Virtues, Blogging, and Critiques- Candor Fridays

To everyone who has been wondering if I’m alive, I have good news for you: I am. Alive. Mostly.

I’m sorry it’s been so long since I posted! I don’t even have an excuse. I just haven’t posted. But, I’m back on schedule starting today!

And so, without further ado, this week’s (okay, all my back up from the last month) questions!

Harpley asked: What virtue (such as humility, honesty, loyalty, etc.) do you respect the most in a fictional character, (or, alternatively), do you find a specific virtue showing up in a lot of your own characters?

Okay, this on stumped me, I’m not going to lie. And, after much consideration, I’ve got an answer. Sort of.

For me, there isn’t one virtue I respect the most. Looking at some of my favorite characters, I can’t seem to find a common thread. Like, I have loved Edmund Pevensie for many year because of his humility. But then, I love BBC’s Robin Hood and I really wouldn’t apply the word humility to him. So, no, there isn’t one virtue I respect the most.

That said, I will add that for me, a hero needs a strong moral code. I am not and never will be a fan of the anti-hero. If he doesn’t have a moral code or if he does things that are immoral, I can’t respect him as a hero. I might love him for other parts of his character, but he will never be a hero to me.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not necessarily a fan of the stereotypical hero mold. I am not saying you have to do that in order for your hero to be a hero. In fact, I like heroes who challenge my moral code with their own. For instance, the hero of one of my favorite movies- Sam Spade in The Maltese Falcon- does things that make me doubt he’s a hero all throughout the movie. But when push comes to shove, in the end, you realize everything he’s done is because he’s been working toward setting things right.

And then, when I look back on what he’s done, I go, “Why did I think what he was doing was wrong? He was working toward saving the day…” and I realize a lot of what I didn’t agree with is some sort of code that’s been ingrained in me that I don’t know why I believe.

So, strong moral code and the attitude of doing what’s right in the end.

And, as for reoccurring virtues I find in my characters a lot, does a good sense of humor count? Because, otherwise, again, I can’t seem to find a common theme…

Elly asked: How do guest posts work? Do you just ask someone to post on your blog? Does it have to be another blogger?

I have not actually done guest posting before, but I have read up on the subject a good deal while doing marketing and publishing research.

Here’s what I’ve learned:

Usually, the blogger who wants to guest post will do the asking. Let’s say you’re blog is dedicated to fish. If there was a fish expert looking to get their name out there, they might ask if you were interested in them posting something. That way, you have content and they get their name out there. It generally is another blogger, because it gets their own blog out there when you link their post back to them.

However, this is just internet blogging we’re talking about. So, there aren’t specific rules. There is nothing wrong with asking someone to guest post. I know a lot of people would probably be glad they didn’t have to initiate. And, if they aren’t a blogger, but have something to say, then by all means, as long as you credit the writer, you can ask them to guest post.

Essentially, it’s your blog and you can do whatever you like. No one is going to judge you or gasp because you’ve committed some huge internet blunder if you don’t follow the standard method. But, normally, it’s bloggers asking other bloggers if they might be able to post something on their blog.

Doug asked: When you've been blown away by constructive criticism that you know is valid, as I was last week regarding a novela I'm writing, what helps you to rework the passage when you really think that the current rendition was good enough?

At first, I was unsure how to answer this. But, after rereading it, I discovered you answered it yourself, with the wording.

The question to ask yourself is: is “good enough” good enough for you?

As writers it’s so easy to say, “The scene was good enough as it was. Why do people want me to change it?” And, we may very well be right. The scene probably is good enough. If we didn’t make any changes it wouldn’t bring the book down or cause people to stop reading. Some people might even enjoy it.

But, it might not be the best it can be. It could quite possibly be the best scene in your book, if you reworked it. It could be people’s favorite scene or the scene that makes them love the book. It could be the scene they best remember.

Or, it could be less obvious than that. The reader might not realize it was that scene that made them want to keep reading. They might not realize how much the scene adds to the story. It might be subtle and add layers in ways you or the reader can never grasp. But, it will be there, in the back of their mind, adding something.

So, the thing we writers need to ask ourselves, when we receive criticism like this is to ask ourselves “Is good enough good enough? Or do I want this scene to be the best it can be?”

Then we bite the bullet and set to work reworking the scene we thought we’d never have to touch again.

And, there you have it faithful readers! If you have any questions you would like answered, be sure to drop me an email by next Friday!

Arguments and Blogging- Candor Questions

Emily asked: I've been writing and rewriting this one scene for a week now, and finally decided I need help. So, my question is: How do I write a realistic heated argument between two characters?

There are a lot of factors that could change the course of the argument, such as who is fighting and what their relationship is. As I don’t have those details, I’m just going to go ahead and give you the few points the pretty much apply to ever argument:

People don’t make sense

Often times when people argue, they get so worked up about the argument that they’re too excited to actually think rationally. Or, if your character is super rational, they’re probably thinking too rationally. Either way, their words probably won’t make too much sense. I mean, they shouldn’t be speaking nonsense, but they will make nonvalid points as if they are making very valid ones.

People hold grudges

Have you ever started arguing with someone about one thing and then next thing you know you’re arguing about something else entirely? You might be arguing about whose responsibility it was to get the mail this morning and next thing you know you’re fighting about whether or not it was your fault the cover got torn on a book you borrowed from the other person. Especially if there are girls involved, the argument is never about one thing. Never. It’s always about a lot more. Because as humans, we tend to bottle stuff up and when the cork flies out of the bottle, everything comes with it. More than likely whatever caused the argument is really just the straw that broke the camel’s back. There were other things that led up to this argument and whatever caused it was just the final thing whoever was involved is going to take.

