Sunday 2 December 2018

WIP Special Part 5 || I harass my characters

I won't beat around the bush and bore you with a long and rambly introduction. We all know who you're here to talk to, and it's not me. *tragic sniff* Today I have some special guests - the cast of Three Sisters, particularly, Billie!


Billie: I would rather be forced to behave through a full formal tea with Count Laszlo.

Jem: She's still a little rattled from meeting her author.

Billie: It's just wrong.

Jem: Unfortunate. We will also be having bloggers from the audience asking the cast questions! which will be so fun!

Billie: Fun, like a wild animal attack.

Jem: Thanks, Billie. With that said, I'd like to introduce Ceci, with our first question! *hands over mic*

Ceci: Billie, have you ever run out of things to say?

Billie: ...

Billie: wow. So that's going to be the style of this interview, Jem.

Jem: Answer the question.

Billie: ...

Billie: Never.

Friday 23 November 2018

WIP Special part 4 || lots of side characters, seriously

WHOOO *runs around screaming* It's week four of the WIP Special! and of NaNoWriMo! 

and I'm not screaming because things are going great, if you were wondering.

I'm screaming as a replacement for Dedication™, Work Ethic™, and all those other lovely strong abstract nouns.

Look, if Billie can go through life relying on snark and bitterness alone, I can use screaming and procrastination, okay??

No. bad Jem. you cannot use the habits you gave your character as an excuse for your own bad habits.


ALSO: see the end of the post for *ad voice* your chance to feature in the next installment of Jem's Three Sisters WIP Special!


........

Week Four: Side Character (SC) Questions and Story Building


–{{1. List your SCs, state one of their main hobbies, and tell us how they influence your MC in the story.


*cracks knuckles*

*actually no I never crack my knuckles ever, ignore that* *shivers*

Elsie: the middle sister; hobby: writing; her gentleness influences Billie to be tougher.

Josie: the youngest sister; hobby: riding through the forest/hunting; impulsive and slightly wild, which influences Billie to sacrifice herself.

Count Laszlo/the Beast: grumpy talking tiger-bear-thing from the forest; hobby: reading, pottering around conservatory; influences Billie to act like more of a wild beastie than he is (simply because he is 0% wild beastie and he irritates her) but also to use manners as a new weapon.

Rowan: leader (or so he claims) of the bandits; hobby: snark (do you see where I'm going with him, dO YOU); his similarities with Billie influence her to open up (just a crack, though, seriously) and trust him to help her.

Kik: would be Rowan's right-hand-man except he denies Rowan's actually in charge; hobby: insulting Rowan (as fictional friends do); has not yet met Billie?? but I suppose might influence her actions through not sending (or making Rowan send) Josie home away from the bandits.


Zephyr: from another country I haven't named, he's the literal sweetest and I'm sorry I hurt him; hobby: not sure?? maybe poetry; his presence influences Billie's actions in that she starts freaking out for spoiler reasons.

Count Yala: the voice of common sense and competence; hobby: making sure Zephyr's okay (he does not have a life); he influences Billie by not taking Zephyr away.


–{{2. Who is the SC that is the closest to your MC?

Friday 16 November 2018

part 3 || the antagonist [apparently not the author??]

concerning the title: it's true. We authors are all the true antagonists. We are the ones that stop the protagonists from getting what they want. Our goals are in direct conflict with theirs: they want a happily-ever-after, we want conflict and excitement.

This is in no way an attempt to blow up your minds so you don't notice that my answers to the following questions mostly consist of me avoiding the questions.



–{{1. Introduce the main antagonist of your book!


...the cruel world.

Look, okay. There's one character Billie despises and does a lot of stuff just to spite. Even though this character will never know she did it, so there's no point. This character is never 'on screen'.

There's another character who does turn up, but not really until the climax? still. I suppose she's the main antagonist. Her name is Georgeanne, because I hate naming characters and gave up before I found the perfect one, and I have no idea what she looks like.

I could go find out, but then I'd be trawling Pinterest for the rest of the evening and I'm feeling crazed enough already.

Her backstory is - *radio crackling*


She's an acquaintance of - *semi roars past*


 And she's working with- *super-loud crickets*


  Let's move on, shall we?



