Six "Unknown" books that You should Read this Winter.

I've realized that there are some masterpieces of literature that not many people know about, so I decided to tell all you all about them. Hopefully you will find at least a couple of them to be good and wholesome reads this season. 8-D

1.) Lark - Sally Watson

Set in seventeenth-century England under Cromwell, Sally Watson's LARK combines historical intrigue with romantic adventure in the high-spirited tale of a young girl who escapes from her uncle's stolid Puritan family.

Thirteen-year-old Lark is forced to stay with her puritan Uncle and his family after her Royalist parents are exiled to France. With an arranged marriage between Lark and her cousin Will-of-God looming in her future, Lark decides to flee to Scotland and stay with her sister who lives there. On the way, she meets young James Trelawney, a Royalist spy who takes her under his wing. At first he hopes to learn where Lark lives and return the curious runaway home, but as the two travel together they  build a strong friendship and grow to care for and protect one another. They find themselves in many complicated, insane situations, some incredibly dangerous. As the book mounts to a climax, members of Lark's family discover her whereabouts, James is caught in the middle of a battle, and a plan to rescue the young King Charles is set in motion - a plan both James and Lark may be a part of. - source.

This is a Must-Read for anyone who wants a soft, gentle romance, an adorable Scott who is seriously fabulous, a spunky, ridiculous girl who's a bit of a brat but definitely a lovable one, and lots of rambunctious adventures.

Ronia the Robber's Daughter - Astrid Lingred

Source

Ronia is the daughter of a robber chief named Matt. They live in a castle in the wilderness. The castle was struck by a bolt of lightning, a bolt which split the ground and divided the castle into two separate buildings, separated by a deep chasm. One half of the chasm is occupied by Ronia's band of Robbers, and the other half is occupied by robbers knows as the Borkas. Animosity grew up between the two robbers, and Ronia was not allowed to visit the opposite half of the castle, or to befriend any of the robbers living there.

One day, however, Ronia meets a boy of her age named Birk. The two  quickly becomes friends, but Birk is the son Borka's chief, and therefore such a friendship is forbidden by Ronia's father. When Matt discovers their secret he tries to end the friendship, but Ronia and Birk won't allow it and after a crucial climax between Ronia and her father, the two friends run away together and hide from their families in the wild, untamed forest. They share some incredible adventures and form a strong, lasting bond which no one can break.


This is a good book for anyone wanting a forest-adventure story with an adorable friendship that may or may not grow into something more, and amazing, well-written characters.


From Anna - Joan Little

From Anna* takes place in the 1930's and revolves around a nine-year old girl and the struggles they face when when they flee Nazi Germany, seeking refuge in Canada. For Anna the change is especially hard. She is a middle child, clumsy, awkward, and to herself, not particularly bright. Once in Canada however, Anna and her family soon discover a crucial predicament: Anna needs glasses. She is practically blind. 

   Once this discovery is made, Anna's life changes. Slowly she finds her own sense of self-worth and realizes that she has a plenty to give. She is like a blossom, just waiting to bloom.

This book is great for any reader who likes historical fiction, family stories, and strong messages about self-worth, hope, and growth.

*If you read From Anna, you'll also want the sequel Listen for the Singing. That one is about her brother joining the army in WW2, and the impact it has on his family, Anna, and himself.

A Charmed Life - Diana Wynne Jones

Cat admires and clings to his older sister Gwendolyn. She is all he has, and he clings to her viciously. Gwendolyn is a very promising young witch, capable of difficult and challenging spells, so there seems to be much for Cat to admire. However, trouble springs to life when the two orphans are summoned to live in Chrestomanci Castle. Elated by the invitation to such a high-standing place of magic, Gwendolyn is eager to try her hand in the new waters, but she soon learns that no one in Chrestomanci Castle seems to acknowledge her incredible talents. With ever growing frustration and anger, she comes up with a scheme that could cause problems for all the worlds, including Cat's.

A Must-Read for anyone in need of a clever, ingenious fantasy with quirky characters and solid writing. (Honestly, if you're looking for those things you should read all the Chrestomanci books.)

The Thief - Megan Whalen

I don't know how 'unknown' this book is, but if you haven't heard of it now is the time to be educated.

"I can steal anything!," - so Gen, the thief proudly proclaims. But this claim soon gets him in trouble when the King's Scholar, the Magus, frees him from prison with the sole purpose of enlisting him in a job. It is no ordinary Job either. The Magnus wants Gen to steal an ancient treasure for the king, a treasure which no one has successfully recovered in generations. In fact it's more of a legend than anything else. Yet the Magnus is convinced the treasure is real, and he is determined to find and take it - and he isn't going to give Gen much choice in the matter.

