Express Yourself: Playlist

It's time for another post for the Express Yourself Weekly Meme, brought to us by Jackie @ Bouquet of Books and Dani @ Entertaining Interests.  This is a fun meme and I'm glad I decided to take part in it!

Nov 5-9: Share your playlist for your WIP or for your life.  Or mix and match if you like.

This sounded like fun the moment I read it, and I can tell you, I had a great time picking songs.  I decided to mix and match, because music is just as important to my everyday life as it is for my writing life.  First, I'll give you my life playlist and a little explanation of why each song is important to me.

"Nothing Else Matters" by Metallica

This song, for me anyway, is about being true to who you are and being close to that special someone who understands you more than anyone else.  That bond withstands no matter what anyone else might think of it.  I always loved this song, and it was the first song my husband and I danced to at our wedding. People thought we were crazy for having Metallica as our song, but we insisted on it, because this song means something to us.

"Time" by Pink Floyd

This song sounds amazing, and it's poetic.  I think we all know how easily time can slip by, and each year I feel more and more like I'm letting the years get away from me.  I want so much to make something of myself, and I worry that I might not.  This song is on my personal playlist to remind me not to get complacent and to keep striving for what I want most.

"Float On" by Modest Mouse

The lyrics to this song remind me that, even when you're being hit with wave after wave of bad news, life keeps going.  The good things will come again. Besides, the tune is catchy!

"Hey Jude" by The Beatles

This one is simple.  My husband and I love The Beatles, and we named our oldest son Jude after this song.  Now that he's 3, Jude sings along with this song when he hears it, and he seems to love the idea that they're singing a song about him!

"Pepper" by The Butthole Surfers

The reason for this song being on this list is slightly ridiculous, but also fun.  My father-in-law  gave our son Lyle a nickname before he was even born: Pepper. Apparently the name came from the title of this song.  I like the song, so I guess I can't complain, though I hope he doesn't start school and tell his teacher that his nickname was inspired by a Butthole Surfers song.  Who knows how that would turn out?

Now for my playlist for my WIP.  Technically this isn't the list for the piece I'm working on now, but is instead for my Terra Minor series.  I intend to go back and work on these books next year.  I'm using them for this post because the playlist for this series is the most developed I have.  And the list is indeed for the series as a whole.

"Heaven" by O.A.R.

These books deal, in part, with the issues associated with prejudice.  This song celebrates being okay with who you are.  If someone won't accept you for you, why would you want to fit into their mold anyway?  It's important to be genuine.

"The Scientist" by Coldplay

This song is about wishing you could go back and undo past mistakes.  One theme in my series is trying to right wrongs and ultimately do what's best for yourself and those around you.  And as the song says, "nobody said it was easy, no one ever said it would be this hard."  Well, that's often how life is.

"The Inner Light" from Star Trek: The Next Generation

This is a beautiful instrumental piece, and it accompanied a wonderful episode of this series.  For some reason, I see montages of my characters interacting to this song.

"Misunderstood" by Dream Theater

"If I seem superhuman, I have been misunderstood."  My characters in this series have telepathic and telekinetic powers, which they ultimately develop beyond what is normally deemed possible, and they try to do heroic things with these abilities.  Yet, at the end of the day, they still have the same fears and hopes, and are not indestructible.

"The Answer Lies Within" by Dream Theater

I always felt that the answers to the most important questions concerning who we are and what our purpose might be lie within ourselves.  This is a theme in this series, because my characters have to make crucial decisions about what they want while taking into account how it will impact the rest of the world. Here's a small excerpt to show why I think this song rocks.

Don't let the day go byDon't let it endDon't let a day go by in doubtThe answer lies within

Life is shortSo learn from your mistakesAnd stand behindThe choices that you make

"Throw Me Away" by Korn (Acoustic version from MTV Unplugged)

I love Korn in general, but something about this acoustic version sounds haunting to me.  I can see this being the song for a character whose been down-trodden by for so long they don't know to expect anything else.  In this series, there are a couple of characters who fit this description.

"Everything Changes" by Staind (Acoustic Version)

This is my favorite version of the song.  It just sounds amazing.  I picked this song, because every relationship has its bad moments.  Some survive them, others don't.  Either way, in those bad moments, you think back on all the things you could have done differently.  In my books, even the most solid relationships waver after being subjected to the strains of war.

