My favorite books of 2011

Isn't reading such a joy? An adventure, a riddle, a journey! In light of the fact that reading is awesome and that we have one more day in 2011 I thought I'd give you all a look into my top seven favorite books I've discovered this year. {Yes, I know, seven is a weird number to pick}

1 - Scoop by Rene Gutteridge


This was a fantastic book! I loved all the characters and the plot was so fun and easy to understand. This one might be in my top ten favorites books of all time.

2 - Very Good, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse

P. G. Wodehouse is a master of humorous delight and a must read for everyone. Out of the Wodehouse books 'Very Good, Jeeves' is my favorite.




3 - The Maze Runner by James Dashner


I don't think I can even begin to describe how amazing this book is. The plot line was unbelievable and his writing made you feel like you were right there. Read this and you will be at the end of your seat the whole way.

4 - A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle

Sadly, this was my first Sherlock Holmes book I ever read. Why is that sad, you ask. Well, because Holmes books are awesome and I waited 16 years before I read one. So all in all Sherlock Holmes book are amazing and should be read by all.

5 - One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

A beautiful book that is exactly what it says it is, 'A Dare to Live Fully Right Were You Are'.

6 - Safely Home by Randy Alcorn

This book made me laugh, and it made me cry. I loved this book and the minute I finished it I drove to a bookstore and bought it for my book shelf

7 - The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

Now, all of Agatha Christie's book are legendary but this one was unbelievable! Yes, this one is the best of Mrs. Agatha Christie.




8 - The Outcasts by John Flanagan

I was so disappointed when his Ranger's Apprentice series ended but I think his new series 'The Brotherband Chronicles' is super cool and I'm excited to continue to read it. The series ties right in with the ranger's Apprentice but with a very fun twist.

What about you? What are your favorite books that you discovered this year?

Rain in the winter time?

Christmas says goodbye and guess what the weather surprises us with. Rain! For some this is quite normal but not here. Less then five years ago we got 9 feet of snow one winter, I am not joking! Well, I've decided I'm going to enjoy the rain and 50 degree weather while it lasts because spring seems to be the season that is here and then gone in a flash.

3 MORE DAYS!

For what? you may ask.

For my giveaway and the new year!

Click HERE and enter to win an Eragon book box. Only 3 more days.

And if that wasn't enough to make someone happy something else can. The Penslayer and Scribbles and Inkstains are hosting a write contest for any who wish to enter. Go HERE and check it out!

Quote by Ann Voscamp

He intimately knows the muck of my lives, the stench I try to mask. And this is the thing: He chooses my dirty places, the places that shame me, as His point of entry. The lights celebrating the birth of the Christ Child — God with us — they’re still flickering as we look into the New Year — a new us. - Ann Voscamp

Merry Christmas + Giveaway

Hello and Merry Christmas to all. I know I haven't been posting much so as a gift from me to you I am hosting a giveaway.



Now here some rules with the entries.

You must make a separate comment for each entry or you entries will not count.

~Mandatory ~

- Comment and tell me your favorite thing about fall {1 entry}

~Extra Entries~

- Follow Eat...Sleep...Write... {1 entry}

- Put my blog button on your sidebar {1 entry}

- Put the giveaway button on your sidebar {1 entry}

- Post about the giveaway {3 entries}

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How fun! Right? Now this giveaway will start today and end January 1st 2012.

Forget dieing . . . I dare to live

"You can never begin to live until you dare to die." - Unknown {well. . .unknown to me}

They never told you the things you'd do different. They never explained how much it hurt .. . No use living in the past.

I greet the two teen girls. Their bright skinny jeans and skin tight t-shirts beg for attention. But that doesn't define them. Their more than their clothes and boyfriends, even if they don't know it yet. I help them find a game and convince them to take advantage of some ridiculous offer.

I hate my job.

A boy walks in the store and the two girls giggle and look over at him. A boy, a child. Seventeen on the outside, so much younger on the inside. I stop these thoughts with another, I was once the same way. Feeling so grow up and yet never understanding what I fool I was. I looked the fool. I acted the fool. I believed that I was a fool and took pride in it. Pride that I was well liked by teens and thought a fool by adults. I try to forget the fool, but yesterdays loves playing games. Letting my memories disappear and letting smiles dance on my lips. Then poisoning my mind with yesterday.

