Books

Here is where you will find my reviews of books I've read and my recommendations. 

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Very Berry Smoothie Recipe

I’m a morning writer and smoothies are easy to sip when I’m typing. So naturally, they’re my favorite breakfast. Removing your eyes from the screen to use utensils or bite a granola bar is distracting. If you write during lunch or snack as you write, you know what I’m talking about. Try drinking a smoothie instead. Set it before your laptop and sip through a straw while maintaining eye-contact with your screen. Here is my favorite smoothie recipe. ½ banana ¼ cup blueberries 3-4 strawberries ⅓ cup raspberries (this is optional and can be substituted with more blueberries) ½ scoop vanilla (or chocolate) protein powder 2 teaspoons green powder (or a handful of greens - broccoli, kale, spinach, etc.) ¼ teaspoon turmeric 1 tablespoon peanut butter ½ cup unsweetened almond milk or water This is a safe estimate of the ingredients I use. I usually don’t measure and throw in a handful of each. Don’t be afraid to vary the berries you use or substitute any ingredients. Enjoy!...
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Book Review: Purple Moon by Tessa Emily Hall

Purple Moon made me appreciate YA contemporary Christian fiction. I like science fiction, but there’s something enchanting about a normal boy and girl meeting and falling in love. Back cover:         Selena's life isn't turning out to be the fairy tale she imagined as a kid. That hope seemed to vanish long ago when her dad kicked her and her mom out of the house. This summer might finally hold the chance of a new beginning for Selena ... but having to live with her snobby cousin in Lake Lure, NC while waiting for her mom to get out of rehab wasn't how Selena was planning on spending her summer. She soon begins to wonder why she committed to giving up her "bad habits" for this. Things don't seem too bad, though. Especially when Selena gains the attention of the cute neighbor next door. But when her best friend back home in Brooklyn desperately needs her, a secret that's been hidden from Selena for years is revealed, and when she bec...
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Five Ways to Write a Solid Villain

Being a villain is easy; all they do is try to kill the hero, right? Not exactly. While the villain opposes the protagonist's goal, he is more than a source of conflict. He has a heart and soul like everyone else in your story world, so develop him properly and write him well. Your villain can make or break your story. Here are a few ways to write a solid villain: 1. The villain must be as complex as the hero. Give them goals (outside killing the hero), fears, quirks, and hobbies to make them sympathetic. Sometimes, complexity comes when the villain lives in morally gray areas, which creates more conflict for the hero, too. 2. To create depth and better understand your villain, give him adequate motivation and a background. The villain must believe she’s is right. For motivation, take a common emotion and expand on it. Dig into her past and remember: one event doesn’t make a villain. One event can be a spark, but there has to be more. If you’re having troubl...
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