Four Year Blogoversary // The Q&A

It’s officially here, voyagers. It’s now been four years since I started this blog.* It still surprises me every time another blogoversary comes around and you all still show up. Blogging seems to have become a lost art, so seeing you all show up in my comments is the most beautiful reminder that blogging is not actually dead just yet.

This post is going to be super long, so I’ll save the rest of my sentimentality for later.

*Okay, okay, it’ll be four years tomorrow. I just didn’t want to mess with my posting schedule too much.

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The Long Voyage Stats

Places my blog has reached (views): United States (8,626), Canada (670), United Kingdom (446), Australia (440), India (226), Philippines (140), New Zealand (89), Germany (72), Netherlands (70), France (69), South Africa (65), China (64), Ireland (56), Poland (53), Cambodia (50), Malaysia (39), Brazil (38), Indonesia (38), Japan (37), Sri Lanka (31), Spain (30), Mexico (29), Singapore (28), Sweden (28), Pakistan (27), Israel (25), Denmark (24), Hong Kong SAR China (23), Turkey (23), Italy (22), Norway (22), Romania (22), Austria (17), Finland (17), Nigeria (17), Portugal (17), Czechia (16), United Arab Emirates (15), Belgium (14), Switzerland (14), Serbia (13), Puerto Rico (12), Russia (12), Argentina (11), Greece (11), Saudi Arabia (11), South Korea (10), Vietnam (10), Kenya (9), Ecuador (8), Peru (8), Slovakia (8), Thailand (8), French Polynesia (7), American Samoa (6), Bulgaria (6), Chile (6), Colombia (6), Hungary (6), Lebanon (6), Kuwait (5), Trinidad & Tobago (5), Ukraine (5), Bangladesh (4), Luxembourg (4), Egypt (3), Jamaica (3), Jordan (3), Moldova (3), Morocco (3), Qatar (3), Turks & Caicos Islands (3), Anguilla (2), Azerbaijan (2), Botswana (2), Croatia (2), Estonia (2), Honduras (2), Iceland (2), Kazakhstan (2), Lithuania (2), Mozambique (2), Nepal (2), Sierra Leone (2), Slovenia (2), Taiwan (2), Venezuela (2), Bahamas (1), Bahrain (1), Barbados (1), Bermuda (1), Bosnia & Herzegovina (1), Cameroon (1), Cayman Islands (1), Cuba (1), Cyprus (1), Ethiopia (1), Fiji (1), Georgia (1), Guam (1), Guatemala (1), Haiti (1), Iraq (1), Latvia (1), Lesotho (1), Liberia (1), Macao SAR China (1), Malawi (1), Malta (1), Montenegro (1), Oman (1), Panama (1), Réunion (1), St. Vincent & Grenadines (1), Tanzania (1), Uganda (1), Uzbekistan (1), Zambia (1), and Zimbabwe (1).

My Most Popular Posts:

My Favorite Post(s) from this Year:

I know I say this every year, but thank you. Thank you for showing up, for liking my posts, for commenting your thoughts, for sharing my posts, for silently reading my blog. I see the stats, y’all. I know that you’re here, even if you aren’t the kind of reader who comments. This year my blog hit 10,000 all-time views. Now, it’s over 12,000. That’s because of you, voyagers. 

You’re the reason I’m still blogging. 

You’re the reason I’m still here in the blogosphere. 

I see it all, and I’m so proud of what we have accomplished in these past four years. You have made this journey so rewarding, and I cannot wait to see what year five holds for us, voyagers. ❤

What made you start blogging?

I’ve been blogging for a total of seven years. I started my private blog in 2016 because I wanted to share my thoughts with my friends and family. This blog, however, was started in 2019. Writing that sentence feels absolutely crazy to me. It feels like I’ve been blogging forever, but also like I’m still kind of new to the whole blog thing, y’know?

Anyway, I think it was a combination of different things that made me want to start blogging. All of my internet friends had blogs, so I think there was a part of me that wanted to be like them—almost as if blogging would make me fit in better. But, I think I also started blogging because I had words to share with the world. My private blog taught me a lot of things about writing and life. But blogging publicly, where anyone on the internet could read my words, was a whole new concept. It made me a lot more careful about what information I put on the page and showed me that I wasn’t always as alone as I thought.

There were at least a handful of other people on the Earth who were also curious about writing, reading, and general bookish stuff. So, that might not totally answer the question, but I hope it’s enough because I don’t think I can give a more clear-cut answer.

Do you have a favorite blog post/category of posts?

I really like the writing advice posts that I’ve done. I don’t always have great ideas, but I think these posts are some of my better ones. The Selfish Character Arc post is still my most popular, and my post about how to lengthen your book will always be special to me. I love sharing what works for me, as well as what might work for other writers.

