A AROW80 Look at TEH Sunshine, HERE COMES THE SUN!!

It's summer and the summer sunshine has been terribly vacant. Okay, maybe a day or two she has come out of hiding, but seriously, August! You are supposed to be the month of sun and hot, and you are more like the month of rain and maybe a day or two of sun.

Anyway, the muse has returned to me. I went onto my porch (where I am now) to finish a story story I had started. That was 3200+ words later. It is now in revision mode. There are at least two stories in revision mode that I must attend to and send out to my beta readers. That is a main goal for this week.

Smaller/daily goals (or the Bullet Points have Returned):
                 *Finished "Lirael" and started "Abhorsen". Also whilst trolling the Salvo down the way from my work, I found a copy of  "Misty of Chincoteague" by Marguerite Henry. Decided to give it a read and then blog about it. I have fond memories of read this book for a summer reading program at my local library [Darwin R. Barker Library] call Bookopoly. Yes, it sounds like what it is! Books and Monopoly You roll the dice and move around the board, most squares are subject/genre squares, if you land on one of those, you  to pick out a book from that genre/subject matter and had to read the book and report on that same book to get Book Bucks. Books Bucks will buy you prizes ranging from toys to books to art supplies and others. I think Misty was one of the first book I read for Bookopoly. There were plenty of books that I don't think I would have read otherwise. Of course I think because of this I read "Stormy, Misty's Foal" as well.

                 *Continuing to journal twice a week. I haven't really gotten any new ideas, but it's a great way to de-stress. I also use my journal to write more haiku. And because I have been writing A LOT more haiku, I have started tweeting them to the interwebs. Learning to use twitter as a tool to get my writing about, but also interacting with my followers. Good news is my retention of followers has increased.
                  *Visiting my fellow writers/bloggers. This has increased from last week. This past week I visited  other blogs and left comments. This week I have started on right foot and visited three this morning. My plan is to visit at least 1 blog per day.
                  *I only blog once, albeit very late yesterday for the week. In addition to my twice weekly AROW80 check-ins, I am trying to return to my once a week regularly scheduled blog, or twice a week. I had the time, but the amuse was being stubborn and so was I. This week will be better, because I have some idea to work with now. Hehehe!! Also, I bribed the muse with ice-cream! Mwahahah!!

That which I need to start back up again:
                 *Submitting work to places, online journals, contests, etc. I get a little sad when I get a rejection letter. I am well aware that rejection comes before acceptance. As this is the first year where I have made a solid attempt to submit my work, it has proven a task. And as much as the rejection letters/emails bum me out, I try to remember that the blue skies will come out and I will get published. There was this time that I submitted a kids story to Highlights! for Children and got a REAL rejection letter, with an actual signature. With that being said, I am going to climb back on my horse and ride forward.

The skies here in Corning are fighting to clear up. Blue skies abound amidst the fluffy cumulus clouds. I was a avid cloud watcher, still am actually. I don't always lay in the grass to watch clouds. With my nice and HUGE wrap around porch, I can watch the cloud while sitting drinking coffee and writing my blogs. :-)

Enjoying my porch this Sunday morning, almost afternoon, Dear Readers. What are you up to today? I will be going to see my friend Brennan perform in his last performance in the Old Havana Courthouse Melodrama before heading off to college. I think I will enjoy the drive.

Have a sunny filled day, Dear Readers enjoy the world and all the things in it. Oh, and next weekend is the HUGE Doctor Who premier with Peter Capaldi as the new doctor. I am thinking of writing a blog or something for the big premier. Don't forget, Dear Readers, go and check out the Blog Hop and visit all of us writer/bloggers dancing to our own beats and making awesome things for the world to see, hear, and read.

I leave you with some music of the day, Amanda Palmer. Someone who I was familiar with in name only. But after being introduce to her "Theatre is Evil" album, I am successfully hooked. She reminds me of a Cabaret singer turned Rocker.

Writing and Meatloaf, that what Sunday afternoons are for....

It's a Meatloaf kind of afternoon, with the cat's napping, and I am writing. The first time in a few weeks. I am feeling good as I type this. Good weather and time to work on stuff and things make a happier writer Cindy, Dear Readers. Taking a bit of a break from writing to write this blog/AROW80 check-in, on time too!

