Picture of the Day: 

A lovely lake in Ireland.

Quote of the Day: 

"Everyone is a genius. However, if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life thinking it is stupid." 

-Albert Einstein.

Well, readers. I must say this week has been a long one full of doubts of various kinds. The most glaring one, however, has been my sudden pitfall of despair over my novel. Yes, I am talking about the same novel I have been gushing about progress in. My pirate story is suddenly feeling very malformed, as if the plot that sounded super amazing in my head no longer has a hint of believability once it falls to paper.

Believability very well could destroy me here.

I want to make sure that nothing far-fetched appears to be going on, however, nothing but the far-fetched seems to be occurring at all. It is making me highly frustrated. That is all on this for now; I am going to simply power through it, get it all down on paper and worry about the rest of it later. If I stop now and panic, it will never get finished--and I do not want that at all.

So, on with other things, I would like to post some music of great inspiration to me lately. It is more classical music! Yay! Yo-Yo Ma will begin the list here, because this version of this particular composition is nearly on repeat. It is amazingly done, and has truly inspired me to want to learn to play an instrument. Ironically enough, though, it is not the cello I want to learn. 

Technicalities.

However, bad news? It will not let me embed this video. So, instead, please click this to get to it. Promise, it is worth it in the end, and if you don't think so you merely wasted a click. Tragic. 

If clicking was too much for you, then simply move on to this: 

I love music. Really. It is proof to me that there is a God. It has power to change emotions, set you free, connect you with someone else for no other reason than mutual appreciation. Art is amazing. Music is like life.
I also really want to learn the piano, but I have never thought that my talents lied in physical instruments. I may have to scrounge up the money to try, though. I would feel much better about my love of music knowing I could participate with something other than dance. 
Chopin has been a soundtrack for me as I have written over the past few days. It is amazing to just feel the emotion, hear it, be moved by it, and inspired. 
Too bad it has not appeared to have helped my believability. I suppose I will just have to keep going. There is no turning back now. I have put too much work into this to stop now!






Enjoy the music, my readers. I shall leave you now to your own fancies and wild imaginings. 
Happy writing! And, if you are not of the writing sort, may you have happy reading. 
It takes both kinds of people to make this life worth it. Just like composers need their listeners, the world needs her readers.

Picture of the Day:

The birthday cake my sister and I made for my nephew, who is a pokemon fanatic!

Quote of the Day:

"The man who goes farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The sure-thing boat never gets far from shore."

-Dale Carnegie

Hello, my dearest readers! I find that my life has gotten very busy as of late, and has afforded me very little time for keeping those who are interested up on my writing adventures. Today, on this peaceful Sunday, I find it quite perfect to simply update--but I doubt this update will hardly be simple! 

For the first order of business, let me begin by saying that I have kept up with my writing very well! I have broken two hundred pages in the pirate story, and that sits me comfortable at chapter sixteen. However, the downside to this is that I haven't gotten very far plot-wise. And, while the lines are spaced at one and a half for easier editing, I fear that it may mean I need to split the book into two installments. I cannot quite decide if this is a good thing, a bad thing, or something that really does not matter, but I have been pondering it a lot lately. I have also been madly wondering where I would split the story, since for the sake of ease I would think that one whole book would be better. Nonetheless, I am sticking with my current goal: get the whole story drafted once, then worry with the particulars. This has, undoubtedly, helped me get this far, and will keep me pressing forward. If I decide to break it up, it will only be a little bit of editing required! 

Still, if you have an opinion on whether or not one long book is better than a broken set, please let me know. I am curious to see what readers think (other than myself); would you rather buy a single book of around five hundred pages, or two books around three hundred pages? Post in the comments, if you please. 

Next order of business, I find that I have been very lax in updating my book of the month. Well, it is freshly October, and I am going to pick this up again! So, allow me to introduce you to our star this time around. 

Sabriel by Garth Nix

Sabriel is a book I read sometime in middle school, and it (and the following two in the trilogy) have kept its place on my shelf! This is a darkish fantasy, which I find appropriate for October. I would not say the book is overly terrifying, but there are certainly some darker moments, scenes and themes in this book that make it simultaneously a page turner, engrossing, and perfect for someone who wants a little thrill in their life. So, let me explain this lovely piece of high fantasy!

Garth Nix is simply a master in general--his style is easy to read and interesting (a difficult combination to achieve, I have found!) Well, if you like that, this is certainly a book for you. Sabriel follows the adventure of a young woman of the same name who is the daughter of the Abhorsen; The Abhorsen being a very powerful necromancer. 

