Jack Lewis Baillot's Blog, page 69

"Is it tasty?"

 So, my photographer is holding my new author picture for ransom. Since I'm a starving author and cannot pay his photographer price, I must wait until I have a chance to break into his house Mission Impossible style and commander it. (Hopefully I can get it by tomorrow.) Until then, I shall leave you with this - because we could all use a good spoiler in our lives.
 IN MY LIFE...oh wait...this isn't a musical.
 How The Hobbit Will End
 Bilbo walks into the fortress under the mountain and meets Smaug.
 Smaug: Who are you?
 Bilbo: My name is Bilbo Baggins. I am an adventurer, a spider slayer, a - hold on...do I know you?
 Smaug: Not unless I ate your family for breakfast one day. Baggins? Don't recall eating any Baggins, but I wouldn't mind giving it a try.
 Bilbo: You sound like Gollum. But I'm sure I know you, you sound familiar.
 Smaug: Nope, most be this cold I have.
 Bilbo: You sound like a detective I think I used to know.
 Smaug: What's a detective? Are they good to eat?
 Bilbo: Stop thinking with just your stomach. And a detective is *Ponders* Wait! I think I remember now! I used to live in a place called London, with this really grumpy, self-centered fellow named Sherlock who went and jumped off a building *eyes Smaug, glares.* SHERLOCK!
 Smaug: Watson, please. Do you really wish me to believe a detective could become a dragon?
 Bilbo, still glaring: You just called me Watson
 Smaug: Did not. I don't even know what a Watson is. I called you Baggins.
 Bilbo: You called me Watson. And how did you end up here, as a dragon?
 Smaug: I've always been a dragon, BAGGINS!
 Bilbo: You used to be a self-centered detective
 Smaug: Not likely. Had I been this brilliant, handsome detective you speak off, I wouldn't have stopped being him to become a fire breathing dragon.

 Bilbo begins to say something more but shouting from outside cuts him off. He runs to the door to look out and sees a battle going on outside. Quickly he draws Sting.

 Smaug: Careful with that, my dear fellow! You almost took my eye out!

 Bilbo: I killed a lot of spiders with this, Sherlock, I know what I am doing.

 Smaug adjusts scarf: Who is Sherlock?

 Bilbo doesn't answer but runs out to help his friends and a battle is fought. There is a lot of shouting and screaming and crying and so on and so forth. Inside the cave, Smaug roast himself some marshmallows until everything goes quiet. Slowly he leaves the cave and finds all the dwarves and Bilbo standing around three bodies, crying.

 Smaug: I see you all have won the battle but lost your king - I mean, I didn't do it.

 Balin: You can't die, Thorin!

 Thorin: I have to, it is in the book.

 Kili and Fili: Us too. Don't forget about us! We're dying!

 Thorin nods to Bilbo: You've proven me wrong many times, Mr. Baggins. You're a pretty great Hobbit and not that bad as a burglar. I'd give you some gifts but I'm dying so ask Golin too. I've this funny feeling that his descendants and yours are going to go on an adventure together.

 Golin: How do you know that?

 Thorin: I got board while we were traveling and read the book

 Golin: Oh

 Kili and Fili die

 Bilbo: Wasn't that kind of sudden?

 Thorin: Don't worry, now that all the girls know just how dashing they were they shall be voicing your thoughts exactly

 Bilbo: Don't die too, I don't have that many friends left

 Smaug coughs

 Thorin: Sorry. Can't help it. I suppose I should pass the kingship on to someone else before I-
 Thorin dies

 Golin: Does this mean we don't have a king?

 Balin: Doesn't matter to me. I don't even think I belong at this mountain

 Smaug: My dear Watson, do you have this effect on all your friends?

 Bilbo: They died bravely at least. You jumped off a building because Moriarty outsmarted you

 Smaug: That was a low blow. Do you want to go back to Baker Street? I think I can smell Mrs. Hudson's cakes from here

 Bilbo looks down at his sword, huge, hairy feet, and the dragon Sherlock.
 Would she let us in?

 Smaug: If not I will just blast the door open. I'm a dragon, after all

 Bilbo: How will that go over in London?

 Smaug: Brilliantly. And anyone who doesn't like it can feel the wrath of my fire breath - which gets really bad when I don't brush

 Bilbo: And I thought it was hard living with you before.

 Smaug and Bilbo return to London and frighten everyone in the city. Then, whenever Sherlock gets board there he returns to Middle Earth to frighten the people there. In other words, look out for the board, scarf wearing dragon.

 The End

 Guess where the title quote is from.

 Allons-y!

