Jack Lewis Baillot's Blog, page 84

"Her brother? She doesn't have a brother."

 Indiana eats frozen, dead mice until he is older. Well, I threw one in the other day and he decided he would like to stalk it (It was on top of his rock.) He was under the rock, and slowly would stick his head out, then pull it back in, then out, and  back in. Then he lifted his head level with the rock, then went down. Up and down, up and down. He looked so pleased with himself I didn't have the heart to tell him it was already dead. 

 I have never really had a crush, as it is called, on real, living men. (I have nothing against living men, I hope to marry one someday, just most I have known haven't been all that admirable. I know this isn't the way it is with all men, I know OF some gentlemen, I just don't know them personally. I mean, aside from my brothers and cousin.) Anyhow, I often find myself loving fictional or dead men. (Baillot, John Patterson, Thornton - you KNEW that one was coming - and Percy. The list goes on and on.) However, one man will always slightly surpass them all. 
 His name is Ben Fane, and I first met him in the book Iron Scouts of the Confederacy by Lee McGriffin.
  I read this book in school and thought I'd dislike it, but the moment I started it I knew it would be a favourite. It has remained very high on my list ever since then and I doubt that will ever change. 
 The story is about an orphan, Ben, and his older brother Gant. Gant wants to fight in the War - Civil War - but doesn't want to leave Ben alone. He is finally persuaded that Ben can care for himself and joins a Texan. Ben stays with friends but when he can't stand it anymore he rides off to find his brother. 
 Once they are reunited, the three get into all kinds of mishaps and trouble - sometimes even getting captured by Yankees - and Ben and a Yankee boy even end up becoming best friends. The book is very exciting, and since it is a true story I liked it even more. It talks about the Iron Scouts, a branch of Confederate soldiers who worked kind of like spies. They were a small band of men who could get in and out of enemy lines without being caught. They did light work, like cutting wires and rerouting food supplies. So it was very interesting learning about them. You should look them up, and John Mosby. 
 However, the part I loved about this book best was Ben himself. He is slightly awkward, sometimes very frightened, and insanely loyal to his friends, even when they are the "enemy."
 Highly recommended book. And since it is a fast read, everyone should read it. 

 Today's line is from North and South,  bet you all didn't see that one coming. (I should have a movie review up about it this week.) It is near the ending when Thornton is talking to a friend of his about the girl he loves - and who he thinks has been stalking the nighttime streets with another man. (Very improper.) (This line is funnier when seen in the movie, but I won't say much so I won't give it away. Just watch it.)
 Have you ever heard of this book? Do you have favourite true life stories? Ever heard of the Iron Scouts or John Mosby?
 Allons-y!

"When did your brother get married?" "When everything was hopeless."

 Indiana, my pet snake, shedded for the first time two weeks ago. He was very moopy during it, kind of like he was tired or in pain or something. He hid most of the day, and I didn't hold him so as not to stress him out. He didn't come out of hiding until it was over. Then he crawled over to the glass and stared at me, accusingly. 
 I tried to apologize, and said I had tried to tell him this would happen. He wasn't very pacified so I tried something more encouraging. 
 "Well, you're not a baby anymore," I told him. 
 Instantly he turned around and crawled off. 

  So, I really like Enya's music, and it has been the inspiration for many of my mid evil books. And this song of her's is one of my favourites and fits almost all of my characters, though I listen to it most when working on Hemlock. And I really had to find one of North and South, because...well, right now I really love that movie 8-D
  I stole the quote today from a friend of mine. I'm not sure if it is legal, but I know he wouldn't mind. At least, I highly doubt he would. Anyhow, it cracks me up still, so I had to use it...I will likely even put it in a book. *Eyes the characters it fits*
 Do you like, or have even heard of Enya? What is your favourite song by her? Do you have different music for each book you write? 
 ALLONS-Y!!!

"I do not want to posses you! I wish to marry you because I love you!"

