Garth Nix's Creating a Book

I love Garth Nix. Like, he is my absolute favorite author of all time. His website is pretty great if you haven't checked it out. It is easy to find: www.garthnix.com On his site, you'll find a list of his favorite books, a Q&A, bio, book plugs and two little gems: The 9 Stages of a Garth Nix Novel, and How I Write: The Process of Creating a Book. 9 Stages is funny and worth the read. However, I am all about the Process of Creating a Book page. It is an incredible look into the way my favorite author writes. http://www.garthnix.com/writing.html Check it out! Read on after the jump.

Brave is here!

Blogger seems to be having a bit of a problem today. Hopefully this posts finally, as I wrote it last night and it wouldn't let me post at all.

I've been waiting for the movie trailer for Brave to come out for a while now. I heard about Pixar putting out a fairy tale for some time but all we had to go on was a poster and a blurb. Here is the short info:

Set in Scotland in a rugged and mythical time, "Brave" features Merida, an aspiring archer and impetuous daughter of royalty. Merida makes a reckless choice that unleashes unintended peril and forces her to spring into action to set things right.

Voices include Emma Thompson, Kelly Macdonald, Robbie Coltrane, Julie Walters, and Billy Connolly. I'm stoked about this cast because most of them are in the Harry Potter movies! Emma Thompson was Professor Trelawney, Kelly Macdonald was Helena Ravenclaw, Robbie Coltrane was Hagrid, Julie Walters was Mrs. Weasly!

I'm so freaking excited. Watch the trailer and see if you think it'll be good.

Anyone else think the stallion looked more like a donkey there at the very beginning? Maybe it was just my imagination.

Thursday Thrift: Goodwill Inc.

Goodwill is a cornerstone of many communities. There has been one in every town that I have resided. My grandma used to drag me to several across the county every Saturday. If I could, I would visit a few every Saturday now.

Goodwill Inc. is non-profit organization that uses their funds for job training, employment placement, and other community-based programs for the disabled, less-educated, inexperienced, and jobless. They  operate over 2,500 stores in 16 countries. According to Wikipedia, they began as Morgan Mission in 1902 when Reverend Edgar J. Helms and his congregation collected discarded items and hired unemployed individuals to mend those items. The refurbished items were then given away to the needy (often the same individuals that mended them). Goodwill Industries was officially branded in 1915.

According to Goodwill's website, their mission is:

Goodwill Industries International enhances the dignity and quality of life of individuals, families and communities by eliminating barriers to opportunity and helping people in need reach their fullest potential through the power of work.

They strive to give everyone the opportunity to reach their potential and live a fulfilling life. Their branded values are respect, stewardship, ethics, learning, and innovation.

During my research, I was happy to note that Goodwill opened a temporary store specifically designed to hire transgendered people in 2010 through a partnership with Transgendered Economic Empowerment Initiative. The San Francisco store closed in 2011 after the employees were transferred to stores around the greater San Francisco area.

You can get involved with this organization by donating money and goods, volunteering, shopping at one of their many stores, and advocating for them. Check their website (link above) to get find out more.

Oh yeah, they are a Green company too!

Alice in Wonderland Inspiration

I am a huge Alice in Wonderland fan. The books, the movies (Johnny Depp has nothing to do with it, I promise. Okay, that is a lie.), all of it. I found a link to this list on Twitter today. It is a top 10 list of the coolest items inspired by Alice in Wonderland.
http://www.oddee.com/item_97801.aspx

Check the link and see if you can figure out my favorite! Come back and find out after the jump!

Wednesday Wiki: Phantosmia

This episode of Wednesday Wiki is dedicated to Phantosmia. Find it here.

Phantosmia is a condition where a patient experiences "olfactory hallucinations" where they smell things that are not there. The smells patients experience are typically nasty smells like rotting flesh (creepy much?).

This condition has several reported causes including seizures, Alzheimer's Disease, brain trauma, schizophrenia, and sinus infection. So if you like your sniffer to convey reality instead of zombie flesh, avoid strobe lights, aging, hitting your head, listening to the voices in your head, and nasal congestion. Yikes.