"Bring him home, bring him peace, he is alone, he is only a boy."

 Wherein Jack talks about Book Two.
 Last summer was spent in writing a four part book series. It was a fun way to pass a summer, up in an Airship with some ill temptered Air Pirates, fighting in a daring rebellion. By the end of it all I was sorry to see everyone go - until it came to editing book one and realizing said rebellion fighters hadn't told me their complete story. I don't know why this surprised me as it is a common fact with my writing.
 On finishing book one, I discovered so many small changes had taken place in the plot that I had to re-write the three other books. I didn't complain, I would rather re-write then edit anyhow. So, after the holidays I dusted off my trusty lap top and began. I am now up to chapter eight, have two editors - YES! I have really good editors this time! - and a plan. I even have a release date.
 However, before I reveal some of the book two things with you, I have other writing information.
 Awhile ago I mentioned another series I've been working on for years. A series which came to life the day two friends declared a book couldn't be titled The Broken Blade. I've a love for swords, and such a title appealed to me, as well as a plot which had been simmering in the back of my mind for ages. A plot in which someone goes on a quest to find a sword. After lots of thought and work, I have finally come up with a working plot to go with the title. And this year my goal is to finally finish this series. (It is the longest living project I have. Most I write the moment I think them up, or a few years later.) I shall be revealing information on this during the next few months. I will not be setting myself a publication date for this series yet, right now my goal is to just get them written. I will, however, open up the book page for this series again and be introducing you all to some of the characters.
 Now that you know some of the things coming this year, I will share some news about...well, you know.

 As of right now, it has a title, but I am not certain it will be the one which stays. So we shall call it a Working Title Which Will Very Likely Be The End Title.

 Abolished Impracticality
 Work has always begun on publishing, in other words plans are in the works for the trailer and book cover. And there is a reason behind all of this coming out so soon. And it all has to do with the release date. Which I'm going to be evil about and keep secret just a bit longer - along with the summery. Summery because I am still working on it. I should have it ready by next week - which seems like a good time to reveal the publication date.

 Before I go, I set up a page for The Broken Blade, which you can find HERE. Also, I've a special reveal coming on Friday. Oh yes, and a new author picture, which should be here tomorrow. (An author picture which nearly caused my arms to freeze and fall off. *Nods*)
*** What do you all think of the title? Would it perk your curiosity, or cause you to giggle?

 Title quote is from some famous musical which I was FINALLY able to go and see. (And you should all be proud of me - I somehow manged NOT to sing along during it. Somehow. Barely.)

 Allons-y!

"Oi! Don't get clever in Latin!"

