Where have I been?!?!

Hello friends! It has been too long since I've written for you. I've been a little busy lately! I've actually started to work on my stories again. Much has happened in the time I dropped off the face of the earth. Let me fill you in using cliff notes:

• My horse tried to die on me - In hindsight, he didn't actually try to kick the bucket on me but he sure as heck gave me a gastric ulcer. He coliced (for my non-horse friends, its a gastrointestinal issue of gigantic proportions) and took three days to get his system back in order. He then abscessed at the injection site from a shot of pain reliever. This pretty much took up my ENTIRE life for more than a month. FYI, he's fine now... thankfully!
• My literary friend, Laura, moved to Missouri - Rather, her husband was transfer and she *had* to go with him. Poppycock, I say. It was a sad day for me, not just because she rips my stories a new one (as to make them better not to be mean) but she is a very dear friend. I misses her. :(
• Computer issues are a pain in the you-know-what - My lap top is at the "doctor's" getting fixed. Something about a bad hard drive, I think. With a few viruses throw in. Needless to say, it gave me the blue screen of death. BUT my most amazing friend, Kaitlin, is trying to fix him. Obviously, not having MY computer to type on will hinder my writing.

I'm not trying to use these as an excuse, I'm just giving you legit reasons why my word count has suffered. I have gotten to Chapter 8 in Book 2 of my trilogy AND, recently, started writing a Christian fiction novel on the side. I got stuck in my fantasy world and thought it would be good to write something that is constrained to the laws of reality. I think it may be working... we shall see.

With Laura gone, I had to find someone to bounce ideas off of--not that Laura isn't, like, a text, e-mail, or phone call away!--it helps to have someone close by to help. Enter friend Kaitlin. She doesn't tear my story apart and make me answer questions to the 10th degree, but she does tell me what works and what doesn't. She tells me if anything seems off about what I've written. Case in point, I had all characters in book 2 ANGRY at one specific character--she pointed it out and was thinking, "Why are they all so angry at him, he's not that bad?!" I agreed and had to go back and fix about 3 chapters worth of rage at this poor man. Anyway, she's writing a story too and its really cool to have so many writer friends! :)

Despite my lack of writing, I have, in fact, been reading quite a bit! All the research I've done to make my writing better and advise from well-known published authors/editors/agents was to READ, READ, READ. And when you're done with that keep on reading! If you write fantasy, read historical fiction. If you write mystery, read science fiction. If you write romance, read... I dunno, kid's fiction. If you write fiction, read non-fiction. So that is what I've been trying to do! I've noticed a few things...

• 1.) I pick up on bad writing RIGHT away - and I can't go on.
• 2.) It gives you a perspective you may have not had to begin with.
• 3.) All writing styles are different, and reading gives you many different preservatives which HELP enhance your writing. You learn what not to do. What to do. What is believable. What works and what doesn't.
• 4.) You pick up little things that you draft into your own style. I've taken to highlighting phrases that I think are amazing.
• 5.) You get to learn SO MANY WORDS! Write them down, look them up, and use them! I also highlight those as well.

So, just because I haven't really written much, doesn't mean I haven't been working on my creative muscles. I'm getting there! Goal for 2011: Finish book 2 AND my single Christian fiction book. ***Stay tuned, I'll be writing a few book reviews for you, too!***

Book Review #8: The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

This is the same author as the Mortal Intruments series. I really enjoy her work and think that she is a brillant writer. There are a handful of published authors that I hope to meet one day and Cassandra Clare is one of them. She's fantastic.

So Clockwork Angel(Please read my review on The Mortal Instruments so I don't have to break down the whole Shadowhunter hierarchy.)is the world that Ms. Clare has created just rewind a couple hundred years. This series takes place in England -not NY- and is pretty good. Its focused on a girl named Tessa who lives in NY with her brother and aunt(? -its been a while since I've read it and that detail has slipped my mind). Her brother goes to England and eventually sends for her. However something goes wrong on her arrival and she's taken captive. Come to find out she's a very, very special Downworlder with a unique power.

