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 Haul (4) 7 books

Title: Gone (Gone #1)
Author: Michael Grant
Synopsis: In the blink of an eye. Everyone disappears. GONE.

Except for the young. Teens. Middle schoolers. Toddlers. But not one single adult. No teachers, no cops, no doctors, no parents. Just as suddenly, there are no phones, no internet, no television. No way to get help. And no way to figure out what's happened. Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents—unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers—that grow stronger by the day. It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out: On your birthday, you disappear just like everyone else... 

Super excited to start this.  I read the first page in HPB and just HAD to get it!  Since they had Hunger, I bought it too.  

 Title:  Hunger
Author:  Michael Grant
Synopsis: It's been three months since everyone under the age of fifteen became trapped in the bubble known as the FAYZ.

Three months since all the adults disappeared. GONE.

Food ran out weeks ago. Everyone is starving, but no one wants to figure out a solution. And each day, more and more kids are evolving, developing supernatural abilities that set them apart from the kids without powers. Tension rises and chaos is descending upon the town. It's the normal kids against the mutants. Each kid is out for himself, and even the good ones turn murderous. But a larger problem looms. The Darkness, a sinister creature that has lived buried deep in the hills, begins calling to some of the teens in the FAYZ. Calling to them, guiding them, manipulating them. The Darkness has awakened. And it is hungry.

 Title:  Linger
Author:  Maggie Stiefvater
Synopsis:  In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

I was not a die-hard fan of Shiver.  But the way she left it, I was still interested in the storyline.  So I made sure this wasn't over five bucks, and got it anyway.  If I end up not caring for the series as a whole, I'll sell them back to HPB.  

  Title:  Psych Major Syndrome
Author:  Alicia Thompson
Synopsis:  Using the skills you've learned so far in Introduction to Psychology, please write a brief self-assessment describing how things are going in your freshman year.
Presenting Concerns: The Patient, Leigh Nolan (that would be me), has just started her first year at Stiles College. She has decided to major in psychology (even though her parents would rather she study Tarot cards, not Rorschach blots). Patient has always been very good at helping her friends with their problems, but when it comes to solving her own...not so much. Patient has a tendency to overanalyze things, particularly when the opposite sex is involved. Like why doesn't Andrew, her boyfriend of over a year, ever invite her to spend the night? Or why can't she commit to taking the next step in their relationship? And why does his roommate Nathan dislike her so much? More importantly, why did Nathan have a starring role in a much-more-than-friendly dream? Aggravating factors include hyper-competitive fellow psych majors, a professor who’s badly in need of her own psychoanalysis, and mentoring a middle-school-aged girl who thinks Patient is, in a word, naive.
Diagnosis: Psych Major Syndrome

When I first saw the cover, I wasn't thrilled.  But all I had to do was read that (above) and I was hooked!  I needed to get it and get the rest of her story!  Super excited to read this one too! 

Title:  Thirteen Reasons Why
Author: Jay Asher
Synopsis:  Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier. 

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list. Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers. 

Call me a freak-  I absolutely love books about depression (if they are done correct).

Title:  Just Listen

Author: Sarah Dessen

Synopsis: Last year, Annabel was "the girl who has everything"—at least that's the part she played in the television commercial for Kopf's Department Store.This year, she's the girl who has nothing: no best friend because mean-but-exciting Sophie dropped her, no peace at home since her older sister became anorexic, and no one to sit with at lunch. Until she meets Owen Armstrong. Tall, dark, and music-obsessed, Owen is a reformed bad boy with a commitment to truth-telling. With Owen's help,maybe Annabel can face what happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends.

Another guilty pleasure- reading about broken up families.  I love reading books like this.  It is only recently that I have discovered this- and I plan on looking into more books of this genre to fill this craving I have for them! 

 

Title: Blood Promise

Author: Richelle Mead

Synopsis:  Rose Hathaway's life will never be the same.

The recent attack on St. Vladimir's Academy devastated the entire Moroi world. Many are dead. And, for the few victims carried off by Strigoi, their fates are even worse. A rare tattoo now adorns Rose's neck, a mark that says she's killed far too many Strigoi to count. But only one victim matters . . . Dimitri Belikov. Rose must now choose one of two very different paths: honoring her life's vow to protect Lissa—her best friend and the last surviving Dragomir princess—or, dropping out of the Academy to strike out on her own and hunt down the man she loves. She'll have to go to the ends of the earth to find Dimitri and keep the promise he begged her to make. But the question is, when the time comes, will he want to be saved?

Now, with everything at stake—and worlds away from St. Vladimir's and her unguarded, vulnerable, and newly rebellious best friend—can Rose find the strength to destroy Dimitri? Or, will she sacrifice herself for a chance at eternal love?

