Jack Lewis Baillot's Blog, page 75

"You weren't able to talk sense into him?" "Well, we kind of tried to kill each other in a duel to the death."

 Okay, first, don't forget but there is still a chance to sign up for the blog party! Also, I'm having trouble with the button still, even though everyone has been trying to help me. Hopefully I will get it soon. 
 Also, when I first started NaNo, those of us who knew each other kind of grouped together. I know not many of you will be doing it this year, but those who are, would any of you be interested in setting up a secure chat room (I know how to do this as my sister and I used a site for years and it is very safe and has a password and everything,) and using it to talk as we write, encourage each other on word counts, and such? If anyone is interested let me know and I shall get it set. Also, is anyone going to stay up till 12 and write an hour the first night of NaNo? Some of my friends used to do this and I would hang out and write with them. It was a lot of fun, but my old NaNo group vanished so, is anyone interested in having a first night of NaNo party with me?
 Lastly, John needs your help. So he asked me to mention it on here. Which I did. Here is his blog link again. http://johnthehedgehog.blogspot.com/. He will explain it all here. Now, moving on.

 I was tagged again, this time by Bekah at Hear of Ink.http://imaginationismypen.blogspot.com/ 
 I won't be tagging anyone again, sorry, the cover flopped on me so I have to start over. Mean cover. But if you want the tag, it be yours, my dear readers.

 First, 11 random facts.

 1. If I was a fellow I would be a singer.

 2. Unless I had a high pitched voice, then I would spare all of you my singing.

 3. When I get married I want my wedding ring to be engraved with "One Ring to rule them all, and in the Darkness Bind them." In the language of Mordor.

 4. If my engagement ring looks like any of the nine rings, the three, or the seven I will be happy.

 5. The seven rings were lost though, weren't they?

 6. I discovered today, after breaking my floor, that it leads to Wonderland.

 7. I am sad that Jack Frost isn't being talk by Hiccup in Rise of the Guardians.

 8. But not sad enough to not go and see it.

 9. Even though all I will be able to think of is, "I hope he doesn't loose his shirt."

 10. Trekkies will get that.

 11. Well, they will get it if they know who is talking Jack Frost, and if they didn't get it they likely do now.

 Bekah's 11 questions

 2. The Lord of the Rings or Narnia?

 Wha-What? One...or the other?! ACK! No, I can't. I like them the same. Can I trade one with one of the ones above? Because I can pick both of these over Harry Potter and The Hunger Games.

 3 Movies or Books?

 Um, another tie? Though books slightly more.

 4. What kind of music do you listen to while you write, if any?

 "YOU RAISE ME UP SO I CAN STAND ON MOUNTAINS! YOU RAISE ME UP TO WALK ON STORMY SEAS! I AM STRONG WHEN I AM ON YOUR SHOULDERS! YOU RAISE ME UP TO MORE THEN I CAN BE!"
 5. Winter or Summer?
 Winter isn't all bad. There's ice skating, and snow ball fights...oh! And Christmas!
 Cursive or Print?
 Um, chicken scratches?
 7. Keyboard or Writing by hand?
 Typewriter.
 8. If the villain from your favourite book/movie right now came walking through your front door what would you do?
 Hm, which villain would it be? The Master? No...um...Larklight hasn't just one villain. I don't know which one Percy is going to face in this new book, something about a spider but let's no go there. Um, um...oh! I know! I'd go, "IS BAILLOT BEHIND YOU!?!" And shove him aside to look. Then I'd let him kidnap me so Baillot can save me. 
 9. Mexican or Chinese food?
 Haggis. 
 10. Cake or ice cream?
 Both, on my birthday.
 11. Candy or Chips?
 DOUGHNUTS FOR BENNY! DOGGIES LIKE DOUGHNUTS TOO! 
 You know the drill.
 1. Who would win in a sword fight, Steven Spielberg or Peter Jackson?
 2. Have you ever tried to do Tintin's quiff while in the bath?
 3. Which books aren't the Thom(p)sons in?
 4. What are the two phrases Tintin likes to shout?
 5. Name one of the phrases Captain Haddock yells.
 6. What is Snowy's name in the French language?
 I FOUND MY PEN!!!!!!!!! Sorry, that was just good news.
7. The Milanese Nightingale miss prounces Haddock's name all the time. What is one of the names she calls him?
8. Why does she miss prounce his name?  
9. What three books did the writers base the new movie after?
 10. Do you know how Tintin got his name?
 11. In which book does Tintin reveal he is not, in fact, using his real name?
 (All of these in honour of the movie having been out a year. Which I kind of forgot, which is a shame, because it would have been the perfect day to watch the movie on.)
 Okay, wait, I know who to tag.
 I tag Bella. You can answer in the comment area.
 I also tag Abbey, who probably knows all the answers. And if anyone else wants the tag, I tag you as well.
 How about you? Do you know about Tintin? If so, how many of the answers to these questions do you know? (And I don't know all the answers, I've forgot some. I heard most of them during actor interviews.)
 Allons-y!

