Monday, October 31, 2011

My favorite holiday!

Today is the holiday I look forward to the most: Halloween aka Samhain. It's my one day to dress like the person I wish I could be for a few hours, drink and dance like a fool (a sexy fool, of course!) So in honor I'd like to present some of my favorite scary movies!

1. Interview with the Vampire. This is actually my favorite movie ever made, and has been since I was twelve (I still had five years to go until I was "old" enough to watch it.) It is (loosely) based off of Anne Rice's novel of the same name. She is also my most favorite author of all time, and I would break down crying if I ever met her.



2. Insidious. I saw this movie recently and it scared the hell out of me, and my boyfriend (he turned on the light!). I *love* genuinely scary movies, not those cheesy dumb remakes with terrible acting. Demons? Check. Scary kid? Check. Family torn apart due to previous? Check. 


3. Haunting in Connecticut. Yet another movie that scared the bejeesus out of me. I thought the story line was unique, and it's not often the haunting is done by creatures that aren't evil. Another kid, another family. Well done and terrifying.


4. Okay this one isn't scary, but it's my favorite zombie movie! Gory, funny and it might make you jump. I just love it.

 

5. Speaking of zombies, check out Walking Dead, a zombiepocalypse show on AMC. It's gory, scary but has real heart and emotion. I cry almost every episode. That's what makes it so different than most zombie movies, is that you actually care about the people (unlike movies like Dawn of the Dead or Land of the Dead, which are still awesome zombie movies). Season 2 has just started and I highly recommend. 


There you have it! A few of my Halloween movie selections. Of course there's more: The Saw movies are entertaining, Paranormal Activity is good for a few jumps, or you could get some older ones like Blair Witch or The Grudge, if you like to make fun of "scary" movies. Do you have any you like? Let me know!

Happy Halloween!



comments (2)

Friday, October 21, 2011

So close...but so far.

So just this morning I finished the second round of edits for the Harrowing, but I'm *still* not done. Still! I have to format, add a prologue, somehow get a cover made and who knows what other little steps there are. I started writing last year during Christmas break so this has taken me nearly a year. I have two sequels still to write; this is turnng into a very long process. But it's been rewarding; getting to use my imaginatin and creativity is fantastic.

That said *deep breath* here is an excerpt from chapter one. This is the first time I've ever put it online. *cringes* Be gentle.

                 

I was lying awake in bed, unable to sleep, when I heard hushed voices, the stifle of a high-pitched laugh. I listened for a moment but my curiosity overtook me and I got out of bed, putting on my evening robe and stepping into the hall. I held my breath and searched in the darkness. I knew the night guards roamed this area, as all of our bedchambers were in this wing. I heard the whispers again, and I slowly padded forward, avoiding the torches against the wall so as to stay in the darkness.
            The voices were coming from my mother and father’s chamber; it disturbed me considering my father was travelling and not due back for another few days. As I approached, I could hear my mother. The torch behind me, just one of several that lined the corridor, let me see into her doorway. I hid behind a stone pillar, out of sight. My mother stood in her doorway and a shadowy figure was in front of her. His back was to me. He must have been wearing dark clothes and had dark hair because I could see nothing else. He was leaning in close to her face.
            “You must go,” my mother whispered, but her tone indicated she did not really want him to leave. “If you do not, I’ll just want you to come back inside.” Ah, there was the wish.
            “And would that be such a bad thing?” the man asked, his deep voice matching his dark appearance.
            My mother laughed. I normally found her laugh to be rather musical and pleasant, but this was different. It was melted with desire. “Mmmm goodness, no,” she said. Then her face went out of view as the man leaned in and kissed her. When her face reappeared, it was obvious she was staring into his eyes. The expression she wore sickened me. “But you know how it is, and has always been.”
            “I will return then, when the time comes. When you are in need of my company,” the man said.
            “I don’t just need you, you know. I may be lonely without my King here, but you know of my feelings.”
            “Until next time it will be then, my dear. My Queen,” said the man, bowing slightly low. He turned, walking down the hall, and as he did, I caught part of his face; his eyes. The torch gave me enough light to see the pools of ocean in his face.

comments (1)

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Getting Closer.

A few nights ago I wrote the last words of the epilogue in the Harrowing. "I wouldn't lose him again." The moment I was finished, I was like, Oh that's it! That's the end! And then...it wasn't. I rewrote the last two paragraphs. And I still felt like it wasn't quite right, but that's what editing is for! Which is where I am now. Each chapter has been edited once, but lightly. Now I'm getting round 2 started and it's a lot more tedious. It's a constant refining, which is good because it helps the story flow better, and make more sense. It keeps the story simple. Or simpler, anyway. Even after this round, I'll do at least one more, then formatting. Then...putting on Amazon as an e-book. Paperback? I'd prefer it, but it costs so much more.

Moving on. My life seems to have gotten in the way of my muse, or the natural flow of the story. I get stuck because I feel like my life gets stuck. I get distracted with school work, relationships, parenting, etc. It's hard to get back on that river once you get off. Or drown. Luckily I've managed to somehow stay afloat but my raft is empty.