Anyway, I could go on forever with more music, but I think that's enough for now.

A Busy Blogging Week!

First of all, today is the first day of Vikki and Tara Tyler's "I'm Thankful For My Readers Blogfest." For those of you who haven't signed up yet, there's still time to get involved, so don't be shy! It gives us all a good chance to say thanks to the readers who take the time to listen to what we have to say and support us in pursuing our dreams.  Here's the link to my entry!

This is a big week for me in the blogging world.  This Wednesday is going to be super special for a couple of reasons.  First of all, the election will be over!  Unless we have a repeat of the 2000 election, in which case I may have to disconnect from all technology to maintain my sanity.  

Mina Lobo @ Some Dark Romantic is hosting the Resurrection Blogfest this Wednesday.  She's celebrating the completion of her first year of blogging by asking us to drag out an old post from our first year of blogging.  I haven't yet reached the landmark of one year in the blogosphere, but I found something from my first month that I felt worth sharing.  Come back on the day of this awesome blogfest to see what it is!  There's still time to join in on the fun too, so feel free to hop on over to sign up!

And, of course, I am excited about this month's Insecure Writer's Support Group! The Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh asked for volunteers to co-host this ever-growing group event.  C.M. Brown and I are the co-hosts for this month, and I'm excited to take part in something so awesome!  Others will have the opportunity to act as co-host each month, so don't feel left out!  Your chance will come!

So this will be a busy, but memorable week!  I'll strap myself in and do my best to enjoy the ride.  I'll of course work on my other projects, and keep up with my normal blogging commitments.  Pleiades may lodge the occasional protest in my direction, but I can handle her!  With a cup of coffee in hand and my laptop open, I can do anything!

Except manipulate the space-time continuum.  Still working on that one.

I'm Thankful For My Readers

First of all, I'd like to say that I'm thankful for Vikki and Tara Tyler for hosting this awesome blogfest.  It gives us all a chance to reflect on how much our readers mean to us.

The premise is simple.  Take the time to thank your readers, critique partners, or anyone who is essential to your life as a writer and blogger.  In 300 words or less, express your gratitude in any way you like: flash fiction, poetry, a letter.  It's free game, so let your creativity run wild.

I chose to write a letter, because there's something truly awesome about the art of letter writing.  Some say it's a lost art, but I refuse to believe that.  For me, it's still a valid and valuable form of self-expression.


Dear blogosphere friends,

Image courtesy of digitalart 
/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

When I think that you, my loyal readers , take the time out of your daily lives to read my words, it’s overwhelming.  There you sit in front of a computer screen, and you take the time to peer into my world of words to see what I have to say.  Whether you’re in your home or workplace, you let me into your world for a little while.  

Thanks to you, my words stretch out into new parts of the world, taking on a life that is separate from my own.

I know I put my words out there so you that might read them.  Yet it still never ceases to amaze me that you actually do.  Certainly there are a number of other things you could be doing with your time.  Yet you come back and you read, sometimes leaving comments that continue to encourage and inspire me.

When I feel discouraged, I know I can count on all of you for kind words.  And I can read what you write in your own blogs, and I know that the obstacles I face are not unique to me.  I feel like starting this blog is one of the best things I could have done in my path to become the writer that I want to be, because I’ve learned so much from all of you!

Thanks again for everything, and I look forward to meeting more of you in the future.  

Blogsiration 24: Bad Communication

Blogspiration is a weekly meme hosted by GrowingUp YA & Saz101. The meme was created to help spark inspiration among bloggers, readers & writers alike. An inspirational quote/picture/video is posted weekly, on the day of the author’s choosing, so that it may inspire creativity, conversation & just a little SOMETHING.

Communication binds us in good relationships worth preserving, and distorted, ineffective communication bind us in bad relationships.  Misunderstandings lead to hate.  Lack of a solid education leads to ignorance.

When our communications are poor, we are limited, because we cannot benefit from the wisdom and experience of those around us.  As social beings, we learn from others.  When we cut ourselves off from a segment of the population due to misinformation or prejudice (which in itself is often due to disinformation and ill-informed assumptions), we cut off that potential source of learning and experience.

