—not only their romantic one, but also their rivalry!

#1 Don’t be afraid

Like with the friends-to-lovers trope, you must construct a good foundation and backstory for your characters. Ask yourself why they’re enemies, rivals, or unable to work together. What’s the reason for their conflict? Don’t shy away from establishing a strong foundation and continual conflict—maybe they’re part of a generational family feud, or they’re on opposite sides of a war. Like with the forbidden love trope, readers love a sense of suspense and insurmountable odds, so don’t settle for petty rivalries over different music tastes or hurt feelings over a childhood prank.

In the same vein, don’t be afraid to make your characters angry with each other, argue all the time, or even try to kill one another. And, yes, I am very much serious here. I know murder attempts might not fit your characters, but in some situations it works out well. Your characters have a right to be mad with each other (and if they don’t, go back to the paragraph above and work on creating one). They don’t like each other, after all, so if they want to argue or be prejudiced or jump to conclusions about the other, let them!

Utilizing anger, prejudice, and miscommunication makes their dynamics much more realistic. This is exactly what Jane Austen did with Pride and Prejudice—and look where that novel is now!

Hate-to-love romances stem from vulnerability on the characters’ parts. The hero dislikes the heroine because he’s known women like her in the past. The heroine is afraid of the hero because of her own insecurities. They hate each other because they know better than to trust someone working for the enemy. Embrace their insecurities and vulnerabilities and let them lead their relationship into something deep and abiding, a love that will chase away the fear and prove that love truly does conquer all.

While I’m on the subject of anger and embracing, it’s time for Kissing Tip #2. The best kiss stems from anger or frustration. Whether your hero is trying to get the heroine to shut up, prove something to her, or in one of those kiss-them-to-get-them-out-of-the-way-of-danger situations, using anger at her or just at the circumstances to inspire action is the best. It doesn’t have to be lengthy or detailed—just long enough to make an impact.

#2 Keep their personalities in mind

Never forget who your characters are and why they’re not compatible. The best enemies are too much alike and too different to work together. You know what I mean? They have totally different goals, but they’re basically the same person. The hero and heroine of one of my enemies-to-lovers, Elliot and Crimson, are so much alike that it’s hard to tell them apart–same way of doing things, same reactions to stuff, same basic personality–but they’re on separate sides of a family feud. Because they both react to this feud in the same way, they target each other and butt heads.

For example, she defends her family by getting angry with his best friend, so he defends his best friend by getting angry at her and her family. Back to Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth and Darcy are very similar. They’re both honest and authentic, unabashed about how they feel or what they think. They’re both easily turned off to certain people, places, and things. They both care greatly about their family and friends—Lizzie and Jane, Darcy and Georgiana. Though one is prideful and the other prejudiced, even these traits have similar roots and outcomes.

Austen kept their personalities in mind all throughout the book. Darcy was condescending in his first proposal, so Lizzie, in her skewed judgement of believing him as uncaring as ever, turned him down. Like I mentioned in my first point, this established a strong foundation and continual conflict, which kept the reader on the edge of their seat, wondering if the two would ever find love in the end.

On the other hand, maybe their personalities are different, but their goals are the same—so they team up to stop a villain or save their families. Along the way, they disagree on how to do things, try to one-up each other, or even feel betrayed when a secret about one of them is discovered. You have to establish a reason for these enemies to be thrown together all the time, and a common goal is one of the best—but that doesn’t mean they have to become bffs immediately.

This goes hand-in-hand with Austen’s method of continual conflict, so as long as the characters are together, keep their personalities and feelings in mind. If you can do that, then you won’t be in danger of falling too fast or making their relationship seem contrived or inauthentic.

Forbidden Love

Description: two characters fall for each other despite an external force of conflict. Most of the time, social status, familial connections, religion, race, or even something like an engagement will prevent the characters from being together.

Examples:

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

The forbidden love trope follows a lot of the same guidelines the friends-to-lovers and hate-to-love tropes do. You need a strong foundation and some very good reasons for your hero and heroine to avoid a romantic relationship.

But, unlike these two genres, the force is not internal. It’s external. Because of their families, nationality, religion, or even a current engagement, your characters simply cannot fall in love.

