Writing Risky and Relevant Topics (and why you should, even in your non-modern settings)

Genocide? Substance abuse? Racism? Addiction? Mental illness? Yep! They're all here, in my very own medieval fantasy novel.

"WAIT," you're probably saying out loud to your empty bedroom. "SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL ILLNESS AND ADDICTION IN A MEDIEVAL FANTASY NOVEL??? IMPOSSIBLE!!! AND WHY???" That is a questions I have come to answer.

(Note: When I say "your story's theme", I am referring to the main point your novel is trying to get across. You know, like, "Love conquers all" or "Best friends are forever" or whatever. If you don't know your story's theme, that's okay. I don't know any of my stories' themes either.)



WHY YOU SHOULD INCLUDE RISKY TOPICS IN ALL (OR YOU KNOW, SOME) OF YOUR WRITING

So you may have noticed that some fantasy, sci-fi, historic-based, or what-have-you novels can sometimes be difficult to relate to. I think this is because of the lack of relevant themes within them. The setting is obviously alien, and sometimes the characters can be vastly different from the modern ideal, which makes it difficult for the reader to connect to the story. How does the author fix this problem?

The truth is that topics labeled "risky" (or just difficult to write), like racism, substance abuse, mental illness, and even gender and sexuality, are extremely relevant to today's readers. It's something that most people recognize and spend a lot of thought on--and some even relate to the issues brought up by these themes. Here's my case: topics like these have a place in EVERY genre of writing, not just modern or contemporary.

Imagine a young prince addicted to dark magic. He tried to get away from this power before, but in an attempt to heal his dying dragon, he was forced to come in contact with dark magic again. Just one touch threw him into withdrawals, and his addiction rose to the surface as he slipped further and further into dark magic's grips. Tada; you were just exposed to substance abuse and addiction in a medieval fantasy! (That may or may not have occurred in my novel The Cycle of Time, so don't steal my ideas.)

But why bother? What's the gain in including topics like these in your writing? And what will readers potentially learn from you writing about stuff like this?




BENEFITS: READER CONNECTION

By writing about risky, relevant, or controversial topics, you will be allowing your readers a point of access into the very heart of your novel. Risky and controversial topics provide something for your readers to open debates and discussions over, and depending on how you deal with such themes, could lead towards insights on how to resolve, accept, or deal with issues like addiction, racism, mental illness, etc. Writing about risky topics could also shed light on the topic itself, with the right viewpoint, and perhaps move a reader to do something to change either his own opinions/ideas or attempt to change someone else's opinions/ideas.

Depending on how you deal with your topic of choice (wether negatively, positively, or just neutrally), you will provide your reader with a point of view on the issue at hand. She will either learn how to love or how to hate what you're writing about. Don't be afraid to open up a new point of view on such themes. Maybe racism isn't just against African-American, Arabic, and Asian peoples. Do Europeans, Americans, Canadians, maybe even Peruvians experience it as well? And what about gender roles? What if a man is sensitive, sweet, and tends towards the emotional but is still confident in his masculinity? And what if the mentally ill feel just as deeply as we do? Not just soldiers and war vets get PTSD. And what if the addicted hate what they're addicted to?




BENEFITS: STORY THEME AND SUBJECT SUPPORT

Relevant themes like mental illness, gender roles, and racism provide a backbone for your story's theme. Even if it seems like the topic doesn't fit with your theme at first, you'd be surprised at how you can stretch and mold it to fill the gaps in your subject matter--which will provide you a richer and fuller story. Not only that, but the subject matter brought up by the presence of these risky topics could either support or defy your theme; both are constructive qualities of a good piece of writing.




BENEFITS: CONFLICT & SUBPLOT POSSIBILITIES

Maybe you're one of the (admittedly and regrettably rare) writers who include an Arabic or African-American character in your MC's posse, but none of your charries really acknowledge the character's race or ethnicity. However, imagine having just one--or maybe a few--characters who express racism towards that characters. Imagine the possibilities for conflict and character development that one little tweak would open up! YOU COULD HAVE ENTIRE HUGE FIGHT SCENES BETWEEN A CHARACTER AND HIS RACIST BEST FRIEND ONLY TO HAVE THE ETHNIC CHARACTER STAND UP AND SAY WHO CARES?!?!?! THEN THAT'S A WHOLE LIKE MESSAGE OF STANDING UP FOR YOURSELF, STANDING UP AGAINST RACISM, ETC. RIGHT THERE!!!

OOOORRR imagine having a character who simply likes to smoke, but his girlfriend doesn't like it and tries to get him to stop throughout the book. It could be a trivial and simple little subplot including cutesy scenes where the girlfriend tosses the boyfriend's cigarettes and he goes days without one and gets incredibly grumpy and uptight, but it would still be touching on addiction and, if shed in a negative light, could lightheartedly express the dangers and drawbacks of smoking.

