Grace A. Johnson's Blog: Of Blades & Thorns, page 6

review | may we make them proud by issabelle perry

May We Make Them Proud is a laugh-out-loud, touch-your-heart kinda story.

One that keeps you flipping pages and brings tears to your eyes. Issabelle Perry has given us a gift with this story: the reminder that there's always a second chance at

love, hope, and making dreams come true.

Y’all, I devoured this novelette. Not just because it was so short…but because it was so precious and heartfelt that I couldn’t put it down! Issabelle Perry is not only talented at bringing an entertaining story to life in such a few short words but also at weaving in touching truths and beautiful themes. May We Make Them Proud was such a sweet, tender second chance romance that gave me all the feels and spoke to my heart.

Perry writes from experience, lending an authenticity to the heroine Wren and her struggles with grief. Wren’s story of gaining a second chance at life itself was so inspiring, even though I’ve never endured the tragedy she has.

And then there’s our man Jax. Y’all, this dude was sooo sweet! I absolutely adored him (and his banter with Wren!) and how he wooed his woman back!

Pair loveable characters with Perry’s clear but gorgeous prose, and you’ve got a story that sucks you in! The conflict, the humor, the depth of the story all added new layers of richness to May We Make Them Proud. I fell in love with Jax and Wren and rooted for their second chance, even when all hope seemed lost!

I love how Perry kept things real and clean, and how her story focused on God in a way that was genuine—never preachy or diluted!

Even in such a short story, Perry gave me something to mourn, something to hope for, and something to rejoice over. She gave me a compelling and inspiring story that reminded me we only have one life...and a God who gives infinite second chances. So don’t be afraid to reignite old passions, redeem lost time, and achieve forgotten dreams.

the vibes

~ cozy downtown bookstore

~ steam wafting from tea

~ the smell of fresh-ground coffee

~ slow dances in the moonlight

~ second chances and restored hope

~ fairy lights twinkling against the curtain of twilight

read this if…

~ you love books about books

~ second chance romance gives you all the feels

~ you’ve struggled with grief

~ you feel like you’ve missed your chance

~ you’re full of crazy dreams

~ inspirational themes touch your heart

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

~ the book ~

the only way to fly is to first fall...

Wren is sure that all she needs in life are books, music, and her husky. Forget all her old plans to be a travel vlogger and see the world, now Wren's only concern is to make sure the bookshop she owns—her late father's greatest life work—doesn't fall under. But when her childhood friend suddenly arrives back in town two years after a disastrous fight that Wren prefers to leave forgotten, his presence resurfaces emotions she had thought were buried too deep to remember. Yet with the bookshop's many needs, she doesn't have time to dwell on childhood crushes and memories of life before her father's passing—when she knew what it was like to live.

May We Make Them Proud is a moving, inspiring novelette about love, healing, and learning to dream again.

~ the author ~

Issabelle Perry is a proud Jesus follower, an extroverted writer of historical fiction, and a homeschool graduate. When she's not writing, you can find her reading, jamming to Skillet, bullet journaling, hunting for Narnia in wardrobes, or envisioning herself wielding a magnificent sword (but due to her clumsiness, let’s hope that never happens). This self-proclaimed exclamation mark enthusiast can be found hanging out at Teen Writers’ Nook, a community of teen authors Issabelle co-founded in 2020. Her short story “Fairly Impish” was featured in Owl Hollow Press’s Change the World anthology, and Issabelle is the co-editor for Teen Writers’ Nook’s Imagine anthology and Tell Me You Love Me, Grace A. Johnson's Christian romance anthology. What she’s probably doing right now is fangirling about her favorite books to random people or scanning the pantries for chocolate.

Subscribe to ,her newsletter to stay up-to-date on book releases and writing projects, and be sure to check out ,her website and ,Teen Writers' Nook for writing advice, book reviews, and more! You can find the ,Imagine, ,Tell Me You Love Me, and ,Change the World anthologies on ,Amazon!

If you haven't snagged a copy of May We Make Them Proud yet, then what are you waiting for??? This short but sweet story is just what you need to bring a little bit of hope and love to your day, so make sure to order the ebook for only $0.99 or the paperback for $4.98 on Amazon!!

(Ooooor stay tuned for an upcoming ✨giveaway✨!!! Keep your eyes peeled; it's coming soon! )

If you'd like to learn more about Issabelle Perry, check out our recent interview here! And if you'd like to hear about her story and her journey to becoming a Christian author, become a patron!

What's a short read you've enjoyed this spring? What aspect(s) of May We Make Them Proud appeals to you? I'd love to hear about it in the comments! How do you like the new additions to my review?

yours in spirit & script, grace

(Pst! All my Amazon links are affiliate links, so if you make a purchase through my affiliate link(s), I'll receive a small commission at no extra cost to you!)

#bookreview #review #newrelease #youngauthor #christianauthor #christianfiction #christianromance #contemporaryromance #newbook #issabelleperry #romance #debut #indie

interview with issabelle perry

I have a pure treat for y'all today! The absolutely amazing Issabelle Perry is joining us for an interview in honor of her FIRST EVER OFFICIAL PUBLISHED BOOK!!! (By “first ever official," I mean this isn't an anthology. )

Issabelle Perry is not only one of my bestest friends ever, she is also an insanely talented young author, and I've been so blessed to be a part of her author journey! This girl has got a BEAUTIFUL story to share, and she teases some of her literal story and her personal testimony in today's interview!

(If you wanna hear more about Issabelle and her story, become a patron to get access to our exclusive interview about writing Christian fiction, finding your path, and her best advice for aspiring authors!)

Now, enough gabbing. It's time for our interview!

Hello, Issabelle, and welcome to Of Blades and Thorns! I am SO excited to have you back on my blog! (Yes, Issabelle is back! I interviewed her once several years ago when this was still Gabbing with Grace!) We’re long overdue for a new interview, so I can’t wait to get started! Before we do, could you introduce yourself to the readers?

Hi, Grace! Thank you SO much for having me here! It’s so great to be back! (Ah, I remember the days of Gabbing with Grace… the good ole days!) Anyway, there’s not too much to say about me. Just your average Jesus-following college student. I write historical fiction novels, talk southern, study Russian history, consume chocolate, and teach young authors writing tips and tricks at Teen Writers’ Nook.

It's my pleasure to have you, girl! How old were you when you first started writing? What was your inspiration?

