Nicole Zoltack's Blog, page 41
November 23, 2011
Question of the Week – TV Shows
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What's your favorite current TV show? Your favorite show of all times? What other shows do you watch?
Me? I love The Vampire Diaries and it just might be my favorite show of all time although I did really love Lost too. And Once Upon a Time has been awesome so far.
November 21, 2011
Creature of the Week - Ant-Lion
The ant-lion is a creature that has been in bestiaries for a long time although the creature has evolved over the years.
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At first, the ant-lion was believed to be the offspring of a male lion and a female ant. The ant-lion had the head of a lion and the body of an ant. Because the ant-lion's father is a meat-eater and its mother is a vegetarian, the ant-lion perishes soon after birth because no food satisfies both sides of its nature.
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Preposterous, huh? That's why beliefs about the ant-lion changed. The 'new' ant-lion hides in the sand and preys on the other ants like a lion. It is the king of the ants.
November 16, 2011
Question of the Week - Fantasy Lands
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If you could create a fantasy land, what would it look like? The sky? The land? What would the weather be like? What would your land be called?
November 15, 2011
Weekly Progress Report - Nanowrimo and some teasers
This month is all about writing. I'm trying to write the complete rough draft of Crystal's Magic this month, which will be around 80K.
As of right now, I'm at 44,115 for the month. As long as the draft doesn't run much over 80K, I should definitely be able to finish it before December.
Some teasers from this past week:
This time, she puckered her lips and kissed back. It was sweet and tender and everything a first kiss should be, even if it really was their second.
Crystal's heart did somersaults. Had she been the one to save Mrs. Fuller? Or had God?
Did it really matter?
They stood and awkwardly hugged each other. Some of the closeness they'd had last night seemed to have disappeared.
Medicine couldn't save him.
Because magic had been at work?
Crystal was beginning to think so.
All the more reason not to trust witches.
Her life was her own, and she wasn't about to let anyone dictate what she would do. And not fear of dying either.
In her heart, she found her feelings toward Vince. She cared for him deeply and knew that one day, she could grow to love him.
Crystal panicked and, without thinking, brought the fire back into her hand. Like a baseball pitcher, she wound up and threw the fire at the door as if it were a ball
---
Also, Deirdra interviewed me on her blog. I would love for you to stop by and check it out!
And for a chance to win a PDF of Champion of Valor, leave a comment here.
---
Are you doing Nano? How's your progress? What have you been up to this past week?
Check out some other great progress report this week:
http://www.writersally.blogspot.com/
http://jc-martin.com/fighterwriter/
http://waibelworld.blogspot.com
http://susanfieldswriter.blogspot.com
http://skmayhew.blogspot.com/p/tuesday-wip-status.html
http://margoberendsen.blogspot.com
http://www.sherryauger.blogspot.com
http://www.susanoloier.blogspot.com--in/
http://carrieannebrownian.wordpress.com/
http://lynneawest.blogspot.com
As of right now, I'm at 44,115 for the month. As long as the draft doesn't run much over 80K, I should definitely be able to finish it before December.
Some teasers from this past week:
This time, she puckered her lips and kissed back. It was sweet and tender and everything a first kiss should be, even if it really was their second.
Crystal's heart did somersaults. Had she been the one to save Mrs. Fuller? Or had God?
Did it really matter?
They stood and awkwardly hugged each other. Some of the closeness they'd had last night seemed to have disappeared.
Medicine couldn't save him.
Because magic had been at work?
Crystal was beginning to think so.
All the more reason not to trust witches.
Her life was her own, and she wasn't about to let anyone dictate what she would do. And not fear of dying either.
In her heart, she found her feelings toward Vince. She cared for him deeply and knew that one day, she could grow to love him.
Crystal panicked and, without thinking, brought the fire back into her hand. Like a baseball pitcher, she wound up and threw the fire at the door as if it were a ball
---
Also, Deirdra interviewed me on her blog. I would love for you to stop by and check it out!
And for a chance to win a PDF of Champion of Valor, leave a comment here.
---
Are you doing Nano? How's your progress? What have you been up to this past week?
Check out some other great progress report this week:
http://www.writersally.blogspot.com/
http://jc-martin.com/fighterwriter/
http://waibelworld.blogspot.com
http://susanfieldswriter.blogspot.com
http://skmayhew.blogspot.com/p/tuesday-wip-status.html
http://margoberendsen.blogspot.com
http://www.sherryauger.blogspot.com
http://www.susanoloier.blogspot.com--in/
http://carrieannebrownian.wordpress.com/
http://lynneawest.blogspot.com
November 14, 2011
Creature of the Week - Huldra
Credit for picture
The Huldra is a creature from Scandinavian folklore. She is a wood nymph who guards the forests and the flocks.