Nowadays, most people tend to gravitate to a Romeo and Juliet style forbidden love romance, and with good reason. During the 18th and 19th and even the 20th centuries, a lot of authors wrote about extramarital affairs—like in Anna Karenina, The Great Gatsby, and Dr. Zhivago. Stories like these don’t always honor God, so it’s best to stick with Shakespeare (which is something I never thought I’d say). If you can pull off a story like this without being a stumbling block for your readers or portraying adultery as good and wholesome, more power to you, but that’s a difficult feat.

So I’m going to tackle this trope from the Romeo and Juliet perspective, helping you create a relationship that has its boundaries but can be fully explored. However, I’ll be focusing on how to obtain a happy ending—not write a tragedy in which everyone dies at the end.

#1 Respect for the boundaries

Creating loveable characters is the first step to any novel. You need real and relatable characters who have faults and flaws, fears and failures…but you can’t lose yourself in all the dishonorable aspects of your character. Not even your villain is completely heartless (or is he?).

Forbidden love romances often disregard the good, moral, and selfless elements in people, instead replacing them with a lack of respect and wholesomeness in the hero and heroine—which is probably why you’re more liable to find a secular or Harlequin romance with this trope than a clean or Christian one.

I love reading about a hero or heroine (or both) who stands up for what is right and maybe even sacrifices for the good of their friends, family, love interest, or enemy. I’m not asking you to write a tragedy here, folks, where your hero and heroine sacrifice their love for each other because of social norms, dictators in their lives, or their circumstances. But what I am asking you to do is create characters who do have morals (or fears) and won’t push their limitations to have something they shouldn’t.

If your hero can respect the boundaries between him and the heroine (or vice versa), then you’ve shown that he also has respect for the heroine herself, which is one of the most important things in romance—fictional or real.

Kissing Tip #3: This is where you don’t kiss at all. You heard me right. You can still have romantic tension without an actual kiss, and by doing so you create a stronger, more beautiful relationship! Instead of pushing the boundaries and stealing a kiss, have your characters refrain from doing so.

#2 Overcoming the odds

Speaking of boundaries, you have to put up walls between the characters that are daunting but also penetrable. What I mean is this: there needs to be a legitimate something (i.e., disgruntled family members, a war, religious beliefs, etc.) between the characters, but they don’t need to be impossible odds.

For example, in Romeo and Juliet, their families hate each other. This puts any kind of relationship between them on hold—but not impossible. Had the two not run off and gotten married, resulting in their demise, they might have worked things out between their families and everyone would’ve lived happily ever after.

To establish a strong foundation between your characters, you need boundaries that deserve respect (as in, something better than a petty family feud) and odds that can be overcome (preferably without death or destruction). This way, you can sympathize with characters that feel undermined by rules or limitations and rejoice when they move past them. Perhaps your hero and heroine make peace between rival families or nations, or unite different people over a common goal. Instead of making a mess of things, they’ve mended brokenness and you have written a story that will inspire!

The Love Triangle

Description: the protagonist is torn between two love interests. It’s usually a girl and two guys—in which case, you have a bad boy or enemy vs a friend/ally—but sometimes you’ll stumble across a love triangle the other way around.

Examples:

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer Unblemished by Sara Ella Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

Y’all, I think we can all agree that the love triangle is one of the most popular romantic plot tropes of all time. In some stories, like the ones mentioned above, it’s pretty obvious, whereas in others, it can catch you unawares or even be unintentional. Sometimes, it makes for one of the dumbest stories you’ve ever read, and others it only serves to make the story better.

What’s great about the love triangle, making it one of the most creative tropes out there, is that you can combine it with one or more other romance tropes. Like I mentioned in the description above, oftentimes two members of the triangle represent a different trope, or the love triangle can take the face of both itself and the forbidden love trope.

It sounds easy, but most authors don’t recognize the one thing a love triangle requires to make it perfect: mystery. To make it simpler, I’ll examine two different types of well-done love triangles and show you how a sprinkle of mystery and suspense makes the trope unique and exciting every time.