Sometimes in life you have to do what you have to do, or what you feel is right despite what others say is right. Listen to that tiny voice. It might be selfish but sometimes I just don't care. I can have the things I want, it doesn't mean I want certain people out of my life. We can do it together. I thought so anyway.

Do everything you can to keep your head above water. Fight for what you want because you are important too. You matter. Don't put up with anything less.



comments (1)

Friday, September 16, 2011

Awards! And A Few Thoughts.

Look look! Aren't these pretty?



I'd like to thank April Denton for giving these to me! She is an expert on everything zombies! Check out her blog and her Facebook! Congrats to her for selling her first book today!

So here's what I do:

1. Thank and link to the person who nominates you 
2. Share seven random facts about you
3. Pass this award to five new blogging friends
4. Contact and congratulate the awarded bloggers

1. Done!
2. Seven randoms
(1) I've been a vegetarian since I was 16 (that's 10 years!)
(2) I don't like vegetables (I'm trying to expand...)
(3) I have an innate need to rescue animals, even small things like frogs.
(4) I'm a closet DnD nerd.
(5) The first time I ever drank was when I went to London when I was 18, but it was legal!
(6) I cry at *everything* (movies w/ animals and kids especially, even if it's not sad)
(7) I like to put on my right shoe first.

3. So who am I giving this to? Well...
First of all my friend Carissa Elg! She's such a sweet and smart girl. See her blog and Facebook Author Page.

Second to Leif G. S. Notae. He writes fantastic short stories, and lots of other things! Check them out here.

Third to Andrew Kincaid. He is also a great writer and blogger! See his website and Facebook Author Page and go "like!"

Fourth is to Kendall Grey! She writes urban fantasy and is working on a short story for a horror anthology! Check her out on her website and Facebook Author Page.

Fifth and finally to Saronai! She has a beautiful blog and we both have a love for our pets!

Aaaaand I'm doing one more just because! This one to M. R. Merrick, author of Exiled, which I am currently reading and enjoying! Check out his blog, Facebook and buy his book here!


Whew that was fun!  On to other news.

So something has happened that I was afraid would happen, especially once school started: I'm in a writing slump. Seriously. Normally I have a constant movie of sorts running through my head about what I'm going to write next. Then I'll write it, feel better, and another little movie will pop up, and I'll write that....you get the pattern. The problem is the last few weeks, my brain has been pretty blank. So now when I sit down, determined to write something, *anything,* I only get a couple of paragraphs done, and I don't really even like them. I used to get one to two chapters done per week, and this last one has taken me much, much too long.

I don't know if it's because I'm so close to the end, and I have some sort of anxiety about finishing it, or if it's because I'm running out of steam. I don't think it's the latter because I have lots of ideas for the next book. It's just getting there that is the problem.

Then there are the days where I just want to throw the whole thing away, and turn away from it forever. I feel like it's just a selfish hobby that sometimes takes up too much of my time, taking me away from other more "important" things. You know, like family. Like somehow my writing isn't something that matters, even though it matters to me. It's my own escape from things, it's what I do when/if I have "me" time. I've spent some time agonizing over my story because I don't always have the support that I wish I did. That's where my friends I've met come in, and the people who are genuinely interested in reading it. Seriously if I didn't have you guys, I wouldn't feel like what I'm doing is okay. So what I'm trying to say is....

Thank You!

Yes, YOU.




comments (3)

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Oh there you are!



Dear Overcoming Her Obsession Blog,

I have really missed you. I remember when I used to look at you everyday; it seems like just yesterday you only one follower (me). It seems lately that I have neglected you, and I'm sorry. I don't mean to, it's just that there are so many other things going on in my life right now, and I'm having a hard time with this creative block; it doesn't seem to be going away. I know that these are all just excuses, and I'm sure other blogs have heard them a thousand times; but I'm sincere when I say that I will give it my best effort to visit you at least every few days, and update you at least once a week, hopefully with some interesting and worth-reading content.

Dear Readers,

I must extend my apology to you as well. I realize that a whole point of a blog (or one of the points) is to keep it updated with the current goings-on of my life. This is something I have failed in doing, and I promise to do my best to not let it happen again. You are all so important to me!

Love, me.
Whew I feel so much better now. Moving on.

The first week of school is over, and now I'm on to the second. I do have lots of time during the day when I can get work done (schoolwork or writing) so I'm hoping to get back on track soon. My goal used to be one chapter a week, but that hasn't happened. It's difficult when your brain suddenly quits sending signals to your fingers...the type of signals that allows me to write, anyway. It's amazing how life's little distractions can pull someone away from her beloved hobby. For awhile, my characters had left me, surely wandering in some dark silent room with no direction or guiding light.


Slowly but surely, they are listening to the sound of my voice...or perhaps I am listening to them...and they are making their way back to me...or the other way around. As they are fictional, I suppose the responsibility lies completely with me, not them. And here I am talking about them as if they were standing right behind me...That would be *so* cool if I could go have a coffee date with Corvin. He's so handsome :).

