Crannig Castle - A Review

Welcome back! I hope your week has gone well. Mine has certainly been a busy one. My sister and I started our seasonal jobs at Hobby Lobby this week, so we've had to make an hour and some drive a few days a week. But, we're moving this weekend, so the drive will be cut almost in half! This is a dream come true for us; we call Hobby Lobby our "Happy Place". 

But enough about me and the craziness of life at the Snell house - you're here for a book review! In all the craziness of packing, I almost forgot about this post. Morgan, I humbly apologize for (almost) letting you down :D

~~~~~

 

Some Background:

  God, please look after Adriel. Keep him safe and keep him from acting foolish. And please help him to be able to find me.

Rae knew she could trust God to look after both of them. It was all she had now.

The Time Captives have been reunited. The rightful king has been freed. Now all that remains is to defeat the strytes who still hold a tyrannical rule over the people of Calhortz. But with their lack of soldiers, it’s a task that is easier said than done. They need allies, but are they worth it when it requires facing ghosts from their pasts?

Returning to his home country only brings the loss of Adriel’s family to the forefront of his mind. His determination to find Rae has never ceased, but now that determination could potentially destroy all that he and the Time Captives have been working towards. And his new-found faith may not be able to withstand the challenge.

Will they be able to set aside their personal struggles for the sake of the freedom of all or will they allow their pasts to consume them? Will they manage to win back Crannig Castle from the rule of the strytes? The fate of Calhortz hangs in the balance.

Crannig Castle is the final book of the Time Captives trilogy, a tale of faith, family, fantasy, and a fight for truth and freedom.

My Thoughts:

I'll be honest - I did not want this series to end. I've grown to love the characters, the story, , and the suspense. There were parts where I cried; there were scenes that made me laugh. The plot line is well written, and the dialogue flows naturally (a big thing for me).

While aimed at late elementary/early middle school ages, Crannig Castle can be read, and enjoyed, by all ages. Look at me! I'm 25, and I sit here wishing there were more stories to come! Go buy it for someone's Christmas present! (Or, maybe even as a gift to yourself....) It's available on Amazon now!

~~~~~

This is shorter than I intended it to be, and I apologize for that. But, as I said earlier, I forgot with all the packing and other moving drama we've had going on the past two weeks. I'll see you guys soon! Maybe even post some pictures of our new house!

Katelyn

Crannig Castle Blog Tour: An Interview with Jill Hubbard

Welcome to Day 2 of the Crannig Castle blog tour! I had the lovely privilege of interviewing Jill Hubbard, one of the 4 siblings who was taken to Calhortz in the first book, Creighton Hill. After Eleanor, Jill is my favorite character in the trilogy. Since I was also one of the final proofreaders, I had a fairly hard time coming up with questions that didn't give away any plot twists and surprises. I think I did a pretty good job, but judge for yourself!

An Interview with Jill Hubbard

If you are ever presented with an opportunity to come back to Calhortz, would you?

I think I would. It isn’t every day one gets to go to a fantasy world, and even though I’d rather leave the adventure part to someone else, I do enjoy feeling like one of the Pevensies. *smiles shyly* Besides, we’ve made some very good friends here, and I’d hate to never see them again. I’m going to miss them, especially Adriel.

So far, what is/are your favorite memory(ies)?

My favorite? *taps her lips in thought* In between all the danger and death defying adventure…I think what stands out the most is seeing Adriel become a Christian. He was hurting so badly when I met him, and struggling with so much. He’s still not perfect, of course, and he still longs to reunite his family, but the change in him is amazing. Yes, I think that’s my favorite.

How do you think your siblings have grown? And some of the other Time Captives?