Well, this is a bit of a tricky answer. I wrote a couple of pages in a very crazy story idea when I was eight and completed my first novel by 12, but I wasn’t really in to writing, if you know what I mean. I did it once in a while when I was bored, but I didn’t like to read at this time, much less write. However, stories have always been circling through my mind all my life and when I started reading more once I hit my teen years, the thought to write kept coming back. It wasn’t until I was 15 when I read Ally Carter’s book on writing that afterwards that I got to thinking that I could do this. Not only could I write a book, but I could write a good book and maybe in time I could even write a great book.

You've got me curious about this “very crazy story"! How has your writing—your stories, style, etc.—changed over the years? Looking back, what have you learned since you began writing?

Pretty much everything about my writing has changed so much that I doubt everyone would believe the first stories I wrote actually came from me. I’ve swapped genres three times, jumped from young adult to adult, went back and forth over writing in Christian fiction or not until I finally decided to stick with it, and changed from writing more light and happy books to more serious and bittersweet ones. The only thing that’s stayed the same is that you can always expect a good bit of humor (with a touch of sass) from at least one character. I’ve learned so many things about writing, but I think the most freeing thing was when I finally let myself just write. I had gotten so caught up in being a perfect writer that I forgot the only way to get where I wanted to be is to first let myself write messy, to take the time to study the craft, to not shy away from getting feedback and constructive criticism, and to always challenge myself. It’s okay if you don’t get it perfect the first time; no one does. What matters is that you don’t quit.

Absolutely! Perseverance is key! Now, you just released a novelette, May We Make Them Proud ! Could you tell us a little bit about this sweet Christian romance?

So May We Make Them Proud is a Christian contemporary romance novelette about love, healing, and learning to dream again. It follows the story of Wren, a 21-year-old girl still struggling with the grief of her father’s passing two years earlier while trying to uphold her father’s dream bookstore that currently has as many customers as she has free time—which is to say, not a lot. Add to that, her childhood best friend turned boyfriend turned enemy is now back in town after a disastrous fight that ended with a broken heart and broken relationship. Let’s just say there’s drama, there’s tears, & there’s humor all with a sprinkle of bookish references and a cozy, sweet and clean “second chance” romance!

Ah, sounds perfect!! (And I know for a fact it is!) What’s the story behind the story, if you don’t mind sharing?

I have a video about this coming up soon (and may already be released by the time this interview is posted) that will go into depth more since there’s a very personal story behind May We Make Them Proud, but I will give y’all the brief version. This story is inspired mostly by my relationship with my father and the pain and grief I dealt with (and am still going through) since his passing a year and a half ago. I wanted to tell something deeper than a romance, something that was raw and real but also hopeful and encouraging.

Knowing how heartfelt the struggles and messages in your story were made it so much more touching! What do you want readers to take away from May We Make Them Proud?

I want readers to know that no matter what battle you're fighting through, the Creator of heaven and earth has not forgotten you nor has He left you. He sees you, He knows you, and He wants to comfort you, heal you, and draw you close to Him. I can’t change your circumstances, but I can say that you don’t have to fight them alone. You have an anchor in the storm. And even though there is pain now, it is temporary and one day, you are meant to fly again. So keep holding on to Jesus, keep fighting, and don’t give up on what matters most.

Amen!! So, what’s next for you after May We Make Them Proud? What are you currently working on?

Currently, I am struggling my way through the drafting process for a project that I’m currently calling Project: Believer (official title to be announced). This is a Christian historical fiction novel set during the 1930s in the Soviet Union and focuses a lot on the repressions under the Stalin era of that time.

Hehehe, I am SO excited for this story!! Where do you see yourself in ten years, Issabelle? Do you hope to continue writing?

I honestly don’t know myself. It’s something I have been thinking about a lot. I have so many things I would like to do, but in the end, I can’t see myself ever truly walking away from telling stories in one way or another. I definitely hope to still be writing, but I’m also learning a lot about just trusting God in the journey, trusting Him to unfold the most beautiful story ever. Something greater than anything I could ever come up with. So I guess all I can say is we’ll see!!!

I can't wait to see where He leads you!! Thank you SO much for joining me for this interview, sister!

~ the author ~

Issabelle Perry is a proud Jesus follower, an extroverted writer of historical fiction, and a homeschool graduate. When she's not writing, you can find her reading, jamming to Skillet, bullet journaling, hunting for Narnia in wardrobes, or envisioning herself wielding a magnificent sword (but due to her clumsiness, let’s hope that never happens). This self-proclaimed exclamation mark enthusiast can be found hanging out at Teen Writers’ Nook, a community of teen authors Issabelle co-founded in 2020. Her short story “Fairly Impish” was featured in Owl Hollow Press’s Change the World anthology, and Issabelle is the co-editor for Teen Writers’ Nook’s Imagine anthology and Tell Me You Love Me, Grace A. Johnson's Christian romance anthology. What she’s probably doing right now is fangirling about her favorite books to random people or scanning the pantries for chocolate.

Subscribe to ,her newsletter to stay up-to-date on book releases and writing projects, and be sure to check out ,her website and ,Teen Writers' Nook for writing advice, book reviews, and more! You can find the ,Imagine, ,Tell Me You Love Me, and ,Change the World anthologies on ,Amazon!

~ the book ~

The only way to fly is to first fall...

Wren is sure that all she needs in life are books, music, and her husky. Forget all her old plans to be a travel vlogger and see the world, now Wren's only concern is to make sure the bookshop she owns—her late father's greatest life work—doesn't fall under. But when her childhood friend suddenly arrives back in town two years after a disastrous fight that Wren prefers to leave forgotten, his presence resurfaces emotions she had thought were buried too deep to remember. Yet with the bookshop's many needs, she doesn't have time to dwell on childhood crushes and memories of life before her father's passing—when she knew what it was like to live.

May We Make Them Proud is a moving, inspiring novelette about love, healing, and learning to dream again.

Have you read May We Make Them Proud? We'd love to hear your thoughts down in the comments! What do you think of our interview? I hope you'll join us on Patreon for our exclusive additional interview!!

yours in spirit & script, grace

(Pst! All my Amazon links are affiliate links, so if you make a purchase through my affiliate link(s), I'll receive a small commission at no extra cost to you!)