 When I decided to self publish I had no idea all the insane amount of work I was landing myself in. For the last month I have hardly written, except comments and massive editing. I barely have time to breath, and my brain is ready to shut down for a three week holiday.  So, until I get on top of things, Friday Features will be things I feature unless someone contacts me about wanting to do one.



 And, to brighten your day...

 I was babysitting the other day. I watch an 11-year-old, 8-year-old, and twin 5-year-olds. The older two were in school, but the twins and I were outside. They were playing and I was eating lunch and staring off into space, which is common when I eat. I saw one of the twins out of the corner of my eye and heard her say something but it was so low I thought she was talking to herself or her sister so I didn't even look at her.

 Suddenly, I heard her exclaim, "Oh, Jack!" (Well, she used my real name.)

 Grinning and giggling I looked at her and asked, "What?"

 "I said hi," she scolded me, "and you had a had a grumpy look on your face."

 I almost fell out of my chair laughing.


 Now, to business. And this should be good news for everyone. I think it is exciting at least.

 Because of my dyslexia, I like when books have pictures. Especially if there are things in the books that I don't see every day, then I can better envision them. I find this very helpful, as well as being fun. And, I've always harbored a secret desire to have pictures in my books. However, I'm a rubbish artist. I can't draw to save my life and when I tried sketches for my books, well, they were so bad I gave up. However, I never gave up the dream that maybe I would meet an artist and they would do pictures for me. (I'm a striving author though and knew I wouldn't have the money for a long time to pay one.)



 So, to shorten what could be a long, dull story that would put you all to sleep, I one day got on my facebook to discover this waiting for me.


 You can imagine my grin, which went something like this 8-D, only bigger. Not only is it so well done, it was just a fun surprise. Someone liked my book well enough to draw a scene from it! I strutted around like a rooster for a week, showing anyone who would stand still long enough - the telephone pole got tired of seeing it. 
 This drawing was done by my dear friend Clair, who deserves a whole post just to say how wonderful she is and the encouragement she has been to me since she left her first comment on my blog. (Sometimes I think authors need more encouragement then food. We can be a very depressed lot much of the time. Kind of like, "I can't figure out this plot hole! My world is ending! I never should have started writing! Why wasn't I sensible and got a job as a doctor?!" If this was my case I would be the first world fainting doctor. "Needles are out, time to faint."


 Some of you may remember in an earlier post how I said if anyone liked drawing to contact me as I needed an artists help. Well, Clair did just that, and I did something like, dance around my room, jump up and down and clap my hands. So, once I had composed myself, I sat down and replied to her email, then ventured to ask her if she would be willing too.....*Master does drum roll* draw a series of pictures for the book. TA DA! (Surprised you there, eh?)
 In the back of my mind I was thinking, "She won't be able to, you know. Book drawings aren't like scribbles done during math (not that her picture was a scribble. And if it is it is the prettiest scribble I've ever seen.) It will take too much time, and she is getting ready for college." But I asked anyways, and...she...said....*More drum roll* *The Master glares* yes 8-D. (I'm a bit high strung today, this is from the title quote, the pictures, and a huge lack of sleep.)
 The Master is not amused

 We've since been emailing back and forth, working out ideas and so forth. She has sent me sketches already of Isidore, Peter, Darcy, Jack, and Steed - and Max. I will not be showing them yet, I'm not sure if I will show them at all, but maybe like, every month or so until the book is out I will reveal one of the characters or something. But for right now, I don't want to say too much until things are more deeply confirmed and set in motion, so forth. 
 Right now, we are working on picking which scenes should be drawn. She has read the book, as has my sister and Sheen. As they will represent the readers, I am more or less hoping they will have ideas. As the author, I would love certain scenes in simply because I envisioned them the most while writing. But I want the pictures to be things the readers which to see. So I am hoping they will have lots of ideas. 
 After the pictures are done, I will be trying to find a way to get them into the book. Which is another feat all together. (And to add to this writing news, I have an editor now and once I am done doing the third edit myself and have the money I will be sending the book to her. Things are slowly coming together, though everything still seems to be on a stand still with the cover and the book trailer.)
 Now, before I go, I will give you the link to Clair's blog...which is HERE. All of you really should go and read it. She is an amazing author, and a sweet girl. You will not be disappointed. (Oh, and she is a brilliant artist 8-D). 
 And if you wish to see the blog of my sister, who is helping with picking which pictures will be in the book, click HERE. She does a fashion blog, filled with pretty pictures and fun posts. 
 Now, about the title 8-D. It is from the movie North and South - the BBC four part TV series. Not the Civil War one. I finally got my sister to watch it with me and she feel in love with Mr. Thornton, as all sensible girls should. (Really, watch it if you haven't. I'm not a hopeless romantic, I love battles and swords, and this has none but I still love it. the characters are amazing, and the plot is simple and complex at the same time...and Mr. Thornton is dashing and kind and...the list is endless.)
 This quote is from when Thornton proposes the first time and gets a scolding for it. He tries to tell her that he is proposing because he loves her but she is too stubborn to believe him...REALLY?! I mean...what was wrong with her head?! 


