Editing. Lots of Editing.

I'm editing Reborn now!! 66 pages done. Hooray!

I also started writing Revenge. I have the prologues written down on paper somewhere, so I need to type those in, but I started chapter 1. Going pretty well.

I cut a few characters in Reborn, so through the rest of the books I really want to find a good place to weave them back in.

Anyway, not much else to say. I got a pretty decent start on Assassin, then hit a block, so that's when I went to Reborn. I had to write a couple of papers, plus had three-hours-long-every-night play practice for a week and a half. So I didn't have too much time to write.

But, I spent winter break in San Francisco with my dad's family, lots of fun. We've been going through my grandpa's house and we found some pretty cool stuff. Got lots of ideas for my writing.

Plus we went to the Winchester Mystery House, so I know think I know what the Whispers' Mansion probably looks like, more or less. (Lol.) We also went to the Mystery Spot. Lots of fun. Big recommendation. The Mystery Spot, BTW, is in Santa Cruz. If you go, go to the beach. There's a really pretty lighthouse and a nice beach. My mom (From NY.) said the sea was on the wrong side.

Anyway, happy New Year, everyone.

A lot of things changed in 2010, but let's hope things get better in 2011.

Also, it feels a bit weird, because I based The Name of the Game trilogy in 2009/2010.

But oh well...

Cheerio, peeps!

P.S. Try Flicks, if you ever see them. So good. So sugary...

I got a sugar rush after I ate three of them. Yum!

Dystopia VS. Dystopia

I'm reading two almost entirely opposite dystopian sci-fi books right now.

Book 1. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury and 2. Incarceron by Catherine Fisher. Now, you may not know this, but I'm actually not the biggest sci-fi fan. But these are both so good and kind of opposing I had to write about them.

INCARCERON: Incarceron is sort of steam-punk. I do like steam-punk. What I've seen so far is approximately 160 years before the book starts a king decides that things are changing too much, so he stops time. Everyone has to live authentically to the Era, which seems to be set in the late 1700s (Yay! I love that era!). All sorts of futuristic gadgets and such, like medicine and bathrooms (Ew.) are illegal, but the people with more money sometimes work around it. There are limits to even the strictest adherers to the Era Protocol. It doesn't seem dystopian on the Outside. But Incarceron is the prison that has been sealed for 16o years, the building living itself, with other people supposedly living in paradise on the Inside, but it's actually hell. The story follows a boy and his friends trying to escape Incarceron, while it also follows a girl on the Outside, trying to escape a prison of her own.

FAHRENHEIT 451: This world is very modern. Very modern. Everyone always watches TV and books are illegal. The firemen burn the books. People are arrested for being pedestrians and "stopping to smell the roses." (Not literally, but the expression fit there. Or maybe literally... 0.O I haven't actually gotten all that far yet.) A girl is being sent to a psychiatrist for enjoying nature.

Like I said, I haven't actually gotten all that far in 451, while I'm over half way through Incarceron. But I'm enjoying them both! Five stars for each!

High suggestions.

Cheerio, peeps!

The Dream Seer

"How do you stand it?" I asked him. "Doesn't it feel so much like prying? Don't you hate it?"

He smiled benignly down at me, where I sat on the floor, at his feet. "Of course I feel like I'm prying, Esmeralda. But it's what I am, what I do. There really isn't much more I can say to that. Besides, in people dreams, I see their fears, their hopes, their wishes... Their desires. And then I can give them what they want, and in return I will get what I want."

"But, Sir... I still don't understand why you do it..." I played with the edge of my blue dress, tugging at the lace, just so I wouldn't have to look up at him. I knew what his face would look like, though. Smiling benignly, his dark eyes placid and unreadable behind his spectacles.

"Yes, I suppose you wouldn't. For my whole life, I have been able to see into people dreams while they sleep."

"That's kind of scary..."

"I suppose it is. But I'm used to it by now, Princess."

"I guess you would be..."

He laughed at me. "Are you implying that I'm old?"

"Um... Maybe?"

Before he could say anything more, my tutor knocked on the library door. "Esmeralda, it's time for your lessons. And the queen would like to speak with you, Mr. Jakobs."