We grow through our connections with others.

Background Image courtesy of happykanppy
 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Have you ever made an assumption about someone you later learned to be wrong?  Has a communication error contributed to a strained relationship in your life?  I think it's happened to all of us in one way or another.  Fortunately for us, awareness of the problem means we can work to remedy it.

Super Sweet Blogging Award!

Laura over at My Baffling Brain just passed on the Super Sweet Blogging Award.  How sweet is that?

Anyway, the rules are simple.  I have to answer a few basic questions, all about sweets, then pass it on to other deserving bloggers.  Let's get started!

Cookies or Cake?  It depends.  As a casual snack with a cup of coffee or tea, then a cookie does the trick. If I'm having dessert after a meal, then cake all the way.

Chocolate or Vanilla?  Tough question.  Once again, it depends on the situation.  I love chocolate ice cream, or chocolate on top of my vanilla ice cream.  I love chocolate cake with chocolate frosting!  I also enjoy vanilla cake with vanilla frosting.  And when I bake or make waffles for breakfast, I like to add vanilla extract for extra flavor.  So, I guess I love both!

What is your favorite sweet treat?  So many sweet treats are great, but I'm a sucker for a good freshly baked cinnamon roll with gooey icing.  Yum!

When do you crave sweet things most?  I love to have sweets with a good cup of coffee.  It has to be with an evening cup though.  I can't do sweet things too early in the day.

If you had a sweet nickname what would it be?  I feel silly for admitting to this, but I know I can trust you guys with this info.  I'd love to be called Red Hot, though I'm sure my husband would insist only he could use that nickname.  The name is inspired by those little cinnamon flavored candies.  I'm short (so the miniature part works), I have red hair, and my sense of humor can be spicy at times.  I may not be as visually stunning as some, but I do my best to be memorable.

Okay.  Now to nominate a few of my fellow bloggers for this fun award!  I know November is a busy time for many of you, but maybe the sweet picture can help motivate you!

1. Chelsea Kelly @ Sailing the Kiddie Pool
2. Jenn @ Scribbles From Jenn
3. Krista McLaughlin
4. Yolanda Renee @ Defending the Pen
5. Mina Lobo @ Some Dark Romantic

Until next time, my friends!

Memoirs From the End of the World: Entry #9

It's Friday and time for my next installment!  For those of you who are behind, the links to previous installments can be found below.  You can also read the story in its entirety on this PAGE.

Entry #1

Entry #2

Entry #3

Entry #4

Entry #5

Entry #6

Entry #7

Entry #8

Memoirs From the End of the World

Entry #9

The sound of the front door jarred RC from her writing fervor.  Though it was about time for Alyx to be coming back, she wanted to be prepared for any eventualities.  Shoving Romero under the squat side table she’d been using as a makeshift desk, she had to shove aside the memories associated with it.  At three years old, she ran headfirst into that table and got her first set of stitches just above her right eye.  The scar faded long ago, but the recollection ignited something painful inside her all over again. 

Though RC knew seeking refuge in her grandmother’s old house went against her rule about predictability, she realized she could have hardly intended anything else when she selected this neighborhood as a meeting place.  If she had more time to think about it the night before, she surely would have chosen another location.  Yet, now that she was here, she really didn’t want to leave.  Though the electricity was gone, and every surface had been coated in a thick layer of dust, this still felt more like home than anything she’d known since her world ended.

She shed the quilt from her shoulders and stood up from the old recliner.  Listening closely, she discerned a single set of footsteps making their way across the kitchen, light enough that she knew the person behind them couldn’t be much larger than her.  This fact helped her to relax considerably.

“I think I got you everything you need,” Alyx announced as he entered the living room.  RC’s pack was slung over his shoulder, now brimming with a variety of items.  “Needles, medicinal alcohol, and some thread.  I hope it’s the right kind.”

“As long as the packaging has never been opened, I can make it work.  We don’t want to risk infection.”  RC grabbed the pack and started laying everything out on the table.  “You should have let me come along.  It would’ve made things easier on you.”

