Thanks to Mr. Nolan

It was a little over a year ago that I watched Batman Begins for the first time. I loved it. It was unlike anything I've ever seen. Coming from a Batman lover, and a complete film credit, I knew it was different. I just couldn't figure out why. There was a new element I hadn't expected.

"If you make yourself more than just a man, if you devote yourself to an ideal, you become something else entirely." -Henri Ducard

Fast Forward several months to when I first saw The Dark Knight. It impressed me more than the prequel. That sense of something new had doubled. A story hadn't just been told. It had been told well. This was when the name on the case started popping out to me a little more. Christopher Nolan.

Since then, along with many Dark Knight fans, I've been eagerly awaiting the arrival of The Dark Knight Rises. I've been waiting, and I've been expecting a lot. I've been expecting to see the same thing I did in the first two movies.

Over this past week I've watched, for the first time, two Christopher Nolan movies. The Prestige, and Inception. With each one I started to realize it wasn't just the Batman movies that were different. It was Christopher Nolan. It was the result of the touch from a master's hand.

Christopher Nolan makes movies that seem to completely transport you into another world. The world of the characters who's stories you are being told. He weaves a tale you weren't expecting, but that's not all he does. He gives you the characters to love, the journey they must survive, and the eyes you see it through. He gives it to you, but to thoroughly enjoy it, Chris expects something back. Some thought.

I admire Christopher Nolan's directing skills. I salute him for making his movies the way he wants to make them, the way they should be made, not the way  the world would like to see. I mostly admire him for asking just a little in return. Please don't sit down and watch his movies expecting to relax your brain. With each new film, he gives you a new puzzle to solve.

Directing film is an art I believe Chris Nolan has mastered. Then again, that's just the opinion of an abnormal teenager.

Seasons Thoughts

I was going to write this awhile back, but my book was calling out to me. I'm reading Bleak House and once again Charles Dickens has been showing me what an amazing artist he is.

So, I tried again a few days after that, but work got in the way. I'm a barista at a malt shoppe. Well, I should be at least. Service is kind of slow at the moment, so I've been more on call than anything else. Here's to hoping it picks up soon!

That brought me to tonight. I was really going to write a blog post. The page wouldn't load though. I almost gave up, but an hour, or so later, the internet connection seemed to improve. Here I am, writing this, and not even sure where I'm headed with it.

I can't believe it's almost Christmas day already. I used to think December was the longest month I ever had to live through. Now I feel as if it's been the shortest of the year. I'll be having a very quiet Christmas this year, but I'm perfectly okay with that. It gives me more time to think, which I've been doing a lot of lately. So much, it's been keeping me up at night. Not always the best thing.

I feel like Christmas day is one of the best days to think. It gives you even more to dwell over then you've already got. Well, the entire season does really. The people who rush about, the cars that are all over the roads, making you realize you may have a touch inner road rage after all. Maybe not rage, just frustration.

The gifts. Fin and I kept telling ourselves we would get out and do our shopping before the holiday rush closed in, but somehow we never really got around to it. Thankfully we managed to do most of it in one day. I'd like to think I'll enjoy giving more then receiving this year, but I know whatever I find inside my own packages will please me just as much as the looks on loved ones faces when they see what I've packed in theirs. I haven't quite decided if that's the point, or not. I guess I'll have to think on it longer.

Naw, in all reality, the gifts are great, but as we all continue to remind each other. It's not what it's all about. I think everyone knows it really, some people just don't like to admit it. Others purposely shove it to the back of their minds. Some of us tell ourselves we remember, and isn't it all wonderful, but we don't really care. I guess it's just part of that human nature that was given us.

I know you've heard it a million times already this year, but don't forget His name. Don't forget the reason you breath in and out. Don't forget He granted you mercy. Don't forget the true story of Christmas.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall shall be upon his shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. -Isaiah 9:6

In Which Georgie And Her Friends Are Shot

Due to the good weather, and new camera, and a marvelous set of tracks some friends and I decided to have a random photo shoot. 

Kiehl is one of those friends that I've known for some time, but we've recently been discovering how much we have in common. Such as a love for boots.

My guitar strap kept slipping off causing my guitar to fall and get banged up. So, I set it in the corner to get it out of the way, and then turned back to see its smiling face. So I took a picture.

Fin and her guitar.

Kiehl with her fiddle. 

Hi Guys

It's seven minutes away from midnight and I'm writing this post to say that this blog is not dead. Let's just say NaNoWriMo has sucked practically ever intelligible word out of my system. On that note, I reached 50,000 three days before Thanksgiving. Now I've just got to finish the novel.

For those of you sitting around waiting for something to happen on this blog, sit back and get ready. My Sam, Fin and I are working on some crazy stuff. At least, it sounds crazy when you're this tired.

I've also discovered you will laugh an insane amount at this video when you're tired. If you're anything like me that is.

I also must say a hint of steampunk has started to show up in my novel. I am okay with this. In fact, I find it rather enjoyable.