Sunday 11 November 2018

Shared WIP Tag #2 || Billie, ball of snark and bitterness

Me: this week my post will be earlier! I will be the earliest! because I live in Australia so I get to Friday before the Americans! just have to beat Melissa...
Friday: are you aware you have swimming groceries basketball piano groceries and need to get your glasses adjusted and pick up a family member from work.
Me: ...
Me: ...Saturday?
Saturday: Sorry ma'am, you need to clean the house, your laptop has a tantrum scheduled, and then you're going for dinner with family and to see a live stream of the ballet.
Me: ...
Me: next week, I will be prepared early! earlier than this week! I will be the earliest!!


...welcome to week two:

MC Questions!

("main character", if you're not familiar with the abbreviation.)

Which means... *gasps* we get to talk about Billie!

(Wonderful ball of bitterness and snark that she is.)

If you weren't around when the last WIP Special was on, I did a post on Billie here, and it has a few more details (also a few of the same ones).
........

–{{1. Introduce your MC a little, and tell us something quirky about her.


Billie || Isobel || never Bill, because Old Bill is the horse

Saturday 3 November 2018

it liiiives!! || part 1: the Shared WIP Tag returns


You know how there's this writing thing on called NaNa or something?

And you know how I've also been (shall we say) sporadic at best at keeping active in the blogosphere? (or in real life – keeping active, ugh – but I digress.)

I've signed up to do something which will help me fail in combine both of those things!

You may have heard of it. I've done it twice before, and there are a lot more bloggers joining in this time. It is...

*overdramatic drumroll*




The Shared WIP Tag!



And! because I have no imagination! and am a NaNo rebel! I am focusing on Three Sisters, aGAIN, because I have not! yet! finished!
........

–{{1. Introducing: Three Sisters!



Sunday 7 October 2018

HELP || why did I buy more books


The answer to the question in the title is, of course, that I am Loki and I do what I want. (And if you don't think Loki collects books [perhaps not novels, though?], I don't know what to say to you.) But it's all very well for an Asgardian prince... I'm sure he has lots of shelf space.

Or, y'know, some kind of pocket dimension library.

Me? Not so much.


It isn't like I bought very many... this time. Six or seven, and only two of those were large books.

But you know that tumblr post on Pinterest about Quicksilver and Thor's hammer? no? ...hang on...

*literally two hours later* HERE IT IS

 

That's me. Except it's more like:

"oh, what a great idea, let's get more books" 

*teetering towers of books collapse and crush me* 

"I HAVE MADE A TERRIBLE MISTAKE"

Sunday 23 September 2018

the Nameless Book Tag (second time around)

On the first day of this most excellent and productive year of 2018 (productive? hm. Any 'yes' votes for that? I'm going with 'no'...), Olivia at Important Nothings tagged me! And because I am an irresponsible human with way more procrastination than one person should be allowed to have, I'm doing it now! *counts on fingers* ... literally a quarter of a year later.  
HI SMALL UPDATE FOR MID-YEAR ME, IT'S NOW SEPTEMBER. GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER.  
Uh. Literally eight months later?


Sorry, Olivia! (I do appreciate being tagged, people [even if I take forever] - partly for the post idea, and mostly just knowing that someone thought of me ;)

I have done the Nameless Book Tag before (although it came to me under a slightly different name: The Mysteriously Nameless Tag of Doom). Since the questions are the same, I've decided to attempt a slightly different approach this time (with updated answers, obviously, because last time was allll the way back in November! and my blog was still a smol thing that didn't have a clue what it was doing!), and also this time may involve more gifs.


–{{What book has been on your shelf the longest?


Well this one's the same as last time: Anne of Green Gables. Haven't read it in forever, though.

Quick question, slightly unrelated: does anyone ever read that first page? You know, the one that's "only" two sentences long??



–{{What is your current read, your last read, and the book you’ll read next?


Saturday 8 September 2018

What Was I Up To During My Unannounced Four-Month Hiatus?

Two weeks ago, I awkwardly reappeared in the blogophere.


With very few excuses to offer, really. I haven't written a trilogy while I was gone. I haven't been on some kind of cleansing technology abstinence.

I'm not even super-relaxed by the whole hiatus experience.

Feel free to throw things at me but please make them chocolate or at least biscuits.