Only in fiction does someone ever win

This one really bothers me. According to books and movies, most fights between good characters end with some sort of resolution. Eventually, one of the characters realizes mid-argument that they were wrong or the other person is right and next thing you know they’re apologizing and the argument is ending.

In real life, arguments end when someone interrupts or one or both parties storms off. After they have had time to cool down and remove themselves from the situation, they can then realize that, hey maybe they were wrong. Maybe the other person was right. But, never during a fight. Never. Because remember, they aren’t thinking rationally. They’re trying to win. Which leads to the next point:

People are more concerned with winning than anything else

Remember, the parties involved aren’t thinking rationally. This is why lawyers always get the witness mad (at least in the movies they do. If you have ever seen any sort of movie or TV show set in a courtroom, you know what I’m talking about). Because to the person who’s getting upset (the witness) it’s about winning. We will say or do whatever it takes to win the argument. Even if it means confessing to something we totally meant to keep a secret.

Or, no matter how valid a point one person makes, the other isn’t going to accept it. Or, even if they do, they’re probably going to push it away and look for the problems with that point. Because they want to win. They don’t care as much about what is actually right.

And, not a breakdown of arguments, but a writing tip- body language is a great tool here that not enough people take advantage of. If you show how worked up the characters are in the midst of their words, it creates an atmosphere that the readers can physically feel. If the characters are just sitting there, not moving, while they argue, it won’t feel as authentic. But, if one of them starts pacing, or if someone is clenching and unclenching their fists the whole time, it will add an extra layer to the scene.

If you’re looking for a good resource to help with emotions and body language, this book is great. It breaks down the different emotions and common ways it is shown. Again, helps add an extra layer of depth to your scenes.

Harpley asked: Do you have any advice for someone who might want to start their own blog, or things you wish you’d known earlier in your blogging journey?

First of all, make sure you know what your purpose for the blog is. If it’s a blog you’re just doing for you, it doesn’t matter, but if you want to reach people with it, don’t just make a blog about “stuff” and then post whatever you happen to feel like posting at the moment. Decide what you want to dedicate your blog to and then stick with it. If you don’t 100%, that’s fine, but at least for you have some idea to work with.

For instance, Within the Ivory Palace is dedicated to writing, with some reading stuff thrown in. So, I either post news about my writing, posts about writing advice, short stories or excerpts, or book reviews. Then, on Fridays, I’ll post other stuff, if people ask (and, I’m totally cool with them asking!) But, otherwise I try not to post too much about other stuff that isn’t related to my theme.

Second, make a schedule. Something I have noticed is that my page views peak on Fridays and Mondays. Why? Because that’s when I post. Even on weeks that I skip for some reason, people seem to check back to see if I have posted.

You don’t have to post twice a week. You don’t even have to post once a week. I would suggest no less than once every two weeks but otherwise, you can make it as flexible as you want.

And, lastly, write with confidence. This is your blog. You are writing about what you are passionate about. Take hold of that. Something that is often repeated in my house is “Confidence perceived is confidence achieved.” No one wants to read a blog by someone who is constantly saying, “I’m not really sure about this but…” Even if you never actually say those words, if you feel them, your readers will sense it in your writing. So, write boldly. Write with authority. This is your blog, your thoughts, your take in things, And, if someone disagrees with you, well, that’s their right.

And, that’s that! If you have a question for next week, be sure to send it in! In the meantime, I shall see you all on Monday!!

Hitchcock and Characters- Candor Questions

Rodger Sauer asked: Regarding The Lady Vanishes (1938 version):  There were so many distinct and colorful characters.  Which one was your favorite, and why?

Since he’s my dad, he has privileged information like this, knowing what movies I watch and the like. Except when I’m being moody and watching cheesy chick-flicks in my room with my dog. He usually doesn’t know about those. He just knows it’s a good time to make me tea and tell me he loves me.

Anyway! Yes, that movie certainly does have a lot of great characters. And, choosing a favorite is hard. But, I have managed to rise to the task.

My favorite character is Michael Redgrave’s character Gilbert, for several reasons:

For one, he plays the clarinet. Need I say more? I mean, that in and of itself is awesome. I really love at the beginning when he’s got the thing slung across his back with a strap and he’s walking around with it and yeah, it’s awesome. I also love that in the first three scene we see him he’s playing his clarinet. The only thing that could have made it better would have been if he had had the thing for the whole movie and played randomly throughout. Hm… character idea right there…

Two, he’s the love interest and while they have some tension at the beginning, when he sees the main character on the train and she tells him about her predicament, he’s more than willing to help her. No, he doesn’t believe her right away, but he’s still willing to drop everything and help her when he sees she’s in trouble.

And, for three, he’s kind of ridiculous and he makes me laugh. Characters who make me laugh are good. Oh, wait.., most of the characters in the movie fall under that category… anyway! That’s still a reason why he’s my favorite. He has a very engaging personality that just kind of makes me like him.

So, yup! Gilbert the clarinet player. He’s my favorite.

Nancy Sauer asked: I have been going through old letters from you and your family so I was wondering if you have heard anything from Periwinkle Jones recently?  And do you think she will ever get in touch with you again?

