Wednesday Words: 18 Things

Good morning! Every Wednesday, I will use Random.org to pick a page of the book I'm reading and a line or two and post it. I was still reading Talulla Rising last Wednesday, but I finished it (that book was AWESOOOOME!), so I'm about to start a book that's been in my Goodreads for 2 years (blush), 18 Things. Here is the blurb:

Olga Gay Worontzoff thinks her biggest problems are an awful name and not attending prom with Conner, her best friend and secret crush since kindergarten.

Then, Conner is killed in a freak boating accident and Olga feels responsible for his death.

When she downs an entire bottle of pills to deal with the emotional pain, her parents force her into counseling. There, her therapist writes a prescription in the form of a life list titled “18 Things”: eighteen quests to complete the year of her eighteenth birthday.

But there’s more to Olga’s quests than meets the eye and when her therapist reveals a terrifying secret, her world is shaken.

There’s only one thing she knows for certain: her choices won’t just affect her future, but all eternity.

And a big thank you to Jamie Ayres for sending me a copy!

Now, there are 246 pages to 18 Things, and I'm reading it on a Kindle with percentages...So let's see what happens. lol

Random.org has given me Page 198, which is 80.4% into the story.

And there are 17 lines on the 80% area where I stopped, so...Random.org gave me line 17!

"If I would've known your parents weren't home, I would've invited Mom and Dad in to take some pictures for us."

And now I'll force myself not to read everything around it just yet!

Express Yourself Weekly: Movie Me

Happy Tuesday!

Welcome back to Express Yourself, a meme created by Jackie @ Bouquet of Books and Dani @ Entertaining Interests, where they ask their followers questions to get to know us better!

This week, they ask us who we would want to play us in a movie.

Has an actress even been born yet to play me?! Oh, wait, yes, I can think of some. lol

I think (God, I'm going to butcher her name. Let me Google this.) Quvenzhané Wallis could do a great version of my 50% subdued 50% manic person. She seems like a feisty thing.

I might even like to see Amandla Sternberg (what's with these names lol) challenge herself to do it. The two movies where I've seen her, she's been a quiet, reserved soul. It would be nice to see her break out into all that is me.

And if ever there's a jump in time, I think Angela Bassett could play me very well. lol

What about you all?

Last Character Sketch: Avalegna, the Werebeast

Full Name Avalegna (ah-va-LEN-ya)

Nickname: Lenne

1. Age:16
2. Gender: female
3. Date of Birth: Year 1904, unknown
4. Hair color/style: coarse, blonde, waist length hair
5. Eye color: amber
6. Accent (if any): werebeast
7. Height: 5'0
8. Weight: 91 lbs
9. Tattoos: none
10. Piercings: none
11. Scars: various cuts from head to toe

Personality Overview:

1. Fears: not hearing where she is
2. Childhood: very hyper and talkative.
3. Adolescence: the same.

Favorites

1.  Books or Favorite music artists: n/a
2. Authors: n/a
3. What are some of their pet peeves? she doesn't like when people yell.
4. What sort of gifts do they like? she likes new clothes and hair things
5. What is their favorite time of day? nighttime when the nocturnal animals are awake.
6. Where do they like to spend their time? she loves hanging in high places.
7. Favorite food? Favorite drink? Hot drinks, soft drinks, or alcohol? fish, berry juice. She likes hot drinks.
8. Favorite animal? Harpy
9. Do they have any pets? Do they want any? no.
10. What relaxes them? feeling others around
11. Do they have any bad habits? she picks at her scratches.
12. What are some things that they don’t like? (least favorite food/drink, weather/season, etc). soapy water, tough meats.

Resources and abilities:

1. Where did they learn their abilities? Avalegna's adaptive abilities are innate. She learns other abilities by drinking the blood of animals.
2. Where does your character live? Why did they choose it, and how did they acquire it? How do they handle intruders (graciously? violently?)? Avalegna lived in the secluded mountains of Bydlum Isle, where her ancestors were imprisoned. She sends Harpy after intruders, if any.
3. What are some of your character’s more notable merits and flaws (including physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, etc.)? How did they develop? How has this helped or hindered them in the past? Avalegna is free-spirited but can focus and learn very quickly. She is blind, which makes it hard for her to measure depth perception at times, which is why she is so marked up.
4. Do they speak more than one language? She initially only speaks Werebeast, but learns Treesprite Sign Language and later the Common Language.

Relationships and history:

1. What is their family history like? How does it affect them? How do they feel about their family? How does their family feel about them? Avalegna's race was very close and valued the elders. She loved her grandfather and parents dearly.
2. What were they like as a child? What was their favorite toy? Favorite game? Playmates? Avalegna hasn't changed much from childhood. She was very hyperactive and loved to swim and dive into the cave lake, scaring the fish.
3. What did they want to be when they grew up? Avalegna never thought of that.
4. Describe their best and worst memories from childhood. Best memory: When she learned how to use sonar, so she could go wherever she wanted in the caves. Worst memory: falling from a cliff before she learned sonar.
5. Do they, or have they in the past, had a mentor? What was their relationship with this person, and how has it changed since then? No.
6. What sort of education have they had? Do they want more? she knows geography and folktales, but she loves to learn more.
7. Who is their closest friend, and why? What do they like to do with this person? Harpy is her closest friend. When her family was killed, Harpy raised her like her own child. They like to hunt together.

