Kellyn Roth's Blog: Kellyn Roth, Author, page 41

Five Fall Favorites Day 1: Bible Times

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Hello ladies and gents!

Welcome to my blog … and to my first post in Five Fall Favorites 2017! I’m sure you remember the amazing blog party we did last year, and if you don’t, this invitation will give you the highlights:

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To find out more, check out today’s post by Rebekah A. Morris. Through this post, you will also find the other blogs participating, etc. Which is all stuff you need to find the “book room” for the day. (More on that later!)

Basically, we’re sharing our favorite books in six categories, handing out free ebooks, and giving away a grand prize including several paperbacks! (The winners will be announced this Saturday.) (And if we get enough entries, we will add a second … and then a third … prize!)

*squeals* THIS IS GOING TO BE AMAZING! I can’t wait to share my favorites in each category with you, to direct you to the giveaways, and all the other awesome stuff!

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Without further ado …

Five Books Set in Bible Times

This was kind of hard for me since, though I love historical fiction, I don’t really like historical fiction set in Bible times all that much? I’m very much a Victorian and early 1900s girl.

A Quick Update from a Flustered Writer

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I can see your skepticism when you read the title. You’re giving me the ol’ skeptical eye again.

Flustered? you say. Girl. You are sixteen. You need to clillax. The world will take care of itself …

NO IT WON’T. THE WORLD NEEDS ME TO MANAGE IT. The world is practically helpless without my guidance. I’m just surprised it survived 6,000 years without me. Thankfully, I’m here, and the world can chillax. However, the Keeper of the World cannot rest.

I’m writing this kind of last minute, determined not to let it be even a second late. And so it’s rather thrown together. But I think you’ll forgive me if you’re any sort of friend – well, assuming you are my friend – at all.

And if you’re not my friend, I don’t give a dead moose about your opinions. So there.

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Working

That’s right, I’m a career girl!

Writing Plans: Why They Can Be Disastrous

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I really hate to admit this, but writing is a form of art.

Why do I hate to admit this? Well, I don’t like to think of writing as an art because artists of all sorts tend to get into this attitude of laziness.

“It’s art. Art can’t be rushed.”

Most of the time, this is an excuse for laziness. Oh, don’t you dare give me that look. It is, too! “I can’t paint right now – the muse isn’t with me.” THE MUSE ISN’T WITH THOSE EPISODES OF SHERLOCK YOU’RE BINGE-WATCHING, EITHER, SWEETIE.

But … there is another side to this.

It’s true that sometimes ‘the muse’ does run away and leave you hanging. You have no idea what to write. Every word comes out dry and tasteless. There’s not joy to your writing. Writing feels exhausting and worthless,

And other times, the muse is there! Every word you write has flavor, texture. You’re a regular Shakespeare, and life is good.

I truly believe that there are ways to regain the muse through various actions – taking a nice long walk, reading the Bible, praying, eating a box of chocolates, listening to music – but the fact remains that, at that point in time, writing isn’t working for you.

You’ve lost the muse.

It happens.

You’ll survive.

Probably.

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*circles back to actual subject of post*

Because the muse does tend to desert writers – even for months on end at times – writing can … vary.

Yes, you can keep writing, but it takes twice or three times as long, the quality of your work goes down, which means more revising, which means more editing, which means more time spent preparing your novel, and …

Before you know it, a three-month project takes a year.

This happened to me with Ivy Introspective. I rescheduled the publication several times because I had to rewrite it over and over again. It was frankly quite exhausting, and I just couldn’t get it to come out right.

Sometimes I’d spend a whole day writing just a couple paragraphs.

It was just the opposite with At Her Fingertips (and always has been). It flies from my pen (well, computer … keyboard … whatever). It’s always seemed alive to me somehow. I don’t know why … God decided to bless AFOP for some reason.

(Not to get all “preachy”, but God inspires all things that are awesome, so … you might want to look there, darlin’.) (#notashamed)

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Circling Back to Original Subject, 2.0

Because of this fact of occasional – sometimes even frequent – writer’s block … making plans for your writing can be tough.

For instance, at the beginning of this year, I don’t myself I was going to write Once a Stratton, Caught in a Spell (my fantasy novel), and Interpreting Callie James. I’ve started Once a Stratton but never finished it, and the other two were left in the dust.

