How I Started Writing

Hello again. So, I've been making a lot of lists lately and writing very few blog posts relating to anything other than music or books. Since I'm a novelist, I've been wanting to talk more about writingViolet Eyes. But before I start sharing little things about my books it might be fun to tell the story of how I started writing at all. If you're curious, please continue reading. I hope you enjoy hearing and this tale.

First off, I've always loved books, and I can't remember a time when I couldn't read. When I was in preschool, kids used to bring me stories they liked all the time because I could read out-loud to them. My personal favorites were Disney books (movie-to-book kind of stuff) and fairy tales with beautiful illustrations. Then, when I grew older and could practically recite most classic cartoon Disney movies  by heart, I started rearranging them in a notebook. These rewrites usually included a lot more fighting and adventure, and my much older self would probably blush at what I thought passed for descriptive writing. At the same time, I tried writing my first "novel" about a Pegasus that was turned into a real horse (a la Hercules) and had to find her way home. I was going to  call it The Black Stallion, though it was about a girl Pegasus, and I promise I'd never heard of the other book before. When my Aunt told me that name was already taken, I was crushed for a whopping five minutes. In hindsight I wish I'd kept the notebooks, but I never intended to be a writer, and little kids lose stuff. They're long gone now.

Then I discovered The Waltons: Season 1 when I was ten and was introduced to the idea of writing for a living. Oh John-Boy, then the fever took hold! Out came another notebook, and I wrote a ten page "novel" that I thought was going to be a best-seller someday. I laughed, I cried, I wanted to hug my own book and dance around the room. Then I let it rest for a few months because of Summer Vacation, and when I came back to it in the fall...I hated it. Yep. I'm ashamed to say I threw that one away because I was disgusted with my inability to write something good. After that, I pretty much decided that I wasn't meant to write anything and turned my focus to being a teacher instead.

But that didn't stop me from coming up with stories. I can distinctly remember standing at the stove once when I was thirteen and my mother waving her hand in front of my eyes. "Are you okay?" She asked. "You're not hearing a word I'm saying, are you?" I was too embarrassed to tell her that I was trying to come up with my own fan-version of Robin Hood, so I told her I didn't get much sleep the night before, which was true. I'd been up half the night daydreaming.

So a few years, a couple hundred daydreams, and a thousand devoured books later, I found myself sitting in my room because I was snowed in and couldn't safely walk down the driveway (let alone go anywhere). My brand new laptop was open in front of me, but I didn't really feel like playing any games. I wanted something new, something different (it was a cabin-fever kind of day).

Then, for some reason, I thought of my new acquaintance, Ashley, who was a writer and had been for a couple years by that time. When I met her, she asked me if I liked writing, and I (thinking she meant writing for school) said, "sure." Then she asked me what kind of writing I liked, and I immediately thought, ummm...essays? What else is there for someone like me? Therefore, I immediately clarified what I meant and promptly forgot all about it...until I got snowed in.

I hadn't even considered writing another story for eight years. But why not? I sat down and stared at a blank screen for a little while until I thought up a few characters, and then I just started writing. Honestly, I didn't even have a clear plot in my head, and I wasn't sure I could finish the story. I just wanted to see if my story telling abilities had improved at all. But I ended up sitting at my computer for four hours and feeling disgruntled when I had to leave it for dinner.

So...yeah...that was kind of the start of something beautiful. When I forced myself to take it slow and revel in the world I was building along with the characters, I found myself identifying with them. Writer's block was rarely an issue with the first drafts, and I often felt as if I was actually reading rather than creating anything. When I was done, I re-read the book and was surprised to find that I still liked it. Out of curiosity, I had my twelve-year-old brother try it, and he couldn't put it down. Once, when I asked him to do something chore related, he held up a finger and said, "can I have another minute? I'm almost done with this chapter." He finished within twenty-four hours and asked if he could read scenes from book two as I wrote them.

Siblings can be some of the most brutally honest creatures on the face of this planet, and when they tell you that they love something you've written you should feel pretty good about it. And if that wasn't enough for me, letting both my parents read the book was. I've heard that it's not a good idea to base your opinion of your writing skills on what your mother says, but my mother home-schooled me and was quite comfortable telling me when something I wrote could be improved. She and my Dad didn't try to convince me I was perfect. The manuscript still needed a lot of work, but they did encourage me to pursue publishing.

I guess what spurred me to write more was knowing that my books were giving others as much pleasure as they gave me. When I read Little Women, I don't hear Louisa May Alcott's voice. I hear Jo March's. And I hope that when people read Violet Eyes (or any subsequent books in The Last Abecedarian Series) they will hear Maia, Hugoh, Rike, Beor, Penelope, Lyddiah, and any other characters they've come to know and love.