 Anyhow, a very cool movie, and it brings out that small romantic side of me not many know exist. (I was giggling hysterically over Thornton's proposals if that says anything.)
 Have you read Clair and Katie's blogs? What do you think of the idea of having pictures in my book, does it sound exciting or just, "eh"? Have you seen North and South? Don't you just love Mr. Thornton? (This is the part where you say yes and give a girlish squeal.)

"You're calling her now? He's calling you?!" "Can you two not do this right now?"

 I stole this from ANNA. She stole it from someone then said I could steal it, so I did. Now I am going to do it. 
 To start you have to pick twelve fictional characters, from books. And then go from there. 
 1. Henri Baillot from Prisoners of the Sea *Swoon*
 2. Ben Fane from Iron Scouts of the Confederacy *Sigh*
 3. Robin Hood. 
 4. Alek from the Leviathan books.
 5. Will Treaty from the Ranger books
 6. Hawkeye (He is from a comic book so he has to count.)
 7. Tintin
 8. Sir William Wallace from In Freedom's Cause
 9. Sherlock
 10. Percy Jackson 8-D
 11. Aragorn
 12. Peter from Narnia

Now, answer the questions by putting the correct characters instead of the numbers.
1. Who would make a better college professor, 6 (Hawkeye or 11 (Aragorn)? I don't know, maybe Aragorn. Well, Aragorn if it was a class on swords and herbs. Hawkeye if it was on archery. 
2. 12 (Peter) sends 8 (Wallace) out on a mission. What is it? Does it succeed? The mission would be to free Narnia of Edward Longshanks who got in through the wardrobe. Succeed? Oh yeah! He is Wallace after all!
3. What is, or what would be, 9 (Sherlock)’s favorite book? I would say one about himself, but he doesn't like reading Watson's stories, so that is out. So...Agatha Christie's so he can laugh at the other detective and say how slow he is for taking so long to solve the cases. 
4. Would it make more sense for 2 (Ben) to swear fealty to 6 (Hawkeye) or the other way around? Ben to Hawkeye. Ben is loyal and would rather take orders then give them. 
5. Number 5 (Will) is looking for a roommate. Should s/he room with 9 (Sherlock) or 10 (Percy)? :-/ That's a hard one. He never says much, so he might get along with Sherlock, but sometimes he likes to talk a great deal, in which case he would rather be around Percy - and they are both a bit clueless. I guess Percy, though...Sherlock would remind him of Halt....
6. 2 (Ben), 7 (Tintin), and 12 (Peter) are going out to dinner. Where are they going, and what do they discuss? They go to some little restaurant that has ice cream (For Ben) and they talk about adventures and battles and fights and all that cool stuff cool boys talk about. And Ben will mostly sit quietly and eat his ice cream. 
7. 3 (Robin) challenges 10 (Percy) to a duel. Who wins? If they use bows Robin Hood wins. If they use swords, Percy wins. 
8. If 1 (Baillot) stole 8 (Wallace)’s most precious possession, how would s/he get it back? Oh no! Well, Wallace would go and talk to Baillot and he would go, "What?! Oh, I didn't know it was yours, I just saw it!" And give it back - it would likely be his sword. Baillot would never take it if he knew it belonged to him 8-D
9. Suggest a story title in which 7 (Tintin) and 12 (Peter) both attain what they want. A Novel's End. The Lost Sword. 8-D
10. What kind of plot device would you have to use to get 1 (Baillot) and 4 (Alek) to work together? Baillot would learn of how Alek has been banished from his home and now has family wanting him dead. Understanding such a situation, he would get together with Alek and together they would raise up a band of rebels to take back Alek's throne. 