(What did I do with my time this summer? I’ve completely forgotten …)

I was also going to revise and edit At Her Fingertips, Flowers, Ivy Introspective, and The Dressmaker’s Secret. Well, at least I got 50%.

September 2017 Spotlight: My Obsession with Personality Types

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Like many before me (and many who shall come after), I love classifying myself and others by the MBTI personality types. The basic idea is that every human being on earth can be classified loosely into one of the sixteen types.

These types are defined by a combination of three letters. My type, for instance, is probably ISTP (introverted, sensing, thinking, perceiving) although some of my traits point more towards INTJ (introverted, intuitive, thinking, judging).

Crazy as it sounds, almost everyone who looks into these sixteen types will find one that (loosely) describes them! Isn’t that amazing? Well, I certainly think so!

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How do you figure which personality type you most resemble?

Basically, you can be …

Introverted or Extroverted

Intuitive or Sensing

Thinking or Feeling

Judging or Perceiving

Introverted and Extroverted basically define where you get your energy – from being alone or from being with people.

Intuitive and Sensing is basically Dreamer vs. Realist.

Thinking and Feeling is just what it sounds like; whether you make your decisions based on logic or your emotions.

Judging and Perceiving is basically Ruler-Breaker vs. Rule-Follower.

These are all very rough descriptions, of course, but I hope it’ll give you a basis to start from. Just in case you have no idea what any of this stuff is.

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Why Am I Obsessed?

I JUST AM, JACK!

(which is your new name …)

I can be obsessed with anything I want to be obsessed with! Like, y’all is obsessed with anime and Hamilton and other things I don’t like enough to actually watch/listen to (#ignorancespeaking).

And you may not care about MBTI types, and that’s okay.

But I do care.

And I have no further explanation except that I love this and I will never stop or listen to common sense about how my constant research on personality types is wasting away my life so don’t even try.

Ignore all that. I’m a normal human being. Really.

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And … what’s the point of this post again?

Okay, so, basically, I’ve spent the last week or so figuring out the personality types of most of my characters from the Rubyverse (I’m not going to explain that right now) and so … now I’m going to show off all my amazing personality-defining skills.

And … this isn’t all necessarily perfect, but I did my best to figure out the type of each of my characters. Or at the least the ones I chose to show here.

Without further ado, here are some characters from The Dressmaker’s Secret, Ivy Introspective, At Her Fingertips, and Once a Stratton and their personality types!

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Okay, so, some of you may not know my characters, sooooo …

Intros to My Characters

Kirk – Alice’s friend from TDS & potential love interest in AFOP (At Her Fingertips).

Clayton – This guy hasn’t shown up in a book that’s been published, and I haven’t officially written about him yet, either. However, he’s from Once a Stratton and is the husband of Lilli (MC)’s best friend.

Philip – a character in The Dressmaker’s Secret who acts as a sort of father figure to Alice (SPOILERS FOR TDS) partially because he is her father. (END OF SPOILERS)

Amorette – Alice’s French friend whom she meets at boarding school in The Dressmaker’s Secret.

Nettie – Claire Chattoway’s dearest friend and Alice’s nanny-turned-governess from The Dressmaker’s Secret.

Alice – We all know Alice, main character of TDS and AFOP. I … honestly don’t feel that I have to introduce her?

Ivy – The main character of Ivy Introspective and soon-to-be Beyond Her Calling. Alice’s twin sister.

Peter – A character in At Her Fingertips. He’s simply the best. OHMYWORD THAT DEDICATION I CAN’T EVEN. (Sorry … we’re All Fangirling Over Peter™ here …)

Christina – Claire Chattoway’s younger sister in The Dressmaker’s Secret and Ivy Introspective.

Steven – This is Philip’s first cousin who has a bit of a

Caleb – Alice and Ivy’s younger brother. I just added him in because I felt bad about all the ESTPs being “bad guys.”

Gibson – One of Alice’s suitors from At Her Fingertips.

Hazel – Philip’s wife from The Dressmaker’s Secret.

Lizzy – Kirk’s baby sister.

Claire – Alice and Ivy’s mother who shares the spotlight with Alice in TDS.

Isobel – The headmistress of Miss Selle’s Boarding School for Girls. Gets a bit of a storyline in IvIn.

Chris – Lilli’s husband from Once a Stratton.

Madeline – Clayton’s wife and Lilli’s dear friend.

Riley – Peter Strauss’s dearest friend & cousin and Lilli’s nephew.