#authorinterview #interview #newrelease #youngauthor #christianauthor #christianfiction #christianromance #contemporaryromance #newbook #issabelleperry #romance #romanceauthor #historicalauthor #patreon #debutauthor #debut #indieauthor #indie

mail art | a new artistic venture

Greetings and salutations, my lovelies! I can't believe it's been a week already since my last post! Time's gone by crazy fast, so while I'm slowly but surely working on some writing and web design posts, I thought how better to tide y'all over than with something a little different!

I'd like to introduce y'all to my latest artistic venture...

mail art

Mail art allows for the creative freedom of junk journaling within the confines and simplicity of an envelope. Or, in layman's terms, it lets me go wild with washi tape, stickers, deco paper, and more without feeling overwhelmed by big, empty pages. I've also tried out some sketches, but I don't have good pictures of those, so we're just gonna stick to these fun junk journal-style kraft envelopes (which four lucky followers will be receiving in their mailbox soon)!

Mail art is actually extremely multifaceted with so many different options and additions, and if y'all wanna see some of the best of the best, y'all can check out my mail art board here!

Now, without further delay, our first envelope!

I wanted to shoot for something simple with this first one, so I used a giant flower bouquet sticker with a butterfly sticker and washi tape. That made this design super quick and easy, but also really cute and springy!

Mail art doesn't have to be hard or require a ton of artistic talent! Just gather some on-sale craft supplies or junk hangin' around, and see what kind of lovely designs you can whip up!

For my next design, I had a very specific vision in mind: nautical academia. Y'all, Pinterest didn't even know what this is. So I did what I could to bring this idea to life, combining a nautical sticker and scrapbook paper with a classical literary themed paper and washi tape. Something was missing, so I drew a horribly disproportionate compass and taped it down. All in all, I think it pretty much captured the vibe I was going for!

Speaking of tape...I HIGHLY recommend getting a tape roller. When I went in search of some kind of tape or glue to make adhering all these different materials together, I stumbled upon the glorious doubled-sided sticky tape. And I don't mean the crappy stuff that comes like regular tape. I mean the stuff that looks like white-out but it actually a roller of the stickiest tape known to man! It is SUPER easy to apply and works better than a charm!

So, for this design, I used a lot of sticky tape to achieve my 1940s musical look, complete with sheet music scrapbook paper, a sheet music sticker, and vintage deco paper! I'm quite pleased with how this one turned out!

My fourth and final envelope was a struggle. I wanted something that screamed spring in England, with delicate cottagecore vibes. But I have nothing cottagecore (even though it's, like, one of my favorite aesthetics of all time). So I downloaded and printed these free designs from Nanda Anderson that gave off a lovely spring vibe! This one was also super simple, but I think that fits my simplistic cottagecore theme!

If you're interested in trying out mail art, I would LOVE to share links to some of my favorite supplies, offer ideas for designs, or give a couple tips!

Have you taken up any new hobbies? Which envelope is your favorite? What's your favorite aesthetic? I'd love to hear all about it in the comments!

yours in spirit & script, grace

#mailart #art #journaling #letters #hobby #photodump

welcome to may! (april wrapup & may goals)

You know what they say...April showers bring May flowers, and that’s so true as my basil is blooming, my bell peppers have blossomed, and my lavender is slowly flowering. My proverbial garden of to-dos has also seen some growth over the past month (because, lemme tell ya, April was very rainy in more ways than one ), and I’m so excited to share it all with y’all today!

Have y’all seen some growth this spring? Are you ready for May...or are you astounded at how fast time as flown?

Y’all can probably guess which one I am. Not only is it May already…today is The Day™. The day I “officially” graduate from high school. Technically, I’ve been “graduated” since I finished my last college class for my marketing certification in October, but homeschooler or not, we were gonna do things right and wait for May.

I literally cannot believe I’m actually graduated...and about to be eighteen...and, you know, part of the real world now. I’m not ready, guys. I feel like I was JUST starting kindergarten yesterday, y’all.

ANYWAY. Enough of my “pre-life” crisis...on to my goals for this month! (I know y’all probably get tired of reading my to-dos, but this is really beneficial for me to have some accountability and to keep up with everything I need to get done. So thank y’all for suffering through it for me! )

what i did last month

April’s goals were so straightforward—finish everything.

And crazily enough...I kinda did.

I finished my website commission, which took much longer than it was supposed to because of how busy March and April were.

I finished Her Heart’s Home—thank God!!! Although I do still have some edits to do, so it’s not done done. But I finally finished writing, so the important part is done.

I finished one (of four) editing projects...which was a doozy, y’all!

I also wanted to update my website and Patreon in April—which obviously didn’t happen—and read/post more. Unfortunately, I only got in five blog posts (again) last month, and I only read three books. *sighs*

BUT...I did a lot of other things too that are worth noting…

I started learning French, which I’ve wanted to do for y e a r s. I put together some gifts for friends (one of my love languages ). I experimented in the kitchen with teas and desserts (also a love language ). My sister and I did a photo shoot with a friend from church who is a fantastic photographer. I did Bible studies with my virtual friends. Fun stuff like that.

this month's goals

As for May…

Naturally, I wanna edit Her Heart’s Home before my deadline of the 10th…

I wanna finish another editing project or two…

I wanna focus on posting, reading, and reviewing more…

I wanna FINALLY start writing Something Bright & Beautiful…

I wanna (also finally) update my website…

You get the idea.

monthly progress

Well, I probably only wrote a few hundred to a thousand words in Her Heart’s Home, finishing it up.

reading highlights

As I mentioned before, I only read a handful for books...but what I lacked in quantity, I more than made up for in quality!

I read The Words We Lost by Nicole Deese, which was PHENOMENAL!!! I cannot wait to share my review! (You can learn more about it here!)

Equally amazing was May We Make Them Proud by my beloved twin sister Issabelle Perry! Also gonna review it soon—but until then, make sure you preorder your own copy here!

top blog posts

Once again, with only five posts, picking a top two is pretty straightforward…

My “Welcome to April” post was of course my #1 post last month, and right behind it was a rare writing advice post on first chapters!

follower updates

Now, for my updates for y’all...I have not one but TWO forms! (Am I the only one who likes forms? I am? Oh. Well.)

If you’ve read Held Captive and loved it, or hated it, or just felt so-so about it...I need your advice! I plan on rewriting it at some point, so all your thoughts and critiques and feedback would be greatly appreciated! Y’all can find my feedback form here!