What have I been up to? Well, I can say that house looks almost presentable with laundry done and put away, dishes caught up v(except my lunch plate), and the trash/litter taken care of. w00t! I STILL need to vacuum, but I'll wait until the cats are awake (so i don't scare them too much). Sometimes I wish I was rich, so I could just hire a maid, but then I realize that is a silly idea (the having a maid idea, not the being rich part). I usually relax by cleaning, I know that sound weird, but I do. I discovered that in college, when I needed to step away from the homework, or if I needed to de-stress, I would clean my dorm room. I just don't always have the time nowadays to clean like that. I am getting better, but I hate when I have a sink of nasty gross dishes and am too tired to wash them.

Villainy at the Villanova Vaudeville Revisited.*

This weekend has been a productive and yet relaxing weekend (see paragraph above). David's been performing Hairspray this weekend. I saw it Friday night. Tarzan was last weekend. I am freer to enjoy the rest of summer with book reading, seeing the rest of the melodramas at Old Havana Courthouse Theatre, being outside, visiting and having adventures.

A melodrama is short play telling of virtue triumphing over villainy, that usually involve music, signing, over the top comedy, and audience interaction. Old Havana performs these show throughout the summer in Montour Falls, NY, above the courthouse. A different show each week, four shows rotating throughout the summer. If you are in the area, please check 'em out. 

*Picture used is own by Old Havana Courthouse Theatre.

Past page 400 of "Lirael". I love books. I even like LOOONG books, but the down side is that sometimes (no every time), the book feels like it's taking forever. The "Abhoren Trilogy" is a nicely paced series, but "Lirael" is almost 700 pages. So much book! It's even better on the second read.

Started writing again. Feels good to find a writing prompt and just go. I am probably going to finish the rough draft of this story. It has me intrigued, as the characters start talking to me. After writing this blog and a short dinner break. BTW, I love tomato sammiches!! :-) I want to get to a completed draft. I sometimes start a story, but then get distracted or bored and then do not return to ever, or a year later get around to finishing it.

This also means that I am going to return to visiting my fellow bloggers and writers (Come see the Blog Hop), reading up on what they are up to, give words of encouragement, or playing Haiku tag with them. It also means that I am returning to a weekly blog entry about whatever strikes my fancy. This will mostly likely occur on Mondays or Saturdays, my non-Round of Words days.

On, that happy note, Dear Readers, I am going to post this and return to my words. Have a stellar and exciting week. Hope you summer is continuing to be fruitful and sunny. I need to make it to the beach soon. I miss swimming. I don't do it enough anymore. That will be something else I do before labour day. I am surprised at how fast the summer goes now that I am older. Only three more weeks? Yep, just checked the calendar.

Gonna Peel Outta Here, Dear Reader!

The Puzzle Faerie...Returning to Normal (or as close to normal as possible)

Here I am at 10:58 pm on Thursday....feeling a bit detached from everything.

I hate trying to write something and there is absolutely nothing in my head to write about. It feels forced. Sometimes I feel like I'm cheating when I have nothing to write about and yet I need to fill a quota or a blog entry. Not that I rip off writing, but when I don't have anything to write, or even say, then I feel compelled to post something old just to post. And that, Dear Readers feels like cheating.

I can say that I have begun the re-coup process from Tarzan, such as catching up on sleep and household chores (except when I do the last of the pile of dishes and then promptly made strawberry/banana milkshakes). Oh, well, they were yummy. I am fond of using vanilla yogurt with vanilla ice cream and milk. Alas, I had no milk, but vanilla almond milk is just as yummy. Also, the yogurt is not completely needed, as I made the strawberry banana one without the yogurt. w00t, for creative fooding.

I am proud of myself, I finished the puzzle. 300 pieces is not a lot, but when the picture is an mosiac painting of a wood faerie, with lots of sworls of colour in her wings, 300 feels like a million. I think I will, at least finish the box of puzzle and turn them into wall hanging (Xmas/birthday presents). As stressful as the puzzle was , I forgot how addicting and challenging they ca be.

Now I am over halfway through "Lirael". The second book is a beast, with a scant 700+ pages to read. No problem! I just have to read in the morning, at lunch, and at bedtime to finish. I am still so far behind on my Goodreads Reading Challenge. Although, I must say that I am making quicker work of my challenge than last year. I believe my goal for 2013 was 20. I came nowhere close to that. This year I upped it to 25 and I am up to 10 (40%). Going to make it one way or the other. No cheating either!

I have more time to myself this weekend and looking forward to spending some quality, honest to goodness writing time, blogging about neat stuffs, and reviewing books and movies, or even writing commentary on interesting things. Stuff and things! I have a few weeks of summer still and I plan to enjoy that time in the outdoors, sunshine permitting. Reconnecting with friends and generally enjoying life.

