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Friday, June 28, 2013

Friday Teaser... sort of!

Hey all! Long week and much to do. I don't really have much to tease you on since I've been editing The Thousand Year Curse. Next week I start The Curse of Betrayal at Camp NaNoWriMo so I should have lots and thennnnnnn book one will be out! So that's very exciting. I still want to give you something so I figured I'd give you some back ground on the mythology and where these books came from.

Here is the story of Orpheus and Eurydice as told from Bulfinch Mythology. P.S. If you're into mythology definitely pick this book up- it rocks.



* * *
ORPHEUS was the son of Apollo and the Muse Calliope. He was presented by his father with a lyre and taught to play upon it, which he did to such perfection that nothing could withstand the charm of his music. Not only his fellow–mortals, but wild beasts were softened by his strains, and gathering round him laid by their fierceness, and stood entranced with his lay. Nay, the very trees and rocks were sensible to the charm. The former crowded round him and the latter relaxed somewhat of their hardness, softened by his notes.
Hymen had been called to bless with his presence the nuptials of Orpheus with Eurydice; but though he attended, he brought no happy omens with him. His very torch smoked and brought tears into their eyes. In coincidence with such prognostics, Eurydice, shortly after her marriage, while wandering with the nymphs, her companions, was seen by the shepherd Aristaeus, who was struck by her beauty and made advances to her. She fled, and in flying trod upon a snake in the grass, was bitten in the foot, and died. Orpheus sang his grief to all who breathed the upper air, both gods and men, and finding it all unavailing resolved to seek his wife in the regions of the dead. He descended by a cave situated on the side of the promontory of Taenarus and arrived at the Stygian realm. He passed through crowds of ghosts and presented himself before the throne of Pluto and Proserpine. Accompanying the words with the lyre, he sung, “O deities of the under–world, to whom all we who live must come, hear my words, for they are true. I come not to spy out the secrets of Tartarus, nor to try my strength against the three–headed dog with snaky hair who guards the entrance. I come to seek my wife, whose opening years the poisonous viper’s fang has brought to an untimely end. Love has led me here, Love, a god all powerful with us who dwell on the earth, and, if old traditions say true, not less so here. I implore you by these abodes full of terror, these realms of silence and uncreated things, unite again the thread of Eurydice’s life. We all are destined to you, and sooner or later must pass to your domain. She too, when she shall have filled her term of life, will rightly be yours. But till then grant her to me, I beseech you. If you deny me, I cannot return alone; you shall triumph in the death of us both.”
As he sang these tender strains, the very ghosts shed tears. Tantalus, in spite of his thirst, stopped for a moment his efforts for water, Ixion’s wheel stood still, the vulture ceased to tear the giant’s liver, the daughters of Danaus rested from their task of drawing water in a sieve, and Sisyphus sat on his rock to listen. Then for the first time, it is said, the cheeks of the Furies were wet with tears. Proserpine could not resist, and Pluto himself gave way. Eurydice was called. She came from among the new–arrived ghosts, limping with her wounded foot. Orpheus was permitted to take her away with him on one condition, that he should not turn around to look at her till they should have reached the upper air. Under this condition they proceeded on their way, he leading, she following, through passages dark and steep, in total silence, till they had nearly reached the outlet into the cheerful upper world, when Orpheus, in a moment of forgetfulness, to assure himself that she was still following, cast a glance behind him, when instantly she was borne away. Stretching out their arms to embrace each other, they grasped only the air! Dying now a second time, she yet cannot reproach her husband, for how can she blame his impatience to behold her? “Farewell,” she said, “a last farewell,”– and was hurried away, so fast that the sound hardly reached his ears.
Orpheus endeavoured to follow her, and besought permission to return and try once more for her release; but the stern ferryman repulsed him and refused passage. Seven days he lingered about the brink, without food or sleep; then bitterly accusing of cruelty the powers of Erebus, he sang his complaints to the rocks and mountains, melting the hearts of tigers and moving the oaks from their stations. He held himself aloof from womankind, dwelling constantly on the recollection of his sad mischance. The Thracian maidens tried their best to captivate him, but he repulsed their advances. They bore with him as long as they could; but finding him insensible one day, excited by the rites of Bacchus, one of them exclaimed, “See yonder our despiser!” and threw at him her javelin. The weapon, as soon as it came within the sound of his lyre, fell harmless at his feet. So did also the stones that they threw at him. But the women raised a scream and drowned the voice of the music, and then the missiles reached him and soon were stained with his blood. The maniacs tore him limb from limb, and threw his head and his lyre into the river Hebrus, down which they floated, murmuring sad music, to which the shores responded a plaintive symphony. The Muses gathered up the fragments of his body and buried them at Libethra, where the nightingale is said to sing over his grave more sweetly than in any other part of Greece. His lyre was placed by Jupiter among the stars. His shade passed a second time to Tartarus. where he sought out his Eurydice and embraced her with eager arms. They roam the happy fields together now, sometimes he leading, sometimes she; and Orpheus gazes as much as he will upon her, no longer incurring a penalty for a thoughtless glance.
* * *
I just want to point out that my story doesn't follow everything said in the legend. My book also includes Aristeus who is another god briefly spoken about in traditional mythology. Here is what the book says about Ari...
* * *