Beautiful People - Holiday Edition

Welcome to the Holiday Edition of Beautiful People! If you're unsure what Beautiful People is you can read about it on the FAQ page.

Seeing as how the holidays are getting closer and closer, my Sam and I decided we would dedicate this months questions to celebrations. We'll be taking a break through December, but Beautiful People will be back in January.

A lot of writer's don't think about holiday's, or celebrations while writing their story, but it's a part of life. Even for fantasy writer's. Your character might be a typical American who celebrates Christmas and the Fourth of July, but they must have something to celebrate. Parties are a part of almost anyone's life, even if they aren't given for the same reasons. Stretch your imagination on this one. Try to make your characters holiday seasons as real as you can.

1. What kind of holidays do they celebrate, if any?
2. What are they most thankful for?
3. Do they have any family traditions?
4. What is their most memorable holiday memory?
5. What is the most memorable gift they have ever received?
6. Do they consider it important to be with family during celebrations?
7. Do they usually wait till the last minute to purchase gifts, or do they buy them ridiculously early?
8. Favorite Christmas song? For fantasy authors, is music a part of their celebration?
9. Do they celebrate for religious reasons?
10. How do they celebrate the beginning of the new year?

Have fun, and don't forget to sign the linky!

Week 2ish

This post is a bit late. Week two has come and gone, but oh well. Let me just say, I expect to reach the 50,000 word goal the same way I did last year. In a futile attempt to beat Fin in getting there. Sometimes I wonder how normal people have fun.

Wordcount: I shall fill this in later. I'm keeping Fin in terror at the moment.

Favorite Place to Write: The coffee shop, still. Especially when I've got writer friends with me.

Most Productive Place to Write: That would still be my bedroom. On my bed. With earphones in my ears.

Favorite Snack: French fries from McDonald's. I know, I'm weird.

Music:

Authentic Me

I'm participating in Abigail Kraft's Authentic People Blog Party.

So, for newcomers to my blog, this is me.

I'm a daughter of the most high God. I'm an aspiring theater director. I'm an opinionated film critic. Mostly, I just write words. Especially, during the month of NaNoWriMo.

1} What's the nerdiest/geekiest/weirdest think about you?

Let's see... I have a crooked face. Seriously, if I put on any pair of glasses they will sit crookedly on my face. Unless it's my glasses, those were made to look straight.

2} If you could live in a fictional universe from any book, movie, or television show, what would it be?

Aanoor. That would be... my own fantasy land. Almost all of my fantasy novels/stories are set somewhere in Aanoor. It's been growing considerably over the years.

I made this map several years ago and it has changed a bit since then, but it gives you a general idea.

3} Little or big, practical or frivolous, what is one of your favorite items in your house?

My book shelves. A fairly recent addition to my house, but my favorite none-the-less.

Reasons love to them? 1. My Daddy made them for me. 2. They hold awesome books. 3. They're green.

4} Do you like animated movies? If so, what's

your favorite?

Oh yes, I love animated movies and my all time favorite is Lilo & Stitch. How could you not love a cute and fluffy mutant alien?

5} What is your favorite household chore?

Sweeping. I used to hate it, but after years of doing it every day, I actually kind of like it now.

6} What's your favorite thing to get at Starbucks (or your favorite coffee shop)?

In my case, that would be my favorite coffee shop. I don't visit Starbucks much. Anyway, my usual, memorized by two different baristas in town would be a 12oz white mocha. They're also pretty good and guessing if I want it iced, or not by how thick a coat I'm wearing.

7} What is your favorite pizza topping?

Pepperoni. I'm pretty basic when it comes to pizza.

8} Waffles or pancakes?

Uh... I don't really like either of those. Especially for breakfast. Then again, I'm not much of a breakfast eater in general.

9} Do you like to play games? If so, what is your favorite?

I actually don't really like to play games. I get weird looks whenever I say that, but it's the truth. The only games that I'll actually be in the mood to play are card games. My least favorite is probably charades.

10} Have you ever let anyone win a game?

I don't remember. I doubt it.

11} Have you ever dyed your hair?

No, although some people find that hard to believe when they see my natural red highlights.

12} Do you make your bed every morning?

Ah-ha, let's just say, I try.

13} Picasso or Norman Rockwell?

Norman Rockwell. I'm actually not crazy about him, but I find Picasso disturbing.

14} Do you like carpet, tile, or hardwood floors?

Hard wood, but it's all carpet in my house.

15} If you could put one thing in a safe under your bed, what would it be?

I'm not really sure. My favorite books?

16} What's your favorite condiment?

Barbecue sauce. Yes, I hail from the west.

17} Have you ever thrown up on someone (excluding when you were a child)?

No... I don't even remember the last time I threw up.

18} What was the last thing that made you laugh.

My brother playing charades last night. It was rather comical.

19} Think fast... what's the first song that pops into your head?

Blessed Assurance. I was just playing it on my guitar. One of my favorite hymns, especially when sung by Alan Jackson.