These are tiny tweaks that could very well add that extra oomph to your novel, provide opportunities for character and story development, and offer a way to provide extra insight into your novel's theme.




BUUUUT...

In no way should you change your entire book's theme to fit one of these topics. Whatever message you choose (or your story chooses) for your book is special and entirely yours. What adding risky topics adds is a venue for reader relation, connection, and insight. Some books just don't call for this type of writing, and that's entirely okay. However, keep in mind that in order to say something with your writing, you may have to step out of your comfort zone (heck, look at me, a conservative Christian girl, who has a character who smoked, did drugs, abused alcohol, has tattoos, has a dirty mouth and mind, and is in no way a chaste Catholic boy [you probably know who I'm talkin' about {especially you, Kel. You know.}]). Don't be afraid to try new things; you may find you have something important to say.




AND I INCLUDE THESE IN NON-MODERN SETTINGS HOW...?

Good question, but not one I can explicitly answer. It all depends on your setting. Get creative! See how you can include these topics without compromising parts of your plot. Use a substance native to your fantasy setting to create addiction like I did with black magic, or create your own mental illness based on staying in space too long for your sci-fi. Maybe you created your own races for your setting; good for you! Use that to your advantage and create rifts between ethnicities! It's all up to your sense of creativity now. Go out and show the world what you're made of!




NON-EXTENSIVE LIST OF RISKY/CONTROVERSIAL/RELEVANT TOPICS (FOR INSPIRATION PURPOSES):

• racism
• genocide
• mental illness (autism, downs syndrome, aspergers)
• disease (AIDS, HIV, brain/heart disease, cancer, etc)
• addiction
• substance abuse
• mental abuse
• domestic violence/abuse
• sexuality
• gender roles
• eating disorders
• suicide/self harm
• domestic neglect
• abortion
• religious ideals
• religious oppression
• religion in general really
• gambling
• introversion (can someone please make it a positive/neutral trait and not negative)

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!

Stuff Happens More on Wattpad (aka A Comprehensive Guide to Ana's Wattpad Page)

As you may or may not know, I joined Wattpad a while back and, as you may know if you stalk me close enough, I post things pretty regularly on there. While my posting is mainly short stories and nothing really substantial, it's still pretty like, for real. It also answers some questions I'm sure you have about many of my characters (that is, if you stalk me on Pinterest close enough to know my characters).

Currently, I have 17 stories published on Wattpad, including (DUN DUN DUN) an ENTIRE FULL LENGTH NOVEL!!!! Have I ever mentioned Rhett Hawke? Well now I have. In his story the humor side of myself comes out, so its nothing serious, though I attempted it to be sometimes. Keep in mind that I wrote it when I was about 13, edited it maybe four times, and left it because I'm not really planning on publishing it or anything anytime soon, so I decided to make it a magical Wattpad series for all the magical Wattpad people of the world. Enjoy :3

Anyway, about my other works... I have 17 published works (I said that already didn't I) and about 75% of them are short stories about my various novels. To give you a peeky peek, I shall make a handy dandy list about my handy dandy titles and what characters and stories they include and/or are related to (feel free to skip, I'm just bored):

UNTITLED (Peter Pan fanfiction-retelling backstory type deal)
What it's about: I have a board on Pinterest about it...and that's literally about all I understand about it. It's a really cool story if I do say so myself, I just have to plan it out some more.
How much posted: A chapter...a short chapter...
Well known (if you stalk me)?: Nope. I don't post much to the pinterest board and haven't written any blog post about it, so it's just me and my brain.
Updated?: Not really. I need to plan it.
Worth reading?: Why not? It's like a peek into my sick mind. >:) (Then again I could say that about everything)


Blue Skyys
What it's about: Sci-fi galactic war between two rivaling galaxies. Includes major brotherly/family feels and awesome characterization (ahem I'm really proud of those charries okay). Also a cliffhanger. And really intense scenes.
How much posted: Three or four chapters, pretty good length.
Well known (if you stalk me)?: Eh, if you really really stalk me you'll know a pretty okay bit about it. I've written a blog post on it, and the board on Pinterest for it is a pretty good size.
Updated?: Nope. It's coauthored, and the coauthor doesn't write hardly at all, so no regular updates.
Worth reading?: I've been told the setting is a little hard to explain, but if you like the genre, I think it's worth a skim to see if you want to invest time in actually sitting down to read it.


