Johnny Tremain is one of my (Mara’s) very favorite pieces of fiction. Ester Forbes crafted a character that captured my interest and sympathy from the very first page and didn’t let go until the very last. This is ironic because Johnny is, at least in the beginning, one of the most arrogant characters I have…

We’ve all had an epiphany. That moment when you realize what you’ve been missing this entire time, and begin to set out to fix it. Those moments can be some of the most powerful, emotional moments of our entire lives. And that is what makes them so important in stories. The epiphany is the moment…

There’s just something special about certain fictional characters. You probably know the ones I’m talking about: the loveable, heart-warming ones that seem so real you could almost reach over and give them that hug they deserve. They’re the characters you cry with, the ones you whoop for joy with, the ones who make a lasting…

Let’s be honest…there are way too many versions of Cinderella. Every country you can name has their own rendition of this story, not to mention there’s dozens more ‘unique’ versions in America alone. From a Barbie to a zombie to a sneakerhead teen, Cinderella has been through it all. So if you’ve ever tried to…

There’s a reason many people enjoy musicals. The music is beautiful and riveting. Most often, the acting is fantastic. But the most entrancing of all is when the characters belt out their desires and fears to the audience in their earth-shattering musical number. It’s one of the best feelings in the world when you leave…

Princess Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee is one of those characters who deeply lacks confidence. We’ve all seen those types of characters before. You start a movie or flip open a book and find yourself faced with the same old self conscious protagonist who feels woefully inadequate. As she goes on and on about how she isn’t…

If you’re like me, you tend to struggle with incorporating humor in novels that are meant to be serious.  Your story takes your protagonist to her limit. You find the two things she cares for most, and make her pick one. You watch her struggle through the painful process of rooting out a flaw that…