Oh!! Oh!!! Oh!!! This question makes me really excited, because unlike my dad, my grandma doesn’t live with me so she doesn’t have privilege information.

So, she has no way of knowing what I happen to be working on right now.

The short answer to this question is: Yup. I actually wrote about her today. And, the day I got the question. And the days leading up to when I received the question.

The long answer (since I always have to give a long answer): I recently started working lengthening a short story I wrote. Originally, it was going to be a series of short stories but I decided it made more sense to length it into a novella and mash the first two stories ideas into one. The second story’s plot (which is now part of the novella’s plot) featured a girl who moved into the farm by the main characters. The girl’s name? Periwinkle Jones.

She’s a bit different than the original Periwinkle (and she’s no longer the main character) but a lot of the essence of her and what I had hoped to do with her is the same. She still has the brothers, though their names are changed and I added one (or, rather, I made the character who I had planned on being her best friend be both her best friend and her brother).

But, she’s the same blue-eyed, freckle-faced young woman I created all those years ago.

Since I only just started working on this story about a week or so. Which is why it’s totally crazy why this question was asked now and not a while ago. But, also why the question totally made my day when I got it!

And, there you have it. If you have a question you want answered make sure you send it in before Friday. Can’t wait to see what you cook up for me to answer!

Dirndls and Christmas- Candor Questions

Cindy Sauer asked: Why a dirndl? Does it have to do with your German ancestry? :-D 

Hehe. I have been pondering this question for a week and I’m still not sure how to answer it. But, I’m going to try anyway.

To me, dirndls are the height of femininity. They’re beautiful, and stylish, but also simple and unassuming. They can be made inappropriate (as can anything) but for me, they are the picture of innocence. There’s something about a dirndl that makes me feel beautiful. It makes me feel more girly, more sweet, more innocent, more pure. Not that I’m not those things in other clothes. I just feel it more in a dirndl.

I don’t know that it has anything to do with my ancestry. I didn’t even know they were a German thing when I started liking them. They were just wonderful, and beautiful, and I wanted to make dozens and dozens of them. Then I learned they had a name a history and were like a legitimate thing. Which just made them more awesome.

Unfortunately, I don’t have any pictures of ones I’ve made, but if you want to check them out, I do have a Pinterest board devoted to them:

http://www.pinterest.com/jennifersauer73/cc-dirndl-love-3/

And, totally random, but the position of the knot on the dirndl’s apron indicates her marital status: if it’s on the left, the girl is available; on the right, she’s taken, either married or engaged; in the back, she’s a widow (though, this is also how waitresses wear them, so if your waitress has it tied in the back, don’t assume she’s a widow); and in the front, though many nowadays think it’s an indication of confusion on the girl’s part (like she’s not sure if she’s entirely available or not) it traditionally means that the wearer is a virgin.

So, if you go somewhere wearing a dirndl, make sure you wearing your knot in the proper place!

Harpley asked: Have you ever written any Christmas stories?  If not, do you have any favorites to read

According to the search function on my computer, I have used the word “Christmas” in four of my stories. In an unfinished novel called Scripted my main character, David, says, “They haven’t seen each other since Christmas.”

In The Crimson Banner, Jack notes that Melinda reminds him of his little sister on Christmas morning.

In an idea I have, which I’ve only written two or three scenes for, my character, Raven, mentions not really knowing her cousins, even though she sees them every Christmas.

And, lastly, in Where the SOREM Hid the Prize (the third Kit Parker Book), a piece of Kit’s narration is her complaining about something happening over winter break. She notes that she had more important things to do, one of them being planning the perfect Christmas.

So, I guess that would be a no. I’ve never written a Christmas story before. Ever. And, I probably never will. I’m not the kind of person who is really into holidays. I love getting to see my family and eat yummy food and stuff like that, but really, you can do that any day.

Plus, any other day, there’s mail.

There’s no mail on Christmas.

That said, there are a few Christmas stories I do love. O. Henry’s Gift of the Magi is gorgeous and wonderful and I would be totally wrong not to mention it here because it’s a classic and O. Henry’s awesome and more people should read him. (Not just that one story either. If you haven’t read anything other than Gift of the Magi or The Ransom of Red Chief you need to go read something by him right now).

The only other Christmas story I can say that I have read and really loved, and that actually did something to me, is The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson.

If you have not read this story, you need to. It really opened my eyes to the magic of the Christmas story, through the eyes of those hearing it for the first time. It’s a wonderful book about the power of that story and about how it can change even the wildest of kids. Beautiful, beautiful story.

In fact, I need to find my copy and read it again. It’s not very long at all (I read it out loud to Mom and it only took an hour or two) but so much is packed into that story, that it’s really a great read. I would highly recommend reading it. It’s well worth it.

And, of course, there are Christmas movies. Two, in particular that are watched every year.

Shop Around the Corner, while technically not a “Christmas” movie, comes to its climax on Christmas, so we always watch it then. We have it on VHS, so it’s kind of fuzzy (just some added snow XD) but it’s a classic in our house. It stars James Stewart and Margaret Sullivan and is the original You’ve Got Mail. But, it has James Stewart in it. So, it’s better <3

The other classic we always watch is White Christmas. I always forget how much I love that movie until we’re watching it. I have seen it more times than I can count (once in theaters! :D) but still it never gets old. Vera-Ellen, Danny Kaye, Bing Crosby. What’s not to like? It’s perfect and a must watch every year for us.

And, that’s about as Christmassy as I get.