"At this point I was ready to throw the kid in a meat-flavored sack and throw him to the wolves."

 BLOG PARTY! Please, read HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 I started to read The Hobbit, to prepare for the movie, and the whole time I could only picture Bilbo as Martin Freeman and Thorin as Thornton. It made the story even more fun. (Not that it really needed those elements to be fun. I think that is one of the best adventure, quest, funny stories ever written.) It is also giving me new ideas for NaNo, which I kind of need.
 Yes, I have decided to attempt NaNo. I think I've said this though - sorry, worn out brain and all that. Last year I attempted a dragon story, but it didn't have a plot so I had to tuck it away and do something else. Go into NaNo with a plot. Always. This year, I think I have a plot. Rather...I kind of know what happens at the beginning, and the end, but the middle is a bit of a, black hole. I am hoping my new character shall show me mercy and help me out once I start writing. Judging by his smirk and the evil glint in his eyes, I shouldn't hold my breath.
 After my last edit of my book I put it away from most of October. My editor has sent me in her last read over of it, now it is my job to go over it again, correcting everything. Also, my mum is reading over it as well, just in case my dyslexia muffed anything. Once November hits I will start the final edit with a fresh outlook on it, hopefully. Therefore, my NaNo month will be filled with dragons and airships. Interesting combina....oh...okay, there. Just found the middle of my book.
 Back to NaNo though. To prepare myself for NaNo I've been doing, nothing. Most of the end of October my brain was filled with nothing but the cover. But now that it is finished, HURRAY, I can start planning. 
 Chocolate. Check.
 Plot. Er, MOSTLY check.
 Character who thinks he is cleverer then me. Check.
 Bit of humor to add into the story. Check.
 Willingness to ditch all social life for a month so I can hermit up in my room and spend my evenings trying to get a story to do what I want. Check.
 Interesting book on dragons I can read to get inspiration. Check. Kind of.
 Said book has been ranted and raved about by a friend of mine. (When someone talks about a book for a long while I end up looking it up because if someone likes a book THAT much, it has to be good. Usually it is. This is why all of you should read Prisoners of the Sea.)  The book I am reading is called Seraphina. I am up to chapter four in it and I've no clue what is going on, but it is rather interesting and I like the writing. Also, SHOCK, the girl isn't an annoying, "I can do everything and don't need boys so get lost while I try and not fall to my death while hanging onto this slippery sloop while Trolls throw rocks at me. Stupid boy. Can't you see I can save myself?" At this point in the book I hope the girl falls, even if the story is from her view point, and the boy takes up the story and goes out for ice cream with the Troll.
 So far, in this book, the girl is sweet, a bit timid, bright without being annoying, and has a good reason for wishing to be left alone. She's probably the reason I am reading it even though I don't really get what is going on.
 (I got mad at the library for not have Mark of Athena yet so I raided all their other books which I thought I could get through. I realized something. Most books are horribly predictable. Sure, there are only so many options as far as plots go, but can't they add some new elements? Anything! I'm tired of the know it all girls and the wimpy boys. It is enough to drive me batty...well, battier. I'm hoping out of the stack I got, I can find some books with interesting enough plots that aren't too predictable  At least ones that don't have characters I want to throw off cliffs.)
 I was pleased, however, to see my library had Arthur Slade's newest book in his Hunchback series. I've only read the first one, but it was very good. It is such a pity he isn't better known. The same with Philip Reeve. I plan to read his young adult series, if my library ever gets the first in the series. (I forget the name of it, but if it is half as good as Larklight I shall be happy.)
 I also picked up the first in the Nicolas Flamel books to see how they are. I know a lot of people like them. So far it isn't too bad. (I read many books at once. Can't help it. I like to drift read.) I am also considering trying out the Clockwork books by that lady author who is one of the biggest hits in Steampunk right now. I'm still debating about those, though.
 BUT, my best find was the Guardian series. This is a series of three, which I didn't know of their existence until I went to Barnes and Nobles on a cover study. (There is a movie coming out which is based AFTER them, I believe. It caught my interest because I thought Hiccup would be talking Jack Frost so I watched the preview. I was sad to find out it is in fact Captain Kirk from the new movie, but by then the preview had me eager for the movie. Seeing it the second time only deepened my interest. I don't know what it is about the movie, I don't celebrate Christmas because of Santa nor Easter because of the Bunny, but something about this movie really has drawn me in. So when I learned there were books I went looking for them and found the first. I'mm hoping my library has the other two, just loaned out.) I started the first book and it is wonderful. It reminds me of a cross between Narnia and Larklight. A delightful twist and full of imagination, which I love. I love the idea of a moon shaped airship! In fact, I want one!  Anyways, I can tell already I will like this series.
 And I don't know how I got onto such a long talk about books...likely because I've been so busy getting ready to published I've not had much time to read and now, with a few days to rest before November, it is very nice to be able to slip into new worlds, ones I don't have to worry about looking for miss spelled words. 
 I should probably go though. I've some adventures awaiting!
 How many of you will be reading The Hobbit before the movie? What are your NaNo plots, and do you plan them all out or just write and figure it out as you go? Are you supplied up on chocolate? Do you plan to raid the shoppes after Halloween to stalk up? Are you reading any good books at the moment? What kind of characters annoy you?
 Allons-y!