#1 The Unsolvable Triangle

One thing I—and the vast majority of the public—dislike about love triangles are how obvious they are. I mean, of course Jane won’t fall for Harry because he’s a two-timing jerk, and of course James didn’t betray her because he’s working for the good king. It’s no surprise when the ending arrives and only one character is chosen to pursue a romantic relationship with the protagonist—after all, their motives have been clear from the start and the author has built the entire six-book series up to this. By this point, we’re all bored out of our minds and some of us have already stopped reading because we’re tired of the inauthentic relationships. Am I right?

There’s only one way to hold a reader’s attention, and that’s by keeping them guessing.

One of my all-time favorite series is the Unblemished trilogy by Sara Ella. I’m not one to devour YA fantasy, but this trilogy captivated me! From the first few chapters, one thing was apparent—this was a love triangle. I was both terrified and intrigued, uncertain if the author could pull it off.

Suffice it to say, she did. But how?

She kept me guessing. I never knew if the heroine, El, would end up with Josh (her best friend) or Ky (the sarcastic enemy-turned-ally). It seemed plausible that she could end up with one or the other, since they both sincerely cared about her and were pretty loveable guys. Of course, all the readers (myself included) had our preference, so some of us weren’t surprised when the ending arrived.

My point? Pour as much of your heart and soul into the character who isn’t The One as you do the character who is. Give him a soul, fears and dreams, a story. Don’t make him (or her) a stock character or an obvious villain. If they are the antagonist, don’t make it as plain as day and then expect your readers to see a romantic relationship blossom between them and the protagonist.

With a trilogy, you have a lot more room for character growth. Just like Sara Ella utilized her three books to establish firm relationships between her heroes and heroine and develop all three characters, you can use your series to your advantage. Even if you’re not writing a series, you should be able to define three main parts to your novel and have your characters develop more with each transition.

Bring both characters to life, so that way it’s not obvious that James up there is The One or a poorly foreshadowed twist when we find out Harry is. Keep your readers guessing.

Kissing Tip #4: Say what you will, but the best way to inspire mixed feelings on both the reader’s and the protagonist’s part is to have two kisses—one from each love interest. But you can’t make Harry’s kiss rough and unfeeling while James’s kiss is tender and sweet. Remember, no one but you knows who the heroine will end up with, so keep it that way by having both kisses be sweet or by mixing things up a bit. Use kisses as Agatha Christie used red herrings in a murder mystery—to make the reader (and Hastings) wonder.

#2 The Unintentional Triangle

What’s the opposite of being the omniscient author?

Having absolutely no idea what you’re doing.

This happened to me when I was writing my second novel, Prisoner at Heart. I began reconsidering who my heroine fell in love with, which was a strange occurrence for me. My doubt only lasted for a few days (I ended up sticking with my original choice), but between my moment of doubt and my book summary, I was able to inadvertently convince a reader that I had written a love triangle.

Seriously.

To be honest, this method really only works if you’re a pantser (like myself), drafting, or writing a series. It’s not something you can plan or expect to happen. Sometimes it just does, so my advice to you would be to roll with it! Even if you only tease a possible relationship for a few chapters, you can still inspire a bit of mystery within your readers—and, better yet, you’ll have the perfect basis to reintroduce that unexpected love interest in their own story one day!

When you devote time and thought to every character, you’ll watch them bloom into vibrant, realistic people before your eyes, and sometimes that even means they’ll take the reins of your story and start writing it themselves. Let them. They’ll surprise you and take your story to new heights.

And sometimes those new heights may be unintentional love triangles that morph into something more over the course of a novel or a series. Who knows—maybe the love triangle from your favorite book was never supposed to be there.

Remember: Your characters aren’t like ones from other books, movies, or TV shows. They’re your characters and they’re unique, so make their story different and engaging. Pay attention to their interactions with each other and deepen their backstory to make their romantic relationship more believable and interesting!

What are some of your favorite romance tropes? Which one(s) are you using in your story? Better yet—what’s your favorite love triangle? (Obviously, mine’s from Unblemished by Sara Ella—you should check it out!)

Originally published on ,Kingdom Pen.

#kpposts #writing #writingadvice #writingtips #romance #tropes #love #writingchristianromance #writingromance #christianromance #populartropes #romancetropes #friendstolovers #forbiddenlove #enemiestolovers #hatetolove #kisses #kissingtips

Bookishly Yours, Grace

Review: Tacos for Two by Betsy St. Amant

Stars: 3

Synopsis: In a modern retelling of You’ve Got Mail, Rory Perez and Jude Worthington butt heads over food trucks and cilantro, while ColorMeTurquoise and StrongerMan99 fall text-first in love. Their relationships are extremely messy and sparks are always flying, but you know what they say—all’s fair in love and food truck contests.

