Eh he, happy not New Years

I made a bargain.

{A horrible decision really.}

And now my hands are tied.

{With 70 feet of blonde magic hair.}

So, I have a BIG surprise for you!!

{Uh... I do too!}

Ooh, but I bet my surprise is bigger!

{I seriously doubt it.}

Would you shut up?

{Go find a dream.}

Gah. Just a second, guys.

*sound of frying pan hitting skull*

Ok!!

So...

I have several New Years {I am trying to figure out how that is really supposed to go grammatically...New Year? New Year's? New Years'?} resolutions. Honestly, this is the first year I have ever made real resolutions. Normally, I just watch the day come and watch the day go and smile and wave at all the people who create these fantastic lists and goals. Then I go to bed. And wake up a happier Caitria.

{Are you hungry? Cause I know of a great place to eat.}

.......................................

So, this year is a bit of a change. But that's fitting, because I changed so much this year. From head to toe, figuratively and literally speaking {with maybe a pun intended}. First things off, my list. It's short. To the point. And 100% realistic.


1. {Find a dream.}

Ummm....I thought that dude was gone.

The real 1. Lose the mask.

I wear a mask. Did you know that? Maybe that's a part of being a writer. But I rarely show my true feelings. This year, I want to dig down to me, the real me, and let it go without fear. {Maybe inspired by Frozen...}

2. Get In the Shadow or Imitation published

Aaaaah! I've dreamed of this for so many years. To actually have TWO books so close gives me shivers!

3. {Get married.}

Come on!!?? Seriously?

The real 3. Stop wasting so much time on devices and spend more time with my family.

Over the last few months, I've seen a degeneration in my life of migrating more and more toward my computer and social networks {such as facebook, snapchat, and instagram} and less time with my lovely, wonderful family. We have so few years here in this home {especially since I'm getting married, right?!}. I don't want to waste them.

4. Complete a 364 day photo challenge.

A GREAT friend of mine is doing this and I asked to join her. I had another friend do it last year, and it just looks like so much fun. I am excited to do it. Eh he, I started a day late... But you can track it through my instagram account (myunicornhaswings).

5. Bond even more with my amazing friends.

God has blessed me immeasurably this year, with wonderful, Godly friends. I pray that they can be strengthened throughout this year even more!!

6. {Rule the World and ban chocolate}

The real 6. Get rid of this dude....^^



Ok. So, the bargain....

{Really, really a bad idea.}

I have been writing my tail end off the last month, getting In the Shadow ready to be published. But, along the side, I've been also working on a few other books.

{Pfft. A few?}

And so now I owe you {blame Cait} an explanation of my 2014 writing list and story-lines.

{Death plots.}

Nuance.



In the Shadow

This is the big one of year. Well, more like 8 years. Yes, I've been writing/editing this book for 8 years.  BUT. It is done. I mean, as done as you can get... The last thing I am doing is a little bit of reformatting on the chapter sequences and then it's on to querying {which I'm totally freaked out about, just so you know}!! So, history is epic. Especially ancient history, the stuff we don't know very much about, because you can play with it so much. I definitely qualify as a history nerd and In the Shadow sort of exploded with my enthusiasm. It has 2 protagonists, both slaves in Ancient Rome. They are total opposites. While Merrie just wants to be loved by her mistress and enjoy a peaceful life, Ionez's favorite thing to do is throw her master's orders back in their faces. If her own weren't so infuriatingly gorgeous, Ionez would have the one thing she longs for - freedom. So instead, she schemes up an idea as bold as it is dangerous in an attempt to get it. There may be a bit of intrigue, turncoat step-mothers, and a very unique dagger involved...{but we're not saying}. Merrie's simple world is destroyed by one small necklace. Her mistress's favorite - stolen - and she was the last one seen with it. From favorite companion to despised scum, she rallies everything inside her to earning back all the love and dreams she based her life upon. Yeah...Cait, go ahead and say it. Vague. ;)


Imitation

This is the one Cait really wants to hear about. I'll be nice. Sort of. I was going to explain, but there is too much. So I'm summing up. This is a huge WIP, a Dystopian sci-fi, and utter chaos. Nicole, the 17 year old protagonist, is special. Born with a technologically advanced brain, she has been the object of study for years - and she didn't even know it. When the time comes that the Director, who leads her city, can use her power, she is ready to give herself wholly for the government's use. Then she discovers just what they want her to do. Questionably ethic, the project introduces her to Tyler. Who stands against everything she has ever believed and been taught is right. But she's spent her life listening to the statutes of the city. She knows they have to be right - and so she turns Tyler in as a traitor just as she completes the project and allows the Director to introduce it to the entire city. To change everything they - or any person ever alive - has ever been. Just add a city in the sky. And lots of spaceships and a broken outside world and WAR.


My Unicorn Has Wings

Familiar with this one? My blog title was totally inspiration. This story is loosely related to my own life. Ok, mostly just the dorky protagonist. It's going to be fun. Have lots of puns, silly jokes, and craziness in it. Set in Kat's first year of college, it's more your traditional growing-up, finding yourself story {shouldn't she have done that already?}, with a mystery twist, including an ancient box in her attic, unicorns, and a grandfather she never knew. There will also be a singing competition {or musical theater, not sure which yet}, a library fight scene, a debate of the century, and a horse named Stargate.