I ignore the costumers and go on with my job. I go on with my life. I go on. Why? Maybe it's the insane idea that one day I'll be free. Free from regret. Free from the nightmares that haunt my soul.

- excerpt from my current writing project

"One of the saddest things in life is the things one remembers." -Agatha Christie


I dare to forget the past so I can have a future.
I dare to be crazy
I dare to use big and fun words no one understands anymore
I dare to rebel against the myths that society pushes at us
I dare to make a fool of myself by being different
I dare to have fun {it's harder than you think}
Forget dieing . . . I dare to live.

The Hunger Games {the movie}

Well, first I'd like to apologize for my lack of posts this last month. NaNoWriMo, a trip to Seattle, Thanksgiving, school, and speech have made it very hard to get around to writing blog posts.

Alright, now straight in my topic for today, the Hunger Games. This popular book series is becoming a movie! And a very promising one at that. I am really excite about most of the characters and can't wait to see it.

If there are those of you out there who aren't excited for the movie {which was me about two days ago} then I urge you to watch the official 2012 Hunger Games trailer. It is epic! I am so excited! Yay!



And on top of the movie looking awesome I only have to wait until March 23, at which I will try to see it opening night. Wouldn't that be super cool?

So what about you? How are you feeling about the Hunger Games movie?

Rapunzel's Diary {excerpt}

April 1, 1506

Dear Diary,

Wow! Only five more days until my birthday day. It's going to be so weird to be eighteen. I've always thought of eighteen to be so far off even now being seventeen. Mother says even though I'll be eighteen I will always be her little girl. Mother is so sweet and I don't mind being little for to her.

~

I look down at the small post and think whether I want to add anything more. Mother's call distracts my attention and I forget about writing more.



April 6, 1506

Dear Diary,

Today is my birthday. Well, today was my birthday. It is already 10 o-clock at night and I am tired from all the good times I have been having. Hm...Were to begin?
Today I am eighteen years old. This morning I woke up and had a wonderful breakfast of blueberry pancakes with maple syrup. Mother used up the last of the apples and I had apple juice for breakfast. Mother also gave my a beautiful dress that was blue with cream lace and stitching. I wish I sketch, then I would draw a picture of it. Alas, sketching is not one of my strong suits.
It seems that even the earth knew it was my birthday for it sent a little stray kitten to me. I named her Snowflake because she is very white and seems as delicate as a snowflake. Although she was scared at first, after some milk and warm bread Snowflake is one of the family. Mother isn't very fond of animals but because it was my birthday and because Snowflake was just too cute Mother said she would think about letting me keep her.
I loved birthdays. Mother said I didn't have to do any chores or wash and set up the tower because it was my birthday. Can't you tell I love birthdays? It's a very fun word to write too. Birthday, birthday, birthday, birthday!
I too tired to write any more. But I promise to finish writing about my birthday tomorrow.
*laugh*
Look at me, promising a diary to come back and write in it. How silly I can be sometimes.

~

A yawn escapes my mouth and I lay me head on the back of my reading chair. A reading chair that can also be used as a writing chair as well.



April 9, 1506

Dear Diary,

Sewing is such a bore. Mother said I need to . . . how did she word it?
I need to "learn the skills of proper lady".
I do love Mother so much and I don't wish to disappoint her. But sewing is another things I am dreadful at. Well, I guess it's not sewing but embroidery. I can sew simple things quite well, and when I do that while Mother reads aloud I have quite a good time. But these embroidery patterns Mother is expecting me to finish are horrifying.
Dear Mother, she always knows how to get me to like something. I have been reading a book about a lady who does stuff like sewing and embroidery. I mentioned to Mother how wonderful it would be to just slip through the pages and enter the characters world. Mother had read the book and thought now would be a perfect time to teach me embroidery.
I would not mind "learning the skills of a proper lady", as long as those skills did not included embroidery.
Remember the bunnies I told you about a month ago. Their fur has come in and they are so cute and fluffy! Two of them are brown with white spots, one of them is all white, and the other two are a mix of brown, white, and black. Their mother looks after them and I'm trying to get her to let me hold and pet them.
I do not think Snowflake has a mother. She is too young to be by herself, or so the science books tell me, and she has spent these three days with me. In fact, she is cuddling next to me on my reading chair right now in the living room.
It is time for lunch and I must go.