And that's how I started writing. Writer's block isn't a stranger anymore, but it hasn't taken away the satisfaction of knowing that Violet Eyes is available for others to enjoy. Money is nice, and I hope to make this profitable someday. But as long as I know that my books bring wholesome pleasure to even a few people (the way other books brought joy to me), then the challenge of crafting a novel is already worthwhile. Copyright belongs to the author, but ideas and stories should belong to everyone.

Hopefully book two will join Violet Eyes soon — if writer's block will stop trying to make up for lost time.

May Favorites 2014

It's June! Does anyone else think the month of June sounds significant? To me, I don't feel like the year has really passed until I see the number 6 in front of the date on my clock. Then the rest of the year flies by way too fast.

Anyway, this post is a May Favorites post, not a treatise on the importance of June. I've tried to include a few more categories in the list this time, and I hope you enjoy reading my thoughts on each item.

Favorite Movie: The Amazing Spiderman 2. I actually didn't watch many movies last month, but this one still deserves first place. Not being a full-fledged Marvel Universe fangirl, I couldn't begin to talk about how close to the original story this movie is, but I've heard it's much closer than the last Spiderman trilogy. All I know is I liked it enough to go home and promptly enter a *ahem* philosophical discussion with my fourteen year old brother concerning whether or not Harry Osborne deserved as much sympathy as Electro.

The only thing I didn't like about this movie was that I found myself empathizing with Electro too much. Yes, it is due to stellar acting and scriptwriting, but it honestly upset me. My melancholic personality traits kicked in and made me angry on behalf of the poor guy...and I mean livid. I can't elaborate without needlessly spoiling the plot for others, but I have a love/hate relationship with that character.

Otherwise, I have nothing to say that hasn't already been covered on numerous sites. Spiderman and Gwen are amazing together. The action and graphics were incredible, and I can't wait for the next movie.

Now I need to watch the X-Men.

Favorite Book: The Two Princesses of Bamarre, by Gail Carson Levine. The somewhat detailed yet spoiler free description of the book is that it is really about Princess Addie, the fearful sister. She has depended upon her fearless older sister, Meryl, for love, comfort, and protection her entire life, and their bond is a strong as it can be. The one fear that plagues Addie above all others is that one day Meryl will leave to embark on the adventures she constantly dreams about, leaving Addie alone.  

Then, Meryl is struck with the Grey Death, a terminal disease with no known cure. If someone does not find the an antidote soon, Addie will lose her beloved sister forever.

When I first started reading this book, I thought the plot was predictable. Classic princess story, right? Maybe there were a few little twists, but the romantic interest was apparent right away, and the reader knew the ending was going to be happy — kind of like Gail's earlier novel, Ella Enchanted.

WRONG!

Not that the ending was horrible. It just wasn't what I expected. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and it left me feeling incredibly inspired.

Favorite Song. This is a song by Country music artist Garth Brooks. I recently rediscovered it on a CD I already own and remembered how good it was. It's called The Change. NOTE: I didn't know this until I found the video online, but it's a musical tribute to the Oklahoma City Bombing in 1995. There are some images from the bombing in the background of this video that you may or may not find too graphic for little kids. For the sake of fair warning, I want to let you know in case there's a child looking over your shoulder.

Favorite Dance: Hambo. As long as I'm looking for more categories, why not include this one? The reason I'm listing the Hambo is because I recently learned it myself. It's a lot of fun — I just need to make sure I dance with a strong partner, because it makes me very dizzy very fast. That's saying a lot for me, because I can usually spin pretty hard and still keep my bearings. But nope...not with this one. There is too much world flying past behind my partner's face for me to stay balanced all by myself.

I guess that just means I need to practice more. Yay!

Favorite Drink: Cold Brew Lipton Ice Tea. I like the taste of cold brew better than regular tea. There isn't as much of a bitter aftertaste. Not to mention it only takes about ten minutes to make. I usually brew four bags in a gallon of cold tap water and sweeten with eight packets of Stevia. If you want sweet tea, then you may want to put ten to twelve packets in the mixture. Personally, I haven't noticed any bitter tang when using this particular sugar substitute.

Voila! A zero calorie summer drink with no artificial sweeteners that is actually good for you.

Well, that's it for this month. Thanks for reading.

Until next time...

Summer Reading 2014 Book Review — Austenland

Wow...I did not think I'd be writing any reviews so soon, but this book is really quick and hard to put down. Therefore, I will share a few thoughts with you while it's still fresh in my mind. (Note: I will do my best to avoid spoilers, but I will be giving away a few details. Be warned.)