11. If 7 (Tintin) visited you for the weekend, how would it go? Grandly! We would get into a HUGE adventure. There would be lost of running, and some bad guys, a mystery, and we would face death a lot. 
12. If you could command 3 (Robin Hood) to perform any service or task for you, what would it be? Um, does allowing me to join his band of Merry Men count? And teach me to aim, that would be good. 
13. If 2 (Ben) had to choose sides between 4 (Alek) or 5 (), what side would s/he choose? Will's, because he understands the whole, sneaking around and staying hidden thing. In fact, Ben would have made a perfect Ranger if he had been around during that time 8-D
14. What might 10 (Percy) shout out while charging into battle?" "PEANUT BUTTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" In honour of his brother. 
15. If you had to choose a song to best describe 3 (Robin Hood), what would it be? Higher Window by Josh Groban. Oh yeah!
16. 1 (Baillot), 6 (Hawkeye), and 12 (Peter) are having a dim sum at a Chinese Restaurant. There is only one scallion pancake left , and they all reach for it at the same time. Who gets it? Hawkeye, because he is faster. And has a cool bow. 
17. What would 5 (Will) most likely be arrested for? Annoying some rotten king. Or he would allow himself to be arrested so he could do some spying.  
18. What is 6 (Hawkeye)’s secret? He's a bad aim with guns
19. If 11 (Aragorn) and 9 (Sherlock) were racing to a destination, who would get there first? It would be a tie, they both do a lot of running. 
20. If you had to walk home through a bad neighborhood late at night, who would you be more comfortable walking with, 7 (Tintin) or 8 (Wallace)? Tintin, because then we would likely get kidnapped, or over hear something top secret and would get into an adventure. 
21. 1 (Baillot) and 9 (Sherlock) reluctantly team up to save the world from the threat posed by 4 (Alek)'s sinister secret organization. 11 (Aragorn) volunteers to help them, but it is later discovered that s/he is actually a spy for 4 (Alek). Meanwhile, 4 (Alek) has kidnapped 12 (Peter) in an attempt to force their surrender. Following the wise advice of 5 (Will), they seek out 3 (Robin Hood), who gives them what they need to complete their quest. What title would you give this fiction? The Cost of Freedom (don't know why, but that would be a cool title, and they are all cool characters.)
 Now you all have to steal it from me. Link back in a post so I can come and read yours 8-D
 This quote is from Grimm, a new TV show Junior and I have been watching. It is about a man who can see, I guess what the rest of us would call monsters, fairy tale creatures that the rest of us cannot see. He, by a weird turn of events, ends up becoming best friends with one named Monroe. Whenever he has questions or needs help he will go to Monroe, usually interrupting him when he is busy, he likes to complain about it but doesn't really mind. 
 In one show Monroe meets a girl and is helping her with some work. Nick, the Grimm, knows her as well and since she knows a lot about herbs and medicine, he calls her when a woman he is with is in trouble. Hence the line above 8-D (Monroe is my favourite character in the show. He is very funny and has the best lines.)
 Tomorrow I have exciting news for you so be sure and come back, it is really worth it. 
 ALLONS-Y!

"Mrs. Peel, we're needed."