Today is the last of my blog book party guest posts. I am very pleased to share with you a post written by a good friend of mine. You can find her blog HERE!
~Bio~
Hello there, all you fellow blog party attendees! My name is KatySue Pillsbury and I am a Jesus loving, tea drinking, hopeless romantic, newly minted southern gal who loves to sew and cook. I am also a wanna-be-writer! I dabble in all of the home arts and am a complete failure at music except for loving to listen to it! Well, there’s me in a nut shell, if you hang around for a little, you just might get to see the squirrel! ;)
~Post~
I wrote this book after years if procrastinating and many, many false starts. I have always loved the Beauty and the Beast concept and had been wanting to write my own version for years. I finally decided no more waiting and banged it out during NaNoWriMo  a few years ago.
I edited it through a few times and passed it around my family. Then a friend of mine asked to read it and offered to edit it as well, so I gave him the most up to date edited copy and then my computer crashed, taking all of my writing (I had two other books written at this point!) with it!
After two years, much begging and nagging, he finished and wanted to give it back to me the day we left for Tennessee! So, he is mailing it to me, and then I can work on getting it back on my computer and continue in the editing process!
I'm not going to lie, I would LOVE to find a publisher to publish my book, but if that doesn't work out, I have looked into the self publishing realm!!
I've also written the first two books in a mystery series and many other short stories, many beginnings, endings and other tidbits that may or may not turn into full books one day!
The excerpt below is from Chapter 7 of my first full book,  Into the Woods .
Previously, Hannah was a children's librarian who had been demoted to book re-shelver because of day dreaming. She was sent to the basement for something and found an old chest, events lead her here, to the Beast's world, where we find her now!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Hannah walked through the meadow that just yesterday had been full of flowers and bird song. Now it echoed the rest of the woods. Cold and snowy, there was not a green leafy thing to be seen! Walking warily though the meadow, Hannah came to the spot where the tree branch had pinned her to the ground. She grasped the branch and tried to pull it out of the ground. It was stuck fast; even using all of her strength Hannah couldn't budge it.Letting go of it she looked up at the trees and whispered, "What is going on here? What happened to you?"Rubbing the amber stone, she went to the place where she entered the clearing yesterday. The trees were still woven in a tight mat of branches and needles. Going around the perimeter of the clearing Hannah could find no spot where the branches would let her through. Feeling a seed of panic sprout in her chest Hannah went around the clearing once more. About halfway around she heard a bird let lose in happy song right above her head. Hannah looked up and saw a small yellow and blue bird perched on a branch, just within her reach.When the bird saw that it had Hannah's attention it hopped up onto the next branch and peeped impatiently at her. "What? You want me to follow you? I can't get through right here! The trees won't let me!"Hannah pushed against the mat of branches in front of her, demonstrating to the bird that she couldn't get through. The little bird rolled its head in annoyance and hopped down to the first branch, peeped a few times, then hopped up to the next one and looked at Hannah expectantly."Oh! You want me to climb? I'm not sure I want to climb on something that just yesterday tried to spear me!" Hannah put her hands on her hips and shook her head at the bird. Looking about as annoyed as a bird can, it flew down and sat on Hannah's head, peeping and pecking at her. Hannah tried to shoo the bird away but every time she got him to fly off he would just land back on her head when she put her hands back down. After about five minutes of this Hannah threw her hands up in the air and yelled, "Fine, fine! You win, I'll follow you! Even though I think it's a really bad idea. What if the trees decide to dump me! Or find some other way to kill me! I guess that doesn't matter as long as you're happy."Hannah reached, grabbed the first branch and scrambled up. When she looked up to see where the bird had gone, she found him sitting on the branch, just above her, looking as smug as you can with a beak! "Yeah, yeah you got your way! If I die, I'll let the Whisper know it was all your fault!"Hannah followed the bird through the trees first up; then from tree to tree where the branches where strong enough and over lapped. Hannah got more and easier in her movements as she relaxed. She began to enjoy her journey through the tree tops. She was so preoccupied that she didn't notice when the bird suddenly peeped in fright and flew off."Wow! What a view! Hey, bird where are we going?" It was just then that she noticed that the bird was gone. She looked all around and also noticed that the stone on her necklace was glowing."Hey, bird? Bird, where did you go!" Hannah looked around frantically and began to feel sick to her stomach. "Whisper, can you hear me? Is anyone there? What do I do now? Where do I go??"No longer was this a beautiful trip though the tree tops. With her friendly little guide gone, Hannah felt like she was going to fall at any minute and that the trees were going to turn on her. Just then Hannah felt the tree begin to shake. She looked down but couldn't see anything. The tree began to rock harder and harder. Hannah realized the wind had come up and started to look for a good path down and out of the tree. Suddenly the branch underneath her snapped off and fell crashing to the ground! Hannah leapt for the next branch and just caught it with her fingertips.She swung her legs and managed to wrap them around the trunk. Inching her hands along the branch she was able to slowly move towards the trunk of the tree. After what seemed like ages she reached the trunk and wrapped one arm around it. When she felt secure she let go of the branch and wrapped the other arm around the trunk as well. Hugging the trunk, Hannah pressed her face against the rough bark and gathered her wits about her."You're okay! Just stay calm. Pretend you're not high up in a tree that may or may not be trying to kill you. Think, think. What should I do?" Hannah wondered allowed.Hannah looked around and saw that there was a branch that looked like it could support her weight about five feet below. After looking around for any other option, Hannah slowly began inching down towards the branch. She had just about reached it when the tree began to shake again. Holding onto the trunk in a death grip, Hannah closed her eyes and feared the worst.All of the sudden, the tree stopped shaking. Hannah kept her eyes closed and once more began inching downwards. When she finally felt the branch underneath her, she relaxed. Turning around so she was sitting on the branch, Hannah leaned back against the tree and sighed deeply in relief. A soft breeze played across her face and brought a faint scent with it. Now where have I smelled that before? Smells like vanilla and something else................wait a minute, leapin' lizards!Hannah's eyes snapped opened, she wasn't sure what she would see, but needed to find out. What she saw was this. Crouching on a branch across from her was a huge black form. It was built like a lion, but was black as a moonless midnight. Much to Hannah's surprise, this creature was wearing a long black cloak. His paws were at least three times the size of her hands. Gulping, she quickly looked away and noticed a tail was hanging out from below the cape. Hannah had the insane urge to giggle as she saw it twitching back and forth. She finally screwed up the courage to look into the creature's face.A black mane that stood out around his head and a surprisingly pink nose were the first things Hannah noticed, but it was his eyes that caught her attention and held it. They were oddly human and in a flash of clarity Hannah saw that they were the same softly glowing color as the pendant she wore. Just as the pendant had drawn her in, this creatures eyes did the same. Hannah could see many emotions in those liquid, amber eyes, but was at a loss to describe any of them.If he wanted to kill me he could have done it last night or most likely at any point! He looks nice, if pretty scary. I wonder what he is? Cat man? The Hairy Wonder? I think Beast will do, that's what these kinds of creatures are usually called! What should I say? What should I do...........As Hannah mind raced, a breeze ruffled the Beast's mane and blew across Hannah's face. She was startled into saying, "Are you the one who smells like that? You smell good!" Hannah flung her hands up to cover her face when she realized what she had just said!
*** And, in closing, I would like to thank everyone who took part in this! Either by posting, reading, or help in spreading the word about my book. I've enjoyed reading everyone's posts, and now wish all your books were out so I could read those as well.
 That is all I have for tonight. I shall return...surprised? And shall, hopefully have a new author picture, some book two information - maybe even a title but don't hold your breath on that one as I'm not sure if the current title is going to work. I also am working on a surprise for Friday. Oh yes, and I may be holding another voting, so you can prepare for that.


