The Swan Women of Skye

“All the best things were born and died in Skye, Scotland.”

A Kind of Death is finally out in the world as of Oct. 22nd! So I figured I’d do a /proper/ book spotlight today, as well as tell you more about my story in the anthology—The Swan Women of Skye.

Ready? Let’s do this.

You know what? Never once, in the multiple times I’ve been published (well, alright—maybe there was the once) have I written and released a story that wasn't on the darker or slightly heavier side, as far as topics go. But everything I’ve had published thus far has also been flash fiction, so I couldn’t truly sink my teeth into what I was writing about. However - there's now The Swan Women of Skye. TSWoS is a full short story and by far the longest thing I’ve had the pleasure of getting published, so I had room for some more depth in it.

And, in a nutshell, I chose to write about belief.

It’s our beliefs that shape us, and I wanted to write about a girl who starts out believing that she’s nothing…and then how she overcomes that (with a little help – perhaps of the magical variety?) to realize that she has more value than she knows.

I went back and completely reread The Swan Women of Skye today for the first time since I edited it for Uncommon Universes a few months ago. Gracious, I’d forgotten what an awesome time I had writing that story. My writing style is a bit quirky sometimes, and since The Swan Women of Skye was a story that I wrote completely for myself without any intention to publish it (funny how that happens), it definitely displays some of that. And I’ve realized in hindsight that that made the story stronger. Author Tosca Lee’s advice of writing as though no one will ever read it is 100% the best advice ever offered to any writer.

My sisters are always astounded when I’m able to answer the question “if you could travel to one place in the world, where would you go?” without even pausing to think about it. I would go to Skye, Scotland. So it was only natural that I set this story there! I had so much fun playing with the imagery of cobblestone walks and grassy cliff sides and salty ocean breezes as I wrote.

But while the setting was obvious, the main character—Lauren Dryletski—came to me more by surprise. Most characters that I get inspiration for either a) come in with a bang or b) I must drag the character out of the muck and clean them off to learn more about them. But Lauren wasn’t like that at all. She just snuck in very quietly and was simply and suddenly there. She’s definitely one of my favorite characters I’ve ever written; I’m rather fond of her.

I can’t remember exactly how long it took me to write The Swan Women of Skye, or why I even started. But I know the message I had in mind as I started, and it remains the same at the finish. What I want all readers to come away from The Swan Women of Skye with is a feeling of hope. That’s all I want. If I can bring that to even just one reader, then I’ve done my job.

And also, throughout all the edits, the story’s first line never changed.

“All the best things were born and died in Skye, Scotland.”

A Kind of Death Book Blurb:

A princess who makes dangerous bargains with the afterlife. A man desperate to save his wife, no matter the cost. An uber driver for the undead.

Death, whether real or metaphorical, comes for us all. Yet it is not always the end. And in the depths of grieving can be the promise of hope and redemption.

The tales and poems in this anthology explore the depths of love, loss, and transformation. Whether in a reimagined folktale or a modern urban fantasy, A Kind of Death features a fine balance of tragedy and comedy, but always with a hint of wonder and hope.

As this anthology concerns matters of loss (all handled tastefully and without graphic depiction), certain stories might prove challenging for sensitive readers. Recommend reading with a hot beverage and/or a packet of tissues.

A Kind of Death is available in paperback, hardback, and ebook.
Find it on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and UUP.

An Update (and the A Kind of Death anthology!)

It's been a hot minute, hasn't it, my friends? xD

"I come back to you now at the turn of the tide" with a post in two parts! An update, and then some exciting news (which I really should have shared WELL before now ... but better late than never, yes?).

Let the show begin.

The Update: 

If you follow me on Instagram (@savannahgraceauthor), you'll probably have seen most of this update already - but! The reason for my absence (and the fact that I will probably continue to be pretty absent, at least on my blog) is attributed to these few things:

1) College! I started college in September, and MY WORD. While it isn't as totally overwhelming as I'd worried it would be, there's still quite a heavy workload. I've had to push a lot of things to the side (even things I really love) in order to protect my sanity, ha!

2) Since college has stolen so much of my free time, I'm trying to spend what free time I have /away/ from the computer, and preferably with people, which is another reason why I haven't been around as much.

3) TONS of out-of-the-house activities going on. I can't even begin to list all the gazillion things I've done and have had to do over the last few months. This introvert has built up a grand armor that makes her look an awful lot like an extrovert. If I had a dime for every time this conversation -- Me: "I'm an introvert" Them: "...no, you're not." -- has happened, I'd be a rich woman xD.


