The Iron Curse Update and Wrap-up

Hello, lovely readers!

The other day I mentioned that I had finished The Iron Curse, and then I realized that I hadn't officially told you guys, and let you know how it turned out and all that jazz.

So this is that post.

Official Notice:

The Iron Curse is done.

I finished it a week ago give or take. It's a bit over 17,000 words, and I am quite thrilled with the way it turned out.

Skye was awesome and read it for me, and then Minion 1 also read it for me (I had to hound Minion 1 though- Skye volunteered)

Their advice was helpful. If at times blunt- Minion 1 told me my ending was lame and she wouldn't let me send it in until I had re-wrote it. She couldn't exactly tell me what about it was lame- she just knew it was lame.

I did manage to tweak the ending a bit to satisfy us both, and I sent it in to Rooglewood Press.
I admit I was ridiculously excited to get the confirmation email that said they got it and someone was going to read it. I was stoked.

I am so excited for this contest. I got to read Skye's take on the story as well, and it was SO good. I'm definitely hoping her's gets chosen, because you all have got to read it. It was amazing.

I'm also hoping for myself over here.

*selfish and unashamed*

Here's a few parting snippets for you guys. I figure on the off chance mine makes it into the final five, I'll lose my rights to the story, so I'd better share it with you while I can....I think I would buy them back if that happened. I love Carrick....

Anyway-

“When I was thirteen, some friends and I were playing and a woman came by the gates. She asked me to come over, but I told her no and called her an ugly old witch.”

“Was she?”

The question surprised Carrick and pulled a smile from his lips. “She was truly hideous.” His smile faded. “And a witch, as it turned out."

Carrick’s eyebrows pulled together. “Why aren’t you surprised by any of this? I just told you about a supernatural occurrence.”

Bellatrae lifted a shoulder. “I was educated, you know. In an old history book, I learned that magic was banned two hundred years ago. Then one hundred years ago they started teaching that magic doesn’t exist.” She looked at him pointedly. “Why would they go through the trouble of banning something that doesn’t exist?”

Carrick shook his head. “You know, you are the first one to ever mention that discrepancy?”

“People are willing to be blind to things they don’t wish to acknowledge.”

Carrick smiled a little. “You would have done well in court.”

The grass was starting to lose it’s vibrant green color, and the air was turning cool. Carrick led her across the yard toward the back of the castle. Rose bushes guarded the foundations and a few blossoms stood in rebellion against the changing seasons.

“I don’t know why we bother with the metal ones when the real flowers are so beautiful.” Bellatrae said, a mournful note in her voice.

Carrick nodded. “To prove that we can make things just as good as what is around us.” He reached for a butterfly setting on one of the petals and wound the key between its wings to set it flying. “Why bother feeding and tending to real animals when you can use an automated one? Before my parents sent me here, I was starting to study Hamlin’s first volume. He said that people will willingly live in a prison, if you paint the walls to look like outside and there’s a nice sofa to watch the view from. But the walls are still stone and the bars are still iron.”

Josef nodded and Thomas grinned. “And what will happen after that?”

Carrick shrugged. “We’ll live happily ever after.”

Josef frowned. “Bellatrae says we don’t know there’s an ever after until the story is over.”

He glanced at her and she smiled. “I believe in this one.”

Adios 2014!

Wow!

I can't believe another year has come and gone. It's just crazy!

So much has happened this year, and since the trend seems to be to recap the previous year and sum it all up in a post, I thought I would hop on the band wagon.

This year-

I traveled out of state- Four times.

I read Four book series'.

I fell in love with a boy named Four.

I finished Four stories.

I started Four stories.

I watched three movies based off books I've read...curse that three.

I got one new job...I guess this is the end of the Fours :(

I made a complete idiot of myself at least Four times, I'm sure.

(Fours will rise again!)

I had so much fun blogging.

I started beta reading for people.

I joined an official critique group.

I entered my first official writing contest.

I completely lost my mind, and let it get posted on the internet in the form of blog posts, and didn't regret it at all.

Thank you all so much for reading my blog this year!

I've had so much fun with it.

 I'm sure this upcoming year will be just as great.

The One- A Book Review

And I'm back for another book review. It's another end of the series book.