Man avails himself of the instincts of the inferior animals for his own advantage. Hence sprang the art of keeping bees. Honey must first have been known as a wild product, the bees building their structures in hollow trees or holes in the rocks, or any similar cavity that chance offered. Thus occasionally the carcass of a dead animal would be occupied by the bees for that purpose. It was no doubt from some such incident that the superstition arose that the bees were engendered by the decaying flesh of the animal; and Virgil, in the following story, shows how this supposed fact may be turned to account for renewing the swarm when it has been lost by disease or accident.
Aristaeus, who first taught the management of bees, was the son of the water–nymph Cyrene. His bees had perished, and he resorted for aid to his mother. He stood at the river side and thus addressed her: “O mother, the pride of my life is taken from me! I have lost my precious bees. My care and skill have availed me nothing, and you, my mother, have not warded off from me the blow of misfortune.” His mother heard these complaints as she sat in her palace at the bottom of the river, with her attendant nymphs around her. They were engaged in female occupations, spinning and weaving, while one told stories to amuse the rest. The sad voice of Aristaeus interrupting their occupation, one of them put her head above the water and seeing him, returned and gave information to his mother, who ordered that he should be brought into her presence. The river at her command opened itself and let him pass in, while it stood curled like a mountain on either side. He descended to the region where the fountains of the great rivers lie; he saw the enormous receptacles of waters and was almost deafened with the roar, while he surveyed them hurrying off in various directions to water the face of the earth. Arriving at his mother’s apartment, he was hospitably received by Cyrene and her nymphs, who spread their table with the richest dainties. They first poured out libations to Neptune, then regaled themselves with the feast, and after that Cyrene thus addressed him: “There is an old prophet named Proteus, who dwells in the sea and is a favourite of Neptune, whose herd of sea–calves he pastures. We nymphs hold him in great respect, for he is a learned sage and knows all things, past, present, and to come. He can tell you, my son, the cause of the mortality among your bees and how you may remedy it. But he will not do it voluntarily, however you may entreat him. You must compel him by force. If you seize him and chain him, he will answer your questions in order to get released, for he cannot by all his arts get away if you hold fast the chains. I will carry you to his cave, where he comes at noon to take his midday repose. Then you may easily secure him. But when he finds himself captured, his resort is to a power he possesses of changing himself into various forms. He will become a wild boar or a fierce tiger, a scaly dragon or lion with yellow mane. Or be will make a noise like the crackling of flames or the rush of water, so as to tempt you to let go the chain, when he will make his escape. But you have only to keep him fast bound, and at last when he finds all his arts unavailing, he will return to his own figure and obey your commands.” So saying she sprinkled her son with fragrant nectar, the beverage of the gods, and immediately an unusual vigour filled his frame, and courage his heart, while perfume breathed all around him.
The nymph led her son to the prophet’s cave and concealed him among the recesses of the rocks, while she herself took her place behind the clouds. When noon came and the hour when men and herds retreat from the glaring sun to indulge in quiet slumber, Proteus issued from the water, followed by his herd of sea–calves which spread themselves along the shore. He sat on the rock and counted his herd; then stretched himself on the floor of the cave and went to sleep. Aristaeus hardly allowed him to get fairly asleep before he fixed the fetters on him and shouted aloud. Proteus, waking and finding himself captured, immediately resorted to his arts, becoming first a fire, then a flood, then a horrible wild beast, in rapid succession. But finding all would not do, he at last resumed his own form and addressed the youth in angry accents: “Who are you, bold youth, who thus invade my abode, and what do you want with me?” Aristaeus replied, “Proteus, you know already, for it is needless for any one to attempt to deceive you. And do you also cease your efforts to elude me. I am led hither by divine assistance, to know from you the cause of my misfortune and how to remedy it.” At these words the prophet, fixing on him his grey eyes with a piercing look, thus spoke: “You receive the merited reward of your deeds, by which Eurydice met her death, for in flying from you she trod upon a serpent, of whose bite she died. To avenge her death, the nymphs, her companions, have sent this destruction to your bees. You have to appease their anger, and thus it must be done: Select four bulls, of perfect form and size, and four cows of equal beauty, build four altars to the nymphs, and sacrifice the animals, leaving their carcasses in the leafy grove. To Orpheus and Eurydice you shall pay such funeral honours as may allay their resentment. Returning after nine days, you will examine the bodies of the cattle slain and see what will befall.” Aristaeus faithfully obeyed these directions. He sacrificed the cattle, he left their bodies in the grove, he offered funeral honours to the shades of Orpheus and Eurydice; then returning on the ninth day he examined the bodies of the animals, and, wonderful to relate! a swarm of bees had taken possession of one of the carcasses and were pursuing their labours there as in a hive.
In “The Task,” Cowper alludes to the story of Aristaeus, when speaking of the ice–palace built by the Empress Anne of Russia. He has been describing the fantastic forms which ice assumes in connection with waterfalls.
* * *
Not too much on him but still... interesting to know where they come from. I use some of the mythology for their powers in my book and they relate directly. I really enjoy using "facts" from mythology and bringing it into a contemporary twist. It's very cool. 
ENJOY! I'm sorry I don't have much for you but next week, I promise I will have more for you. Until then- happy weekend!