Henrietta – Isobel’s wild-and-uncontrollable little sister.

Charles – the older brother of Claire and Christina.

Violet – a patient/student/mostly patient at McCale House where Ivy goes in Ivy Introspective.

Jordy – Dr. McCale’s protegee/assistant in IvIn.

Lilli – the main character of Once a Stratton. However, she oftentimes seems more Intuitive than Sensing.

Colin, SR. – Lilli’s brother-in-law in Once a Stratton.

Cassie – Alice’s best friend. Later will star in her own novel (currently titled Sail Away).

Cynthia – Charles, Claire, and Christina’s mother. (See a pattern?)

Georgiana – Lilli’s older sister in Once a Stratton.

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I just realized I never defined Lois Elton, but oh well. She’s probably ENFP although I hate wedging her in with Philip. She’s just like a talkative Philip, though.

September 2017 Character Studies: Adae of Maran

Time again for a round of questions by Morgan Dusky @ Studies in Character!

I know it’s soon after the last round, but I really need to figure one of my characters (Adae from, well, Adae) out, and the questions are here, sooo? Why wait!

This month’s theme is “the great outdoors!” If you want to do the interview, simple hop over to Morgan’s blog and grab the questions!

Part 1 Questions ~ Part 2 Questions

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About the Character:

This month I’m interview Queen Adae of Maran (I’ve already said this, like, twice, but I’m saying it again now! Hoorah!). She is the main character of Adae, my fairytale retelling WIP.

Adae has social anxiety & her family has always repressed her, so she’s pretty much a shut-in. Interviewing her about the great outdoors should be fun!

Two Years and a Day

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As of yesterday, I’ve been blogging for two years.

And, in the general scheme of things, two years isn’t a long time. However, in the general scheme of blogging … well, as a non-professional blogger, that’s semi-long, right? Right? (Oh, who cares what you think. It feels like a long time to me. Who are you to hold my self-worth in the balance?)

Since my first post, I’ve come a long way. More specifically, I’ve come a long way since my first posts, which were all pretty awful.

When I started Reveries, I didn’t really expect to use it as anything more than … well, an advertising venue, if you will. However, I’ve really come to care about blogging, and so … here I am. Not dead yet. Just give it some time.

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Last year, I did a quick recap at the end of one of my posts on September 12th, and here’s what was going on then:

Then

I’ve posted 190 (now 191) posts.
17,445 views.
Best day for views was January 25th, 2016. 184 views.
2,865 visitors.
2,217 comments in 2016 alone!
In 2015, I had 191 comments.
Most of the views naturally come from the US, but there have also been views from Australia, Russia, Canada, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Italy, Taiwan, the Philippines, India, Pakistan, New Zealand, Japan, Ireland, South Africa, Germany, Czech Republic, Finland, Netherlands, Spain, Argentina, Vietnam, France, Singapore, Mexico, Nigeria, Switzerland, Poland, Austria, Egypt, Indonesia, Uganda, Bulgaria, Brazil, Luxembourg, Bangladesh, Sweden, Belgium, Lithuania, Israel, Norway, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe, Macedonia, Croatia, South Korea … and several others.
And, of course, 160 followers!

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What progress have we (well, I) made since?

Now

I’ve published 319 posts (counting this one)
36,445 views
7,335 visitors
5,731 comments
Second to my “About” page, my cover reveal post for TDS and IvIn got the most views with 190. (Which is oddly a really small number, but whatever!)
In 2017 I got 10,456 views in The United States. (I’m not looking at 2016 or 2015 because that would be too hard.)
Australia (917), Canada (358), and the United Kingdom (236) come second, third, and fourth, unsurprisingly.
I have 292 WordPress followers, 22 email followers, and 88 social followers.
400 total. I LOVE YOU ALL!
My best day is Saturday with 24% of the view. Go figure.

Now on to something more fun!
A giveaway!

That’s right! I’m giving two identical prizes to two different people (yes, that does make sense … oh, be quiet!).

Both prizes are …

Ebook Copies of The Lady of the Vineyard and its short story sequel, Flowers!

On that note … I’ve decided on a publishing date for Flowers. *squeals*

December 13th, 2017

That’s right! I’ll probably be doing a one-day blog party. More info about that coming soon. It will be super simple. I might ask a few bloggers to participate, but nothing flashy.