More Character Sketches: Andyrsn, of Viveno Island

Full Name J.G.-Lt. Andyrsn, of Viveno Island

Nickname: n/a

1. Age: 22
2. Gender: male
3. Date of Birth: Year 1898, 9th Month, 4th Day
4. Hair color/style: dark brown, curly, bushy; held back with headbands
5. Eye color: dark brown
6. Accent (if any): none
7. Height: 5'11-1/2
8. Weight: 182 lbs
9. Tattoos: none
10. Piercings: none
11. Scars: none

Personality Overview:

1. Fears: getting close to others, losing loved ones
2. Childhood: he was a hyper child but didn't have many playmates.
3. Adolescence: mellowed out while training for The Watch, quiet but observant.

Favorites

1.  Books or Favorite music artists: local band The Islanders.
2. Authors: Conner, the Hulktroll; Ariane, of South Xelinger
3. What are some of their pet peeves? he doesn't like negative thinkers.
4. What sort of gifts do they like? new daggers, card decks.
5. What is their favorite time of day? late afternoon, best time to surf.
6. Where do they like to spend their time? Andyrsn loves the beach.
7. Favorite food? Favorite drink? Hot drinks, soft drinks, or alcohol? Baobab, Ocean Water soft drink.
8. Favorite animal? the dolphin
9. Do they have any pets? Do they want any? no pets. He wouldn't mind having a dog.
10. What relaxes them? jogging or swimming
11. Do they have any bad habits? he can be a little mischievous.
12. What are some things that they don’t like? (least favorite food/drink, weather/season, etc). he hates bland food, rainy weather.

Resources and abilities:

1. Where did they learn their abilities? Training for the Watch.
2. Where does your character live? Why did they choose it, and how did they acquire it? How do they handle intruders (graciously? violently?)? Andyrsn lives on Viveno Island, a small tropical island town off the coast of the Life Continent. He was born and raised there.
3. What are some of your character’s more notable merits and flaws (including physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, etc.)? How did they develop? How has this helped or hindered them in the past? Andyrsn keeps a calm head through every situation, but he can be a little sarcastic which annoys less calm people. He played by himself often, so he thought out loud often. Both traits help to allow him to provide reasonable solutions to problems.
4. Do they speak more than one language? no.

Relationships and history:

1. What is their family history like? How does it affect them? How do they feel about their family? How does their family feel about them? Andyrsn's mother died just after he was born. His father and two older brothers raised him until his father was sent away for The Watch. The family is highly respected on the island because of their father's high watchman status, Commanding Watchman. When his brother's wife died in childbirth, he helped care for his twin nieces. He loves his family deeply, and they love him, especially his nieces. They're a humble family despite their status in the town.
2. What were they like as a child? What was their favorite toy? Favorite game? Playmates? Andyrsn was a small kid who wasn't paid much attention in school, so he played a lot of card games and played with his friend Donovan when he had the chance.
3. What did they want to be when they grew up? Andyrsn wanted to be a surfer, but when his father died, he vowed to become a watchman.
4. Describe their best and worst memories from childhood. Best memory: When he and Donovan filled Brodie's knapsack with frogs. It didn't scare her, but she had a hard time catching them when they all jumped out. Worst memory: when they received notice of his father's death.
5. Do they, or have they in the past, had a mentor? What was their relationship with this person, and how has it changed since then? Andyrsn relied on his Lt. Watchman's guidance while training.
6. What sort of education have they had? Do they want more? He had general education until he joined the Watch, then combat and geography.
7. Who is their closest friend, and why? What do they like to do with this person? Andyrsn's closest friend is Brodie's brother Donovan, with whom he went to General School until they both branched off into their different fields. He stayed over their house often, and they loved playing pranks on Brodie.

Friday Freeday: First 250

Halloo!

This is my first week as a 30-year-old. I feel no different. lol Maybe it will kick in 6 months from now.

Last week on a whim, I entered The Crystal Bearer into Miss Snark's First Victim's July Secret Agent Contest. It only involves the first 250 of your manuscript. It had been in my head to incorporate Ghuli's watchmen more in the first 250, and I even thought about starting with them instead of Ghuli. Commentors have liked the fun glimpse of Ghuli so far, but they've confirmed my thoughts and want to see more of the watchmen to know who they are, so I have actually added them into the first 250. I don't know how popular scene cuts are in the first 250, but maybe it's effective?

