Kate Willis's Blog, page 112
October 26, 2016
Free Writing Book!
As my siblings gear up for NaNoWriMo, many questions, story ideas, last minute plot changes, and versions of synopses fly around the house.
I help when I can with such wise words as “that was really cliche”, “what if you introduced them this way”, “I like the idea of Christmas”, and so on.
One of the things mentioned has gotten me especially excited, NaNoWriMo or not.
Two words: free book. Make that: free how-to book.
I’m a huge fan of K.M. Weiland’s book Structuring Your Novel. Comprehensive...
October 25, 2016
Book Review: Storming
“In the high-flying, heady world of 1920s aviation, brash pilot Robert “Hitch” Hitchcock’s life does a barrel roll when a young woman in an old-fashioned ball gown falls from the clouds smack in front of his biplane. As fearless as she is peculiar, Jael immediately proves she’s game for just about anything, including wing-walking in his struggling airshow. In return for her help, she demands a ride back home . . . to the sky.
Hitch thinks she’s nuts—until he steers his plane into the midst of...
October 24, 2016
Holly Ciampi Interview
Join me in welcoming my friend and fellow blogger Holly Ciampi to Once Upon an Ordinary! *applause*
Hello all! Glad to be here!
Holly, tell us a bit about yourself.
First and foremost, I am believer in the One True living God! I am an eighteen year old daughter, of two amazing parents and sister to six siblings. My family and I live in the warm and sunny state of Arizona (that state where you can actually bake cookies in your car and burn like a piece of toast!) Like Kate already mentioned,...
October 20, 2016
Book or Movie?
I watched the movie adaptation of The Book Thief earlier this year and fell in love with it. (Because it’s about words!);D
Then I got to immerse myself in a filtered copy of the book these past two months, and I fell even harder in love with it. *big grin*
If you asked me which one I would recommend, I might stare at you with my mouth hanging open and gibber. My brain would steam. And then I would whimper and say, “Both?”
Reasons why the book is better:
Longer all around. More happiness, m...October 19, 2016
Two Sisters and White-Out
I was reading The Book Thief aloud to my younger sister (the one who bravely wore the crazy nerd glasses with me in this post).
Mom had so kindly attacked it with white-out for me since I don’t want to expand my mental vocabulary in the profanity department.;)
I spotted a word she had accidentally missed and decided to mark it out myself while I was there.
I spilled white-out.
And got a bit on my hands. I was in a mischievous mood, so I wiped a little on my sister’s hand too so we could match...
October 18, 2016
Book Review: The Book Thief!!!
“It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . .
Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father,...
October 17, 2016
Happy Endings
I love sunshine, ice cream, laughter, and music. I love a story that makes me all warm inside and quote-happy for weeks, but I also love the stories that make me cry. There is spring, and there is autumn. There is blue sky, and there is rain.
Some books like Gossamerteach me compassion for others by showing me how hard their lives are.
Others like The Book Thief (which I will be reviewing here tomorrow) and The Doll With the Yellow Star show meanother world that makes me grateful for my own....
October 14, 2016
Latest Discoveries
I’ve run across several good articles this week, so I’m declaring this to be National Reblogging Day.;)
Over at Noveltea (cutest blog name in the world!), my friend Lydia Howe is sharing how to find a good writing community. I love all of her suggestions, and the only thing I would add is the forums over on Rabbit Room.
October 13, 2016
Brown Paper Packages
Remember the grand prize we had for the Five Fall Favorite blog party? The bright idea jar was my contribution, and it sat on my desk for a few weekspatiently waiting to be won.
Gorgeous, isn’t it?
This week I got to ship it to its lucky new owner. I knew right away that I wanted to package it adorably, but being very un-creative in that area I turned to Pinterest for help.
Every single last tutorial either didn’t have step-by-step pictures (a must), or was just an advertisement for a fancy...
October 12, 2016
Short Story: Enjoy the Poodle Skirt (Part Two)
Here’s the conclusion to the mystery! (If you haven’t read the first part, you can find it here.)
I was delighted to serve at the ice cream counter again on the fourth day of our visit. Simple math would have told me that three siblings, three jobs, and six days at the restaurant meant we would all have two turns at each job. I didn’t think of it, of course, since my mind was too busy staying on the lookout for old men who looked like they could draw maps.
No luck that day either. (Unless you...