Week 1

Well, the first week of NaNo is over and I'm still breathing. One of my characters isn't, but I told him from the very beginning he wouldn't be lasting long. I hope he didn't mind. I would ask him, but... like I said, he's not speaking anymore.

I finally updated my Current Writing Projects page, so you can read the quick synopsis of my novel there.

So, how's it been going? Pretty good! I've got to say, I love working with these characters again. They're probably my favorite group of fictional people.

Word count: 17,003

Favorite Place to Write: The coffee shop

Most Productive Place to Write: My bedroom

Favorite Snack: Chocolate, either white, or dark, but not milk.

Music: Michael Buble (Lost),

Damian McGinty (Home),

and Josh Groban (Hidden Away).

I would make this longer, but I haven't reached my word goal for the day. I'm hoping for 18k before midnight.

Just The Right Words

I am totally live blogging right now. I've never done this before, but I'm in love with it already.

At this very moment I'm sitting in my very favorite coffee shop. I've already spent many hours at this table, and I'm sure there will be many more. It's got the perfect atmosphere for writing a novel.

People come and they go. I can look out the window to the road across the street and see people that I recognize. The majority of the people sitting around me are people I've seen here before. Their faces familiar from days past.

I really should be writing right now. After all, it's the first day of NaNo and even though I've already got the suggested word count for the day, that's never enough for me. I know I can reach above and beyond that. I'm going for 5,000 before the day is done.

I start working at a new job tomorrow and while I'm totally excited about it, I'm also a bit nervous. Okay, a lot nervous. This is my first "real" job. What if I mess up? I guess that's the same question everyone has when they step out and do new things. I'm no different from those who have succeeded. Why shouldn't I? This quote keeps running through my head.

"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." -Walt Disney

I don't think I'm exactly curious, but it makes me feel better anyway. Maybe because Walt Disney has just always been awesome, and you know if he was sitting next to me right now he would have just the right words to say.

The Stroke of Midnight

I'm one of those people who doesn't celebrate halloween. The only time I ever remember dressing up for it was last year. I went as a writer. It involved wearing my glasses instead of my contacts, putting my hair in a bun, and sticking a pen through it. Most people didn't even realize I was in costume.

I was telling one of my bosses today that I was going to stay up till midnight so I could start my "writing thing" as she called it. She found it silly to stay up and start writing then, when I could get a good nights sleep and start writing tomorrow. When Fin and I explained to her that half the fun was waiting that first night for the exact minute when you can start writing, she called us a strange breed.

Yes, I suppose we writers are a strange breed. We go through halloween day, waiting for it to be over. Because for us, the 31st just means the day before NaNo. Then, the real fun begins.

Find me on the NaNoWriMo website under the username georgiepenn.

Characters Make the Plot

As you've probably noticed, I like to fancy myself as a writer. It's something I greatly enjoying doing and have spent many hours not only doing it, but learning how to become better at it. I've read books on the subject, written by published authors. I haven't agreed with everything they've said, but it helped me to see that every writer is different. Every writer has things that work best for them.

I hardly consider myself worthy to give advice, but I would like to expound on something that has worked for me. Character analysis.

That's right. Character sketches. Not just piddly little profiles though. I'm talking extensive stuff. This is a person that you're trying to create. A person that is making up the contents of your novel. There is always more to discover. Always more to uncover.

I get writer's block. I know, surprise, surprise. Probably one of the most obvious statements a writer can make. There are very few things I can do to break that inspiration stopping wall. One of them, the one that seems to work the most for me, is character analysis. Discovering more. It's amazing how learning one little morsel of information on one little side character, can open up a whole slew of new plot ideas.

Not only can you find a ton of character sketch material online, (I'm now going to shamelessly advertise) such as Beautiful People, but you can find some great books on the subject as well. I myself have only had the chance to get my hands on one, but there are at least a few more out there. The one I've used a little bit is called, What Would Your Characters Do. The Director recommends one called 45 Master Characters.

Check these books out. Look around for more like them. Get them from the library if you can. Find the one that works best for you. Find several that work best for you. Maybe none of them will work for you. Maybe you feel you don't need extensive character sketches. That's cool too, just remember that with writing, it's always a good idea to try something before saying it's not for you. You never know, you might surprise yourself.

Awesomeness

Guys. I'm not a fan of Glee, or The Glee Project. At all. However, I am a fan of this guy.

It also makes me pretty happy to hear this guy sing.

This guy has just always been awesome.

In other news, I'm sick. Therefore, I've posted music videos instead of racking my mind for words to type. I feel no shame.

Lessons From Three Year Olds

I've slowly compiled this list as the three year olds in my life have graciously shared their... uh... wisdom.

1. Raccoons are the reason peach pits mold.

2. He who falls behind, screams the loudest.

3. Tripling the number of pleases will greatly influence the answer in your favor.

4. A hotrod is any car that looks cooler than yours.

5. Batman is his own sport.

6. If you don't know where a place is, it must be the next driveway over. Idaho for instance.

7. If you're tall enough to reach the piano keys, you play beautifully.

8. A priests job is to check people in at the door.

9. If you live far away, you must live in Africa. Even if the return address label says Ohio.

10. If someone makes you unhappy, imagine a world without them in it. This includes ignoring them when they beg for your forgiveness.

