Blog With Character Tag

     Hi again! *waves from unexpected hiatus* Sorry for the long wait. Again, school and my schedule have hit me harder than I expected, which has led to me not posting. 

    It may seem now like my blog is reduced to monthly updates and blog tags, but I'm hoping to get back into book reviews and other fun things soon. Again, thanks for being patient with me.

    Today, Stepping Stones Book Reviews receives another honor: one of the first to send a blog tag out in the world! Stick around to watch me answer a few questions about how I write characters, as well as a couple of my favorites.

A Bookish Opinion: Music in Story

       Hello everyone, and welcome to another Bookish Opinion! Originally I decided to write about standalones vs. series, but as I've had several songs stuck in my head lately, and am participating in a month-long song challenge, I decided that it would be more fun to focus on something I've never tried tackling before: music and stories!

A Bookish Opinion: Communicating Theme

      Hey everyone! Fridays (well, the Fridays when I'm active on here) are usually when I post another book review. There are so many great books out there and it's incredible to have an opportunity to share them with the world. However, since I haven't been reading as much lately, I thought it would be fun to do something a little different in my posting schedule. 

    So, give a temporary welcome back to Bookish Opinions! 

    For these next few weeks the "bookish opinions" will be truly "bookish", as I'm going to be not only taking examples of the topics I'm blogging about from books, but also from...movies! The drastic topic change may seem strange, but I think that there's something to be learned from this type of media too, especially when thinking about books to pick, read, and write. After all, aren't movies stories too? 

    Today I'll be talking about themes in story, and more importantly how they can be shown.

A Bookish Opinion: Disabilities/Medical Conditions in Literature

     Hello! If you've stuck around my blog for a little, you've learned that this month marks the one-year anniversary of my blog, and to celebrate, I'm starting a type of post called Bookish Opinions. This Friday's topic is less clear-cut, but I'm excited to be able to share my thoughts about it with you. The things we're the most passionate about make for the best discussions, right?

A Bookish Opinion: Formats of Publishing

    Hi! If you saw last week's post, then you've already figured out that this month is my blog's first anniversary, which I'm celebrating through a new blog series called Bookish Opinions. This Friday's topic is another fun, much-discussed one: the different formats we use to invite stories into our lives. 

A Bookish Opinion: Story Length (Plus Goodreads Giveaway!)

     Hey, everyone! If you were able to catch my blog post last week, I promised yet another book review. Well, after posting, I remembered that next week was the first week of May.

    Why is that detail so important? Well, because May is the month I first started this blog.

    Yes, it's been a year since I started posting, and this blog has grown so much more than I ever thought or hoped it could. I wanted to do something special to celebrate the occasion (okay, more than a few somethings), and so I came up with a new, month-long post series: Bookish Opinions!

    Bookish Opinions is just that: me writing on some of the most popular, widely debated, and overall fun topics that are floating around in the book world. I hope that this will be a chance for me to share more about myself outside of blog tags and book reviews, and that it'll be a way to jumpstart more conversations with readers old and new. 

    Today, I'm starting the series with a topic that I'm sure many bookworms will have an opinion on: story lengths! How short is too short for a story to grab your heart and soul? How many page numbers should you focus on if you want to continue to read or write well?

Reflections Blog Tag

     Hey, everyone! Today I'm going to be veering off the usual review schedule and participating in the Reflections blog tag, which I was linked for a couple of weeks ago on the Teen Writer's Nook site (thanks a ton, Issabelle!). I'm really excited to type out my thoughts about this prompt. I hope that it'll be fun for YOU to learn more about me and possibly feel led to do some reflecting of your own.

    Unlike the Narnia Blog Tag or Liebster Award challenges I did last year, this tag had only one question:

    What are eight things God has blessed and/or taught you in 2020?

    Especially with all of the stress and craziness that has rippled through the world lately because of COVID-19 and its effects, I feel like this is a perfect moment to step back and really focus on the better parts of last year's craziness. So here's a list of eight things I was blessed with, and the ways God used each of those blessings to teach me.