The Orion: The Deadlands
What it's about: If you stalk me you know. Post-apocalyptic, bad governments, all the rage going on these days in young adult fiction. Awesome characters stuck in lame writing.
How much posted: Two shortish chapters. I am capable of posting more (I have the whole thing written yet unedited), but I'm not sure I want to because I want to publish this one someday.
Well known (if you stalk me)?: Yes. Absolutely. I post about this one all the time.
Updated?: Like I said, I can, but I don't, because I want to publish it and don't want to spoil it...
Worth reading?: Really only if you're curious and want to get a feel of what the book's about. Nothing really happens; the prologue gives a good explanation of what the book is about. Otherwise, just a sneak peek.


Home at Last
What it's about: Short story I wrote for school, so it's pretty complete and like, you know, understandable. Set in King Arthur time. Pretty epic.
How much posted: It's four pages long, but a complete story.
Well known (if you stalk me)?: Nope. Little known secret though: I have a secret board on Pinterest with ideas for a King Arthur story. Coming soon to a Wattpad near you.
Updated?: Complete.
Worth Reading?: If you're into it, sure! One of my better works, probably, because it was for school so it had to be pretty good to get a good grade. :)


Luke's Conversion
What it's about: Short story (excerpt of Orion series 2). It's about Luke Vetti converting to Christianity. Major Luke feels ahead.
How much posted: It's a short story, completed, edited but probably not perfected, four pages long.
Well known (if you stalk me)?: Luke Vetti has the largest Character Board on my Pinterest account (about 652 pins, I believe, at time of writing). He's famous amongst my Pinterest followers...though not as famous as Westly Decker.
Updated?: Complete.
Worth Reading?: Yes.


Luke & Kyle: The End of the Line
What it's about: Short story (related to Orion series 2). Luke and Kyle's infamous parting scene. Super painful.
How much posted: Two pages of indescribable pain.
Well known (if you stalk me)?: Yes.
Updated?: Complete.
Worth Reading?: Yes.


"Know What You Fear"
What it's about: Short story (related to Orion series 2). Two young assassins from "The Orion series 2" who are dealing with issues related to being pressured young assassins.
How much posted: Two pages.
Well known (if you stalk me)?: Not really. They have a board but that is all.
Updated?: Complete.
Worth reading?: For fun, why not.


Rhett Hawke: The Secret of Blackrock Cave
What it's about: FULL LENGTH NOVEL!!! Very humorous and lighthearted tale of pirates and orphans and treasure and Rhett Hawke the Awesome.
How much posted: 31 Wattpad pages, about 100 normal pages, so a novella.
Well known (if you stalk me)?: I'll post the occasional Aiden Turner pic for Rhett Hawke on Pinterest, and I've mentioned Rhett Hawke before, so kinda.
Updated?: Complete.
Worth reading?: It's a bit of a commitment, but if you want a laugh (even if it's a slightly random plotted, slightly unedited laugh), this is the book for you. Especially if you're a Pirates of the Caribbean fan.


Me Too
What it's about: I wrote this short story in a writer's meeting one day and thought it was interesting enough to type out and post. It's not terrible, not a piece of art, but it's so short you might as well give it a go.
How much posted: 1 page.
Well known (if you stalk me)?: No.
Updated?: Complete.
Worth reading?: I put it up there for kicks.


One Song Won't Hurt
What it's about: Short story (related to Superior Race). Lane and Chloe go to the prom. Lane-ness ensues.
How much posted: 2 pages.
Well known (if you stalk me?): I haven't done anything with this story in a while, but it's pretty well known.
Updated?: Complete.
Worth reading?: It's a fluffy little piece. Nothing epic or severe.


Embers
What it's about: Short story (related to the Cycle of Time). A collection of short stories that only has one short story, but I wrote another and plan to post it.
How much posted: 4 pages.
Well known (if you stalk me)?: YEAH MAN. I TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME.
Updated: Recently I've been trying to write The Sentinels, so as long as inspiration holds, I will no doubt have a few short stories waiting around to be written.
Worth reading?: If you like fantasy or are interested, sure.


The Cycle of Time: The Journey
What it's about: About three chapters of my first novel, a fantasy adventure.
How much posted: 6 pages.
Well known (if you stalk me)?: YEAH MAN. I TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME.
Updated: Nope. THAT'S ALL YOU'RE GETTING, PEOPLE.
Worth reading?: If you're curious...


Westly Decker
What it's about: Short stories revolving around my newest little baby bear, Wes. If you want feels, you're in the right place.
How much posted: 5 pages, two short stories.
Well known (if you stalk me)?: Pretty much. I only pin to his board every other day in massive spurts, that's all.
Updated: About once every month or so I crank out new feelings.
Worth reading?: I feel like the second story in this work is one of the most poignant, well-written works I've ever written, and my best friend Angie Zoe agrees. So yeah, read my awesomeness.



So yeah, exhaustive list of my works and how bad they are. Anyway, as you may have noticed, my blog doesn't get the attention it deserves. I am sorry for that. However, if you are lonely, head over to Wattpad or Pinterest to get some more action (Pinterest mostly). I post to there more often. :)

Yeah that was the whole point of this.