 I'm going to be evil today and not share with you one of my characters. After all, I said I should do Steed. And now, I will do Steed. 
 Steed and Mrs. Peel
 John Steed works for an unnamed, top secret branch in England. The show was first aired in 61, running to 69 where it was brutally killed by Tara King - in my opinion. The seasons I watch are from 65-68. I haven't seen any before this but from what I've read Steed wasn't the Steed I've grown to like. 
 The Steed I know is a perfect English gentleman who is always dressed in very nice suits with matching bowler hats. Except when Mrs. Peel steals it. He always carries an umbrella with him, which contains a hidden sword, camera, microphone. (I need an umbrella like that.) And do not under estimate his hat. He has a steal plate in it and has a habit of bashing enemy agents over the head with it. 
 Even though he loves his tea time, always has his tie on right, and his shoes polished, he never shrinks from a fight. I think sometimes he wears the suit to throw people off. Just when they think they can beat up this dignified Englishman he will turn on them and knock their nose crocked. 

  His partner is the lovely Mrs. Peel who likes to roll her eyes at his jokes and who always has some kind of witty come back for his constant teasing. However, in spite of their close friendship and constant banter of each other, they respect one another and he never looks down on her for being a girl, though he also doesn't treat her as a man. Though, if there is a chance of Mrs. Peel taking the job that requires more walking, he readily sends it her way, taking what he thinks will be the easier of the jobs. (Usually this back fires and Mrs. Peel can snicker behind his back.)
 This is what I love about Steed the most. Some stories just capture friendships really well, and this was one of them. When Mrs. Peel left and Tara King came it was SO obvious she had a crush on Steed - even though he was old enough to be her dad. But with Mrs. Peel and Steed they were best friends, nothing more or less. And when Diana Rigg - the actress - left the show did a downward spin. It wasn't nearly as popular. 
 Steed's character is kind of like Sherlock. Laid back, seems to not care about anything. Might appear very grumpy. But this is before you get to know him. Even though he rarely shows anger, fear, or surprise he is anything but grumpy. Often it seems that he has trouble being serious about anything, even his work. While everyone around him is falling into panic, he is keeping his head and working things out. (Though that IS what he was trained for.) And, in the face of death he likes to make some kind of joke. Mrs. Peel is much the same way. And they enjoy saving each others lives because then they can kind of rub it in. I think they secretly kept score. 

 Now, for some of my favourite lines. Because I'm like that. 
 Mrs. Peel: "Where's the body?"Steed: "There is no body." Mrs. Peel: *Sounding disappointed. "No body? There's always a body."
 Mrs. Peel: "Where is Steed?" One of Steed's friends: "Back there. I knocked him out." Mrs. Peel: "Naughty. He's going to be very cross about that."
 After Steed magnetizes himself and Mrs. Peel to his car and she is trying to pull free: "Don't fight it, Mrs. Peel. We're inseparable." 
 Steed saves Mrs. Peel from a loony director who was trying to saw her in half.  Mrs. Peel: after saying she was all right: "Do you know what my favourite part was?" Steed: "No." Mrs. Peel: "When she hit him on the head with a chair." *Grabs what she thinks is a prop chair and whacks Steed on the head with it, knocking him to his knees.* Steed: "What happened?" Mrs. Peel, looking ashamed: "It was a real chair." Steed: "Oh, Mrs. Peel!"
 This quote is used all through the show. Sometimes Steed would say it, but if he was board he would think up new, elaborate ways to get it to Mrs. Peel. One time he hid it under the wall paper she was tearing down in her apartment. "Mrs. Peel, we're needed."
 Steed after killing an alien plant: "I'm a herbicidal maniac. Didn't you know?"
 Steed after blowing up Mrs. Peel's toaster and shooting toast through the roof: "That's the first thing Great Britian has ever got into orbit!"
 Steed helping Mrs. Peel who is injured: "Lean on me, Mistress Peel, as much as you like."
 After saving some one very high in the government, Mrs. Peel and Steed are waiting in her apartment for he and his aids to arrive so they can be knighted. Looking out the window, they start to realize they will have to be interviewed, will be watched by everyone, and will be the talk of England for a long time.  Mrs. Peel: "And he will probably give a speech."  Steed: "For about an hour..." *Silence, then* Mrs. Peel: "Shall we say we were out?" Steed: "They will be in the hall, let's take the window."