I just realized …

Amidst the Christmas stories and winter wonderlands, I’m rebelling. MUHAHAHA IT’S A SPRING STORY THERE ARE FLOWERS I AM SO EVIL!

Wow, my bad side has been coming out in recent posts. Actually, my bad side is actually bad, but whatever. You just think I’m that awesome.

On that note (well, an earlier note, but whatever), I need beta-readers. If you’re at all interested in beta-reading, sign up! I’ll be closing it on the 20th and sending the book out. It’s only 9,000 words long.

Sign up to beta-read!

I just need two or three people. Maybe less. I’d be content with one; I already have two friends (potentially) reading through it.

Why Writers Should Be Bloggers

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I bet y’all are wondering, “Why the sand? What does that have to do with blogging? Or writing? Or anything related to blogging or writing?”

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. It is the first stock photo that came up. It wasn’t even the BEST stock photo that came up! I AM SO GENIUS I SHALL TAKE OVER THE WORLD WITH TERRIBLE STOCK PHOTOS. I SHALL BE SUPREME LEADER! *evil laughter* I AM A TERRIBLE BLOGGER MUHAHAHA. *coughs*

Moving on.

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|The Actual Post|

Everyone knows that when you come a famous author, you should probably have a blog so your loyal fans will have an online gathering-place to get more of your awesomeness.

Like me. Obviously. (I can see y’all out there rolling your eyes! Knock it off! Keep your eyes to yourself! No one needs your eyes!) (Except you, I guess … because without your eyes, you’d be blind … which would not be good …) (My dog is blind.) (She is fine.) (Okay, she’s dying, but whatever.)

However, blogging is not just for famous authors and those in blogging for blogging’s sake. Blogging is for writers of all shapes and sizes.

But why get a blog if I’m not published yet?

Well, here’s a question to ask yourself: Do you want to be an author? Furthermore, do you plan to work with all your strength to become an author? If so, then a blog is probably a good idea.

Now, I don’t think everyone who jots down a short story – or even a full-length novel – needs a blog. If you just write for fun and don’t intend to seriously pursue publishing, you probably don’t need a blog. (though you may want one …)

But if you intend to be a published novelist someday (particularly if “someday” means just a couple years for you or if you’re intending to self-publish), then a blog is a good idea.

But I don’t have a published book yet. What’s the point?

The point is building a readership – and making friends – before you even publish. This is more important than I could possibly express. Perhaps it sounds mercenary, but it’s really not. Authors – whether traditionally or self-published – need to build a readership, and what better way than to have them following your blog?

But I can’t just ramble about myself all the time, can I?

I completely agree with you. You can’t just talk about yourself all the time. That would make for a pretty boring blog – especially since you’re not a famous author who people hang on every word of (yet!).

So what should you blog about? Here are few ideas:

Writing

This could be writing tips, but you can also talk about your writing process in general. You could also ramble about how hard writing is (though be professional; nobody likes a long paragraph that says nothing) or something like that. Share your struggles – and what you’ve learned from them.

Reading

Well, you want to attract readers, don’t you? This is a good way to do that. Post reviews (particularly reviews of books in the genre you write, although you can do a wide variety if you like). Talk about different genres and how they compare. Give tips for a pleasurable reading experience. The possibilities are pretty endless.

Follow a couple big book blogs to get some ideas if you need to. However, keep in mind that you want to be original and not steal other peoples’ ideas!

Life

I find ‘diary blogs’ pretty boring unless I actually care about the person – and let’s assume that the Blogosphere in general doesn’t care a ton about you. (I know it’s harsh, but they don’t know you; why would they care?) However, there’s nothing wrong with sharing a little bit of your life – as long as you don’t harp on it. One of the best ways to do this without boring people is a monthly wrapup, such as my Dares posts.

At least, I like monthly wrap-ups. I don’t know if this is a common thing or not? And I never know what to comment on other peoples’ wrap-up posts. I’m like, “Uh … good job, I guess? Looks like you’ll be busy next month … and … um … goodbye?”

Research

If you write historical novels, write a post detailing the fashions of the time. If you write fantasy, do a post on archery (assuming archery shows up in your novel; random archery is probably not a good idea unless you happen to be an archery enthusiast).

Write posts about things you had to research for your novel. It makes sense that people interested in those kind of things would want to read your book. And, since you’ve already done the research, all you have to do is stick the post together (more or less).