So that's where I've disappeared to. And the fact that I disappeared is why you've yet to get this news ...

The A Kind of Death anthology: 


My first short story is being published in THREE DAYS!!

"The Swan Women of Skye", one of my favorite stories that I've written thus far, was selected to be published in Uncommon Universes' Press first anthology, A Kind of Death. I'm so excited, I could burst - and even more so because the anthology is going to be available in both paperback AND hardcover! (it's always been a huge goal of mine to have something published in hardcover)

And since I'm TERRIBLY late to tell you this news, I feel like I owe you a little bit of information about the story, yes?

Some Details:
- it's a fantasy story
- it's set in Skye, Scotland
- it's the longest story I will have ever had published (by a L O N G shot) 
- thematically, it's about letting go and finding your strength

The Blurb: 
A princess who makes dangerous bargains with the afterlife. A man desperate to save his wife, no matter the cost. An uber driver for the undead.

Death, whether real or metaphorical, comes for us all. Yet it is not always the end. And in the depths of grieving can be the promise of hope and redemption. 
 

The tales and poems in this anthology explore the depths of love, loss, and transformation. Whether in a reimagined folktale or a modern urban fantasy, A Kind of Death features a fine balance of tragedy and comedy, but always with a hint of wonder and hope.

  

As this anthology concerns matters of loss (all handled tastefully and without graphic depiction), certain stories might prove challenging for sensitive readers. Recommend reading with a hot beverage and/or a packet of tissues.

Aaaaall the rest of the info (including  purchase links and pre-order info) that I needn't recount here can be found on Uncommon Universes Press' website (specifically in this blog post) - and there's also a great giveaway going on for it over at this post, so make sure to check them both out! I'm beyond excited that I get to share The Swan Women of Skye with you all - it's a story that I really love, and I can't wait for it to be out in the world <333.

*deep breath* Alright! That's all I have for y'all today. I can't promise that I'll be any more active on my blog than I have been lately, but I do post life updates a little more often on my Facebook page, and writing-things on my Instagram now and again if you're wanting to know I'm still alive ;).

And with all that out of the way - how are all of you? I've missed the blogging community!


~ Savannah Grace 

so 

how are you all? 

Story Embers: How Writing Creative Nonfiction Benefits Novelists

Another of my articles went live on Story Embers! This time around, it's on a branch of writing that I recently delved into and absolutely love -- creative nonfiction.

Creative nonfiction is so incredibly useful (and also incredibly fun) and yet somehow, so few people have heard of it? So I thought I'd take the chance to show y'all what creative nonfiction is and why it's such an important tool for novelists to use.

 

I used to avoid nonfiction—in both reading and writing—until I discovered that creative nonfiction employs literary techniques usually associated with fiction. How could this be? And would trying it expand my skills?

Creative nonfiction seeks to capture readers’ attention by describing actual people, places, and events in narrative format. For example, if I invent a motorcyclist character who travels across the US, that’s fiction. But if I record the experiences of a real motorcyclist I’ve spoken with, that’s creative nonfiction.

I broke out my pens and gave this hybrid genre a shot. My conclusion? That it’s an underused training weapon. Because the goal is to communicate facts in a meaningful way, you’ll add nuances to your writing that you wouldn’t have otherwise.

Read the rest of the article on STORY EMBERS

~ Savannah Grace

have you ever written creative nonfiction? 

Story Embers: Three Ways to Avoid Stagnating Your Skills as a Storyteller

Y'all have probably figured out by now that I really love writing for Story Embers ;D. My latest article just went up yesterday, and it's one of my favorites. Why?

Because it's about expanding as a writer, which is a topic I love. And I'm excited to get to talk with y'all about it!  

image not mine

Many of us, myself included, struggle to break away from the types of stories we gravitate toward. We assume that we need more training before we can tackle a different genre or point of view. But expanding is one of our responsibilities as writers, and it’s a precursor to growth!

Growing means honing the talents we already have and becoming stronger writers overall. Expanding simply involves venturing outside our comfort zones. It stretches us and introduces us to techniques we wouldn’t have come across otherwise.

No writer can claim to be bad at expanding, except if they don’t try. Maybe you’ve never thought of this as a valuable habit to form. It’s not difficult or painful, and it can even be fun. By sharing my own experiences, I hope to show you how.