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Camp NaNoWriMo

Recently, I've been hearing tons about this summer camp starting July 1st for writers. At first, I was like- what the hell is it? So... I started researching it. It's purely online which is great since most of us writers have other jobs.
What is Camp NaNoWriMo?

First NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. The actual month is November but it was so big that they've based other camps off a similar idea. Most writers shoot for a 50,000 word goal per session. The whole purpose is to write one novel in a months time.

Why not just do it on my own?

Personally I've been in a bit of a rut lately on my next books. I've read some testimonials and spoken with people on google+ who have said this system works for them. For this summer camp I signed up for, you're put in a cabin with people based on what you want. For example, I chose people with similar genre interests. We can chat about our projects and bounce ideas off each other. It's great for creating a support group.

What happens if I complete it?

If you complete your goals you are added to a winner list and they check your word counts and what not. And obviously you have a 50,000 novel to work with. Personally that's not enough for me so I'm shooting for around 75,000 but still. That's a lot to work with!

How do I sign up?

Here is the website http://www.campnanowrimo.org/. It's free so why not try it out. They track your work, they support you and you can win badges and fun stuff to keep you motivated. It's nice creating communities and lasting relationships with other writers.

Don't have a book, want to support?

I have a donation page at, http://www.stayclassy.org/thecurses. No donation is too small and the company could really use it. Check out the site and see what the money goes to. They really appreciate whatever they can get!

This next month is going to be fairly busy for me since I have The Thousand Year Curse to edit and get to its final beta reader and now I've signed up for camp in hopes to start and finish book two! I will definitely keep you all posted on my progress and goals as we go along. Let me know if you're attending camp! I would love to talk through the process and get your feedback.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Double Teaser Friday

Hello again. It's my favorite day of the week. I wanted to give you all your teaser early since I'll be going away. I'm trying to take it slow with the editing so this scene is from The Thousand Year Curse- the beginning.

I've only edited up to chapter six so I have a ways to go. (The book has thirty chapters)


    “Junior.” I whisper into his ear. “Junior.” I speak a little louder shaking his shoulder. “Wake up.” I say but he continues to ignore me. I walk over to my window and rip open the blinds hoping the light will wake him up. 
“What the fuck!” He yells pulling the covers over his face. This is going to be worse than I thought. I grab his shoulder but when I pull on him we both fly back landing on the other side of the room with a loud thud. I hit my head on the wall and my vision flashes back. My arms tremble and my legs feel like jello as if I was tased. 
“What the hell was that Ryder?” Junior asks me, his eyes wide his jaw set in a grim line. 
“You tell me. That was crazy.” I act stupid pretending that I have no idea what that was. I know if you’re lying then you don’t make eye contact. I make sure to maintain it so he has no doubt I’m lying. I feel like shit doing this but I’m not ready to tell him. I don’t even understand what’s happening myself. 


It's a quickie but it's all I have for you guys today from The Thousand Year Curse....