Yeah I don't care that this was incredibly long, it makes me feel better for not posting anything for months.

Yeah I know my blog posts are random, insane, have terrible grammar, and are filled with typos and inconsistencies.

Yeah I don't care.

Yeah it makes me feel like I'm writing a personal letter to people.

Yeah it makes me feel like I'm funnier than I am.

Yeah I like the personal feel it gives.

Yeah.

I know.

I'm da bomb.









(Yeah I know I'm selfish and conceited PLS DON'T HATE ME *cries*)

Wrandom Writing Tip #9: Emotional Resonance–How to make your book matter

When you've lost interest in writing your novel, there are a few things that could be wrong. You could just have writer's block. Maybe your book needs to be planned out. But most of the time, we writers get bored and uninterested in our writing because it lacks the emotional punch that keeps us interested.

When was the last time you read a book, watched a movie, or finished a TV show? Do you remember the scene that really got you interested? The puncher that made you physically ill because of the complete horribleness of it? Do you remember what you felt?

Felt. That is the key word. I bet the scene you liked best wasn't the one where Prince Charming was handling a machine gun and mowing down flying monkeys. *SPOILERS OUAT* I bet it was the one where Rumpelstiltskin was put in Pandora's box, after trying so hard to be good and get his family back together. For me, it was the scene where Henry was in Peter Pan's body. With my deluded view of Peter Pan, where he was still just a boy who missed his parents like in the real world, it hurt totes bad to see him hugging everyone like he belonged somewhere. *END SPOILERS* I'm sorry I didn't mean for this to turn into a psychotic discussion on what Peter Pan could have been in Once Upon a Time.

The point is, the scenes that matter the most to us are the ones where emotions are raging, tension is high, and the loss is huge. They make us cry, think, love, and scream in rage, and that's what readers (secretly) want out of books, movies, and TV shows.

Now that doesn't mean go and kill off the people everyone loves (though that does cause pain to readers). Unless you have a good reason to, killing people isn't the only answer. There are plenty of other ways to create emotion in your novel, but loss is one of the biggest and most important.

Feelings of loss can be created in many, many ways. Take something away from the hero, kill off a friend, *SPOILERS OUAT* curse Storybrooke to be cast back to the enchanted forest without Emma and Henry...the list goes on. *END SPOILERS* Loss and loneliness are two of the most powerful emotional tools; everyone–and I mean everyone–has felt these emotions, so readers can relate.

Don't underestimate the power of emotional resonance. Sure, the Evil Queen ripping hearts out is interesting and all, but it only really matters if she's ripping the heart of her loving father out. Get what I mean? Creating emotion in each scene is a great way to start bringing the magic back to your novel.

Now go destroy some orphans and kill someones parents. ;)

"Outlawed"; an Old Love

I have always had a love for Robin Hood. Something about rogues always attract me, like flies to a rotten...peach. Yeah, gross, sorry about that. Anyways, rogues. I love them. Especially when they are the heroes, or help the heroes somehow. From Axel in Kingdom Hearts, to Jet the Hawk and Shadow from Sonic the Hedgehog, to Scipio the Thief Lord, they're all on my fan list.

So that's how Outlawed came about. It's not even really a work in progress; I haven't planned it out or anything. I've just been messing around with beginnings and different ways to tell the story of Robin Hood. In one version, I made the situation more personal to Marian and more desperate for Robin. In the second I went with a darker feel, with Robin being a fear-striking symbol to the people of Nottingham—one that Marian is completely terrified by.


BEGINNING 1:


CHAPTER 1

        He sat amongst the brambles and boughs of an old oak near his camp, drawing his blade over a chunk of wood. The sky was gray, signaling the sunrise was soon to come. His cloak provided some cushion from the rough bark, and even though darkness still prevailed he kept his hood drawn over his face. There was some comfort in it—as if wearing it made him a new person, an outlaw named Hood, when without it he was nothing but a young man with blood on his hands called Robin.
        He peered up through the leaves, pausing in his whittling to listen to the deep, heavy breathing of his comrades. Little John, Will Scarlet, and Mitch, all thieves or murderers of some kind, slept beneath him. For the one hundredth time, Robin wondered what on earth he was doing here, in Sherwood forest, with a giant, his best friend, and a boy not even old enough to grow hair on his face. What did he hope to accomplish with these three outcasts?
        Provide safety, Robin argued with himself, pulling the knife across the surface of the wood with sudden violence. We are outcasts. Outcasts stay together. His gaze drifted down at the young men below him. Besides...where would they be without me? Without each other?
        A sudden grisly image of nine-year-old Mitch, accused of pickpocketing and ‘murder’, hanging by his neck on a loop of rope made him shudder and slit his thumb with his carving knife. He rubbed the blood between his fingers with a sigh. That’s why I am here. He glanced up at the sky again; the sun was rising. Pursing his lips with a renewed sense of calm, he began to whistle the wandering tune of a morning songbird, carving out chunks of wood as his desired image slowly came to shape.

