Before we talk about sell sheets and why you, as an author, need said sell sheet (say that three times fast), I want to point out something that I found funny.

Lately, I’ve been publishing blog posts with a theme that runs through the whole week.

This week, I was so focused on my publication drama that I decided no theme. Just wing it.

So, of course, I proceeded to write an entire week’s worth of blog posts that follow the theme:

Follow Me on My Adventures in Publishing Consanguinity.

We started with Krakens, Chaos, and Publishing a Book, aka Release the Krakens, in which I learned that apparently a book does not mean you’re actually finished with the book.

Then came What They Don’t Tell You About Self-Publishing: Mastering KDP and Draft2Digital which featured Tracie losing her ever-loving mind.

Next up was What to Do When Your Book Cover Designer Disappears Into the Fiverr Void, featuring a disappearing Y, a vanished cover designer, and Tracie rescuing the moon.

Because that’s apparently a thing I can do now.

And yesterday we had You Published a Book. Now What?, where all the suggestions were useful, but the most important piece of advice was:

TAKE A NAP.

So much for not having a theme.

And today, our Adventures in Publishing Consanguinity continue with something else I didn’t know I needed until suddenly I needed one:

A sell sheet.

Wait. What the Heck Is a Book Sell Sheet?

That was pretty much my reaction.

A book sell sheet is basically your book’s résumé.

It’s a one-page document that gives bookstores, libraries, booksellers, and other potential buyers the information they need to decide whether they might want to carry your book.

Not your entire life story. Not a twelve-paragraph explanation of why your book is wonderful. Not you standing at the counter of your local indie bookstore clutching a paperback and saying, Hi, I wrote a thing. Please love it. Although, to be fair, that was approximately Plan A.

A sell sheet lets you walk in looking slightly more like a professional author who understands the publishing industry and slightly less like an excited woman who recently discovered that strangers will actually buy her book.

Progress.

What’s Supposed to Be on a Book Sell Sheet?

The goal is to give someone the important information about your book quickly.

That usually means including things like:

• The book cover
• Title and author
• A short description or sales pitch
• Genre and target audience
• ISBN
• Publication date
• Format
• Page count
• Retail price
• Distributor information
• Wholesale discount and return information, if applicable
• Author website/contact information
• A short author bio
• A QR code or link where the book can be found

Basically, all the questions a bookstore or librarian might ask without making them hunt for the answers. And that last part is important. Because the sell sheet isn’t really about making something pretty. It’s about making someone’s job easier.

Why Would an Indie Author Need a Sell Sheet?

This is the part I hadn’t really considered when I hit Publish. Amazon is easy. Relatively speaking. You upload your book. Amazon puts it on Amazon. People can find it and buy it. But I don’t want Consanguinity to exist only as a tiny thumbnail floating around the internet.

There are independent bookstores near me. There is a library in my town. There are actual physical places where people browse shelves and discover books they weren’t specifically searching for. And I’d really, really like my book to have a chance to be one of them.

That’s where a sell sheet becomes useful.

Instead of walking into a bookstore and expecting someone to stop everything while I explain my book, I can introduce myself, give them the information they need, and let them look at it when they have time.

Which feels considerably less obnoxious.

But How Does a Bookstore Actually Get My Book?

This was another one of those things I hadn’t really thought about.

If I walk into a bookstore with my shiny new sell sheet and they say, Sure, we’d love to carry your book, am I supposed to run home, grab five copies, and bring them back?

Thankfully, no.

This is one of the reasons I decided to make the paperback edition of Consanguinity available through IngramSpark.

IngramSpark combines print-on-demand printing with Ingram’s distribution network, which means bookstores and libraries that order through Ingram can order my book through the same kind of system they already use to order other books.

And here’s the part I find particularly cool:

Print on demand means there doesn’t have to be a warehouse somewhere containing 5,000 copies of Consanguinity.

When copies are ordered, copies can be printed.

For an indie author, that’s huge. I don’t have to pay thousands of dollars upfront for a massive print run and then devote half my house to boxes of books while desperately hoping someone eventually buys them.

I can certainly order author copies to keep on hand for events, signed copies, local sales, or because I occasionally enjoy staring at my own book and thinking, Holy crap. I made that.

But I don’t have to become my own warehouse.

It also explains why information like distributor, wholesale discount, and return status belongs on a sell sheet. A bookseller isn’t only deciding whether your book sounds good. They need to know whether they can actually order it—and under what terms.

IngramSpark has a really useful explanation of print-on-demand book printing and how it works for self-publishers, if you want to dive deeper into that particular publishing rabbit hole.

Because apparently there is always another publishing rabbit hole.

The QR Code Question

Naturally, once I figured out what needed to go on the sell sheet, I immediately found another question to obsess over.

Where should the QR code go?

More specifically:

Where should it SEND people?

My first instinct was Amazon.

But Consanguinity isn’t only available on Amazon.

It’s available through multiple retailers, which means sending everyone directly to Amazon doesn’t make much sense.

So I’m using my Books2Read universal book link. One QR code. One scan. Then the person scanning it can choose the retailer they prefer. For readers, that’s convenient. For a bookstore or librarian looking at the sheet, it also shows that the book has wider distribution and isn’t locked exclusively into Amazon.

Tiny square. Surprisingly useful.

A Sell Sheet Is Not a Poster

This was another distinction I had to wrap my head around.

Because my natural instinct is:

BOOK! PRETTY! COVER! MAGIC! MAKE GRAPHIC!

But a sell sheet has a job. It can absolutely look good. In fact, it should look polished and reflect the book’s branding.  But somebody should be able to glance at it and immediately find the ISBN, price, distributor, genre, and contact information. If they’re searching through decorative vines, moonlight, seventeen fonts, three glowing necklaces, and an inexplicable raven to find the ISBN, I have perhaps lost the plot.

And yes, I am saying this primarily to myself.