"Do you have anything to declare?" "Yes, I declare this to be stupid."

  UPDATED! Please, read HERE for the new rules. Very important to those who do not have books published yet. (Sorry, I got to thinking about it and realized I should rethink things.)

 Whenever someone has a new book come out, one of the most common thing to do is to go around to other blogs and do guest posts on the book. I had considered doing this, but I gave it some thought and have decided to steal someone else's idea. (I'm a spy, so I am allowed to be a thief as well.)
 When her book came out, instead of her posting on other blogs, she had authors guest post on her blog to tell about their books. I like this idea a lot - hence, me stealing it. So, here is how it is going to work.
 My book comes out the 14th. I plan to take the weeks of Christmas and New Years off so I can fall over dead and hopefully recover before, I do this all over again. (More on this later.) Right now, I'm not sure if I should have guest posts up the week of Christmas. Do you all normally read blogs around holidays? (I would hate to have all your posts up and no one about to read them.) Anyhow, I need to think about this more.
 But, until I figure it out, here is the plan.
 The week after my book comes out I will be holding a...what shall I call it? It needs a name, and a button, just for fun. Hm...okay, I will pick a name for it later, do you have any suggestions? A Book Party? Blog Book Party? A HEY LOOK! MY BOOK IS PUBLISHED! Party.
 Okay, rabbit trail. Back to matters at hand.
 Starting the 17th and going to the 21st or 22nd, for now, I will be hosting a Book Published Blog Party. Also the week after New Years (Likely to change).
 What you have to do is write and tell us all about your book. It can be a book you have published or a book you are planning on publishing soon. You can talk about the book, your process on getting it published, how it has changed your life, or you can have a character talk about it. You pick.
Here will be the rules.
 1. You must be Indie-publishing.
 2. You must email me BEFORE the 14th of November to let me know you want to guest post. It will be a first come, first serve kind of thing. There will only be fourteen days open.
 3. Once you have emailed me, I will put your name on my calendar and let you know which day you have.
 4. You must have your posts to me BEFORE the 7th of December. 
 5. The book you talk about should be one which you have already published or are planning on publishing soon.
 6. I have the right to refuse any entry, though I don't think it is likely I will. I just say this so you can't throw things at me if I do refuse one.
 7. If your entry doesn't reach me by the 7th I will be giving your place to someone else. So, even if you don't get your name on my calender, send your entries in anyways as you still might end up with a spot.
 8. When you send your entries in please include your website, name, short biography, and if your book is published then the link where one can buy it. (If you don't have, say a website or a blog, then don't panic. You needn't send it 8-D)

 This is the chance to shout out to the world...well...to my 60 readers, about your work! So SHOUT! Just not too loud or you might wake me up.