The One by Kiera Cass

 

 

(goodreads)

 

The time has come for one winner to be crowned.

When she was chosen to compete in the Selection, America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the end of the competition approaches, and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants.  

 

♥♥♥♥

This book killed me.

It was such an emotional train wreck for me. Half the time I was screaming at America to pull her head out and grow up, and when I wasn't screaming at her, I was screaming at Maxon.

(I never did scream at Aspen, except to say I love you)

It was frustrating, but not in a way that made me want to quit reading. It was just so easy to get emotionally invested in their lives and then freak out when I thought they were going to ruin things.

I had a couple problems with the book.

There was quite a bit more cussing in this one than I remember being in the first two books.

And there were a few romantic scenes that were a little hotter than the others got. It wasn't terrible. There was no sex or anything like that, but some people might be uncomfortable with the level of touchy-feely kissy stuff that was in it. If you don't like that sort of thing it was easy to see coming and skip over.

I did have the end spoiled for me before I started the book, but I sort of hoped it wasn't true.

I guess if America had to end up with that boy then the ending was good.

Let me put it this way, the ending was very well done, I was just rooting for the other boy.

Overall I did love the book. The humor in it was hilarious and there were several twists and flat out shockers that I did not expect.

I'm actually looking forward to reading The Heir now.

Of course, Minion 1 has first dibs on it, so I'll have to wait before I get to find out how on earth one girl handles 35 suitors.

That's got to be either bucket loads of fun, or hoards of trouble.

 

 

 

After Christmas Post

Hello all!

I hope you had a lovely Christmas.

Mine was swell. My grandma came over and I literally ate myself sick.

I honestly did not mean to. I had a regular sized dinner, and I felt stuffed immediately and hardly ate any dessert until hours later.

It was pineapple upside down cake- totally worth the wait.

Christmas eve I went to my grandma's house on my mom's side and played with all the little girl cousins, and got to hold the new baby. She is inhumanly beautiful. I mean, I have never saw a baby that adorable. And she always smiles. Even when she's crying.

My family loves me very much. To show my level of appreciation for them, I will be locking myself away with the spare tv for a long period of time.
See, they got me Revolution season 2, Legend of Korra season 1 and 3, and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Minion 1 got The Maze Runner.
So we have a lot of watching to do.

Christmas day we made my poor parents and grandma sit through the Maze Runner. It wasn't as good as the book, but it was a decent movie. I'll probably do a review on it in the near future. (I also have one for Mockingjay part 1- yes, I watched it and didn't tell you.)

Minion 2 got me a Tim Tebow poster. Minion 2 is my best friend forever.

I had so much fun tricking my sisters into whose box belonged to which person, and what was inside and all that fun stuff. It was great.

How was your Christmas?

A Christmas Story

Hi guys! I wrote this short story for a contest over at Ravens and Writing Desks (which is still open for submissions by the way), but I thought I'd share it with you guys here as a special Christmas post. Hope you enjoy it! (My mouse on the computer broke, so I had to work this out on my iPod, so excuse the weird formatting and lack of a picture) Merry Christmas everyone!! Don't eat yourself sick  and remember the reason we celebrate. I'll be spending time with my family and grandma today.

Psalm 19:1

The heavens declare the glory of God;

and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

There is a song floating on the wind this night. My fellow stars, the moon, and all the heavenly bodies hum in happy praise. I join in with them, shining bright and happy. Something is about to happen.

I search the earth below me for the cause of the excitement racing through the skies. Shepherds nestled down with their fuzzy sheep. A couple traveling on the road leading into Bethlehem. Miles away from them, men pouring over scrolls and gazing up at us.  It all looks the same as other nights. But it is not the same. I know it is not. Never before, since my birth at the creation, have I felt the heavens so alive with anticipation.

I look closer at the sleepy world below. What is different? The shepherds are there every night. The men with scrolls have been watching us for months. The travelers perhaps? There have been many traveling lately, but not usually at night.

It takes me a moment to find them again. They have made it to the city. The man is standing outside the door to a building. An inn, I think.

I wish I could get closer. That is the problem with being a star. I can see nearly everything, but nothing very close.