Alyx shook his head adamantly.  “You needed your rest.  After everything you did for us, it was the least I could do.”  He looked down at the floor, as if recalling something that drummed up a feeling of guilt. 

RC’s eyes fell on the gash in his cheek.  Before the patrol took off to pursue her, one of them whipped him with the end of a rifle.  The sight of the physical damage made her pause in her sorting.  Fury filled her gut.  Sure, the patrolmen hadn’t killed him or hauled him in, but hitting him like that was just plain spiteful.  “That needs cleaned out,” she said, brushing the wound with a cautious fingertip.

He shied away a little.  “You can help me with that after you stitch up Ollie,” Alyx replied adamantly.  Then he paused, his eyes obviously focused on her hands.  He’d helped her bandage them immediately after her return, so he certainly had an idea of how sore they were.  “Are you sure you can do it?”

“Of course I am.  I just had a date with Romero, and my hands were fine.  They hurt less when I keep them moving.  Less opportunity for them to get stiff.”  She returned to her survey of the items Alyx brought back.  In addition to medical supplies, he’d retrieved some food.  A packet of beef jerky, some canned soups.  Not exactly a feast, but certainly better than nothing.

“I could try,” he offered, though the hesitation in his tone was obvious.

She shook her head.  “No.  Neither of us are doctors, but at least I’ve had some practice with sewing.  Stitching a pillow case, stitching human flesh.  How different can it be?”  This was meant as a joke, but the moment she said it, she realized just how morbid it sounded.

If Alyx had the same thought about her comment, he didn’t say anything.

When RC pulled a bottle of some kind of brown liquor out of her bag, she raised an eyebrow.  “What’s this for?”

Alyx managed a little laugh.  “It’s medicinal too.  I figured Ollie should have something to calm his nerves while you stick him with that needle.”

RC nodded approvingly.  “You’re a good brother.”

“I try.”

A few minutes later, the two of them were in the back bedroom where Ollie had gone to take a nap.  It seemed neither of the boys slept the night before.  It took them hours to get to the rendezvous point, and afterwards with no idea what might happen, rest hadn’t come easily.  Ollie didn’t seem especially eager to wake now, though no one could blame his lack of enthusiasm about the needle and thread.  He did, however, look a bit relieved when he saw the new choice of beverage.

Lying on his stomach, Ollie kept the bottle close to his lips while RC worked.  After thoroughly cleaning the wound, which garnered enough moans of pain from her patient, she began the task of sewing the skin back together.  The lack of blood surprised her a little, and once she became accustomed to the unpleasant sounds Ollie continued to make, it actually wasn’t as bad as she feared it might be.

By the time she finished her work and covered the wound with clean bandages, Ollie’d finished off a quarter of the bottle.  RC wrenched it from his grasp amid slurred protests.  “Just because you’re in pain doesn’t mean you get to hog it all.”

RC and Alyx wandered back to the living room and sat on the floor, their backs propped up against the wall.  She took a small sip from the bottle, and her spine responded with a shudder.  It was strong stuff.  Maybe drinking should have been against the rules since it numbed the senses, but she’d never explicitly written a rule against it.  And right now, after the stress and exhaustion, she really didn’t care.

Alyx reached out for the bottle.  “I need some too.”

FSF: Where To?

Five Sentence Fiction is hosted by Lillie McFerrin.  The goal is to make a big impact in a few words!  This week's prompt was the word "candidate."

The links to previous installments can be found below.

Chapter 1: Detour
Chapter 2: The Token
Chapter 3: Healing Hands

Or you can go to the PAGE I dedicated to the story to read it straight through.

Unchained

Chapter 4: Where To?

Image courtesy of siraphat
 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

When Nara pulled up the star charts in the cockpit, Ylana was entranced by the glowing red, blue, and green holographic lines, their elegant curves, and the way the light danced across the console.  With deft fingers, Nara pulled up a file that slowly cycled through different star systems in the neighboring regions, studying each one for particular qualities before moving on to the next one.

“Have you been to all these places?” Ylana asked, in awe that such a plethora of worlds could even exist.

“Most of them, yes, because at the end of the day, everyone needs some form of remedy or another.”  Then, with a nod and a satisfied smile, Nara added, “Here’s a good candidate for trade.”


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