Pitch Wars Mentee Bio + Friday Hops

This is a special edition of Friday and unfortunately (or fortunately, I guess), not the last you'll be hearing about Pitch Wars from me.

First off, hello! Many (let's be real) Some of you may be here because I tweeted something on the lines of #PitchWars #menteebio and put a link there which led you here. If so, Hello again!

I'm Deborah, Deb for short, Debra Renée for longhand authorship, Write Mage for Magic Tavern and blogger purposes. I started writing as a child in a classroom where they handed us a blank book and said, "Go!", but really, I fell in love with writing because of a little animated series called X-Men, and I've been battling my inner screenwriter ever since.

A little about me: I'm the middle child of three girls, left-handed, born under the sign of Cancer, so I live a complicated and imaginative life. I love music and have nearly perfect pitch. I pretend to play piano, but I'm not all that great. I apparently sit on the cusp of the Type B and C personalities and am known to my friends as having no filter. I'm either very chill or ready to kill. (Sounds like a movie hook.)

So what do you write, No Chill Deb? Well, I have a huge love for YA contemporary stories. They held the trophy for me for several years of my adolescent writing journeys, and I still dabble with them. At the moment, though, I am trying to push a YA Fantasy novel that came to me in a dream and was inspired by my favorite gaming franchise Final Fantasy (when I woke up). I started writing it just before college, so it took about 6 years to write the first draft and another 5 or 6 when I learned all that there was about what happened after you feel your novel is ready. There may be more Fantasy works to come for me, but only time will tell. I have a short speculative story published by Cactus Heart Press under my old pen name Debra McKellan, the biggest thing to happen for me this year, and the link to the e-zine is up above this blog somewhere, where all the tabs are (there's also a sample of my short). To have been recommended to submit was such an honor, and I was even more elated to be picked!

I'm not sure what else to say here...So if you want to stick around for Express Yourself and Fast Five Friday, you can! ;D Every week, two ladies you may or may not know (Dani and Jackie, the Cover Girls) created these hops to get know those of us who follow them, and that they're able to come up with so many questions is magical.

This week for Express Yourself, they asked us what TV or book characters do we relate to?

I'm going to go with TV on this one, and I chose Rory Gilmore from Gilmore Girls. When the show came out, I believe Rory and I were both sophomores. She was a quiet bookworm with a dream of journalism; I was a quiet bookworm with a dream of being an author. We both have very animated mothers and estranged grandparents (though I think my grandmother is NOTHING compared to Emily). We both had a bit of a bad boy phase, with virtually the same scenario playing out (except Jess got his life together, and I still wish he and Rory will be together in the non-existent GG future). We both took a break, though I took one after high school, and Rory took one during college, dated a douchebag boyfriend, and then graduated successfully. What a ride!

Now, Fast Five Friday (which I always almost spell Fast Frive) is a little quicker (obvs), and the ladies asked us to name our Top 5 Apps. Here are mine in alphabetical order, so I don't lose my mind.

GroupMe
Instagram
Pinterest
Shattered Pixel Dungeon
Twitter

Thank you so much for stopping by! Have a great weekend.

Fast Five Friday: Movie Crushes

Alright, alright, alright (in my Matthew McConaughey voice), Happy Friday!! Welcome back to an installment of Fast Five Friday, brought to us by Dani and Jackie, the Cover Girls!

This week, we have shooting off our five favorite movie crushes! Let's see if I can stop at five. lol (After looking) Okay, FINDING five was actually hard. I was like, "What movies have I watched?"

Well, there's the Prince from Beauty & The Beast. lol Hey, even my mom was like, "Wow."

The sexy Michael Corvin from the Underworld series.

Capt. James T. Kirk time-warped world style from Star Trek. (Mainly because, well, Chris Pine.)

Louie from Interview with the Vampire. (Mainly because, I mean, BRAD!)

Jacob Palmer from Crazy, Stupid Love.

BONUS info: My cousin has a serious crush on Optimus Prime. hahahaha

Express Yourself Weekly: Characters who should Stand Alone

Welcome back to Express Yourself! This bloghop was created by Jackie @ Bouquet of Books and Dani @ Entertaining Interests to get to know us all a little better.