The traveler’s donkey brays mournfully and the sound travels to me in the clear air. The woman leans on his neck. She looks tired. The man turns from the door, and his step is urgent when he returns to her. He takes the donkey’s lead in one hand, and puts the other around her shoulders. He handles her with care as he pulls her toward a stable. They disappear inside and are lost to me.

Curiosity pulses in me. The song continues around me. The air still crackles with joy. Why? What is going on?

I try to listen past the strange song, to the sounds of the night. A few restless lambs bleating, a shepherd’s soft murmur, a cry. It sounds like pain, but I cannot be sure. I have never been part of the feelings of the breathing creation. Where is the sound coming from? I try to see.

The shepherds do not seem to hear it, and the sheep are quiet now. Bethlehem then. I watch, but no one comes out of the inn, even though the crying continues. Maybe I am mistaken, and it is not pain I hear. Why would pain prompt this song? I do not understand.

As if signaled by my thoughts, the music builds to a crescendo, filling the heavens with joy so loud I want to forget my wonders and join in. Before I can start, everything goes silent. The music stops and the world seems to hold it’s breath. What...?

A sound pierces the night air. The strong, clear noise of a baby cry.

All the heavenly bodies draw closer to hear. I hope to catch some kind of view of whatever is happening.

So intent am I on the little stable that I am startled when the messenger glides to my side. His glow is enough to match mine, and he smiles when he sees he has my attention. “Shine, little Bachir. Almighty God has chosen you to mark the place of His Son.”

I want to ask questions. Why me? How long? Who is His Son? But he shakes his head and flies off.

I do as he said, shining brighter and watching his path as he wings down to the shepherds. The sheep do not seem to mind him at all, but the shepherds jump to their feet and I can hear their frightened voices.

I listen to the angel’s message to them.

“Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

Great joy, Bethlehem, a savior born. Excitement tingles in me at the words. A savior. The savior the world has been waiting for since the fall? The promised one? It must be. I wish I could see.

Suddenly, more angels fly by me, congregating with the one who told me to shine. Hundreds of them. Thousands. More than I can try to number. They begin to sing and the sound shames that of my fellow stars.

I sparkle, and we all add our voices to it, praising our Creator for all we have been witnessing.

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

The shepherds scramble, bundling their things together and abandoning their sheep as they start for Bethlehem. I examine the fluffy white creatures. They look happy too, as if they understand what is happening. I do not think they will wander away.

Activity pulls my attention from them to the east. The men who watch the stars are crowding together, pointing excitedly. Pointing at me. I wonder if they know why I am shining so bright tonight. I can see them examining the charts, and the other stars around me. They should not mind me. I am shining for the savior. The one who has come to redeem men and set us free from the curse.

After awhile, they leave their lookout and I see someone run out to get some camels saddled. Then all goes still there. When I look back to Bethlehem, the shepherds have made it to the stable and I see the couple standing in the doorway. The woman looks different now, and she is holding a small bundle.

The shepherds crowd around and I strain to see. The bundle turns slightly and I glimpse a face. The tiny, wrinkled face of an infant. But I know him.

My center self warms and I pulse with energy. I know him. He was the one who brought all things into creation. He was there when I was named and numbered. His is the savior. The Son of God in heaven.

            Now the name given to me makes sense. Bachir. Chosen.

Joy overwhelms me and I shine with all my might, joining my voice with all nature to welcome Him.

(All Bible verses from the King James Version. Psalm 19:1, Luke 2: 10-12, 14.)

Reached- A Book Review

I've been doing basically all reading and no writing lately, so I have several book reviews in the works.

Today I am reviewing Reached by Ally Condie. It's the final book in the Matched series. (I need to stop starting series' at the same time, because then I finish them all at once and I'm an emotional wreck)

Let us consult Goodreads:

After leaving Society to desperately seek The Rising, and each other, Cassia and Ky have found what they were looking for, but at the cost of losing each other yet again. Cassia is assigned undercover in Central city, Ky outside the borders, an airship pilot with Indie. Xander is a medic, with a secret. All too soon, everything shifts again.

The feels are strong in this one. It's going to get four hearts.