And I’ve decided to start yet another Q&A series...this time on author websites! Whether you have one or are looking into one, any questions you have about design, platforms, and more can go in this form, and I’ll be answering them in a few upcoming posts!

Y’all know the drill...we’ve made it to the end of the post, and I wanna know what YOUR goals are. What was your favorite read from last month? Fun things you did or accomplished? Your favorite part of spring? Let me know all about it in the comments!!

yours in spirit & script, grace

#monthlygoals #monthlyupdates #monthlyprogress #welcometomay #monthlywrapup #goals #wrapup #updates #progress #progressreport #readinghighlights #reading #feedback #forms #websiteqanda #qanda #heldcaptive #topblogposts

(Pst! I'm an Amazon affiliate, so if you make a purchase through my Amazon links, I'll receive a small commission at no extra cost to you!)

review: the metropolitan affair by jocelyn green

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Once upon a time, I read a book by Jocelyn Green. I’d expected it to be atmospheric and romantic and intriguing—a bit like a Laura Frantz novel—but to me, it didn’t hit the mark. So every time since then, when Greene releases a new book, I shy away, even though I’ve never heard a negative thing about her work.

Well, folks, I succumbed to the peer pressure this time and I gave her a second chance. And boy, am I glad I did!

The Metropolitan Affair was so much better than I anticipated. The premise was fascinating and the plot flowed so well (although I personally think the ending was rushed). I was kept on my toes the whole time and my curiosity was thoroughly piqued. The research was impeccable, and the niche history was so intriguing. I felt like I’d been transported into the world of my childhood, where I read Tut’s Mummy: Lost...and Found by Judy Donnelly on my laundry room floor and watched Night at the Museum twenty times in a row. Even though I’m not quite so captivated by Egyptology, I was entirely captivated by this novel, and it wasn’t just the insane plot twists that held my attention.

The real shocker, though?

I actually liked Lauren.

*collective gasp rings out*

Lauren managed to be an intelligent woman in a “male-dominated profession” without being the stereotypical heavy-handed, entitled, annoying “strong female lead.” In fact, she was soft and compassionate and gentle and kind—all those biblical characteristics that matter more than one’s degree or position. Not to mention, her emotional journey and depth wasn’t sacrificed in favor of making her a bad-butt. Rather, I felt connected to her and her thoughts, and whatever she felt (particularly in correlation with her father), I felt as well. I was rooting for her the whole way.

As for Joe, of course I appreciated him. He was a doll. Strong and levelheaded while also being caring and self-sacrificing. But the best part? He was an Italian cop in New York. *chef’s kiss* I am a huge sucker for Italians.

Their romance was a sweet and subtle second chance romance that I actually enjoyed. (Yes, I’ve been known to imbibe in second chances every now and then. Kell, you oughta be proud. ) It wove into the plot perfectly, along with the characters’ growth and development. Both were a tasteful compliment to the plot, giving it a character-driven quality while retaining that sense of mystery and action.

Speaking of subtlety...the faith message in this story was very light but still so impactful. I was a bit unsure at first with how subtle it was, but when the theme was wrapped up in the end, it really hit home! Subtlety isn’t always the best route, but when you do it, this is how you do it.

Once upon a time, I picked up my second book by Jocelyn Green, and I felt in love. I eagerly await my next read by her!

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

snag your copy about the author

Jocelyn Green inspires faith and courage as the award-winning and bestselling author of numerous fiction and nonfiction books, including The Mark of the King; Wedded to War; and The 5 Love Languages Military Edition, which she coauthored with bestselling author Dr. Gary Chapman. Her books have garnered starred reviews from Booklist and Publishers Weekly, and have been honored with the Christy Award, the gold medal from the Military Writers Society of America, and the Golden Scroll Award from the Advanced Writers & Speakers Association. She graduated from Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, with a B.A. in English, concentration in writing. She loves Mexican food, Broadway musicals, strawberry rhubarb pie, the color red, and reading with a cup of tea. Jocelyn lives with her husband Rob and two children in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Visit her at www.jocelyngreen.com.

Have you ever given an author a second chance? Did they surprise you? Have you read anything by Jocelyn Green? Did you enjoy it? I'd love to know down in the comments!

yours in spirit & script, grace

#review #bookreview #historicalfiction #roaringtwenties #christianfiction #mystery #suspense #historicalromance #secondchanceromance #romance #romanticsuspense

(Pst! My Amazon links to The Metropolitan Affair are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through that link, I'll receive a small commission at no extra cost to you!)

first chapters | overcoming the common mistakes

The first chapter is a precarious little booger. If you’ve never struggled with those first few words, that first couple paragraphs, the first full scene—count yourself among the blessed. Nothing can make or break your story and the entire writing process like the Almighty First Chapter.

The AFC (just realized that’s the acronym for my church ) sounds simple enough, but you come across so many different ideas and “rules” and suggestions and norms for first chapters that the first two-to-six thousand words in your book can easily become the worst. A crazy amount of disbelieving questions will overtake your sense of confidence. Is there enough action? Is your main character likable enough? Do readers feel connected to the setting, plot, character, etc.? Did you hook them within the first few words? Does your first chapter foreshadow and set up the rest of the story?

Instead of listening to the advice that says “pack all the action you can into Chapter 1” or the tips that proclaim “the more information, the better” or even the folks that go in the opposite direction with “keep it vague—no info, no action, no nothing—and let your reader soak up your character’s daily life,” let’s pause for a moment. Ask yourself “What is the purpose of a first chapter?” rather than being bombarded with everything else.

I think you’ll find it really is simple enough to achieve an intriguing, balanced, and engaging first chapter.

what are your intentions?

Before you do anything else, consider the projected length of your entire story. I know what you’re thinking: “Grace, I haven’t written it yet! How in the heck am I supposed to know how long it’s gonna be?” or “Grace, I’m a pantser; I don’t even know what happens in the first chapter, let alone the possible length!”

And if you really are thinking that...then I probably should have written a post on outlining, brainstorming, and plotting first. (In the meantime, check this out. Hopefully it’ll tide you over!)

Anyway, my point is that you don’t have to know exactly how your story will unfold or how long it will be (because, oftentimes, your first chapter ends up dictating that); but you do need to have a vague idea of what your intentions are with this story. Is it going to be a short, fast-paced, thrilling suspense novel? Is it a romantic historical drama that spans across twenty years? Is it a quirky and cozy small-town mystery you could read in a sitting?

Your intentions for the story is what you write into it. If you don’t know that, we got a prob, Bob.