*grins* Joey has matured a lot. He’s still fun and my little brother, but he’s letting his sweet side show more and fighting with Emily less. He’s always had a leader trapped inside his little boy exterior, and it’s starting to show. Allan, I think, is more confident. He’s always been a leader and a great older brother, but he’s being put to the test now and holding up well. Emily…well, she’s still mostly acting the same, but something feels different. It’s as if she’s acting that way more because she always has than because she actually wants to. I don’t know…she’s just not quite the same as she was, however much she tries to be. As for the other Time Captives, I didn’t know them before, so I can’t really say how they’ve changed.

Would you care to share anything you have learned? Skills, moral lessons, etc?

I’ve learned that when the Bible says God uses the weak things of the world to confound the strong, it’s not kidding. God chooses to work through the lowly that we might be able to truly see that it’s He who really did it. We’re just a bunch of kids, all of us except Adriel out of our own world. Yet we’ve come together and freed the king and are working towards the freedom of Calhortz. We never could do it all in our own strength. But with God, all things are possible.

I'm sure having your siblings with you helps with the homesickness. Do you think about home often?

Unlike the older Time Captives, I haven’t been given much time to be homesick, which I suppose is a good thing. I do miss Anna and my parents, though. I can’t wait to see them again, though I’ll hate to say goodbye here. I’m glad Emily, Allan, and Joey are here. I’d be terribly homesick without them, in spite of having so little time to do nothing.

~~~~~

Isn't she the sweetest?? Seriously, I loved coming up with questions for this interview. I've enjoyed watching all the characters grow and learn different lessons as the story has progressed. And the best part? There are some terrific possibilities for some spin-off stories!

I'll be back Friday with my book review of Crannig Castle. See you then!

Katelyn

Crannig Castle Blog Tour: Character Spotlight - Toarna

Welcome to my first post in the Crannig Castle blog tour! Today is the release date for Morgan's final book in the Time Captives trilogy. It is now available on Amazon, and Morgan is offering free Kindle copies of Creighton Hill and The Crossways until Friday as well. This is a link to the entire tour schedule if you're interested in reading more posts this week. I will also be posting tomorrow and Friday.

Today I am spotlighting Toarna, the evil Queen of Calhortz. If you've read the first two books in the series, you already know a little about her. Morgan has kindly provided some more information on her.

~~~~~

Toarna

 Physical Appearance: Tall and thin, pale skin, long black hair, yellow eyes; traditional stryte appearance. Often wears scarlet robes.

Age: Approximately 300

History: Toarna grew up in Chalton, the home of the strytes, where her family mined coal with their few Mer slaves. She met her husband Mudan when he, a commanding officer in Chalton’s army, was stationed near their house. After conquering Calhortz, Mudan and Toarna were crowned king and queen of the aforementioned country, where they ruled to the benefit of the strytes and the detriment of all other races. After her rough existence, Toarna finally lived as she had always wished: in the lap of luxury. Not long after they conquered the land, the Time Captives began to appear. Toarna first collected them as an oddity, but after their attempted escape caused Mudan’s death, her interest turned to hatred. She imprisoned them in the dungeon and offered rewards for the capture of more Time Captives. Her purpose from then forward was to get revenge on the Time Captives for Mudan’s death.

