tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37944211278506853002024-02-20T17:48:04.291-08:00Authoress in the Makingbooks ~ writing ~ life Lily Gaineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300851458357855176noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3794421127850685300.post-74066942124003771512015-12-01T17:24:00.004-08:002015-12-01T17:24:58.500-08:00The Blog's Moving Out!I don't know how many people still read this blog <span style="font-size: x-small;">(seeing as I never post and all)</span>, but part of the reason I've been absent is...<div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">*drumroll*</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I started a <span style="color: red;">YouTube</span> channel!</span></div>
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I'll be doing booktalks and fun tags over there from now on, so if you want to subscribe here's the link: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLh0NATAnA_h3Z3LmQywMZQ" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLh0NATAnA_h3Z3LmQywMZQ</a></div>
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Thank you, everyone who stuck with me during all my ups and downs of blogging <3 and now, a new adventure!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">-Lily (aka <span style="color: red;">Emberly</span>)</span></div>
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Lily Gaineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300851458357855176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3794421127850685300.post-30925480159666769492015-07-26T17:35:00.000-07:002015-07-27T08:41:43.629-07:00Summer Reading!Hello hello hello!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1falDMSSOSON541_xO9J8Yy5iyACvSzvvpQfp7TkEB5q1dRrMFlyan7I3Q7qglfGa9Fw8koXOfPpA_d9BB3J-kYNF9brUAfkYtS21LswapcSBLt5NdQPynKWrHTiCZ2SpYWyhvV57uk/s1600/giphy+%25281%2529.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1falDMSSOSON541_xO9J8Yy5iyACvSzvvpQfp7TkEB5q1dRrMFlyan7I3Q7qglfGa9Fw8koXOfPpA_d9BB3J-kYNF9brUAfkYtS21LswapcSBLt5NdQPynKWrHTiCZ2SpYWyhvV57uk/s320/giphy+%25281%2529.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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*Ahem* I''m not even going to apologize for not blogging, because that's all I seem to be doing lately... Apologizing for not doing things I have promised to do...<br />
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Alright, now that we've got that out of the way, let's get down to business.<br />
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I'm going to talk a little bit about my summer reading and then (hopefully) in the next post I'll discuss Camp NaNo and how I've been doing with all that jazz.<br />
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So far, I've read over 5,000 pages toward my library's summer reading program and there's only ONE WEEK LEEFFFFTTTT....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYf9RuZcQ2vX0551doOLNcrG7A-wX-9YUFP_sOe35xz9Rh15n0NmP4B0maYRXZs96Um52KblCakqWzwwPWv4oE8-25K2q3ettYdVKqrERAM8fHlN4NtJE2It17QfOmrk_0oxOqV8sRb8/s1600/tumblr_mepu4uf7ug1qa25dqo1_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYf9RuZcQ2vX0551doOLNcrG7A-wX-9YUFP_sOe35xz9Rh15n0NmP4B0maYRXZs96Um52KblCakqWzwwPWv4oE8-25K2q3ettYdVKqrERAM8fHlN4NtJE2It17QfOmrk_0oxOqV8sRb8/s320/tumblr_mepu4uf7ug1qa25dqo1_500.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What have I been reading? </span>These are some titles that I've read (or are currently reading) and am hoping to write reviews on at some point.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlr2ZR07ne0R9N0YktvUFqjQZochfi6v34qkgHhOANrwzbRdDN0G_0l2wnndgify61bQ6Pzw2BqZlNKZuHwqqBpuBn2PuSNTQ6Oa09RC84tN4uvGrobs2P9n3MM6WgP7ov5LDZP_QgRa0/s1600/The_Selection_Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlr2ZR07ne0R9N0YktvUFqjQZochfi6v34qkgHhOANrwzbRdDN0G_0l2wnndgify61bQ6Pzw2BqZlNKZuHwqqBpuBn2PuSNTQ6Oa09RC84tN4uvGrobs2P9n3MM6WgP7ov5LDZP_QgRa0/s320/The_Selection_Cover.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">currently reading</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitt5cAYWJWELMXkHl0s6P_U6H-EGSDy3v_k2z31-iyRU4VdF8lfCWJkGX9Pt35HVHMEniQfMyne7yg3ED6n03d5ucNEEpjwWkcmS1MTD9-B4T8LP5mP3n5GTIW8BSefwHkHapd-7_SH9M/s1600/9780062411846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitt5cAYWJWELMXkHl0s6P_U6H-EGSDy3v_k2z31-iyRU4VdF8lfCWJkGX9Pt35HVHMEniQfMyne7yg3ED6n03d5ucNEEpjwWkcmS1MTD9-B4T8LP5mP3n5GTIW8BSefwHkHapd-7_SH9M/s320/9780062411846.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">finished</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4s5uTCiERpfrtx7xds4k6phrSsiA3hjpPbcQBcRWx5cGnYuH3E_iTiCVrbW4NMik9iu_Q8puGPAAd0Z5WyzFwu6x77uvR6lwtqicEDfVAmf0wTPPfvLLhyb920Pd9Bkv524Nu9JsYbo/s1600/66192_original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4s5uTCiERpfrtx7xds4k6phrSsiA3hjpPbcQBcRWx5cGnYuH3E_iTiCVrbW4NMik9iu_Q8puGPAAd0Z5WyzFwu6x77uvR6lwtqicEDfVAmf0wTPPfvLLhyb920Pd9Bkv524Nu9JsYbo/s320/66192_original.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">finished</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0WSS8ZgPv_xF0H6P8QFEjZUx0k0uKHJ4HItHohBHCn1-EsIw42vTJYPust7YzYYxW7CkaatCMI5_Mj2xTpofJffa4q05ZelHGsPHXKDYas4PjWBaZi86XV9OQ7x7oFQF1iFXrKg9cTHA/s1600/12812550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0WSS8ZgPv_xF0H6P8QFEjZUx0k0uKHJ4HItHohBHCn1-EsIw42vTJYPust7YzYYxW7CkaatCMI5_Mj2xTpofJffa4q05ZelHGsPHXKDYas4PjWBaZi86XV9OQ7x7oFQF1iFXrKg9cTHA/s320/12812550.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">currently reading</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tnnBUpZQl2IfjCKm33WPuHZCMRRRfuTDoCQR2Zb_b5z9TcjqehY7Yg7wxy46wiDOg3Pdn3xsuBBqrwZCniPS4v-ha9Ib1thr-7jKA09H_CmAbAyrpII5WLPqOjenBhRNlV2NZoaguRo/s1600/51PR5E6NCDL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tnnBUpZQl2IfjCKm33WPuHZCMRRRfuTDoCQR2Zb_b5z9TcjqehY7Yg7wxy46wiDOg3Pdn3xsuBBqrwZCniPS4v-ha9Ib1thr-7jKA09H_CmAbAyrpII5WLPqOjenBhRNlV2NZoaguRo/s320/51PR5E6NCDL.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">finished</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGaFVEWR4BFhic1X_LAO61DZ7iDGLYm3UAB5I6pyoeWKXl8VHRuUXn3JupYuW9SQ_Jo8wb3SGVcWyKknCyrRmoxQXSGOnjjBDpbpCc9iNt8-9EP5z_oNCSvnviVtGoj6FyPvdVrbLgBs/s1600/splintered-series-final-covers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGaFVEWR4BFhic1X_LAO61DZ7iDGLYm3UAB5I6pyoeWKXl8VHRuUXn3JupYuW9SQ_Jo8wb3SGVcWyKknCyrRmoxQXSGOnjjBDpbpCc9iNt8-9EP5z_oNCSvnviVtGoj6FyPvdVrbLgBs/s400/splintered-series-final-covers.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">finished</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKz4rnpvfyaK-j81ngfFIPyr6oakJT0PyXJWECcEGwL2zA3rQqKP4NWPNPR4oCR8Pw6ntKgQ71VYtiZqktDZ2i7T-qhneLebTXqU_vAZoFPhwb6RyyvRrnaUnwRw4kHtRWW9PETESgeMo/s1600/tumblr_nr6rlhiA261rkciaro1_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKz4rnpvfyaK-j81ngfFIPyr6oakJT0PyXJWECcEGwL2zA3rQqKP4NWPNPR4oCR8Pw6ntKgQ71VYtiZqktDZ2i7T-qhneLebTXqU_vAZoFPhwb6RyyvRrnaUnwRw4kHtRWW9PETESgeMo/s320/tumblr_nr6rlhiA261rkciaro1_1280.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">finished</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And what is still on my shelf?? </span>Well...<br />
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<br />
My hope is that by posting this, I'll have a reference for later on when I'm wallowing in self pity and beating myself up for not blogging about anything. This week is going to be pretty busy for me, seeing as it's the last week of Camp NaNo, I have geometry to finish, and a cake to make for a partaaayyyyy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvqMMme_GmuqIf7mxvAnDpDPz0KXUZp2Bqylfuy_jECO2MCK8bDl2-Tpb4TW3O75h1Vlsh8M87ttg40Hme57pnHAOp4WTe1g4_kUWYKhyphenhyphenICEjvgS-gJLqOT-RIJjLJCzgE8qhW0m3JfU/s1600/giphy-1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvqMMme_GmuqIf7mxvAnDpDPz0KXUZp2Bqylfuy_jECO2MCK8bDl2-Tpb4TW3O75h1Vlsh8M87ttg40Hme57pnHAOp4WTe1g4_kUWYKhyphenhyphenICEjvgS-gJLqOT-RIJjLJCzgE8qhW0m3JfU/s320/giphy-1.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
But maybe I'll blog this week.<br />
<br />
We'll see.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQsWYj-q544WRACAl8B4GdFmYBWI8dYCorH8mTJj610ofG9KSyY33yt53tbtBJlDoy8VkuNEeHbphisF8mWGFvtPvsMULpIol_1c7f-XWoo991t596m2jetObTOjGp9zMmrJr-bDpi_Y/s1600/tumblr_n6mc5ejCznQ1qf7u7jo1_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQsWYj-q544WRACAl8B4GdFmYBWI8dYCorH8mTJj610ofG9KSyY33yt53tbtBJlDoy8VkuNEeHbphisF8mWGFvtPvsMULpIol_1c7f-XWoo991t596m2jetObTOjGp9zMmrJr-bDpi_Y/s320/tumblr_n6mc5ejCznQ1qf7u7jo1_500.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Lily Gaineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300851458357855176noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3794421127850685300.post-51178596433217045112015-04-23T15:05:00.000-07:002015-04-23T15:08:04.741-07:00Shhh... I'm reading.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTRBFW5JLbBTX-Ynbu35yvqMtNihPzOq24jQWiaAgE8rW0tmiPMq29zpmSCe9RA7mrBQXFhL9HupW-N-3PFsAHwHvQGkhw8VMQKBMpEKcARpZJSCfl5FLbnCmQg_Ucze2OU-4RsMPUwe8/s1600/secret.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTRBFW5JLbBTX-Ynbu35yvqMtNihPzOq24jQWiaAgE8rW0tmiPMq29zpmSCe9RA7mrBQXFhL9HupW-N-3PFsAHwHvQGkhw8VMQKBMpEKcARpZJSCfl5FLbnCmQg_Ucze2OU-4RsMPUwe8/s1600/secret.gif" height="163" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
Or, at least I will be. Soon.<br />
<br />
We've established that I'm a terribly inconsistent blogger, right? Good. We'll skip the apologies then, because I'm sure you're all tired of that by now.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicILopOUPYaCYHEcBrOSYcvixEmxz9KUhs_8vPyB-LIb2umoeUTmp2gMvbwhmbwW3gD7yl1Mrb3Pc3Sa02FEuzIzOK128lNpXxrzAj9RJCXTNOR1LbSmTd5eYSNUkkt15rXdeR5gGnPpg/s1600/booboo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicILopOUPYaCYHEcBrOSYcvixEmxz9KUhs_8vPyB-LIb2umoeUTmp2gMvbwhmbwW3gD7yl1Mrb3Pc3Sa02FEuzIzOK128lNpXxrzAj9RJCXTNOR1LbSmTd5eYSNUkkt15rXdeR5gGnPpg/s1600/booboo.gif" height="221" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'll take that as a yes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Breaking News:<br />
<br />
My NaNoWriMo class has come to an end and now I am left on my own. I no longer have a teacher holding a grade over my head - now it's completely up to me to continue writing and editing my novel. Prayers are appreciated.<br />
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In other news, I have a shelf full of books to read (and maybe review), so if you need me, I'll be procrastinating from my math and taking a dark and twisted trip to Oz.<br />
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<br />
Oh, and Wonderland.<br />
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<br />
And several other places, but these are my most anticipated. I'm finally going to read (or try to read) <span style="color: #45818e;"><i>Daughter of Smoke and Bone</i></span> by Lani Taylor and <i><span style="color: #351c75;">Throne of Glass</span> </i>by Sarah J. Maas. We'll see how many of these I actually get to before I am forced to return them to the library.<br />
<br />
<br />
AND in other, <i>other </i>news, I have big plans coming up and multiple decisions to make that will alter my summer immensely depending on what I end up doing. I may me a camp counselor. I may audition for a play. I may be seeing Taylor Swift on tour...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2K2rZLZqXTkCJ-W46AOJMAeR1VOGjf20IkshP_2Jlpu8nGf-Jiw6La3r-ejuLsvk_K1YF_0ZdflHtz7bOEcmWFGc7VCQYhk9Yu60aZF51jTY1yaGkhxYJVCODccIpz9UEl6eP9vQAY0/s1600/taytay.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2K2rZLZqXTkCJ-W46AOJMAeR1VOGjf20IkshP_2Jlpu8nGf-Jiw6La3r-ejuLsvk_K1YF_0ZdflHtz7bOEcmWFGc7VCQYhk9Yu60aZF51jTY1yaGkhxYJVCODccIpz9UEl6eP9vQAY0/s1600/taytay.gif" height="233" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
Oh, wait. I'M TOTALLY SEEING TAYLOR SWIFT ON TOUR.<br />
<br />
*heavy breathing*<br />
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Also, closing in fast is my trip to Key West. I've never been to Florida and this trip is going to be UH-MAYZ-ING because I'm going with two besties and staying in a fancy house with a pool and hammock garden.<br />
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Paradise? I'm imagining so.<br />
