A BLOG POST AT LONG LAST!

At last, I have emerged from my hermit like state of blog life and have decided to write a blog post! My bout of laziness has passed from me like the winds of the sea. Now the real question is what to write about... I'm afraid I haven't been very faithful these last few... months. So forgive me, dear readers. But never fear, I AM BACK!




I have exactly a week left until school starts back up again, and I have made a commitment to myself, one that I will start out having good intentions, but will probably end up not really following through. My lazy streak usually wins over with this statement: "Oh, you have time to do it later! Just relax right now. Vacation is almost over. You need to finish that season of Doctor Who before the new year." <--- Me... taunting me. That's my life during vacation. I CAN'T ESCAPE DOCTOR WHO.

But anyways, my goal is to get at least four chapters finished in a new book I am starting, or a book that I need to finish. Lately I've been going crazy writing short stories and skimping out on writing my books, that I haven't gotten anything done. But I've learned that if you're sneaky enough, you can slip those short stories into your actual book... IF they fit. Somehow my subconscious led me to write a bunch of these short stories for this new book I'm writing, and THEY FIT PERFECTLY. So I'm pretty psyched about that... my praise report of the month, I guess.

So, goal for this week: either finish at least four chapters in a book I'm writing or starting, or paint a masterpiece.

Yeah, going for the first of the two.



~Angie <3


P.S.
I am too lazy to read over this post, so if you find any typos... sorry. I'm just too lazy to read. Hey, I'm on vacation  people! :P

The Emotions Experienced During PSAT Testing: Before, During, and After

So I took the PSAT Wednesday... Yes, I, a brave soul embarking on a relatively new form of school (tests not at home, being I am homeschooled), walked into that testing room with my three, newly sharpened, n.2 pencils and favorite, beloved calculator (the one I've bonded with throughout algebra 1 and 2), and tested.  It wasn't my first time testing there, so I wasn't completely unprepared for the "conditions" of the testing area.

I wasn't too too nervous about it, although I had plenty of reason to be.  For the past three weeks I've been battling this absolutely HORRIBLE virus that's going around in my town, and it put me in bed for two weeks.  Those two weeks were the weeks that I was going to take like all my nights and study for.  Yeah... you see the big picture.  I have been studying throughout the year, but I was going to like STUDY STUDY STUDY those two weeks.  Ended up I was in bed.  Yup.

I will now proceed to explain my reactions.  

During the two "sick" weeks

Sick Week 1:

I was so miserable, I didn't even think about studying.

Sick Week 2:

"W-wait... how many days till testing day?" 

Then my mom reminded me.  That's when the panicking began.

And then came the begging part.  Begging my mom to help prepare me in just a few days.

My life became PSAT.  All it consisted of was math, critical reading, and writing skills.  Filling in those maniacal little letters, a-e.  

Was pretty much feeling drained... defeated... sore... cranky...

The day before testing, Tuesday, though, I regained confidence when I took a practice test and DID RIDICULOUSLY WELL IN MY SCORES.  So when Wednesday came, I was pumped!  Walked into the school beside my bestie, the one person who I'd want to test with, and felt awesome!

Afterwards... *sigh* ... well, let's just say that chicken sandwich and waffle fries was well deserved.

~Angelina Zoe <3

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle: A Poem to Ponder

 My mom showed me this poem the other day and I absolutely fell in love with it, rereading it over and over again.  This poem is so true and shows the true job of mothers and the impact they have in the world.  For women, at least, and teenage girls (like me) trying to make an impact on the world, trying to make a difference, and trying to make better life.  Read this poem and just let it sink in.  

Blessings on the hand of women!

Angels guard its strength and grace,

In the palace, cottage, hovel,

Oh, no matter where the place;

Would that never storms assailed it,

Rainbows ever gently curled;

For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world.

Infancy’s the tender fountain,

Power may with beauty flow,

Mother’s first to guide the streamlets,

From them souls unresting grow—

Grow on for the good or evil,

Sunshine streamed or evil hurled;

For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world.

Woman, how divine your mission

Here upon our natal sod!

Keep, oh, keep the young heart open

Always to the breath of God!

All true trophies of the ages

Are from mother-love impearled;

For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world.

Blessings on the hand of women!

Fathers, sons, and daughters cry,

And the sacred song is mingled

With the worship in the sky –

Mingles where no tempest darkens,

Rainbows evermore are hurled;

For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world.

-William Ross Wallace

               

Picture Short Story Challenge

I decided to take a short story challenge over the past month, creating a very short story with a picture of my pick.  Get it?  Pic of my pick?  Yeah, I know, lame joke (I've been watching too much Ultimate Spider-man).  But anyways, I found the picture on pinterest and wrote a short story revolving around it.  Now the picture isn't exactly a picture.  It's more of a word inspiration, but there is also a picture.

I will proceed in showing it.




The short story that I wrote based on this is a bit comical, and it was also an experiment on character development for one of my newer characters, Nikki Taylor.  It was fun to write, and it didn't take long.  Very fun, actually.  I think I have too much fun with this character...

Here is the outcome:

               My Brilliantly Idiotic Plan, By Nikki Taylor

               I can’t believe I even went through with this plan.  Can’t believe I was stupid enough to even go through with it.  Sure, at the time I thought that it might be a good idea to have that idiotic French company kidnap me for money and stow me away where no one would find me.  But now that I’m in the midst of it, I’m pretty sure that I was under the influence of soda and Pop-tarts at the time of my decision.  I even spent all my life savings in the process.  How did I get here, underground, hands and legs tied together, having to go to the bathroom really bad but not being able to because of being tethered together, and sitting a chair that’s making my behind get all unbearably numb?  Well, I’ll tell you how.