♥♥♥♥

For once in my life I was not disappointed by how the love triangle turned out. (that's a rare feeling for me) As far as the plot goes, it was very good. There were lots of twists and 'edge of your seat' moments. There were several times I was ready to crawl into the book and beat the characters senseless, and then a few chapters later I would discover they actually did have a brain in their heads and knew what was going on. I really appreciated that the characters changed and grew, while still keeping the personalities I had grown to love throughout the last two books. I did miss Ky and Xander's banter, but I suppose there really wasn't any place to fit that sort of thing in.

There were some horribly sad moments, and some perfectly thrilling moments, so overall I was very pleased with the book. I don't have anything too negative to say. there was some language, but nothing too horrible, and not much of it, and there was also some kissing.

Reached threw me for a loop several times. Some of the guesses I made while reading the first two books turned out to be wrong. I found myself hating people that I'm not sure the reader was supposed to hate. There were strings tied up that I didn't expect to go together but they did, and it was amazing. Some of he background characters that I became attached to got thing sorted out for them, and that was great.

All in all it was a very satisfying end to the series.

The only bad thing I can say about the whole experience is that halfway through the book I was certain my favorite love interest was going to die, and Minion 1 had to be annoying and read the last page and kept taunting me with her knowledge of who Cassia ended up with.

Such is the life of a bookworm big sister I guess.



A Novel Idea

Hello!

Today I am answering last weeks writing style questions for A Novel Idea. They're really cool.

What things influence you to write?
Lots of thing. People I see, pictures and quotes from Pinterest, song lyrics. Any number of things make me want to get writing.

Advice on how to start a story?
Um...Don't start it by having the main character waking up and starting her day (unless she's Cinderella, then that's fine)

Honestly though, I'd say start in the middle of some kind of scene. Make it interesting. If you start in the middle then the reader will want to know what is going on, and it draws them in.

Advice on how to end a story?
Tie up the loose ends. Even if you don't end the story the way some people might want it to end, at least make it believable. Don't forget any background characters, because readers care about them too. Also, it really helps if you leave at least one of the favored main characters breathing.

What do you do to make a story interesting and not boring?
I have no idea. I try not to show too much regular life. I mean, yeah, it's realistic, but we all know what normal life is like. As readers we are there for the abnormal. The exciting stuff we can't do ourselves. I try to balance off things like narrative and dialogue. Also, chapter and scene breaks make stories interesting for me. I love cutting a scene off short, or switching point of views. It keeps things jumping for me.

Do you ever get sick of writing?
I'm sick of writing right now actually. That's why I have done hardly any blog posts. I've have hardly wrote a word since I finished The Iron Curse (more on that later). I get burned out on writing sometimes, especially if the story isn't going like I wanted or I was putting a lot of pressure on myself to get one done by a certain date. When that happens I'm useless as a writer and spend way too much time reading, liking things on pinterest (because I'm too lazy to take the time to actually pin them), and watching movies I've saw a hundred and fifty times.

Monster- A Book Review

Hi all! Today I am reviewing Monster by Mirriam Neal. I finished this book close to a month ago, but I haven't had the emotional stability, nor the time to write a review on it. But today I shall attempt it.

This is what Goodreads has to say about it, since me trying to explain it would just go like

 "kjkldjfkajfkjgfkajgkdj!!!!"

 

The year is 2053, and the world is recovering from a Morbus, a plague that swept across the globe, destroying millions of lives. Eva Stewart is a promising young WorldCure scientist assigned to a facility in Alaska where she is made a Handler and given her own human Subject for research and experimentation. What she believes to be a step up in her career becomes a nightmare when she discovers writing on her Subject’s cell wall. "I still have a soul." Soon Eva is drawn into a horrific plot kept quiet by WorldCure, and as everything she knew collapses around her, she must discover the truth behind her Subject, her beliefs, and herself.

The cover says "I still have a soul" and maybe he does, but I don't.

This book ripped it out and shredded it.

 

 

I'm giving this book five (broken) hearts.

♥♥♥♥♥

I've never read a book at all like this. The science involved was intriguing, and completely believable even though it was set so far in the future.

I loved the characters, SO much. One of the guys in the book made it onto my "favorite fictional guy" list (I'm not revealing who). I fell in love with Eva from the first chapter, and her Subject completely freaked me out. Pocky was hilarious. I love him. Enough said.