Yet Another Thing I Didn’t Know I Didn’t Know

That may be my biggest lesson from self-publishing. It isn’t simply that there’s a lot to learn. It’s that you don’t even know which questions you’re supposed to be asking until suddenly you need the answer.

A few months ago, I was worried about finishing the manuscript. Then I was worried about editing, formatting, ISBNs,  distribution, covers, ARCs, marketing. Then apparently the letter Y declared war on me. Don’t ask. It was a thing. I won.

And now?

Sell sheets.

Every stage reveals another little piece of the publishing business I didn’t know existed. But here’s the strange part: I’m actually enjoying learning it. Okay, maybe not all of it. The Freaking Y can still go straight to hell.

But this part?

Figuring out how to take something I wrote at my desk and get it into the hands of actual readers—and maybe even onto the shelf of an actual bookstore?

That’s pretty freaking cool.

So now I have another item for the self-publishing checklist:

Write the book.

Publish the book.

Make the sell sheet.

And then, apparently, gather up my courage and walk into some bookstores.

I’ll let you know how that goes.

Want to Make Your Own Book Sell Sheet?

If you just read all of that and thought, Okay, great, Tracie. Now I know I need a sell sheet—but I still have to MAKE one?

I’ve got you.

I created a free Book Sell Sheet Template for indie authors with spaces for all the important stuff: your book cover, description, ISBN, pricing, distribution information, author bio, QR code, and more.

You can grab whichever version works best for you:

[Download the Editable Word Template]

[Free_Book_Sell_Sheet_Template]

Add your book information, swap in your cover and QR code, delete my little instructions, and you’re ready to introduce your book to bookstores, libraries, and anyone else who might want to put it on a shelf.

Because apparently publishing the book wasn’t enough work.

At least this part I can make easier for you.

The post What is a Book Sell Sheet and Why Does an Indie Author Need One? first appeared on Tracie Joy.

I published a book today. Holy fuck. Not I finished writing a book. Not I sent a book to an editor. Not I uploaded a manuscript and crossed my fingers.

I published a freaking book.

Consanguinity, the first book in The Veilshard Chronicles, is officially out there in the world. These characters that I’ve lived with in one form or another for years are going to be out there in the world for everybody to see. That’s kind of a daunting thought

And I would love to tell you that the final weekend before publishing a book was a beautiful, reflective experience in which I lovingly put the finishing touches on my novel, sipped tea, contemplated my journey as a writer, and quietly pressed the publish button with a single tear sliding gracefully down my cheek. That would be complete bullshit.

There were Krakens.

So. Many. Krakens.

Release the Kraken

Somewhere during the final editing process, every little problem I found became a Kraken. A missing comma? Kraken. A sentence that suddenly sounded weird even though I had read it approximately 4,783 times? Kraken. A continuity issue hiding quietly in the corner hoping nobody noticed it? Oh, you better believe that was a Kraken. Why krakens? I have absolutely no freaking clue. But kraken sounds way more fun than error, or mistake. I truly was saying “Release the Krakens,” before every editing pass. And by the end it was “Die, Kraken, Die!” And I am 100% positive there are still krakens in the book. I tried. God knows, I tried.

The plan was simple: find the Kraken, kill the Kraken, move on. Except apparently my manuscript was operating under Hydra rules.

Kill one Kraken and seven more appeared.

I’d fix something, scroll down three paragraphs, and discover another thing. Then another. Then something I was absolutely certain I had already fixed. Then something that had somehow survived multiple readings, beta readers, editing, formatting, and God only knows what else. At some point, the editing process stopped feeling like proofreading and started feeling like a mythological boss battle. And I kept going. Kraken. Fixed. Next Kraken. Fixed. Next. Why krakens? I have absolutely no freaking clue. But kraken sounds way more fun than error, or mistake. I truly was saying “Release the Krakens,” before every editing pass. And by the end it was “Die, Kraken, Die!” And I am 100% positive there are still krakens in the book. I tried. God knows, I tried.

And Then I Decided I Hated My Chapter Titles

Because obviously I didn’t have enough to do. At almost the last possible second, I looked at my chapter titles and thought:

Nope.

Not one or two of them. Enough of them that this became A Thing. So now, while I was supposed to be finishing the final-final-no-really-this-time-final editing pass, I was also staring at chapter titles and asking myself whether they actually belonged in the book.

Some did. Some absolutely did not. Some were replaced. Some fought for their lives. There were negotiations. There may have been threats. And please remember, all of these fights, threats and negotiations took place between me, myself and I. The sad thing is, I’m still not sure who won. Eventually, the chapter titles were settled, the Krakens were dispatched, and the manuscript reached that terrifying point every writer eventually has to face:

I had to stop touching it.

Do you know how unnatural that feels? You spend months—or years—knowing that anything wrong with the book can still be fixed. Until suddenly it can’t. Because you’re about to press the button.

Publishing a Book Involves a Disturbing Number of Forms

You would think publishing a book would involve trumpets. Possibly confetti. At minimum, someone should appear and hand you a certificate saying:

CONGRATULATIONS. YOU HAVE CREATED A THING THAT DID NOT EXIST BEFORE.

Instead, there are forms. So many forms. Metadata. Categories. Descriptions. At one point, I found myself asking, well myself, “What is my book about again?” Files. Previews. Prices. Checkboxes. Questions that suddenly feel like they carry the weight of international diplomacy. The glamorous life of an indie author, ladies and gentlemen.

Eventually, though, there is a button. You press it.

And…

that’s basically it.

The book that has lived inside your head, your computer, your conversations, and an increasingly alarming percentage of your waking hours is suddenly making its way out into the world.

And Then My Body Figured Out What Happened

This afternoon, I was driving when I suddenly felt like I was going to cry. Not because something was wrong. Not even because I was sad. It was just…everything. The entire weekend had been one long adrenaline rush. Find the problem. Fix the problem. Keep going. Don’t stop. Finish the book. Check the file. Check it again. Upload it. Say, crap, wrong file. Then you say it again, and again. Check everything. Make the decision. Press the button. And then suddenly there weren’t any other Kraken.