 And, after some thought and work, I've come up with a name and a button. (This is my first button so I'm not really sure how they work...I will just post it on here and if it needs a link or something, maybe one of you could let me know? Then I will fix it up. I know it is a bit big now, but I think they shrink when one puts them up as buttons...or should I make it smaller myself?)
 Anyhow, this is my attempted button you can put up on the side of your blog to help spread the word.

 In case you didn't notice, this is William's picture I wasn't able to use for the cover. It seemed fitting to use it for something.

 If you have questions feel free to ask! I'm eager to learn about your books!

 Allons-y!

"Yay! Your brain works!"

 I think some of you tagged me and I missed them, so, I'm sorry if I did. If I didn't then, well, I'm not sorry. 
 I decided to give a cover update, since it will be coming out the first. Next Thursday. In a week. *Crawls into a corner and tries to hide.*

 Ahem...

 So, anyways, I'm starting to realize how hard covers really are. I was finally able to get a model to pose for the front, and we got pictures on a non-snowy, early on a Saturday morning day. That sounds like a song...
 We went out on a Sunday afternoon to a city, and walked about with a sword, posing in front of old buildings, with a sword. Thankfully everyone did their best not to look suspicious. We didn't get arrested, though we did get some funny looks. Can't imagine why...

 With the picture at least taken I've been able to throw myself into the actual colouring and design. The easy part I thought. Silly me.
 I will now show you what I've been working with.

 Actually...these are the ones I will not be using. Before I release the cover I will show you my lead up covers, the ones I played around with to get the one I want.
 Right now I am testing colours. I want certain ones to pop and others to fade. I finally figured out how to do this and like the result. Next step is to add words, and make sure they are a of a fitting colour and font. Then I begin work on the back, which will be trickier then the front I think.
 But you can see all of this later. For right now, you can look at William's wonderful pictures.


This is the first building we went to.
I wasn't crazy about this pose. All facial features are almost hidden. This would have suited Isidore, but not Peter.
Again, head turned too far.
So we tried a straight on shot, which I didn't like either.
Picky author that I am.
I LOVE this one! It was too dark to use, and the angles were off, for a book cover, but I love it still. He has a lot of pictures I am fond of and this is one.
Another. I love the colouring, and how mysterious it all looks.
Again. I was sad I couldn't use them.
He tried it with a lighter setting but I still couldn't use it. I sulked for awhile. The angles don't really work for a book cover and it isn't close enough to the model
He tried it again for me, but again, I couldn't use it so we moved on. (And I will show you those pictures next time.)
 Right now I'm going to get back to work. Tomorrow I have something important for all of you. Also, for anyone who would like to add me to your buddy list...I would love to add all of you I just can't seem to find you...here is my NaNo page. (No plot yet, but I'm working on it 8-D)http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/participants/highlandwriter
 Allons-y!

"How did you die?" "We, er, drowned in a bathtub." "All three of you?" "It was a big bathtub."

 Guess What!?!


 I forgot to tag anyone...and, well...I'm in the middle of a cover, and work, and preparation for NaNo, and editing...you get the idea. So, I'm going to do something I've never done before. I tag anyone and everyone who wants it. Because you are all wonderful readers. 
 Some of you asked about the worm. Here is the answer for those who haven't heard it before. If a worm gets cut in half it will grow a new head on the half without a head, but it will still be the same worm. So, you have two of one worm. Now, you can cut the same worm in half, and those ones in half, and those, and those, and so forth. But it is still the same worm no matter how many times you cut it or it grows a new head.  Therefore, I want to be a worm so I can cut myself into half a ton of times and...have a whole city of ME! (My brothers say it would be a disturbing city, but I think it would be grand 8-D)
 Now, lastly before I get back to work on the cover and answer comments...I guest posted! Here is the link. HERE/CLICK HERE
 Anyone else doing NaNo? 
 Allons-y!

"Apollo?" "Sh, I'm incognito. Call me Fred."

Hello, world! I'm...here...let's not push it. Also, I was awarded! Twice! The Liebster Award again! (By the way, can anyone tell me what it means?)