25 Spoiler-Free Facts about Ivy Introspective

A few months ago, I posted 25 Spoiler-Free Facts About The Dressmaker’s Secret. And if you thought I was just going to do it for one novel, you were wrong. (No surprise there, eh?) (What?! I’m kidding!) (You are a very smart person … you’re just dumb about this one thing …)

I stole this idea from Victoria Lynn @ Ruffles & Grace (and other authors who have done things like this). Thanks for the idea, friend(s)!

So, without further ado, we’ll list …

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I never intended to write about Ivy, and for that reason, everything about her life is much more ‘up in the air’ than Alice, whose future has been set in stone since 2012 or so. So yes. You can bribe me to make changes.
Ivy Introspective was rewrote as a completely different story three times. The first time, I completely trashed it, the second time I semi-trashed it, and the third time … it remained. Because I had to publish something.
The first draft of the first draft took a month (NaNo ’15).
The second draft of the first draft took something like three months.
The third draft of the first draft took eight months (finished October 2016).
The original Ivy Introspective (Ivy Inquisitive at that point) had Ivy simply observing the lives of those around her. It had no central plot. It was very boring.
The more I write about Ivy, the more I like her. She’s definitely growing on me, though originally I had a, “Oh, boy, I have to write about her again” attitude.
Ivy’s personality type is INFP (introverted, intuitive, feeling, perceiving). I didn’t do this intentionally, but that is one of the personality types that goes well with Alice’s ENTJ (the disclaimer being that a certain level of tolerance must be given by Alice as they think so differently).
Jordy McAllen is ESFP. At first glance, Ivy and he could never be friends, but I found this article after worriedly wracking the internet so I’m happy now.
Violet is a character who just popped up. She kind of makes the story now, though.
I never intended to keep the name “Violet Angel.” It was just a pretty, whimsical, ironic combination of words for a cynical girl who hates the world.
Jordy has five siblings – Edith, Benjamin, Michael, Albert, and Thomas. He is the eldest. He was raised on a farm in the Highlands, and only through Dr. McCale’s help did he get “out.”
I never got time to develop the other students at McCale House – except Violet, of course – which is something I wish I’d had space for.
I originally played with the idea of having a governess come to take care of Ivy and somehow inspiring her to try new things, overcome her anxieties, etc. However, it was just too much like Nanny McPhee or Mary Poppins.
I decided on Scotland merely because I wanted to get away from civilization a little. I could have probably have done this simply by choosing someplace in the English countryside, but Scotland adds something to it, don’t you think?
McCale House is titled McCale House because I didn’t want to come up with another title. #writersecrets
I spent quite a lot of time on Pinterest and Google Earth looking at pictures of Scotland. I loved the Highlands, especially, although IvIn isn’t set there.
I will be following Ivy’s life in two subsequent novels – Beyond Her Calling and another which I’m currently titling Only a Mother (though An Hour a Day and several others are also in the running).
I listened to Evanesence’s Bring Me to Life a lot while writing this book. No judging.
Also, a lot of classical music. Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata was a favorite.
I also have a (child’s) version of Malagueña that I play on the piano which is another ‘theme song.’
I did a lot of research on autism, down syndrome, social anxiety, PTSD, bipolar syndrome, and other mental disabilities and such before I decided Ivy just can’t be defined. And the era gives me that freedom.
From what I can tell, making Ivy quote “simple” was a decision I made on the fly when I wrote the first draft of TDS. On the very first page of the first draft, Alice remarks that Ivy “was never so quick.” *is vague*
However, I’m glad I did. It makes her special.
I rewrote the ending of IvIn more than any other part, including the beginning.

Did you enjoy those facts? (Why am I asking questions before the “p.s.”? Bad Kell!)

Also, I just noticed that these “facts” were much longer and more explained than those for TDS. I hope you enjoy longer facts? I’m not changing it … I need to get this post out ….

Before you run off to enjoy your amazing life …

I have a poll for you to take! I’ve been thinking about what I really want to post on Reveries a lot lately (okay, you got me, I’m always thinking about that), and I’m trying to decide whether to continue my spotlights.

For those of you who don’t remember what a spotlight is, click here.

So …

Take Our Poll

Vote, me lovelies! And be happy that I’m letting you decide instead of selfishly doing what pleases me.