I wouldn't worry to much if you can't remember all of them, they're more like guidelines anyway.

Beautiful People - The Way We Love

My turn to answer this months questions for Beautiful People. We're doing a special NaNoWriMo Edition this month to help everyone get even more excited for the upcoming event.... writing that sentence made me feel like a nerd. I'm okay with that though. Moving on.

We also challenged participants to answer all the questions, from each month, found in the BP Archives, all on one character. While I have done this several times already (it's amazing how much of a help this exercise can be) I won't be posting all the answers on my blog, in this post at least. So, for now, this months questions.

Sum up your novel in five words, or less.

Mislead brother seeks revenge.

Novel title?

The Way We Love.

Sum up your main character(s) in one word.

Grant: leader. Weston: nerd. Ranen: loner. Luna: capable. Lyric: strong.

Advice for newbies in three words?

Coffee and music.

Tell us about your secondary characters, how do they affect the story?

I've got quiet a few actually, but I'll try not to make this last to long. Shada, she's a young girl who helps Weston wake up and realize he can't just sit around for the rest of his life, mourning the death of Exie. She gets him moving. Lane, Grant's son. He pretty much causes the entire plot by unintentionally forcing Grant to return to First World. Jasper, the bad guy. He causes all the trouble. Tony, the one and only person outside of the gang that Ranen has ever cared a hoot about. His disappearance sends Ranen on a quest to find him. Throwing him into the path of Jasper.

Do you plan on staying up till midnight on the 31st?

Oh yes, I'm going to write till I can't keep my eyes open any more.

How many years have you done NaNo?

This will be my third.

What came first, characters, or plot idea?

I guess the characters, since this is the sequel and they were already there for me to use.

How much prep do you do before November?

I'm writing a full, incredibly detailed, outline. I'm on chapter 9, hopefully I'll get it done before the 1st.

Now be honest, how do you really feel about NaNo?

For me the question isn't "am I going to do NaNo this year?" It's always, "what am I doing for NaNo this year?" I've seriously considered doing my own 50k challenge in a different month, as well as the one in November, although I've never actually done it yet. I love the words, the friends, and the crazy nights. To sum it all up, NaNoWriMo is one of my favorite times of the year.

Book Housing

Before

After

The point of this post is to show everyone that my Daddy is most defiantly the most awesome Dad on this earth. He builds me awesome bookshelves. 'Nough said.

Sorry about the poor picture quality. My only camera is the one on my ipod and it doesn't exactly take the best shots.

Beautiful People - NaNoWriMo Edition!

Da ta da ta DA! It's a brand new Beautiful People post! Only, it's not your typical Beautiful People. Nope, it's awesome because it's the NaNoWriMo Edition of Beautiful People! We're hoping it will get us all even more excited about the upcoming insanity.

What's the difference you ask? Well, not only are all the questions geared towards those writing novels this November, but we've got an extra little challenge on the side. Because, apparently, writing 50k words in a month isn't challenge enough.

What is this extra challenge? We're encouraging everyone to take a look at the BP archive that my Sam has so neatly put together and answer all the questions on one character. Even if you just do it without posting it on your blog, it's an amazing way to really learn a lot about the way your character thinks and what they love. We suggest using the main character of your NaNo novel, but any character will do.

While this months new questions are geared towards NaNoers, for those who aren't participating this year, we'd love to see the answers to the ones that can be adapted to the novel you're working on at the moment.

1. Sum up your novel in five words, or less.

2. Novel title?

3. Sum up your main character(s) in one word.

4. Advice for newbies in three words?

5. Tell us about your secondary characters, how do they affect the story?

6. Do you plan on staying up till midnight on the 31st?

7. How many years have you done NaNo?

8. What came first, characters, or plot idea?

9. How much prep do you do before November?

10. Now be honest, how do you really feel about NaNo?

Don't forget to sign the linky, and have fun!

Weakness

I just finished making the cover for The Way We Love. I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out, despite the complications I had while making it. You all probably want to see it, but you'll have to wait. It'll be on my updated Current Writing Projects page, after NaNo starts.

I'm sitting on Fins bed at the moment, listening to Celtic Thunder. It's hard to believe that it's been almost a year since we went and saw them in concert. It was the kickstart to NaNo last year for me. This year I'll be taking a trip to the best bookstore on the face of this earth. Powell's. Books on my list to look for? Oh, you know, the usual. Charles Dickens, Ted Dekker, John Keats, C.S. Lewis... the list goes on. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to find one, or two books to lug home with me.

Someone shared a verse with me lately. I love it when that happens.

And he said unto me, "my grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

I think the world overrates the wrong kind of strong. Who cares if you've got abs. Until you are weak in Him, you will never be truly strong. I think I need to work on that more. Much more.