If anyone reads this WHOLE post all the way through you should win something.
 The rules are the same. I have to answer the 11 questions, tell about 11 random things about myself, make up 11 questions, and award 11 people. 
 First off, I was awarded by TAMARA, HAYDEN, and RINSKIIJOY. Thank you!!
 Questions now from Tamara.
 1. What is your favourite month of the year? That one where I go hiking and save a baby mountain lion who later grows up to think I might make a tasty meal.
 2. What is the number one most played song on your ipod? Oh, good question. I don't really know...but I bet it is one of Josh Groban's...
 3. Name 3 writers you admire and tell us why. 1. Scot Westerfeld. I don't like his mention of evolution in his Leviathan books much, and I'm not crazy about the Uglies series but I do admire him. He took a very creative twist on Steampunk, one I don't think many could have gotten away with, and he created a wonderful world I think many people would love to go to.
 2. (This is hard! I admire so many...) Herge. He kind of did something impossible. Not only did he make a comic into a very exciting story, he did this more then once, and he gave the world a mysterious character we all know next to nothing about yet still love. Oh yes, and he wrote a book in which nothing happens and yet, you still are kept on the edge of your seat.
 3. Philip Reeve, because he wrote an amazing series and was able to add an annoying sister character and still make it where the reader didn't want to throw something at her.
 4. If you were reincarnated as an animal, what would you want to be? A worm.
 5. What is one of your favourite quotes? Aw, I must just pick one? If you follow me on twitter you know I have a lot of quotes. I will take one from Mr. Scot Westerfeld. "Writer's block? Blow something up...in the story." (It works.)
 6. What chore do you hate doing? Feeding my three headed, man eating plant.
 7. If you could throw any kind of party (money is no object) what would it be? And for who? A party? With people?! Be sociable!?!  Hm, I'd throw a coffee/ tea party for all my blog readers.
 8. If you could choose to stay a certain age forever, what age would you stay? I am one certain age forever....I am 24, always will be.
 9. If you could have any talent in the whole world, which one would you choose? World champion Jax player.
 10. Which superpower would you pick if they were up for grabs?  Thor's. Hammer skills.
 11. If you had to change your first name, what name would you want? Best part of a pen name? I already got to change my first name.

 Now 11 questions from Rinskiijoy.

 1. Sparkle or Shine?
 Me? I'd shine, like one of those blind-you light bulbs.

 2. If you had the chance to joy anywhere on earth, where would it be?
 Mars.

 3.Which is cuter, Penguins or panda bears?
 Worms

 4. What is your favourite movie series?
 Tintin...as soon as it is a series

 5. Without lookin git up, what is Mark Twain's Real name? 
 Samuel Clemins...sorry, I don't know how to spell his last name.

 6. Would you rather live in the city or the country?
 The ocean.

 7. What is your middle name?
 It isn't Lewis

 8. Airplanes or boards?
 Aeroplanes

 9. Do you have a teddy bear?
 Of course! He fights the monsters at night.

 10. Have you ever been to Missouri?
 Is that on Mars?

 11. Where was the last place you met someone new? 
 Someone new?! Like...seeing them...and TALKING!?! RUN AWAY!!! It was on the internet

 And 11 from Hayden

 1. If you could choose any superpower, what would it be?
 Did I do this one before? I want the superpower to be able to brain wash people.

 2. Bows and arrows, swords, or guns?
 Swords. I'm a sword girl. Or bows and arrows. Er, BOW and arrows. I can't shoot two bows at once, sadly.

 3. What is your favourite black and white film?
 Hm...I forget the name but it was from the fellows who made the old Godzilla movies, only it was about an over sized moth. Very cool.

 4. What is something random which freaked you out as a child, even if it wasn't supposed to bbe scary?
 Vacuum cleaners. Seriously. Creepy.

 5. Did you read Dr. Seuss books as a kid? Which one is your favourite?
 His books were ALL I read. I still love Hop on Pop. (Which of you read that and didn't walk away with the secret urge to hop on your pop's belly?)

