Nicole MacDonald's Blog, page 22

And the winner is!

M.J. Fifield! And here's the answer and explanation :)

1113213211 After the first line, each line describes the previous line: One One, Two Ones, One Two, One One (and so on...).


and now I have to run else I'll be late to work!! Arrggghhh! Chat to you all later (and check out my blog for the first 2 star review I've given, I'll post it tonight my time).



Take care all!
Nic The Arrival, only $3.99 on Amazon or UK Amazon or $3.99 on Smashwords Buy it today!

Getting into the groove… and Tuesday's Riddle! Win a copy of The Arrival

I'm having a little trouble getting into the groove of writing.  It happens occasionally and *grrrr* I hate it!  A horribly frustrating sensation that tends to give me stress headaches or sore temples as I frown at a blank Word page.  This is when I often get creative and try different things like Speech to text.  Or I avoid it.. and end up surfing the net…  My fingers are also itching to do some sewing which is probably a good idea as I get ideas flowing when I do creative things.  I'm currently working on some exciting scenes concerning a certain dragon named Sito.  It's requiring me to get background details on people (Iggy & Yakov) and while I enjoy doing this it's kinda frustrating too… That said I love the concepts that are coming up! *mwahahaha* some of them are positively evil.
It just kinda feels like I've got an annoying plug jammed in my brain.. right in front of the spot that has all my awesome ideas stewing so maybe with some creative thinking and creating I'll be able to chip away at this *grin*  Now before I put the riddle up let me remind you all I am looking for books written by indie authors that are ideally ranked 200,000+.  I want to help out people who need a rankings boost!  And if you are looking for advertising space for your book I'm happy to give you a spot in my left hand side bar if you'll give me a spot on your blog.  And here's the riddle, good luck : )
What row of numbers comes next in this series?1
11
21
1211
111221
312211
13112221
Take care all!Nic The Arrival, only $3.99 on Amazon or UK Amazon or $3.99 on Smashwords Buy it today!

Character Monday - Introducing Kassandra (Kassie/Kass)

I have chosen the utterly stunning Mila Kunis to play Kassie.  She just needs ultra curly locks and a super duper pushup bra *grin*  Kassie is petite like Mila but with a very big bust, a rather top heavy look.  She has a touch of colour to her skin and copious amounts of crazy brown curls that she can never control. 
Kassandra or Kassie as everyone knows is a complete sweetheart.  She always has a hug ready and a shoulder to cry on.  Kass is the eldest of the four girls and can occasionally be pushed into the background.  Born in Malaysia Kassie had an unusual upbringing and actually went to a Military Academy for College.  Her College stories just can't be beat.  Like the time she melted three port-a-loos when checking the weapons were disarmed and accidentally setting off a rocket launcher…  and believe it or not that is actually a true story from the friend that Kassie is based on *hee*Kassie has been doing ju-jitsu the longest and not just because she's the oldest.  She began as a tinsy tiny four year old.  Her parents thought it was a good idea as Kass has two older brothers and one younger.  She was never one of those girls who screamed and used the 'girl' card, instead she practised her ju-jitsu.  With her rambunctious brothers training she soon aced all her belts. 
Okay so I'm kind of brain dead while writing this so I apologise for slacking on this post!  And don't forget I have advertising on the side bars if you want to switch book covers with me and I want to buy your indie book!!  Let me know : )
Take care all! Nic The Arrival, only $2.99 on Amazon or UK Amazon or $2.99 on Smashwords Buy it today!

OMG I think we got invited to the Royal Wedding!

Hold on... *re reads invite* WHOA!! No way this is EVEN better!!  


It's to Pixie & Chris's wedding! Check out these pictures (click on them for the BIG view) - this has to be the most beautiful invite ever : )






Unfortunately at the moment it's looking like we're going to have to 'regretfully decline' (very regretfully *pout*) but I'll hold of replying just yet least circumstances change *grin*  Oooo it'd be so fun! 