I’ve also found that posting book reviess is pretty fun. Sometimes I post them because they’re the easiest posts to write and schedule, but a lot of them are really fun to make because they make me think more deeply about the books I’ve read recently.

When it comes to reading blog posts, I think my favorites are the ones about writing. I love learning from other writers and hearing what tips they have to share with the world.

What’s your favorite part of blogging?

The community. It’s fluctuated a lot over the years, but most of my core readers have stuck around for a really long time. I’m so grateful for the little voyager community that we’ve built, and it still makes me smile whenever I get a notification that one of you decided to follow me or left a sweet comment on a post. 🙂

Have you learned anything surprising or unexpected as a result [of blogging]?

Well, one thing I learned is that consistency is key when it comes to building a following. Once I started posting regularly (twice a month), I noticed a more steady tick of subscribers. The voyager community is still pretty tiny in the grand scheme of things, but I get more individual people who decide to follow now that I post on a consistent schedule. So, all those things you hear about consistent posting . . . well, it’s true.

What’s your favorite book you read as a kid, or the first one you remember reading?

Honestly, I have no memory of the first book I ever read. I loved books as a kid, but I really couldn’t tell you what that first book was. I can, however, say that The Very Hungry Caterpillar was a big hit with myself and my two sisters. It was one of those books that you just loved going through over and over again.

Once I was a tween, I was absolutely obsessed with the Nancy Drew books. Like, I inhaled them on the weekly. Every week, I would check out 2-3 from my little school library, and I would proceed to consume every single one before we went back the following week. So, those were basically my whole life when I was a tween.

What book(s) do you most identify with?

I really love this question, especially because it wasn’t one that I could answer immediately. No, that’s the wrong way to say that. What I mean is that the answer kept nagging at me, but I hesitated to say it because it isn’t the most obvious answer.

A lot of people might assume that I would say Twilight because it’s one of the stories I talk about the most. But, the answer is actually Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman.

I read Challenger Deep for the first time in 2018. At the time, I didn’t have the words to express why Neal Shusterman’s story had touched me so deeply. It wasn’t until I reread it in 2020 that I realized the reason: It made me feel seen. The novel follows Caden, a teenage boy with schizophrenia, as the boundaries between reality and his hallucinations become more and more blurred. Yet, despite having almost nothing in common with him, Caden became my comfort character because he helped me understand that I am not alone with my demons.

Although I don’t have schizophrenia, I can’t remember a time before my anxiety diagnosis. It’s been a part of who I am for as long as I can remember, which made Caden’s mental health representation resonate with me on an even deeper level. It was the first book I ever read that made me feel like someone understood what it’s like to live with an unseen disorder. Shusterman’s words offered me a new kind of relatability and have given me the courage to continue my own voyage.

What’s your newest favourite book?

The Giver by Lois Lowry. At the time I’m writing this, I’m about halfway through it. I saw the movie forever ago, but the book is blowing me away. The world is so strange, the dystopian vibes are on point, and I can feel it moving toward impending doom and chaos. So, yeah, thus far I would definitely recommend it. We’ll see what Editor Bree thinks when she’s finished the book and is editing this post.

*Editor Bree here to say that I finished The Giver. It was a beautiful and poignant story about the importance of choice, freedom to make mistakes, and why we must always remember the past. You all should go read it right now. ❤

What order did you read/watch the Grishaverse in?

I love this question! I took a bit of an untraditional approach with the Grishaverse since I started with season 1 of the TV show, Shadow and Bone. That intrigued me enough to pick up the original trilogy, so that’s when I read Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, and Ruin and Rising. I had a great time mocking those books (playfully and in good humor) with one of my friends, who had very little memory of that trilogy. We still have a running joke that Leigh couldn’t write until she got to Six of Crows because that was when she finally took a writing class. So, as you might have guessed, I read Six of Crows next. My friend and I were going to buddy read Crooked Kingdom before season 2 of the show came out, but we never actually did it. So, I watched season 2 next, and then proceeded to ban said friend from watching season 2 until we actually read Crooked Kingdom because the show has MASSIVE spoilers for that book. [Editor Bree here to say that said buddy reading friend and I still have not read Crooked Kingdom, but hopefully will soon.]

Whew, that was the most chaotic way to explain the order, so I’ll put a more organized order down below:

• Season 1 of Shadow and Bone
• Shadow and Bone (the book)
• Siege and Storm
• Ruin and Rising
• Six of Crows
• Season 2 of Shadow and Bone

Also, just a note: this is not the recommended order to consume the Grishaverse in. Leigh has a whole guide on her website, which you can find right here. Some people start with the original trilogy, but a lot of people start with Six of Crows. Ultimately, I think it depends on whether you prefer to go in chronological order (start with Shadow and Bone) or if you want better writing and heist shenanigans first (start with Six of Crows).