As the book opens, Sabriel's father is gone, and scary things are beginning to happen around the land. A dark shadow tries to force its way through the Wall, undoubtedly to consume and harm all of the people. However, it is Sabriel who has to rise to fight it. She gets a very strange message from her father (probably one of the coolest scenes in the opening of the book, though to pick it as the coolest scene from the entire novel would be hard--it is full of galloping action!) and begins to set out on her way.

She is only armed with her own bravery and the set of the seven bells of The Abhorsen, magical items that can alter and persuade death differently depending on the tone. 

Really, I cannot even begin to describe how amazing this book is, only that Garth Nix showed his worth in this series! I regret to say that this fleeting description cannot possibly do it justice. I implore you to simply find the book, open to the first page and start to read. If you are not hooked by the second turn, I would be sincerely surprised. It is a fantastic novel--perfect for the month of October! 

Lastly, I would like to divulge a little bit about my writing journey. I discovered as I was writing the other day that I gave Liam no real talent to speak of. (I suppose most authors have the opposite problem. However, in crafting this prince, I seem to have left out the things he can do.) I decided on something through the course of writing that slightly surprised me, and I would like to share it with you. 

On a ship of the most dastardly pirates the seas have ever known, it is revealed that Liam is actually a fine musician; he plays the violin, the violoncello and sings. I believe this fits him well, however much it surprised me to write it, as he is a young man of the poetic and romantic sort and would undoubtedly take to music. Aside from that, it not only puts him at a further contrast from his company, but also adds the dimension of a little-known pirate fact: after the surgeon and the cooper, a musician was a pirate's prized possession. Let's face it, long days on the sea could get very dull with no entertainment. Even for the members of the famed Grey Hallow, boredom is not an option.

My Liam has proven himself useful after all. And talented. Who would have thought? 

So, in honor of Liam and his hidden skills, I leave you this song for your listening pleasure. It is taken from the Master and Commander: Far Side of the World soundtrack, and is the very piece that I was listening to when I wrote in his musical affinity. May it inspire you the same as it did me. 

And, as always, happy writing! And, if you are not of the writing sort, happy reading. It takes both kinds for the world to turn. 

Boccherini - La Musica Notturna Delle Strade Di Madrid. No, 6, Op. 30

Picture of the Day: 

Buddy, one of the family felines, asleep on my bed.

Quote of the Day: 

"We owe something to extravagance, for thrift and adventure seldom go hand in hand." 
-Jennie Jerome Churchill

Hello, my readers! I have updated recently (a mere two days ago!) and I am sure it comes as a surprise to see me update yet again. However, there are two things that I feel simply must be shared. One, I have now reached the 100th page mark. I should really celebrate! Two, I have finished chapter eight and am working on chapter nine! This is the chapter where action starts! I am very excited, and also highly nervous. Such fast paced adventuring needs a style to make it nail-biting, and I am afraid that I am not very well-practiced with action scenes! 

I fare well enough, I suppose, considering I have really never done much work with combat or warfare. Still, I expect I shall be training hard for these coming chapters. 

I have done some research and named a few locales that my story shall whisk the reader to, and I am quite happy with the ring they have. I am well assured that this shall be the finest work I have yet endeavored, and pray that when I finally get this thing finished and sent off to a publisher, I remain proud of it. I have put a lot of work into this, and am thankful for those of you who have helped me on my way to truly making this story phenomenal!

Now, two fears. I cannot for the life of me think of what to name this blasted story, and it simply doesn't do to say, "Pirate Novel is coming along nicely!" or "My book about pirates has another chapter added!" I have though about calling it Black Isle, or The Sword in the Vale, but I am pretty certain both of these are complete garbage. 

Another thing. My name is difficult to pronounce. Should I consider a pen name? Don't ask what brought this to the forefront of my thoughts, but for some reason it just dawned on me. I don't want to use a pen name, but fear that it might be my only choice. Every other author seems to have names that simply roll off the tongue. I don't know what option I have. 

Well, no matter on either of these yet. I have a bit of a book left to write before I really have to worry about these. Instead, I would like to post my current song of inspiration. 

Up Is Down - Hans Zimmer

Take a listen to that, my friends. It is a wonderful piece. Came up on my iPod today, and I could not help but run to my computer and start to work on my unnamed story. I think I pounded out a gem of a chapter, too. So, may it bless you with creativity the way it did me!

Happy writing, my dearest readers. 

And if you are not one of the writing sort, happy reading. 

Both are invaluable!

Picture of the Day: 

A peace rose, donated by America to Ireland! 