BUTTTTT... I'll give you another speak peak at Angel Wings (not sure about the title yet). I just love this new idea I have going on. I haven't added on but I like this part. Let me know what you think. Remember----- this one hasn't been through any sort of editing so ignore all that. 

I was fucking scared. I didn’t have wings so I couldn’t even save myself if I fell. Instead I had to rely completely on Micha- one of the angels who put me in this position. 
I didn’t bring any of my belongings. Instead I wore my favorite pair of jeans with a comfy teeshirt. In my jeans pocket was a photograph from my birthday this year of myself, Perry, Tab and my closest relatives. I figured I should bring it since it has everyone I love all wrapped up in one photo. 
Clinging onto Micha for dear life, he held me in his arms, my head rested on his chest listening to his heart beat strong beneath me. We started flying out of the Veil and I tried to see every landscape as we passed it so I could memorize the way it looked here. 
Micha must have noticed my longing because he picked up speed as he hugged my body close to him. A few other Archangels flew behind us and in front of us making sure we had safe passage to Earth. 

Alright, that's all I have for you guys. Please let me know what you think. I love getting your feedback- it's part of why I love posting my teasers. I love to spoil you guys :) Thanks! 

P.S. I may be MIA until Tuesday so I apologize in advance if there are no posts for five days.


Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday | Books

So everyone's been making their TBR lists and I figured I'd join in this week! Since it's the beginning of summer, it's time to make your list of books to read. I don't really have time to read right now but in a perfect world, I would. Here's my I need to read these books right now list.

10. Matched by Allie Condie. 
Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

9. Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover. 
Sometimes two people have to fall apart to realize just how much they belong together.
Colleen Hoover entranced readers everywhere with her bestselling novel Slammed, the book that introduced Layken and Will, a young couple whose love overcame devastating hardships to emerge stronger and more resilient than before. Now, as Layken and Will’s emotion-packed story continues, a stunning and unforeseen revelation about Will’s past leaves them questioning everything that they thought they knew about each other. With the foundation of their relationship at risk, they must decide whether they are willing to fight for a future together, or to retreat back into solitude and heartache.
How far does Will have to go to prove to Layken his love for her will last forever? It will require something truly extraordinary to keep this couple together, and the decisions they make and the answers they find will change not only their lives, but the lives of everyone around them.

8. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles. 
A fresh, urban twist on the classic tale of star-crossed lovers. When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created "perfect" life is about to unravel before her eyes. She's forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for-her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more. In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart.

7. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand. 
In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .
Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.
Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.
As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?
Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

6. A Touch Morbid by Leah Clifford. 
Eden saved Az.
She fought and sacrificed and won him back from the most evil of evils. Now is the time for happily-ever-afters, right?
Not so fast.
A boy—even an angel—is hardly the solution to Eden’s problems. She’s still caught between life and death, still cursed to spread poison with her touch. She’s lost one best friend and another is quickly unraveling. And now something is happening to the mortals. Something very, very bad.
What happens in the dark spaces? The ones between life and death, love and hate, betrayal and redemption, sanity and delusion.
Or good and evil.
Eden is about to find out.

5. Bared to You by Sylvia Day. 
Gideon Cross came into my life like lightning in the darkness... 

He was beautiful and brilliant, jagged and white-hot. I was drawn to him as I'd never been to anything or anyone in my life. I craved his touch like a drug, even knowing it would weaken me. I was flawed and damaged, and he opened those cracks in me so easily... 

Gideon knew. He had demons of his own. And we would become the mirrors that reflected each other's most private worlds...and desires.

The bonds of his love transformed me, even as I prayed that the torment of our pasts didn't tear us apart...

4. Reason to Breathe by Rebecca Donovan. 
"No one tried to get involved with me, and I kept to myself. This was the place where everything was supposed to be safe and easy. How could Evan Mathews unravel my constant universe in just one day?"
In the affluent town of Weslyn, Connecticut, where most people worry about what to be seen in and who to be seen with, Emma Thomas would rather not be seen at all. She’s more concerned with feigning perfection—pulling down her sleeves to conceal the bruises, not wanting anyone to know how far from perfect her life truly is. Without expecting it, she finds love. It challenges her to recognize her own worth―at the risk of revealing the terrible secret she’s desperate to hide. 
One girl’s story of life-changing love, unspeakable cruelty, and her precarious grasp of hope: Reason to Breathe is the first installment of the acclaimed Breathing Series.

3. The Impact of You by Kendall Ryan. 
Needing an escape from her past, Avery chooses a college where no one knows her. Keeping a low profile was the plan, falling for the intense frat boy, Jase wasn’t. Yet she can’t deny how alive she feels when he’s near. Even as common sense implores her to stay away, her body begs her to get closer.

