Trying something new

So I'm on my phone writing this. Which is super cool. But this is just a test to see if it works.

I don't know if I am going to get back into blogging. Goodness knows I want to. But when i take too much on, i tend to get overwhelmed and stop everything for me time. Or the holidays run me over, back up and run me over again. Either way this isn't something to lightly jump back into.

I'm still reading, writing and creating art. I've started making cards and was thinking of selling them, if anyone was interested. Just got to get an idea for what I desired to achieve. Maybe I'll get some pictures posted on facebook.

Anyway, this is just a test.

Hmmm, that's what he said.

April Wrap Up & May TBR

April Wrap Up and May To-Be-Read Pile:

So for April I have completed (in order of completion):

1. This Is Not A Test by Courtney Summers

2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

3. Gone by Michael Grant

4. Hunger by Michael Grant

Terrible.  I thought maybe Goodreads got something wrong, but it wasn't a very active month for me for reading.  However, Gone and Hunger are HUGE and take some time getting through.  
 
But, awesome, I'm 12 books (15%) ahead of schedule! Yay!
 
On my To-Be-Read pile, I have:

1. Lies by Michael Grant
2. Plague by Michael Grant
3. Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy, #3) by Richelle Mead
4. Blood Promise (Vampire Academy #4) by Richelle Mead
5. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins 
6. The Breakup Bible by Melissa Kantor  
7. Bloom by Elizabeth Scott
8. Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
9. Hold Still by Nina LaCour
10. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver 

Of course this have been on my TBR pile for the last three months, or so, and I am unsure of how much reading I will get done this month.  BUT it is my birthday month so I should be getting money/gift cards/books for my birthday!!!  YAY! 

Happy Reading folks!

Book Haul (5) 7 Books

YAY!  IT CAME IT CAME!  (It came a while back but I am just getting to posting this now!  LOL!)

Title:  This Is Not A Test
Author:  Courtney Summers
Synopsis:  It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live. But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside. When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?

I already read this and a review is to come.  I absolutely love love love this book!!!  

Also- finally grew a pair and got The Hunger Games!!!

  Title:  The Hunger Games
Author:  Suzanne Collins
Synopsis:  Winning means fame and fortune. Losing means certain death. The Hunger Games have begun...

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, the shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before--and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

Also read this.  So glad I got it finally!!! Review to come!!

  Title:  After
Author: Amy Efaw
Synopsis:  An infant left in the trash to die. A teenage mother who never knew she was pregnant . . . Before That Morning, these were the words most often used to describe straight-A student and star soccer player Devon Davenport: responsible, hardworking, mature. But all that changes when the police find Devon home sick from school as they investigate the case of an abandoned baby. Soon the connection is made- Devon has just given birth; the baby in the trash is hers. After That Morning, there's only one way to define Devon: attempted murderer.
And yet gifted author Amy Efaw does the impossible- she turns Devon into an empathetic character, a girl who was in such deep denial that she refused to believe she was pregnant. Through airtight writing and fast-paced, gripping storytelling, Ms. Efaw takes the reader on Devon's unforgettable journey toward clarity, acceptance, and redemption.

I remember reading the synopsis and being sucked in fast and hard.  Haven't read this one yet, and I am looking forward to reading this!  I really hope Ms. Efaw pulls this off.


I have now become a fan of Courtney Summers, so the next one shouldn't surprise you!

Title: Fall for Anything
Author: Courtney Summers
Synopsis:  When Eddie Reeves’s father commits suicide her life is consumed by the nagging question of why? Why when he was a legendary photographer and a brilliant teacher? Why when he seemed to find inspiration in everything he saw? And, most important, why when he had a daughter who loved him more than anyone else in the world? When she meets Culler Evans, a former student of her father’s and a photographer himself, an instant and dangerous attraction begins. Culler seems to know more about her father than she does and could possibly hold the key to the mystery surrounding his death. But Eddie’s vulnerability has weakened her and Culler Evans is getting too close. Her need for the truth keeps her hanging on...but are some questions better left unanswered?

I cannot wait to start reading this.  I read the first chapter in the bookstore and was blown away.  

The next three books are for my personal Pagan/Wiccan Library.  

  Title:  The Witch's Master Grimoire
Author: Lady Sabrina
Synopsis:  This encyclopedia contains numerous spells and magical rites in an A-Z format that are simple and easy to follow. The author also gives tips on the best and most productive times to cast spells.


I flipped through this and really liked what I saw, so I snatched it up because it was marked down at HPB. 

  Name: Witchcraft: A Mystery Trafition
Author: Raven Grimassi
Synopsis:  Understanding the mystery teachings of Witchcraft is essential for those who desire to enrich their knowledge of the Craft. World-renowned author and scholar Raven Grimassi guides readers down the well-worn path to these mystery traditions by exploring their roots in myths, legends, verses, and lore.

Also was marked down at HPB.

  Title: Advanced Witchcraft
Author Edain McCoy
Synopsis:  In the beginning everything is fresh and new. Learning how to cast a circle, work magick, compile a Book of Shadows, and honor the God and Goddess on esbats and sabbats can be exhilarating. But once you've mastered the basics of Witchcraft comes the real challenge of living your faith every moment of every day. Living as a Witch is knowing that you are the magick.
Advanced Witchcraft doesn't contain any "Wicca 101" information--it assumes that you're already familiar with the nuts and bolts of the Craft. Instead, this book challenges you to think critically about your beliefs and practices, what they mean to you, how they've changed, and where you're going. 