                

                    My family – consisting of me, my older brother, and my mom and dad – dragged me on this trip during the middle of the school year (no, I’m not complaining… but still) all the way to France for just for my dad’s business.  Yeah… totally lame.  But again, I’m not complaining about being in France in the middle of the school year for a mini-vacation.  Anyways, so ever since we arrived last week, my mom and dad have been really busy, always gone during the daytime with their jobs, overseeing “big-business-matters” kind of stuff, and at night they almost ALWAYS have some fancy dinner to attend.  So it’s usually me and my big bro.  And my big bro’s not much of a family person.  He’s usually gone, too.  Probably showing off his new rental car to some girls.

                

                    As I told my cat, Mr. Shwarma, I felt underappreciated, almost like I’m here for, well, nothing.  No one needs me.  If I was gone, who would miss me?  Well, other than Mr. Shwarma, no one!  And Mr. Shwarma only loves me for feeding him.  If I had no food, I would have no cat friend.  So I am alone, basically, besides living in a house with millions of maids and butlers, doing anything I ask at the snap of my fingers.  So… alone was I, in need of confidence that someone actually would, like, almost die without me, I googled.  Google is a girl’s best friend.  Yeah, so I found that right here in France, just a few miles from where I was, there was an organization that actually kidnapped you if you paid them, like, sixteen-hundred dollars or something.

                You can guess what happened.

                

                Yep... I did it. 

                

               And that’s where I am now.  Waiting for someone to notice that I’m gone.  It seems like forever since this morning, and now my stomach is growling.  I’m hungry, tired, and ready for a soft bed.  I guess that’s what I get for taking matters into my own hands. 

               

Thanks for reading!  

~Angie <3

               

BUCKY BARNES, A.K.A THE WINTER SOLDIER

 

(SPOILER ALTER. Do not read if you have not watched Captain America: The Winter Soldier)

      Let's be honest,  everyone loves Bucky. You may love Bucky from the first movie, you may love Bucky from the second, you may have always liked him, you may have just started, you may just like him because of his actor, you may just like him because Steve does. But honestly... everyone loves Bucky.

     Then there's the haters. I'm not even gonna categorize them with 'Everyone'. Whoever doesn't like Bucky isn't even a person (i.e. my older brother, my friend's older brother, etc.). There are some that would call him...

     Wait for it....



A VILLAIN

nooooooooooooooooooo!



     But honestly, people! Bucky Barnes is not a villain, he's a victim. Let me make this clearer: Bucky didn't chose to be 'the bad guy'. That's what separates villains from victims. Villains chose to be bad; they chose revenge and/or violence over doing what is right. Victims are helplessly drawn into something they don't want to be a part of. I mean, even in your book your villain has to CHOOSE to be the villain or it doesn't count.

     Are you guys hearing me?

     Bucky was brainwashed. We know this from the scene in The Winter Soldier when Bucky was in that little scary room with Alexander Pierce breathing down his neck trying to convince him that he was the good guy. All Bucky could say was:

 because of his previous encounter with Steve near the bridge. In that moment, he was unstable. His gears were turning for maybe the first time in a long time, or maybe not. Steve set something off in him. Steve set off the 'good guy' part. The REAL 'good guy'.... The Bucky side. And The Winter Soldier part of him didn't know how to react. In fact, The Winter Soldier side looked scared because of the Bucky side showing up. He knew what it meant when he started remembering stuff. He knew it meant there would be pain. You can see it in his face:

So then came the words we were all dreading to hear.

"Wipe him. Let's start over."

And he seems to accept this. He wants the pain of remembering to go away. It's torturing him almost worse than the actual torture he must endure to be brainwashed.

     I think it's understandable (sort of) how some people could think he's a villain, and I think Marvel knew that somebody might get confused and think that. I believe that is why they added this scene, they wanted to make it clear. In my opinion, they did. Very, very clear...





I'm gonna go cry in my room for the rest of my life now.

Bucky says he's sorry.... for everything.

 

Character Introduction: Olly Brighton

Okay, so yes, I have a new obsession.  Right now it's with my new character in a book co-authored with the one and only, very talented, beautiful, and wonderful Hootie Olson.  :)  As of right now, the book is untitled and we're sticking with the nickname Foggy Booky Thingy.  Yeah, I know, brilliant, eh?  *Que applause*

So anyways, this new obsession of mine has a name.  A beautifully unique one.  Olly Brighton.  :)  Isn't his name just beautiful?!  I think I'm going to name my child Olly.  It's so short and cute sounding and just AHG!!!  *Ahem*  Sorry 'bout that, folks.  I get a bit passionate about my new found... passion.  :P


Let's all give a nice warm welcome to Olly Brighton!



Okkkaaayyyy... don't where that came from.


So this is Olly:



Everyone, say "Hi, Olly!"


*waiting*

...


Okay, good enough.


...


So Olly is a goodnatured, goofy, outgoing, sweet kind of personality dude with no cares or worries. Well, at least that's what it looks like from the outside.  He might seem like a popular kid - gets good grades, the best on the swim team, handsome - but the truth is, there are only two other people in the world who would pay attention to him.  His two best friends, Marley Joseph and Anderson Forwen (expect character interviews on them later).  Olly could be recognized as an outsider, but then again, not.



I will now proceed to bombard you with pictures of my beloved character.