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<br />Lily Gaineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300851458357855176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3794421127850685300.post-66889864743964849582015-03-12T15:05:00.005-07:002015-03-12T15:21:58.269-07:00Time and Time Again<img src="webkit-fake-url://0ea6ff69-f244-440f-9d29-e80b18e63658/imagejpeg" />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Time. Management.</span><br />
<br />
These two words trike fear in the heart and mind of every writer. (Just like a red pen)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcf5ShqntscNH_LDsJsB7MooCb9Q6IiBQ8NoiwhLxozjFdv9vW-1AOVI4n43lsKE67A80FZCEQpk9B-4vZgcQmsaX5d1FsPodXB4R0G_ui_xAj-P9PHh1Ow6LZE0ATVprIJnvKBBeSTg/s1600/tumblr_inline_mub25eqw821qhcvhp.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcf5ShqntscNH_LDsJsB7MooCb9Q6IiBQ8NoiwhLxozjFdv9vW-1AOVI4n43lsKE67A80FZCEQpk9B-4vZgcQmsaX5d1FsPodXB4R0G_ui_xAj-P9PHh1Ow6LZE0ATVprIJnvKBBeSTg/s1600/tumblr_inline_mub25eqw821qhcvhp.gif" height="137" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
...At least, that's what I hope. I seriously doubt I'm the only one.<br />
<br />
If you follow my blog (<span style="color: #741b47;">THANK YOU</span>, by the way) then you know I've been M.I.A. for almost two months. The blame for this could be cast in many directions: School, Social Life, Reading, and...you know, WRITING my own book.<br />
<br />
But the real culprit here is me. Or, more specifically, my inadequacy to use my time wisely. The blame - the fault - is <span style="font-size: large;">All. On. Me.</span><br />
<br />
I'm someone who likes to be footloose and fancy-free, but I also enjoy a functioning plan (as long as it doesn't involve stress). These two qualities push against each other, creating friction until I'm left with a lifestyle I'm not happy with. I hate schedules because they become too repetitive, and I get strained from doing the same exact process every single day.<br />
<br />
(If any of you have tips for me or want to share your own time management hacks, please do!)<br />
<br />
For now, I'm just working on waking up earlier.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><b>AND NOW</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">FOR THE MOMENT YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">(probably not)</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">*</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">*</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">*</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">*</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">*</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">*</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">*</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">*</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">*</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">ABOUT</span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><b>MY <span style="color: blue;">NANOWRIMO</span> NOVEL</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I know most people could care less...</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">BUT</span> the haters gonna <span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">hate hate hate hate hate hate</span> and I'm just gonna share a bit about it anyway, anyway! Oh!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSBW6pbdi4wbt0pf3dmwQzsjXYxkbD8RL1jBdiNiUCQSHXA-PCjZey0IzKQAE7nG8wa6xhr7qFgblWb2h0G3bFz_eeuc5XXCg6l64ioVMiJk7k2LWxFV9b8dTeNGjIewjca8GsRu8wlE/s1600/joey-not-even-sorry.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSBW6pbdi4wbt0pf3dmwQzsjXYxkbD8RL1jBdiNiUCQSHXA-PCjZey0IzKQAE7nG8wa6xhr7qFgblWb2h0G3bFz_eeuc5XXCg6l64ioVMiJk7k2LWxFV9b8dTeNGjIewjca8GsRu8wlE/s1600/joey-not-even-sorry.gif" height="160" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">When people outside of the internet ask what my novel is about, <b>I go blank.</b></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbseQgnchNfCaPcditiy4EJV1ncQDJq_4OkheUc8M-LidWaN0-aeb9mcnuiKE8yyHy3Nogo3fUuDaEbgZB1cxLGXEgOuKxFw4_8oqvxU5d0m1-jkuGjmYSRY8FWlo7HoLDiBEY5bqWcI8/s1600/14246-Nicki-Minaj-Blank-Stare.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbseQgnchNfCaPcditiy4EJV1ncQDJq_4OkheUc8M-LidWaN0-aeb9mcnuiKE8yyHy3Nogo3fUuDaEbgZB1cxLGXEgOuKxFw4_8oqvxU5d0m1-jkuGjmYSRY8FWlo7HoLDiBEY5bqWcI8/s1600/14246-Nicki-Minaj-Blank-Stare.gif" height="162" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(How do I tell them without giving away the major plot twist?)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
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</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: red;"><br /></span></div>
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And, surprisingly, *people* ask me this A LOT.</div>
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<span style="color: red;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">*WE INTERRUPT THIS POST WITH AN EXCERPT FROM LILY'S ACTUAL RESPONSE TO THIS QUESTION*</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">Person: "What's your book about?"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Lily: "Um, well...There's two girls. And it's sci-fi-"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">Person: "Oh, sci-fi! That must be tricky!"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Lily: "Yeah..."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79;">Person: "So, what's it about?"</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Lily: "Uh, a rebellion. But that's not what it's about actually!"</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">*confusion*</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79;">Person: "Okay..."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Lily: "It's sort of about humanity. What makes a human, human? What is right and wrong? It also dives into a deeper message of not believing everything you read or what someone tells you on the internet. But, you know, that's not even really what it's about. There's so much more and I don't even know where to start."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79;">Person: "That's...nice" </span><span style="color: #cc0000;">*walk away. walk away*</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: red;">*THIS IS A TOTALLY REAL CONVERSATION THAT ABSOLUTELY HAPPENED AND WAS PROBABLY MUCH WORSE IN LILY'S HEAD THAN IN REAL LIFE*</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
You see, I have a hard time sharing my story (with anyone). I just let my mom read my first chapter a few weeks ago, and it was almost painful to sit there and wait while she read. It's not ready. It's not the best I can make it. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So <b>NO</b>, I'm not going to let you read it. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I'm truly sorry.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This story is my first actual novel, and I hope to have it published one day. That is why I'm not sharing my characters, or my plot, or my thoughts. The story is in a very vulnerable stage right now and if something were to stunt my excitement for it I might never finish it. I don't want your opinion. <span style="color: magenta;"><i>I don't want you to see my frail soul until I can shape it into something strong enough to be touched and loved and disliked and thrown at walls. It's not ready for that yet.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Yet.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It kills me sometimes not to share my story. I love it so much, and I want others to as well. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I just also know that it needs some TLC before being thrust out into the world.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So, until then, you probably won't hear anymore from me on that subject. I<i> long </i>for the day I can share with EVERYONE the story I've come to adore. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And I hope you will adore it too. </div>
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(Book reviews coming soon...probably)</div>
Lily Gaineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300851458357855176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3794421127850685300.post-60075489809096342642015-01-15T15:27:00.001-08:002015-01-15T15:27:29.640-08:00Young and Sweet, Only Seventeen...<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Prepare for numerous Taylor Swift gifs...)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today </span>I am seventeen. <span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;">Big whoop, right? </span>Seventeen is the ordinary middleman in between Sweet Sixteen and Legal Adult Eighteen, so whats so special about it? Some would probably say nothing. Some might even groan at the thought of just ANOTHER year before they're finally 18 and can do what they want.<br />
<br />
"Eighteen" isn't about that for me (right now, at least). Sure, I'll be a legal adult - but I'm still going to be living under my parents roof, in my senior year of high school, and I'm <i>pretty sure</i> I won't be able to sustain myself on my own by then.<br />
<br />
Anyway.<span style="color: #0b5394;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Seventeen.</span></span><br />
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I think this is going to be the best year ever.<br />
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I feel like<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: purple;"> Sixteen </span></span>was a major year for me. I changed A LOT from the girl I was at <span style="color: magenta;">fifteen</span>. I'm more confident in who I am and my personality. Sixteen was such an important year for me.<br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Seventeen</span>, I predict, will be even better. I'm still growing up; changing; learning - but I have a feeling this year will be a little different. Maybe I have this impression from all the people saying "<span style="color: #0b5394;">Seventeen</span> was their favorite age ever". Maybe I'm just optimistic. Maybe I'm psychic. Yes, we'll go with that. <span style="font-size: large;">I'm definitely psychic.</span><br />
<br />
So, I guess we'll see. Goodbye Sixteen, and HELLO SEVENTEEN!<br />
<br />
<br />
~<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Seventeen</span> <i style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Slightly</span></i> <span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>Secret</b></span> <span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">F</span><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">a</span><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">c</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">t</span><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">s</span> <span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">A</span><span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">b</span><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">o</span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;">u</span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">t </span><span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #45818e;">M</span><span style="color: lime;">e</span></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">1)</span> I keep a small stash of food/candy hidden in my room. <i><span style="color: magenta;">(Shhhh....)</span></i><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">2) </span>I've never read The Lord of the Rings trilogy<br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">3)</span> I do most of my schoolwork on my bed, even though there is a perfectly good desk in my room.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">4)</span> If I had a perfect replica of Anna's coronation dress (from Frozen), I'd wear it EVERYWHERE.<br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">5) </span>I CAN NOT DANCE TO SAVE MY LIFE.<br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">6)</span> Lavender, Vanilla, and Lemon are some of my favorite scents.<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">7)</span> I love to wear jewelry, but have a hard time knowing what to wear.<br />
