The Blog
Writing Tips
The struggles, triumphs, tips and advice. Here are my experiences writing fiction.
What I'm Watching
I watch many tv series and movies. Here's what I feel these TV shows and movies can teach us about storytelling.
What I'm Reading
Book reviews and recommendations. Currently on the hunt for more women of color fiction writers and protagonists, particularly in genres of horror, sci-fi and fantasy.
LATEST POSTS
Wild Child (2008): When Tropes Aren't Enough
Wild Child does what it is expected of its genre. It’s a fish-out-of-water story with subplots of friendships, romance and self-discovery. It even has the mean-girl and love-triangle tropes. However, that's all it is. Read on to find out why tropes aren't enough to tell a story.
Why Disney's Upside-Down Magic Leaves Much to be Desired
Disney channel's original movie, Upside-Down Magic (2020) is a fantasy based on a children's book series of the same title. While the movie's fantastical concepts and talented cast are a draw, ultimately it fails to deliver a good story. Read more to find out why.
"Dulce" A Short Story
Listen to the latest episode of Shantal Reads podcast. 1985, Puerto Plata. Gino is tired of living in his older brother's shadow, much less in his secondhand clothes. Martin is handsome, outgoing and the center of attention–all the things Gino is not. But when Gino meets Dulce at his cousin's quinceañera, he begins to realize that perhaps to get out of the shadows, he must simply take a step towards the light.