Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Inside the Character: Scott Skyy

So I haven't done an ItC in a while...so I thought I'd do one on my wee babbie, Scott Skyy! Scott is easily one of my fave characters (I say that about everyone though, so don't take my word for it). He is just a precious baby in a cruel, cruel world, forever and ever amen. *crosses self*

So here we go!

(Warning many pictures ahead...because I have a lot...)

(Also you can chat with him in the comments if you want.)




Inside the Character

Physical Characteristics

1. What actor would play Scott?

That is not an easy question to answer. He's mostly like Julian Wilson (not an actor but a surfer)...



These are the most accurate pictures of Scott I have, except Scott isn't cool enough to wear sunglasses and his hair lacks the pristine beach bleached streaks. He just has dirty blondish brown hair.


But he is also like Tom Daley a little bit (again not actor, Olympic swimmer)...


(This picture actually looks a whoooole lot like Scott, logo tee, cutey baby face, doggy, and everything.)

But then again this was living proof that Scott walked the face of the earth at one point.


(Granted, this would be Scott shortly after his accident, when he's still tired looking and thin and pale but I mean this is IT.)

Basically, any mixture of these three images would be a pretty darn good Scott.


2. What color is his hair?

Scott's hair is a dirty blonde color that changes with the seasons. In summer when he's outside a lot in the sun, it lightens to jut about blonde, and in winter it darkens to nearly golden brown.


3. What color are his eyes?

Scott's eyes are "Skyy blue," made famous by the Ace line of the Skyy family (one day I will post a family tree), who have beautifully blue eyes.



4. What color is his skin?

Most of the time, extremely tan. He spends his life outdoors romping around so he's pretty brown and wears a pretty constant sunburn on some part of his body or another.



5. How tall/heavy is he?

Scott is infamously short. As in, 5'6" shortish. He's the shortest in the family. He's built pretty leanly because of this; he never put on muscle very well because he couldn't seem to grow out of his slightly teenager-y body.



6. Does he have any peircings, tattoos, etc.?

Negative.



7. What is the most attractive thing about him?

Scott is an all-around cute guy. He has the look of a little kid about him while still obviously being an actual man. I'd say the first thing you notice if he's not smiling is his eyes, and if he is smiling it's definitely his smile. His smile is the biggest part of him; its super big and childish and adorable.



8. What is the ugliest thing about him?

Hrm...his cute looks can be used against him if you're into more manly men. However the ugliest thing about him is probably his hand/arm; after he stepped on a mine during the war, his fingers became fused together on one hand and he had to get it surgically corrected. To this day it's ugly and scarred, along with half of his arm.



9. What does Scott usually wear?

Scott has no sense of fashion whatsoever. He's been wearing baseball caps every day of his life since he was about five. He pairs jean jackets with jeans. He wears socks with sandals. It's horrendous.



Emotional Characteristics

10. When he smiles, what does it look like?

Scott has a very bright, very big, and very childish grin. It's his main feature.



11. What is his laugh like?

He has a loud, purely happy laugh.



12. What does he talk like?

Scott has a lot of strange quirks when it comes to speech. He speaks very childishly, and uses words like "chocomilko" for chocolate milk and other such five year old speech. Nobody really knows why; he used them so religiously as a teenager that his parents began thinking he had a learning disability.



13. How does he act when he's angry?

I can't really think of a time when he's been angry...if he was he'd probably be kinda physical about it. In your face and stuff. He'd most definitely get red in the face.



14. Does he cry?

Of course he cries. Not a lot, nor a little...just cries when it's appropriate. He doesn't really sob, mind you; just kinda...cries. No fanfare, just tears.



Beliefs

15. Is he religious?

Yes, very. He's a strong Christian (honestly probably the strongest of the Skyys) who is a firm believer in prayer, especially.


16. How does he view those of other faiths?

He treats everyone pretty much the same--like a friend. He's very accepting of other beliefs and views.


17. What are his core values?

Scott's core value is friendliness (is that a value?). He believes in being kind to everyone no matter what (so I guess you could say kindness is his core value).


18. How willing is he to fight for those values?

He'd go pretty far for what he believes, but there comes a point where he ceases to care and becomes more brutal and harsh. He has yet to have reached that point...but I think there is one.



Character Likes and Dislikes

19. What is his favorite food?

Chocolate milk, without a doubt. If that's not considered a "food", then chili, again without a doubt.


20. What is his favorite color?

Blue, like the sky. He wanted to be a pilot originally but got drafted to be a foot soldier.


21. What is his sleeping preferences?

He likes beds or couches or comfy chairs or even snuggly people.


BONUS: What position does he usually sleep in?

On his stomach like a baby.


22. What type of music does Scott usually listen to?

Christian and country, probably. But like, hardcore country, not lovey dovey girly country.