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<span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;">8) </span>There is more than one teddy bear on my bed and more than five pillows.<br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">9)</span> Fancy desserts are delicious, but I can never have enough plain cheesecake and vanilla bean ice cream.<br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">10)</span> I'm considering going to beauty school after I graduate.<br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: large;">11)</span> New Girl is my new friend.<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">12)</span> My mom met my dad at seventeen.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let the AWWW's ensue </td></tr>
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">13) </span>I wish I was more musically talented.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">14)</span> I love wearing eye shadow.<br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">15)</span> I tried to steal an Archie comic from Walmart when I was about six.<br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">16)</span> A dream of mine is to be a Disney princess at Disney World, even though I've never been there.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: cyan; font-size: x-large;">17)</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: cyan;">I'm seeing Taylor in concert this summer!</span></span> (Just found that out today, after I started working on this blog post. HAPPY B-DAY TO ME!)<br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">~Lily</span><br />
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(P.S. Thank you to all who read my blog - it makes me so happy! <3 I've had a wonderful birthday and the day isn't even finished yet!)Lily Gaineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300851458357855176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3794421127850685300.post-11377613028803696972015-01-08T19:02:00.005-08:002015-01-08T19:02:55.554-08:002015 Reading Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My goal for 2015 is to read 100 books (or more, but 100 will do).<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My growing goodreads list is here <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/6184431?shelf=2015-reading-challenge" target="_blank">www.goodreads.com/2015-reading-challenge</a></span><br />
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Now, I'd love to do reviews of every single one, but I think we all know that won't happen.<br />
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On my TARDIS book shelf right now I have:<br />
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Have you read any of these? What did you think? Any suggestions for the list?Lily Gaineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300851458357855176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3794421127850685300.post-80295234731714403812015-01-01T00:37:00.001-08:002015-01-01T00:37:18.570-08:002014 ~ thoughts {and lists} <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's <span style="font-size: large;">1:30</span> in the morning and I am sitting halfway on my bed with extremely tangled hair, writing this while simultaneously glancing about my mess of a room. Clothes, dirty and clean are draped a shoved every which way and the reason I'm only halfway on my bed is because it's covered in <i>stuff</i>. Drawing pencils, books, purses, lotion, chocolates, headphones, clothes, and more. <span style="font-size: large;">My life is anything but 'together'. </span>Recently, as New Years crept closer, along with my 17th birthday in January, I began to question the year I've had. I'm behind in school, almost 17 and can't drive, no job, a closet full of clothes I don't wear, and a burn in my carpet from a receipt I'd accidentally dropped in a candle a few weeks ago.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Just an hour or so ago</span>, as the unfamiliar news-people started counting down and the camera zoomed in on all the smiling, rosy, kissing faces, I realized I was only looking at the negatives of my life. <span style="font-size: large;">Well, I <i>didn't </i>do this, and I <i>didn't </i>do that, so I guess I accomplished nothing.</span> Not true. Sure, I didn't do those things...or keep on top of my schoolwork...or get my life in routine...or stick to playing the mandolin for more than two weeks. <span style="font-size: large;">I messed up, life happened, and some things got dragged behind.</span><br />
<br />
But you know what? <span style="font-size: large;">It's a NEW YEAR</span>. Time to brush off my hands, take a deep breath, and reign in all the things I lost control of this past year - all the while learning new things; making new memories; drinking more coffee; reading more books; writing more stories; painting more life; singing silly show tunes; dancing constantly without rhythm; embracing new friends; and growing closer to my family and God.<br />
<br />
With this in mind, I can look back at 2014 with new eyes. Eyes that are keenly tuned to the little moments, the crazy excitements, the lessons learned, the friends acquired, and my only year I'll ever have of being "Sweet Sixteen".<br />
<br />
My year in retrospect:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">JANUARY 2014</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>I turned 16</li>
<li>I was blessed with another sister</li>
<li>I wore makeup for the first time</li>
<li>I realized that I could make new friends that truly care for me</li>
<li>Had a Disney Sleepover/Birthday party #noshame</li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">FEBRUARY 2014</span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Valentine's Day with my single gals</li>
<li>Still obsessed with Frozen</li>
<li>My Blog's one-year-anniversary </li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">MARCH 2014</span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>A sibling's birthday, along with an awesome Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs theme.</li>
<li>Began to plan My ballroom dance class' Spring Ball</li>
<li>Dressed in full Candor attire for the Divergent movie</li>
<li>Modeled my friend <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/HannahEverly" target="_blank">Hannah's</a> fabulous skirts</li>
<li>Went to a 50s diner (in appropriate clothing for the decade, of course)</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">APRIL 2014</span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>MEGA THREE-DAY SLEEPOVER. 18 1/2 hours of TV. So much junk food</li>
<li>Cut my bangs so short I cringe at the pictures. Lesson - learned.</li>
<li>Mean Girls 10th Anniversary!</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">MAY 2014</span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Spring Ball, vintage carnival style.</li>
<li>My childhood friend Katie came to visit from good ol' Colorado</li>
<li>I attended a Masquerade Ball</li>
<li>I missed curfew</li>
<li>Learned my lesson</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">JUNE 2014</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Did the ice water challenge</li>
<li>Enjoyed a memorable trail walk with the whole fam</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">JULY 2014</span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Scared a bunch of people on Face Book</li>
<li>Went to Busch Gardens for the Fourth of July</li>
<li>Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-fil-A!</li>
<li>Ate cupcakes in Carytown</li>
<li>Gramma came to visit!</li>
<li>First time at a hibachi grill</li>
<li>Lots of pool days</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">AUGUST 2014</span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>My first concert</li>
<li>A visit with old friends</li>
<li>A friend's birthday full of sub sandwiches, cookie dough Oreos, and giggles.</li>
<li>Doctor Who Season 8 PREMIERE </li>
<li>Hanging out at the marina, getting told to get off the banana boats, and long bike rides.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">SEPTEMBER 2014</span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Successfully decorated an "Exploding TARDIS" cake for my brother's birthday.</li>
<li>Fun at Golden Corral, and, like, six cotton candies.</li>
<li>Chile and fire-roasted hot dogs, silly stories, and campfire songs.</li>
<li>SKYPE WITH MARISSA MEYER</li>
<li>My first Selfie gone Profile Pic</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">OCTOBER 2014</span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Family visits, a trip to D.C., and goofy cousins.</li>
<li>Apple picking in the mountains.</li>
<li>Storybuilding and preparation for my first NaNoWriMo</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">NOVEMBER 2014</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>NANOWRIMO</li>
<li>Went to YALLfest in Charleston, SC. - AKA my first trip without my parents.</li>
<li>Met James Dashner, Veronica Roth, Gayle Foreman, Rainbow Rowell, Pseudonymous Bosch, and tons more.</li>
<li>Thanksgiving with friends (and sneaking away from the loud children to squeeze in some writing)</li>
<li>Hosted my first {capitol} party</li>
<li>Mockingjay Part 1 Premiere</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">DECEMBER 2014</span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Christmas parties full of good food and happy voices.</li>
<li>Late nights crafting presents.</li>
<li>A trip to Nashville, TN for Christmas!</li>
<li>Wifi-less for a week</li>
<li>So. Much. Coffee.</li>
<li>Listening to my Mimi talk of her past, late into Christmas night as the TV shines light onto our faces and the Grinch steals Christmas.</li>
<li>Teary goodbyes and more than one "last hug".</li>
<li>Little towns off the highway with adorable coffee shops.</li>
<li>Mountains, snow flurries, and cloudy-gray skies.</li>
<li>The joy of sleeping in your own bed again.</li>
<li>New Years Eve costume party as a full-out gypsy.</li>
<li>Watching the clock cont down.</li>
<li>Looking back on the year with a different approach.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg-1wrjIEC6WsoSvW481UVM-sOg0CqZqc5GkDfDxyUIdMe1tkuPx_uNiiiPtdDardQ-DHR5PW5c6vFua38ApQVlK8w2SDBySn_okX5Ci3NuOnu6KTmpBmbOY8YtlUnsnt2ZDvue75WUjA/s1600/5ebcd476e3d331ff51a829cfd5ac4224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg-1wrjIEC6WsoSvW481UVM-sOg0CqZqc5GkDfDxyUIdMe1tkuPx_uNiiiPtdDardQ-DHR5PW5c6vFua38ApQVlK8w2SDBySn_okX5Ci3NuOnu6KTmpBmbOY8YtlUnsnt2ZDvue75WUjA/s1600/5ebcd476e3d331ff51a829cfd5ac4224.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div>
If you actually got through that list, bravo to you. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This was my year, or what I could remember of it at least. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Thanks for reading, even if it bore you to bits.</div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">If so, I apologize.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTasqAzVoIZF_CIQSxZX8hodCTarOAAYAPopUGzdlivNhpTg6MUqXLWCgOqT5BBiogdtfNgbj7-XIUef1NzTc2Qmp_8B8k9SL711oaRAm_8UFyjphSmL51ztT8Cntx7ZFZNSNDEbh3cd0/s1600/tumblr_ne66abpBAN1qkd1ybo3_400.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTasqAzVoIZF_CIQSxZX8hodCTarOAAYAPopUGzdlivNhpTg6MUqXLWCgOqT5BBiogdtfNgbj7-XIUef1NzTc2Qmp_8B8k9SL711oaRAm_8UFyjphSmL51ztT8Cntx7ZFZNSNDEbh3cd0/s1600/tumblr_ne66abpBAN1qkd1ybo3_400.gif" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(It is now 3:37)</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Lily Gaineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300851458357855176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3794421127850685300.post-87267964055434042482014-11-15T07:13:00.001-08:002014-11-15T09:48:50.123-08:00YALLfest Wrap-UpA year ago, <span style="font-size: large;">I had a dream...</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyl03kS40Kvhb_RMaeZ2xkw-qnBuGBUm6uXCS_Pumza5AR3nfWdQrYhUc1hlZIfIDrBp0lBk2fyPe6uVm39M4Tb6LpdjSzLnWZXN6ZoFeZRWSjK005C13osHktjiam3Yqb6w08QFrhsY/s1600/ihadadreamonce.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyl03kS40Kvhb_RMaeZ2xkw-qnBuGBUm6uXCS_Pumza5AR3nfWdQrYhUc1hlZIfIDrBp0lBk2fyPe6uVm39M4Tb6LpdjSzLnWZXN6ZoFeZRWSjK005C13osHktjiam3Yqb6w08QFrhsY/s1600/ihadadreamonce.gif" height="160" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