As for the plot...wow. The whole idea was amazing, and every time I thought I had figured out where the story was going, it took another twist. Some of those twists threw me into the wall and left me sniffling pathetically. There were actually a couple times I had to stop reading it for a few days just to try and collect my scattered emotions. But oh, the plot was great. It was so great.

The message in the story was touching. So many themes about human life, and morality, but never once did the book sound 'preachy'. Even as a Christian I cant stand it when books try to shove the Bible at me in a nutshell. This book didn't do that at all. But the messages came across so clear. 

Basically,  everything about this book was great. It was great. Go read it.

....

I suppose I'm supposed to have some constructive criticism to make this review believable...

Um...

There was a typo....I think. But honestly, what book doesn't have any?

I could say that the ending crushed me, but it was so well done I can't even fault anyone for it. All things considered, it was a very satisfying ending.

 

As far as 'mature content' goes, there was nothing in this book that bothered me at all, but I know some of my blog readers are a little more conservative with what they read, so here is everything I can think of that might bother some readers.

 

The story has moments that are somewhat gruesome. There are torture scenes, and bloody operations, and things like that.  

There was zero language in the book.

There was talk of two Subjects being bred, but nothing graphic.

 

There you have it! I loved this book. It has prompted more ranting facebook posts than any book I've read lately, and that's a very good thing.

 

Also, Mirriam is awesome and posted a Monster short story on her website. It's amazing. If you haven't read the book yet, don't read it though. It's chuck full of spoilers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An entry

Hi all! There is a contest up and going over at Teen Words of Steel. Entries are due at noon, so you still have some time to enter!

Here is mine. It's 269 words long and I ended up using both prompts, though I changed the tense of the phrase.



Its a beautiful, haunting scene that plays behind my eyelids. A breeze blows, setting the empty swings swaying. The merry go round creaks as it slowly turns. Laughter echoes from somewhere just outside of my view.
The sunshine fades quickly and darkness engulfs everything. I try to scream as I'm pulled back to wakefulness. The white walls and ceiling nearly blind me when I open my eyes, and the ever present smell of antiseptic makes my empty stomach lurch painfully. Voices murmur and I try to turn my head to see who is here.
I'm strapped down again. The voices are unfamiliar. How long was I unconscious this time?
She's awake."
"Finally. Get the vaccines. We have to try it before she goes under again."
I can hear many sets of shoes moving around me, but all I can see is the IV bag, dripping nutrients into my veins.
I'm nourished. Surrounded by people. But I feel empty, alone.
I feel a pinch in my arm as a person in full lab gear injects me with something clear. I try to speak, but my voice hasn't worked in a long time. I wish it did. I would tell them not to inject me anymore. Not to keep trying. I don't mind slipping away anymore. I'm tired. I'd like to sleep. Forever. It's been years. I know that. The family I had is gone. There is no one to go back to. Staying here like a lab rat is not living, even if my lungs keep breathing and my heart keeps pumping blood.
I don't want to be cured.

An Autumn Post

I promised an autumn post a while back, and since it snowed last night and its still not officially the first day of winter, I figured I'd better hurry up before autumn packed up and left without me. So when I sat down to write it, it ended up not being a post at all, but more of a poem, so sorry, but here you go.

 

Autumn is a time for yelling

"Izzy put jeans on"

Of watching while driving

For doe and her fawn.

 

Fall is a time for thinking

"Coffee sounds good."

And digging around for that coat with a hood.

 

It's that time of the year

When green gives way

To golden leaves

That spiral and sway

 

Autumn is time for yelling

"Izz, T-shirts won't do."

And the world's changing color

And everything's new

 

Now is the time

to let tomato plants die

And exchange them for pumpkins

And a pink painted sky

 

Of corn chaff

And bean dust

And the moonbeams

they've caught rust

 

The heat slips out

And takes irrigation

The winds pick up

Bring winters early salutation

 

It's stringing out fence

And bringing cows home

Checking them twice

Weaned calves like to roam

 

It's nippy cool air

And fog in the morning

"What'd the weather just say?"

Winter advisory warning.

 

Autumn is fresh young horses

and lots of coffee to drink

It's "Izzy get that skirt off.