Character Introspection

23. When is his birthday?

UUUMMM June 3rd. He's 19-20 in the book.


24. What family structure did he have growing up?

Scott's family was extremely tight-knit and loving, and included extended family as well. They are all very close and support each other constantly. Scott is his mother's favorite and is definitely mommy's boy. However, despite him being second oldest in his family, Scott was treated a bit like the baby for some reason and his whole personality was kinda shaped around that.


25. What is the worst thing he has ever done?

Gee...I don't know. Probably kill someone. Like, that's a big deal obviously, but he is a soldier, so you think it wouldn't bother him, but it kinda does.


26. What is the best thing Scott has ever done?

I DUNNO. He's a pretty good person! Like he's done a lot of good things! In my opinion (though probably not in his because he's got a teeny tiny self esteem problem) the best thing he does is play with the children while in enemy territory. He makes sure to save kids first and such, even if their enemies, which is great in my opinion.


27. What is the most significant romantic encounter of his past?

Scott is super immature and unfortunately was terrified of girls for years, no thanks to his older brother Ty. However he did have a massive crush on a girl in high school, whom he stalked.


28. Has he ever been in love?

The one and only love Scott has ever had is towards Alexi, a college girl who volunteers to help him out when he is hospitalized from a war accident. Even then he doesn't even know he's in love until like five million years later.


29. What is his biggest goal in life?

Prooooobably to become a pilot, overcome his disability, have a family...you know. The works.


30. What does he believe is his greatest vice?

His greatest vice isssss....hhhhhrrrmmm....you know what, lemme get back to you on that. Because I have no idea.


31. What motivates your character most?

He's a pretty determined little monkey head. Anything can motivate him, really; he's easily motivated. In the long run I suppose his drive to succeed motivates him most.


32. Is your character objective-oriented?

Definitely. I imagine Scott has a list of life goals that he keeps in mind 24/7.


33. Would Scott rather be a good person or a great person?

Great. He strives (and quite honestly more often than not, in his mind, fails) to live up to his family (his uncle is high general, his father is general of the air force, his brother is a war hero, and his cousin is assistant general), but more often than not he gets thrown behind and forgotten.


34. Would he rather be hated for who he is or loved for being someone else?

Good question. I think he would honestly, first, be loved for being someone else but in the end he would realize it's more fun being himself.


35. Is Scott an extrovert, ambivert, or introvert?

Extrovert, definitely. He NEEDS social interaction to survive.


36. Is he creatively expressive?

I'm sure he's tried to be at some point in his life, but no, not anymore.


37. What is Scott's disorder?

He's too naive; he doesn't have any world experience, which can be good and bad I suppose.


38. Is he materialistic?

No, I don't think so. Being a soldier kinda ruins that for you.


39. What is his learning style?

I imagine he's learns best by watching.


40. I am a ____. How would Scott finish this sentence?

"I am a Skyy."


41. Life is an act of ______. How would he finish this sentence?

"Life is an act of living, because you kinda have to live to live...wait now I just confused myself..."

Friday, April 24, 2015

LAST CALL!!! Beta-Readers Unite!!!

ATTENTION: THIS IS THE FINAL CALL FOR BETA READER PROFILES TO BE SENT TO ME FOR INCLUSION IN THE JOURNEY BETA READER PROGRAM!!!


IF YOU HAVE NOT SIGNED UP YET AND WISH TO, TODAY IS YOUR FINAL OPPORTUNITY.


THE PROGRAM BEGINS TOMORROW!!!!!


PLEASE REFER TO THIS POST FOR RULES AND PROFILE REQUIREMENTS.


THANK YOU!!!

Sunday, March 8, 2015

Beta Reader Application Update

HELLO ALL PEOPLES!!!

About a month ago I put out a post calling ALL THE BETA READERS to help me edit The Cycle of Time: The Journey. I would like to inform at this near-halfway-point, the program is nearly half full! However, there are still open spots in the program, so if you are planning on applying, don't hold out any longer! It's only like four super simple questions you have to answer, and they don't have to be written out formally or anything. You could literally just write all the answers in one sentence and I could figure it out (wether that would be a good shout-out to your writing skills or not is another matter... ;) ).

So, IF YOU WANT A SPOT, GRAB IT NOW!!! THE BETA READER PROGRAM IS FILLING UP PRETTY QUICKLY!!! There is less than a month and a half left in the application period (I'll stop taking applications on April 24) so make that quick email so you can secure your place.



And here is a gif of James McAvoy sassily jumping into a dance between you and your prospective husband.


You're welcome.