There wasn’t another chapter title. There wasn’t another upload. There wasn’t another thing standing between me and done. And apparently my nervous system went:

Oh. We’re safe now? Excellent. I shall completely lose my shit.

I came incredibly close to crying in the car. It wasn’t really happiness or exhaustion or relief. It was all of them crashing into each other at once. An adrenaline dump after months of work and one completely bonkers final weekend.

Holy Fuck. I Published a Book.

I think that’s the part I’m still trying to process. I published a book. Again, technically. I’ve published books before. But this one feels different.

This is fiction.

These are people who existed only in my imagination until I started putting them on paper. Aisling and J.T. and Eric and Sabina have occupied space in my brain for so long that sending them out into the world feels bizarrely personal.

People can meet them now. People can love them. I really hope that people love them. People can hate them. Please, please, please don’t hate them. Well…you can hate Vanessa. That’s allowed. People can yell at them. People can yell at me because of things I did to them.

And knowing me, that last one is probably inevitable. But they’re out there. The story is out there. Consanguinity is no longer the book I’m writing, revising, editing, formatting, fixing, Kraken-hunting, or threatening to throw through a window. It’s a book people can read. Mine. I made it. Holy fuck.

I published a book.

And if you’d like to meet Aisling, J.T., Eric, Sabina—and perhaps discover why I’ve spent the last several days fighting imaginary sea monsters—you can find Consanguinity on Amazon. You can find it at other online retailers here. It’s available for pre-order right now and comes out on the August 25, 2026.

The post Krakens, Chaos, and Publishing a Book first appeared on Tracie Joy.

Story pacing in writing isn’t something I was thinking about at 2:00 in the morning… but apparently, my brain was. I was sound asleep, dreaming. I don’t know what I was dreaming but I know it was good because my dreams usually are. And then, it happened

I woke up out of nowhere with that feeling. You know the one. Not panic exactly, but something close. Like your brain is trying to tap you on the shoulder and say, “Hey… we need to talk.”

And there it was. I was rushing my story. Mind you, I certainly didn’t wake up with that exact thought in my mind. It was more like a “What if I do this, instead of that, change this, move that there, and add this,” and boom, I had completely changed the trajectory of Consanguinity. My muse has very definite ideas at 2:00 in the morning apparently. While I’m glad she was working on story pacing while I was sleeping, she really could have waited to share those thoughts until a more respectable time.

The Original Plan

Up until that moment, I had a clear structure in mind. Four main characters. Four pieces of the Veilshard (name pending). One big story.

And my plan? My plan was pretty simple. I was going to have them all find their pieces in Consanguinity. It made sense. It felt efficient. It moved things along quickly. On paper, it worked. Personally, I thought it was perfect. I even had plans, well as many book plans as I ever make, for the next 3 books. However, my subconscious apparently wasn’t happy with that and had other other ideas for my book.

The 2 A.M. Realization

Somewhere between sleep and awake, my brain, my subconscious, my muse, my whatever you want to call it decided it was time to speak up. Fix the story pacing!

If they find everything in Book One… what’s left? Where’s the build? Where’s the tension? Where’s the space for each character to grow into what they’re meant to become? I tried to argue with my muse, but that bitch one.

I had taken something that should unfold… and tried to compress it. I was rushing it.And suddenly, I could see it clearly. I wasn’t building a journey. I was rushing to the end.

Slowing the Story Down

That was the shift.

Not a complete rewrite. Not throwing everything out. But a structural change that changed everything.

Instead of all four pieces of the Veilshard appearing in Book One…They unfold across all four books. One piece at a time. One character arc at a time. One layer of the story revealed when it’s ready, not when it’s convenient. And just like that, the story had room to breathe.

The cool thing about all of this is those other plans I had made for the other 3 books still worked, I just needed to shift things around a little.  However, since I had to work, I didn’t do any of that planning right then and there, because sleep is like a sacred thing to me. What I did do was grab my phone, open the notes app, and type up a couple of quick notes, complete with a bazillion typos because it was 2:00 in the morning, and I was still half asleep.

What I Learned About Story Pacing in Writing

Here’s the thing about story pacing in writing: faster isn’t always better. Sometimes when we rush, it’s not because the story needs it… it’s because we’re excited. Or impatient. Or worried we’ll lose momentum if we don’t get to the “good parts” quickly. But the truth? The good parts are the build.

The tension. The waiting. The moments where things almost happen. That’s where readers fall in love with your story.

If you’re looking for more general writing structure tips, resources like Reedsy’s guide to story structure can be helpful, but sometimes the biggest lessons come from simply listening to your own story.

This was a huge change for me from my fan fiction writing. Those stories moved fast. Yes there was tension, yes their was a build up to it, but it was still boom, boom, boom. It worked for fan fiction, but I really don’t think it’s going to fly in this book.

When Your Story Pushes Back

I didn’t sit down and logically outline this change. My muse pushed back. It said, “Hey, my way is better. You’re moving way too fast.”

And this time, I listened. So if something in your writing feels off, even if you can’t quite explain it yet…

Don’t ignore that feeling. That’s not doubt. That’s instinct. Trust it! Getting the story pacing right in writing a book isn’t easy, but it is something you want to work at. It really does make all the difference.

If You’re Feeling Stuck

Just because I don’t want you waking up at 2:00 in the morning questioning every single pacing decision you’ve ever made, I put together something that actually helps in the moment. This story pacing worksheet gives you a quick, practical way to figure out if you need to slow down, speed up, or stay right where you are… without the existential spiral. Use it while you’re writing, after a draft, or when something just feels off. Ideally? You fix it on the page… and then go to bed like a normal, well-rested human.  I also have a full collection of free writing resources that can help you get moving again.