I had high hopes for my first official foray into the world of romantic comedy...and, unfortunately, they weren’t quite met.

Tacos for Two is a great book—technically speaking. It had a solid plot, no typos or errors, quality writing, smooth pacing (you’ll find that pacing means the world to me), and a happily-ever-after. If it had been marketed as a simple inspirational contemporary romance, it would’ve certainly fit the bill. However, I really didn’t catch on to the comedic aspect. I’m sure for You’ve Got Mail fans, there were plenty of references and similarities (most of which I caught, even though I’ve never seen the full movie) that would’ve had them chuckling under their breath. As for comedy that would bust a gut or please every reader? Not really. It was more of a comedy of errors...or just a funny idea that someone who can’t cook would run a food truck...than anything else.

I also think that, as far as romance goes, I enjoyed the banter between ColorMeTurquoise and StrongerMan99 far more than I did the interactions between Rory and Jude—even if all of StrongerMan99’s texts did seem a little unlike a guy to me. There was way too much conflict and doubt between Rory and Jude for it to have been resolved so quickly—especially considering how they further complicated things over and over again.

That said, at least we had a happy ending. I know it’s a guarantee in romances these days, but with the amount of drama in this book? I had my doubts, y’all. Plus the epilogue? You gotta love those!

On that note, though, once I reached the end, I realized a few things had never really been explored or answered. For example, we never actually learn to Thomas was, or how Grady came to work for Rory’s aunt Sophia, or exactly how different her childhood was. All of these things seemed to have shaped Rory in such a definite way, so I would’ve liked more than just a passing mention of them.

The most unsatisfactory aspect of Tacos for Two, for me, was the lack of a strong message. I feel like there was this outstanding potential for a story of forgiveness and loving your enemies...but despite a few casual comments, none of that was really put into action, if that makes sense. I didn’t walk away from this story with anything more than well, they could have… Not to mention that there was absolutely no Christian content whatsoever, and on top of that, drinking and alcoholism is portrayed in a very grey manner, so to speak.

As for the characters...I loved Grady and Hannah and Nicole—all three of them were dears. Mayor Whit and Madison, Jude’s father and brother...these characters all had strong personalities and interesting stories that entwined with Jude’s. But as for Jude and Rory themselves? W-e-l-l, about that.

For me, there was very little about Rory and Jude’s characters—both of them—that I could connect with or relate to, which made it difficult for me to put up with all their drama. Er, I mean, understand their thoughts and actions. There wasn’t much loveable about them either. Jude could be a bit arrogant, presuming, inconsiderate, and oblivious at times; while Rory was proud, impulsive, resentful, and easily offended. Now, I understand that characters can’t be perfect. *looks at her own* Yep. Definitely can’t be perfect. But that doesn’t mean that they can’t have some redeeming qualities, which, aside from some ambition and persistence, these two didn’t really have.

Let it be noted that I give Scarlett O’Hara prompts for being ambitious and persistent. That’s really not saying much.

So, all in all, did I enjoy the story? Yeah, I guess I did, because it was interesting. I mean, I finished it, didn’t I? That ought to count for something. Would I read it again? Nope. Would I recommend it? Well, depends. Like I said, You’ve Got Mail fans and readers of clean fiction would gobble this up. Me? Eh, it wasn’t my style. Maybe I’m not cut out for romantic comedy after all.

Disclaimer: A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

PS: I expected better food descriptions. I mean, I love tacos, and this is a book all about tacos...and yet it did nothing for my southwestern cravings. The food descriptions just seemed so...flavorless. And, trust me, I've read some books that have made my mouth water. Not this one. *pouts*

Snag Your Copy

About the Author

Betsy St. Amant Haddox is the author of over fifteen inspirational romance novels and novellas. She resides in north Louisiana with her hubby, two total opposite young daughters, a collection of coffee mugs, and one fur-toddler in the form of a mini-Schnauzer. Betsy has a B.A. in Communications and a deep-rooted passion for seeing women restored in Christ. When she's not composing her next book or trying to prove unicorns are real, Betsy can usually be found somewhere in the vicinity of a cold brew with vanilla cold foam. She blogs frequently at www.ibelieve.com, a devotional site for women. Visit her at http://www.betsystamant.com

#bookreview #review #RevellReads #contemporaryfiction #romance #romanticcomedy #inspirationalfiction

Bookishly Yours, Grace

Giveaway!

