Tommy Emmanuel

Okay, so my friend showed me this video today.

So, thinking this guy was amazing I Googled him and found his official website. I discovered he is Australian and learned to play guitar by ear. He has now made it to my list of awesome people. Congratulations Mr. Emmanuel.

Meet the Cast

I'm not sure how many of my readers actually know what my NaNo novel is about. I'm not even sure how many readers I have. Anyway, I realized the other day that although I've posted excerpts and updated you on my progress, some of you, really have no idea who/what I'm talking about. This is a tragedy. A tragedy because the people characters I've slowly been getting to know this month are, to put it simply, amazing. Then again, I could just be biased. You make the call.

First of all, the plot in a nutshell. My novel is about five superheros who have to stop an evil child genius from sucking out all the powers of all the superheros in the five worlds. Yes, five.

Now, the people.

Grant Fallyn

The somewhat unwilling leader of the group. Twenty-five years old, with white hair. His super power is knowing what's false. So don't try lying to him. He lived with his Mom, Dad, and eight year old brother, Ian, before leaving for The Academy and would do almost anything for them. He also happens to be in love with Luna.

“I hope you know what your doing.” Luna whispered from behind him as the sound got nearer.

He glanced over his shoulder and grinned, “not a clue.”

“That’s what I thought.”

Weston Fallyn

Grant's older cousin, and the nerd of the gang. His superpower is hearing voices from the past that have to do with whatever he is doing/hearing. Probably the most misunderstood of the group, he is often laughing at things no one else finds funny. He is very much like an older brother kind of figure.

Like the girls, their room was almost at the end of the hallway. Room V-8. Weston laughed when he saw it.

“What’s so funny?” Grant asked.

“V-8.”

They all stared at him, not understanding the humor in the words.

“V-8.” He said again, as if just hearing the words would clear everything up for them. When they continued to stare he sighed, “it used to be a brand of tomato juice.”

Ranen Ken

The troublemaker and heart-breaker of the group. Ranen's power, simply put, is fire. He can conjure it up from almost anything, and its angry heat doesn't burn him. He grew up on the streets, and is still getting used to a more "protected" life. Rather selfish, and willing to do anything to save his own skin. Grant is one of the few people he will actually take advice well from.

Ranen stood in the middle of the Practice Hall. Breathing in and out heavily. It was almost the end of his half hour session and he had worked hard. Sweat glistened on his forehead, soaked his shirt, and covered his arms. The bubble wrap beneath his feet popped as he stepped forward, bringing his hands out in front of him. One last go before he left.

With a shout that would have made Ganghis Khan shiver he raised his hands above his head, palms up. Fire leapt from his hands. It collided with the sealing with a loud crash, spreading across the bubble wrap and crawling down the walls. It surrounded him in its heat, and breath taking power.

Luna Telmarin

Not one to sit back and let the boys do all the work, Luna is almost always up to her elbows trying to keep up with their pranks and games while still keeping a quality of feminine charm. Her superpower is invisibility. Until she went the Academy she lived with her Mom, Dad, and six siblings.

“I have no idea, but I have a feeling they’re harmless.” Grant said.

“I’ll laugh if you move and they bite your head off.” Luna replied.

“Yeah, I’d like you see you laugh while I’m being ripped to shreds by animals that will be turning on you next.”

“Okay, I might not laugh, but it would have been ironic. If those had been your last words.”

“Sometimes I can’t believe the things you find to amuse yourself.”

“It took years of practice.”

“And here I thought you had been born with the gift.”

Exie Shile

Sweet Exie as she is often described. She hates any kind of tension and hostility. Her power is to influence people's moods to that of her own. Unfortunately she occasionally suffers from drastic mood swings. The youngest of the group she is well looked after by the others.

“None of it makes sense!” She shouted, and that’s when he felt the terror. A fear unlike he any he had ever felt before, one he hoped he would never have to go through again. She was scared, more then scared. No words could describe the feelings she was going through, and unconsciously sharing with Weston.

“It makes no sense!” Exie repeated, “but we’re here anyway! In the dark, in this box. No way out!” She screamed.

ECG (Evil Child Genius)

The villain of the novel. An eight year old genius who fancies taking over all five worlds and turning them all into a place of fear and darkness. His own superpower was at one time to spread life from anything he touched, but as his heart began to turn evil, so did his power. He now spreads death and destruction.