There you have it! If you have a question you would like to ask, make sure that you send it in for next week! And, in the meantime, I shall hopefully see you all on Monday! :D

Kit Parker Book Three and Black Friday/ Cyber Monday Sales- Candor Questions

Hey there, faithful readers!

I forgot to do this on Friday and then my weekend slipped away from me, so here it is now.

Rodger Sauer asked: I know you’re working on something else right now, but now that “Kit Parker 2” (How to Property Deface a Book) has been officially released, can you give a little bit of a clue as to what’s in store for Book 3???

Wonderful question! I shall try to answer it without giving spoilers to the other books.

Book 3's working title is Where the SOREM Hid the Prize. And just to add some fun, I'm not going to tell you what the SOREM is. The book is a treasure hunt story featuring a team comprised of Kit (obviously), Fiona O'Rourke, and three characters introduce in book two, one of whom Kit hasn't made her mind up about, which adds a lot of nice conflict.

It's going to be less of an adventure with villains and such and more of a battle of wits as they race to find the prize. Did I mention the stakes were two and a half million dollars? So, as you can imagine, there's a lot of pressure to win. There will also still be a lot of emotional growing on Kit's part, as has become a feature in her stories.

I've never written anything with codes and puzzles before, though I love reading the genre. So, while the planning has been a stretch for me, it's also been a lot of fun. I get to play around with words and ciphers and figure out new ways to stump my characters.

And, the best part, is the general idea for the story (with the SOREM and the team and stuff) has been something I've had for a long time. I think I was like ten or eleven when I created the SOREM. So, like Kit Parker herself, the idea is an old dream with a huge revamp.

At the moment, my working opening like is: Attending a funeral wasn’t at the top of my “Ways to Spend the First Day of Winter Break” list. Actually, I don’t remember putting it on the list at all.

And, that's that! Hope you are all happily reading book 2 and are getting as geared up for book 3 as I am! Though, don't get too geared up. I think I'm going to be working on a few other things first. :3

Special announcement before you go: 

My friend and fellow author, Leah Good, is organizing a Black Friday/ Cyber Monday sale comprised of independently published authors. So, keep an eye out, as I'll be posting the info on that at the end of the week. I will be participating in the sale, so the first Kit Parker book will be discounted in print on Friday, and both books will be free on Kindle the following Monday.

If you are an author who would like to participate, she's closing the sign-up around noon on Wednesday, but there's still a little bit of time to get your info in: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1as6HAbdPvco1q9QXPOo4pRmbb8gCPu3mr7VK2j1sIfw/viewform

Or, if you're a reader who would like to help get word of the sale out, via your blog, Facebook, or another social media site, sign-up here to receive the information: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/10UZtV6Bh4B1HjajwQq_S4Iug69t9fmw7FsGc8yTqA4k/viewform

Thanks, everyone! See you at the end of the week! And, have a truly blessed Thanksgiving!

Does the third Kit Parker book sound exciting to you? Are you planning to participate in the Black Friday/ Cyber Monday sale in some way? What are your plans for Thanksgiving? Let me know in the comments below!! :D

Publishing and NaNoWriMo- Candor Questions

Oh look! A post :3

Shyly asked: Do you recommend self-publishing? I’ve heard good things and bad things about it and was wondering what your opinion was.

This is a really great question but one I feel I am not qualified to answer. I self-publish because people have expressed interest in my writing and this is the best way to share it with them. I do some marketing to get my name out there, but also in no way to I expect to become what would be considered a successful author through it. I feel, for me, self-publishing is a step toward traditional when I actually write something marketable to a “real” publisher.

That said, I know people (such as Leah Good who I interviewed on Monday) who have done enough research and work to make self-publishing worthwhile. And, while I too have heard a lot of bad things about it, it seems like it works well for some people.

The thing to do, if you are considering publishing and wondering what avenue to take, would be to research which option would be best for you. Both take a tremendous amount of effort, but can also both be very profitable. Take a look at your expectations toward your book and ask yourself what you would consider success. For me, having people read it and like it is enough. Do I make a ton of money? Nope, not really. But, at the moment, that’s okay with me. For some writers, that’s not what they’re looking for. That doesn’t mean self-publishing isn’t for them, it just means the way I go about slef-publishing isn’t for them.

So, take a look at what you want, what you would have to do if you took either route, and then decide which will bring you the results you’re looking for.

Sorry I don’t have more of an answer than that. If you have more in-depth questions about self-publishing, I would be happy to answer those, either as Candor Fridays questions or a private email.

Danielle Sauer asked: What are you working on for NaNoWriMo

Yay!! Someone asked!! :D :D

Okay, first of all, if you are not familiar with NaNoWriMo, it’s short for National Novel Writing Month, which happens to be November. NaNoWriMo is a nonprofit organization that helps writers write a 50,000 word novel during the month of November. They also have a young writers program where you can personalize and set a more manageable word count for younger writers. More info at: www.nanowrimo.org

All right! That said, let’s start talking about the novel I am working on:

This month I am writing a fairy tale retelling mashup. Basically, it’s like fairy tale stew. I threw a whole bunch a fairy tales into a pot, stirred them up, and am now writing a book about the results.

Or, something like that.

Seriously, my story is about Jack, from Jack and the Beanstalk. Only, his name is Jack Robin. At the beginning of the book, he teams up with Rapunzel, who happens to also be one of the twelve dancing princesses. She wants Jack Robin’s help rescuing the other eleven princesses- who are also all characters from other fairy tales- from their respective fairy tale fates.

