20 Things

Happy Tuesday! I hope everyone had a good Labor Day. I actually cooked. lol Nothing big, but just enough that there are leftovers. Yay.

So, this will hopefully be the last week I'm reading Cloud City, and I'm working on some #Pitmad pitches. I also joined a Facebook/Twitter group called #PitchWarriors, for those of us who didn't get picked for Pitch Wars. It's been a big mood uplifter and help.

So, to give y'all something more than an update, Heather Holden participated in "20 Things", a blog meme where you answer 20 questions about yourself. So I decided to follow suit. :)

How tall are you?

I am 5'3. Shorty!

Do you have a hidden talent? If so, what?

I like to do voice impressions. I can't do too many, but I try.

What is your biggest blog-related pet peeve?

Super long posts, especially on days like IWSG or A to Z, where they ask people to keep their posts short.

What is your biggest non-blog related pet peeve?

Ignorant people who speak before full understanding something. Or lazy dumb people. If you can help it, be smart. lol

What's your favorite song?

I have too many to name.

What is your favorite ETSY shop?

It's popular enough to have a question? lol

What's your favorite way to spend your free time when you're alone?

I try to do whatever I can because that's literally only one day in my week. But mainly, either play video games or watch movies.

What's your favorite junk food?

Chocolate! Or Pringles. I love Pringles.

Do you have pets?

Not at the moment. I'd love to get another cat or a puppy.

What are your favorite fiction and non-fiction books?

Does a medical dictionary count for non-fiction? I don't read any enough to have a favorite. Fiction, at the moment, N.K. Jemisin's The Broken Kingdoms and Kristin Cashore's Fire.

What is your favorite beauty product?

I don't have one.

When were you last embarrassed?

Oh my God, sit down for this one. So I'm in the Praise & Worship team at my church. We have a group on GroupMe to keep connected throughout the week. One day, I went to Miley Cyrus's Instagram page for some reason, and I saw this hilarious meme with Spongebob's face and a popular Big Sean song. It said UNCENSORED, "Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, You little stupid a** b****, I don't f*** with you." I copied the link to show my friends on another Groupme account. Later in the day, while on both my phone and laptop, I copied a Google Drive link on my laptop to paste for my cousin in the Praise & Worship GroupMe (I should stop here and say my mom and aunt are also on this team). Forgetting that I had copied the link on my laptop, I hit paste and send on my PHONE, which had the Spongebob Big Sean meme on the clipboard. I. Was. Mortified.

If you could drink one beverage for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Either Yoohoo or Dr. Pepper. I love those drinks.

What's your favorite movie?

Forrest Gump, The Matrix, Amelie, Serenity, The Color Purple, the list goes on.

What were you in high school? Prom queen, nerd, cheerleader, jock, valedictorian, band geek, loner, artist, etc?

I was the quiet writing chorus geek.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

Definitely the Grand Cayman Islands. Turtle farms!

PC or Mac?

PC. Mac's okay, but eh.

Last romantic gesture from a crush, date, boyfriend/girlfriend?

An ex-boyfriend recorded a Backstreet Boys performance that happened during a football game for me.

Favorite celeb?

I don't know if I have one, really.

Which blogger do you secretly want to be best friends with?

Heather seems an interesting person, lol. And definitely Mark the Koop man.

We're apparently supposed to tag people, but I'm a rebel, so if you want to answer the questions, you may do so, and let me know that you did, so I can read your answers! =D

Thereafter Discussion Questions Part 4

Hi all! Here is the final part of the discussion questions for Terri Bruce's awesome book Thereafter, now available on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble!

20. Which was more important to the story, the characters or the plot? Was the plot moved forward by decisions of the characters, or were the characters at the mercy of the plot? Was the action believable?

I felt that the characters drove the story. Irene faced a lot of obstacles throughout the plot, but every person, place, and thing she came in contact with were what stuck out the most for me. The story wouldn't have been the same without, for examples, Andras or Elvira or the Guide. If the plot were different and the same characters were still there, I think the story would still hold its essence.