Sometimes all it takes is one small shift.

And sometimes?

It takes waking up at 2:00 in the morning and finally listening.

The post The Moment I Realized I Was Rushing My Story: Story Pacing in Writing first appeared on Tracie Joy.

The positive thinking boxset started with a simple idea: I wanted to create something encouraging, practical, and easy to return to when life feels heavy. Sometimes the hardest battles happen quietly inside our own minds. Negative self-talk, doubt, and discouraging thought patterns can make even small challenges feel bigger than they are. This positive thinking boxset was created to offer both comfort and useful tools for building a healthier mindset.

Positive thinking has never meant pretending everything is perfect. It doesn’t mean ignoring stress, disappointment, or the very real struggles people carry. For me, positive thinking is about learning how to respond differently. It’s about noticing the spiral before it takes over. It’s about giving yourself a better sentence, a steadier thought, or a little more grace than you did yesterday.

If you’ve been around here for a while, you know this isn’t a new theme for me. I’ve written before about positive thinking and how small shifts in perspective can change your outlook, and those same ideas eventually grew into these books.

Why I Wrote Thinking Positive

The first book in the positive thinking boxset, Thinking Positive, came from the desire to create a gentle starting place. I wanted something readers could pick up when they needed encouragement, clarity, or a reminder that mindset matters.

So often, we don’t need a giant life overhaul. We need a small reset. We need a way to pause, catch what our thoughts are doing, and choose something more supportive. Thinking Positive explores that process. It focuses on the idea that our internal dialogue shapes the way we move through the world. When we shift that dialogue, even in small ways, we begin to shift our experience too.

This book isn’t about becoming cheerful on command. It’s about becoming more aware, more intentional, and more hopeful. It’s about building a mindset that can hold both honesty and encouragement at the same time.

Why I Created Thinking Positive Toolbox

After writing the first book, I realized something important. Encouragement matters, but readers also need something hands-on. It’s one thing to understand positive thinking in theory. It’s another thing to practice it when you’re stressed, discouraged, or stuck in old habits.

That’s where Thinking Positive Toolbox came in. The second book in the positive thinking boxset gives readers practical exercises, prompts, and reflection tools they can actually use. I wanted it to feel like a companion readers could work through at their own pace, whether they needed a quick reset or a deeper mindset check-in.

Small habits really do matter. A better question. A more honest reflection. A moment of pause before the usual negative thought takes over. These aren’t flashy changes, but they can be powerful ones. That’s the heart of the toolbox.

Why I Turned Them into a Positive Thinking Boxset

Once both books were finished, turning them into a positive thinking boxset just made sense. The books naturally complement each other. One introduces the ideas and mindset shifts. The other helps readers put those ideas into practice.

Together, they create a fuller experience. Readers can learn, reflect, and then take action. They can read for encouragement and return for exercises. They can start where they are and build from there.

I also loved the idea of making the two books available in one place. A positive thinking boxset makes it easier for readers to get both resources together, and I think the pairing strengthens both books.

Who the Positive Thinking Boxset Is For

This positive thinking boxset is for readers who want a more encouraging inner life, but also want realistic support. It is for the person who’s tired of their own negative self-talk. It is for the person trying to rebuild confidence. It is for the reader who wants practical ways to create a more hopeful mindset without feeling like they have to fake happiness.

You might enjoy these books if you:

• struggle with self-doubt or discouraging thought patterns
• want to build a steadier, more positive mindset
• enjoy reflection, journaling, or personal growth tools
• need encouragement that feels warm and practical
• want simple ways to support emotional resilience

If you’d like to explore more on the topic, Mayo Clinic has also shared helpful information about positive thinking and negative self-talk.

Why Positive Thinking Still Matters

Positive thinking sometimes gets dismissed as unrealistic optimism, but research in psychology continues to show that mindset affects resilience, stress management, and overall well-being.

When we practice noticing negative self-talk and replacing it with more balanced thoughts, we build mental habits that make it easier to handle challenges. Positive thinking doesn’t remove problems, but it can change how we approach them.

A Gentle Reminder About Real Change

Most meaningful change doesn’t arrive with fireworks and a soundtrack. It usually shows up quietly. A thought you catch sooner. A moment you handle better. A little less harshness in the way you talk to yourself. A little more hope than you had before.

That’s what I want this positive thinking boxset to offer. Not perfection. Not forced positivity. Just a helpful place to begin, or begin again.

If these books help someone feel a little more grounded, a little more encouraged, or a little more capable of facing the day ahead, then they’ve done exactly what I hoped they would do.

The Positive Thinking Boxset

The positive thinking boxset includes both Thinking Positive and Thinking Positive Toolbox in one convenient collection.

The Positive Thinking Boxset

The Positive Thinking Boxset includes both Thinking Positive and Thinking Positive Toolbox in one convenient collection.

Get the boxset:

Amazon Kindle
Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble and more
Buy direct from Words & Wonders Buy direct from Words and Wonders and save money!!!!

If this post spoke to you, save it for later or take a look at some of my other encouragement and mindset posts here on the blog. If you’re working on building a more encouraging mindset this year, the Positive Thinking Boxset was created to help with exactly that.

The post The Thinking Positive Boxset: Why I Created This Two-Book Mindset Collection first appeared on Tracie Joy.

Building a blog from scratch is hard, and let’s just say the hardest part out loud. Building a blog in the beginning feels a little like talking into the void. You write the post. You hit publish. You refresh your stats like a hopeful little gremlin. And… nothing.

No comments. No shares. Maybe a couple of clicks if you’re lucky. If you’re in that stage right now, I want you to know something important. This is not failure. This is the beginning. It’s depressing, but it is the beginning.

Why Growing a Blog from Scratch Feels So Hard

When you’re learning how to grow a blog from scratch, it’s easy to think that success should happen quickly. We see viral posts, big creators, and polished websites and assume they got there overnight.

