The Ramblings of a Writer

Inkpop, Josh Hutcherson, and Sleep

2012-03-03T21:00:00.001-05:00

I know I’ve been M.I.A. for quite a bit, and I apologize for that. I’ve been struggling with geometry homework and trying to finish “The Things That Break Us”. While neither of those tasks have been a complete success, I have read a lot more recently than I have been in the past few months.

So, I’m guessing you all already know that inkpop has been sold to Figment. Which basically means, inkpop is gone. There’s no way to sugarcoat what HarperCollins did, but it’s done and over with. I’ve made the switch to Figment, and it’s not too bad. Look me up on there and shoot me a message or follow me (My username is Ashley C. Nicole)

In other news, I’m stoked for the release of The Hunger Games. I went and saw Journey 2 with my family and my friend a week or two ago. Josh Hutcherson did not disappoint, I’ll tell you that. Look at him, so modest!

In case you can’t tell, I have a strong love for this boy. If I were older, or if he was younger, and I was famous, or he wasn’t famous, we’d totally be together. (Read: there’s no chance of me having Josh’s babies. Ever.)

Anyway, here are some other Peeta/Josh pictures that I love.

So, yep. There you go. You can thank me later.

I talked about inkpop and Josh, so what’s left? Oh, yeah. Sleep. I am exhausted. I think I’m getting sick, but I’m not ready to admit that, because I’ve got a health final on Monday that I can’t miss. (I know, health? What the heck?) I actually took a nap earlier, but I am tired yet again. I hate falling asleep so early, but it’s not like I’m doing anything productive besides Facebook-stalking and scrolling through pages on WeHeartIt.

Well, I think that’s all. Feel free to email me (in the side bar, for publishers/authors) if you’re an inkie dealing with the change. Otherwise, I’ll be posting again soon!

Falling All Over Myself

2012-02-11T11:37:00.001-05:00

Lately, I’ve been more clumsy than ever. As in, falling in mud or bringing down a whole shelf of my closet. As for the mud incident, it’s happened twice.

In public.

I run. I slip. My feet go up. My butt goes down. Mud embeds itself into my skin and clothes. Truly tragic, I tell you. The shelf issue wasn’t really all that bad. I just managed to fall sideways off of my stool in my closet, and the shelf did not want to support. (The wall didn’t want to support the shelf, either. I think we all are in need of a better support system.)

So, what’s the point to this rambling? Well, I hope you can work a scene like one of those into your story for comic relief. Or have your character trip up the steps in a school of 2,000 people that are always moving, always going places. (I was fine, of course. Just a bit pink in the face.)

The other point to this, though, is to bring up embarrassment. In life, we’re all faced with times when we trip (and fall) or spill something down our shirt on our way to the bus stop and we’re forced to explain it all day. I think, what matters more than the actual event, is how we choose to handle it.

Example 1: When I slipped and fell in mud for the first time, I was at a carnival that was bursting with people. I was chasing my friend one moment, and the next, I was on the ground with my jaw dropped. It hadn’t even rained in weeks, and yet there was a lovely mud puddle for me to fall right into. I got up, walked over to my friend, sat down next to her on the curb and refused to leave until my mom pulled up in front of us half an hour later.

Was that the right thing to do? Probably not, but it felt like it. It felt safer than walking around with my shorts glued to my butt with mud.

Example 2: When the mud took me the second time, I was on a retreat with my church. I was with the same friend as before, and we were outside for “free time”. When she went over to sit down on a bench, I followed. It was muddy, so I tried to hop over to her to not get my shoes dirty. I fell, of course. I was on the ground, soaked in muddy water. And you know what I did? I laughed until I couldn’t breathe. I laughed until tears were streaming down my face, because I knew there was no use in getting up and running.

Was that better than example 1? I’d like to think so. I didn’t feel the burning embarrassment as much. It was easier to laugh, too. Laughing’s healthy for people.

So, yeah. I just rambled about how klutzy I am for a few paragraphs, but the message is simple. Laugh at yourself before other people get the chance to. It leads to less embarrassment on your part, less awkwardness after, and you’ll be happy if you’re laughing.

P.S. How do you like the new layout? The new theme? My new signature?

I’ve found a new favorite author . . .

2012-01-21T14:19:00.001-05:00

John Green. He is hands-down amazing, and I am in love with his books. I know it’s been a while since my last book review, and I really do apologize, but I’ve been reading only crap for school that no one really wants to read a review about. Anyway, here’s my review of a John Green book.

Title: The Fault in Our Stars

Author: John Green

Summary: Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumors in her lungs... for now.
Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumors tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.
Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

Stars: 5

Rate: 9

Pros: This book is realistic, as in life happens, and it’s not a sugar-coated happy ending. The characters were three-dimensional and not perfect, which made them in a very hypocritical way, perfect. Green really made everything come together in this story in a way that made sense.

Cons: I cried. I bawled like a baby with tears streaming down my face. Legitimate cons? The relationship was a bit fast, but Green made that work all right, too.

Overall Recommendation: Read it. It is one of my top five favorite books that I have ever read. The characters, the story, the ending . . . it’s all perfect. I loved this book so much that I went and bragged about it to three different people right away. If you’re looking for a good book about growing up and young love, read it.

Don’t forget the tissues.

This ain’t a fairytale . . . .

2012-01-13T18:03:00.001-05:00

Oh, Taylor Swift, how you sum up my life.

Recently, I started working on a new project of sorts with two other girls on inkpop. It’s a collaboration of letters, actually. They’re all from us to three different boys. I think it’s really unique just because we don’t know if there’s a happy ending in the future. We’re playing it day-by-day and writing these letters daily. If it sounds appealing to you, go here to read: http://www.inkpop.com/fiction/memoir/words-i-didnt-say

I’ll love you forever!

All right, so my self-promoting is over. I figured I would update my blog in honor of this lovely holiday. Friday the 13th is one of my favorite days, honestly. I don’t really know why, but it’s pretty amazing to see of all of the superstitious hype, don’t you think?

So, a few updates . . .

In the music world: We the Kings is going on tour with Mayday Parade, which is so amazing. If you snag tickets, let me know. Who doesn’t want to bring their favorite blogger along?

In the movie world: In the distant future, I’m looking forward to seeing The Hunger Games even though I haven’t read the books. If you’re looking for something a bit closer, Beauty and the Beast is coming back to theaters. Make sure to check out The Vow, starring Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams in February!

In the book world: I’m reading a series by Donita K. Paul, which is really good. It’s a little religious, but not overbearingly so. If you’re looking for more general reading, I recommend preordering Lauren Oliver’s sequel to Delirium, Pandemonium. I know that is one book I can not wait for!

In my world: (You had to know it was coming) I’m finishing up my first semester of high school and enjoying it. Finals are sure to make me a bit more dreary in the upcoming weeks, so be warned for depressing posts about mindless teachers. I’ve heard a lot about high school sweethearts and taking every chance you get to fall in love, but I’m kind of losing hope. Seeing as the boy I like is one of those popular, gorgeous ones. As in, our relationship is basically:

(Me being the random citizen) Nah, I’m just kidding. We do talk, and he’s really sweet. I just don’t know if I should let myself really like him. He’s already got a line of followers. Eh. High school.

So, there are your updates for movies, music, and books. If you don’t care about my guy troubles, that’s all right. I know I’m nothing interesting, but hey, don’t hate.

New Music!!

2011-12-30T15:38:00.002-05:00

So, I love He is We so much. They're original and different and so great. If you haven't heard of them yet, you just have to listen to one song, and I swear you'll be hooked. I love them! Here is one of their newer songs from their recently released EP album, Skip to the Good Part.
So, take a listen. Leave a comment, telling me what you think, or recommend a new artist for me to check out.

Holiday Cheer and a Happy New Year

2011-12-23T17:20:00.001-05:00

I know it’s been a bit since my last post, and I greatly apologize. My English teacher swamped us with a Shakespeare project, and while I was desperately hoping for something like this:

I was left to fend for myself. I did manage to finish it and turn it in, though! I’m anxiously waiting for my grade, seeing as it decides whether or not I pass this quarter. In other good English news, I received an A on a vocab quiz today that I forgot to study for until this morning. (Don’t blame me; it’s the day before break!)

My post isn’t to ramble about my life as a freshman though. It’s actually to bring up a picture I found today on the fabulous site, weheartit.com. This picture really got me thinking, and I think it’s good to think. If you don’t, your brain might just shut off and stop working. All right, that’s unlikely, but you never know, right?

So, yes, I know it’s technically not a picture. It’s more of a quote, but still. If you had the chance to redo this year, would you? Honestly, I don’t know my answer. I think it depends on the decisions we made this year, and how we feel about them. If I had been given the chance to redo 2010, I probably would have taken it in a heartbeat. Not to really redo everything, but just to see it from a new perspective and see where everything changed.

I can’t say much on the quote, though, because it’s honestly just something to get you thinking. Though, I do want to wish you all a happy new year, whether the clock ticks over to 2012, 2011, or 2056. We can all hope for a better year, can’t we? Even if your year was great, the world could use a little bit of hope in general.

On New Year’s Eve this year, go out and have fun. Live up the last few hours of your 2011 so that when 2012 does roll around, you’re ready. Accept this year for all that’s it been and whatever it lacked, and just let it go. Holding onto the past only keeps us from embracing the future.

Here’s to hope, happiness and a delicious Christmas! Happy Holidays, everyone!

Christmas is in the air!

2011-12-13T15:22:00.001-05:00

Christmas is twelve days away, everyone, and I for one can not wait! Christmas is such a great time with all of the pretty lights and tall trees in the windows of all of the houses. If I weren’t battling a sore throat and a serious case of the sniffles, I’d love it all even more.

For those of you who don’t celebrate Christmas, I understand where you’re coming from, but you can’t tell me that all of the decorations aren’t at least a little bit pretty. Holiday cheer is practically inescapable during this time of year. What are your views on it? Do you like all of the festive blow-ups and Christmas trees dancing alongside those blasted sugar plums?

In other unrelated-to-the-holidays, today is the lovely Taylor Swift’s twenty-second birthday. She has told press that she is working on a new album already, and I am super-excited. She’s shooting for 2012 to be a big year, so I’m hoping the album will be coming out in mid 2012 and not in a year! There’s enough to keep me held over, though. Between Rascal Flatt’s tour with Hunter Hayes and He is We going on tour again, my music life is pretty much rocking right now. Make sure to check out tour schedules for the following bands/artists if you’re interested in them, because I know they’re on tour now and in the upcoming months.

Rascal Flatts/Hunter Hayes/Sara Evans

He is We/The Cab/Days Difference/Paradise Fears/The Summer Set

Also, if you’re a fan of He is We (if not, please go check them out! They deserve so much more recognition than they get now.) they have a new EP coming out on the twentieth of this month. One more week! So exciting, isn’t it?

Well, that’s all for now. Go check out those bands, tours, and have a great week! I can’t wait to see what all of those artists have coming up!

After the WriMo

2011-12-02T22:38:00.001-05:00

Today is December second, and I’m sure most of you are just now emerging back into the human world. You’re rubbing your eyes and searching for that hamster you had at the start of November. Like you all, I have spent two days recuperating and working furiously (all right, not so furiously) on a project for English. Or, unlike most of you, I guess. You’re probably too lucky to have such a horrendous report and project due for the same class.

Anyway, NaNoWriMo is over, and I’ve come out a bit wiser, a bit of an insomniac and . . . a girl who won that indefinable prize of happiness. On November 29th, I typed out the last few words of my twenty-fifth chapter and watched the word count box go up to 49,999 and then 50,000. My novel’s nowhere near done, in all honesty. I’ve still got another 40,000 words at least! I’m taking my time though. Breaks and patience are good when you can have them.

How many of you were successful this year? Was this your first NaNo? (It was my second) Make sure to check out the new things coming up on the nanowrimo.org site in the next few days if you did (or even if you didn’t) get to 50,000 words. There will be stuff to help you figure out where you go next.

By the way, if you haven’t already, go check out the NaNo toons! They’re on the NaNoWriMo site under the tab, Fun Stuff. I love these little comics, because I can actually relate! It’s a good laugh when you’re ready to claw out your eyes with the tip of your pen.

Congrats to everyone who won, an I hope to see you all back again next year. I’ll probably post some info about my NaNo novel, if you’re interested. Just check my blog when you get a chance. It’ll be up soon.

Nostalgia is a funny thing, isn’t it?

2011-11-20T19:41:00.001-05:00

Lately, I’ve been looking through pictures on weheartit, reliving memories and such. It makes me think of the first time I read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone or when I picked up my first camera. I miss those days when I was little and could blame everything on the fact that I didn’t know, or no one told me not to do it.

We all grow up a little bit too fast, don’t we? Either we’re forced to, or we believe it’ll solve all of our problems. It really doesn’t though. Just because we grew up doesn’t mean everyone else did. It doesn’t mean life will make sense, and everything will be perfect. It just means we’re stuck wishing we could go back a little bit more than before.

What is this nonsense rambling about? It’s just my way of saying to take your time. Be wild and free, laugh more than you should, and just let yourself live. The other day, I went to the mall with my friends, and we did the things regular people didn’t. We went in this Hurricane Simulator, took our picture in a cardboard cutout and just had fun. It was the happiest I’ve been in awhile.

People tell you to grow up, but then they’re saying how you shouldn’t rush these things. Life gives you so many years. Do you really want to spend more of them being mature and grown-up? Or would you rather build one more fort out of blankets and pillows? (And by the way, the picture below is just an example that I found funny)

Breaking Dawn :]

2011-11-19T00:34:00.001-05:00

So, I went tonight to see the fourth Twilight movie, Breaking Dawn. I was expecting a lot of different things, but when it comes down to it, I was impressed. It was definitely the best film of the series, in my opinion.

