A Little Bit of Randomness

While Blaze is coming along nicely, it's not finished yet, and I'm not ready to share any more snippets from it. And since it's early in the day and nothing of great interest has happened yet, I thought I might do a questionnaire I found on Pinterest last night. Just for kicks.

1. Describe your current relationship status.
Fictional. My current relationship status is broken up between a few dozen book characters.

2. Where would you like to be in 10 years?
Ten years? Let's see, I'd be 28, so by then I'd like to be married with a little boy or two running around, and living out in the country somewhere. Hopefully a published author by then.

3. What is your zodiac sign and do you think it fits you?
I actually had to go look up what my Zodiac was. It's Leo, and other than my element being fire (which is cool, but really does me no good), I don't think it fits me too much. Maybe a little bit on the part about being a leader and adventurous, but I'm only that way in certain groups. And I'm not quite so unforgiving in a relationship as the website made them sound.

4. Put your ipod on shuffle and write down the first five songs that pop up.
Oh no...
Play my music, by Jonas Brothers
Savior, by Skillet
Me and God, by Josh Turner
Renegade, by Manafest
Of all the places, by John Waller

5. Give pictures of 10 famous people you find attractive. (gotta admit here, the last question was supposed to have ten songs, and this one was supposed to have five pics, but I couldn't narrow it down)

                                                                                      

                     Tim Tebow                       William Moseley                Garrett Hedlund

Jeremy Sumpter                              JB Mauney-( My mom says he           Rex Burkhead- (I say he

(Peter Pan all grown up-                 looks like my uncle when he was       looks like my cousin)

you're welcome)                              young?)

    

   Max Thieriot (Yes, I liked him              Shawn Jump                     Liam Hemsworth
before he was in house at the end             (who looks like                 (You cannot tell me you are
          of the street)                                     no one I know)                  Team Peeta. I will call you a liar)

 

6. Your favorite store.
Cato. Love that place.

7. A photo of an animal you'd love to keep as a pet.
Well I like my dog a lot, but if I couldn't have him-

                                                             (His name is Zakir)
8. Your dream wedding.
See my wedding board  on pinterest.

9. Your favorite musician and why?
I'm having a really hard time deciding between Thousand Foot Krutch and NeedtoBreathe. They both has such amazing voices that are so unique, but their sounds are so different. It depends on what mood I'm in.

10. A TV show you're currently addicted to.
Grimm.

11. What's in your makeup bag?
Um, makeup? I have foundation, powder, blush, lots of eyeliner and eyeshadow and a big tube of mascara.

12. Something you don't leave the house without.
A tablet and pen.

13. What's in your purse?
Some money, two wallets with appropriate cards and identification, a pocket knife, two tablets, a handful of pens, The Scorch Trials, and ipod, three broken pairs of headphones, some earrings, chapstick, lipgloss, and fingernail clippers.

14. What was your life like five years ago?
Ha! Five years ago I was 13 and thinking things were really confusing. Hahaha, nice one younger me. Nice one.

15. What was your first crush like?
Haha it was adorable. I was about 3. He was probably 8-10. Not sure. Didn't ask. He was the youngest and I was an only child, so we played together a lot while our families worked on things like moving cows. I seem to remember him teaching me how to drive (theoretically of course- he just explained how to do it all). My mom has a cassette tape I recorded that said "I love *insert name*" over and over again in a teeny tiny voice (that was before I was going to be a rapper).

16. What are you wearing today?
I am wearing a baseball t-shirt for a team I've never seen or played on. A Cabelas ballcap with a deer skull on it, and jeans.

And that's all I got- I know, you're sitting there like "It was more than enough Maddie. Way more" But there was eye candy! You know it was worth it for the eye candy. I mean, come on, it was a giant red dragon!! That's awesome!
Anyway, I'm gonna scurry away and do a quick pickup job on the house, and then I think I'll barricade myself in my bedroom and do horrible things to my poor characters. With that in mind, have a great day!

A Different Kind of Creative

I am sooo excited right now. In case any of you didn't know, I am a huge fan of Icon for Hire,

AND more specifically, of Ariel Bloomer and her crazy awesome wardrobe. (she makes all her stuff by hand! How cool is that??)