Later:

Mother said I could keep Snowflake! I am excited I can scarcely breathe. It's so nice being about to lie on my bed with Snowflake curled up next to me and to know that won't change.
I feel like a heroine in a book with her trusted cat companion and ready for the adventure that awaits. And there will be adventure. Mother said I could explore our back woods as long as I didn't travel to far. I hope I get lost. What fun that would be. I can imagine it now, I'll look around and wonder why it got so dark so fast and then I would know. I was lost. I would hear a noise and get so scared. Snowflake would then come walking out of the woods and with her help I would get safely home. Well, that's what I hope will happen, which is much different then what will most likely happen. But even then I can't wait.

Rapunzel's Diary my 2011 NaNoWriMo novel by Lèrowen

Goodbye NaNoWriMo

I guess there's no more running from what I've decided. I have stopped working on my NaNo novel half way through the 30 days. I can't believe how busy I have been this school year. I knew there was a very big chance of me having to stop half way because of a lot of things I'm working on.

I love my novel and I hope I can continue to write it. Despite me needing to stop half way through I hope all those doing NaNo are doing great and that their novels are going well.

My NaNo novel is on Rapunzel's diary. I'm taking a bit of a twist on the account of the story and I'm really happy with the twists ans turns my novel is taking. What about you? What is your NaNoWriMo novel about?

NaNoWriMo {100th post}

Wow, already a sixth of the way through with the thirty days of NaNoWriMo. I'm having a fun time and have had a lot of NaNo firsts this year.

NaNo first number 1 - Writing more than 5000 words in one sitting

NaNo first number 2 - Staying up past 3 o-clock a.m. and then sleeping in
until noon

NaNo first number 3 - Three cups of coffee and two cups of tea in one NaNo
day.

NaNo first number 4 - Day five and ahead of writing schedule!

On top of the excitement of NaNoWriMo I have reached 50 followers and this is my 100th post. Can you believe it?!? And due to this momentous occasion I am going to post a giveaway soon. I do warn you that may not be until December when my novel is safely finished but there will be a giveaway all the same.

For those of you who are doing NaNoWirMo too I hope and pray that your minds be full of inspiration and your fingers ready to type.

Warning: Due to NaNoWriMo . . .

Dear blog followers of Eat...Sleep...Write...,

Warning: Due to NaNoWiMo Lèrowen will be oblivious to the real world. So during the month of November her habits will be as such:
- Lack of sleep
- No blog posts
- Forgetting important events
- Obsession with plots and fictional character
- Hibernation in her bedroom

Lèrowen will try to schedule posts as to the best of her ability but I predict those will be few and far between.

After the month of November has passed, Lèrowen with be back to normal. Forgive her foolish endeavors and long blog posts in December on her NaNoWriMo novel.

Thank you,
Lèrowen's personal robot

Scary!

Allodoxa-pho-bio
 n. fear of opinions

Biblio-pho-bio
 n. fear of books

Ephebi-pho-bio
 n. fear of teenagers

Logo-pho-bio
 n. fear of words

Metro-pho-bio
 n. fear of poetry

Hello Inspiration {excerpt}

Hello Inspiration,

My name is, Lèrowen. I've been seeing allot of you lately. And let me tell you you are welcome at any time. Would like some tea, coffee, cookies? Anything to make you comfortable and productive.

Signed your fan,
Lèrowen


Don't you just love it when inspiration starts to lean in your favor. Well, it leaned today and I got out a bit of writing for my current writing project, the one with my main character Amy. I did and Beautiful People post on her a few days ago if your curious.

Here is a short little excerpt on my book if any of you would like to take a look. I LOVE comments and opinions.

       A mechanical noise signals that someone has opened the door, that annoying, same, humdrum noise. That someone is me. Dreaming about the day when I can quit this job, this annoying, same, humdrum job. And the bell rings again, the customer is the typical teens looking for a video game. That's my job, helping people find things to waste their time. The time they don't realize is fleeting. I remember those day, those teen-age years. I shake my head to get rid of the thought.

