Amanda L. Davis's Blog, page 9
March 14, 2012
A Map of the World of the Cantral Chronicles
Yesterday I was playing with MS paint, trying out different placements for the cities in the world of Cantral. I came up with a map, and I thought you would like to see.
This is by no means complete. If there's white space and a city isn't indicated there, it doesn't mean that a city isn't there. It just means that the city wasn't mentioned in Precisely Terminated or Noble Imposter.
FL = Farm Lands
* = Location of city-state palace
For some reason it's coming up all fuzzy, but I hope you can get the basic idea. Cantral is the biggest one. ;)
This is by no means complete. If there's white space and a city isn't indicated there, it doesn't mean that a city isn't there. It just means that the city wasn't mentioned in Precisely Terminated or Noble Imposter.
FL = Farm Lands* = Location of city-state palace
For some reason it's coming up all fuzzy, but I hope you can get the basic idea. Cantral is the biggest one. ;)
March 13, 2012
The Tallest Watchtower by Omid Baghizadeh
Recently I signed up for a program called 'BookSneeze' they provide me with books to read in exchange for my honest review on my blog.
This is the first book I was provided with, and it came as a surprise to me. It appeared to be a book from the description, but it ended up being only twelve pages long. Definitely a short story.
(From the Publisher)
The Tallest Watchtower is a wakeup call for our sleeping sense of empathy and charity and a reminder not to forget those who are not among us but between us and our God. Their memory is always respected.
When I opened The Tallest Watchtower on my ereader, I expected stories about those who were in the Twin Towers during 9/11, as the book appeared to be about that event. I didn't expect it to being with a story about parents adopting a child from an orphanage, but then I considered that perhaps the author was building the person's character and wanted the reader to get to know him.
I was disappointed. That short segment ends in a couple of pages and then the story goes on to talk about a fictional person who died in the tower and how we shouldn't forget the victims. I'm all for not forgetting the victims of 9/11 and honoring them on that date, but this short story really didn't cut it.
The writing was simplistic, not what I was expecting, and I was confused at what the author was trying to do in the 12 pages that complete this story.
1 1/2 stars
Maybe my next book from Book Sneeze will be better. I certainly hope so.
This is the first book I was provided with, and it came as a surprise to me. It appeared to be a book from the description, but it ended up being only twelve pages long. Definitely a short story.
(From the Publisher)
The Tallest Watchtower is a wakeup call for our sleeping sense of empathy and charity and a reminder not to forget those who are not among us but between us and our God. Their memory is always respected.
When I opened The Tallest Watchtower on my ereader, I expected stories about those who were in the Twin Towers during 9/11, as the book appeared to be about that event. I didn't expect it to being with a story about parents adopting a child from an orphanage, but then I considered that perhaps the author was building the person's character and wanted the reader to get to know him.
I was disappointed. That short segment ends in a couple of pages and then the story goes on to talk about a fictional person who died in the tower and how we shouldn't forget the victims. I'm all for not forgetting the victims of 9/11 and honoring them on that date, but this short story really didn't cut it.
The writing was simplistic, not what I was expecting, and I was confused at what the author was trying to do in the 12 pages that complete this story.
1 1/2 stars
Maybe my next book from Book Sneeze will be better. I certainly hope so.
Writing is My Life . . . Again
For awhile it was editing that consumed me. Every day I would edit as much as I could before the day ended, and the next day I would get up and do it all over again.
With Noble Imposter finally finished and sent off to the editor, I don't have to do that anymore. There was much rejoicing for a day and a half, and then I had to get back to work. Fortunately, writing new material is much easier and less stressful (to me) than editing my old work. Who really enjoys trying to find things wrong with their work, anyway?
I'd rather write and wear cool socks.
Today's pair has bunnies.
I'm already at 2,600 words in the third book of the Cantral Chronicles. I hope my fingers stay as speedy and the thoughts keep flowing.
With Noble Imposter finally finished and sent off to the editor, I don't have to do that anymore. There was much rejoicing for a day and a half, and then I had to get back to work. Fortunately, writing new material is much easier and less stressful (to me) than editing my old work. Who really enjoys trying to find things wrong with their work, anyway?
I'd rather write and wear cool socks.
Today's pair has bunnies.I'm already at 2,600 words in the third book of the Cantral Chronicles. I hope my fingers stay as speedy and the thoughts keep flowing.
March 12, 2012
Cantral Chronicles Book Three -The Latest and the Last
This morning I started work on the Cantral Chronicles book number 3--the latest and last in the trilogy. It's the last that I know of anyway.
Currently I am in the hospital typing away while I wait for my grandfather to be released from the hospital (he had an in and out surgery, he's fine, don't worry).
Meanwhile I'm wearing my cool St Patrick's day socks five days early. I'm part Irish and my favorite color is green, so I rather like these. So far one person saw them and was in a bit of a panic, thinking today was already st Patrick's day (and she wasn't wearing green), but I assured her it wasn't, and she was safe.
Back to writing!
Currently I am in the hospital typing away while I wait for my grandfather to be released from the hospital (he had an in and out surgery, he's fine, don't worry).
Meanwhile I'm wearing my cool St Patrick's day socks five days early. I'm part Irish and my favorite color is green, so I rather like these. So far one person saw them and was in a bit of a panic, thinking today was already st Patrick's day (and she wasn't wearing green), but I assured her it wasn't, and she was safe.