For Held Captive, I had a mental outline that consisted of three points: Rina is captured by Xavier, Rina meets her birth father, Rina and Xavier fall in love. (That sounds so weird out of context...y’all feel free to ask for more info in the comments if you’re curious about my debut novel!) Because I knew I wanted this to be a fast-paced, twisty pirate romance, I was able to communicate that through my writing.

So...is your story gonna be long or short? Fast or slow? A savor-every-page story or a stay-up-to-finish story?

For the sake of illustration, let’s say you’re writing a lyrical and enchanting fantasy epic. It’s gonna have that captivating classical prose that should be sipped on like mulled wine; a plot that’s full of twists, but with lots of build-up to make the climax more intense; world-building that’s unique and engaging; and a character journey that’s relatable, compelling, and inspiring. This is a story your readers will want to savor and take their time with.

What’s that got to do with your FC? Good question. It means your first chapter needs to be long. It needs detail on the little elements, ambiguity on the big ones, and a heavy focus on the setting, the main character, and the prose. Your main conflict, inciting incident, all that fun stuff needs to be saved for the next few chapters.

But if you were writing a cute binge-worthy romcom that’s perfect for a three-hour car ride, you’d want a shorter first chapter that focuses on drawing the reader into the character, the plot, and the laugh-out-loud flirty vibes. You might even wanna introduce the love interest right off the bat.

See what I mean? Before you start your first chapter, ask yourself:

~ What are my intentions with this story? Will it be long or short, fast or slow?

~ How will the projected length of the whole book translate into the length of the first chapter?

zoom in on your focus

Once you’ve figured out the potential length of your book, you’ve probably gotten a good idea of what the focus of your story is—plot or character, action or emotion, comedy or tragedy. You’ve begun setting the tone in your mind and creating an atmosphere throughout your outline, Pinterest boards, and playlists.

And that right there is of the utmost importance when it comes to your first chapter.

What is your focus on in this story? Are you focusing on your main character’s emotional journey or the intense mystery your team of detectives are drawn into? Because that’s the foundation of your first chapter.

Let’s go back to that epic fantasy example, shall we? The focus is going to be on the reluctant hero’s journey to redemption and love and all that mushy stuff, right? So should we focus our first chapter on packing in as much action as we can...or should we introduce our main character and make readers care for him?

You know the answer. We need to focus on the character, because he’s the focus of the story.

Now, say you’re writing a mystery or a thriller—your focus is on the plot, so you’re going to want to introduce your main character(s) and set the stage for your mystery in your first chapter. Everything from setting to conflict to crime needs to be established, along with your main character’s connection to all that. (Y’all, mysteries and thrillers are fast-paced, lemme tell ya! Hence why I don’t write them. )

Once again, before you start...ask yourself:

~ What is the main focus of my story as a whole?

~ What is the best way to introduce my main focus to draw readers in?

pardon me, did i just dump on you?

I see what you’re doing. You’ve gotten all excited because you figured out the focus of that fantasy book, right? Your hero, who has a super sad past but a really fantastic story with so many twists that you need to foreshadow...and he lives in a world full of mythical creatures and political corruption that you have to explain so readers don’t get lost...and oops. You just info-dumped 80% of your book’s subtext and context on me.

There’s a reason why it’s called subtext and context—it’s not direct text. Info-dumping is a no-no not because readers don’t need information or because your first chapter (or first few chapters) need to be vague. It’s a no-no because it’s unprofessional and sloppy.

Ouch. I know that hurt. Take it from someone who loves a good info-dump...don’t do it.

If you pour every single detail about your character or story world or plot or whatever into the first chapter, readers are going to lose interest. They’ll feel disconnected from exactly what you’re telling them about and they’ll quickly become bored with the story.

You’ve got to strike a balance. You need details...just not all of them.

Take what you know about your story thus far: your length and your focus. If you’re working with a longer story, pick three to five things your reader has to know about so that they can understand what’s going on. If you’re working with a shorter story, pick one to three.

For example, with our fantasy project here, our readers need to know (1) the hero has experienced pain, (2) the hero seeks revenge, (3) the hero is going to seek revenge by taking down the corrupt government, and (4) the hero has no idea how he’s going to do that.

That’s backstory, worldbuilding, foreshadowing, conflict, plot—the whole kit and caboodle right there. BUT the trick is to keep it as vague as those statements above. Don’t tell your readers that the pain the hero experienced was from the government forcing his father to join the military, only for him to die in a pointless war. Just tell them he’s in pain—better yet, show them he’s in pain.

See what I mean? If you can supply your readers with what they need to know, they can connect with the character (or central plot). And if you keep it vague, they’ll be hungry to learn more. Eventually, you can weave in the subtext and they can discover the context.

Your first chapter is like a teaser trailer or the opening scene to a movie. Viewers don’t need to know everything—just enough to keep them watching. You need to intrigue them, pique their curiosity; and then, over the next couple chapters, you can invest them into the story.

So, what do you ask yourself this time?

~ What are the most important few things (1-3 or 3-5) readers need to know so that they can connect with the story?

~ How can I intrigue my readers without investing them too much, too soon?

the #1 purpose

So you’ve done all the thinking and question-asking and brainstorming and prepping...and now you’re actually starting to write that daunting first chapter. Everything’s going smoothly until you realize that you’ve gotten a little ahead of yourself, so excited about all the action and the plot twists that you totally forgot to really introduce your main character and make your readers care about them.

See, that’s what people don’t tell you. Most readers don’t keep reading because the plot is action-packed and fast-paced...they keep reading because they care. They’ve connected to the MC/POV character and are so invested in their story that they have to find out what happens next, even if everything else about the book stinks.

A popular tip is to begin your story with your inciting incident; that is, the event (or such) that triggers the domino effect that makes up your entire book. But as convenient as that may seem, starting your story off with The Bang™ doesn’t give your readers time to understand why they should even care why Britta is the Chosen One or why Bob was murdered or why Margo went missing or why Laura is so attracted to Stefan.

Really, the #1 purpose of your first chapter is to introduce your main character and invite the reader to care about them and their story. Drop a hint about their sad backstory. Showcase their most redeeming quality. Highlight one of their inner struggles. Whatever it takes to help your readers see that your MC is real, relatable, and worth following on their journey—even if you are writing a plot-driven novel.

Hint: it doesn’t take the inciting incident.