I’m not the biggest fan of Kristen Stewart (Sorry!) but I think she did a decent job. The make-up artists and special-effects people did a magnificent job, too! Everything looked so real and not edited. The only down fall was that Taylor Lautner was shirtless for less than a minute in the whole two hours. I was expecting a bit more in that department.

The actors were all good, and I loved the way they tied everything in. Of course, parts were left out or skipped over. Reneesme was shown in such a detailed way. . . I love Jacob’s imprint!!! Yeah, it’s disturbing, but the way they show it in the movie, it makes sense.

Over all, I’m giving this movie 4 out of 5 stars. Mainly, it was a good movie, but a bit too graphic for my taste. If you’re squeamish about blood or the sound of breaking bones, make sure you have someone with you to shield yourself with in the last ten minutes of the movie.

Coincidence that as I type this the Breaking Dawn trailer is on my TV? Oh, how funny. Well, I recommend that you go see the movie, because I have no idea what I’m going to do until November for part two!

Tumblr, my friends?

2011-11-07T18:32:00.001-05:00

So, today I was talking to a friend of mine and she told me that she has a Tumblr that she loves. I started thinking about my lonesome Tumblr account that I made months ago. I’m going to try it out and see how it goes. Honestly, I’ll probably come back to blogspot in less than a week because I already have my followers and I know how to operate this site a lot better.

Do any of you have a Tumblr? Would you follow me if I switched? (Don’t worry, I won’t judge you if you say no)

Otherwise, have fun with November, guys! NaNoWriMo has begun and is in full speed. I just wanted to post and let you know about my Tumblr experiment and get feedback

‘Mazin Music Sundays!! :D

2011-10-30T20:46:00.001-04:00

Yeah, it’s been a while, hasn’t it? While I battle the cold and too-soon snow, I get to bundle up inside and watch Once Upon a Time, on ABC. It’s really a great show; you should check it out if you haven’t already.

Anyway, I’m here to post some music for all of you. It’s an older song by All Time Low, but it has a good beat. The lyrics sound mean, in a way, but I think it’s something people can relate to.

You probably think I’m crazy . . . well, happy Halloween everyone!

Surprised I Haven’t Posted About It, Yet?

2011-10-27T20:17:00.001-04:00

Yeah, me too. Honestly, I’m a little shocked, if I do say so myself. What is she rambling about, you may be asking. Well, NaNoWriMo, of course! If you don’t know what National Novel Writing Month, here’s a cute little comic that will explain while I sigh and rub my temples at your lack of needed knowledge.

I wish I had great friends like that. I mean, my friends are great. Probably some of the best friends out there, but they just don’t have that ‘let’s drop everything and lock ourselves in a room with only a laptop and a pack of saltines for a month’ kind of attitude I’m prepared to take on full-heartedly. Of course, I have high school honor classes, numerous family functions and other random nonsense activities, but I’m willing to try this NaNo ride again.

Last year was not successful for me at all. I was so fed up with the book I was writing that I gave up on it. (Shh, don’t tell anyone!) What are some things I learned about NaNo? Well, here are five tips from little ol’ me.

1. You need to write a story you like. It can’t be an off-the-wall idea you thought of at midnight on Halloween. You have to really believe in your story and trust that it’ll go far. You and your novel need to be connected!

2. Rid yourself of drama this week. Last year, November was filled with drama for me. I lost my lifelong friend to the popular girls, and it ended with an explosion that could rival The Final Battle of Harry Potter. So, this week, get the drama out and over with. Don’t let it boil till mid-November. It’s better to fix things now, instead of later. (I’ve realized if you leave your characters alone for too long, they’ll do naughty things with each other, then argue and complain before resorting to cannibalism.)

3. Stock up on good snacks. Really, who doesn’t like to munch while they’re thinking? My personal favorites are Goldfish, Kellogg Fruit Crisps, and soft pretzels (preferably from Philly’s Pretzels, but any are good!). Great drinks to wash down all that salt? Arnold Palmer’s Half Lemonade and Half Iced Tea from your nearest Wawa or old-fashioned Stewart’s root beer.

4. Throw all editing techniques out the window. Go right now and open your window and toss out all the knowledge of commas, semicolons, and adjective usage. Make sure it lands somewhere comfy, though, because you’ll need it for December, when you’re clawing at your eyes over what you’ve written.

5. Make a playlist of your favorite songs. Let the music be your literal soundtrack for the next month. No need to listen to the washer running or the telephone ringing upstairs (leave it, Sally’s saving the world right now. She wouldn’t stop for a telemarketer.) Music makes me feel happy and energetic. If you don’t have an iPod, use the program ‘Spotify’. It’s so great! I’m using it right now actually . . .

What else can you do? Go online and look up ‘write or die’! Better yet, I’ll give you a link: http://writeordie.com/

On the right-hand column, you’ll see a little box where you can enter info such as a word goal, grace period, etc. It’s a program that lets you type, but if you stop, noises and alarms go off. I find it helpful, especially for English essays.

Until November starts, we have a few days. To get prepared, use these sites/forms:

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2011/10/nano-prep-planning-your-novels.html

http://vampisthenewblack.wordpress.com/2011/09/02/planning-for-nano-11/

http://novelnovice.com/2011/10/25/nanowrimo-prep-week-4-make-a-plan/

I wish you all good luck on this NaNo journey! I’ll try and post again before November, but once NaNo starts, I’ll either be too busy to write or you’ll be too busy to read my useless posts of rambling. Talk to you all again soon!

The Son of Neptune

2011-10-26T20:09:00.001-04:00

I promised a review, didn’t I? Well, here it is! My book review for the second book in the Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan. Enjoy!

Title: The Son of Neptune

Summary:

Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,
To storm or fire the world must fall.
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.
Percy is confused. When he awoke from his long sleep, he didn't know much more than his name.Somehow Percy manages to make it to a camp for half-bloods, despite the fact that he has to keep killing monsters along the way. The only thing he can recall from his past is another name: Annabeth
Hazel is supposed to be dead. When she lived before, she didn't do a very good job of it. Sure, she was an obedient daughter, even when her mother was possessed by greed. But that was the problem - when the Voice took over he mother and commanded Hazel to use her "gift" for and evil purpose, Hazel couldn't say no. Now because of her mistake, the future of the world is at risk.
Frank is a klutz. His grandmother says he is descended from heroes and can be anything he wants to be, but he doesn't see it. He doesn't even know who his father is. He keeps hoping Apollo will claim him, because the only thing he is good at is archery - although not good enough to win camp war games. His bulky physique makes him feel like an ox, especially infront of Hazel, his closest friend at camp. He trusts her completely - enough to share the secret he holds close to his heart.

Beginning at the "other" camp for half-bloods and extending as far as the land beyond the gods, this breathtaking second installment of the Heroes od Olympus series introduces new demigods, revives fearsome monsters, and features other remarkable creatures, all destined to play a part in the Prophesy of Seven.

Stars: 5

Rate: 9.5

Pros: Well, I love Greek mythology. It’s just so interesting and exciting. There are so many back-stories and secret tales. Rick Riordan crafts such a unique blend of the mortal world and both Roman and Greek mythology. The characters in this novel really come to life, and I love how Riordan didn’t wait on the romance this time around. I love a little bit of romance mixed in, if it’s done right, and here, it definitely was.

Cons: It ended! I have to wait another year for the next book. Realistic cons? I think Riordan did open up a lot of loose ends that he left opened. Of course, there’s another sequel, so I can’t be too picky.

Overall Recommendation: This book was well-written and it reminded me why I love Rick Riordan’s books so much! If you like mythology or have read any of the Percy Jackson books, you’ll love this series. It’s got the components of Percy’s series – including him! – with more added to flesh it out.

I know I’ll be buying the next book as soon as it comes out. Here’s a little bit of the prophecy from ‘The Son of Neptune’ about the third book, ‘The Mark of Athena’.

Wisdom's daughter walks alone,

The mark of Athena burns through Rome.

Another day in paradise . . .

2011-10-25T20:21:00.001-04:00

So, I’m currently reading ‘The Son of Neptune’ by Rick Riordan and loving it! I’m seriously in love with this book. It has such a rich storyline and the most unique characters. My obsession with Greek mythology may deserve some credit for my love of this book, too, though.

I’m hoping to have a review for you guys on Thursday, seeing as I’m almost done reading and I have a half-day on Thursday. I’ll have a bit more time to just relax and chill

Some things you should know . . .

Hunter Hayes’ new album is golden. I’m in love with him and his music. No questions asked.
Rascal Flatts is going on tour this winter, and their opening acts are Hunter Hayes and Sara Evans, so you know it’ll be a great show. Get your tickets, and you may see me!
Read ‘The Son of Neptune’! Right now! Go buy it!
You obviously have problems if you haven’t gone to Barnes and Noble or ticketmaster yet. Go! Now!

If for some outlandish reason, you can’t do any of my orders . . . erm, I mean, suggestions, then enjoy some music from The Maine below. Listen to the lyrics and find the meaning. Hint: It’s really not about a simple girl in a simple world.

She could be money, cars, fear of the dark . . .

Stay happy, live free, don’t regret anything.

~The Writer

Freeeeeee, free as we’ll ever be . . .

2011-10-20T21:13:00.001-04:00

Hey guys! I know it’s been a few days, and you’re probably starting to think I only blog ever few million centuries when the moon is full and that certain shade of blue that isn’t quite gray, but certainly not cerulean.

Or you think I’m crazy, which I will fully agree to, but don’t expect me to try and change that. I’m stuck like this till my very last breath!

So, my volleyball season is ending quick, and I’m finding my schedule’s a bit more freed up. I’ll have time to blog, write more, and occasionally get more than seven hours of sleep per night. (I’m sorry, but it’s just not cutting it anymore!)

I recently started another blog of sorts, but it’s not like this one. It’s letters from people to others. It’s a chance for everyone to say what they have to say and not care who reads it, because it’s anonymous. Interested? Go to http://www.dearyou---sincerelyme.blogspot.com to learn more! I’d love for my followers to follow and view that site, too!

That’s all for today. I’ll have some sort of inspirational post for all of you tomorrow night, hopefully. For now, stay hopeful, keep smiling and rock on

Oh, high school girls . . .

2011-10-14T23:59:00.001-04:00

Yes, I have fallen prey to the down sides of high school. The elbow-juts in the hallways, the insane number of assignments and homework (wait, you mean that’s due next Friday, right? Oh, this Friday? As in, two days from now? Oh, all right. I see.) If the awkward side-steps and eternally dislocated shoulders weren’t making themselves loud and clear, the smack in the face today definitely did.

It was a run-of-the-mill volleyball practice. Or, no, not really. We had to start practice late so the JV/Varsity girls could get their gym set up and ready to go after the assemblies that had taken it over for the day. It was already raining outside, sending breezes of water into our gym and making it awfully chilly, if I do say so myself.

So, for those of you who think volleyball is just an intense version of ‘keep-it-up’, it’s really not. I wish so. To give you the jist, there are three positions. Outside, middle and setter. The ball goes to an outside or middle, is passed to the setter who then hits it to an outside or middle and they (hopefully) smack it down over the net.

There’s a rough picture for you. To practice, we split into two groups for hitting drills. The middles go on one side and the outsides on the other. Setters set us the ball, we hit it over. Simple, right? Yeah, if only it could be a tad bit more easy.

Anyway, that long, rambling explanation probably wasn’t needed, but you’ll understand why I was practicing with girls I really don’t like that much and not my friends on the team. I am a middle, along with four other girls out of our twenty-person team, so there’s a difference. While I was making my approach (running to the net with fancy footwork) I felt the ball hit the back of my head. It happens. I was like, ‘eh, whatever’.

And then it hit my neck.

And my shoulder.

And then a voice said, “Crap, I missed.”

Then, it hit my head in the back. Yeah, she didn’t miss that time.

It’s one thing for your friend to be funny and toss the ball at you, but to have a girl you know doesn’t like you throw the ball at your head repeatedly . . . not the best feeling in the world. I tend to have trouble controlling my anger, too. Honestly, get me started and I won’t stop. Being a writer gives me quick and easy access to thousands of metaphors and similes that I can throw out for hours on end. I just won’t stop.

So, this post isn’t to bash the bully. It isn’t to make you feel sorry for me and run over with a box of tissues. It’s just to show that we all have bad days or people that annoy the crap out of us. In case my post wasn’t as lighthearted as you expected and now you’re feeling depressed, enjoy this picture of a psychotic kitty!

Still not feeling lighthearted and fluffy? This kitty’s head sure does.

Bye for now, bloggers! I’ll see you all next week! By the way, check out my new site, http://www.dearyou---sincerelyme.blogspot.com!!

Oh my gosh. Why didn’t someone tell me?

2011-10-07T21:52:00.001-04:00

I was just on Facebook, looking at awkward pictures and reading stupid statuses when I saw a post from my boy, Hunter Hayes. HE'S RELEASING HIS ALBUM EARLY ON HIS WEBSITE! A 72 HOUR LISTENING PARTY! This boy is gorgeous (just look at him), genius . . . I'm hopelessly in love with him :) So, go to http://www.hunterhayes.com and start listening. Embed the words into your brain. Remember the glory, because this kid is going to go far. He's going to take the world by storm, I'm promising you.

That's it for now! I've got to go listen to Hunter and breathe in his music!!

A Letter to a “Bio Buddy”

2011-10-07T15:33:00.001-04:00

Dear Seth,

You’ve completely changed all of my expectations for high school. Do you realize that? On that first day, you were a brief brush.

Literally. We were in biology, just the freshmen that day. You had to stand next to me to see the fish tank, and your skin was like fire against mine. It was a butterfly feeling, really. When you turned to face me, we were only a centimeter apart. You blushed and whispered, “Sorry.”