I don't care if it's pink."

 

It's time for hot chocolate

And bugs crawling on the walls.

"Quick hold your ears!"

Dad found the coyote calls.

 

Lets sight in the rifles

"Mom get us more ammo."

Deer season's fast coming

Maybe we'll try a bow.

 

The girl's been planning Halloween now

for six or eight weeks

There's birthdays coming

a few presents to sneak.

 

the crows they come

Calling with winds that blow

"Kid change outta those crocks

It's fixing to snow."

 

Almost through feeding that steer

Mom wants soup every meal

Semesters almost over?

That sounds like a deal.

 

Autumn is the perfect mix

Between summer time and snow

I can't think of any more rhymes

I guess I'd better go



Beautiful Books- Grand Finale

Here is the final round of questions for Beautiful Books, over at Further up and Further in !
I have loved this version of the linkup. Here's my final thoughts on Running Crazy!

The Questions


On a scale of 1 (worst) to 10 (best), how well do you think this book turned out?
So far I'd only rate it about a six, just because I still have a lot of research to do, so there are several parts that aren't as descriptive as they should be, and a couple of my characters don't have very clear voices yet.

Have you ever rewritten or edited one of your books before? If so, what do you do to prepare yourself? If not, what’s your plan?
I've done minor editing, but have yet to do a full overhaul of a manuscript. Usually though I just run through spell check first, and then start reading the whole thing. I might print it out and take it along with me so I can jot down notes on what needs fixed.

What’s your final word count? Do you plan to lengthen or trim your book? 
Well the Nano website says 39078, but it's actually like 41 thousand because I fell asleep the last night before I updated the word count. The story isn't finished though, so it will end being much longer (hopefully).

What are you most proud of? Plot, characters, or pacing?
I think I'm going to have to go with plot on this one, though I do love my characters. They're just not clicking the way they're supposed to, so I've had to demote them.

What’s your favorite bit of prose or line from this novel?
.....I don't know yet. I have no clue what is even in the story honestly, I just wrote on it like a woman possessed. The whole thing could be complete junk when I go back and read through it.

What aspect of your book needs the most work? 
Characters!

What aspect of your book is your favourite?
The romance.

How are your characters? Well-rounded, or do they still need to be fleshed out?
I may have mentioned before, that they need some meat on their literary bones.

If you had to do it over again, what would you change about the whole process?
I would have pushed through and wrote more on the days I didn't feel like it. I think I would have made the word count if I had.

Did anything happen in the book that completely surprised you? Have any scenes or characters turned out differently to what you planned? Good or bad?
Nothing has completely surprised me. Donny and Chloe have turned out a little different than I thought, and so has both Reeve and Amy's relationships with their parents.

What was the theme and message? Do you think they came across? If not, is there anything you could do to bring them out more?
I'm really not sure what the theme/message is just yet. I usually don't think of those until I read through the first draft, then I pick up on threads I weaved through the whole story and tweak them a little to draw them out more.
Do you like writing with a deadline (like NaNoWriMo) or do you prefer to write-as-it-comes?
I get way more done when I have a deadline, but I do favor writing as it comes, that way I can jump from story to story.

Comparative title time! What published books, movies, or TV shows are like your book? (Ex: Inkheart meets X-Men.)
Well, Minion 2 keeps telling me that the story is just like October Baby...she hasn't read a single scrap of it, so I don't know how she came to that conclusion, but there are a few similarities. I'm really not sure what to compare it to though. Check back with me once it's finished.

How do you celebrate a finished novel?!
Squeal and talk about it nonstop till my family wishes they were deaf. Then find someone who wants to read it.

When people are done reading your book, what feeling do you want them to come away with?
I want their souls.
No, but seriously. I want them to have the same feeling I do when I finish a book I love. I want them to have that sad ache that's oddly happy. Because they loved it, and now it's over.

Best Blogging Buddies Tag

Wild horse at Opal Swirls nominated me for the Best Blogging Buddies tag. Thanks!

Questions-

1. Why do you blog?
Because I love being able to interact with tags and linkups and whatnot.

2. Purple or Pink?

3. Summer or Winter?
Ugh. I hate being hot.
But I hate being cold.
....
Summer.

4. Have you read/seen The Book Thief? Tell me if it ripped you up like it ripped me up.
I haven't read it or seen it yet, but I plan to. So, no. I have not been ripped as of yet.