The last few months, Ariel has hosted several sewing contests where fans could sew something awesome, and if she chose them as a winner, she would make them an outfit and all kinds of awesome stuff like that. Now, while my mother is an avid sewer and quilter, I can't sew to save my life. Sewing machines hate me. I'm not too thrilled with them either.
So I haven't entered or won any of the contests.
But (I love that word) Ariel just opened up a new contest that is sketches of our designs. Meaning I don't actually have to sew anything! I can just draw it!

So I've been busy sketching away since last night. This is what I've come up with so far, but Ariel is so awesome that she said we could submit more than one entry. She rocks.

I love fashion design. My sketchbook is full of all kinds of designs for the clothing line I'm going to have when I become a famous rapper. I've got jewelry, single pieces, full wardrobes, hairstyles, I mean I drew it all. Most of it looks awful. But I know what it's supposed to look like in my head. I'll just have to be very descriptive to the person I hire to actually sew the stuff. (Cause I sure as heck ain't  doing any of the sewing) I've got a whole Pinterest board that's devoted to fashion design. (though, I keep it secret, because then the whole world would know for certain that I am completely insane and would probably suspect me of being pretty creepy as well. And I just can't have that)
I love coming up with new ideas. I have a whole box of fabric in my bedroom just waiting to be used. If only I could convince my mom to sew the stuff for me, then my life would be complete.

I have three student's on their way for guitar lessons, so I better scoot, but if you wanted to check out the video for the contest, you can find it here. Have a good day!

Hearts

Hi all! Hope your weekend was as good as mine. We had our Easter in May dinner yesterday and almost all of my cousins were able to make it, and it was a blast. Me and Minion 1 whipped up these babies-

And those were to die for.
It was just a fun day all around. You know how adorable it is to watch two three year olds play football while fighting over a toy tractor? Priceless.
Got to take a lot of pictures with everyone, and you want to know what else is priceless in the most awkward sort of way? Changing you Facebook profile picture to a selfie of me and my cousin, and all these women asking a) if I'm dating him and b) since I'm not, can they?
(In case there was confusion, I answered NO to both of them)

Today my dad is out in the field so I'm trying to find guitar lesson plans for my little dude who's coming over this evening, while dad doesn't need me. While I'm trying to write this post. You could say I'm a multi-takser.

Now on to the whole point of this blog post.

While I was snooping through all the blogs I follow, and then snooping through all the blogs they follow, I discovered Rachel's blog over at The Inkpen Authoress and she has this amazing thing called chatterbox where she selects a word and then other bloggers write a snippet of conversation that relates to that word somehow. And it's really fun because there are no rules other than to relate to the word she gives and that it should have a conversation in it. So I decided I wanted to join this party. No rules sounds great, and I'm always ready for an excuse not to work on my own stories.

So the word for May was Water.

 

And this is what I came up with.

The ocean rolled and crashed in on itself, throwing it's waves up against the cliff walls, trying to get  high enough to see over the top. Drat this wind. For once she wished it would stop. It blew her up onto shore, but it blew away her hope of seeing him. She must get higher. She rolled back with all her power, waves building higher and higher, then she threw herself forward, letting the wind carry her hard and fast. Waves slammed into the rocks and a spray went up over the top of the cliff.
There it was! The smoke! He was coming. She didn't know why she doubted him. He'd said he would come. But he was a flame. He changed all the time, wherever he was lit. Her droplets told her he was small this time. Probably only a campfire like the ones people lit on the beach at night to snuggle by. But he was coming. She was sure of it now. She wanted to go out immediately, but she held herself off shore. She must wait until he was closer. She didn't want to dry up before he arrived. She could see embers in the air now, drifting down against the wind. Her waves danced excitedly. He was here! She let the wind roll her up onto the shore and then gathered herself up into her own form, similar to the human women she saw on the beach, but she fancied herself more beautiful than they. She was the heart of the sea. The rest of the water was mere extensions that she could use to her fancy. She took long, quick steps, trying not to remain on the land too long. Down the shore line she could see them embers starting to spin and collect,  forming into arms, legs.