I didn’t know you were in my study hall block, Seth. I didn’t know I’d be counting the moments until I’d see you again. Every study hall was a game of laughter and secret smiles. You’re such a golden boy. You ask how the teacher’s day is going, compliment everyone and do what you’re told. To top it off, you’re a wrestler and have the muscle to show it, and you’re brilliant.

Do you have any flaws, Seth? Or is this all just an act? Walls you put up to keep people from really seeing you? I’ve been trying to figure you out for weeks now. You’re always so happy, so carefree. I wish I could be like that.

I’ve been trying to decide whether or not I like you, Seth. I mean, obviously, you’re sweet, caring and cute. Liking someone though . . . liking them to the point where it could become love . . . I don’t know if I’m ready to join your fan club. You’ve got girls blushing and giggling around every corner. You’ve even got poor Miss Rivera tongue-tied.

If I only saw you, I wouldn’t have these feelings. You’d just be another boy in my classes. It’s more though. In biology, you lean your chair back and let your head fall on my desk while I read, watching me with your light grey eyes. Once I reached out and ran my finger over the top of your head while you sat thee. Your hair was so soft, Seth.

When we were in study hall, the juniors and seniors were giving you a tough time for talking to me. They weren’t being mean, really, just annoying. They kept asking if we were friends, and I wanted to know the answer as much as they did. Maybe more.

You gave me a smile and said, “We’re bio buddies.”

Maybe you were only thinking about biology class and how we sit so close to each other, but I started to think of more. Bio means life, Seth. You basically said we were buddies for life.

Of course, you probably didn’t even realize that. Still, I wouldn’t mind being bio buddies with you.

Seth, you’re this whirlwind of a boy. I know you’ll be voted ‘Most Popular’ and ‘Nicest’ in the yearbook. I know you’ll have the whole graduating class on their feet when you walk across the stage in four years. I know you’re going to go far, Seth.

Why am I hesitant then? Why don’t I just accept that I like you and be done with it?

Because I’m not ready to be a follower. I see the way girls look at you. Even the sophomores in our biology class trip over their feet to see you. There’s already so many girls chasing after you.

Then there’s the small fact of my friend, Nathan. We’ve been friends for years now and I really started to like him. It doesn’t matter that his last relationship ended in flames or that he doesn’t even recognize my feelings. . . I can’t give up on him, Seth. I just can’t.

I’m giving you the choice. Either let me in and know the real you or just let me go. I’m not ready to add my name to your fan club, Seth. I’m sorry, but I can’t. I’ll need more of a reason to.

Love,

The girl who can’t love you

The Son of Neptune!!

2011-10-06T21:50:00.001-04:00

So, in case you haven’t heard, don’t know or just really don’t care . . . I wanted to let you all know that Rick Riordan released the second book in the ‘The Heroes of Olympus’ series! It’s titled ‘The Son of Neptune’ and focuses on Percy Jackson and two new characters, Frank and Hazel.

I haven’t gotten the chance to buy the book yet. It came out on October 4, but I’ve been too busy to even think about it until now. This four day weekend is going to be spent catching up on me-time and reading the books my teachers detest.

Have you read ‘The Son of Neptune’ yet? Want to read it? Comment and let me know your thoughts on Rick Riordan and the books he’s written. If you haven’t read any, I really advise you to read ‘The Lost Hero’! It was definitely my favorite, and if you need more reason to read, check out my review. (Just scroll down the right side of my blog and click on the little link that says ‘book review’)

Happy Columbus Day weekend, everyone! Stay happy, live free.

Blogging with Windows Live!

2011-09-19T20:25:00.001-04:00

So, this is my first time to try and blog with Windows Live on my new laptop. I’ve never used the program before so I’m hoping it works and posts correctly and all that. This is mainly just a test post, but feel free to comment with your feelings about Windows Live if you’ve ever used it!

'Mazin Music Sundays . . . LADY ANTEBELLUM

2011-09-18T10:13:00.002-04:00

So, while I wait for my homework to download to my computer (why are all of my teachers so internet-obsessed these days?) I decided I should at least keep up this daily bit of music for all of you.

This song is called 'Dancin' Away With My Heart by the wonderful Lady Antebellum. It's a song of young love and the one who got away, or at least that's how I saw it. It's such a sweet song, and from such a great, new album.

Go buy yourself their newest album, Own the Night, and listen to the other wonderful songs! Hope you all have a good week, and I'll see you next weekend when the smoke clears!

I'm still alive . . . somewhat

2011-09-15T19:57:00.003-04:00

High school is tiring. It's that tired that clings to your eyelids from the second you wake up to the moment you lay your head down that night. With my alarm clock going off at six every morning and volleyball ending at five, it's a long, nonstop eleven hours in between. Then there's homework, dinner and of course, I've got to socialize with my family at the very least.

It's not all bad, though, I guess. I feel a lot more freedom in high school than I did previous years. It's just a long day, you know? You can feel the past changing and the future looming ahead a lot more. People change, and so does life. It's one of those things that happened to sneak up on me.

This post is mainly to let you guys know that I won't be posting as often. I'm really sorry, but it's just not possible. Once things calm down, I'll be back to my usual schedule and I'll make sure to get my "Dear Friend" letter up and going and keep the "Mazin' Music Sundays" alive!

For now, you can expect a post per week, at best. Comment on my posts to let me know you care if you read this, by the way! I'd love support from fellow high-school go-ers. Until next week, though, I must say ciao!

By the way, check out Lady Antebellum's newest album "Own the Night"! My personal favorite off the album is "Cold as Stone", especially the musical bit at the end!

I'm back!

2011-09-11T16:32:00.003-04:00

I realized today that I've been missing since August 27 . . . so sorry about that guys! I started high school on the sixth of September and it's been a whirlwind week since then. In my four days of school, I managed to get only one late so far! I'm hoping that's an achievement on my part.
So, today is September 11. I'm sure that, wherever you are, whoever you may be, you know what happened on this day ten years ago. A terrorist attack on the United States led to the falling of the World Trade Center (Twin Towers) and ended so many lives too soon. Even in those moments of sorrow, our country came together to save those that were still breathing, mourn for those who weren't.

When I see videos of the towers collapsing and burning, my heart breaks. Those tiny dots you see hurtling out of windows and to the ground below? God, it's just so, so sad.

We all have different views on 9/11. Maybe you lost someone, maybe you didn't. I didn't lose anyone I knew, but I was only in kindergarten. What about you? Where were you the day the Earth stood still?

While you dwell on the past for just a few moments, here's a favorite song of mine by the wonderful Toby Keith.

Stay free, Americans. Live happy.

A Letter to a Friend

2011-08-27T12:55:00.004-04:00

I just made the decision that once a week, I'll write a letter to someone and post it on this blog. Of course, I'll change names and such. The letter may not always be to a friend, too. This week, I'm writing to someone I met and can't seem to get out of my head . . . if you know what I mean.

Dear Nathan,

Remember when everyone thought I liked your best friend? At first, I did. It wore off, though. He could be annoying, in all honesty. The time I spent with both of you . . . people thought I was trying to get close to him, but I wasn't.

I started to love your quirky little facts and gorgeous eyes. You made me laugh and smile more than I had in awhile. We started hanging out more and more, with our friends, of course. Still, though, you made me feel like we were in our own little world. It was a magical feeling.

When we went to that camp at the end of the school year, everyone was having fun. We played tag in the pool, snuck off to the gazebo and spent the day together. When you risked detention to sit next to me on the bus (boy-girl seating was frowned upon!) my heart fluttered.

Was I just a speed bump? Something to stop at and pay attention to, but only for a moment? I really thought we were going somewhere, thought we were becoming something.

And then, a week later, my friend was texting me to tell me you asked her out. I played the role of a good friend, patching up your arguments and letting you two be happy. It broke me inside. It broke my heart into pieces that nothing could put back together. When she broke up with you, I waited. I gave you time.

We were at your friend's house the other day, and I thought of telling you. It's been months since you dated her. Would it be too soon for me to tell you how I really felt? We were talking when you looked at your friend and then at me. You pointed to me, made a heart and then to your friend.

Can't you forget about him? I don't love him, and I never will. I want you to be my friend again, Nathan. Can't we please be friends, like we were before I liked your friend and you dated my best friend?

Please,

Ashley

It's Friday, Friday, Friday!

2011-08-26T16:53:00.002-04:00

Yeah, who would've guessed? I'm a closet Rebecca Black fan.

No, not really. Although, her songs are catchy.

Anyway, I decided to post today about what's been going on. The blog's been updated. I took away a few widgets, changed the template and switched a few things. What do you think? Does it look better now than before? If you have a scroller along the bottom of your screen, you can view my whole blog by changing your zoom percentage to 80% in the bottom right-hand corner. It won't let me change it, so sorry for that.

I'm glad that my twenty followers are nice enough to check in on my blog every now and then. Tell other people about this random blog of ramblings, too, guys! I'll be reviewing books, giving advice and showing you the latest in the music world.

School's starting soon for me, but I hope to be on often. Don't forget to stop by and tell me how your first days are going, no matter what grade you're going into.

It's time for me to go, but I wish you a good last weeks of summer and the best of luck in school!

And the storm rolls in . . .

2011-08-25T18:07:00.002-04:00

Isn't that picture gorgeous? I like to think so, seeing as I took it. The sunset was really pretty that night in Jamaica and I just couldn't resist capturing it.

Well, that's pretty much the happiest part of this post. These last few days have been eventful and chaotic in my house. I started volleyball on Monday and had a good time, but during practice yesterday I got my foot caught in someone's open duffel bag and twisted my ankle.

It was a lovely trip to the doctor and then to get x-rays done. Turns out, my ankle was sprained, and now I get to wear a lovely little ankle brace for the next week or so. I guess I really shouldn't be running without looking down every few seconds, right?

My sister had to go to the doctor today for what looked like a tick bite. She was diagnosed with lyme disease, but she'll be all right. It just needs a good dose of medicine every day for the next two weeks. She doesn't seem to mind too much, so I'm guessing she's feeling the same as she usually does.

The icing on this wonderful cake of pessimism? There's a hurricane heading for my state, and it's supposed to be pretty bad. I hope it's a little better than expected. I'm crossing my fingers and the toes I can!

Hope all of you are having a better week than me, but hey . . . after every storm comes a rainbow!

By the way, what comes after a hurricane? A firework/rainbow/unicorn explosion? I hope so!

I promised pictures . . . .

2011-08-21T15:43:00.004-04:00

Here are pictures from my trip to Jamaica. I think the little captions and pictures themself will do a better job of explaining and showing you guys what my week was like. (And yes, I know this is my third post today . . . don't judge me!)

Here's me, my dad and my little sister playing volleyball in the pool. I practically lived in that pool all week!

A heart I drew in the sand on the beach. I tried to get a picture when the water washed up, but it just looked like half the heart was missing. :(

They have these super pretty bright flowers in Jamaica. I saw one outside of our room and took a picture. It's brighter in real life, but still so pretty!

Glass bottom boat! We went out and got to look down at all the fishies swimming around out in the ocean. It was really cool!

There was a Sesame Street parade, with tons of costumes, drummers and cool stuff. You can see Elmo on the left side of the picture!

One of the instructors jumped off the boat when we went on the Glass Bottom Boat and picked up prickly starfish and put them on his head. Eeekk!

Another picture of the boat and the beautiful beach!

I'll have some pictures of the sunset and whatnot later. They're on my dad's camera, because I forgot to bring mine the night we walked on the beach. Check back tomorrow to see some really pretty sunsets!

'Mazin Music Sundays . . . HUNTER HAYES

2011-08-21T15:40:00.002-04:00

Listen to the boy who's currently on tour with Taylor Swift. He can play over thirty instruments, started performing at age four and has the cutest songs.

If you like him, go buy his four songs on iTunes! He really deserves any fame and publicity he can get. He's so sweet!

Back in the States!

2011-08-21T13:27:00.003-04:00

Yes, I have survived Jamaica and made it home in one piece. It's an awful big accomplishment if I do say so myself. My trip was good, but not excellent. It was pretty, yes. There were pools, yes. The ocean was clear, yes.

Was there internet access? No. Was the hotel service magnificent? No. Was snorkeling awesome? No.

That last one is mainly for all of the people that told me to go snorkeling.
"You'll have fun!"
"Don't be a wuss; go and snorkel!"
"So, you're just going to be lazy and sit on the beach all day?"

I went snorkeling to please those people, you know. It was terrifying. The water was rough, I couldn't see a thing and, the icing on the cake . . . I cut my foot on the coral! Three pretty little pieces of purple coral were lodged in my foot, and I had to go to the hospital nurse to get one removed. The other two are still in my foot.

All in all, though, it was a good trip. It was really nice to just get away from everything, you know? You're probably wondering what else I did. (Did she really get coral in her foot and that was it?) I did a ton of stuff, and I'll be posting pictures soon.

Have a good Sunday, guys! I'll post some music for y'all later!! :)

The friends we make, the lives we shake

2011-08-08T18:36:00.006-04:00

After reading Tangled by Carolyn Mackler (check out the review, guys!) I realized that our lives are all based on a million chance meetings . . . like the people I met at the Taylor Swift concert a few nights ago. Or the friend I went with. Maybe I'll never see those new people again, or maybe, one day they'll replace that friend I went with. It's all so random . . . this life, this world.

Without friends, we wouldn't be the people we are, right? We all have friends, different kinds with their own little quirks. I decided to write a post about those friends, or, about my friends. Maybe you'll be able to relate, maybe not.

My Best Friend:

We love the same music, books, snacks . . . we're practically twins in some aspects. Despite that fact, we do have our differences.

She loves softball, I'll always be a die-hard volleyball fan. She goes to a personal trainer, I go to the gym. She doesn't like to write short stories, I live off of them.

So, we have our differences. The key to our friendship though: we let things be. There's no arguments over stupid things, no begging for sleepovers, no persistent text-messaging and calling. We talk when we want, say what we want to say and do what we feel like. Friendship should come easily (that's not to say it's all butterflies and rainbows, you've gotta make an effort); if you've gotta really work at it, it's time to leave it.