I feel like that title needs more exclamation marks. Why? Because in TWO HOURS, my friends, my FIRST EVER PAPERBACK GIVEAWAY begins!!! Yes, indeedsy! That means I will be giving away not an ebook, not digital goodies, not anything in an email.

Nerp!

This time I will be MAILING a PHYSICAL copy of one of my books to ONE WINNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*squeals*

I mean, yeah, shipping's gonna cost me something awful, BUT IT'S WORTH IT!

Don't you just love it when things get physical?

*cringes*

All right, that was bad. Don't mind me. I'm just super excited because not only is this my first ever in recorded history physical giveaway...it also marks the 2nd bookiversary of Prisoner at Heart! Yessiree, Bob! PAH turns TWO on the 29th of this month!

*squeals again*

*chucks confetti at everyone*

*throws chocolate and ice cream everywhere*

Okay, this is getting out of hand. Let's tone things down here and get into the details, shall we?

So, last year, in honor of Prisoner at Heart's first anniversary, I did a post every day for a week about PAH - snippets, behind the scenes, playlists and Pinterest boards - the works. (You can check out those posts here, here, here, here, , here, and here. That's a lot of heres. Let it be noted that Day 6 is missing because I missed that day. Oops!)

Anyway, since I've basically already done pretty much everything one could think of in honor of the book, I'm left with no other choice but to give away a SIGNED paperback copy!

EEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!

The rules are simple. No low blows, no kidney punches. *grins* Actually, the rules are that you have to be a US resident to enter (I know that hurts, my lovely international readers...but I do have something for you too), and if you're under 18, you'll need your parent/guardian's permission, and just keep in mind that any and all personal information you provide me will not be exploited in any way!

Ready to enter? Let's do it!

Now, if you're not interested in the paperback giveaway, you're an international reader, or you haven't read Held Captive yet, then don't worry! Anyone who subscribes to my newsletter between now and November 1st is eligible to win an e-copy of Prisoner at Heart, AND, if you shoot me an email letting me know that you've not yet read Held Captive, then I'll send you an e-copy of it!

Yes, I'm in a giving mood! The holidays are upon us, people!

Ooh...what am I gonna do for Christmas??? Suggestions are welcome!

Well, I'll leave y'all with that! You'll be seeing me again real soon! *tips hat*

Oh, yeah, I'll be announcing the winner the first of next month and shipping their book out as soon as possible! Can't guarantee when it'll get to 'em, but it'll get there, Lord willing!

#prisoneratheart #bookiversary #giveaway #freestuff #paperback #print #freebook #entertowin #isntthisawesome #imsoexcited #whosreadyforboundanddetermined #staytunedforupdatesonbookthree #yesthatsanexclusivehintfortaglinereaderseyesonly #loveyall

Bookishly yours, Grace

Coming Soon: To Save a Life by R. M. Peterson (Write for Life Tour)

Weeeell, this was a book birthday post for To Save a Life, but due to unforeseen circumstances, the release date has been pushed back to November 6th, so I'm changing it to a coming soon post!! To Save a Life is one of the most powerful, heart-wrenching, moving books I've ever read! I'll share more of my thoughts in my review on the 30th! I have no doubt that Natty's story will change a lot of hearts, y'all!

If you haven't heard about To Save a Life yet, then now's the time for me to share all about this fantastic novel!

About the Book

Book 1 of Natty’s Warriors, this book tells the story of two young couples: one with big questions and one with the answers they need. When a baby is born alive after a botched abortion, the parents are faced with questions they have never considered. This story follows their journey to the Answers they need regarding Christ, the value of Life, and what they must do to turn their lives around.

Where to Find the Book

The Tour

I am so proud to be a part of this tour and this group of amazing sold-out Christian women! Thank you to Erika, Ryana, and all of those who put so much of their time, effort, and heart into making this possible!