Have a great weekend, Dear Readers! Go and visit the Blog Hop. There will be more to come...

Last Day before Tech Week.....

The day before Tech Week, or Hell Week! It's going to be a long week, but there will much good stuff having.

I have put the final touches on the program (just sent the final FINAL version). I love when I clean my flash drive that my program designer used to make the program and found ONE ad that never made it in, even after 2 or 3 revisions. Sigh! It's best that I did check that particular flash drive (I had everything in 2 places, cause I am anal retentive about that). It meant a bit of extra work, but at least I am sure that the program is complete.

I spent today catching up on things that have needed attention; I updated my mp3 player with new music, Weird All/Ingrid Michaelson and relabeling other stuff, I did 2 loads of laundry, took out the trash/cat litter, and all this after test driving my friend, Chelsea's old tracker (slightly used, but in good condition) that David and I will be getting in the next week (post Tarzan and Hairspray). Learned a bit more about my new (slightly used) Nook. Oh, and I drank coffee!

The day has been filled with productive, but now I want to sit back and relax. I have done the whole of the things I really needed to accomplish.

I am 1/3 of the way through "Lirael", by Garth Nix.

I spent all of yesterday with my friend Sara, cutting fabric for the ape costumes while watching The Monkees, Buffy, and listening to Weird Al and Ingrid Michaelson. It was a great day and also got a lot done. So, I am ready to relax and NOT do anything Tarzan or laundry, or anything that requires thought.

Most excited because my press release for Tarzan is in the Courier Advocate (with a bit of format help from Sara Love), I am excited. So, I have been writing in the past few weeks, of sorts, that and bios and program work. 

Remember to go and check out my fellow writer/bloggers at the Round of Words Blog Hop. Going to have a great week, Dear Readers. The cast is amazing and my job is winding down; now I am just working on stage crew and such. Birthday's in a week, as is a show, and then onto August for some excellent summer days, reading, going outside and playing in lakes or amusement parks, and lots of writing! What, Dear Readers do you like to do on a sunny summer day in August.

Fantasy Readers! Topn 10 Fantasy Series to Read....

It's been a long and quiet week in my world. Part of this weekend was planned for some of the bigger blogs that I have planned. What do they normally say: the best laid plans of Mice and Men? Well, it's true...I haven't really been focused this weekend. Not really sure why either. Maybe my brain wanted to be turned off this weekend, maybe I was bone dry in the creative department, or maybe I just didn't have much to say. So, whatever the reason, his head or his shoes....um, oops, wrong train of thought. I am still very much dedicated to this blog and bringing you fascinating things to read.

While wracking my bleary eyed brain for an idea that wanted to be written I recalled that I had a list that I wanted to post on. I figured since nothing else was popping into my head, I would go with that. This week we are looking at some of my favourite series, these are all fantasy series, as I tend to live in a fantasy world. It's part learning more about me and a recommended reading list.

My top 10 recommended (favourite) Fantasy Series!

Honourable Mentions: Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams and Abhorsen Series by Garth Nix

Hitchhikers is a challenge to read and full of English wit, but well worth
it to read.

Abhorsen series is a different kind of fantasy, but quite a fun and engaging to read.

Garth Nix Abhorsen Trology

Number #10: The Mage Wars Trilogy by Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon

This series I read in college. It has to be one of the first mainstream fantasy series I read outside of Lord of the Rings. I was and still am a Dragon Lover at heart, but a close second is the Gryphon (my preferred spelling). The Mage Wars has everything I could want in a series a broken Hero, fantastical beast, magic, and the ability to keep me interested. Mercedes Lackey's Valdamar world is quite the fascinating one that weaves between the different series, but each series also stands well on their own.  It helps to read each series (Last Herald-Mage, or Mage Storms), but the Mage Wars stands well on it's own. It's also the 'beginning of the series.

Number #9: Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

Okay, so some people will probably take offense to Harry being so low on the list, but I need to point out the I only read the WHOLE series when book 7 had come out, so I could read each book, back to back. I do love the fact that you see harry get to grow up, despite all of the crap that happens to him. It's not higher up because I have already a number of series that are further on the list, some a which I think are better written than Harry. I do number a number of points about the Potter series: the use of Severus Snape, the survival of Harry during book 7, and some really awesome characters Tonks, Lupin, Fred, and George to name a few. It's just not high on the list, sorry Potterheads!