Introducing The Way We Love

October. It's that crazy month where all the writers begin to realize NaNoWriMo is only four weeks away, and they better come up with some kind of plot if they want to make it to 50k. After being interviewed by an honest to goodness newspaper man on the subject, I was forced to decide what I would be writing this year. As a spur of the moment choice, my beloved characters of old won out.

I'll be torturing Grant, Luna, Ranen, and Weston for another year, at least. They'll be returning in The Way We Love, sequel to The Way We Think.

Since making that decision, I've been totally stoked about NaNo. I've even started outlining. Who cares if I've only got a few weeks and I'm just now on the first chapter.

So, who's doing NaNoWriMo? Keep checking back because Beautiful People will be geared towards NaNoers this month. Don't worry if you aren't planning on undertaking the craziness of the challenge, we'll have plenty of questions for you as well!

Braindead

I haven't been writing much lately. I've been reading. I actually haven't been doing much of that either though, so it's a lame excuse. Oh well, I just keep telling myself you've gotta have a break before the big bust, right? I would certainly call November the big bust of my writing life, and it's coming on fast. At this point, I'm not even really sure what I'm gonna write either. I've got ideas, but there's no saying that won't change. Like it already has three times.

I've got to get up early to go to work tomorrow, so I'm not even really sure why I'm taking the time to write this post. This could be one of those moments when I could be writing, or reading. I'm writing a story about gypsy's, a highwayman, and poor villagers. I'm reading Wuthering Heights. I'm enjoying both.

I guess I decided to post because I felt like I wanted to, the only thing was, I didn't know what to post. So, I decided to follow the example of My Sam and not think about it. Just write, right? We won't go into how much she inspires me right now, just know that she does.

Speaking of being inspired, I'm in love with music right now. Oh wait, I'm always in love with music. Let me rephrase that, I'm in love with Barrage right now. This is one of my favorites. It's called Allen's Bar.

This ones pretty good too. Until We Meet Again.

I'm in the midst of refurbishing my room. Well, I have been in the midst of it since we moved into this house, but it's getting closer. My Daddy is going to build me some awesome bookshelves so I'll be able to get my books off the floor and I'm hoping to find a nice, big, comfy chair to stick in the corner. I love big comfy chairs. Especially when surrounded by books.

Indiana Jones: the Adventurer

"I can't go to Panama!"

The outcry caught my attention and I turned to watch one of the kids I was watching that day. He was talking to his friend. Last I had heard, they were playing Indiana Jones. Kids after my own heart.

"I can't take it back there! It's what made me an adventurer!"

If I had my way, the definition of adventurer would be "the kid word for archeologist." I'm gonna go re-write the dictionary now.

Beautiful People - Krinna Rayne

In a crazy attempt to get myself excited for the outlining I'd like to do for my NaNo novel, I'm going to do my Beautiful People post on one of that stories characters. Krinna Rayne.

Krinna lives in a small village surrounding a small lake. The lake has almost a constant mist rising from it. The mist brings healing to any ailments. Krinna discovers a world beneath the lake and begins to learn a new way of life, only to be told she would have to learn three more. Not only did her survival depend on this, but the survival of everyone she's ever known.

Krinna Rayne by georgiepenn featuring striped scarves

Does she have any habits, annoying, or otherwise?

She tends to trail off in the middle of her sentences, forgetting she has a listener who may not predict what she was going to say.

What is her backstory and how does it affect her now?

She has grown up in a village steeped in tradition. Everyone around her took part in teaching her the basics of life as she grew to adulthood. There were certain way to do things, if you did them differently, you weren't welcome. This makes it hard for her to learn the costumes of new people as they're habits go against everything she has ever been taught.

How does she show love?

By listening. If she loves someone dearly she will almost always take time from her day to stop and listen to what they may have to say.

How competitive is she?

Not so much. It doesn't really matter to her if she'll win, or loose. Actually, if she's doing something that involves winning, she probably doesn't even want to be doing it.

What does she think about when nothing else is going on?

It depends on where she's at. If she's at home she'll think about the people in the lake, if she's in the lake she'll think about those at home.

Does she have an accent?

She starts with a Briton accent, but as she spends more time with other people she begins to take on a sound of her own, picking up bits of languages here and there.

What is her station in life?

She is the daughter of the lead villager. Although her Father holds this high rank she has always been treated the same way as the rest of the people.

What do others expect from her?

As a child they expected a smile and a laugh. As she's grown older she's become more withdrawn and quiet, preferring to spend time by herself then attend village get togethers. People are no longer sure what they expect of her, other than keeping to herself.

Where was she born, and when?

In the village, twenty-three years ago.

How does she feel about people in general?

She doesn't care for them much. They make her uncomfortable and she prefers to stay away from them as much as possible.

Beautiful People - September

After playing spider solitaire while simultaneously listening to insanely inspiring music for over an hour now, I guess I'm finally ready to write this blog post.

Honestly, I can't believe sometimes how fast the month seems to go by. I feel like I just wrote a Beautiful People post. Now, it's time for My Sam and I to give you 10 more questions for you to answer about your beautiful characters.