The questions you need to ask are…

~ What is the inciting incident in my story, and why should it matter to readers?

~ Why should readers care about my main character, and how can I help them see that in the first chapter?

let's recap!

The process of creating a compelling first chapter all begins with understanding the purpose of a first chapter, which is to introduce your main character, make readers care, and piquing readers’ curiosity.

Weaving your purpose in is the next step, and you do that by helping readers understand the story (whether that’s the world it’s set in, the journey it follows, or the character leading the way), introducing the main focus of the story, and setting the pace/tone for the rest of the book.

All along the way, make sure you balance backstory with worldbuilding, action with emotion, and plot development with character development. Don’t info-dump, but give the necessary details only, and instead foreshadow the upcoming conflicts.

But whatever you do, don’t overthink it. Yes, I saw the wheels turning in your brain. Just give it your best shot, and if you need to rewrite a paragraph or scene, or try something new, or edit just a sentence or two, you absolutely can! I always try to take my time with beginnings because they are so crucial, so don’t be afraid to try out several different things to find the one that’s right!

Before you get to writing, let me know in the comments below...do you struggle with first chapters? If not, what’s the hardest part to write for you (beginning, middle, end, climax, inciting incident, resolution, etc.)? Do you make any of the common mistakes in your first chapters (if so, you’re in good company )? I’d love to hear all your thoughts!

yours in spirit & script, grace

#writing #writingtips #writingadvice #worldbuilding #infodump #firstchapter #writingtricks #tipsandtricks #advice #writingmistakes #plot #development #backstory #characters

lessons from lent

For the first time in my life, I observed Lent. Granted, I was about three days late in doing so, but regardless, I spent forty days until Easter fasting and praying.

Now...I’m the kind of person who never really considered all the facets of spiritual growth until they’d been saved for over a decade. When I was about twelve-ish (I honestly don’t know how old I was), I finally began consistently reading my Bible every night. And it wasn’t until the last three years that I began consistently praying every day.

And I fasted for the very first time back in January of this year. Strangely...it was good. It was refreshing. It was beneficial. (And one day I will write about the benefits of fasting, but today is not the day.) So when Lent rolled around, I decided I would do something that, to me, seemed wild and crazy.

Get up early in the morning to read my Bible, pray, and journal my thoughts and prayers.

Y’all. My sleep schedule is nonexistent. Somewhere between the dratted time change and me loving my sleep too much (and forcing myself to sleep late when my dad was working a later shift and needed a few extra hours of sleep in the mornings), I stopped getting out of bed at 5am like I did as a kid. And the very moment I finally stumbled out of my room, I was bombarded by 300,000 things to do. I’ve never been able to journal consistently, on top of everything else, and I already read my Bible at night, so surely that was enough.

Eh, no.

So you see, I was in dire need of spiritual intervention. Instead of getting up at 8am and immediately turning on my phone to check my messages (and later getting stressed out because I slept half the day away), I started getting out of bed (usually) as soon as I woke up and reading a couple chapters. I actually put together a Bible study schedule that had me reading all four Gospels, a couple chapters of Acts, and the book of Romans in forty days—which was so fun to create, so now I’m into writing Bible studies (don’t mind me).

Basically, I decided to fast from sleeping late and being on my phone (at least first thing in the morning), and focused on quiet time with God. Which I never get except for when I read my Bible at night, when it’s late and I’m tired and my mind is falling asleep and I can’t keep my eyes open.

You see the predicament.

Now, enough backstory. I want to share with you what I learned during my forty days of quiet time! So, without further ado, I present to you...lessons from Lent…

quiet time is important

This is the obvious one, and most people have probably figured this out by now. I’ve always known this, but never put it into practice until this past month.

Quiet time is so important because it’s just that: a time set aside specifically for communion with God, worship of Him, and studying His Word. When you can recognize the need for quiet in your spiritual life—quiet from the stress and anxiety, the doubts and disbelief, the temptations and interruptions—you’ll be able to truly spend time with God, focus on Him, serve Him, study Him, and grow close to Him.

The trick is not to try and cram two extra minutes during your lunch break or right before bed. Nope. Inconvenience yourself. Pick the worst time, the time you’d never wanna reserve for anything, and dedicate it to God. Carve out twenty minutes, forty-five minutes, an hour of time for absolutely nothing else but Him. (You don’t have to use up all that time; just make sure you have some extra time in case you find you don’t want it to end. )

routine is good, but not perfect

Y’all, habits are great. Habits are necessary to our lives and enhance our ability to commit and handle responsibility. Keeping a routine and making a habit out of something is good…

But it’s not perfect.

When you start hinging everything on your routine, you’ll become stressed when life gets in the way. Bored by the monotony. Unaffected by the habit you made.

So if you, like me, have a hard time keeping up with routines and creating new habits—don’t worry! Please don’t let that stop you from trying something new, something that will make a difference in your life! If you can start a routine, that’s amazing, because it is good—but if you can’t, that’s okay too, because neither is perfect.

But God is. So when you surrender your time and energy, however little it may be to Him, He will make something perfect out of it.

God redeems our time

Speaking of little time...on my first day, I got up late and rushed into the laundry room, plopped down on the floor, and did my best to do what I’d committed to doing. People kept coming in and out, and I had chores waiting on me, so I only had a few measly minutes…

And God used them.

He spoke to me through His Word and taught me things through the scriptures I read. I sat there, thrumming with anxiety and uncertain if this would work, if I’d even have any thoughts to write down...and there went God, pouring His Spirit out on me and speaking to me as I read.

Even when you only have a few measly minutes or measly anything else, God wants it. He will use it. Broken dreams, boring days, pain—doesn’t matter. Give it to Him, and watch Him restore and redeem it, creating beauty from the ashes.

God’s Word is truly alive

I’ve read through the Bible before. I’ve read the Gospels tons of times and heard all the stories my entire life. And with that in mind, it’s far too easy to think, “Welp, nothing new to see here. Moving on.”

But God proved over and over again in the last forty days that His Word is a l i v e. No matter how many times you read one passage or one book or one story, there’s still wisdom and knowledge to be imparted, mysteries to be revealed, peace and hope to be bestowed. There’s still—and always will be—more to learn and discover. More ways to apply the scripture to your life. More things to pray about and thank God for.

