Two months after finishing my last writing project (The Dream (The Ballad of Emery Brooks, #3)), I think it’s high time I finally let y’all, my dear Arrowheads, in on the secret out about my next writing project! Scroll on to read more about the WIP I’ve been brainstorming since 2014.

The Basics:

Title: On the Flip Side
Series or Standalone?: Standalone
Genre: Contemporary Christian Young Adult Fiction
Sub-genres: Family (Parent and Sibling relationships) | Emotional Abuse in Dating
Main Characters: Identical twins, Katie and Kennedy Oliver
Narration POV: Dual POVs between Katie and Kennedy, told in first person present tense
Setting: Whitley, NC: a small, southern fictional town in close proximity to Grahamwood, NC, which is the main setting of my previously published books. In particular, most of the novel will take place within Shimmering Falls, a ritzy housing development neighborhood owned by Katie and Kennedy’s parents.
Age Rating/Content: I’m currently estimating a rating of Ages 16+ due to heavy topics, such as emotional abuse in a dating relationship, and possible mentions of substance abuse (though all portrayed in a negative light).

Story Origin:

I first got the idea for On the Flip Side in January of 2014, when I experienced first-hand how toxic narcissists can be when someone close to you is dating one. For several years, I had a front-row seat to watching how this toxic person put my loved one through emotional abuse, and how they managed to isolate my loved one from any and all their other relationships (friends, family, etc.). Years later, my loved one is now far, far away from the narcissist (thank the Good Lord above!) and is now in a stable and loving relationship with someone who treats them much better.
Though On the Flip Side will not be a “based on a true story” version of what my loved one experienced, and the novel will contain much heavier circumstances than what my loved one endured, I felt God nudging me to write a novel for young adult readers that tackles the topic of emotionally abusive dating relationships from a Christian perspective.

My Main Goals for Writing On the Flip Side Are To:

1) Warn young women who may be targeted by narcissists, or those who may currently be dating a narcissist, of the dangers of the situation they are in and hopefully how to reach the light at the end of the tunnel by pursuing Christ. – As told through Kennedy’s POV

2) Help family members or friends of someone who is experiencing an emotionally abusive relationship cope with isolated relationships, and show the audience which type of interactions with the victim of emotional abuse are helpful, and which behaviors can lead to further detriment and isolation in their relationship with the victim. – As told through Katie’s POV

Connection to My Previous Novels:

Does anyone remember Victoria’s older cousin, Jessa Pickett, from Speak Your Mind? Well, Katie dates Jessa’s older brother, Ethan, and Katie attends the same church. Meaning, my friends, that we may see cameos from Victoria and Jessa. (Necessary Spoiler: Ethan is not the abusive boyfriend!)
I’m not 100% sure yet, but I’m thinking that the time period for On the Flip Side will take place in the Fall season after the events of Speak Your Mind, so Aiden and Brandon Andrews may also make cameos!
I can also almost guarantee that Riley and Carter from my debut novel, Can’t Beat the Heart of a Carolina Girl will make a cameo, but we shall see, because it’s still in the early stages right now. But, we. Shall. See.

Progress Thus Far:

From January until now, I’ve been sporadically plotting out On the Flip Side using a Franken-plot sheet inspired by both the Save the Cat! Writes a Novel method by Jessica Brody, and Abbie Emmons’ free plotting worksheet. So far, I almost have Act 1 plotted out, and I aim to start writing it soon.

Like I mentioned before, I originally got the idea for this book in 2014, so some progress has already been made on it so far. At the time of this post, 5k has already been written, and I aim for it to be around 80-85k when it’s completed. Because I’m writing from dual POVs for the first time, I’m sure this book will end up being a little longer than my previous works, but again, we shall see.

Talk to Me, Arrowheads!

If you’re a writer, tell me about your current WIP in the comments below!

If you’re a reader, I have a special surprise for you!

All my ebooks are currently on sale to celebrate my 5th anniversary as a published author (which was yesterday!) You can find each ebook on the retailer of your choice here: https://books2read.com/ap/xrgMOP/Allyson-Kennedy

Thank you for your support! 🙂

Aim high, stay strong, and always hit your mark.

-Allyson 😀