Shadowhunter Will comes in an rescues her and takes her to the... safehouse, for lack of a better term, where she (and the reader if they hadn't read The Mortal Instruments) all about Shadowhunters and Downworlders. HUGE HUGE HUGE twist that I wasn't expecting regarding Tessa's brother and the bad guy. Usually I'm pretty good at guessing the plot line, but this one I didn't unravel until a few pages before the story told me. There is a whole new list of characters and a wee bit of a love twist. Will is the cocky, self assured, mysterious guy. Jem is the guy you take home to your parents. Tessa is torn between the two... of course. I do have to say, I'm not a fan of Tessa -she whines entirely too much. (I do LOVE Clary -the main female character in Mortals- and its RARE that I like the female lead) Anyway, I thought that I liked Will but for some reason, I'm drawn to Jem.

This is the first in The Internal Devices series; I'm excited to read the next one as this one left you on a cliff hanger -isn't that always the goal of good writing?! Not as good as City of Bone/Ashes/Glass but up there. I don't think Ms. Clare can write crap, she's just that good. I give it four hearts. ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Book Review #7: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

My good friend Sam -and not the main character in my novel- suggested a few series for me to read. I'm thinking that our tastes in books is pretty similar -as are our horse's personalities- so I decided to listen to her. The first set of stories I was told to read was The Hunger Games. She warned me that I had to get past the violent tone of the the story, and that it was a simple read as its a young adult fiction novel. For Christmas my father got me an iPad (SWEETNESS, I know!) and the Barnes & Noble e-reader, the Nook, was a FREE App that I could DL onto my iPad. I purchased a couple mark Twain novels and Lewis Carrol's Alice in Wonderland, then looked to start DL more popular novels. The Hunger Games was the first.

The story is written in first person from Kaniss Everdean. She's 16 and lives with her mom and little sister, Primrose (a.k.a Prim) in "District 12". America no longer exists and the territory is distributed among 12 -used to be 13- districts; all of these are run by The Capital which likes to flex their metaphoric muscles by instituting a nationally publicized game: The Hunger Games. These "games" consist of taking one boy and one girl from each district and putting them in an arena -which is climate controlled by The Capital- where they must survive and fight to the death. There may be only ONE winner.

Enter in Katniss. Her little 12 yo, sensitive, sister's name is pulled out of the lottery, much to Kat's horror. So she volunteers to take her place -as Katniss is skilled in hunting, surviving, and living on little-to-no-food (hunting is illegal, btw). The boy from District 12 to be called is a guy named Peeta. Anyway, so their journey starts. Oh, and I forgot to mention that District 12, they rarely win the games. Out of 70+ years, there has only been 2 winners from Katniss's District. So without giving away alllll the story... I suggest you read it!!!!

The book is simply written, as I said, but somewhere along the line I got SUCKED in. Like a vacuum. Out of no where. I know its a good read when I'll be doing something else (like driving) and find myself itching to read the rest of the story. Its a little over 230 pages and goes by FAST. I inhaled this story! I believe its free of cussing, BUT BUT BUT is rather very violent, I will admit. Not for the faint of heart. Love the first one and can not wait to read the next two. Five hearts... totally. ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

The Curse of a Writing Addict

Ooooh my goodness, it has been way to long since I've written anything. After finishing my novel and jumping into the next one so quickly... my brain fried. I'm not joking, either. I failed at NaNoWriMo this year as life and lack of creativity got in the way. I think I got burned out and I found that everything I wrote, sucked. The only thing that I liked in novel #2 was the prologue and maybe the beginning of Chapter 1... the rest I think I'll be scrapping. In fact I will. This was on top of clipping 2 horses, riding 2-3 horses a day, taking care of the barn, and running Thanksgiving.
That's right, you heard me, I RAN THE KITCHEN on Thanksgiving.
My mother got called into work (she's an OR nurse) and left my father and I to clean and cook for the big day. I pinched hit and got a home run. Go me! I actually had some help. Anywho, this is about where my writing self has been the past month.


Let me just tell you how great it feels to actually be writing right now. Even though I'm typing a blog and not creating story... its nice to get what's in my head out. See, I've not written nor read a lick in the past three weeks and I think I've gone a little crazy. I'll zone out in normal routine things during the day and my imagination will suck me out of reality. VERY WEIRD experience; my heart pounds faster and I go a tad cold when I force myself back to the present. That or I have some brain issue that I should go to the doctor for...