Here is the old 250:

If things went how Ghuli desired, she would swing through the air in the next few minutes. Otherwise, she would have to explain to her watchmen why breaking her arms and legs was a good use of her time. She sat on a high, steady, blue willow tree branch deep in the forest, tying a cluster of its switches together as the sun heated her skin.

She only had a few minutes left before Cyan found her, so she clutched the ridged bark as she stood, then pressed her long, brown feet down against the branch. She stretched her arms out in front of her, the tied switches dangling just an inch below. Ghuli held her breath, stepped down onto them with her right foot, closed her eyes, and stepped with her left. She fell through the air for two seconds before the switches jerked tight beneath her feet, eliciting screams and laughter from her as she moved through the veil of blue switches. She swung upwards until she stared up at the wraps bound around her feet, the hem of her un-dyed woolen skirt sucked against her shins. Then, she fell back through the same switches, grasping her makeshift swing as it scooped her up in the other direction. Her black curls shielded her eyes and mouth as her body lay suspended in the air for another long second before she swung forward again.

After minutes of swinging, she locked eyes with her First Lieutenant Watchman as she fell forward.
The new 250:

If things went how Ghuli desired, she would swing through the air in the next few minutes. Otherwise, she would have to explain to her watchmen why breaking her arms and legs was a good use of her time. She sat on a high, steady, blue willow tree branch deep in the forest, tying a cluster of its switches together, glancing down at the ground every now and then.

Cyan would find her soon, so she clutched the bark as she stood. Though the ground seemed even farther below her now, she stretched her arms out in front of her, the makeshift swing dangling at her toes. Ghuli stepped onto the swing with one foot, closed her eyes, and stepped with the other. Her breath caught as she fell through the air.

#

“I don’t hear her anymore,” Cyan murmured. He stood at the opening of the Forest of Weeping Willows, staring down the black sand path of the Eastern Road.

His Second Lieutenant, Laris, joined him. “She may have wandered a little.”

“She was supposed to stay on the road,” Cyan said, aggravation creeping into his voice.

“You know the Princess, my brother.”

Cyan huffed and walked into the forest, leaving the road for the western trees. He did know Ghuli all too well. With the Island Continent so far west, Ghuli liked to sit among the trees as the setting sun warmed the forest. He probably would have enjoyed the sunset himself, if Ghuli had obeyed him for once.

More Character Profiles: Brodie, the Scholar

Full Name 2nd Lt. Brodie, the Scholar

Nickname: n/a

1. Age:19
2. Gender: female
3. Date of Birth: Year 1901, 3rd Month, 20th Day
4. Hair color/style: course, dark brown hair, shoulder length; wears in braided pigtails
5. Eye color: golden brown
6. Accent (if any): none
7. Height: 5'9
8. Weight: 134 lbs
9. Tattoos: an eagle soaring across her shoulders
10. Piercings: none
11. Scars: none

Personality Overview:

1. Fears: being alone
2. Childhood: she was spoiled as a child but was also very sweet and loving.
3. Adolescence: she was a little more focused and knew what she wanted out of life no matter what her family wanted for her.

Favorites

1.  Books or Favorite music artists: She loves the history books, just hates writing them.
2. Authors: Marka of Adamant City
3. What are some of their pet peeves? She doesn't like being told what to do or people with short tempers.
4. What sort of gifts do they like? She won't admit it, but she likes flowers.
5. What is their favorite time of day? just before sunrise, when the birds wake up.
6. Where do they like to spend their time? Brodie likes to take walks or go jogging.
7. Favorite food? Favorite drink? Hot drinks, soft drinks, or alcohol? stew, black cherry seltzer. She likes cold drinks.
8. Favorite animal? the eagle
9. Do they have any pets? Do they want any? Technically her messenger eagle.
10. What relaxes them? sparring or walking
11. Do they have any bad habits? She's judgmental and can hold a grudge.
12. What are some things that they don’t like? (least favorite food/drink, weather/season, etc). She doesn't like overly hot weather or food that's too spicy.

Resources and abilities:

1. Where did they learn their abilities? Brodie's sisters taught her the histories and geography once their mother passed. She was battle-trained by Commanding Watchmen.
2. Where does your character live? Why did they choose it, and how did they acquire it? How do they handle intruders (graciously? violently?)?  Brodie lives in the Eastward Village Temple. She was appointed the scholar there by her grandfather. As a watchman, she handles intruders with no mercy.
3. What are some of your character’s more notable merits and flaws (including physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, etc.)? How did they develop? How has this helped or hindered them in the past? Brodie is very bright and cares a lot for people, but she's also too headstrong for her own good which gets her into many arguments.
4. Do they speak more than one language? She speaks Sprityn, Crystalline, Luup-beti, and knows the Treesprite Sign Language.