Quote of the Day: 

"Quit now, you'll never make it. If you disregard this advice, you'll be halfway there." 

-David Zucker

Hello, reader! Once more I bring myself back to the old haunts of the weblog, and once more I have some news for you. I have reached chapter eight of my novel, and am steadily pressing onward. I have been whispering to myself that I am wasting my time, that I shall never be able to get published and that nobody would read this story anyway, but for some reason, I cannot shake my routine of writing. Maybe, like Mr. Zucker has said, if I disregard that advice, I am halfway there. 

I have been doing ample amounts of research for my story, generally looking at old naval terms, and legends that would be fun to play with over the course of the novel. To do this, I have purchased the book Pirates: Scourge of the Seas by John Reeve Carpenter. While in no means the best book in the world, it is a compact guide to absolutely everything. It has a small glossary, ship designs and descriptions, songs, piratical punishments, famous pirates, an account of food and clothing, weapons and battle tactics and various legends that have to deal with pirates and nautical things. This book has been invaluable, as it can come where wireless cannot reach very easily--and only cost me $10.00. 

I have adopted a few of the myths and superstitions to play with in my novel, but there are a few that are simply too recognizable. Like the Flying Dutchman. Nonetheless, I read the little account this book has and found it super interesting. For fellow trivia-geeks, I shall post an excerpt from this book. You never know when this may be the million-dollar question! 

According to pirate folklore, the Flying Dutchman is a ghost ship that can never return to shore and is forced to sail the ocean for an eternity with its crew of dead souls. There are numerous versions of the story. In some, the captain is allowed to return to shore once every hundred years to find a woman. In Richard Wagner's opera of the same name, it is every seven years. Anyone who sees the ship will die a horrible death. 

In most versions of the legend, the ghost ship was the result of a captain trying to round the Cape of Good Hope at all costs. Others refer to some terrible crime that was committed on board, or the crew catching the plague and the boat being unable to dock. Some sources point to a seventeenth-century Dutch captain, Bernard Fokke, who sailed so quickly from Holland to Indonesia that he was thought to have sold his soul to the Devil. 

Whenever a storm brews off the Cape of Good Hope, it is said that anyone looking into the eye of the storm will see the Flying Dutchman. 

The officer of the watch of the Royal Navy ship the Bacchante described an encounter with the Flying Dutchman while rounding the Cape of Good Hope on July 11, 1881: "A strange red light as of a phantom ship all aglow, in the midst of which light the masts, spars and sails of a brig 200 yards distant stood out in strong relief." Soon afterwards, he fell from the mast to his death.

It is a strange, and highly interesting account of this myth. I found it hauntingly interesting. I hope you did, as well! And, if you ever find yourself on the Cape of Good Hope in a storm, do not under any circumstances look into the eye of the storm!

Basically, progress has remained steady. If this pace keeps up, I may finish the novel's first draft by Christmas! (This would make me undeniably the happiest person on earth!) I will keep you closely involved, reader. The minute I begin to think about publication, I will let you know and take you with me on that journey, too.

Happy writing!

And, if you are not one for the penned art, happy reading. It takes both to make our world such a wonderful place.

Picture of the Day: 

Blenheim Palace, two friends and a sister.

Quote of the Day: 

"If you re-read your work, you can find on re-reading a great deal of repetition can be avoided by re-reading and editing."

-William Safire

(Hahahaha. Ha. Sigh. As a writer, I found this too funny.)

Hello, my dear readers! I trust I have not abandoned you for too long. I am quite busy--my roof and room are being redone, so I have happily pulled out my inner designer and set her free to improve my workspace, livingspace and sleepingplace: my bedroom. Pictures to come of the more interesting pieces I have found to go in my room--and stories to go with each on how I found them, what it cost, and how my mind works when it comes to such things as interior decorating. 

Let it suffice to say this: when I started, my walls were half blue, half turtle wallpaper. I now am beginning to see a castle shine through these wood walls. Interested? I am sure. I will let you see the moment I have everything put all together. 

This blog, you say, is not for interior decorating? Pish posh. This blog is for anything I want it to be on. But yes, I understand you want updates on my writing, so I am going to oblige you. But only because I love your loyalty.

My pirate novel has been steadily growing. I have, just now, finished chapter five. This might not sound like much to you, dear reader, but trust me. I am quite proud of myself for this one. I have normally, by this time, trashed everything and started over---at least six times. This is going amazingly well, considering. And I owe it all to my sister, and the promise I made to myself that I would not trash anything until I was finished with the entire story and had a rough draft complete. That is why I can say that I have finished chapter five, but not mean that I am absolutely in love with it. I am sure it needs a lot of work (a part of me feels like it moved too fast), but that is something my Inklings of Tampa Bay friends are going to have to help me with. 