"I'm stuck!" "Call your mechanic." "I can't call him and tell him I magnetized myself to my car!"

 So, before I do a book review I will share another story from my weekend. I was talking to a little boy at the conference. He was asking about my last name and I told him it was a German name (My real one, not Baillot.) "Oh," he said, "what is German?" "Germans are from a country called Germany. So I am from Germany, like you are from China," I told him. "And your name is German?" "Yes." "Oh. I'm from Kentucky. That's why my name is Chinese."

 Now for my book review. Today I am doing The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer. It has the coolest covers so I am posting all three. 


 I LOVE this one!!!!

  This is the first in a six part series starring Sherlock Holmes' much younger sister Enola, which is backwards for alone. The story begins on Enola's fourteenth birthday, the day her mother disappears. To fix the problem of her now living alone, Enola's brothers show up and Mycroft decides she needs to be sent to a boarding school to learn how to be a lady. However, the last thing Enola wishes to do is endure the pain of corsets, so she runs away, making her way to London where she solves a mystery and wonders if her true calling in life is to be a detective like her brother. However, being the sister of Sherlock Holmes isn't easy, and she will have to watch her step carefully if she wants to avoid being found by him. 
 I didn't think I would like this book. I don't like it when someone will create a character who wasn't in the Classics - shocking considering the series I am planning on writing. However, this book was wonderfully written. Sherlock never acts out of character, and I don't think Doyle would mind him having a sister - not that Doyle cared anything about Sherlock except for the money he brought him. 
 It is very believable, the way Mrs. Springer wrote this book. I now am a firm believer that Sherlock did have a sister. Though Mrs. Springer doesn't have the same style as Doyle, she does know the stories wonderfully well and took nothing away in creating Enola. If anything, she just added to the stories, and gave us what the world needed. Another Holmes. 
 I would readily recommend this book to anyone who likes Sherlock Holmes - and the rest of the series only gets better. The first book might seem a bit dull at first, but it is well worth sticking it out. 

 This quote is from The Avengers, not the superheroes but the British ones. It is an old TV show about two spies, Steed and Mrs. Peel (aired from 64-66) I might actually do a character post about these two.  Anyhow, in this show, Mrs. Peel was captured and tied to a metal table with electrical wires hooked up to her so that the moment Steed saved her they would both be killed. However, being Steed, and she being Mrs. Peel, they got out of it alive. Afterward, however, Steed decided to try all the equipment out to see what he could do with it. And he managed to magnify himself to his car, which amused Mrs. Peel until she tried to pull him free and was magnetized beside him. 

"How do you hide an island?" "Have you ever heard of the Thousand Islands?" "Yes." "Count them next time." "You mean-" "A Thousand and One!"

  This song has inspired a lot of the scenes in The Shepherd Knight. Ever since I found one version with scenes from The Lord of the Rings. Sadly, I wasn't able to find that version for this post. Youtube wasn't being very nice. Still, it is a cool song and has lots of pictures of Josh Groban, so, I guess that works instead. 
 So, over the weekend I have been helping at a Chinese Conference. I've been doing a program for the children with some of my friends. I've made two friends, the cutest little girl on the planet and a little boy who thinks I'm the funniest thing that ever lived. He giggles at everything I say (Oh, and she has a giggle that sounds like Daffy Duck, only ten times cuter.) 
 Anyhow, I have a group of children I help with crafts and Bible verses. And they decided to, all at once, ask me if I spoke Chinese. I told them no, I didn't even know one word in Chinese. So, they took it upon themselves to teach me, by all speaking Chinese, really fast, at the same time. After that one minute lesson I should be fluent in the language!
 Needless to say, it is really tiring - we have seven leaders to seventy or so kids - but it is also a lot of fun. And the kids are the cutest things you've ever seen and rather well behaved considering they have us so drastically outnumbered. 
 Quote is taken from Get Smart, the one where he and 99 are on their honeymoon. My brothers and I love this quote and when I found salad dressing that said TWO Thousand Island I almost lost it and cracked up laughing. Anyhow, in this part of the show, Sigfried is bragging about his island, on which he is hiding his magnet. Max is assured someone will find it, but Sigfried has no such fear. After all, how many of us really do count the Thousand Islands?
 And now, that is all. 
 ALLONS-Y!