For anyone who wants beautiful, flawless writing, strong characters, a medieval/mytholigical setting and a freaking amazing male lead who will leave you wishing there was more of him. (There are three other books in this series - and a fifth and sixth one on the way! - so that is something to keep in mind. As the series goes on there is some incredible character development, character perception, world-building and all out magnificent writing and story-telling. )

Bloomability - Claire Calderon

When Dinnie Doone is sent off to an international school in Switzerland, she finds herself uprooted and replanted in a strange, interesting, and beautiful new world. Surrounded by new friends, a new school, and new sights, Dinnie builds herself a home and discovers all the "bloomabilities" that life has to offer.

For anyone wanting a simple, slice-of-life story with interesting characters and a fun, relatable lead girl who will make you feel that you yourself are in Switzerland, studying the Italian language and making new friends.


The Ordinary Princess - M. M. Kaye

When Princess Amelia is born she is given many wonderful, virtuous gifts from the Fairies in the kingdom, and one that is not-so-wonderful from her Fairy god-mother. She is is given the gift of Ordinariness. Unlike her six beautiful sisters, she has brown mousy hair, freckles, and a 'unhealthy' craving for adventure. There aren't many princes who would want such a plain, strange princess. Even her name is ordinary! But when Amy's parents come up with a Knight-and-Dragon scheme to set their daughter up with a husband, Amy runs away. She decides it's time to take fate into her own hands. Since she is so ordinary, she finds it quite easy to get a job as a kitchen maid in a neighboring palace. She finds immense joy in the simplicity of earning her own money, sharing picnics with the woodland creatures, and being free for however short a time, of the demands of royalty. While she enjoys her hard-working freedom, Amy meets a curious man who hangs about the palace. "A Man-of-All-Work," he calls himself. He doesn't have much free time, but he begins to join Amy and her woodland creatures for the Thursday Afternoon picnics. Their friendship quickly grows, for Perry is a funny, venturesome man and even better, he is just as ordinary as she is! Has Amy found her prince-charming after all?

This book is a short, easy read, the kind of book you could finish in a couple hours or less. It is fun, and quirky, and don't let the princess-fleeing-from-marriage dissuade you. The Ordinary Princess is a heart-warming story full of odd traits and vagary that separate it from any other runaway-princess story you've every read or ever will read. It's comical, sweet, and engaging, with just enough romantic flair to be touching and emotional. (Not bad emotional, but that-was-so-cute-I-might-actually-cry emotional.)

I hope this have given you some reading ideas! Cold months always make me think of books and Hot Cocoa, so I thought I'd share some of my favourite books, books for curling up by the Fireplace with.

Peace out y'all!

*swings around cape and leaps off sage*

Bella

March!

This is how I felt this morning. Daylight Savings Time. Yeck.

Why is Daylight Savings Time still a thing? You'd think we'd have given up on it by now. My older sister woke me up this morning, all gentle and sweet... "It's seven." And I was like, "LIES."

It won't be really seven again until November.

Why is more than half our year on earth spent in a false time frame an hour ahead of the sun?? We worked out a whole time system based on the sun moving around the earth, we took strenuous planning and set hours to a clock, we planned a time-table for the day which made sense... and then for eight months of the year we ignore that fabulous system and stick earth an hour ahead of its own sun just so... what? Farmers can farm better? Why do we all have to suffer for their work schedule? Not everyone is a farmer! If that extra hour is sooooo important, why don't the farmers get up earlier??? Teachers don't expect the whole world up by six just because they have to be! Who's stupid idea was this? Curse you Benjamen Franklin!

I stay up late. I like that extra hour!

Does anyone even like Daylight Savings Time? Does anyone even utilize that one stupid hour in the morning where you are too groggy to be clever and too grouchy to be productive?

*angry Bella noises*

Anyway...

A quick update!

First of all, Happy Passion Sunday! We have two weeks left until Easter. Lent is almost over. I'm shocked at how fast it flew by this year. Despite today starting off an hour ahead of schedule, the morning ended up being pretty nice. We had a lovely Sung Mass which turned my spirits toward Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Some of the lyrics in those Lenten songs are so touching. Seriously. Tears, guys. Tears.

To the cross my sins have nailed Him, yet He bleeds and dies for me.

Don't tell me those lyrics aren't beautiful.


Let's see. What have I done since February?

Well...

I went Grocery shopping by myself for the first time last week.

GUYS.

Grocery shopping is actually kind of fun.

