Cerebral Lunchbox

Wednesday Writer Club: Keep up the steam with Nano-Write or Die!

2011-11-09T06:00:00.000-06:00

If you're on the NaNo train, you're in your second week. Hopefully you have a good idea of what your plan is, and have been riding the wave of excitement and inspiration.

For me, the second week was probably the hardest. I had blown through a ton of extra words, but then the second week, I started having a really hard time keeping up the pace.

One of the things that really helped me was pushing myself through writing sprints (thanks, Twitter!) and using Write or Die by Dr Wicked.

It's a simple and brilliant concept. You set a goal (either time or word count) and begin typing. As long as you keep going, you'll be fine.

But bad things happen if you stop.

*Thunderclap and evil laughter*

You can set the level of intensity, from gentle reminders, to the point where your words will slowly be erased if you procrastinate.

If you need a kick in the pants and the coffee just isn't quite strong enough, give it a try.

Geeky Girl Tuesday: Guilty Pleasure Movies

2011-11-08T06:00:00.000-06:00

It's time for another edition of Guilty Pleasure Movies!

Today it's another movie from my childhood. It's one that I'm convinced helped spur my love of books and reading, along with a slightly unhealthy belief that a good portion of what I was reading just might be true.

It's The Neverending Story, a great fantasy movie that celebrates imagination, discovering confidence, and finding your purpose.

Wednesday Writer Club: Outlining for Nano?

2011-11-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

Congrats to all of you that have jumped into the NaNoWriMo pool!

I have to admit that I'm a little jealous.

Maybe that's why this month, all of my Wednesday Writer Club posts will be NaNo themed.

So lets say you have your idea, but don't know where to go from there?

Don't worry, it's still early in the game, with a few pots of coffee and a couple of late nights you can still catch up!

I really can't encourage you enough to write an outline for NaNo. It'll give you somewhere to go on those dark times that you've realized you're a hack and should never have tried this experiment (because I'm pretty sure all NaNo-ers have gone through this at least once).

I've tried traditional outlines before, but they lacked the depth that I needed in those times. Last year when I went through NaNo, I stumbled across the Snowflake Method of outlining.

The method is a bit intense, and may be a bit time consuming, but by the time you finish, you'll have an amazingly detailed outline and understanding of your characters that will make writing your novel that much easier.

(But don't worry, Pantsers, I changed quite a bit from my outline to my draft. But it all fit well, because I knew the broader strokes of the story and the intricacies of the characters well).

There are 10 steps to the outline (feel free to skip some of the latter ones if you'd like), each one taking your story one level deeper.

You start with a sentence, then move to a paragraph, then develop your character's motivation, etc.

If this sounds like something you'd enjoy, need, or would like to use to procrastinate, check out the more detailed explanation here.

Happy writing everybody, and good luck on your first week of NaNo!

Geeky Girl Tuesday: It's Free! (Sort-of)

2011-11-01T07:50:00.001-05:00

You may or may not remember my ravings about DC Universe during the ABC Challenge. I've been quiet about it for a while, because I stopped playing.

There were some issues that I had with the game: 1) low server population, 2) the monthly fee.

You see, when there aren't many people playing a cooperative game, it makes it very hard to achieve some of the higher level gameplay.

As for the monthly fee...well, let's just say student loans took precedence.

But now, DC Universe has made a couple of great decisions. They've merged a lot of the servers, so there's a higher population, and

They're free to play!

Sort of.

You still have to buy the game (if you haven't already), but starting today, you can play without a monthly subscription.

There are now three levels of game play:

Free--A entry level view of the game, with limited character slots.
Premium--If you spend $5 on DLC (downloadable content) or inventory slots, you get to create more characters and have more benefits.
Legendary--If you pay the $14.99 a month fee, you get the top tier of gameplay, with all the bells and whistles that came with the original game.

It's a great game for casual players (no hour long raiding nights like with another MMO we all know), and now that it's free to play, I hope that it gets the attention it deserves.

Taking Liberty -- Part 26

2011-10-27T08:03:00.000-05:00

Well faithful few, here we go. I don't think it'll be much longer before we find out what happens to Liberty and Elizabeth.

If you have no idea what exactly is going on, make sure you check out my Taking Liberty page. It has an explanation, links to all the story parts, and summaries if you're short on time.

Liberty took another step toward me. With each inch she crossed, I could feel waves of energy ripple toward me. Each slap of it made me feel a little weaker, a little less substantial. I tried to close my eyes and block it out, make it go away like I could once manage. I could feel the lids slide closed, but Liberty was still there in front of me.

I was slipping away.

Liberty had stopped stalking me. Now she was standing, squinting at me.

"What does it feel like for you? Does it feel empty, lonely?"

I heard a whimpering, and for a moment thought I might have managed to make the sound. But then I realized that it wasn't just Liberty and I in the room.

James.

Without actually moving, I found myself next to James. Inches from his face.

"You have to help me." I whispered, and knew that nothing audible was said.

His eyes got wider, and he looked up at Liberty. "I can't."

I could hear Liberty moving quickly behind me. "Then I'm sorry. I really am."

I pushed myself toward him. It felt like I was jumping into an icy lake, freezing me to the core.

Then there was darkness.

I opened my eyes and looked up at Liberty. I pushed myself up with a power I wasn't used to and staggered.

"We're not so different after all, are we Elizabeth? Both willing to take what isn't ours."

She leaned forward and brushed her hand across my arm. I could feel the sensation, but it was disconnected in a way. Distant.

I heard James whimpering again. This time it was louder.

"Don't worry, James. This part'll be over soon." I whispered to him. "But I'm afraid it's going to hurt you more than it hurts me."

I clenched my fist, feeling James' muscles ripple, and charged at Liberty.

I think this just might put a damper on the Elizabeth/James romance. Not sure you can really be with a person after they've been that...close to you.

Hope you enjoyed and you stick around for next week's episode!

Wednesday Writer Club: Getting started for NaNo

2011-10-26T06:00:00.000-05:00

Sadly this year I won't be taking part in NaNoWriMo. With a new job and a baby on the way, life has me pulled in too many directions to start a new project.

But I took part last year, and I have to say, it was an amazing experience.

So for any of you that might be looking of tips on making it through NaNo or looking for procrastination, I thought during this NaNo season, I'd offer my two cents.

Today, we're looking at a way to get started on NaNo. For many writers, having a moment of inspiration is the easy part. But if you are having a hard time getting started, here's a few places to go to look for a spark to get your flame going:

Plot Scenario Generator
Each time you refresh the page, you get a starting scenario and a secondary conflict. Most of them are generic enough they could work for any genre. Every now and then, though you get a suggestion from left field.

Serendipity
So maybe you have an idea, but you don't know where to go after your first big scene. Serendipity will give you a plot twist to help keep you going. You can generate up to fifty plot twists at a time. Most of the suggestions edge on the silly side, but it can be a good way to loosen up your writing and getting over a rough patch.

Random Title Generator
If all else fails, sometimes just an intriguing title can give you the flicker of an idea. Try this generator and see if it works for you. Some of them are ridiculously silly, but there are some that are interesting enough that I'd pick them up in the store.

Where do you turn when you're stuck with no ideas? Any of you planning on doing NaNo this year?

Geeky Girl Tuesday: Geek up your Halloween

2011-10-25T08:37:00.000-05:00

The Halloween season is officially upon us (regardless of the tempting candy isle being around for about a month).

If you're like me, trick or treating is too much work when you can stop down said isle and treat yourself whenever you want. So instead of costume ideas or things like that, I'm going to recommend some movies to turn to when the sugar crash hits.

Beetlejuice
Ahh, the 80s. When Tim Burton's style was still new and refreshing and Michael Keaton was still making movies. A fun movie, with what is undoubtedly the best random musical number ever.

Whatever Happened to Baby Jane
A classic that is only fun if you can fully embrace the camp of an aging Bette Davis AND Joan Crawford. Now that I come to think of it, a Davis & Crawford themed party would be awesome! Prepare yourself for unabashed drama and scenery-chewing that could only be handled by these two.

Anything with Vincent Price
No really, anything with him. He is the high grand master of Halloween in my mind. Fun, cheap scares, and one of the best voices of any actor.

Craftiness--Photography and shameless self-promotion

2011-10-21T09:56:00.001-05:00

The nesting instinct is starting to take over, so expect lots of crafting and DIY posts in the next couple of months. But in the meantime, check out my side project Focused Perspective Photography.

A friend and I are starting the process of doing some photography on the side. You can see some of our work posted on our blog, as well as the occasional article about taking better pictures and hints for getting your pictures taken.

I hope you stop by and pass the word along to anyone who might live in our area.

Here's to a great weekend!

3WW Taking Liberty -- Part 25

2011-10-20T09:25:00.002-05:00

Click here for 3WW

Without a shadow of a doubt, we're close to the end now. After the events of last week, that caught even me off guard a bit, there's not much I can do to put off the face off between Elizabeth and Liberty.

But now I'm in a dilemma. Do I post the climax in one big scene or in several smaller ones?

I know that I usually don't bother when I open a page to a wall of text, so I want to avoid that if possible. I guess we all get to wait and see how wordy I get in this last stretch.

If you'd like to catch up on exactly what's going on, please check out my Taking Liberty page. It has links to each individual episode, as well as brief summaries if you want to get an overview of the story.

Liberty's eyes grew wide at the sound of the floor creaking. Even though she was looking at me, I could tell Liberty's mind was elsewhere. She took a tentative step forward. I could hear the rustling of her clothes against her skin and the soft whisper of her feet on the floor.

She was staring at her feet and hands, discovering them again, like a newborn. For a moment, she had forgotten that James and I were in the room.

"James." I whispered. James didn't move or look at me. "James--" I tried to say louder, but my voice was still barely more than a sigh.

I turned to him, reaching out a hand to touch his arm.

My movement breached Liberty's calm reflection. She looked up at me.

Her face was no longer calm, but a searing ember of fury.

"One way or another, this ends now."

Well, Liberty's made my choice for me. One way or another. For the next few days, I'll be working on the ending of Taking Liberty sans the inspiration of 3WW. I'll still be posting new segments on Thursday (however many they might be), but expect more than the little nibble we had today.

After today, it's serious business.

Hope you come back next week for the beginning of the end...for Liberty or Elizabeth (or even James), I'm not sure.

DC relaunch pt 3

2011-10-18T17:10:00.002-05:00

This is it for the number ones, guys! I haven't read all of the New 52, but overall, I think it was a successful experiment. I'm excited to see how some of these are going, and hope that DC is successful.

Check out Part One and Part Two of my reviews.

Don't forget, DC is issuing reprints of these that you may have missed, and you can always go buy an electronic copy. If you have the choice, though, go support your local comic shop.

All Star Western #1
I went into this one without any expectations. I think that might have been a good thing from what I'm hearing about it online. Jonah Hex, the most famous of DC's western stars is in Gotham hunting down a vicious killer.
Artwork: 4/5--Interesting use of really heavy inking. Some really visceral stuff here, and violence galore.
Story: 2/5-- I found the writing style a little wordy. Part of that is from the narrator of the story, but this one actually seemed to drag by.
Potential: 2/5--I think it's an interesting premise, but not a whole lot grabbed me.
Overall: 2.6/5 I'll give this one a bit more of a chance, but definitely not one of my favorites.

Aquaman #1
If you ever thought Aquaman was lame, please, please, please check out this book. You will love it. And if you thought Aquaman didn't get the respect he deserved, you'll love it too.
Artwork: 5/5--Aquaman has never looked better! Some great splash pages.
Story: 5/5--We get a general character sketch of Aquaman in several short scenes. There were a lot of great nods to his less-than-stellar record as a superhero, and an answer to the question of if he talks to fish.
Potential: 5/5--Definitely has me hooked with the clever writing style and the nice artwork. I'll be sticking with this one.
Overall: 5/5--Hands down one of my favorite of the new 52. One I hadn't even planned on picking up, but got on a whim.

Batman: The Dark Knight #1
Yup, I know, another Batman title. By this point even I am having a hard time keeping track!
Artwork: 3/5--Pretty standard comic book artwork. A couple of really good splash pages of villains, but everyone else looks overworked to me.
Story: 3/5--The first half of the book was a bit dull, as it didn't really add anything new to characterization and seemed to drag a bit. But the second half picked up and ended with a lead in for a good second one.
Potential: 3/5--This was my least favorite Batman title, but I'll still give it a try for a while and see how it goes.
Overall: 3/5--Straight middle of the road for me. Worth picking up if you're a big Batman fan.

The Flash #1
A good solid comic, but one that fades in the background of some of the better ones this week.
Artwork: 5/5--A fun, slightly animated style that fits the Flash. Some great, unusual uses of panels and nostalgic touches here and there.
Story: 4/5--A good job setting up an interesting story and introducing us to The Flash.
Potential: 3/5--While I enjoyed it, it just didn't do much for me. Maybe it was because I enjoyed Flashpoint (the huge game changing series that brought about the relaunch and centered on The Flash) so much that this felt like a bit of a letdown.
Overall: 4/5--One that I'll keep following. Hopefully it pulls away from the pack soon.

Justice League Dark #1
This was an impulse buy. I hadn't really planned on buying it, but I'm glad I did. Several of DC's magical characters are getting together to fight the forces that only they can conquer.
Artwork: 5/5--Good solid artwork all the way through, with some especially vivid (and creepy) images.
Story: 4/5--Another team comes together storyline. This one's well handled, with everyone getting a moment or two to shine. I also like how they justify the need for a magic based league.
Potential: 4/5--While I'm still a little fuzzy on some of the characters, I enjoyed this one and will definitely stick around for a while.
Overall: 4.3/5--Good comic overall, but would be hard to pick up if you were completely unfamiliar with the characters.

The Savage Hawkman #1
I literally know nothing about Hawkman besides what I've seen in a handful of Smallville episodes and DC Universe Online. But, I've been told it's a good thing, as this is a complete overhaul of the character. Even if it might be a good thing, I was still a little lost on this one.
Artwork: 3.5/5--A slightly abstracted painterly style that may alienate some. The jury's still out for me, but the Bear loved it.
Story: 3.5/5--An interesting story, and definitely sets up for a good series, but I felt a little lost in this one.
Potential: 4/5--There's enough good going on here that I want to stick around. Hopefully I start to feel a little less lost with each issue.
Overall: 3.6/5--A good comic, that has some flaws that it'll hopefully overcome.

Superman #1
Where Action Comics is Superman at the start of his career, this is after he's well established. We get to see that there are some major changes going on at the Daily Planet. And Lois...what's going on with you?
Artwork: 5/5--Don't let the cover fool you, there's some good solid artwork in here, and an amazing first splash page of the new uniform.
Story: 4.5/5--There's not a whole lot you need to know about Superman to enjoy this issue. My only caveat was that Clark got a little creepy at the end. Could have gone without the stalker-y vibe.
Potential: 5/5--Definitely one that I'll keep reading. I enjoyed this much more than Action Comics.
Overall: 4.8/5--One of the titles you should definitely be reading.

Teen Titans #1
Another title that I have limited exposure to, but I didn't feel lost. We get to see the first two members of the Teen Titans come together (if rather reluctantly).
Artwork: 4/5--Another solid, if typical comic book art. Only one really stand out splash page, but good work overall.
Story: 5/5--A good setup for a common enemy, some interesting characterization of Red Robin and Wonder Girl (although don't call her that), and a really great teaser for the next issue.
Potential: 5/5--Even though I don't know much about the Teen Titans, this book definitely drew me in and left me wanting more.
Overall: 4.6/5--Another great title that you should pick up and give a try.

Well, that's it for the regular #1s. Look out for a special Green Lantern edition some time soon and for me to highlight some of my favorites every now and then, in a blatant attempt to try and bring you over to the ~~dark~~ comic side.

Who would have ever thought that Aquaman would win this one?

Six Sentence Sunday--Taking Liberty

2011-10-16T07:52:00.000-05:00

Click here for 6 Sentence Sunday

I'm getting close to the end of my serial story Taking Liberty. It's a story that I've been writing weekly (mostly, with some gaps) based on words provided by Three Word Wednesday.

It's the story of Elizabeth and Liberty: two classmates who after Liberty dies, find themselves in a battle over possession for Elizabeth's body.

This passage comes from later in the story, when Liberty starts showing more control over the situation.

Every muscle in my body turned to rigid steel. My back slowly started arching; my bones audibly creaking. Everything around me went silent and black.

"Do you see what I can do to you? Do you really want to fight me on this?" Liberty growled inside my skull.

So what do you think? Intriguing enough to keep you reading? If you've enjoyed this, please come back for future episodes of Taking Liberty.