Here's what did happen during my hiatus:

–{{In April, I:

  • post, apologising for disappearing for three whole weeks. Ha ha. Hahahahaa. so cute.
  • volunteer at a comic-con. My plans of adding a Winter Soldier arm under my official T-shirt don't work out because I'm lazy. I get photos with a female Loki, a female Winter Soldier, a Gandalf, a Thranduil, and a Rey (who turns out to be my junior leader from a holiday outreach program last year). Gandalf gets the Runner Up: People's Choice award for doing the whole "you. shall not. PASS" thing. 
  • read a lot of fanfics, including some from fandoms I'm not even in. (The Miraculous Ladybug love square is just too hilarious, okay? I must have read literally a hundred identity reveal fics.)
  • watch season 2 of The Flash (leave the timeline aLONE, BARRY) and Guardians of the Galaxy 2. 
  • attempt to do Camp NaNo in 'minutes of study'. I fail.
  • [whoops]

–{{In May, I:

Wednesday 29 August 2018

I believe my exact words were "a bit of time off"

The below is from a post in April

https://jemjoneswriter.blogspot.com/2018/04/again-not-dead-im-always-only.html

And I'm just sitting here now like "well, define 'a bit'??"



[Even then I was apologising for abandoning you all.]

But, y'know, I stuck by the "I will return to my blog eventually" part? So everything's good and I will never ever behave in such an irresponsible manner ever again. Ever. Obviously.

With that, I should mention...
 ...this will be a short post. Because it's not going to be about me and my excuses.

This post will be about you.


You, the amazing, fascinating, and downright inspirational people of the blogosphere whom I abandoned for a month two three basically four months??*

I know so much has happened while I was gone. I kNOW it has. But I haven't actually been game to look, so far. Because I'm the type of person who needs to know EVERYTHING and much as I'd like to I simply can't read all the posts that went up while I was gone and now I'm afraid I've missed so much wonderful stuff.

So. This post is where I beg you to comment and tell me the highlights of the blogosphere happenings. If your mind can stretch back a quarter of a year, that is. Comment! Tell me what's happened on your blog! If you don't feel comfortable shouting about what you've been doing - I'd feel awkward myself - then shout about your favourite posts of your favourite blogs, and someone can do the same for your posts (because of course your posts are someone's favourites! <3), and then I will know all the important things.

Think of it as giving me your lecture notes because I skipped class a space to jump in and say "Here's an awesome thing that someone wrote! Go read it!"


*Also someone please tell me if that "whom" was correct or if I should indeed have used "who". ("And don't take away my writer's license, I promise it's a one-off slip of the mind," I lie.)

A few specific things I was also wondering: 
- Who in the blogging world has put a new book out? 
-  How did you all go with Camp NaNo in July?
- And where is that Friendly Neighbourhood Journal at??

Monday 23 April 2018

...again, not dead [I'm always only pretending. because I'm Loki.]


Sooo. I've been absent from the blogosphere for most of April (three weeks now?).


This is a) an apology for abandoning all your lovely blogs in that time! and b) an assurance that I'm just taking a bit of time off and will return to my poor blog eventually. Even though it isn't truly a Jem-haitus unless it's completely random and unannounced??

I'm sure most of you know about Camp NaNoWriMo, and a significant number of you may well be participating. Hopefully you'll sympathize! (especially when I tell you I'm working on study + assessments for my Camp goal. Funnn.)

How's Camp going for you? Tell me your goals! and I'll give you virtual lamingtons (or TimTams, if you don't like coconut?) Do you struggle to keep up with the blogosphere sometimes? (Do you have advice on how to keep up with the blogosphere and also not abandon life??)

Sunday 1 April 2018

WIP Special Part 5 || basically a party where I Do What I Want

So I'm late.

What's new?

But I have a good reason this time! (don't I always?)

See, it's the start of a new month, which means a couple of things:
  • It's now Camp NaNo (whooo! go everyone!) 
  • This is the last of the 5-Part Special posts (and I was late, because obviously that's the thing to do?)
  • My family now has our new month's fast internet after running out of last month's. 
    • When we use all our fast internet, we get slow internet
    • s l o w
    • Blogger wouldn't even let me try putting pictures into posts
      • (and Spotify wouldn't even acknowledge there was internet)
        • (I think Spotify might be an internet guzzler?)
    • And as you'll know by now, this week's post was about aesthetics and all the gorgeousness! 
    • so having no pictures doesn't exactly work
  • Also I have one week to finish two TAFE units' assessments! (*harried screams*) (I had more than two months to do this. Why, Jem. :| )
Anyway, I'm here now! :D

5-part writing special (Part 5: party)

(Lila made the awesome graphics - thanks, Lila! <3)


The March 5-Part Special

Part 5: ...fun stuff


Aesthetics! Artwork! Music! all the fun stuff which I haven't collected yet, basically.