I was really nervous. I had to go into Walmart which is a giant scary store full of weird people, and I had to run around and pick up stuff for the week. I hardly ever go to Walmart. I was proud of myself for being able to navigate so well.

But what the heck is with cheese being ten dollars??? It makes no sense for cheese to be that expensive! Chicken and hamburger is only like, five dollars. What makes cheese so freaking special?

Also, why aren't all the paper things on the same aisle? You've got paper plates, paper cups, paper towels, Kleenex... but toilet paper and napkins? They'd better go with the cleaning supplies!

*irritated Bella noises*

I sound insane when I shop. I carry on this running commentary with myself. I full on banter. And I laugh at my own jokes. And I berate myself.

 "Ooooh, we should get thyme.

*****

"Where is the thyme?"

*Hehehe*

"Maybe they're out of thyme!!!"

"HAHAHAHAHA... I'm so funny!"

"You're not that funny."

"I totally am!"

"Nah, you're not."

"You're not funny!"

"That makes no sense."

"Sure it does."

"No it doesn't, you're dumb."

"Shut up."

"Aaaaaw are your feelings hurt?"

"Bellaaaaaaaaaa. You sound crazy! Stahp!"

All this as I go racing down the aisle like a derp on drugs... jumping on the cart too. Wheeeeeeeeeeee.

Too fabulous.

I'm sure people love me.

Whatever. It's Walmart. No one raises an eyebrow at the crazy person.

So?

I've decided something. It makes me really sad when my favorite TV shows go downhill. I love being a geek. I love knowing all the funny references to all the different TV shows. I love fangirling over my OTP. I love freaking out when my bros have a moment. I love getting excited over friendships and character development and the epicness of the plot. I love vidding to my favorite characters and looking forward to Next-Week's-Episode. It's fun to be a geek! Lately, however, almost all of my shows have let me down. This makes me sad.

Sadness.

I've noticed a pattern with the downward spiral. The show usually starts out strong and tends to go downhill after the third of fourth season.

Take "Grimm" for example. I loved Grimm. I still like a lot about Grimm. But I didn't like the second half of season four, and I don't like season 5 much. Sherlock is good but season three was kind of all over the place. I liked parts but other stuff... just why? Supernatural has completely lost its cookies. I haven't watched that show in months because it fell so far off the rails. Its ruined. Ruined! (Do not, I repeat, do not start that show! It is not worth it.) Even Agents of SHIELD is having its issues. And that is Marvel! Actually, it seems that Marvel has a problem with TV shows. I love their movies, but when it comes to TV shows I think they get too excited. Marvel usually has an epic first season and they know that everyone expects the second season to be better, so they try too hard and end up making the show too big because everyone expects so much from them. The thing they don't realize is it doesn't have to be big. We'll watch it on a small scale as long as it's Marvel and its good. We watched Antman and Guardians of the Galaxy. We don't ask for much.

Star Lord

(I mostly like the Marvel TV shows. There is just stuff about them that annoys me. Like characters being out-of-characters, and weird stuff that's just... weird.)

For me a show is carried on characters. I can put up with a lot of crap as long as the characters are good enough. I lasted almost eleven seasons of Supernatural because Sam and Dean were awesome and I was willing to skip a ton of retarded story line with all the flaws and stupid theological inaccuracies if it meant I could see those characters be brothers and heroes. Recently, I've almost given up on Supernatural altogether because at this point even Sam and Dean aren't worth it for me to get so irritated and angry. I haven't watched it in weeks, and I only sort of follow it through tumblr gif-sets...

It would be nice to watch a TV show where I actually liked the show, not just a couple characters that I watch the show for.

Honestly, right now the only two shows I'm watching that are still really good and enjoyable as a show are The Flash and Doctor Who. (And even Doctor Who has done a couple things that bug me.) They both have good plots, good characters, good villains and a good story line that I actually like watching! *shocker*

Barry Allen can sing!

I was wary about starting the Flash because it is DC and I've tried DC shows before. They tend to be too weird and too dark. Also, I kind of felt like I was crossing to the other side. It looked funny and light though, so I ended up starting it anyway. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I liked Barry instantly. The show is pretty cheesy and dorky, so he is a big part of why it works, the moving force behind the plot. But with the Flash it isn't just "Barry Allen is good." I like the whole show. (Except for Iris. I'm not wild about Iris.)

When Twelve saw a newborn baby...