* * * * *

        Marian stared out of her window at the sunny gardens of her father’s mansion, face drawn with worry, confusion, and sorrow. Bags and chests of her belongings still sat in piles in her room from her summer-long trip—a trip she had spent walking the edges of forests and wishing she were back home in Nottingham with Robin.
        They had been friends for as long as she could remember; her first memory was one of a small, tousle-headed boy with bright hazel eyes, almost yellow in color, grinning at her from a freckled face. They had grown apart when Robin’s mother died, then his father, but she remembered him and visited him when she could, about once or twice a month. She had left for vacation three months ago with a goodbye she remembered all too well; Robin had been working on his garden, soaked in sweat and grimier than reasonable, but Marian still insisted on hugging him goodbye, and her father had been angry when he’d seen her filthy dress.
        That was three months ago. Three months ago, when Robin was a simple farm-boy with a knack for crafting bows that bent strong and arrows that flew straight, whom she knew better as a boy than a man. Now his name was plastered on every corner, along with the words ‘WANTED’ and ‘REWARD’.
        How could so much change in just three months? Marian thought, her fist on the windowsill. She could glean from no one what Robin had done to be outlawed...or wether it was a mistake or intentional. Robin had always been the brooding type, better accustomed to trees and wildlife than people. But would he really steal from someone, or even...kill a man?
        She shuddered and stood. What reason would he have for doing so? She sighed. There were too many questions...and she couldn’t find him. Anywhere.

BEGINNING 2:

PROLOGUE

        The rain pounded down, and he lifted his face to it, letting it cleanse his dirty skin and filter between his lips. Wiping his mouth with the back of his long, careful-fingered hand, he shivered and pulled his dark hood over his head. The house sat on a hill just near Nottingham, where the sheriff and lord, Roger de Laci, lived with his niece and countless guards and servants. It would be difficult to infiltrate the house and find his men, but there was no other choice.
        Even so, he knew he was waltzing into a trap. The sheriff had captured his right-hand man and a few others not to kill them, but to draw his real victim into his clutches. The sheriff knew that he would come looking for them. Because outlaws always stayed together.
        He frowned, the edges of his thin, poised lips turning down. He reached and took an arrow from the quiver on his back and set it on the string of his longbow. Then, lifting his face to the sky and closing his eyes, he set his teeth a released his most ear-piercing hawkish whistle.
        The pad of silent feet followed his call, and he smirked into the lightning that cut the sky.


CHAPTER 1

        Marian awoke.
        It wasn’t with a start, or a cry, or even a yawn. She just awoke, as if she had been awake all along and had just now realized it. It was the kind of awakening that you knew something was wrong, but couldn’t place what it could be.
        She rolled over, trying to ignore the feeling and go back to sleep. But something tugged at her heart and told her to move. Fast.
        She sat up and glanced around, suddenly feeling watched. Something moved in the corner, and she peered that way, pulling the blankets up over her chest. “Is someone there?” she whispered. “Susie?”
        Silence.
        She carefully moved her legs around the side of the bed and stood, taking her nightcoat from the stand nearby. Slipping it on, she stepped around the room, searching for the source of unease. But she found nothing.
        I must be out of my mind, Marian growled to herself. The middle of the night and I cannot even lie down and rest.
        She spun around, frustrated at herself, and was just about to climb back into bed when suddenly a shriek caused her to stiffen every limb. It came from down the hall, towards the slave’s quarters.
        Gasping, she tore out of bed and rushed to the door, lifting a lantern and lighting it before scrambling into the hall. “Susie?” she called. “Uncle?!”

SO, WHICH ONE DO YOU LIKE BEST? WHY DO YOU LIKE IT?

Percy Jackson: Book vs. Movie

I'm going to do this for real. I just want you to know now that I am not one of those readers who hate  movie adaptions of books because they aren't EXACTLY like the books, nor am I one of those watchers who hate the books because they aren't EXACTLY like the movie. I am one of the in-betweeners. The only book/movie adaption I absolutely hated was Eragon.

So. With no further ado, I begin my study of the movie/book adaptions of Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief.

PERCY JACKSON: THE LIGHTNING THIEF

I enjoyed both the movie and the book, but I must say that I enjoyed the movie more than the book.

...Are you over your initial shock? Let me explain.

For one, I made a massive mistake. You see, my sister read all of the books and had just borrowed the second series's first book, The Lost Hero, from the library when I finally said, "Okay, fine, let's see what this is all about." So, I downloaded The Lost Hero onto my Kindle Fire.