Royal

This is actually the title of the sequel for this series, but the first book's name is under wraps. Another Dystopian. World War 3 has destroyed the earth. The people have come to the conclusion that half the problems of the world stem from their rulers and leaders. So they ditch every form of government, throw all the Royal families, Presidents, Prime Ministers, Governors, you-name-it types into a very special prison. {Wouldn't you love to know.} The new World Government runs smoothly for 10 years until Liv, daughter of the King of England, accidentally destroys her cell and finds herself free of the prison's influence.


Unbroken

I AM SO EXCITD ABOUT THIS BOOK! First of all, because it's not mine. It's my sister Brisa's. She's writing it. I am her editor. I'm excited because she has been reading over my shoulder and giving me ideas and thoughts for the last 3 years for my books. And she's AMAZING! I've been trying to get her to write a book for a while. Imitation actually started as a possible idea for her, but it didn't go anywhere and I kind of took over {eh, bad me}. Basically, I have no license to say anything about Unbroken {though I'm 100% positive I could}. But I just had to tell you about it because it's going to be fantastic!!


Astroid

No. Not asteroid. Astroid. Although stars and asteroids and huge ice glaciers and starving Siberian Tigers play a huge roll in the fantasy plotline {only partially constructed}. There's also a journey across an impossible desert where dragons play with fire and hoard fallen sky-gems. Two rival nations have been at war for a millennia. At long last, the {people group which I cannot disclose but start with an O so we'll call them the O's} O's have conquered the K's. With their victory, the O's hope to claim the prosperity of much smaller K through a small asteroid {yes, really an asteroid this time}. The King thinks the charm of his enemy controls the revolution of the planet through gravitational magnetics. But there's danger lurking in the asteroid and only Sam {pseudo identity}, the King's illegitimate son, suspects it. When he's sent on a mission and forced to team up with the crown prince of the kingdom they just destroyed, Sam discovers there's more to fear than just the asteroid.


The Last Scribe
I got this book half written before I sort of burnt out. Not of ideas. I knew where it was going {sort of}, but I burnt up my time. I decided to get In the Shadow done. Then began Imitation. My Unicorn Has Wings came along next. And so on... So, really, I just need to sit down and finish it. Another fantasy like Astroid {actually conceived first}, prophecy is the internal drive for my protagonist, Breem. Confused, timid, shy...he's not really the hero type. But he's been thrust into an adventure he cannot abandon. Finding the true king of the dissolved Messeran kingdom is probably the only thing that will give him what he wants. Escape. But where do you look for a king who doesn't want to be found? Yeah, this sounds pretty lame. So we'll ignore it for a while. It really needs a rework/rewrite of what I already have done.


And so {temporarily} ends my list of books. I'm spending most of my time trying to {unsuccessfully} block out the million other story ideas clambering inside my skull for freedom.

What about you, writing buds? Any great and glorious plans {of domination} for 2014? Which idea do you like the most?

{Ah ha! You expect them to have a favorite from that threadbare lot?}

Ummmm....



IMITATION

Well, everyone. It is time for the unveiling.

Some of you may follow me on Pinterest and see the suspicious, enigmatic board titled Dystopian World, to which I have made no previous reference. Well, I finally came out of my comfortable little nutshell and got brave enough share the hot seat with you {I’m not really a fan of roasted nuts; still, I couldn’t hang in oblivion forever}. But I couldn't really figure out how. It is so complex. So I decided to let Nicole speak for herself. Poor girl. I put so much stress and pressure on her thin shoulder.

Who can blame me? She is the most brilliant person in the world {well, what's left of it - not much, I have to admit; it's been blown to bits by Nuclear Warfare, oh, about a hundred or so years ago}. She may be a little small {5'9'' in a world of 6'+ is a big deal}, competitive at times, and have a dry sense of humor, but she can figure anything out, remembers almost everything, and knows exactly what is expected of her. That's nice. No one likes somebody they can't predict. 

Ladies and gents {who don't exist}, Imitation:

 

 

What do you do when you find out you are the bad guy?

"You should have killed me when you had the chance."

I know I am different. I've spent the last 17 years trying to hide it, to be as normal as possible. Unfortunately, with Hegemony's strict Preparation and Training, it's hard to stay low profile. Who are we kidding? I always saw this coming, even if I didn't know how. It was never in my blood to end up a worker in one of the Factories. Looking back, I can see it in the way I was. The way my heart did not stop for my Final Testing, when it should have. It should have!


"We have spent 17 years watching, waiting for the right moment to unveil our prodigy."


The Director was someone I revered. No, feared. As ruler of Hegemony, this city where we live, he is as superior as the far off sun. But now I am a part of his Board, in charge of the most specialized research in the entire world {just what does that mean when Hegemony is all there is?}, creating a drug that will change everything.