21. What events in the story stand out for you as memorable? Was there any foreshadowing and suspense or did the author give things away at the beginning of the book? Was this effective? How did it affect your enjoyment of the book? Has the author foreshadowed things to come in the remaining books of the series?

The people decaying into sand! *wail* That imagery will haunt me for LIFE. The plot between Andras and Ian to destroy Irene's shrine affected me more than it probably would a normal human being, but I think it was because I, like Irene, feared taking apart the shrine would cut off her connection with Jonah before she was ready. I almost cried!

22. Have you read anything else written by this author? How does Thereafter compare in terms of voice, tone, and style to the author’s other works?

...Terri, do you have more books?? lol As part of a set, it holds the same voice, tone, and style to Hereafter, but having so much more to work with this time in the realm of the afterlife, there was a definite growth overall in Terri's style.

23. The Afterlife Series is planned to be six books total. What do you think will happen to the characters next? What do you wish would happen to the characters? How would you like to see the series progress? What, for you, would be a “happy” ending, given that Irene is dead?

SIX?! lol I had a feeling Irene won't run back into Ian, but with 4 books to go, she just might. I want to see if she and Andras grow closer. I'd like that for her. He will help her grow up. I can't say what I'm wishing for or how I'd like to see the series progress so early in it, but I'm so excited to see how it does. A "happy" ending for Irene to me would be, her contentment and acceptance of that cyclical life process the Guide was explaining to her no matter what happens right before The End.

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I need to give a huge THANK YOU to Terri Bruce. I am an eternal fan, and now that I know there are plans for 4 more books, I will be watching and waiting!

Nothing in life is free. Turns out, nothing in the afterlife is, either.

When recently-deceased Irene Dunphy decided to “follow the light,” she thought she’d end up in Heaven or Hell and her journey would be over.

Boy, was she wrong.

She soon finds that “the other side” isn't a final destination but a kind of purgatory where billions of spirits are stuck, with no way to move forward or back. Even worse, deranged phantoms known as “Hungry Ghosts” stalk the dead, intent on destroying them. The only way out is for Irene to forget her life on Earth—including the boy who risked everything to help her cross over—which she’s not about to do.

As Irene desperately searches for an alternative, help unexpectedly comes in the unlikeliest of forms: a twelfth-century Spanish knight and a nineteenth-century American cowboy. Even more surprising, one offers a chance for redemption; the other, love. Unfortunately, she won’t be able to have either if she can’t find a way to escape the hellish limbo where they’re all trapped.

Add it on Goodreads | Buy it on Amazon | Buy it at Barnes & Noble

Thereafter Discussion Questions Part 3

Two more parts to goo! I've been answering the discussion questions for Terri Bruce's Thereafter, the second book in her Afterlife Series. It's a great book, and if you haven't picked it up yet, you need to.

WARNING: Spoilers.

14. Which afterlife myths did you recognize in Thereafter? How were the myths similar or different from the way you knew the story(ies)? Which myths were new or unexpected? What was your favorite part of the afterlife, as depicted in Thereafter?

Being a lover of plays, I noticed the chorus, which made me smile. The new take on the angels was interesting, especially being called nephilim. In the Bible, the nephilim are the giants, the children of angels and humans. The Lilith myth is a popular one I've heard, and the way Terri uses her (Easter Egg!) reminded me of Supernatural's take on her, Satan's favorite demon. The brownies reminded me of the langoliers in the awful TV movie, Stephen King's The Langoliers. I'll never see them as cute elves in brown clothing ever again. OH, and the hippos! I now have a mild fear of hippos.

My favorite part of the afterlife would have to be the creation of the animals from the origami. And being able to get things to the dead with, like, spiritual mailboxes.