This week they would like us to name a secondary character who you think deserves their own series/stand-alone (now you see what I did up there).

Everyone loves a good trickster. Neil Gaiman gave Anansi's son(s) a stand-alone novel after American Gods, and it was quite a treat. If I remember correctly, Hermes was a bit of a trickster, stealing Apollo's sheep just after birth (edit: It was Eros. Thanks, Dolorah!).

This season I finished N.K. Jemisin's Inheritance Trilogy, which basically changed my life. She actually allowed her trickster, Sieh, to have his own book in this trilogy, rounding out the series. I won't give away the ending, but it was everything, and fairly trickster-like.

Jemisin, however, also created a novella: The Awakened Kingdom, which continues the trilogy. The main character Shill and her friend Eino. It was just a novella, but I want a series, darn it! Shill was just so cute, being the first godling born in thousands of years. The heart of a child and power of a god...Can you imagine! 

Express Yourself: Book Pairs

Happy Tuesday! Time for another question for the Express Yourself bloghop created by Dani @ Entertaining Interests and Jackie @ Bouquet of Books! You can join the weekly fun at either of their blogs.

This week, they ask us about some of our favorite book pairs, romantic, bffs, nemeses, etc.! That's not hard at all (sarcasm). lol

The first that comes to mind is Irene and Jonah from Terri Bruce's Hereafter and Thereafter.

Then, there is Victoria and Grant in Vanessa Diffenbaugh's The Language of Flowers.

Jake and Talulla in The Last Werewolf. (I would fan myself if it weren't so cold.)

Ed and Winry in The Fullmetal Alchemist series! They might be my favorite.

I could go on forever, so I won't. lol

Friday Freeday: Fast Five Friday: TV Character Crushes

Happy Friday!

Welcome back to another installment of Fast Five Friday! This new bloghop is brought to us by the Express Yourself gals, Dani and Jackie via covergirlsdj.blogspot.com.

This week, they ask us to name 5 TV character crushes.

1. Robb Stark (*bawls*) from Game of Thrones

2. young Ron Johnson from A Different World

3. Zack from The Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers

4. Jake Ballard from Scandal

5. Dr. Owen Hunt from Grey's Anatomy

These are a mix of old and new crushes, hehe.  How about you? I'd love to see the guys' answers. lol

Express Yourself: The Five Amigos?

Happy Tuesday!

Welcome back to Express Yourself, created by Dani @ Entertaining Interests and Jackie @ Bouquet of Books. This week they ask us to name 5 fictional characters you would like to have in your life.

This is a hard one.

I'm going to count the fictional town of Stars Hollow (Gilmore Girls) as a character because I would love to live there. Everybody knows your name, but that's kind of okay. They'd know me as Deborah the Hermit. lol I'd hang out at Luke's every morning to wake up and probably every afternoon for lunch, and I guess I'd have to work at the Independence Inn and Doose's Market to compensate for that.

Kaywinnet Lee Frye (Firefly) would be my bestie! Kaylee's such a sweetheart, and I love her Western drawl. She's so optimistic, and I'd probably need that at times. If our spaceship also happened to crash, she could make everything shiny again.

Next, I'd like good ol' Gatsby (Redford or DiCaprio, I don't care) in my life. I read this (like everyone) in high school, and I was enamored by him. As it's been so long, I don't quite remember if it was an unrequited love story or not, but I would've chosen him if I were Daisy.

I would love to meet Desi from Robert Olen Butler's Mr. Spaceman. He seemed like such a sweet alien with the world's hardest mission: make it public that aliens exist in the biggest way imaginable. Sheesh! No pressure.

(This is Kif from Futurama, but I imagine Desi looked and sounded like him.)

And for #5, I'm not going to pretend like Tyrion (Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire) couldn't get it. Peter Dinklage masters this character and makes him that much more sexy. Tyrion is so misunderstood just for being a dwarf (rude), but he's so brilliant. Even Charles Dance (Tywin) said he thinks Tyrion will take the Iron Throne. lol I'd never betray you, Tyrion. T_T

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.