The episodes of Phantosmia start out infrequently, but can evolve into a daily occurrence. Thankfully, they seem to only last for a couple minutes then go away. Unfortunately, the only treatment seems to be surgery called transnasal excision. That sounds almost as bad as smelling zombie rot. Freaky, freaky, freaky!

Tuesday Tales: Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite fairy tales. The first published version came out in 1740, written by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve. It was abridged in 1756, and then translated into English in 1757.

The story is fairly simple. The Beast was born a prince and cursed to live as a beast until he found true love. A young woman, Belle, goes to live with the Beast, after an agreement between the Beast and her father saves her father's life. The Beast and Belle become friends and Belle learns of all the enchantments in the Beast's castle. When she fails to return to the castle on time after a trip to see her family, the Beast nearly dies of heart break. Belle returns and confesses her love for the Beast, and her tears break his curse. They get married and live happily ever after.

The fairy tale has been adapted into new stories, films, and plays many times since its original publication. Disney adapted a musical animated film of Beauty and the Beast in 1991. A horror version came out in 1979, called The Virgin and the Monster. Disney adapted a stage production for Broadway that ran from 1999 to 2007, playing over 5,000 shows. Beastly, written by Alex Flinn, modernized the fairy tale and set it in Manhattan in 2007. It was later adapted into a movie. George C. Scott was nominated for an Emmy for his 1976 television performance of BatB.

This is probably my favorite fairy tale. The theme of love redeeming misdeeds is heartwarming, inspiring, and consistent. I was a child when the Disney musical came out. It filled me with wonder at the possibility that all the toys in my room, and the dishes in the kitchen, might be able to walk and talk! I'm sure I wanted to marry the little tea-cup.

Monday Mood: Pride

Continuing to honor Gay Pride month, this Monday Mood is about pride. Pride is defined as a feeling of honor and self-respect. The philosophers of old, like Aristotle, saw pride as a virtue. Most religions view it as a sin. Conundrum, yes?

I see nothing wrong with having some pride. Nations celebrate their pride. One of my favorite songs is "Proud to be an American" by Lee Greenwood. Many ethnic groups celebrate pride in their heritage. Without black pride, we might never have had the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. LGBT pride is celebrated across the world, empowering lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and questioning individuals.

Having pride is generally positively associated with altruism and can increase productivity and creativity. What employer doesn't want an employee that prides himself in his work? What coach doesn't want an athlete that prides himself in his talent, effort, and team?

Be proud of who you are. Accept your talents and flaws as an entire package, because you are perfect the way you are.

Sunday Sales: OMG It's finally coming!

This Sunday Sales is dedicated to the wonderfully talented Christopher Paolini and his Inheritance Cycle. Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr, and Inheritance comprise the incredible tales of the fictional Alagaesia.

Edit: 8/15/2012 Image removed. I don't want to be sued. It was a picture of the 4 books in the series.

Eragon was self-published in 2002 by Paolini's family press, then republished by Knopf in 2003. Eldest was released in 2005. Brisingr came out in 2008. Inheritance will be released November 8 of this year. Pre-sales are happening now so check Amazon here for information.

For those that are not familiar with the Inheritance Cycle, it follows a poor farm boy, Eragon, turned Dragon Rider, and his dragon Saphira, through their adventures as they rise to defeat the evil Rider and self-styled King Galbatorix. Inheritance is the long awaited culmination of the series, as fans originally expected the series to finish as a trilogy. In 2007, Paolini announced that he was expanding the Inheritance Trilogy into the Inheritance Cycle, and split the 3^rd book into two parts. I cannot wait until Inheritance finally comes out!

On a side note, a movie version of Eragon was released in 2006. While I am not normally a fan of books made into movies because they usually suck, this movie looked promising. It had Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, and Rachel Weisz in it, so I was excited. However, the movie was awful. Not just bad. Not just differing from the book. They cut out everything that would be important in the 2^nd book. It was the 10^th worst rated movie of 2006 according to Rotten Tomatoes. How it managed to get two Saturn Award nominations is beyond me. If you've seen the movie, but haven't read the books, you are really missing out!

200 page views!