If you'd like to check out more posts in the #WriteforLife tour, then take a peek at the schedule below!

October 1

,Erika Mathews at Resting Life - tour intro

,Autumn Lehman at Bursting Through the Darkness - Why I am Pro-Life

October 2

,Erika Mathews at Resting Life - Read the First Chapter for Free

,Grace A. Johnson at Of Blades and Thorns - Thank You for Taking a Stand

,Katja Labonté at Little Blossoms for Jesus - Sustainer’s Smile spotlight

October 4

,Joy C. Woodbury at Discipleship With Joy - prolife post

October 5

,Madisyn at Madi’s Musings - Ten Responses to Common Abortion Arguments Part 1

October 6

,Jen Rose at Living Outside the Lines - Sustainer’s Smile spotlight

,Akira Rodriguez at With Joyful Praise - prolife post

October 7

Eva-Joy Ruth Schonhaar - Sustainer’s Smile review

October 8 - To Save a Life Cover Reveal

,Kylie Hunt at Kylie Hunt - The Film Director’s Wife - Sustainer’s Smile spotlight

,Autumn Lehman at Bursting Through the Darkness - prolife post

October 9

,Grace A. Johnson at Of Blades and Thorns - Sustainer’s Smile spotlight

,Kylie Hunt at Kylie Hunt - The Film Director’s Wife - To Save a Life post

October 11

,Joy C. Woodbury at Discipleship With Joy - Sustainer’s Smile review

,Katja Labonté at Little Blossoms for Jesus - Sustainer’s Smile character spotlight: Liliora

October 12

,Madisyn at Madi’s Musings - Ten Responses to Common Abortion Arguments Part 2

,Lauren Compton at Novels That Encourage - prolife post

October 13

,Jen Rose at Living Outside the Lines - Sustainer’s Smile character spotlight: Carita

,Akira Rodriguez at With Joyful Praise - Sustainer’s Smile review

October 14

,Vanessa Hall at Vanessa Hall - Sustainer’s Smile review

,Stephanie Agnes-Crockett at Stephanie’s Ninth Suitcase - Sustainer’s Smile post

October 15

,Autumn Lehman at Bursting Through the Darkness - Sustainer’s Smile spotlight

,Kelsey Bryant at Kelsey’s Notebook - Sustainer’s Smile character spotlight: Rita

October 16

,Brianna Burden at Singing in the Rain - prolife post

,Grace A. Johnson at Book Nations - guest post by Erika

October 18

,Joy C. Woodbury at Discipleship With Joy - To Save a Life review

,Katja Labonté at Little Blossoms for Jesus - Sustainer’s Smile review

October 19

,Rebekah Morris at Read Another Page - Sustainer’s Smile review

,Lauren Compton at Novels That Encourage - Sustainer’s Smile author interview

,Martha Abilene at Beyond the Literary Horizon - prolife post

October 20

,Kristina Hall at Kristina Hall - To Save a Life review

,Jen Rose at Living Outside the Lines - Sustainer’s Smile review

,Akira Rodriguez at With Joyful Praise - To Save a Life review

,Vanessa Hall at Vanessa Hall - prolife post

October 21 - Sustainer’s Smile release day!

,Erika Mathews at Resting Life - Sustainer’s Smile special author post

,Kristina Hall at Kristina Hall - Sustainer’s Smile review

,Grace A. Johnson at Book Nations - author interview with Erika

,Kellyn Roth at Lilacs & Reveries - Sustainer’s Smile spotlight

,Martha Abilene at Beyond the Literary Horizon - Sustainer’s Smile review

October 22 - To Save a Life release day!