Relationships and history:

1. What is their family history like? How does it affect them? How do they feel about their family? How does their family feel about them? Brodie's father, a 1st Lt. Watchman, died in battle when she was 3, and her mother, from the line of scholars, died when she was 11, so her eldest sister raised her. She loves her siblings, but when she decided to join The Watch, she had a falling out with her eldest sister, and her distant family looked down on her. She doesn't care about them, but wishes her eldest sister would support her decisions.
2. What were they like as a child? What was their favorite toy? Favorite game? Playmates? Brodie was a hyper child, always following her sisters and playing with her eagle. She liked to play with wooden swords and guns, playing Watchman with the neighbors' children.
3. What did they want to be when they grew up? Brodie always wanted to join The Watch.
4. Describe their best and worst memories from childhood. Best memory: Watching her sister paint her first mural. Worst memory: When their mother died.
5. Do they, or have they in the past, had a mentor? What was their relationship with this person, and how has it changed since then? Brodie often listened to her grandfather's words of wisdom. Even after she joined The Watch, he never stopped giving her advice or sending her letters.
6. What sort of education have they had? Do they want more? Brodie has the top education as a Scholar.
7. Who is their closest friend, and why? What do they like to do with this person? Brodie's closest friend is her brother Donovan, and they send letters to each other back and forth, go surfing when they have a day off.

Express Yourself: Favorite Things

Welcome back to Express Yourself! This weekly meme was created by Jackie @ Bouquet of Books and Dani @ Entertaining Interests to get to know their followers a little better.

This week, they ask about items that bring us comfort or hold special memories.

I feel like I answered this for something else, but I have a TY Beanie Baby frog named Smoochie. I bought him in the Philadelphia International Airport just before my field trip to Mexico when I was 14. I was very nervous, so I held him with me and often put him in a seat with his own seat belt if the one next to me was empty. I almost left him in our hotel, and freaked out, but fortunately, one of the other girls saw him and brought him to me. I took him on many trips after that as a good luck charm.

Oddly enough, I also had a stuffed doll with a music box inside of her that played "My Favorite Things." She was a raggedy-Ann type doll, with pink hair and pink clothes. Her head tilted from side to side as the song played. I started writing a horror story based on that doll. lol I wonder what ever happened to her.

Friday Freeday: Don't Mope. HOPE!

Happy Friday!

I went to bed in a weird mood after watching a Youtube series that made me emotional about my own weird relationship (I waited til 30 to have 20-something issues), but I woke up pretty charged up for today. An hour before my alarm, too, but that's fine. I get off work at Noon! Whoo!

Last night, writer guru @Michelle4Laughs tweeted that one of the New Agent Contestants withdrew because they received an offer on their manuscript!

And this morning I read that @lararectenwald, whose story Lavender Marriage won the Adult Fiction award during this year's Query Kombat, received an offer of representation!

That's some exciting news, and a year ago, I would've been a little bitter wondering, "Why not me?" and not even read a blog post about someone else getting The Call. This year, I declared that it would be my year, changed my attitude (making into QK Round 1 helped immensely), started being happy for others, and also, instead of moping, hoping!

With query critiques finally beaten into my head to the point where I've finally gotten it (you don't know how to get it until you get it lol) and with a few final cuts and tweaks to my manuscript, I think I can say if not 2014, then 30 will be my year for finally saying, "Mom, I've got a book deal!"

Yes, she should probably be the first person I call. lol

Wednesday Words: Talulla Rising Continues

Good morning! Every Wednesday, I have begun to use Random.org to pick a page of the book I'm reading and a line or two and post it. Last Wednesday, I was preparing to begin Glen Duncan's Talulla Rising, so I braved the spoilers and ran the number generator anyway. So far, this book is just as great as the first, and I can't wait to see what's in store for Talulla. Let's hope I get another vague or already-read page number today!

So out of 352 pages, Random.org has given me......Page 272.

Page 272 has 34 lines on it, so fro 1 to 34 I have pulled......7 (in my Monica from Friends voice)!

Every moment you enact the koan of bearing the unbearable.

Knowing what Talulla has been going through, I can understand what this means. And after looking up the word "koan" I realize that bearing the unbearable is, indeed, a paradox, but sometimes it happens, doesn't it?

Express Yourself: School Daze

I love that movie. lol

Welcome back to Express Yourself! This weekly bloghop is brought to us by Jackie @ Bouquet of Books and Dani @ Entertaining Interests.

This week, they ask us about our favorite grade school memory.

So, we moved to Dover when I was in the 4th grade. I didn't fit in very well, and most kids made fun of the jheri curl/afro I had (thanks, Mom), so I didn't have the best time. But at the end of the year, we had that day (what do they call it?!) of races and activities, and each class was broken (Field Day lol) up into teams. My class was the Red Team, and I was in two races: the 50 Yard Dash and Potato Sack Race.

Now, the friends I did have were my bus stop friends, and every morning waiting for the bus, we'd race in the Shore Stop parking lot. Other people didn't realize I could run. I got 2nd Place, and totally shocked my class (I really should've done track in high school, smh).

