My Stats as a Writer

I thought if I was going to be posting so much writing, I had better come up with some numbers…er…stats, in case anyone wanted them:

Name: Heather (last name only if you’ve known me a year. Sorry.)
Age: 28
Fanfics Written: 54 (and many more to come, I should think. Go Twilight muses!)
Original Stories: Several.

I am currently working on my own novel. I tend to write in cycles. What that means is that I will go through a period where I won’t work on anything original, because I’ve gotten involved in a particular fandom. My current cycle is Fanfiction. The fandom? If you can’t guess by the username, it’s Twilight! I am not ashamed to admit it, and if you want to throw things at me? Go ahead. I am also (as of January 2009) beginning to work on more original stories by entering contests, and challenging myself every day.

I have generally been writing in one form or another since I was old enough to spell. Writing is my ultimate escape. There is nothing so refreshing after a bad day, or on days when I just need to get away than to escape into a good fic chapter. Of course, this can have opposite effects, when you have to get into a character’s darker side. Just ask my friends about a recent nightmare I had.

I find that I tend to write like what I read. I am constantly reading, looking for ways to improve my writing style. My current adoration falls on Stephenie Meyer. But in the past, I have also looked up to C.S. Lewis, Julian May, Marion Zimmer Bradley and Mercedes Lackey. Meyer, with her Twilight Saga, taught me that it’s okay to be more descriptive. You can say SO much without having the characters say anything at all. Description is key in drawing your readers in. I will take that with me to my grave, even if my novel never gets published.

Haven’t decided what I will publish in here first. I will let you know when I have decided. Please, enjoy your time here! Oh, and if you ARE A Twilight fan? I do take fic requests within reason.

My Products

Hey everyone, this is just a post to let everyone know that I have been updating my Zazzle Gallery with new Twilight Fan products. I am forever making new things. ^^ I hope you guys will come and check things out, and recommend me to your friends!!

Twilight Town

I also have an Etsy account now, where I am selling Hand-Made Jewelry Inspired by Twilight Saga. Feel free to check it out!!

Hand Made Twi-Crafts

make custom gifts at Zazzle

FInally decided to post this gallery flash. It has all the products I have created on Zazzle including two new City of Bones/Mortal Instruments T-shirts! Enjoy!

Book Review: Winds of Fate by Mercedes Lackey

Being a fan of the original Heralds of Valdemar Trilogy, and the subsequent book, Take a Thief, I had high hopes for the series. It takes place years after the Queen’s Own series. That means that all of the characters I fell in love with while they were training were now older. Elspeth “the Brat” and Skif are the main two heralds.

Thee two are journeying to find two Adepts (Highly powerful mages) to help fight a war back in the Vale. This quest then turns into one to help Elspeth learn to harness her own mage gifts. She is a Hareld-Mage, it turns out.

There are a lot of interesting developments in this first of three books. For one…someone gets a mate. I don’t want to say who. Let’s just say, if you know me, and remember my talk of this character from my last round of Lackey reading, you will understand when I say, “I’m so sad!!” but not really. Happy for them too!

The book is well written. I think there are some points where this is a little bit too much description. But that could just be my opinion. Hmm. But as always, Lackey does not disappoint.

Edit: By the way, this is my last book of 2009. My goal was to read 25. I read 19. Better luck next year!

Short Story Review: Bottle Caps and Cigarette Butts by Bernard Mojzes

Just when I thought Bernie couldn’t surprise me anymore, he does. This was a nice change of pace for me. The gargoyles twist came out of nowhere. Because of the type of book this is, I knew that there was going to be magic involved. However, had I been reading this somewhere else, I wouldn’t have guessed. The way he weaved both the mundane world, and the fantastical events was great.

On a side note, I pre-ordered a full length book of his, and I am very much looking forward to reading it!

Short Story Review: “Pixie Dust” Steven Earl Yoder

FINALLY got around to reading more in Bad-Ass Faeries 2: Just Plain Bad, and I have to say, I am feeling relieved to get back to it. I have now set a goal to read one story a day until I finish it. Anyway!

So “Pixie Dust”. First I gotta say it. I’ve said it in every review. This book is just full of surprises. You’d think now I would have learned to expect the unexpected in here, but nope. I haven’t.

What a ride and sudden jolt! Yoder, like all the other authors in this anthology threw me for al oop. As wrong as this may sound, I found this concept of pinned pixies kind of creative. Sort of reminded of this story Mom told me about having to do a .bug collection, and pinning them into wax or something.

I was right in my last review. I just wish I hadn’t waited so long to prove it!!

~Heather

Next Up: Bottle Caps and Cigarette Butts by Bernie Mojzes

Book Review: Cirque du Freak:Tunnels of Blood

This is the third book in the Cirque du Freak series by Darren Shan. I thought things couldn’t get anymore exciting. Boy, I was wrong. In this adventure, Darren leaves the Cirque with Mr. Crepsley and Evra Von, his best friend. It’s a sudden move, but Darren thinks nothing of it. Until humans wind up dead.The only possible suspect is his very own teacher, Mr. Crepsley!

While there are a few grammatical errors that are not the author’s fault, this book joins the previous two as one of my favorite fast reads.

Three books into the series, and I will tell you right now that TWELVE books is not going to be enough for me. I love these characters. Darren Shan, Evra Von (he’s my favorite), and even Crepsley has grown on me now. I can’ wait to read rest of them. They are sure to be just as great, if not better.

Book Review: Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant

Okay, so this is the second book in the Cirque Du Freak series, and the second part of the Vampire triology of the Saga. Just like with the first book, I was sucked in on page one. The only reason I didn’t read it in two days is because I got preoccupied, but again, I digress.