They never told you the things you'd do different. They never explained how much it hurt. No use living in the past.

I greet the two teen girls. Their bright skinny jeans and skin tight t-shirts beg for attention. But that doesn't define them. Their more than their clothes and boyfriends, even if they don't know it yet. I help them find a game and convince them to take advantage of the buy one get one half off deal.

I hate my job.

Beautiful People, Amy

I have never done a Beautiful People post and so I thought I'd give it a try. All you  have to do is answer questions about your character, and there are different questions each month. Now I've never done it so I'm going to start with the first series of questions they ever had.

I will be doing my first Beautiful People post on Amy, the girl from my current writing project. If you, after or before reading this, are curious about the book, I wrote an except here.

1. What is her full name?
Amy {At the moment I don't have a full name for her.}

2. Does her name have a special meaning?
Amy was named after her great grandmother who was a an avid reader. She loved her great grandmother, who introduced her to the magic of reading, and loves that she was named after her.

3. Does your character have a methodical or disorganized personality?
Amy has a little bit of both. Normally she is quite organized, but as a writer she can forget about the state of her apartment for weeks on end.

4. Does she think inside herself more than she talks out loud to friends (more importantly, does she actually have friends?)
Amy does tend to think and talk more to herself. She does have a few friends that are real people. She would say she has a boat load of friends, but she considers books to be her friends also.

5. Is there something she is afraid of?
Amy is afraid of letting life pass her by without doing something important. But Amy is also afraid to try new thing and takes comfort in her everyday life.  


6. Does she write, dream, dance, sing, or photograph?
Amy does indeed write and plans on making that her profession. She dreams of writing a book and getting it published. Amy does dance but only in the privacy of her apartment and she does not sing. She tried photography at a younger age but could never make it work.


7. What is her favorite book?
She doesn't have a favorite book but enjoys poetry and anything Shakespeare.


8. Who is her favorite author and/or someone that inspires her?
Amy is inspired by a quote well said and a thought well thought. She has a load of people she is inspired by and couldn't think of just one if her life depended on, although some of her favorite authors are:
 - C.S.Lewis, Shakespeare, Edger Allen Poe, Emily Brontë, Arthur Doyle, and Agatha Christie.
As you can tell by the list of people she is not a big fan of modern authors though it is not the case all the time.

9. Favorite flavor of ice cream
Amy doesn't enjoy ice cream due to a bad experience as a kid and isn't much a big sweets eater either.


10. Favorite season of the year
Amy's favorite season is fall. She loves the inspiration that comes with the change in nature.


Well, I enjoyed writing that and hope you enjoy looking into the life of one of my characters. If you have never done a Beautiful People post you should, they are very fun!

Don't you just love Agatha Christie

A couple of days ago I got an Agatha Christie book for the library. Today I started it, and unlike other times, I flipped to the beginning and read the dedication. You gotta love her, it said this:

"To all those who lead monotonous lives. In hope that they may experience, at second hand the delights and dangers of adventure."

Don't you just love Agatha Christie. You gotta just sit and smile. "Top all those who lead monotonous lives", how awesome and descriptive of a lot of people. And let me assure you, Agatha Christie knows how to write in such a way as to immerse you in her story and and indeed show you  "the delights and dangers of adventure".

Now it isn't just dedications that make Agatha Christie worthy of note. It's her wonderful, creative, and unbelievable writing. Though she has had a couple hit and misses, like her book 'Elephants can Remember', she has also written some classics.

Some particular favorites of mine are 'And Then There Were None', 'Murder on the Orient Express', and 'The Murder of Roger Ackroyd'.

 

What about you. Any Agatha Christie favorites?

A bit of a shocker

13 days before NaNoWriMo starts.

If you're like me, this came as a grave shock. Because you had no idea, or you just forget, when NaNoWriMo was. I was planning on writing a little blogger mini series on things you can do to get ready for NaNoWriMo. Well . . . I guess I won't be doing that.

If you're not like me, and have been planing what your doing for NaNoWriMo of weeks, if not months. I applaud you.