Description

Jane is a young New York woman who can never seem to find the right man — perhaps because of her secret obsession with Mr. Darcy, as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaption of Pride and Prejudice. But when a wealthy relative bequeaths to her a trip to an English resort catering to Austen-obsessed women, Jane's fantasies of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman suddenly become more real than she ever could have imagined. Is this total immersion in a fake Austenland enough to make Jane kick the Austen obsession for good, or could all her dreams actually culminate in a Mr. Darcy of her own?

Things I Loved

Jane Hayes was more believable in the book than in the movie. Shannon Hale didn't depict her as being a Darcy obsessive for Darcy's sake alone. Rather, her infatuation with the character came from a long history of negative relationships with men she wanted to love the way Austen's heroines loved their heroes. What Jane craved was something deeper than what I've heard called "recreational dating," and she wasn't finding it with any "real" men in her life.

Also, I liked the comparison of the two main romantic interests (I think everyone can guess this is a romance novel, right?)Yes, the ending was predictable, but it was fun to watch Jane's perception of the characters throughout the story.

Ms. Charming was adorable! She didn't have as prominent a part in the book, but she still brought a smile to my lips every time she entered a scene. "Cheerio!"

The situation was real. This is a romantic Austen spin-off novel with outlandish scenarios, but there is a depth to the story that comes from its real world problems. What happens if you're a woman who wants "something more" in a relationship and isn't satisfied with the superficial, lovey-dovey, feelings that only last for a week, or a few months, or even a few years? Jane wants forever! She wants to get married and be a mother with a man she loves who wants to be a father. But none of the men she tries to date are interested in more than dating. Is she being too demanding? Is there something wrong with what she wants? Is she just the kind of person who is born to be a spinster? These are real questions girls and women ask themselves. Austenland simply uses a fun setting in which to deal with these issues. 

Things I Didn't Love

I realize Jane Hayes is a modern-world woman of thirty-two, and I don't recall reading any clues that she had a religious affiliation, but I didn't agree with every conclusion she came to about love and relationships. She goes to Austenland in order to have one last total immersion in her obsession before swearing off men and Colin Firth's Mr. Darcy for good. But while she's there (Spoiler Alert!) she let's herself have a "fling" with one of the romantic interests. Her reasoning is that she's too intense about love, wanting men to commit to her on the first date, and she needs to relax. As a Catholic, I think it's perfectly acceptable to enter a courtship scenario with an expectation that, should it be God's will for things to work out, you will one day marry the person you're going out with. That's not to say you should bombard the other person with serious questions at first, when you're still getting to know them, or agonize over every little detail of your relationship. But I didn't quite agree with Jane's view of things — or how she chose to handle the situation. I did, however, like the ending when the true hero said (SPOILER ALERT), "I need to admit up front that I don't know how to have a fling. I'm not good at playing around and then saying good-bye. I'm throwing myself at your feet because I'm hoping for a shot at forever. You don't have to say anything now, no promises required. I just thought you should know."

Yeah...I like to think she eventually marries the guy.

Conclusion

I, personally, would not recommend this book to someone under sixteen. But, having said that, I LOVED IT!!!!! Romance novels usually don't appeal to me, but this one definitely had enough going on underneath the surface to make the reading worthwhile. 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.   

  

Summer Reading Challenge 2014

 Summer is here! I never check the calendar to see if I'm right. As long as I can roast marshmallows, wear a t-shirt, and sit outside after dark without getting hypothermia, then spring is over.

Why do I like this particular season? Well...it's my busiest season, as well as the most fun (think dancing, friends, travelling, adventures, dancing, warmth, sunshine, opportunities to wear cool costumes...did I mention dancing?) Every year, I put together a list of things I want to do between the end of spring and the first day of fall, and summer isn't over until all are done or I can't feel my toes while wearing flip-flops anymore.

Among the usual items on my list, I have a few new entries, which I will be writing about on this blog.

• ·         Camp counseling in California (things I've learned from being a counselor)
• ·         Vacationing in California
• ·         Going to my first concert (Daughtry!)
• ·         reading every book on my shelf that I haven't read yet

This particular post is about the last goal on that list. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm horrible about buying cheap books at used bookstores and then forgetting to read them for different reasons ( most often because I find another cheap book, ha ha).  The other day I actually counted them, and there are over twelve novels in my possession which I've never even opened. Well, that's going to change this year. Longer days equal more time to read I hope, which equals some bookshelf exploration on my part.

So, this is my personal Summer 2014 Reading Challenge. I will list all the books I own that I haven't yet read, along with a brief description taken from the back cover. Then, between now and September 30th, I will try to read every single one and review them on this blog. No more library visits for me until I can pick up any book on my shelf and tell you all about it.