Author’s Notes: Toarna, like basically all of my villains, was difficult for me to understand. I just don’t get bad guys. But when I sat her down for an interview, I started to understand where she was coming from. I still didn’t get her, but I understood. Rather than just being evil for the sake of being evil, she had a motive. In a way, I kind of feel sorry for her. She had a rough life, and just as soon as she finally had things better, it was ruined for her. I can’t condone her racism, I can’t condone her thirst for revenge, but I do know where she’s coming from and that she’s not just plain evil.

~~~~~

I definitely feel sorry for Toarna and all she lost, but I still can't quite forgive her for her treatment of the Time Captives. If you've already read the first two books, what are your thoughts on Toarna?

Morgan is also offering a giveaway!! The first prize winner will receive signed copies of the entire Time Captives trilogy. The second prize winner will receive a signed copy of Crannig Castle. The third prize winner will receive an eCopy of Crannig Castle in the eBook format of his/her choice. Giveaway open to U.S. residents only.

See you tomorrow! I'm interviewing Jill, one of the Time Captives!

Katelyn

Time Captives (Book 3): Crannig Castle - Cover Reveal

It's time for another cover reveal! This is the final book in Morgan Huneke's Time Captive trilogy (click on the link for a list of everyone who is participating today.). The release date is set for November 7, 2016 - just in time for Christmas shopping! It's currently available for pre-orders now on Kindle, but you will also be able to buy the book on Amazon.. Here is a little info on the book:

About the Book

God, please look after Adriel. Keep him safe and keep him from acting foolish. And please help him to be able to find me.

Rae knew she could trust God to look after both of them. It was all she had now.

The Time Captives have been reunited. The rightful king has been freed. Now all that remains is to defeat the strytes who still hold a tyrannical rule over the people of Calhortz. But with their lack of soldiers, it’s a task that is easier said than done. They need allies, but are they worth it when it requires facing ghosts from their pasts?

Returning to his home country only brings the loss of Adriel’s family to the forefront of his mind. His determination to find Rae has never ceased, but now that determination could potentially destroy all that he and the Time Captives have been working towards. And his new-found faith may not be able to withstand the challenge.

Will they be able to set aside their personal struggles for the sake of the freedom of all or will they allow their pasts to consume them? Will they manage to win back Crannig Castle from the rule of the strytes? The fate of Calhortz hangs in the balance.

Crannig Castle is the final book of the Time Captives trilogy, a tale of faith, family, fantasy, and a fight for truth and freedom.

~~~~~~~

I'm really sad to see this trilogy end. As a proofreader, I've come to care for more than a few of the characters. But, Morgan didn't leave me without hope of future stories!

                                                          Mini-interview with Morgan

Was it hard coming up with the cover picture?

Actually, it wasn’t. I found it while searching desperately for a castle for Across the Stars. It was incredibly difficult to find a castle to satisfactorily represent Theotocop, but in that search, I came across Crannig Castle. I remember thinking “that doesn’t work for Theotocop, but it would be perfect for Creighton Hill.” What I didn’t know then was that Creighton Hill would have to be split into three books and I’d have to save the castle picture for the third. But it certainly made things easier to already have it saved!

Any short stories featuring Time Captive characters in the possible future? ;D

To be perfectly honest: I don’t know. I’d like to write short stories about Adriel and his family, I’m desperate to write a sequel to Espionage, I have snippets of ideas involving Captain Herb and his son, I’d love to write more about Grant, but I have a major problem. No plots. Hopefully someday I’ll have more stories involving them all. I hate to say goodbye forever. But right now, it’s all just a maybe.

(As you can see, I would be more than happy to see some characters return and tell more of their stories.)

~~~~~~~

OK, enough stalling and delaying the inevitable. I present.......

THE COVER FOR CRANNIG CASTLE!!!!!!!!!!!!

I like it!!!

About the Author

Morgan Elizabeth Huneke is a homeschool graduate who lives in Georgia. She has enjoyed creating characters and writing stories since early childhood. Her other interests include reading, playing the piano and violin, and politics. She is the author of Across the Stars and The Experiment as well as the Time Captives fantasy trilogy.

Be sure to put it on your Goodreads list! If your'e doing this year's Reading Challenge, you'll have just enough time to squeeze it in.

Katelyn

Espionage: A Book Review

Espionage

by Morgan Huneke

About the Book:

“Sir Roland has invited us to visit for the Autumn Feast.”

“Do we have to go, Papa? I couldn’t feast with the most crooked politician in all of Briznom.”

As the daughter of a Briznomian vassal lord, Vannie Cumberland has spent her childhood immersed in the world of politics. Relations between Briznom and the neighboring country of Calhortz are strained due to the tyrannical rule of the strytes. A proposed alliance could calm relations between the two countries, but would come at the cost of Briznom’s freedom.

When her father’s political archenemy invites them to the Autumn Feast, Vannie uncovers an evil scheme endangering the life of someone close to her. Personal enmity comes to a dangerous head as Vannie struggles to expose the corruption and stop the alliance. Time is running out.

Events are becoming too big for her to handle. Will Sir Roland’s son help, or will things finally spiral out of control?

Espionage, A Companion to Time Captives, will be released on May 16th, 2016.