Omg- I haven't read Shadow Kiss and already I can't wait to pick this one up.  I only bought it because it was in paperback, lol.  Besides, I'll read it eventually!  

Also- this is going to be the next 4-6 weeks:

 

BECAUSE I WON A COPY OF  

THIS IS NOT A TEST BY COURTNEY SUMMERS

I 

AM

PUMPED

I cannot cannot cannot wait for it to get here.  Whatever I am reading at the time will be put down so I can start on it ASAP.  Courtney Summers also did Cracked Up To Be- which I LOVED! 

Happy Reading folks!!! 

March Wrap up & April TBR

Posting this early because I know I won't have another one done by the end of this month.  I am hoping to actually get to Shadow Kiss this time, but I'm not holding my breath.  I borrowed a couple books from my aunt and have been indulging in these. 

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

1. Past Perfect by Liela Sales (PulseIt)

2. Love Struck by Melissa Marr

3. Promise of the Wolves by Dorothy Hearst

4. Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

5. Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer

6. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

7. Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr

8. Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr 

9. Stopping Time by Melissa Marr

10. Lenobia's Vow by P.C. & Kristin Cast

11. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

12. Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton 

According to Goodreads, I am 15 books (20%) ahead of schedule! Yay!
On my To-Be-Read pile, I have:

1. Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy, #3) by Richelle Mead
2. Linger by Maggie Stiefvater 3. Where It Began by Ann Redisch Stampler 4. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver 5. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins 6. The Breakup Bible by Melissa Kantor 7. Interrupter by Rachel Coker
8. Halfling by Heather Burch
9. Bloom by Elizabeth Scott
10. Hold Still by Nina LaCour 

11. Gone by Michael Grant

12. Hunger by Michael Grant

I was so happy to cave and got the two first books in the Gone series.  I got lucky- they were at Half Price Books for cheap.  And I love cheap.  It means I have more money for more books! 

Happy Reading folks!

February Wrap up & March TBR

My February Wrap up and my to-be-read pile for March.  Apparently it's going to be a Melissa Marr kind of March for me.  

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

1. Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler (PulseIt)

2. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

3. The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams (PulseIt)

4. Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers

5. Frostbite (Vampire Academy, #2) by Richelle Mead

6. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia

7. Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

8. How It's Done by Christine Kole MacLean

9. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

10. The Pregnancy Project by Gaby Rodriguez (PulseIt)

According to Goodreads, this puts me 26% ahead of schedule. (YAY!)

On my To-Be-Read pile, I have:

1. Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy, #3) by Richelle Mead
2. Past Perfect by Liela Sales (PulseIt)
3. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
4. Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr
5. Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr
6. Love Struck by Melissa Marr
7. Interrupter by Rachel Coker
8. Halfling by Heather Burch
9. Bloom by Elizabeth Scott
10. Hold Still by Nina LaCour 


And that's not counting if I take another trip to HPBs to get more.  It's starting to be a little habit, every other week.  Vince and I decided to take a trip out and see what they have.  I usually try to avoid buying much, but I easily get caught up and want them all!  

Book Haul (3) 9 book

I got a good haul this time around, and it's only going to get better now that I joined NetGalley.  But let me start with the ones I have on my actual bookshelf and move on from there, shall we?

MIA: Happy Belated Valentine's Day

OMG OMG OMG I was going to buy The Hunger Games at WalMart yesterday, but I somehow talked myself into believing food was more important.  Crazy, I know!  

              OR

So, like, yeah, sorry about the disappearance.  I was doing great until suddenly, it's Valentine's Day, and I completely flaked.  I have to type up a couple reviews and get everything back in order.  I was so excited for the 14th, I spaced and forgot to keep up with my blog.  Of course, then the day actually comes and my boyfriend and I slept right through dinner.  I was so upset, but he didn't forget the chocolates (thank God!).  

This weekend is going to be Hell too.  My roomies/best friends/fellow coworkers are going down to a dog show and I am stuck taking care of about 20 dogs at the kennel.  That's the bad news.  The good news is Vince will probably be here all weekend as well, and when the cats are away, the mice will play.

It fits better if I say "when the dogs are away, the cats will play" since I don't feel very mouse-y.  I feel frisky, like a kitty, and that's why if you ask me what I am doing this weekend I am just going to smile and let you figure it out on your own. 

(SEX people- I want to have SEX!)

*Ahem*

Anyway, I promise to work on the reviews of Beautiful Creatures, Nightshade, How It's Done and probably Shiver because I should be done with it by then.  Then on top of that I might convince Vince to take me to Half Price Book store on Monday.  Can't promise I will or won't get anything, but who knows.  (I do- I always get something at HPBooks!)

Better get started on those reviews.

Later, peeps!

