Abi’s Chapter One Challenge

My Way Of Supporting Indie/Self-Published Authors

In a world where we judge books by their covers and let others’ opinions guide us, we often miss out on new experiences. I don’t always love every genre, but I’ve discovered that great stories can come from unexpected places. As our tastes change, staying within one comfort zone can limit new possibilities.

As writers, we often face the challenge of encouraging readers to take a chance on something unfamiliar. As readers, we know that buying books isn’t simply transactional—it’s a deeply personal experience that affects each of us differently.

As both a writer and reader, I find inspiration in many places. I never expected to enjoy Demon Slayer since I’m not an anime fan. I’m a Doctor Who fan, though I’m not particularly into sci-fi. Discovering my love for K-Dramas (Guardian: The Lonely and Great God) and Telenovelas (Betty, la fea) broadened my understanding of compelling storytelling and ignited my interest in learning new languages. For years, I was all about Peter Parker as Spider-Man until Miles Morales crashed into my universe in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, an animated superhero film—totally outside my usual tastes—that blew me away.

This got me thinking. Trying the food samples at the grocery store or watching the first episode of a new TV series often influences my decision to explore more. Sometimes, I end up engaging with something I would have otherwise overlooked. So why not approach books the same way?

That’s why I created the Chapter One Challenge. It’s a call to “sample” a story and maybe explore it further beyond that first chapter. To break free from the safe and venture beyond to discover the incredible unknown.

If you’re reading this far, then Tag—You’re It!

I challenge you to pick up a book that looks interesting and dive into the FIRST Chapter. You might be surprisingly captivated, uncover a hidden treasure, or even learn something new about yourself along the way.