I love Doctor Who. Season Eight was a little weak just because I didn't feel like Doctor Who to me, but Season Nine was a lot better and I'm back to really loving the show. Twelve is a wonderful Doctor, I adore him. Since this show is so special to me I get really upset when they twist it or force story lines, or annoying character changes that don't work. But overall that show is still really good and the Doctor is great fun. I don't care if I sound biased: if he ever becomes a women I won't watch Doctor Who anymore. He should always be male. Preferably white, British and male, though I'd rather have someone of a different race/culture than a woman. NO WOMAN.

A few weeks ago I found a new show called Falling Skies. I'll have to review it. It was mostly good, but lots of people died. Also, the last season was a bit of a let down. Weird things happened. Annoying things. Plot things. Out of character things. Things.

*angry Bella noises*

I never realized how upset and protective I get of characters - even when they aren't my own. It seriously upsets me when a character gets slaughtered for the sake of story line or plot or whatever. I don't mean killed off. That I can handle. I hate it when there is a character who has great potential and the writers ruin it. I hate it when a character is forced out of character or turned into something they're not. I hate it when characters are messed around with! Just let them do their thing! Don't ruin their character arc. Don't play havoc with their personality just to get some stupid drama. Don't twist who they are for the plot. JUST LEAVE THEM ALONE.

source

I feel like I want to curl up and hide in shows that I actually like as a whole not just for the parts. Like Flashpoint and Leverage. I also want to rewatch Prison Break because brother stories and friendship stories, and brother/sister stories and adorable OTP's... lalala!!!! Oh, and Merlin. Merlin is the bestest!

I guess I'm just tired of stories not working out like I want them to. This might be incredibly ridiculous of me, but I like good endings.

This is why I have started Hawaii 5-0 I've heard good things about this show and I'm excited. It sounds good. Nice. Brothers and families, and friendships, and stuff. So far I like it. More on that soon.

I was so fed up with bad story telling that I re-read The Queen's Thief series. Now that is a series that does a good job with character development. I love those books. Eugenides!!!!! *flails* I can read each book in a day. Seriously. I devour them. Megan Turner inspires me to write! Reading her books seems to make my writing improve too. Maybe that's just me, but it seems to make me better. *shrug*

"Aaaaaaah yas. Eugenides. My wee attractive little brat of a boy..."

It is Sunday night, so I'm going to settle down with coffee and chocolate. I hope I didn't scare you off with this insanely long post. I seriously need to calm down a little bit. Also, I need to write. And watch Hawaii 5-0. My sisters won't leave me alone till I vid to it, and I can't vid until I watch....

I've got work to do. *googly eyes.*

Have a happy week! Peace Out Y'all!

Please let the next writer make Doctor Who super dorky again.

*swings around cape and leaps off stage*

Bella.

A (Big?) Number Of Things You Might Not Know About Me:

This should be interesting!

1.) When I was two years old I was spinning around the living room. (I actually do remember this a little bit, as odd as that may seem.) I'm pretty sure I was pretending to be a fairy or something very close to that, and I was so caught up in my magic sparkles that I didn't see the coffee table until it was too late. I ran right into it and smashed my front tooth to smithereens. Seriously. It wasn't knocked out or anything normal. I rammed my face so hard against the glass that the pure pressure shattered my tooth and pushed the fragments into my gums. The Doctor said the tooth should come back within a couple years. But little old me was without a front tooth until I was about ten. When it finally started to come back it was a super weird experience. It was like losing a tooth, but in reverse. I have the tooth now (which is great) but it grew in crooked, and it will always be crooked. There is something wrong with my jaw or the bones or something, and my teeth cannot be set. Oh well. I don't mind it.

I was so cute.

2.) When I was a kid my favorite part from Sleeping Beauty was when Maleficent crashed down in front of Phillip and cried; "NOW SHALL YOU DEAL WITH ME, O PRINCE! AND ALL THE POWERS OF HELL!" I used to quote that line quite often, complete with dramatic arm-raise. Why did I like this so much? I'm not sure. I think it was the epicness of the villain threatening about Hell and then turning into a terrifying DRAGON and then Philip defeating her with the Shield of Virtue and the Sword of Truth - yeah, I really love Philip. That whole scene was so cool though! I just loved it so much! It was my favoritest of lines. Once I even did the thing in the library, and one of the librarians was like, "You told her about Hell???"

"No! It cannot be!"

3.) I have am severely conflicted about which side to join for Captain America - Civil War, because I feel like by choosing one  I basically tell the other he is a zero and I don't really care about him.

NOPE, NOPE, NOPE, WHY CAN'T WE ALL BE FRIENDS AND HAVE SHWARMA?