"Of course." He stood, and so did I. "Good-bye, Princess." He bowed to me.

I curtsied back. "Sir."

Liar. That's what he was. A con. He couldn't see people's dreams, he could read people. That's all. Liar. My mother made him leave the kingdom, banned him for her rein. And she didn't see any reason to ban him for longer. She was younger than him, and she expected to be living for a long, long time. But she didn't. I was the queen before my 16th year.

What do you think? This may or may not turn out to be an entirly unrelated prelude to Lee Harken. Esmeralda would be her great-grandma, or great-great-grandma.

And Halloween is next weekend!! Yay!

I'm having a Halloween sleepover with Infublo, Fay, Manya, and Samara. Sorry if you've never heard of them.

Cheerio, peeps!

My First Book Review!

I'm going to start reviewing books. Or at least I'll try.

My first:

Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters by Lesley M. M. Blume

Description: Eleven-year-old Cornelia is the daughter of two world-famous pianists--a legacy that should feel fabulous, but instead feels just plain lonely. Then glamorous Virginia Somerset moves next door with her servant, Patel, and a mischievous French bulldog named Mister Kinyatta, and Cornelia discovers that the world is a much more exciting place than she had originally thought.

(I don't feel that it's a sufficient description, but that's just me.)

Time to read: About one day

Pages: 261+3(Acknowledgments)

Rating: 5

Review: I love Cornelia Street Englehart. She found some of the best word books ever! She's so lonely in the beginning, I felt horrible for her. I love the way the Blume describes all the characters, though. She makes each one seem real, and nearly all of them are very like-able.

Some parts are a little bit confusing, though. It was written in third person, but Virginia is almost always telling stories, so there were a few parts where it would say 'Virginia said,' but it seems like she said it at the time the story was taking place, not just while she told Cornelia the story.

I cried from about 240 to 252.

My absoloutly favorite is page 252, and a little before;

"Virginia," she said softly.

"Yes?"

Cornelia swallowed. "Are you afraid of dying?"

For the first time in their friendship, Virginia's eyes filled with tears.

"A little bit, Cornelia." She took a deep breath. "But you have to remember that I have done a lot of living in my seven and a half decades. And Alexandra, Beatrice, and Gladys have been gone for many years now. I miss them with all of my heart. Maybe I'll be with them again when I leave this world, and we'll have the biggest adventure of all." She was quiet for a moment. "You just never know what's going to happen."

Just at that moment, the record player finished playing and the old phonograph clicked off. Yet they could still hear the soft sound of Mozart playing. After a minute, Cornelia realized that it was Lucy playing the piano in the apartment next door.

For a long time, the two friends sipped tea and quietly listened to the faint music together through the sky-colored wall of Virginia's Indian bedroom.

Lesley M. M. Blume, p. 251-252-Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters

I cried there...

My suggested age group for this book is anywhere from 10 to... 14? I don't know. They use a lot of big words, but they always have the definition.

Anyone above about 10 can read it, really. It would also be a nice read-aloud book for younger siblings.

Enjoy your readings!

Cheerio, peeps!

New Manuscript

Since I had to wait for a while to edit Reborn, I started a new manuscript that I'd been thinking about for a few months, since May, I think.

It's kind of sci-fi, but not really... If that makes any sense. It's futuristic, but also in a different world, post-apocalypse. It's very different than anything I've ever written before, both the narrator and the story, and I'm throughly enjoying it. :-)

It actually starts by giving away the climax. I tell you what to expect in the first paragraph. But it's still a very interesting read, I have to say. Or it will be, one I finish. And the chapters are actually some of the longest I've ever written. Hmm...

It's just the way Lee, the main character, speaks, I guess. She has a kind of fun mix of words like weird and cool, and more modern(?) words and then some longer, more sophisticated words.

The story goes from when she's 12 to a little past 15.

It takes place in a country called Amgear (Pronounced Am-jeer), which is pretty much America, but because it isn't actually America, I can make all the little changes I want. Like they have a prime minister instead of a president, and such.

New music:

I love the band The Hush Sound

Not Alone by Darren Criss (He played Harry in A Very Potter Musical and A Very Potter Sequel!)

I looked for the lyrics, but I couldn't find them.