Jase, numb from his own family drama, has grown bored with weekends fueled by nameless girls and countless bottles when he meets Avery. Helping her cope with her past is better than dealing with the bullshit his own life’s served up. Determined to drive away the painful secret she’s guarding, he appoints himself her life coach, and challenges her to new experiences. Getting close to her and being the one to make her smile are simply perks of the job.

But when Avery’s past boldly saunters in, refusing to be forgotten, can Jase live with the truth about the girl he’s fallen for?

2. Fallen Too Far by Abbi Glines. 
To want what you’re not supposed to have…

She is only nineteen.

She is his new stepfather’s daughter.

She is still naïve and innocent due to spending the last three years taking care of her sick mother.

But for twenty-four year old Rush Finlay, she is the only thing that has ever been off limits. His famous father’s guilt money, his mother’s desperation to win his love, and his charm are the three reasons he has never been told no.

Blaire Wynn left her small farmhouse in Alabama, after her mother passed away, to move in with her father and his new wife in their sprawling beach house along the Florida gulf coast. She isn’t prepared for the lifestyle change and she knows she’ll never fit into this world. Then there is her sexy stepbrother who her father leaves her with for the summer while he runs off to Paris with his wife. Rush is as spoiled as he is gorgeous. He is also getting under her skin. She knows he is anything but good for her and that he’ll never be faithful to anyone. He is jaded and has secrets Blaire knows she may never uncover but even knowing all of that…

Blaire just may have fallen too far.

1. Delirium by Lauren Oliver.
Ninety-five days, and then I’ll be safe.
I wonder whether the procedure will hurt.
I want to get it over with.
It’s hard to be patient.
It’s hard not to be afraid while I’m still uncured, though so far the deliria hasn't touched me yet.
Still, I worry.
They say that in the old days, love drove people to madness.
The deadliest of all deadly things: It kills you both when you have it and when you don’t.

There you have it! My list of my top ten books I want to read this summer. It's unfortunate that I'm so busy because of my own writing because I want to read again! I've missed falling into a new world. Instead I've been stuck in Ryder's (my main character). Once I'm done editing, it's back to reading for me! 

Post your own Top Ten Tuesday list and I'll check it out. Does any one have any suggestions for me? From my list you can definitely tell what kind of books I like. Really though, I'll read anything! Let me know the best books you've read lately and why. 

Monday, June 17, 2013

Final Draft Editing

Hey guys! Guess what- I got my edits back and I'm so excited. I'm getting closer and closer to publishing and I can't take it. So now what...


I have this five page sheet of all the things I need to fix and edit. What do I do with them? And how do I move forward? I'm feeling a tad overwhelmed, exhausted and frustrated. I don't know what to do with all this amazing advice I've been given. So here's how to get started on that final product.

The best thing I find about editors is that they look at your book from a new eye. Mine didn't know a thing about the book minus the genre. She found a bunch of little holes and loose strings that I never would have found. Now that I know, I can easily run back and fix them, tie up the loose ends and my book reads better.

  • Check your grammar. Make sure all punctuation, quotation and everything else follows code and is done correctly.
  • Usage. This is a big one for me. Make sure that your verbs and nouns agree with their tenses and in number. Since I use first person, it's easy to mix up and slip into past tense. So keep track and make sure everything agrees with each other.
  • READ IT OUTLOUD. AGAIN. This one is really huge and has helped me tremendously. I can't explain how much I catch when I read outloud. You can figure out if things sound awkward or unrealistic. It really does help. I promise. 
  • Cut. Cut. Cut. Cut. Cut. Cut. I can't say this enough. One of my critiques was that there's too much thoughts. So with my scissors I'm going to have to go through it with a fine toothed comb and cut out whatever is insignificant or unnecessary. 
  • Find a dictionary or a thesaurus and a grammar book and figure out if you're doing it right. There's no shame in consulting the experts. They know what they're doing for a reason. I had issues with my dashes versus hyphens or whatever. I looked in the book and saw I was doing it wrong. Easy fix but without the book, I might look a little silly. 
  • Format! Make sure you format your book the way you want. If there's a change in scene make a double space with something in the middle. Make sure your chapters line up.




Another thing I love about having an editor is that they can really get a feel for the story line. One part I got ahead of myself and talked about a subject that hadn't been introduced yet. She caught it and reminded me that the character shouldn't know. When we write we tend to know where the stories going and could forget a scene or conversation. 

