Toi Thomas's Blog, page 106

Sample Sunday 04

Sample Sunday is a weekly posting from my pre-published work in progress Eternal Curse: Giovanni’s Angel. Each week I will post approximately 100 – 150 words from this installment of the series. Please visit the ToiBox to read samples of my other works.Eternal Curse: Giovanni’s Angel chapter 2
Mira and Giovanni had become very close and had become so accustomed to chatting regularly, that at times they would go on and on about nothing in particular. Giovanni always liked when Mira would describe things to him that he hadn’t or couldn’t experience for himself. He savored the imagined notions of bathing under the sun on a crowded beach like a common tourist or going for a Sunday stroll in the park on a hot summer day, once Mira had so poetically described it for him. To Giovanni, it seemed Mira had lived through so much in her life. He was certain he’d be able to learn something truly special from her.Word Count: 113
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ToiBox Update Week 7/20/2013

In case you’re interested, here are some highlights from my other blog, the ToiBox. This is where I talk more in depth about my whole writing experience and other works.



It's Like the Full Moon: chapter1.2         





Character Files: Eternal Curse: Giovanni's Angel, Giovanni's Bio







WIP Update 05




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My Geekdom 01

Pins from Pinterest that inspire me and indulge my geekness.http://pinterest.com/toinette_thomas/my-geekdom/
  Please do not copy this image.
Visit the Pinterest link above to
share, share, share :)Something about the eternal sweetness and naiveté of the characters, setting, and stories of the Hundred Acre Woods always makes me smile. Why can’t life be this simple? Why can’t everyone have a friend like Pooh?
I can’t say that all my writing is a reflection of me, but a lot of it is. Sometimes, without even knowing it, I write about things as I wish they were. In the Eternal Curse Series, and even unrelated works of mine, there is always of message of friendship and family.

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Top 5: 01

This is a list of my top five something. Most of the time my lists are pretty static, but sometimes I do change my mind. While I do try to apply some logic to my choices, sometimes I pick things that make no sense and for no good reason other than “I like it.” 

Rorschach
Super & or Comic Book Heroes in General1. Batman2. Hulk3. Obi-Wan Kenobi4. Wonder Woman5. Rorschach-Bias Honorable Mention-Bletsian from the Eternal Curse Series
Obviously this list isn’t based on the most powerful out of the bunch. I like each of these super or comic book heroes for different reasons.
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Sample Sunday 03

Sample Sunday is a weekly posting from my pre-published work in progress Eternal Curse: Giovanni’s Angel. Each week I will post approximately 100 – 150 words from this installment of the series. Please visit the ToiBox to read samples of my other works.Eternal Curse: Giovanni’s Angel chapter 2
Mira wasn’t the only person to respond to the question, but her response was unlike any other. Her response wasn’t over thought, super profound, or cluttered with large intellectual words. She simply wrote, “I believe that evil can come into the presence of righteousness, but it cannot dwell there for long. I believe that people are both good and bad at different times in their lives and under many different circumstances. I do not believe that people are truly evil, only guided by it; and in the end it is their choice.” Mira felt compassion for the person who’d asked the question. She thought that he or she must have really been going through a serious personal crisis to ask such a question to anyone willing to respond.Word Count: 128

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ToiBox Update Week: 7/13/13

In case you’re interested, here are some highlights from my other blog, the ToiBox. This is where I talk more in depth about my whole writing experience and other works.



Eternal Curse: Battleground chapter 1         





June 





Eternal Cuse: Giovanni's Angel: Bletsian's Bio








     Other: Writing and Experience

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About: 'Brave New Souls: Black Sci-Fi & Fantasy Writers of the 21st Century'

I don't reblog much, but I saw a discussion about this on LinkedIn and had to check it out. I understand this may not be for everyone, and that’s ok, but for those interested, please check it out.
“Brandon (a professional writer, screenwriter, and educator based in LA., with over fifteen years of experience) also wants to provide a window into the creative processes of these black artists, and expose both aspiring writers and potential fans to incredibly imaginative, witty and sophisticated storytelling that challenge our perceptions of what is possible.” ~TAMBAY A. OBENSON
Reblogged from Indiewire.com : Shadow and Act
See the full article and stimulating sneak peak at the link below.http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/sneak-peek-brave-new-souls-black-sci-fi-fantasy-writers-of-the-21st-century