My dream was to go to the YALLfest in Charleston, SC.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-iPLC12-IlvG_yWMwl05f2nnVRvCuMWtg6npiSyYqbO_9P_dW4MTyprJ6zrsePjuu1tI1GJU_6ZxgaOc99F93-k2-r707G35OJ8aUIim3Keai7PLaBTSUaF8g7IkKLb2Z9U1uIQuAFzo/s1600/yall-fest-2014-charleston-author-lineup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-iPLC12-IlvG_yWMwl05f2nnVRvCuMWtg6npiSyYqbO_9P_dW4MTyprJ6zrsePjuu1tI1GJU_6ZxgaOc99F93-k2-r707G35OJ8aUIim3Keai7PLaBTSUaF8g7IkKLb2Z9U1uIQuAFzo/s1600/yall-fest-2014-charleston-author-lineup.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
A beautiful, wonderful convention full of <span style="font-size: large;">authors</span> and <span style="font-size: large;">books</span> and <span style="font-size: large;">fangirls</span>. My dream was to road trip with some friends to have the most amazing weekend ever.<br />
<br />
Apparently, if you don't plan these sort of things far in advance, they don't happen.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My dream was crushed.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsimLwP0oHPYA-eVxXvzIxtfKBHhPWsupG05O0nuInjfCxsyYJozi0ILyUkFKZsy-GfWfjChstC9kjC2kO_dgLJ_D_m1p5FIOShuA68Km8bZoJe43bnjUB2JD63Cybx-NUK669EzaMiQ/s1600/likeagrape.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsimLwP0oHPYA-eVxXvzIxtfKBHhPWsupG05O0nuInjfCxsyYJozi0ILyUkFKZsy-GfWfjChstC9kjC2kO_dgLJ_D_m1p5FIOShuA68Km8bZoJe43bnjUB2JD63Cybx-NUK669EzaMiQ/s1600/likeagrape.gif" height="172" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">like a grape</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
I admit, I cried a little. (MAYBE a lot, okay? I just have all the feels. Plus, SHANNON HALE was going to be there. I mean, come on.)<br />
<br />
<br />
~<br />
<br />
<br />
Months passed by, and I eventually ceased my ever-flowing river of tears. It was an annual occasion, so maybe, <span style="font-size: large;">MAYBE</span>, 2014 would be my lucky year.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And you know what?</span><br />
<br />
My dream came true, and in an even better way than I ever could have hoped...<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">~</span><br />
<br />
<br />
We booked our hotel months in advance and I started saving every dollar I made from babysitting. November was drawing closer and closer, which brought on a numerous amount of worries and excitements. <span style="font-size: large;">NaNoWriMo. YALLfest. Thanksgiving.</span> November might be the best, most stressful month of the year.<br />
<br />
My friend <a href="http://www.rachelcoker.com/" target="_blank">Rachel</a> and I packed snacks and water bottles, stuffed her car with our luggage, and stocked up on Broadway Musical soundtracks and Taylor Swift CD's. It was a seven-hour drive to Charleston, but we were going to make it through in style.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Actually</span>, we looked pretty ratchet. But hey, bursting Barbie songs at the top of your lungs is attractive enough to make up for your appearance, right?<br />
<br />
Finally arriving in Charleston brought on all sorts of emotions. <span style="font-size: large;">We're here!</span> I can't believe it! This is the first time I've been on a trip without my parents!<span style="font-size: large;"> Ahhhh!</span> We're meeting <span style="font-size: large;">James Dashner</span> and <span style="font-size: large;">Veronica Roth</span>!<br />
<br />
The activities kicked off Friday night with a handful of authors signing in different buildings along King St.<br />
<br />
James Dashner was one of those authors, and we waited for <span style="font-size: large;">four hours</span> in front of the most amazing toy shop I've ever seen so that we would be in the first batch of people let in.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBzfqKkhhS1FFY0hRyeuCcuzNjwE4DXrnduvv2LVlhmzzPt_r1aJg6g8yQZSX4uy3LpLnku7hSCjkT6EiiRLc3NOq-LUUnLSTHO6D-ROxLIf5SvdXsq4vJK1CgbV1m1HIg9KI5oVaYok/s1600/toyshopgumball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBzfqKkhhS1FFY0hRyeuCcuzNjwE4DXrnduvv2LVlhmzzPt_r1aJg6g8yQZSX4uy3LpLnku7hSCjkT6EiiRLc3NOq-LUUnLSTHO6D-ROxLIf5SvdXsq4vJK1CgbV1m1HIg9KI5oVaYok/s1600/toyshopgumball.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via: Rachel Coker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<br />
Here's a little back story:<br />
<br />
I do ballroom dancing classes.<span style="font-size: large;"> Irrelevant?</span> I think not, since a guy in my class' mom was BEST FRIENDS WITH "JAMIE" DASHNER WHEN THEY WERE KIDS.<br />
<br />
Yep.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Makes me wonder if I've been friends with anyone who will be famous one day...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">(OR WILL I BE THE FAMOUS ONE?!?? MWUAHAHAHAHAHA)</span><br />
<br />
<br />
Here's another story...or confession, whatever:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I really love Dylan O'Brien.</span><br />
<br />
Don't laugh, I know he's becoming all the rage on tumblr and the like...<br />
<br />
But I loved him before I read Maze Runner. And I loved Maze Runner before I knew he was going to be Thomas. So, let's just say The Maze Runner is one of my favorite movies.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Okay, story time is over.</span><br />
<br />
Hahaha. I'm kidding, I'm kidding.<br />
<br />
So, when you are in line for a book signing, someone volunteering for YALLfest brings you sticky notes to write your name on so that the author won't mess up when signing your book.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqIpNDjDTIFyRbJpuYoxtAIIF0TpLBacaCGKZQ_YvY1LOkBSmqpQdQJ3YBvkv5InkHleqDs8IF8c0L5gm6ZISGW8dWe-4LQvupHr5t6cpT6lILQfJc_BNHKk3agK0YKiixiux-vU2kVyA/s1600/charleston6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqIpNDjDTIFyRbJpuYoxtAIIF0TpLBacaCGKZQ_YvY1LOkBSmqpQdQJ3YBvkv5InkHleqDs8IF8c0L5gm6ZISGW8dWe-4LQvupHr5t6cpT6lILQfJc_BNHKk3agK0YKiixiux-vU2kVyA/s1600/charleston6.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via: Rachel Coker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I couldn't help myself.</span><br />
<br />
3:00 struck and everyone in line was on their feet, excitement filling the air like static. My own stomach was flipping.<br />
<br />
You can imagine the feels I had when James started to sign his/my book, read the sticky note, looked up at me and was like: "Lily..." then smiling and saying "I do actually have his number."<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFIkNXFZQnLSUGiR9qUxfvW-Mc9gwQwYfZhzVgKsSD_nxIXdvbFj6aN_hAFAufIE6kChBh5YUP2m5hU79_Ce0iSUW46Lao5TPk_RhywOiz7Ykd1cFx8pdXbV0n-A3raIoplVlVX_lgfkM/s1600/jamie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFIkNXFZQnLSUGiR9qUxfvW-Mc9gwQwYfZhzVgKsSD_nxIXdvbFj6aN_hAFAufIE6kChBh5YUP2m5hU79_Ce0iSUW46Lao5TPk_RhywOiz7Ykd1cFx8pdXbV0n-A3raIoplVlVX_lgfkM/s1600/jamie.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via: Rachel Coker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
AGH. I was tempted to pickpocket his phone and run like a hoard of Grievers were after me.<br />
<br />
I didn't. Don't worry. That little interaction was good enough for me :)<br />
<br />
Well...I still would like his number - not gonna lie.<br />
<br />
<br />
~<br />
<br />
<br />
Saturday was the day full of panels and more signings.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Don't be jelly.</span><br />
<br />
Especially not because we woke up at <span style="font-size: large;">4:00 AM</span>, sat on the sidewalk in the freezing cold for five hours, and received blue wristbands. That part was only fun because we had great people to talk to and the promise of meeting Veronica Roth on the horizon.<br />
<br />
After securing the wristbands on our shivering wrists, casting leering eyes at the fangirls, licking their chomps in anticipation, we scurried off to the opening keynote session. Not only were James Dashner and Sara Zarr there, but I was handed warm cider and a READING IS AWESOME poster.<br />
<br />
The panel was hilarious. James Dashner can't keep his mouth shut without Sara on his shoulder, like a little angel. She talked to him about his life as a writer; how it began; how it felt to see Maze Runner for the first time. It was great.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEmY0LYpEWmvXmy0cW3nyrZHkaJmBuJJTCzbG4mZr5FE-eCd9ATVZcoacGjIkconphGXuItMUcB2Ccjg9-jAusbChPUv5AW7RYT4YbInH7zeQCO07ykP7NagATdAM8bIM8tcXlrZx3lI/s1600/10348434_376870055813344_7090985992669494005_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEmY0LYpEWmvXmy0cW3nyrZHkaJmBuJJTCzbG4mZr5FE-eCd9ATVZcoacGjIkconphGXuItMUcB2Ccjg9-jAusbChPUv5AW7RYT4YbInH7zeQCO07ykP7NagATdAM8bIM8tcXlrZx3lI/s1600/10348434_376870055813344_7090985992669494005_n.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via: Rachel Coker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
As soon as that panel ended we scampered over to where Veronica was signing, got in line near the front, turned the corner, and THERE SHE WAS.<br />
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<br />
<br />
My life is complete.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">ALL THE FEELS WERE PACKED INTO THIS WEEKEND I CAN'T EVEN.</span><br />
<br />
And no, I will not try to odd.<br />
<br />
To top off the wobbling tower of emotions, one of my childhood dreams came true.<br />
<br />
I met <span style="font-size: large;">Pseudonymous Bosch</span> (Or his impostor. You never know...). He was just so cool and mysterious - dressed in black with dark shades and a beret tilted on his head, topped with a crescent roll.<br />
<br />
I went all fangirly on him and followed him out the side door where his panel was, THE NAME OF THIS BOOK IS SECRET and a pen in hand.<br />
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The last panel we went to was the Hollywood Stories Panel. Veronica Roth, Gayle Foreman, James Dashner, Melissa de la Cruz, Ann Brashares, and Kathy Reichs were seated on the stage, white lights of fame blazing down on them. Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia (Authors of Beautiful Creatures) were the moderators, asking all the questions involving the films and TV series, the actors, and the feels. It was probably my favorite panel of the day.<br />
<br />
And that's all we were able to do, having missed our shot to buying tickets for the closing keynote and Smackdown. However, I will never forget that day in Charleston...or the sweet way it ended:<br />
<br />
Rachel and I were about to get in her car, preparing to leave behind YALLfest with only the wonderful memories we made, when someone tapped my shoulder.<br />
<br />
"Excuse me?"<br />
<br />
I turned. <span style="font-size: large;">It was Laini Taylor</span>, pink hair and all. She smiled and continued to say how her daughter had spotted me earlier, saying I looked like Little Red Riding Hood, and that they kept seeing me throughout the day. Her daughter was wearing a little red cape, shyly standing behind her mother's leg. Laini then said how they were pretending that her daughter and I could be two Little Red Riding Hoods that save the city together.<br />
<br />
<br />
I can't remember what my response was, but I think it was along the lines of <span style="font-size: large;">"Awwwohmygoshthatissosweetthankyou"</span>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">~</span><br />
<br />
<br />
And that, my friends, was the best weekend of my life.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">YALLfest, I hope to see you again next year.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
And (not to sound cheesy) "Thank You" to all the marvelous people who made this dream come true! The volunteers, the fangirls (and boys), the authors, Rachel, my parents for allowing me to go to another state without them, and my awesome Gramma.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">ALL THE JUNK FOOD WAS DEVOURED. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">ALL THE DREAMS WERE MADE TRUE. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">AND ALL THE FEELS WERE FELT. </span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Pictures via: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RachelCokerPhotography" target="_blank">Rachel Coker</a></span></div>