15. Some readers felt that the version of the afterlife presented in Hereafter was depressing or bleak. How did you feel about the version presented in Thereafter—was it hopeful or bleak? Was it more or less hopeful than the afterlife of Hereafter? Which parts of the afterlife as depicted in Thereafter do you hope are true? Which parts do you hope are not? What would your ideal version of the afterlife look like?

If readers thought the afterlife in Hereafter was depressing, then I don't know what they're going to think about it in Thereafter. The people turning to sand at the riverbank? The Hungry Ghosts?? All people who gave up on moving. That's the most depressing existence during life, let alone after. I like the idea of having my own house in the afterlife. lol And I love Greek mythology, so I can't help but love the boat on the river.

16. What are some of themes in Thereafter, and how did these compare to the themes of Hereafter? Did any of these themes resonate more strongly with you than the others? Why or why not?

(Ah, compare and contrast. lol) The strongest theme is holding on to your old life when something else is in front of you. The difference in Thereafter, is that there's now also WHAT that something is, and for Irene, it's a greater purpose and responsibility. So it's almost a coming of age story.

17. Overall, did you feel that Thereafter was a hopeful or a bleak story? Did it have a “happy” ending? Why or why not?

I don't think I've ever read a more bittersweet ending. I cried when Irene had to leave not only Jonah, but everything she'd come to love in this stage of the afterlife behind. But then, she was finally getting on the boat, and she was doing it with Andras?! I cheered.

18. Did you have any favorite quotes or scenes from the story? What made that quote or passage stand out to you?

"He was not worthy of you."

"I know, but it hurts anyway."
The story of life.

19. Was the author fairly descriptive? Was she better at describing the concrete or the abstract? Was she clear about what she was trying to say, or were you confused by some of what you read? How did this affect your reading of the book?

I think I said this in my review, but Terri writes so clearly that you see everything like it's playing out in front of you. It made me feel like I was an active character in the book, seeing and feeling everything Irene did.
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Alrighty, the final 4 questions are coming to you Friday! Or maybe Wednesday. lol This week!

Thereafter Discussion Questions Part 2

I'm a day late; I apologize. lol Friday got a little busier than I anticipated. Here is Part 2 to the discussion questions for Terri Bruce's Thereafter.

7. Andras and Ian have very different outlooks on life and the afterlife. How much of their views do you think is influenced by their personalities and how much by the time period in which they grew up?

I feel like their personalities are what spearhead their decisions in the afterlife. Andras is still chasing his Christian knightly duties because he was a stern, devout person before he was killed. Ian, I feel, had that devil-may-care attitude, live-in-the-moment attitude before he died, so he goes with the flow after.

8. Did you like Ian and Irene as a couple? Why or why not? Do you think Irene should have gone with Ian? If she had, do you think they would have stayed together as a couple?

I actually didn't. I felt like it was throwing her off of what she was supposed to be doing. She was letting her living emotions get in the way of trying to get to the afterlife and acting like a lovesick teenager. It was gross. lol

9. How would you describe Andras’s and Irene’s relationship throughout the story? Would you describe it as a romantic relationship or as something else?

I felt like Andras was attracted to her and drawn to her because of their opposing natures. Every time he stormed off when she and Ian got close, I always thought it was because of jealousy, and he was masking it by always trying to get them to keep moving on.

10. Why is Irene so afraid of Andras and the Guide believing in destiny and pre-ordination? Do you believe in pre-ordination? Why or why not?

Irene doesn't like the idea of her life being planned for her already, which a lot of people don't like. I'm a Baptist Christian. I do believe that we all have a purpose we're supposed to carry out, but how and if we get there is up to us.

11. The mystery of who or what Samyel is was finally revealed—were you surprised? Why or why not? Samyel’s purpose in the land of the living and in traveling to the land of the dead with Irene, however, was not revealed. Why do you think he was on Earth? What do you think he is doing in the land of the dead? Do you have any theories about what lies ahead for this character?