Lastly! My editor gave me a big boost of self esteem. She listed off the things she liked and what really worked for my book. Now I'm more eager to get the project published because I know I have a good story. It's a nice lifter before publishing and it's getting me motivated to finish fast. 

My advice? Hire an editor!

Friday, June 14, 2013

It's Teaser Friday

Hey guys! It's been quite a busy week. I don't want to give you an excerpt from The Thousand Year Curse since it's still at the editor and I haven't received any edits yet. I think I will tease the concept I've been playing with for a couple months now.

I kind of stick with the same themes since I like to write them. This story is pretty cool though. It'll be interesting to see what you all have to say about it. Here it goes....

This is how the book starts. Originally I had it in third person but I like writing from the POV of the main character. I also switched it up and made it past tense which is new for me. Since the book won't have a back story, I'm curious as to what you guys think will happen and where the story is headed.


My house erupted in cheers as I made my way towards the kitchen. Upon entering, the room blackened signaling the crowd to quiet themselves down. 
“Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Annie, Happy birthday to you!” My friends and family sang to me for the eighteenth time in my life. I smiled out towards the familiar faces loving the attention and recognition I got. 
“Are you one, are you two…” They went on and on, laughing as they played around with each other waiting for me to yell stop once they get to the magic number. 
“Stop!” Eighteen. Sweet, adult aged eighteen. I swear I was in a state of bliss in that moment. 
My beautiful mother, Abby leaned away from my dad, planting a kiss on my cheek. “Make a wish, sweet girl.” She whispered into my ear, sending a set of chills up my spine from her warm breath. I smiled towards her nodding before bending towards the beautiful cake.
Happy 18th Annie Girl!
That’s all my cake said, yet it meant so much to me- knowing that I was loved and being sent off to perform my angelic duties as an adult. I didn’t know what to wish for. I had a perfect life, perfect family, perfect boyfriend, perfect friends. The only thing I really, I mean really wanted was to become a fighter and embark on my new life.
I wish I was a fighter. I think to myself before leaning towards the candles and blowing out every last one of them in one single breath. One heated, slow breath that ended up changing my life. 

* * *
The next thing I knew I was woken up strapped to a lab table in a florescent lit room with tubes plugged into me-my ankles, wrists, stomach and neck bonded down to a cold, metallic table. I tried to remember what happened to me but my brain was in a constant fuzzy state.
Help! I yelled out trying to get someone’s attention but the words never made it past my lips. I’m fucking mute. Help! I tried again, thrashing my legs and arms around with no avail. 
I laid back my brain wracking with questions willing myself to remember how I got to such an awful, scary place. I don’t remember whether I passed out or not but images from the day before rushed to the forefront of my mind. 

“Where the fuck are my wings?” I yell out to the crowd surrounding me. My hand is wrapped around myself in awkward positions behind my back but I can’t stop searching. Where the fuck are they?
“Sweetie, relax.” My mother, who’s sweet demeanor is more than just irritating right now whispers towards me. Her frail hands are shaking yet remain held up towards me in defsense. My stupid father towering over her, giving me a stern look trying to get me to calm down.
How can I be calm?
My best friend Perry rushes to my side, pulling up my shirt searching me for any sign of wings or even tender skin. I don’t even have to see her to know, I don’t have any wings. 
How can an angel be wingless?
How can I be wingless?
I am top of my class. I am a fighter. It is my destiny. It is my fucking destiny!

I blinked my eyes wanting to get away from the memories. I turned eighteen knowing I would be given my powers and wings from Rem yet I was left with nothing. My whole life I’ve worked to be a fighter for the Veil. My whole life is a fucking joke now.
A silent tear trickled down my cheek escaping from the confines of my eye lids. I never let myself cry. I’m not weak but I guess this is my pathetic life now. 

So give it to me straight... What do you think? How do you like the idea? Where is the story going to go? Can you get an idea about the characters just from this excerpt? Was there anything that was confusing to you? I really want to know your opinions so message me or leave a comment below. I appreciate it! :) 

Monday, June 10, 2013

Movies That Are Better Than The Book

This week I thought it would be fun to take some opinions and then post my findings. We always hear how much better the book is than the movie. I know for me, I much prefer to read a book than watch the movie.

HOWEVER. There are some exceptions...

I've compiled a list of TEN movies [based off books] that are better than the book. According to my followers across twitter, Facebook and google. Here it goes....