,Erika Mathews at Resting Life - To Save a Life release post

,Autumn Lehman at Bursting Through the Darkness - TSAL spotlight & author interview with Ryana

,Grace A. Johnson at Of Blades and Thorns - To Save a Life spotlight

,Kellyn Roth at Lilacs & Reveries - To Save a Life spotlight

,Martha Abilene at Beyond the Literary Horizon - To Save a Life review

October 23

,Grace A. Johnson at Book Nations - To Save a Life spotlight

,Stephanie Agnes-Crockett at Stephanie’s Ninth Suitcase - To Save a Life review

,Abigail Harris at Read Review Rejoice - To Save a Life spotlight and SS character interview: Claera

October 25

,Courtenay Burden at Sheep Among Wolves - prolife post

,Katja Labonté at Little Blossoms for Jesus - To Save a Life review

,Tara at Tower in the Plains - prolife post

October 26

,Tara at Tower in the Plains - Sustainer’s Smile review and character spotlight: Tae

,Lauren Compton at Novels That Encourage - To Save a Life review

,Rebekah Morris at Read Another Page - To Save a Life review

October 27

,Tara at Tower in the Plains - To Save a Life review

,Jen Rose at Living Outside the Lines - To Save a Life review

October 28

,Kaitlyn Krispense at Kaitlyn Krispense, Author - Sustainer’s Smile, To Save a Life, & prolife

,Vanessa Hall at Vanessa Hall - To Save a Life spotlight

October 29

,Autumn Lehman at Bursting Through the Darkness - ,Author Interview: Erika Mathews

,Kelsey Bryant at Kelsey’s Notebook - To Save a Life post

October 30

,Erika Mathews at Resting Life - tour wrapup

,Grace A. Johnson at Of Blades and Thorns - To Save a Life review

I hope y'all will at least take the time to learn more about To Save a Life and add it to your want-to-read shelf on Goodreads...but, seriously, y'all need to read this book, share about it, and do whatever you can to show your support for life - even if that just means sharing a few tour posts and leaving a couple of comments! Take a stand!

#tosavealife #prolife #indie #christianfiction #contemporary #blogtour #releaseday #launchdaay

Release Day: To Save a Life by R. M. Peterson (Write for Life Tour)

HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY TO R. M. PETERSON'S TO SAVE A LIFE!!!! This, my friends, is a momentous occasion, because To Save a Life is one of the most powerful, heart-wrenching, moving books I've ever read! I'll share more of my thoughts in my review on the 30th, but for now I want to celebrate its release into the world! I have no doubt that Natty's story will change a lot of hearts, y'all!

If you haven't heard about To Save a Life yet, then now's the time for me to share all about this fantastic novel!

About the Book

Book 1 of Natty’s Warriors, this book tells the story of two young couples: one with big questions and one with the answers they need. When a baby is born alive after a botched abortion, the parents are faced with questions they have never considered. This story follows their journey to the Answers they need regarding Christ, the value of Life, and what they must do to turn their lives around.

Where to Find the Book

The Tour

I am so proud to be a part of this tour and this group of amazing sold-out Christian women! Thank you to Erika, Ryana, and all of those who put so much of their time, effort, and heart into making this possible!

If you'd like to check out more posts in the #WriteforLife tour, then take a peek at the schedule below!

October 1

,Erika Mathews at Resting Life - tour intro

,Autumn Lehman at Bursting Through the Darkness - Why I am Pro-Life

October 2

,Erika Mathews at Resting Life - Read the First Chapter for Free

,Grace A. Johnson at Of Blades and Thorns - Thank You for Taking a Stand

,Katja Labonté at Little Blossoms for Jesus - Sustainer’s Smile spotlight

October 4

,Joy C. Woodbury at Discipleship With Joy - prolife post

October 5

,Madisyn at Madi’s Musings - Ten Responses to Common Abortion Arguments Part 1

October 6

,Jen Rose at Living Outside the Lines - Sustainer’s Smile spotlight

,Akira Rodriguez at With Joyful Praise - prolife post

October 7

Eva-Joy Ruth Schonhaar - Sustainer’s Smile review

October 8 - To Save a Life Cover Reveal

,Kylie Hunt at Kylie Hunt - The Film Director’s Wife - Sustainer’s Smile spotlight

,Autumn Lehman at Bursting Through the Darkness - prolife post

October 9

,Grace A. Johnson at Of Blades and Thorns - Sustainer’s Smile spotlight

,Kylie Hunt at Kylie Hunt - The Film Director’s Wife - To Save a Life post

October 11

,Joy C. Woodbury at Discipleship With Joy - Sustainer’s Smile review

,Katja Labonté at Little Blossoms for Jesus - Sustainer’s Smile character spotlight: Liliora