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She looks like a beautiful young woman with long hair, from the front. But behind, the huldra is hollow, like a trunk of a tree. She also has a cow or fox tail.
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There have been marriages between huldras and human men. One tale tells of a man who failed to keep their engagement secret after he promised to do so. The huldra beat him with her cow's tail until he lost his hearing and wits. In another, the huldra's husband is treating her poorly so she straightens a burning hot horseshoe with her bare hands to remind him of her magical powers.
In "Beauty is Only Fin Deep", my short story in Mertales, I introduce a creature that is part huldra.
November 11, 2011
String Bridge Amazon Chart Rush
Today is THE day to help Jessica Bell's debut,
STRING
BRIDGE
, hit
the bestseller list on Amazon, and receive the all-original soundtrack, Melody Hill: On the Other Side, written and performed by the author herself, for free!
All you have to do is
purchase the book today (paperback, or eBook), November 11th, and
then email the receipt to:
jessica.carmen.bell(at)gmail(dot)com
She will then email you a link to download the album at no extra cost!
To purchase the paperback: Amazon USA
To purchase the eBook: Amazon USA Amazon UK
To listen to samples of the soundtrack, visit iTunes.
Rave Reviews for String Bridge:
"Jessica Bell's STRING BRIDGE strummed the fret of my
veins, thrummed my blood into a mad rush, played me taut until the final page, yet with echoes still reverberating. A rhythmic debut with metrical tones of heavied dark, fleeting prisms of light, and finally, a burst of joy—just as with any good song, my hopeful heartbeat kept tempo with Bell's narrative." ~ Kathryn Magendie, author of Sweetie and Publishing Editor of Rose & Thorn Journal
"Poet and musician Jessica Bell's debut novel String Bridge is a rich exploration of desire, guilt, and the difficult balancing act of the modern woman. The writing is lyrical throughout, seamlessly integrating setting, character and plot in a musical structure that allows the reader to identify with Melody's growing insecurity as her world begins to unravel … String Bridge is a powerful debut from a promising writer, full of music, metaphor, and just a hint of magic." ~ Magdalena Ball, author of Repulsion Thrust and Sleep Before Evening
"Jessica Bell is a brilliant writer of great skill and depth. She doesn't pull back from the difficult scenes, from conflict, pain, intensity. She puts it all out there, no holds barred, no holding back. She knows how to craft a scene, how to develop character, how to create suspense. This is an absolutely brilliant debut novel.
I look forward to reading her next novel, and next and next." ~ Karen Jones Gowen, author of Farm Girl, Uncut Diamonds and House of Diamonds
Connect with Jessica:
String Bridge: http://www.stringbridge.com/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/jessica_bell
Website: http://www.jessicacbell.com/
Blog: http://thealliterativeallomorph.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/author.jessica.bell
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MsBessieBell
Publisher: http://www.luckypress.com
Please TWEET and/or FACEBOOK this post using #StringBridge!
the bestseller list on Amazon, and receive the all-original soundtrack, Melody Hill: On the Other Side, written and performed by the author herself, for free!
All you have to do is
purchase the book today (paperback, or eBook), November 11th, and
then email the receipt to:
jessica.carmen.bell(at)gmail(dot)com
She will then email you a link to download the album at no extra cost!
To purchase the paperback: Amazon USA
To purchase the eBook: Amazon USA Amazon UK
To listen to samples of the soundtrack, visit iTunes.
Rave Reviews for String Bridge:
"Jessica Bell's STRING BRIDGE strummed the fret of myveins, thrummed my blood into a mad rush, played me taut until the final page, yet with echoes still reverberating. A rhythmic debut with metrical tones of heavied dark, fleeting prisms of light, and finally, a burst of joy—just as with any good song, my hopeful heartbeat kept tempo with Bell's narrative." ~ Kathryn Magendie, author of Sweetie and Publishing Editor of Rose & Thorn Journal
"Poet and musician Jessica Bell's debut novel String Bridge is a rich exploration of desire, guilt, and the difficult balancing act of the modern woman. The writing is lyrical throughout, seamlessly integrating setting, character and plot in a musical structure that allows the reader to identify with Melody's growing insecurity as her world begins to unravel … String Bridge is a powerful debut from a promising writer, full of music, metaphor, and just a hint of magic." ~ Magdalena Ball, author of Repulsion Thrust and Sleep Before Evening
"Jessica Bell is a brilliant writer of great skill and depth. She doesn't pull back from the difficult scenes, from conflict, pain, intensity. She puts it all out there, no holds barred, no holding back. She knows how to craft a scene, how to develop character, how to create suspense. This is an absolutely brilliant debut novel.