What is your favourite Grishaverse book?

Six of Crows, hands down. The original trilogy was fine, but I had a lot of problems with the writing. The style didn’t work for me, and I think Leigh writes extraordinarily better books when she uses third person. I also found the characters a lot more compelling in Six of Crows than I did in the original trilogy.

Also, I’m not trying to slander the original trilogy. I know that I have a lot of internet friends who hold those books very close to their heart. The Grishaverse came to me at the perfect time (you can read more about that here), and I absolutely loved getting to dive head first into the original trilogy. They just weren’t my favorite books in the series, so if they are your favorite, know that I fully support you and your love for those books.

Who is your favorite Grishaverse character?

Kaz Brekker. I am a simple girl with simple desires.*

*Desires = morally gray con man who will rip out eyes when his beloved gets hurt.

How do you write morals in your stories based on your faith?

I actually saved this question for last. It’s in the middle of this post, but it’s the one I answered last because it’s the hardest one to answer. 

It’s hard to answer because my stories aren’t Christian. I want to write Christian stories at some point, but the ones I’ve written and am currently writing are not Christian. My stories are all inspired and guided by my faith, but I haven’t really incorporated Christianity into my stories. I hope that sheds a little bit of light on why this is a difficult question to answer.

That being said, one thing I do to make sure my stories promote Christian values is let my characters face the consequences of their actions. My stories are dark and honest about the world, but my characters will have to own up to their choices. If they make a bad choice that doesn’t align with God, they are going to suffer consequences.

Another way that my faith drives my stories is by ensuring that the darkness is never meaningless. The darkness in my stories is intentionally and carefully placed because it is through the darkness that the light shines the brightest. So, when darkness is shown in my stories, it will never be glorified. Instead, it will be conquered by the light.

How many plot bunnies do you have?

34, if we’re counting any story ideas that I haven’t actively started working on yet.

What’s an unpopular opinion you have about Twilight (as a fan, not in reply to common criticism)?

Surprisingly, this was one of the harder questions to answer. It was hard enough that I actually had to Google some unpopular opinions to get a single idea generated, lol. One unpopular opinion that I saw, and actually agree with, is that Renesemee’s name is pretty. I never understood the hatred that people have toward Renesmee. I definitely get the hatred toward her wretched CGI face, but the actual hate against her as a character? Nope. Keep that negativity as far away from me as possible, please.

To take things a step further, I would also say that my unpopular opinion is that the name Bella would have named Renesmee if she was a boy is so much worse than Renesmee. She literally thought that EJ (Edward Jacob) would have been a good name . . . I think that was when I realized that Bella was losing it, lol.

What’s your thoughts about book to film/TV show adaptations?

I love them, but I understand the hesitancy. For me, a good adaptation translates the book onto the screen in a way that captures the essence of what it felt like to read the story for the first time. I used to get really upset about adaptations that didn’t keep everything from the book, but I’ve learned to recognize them as a separate entity. The book and the movie (or TV show) are never going to be the same—that’s just not how adaptations work. You’re taking a story and translating it into a new form of media. Now that I understand this, I’m able to go into adaptations with more realistic expectations.

That being said, I’ve seen my fair share of good and bad adaptations. So, just for fun, here’s my non-comprehensive list of adaptations that you should and shouldn’t watch.

Do watch:

• The Hunger Games
• Divergent
• Twilight
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
• The Fault in Our Stars
• The Maze Runner
• Five Feet Apart
• Shadow and Bone (come for the crows, stay for the crows)
• Finding You 
• Alice in Borderland (check content warnings first)

Don’t watch:

• Vampire Academy (I still love it, but it’s very cringey and you cannot watch it with any expectations)
• The Handmaid’s Tale (I watched the TV show, but looked away a lot. Since the content is so mature, I wouldn’t recommend it. It does, however, capture a lot of the novel)
• Chemical Hearts (I never read the book that this one was based on, but it was really heartbreaking and didn’t resolve well)
• The In Between (It was a beautiful movie, but the plot revolves around after-death communication, so I wouldn’t recommend it)
• Gone Girl (it’s a good adaptation, but I didn’t really like the storyline, so it was just kinda meh)

Also, here’s a short list of books I’m anxiously waiting for someone to adapt:

• These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
• The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
• You’ve Reached Sam by Dustin Thao
• Unwind by Neal Shusterman
• We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
• 100 Days of Sunlight by Abbie Emmons

Talk to me about boba! I think I need to give it another try.

Okay, so here’s my go-to boba advice if you don’t like boba: Just get milk tea. In my mind, milk tea fully counts as boba because that’s how I started. I initially hated the actual boba pearls. So, when I started getting boba with my friends, I just got milk tea. Then, I tried a strawberry-flavored jelly, and eventually worked my way up to actual boba.