3WW--Taking Liberty Part 24

2011-10-13T12:30:00.001-05:00

Click here for 3WW

Well, one more step closer to the end. I've been putting off writing this one, because I haven't really had any idea where to go from here. The dangers of writing without planning, I suppose.

If you need to catch up, please check out my Taking Liberty page for all the links and brief summaries of the parts so far.

Wish me luck. Hopefully it'll live up to what I put into place last week!

Liberty stood grimacing on my stairs, her chest heaving with effort. With each noisy breath, she became a little more solid, a little more real.

James was slowly inching toward me, whether for my protection or his, I couldn't tell. Liberty's eyes followed his movement for a moment before turning to me.

"Before all . . . this" she shrugged her shoulders, "before whatever this is, you know I used to admire you? Not very often, but every now and then, I really wished I could take a piece out of your life."

Her voice quavered and she looked away from me.

"Liberty, I'm sorry. I wish I had known. But this, it can't go on."

She smiled a little at me. The smile you give a child when they talk about Santa being real.

"You're right, it can't. Look at your hand, Elizabeth."

I heard James groan behind me as I turned my head. My hand was holding the towel on my cut, but for some reason the towel was slipping out of my grasp. For a moment, I couldn't wrap my mind around it. Then there it was.

I was looking through my hand at the towel. I jerked up to face Liberty.

She took a step onto the hallway floor, and it creaked under her.

Not quite where I had planned for this to go, but I think it's an interesting twist. What do you think? This episode was short and a bit talky, hopefully next week we'll get to some action.

3WW--Taking Liberty Part 23

2011-10-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

Click here for 3WW

I hope I didn't lose too many of you by playing hooky last week. Work got really busy, and I think I'm getting a bit nervous about sticking to my guns and finish this thing.

I have to say, this whole writing without planning thing is getting a good bit harder now!

When we last left the story, Elizabeth was trying to break the news to James about her "guest," and we found out a surprising reveal about James and Liberty's relationship.

(If you need to play catch up, please check out my Taking Liberty page for summaries and links to previous episodes)

"Let me out of here, you bitch!" Liberty screamed inside my head.

The sound of her voice impacted me like a body slam, and I fell to the floor. I crashed down into a console table with my arm, and barely missed the corner with my head. Somehow I felt that my trajectory wasn't a complete accident. Even locked away in the prison I made, she was getting stronger all the time.

James rushed to my side again, but this time I was able to get up on my own.

"She doesn't want me to tell you." I said, gasping for breath as I blinked away the stars in front of my eyes.

"She--wait, you mean, she's in there with you?"

I nodded and reached my hand down to rub my elbow. The stinging I felt there rendered into a deeper burning when I felt a deep cut and a steady flow of blood.

"Jesus." I heard James say as he sprung to the kitchen. He returned and started wrapping a towel around my arm. "You might need stitches."

His voice was fading as I stared at the blood on my hand. My brain itched with some thought triggered by the sight. And the burning in my arm was spreading. The sensation was pooling in my chest, building until I was sure my rib cage would crack open and eject some awful monstrosity.

Like a flipped switch, the pain cut off. I must have jerked with surprise, because I heard James muttering apologies as he tied the towel tight around my arm.

I looked away from my hand to watch him, and saw movement out of the corner of my eye. James saw it too, because he glanced up. He let out a strange hoarse yell and backed into the wall.

I looked where I had seen the movement.

Standing at the base of my stairs was a shadowy figure. As I stared, it began to take shape.

It was Liberty.

She looked furious.

Sometimes our subconscious works out problems for us. While trying to figure out what to do for my final climax, I realized that some of the groundwork had been laid in previous episodes.

Now to just take this germ of an idea and see how this ends for everyone. I really want a happy bunny ending for everyone involved, but I'm just not sure how it'll believably happen.

What do you think? Should everyone get what they want, or should they get what they need?

Wednesday Writer Club: What makes you re-read?

2011-10-05T06:00:00.000-05:00

My husband, the Bear, thinks I'm crazy.

For lots of reasons, but today we're just going to talk about one.

You see, I re-read books.

Not a lot of them, but there are a few that I'm pretty religious about reading every so often. I think it's my own personal version of a pilgrimage.

I've had more than one person ask me why I bother reading a book when I already know the plot. (Especially when I was still teaching). Here are some of the answers that I've given through the years:

(Note: I'm not counting if you re-read books in a series before the new one comes out, that's just for a completely different reason).

I'm a different person than I was back then--I firmly believe that books like The Scarlet Letter (for example) should not be read in high school. I know that when I read it, I wrote it off completely as old-fashioned and dull. But when I re-read it as an adult, I could see it for what it was. A truly tragic story of redemption. Without my life experiences, I never really saw the big deal about Hester.
I'm sentimental--There are a few books (Anne of Green Gables, The Secret Garden, and The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe) that will always have a soft spot in my heart because they meant so much to me as a child. I find myself turning back to these books in times of stress when I need to unwind from more adult issues.
I discover something new every time--I try to read Catcher in the Rye and Jane Eyre every few years (odd combination, I know). Every time I read these two works, I find some small detail or character that brings the whole book to life again.

I want to write books that people re-read time and again. I'm not trying to kid myself and say that I'm as wonderful a writer as those I've mentioned above, but I believe even the less "heavy" of books can become a perennial favorite.

Are there books that you re-read on a regular basis? Are there any reasons that I missed?

Geeky Girl Tuesday: DC Relaunch, pt 2

2011-10-04T06:00:00.000-05:00

So for the next couple of weeks, I may sound like a broken record. Until the end of the DC relaunch, Tuesdays will be devoted to reviewing the ones that I've read and really enjoyed.

For more info on the relaunch and a view of what I've read so far, check out part one.

This week, it was (mostly) all about the ladies. I was really excited about several of these, and for the most part they didn't disappoint.

Good news: if you've missed any of The New 52, DC is issuing reprints each week, so there's still a way to get your hands on a physical copy (or if you don't mind, DC is selling digital copies as well).

Batman #1

I know, I've already written about one Batman comic. Batman is the largest franchise DC has, so there are actually several featuring Batty himself...but this one has Robin too, (and in one scene Robins-yup more than one). Less gruesome than Detective comics, and probably more along the lines of what most people expect from Batman.

Artwork: 4/5--Some good action scenes, and great title page. Very angular characters (Batman's huge chin will probably start to get on my nerves).
Story: 4.5/5--Some good groundwork, a nice introduction to all of the main players and a twist at the end that has some interesting potential for the rest of this arc.
Potential: 4.5/5--While I still liked Detective Comics better, this one is still a heavy contender and one I'll keep following.
Total: 4.3

Birds of Prey #1

I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this one since so many of the players have changed. But we still have Black Canary, and I'm very interested to see how they'll work Poison Ivy into being a heroine. Another "getting the team together" title, which is good since the average person won't know all the people on the final team.

Artwork: 3.5/4--I tend to prefer the rougher look of a more hand-drawn style as opposed to the slick air-brushed look of Birds. The figures are all well done, and aren't so over the top sexualized, which was nice.
Story: 4/5--I'm all about starting in media res, and I liked the action of this one, but I felt that Starling was left out in the cold a bit. I still know nothing about what makes her tick.
Potential: 4/5--I'll keep following this one at least until the team's together. If the characterization is still a problem, I'll probably let this one drop.
Total: 3.8

Catwoman #1

Being such a fan of Gotham City Sirens (alas, I barely got to know them), I was really excited about this title. Not so much of a story as a character sketch of Selina, it's still a good one to pick up. Plus it's got some seriously sexy pages for those lonely nights.

Artwork: 5/5--Sexy, violent, and at times funny, the artwork is a perfect reflection of the character.
Story: 4.5/5--I have no real feeling for where the story is going, but it was a great introduction to a character that many may just know as Eartha Kitt or Michelle Pfeiffer.
Potential: 4.5/5--If nothing else, you'll want to know what happens the morning after. Definitely one I'll keep following.
Total: 4.7

Supergirl #1

I'll be honest, I've never followed Supergirl before, and my only real exposure was the 1980s movie. But with the relaunch, I wanted to support as many female characters as I could, so I picked it up. A great place to start as it is a traditional origin story, no back knowledge needed.

Artwork: 4.5/5--I'm still not in love with the cover, but the inside is great. The redesign of her costume fits with the uniform idea thrown around. The final splash page is a real treat as well.
Story: 5/5--I love how you're thrown into the confusion of Kara as she wakes up on this strange world and discovers her powers for the first time. No happy bunny exploration though, this is a chaotic discovery.
Potential: 5/5--I can't wait to see where this goes from here.
Total: 4.8

Wonder Woman #1

The one that almost got away, there were literally no copies to be had in town on release day. Luckily we were able to go online and order it and still read it opening week. Not as good as I had hoped, but still a good title.

Artwork: 3.5/5--I was worried as soon as I saw the teaser cover. The artwork inside is very Saturday morning cartoon. However there are a few panels here and there that I really loved.
Story: 4/5--While I really enjoyed it (and all the Greek mythology thrown in), it could be hard to follow if someone didn't know much about Diana or her ties to Greek roots.
Potential: 5/5--What can I say, I'll stick with this no matter how bad it gets. But, the story looks promising, so I'm keeping my hopes up.
Total: 4.2

Have you picked up any new comics lately? Which ones interest you?

Wednesday Writer Club: What do readers think?

2011-09-28T06:00:00.000-05:00

If you're like me, you follow a lot of writer's blog. There's lots of great information out there about honing the craft and making sure that your work is the best that you can make it.

Then I started wondering, but what about the readers? The ones that aren't trying to plan for NaNo or know the right name for literary elements?

Surely those people have a completely different experience while reading a book than someone who's constantly on the look out for inspiration (either good or the "I can do better than this" variety).

With that in mind, periodically I'm going to interview pure readers. Those that just read for the fun of it without any ulterior motives. First up, is my husband (otherwise known around hear as the Bear):

What first got you started enjoying reading?
The Wheel of Time series. A friend introduced me to them.

What types of books, magazines, etc. do you like the most?
I enjoy cheap fantasy (magic type) novels that have simple story lines and interesting characters. I’m also prone to reading just about anything that will make me laugh. I’ve also recently discovered a love of post apocalyptic zombie survival stories. Hmmm...what if there was a survival story from the zombies POV? That could be fun.

Why do these genres interest you?
Zombies and Magic? DUH!

What have you been reading lately that you loved?
I absolutely love Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. It was funny and interesting and frankly it was so good I’ve considered reading an actual biography of Lincoln.

What made you love it?
I loved that the whole premise of the Civil War was that there were “good” vampires in the north that wanted to stop the “evil” vampires in the south from using the slave trade as an all you can eat buffet. I also loved the characterization of Lincoln in general. He’s extremely personable and still has some regalness to him that makes you really believe in his ability to lead our country.

What have you been reading lately that you didn't care for?
I’m currently reading the final trilogy in the Sword of Truth series and I have to say, while the rest of the series hasn’t really been a gem, this first book (Chainfire), really kind of sucks. It’s got EXTREMELY repetitive theme’s and the main character isn’t interesting. He’s very single minded by I can only read about how worried he is about X thing so many times on the same page

If you don't care for the series in general, why have you kept reading it?
Well the plot isn't bad, it's just the characters. And it's not even all the character. Even the bad ones aren't bad all the time. Plus at this point, I'm invested.

What advice would you give the author of this book?
When it comes to describing the emotions of a given character, make it to the point and concise. Nothing will drag down the momentum of a story like the constant whining of a character who is supposed to be a hero...I’m looking at you Richard. We know you’re worried about Kahlan, why don’t you do something about it FFS?

In general, what makes you pick up a book?
A variety of things. More often than not I read based on recommendation. Sometimes I read things that I think I might like based on other interests I have (ex - Warcraft novels because I played WoW or Star Wars books). Sometimes the cover art just looks cool and that gets me to pick it up.

What will keep you reading a book?
Generally speaking I’m not fond of over characterization. I like my characters to be somewhat simple yet likable. I’m usually much more interested in plot and how it moves forward. I like to think about how a given character will react to certain situations. The more situations and the more complex they are the more likely I am to continue reading.

There you have it folks. Here are some things to keep in mind:

Recommendations from friends are really important
Make sure you balance an interesting plot with your characterization
You can't fail with Zombie and Magic (well, with a certain population at least)

Geeky Girl Tuesday: Guilty Movie Pleasure #1

2011-09-27T06:00:00.000-05:00

You know those movies that you love, but that you are hesitant to share with others?

Well, welcome to Geeky Girl Tuesday's Guilty Movie Pleasures!

And first on the list, is one of my favorites from childhood (long before I got the lesbian subtext), that glorious example of 80s cinema and mullets:

It's a terrible movie, I know. Just about any -ist you can list, but for some reason, I still love it. Terrible accents and all. Just watch this trailer and tell me it doesn't make you feel like a kid again (if you were a kid of the 80s that is).

Crafty-ness: Creating Victorian Silhouettes

2011-09-23T09:36:00.000-05:00

If you read my "Hey, I'm not dead yet" post that marked my return to blogging, then you know that there are some big changes coming my way soon.

Along with having to change the way I eat, buy a few pairs of pants, and other not-so-fun things about pregnancy, I've also gotten a chance to do the fun things.

Mainly, planning the nursery.

When we started trying to have a baby, the Bear and I decided on a Peter Pan theme. But not the Disney Peter Pan, but the original Victorian Peter Pan.

So we've been trying to come up with ideas that would make a Victorian themed nursery, but also be safe and not break the bank.

In my head I had lots of expensive ideas built up, and eventually I had to let a lot of them go.

But one touch that I knew would bring the theme to light and be fairly inexpensive was the artwork on the walls. So after some searching online, and remembering an art project from way back in the day, I settled on creating some silhouettes.

Silhouettes were a very popular art form during the Victorian era, and can be quite beautiful. I was hesitant to use my own profile though, seeing as I've never been able to produce a Gibson Girl hairstyle.

So I decided to create Peter Pan themed silhouettes. This project is fairly easy, but time consuming. Warning: If you're a perfectionist, you might want to buy some extra paper just in case.

Supplies:

Printouts from online with a clear silhouette. Ignore colors, just look at the shape.
Paper for your background. I used scrapbooking paper in a pattern.
Paper for your silhouettes. Make sure this is heavy duty paper. Cardstock works great.
Scissors
Exacto knife

Steps:

1. After you find your pictures online, print them out (regular paper is fine) and cut them out. Here are mine after I cut them out. You can see some areas have more detail than others. This isn't as big a deal right now, but may cause you headaches later.

2. Trace your cutouts on your cardstock.

3. Using your scissors, cut out the basic shape. Use your Exacto knife to cut out detailed areas (like Hook's Hook and the spaces between Peter's arms).

4. Center and glue on your background paper. Frames with a mat really make this project pop.

This sounds fairly simple, but it can take a while to find the right shape and to get your silhouettes looking just right.

Here are some pictures of the final products:

The room still looks a little barren, but once we get the crib and curtains in place, it'll start to come together.

3WW- Taking Liberty Part 22

2011-09-22T09:57:00.004-05:00

Click here for 3WW

Thanks for all of you who've come back and stuck it through. For any new readers, I'd recommend you check out my Taking Liberty page to read all the episodes, or to read a quick summary.

Every week, I take the words supplied by ThomG at 3WW and write a mostly unplanned segment of the larger story of Elizabeth and Liberty.

When we last left, Elizabeth had gained some control over Liberty and was getting ready to let James in on her interesting situation.

"What type of things?" James furrowed his brows. The wonder in his voice had left. "What does this have to do with. . . her?"

The door in my head rattled a little louder. It couldn't be more obvious that I was racing against time to get the story told than if there was a countdown clock hanging over my head. I couldn't ease into this, it was all or nothing.

"Why did you jump into the lake to save Liberty?"

James took a step away from me. From the way he stumbled a bit, I wondered if his legs were as weak as mine were. They must have been, because he sat down on the stairs before answering me.

"I--" He swallowed, "I used to be friends with her, when we were little." He crossed his arms and leaned back on the stairs, his eyes focused somewhere behind me. "We went to daycare together, before her dad left. She was different then."

I walked over and sat next to him, putting my arm around his shoulder. He leaned his head against me and continued, his voice dulled by trying to hold back tears.

"She wasn't as . . . sad, angry. She was just a kid." He picked up his head and looked at me, a small smile on his face. "And she was really funny, too. When I saw her in the water--" His voice faltered again.

"I know." I said, hugging him closer to me.

We sat in silence for a while, and I stifled a yawn. I felt James pull away and look at me.

"You never answered my question. What does all this have to do with Liberty?"

"That day, by the lake. After you tried to save her, she got inside my head."