The Liebster Award...My Questions and Answers (also includes a very special announcement!)

 

    Hi, everyone! A week ago Laurel Jean nominated me for the Liebster Award, and I thought the idea was so fun I wanted to post about it right away! I hope that you'll enjoy this challenge as much as me. Who knows...maybe we'll find something in common other than books!  

    Here are the official rules:

1. First, thank the person who nominated you, include a link to their blog, and add the Liebster Award badge to your blog and/or post.
2. Next answer the eleven questions from the person who nominated you.
3. Give eleven random facts about yourself.
4. Nominate 5-11 fellow bloggers with less than 200 followers.
5. Notify your nominees that you nominated them for the Liebster Award.
6. Last but not least, ask your nominees eleven questions.

1. First of all, a huge thank you to Laurel Jean for letting me know about this and nominating me! Go check out her blog HERE. You won't regret it, it's awesome 😁

2. Below are my answers to the questions. It's sort of like a mini-interview, so I structured it like one!

How did you choose the name for your blog?

I decided to name my blog Stepping Stones Book Reviews because I liked the analogy that good books are stepping stones in life. We read them, and use them (in a way) to steady ourselves as we travel through whatever's been thrown at us. Literature at its best can inspire us, give us new perspectives, and emotionally propel us through hard times and difficult decisions, which I think is really cool! I hope that through this blog I can recommend books that are not only well written in terms of prose, theme, character development, and voice, but that will also be worth taking the time to read. (The "book reviews" part is pretty self-explanatory.)

If you could work any job for one week, what job would it be, and why?

I would definitely become a traditionally published author. I think the experience in and of itself could be rewarding, and it would give me a "what to expect" if I decided to pursue that kind of career in the future.

What is the biggest thing you’ve learned from blogging?

I think blogging has been a great way for me to become more consistent with my writing, and in general a way to interact with the awesome book blogging community. Everyone on here has been so supportive and has introduced me to some really great reads! I've also been able to promote and learn more about authors through blogging that I wouldn't be able to through in-person meetings, so I guess I'd say my answer is I've learned how blogging can open new opportunities for people to connect.

What does your ideal weekend look like?

My ideal weekend would be waking up at 8 or 9 AM, heading to the library to return and check out books, and spending the rest of the day inside, curled up in my living room alternating between actually reading and watching movies and TV shows. 

Do you set goals for the New Year?

In the past I have...more "things I want to do" than actual resolutions, though. For the first time this year I've chosen a focus word instead of making resolutions, hoping to learn more and experience it throughout 2021. My word for this year is "peace", so if you have any advice or book recommendations on that subject, please send them my way!

What is the best book (aside from the Bible) that you’ve read, and why do you think so?

There are a million books that I could name that have impacted me in unforgettable ways, but right now I'm going to name Gene Edwards' The Silas Diary. The storytelling was vivid and the story themes were powerful, but what really got to me was how human all the characters in it seemed. Paul, Silas, and Timothy, to name a few Acts figures, look larger-than-life to me so often that I forget that they were people too. It was incredible to be able to live through some of the most famous missionary journeys in the Bible in the light of "ordinary men and women doing the extraordinary through Him." Seeing their passion and sacrifices for Christ was humbling and inspiring at the same time. I reviewed this book when the blog was first starting out and you can find my post about it HERE. 

What was the best thing that happened to you in 2020?

This isn't exactly a "fun" event, but I'd have to say my major jaw surgery in the middle of September. I was originally supposed to have it in June, but the pandemic pushed all my appointments and scheduling way back. The recovery was (and still is!) long, but I was just glad my COVID test before the surgery came back negative and that I was able to get it all over with.

Which historical figure do you most admire, and why?

Ooh, this is a tough one! There are so many I could choose, but I'm going to spotlight Abigail Adams. Reading Natalie S. Bober's biography on her in late 2020 gave me a new, stunning appreciation for her strength of character. She went through some really hard stuff, yet she always remained true to fighting for America, in her own way. I also admire her and John Adams' relationship; despite the unreliability and slowness of communicating through letters, they were still able to have a fulfilling, happy life together.