SO here's the scene from A Very Potter Musical:

But, yeah. I love that song.

Okay then. That's pretty much all I wanted to say...

Bye!

Cheerio, peeps!

Oops...

Silly me! I missed my blog's birthday!

SO, then...

Happy birthday, blog! I have had it for one year now. But no one comments. :-(

I would appreciate it if you DID comment, then people!

Thanks!

That's all I had to say.

Cheerio, peeps!

I've Done It!!!!

I can't believe it! Last night I ACTUALLY finished the first draft of Reborn. All 200 pages.

OHMYGOD!!!

Now on to editing. Since I finished a month before my goal (End of August, I finished at the end of July!) I'll probably be quicker with editing than I thought. And I have two superb people to help me with editing. Liza and Infublo. Yay!

Well, yeah... It got pretty depressing/creepy at the end there... I'm also kind of sad at how a chunk of it turned out. I made the main character a little bit meaner than I had meant her to be. Ah, well. It'll turn out all right in the end!

In other news...

A VERY POTTER SEQUAL JUST CAME OUT!!!!! :-D

As you can tell, this has made me extremely happy. It is very much as good as the first one.

And they are both "totally awesome!"

Watch them both and you will understand the line above. IN ORDER!!!!

StarKidPotter's YouTube channel. [Link]

Don't ask why I did the above. It's a joke for myself, in my book. In about two or something years, if I get published, you'll find out why. (It will probably take that long for the book to come out in stores.)

Sorry, I'm a bit tired. I spent most of the last few days in the car...

Cheerio from a person who has written a whole book, peeps!

Forever and a Day

Well, haven't posted in FOREVER. Because I've been working on my manuscript. Which, by the way, is what I should be doing now. So I'll make this quick.

On chapter 22. 138 pages! Trying for 150 by the next time I see Liza, which is Wednesday. Have I mentioned her before? If not, she's another author who's mentoring me. (Yay!!) I think I'm going to get to 150 too!

So... close... to... 200... pages...

I am GOING to finish before school starts again at the end of August! I WILL!

Some interesting camps right now. Four classes a day, which I signed up for. Archery, then an acting class. After lunch are two writing classes. Fav is the acting class. I don't like one of the writing classes that much. I am SO better than those people! And I'm the youngest! Maybe I'll bring my 150 pages sometime this week.

(Picturing the teacher's face... LOL.)

Week after I'm going to my fav writing camp, Red Oak. Love that camp!

Then we're going on a road trip!

Since I said this would be fast, I'll say more later this week.

Now, for the new and returning season on TV:

Haven is AWESOME! Gonna be great!

Warehouse 13 is going to be BETTER THAN EVER! LOVE Claudia! Thank GOD Artie's not dead!

Waiting for White Collar and Psych! COME FASTER!

Tonight's DW looks TERRIFYING and ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS!!! Can't WAIT!

♥ the Doc!

Cheerio, peeps!

100 Pages!

I have now written 100 pages in my book! I'm so happy! Right now I'm on chapter 16, although it isn't going so well. I think the chapter will be called sleep, but I'm not positive.

Doesn't matter. I love my book!!! I am so happy!!

YAY!!!!

Cheerio, peeps!

P.S. I really think I might be able to pull off finishing this thing by the end of summer break!

P.P.S. I'm in California right now! Very fun. But I do miss my Mac... Grandpa doesn't have Wi-Fi, so I have to write this on the home comp... :-( But if you think that I'd leave my writing at home, what with how far I've gotten, think again! Muwahahahaha!

Don't ask.

Unlucky 13?

I'm not superstitious. Or maybe I am, I guess. But my superstitions are different than most people's.

I love the number 13.

But chapter 13 in my book is E-V-I-L.

I can't figure out what to write!

For some reason, if I don't have the chapter title it makes me all flustered and I can't write anything. It's really weird, but true.

Anyway, the pictures at the top are all currently unedited. The first two are from a mine in California we saw over spring break and the second two are from Gettysburg. We went there, I think, two summers ago.

Cheerio, peeps.

Europe-Part 1

Oh, this is sad... It's taken me to May to FINALLY post the pictures I took in London and Paris.