I know this is the right thing to do, to follow orders, do as the Director commands, solve the puzzle of the explosive element... But Tyler, my lab partner, one of only two people outside of the Board allowed to know what I am working on, fills me with doubt, whispering of another world, a place called Cryptic, messages from which he's received from a small black top. I think it's ludicrous. He is insane. But he won't keep quiet. That is dangerous. If a worker were to hear him!? Or a Blueguard or Helper!? I have only one choice. I have to turn him in. It is treason to insinuate the Director is lying to us. Besides, I know he is not!

But now...now...after I have done it, surrendered the man I love to be killed... Now, I see he is right. And it is too late. The monster in me has devoured any chance I had to make a choice. I am consumed, forced to act, have no option.

The life we have always known, counted on, is about to end. I destroyed it. And I did it on purpose.


"Everybody has blood in them. But some of us bleed easier than others."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



When you feel like giving up...

Sometimes it's felt like this.

No, I'm not about to get all sappy on you. I did that already this month. {Was it really June? Feels like it was longer than that. Can you believe how the time flies! :P That post is embarrassing... sorry.}

Today I'm talking about my book {again. imagine that, with my current status on it and all. lol. don't you wish I'd open up Stories in the Mind again. ~_*}

I began this book when I was 13 {barely. literally had my birthday days before the idea popped into my head. but I won't cheat and say any differently}. It was practically a plagiarized, feminized Beric the Briton {G.A. Henty ~ STILL love that book and would recommend it to anyone}.

The idea popped into my head that though there were TONS of adventure books out there written for guys, there were very few targeted at girls.

Well, I have since had my eyes opened. My literature selection at 13 was pretty narrow. We had no access to the library and I had no friends. At all. You know, the ones you beg borrow books off of. And my parents were pretty strict about what kind of books found there way into the house {we bought anything that came in...so if we didn't want to own it...I didn't get to read it...}.

Still, erroneous or not, the idea was birthed and my serious journey began. {I'll be honest. this wasn't my first attempt at writing. I'd been writing for years...just not on this level.}

I remember lying on my belly on the living room floor, stacks of notebook paper sorted and piled around me, scribbling ideas for this book and that book, titles, ideas, and all...

As I said, this wasn't my first project. I was 150 pages into a novel about a girl on the Oregon trail... Not exactly sure where this idea began or what my intent with it was... I might not ever figure that one out. {It's pretty humorous to read, though!}

But this was different. This time, I began a journey that has taken six years to complete.

Yes. Six. :P

I think I wrote about 80 pages in the first two days. For a 13-year-old, that was pretty impressive. Three weeks in, I got the brilliant idea to combine another book idea I had with it to have two main characters.

Three years later I had a novel pushing 700,000 words and 700 pages. And finished{ish...}.

I printed it. {It weighted about three pounds and had to fit into two large ring binder folders.}

And gave it to my Mum and Dad to read.

Six months later they finished it...

All in all...I decided to start rewriting.

Again. And again. And again.

There were times when I pushed it away and didn't look at it for months.

Once I had an {apparently} brilliant idea that I half started {but didn't write down} and then I didn't touch the book for two months. To this day I have no idea where I was going with it, but had to entirely change what I wrote to fit my new plotlines....

Sometimes I got so sick of it I just wanted to quit. Not the book

Writing.

For good.

But I couldn't.

The more I would try to ignore it, the more my desire to write would spring up in me.

And so I would.

Did...

And today we are here.

Book #1 Completed and Copyrighted.

Sent to two beta readers. Two more on the platform. One down.


I look around at it all and I sometimes wonder. What if I had given up? What if I had stopped, decided it was too much work, not worth it after all, and who cares?

What if I had never decided to write?

The idea scares me.

And I am so thankful to God for giving me that tiny-winy idea and growing it into a massive life purpose.

Who knows what I would be now if not a writer?!

So, don't give up. On whatever your idea is. It could be singing, photography, dancing, acting, being a mum, WRITING, teaching, or driving a mail car over the countryside. Pursue it. Keep your ambition high. Don't forget.

Every big idea started with a little one.

:D

YOU WILL NEVER GUESS!!!

Ice cream, raspberries, and mango delight for everyone!!!! It's time to CELEBRATE!!! Turn the music up high and let's dance. And dance. And DANCE!!!!!!

I have been waiting to do this for months. MONTHS. And today, it happened.

I copyrighted my book with the Library of Congress.

Which means it is now officially and irrevocably...mine.

I AM SO EXCITED!!!!

 

 

 

This means my 4 beta readers can get to work and soon {SOON} I will begin querying and searching for a publisher!!!

 





 

This is so exciting.... I can't say that enough...

 

I can't wait to see what happens next now. My family is reading it aloud and I am excited about seeing what my beta readers have to say!!!!

 

Ok, you are all probably rolling your eyes and shrugging away my exuberance. LOL. Hope you all enjoy the rest of your day as much as I do.

 

<3 <3 :D

 





When strange...only get's stranger...