5. A book you keep re-reading?

6. Do you have any pets?
A handful of holier-than-thou cats, and an insane dog.

7. Type or handwrite?
Handwrite. A blank computer screen drains me of any inspiration I might have had. I handwrite most of my blog posts before I ever even go to a computer.

8.  Has a book ever made you cry?
....I got asked this by the minions the other day and they laughed at my answer.
Yes. A couple have.
I cried in American Diaries: Maddie Retta Lauren when the man I loved died.
I cried in Green Rider when some random character died and she thought of her husband.
And (this is the one they mocked me for), I cried in A Horse Named Cinnamon. The pony died, okay!? Give me a break!

9. Favorite school subject?
My mom claims we never took reading as an actual subject. Art neither. (Is my hillbilly speak showing?) So...History. But American History. None of that ancient world history stuff. That stuff is messed up.

10. The best sport in the world is....
I'm a good red blooded American. How am I supposed to decide between football, UFC, or bull riding?

11. Do you live in town or the country?
Country.

12. What is better: Sunrise or sunset?
Sunset. It comes at a reasonable hour to be awake.

13. It's midday, you're still in your PJs, at home alone, when some knocks on the door. What do you do?
I do not leave my bedroom in PJ's, but if I were to, I would throw on some jeans and go answer the door. (My pj shirt looks just like a regular shirt, so I wouldn't have to change that.)

14. A quote that is important to you?
....Hmmm. I'm really bad at these. I'm the type of person who reads thousands of quotes on Pinterest and thinks hundreds of them are so great, and then completely forgets them the instant I see fanart.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" John 3:16

15. If you had to eat one food forever, you would eat...
Steak

The Rules:

You must make a post to show your award on your main blog.

You must tag the person who nominated you in your post

You must nominate all of your best buddies, and those whom you want to become best buddies with, who, to your knowledge, have not been nominated for this award.

You must ask your buddies at least 15 questions in your post.

You must answer all of the questions your buddies ask you on your post.

I'm not going to nominate anyone for this. I've had my fill of nominating people and I'm starting to feel like my list of blogger friends resembles more of a hit list than a tag list after all the tags and awards I've been blowing through lately.

A Pirates Life For Me

You don't know panic until your DVD player breaks with Pirates of the Caribbean inside of it.

We had company over when the DVD player suddenly refused to play the movie, and wouldn't even open.

We all just sat there for a minute like

It felt like Jack was going into the kraken all over again. 

Company or not, the Minions and I freaked and rushed to tell mom, who, in front of company, also freaked (on a more rational and mature level, but still)

You don't know relief until two hours later you press the button, hoping against hope, and the DVD drive opens.

And Jack is saved to sail another time.

You know you're a Pirates of the Caribbean junky when it happens to be on TV for a Saturday night special so you're watching it as a family and your mom says "I've seen it a hundred time and this part still worries me."

And Minion 2 says "I'm just worried about when they're going to cut to a commercial break."

*the entire family takes a look at the highly intense scene and nods in agreement*

You know I have no clue where this post is heading when I start using ungodly amounts of gifs and yammering on about a movie series. 

Because let's be honest (honestly) I have no clue what I'm doing.

I'm just finding all kinds of fun gifs and wanting to use them somehow.

And I'm sure it's really cruel to you guys and those of you who haven't watched this movie series are probably sitting there like "What is going on?? What does this mean? Who is this sarcastic dreadlocked guy in eyeliner??"

And I'm just sitting here typing away and laughing to myself. I'm finding this highly enjoyable.

Is it late? Yes. Am I sleep deprived? Most assuredly. Should I have my blogging license taken away? Probably.

And then there's you guys saying "would she just stop already?" And I'm like, "you can close the tab any time you like honey." This is way too fun. Haven't you ever seen the youtube video's where the maker puts like five minutes of random funny junk after the video is totally over? Or those long gigantic pictures on pinterest of completely meaningless stuff but you keep reading just to see if it ever makes a point or not.

This is probably a really good moment for me to stop though...