I can't remember if I thought Samyel might be an angel in the first book, but I liked the reveal of his being one. I need to know what he was doing on Earth! lol With the way the others were behaving, I'm very curious to know why they are in the in-between realm, IF they're actually there, maybe I should say. The layers. ;)

12. In Thereafter, Irene believes she is in the Buddhist state of Bardo, an indeterminate/intermediate state in which the spirit wrestles with temptations and demons that are a manifestation of the person’s subconscious. Do you believe this is where Irene is? What are some other explanations for where she might be or the things she sees and experiences during Thereafter?

Irene certainly made it seem like that's where she was. She was constantly struggling with the bad parts of her personality while she was traversing the forest, city, and village. She wanted to go back to her old life, I'm assuming because it was familiar, because her old life was what got her killed in the first place. There was a battle in herself between going back (a huge temptation for many) and moving forward into something new and uncertain.

13. Who or what did you think the Guide was—was he God? A buddhu? Something else?

I feel like the Guide was a manifestation of a type of conscience, possibly sent by God, to help people in this realm get to the next, or to help them into a revelation of sorts so that they can move on and not stay and go crazy.

Thanks again for stopping my. The last parts will be posted next week!

Thereafter Discussion Questions Part 1

Hello!

As you should know by now, Terri Bruce released the second book in her Afterlife Series, Thereafter, and I LOVED IT. :)  At the end, she provides for us some discussion questions, so I thought it would be fun to answer them. If you don't care about spoilers, feel free to continue reading!

1. Hereafter was set in the real world. Thereafter is set in a fantasy world. Does the fantasy setting make the story any more or less believable? Does this change the story or your perceptions of the story in any way? If so, how?

Because Irene was traveling to a new plane of existence away from the real world, I found the purgatory-like realm of Thereafter to be very believable. I knew to expect something different from reality, so my perception of the story didn't change.

2. In some ways, Thereafter is much easier to classify than Hereafter—Thereafter is much more clearly fantasy. Do you agree? In what ways does it adhere to genre conventions and in which way does it deviate from them? Does Thereafter cover any new ground or add anything unique to the genre? What are some other books that Thereafter reminds you of? In what way is it similar to those books? In what way is it different?

I could see how people would be able to classify Thereafter as fantasy much easier than Hereafter. The first book has a much realer setting. I haven't read much more paranormal fantasy or read any recently to say if it adheres to the conventions of paranormal fiction. The last paranormal series I read was Christopher Pike's Remember Me series, which didn't tackle the afterlife. The ghost actually possessed another person to keep living and determine who killed her.

3. How does Irene in Thereafter compare with Irene in Hereafter—is she more or less sympathetic than in Hereafter? Has she grown/evolved since the first book, and if so, how?
4. How would you describe Irene’s character at the beginning of the book? At the end of the book? Does she grow or change during the story?

In the beginning, Thereafter Irene is still Hereafter Irene, and I have zero sympathy for her. She wants her way no matter what is happening, and no one will change her mind. Throughout Thereafter, though, we get to see her grow up. She realizes the things she misses about her life weren't as glorious as she thought they were (they're what got her killed, after all), and that she needs to stop holding on to her life.

5. How would you describe Irene and Jonah’s relationship in this book compared to in Hereafter? Do you think this relationship, as presented in Thereafter, is good for each of them or bad? Why? Do you agree with Irene’s decision at the end of the book to cut off all contact with Jonah?

Irene and Jonah's relationship is a comforting constant in Thereafter. Whereas in Hereafter, Irene kept trying to push Jonah away, in this one, she needs and misses him. When she starts receiving his letters and gifts, and she forces herself to not make the afterlife seem so glorious so he won't try to follow her, the love between the two is very apparent. Unfortunately, it's not good for either of them. Jonah needs to live in the living world, and Irene needs to move on from it, and they're causing more grief than good ultimately. I agree with Irene's decision to cut off contact with Jonah, but it certainly hurt.

6. Irene continues to struggle with her alcoholism in Thereafter—did this seem realistic? Why or why not? Were you frustrated by her inability to overcome her addiction or did you sympathize? Why?