–{{tea and scones || tired and grumpy || don't hurt his books || grumbling || "why did I do this to myself" || Count Laszlo / the Beast



–{{ doesn't trust anyone but herself || bickering || regret ||  angry-sad || protective || has to be in control of her situation || Billie



–{{ aching || music || ghosts from the past || can't hide forever || homemaker || Elsie

Josie || engages with anyone || reckless || doesn't want protecting || archery || hunting the Beast }}–



–{{lost || charming smile || sadness behind his eyes || banter || leader of bandits || Rowan

Zephyr || grieving || careful with his words || loyal to the death || all heart }}–




[Remember how I've always said I can't write while listening to music? Yeahhh. But sometimes I feel like music helps me add a little more emotion, so... these are songs I'll play in the background while I write. (You'll notice there are. no. lyrics.) It needs to be reordered, but I just skip/repeat as necessary, so...]
.... That's the end of Part 5 - and the whole event. ....

*sniffles*

Now go check out these blogs for their amazing posts they got theirs up on Friday, I'm sure xD because their stories are so. cool. and I've been waiting impatiently to see their party-posts! Part-5-y posts?? I am ashamed of me.


.....

Do you make playlists? Are you on Spotify? (drop your link in the comments!) Do you sometimes run out of internet?? (is it Spotify, do you know?) How do you make aesthetic collages? Which character do you most like the sound of? Which character of mine is most like one of yours? (would they get along or not?)

Friday 23 March 2018

WIP Special Part 4 || you get to meet a lot more characters

[Write an intro, etc etc, does anyone read these things, never mind, let's just get on to the exciting bit! more about the Beast and cinnamon-roll boys and sisters and a villain that isn't there yet! yay!]

WELCOME TO PART FOUR.

5-part writing special (Part 2: World/setting)


(Thanks to Lila for making the awesome graphic! which even happens to fit with my blog colours, so that's extra-cool. xD)


The March 5-Part Special

Part 4: Supporting Characters (And Villain!)


–{{Introduce your side characters, explain what makes them unique, and perhaps include their relationship to the MC.


H'm. How many side characters should I do?

Eh. Why not keep going until you all yell at me to stop already. 

Saturday 17 March 2018

WIP Special Part 3 || I talk about Billie (yay!)

hahahaaa

Well. I'm sure it's still Friday somewhere?

Look. I have a cold. I have study. I have work. I have been reading 100k+ fanfics. I am sorry I didn't get to this earlier, because Julian has organised a great thing here and I'm pleased to be part of it and ramble about my dear WIP

And I love ya all because you understand the craziness of life. <3


(Thanks to Lila for making the awesome graphic! <3)


The March 5-Part Special

Part 3: The Main Character(s)

Part 1: Introduction || Part 2: Setting


–{{Introduce your Main Character(s):


Oooh! Today I get to talk about Billie! (Elsie and Josie will be POV characters, I'm pretty sure, but Billie's definitely the main character of Three Sisters.)

Here's the first paragraph of my blurb again, because with the way I write, introducing my story basically equals introducing my MC:

Billie's the oldest of three. That makes her the one responsible for Elsie and Josie. She works hard to keep their life together - their new life, their life in a little cottage in the forest, the life they've built for themselves. But Josie is caught poaching: not by kingsmen, which would mean death, but by a legendary Beast of the forest, which... also means death. Billie's the oldest. Billie's the one who keeps her sisters safe. What option does she have? She invokes the old traditions to pay for her sister's debt herself.

Aww. I love her so much. Also she refuses to connect with anyone because she was betrayed in an unspecified previous relationship, so she just snarks people. Aggressively. All the time. Because she doesn't want to get hurt.

And at one point that led to a saucepan battle with a bandit in the Beast's kitchen. Good fun.

Possibly when you read this question you were expecting a physical description of Billie?? If so you obviously haven't been around me very long. She's, y'know, fairly regular, I guess? Brown hair [I think. Let me check.] Eyes. [Just... like... eyes. She has them. *awkwardness intensifies*] Oh, no, wait. She has blonde hair. [W o w, Jem.]

I think she's an ESTJ; I took the test for her a few times, and that's what I got.