Wow. I never expected such a fast response to this blog. I have officially passed 200 page views, with viewers from 7 different countries! Some views are from friends and family I am sure, but that might account for 50 of the views. So hi all you people that I don't know! I hope you are enjoying the blog as much as I am enjoying writing it each day. Let me know how I can improve and make this blog even better!

Saturday Solicitation: How I Write by Janet Evanovich

This Saturday Solicitation is devoted to Janet Evanovich's How I Write. It is co-authored by Ina Yalof and Alex Evanovich. It differs dramatically from King's On Writing, which I reviewed earlier, in advice, pacing, and format. I read How I Write in one sitting, over about 3 hours. It isn't terribly long, but I usually find non-fiction reading a labor intensive project akin to my college days pushing textbooks. Mrs. Evanovich's style of writing definitely aided the fast reading pace. She is witty, quick to the point, and genuine. I will admit that I have never read an Evanovich book, as I am not a romance reader and I stopped reading mysteries with Nancy Drew many summers ago. Even though I dislike a small portion of How I Write, the personal discourse of it makes me think I should pick up one of the Plum books. We'll see.

The book is full of the same information as all other writing books. Check the table of contents when you look up the book and you'll find creating characters, writing mechanics, structure, and editing. This book also includes a pretty hard nosed looked at getting published. It is finished off with words of encouragement, an inside look at Mrs. Evanovich's writing life, and reprinted examples of items found throughout the book. None of the information is new. If you look, you'll find every bit of the information free online. However, the presentation of the material makes for a pleasant reading experience. She advocates a sort of minimalistic outlining and character profiles, but it works for her so I won't judge. Something I found hilarious: While King outright suggests that aspiring writers blow up their televisions and read a damn book, Mrs. Evanovich actually suggests watching television or a movie to help stimulate creativity. Different minds.

What I like about this book: First of all, the presentation of How I Write is great. King's On Writing reads like a textbook. It makes sense when you realize he has a degree to teach English. Mrs. Evanovich does not have a degree in English or writing or what-have-you. She started as an artist and moved on to writing. This book is presented in choppy sections that consist of blurbs of information and question and answer segments drawn directly from the author's website over the years. She offers great advice for those that want to be a writer: you either ARE a writer, or you are NOT a writer. Pick your role and play the part. I like that. It is very honest. A lot of her advice is the same advice found elsewhere, but that is because it is solid. Write every day. Make writing your job. Get over the blank page. It was interesting to read that she doesn't believe in writer's block.

What I didn't like about this book: I took exception to one part of this book. Included in the publishing section is a small bit about self-publishing. Mrs. Evanovich is not exactly subtle in her disdain for those that choose to self-publish. Granted, this book was published in 2006, well before self-publishing and eBooks started becoming so popular. In 2011, I wonder if her comments still stand.

History in the Making

The bill in New York passed 33-29! New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has already signed it into law hours after the final votes were counted. 30 days from now, count on lots and lots of happy couples saying "I do" as New York doesn't require residency for marriage. Way to go New York! We've come a long way since 1969! 44 more states to go!

Oh, and check this out:

Edit: 8/15/2012 Image removed. I don't want to be sued. Click here to go to a post on Mashable that has an amazing picture and article about this image going viral.

How cool is that? The rainbow lights were set in honor of Gay Pride week in New York and will stay lit through Sunday!

Friday Five: Favorite Book Series

My 5 favorite book series

1. The Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix My absolute favorite series! This is the only series I have bought as a box set.
2. The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis I read this as a child and have continued to read it time and time again as an adult.
3. Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling I was a little late to the Potter Party, but I was a fangirl by book 3. Not in the weird "Harry + Malfoy" shipper kind of way though. Yikes.
4. The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini I was so pissed off when book 3 came out and I saw that the series wasn't finished with that book. I hate waiting for books I love to come out. The movie was one of the most atrocious excuses for films that I have ever been forced to sit through.
5. Mercedes Thompson Series by Patricia Briggs I love the back story of the characters, the intricate way the "rules" for interspecies relations are explained, and the intrigue in each novel. Superb storytelling.