Read the rest of the article on STORY EMBERS

~ Savannah Grace

what kinds of stories do you gravitate towards?

Story Embers: Three Mindsets for Surviving (and Thriving) at Your First Writer's Conference

 
Guess what's terrifying for a lot of authors? Their first writers conference.

Having gone to my second writing conference just a few weeks ago (I promise a post about it is coming soon!), I thought it was high time I wrote an article on some mindsets that will help you not only survive, but thrive, at your first writing conference. And said article just went up on Story Embers today!

Want to take a peek at it?

image not mine

 

Conference season has arrived! And that means a fair amount of nail biting for new and returning attendees alike. Meeting authors you admire, pitching your work to agents, and trying to absorb as much knowledge as possible can be stressful.

But if you stash tips and tricks in your pocket, your first writing conference can be an enriching experience. No matter what stage you’re in—whether you’re drafting a novel, have finished one, or are engrossed in marketing—you’re passionate about impacting others through fiction. You mustn’t let fear hold you back from building relationships and learning techniques that will push you toward your goals.

Read the rest of the article on STORY EMBERS 

~ Savannah Grace

have you ever been to a writing conference? 

do you plan to go to one? 

Story Embers: How to Practice Resilience in the Face of Rejections

Authors face a LOT of rejections.

And whether you're just a beginning author, or a more seasoned one who has faced rejection multiple times, it can be hard to know how to deal with that email that comes telling you that it's a no.

So! I figured I'd write an article for y'all on this topic, since I've faced the struggle quite a bit ;).

image not mine

Rejections are a staple of the writing life.

That sounds harsh, doesn’t it? But it’s true. I have a notebook where I track the status of all my short story submissions. I’ve recorded roughly forty titles in it from 2019.

How many of those got accepted? Two. And how many were rejected? Well, all the rest.  

Should I quit writing and pursuing publication? No. The roadblocks are learning experiences, and if I maintain a positive attitude, I’m better prepared to handle (or even break through) the next one. By sharing a few tips that have worked for me, I hope to help you overcome the same discouragement and press on.

Read the rest of the article on STORY EMBERS 

~ Savannah Grace 

have you ever received a rejection letter? 

what are your tips for dealing with rejection? 

(P.S. wondering why I've been so MIA lately? I'll be posting about that at the end of July :))

Avengers: Endgame Review (SPOILERS)

Told you it was coming.

SPOILERS FOR AVENGERS: ENDGAME ABOUND HERE. If you have not watched the movie, I BESEECH YOU TO STOP READING (seriously). This is not a movie you want to ruin for yourself.

Are we peachy?

Good. Let's get on with it then.

Avengers: ENDGAME = 5 Stars

I seriously cannot express how excited I was for this movie. With most movies - especially when it's a big movie that the whole world has waited for - I try not to hype it much. I keep my expectations low, just in case the movie doesn't meet them. But with Avengers: Endgame, I hyped it up for myself to WITHIN AN INCH OF MY LIFE, because I absolutely knew that Marvel would deliver. How could they not?

And, guys - they so did.

- THE E M O T I O N S. I am not a movie crier. I have never cried over a movie in my life - I'm just not a crier in general, okay? I don't cry much. But oH MY WoRd - I cried SO MUCH during Endgame. Much crying! Many tears! SO MANY FEELS. I just can't even with it, really XD. (for the record, I cried the second AND third time I saw Endgame, too. Just sayin')

But seriously - the emotions were REAL in this movie, you guys. The directors went above and beyond giving us everything we wanted in this movie. I was already teary when the movie started, but first full-out cried when Stark called his smol child out of her kid-house and T O N Y S T A R K  HAD A DAUGHTER

The waterworks were on and off for the rest of the entire movie after that ;D.

And Natasha's death? Our tough-as-nails Nat who gave up her life so that Hawkeye could continue to live his? Who'd moved on from making sacrifices because she "had red in her ledger" to making this sacrifice because she loved her friends? GAH. *many more tears*

And the battle scene! Where it's just Cap against the world, but he's STILL willing to fight until he dies, even if it might be futile - and then he hear this crackle. And then this voice - "Cap? Cap? Can you hear me?

It's Sam."

And I wanted to S C R E A M. The battle scene was one of the absolute best - maybe THE absolute best - battle scene in any movie I've ever seen. It was incredible. My heart was beating hard enough to make me breath fast XD. The part where all the portals open and Cap says "AVENGERS - ASSEMBLE!" for the last time was INCREDIBLE.