The Know-It-All:

We all have that friend, right? Either they're always getting top grades or they know about the latest gossip, and they flaunt it. It can get annoying sometimes.

My friend is super-smart, and she doesn't let me forget. While, sometimes, I want to narrow my eyes and stick my tongue out at her, I just remind myself that she might know all about math and reading, but there's stuff she doesn't know.

Keeping things light lets us stay friends with each other. We don't argue and we don't get annoyed when the other wins (whether that be a geometry final or a writing contest). Friends shouldn't argue over the little things. So stop yourself if you find yourself bickering without reason.

The Butterfly:

I once heard about a girl being described as a butterfly, no faster was she tacked down than she was escaping and running off. My friend reminds me of Bridget from the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. She can't be tied down.

Not by a boyfriend. Not by a friend. Not by anyone.

I used to try and keep a leash on her, but there's no point. Friends like these come and go, and you just have to let yourself have a good time while it lasts. They come quickly, but they leave oh so soon.

So, enjoy them. Let them in, but know they will go. Butterflies can never stay forever, you know.

Here Tomorrow, Gone Today:

She laughs at your jokes, agrees with your decisions and makes you feel like you could be friends forever. Then, suddenly, you're realizing she wasn't always like this. She used to be mean, used to be evil.

People change in the blink of an eye. One second, they're an enemy and then . . . they're an ally, standing beside you. It all changes so much, though. I once had a friend who promised me forever. When the tide shifted and the sun stopped shining. . . friendship's a fickle thing. It comes and it goes. It rains and it snows.

Here's a poem I wrote after the fallout of a really, really long friendship:

Our Friendship’s Fall

Friendship is built from
Love, hope and trust.
When we’re little, it’s formed
From faith and pixie dust.

It’s supposed
To be strong.
It supposed to
Last long.

So why didn’t ours?
One day, it was there.
Now it’s gone.
This doesn’t seem fair.

We were so close;
I knew your dreams.
You knew my wishes,
But nothing is as it seems.

Was I just a toy?
Something to be thrown away?
Is it because I changed;
Stood up for myself that day?

You promised that we would
Be best friends forever,
So why has our friendship
Suddenly been severed?

We’re both at fault;
We can both be blamed.
Honestly, though,
I’m not ashamed.

Our friendship was rocky,
Before this whole mess.
All because you started
To care about it less.

Our texts were short,
And you stopped calling.
When I wanted to make plans,
You were always stalling.

I backed up,
And I stepped away.
I promised myself my emotions
Would no longer sway.

I’m sorry I really saw you,
For what you truly are.
You were no longer my friend;
No longer a shining star.

Friendship is built from
Love, hope and trust.
When we’re little, it’s formed
From faith and pixie dust.

None of that matters, though,
When you’re only acting.
Your lies and the stories you wove,
They’re all so impacting.

I’m turning away,
And ending it now.
I can’t do it any longer,
So go ahead and take a bow.

Don’t bother calling.
It’s over, once and for all.
I’ll try not to remember
Our friendship’s fall.

It hurts, doesn't it? When suddenly your 'best friend forever' is defriending
you and deleting your phone number from their contacts. It comes down to one
question though: Do you really want to be friends with someone who can erase you
so quickly?

The Friend of the Opposite Sex:

that you almost always wind up falling for. Yeah, I've got one of those. Actually, you know what? I've got two of them. I let myself fall in love with one of my closet guy friends and it was a really big screw-up on my part.

But you know what? I don't care anymore. I like him somewhat now, not as much as before. Call me all the names you'd like, but I even find myself leaning closer to my other guy friend. The thing is, I know nothing will ever happen between us. It makes me feel risky and confident to lean in and brush an eyelash from his cheek.

Let yourself fall in love with that guy you hang out with all the time. If you fall, he might just catch you.

Or he might stay a friend and put a trampoline where you're going to fall.

Tangled . . . .

2011-08-08T18:13:00.003-04:00

I realized it's been a bit since I've done a book review, so I thought . . . Hey, why not review Tangled by Carolyn Mackler? I got it at the Borders closing sale *tear tear* and read it a week or so ago.

Title: Tangled

Author: Carolyn Mackler

Summary: Paradise wasn’t supposed to suck.

Not the state of being, but a resort in the Caribbean. Jena, Dakota, Skye, and Owen are all there for different reasons, but at Paradise their lives become tangled together in ways none of them can predict. Paradise will change them all.

It will change Jena, whose first brush with romance takes her that much closer to having a life, and not just reading about those infinitely cooler and more exciting. It will change Dakota, who needs the devastating truth about his past to make him realize that he doesn’t have to be a jerk just because people think he’s one. It will change Skye, a heartbreakingly beautiful actress, who must come to terms with the fact that for once she has to stop playing a role or face the consequences. And it will change Owen, who has never risked anything before and who will take the leap from his online life to a real one all because of a girl he met at Paradise….

From confused to confident and back again, one thing’s certain: Four months after it all begins, none of them will ever be the same.

Stars: 4

Rate: 7.5

Pros: I love when books switch POVs which is what Tangled did. The book was split into four parts, each told from a different character. The twists and turns in this novel were what kept me reading. The characters were all unique, too. Definitely a good book to read when you want some juicy storylines.

Cons: I felt like just as I really began to saw who a character was, the book switched to another POV. It was somewhat annoying, I must admit. Some of the scenes in the book could've been fleshed out more, but Mackler did a decent job of describing things and whatnot.

Overall Recommendation: Read it. It can be kind of weird with the switching point of views, but it did have a strong story. It wasn't all sugar-coated gum-drops, either. All in all, a well-written book that I recommend to you.

"Whether it is clear or unclear to you the universe is folding as it should."
— Carolyn Mackler (Tangled)

Taylor Swift and Pottermore :D

2011-08-05T16:05:00.007-04:00

It's been over a week since my last post. I didn't even realize until today! Sorry, guys. It's been a busy few days. I've been finishing up summer work for next year, catching up with friends and planning for tomorrow night. What is tomorrow night, you ask?

Why, the Taylor Swift concert, of course! I'm going with my best friend to see Taylor Swift perform in Philly tomorrow night, so if you're there . . . comment on this post, I guess, and let me know what you thought of the show afterwards!

While Taylor is my favorite singer, I must say I'm nearly as excited for the opening act, Hunter Hayes. The boy who can play over thirty instruments, had an album at 7 years old and can write the cutest songs I've heard. Think Hunter's cute?

Yeah, I know. He's such a cutie! If only I had the money to get the V.I.P. access and actually meet him before the show . . . I can wait, though. He'll be such a star that he'll have his own tour soon enough.

In other news, J. K. Rowling's newest Potter addition, Pottermore.com was opened nearly a week ago. Anyone who was hoping for early registration could go on Pottermore at certain times of the day and unlock clues where you'd have to answer a question and find the Magic Quill. I was lucky enough to get on yesterday, so if you will be joining me on Pottermore before it's public release in October, look for LightScale212!

If you're sitting there, panicking about how you forgot to register . . . you have one more day! Clue 7 is said to be the easiest of the clues, seeing as they went down in difficulty through the week. I wish you luck and hope to see you on the site when I get on! :D

Hope to see some of you at the concert or on Pottermore! I bid you farewell for now!

WE THE KINGS =D

2011-07-28T14:16:00.003-04:00

Yep, I'm a shameless fan-girl. Bite me.

Or, you know, please don't. I don't like to be bitten by strangers. Rabies scare me.

Anyway, the title of my blog post is due to the fact that I am going to see We The Kings, Hot Chelle Rae, Downtown Fiction and a few other bands in concert tonight with two of my friends. I'm super excited.

So, I'm going to the concert, yadda yadda ya. I decided that even though it's a Thursday, I'll post a music video for you. This way you can see the band that I love so much! Here is We The King's song, Skyway Avenue.

So, that's all for now. I better go get ready for tonight! Have a great Thursday night and Friday, guys!

Christmas in July :)

2011-07-25T15:25:00.003-04:00

I love July 25, because it means that Christmas is half a year away. Six months seems like a lot, but it's the months before it, too. Halloween, then Thanksgiving and then Christmas and then New Year's. Everything happens so fast around that time of year.

Today is also my little sister's birthday. She turned ten *tosses confetti into the air* It's hard to believe how much things have changed since we were little. It's still funny to see how mature (this I type while she jumps up and down, shouting at some object) she is compared to the little youngsters I babysit.

Another point to make . . . this is my 50th blog post on this blog!! I don't think I've ever made it that far before. Well, I have to go and get ready to go out to dinner but I just thought I'd let my 18 followers know what's up in the life of this rambling writer.

'Mazing Music SUNDAYS

2011-07-24T18:14:00.002-04:00

I've noticed a lot of bloggers do "Music Mondays" . . . Well, that's all fine and dandy, but I'd like to be different and do 'Mazing Music Sundays for all of you.

My reasons:

~Sunday's supposed to be a day of rest in some religions, so what better way to rest than to listen to some music?

~You can listen to music all throughout the week that you found here!

~Mondays are busy for me.

So there you have it. I'll post the music video (or a fan made video if there isn't an official video) and you can hear new music. This week's song is 'Before I Let You Go' from Colbie Caillat's newest album, All of You.

It's a really cute song, and it made me smile because I've felt this way about different guys. I'm sure you can relate to it somehow.

Well, I'm off to bandage up my toe, seeing as I just tripped and messed my nail up pretty good >.< Adios, bloggers!

Harry Potter

2011-07-23T16:48:00.004-04:00

I saw the last movie of Harry Potter on July 15th, but I've been thinking more and more about it. There are so many things I want to know about what happens after the end. I'd love if J.K. Rowling continued with a series about any of the children (especially Lupin's son) or went back and did a novel on Snape and Lily's romance.

By the way, I don't think either of the things I mentioned above spoil anything. If you haven't seen the movies or read the books, don't look at my pictures though, cause they have spoilers.

Here are two collage-sort things I made for two of my favorite couples ever.

How can you not love these couples? They're adorable and so romantic. Seriously, I think they completed the series in such a great way. I don't care what people say, they're my favorite until the end of time.

So, there is my little flashback for the day, my love for Harry Potter. I think I'm going to go and reread the series now. Adios!

I've been thinking . . .

2011-07-21T18:10:00.005-04:00

I promised that, soon, you'd get another message from yours truly about life, love and all that other stuff. I've been thinking about it, and I know what I want to say. What I want you guys to hear and pay attention to . . .

So, we've all had our hearts broken. Maybe your "true love" dumped you via text message (been there, done that) or your best friend left you when the going got tough. Or, maybe, you lost a loved one, like a parent or sibling. We've all gone through storms and showers, right?

I'll tell you all what I've told countless friends and relatives. These are all my honest opinions. If you don't like it or agree with it, then fine. Go ahead and leave. I won't chase you down.

It's all right to cry. Let it out. Crying won't make you less strong or immature. If you don't cry, it'll all just build up inside of you until you have to bubble over. Don't let it get to that, because it usually ends with more problems than what you started with. Believe me, I've been there before.
If you lost your friend (not due to death, sickness or any of that sort) you need to ask yourself if it's worth it to try and patch things up. Sometimes, you realize that things just weren't working out. Adults and counselors try to tell you to make it work, sort things out . . . what if it isn't worth it? What if the friendship was toxic? Just hurting you and breaking you down? If it was, let it go. Move on and come out stronger. Don't let it tear you apart and eat at you.

For those of you who had someone die . . . I lost my grandparents (only two, not all four) within a year of one another, and I didn't even know my grandmother. It was tough. I saw the difference between losing someone you knew like the back of your hand and losing someone who was never around. My best friend lost her dad when we were only eleven or so in a freak accident. My advice for you: stay with your friends. Don't listen to people who try to make you feel childish for being upset. You have a right to scream and curse and be angry at the world. (I know people say you shouldn't, but it's all right. Let it out!) And remember, refer to the first bullet.

That year-long relationship was just ended with a text, and you're feeling like crap? I know how you feel. So, I'm only fourteen. So, my longest relationship was three months. Big whoop. I've seen adults divorce, my older relative in tears over boyfriends and my friends just shatter to pieces.

Your parents are getting divorced or maybe you are. The love just isn't there. Think things over, really and truly. This applies for people getting married and divorced. Think of the bad times (arguments, fights), but remember the smiles, the laughs. Sometimes, it's easier to cut ties and go your seperate ways. I'm no expert on marriage, but it's not some light thing to just do for fun. Think it over. Really.

2. Your boyfriend (I'm guessing I don't have boys following me, but if you are a guy, or have a girlfriend, then just change this post to fit your relationships) broke up with you and you're feeling lost. I've seen it before. If you don't know why they ended things, ask them. Don't sit and sulk and wait for time to start moving again. Be brave, be strong and find out what went wrong. Don't let them end things with a text saying 'it's over'. Make them talk to you. You'll regret it if you look back in a few years and remember that you just let it all slip by. Don't let that happen to you.

3. It's three A.M. and you're sitting in your room, trying to figure out why your first boyfriend just broke up with you. You were dating for over a year. He was your first everything. Your friends ran out of things to say, and you don't know where to turn. Honey, it's okay to cry. It's okay to hide under the covers and let it out. Just break down, because if you don't crack and fall apart, you can't be put back together. Remember that time will go on, more boys (or girls) will come and you will come out of this, alive. It feels like the end of the world, but remind yourself that it's all right to cry and eat ice cream until you burst. You'll need time. Broken hearts can't be fixed or made invincible. The only cure for a broken heart is time, friends and a good dose of Ben and Jerry's.