Then, the Potato Sack Race came. I don't remember who my partner was, but they went first, and made it, and when I started hopping, I swear I felt like it was a slow-motion movie moment lol. The other kids were falling all around me, but I kept hopping! And jumped into my partner's arms for 1st Place! My class cheered and jumped up and down. It was a great moment. lol

Our team still got 4th place overall, but hey. haha

More Character Profiles: Prince Laris of the Sprites

I wanted to do Brodie next, but I mentioned Laris in Cyan's, so...

Full Name Prince Laris of the Sprites

Nickname: Laris (to close friends)

1. Age: 26
2. Gender: male
3. Date of Birth: Year 1894, 2nd Month, 5th Day
4. Hair color/style: red, chin-length, wears down
5. Eye color: emerald green
6. Accent (if any): Sprityn
7. Height: 5'8
8. Weight: 143 lbs
9. Tattoos: none
10. Piercings: none
11. Scars: a long, faint tear across his chest

Personality Overview:

1. Fears: none
2. Childhood: he lived in a peaceful palace with his parents and younger brother, cared for by many servants
3. Adolescence: spent much of it caring for his parents, who grew ill as the eldest Sprites died. His mother died just before he joined The Watch.

Favorites

1.  Books or Favorite music artists: He loves old hymns of the Crystal Bearers
2. Authors: Allaran the Crystal Bearer
3. What are some of their pet peeves? He's actually very carefree, so nothing bothers him.
4. What sort of gifts do they like? He likes historical artifacts and art pieces.
5. What is their favorite time of day? sunrise
6. Where do they like to spend their time? He likes to spend his leisure time telling Ghuli tales of his childhood.
7. Favorite food? Favorite drink? Hot drinks, soft drinks, or alcohol? steamed greens, honeydew tea
8. Favorite animal? the sparrow lark
9. Do they have any pets? Do they want any? no, but he likes birds
10. What relaxes them? classical Sprityn music
11. Do they have any bad habits? He's a Prince. They aren't allowed many.
12. What are some things that they don’t like? (least favorite food/drink, weather/season, etc). You won't find much that Laris doesn't like. He might not like that about himself.

Resources and abilities:

1. Where did they learn their abilities? Sprityn nurses taught Laris the ability to heal. He learned his weapons training in the Watch.
2. Where does your character live? Why did they choose it, and how did they acquire it? How do they handle intruders (graciously? violently?)? (see Cyan's profile for current location). Laris used to live in Royalos Castle in the midst of Royalos, a walled kingdom city. Sprityn Guards watch the walls of the both the castle and the city.
3. What are some of your character’s more notable merits and flaws (including physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, etc.)? How did they develop? How has this helped or hindered them in the past? Laris is calm in every situation no matter his inner worries, but his small stature makes him easy to injure. His father is a jolly king even in sickness, so Laris learned to find the good in any situation to ease the fears and pains of others.
4. Do they speak more than one language? He speaks Sprityn, Crystalline, and knows the Treesprite Sign Language.

Relationships and history:

1. What is their family history like? How does it affect them? How do they feel about their family? How does their family feel about them? King Loren and Queen Kara were a loving and dutiful couple. They raised Laris and his brother Ariel to be goodly princes and future kings of the Sprityn people. Laris on his time away from the castle used their lessons to serve the people as well as rule them. He also maintains a strong relationship with his wife and son, who send him letters while he is away on watch.
2. What were they like as a child? What was their favorite toy? Favorite game? Playmates? Laris was a quiet child, very polite and good-natured. His favorite toy was a wooden horse and sword. Children of the servants were often his playmates, as was Ariel once he was old enough.
3. What did they want to be when they grew up? Although he knew he would one day be King, Laris also wanted to be a watchman...or a travelling singer (but he can't sing).
4. Describe their best and worst memories from childhood. Best memory: Meeting his wife Ylana. Worst memory: the sudden death of his grandfather. He was there when it happened.
5. Do they, or have they in the past, had a mentor? What was their relationship with this person, and how has it changed since then? King Loren served as a great mentor for his sons. Now that he is ill, Laris keeps his teachings close to always feel his father with him.
6. What sort of education have they had? Do they want more? Scholars taught Laris everything he knows. His explorations of the world help him learn more.
7. Who is their closest friend, and why? What do they like to do with this person? Laris took Cyan under his wing as a brother, and he guides him as a close friend.

More Character Profiles: 1st Lt. Cyan, of Aterholt

Long though it was, the Character Profile I did on Ghuli really made me think and want to do more on the other principle characters in my WIP. So, since I kept mentioning Cyan, here is Cyan!