But one of my favorite scenes in the WHOLE MOVIE was Pepper in her beautiful blue Iron suit that Stark made for her, spinning in the sky and fighting baddies, and then Stark comes soaring up to her and they move in perfect sync as they watch each other's six and totally blast all of Thanos' minions out of the sky - THAT SCENE WAS GOLD. I NEEDED THAT SCENE <3.

Also, Wanda. WANDA. "You took everything from me." "I don't even know you." And she very calmly looks at him and quietly says. "You will." <--- THIS. She took all her anger and pain and turned it into this EARTH-SHATTERING STRENGTH, and it was AMAZING.

THE EMOTIONS WERE RUNNING ON A MEGA-HIGH, and THEN - and THEN -  

Guess who my favorite character in the whole Marvel universe is?

Stark - who tries to fix everything even when everything can't be fixed,  who's changed so much since his first movie, who could easily become the villain but fights so hard to be better - is my favorite character, so y'all probably know when I cried the most.

His death BROKE ME, you guys - BROKE. And then seeing everyone (EVEN DARLING HARLEY, WHO ISN'T SO LITTLE ANYMORE) at his funeral? And it wasn't so big, blow-out, over-the-top funeral powered by the press because Stark was basically a celebrity, it was just the people who really knew Tony Stark? AWK.

THE PAIN.

And then Morgan asking for a cheeseburger, and for a second Happy can't speak, and when he does speak all he says is "Your daddy liked cheeseburgers." THE TEARS HIT EVEN HARDER.

"I love you three thousand" will never NOT bring all the feels. (especially because it wasn't  originally in the script - it was supposed to be "I love you a ton", until they learned that Robert Downey Jr.'s real-life children tell him "I love you three thousand".)

*deep breaths* I've barely touched the tip of the iceberg of the emotions that happened in this movie, but we should move on before that becomes all that this post is XD. (what do you want to bet imma cry when I watch this movie a fourth time, too?)

- THE BIG MOMENTS. Everything we've been waiting for came true in this movie - EVERYTHING. The hype for this movie was HUGE and the amount of M O M E NT S that were in it DELIVERED.

The fact that they used time travel to go back to old Avengers movies? That was GOLD. I can't think of any better way to call back the beginning days of the Avengers.

And THAT SCENE. With Stark and Howard Stark. Was just PRICELESS. The look on Stark's face when Howard says his wife is pregnant. And then Stark quickly tells him that he has a little girl, like he just wants his dad to know, even if it doesn't matter. THAT SCENE JUST <3. (and then Cap sees Peggy again, and you can just see the gears clicking in his mind XD)

Basically there were M O M E N T S going on EVERYWHERE. Everywhere we turned, there was something to scream over, something happening that we had waited for FOREVER, something that had the entire theater clapping and screaming. I mean - STEVE AND MJORNIR???
 

WE ALWAYS KNEW HE WAS WORTHY. <333

And my sisters and I have talked forever about the Women of Marvel shot that's in the battle. I can't help it, I adored that scene. Maybe it was cliche, maybe they were pushing an agenda - I DON'T CARE. I loved seeing all the Marvel women band together. I love what people have have said about the little girls in the theaters they were in FLIPPING OUT during that scene, because they were too young to even know it was cliche or anything like that, they just knew that they were so excited to see all the Marvel women--characters they love and look up to--team up and fight together. That scene was for them- for those little girls. And that scene was also for ME because IT WAS EPIC XD

But we also decided that it wasn't REALLY an "epic Marvel Women" shot, it was ACTUALLY a "the Marvel Women have a secret Spidey Sense that tells them when Spidey is in danger, and then they all turn into Mother Hens and MUST GO SAVE THE SPIDEY-BABY". And I have to admit, I like that theory an awful lot XD. (and in case I haven't mentioned it already, the Stark and Spidey reunion scene was T H E  B E S T)

- THE CHARACTER ARCS. Everyone changed SO MUCH in this movie - and yet it worked. It worked so much. Everyone's arc (well - except for Banner. I loved him as BannerHulk, there just wasn't any reason for him to do that, really?) played out WONDERFULLY.

Natasha had changed from guilt-ridden to putting her past behind her and being motivated by love.

Hawkeye had gone from "I have a bow and arrow, this doesn't make any sense!" to a battle-hardened warrior. 