Alright. Here it comes. The grand finale. To those of you who love this whacky dude

To those of you who don't...

...sorry.

A Novel Idea

It's time for A Novel Idea from Ashley at Ashley Aspires.

I have put Running Crazy down for a bit while finishing my Iron Curse story, but I'll use Reeve and Amy to answer the questions still. And I will eventually get around to writing a post to tell you how my first nano went.

Reeve:

Do they/did they like school? IF so, what’s their favorite subject? 
He likes it, yes. Like any kid, there are days he wishes he didn't have to go, and gets sick of homework and all, but he doesn't have any hate toward it as a rule. His favorite subject is history. He's kind of a history junkie.

What do they usually carry in their pocket? 
His wallet and cellphone.

What is the worst thing they ever did? 
He would never tell you that. But...I honestly don't know. Sorry.

Would they die for anyone?
Yes. He would die for his parents, and probably Donny if he absolutely had to. And Amy.
Speaking of which...
Amy's turn!

Do they/did they like school? IF so, what’s their favorite subject? 
It's alright. She looks at it as a necessary evil. If you want to go far in the world you have to get a good job. To get a good job you need a good education. To get a good education it does help to take part in school. Her favorite subject is English.

What do they usually carry in their pocket? 
Lip balm and maybe a few bucks. And her cellphone.

What is the worst thing they ever did? 
She doesn't want to talk about that.

Would they die for anyone?
She would die for her mom and dad. She would definitely try to save Reeve, but I don't know if she's reached the point where she would die for him.

Fangirlish Nightmare

It is perhaps the worst thing that can happen to a fangirl. 

Her man gets married.

In books we always want the guy and gal to be together, but as for me, I really don't want them married. Dating sounds just fine. If they're married it comes in an epilogue long after the story ends. 

But what about when a real person gets married? 

How do you handle that as a fangirl?

 

I'll tell you how. 

 

Scream at the computer. 

Tell your family.

Stay up all night thinking about it.

Talk about it for days on end.

Tell all your friends.

Tell yourself it's not true.

Never get over it.

I've been following this formula devoutly ever since I discovered that Rex Burkhead got married.

 

I thought I was looking up his stats with the Bengals. Instead I found wedding pictures.

 

Telling myself it was a friends wedding, not his, I followed up on it and found this.

Too bloody right. 

Now my family is telling me Tim Tebow is getting set up with some chick from 19 Kids and Counting. 

I refuse to believe such madness. Facebook says he's not. Facebook knows all.

Besides,

 

This Is Not A Tag!

 

Hi guys!
 

So it's been warm the last couple days, but before that it was ridiculously cold, and during a cold streak I bonded with a kitten for the first time in years.

See, it was freezing cold this one night. Ridiculously cold. Terrible. And I came out in the morning and found a little black kitten nearly froze to death on my front porch, huddled up next to our wood pile and covered in saw dust. His mom and siblings had made it safely into the shed for shelter, but I guess he got left behind.

So, I had a tender moment.  

(someone alert my family that they happen!)

 I brought him inside. Mom gave me an old quilt and I tucked him into a box next to the wood burner.

He sat there all shivering and half the family said he was going to die, and the other half said that was nonsense. I'll let you guess which group I was in.

 

Shortly after bringing him inside the whole family took off for various things. Daddy-kin and Minion 1 went dear hunting. Mom-Mommy and Minion 2 went shopping. Me? I stayed home to clean. Every time I came through the living room he would look up at me all worried, so I gave him a piece of bread crust to ease his mind that I wasn't there to wreak havoc on his little world.

Then I got hungry. So naturally, I went and got leftover liver and onions, and cheesy hashbrowns for breakfast and sat down to eat. And he looked up out of the box. And glared at me. Really! Look!

I saved his little life, and gave him a bread crust, and he glared at me! It wasn't long before he was warm enough to try and jump out of the box, so he had to go back outside.

He turned out just fine, except his ears froze, so now they are all curled up funny. So I call him Ears now, instead of little black friendly kitty (his sibling is crazy mean evil black kitty).

Minion 1 and Minion 2 got deer, and all was well in the wonderful world of my life.

                          Minion 2's ^   (her first deer)                              Minion 1's ^