For those who are unclear on the matter, take a look at this post HERE. Feel free to join us whenever you like. If you have any question suggestions for the following months, don't be afraid to comment and give us some new ideas.

This months questions are...

1. Do they have any habits, annoying or otherwise?

2. What is their backstory and how does it affect them now?

3. How do they show love?

4. How competitive are they?

5. What do they think about when nothing else is going on?

6. Do they have an accent?

7. What is their station in life?

8. What do others expect from them?

9. Where were they born, and when?

10. How do they feel about people in general?

Have fun, and don't forget to sign the linky!

Jane Eyre and Robin Hood

Remember when I posted that picture of Jane and Mr. Rochester and every single person who left a comment knew who they were? Yeah, I didn't think I was going to stump to many people on that one. Anyway, this is that post I was talking about, but I'm also throwing in a few words on Robin Hood so grab your popcorn and get ready for a seriously opinionated persons view on various films.

Let's begin with Jane Eyre, shall we?

Jane Eyre (2011)

I actually already wrote a review about this. You can read it here.

Jane Eyre (2006)

Out of the three adaptions I've watched, this is by far my favorite. Masterpiece Theatre certainly knows how to please fans of the books. I love Mr. Rochester, I love Jane, I love the entire thing. It's just awesome.

Jane Eyre (1996)

I think you'll gather how I felt on this film when I say, I didn't finish watching it. It was almost comical. The plot was rushed, the characters were butchered and the acting was a farce. I skipped to the end just to see if they had managed to pull it together by then. They hadn't.

Moving on.

Robin Hood (2010)

Ever since I heard this movie was coming out I was interested. After all, its Robin Hood! The fact that Russell Crowe would be playing the infamous outlaw made me rather dubious, I tried to tell myself Ridley Scott knew what he was doing. In a way, I think maybe he did. I actually kind of liked the softer side Robin seemed to have in this movie, while still managing to be his irritating self. I liked the new twist on the story, that Robin Hood wasn't originally Robin of Loxley at all. I love this quote,

"Rise and rise again until lambs become lions."

It keeps running through my head and I find it rather inspiring.

However, as much as I liked about this movie, it just didn't come together for me. By the time it was over I had decided I didn't really like it. I'm not completely sure why. Maybe it just wasn't my kind of Robin Hood.

FASD Awareness Day

"What's it like to have a retarded person in the family?"

I've grown up being asked that question. Ever since we adopted my youngest brother. The one who still isn't "talking right." The one who can't read, or write. The one who has trouble throwing a football, and doesn't make friends easily, if at all.

Little known fact: September 9th is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) awareness day.

My brother has FASD. Because his biological mother chose to drink while pregnant, he now has brain damage that can never be repaired.

FASD is completely avoidable. Raising awareness is easy. Prevention is not impossible.

Check out FAS Families of Faith blog to learn more!

"Sometimes the Questions are Complicated and the Answers are Simple."

I played with a seven year old today. He told me he was a doctor and promptly pretended to cut my knee open. When I told him that there was nothing wrong with my knee, and asked why he had cut it open he simply shrugged and said,

"I'll fix it... somehow." 

Gotta love the confidence of a child.

Beautiful People - Heskith

This post is rather bittersweet. It's the first Beautiful People post I shall be writing that's not about the characters in The Way We Think. The characters from that novel are probably my most favorite, and have become the most real of all my beautiful characters. Its been awesome learning even more about them, but, it's time to move on.

I give you, Hesktith Cealnoor from Ash Valley. King of Aanoor, and brother to my favorite villain.

What is his biggest accomplishment?

Finding his kidnapped son after eight years of searching.

What is his strongest childhood memory?

When he was eight years old he woke to find his older brother, Dugan, packing all his things. When Dugan realized he was awake he came and sat on his bed, talking to him, telling him that he would have to leave, but someday he would be back. As he left he paused in the door and told him that he loved him. Heskith didn't see him for another eleven years.

What is his favorite food?

One of his favorite things to do with his daughter is roast apples over an open fire, and sweeten them with honey. Maybe it's because he always does it in the company of one of his favorite people, maybe it's because it gets him out of his royal life for awhile, but nothing tastes better to him than those baked apples.

Does he believe in love at first sight?

No, he's far to practical for that.

What kind of home does he live in?

He's a king. He lives in a castle. Paranoor Castle actually. People travel from other kingdoms just to see it from a distance.

What does he wear?

The things he's almost always wearing are his black cloak, his sword belt, and a leather jerkin.

What would he do if he discovered he were dying?

He would make sure the kingdom was left in good hands, then get on a horse and ride away with his family. He would find somewhere where no one else would go and spend the rest of his time there, in peace, with those he loved.

What kind of holidays, or traditions does he celebrate?

The country of Aanoor has few celebrations, but when they do the party goes on for days. Still haven't sorted out all the details. One of the largest celebrations lasts for almost a week and it's to remember the day Aanoor was won in a horse race by Heskith's Father in law.