Thor rode the ups and downs of his monarchy and became ... ah, a Guardian of the Galaxy?

Cap went from giving everything for everyone else to finally choosing something for himself.

Stark went from choosing everything for himself to giving his all for everyone else - quite literally. 

Their arcs were AMAZING and I'm so, so impressed by how well done they were. So perfect.

- THE ABSOLUTION. This was the end of the Avengers. This was the culmination of 11 years and 21 movies. This was the end of phase three and the beginning of phase four. And the tying-up-of-loose ends that happened was AMAZING.

They left just enough open that we're all hyped for phase four, but enough closure that the end of the Avengers felt perfect. There's nothing they could have done better. I loved it. They did so good.


See, the hard thing here in the "epic things" portion is that I'm touching on the big things. Umbrella-covering different stuff. But what really hit the hardest were the little moments - like Sam's "on your left" or Pepper whispering "we're gonna be okay" as Stark is dying. And of course, aaaaallll the callbacks to the older movies. Basically everything was epic. This whole movie was epic. I love this movie XD.

- There was language, as usual. But as far as content goes, I wouldn't say that Endgame was any worse than Infinity War, save for a gay reference that did not sit well with me (especially because Cap seemed to endorse it).

 - Certain things threw me off. Not even enough that I would complain that much, but there were definitely some things. I mean - Thor? Really? What happened to Asgardians being able to drink and not get as affected as normal mortals, huh? Plus, I can't see him ever going the route of getting fat and lazy - I would see him becoming more like Bucky? I'm used to it now, but my word, that tossed me for a loop at first.

I would be perfectly fine with "fat Thor" (he was such a fun character! And I feel like Hemsworth had a blast playing him) if it fit his character arc better. As it is ... *shrugs* It is what it is. And Banner? He didn't bug me that much, per se (I actually quite liked the new Banner, he was great), he just didn't make any sense. But overall, I think those are the only bones I have to pick with the storytelling in this movie. And honestly, the movie was in-and-of-itself so great that I barely even care XD. They just deserve mentioning.

Endgame was everything I wanted in the final Avengers movie. It was incredible, and I'm so beyond impressed that Marvel pulled it off. I will watch it again and again and never get tired of it. I'm so happy that this movie turned out to be everything it needed to be to end the Avengers universe <3.

*deep breath* Would you believe that this post is only half (not even half!) of the length it could be? I could talk about this movie for a long time, honestly (as if you couldn't tell XD). I don't think this was even a proper review (my spoiler-free one was a lot more put together!) but OH BOY did I have a lot of fun just screaming about Endgame ;D.  


To wrap it up, I LOVE LOVE LOVED Endgame, and I absolutely can't wait to watch it another three thousand times. Here's to the epic end of the Avengers saga!


~ Savannah Grace 

what did you think of Avengers: Endgame? 

are you excited for Far From Home?

(P.S. - for you writerly sort, I just opened up my editing services! You can check that page out HERE if you're interested)

Story Embers: Six Practical Steps for Developing Consistent Writing Habits

Guess what's hard?

If you said fending off plot bunnies, writing by osmosis, or managing your writing time, YOU ARE CORRECT! ;D

And today the stellar Maddie Morrow and I have co-written an article for Story Embers, talking about some practical ways to better manage your writing time. It was super fun to work together on this article and share our thoughts on the topic (I learned quite a bit from her!), so I hope it's helpful to y'all as well!

(someday a day shall come when we learn how to write by osmosis and make plot-bunny repellent, but it is not this day)

image not mine

 
One of the most common tips writers hear is “Just write.” Though that’s a true sentiment, it’s also deceptively simple. How are you supposed to write amid school, family, jobs, sports, church functions, and other activities?

First and foremost, you must want time to write. Otherwise you’ll never rally the motivation to incorporate it into your schedule. Second, you need to experiment with different tactics to see which ones help you fit writing into your busy life. Together the two of us ladies have compiled a list that describes how to achieve writing productivity while balancing other obligations.

Read the rest of the article on STORY EMBERS 

~ Savannah Grace

happy reading!

Captain Marvel Movie Review

I'll admit - I was pretty skeptical about Captain Marvel when I first heard about the movie. No, scratch that - I was pretty skeptical about Captain Marvel when I first heard about her in general. So when I (finally) went to go see her movie, I went with low expectations and an open mind.

Want to hear what my opinions are after seeing it?