At the moment, I am currently using elements of 20 different fairy tales (which include a couple Greek and Roman myths), with another twenty or so briefly mentioned in passing. I’m having a lot of fun figuring out how to put a spin on all the fairy tales and finding ways to throwing them on their ear. I’m really excited about someone of my twists and turns and can’t wait to finish it so I can start sharing it with people.

Or, actually, I’ll be really brave and give you all a tiny glimpse of my unedited version. Below is a tiny little excerpt from the opening chapter of my book. This is how the book starts (and, please be warned this is unedited. So, I apologize in advance it there is stuff that doesn’t make sense :P)

The view from the top of the beanstalk would take the average person’s breath away.

It stretched out for miles, which would surprise the viewer, considering that the top rested up beyond the clouds. By all rights, they should not be seeing what they were seeing. The farms and villages that lay below, the valleys and rivers and mountains. Breathtaking was not a strong enough word for so stunning a view.

               

But, Jack Robin was uninterested in the view. After climbing that monstrous plant, he had reached the top only to discover a tower waiting for him.

               

In his seventeen years of living, he had learned one thing- people kept the good stuff in towers. And, if the giants had a tower, at the top of a beanstalk so difficult to climb, then there was something more than just the good stuff in there. There had to be treasures of insurmountable wealth waiting inside.

               

There were more legends then Jack Robin could count about giants’ treasure. They had no need for human gold, and therefore had stores upon stores of it hoarded from their altercations with mankind.

               

He wondered if he should have brought a larger satchel. If the rumors were true, he would have to make more than one trip with the bag he had brought. And making that climb again was not something he looked forward to.

               

His hands were covered in bloody marks where the thorns had pierced through his gloves. His face too had suffered from their sharp points when he had been forced to dance cheek to cheek with the overgrown plant in time with the wind’s mournful melody.

               

It had taken him nigh on a good couple of hours, he guessed, to reach the top. He only hoped it were worth it.

               

There was a river between him and the tower, a huge, rushing river that flowed with white, foamy water. There were rumors too about giants and their poisons and Jack Robin had no way of knowing if the foam were some such substance or simply rapids.

               

Of course, he did still have the healing salve his mother had packed when he had first left home. She had insisted he take it, even though he protested. Just a dab of that and-

               

No!

               

He could not go there. He would not. If he allowed himself this slip in standard this once, there would be no end to the compromise. In which case, he might as well have just stayed home.

               

He could do this alone. He did not need a healing cream infused with dark magic. He had seen what use of such things did to a person’s soul. And, he would like to keep his soul intact as long as he could.

               

No, it was much safer to steal, and then buy what you wanted with the spoils.

               

Although a magic bridge to get him across that river-

               

No, we’re not going there. Not now, not ever.

               

He had left home not long before this and was beginning to realize how much his mother had ingrained in his mind. He could not go five minutes without wishing for a magical item. That needed to stop.

               

He would survive by his wits, just as he had told his mother he could. She had laughed and told him he was welcome home when he failed. But he would not fail. If for no other reason than to show her that.

               

He needed to focus on the matter at hand- a way to get across the river. Whether poison was at work here or not, swimming was not an option. Not with the way the water churned and pulsed. He would have to find another way.

So, that’s that! Make sure you send in your burning questions for next week. Can’t wait to see what you all ask.

And, in the meantime, How to Properly Deface a Book – Kit Parker Book Two releases on Monday!!!! So excited! So, be sure to come back on Monday for the official release post and the info on how you can get a copy!! :D :D

Cookies, Poems, Puppies, and Characters- Candor Questions

Didn't do this Friday, so I'm doing it today ^.^

Lydia Matzel asked: What are your three favorite poems? And why? (or songs based on the lyrics if you're not as into poetry)

Oh!! Poems!! This question made me realize I haven’t read much poetry in a while. Which is dumb because I like poetry. But, since I also like music a lot, I’m going to give you a bonus and answer both questions.

To start with the poems:

The Book of Hosea: I’m not sure if this counts or not, but I would have to say this is my favorite poem. The way it’s written, the wording, is just gorgeous. Especially Chapter 2. So beautiful. Verse 14 is my favorite: Therefore, behold, I will allure her/ Will bring her into the wilderness/ And speak comfort to her. Like, after all that, God still loves her (loves me) and is willing to take whatever steps necessary to draw her back to Him. Such a beautiful love story <3

Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116: The one with Love is not love which alters when an alteration finds. I love it so much because I think if any poem knows something about love, it’s this one. The whole thing speaks about love being a steadfast thing, something that is steady and sure. And, it refutes the idea of “falling out of love.” It’s just lovely ^.^

But You Didn’t: (http://www.pinterest.com/pin/342062534170016745/)

I found this on Pinterest and fell instantly in love with it. It’s not a poem in the strictest sense of the word, but it’s still considered one. It’s just a beautiful portrayal of the love talked about above (Sonnet 116). And it has really pretty illustrations. So, yes, I love it.

The Highwayman: So, since I’m not sure if Hosea counts as a poem or not, I’m adding this to the list too. I had an amazing fixation with this poem when I was younger. I had it memorized, and had a story idea based off of it, and yeah, I was slightly obsessed. It’s kind of morbid, but incredibly romantic and all that jazz. Plus, Anne Shirley recites it in the first Anne of Green Gables movie, so it must be good. Right?