These aren't in a particular order, considering we went to London first, but what ever.

I don't know who put the sticker on the street sign outside the Paris opera house, but thanks! Now the street is my last name.

I took this picture in a bus.

I think it turned out rather well.

Another picture from the same bus ride, but I used this interesting fade out in Photo Shop.

I really like it. The original's here somewhere.

Box 5 at the Paris opera house. Sound familiar?

I was a little obsessed with the Phantom then. I had just seen the play for the first time, and read the book. I took this the day before my camera died! I was so SAD! I'd had it since second grade, when I first went to London. It was my hanukah present...

Here's the Eiffel Tower. I think this was sometime New Year's Eve....

Another version of one of the bus pictures.

Haha. I love the red phone booths.

HERE's the original picture! Lots of fog that day.

The first time I saw the Eiffel Tower for real. The day we got to Paris, from the CHUNNEL! (Love that name!)

Also taken from a bus.

Random flag hanging somewhere near Buckingham Palace. Sort of...

Taken on a bus.

Notre Dame, my first night in Paris.

Random British guard. We had just watched a piece of the changing of the guards when I had to take the picture opportunity.

Eiffel Tower in B & W.

Trust me, there will be PLENTY more.

Maybe later tonight.

Cheerio, peeps!

Maximum Ride (And a birthday, but I'll get to that.)

Maximum Ride. One of the BEST SERIES EVER. I love it, so much. Awesome.

Maximum Ride by James Patterson, my review.

James Patterson is one of my heros. He's written more books than his age, and yet they keep getting better! The narrator for the Maximum Ride series is, of course, Max. Her voice reminds me a lot of Percy Jackson, from Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan. I admire him too. Sometimes I wish I could write with that voice. The very modern teenager's voice. But I just don't think like that, so I can't write like that. Even if I am a modern teenager. So sad... But still Max is awesome. But Fang is THE BEST EVER!!!! He reminds me very much of my original idea for Vampier's personality. Vampier was supposed to be much more serious and quiet than he is now, but I still love them both!

Now for the birthday.

Happy Birthday, Phillip!

Phillip is the main character of my book's love. He was a prince in medieval France, but one of his two younger brothers killed him in 1200. Later, after the main story, I'll bring him back in a short story, or something. Whatever I do with him, he'll never stay dead.

Cheerio, peeps!

Poetic Notes

A light on the horizon.

Rising, rising.

The sun, perhaps, is what it could be.

But more likely not.

A light, gold.

A light, black.

A light, silver.

A light, white.

Opposites attract,

or so they say.

Perhaps they do

and perhaps not.

Would I know?

I think not.

A light, gold.

A light, black.

A light, silver.

A light, white.

The moon in the night.

Not always, I think,

though they tell me otherwise,

those men of the world.

A light, gold.

A light, black.

A light, silver.

A light, white.

Only dreams may be an escape.

Only dreams,

although different things

are what they say.

A light, gold.

A light, black.

A light, silver.

A light, white.

This is the first poem I ever wrote, and it was filed with some notes for The Name of the Game trilogy. I don't remember why...

Well, I guess I should go over the book ideas, and others, I currently have.

The Name of the Game-trilogy, current work

The Digger's Daughter-started, but put on hold... for who knows how long...

The School of Time-magic, and etc.

Reincarnation-sci-fi-ish

UNKNOWN NAME-elves, fairies, etc.

The Card Players-Modern, teen band

Hello, I am Your Therapist-short, play-ish like thing...

Short detective stories-?

And that was extremely unorganized... Oh well.

Cheerio, peeps.

Why I Want to be an Author

I know almost all authors say stuff like, "Oh, I just write for myself. I don't have to be published!" but then why would they really be sending their book to a publisher at all? And I guess I get it, and I write for myself, too. I always write stories I like. But I want to be published.

It's not for money or fame. I know it's kind of rare to become a really famous author. Although, it would be nice... ;-)

No. I write my stories for the people who'll read them. I write my books for the kid who has an absoloutly terrible day. Then they'll come home to a new book, start it, and then get so involved they forget to do their homework.

I write my books for the people who need to forget where they are and what's been happening to them. For the people who need a quick escape from everything.