Take care all!
Nic The Arrival, only $2.99 on Amazon or UK Amazon or $2.99 on Smashwords Buy it today!

Friday funnies! Funny/cute etc pictures

To make us smile : )

this one (above) is my all time fav ;p
Happy Friday! Or to those of you like me in the Southern Hemisphere, Happy Saturday : )
Take care all!Nic The Arrival, only $2.99 on Amazon or UK Amazon or $2.99 on Smashwords Buy it today!

A dead simple tip

That for some reason we need to be reminded of occasionally.


You don't HAVE to do ANYTHING in any certain order.  The world will not end because you chose to write your ending first.  Or because you chose to write all the bedroom scenes first (why would you do this?? Not judging.. just curious..) or because you wrote all the action scenes prior to everything else.  Yes it would be really nice to write the whole story in a simple straight line method but seriously as demented as you obviously are for even considering writing as a sane enjoyable hobby - why are you worrying!?! In the long run you'll re-write the majority of it so STOP STRESSING and just get the damn thing written.
I DON'T WANT TO WRITE THE BORING BITS, I DON'T WANNA, I DON'T WANNA!!



....and yes.. that was mainly for my benefit... 



Take care all! Nic The Arrival, only $2.99 on Amazon or UK Amazon or $2.99 on Smashwords Buy it today!

Wednesday's Review! Bloated Goat by Manley Peterson

The blurb: When Granny Hammy finds Bloated Goat face down in her front yard's drainage ditch, her grandson Cocky Doodle thinks nothing of it. In fact, he says that's just another normal day for his best friend. But when they discover that Bloated Goat has little black Xs for eyes and is even more bloated than normal, they realize it is much more serious.
Come join the fun in a wacky adventure filled with jewel thieves, a despondent wolf, an alligator gangster, a kingdom of hungry mushrooms, a shocking skunk wedding, and a mysteriously powerful chameleon known as Crazy Ned.
Bloated Goat is about 19,000 words and 80 pages long.
Genre: Children/humour
My thoughts:I LOVED this story!  The best laugh I've had for .99c period.  I don't know if this book could be fully appreciated by a child without an adult helping them.  I do however think this would be a truly awesome book for English teachers to use in aiding them for teaching kids a variety of writing techniques.  I absolutely HAVE to insist you read the sample chapter!!  I've been driving Glenn nuts for the last few nights I read this due to all my shrieking and cackling at it.  It's a fantastically ridiculous adventure and the author has great fun mocking the heck out of those writing 'rules' we love to hate.  This book doesn't pretend to be anymore than what it is and utterly succeeds in its goal.  Or rather, by the end of this book (and through out it) I was ROTFLMAO ; p
It hit every note for me and I give it 5 stars.  Trust me, read the sample chapter you'll be hitting the one click button by the time you finish it J This is a short, sweet and down right hilarious story.  Bravo to the author! (and I believe the cover page is by his daughter)Take care all!
Nic The Arrival, only $2.99 on Amazon or UK Amazon or $2.99 on Smashwords Buy it today!

Tuesday's Riddle! Solve it first and win a copy of The Arrival

In your preferred e-format of course.
So how is everyone?  It's such a crazy time at the moment and I find myself refusing to read/watch the news as it makes me cry yet unable to stop.  I won't go over it all again and again, so many others are.  But my deepest sympathies to those effected by the earthquake and tsunami.  And to all those seated on the ring of fire like myself please, please have your survival kit's ready.  It isn't unforeseeable that this might set off more such events - we are all linked remember.  Much better to be safe than sorry.
We got stuck into finishing our kit on the weekend and all we're really waiting on is a decent first aid kit we ordered online.  Otherwise we have clothing, food, pet food, a picnic set (utensils etc), sleeping bags, tent, airbed and lots of water.  Actually I think we have a few more things but I can't remember them off the top of my head.  I know we're adding to the food stash this Friday (shopping day).  It does make you feel better knowing it's there.  We've put it in the garage in the steel drawer left behind from the stove my parents took to our hut.  Makes a darn good spot!
And on to cheerful exciting stuff :) I've sent off my Goodreads entry so fingers crossed.  I am a little concerned it won't be funny enough but hey.. I still am really pleased with the result and am even considering popping it on Amazon as a cheap .99c thrill *giggle*  And now it's back onto my draft while critiquing some other authors work.  It's surprisingly helpful to be editing others while you work on your own - makes you more aware of bad habits (which let faces it.. we all have a few of those ;p).  I'm looking forward to revealing tomorrow's book review which is 100% indie as the other review I intended to do fell through.  A pity but this book I'm going to introduce you to is an utter riot!
So until then J here is the riddle - and good luck!
What gets wetter and wetter the more it dries?
Take care all!Nic The Arrival, only $2.99 on Amazon or UK Amazon or $2.99 on Smashwords Buy it today!

