Sunday, November 30, 2014

November Reading Recap: Pirates & Road Trips

   Confession time--I actually finished a few of these books (very) late in October. I have no idea why I didn't read more this November. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I've grown into my computer.



Second Star – Alyssa B. Sheinmel

Second Star by Alyssa B. Sheinmel
“Here is the story of Peter Pan recast as a love triangle set in the endless summer of the modern-day California coast.” 
Lost boys run away to Neverland Kensington, an abandoned beach community,  to get hooked on fairy dust and surf. The love triangle resolves itself after a few chapters and the rest of the story oozes the same surreal, wonderfully sad vibe that I loved in Peter Pan.



The Girl With All the Gifts

The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey
The Girl With All the Gifts is my second zombie book, and I enjoyed it much more than I did my first (The End Games). My opinion may or may not have anything to do with the fact that I pictured Ms. Justineau looking exactly like Martha Jones.




Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul by Jeff Kinney
Hilarious, as usual.




Spook School by Sue Purkiss
I've had a thing for funny chapter books ever since I discovered the Time Warp Trio years and years and years ago. Spook School is right up my alley--despite the menacing In-Spectres and his horribly old-fashioned teacher, Sir Rupert, Spooker Batt must try his best to pass his Practical Haunting exam. I received this book in a giveaway hosted by Sue Purkiss at her fantastic blog, A fool on a hill....




Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly - Kindle edition by Gail Carson Levine

Writing Magic by Gail Carson Levine
This is a book I always meant to read as a kid (10-11ish) but never did. If I had (and if I’d actually taken its advice, which, considering my 11-year-old self, I HIGHLY doubt) I’d have become a much better writer much faster. This book has some great exercises, plus fun extras like the original beginning of The Two Princesses of Bamarre. 


Jackaby by William Ritter
Fun, funny, and a little bit spooky. It does have a bit of a Sherlock/Doctor Who feel, but stands on its own just as well.
“ ‘Well, if we didn't sail together, how did you ever--ah, you must have snuck a peek at my luggage labels.’
‘I did nothing of the sort. That would be an impolite invasion of privacy,’ the man stated flatly as he picked a bit of lint from my sleeve, tasted it, and tucked it somewhere inside his baggy coat.” 




Silver: Return to Treasure Island

Silver: Return to Treasure Island by Andrew Motion
You could say Treasure Island and I have a rocky relationship. When my Mom tried to read it to out loud my sisters and I made her stop after the first few chapters. (Two words: Blind Pew) A few years later I read it for school and hated it. A few more years later I watched two very good and very faithful movie adaptations (Muppet Treasure Island and Treasure Planet) and decided to give it another try. I adored Treasure Island the third time around. Silver, aside from not having as much of the title character as I was expecting, is a much grimmer and more philosophical story. Honestly, I’m not sure what I think of it.




Skulduggery Pleasant (Skulduggery Pleasant Series #1)

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy
I checked this one out based on Cait’s recommendation over at The Book Chewers, and I adored it. Talking skeletons, secret names, dry humor, wax museums…it’s a glorious cocktail of weirdness that you need to try. Now.
 

  So, what did you read this November? And do you have any recommendations?



Monday, November 24, 2014

How Writers Get Ideas




                                                   

     Me: *watches new Cinderella trailer*
Me: I wish Helena Bonham Carter was my fairy godmother. 
Me: I wish Johnny Depp was my fairy godfather. 
Me: Ooooooooo….

   This is how I get 99.9% of my ideas and I can’t believe myself am not afraid to admit it. 


Thursday, November 20, 2014

Publication News: "Fox Sister"

    So…I nearly drove myself crazy trying to find a snappy way to say this. Then I realized there’s nothing snappier than--

   I’m getting published!

   My flash fiction story, "Fox Sister", will be appearing in The Teacup Trail on November 30th. 

   Yes, I have milk in mine, at least if it's black. And look at the animated image at the linked source. :)
    The Teacup Trail is an online lit and art magazine dedicated to all things speculative. I've wanted to publish something with them for ages (read: I bombarded them with submissions) and am beyond honored that they accepted this story. I planned to write up a nice little post about how I wrote "Fox Sister", and the inspiration behind it…but honestly I’m so stupefied I don’t know what to say, besides that if you've always longed for a (very) short story about a girl and her fox, this might be your cup of tea (heh). It started out as a horrible draft that moldered in my freewrites file for months before I rewrote it from scratch, and I’m very happy with how it turned out. I can’t wait for you to read it. 

   EDIT: "Fox Sister" is up! You can check it out here.  
<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/13200361/?claim=kgn28z4eqag">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Hi!

   Blogs have never ended well for me. 

   Still, what better time to try again? Autumn is my favorite season--the season where I have more inspiration, more ideas, and no free time. 

    Some things you should know--

  About me:

   I love to read. Fantasy and realistic fiction are my genres of choice, but I’ll try just about anything. I can’t get enough of myths, legends, and fairy tales. I love fantastical worlds, humor, heroes, antiheroes, family drama, high adventure, and the adventures of everyday life. My favorite books usually mix at least one of these with a healthy dose of weirdness. Some of my favorite authors are J.M. Barrie, Neil Gaiman, S.E. Hinton,  Heather Dixon, Gill Lewis, Emily Murdoch and Ursula K. Le Guin.

    I love to write. Again, my favorite genres are fantasy and realistic fiction, though I've written a ton of fantasy and very little realistic fiction. I've written many, many horrible stories and a few good ones. Humor is pretty much a requirement, along with that healthy dose of weirdness. Inspiration-wise I’m influenced by everything from The Lord of the Rings to Disney movies.

   About the blog:

    I have no idea where this is going. I’d love to use Third Star to the Right as a place to share my writing process, current projects, favorite books…or anything I can work up the energy to type up a post about. I’m nothing if not flexible. Whatever happens, I can’t wait to see how this turns out.