The Black Arrow, by Robert Louis Stevenson:  England is in the throes of the War of the Roses. As the houses of Lancaster and York vie for the crown,  young Richard Shelton eagerly serves under his guardian, Sir Daniel Brackley, whose lessons he hopes will make him worthy of becoming a knight. But Sir Daniel and his allies have been targeted by the outlaws known as the fellowship of the Black Arrow. This band of archers has a different lesson to teach Richard about loyalty, honor, revenge, and the ambiguities between good and evil. Originally serialized in a periodical of boys' adventure fiction, The Black Arrow furthered the genre of the historical novel through its swashbuckling action and its portrayal of a young man's journey to discover the heroism within himself.

Silas Marner, by George Eliot: Silas Marner, the heartwarming novel of a miser and a little child, is one of the great all-time classics, a tale so rich in human understanding that it will capture hearts and minds as long as books are read. Filled with the qualities that made George Eliot world famous as a writer, it is a narrative at once bold, compassionate, and dramatically powerful.

The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: The restless, questing intellect of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle spurred him far beyond the ingenious puzzles he constructed for Sherlock Holmes. In The Lost World, Doyle, a devotee of the occult and fantastic tales of adventure and discovery, introduces his readers to Professor Challenger, an eccentric paleontologist, on his suspense-filled search for prehistoric creatures in the wilds of the Amazon. Professor Challenger's doughty troupe includes a skeptical sportsman, Lord John Roxton, and the narrator, the intrepid reporter Edward Malone. When their bridge to civilization collapses, the explorers find themselves marooned among the dinosaurs and savage ape-people.

Ben-Hur, by Lew Wallace: No description available.

Rainbow Valley, by L.M. Montgomery: Anne's wonderful, lively children found a special place all their own. Rainbow Valley was the perfect spot to play, to dream and to make the most unusual friends, like the Merediths. They were two girls and a boy who had no mother. What they did have was a minister father who was looking for a wife but so far had found nothing but heartbreak. Between the minister courting a young spinster and the escapades of the restless children, the town was bubbling with scandal. But in the end, the warmth and laughter of Anne of Green Gables taught all an unforgettable lesson of love.

Hans Christian Anderson Classic Fairy Tales: No description. I actually have read several stories from this book, and I've read them all at one point or another in my life. But I want to read this book in its entirety.

Austenland, by Shannon Hale: Jane is a young New York woman who can never seem to find the right man — perhaps because of her secret obsession with Mr. Darcy, as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaption of Pride and Prejudice. But when a wealthy relative bequeaths to her a trip to an English resort catering to Austen-obsessed women, Jane's fantasies of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman suddenly become more real than she ever could have imagined. Is this total immersion in a fake Austenland enough to make Jane kick the Austen obsession for good, or could all her dreams actually culminate in a Mr. Darcy of her own?

The Prince and the Pauper, by Samuel L. Clemens: Slum urchin Tom Canty and Edward Tutor, heir to the English throne, looked enough alike to amaze themselves, and when they met at the Palace, it was fun — just briefly — to exchange clothes. But then Fate stepped in and...  (I think pretty much everyone knows what the rest of the story is about)

Shadows on the Rock, by Willa Cather: In 1697, Quebec is an island of French civilization perched on a bare gray rock amid a wilderness of trackless forests. For many of its settlers, Quebec is a place of exile, so remote that an entire winter passes without a word from home. But to twelve-year-old Cecile Auclair, the rock is home, where even the formidable Governor Frontenac entertains children in his palace and beavers lie beside lambs in a Christmas crèche. As Cather follows this devout and resourceful child over the course of a year, she re-creates the continent as it must have appeared to its first European inhabitants. And she gives us a spellbinding work of historical fiction in which great events occur first as rumors and then as legends — and in which even the most intimate domestic scenes are suffused with a sense of wonder.

The Mutual Friend, by Frederick Busch: No description available. All I know is that it's got something to do with Charles Dickens.

Cold River Rising, by Enes Smith: While on a spring break from college, Native American Tara Eagle was kidnapped in a foreign land. She and her friends struggle for survival, first against terrorists, and then against the army. Her relatives become frustrated, and then angry at the slow response from the United States Government. There are over five hundred Indian tribes recognized by Congress. In modern times a group of Indians used their sovereignty for something other than a casino. The Cold River Indian Nation of Oregon declared war on a foreign country. They were joined by others.

Julius Ceaser, Troilus and Cressida, and Twelfth Night, by Shakespeare: No description available (or necessary, ha ha). These are the old English versions. Thank goodness they come with footnotes on every page!

Fourteen books — four months, give or take a week.

I've got a pretty interesting mixture of light and heavy reading and every kind of reading in between. If you see something you're interested in here, then keep an eye out for reviews.  Right now I'm starting Austenland.

Anyway, that is my Summer 2014 Reading Challenge. What will you be up to during this wonderful season of sunshine and warm weather?