What do your other characters have to say about him?

The villagers would tell you they would give their lives for him, his first concern is for them, and that he rarely smiles, but maybe that's just how all royalty are.

If he could change one thing in his world, what would it be?

Peace. He would have everyone at peace with one another. All the worries and sorrows of war would be gone.

Want to join in the fun? Find this months Beautiful People post HERE!

Gumbo

You know that moment when you realize your blog posts have been fewer to non-excistant in the last three weeks? You feel like you barely have time to sleep, let alone blog.

I wonder if I'll ever get back into the groove of typing out my thoughts in this little box, or if this blog will slip away and become one of the thousands that have been abandoned. Don't worry though, I've got far to many thoughts banging about in my mind to give it up entirely.

While I have forgotten my blogging, it seems others have not. I was given the same award three times. I'm to thank Katie, Mirriam, and Charity for awarding me the Liebster Blog award. I shan't be passing it on, but I'm very flattered for the appreciation you've bestowed upon this speck of speck in the internet world.

For those of you who haven't seen this months Beautiful People post, be sure to check out the new questions, there are some great ones!

I shall end this strange, mash up of a post with this.

Expect a post on them in the future, probably not in the near future, but possibly sometime beyond that. Kudos to those who know who they are.

Beautiful People - August

Hard to believe that it's time, once again, for some new Beautiful People questions. Sometimes I think once a month is almost to often for these posts, they're slowly taking over my blog. Don't worry, once a month it will remain, and this post won't turn into an apology on my lack of posting lately. Nope, this is a Beautiful People post.

Feel free to join in at any time. Below are ten questions to be answered about any of your well loved characters. Be it in a novel, a script, a song, or anything else you've written. At any time during the month, type up your answers in a blog post of your own, than come back here and sign the linky at the bottom of this post so others can read about your beautiful character.

Last, but not least, even though some of the questions seemed geared towards non-fantasy kind of characters, I still encourage fantasy authors to see if they can adapt the questions so it'll work for them. If you need to change the questions around a little bit, please feel free to do so. You could also imagine what the answer would be if your character wasn't fantasy. What would they be like in a modern world?

So, here are this months questions.

1. What is their biggest accomplishment?

2. What is their strongest childhood memories?

3. What is their favorite food?

4. Do they believe in love at first sight?

5. What kind of home do they live in?

6. What do they like to wear?

7. What would they do if they discovered they were dying?

8. What kind of holidays, or traditions do they celebrate?

9. What do your other characters have to say about them?

10. If they could change one thing in their world, what would it be?

We've got some great questions this time, I can't wait to see some of your answers! Thanks to Taylor Lynn for suggesting some of these questions. Please feel free to comment with any question ideas you may have!

What's Important to You?

Day 10 - Your answer to, "What is the most important thing I should know about writing."

If I was replying to someone who was thinking about getting into writing themselves, I would say, beware. It's addictive. Once you start, you will be sucked into the world of late nights, finding room for stacks of filled notebooks, and crying over deleted documents. Oh, and how could we forget NaNoWriMo?

For anyone else, there is no answer to this question. It changes for each and every person. I could tell you some of the things that are most important to me. Such as, simply writing what's on my heart, or be willing to try new things in my writing world. Outlining is a lot more fun than I ever imagined it could be.

The fact of the matter is though, that why these things could be important for me, they might not be a struggle, or nearly as important to you.

So, here's my answer to this question. Find out for yourself. Because it will be different for each and every writer. What is most important to you?

Check out this 15 Day Blog Challenge at Eat... Sleep... Write!

Current Projects

Yes, I've missed quiet a few days, but I'm back at it for now. Lerowen's 15 Day Challenge.

Day 9 - What is your current writing project?

Any writing I've been doing lately is rather casual, but the main projects are Ash Valley, and a nameless story.

Regular blog readers will know that I've decided to completely rewrite Ash Valley, despite the 50,000 words I had managed to reach in the first draft. This time I want to do it right, so I've been working on a detailed outline. Sticky notes can be amazing my friends.

The nameless story started on a whim. It was inspired by a picture I saw and I just couldn't keep myself from writing about it. I'm not sure how long it's going to be, and I don't have all the details sorted yet, but I do know the main characters are the Mother and Father of one of the main characters in Ash Valley. It's all rather exciting.

Books Inspire

Day 4 - A novel or author that has inspired something in your writing style.

While I can make this easy and just say Ted Dekker, and Charles Dickens, I have to go a bit further than that. Honestly, almost everything I read inspires me. Even if it's a bad book. It inspires me to go and write something better. If it's good I try and figure out why and if I can take on that quality in my own writing. The two kinds of books this doesn't work with...

The AMAZING

When a book is so amazing I don't even pay attention to what made it so good. I'm so caught up in the story I don't even think about it. By the third, or fourth time I read it I can get down to that stuff.

The GAG-worthy

You know. The ones that I read the first chapter and stop. If I even get that far. Sometimes I only get to the first line, if I made it past the paragraph on the back... if I even picked it up to begin with.