In the distance, I heard the door rattle again and a guttural scream echoed faintly.

"Really deep inside my head."

So not quite the fireworks I had expected, but now I think we can see why Liberty attached herself to James. It makes Liberty seem a little bit sadder to me, instead of the angry force of nature she was becoming.

But I don't think she's happy that Elizabeth has spilled the secret.

Wednesday Writer Club: Is freewriting a good idea?

2011-09-21T08:07:00.003-05:00

Last week, we discussed the importance of planning (based primarily on the lack of my own). So we're drastically switching gears this week.

What about when the purpose of the writing is to write without a plan?

In other words, freewriting.

As a former English teacher, I know many of you have probably been scarred by freewriting exercised in class. That scenario goes something like this:

Teacher: Today we're going to do freewriting!
Student: Groan.
Teacher: Don't worry it will be fun! We're going to spend five minutes writing about whatever you want!
Student: But I don't know what to write about.
Teacher: That's ok, write about that!
Then the student starts to write with heavy sighs about how there's nothing to write about.

The philosophy in this take on freewriting is that writing of any type increases fluency in the language. The very act of writing itself (even if it's the same sentence over and over) decreases the fear of the written word.

I'm guilty of various scenarios like the one above, and I don't buy it.

You have to do more than just write anything. Especially if you're really wanting to sharpen your craft. But there is a place for freewriting in an author's toolbox. Freewriting is a way to examine aspects of writing without having to worry about plot, characterization, or pacing.

Here are some ideas for freewriting that may help get you going when you're feeling a bit of fear creeping in or have an encounter with writer's block:

Emotions: Write about a person who is angry, sad, happy, etc. If you practice with a generic person, you'll find it easier to hone in on the details in your "real" writing without having to resort to "She was happy."
Sensory Images: We're pretty good about visual images, but what about the other senses? When's the last time you had to describe the texture of something? It can be pretty difficult. Try using all the senses except for sight to describe something.
Alternate Words: Do you find yourself using the same word to describe something over and over? Do your characters always say something with chagrin? (I'm looking at you Stephanie Meyer). Sometimes just listing from your own vocabulary, which will sound more natural than pulling out a thesaurus, can help you stop using the crutch of your favorite words.

What other types of freewriting do you employ? Is it helpful or does it just fill the space for you?

Geeky Girl Tuesday: DC Comics Relaunch & Reviews

2011-09-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

If you didn't follow me during the A to Z Challenge, you might not realize it, but I'm a comic book fan. Specifically DC comics. While Marvel definitely comes out with better live-action movies, DC has them beat when it comes to comics themselves.

Beginning this September, DC has streamlined its list of comic titles to 52, relaunching all of them back to number one. (Check out these CNN and NPR articles for a better breakdown). DC is also launching digital downloads of comics available the same day as print ($2.99, same price as printed) or back issues for $1.99.

This is a pretty huge deal for some of these comics that have been around since the 1940s. There's lots of hints that there are some big changes down the pike for some of the most iconic characters in American Comics.

Now is a great time to get into the comic scene if you've been hesitant before. Don't forget, shop your local comic scene first, but if all else fails, there's always the digital downloads if you just can't find some of these.

Here's a quick and dirty breakdown of the #1s that I've read so far:

Justice League #1
This was a great way to initiate the reboot. Lots of humor in the form of Green Lantern and angsty-darkness in the form of Batman. From this book, we'll get to watch as the league slowly comes together one by one.

Artwork: 5/5--crisp lines, great action panels, and really great final splash page
Story: 5/5--Great world building, hints at future issues
Potential: 10/10--One I'll definitely keep reading
Overall: 5/5

Action Comics #1
Less Truth, Justice, and American way and more attitude, arrogance, and . . . jeans? I have to say this one didn't quite do it for me, even though I'm glad Superman is less of a boyscout than he usually is.

Artwork: 4/5--some of the faces and people were less than stellar (I'm looking at you chunky Lex), but the final climax and splash page was really good
Story: 3/5--It seemed like a lot of pomp and circumstance. There's not really a feel for where this one will go
Potential: 3/5--I'll keep reading, if only until he ditches the jeans and work boots
Overall: 3.3/5

Detective Comics #1
As creepy and intense as we've all come to expect from Batman. Warning, this one is not for the faint of heart and includes some pretty intense violence. Not your Saturday Morning version of Batman.

Artwork: 5/5--If the ending splash page doesn't stick with you, you've seen way too much in your lifetime.
Story: 5/5--Sets up some good groundwork for later in the series.
Potential: 5/5--I'm a sucker for Batty, so I'll definitely be sticking around with this one.
Overall: 5/5

Batgirl #1
Barbara Gordon, the original Batgirl is back in action. This caused a bit of an uproar in that for years she's been a paraplegic. I think the switch over is handled well, and we can see that even if she can walk, she's not really fully healed yet. Written by the first lady of comics herself Gail Simone.

Artwork: 4.5/5--After an amazing cover, some of the panels and proportions were a bit awkward
Story: 5/5--This is why I <3 Gail Simone. In just one issue, we have groundwork laid perfectly and a really clear sense of who Barbara/Batgirl is
Potential: 5/5--I'll definitely be sticking around to see how this one unfolds
Overall: 4.8/5

Justice League International #1
You've probably never heard of Booster Gold, and that would really hurt him. Watch Booster (notorious fame whore) try and build an international team of superheroes. They feel a bit like the Bad News Bears now, but with time I have a feeling they'll pull it together.

Artwork: 3/5--Standard comic book artwork. Consistent and nice, but nothing outstanding
Story: 5/5--No centralized villain yet, but good character groundwork.
Potential: 4/5--This one could go either way, based on future issues, but for now, I'll be sticking with.
Overall: 4/5

Batwoman #1
Thank God this one's out finally. They've been teasing it for over a year and decided to hold it until the relaunch. Before this I knew virtually nothing about Batwoman, other than she's one of the first gay superheroes.

Artwork: 5/5--At once beautiful and unsettling, the artwork in this book is completely unique
Story: 4/5--They try to fit a lot of backstory in this one, and it left me more confused than enlightened. Good central villain/conflict groundwork, though
Potential: 4/5--I was disappointed in this one, but that may be because I know so little of her story and was left out. I'll stick with it a bit longer
Overall: 4.3/5

Suicide Squad #1
I'll admit, the only reason I picked this one up is because of Harley Quinn. I've always loved her crazy and really dysfunctional character. The Suicide Squad is a group of Belle Reve Penitentiary's finest, who've been chosen for only the most dangerous missions.

Artwork: 4/5--Some really intensely creepy scenes that are skillfully drawn, but then turns more standard as it nears the end.
Story: 4.5/5--Another "meet the team" book, but I found that not all the characters really interested me that much (looking at you shark-guy)
Potential: 3/5--Not digging the really sexualized Harley, but I'll stick with it a while before giving up on it
Overall 3.8/5

Let me know if any of these peaked your interest. And since these are all monthlies, you still have time to find a copy of the first issue to catch up.

Movie Review: Rise of the Planet of the Apes (or If you give an Ape a Cookie . . .)

2011-09-19T12:41:00.001-05:00

So this past Sunday, the Bear and I finally got around to seeing Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

I have to say I unequivocally loved it.

Was it a bit cheesy in parts, yes. And you did have to suspend some belief (or takes some things for granted) in the final act, but everything leading up to that point made you willing to go with them.

The CGI work on Caesar was amazing, and he really felt like a genuine character to me, even more than Gollum did in the LOTR movies.

There were lots of little nods to the original film that you would miss if you weren't a dorky fan like I am. But there were also some great big nods (just wait for the scene with the "damn, dirty apes" line and see if it doesn't grab you).

And the groundwork they laid to bring about the fall of mankind was well thought out, and plausible in the world of the movie.

I'm telling you, it's enough to make me forget that Mark Wahlberg ever made a PotA movie.

It does make me really nervous about Chips Ahoy though. They're the cookies of the revolution.

3WW-Taking Liberty Part 21

2011-09-15T12:42:00.003-05:00

Click here for 3WW

Do you get the feeling we're in the home stretch on this? I do. I have to admit there are times that it's very hard to restrain myself to sticking to this schedule. I might have to include some bonus entries here soon.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, check out my Taking Liberty page for links to all the parts of the story, and a quick summary if you're short for time.

When we last left the girls, Liberty had just asserted more . . . control over Elizabeth.

"No, Liberty! You can't do this to me." I screamed, pushing myself backwards off the wall. Echoing through my bones, I heard the crash of a door slamming shut.

I collided with James, his eyes even bigger than before.

"Lib--"

I pushed my hands against his mouth, cutting off the name. I could already feel her stirring inside, and I wasn't sure if his voice would summon her or not. My knees were starting to shake and my hands were trembling as I slowly eased them off of James.

"Don't say it." I said, leaning back against the wall. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

Somewhere deep inside my mind, I could feel her squirming, wondering what was going on. I thought about the door I had heard. As I remembered the noise, I could see a large oak door in my mind. There were boards nailed across it and even a padlock or two.

She was behind that door. The door I had made. The knob rattled, and I could hear her banging on the other side, but she was in there. And I had done it.

For now, I was free of her.

I opened my eyes and looked at James. He was gaping at me, arms limp at the sides.

"Your hair, your eyes, they're. . . different again."

I looked at the mirror behind me. I looked like my normal self again. A more exhausted version, but myself. Turning, I tried to find the strength to look James in the eye.

"I might have omitted a few things about our . . . relationship." I said.

Crap! I guess next week will be the moment of truth. I have to figure out how James will handle the big reveal. I'm glad Elizabeth is taking control, even if it might be just for now.

And I bet Liberty will be pissed when she finds a way out from behind that door.

Wednesday Writer Club: Importance of planning

2011-09-14T08:51:00.000-05:00

You might have noticed that this post is not up as early as my posts usually are. That's because I broke a cardinal rule for the serious writer.

I didn't plan.

You see, I had originally thought to write this wonderful, insightful, and inspiring post using a really crappy passage of mine and the new improved one that I recently edited.

But last night, when I sat down to write the post, I realized I deleted the crappy original.

So there went my idea. And my chances for being wonderful, insightful, and inspiring.

But then I realized that I was just a perfect example of what often goes wrong. When an author neglects to plan, they end up with pieces missing, or never getting started at all.

Now, before you start yelling about the joys of writing by the seat of your pants, remember that I have a whole feature dedicated to that. I'm not saying that you have to do an in-depth planning session for every short story or poem you write, but you do need to have some basic things in place.

Even if you just plan in your mind, you should have the following things planned out before you start writing:

Who is your protagonist? Don't worry about the details of physical description, unless they're important to the story (a la Harry Potter's Scar). Instead, think of who they are and what they want.
What is your conflict? Every good story needs a conflict at the heart. No one wants to read about a character that's perfect in every way and never runs into any trouble. Conflict is what gets us initially involved in a story.
What's your endgame? Even if you do change the ending while you're writing, it's useful to have the final goal in mind. It gives you a destination, so you can focus on the journey while writing. Otherwise, your characters and plot will wander the desert, trying to find some kind of meaning.

Those are the barest of bones when it comes to writing. What other "musts" are there that you must plan before you need to get started?

Geeky Girl Tuesday: She'll never have a chance. . . Geekery started early

2011-09-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

So if you read my big "Hey, I'm not dead yet!" post a couple of weeks back, then you know that the Bear and I are expecting a little girl at the end of the year.

So along with reading all the standard pregnancy books and a lot of books on natural childbirth (with some lovely illustrations, btw), I've also been looking at all the paraphernalia that goes along with having offspring.

But, I can't just go with the standard buttons and bows. Nope. With parents like us, our kid has no chance of escaping the geekiness. So, if there's no escape, why not embrace it? Here are some of my favorite really geeky baby items:

So babies are super right? And your baby is the most super of them all, right?

Well, now you can show how super you think your baby is with a superhero onesie. You can choose from the whole Justice League (well, except for Aquaman and Martian Manhunter, who everyone forgets anyway). I bet you can guess which one we're getting first.

Check them out at ThinkGeek.com

These next onsies are both from the videogamedecals store on Etsy. If you like these, make sure you check out the store, because there's a lot more goodies in there.

That's just the tip of the iceberg, too. There's also cybermen, Adipose, and lots of Tardises (or Tardi? Has anyone figured out theplural of Tardis?).

So what are your little geeky loves that you hope to pass on to the littleones in your life (or future, or of the type you can send home with someoneelse)?

Six Sentence Sunday

2011-09-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

This excerpt comes from the beginning of my serial story, Taking Liberty. Elizabeth is at her classmate's funeral trying to comfort a friend.

I reached out to take her hand and give the blanket cliches that cover the ground at funerals.

The words caught in my throat. My hand was shimmering, changing before my eyes. I was vibrating, shot through with electricity, melting. Some...Other was waiting behind a dark curtain in my mind. I could feel it there waiting.

Hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to check out the rest of the story if you're so inclined. Looking forward to seeing everyone else's great entries!

3WW-Taking Liberty part 20

2011-09-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

Click here for 3WW

Thanks for coming back. If you're not familiar with what I'm doing here, I'd check out the Taking Liberty page for a breakdown of the story so far.

Taking Liberty is a serial story that I've been writing using the help of the folks at Three Word Wednesday. I've made it so far into the story with minimal planning, and I sense that we're getting close to the end of our journey.

Let's see what comes next.

I couldn't make the words come, even in my mind. I felt myself eroding away under each wave of pain that hit me.

"That's what I thought."

Suddenly, I was released. Before I could even grasp the concept, the scream that the torture had been blocking ripped from my throat. I felt James' arms tighten around me. I looked at him and tried to speak again. He shook his head and started stroking my forehead.

"I'm going to call 911. We need to get you to a hospital."

I felt a tightening around my heart and wondered if I might be dying or if Liberty was still making a point. Caution was called for.

I shook my head, "No, I just need to rest a bit."

James stared at me a long time. Not the loving gaze I had been treated to earlier, but the keen observation of a scientist studying a lab rat for odd behavior.

"Are you sure?"

I nodded again and he helped me to my feet. He put his hands on my shoulders to steady me. My legs were still weak and I fell into him. I looked up, trying to think of something funny to say to break the tension.

He stared again, "I really think you should go to the hospital, this is weird."

"It's nothing, I just fainted--"

"No, Elizabeth. Your eyes. There's something wrong with them. Didn't they used to be blue?"

I pulled away from him, trusting my legs to get me to the hallway mirror. I planted both hands on either side and leaned in, looking at my reflection.

"And your hair" James' voice trailed off.

In the mirror stared back a girl that definitely wasn't me, but could have been my sister.

My sister with brown hair and brown eyes.

If this was a traditional ghost movie, this is the point I would start yelling at the screen, "Get out of the house now!"

But what's Elizabeth supposed to do, the house is her body?

Wednesday Writer Club: Is fear affecting your writing?

2011-09-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

Last Wednesday Writer Club I mentioned Stephen King's great book On Writing. It's only one of many books that I turn to for guidance and inspiration.

So in a sub-feature section, I plan on pulling quotes from some of these books that I find especially meaningful to where I am as a writer (and you'll hopefully find useful as well).

Today's quote comes from a brief section on grammar in King's book (don't worry, we won't be diagramming sentences...even if I do find that a little fun). Instead it takes and interesting view on how fear in our writing can affect even the language and structure that we chose:

"I'm convinced that fear is at the root of most bad writing. If one is writing for one's own pleasure, that fear may be mild--timidity is the word I've used here. If, however, one is working under deadline--a school paper, a newspaper article, the SAT writing sample--that fear may be intense. Dumbo got airborne with the help of a magic feather; you may feel the urge to grasp a passive verb or one of those nasty adverbs for the same reason. Just remember before you do that Dumbo didn't need the feather; the magic was in him." King, On Writing, pg 127.

I know I'm guilty of this. Especially when I'm still feeling my way through a story, or getting to know the characters, or simply afraid to dive in. When I'm in those spots, I tend to write like this:

Karen angrily stomped across the room, and tossed her hair wildly. "I can't believe you would do that." she said disbelievingly.

Sometimes sentences like that are enough to make me want to throw in the towel. My particular fear-writing crutches are lots and lots of adverbs. I just can't believe that my poor little verbs can make it on their own, so I prop them up with so much filler.

But, once I get over that place of fear (fear of "is this story stupid?", "will anyone besides me like this", or "is it even worth the effort?"), I find myself naturally shedding those extra words.

When we write out of a place of fear, our writing suffers. This is why things like NaNo, Writing at Gunpoint, and Write or Die are such great places of inspiration. They help get the fear out of the way and let your writing free.

How does fear manifest in your writing? How do you get rid of it?