I was tagged twice this week by Cait {and Mime, but they count as one!} and Jordan for the same award! For the fun of it, I am going to do both of their questions. Thanks girls, this is exciting!!! :D

~ each nominee must answer 11 questions. {I'll be answering 22!!!! :D}
~ create 11 questions for the next nominees to answer. {I will NOT be asking 22.}
~ link back to who nominated them
~ choose 11 people and link them to your post
~ go to their page and tell them {I'll try.... ;)}
~ no tag backs! {:P Fine. Spoil sports. Jk, jk....}


Firstly, Cait's {Mime's} 11 questions:

 1. Favourite character in your work-in-progress?

 

{Merrie. But I also like Ionez. And since they are stand alone characters within one book, I think I can say that..... right? Right?! Oh, good. :D}

 2. Does music influence your writing? What's a song that's inspired you?

 

{YES! I am never NOT listening to music. All day. Most of the night. Right now I am really fond of the Pearl Harbor Soundtrack by Hans Zimmer. I've never seen the movie (someone tell me, is it any good??) but the soundtrack is simply heavenly!!!}

 3. Do you prefer writing in present tense or past tense? Why?

 

{Present. I enjoy the rush of things as they currently happen....}

 4. Name a random fact a book taught you.

 

{Hmmm....random fact? As in, the way The Hunger Games taught me how important a great, powerful backstory is? Because it did. :D}

 5. Favourite foods to snack on while reading/writing.

 

{Haha. Chewy candy. Any kind. Sweet, sticky, and not chocolate. Usually I have a bag of starburst, jellybeans, hot tamales (my favorite!), or gummy worms. ;) I also usually have a sibling sitting next to me.}

 6. Name 3 books you can't wait until are released.

 

{Oh, seriously, Cait!!! Don't kill me...but I really don't keep up with books that come out. I more just...wait until they are out.}

 7. Name a sequel that outshone it's predecessor.

 

{Catching Fire. In fact, I didn't like The Hunger Games hardly at all and it took me six months to pick up Catching Fire. And THEN I was hooked. So, yeah, if THG had been stand alone, I prolly wouldn't have cared for it. But I liked Catching Fire and Mockingjay a LOT.}

 8. Best side-kick/secondary-character you've read this year?

 

{I have read way too few books this year. It has been rushing past and I've probably only downed about 20 books... In those, I would have to say, most were uninspiring... And seriously, it's past 1:00 in the morning and I can't think of any.... :P}

 9. Favourite quote!

 

{Ah, Cait, you know me too well!!! I have WAY too many favorite quotes. I couldn't even begin to select one as a favorite... But I might say this is one of my many favorites:

 

"But I don't want to go among mad people," Alice remarked.

"Oh, you can't help that," said the Cat. "We're all mad here." 

 10. Do you have any reading goals for 2013? Are you on track?!

 

{None whatsoever. I have been so busy with getting this monstrous book finished that, truth be told, I have done little reading this year (as I stated above). It will be good to be able to have time to sit down and read a good book again!!}

 11. If you were a superhero would you wear a cape?

 

{It would depend. I might, if the occasion called for it. I like to dress up. But I think sometimes they get in the way and I would far rather be handy than ornamented.}

Jordan's 11 questions:

1. Best book you've ever read?

 

{Aside from the Bible, I would say Mara, Daughter of the Nile, because it has stayed with me as my favorite for over seven years. Such an impacting, beautiful book!!}

2. Do you like reading/writing nonfiction or fiction better? (I think I know most of the answers to this)

 

{Historical fiction!!!!!! Haha. Well, actually, believe it or not, I love to read non-fiction. I tend to suck up all books, no matter the subject matter. ;) My favorite kind of non-fiction are history, political, or spiritual growth books.}

 

3. You're being chased by thousands of bees/ wasps. What do you do?

 

{Yikes. Hopefully NOT die. Probably jump into a pond. And I wouldn't care if it was the filthiest pond under the sun. :P Let me repeat. Yikes.}

4. If you could meet a book character (without having to enter their world) who would it be?

 

{Wow! Only ONE!!! How could I ever choose? I long to meet so many of them. In fact, I want to be friends with oodles of them... But, if I had to pick one... Probably Anne of Green Gables. Because she is just like me. And we'd get along famously. And I'd invite her to sleep in our ornamental pear tree. Because we haven't got any cherry trees to be all silvery in the moonlight.}

 

5. Do you like reading/writing from a male or female perspective more? Why?

 

{Hmmm, that is a tough one. I had actually not given it much thought. It is definitely different writing from a guy's perspective. I find myself going to my Dad a lot and asking him whether *this* is how a guy would say something or whether *this* is something a guy would think... I would say I am probably better at writing from a girl's perspective, simply because I AM a girl and know how we are and think...but that would be the only reason I might like it better.}

6. Loki just showed up at your doorstep asking you to help in his world-domination plots. What do you do? Why?

 

{Take a picture.

 

Post it to facebook.

 

Wait for the whole world of girls to show up at my door.