They didn’t.

What you don’t see is the quiet phase. The phase where they showed up again and again with little feedback, little traction, and a whole lot of doubt. This is the phase where most people stop. Not because they aren’t capable, but because it feels like nothing is happening. Again, this is the depressing part

The Truth About How to Grow a Blog from Scratch

Here’s the truth. You don’t grow a blog from scratch by going viral. You grow it by showing up. You write when it feels easy. You write when it feels hard. You write when you’re inspired and when you’re absolutely not. Growth is happening, even when you can’t see it yet. Every post is a brick. Every idea is a step forward. Every time you hit publish, you are building something. It just doesn’t feel big… yet.

I have a blog plan – yes, I am an utter geek.

My Blog Plan – aka Being Consistent

I’ve mentioned before about my now defunct Live Journal Community, Think Positive 30. I started blogging to share positive thoughts every day. Then I was using it to promote my book Think Positive: Take the Journey into Positivity. From there I decided I needed a writing blog. That was too much for me to handle. I wasn’t able to be consistent with my posting, so I dropped my Think Positive 30 blog and started building this one. I also created a store here called Words and Wonders where I share my books, including Think Positive: Take the Journey into Positivity, along with the teacher-created resources I’ve developed over the years. Then I realized I was talking a lot about teaching, because I’m a teacher. Yes, relax, I’m getting to the plan.

I started to wonder if my focus was too split but I realized all I needed was a plan. In this one instance I didn’t have to focus on how to grow a blog from scratch. I had a ton of content. I imported all my blog posts from Think Positive 30 and I devised a blog posting schedule. Monday, Wednesday and Friday are writing posts. Tuesday is dedicated to teaching posts, and Thursday is a positive thinking post. Weekends are not necessarily dedicated to anything, but if a topic pops into my head, I write it.

I also have a list of potential blog posts so if I sit down to write and am struck with a case of blank brain (it happens – a lot more than you think) I open up my list of posts and pick one of them. Long story short, being consistent is key.

What Keeps You Going When Motivation Drops

This is where things get real. Because learning how to grow a blog from scratch isn’t just about strategy. It’s about mindset. It’s about what you do on the days when no one clicks, no one comments, and your brain whispers, “Why am I even doing this?” Those are the days that matter most.

When you’re building something that hasn’t “taken off” yet, mindset matters more than anything else. You need something that helps you reset, refocus, and keep going, even when the results are quiet. It’s not about pretending everything is perfect. It’s about choosing to show up anyway. If you’re in that early stage of blogging, where everything feels small and uncertain, this kind of daily support can make all the difference. Remember what I said about being consistent!

You don’t Have to Do it Alone – And You Shouldn’t

Knowing where to start when you grow a blog from scratch, it’s easy to feel completely overwhelmed. Don’t let that happen to you. There are tons of resources for new bloggers. Check out this resource How to Start a Blog. You probably don’t want to invest a lot of money to start, but you can get a free blog on wordpress, and it’s pretty easy to get set up if you’re not technical. Me, I’m not technical! If you are afraid to start, just out a post I wrote not too long about about being stuck and taking that first step. If there is a blog you read often, try reaching out to the author.

I don’t know about other authors, but I always love to hear from people. Comment on blog posts that resonate with you. Every blog author likes comments. Don’t think you’re alone in that! And don’t forget to advertise. Share your blog posts on different social media sites. Get the word out. And again, be consistent about this. You can’t share one blog post and expect the world to show up.

You’re Not Behind. You’re Building.

If your blog feels small right now, that doesn’t mean it isn’t working. It means you are in the building phase. The quiet phase. The phase where consistency matters more than applause.

Keep going. Keep writing. Keep showing up.

Because one day, what feels small right now will feel like momentum. And you’ll be so glad you didn’t stop.

Let’s Recap:

Down & Dirty Takeaways (aka your “do this, don’t overthink it” list)

• Have a plan (even a simple posting schedule works)

• Be Consistent (being consistent > bursts of motivation)

• Keep a running idea list (future-you will forget everything)

• Show up even when it feels pointless (this is the whole game)

• Accept the quiet phase (it’s not failure, it’s the build)

• Don’t wait for inspiration (it’s unreliable and dramatic)

• Visit other blogs (see what works, get inspired)

• Engage with other creators (comment, connect, be human)

• Share your posts (social media is not optional)

• Use free tools to start (don’t overinvest too early)

• Focus on mindset (this is what keeps you going)

• Don’t do it alone (resources + community matter)

Remember: Small, consistent action beats waiting for big results. You’ve got this. Truly.

The post How to Grow a Blog from Scratch (Even When It Feels Like No One Is Reading) first appeared on Tracie Joy.

I sat down with The Stillness Within the Storm expecting something pleasant and possibly predictable. What I actually found was a gripping, emotional, and thought provoking novel that breaks open centuries of myth and rebuilds them into something fierce and deeply human. I did not just read this book. I felt it.

When I first cracked open The Stillness Within the Storm, I was sitting in the hospital while my sister was in surgery. I planned to read a few chapters to distract myself while I waited. Instead, I was immediately sucked into the world Siapin created. The waiting room disappeared. Real life faded. I was gone, and I did not want to come back.

A New Kind of Arthurian World

The story unfolds in a near future Europe torn apart by a fanatical group called the Sectatore. They worship what they believe is Morgana although time reveals a far darker truth. Their war has shattered society. Technology falters. Cars behave sporadically. Clothing made from synthetic materials deteriorates at an alarming rate. Women are stripped of value outside of their ability to produce children. Hope is a rarity.

In the middle of this bleak setting we meet Jen Banprionse. She believes she is worthless. She believes she is stupid. She believes she does not matter. These beliefs were branded onto her by a lifetime of abuse. Her escape brings her to England as a medic in the war. This choice sets her on a path that threads the present and the past together.