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.

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!

Express Yourself: Fictional Characters

Good morning!

Welcome back to Express Yourself, the weekly meme created by Jackie @ Bouquet of Books and Dani @ Entertaining Interests. This week, they ask us to pick a fictional character who we think reflects our personality.

This past year, I was directed to a Youtube series by a comedienne named Issa Rae called The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl. Obviously, it's about an awkward black girl, lol, but she's in a horrible dead-end job with the craziest amalgamation of co-workers. I definitely could sympathize with her quirkiness and how she strove ( <--- so that's the past tense of strive. Who knew?) for a job that she would love. We both have definitely come out victorious in that respect. :)

Express Yourself: Characters Wanted

I stole that from USA Network. lol

Welcome back to Express Yourself, the weekly meme brought to us by Jackie @ Bouquet of Books and Dani @ Entertaining Interests.

This week, they ask us what our favorite character we've written or read is.

I have an archetype I've been using in my stories since I was a kid. I often attach the name Johnny to it, but it's been others, too. He's always a vulnerable, loveable guy who is slightly or extremely guarded because of some circumstance in his life. He's average height with shoulder-length brown hair and large brown eyes. He's had asthma, heart issues, mental health issues, and sight issues. lol I have NO idea why I always used this specific type to have these kind of problems. I'm trying to break away from him now.

One of my favorite characters I have read was Desi from Robert Olen Butler's short story "Help Me Find My Spaceman Lover" and his novel Mr. Spaceman. If you've seen Futurama, I have always pictured Desi looking and sounding like Kif but whiter. He was such an adorable character who falls in love with a lady he met while touching down at a Podunk (Wow, that gets capitalized? lol) Walmart parking lot. His mission: to tell the world there are aliens. They're both great stories.

Friday Freeday: Snow

When I was a child, there was nothing I loved more in Winter than waking up to 6+ inches of snow, the huge ditch behind our complex to slide down when we lived in Pennsylvania, and the ice at the bottom of said ditch. Even up to high school, I loved not having school because in Delaware one inch means we will all die if we're out on the road at the same time. I'd laugh at myself for falling (except that one time when I was 9 where I busted my entire face. My sister laughed, so I burst into tears and ran home with a scraped forehead and bloody lip.) and enjoy the snow ball fights and snow angels.

Now that I'm almost 30, I've learned snow days equal no pay days, falling HURTS, and the likelihood that I will get a sinus infection goes up with the speed of the wind gusts. The plow guys don't come until after the state offices are shut down, and you really want to go outside, but it feels like 17 degrees. As someone who also gets hot very easily, I only have 3 sweaters...Yep. I'm cold right now.

So in the spirit of winter, I also thought I would pay homage to some great "Snowy" characters.

Mary Margaret aka Snow White from Once Upon A Time This Snow packs a punch! Though she's also a bleeding heart, and though that was the reason her stepmother, Regina the Evil Queen, hates her in the first place, Snow always has the purest of intentions and just wants to live happily ever after with her (hot) Prince Charming David. If you're not watching this show, my goodness, you're missing greatness.

Jon Snow(First off, Kit Harrington, mmm). Unfortunately, Snow is the last name of bastards in the northern part of Westeros in A Song of Ice and Fire, but who doesn't love a broody, dark-haired character? It seems like the moment Jon decides to take the Black, which means he has to leave all of his past life behind him, Seven Hells break loose, and that's all he gets to hear about! I cannot WAIT for The Winds of Winter, even though I must. As one of the late great Eddard Stark's children who are alive, I need them all to find each other, though with GRRM, we don't know if that will ever happen. :(

Well, that's all I have for today. Happy Valentine's Day to those with one. Singles, enjoy your day. lol

Express Yourself: Book Couples

Happy Early Valentine's Day!

For this week's Express Yourself, Dani @ Entertaining Interests and Jackie @ Bouquet of Books ask us to talk about some of our favorite book couples.

I've read too many books and don't remember many couples' names anymore. lol I at least remember the books, so I can look them up.