And, for the songs, I’ll be short and sweet:

Owl City’s Galaxies, Relient K’s Be My Escape, and Andrew Peterson’s In the Night.

These are three of the most poetic songs I know and I love them for that. There are other songs I would put ahead of these as “favorites” but in terms of poeticness, these three are at the top of my list. You should go listen to them if you haven’t heard them (or, better yet, if you have, listen to them anyway!)

Lindsay Marie asked: If you could meet any character from the Bible (aside from Jesus, of course)... who would you choose?

Oh! This is a really good question!! And, I’ve got it down to two people- Gomer from Hosea (which, you probably gathered is one of my favorite books of the Bible) or Esther (from the book of Esther, in case you didn’t know XD).

But, as much as I would love to meet Gomer, I think I have to pick Esther because her story really confuses me and I have a ton of questions I want to ask her. Like, what all was going on with that? There’s just so much that doesn’t make sense.

In fact, if there’s a Q&A session in Heaven, I’m definitely going to ask God about it. Because, He’d have better answers than Esther anyway…

Rodger Sauer asked: OK – suppose you’ve been exiled to a desert island.  The person exiling you has a small bit of compassion, though, so he allows you to have a reasonable supply of one kind of cookie per year…   But only one kind per year…   What kind of cookie do you choose for your first year on the island?

First of all, I want to know what I did to get myself exiled. And, what I’m getting exiled with. Like, do I get books and paper and stuff? Because if I do, coupled with the cookies, this doesn’t seem like such a bad deal…

Anyway!

I would say, for the first year, I would choose oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Because they’re yummy. And, then I would pray really hard that the person exiling me doesn’t accidently get me ones with raisins. Because that would be dumb. Who wants to eat cookies with raisins in them? Yuck.

And, then, here are the other cookies I would ask for in following years (in no particular order):

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip

Keebler Elf Cookies

Snickerdoodles

Iced Cutout Cookies

Cindy Sauer asked: Do you have any pictures of your new puppy?  And what do you find most rewarding about being a puppy parent?

I finally got my camera charged so, yes, I do have pictures! And, for those of you who don’t know, five weeks ago (five weeks ago tomorrow, actually, but whatever) I adopted a puppy. He’s a shepherd/ shiba inu (and some other things) mix. His name is Malachi and he's my precious little baby (when he's not getting into trouble).

Anyway, here are some pics:

This was taken the day I brought him home (isn't he so tiny?):

And, a couple I took today:

He's getting so big :3 [insert proud, motherly things]

And, the thing I find most rewarding about being a puppy parent is the cuddles. There’s nothing like falling asleep with a puppy snuggled against you or quietly working on your latest story idea with him sleeping on your lap. Yup, definitely the cuddles. It's so nice to feel loved <3

 And, that's that! I'll still be answer questions this Friday, so go ahead and send me some! Also, I feel like I should specify- Random or personal questions are always welcomed. I feel like people don't ask questions because they don't have writing or reading related ones, but you don't have to stick with those themes. When I said I wouldn't be answering questions that were too personal, I meant personal on an inappropriate level. But, if you're itching to know what I ate for breakfast this morning or if I prefer wearing shoes or going barefoot, feel free to shoot me a question. I would welcome it with open arms.

See you all on Friday!

Candor Fridays- Week Ten

It’s Friday, folks!

You probably didn’t think I was going to post today. SURPRISE!!!!!

  

Just one question this week:

 Shyly asked: I really enjoyed your book 'Why Rodney Never Should've Gone to the NAPIC' - when will the next book be coming out?

First of all, it makes me very happy to hear you liked the first book.  I always love it when people tell me that.

Second, I’m glad you asked!! Book 2 (How to Properly Deface a Book) is set for release November 10^th of this year. Which means a certain author has to get to work editing. *whistles innocently*

And… since that’s all I’ve got to say on the subject… here’s a short little excerpt from Chapter Four. Enjoy!

I stand outside of 1220 North Cross Street, staring up at the large, brick building in front of me. I’m not quite sure how Fiona talked me into coming here. One minute I was looking the place up online to see if they really (or still) existed and the next she’s got me calling her dad and Rodney to see if it’s okay if we make a trip downtown today.

She’d wanted to go right away, but they’d been closed Monday night when she stayed over, and Tuesday we both had to go to work. So, here we were Wednesday, both begged out of working, standing downtown, outside of the shop that will seal my fate.

               

Yes, I’m being overdramatic. But, if any situation calls for a little drama, this is it.

               

“Well,” Fiona says, offering me a grin. “This is it. You want to go first or should I?”

               

My eyes are locked on the sign out front, the one with the shop’s name written in fancy red letters with a picture of an owl perched beside it. It’s all I can do it keep breathing normally. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out.

               

“Kit?”

               

I turn to face her, unable to speak.

               

She nods and takes my hand. “Right, we’ll go together.”

               

Her hand is warm and sticky in mine. I wonder if she’s as nervous as I am. I guess that’s what makes her a true friend; she cares about things that only matter to her because they matter to me.

               

Too bad she hadn’t gone to Rodney’s office with me yesterday. I spent a good portion of the day clicking on and off of the Owlside Books website, trying to gather up the courage to read more about the place- and the people who ran it. But, I never quite managed to click the “About Us” tab. I’d been afraid of what I would find, of the fact that the answers might be right there, all this time just waiting on a website for me to find.