Get ready... cause this train is going full speed and it's not - I repeat - it's not coming back.




HERE'S MY BABY, LOOKING ALL COOL AND AWESOME!!!






AND HERE HE IS AGAIN, STARING OFF INTO THE DISTANCE AND LOOKING ALL DRAMATIC.



AWWW!!!  LOOK AT HIM, TRYING TO SHOW HOW SLICK HE IS, RIDING A MOTORCYCLE!!!  MY BABY'S TRYING TO GROW UP!!!




AWWWWWWWW!!!  SOMEONE DID HIS HAIR ALL BY HIMSELF!!!




LOOK AT HIM!



SOMEONE WAS PLAYING IN THE MUD... BAD BOY!!!



HE'S A SWIMMER, JUST SO YOU KNOW... AND HE'S AWESOME AT IT!!!




HE POSES NICELY.



OKAY, I'M DONE...


Love,
Angie <3


WAIT, IS THAT THE CROWD YELLING 'ONCORE', I HEAR???






YUP, THAT'S MA' BOY!

HELLO EVERYONE!

BY HOOTIE OLSON

     Just wanted to introduce myself! As a good friend of Angelina's, I was invited to post on this blog. My name is Hootie Olson, and I've written since I was, hrm...... nine years old? Somewhere around there. And I ain't posting no writings from back then so don't get your hopes up. 

    

     So anyways... I'm really into post apocalyptic type writing, fantasy, and some modern stuff. I enjoy short stories more than anything, but I make myself write big books because that's where the real stuff happens. I'm currently working on a fantasy novel called Isles of Ruin, a short story series called Ty Skyy's Guide to Life, a sci-fi book called Blue Skyys, and a post apocalyptic book called The Orion: The Uprising. My completed books are The Orion: The Deadlands, and I'm a little embarrassed to say that is it.

  Onto the fun stuff. My obsessions anyone?! here's a list of my fandoms and feel free to fangirl in the comments with me:

BUUUUUCCCKKKKYYYYY

CAPTAIN AMERICA

MARVEL IN GENERAL

KINGDOM HEARTS

ROXAS AND AXEL :'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''(

MERLIN

NIGHTWING

BATMAN

MY OWN BOOKS

AIBLEY

LUKE VETTI

FLASH

AGENTS OF SHIELD

FITZSIMMONS <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

ROBIN (ALL OF THEM. ANY OF THEM.)

KILI AND FILI

THORIN

LORD OF THE RINGS

THE HOBBIT

THIS LIST IS ALREADY TOO LONG

     I'm going to stop there or I might hurt myself. 

     Hmm... Is there anything else? Oh! I'm super excited to be joining and I hope I do this blog justice and stuff! This is my first blog post ever in the history of me, so I hope it's acceptable. ...It's not very informative, but I live a pretty boring life I guess. :/... Actually that was a lie... my life is AWESOME. I'm a fifteen (turning sixteen sunday!!!) year old, homeschooled, teenage writer, ballerina, pianist, guitarist, singer, blogger, pinterester, babysitter, ballet teacher, and I could probably think of a few other things if I sat here long enough! I have six other brothers and sisters, two perfect parents, and a house the size of a small mansion (no not really... It's just really big. I'm not a Duggar, I promise.)

     So that's it! I hope you enjoyed reading about me!

-Hootie Olson

<3

Sunshine Award

Earlier in the month I was given the great honor of receiving the Sunshine Award from Kayla!  Thank you so much, Kayla, for nominating me for this great award.  I am so glad that I have (hopefully) made a difference, and uplifted the lives of those who read my blog.

I was told that rules are for this award:


1) Display the award graphic in the post.
2) Link to whoever nominated you.
3) List ten facts about yourself.
4) Nominate ten fellow bloggers “who positively and creatively inspire others in the blogsphere.”
5) Leave a comment on the nominees’ blogs to tell them of the award.






Here are ten facts about myself:

1)  I LOVE BROWNIES (no, seriously, I will kill for my succulent sweet chocolate)
2)  The Piano Guys are currently my favorite instrumental band.
3)  I have a huge obsession with Rapunzel.  Anything Tangled, for that matter.
4)  I am on the verge of having a mental breakdown because of having to wait so long for Once Upon a Time Season 4!!!!!
5)  I've sitting here for the past five minutes trying to think of an interesting fact to put down about me... (YES, IT COUNTS AS ONE)
6)  I actually put on full make-up last Saturday, foundation, blush, mineral veil, and everything.
7)  Um... I've been swimming since I was eight months old.
8)  Ballet is my life.
9)  Writing is my other life.
10)  I only have two friends in the whole wide world who I would share anything with.  Hootie Olsen and Anastasia Cross.  :)



My Nominees:

Anastasia Cross at Inkspot
Whazzit Tooyah at The Procrastination Station
Hayden at The Story Girl
Emily on The Perfect Book
Rosanna on Writing On the Pages of Life
Elestyn at Blithe


And that's that!  Thanks for reading.


~Angelina Zoe!

Liebster Award Nomination

I was so surprised that I have received two awards in the past month!  :)  Thank you, Anastasia Cross, for nominating me for the Liebster award!  It means so much to me.  This award, it seems, is to get other bloggers interested in other noteworthy bloggers with less than 200 followers.   

The Rules:

Thank and link back to the person who nominated you

List 11 facts about yourself

Answer the 11 questions asked by the blogger who nominated you

Nominate 9 bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers

Ask them 11 questions

Let them know about the nomination

11 Facts About Me:

1)  Chocolate is my life.  No, literally, if there ever was a chocolate shortage in the world, I WOULD DIE!  I wouldn't know what to do with my life.  I would wither away to nothing.  