 6. What is your favourite musical?
 "THESE MEN WHO SEEM TO KNOW MY CRIME WILL SURELY COME A SECOND TIME, ONE DAY MORE. ONE MORE DAY ALL ON MY OWN. WILL WE EVER MEET AGAIN? ONE MORE DAY WITH HIM NOT CARING. ONE MORE DAY BEFORE THE STORM! WILL I FOLLOW WHERE SHE GOES? AT THE BARRICADE OF FREEDOM! SHALL I JOIN MY BROTHERS THERE? AS THE GATES BEGIN TO FALL! DO I STAY AND DO I DARE? WILL YOU TAKE YOUR PLACE WITH ME?" I know, it isn't gates, but I don't remember that that one is.

 7. What is your least favourite book by your favourite author?
 The Lost Hero by Rick Rodian. Because Percy wasn't in it.

 8. If you could steal any movie/ TV character's wardrobe, who would it be?
 Polly from Sky Captain, but with Joe's jacket.

 9. What is your opinion on clowns?
 I've a story about a clown which shows my opinion on them, but I've not time to tell it. Basically, who thought they were funny? Al Capone?

 10. What is one obscure book, movie, or TV show that you recommend?
 Book: Iron Scouts of the Confederacy. Movie: Sky Captain. TV Show: The OLD Avengers TV show with Steed and Mrs. Peel.

11. Oh no! You’re stuck in an elevator when the power goes out. It’s going to be several hours before help comes. Who would you rather be stuck in there with- Mr. Collins or Hyacinth Clare Gibson?  I don't know who Hyacinth Clare Gibson is...Oh...I looked her up. NOT HER!!!!!!!!! PLEEEASE NOT HERE!!!!!!!! COLLINS! I TAKE COLLINS! *Hides behind him, cowering in fear*
 Now 11 random facts.

 1. The broccoli in my soup tasted dead.

 2. I don't just shout Allons-y because of Doctor Who

 3. If you want to kidnap me put on a long coat, speak in a British accent, and say, "I'm the Doctor."

 4. I AM Spartacus!

 5. Xavier is a cool name because it uses letters most people don't have in their names.

 6. My brother insists I'm going to end up sitting in coffee shoppes one day, hanging out with modern day hippies, huddled in a corner with my laptop while I write and drink a...whatever those fancy coffees are called. I think he might be right.

 7.  I watch little kid shows, on my own.

 8. I think Josh Groban does this too

 9. No, I do not stalk him

 10. Okay...maybe, but just on the internet. And he posts all of it on his twitter...so it isn't REALLY stalking...

 11. Someone I know needs to have a baby so I can go over and hold him.

 Another 11 (I think I have to do two because two of the tags asked for 11 random facts.)

 1. I found out what my friends are naming their baby, and I dearly hope they don't read my books because...I've a character with the same name...and something not so nice happens to him.

 2. I believe the Black Widow fancies Banner, not Halkeye.

 3. I REALLY want to be a worm

 4. I want someone to ask what my favourite animal is so I can say worm and see their reaction.

 5. Someday I want a fancy Steampunk watch

 6. And goggles

 7. I want it to be the 24th

 8. My family is my best writing support

 9. So is John, who has a cold at the moment

 10. I loose pens WAY to easy

 11. I need to start reading The Hobbit

 Almost done...11 questions.

 1. If you spent a week with Sherlock would you want to punch him by the end of it?

 2. Is your name Rick?

 3. Do you get what that was from, because I didn't for a LONG time.

 4. Have you ever turned your mum into a bear?

 5. Have you ever sailed on the Jammy Dodger?

 6. When you met Hook, did you ask to shake his hand?

 7. Would you wear a fez?

 8. You met a man named John Smith, what do you do?

 9. Are you a spy?

10. Do you have to kill me now that I know?

 11. Are you rude and not ginger?

"You mean a bad heel? Couldn't I just, like, wear something other then sandals? No offence."

 Well, today is the day I was originally going to release the bloopers. But since I did it early, this seems like a good day for my author picture. I might get more when we go up for cover pictures. We shall see.
 HOWEVER, before I let you see the picture, I've an important question. VERY important and I dearly need your input. So, please input. 
 Ahem...how does one become a worm? Oh wait, wrong question.
 Pretend for a moment you are at the library. And you see this.