"The last guy was up here for 12 years." "And then they let him go?" "No, he blew off in a wind storm. He was never seen or heard from again."

 Good verses Evil.

 I sometimes post about this. It is something I often think about. That question that will always play on my mind. What makes some books Classics we still read and love and others fade out a year after they've been printed?
 I once said it was the characters, and that is part of it. We just love the characters. Ones that are like us. Ordinary people doing extraordinary things. But there is more to it then this. I think. 
 In the world we live in now, evil is being seen as good. I went to see The Grey with my family, something I'm still displeased about. We all agree we should have walked out on that movie and are ashamed we did not. But, in this movie, every other word was a swear word. The characters over and over repeated how God did nothing for them. And in the end they all die. And many people liked this movie, the hero was seen as good because he cursed God. So, yes, in our world, good is becoming bad and bad good. 
 But, I don't think it is quite there yet. Think about the Classics, things people still love. The Hobbit. Narnia. The Lord of the Rings. Which movie just out sold every movie before it? The Avengers. 
 The Hunger Games just came out as well. Everyone was talking about this and I've not read the book, but I know what the stories are about. Everyone likes the first book, few like the last. Why? Good doesn't necessarily win. 
 Now, I'm not saying in our world good always wins. It will in the end, but right now, sometimes evil wins. Sometimes people are killed. Terrible things happen. People die in sorrow. Some never get happy endings. And everyone knows it. So, with this knowledge, why is it that everyone is looking forward to The Hobbit? Why did The Avengers out sell The Hunger Games? Isn't The Hunger Games more real life? Sorrow and grief and loosing things you love? Why will Twilight fade over time but The Lord of the Rings be passed down and down probably until the world ends?
 Good vs. Evil. Humans want to believe good will win in the end. Good won in the end of The Avengers. You knew who were the good guys and who were bad - though the good guys aren't as good as in the old comics. Gray characters are fun, but in the end, we like the gray characters to turn good. We want endings to be happy, or at least to have the heroes win. The Lord of the Rings had a sad ending, but there was still a feeling of victory for us. Good had won. The enemy was defeated. 
 And I think this is what makes books last. Because deep down, every person wants a happy ending. And they all want a hero who is worthy of the title.

 Anyhow, before I go I will leave you with this which I got from the post LUCKY SEVEN. I guess it is like a tag, but it looked fun so I stole it. Therefore, I think all of you should steal it from me and do it, oh and leave a comment on my blog so I can go and read yours. Because that would be cool.

 Now, here are the rules.

 1. Go to page 7 or 77 of your current manuscript.

 2. Go to line 7

 3. Post on your blog the next 7 lines or sentences  as they are.

 4. Tag 7 people to do the same.

 I won't be tagging because, as I said, I stole it and if I have become a thief all of you should be forced to join me.

 I'm taking my seven lines from Haphazardly Implausible. I'm doing page 77 since page 7 is in the chapter I've already revealed and I'm not that evil.

 And here it all is!

 Quietly fitting it into the lock, he gripped a piece of wood in his other hand. He had found it under the trunk. It looked like one of the legs, which is why he had missed it the first time he had gone over the room. Working quickly, he shoved the key in the lock and shoved open the door, ramming the piece of wood in the guard's back before he had a chance to react. 


 "Not a sound!" he hissed in his ear. "Or you will regret it!" He was going to say, "Or you'll be dead," but he didn't feel right about lying and doubted he could kill anyone with a piece of wood. Not that he was wanting to try. 


 The guard chuckled softly but Peter didn't let it get to him. He had doubted this would work. Tony had told him once that if a person was able to find something the right shape of a pistol barrel then it would be easy to convince someone they had a pistol at their back. He hadn't believed it and now he prepared himself to be locked back up in his room. 


