Read These

Some days, trying to get through a new book is sort of a hassle.

And some days, you get a beautiful surprise.

Gail Carson Levine and Eva Ibbotsen are two authors whom I adore. Their work is so completely their own, and their worlds are wonderful. They breath fresh air into old stories as well as creating new ones, and I can't say enough how great their books are.

The Star of Kazan is the latest book by Eva Ibbotsen that I've read. It is written as fiction but reads like a fairytale (if that makes sense). I've compared it to an impressionist painting...one of Monet's would suit. It's such a statement about home and family and it was so beautiful that when it was over I nearly cried.

Fairest is Gail Carson Levine's version of Snow White - and may I say, I HIGHLY prefer it to the original? She's created a whole new sense of the story (that ties in with her Cinderella re-telling, Ella Enchanted!!) which talks about beauty and living in a beauty-obsessed culture (but being set in a fairytale world, it loses its preachiness)...it's magical.

If you're looking for new reading material...I highly, highly recommend these two books.

Sick

Lack of sleep and a sore throat are wonderful conduits for procrastination.

(And, I misremembered - it's the SIXTH edit of VM:VI I'm working on!)

I'm reading The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan (The Percy Jackson series, book 2) and...there's a character he introduces that I care way more about than the main character (who is, in fact, Percy).

If you want to read a post I wrote about The Percy Jackson series, go to thelitcrit.blogspot.com. It's a little scathing, but I'm thinking book 2 is better so far. Still don't know why he chose 1st person narrative, but if he's used to writing YA then it makes sense. I suppose. XD Personally, I think the story suffers b/c of it (and now you don't have to go read my review!!).

Anyway...chicken soup for lunch (for the throat), exercise (for the sleepy) and then hopefully I'll be able to re-write a few chapters before going home (to collapse).

Song of the Day: Can't Touch This (GLEE version)

Rewrite, Rewrite, Rewrite

Working on the 5th draft of Violet's Monster: Volume I today. I'm surprised I still like parts of it. There's a lot of potential in this story that I hope I can pull out in the next few edits. I got some good ideas today and hopefully will incorporate them once I start typing.

Sitting in my office listening to sad songs while running a red pen through my manuscript feels...

Right.

I feel whole when I'm doing this. Spinning stories in my brain, putting them on paper, working on it to make it even better time and time again...

It's a perfect feeling.

Of course, it's not really perfect - I'm still pulling my hair out about some continuity issues and figuring out how to make it more action-y instead of adverb-y, and stuff like that, but I know it's working and that I'm creating.

It's a good day.

Unnecessary

Watching comedy shows makes me want to write one that doesn't have a major plot point having to do with sex.

I mean, there's GOT to be more material than that.

Right?!

Is This Real? Is This Pretend?

Several dreams mixed into reality this morning to make me muddled and just a wee bit unhinged in the mental department.

Gonna try to reign that in this morning.

Tasty

Although I can't say I enjoy a lot of things a la Southerne, I do enjoy pan-fried pork chops, rice and cream gravy, and cooked carrots with a huge glass of sweet tea.

Yum.

Picture Me

I REALLY want to do a photoshoot. Specifically, I want to model for a photo shoot. But where's the time?

When I do have time, I'd like to do this:

1. Model with my harp for publicity photos
2. Model my handmade/altered clothing
3. Model my Runaway Runway outfit for next year (which I haven't made yet)
4. Model for an author photo (you know, just in case I get famous)

I love thinking up photo shoot ideas.

Conflict

We have a sich going down in the office that I'm having to deal with since my lovely boss lady has taken flight and is currently in Austria. I'm glad she's there and not having to deal with this stress, and I'm glad that so far, I've been able to restrain myself and keep things (on my side) under control.

I'm...actually kind of enjoying being firm with people. Since I'm a people-pleaser first, this doesn't usually happen often.

But when someone accuses people I know of something I KNOW they didn't do...well, feathers get ruffled, armor gets suited up, and there I go with sword in hand. (What am I, a large feathery armor-beast?!)

So...here I am, being firm, calm, and forceful, backing up the faithful tutors as they help students climb the craggy mount of academia finals.

It's oddly...separating me.

On the one side of me, I am controlled, firm, calm, diplomatic, and unphased.

On the other side of me, there's a ball of wriggly guts that's squirming and making me feel queasy as I try to stand my own ground against a 50 year old person. It's definitely something new.

Part of me keeps thinking that this person will lord it over me and eventually get what they want. The other part of me knows that I have people behind me and people I need to protect, and that I will do what I have to in order to ensure peace is the end product of this ordeal.

I kind of want some protective armor though.

Nope

I've had some crazy dreams lately. Bits and pieces of magical, horrifying story flit through my brain and beneath it all is how I'm really feeling.

I had a dream a few nights ago that included a sand monster, my old house in Tennessee, Doctor Who, Hellboy's cousin who resembled Andre the Giant, one of my mom's friends, my family, and some old friends of mine. Amidst the crazy happenings of the dream, this happened:

I was sitting on the couch with my mom, waiting on our guests to arrive. The husband entered first - he was gigantic, with curly black hair and hands like Hellboy's. He sat down and grinned and his wife sat next to me as their little girls played happily on the floor. "You could interview him," she offered. "This could be your start as a journalist! You could go so far!" I didn't even consider it. I shifted uncomfortably and replied, "I really would just like to take a few pictures so I can practice drawing him. For fun."

My mom looked at me and shook her head. "Wow. No ambition."

I shook my head and said quietly, "Nope."

A Dream, A Turtle, & A Book -- Also a Wedding

Last night I dreamed that Stu and I had moved back into one of our last landlord's crappy trailers. We were living with another guy (somebody I've seen around campus but I kept getting confused as to who it really was) that I thought was Stu's old crazy roommate. We still had Parker but we had gotten a ferret that we named Caiaphas (?!) but as I played with him, he was just muscle-y, not cuddly, and he had just enough of an odor to put me off. So I think we took him back to whoever had him before.

It was weird.

Then, when I went outside to get in the car to get to work, I saw a turtle! A little Eastern Box Turtle, I believe. He had yellow markings and orange eyes. He glared at me for a minute and then decided to retreat inside his shell. I moved him so he wouldn't get in the way of our car.

I'm reading Hickory, Dickory, Death by Agatha Christie right now. I'm pretty sure this is a new one for me which is EXCITING since I've read every one I could find. Apparently she wrote 66. I'm not sure how many I've read. Maybe I'll search around and see.

Also,this June wedding may be the coolest one I've played in to date. I thought the couple was just a rich southern white couple (pretty redneck) but NO: they completely shocked me! Guess what the bride wants to walk down the aisle to?

THE THEME FROM FIREFLY.

Apparently, that's their favorite T.V. show.

HOW COOL IS THAT?!?!?!