She's the opposite of touchy-feely and doesn't do words of affection; she's not terribly sensitive and can miss emotions in others. (Also in herself. Except for anger. Because she's good at that one [and uses it to be productive.])


Friday 9 March 2018

WIP Special Part 2 of 5 || this is when I wish I spent more time on worldbuilding

*frantic typing at 10pm*

So I knew this post was coming. And I should have planned ahead. But hey, what's life for if not last-minute panic? And mentally kicking yourself? because this post is about worldbuilding and yours is nonexistant?

Welcome to -

5-part writing special (Part 2: World/setting)

(Thanks to Lila for making the awesome graphic! <3)


The March 5-Part Special

Part 2: World and Setting


–{{What would we immediately notice upon stepping into your storyworld? (What would stand out the most?)


Oookay.

...I have decided to skip this week's post.



Most of my story is set in a house (of some sort) that's in a forest (of a cliche sort)?? My storyworld is rather thin?? I'm focused on the characters, okay.

Also where exactly are you stepping into my storyworld? If you arrived in the capital city, which would probably be a good spot for tourists to start at, you might notice that it's very elegant and has lots of white stone buildings. If you were in the three sisters' cottage, you'd notice the log walls' rough edges and gouges from inexperienced hands, but also the colourful braided rug and the unevenly dyed green curtains. (And probably two pairs of muddy boots left haphazardly by the door. That's Josie and Billie.)

If you were in the forest, though, you'd notice... trees. Lots of trees. Some narrow trails, worn down to dust; a lot of bird activity high in the treetops. You would not notice the bandits, because they're hiding.

Side note: As a companion to this post, maybe go read my post on settings from the last 4-Part Special, okay? I started it basically the same way... by threatening to leave... Reading back over it, the thing I'm most noticing is that I recognised that I needed more worldbuilding... and almost five months later, I've barely added a thing. Regardless of that - or perhaps because of it - that post is still very relevant. In fact, you can read the whole series here!

Wednesday 7 March 2018

Um, so, I'm having an anniversary? || #MyFirstPostRevisited

"What??" I hear you say. "Jem's going to be posting on Friday! She can't be posting today - she only posts once a week!"

Well, yes. I only post once a week (maximum) because I don't want to go raising your expectations. But today is special! so of course it's 7pm and I've just remembered I needed to actually write this post.
........

Everyone in the blogosphere (it seems) has been having an anniversary. Several blogs reached one year old over the last few months - and they're so lovely-looking for baby bloggers that I'm in awe - but one of note is turning seven. Seven. Wow. (Go congratulate Christine, okay?)

Anyway, I'm jumping on this trend: I, too, am having a blog anniversary! Blogoversary! Blog... birthday?? 


One year ago today, I started this blog. I didn't have any huge ambitions for it, or even any idea what I was going to do with it, but my TAFE studies required me to start a social media platform (just to show I could), and the alternative was Facebook.

I've seen my grandmother's Facebook feed. It frankly scares me. 

So! It's been one year. I gradually developed a kind-of aim, although I'm still pretty scattered in my topics, and I joined the community of young Christian writers. It was intimidating at first, because everyone knew each other and the blogs all seemed to be huge famous things that wouldn't want me there.

(I have since discovered that's a crazy way to think and that everyone here is welcoming and a lovely person.) But I still get intimidated. *sighs at self*

I now have 43 followers on the Blogger gadget, and at least 12 email followers! You all are amazing and quite possibly slightly crazy. Thank you for reading what I have to say. <3 And to everyone who reads and/or comments, whether or not you're following, I extend a huge thank you as well! Every comment is special to me, however short or long it is. (or: however formal or scream-y.)

*throws lamingtons and TimTams at you all* *no confetti, because that would get in the food*
........

And, back in December, Melissa Gravitis tagged me for the #MyFirstPostRevisited hop. I decided to save it for this particular occasion, because there's really no better way to celebrate than by looking back at your past self and cringing, right?


The Rules for the hop, originally started by Sarah:
  • No cheating. You must highlight your first post. Not your second post, not one you love… the first post only.
  • Link back to the person who tagged you (thank them if you feel like it or, if not, curse them with a plague of ladybugs).
  • Cut and paste your old post into a new post or reblog your own bad self. (Either way is fine, but NO editing.)
  • Put the hashtag #MyFirstPostRevisited in your title.
  • Tag five (5) other bloggers to take up this challenge.
  • Notify your tags in the comment section of their blog (don’t just hope they notice a pingback somewhere in their spam).
  • Feel free to cut and paste the badge to use in your post.
  • Include “the rules” in your post.
Thanks, Melissa! *starts scavenging for a few friendly ladybugs because I'm not sure how to feel about this tag*

'kay, here we go.
........
So I seem to have a blog.