The bulk of the story centers on Darren’s inability to accept the fact that he must drink human blood in order to remain strong. This is perhaps a very tragic story in that sense, as he realizes that he can never go back to the life he once had. Darren’s struggle to adjust is full of good things too, like meeting the snake-boy, Evra Von, and finding a new admirer, Sam Grest.

Like the first book, the characters and emotions are concise, and pure. I still didn’t like Mr. Crepsley, but I did feel sorry for him too. That’s what makes for great character creation, and knowing your characters well enough to make it so that your readers know. It’s something I respect in all fiction writers.

I look forward to continuing on Darren’s journey with him!

Book Review: Cirque Du Freak:A Living Nightmare (Darren Shan Saga Book 1)

Okay! So, like always when there’s a movie coming out of a book series, I got myself worked up over the Vampire’s Assistant. So as mentioned, I had gotten the first four volumes on Saturday. So good so far. The first book, I read all in one day. It has been So many years since I’ve done that, I forgot what it was like to just sit down and read all in one day. I mean, I used to read a book a day back before I had a PC.

Back to the actual review. Obviously this book is for Young Adults, I am thinking it’s more along the lines of pre-young adult, because it was a very easy read. I’ve read plenty of Young adult recently, and this felt a little too easy for that genre. But maybe it’s just his writing style. I’m not sure, but either way, I really enjoyed a break from romantic plots, and a lot of darkness. Though, in irony? This book was really dark, and chilling.

One thing that ALWAYS impresses me is the point of view of First person. When I find an author using it in the first pages, I get worried, because I know it can very easily go wrong. Not so with Shan’s work. He pulled it off without much of a flaw. The characterizations weren’t too terribly remarkable from anything I’ve read recently, but just the same, I really enjoyed Darren Shan (the character) and Steve, his best friend. I am looking forward to seeing more from the two interacting later in the series.

So to sum this up, Cirque du Freak looks like it’s going to be an enjoyable, easy read, and I can’t wait to continue the saga!!

New Haiku

(Originally written on 9-13-2009)

Clouds darkening
Like my mood
Simplistic symbolism

TV Review: Glee Series Premiere

Okay, so Glee is about to be on for the third week in a row. I am behind by two weeks, so I will apologize for that right now. I didn’t think about writing a review until a couple of days ago. So what I am going to do with this for now is start reviewing it as of this episode.

This entry is to talk about my overall feeling of the show. It reminds me a lot of the trend in TV right now based on High School/adolescent life. It is obvious geared towards that market.

It appeals to the High School Musical lover in me, and the musical lover in all of us. The two leads are undeniably sizzling on screen, though I could have done without the male being gorgeous. I am more interested in the bitchy cheerleading coach than anything else.

The underlying storyline between Will and his wife Terri is hot, and might appeal to the older crowd. Since we’re only 4 episodes in as of tonight’s airing at 9pm, it’s hard to judge just how successful this show is. The latest is that this show was picked up for a Full Season by Fox. For that to happen, the ratings had to be pretty high. Fox is picky as it is.

Book Review: Rising Sign by Jared R. Lopatin

Okay! This book was really good, and well written. I wasn’t really expecting anything less. Jared’s blogs and Notes on Facebook demonstrated what a good writer he was. I also wasn’t expecting the amazing journey I was able to get swept up in!

That’s what Rising Sign is about. It’s about one young man’s journey to accepting his ultimate true Destiny. This is the first in a trilogy of books, and if the ending of this particular volume is any indication, the ride is JUST beginning.

What appealed to me in this book is what probably will appeal to anyone else who might read it. The Signs themselves. Tim might be the “charmer”, but I was quite taken by all of them, and I must say, I saw a little of myself in all of them. What was really entertaining for me, the story and World surrounding it was, was seeing how closely the author came to personifying The Signs. I swear, he came really close to personifying every Sign. I am really amused at my own Sign’s ability, but if I got into it, it’d be a spoiler. Sorry, guys.

I am eagerly hoping that Jared is working on the volume, because I definitely want more. My only regret is letting it sit around so long that I sort of forgot who was which sign for a while. I had to look it up! LOL. My favorite characters, in no particular order are Tim, Xander and Emily. I can really side with Emily, and I like Xander’s personality So much. Tim could be every body’s best friend, and it is right that he’s Libra, because my best best friend is also Libra, and his personally is DEFINITELY charming.

I suggest this book to anyone who’s looking for something different to read, or has ANY interest in astrology.

For more information on this book, or to order your own copy, go to www.starchildtrilogy.com

Music Review: Muse:The Resistance

I’ve been very excited for months to get my hands on some new Muse material. I love this band with all my heart for making the Baseball scene in Twilight so memorable for me. That’s what I love most.

My first Muse encounter was a AMV with Jack and Chase, I think. Lexi can verify. Then I heard Supermassive Black Hole on the Twilight Soundtrack. I love the song to begin with, but when I heard where it was placed in the movie later that month, I Flipped. It was freakin’ perfect. From then on, I was completely hooked.

So. This new CD is a little different from their regular material. It has more of a pop sound to it than most of their rock. There’s even a bit of classical music involved.

My favorite song on the CD thus far is “Uprising”, the first track, and in close second is “I Belong To You”,which is also to be featured on the New Moon soundtrack.

The only complaint I may have is that the CD plays really fast, so it feels like no time has even gone by, which you know is untrue. If you’re new to Muse, this may not be a good starter CD for you,unless you like classical music.