September 2017 Dares & Summer Ends

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A single tear slid down the girl’s pale cheek. Her lips trembled, and she breathed slowly, evenly to prevent her sobs from ripping from her throat. Her mascara, a sickly dark brown color, stuck to her lower eyelashes, giving the appearance of a tween who has no idea how to do her face. She picked up her pencil and lowered it to the page of calculations, her hand trembling …

That’s right – it’s that time again. When children are chained to their desks and forced to learn things they don’t even need to learn just for the sake of keeping them out from under their parents’ feet.

Anywho, we’re back to dares! You missed ’em, didn’t you? Oh, c’mon, I know you did. All the fun of seeing me not accomplish things and chuckling quietly about it to yourself.

You do it. I know you do.

All jokes aside, it’s really time to get back into the swing of things and back into the school of things. (Which … makes no sense, but whatever.)

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As always, we’re going to start by recapping old dares – in this case, summer goals.

|Summer Goals|

I hath failed thee.

Go to bed and get up at a decent time consistently. Failed.

I didn’t even try. I don’t think I’ve gone to bed before ten in ages. Before eleven? Eh, once or twice in the last month. Before twelve? Hardly more than that. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised to find that I stayed up until one or two at least half of the summer.

Getting up early was just as bad. *sigh*

Get your driver’s license and keep practicing. Kinda.

As you know from my rantyness, I did do all the work needed to do to get a driver’s license – and more – but the dumb government won’t let me until it’s convenient to them, that being next Wednesday.

So … *growls* I should be able to mark this as a big “check!”

Make a semi-decent sum of money via hard work. Check!

I’m going to count my three-day stint at the fair as “hard work.” Even though it wasn’t backbreaking work (or even difficult), it was long (8-8, 7-6:30, 8-3) and tiring, and I returned emotionally and mentally dead.

I had to interact with people. People-interaction is not my strong suit.

But I had an AMAZING time. I got to go on a lot of carnival rides and see the rodeo (I WANT TO BE A COWGIRL SO BAD OH MY GOODNESS I WAS SO JEALOUS BUT YET JUST HAPPY TO BE THERE) and stay with a dear friend of mine who was so supportive and sweet to me, who had never had a real job before. Honestly, she is the best.

Finish writing Once a Stratton. Failed.

I’ve decided to put OAS (OS? Once? Lil1? I don’t know what I’m going to end up calling it) aside for a time. It’s not that I’ve lost my passion for this story and the characters that go with it (Lilli+Chris= ❤ ), but … I need a break from it.

So, at 41,604 words, I’m letting her rest for a time. I don’t know if/when I’ll pick her (um … she’s a she suddenly?) up again. And … that’s it.

Write Adae. Kinda.

I should mark this is failed, because I didn’t finish it, but I’ve made a little progress (including outlining and some wordbuilding), and so I say “kinda.” I will finish this book!

Finish first round of revisions of At Her Fingertips. Check!

Muhahahahaha!

It is currently in the hands of my amazing alpha readers. I’m hoping to retain the publishing date I set of April 2018.

Outline Beyond Her Calling. Kinda.

I did outline it, but I’m not entirely satisfied with the result.

Continue to promote your published works. Kinda.

I had TLOTV on sale one day, but other than that …? *giggles nervously*

Read North and South and Little Women. Failed.

I’m in the middle of North and South, but yeah.

Read Northanger Abbey and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Failed.

I will probably finish Northanger Abbey within the next few days, though.

I am not going to apologize, I am not going to apologize, I am not going to apologize.

Finish off review copies. Failed.

*laughs* I have read quite a few of them, though, so that’s good.

Review as many books as you possibly can. Kinda.

I reviewed a couple books. *shrugs* I hope to review some more in the coming weeks and months though. After that, I might be taking a break from reviewing for a while.

Ride horses. Check!

I did this at least! I have yet to get pictures. We always forget our camera. Like clockwork. It’s almost funny …

Visit your grandparents regularly. Failed.

*weeps* I carry so much guilt for this, y’all, that it’s not even funny. Of course, I carry this much guilt for practically everything. I am a very high-strung person. Bad Kelly.

Volunteer at the museum. Learn lots of history. Check!

At least, I think I learned lots of history …

Feel as if you’ve accomplished something at the end of every day. Failed.

*more laughter* *almost chokes on own tongue from laughing*

Practice your clarinet, saxophone, guitar, and piano. Failed.

WHO EVEN DOES THIS?!?!?!