?

Well, at the moment you can probably expect casual posts about writing - including encouragement, the details of a few points of grammar, occasional rants on the writing life, and hopefully some flash fiction prompts. Also, I'll probably write about reading and libraries, and no doubt there'll be fandom references.

Of course, there will be deviations from the writerly theme when I find a new favourite thing, so please excuse. (Mug cakes. So cool. I'll stuff them under 'writing life', actually, because they're quick and easy and gooey and there's just something about eating cake out of a mug that has me enthralled.)



........

(Sadly, the mug cakes sort of... died.)

That was not as bad as I'd maybe anticipated?? *sends Melissa happy yellow ladybugs* It was also not very exciting. But to be fair, my only known audience for my first post was my TAFE lecturer. See if you don't think that would cramp your style.

Tagging:
  1. Cait Drews
  2. The author of that debut YA novel titled "A Thousand Perfect Notes" (it won't be too unprofessional of a post, I'm sure??)
  3. Paper Fury
  4. The Dragon Queen who's planning on taking over earth from her base on Jupiter
  5. ...guess who?
Look. I can't find the archives, okay? And once or twice she's threatened terrible things to anyone who hunts through her old posts. She's such a successful blogger, considering she routinely threatens her audience, and I want to see where she started from.

I dare you, Cait. I daaaare you. *puppy eyes*
........

So... that's my blogoversary. I'd have done a Q&A, but I'm too secretive I wasn't very organised. Or organised at all. So, since you might have to wait for next year's blogoversary, I hope there was nothing dreadfully urgent you wanted to ask me!

(If there was - "what are your opinions on pineapple on pizza", for example, which is obviously a very urgent question and is also one I stole from Evangeline's recent Q&A - you would have to ask me in the comments. I promise I would answer. As long as this hypothetical question was urgent. And important. Like "would an alpaca or a goat be a more dangerous ride for a small child". Urgent questions, see.)

How long have you been blogging? Don't there seem to be a lot of blogs turning one in the last few months? If yours was one of them, tell me in the comments! Also ask any urgent questions you may have. If you're a follower of Paper Fury, are you anxious to see her first post? (answer: yes.) Have you found the young writers circles of the blogosphere to be wonderfully welcoming? (if not, tell me, and I'll give you more lamingtons. as a welcome.)

Also, shoutout to Miss March (who runs a beautifully classic/period drama appreciation style of blog) for being my first ever commenter (and the only commenter on my first, oh, five posts?) It meant a lot to me. <3

Friday 2 March 2018

The WIP Special is Back! || MORE ABOUT THREE SISTERS

JULIAN'S 4-PART SPECIAL IS BACK.

...But this time, with new, bonus content! Now, for the same low price, you can order four, get one free! 

*coughs*

Basically, this time, we've fit five weeks into the month. So it's actually the-

5-part writing special (Part 1: Introducing the WIPs)

(Thanks to Lila for making the awesome graphic! <3)


The March 5-Part Special

Part 1: Introducing the WIPs


–{{Give a 1-3 paragraph blurb of your WIP


[INSERT SUPER-COOL BLURB/HOOK HERE HAHA]

[whoops I meant to take that out ahaha]

Billie's the oldest of three. That makes her the one responsible for Elsie and Josie. She works hard to keep their life together - their new life, their life in a little cottage in the forest, the life they've built for themselves. But Josie is caught poaching: not by kingsmen, which would mean death, but by a legendary Beast of the forest, which... also means death. Billie's the oldest. Billie's the one who keeps her sisters safe. What option does she have? She invokes the old traditions to pay for her sister's debt herself.

The Beast must accept her offer, but he knows the traditions more deeply: whatever is offered in free payment of another's debt cannot be harmed. Billie wakes up a manor deep in the forest; her sisters think she's dead, but although he's not happy about it, the Beast refuses to harm her - even after she has several aggressive outbursts involving his tea and his scones and his ferns. She was willing to die for Josie. But she's not sure if she can handle watching her sisters think she's dead while she lives in unwilling comfort. And then her sisters start making bad choices - and she can't do a thing about it.