(p.s. I wrote this whole review well BEFORE Endgame came out, so there will be no Endgame spoilers in it) 

4 Stars 

Like I said, I went into the movie with low expectations. This far in the game, Marvel should NOT be bringing in a new character to be a cop-out of sorts in Endgame. And honestly, I almost want to give it less stars because of that? But WITHOUT thinking about Endgame, and considering this just another Marvel movie...I have to say, Captain Marvel was pretty good XD.

- The setting was amazing! I loved the 90's vibe. I wasn't so into the space-stuff at the beginning of the movie (which is probably why Guardians of the Galaxy isn't totally my thing), but once Carol fell to earth and started working with Nick and figuring out her past? Yeah, I LOVED IT. The older setting was tons of fun.

- Talos and the skrulls. WEIRD, I KNOW. As villains I hated them (duh), but the minute they were standing in Maria's backyard and Talos says "we just want a home" I was immediately thinking (since I was still skeptical of him at that point) PLEASE BE A GOOD GUY, PLEASE BE GOOD. And then when he finds his family later? I was basically melting into a happy puddle of "YES". Needless to say - yeah, I liked the skrulls XD. I Wish we'd gotten to know more about them!

- Baby Nick. Was absolutely. The best part. Of this movie. Honestly, I didn't even recognize him in the trailer until my friend told me that's who it was? Because he looks so different? And yet, in the movie, he's still very NICK, just a younger kind of Nick. I'm glad they had the same actor play him, because I don't think anyone else could have pulled it off, ha. The movie wouldn't have been even half as good without him. HE WAS SO FUN. (I just hated the part about how he lost his eye) (because it was the epitome of stupid) (and we don't speak of it) (*zips lips*) (it was also fun to see baby Coulson ;D)     

- "I have nothing to prove to you". <------ One of my favorite scenes in the WHOLE movie. I hate it when the bad guy in a movie is like "hey, fight me hand-to-hand and don't use your epic power! Because! You'll! Prove! That! You're! Stronger!" I mean, geez - if you have an epic power, use it, don't let the baddie tell you that using it makes you weaker somehow. Anyways - when Carol just up and smashed him anyways, I wanted to shout "YAS, GIRL" in the middle of the theater. And then I wanted to yell it even more when she walked up to him and said "I have nothing to prove to you" XD. Because I've always wanted a scene like this to happen (because LOGIC)! And I greatly enjoyed when Captain Marvel fulfilled that wish.

- Carol. Pre-watchung-the-movie, I didn't know how much I was going to like Carol, honestly. I was worried she'd be flat, or shallow, or that Marvel would use her to try and push a feminist agenda. BUT! But! She didn't feel like that at all! While Carol did fall a little flat now and then, I actually really liked her more than I thought I would. Her sass was just awesome ("I could have sworn I put it in there"), and she was so perfectly stubborn XD. While she wasn't a perfect main character by any means (I mean, she's being held up to Cap and Stark here in the realm of Marvel MCs, and can anyone actually beat them?) I'm glad to say that I very much enjoyed her and her movie. Asking if I liked her powers is a different story, but as for Carol herself--yeah, she gets a yes from me. A worthy addition to Marvel's MCs.       

- Project Avengers Initiative. That part at the end of the movie where Nick is typing out the Protect Initiative? And then sees the word "Avenger" on the side of Carol's plane? And then changes what he was typing, but the camera never shows it? SO MUCH YES. I love how the directors just knew that everyone would know what Fury was typing, they didn't even have to show it. So much yes to the Avengers Initiative. 

- The Stan Lee tribute. The movie was worth it for that alone. (and the Stan Lee cameo is, as usual, just perfect)

- The villains. Oh, geez. I could go on for a long time about how much I disliked the villain/s. First of all, there was too many of them. There was the Skrulls, then there was the Kree, then there was Ronan - you never had time to really fear one of the villains before another one was showing up. And then the villains weren't ever actually very powerful? The Skrulls turned out to be good. Carol beat her trainer without batting an eye. Ronan kind of just...walked away. I want to really fear for the main character, not know that everything's going to be just peachy! I'll probably do a post about this at some point, because I have a LOT to say about the villains in Captain Marvel XD.

- They never called her Captain Marvel? Not exactly a dislike...I just found it strange? The entire movie is called Captain Marvel, but by the end of the movie, I didn't feel like that's who Carol was. I actually wasn't really sure who she was--they honestly could have titled her anything. Captain Marvel didn't make as much sense for her as, say, Captain America makes sense for Steve. It was weird. But it is what it is *shrugs*.  