~~~~~~~

I had the great honor to yet again be one of Morgan's proof readers for her newest addition to the Time Captive saga. Having read all her prior books, either as a proof reader or just for fun, I knew that great things lay in store - and I wasn't disappointed in the least. The characters are well-written, and the setting is perfect as the land of Briznom faces great challenges from the country of Calhortz. There's the perfect combination of danger, adventure, and fun as well. Many were the times I laughed, sighed, gripped the manuscript in suspense, and cheered the heroes on.

The entire series is mostly aimed towards elementary and middle school ages. However, my whole family enjoys reading them, so I think it's safe to say all ages should read them. As a young woman in my mid-20's, I personally like to read "easier books" for a change of pace at times.

About the Author

Morgan Elizabeth Huneke is a homeschool graduate who lives in Georgia. She has enjoyed creating characters and writing stories since early childhood. Her other interests include reading, playing the piano and violin, and politics. She is the author of Across the Stars and The Experiment as well as the Time Captives fantasy trilogy.

Daddy Long Legs and other news

If you know anything about me, you know how much I love musicals and books. It's even better when a book is made into a musical. Such is the case with Daddy Long Legs. Ashley has gotten me hooked on so many musicals and introduced me to so many new books/authors, I can't even begin to count.

My love for Daddy Long Legs started 2 months ago, when I bought the audio book on Audible.com. Ash had been telling me to check it out for months, but I didn't have time then because of starting a new job and Christmas stuff. Once things finally calmed down, I bought the audio and fell in love with Jerusha Abbott, the poor, lonely orphan girl. She's curious, expressive, and not afraid to speak her mind. And Daddy (Jervis Pendleton) is really sweet and shy. In whole, the book is a must-read for everyone who loves the classics.

I was able to find a FIRST EDITION copy with original illustrations by the author on Amazon. Once I started listening to the musical, I couldn't stop. I watched clips of the show on Youtube, bought the CD, and am now (drumroll, please)................ currently working on a fanfiction prequel on Jervis' (Daddy) backstory. The book and musical gave me plenty of tips on his family and life before Jerusha enters the picture.

Megan McGinnis has been playing Jerusha since the musical opened in 2009, and her husband, Adam Haplin, took over the role of Jervis late last year. I watched a recording of the show with Ashley and it was adorable. Maybe it's because they're husband and wife, but their chemistry is terrific.

I know in one of my last posts I said I was thinking of doing a story on Susan from the Narnia books, but I honestly couldn't come up with anything. The details are so few, I had nothing to pull from, or any little hints on the reason(s) she "is no longer a friend of Narnia". With Daddy, I have enough hints to create a backbone, but enough creative space to write my own story. I'll keep you updated on my progress!

Katelyn

"Espionage" Cover Reveal

Exciting news!! Morgan Huneke is releasing the prequel to her Time Captives trilogy,  Espionage, on May 16th and is available pre-order on Kindle now. But today is the cover reveal! My family is very excited and can't wait to get a copy.

Here is a link to Morgan's blog, where she has links to other blogs and some more information:
http://morganhuneke.blogspot.com/2016/03/espionage-cover-reveal.html

And the GoodReads link:   http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28689406-espionage

About the Book

“Sir Roland has invited us to visit for the Autumn Feast.”

“Do we have to go, Papa? I couldn’t feast with the most crooked politician in all of Briznom.”

As the daughter of a Briznomian vassal lord, Vannie Cumberland has spent her childhood immersed in the world of politics. Relations between Briznom and the neighboring country of Calhortz are strained due to the tyrannical rule of the strytes. A proposed alliance could calm relations between the two countries, but would come at the cost of Briznom’s freedom.