One thing that has surprised me, is that I didn't know once I became addicted to writing that it would become a part of me. I guess I have things deep in my psyche that demanding having a say. The story creator inside me will not be stifled... try as I may to ignore her. She's as stubborn as I am... go figure, she is me. Now that I'm writing again... let's have a second look at book #2 and figure out how to make it good. I should start with an outline.... that would help. ;)

National Novel Writing Month

Last year my friend Laura (I know, I bring her up a lot but she's helpful!) mentioned she participates in something commonly known as NaNoWriMo, a.k.a National Novel Writing Month. You have 30 days to write 50,000 words. She's told me that in the past few years she's been able to crank out the very basic storyline for, I think, 3 or 4 novels.
This year, she told me I had to do it, of course I didn't disagree. What I wasn't sure of was if I'd be done with my first novel --alas, I am!!!! Woot!-- She challenged me to finish my first book so that I could get a HUGE jump on the second one. I am proud to say that I met her challenge and seek to do my 2nd story justice.
So, as of today, I signed up as a participant and developed my "Story Question" for Book 2. In my first official act I shall now post my badge! :)

Wish me luck! We'll see what kind of slug fest is in store for me!

SUCCESS!

Finished! Acabada! Críochnaithe! Finie! Finita!
My messy, jumbled, and unedited first draft, as of 4:47pm on the 28th day of October in the year 2010, is done. My book is complete... or rather the story is complete. The book is far from done. The plan: edit, edit, edit. I shall then clean it up and make it presentable. I will find an editor (see how much it costs) and have them fix my horrid grammar and tie up loose ends on the story. I plan to submit it to a few publishers and see where it goes from there!

I'll write more... its time for dinner and my brain needs a break. :)

Where its NOT done my way...

This is not one of my normal blogs. It has nothing to do with a book review or writing. Try as I may to not include horses in every aspect of my life, I feel this is something I would like to share with you. So here goes...
For those of you who don't ride horses you'll never experience the tragic downfall of "rider pride" (that's what I'm calling it). God is the greatest Humbler of all but He's not always so forthright with it; sometimes he uses the little things to keep you in check.
Let me give you a little lesson on "Rider Pride" and I'll use myself as an example. I've been riding since I was 7 yo (I'm now 26) my ability and skill has grown exponentially. I can deal most everything any given horse may throw my way. A spook here A buck there. Or even a jump refusal.
As my skill progressed, it would take more and more force from any action to FINALLY cause me to come off my horse. Beginners all the way to Grand Prix riders WILL FALL. The reality is that one day a rider will, in fact, eventually find the ground with their body. This is not fun nor does it feel good. Sometimes these falls hurt and break bones other times (if you are fortunate) you land softly.


My "Rider Pride" comes from years and years of being able to prefect the art of keeping the horse underneath you. Its a skill I've had to work at. I don't expect a good solid piece of riding through a series of bucks to receive a standing ovation. But it should be commended; people all the way from being able to stay on during your very first canter to an explosion of animal beneath you is a big deal. The better you are the harder the falls get; whether on your body or your pride.
Horses are the greatest at teaching me that things are NOT always done the way I want. Casey, my horse, is a firm believer in practicing humility. He thinks that its his God given duty to assure that I do not get too big for my breeches (or saddle); that my head does not swell to gigantic proportions.
Today, my Rider Pride has been wounded. I hit the ground because my thoroughbred saw scary (INVISIBLE!) horse-eating tree monsters. Casey went for a mad gallop on open trail and I stood horseless in the midst of my trainer's group of 10. They were all firmly on their horses. I was unhurt and fell in soft sand, no scrapes could be seen. The only thing that hurt was that I now have to put yet another notch in the "Falls from Casey" category. There is a life lesson here... LISTEN TO YOUR TRAINER when she tells you "Don't drop your shoulders at a fence!" In the end, my wonderful friend Katie went to get my dear, sweet red headed stepchild. I got back on, finished the ride, and never ever dropped my shoulder again today.
No, but really, listen when people give you good solid advice in life. Be aware of what's going on around you. Listen to your gut, its usually right. And hold your head up when something embarrasses you... those situations happen to EVERYONE. No one is without blush-filled, ears-turning-red situations.
*pictures are not mine except last one.*
This is Casey and I preforming PROPERLY!