*claps hands*

How in the world did you remember?

Well, this is only a short post. I must get ready for the long day of school and speech ahead. I just wanted to warn all those like me that NaNoWriMo is in 13 days.

Why? {a poem}

Why? a poem by Lèrowen

They speak, they say words ease the mind

They don't know

They talk, they say words help you forget

They don't listen

They chat, they say words relieve the pain
They don't understand

They gossip, they say words lend a hand

They don't think
They go on, they say words assist

They don't know

Why all this talking? Why all these mindless words?

The rules of writing

Rule 1 - There are no rules to writing. Except for this one.

DIY: Word Magnets

Yay! Something to make with the hundreds of pages I cut out of Eragon to make my book box. Today I will be explain how to make word magnets. You know, the ones that cost like a ton of money in the stores and are so much funnier to make.

Added bonus: They make great Christmas presents! And Christmas is in less than three months, scary.

First you will need:

- pages, newspaper, or other things with bigger words on them.

- scissors

- magnet sheets {you can get these at your local craft store. Or if you are really lucky, like me, you can find them at the dollar store.}

Cut out the words or sentences you want as magnets.

Cut out a piece of the magnet that is only a little bit bigger than the word or sentence.

Peel off the back and stick the word or sentence on the magnets sticky side.

Cut the excess off. And there you have it, a beautiful word magnet.

So there ends the DIY on word magnets. If anything doesn't make sense or if you just have a question please comment. Oh, I don't mind comments on how awesome this post was either. So if  *cough* anyone whats to, I love comments. ☺

Youer than you

Isn't Dr. Seuss awesome? His unusual style of picture books and amazing quotes makes him an awesome author. Because it's truer than true, there is no one youer than you.

Fall Weather + writing mood = awesome

not my photo

I saw this title in my drafts and I thought, 'I wonder what awesome bit of wit I wrote and forget about'. I mean you have to admit the title is pretty cool. But * cough* moving on, I clicked this post and . . . nothing. Well it had a good title but there was nothing written down.

This situation brings up a good point: titles and beginnings are an important part to a book. I mean, some titles just jump out at you from on the self {that sounded scarier than I meant it to be}. Some of my favorite titles are, in no particular order:

- The Composer is Dead

- Uncle Dynamite

- The Skin Map

- Partners in Crime

- King of Shadows

Come on! Aren't these very intriguing titles? You could call them works of art. And although the quote:

Never judge a book by it's cover.

I still believe people can try and still judge a book by it cover . . er . . title. Whether we don't realize it or we simply can't not help it, we still judge.

Oh, you poor book. We don't mean to but some of you have some really pretty covers and titles. We simple human beings can't resist a pretty cover and awesome title. Is there any hope for us?

What are some of your favorite titles?

Epic things

Epic thing #1 - P.G. Wodehouse.

I mean, come on, how more witty and hilarious can his books get? I just finished 'Leave it to Psmith' and I chuckled the whole way through it. Chuckled is a funny word, *cough* moving on.  

Epic thing #2 -  Obscure TV show lines.

Random? yes. But it makes me happy. Go Psych!

Epic thing #3 - Reaching 50 books in the Goodreads 2011 reading challenge.

Yeah! I reached 50! The 50th book being Sinner by Ted Dekker. Which by the way was the best of the three in the series.

Epic thing #4 - Reading Shakespeare aloud.

It might be a nerdy thing, but I have come to except it. It really is awesome. Of course I have come to the conclusion that Shakespeare is meant to be watched not read, it being a play and all.

Epic thing #5 - Reaching 1000 word on my new writing project.

Why am I the only one clapping?

Epic thing #6 - Quotes.

Big surprise right?

Epic thing #7 - We have come to a close on epic things {at least for today}.

What about you? Find anything epic lately?

just blah {your opinion needed}

It's so  funny the way random paragraphs that just come to you every once and a while. Oddly enough mine are all depressing and...well...random. But since I have had this bit of writing in my folder for longer then I can remember I thought why not share it with someone. That's right, you my readers are the first to view this bit of writing.