When her father’s political archenemy invites them to the Autumn Feast, Vannie uncovers an evil scheme endangering the life of someone close to her. Personal enmity comes to a dangerous head as Vannie struggles to expose the corruption and stop the alliance. Time is running out.

Events are becoming too big for her to handle. Will Sir Roland’s son help or will things finally spiral out of control?

Are you excited yet? If not, take a look at the cover!

I also had a short interview with Morgan about Espionage. My interest is certainly piqued.

Favorite part of writing this book?

Vannie and Kyle. Those two are some of my favorite characters. They’ve got such vibrant personalities, and they complement each other perfectly. I loved their interaction and the way their friendship develops. I can’t wait to write more about them. Which may be why random scenes involving them keep popping up on my computer.

Hardest part?

They needed evidence against the bad guys. I had no clue how they were going to get it. I took a couple weeks to type in the story up to that point (since I’d written it on notebook paper), talked it over with my mom, and figured it out. It was a comparatively easy book to write.

Can you share any sneak peeks into the next Time Captives book? ;)

“Joey piled a few more cookies onto his plate, grabbed his mug of hot chocolate, and returned to his seat on the floor in the main room of King Joseph’s cottage. A war council with sweets was the way to go, in Joey’s opinion. Not that it was exactly a war council yet. It was more of a ‘what do we do next’ council.”

There are a lot of loose ends to be tied up and battles to be waged. Characters will die, some will get happy endings, some not so much, and it’s going to be fantastic

 

About the Author

Morgan Elizabeth Huneke is a homeschool graduate who lives in Georgia. She has enjoyed creating characters and writing stories since early childhood. Her other interests include reading, playing the piano and violin, and politics. She is the author of Across the Stars and The Experiment as well as the Time Captives fantasy trilogy.

Keeping checking for more updates on Morgan's books. I have also started writing a fanfiction on Jervis Pendleton's (from Daddy-Long-Legs) backstory. I'll write another post later this week with more details on it and why I decided to write this instead of Susan's story.

Katelyn

Writing is in my Future

I know I promised to write a post last week, but my phone started to give me trouble last Sunday and then finally dies of a virus Wednesday. Thankfully, I was able to get the upgrade by Thursday and am once again a functioning member of society. I never realized how much I used my phone until mine crashed. 

Now, onto my late post and the book idea I mentioned at the end of my last post. About a month and a half ago, I was talking to a friend about Narnia and Susan's no longer being a "friend of Narnia". I've always identified with Susan, mostly because we're both the oldest daughter (I'm also the oldest period, no older brother for me.) and tend to think on the more practical side of things. Really, I have a lot in common with both of the older Pevensies.

I gave it some thought for a few days, talked to a few friends who have written books, and came to a conclusion: I am going to write a FanFiction on the reason Susan no longer believes in Narnia. I have always thought that her story was left unfinished. C. S. Lewis never went into detail on why she forgot about Narnia.

 I have several theories that may explain the reason why Susan turned her back on Narnia and her friends there, I think it started soon after the events in Prince Caspian (the book, not the Disney movie). 

I find the above thought very sad - something serious must have happened to make her choose to forget and ridicule any thoughts or mention of Narnia. Her growing older and entering her teen years must have only helped her to forget and drift farther away. I intend to explore the possibilities over the next few months, I'll do my best to update you monthly on my progress, in addition to my other posts.

Katelyn    

Book Review: The Crossways by Morgan Huneke

“M’lady, it has been fairly well confirmed that the Redona was hidden away by the merfolk at the conclusion of the Great War instead of destroyed as was commanded. My brother has confirmed to me Joseph’s belief that it was concealed at the Crossways.”

Toarna pressed her fingertips together in thought. “It must be recovered and destroyed as was at first intended.”