Sunday, March 1, 2015

One Last Time Q & A Quiz


**NOTE THE HOBBIT SPOILERS AHEAD**

SO APPARENTLY SOME BEAUTIFUL PERSON STARTED A CHAIN BLOG POST ABOUT THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES MOVIE??? AND DIDN'T TELL ME UNTIL RIGHT NOW?!?!?!??! SO YEAH I WAS TAGGED BY MY LOVELY FRIEND ANGIE ZOE OVER AT THE RANDOMNESS OF A TEENAGE WRITER BLOG!!!!!! AND I THANK HER KINDLY FOR THAT.

So as for any thing there are rules...so I shall post them.

Rules:
1. You must be tagged in the Q & A quiz.
2. You must tag and notify at least three other bloggers.
3. Answer the questions to the best of your abilities.
4. You must have seen The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies to be tagged/take the quiz.


With all that being said, here starts the quiz.


1. How did you see the movie and how did you get involved with Tolkien in the first place?
I was introduced to Tolkien's universe when my parents finally allowed us kids to watch those three movies they were so crazy about. Of course, I totes fell in love with Aragorn. As for the Hobbit movies, I didn't get to see the first until it came out on DVD, and same for the second. However, for BOTFA, I literally dragged my family out to see it in theaters opening night. And cried. A lot.

2. Who are your three favorite characters in the Hobbit?
Easily Thorin, Fili, and Bilbo. I hated Thorin more and more throughout the movie series, but he really redeemed himself during the last movie (THAT AND I MAY OR MAY NOT BE OBSESSIVELY COMPULSIVELY ATTACHED TO RICHARD ARMITAGE FOR SOME REASON TO THE POINT WHERE I LISTENED TO HALF AN HOUR OF HIM READING LOVE POEMS. IT'S NOT CREEPY). Fili I always liked, and Bilbo I love because he is Martin Freeman and he is THE BEST BILBO that could EVER Bilbo. It's AMAZING. Like, he was born to play this role. That and Bilbo is super sassy and funny and cute. :3

3. Did you cry in BOTFA, and if you did, what scenes and how hard did you cry?
I have never ever cried during a movie ever...so I can't say I did cry during BOTFA because I just...don't...cry during movies...at all. However, what made me inwardly cry was Fili's death and Thorin's death. Mostly Thorin's death though...mostly because of his dying speech. And when Bilbo tried to comfort him by showing him the eagles, even though Thorin had already died. When people do that (ahem Peeta with the shapeshifter in Catching Fire ahem) I always inwardly lose it.

4. Were the deaths compelling to you, and if so, why?
Okay. Let me just start at the beginning.

Fili's death was "compelling," I suppose, even though it was quick. I mean, that's how deaths are in battles. You can't linger too long, you have to move on and keep fighting and save other lives. I was disappointed that Kili didn't linger on it though. I would have liked to have a reaction out of him. (Thorin's broken breath of death was quite moving though.)

I hated Kili's death. It was way too overdramatic and just...why. Why was Tauriel even there...I mean I liked her but I didn't like her and Kili. She ruined the whole Durin family triangle of awesome. They should have died together but they didn't and...eugh. Tauriel got in the way.

Thorin's death was perfect, even if how he actually died was stupid. YOU SHOULD HAVE JUST STABBED THE ICE THORIN. YOU SHOULD HAVE STABBED THE ICE.

5. Overall, were you satisfied with the movie as a whole?
Yes. Just yes. As a whole, it was wonderful.

6. Describe the movie in one word.
Painful.



As for my three nominees......I literally don't think I know anyone who blogs and watches LOTR. So...yeah. Sigh. I'll just...yeah. Comment and I'll tag you if you watch LOTR and blog!



Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Calling All Beta-Readers! Apply now for a chance to beta-read "The Cycle of Time: The Journey"

Hello, my peoples! I am hereby calling ALL THE BETA READERS!

With The Journey (link leads to info on book) finished and edited until my head hurts, I think it's time for some new perspectives. Thus, I am calling on the help of 20 beta readers to properly edit and give feedback on The Cycle of Time: The Journey (link leads to info on book). Participants are looking at an exclusive chance to read The Journey before the general public, as well as some other perks, such as:

  • With consent, beta readers will be mentioned (by name or by email/internet name) in the published version of The Journey's "Acknowledgments" page
  • A personalized blog to discuss the book with other beta readers
  • A little badge of my own creation that will probably completely stink for internet awesomeness purposes
  • My eternal love
  • Chances to be first-choice to beta read upcoming novels/short stories/etc of mine as I finish them
  • If you want, you can receive a print copy of the novel you are editing when the beta reading is over


If you are interested, here are the details:

The Journey Beta-Reading Program

The Cycle of Time: The Journey (Long) Synopsis

Darkness is nearer than the land of Janíza knows. Fire Eye, the ruthless ruler, is weakening the cities, and before the people will be able to react, everything they know will vanish.