- Untied threads! Confusion! Unanswered questions! WHEE. Yeah, this too. Plenty of this. There were multiple threads at the end of the movie that never got tied up---i.e. Who is the Intelligence? Why is he/she important? How does he/she affect the Kree?---there was a bit of confusion, and a lot of questions that it raised but never answered. Like, if Nick was already contemplating the Avengers initiative in 1990s, why did it take him so long to find the first person (Stark) to recruit for it? There was also the question of why on EARTH did Nick wait to call Captain Marvel until Endgame? Why not Sokovia? Why not New York? Why not Winter Soldier, even? Lots of things that could have been done better, and that left Captain Marvel feeling like a last-minute addition to the Marvel universe.

- Deus Ex Machina. I thought before, and I still think, that Carol is definitely a Deus Ex Machina character for Endgame. I don't like it. So I was doubly annoyed when there was some Deus Ex Machina going on at the end of Captain Marvel--I mean, her powers came when she realized she was strong and took that thing off her neck. Why on earth didn't she do that early? That neck-thing seemed awfully easy to pop off. She could have done it years ago. And then her powers were so incredibly strong that the villains didn't even matter anymore. It definitely felt...lacking. Like she didn't fight for it enough, and that it could have happened way early. Most certainly could have been handled differently.

- It tried to steal some of the Avengers' thunder. Until this movie, it seemed like Iron Man, Cap, and the rest were the first people of their kind that Fury had ever dealt with. Why didn't he ever mention Captain Marvel? Or the Kree? Or any of the other things that happened? In all the other Marvel movies we're made to think that, oh cool, here's this new weird thing that the Avengers and SHIELD are going to have to deal with --- only to have Captain Marvel reveal to us that some of it was actually old news. It just felt a little like the movie was trying to steal some of the Avengers' thunder. (It didn't work though.) (Because nothing can steal the thunder from the Avengers XD.) 

- However, the language and content weren't that bad. Which was great. I would rank it somewhere around Thor in the matter of language and content, I think. Actually, this movie can pretty well be described as a mashup of Thor and GotG. Huh. Didn't think about that until just now XD. 

Despite the amount of bashing I'm willing to give Captain Marvel, I mostly bash it because of how it affects the Marvel universe as a whole, not because of the movie itself (though I do still have some bones to pick with it). As a standalone, Captain Marvel was a good movie that I greatly enjoyed, and I'm glad I went to see it. Carol was a great (and very interesting!) character who I really loved, Nick Fury was awesome and hilarious, and it definitely raised some questions for the fate of Endgame. Captain Marvel is absolutely worth seeing before April 26th (aka The End of an Era and the Day we Die of Feels).

And there are my (many, many) thoughts on Captain Marvel! I might do a "Writing Lessons We Can Learn from Captain Marvel" post sometime soon, because trust me, I still have more to say ;D. I'm really glad I went to see this movie, it was definitely worth it and it did manage to surprise me. I liked it more than I thought I would! If you're waffling over whether or not to go and see Captain Marvel, just go for it--seriously! And do it before Endgame...because it's kind of essential :D. It might surprise you, too!


Keep being epic, my friends! <3   

~ Savannah Grace 

have you seen Captain Marvel yet?

what are your thoughts on this movie?
 

Spoiler-Free Review of Avengers: Endgame

In which Savvy gives you a very (very) short and analytical post, because if she gets anywhere near the feels of this movie, there would be spoilers involved. And no one wants that. Also, the post would be a mile long.

So.

Here's my short-and-snappy (and spoiler-free!) review of the fourth and final Avengers movie.

5 Stars 

We've been waiting a long time for the Endgame. A full 11 years and 21 movies.

And I'm very glad to say that Endgame doesn't disappoint. (though it did manage to make this non-movie-crying-gal cry through...basically the entire movie. A lot. So there is that XD)

The characters (save one whom I won't mention, but Marvel can't always be perfect) felt so true to themselves in this movie - maybe more so than in any of the others. It was perfection. The plotline was absolutely genius, especially for this being the last Avengers movie. Perfectly paced, too, I was really impressed by how they handled that.