2)  I am ashamed to say, but I don't take make-up very seriously.  As it takes everyone else I know about a half an hour to put on make and get ready, it takes me about two minutes to complete my full routine of make-up.  Even with foundation, and I usually don't wear foundation.  

3)  Ballet is my life.  Pointe is my life.  My dream is to muster enough courage to ask my ballet teacher if I will be able to teach a ballet class next year.  Yeah, don't think that's happening.  

4)  I have a huge problem with keeping nailpolish on my nails.  Everytime I wear it, I HAVE TO PICK IT OFF!  It's really hard for me to restrain from peeling it away.  It doesn't help that I have really fast growing nails and that you can see the white of my cuticles like two days after having it on.  

5)  I used to have Rapunzel hair... a few days ago.  But I chopped it all off, and now I'm devastated.  I love my hair the length it is now (up to about shoulder length) and I love how it's not stick straight anymore, but I miss my long, gorgeous, lovely, beautiful hair.  That and I miss my nickname.  Rapunzel.  But I have fast growing hair (and nails, as I said before), so it shouldn't be too long before I regain my name!!!

6)  I desperately wish that I had a sister.  I am stuck in the middle between two brothers, and they're a blast.  But it's not like a sister.  I'm the only girl in the family, and it gets lonely.  That's why, if you have ever talked to me in person or read my emails or go on my pinterest page, I always talk about my two BFFs, Ana and Lacey.  They are the sisters I never had.  :)

7)  I have a thing for tragic backgrounds when it comes to creating my characters.  I am drawn like a magnet to characters that have a devastating and horrible childhood or background, and I love to cause pain to them.  And then I like to give them a happy ending... just for a little while, though.  >:)

8)  I want to be a professional Christian singer, and I just wrote my first song two weeks before Father's Day (I gave it to my dad as a Father's Day present).  That and being a professional ballerina.  But I'm leaning more towards singing.  

9)  I currently play five instruments.  Piano (which I've been playing for over ten years), Ukulele (which is soooo fun), Guitar, a bit of tin flute (anyone really can, though), and my friend is currently teaching me Violin (which has been my dream for so long!)

10)  I'm saving up for an ipod touch right now.  Currently, I'm at $10.00.  Yeah, I blew all my money at a concert last weekend.  : /

11)  I'm a sucker for good, Christian music.  Any time I hear a beautiful song on the radio, my brain automatically goes in this mode where I'm choreographing a dance, trying to remember the words so I can sing it, and looking up the sheet music so I can play it.  Yeah... I multi-task BIG time.

My answers to Anastasia's questions:

1. Who's your three favorite fictional characters?  

Ummm... I'd have to say... Umm.... AHG!!!  WHY SUCH A HARD QUESTION?!  Okay... I'm ready to answer.  Wait.  No.  I'm not.  Wait.  Okay, I'm ready, Freddie.  It would have to be Prince Dastan from Prince of Perisa, then it would be... um... (THERE ARE SO MANY I LOVE) Captain Hook from Once Upon A Time, and then perhaps it would be Thor.  :)  

 

2. Who's your favorite non-fictional famous/historical person?  I would have to say George W. Bush, because he stood firm in his faith and his courage didn't waver, even through 9/11 and when people were giving him a hard time.  I just find him a great role model.

3. Why do you blog?  I blog because it's fun, passes the time, and also I like to give tips and things that I have learned over the years to anyone who will listen. Although, sometimes it seems no one really reads my blog or cares about it.  ;)

4. What electronic device do you use/like most: phone, computer, mp3 player, or tablet?  I'd probably have to say my laptop because I'm a really fast typer and NEED a full keyboard.  I'm a writer, so that is essential to me.

5. What's the weirdest thing you've ever done?  Weirdest thing I've ever done?  Well, I do a lot of weird things everyday, so it's hard to pinpoint one thing.  I guess, out of the many things I've done, I'd have to say, is when me and my BFF, Lacey, were in cooking class together and we snuck green food coloring into one of the bowls of macaroni and cheese.  It was pretty epic.  No one ate it, except for one brave soul.  

6. Have you ever met someone famous?  IF YOU CAN CALL JOEL AND LUKE FROM FOR KING AND COUNTRY FAMOUS, THEN YES!

7. What is your current favorite song? TV show? Book?  My favorite song right now is Fix My Eyes by For King and Country, my favorite TV show is Once Upon a Time, and my favorite book is Lord of the Rings, which I'm so close to finishing.

8. What's your favorite animal?  UNICORNS!  THEY'RE SO FLUFFY, I'M GONNA DIE!

9. Do you like lamps?  Oooh!  I have a pink one in my room, and if you're referring to that one, then yes.  Otherwise, I find them annoying.  They always get in my eyes.  I prefer overhead lights.  

10. Mac or PC?  I really love Macs, but my PC is great.  

11. What kind of candy do you like best? (Sour? Sweet? Chocolate?)  Did someone say chocolate?  CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nine bloggers I nominate:

(Sorry!  I don't have nine...)

Sayda Bower at Arches and Scribbles

Jessica Spurlock at Whispers of the Wind

Aspen Shannon at Texas Rebel Girl

Mary P. J. at The Dreamer's Pen

Kayla at Concerning Writers

Lillian Rose at Lillian Rose's Books

Questions for my nominees:

1)  Do you believe that unicorns exist?