 

Hand them over to Loki.}

 

7. If you could play one character from your favorite book in a movie who would it be? Why?

 

{Eeeek!! You have to ask all the tough questions! Can I answer the same as last time? Anne, all the way!!! Though Anne of Green Gables in not my favorite book, she is like my twin. But I would totally love to play Mara too, she is not very....un-me. Kind of sad and angry. I'm not. But either one would work fine for me. Just playing in a movie would in itself be delight beyond compare (unless you want to take me skydiving...or tour the word)!!}

 

8. Any 2013 movies your excited about?

 

{Um...YES!!!! The next Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier, Thor 2: The Dark World, Catching Fire, and The Desolation of Smaug, to be sure. There are others, but these are the important ones, so to speak. ;)}

9. Name a stand-alone book that you think should have been made a series.

 

{I can't. I think all the books that I think should have been made into a series are and all the books that are stand alone I think should be that way. In fact, I kind of like it when books are just...done. And then, I love it when they go on.... ;)}

10. Do you prefer writing in first, second, or third person? Why?

 

{I have mostly written in third person, dabbled a wee bit in first person, and never in second person (for an entire novel, rather). I think I kind of like writing in first person, because you get more heart and soul into  it. But it's weird, because I sort of prefer to read third person.}

 

And finally

11. How do you sort the books on your bookshelf?

 

{Hahaha....do you even want to know? Well, first, my top shelf is all the hardbacks with really cool covers and that are mostly old. The second shelf is all old books, also hardcover. The third shelf is split in half. One side is also old hardbacks, the other side paperbacks that are nice. The bottom shelf is entirely random...except that they are organized by size and are all books I haven't read or want to read again. Then....I have a whole other shelf of overflow that consists of stacking however many books I can manage into as little space as possible. Plus I have two stacks on my floor, arranged by size so they don't fall... Hehe...I bet you didn't expect that. I am a bit OCD. Ok, a lot. But only about my things. And only about certain of my things. :D}

Now, my 11 questions.

1. If you knew it would turn into a Prince, would you kiss a frog?
2. Are you an outdoorsy sort of person, or do you prefer to be curled up on the couch inside?
3. What sort of books do you enjoy?
4. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you go?
5. How would you describe your personality?
6. What fictional character {book/movie/TVshow} do you relate with most in life?
7. If you could time travel, would you want to go back into the past or forward into the future?
8. What are you listening to? Right. Now.
9. Do you know what your calling in life is yet?
10. What is your favorite dessert?
11. Do you like old movies? What are a few you really like?

 

 

And now for the 11 people I tag.

 

Jess

Noni

Rachel

Grace

Kristen

Treskie

Bella Rose

Claire

Hilda

Lydia

Lacey

All done. Phew. That was sooooooooo much fun!!!! :D :D :D :D :D



Afraid but Content

Today is the last day of April.

April has been a good month for me. I have grown in ways I cannot express. I have had nights where I was up until midnight on my knees, pouring my heart out to God. I have had days overflowing with joy and crazy love and happiness. I have had great talks with great friends about great things!! But mostly, I have had peace.

Peace amid the storm.

Crazy, right?

I don't think so.

See, my life is kind of at a turning point. In several ways.



First of all, my book is almost ready to send to a publisher. I mean, like days away. The last few steps are creeping up on me and will be done before I can blink an eye. Or two, for that matter.

Second, God has been doing some scary stuff in my life. Opening doors I never thought would open, bringing people into my life I never thought would come, changing things I never thought would change... In short, He is flipping me upside down, shaking me till my pockets empty, and setting me back up again. It's good to be rid of the baggage and trust Him with everything...but I am scared to death. He is Mighty and He is doing Miracles... in my life. Yikes. With God, anything can happen. And that is almost as scary as it is wonderful.



But it is more wonderful.

And that is why I have peace. Though all this crazy, awesome, terrifying stuff is happening to me, I know He is in control and knows what He is doing and that every little detail that He has worked out {and let me tell you, He has worked out some pretty masterful ones} are for a specific plan. Thank goodness. Otherwise I think I would go crazy.

Naw, pretty sure I am crazy. But that is beside the point.

I think.

Actually, I can't remember the point.

:{

:P

~_* {my favorite winking guy, as always}

Anyway, I am super excited to see what May holds for me. Each new day is the start of a glorious adventure and I can't wait to get into them. Life is exciting, eh?!!?!!? Exhilarating.... that is my word. It has a funny story behind it. But it is my word and it will always be my word.

I am exhilarated.

<3

 



Lost in the Beauty of the Day...

We have had the most glorious wheather today and it is promising to be better tomorrow... Warm breezes, singing birds, sunshine filtering down out of spotless blue skies!

It has been breathtaking.

And so wonderful after the snow.

I ran two hard miles today. It feels like it has been so long since I did, though really it has only been a couple weeks. Running is so much fun. All four of my dogs {not Pickle} come with me. They run alongside me and I feel really special. ;)

*this big*

 



 

 



I am so happy to be alive today. I just feel like I could dance and sing all day long.

Tomorrow is my last soccer game. I have had so much fun playing this season. I am really praying we will win this last game. That would be so cool!!! I am kinda hoping we will  have a celebration of sorts commemorating the end of the season. If we do, I want to take pics and put them up here. :D

{I have the best family ever, just saying. This was totally impromptu.}

 

 



After Daddy got home we went and rolled two bales into our trailer for the cattle. They weight about 2 tons each and there are only 4 of us to push 'em up into the trailer. Plus, Daddy has a sprained wrist, so us three girls really had to do most of the shoving. It was fun. :D

I like work.

Also, I finished 20 pages of my book last night. I stayed up till 2 because I set a goal at 11:00 and I wasn't going to bed till I finished it. I did!!!! Eeek! Only 30 pages left now. I can't believe it...