As you can see, I didn’t do too well this summer. But then there were my June Goals, which I think went a little better?

|This summer …|

I went on two vacations with my family. #AccomplishmentInItself Really, though, very boring. Even my mom admitted it, and she’s pretty chipper.
Horse-riding lessons! #awesome
Published two books! Okay, can I just take a moment here and be a wee bit proud of myself? Not too prideful, but just a wee bit? I mean … I did it! I actually did it!
Had my very first ever job! Exciting, am I right?!

And … I honestly can’t think if there’s more that happened? There were a couple birthday parties and sleepovers and such, but nothing overly notable.

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And finally …

|September 2017 Dares|
~Reading~

Read ten books.
Two must be classics.
Lots of reviewing.

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~Writing~

Finish writing Adae.
Finish with alpha readers of At Her Fingertips.
Write another outline of Beyond Her Calling.

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~Blogging~

Work on my website.
Be consistent with posting.
Continue to attempt graphic designing.

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~Self~

Don’t worry. Be happy.
Focus on God.
Less Kell. More others.

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~Life~

Visit your grandparents.
Practice your instruments.
Drive.

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As you can see, I’ve cut down and simplified my dares. I always think I need to challenge myself, but right now, life is challenging. You don’t always have to go above and beyond. Sometimes you can just live a little.

Character Studies | August 2017

Hello ladies and gents! Guess what? Character Studies is back!

I am so excited! Morgan’s blog, Studies in Character, is the best ever, and doing her character interviews always helps me figure out something about a character.

Basically, Morgan’s been super busy and gone since the New Year (and hasn’t done Character Studies since October 2016), but now she’s back (at least temporarily).

This month’s character interview (which I’m doing late, but to be fair, it was posted late) is about vacations. Click here to find the questions and do it yourself!

This month, there are just ten questions, so this post will be a little shorter, but, as you probably know, I’m kind of running late. I’m doing this post instead of the other one I had planned for today (Dares) because it’s easier.

The character I’m interviewing today is Steven Parker of Ivy Introspective. Though I’ve already finished with him as a character, I still want to write a little more about him. And this will sooth my compulsions so I don’t have to write a short story or something.

The Interview


If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

I’ve already gone everywhere in the world.

The Author: Steven.

It’s true. I’ve nowhere else to go. However, I’d like to return to India … or maybe Brazil. Or California. I loved California.

You found a time machine. Past or future?

Future. The past has already happened. Where’s the fun in that?

Would you visit your author’s world?

I don’t think so, although I love an adventure. She might make me do even more hateful things.

The Author: No, I wouldn’t! I’d just let you chill and see all the different things here.

Oh. Well, I suppose, if that’s to be considered a promise, I would go.

You just won a free week on a cruise. Describe how the week plays out.

I probably spend the week with friends or making friends, depending on whether or not I have friends with me to begin with. Or if I like those friends.

The Author: You’d spend the whole cruise partying and trying to convince the captain to let you go shark-hunting or something like that.

Oh, shush.

You just won a free ticket to a concert. Who’s playing?

No one. I hate music.

The Author: You’re incorrigible.

*winks*

If/when you go on vacation, who would you take with you?

I’d rather go by myself and pick up friends along the way.

What would ruin a vacation for you?

Not having an adventure. I don’t like to relax. I like to live.

Do you get homesick?

No.

The Author: But only because you don’t have a home.

Yes, I do! I … I can go to Pearlbelle whenever I want. And … I have a place at Philip’s townhouse, too.

At the beach, are you in the water getting pummeled by waves or in the sand making sandcastles?

I’m not at a beach. Why would I go to the beach? Jungles are better.

Bonus: Cupcakes or brownies?

What?

The Author: Cupcakes are basically miniature cakes – but as in wedding cake, not tea cake – and brownies are chocolate cakes. With no frosting. I don’t know how to explain this to you.

Very well. I don’t prefer wedding cake, so I’ll have the chocolate cake with no frosting.

And there you have it! I just kind of answered the questions for this one rather quickly and haphazardly, but, as I said before, I’m behind, so this is a short filler post.

However, I do hope you enjoyed Steven Parker and his wildly adventurous, haphazard spirit.

~Kellyn Roth~

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p.s.

Have you ever done Character Studies? Do you expect to start doing them? Have you read Ivy Introspective? What did you think of the evil Steven Parker?