It. Was. Amazing.

I was so shocked and enthralled that the books were this good that I immediately downloaded The Lightning Thief with great anticipation. But when I started reading it, I was disappointed. Wait a minute, I thought. This isn't nearly as good as that second series book. What's going on here?!

I then realized that Rick Riordan was writing from a twelve-year-old's point of view. Thus, logically, writing the book for a twelve-year-old audience.

You see, as the series progresses, Percy Jackson gets older (approximately a year every book, so far as I know). I didn't know this in the beginning. I just assumed he was about the same age as he was in the movie, fifteen or sixteen.

Since the book was written for a younger crowd, it didn't appeal to me as well as the movie did. But know that I enjoyed the book!


BOOK VS. MOVIE: STORYLINE

I was actually pleasantly surprised that the movie had about the same storyline as the book. Other than the placement of the battles (as in the hydra battle, the Medusa thing, Lotus Casino, etc.), the whole pearl-teleportation thing (which me and my sister both agreed they played out better in the movie), and of course the shortening of the book to fit in movie time, the plot was basically the same. They left out some scenes (I would have liked to see Percy in St. Louis on the arch, falling into the river), but I thought the movie was pretty good in its own little way. More action-packed, less time for resting like in the book, where you have action, rest, action, rest.


BOOK VS. MOVIE: CASTING AND CHARACTERS

Logan Lerman as Percy Jackson in
Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief

PERCY JACKSON: I thought Logan Lerman played an awesome Percy. The only qualms I have with him is that he doesn't really seem that ADHD. You can sort of tell he's a little hyperactive, but not exactly ADHD. Otherwise, he played Percy well, except for the ADHD and the slight lack of quippage. I mean, the Percy in the books is ridiculous. But maybe they did that on purpose.

Now I heard from one girl I met that "LOGAN LERMAN IS TOO OLD!! FOR GOODNESS'S SAKES, PERCY'S ONLY 12! HEL-LOOOO!!!" But the reason they made Percy 16ish is so, like I mentioned above, the movie would appeal to a larger audience. I understand how this would get some readers angry, but personally I would much rather watch a 16-year-old fight dragons than a 12-year-old. It just wouldn't seem real.

Alexandra Daddario as Annabeth
Chase in Percy Jackson:
The Lightning Thief

ANNABETH CHASE: I've heard all sorts of arguments about Annabeth.

• She's not blonde.
• She's not as scary as the real Annabeth is.
• She's not blonde.
• She doesn't act like Annabeth.
• She's not blonde.

But I give the directors credit, because they at least tried to make Alexandra blonde in the second movie.

Anywho, the point is, though Daddario didn't play the best Annabeth Chase, I though she definitely played a kind of Annabeth Chase. After reading the book I realized what others were talking about, how Annabeth in the movie wasn't as scary as Annabeth in the book. In the movie, she plays up the wise girl more than she does the fighter-strategist type. And personally, I always imagined Athena as a dark-haired person. Plus, Daddario looks like a very wise person (those eyes kill me).

But yes, she is nothing like Annabeth in the book, and I must admit the movie would probably be more interesting if Annabeth was calling Percy "Seaweed Brain" and threatening him with a dagger all the time.

Brandon T. Jackson as Grover
in Percy Jackson: The
Lightning Thief

GROVER: In book terms, Grover stunk horribly.

He looks nothing like Grover. He acts nothing like Grover. Overall, he is not Grover.

But I LOVE THE MOVIE GROVER. And I HATED the book Grover.

So I'm totally okay with them changing him up. Scaredy-cat Grover drove me crazy in the books and it was just seriously annoying. But in the movie, he was one of my favorite characters.

Jake Abel as Luke Castellan in
Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief

LUKE CASTELLAN: Jake Abel was an amazing Luke, Son of Hermes. He had the looks exactly: mischievous, sly, the required "tall, handsome, short-cropped sandy blonde hair, blue eyes, an athletic and muscular build, and a sneaky look". And he did awesome with the acting. I have no complaints against him, other than I'm really sad as I always am that he [spoiler]. And that he lacks what would have been a really epic dragon scar on his face.

BOOK VS. MOVIE: "TONE AND FEEL"

The book had a very playful and kiddish tone to it, which I enjoyed with Percy's youthful point of view. The movie was much more mature, not holding true to the book but, again, in its own way achieving excellence.

OVERALL:

TRUE-TO-ITS-ROOT-NESS: Though the movie wasn't true to the book in some aspects, it did better than some book-to-movie adaptions that I have seen (*coughcoughERAGONcoughchoke*). I enjoyed the book and the movie separately, but compared, I personally liked the movie better. (Wow. I hope no one kills me for that...)