October 12

,Madisyn at Madi’s Musings - Ten Responses to Common Abortion Arguments Part 2

,Lauren Compton at Novels That Encourage - prolife post

October 13

,Jen Rose at Living Outside the Lines - Sustainer’s Smile character spotlight: Carita

,Akira Rodriguez at With Joyful Praise - Sustainer’s Smile review

October 14

,Vanessa Hall at Vanessa Hall - Sustainer’s Smile review

,Stephanie Agnes-Crockett at Stephanie’s Ninth Suitcase - Sustainer’s Smile post

October 15

,Autumn Lehman at Bursting Through the Darkness - Sustainer’s Smile spotlight

,Kelsey Bryant at Kelsey’s Notebook - Sustainer’s Smile character spotlight: Rita

October 16

,Brianna Burden at Singing in the Rain - prolife post

,Grace A. Johnson at Book Nations - guest post by Erika

October 18

,Joy C. Woodbury at Discipleship With Joy - To Save a Life review

,Katja Labonté at Little Blossoms for Jesus - Sustainer’s Smile review

October 19

,Rebekah Morris at Read Another Page - Sustainer’s Smile review

,Lauren Compton at Novels That Encourage - Sustainer’s Smile author interview

,Martha Abilene at Beyond the Literary Horizon - prolife post

October 20

,Kristina Hall at Kristina Hall - To Save a Life review

,Jen Rose at Living Outside the Lines - Sustainer’s Smile review

,Akira Rodriguez at With Joyful Praise - To Save a Life review

,Vanessa Hall at Vanessa Hall - prolife post

October 21 - Sustainer’s Smile release day!

,Erika Mathews at Resting Life - Sustainer’s Smile special author post

,Kristina Hall at Kristina Hall - Sustainer’s Smile review

,Grace A. Johnson at Book Nations - author interview with Erika

,Kellyn Roth at Lilacs & Reveries - Sustainer’s Smile spotlight

,Martha Abilene at Beyond the Literary Horizon - Sustainer’s Smile review

October 22 - To Save a Life release day!

,Erika Mathews at Resting Life - To Save a Life release post

,Autumn Lehman at Bursting Through the Darkness - TSAL spotlight & author interview with Ryana

,Grace A. Johnson at Of Blades and Thorns - To Save a Life spotlight

,Kellyn Roth at Lilacs & Reveries - To Save a Life spotlight

,Martha Abilene at Beyond the Literary Horizon - To Save a Life review

October 23

,Grace A. Johnson at Book Nations - To Save a Life spotlight

,Stephanie Agnes-Crockett at Stephanie’s Ninth Suitcase - To Save a Life review

,Abigail Harris at Read Review Rejoice - To Save a Life spotlight and SS character interview: Claera

October 25

,Courtenay Burden at Sheep Among Wolves - prolife post

,Katja Labonté at Little Blossoms for Jesus - To Save a Life review

,Tara at Tower in the Plains - prolife post

October 26

,Tara at Tower in the Plains - Sustainer’s Smile review and character spotlight: Tae

,Lauren Compton at Novels That Encourage - To Save a Life review

,Rebekah Morris at Read Another Page - To Save a Life review

October 27

,Tara at Tower in the Plains - To Save a Life review

,Jen Rose at Living Outside the Lines - To Save a Life review

October 28

,Kaitlyn Krispense at Kaitlyn Krispense, Author - Sustainer’s Smile, To Save a Life, & prolife

,Vanessa Hall at Vanessa Hall - To Save a Life spotlight

October 29

,Autumn Lehman at Bursting Through the Darkness - ,Author Interview: Erika Mathews

,Kelsey Bryant at Kelsey’s Notebook - To Save a Life post

October 30

,Erika Mathews at Resting Life - tour wrapup

,Grace A. Johnson at Of Blades and Thorns - To Save a Life review

I hope y'all will at least take the time to learn more about To Save a Life and add it to your want-to-read shelf on Goodreads...but, seriously, y'all need to read this book, share about it, and do whatever you can to show your support for life - even if that just means sharing a few tour posts and leaving a couple of comments! Take a stand!

#tosavealife #prolife #indie #christianfiction #contemporary #blogtour #releaseday #launchdaay