One more thing for relationships with friends/significant others: Don't let them use you as a personal yo-yo. Some relationships are toxic and no good, to put it simply. If your "true love" keeps breaking up with you and making you wonder why you two are together, let him go. Let him realize what he lost, not what he can mess around with. If your friends keep ignoring you and leaving you out of the loop, think things over. What are you getting from them? Giving them support and respect and trust is great for them, but if they're keeping secrets and letting you just fade away, it might be time for a change.

So, there's my message for today. Friendships and love are important in life, but don't let them take over to the point of stress. You might think differently. Maybe you think people shouldn't cry and that they should just move on and say "Screw it" to the person who hurt them. Good for you. We all have opinions and that's part of mine up there. Those are the things I wish someone had said to me when I was hurting.

Well, ta-ta for now, guys! Best of luck with life, love and surviving this crazy ride.

It's raining. It's pouring.

2011-07-19T20:27:00.003-04:00

Or it was.

It's been raining and storming the past week, on and off. At least I got to go swimming today at my friend's house. Fun time!

So, I've been reading and writing. I've been rambling and wondering. And when I remember that summer is slowly slipping away, lounging back by the pool and procrastinating my summer work a bit longer.

There's not much to say at the moment. I'll probably come back on tomorrow and update you all with a bit of inspirational quotes or a message from myself about how life goes on. (It really does, doesn't it? Who would've thought?) For now, I'll tell you all that I'm going to be changing some things on my blog. A background, the music . . . I don't know. We'll see. :)

Au Revoir!

Two Reviews for the Price of One!

2011-07-19T20:07:00.006-04:00

So, I picked up a book in the bookstore a few weeks ago and didn't get around to reading it. When I was in the tiny book store at my local mall a week or so ago, I saw the sequel. It was hardcover, and I didn't want to spend the outrageous twenty bucks. But because it had been scuffed a little on the corners, it was marked down to $4.00! I bought it and decided to read both books. So, here's a double review for you guys.
Expect another one coming as soon as I get my hands on the last book! Also, guys, sorry there's no pictures! It's not letting me post them at the moment. :( I'll post pictures of the cover in my next post if it lets me!

Title: The Summer I Turned Pretty

Author: Jenny Han

Summary: Belly (Isabel) measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer -- they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one wonderful and terrible summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

Stars: 4

Rate: 7

Pros: This book had really cute scenes that made me want my own summer romance, and I loved Belly's flashbacks of the past summers. The characters were all different and unique in their own special ways. I loved Jeremiah. He sounded so sweet!

Cons: Belly was a hard narrator to relate to at points, because she was immature. She had a selfish vibe that stayed throughout the story. While it was somewhat annoying, I got used to it and managed to move past it.

Overall Recommendation: This book is a good summer read for when you're sitting on the beach or on the plane ride to Florida. The story does have emotional, deep parts that may require some tissues, if you're like me. It was good story, though, overall.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Title: It's Not Summer Without You

Author: Jenny Han

Summary: Belly, 16, lives all year for her summers at Cousins Beach. But when a family friend dies and the beach house tradition is threatened, she faces the season without her second family and without the boy she loves. In this follow-up to The Summer I Turned Pretty , Belly is still reeling from all that's happened since last summer. But mourning is even harder since Conrad has shut down, refusing to talk to Belly or anyone else. When he suddenly leaves school without explanation, his brother, Jeremiah, recruits Belly to help find and mend him. The trio find themselves at Cousins Beach after all, and the memories and feelings of the past come flooding back. Complicated and fragile, Belly's relationships with the two young men are put to new tests as she and Conrad come to terms with their relationship, and Belly and Jeremiah begin to build a romantic bond of their own.

Stars: 4.5

Rate: 8.5

Pros: This story was a good sequel. It had the obvious scenes that made me sigh in content, and then it had the parts that made my jaw drop. I fell in love with both of the boys and quickly picked which I wanted Belly to wind up with. I think Belly's choices with the boys and other topics were realistic enough to teenagers. There were things such as death, alcohol, romance and breaking rules . . . things that all people go through sooner or later.

Cons: Belly did grow up a little, and that was evident. Honestly, the only problem I had with this story was that it ended just when everything was coming together. The epilogue was confusing (as it was meant to be) and it made me feel like I was being left out of a secret, if you know what I mean.

Overall Recommendation: If you liked the first book, read this one. It was a good sequel and we all know we want to know which boy Belly falls in love with this time around.

Sisterhood Everlasting

2011-07-09T17:15:00.005-04:00

Once upon a time, I fell head over heels in love with a series of books called The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. I even went so far as to get two of my old friends and we decorated this awesome t-shirt, but we never really got around to sending it and such. What a shame.

Anyway, when I discovered that the sisterhood was making a return, I dug my Kindle out of my dresser drawer and bought it right away. Here, for you to indulge on, is my review of the fifth and final book of the sisterhood's story.

Title: Sisterhood Everlasting

Author: Ann Brashares

Summary: From #1 New York Times bestselling author Ann Brashares comes the welcome return of the characters whose friendship became a touchstone for a generation. Now Tibby, Lena, Carmen, and Bridget have grown up, starting their lives on their own. And though the jeans they shared are long gone, the sisterhood is everlasting.
Despite having jobs and men that they love, each knows that something is missing: the closeness that once sustained them. Carmen is a successful actress in New York, engaged to be married, but misses her friends. Lena finds solace in her art, teaching in Rhode Island, but still thinks of Kostos and the road she didn’t take. Bridget lives with her longtime boyfriend, Eric, in San Francisco, and though a part of her wants to settle down, a bigger part can’t seem to shed her old restlessness.
Then Tibby reaches out to bridge the distance, sending the others plane tickets for a reunion that they all breathlessly await. And indeed, it will change their lives forever—but in ways that none of them could ever have expected.

Stars: 4.5

Rate: 9

Pros: Well, for starters, it was so interesting to see where all of the girls wound up. I loved how the story twisted and turned in so many different ways. Some of the things that happened were no-brainers, but others left my jaw hanging. It was a really emotional story that had so much background and character in it.

Cons: There were parts that dragged on, but not to the point of severe annoyance. While I did like the overall story and idea, some parts of the book (like what happens in Greece, for instance) made me frustrated and agitated. This book had a happy ending, but certainly not a happy beginning.

Overall Recommendation: This book was really great. If you have these little picture-perfect views, though, about how the girls should be and how they should've wound up, stop right now. If you can't set aside all those images that blossomed in your mind, then the book will feel like the crappiest thing on Earth to you, because it won't be what you wanted.

Once you set aside your own hopes for the girls, you'll really be able to dive into this book and love every page of it.

For fans of:

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour

2011-07-06T13:37:00.005-04:00

First things first, I saw I have a few more followers . . . welcome! It's nice to know that people look at this every now and again.

Onto the book review . . . The other day I went into the bookstore and decided to spend $30 on four books (Two of them were combined into one) I read Amy and Roger's Epic Detour, one of the books I bought.
So, here is that promised review. I'm changing up the format of my reviews a little, so no need for alarm ;)

Title: Amy and Roger's Epic Detour
Author: Morgan Matson
Summary: Amy Curry thinks her life sucks. Her mom decides to move from California to Connecticut to start anew—just in time for Amy's senior year. Her dad recently died in a car accident. So Amy embarks on a road trip to escape from it all, driving cross-country from the home she's always known toward her new life. Joining Amy on the road trip is Roger, the son of Amy's mother's old friend. Amy hasn’t seen him in years, and she is less than thrilled to be driving across the country with a guy she barely knows. So she's surprised to find that she is developing a crush on him. At the same time, she’s coming to terms with her father’s death and how to put her own life back together after the accident. Told in traditional narrative as well as scraps from the road—diner napkins, motel receipts, postcards—this is the story of one girl's journey to find herself.

Stars: 5

Rate: 9.5

Pros: This book was exciting and adorable, all packed into one road trip. I loved Amy's perspective on things. I also loved how the author held off on saying what exactly happened in the car accident that scarred Amy.

The end was great, too. The writing part was fabulous, but the receipt at the end of the book told so much, too. Throughout the novel, the playlists, pictures and doodles really added to the story. They weren't flashy or over used; just enough to really pull you into the story.

Cons: Well, first of all, it was hard to let this book end for me. I wanted it to keep going and going, but alas, that happens with all great books. While I favored the way the author held off on the specific details of the crash, a friend of mine told me how she thought it could be somewhat annoying.

I guess it depends on what kind of reader you are and just how patient you can be.

Overall recommendation: I loved this book. I told another friend to put it at the top of her list. It's cute with serious concepts woven into the story. Great read!

For fans of . . .

Jamaica!!!! :)

2011-06-26T14:01:00.004-04:00

So, every summer, my parents pack up the cars, get off work for a week and take my sister and me to the Jersey shore. It's fun, sure, but I guess it was starting to get old. My parents decided that this year, we'd go somewhere more exotic, somewhere more unique, somewhere like . . .

Jamaica!

I'll be in Jamaica, staying at the amazing Beaches Negril hotel. (I think that's what it's called) So, when I go M.I.A. mid-August, don't worry. I'm hoping to have internet access so I can post tons of pretty pictures and blog each day, but no promises.

That's a picture of my hotel/resort. :D Isn't it cool? If I'm lucky, I'll be able to find some people to hang out with when I'm there, so I won't be glued to my parents the whole trip. Here's a picture of the beach.

I know, I know. The actual places aren't always as glamorous as they look, right? Well, I'm hoping that Jamaica will be nice, even if it isn't Hollywood gorgeous.

There's your little update for today. Hopefully, you'll all be able to see pictures and hear about my time as an international traveler. For now, though, I bid you farewell! Adios bloggers!

Delirium

2011-06-22T17:25:00.003-04:00

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

"I love you. Remember. They cannot take it."

That quote is possibly the quote for the entire book. I've never been so enticed with a book, so determined to keep reading, keep learning. I have no idea whatsoever how I'll wait until the next book comes out. It'll take a SWAT team to hold me down when it goes into stores.

Characters: I loved Lena as the story-teller. She reminded me of myself, with how paranoid she can be or how nervous. Lena really matured during the story in different ways, and I think it added to the reality of it all for teenagers and younger adults. Alex was mysterious and such a great character. I would say more, but it could give away too much. I loved Lena's family and friends, because they were all so different and had such a great impact on Lena, as a person and the way she lived.

Plot/storyline: This story was really original, and I loved how much work went into the backstory and how the world came to be like it was. The Wilds sounded so amazing. It made me wonder . . . is love a curse, or a gift? Or could it be both?

Overall: I loved it. L-O-V-E. I loved the book about love being a curse. Aren't I a hypocrite? The ending was phenomenal, and I can't wait for the sequel! Keep your eyes peeled, bloggers. This book will not escape the public without a bow.

"Love: It will kill you and save you, both"

Fearlessness

2011-06-21T18:05:00.006-04:00

"Cause I don't know how it gets better than
this. You take my hand and drag me head first
Fearless
And I don't know why but with you I'd dance
In a storm in my best dress
Fearless"

Taylor Swift sure knows what being fearless is, but do you? Do you know what it's like to just jump and not have any fears?

Fearlessness is a lot of different things. I was thinking about this as I walked with my cousin through an amusement park the other day. She's seven years older than me, and I've always looked up to her like she's the greatest person ever.

So, when she looked at me and just said, "You know, you're so fearless. I could never do all the things you do."

It surprised me. I mean, me? Fearless? Never.

The more I think about it, though, the more I understand what she meant. What my classmate meant when he sighed and said, "You're never upset, never sad. Never angry. I just don't see how you do it."

On the outside, I'm that smart, joyful fearless girl. I'm not afraid of anything. I could never fail.

The thing is, though, I'm not fearless. Not at all. I just know what to be fearful of.

All right, this is where I stop rambling for a moment and see all of your blank faces. What I'm trying to say is . . . don't be afraid of the little things. Don't be afraid you'll wear the wrong clothes or that your hair won't look good. Don't be afraid that you'll mess up while presenting a project or that you'll flunk that test, even though you studied for weeks. Don't be afraid of those things when there's so much more out there.

In life, there are some fears you simply can't conquer. I'm terrified of death. The thought literally makes me break down and cry. That's something I don't think I'll ever be able to change, because it's death. You can't power through it and come out on the other side, totally fearless. It's not possible. Of course, if you do manage to do that, call me up. I'd love to know ;)

Go out and ride a rollercoaster. Fail a test. Ride your bike up a ramp with no safety protection. Jump off a cliff.

Don't spend your life being scared of the things you can change, of the things you can conquer. Being afraid of something means that part of you will never be happy. It'll always be worrying and biting its nails. So, do something reckless and get rid of your fears.

For the fears that remain - like my worry of death - just let yourself get rid of them, slowly, but surely. Let those things that worry you and terrify you just fade away. It'll happen, I promise.

Inkpop's back . . .

2011-06-18T11:53:00.002-04:00

So, the site came back on Thursday, and I have to say I'm disappointed. There's still a lot of glitches, and it's chaos. I had all of my books written chapter by chapter for the original inkpop, and now, you're supposed to post the whole book so I have to go and copy and paste all of my chapters into a single document. It kinda sucks.

On the optimistic note, I graduated eighth grade last night, and it was great!! I finished reading Delirium by Lauren Oliver, and it was fantastic! I'll do a review soon, but probably not today. It is my first day of summer vacation, you know.

Now, for a rising music artist who I totally just fell in love with . . .

Make sure to pause the piano music that's playing for my page. I'm pretty sure the icon is in the top right corner. Love ya!

The Apocalypse O.O

2011-06-13T16:13:00.002-04:00

So, I'm sure any fellow inkies know about the changes going on for the website these next few days. The site's down, which means more free time to write and blog for me :D If you do go to the site, there's a pretty little countdown button with the days, hours, minutes and seconds until inkpop comes back with all of its new orange flashiness. (I don't approve of watching the timer click away the seconds. It makes you dizzy)

I know I'm feeling a little lost without my inkie friends. If you wanna word war or just chat it up, you can go to this website made by fellow inkie, Tracy Michelle
http://chitchatinkpop.webs.com/summers.htm
It's got different chat rooms for the Summers, Procrastinators, Pink Panthers and so on.