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Let me start by saying that they want to emphasize that it's just this particular volume of Harry Potter. They mentioned that the camping sections were a bit slow paced. They said the split into two movies worked out well.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest I've heard this title thrown around time and time as one of the best book to film adaptations. Both leads in the movie got Oscar nominations along with Best Picture in that year.

Lord of the Rings I completely agree with this statement which says a lot because typically I prefer fantasy to stay in a novel since it's hard to translate it to the screen. However, Tolkien's novels were packed with backstory and world building which tends to make them drag. The movies were done perfectly which wrapped it all up.

How To Train Your Dragon This was a nominee from a parent on twitter. I haven't read the children's book but I've seen the movie and loved it. The book was more towards just children and the movie was able to make it suitable for all ages bringing in all types of audiences.

V For Vendetta This was a graphic novel before turning into a movie. I haven't read or soon the movie which I'm sure I'll be scolded for later. The directing and cast are what make the movie so great.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower Honestly, I wasn't a big fan of the movie BUT I never read the book either. People said that Emma Watson did a great job of portraying her storyline and emotions. They said with the cast, it fit perfectly with the book and surpassed it.

Jurassic Park I mean, duh. This movie turned into a classic thanks to Stephen Spielberg. However, the book did hit #1 as well. I think this one is more like a tie but since I've seen the movie probably a hundred and one times, we'll give it to the movie!

Jaws This is said to be such a great book to film adaptation because the author Peter Benchley played such a large role in it. Also it was another Stephen Spielberg. You just can't mess with this guy.

Clockwork Orange The concept from the book is hard to get your head around so when adapted into a movie it's a lot easier. People who recommended this as being better than the book have said simply, "seeing is easier than reading." A tad superficial but ultimately I agree.

The Exorcist 1973 version. Not going to lie, the book is scary as hell but let's be real, the visuals in that movie were out of control. Also a lot was cut out of the movie and more focus on the exorcism itself. The book went much more in depth which I prefer but the movie went all out on the scary factor.

P.S. I didn't want to use this in the ten since I knew someone was going to berate me but Lion King is a great adaptation of Hamlet. The animation plus the music and characters, made it that much better. I mean disney movies are classic's in their own right.

Movies that just missed the list...

  • The Godfather
  • The Shining
  • Gone with the Wind
  • Fight Club
  • Silver Linings Playbook
  • The Help
  • Shutter Island
  • Forrest Gump
So there's my list, plus some others from you guys! What do you think? Any of these that you disagree with? Any that you want to add? Next post will be books better than the movie... Give me some ideas for that post if you have any... Thanks for reading! :)

Friday, June 7, 2013

Friday Teaser :)

Hey guys, I haven't done a teaser in a little while. I don't have my book yet from the editor (obviously, she only got it Monday). I've been working on a New Adult book. It's not my forte but I'm really starting to fall in love with the characters and the words are just jumping on the page.

I started this book before my computer crashed and stupidly, I never backed this one up. Therefore I started over BUT it's better than the first copy, I think at least. So today's teaser is going to be from that book.

I believe the title will be, For The Love Of Ash. It's a pretty cool concept and even though I've read a ton of new adult, it's very original. I wanted to make sure it wasn't a typical boy meets girl and one has deep issues. It's relevant, mysterious with some love in there too. I hope you like it.

This is a fun scene between Maggie, the main female character and Luke, her eventual love interest. I haven't even gone through the writing and this is my first draft so ignore any issues. I'm sure it will be fixed up. General thoughts?! Here ya go!


“Okay class, we have about ten minutes left. What do you say we do some ice breakers?” Dr. Atwater says to the class, clapping his hands excitedly. People groan but we form a circle with our desks. 
“The name of the game is sausage. Who wants to volunteer to be first person it?” He asks and nobody responds. Atwater is about to pick someone at random, focusing on the other side of the room so I feel reassured it won’t be me. Before I know it, my hand is shooting up into the air as someone lifts my elbow, holding it into place. I struggle not wanting to be it first but Atwater catches me.
“Perfect. What’s your name miss?” He asks me. 
“Oh um- I.” I start to say but then I give in. I’ll look like an idiot if I don’t just suck it up. “Maggie.” I say finally. 
“Please stand in the middle.” He says so I get off my seat and head towards the center of the group, awkwardly fidgeting with my finger nails. “Okay so Maggie, people are going to ask you questions and you can only respond sausage. Their goal is to get you to laugh. Your goal is to keep a straight face.” He explains to myself and the class. 
“Sausage, really?” I ask wondering if I’m in high school all over again. 
“Who wants to start questioning first?” Atwater asks the class and they go in a clockwise circle.
“What do you brush your teeth with?” A particularly giddy boy asks. 
“Sausage.” I respond keeping my face serious.
“What do you eat?” 
“Sausage.” No smile.
“What do you love?”
“Sausage.” I have to admit, that one was at least decent.
“What do you sleep with?”
“Sausage.” I say, holding back my laughter.
“What do you like in your mouth?” Luke asks, astonishing half the class.
“Sausage.” I say unable to hold is back any longer. I start chuckling and Dr. Atwater tells me to claim Luke’s seat as he gets to be in the middle this time. The next word he can only say, is stapler which is freaking stupid. You can’t make any sexual innuendoes with stapler so I tune most of it out. 
Instead I focus on eyeing Luke without him noticing as much as possible. It sucks that he's so beautiful. It sucks that he knows it too. The way his grey eyes roam over every girl in the room makes me want to barf. At the same time, I'm insanely jealous wanting his eyes to only linger on me. 
By the time class ends, I grab my back and rush out not wanting another encounter with Luke. 