She moved to the edge of the sea where the water could tickle her feet and ran to him, sending up little sprays all the way. When she was close she reached out her hand. He touched her finger and she giggled at the tickling sensation that went through her as a few drops evaporated.
"You came." Her voice rippled.
"I said I would." She liked the way he snapped and hissed like he was burning driftwood inside his throat.
"I know." She remembered herself quickly and stepped into one of the tide pools, sending a reproachful glance at the wet spot that had arrived on the sand.
He sat an arms reach away from her and the shore line, picking up little twigs and sprigs of grass and popping them into his mouth.
She smiled. "What are you today?"
He snorted and smoke billowed off of him. "A pile of burning leaves in a barrel."
She laughed, water bubbling on her lips. "How exciting."
He smirked, his eyes twinkling red. "Oh yes. And what are you about today out there with all your fingers to do as you please?"
"They're waves, not fingers." She corrected easily and waved a hand. Drops spattered on him and his shoulder hissed and little plumes of smoke drifted up.
"Easy. Don't douse me." He said it calmly but she was the way his flames flickered and knew she'd made him nervous.
"I'm sorry." She folded her hands in her lap. "There's a ship out there that wants to come in to shore, but with this wind I'm sure I'll beat him into the rocks if the sailors aren't careful."
He nodded. "How cruel."
"I know." She smiled. "But sailors know all about me. They understand I can be fickle."
"And heartless."
"Not so. I'm the heart of the sea. By definition I cannot be heartless. Indifferent maybe." She shrugged. "But why shouldn't I be? They're only little things that come and go. I am eternal, and free, and powerful. I'm a danger to them and they still insist on sailing me."
"They love you." He tossed a stick in his mouth. "I hear them when they light the ship lamps. They love you greatly."
She smiled smugly. "I know."
He leaned back on the sand, letting his limbs feed off whatever lay there to burn. She looked down into the tide pool, at the little fish circling inside it, scared and senseless. She clicked and scooped him up, placing him in her abdomen for some good fresh water then glanced back up at Him. "You're thinking something. You're all smoke."
He looked up at her and his fires blazed. "Just that we're in an awful predicament. You always having to be in the water, and me always needing to burn. I touch you, you evaporate. You touch me, I go out. How long do you think it can go on?"

She looked down and made ripples in the pool with her finger. "Until one of  us decides it's enough."
He hissed. "I don't want to decide it's enough. I don't want to leave you. I don't want you to take off to torment humans and forget about me."
"Then we won't." She said calmly.
"I don't want to stay at arms reach forever." He said it slowly, heat fro him rolling over her like the sun in summer.
She looked up. "If we don't what will be left of the world? The sea will be just a big puddle, with no identity. Just a pile of water for men to sail over and dive under and harvest from. And you...what would a campfire be if it didn't dance and wink? The world needs us."
He shrugged. "You said yourself that you're indifferent to them. They only last for a bit, and then they fade. Why should they reap our benefits when we are kept from what we want?"
She looked at him tenderly. "Are you thinking clearly? You know it would only last an instant, and then be over forever?"
"I think we'd be reborn. You in some swirling vortex down at the bottom where it's dark. Me in some new spark. Maybe we could find each other again. But if not...we'd still be happy, wouldn't we?"
She nodded slowly. "Yes."
He smiled and tipped his head in that brash way that she couldn't resist. "Then come here."
She smiled teasingly. "Why don't you come to me?"
"It'll last longer." He explained, even though they both already knew it. "Fire goes out faster than water evaporates."
She chuckled and stepped out of the pool, stooping to release the little fish back into the ocean. Then she turned to him. And took a step closer. His smile was still there, flames jumping off of him at all angles. She'd never seen him quite like this. She reached for him, water rolling and swirling and splashing with barely contained excitement. He held his hand out and took hers, drawing him towards him and pulling her into an embrace. She could smell smoke, and felt the tingles race through her. She let him, soaking in the feeling, even as her limbs began to fall apart in his.
"I'll be here." She whispered, when she knew her last drops were going.
"I'll find you." Came the answer through smoke.