Full Name Cyan the Hulktroll

Nickname: n/a

1. Age: 22
2. Gender: male
3. Date of Birth: Year 1898, 1st Month, 11th Day
4. Hair color/style: blonde, short & spiked towards a mohawk
5. Eye color: light blue
6. Accent (if any): none
7. Height: 7'5
8. Weight: 350 lbs
9. Tattoos: antlers up his right arm and side of his neck to his jaw
10. Piercings: none
11. Scars: a long tear across his back

Personality Overview:

1. Fears: failure
2. Childhood: lived in an orphanage where he began training to be a watchman
3. Adolescence: constant training, watching Ghuli

Favorites

1.  Books or Favorite music artists: Trollic Battle Arts by Joah the Gillatroll
2. Authors: Joah the Gillatroll
3. What are some of their pet peeves? when Ghuli doesn't listen, when his authority is undermined, being treated like a child
4. What sort of gifts do they like? He actually doesn't mind getting new boots every now and then.
5. What is their favorite time of day? morning, when it's most peaceful
6. Where do they like to spend their time? He enjoys time in his room when he gets it.
7. Favorite food? Favorite drink? Hot drinks, soft drinks, or alcohol? Venison, black tea, hot drinks
8. Favorite animal? leonine
9. Do they have any pets? Do they want any? no
10. What relaxes them? sleep
11. Do they have any bad habits? He frowns often.
12. What are some things that they don’t like? (least favorite food/drink, weather/season, etc). He doesn't like leisure games or swimming (he can't swim).

Resources and abilities:

1. Where did they learn their abilities? First in an orphanage, then from Sir Aleksandyr while on Watch for Ghuli.
2. Where does your character live? Why did they choose it, and how did they acquire it? How do they handle intruders (graciously? violently?)? Cyan lives on the Island Continent to the west. It's a northern island with a cold, snowy climate. The willow trees are blue and white, blue being the strong ones and white being fragile. When the story opens he is living in the former Western Crystal Palace called Aterholt Manor, a large graystone manse with red and black brick stairs along the hill on which it stands. It is built like a maze to confuse intruders. He uses force to handle those that do try to break in, but in dire straits, there is hidden shelter beneath the manor (Ghuli's life is his top priority).
3. What are some of your character’s more notable merits and flaws (including physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, etc.)? How did they develop? How has this helped or hindered them in the past? Cyan is actually short for a hulktroll. His best and worst flaw is that he always thinks like a watchman. That's all he was trained for, and he doesn't understand (or like to understand) emotional thinking and going with the flow. This makes him seem cold.
4. Do they speak more than one language? He only speaks the Common Language.

Relationships and history:

1. What is their family history like? How does it affect them? How do they feel about their family? How does their family feel about them? Cyan's father, at an early age, had one son before him with his first wife who died in childbirth of his daughter, who was stillborn. Cyan's half-brother Grey married a hillsprite which sealed a peace treaty between Trollics and Sprites. Cyan's father married again late in life as Grey moved up the ranks of the Trollic Council. When his parents were killed in a Contagion attack, Cyan was sent to an orphanage. He doesn't have any contact with his brother for years, but Grey does keep track of him and his accomplishments, which earns his respect.
2. What were they like as a child? What was their favorite toy? Favorite game? Playmates? Cyan was a serious child, only playing when allowed and when he wanted to. He mostly practiced his fighting techniques and protection measures. Ghuli was his only playmate.
3. What did they want to be when they grew up? He wanted to become a Commanding Watchman like Sir Aleksandyr.
4. Describe their best and worst memories from childhood. Best memory: Getting his Marking, the Trollic tattoo he received for his first injury on duty. Worst memory: when Sir Aleksandyr died in battle.
5. Do they, or have they in the past, had a mentor? What was their relationship with this person, and how has it changed since then? Sir Aleksandyr was his Commanding Watchman and treated him like a son. He was the only reason Cyan knew how to love others.
6. What sort of education have they had? Do they want more? Ghuli's handmaidens taught Cyan geography, reading, and writing. His Trollic caretakers taught him Trollic History. Sir Aleksandyr taught him how to be a watchman and how to contact the Scholarship.
7. Who is their closest friend, and why? What do they like to do with this person? Ghuli and Laris, his 2nd Lt.

Friday Freeday: Ghulien of the Crystal Bearers

I had something else planned to write today...Do you think I remember what it was? SMH!

My sister was actually the first person to mention making profiles for your characters (I really hope she finds the time to start writing again. Her work...sheesh, I miss reading it!), and profiles are very important to help you get to really know your characters and establish their own voice. So I figured, let me find one! And the NaNoWriMo site has one.

It's pretty extensive, so for the sake of you reading, I will leave some of the most notable questions.