 Title quote is from Doctor Who. All of you Doctor Who geeks should know which one it is from. *Raises eyebrows*

 Allons-y!

"If I was a bathroom, where would I be?"

 Today, as part of my Blog Book Party being held in honour of my book being published, you all will have the chance to meet a very dear friend of mine. Melody! And you will get the chance to learn of her wonderful book!

 First off, I would like to say a big thank you to Jack for hosting this party and allowing me to be a part of it! I have always been someone who wanted to know what happens after a story.  With few exceptions, even when stories end happily and seem to tie everything up, there is a small part of  me that wants to know, what then?  And when stories don't end happily, when there are a million loose ends that are left; I go crazy wanting to know, WHAT HAPPENED NEXT!!!!
That is the question that drove me to write my Three Kyngdoms series. 
I was about seven or eight when I first became interested in Arthurian Legend.  My first exposure to it was probably reading some of the tales in an encyclopedia.  ( I read encyclopedias like they are novels.  It's amazing what you can learn from those wonderful volumes!)  As I grew older, Arthurian Legend became one of my favorite things to research.  It astounded me at first how many versions of the legend there are.  Besides all the historical versions (The Mabinogion, Tennyson's Idylls of the King, Malory's Morte D'Arthur),  many people in our day and age have written their own versions of the legend.  Some are a lot of fun (BBC's Merlin for example) and others I stay away from (Mists of Avalon).  As I began writing more and more, I knew I wanted to write about Arthurian Legend someday, but I didn't want to write just another version of the legends we already know.  Through the years a question kept haunting me.  What happened after the Battle of Camlann?  Most sources agree that Arthur and Mordred died on each other's blades, very few of the knights survived the battle, Guenevere and Lancelot retired to abbeys, Excalibur was returned to the Lady of the Lake and Arthur was taken to Avalon.  But then what?  What happened to Camelot, to the Round Table?  King Mark of Cornwall; what happened to him and Cornwall after Tristan and Isolde died?  Also, the part of the legend that says Arthur will rise again in Britain's greatest hour of need would not leave me alone.  Finally, I knew that was what I had to write.  The story of what happened after.
The first book, tentatively titled For This Time, begins several hundred years after the Battle of Camlann.  Darkness fell on the land following the battle, ending the Golden Age of the three kingdoms– Camelot, Cambria and Cornoval– and beginning the Dark Age.  A succession of Mordred's descendents attempted to rule Camelot but all were weak and could not unite the torn land.  Chivalry and the traditions of knighthood have now almost died out, but are kept alive by some old knights, who in turn learned from their fathers.  There are almost a dozen elven kingdoms whose inhabitants are reclusive, for the most part.  The largest and most important of these is the Grail Kingdom of Lystenois, ruled by the Grail King and High King of all the elves, from his castle of Corbenic.  The other main elven kingdom is Drych Llyn, the realm of the Lady of the Lake, High Queen of all the elves.  The bards, sages, prophets and healers continue to train apprentices in secret.  People keep to themselves and rarely trust anyone outside their own villages.  Tales of the Golden Age have become legend, stories told in front of the fireplace late at night.  Told most of all is the legend that Arthur will rise again and take back Camelot, returning it to peace and prosperity.
The elven monarchs and the Magisters (the chief sages, healers, bards and prophets) know the legend of Arthur's rising is more than a legend.  It is a prophecy.  Through the long, dark years they diligently watch and wait for the signs of the time when the prophecy will come true.  To most people's knowledge, Arthur's line has died out.  Even Malduc, former bard and sage, and one of the most learned and devious men in the land, does not know of any surviving descendents of Arthur.  But a descendent does live, a young man who is unware of his heritage but who his adopted father believes is a fitting heir to the great King Arthur....
Slowly, the series began to take shape in my mind and other pieces were added in.  The Song of Roland, Spenser's Faerie Queene, Greek and Norse Mythology all furnished inspiration for this story.  Then a few fun things added themselves, like lions to guard the gates of the castles.  And unicorns for the elves to ride.
The majority of the characters in the story are descendents of not just the kings of the three kingdoms, but the knights that fought alongside them.  What I had to find out was, what was different about the descendents?  Which of their ancestor's mistakes will they learn from?  Which ones will they repeat?  Eventually, as I read more of the legends, they all began to speak to me and tell me their stories.  Kay, Arthur's foster brother, what if his descendent had a twin sister?  Mordred.  I know he lusted for power but what else drove him?  What drives his heir?  Morgan le Fay was a fascinating, sometimes good, sometimes bad character in the legends.  What side does her descendent come down on?  Does Exaclibur still exist?  If so, can it still prove the true heir?
Along the way, as I dug through the various versions of the legends, I did find myself essentially writing my own version of the legends, by picking and choosing which parts I would use and which parts I would disregard.It has been a fascinating journey that is still really only beginning.  I have some 31,000 words currently on the first draft of the first book and I suspect it will run to over 50,000 when I am done.  I'm currently planning for six books in the series.  I cannot say for certain when I think I will be done and able to publish the first book.  It may be a year, it may be as much as two years.  It all depends on how much of my time Real Life demands.  When I am ready, I am planning to go the route of self-publishing.  (And I might publish other stories before Three Kyngdoms will be ready to go.)I do have several snippets posted on my blog, for anyone who would like to sample the story.  Feedback is always welcome!For now, I'm simply trying to enjoy the journey as much as possible.   Thank you for your time and happy writing to all of you!
Miss Melody Muffin blogs over at  The Splendor Falls on Castle Walls .  She has many interests which range from the mildly sane to the wildly insane.  Everything from books of almost every shape and size to horses, poetry, musicals, BBC TV series, period drama, costume design, languages, music, science fiction TV series, history, world culture and opera, to name just a few.  She also loves meeting new people, in real life or through the blogging world.