God's NOT Dead

I went to see the God's Not Dead movie last night with my family.

And I expected it to be good. I really did. I mean, I like Christian movies.

But this was so much beyond a good Christian movie.

This was probably the most inspiring, thought provoking movie I've seen in a long time, if not forever.

If you haven't seen it, you need to get to the nearest movie theater as soon as possible, because it is definitely worth it.
I saw the very last showing of it in my area, so I cannot wait until the DVD comes out, because I'm going to buy it as soon as humanly possible.

It wasn't just a Christian movie. It was so much more. We all know that some Christian movies can try so hard to get the message out that they come out sounding cliché. This movie didn't do that. And I loved it. (Minion 2 also pointed out at least 800 times that Josh, the main character, is actually Spencer from Good Luck Charlie. Apparently that's a huge bonus. I was too busy loving Newsboys' drummer, Duncan Phillips)

At the end of the movie, the viewer is given a dare to  text everyone in their contacts list three words.

GOD'S NOT DEAD

And I thought that was really cool. That could be a conversation starter with someone who's never heard about Jesus. That could be a pick me up for a believer who is feeling down. I don't have a cell phone, so I don't actually have contacts (whole world goes "Whaa?? No cell phone??" No cell phone), but I still wanted to put this message out there. Maybe it would do some good. So I went to facebook. I have 171 friends on Facebook. And to be honest, it was terrifying to send that message to lots of them. I mean, sure, I can get over sending it to my family members, and my friends from Bible camp. Talk about easy. But the people I'm friends with but don't actually know that well? Those people who are my facebook friend because they work with my parents.? The cute guy who you don't actually talk to but miraculously became friends with on social media? Those people were scary. But I did it. And you know, so far the ceiling hasn't caved in on me, and life is going good. Stuff like this can be scary, but it's not the end of the world. If you want to see the movie trailer (It's an awesome trailer, FYI. It's almost as exciting as the full length flick) you can find it here.

God is not dead.

Even if our society has put him on the back burner,

God is not dead.

He's alive, and at work among us, and he's never going to leave us.

Because he lives, we can live for him.  

 

Blaze Dying Down

Guys! Blaze is almost done being wrote! I plan to have it done by next week. (I originally thought this week, but then I realized it was already Thursday) The last two days I've spent the evenings sprawled out across my bedroom carpet and just scribbling away madly. No internet or TV at all.
And I have got so much written. So, I thought I'd share some snippets with you leading up to the finale. Enjoy! (By the way, I've switched to first person- present tense, experimenting with how I want the final work to be, so some of them won't match tense) Also, I'm wanting to do a big bash for finishing it, so if you have questions about the story, or any of the characters or whatever, shoot them down in the comments or email and I'll have them later on :)

One of the women made it over to me just as I was finishing. I slicked my hands down my pants. "Hi." I smiled a bit.
She smiled easily. "Hello. Did you need some help?"
"I took an arrow in the arm. Got it cauterized, but my brother thinks it needs a look."
"Well then lets take a look." She seemed so happy and it was contagious.
I chuckled. "Alright." I unlaced the neck of my shirt and tugged it down so she could see.
"Well, you didn't wash it very good."
"I didn't wash it at all."
She clicked her tongue. "Oh, boys. Take that shirt off. I'll get a towel."

"Jace."
"Yeah?" He tips his head like a kid.
"I hate you."
The little rat grins. "Sorry."
I shrug and turn back so he doesn't see me try to hide a smile. "You're my brother. I'm stuck with you forever. I'll get over it."

Chet rides alongside me and glances over. "It's a crazy thing, all this, isn't it?"
"What's that?" I face him fully, pulling myself from my imagined reunion with Tara.
"This war. The big men in the capitol are the ones who started all this, but you don't see any trace of them. They send out their little soldier boys to do all the work against the likes of us."
I nod. "They wage a war they're not willing to die for."
"But we are." His voice has a puzzled tone to it.
"We care about it more than they do. It's a whim for them. Just a little more power to add to their fist. For us, it's everything."
He studies me and I shift a bit. "What?"
"Sometimes I wonder if it's worth it. I mean, everything we've already lost. Everything that there's still left to do. But..." He pauses. "I never really cared too much for looking up to others. I like to be my own person. But I see how you are. The way you're doing everything with us that you hate, so you can get back to Tara," He shrugs. "It makes me think it's worth it for me too."