I want to add a note. I don't talk about God on here because of a sense of obligation. I don't talk about Him because He is something I've grown up comfortable around and just feel like I should talk about.

I talk about Him because He is my life. He is my everything, my hope, my redeemer, my love. I am so blessed to be called His child. He has done so much for me. Who would I be if I did not tell of His wonderful love to me!!!!

Anyway, just wanted to say that. ;)



100th Post

Exactly one year ago I wrote out my first blog post, rather nervously. I had no expectations about what my blog was going to become. Several of my friends had blogs and I wanted to join their adventure. I'm glad I did.

Cause now we get to celebrate! Ice cream for everyone!! With raspberries sprinkled on top. Delish.



In honor of this post, the giveaway is closing and Jonnah and I were *going* to announce the winner. But due to the contrary weather which canceled our meeting...we were not able to draw the winner so we will postpone announcing it until "further" notice. How much further that will be...only time will tell. Not longer than two weeks, I can guarantee. We will definitely be seeing each other in two Fridays.

One year has changed me so much. I look back over my archives and I see the things I wrote. I see the way my writing has changed. I see the things that happened to me. I see how much I have learned. It shocks me. And makes me smile. {My first blog post makes me laugh so hard.}

God is so good. The last year has been painful in many number of ways. I have a habit of not telling people my troubles. I guess it is because I don't want to burden them. I hate it when people always complain of their rotten lives. So I don't.

Especially since this year has also been the best year I have ever lived. God taught me so much. So many of these posts are filled with life and love and opportunity! Pieces of my heart. And I can look back on it and see the journey that I have traveled. It is amazing.

Now I am going to tell you all about my Saturday, because it was a huge landmark in my life. It was filled with dogs, dogs, and more dogs... ~_* {I am still in love with this winking guy.}

For those of you who have been hanging out here long, you know that I own a business of raising show dogs. English Cream Golden Retrievers, to be exact. Well, the day came. They are finally old enough. I went to my first show!

And it was fantastic! Long, exhausting, brutal, but fantastic. Both Tizona and Silver won their championships! And Silver won top dog of her class in two of three shows {the silver plates}.

The basic outline goes like this. There are three different shows and three different judges. You pace your dog up and down a long mat so they can see their gait and then you stack them {see pics} for the judge to see their conformation. Then the judge will check their teeth and feel their joints and send you on your way. All three judges rate you on your 1. ring presence 2. head 3. body 4. front and rear quarters. In each category you can get  up to 50 points. A perfect 200 is almost unheard of, but VERY desirable. Based upon the rating of each judge, you get your ribbons. For the first set of three shows you have to get above a 177 to get your ribbons. There is a white ribbon, a red ribbon, and then the blue champion ribbon if you win the other two! You have to get above 177 in each show to earn all three. AND BOTH OF THEM DID! In fact, Silver got 199 in TWO of her shows! {I know this is all confusing. ;)}

Then, for each set of three shows you get higher ratings. Next show they will have to get above 187 to get their championships. And the one after that 197 to earn their prominent championship. Which is what you want to get.

So I have two more sets of three shows to go.... Scary. And exciting. Here are pics of Tizona and Silver stacked with their ribbons {and me too, ;)}!!

{Tizona}

{Silver}

 

 

{before the judge ~ sorry it's so blurry}

 

And then, after the show, I headed  to the airport to pick up our new pup. She does not yet have a name, so I am fondly calling her Pickle for the time being. ~_* She is a little doll.

 

 

Yes, I was exhausted in this pic. I woke up at 6:00 am to get ready for the show. And I very stupidly went to bed at 1:00 am...Yeah, slap me. Then this girl's flight was delayed so she didn't come in until 6:20 that evening. I ate VERY little until we got home so I was pretty tired. But happy. On more than one account.

 

And that was my Saturday. A lovely day. I will look back on it lovingly for a very long time.

 

Last night we got...more snow. :P I think Spring has forgotten what it is supposed to be like and decided to be winter. This SHOULD be the last snow of the season...but, knowing Missouri, you never can say.

 

Now I am off to finish pages of my book before the end of this month pounces out at me and yells at me for not finishing.... :P See more details of this at Stories in the Mind {link above}.

 

 

G'night, my dears!

 

 

Yes, it was planned. My 100th post on my one year anniversary. :D It may be silly, but it makes me happy. :D

 



Changes...

Monday my brother Thadden headed off to college. It was a sad day here....

Things have been happening in my life, yet for some reason I don't feel like I can share them. They are more...something inside. I don't know. Deep and raw and personal. Even some of my GOOD friends don't know them...



But most of them feel good. I just feel like God has a hand on my life and everything is going well. And the best part is there are so many people in my life right now that I love....and love me too. That feels good.

But, anyway, off of sappy, sad stuff. :D

{I can never be sad for too long. I think that is a fault...}

I've started a new book {again}. Yeah, I know. Just shoot me now. My life is going to be crazy. I hope no one ever tries to write about it, cause they will never be able to. Just won't happen. :D

But anyway, this book is another fantasy and is going to be really cool. Brisa came up with the initial plotline and told me to write a book. She was joking. I took her seriously. If you want to know more about it, head over here. You'll hear all about it.