 Title quote is from Snicket's newest book, Who Could That Be At This Hour?

 Allons-y!!

"Better to serve a good man then rule with an evil one."

 Very often it seems I just read a book to get it off my list. I have trouble finding books I cannot put down, ones I become so fond of it is like meeting a new friends. Ones I don't wish to end because I don't want to say good bye. And then, every once in awhile, I will find a book like this - one in which the story will stay with me for the rest of my life.



 This is what happened with The Search for WondLa. I started this book because a friend of mine was very eager to read it. Also, my library had it and it was written by the same man who did The Spiderwick books. What could go wrong? Well, when I first started it I thought it dull, predictable, and the girl annoying. I almost gave up on it. Then I met one of the other characters and from there on I couldn't stop reading.



 The book is about 12-year-old Eva Nine. A little girl who has been raised by a robot in an underground home. She longs to see the world and find other humans but her robot, Muthr, is too protective and won't let her. Then, one day, their home is attacked and Eva is forced to flee to the outside world. What she finds there baffles her. There are Aliens, and giant animals, walking trees, and a bounty hunter who is determined to capture Eva. Finding the help of a rather grumpy, miserable Alien named Rovender, Eva and Muthr set out on a quest to find out where Eva belongs, while trying to dodge the Hunter who is always right behind them.



 Despite my first doubts over this book, it is one of the best Children books I've ever read. Eva isn't a perfect heroine. She whines a bit at times and is slightly rebellious, but she is brave and wishes to keep her friends safe. All Eva wants is to have a family, to meet real humans just like her. She wants to know what happened to them all and how she came to be alone, on an Alien planet. Muthr is very protective, but she loves Eva as if she were her own daughter. And, being a robot and therefore clueless about human emotions, she very often doesn't get what Eva is feeling. Rovender was my favourite. Grieved over a loss he suffered, he wants to be left alone so he can sulk in peace. Eva, however, isn't about to leave him and he soon discovers he needs her as much as she needs him. (Their friendship is really sweet.)

