NaNo 3: Meet Blanche

This novel is very different from those I've written in the past in that there's not a single main character. The story revolves around a group of people, all of whom are very important to the story, and all of whom have their own stories to tell.

Blanche is the first you're introduced to, though, and she's the one I developed first. So she has a special place in my heart.

Now, it's time for you to meet her.

Chelle: So, Blanche, tell me a little about yourself.

Blanche: Well, I've lived in the same town my whole life. My dad left when I was little; I remember a little about him, how he used to smoke his cigars on the back porch. My mom raised me after he left. She struggled, and I did my best to help her, even when I was little. She died recently, from a massive stroke. She's the only family I really had left.

C: I'm so sorry to hear that. Did you go to college?

B: I actually got several scholarships to go to college, so I was able to go without my mom having to get a second job to pay for it. I studied History while I was there. Now, though, I'm just working as a teacher's aide at the local community college. It doesn't pay very well, but I manage to get by with it.

C: Is there a special someone in your life?

B: Sadly, no. I was in a relationship for a long time through college, but it ended. I haven't really had much of a chance to date since, or at least, I haven't really made the time to go out and meet people. Now, with my mom's recent death, I'm afraid that my mood is too sour for most people.

C: What is your favorite thing to do in your spare time?

B: I love to read. I devour books all the time. Nothing like escaping reality for a few hours at a time.

C: Alright. Thanks for answering my questions. I'm looking forward to getting to know you more in the coming weeks.


Follow my progress this month:

NaNo Day 1 and 2

So, I didn't write anything on NaNo Day 1. I have a good excuse! I was working all day (until 5), and then I had to study for an exam I had today. Since I was bad and slacked off on studying the past 4 weeks, I had a lot of studying to catch up on.

But, I'm over halfway through catching up today, now that my exams are done. Only another 600 or so words in the next 3 hours (then I have to leave for dinner, and then an afterparty... I'm a busy girl, after all) and I'm set. I think I can manage that. Maybe I'll even get a bit ahead for tomorrow.

Since I'm still getting to know my characters, today you get an excerpt. This is from the Prologue, where we first meet Ms. Blanche. Enjoy!

She pulled out several pieces of old, crumpled newspaper, dated back to before she was born. Frowning, she rummaged through the box until she encountered a solid object. It was wrapped in the newspaper, much like dishes were wrapped in preparation for a move. She unwrapped it slowly, feeling a combination of anticipation and some unfounded sense of anxiety.

As she pulled back the paper, she revealed an antique appearing comb, the type used for hair decorations in the Victorian times or earlier. The silver had tarnished considerably, but she could make out the beautiful filigree pattern on the top of the comb, twisted into the shape of a rose. She brushed her fingers over it gently, her mouth relaxing into a small smile. Setting the comb onto the table gingerly, she continued to explore the contents of the box. The next object she pulled was much more solid and heavier. She turned the wrapped object over in her hands for a moment before opening it.

Any ideas on what the second wrapped object is? (Fallon, no cheating :P)

Countdown to NaNo

National Novel Writing Month, affectionately called NaNoWriMo, NaNo for short, is quickly approaching. After much cajoling, my friend A.K. Morgen has convinced me to participate again this year. I was not able to participate last year due to impending board exams and the end of classes, but I'm back in the game this year. Probably next year too. I make no promises after that.

Even though I'm stuck on editing Hidden Souls, and haven't touched the Kamore world in ages, I've decided to start another story. Just adding to my graveyard :) I've had a couple ideas bouncing around in my head for a while, but the idea of writing some sort of fairy tale again has nagged at me for ages. After all, it's the 'in' thing right now.

Introducing... Found. That's my working title, anyway, since I am absolutely terrible at novel titles, but the NaNo website begged for me to put one in. In the coming weeks, I'll post snippets, character descriptions, plot bunnies, and anything else that catches my fancy.

For now, I'll leave you with the synopsis as it is in my head now. Be warned that my characters do take me on some odd bunny trails, so this synopsis may very well change by the end of November.

What if your favorite fairy tales weren't really fairy tales? What if they were real?

Blanche's life hasn't been going as planned. She's single, has a job she'd do just about anything to be able to quit, and now has lost her mother to cancer. While cleaning out the attic of her childhood home, she stumbles onto an antique mirror. Not just any mirror, but a magic mirror. Or so the inscription claims. Intrigued, she takes it home with her, setting off a chain of events that will change the very course of history. Will anyone get their 'Happily Ever After'?

Fade

I know, I know. I haven't posted in months. I'm in some of the rough rotations in school again, and I'm finding a hard time to get the motivation to write (well, edit, mostly) during the little free time I had. I'm working on it.

But I'm not here today to talk about me.

One of my best friends is getting her book published this week. I don't exactly have the readers to get her to put the time and effort into writing a blog post for me, so I'm doing it myself.

The book? Fade, Book One of the Ragnarok Prophesies, by A.K. Morgen.

Why should you buy it? Well, beside the fact that I think it's an awesome storyline, and uses Norse mythology, something you don't see too often in stories... a portion of the proceeds does go to benefit the Ronald McDonald House, one of Ayden's favorite charities.

Synopsis:
What do you do when you realize nothing in your life is what you’ve believed it to be?

When Arionna Jacobs loses her mother in a tragic accident, her world is turned upside down. She’s forced to leave her old life behind and move in with her father. Dace Matthews, a teaching assistant at her new college, is torn in two, unable to communicate with the feral wolf caged inside him.

When they meet, everything they thought they knew about life unravels. Dace has intimate access to Arionna’s mind, and something deep within her fights to rise to the surface. They don't understand what's happening to them or why, and they're running out of time to sort out the strange occurrences around them.

Their meeting sets an ancient Norse prophesy of destruction in motion, and what destiny has in store for them is bigger than either could have ever imagined. Unless they learn to trust themselves and one another, they may never resolve the mystery surrounding who they are to one another, and what that means for the world.

You can learn more about the book and check out excerpts, as well as author interviews and whatnot at Ayden's blog: www.akmorgen.com.

You can also add Fade to your bookshelf on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15830521-fade