Paralleling Jen’s journey are passages from a series of Arthurian novels written by a man named Malcolm Elison. He is in fact Merlin. His writings serve as a bridge between the myth we think we know and the truth Nadya Siapin wants us to see.

Why This Book Stands Out

It Reclaims the Legend

Most Arthurian stories follow the same familiar patterns. There is a great king. There is a magical woman who becomes a problem. There is betrayal. There is a downfall. Women tend to take the blame for everything that goes wrong.

The Stillness Within the Storm refuses to participate in that old story. The character everyone assumes is Morgana is not Morgana at all. The real villain is Morana, a figure from Slavic mythology who symbolizes death, winter, and the erosion of identity. Her mission is not to tempt or destroy Arthur. Her mission is to erase Jen across lifetimes by crushing her sense of self.

By removing the traditional villainy placed on Morgana, Siapin restores a woman’s agency that earlier storytellers stole. The shift is subtle at first, but it ripples across every choice Jen makes.

When I realized who Jen really was I had to put the book down for a moment. My entire understanding of Arthurian myth tilted sideways. It felt like someone finally stood up for a woman who has been blamed for centuries and said her voice matters. I had theories. I thought I knew. I was wrong. The reveal hit like a punch to the heart. I was gobsmacked.

The Women Are Not Symbols

One of the most refreshing aspects of The Stillness Within the Storm is the treatment of legendary female figures. Instead of using them as temptations, distractions, or cautionary tales, Siapin lets them exist as complex individuals with intention and presence.

This becomes especially clear with Nimue. In many Arthurian traditions she barely rises above mythic background noise. She appears, performs a task, and fades. Here she stands as something very different. She carries knowledge without ego. She observes without judgment. She represents a kind of power that is steady rather than explosive.

Nimue validates Jen’s identity not by assigning her destiny, but by acknowledging that Jen already carries her worth. Her role underlines the book’s central message: women are not accessories in someone else’s greatness. Their stories are not footnotes. They are the architecture.

Trauma Is Not Romanticized

Jen is not a chosen one who embraces destiny with a dramatic pose and instant confidence. She is terrified. She doubts herself at every turn. She carries scars that are not visible, but they shape her entire worldview.

Her journey is not about discovering she is special. Her journey is about realizing she was never broken in the first place. Her found family helps her learn this truth. They stand beside her, support her, and refuse to let her shrink away from her own power. The message is clear. Survival is not the same as healing. Healing requires believing your existence has value.

The World Feels Both Familiar and Strange

The future in The Stillness Within the Storm looks nothing like a glittering fantasy realm. Everything feels unstable. Life is rough. Magic does not glitter. It aches. This contrast makes each victory feel more meaningful. The struggle is real and the triumphs land with emotional weight.

A Moment That Stays With You

There is a late scene where Jen comes face to face with Nimue. In most Arthurian tales she barely exists beyond whispers, a magical footnote overshadowed by Merlin or Morgana. Here she is something else entirely. She is calm. She is watchful. She carries the weight of truths others tried to bury. Nimue does not tempt. She does not scold. She stands as a reminder that power can be quiet and that not all magic needs an audience.

In that moment, Siapin reframes the myth again. Women in The Stillness Within the Storm are not catalysts for disaster. They are keepers of memory. They are protectors of what matters. Nimue does not take over Jen’s story. She acknowledges it. She validates it. She recognizes Jen not as a mistake or a pawn, but as someone who was never supposed to be erased.

It feels like legend finally showing respect.

Should You Read It

Yes. Especially if

• You are tired of stories where women are punished for existing

• You enjoy narratives that rebuild legends instead of recycling them

• You love character growth that feels raw and earned

• You want a book that tackles identity, agency, and destiny without drowning you in lofty fantasy terms

Whether you adore Arthurian myth or barely tolerate it, this novel gives you a reason to care.

The Final Word

Five stars without hesitation

The Stillness Within the Storm is not just another retelling. It is a correction. It is a reclamation. It is the story of a woman who learns that she does not belong to anyone else’s legend. She is the legend.

When Jen rescues Arthur, the world shifts. It is not the king who saves the queen. It is the woman who saves herself and then saves the man history pretended mattered more.

Where To Find It

You can pick up your copy of The Stillness Within the Storm on Amazon

Want More From This Author

If you want to explore Nadya Siapin’s universe further, check out my overview of her earlier novels from the Oregonian Irregulars series

The post The Stillness Within the Storm Review first appeared on Tracie Joy.

Introducing the Words & Wonders Online Store

Today I’m thrilled to share something that’s been months in the making. My brand-new Words  Wonders online store is officially open! It’s a cozy corner of the internet built for readers, teachers, and anyone who believes in the power of positivity and personal growth. For years I’ve dreamed of having a space where my books, resources, and classroom tools could live together under one roof. After many late nights, countless mugs of tea, and a fair amount of muttering at WordPress settings, it’s finally here. The Words & Wonders store is the new home for my digital self-help books, teaching resources, and positivity tools — all in one easy-to-browse hub.  

 

Why I Created Words & Wonders

When I first started publishing my self-help titles, like Thinking Positive: Taking the Journey into Positivity and Stop Swiping and Start Living, I used platforms like Amazon and Smashwords. While those are great spaces, I wanted a place that felt more personal — a direct connection between me and you. I wanted my readers to know they’re buying from a real person who cares deeply about the words she shares and the lives those words might touch.

Words & Wonders was born from that desire. It’s more than just a storefront. It’s an invitation to explore inspiration, practical tools, and uplifting ideas designed to help you live more mindfully and joyfully.

What You’ll Find Inside

The store features all my digital self-help titles, available instantly in PDF, EPUB, and MOBI formats so you can read on any device. You’ll find favorites like:

• Thinking Positive: Taking the Journey into Positivity — A heartfelt guide to building a more optimistic mindset, one small step at a time.
• Thinking Positive Toolkit — A hands-on companion full of exercises, journaling prompts, and daily reflections.
• Stop Swiping and Start Living — A straightforward guide to breaking free from endless scrolling and reconnecting with real life.
• Calm Not Clueless — A gentle reminder that self-awareness and peace don’t come from perfection, but from presence.