Furthermore, the flavor of milk tea makes a huge difference when it comes to liking the boba pearls, at least in my opinion. The first time I ever tried boba pearls, I hated it. But, I think a big part of that was because I didn’t like the flavor of the milk tea that they were in. When I tried boba pearls in strawberry milk tea, I loved it. So, my best advice is to start with your favorite milk tea, and then try honey boba (which doesn’t really have a lot of flavor, but enhances whatever milk tea flavor you got).

What is your favorite Boba?

Strawberry milk tea with honey boba. This has been my default boba drink since day one of my boba journey. I highly recommend it. 😉

What is the best Taylor Swift album?

Whichever one resonates with your heart is the best album. I’m a firm believer that there is no one right answer to this question because everyone is different. What resonates with me might not resonate with you, and that’s perfectly okay. We’re all allowed to like different things, so I say find the album that makes your soul feel alive and seen and understood—that’s the best Taylor Swift album.

For me, the best album is Folklore. That album will always be special to me because it was what got me through quarantine. The 1 immediately spoke to me, Cardigan healed my soul in so many ways, Exile gave me a song to cry to, Seven became an underrated favorite, August was an instant summer classic, This is Me Trying expressed my anxiety in ways I never imagined, Mad Woman was my angry mood guilty pleasure, Epiphany broke my heart, Betty made me not hate the harmonica, Peace made me feel seen, and The Lakes felt like looking at my soul. These songs became a lifeline for me in that time of fear, anxiety, and loneliness . . . and I’m so grateful to Taylor for that.

I will also say that Midnights is a close second. This album had to grow on me a lot because I hated so much of it when I first heard it. However, the 3 am songs resonated so deeply with me (#TheGreatWar), and eventually the others did, too.

If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only have 1 author’s full collection of books, and 1 singer/band’s collection of songs, who would you pick?

This is a hard question because there are so many books and songs I would want to have with me. But, since you are asking, I shall try anyway.

In a shocking turn of events that absolutely everything saw coming, I’m taking Neal Shusterman’s collection of books. He writes across a multitude of genres, so I think there would always be something for any mood. As for a collection of songs . . . I’d probably choose Taylor Swift’s music. She has ten albums that are all wildly different in genre and energy, so again, I’d always have something for every mood.

How would your characters react if they each received a pet bunny? And how would you react?

Me: I can’t speak for my characters, but I would be very delighted. *holds and cuddles my bunny* At least, I would be until I realized that I now have to take care of this little creature. *looks at my characters* Go ahead, you can answer the question. I promise they won’t laugh.

Evander: Father is not going to be happy about this . . . *reluctantly pets his bunny*

Sorrin: *gently holding his bunny* *looks at Evander and notices that he is worried* We’ll figure it out—we always do.

Alex: *rolls his eyes at Evander and Sorrin* *looks at his bunny* Is this supposed to be an emotional support animal?

Hope: *laughs at Alex* It’s just a cute pet. Don’t overthink it, Alex. *cuddles her bunny*

Rose: *looks at everyone, but keeps to herself in the corner* *looks down at her tiny bunny* Don’t worry little one, I’ll keep you safe . . . even from father.

Ambrose: *is restrained by Bree* Hey! Let me go, author!

Me: No, not after what happened last time.

Ambrose: It was one time!

Me: You’re literally a hunter, Ambrose! *shakes head* This isn’t going to get any better, so we should probably just move on to the next question.

What’s your favorite animal?

This question makes me feel very basic because I’ve always said my favorite animal is a cat. That being said, I do also like foxes, so those little guys are a close second.

Favorite flower?

I don’t know that I really have a favorite flower. I’ve always liked flowers as a whole, but I’ve never really felt drawn specifically to a certain flower. That being said, I do like roses.

Want more content?

If you follow me on social media, you may already know this, but I have a couple of collections on Wattpad.

The first one is a collection of poetry and short prose pieces that explores grief, loss, growing up, and learning how to let go of things that once were, but are no longer. It’s called We All Carry Ghosts, and it ranked number one for poembook and poetrycollection. Interested? Click here to read!

My second collection is a compilation of poetry that explores internal conflicts under the light of the moon, the stars, and the galaxies. It’s called In The Moonlight, and it ranked number six for moonchild. This is a new collection that is still being updated, so click here to catch up and join the fun. 

To get updates when I post new poems, follow me on Wattpad!

Let’s Talk!

What are your favorite kind of blog posts? Which book do you identify with the most? Who’s your favorite Grishaverse character? Do you have a book adaptation that you love or hate? If you have a question that didn’t get answered, drop it down in the comments and I’ll answer them.