Ok, question. Blogger is not letting me upload any of my own photos to posts anymore. It brings up some strange thing that says "You can upload JPG, GIF, or PNG files" but there is no upload button anymore. Anyone else having any problems with this?

Ciao

CKC



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Middle Earth Character and another SOC

 

 

So Ivy over at Revealed In Time posted this and I had to take the quiz. I am not at all surprised at what I turned out to be. I rather knew it was going to happen. But it was still fun taking it!!! So, without further rambling by me:

 

You are most like an: Elf

 

 

You have an affinity for nature and the arts, like an elf. Your tastes are refined; you're more elegant than most, and you're discriminating about who you affiliate with. Some say you're stuck up, but you're not ashamed that you take such good care of yourself and your family – who wouldn't want to flaunt all this?


Flaunt! LOL, my foot. As for the other pluses...well, I'll claim none of them, but you are welcome to be the judge, lol!

It is true, I am careful about who I befriend, but I LOVE meeting new people and getting to know them. So perhaps I am a little bit different there. New people are one of my passions.

Which leads nicely (well, deliberately) into the SOC this week.

The prompt for this week is: your passion

Ready? GO!

I can't really make up my mind about what I want to stream about, so I am just going to do it about life!!! I LOVE my life, through and through. It is incredible. From awesome friends, to great books, to SEVERAL long novel's in progress (that should have been hyphenated, but I'm not allowed to go back and fix it.... :P). I have an aweseom family too, and a great relationship with God.

Life is something you can't take half-heartedly. You can't pretend it isn't there. You have to look it in the eyes and laugh at it's past. I love life. I really do! I know I'm repeating myself. That just goes to show how much I love it.

Something I love about life is music. It is a huge passion of mine. Listening to it. Creating it. It is a part of me, irremovable (a word that does not really exist).

And then there is people. Oh ho, people! Like I said above, I like meeting new people. I'm not afraid of them. I don't go bursting into peoples lives, demanding they let me into their innermost hearts, but I like to get to know them and find out what their passions are.

Also, of course, sports. Tons and tons of sports. I could play them till I drop. Actually, I have. I'm going to be playing some all day tomorrow (after church! Hurrah). It's going to be amazing. I'm also spending the day with friends.... can't get better, you know.

There's my family, too. God blessed me with an incredible family. I could ramble on about them till the cows come home (which is actually not very long cuase our cows come on call). They are so funny, and so precious. (NOT said like Gollom.)

And Jesus. He is my life. He is my passion. He is my heart and soul and EVERYTHING. The end. I can't tell you how mych my life is determined by him, how much is made up of him and how much I love him. I can't even try. (You'll have to use your imagination. Get out your thinker now.)

I love being hyper. I control myself most of the time. REally a lot. Even though inside of me is jumping like a silly school girl. Which I am not anymore. Craziness is my middle name. I don't let people know that though. So I can keep pretending I'm normal (which gets tiring. Just saying.)

And I am almost out of time and my fingers are going numb..... I hate stopping in the middle like this. I haven't even touched half of my passion.

Writing. Horses. My puppies, Silver and Tizona (who are both WONDERFUL, in case anyone wanted to know), books, hot, hot, HOT water, summer, a few certian people who I better keep anonymous if I want to not be embarrassed or embarrass them...., quotes, a good day of work (cause teh feeling afterwords is fantabulous!!!), and, oh, oh, so much more!!!!!

And.... I'm done. :P Blah (Cait, change it to TEN minutes....)


STOP!

Want to join in this awesome fun? Here's how...

There are just 5 steps....

1. Set your timer and write for 5 minutes.
2. Publish! (No editing ~ thus my horrible spelling and grammer.... :P ~ This is rough, unrefined writing.)
3. Grab the SOC button. You can get it here on my blog or at Notebook Sisters.
4. Sign in with the LinkUP on Sundays at the blog above.

Oh..... It said 5 steps. But there are only 4? Wait, help me here, Cait. I'm confused (and how did I never catch that before?)

So, anyhow, that was my stream and my Middle Earth character and I hope you all enjoyed cause both were fun and you should definitely check out both blogs and say hello.

And goodnight to you all.... :D

CKC

 

Will it ever happen?

 

That day I've been waiting for.

 

Where I sit down.

 

Rest.

 

All day.

 

It's not here.

 

We have been going non-stop for too long. I LOVE getting out and doing things. But for the first time in my life, I would like to just sit back and relax and get things done around the home.

For starters, I reorganized and rearranged my room. I like it cause it looks bigger now. But now I need time to kinda, well, put it back together. I don't like having half my life on the floor.

This whole week we have been reroofing. I don't get on the roof. I'm not afraid of heights. But I'm not stupid either. I don't go crawling around on the roof cause its fun. I am a part of the clean-up-crew (consisting of me and my two sisters). The need is compliments of that huge storm that came through and ruined those trees in the driveway that I posted about. It also tossed a bunch of shingles from the roof and so now we are reroofing. And of course, like everything else we do, we are doing it ourselves.

I am not in this picture. We also had a friend (the brother of the girl with long blonde hair that I have put pics of on here) come help too.