Full Name Princess Ghulien (joo-lee-EN), of the Crystal Bearers

Nickname: Ghuli

1. Age: 17
2. Gender: female
3. Date of Birth: Year 1903, 7th Month, 19th Day
4. Hair color/style: black, long & curly
5. Eye color: hazel
6. Accent (if any): slightly Sprityn
7. Height: 5'3
8. Weight: 128 lbs (just looked at my stats and had her at 108...that's pretty frail)
9. Tattoos: none
10. Piercings: none
11. Scars: n/a

Personality Overview:

1. Fears: dying, herself
2. Childhood: spoiled, sheltered, loved to play in the forest or at the beach
3. Adolescence: a little more grounded. death of a loved one made her more aware of reality

Favorites

1.  Books or Favorite music artists: Her favorite book is The Land in the Reflection by Amlyn the Sprite
2. Authors: Amlyn the Sprite, Migan the Sprite
3. What are some of their pet peeves? when she is ignored or spoken over
4. What sort of gifts do they like? She loves books about the other continents.
5. What is their favorite time of day? sunset, when it gets warm for an hour
6. Where do they like to spend their time? She loves being in the weeping willows in the Forest of Weeping Willows
7. Favorite food? Favorite drink? Hot drinks, soft drinks, or alcohol? stew, peach nectar, hot drinks
8. Favorite animal? leonine
9. Do they have any pets? Do they want any? Technically, the leonines are her pets.
10. What relaxes them? sitting alone and reading
11. Do they have any bad habits? She fidgets when she's nervous, plays with her fingers or her hair.
12. What are some things that they don’t like? (least favorite food/drink, weather/season, etc). She doesn't like contemporary art or dark stories. She's not a fan of peas.

Resources and abilities:

1. Where did they learn their abilities? She was self-taught. Her powers were forbidden by a past king.
2. Where does your character live? Why did they choose it, and how did they acquire it? How do they handle intruders (graciously? violently?)? Ghuli lives on the Island Continent to the west. It's a northern island with a cold, snowy climate. The willow trees are blue and white, blue being the strong ones and white being fragile. When the story opens she is living in the former Western Crystal Palace called Aterholt Manor, a large graystone manse with red and black brick stairs along the hill on which it stands. It is built like a maze to confuse intruders. Her watchmen handle those that do try to break in, but in dire straits, there is hidden shelter beneath the manor.
3. What are some of your character’s more notable merits and flaws (including physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, etc.)? How did they develop? How has this helped or hindered them in the past? Physically, as a Crystal Bearer, she has a crystal in each hand and foot that channels the planet's energy and transforms into her powers. Mentally & emotionally, she can be a pessimist and also acts on impulse. But when she isn't impulsive, she has very clear thinking and is often right.
4. Do they speak more than one language? She speaks Crystalline and knows Treesprite Sign Language.

Relationships and history:

1. What is their family history like? How does it affect them? How do they feel about their family? How does their family feel about them? Ghuli's father was the first prince born after the Trollic-Sprityn Wars ended. He was a symbol of world peace, a loving, kind man who valued life and people. He and his wife were childhood sweethearts and created a loving home. The kindheartedness of her father made Ghuli also a kindhearted princess who cares deeply for her watchmen and handmaidens as though they were her own blood. They also love Ghuli and treat her like one of their own.
2. What were they like as a child? What was their favorite toy? Favorite game? Playmates? Ghuli was a hyper, spirited little girl who fought often with her watchman/adopted brother Cyan when he wouldn't let her get her way. She loved to swing from the willow trees and only had Cyan to play with mostly, when he was allowed.
3. What did they want to be when they grew up? She wanted to be an explorer and travel the world.
4. Describe their best and worst memories from childhood. Best memory: Cyan took her to the beach once, and she actually got him to go out into the water! Worst memory: when her Commanding Watchman died in battle.
5. Do they, or have they in the past, had a mentor? What was their relationship with this person, and how has it changed since then? Sir Aleksandyr was her Commanding Watchman and the only father figure she could remember. He was very loving and merciful in his punishments for her. She thinks of him almost every day.
6. What sort of education have they had? Do they want more? Ghuli's handmaidens taught her geography, reading, writing, and music. Sir Aleksandyr taught her history and about their policing system: the Scholarship and the Watch.
7. Who is their closest friend, and why? What do they like to do with this person? Cyan will always be her closest friend. She loves the moments where they can go outside and have fun.

Now I want to do more of these! Gah!

Wednesday Words: Talulla Rising

Good morning!

Welcome back to Wednesday Words, where I use Random.org to supply a few lines of the book I'm currently reading.

Today, I will be starting Talulla Rising, the sequel to Glen Duncan's The Last Werewolf, which I finished a few weeks back and loved. As I haven't started it yet, I hope the lines I provide don't really spoil much for me. ^-^

There are 352 pages in this book, and Random.org has given me....Page 314. So it REALLY wants to spoil it for me! lol

There are 33 lines on that particular page, so putting that through Random.org....Line 3. So I'll go ahead and give you the first 3 lines. We're in the middle of someone's conversation.

"Are you out of your mind?" Jacqueline said.
"Don't speak. Just do it."
"My lord, for God's sake," Jacqueline said.

I can't wait to see what that's all about. Whatever it is, according to Line 4, it hasn't been done since the 1200s. lol

Express Yourself: Tuesday Words

Grr, I hate the lack of alliteration in that lol.