I want to be the author of THAT book. The one that gets the kid who's never wanted to pick up a book in their life love to read.

I want to be THAT author.

Yep. That's why. If I DO get published, I think I want this to be the start of my acknowledgments.

What do you think?

Cheerio, peeps!

Something New

Well, the title says it all.

Recently, I've been in a bit of a creative slump. I haven't written on my other blog much either. I think I know the reason too. (No, you won't hear it on this post.)

So, anyway, I just recently went onto Cranberry's blog and... SAW HER GOOD-BYE POST! :-O

But it got me thinking. I don't want to end up say, "Hey, guys, this has been fun and all, but I gotta go now. Catch ya' around!"

No way. This is more important, to me at least, than that. So I'll be working on posting more. I do NOT want to see this turned into one of my unfinished works. I've had a few...

My original book idea. It was great for little kids, like I was when I started it, but it just didn't work. I even tried to start writing it... Then it just crashed. This will not be like that.

I've got some more trip pictures to upload. I'll try and add some of the ones I've worked on already.

Cheerio, peeps.

Decision

Ok. Now I've completely decided on this. This blog will be entirely about my writing, and my books. Not the poetry. That's on the other blog.

So this blog is stories, and how well I'm getting on with my writing. If you want to read about the crazy people I hang out with, or my poetry, then go to my other blog, which isn't strictly school stuff anymore.

Cheerio, peeps.

Flower names

I've finally figured out Anthony's sister's names!

In order:

Amaryllis

Lilac

Zinnia

Orchid

I think they're really pretty.

Cheerio, peeps.

Ach!

What's happened to my blog?! All the things on the side got messed up!

Now they're all at the bottom!!!!!

Growl...

Very not cheerio, peeps...

Amelia Earhart 2

Starr: Amelia Earhart!!!!!!!!!<3<3<3

Cheerio, peeps.

Amelia Earhart

Vampier: You do realize she's not ACTUALLY Amelia Earhart, right Starr?

Starr: She's NOT?!?! But WHY?!?!

Vampier: Because Earhart's dead.

Starr: But... But... But..!!!

Vampier: *pat on the head, walk away*

Just boredom during math yesterday.

When Starr was a kid she hero-worshipped Amelia Earhart, so when she heard about Ame, well... Yeah.

Happy Groundhog Day!

Cheerio, peeps!

Curse you, Stephanie Meyer

AAAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!

CURSE YOU, STEPHANIE MEYER!!!!!!!!!!!

I completley just realized the stupid idea I used to un-writer's block myself is totally Twilight-esque. When Bella searches for stuff about vampires, I have Ame and Amanda searching for stuff about Twi, and they find Vampier's stupid website!!!!!

GGGGGRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!

And I had been stuck for at LEAST three weeks flat!!!!!!!

And her NAME is even Twilight!!!!!

CURSE YOU, STEPHANIE MEYER.

Grumble, grumble.

cheerio, peeps...

Grumble, grumble.

*dark look at the Twilight poster on my door*

Possibly my biggest ever post

This is Clover. At prom, in the second book.

Go green!

Here's Ame. Just normal, every-day-ness.

Here's Anthony.

I think the picture looks really good with headphones, but that might just be me.

Hey, Kevin! He looks a little over excited, though...

Meaghan, at prom. Her hair is MOSTLY normal brown, however, even though I invented the character I still haven't figured it out, the bottom is dyed bright green.

"Screw the rules, I have green hair!"

Here's Amanda. She's definitely the girliest of the Sights.

And now we start the elements.

This is Air. She's so cool.

If you make her mad she might not do anything for, like, 5o years, but then one day she'll come and make the wind whack your arm into a wall or something!

This is Earth. He's really sweet and he doesn't like to get into lots of fights. Amanda really likes him, even when they first meet, but he doesn't catch on till either the end of the second book or the beginning/middle-ish of the third.

Here's Fire. She's a little eccentric, if you couldn't tell...

And Water. She's really nice.

Yay Twi! Although her hair is actually a little longer, the point stands.

Vampier! The insane vampire!

Here's one of his many, many, many multiple children. Her name is Claudaria and she's been made into an actual vampire, instead of just a half one, like most of his kids.