Every title is available as an instant digital download. No waiting, no shipping — just click, choose your preferred format, and dive in. The checkout process is smooth, secure, and takes less than a minute.

For Teachers and Lifelong Learners

As a teacher, I also wanted to make Words & Wonders a space for educators to find classroom-ready materials. Over time, you’ll start seeing new sections filled with lesson plans, project guides, and ELL-friendly resources that you can download instantly for your own classroom. It’s my way of sharing what’s worked in mine, and saving you a few late nights of planning. They are coming soon. There are only so many hours in a day, and most of them are taking up with teaching. But I promise they are coming, but for now you can find them on my Teachers Pay Teachers Store

Built With Love (and a Lot of Tea)

Building this store wasn’t quick or easy. There were days I wanted to toss my laptop out the window, especially when images refused to line up or a plugin had other ideas. But the result was worth every hiccup. Seeing the storefront live, clean, and cohesive feels like watching a dream step into reality.

More than anything, I wanted the Words & Wonders online store to feel like me , warm, encouraging, and real and maybe just a little bit snarky. Every detail, from the watercolor accents to the simple navigation, is designed to make you feel welcome.

Come Explore and Celebrate With Me

So please — come take a peek, explore the shelves, and see what speaks to you. Whether you’re here for a burst of positivity, a new book to curl up with, or a resource to make your classroom shine, you’ll find something crafted with care. Visit the Words & Wonders online store today and help me celebrate this next step in the journey.

Thank you for reading, supporting, and believing in this work. You make all the behind-the-scenes effort worthwhile. Here’s to new beginnings, new books, and new wonders ahead.

Read next: Balancing Humor and Drama in Fiction

The post Introducing the Words & Wonders Online Store: A New Home for Positivity, Books, and Inspiration first appeared on Tracie Joy.

At Nutfield High, Eric is known as the class clown. He’s the kid with the quick one-liners, goofy antics, and a grin that makes even the grumpiest teacher crack a smile. While his jokes sometimes push the patience of his teachers and coaches, they rarely stay mad at him for long. That’s because Eric is impossible not to like. Underneath the mischief, he is a good student, a loyal friend, and someone who has survived more than most people know.

A Childhood in Nutfield

Born in Boston, Eric moved to Nutfield with his parents when he was only three. From the beginning, he fit right in with the kids around him. He made friends easily, and it wasn’t long before he met J.T. Walker and Sabina, who would become his two closest companions. The three were inseparable, growing up side by side in preschool, grade school, and beyond.

To everyone who met him, Eric seemed like the happiest kid in town, always laughing, always pulling someone else into the fun. But behind that smile was a family life that looked very different.

The Parents Who Never Seemed to Care

What surprises most people about Eric is how cold and distant his parents were. They weren’t cruel in obvious ways, but they never showed him the warmth and affection every child deserves. It often seemed as if Eric were an afterthought, someone who got in the way of their lives rather than part of them.

And yet, even with parents who treated him like a burden, he somehow radiated light. Maybe it was his way of rebelling against the chill of his home life. Or maybe it was something deeper, an inner spark that couldn’t be dimmed.

The Night That Changed Everything

When he was still young, tragedy struck. His family was driving on a rainy night when his father lost control of the car. The vehicle skidded, rolled, and slid down an embankment before landing upside down.

Rain pounded against the overturned car. Inside, Eric struggled against his seatbelt, calling out for his parents. Neither answered. When he finally freed himself, he dropped into a bed of shattered glass from the rear window.

That’s when something happened that Eric has only shared with J.T. and Sabina. Looking out through the broken glass, he saw faint lights in the distance. A voice called to him, not his mother’s or his father’s, but someone else’s.

“Torin, you must run. Get out of the car and get away from it.”

Eric didn’t know who Torin was, but something in the voice urged him to listen. Stumbling through the night, he pulled himself free of the wreck. Only moments later, the car exploded behind him. His parents never made it out.

The Weight of Survival

To this day, Eric carries that night with him. Most people at school only see the clown, the joker, the kid who can make anyone laugh. What they don’t see is the survivor, the boy who walked away from a burning car with nothing but scars and questions.

He never told his teachers or most of his classmates what he saw that night. To them, his story is simply one of survival. But to J.T. and Sabina, the only ones who know the whole truth, Eric is more than a survivor. He is someone who was chosen, called by something beyond this world to live when he should have died.

Why Eric Matters

Eric matters because he represents resilience in its purest form. He is the kid who laughs so others don’t have to cry, the friend who makes people feel lighter even while he carries a heavy past. His story is a reminder that humor is often more than just comedy — it can be survival.

If you’re interested in understanding how humor can help people cope with trauma, the Mayo Clinic shares insights on the health benefits of laughter. Eric is living proof of how true that is.

The post Introducing Eric Michael Wallace: Smiling Through the Pain first appeared on Tracie Joy.

At Nutfield High, Sabina is the kind of person who seems to shine wherever she goes. Friendly, outgoing, and effortlessly approachable, she has a way of making people feel comfortable just by being in the room. Almost everyone likes her, except for a few who have proven themselves completely unlikeable (yes, she’s looking at you, Vanessa).

For most students, Sabina is someone to admire. Every girl wants to be her, and every guy wants to be around her. But unlike so many who might let that attention go to their head, Sabina is far from stuck up. If anything, the love she gets from others only makes her more cheerful, more generous, and more determined to be kind.

Sabina’s Life at School

Sabina’s calendar is always full, and she thrives on it. A solid student, she balances academics with extracurriculars. She dances on the school’s dance team, lending her energy and rhythm to every halftime performance. She works as an aide in the guidance office, earning extra credit while helping her peers feel welcome and supported. She belongs to several clubs, and if something is happening on campus, chances are Sabina is somehow involved.