Oh, by the way, for the sake of not calling my friends the "Inklings of Tampa Bay" all the time, simultaneously sounding pompous and presumptuous in our ability to emulate the Greats, I shall call us the "Tinklings". It is probably closer to our skill set anyway. 

Well, my dears, I am eager to report that Liam and Jarek are very soon to begin the journey! Set-up and character introduction has mostly been taken care of, painted brightly and with interesting designs and textures to make sure that someone would not get bored. However, I am a firm believer that you cannot simply assume your readers care about your character from the moment they open your book. I think you have to win them. I want to make sure that when they begin their adventure, almost everyone loves Liam and Jarek as much as I do. That way if I, say, send trouble and hardship their way (don't expect this, mind you. This is a novel, after all) the reader wants them to survive. 

Nothing is worse than a character you don't care about. Especially when almost every word is devoted to them. 

After all, if you don't care, there goes the tension, the pleasure and the magic of the world I have created. And I do not believe in wasting my time! 

So, dear reader, I am going to leave you with a small look at something I have discovered. Take a listen to a new song I have found that I will put at the end. I don't know if you have ever heard of Boyce Avenue, but I am in love with them now!!

Faster Car, a cover by Boyce Avenue!


If that is a sound you like, there is more that this group of gentlemen have done! Tour their channel on youtube. There is a lot of stuff that is just wonderfully sung! (The girl is not a normal member of this group, but has a lovely voice of her own. Kina Grannis if you'd like to look her up yourself.)

Take this as another example of Boyce Avenue's serious talent.


Rolling in the Deep, a cover by Boyce Avenue.


There you have it! A new band to look out for (which is proof that good things can come from Florida!) and listen to, not to mention solid affirmation that I am getting somewhere and not stopping. Farewell for now, reader! I shall be back as soon as I can. 

Picture of the Day: 

The Eagle and Child in Oxford

Quote of the Day: 

Hello, dearest reader! I have been missing for quite a while, I know. I have been traveling! For the past two and half weeks I have been practicing the art of becoming an Oxonian. 

What is an Oxonian, you ask? A citizen of Oxford, England! Yes, for the past few weeks I have been following C.S. Lewis' and Tolkien's old haunts and exploring various parts of England (mostly in Oxfordshire) in the spirit of an adventurer. The trip was far from perfect--many things happened that seemed to keep my sister and I from enjoying ourselves fully--but over all I saw very pretty things, learned a lot of new facts and customs, and got to sit where the greats sat. Yes, dear reader. The picture above of the Eagle and Child is, in fact, one of the many things I did whilst in dear Oxford. 

In case you haven't a clue, the Eagle and Child is the pub that housed the meetings of the legendary Inklings. If you do not know who the Inklings are, I will give you a moment to look them up and gasp and stare in awe. This band of writers and friends is indeed my favorite, and I was honored to sit where they once sat. So even though the rest of the trip was rocky at best, I can stand fulfilled. I will be posting various pictures from the trip, I am sure, as the days go on, so stay tuned!

Now, that by itself would hardly be an update! So I have two other things that I think I am going to mention before pressing the "publish post" button below this writing box. 

I have picked up a new book to begin reading, and while I have not yet finished it, I thought I would clue you in a little bit on what I have liked and disliked about this--both in light of a "Book of the Month" and for the sake of this being a literary blog. 

I found in the Dunedin Public Library's "Friends of the Library" store a book entitled Labyrinth, written by Kate Mosse. The story immediately caught my interest, I paid two dollars and walked out with the book in hand. I did not really start reading it until recently, but now I am about a quarter of the way through (at 218 pages) and wondering if the story is worth continuing for. 

This woman uses so many writing styles, it is almost like she has multiple personalities. 

In the opening of the book, she literally writes in third person present. Here, I will give you a quote from the very opening page. 

A pale line of blood trickles down the pale underside of her arm, a red seam on a white sleeve.

At first, Alice thinks it's just a fly and takes no notice. Insects are an occupational hazard at a dig, and for some reason there are more flies higher up the mountain where she is working than at the main excavation site lower down. Then a drop of blood splashes onto her bare leg, exploding like a firework on Guy Fawkes night.