Josie's on a mission now; she wants vengeance on the monster that killed her sister, and has teamed up with bandits to get it. Elsie is distraught and leaves the forest, meeting a ghost from the past and unintentionally making the sisters' presence in the forest known. As everyone works at cross-purposes, old and new enemies and acquaintances are gathering in the forest. Eventually, for the three sisters, their hiding will be over.

(I made that up on the spot, if you can't tell...)


[BONUS FEATURE: Draft blurb!]

Everyone is working on an incorrect information and is confused and meets all the people they don't want to. Snark is considered a valid fighting style.

[That works too.]

Tuesday 20 February 2018

Tag In Which I Invite Several Characters I Shouldn't To Dinner

*creeps back into blogosphere*

*points accusingly at Life*

Let's just move on.

(Unless, of course, you didn't even notice I was gone for an extra week two weeks nearly a month. In which case, we need to Talk.)

Today we have a tag about books. And food. (I have been told food is popular. I'm not sure why.) (I mean, who wants to eat, right?? apart from me 65.31% of the time?)

But, to mix things up a bit, I'm going to focus on one book series. One I think deserves more attention. I mean, I can't seem to find the fandom?? which is ridiculous. Not even on Pinterest, apart from a few boards with amateur fanart.

(I shouldn't say that, or it'll turn out to be someone here's art, and then I will die of embarassment... The fanart is better than any I've done, okay?)


The Literary Dinner Party Tag

Featuring: Artemis Fowl (Eoin Colfer)


Thursday 25 January 2018

THANKS A LOT KENZIE || consequences of the NaNo Dare Squad

My sisters have been waiting for this post ever since they first heard it was coming...

So waaay back in November, I signed up for an idea Kenzie had:

The NaNoWriMo Dare Squad [of Death]

 
  • I sent her my goal for NaNo
  • I sent her a dare to go in the Virtual Hat of Consequences
  • and I laughed because aPPARENTLY IF YOU HAVE NO BRAIN YOU FEEL NO FEAR




Now obviously this should have meant I would COMPLETE MY GOAL and not lose NaNo. Because the consequences were just too terrible to contemplate.

Lo and behold, I did not win NaNo. Probably because I didn't write for the third and fourth week? I mean, I'm not an expert, but I'm pretty sure that's a bit of a red flag for non-dedication. 

So even though I keep blaming Kenzie, this is entirely my fault.

It's just... she's laughing. I know she's laughing. I CAN HEAR YOU LAUGHING, KENZIE.
........

But what dare did I get? (you can see the whole post + options here!)

First try, I rolled a five: "Let a sibling or friend who you really don't want in control of your blog write the next post". I am so glad I couldn't do that one. because it was mine.

Then I rolled twelve: "roll the dice separately and do each!"

Then I rolled two ones, which was "Impossible! (Unless you're a Jedi...)" So I'm obviously a Jedi master and do not need to do a dare at all.

Buuut I felt like I should try again.

And I got two fours: "Publish at least one chapter (or section) of the most embarrassing novel you've ever written." (This dare was courtesy of Kirsten at Simple Love.)

I blinked twice ("...okay...") and then a very, very old story flashed through my suddenly tense mind. Quite frankly, if I wasn't such an honourable person, I would have gone with my first response:


I have no idea who this is, but I identify with his amount of nOPE.

But as I said, I have my sense of honour! So. Here it is. My first ever 'long' piece of writing (unfinished at 43 A5 pages), which also happens to be the. most. embarrassing. I just don't know what I was thinking (or why I hadn't burnt it before now??)

You may begin the throwing up. Or tears of laughter. Whichever response you're inclined towards. (I vote for aggressive clicking of the red x at the top right of your browser? but that's just me.)

Ready?

Thursday 18 January 2018

Rising Author Tag || times two


So I was reading Kendra Lynne's blog, and she did a post called the Rising Author tag. (Apparently, it was the fifth time she'd done it.)

I was intrigued by the questions, thought I'd steal them, and told her so. (She was lovely about it :)

That was in September 2017. Because MASTER PROCRASTINATOR HERE.