Irene's need for alcohol was very realistic. She was thrown into a world she didn't understand with no one to help her get through it. I'd need a vodka after looking around, too.

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Friday, I answer 7-12!

45 Things!

Happy Friday!

I'm posting this Wednesday because I found this questionnaire on my sister's friend's Facebook (I hear myself saying that with upturns every few words like a teenager). If you were on Myspace like I was in the mid 2000s, you did these all of the time. Let's go back. Way back. Back into time. ;)

And if you would like to do this, go ahead!

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE:
I was named after Deborah, the judge in the Bible. Coincidentally, my aunt Deborah thinks I was named after her, but I can see how that's confusing...especially since she was named after her aunt Deborah...

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
The Thursday before last when I watched Glee, "The Quarterback." I'll never be the same again, and I'll probably watch it again. Greatest episode since the finale where Quinn went into labor at Regionals.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
It's serial killer writing sometimes. I try to adjust it, but it's bad.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT?
Pastrami, thanks to Carnival.

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
*sigh*

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
I'd probably try, but I'm such a hermit that I'd never see me.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM?
Too much.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
No. I'm afraid of falling.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Hm....Chocolate Cheerios.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
No.

12. DO YOU STILL TALK TO YOUR HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART?
I don't even know where he is.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Tin Roof Sundae or Moose Tracks

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Their eyes. Though this cute red-head in Wawa who had a beard and a bun the other day, I noticed his whole being. lol

15. RED OR PINK?
PINK!

16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
My ability to not care, and oddly enough my over-empathy.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
My college friends.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO COMPLETE THIS LIST?
Only if they're bored and so inclined.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Blue plaid pajama bottoms, no shoes.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
American Dad

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Burnt Sienna. lol It's confusing and almost like Raw Sienna, but it must've been out in the sun too long.

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Lit fireplaces. Fabric softener.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
My older sister.

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
No one sent it; I stole it off of Facebook.

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Technically, I watch sports entertainment, WWE.

27. (Natural) HAIR COLOR?
Dark brown

28. EYE COLOR?
Dark brown

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
No.

30. FAVORITE FOOD?
I love seafood!!

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
It depends on my mood.

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
I feel like it was that movie with the characters who were all personalities of a serial killer...If so, I need to watch another movie.

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Pink!

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Summer for pool time, Winter for looking at the snow...when it snows in Delaware. >.>

35. HUGS OR KISSES?
Kisses.

36. FAVORITE DESSERT?
Chocolate mousse

37. IF YOU COULD MAKE A WISH, WHAT WOULD YOU WISH FOR?
That I'd have this book published, that's for sure. And world peace. I'm serious.

38. WHAT (in general) BOTHERS YOU THE MOST?
People who pretend to be something they aren't.

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
Some tiny bumps so my finger grease doesn't wear it out, I think.

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
Nothing, had choir rehearsal.

42. FAVORITE SOUND(s):
(This is weird, don't judge me) The sound of your tires running through a puddle of water.

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
The Beatles! GOT TO GET YOU INTO MY LIFE!

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Mexico

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
I do voice impressions. I've done them since I was a little kid. Why I never thought of being a voice-over artist is beyond me.

Friday Freeday Question

Hello. Extremely short entry today.

So, I went to click one of my links that showed my college publication "El Celular Roto" and learned that portion of Temple's site no longer works. What do I do now, since that was pretty much the only real publication I had so far? =/

Express Yourself: FAQ

This is going to be a fun one. lol

Welcome back to Express Yourself, a weekly bloghop hosted by http://jackiefelger.blogspot.com and http://danibertrand.blogspot.com.

This week's question is: What are some questions that you get asked time and time again?

1. Which one are you? (Most people think my younger sister and I are twins.)
2a. What did you study? [English] 2b. So, you want to be a teacher? [-__-]
3. I bet you can sing, can't you? (I come from a singing family.)
4. What? (lol Either because my sister wasn't listening or whatever I said made sense to only me.)