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Character Arcs and What They Teach Us About Spiritual Growth
One of the key elements in storytelling is building strong character arcs. Character arcs are the way a character changes throughout a story, whether for good or bad. They are what keep us turning the pages and reading, making us cheer for the main character, hoping they will achieve their quest and reach their goal. They are also what make us cheer against the villain. As I’ve learned more about character arcs, I’ve realized that I’m very drawn to them because they reflect the way that we learn and grow as believers and children of God. Character arcs in fiction are, many times, a parallel of our own personal growth…
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Five Summer Reads For Home or Vacation
With summer in full swing, I have seen many people online recommend their favorite “summer reads.” Summer reads are essentially fun, enjoyable books that capture the sunshine and fun feels of the summer season. Whatever your summer looks like (whether it’s a vacation, a staycation, or simply your usual routine) here are my top five recommendations to capture the feeling of summer. I have included various genres so that you can find something you enjoy, something you can recommend, and hopefully a new favorite. Heidi by Johanna Spyri Heidi is a beloved classic which has been adapted many different times and in many different ways (my favorite being the anime).…
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I Love Stories About Orphans. Why?
The majority of bestselling stories (at least in middle grade and YA) feature an orphan protagonist. Anne of Green Gables, The Secret Garden, and The Mysterious Benedict Society all feature orphans. And even The Hunger Games and Percy Jackson feature main characters raised by one parent, in both cases the mother, with the father either dead or out of the picture. In my own writing, I have found myself gravitating towards writing stories about orphans who get adopted by kings or chiefs, and orphans who play a large role in saving their world and families. This has led me to ask myself the question: why do we love stories about…
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Five Middle-Grade Series That Have Shaped Who I Am
There is a long list of middle-grade books that live rent free in my head. I’ve always been drawn to this genre and that has made me wonder: why? It’s about more than the whimsical settings, the creative plots and the high stakes. The thing that constantly draws me in is the characters themselves, and their journey to finding family, community, and a place of belonging. It’s the stories of normal people with big fears, going through life and discovering greatness in themselves. Middle grade is fascinating because it perfectly portrays what someone believing in you can do to transform your life. I find many middle grade books so uplifting…
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Fall in Love With the Classics: Five Books I Recommend
Happy February! To begin the month on a lighthearted note, I wanted to shift from the weekly devotional content and share with you five of my favorite classic books. The classics, in literature, are books which have stood the test of time and serve as standards of excellence and recognized value. For many people, hearing the term “classic literature” carries an ominous or serious ring with it. Delving into this genre can sound overwhelming, especially if you have never explored it before. And yet, it is the classics which are the building block of the modern literary world. You will constantly find references to the classics in modern literature, movies,…
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Rose in Bloom – Book Recommendation
“Women, they have minds, and they have souls, as well as just hearts. And they’ve got ambition, and they’ve got talent, as well as just beauty. I’m so sick of people saying that love is all a woman is fit for.” – Jo March? Louisa May Alcott is most famous for her timeless novel Little Women. In the Little Women 2019 movie adaptation, Jo March boldly states the above quote to Marmee. But did you know that famous line isn’t actually in the Little Women book? This iconic phrase is taken from another of Alcott’s masterpieces, Rose in Bloom, which was published in 1876. In this book, the protagonist, Rose…
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Book Review: The Ranger’s Apprentice
I first heard of this book when I submitted a short story to my critique group and someone commented on my title. I had never heard of the Ranger’s Apprentice series so I was curious after my own story’s title, “The Mountain Ranger”, was compared to it. I’m very grateful I let my curiosity win and got this book! Here’s a short blurb about the book: The Ranger’s Apprentice by John Flanagan follows the story of Will, a boy who was orphaned and taken in as the castle’s ward. Upon his fifteenth birthday, he must be chosen by one of the Craftmasters to become an apprentice. Will dreams of becoming…
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8 Books That Inspire Hope, Create Courage, and Encourage Bold Living
Have you read something recently that made you feel brave, inspired, encouraged, or like you could take on the world? Today I want to share a list of books (both fiction and non-fiction) that will inspire you to be a little braver, live a little louder, and perhaps take that next tiny step toward becoming the incredible person God called you to be. Sometimes all you need is a little inspiration and a vision of who you could be and what you could do to take the next step forward. Maybe all you need is to be reminded that ordinary people can do extraordinary things if they say yes to…
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The Ascendance Series: What a Fictional King Taught Me About Real Leadership
I recently finished reading the last two books of the Ascendance Series by Jennifer A. Nielsen. To those of you who don’t know, the Ascendance Series is a YA fantasy series that follows the journey of an orphan boy named Sage and his journey into becoming Jaron and the king of Carthya. Last year I read the first book, The False Prince, and I completely fell in love with the main character. I was amazed by the plot twists and how masterfully they were pulled off. After finishing the original trilogy, I read the two last books which take place right before the ending of The Shadow Throne. The Story…
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In the Face of Accusation, Face the King: How God Stands in Our Defense
“Edmund was on the other side of Aslan, looking all the time at Aslan’s face. He felt a choking feeling and wondered if he ought to say something; but a moment later he felt that he was not expected to do anything except to wait, and do what he was told.” – C. S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe This week I decided to re-read one of my favorite series: The Chronicles of Narnia. While reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, I noticed a powerful paragraph for the first time. This is the iconic scene where the witch, Jadis, comes before Aslan to stake her…