Character Monday - re-introducing Sian

This is because I never really did her character justice last time ;p So here we go!  All about the terrifying tiny creature known as ... Sian (or Sianus, Sianny and occasionally the Devil incarnate..)
Don't be fooled by those big baby blue eyes ladies and gentlemen! Oh no.  While she may stand a scant five feet tall this wee Pixie makes up in it for ferocity.  What can I say, she's deals with being vertically challenged by taking people out at the knees, you know 'HA! Bet you didn't see THAT coming'

Now readers of The Arrival may be a little concerned that I'm miss-portraying this gorgeous waif of a girl as really, what has she done so bad?  Yet…  ; p  Well perhaps I should expand a little.  Sian (aka Pixie to the loved up Daron) is the little girl in school whom everyone wanted to make wear pink.  Because she was 'soooo little n cute!'Sian in turn decided goth was a good look and to back up the look she began ju-jitsu - Brazilian style of course, the most effective for those of the tinsy variety.  Not satisfied with merely being able to pop limbs from annoying boys sockets she decided to give fencing and archery a shot...(bad pun I know ;p).  Unfortunately a lack of arm length ruled fencing/sword fighting out as even though this Pixie is a bad ass she refuses to do anything that requires her to look inelegant.  So archery was an easy way to expand her arsenal of skills.  
But that's just one side of the enigma that is Sianus..
Sian is also a total home body and out of the four girls she's the one likely to be cooking up a storm or cleaning.  As much as she delights in getting mucky (mud fights are fun! All the more so when you're winning.) She's an utter clean freak at home.  The girls tease her about her 'Monica' side but they love it cause they're not so inclined.  They're also very grateful at her cooking skills as it prevents them from living off sandwiches or cereal.. Out of the four girls Sian is the most level headed when it comes to dealing with BAD situations.  Not quite as practical as Cat (trust me, this is a good thing..) nor so trusting as Kassie (though you'll never know it till necessary) but as the middle child in a family of seven knows how to handle things.  Pretty much anything!  Hence when the sh!t hits the fan the other three tend to turn to her first.  They know she'll keep her head level even when a Gragnoll is trying to remove it.
Whew! I think that's the really short version of Sian - oh! And her favourite colour is blue, she's a Cancer and is the second youngest of the group at 24.
Take care all!
Nic The Arrival, only $2.99 on Amazon or UK Amazon or $2.99 on Smashwords Buy it today!

Deepest sympathies for Japan and all those living there

8000 times stronger than the earthquake Christchurch experienced.
8000X STRONGER!?!
Watching the footage last night was heart-rendingly familiar and far FAR more scary!  It just seems so wrong for it to happen!  Japan sent search teams to help us and I know our teams will want to help them  - I've taken down the fund for the Chch earthquake and am googling how to help Japan.  Gd my hands are shaking from watching those videos.  The largest earthquake in their recorded history and then a monster tsunami.  I'm beginning to think all of us seated on the ring of fire should move - like NOW.
My heart and thoughts are with you Japan, and we here in NZ will help in whatever way we can.  You were there for us in our time of need and we will be there for you.