               

Of course, the answers had just been waiting in a book all this time for me to find. I wonder if I’d have ever found them if Fee and I had never become friends.

               

Either way, I’m glad we did. I’d rather have her here with me now than try to face this alone.

               

She squeezes my hand as she pulls the door open, the bell overhead jangling. We’re assailed with a blast of cold air, sharply contrasting that of the humid July temperatures. I take a deep breath, stopping short in the store’s doorway. My heart pounds in my chest and it’s all I can do to remain calm.

               

This is it. Whatever I find here today could determine my fate.

               

I smile at the dramaticness of the thought. Maybe Oliver was right when he told me I should consider a career in the theater.

               

Fiona stops as well, waiting patiently by my side. Her eyes dart around the shop, from shelve of books to shelve of books, a hungriness evident in each and every glance. She wants to get this over with so she can explore.

               

I know exactly how she feels. Only, I have a feeling that there isn’t going to be an “over” today. Not for me anyway. Whatever I find here is either going to be the best thing in my life or the worst. There’s nothing in between.

               

She notices me staring at her and gives me an encouraging nod. I take a deep breath and step all the way inside, the door shutting with a soft thud behind me. Goosebumps form up and down my arms, a shiver making its way down my spine, as the air conditioning swirls around me. Reason number one why I hate summer- no matter how you dress it’s never the right choice for both indoor and outdoor wear.

               

Of course, that’s the least of my worries right now.

               

I take a small step toward the counter, which is semi-hidden by a shelf of books. Seriously, this place is packed with more bookshelves than any store I’ve ever been in before. It smells so nice too, comforting- like a clean blanket or a friend’s sweater.

               

But, I have no time to soak in the wonder of the place. I’m on a mission. Questions first, exploration later.

               

If I’m not too upset to explore, that is.

               

There’s a young man sitting behind the counter- which is also covered with books, by the way. His head is bent down, so all I can see of him is a thick crop of curly blond hair. He’s got a notebook open in front of him, a thick notebook with colorful tabs sticking off the sides in some form of organization. The pages are well-thumbed, the edges worn and curled. And, it seems familiar somehow.

               

I clear my throat, not sure what else to say. How should I start?

This is obviously not well thought through. Fiona and I should have discussed this when we first started making plans to come here.

               

The young man looks up and I get a good look at his face. High cheekbones, bright blue eyes, and a lopsided smile. I realize now why the notebook looked familiar.

               

“Dmitri?”

Candor Fridays: Week Nine- Winner Announced!

It’s Friday, folks!

No post on Monday, because… well… because. I just didn’t. I’ll have one this Monday though. I’m going to be writing about the topic chosen by last month’s Candor Friday’s winner. It’s going to be a dandy too.

Speaking of winners, it’s that time of month again! A winner has been chosen for this month’s prize, which is to name one of the characters in the third Kit Parker book (working title: Where the SOREM Hid the Prize).

But first, two questions this week:

Danielle Sauer asked: Why don’t you play more games with your sister?

Nice question, sis. I don’t play more games with you because inside they turn me into a giant rage monster that wants to crush everyone and everything in my path. Either that or I get really moody and upset when I’m losing really badly. Awkward Sidekick was invented because I was trying to avoid the moody/ upset thing while we were playing. I’m working on it, so that I don’t get like that. But after a few hands or rounds or whatever my competitive side really starts to show.

So, yeah. That’s why. Sorry. :/

Elly Harris asked: Who do you recommend to critique your story? Is it good to have your family members critique it?

I recommend anyone willing to read it and give you constructive criticism.

As for family, that’s a tricky one. It really depends on the family member. I know a lot of people who tell me that they hate it when their family reads their stuff because they always just tell them how good it is and it’s not helpful. I’ve never had that problem. My family is really good at telling me both what they like and dislike and always offer a lot of help. So, it’s really a matter of whether the family member actually helps you or not. But, I would definitely say there’s nothing wrong with having family read your stuff, as long as you’re comfortable with it.

One other thing about any critiquers- make sure they like the genre you write. Because they may be the most willing person in the world, offering to critique your book, but if they hate the genre you write, they won’t be of any help.

When I was working on Why Rodney Never Should’ve Gone to the NAPIC there was a very nice young woman who offered to critique a few chapters for me and I was really excited. Until I got her critique. Turns out, she doesn’t like romance in any way, shape, or form, and she wanted me to essentially change some major points of the book to remove all romance. Needless to say, I didn’t but there was a time when I would have considered it. Now, I was just able to recognize that her tastes are different than my target audience and so I thank her for her feedback and left things the way I wanted them.

So, definitely make sure they like the genre you like before give them your work. And, remember to take everything with a grain of salt. Every critique is really just someone giving you their opinion of your book. So, if they don’t like something, that doesn’t make it bad. Sure, there are times when you know they’re right as soon as you read their critique. But, if it’s something you like and your critiquer doesn’t like it, it’s always wise to get several opinions. Because if three people like it and one person doesn’t, you can keep it. But, if three people don’t like it and only one person does, you might want to consider if it’s really good or not.

Though, in the end, it’s always up to you. You get to decide what stays and what doesn’t. Trust your instincts but also respect the opinions of the people around you. And, as I have said, those opinions can come from anyone willing to offer you feedback. Whether they're related to you or not.

And that’s that! Now onto the thing you’ve all been waiting for!! It’s time to announce the winner!

Are you all ready for this?

Are you sure?

Are you really ready?

All right then! Here it is:

This month’s winner is: Elly Harris!