Then I was tagged - legally! - by Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee (at A Looong Time Ago In A Galaxy Far, Far Away) and I will refer to forevermore to her as "Ani" because that's what Anidori got called in the book. (even though her name seems to be... Cecelia? maybe? the irony is killing me?) (If you haven't read Shannon Hale's The Goose Girl, do so. It starts off a bit slow, but it's lovely.) Thank you for tagging me, Ani!

So I'm going to answer two lots of questions.


The Rising Author Tag || x2 because I procrastinate like that

(The "Rising Author Tag" - that makes it sound like I'm going places! apart from between my bed, my desk, and the kitchen! which is cool! mostly untrue, but cool!)

The Rules:
#1: No tagging back
#2: Tag Four People
#3: Thank The Person Who Tagged You

........
Ani's questions first!

--{ 1: What is your "go-to" song for writing? }--


Tuesday 9 January 2018

9 Truths, 2 Lies (a short post?? who's writing this???)

In my Liebster Award post I promised I was saving the eleven random facts (about me!) for another post. This is that post.

But I lied.

I'm only going to give you nine. And two lies.

It's your job to tell me which you think is which.

(One of them I've mentioned before - little hint for those of you who've been reading my blog a while. ;)



 When I was [various stages of] young (such a long time ago!), I:


1. Could not BEAR shortbread

2. Tipped a jar of baby powder on my brother and then explained, "...it's snowing"


3. Learned to drive the tractor standing up so I could reach the pedal

4. Planned to marry my brother

5. Said I was going to run away as soon as I turned 18 because I hated the speargrass on our new property

6. Put my glasses down on the trampoline that oNE TIME


7. Hit a tree in the farm ute while fleeing a fire

8. Internally judged those who'd read LotR

9. Put a cereal box on my head and, according to unfortunate video footage, flapped my arms like a T-Rex doing breaststroke

10. Tore strips off pages of library books and ate the paper


11. Never had a nickname (beyond a shortening of my full name)


...I was going to put "Thought 'socialization' meant 'meet new bookcases'," but figured that one would be fairly easy to identify as truth...

This is probably unfairly hard? since I've never talked much about my life beyond what books I spend my time reading... but hey, you get to test out your guessing skills!


Which two do you think are the lies? Put them in the comments, and on - (ahhh - Saturday?) - ...Saturday! I will update this post to include the answers! 

(Also, do you have any comments to make about any of these facts? because I do. What were you doing, young me. What.)

Also also. This is one of my shortest posts in a looong time. Which is probably good?? they've been getting a bit unwieldy... xD

-------

Annnd... here's the update with the answers.


Tuesday 2 January 2018

Liebster Award || just ONE OF THE MANY tags I'm behind on

Okay so hERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF MY PROCRASTINATION LEVELS for you.


In October, Lila Kims at The Cheapskate Bibliomaniac nominated my blog for the 2017 Liebster Award. I accepted and had every intention of writing the post.

Five days later, Mary Katherine from Sarcastic Scribblings nominated my blog for the 2017 Liebster Award. Again, I accepted, and increased the urgency level for writing my post.

Come December, and The Temperamental Writer at All Things Trivial and Insignificant nOMINATED MY BLOG BECAUSE GUESS WHAT I HAVEN'T WRITTEN THE POST YET.

*slaps self*

I'd done a Liebster Award post before, back in July, but there was a bit of confusion about what that actually meant, and it got treated basically like a tag. This time, however, there were lovely clear lists of rules/guidelines in the posts:
........
1. Thank the person who nominated you, and post a link to their blog on your blog. Try to include a little promotion for the person who nominated you. They will thank you for it and those whom you nominate will also help you out as well. (Or, as MK put it, gush about how wonderful the person who nominated you is.)

2. Display the award on your blog – by including it in your post and/or displaying it using a “widget” or a “gadget”. (There are lots of options for pictures if you go here!)

3. Write a 150-300 word rave about your favorite blog that is not your own. Explain why you like the blog, provide links.

4. Nominate 5–11 blogs – who have less than 200 followers – that you feel deserve the award.

5. List these rules in your post.

6. Inform the people/blogs that you nominated that they have been nominated for the Liebster award and provide a link for them to your post. (They might not have ever heard of it!)

7. Post a comment in the comments of the award post so your post and blog can be viewed. (This... was only open until mid-December... oh well ;)

Additionally, some included the rules:
1. Answer the 11 questions that the blogger gives you
2. Give 11 random facts about yourself
3. Give the bloggers you tag 11 questions to answer

...this is going to be a long post. xD