Allison Tebo's Blog, page 7

May In a Nutshell

 

Hey howdy hey, my people!  How did the Merry Month of May treat you?

 

I went through most of May looking something like this –

 

 

But I survived – so that’s always fun.

WW2 Reenactment – Linden, TN 2017

Hey gang!

 

 

I’m reading the date . . . and I’m weeping.  I can’t believe I’m two years late in posting this.

 

 

 

 

The blog police that live in my head jumped out to beat me up but they’ve left me off with nothing but a bit of shame and a warning.

 

 

*issues a sigh full of self-recrimination*

 

The bad news isn’t over yet, either.  I made this vlog a while ago before I got some fancier editing program and before I learned how to make my vlogs look a little more . . . slick.  So, it’s kind of . . . amateurish looking?  #fail

 

 

Oh well, let’s just try try to PRETEND that everything is hunky-dory and on time.  What do you say?

 

 

 

At least I made my Memorial Day weekend deadline, right?
Try to enjoy, now.

ANNOUNCING MY NEW BLOG

 

 

Don’t worry, Allison’s Well isn’t going anywhere.  I’m just expanding.

I might have mentioned a little while ago that my author website was getting a design overhaul.

It is my great pleasure to announce that the website project IS FINISHED.

 

 

You can behold all the gold and goodness RIGHT HERE.

 

 

 

But wait, before you click THERE’S SOMETHING IMPORTANT YOU NEED TO KNOW.

 

 

 

 

With this author site relaunch, I have the rather nebulous plan that I’m going to try to release a blog post over on my new author website once a month on the topics of writing and/or books.
So you’ll still be getting four posts a month from me, it’s just that one of those posts will be found over on my website’s blog. 
Three posts here on AllisonsWell.com and one over on AllisonTeboAuthor.com.  Four total.

 

 

I would absolutely love it if you subscribe to my new author blog !  It’s going to be very similar to the content you’re getting here, just with a writing or bookish theme!

 

Maybe a few less gifs, as I’m trying to be a bit more serious over there.

 

 

 

 

And while you’re in the neighborhood, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter if you want exclusive writing updates about my Tales of Ambia series and other goodies!

 

 

 

SO –

 

If you don’t respond here with “To the death” I’m going to be disappointed.  ;P
(at least quote Narnia back to me, even if you don’t really mean it!) 

Spring Aesthetic

It was hard to know when to schedule this experimental blog post, because Spring is such a relative term for so many people.Some of you are still recovering from freezing cold and are holding onto the hope of spring because of a single feeble patch of green in your yard (poor babies!).  Some of you are already so embroiled (emphasis on broil) in summer that Spring is already long gone.

 

 

A blogging break in April helped me decide, and anyway, May seemed like a happy medium to post this Spring Aesthetic.
I’m not going to try to explain it, just read it already! 

April in a Nutshell

 

 

ALLISON.

 

HAS.

 

RETURNED.

 

TO.

 

YOUR.

 

MIDST.

 

*BOWS*

 

 

AHHHH, I MISSED YOU GUYS!  *BEAMS* *DISTRIBUTES HUGS AND CUDDLES*  HOW HAVE YOU BEEN?

 

 

And I missed my blog!  *pats blog tenderly*  It’s good to be back, gang!  April nearly did me in at a couple of points, but HERE I AM, IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING.

 

 

And now to summarize my April.  Onto the nutshell!

 

 

 

– WATCHED –

 

Inside Out

 

I rather regret now that I never saw this in theaters.  After watching large chunks of it on Youtube (out of order) I finally rented the movie to watch it properly.  I was enchanted.  The touching themes, heartfelt characters and the imaginative world building (Pixar made the human mind one of the most unique pieces of world building you’re likely to see) and colorful animation was woven together into a sweet film that I will definitely be watching again.
My twin also informed me that Joy reminds her a lot of me and I can’t deny it.  

April Hiatus

Yup, you read that correctly.

 

I am going to go tearing off into the Blue like some flibbertigibbet Took and I’M NOT TAKING MY BLOG WITH ME.

 

 

I KNOW YOU CAN’T HELP CRYING, BUT PLEASE DON’T.  I can’t stand to see a person cry.
Let’s just assume you’re crying.

 

 

I’ll be back, I promise!  Between Camp Nano, a author website overhaul, and several other Projects, I needed to cut back on something.