3.) I used to climb up on the shed roof in the back yard and fish for pine cones with my younger sisters. The shed was about a story high, but that didn't shake us. we put hangers on a long line of jump-rope and we just sat up there on the roof, trying to snag pine cones in the hanger hooks. It was intense.

4.) I wore jumpers growing up.

5.) I didn't play "Red Rover." I played, "BLOOD ROVER." Seriously. When my sisters and I played that game we didn't mess around. You locked hands up to the wrists. You planted yourself. You kept the enemy from crossing, if your arms broke doing it. One time we had friends over and they weren't used to our ways... and I could feel her hand sliding, and I just dug my nails into her skin like, "Don't let go."

6.) Peter & Edmund were the first brother story I ever cried over. *not counting Bro-Friends.

When are you going to learn to do as your told?

7.) I used to stand in the rays of sunlight that came through the living room window and pretend to be Mary, or an angel from heaven.

*cue heavenly voices singing*

8.) When I was super little I'd play this stupid game with my sister. We had a pitcher in the bathtub and I'd fill it up, and I'd slowly poor it out saying, "The mirror shows many things. Things that were. Things that are. And some thing that have not yet come to pass. Look into the mirror." I had the time the pouring perfect, otherwise I ran out to fast and had to quickly dunk the pitcher back into the water before I finished, or I was too slow had to dump the last of the water out with a splash. Once I finished, I'd pass it to Tiny and she'd do the same thing. And we'd do this the whole time we were in the bath. I don't know how we knew this quote at five and three... but we did. #TrueLordoftheringsfans

9.) I read so much in middle school that my mom threatened to take away my library card because I wasn't getting my chores (or my school) done.

10.) Once I put on headphones, turned on some loud, exciting music and went tearing through a giant rain puddle in the road, dancing and whooping like an idiot. My age at this time is confidential.

11.) I believed in Santa Clause until like, two years ago, and I still believe in Father Christmas.  I come from a long line of believers.

12.) I used to take my Dad's stud-finder out of his tool kit and wander around the house pretending to be Kirk, looking for signs of life (or danger) on some distant planet.

Their cute old/new technology 8-)

13.) I loved capes but I never owned one. I went on a lot of adventures. Adventurers had to have capes. This was a thing with me. So I would raid my big sister's closet and find a long flowing skirt to stick on my shoulders and run around in.

14.) Sometimes I would pick out a black skirt for my cape, grab Christine (an unfortunate younger sister) and drag her down through my lair, (the deck and the swing set) singing the Phantom of the Opera in a deep, masculine voice. She always knew the responses. And she put up with being dragged all over the back yard, singing and boating across giant lakes. She was a very good sport. *waves at sister* You know who you are.

15.) OH, OH, OH! I just got an instagram. You should check it out HERE.

16.) I have tea time every night, and when I'm with my family we have it together. We're all very British that way.

18.) I don't think Loki is a hero. I like him, but he's not a hero.

19.) I never finished the Harry Potter books.* What can I say? I thought the movies were better!

All the Potterheads be like....

*I know, I know. I want to try again somewhere in the soon-ish future. 


20.) I read The Hobbit when I was 10 and The Lord of the Rings when twelve. I cried over both.

"I will not say 'do not weep,' for not all tears are an evil."

21.) I fangirl over Original Star Trek.

22.) I always wear a Scapular. *

Our Lady's promise.

*A scapular is like kind of a necklace that is worn in honour of the Mother of Christ. The Catholic's have a tradition of wearing them, as it shows our devotion to the Church, and merits for us special prayers and protection from the Mother of God. 

23.) I never, ever wanted to be an only child. Like, ever.

24.) I always go barefoot in the summer time, for as long as I can.

25.) I sing practically all the time. Wherever, whenever, whatever time of day. I'll be there in the corner, singing like a lark. Or a chickadee. Or a toad, depending on your opinions and the state of my health at the time. (But I kind of like my voice, so if you hate it, that's too bad for you. *sticks out tongue*)

There! Twenty-Five things you might not know about me! I think I will be off now. I will leave with this song that I recently discovered. I really, really like it. You've probably all heard it before, but whatever. It's one of my many anthems. It makes me feel ready to be brave.

God Bless! Peace out y'all!!

*swings around cape and leaps off stage*

I have exactly nine days of school left.

CAN YOU FREAKIN BELIEVE IT??

I am so close to being done with school that I feel light-headed and a little sick. And I think I am excited until I think about being an adult and having responsibility and then I am like...

*takes a moment to think.* "No."