So don’t ever be turned off to a “boring” or “overrated” part of the Bible. Read it. Read it again and again and again, and if you don’t get something new out of it every single time, I’ll eat my hat. (Just an expression. I actually don’t have any hats to eat...)

when you listen, He speaks

I prayed almost every morning that God would speak to me what He wanted to say and reveal to me what He wanted me to know. And the crazy thing is, even through my doubt, even though (like I mentioned above) I was re-reading chapters I’d read/heard hundreds of times, God did speak. Several times I’d run out of space in my journal (because I set up a page per day for journaling) for my thoughts and prayers because of all that I was learning.

The point? When we listen, when we quiet our mind and let God speak over all the other noise, He will. He does. In fact, He always is, and once we focus on Him instead of everything else, we’ll hear Him.

Suffice to say, my forty days of quiet time and fasting (ish) were amazing. Definitely beyond all I’d expected. Not only did I learn all these things (or have them affirmed if I had already learned them), I re-trained myself to get up early, which gave me time for my reading and to take care of kitchen clean-up, lunch prep, and even some writing instead of feeling rushed and overwhelmed once I woke up.

God didn’t institute the practice of fasting for us to feel like pious, perfect Christians (like the Pharisees did) or to make us suffer under strict guidelines. Rather, He gave it to us as a tool for strengthening, growing closer to Him, and pruning and purifying our hearts and minds. If you don’t fast in some form or fashion, or if you don’t have time with God (either at a certain time and all throughout the day), I urge you to consider doing so! Find a time that’s quiet and peaceful for you to read the Word, pray, journal, worship, and just be with God. Take a break (whether forty days or two) to abstain from something or switch up your routine or simply add more time with God to your day.

And if you don’t find yourself learning and growing and being formed...I’ll eat my nonexistent hat.

I love you all and pray God would do amazing works in your lives!

yours in spirit & script,grace

#faith #christianity #christianliving #fasting #lent #lessons #learning #spiritual #god #scripture #godsword #encouragement #inspiration #quiettime

coming soon: a fire to kindle by daniel dydek

If you're looking for a new clean fantasy from a Christian perspective, allow me to introduce A Fire to Kindle by Daniel Dydek, author of The Triumvirs series! A Fire to Kindle is the first in the Spirit Wind series, which are supernatural thrillers set in a medieval-esque countryside, and is available for preorder now!

about the book

Cursed with left-handedness, Rae-Anna tries to find refuge and sanctification in the convent outside Holden. But before she can take vows as a Sister of the order, a chance encounter in the catacombs starts her on a course strange to the Sisters and terrifying to her. To set things back to rights, she'll need to figure out why the blue fire alights her cursed hand—and how she can be rid of it.

But the harder she tries, the more it seems it will not leave until she does what it requires—and neither she nor the Sisters know exactly what that is.

A Fire to Kindle is a YA Christian speculative novel for readers who love supernatural battles (think Frank Peretti) and medieval fantasy and can handle Pirates of the Caribbean type spookiness (yes, I'm talking about undead skeletons )! Fans of MaryLu Tyndall's Protectors of the Spear series will love the Spirit Wind series too!

A Fire to Kindle releases June 6th, 2023 from Beorn Publishing, and you can preorder now for only $0.99 on Amazon Kindle! (The price will increase to $1.99 for launch week, then to the full price of $3.99 afterwards.)

about the author

Daniel Dydek was born in Raccoon Township, PA, where he dreamed of living out west. So far, he’s made it to Ohio, where he lives with his wife and son. He began writing at age 8, and never really stopped. After three years with the US Army, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in English Writing from Geneva College of Beaver Falls, PA, and a Master’s degree in Natural Resources from Virginia Tech. Besides writing, he also enjoys a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, mountain biking, reading, coffee shops, book stores, and Durango, Colorado. He is currently working on Book 4 of The Triumvirs series, and the first novel in a new supernatural thriller/fantasy series. Follow his updates by subscribing to his monthly newsletter at www.danieldydek.com.

Do you read speculative/supernatural fiction? If so, what's your favorite book in that genre? (Bonus question: have you ever read anything by Frank Peretti???) What are some new indie releases you're looking forward to in the coming months? I'd love to hear all about it in the comments!

yours in spirit & script, grace

#comingsoon #upcomingrelease #bookspotlight #spotlight #speculativefiction #supernatural #fantasy #medievalfantasy #indie

welcome to april! (march wrapup & april goals)

I’d open with an April Fool’s joke, but I just can’t bring myself to do it. I tried the whole “guess what, my book’s gonna be a movie prank,” but it kinda fell flat.

ANYWAY.

April hath arrived, lovelies! I’m still reeling, because it was just Christmas, y’all. But I’m moderately excited to see what April brings—especially to see if I can get more work done than I did in March.

You know. Something just hit me. I’m writing this intro after I’ve written the body of the post (I’m weird like that), and I realized that in every single updates post, I manage to complain about pretty much everything. Not in a whiny way, but in a disappointed, why-does-time-have-to-fly and why-didn’t-I-get-anything-done-last-month kinda way.

SO before I talk about anything else, I wanna take some time to be grateful for what I have accomplished and for what time I do have.

*takes in a deep breath and reflects on life* I got to make some gorgeous art and delicious food. I drank way too much coffee, but it was scrumptious and I have no regrets. I planted herbs, which is literally a dream come true, because I’ve wanted an herb garden for literal years. I have a part-part-part-time job as a virtual assistant, which is such a blessing, and I’ve been working my nana’s store whenever she’s out, which has given me some amazing quiet time to work.

And I led the youth worship night (which was hosted at our house) with my sweet friend Madison and the pastor’s oldest son but we don’t count him because he was an underling Madison recruited, even though it wouldn’t have been half as amazing without him because he has the voice of an angel.

And I started a Bible study for Lent, which requires me (okay, I’m requiring myself, because I invented the study) getting up early in the morning to read, pray, and journal when it’s still quiet—and I’ve read three of the Gospels, am almost finished with John, and will have read all four and Romans by Easter. Which has been so amazing, because I feel like I’m actually meditating on what I read and soaking it in!

So March...March was good. It wasn’t what I’d expected, but it was still good, because God is good.

what i did last month

Last month’s goals were simple: do what I didn’t in February + update my website, relaunch my Patreon, and post consistently on S&J Editor’s Instagram.

Ha. Ha ha ha.