Tien and Ben in The Deep Green Sea by Robert Olen Butler. The love these two have really make the story, and for most of my reading this book, I wanted that kind of love. I refuse to give away the twist, but there is one, and it's devastating.

Jeremy and Deborah Cole in Wabash by Robert Olen Butler. I clearly remember saying, "If these two don't have sex by the end of this book, I will be upset." They struggle to make it in a steel mill city while the death of their daughter has put such a wrench in their relationship, but you just want them to make it!

Ed and Winry in The Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa. Not only is this the best anime I've seen and manga I've read, but watching Ed and Winry grow and try to figure out their relationship through the conspiracies of their country just brings you hope. lol

Express Yourself: Character Personality

Happy Tuesday!

I'm back as always with the weekly Express Yourself topic provided by Jackie @ Bouquet of Books and Dani @ Entertaining Interests. This week's question is "What movie character's personality it yours to a tee?"

I think I've talked about this a few times now, but Amelie Poulain's character fits me frighteningly well. She's a very imaginative young woman who lives a fairly mundane life with a mix of people she likes or dislikes. She's kind of lonely and enjoys simple pleasures like sticking her hands in a bag of lentils and roaming gnomes. And when Nino Quimcampoix comes into her life, she's determined to be in love with him without confronting him.

It's a wonderful movie that everyone should watch and fall in love with. Do it. DO IT. ;)

Anyway, I related to Amelie so much that I wrote a poem in Spanish (I can't speak French, so Spanish was the next best option in my mind).

Express Yourself: Crafty (And my final sketches)

Welcome back! Express Yourself is a weekly meme by Jackie @ Bouquet of Books and Dani @ Entertaining Interests to get to know their followers better! This week's question is about the handy/crafty things we wish we did.

I not only wish I drew better, but had a more consistent will to draw like I used to when I was a kid. I wanted to be a writer/illustrator. That fell away by the time I graduated college, but this past week, as you've seen, I had a drawing streak on which I didn't expect to follow through. As it turned out, I finished my secondary characters today at work, so here they are!

This is Ghuli's 2nd Lt. Watchman Laris, a quiet and cheery baysprite. When I first drew these characters years ago, I never got to him, even though he was the first character whose face I knew clearly in my mind (he looks like a red-headed Anderson Dornelles). I did get lazy and didn't draw his crossbow or swords, but his quivers are on his back.

Then, I did Avalegna, a werebeast who appears later in the story. I initially had her eyes open, but I didn't like that. She's another cheery character, and she likes to climb things.

And since I had finally finished the group, I decided to put them in paint and adjust them to relative heights to see what they look like beside each other, and I'm very happy with the result!

Have a good week, and stop by Jackie & Dani's pages for the other participants. :)

More character sketches!?

Happy Saturday!

So I actually did draw two of my three male characters. I took care to get them as close to how I picture them in Save the Queen as possible. Then, I actually used Paint to place the characters together for the first time!

First, I did Andyrsn, the Junior-Grade Lieutenant whom Ghuli meets. He lives on Viveno Island, popular for  its baobab trees (really cool looking trees that are actually from Africa) & fruit. He's a really nice guy, so whenever I draw him, I make him wave. 

Then, I took on Cyan, Ghuli's surrogate brother and 1st Lt. watchman. His face constantly changes in my head, and I think this is as close as I'll get to how I would like him to look. The tattoo along his arm and neck is from a Trollic Marking ritual after a Trollic watchman suffers his first injury protecting his watch.

When I say Trollic, I speak of a race of giants in my WIP. Cyan is from the shorter breed, hulktrolls. That being said...

...he's 7'5, and he was Ghuli's full-grown height (5'3) probably around 8 years old. I decided to see what they would look like standing beside each other, and I keep looking at it in awe. This is the first time I've had a chance to draw them in dimensions that I could actually manipulate to do this.

Okay, let me stop staring at it. After putting these two together, I decided to stand Andyrsn (5'11-1/2) beside Brodie (5'9). They're my gunslingers and grew up together. I didn't mean for them both to wear plaid, but that's my story speaking to me: it's the local in-style.

So now, I have two characters and one sheet of this work paper left, so we'll see how that pans out.