Emily, Allan, Jill, and Joey have been reunited with their long lost ancestors. But with that reunion comes the true beginning of their quest: free the rightful king of Calhortz so that he may be restored to his throne. The Redona, the only object that can free him from his long imprisonment, is rumored to be concealed in The Crossways, a mountain across the sea which cannot be entered.

A slave since birth, Adriel’s resentment and hatred towards the strytes only grows as his family is continually ripped from him. He longs for the freedom the Time Captives are prophesied to bring, but he doubts their existence, just as he doubts God’s love. Circumstances in Calhortz are so dire. How could they ever improve?

Who can enter The Crossways? Will the king ever be freed? Or will the slaves of Calhortz lose all hope of freedom before it is even offered to them?

The Crossways is the second book of the Time Captives trilogy, a tale of faith, family, fantasy, and a fight for truth and freedom.

I was one of the proof readers for Morgan, and I didn't come across any typos, misspelled words, or  moments that were hard to follow. It was well-written and I can't wait to get a copy for my family. Hhhmmm, Christmas is coming up.......

Intended readers' age:
The Crossways is intended for upper elementary/middle school ages, although I believe all ages would enjoy the book, and any of Morgan's other books.

Characters:
Most of the characters from Time Captives are present at some point. Most of the character development centers around Eleanor; you can read my previous post for more information on her. Morgan is excellent at making her reader's sympathize with her characters. Eleanor brought out the protective side of me - totally wanted to wrap her up and have a heart to heart conversation. Adriel is introduced, and quickly becomes vital to the story.

Writing style:
Morgan's style is very simple and easy to read, which is perfect for her intended age group. The scenes are well-written and descriptive, but not wordy. The pace was smooth, and there weren't any awkward scene changes. 

Final thoughts:
Morgan's books are a delight to read and offer me a break from all the "adult/heavy" reading I do. My 3rd youngest brother is a big fan of her books, and is waiting with baited breath for a copy. My family as a whole enjoys reading, and is always looking for good, clean, quality books to read. This covers all areas. If you haven't read any of Morgan's books, they can be found on Amazon. Morgan sells signed copies on her website, morganhuneke.blogspot.com. 

Thanks for reading this week's posts! Next week I will be talking about an idea I had for a Narnia spin-off. It centers off of a question I've had for quite some time, but just now decided to answer myself.

Katelyn

Eleanor: an Interview

Welcome back! Today I am interviewing Eleanor, one of the Time Captives in Morgan Huneke's  Time Captives series. The second book, The Crossways, was released on Amazon Monday.

A little background: Eleanor was the 8th Hubbard to disappear, in the year 1940. She has 3 brothers, and, because of growing up during the Great Depression, is used to taking care of herself and making do with little. Once she managed to escape the dungeon and arrived at the Yatachee Islands, life slowed down a little. That's all I'll say for now; she quickly became my favorite, so it's hard for me to stop. I hope you enjoy the interview!

  1) Was it hard adjusting to life again when you arrived at the Yatachee Islands?
*stiffens and draws in a sharp breath* Yes. I had lived at sea for eight years. Life on land is very different, and though I’d been to the islands before, I didn’t know what it was like to live there. I was alone. At home I’d had my family, and on the Falcon’s Wing I had the crew. It was my choice to live here alone, a choice that had to be made, I know that well, but that doesn’t mean I do not regret it.

2) How did the people living there react at first?

*her eyes dart around uncomfortably* Not well. Some knew me from my visits with the Falcon’s Wing, and so they knew I was a Time Captive. The people in the Islands are far enough from Calhortz to not be bothered by it for Toarna’s sake, but it’s still an unnatural thing, and people don’t always take well to things they cannot understand. Those who didn’t know who I was wanted to put me in the orphanage. Gr…Grant did intervene on my behalf, but I would not see him. I could not. Most people ended by avoiding me.

3) Did it take them long to adjust to your having eternal youth? Did any do so sooner than others?