Welcome back to Express Yourself Weekly! This meme was created by Jackie @ Bouquet of Books and Dani @ Entertaining Interests to get to know their bloggers a little better each week. This week they want to know: In your WIP, what is the last line on Page 10 and the first line on Page 42 (or of the book you're currently reading if you're not a writer)?

Fortunately, I just emailed and saved my WIP to my work computer because we can't connect personal devices to our work computer.

(Whoops, let me take this out of reader mode...wow, Screen 10 is really Page 5!...And I'm guessing they would like a full sentence, so...) The last line of Page 10 of my WIP The Crystal Bearer  is:

The hull was made of blackwood, washed sand-white so the warm island colors and the sharp tribal shapes and flowers of his home stood out.

I can probably go ahead and cut some of those words and de-passivy this sentence. Live edit!

Sir Aleksandyr had whitewashed the blackwood so the warm island colors, flowers, and sharp tribal shapes of his homeland stood out.

Hurray!

And the first line on Page 42 is dialogue, but that's okay. lol

“That’ll do. Come with me, Ghuli.” She followed Brodie up a flight of stairs to the library.

See you tomorrow for Wednesday Words! :)

Wednesday Words: Verily, A New Hope

Alrighty, welcome back to Wednesday Words! Every Wednesday, I'm going to use Random.org to pick a page of the book I'm reading and a line or two and post it. This week, I picked up William Shakespeare's Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope by Ian Doescher. lol Clearly, I picked it because I was intrigued.

There are 176 pages in the book, so Random has given me....105! I'm only on page 80, but luckily, I know how this story goes. It's Star Wars.

There are 24 lines on page 105, and Random has given me....line 13, which is in the middle of Han Solo talking:

--Surely, let them come!
A fight would I prefer to sneaking yon
And hither.

Kennst you whence the scene doth taketh its place? ;) (Sheesh, iambic pentameter is hard!)

This is a very interesting spin on both Shakespeare and Star Wars. I do plan to read the rest of the series. It feels shorter than the movies. lol

IWSG - This is Your Life!

I definitely almost forgot. Happy IWSG Day!

The Insecure Writer's Support Group was created long ago in a galaxy far, far away by a ninja named Alex J. Cavanaugh. hehe Visit his page and group website for the hosts and to visit or join the other group members.

I turn 30 in 17 days! That said, I had many goals and milestones throughout my life so far, so I thought I'd lay them out today so we can all look at them and laugh. lol

At age 5: I decided I wanted to have kids. O.o

At age 7: I wanted to be a firefighter, not in the future, but while I was 7. Go to school in the morning and fight fires by night. (So apparently, I wanted to be a superhero).

Also at age 7: I asked my Mom if I could go to Disney World, and she said "Some day."

At age 8: I wrote my first X-men based picture book. I also decided I wanted to be a writer and illustrator.

At age 9: I wrote my first song. It was about playing out in the field, and it was called "Out in the Field".

At 11: I decided I wanted to write horror. I'd seen Stephen King's It 11 times and was inspired.

At age 13: I had my first life-crisis because I was now a teenager. I also wrote my first contemporary fiction based off of The Outsiders.

At age 14: I started writing Backstreet Boys fan-fiction, some of which I adapted into my first short stories.

At age 17: I sang with my sister at a Talent Show, got rave reception, and decided I wanted to try to be a pop singer.

At age 18: I decided I didn't want to go to college and wanted to pursue singing. I also had the dream that became the then-opening scene to my fantasy WIP.

At age 19: I went to the University of the Arts' Summer Program for illustration, preparing to go to college.

At age 20: I submitted the first pages of my fantasy story to UArts' Writing for Film & TV program and went to college.

At age 24: I graduated from college! lol

As you can see, I didn't become a pop star lol, but I think I am finally ready to query that story. I can't wait to see what the next 30 years will have in store, but for now, I'll keep counting down the next 17 days. :) Also, still haven't been to Disney World. >:(

Express Yourself: Treasured Toys

Happy July!

And welcome back to Express Yourself, brought to us by the dynamic duo Jackie @ Bouquet of Books and Dani @ Entertaining Interests. Join the fun at this link here.

The questions this month are very fitting for me, at least, because in 18 days, I turn 30! So I'm going to milk this month for all it's worth. ;)

This week's question is: Did you have a beloved toy growing up? What was it?

We moved from PA to DE in the middle of my 3rd grade year, and my best friend at the time (Brandy Cloud) bought me a teddy leopard. I still have him, actually.

I named him Remy leLeopard (X-Men was out that year lol), and I gave him a late night talk show called The Remy Show and still remember the theme song.

This is The Remy Show. Waaaaaahhhh!!!

I gave him this voice that sort of sounded like Bullwinkle's with a weird non-French accent (though now that I think about it, I think it was Cajun haha), and I used to make him shrug a lot. He has dents in his shoulders from how many times I did. I accidentally pulled his whiskers out (they came out through his mouth, which was weird). I slept with him every night at least through junior high school, and he now sits on my video game shelf with a slew of other stuffed animals I collected through my teenage years.