It isn't just graduating either. See, I have a plan. It is a terrifying plan. At the end of the summer I am planning to move off the hill with my brother and nanny for his kids. And take an acting class at a big college. With other actors. And I have to learn to drive. And it scares the crap out of me, because WHAT IF I FAIL?? AND WHAT IF THIS IS THE WORST PLAN EVER?? AND AM I REALLY MOVING SO SOON????????

I'm overwhelmed.

Luckily I wont be too far from home so I will be able to visit pretty often, but I'm still freaked out. I need lots of prayers, especially about my driving. Y'all need to pray I can learn to drive by August. 

My brother is all...

I believe in you!

and I'm like

This is too much

I love my brother. He is very excited for me. He just wants me to be happy and act and do stuff on broadway and he is so incredibly supportive. Like, really supportive. Really really supportive. Like, LET ME HELP YOU LIVE YOUR DREAM! WE CAN DO ALL THE THINGS!

And I kind of go... "Okay. But maybe uhm... slow down a little?"

Did I mention I love my brother? Cause I do. A lot. 

Okay that is out of the way. I want to ride my bike every day this summer, so today I took my first bike-ride of the year. LOL. That was funny. I didn't take a long ride because I knew I wouldn't be used to bike riding, but even though I took a short ride I still came back with my legs wobbly. And they wanted to kick out when I walked. It was weird. I forgot how weird it was to walk after riding for the first time in months. You feel disconnected from yourself. 

Jelly legs!!

 Guess what else today is!! Today is May 6th. For some reason it sounded familiar and I thought this must be some significant day. So I looked it up and I figured out why it sounded familiar. On May 6th, 1541 King Henry the VIII ordered that a bible be placed in every church in England. Applaud me, I am a giant nerd. How did I know that? I have no idea. 

Apparently it May sixth is also the date that the NY to SF footrace began. But that happened in 1929. And on this same day in 1604, the Spanish poet Leon VII published his first poem.

You learn something knew every day don't you?

I am currently studying for finals, writing out the history of my fictional world and making a new video to the Eleventh Doctor. I am also reading The Conspiracy of Kings and feeling a severe lack of Eugenides. But I like Sophos. Sophos is great. Sophos is brilliant. Sophos is not Eugenides. And he doesn't try to be. I thank him for that because he is good as just Sophos. 

SOPHOS HO! 

Time for me to scamper off. OH! One last thing! Treskie over at Occasional Randomness  is doing a giveaway! you should check it out. It's pretty cool. 

With that I am gone! PEACE OUT Y'ALL!

*slides off car*

Bella

I haven't given up and that is all that matters

Update of the day?

I am still writing!

I know right?? Go me!!

source

Well actually that is a pretty big thing. Me writing I mean. I almost gave up last week. Its been hard to write lately because I am trying to finish school so I haven't been doing as much writing as I could be and I depressed myself because I realized I have only written like, 2000 words in the past three days. I'm also coming up on a hard part in my story and I'm afraid because I have to start plotting part two and part two is going to be sad, and overall I'm just not doing so well right now. BUT I'M NOT GIVING UP!!!!! I am a warrior!!!!! I can't give up now! Not when I have a buddy who pokes me to make sure I don't lose steam.

She is a very good buddy.




source

My Motto. 

Anyway, as far as my story is going I think I'm doing pretty well. I mean, considering. The plot escalated so quickly I almost couldn't keep up with it and now it is so dark and awful and I realized I needed to do things I didn't want to do. I have to hurt characters and create pain and I just... I just didn't want to write. Because I know the more I wrote the closer I'd be to all that bad stuff and I didn't want to have to write it. Cause I know it will hurt.

 

Today I worked on the end of my story. I have three other bits I need to write in, all of which I am having trouble with. I need to write an escape, a betrayal and another bit that I can't actually talk about but lets just say it is hard to do. Suffice to say I was too upset to write those and decided to finish up my ending instead. This was a big step because I've been postponing that last scene for a while and I knew it was 'Now or never.'  So I wrote it. I have my last scene done now, and it was really, really hard to write and I was so distraught I had to make something to cheer myself up. Here you are. A snippet, a sneak peak. Something like that. I don't even know what to call it.

you're welcome.

 

You are free to guess who that is, who that particular quote belongs to.

 

 

I want to try and audition for a "My Fair Lady" play but I am very nervous and I'll need to eat lots of ice cream and think it over before deciding. I'm also going to start looking into getting an agent. To help with my acting. Until then I need to see if there is a way I can start making some money. This job thing I have, I dunno if its gonna work out. It doesn't look very good right now.