Any summers out there, writing their InkieNoWriSum projects? The big event officially started yesterday, and I'm proud to say I wrote four chapters of Behind That Broken Smile. It should be ready for posting after the little shut down.

If anyone wants to talk to a fellow writer during these down days, feel free to email me at ashley2055@gmail.com

Toodles, for now, my fellow bloggers!

No, the party never stops . . . woah

2011-06-03T15:47:00.003-04:00

Tonight is my eighth grade dinner dance/formal, whatever you wanna call it. I've got my hair drying in a towel, and I just returned from getting a mani and pedi :) While I wait for my hair to dry and the dance to arrive, I decided I'll post another little confidence booster of sorts. I'm hoping these little guys help some of you out there.

In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.
Robert Frost

See that quote? Robert Frost was right; no matter what happens or how many things tear your life apart and break you down, your life will go on. You will make it through, and nothing is going to stop you from being you. I know, once upon a dreadful time, there were tons of places where people weren't allowed to be themselves, and they weren't allowed to speak up and stand out.

The world's a changing place, though. Maybe you don't live in the USA, like I do. Maybe you live in China or Cuba or Argentina. I don't know, and frankly, I don't have the time to stalk my thirteen followers and find out where all of them live.

I know there will always be people and leaders that try to keep others silenced. There will always be those who feel superior and try to make you feel like you're inferior. But you're not. To feel inferior or worthless or hopeless or anything, you must allow yourself to feel that way. You must give your mind, body and soul permission to think those things and treat yourself that way.

So, why treat yourself like you're worthless? Or helpless? Or stupid? Everyone has something special to give to the world; we all have a hidden talent, no matter how old or young, girl or boy, black or white. It doesn't matter. We are all human beings and we all have the power to voice our opinions.

I'm not saying to start a riot or try to assassinate the president. Those are very negative things, my dears. People who consider those types of things need to seek mental help, immedietely. What Frost was trying to say, as well as I, is that life will always go on, no matter what happens to you. So, if something bad happens to you, don't stand there and let it eat at you and destroy you, because your life will go on and you can't let that continue to happen.

Stand up for your beliefs. Stand up for others. Stand up for yourself.

Well, it's time I go and get ready, everybody. I hope you liked my little speech there. Kinda confusing, emotional and weird, but hey, if it helps anyone out there, I'll be satisfied. Wish me luck, fellow bloggers and followers!

You've Gotta Be Strong

2011-06-01T19:08:00.004-04:00

So, the end of my eighth grade year is approaching quickly. It's been as chaotic as it's been fun, which means I'll have mixed emotions when I finally do leave the hell hole I called home for so many years. (Who knew they even had kindergarten through eighth grade schools anymore?)

Anyway, I've been dealing with drama lately. Boy drama, school drama, suicide-thoughts drama. But none of them were actually about me, you know. Well, maybe a little of the school/boy, but no suicidal thoughts for me, dearies :D I've been consoling and helping and holding people up all week.
And I've realized something through all of this. Something that I feel I should share with my lovely followers who deserve a hug and a virtual pound of fudge.

No matter how worthless life seems or how crappy things are, you've got to pull through. I don't care if you hate your family or the school thinks you're a whore. I don't care if you want to kill yourself or your boyfriend cheats on you. I don't care, because nothing is worse than ending things right before the sun comes back.
I was with a girl on Friday who broke down crying so much that she couldn't even keep walking, and she was so, so broken. But you know what? Ten minutes later, someone got her to smile. Someone got her to laugh and hold her head up high.

What is all this random rambling, you ask? This is the rambling of a writer, of a girl, of a teenager, of a friend, of a sister. The message I'm trying to show you all: Don't give up. Whether it's getting a novel published or living your life, do not give up. There is always something to look forward to if you just keep looking.

The Last Little Blue Envelope

2011-05-22T15:31:00.003-04:00

"This car is like a bank vault. No one can get in."
"I once opened the door with a pen. Just a little flick of the Biro and . . . pop! Door open."

Those of you who have been following along with me know that I was waiting for my copy of 'The Last Little Blue Envelope' to be delivered. Well, it came in the mail and I read it in two days. That quote up there is one of my many humorous ones from the book, and if I could find the book (I passed out last night when I finished it; it was nearly two in the morning) I would quote more.
On with the review, though.

Ginny Blackstone thought that the biggest adventure of her life was behind her. She spent last summer traveling around Europe, following the tasks her aunt Peg laid out in a series of letters before she died. When someone stole Ginny's backpack—and the last little blue envelope inside—she resigned herself to never knowing how it was supposed to end.

Months later, a mysterious boy contacts Ginny from London, saying he's found her bag. Finally, Ginny can finish what she started. But instead of ending her journey, the last letter starts a new adventure—one filled with old friends, new loves, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Ginny finds she must hold on to her wits . . . and her heart. This time, there are no instructions.

Characters: Once again, Ginny is the perfect narrator. She has a quirky, nervous feel to her that makes you want to be her friend and support her, simply because you know she has such potential and confidence that's hidden underneath. In this book, Ginny returns to London and surprises Keith, the actor from her last trip. This time around, I found Keith to be a little more rude than I would've liked, but he was such a realistic character. Ginny meets Oliver, who I just couldn't help but picturing as some kind of Batman, with his "dashing" appearance.

Plot/storyline: There was the romance between Keith and Ginny, but not in the way you'd expect. Keith's girlfriend Ellis comes along with Ginny, Keith and Oliver on their trip to fill the last letter's orders. I loved how Ginny's view on people and things changed through this story, because in the end, that was really important. It was a great story, much like the first book.

Overall: I loved this book. It made me laugh so hard I just had to repeat the lines aloud. It made me cry and mutter under my breath. It made me smile and just sit there for a few minutes after it ended.

Go buy it, if you haven't yet! This book is definitely one of my favorites! By the way, do you guys like the music and the little guy who stalks you on the side? ;)

InkieNoWriSum :D

2011-05-15T19:17:00.002-04:00

See that jumble of letters? That's for Inkie Novel Writing Summer which will be like National Novel Writing Month, but we're gonna take the whole summer to write a project or continue one. My goal is to start 'Behind That Broken Smile' (the sequel to 'Behind These Amber Eyes') and get it up to at least 60,000 words.

InkieNoWriSum will go from June 14 to August 18, so I'm hoping for a good novel at the end of it. I know some of my followers aren't inkpop users, but that shouldn't stop you from setting your own goals this summer.

Want to write a novel? Do it.
Want to write a book of poetry? Do it.
Want to jump off a cliff? Do not - I repeat do NOT - do it!

So, that's the jist of my summer plans. I hope to finish up 'Your Name Was Joey' before June 14, but I won't mind working on it this summer if I must. :]

In the world of the media, here's my personal items on the agenda these days.

Currently Reading: Generation Dead
Currently Listening to: Joey by Sugarland, She Will Be Loved and Never Gonna Leave This Bed by Maroon 5
Currently Watching: Desperate Housewives finale tonight, Secret Life and Make It or Break It tomorrow night

So, there you have it, bloggers. I think I'll go make an icon for InkieNoWriSum :)

The Carrier of the Mark

2011-05-15T19:07:00.002-04:00

So, this book isn't actually released until October of 2011, but I was able to win an Advance Reader's Copy. I read this book last week while my school was doing testing, and I had a lot of free time. I decided I should review it, because I don't get many opportunities like this.

Characters: I really liked the characters, although in the beginning I did think that it was going to wind up be like Twilight. The characters were secretive and mysterious like the Cullens, but I think they were really different, and I enjoyed their individuality.

Plot/storyline: I don't want to give anything away, so I won't say much. I did love the story though. I wasn't expecting what happened, and I found myself dying to read more! It was suspenseful with romance and adventure. Great story!

Overall: While I did fear it would turn into a Twilight knock-off, I was pleasantly surprised. It had all the components of a great novel, and I don't know how I'm going to wait until it's publicly released to see what others think of it. I can't wait for the sequel either, but I think I may have to hold off until I start getting too excited for that.

This was definitely a great book. Borrow it from someone who won a copy or go and preoder your own copy right now! You'll want this book as soon as it comes out!

I am on a lucky streak :]

2011-04-23T19:46:00.005-04:00

Happy Easter, guys! Or, happy Passover, I guess if you're Jewish. I dyed Easter eggs earlier. There's a picture of a few of the eggs with some quick use of Picnik :)

So, I won that 'Carrier of the Mark' ARC contest. By the way, I got the book in the mail and can't wait to start reading! I'm not sure if I'll do a review or not, becuase the book isn't publicly released until October, but I may drop a few hints for you guys once we get closer to the summer. :D

And then I entered the 'Die For Me' contest on inkpop.com and won again! I will be receiving . . .

Die For Me

The Last Little Blue Envelope (sequel to 'Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes')

Delirium

and Cloaked

I'm very excited. I'll make sure to do a book review on at least one of those books! I can't wait for them to come!! Because I don't have much for you today, here are some photos I took earlier today :)

I'm happy today :)

2011-04-17T15:27:00.003-04:00

So, I'm guessing my twelve followers (spread the word, guys! I promise I'll be doing more book reviews and such as soon as I finish up my school projects and whatnot) saw my last post about Leigh Fallon's ARCs (Advance Reader's Copy) of her book, The Carrier of the Mark. When I posted that video to show you all more about publishing and how a book goes through many stages, I entered a contest on inkpop.com as well. It was a random drawing, and I won! So I'll be getting my own copy of the Carrier of The Mark before it hits stores. Maybe I'll even do a special review for all of you. ;) In other news, I had to do a book report for my reading class, and seeing as my school doesn't get spring break, it's been pretty hectic lately. I was going to review 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' by Mark Twain (A.K.A. Samuel Clemens) but, honestly, I just couldn't get through the book. It had an intriguing storyline and I really liked the characters, but there was just too much dialect (racial terms and just the way Twain abbreviated so much with the use of an apostrephe) that I couldn't read it. All bashing aside, it did have a good storyline and I hope to return to it one day when it's not required reading, because that puts too much pressure on it, I think. If you're looking for a good book to read, I reccommend 'A Farewell to Arms' by Ernet Hemingway. My friend read the book for her report, and she enjoyed it. I think I'll check it out one of these days and see why she called it 'a sad, but really touching love story'. Adios fellow bloggers! I must go and try to find some medicine to clear up this cold I've gotten :P

Well, gosh darnit, what in the world is an ARC?

2011-04-08T16:15:00.002-04:00

That there ^^ is Leigh Fallon opening her box of ARCs. What is an ARC, you ask? An ARC is an Advance Reader's Copy of a book, given to the author to read over and whatnot. In case you don't already know about Leigh's success (how could you not?!?!?!) she is the first author to be published off of inkpop.com Her book, The Carrier of the Mark, made it into the top 5 a few months ago, and, soon, her book will be on bookshelves and in your hands! So, anyone preorder The Carrier of the Mark? Planning to buy it the day it comes out? Reply in the comments and tell me what you think of it, and Leigh's video! (from her personal Youtube channel, no copyright intended)

It's my birthday!!!!! :D

2011-04-07T18:33:00.002-04:00

Yep, I'm fourteen today . . . . I'm betting a lot of you didn't know I was only fourteen or maybe you thought I was like four O.o Well, either way, I just wanted to update my blog. I've been busy lately, but I finished Flashbacks of Juliet (pretty sure I had a post about that) and I'm rewriting my query for Behind These Amber Eyes so I might be able to get it published or at least find myself an agent, even though I'm so young. Gotta hope, right? You're probably expecting a book review, and I'll have one soon. I'm reading 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' for a book report, so I'll review for anyone who wants to read, has to for school or was wondering what it was about. I think that's all for today, guys. I'll try to finish up Huckleberry this weekend and get you a nice, fresh review. :]

I finished writing a book . . . .

2011-03-26T15:04:00.003-04:00

Yeah, you heard me right. I just finished writing the last chapter of my second novel. It's 80,000 or so words, which means a 200 page book. Of course, I'm going to edit and add more, so who knows how big it'll actually get :)

So, Flashbacks of Juliet is done. I'll go back in a month or so and edit it all to the core. I'll probably add more to the story and really flesh out some of the parts I rushed through. If you wanna check out the first draft (Hey, in a few years, when it's published, you're going to wish you had!) go to this link:
http://www.inkpop.com/projects/12967/flashbacks-of-juliet/

Otherwise, I'll be reviewing 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' in a few days because I need to read it for school, and maybe you'll have to too.

Your Name Was Joey

2011-03-12T17:51:00.002-05:00

So, I have a little gift (?) for you guys. I recently wrote a short story, Your Name Was Joey, and I'm gonna post the beginning up on here for everyone to see. Don't get too excited; it's posted on inkpop if you want to read the whole thing. I'll post the link at the bottom for everyone to go, read and tell me their thoughts on it.

Here's the beginning:

If I could go back and change things, there's so much I'd change. I would change the first time I ever lied to you, and all the times I lied to myself about you and us. I would change everything, from our very first date to the very last kiss.
You were always so majestic, so wondrous. I was that random girl in the corner, trying to finish her biology homework. It's funny how things turn out, isn't it? I was a freshman, taking all advance classes. You were a sophomore, trying to keep your grades average.
And so we met in Spanish II, being thrown together in a messy partnership to try and describe our favorite things in a foreign language. You told me you liked basketball, country music and hanging out with your older cousin, who was from Kentucky. Your name was Joey, and you were allergic to bees. That was what I learned my first Spanish class that year.
Your name was Joey, Joey who was allergic to bees.
The next class, you willingly became my partner. Why? Did you plan to become more than just a class partner with me? Or was it all just luck of the draw that I got to talk to you and learn about you everyday?
I told you my name was Renee, which it was - I did consider lying about it, though. My favorite movie was Pretty in Pink, but I was a sucker for any cheesy romance comedies. My mom was a doctor, and my father was a police officer before he was killed on the job.
My name was Renee, Renee who didn't have a daddy.