  There they were again. Walking the streets as if they believed what they shouted, "We protect the people. We help the people." Those ridicules "uniforms" they wear would be a thing for complete ridicule if the guns they wore weren't so oftenly used. In fact, I think they invent reasons to shot. And I think our so called government approves of it.   

    

    I sat on the floor looking out of the clear plastic that's meant to be a window. But I'm not fooled. It's not a window, like the so called food we eat is not food. Like the so called life we live, is not living. We are trapped by our own thoughts and the people that encourage them...And the people that encourage them.

First, I know 'oftenly' isn't a word but it fit. I am an artist and must, every one in a while, set aside the rules.

Second, please be painfully honest. Whether this is cheesy, heartwarming, or just blah.

It-is-my-curse!

Dear me how annoying I can be. Have you ever started, finally, writing a book and then a brilliant new idea, to a completely different book, pops into your head?

I hate being torn! Of course this ↑ is my writing pitfall. And the situation above explains and proves it. I always {and I mean always} have a beautiful brand new book idea pop into my head when I'm already occupied. It-is-my-curse!!!!

Okay, maybe I'm being a little dramatic but that is what happened to me yesterday afternoon at around 2ish. I guess I'm going to have to just stick it out. Of course who says I have throw away my awesome idea? Nobody! So I guess I'll just sit here, drinking my iced coffee, and add to my pile of randomly awesome ideas that are to vague to actually write a book about.

On other business, Eat..Sleep..Write has 50 followers! How awesome/epic {which ever you want to use} is that? And because of that I would love to thank all of my followers, especially my first ones, for 9 months of sticking through my crazy quote phases and my random weirdness.

"The greatest part of a writer's time is spent in reading, in order to write;  a man will turn over half a library to make one book."  -  Samuel Johnson

Very good, Jeeves! {book review}

After watching a couple of NCFCA speeches on some of P.G. Wodehouse's books I couldn't help but find a few and read them myself, and I must say I was very impressed. I did only read one but I make plans to read many more of his.

Today I have the pleasure of reviewing P.G. Wodehouse's book, 'Very Good, Jeeves!'.

About the book:

Very good, Jeeves! is a collection of short stories starring Bertie Wooster in eleven alarming predicaments from which he has to be rescued by peerless gentleman's gentleman. Whether Bertie is tangling with a red-headed ball of fire such as Roberta Wichham, dealing with an irate headmistress, placating a cabinet minister, puncturing the wrong hot water bottle, singing 'Sonny Boy', or simply trying to concentrate on his golf handicap, Jeeves is always there to help through rarely in ways which his employer expects. These brilliantly plotted stories give the essence of Wodehousean comedy.

(taken from the back of Very Good, Jeeves!)

My thoughts:

These funny and amazingly witty stories are forever going to be listed as one of my favorite books. I found this collection a joy and pleasure to read. I will most definitely be going to read more of his. The plot lines are amazing and his characters are even more brilliant. I would take the time to read this all over again. 

page number: 297 pages

genre: A fictional novel of the wittiest sort.

bad stuff: Only about one or two swear words throughout the whole book

romance: Every once and a while.

recommendation: I would give this a five star out of five.

Confessions of a word weaver

Something I love... William Shakespeare's plays and poetry. Which seems so weird to me being that a month ago I would have said I'm not a fan of his at all.   

Something I hate...

Cheesy "love" relationships between main characters.  

Something that makes me giddy...

Reading Edger Allen Poe's, The Raven, to myself in whispers at night. (Call me crazy but I love it!)

Something that brings tears to my eyes...

The death of a character. Especially one of my own.

Something that makes me giggle...

Everybody else witty characters. I can never seem to make any of my own.

Something I believe...

That the words you use are a window to your soul

Something loathe...

 Unruly main characters. What is more terrible than than a hero who refuses to play the role?

So there it is: confessions of a word weaver and a spinner of tales. What about you? Any confessions?

Philosophical Thoughts

not my photo

I love books with a philosophical message hidden deep inside it. And a book I have been reading recently is just that. As I was reading Showdown by Ted Dekker an insisting question is discussed in the book.

In writing is it best to show peace or conflict first?

Character one says, "How can there be conflict unless there is first peace?"

But character two answer, "But how can you write about peace or love unless you first subject the reader to ugly conflict?" 