I am anxious and excited to get back to work, so weave the lives of my characters, especially Vyla. She has got some surprises coming, and they're not all good! *mwahaha* The fun part about writing is that I can be totally evil and get away with it....but sometimes I feel guilty.  But then I'm like, "Oh, wait! I'll just delete it!" But sometimes I don't even want to delete what I've written, so I save it for something else.

Well I will be seeing you again, soon Blog. I swear.

comments (1)

Friday, August 19, 2011

Those little "Aha!" moments




Ever have one of those at some random time during some random situation? I did today, except for the idea and the situation were totally related. I can't believe it took me *this* long to figure out. So my daughter and I got up before 8 today (usually it's after 8 before we're up) and I observed something that I had observed during the other times we were up earlier than usual. I found her to be slightly more stubborn and cantankerous, and less willing to listen to me than normal (which isn't exactly a *huge* change from what is normal). This always seemed to happen whenever she got up earlier than between 8 and 9, which I thought was pretty strange. It seemed like when she got up *after* 9, she was in a better mood.

this is me without proper sleep. Minus the bunny slippers.

And then it hit me. *DUH.* It's not her, it's me! I'm the one who is more tired, I'm the one who is more impatient with her attitude, and I'm the one who can't handle her as well as when I get more sleep.

Luckily, school starts Monday. I'll be getting up at about 7 every morning, and will be bringing her to daycare MWF. This will help her get into a better bedtime routine as well, which I am *thrilled* about. No more getting to bed after 10 p.m. for her! I hope anyway.

Moving on. This is not what this blog was originally going to be about. Well it was going to be about those magical and wonderful things called "epiphanies" and I just happened to have had one this morning so I had to share it.

So here is what I originally was going to talk about. I'm in my car, listening to Apocalyptica's "Not Strong Enough" on their album 7th Symphony. The song wasn't even over before I thought my brain was going to explode with a sudden breakthrough about a certain relationship between two major characters in the Ashehill Saga. I wasn't having really any difficulties writing, so I guess it wasn't a breakthrough so much as a great little twist in the chaos that is their relationship.

For those of you who do not know of Apocalyptica, I suggest checking them out. They play metal music with cellos. Who knew? They do instrumental, covers as well as originals, and songs with singers from other rock bands. (My favorite cover is an instrumental version of Metallica's Nothing Else Matters.) Not Strong Enough somehow is able to capture the theme of this relationship and also inspired the name for this blog (hint: it's all about obsession).

And if you are so inclined, and curious, here is a link to the lyrics.

I think that should give you a good idea about what you can expect from this saga. The theme of this particular song will not feature in the first novel, but in the second.

Here's to you; I hope you have an "aha" moment of your own. They are lovely.

comments (2)

Friday, August 12, 2011

The process thus far....



Back in....oh let's say last fall...close to a year ago, my boyfriend found this video game on clearance at Target called Dragon Age: Origins, done by Bioware. It looked fun so we each took turns playing. Not only was it fun, adventurous, creative and addicting (this coming from a non-gamer), it was also inspiring. There are several specific story lines from which you can choose, and the second time I played (I've played thrice) I chose the human noble story line. This is the basis of the Ashehill Saga. I cannot give away too many details but if you are familiar with this game, then you'll probably know in what direction the book goes.

During the month long break from college, I began writing down names and descriptions of characters, names of villages, names for the country, and so on. It wasn't long before I began typing up the first chapter. Six pages in and my laptop crashes. For good. I started over once we got the new one, and oddly enough I prefer the newer version...so maybe it wasn't such a bad thing.

Now I didn't take any other plot lines from the game except for that very basic one, and then I embellished greatly upon it. Two characters are loosely based off DA characters (appearance, personality) but they are still very much their own person. Something strange happens once you start creating characters and a world...there are certain things I thought I wanted to do to a character (ex. killing them off) but then something happens and I don't have it in me. It's easy to become so totally attached, especially to my heroine, Vyla. I certainly don't wish evil upon her, but sometimes....it just has to happen. And oddly enough, it's out of my hands. Strange thing to say since I do indeed possess the control, but it's easy for the story to take on a life of its own. The characters evolve of their own accord. (Are you a writer? Then you probably know what I mean.)

Anyway, that's really how everything got started. And now I'm so close to finishing this first one. Initially, I only wanted one book, but a three parter seemed to flow better. Of course it could be one long book, but I'm writing like I prefer to read--shorter books, with lots in a series. I like my stories to be broken up a bit. The same can be said for chapter--I don't like reading long chapters, and I don't write long chapters (average 10-12 pages per chapter. Some more, some less).

The writing process itself has been fun but long. Often times original ideas I have never make it into the storyline, or are changed slightly. I worked on it when I could, since I was (and will be again soon) in school. When I wasn't in school, I was home with my daughter (and will be). I really only had a short window per day or per week that I could write. This summer has been a little easier, but again, I can usually only write for an hour or so, and somedays I don't write at all. Take today for example...this is what I've gotten accomplished.

So that's really all there is to it. I'll let you know once I'm finished!

p.s. There are zero dragons in my book.



comments (1)

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)