Now, reader, I have given you the very first two paragraphs of the novel. Interesting style choice, I must say. I found it difficult to read, though I chalked it up to habit. I was, after all, so used to reading third person past action that I would naturally find a change difficult to accept. That, and based on the premise of the book, I thought it might be a pointed style choice. You see, this novel (according to the inside flap) takes place in two different time periods. Alice is the protagonist of 2005, but Alais is a protagonist that lives during 1209. I figured that perhaps the present tense was used to help the reader differentiate which girl character they were following. So, even though I was slightly slowed, I kept pressing forward. 

I was wrong. The present tense abruptly vanishes by chapter three, and there does not seem to be a reason it was ever there at all. 

Wait, it gets better.

Alice and Alais are seemingly not the only two protagonists. 

What, I hear you ask. Explain.

Every single character that comes into the story gets their own, personal narration. You can start the chapter following Alice, end it following a woman with dark curls named Marie-Cecile, and then pick up the next chapter with a private investigator named Authie. You follow each character so closely that the entire story becomes intricate and detailed beyond necessity, and I, as the reader, become frustrated trying to keep story lines straight. That's right. Most of the time, the characters are not even interacting. 

The book is as mad as a hatter, make no mistake. 

Still, the story sounds like it should outweigh all these stylistic issues. Alais and Alice are bound through time to find the Holy Grail. It may be just my inner nerd, but I was excited to read a book where the Grail seeking was done by females rather than males. 

I will keep you updated on my progress through this book--maybe even you will go out and pick it up yourself and we can venture through it together. I am hoping that when I close the cover, it will have been worth it in the end. 

Now, for my own writing. I have started chapter four of my pirate novel. It is coming along nicely, and I am proud to say that I am steadily moving forward at the moment. I have pretty much decided I just need to finish the first draft, and leave the true tweaking and editing for when the entire story is down and complete. (Yes, Alexandra, you were right all along on what I needed to do. But I am irrevocably stubborn.) Soon I shall post a bit by way of preview, or maybe give a little glimpse at one character or another. Your patience is loved, reader. You have stuck with me this far! Together we shall make it. 

Have a safe weekend, and I shall write to you soon!

Picture of the Day:

The Governor's Palace in Colonial Williamsburg

Quote of the Day: 

"There is no disguise which can hide love for long where it exists, or simulate it where it does not."

- Francois de La Rouchefoucauld

Hello again, my dearest readers. I am updating again because I have somehow managed to find a bit of time in my hectic day, and simply felt the urge to put something to paper--or in this case, to computer. I stared at my pirate document for a time, but ultimately decided to visit here instead. I need to do much on my story, but I am afraid that I do not have time for such a long commitment at this very second. I do hope you understand and forgive me accordingly. Nonetheless, I have something for you.

I assume, reader, that you are aware that I am a large fan of J.R.R Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. If you are not, then you are now. I model my writing in part after Tolkien's work, I am told. I am very descriptive and technical when it comes to scenes and settings. I have created a world (many, in fact) that only I can navigate wholly, but I enjoy my detailed tours. I find this a great complement. Anyway, that is not quite why I am here today.

C.S. Lewis is the famed author of many different things, including the renowned Chronicles of Narnia series. I am a fan of these as well--and have, I must confess, enjoyed the movie renditions of them. (Aside from Prince Caspian, I regret to say. The whole movie was a mess--the only redeeming factor was Ben Barnes' dashing good looks.) 

Well, The Dawn Treader movie was much better than Caspian, and I have contented myself to spend many nights watching it. I always stop it though before credits roll. I dislike the jarbled, hard to read text flying over the screen so fast that I doubt even people who have their names on there can find them or care to look. No, I take the DVD out, put it away and meander off to think about such grand adventures as the ones Lucy and Edmund have had, and wish that my life were as interesting. 

A couple days ago, though, I didn't get up to the DVD player in time. I finally saw part of the credits--and I heard Carrie Underwood's powerful voice begin to lift up in song at the end. I like Carrie Underwood, so I decided to let the song finish out and take a listen. What I heard was this: 

There's a Place For Us - Carrie Underwood

I was in tears by the end. It is one of the most beautiful songs I have heard in quite a while. It has a message of hope without sounding forced or fake--and I appreciated that. It is absolutely lovely. I would like to, then, add this to the list of inspirational music that I have shared with you since this blog's inception, and I would also like to take the time to implore you to remember this little tune when you are feeling sad, downtrodden or forgotten. It's available on iTunes--put it on your iPod. 
I do not have too much to post about this time, but this song needed to be shared. I hope that all of my readers enjoy this song as much as I did, and that it speaks to you in your time of hardship as it did in mine. 
I will be back at a later date to give you something to read or something to learn about my book. But today, this is it. Please have a wonderful weekend; and remember--there is a place for us.