TADA! What do you think? I took this from when I was at freshman orientation in college. We used meatballs but still, I think it's hilarious and a great way to meet someone and pile on the sexual tension. 


Thursday, June 6, 2013

Series Vs. Stand Alone

I find that more and more authors are creating series of books versus the stand alone book. But what do the readers like? Each has their pros and cons for the readers.

Pro's Series


-more connection to characters
-longer story line
-cult-like feel

Con's Series
-the story line may drag out over multiple books versus finishing in one
-many series end up following the same arc
-may loose readers during the wait period between books

Pro's Stand Alone
-you get the full story
-more originality to the plot
-twists and turns are less expected

Con's Stand Alone
-readers may want more
-characters tend to be under developed

So what do the readers actually prefer?

BKGURL on goodreads says...
I love series books...but not when it's a series about the same characters. Then I'd rather just read one long stand alone book with a HEA and epilogue. 

It seems the norm nowadays is a shorter book with a cliffhanger with 2 or 3 books about the same hero & heroine. It wasn't bad until every author seems to be doing it. The list of books I have that I'm waiting for a sequel to resolve a cliffhanger is becoming ridiculously long. And then it's even more frustrating when some authors/publishers don't release the next book for 6-12 months (or more).

When a series is about a family or group of friends with a different hero & heroine in each book with some catch up on previous leads, I'm all over that! 



It's funny that she says this because I disagree about the same characters thing. I hate series where each book follows a different person. I am more character oriented so I get attached to one couple and don't want to move on to the next yet! I love books with the same hero/heroine. 

LILYAN says....
Ahhh tough question. On one hand, with stand alones, you get instant closure and gratification. However, you can never really get to know the characters and feel this bond with a book with a stand alone that you can get with a series. Which is what I looove about series books, they get you so engaged with the characters that you start thinking you actually know them, which come to think about it, sucks after you finish the series and realize, your relationship with those fictional beings is over and you have to go back to real life :(. Sooo, stand alones when I dont want to get attached, and series when I want to escape life.

I agree mostly with what she says! I think she hits the nail on the head with this explanation. 

So which do you guys prefer?

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

The Best Adjectives Ever




Hello All! I'm back again and hoping to get back on my feet. The loss of my computer was a pain but I'm over it and moving on. *tear* Anyways, I figured today I would create a fun list of my favorite adjectives.

Personally, I think adjectives are what make a book either superb or just okay. The descriptions and the feelings can all be enhanced by use of adjectives. Also, how much do we all hate adverbs and adjectives ending in ly. Here's 50 of my favorites!

  1. Adamant
  2. Boorish
  3. Fastidious
  4. Execrable
  5. Obtuse
  6. Luminous
  7. Querulous
  8. Tenacious
  9. Zealous
  10. Serpentine


11. Voracious
12. Loquacious
13. Jocular
14. Insidious
15. Defamatory
16. Arcadian
17. Cheeky
18. Debonair
19. Hypnotic
20. Omnipotent


21. Conscientious
22. Awkward
23. Dank
24. Disgruntled
25. Melancholy
26. Naive
27. Witty
28. Hubristic
29. Minatory
30. Petulant

31. Rhadamanthine
32. Uxorious
33. Wheedling
34. Strident
35. Irksome
36. Egregious
37. Fulsome
38. Calamitous
39. Adroit
40. Noxious


41. Pervasive
42. Puckish
43. Literatim
44. Languid
45. Ensanguined
46. Rabbity
47. Rancid
48. Swank
49. Extraneous
50. Autarchic