I look forward to reading her next novel, and next and next." ~ Karen Jones Gowen, author of Farm Girl, Uncut Diamonds and House of Diamonds
Connect with Jessica:
String Bridge: http://www.stringbridge.com/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/jessica_bell
Website: http://www.jessicacbell.com/
Blog: http://thealliterativeallomorph.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/author.jessica.bell
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MsBessieBell
Publisher: http://www.luckypress.com
Please TWEET and/or FACEBOOK this post using #StringBridge!
November 9, 2011
Question of the Week – Fantasy Race
Credit for picture
Similar to last week's question, if you could create an entire new race, what would it be? Would they have magic? What would they look like?
November 8, 2011
Weekly Progress Report - Nano and crazy goals and picture books
I'm sure most of you know that November is National Novel Writing Month and that www.Nanowrimo.org is a website that links together the crazy writers that try to write a 50K novel in the 30 days of November. I'm one of those crazy writers. If you want to link up as writing buddies, I'm there as Scarlett9284
This is my seventh Nano attempt. I won all of the previous six times I tried. I skipped one year, the November after I gave birth to son #1. I wasn't about to try with a one month old.
Anyhow, despite the craziness with the end of October weather and the power being out, I wasn't going to let anything hold me back. I was doing Nano this year.
This started out well, on pace for 50K for the month. Then day 4 happened and I had a really good writing day.
And I decided that my goal is to not write 50K of a novel in November. I want to write the entire first draft of Crystal's Magic this month. It's a paranormal YA so my aim is to write 80K. The story might end up being a little short (hopefully not longer than that though).
Right now, my word count is 20,730, just about right on pace for reaching 80K on the 30th.
Some teasers from Crystal's Magic:
Lightning flashed, casting eerie shadows across her path. Thunder roared like an angry lioness. Sleet slashed across her cheeks, mixing with the tears that streamed down her face.
A woman with long chocolate brown hair and soft brown eyes stared at her, a wide smile on her face. The tall man beside her wore the same smile, his dark hair streaked with a little white on the side.
Her mom didn't know Crystal had this picture--a picture of her real mom and dad.
"But you, you I want to live for today. Promise me that you'll always live for today, no matter what tomorrow may bring."
Yes, biologically, Regina was her aunt, but Regina had raised her nearly her whole life. Surely that made her her mom.
The front door opened.
Crystal headed toward it. "Hi," she said, but no one stood in the doorway.
Years ago, cemeteries had terrified her. Now all she felt was peace, a completeness, as if the cycle of life to death was the natural order, and that whether or not there was life after death didn't matter.
Although, of course, she did believe in Heaven.
The visions of her future—her hair had been longer. Could a simple haircut be a way to ensure the future was changed?
Why not try it and find out? She certainly didn't want to die any time soon.
---
In addition to doing Nano, I'm also taking part in PiBoIdMo - picture book idea month where you try to come with with 30 ideas for picture books in the month of November.
I've already come up with 30 ideas. My next step is to outline them and maybe start some, while trying to come up with more ideas.
Are you doing Nano? How's your progress? What have you been up to this past week?
Check out some other great progress report this week:
http://www.writersally.blogspot.com/
http://jc-martin.com/fighterwriter/
http://waibelworld.blogspot.com
http://susanfieldswriter.blogspot.com
http://skmayhew.blogspot.com/p/tuesday-wip-status.html
http://margoberendsen.blogspot.com
http://www.sherryauger.blogspot.com
http://www.susanoloier.blogspot.com--in/
http://carrieannebrownian.wordpress.com/
http://lynneawest.blogspot.com
This is my seventh Nano attempt. I won all of the previous six times I tried. I skipped one year, the November after I gave birth to son #1. I wasn't about to try with a one month old.
Anyhow, despite the craziness with the end of October weather and the power being out, I wasn't going to let anything hold me back. I was doing Nano this year.
This started out well, on pace for 50K for the month. Then day 4 happened and I had a really good writing day.
And I decided that my goal is to not write 50K of a novel in November. I want to write the entire first draft of Crystal's Magic this month. It's a paranormal YA so my aim is to write 80K. The story might end up being a little short (hopefully not longer than that though).