So, I hope you liked the beginning. I'm warning you this story gets intense, and I've had people start crying. Here's the link if you want to be a doll and read the whole thing:
http://www.inkpop.com/projects/96704/your-name-was-joey/

In other news, I'm almost done the first draft of Flashbacks of Juliet. Go to www.caseyscovers.weebly.com to learn about that book and my others. :D

Aw, shucks

2011-03-08T20:54:00.002-05:00

I know it's been awhile . . . Sigh, how fast time goes. In honor of some recently discovered great music, here's my current playlist.

For The First Time~The Script
Break Even~The Script
You and I~Ingrid Michaelson
Be Okay~Ingrid Michaleson
Keep Breathing~Ingrid Michaelson
Melt Into You~Sara Haze
Drops of Jupiter~Train
F**ckin' Perfect~P!nk
and . . .
Avril Lavigne's new album, Goodbye Lullaby, which totally rocks

So, go check out some of those songs. They're mostly rock/alternative, but I know good country songs if you want to know a few. :] Rap and screamo ain't my style, so don't expect much there. xD

I'll be posting again soon, fellow bloggers. Once that little thing called life gets out of the way ;)

I apologize. :'(

2011-02-24T18:27:00.002-05:00

I know I promised a book review, but I've been busy and, honestly, I don't think I'll finish reviewing the Percy Jackson books. I'm still reading them - currently on the last one! - but it's hard to review it without giving things away.

In the meantime, I'm going to review a movie I saw last weekend.

Title(Name?): Gnomeo and Juliet

Rating: G

Summary: Gnomeo and Juliet are gnomes on opposite lawns. Gnomeo is blue, and Juliet is red. When the two meet, they basically fall in love. It's not easy though, when you're born enemies.

The movie was really cute and funny, even though it's meant for little kids. There were twists and turns, and it was, overall, adorable with the gnomes. Even the music was catchy. If you're looking for a cute movie to watch with sibling or even with your family, I'd definitely say to go see this. If you're not into the whole movie-theater thing, then make sure to rent it as soon as you can!

I watched Superman fly away . . .

2011-02-20T14:06:00.003-05:00

So, today is Sunday, bloggers. I don't have too much to say at the moment, except that I am a little disappointed. I queryed two agents for Behind These Amber Eyes, and both turned me down. *sigh*
I'm going to edit it more and maybe change a few things. Then I'll send more queries out. I know I promised a book review on Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Titans Curse, but I'm just not in the mood to do it right now. Perhaps later or even tomorrow morning. I don't have school because of President's Day, so maybe I'll post a review or two for you guys. :]
In other news, I was bored yesterday and decided to make a music video of sorts for Taylor Swift's song, Superman. You can play the video below and tell me what you think of the song and overall video! :)

Hola mi amigas! :D

2011-02-18T15:51:00.002-05:00

No, I'm not suddenly Spanish. xD But isn't it fun to talk in a different language? Like, I know how to say Hello in a few . . .

Hello
Hola
Bon jour
Ciao
Aloha
Nei Hao
Konichiwa (spell check?)

See? I know some different languages! Anyway, this post is to inform all you that I am taking a break from inkpop. It may be for a day, or maybe a full month. I'm not really sure. At the moment, I've been going on every so often to check up on my ranks and all, but I think that'll lessen in the coming days.
Also, I'm working on finishing up Flashbacks of Juliet, querying for Behind These Amber Eyes and starting Cupid's Curse. I've got a lot going on right now, so I'm not sure how often I'll post. Hopefully, it'll be at least once a week.
There isn't much else to say except that I finished reading Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Titan's Curse!! Expect a book review in the coming days, guys! :]

Update, guys!

2011-02-12T20:38:00.000-05:00

I've finished one book, Behind These Amber Eyes, and I recently sent queries to two agents. The one turned me down within a week, so I'm guessing they don't really go too in depth in submissions. It's not a big deal though. I've still got the other agent. Cross your fingers for me! :]

In other news, I'm going to be changing the "random writing prompt" at the bottom to go with Valentine's Day! So, you should definitely go check it out. Also, I finished reading Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters, so I'll be typing up a book review either tonight or tomorrow morning. I'm reading the third right now, and can not wait to finish it!

So, keep checking back, guys! Any comments on any of my posts are welcome, even questions! I'll be playing Cupid on Monday, seeing as I lack a boyfriend at the moment, so ask those lovey-dovey questions that I may just be able to answer for you!

New favorite song: F**ckin' Perfect by P!nk (clean version below!)

Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters: Book Review

2011-02-12T20:29:00.005-05:00

Title: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters

Author: Rick Riordan

Summary: In this second installment in the series, Percy, Poseidon's 13-year-old demigod son, is desperate to rescue his friend Grover, captive of the bloodthirsty Cyclops Polyphemus, and to retrieve the healing Golden Fleece. The sheepskin is needed to restore the protection around Camp Half-Blood, the only safe haven for the children of gods and humans, heroes-in-training in our modern world. However, the camp has already been compromised and the quest for the Golden Fleece has been awarded to the bully Clarisse. Encouraged by Hermes, Percy sets off for the Bermuda Triangle anyway with his friend Annabeth and classmate Tyson.

Overall: This book was really good. It was well written, and had that adventure, action and romance trio that Riordan crafts into his writing. I really enjoyed all of the twists and turns; it made the book suspenseful and intriguing. I couldn't put it down until I had turned the last page. Even then, I was begging for more.

Characters: This book is, as always, told from Percy's point of view. He's a very relatable character and all of his emotions are evident in the text. It was mainly Annabeth and Percy for most of the book- along with Percy's 'friend', Tyson -, because they were trying to find and save Grover. The gods didn't play quite as big of a role, but they were still there. As usual, their personalities were unique and differed greatly.

Plot/Storyline: The beginning was right into the action, which really kept the book interesting throughout the whole story. I loved the challenges and mishaps Percy encountered during his quest. There were a few parts where I felt it was a little slow, but they weren't long. It usually picked up again quickly after the little blip.

Really, I liked this book. It was interesting, and I'm already reading the third. I'm warning you; have the third ready for when you finish the second or else you'll go crazy xD

Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief

2011-02-01T17:32:00.003-05:00

All right, some of you know that I have a list of books to read this year. This book was one of them, and I finished it . . . Friday? Maybe Saturday? I'm not really sure. Either way, I've got a book review for you!

Title: Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief

Author: Rick Riordan

Summary: (from Riordan's website)

Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson is on the most dangerous quest of his life. With the help of a satyr and a daughter of Athena, Percy must journey across the United States to catch a thief who has stolen the original weapon of mass destruction – Zeus’ master bolt. Along the way, he must face a host of mythological enemies determined to stop him. Most of all, he must come to terms with a father he has never known, and an Oracle that has warned him of betrayal by a friend.

Characters: The book is told in first person, unlike The Lost Hero. Percy was a strong character, and I really liked his sense of humor and sarcasm. He is, as you all know, the son of Poseidon, so he feels a little ashamed because he wasn't technically supposed to be born. I think that Grover was interesting because he's really protective and selfless. Annabeth was my favorite, because she was such a . . spitfire, if you know what I mean. She doesn't put up with any bull and has a sad back story.

Plot/storyline: As you know, I'm a fan of Greek mythology. This book had lots, but it all made sense. The back stories were told, using conversations or memories instead of info dumps. Riordan crafted a world of monsters and gods that blended together to create an action packed story. I loved the lightning bolt quest because it really started the book off well, and added more adventure and action.

Overall: I really did like this book. I'm on the second one, and I have to admit that Riordan is one of my favorite authors now. He's got a definite writing style that allows the reader to connect to the story and characters, but also has them guessing and predicting what will happen next.

So, yeah, I loved this book. It was a little below my reading level, but it still had a lot to offer and teach me. For the record, the movie goes horribly. It strayed so, so far away from the book which makes me sad. They changed way too much for you to even begin and explain why they're different.

If you liked The Lost Hero, or just mythology in general, definitely read The Lightning Thief! You won't regret it!

He Is We- Forever and Ever

2011-02-01T17:24:00.000-05:00

So, I think I'm going to be posting random music videos. It won't be on a certain day, but expect at least one per week. Today is "Forever and Ever" by He is We. I love this song, and the singers are awesome! They've come a long way, and totally deserve any and all fans they get!! :D Go take a listen!

Today was a fairytale . . .

2011-02-01T17:20:00.002-05:00

So, I totally love Taylor Swift, in case you weren't aware. I'm even going to her concert in August!! Can't wait!

Anyway, I'm a little bored. Inkpop's down for maintenance apparently. The website's all locked up right now. I'm wondering if it'll be a few hours or days before it's back up. I'm already bored! Hopefully, there'll be some evident changes on the site if they had to close it down. If there's any other inkies out there who know anything or have any idea what's going on, feel free to comment or email me at ashley2055@gmail.com I promise I won't stalk you! (or bite!)

I promised you guys a book review for the Lightning Thief, and you'll get it. I just need to type it up. Feel free to look around the blog; check out the writing prompts!

And for those of you, thinking about my personal life, wondering why today was a fairy tale . . . I'll just say it started with a puffin. ;]

Come on, all you inkies!!!!

2011-01-30T20:44:00.004-05:00

So, this is a random post to anyone that isn't a member of inkpop.com . . . For those inkies reading this though, a fellow inkie is in trouble. There was a major glitch on inkpop that had people logging in as other inkpoppers when they were actually trying to get onto their own accounts. During that time, a lot of projects were deleted by evil people.

One of the projects, Paradox, was in the top 5. With only one day left until the end of the month, the author needs a lot of help getting picks and feedback. We can get it back in the top 5, inkies! We have to!

Time is running out, and we need these picks fast! Don't tell me that the author may not deserve it or whatever if you haven't read the book, because it's a great book. Also, it was in the top 5 for almost the whole month! We need to make things right and get it back there!

Click this little link right here and then click "Add to picks list" because you know you want to!

http://inkpop.com/projects/90945/paradox/

In other news, expect a book review on 'Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" tomorrow afternoon!!

What Happened to Goodbye?

2011-01-28T15:48:00.003-05:00

So, I'm guessing all the major Sarah Dessen fans, like myself, have already heard about her upcoming novel. For those of you who don't stalk the internet, waiting and waiting for a new book, I'll let you know now.

The title is 'What Happened to Goodbye' which goes with the overall theme of the book. Sarah Dessen has announced that the book should be out on May 10, 2011. We've still got some waiting to do, apparently. Below is the summary for the novel, which seems interesting and unique.

Since her parents' bitter divorce, Mclean and her dad, a restaurant consultant, have been on the move - four towns in two years. Estranged from her mother and her mother's new family, Mclean has followed her dad in leaving the unhappy past behind. And each new place gives her a chance to try out a new persona: from cheerleader to drama diva. But now, for the first time, Mclean discovers a desire to stay in one place and just be herself - whoever that is. Perhaps her neighbor Dave, an academic superstar trying to be just a regular guy, can help her find out. Combining Sarah Dessen's trademark graceful writing, great characters, and compelling storytelling, What Happened to Goodbye is irresistible reading.

I'm hoping for Dessen's common realistic, humourous writing, but I do love the romance she throws into the mix. The book will most likely be in hardcover, like the last two were. If you can't wait for the new book, then why not check out Sarah Dessen's short story, Infinity?

Go here to learn more about it:

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/d/sarah-dessen/infinity.htm

Ingrid Michaelson - Parachute

2011-01-28T15:45:00.000-05:00

Here's one of the music videos, so you can just press play if you don't feel like dealing with the links and such! :]

Music, Quotes and Books

2011-01-28T15:36:00.002-05:00

So, I added some widgets from a great site called goodreads. You'll see a list of books I want to read, my countdown for the year (I'm trying to read at least 50!) and a new widget that displays a quote from my favorite quotes on the goodreads site. On my list to read this year are some Kate Brian books (Private and Privelege series) and I'm also hoping to read the whole Percy Jackson series. One of my all time favorite authors, Sarah Dessen, has a new book coming out soon, which I will definitely be reading. I'll post a new summary and cover post for that book soon.

There's many other books I'm looking forward to reading, but you can see them in that list with the book covers shown. In the world of music, I have started listening to Ingrid Michaelson, who is just fantastic. Below are two of her videos with really great songs!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsBBv6JhxPc&feature=autoplay&list=QL&index=6&playnext=38

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gza-E4k_1OE&feature=BF&list=QL&index=1

Anyone else reading lots of great books this year? Any to recommend? Do you have a favorite singer/band? Comment and let me know!!

New Layout!

2011-01-27T14:29:00.002-05:00

So, bloggers and blog-readers, do you see the new layout? I changed the colors, fonts, everything! I was trying to make the background image - the flowers and buttons - bigger, but it's not letting me for some reason. If you have any idea on how to fix that, feel free to comment and help me out! I've also added an icon on the side . . . the glittery type writer? Well, that'll take you to my home page. I'm pretty sure it's on every page, so bada bing bada boom! I think you can also add it to your blog if you're super nice and want to help promote me, but I'm not really sure how you can add something like that. Once again, adivce is welcome in the comments!

On other news, I am hard at work on my books. I'm thinking of bringing 'You Don't Understand' back to inkpop. I've got a preview of the book up at the moment, so if you'd like to check it out, simply go to: http://inkpop.com/projects/89740/you-don-t-understand-preview/
Feedback is extremely welcome!!

I'll be ending with a few updates, by the way.