2012 already?! Update 1/13/12

Okay, as with every holiday, I disappeared.  Don't get angry, I truly was busy.  (And if I wasn't, I was sleeping, so sue me!)  This January marked a full year living at our new home as well as a year as Kennel Manager for me.  I am in love with working with these animals, and they take up a lot of my time during my working hours.  Rob turns 21 on the 15, and Vince turns 27 on the 14th.  This month also marks the 6 month anniversary to my boyfriend Vince.  I am allowed to be excited about this because it marks the halfway to a year!  And that is incredible for me, as my two longest relationships are to Pattie (15 yrs as friends) and to Rob (5 yrs).  So I am a little geeked.

I decided to challenge myself to reading 50 books this year.  My progress is being marked on goodreads.  I don't know if I will have the time (willpower) to sit down and type out reviews for each book (for the one's I don't like).  I will also try to post progress on my story, as I have started working on that much more in the passed weeks.  Of course I won't be giving out anything about my actual story as then it might ruin the read in the long run.

Right now a snow storm is hitting us.  Pretty hard actually.  Thankfully Rob salted.

I can't think of anything else, so I am going to skip out.  I will try to keep up with reviews with books that I read so others can see.  Also, I am putting my "year and a day" on hold.  Obviously since I haven't made any posts about it right?  No, I am putting it on hold because I am not feeling that flow right now.  The best way to explain it is that I feel like I too am trapped in ice and snow like the Earth.  Instead of trying to force myself to try to do something that I won't enjoy because I have to force myself to do it, I am just going to slow down and flow with the natural energy of life.

Okay, now I'm going.  Will try to have a review of The Sight up by the end of the week.

Updating my Blog 5/16/11

I haven't had the time to blog or vlog.  Not that I had the desire to.  My focus for these passed weeks was only for Vixen, my beautiful but bitchy mare.  I put her in training in April.  Some would think it would be a total waste of money, but she wasn't safe.  Not even for just herself.  What it comes down to is trust with her.  She doesn't trust easily.  She had been abused, harshly, and reacts hotly to the wrong kind of corrections.  The trainer was extremely helpful in showing me how to handle her, though it's hard to control an 8oo lbs horse!  All of April was spent getting stalls ready for Ransom, then for Vixen and Sarge.  Vixen and Sarge arrived exactly at 5 on May 8, 2011.  Since then we have been bouncing between the kennel and the barn, work and pleasure.

Yesterday (Sunday May 15, 2011), we had a horse welcoming party and a birthday party (for me).  It was just another excuse to have family and friends over the house, lol.  But nonetheless, we showed off our horses, Pattie rode Ransom and Rob rode Sarge.  We were planning on pony rides, but it started pouring down rain!  So we had to put the horses away, but then I found a toad!  I had seen one the night before and was totally geeked because I had touched it.  Pattie handed it to me, and I actually held it!  Then we spotted another one in front of the house.  I chased it a little while trying to catch it.  Yes, in the rain.  I never said I was brilliant or anything.  ;-)

For my birthday I got a journal (thanks Toni) which I may use for my witch studies as I don't really keep a diary.  I am not sure what I aim for it right now, but all I know is I love it and I plan on using it.  I also got color pens, which are a weakness of mine.  Especially purple ones!  I got two gift cards, one for Target (thanks Jackie) and one for Barnes and Noble (thank you so much Aunt Wiggles).  Pattie got me an actual riding helmet instead of the bike helmet I have been using.  Yay!  Trust me, there is a HUGE difference.  Like, a life and death difference.  And what is better is this one is white which will keep me cooler in the sun than the neon pink (ugh) that I had been forced to buy last minute.

Then Pattie told my mom to buy me something really special.  And my mom went for it even though she had no clue which one would be better...  And now I have a Smithsonian Handbook of Birds for the bird watching I have recently picked up!  I was sooo geeked for this.  Minutes after I got it and was flipping through the pages, Toni (Rob's mom) pointed to two birds in a tree and asked me what they were.  I looked them up (it took a while but I found they were Scarlet Tanagers) and then screamed and jumped up and down and did a dance because (and I am quoting myself) "my book worked!"

So all in all my May has been good.  For Beltane this year we had a small fire in the fire pit outside.  I didn't do anything special because I was too focused on getting the stalls ready for the horses.  But now things seem to be settling down a bit.  The kennel will pick up as summer drags on, but I can't complain.  I am hoping to get things done.  However that means more time for me, and less time for you (blogging/vlogging).  I don't know if it will really matter since I don't really think anyone follows me on my blog or watches my YouTube channel much.  I still plan on posting, but it won't be nearly as much as I had hinted before.  Though doing a video now will be nice since I switched my room around.  You won't catch a messing half-ass made bed behind me anymore.  :-)

Light and Love to all you folks!

LoneWolf.