Well that makes since, until character one answers. "Unless the reader begins with knowledge of peace, why should we demonstrate peace through conflict if the reader already knows peace?"

Um...I'm going to have to take a rain check on the rest of this conversation. Dispite the confusen of this conversation, it brings up some very good points. Do we not react to conflict in books because we are not familiar with the conflict but understand it's conflict because we first know peace. The funny thing is I don't really think there is an answer for this question. It can be debated both ways and I believe they are equally right. Maybe I will get to the bottom if it by the end of the book.

But what about you? What you do think is best to show first in writing, peace or conflict?

Coffee?

"It is true, my friend. I am much worried."
"Why?"
"Because Mademoiselle Cynthia does not take sugar in her coffee."
-The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

The Mysterious Affair at Styles. The latest of Agatha Christies books I finished. This one was pretty good, but it has one the best quotes. I laughed for minutes after I read this and I still giggle when it comes to mind.

DIY: book box

You will need:
- A book with good binding
- A ruler
- A pocket knife or box cutter
- A pair of scissors
- A pen


Step 1 :
Decide how big you want you book compartment to be.



Step 2 :
Trace a line so you know where to cut.



Step 3 :
Cut on the line all the way around.



Use the scissors in the arrears the knife does not happen to cut through.

Repeat set 3 until your box is to the desired depth. This project takes time and patience but is well worth the effort. Good luck on your book boxes.

P.S. Don't throw away your cut away pages. There are so many uses for them. Watch out for another DIY on how you can use them.

so what do you think?

There are words which sever hearts more than sharp swords; there are words the point of which sting the heart through the course of a whole life. -Fredericka Bremer

In other words (no pun intended) words can build up and destroy. And so we must use words carefully.

Today, I am going to be talking about critiquing written work.

I think all of us, at one time or another, have given a critiquing of something. And we ourselves have asked the question, "So what do you think" is nervous anticipation.

Have you ever been given a bad critique? Something said that made no sense and brought your spirits down. It's hard and discouraging. We want people to seriously think about what they say to us. But on the flip side we need to think about we say to others.

To help you in critiquing written work I have a couple tips:

1 - Make sure you ask how many drafts the work has gone through before you give your option.

You would treat a 1st draft work very differently from, say, a 7th draft. In a 1st draft you want to give help in general areas. And then a piece that has gone through many drafts you want to give more attention to the little things, because a lot of the general issues have been sorted out.

2 - Keep in mind the experience of the writer.

I would give different advice for each different person, say an old friend, a professional writer, my younger sister, etc...

3 - Keep in mind the goal of the writer.

Again I would give different advice depending on the goal of the writer. My younger sister probably wants to write more for fun in contrast to a professional writer.

4 - Make sure to be encouraging but honest.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore encourage one another and build one another you, just as you are doing."

50 cents

I love my library. And recently I have come to love it ever more. Why? I bought one of my favorite book ever! And only for 50 cents!

*Sigh*

I'm in love! In love with poetry! Dear sweet, beautiful poetry.



They have some amazing poems in here. But I couldn't leave all this amazing stuff to my self. I have to share some awesome lines from my favorite poems.

Lines from "If-" by Rudyard Kipling

If you can dream-and not make dreams you master;
If you can think-and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat them those two impostors just the same;

Lines from "Our Heroes" by Phoebe Cary

He has a hard battle to fight.
Who strives against self and his comrades
Will find a most powerful foe.
All honor to him if he conquers.
A cheer for the boy who says "No!"

Lines from "Sometimes" by May Riley Smith

And if, though patient toil, we reach the land
Where tired feet, with sandals looked, may rest
When we shall clearly see and understand,
I think that we will say, "God knew the best!"

The poem "The Optimist" Unknown author

The optimist fell ten stories
At each window bar
He shouted to his friends:
"All right so far."

And what about you? What are some of you favorite poems?

Can she make it?

She's an aspiring novelist. Doesn't know if she can make it, but is willing to let herself go to get it done. Has so many other things that need to be finished. Will she succeed?

This describes both myself and my main character in my still untitled book. 650 words into it, 1 chapter finished, and I'm looking to see how it's all going to turn out.