2)  How old were you when you first swam?

3)  Is the glass half empty or half full?

4)  What is your number one fear?

5)  Who's your favorite superhero?

6)  What was your favorite fairytale growing up?

7)  Do you prefer your lemonade on the salty or sweet side?

8)  Who do you like better?  Chewbaca, or that cute little Ewok from Star Wars?

9)  Lord of the Rings or the Hobbit?

10)  Hiking or biking?

11)  What's your favorite type of instrumental music to listen to?  Sad, emotional, happy, classical? 

Thanks again, Ana!  

~Angelia Zoe

Short Story Challenge

Writing novels can get, well, to be honest, lllllllloooooooonnnnnnngggggggg after a while, and also a bit... old.  I find the best way to cure me of this "disease" is to compose a short story.  It gets my mind off my novel and on a whole new set of characters and their problems.  Also, the advantage of writing a short story is you don't have to worry about writing a whole novel about them.  It's just a short story. 

So that is why I am giving this challenge to anyone who is reading this now.  Write a short story about the picture below and send it in to me, and I choose which one is the winner.


Rules:

1) Short story must be a SHORT STORY.  The maximum is 3,500 words (which is roughly 10 pages).
2) Absolutely NO PROFANITIES or SWEARING!  I will not tolerate any foul language.
3) No unacceptable or questionable scenes. 
4) The deadline for your short story is July 4.  That will be the last day I will be accepting short stories.

Along with your short story, submit a little bit about yourself and perhaps an icon of something that you love or describes you most.  I.e., I would probably submit my icon picture as Rapunzel since she's my favorite Disney princess and also 'cause I have really long hair. 

The winner of this challenge will receive a virtual hug and a thumbs up icon, a blog post about the author, and the author's short story published on my blog. 

Are you ready???



You can email your submissions to me at angiezoewriter@gmail.com.


May the best story win!


~Angelina Zoe

Author Interview with Hootie Olson

Today we are very honored with a very special guest author, who, in fact, is my very good friend and the finest author there ever was.  Hootie Olson, an accomplished author, has graced us with her presence and has kindly agreed to let me interview her.  *Ahem*  Now let's being my version of twenty questions.

AZ: Hootie, thank you so much for allowing me to interview you and taking time away from... what you're supposed to be doing at this moment and talking to me.  My first question would be: How long have you been writing?  And what really inspired you to take up the art of words?

HO: Well, when I wrote my first creative piece of work I was somewhere around seven or eight. I remember it was something to do with a runaway little girl and her two sisters chasing after a kitten, and there was something in there about a magical flute. What really inspired me to start writing was Anastasia Cross. We grew up together, and when she began writing the Cycle of Time I took an interest in her work and started creating stories of my own.

AZ: What was your first serious writing project?

 

HO: It was a short novel in which a young girl named Megan was moved into her great uncle's old mansion and, while snooping around in the attic one day, was transported through a magical picture into a fantastic land filled with elves and dragons. I remember thinking all my old elf names were so clever, like Syllver. Haha.

AZ: How many books have you written so far, completed and uncompleted?

 

HO: I have written two (is that it?) completed books. One being a spy book and the other being The Orion, The Deadlands. Uncompleted? That's a little harder. Let me count...  There is Isles of Ruin, FearStrong, The Uprising, another Untitled Story, I'm coauthoring CODED with you <3 (Angelina), Ty Skyy's Guide to Life, Blue Skies, and I believe that's it. I have a lot of work to do to become published, though, of course.

AZ: I know that feel... definitely.  And I'm sure any writer does.  Okay, now here comes a tough question.  Out of all the characters you have written about, who is your favorite.  Don't blow up, I know, it's hard. 

HO: *EXPLOOOOODE* UUUUUURRGGGGAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH...... UGh...... ugh..... I don't know. Oh, Angelina.... Uhm.... To be completely honest? It depends on my mood. When I'm feeling inspired about a certain book I tend to be in love with the coolest character in that book. At the moment my favorite character I've ever written about has stayed pretty steadily on Tyler Skyy (my baaaaaaaby). But if I'm feeling really happy, it's Willow Vetti. If I'm feeling very smart, it's usually Corra Staunton or BJ Stauton. Sometimes it's Nicholas Calhoun. Sometimes I just suddenly start loving Vance Wilcliff and I barely even know him yet, or Marley Joseph, or Anderson Forwen. As you can see, this is a very tough question for me, but I will answer in the moment and say it is (at this moment) Tyler Skyy.

AZ: I had a feeling you were going to say that.  Could you tell us which book he is from, and maybe a little synopsis on it?

 

HO: Most certainly! He is from the book Blue Skyys, which is sort of a sci-fi type novel with two galaxies at war with each other over the matter of slavery and invasion. Oddly enough there are no aliens appearing in this book, it is simply a war story set in an interesting time with an interesting family, the Skyys (who pretty much run the military for their galaxy), trying to make it through with their lives and their faith in God. 

AZ: I, myself, have read some of it and it invokes a lot of emotion, from both the reader (and I imagine) the writer.  Tell me, how many books have you co-authored, and what is it like?

HO: I am currently coauthoring the series The Orion, I am a small part in the CODED series, I'm coauthoring Blue Skyys, The Iris-Windr, Il Coniglio del Romanzo, and two other untitled novels/series. I have to say, coauthoring is easier than it should be. It's almost an addiction to me, because I enjoy the interactions between characters written by different authors clashing on the page. The only bad thing is that most of the time coauthoring tends to be more dialogue then story progression. You can write out a rough draft pretty well, but woe to the editor, they will have a ton to cut. 