Where do you hope to see yourself in 10 years?

Ideally? I'm not sure! I have a wide variety of hopes and dreams, some of which are becoming a published author, having a story or creativity-based career, starting a family and/or adopting, traveling to Europe, and being able to live on my own. I'm not sure how any of it is going to turn out, but it would be amazing if any of those were to come true!

If you knew that today was your last day on earth, how would you spend it?

I believe that God has put me in the place I am in life to serve His purpose, so I think I would try an Internet/writing fast, and truly try to experience what He's given me for the last time. Just, overall, strive to have an eternal mindset and unselfishly love, which is something I struggle to do.

What is your favorite Bible verse, and why?

My favorite Bible verse is Psalm 139: 1-6 (honestly, all of Psalm 139!). I love reading and hearing that passage because it reminds me of how powerful God is, and yet how much He cares for me. It gives me a sense of comfort that He is in control, He knows everything about me, and He will continue to guide me.

3. My eleven random facts are below:

• I don't like carbonated drinks. Soda or sparkling water? No can do.
• I credit Erin Hunter's Warriors series for getting me serious about writing.
• I have a strong addiction to fanfiction. Especially when it comes to movies and TV shows. I love getting to see what may be going through the characters' heads!
• Someday I'd love to visit the Palace of Versailles.
• My all-time favorite music artist is Hannah Kerr. 
• My favorite episode from Season 1 of The Chosen is "Jesus Loves the Little Children." It was so fun to watch and had a ton of emotional symbolism.
• My family has watched all the sci-fi "star" shows: Star Wars, Star Trek, and Stargate. (My favorite is Stargate, then Star Trek, then Star Wars.)
• I'm not a huge Marvel/DC fan, but I loved Spider Man: Into the Spiderverse.
• I love the Shelby Holmes series because it represents Type 1 Diabetes well, which several of my family members have. 
• I actually liked how How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World ended.
• I've noticed that in girl-guy-guy love triangles there's three character tropes: 1) the emotionally torn girl, 2) the witty, charming, charismatic guy, and 3) the steadier, sensitive, moodier guy. Strange. Is that a must in all love triangles? 

4. To pass this prompt on, I'm tagging:

• Susan from Blogging 'bout Books
• Alana, Issabelle, and Katherine from Teen Writers' Nook
• Brooke Johnson from Wings of a Writer
• Rachel Leitch from Proseworthy
• Esther Noe from Stargazers For Him

Five is pretty self-explanatory, so I'll move on to the last part!

6.  Below are my questions for each nominee:

• What was your goal/purpose when you first started blogging? Do you feel that goal or purpose has changed in any way?
• What's your favorite part about blogging?
• What's your go-to comfort snack? Why?
• If you could go see any movie in a movie theater, what would you want to see and why?
• Do you consider yourself an introvert, an extrovert, or a mixture of both?
• Who's your favorite music artist?
• What's a funny memory from when you were a little kid?
• Are you a morning or night person? 
• If you could immediately learn to speak any new language, which one would you choose? Why?
• If you could donate a million dollars to any charity or nonprofit organization, which one would you pick?
• What's the best thing you've learned from 2020?

    Thanks for joining me for this special post! I hope you enjoyed reading my answers and responses as much as I enjoyed writing them.

    What about you? What would your answers be to the questions (either for me or by me)? Do we share any of the opinions in my eleven random facts? Have you visited any of the blogs I tagged before? If so, what did you think about their posts?

    I also wanted to include a very special announcement in this post. One of my fellow young writers, Eliana Duran, is hosting a short story contest for 9-13 year olds. The prizes are pretty sweet, including Amazon gift cards up to $50, custom crocheted hats, and a full set of Green Ember books autographed by S.D. Smith. If you're interested and in the age range, feel free to join! If you aren't, feel free to pass the invitation on to someone that might be interested. You can find all the information needed to enter HERE.

    Next week, stay tuned for my latest review, featuring a book from one of my new favorite series...

