Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Totally Psyched!

I am, (as the title of this post suggests) totally psyched right now! I never really win anything (especially not things I really want) and I just won a copy of Break by Hannah Moskowitz from YA Highway- http://yahighway.blogspot.com/
Not only that but books are possibly my top two most favored material possession in the world, ranking above even such necessities as clothes (but only equal with music) and since I mostly feed my habit via the library, I was counting on waiting awhile to read this one. Now I get to read as soon as the post office delivers it:) So thanks to YA Highway and it's a totally great blog for anyone who reads or writes YA- and I actually thought that before I won the book.

In reading news, I have been sort of reading fluffy books with a couple of notable exceptions-
Willow by Julia
Hoban which was awesome. I couldn't imagine being a habitual cutter and this story actually made it relatable and well, almost understandable. I don't know what I would have done in her situation...

and

Nailed by Patrick Jones which was a really good flashback. I could definitely imagine me as the main character, Brett (although I think he has a little bit of a football player/jock guy name and maybe that is part of the irony) because despite how hard his road becomes, he refuses to give up who he is to make everyone else comfortable. If only you knew me then you would understand that fits me to a T.

In writing news, I managed to get an outline for the book and what I think will be a companion story and surprise surprise, this blog is already helping me even if so far it is in title alone.

I am listening to The Used and The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus lately and wow, why did I ever think that just because the latter had an extremely stupid name that I shouldn't listen? It's because of my title snobbery, I guess, but do yourself a favor and check them out.
Thanks again to YA Highway!

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Sad

So... I was reading excerpts of the online journal of the gunman who shot up the gym TWENTY minutes from my house and some of them really spoke to me. Like, where he says that he "looks good, dresses and smells nice" and doesn't understand why he has not had sex in 19 years nor been in a relationship since 1984.
Wow.... I wonder why no one wants to be in a relationship with a whack job who had been journaling online about shooting up various places to the point where he even said he brought loaded guns in but back out... What a catch!!! Maybe women could somehow sense his crazy! On a serious and sobering note, there are four people dead and more wounded including a pregnant woman because of this guy. We have de
graded as a society to the point where this stuff hardly even shocks anymore, and really a person does not feel connected to anyone and resorts to web blogging. And not one person he knew or who stumbled across his blog decided to call the authorities? Or reach out to him with resources that might help?
I guess its a byproduct of the internet and whatnot and then events like this make people afraid. I hope I am never too afraid to reach out to help someone if I come across a sad person in need of connection that badly.
In the meantime, I wrote
a flash fiction story that was under 1,000 words for a contest that I found out about in my writing group- the one I just joined yesterday:) It was very interesting and so difficult to keep down to 1,000 words. Although I expected to be a lot harder, to be honest. So my writing adventures continue!
On the kiddo front, he is just such a cutie. Here, let me demonstrate-
And his father and I are in the process of making his home school curriculum for this year, the last year he will need one created by us due to his age.
Right now I am not reading anything. I finished the other book I read and a couple others... considering re reading some of my favorites- again!

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Wow

Well, I think that my first blogging experience went well, I even have a comment:) In the meantime, let me expound on something I recently discovered and love. Critters Writers Workshop. I love to read the short stories and then (as diplomatically and honestly as I am able) tell the authors what I think of them. It also provides insight into my own writing because I see elementary mistakes of sentence structure or even more complicated things that just don't make sense and prevent it in my novel. On top of that, they will critique for me in return. That is the part that I like the best although I have yet to take advantage of it.
In other news, my four year old informs me that it "feels nice" when he repeatedly rubs his "boobies". Not knowing what to say to that, I told him that if he insists on rubbing his boobies (which he assures me he does) then he has to do it in his room. Then I went back to my book and told my husband to deal with him. Ah, the wonders of being a mom to a BOY.
Another note: I am reading The Otherworldlies by Jennifer Anne Kogler and it is so good!