Rovender! *Grin*

 The world Eva travels through reminded me a lot of Star Wars and Avatar The Last Airbender. The creatures were amazing, even the ones with bad tempers - like the Sand Snipers. Also, the drawings in the book brought the world to life and made it easier to envision the animals.


The other cover
 I think everyone should give this book a chance, and forgive Eva at the beginning for her bad attitude and keep reading - it is well worth it. She's an amazing heroine and as soon as possible I'm getting my hands on book two.
*** I've begun work on book two at long last! I was able to get a good bit done today, in fact. Before going to a thrift store and drooling over an old typewriter they have there. (It is almost the twin to my 1917 one. I am hoping to get it soon.)

 I also was finally able to go to the library again and...I found Snicket's new book!! (I know, about time, right?) I shamelessly snatched it before anyone else had a chance...

 I've also started on some marketing schemes, but again, all of that is coming after the Book Party. Along with news on book two.

 For now, I shall go to bed. And leave you with a title quote from Merlin - series two, episode one. Great episode...but, Arthur, come on! Really?

 Allons-y!!

"It's got two fronts, John. Why has it got two fronts?"

 Sometimes one hears of a book for years and years without picking it up.This happened to me. I heard many people mention Howl's Moving Castle but never read it. Now I am disappointed because I missed out for years on a great adventure.

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 For those of you who have yet to read the book or see the movie (I've not seen it - yet) it is the story about a girl named Sophie. Sophie is the oldest of three girls and in the land she lives in this means she destined - basically - to a dull, normal life. Yet, this changes the day The Witch of the Waste comes into the hat shoppe where she works and turns her into an old woman.
 Not sure what to do or whom to turn to for help, Sophie hobbles off and soon comes upon Wizard Howl's moving castle. As a girl, Sophie feared Howl who supposedly captured young girls and ate their hearts. Now, however, she's an old woman and simply invites herself into the castle.
 Inside, she meets Calficer - a fire demon who says he will help Sophie if she helps him. She also meets Michael, Howl's apprentice, and Howl himself who is much different then she heard.
 Since there is hope her curse will be lifted if she stays, Sophie moves into the castle and begins to clean everything. In doing so she annoys everyone, but especially Howl, and is rather forced to join in many of his mad schemes. One such scheme is his attempt to get out of finding a lost prince, but not all is as it seems - especially Howl.



 The best part of this book is the characters. As a girl, Sophie is painfully shy. She likes to be left alone and is terrified when someone speaks to her. As an old woman she is sassy, sharp, and has a temper. (During one chapter she gets mad at everyone and takes out her anger with weed killer.)
 Michael is cowardly, but he's devoted to Howl. He's also scared of Sophie when she gets into a temper - but everyone should be scared of her at such times.
 Howl is, in my opinion, the best. He's dashing and knows it. He's prideful, something of a big baby, a coward, dodges out of every uncomfortable thing he can, and can sulk better then anyone alive. And yet, under all that, he's fearless and willing to do anything for those he loves. Part of the time I wanted to slap him, the other part I wished to hug him. And he won me over just like every girl he ever set out to win.



 The only part I didn't get is WHY if he could never fall in love, he fell in love with Sophie. Was the not being able to fall in love a curse or something and she broke it when she saved his heart? Or was it something else all together. (If anyone knows could you please enlighten me?)

Lastly I loved the ending! BEST fairy tale ending I've ever read!

I should add something witty now, but after being around Howl...I mean, how can I compete with that? (Everyone who has read the book - or seen the movie - knows what I mean.) So I will close with this.

 Quote is from Sherlock, series two. Wherein he is trying to figure out what is up with his deer stalker hat. Yep, one of the best scenes in the whole series.

 Allson-y!

"Elementary, my dear Watson."

 How come it is that after Thanksgiving there is always a ton of turkey left but after Christmas there is no left over ham? Are people just cruel like that? *Eyes BBC* Aye, from now on I blame all my sorrows and grief on BBC. (You KNOW what you did.)

 Ham aside though, today I've another book review to share with all of you.

 This book was written by my friend Kendra and is called Sew, It's a Quest. (I mentioned it a few times now.) This is the first book in her series which is a kind of wild, fun mix-up of fairy tales. (And if there is any kind of fairy tale I like it is one which has been mixed up.)
 This book is very fast paced. It is full of all kinds of quirky mishaps - such as a storm which rains cats and dogs and a bow which likes to attack a certain princess.
 There were some parts were I got a bit lost. As if the story took a leap and left me behind to catch up, but in spite of that it was well written - kind of in a fun, bed time story telling kind of manner. I enjoyed the characters, especially Robert, and even came to like Robin - though not as much as he. The interludes caught me off guard for a long while, but I soon got what they were about and then enjoyed them. And in the end it all ties together. Though it does have a bit of a cliff hanger. *Arches eyebrows.*
 If I were still babysitting, this is a book I would read to my little friends. A story they would just love. It is also one I enjoyed a great deal. A fun type of story, with some good laughs in it. And I was given the chance to read over the draft of book two, and trust me, if you've read one you will love two.