 "You won't kill me," the guard said and Peter did his best to keep his jaw from dropping. He had a piece of wood in Darcy's back!


 "Oh, and why won't I?" he demanded, trying to hide his surprise - and concern. 


 "Because the moment you pull the trigger the whole crew will be down on you."


 Peter had prepared for this, for once thinking ahead. "So? I'm too valuable to kill. They will just get a new guard and lock me up again. But you, it won't go as well for you."


 So, there you have it. And now that this post is extra long I will close.

 I took the quote today from The Lord of the Beans. Which is a fun movie to watch if you need a good laugh. And if you love sporks, like me.

 Allons-y!

"Iron Man's a dude. He has a hole in his heart."

 So, today's character is Maddock who won two to one. Now, to make things easier...on me, I will not be posting about him here but on the book's special page. So...here he is! MADDOCK! 
 Today is a shot post because I'm working two jobs today and have letters to answer, an email to write, blogs to read, a picture to draw, and a book to edit. Hopefully I will find time to write. Oh yes, and I MUST clean Indiana's cage...
 Okay, that said, enjoy Maddock! 
 I took the quote for today from an interview. Before The Avengers came out they did a lot of interviews, some with most of them together, but usually it was just two. This interview was with the actors who played Hawkeye and Natasha. Scarlett Johansson and Jeremy Renner. The interviewer was asking them how it felt being the only two characters without super powers and she was talking about how all the characters had struggles we could all relate to, then Mr. Renner, very randomly said the line above. (Actually both actors were very random through the whole thing. I never would have thought Mr. Renner would be the funny short, but ever interview he was made me laugh.) Anyhow, maybe I will post some of them sometime so you all can see. And now...
 Allons-y!

"It was just a short cut." "To what?" "Mushrooms!"

  Okay, I need to apologize to everyone who voted. I really thought I could write two different styles of books at once. So, before I go further let me explain. 
 When I write a book I read books like the one I'm writing, watch movies like it. I listened to more Steampunk like music until I was dreaming about airships and battles fought with guns. Now that I am starting The Broken Blade that has to change. Now I am reading about knights, swords, rangers, archers. I'm pulling out The Lord of the Rings and Narnia to watch and read. I'm listening to Josh Groban's Awake - which always inspires me while writing about swords. And all this is fun, but it isn't getting me anywhere with my pirate book. 
 To write that one I need to set sail on the sea. I plan to visit Treasure Island, watch the first three Pirate movies, but I can't do both at once, as I thought I could. My head is too full of swords, rangers, castles, dragons. And while I do love the pirate book and the ideas I have for it, if I work on it now it or The Broken Blade will flop. And I don't wish to do that to either book. Therefore, since swords and castles have been most on my mind, it is the pirates who must suffer, sadly. So, again, I'm very sorry to everyone who voted - and I thank you for your votes - but it must be delayed or ruined. 
 Now, as I've said before, The Broken Blade is going to be slowly written, one day a week or so. Therefore, to make up for hiding the pirate book, and to give me something more to work on, I am going to reveal another series. This book has been rewritten about ten times, no joking, and has been getting worked on for about five years. It started as a game I would play with my neighbor, then was written on a blog where my sister read it and insisted I make it into a book. This will  be, I say this so often I can only hope, the last and final rewrite. It is the first in a series of three. 
 All of that said, I will now give you a chance to revote on which character you would like revealed tomorrow - and again apologize for those who voted for the pirate book and for putting up two posts in one day. I shall skip a day this week to make up for it. 
 I am still working on setting things up, but here is the site for the new book. HEMLOCK. Click there and you can find out a little about the book, and learn of its title. Now, to list the new characters you can vote for. 
 I will still keep up Striker and Ryder-Adair. But I am now adding two from the new book. And I will add another girl since Kitty is off the list. 
 Maddock
 Adalee. 
 So, vote away, and you have my word I won't be changing books again. 
 I won't tell you what this quote is from because you should know. And if you don't, go and watch The Lord of the Rings, NOW!

 Allons-y!