Back to writing!
March 10, 2012
Number of Speaking Events Updated
Before I forget, I need to update the number of speaking events I have done. I spoke 4 times in Florida this month, so that brings up my total number!
Number of Speaking Events Total: 99
Number of Signings: 18
Number of Interviews : 13
Places Spoken In:
Florida
Kansas
Texas
New Mexico
California
Washington
British Columbia
Montana
Colorado
Nebraska
Missouri
Indiana
Wisconsin
Michigan
Illinois
Georgia
North Carolina
Maryland
New York
New Jersey
Virginia
Places signed in:
Georgia
Texas
New Mexico
Oregon
Washington
British Columbia
Colorado
Nebraska
Wisconsin
Michigan
Florida
Maryland
Number of Speaking Events Total: 99
Number of Signings: 18
Number of Interviews : 13
Places Spoken In:
Florida
Kansas
Texas
New Mexico
California
Washington
British Columbia
Montana
Colorado
Nebraska
Missouri
Indiana
Wisconsin
Michigan
Illinois
Georgia
North Carolina
Maryland
New York
New Jersey
Virginia
Places signed in:
Georgia
Texas
New Mexico
Oregon
Washington
British Columbia
Colorado
Nebraska
Wisconsin
Michigan
Florida
Maryland
Spiffen Socks
This blog suffers greatly from my neglect, I'm thankful you guys are still willing to read it despite the long silences.
Sometimes I feel bad because y'all are missing out on my spiffen socks. I post about them often on Facebook, but I know a lot of you don't have Facebook.
So here's the pair I'm wearing today.
Knee high, fuzzy red polka dot socks.
Editing is always made better by wearing cool socks. A friend just sent me quite a few pairs from South Korea (where she lives)! They are quite neat.
Currently, I'm working on Noble Imposter.
Sometimes I feel bad because y'all are missing out on my spiffen socks. I post about them often on Facebook, but I know a lot of you don't have Facebook.
So here's the pair I'm wearing today.
Knee high, fuzzy red polka dot socks.
Editing is always made better by wearing cool socks. A friend just sent me quite a few pairs from South Korea (where she lives)! They are quite neat.
Currently, I'm working on Noble Imposter.
March 8, 2012
Home Again
We were in Florida once again! This time for about 9 days. Unfortunately, I was stuck inside editing almost every day.
Fortunately, I got to go to a writer's conference for two days, and I saw my niece (though she wasn't at the writer's conference).
Madelynn
But now I'm home again and back to editing Noble Imposter. You'd think I'd be done by now, right? No such luck. I'm on the last read through before I send it off to my publisher.
While in Florida I also visited Apopka Middle School, and my dad and I spoke three times to various assemblies. We even had a sword fight. I won each time, but unfortunately it was staged, so my victory was tainted, but the important thing is I won, right? ;)
Home again and reading away
-Amanda
Fortunately, I got to go to a writer's conference for two days, and I saw my niece (though she wasn't at the writer's conference).
Madelynn
But now I'm home again and back to editing Noble Imposter. You'd think I'd be done by now, right? No such luck. I'm on the last read through before I send it off to my publisher.
While in Florida I also visited Apopka Middle School, and my dad and I spoke three times to various assemblies. We even had a sword fight. I won each time, but unfortunately it was staged, so my victory was tainted, but the important thing is I won, right? ;)
Home again and reading away
-Amanda
March 1, 2012
Florida Here I Am!
Yes, I have been editing my ears off, but I am now in Florida, and that makes everything more fun. ;)
We finished the read aloud stage for Noble Imposter and now I'm making changes - some of them major. I have to add two new scenes and then there are the little edits in between, but it's coming along well.
On Monday I have 3 talks at a school here in Florida. Fun!
We finished the read aloud stage for Noble Imposter and now I'm making changes - some of them major. I have to add two new scenes and then there are the little edits in between, but it's coming along well.
On Monday I have 3 talks at a school here in Florida. Fun!
February 20, 2012
Broken Link - It's Fixed
The link in the last posted was reported to not work. It does not. At least. It does for me. I hope it works for you as well. :)
It's here, too.
It's here, too.
February 18, 2012
Story Flowers
You may wonder what I've been up to all this time that I haven't been updating my blog.
Editing Noble Imposter? You guess.
Yes. And no.
While I have been doing a bit of editing here and there, I haven't been able to do much. Right now we're in the 'Read Aloud' stage. During this stage my mother reads aloud from the book we're working on and my dad and I listen and try to find mistakes, repeated words, etc.
My mother has been a bit busy with various things, leaving little time to read. So I occupy myself with other things.
Like the invention of Story Flowers.
Check out these photos of the four I've created so far.
Want to know more about them? Read the descriptions here on my other website. :)
www.bunnycraftsnfiber.etsy.com
Editing Noble Imposter? You guess.
Yes. And no.
While I have been doing a bit of editing here and there, I haven't been able to do much. Right now we're in the 'Read Aloud' stage. During this stage my mother reads aloud from the book we're working on and my dad and I listen and try to find mistakes, repeated words, etc.
My mother has been a bit busy with various things, leaving little time to read. So I occupy myself with other things.
Like the invention of Story Flowers.
Check out these photos of the four I've created so far.
Want to know more about them? Read the descriptions here on my other website. :)
www.bunnycraftsnfiber.etsy.com