BOOK: The book is better for young people between the ages of 10-14. Not for us mature, boring 17-year-olds. Still, it's a good relaxing read for older teens, more humor than epic battle scenes (though there are some in there). Definitely worth reading. Do not not read this book. You must. The storyline is just so imaginative. I am so jealous sometimes. All the time. I cry at night.

MOVIE: The movie is aimed more towards older audiences, so for those who just can't get into the book but still want to know about the demigods, the movie provides an accurate representation of the book's world. Individually, I enjoyed the movie thoroughly. At first I thought it sort of fast-moving and low-budget, but once I saw the first part (the two times I saw it I always missed the first 30 minutes) I really understood the situation. Thus allowing me to enjoy the film better.

So what do you think about the Percy Jackson movie vs. book? Do you like the movie? Book? Do you hate me for liking the movie a little better (just a little)? Voice your thoughts!

Top 7 Best Anti-Heroes of All Time

Who doesn't admire those awesome, dark, powerful people who do all the wrong things for the right reason, or vice versa? Maybe that's why we have such an awesome lineup of anti-heroes. Let's see which one's made this month's list...MWAA HA HA HAAA...

(I love deciding the fates of someone else's characters on my badly planned on-the-spur-of-the-moment posts...)

This was actually really hard for me to come up with for some reason. I had a lot of trouble finding ten  anti-heroes to put on this post. So, unfortunately, I had to stick with only seven characters to stick on here. So please forgive me for any obscure and/or not-really-anti-heroes anti-heroes. It was a toughie. I can't say why but it was.

1. JACK SPARROW

Pirates of the Caribbean (movie series)

Perhaps the most famous character of the modern world. (And obviously for good reason too. "I've got a jar of dirt! I've got a jar of dirt!)
("Ah yes. I love those moments. I like to wave at them as they pass by.")
(...Staying focused now.)


2. SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
Sonic the Hedgehog (video game series)

Let's face it. Shadow's the man when it comes to anti-heroes. (Who PS is way cooler than Sonic.) He is like, the definition of anti-heroism. His best friend is killed and he seeks revenge for her, but ends up saving the world. Now, you can find him blowing up bad guys with G.U.N.


3. SAMANTHA SHAW
CBS's Person of Interest (TV show)

Okay. So, Sam is some sort of government agent who's BFF gets shot on a mission gone bad. She goes all CIA agent on the guy that killed him, thus doing good by being bad. She's...yeah. She's awesome. In a complicated kind of way...you'd really have to watch the show to truly understand.

4. AXEL

Kingdom Hearts (video game series)

He's just trying to get his best friend back. It's just coincidental that the entire world depends on Roxas's non-existance. And that has nothing personally to do with Axel. Right?

5. LUKE CASTELLAN

Percy Jackson and the Olympians (book and movie series)

Again. One of those characters who are iffy on the anti-hero scale. But I certainly wasn't going to put him on the villain thing. Because frankly I wouldn't mind overthrowing Olympus myself.

"Where's your helmet?... No helmet? ...You're dead."

*long pause*

"...I'm messing with ya. Laugh a little."

(...Sorry. Focusing on focusing on staying focused.)

6. MURTAGH

Eragon (movie, book series)

(Sorry, awkward GIF, but it was the only one I could find.)

Murtagh is tricked into believing that he is doing something truly good for his land, when in fact he is fighting against what he thinks he is fighting for. Luckily he [spoiler] and [spoiler] at the end.

7. HAN SOLO

Star Wars (movie series)

One of those heroes who care only about the reward. He don't give a hoot for humanity, as long as he gets his dough. And that's cool with us viewers, apparently.

The Journey Publishing Update

The Journey is hereby tentatively scheduled to be released on October 27. (No I did not just make that date up.)

The Cycle of Time: The Journey

Health for sickness and life for death,

The Cycle of Time will never rest.

Around it goes without a breath

Will you pass its ceaseless test?

      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's storytelling business is declining, and just as they begin to consider moving to another city, 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 thrust into the midst of an ongoing war revolving around Dan, the hooded man.

      Now neck-deep in a battle that began far before either of them were born, Alli and Dirco struggle to survive as Dan drags them from one end of Janíza to the other. When she is suddenly forced to question everything she has ever known, will Alli 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 started. Before she knows what is happening, Alli is forced into a strange new world. If she and Dirco don't accept it, all will be lost.

Keep checking back for updates!!!

Book Review: The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini

Photo credit Wikipedia

Okay, this is a long-due review of the book series that inspired me to write fantasy. I found the series to be very inconsistent in writing style and such. In the first book, Paolini took an almost casual tone, but by the end his language was so formal that I felt as if I was reading Lord of the Rings. Now, I loved these books while reading them, but after having time to mull them over a little, I decided on these opinions.