Lily Gaineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300851458357855176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3794421127850685300.post-16997532472918149482014-10-28T13:59:00.002-07:002014-10-28T14:05:16.359-07:00Here we go again...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">NaNoWriMo did not go very well for me last year.</span><br />
<br />
To say the least.<br />
<br />
Last year I had an idea for a story - it was <span style="font-size: large;">amazing</span>. That was enough for me, I was going to do NaNoWriMo and <span style="font-size: large;">write that book! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I quit ONE WEEK into the month.</span><br />
<br />
After consideration, here's three ways I went wrong:<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">1) </span>The number one most horrific thing I did was read over my work at the end of the day. I'd fix it up, make it pretty, and then read over it again the next day before writing more. I came to hate my story. It was boring. I was a horrible writer. What was I thinking? Apparently I couldn't write a novel at all. There were many tears.<br />
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<br />
<br />
PLEASE DO NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE. I hope you have more sense then I did, but just in case:<span style="font-size: large;"> DON'T EDIT AS YOU GO.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2)</span> Writing was not my first priority. Call it procrastination, if you will, but after my schoolwork was done for the day and as the keyboard sat waiting for my tapping fingertips, I would do <i>other</i> stuff. Clean my room. Mop the kitchen floor. Anything to avoid writing, though not completely intentionally. I <i>wanted</i> to write; just "not right now".<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">3)</span> I spent more time developing characters than the actual <i>story</i>. Sure, I had an original idea. Sure, I knew how the story would end. Sure, developing characters is very important.<br />
<br />
But I spent hours, day after day, looking up pictures to represent my characters, cutting up magazines, reading inspirational quotes, and completely procrastinating from thinking about the plot.<br />
<br />
Do I still look at pictures on Pinterest for inspiration? <span style="font-size: large;">Um, of course.</span><br />
<br />
Do I still cut a clothing and eyes out of magazines to paste on my characterization board? <span style="font-size: large;">YES.</span><br />
<br />
Do I still grin and get all jittery when I read a beautiful quote that makes me want to hide away from life and pour my soul out onto paper (or screen, whatever)? <span style="font-size: large;">So much yes.</span><br />
<br />
Do I still ignore my plot and the actual grittiness of writing a novel? To be completely truthful: <span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes. </span>However, this year, for NaNo, I'm taking a class with actual classmates and an actual teacher.<br />
<br />
*shocked silence*<br />
<br />
My teacher sends the class home with prompts and goals and grades them. So basically I'm getting school credit BY DOING NaNoWriMo, which is pretty awesome. Anyway, having this class and a devoted teacher has really helped me so far. I'm confident in my plot, adore my characters, and am itching for November 1st to arrive.<br />
<br />
~<br />
<br />
Are you participating in NaNoWriMo? If you have a YWP account, add me as a buddy! I mean, if you want to, which you might not. Don't... Unless you really want to. So, just in case you do, which you might not, my username is <span style="font-size: large;">lilyember</span>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Lily Gaineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300851458357855176noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3794421127850685300.post-22631554485739732092014-10-02T16:12:00.000-07:002014-10-02T16:12:00.977-07:00Cress by Marissa Meyer + skype fun!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
For my <i>Cinder</i> review go <a href="http://authoressinthemaking.blogspot.com/2013/07/in-this-futuristic-distopian-humans.html" target="_blank">here.</a><br />
<br />
To read my <i>Scarlet</i> review go <a href="http://authoressinthemaking.blogspot.com/2013/08/scarlet-by-marissa-meyer.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
~<br />
<br />
<br />
My anticipation for this book was so insanely high that when it finally was in my hands I just held it and cried. So beautiful, so shiny...<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Lunar Chronicles is by far one of my favorite series</span> (up there with Divergent, Hunger Games, Maze Runner, and the Books of Bayern). The last installment, <i>Winter, </i>won't be released until November of NEXT YEAR. My eyes tear up just thinking about it.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
~<br />
<br />
<br />
From <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13206828-cress" target="_blank">Goodreads:</a><br />
<br />
<i>"<span id="freeText3565404761112002430">In this third book in
the Lunar Chronicles, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the
run, now with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to
overthrow Queen Levana and her army. <br /><br />Their best hope lies with
Cress, a girl imprisoned on a satellite since childhood who's only ever
had her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an
excellent hacker. Unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana
to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice. <br /><br />When a daring
rescue of Cress goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her
freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let
nothing prevent her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder
may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only hope
the world has."</span></i><br />
<br />
<br />
~<br />
<br />
<br />
Oh. My. Gosh. I can't. Even. Describe. ALL THE FEELS.<br />
<br />
We have Kai and Cinder feels. We have Wolf and Scarlet feels. We have Thorne and Cress feels. We have Iko feels. <span style="font-size: large;">WE HAVE ALL THE FEELS.</span><br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Kai -</b> Our young, dashing Emperor has his hands full with wedding plans and his head full of thoughts of Cinder :')<br />
<br />
<b>Cinder - </b>She's learning how to control her glamor better, with some help from Wolf, and the crew is creating a plan to over-throw Levana and place Cinder on the throne. Cinder is still being conflicted with coming to terms with being the lost Lunar princess. If they succeed, her life will drastically change.<br />
<br />
<b>Wolf & Scarlet - </b>I'm combining the two because we don't see much of them in this book. Plus, I can't say when we do see them because...<i>spoilers</i>.<br />
<br />
<b>Iko - </b>Iko! Iko! Iko! Probably my favorite character. She's fun and lovable, and who doesn't love fun and lovable? Her role in this book is the steady, constant friend. The light moments in the dark. The humor; the laugh; the smile. Iko is perfect.<br />
<br />
<b>Thorne - </b>*giggles* Oh, gosh. This witty good-looking-stud-of-a-man is just..yeah. We get a look into his past from Cress' perspective, which is a little distorted by her crush on him, so that's great. Since he's Cress' love interest he's in the majority of the book. Ladies, we get a lot of Thorne time.<br />
<br />
<b>Cress - </b>Although a tad naive, Cress is a super fun character to read. She's not dumb, but all of her knowledge comes from the internet, and we all know how untrustworthy that can be. Her character definitely grows, but anyone leaving their home for the first time kind of has to.<br />
<br />
<b>Levana - </b>I can't wait to read <i>Fairest</i>, which is Meyer's prequel story about Levana. She is a very interesting perspective to read from and I really want more of her side of the story. In <i>Cress</i> we get a few looks into Levana's head, and I have a feeling we'll get even more in <i>Winter</i>.<br />
<br />
<br />
~<br />
<br />
<br />
Have you read this book yet? Have you read ANY of them? Let me tell you a thing:<br />
<br />
READ THEM. I ORDER YOU IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT IS GOOD AND BOOKISH. I SWEAR IF YOU DON'T...<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>5 gazillion stars</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>12+</b><br />
<br />
<br />
~<br />
<br />
AND NOW.<br />
<br />
MWUAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA!<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
That's right. Be jealous ;)<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I love my library. </span>The people there are great and they set up Skype talks with authors and it's basically book heaven. I asked Marissa Meyer a ton of questions about writing, but there were a couple non-writing-related answers of hers I want to share...(This is not word-for-word, just from my memory and notes.)<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">1) I know you relate most to Cress, but if you could be like any other character, who would it be?</span><br />
<br />
She laughed and said, "None! I do such horrible things to them!"<br />
<br />
"Personality wise, then," I laughed.<br />
<br />
"Then...Iko. She's so fun and perky and I just love her."<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2) Any chance we'll be seeing the Lunar Chronicles as movies?</span><br />
<br />
"Yes! Someone has the rights right now and I could get a call any day!"<br />
<br />
"REALLY?!? How do you feel about that?"<br />
<br />
"Of course I'm excited! It would be amazing."<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">IT WOULD BE MORE THAN AMAZING OHMYGOSH.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">SERIOUSLY.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
If anyone is interested in her writing tips, she posts on her blog sometimes! She just did a series called "From Idea to Finished" which is very informative and helpful. <a href="http://www.marissameyer.com/blog/" target="_blank">www.marissameyer.com</a><br />
<br />
<br />
~<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