 Also, someone requested to see mine and John's Star Trek cookie men (you know who you are). I can finally share them! (Took me forever to get pictures...)

 First off we tried gingerbread men  but some in my family don't like them so we didn't use those when we did the Star Trek chaps.

John liked the gingerbread cookies.
This was our stack of sugar men. He wanted to eat all of them...it took a lot of work to convince him not to
We did have one, because they were right out of the oven
We then had to mix the sugar and milk frosting
He kind of licked some but we didn't tell anyone
Add the food colouring
And put shirts on the poor little chaps without last names
Then you be a nerd and act out their deaths - most of them lost their heads to giant Aliens before Kirk could get to them. It was rather tragic.
 And that is how John and I cook.

 The End.

 Allons-y!

 P.S.
 I decided it was time for a more wintery look around here now that Christmas is over.

"Forgive me for doubting you." "No, it is fine. I would have doubted me too."

 I don't like most adult books and there have been few young adult books I've enjoyed. Therefore, all of this has taken me back to the Children's Section at the library. I've since discovered many books I've been able to enjoy. One of which was a series I heard a lot about when it first came out but never read. I got more interested in the series when the movie came out and I saw a sword on the cover. And still, it has taken me all this time to finally pick up the books. 
 The series I am talking about is The Spiderwick Chronicles. (It is probably because of the title that it took me this long to read them. I'd rather not risk a spider book. I am pleased to announce none of the books had spiders in them.



 There are five books in the first series and they recount the adventures of the Grace siblings - Mallory and her twin brothers Simon and Jared. The stories are more from Jared's point of view, which I didn't mind as I fast liked him. When their father leaves them, their mother movies to a run down house in a new town. The house stands by a forest and at first looks rat infested and dull. The children soon find themselves proven wrong. Their new lives will be anything but dull.


 This comes about when they learn that their great-great uncle was studying faries. They are soon shocked to discover that the faries are in fact real. Along with elves, dwarves, trolls, and goblins. The siblings are now plagued by all manner of fairy tale creatures, and it is up to them to save the world.



 The characters in this book were surprisingly well done. At first I thought it would just be a fun, little kids story. But the characters were very real and their adventures exciting and almost frightening at times. And, even better, all of them grew through the books! Whether it was to learn courage, kindness, or a willingness to give up everything for those you love.



 I was sad when the series ended and am not sure I want to read the second series because the Grace's will not be in it. I likely will, but I will miss them.
*** On another note, how was everyone's New Years? Do anything special? My family and I went to see The Hobbit - this being three times for me. And aye, it is just as good the third time.

 I hope to see all of you after the end of my Blog Party, when I will be announcing some things about book two! But for now...

 Allons-y!

"Stop! We need to go back! I forgot my pocket handkerchief."

 Instead of doing a New Year's resolution post I am going to be authory and geeky and do a 2012 Books and Movies Which Stood Out To Me Post. These books I mostly read in the last two months. I didn't do a lot of reading the beginning of the year - maybe five books all told. I read more in a month then most of the year...But all of these books have become some of my favourites. And the movies I've likely already talked about, but they deserve to be talked about again. 
 Howl's Moving Castle:


 Because I grew very fond of Howl in spite of his green slime temper. When he raced out to save his family I almost squealed. And Sophie was amazing. I adored her. As well as Michael, Calficer, and all the others. Wonderful characters. 
 Seraphina:


 This book stumped all my expectations. Kiggs was amazing and I loved Phina. I even wouldn't mind an uncle like Omar.
 Nicolas St. North:


 A sword wielding thief who doesn't hesitate to help those in need. Hm...need I say more?
 Mothstorm:


 A very nice way to say goodbye to Art, Jack, and Myrtle. I didn't feel as if I was really saying goodbye, more like, I will see you soon. Which is less sad then goodbye.
 The Invisible Man:


 A surprisingly rather funny adventure. Though by the end of it I felt bad for Griffin.

 The Search for WondLa


 Science Fiction at its finest. This is one book I am glad I didn't quit reading. And one I was sad when it ended.

 Toothiana: Queen of the Tooth Fairy Armies:


 North, Bunnymund, Kathrine, Nightlight - all of them back, all of them battling Pitch. And the best part? North and Bunnymund.