AZ: What is your favorite part about co-authoring?  Or even writing in general.

HO: My favorite part about co-authoring is, like I said in the last answer, the interactions between characters made by two different people. You get a lot of character development when you face your hero up against one of your sisters characters and expect them to hash out their differences because they are forced to work together. It's interesting to watch play out. Writing in general is a bit more tricky. I guess I like just the feeling of reading my own writing, reading what I think, getting words down on the page. I enjoy the poetic sense of it and the ability it gives me to think more clearly about the world I live in by looking at it through someone else's eyes.

AZ: Do you have any tips for aspiring writers or any warnings?  Something for us to remember?

HO: One tip I can give you is to never stop writing. When you start a book and it stinks, finish it. No matter what, just get that first draft down and it's somewhat smooth sailing from there. Just keep writing, as Dory would say.... JUST KEEP WRITING.

AZ: Thank you so much, Hootie, for giving up some of your time to let me interview you.  The time that I'm sure you could be writing.  *wink wink*  It has been a pleasure, as always.

HO: Same here. Great talking to you all!

Agelina Zoe out!  :)

The Many Quirks of Writers That We Just Can't Help

As you have probably guessed from reading the title of this post, I'll be listing a bunch of quirks that us writers have... and do a lot.  So without further ado...



1.  Staring at a random person for the longest moment with a glazed-over look in our eyes.  


(Who is that weirdo, and why does he/she have the look of a zombie in their eyes?)

I'm sorry, but as writers, we usually have a million things going on in our head, a million plots, and a million character's lives we are thinking about, and you just happen to be in the path of our uncomprehensive eyes.



2.  (Also relates to #1)  Staring at a random person and giggling while averting eyes because that random person looks scarily like a character from your book.  


(Why is that person staring at me?)



This is the reaction of the "victim". ^


(IT'S MY CHARACTER!)

This is our reaction at seeing our book characters in real life. ^  Hey, it could be worse.  It takes all we have inside us not to tackle the look alike.


(HELLO, CHARACTER OF MINE!)

As hard as we try, we cannot possibly contain our excitement.  So don't freak out if book writer comes up to you with this creepy smile on their faces and asks to take your picture.  Yeah, I've done that before... *ahem*  Moving on!



3.  During a conversation and out of the blue we mutter something totally random that does not relate at all to the topic and smile stupidly. 


(Wh-what are you talking about?  This is not irrelevant to the subject!)

You might not know it, but you have just given a writer just the idea they have been searching for for their book.  A wondrous idea that could CHANGE THE WHOLE FATE OF THE WORLD!  In the book, I mean.  Forgive us, if you are reading this and are not a writer...  It is not intentional to interrupt you.


(That face we get when we finally find out what's going to happen in our book.)



4.  When someone tries to have a conversation with you while you are trying to write, your words come out in broken syllables.


Look, people, when we're writing, we're in a whole different world and can't comprehend or grasp what you're saying.  It might sound like we're being antisocial or selfish, but it's something we can't help.  All we want to do at that time is write.  Our mind isn't in the real world.  It's in a world we have created.


(Just... leave us in peace while we write!)

To put it politely:  PLEASE LEAVE US BE!



5.  We ramble on and on about our stories and bore you to death about our meaningless characters.

We don't mean to, but when we have a story in our heads we just need to spout it out to someone, even if that someone is half listening and doesn't care.  We need someone to talk to!  We need someone to tell our secrets to!


(Can I talk to you... about my books?)



6.  (Depends on the type of writer for this to be true)  When we get inspiration... no, I don't need to put anymore words.  Just this.
  





And I leave you on that note!


~Angelina Zoe

A Look at the Character: Riley Blackburn

Since I've given you a little background synopsis on Abigail Blackburn, I think it's only fair if I now give you one on her younger brother, Riley.  He's a less serious type of person and more optimistic about... well everything.


Riley Gabriel Blackburn:





Age: 18-19 (around there) Four years Abby's junior
Height: 6'2
Hair color: soft brown
Eye color: cornflower blue



Personality:

Riley is a good-natured, fun-loving, happy guy to be around.  He' always optimistic and looks at the bright side of things and loves food almost as much as he loves his sister (which is A LOT).  He's a joke-ster, always trying to get his solemn sister to laugh or even smile.  And sometimes he succeeds, but most of the time he doesn't.  He's always doing things for other people, always helping them out.  He's just all around a really great guy.  The meanest thing he could ever possibly say, or the meanest insult he could ever give would be: I hope you step on a LEGO!  (Yeah, he's a softie...)


Family:

When Riley was just three years old, his father left for war, and when he was five, his father died, leaving his mom, Maria, desperate.  His mother never being there for him, Riley was raised mostly by Abby.  They grew very close together as a result.  Riley's the only one who could make Abby open up to and share her feelings with.


Background:

Riley never was a great scholar, and not very scholastic, despite his tutoring from a determined Abby.  He was more hands on as a child.  He dropped out of high school when Abby left the house and became a mechanic.  He has a hidden talent, though.  He is an artist.




Here's an excerpt from my book about him.  He is three years old during this time.

Abigail suddenly heard a loud thump from up above the second floor, and her attention was averted from her appearance to who was coming downstairs.  She jumped up, conscious not to step on her dress as she did, and hung onto the railing with one hand, waiting.  Several more thuds later and a huge bang, she saw that it wasn’t her parents coming down, only her little brother lumbering down the stairs.  She sighed, but a smile still was plastered across her ever cheerful face, and went to help her three year old brother down the huge steps. 