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<br />Lily Gaineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300851458357855176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3794421127850685300.post-23784030894819921212014-10-01T06:38:00.000-07:002014-10-01T06:48:47.584-07:00The Glorious Mess That Is My Life<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I don't post many personal things on this blog.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I tell myself: <i>"Nobody on the internet wants to read about some silly teenager's life. Books. Books are what they want to hear about." </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This morning I <span style="font-size: large;">slept in</span>. Yes, I'm homeschooled - so why should it matter? I can do school and chores and friend stuff whenever, because my schedule is<span style="font-size: large;"> SO </span>flexible.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMyegm1r_dUlQf1Pbo4M4jtw-3-Iwbq209AiQdU32gFfgsbR-dIuKXi2kJm2I7M2SuZd_wcJKYPIc2jslAr7OAd5_VhJUoS6KIUqQGKwPAqvbekkjcEoYXNm726-DvpqcACe9Eb9G65k/s1600/LOTR-GIFS-lord-of-the-rings-19974462-500-201.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMyegm1r_dUlQf1Pbo4M4jtw-3-Iwbq209AiQdU32gFfgsbR-dIuKXi2kJm2I7M2SuZd_wcJKYPIc2jslAr7OAd5_VhJUoS6KIUqQGKwPAqvbekkjcEoYXNm726-DvpqcACe9Eb9G65k/s1600/LOTR-GIFS-lord-of-the-rings-19974462-500-201.gif" height="128" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Not.</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At least, not since school started back up. Co-op classes with homework that's actually DUE on a certain day. A church campout this weekend, which requires packing and squeezing into our snug SUBURBAN. Family coming to visit, so CLEANING and SHOPPING and SCHOOL. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I might have a break to breath in a few weeks, but THEN.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>NANOWRIMO. YALLFEST. THANKSGIVING. SCHOOL. TRAVELING. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A never ending spiral dragging me further and further into the depths of I JUST CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Monday morning brought tears. Buckets and buckets of tears and pounding headaches and eyes squeezed shut. I was so sure the next two weeks would be stressful and emotionally draining. <span style="font-size: large;">I wanted it to simply STOP. </span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3WJchlCZkRtIp1-fcM3WeSPk1Lxi9UOlRZm6F68uzlSoN-4_9T_sizyh8hSNbhmtCiKbFd9HebSzTQ03Mg1ofLEKotli4jDChv__wIYDcR2JLSr2D8fr3xdwpXYJndUrh9FYzyM-891A/s1600/tumblr_m5bodahjLH1rxqu4jo1_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3WJchlCZkRtIp1-fcM3WeSPk1Lxi9UOlRZm6F68uzlSoN-4_9T_sizyh8hSNbhmtCiKbFd9HebSzTQ03Mg1ofLEKotli4jDChv__wIYDcR2JLSr2D8fr3xdwpXYJndUrh9FYzyM-891A/s1600/tumblr_m5bodahjLH1rxqu4jo1_500.gif" height="168" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(What brought on this sudden spillage of my soul to the internet? Partly, I knew that writing it all down would help me in my own little way, but it also happens that a friend of mine has had a straining couple of days as well. Her blog post inspired me to do my own, and I hope that somehow mine will likewise inspire and uplift someone. I'll leave a link to her post at the end...)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">My mom. </span>Me darling mum. Nodding and admitting to have been struggling with everything I was struggling with, simply said,<i> "One day at a time. That's all we can do."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">No.</span> <b>No, I couldn't do that.</b> Life was in chaos and I wanted <b>A PLAN</b>. I wanted the next two weeks to line themselves up in front of me so I could examine each one and determine everything necessary for making them wonderful and smooth. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwmhyphenhyphen5yj_gzzdierZ8ge4075-KQqlR9qknh1xuq3ffpAaPUIGfgSWl_fH0NWcJSQvLh293BNELFVbONh9VkAsdDEM2H8EYOnrOQMSlEefcCV7Djr-odM1jiT8ycnDl20x-yV1LGv4D-M/s1600/tumblr_inline_mmlti9ZUp01qz4rgp.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwmhyphenhyphen5yj_gzzdierZ8ge4075-KQqlR9qknh1xuq3ffpAaPUIGfgSWl_fH0NWcJSQvLh293BNELFVbONh9VkAsdDEM2H8EYOnrOQMSlEefcCV7Djr-odM1jiT8ycnDl20x-yV1LGv4D-M/s1600/tumblr_inline_mmlti9ZUp01qz4rgp.gif" height="151" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I called a friend and ranted. After we hung up with<i> "Love you"</i>s and <i>"Everything will be fine"</i> I realized how ridiculous I was reacting to it all.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Life is a mess. </span>There is nothing I can do about the school and the cleaning and the planning, except take it in bunches. <b>Week by week; Day by day. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But, even that is <u>useless</u> if I'm trying to do it on my own. It's not until I said<i> <b>"Okay, Lord. These next few weeks are in your hands...just like my life that I have promised to you"</b></i> that the stress began to slowly roll off my shoulders, droplet by droplet. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I still have a load of unfinished homework due tomorrow.</span> And days of schoolwork to catch up on. And a campout to help my mom pack for. And family visiting. <span style="font-size: large;">And a book to write.</span> And authors to see. And food to eat. And friends to hang out with. And a family to love.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All those aspects have their ups and downs. Some more than others, but this is <span style="font-size: large;">my life</span>. It isn't some temporary existence to slug my way through. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's my life, given to me from God for a purpose. A beautiful, nerve-racking purpose...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">To LIVE and <i>LIVE FOR HIS GLORY.</i></span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJJT4wWYCXQOx5GW6sKNPdalPftKZ8HhIy6iQ7nTamOJTZwt1-3DtUfPdkFK9gFN0972qtdy5qZRseJQNuyeiT1JM6Z1Rn0coN7zLkmkKJR_P7V6zGYNiyTElqRK84bgWVraN9Igzipw/s1600/7d78e58130b19bf6b3fc14f18e3812ba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJJT4wWYCXQOx5GW6sKNPdalPftKZ8HhIy6iQ7nTamOJTZwt1-3DtUfPdkFK9gFN0972qtdy5qZRseJQNuyeiT1JM6Z1Rn0coN7zLkmkKJR_P7V6zGYNiyTElqRK84bgWVraN9Igzipw/s1600/7d78e58130b19bf6b3fc14f18e3812ba.jpg" height="312" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">found on pinterest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://www.rachelcoker.com/the-strain/" target="_blank">(Rachel's post: http://www.rachelcoker.com/the-strain/</a>)Lily Gaineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300851458357855176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3794421127850685300.post-10772586381250549052014-09-04T13:20:00.002-07:002014-09-04T13:20:24.528-07:00In Summer...You know what?<br />
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Just because you have a blog...<br />
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Doesn't mean you'll get around to writing on it every week...<br />
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If you're lazy...<br />
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Like me.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7uKcPl8L6fMBmSrJnGC29_HYoU6FMMLJmlCJ4VZMNh4mkdGfFu_yz_uSk3QGOXS9K1MYPSfm_JEBtH0-7aIYsZnOt7HeuaQgSFxIuaoG2YYNotmdolPKIi0FqO8v-lG-RNEAwcvrEqfk/s1600/tumblr_m1kzaqxJbp1qa6lp8.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7uKcPl8L6fMBmSrJnGC29_HYoU6FMMLJmlCJ4VZMNh4mkdGfFu_yz_uSk3QGOXS9K1MYPSfm_JEBtH0-7aIYsZnOt7HeuaQgSFxIuaoG2YYNotmdolPKIi0FqO8v-lG-RNEAwcvrEqfk/s1600/tumblr_m1kzaqxJbp1qa6lp8.gif" height="181" width="320" /></a></div>
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I know, right?<br />
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<br />~<br />
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So, either I need to make a commitment and stick with it, or I need to loosen up a bit and not set my expectations so high. <br />
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I want to post 2-3 times a month. Hopefully, with this being my busiest school year yet, I can find the time to do that. We'll see.<br />
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~<br />
<br />
Summer has come and gone in a flash, and I'm left with a bit of nostalgia. I've done so many things in the past three months - things that, two-years-ago I would have thought I'd NEVER experience. I thank God all the time for my amazing family and friends (Especially my friends. They're awesome.)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPhSsgyPJw2wHyvgPUEpTG0sFbTOh_-zAeuiD6WqqCrXwp4NEEg0KvVauaJtAKb8qIhYq4yV4g7W0kKso2L9nSD9OZ8kPQwy1LkEx_b8h5cSx-zFI46S7XMaQyLuFO_KLoIXrDJlGpSIg/s1600/masquerade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPhSsgyPJw2wHyvgPUEpTG0sFbTOh_-zAeuiD6WqqCrXwp4NEEg0KvVauaJtAKb8qIhYq4yV4g7W0kKso2L9nSD9OZ8kPQwy1LkEx_b8h5cSx-zFI46S7XMaQyLuFO_KLoIXrDJlGpSIg/s1600/masquerade.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Masquerade Ball, May 2014</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfl6nJL0JCW7B4GDJHwQKl0_zQc7e0iWKRN-Ct0sdewcCg_CzW8c9JmrZJzuin4-MAPJ1Mouo74zNaOfTap4C_9gu1o9tucU92I7c_Ctb0pAPDwdnqsou4llvUogfXStcGnZX4Pw-EgPI/s1600/masquerade2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfl6nJL0JCW7B4GDJHwQKl0_zQc7e0iWKRN-Ct0sdewcCg_CzW8c9JmrZJzuin4-MAPJ1Mouo74zNaOfTap4C_9gu1o9tucU92I7c_Ctb0pAPDwdnqsou4llvUogfXStcGnZX4Pw-EgPI/s1600/masquerade2.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_F96pHnSPye19PGo6IZ_YZSLIbvhemQ_BeRFKqeGmFT3cl6SVXEe60LXX5MUbKlUI8kBtHq0rNlck_Ytb_TwfCAY9DdM5vOZwwP4eFAmL0xNTGxuPHws3tHDYa0_EXhDr-syynbcdFI/s1600/carrytown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_F96pHnSPye19PGo6IZ_YZSLIbvhemQ_BeRFKqeGmFT3cl6SVXEe60LXX5MUbKlUI8kBtHq0rNlck_Ytb_TwfCAY9DdM5vOZwwP4eFAmL0xNTGxuPHws3tHDYa0_EXhDr-syynbcdFI/s1600/carrytown.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">downtown + cupcakes = <3</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINTk4rYEZNb7ZqXRpGWOiZslIH9bl4bhKa6Z-U3vWglH-6zXNjwK-0y6mKxuB3D6AG1MDQFDbMx_2RtVY0u-U1ZgSNwFkNTf4AL9O46qpMuFokKYiFMXCoVsN5MQxZrIbdusHDNFOKbQ/s1600/buschwshaynachris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINTk4rYEZNb7ZqXRpGWOiZslIH9bl4bhKa6Z-U3vWglH-6zXNjwK-0y6mKxuB3D6AG1MDQFDbMx_2RtVY0u-U1ZgSNwFkNTf4AL9O46qpMuFokKYiFMXCoVsN5MQxZrIbdusHDNFOKbQ/s1600/buschwshaynachris.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Busch Gardens </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwW-nFUdbgO7puoSVoBTvo8qdMCAUky2QHD38gBP1qaXHLsygQEGoSWCnApugfJRwsQmqV4RgiTIddlKGlCvtFFHTEVGre-5KC54WO8J4l9nrbNXkbSr8iqxSIPodJH4g-uTopNjoNfOU/s1600/kingsmill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwW-nFUdbgO7puoSVoBTvo8qdMCAUky2QHD38gBP1qaXHLsygQEGoSWCnApugfJRwsQmqV4RgiTIddlKGlCvtFFHTEVGre-5KC54WO8J4l9nrbNXkbSr8iqxSIPodJH4g-uTopNjoNfOU/s1600/kingsmill.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selfie-ception</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EiWfte0gyBfL4Y6xWcqbedcMz1Gp5AGTDkr9o4FGSGp8Y5lfE4-403_hKjIzi2kbGByLeDDQWAgIU_L6oZJszP1trAvrCr3B_ifLzyu3Lg18iwzICv6ViatM_deHwwx1unvPVObMgQQ/s1600/kingsssmill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EiWfte0gyBfL4Y6xWcqbedcMz1Gp5AGTDkr9o4FGSGp8Y5lfE4-403_hKjIzi2kbGByLeDDQWAgIU_L6oZJszP1trAvrCr3B_ifLzyu3Lg18iwzICv6ViatM_deHwwx1unvPVObMgQQ/s1600/kingsssmill.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">at the dock</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizpbyoKBJIcMQVxU1aCkVWSzTaVqFCAetEswhBHpRp7Y8aPqzwIbHb1c-3ENQuN5PwhSK01aC30oTNoxG8dYq4C3E7wJt_kooiAWN-YswYAMRYHJLnK95LYXmjHlDKg2bXkgJ0B-iyGYE/s1600/kingssmill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizpbyoKBJIcMQVxU1aCkVWSzTaVqFCAetEswhBHpRp7Y8aPqzwIbHb1c-3ENQuN5PwhSK01aC30oTNoxG8dYq4C3E7wJt_kooiAWN-YswYAMRYHJLnK95LYXmjHlDKg2bXkgJ0B-iyGYE/s1600/kingssmill.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Credit to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RachelCokerPhotography" target="_blank">Rachel Coker Photography</a> for these next pics. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6U2SL3w24fEl1PI3QZE525oEQCGshYte-tcEPV5wg3SCLiKRMHJexIZKRKRUG5b0hf6PtyRKC_g1Lz7S9Cj5gcD7EUhCYGcp2LdZAXYMUSP_S8Gm7Mr4k9FfD-s-bewW131lWUpS8UbI/s1600/1497775_298183890366243_3961157742334663184_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6U2SL3w24fEl1PI3QZE525oEQCGshYte-tcEPV5wg3SCLiKRMHJexIZKRKRUG5b0hf6PtyRKC_g1Lz7S9Cj5gcD7EUhCYGcp2LdZAXYMUSP_S8Gm7Mr4k9FfD-s-bewW131lWUpS8UbI/s1600/1497775_298183890366243_3961157742334663184_n.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday fun with this cutie</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHV_G_PvHGEoXcnXvHPLuBkdIp60k9k70QDqkU5YhWnVeiz2tOwvyZ4t3jm2qfyhiJMd4fBeebXhgdYgu7TipNc-OeA5w_NIR_aiiMqSb8gVWYayBteFjqCokIgz3w0RqWTmdI8jGyMw/s1600/10629726_298183843699581_5761892711589080501_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHV_G_PvHGEoXcnXvHPLuBkdIp60k9k70QDqkU5YhWnVeiz2tOwvyZ4t3jm2qfyhiJMd4fBeebXhgdYgu7TipNc-OeA5w_NIR_aiiMqSb8gVWYayBteFjqCokIgz3w0RqWTmdI8jGyMw/s1600/10629726_298183843699581_5761892711589080501_n.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He Best Trio</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIT_BCsgKZvyhrOQFKaIKCLY4d-Xz9lj4GN_Sy2wMnoK5DDX7HcVUEWOTB7Bpi9OYzmeDnVz4aqi7IjnLcirkkOkjV3eZ1MM-vbWI_9B-ik3i7OugfEiNIPKRDfE7zNtMOSb6vCTQj4EY/s1600/10330411_298184217032877_3011413327271853290_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIT_BCsgKZvyhrOQFKaIKCLY4d-Xz9lj4GN_Sy2wMnoK5DDX7HcVUEWOTB7Bpi9OYzmeDnVz4aqi7IjnLcirkkOkjV3eZ1MM-vbWI_9B-ik3i7OugfEiNIPKRDfE7zNtMOSb6vCTQj4EY/s1600/10330411_298184217032877_3011413327271853290_n.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(laugh)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpt07zMjVhg5OFrUhgqD8OA0IwPjHr6Fu77ZQ4hCGu5_-jbSJERK0ZRcf2YlJQVE-orGp5Ync9vKjLOUL1lOlX265g6RaSZ4ZoR9snaQTnQXl1SZE57ntZ7ahdY3vsn-AOirwBN0uKUk/s1600/10577080_298183893699576_4384477171659409880_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpt07zMjVhg5OFrUhgqD8OA0IwPjHr6Fu77ZQ4hCGu5_-jbSJERK0ZRcf2YlJQVE-orGp5Ync9vKjLOUL1lOlX265g6RaSZ4ZoR9snaQTnQXl1SZE57ntZ7ahdY3vsn-AOirwBN0uKUk/s1600/10577080_298183893699576_4384477171659409880_n.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our fourth bff</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Hope you enjoyed a little peak into my summer, you stalkers ;)<br />