Geeky Girl Tuesday: Bump in the Night

2011-09-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

Today I'm doing a game review, but it's a different type of game review than I've normally done.

You only need the board and a group of friends to play this one. Yup, we're going old school today.

We have a group of friends that periodically meets to play board games. Sometimes it's the standards like uno, but most of the time it's something a bit more...exotic than the average Monopoly game.

This past week we played a game called Bump in the Night. The premise of the game is that you're a group of monsters that lives in a haunted house. A group of young girls has wandered in, and it's your job to scare the bejezzus out of them to the point where they pass out or run out of the house.

Sounds like a bit of guilty fun doesn't it?

Overall, I do have to say it was a lot of fun.

Once we got started. The thing with this game is that the directions aren't always the clearest, to the point that people have gone online and written their own clarified rules. You will have to end up creating some house rules on some of the more confusing rules, but once you have those in place you'll roll along pretty quickly.

The game can run very quickly or long, based on how vindictive your particular crowd is. We didn't behave too badly, so the game lasted about an hour.

It does take a little bit of strategy and thinking to get everything just right to terrify the girls, but the good news is that you can't really die. So it's a pretty even playing field, and you don't have to worry about someone getting knocked out of the game really early.

This is a really fun game, that with some patience the first couple of times you play will really be a good group game. Best for quirky groups that want to get together and play something beyond Sorry or heaven help us, Risk.

What types of group games do you play? Board games like this or more traditional?

3WW--"Taking Liberty" Part 19

2011-09-01T04:00:00.000-05:00

Click here to visit 3WW

While the fire may have faded on this one, the fact that I hadn't finished "Taking Liberty" was one of the things that spurred me on to get back to writing and blogging.

If you're a newcomer or have a terrible memory, like me, then let me fill you in. The great ThomG at Three Word Wednesday posts three words every week to use as a writing prompt for poets, essayists, and other writers to use.

I started way back in last September with a little character sketch of a nameless little girl. That character stuck in my brain, and started bugging me to write about her.

Shortly after I started the experiment of "Taking Liberty" a serial story that uses the 3WW words every week as a starting point. I've managed to make it this far without any real planning and enjoy the writing by the seat of my pants pressure to keep me going.

As far as my plans for the story go, I will continue to post new sections each Thursday (to give me a little more breathing room to get the story up) until it is finished. After that I plan on taking it through revisions and eventually self-publishing the final version.

In future posts, look for ways to win a free copy of the final version.

But before we get to that point, I have to finish. If you need to get caught up, you can find links to all the parts and a synopsis of the story so far on my Taking Liberty page. Let's see where this takes us today!

After a long moment, I looked down at my feet, breaking James' penetrating gaze.

"I'm not sure what to say." I mumbled. "I just--"

I'm not really sure what I had planned to say just then, but apparently Liberty didn't like the direction I was going.

The breath caught in my throat, and a roar filled my ears. My legs trembled and dropped my weight to the floor. The light around me started to grow dim, but this was different than when she usually took over. This was pain. I felt my hands clutching at my shirt and couldn't stop them. I was shaking all over, my feet slamming into the floor.

I could hear James yelling something. I could sense him on the floor, dragging me closer to him, trying to hold my body steady.

Suddenly every muscle in my body went rigid. I could feel my back arch to the point that I felt like I was going to break in two. Everything around me went silent and black.

"Do you see what I can do to you? Do you really want to fight me on this?" Liberty growled inside my skull.

Holy cow, Liberty's starting to freak me out now, too. So now Elizabeth has to find a way to deal with this situation, but without letting Liberty catch on. What do you think, was this episode all mental, or do you think Liberty actually has the power to kill Elizabeth from the inside?

Stay tuned for next week, and we'll both see what happens!

Wednesday Writer Club: Getting Back in the Saddle

2011-08-31T04:00:00.000-05:00

So how many of you have started writing and then everything just dried up?

Be honest...we've all been there.

If you're anything like me, it's happened multiple times. I've gone through at least three major sections of my life where I didn't write. Some of it was lack of motivation or taking my writing seriously, sometimes it was really just being too busy (or worried about making enough money to pay the bills, or having some major life change throw you for a loop.

I think that's the true difference between true writers (published, public, or secretive) and those that just play at it. Real writers come back.

But it's hard. It's really hard.

So what do you do when you want to start writing again, but don't know where to begin? Here are some tips that have helped me:

Read books about writing. For me, just reading fiction I enjoy isn't enough. I have to get the push and writing ideas from books about perfecting the craft. Two of my favorites are On Writing and Bird by Bird.
Set goals--but make them small. Start out saying you'll write one paragraph a day. Hell, in some books a paragraph can be one sentence or a whole page. Make your paragraph whatever length works for you.
Write fanfiction. I know, I know, a lot of people think it's a terrible thing. And clearly it'll never get published, but if you're really having to get over the hurdle of coming up with characters and settings, a little fanfiction can be enough to get the wind back in your sails.
Procrastinate by other types of writing. Where do you think 80% of the worlds blogs come from?* Authors that are putting off writing their masterpiece. But really, writing anything for me, even silly posts gets my brain working in the right way to move on to other things.

So what about you? If you've put off writing, what helped you get back to it?

*Completely fabricated statistic, but it sounds pretty authentic, huh?

Geeky Girl Tuesday: Let's Kill Hitler

2011-08-30T04:00:00.000-05:00

I thought with my inaugural post for Geeky Girl Tuesday, I would start off with what is one of my geekiest obsessions, but also one of the most successful blog topics: Doctor Who.

The newest season of Doctor Who returned after a summer hiatus this Saturday with the brand new episode "Let's Kill Hitler."

While trying to keep away from spoilers and reviewing the episode in general (there are more than enough more qualified people than I doing this out there on the web), I really thought this episode deserved a little spotlight on my blog. This episode was a great example of why I think Doctor Who has really taken off in America under the current writing of Steven Moffat.

An episode that can stand on its own two feet, but also involves the greater story arc of the season. (One of my major problems with the finales under Russell T. Davies' stint: they all just came out of nowhere).
Lots and lots of humor, but also some pretty strong emotions. From putting Hitler into a cupboard to the near death of a main character, this episode had both sides of the spectrum.
Amy and Rory, who are quickly climbing the list of favorite companions.
Payoffs. You have to give it to Moffat for giving us lots of little payoffs along the way in this season. From the big reveal before the hiatus, to some pretty big moments in this episode, we're getting pieces to the puzzle all along the way.

If you're a Doctor Who fan, I'd like to hear what you think about how this season is going. Do you like the big twists we're seeing along the way?

If you're not a fan, check out episodes on Netflix or Amazon Prime and see what you're missing. I promise your geeky side will thank you.

I haven't died, I promise...

2011-08-29T17:46:00.000-05:00

But life has been changing quite a lot. The new job is humming along nicely (nothing life changing, and it's not what I want to be when I grow up, but it pays the bills.

The biggest change is this little one:

Yup, that's right. The Bear Monk and I are expecting a little one around the end of this year. We've already found out that we're having a girl (because God has a sense of humor) and things are going really well so far.

Maybe it has something to do with knowing I'll be responsible for a new life, or maybe it has something to do with all the great people I follow on twitter, or even that I've gotten over the urge to really impress people at my job, but I've really started to feel the urge to write again.

With that new urge, I'm going to start trying to blog more regularly and even start writing on the several in progress projects I have going on at the moment.

I plan on blogging at least Tuesday through Thursday, with a few extra posts here and there along the way. Right now, look for the following pattern to emerge:

Geeky Girl Tuesday
What was once just Gamer Girl Tuesday is being expanded into a wider range of my geeky pursuits. Expect TV reviews, comic rants, and yes even the occasional game review.

Word Slinging
Tips on becoming better at "the craft." Sometimes from my own experience and others from folks with more expertise (and also hopefully the occasional interview. Let me know if you're interested).

Prize in the Serial
If you've been following the blog for a while, you may remember my serial story "Taking Liberty." I'm going to finish the story (I promise!) using the help of Three Word Wednesday. I'll be posting on Thursdays to give myself a little extra time. After I finish "Taking Liberty," I plan on continuing the serial format with other story ideas. Keep an eye out for exciting announcements along the way.

Thanks for those of you that have stuck it out with me. I hope this is the start of something fun and exciting for all involved.

Still plugging away

2011-05-18T18:46:00.000-05:00

Hey everybody!

Just a quick note to let you know that yes, I am still alive.

Still alive, and busier than ever! I started a new job last month, which is why I (sadly) had to ignore all the great comments on the A to Z challenge. But one day I'll make the rounds and see the other great stuff you guys did and are continuing to do.

I'm hoping that in the next couple of months to have some giveaways and promotions for some of my short stories, which I'm planning on self-publishing as ebooks.

But that's if I find the time and find some people willing to be beta readers, and give me constructive criticism on cover art, etc.

*If anyone's interested, feel free to let me know.*

Hope all of you guys are enjoying the transition from spring to summer as much as I am!

A to Z Challenge: Z is for Zombies

2011-05-01T09:38:00.001-05:00

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So, even if a few of my posts have been a little late, I've managed to make it all the way through!

I feel a bit like I'm cheating, but I actually have a pretty jam-packed weekend ahead of me, so this is going to be a bit short and sweet.

If you weren't aware, there's currently a revitalization of Zombies lately. They seem to be everywhere. So I thought I'd narrow down the field a little and share some of my favorite zombie-themed stuff.

Shaun of the Dead--A great tongue-in-cheek take on zombies (sorry, not supposed to use the zed word.) that is at times hilarious, touching, and quite scary. The Queen "Don't stop me now" montage is one of my favorite scenes.
Dawn of the Dead--The remake was my first venture into the new, faster zombie. And from the creepy zombie girl in the beginning, to the last fateful scene, it's not a movie for the weak at heart.
Night of the Living Dead--The original George Romero film is still one that any zombie aficionado needs to check out. It has lost some of it's terror levels through the passing of time, but still his best. (Ignore anything he's made in recent years, they keep getting worse and worse.)
28 Days Later--A pretty brutal and visceral movie that once again stars fast zombies. (Although some have debated if there are really zombies in the movie, it has all the conventions of one, so I count it.) Watch out for the creepiest performance Christopher Eccleston has ever given.
The Walking Dead--Both a comic series and a new AMC series. Both are chilling and wonderful, but don't worry, they're both so different from each other (different characters die, or don't; whole plotlines are rearranged, and the gore of zombies is explored in different manners) that you can enjoy one or both without compromising either one.

I'm sure if you're already a zombie fan, none of these are new to you. Hopefully if you're not, some of these might change your mind (if you're scared of gore, The Walking Dead is probably your safest bet).

Congratulations to all of my fellow bloggers that have made it through the challenge!

A to Z Challenge: YouTube

2011-04-29T07:17:00.000-05:00

So if you haven't figured it out already, I'm a pretty big fan of YouTube. Not only is it a great way to catch up on Craig Ferguson, see new Trailers, or get your news, it's also a great time waster (as anyone in a cubicle farm knows).

So in the name of Friday procrastination everywhere, here's some of my favorite bite sized clips to help speed along your day.

Apparently, the best videos on YouTube are about animals. I didn't realize.

A to Z Challenge: My love/hate relationship with the X-Men

2011-04-28T12:30:00.000-05:00

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First off, I do have to declare something in the name of honesty. I really have never read the X-Men comics. My first and closest interaction with them was the great animated show from the 90s.

My dad and I would watch it every Saturday morning. Which is why I think I have such a soft spot for the series and for Stan Lee (I smile whenever I hear him say "Hello, true believers!").

I have been told that the series did a good job of covering the series, and in fact stuck very close to the comics. That's the love part.

And now comes the hate.

I hate, I mean, really, truly and deeply hate the movies they've made based on the X-Men. They took what was a great group of characters and by changing some pretty important character traits, made it almost unrecognizable. The worst offender is the last one.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

Why would you turn Phoenix, one of the best and most powerful characters in the series into a psychosis of Jean Grey?

And how on Earth would Wolverine be able to overpower her? In short, he wouldn't.

And why did she kill everyone?

And why did they turn Xavier into a liar, who did pretty despicable things to Jean in the name of "protecting her"?

However, Magneto was still really awesome.

Ok, the rant's over.

So it's with great trepidation that I'm actually looking forward to the new X-Men movie, X-Men: First Class. I like that it's a reboot, so we don't have to live will all the awful crap that they've done to it (and they might actually get someone who can kick ass to be Storm, now).

I'm really excited that we're going to see the split between Xavier and Magneto. They're friendship and arch enemy status has always been one of the dichotomies I really enjoy about the series.

And it doesn't help that I think the two main actors are dreamy.

But you tell me, what do you think about it from the trailer?

A to Z Challenge: Wonder Woman...You can't tell me you're surprised.

2011-04-27T08:00:00.000-05:00

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If you've been following me for long at all, you've probably seen this entry coming. I mean, I've ranted about her, praised her, and previewed her.

In all honesty, the choice of using Wonder Woman for my W day was a knee jerk reaction. Now that I've sat down and tried to write it, I'm not really sure what to say about her that I haven't already. So instead of talking about specifics, I'm going to try and talk you guys into giving the actual comic a try.

Even though the reboot is a few issues in, you can still join in on the relaunch. (And back issues are pretty easy to find if you're really interested, sadly, the book hasn't quite picked up the speed DC was hoping for.)

So why should you check it out?

New costume: I wasn't sure about it at first, but now that she's ditched the 80s jacket, I actually really like it.
Even if you haven't been following for years you can catch up on the action very quickly. The Reboot has basically made it a whole new story (even though there are hints that we'll get back to familiar territory soon).
The comic has has some switches in artwork and writing, but the last couple of issues seem to have hit its stride.
There's going to be some big show downs coming up soon.
Some interesting characterizations of Diana that we haven't seen before.
Help support a series that hasn't always gotten the best treatment.

Would you like to follow some other DC women-centric comics to follow? Try out these others:

Birds of Prey: Follow the original Batgirl (now Oracle) and her team fight crime. Written by the famous Gail Simone who is basically agreed to have created the best WW series in recent times.
Gotham City Sirens: Like your girls with a bit of edge? You can't get much edgier than Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, and Catwoman
Zatanna: Watch as this powerful magician fights the forces of evil (usually with a healthy dose of humor)
Powergirl: Known for having the biggest chest in DC, there's actually a lot more to PG than you'd think by looking at her.

A to Z Challenge: Gamer Girl Tuesday: Value Gaming

2011-04-26T17:57:00.001-05:00

Last week I talked about paying the premium for gaming (and how to decide when to spend your $60). Today I'm talking about the flip side. Here are some tips on Value gaming.

Patrol your local gaming stores for used games. If you're nervous about the idea of buying used, spend the extra few bucks for the extra warranties. You'll still end up ahead.
If you can wait a while for a game (usually a year), games will on average drop half their opening price. Also keep an eye out for "greatest hit" games, which usually have a low price, because almost everyone already has a copy.
Become a friend of Steam. They always have a mid-week madness sale and amazing sales around the holidays. But this will only work for pc games. Sorry consoles.
Watch for cyber Monday and holiday sales online. You can get games for much cheaper and avoid the crowds!
Don't be afraid to try out "budget games." Usually not as hyped as the big names, there are still some hidden gems to be found. (Just make sure to try and find a couple of reviews)
Borrow from friends. There are lots of games that in all honesty you'll only play through once. Swap games with friends to give them a play through and see if they're worth buying your own copy.

Hope these tips help you save a few bucks!

A to Z Challenge: Unraveling

2011-04-25T18:41:00.000-05:00

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No, this post isn't about how my plans to keep up with this challenge are Unraveling (but the irony is not wasted on me).

No, this is instead an extension of my post about being an old soul. But I guess I should back up a little. You see, I have this nasty habit of collecting crafty hobbies. I'll stick with one religiously for a few months to a year, and then I'm off to the next big thing.

Currently I'm all wrapped up in crocheting. And while I would love to say that I'm making cool Mario and Pokemon characters like Wolf Dreamer or mini-ninjas like Rheatheylia, I'm not.

This is where the old soul part come in. I'm crocheting things like scarves and afghans and all those things that your granny might have made you. I mean, I actually make granny squares, too!

But it really is a rewarding hobby. Here are some of the reasons I've stuck with it for a few years now (although I've dabbled in other areas):

You can do it while watching TV.
The only limit is your budget on yarn and your patience to search for free patterns.
People are really impressed when you show what you've made.
You can help out lots of charities with your creations (believe me, just google "crochet for charity" and you'll be shocked at all the options.)

A to Z Challenge: Trigun, my Anime love

2011-04-25T18:27:00.000-05:00

So just a couple of short posts today to play catch-up. I had planned to do a whole long post about why I love the anime Trigun so much, but again, I'm falling back on the glories of Youtube to do the heavy lifting for me.