Alli and Dirco, two orphans living in the slums of a secluded village, live in this time. Dirco barely makes enough money from his storytelling to feed them both. Just when Alli is beginning to wonder where their next meal will take place, a stranger appears and hires them to travel with him, claiming he is interested in Dirco's stories. Things only become darker and stranger from there, as both Alli and Dirco are thrown into the midst of a ongoing war that seems to revolve around Dan, the stranger.

Now neck-deep in a battle that began far before either of them were born, Alli and Dirco struggle to survive as Dan pulls them from one end of Janíza to the other. Questions arise, but he avoids them and insists they keep close. Alli knows Dan isn't who he says he is, but is too scared to ask herself who he could really be. When she is suddenly forced to question everything she has ever known, will she have the strength to fight or will she hide forever in the small village of Geggon?

The Cycle of Time has just begun. The tests have just started. Before she knows it, Alli will be thrust into a strange new world. If she and Dirco don't accept, all will be lost.



Qualifications:
  1. You must be able to read and write fluently in English.
  2. You must be at least 13 years of age for reasons.
  3. You must have a Google account in order to reach Google Docs, which is where the beta reading will be taking place.
  4. Applicants must have consistent access to the internet via laptop/computer.
  5. All participants will be required to read and sign some official stuff that says you can't copy my work (because it IS officially copyrighted) and that you won't blab about my storyline to the whole internet. You will be allowed to discuss whatever you want on your given blog, but outside of that I will request you keep silent. You will be allowed to say that you are in the Beta Reader Program and such but no details leaked, please! Doing so will result in instant rejection from the program.
  6. You must give consent to publish your name (in whatever form you like) in the published version of The Journey. If you don't want this, that's fine too.
  7. Only one applicant per household. Literary agents, editors, or employees of ANY publishing company are not eligible to participate in the program. An false information will result in instant rejection.
  8. You must, of course, have at least some history in writing/reading. I will be asking some pretty deep questions for you to answer, so you have to have some knowledge on how storylines and character arcs work in order to properly give good feedback.

The Beta Reader Program:
  • The application window opens at the posting of this post (so now) and closes on April 24, 2015 at 11:59am Eastern Time. All those accepted will receive the Beta Reader Program Official Email of Awesomeness.
  • Readers will be provided the url to their blog and their Beta Reader Program Packet if they are selected to participate.
  • The Beta Reader Program will begin when I post the first installment on Google Docs, which will most likely be in early May. The book is over 22 chapters long, so I will be posting multiple chapters at a time for about 6-8 weeks during the summer.
  • Beta readers will be provided several chapters of The Journey every Sunday night between the hours of 9-11:00pm. Reader assessments must be turned in by 11:59pm the following Sunday night. (Of course I'm a busy person too so if you miss this deadline it's cool. As long as you get them in sometime during the next week.) As long as readers continue to comment on the works and turn in their readers assessments, they will continue to be able to post on the blog.
  • You will have continued access to the blog after the program is over. I'm not gonna take that away from you, don't worry.
  • When I finish any other books, you will have first chance to continue your beta reading.
  • While I will never edit content of any posts or comments submitted to your special blog, I will not tolerate hate speech, overtly political messages, or slanderous comments aimed at me, other authors, fans, Beta Readers, or individuals. Any such behavior which intentionally violates the spirit or function of the Beta Reader Program will result in the offender being removed from the Beta Reader Program. And I will also find you. And ruin your Netflix connection while you are trying to watch that one show. Yeah, that's right, I mean business.

Application Details:

Please send all applications to acrossbooks@gmail.com

To apply, please provide the following (star * indicates categories not required, but highly suggested for my own personal research. I promise I won't use any information you send to advertise to you, send to any third parties, or any such cruelties that the rest of the world does. I just like to know who my audience is and how they are responding.):
  • Age (must be at least 13)
  • Name (at least internet name/username/fake name/nickname. I need something to call you by if you don't want to give me your real name.)
  • Whether you want your name mentioned in the acknowledgments in the published version of The Journey or not
  • *Gender (male, female, unspecified)
  • *Preferred reading genre (fantasy, sci-fi, dystopian, medieval, modern, etc. If you don't know, just list some of your favorite books!)
  • Writing/editing background: Basically, I'm asking if you have any history in the general framework of understanding how a story works. If you don't, hey, I'm not expecting too many applications so go ahead and apply anyway. If I don't get over 20 applications then I will accept all applications that come in. All you really need is a willingness to be as honest as possible while reading through my novel. :)
  • *How did you find out about The Journey Beta-Reading Program (Pinterest, this blog, etc.)
  • What's your favorite ice cream flavor?
  • On a scale of one to ten, how much do you like Lord of the Rings? (sorry guys, I need to know these things. No optionalness.)
If there are any questions, please comment below or email me at acrossbooks@gmail.com

I like emails.

I won't bite, I promise.

Good luck and may the Force be with you, Luke!