Most people never adjust. I’m not truly accepted here, except by the orphans. *shrugs* Those who accept my being a Time Captive never mention it, and those who do not simply avoid me. I am accepted at the orphanage where I volunteer. It is difficult to get help, and so they take what I can offer and children will believe and accept anything. I get by.

4) Did you ever find yourself thinking on friends you left behind?

*her face hardens, as if in an attempt to hold back tears* Always. Must I say more? *a pained look comes into her eyes* My author is requiring me to cooperate with this interview, for otherwise… I cannot help but think of them. They were my life. If only I wasn’t a Time Captive…

5) Can you give us a glimpse into your daily life?

*relaxes only slightly* I eat breakfast at my cottage and then go down to the orphanage for the day. I help to care for the little ones and teach the older children to read and write. After supper, I return home, usually with some mending. Occasionally, the orphans who have left the orphanage will come visit me. That about sums up my daily routine.

6) Did anyone from beyond Yatachee ever visit you?

*tenses* No. They would have, but I insisted that they not. It would be far too painful.

One reason I like Eleanor is that she could have had a bitter outlook on life, but she tries to see the best, or at least some good, in her situations. I really just want to wrap her in a blanket, give her cookies and milk, and have a nice long chat. I want to be her friend and make her smile and laugh.

Check out Morgan's blog, Facebook, and Goodreads accounts to see what she's up to next.

Tomorrow I'll be posting my review of The Crossways. Check back in the morning!!

Katelyn

Guest Post: Morgan Huneke

Yesterday my friend Morgan Huneke released The Crossways, the second book in her Time Captives series. Check it out on Amazon; it'd make a good Christmas/birthday present. If you haven't already, go ahead and buy Creighton Hill, the first book in the trilogy.

To celebrate The Crossways' release, Morgan is hosting a blog party. Go to her blog to get the full list of who is doing what when (see the link above for her blog address). For my first post, Morgan shared some tips on defeating writer's block.

Time Captives Writer’s Block

I’m not really one of those people who insist there’s no such thing as writer’s block. I may have rarely experienced true writer’s block, but I’d say I had my share with Time Captives. I’ve said many times before that this was a hard story to write. Very hard. As much as I wanted to give up, I pushed to keep going. Here are some of the things I did to help.

Go for a bike ride. 

Whenever I’m stuck, it really helps to get some fresh air and exercise. It’s also when I do my best brainstorming. I’ve gotten some great ideas that way. I struggled with how to split up the story into multiple books for quite a while. I couldn’t get the structure to work properly in two books, but it was too much for one. While I was riding, I had the idea of splitting it into a trilogy called Time Captives. It was also while riding that I realized the solution to the low stakes the Time Captives were facing.

Introduce a new character. 

The Time Captives were giving me no end of trouble, so I introduced a new character who was on a completely different side of the story. Turns out, he was exactly what I needed to move the plot forward. It gave me time away from the part that wasn’t working while still working on the project.

Rewrite the story from a different point of view. 

Sometimes I would get stuck because I was using the wrong character’s point of view. Change it to the right one, and it would be perfect.

Have a family member read it and give me ideas. 

My youngest sister always reads my writing as soon as I write it, so she sometimes gave me ideas without being asked. But other times I had to ask my mom to read a section and tell me how to solve my problem.

Have group brainstorming sessions. 

This kind of goes along with the last one, only not necessarily requiring reading. Many, many times, family conversations centered around Time Captives as my family came up with random ideas to fix the issues in the story, some good, some, well, not so great. Like when they all lobbied for me to maim Joey. Nope, not gonna happen.

I got stuck a lot when writing Time Captives, but these methods helped me to push through to the end. If you’re a writer, do you have any other tips for beating writer’s block?

Thanks, Morgan! I know I'll be using these for the story I'm thinking of writing. I'll share more about that at a later date,

I'm doing 2 more posts for the blog party this week; the next one will be Thursday, and I'll be interviewing Eleanor, one of the Time Captives. See you then!

Katelyn