 

March in a Nutshell

*imitating trumpet*
Bum-bada-BUM!!!
*flings open door*

 

Hey, hey, hey people!  It’s Allison and another one of her nutshells!
It seems to me that my nutshells keep getting smaller and smaller, but I GUESS THE PEOPLE STILL WANT THEM, SO THAT’S WHY THIS IS STILL SHOWING UP IN YOUR INBOX LIKE A ‘LIL BURST OF SUNSHINE!

 

So are you ready to ramble, ramblers?

 

 

– WATCHED –

 

The Magnificent Seven

A bandit terrorizes a small Mexican farming village each year. Several of the village elders send three of the farmers into the United States to search for gunmen to defend them. They end up with seven, each of whom comes for a different reason. They must prepare the town to repulse an army of thirty bandits who will arrive at any moment.
Do NOT mention the new remake to me.  THIS is the masterful classic, and nothing can touch it.  Yul Brynner is fantastic in any movie, and the rest of the casting is perfect, too.  Watching this again, I was struck afresh by the Asian influences to this movie.  I knew it was, of course, based off of the Seven Samurai, but those elements shone through in a unique way this time around truly solidifying the fact that this is a unique and one-of-a-kind Western with a Eastern influence and a slow-paced artistry that makes it stand-out from dozens of other Westerns and keeps it firmly in the realm of “classic” years later.

 

Storm World (mini-series)

 

Two boys, Jason and Lee are transported to an alien world (Stormworld) through a vortex while on a boat trip. The boys receive help from Flees a seasoned veteran living on Stormworld. The boys, as new arrivals or “access crashers” find shelter at The Settlement.  The surface of Stormworld is a salt water ocean with many islands that have a generally hot climate. Fresh water is a scarce resource that is central to the survival of all inhabitants.
I have to say, I’ve never seen any other filmmakers beat the adventurous vibe and imaginative genre-bending like the Australians.  This show is exciting, nail-biting and full of unique world building.  And let’s take a moment to mention the characters. 

Fairy Tale Central – Announcement

 

Once Upon a Time, two girls had a dream. A dream of a fairy tale site, an internet library, if you will, for all the fairy tale lovers of the land to gather and converse. To learn, to read, to fangirl/boy, to bask in the goodness that is fairy tales.

As this dream blossomed, the two girls recruited a third. Because, after all, all good fairy tales come in themes of three.

With the third member in place, the girls got to work. The dream began to take shape, until it was no longer just a dream. But something real.



Introducing…

FAIRY TALE CENTRAL

This newly launched site run by Arielle Bailey, Faith White, and Christine Smith, is your source for all things fairy tales.

Every month a single fairy tale will be featured, and posts will include:



Reviews for retellings/shows/movies/etc.


Essay, origin, and discussion posts on the featured fairy tale


Interviews with fairy tale retelling authors


Galleries featuring fairy tale artists and artisans


And a whole lot more!




The FTC’s goal is to unlock the magic that is fairy tales and build a community of fellow fairy tale enthusiasts. Arielle, Faith, and Christine are thrilled to share this new fairy tale centric space and connect with all you epic fairy tale fans!

You can CLICK HERE to find the site and join the Fairy Ring! (Don’t worry, you won’t be enchanted or cursed.) And, if you want to connect even more, you can find the FTC on:




Facebook


Instagram


Twitter


Pinterest




(If you’re inclined to share about the FTC in those places too, you may or may not be blessed by a fairy godmother. *smile, smile*)

Do tell a friend, or a dragon, or the fairy living in the hollow tree behind your house. All humans and mythological creatures alike are welcome!

 

(Allison’s reaction to all of this . . .)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fairy tales mean SO MUCH TO ME and are indelibly ingrained into my entire make up – and this . . . this is just the BEST.
Knowing that Christine (a real life actual fairy) is partially responsible is basically a guarantee that this is going to be MAGICAL, FOLKS!!

 

I CAN’T WAIT!!!

 

 

 

The Torch Keepers – Cover Reveal

*Allison enters the room*

 

 

Helllllloooo gang!  Just a quickie post here, but an exciting one!
I am participating in a cover reveal for my lovely friend, Hosanna Emily!  *claps hands together*  I am so excited for Hosanna and JUST WAIT TILL YOU SEE THIS COVER!