As I said above, she gets to name one of my characters in the third Kit Parker book. So, when the kid on the elevator shows up, his name have come from this lovely lady.

In the meantime, I shall see you all on Monday, with a special post.

And, don’t forget to send in your questions for next Friday! Can’t wait to see what you all dream up for me!!

Candor Fridays- Week Eight

It’s Friday, folks!

And apparently, my family is all on the same brainwave…

Laura Sauer asked: How important is it to know your character's favorite foods?

Very. Or, rather, it’s important to know all the little things about your character. We tend to forget that characters are people; they live and breathe and think and feel, just like us. Sure, maybe they do all that within the pages of a book while we do it all here on earth, but they do it all the same. And, when we writers forget that, our readers know. They can spot an underdeveloped character a mile off.

When developing a character, you should always give them likes and dislikes that don’t necessarily have anything to do with the story, but shape their character all the same. For example- if any of you have read the first Kit Parker book, you know Kit’s love of corned beef hash, doesn’t really have anything to do with the story. It doesn’t further it along or turn out to help in some amazing plot twist in the end. But it’s there all the same. Because Kit is real. She has things she likes that don’t always have to do with her getting kidnapped. And they don’t have to have anything to do with it. In fact, they shouldn’t.

So, yes, to answer your question, it’s very important to know their favorite food. And their favorite color. And their birthday. And anything else you can dream up. Even if you don’t sit down and write a list of it all or if you don’t put any of it in the book (because you developing your character will translate into the book regardless of whether you put those details in the book or not). But you need to know your character well enough that when someone asks you “What’s your hero’s favorite color?” you can give an answer quickly that fits who they are. Not just the first thing that pops into your head, but something that really fits their personality.

Danielle Sauer asked: Are you going to write more in a sequel to The Crimson Banner?

I get this question a lot. I hate it. So, thanks for asking, so I can answer it once and for all (okay, people will probably keep asking, but I can still hope).

The basic answer is: probably not.

The not-so-basic answer is: I have a ton of ideas- several books worth- some great plot twists, and characters I love very much and who are beyond special to me. That said, I still am not going to write about that. I want to, but it’s not going to happen.

See, I wrote The Crimson Banner several years ago. I was young, just starting out as a writer. It was the first book I had ever actually finished. And, that’s apparent in my writing. I’m not going to say lots of bad things about it because that always looks like fishing for compliments and I’m not doing that. So, I’ll just say: anyone who has read both of my books can see that my writing style has grown a lot in the last several years.

It is literally impossible for me to write in that style again. I have tried, again and again, and I can’t. So, it would be wrong for me to give my readers something different than the book they’re asking for. They want a book like the first one, but with the rest of the story, with more about the people they have come to care about. And I can’t give them that.

Especially since I have nothing left to say about Jack and Melinda. In my mind, they deserve a happily ever after. They’re married, have a daughter, and are living the rest of their lives in peace. In the several attempts to write book 2, they don’t even really make it into the book all that much. Because once I tell you about their “happily ever after” that’s it. That’s all there is to say about them.

And then there’s Toby. Who isn’t cooperating and while the spunk and the fire is still there, it’s not the same. Toby’s mellowed as with age (okay, only a year or two, but still). And people want the Toby they met in book one, not a semi-different version who changes without warning.

I’m not even going to go into the rest of it here. Because that would take all day.

So, to reiterate, I will probably never get around to writing more in this series. I’m 99% positive that it’s not going to happen. While I know what happens, I can’t translate those ideas into the words necessary to tell this story. And, while I’m very sorry for that, I have to accept that’s just the way it is.

And, Rodger Sauer asked: Movie first / Book first ???   Which do you recommend and why?

This is a hard question to answer. I would recommend you do whatever you prefer as there are pros and cons to each side. Some people are diehard book first and others are movie first. I have heard arguments mostly for book first and they do make sense to me, so I would recommend going with whatever you like best.

That said, I always watch the movie first, if possible. Nearly every time I have watched a movie after reading the book, I have wanted to take the movie and throw it against a wall in. Then I cringe every time the movie is so much as mentioned and feelings of rage and anger well inside of me. Yeah, I take my books seriously.

However, if I watch the movie first, I’m like “Oh, hey, this is pretty good.” And then I read the book to find out what really happened. Then I discover that the book is even better than the movie that I liked and now both the book and the movie can be mentioned without me freaking out. Because both were good. Plus, sometimes, if the book has a lot going on or something, having that condensed version to give you all the key points first- in the form of the movie- before reading the book with all its twists and turns can be really helpful.

Though, I should probably point out that spoilers or knowing how the book ends before I read it has never really bothered me. I don’t like things spoiled without warning, but if I know they’re going to be, I’m cool with it and can still read and enjoy the book (though, that’s a discussion for another day…)

Every other reader I know would recommend the book first. Actually, they can be quite snobby about it and love to brag about what true fans they are because they read the book first. Which is the lamest thing you can ever do to someone. It’s a pride thing where people feel the need to put everyone else around them down because it makes them feel superior. They might not realize that’s what they’re doing, but that’s how human nature works. (Not saying every person who reads the book first is like this, just the people who feel the need to put others down because they watched the movie first).

So, yeah. I would recommend going with what you prefer. However, when I meet people who are diehard book first, I love to share my views on why I like to watch the movie first.

And, that’s that. See you all on Monday! And, in the meantime, don’t forget to send in your questions for next week!