Happenings

It has been an incredibly busy month for me, and it isn't even over yet! I just finished a month long visit with my little sisters, E & L. They are 7 and 8, full of insane amounts of energy (seriously, they get up with the sun!), and are incredibly smart for their ages. Okay, so maybe I am a bit biased on that last part, but I swear they are incredible kids. Their visit taught me several things: 1) not all Disney channel shows are KF, no matter what the Disney folks may think (strongly worded letters may soon reach those folks); 2) I have become attached to the characters from Wizards of Waveryly Place, iCarly, Shake It Up Chicago, and Good Luck Charlie (please, someone blow up my television); 3) when putting sunscreen on little girls, don't forget sunscreen for yourself (sunburn #3 is finally healing). We had a really good visit that included trips to the pool, the library, Wal-Mart (their idea, not mine), and the Dollar Store. We found paper dolls and coloring books. We read like maniacs (more my idea of course). I learned how to operate a Nintendo DSi. They wanted ramen noodles and tuna sandwiches for every single meal. Oh, and oatmeal (blech!).

During their visit, I started and completed several projects. First, I launched my blog, Facebook, and Twitter accounts. So far so good on these. I'm enjoying this blog thing a lot! We managed to almost finish the remodeling project in the living room. New paint, new flooring (good bye fur embedded carpet, hello tile), new trim. All that is left is some touch up painting and replacing a few light fixtures and the project will officially be closed. It only took three months. The touch up painting will be done over the next week and my dearest Daddy will be replacing the light fixtures when he has the time. No one in this house is qualified to work with electrical wiring so we wait patiently for him. My third project was difficult for me to start and it is definitely a work in progress. I am addicted to the internet and my method of absorption is internet games. Notdoppler.com is a favorite. As is Facebook games. I have blocked all Facebook games after some serious whining. I took NotDoppler off my bookmarks. I have stubbornly refused to quit playing "mind" games like Sudoku, Kakuro, Rummikub, Mahjong, and Hearts. They are intellectually stimulating, right?

With all the extra free time on my hands sans internet games, I have been able to read a lot more. That makes me so happy, you don't even know. I used to read a good 30-40 books a year at least when I was in high school. In college, that dropped down to about 20 a year, mostly over school holidays, between semesters, and between classes. I was busy! Then came World of Warcrack and Facebook. My reading dropped considerably, maybe 5 books a year if the internet was out a lot. That is depressing. I've never been a television person. I loved Buffy when it was on. I love Glee now that it is on. That is about it. Internet gaming has been my time consuming, entertaining, book replacement. I kicked the WoW habit after several years, but really just replaced it with MORE Facebook games. Since I blocked all the games, I have read 7 books! Even with the girls here, I managed a lot of reading. I was still active online (minus a few days when I was sunburned so badly). I maintained contact with friends and family. I made sure the girls didn't turn feral and run away with the cats.

Yay for old loves coming back full force! How much do you read? What keeps you from reading? What helps you focus on reading?

Moral of the story: Turn off the television and close the games. Open a book and turn on your imagination!

Thursday Thrift: Intro

Thursday Thrift is for us cheap bastards that love to find a good deal. Discount stores, consignment shops, yard sales, clearance racks... so much fun!

I will admit when I was younger, I thought that I was "better" than the people that frequented thrift sales. I rolled my eyes every time my mom pulled over at a yard sale (although I did look for books at every single one). I cried when I found out my homecoming dress was second-hand. I was a bit of a brat about it. When I moved out on my own, I learned very quickly that second-hand is better than sitting on the floor because I couldn't afford the beautiful $3,000 sofa and $1,750 leather recliner that I wanted. I gratefully accepted the mix-matched plates, bowls, and cups my mom gave me. I was elated when I found a table and chairs for twenty bucks at a yard sale.

So what do you need to know about thrift shopping? You know the saying "one man's trash is another man's treasure" right? That definitely applies to thrift shopping. You can find some of the coolest stuff at thrift stores and yard sales.

·         Shop around the entire place before you start picking things out. Keep an open mind when looking at everything.

·         Think creatively as you browse (ever seen a claw foot tub sitting as the center piece of a garden?).

·         Be nice to the staff because they can help you find diamonds in the rough.

·         Subscribe to the newsletters of your local thrift store for discount days and coupons.