My excitement for my writing is still at a high. Some of the things I'm most excited about is:
- I'm writing it in first person. (I've always wanted to do that)
- I'm approaching it with a little bit more of a poetic tone.
- I just got off some awful writers block.

But can I make? Those words can not help but creep into my soul. So I guess, like a story, we will have to wait for the ending. And like a story, I want to know how it ends but I still want it to go on forever.

dish washing!

"The best time for planning a book is when you're doing the dishes." -Agatha Christie

Princess Penelope's Parrot {a book review}

About the book:
Spoiled Princess Penelope cannot get her new parrot to talk, even after threatening it and calling it nasty names. But when Prince Percival comes courting, the parrot gets revenge on the greedy princess in a hilarious and fitting conclusion.

My thoughts:
I think this is an adorable book I remember from when I was a little kid. The story is cute, the book has great illustration, and a fun story line.

page number: 32
genre: picture book
recommended for ages: 5+
bad stuff: The princess says some mean things to the parrot. ☺
romance: No
recommendation: I give this a 5 out of 5

Do you have thoughts or questions on this book? I'd love to hear and answer them.

a sneak peek (my current writing project)

Although my current writing project is unnamed, it still has a special place in my heart. And after some thought I decided to post an excerpt from it.

*nervous laugh*

What have I got to lose?

We will just call this bit; coffee & bubbles.

The cream seems to dissolve as it swirled into the coffee. I pull the spoon out of the cup and smile. I dip the wet spoon into the sugar dish. I smile again. There's no one to scold me for this silly act. There is no need for this silly act, but I do it none the less.

The smell of coffee fills the room as I bring it into my bedroom.

Oh, my dear lovely caffeine.

The coffee brightens up my morning as I sip it. I close my eyes once more and savor the the wonderful brown liquid. I sip it again and feel the warmth fill my body.

The October chill seeps through the walls in the bedroom. I look out the window. Beautiful colors dance as the wind blows. Red, orange, green and yellow.

I hold my coffee close to my face as I watch the trees blowing in the wind. Such a beautiful day. I look back over to my laptop. The few sentences I had written look back and seem to mock me. A groan erupts from inside me. Disappointment sets into my mind.

A smile set on my lips as I remind those words I am in control. I have the power of the backspace button. The power to delete. I am in control!

I am in control, right?

My subconscious mocks me. In control? No way! I may be able to push the backspace button but I have no control over inspiration. I search for anything to stop this lack of inspiration. Is there anything else I can do?

Well, as long as I have nothing to write I will take Agatha Christie's quote to heart.

"The best time for planning a book is while washing the dishes." -Agatha Christie.

I decide to take a shot at it and start washing the dishes.

The yellow dish soap becomes bubbles as the contact the water. Sweet bubbles. Yellow bubbles. I take a handful of them and blow. They float around before allowing gravity to work. They all sink; all but one. The stray bubble dances on air. Swinging to an invisible beat. I reach my sudsy hand and catch the bubble. It pops.

I wish I could be like that bubble. Defiant of all writing rules and just dance. Swing to the invisible beat of a good story and just write.

It's a little more poetic than a normal novel but I find I like the style of it. So there it is. The first draft of an interesting piece of written work. Although I don't plan on editing it until I finish the book I would love to hear your impute.

Lack of Enthusiasm

Writing, like any hobby or job, comes with it's own list of woes. While writing block is one of them, there are others. One I have recently discovered is lack of enthusiasm.

While it is easy to start off a writing project with the idea fresh in your mind. Your resolve to finish a project decreases as time goes on.

At the moment my enthusiasm for my current project can compare to a golden retrievers enthusiasm for a game. It's really high right now. But I have started out this way before but all of those project have fallen to crumble.

What did I do wrong?

I question I have often begged the sentences staring back at me. But as I've thought more about it, the answer became more and more clear. For me, it was how I edited my writing. I would edit as I wrote, and as I kept coming back to the same sentences and paragraphs time and time again my enthusiasm for finishing dwindled. The discouragement of bad writing kept me from going anywhere.

But I have edited my ways instead of my writing. I'm one of those people that need to simply write the book then edit it.