Y’all, March was insanity. I managed to finish two read-throughs for editing projects, but none of them are done done; I did some work on one website, but it’s still not finished; I wrote a good bit in Her Heart’s Home, but it’s overdue and yet unfinished; I obviously didn’t update my website or relaunch my Patreon (although I made progress in both of those areas); I only wrote FIVE blog posts last month, which is an all-time low.

I honestly don’t know what I did last month.

I started a new Instagram for faith, encouragement, and femininity…

I put in six hours as a virtual assistant…

I worked three days at my nana’s store…

I did some beta-reading…

I celebrated four years of Held Captive…

I planted an herb garden…

I started a Bible study with my online friend group…

I created some mail art and participated in a lettering challenge...

I mean, I did things, but I didn’t accomplish things, which makes me feel, well, unaccomplished.

this month’s goals

Well, y’all can probably guess what my goals are for April…

~ finish my website commission

~ finish Her Heart’s Home

~ finish two-to-four editing projects

~ update all the things I wanna update of mine

~ post more than five times and read more than five books

Yeah. We’ll see how that goes.

monthly progress

I wrote between 4k-5k in March...which is the most fiction writing I’ve done in a month since last March. It’s been hard, and yet last night (March 30th), I wrote 1,123 words in a sitting...and guys...it was wonderful. I’d not felt so accomplished the entire month until I saw my word count. If you wanna hear more about my writing struggles, consider becoming a patron! I hope to start a new article series chronicling my return to writing!

reading highlights

Let’s see...officially, I read The Metropolitan Affair by Jocelyn Green and The Counterfeit Wife by Paulett Golden...and unofficially I re-read The Dressmaker’s Secret by Kellyn Roth (part of my VA work, but also enjoyable)!

And that was it.

*pouts*

top blog posts

About that. Since I only published five posts in March, I could put every single one on this list and it’d still be short.

Anyway, my top post is (of course) my post celebrating Held Captive’s bookiversary! In the number two spot is when I introduced everyone to my latest project, Her Heart’s Home!

guest appearances

As promised, I guest posted on Joy Calle Martinez’s blog, sharing my thoughts on overcoming the lies negative feedback feeds! Y’all can check it out here! I’d love to hear what you think!

Well, folks. Welcome to April. Here’s to progress beyond our wildest imaginations, sisters who send gifs of mac and cheese because they want to annoy you, and actually getting stuff done in this month of rain showers and foolish jokes! Oh, and if anyone is interested in receiving some happy mail + art in their mailbox, drop this emoji down in the comments!

Seriously, though, I hope y’all have an amazing April and had a marvelous March! I’d love to hear all about your goals and favorite reads and writing in the comments below!

yours in spirit & script, grace

#monthlyupdates #monthlygoals #monthlywrapup #readinghighlights #topblogposts #monthlyprogress #writingprogress #wrapup #goals #welcometoapril #guestappearances #guestpost #instagram #reading #progressreport #happymail #patreon

the trope tag

Y'all, I am six months behind on tags...

So do I catch up?

Nope.

I steal an entirely different tag and do it.

But in my defense, how could I pass up a trope faceoff tag? Exactly. I couldn't.

the rules

As Christine Smith put it, “Twelve worthy tropes have been tossed together in twos to battle it out for our favorites.” So for this tag, pick one of the two tropes listed over the other and explain why this one wins the duel (repeat for all six trope combos)! Tag some fellow bloggers, of course, and stay tuned for the final challenge at the end!

Don’t forget to link back to whomever tagged you and thank them (thanks, Christine, for the open tag!) and link back to the creator!

the chosen one vs the mentor

Honesty: I don’t mind either trope, really. Probably because I don’t read a ton of chosen-one stories (soulmates is more the romance genre’s style), so it hasn’t gotten too old to me. That said, I’d probably pick the mentor trope over the chosen one, simply because the mentor isn’t explored as much (as a protagonist, that is) and there really are way more options with it.

Winner: the mentor

enemies-to-lovers vs friends-to-lovers

HOW IS THIS EVEN A QUESTION???

Okay, I don’t have anything against friends-to-lovers as a trope (if my love for Gale and my own FTL romance are of any indication)…but enemies-to-lovers will always and forever be my all-time favorite. You can call it toxic all you want, it still wins out in this round.

Winner: enemies-to-lovers

matchmaker gone wrong vs love potion

Welp, I’m not a love potion fan at all, so matchmaker gone wrong wins by default. Aside from that, it’s still a top-notch trope. (Emma, anyone?)

Winner: matchmaker gone wrong

trapped in an elevator vs working with the ex

I will forever love trapped in an elevator after A Christmas Kiss. (Such a good movie, if you’re a Hallmark, or Hallmark-like, movie fan!) It’s just pure fun, and although I’m sure there’s some great love-to-hate-to-love/second chance vibes in working with the ex, I feel like there’s a lot more room for creativity with trapped in an elevator!

Winner: trapped in an elevator

mistaken identity vs marriage pact

Gah! Okay, so I really like both of these...and really dislike them. To me, mistaken identity can end up overly dramatic, and marriage pact can come off as cliché and cheesy. So if mistaken identity is really well-done, chances are I’ll enjoy it more than a marriage pact story.

Winner: mistaken identity

kidnapped vs the one that got away

Y’all know “the one that got away” or second-chance romance is one of my least favorite tropes already (not at all because there’s anything wrong with the trope—there are just others I like more, so this one ends up on the bottom of the totem pole)…so kidnapped wins by a technicality. Plus, it doesn’t help that one of my favorite novels (On Wings of Devotion by Roseanna M. White) starts off with a kidnapping (gone wrong, that is!) and that half of my very, very, very first stories were kidnapped stories. (Y’all legitimately do not want to know.) It’s just plain fun, you guys.

Winner: kidnapped

There we have it, folks! The winning tropes, which means it’s time for a very special (and slightly overwhelming) challenge!

write a short story using every single trope that we chose!

Yep, I have to write a mentor, enemies-to-lovers, kidnapped and trapped in an elevator, mistaken identity, matchmaker gone wrong romance.

Honestly, that sounds amazing.

Last but not least, lemme tag some folks…

Vanessa Hall Kellyn Roth H.S. Kylian Lily Yu

Make sure y’all subscribe to the blog and keep an eye out for my tropetastic short story coming atcha soon! And, of course, I’d love to know what your winning tropes are! Feel free to pirate this tag if you have a blog of your own or comment below!

yours in spirit & script, grace

#tag #tropes #favoritetropes #enemiestolovers #blogtag