 

I am want a new blog look. I've wanted one since, like, January. I feel like my blog is really crowded. And green. And I'm just done with it. Maybe I'll play around with blogger when I have time. See if I can tweak a few things. Make it look nice again. Clean it up a little.

 

Okay I'm ready for Summer now. I want my sun, I want my seventy-degree weather and I want to sit on the deck and have the wind be chilly and drive me inside cause I don't want to wear a sweater. In JUNE. The magic of living on the mountains guys.

 

We watched The Winter Soldier again on Sunday. We went down to the at the dollar theatre after Mass and made an event of it, getting coffee and banana bread and preparing for the emotional trauma we were about to suffer. Again. Tell you what, it was worse the second time. I really need a third one. and the next Avenger movie. 2016 is so far away!

 

God Bless and have a lovely night! Peace out y'all!

 

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Bella

  

 



I haven't done any editing today

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This means, of course, that I am going to have to do a LOT of editing tonight. I'll be up late typing away like a crazed writer who has nothing else to do but pay attention to her characters.

But I do have a valid reason for slacking today. Even my partner in Camp NaNo agreed is was a good excuse.

MY BOOK CAME IN YESTERDAY!!!!!

SQUEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!

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Finally, after weeks and week of waiting The Runaway King finally came in! I could finally read what happens to Sage after... well after THAT. And it was worth the wait. Because the book was amazing. I was so happy to have it that I read the first half last night and the rest this morning. Then I picked up book three and just kept reading until I was finished with it. *SPOILERS AHEAD*

I really, really love Jaron. and I'm probably going to do a proper review on both these books, but for now I'm just going to say they were the most satifying reads I've had in a while. I love each of the characters. I even liked characters I never thought I would. And I got unexpected friendship stories and love stories and adventure and it was brilliant!!!! I definitely recommend them to anyone with time and a thirst for adventure. And I thank my friend for showing them to me.

Now I can finish The Gallagher Girls and try not to freak out over Preston or Zack too much. And try not to think anything bad is going to happen to Liz. Because why should it?

I now have a whole line of books lined up to read. I want to read a series which appears to be a type of Wild West with Magic. I want to read "Sorcery and Cecilia" I want to re-read all the Howl books, including "Castle In the Air" which I have never actually read. But I might wait until after NaNo to read any of these.... cause I really need to finish my book.

My book. Yes, its coming along. Tyson isn't so bad now, though he still irks me. I think he is a twerp and infuriating. But he isn't all bad. I'm not ready to release a proper snippet yet, but I hope to in a few days. Please remember this is the rough draft and not the finish product, and also the first book I've actually FELT like finishing. Its the first time I've taken the time to think, "This is how it should be. This is what's going to happen. This is how it will all end." So many of my stories have failed because I didn't have an exact plan. My stories are usually just a bunch of characters who do nothing all day. But this time my characters came together and made a plot. They have motives and needs. They actually need to get from point A to point B and that is a big step in the right direction for me. It also helps that I really care about my characters. Except the villains. My antagonist isn't so great either.

Another reason I haven't done much editing yesterday or today... (cringes) I stayed the night at my sisters house last night and put down my story to watch a movie with popcorn and M&M's. These were delicious of course, because, well, you can't go wrong with Popcorn and M&M's. The movie, on the other hand, was not so grand. In fact it was really quite dreadful. I will tell you the name of it so you know to avoid it. Its called Run. It has William Mosley in it. And he was basically the only good actor in the whole film. Him and his dad. And there was one other kid who was okay. But the girlfriend was obnoxious. Super obnoxious. Everything I hate in annoying female characters. And she wasn't a great actress either. The whole movie was slow. The trailer made it seem like this epic chase movie with lots of chasing and parkering and the Moffia. But it wasn't like that. It was slow. And boring. And silly. And I kept laughing at all the wrong times. Times that should have been sad but weren't. Amy and Treskie were laughing too. And for some reason all of us laughing increased the hilarity and just made us laugh more.

It was a terrible movie. Avoid it. Its not worth watching.

May must be the month for stories. A few days ago a genie named Archimedes walked up to me and demanded I write his story. He brought his friend Eric along, which makes me think its going to be a friendship story. Maybe even a brother-friendship story. Which is good. I'll try not to kill anyone this time around. But I told them both they'd just have to be patient because I'm trying to tell someone elses story at the present, as well as finish school. That made them pout but I think they can wait. They seem to be good at that. Though I wouldn't call it waiting so much as lurking. On my bed. and poking me when I try to sleep. Which I really do not need because I already have Tyson and Peregrine doing that to me. I really don't need to more characters from a DIFFERENT story pestering me. I swear, its like characters think all we writers have time to do is tell their stories!! What about life?? What about Jaron?? He NEEDED me. I can't give all my time to them!

