Friday, July 30, 2010

An old story...

I was reading through some old stories the other day and came across this story I started called The Companion. It’s a typical fantasy with a quest, a chosen one, etc. Apparently I was telling it through the eyes of the Chosen One’s companion, a halfling named Sonora. Anyway, I just thought I’d share the prologue :)

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It was early morning. Mist swirled lazily across the ground like scuttling snakes, around the roots of the white trees, and above the surface of the water of the river. There was absolute silence, so think it was almost like a blanket over the entire world. Not a single animal stirred. Not even ghosts were about.

But wait. Perhaps there were…ghosts.

From nowhere came a soft sound, like ghostly feet on dew-dampened dirt. Slowly, through the mist, came a figure.

It was a young woman. She had delicate, elfin features and long hair not much darker than the mist with a faint bluish tint. She was as pale as snow and wore a garment the color of a starless night. In her hands she held a bundle. As she walked soundlessly across the ground, the bundle squawked. It was a child.

The woman stopped. She stood in the center of a meadow, surrounded by the crystal clear waters of the river on three sides, and a stately line of white trees on the fourth.

There was no sound now. She stood there, clutching the squirming child to her chest tightly. It was so very still. She seemed frozen.

Then, more movement.

Something dark moved through the white trees and missed. It was tall and so very, very dark; it seemed to suck all light into it. The woman watched it approach, her features frozen in a mask of iron.

Carefully, the darkness moved into the meadow. It was not quite human. Its skin was jet black and covered in gleaming bluish-black scales. It had large ears like those of an elf and long black hair. Its eyes, the only discernable feature on its face, were the color of pure gold. It had a cloak, also black, and it held it round about itself.

“Did you bring the child?” Its voice was harsh yet gentle at the same time.

The woman smiled and held out the bundle. The darkness moved to stand before the woman, its slate smooth and almost mirror-like face tilted down to view the child.

“Sonora,” he said softly.

The child glared at him. Her eyes were the same hypnotic gold as the darkness’ but rather than being a single disc of color, they were like the slitted eyes of a snake.

“She is not like the others,” the woman said. “But they will not cast her out. She is one of us, no matter her parentage.”

The darkness stroked the child’s curly, whitish hair with a slightly humanistic claw. “She is the One. Nobody can deny it.”

“We shall see.”

From deep in the white woods – a snarl. The darkness stiffened. “They come for her.”

The woman shrugged her shoulders. Two large, jet black wings exploded into view. She stepped back, once again hugging the child to her chest. The darkness watched silently as she flapped her wings once and took swiftly to the air.

A low, reptilian hiss came from behind him. “The Chosen One… she is ours…”

Something began to emerge from the mist. The darkness pulled his cloak about him and, with a puff of black smoke, disappeared.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Volleyball is not for me

I remember the first time I played volleyball, I was so short the ball never came to me. So I did handstands while everybody played around me. And just as I kicked up into the perfect handstand, the ball flew over my head. Total genius.

I played volleyball yesterday with my uncle and cousins at my cousin Ashley's graduation party. First of all, my uncle in one word: COMPETITIVE. I was just glad I wasn't on the other team (although we lost) because he hits the ball hard. My cousin Gabrielle, who is tiny, got hit in the face three times.

The game was pretty intense, plus it was in the dark. You'd just look up and see this white orb sailing towards you and, depending on who you were, you yelled and got out of the way, or you hit that thing like there was no tomorrow.

Anyway, I've written 80,300 words so far this month. I was hoping to get to 100,000 but that's obviously not going to happen.

Friday, July 16, 2010

Skinned - by Robin Wasserman

I read the book Skinned by Robin Wasserman last night (and part of this morning). It’s a novel set in the future, about a girl whose body was destroyed in a car crash. But her mind was downloaded into a computer and they put that into a synthetic body. Theoretically, she’d still be her same old self. Excepting all the stuff where nobody likes these downloaded people, or Mechs, as they were called.

The girl, Lia, is alienated by her friends. Her sister hates her. Her father regrets making the decision to have her “saved.” A Mech can’t die. They back up their minds and night and if anything happens to their mechanical body, their mind can simply be downloaded into a new one. Mechs don’t feel pain like ordinary people. They’re perfect, and most humans hate them for that.

I thought the novel was pretty good. The beginning was intriguing. It hit a lull at about chapter two and continued quite a ways into it. Towards the end, however, it got really good. At the very end, I was floored. How could the author just leave it like that? Then I realized it was just the first book of a trilogy. I’m looking forward to reading the other books.

Skinned was the fifth Robin Wasserman book I’ve read. I read the Chasing Yesterday Trilogy, which was YA but came off a lot like juvenile to me. I also read Hacking Harvard, which I absolutely loved. I recommend that to anybody who either doesn’t mind or can get past the language. A lot of language.