WWW Wednesday 7/10/2013

WWW WEDNESDAYS… is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading , where you share:(1)What you’re currently reading, (2)What you recently finished reading, and (3)What you think you’ll read next.
As I am only contributing to this meme on a monthly basis, while comments and shares are welcomed here, be sure to visit Should Be Readingeach week to see who’s reading what.
1. What am I currently reading?
*******************CURRENTLY READING***************************************** Firefight in Darkness
 (Dryad Quartet #2)
 by Katie Jennings  The Mongoliad: Book One(Foreworld #1)
by Neal Stephenson,and more... Ghost in the Wires: My Adventures as the World's
 Most Wanted Hacker
by Kevin D. Mitnick, William L. Simon, Steve Wozniak

2. What did I recently finish reading?

*******************FINISHED READING*****************************************
Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1)
 by Marissa Meyer The Oath by Frank Peretti

3. What do I think I’ll read next?
*******************READING NEXT******************************************** Mercury Falls
 (Mercury Series #1)
by Robert Kroese Sacrifice (Gryphon #3)
by Stacey Rourke
What is your WWW Wednesday?

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Review 15: The Wicked Years

The Wicked Years Series by Gregory McGuire
I give this series a 4!
Always a fan of all things Oz, this series was perfect for me. This is the classic children’s story, rewritten and re-imagined for adults. This is the story of what probably really happened in OZ. This story has been around long enough for most people to know something about it, especially with the popularity of the musical Wicked, but unless you’ve read all the books, you don’t know the whole story. I read book one a long time ago and have read the other books over time, just recently finishing with Out of OZ.
In the first book, we get to see who the “Wicked Witch”, Elphaba, really is. We follow her life from birth to death, with Dorothy showing up on the scene right at the end. This is actually a story of friendship and political unrest.  Racism, discrimination, bullying, classism, sexual deviancy, social immorality, and so much more shadow Ephaba in her journey to find a place where she belongs, as she struggles to make a difference. Elphaba, with all her oddities, her green skin, and even her allergy to water is a likable person when you get to know her. As nice as she is capable of being, she does have a mean streak, and like all the other characters in this book, she follows no set moral compass. She decides for herself what is right and wrong.
In the second book, political unrest turns to war. Elphaba’s estranged son, Liir, a technically bi-racial bastard (I really dislike that word) is left to figure out his path all on his own, while trying to understand his powers. All the noticeable characters from the children’s book are here, but they are nothing like what you’d expect them to be. The first book was an eye opener, but the second book is a shocker filled with innumerous taboos that only increase as the series continues.
In the third book, the “Cowardly Lion”, Brrr returns to clean house and clarify a few things. He’s there all along with a brief appearance as a cub and then again near the end of the first book, in the second book getting to know Liir, and lastly in the third book proving time and again that he may not be a friend worth having. As in the first two books, the search for the Grimmeri is still on, but now more and more magic is coming into play.
In the fourth and final book, Rain, Liir’s daughter and Ephaba’s, would be, green granddaughter shakes up the lives of all her estranged kin, brings them together, and asserts her independence as she brings the turmoil of war and unrest in Oz to an end. Of course, it isn’t as simple as it sounds. We get to follow Rain from her early childhood to her premature young adulthood. She spends her life constantly on the move and has no sense of self right until the very end. All the major characters of this series come back for a final standoff between The Emerald City and Munchkinland, even Dorothy. I found the ultimate ending to be lacking, but in the scheme of things, it’s what I expected.
I can’t deny that I really enjoyed this series. There were some parts liked more than others and some parts I didn’t care for at all, but when combined, the whole story is worth experiencing. I am no fan of vulgarity, which is a good thing this story isn’t vulgar, but it is intense, shocking, taboo, and more. If you are easily offended, this is not the series for you. In a world of absolute chaos and fantasy, I look at the Wicked Years as a realist approach to the Land of Oz. This is just as magical as the children’s story, but darkened by the notation of reality. Fairies and princesses sound nice, but what are they in “reality”?  This is a difficult review for me to write only because I’m at a loss for words. This is such an amazing story.
This review has been posted to GoodReads. 
If you’d like to obtain a copy of this series, try these links: Amazon| Barnes & Noble.

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Author Insights 17

I've been a busy bee. Here's an interview of me to check out. Tina Frisco: Writing with Hope and Gratitude
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