I hope to share a better NaNo update soon. I'm really going to try and finish this.... Please wish me luck! Its much appreciated.

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~Ben The Robot~

A Book Review!!

Lately I've had the crazy, emotional week with a lot of frightening plot twists and some strange rock walls and I guess I've been a little.... harassed when it comes to blogging. but recently I finished a wonderful book, The Miracle of Miss Willie. It is perhaps the best book I've read all summer, the most heartwarming, and it really made me stop and think, to look at the world and think "Well, ya' know, its not so bad...."

This is, without a doubt a MUST READ! It is completely charming, the kind of book you want to curl up with like a blanket. I finished it alone in my bedroom and had a good cry. Not in a terrible way. Just because.... It was so good! :') The story is centered around three highschool boys, BB, DJ, and Jefferson who live in a small town in Arizona. They are trouble makers, playing all sorts of pranks on people they know. They aren't 'bad' boys, in the regular sense, they just can't stay out of trouble and they create havoc wherever they go.When we meet the boys at the beginning, everyone thinks they're a lost cause, the type of thing only a miracle could change. That miracle comes in the form of Miss Willie, the new English Teacher.

The Boys
DJ
We are told the story from DJ's point of view. He has lost his mother and his father works continually, leaving him alone at home most of the time, with only an older sister who isn't mentioned much. He is a really kind boy with a lot of potential hidden beneath his rambunctious ways, and I like him a lot. His character was a lot of fun to walk with, especially near the end. He was funny and mischievous, with some whoppers for plans, but underneath it all he was a nice enough boy :)

~....."There was an enigmatic fulfillment, a pervasive tranquility. we felt older, Not just in time, but in Maturity...." ~

Jefferson
Jefferson is my favorite of the boys. He had a strong spirit just waiting to break out and his character ark from the first to last page had the most effect on me. By the end I had completely fallen for him, and could see myself going out with a boy like that.

~"I want to prove.... I want to prove that I'll work for something that I think is right, even though its hard.....~

BB
BB is.... BB is BB. That is basically the only way to describe him. He is the most wild of the boys and has the least scruples when it comes to pranks and jokes. Though he can be a bit slow at times his heart is in the right place, he just needs a helping hand.

"She's got more faith in us than we have in ourselves. Maybe she's wrong, but I'm not going to let her down. I'm going to try...."

Miss Willie befriends the three boys and they in turn, fall head-over-heals for her. Soon Miss Willie is teaching the boys English, the meaning of true gentlemen, what girls like, why Shakespeare has a soul and what makes dancing fun. She sees in them what no one else did; the goodness and the potential to be so much more than they are. Her faith in the boys causes them to do the unthinkable, such as squirming into suit jackets for dance class and scoring above 70 in their school studies. No matter what the challenge, Miss Willie will not be swayed and she will not be stopped. She is a force of nature and her overall charm and attitude takes it gradual effect on the boys, transforming them into true gentlemen. The lessons they learn from her are invaluable and the last thing she teaches them will change their life forever.

~"I believe in you," She said with a whisper, "I've believed in you since the very first day...."~

There was a lot I adored about this story. The way Miss Willie was able to keep her cheerful attitude even when it was hard, even when it was exhausting, was amazing and the way she faced her trials was remarkable. Accepting the boys like she did and rising to the challenge of reforming them was brilliant, in fact everything about Miss Willie was brilliant. I think she's my role model now. She is the most amazing women in the world and her faith in God is something to be envied. I loved how the story interwove comedy with the undertone of seriousness and how there was always something in the chapters that made you laugh. Even at the end, when you find yourself rather weepy, you still feel a fuzzy warmness; You want to run and dance and cry or listen to soft music and draw or write with a cup of tea. That kind of book. It had me in absolute TEARS, I think I re-read the last three pages ten times and still I was shaky. The boys were charming, hilarious and remarkable, Miss Willie steals your heart before you have a chance to protest and the crescendo on the last page is just what you need to finish the story. Go find it right now if you have yet to read it. It is well worth your time and you will never regret reading it. I know I wont *sniffle*
(You can get it for a penny on amazon. A PENNY! WHY DON'T YOU OWN THE BOOK YET??!)

Drawn by Treskie

Rather Soon I shall have a fun post with craftiness and bubbly, energetic me-ness, but until then I must bid fair well.


♪♫....If I could/ Then I would/ I'd go wherever you will go/ Way up high/ Or down low/ I'd go wherever you will go.....♪♪