     “Come on, Riley,” she prodded, grabbing his chubby hand and softly tugging him down faster.  For being three, Riley was unusually small and still had the look of a baby.  A walking baby.  Once Riley had reached the bottom, with help from Abigail, she sat him down on the last step and examined him closely, looking for anything that was amiss with his appearance.  She took a step backwards and rested her chin in her hands.  “Hmm...” 

     “Wha,” the little three year old questioned, looking at Abby innocently with his round arms and shoulders lifted in a shrug. 

     She knelt in front of her younger brother and brushed his locks of soft brown hair in between her fingers, motherly like, and swept it to the side so it was neat.  She straitened his checkered blue and white shirt and rolled his cargo pants up so that he wasn’t tripping over them when he walked – more like waddled, Abigail thought.  “There,” she smiled, sitting on her knees and looking over Riley with a reproving eye.  “You look very handsome, Riley,” she nodded in satisfaction, looking into the cornflower blue eyes of her little brother.  “Just like Daddy.” 

     It looked as if someone had given the boy a huge piece of chocolate, for Riley smiled as wide as his mouth would let him, and his eyes lit up like it was his birthday.  “Really?

     Abigail nodded enthusiastically, touching his chin with the tips of her fingers.  “Yup.  I wouldn’t be surprised if you grew up to look like his twin.” 

     Riley stuck a finger up his nose, much to Abigail’s disgust, and smiled happily.  He wiggled his finger and then pulled it out, gooey green gunk dripping from his nose. 

     “Ew!  Riley,” Abigail scolded, shooting up from her sitting position.  “That is disgusting!  Don’t do that.” 

     Riley held his wet finger in the air and stuck his lower lip out.  “What do I do with it?” he asked, giving Abigail an innocent puppy face look.

     Abigail sighed, trying not to smile at the adorableness of her brother, and shook her head.  “Go get a napkin in the kitchen and wipe your nose and finger on that.”

     Riley stood up and toddled awkwardly over to the kitchen, sticking his other finger in his other nostril. 

     “And remember to throw it in the trashcan when you’re done,” Abigail called after him, staying at her post in case her father came down.  “Boys,” she thought to herself, once more seating herself patiently at the foot of the stairs.  “Cute and disgusting.”

All around, Riley is a really great guy.  Sweet, sensitive, a joker, and a loving brother.


~Angelina Zoe

Abigail Blackburn: A Look at the Character

So I have this character just like floating around in my head, and I can't get her out!  Every minute of the day I'm thinking about her characteristics, her family, her job, everything.  So I'm just going to get it out.  I will not call her a new character, however.  I will call her a "refurbished character" because she was someone I had in a book a long, long, long time ago...

So, re-introducing...


Abigail Grace Blackburn

(It is very hard to find a picture of her... so this is the one I'll throw out there)

Age: 23ish-25ish
Height: 5'6
Eye color: naturally chestnut brown, but she usually wears contacts to make them green
Hair color: naturally dark, dark brown, but colors it really blonde (white, almost) and black underneath





This is how she naturally looks, the way she was made.




Personality

Before her father died, she was the happiest girl in the world, always smiling and laughing, and always there to give an encouraging word to someone.  She was sweet, sensitive, and had a dream of becoming a doctor to help people.  But that was before her father died.  Many people would call her an unfeeling monster, and she believes it, most of the time.  But every once-in-a-while she finds that she does feel, and she doesn't like it.  When she feels emotions, she tries to shut them out and works even harder to keep them away.  That is until Bailey Forwen.  :)


Family:

Gabriel Blackburn, father: Died when Abby was nine.

Maria Davis Blackburn, mother: Mother doesn't keep in contact with her at all, could care less she even has a daughter.  Only calls Abby when she needs money.

Riley Gabriel Blackburn, younger brother: Four years younger than Abby, a mechanic and sort of a drop-out when it comes to school.  The only one of her family who loves her for being her.


Background:

When Abigail was just nine years old, her father died, leaving her mother desperate for money.  Her mother began gambling, drinking, and many other nasty habits.  It was like her mother had become a whole different person who completely ignored, unacknowledged, and almost loathed Abby.  Having to take care of Riley, Abby withdrew from any affection, save that of Riley, and put all of her hurt and sadness into karate.  When she was older, she became a CIA agent, but that didn't suit her.  She then went into an intense, special soldier training program where she became even harder and less feeling, and from there became a special agent - an assassin, if you will.  On the side she was an FBI agent.


She thinks that she is invincible and nothing could happen to her.  She pushes those that love her (which aren't many) away so that her enemies (which are many) will have nothing to threaten her with.  But her life is suddenly flipped when she is unjustly framed for a crime she didn't commit, and is then forced into hiding, having no money at all.  Then she meets an unusual biochemist named Bailey Forwen, who seemed to have no worries in life at all.  That is when her world is turned upside down by this man.


Here's an excerpt from a book I'm writing about her when she was growing up and missing her father who is off at war.

In my room
On my desk
January 15

    

     Dear Daddy,

     Hi!  How are you doing over there?  I hope there isn’t anything very horrible going on over there.  Do you still have the picture of me and Riley and Mommy that we sent you last fall?  If you do, and if you’re looking at it right now, imagine me taller, because I’ve grown a whole half inch since then!  Or at least I think a half inch.  Riley has grown the most, though.  He actually almost looks like a six year old, and not a four year old.  Mommy hasn’t changed at all, except she wears more makeup now to cover up wrinkles.  I ask her every morning now when I’ll get to wear makeup, because next picture we send I want to have it on.  Then I’ll be prettier for you!  I am eight now.  Don’t you think I should at least be wearing lipstick?