If you like anime, you'll love Trigun. If you don't like anime, you'll still love Trigun.

As you might can tell, there's a lot of humor in the series, but then it gets pretty serious and has some really touching moments at the end. And some sad things happen, and amazing things, and things that I don't want to give away. So do me a favor and check it out.

A to Z Challenge: Serenity...The Secret I've been keeping

2011-04-22T08:00:00.000-05:00

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After yesterday's revelation about the height of my geek-dom. I have to say that I'm about to reveal a pretty dark secret that some will say means my geek card should be downgraded, at least.

Serenity, or better yet, Firefly, is the only TV show by Joss Whedon I like.

I know, I know. I should be all over Buffy, but I find all the characters annoying.

Angel, well, I have to admit I didn't give it much of a try after Buffy.

Dollhouse should have me intrigued, but I was never able to get into the plot line.

That's right, I apparently only like it when Joss and the dreamy Nathan Fillion work together (I love Dr. Horrible, with a passion that comes from deep within).

And it's with this revelation that I have to say, I'm kinda worried about the upcoming Avengers movie.

So, what do you guys think? Am I crazy? What's the draw for those shows for you, or do you feel the way I do?

A to Z Challenge: Renaissance Faires

2011-04-21T08:00:00.003-05:00

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This, my friends, is what separates the chicly geeky and the true geeks among us. This is a topic that only the ones that are fearlessly geeky will admit to: I love Renaissance faires.

And not just going for the turkey legs, beer, and roasted almonds.

Nope. I'm one of the ones that goes in garb. But I'm not even the history buff that researches and goes in historically accurate garb. There's something to be said for that dedication and research.

Nope, I just like to go in vaguely period outfits and play the adult version of dress up.

If I could talk my husband into it, I would probably have a full name and history made up (usually, in my head I have something roughed out).

I'm really looking forward to making a cooler weather outfit, so I can go to Scarborough Faire in garb this year (I had to back out, because damask and velvet don't do well in Southern Texas).

And just in case you think I'm putting all this on, here's a pic:

That's right, we had a Renaissance wedding.

Yup, I have my geek card for life.

A to Z Challenge: Can I Quote you?

2011-04-20T08:00:00.000-05:00

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Along with any other self-proclaimed geek worth her salt, I have a lot of random information floating around in my head. Many times this takes the form of Quotes that I sprinkle in randomly during the day.

Here are some of the most common for me:

"Run away!" from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Used as a signal to retreat, like avoiding the salespeople in the Mall trying to spray me with something.
"Hey careful! There's a beverage here!" from The Big Lebowski. Usually used when Franklin (my little dog) tries to jump in my lap while I'm busy doing something.
"What we need is some rope." from Boondock Saints. Usually said when staring at a box of jumbled pieces waiting to be assembled into something.
"Damage my calm" from Firefly. Used when someone is really starting to push my limit. Usually when I'm trying to finish a book or go to sleep, and the husband starts tickling me.
"Knock, knock, knock, Penny." from Big Bang Theory. Used whenever I've tried to get the husband's attention, and he's still to interested in something else to answer me. Best used in repetition.

So what do you find yourself quoting?

A to Z Challenge: Gamer Girl Tuesday: Paying the price

2011-04-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

One of the toughest things about gaming is the price tag that comes with playing games. With games hitting the market with typically a $50-60 dollar price tag, and some games costing $15 dollars a month to play, if you're on a budget, it can be tough to decide what to buy. Here's some things to keep in mind when trying to make that decision.

Don't buy a game without reading reviews from several sources. Believe me, just because a game looks pretty, doesn't mean it's any good. Reviews can point out make or break issues for a game.
Download a demo or borrow a copy from a friend before buying. You'll get a feel for the game and see if it's something you'd want.
Decide if you have time for a new game, especially if it's a subscription game. If you have lots of time to kill, you'll do fine. But if you're really busy at work or in life, you'll find yourself cringing every time you get the bill for the subscription.
Don't buy an expensive game in a wildly different genre from what you play. You might decide, too late that FPS isn't for you, or that RPGs leave you cold.
Be cautious of "Revolutionary" games. Typically these are interesting games, but usually deeply flawed, enough so that you'll feel cheated after you play them (see Heavy Rain, Mirror's Edge, Final Fantasy X2, or LoTR Online).

A to Z Challenge: I'm an Old soul

2011-04-18T08:00:00.001-05:00

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So I'm still about a year away from the next big milestone birthday (which I'm already warning my husband I won't take well), but there are times that I feel a lot Older than I should be.

I look at some of my friends that are my same age (or people I went to high school with), and I sometimes wonder if I haven't skipped whole periods of my life where I have tons of energy and make really bad decisions.

But most of the time, for the most part, I'm happy with my life, even if I sometimes act a lot older than society tells me I should.

Instead of listening to the latest and greatest hits, I listen to NPR on my morning and evening commute.
I learn about most modern slang through UrbanDictionary instead of actual firsthand knowledge.
I get way more excited about the newest episode of Upstairs, Downstairs than the anything that starts with "Jersey" or "Real Housewives."
It's not unheard of for me to go to bed at 9pm.
I have lots of old-school hobbies (more of that later).
I've been known to eat dinner at six, and think eating after eight is too late.
I really enjoy a good documentary.
I've found myself talking about the good old days when gas was $1 a gallon.
I consider 20-year-olds kids.
A fun Friday night for me? Board games or bowling.

Yeah, I think my partying days are long behind me.

A to Z Challenge: Neil Patrick Harris

2011-04-16T18:35:00.000-05:00

Really, how can you not love NPH?

Crusader Group Feature: Eileen Wiedbrauk from Speak Coffee to Me

2011-04-15T09:00:00.003-05:00

Most of you know by now that I'm part of Rachael Harrie's Platform Building Crusade. Part of the crusade is that we're grouped with other authors that share the same genre.

I've been placed in Group 17 Horror/Urban fantasy. So for the next few weeks, when there's not a Crusader challenge going, I'll be posting a feature with one of the group members.

Eileen's blog is full of good writing tips, coffee-related news, and her weekly spotlight on the best ads around. Be careful, though, you might get a contact caffeine buzz!

When did you start writing?
Alfred the Alligator with Stripes was my first completed work. I was seven. It would be another twelve years before I finished another story. Oh I wrote fiction all the time, I was just horrible at figuring out endings.

Where would you say you are as a writer?
I'm finishing up my formal writing education. I think that education never stops, but the in-classroom part does have to come to an end sooner or later. I attended Odyssey Fantasy Writing Workshop last summer and this June I'll have completed my MFA. Both are very butt-in-chair absorb-the-knowledge type activities that encourage you to try and fail so that they can teach you how to try and succeed -- a process which feels a lot like spinning your wheels; I'm working on gaining traction now. I've published a couple pieces of short fiction including one going up this week on Enchanted Conversation: A Fairy Tale Magazine.

What’s your strongest writing genre? Do you often write in it? Why or why not?
I mostly write forms of fantasy. Folk lore and fairy tale inspired short fiction, and urban fantasy novel length work. I like speculative fiction for its sense of wonder and whimsy. Who doesn't want to live in a world that might suddenly rain goldfish?

Quick, what are five of your favorite words!?!
Detritus, insouciant, Moped, susurrus, and paradigm (but the last only when you say it with a British accent so that it rhymes with pigeon).

In 10 words or less, sum up your current work in progress.
Unemployed monster hunter finds job he hates.

How would you describe your end goal as a writer?
Getting as much in print as I can write with pride.

What do you need to have before you can start writing?
Coffee.

With coffee, anything is possible.