And the foreshadowing throughout all of the other movies - everything that led up to this - was amazing. So, so good. Save for a few threads, everything tied together so beautifully in this movie. It was a great accumulation of everything that's happened - a very worthy climax movie. And for how much I cried, I laughed just as much, and screamed and clapped along with the whole theater whenever those BIG moments came onscreen. The balance of everything in this movie was perfect.  

It was surreal to visit the realm of the Avengers movies for the final time, and the Russo brothers really managed to make it feel like magic. The graphics were incredible. The acting was even better than it had ever been before. The feels were no joke. If there's any movie worthy of being the Avengers' finale, it's this one.

(and don't worry - in a couple more weeks, after everyone has had time to see it, I'll do a better review post full of spoilers and all the feels and AAALLL of my many thoughts. But you'll have to wait a bit for that ;)) 

Yeah, I really enjoyed Avengers: Endgame. Will definitely be going back to see it a time or thirteen. Who's with me?


~ Savannah Grace 

have you seen Endgame? are you going to?

#dontspoiltheendgame

 

Story Embers: Using Flash Fiction to Hone Your Writing Craft

Y'all know I'm addicted to writing flash fiction, right? (if you've been here for more than .72 seconds, you probably do XD) But did you know that I'm also a writing intern for Story Embers? You do now! ;D

My first article just went up on Story Embers today, and it's all about (*drumroll*) flash fiction! Shocker, yes? XD

Want to take a peek at it?

image not mine

I’m addicted to flash fiction. I enjoy the challenge of compacting a story into a thousand words or fewer—and watching other writers do it too!

But flash fiction is more than a method for writing quick, poignant stories. It’s an incredibly useful yet overlooked tool for refining your skills in general.

Because of its brevity, the focus of flash fiction is distinctive from a novel. Complicated subplots, huge character arcs, and purple prose can’t be squished into the uniquely small size. Flash fiction is story micro-science, making it ideal for zeroing in on three tricky areas of writing craft....

Read the rest of the article on STORY EMBERS 

~ Savannah Grace 

happy reading! 

Introducing Fairy Tale Central

If you've been poking around the blogosphere anytime in the last week, you've probably seen that something NEW has just started - something that you guys will love!

Judging by the title of this post, you say, perhaps it is a place for lovers of fairytales and fairytale-retellings?

Yes! The brilliant minds of Christine Smith, Arielle Bailey, and Faith White have put together just such a place - and I have the honor of getting to tell you about it! Care to pull a chair and listen for a mo'? ;)

Once Upon a Time two girls had a dream. A dream of a fairy tale site, an internet library, if you will, for all the fairy tale lovers of the land to gather and converse. To learn, to read, to fangirl/boy, to bask in the goodness that is fairy tales.

As this dream blossomed, the two girls recruited a third. Because, after all, all good fairy tales come in themes of three.

With the third member in place, the girls got to work. The dream began to take shape, until it was no longer just a dream. But something real.

Introducing ... 

FAIRY TALE CENTRAL 

This newly launched site run by Arielle Bailey, Faith White, and Christine Smith, is your source for all things fairy tales.

Every month a single fairy tale will be featured, and posts will include:
 
●       Reviews for retellings/shows/movies/etc. 
●       Essay, origin, and discussion posts on the featured fairytale 
●       Interviews with fairy tale retelling authors 
●       Galleries featuring fairy tale artists and artisans 
●       And a whole lot more!

The FTC’s goal is to unlock the magic that is fairy tales and build a community of fellow fairy tale enthusiasts. Arielle, Faith, and Christine are thrilled to share this new fairy tale centric space and connect with all you epic fairy tale fans!

You can CLICK HERE to find the site and join the Fairy Ring! (Don’t worry, you won’t be enchanted or cursed.) And, if you want to connect even more, you can find the FTC on:

●       Facebook

●       Instagram

●       Twitter

●       Pinterest

(If you’re inclined to share about the FTC in those places too, you may or may not be blessed by a fairy godmother.)

Do tell a friend, or a dragon, or the fairy living in the hollow tree behind your house. All humans and mythological creatures alike are welcome, so what are you waiting for? Come join the fairytale fun!

Isn't it exciting? I've already popped over to the site (*cough*lots of times*cough*) and it looks like an absolute blast! I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of epic stuff is posted over there. If you love any kind of fairytale, definitely go check it out! It's going to be a lot of fun ;).

Keep being epic, my friends! <3  

~ Savannah Grace

have you checked out Fairy Tale Central?

what's the last fairytale retelling you read?