     I’m supposed to say something about school in this letter, or else Mommy will probably get mad.  So here’s what I’m saying about school.  It’s going good.  I mean well (I hope Mommy doesn’t read over this letter).  I think I know what I want to be now.  A doctor.  I want to help sick children, I think.  Isn’t that what you wanted to do?  I will make you and Mommy proud of me one day, Daddy.  I will be a famous doctor and heal many people and kids, and everyone will love me.  Even Mommy.  She doesn’t seem to be proud of me, and I don’t know why.  I think it’s maybe because my grades aren’t all A’s anymore.  What?  It isn’t like it’s second grade anymore.  Third grade is harder.  But I can do it.  I’ll make Mommy proud.

     Oh, before I forget, I have to ask you a question.  Do you believe there’s a Jesus who watches over us?  I asked Mommy that, but she said no, and she also said that people who believe in God are suckers, wimps, and cowards.  I don’t know if I believe her, though.  So I decided to ask you, cause you are always right.  If you do believe in Jesus, then I was thinking that I’m going to give it a try and pray to Him and ask Him to protect you.  I hope you answer this question soon, because I want to know if it will work or not.

     I have to go now.  Riley is whining at me, trying to get me to make him a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich.  Mommy is having some “me-time”, so I have to make him one.  I love you, Daddy.  And I am so proud of you!  I’m staying brave for you. 

     See you later, Alligator!

Love,

Your Bumblebee Abigail

  p.s.

I can’t imagine how much you miss me right now, because I’m missing you more than anything in the world! 



If you don't feel bad for Abby now, you will... if only you knew what I have in store for her.  >:}  Yes, I am evil!


~Angelina Zoe

Robin Hood BBC: Christian Review

So I was searching for a good tv series to watch and found that BBC has a version of Robin Hood, which has three seasons.  It sounded really good to me, but I didn't know if it was appropriate for me.  As a result, I searched for a Christian review on it.  Couldn't find one.  So we just had to experiment.  It turned out that, that night we ended up watching three episodes!  It was so good!  Because I couldn't find any Christian reviews on it, I decided to create one.  Yes, so here is my view on BBC's Robin Hood.  I only watched three episodes (episodes 1-3), so it only has a review on those three... for right now.


The Plot:

 The first episode in the first season starts out with a man trying to shoot a deer in the King's forest.  The King's men (the at this time is gone on a crusade, leaving his brother in charge, so therefore the guards were not there by the King's orders) found the man and, as the law of the land, he was to lose a hand (or in this case a finger).  Then appears the gallant Robin Hood, threatening to shoot if the guards didn't let the man go.  To make a long story short, Robin of Locksley had been gone for a few years, fighting in a crusade with the King, and the first episode takes place as he (Robin) is returning home, along with his faithful manservant, (whom he freed) Much (yeah, I have no idea who named him that).  So this episode is mainly about Robi,coming back and seeing his old friends and the village of Locksley who have suffered greatly under the rule of the Sheriff.  Robin is greatly distressed about it.  And to add on top of that, his two friends Luke and Will Scarlet are going to be hanged for stealing flour, and he has to oversee it.  Of course he couldn't watch them die.  Robin cut loose the men being hung for their crimes, and escapes with them into the Sherwood Forest.  And thus begins the tale of Robin Hood.    


The Characters:

Robin of Locksley a.k.a. Robin Hood:  Played by actor Jonas Armstrong.  Lord of Locksley until he became a bandit, fighting for the poor.




Much: Played by actor Sam Troughton.  Manservant of Robin Hood during the crusade until he was freed for his services.  Very loyal to Robin Hood.




Maid Marian: Played by actress Lucy Griffiths.  Daughter to the former Sheriff of Nottingham and also former love intrest of Robin Hood.  She holds a very deep grudge towards him for going off fighting in the crusade.




Sir Guy of Gisborne: Played by actor Richard Armitage (yes, it's Thorin!).  Master-at-arms and "servant" to the Sheriff of Nottingham.  Has a crush on Maid Marian and hates Robin Hood.




Sheriff of Nottingham: Played by actor Keith Allan.  A dastardly man, he is the slimy, slippery, cruel, and nasty Sheriff of Nottingham.





Warnings:

The first episode has a scene towards the very beginning where Robin Hood and Much stop at a peasant and his daughter's house, trading work for food.  The peasant's daughter is infatuated with Robin and it's seen she lures him alone and talks to him seductively.  It shows many passionate kisses between the two for a very long time.  Before it got too serious, the girl's father chased him away.  And there was only one bad word I counted.  Although back then it was a term for a donkey, so it might not have been bad to them.  Other than that, though, I found the first three episodes to be very enjoyable.  I would not let younger children watch, however, for there is a scene where the Sheriff brutally announces that he will cut out the tongues of anyone who will not tell him where Robin was.  It shows nothing, but still the thought of it makes me cringe.  There are also a few fighting scenes (a bunch, actually), but nothing bad at all.


The Overview:

Overall, I found Robin Hood to be a very entertaining series.  I don't know about the newer episodes (again, I only have watched the first three), but I have high hopes for them!  I give Robin Hood four stars out of five.  Definitely something worth watching.


~Angelina Zoe