A to Z Challenge: Movies: If I wrote the screenplay

2011-04-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

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Whoops! I accidentally posted this yesterday. Sorry if you've already read it!

~~~

I'm not 100% sure if this really fits into my geeky theme for the month, but I thought I'd go ahead with it.

I'm usually pretty good with figuring out the plot of Movies as I watch them. But there are times that the movie diverges away from my plan. Sometimes it's good, but in other cases, I prefer my ending.

So I thought I'd debut my new feature "If I wrote the screenplay" with a movie the husband and I saw this past weekend: Insidious.

General Plotline: A young and growing family starts to notice strange things in their new house. When their young son enters a strange coma-like state, the strangeness hits new heights. They move to a new house, but soon find that the spirits have followed them. They soon find out that it's not their house that is haunted; it's their son.

Warning, Warning, Warning: Spoilers Ahead.

No Really, I'm about to give away the twist of the movie.

Where I'm picking up: After consulting with a paranormal expert, Josh and Renai find out their son is an expert Astral Projector, whose soul has lost track of his body. Evil spirits and demons want to take over his physical body. They find out that Dalton has inherited his skill from his dad, who was also a Traveler when he was a child, and was haunted by an old woman. Josh must now enter "The Further" and fight off demons to help his son return to his body.

My Version: When Josh enters the spirit version of their house where Dalton is being held captive, he sees several glimpses of the old woman (In the first real movie glimpse, it looks like she's in a wedding dress). He finds his son, who is being tortured by the demon.

While Josh and the demon battle, he notices that the old woman is hovering near his son. She is releasing the chains while Josh fights the demon. Just when Josh is about to lose, the old woman, who is still heavily veiled) steps in between them and with a bright flash of light, pushes the demon back.

She grabs Josh and Dalton by the hand and takes them away. They have to fight off lesser spirits along the way. When they reach the end of "The Further" the old woman says she will hold off the spirits while they escape. Josh recognizes her voice and pulls her veil away. It is his wife.

Flashback to real-movie scenes, where Dalton tells his mom that she's old, and Josh's mom tells him he was haunted by an old woman.

Josh finds out that the old woman is also in the real world, living as his wife in a body she hijacked years before. Now, Josh is faced with the dilemma of letting his wife continue to do what the spirits wanted to do to his son or continuing the happy life he has.

Not sure where the rest of "my movie" would go...by that point, the movie had gone down a boring and predictable road, so my predictions were down the drain.

So what about you? Do you ever re-write movies in your head? Are your versions better?

A to Z Challenge: Little Furry Friends

2011-04-14T08:00:00.011-05:00

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I have to admit, I'm one of those pet owners. Anytime my Little furry friends do something cute or even sometimes do something extraordinarily bad, I tell my friends and family about it.

I can only imagine how bad it'll be once we have kids.

So, like every boasting mother, I'm going to bombard you with pictures.


Einstein, in the bed we bought for Franklin.

Franklin likes to be close to us. Really, really close.

Einstein with his security blanket...dragon.

I told you he likes to be close.

The boys singing along to the harmonica.

A to Z Challenge: Knights of the Round Table

2011-04-13T08:00:00.056-05:00

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I'm not sure if it was The Sword in the Stone, my dad's bedtime stories about Camelot, or Monty Python that did it to me, but I'm a huge fan of the stories of Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.

Something about the idealized romance of the stories, the idea of chivalry and "might for right" (which even in the stories is haphazard), and the magic of the every day hooked me from my first encounter.

If you're a novice to the stories, or are wanting to take a look at some different takes on the mythology, here are some of my favorite versions of the tales:

The Sword in the Stone: A family friendly film adaptation of The Once and Future King, this tells the story of Arthur's training with Merlin and his origin as the king of England.This is probably the version most people are familiar with.
The Once and Future King by T.H. White: My favorite novelization of the traditional story. Full of quirks and sarcastic remarks.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail: The epitome of geekiness, and probably what most people thought of when I started mentioning Arthur. If you've never watched it, it's classic Monty Python. But, I would say don't watch it with big fans of the movie, because you'll never be able to hear it over them quoting their favorite parts.
Mary Steward's Merlin Trilogy: A wonderful retelling of the Arthurian cycle from the viewpoint of Merlin. Some great unique twists are hidden within. A unique take in that it is almost completely free from magic use.
Camelot: The classic musical that made me fall in love with Richard Harris. Full of humor and heartbreak, and songs that will stick with you forever.
Mordred's Lullaby by Heather Dale: A haunting song that shows the viewpoint of the villains of the Arthurian cycle.

Hope this inspired you to check out more versions of the stories or explore them for the first time!

A to Z Challenge: Gamer Girl Tuesday: Just Right Games

2011-04-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

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One of the complaints that I hear from reluctant gamers is that they don't have time to play games. So after a bit of thinking, I've come up with a short list of games that are Just right for that few spare minutes you might want to decompress.

Little Big Planet: A game built around short levels is always a safe bet. LBP is a great game for novices and expert gamers alike. Levels become more complex, and there's also a huge library of user created games.

Bejeweled: PopCap, the company that has brought casual gaming to a new level. A fun and easy game that a lot of people have on their phones. Just make sure you play the timed games, or you might be there a while.

DC Universe: I know, I know, you're getting tired of it. But the short missions make for a streamlined game that is easy to stop. A great choice for the more advanced gamer.

Wii Sports: Want to do something more active with your few minutes? Wii Sports is a great and fun alternative. Play a quick game of baseball or try to beat your record at bowling. Multiplayer options can also make it fun for the whole family.

A to Z Challenge: In Print?

2011-04-11T08:00:00.003-05:00

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There's something about second hand bookstores that always gets me excited. There's always a great deal to be found, but let me tell you what really gets me going.

The popular In print books?

Nope, I head straight for the bizarre out of print books.

There usually found in the paperback section, more often than not in the sci-fi or horror section. If you're lucky you can get them for less than a dollar.

After reading them, I find that there's a reason I've never heard of the authors or the books are out of print. But the premises are so campy and over the top that it's always a fun ride.

One of my new finds that I'm excited to try is The Illegal Rebirth of Billy the Kid by Rebecca Ore.

Blurb from the back:

"Simon Boyle makes chimeras. Artificial people with programmed memories. Useful in all sorts of ways.

"Most of Simon's chimeras are legal, for the CIA. But Simon's got a sideline, too: chimeras based on famous criminals, for rent, to private citizens...whatever your pleasure. His Billy-the-Kid chimera's especially popular, particularly the part where Simon--as 'Pat Garrett'--guns 'Billy' down at the moment of truth. Billy doesn't even know he's in the 21st century; Simon's got him programmed to see everything in Old West terms.

"Then one of Simon's clients absconds with Billy and sets him loose--helpless--on the 21st century's mean streets. With the CIA on Simon's tail and Billy struggling to seize control of the myths in his ROM, 'Pat Garrett' had better start running--because this time around, the old story may well have a new ending."

Pretty awesome sounding, right?

So, whenever you're looking for a new book, don't discount the out of print cheap finds at your local second hand bookstore.

A to Z Challenge: The Husband: My friend, my enabler

2011-04-09T20:01:00.001-05:00

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I have to admit (at the risk of sounding like a sappy Hallmark card) that I am extremely lucky to have my Husband in my life.

In one of those rare moments that God has blessed me, in my husband, I really have found my best friend. He gets me in a way that no one else does (even my closest girl friends), and understands what makes me tick, even when I can't.

He's willing to do whatever it takes to provide for me, and works hard to make sure I'm happy. He's smart, funny, and charming in his own goofy way.

*Cue the awws or the retching from the mushiness*

Now, on to the geeky part. When he saw the title of this post he made a few grumblings, but he is my geeky enabler.

You see, with previous relationships, I was always a bit hesitant to show off my geekier side. I was worried that it would color how they saw me, somehow make me less attractive in their eyes. I was also afraid to show off how smart I was about certain topics. I'm not sure what led me to think this way, but it's taken years to be able to break out of that.

But my husband is the one that pushes me to do what I enjoy, no matter how geeky. He brags about me to others, and shows off my accomplishments with a pride in me that sometimes is overwhelming.

He is my friend, my comrade in geeky arms, and the one that pushed me to do what I love.

I love you, babe.

Crusader Group Feature: E.C. Smith from E.C.'s Ramblings

2011-04-08T09:00:00.000-05:00

Most of you know by now that I'm part of Rachael Harrie's Platform Building Crusade. Part of the crusade is that we're grouped with other authors that share the same genre.

I've been placed in Group 17 Horror/Urban fantasy. So for the next few weeks, when there's not a Crusader challenge going, I'll be posting a feature with one of the group members.

Today you'll be meeting E.C. Smith from E.C.'s Ramblings, a fellow writer who is not afraid to share some great tips about writing and the craft. She also shares tidbits of her life, and comes up with great analogies (laundry as a battle, oh yeah, I've been there). Check out what she has to say for herself:

When did you start writing?
I was always really into storytelling as a kid (the around the kitchen table or campfire kind), but my love for writing really came on line when I was thirteen. My grade 9 English teacher asked the class to write a poem about anything we wanted. Oh, boy, did I ever love her for that one! From then on I never went anywhere without a pen and notepad to scribble in.

Where would you say you are as a writer?
Well, in terms of craft I'd like to say I'm better! Wouldn't we all? I love writing so much that I work very hard at it. I enjoy learning new things, especially when it will improve my writing and storytelling skills.

And I'm happy to say, I have an amazing literary agent, Christine Whitthohn of Book Cents Literary. I'm so jazzed to be a part of her team. She is fabulous! So, I'm in a really good place right now on the business end of things.

What’s your strongest writing genre? Do you often write in it? Why or why not?
I write in a couple of different genres--urban fantasy and paranormal historical romance. I know, I know. . .but I just can’t decide! I love them both, and the genres are more alike than people think. Each have huge world building components, so there isn’t much I write that doesn’t include magic. I tried to write without a magical element in my last book, but oops, by chapter two I had all kinds of magic going on. It just sneaks in there whether I plan to let it or not!

Quick, what are five of your favorite words!?!
I’m DYING to buy that! (oh, that an editor will utter those words! lol.)

In 10 words or less, sum up your current work in progress.
An almost extinct species is saved by an unlikely ally.

How would you describe your end goal as a writer?
First and foremost? To the keep the joy that brings me to the page everyday. And then? I’d love to be published and connect with readers who enjoy the same kinds of stories I love to read and write.

What do you need to have before you can start writing?
My computer (but I’ll settle for a pen and paper) and a little elbow room. Really, I’m not picky. . .that's all it takes. If I have those things, I’m good to go.

A to Z Challenge: The Guild

2011-04-08T08:00:00.000-05:00

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This is another post where I'm going to let the source material shine. But before I start embedding videos, let me give a little background.

The Guild is an internet based show created by Felicia Day, one of the great geek girls out there right now. The show began as self-funded and quickly became funded by donation. Now, the show is partnered with Microsoft and has built a solid following. It's even gotten several web series awards.

The series came out of Day's personal obsession with World of Warcraft. After two years of self-proclaimed addiction, she decided to turn her experiences into a comedy show. It revolves around her guild (or a team of players).

The first season focuses on how Day's character Cyd's life is rocked when the players she knows in the game become people she knows in *gasp* real life! The show has evolved quite a bit since the opening, and I'm really looking forward to Season 5.

Check out the first couple of episodes and see what you think!

A to Z Challenge: Ferguson, Craig

2011-04-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

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If you don't know who Craig Ferguson is, shame on you! He first came to most people's attention as the English boss on Drew Carey.

Then he got the Late Late Show gig after David Letterman. (Don't worry, if you can't stay up late enough, like me, you can catch each episode the next day on this YouTube channel).

He's also written two books, which I highly recommend. I reviewed his biography American on Purpose, and plan on reviewing his novel, Between the Bridge and the River after the challenge.

So, instead of me raving about how great he is, and basically showing off just how nerdy I am, I thought I'd just share some clips and let him take over. Some of the clips are fairly long, but give them a go, he's hard to package in sound bites.

Taking Liberty update

2011-04-06T21:22:00.000-05:00

So here was my original plan:

Write tons of my A to Z challenge posts in advance.
Take Wednesdays off so I could continue writing Taking Liberty.
Sit back and enjoy a stress free April.

But then I went and got hired at a new job. I'm in the midst of going through lots of training and projects gearing up for when I'll actually take over duties. So I had to revise my schedule:

I'll still try and post through the alphabet (but a few may be pretty slap-dash).
I'll be posting the challenge on Monday-Saturday like everybody else after this week.
I'm taking a break from Taking Liberty, but look for it soon, in new and exciting ways.
I'll probably be tearing my hair out by the end of the month, but I'll try and prove that I'm still alive (and sane) by posting from time to time.

Hope you guys don't mind the change ups and that you're all having a great challenge!

A to Z Challenge: Gamer Girl Tuesday: E for Everyone

2011-04-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

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If you've walked into the game department of a store, then you've probably noticed that most games around are a bit...intense. So for today's Gamer Girl Tuesday, I'm going to let you in on some of my favorite game franchises that Everyone can play.

Katamari franchise--These games surround a really simple premise: roll a ball and pick things up. There's a definite quirkiness to the series, but the bright colors, simple controls, and cheerful music will keep the whole family entertained.

Mario Brothers--You can bet that anything with this little Italian plumber is ok for any of the family. With the new games on the Wii, even those that may be scared of those crazy controllers with all the buttons can join in on the fun. There's a reason this guy has been around for 27 years.

Lego Video Games--Did you know that those little plastic blocks have been digitized? There are several different series: Indiana Jones, Batman, Star Wars, Harry Potter, etc. Fast and easy to pick up, you'll find yourself enjoying the game and trying to puzzle out how to build the sets in real life. After all, who doesn't love Legos?

A to Z Challenge: DC

2011-04-04T08:00:00.002-05:00

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I know, I know, you're probably getting tired of me and the game, but don't worry. This is about the company.

You see, there's two big names in comic books (although more and more indie companies are getting their due notice): DC and Marvel.

They both started in the late 30s, but have taken different courses through the years. DC tends to focus on more "traditional" superheroes. And they're still basically the household name. For the average person on the street, if you say superhero, you're going to think Superman, right? Marvel tends toward antiheroes, tragic pasts, and character flaws. (Remember, I'm speaking in broad terms, which I know is dangerous).

But I have to say that overall, I'm a DC fan. That probably has a lot to do with the fact that my dad is a DC fan, and so I grew up with all of his old comic books and origin story compilations.

Because I apparently can't escape from lists for this challenge, here are some of the main reasons I love DC:

Wonder Woman (really, do you need any more?)
DC and Marvel both have lots of female characters, but DC does better at promoting them. Quick, name female characters from Marvel that aren't in the X-Men.
All the great movies DC is putting out now. Not just the Dark Knight, but all sorts of great animated movies (note: just because it's animated doesn't mean it's for kids).
Their stand to risk monetary loss to keep fans reading their work

This is completely my opinion. So please, Marvel fans, don't flame me too badly.

A to Z Challenge: Cylons...what are those?

2011-04-03T08:00:00.002-05:00

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I have a confession to make. Until a few months ago, I didn't know what Cylons were.

You see, I have a bad habit of missing the good geeky TV shows until they're off the air (or in their final season). Examples:

Firefly
Lost
Battlestar Gallactica
Futurama (ok, that one's been brought back...now)
Veronica Mars
Dead like Me
Arrested Development
I'm sure there are others that I can't think of at the moment.

So anyway, back to Cylons and Battlestar Gallactica. One Friday night, the husband and I decided to give it a go on Netflix instant play. We had been meaning to start the show for a while, but the pilot movie was only available on DVD, so we (being addicted to instant gratification) put it off.

Then one day, low and behold, the movie was on.

So we watched it.

And loved it.

And proceeded to watch all of season one that weekend. Now, BG fans know why we did. Because each stupid episode leaves you hanging at such a critical moment, we kept saying, "Just one more episode."

We're now working our way through the other seasons and enjoying it, but with a bitter-sweetness because we know it will soon end.

A to Z Challenge: British TV

2011-04-02T08:00:00.004-05:00

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I think my obsession with British TV started when I lived in Northeast Texas, you know, the part with nothing for 100s of miles?

Yeah, that's where I grew up.

So one of the few TV stations we had was PBS. Most of the time once it got past 3pm, I had no desire to watch it, but during the membership drives, my parents and I would sit around and watch Fawlty Towers, Are you being served?, and other miscellaneous shows that I can't remember anymore.

So now the years have passed, but my obsession with British accents and figuring out exactly why they make fun of Wales so much is still high on my list.

If you catch me watching live TV, 80% of the time it's BBC America. And the Husband better watch out, because I think it's catching.

Here are some of the shows that I've fallen in love with recently:

1. Doctor Who. This show has been enjoying some real success here in the states lately. If you want a breakdown as to why this Sci-Fi show is one you should be watching, check out my breakdown here.

2. Top Gear-What other show would turn vehicles into boats and then try and race around a lake?

3. The Graham Norton show-A great late night show that tried to make it here in the states, but failed. Not one for the kiddies.

4. An Idiot Abroad-Shown here in the states on the Science Channel. Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant have sent their friend around the world to exotic locations. With the intent of making him as uncomfortable as possible.

Crusader Group Feature: Sully from Sully's Scribbles

2011-04-01T09:00:00.000-05:00

A to Z Challenge: A-All about the Geekiness

2011-04-01T08:00:00.018-05:00

Click here to find the other participants

Today is the launch of the A to Z Blogging Challenge hosted by the following great bloggers:

Arlee Bird's Tossing It Out
Jeffrey Beesler's World of the Scribe
Alex J. Cavanaugh
Jen Daiker at Unedited
Candace Ganger's The Misadventures in Candyland
Karen J Gowen at Coming Down the Mountain
Talli Roland
Stephen Tremp's Breakthrough Blogs

So, here it goes: All about the Geekiness!

Growing up, I always knew that there was something different about me. I wasn't like the other kids around me, and was a little eccentric. Turns out: I was a Geek.

But this was before being a Geek was cool and acceptable. So through the years, I've accumulated all sorts of Geeky habits and loves and kept them secret.

Well, no more I say!

So over the course of the challenge, I'll be writing about all the types of geekiness that I have gathered about me. Tuesdays will still be focused on gaming, and I'm leaving Wednesdays open for Taking Liberty.

I wish all of you other participants well and hope that you pick up a couple of geektastic things from me! (Because being a Geek is a social disease).

Bloggerstock: "Stop the World, I want to get off/on"

2011-03-31T08:00:00.000-05:00

Click here for Bloggerstock

Today I am hosting the wonderful Lily from Is it too early for a martini? Along with having a great blog (where she just wrapped up her 30 days of truth, which I'm way too chicken to tackle) she's also a partner in crime for Blogging Blobs (when we both remember to post).

Girl's got good reason to want the world to slow down. See what she has to say for herself:

~~~

Hello readers! I’m Lily from http://isittooearlyforamartini.blogspot.com. If you’re loyal reader of the Cerebral Lunchbox, then you might know about another blog: http://bloggingblobs.blogpost.com. Both Witless Exposition and I contribute to that blog. And now I’m here to take over this blog. Bloggerstock is the name of the game, and the theme this month was “Stop World, I want to get on/off!”. I want to just stop it all together.

I just turned 24 over the weekend. And sure, it’s fun or whatever… but it would be one million times better if I didn’t fell like I just turned 64.

Thanks to my erratic school and work schedule, I am never home, I never sleep, I never eat, I’m just a robot. Except, that I’m not really a robot, and I’m a human running on no energy.

I’m at school from 11 am to 7 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Also, on Saturdays from 9 am to noon. I also work part time. But that really means I can work anywhere from 3 to 8 hours on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturdays.

I never thought school was tiring until this semester. And it’s entirely my fault. I only had to take one class, and I decided to take a full course load. Can we say idiot? Go ahead, I give you permission.

I just want to world to stop. I need more time. I want to hang out with my friends. I want to go out with my boyfriend more often. I want to SLEEP more that 4 hours a day.

World, please stop!

If you stop enough for there to be at least an extra five hours a day, and I could hang out with people or sleep … I’ll say we’re even.

I want to thank Witless for letting me whine about not having enough time to do fun stuff. And also, I want to thank you for reading. Make sure you stop by my blog to read BooyaBobby’s post.

Gamer Girl Tuesday: DC Universe Online

2011-03-29T08:00:00.006-05:00

Finally a 100% happy review! If you want to skip the fan girl drooling, just know that I recommend this game fully. If you want to see how much I really can geek out, feel free to continue.

Plot:
It's always hard to nail down a plot for an MMO, but I'll give it a shot. Lex Luthor from the future has come to Earth to warn the heroes of the JLA that Braniac is coming.

Exobytes have been released giving random people powers, and Braniac is right behind gathering them up. You are one of those heroes/villains (depending on your temperament). And now you're off to bring justice or chaos to the streets of Metropolis and Gotham.

Unique Details:
You get to be a superhero or villain. No really. If you've ever been a fan of comics (or comic book movies, or even remotely attracted to the idea of comics) you'll get a huge kick out of this game. A lot of the creative designers work for DC itself (including the great Jim Lee), so it has the feel of the comics come to life.

One of the things that I'm really loving about DC Universe is that your character's looks are completely customizable. So you really feel that the character is yours, and not just a clone of a standard type. You can control the details down to the colors and the type of belt you have.

There's also a wide range of customization when it comes to your powers and weapons. There are six super power types and ten weapon types. (I'll let someone with better math skills do the work to see how many possibilities there are.)

Since it's a new MMO, there's not as much of the rigid "you're not doing it right" types of gameplay discussions as with other more established games *coughWorldofWarcraftcough* It's also a very alt (a side character that you play periodically) friendly game, so you can always switch things up when you're getting bored.

The creators have already released some new content, and are saying that they plan to do this every month. (Which is good, because hitting the level cap doesn't take very long). So there's always something new waiting for you around the corner.

Gameplay and Controls (I'm playing the PC version. So I can't speak for the PS3 experience)
It's still a new game, so there are some buggy issues to work out. I've already managed to fall through the map twice. Don't ask, I have bad luck with that (I've even done it on WoW). The biggest bug I've run across is the auto-targeting system. Sometimes it'll ignore the monster wailing away at you and have you focusing an a barrel across the street. But if you pay attention, you'll learn to work around this bug.

Imagine a hack and slash type game like God of War meeting WoW and that's basically what you have. You have super powers linked to key numbers, and your weapons combos are linked to your mouse. One of the great things about the game is that you feel more active than in other MMOs. Since there's not auto-attack and you have to keep frantically mashing buttons, it feels like you're actually doing something.

Overall:
I really can't recommend this game enough. I know that the subscription (about $15 a month) will keep some people away from it forever, but if you give it the free month, you'll be surprised by how much you enjoy it.

If you do want to give it a go, the husband and I play on the Brave New World server. My main character's name is Emerald Destiny. Doesn't she look bad-ass?

Oh yeah, and the guy beside me is Azario (my husband). This is officially the only time I will ever be taller than him.

I have a sneaky suspicion you'll be hearing more about the game, soon.

Six Sentence Sunday

2011-03-27T06:00:00.003-05:00

Thanks to J.C. Martin, I found out about Six Sentence Sunday. The name basically says it all, an Sunday you post six sentences from something you've written.

I'm open to any and all critiques!

The following sentences are the first six sentences for a piece I wrote for Enchanted Conversation's Rumpelstiltskin issue. Sadly it wasn't chosen. I've decided to go back and expand it, and then use it to dip my toe into Indie publishing.

It's a re-imagining of the fairy tale, set at the turn of the century in a cotton Mill. I tried to keep it fairly realistic, although some of the things that happen are a bit...unlikely. This excerpt is from the opening of the story.

Once again, let me know what you think!

Helen signed her name in the employee log and looked up smiling at Mr. Pincher. He raised his eyebrows when he looked at her neat handwriting.

“Not many of the girls here know how to write.” He said sliding the book toward him and placing it in his desk drawer. “You should be able to catch on quickly.”

“My father wants” her voice caught at the word, “I mean, wanted all of his children to read and write.”

I wanted to give a few nods to the setting in the beginning, so I thought the literacy would give the reader a heads up about the time period. Are there other details I could give in the opening to help settle the reader into the world of the story?

Knowing that it's based on a fairy tale, what would you expect from it?

Anything else you'd like to say about it?

Crusader Group Feature: Kim Mullican from Altruism in Writing

2011-03-25T07:28:00.000-05:00

Most of you know by now that I'm part of Rachael Harrie's Platform Building Crusade. Part of the crusade is that we're grouped with other authors that share the same genre.

I've been placed in Group 17 Horror/Urban fantasy. So for the next few weeks, when there's not a Crusader challenge going, I'll be posting a feature with one of the group members.

Kim Mullican from Altruism in Writing is joining us today for a bit. After stopping by and checking out her blog, you'll find yourself feeling like you know Kim in RL. You'll also come back with lots of good tips and links to articles that Kim kindly passes along. Let's see what she has to say for herself:

When did you start writing?
I started sometime in middle school. I vaguely recall a creative writing class where we were supposed to write a story that was a minimum of 2 pages. My story was 20. My English/Lit teacher (shout out to Sally Hagenow!) was impressed and encouraged me to keep going. She said I'd be a famous author one day.

Anyway, once I started, I couldn't stop. The ideas just kept swimming around in my head. If they didn't get onto paper, I would wind up in a padded cell somewhere...at least that's a suspicion.

Where would you say you are as a writer?
Well, I'm not famous yet, but I'm building my empire one brick at a time. I have learned a lot in the last few years about writing, publishing and such. I enjoy reading other authors' blogs about their journey to become among other best selling authors. Seeing my name in lights would be cool, but I'm really just a beginner.