<br />
Goodbye, Summer!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Lily Gaineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300851458357855176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3794421127850685300.post-11631453889823974662014-07-02T17:27:00.001-07:002014-07-05T11:01:39.748-07:00CAMP by Elaine Wolf<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDCMnbnji3NUrZ5awwJZU3D1jjLvxwBx37r_r-obDtfGy488N0s_dFylA0xQ7osruLqR7DrZTlZW9tkeUFzV1U8AGxskrll1T_wsENEIu0dP56G-2FkU1utEuJW19UXYKqr5Netbz8p0/s1600/12969687.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDCMnbnji3NUrZ5awwJZU3D1jjLvxwBx37r_r-obDtfGy488N0s_dFylA0xQ7osruLqR7DrZTlZW9tkeUFzV1U8AGxskrll1T_wsENEIu0dP56G-2FkU1utEuJW19UXYKqr5Netbz8p0/s1600/12969687.jpg" height="320" width="214"></a></div>
<br>
(Description from <a href="http://www.authorelainewolf.com/Books_Camp.html" target="_blank">Elaine Wolf's site)</a><br>
<br>
<div class="paragraph_style_5" lang="--multilingual">
<b>A coming-of-age novel about bullying, family relationships, and the collateral damage of secrets.</b></div>
<div class="paragraph_style_6" lang="--multilingual">
<br></div>
<div class="paragraph_style_7" lang="--multilingual">
Every secret has a price.</div>
<div class="paragraph_style_8" lang="--multilingual">
<br></div>
<div class="paragraph_style_9" lang="--multilingual">
For
most girls, sleep away camp is great fun. But for Amy Becker, it’s a
nightmare. Amy, whose home life is in turmoil, is sent to Camp Takawanda
for Girls for the first time as a teenager. Although Amy despises
spending summers at home with her German-immigrant mother, who is unduly
harsh with Amy’s autistic younger brother, Amy is less than thrilled
about going away to camp. At Takawanda she is subjected to a humiliating
“initiation” and to relentless bullying by the ringleader of the senior
campers. As Amy struggles to stop the mean girls from tormenting her,
she becomes more confident. But then her cousin reveals dark secrets
about Amy’s mother’s past, setting in motion a tragic event that changes
Amy and her family forever.</div>
<div class="paragraph_style_8" lang="--multilingual">
<br></div>
<div class="paragraph_style_9" lang="--multilingual">
<span class="style_1" style="line-height: 21px;">CAMP</span><span class="style_2" style="line-height: 21px;"> </span>is
a compelling family drama that will resonate with teen and adult
readers. It will be a strong addition to recommended reading and summer
reading lists, and it is appropriate for anti-bullying programs. Mostly,
though, <span class="style_3" style="line-height: 21px;">CAMP</span> is a mother-daughter story for mothers and daughters to share.</div>
<div class="paragraph_style_8" lang="--multilingual">
<br></div>
<div class="paragraph_style_10" lang="--multilingual">
Perfect for all book groups.</div>
<div class="paragraph_style_8" lang="--multilingual">
<br></div>
<div class="paragraph_style_9" lang="--multilingual">
Ages 12 and up.</div>
<div class="paragraph_style_8" lang="--multilingual">
<br></div>
Publisher: Sky Pony Press (June 1, 2012)<br>
<br>
<br>
~<br>
<br>
My Review:<br>
<br>
I wasn't sure what to expect when I dove into the world of Camp. For one, I've never been to a sleep-away camp. Blame it on being homeschooled if you want, but the whole "staying-with-a-bunch-of-people-I-don"t-even-know-for-the-whole-summer" thing seems pretty daunting, even though I'm probably one of the most people-person persons you may ever have the chance of meeting.<br>
<br>
Let me tell you a thing.<br>
<br>
Read this book.<br>
<br>
Please.<br>
<br>
This book shovels up the gritty truth of growing up and overcoming the obstacles in a life that is stock full of them. I admit that at first I marveled at the horrible actions of some of the characters. Do people <i>really</i> act like that? I wondered. How can anyone be so cruel and power hungry? How can a mother not see when her child is suffering?<br>
<br>
I guess I've been taking for granted the life I have. Sure, sometimes my parents don't seem to understand me. Sure, I've participated in teen drama. And sure, I might get the feeling someone doesn't like me.<br>
<br>
But some people have it SO much worse.<br>
<br>
Now, you may be thinking "Um, it's a book. Those aren't real people and real situations".<br>
<br>
You're correct. No matter how much life we pump into fictional characters, there's just no possible way for them to lift of the pages and become a living, fleshly thing. There might not be anyone in this world who have had a life as trialing as Amy Becker's, but I refuse to believe that.<br>
<br>
<br>
I know the Mrs.Wolf and her publishers agreed that this book is appropriate for ages 12 and up, but with the uncomfortable sexual references and brief scenes I would only recommend this to a VERY mature 12-year-old who's parents said it was okay. I am not personally acquainted with any such 12-year-old, so my recommended age would be:<br>
<br>
Ages 14+<br>
<br>
And I give this book:<br>
<br>
5 stars <br>
<br>
~<br>
<br>
NOW FOR THE BEST PART.<br>
<br>
I recently joined a teen book club being held at my local library. Our book for the month of June was Camp by Elaine Wolf... and my club had the privilege of Skyping with Mrs. Wolf!<br>
<br>
I was pretty darn excited, to say the least. On the way to the meeting I jotted down some writing questions I had for her and was completely satisfied with her answers.<br>
<br>
~<br>
<br>
(Note: These are not Elaine Wolf's actual words, just her advice to me written from the memories in my head and the notes on my paper)<br>
<br>
<br>
Question #1<br>
<br>
What advice could you give about time management, especially directed toward teens who are in school and have responsibilities within their home?<br>
<br>
<u>Use your weekends.</u> (I think I forgot to mention I was homeschooled...) focus on school during the week and writing on the weekends.<br>
<br>
<u>When working on a novel, try to accomplish two <b>keep-able</b> pages per day.</u><br>
<br>
Another tip she had was to<u> write the first paragraph of any story/chapter by hand.</u><br>
<br>
<br>
Question #2<br>
<br>
How can someone with no experience of being bullied (in love, having cancer, etc.) be able to write those scenes and emotions in depth?<br>
<br>
<u><i>Imagination is key</i></u><br>
<br>
<u>Anything you read, hear, see - it's yours to use.</u><br>
<br>
<u>Go out and <b>"borrow" people's experiences.</b></u><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Question #3<div><br></div><div>Were you ever worried about people being offended by the sexual content in Camp? Where is the line between addressing a subject and going too far?</div><div><br></div><div>I remember her smiling at this.</div><div><br></div><div>Writing Camp, she never worried "am I going too far?". The story grew very organically and fleshed itself out as she wrote. Some schools have told her that they would love to put Camp on their reading lists, but were worried that parents would be against it. <i>My </i>parents would probably be against me reading it, if I were younger. I hope that schools can get this book on their lists, and that kids can share it and their thoughts with their parents.</div><div><br></div><div>~</div><div><br></div><div>And a big "thank you" to Mrs. Wolf for bearing with my questions and encouraging me on my journey as a young writer. You were very inspiring to talk to :)<br>
<br>
<br>
<br></div>Lily Gaineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300851458357855176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3794421127850685300.post-30842687912012425252014-06-27T13:32:00.000-07:002014-06-27T13:32:37.090-07:00TFIOS Movie Review<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Check out my book review here: <a href="http://authoressinthemaking.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-fault-in-our-stars-by-john-green.html" target="_blank">TFIOS by John Green</a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/9ItBvH5J6ss?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm a movie watcher.</span> Say what you like about it frying my brain, but that won't change the fact: I really love movies. So much so, that if one is in the theater that I especially like I'll see it a couple times (or several...).<br />
<br />
I've been to see TFIOS twice: The first time with my mum, and the second with my friends. I'll probably end up seeing it again in the near future.<br />
<br />
If you're wondering,<span style="font-size: large;"> I did cry.</span> Hard.<br />
<br />
Heck, I cried the first time I saw the trailer and shed a small tear every time I re-watch it.<br />
<br />
I'm just a very emotional person, <span style="font-size: large;">okay?</span><br />
<br />
~ <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Now, my thoughts on the movie...</span><br />
<br />
As for following the book - a big thumbs up! It was pretty much perfect in my eyes.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Casting</span> - Ansel wasn't quite the Augustus I imagined, but he did well. After a conversation with a friend of mine, we agreed that "Movie Gus" was more cocky than confident. But hey, what can you do?<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Shai </span>was an amazing Hazel. A+ on casting her!<br />
<br />
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<br />
Truthfully though, it's kind of uncomfortable that Ansel and Shai are brother and sister in Divergent. It just weirds me out.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
Even though in the book Isaac is blonde, I still loved him in the movie.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
I don't think I can complain much, the cast was marvelous. The movie was beautiful. The <span style="font-size: large;">feels</span> were real.<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Note: The sex scene was just a tad uncomfortable to watch and seemed to last longer than I'd have liked)</span><br />
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Besides the movie being great, I think we can all agree that John Green is just really cool. I love how involved he was in the making of it. And I just really like him. He's one awesome guy.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Okay?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Okay.</span><br />
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<br />Lily Gaineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300851458357855176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3794421127850685300.post-68671020206206418042014-04-22T05:31:00.001-07:002014-04-22T05:31:20.047-07:00Dangerous by Shannon Hale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have seriously been waiting for this to come out ever since Shannon Hale first <span style="font-size: large;"><i>mentioned</i></span> it's existence. She's one of my absolute favorite authors, mostly known for her exquisite fairy-tale-like stories and more recently, due to it's movie adaptation, <i>Austenland.</i> So, naturally, when she mentioned a possible Sci-Fi novel...I fangirled loudly.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As soon as a release date was set</span>, I frantically requested it from my library so I'd be the first to have it in my selfish clutches. Needless to say, it was devoured in a day.<br />
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<i><span id="freeText903410750798001544"><b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8585924-dangerous" target="_blank">(From Goodreads)</a> </b>Maisie Danger Brown just
wanted to get away from home for a bit, see something new. She never
intended to fall in love. And she never imagined stumbling into a
frightening plot that kills her friends and just might kill her, too. A
plot that is already changing life on Earth as we know it. There's no