Number #8 The Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey

Anne McCaffrey art (not mine)

So, some of you are aware of my love for all thing Anne McCaffrey and Dragons. You might be  wondering why I have put Pern only at #8. Okay, yes it's lower, yes, but I still find the stories engaging and very easy to read. That trait is why I have ranked it lower. I do love a challenge when reading and the Pern novels (all of them) are easy in story plot compared to, say, Lord of the Rings or Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, but I still enjoy them. The characters are what sell me on Pern. They are very real and relate-able, oh and the Dragons don't hurt anything either. Robinton was my first storybook crush, still is in many ways.

Number #7: Time Quartet by Madeleine L'Engle

These books are unique from my perspective as they use both science and faith as a plot driven. It's not often that you can find a book that utilizes both and still keeps the reader engaged. I had to read "Winkle in Time" is school. It was one of a FEW books that I enjoyed cover to cover. The high fantasy is definitely a selling point with me. The real Meg Murry was and still is a reason for my continued reading of these books. She is a very whining and obnoxious character that you feels less sympathetic, but I guess for me I can see the reality in her character flaws and that makes for good storytelling when she learns a lesson, even if it takes most of the book for her to do so. That brings me to a point, good storytelling has to have GREAT characters: Meg, Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, Mrs. Which, and Aunt Beast these are characters you feel vested in. Madeleine L'Engle is also a Christian writer, but yet I don't feel that it's being shoved down my throat, her use of Bible verses in a nice touch to prove a point in her stories. Being of pagan-faith, one could say that that would potentially turn me off, but no so, I actually see how they add to the story. It's the macrocosm that Madeleine creates that makes me feel that sometimes the world has more than one answer to any one problem.

The subsequent books are just as good and continue the story of Meg Murry, Charles Wallace, and Peter O'Keefe, and later their children.

Order to be read in: A Wrinkle in Time, A Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Many Waters, An Acceptable Time

Number #6: The Oz Books by L. Frank Baum

There are 14 books in Baum's series alone. I will not be evaluating all pf them, even though they are worth. The Oz books are an endearing series that I should note that the first book (based on the movie) is only the tip of the Oz Iceberg. While each book is technically an east read, when you look at the whole plot of the Oz series, you realize that Baum was a very detailed writer, who including many points in his stories and world. There is a bit of continuity with small points, such as the colour of Dorothy's kitten, but in the grand scheme of things Baum wrote 14 stories about Oz, I think a few minor story oops are forgivable. Why put Wizard of Oz on the list higher than Harry Potter, because, that why!

Number #5: Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Almost any Fantasy nerd would have this on their list (I said, almost). The writing in not the easiest, and the plot is sometimes WAY over the top, but it is really brilliantly written. The love and care the Tolkien gave to his stories shows. It's also what many other series base their concepts of elves, dwarves, wizards, and baddies on. It is worth the time to read them. I highly recommend any reader (specifically fantasy) to pick them up and read them, at least one in your life.

Number #4: His Dark Materials Trilogy by Phillip Pullman

No quite the standard series, but it is unique and that is the primary reason it made the top 4. One doesn't always expect such a series to pop up into the world. The darker subject matter was certainly a draw. I was recommended this series by my friend Jane and I haven't regretted it. I am going to be re-reading the Golden Compass again soon, as I am going to do a side-by-side comparison of the book and movie (yes, I know what I am getting into. Remember the Eragon review?).

Number #3: The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

Here is a another case of an easier to read series ranking high, but there's a reason. While it is easier to read, it also has quite the plot going on with epic battles and travels to the end of the world. It's on par epically as Lord of the Rings is, just that it was written for children. I also will point out the Lewis was a Christian writer (well he started off as an atheist first), but this is not a deterrent to the story. There are also some really great characters, like Reepicheep or the Pevensie Children.

Number #2: The Dark is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper

A lesser known series that uses Celtic mythologies. It's more of a challenge, but very worth it. Susan Copper takes a number of Arthurian and Celtic legends and spins them in a new way. There is some great character develpoment here and an engaging story plot. While it is much less known, I will still recommend it to anyone looking for something new, something different. Start with "Over Sea, Under Stone", then "The Darkn is Rising", "Greenwitch", "The Grey King", and "Silver on the Tree".

Number #1: Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica by James A. Owen

This is a case of pure surprise and delight. This series will leave you guessing and there is always a surprise at practically every chapter. It's a labour of love for Owen and there is much to be proud of. i really can't say much more about this series, except, you NEED to read it, especially if you love an AWESOME high fantasy epic, with some truly memorable and lovable characters: Tummler, Unca, and Fred. An incredibly well crafted story that you should check out now. The last book is due out this November.