What’s your strongest writing genre? Do you often write in it? Why or why not?
I think paranormal/urban fantasy is probably my strongest. I just finished a 150k word novel - set for word reduction and heavy editing at the moment. I could have made it 300k words. But I also dabble in action/intrigue and my current project is a huge genre cross section of paranormal romance/LGBT & true crime.

Quick, what are five of your favorite words!?!
You're going to be sorry you asked! uber, Priapism, fuck (sorry ), mom, moist

In 10 words or less, sum up your current work in progress.
Sexually confused former CIA Agent catches killer with ghost's help.

How would you describe your end goal as a writer?
I don't think there is ever an ending goal. I hope to continue to grow as a writer and have the masses enjoy my stories. I want to entertain people. I love reading Baldacci, and his books suck me in. I want to do that. I want someone to call off work because they stayed up all night reading my book. That would be uber cool.

What do you need to have before you can start writing?
I prefer to have the house to myself. There are less distractions that way. A strong cup of coffee or a nice martini, depending on what type of scene I'm writing. I find that comedic scenes I write better when intoxicated. I go back sober and correct grammar and such, but I just seem to be funnier with a few martinis.

You guys are just too much!

2011-03-24T14:49:00.000-05:00

Really, I feel like Sally Field, guys.

The lovely, and very stylish E.C. Smith has passed on the Stylish Blogger award.

And the very kind Dierdra Eden-Coppel has graciously given me the Powerful Women Writers Award.

I'm going to be a bit of a curmudgeon and forgo the passing along of awards, though. I'm in the midst of getting ready for the A to Z challenge as well as life stuff.

But I really recommend that you go check out both of these great blogs!

My Two Cents: Wonder Woman's New Show

2011-03-24T08:00:00.004-05:00

You may have not realized this by now (or if you haven't read this or this), but I'm a pretty big Wonder Woman fan. I've read as many of the comics as I can get my hands on, and I'm enjoying (with some reservations) the new relaunch of the comic.

However, when I heard about NBC creating a new Wonder Woman show, I have to admit, I was worried. Instead of a long rant, I'll try to keep my points succinct.

David E. Kelley.

Pros: He has a long history of really high rated (Ally McBeal) and really high quality (Boston Public) shows. Plus he helmed Doogie Howser.
Cons: He's never done an action show before.

Pros: They're now under the leadership of Bob Greenblatt who helped Showtime topple HBO with shows like United States of Tara, Weeds, and Dexter.
Cons: It's a network show, so no big budget. The network is currently struggling with low viewership. And they're notorious for canceling shows before giving them a chance.

Smallville (Just go with me on this one)

Pros: The show has gotten quite a following during the last few years (even if it's a bit of a cult following), so people might be more open to another superhero show.
Cons: The style of Smallville was more whiney teen-angsty (then young adult-angsty) than action show. So that's what people will want from their superhero shows.

Adrianne Palicki

Pros: She looks like she could kick some ass, plus she apparently reads comic books.
Cons: I've only seen her in Legion, which was an awful movie. (Note to self: check out Friday Night Lights)

The Costume (Here's a great debate over sexy vs slutty in regards to the costume)

Pros: I like that there are definite nods to the traditional costume and the new costume in the comics. I actually like that she's wearing pants.
Cons: Way too shiny. But I have a sneaky suspicion that it will look better in the context of defeating the bad guy. Putting her in front of a white background with pretty harsh lighting is about the worst thing that could be done.

I'm still going to give the show a chance. And if it's like Smallville, I'll grin and bear it through multiple seasons, too (if it gets the chance).

3WW-Taking Liberty Part 18

2011-03-23T12:02:00.000-05:00

Click here for 3WW

Taking Liberty is a serial story that started with the inspiration of 3 Word Wednesday. Each week Thom posts three words and I run with it.

I've managed to make it this far with virtually no story mapping, often cursing myself at the end of an installment because I've painted myself into a corner. This week is no different. After the big realization of what Liberty has been using her body for, Elizabeth is faced with the decision of what to do now.

If you need a refresher, check out my Taking Liberty page. You can find links to all the individual installments, or read the summaries at the bottom of the page.

"It's my body!" I screamed into the air.

"Oh, come on, you think I didn't see how you were looking at him at the funeral? You know you would've jumped him too if you had the guts." Liberty's deadpan voice was infuriating. How could she be so calm about this?

"It doesn't matter! It's my body!" I volleyed back.

"Too."

Her voice was just a soft whisper, barely audible, even though it was coming from inside my head. My confusion must have reached her, wherever she was.

"It's your body, too. You're not a single person anymore, you're part of a dual person."

I was about to scream something back to her, my brain stuck in that panicky place when I heard a knock from downstairs. I glanced in the mirror to make sure I was presentable. As I walked downstairs, I wondered if my room was always that dim in the afternoons, my hair had looked a couple of shades darker.

I looked through the peep hole and saw James leaning against the railing on the porch. For a split second, I thought back to all the warnings my mom had given me in middle school about not letting strangers in the house. I heard Liberty's low chuckle somewhere in the back of my mind.

I closed my eyes and pushed her to the back of my mind. I could still hear her laughing, but it was as if she were in another room now. Then I opened the door and tried to put on a welcoming and not terrified because my world was coming apart smile on my face.

When James turned to look at me, I had a feeling the two looks were identical. Any residual anger in his body language melted away and he rushed and put his arms around me.

"I'm sorry I stormed off like that." He said as he kissed the side of my face.

I melted into his arms and clung to his neck, only barely keeping my resolve not to cry. He held me for a long moment, his strong arms so tight around me that they were on the edge of pain. He let me go and then held my face in his hands, staring into my eyes.

"You're so weird, Lizzy. It's like there's two of you, and I never know which one to expect."

Poor Elizabeth's really going to have to tell James sooner or later. I really want him to be a good guy, but I'm not sure he'll believe her.

So what do you guys think? Would anyone believe her, or is she on her own now (well, except for Liberty)?

Gamer Girl Tuesday: Braid

2011-03-22T08:13:00.043-05:00

Review time again, boys and girls! I need to stop listening to gaming hype, because more times than not I'm disappointed (see review for Heavy Rain for another instance).

Even though the game has been out since 2009, I had only heard about it in the last couple of months. The buzz was that the simplicity of Braid hid underlying messages about love and the nature of time. That it wasn't simply a game: it was art!

Well, when Steam put it on sale for $2.99 a few weeks ago, I thought I would give it a try. Here's my breakdown.

Plot:
I won't say too much about plot here, because there are some twists that I don't want to ruin for you. Really the plot is not in the game so much as in between levels. At the beginning of each "chapter" you come across books that give you a loosely told story of Tim and his Princess.

Most of the people claiming that this game is art fall to the plot of the piece. Let me warn you, as a writer, I found it interesting until the end. There is a huge twist that turns the story of Time and his Princess on its ear in an attempt to make the story meaningful and deep.

To me it fell as flat as a "and then I woke up and found it was a dream" ending. As someone who is trying to perfect my skills at storytelling, I found it trying so hard to be deep that it came off like my former ninth grade students using the thesaurus to find large words, and then proceed to use them incorrectly.

Unique Features:
Each chapter of the game allows you to rewind time. But each chapter also has something new added. Some things are immune to your rewinds, sometimes there is a shadow version of yourself, and there is also a ring that slows time as well.

It was an interesting mechanic, but was also very frustrating. Against the advice of online reviewers, I used this walkthrough simply so I could know what knew monkey wrench was thrown in the mix (If you don't have a walkthrough, you have to find these things out through trial and error. Fun for some, I'm sure, but for me it was simply frustrating.)

Gameplay and Controls:
The controls were very simple for the PC version. Arrows and the shift button to control time.

If you're not very good at side scrollers, though, prepare to use the rewind button a lot. Many of the levels depend on precise timing.

Overall:
For me, I found that the striving to be something more than a "game" was a bit too heavy handed for me.

However, the game does have a painterly style that was beautiful in spots, and there were lots of nods to classic Nintendo games that I enjoyed.

Some of the levels were fun to play, while others...well let me just say that I could only play the game in about 15 minute spurts.

If you like puzzle games, or want to try something that's very different from most games out there, it's the game for you.

Second Crusader Challenge: Goldfish flash fiction

2011-03-21T14:34:00.001-05:00

Wow, Rachael really nailed me with this challenge. It took me a while to be able to find the magic phrases that would equal <100 words.

Not much of a story, this is really more of a glimpse at the characters in my current WIP, A Window to the Gift. Hope you guys enjoy!

"Clara's Challenge"

The goldfish bowl teetered slowly from the edge of the blade. Vincent scowled at the giggles he heard from the girls in the corner. Smoke wafted Katherine’s cigarette. His nose twitched.

“A-chooo!” He saw the bowl fall.

Flicking her wrist, Katherine caught it with her force-field. It floated in the air for a moment, before flying across the room and coming to rest on the kitchen table.

He felt Clara’s arms around him, with a kiss she said, “Let me show you how it’s done.”

She snapped her fingers and he watched the flames dance across her hand.

What I've been up to...

2011-03-18T11:46:00.000-05:00

I Promise I'll be back

2011-03-14T09:46:00.000-05:00

We have friends in town and am waaaaay to busy to post anything of note. I'll be back on Thursday with my regular weekly features a little late. Hope you're having a great day!

Crusader Group Feature: Elizabeth Twist from Elizabeth Twist: Writer, Plague Enthusiast

2011-03-11T08:00:00.002-06:00

Like a lot of us, I think I've always told stories. When I was a toddler, I apparently sang long, narrative stories when I was supposed to be napping. My first memorable experience with writing happened in grade three. I wrote a short piece about a talking duck. My teacher loved it. She had me write it out in super huge letters on a giant piece of paper - with illustrations! - so she could post it in a prominent place in the classroom. She told me I should be a writer. That definitely planted a seed. That was my first publication, I guess. (Thanks, Mrs. Cooper!)

Where would you say you are as a writer?

My current writing phase resembles that classic of modern film, Jaws: The Revenge: this time, it's personal. I intend to ruthlessly slaughter as many characters necessary to get where I need to be.

Context: I turned 40 this year. In the past I've occasionally had substantial periods of time to write, but life, as it does, almost always intervened. In my case I broke both my arms, got into a serious relationship, got out of that serious relationship, moved out on my own, earned a PhD in English literature, decided I didn't want to be a professor after all, and met someone wonderful. During this time I wrote some fiction, read a lot of fiction, and wrote about fiction a whole lot. A couple of years ago I got tired of writing about fiction, and remembered that what I really wanted to do was write it myself. I made a decision to drop almost everything and make a go of it. I've published a few short stories, and I am working actively on publishing more. I'm working on two novel-length projects. Despite the state of the publishing industry, I'm hopeful.

What’s your strongest writing genre? Do you often write in it? Why or why not?

I find horror the easiest genre to write. I write it often. I like fantasy and science fiction, although writing science fiction intimidates me for some reason, perhaps because of my sketchy relationship with science. I also find myself writing jokey / spoofy stuff on occasion. I try not to restrict myself within a narrow definition of any one genre, but just go where the ideas take me, whether that's a dark place or a hilarious place.

Quick, what are five of your favorite words!?!

bubonic, repellent, mellifluousness, fugiline, bloviate (not sure where those last two came from...)

In 10 words or less, sum up your current work in progress.

I've got two, so:

1. Ancient wanderer curses shopgirl with the ability to fight evil

2. Dimension-hopping fortress vs revenant army in 18th Century Canada

How would you describe your end goal as a writer?

Total world domination.

What could you not write without?
Spiritually / emotionally / financially, the support of friends and my partner (thanks, Dave!). Literally, my Rotring fountain pen.

3WW-Taking Liberty Part 17

2011-03-09T10:48:00.000-06:00

Click here for 3WW

Thanks for stopping in and checking on Elizabeth and Liberty. I skipped last week, basically because I felt that I've painted myself into a corner. This whole write by the seat of my pants thing was/is fun, but it makes writing some days really hard.

If you need to check in and see what you've missed or refresh your memory, stop by my Taking Liberty page. Now, let's see if I can get myself out of this writing jam.

My body was still on high alert, and I could feel my hands trembling a little. I stared at James and cursed Liberty for getting me into this.

As I stared at him, everything clicked in my mind. His behavior to me, the strange little jumps Liberty gave when he was near. I closed my eyes and sighed. "Idiot."

James mumbled something in his sleep and threw an arm over me. His skin was warm and smooth against mine. I watched his face as he settled back to sleep and realized that my hands had stopped shaking. I felt a lazy smile creep onto my face as I yawned and settled into bed.

I had to admit it felt like a nice place to be.

Something sharp was poking my leg as I shifted. A dainty stab that was more annoyance than painful. I reached down and grabbed at it. It crackled in my hand, and I pulled it out from under the covers. It was a Trojan wrapper.

For a long moment I stared at it, refusing to fully process what was going on. The knowledge haunting the back of my mind, but I forcibly held it there. Even though my ability at denial and ignoring the obvious had grown exponentially since Liberty had come into my life, I couldn't deny this any longer.

I jumped out of bed and ran into my bathroom. Skidding in on my knees, I felt my stomach lurch its way into the toilet. As the nausea subsided I sat against the wall, taking deep breaths. Knives of panic were shooting through me, and I knew it wouldn't take much to push me over the edge.

"Lizzy?" I heard a voice call from the other room. I could tell James was trying to sound sexy, tantalizing. But all I could hear was the voice of a man I never wanted to face again.

Muffled creaks and sounds of movements let me know that I wouldn't have the luxury. I stood up, washed my mouth out and grabbed an oversized T-shirt out of my hamper, pulling it on backwards in my rush to beat the door opening.

He tapped on it gently. "Lizzy, you ok?"

I breathed a sigh of relief that I had another second to fix the shirt and take a deep breath. "Yeah, I'm fine. I was just. . ."

I opened the door a crack and peeked at him. He had put his boxers back on, but was still shirtless. I had to admit that for a second I felt my goofy grin start easing its way back.

I looked down at my hands bracing the door, as if I might have to slam it shut at any moment. Slowly, I forced myself to let go of my death-hold on it.

"We should get dressed. My mom might come home for lunch or something." I said. Even though it wasn't true, she never came home, it was the quickest way I could think of to get us out of my bedroom.

I saw James clench his jaw. He spun around and started scooping up his clothes.

"Don't worry. I'll get out of your hair. I've gotta get back for practice anyway."

He was dressed by now and stomped his way across the room. I could hear his footsteps pounding down the staircase and out the front door. With a window rattling slam, I knew he was gone.

I slumped back down to the floor. "What the hell do I do now?" I sighed into my hands.

Right now Elizabeth and I are on the same page. I feel that things are coming to a head and the story will be wrapping up fairly soon, but that big climax is still too distant for me to know what will happen.

Gamer Girl Tuesday: Gaming terms for the uninitiated

2011-03-08T15:11:00.000-06:00

Over the last few weeks of doing this feature, I realized that a fair amount of my audience may have no idea what I'm saying half of the time.

So I thought every now and then I'd put together a little primer for those of you that aren't gamers. It'll help you understand me more, and maybe surprise the teenagers in your life that you know the terms

(One of my biggest kicks as a teacher was being able to call kids on using slang. They were always amazed that I knew what the terms meant!)

Today I'll be focusing on game genres. This will let you speak knowledgeably (or at least enable you to bluff your way through a conversation). It's also one of the most confusing because there are so many acronyms. Keep in mind this is just a basic list, and is by no means exhaustive.

FPS-First person shooter. Think of all the military games that have flooded the market.

MMO-Massive multiplayer online. Any game that is played online with other people around the world. World of Warcraft (or WoW) is the biggest in the market right now. However, it is really a MMORPG. (All the people you see running around in the video are actual people playing together from around the world).

RPG-Role playing game. Usually fantasy based. Any game that allows the player to make decisions or tries to immerse the player in the character's role. Dragon Age is a current popular RPG. (Skip to about 3 minutes to see actual gameplay)

Turn based RPG-This is the older style of RPG, where literally characters take turns taking action. You would often form a queue of actions and wait for the fight to end. Earlier Final Fantasy games are great examples.

Sim-Short for simulation. These can be anything from flight simulators, life simulators (such as Second Life or The Sims), or city-building experiments (Sim City).

Platformer-Classic style of video game, where you have to jump over, or duck under obstructions. Can be simple like Mario or complex like Prince of Persia.

Side scroller-The most classic style of video game, a two dimensional game, where the player literally moves to the left and right of the screen. (The video is of a game called Braid. Look for a review soon!)