Finally, he came to a small wooden door, the knob on it in the form of a large ring. No locks adorned it, with a simple pull he entered the room beyond. One small candle cast light on the small platform he stood on. In front of him, nothing. He wasn’t sure himself how far you would fall if you happened to be pushed over the edge, but he liked to imagine it was long enough to be fully terrified before meeting the bottom.

The Eagle

So, if you haven't read this book. You should. Before February, 'cause that's when the movie is coming out.

The Eagle of the Ninth is written by the amazing Rosemary Sutcliff. It's about a young man who goes on a quest to find out what happened to his Father and the legion he was leading fifteen years beforehand, and to recover his families honor.

All that highly recommended, I'm thrilled the trailer finally came out for the movie simply called The Eagle.

Inspiration Station

Last night as I opened my NaNo doc, I stared at the words that had been typed there. Where had they come from? What urged me to use them? Why did I start NaNo at all?

The simple answer was one word. Inspiration.

Inspiration: noun:

1. a divine influence or action on a person believed to qualify him or her to receive and communicate sacred revelation.
2. the action or power of moving the intellect or emotions.
3. the act of influencing or suggesting opinions.

If you're a regular reader of my blog you may have noticed I'm actually rather fond of the word inspiration. I have a whole category dedicated it. It just happens to be the one I use the most.

Maybe it's just because the feeling of being inspired to write something you're positive will be unlike anything you've ever written before never gets old. It's a feeling you can't describe, a feeling that doesn't leave till you do something about it. Inspiration.

Last night I scoured all of my resources and discovered the quotes, pictures, and music lyrics that have inspired me in the past. I collected them all into one document, and had it printed off. Then I cut them all out and plastered them all over my wall. I am now surrounded by the things that make me want to write something worth reading. Such as...

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"You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." - Mark Twain

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"Do you have any idea why a raven is like a writing desk?" - The Mad Hatter

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"These mist covered mountains

Are a home now for me

But my home is the lowlands

And always will be

Someday you'll return to

Your valleys and your farms

And you'll no longer burn

To be brothers in arms"

- Brothers in Arms

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"Isn't it odd how much fatter a book gets when you read it several times?" Mo said... "As if something were left between the pages every time you read it. Feelings, thoughts, sounds, smells... and then, when you look at the book again many years later, you find yourself there, too, a slightly younger self, slightly different, as if the book had preserved you like a pressed flower... both strange and familiar." - Inkheart

The Power of Bubble Wrap

The thing I love the most about NaNoWriMo is everything random that goes along with it. The strange choices you make when it's late at night and you just want to reach your word goal before you fall over dead. Strange choices like bubble wrap.

Another excerpt from my NaNo novel.

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She moved with an easy glide towards the last door, the gang following rather awkwardly behind. “The Practice Hall has been finished with bubble wrap so anyone wanting to practice using their power without putting others in danger can put their name on the schedule and get half hour sections.”

“Woah, what?” Ranen held up hand.

“Bubble wrap. A sheet thin plastic injected with pockets of air, used to wrap valuables in to keep them unharmed.” Weston said.

They all looked at him in confusion and then back at Olivia. “What does that have to do with practicing your powers safely?” Grant asked.

She laughed, “I’m sorry. I should have explained. Studies have shown that as of yet, the only thing immune to any superpower, is bubble wrap.”

Sadie Jones & I

I pretty much adore this video. The pictures. The music. The vintage feel to it. Perfect music to listen to while NaNoing.

First Three Days

Day 1: My friend and I kicked off NaNo with an epic sleepover. Sadly, I forgot my computer cord at home so I was only able to write until my battery died, I was able to get word count in though! I sent a desprite plea to my Mother who brought me my cord before my friend and I left for a Celtic Thunder concert. (Totally off subject, but the concert was epic.)

Day 2: Still totally stoked about Celtic Thunder, I got my word count in while watching the DVD I bought at the concert... four times.

Day 3: What do you mean it's only day three? It seems like ages since I was struggling to keep my eyes open to get that first thousand words. I haven't gotten my word count in yet today, but I won't rest till I do. Of course, blaring music through my ear-buds, and chatting with my Sam helps move things along.

And now, because nobody asked for it, an excerpt from my at this point nameless novel.

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“What’s going on?” Exie asked, just as confused as those around her.

“I’ve been trying to figure that out myself.”

They all whirled around in surprise at the voice behind them. The voice matched the person they knew it to be. Ranen Ken. His black hair was shaggy and uncombed, giving him a charming roguish look. A small grin spread Exie face.

“Wow, your alive.” Grant seemed surprised.

“Yes, actually.” Ranen spread his arms and grinned, “I am.”