I love McCoy, so I wanted to get this while it was there.  Though I won't say that I am ready to study advanced, it was marked down, and HPB only had one copy left!

The characters of my brain

So, currently, I am working on a story (that I have been working on for years) and picked up this niffy idea from my Aunt Darla.  She cuts faces out of magazines for the characters she's working with in her novels.  That way she can see them.  They are there, in front of her, real.  And easier to describe.

Anyway, so I went ahead and said fuck the magazines.  She can have them.  I looked on the internet. This took a while, as I would start my Google search with "woman blonde hair" or "men with spiky black hair".  It took a while to find ones that I liked.  Because I am THAT picky.

No, I am not.  There was just a lot of crazy pictures.

Don't be shocked if you know the actor or actress.  I didn't want to use known people, but once I found a picture I liked, it was hard to find one better.  So here is my cast.

Jessica Pearson, main character.  Yes, I started writing this when I was young enough to use my first name instead of someone else.  What can I say?  She grew into it.

Age 17, a senior at Belleville High School, a cheerleader.   Dates Terry Hugo. Best friend is Amber Black.  Love interest is Connor Summers.

Without revealing anything of the storyline, let's just say lots of shit happens to her.

Terry Hugo, age 18, Jessica's boyfriend of 2 years.  Quarterback for the Belleville Vikings.  He moved from Lansing where he and Connor have a past.

It wish I could go more into that, but you'll have to wait until the book is done.

And I am only on chapter 3 right now.

Hope the suspense doesn't kill you.  I mean that, I need you to buy my book when I finally get it published.

Anyway, I really should get more into his character.  He plays a big part in the storyline.


Then there is Amber Black

Isn't she a hottie?  I have no idea who this is, but man I love this picture.  Which is funny because she looks so much like Pattie (my roommate).  Hair style, hair color, eyes.

Anyway, Amber is Jessica bestie.  Age 18 (I think), is really a flirt, shows interest in boys left and right.  Turns out, she's gay.

No.  No, she's not.  But wouldn't that be something... My own little wet dream...

She is there for Jessica through thick and thin, and helps Jessica really find herself through the story.

She is like my Pattie, but better, because she doesn't make Jessica diet in the novel.

Just saying.

Enter:   Connor Summers.  YUM!  Totally love this picture by the way.  Moved from Lansing to Belleville to flee his past, but fails miserably when it hunts him down and tries to kill him.

Literally.

The bad guy is a vampire.  Did I mention that?

No?

Guess what?  The bad guy is a vampire.

Moving on.  Long story short, Connor gets Jessica involved in his world, and all of a sudden, there are a lot of life-threatening situations and plot twists and trauma.

This handsome stud is Rex Ray, Connor's pal.  He's older, already out of school... so probably 22.

He comes from a family of vampire hunters, and he has taught all he knows to Connor.

Blonde hair, blues eyes, 6'1", 182 pounds of hunk and muscle.


Lonely because all his family is dead. 


Sad story really- shame you won't know it unless you READ MY BOOK.


When it's out, of course.

Next is Dylan McCoy- another friend of Connor's.  

I actually cannot believe how well this picture captures Dylan. 

He graduated from Belleville the year previous, work's at Santi’s Pizzeria, and has a thing for Amber.  


But I can't go into that because it would ruin the story. 


He's a good guy, not a great fighter, but he tries.  I myself don't even remember how he met up with the gang.  But he helps hunt the things that go bump in the night. 


When he's not serving pizza. 

A minor character that I might make have a bigger part is Jason Peason, Jessica's older brother.  


For a good part of the story, he is away at college.  So he isn't really all that important in the first half of the book. 


In my original copy of this, he was a druggie and a drunk, promising to never live up to anything.  Then I felt bad for the poor guy and stepped up his game.  


Then all of a sudden he wants to go to college and my baby boy is all grown up!  


*sniffle, sniffle*


Ahh, the memories.  


Well, I should probably work on my story more instead of looking at hot pictures of half-naked men on Google.  I don't know how men manage to type one-handed.  ;-)


-Later germs!

Book Review: Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

Title:  Jurassic Park

Author:  Michael Crichton

Synopsis:  An astonishing technique for recovering and cloning dinosaur DNA has been discovered. Now, one of mankind's most thrilling fantasies has come true. Creatures extinct for eons now roam Jurassic Park with their awesome presence and profound mystery, and all the world can visit them- for a price. Until something goes wrong....

Review:

a.) Characters: 4/5 score.  Some of the characters were impossible not to like from the beginning.  Of course I am talking about Dr. Alan Grant!!  The book is told a little from each character’s point of view, and to be honest, it is easy to hate Ian Malcom at times and then to loath John Hammond even more.  But the characters felt very real to me.  

b.) Plot: 5/5 score.  Okay, OMG, dinosaurs, guys!  Of course this got 5 for the score!!  Reading this for the first time really changed a lot of things for me.  Even though I watched the movie (all three of them), there is something different about the plot when its in a book.  And this topped what you see in the movie.  

c.) Writing style: 3/5 score.  No really, it was amazing to read.  I loved the movies, all three of them.  When I got this, I was worried I was going to be let down because of how awesome the movies were- but it was the opposite!  I did enjoy the writing!  But when Malcolm would go on one of his rants, it was impossible not to cringe and want to skip those couple paragraphs.  

Rating: 12/15 total

OMG, just read it!  I have to admit, some of the technical stuff and Malcolm's rants were skip-worthy, but overall, it was hard to put down!