 Rows and rows and rows of unread, shelved books. So, you walk between book cases and look up and down. You aren't looking for author, just something new to read. And here is my question.
 What makes you pull a book out to look at the cover? What kind of font do you notice and are drawn to? A fancy font? A plan one? Something that reminds you of machines, mysteries, or fairy tales? Something bold and boxy or thin and elegant? 
 What colours attract you? Reds, purples, blues? What colours on the spines do you like? Or do you like spines with pictures? What colour lettering draws you most?
 Are you drawn to titles? If so, what kinds? What kind of words do they have in them which catches your eye. I know the typical ones. Blade. Death. Dragon. And so forth. But what wording gets YOUR attention?
 Basically, what on the spine of the book makes you pursue the book further? I'm a bit at a loss here and could use some help. Whatever you have to offer I'd be MOST grateful for! Right now I'm looking at colour wheels and stalking my library. (Who knew publishing meant studying colours?)
 Right now I have to go and get back to work.
 But first.
 May I present to you all....
 Me

 Was this evil of me?

 Yes.

 But really, I'm a spy. Were you expecting any different?

 Allons-y! I await your answers with that high, author-on-edge-ness

 P.S.
 John posted again

"That's us, those five nuts right there." "Which is me?" "The little deformed one?"

 Well, here I am. Two months from publishing and I'm doing exactly what I set out NOT to do. I'm doing EVERYTHING last minute. But, I've learned my lesson. I think. 
 Right now I'm still working on the cover. William went out to get picture ideas with me, right now I'm looking for a model. (My brave friends. He, too, woke up early on a Saturday to go and stand out in the snow. At this rate I won't have friends left by the time the book is out. {Oh, he also got author pictures!}) I can share some of the pose and colouring ideas.







We decided the sunglasses were out. Made him look too WWII
 I wanted to make the brown pop more but when I did so the white turned blinding and when I added words to test how it would look you couldn't see them. So, I did some more research. Most Steampunk covers are coloured with lots of gray in the background and brown in the foreground, not the most cheerful covers in the world. The person is the only clear, brightly coloured object on the page. I'm thinking when we actually go up for pictures - William's mum has his camera while she's on holiday and he won't have it back till Monday - we need to find an area without so much contrasting colours in the background. (With it being both light and dark I had trouble with lettering. If I used white you couldn't see the letters against the snow, black and you couldn't see them against the trees. So I had to move them all down to the bottom and up to the top but then they were almost off the cover. As soon as I have the actual cover I will show you the rough...designs I've been working on.
 Right now I'm trying to work on colour and position. I also found THIS/ CLICK HERE pose I like. William says we can manage this even though we haven't an airplane. He said we could go out to the airport but he thinks the pilots would be put out if we stopped their take off for pictures. Pilots, no senses of humor.
 Finding the best place to take the picture might prove tricky. As I said, I can't have too many contrasting colours in the background...but try and find somewhere which has pretty much the same colours while up in the mountains, not easy - maybe we can take paint. Thankfully William believes my impossible goal can be accomplished. I hope so because I MUST have the picture on Monday. I still have to fix it up once I have it, and if I get it on Monday that only leaves me a week and a half to get it done. Am I cutting things close? Eh...slightly.
 Also, I'm considering doing NaNo during November. I've been doing it for five years, I think, in a row. I'd hate to miss a year, I do like it, but with everything else going on I wonder if I can add NaNo and not fall over dead. Living is overrated anyways.
 Before I close though, MELODY wanted to know about the trees and trouble walking in the bloopers. (I SO could have explained that better.) Anyhow, in the book, two characters are walking through the trees, more or less talking. So, I wanted to get this part in the trailer. Simple, right? Walk through the trees, pretend to not get along, slap each other with branches. William filmed the bloopers because I asked him too so I could make a bloopers video. The tree scene got the longest reel of mistakes. Without being cut, the whole thing took up fifteen minutes of just those two trying to walk. So, here is how it happened, more or less. 
 Ryan was playing Peter. All he had to do was walk behind and get hit in the face with branches. He's a man, he could take it. Tia was playing Darcy. Her part was harder because, well, she was playing a boy. But she got to fling tree branches in Ryan's face, so that kind of made up for it.
 The trouble began when 1. She couldn't stop giggling 2. Ryan blocked the branches BEFORE they came back 3. Tia could't figure out how to walk like a man.
 Her many futile attempts, as can be seen in the bloopers, usually ended with her slapping herself in the face. Once she tried the Mulan walk. (Again, seen in the bloopers.) The first time though I didn't give exact walking directions so she decided Darcy and Peter should be walking through the forest arm-in-arm. (She probably would have skipped but I don't think she knows how)
 In the end, we didn't get an actual full clip of the scene because the poor branch was put through so much flinging it broke. When the trailer comes out, if you notice, that part is really, REALLY short and is cut off kind of abruptly. 
 I showed my actors the trailer and Tia went, "After all our work, that is all that got put in?" (Jokingly of course.) I then had to show her the 15 minutes of her learning how to walk, and the three minutes of actual footage before the branch broke and she burst down into giggles. (I think out of everything, she had the most fun filming. She was a blast to work with and I dearly hope she helps in the second trailer.)
 And there you have it. The inability to walk and to not giggle. 
Again, sorry about the delay in answering comments, and thank you all for them. They are always very helpful and encouraging.***  P.S I ALMOST bought Mark of Athena today. ALMOST! I was SOOO close. But, then I looked up and what was sitting above it but...Mothstorm. The LAST book in the Larklight series. And I knew if I didn't get it then I'd never see it again. I've been looking for this book for a year or more. So, I bought it instead. Therefore, you will have to endure Percy Jackson quotes till I can afford the other book. 
 Are there any other filming stories you would like? Anything from the bloopers? (More character notes coming soon). Anything else you would like to ask? We are still open for interviews, or whatever else you would like. Which pose, colouring do you like best?
 Allons-y!