And I have been writing up a storm. If you haven't had a chance to hop over to my new writing blog, please do!!! I will forewarn you, it is only for writing. If you don't really like to read or write, it's probably not for you. BUT, if you do, you are welcome!!

This last weekend, Noni came out!! I got to spend some time with her on Friday!

After orchestra and choir, we went bowling.

Though this picture is awful, it is still of us. :D

And yes, that is my very tacky white purse in the bottom of the picture. I am sorry.... :P

And it was freezing cold.

But it was super fun. This was at Starbucks after bowling. Some crazy person suggested we get the picture outside (which we have never done before) and it is now almost winter temperatures at night. NOT GOOD. Especially for this girl, who is always cold, even in summer. (All my friends and siblings can back me up on this one.) --- yes, Brisa just said she'd testify, lol!!!

Anyway, yesterday was a little more relaxing. I chatted with Rinskii for several hours and that was pure awesomeness but then I had to go the bank and then into town for some groceries....

Tonight I am going to stick to my guns and get some writing done, on both my book and a friend's (editing, rather...) 

At work I am working with a litter of goldendoodle puppies and they are sooooo adorable.

And tonight Tizona had her first beginners class, for training. That was so much fun. She is a lot calmer than Silver. Like, a LOT!!!!

So, anyway, this post was random and very pointless (um, that's random. now I'm being redundant).

I'll just say I hope that I can get back on track here again soon. I feel bad that I've been so lousy.

Have a great evening. Make some hot chocolate and put big marshmallows in it and then snuggle into warm blankets with a good book.

Snippets of the Story

I am going to follow Aubrey and Cait and do Whisperings of the Pen's linkup. This is a chance for us authors to share bits of our works-in-progress with each other.

I have to admit, it is hard finding pieces that I like well enough all by themselves to post. Poor little snippets. :( But, anyway, here they are.

AND: I have some potential title idea's. Let me know what you think of them.

Book #1: Undone.
Book #2: Unafraid.
Book #3: Unconditional.

Or:

Book #1: Unknown.
Book #2: Unsheathed.
Book #3: Unforgettable.

And the series title...still under construction, but what do you think of The Endless Fire?

I wasn't sure I like the alliteration (besides, that's Cait's theme), but Brisa was dead sold on them. :P Her favorites are the first three.

So, idea's? Thoughts?

My personal opinion... is void. I don't have one. I'm still not bewitched myself. At all.

And the snippets:

“I would tell the Senator,” he muttered uncomfortably.

“Tell the Senator!” Merrie burst out, her eyes growing large.

“Aye.” Cyrus lifted his dark eyes up to hers across the gulf of blackness between them. “Merrie, tell the Senator.”

All at once, she was not afraid of the dark.

From Book #1.

copyright Pure Grace

 



“I will never belong here.”

“Perhaps. For now, we would be obliged if you would at least pretend you did.”

Ionez was taken aback. He freely admitted she was unhappy here? And he did nothing about it! Anger constricted her throat and she took a step toward him. “I would chop every finger and toe from your body before I would surrender to that!”

“Thank you. Maybe I can do you a favor sometime.”

From Book #1.

copyright Pure Grace



Julia smirked. “Clumsy oaf.” Suddenly, her eyes grew wide. “Hai, Merrie look!”

Merrie darted up and gasped.

At the edge of the table one of Messalina’s expensive crystal perfume bottles tottered. And there beneath it sat Aurelia, looking up with expectant brown eyes.

Just so you all know, Aurelia is a puppy. :D

From Book #1.

copyright Pure Grace





Marcellus watched her, his eyes glowing with humor. “You are confident to ask such a question.”

“Should I shiver to hear its answer?”

“Some would.”

“I am not one of them.”

“Good for you.”

Claudia stiffened. “Oh, charming Marcellus, you scorn me.”

From Book #2.

copyright Pure Grace





“All I need say is Claudia’s days are numbered."

 

From Book #3.

copyright Pure Grace



 

Whisperings of the things Claudia had told her tingled in her ear and she tried to brush them away. She didn’t want to hear it. Forget it, she ordered herself. It means nothing.

But again, the memories flooded her mind. “God loves you!” Claudia had said. “He wants you to come to him. Open your heart and let Him in, and He will take care of you.”

“Take care of you,” Merci whispered to the darkness.

From Book #3.

copyright Pure Grace

“I am entirely to blame,” he ended. “If it weren’t for me, none of this would have happened.”

“So she is dead?” Cyrus’s whispered.

“Aye,” Marcellus bowed his head, overcome. “And it is all my fault.”

 

From Book #3.

copyright Pure Grace

 

Claudia laughed out-rightly.

“So will you stay or go?” Aelia asked eagerly.

“Stay,” Blessing said.

“You’re staying with them?” Claudia jerked back, surprised.

“Nay, we’re all staying. Boat’s gone.”

One by one they turned and gazed out across the bay where the schooner floated mid-water, its oars dipping rhythmically toward the ship.

Slowly, Claudia began to chuckle. Then Lavy laughed. The entire group began to shake with laughter except Blessing.

“What?” she scowled, shaking her fist. “It left without us!"

From Book #3.

copuright Pure Grace