Narnia Blog Tag

   

    Hey! I got tagged for S.J. Barnard's Narnia Blog Tag yesterday, and thought it was such a fun idea that I wanted to post about it IMMEDIATELY. I honestly didn't know blog tags were a thing before this, but now I want to participate in them as much as I do book memes!

    I'm definitely going to have a blast with this. 😁

    Here are the rules (as dictated by S. J. Barnard):

1. Thank the person who nominated you

2. Describe the rate of your Narnia fanatic (Nostalgic, Serious, Maniacal)

3. Answer the questions below

4. Tag 5+ bloggers

5. Have fun!

1. First off, a huge thank-you to Allie Andersen for tagging me! You can find her awesome blog HERE.

2. Here is S.J. Barnard's "Narnia Fanatic Rating System":

Nostalgic Fanatic—You read the book and/or watched the movies as a child and the word Narnia gives you a warm feeling

Serious Fanatic—You rediscovered the wonder of Narnia after you were older and have read the books and watched the movies

Maniacal Fanatic—You have lived Narnia from childhood, hid in closets on more accounts than is healthy, have read and watched all the movies including the BBC version

    Based on her definitions of "Narnia Fanatic", I'd say I'm a Serious Fanatic. I am not a huge Narnia fan, just because I didn't discover the series early enough to get really into it. (Back when most Nostalgics and Maniacs were diving into the wonder of C.S. Lewis's writing, I was more interested in fangirling over Warriors and Ever After High. 😋) Now, while I can't say I've fully read all of the series, I have read books one through six, and watched all the movies.

3. Below are my answers to all the questions. 

Who is your favorite Pevensie sibling?

Probably either Edmund or Lucy. Lucy is just so fun to spend time with, and Edmund's growth as a character is very relatable. I liked that Edmund was more "rebellious" and hard to deal with than the rest of his siblings seem to be.

What is the most underrated book in Narnia?

I'd say The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. I know, I know, it's not THAT non-discussed, especially because of the movie based on it, but I still think that the actual book had some great scenes and themes in it that were cut out of the movie. Including the bundle of sass and interest that is Eustace's diary. I love snarky characters 😂

Who is your favorite Narnian king?

King Caspian, because he stuck to the original ideals of Narnia and I think was a good ruler overall.

Who is your favorite Narnian queen?

Honestly, I can't think of any except Lucy or Susan...so probably Lucy. (I still haven't really forgiven Susan.)

Which non-human Narnian do you like best?

Either Aslan, because he's Aslan, or Reepicheep, because of his loyalty. Reepicheep would be a good character to have on your side.

Which book deserves a movie?

The Horse and His Boy. Definitely. It was a fun adventure, I liked that this time it didn't have to be about the Pevensies (though their cameos were nice), and it would be a great way to get more people to enjoy Narnia, who haven't previously read any of the books or seen the movies.

What is one thing you did as a Narnia fanatic you do not regret?

Daydream about finding a magic world in my closet. Also, go to a girl's house last year and comment that her family's wardrobe looked exactly like the Narnia one.

4. To pass this prompt on, I decided to tag:

• Laurel from Laurel Jean 
• Elza from Elza Reads
• Lark from Lark Writes...on books and life
• Ashley from The Rustic Reading Gal
• E.G. Bella from Bella's Blog

5. Well, I think I had fun with this post and all the questions! Hmm, maybe I should think about getting back into Narnia...

    I hope you enjoyed reading this blog post, and hearing all my ramblings about this awesome series! What kind of Narnia fan would you describe yourself as? What would be your answers to the questions?

    When I first posted my interview with Livy Jarmusch earlier this week, I mentioned that there would be another author interview the coming week. Actually, what I meant to say is that it'll be posted AFTER next week, not during! Sorry about the confusion. Instead, I'll be reviewing a classic novel that is one of the most thought-provoking and powerful reads I've ever been able to get my hands on.

(The photos used were taken by Matthew Hamilton, Chris Bair, Siora Photography, Ulvi Safari, and Mika Matin of Unsplash.)