 Sew, It's a Quest:


 A new telling of Robin Hood. Twins with mixed up gifts. Quests. Swords. Fairy tales. A very fun book.

 Rise of the Guardians:


 Jack Frost, North, lots of cold and snow. Hugh Jackman as a giant boomerang wielding bunny...all the mixings for a good movie

 The Hobbit:


Right, I needn't go on, need I?


 The Avengers:


 Aliens, a bunch of superheroes having to work together to save the world. Hawkeye, a Lord of the Rings reference, Tony Stark having to work together with Rodgers. Nick Fury who never smiled because he couldn't see the movie in 3D. And an appearance by Dick Van Dyke.

 Brave:


 Scotland. A dad who has a sense of humor and picked on his daughter's suitors almost more then his daughter. A cute mother and daughter story. Very cool music. And a heroine with wild, red curls.


 This will be my last post until after New Years. I will be back on the second with some book reviews, then the completion of the Blog Party! After that, I should be ready to share news about Book Two in my series. So, I hope you all have a very Happy New Years! And a very fun New Years Eve!

What about you? Which books and movies have stood out to you this year? Any you are looking forward to next year?

 Allons-y!

"Oh boy, I'm never sure what's going to happen when he goes nutty with the chocolate."

The book I am reviewing today is one I started, thinking I had found a fun, quirky story. I was very disappointed in it and only finished in the hopes it would get better.
 The book is called A Spy Like Me. The summery sounds fun. A girl who has to spy on a boy she likes, because he seems to be out to kill her. It is set in Paris, with pasties and coffee and chases involving poodles.



 I will give some things to this book. It is well written. It is fast paced, with a good voice, and the characters are fun. Savvy, the main girl who is telling the story, is a scared, reckless, kind of innocent bystander. Everything she does seems to fall a part on her, and she has an insanely wild imagination. (Much like me, with thinking there are assassins under my bed.) When her friend goes missing, Savvy turns spy to find her and learns that Malcolm - this rather handsome boy - is out to kill her. Why, she has no idea. But she is going to get the answers even if it means getting into a cake fight.
 Now, what made me dislike this book.
 One, there was a lot of language in it. Sometimes, in books, I don't mind some language if it is few and far between. But this was all over. 
 Two...there were a lot of sexual implications in it. Savvy and Malcolm kiss...A LOT - if a fellow was out to kill me I wouldn't kiss him every chance I got. And sometimes the kissing implied it would turn into something more. (As in, he would touch her arms and she would get all swoony and they would kiss more and before anything could happen something would interrupt them. Thank goodness!) I don't know why someone would write a book like this, intended for teen girls. They have enough of that without needing to read something like this.
 Anyhow, I would not recommend this book at all. So, if you are misled like me and think it is just a fun spy story, take my warning and skip it. It is not worth the money, I feel, or the time to read. (I was rather disappointed I didn't know about all that before hand too. I could have bought another book instead. But at least I didn't buy the second one!)

 Now, on a more cheerful note...

 I was tagged by Kelly. You can find her blog HERE.

 What is the working title of your book?
 Not telling anyone that yet. (Mostly because I don't know if the title is going to stay. More on this later.)

 Where did the idea come from for the book?
 From me reading a book about airships and wishing I could fly on one.

 What genre does your book fall under?
 Steampunk. Maybe pirates, but that isn't a genre...though it should be. There's enough pirate books for it to be.

 Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
 The thing with this...my friends are insistent that my books will one day be movies. I don't protest much because the whole movie making fascinates me. So I made a promise that I'd never let this happen unless I get to be a part of it. I want to go and watch them film, I want to watch them edit, I want to watch every step of it. And that means, I'd be about so much I'd get to meet the actors, right? So, since I get to meet them...let's cast all my favourite actors so I can shake their hands! Even if they are too old to play my characters. I would cast David Tennent, The actor who played Nine, Merlin and Arthur, Bennedict Cumberbach, Martin Freeman, Thornton,  (Hm, all boy actors. *Walks away innocently with hands behind back while whistling.* They're British too...)

 I shall not be posting again until Sunday, or Monday. I will be out of town, spending two wonderful days in a natural hot springs to celebrate some birthdays and Christmas. I will be eating Star Trek cookie men, playing Creature from the Black Lagoon with my brothers, and enjoying myself while I do nothing productive.
 So, Au Rievor!

 Quote is from Toothiana, the third guardian book. A comment by North when Bunnymund eats a special chocolate which helps him fight.

 Allons-y!