Picture of the Day: 

My puppy certainly loves to look at me with sad, sad eyes. 

Quote of the Day: 

"A word is a bud attempting to become a twig. How can one not dream while writing? It is the pen which dreams. The blank page gives the right to dream." 

-Gaston Bachelard

Greetings my readers! I have been gone so long now I do not even recall the last thing I have spoken to you about, so I will just barrel forward and hope you can keep up. Ready? Okay.

So, having finished the Pirate Novel, I do believe I have finally given it a name. I am very excited about this fact, as naming pieces might be the hardest thing for me to do. Ever. The title I am working with? I am glad you asked. Right now it stands like this: 

Children of the Hallow:

The Hallow's Rising

We will see  how this pans out, as I may very well come up with something better. Until then, feedback on what you think of the title would be sublime. (In case you cannot tell, Children of the Hallow is meant to be the series title. If you couldn't, well, now you know.) I have thought way too long on this, boys and girls. Something needs to get chosen before my sanity vanishes faster than Liam can dismiss orders.

That being said, before I delve into work on book two, I pounded out a chapter to a new story series--basically, it delves into fairy tales, our world and the pair of siblings Peyton and Alexander Rhodes. It is quite a fresh story, if I may say so. I am quite pleased with the new style I am able to flex. I love Liam, but sometimes I enjoy the nice snarky comment to spice things up. Since this particular story closely follows a sixteen year old girl (Peyton), snarkiness pools from the page. I love it. 

Speaking of fun witty banter, I found out that Rick Riordan actually has a blogger page. Guess who I subscribed to immediately? 

I am dreadfully slow with my reading these days--I put down books and get wrapped up in other things and simply have not read the way I should. Nonetheless, I am now halfway through his Son of Neptune--guys, it is EVERY bit as amazing as his other things. Pick it up if you haven't already. So worth it.

That is all for now, guys. Mainly I wanted to gauge opinions on the title. So, please, please, please, leave me a comment with an opinion. I flip flop on it. Is it good? Is it not? Is there something that I could change to make it better? 

CAN YOU ANSWER THIS QUESTION WITHOUT READING IT? 

So many inquiries, so little time. 

Happy writing, my readers! And, if writing is not your thing, happy reading. Both are invaluable. 

Picture of the Day: 

A bookstore in Hay On Wye, Wales that is literally in an old castle.

Quote of the Day: 

"Every artist was first an amateur." 

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hello, my dearest Readers! May I start by saying Happy New Year! I have been away for quite a long time, but rest assured I have not vanished. (You are not lucky enough for that! Ha!) In fact, I have some news that is absolutely fantastic--and it may lead to things even more fantastic. Huzzah! 

Okay, before the year vanished something amazing happened. On December 21, 2011 at 10:09pm, I, your resident blogger and aspiring novelist, finished my first draft of my Pirate Novel. 

Yes. Finished. Completed. Final period, celebratory dance, and immediate print-off. Done. 

I have never been so excited in my life! I have already started looking at publishers and agents, but so far I am so happy that it is done I have not really made any efforts toward them yet. My sister and friend are taking a look at the rough-draft manuscript, and my little sister is going to give me what I hope to be the best title for my work! (I have, as of yet, come up empty on that account.) 

I will be able to keep you updated on this progress as I attempt to wiggle my way into the business and make a name for myself. I am nervous about trying to sell my book in query letters and the like, but I am most ready to give it a shot! 

Prayers would be most appreciated as I undertake this endeavor. And, I would like to ask that you to add to them a person I know. He also finished his manuscript, and my friends and I will be taking a look at that for him too. Hopefully we will both be on our way to a published piece by the end of this year! 

Keep writing--it is key to creativity. And, if you cannot do that, keep reading! It does take both for this world to go around. 

Picture of the Day:

A rainbow at the local park.

Quote of the Day:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-- / I took the one less traveled by, / And that has made all the difference.

-Robert Frost

Hello, readers! I have been away again. I regret to say that for about the same amount of time I have been absent, I have also been negligent on my writing. Yes, if the pirate novel was a baby, child services would have come and taken it away by now. I am absolutely horrible at this "stick-to-your-writing" thing. But I have managed to find time enough to jump back in today to let you know what I have been up to. 

Sadly, I am afraid you shall be disappointed. In the four-some-odd weeks I have been away, vowing work on this novel and a quick finish I have added a total of one page. Yes, and it is not even a good page. However, I haven't trashed it yet, so I guess I am making some kind of progress.

Unfortunately that is really all I have to update you on. Things aren't going poorly, they just aren't going anywhere. Maybe someday this thing will be finished, and I bet once it is I won't even have the heart to submit it for publication! Too much work, I tell you. 

I think the only reason I am sticking to it is to prove to myself I can finish something I start--which, thus far, I haven't been able to do. 

I have finally been able to start my job at the Disney Store. Yes, I am a huge Disney fan. I blame the movies for my unrealistic expectations for life, love and hair. But I digress again. I find that a lot of the songs relate to me in a way that is very special, and I still enjoy Friday nights watching Beauty and the Beast, Hercules, Lady and the Tramp, etc. So, in commemoration for my new job and state of mind, I give you a song that is stuck in my head that will not escape:

If you haven't seen this movie, we are no longer friends. 

I kid.

Kind of.
Have a wonderful week, and hopefully this pitiful update will be coupled with something better soon. For right now, I am off! Perhaps I will meet Liam and Jarek for a date with adventure and excitement, but recently, they have simply been standing me up. We shall see.

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.