weather and trees

This is mostly how I felt today since the weather was an amazing 68 degrees outside! But I did get to walk to and from class, broke out the flip-flops that I was beginning to believe would never come out of my closet again, and had a little drive with all the windows down and the music up! Even though there wasn't anything good on the radio :/ Why does that always seem to happen when you have a chance to take a nice leisurely drive?

Anyway, I haven't much to say on the subject of writing this week aside from the fact that I now really want to have all mysterious and difficult conversations while sitting in a tree. I think that would just change the whole tone of the conversation, don't you? I mean, you'd be more focused on not falling out of the tree and dying than on whatever may have made you upset or mad in the first place! Or maybe that's just me, because I am not the best tree climber and I am mildly afraid of precarious heights. Fortunately, my characters are not, so I can enjoy the effects from my couch.

Also, dialogue is hard. I feel like I'm behind. You know how kids these days are learning three other languages besides their first language almost from utero? I wish there had been some kind of Learning to Write Dialogue program that my mom could have started me on from infancy. Maybe then I'd have a better idea of how to go about it now. haha

hey guys, hey

Sorry for missing last week! I had effectively backlogged myself with homework projects and test prep so I'm taking a nice breath of fresh air right now before taking another plunge. I'm excited for the end of the semester but getting there can be kind of painful sometimes.

Let me tell you a story about a girl and a wonderful book. As [I hope] many of you know, Lois Lowry released the last book in the Giver collection last fall. Our library initiated the purchasing and cataloging process in September and I promptly put a hold on the book, determined to be the first one to read it. And I was. When I got it. Two days ago. Yeah, someone might want to check in on the cataloging department, just sayin'. Anyway, I finished Son earlier today to great praise and happiness. For those of you who may not be familiar with the series, first of all, GO READ THEM NOW. That is not an option. That is a requirement. There are four books: The Giver, Gathering Blue, Messenger [which I myself didn't know about until last year], and now Son. Each of these is amazing in their own way and the first two could probably stand pretty well on their own [The Giver definitely does since that's the only one a lot of people know about]. The story is dystopian in the best way and I love the first two. I felt a little "meh" about Messenger but it ends pretty differently than the others so I was a little apprehensive about Son when I first got it but I was hooked from the first page. Son ties the previous three together skillfully with the added interest of the main character not having any special ability or "gift" as is the case in the first three. I don't want to give any spoilers but I will say that you get a new glimpse into the community in The Giver and a lot of new information about aspects not explained in that book. There is action, drama, peril, and a satisfying ending that lacked only one thing, in my opinion. Once you've read them come back to me and we can talk about it :P

That was a really lousy book review, but I promise that it's amazing. It reads really easily though your preconceptions about the world may be challenged at times, always for the better. So please, go grab a copy today, add it to your reading list, whatever you need to do to make sure you don't miss out on this wonderful series and its fantastic conclusion!

In other news: guys, guys, guys, guys. IemailedBrandonSandersontoday. Seriously, like, for real. I've been wanting some more experienced advise on fantasy for my WIP and I figured, hey, why not try a fantasy author? His site has a contact option and while I know he's probably really busy and there's a possibility he may not get back to me at all I'm still super excited. I kind of can't believe I did that, and I'm going to be worrying over my email for a while, feeling like it came across as juvenile and a waste of his time but time will tell. So cross your fingers for me! I think I'll be happy even if he doesn't answer my question and I just get a cursory "thanks for the email" kind of thing, haha.