Here's Jour. No explanation needed.

And Mariposa.

Here's Nacht. There are some funny stories about his hair...

And here are a few of the stars, the ones that are actually his friends, instead of being all girly.

This is Nithanda. When she was human, she was from Africa.

Here's Leo. Yes, I know it's a girl.

This is Starr. That was her actual human name. She likes to dye her hair blue. And one year she and Leo decided to go trick-or-treating with humans.

As you can tell, she was an angel, Leo was a devil.

And this is Jane. As a human, of course. When she was/is human she's really good friends with Clover. However when she gets a little older(she and Clover are friends when Jane's 6) she gets cancer and "dies."

What actually happens is that Twi comes and turns her into an Adma.

I got the character maker from here.

Thanks for reading my probably-longest-ever-post-that-is-mostly-not-words.

Cheerio, peeps!

Vampier's website

Yes. The god of vampires has a website. And this post is only for one reason, and it's for my book. So don't worry.

I'm not nearly as insane as you think I am.

or am i..? (dun dun dun DUUUH)

Cheerio, peeps.

Boulevard of Broken Dreams

"I walk a lonely road, the only one that I have ever known. Don't know where it goes, but it's only me and I walk alone."

Just what I'm listening to right now.

I've been working on Anthony's sisters' names. I think they'll all be flowers. (Shout out to Infublo for the idea.)

The youngest is Orchid, but I don't know the others. Their names are being changed from, and this is the birth order, Sarah, Kate, and Jenny. I never came up with a normal name for Orchid. Any suggestions?

Their last name is Whitehall and their father is a movie star.

Cheerio, peeps.

That is messed up...

I just found an author who's name is scarily similar to mine. He's writing under Ariel S. Levy. Change the Ariel to Ariella and you have my nome de plume.

Really weird... 'Cept he writes in Spanish.

Cheerio, peeps.

P.S. Sorry, but I had to add the French.

250!!!!

HOORAY!!!!! I have 250(1) posts on this blog now!!!

Didn't notice that when I wrote it...

Cheerio, peeps!

Muwahaha!!

Don't ask. I dunno what's up with the evil laugh. I just felt like it.

And I finally finished chapter 6!!!! It was called "What Is Reality?" and it took me FOREVER!!!!! Now I'm on chapter 7 and back with Clover. Rather better than Amanda, I think. The chapter's called "Waking Up". Yeah, it is a little weird, but I think I like it.

Still need to post winter break pictures. Maybe some from the play.

Cheerio, peeps!

Randomness

Why am I writing this post? I don't know. It will be full of what I like to call "doodles". They're not drawings, which people do on the sides of their homework, or on binders during class. They're almost like notes. During class sometimes I'll write character names on paper edges or something. Those are my doodles.

Vampier Mostri. {Claudaria Elizabeth Bizet Mostri}

Twilight

Dawn

Whispers Samantha Kirktrace Mariposa Fauna Anthony

Sarah(?)

Leah(?)

(What's with the bible names?!?!?) Jenny(Jean?)

Kate

O..?

Just some notes.

Cheerio, peeps.

P.S. The format might be different when published than when I wrote it.

P.P.S. The quesion marks are calls for help. The names by Anthony are ideas for his sisters' names. (He'll have four. Sisters.)

Dracula: Who the heck are you?!?!
Vampier: I WORSHIP you!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dracula: Wha..???!?!?!
Vampier: <3 <3 <3!!!!!!
Claudaria: Dad! Leave him alone!

Infublo here, she just came up with that during Soc. Studies. It was funny, and I couldn't figure why she was cracking up while we were talking about girls dying in the streets of China..... and communism...

I know. I know...
Couldn't help it. Vampier sure does love Dracuala... ;-)

Cheerio, peeps!

P.S. Infublo's exagerating. We were not talking about girls dying in the streets of China.

yes we WERE!!!

I have returned!

Hello everyone! I'm back from Europe!

That was AMAZING! I love London so MUCH!!!!!

Tomorrow I'll post all about the trip...

TONIGHT IS DAVID TENNANT'S LAST EPISODE AS THE DOCTOR. OHMYGOD.

EEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheerio, peeps!