A writer should be able to learn something from almost every book in my opinion. How to do something, or what to avoid. Books in general are my inspiration.

Join the 15 Day Challenge over at Eat... Sleep... Write!

Attempt is Write

Day 3 - Your first attempt at writing.

I love how Lerowen words this one. "attempt at writing." That was certainly true for me. In fact, even now I feel like it's all just an attempt. One big attempt to get it write... or... er, right.

Anyway, I don't really remember when I first started to write. I've been asked the question many a time before, but all I can really do is guess. It was probably sometime when I was 7, or 8. I don't remember why I thought I might enjoy it, I don't remember what it was about. The first thing I do remember is writing a "novel" (as I called it in my own little head) about a girl who actually liked to wash dishes. In fact, she went to tournaments and won awards for her speed at washing dishes.

I dedicated it to my sister. Why? I have no idea, she hated washing dishes.

After that things became a little more serious. I actually had a lot of great ideas that I still run into and tell myself I really had something there. One of these I am actually still working on. Ash Valley.

In my early writing days I spent hours working on the first book in the trilogy Ash Valley is apart of. Somewhere along the line I got so excited about the second book (you guessed it, Ash Valley) I quite the first one and started it. I've been working on it ever since. At the moment I'm working on outlining it so I can do a complete re-write and I'm even contemplating using it as my 2011 NaNoWriMo novel. I love the story. I love the characters. I love the setting. I just can't seem to get it written. That's what NaNo is for, right?

Want to join the 15 day challenge? Check it out at Eat... Sleep... Write!

Three Favorites... Again

Day two of the 15 Day Writer's Challenge over at Eat... Sleep... Write. If you're a writer I encourage you to check it out and think about joining us!

Day 2 - Your favorite male author.

Another difficult one that I'll have to narrow down to three choices.

James Herriot

I've never really been a great fan of animal stories. While my family enjoyed the stories of Rascal, and Where the Red Fern Grows, I found them rather boring. I don't remember a time when I didn't like James Herriot though. I've grown up listening and reading his stories, based off of his real life experiences as an English country vet.

We had Every Living Thing on tape, and I think that's probably the most listened to tape there ever was. The stories are certainly worth hearing, but what makes them captivating is the way he writes them.

Not only that, the books make a pretty amazing tv series.

Charles Dickens

Look at this guy. With a face like that, how can you not write a whopping good novel? I've actually only read three of his books and am currently in the middle of the forth, but the ones I have read are amazing. This guy has got to be the master of plot. As I was reading Great Expectations, the first book I've read of his, I was thinking it was good, but by the time I got to the end I was blown away. Things unfold that you never would have expected.

Not only that, the books make some pretty amazing Masterpiece Theater adaptions.

Ted Dekker

I'm not even sure where to start with this guy. I guess from the beginning. Thanks for getting me into this addiction Beth.

Ted Dekker opened my eyes to the world of thriller novels. His was the first books in a long time that I clung to the spine of during the wee hours of the morning. I finished Black overnight.

The awesome part is, he's not only still alive, but he's still writing!

Not only that, the characters on the pages seem so real already, it gives me chills just thinking about a film adaption.

Three Favorites.

I've decided to take part in Lerowen's writer's challenge. I always love it when I discover new writer's blogs. I probably won't do every day of the challenge, but I thought some of the daily topics looked interesting. Such as today's,

Day 1 - Your favorite character you've written.

This is a really hard question. I mean, I've formed some kind of attachment to pretty much all of them. I guess I could probably narrow it down to three though.

Dugan Cealnoor by GeorgiePenn on Polyvore.com

The villain in the fantasy novel I've been working on for a few years. I'm getting ready to re-write it and in the midst of outlining have discovered just how awesome this guy is.

While he was a teenager he was mislead to believe he was better than his peers. As he grew into a man he took action to overtake the kingdom, but was thwarted by none other than his younger brother who later becomes the King. Not willing to fade into myth he takes his revenge by kidnapping his brother's only son and raising him to believe his Father is the real enemy and must be destroyed. All together he's a character with a lot of back story and misunderstandings.

Ranen Ken by GeorgiePenn featuring a black t shirt

Ranen, he's one of the main characters in my 2010 NaNo novel, The Way We Think. This guy can be pretty wild at times, he's another of my characters with a lot of backstory. He grew up in the streets, fending for himself till he was 17. At this time a family took him under their wing and nurtured him, giving him an education and believing that he was a good person. He goes through life's lessons the hard way.

Ella by GeorgiePenn featuring distressing jeans

I started her story based off a series of dreams I was having. I never really finished the story, but she kind of became the character I go to when I feel like writing, but have nothing else to write. I love her quite reserve, yet her will power to survive in a world many would fail in. She sings and plays for audiences, yet she is terrified of people she doesn't know. She can count her friends and family on one hand, but she knows them better than they know themselves at times. She draws strength and confidence from those she loves, but gives them the same, and sometimes more, in return.

Three characters. Three stories. Three favorites.