The man riding next to us snorts. "I don't understand what any of this is for. Anyone can start a war. I don't see why we should die for it."
Chet speaks up, turning his horse toward the man and pretty much shoving me out of the conversation. "Then why are you here if you don't understand, and hate it so bad? Why don't you leave?"
The man shoots an uncertain look at me, like I'm going to be made at anything else he could say. When I say nothing he turns back to Chet and shrugs a shoulder. "No reason. I guess I will leave." He starts to turn away.
"Hold up." Chet says, his voice cool and even. "Leave the horse and sword." 
The man scowls. "They're mine."
Chet's eyebrow quirks up. "They were both won in a battle, fighting for a cause you don't believe in. If you go, they stay here."
He glares and I wait to see if there will be a response. Like most men, He shrinks back from Chet. He mutters a curse and slides his mount over several horses from us. Chet glances at me. "What did he say to me?"
"Nothing." I say, preferring to spare a fist fight today.
Chet smirks. "I thought so."

Asher's frown deepens. "do you see that?"
I follow the line of his finger to a dust plume several miles out.
I nod. "Yeah, I see it..."
"Soldiers." Chet cuts in.
I frown and hope he's wrong.
Jace rides up, jerking his horse to a halt. "Look over there."
He waves an arm and I look in the opposite direction. My breath hisses out between my teeth when I see another dust column.
Asher pulls up sharply. "We can't go forward."
"They'll box us in." Jace finishes.
"They might anyway."

The Sacred Search

This isn't really a book review, as I haven't finished the book yet, but it has to do with the book.
This is totally not the type of book I usually read. It's actually a Bible study. My aunt and cousin asked me and Minion 1 to do it with them, and it's turned out to be way too much fun.
The book is about making sure you're ready for marriage, or dating. Whichever stage of the game you are in. While reading it, there's been some of the obvious things like-
Make sure you're both Christians.

But I've also learned some very cool things that I had never realized before, and I thought I made share them with you, in a more Gospel according to Maddie sort of way.
I'm not currently dating anyone (I've never actually had a boyfriend), but this stuff is good to know whether you're not dating yet, dating, engaged, whatever.

Lesson #1 I learned: Stop with the lists.
I've heard so many girls do this. They make a big list of what they want their perfect husband to be like, and they refuse to date anyone who doesn't meet those exact standards. (I'm not talking like the important things. You shouldn't compromise on them. But some girls will die over a mole hill). This book has helped me realize, that while I have a list for what I want my guy to be like, the guys around me have a list for what they want their girl to be like. Am I living up to that? Not saying I have to be perfect. But neither do the guys. We should both be striving to be the best partner we can be for each other, and not be nit-picky about little things.

Lesson #2 I learned: There isn't just one.
In the book, it told how in ancient times people believed humans used to be just blobs that were both male and female, and because of power struggles, the gods (thank Percy Jackson's grandpa) split them in two- making male and female. The point of this was to weaken humans by making them constantly search for their other half and they would be miserable until they found them. Obviously, this isn't true. The Bible doesn't say anywhere that there is only one man (I'm assuming I have all girl readers, but guys can insert gal) that we can marry and be happy. The Bible actually leads us to believe that there are plenty of perfectly reasonable choices, and when we've considered all the facts (are they a Christian, do we have similar goals in life, can he provide for a family, etc.) it comes down to which one do we like better. (A lot of people will throw out that God specifically chose wives for men in the Bible, but that was only the people in Jesus' family line. Jesus had to have specific lineage, so God chose the husbands and wives.)
Simple isn't it? This was great for me because it has long been my fear that I will marry someone and find out I married the wrong guy and my life will be ruined. Not so people. We could have five guys that are totally the same. Equal spirituality, equal situations. Nothing that screams this is the one God has picked for you. And you know what? We would get to pick the guy we like best, and there wouldn't be this  terror that we made the wrong choice. As long as we are walking in God's will in our life, what we choose will automatically be what he wants for us.