Right now, my word count is 20,730, just about right on pace for reaching 80K on the 30th.
Some teasers from Crystal's Magic:
Lightning flashed, casting eerie shadows across her path. Thunder roared like an angry lioness. Sleet slashed across her cheeks, mixing with the tears that streamed down her face.
A woman with long chocolate brown hair and soft brown eyes stared at her, a wide smile on her face. The tall man beside her wore the same smile, his dark hair streaked with a little white on the side.
Her mom didn't know Crystal had this picture--a picture of her real mom and dad.
"But you, you I want to live for today. Promise me that you'll always live for today, no matter what tomorrow may bring."
Yes, biologically, Regina was her aunt, but Regina had raised her nearly her whole life. Surely that made her her mom.
The front door opened.
Crystal headed toward it. "Hi," she said, but no one stood in the doorway.
Years ago, cemeteries had terrified her. Now all she felt was peace, a completeness, as if the cycle of life to death was the natural order, and that whether or not there was life after death didn't matter.
Although, of course, she did believe in Heaven.
The visions of her future—her hair had been longer. Could a simple haircut be a way to ensure the future was changed?
Why not try it and find out? She certainly didn't want to die any time soon.
---
In addition to doing Nano, I'm also taking part in PiBoIdMo - picture book idea month where you try to come with with 30 ideas for picture books in the month of November.
I've already come up with 30 ideas. My next step is to outline them and maybe start some, while trying to come up with more ideas.
Are you doing Nano? How's your progress? What have you been up to this past week?
Check out some other great progress report this week:
http://www.writersally.blogspot.com/
http://jc-martin.com/fighterwriter/
http://waibelworld.blogspot.com
http://susanfieldswriter.blogspot.com
http://skmayhew.blogspot.com/p/tuesday-wip-status.html
http://margoberendsen.blogspot.com
http://www.sherryauger.blogspot.com
http://www.susanoloier.blogspot.com--in/
http://carrieannebrownian.wordpress.com/
http://lynneawest.blogspot.com
November 7, 2011
Creature of the Week - Vetala
Originally I was going to write this creature up for Halloween but the power going out ruined that. So that means that today's creature is the Vetala.
Credit for picture
The Vetala is the Hindu version of the vampire. It is a vampire-like spirit that haunts cemeteries and inhabits corpse in order to move around. It has to animate the dead in order to attack the living. In that way, it is almost a zombie/vampire.
Vetalas supposed cause madness and miscarriages and have been known to kill children. They live in the realm between life and death and so are about to see the past, present, and the future. Because of this, magicians try to enslave them.
Ordinary people can ward off an attack by chanting prayers.
Credit for picture
According to legend, an ancient sorcerer asked King Vikramaditya to capture a vetala that lived in a tree near the kingdom's cremation grounds. Why the sorcerer didn't do it himself is beyond me. Anyhow, the king had to remain silent in order to capture the vetala. But whenever he succeeded, the vetala told the king a magical story that ended in a question. The king was always compelled to answer. When he spoke, the vetala was able to escape.
Credit for picture
The Vetala is the Hindu version of the vampire. It is a vampire-like spirit that haunts cemeteries and inhabits corpse in order to move around. It has to animate the dead in order to attack the living. In that way, it is almost a zombie/vampire.
Vetalas supposed cause madness and miscarriages and have been known to kill children. They live in the realm between life and death and so are about to see the past, present, and the future. Because of this, magicians try to enslave them.
Ordinary people can ward off an attack by chanting prayers.
Credit for picture
According to legend, an ancient sorcerer asked King Vikramaditya to capture a vetala that lived in a tree near the kingdom's cremation grounds. Why the sorcerer didn't do it himself is beyond me. Anyhow, the king had to remain silent in order to capture the vetala. But whenever he succeeded, the vetala told the king a magical story that ended in a question. The king was always compelled to answer. When he spoke, the vetala was able to escape.
November 4, 2011
Thankful for... Anne
The awesome Beth Revis is having an awesome contest. Check out all the details here but just know that the grand prize is 19 awesome signed book!
To enter, you have to write a blog post about a book you're thankful for.
I'm thankful for Anne of Green Gables.
Anne of Green Gables was the first book I reread and reread and reread. I can't tell you how many times I've read that book over the years. It's the book that increased both my love of reading and my love of writing.Anne is the best heroine a girl can have growing up. She gets into trouble but learns from her mistakes, she's smart and loyal and true. She would do anything for a friend.
What book are you thankful for?