The Torch Keepers


Synopsis:


 

The King’s blue flame quivers as a new fire arises, and Kadira must hold fast to the torch.  It’s destiny; she’s a torch keeper.
A fiery revolution sweeps across the kingdom of Érkeos, and each person must choose a side.  Kadira, a girl set apart to serve the King, finds her city engulfed in emerald flames.  Her blue eyes mark her as the enemy, and she flees from death.  It stalks her anyway.  When she meets Rekém, the Liberation warrior sent to kill her, she rebels against the King’s ways.  Two armies collide; indecision isn’t an option.  As hearts and lives hang in the balance, Kadira and Rekém could bring destruction or liberation to the entire kingdom.


Release Date:

September 1, 2019

 

 

 

And now . . .

 

 

The Cover Reveal!

 

 

 

Keep scrolling . . .

 

 

 

And scrolling . . .

 

 

 

 

Are you getting impatient with me yet??

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCROLL, SCROLL, SCROLL!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*smirks*

 

 

I really do love doing this.

 

 

 

Okay, okay.  I’ll be good now.   I won’t torment you forever.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BEHOLD, MY BRETHREN . . . !

 

 

 

THE COVER!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isn’t that purty?  It’s so unique.


If you want to get your hands on a copy of this baby there will be multiple opportunities in the near future, but ONE OF THEM IS A GIVEAWAY!!!!  ENTER RIGHT HERE .

 

LOOKIT THE PRETTY!!

 

*grabby hands*  Oooo – don’t you want to win that??  I do!!

 

 

Well, don’t just stand there – ENTER.  And don’t forget to give Hosanna a follow and spread the word about her new release.  There’s a good chap.

 

 

Do you follow Hosanna’s blog?  Have you been waiting for news about her novel?  Tell me everything!

 

HOW TO SURVIVE CAMP NANO

 

 

 

Well, almost!  The beautiful month of April is arriving soon, and with it comes the first Camp Nano of the year!  And I am participating!

 

 

I love Camp Nano!  Instead of the frigid, light-deprived November month of NaNoWrimo, we get to write like mad while Spring is blooming outside our window and inside our hearts.  Ahhh, we have some fun ahead of us, friends!  And lots of it!

 

 

What’s not to love about Camp Nano?  We get to make magic by pouring words onto blank paper,  hang-out with like-minded people, and eat awesome snacks.

 

 

However, in all honesty, there are SOME things you will need to navigate your way through Camp Nano.  And thus, I have assembled a list of quick tips to help you have the most productive and enjoyable camp experience possible!
LET’S DIVE RIGHT IN – SHALL WE?

 

BEFORE CAMP NANO STARTS

 

1. Clean your work area.

I can only work on a untidy desk or in a untidy room for so long.  Not only does a messy room destroy my focus, it destroys my peace of mind.  Make sure your area is clean before Camp Nano begins, and keep it tidy throughout April.  I know, things will get a bit chaotic as you crank out those words every day but, hey, a quick ten minute break to clean your desk will rest your blood-shot peepers and do buckets for your focus!  Plus, don’t forget, we have a reputation to uphold for one another.  We don’t want society to think writers are a bunch of messy slobs, do we?  No, we don’t.

 

 

2.  Clear your schedule.
Obviously, we can only clear our schedules so much.  We still have to go to work.  Homework or chores still have to be done.  But, we can not over-commit ourselves.  Don’t plan any vacations or massive projects for April.  This is the month to write, not to overhaul your blog or paint all the furniture in your house.  PRIORITIZE, PRIORITIZE, PRIORITIZE.

 

 

3.  Rest up.
Make sure you get plenty of rest in March. This is especially important because of Daylights Savings (also known as Zombie-fication Day).  AT LEAST makes sure you go to bed early on March 31st.

 

 

4.  Pick a project.

 

 

5.  Outline on your project throughout March so that you are ready to write in April!
Your entire writing experience will be much smoother and far more productive if you have a clearly defined map to guide you in your writing adventure!

 

 

6.  Find a cabin!
The woods are full of frolicsome friends who are more than willing to welcome you into their fold!

 

 

7.  Which brings me to . . . accountability.
This is so important.  You’ll be grateful for the accountability in your writers cabin.  Knowing that you’re fellow campers are watching your numbers is very helpful in getting us to stick with it.  Plus, having a team that encourages you to keep going is invaluable!  I love the kindness and encouragement that I find in writer’s groups!