"Leo," Jason said, "you're weird." "Yeah, you tell me that a lot. But if you don't remember me that means I get to reuse all my old jokes!"

 Today I am taking part in Alex's "Did I notice your book, blogfest." You can find Alex's blog HERE. 
 The idea of this blogfest is to tell about a book I, well, me since this is my blog. If you join it, naturally you should tell about the book you, have noticed. There, now I've clarified everything.
 I had trouble picking the book I would talk about. I've many I've noticed...(the rule for this fest is not to pick a book which is on the New York Times Or USA Today Bestseller list or your own book. Now if you join in you know the rules.) Also, you shouldn't tell the author you picked their book but should shout it to the internet world, tell everyone. And it needn't be one you read, just one which has caught your attention either because of the cover, blurb, or reviews. (If you join in, please post your links on Alex's blog or on this blog HERE. And mine please, so I can read yours 8-D
 Okay, now, off the rabbit trail.
 Like I said, I was having trouble knowing who to pick, but I finally settled on Philip Reeve's Larklight series...namely the first book. (I've yet to read the last because of library issues.)
 Anyhow, first off I noticed Larklight because of the wonderful cover. Second, it was the blurb and third the pictures in the book. I started it thinking it was Steampunk, but it turned out to be much more amazing. Mr. Reeve creates a wonderful, breath taking world in otter space which makes you wish you lived there. And I ADORE Art! And Jack, and even Mirtle a little by book two. The artwork is wonderful and fun, the adventures fast paced and funny, and the characters unforgettable.  Sadly though, I don't think Mr. Reeve's is as well known as he deserves. He was one of the authors who helped me out when I was looking for an agent and was kind enough not only to offer advice but to actually take an interest in me. So, on top of being an amazing author, he also takes time to listen to his readers.
 If you had not read these books I HIGHLY recommend them...even if I've yet to read book three. And if you have read them, maybe you can join in my shout out and maybe we can let Mr. Reeve know how much we like his work.
 If you wish to learn more about these books you can find the site HERE. And Mr. Reeve's personal website and blog can be found HERE.
 So, what about you? What book have you noticed?
 Allons-y!

"With great power...comes great need to take a nap. Wake me later."

Today I've links to share! Hurray! Links are fun 8-D

 First up is from an author who goes by the name of Jemi in the blogging world. She wrote a book to help out a family who is having financial troubles while trying to care for their little boy who is very sick. All sales from this book goes to this family. You can read more about it HERE!!
 Second link is my Artist who needs some advice on her own book. (You should go to the link and read what she has posted, it is worth it. CLICK HERE. 
 Lastly is my first interview over at The Notebook Sisters blog. That can be found HERE.

 Oh wait, make that four links. Peter was interviewed by Essie HERE.
 And that is all for today. I mean from me. Those three bloggers have a lot more. 
 Allons-y!