I've skipped a lot of game genres (like action, puzzle, survival horror), because the titles are pretty straightforward. If there are any other genres you're confused about feel free to leave a comment. If you have any other acronyms or gaming terms you'd like me to work on for another time let me know!

The Passage vs. The Strain

2011-03-07T13:59:00.001-06:00

I have to say that after being inundated with friendly vampires the last couple of years (which I do have a soft spot for myself), I was excited when I heard about The Passage and The Strain. Both were getting good buzz and were modern takes on vampires that promised to include no sparkles or deep emotions of love from the vampires.

After getting around to reading both of them, I realized that it's basically trying to compare apples to a Volkswagen. They really are two different beasts. But to the best of my ability, here's the breakdown of the two books:

Warning: I'm trying to avoid spoilers as much as possible, but small details may be given away. But don't worry, nothing big.

Plot

The Passage

First "book"-Modern setting, spread of the epidemic. BEST PART of the book!
Middle "book"-Takes place about a hundred years later, America is now a wasteland. Centers on The Colony and the survivors there.
Last "book"-All hell breaks loose, lots of new story arches, fancy set pieces, and extra characters are thrown into the mix.

The Strain

A plane lands safely in New York, but never taxis to the gate. Everyone (or almost) on board is dead. CDC scientist Eph Goodweather is called in to figure out why. All around New York, strange things are happening: rats are flooding from the sewers, people are disappearing, and a strange man named Setraikan knows why.

Writing style

The Passage

More emotional writing
Long stretches of character development
HUGE cast of characters

The Strain

Highly visual (no surprise with DelToro leading the way)
Action packed
Short scenes with lots of minor characters (mostly just walk-ons before they get killed)

Vampires

The Passage

Man-created
Bat-like, glowey creatures
Called "Flyers"
More animalistic, with only traces of humanity

The Strain

Naturally occuring
Hive like mentality
Hierarchy of more powerful vampires

Humans

The Passage (Major cast of characters)

Grew up after epidemic
More worried about survival as opposed to wiping them out
Several are trained to kill the flyers, so good in a battle

The Strain

Mostly oblivious to what's going on
A handful are actively trying to stop the spread
More smart than good fighters

Overall views:

I can tell that The Passage was Cronin's first attempt at a horror/sci fi genre novel. Although the first 200 or so pages were AMAZING (really, I can't emphasize that enough), it all went downhill from there. I could really see his influences bleeding through (which isn't a good thing), and that distracted me at several points. He had a huge cast and really tried to make us care about the colonists, but I just really only cared for about three of them. The action pieces were good, but in this genre of writing, you really need more than one per 200 pages or so. (Did I mention the book is 784 pages?)

The Strain is a more straight forward horror novel. While I could tell it was inspired directly by Dracula, it was basically only head-nods to the work, and took it's own unique spin. I cared about all the characters, and several times was really touched by side character's situations (and often bloody deaths). I could tell that DelToro had his hand in the description of the vampires. They really could have been something out of a darker (if that's possible) and scarier (as opposed to just traumatizing) Pan's Labyrinth.

So who won?

Without a shadow of a doubt, for me, The Strain won. It was scarier, more touching, and interesting. It took me several months to read The Passage, simply because I hated the middle section. I had to force myself to get through that.

I already have The Fall, the second Strain book, on my Nook and can't wait to start. I'm not sure I'll even pick up the second book in the Passage trilogy when it comes out next year.

I'm sure I'll have lots of people disagree with me, and I welcome that. The Passage has gotten a lot of good reviews. I just felt he needed a much stronger editor to help him pare down some of the fluff in the book.

Race to 200 Blog Contest

2011-03-06T11:53:00.000-06:00

If you've looked at my side bar recently, you'll have noticed the button for J.C. Martin's Race to 200 Blog Contest. Well the big day is hear and I've got my own race story to tell.

Before I get on to my little story, I want to explain the inspiration. For a while on Twitter, I've noticed the hashtag #FirstWorldProblems. They're usually tongue in cheek (or at least I tell myself that) and ironic in nature. Here are some that I found while posting this:

So I thought I'd write a First World race story. Hope you enjoy:

Deborah was in the middle of shutting down her computer for the day when she heard the loud click, click, click of stilettos on the laminate floor between the cubicles. Her hands froze in mid-air as she tried to place where the sound was coming from in the office.

It sounded like it was a couple of rows over, but there was only one way to make sure, and she didn’t want to lift her head above the cubicle wall. So instead she closed her eyes and visualized herself walking out the door and going home. Her life-coach had been very big into visualizing this month.

She didn’t know if it helped or not, but was willing to put one mark in its favor when she heard a screechy voice say “Oh, Sandy! That color looks wonderful on you!”

Deborah breathed a sigh of relief. Sandy’s desk was four cubes away. She might make it. Her hands moving faster than she thought they could, she managed the long process of clicking all the the “shut down now” buttons that stood in the way of her ancient computer actually turning off for the weekend.

She imagined Ben waiting for her at home, maybe reading a book or magazine, dinner already cooking. One of the benefits of dating an up-and-coming chef, he was always trying to perfect his recipes. Just for fun, she added a bottle of wine and candles on the table. She smiled, and stared off for a moment.

Screaming through her speakers, the shut down music started to play.

“Dammit.” She cursed softly, frantically pushing the power button.

She sat still for a moment. Waiting.

Then she heard it, “Sandy! You’re so wicked! Well, you have fun! I’ll see you Monday!”

The click, click, click began again. Each sharp report made Deborah jerk a little. Raised out of her stupor, she started clearing her desk. They had to have their desks completely clear tonight because the exterminators were coming this weekend. The thought of having her keyboard coated in something toxic was enough for Deborah to not mind the decree.

“Richard! You dog! What are you looking at!”

Deborah was amazed at how Bethany could turn every sentence into an exclamation mark. Each time the woman opened her mouth, you could almost see them floating out like smoke rings, or something from Alice in Wonderland. Exclamation marks followed her around like a cloud of gnats.

Richard’s desk was only two cubes away. She had to work faster. Opening a drawer, swept everything on her desk in with one quick movement. Closing the drawer, she grabbed her purse and stood up.

And faced Bethany. Every fake tanned and highly polished inch of her.

“Deb-oh-rah! Are you trying to ditch me! You promised last week you’d come out on the town with me!”

Deborah tried to turn what she was afraid was a horror filled face to one of confusion. “Did I? I’m sorry, I totally forgot.”

Bethany wrapped her arm around Deborah’s, her long nails slightly digging into her. She laughed a breathy laugh, that Deborah supposed was supposed to sound like Marilyn Monroe, but instead sounded more like an asthma attack.

“I’m not letting you off that easily!”

Deborah closed her eyes and let Bethany lead her to the front door. She was visualizing a calmer, more subdued Bethany. One that she wouldn’t mind sharing a girly cocktail with.

Opening her eyes, she took a deep breath. Visualization was supposed to be powerful. She hoped her life coach was right.

For me? Really?

2011-03-05T12:29:00.001-06:00

Thanks for helping me hit the 200 follower mark, guys! It's been a while getting here, but I have to admit that my heart did a little flip when I realized I had made it. So this is for you:

So this post is going to be a mish-mash of updates. First, I was able to complete this month's Write1Sub1. I'm waiting to hear back on my submission, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. In the meantime, check out these other winners as part of the:

Donna from Donna's Book Pub

Misa Buckley from Misa Buckley: The misadventures of a sci fi writer

I've also received the Stylish Blogger Award from the wonderful LadyJai.

So accorfding to the rules of this award, I need to do three things:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave me the award.
2. State 7 things about myself.
3. Pass the award on to 15 recently discovered bloggers.

Sounds pretty easy, right? Oh wait, I have to talk about myself? Well, since this is the stylish blogger award, I'll try and keep the list to my personal sense of style.

I am notorious for getting bored with the lay out of a room. After living in a space for anywhere from 3 months to a year (really depends on the room) I get sick of it, and force my husband to do all the heavy lifting to change it around.
I love mid-century modern style, but know I'm not hip enough to carry it off. So I stick to a more traditional feel in the house.
I'd love to have a Victorian style nursery for whenever the husband and I have a baby.
I'm a plus sized girl, who is also 5'2" so I have a hard time finding pants that fit just right. When I do, I buy them in every color they have.
I love scarves but rarely wear them because I don't quite know what to do with them.
I love wearing lots of bright colors and patterns. Currently my favorite outfit is black pants, bright blue top, houndstooth jacket, and mustard colored clutch.
Apparently #1 also applies to the look of my blog. I'm already feeling the itch again.

I always feel strange about the next part, because I always feel like I'm missing someone. So in no particular order, here's the lucky one's that I've chosen to pass the award on to:

Eileen Wiedbrauk from Speak Coffee to Me
E.C. Smith from E.C.'s Ramblings
Summer Ross from My Inner Fairy
Sully from Sully's Scribbles
Elizabeth Twist from Elizabeth Twist: Writer, Plague Enthusiast
Tanya Reimer from Life's like that
Kim Mullican from Altruism in Writing
Autumn Shelley from Magick, Alchemy, and Love
Rebecca from Beck's Chic Life
Alex from Alex J. Cavanaugh
Stephanie from Our Marriage Adventure
Lindsay from That's So Cuegly!
Sherry at Young House Love
Titti from Shoestring Pavilion
Lawrence from The Lawrence/Julie & Julia Project

Ok, ok, so I cheated a bit and used my crusader group. But they are all pretty snazzy looking blogs! Keep an eye out for a future giveaway to celebrate my blogging milestone!

Crusader Group Feature: Tanya Reimer from Life's like that

2011-03-04T13:35:00.000-06:00

Looking back in my poetry binders, I was 13 when I started collecting my work. First time my writing was published in a local paper was probably a few years after that when I wrote articles for my high school. I wrote my first novel when I was 19. It sucked something horrible, but it was a mystery and what I learnt, I used to piece together the challenging plot puzzles of the Notebook Chronicles.

Where would you say you are as a writer?

I’m 34, and just decided I needed an agent to support my habit. I had to write a lot of crap before I wrote something I felt was worthwhile.

What’s your strongest writing genre? Do you often write in it? Why or why not?
My passion is writing novels. I’ve tried; a mystery, a dark thriller (I’m seriously afraid to reread it), a romance, a historical fiction, and now I’ve found my true love in the urban fantasy genre. I’ve written six for adults and one for the mid-grade genre. I get to play with magic, build romances, travel time, and piece together interesting plot twists. I write for me. My sister says that’s good, because I’m so normal, everyone should like it. We’ll see.

What do I write the most? Non-fiction; articles and editorials. I’ve published in newspapers and news bulletins.
Quick, what are five of your favorite words!?!

PLEASE SEND ME YOUR WORK. (I’m dying to hear that)

In 10 words or less, sum up your current work in progress.
The dying seducer falls for the devil herself.

How would you describe your end goal as a writer?

Others enjoy what I write, the world I created comes alive for them. I want to say, “I wrote that.”

What could you not write without?

Got me thinking how dedicated I am. Would I write without hands? Probably. Would I write if I had no computer, no friends, no cash? Yup, been there. I like the modern day technology, it makes writing easy, but I could write without it. Of course, having my resources at hand helps with spelling, but I can write poorly, and still be happy. So, I guess the one thing, that every writer NEEDS is a reader. What’s the use writing if I’m the only one swept up in the magic?

Gamer Girl Tuesday: What's in my wish list

2011-03-01T20:30:00.002-06:00

I really haven't had much time to actually play games this week (I'm hoping to fix that over the weekend). So instead of a review or another ramble down Silent Hill way, I thought I'd give you a sneak peak at some of the games I'm really looking forward to laying down money for.

DC Universe Online
If you've read any of my Wonder Woman posts, you might have figured out that I'm more of a DC girl than a Marvel fan (although you really can't get better than X-Men in many ways, not the movies, the comics). So when I saw this teaser trailer, my head exploded a little.

Now, it is a cinematic trailer, but the gameplay clips and reviews I've seen are all really positive. You create a completely original superhero (or villain) and then choose of the DC Trinity to train under. It is an MMO (Massive Multiplayer Online), and I haven't researched enough about PVP (Person vs Person), so that has me a bit nervous, but I'm really looking forward to it.

Bulletstorm
Ok, I have to admit that generally, I hate FPS games (first person shooters). My reaction times suck, and so I usually end up dead. But this one looks so unique, funny, and different than the glut of games that are on the market that my interest is really peaked. (Warning: the game is for adults, so expect lots of violence and some language.)

Stacking
A great indie puzzle game that has some pretty beautiful graphics and a great game idea. You play as the center part of a Russian nesting doll. To find your way through the puzzles, you can jump inside other dolls and use their abilities. Sadly it's only available on the XBox and PS3 gaming systems, so you're out of luck if you don't have one.

Dead Island
I know nothing about this game other than it has zombies and has probably the best game trailer I've ever seen. But fair warning, there's a lot of blood and gore and the trailer has been making grown men cry all over the interwebs. Amazing storytelling, and I can't wait to see more about the game.

Covering windows: an alternative to blinds

2011-02-28T13:51:00.001-06:00

In the master bathroom, there's a lovely large window over the tub. It lets in lots of natural light and has a nice thick ledge to house various items. The only problem is that it's covered by white blinds (did I mention that the walls are white as is the tile?).

I had thought about putting up curtains, but I'd still have to put something up for privacy's sake. While trolling the internet, I came across the idea of starching fabric to the window (you can apparently also do it on walls as well). While I read tons of posts on the idea and sadly didn't bookmark them all, I did save two of my favorites here and here.

So here's the breakdown on my first experience:

The first problem I ran in to was that my window is 47 inches square. This means that any fabric I found would be a few inches shy. So what I decided to do was find a patterned paper for the middle and create a fabric frame around it in a darker color.

Here's the fabric I found:

I'm going for a pseudo Morrocan/Asian, generic international vibe in my bathroom. I thought the lotus like shapes worked well, and the colors were perfect for the space. I cut the fabric to fit the window, with some spare fabric in case it shrunk (it did a little, but not much).

Then I mixed 1/4 cup corn starch with 1/2 cup cold water, and added 4 cups hot water. Even for the large space I had to cover, it made a lot of liquid.

The rest is pretty simple, if a bit time consuming. Get your fabric wet and hang it on the surface. Here's the husband hanging the fabric for me. My poor short arms just couldn't reach.

Here's the finished product with the frame around it (please forgive the crookedness). During the day it looks a bit off, but at night it looks really good. I'm thinking I might try a heavy ribbon or something like that to frame it out, something that's not so sheer.

I'd definitely recommend giving this a try, especially if you're in a rental, dorm, or have an awkward space like I do.

Crusade Challenge Lie Revealed!

2011-02-26T13:28:00.000-06:00

I have to say that while I entered into this challenge with some reluctance, it really was a lot of fun. And while I was sure that everyone would guess my lie, it turns out that only one person came close, although she chose my hypochondria as her final answer.

Yes, Aimee L Salter was so close! My lie was laughing out loud at a windbag professor in class.

While I've laughed inwardly at lots of self-important academics, I've managed to refrain myself from letting that creep into my face.

But what about the rest, you say? Surely it's to crazy to all be true? Nope, it's all true, if somewhat exaggerated a bit.

1. Cinderella costume: Yes, I did pretend to be the put upon princess while doing chores. And I did wrap my hair in a bandanna and such to heighten the experience, but I only did this around family and friends that were almost family. So luckily I never embarrassed them in front of complete strangers, just those that knew I was a bit...off.

2. Toy desecration: I would in fact hang my Barbie's for various acts of villainy. What's interesting is that my father would make me nooses our of shoelaces for my games. What can I say, my family really encourages imagination! And don't worry, any blades that came into play were always plastic ones. Even as a child I was paranoid of hurting myself. Which leads into:

3. My hypochondria: We can blame Charlie Brown for my first onset of this. I watched a special where Snoopy runs away and gets taken in by a girl that has Leukemia. When Charlie meets her he asks her about the disease and she assures him it's not catching. She just has to take lots of medicine and be careful because it makes her bruise easily. I've always bruised easily, so for quite some time, I held the secret burden from my parents that I was dying of Leukemia (I had also seen enough St. Jude's commercials to know it was a bigger deal than the cartoon had made it). After a couple of months went by and I was still alive, I decided I must be ok. Those diseases listed are just a small section of what I've self-diagnosed. Just let me say that watching House is a delicate affair in our house.

4. The Peabody: Yes, I have stayed there. It was part of a wonderful 6th anniversary trip that my husband planned. It was as wonderful as I had hoped and loved every minute. If you're ever in Memphis, make sure to stop by and see the parade of ducks to the fountain. It really is a sight to see!