Lesson #3 I learned: Get out and find the guy!
This is another one I've come across a lot. I've read a lot of places where it says its wrong to go looking for a dating partner or spouse. They say that you should wait for God to bring the person.
I'll agree with that to a certain extent. It is wrong to flaunt yourself and throw yourself at people in a desperate attempt to get a relationship. But if you're truly ready to start pursuing a relationship, it makes no sense to not start pursuing. These things literally act like you shouldn't talk to guys, show any interest at all, and just wait for God to drop him in your lap with a ring. Not realistic. We are allowed to get out and meet people and try out relationships (smartly) and move on if its not right.

That's all I got, but I thought you guys might find these as interesting and helpful as I did.

Movie Night With Writers

Hi guys! Hope you had a great weekend. Mine wasn't too shabby at all.
You might be pleased to know that I actually have a topic for todays post. (Or maybe you're not. Maybe you like it when I ramble on incessantly. Sorry to disappoint)

 Last night, we watched Saving Mr. Banks- it's a new movie about how the Mary Poppins movie came to be made.
And as I was sitting there watching Mrs. Travers shoot down every idea the Disney crew had, I couldn't help but pretty much hate her. She was bossy, she was inconsiderate, she was ridiculous in her demands. I mean, don't get me wrong, if someone wanted to make a movie out of my story- it would be a miracle- I would want them to do it right. But I wouldn't ban the color red from the film.
I think the movie really should have been called Saving Mrs. Travers, because she didn't become all that loveable right up until the end. You should watch it. Honest. But anyway-

That got me to thinking about other writers in film. You remember Alex Rover from Nim's Island? (The female writer, not the awesome dude with the accent)

Unlike our Mrs. Travers, she isn't cruel and snobbish.

She's "borderline" agoraphobic.

She's crazy.

You go the whole movie screaming at her to pull it together.

 

Writers on the big screen all seem to follow this trend. Insane with a serving of holier-than-thou.

Why is that?

Literary writers are nothing of the sort. At least none that I've encountered.
Take Jo March from Little Women. We all love her to death. Sure, she's a bit of a boss, but in a sisterly sort of way. She's a little bit crazy, but be honest, who doesn't love to dress up? I do it every chance I can get.
Or Rose from the Healers Apprentice. She writes stories- which she shouldn't do- and it's one of the things readers love about her. She's not the least bit crazy or demanding in any way.
Let's not forget Meggie from Inkheart. True, her writing throws a lot of danger in her lap, but you wont find a bit of agoraphobia or anti-fun characteristics in her.

 

Which got me to thinking even more (watch out, things can get dangerous when I think).
Which one is true? Are all writers insane and mean? Are all writers just typical human beings?
According to Pinterest we're all crazy. But since when can we trust the internet?

 

So I decided to look to the writer I know best.

Maddie.

Yeah.

Here's what I found out.

1. I am bossy. But I'm the oldest sister. It's an unwritten law and I refuse to consider otherwise.
2. While I do like my time in the house, I am not at all afraid to go outside and get my mail.
3. I hate hand sanitizer.
4. I do not like cats any older than a month old, so there is no danger of me becoming a crazy cat lady.
5. I do like things to be just so, but I will occasionally let it be other people's so's. (Like when Minion 1 points out that I can't write about that guy because he died back in chapter six)
6. True to the internet version of a writer, I do talk about my characters as if they are real. BUT, I do not talk directly TO them.
7. I'm not crazy. *all my friends start shouting out evidence to the contrary*
8. So, I'm a little bit crazy, but so far, no one has screamed at me about it, so I guess I'm fine.
9. I will always play dress-up. And when I play, I will always be the prince/guard/knight guy. Because I've outgrown the princess dresses, and the Minions fail miserably when it comes to pretending to be charming.

I think we can safely conclude that writers are neither horrible (how could such great things as books come from something horrid?), nor are they completely out of their minds- they simply excuse themselves from sanity from time to time.

It's either that or I'm the friendliest, most normal writer in existence...That's a scary thought.