She seems to live life at full speed, constantly moving from one activity to the next, and yet she rarely appears flustered or overwhelmed. To most people, Sabina looks like she has it all together — the girl with the perfect balance of brains, beauty, and heart.

But what people don’t see is that all of Sabina’s busyness is not just about passion or ambition. It’s also about distraction.

The Secret Sabina Keeps

When Sabina was very young, her life changed in a way she has never fully spoken about. One summer afternoon, she was out on a picnic with her mother and her two closest friends, J.T. and Eric. At some point during the day, Sabina disappeared.

The official story was that she wandered off, something any curious child might do. But Sabina knew differently. She didn’t wander. She followed.

She had heard someone calling her name from just beyond the picnic site. At first, she thought it was one of her friends. Then she thought it might be her mother. The voice kept moving, always just out of reach, and she kept walking after it until the familiar sounds of the picnic faded away. By the time she realized she was lost, it was too late.

She was missing for more than twenty-four hours before she was finally found. Searchers said she was tired, shaken, but unharmed. They chalked it up to an accident, nothing more.

But for Sabina, it was far from simple.

The Truth About the Woods

Sabina has never told most people what she really experienced that day. She didn’t tell the searchers. She didn’t tell her mother. She didn’t tell the curious classmates who asked later on.

The only ones she ever shared her truth with were J.T. and Eric, her lifelong friends and now, in Eric’s case, her boyfriend. They believed her, not because they were blindly loyal, but because they had seen similar things themselves. Strange things. Unexplainable things.

What she remembers most is the voice. The way it echoed, drawing her deeper and deeper into the woods. And the way it felt less like an accident and more like a trap.

Why Sabina Stays Busy

The experience left its mark. Shea has never wanted to feel that helpless again. The constant motion of her life, the dance practices, the clubs, the part-time work, the endless circle of friends, is her way of keeping the shadows at bay. As long as she is surrounded by people, as long as she is busy, she won’t ever feel that terrifying aloneness again.

Most people see her as the happiest girl in school, but only her closest circle knows the truth: She is strong because she has to be. Friendly because she needs to be. Loved because she has earned it, not because her life has been easy.

Why Sabina Matters

Sabina is more than the “popular girl.” She is proof that sometimes the brightest smiles hide the deepest scars. Her story reminds us that even the most outgoing, confident people may carry silent battles with them. Sabina matters because she represents resilience, the determination to keep moving forward even when the past threatens to pull you back.

For a deeper understanding of how childhood trauma can shape resilience and connection later in life, you might find this article from the American Psychological Association on resilience in children helpful.

The post Introducing Sabina Cassandra Gheata: The 1 Girl Everyone Loves first appeared on Tracie Joy.

On the surface, J.T. Walker looks like the kind of teenager who has it all figured out. At sixteen, he is tall, athletic, and carries himself with the quiet confidence of someone who seems to belong everywhere. His Native American heritage shines through in his strong features and steady presence, and most people at school see him as the “All-American boy.”

But what they don’t know is that he carries a secret, one so heavy that it has shaped nearly every choice he has made since childhood.

The Accident That Changed Everything

When J.T. was just ten years old, he went ice skating with his mother. What should have been an ordinary winter afternoon turned into a nightmare. One moment, everything was fine. The next, a hole opened suddenly in the ice beneath her. He ran for help as fast as he could, but by the time anyone returned, it was too late. His mother was gone.

The adults called it a freak accident. Thin ice, bad timing. Nobody blamed him. But he blamed himself. Because in that split second, he saw something others didn’t, the hole didn’t look natural. It appeared out of nowhere. And deep down, he has never stopped wondering if he somehow caused it.

J.T.’s Double Life

On the outside, J.T. looks like the picture of balance. He’s outgoing, friendly, and active in school life. A true three-season athlete, J.T. thrives in competition. He also trains and teaches at his father’s karate school, carrying on traditions of strength, discipline, and focus. When he isn’t competing or training, you’ll find him outdoors — hiking, trail running, or horseback riding.

That’s the version of J.T. that most people see. But it isn’t the whole story.

The Truth J.T. Hides

Behind the charm and the easy smile, J.T. carries the weight of guilt he has never fully shared. He doesn’t let many people close enough to see the cracks beneath the surface. His guard is always up, not because he doesn’t care about others, but because he fears losing anyone the way he lost his mother.

There are only two people he trusts completely: Eric, his best friend and brother in all but blood, and Sabina, Eric’s girlfriend. The three of them have grown up together, and they are his “ride or die” family. With them, J.T. can be himself, the boy who is strong but scarred, loyal but wary.

Why J.T. Matters

His story is about more than a tragic accident. It’s about resilience, identity, and the unspoken weight many teenagers carry. He represents the quiet struggle of holding secrets while trying to live up to the expectations of others. His journey asks a powerful question: how do you find strength when you feel responsible for something you can never undo?

Everything Changes

The minute he first laid eyes on Aisling, something inside him shifted. It wasn’t just that she was beautiful, though she was, with her wild red-brown curls and the kind of green eyes that seemed to hold stories no one else could see. What stopped him cold was something stronger, something deeper. It felt ancient, almost like recognition.

The connection called to him in his blood, like an echo he had been waiting his whole life to hear. He didn’t have words for it, not really, but he knew with absolute certainty that Aisling wasn’t just another girl passing through Nutfield. She was different. She was meant. And in that instant, he knew he wasn’t just drawn to her—he was bound to her. Heart to heart, soul to soul, in a way that defied reason.

If you’d like to understand more about the traditions that shape characters like J.T., this article on Native American values of family and resilience offers a thoughtful perspective.

The post Introducing J.T Walker: The Boy Who Carries a Secret first appeared on Tracie Joy.