Overall review: The Inheritance Cycle is worth getting from the library first before buying them. I mostly enjoyed reading the books, but the writing was very inconsistent and things came too easily to the hero (you know, heroes are supposed to actually have trouble doing some things...isn't that what makes them a hero?). I also can't seem to pull any moral from the story; it lacked completely in a message. Still, the storytelling aspect of this series is excellent and the elements of Paolini's fantasy world are very interesting.

Eragon

7 out of 10 stars: Well thought-out, entertaining, but overall not very memorable.

It took me a while to finish this book, but it was very good. I enjoyed it thoroughly, and the technical fantasy aspects were well-thought out. It was an excellent beginning to a series, and I was excited to read the next installment. The characters were well-constructed and the story was intriguing. The only thing it seemed to lack was a solid structural backbone; there didn't seem to be any underlying moral to the story, which left me feeling a bit empty. I don't remember there being a terrible amount of gore, but one character cursed a few times in the beginning.

Eldest

5 out of 10 stars: Not unbearable, but not good. Badly paced and inconsistent with the former novel.

I didn't enjoy this one nearly as much as I enjoyed Eragon. Eldest set a whole different tone and doesn't have as much action as the others in the series. It focused more on the elves and magic and not enough on the war going on; it was almost like a cultural lesson in Christopher Paolini's version of elves. It got very boring and very dragging at times, but it picked up near the end. Again, there was no underlying moral that I can discern. Plus, Roran's relationship with Katrina was very unhealthy. I can't exactly say I hated it, but I definitely didn't love it.

Brisingr

7.5 out of 10 stars: Best book in the series; action filled, best written, consistent, paced.

This was my favorite book out of all of the series. It was a perfect mix of action and emotion. At this point, Eragon was still working out his magical powers and such, so he still struggled (as opposed to the next book, where he breezed through every challenge with ease). There were more POV shifts, which kept the book moving even in the slow parts, and the depth of the writing really revealed a lot more about the world Paolini was constructing. The whole scene where Eragon built his sword was totally unnecessary, but I get Paolini is one of those people who have to describe every little thing his character does. There was actually a smallish message in this book, I guess, about different races joining together and trusting each other...(???) But again, it's a subtle message. Some gore, but I don't remember any language.

Inheritance

6 out of 10 stars: I'd rather read this than Eldest, but it was a disappointing ending. Still, not horrible, since some parts were very cool.

I started this book out expecting an epic ending to the series but didn't get what I wanted. Things were way too easy for Eragon; I felt more attached to the secondary characters than to the hero because Eragon seemed too perfect. The action was a-plenty, though, with emotions down to a minimum. No moral that I can detect. The defeat of the villain was okay, I guess...I didn't really understand it all too well, but I think I got the general idea. The ending was so sad I nearly passed out. Paolini stated in the acknowledgments that he might write more about Alagaesia one day, but I think that might have been an excuse to leave all of the complicated subplots unresolved (if I'm wrong, please forgive me, Chris). It's like he got so confused by his own subplots that he couldn't think of a way to resolve them all. Not to mention Paolini had to insert his own religious beliefs into Eragon, which didn't end very prettily.

To make a long story short, this series is worth reading. I guess it really depends on your taste. If you're one who doesn't read too much into books and their messages and morals, then you'll probably enjoy these books. If you're a sensitive type and like to be moved by the material you read, then I'd go with something more Bryan Davis-y.

Have you read the Inheritance Cycle? What are your thoughts?

Good Book List

Are you running low on good books to read? Look no farther! Here are some of my favorite books of all time. Some you may have read; some I know you probably haven't!

I warn you...I do a lot of reading, so this list may get long...

• Dragons in Our Midst series by Bryan Davis
• Raising Dragons
• The Candlestone
• Circles of Seven
• Tears of a Dragon
• Oracles of Fire series by Bryan Davis
• Eye of the Oracle
• Enoch's Ghost
• Last of the Nephilim
• The Bones of Makaidos
• Children of the Bard series by Bryan Davis
• Song of the Ovulum
• From the Mouth of Elijah
• The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini
• Eragon
• Eldest
• Brisingr
• Inheritance
• The Missing series by Margaret Peterson Haddix (these are the only one's I've read)
• Found
• Caught
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Legends of the Brethren Court by Rob Kidd
• The Caribbean
• The Turning Tide
• The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins
• Gregor the Overlander
• Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane
• Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods
• Gregor and the Marks of Secret
• Gregor and the Code of Claw
• The Shadow Children Series by Margret Peterson Haddix
• Among the Hidden
• Among the Impostors
• Among the Betrayed
• Among the Barons
• Among the Brave
• Among the Enemy
• Among the Free
• The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
• Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
• Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff
• Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer
• Isle of Swords and Isle of Fire by Wayne Thomas Batson

Sorry for it being so long...I read a lot! I hope this helps expand your library.

~Anastasia