Currently Reading: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
Current Music Obsession: He is We
Mood: Okay; sick! :P

The Lost Hero: Book Review

2011-01-22T12:37:00.000-05:00

I recently finished reading the new book, The Lost Hero, by Rick Riordan. The book is the first book in the series, The Heroes of Olympus. The series is a Percy Jackson spin-off, so if you didn't read the original series, some things are a little confusing. I hadn't read the Percy Jackson books, so I was asking my friend who did a lot of questions. Still, The Lost Hero is a great book!

The book focused on Jason Grace, Piper McLean and Leo Valdez who all their own problems that are introduced in the beginning of the book. Jason can't remember who he is or where he came from. Piper's movie star dad is being held captive by a giant. Leo lost his mother to his own power.

Characters: The characters were strong, and really well developed. I don't want to give away their godly parents, but I felt this book was a really good read because the characters all had such strong emotions.

Plot/Storyline: As usual, Rick Riordan crafted a magical world of Greek, and even a little Roman, mythology. There was action, adventure, romance and humor in this book. I even learned more about the Greek gods!

Overall: I loved loved loved this book! It had everything a great book should. It did end on somewhat of a cliffhanger, but I'm hopeful the second book will be just as good. If you're a fan of Greek or Roman mythology, Percy Jackson and the Olympians or anything that grabs your heart, you have got to read The Lost Hero!

How Do I Decide if My Book Should Have a Sequel?

2011-01-22T12:30:00.000-05:00

So, I have been struggling with this issue for awhile now. After some feedback from others, I know the answer to my own question. I think other writers deal with this problem, too.
Once my first novel is written and completed, how can I be sure if I want to write a sequel or not?

There are a few different questions you need to ask yourself before you write your sequel. First, is there enough to even have a sequel? Will there be a suitable problem that can still relate back to book one without making the two books too alike? You need to make sure that you don't just write a sequel full of ramblings. That's what blogs are for! xD

If you feel that you can write a second book, you need to think of where to start. If your first book had an epilogue, it may be harder to write the second one, but not entirely impossible. You should usually start the sequel a little after the first book, but not too far. You want the reader to still feel that connection to the characters and storyline.

So, step back and view your first novel. If you were the reader, would you want another book, or would you be ready to move on? Think about that and what was mentioned above before you put your time and effort into a sequel.

He Likes Me, He Doesn't Like Me. He Likes Me Again . . . what do I do?

2011-01-09T12:17:00.000-05:00

A person asked me what she should do in a romantic situation. She liked her guy friend and told him that, but he didn't want to be more than friends at the time. Now he wants to. What does a girl do?

I was in a similar situation where I liked one of my boy friends (take note of the space in between the words!) I told him and he didn't like me like that. Overall, I was pretty crushed. I still like him, seeing as this was only about a month ago.
I'm going to let my own feelings shine through . . . . If the boy I like, let's call him . . . . Ryan. If Ryan told me he actually did like me and wanted to go out with me, I'd say yes in a heartbeat. Like you said before, I still get that butterflies/warm&fuzzy feelings when we talk.
So, if you're sure you still like him and he likes you, I'd say go for it! People and situations change; it really doesn't matter what he said a year ago.You just have to start over and hope that happily ever after is somewhere down the road.

Go after your 'Ryan', but be sure he likes you as much as you like him. From what you've told me, I think the romance between you two is mutal. ;]

If you get a comment and its obvious that the person didn't read your book do you still thank them?

2011-01-09T12:07:00.000-05:00

So, I have a question from a fellow writer on a writing website I am on. (inkpop.com) This question could help others, though, if you have friends or family reading your book.
If you get a comment and its obvious that the person did not read anything about your book (not even the title) do you still say thank you?

I think people that don't have the time to read anything about your book truly don't deserve a thank-you. If they have a real reason for not being able to read it for you, then thank them for trying to. Basically, if they devote time to your novel, short story or even poem, they deserve a thank-you. If they don't bother to read anything, not even the title and summary, then they really shouldn't be thanked. They didn't do anything for you, did they?

If you were swapping with the person, as in reading something of theirs in return for non-inkies, then you're in a different situation. If you've already read their book, you should request a new critique. Explain why you want a new comment. If you haven't read their story yet, then don't. It's up to you if you'd like to message the person and explain, but you shouldn't do anything for them if they're trying to cheat you.

New Pretty Little Liars?

2011-01-03T19:36:00.000-05:00

Almost every teenager, girls and guys, have either heard of the book series, Pretty Little Liars, or seen the hit TV show on ABC Family. With the show starting its second season tonight, the fame of the series is evident. Author Sara Sheperd announced there will be four more books in the series, the next one coming out in early July.

She hasn't dropped many hints about the new books except a recent post in her Twitter feed:

"Clues . . . well, the girls are in HUGE trouble. They're not speaking anymore."

So, apparently there's trouble in paradise. I don't know much, but I think these new books will be an interesting addition. Anyone excited for the additions? Predictions? Anyone think Sara Sheperd's dragging the series on a little? I have a few friends who think that.

I'm off to watch the new episode. Comment with thoughts about the show, series and anything else Pretty Little Liars!

Vampire Academy: Shadow Kiss

2011-01-03T18:54:00.000-05:00

I recently finished reading the third book in the Vampire Academy series, Shadow Kiss. The series is complete with six books, but there is news of a spin-off series. I read the first book months ago, and I decided I should finish the second because I was nearly halfway through it. After reading that, I needed the third. Now, I'm practically begging for the fourth book.

Title: Shadow Kiss

Author: Richelle Mead

Summary: It's springtime at St. Vladimir's Academy and Rose is close to graduation, but since making her first Strigoi kills, things haven't felt quite right. She's having dark thoughts, behaving erratically, and worst of all ...might be seeing ghosts. Consumed by her forbidden love with her tutor Dimitri and protecting her best friend, the Moroi princess Lissa, Rose is in no state to see the deadly threat that will change her entire world - and make her choose between the two people she loves most.

My Rating: Five out of five stars

Review: This book made me smile, laugh, cry, curse, and do practically everything! It was full of emotion and suspense, and I literally could not put it down. There was the right amount of drama and action without overloading it. The ending of this novel was a shock, one that will surprise anyone who reads it. I don't want to give anything away, but I'm warning you to have a box of tissues and a free night before you start reading this book.

Five-word opinion: Can't believe it; magnificent book!

What Can I Do to Keep my Story Interesting?

2010-12-26T14:12:00.000-05:00

Today, we have a question from a fellow writer, as always.
What can you do to move your story along when it gets to a slow point?

We all face the problem where your story or book starts to feel like it's dragging on, even when we're nowhere near the end. Some writers ignore it, and their books suffer. Whenever I feel that the story is getting boring, or the characters seem bland, I throw in a twist. Think of your book as if you're the reader. What would be a shock that spiced things up, but kept it realistic for your storyline?
Things like adding a new character into the mix or even killing one add a punch to your book. I know most books can't just have people dying left and right though. So, maybe a dramatic accident where someone is injured. Maybe your main character flips in science class? It's up to the writer how to add the punch in. Whichever way you choose, it should be a wake-up call to readers that your book does have twists and turns. Don't let things get too out of hand though. If you want to see an example of plot twists, take a look at my book, Flashbacks of Juliet. There are a lot in there.
I hope that helped with your dilemma. Just remember, think of yourself as the reader. What would make you go, "Oh my God, I can not put this book down!"?

How Do I End My Novel?

2010-12-23T18:12:00.000-05:00

Have you ever had trouble ending your novel, or even a short story? You're not the only one.
I don't know why, but I just cant seem to write an ending I am happy with. Every time I try to write the last chapters, it comes out stiff and I end up deleting it.

I've only written one full novel, but I do have the ending for another one planned. If it's a stand-alone book, my advice is to tie up all loose ends. Make sure all the questions (or most of them) have been answered. You don't want the ending to just be random fluff. Make it meaningful. If you feel that you can't get to the actual end without doing some explaining of other things first, then make two-three chapters, ending all of that. Don't spend too much time on one topic unless it was a big part in the novel. If you think that most of your topics could be explained and ended within a paragraph, it may be a good idea to have an epilogue. That's what I did for my one novel, Behind These Amber Eyes. (It's fully posted on inkpop if you want to take a look at the last chapter) Remember to add emotion. Like, if you're explaining how the main character was no longer close with an old friend, put something like, "Even though I knew we had our differences and just couldn't pretend anymore, I still missed all the parties and times we had. It was like a pinch in my heart when I saw how far apart we had drifted."

If you have a series going on, then you could always end it with a cliffhanger. It doesn't even have to be something like, "I screamed as a hand pulled me down. Then it went black." Just something like, "The past was for certain, but the future was unsure. So much could happen in the blink of an eye. Closing my eyes and feeling the warm air around me, I reminded myself to live in the present because you never know what tomorrow may bring." That gives a sense of suspense and mystery, but still ends things.

In closing, you want to make things short, but make sure to explain them. Leave a tiny bit of mystery if you can, just to let the reader imagine things on their own. If it's a series, then it's all right to let some questions unanswered. It'll bring the readers back for sure.

Where Do I Start?

2010-12-23T17:59:00.000-05:00

Here's the question this time around:
so I know what my story will be about, who my characters are, what my characters do with their lives, what one of them wears right down to the designer, and what happens to them. I just dont know how to start it all off! any help?
It's always hard to start a novel. I know from experience. Whenever I'm having troubles, I write out an important scene from the story. If you're lucky, you'll realize it's a great place to start. Other times, it's too far in to be the beginning. So, think about what causes that great scene to happen. Can you start the book with one of those?
Here's an example.
Great scene:
I loved how his lips felt on mine, and how we could stay there forever. It didn't matter that the morning would come and tear us apart. He'd return to his family. I'd run off to work, blushing like a schoolgirl. For tonight, we had each other, and that was enough.
Beginning:
It's impossible to love someone when they're not meant to be loved. Romeo and Juliet were cursed from the start. Rose and Jack were on a sinking ship. And Drew Lansen was known for spending his free time with his brothers at their lake house. He was one of those family first guys, the guys who just didn't have time for love.
And yet, I still loved him. I loved the boy who was impossible to love.

It's not my best, but it still shows my point. Try to view your book as a whole, a movie of sorts. Fast-forward to the middle, pause it and think, 'What happened to get me here?' And no, your answer is not, 'I pressed fast forward!' Write the beginning so one day it will lead you to the middle.

What Inspired You to Start Writing?

2010-12-23T17:28:00.000-05:00

This post actually includes three questions, all from the same asker. I won't be saying names or anything, but here is question #1.

What inspired you to start writing?
Well, when I was little - second grade - I moved to a new school. One thing that was different was that they had Writer's Workshop. We got almost an hour daily to write and come up with ideas. I started writing short stories. I even made a series out of them. It was mandatory to write during those daily hours, but I started to love writing because of it.

#2: How do you develop your characters?
When I start thinking of a story, I find myself imagining the characters to go with the storyline. To help my characters grow and become realistic, I find questionnaires online and fill them out. Here's an example of one: http://www.writingclasses.com/InformationPages/index.php/PageID/106 I usually fill out two or three per character, but I make sure the questionnaires are different. It also helps to print them out and save them so if you ever forget the character's parents' names or anything, you can just look it up real quick.

#3: What's your advice for me, the girl writing a vampire love story?
Like you, I'm writing a vampire novel. A lot depends on what "type" of vampire you have. You want to make your story original. You don't want to be a Dracula replica or a Twilight minion. Add traits or characteristics to set your vampire apart. Make people go, "I know that vamp!" when they hear about your book in a year or two. :D Here's a wiki page with a good questionnaire for vampire authors: http://new.spork.com/players/index.php/Vampire:Character_Creation Depending on your vampire, you may need to skip questions or even add your own in. Either way, it's a good idea to fill out what you can and help yourself become closer to your vamp.

How Do I Publish a Book?

2010-12-23T15:49:00.001-05:00

A lot of young (and old!) writers want to know how to get their novels published. It's not an easy path, but we all like to dream about that day when we walk into Barnes and Noble, and say, "That's my book! Right there!"
Here's the step by step process. It may not work. It may seem like a waste of time, but don't give up!

1. Write your book. Sounds easy, right? Try again. Write out your rough draft. Just write what you feel and what seems good to you. Then step back and admire your work.

2. After you admire your work, you're probably freaking out. How did you switch tenses halfway through? Why did so-and-so's little sister disappear? Calm down. We all slip up. Go through and edit your draft with a big, red pen. A bowl of Hershey kisses might help.

3. Once your draft is all shiny and perfect, let your friends and family overlook it. They'll help you realize it's not all that perfect, and that's okay. Revise and edit until you find satisfaction.
4. The next step is finding an agent. Agents can help you a lot with getting published. You have to query agents, wait for their response and most likely send them another email/letter before the deal is sealed. To see a list of agents, go to: http://agentquery.com/

5. If you find an agent, it will hopefully become easier. They can help you get your manuscript out to publishers and publish your writing. I haven't made it to this step yet. I'm still in the process of querying, but I can tell you one thing. Agents and publishers might turn you down. Your job is to get back up and get your book out there.

So, there you have it. It won't be a skip in the daisy field, but it'll be rewarding. It also won't be free, but costs differ on agents, publishers and more. Just remember that you can't give up.

No, I'm Not a Creeper

2010-12-23T15:37:00.000-05:00

Hey! So, my name is Ashley C. Nicole. That's actually my pen-name, but it'll work here. This is my writer's blog. I'll be answering questions about writing, and other things too. So, if you want to know how to end that short story or how to tell your crush you like him, come here and ask! I'll try and respond as soon as possible. Also, remember I'm not Buddha. I won't have all of the answers, but I'll try!
If you want to learn about my books and other things, you can go to www.caseyscovers.weebly.com
It's my other website. To ask me a question, leave a comment, message me on inkpop (if you have one! my username is casey261) or you can even email me at ashley2055@gmail.com
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