·         Donate your own "trash" to your local thrift store so that it can become a "treasure" for someone else. Have a yard sale and make some extra money.

·         Get over your fear of haggling when it comes to yard sales. The tag price isn't usually the bottom dollar.

·         Have fun looking around!

If you don't live under a rock, you know that we are living in tough economic times. Tough times call for tougher measures. Buckling down on your budget doesn't mean you have to go without. If you have found a stellar item while thrift shopping, email me the story (and a picture if you can) and I'll feature it in a Thursday Thrift!

Wednesday Wiki: Reno 911! Episode List

My first Wednesday Wiki random page was List of Reno 911! episodes. Find it here.

I am a huge fan of the show so this made my day! Reno 911 aired from 2003 to 2009. Its 6 seasons have a total of 88 episodes, plus a movie that came out in 2007. All six seasons are now available on DVD.

The wiki article gives a small blurb describing each episode. My favorite episodes are "Accidental Marriage (Part 1)" from season 2, "Crime Scene Idiots" from season 3, and "Dangle's Murder Mystery (Parts 1 and 2)" from season 6.

The entire show is hilarious, fun adult satire. It isn't for everyone. Well, actually, it isn't for most people I wager. Off color humor is not everyone's cup of tea but I loved it. The improv skills of Thomas Lennon, Kerry Kenney-Silver, and Cedric Yarbrough is amazing. The rest of the cast is equally great. If you are over the age of 18, like irreverent British inspired satire, and have a sense of humor, check out Reno 911!

It Gets Better video: Authors and Illustrators

I am in love with this IGB video. Some incredibly talented folks lent their voices to support our troubled youth. How many folks do you recognize?

Neat Tiger vid

Gosh. So freaking cool and disgusting at the same time. Moral of the story: Stay away from the fence dude!

1 million eBooks sold for Locke

Thriller writer, John Locke, has sold 1 million eBooks through the Kindle store. Amazon announced the news yesterday. He joins James Patterson and Stieg Larsson in this elite group. The difference is that John Locke has self-published, where Patterson and Larsson are published through the big Houses. Way to go John! He just published "How I Sold 1 Million eBooks in 5 Months." His literary agent is working on film rights currently but he is not seeking House representation. He is adamant that he will not sign with a House so that when writing stops being fun, he can move on to something else. Well played Sir. Congratulations!

Tuesday Tales: JRR Tolkien's On Fairy-Stories

I love fairy tales. I read the ones adapted for children when I was a kid. I read the much scarier "originals" versions in college. As an adult, I still love a good fairy tale. I relish new spins on old stories. I look up the stories behind the stories when I get a hankering.

I came across a document a while back from J. R. R. Tolkien that was riveting. Tolkien wrote this piece, On Fairy-Stories, for a speech back in the late 1930's. It was first printed, with some help by C. S. Lewis, in the mid to late 40's. Several incarnations have been published over the years. It is 60 pages (including 10 pages of notes) of Tolkien's philosophy of fantasy and mythology. Read the entire text here.

Tolkien argues that the fantasy genre is able to help a reader see the world from a different perspective. He encourages leisure reading, or reading as an "escapist pleasure" for everyone. He also suggests that the happy ending of fairy tales can provide a person with consolation otherwise unachieved.

It is a long and interesting read. What Tolkien piece isn't? The notes at the end are an incredible insight into the mind of one of the pioneers of my favored genre.

Monday Mood: Love

June is Gay Pride month and I am a full supporter of gay rights. In honor of Gay Pride month, my first Monday Mood is all about love. Love is defined as an emotion of strong affection and personal attachment. Whether you love your car, your dog, or your significant other, love is at the core of human emotion.

Cliches abound with love, Virgi's "love conquers all" and the Beatles' "All You Need is Love" come to mind. Love crosses all boundaries. It is what makes people cry at weddings, funerals, and births. It is a driving force in the foundations of our lives. It is a basic necessity, like food, water, and shelter.

Love is a wonderful and terrible thing. It has built and destroyed nations. It has given people a reason to live and a reason to end their lives. It is the most powerful emotion I can think of in how much love can do to our world.

Love yourself. Love those around you. Love what you do. Love is love, no matter the back story.