I’d give Skinned three out of four stars. The positives: great beginning, great plot, great description and setting. The negatives: some dull writing, non-endearing characters, over-used “after the world was bombed…” plot piece.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

I'm so excited!

I have shared a room with at least one person for my entire life (sometimes it was three people, one time it was five). It's at the point where I don't even know what I'd do if I had my own room.

I've also had to share a bed. And now, for the first time in about eight years, my dad is getting me my own bed! Whoo!

I sound like I'm three, don't I? :) I can't imagine having my own bed. No tug of war over the blanket. No fighting for pillow space - my sister and I both have really big pillows. I can sleep with my computer. That's not as crazy as it sounds, I promise. I don't have a stereo so my music is all from my computer, so it's nice to have it within arm's reach and not down in the crack between the wall and the bed, like it is now.

Oh, and I can use the twin-sized comforter my other sister bought for me! I'm so happy :)

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Writing

I always thought writing on two books at the same time would be really hard but it's not so bad. My two current projects, Summer Rush and Dark Angel Rising, are complete opposites of each other but I can write on them on the same day without batting an eyelash.

Usually when I write I have to really get into it. I'll read back over what I wrote yesterday or look at my brainstorm document so I can get back into the right character mode.

Anyway, I'm about halfway done on both books. Hopefully I'll finish them before the end of the month. I have to write at least ten thousand more words for July Novel Writing Month. I can't lose that. My friend Karlee would never let me hear the end of it :)

Saturday, July 10, 2010

It's Official

I have slept way too much this summer. I can never fall asleep at night anymore. For some reason my inner clock is completely reversed so I'll sleep all day and be bouncing off the ceiling at night. It's crazy. Just the thought of actually staying up all day long to get my clock back in the right order is exhausting but I'll have to do it sooner or later. I don't think they have nocturnal colleges.

I'm giving my friend Ryley at least part of the blame for this. He lives in Canada. I ended up staying up later to talk on MSN because of the time difference. So, yes, he's partly to blame :)

On a happy note, I have my favorite ever book from the library: The BHS Book of Natural Horsemanship. I love that book. It's so interesting and it was one of the first books on natural horsemanship I've ever read. Which reminds me, the library has a new natural horsemanship book I need to check out.

I got to see my big sister Kyra for a few minutes today. She's so busy all the time and I miss seeing her. My youngest sister Jasmine had to quit gymnastics, so Kyra doesn't coach her anymore; before, when we were at the gym, I'd see Kyra at least once a week.

Writing has been coming along so-so lately. Every time I sit down to write, my mind starts wandering. I think it's because I have too many distractions in my room - partly the mess, partly the dozens of posters on the wall, partly the other projects lying around.

You can tell my mind is going crazy because of the randomness of this post :) That reminds me - actually, I have no idea how that reminds me. But anyway, I need to find my list of things to do for 2010. First I have to go check on dinner before it burns.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Beautiful Picture!

It takes me between ten and thirty minutes to decide on a picture for my computer desktop. I eventually settled on this gorgeous Friesian. My brother Darius and I decided to name her (her? him?) Prestige. I almost used a King Julien background because I love Madagascar. Does anybody watch the Penguins from Madagascar?

Saturday, July 3, 2010

My favorite quotes from Pirates of the Caribbean

"No survivors, huh? Then where do the stories come from I wonder?" - Captain Jack Sparrow

"There's a lot of big words in there, missy. We're naught but humble pirates." - Barbossa

"Buried on an island that can't be found, except for those who know where it is." - Barbossa

"I'm curious. After killing me, what is it you're planning on doing next?" - Barbossa (I'm starting to see a pattern here...)

"So there is a curse. That's interesting." - Captain Jack Sparrow

Will: "So after my mother died I came out here, looking for my father." Jack: "Is that so?"

"Mr. Cotton, do you have the courage and fortitude to follow orders and stay true in the face of danger and almost certain death?" - Captain Jack Sparrow

"Mostly we figure that means yes." - Gibbs

"It's bad luck to have a woman aboard. Even a miniature one." - Gibbs

"Borrowed. Borrowed without permission, with every intention of bringing it back." - Captain Jack Sparrow

Will: "How can we sail to an island nobody can find, with a compass that doesn't point north?" Gibbs: "Aye, the compass doesn't point north. But we're not going north, are we?"

Norrington: "No additional shot or powder. A compass that doesn't point north. And I half it expected it to be made of wood. You are undoubtedly the worst pirate I've ever heard of." Jack: "Ah. But you have heard of me."

Gillete: "That's got to be the best pirate I've ever seen." Norrington: "So it would seem."

"And thirdly, the Code is more like what you'd call guidelines than actual rules." - Barbossa

Ragetti: "You're s'posed to be dead." Jack: "Am I not?"