going back. She is the only thing standing between danger and
annihilation.</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span id="freeText903410750798001544" style="font-size: large;">Spoiler Free Review:</span><i><span id="freeText903410750798001544"> </span></i><br />
<i><span id="freeText903410750798001544"><br /></span></i>
<span id="freeText903410750798001544"><span style="font-size: large;">Maisie</span> was such a fresh character. For one thing, she was Hispanic. I don't remember when I last read a book where the main character wasn't your average white person. Also, she has quite a special and unique physical trait. Secondly, she has a strong relationship with her parents (and they are self-dependent and <i>actually</i> fill their roles as <span style="font-size: large;"><b>parents</b></span>, unlike many YA parents these days). I'm sure someone will be able to point out their flaws and say they were horrible parents, but come on, parents can make mistakes too. And as far as YA parents go, they were some of the greats.</span><br />
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<span id="freeText903410750798001544"><span style="font-size: large;">The plot</span> was thought out and detailed enough to where I didn't need to know what the cellular-monodegeneratexoid-thingy was, but I still understood what it did. That's one of the beauties of Science Fiction, don't you think so? We don't all have to be nuclear scientists to truly understand the complexity of science. Just reading it you know "Wow, these people are intelligent and...what-in-the-world-is-that-supposed-to-mean? Oh, she explained it. Cool. Wait, what?- Ahhh, I get it!"</span><br />
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<span id="freeText903410750798001544" style="font-size: x-small;">Okay, that may or may not have been a completely honest representation of my thoughts.</span><br />
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<span id="freeText903410750798001544"><span style="font-size: large;">On to the love interest!</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> (or...the OTHER love interest) </span></span><br />
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<span id="freeText903410750798001544" style="font-size: large;">Wilder. </span><br />
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<span id="freeText903410750798001544">Oh, Wilder...I'm not sure how I feel about you. Like in all relationships, Wilder and Maisie had their<span style="font-size: large;"> ups</span> and <span style="font-size: x-small;">downs</span>...to say the least. At some points I was like: "He's too good to be real", then at others I found myself muttering: "You sneaky little..." </span><br />
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<span id="freeText903410750798001544">But hey, that's how you know you've got a good book in your hands. THE FEELS.</span><br />
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<span id="freeText903410750798001544">Then, there's<span style="font-size: large;"> Luther</span>. </span><br />
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<span id="freeText903410750798001544">The childhood best friend. The confidant. Luther is like a brother to Maisie, and like a son to her parents. Both were homeschooled together. Both live in the same neighborhood. </span><br />
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<span id="freeText903410750798001544" style="font-size: large;">Both are confused in the area of <i>love</i>.</span><span id="freeText903410750798001544" style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<span id="freeText903410750798001544">Love triangles are by far not my favorite, but one reason for that is when the best friend gets pushed aside, and then gets all despondent and vows never to love another. This was not the case in <i>Dangerous</i>.</span><br />
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<span id="freeText903410750798001544">I shall say no more. I promised. NO SPOILERS.</span><br />
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<span id="freeText903410750798001544"><span style="font-size: large;">~</span></span><br />
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<span id="freeText903410750798001544"><span style="font-size: large;">All in all</span>, this book was amazing and has earned it's place in my list of favorites!</span><br />
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<span id="freeText903410750798001544">(Along with the rest of Shannon Hale's novels.)</span><br />
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<span id="freeText903410750798001544">~</span><br />
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<span id="freeText903410750798001544">Five Stars</span><br />
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<span id="freeText903410750798001544">Ages 14+</span><br />
<span id="freeText903410750798001544"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(romance, sexual references, and death) </span></span><br />
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<br />Lily Gaineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300851458357855176noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3794421127850685300.post-63615106950281513072014-02-19T07:10:00.000-08:002014-02-19T07:10:00.090-08:00My One Year Blogoversary!<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">One year ago</span>...I had bright red (temporarily died) hair.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">One year ago</span>...I didn't know how to ballroom dance.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">One year ago</span>...I was fifteen-years-old.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">One year ago</span>...I didn't know what a fandom was.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">One year ago</span>...I was the oldest of six children.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">One year ago</span>...I sat down at the computer and decided to start a blog.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">~</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today</span>...I have my normal brown hair again.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today</span>...I can dance the cha-cha, waltz, rumba, swing, samba, and foxtrot.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today</span>...I am sixteen-years-old.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today</span>...I have too many fandoms to list without taking up this entire post.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today<span style="font-size: small;">...I am blessed to be the oldest of seven children.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today...is the one-year anniversary of my blog!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Blog Accomplishments</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">3 Most popular posts:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">With 236 views: <a href="http://authoressinthemaking.blogspot.com/2013/05/book-review-whats-left-of-me-by-kat.html" target="_blank">What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang - Book Review</a> </span> </span></div>
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With 193 views: <a href="http://authoressinthemaking.blogspot.com/2013/10/vocabulary-of-fangirl-part-1.html" target="_blank">Vocabulary of a Fangirl - Part 1</a></div>
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With 157 views: <a href="http://authoressinthemaking.blogspot.com/2013/11/vocabulary-of-fangirl-part-2.html" target="_blank">Vocabulary of a Fangirl - Part 2</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Post with the most comments:</span></div>
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<a href="http://authoressinthemaking.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-review-books-of-bayern-series.html" target="_blank">Goose Girl by Shannon Hale - Book Review</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Post with the most +1s on Google Plus:</span></div>
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<a href="http://authoressinthemaking.blogspot.com/2013/11/vocabulary-of-fangirl-part-2.html" target="_blank">Vocabulary of a Fangirl - Part 2</a> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> ~</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I've posted 65 posts.</span></div>
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20 are book reviews.</div>
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<a href="http://authoressinthemaking.blogspot.com/p/book-reviews.html" target="_blank">List of Reviews</a> </div>
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8 are related to writing.</div>
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And 18 are related to music.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I had the most fun Writing:</span></div>
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<a href="http://authoressinthemaking.blogspot.com/2013/10/vocabulary-of-fangirl-part-1.html" target="_blank">Vocabulary of a Fangirl - Part 1</a> </div>
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<a href="http://authoressinthemaking.blogspot.com/2013/11/vocabulary-of-fangirl-part-2.html" target="_blank">Vocabulary of a Fangirl - Part 2</a></div>
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<a href="http://authoressinthemaking.blogspot.com/2014/01/an-amazinglyweird-dream.html" target="_blank">An Amazingly/Weird Dream</a> </div>
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<a href="http://authoressinthemaking.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-fault-in-our-stars-by-john-green.html" target="_blank">The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - Book Review</a> </div>
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<a href="http://authoressinthemaking.blogspot.com/2013/09/catching-fire-by-suzanne-collins.html" target="_blank">Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins - Book Review</a> </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Thanks to all of you amazing people who follow, read, and enjoy my blog! </span></div>
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<br />Lily Gaineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300851458357855176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3794421127850685300.post-68070048482936046662014-02-18T11:05:00.001-08:002014-02-18T11:05:45.286-08:00A Character's a Character, No Matter How Small<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In this post I want to express the importance of 'small' characters; those extra characters that our MC meets throughout their journey.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Many authors seem to forget them.</span> They forget to take time making them real, which makes them seem flat and useless. When you write a story, every character needs personality. At least jot down the basics<span style="font-size: large;"> (appearance, stronger positive trait, strongest negative trait, religion, and influence on the MC)</span>. Get to<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">know</span> </i>them. In my opinion, you can't write about someone you don't know and make them seem real.<br />
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Granted, you should spend the most time creating your Main Character, but that doesn't mean ditch the others and make them up as you go. Have a plan for them.<span style="font-size: large;"> Give them a purpose.</span> Otherwise, they're just dead weight in your story. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">One way to study this is to watch movies and TV shows.</span> Now, before you get all hoity toity with me, hear me out. Movies are stories that we watch, instead of read. When you watch movies, you can understand characters faster than when reading. It's all in their expression, body language, tone of voice, appearance, and personality. In books, it takes time to know a character, but in movies it usually doesn't.<br />
<br />
Take <span style="font-size: large;">The Hunger Games, </span>for example.<br />
<br />
-In the book, we slowly begin to know Katniss. Her talents. Her lifestyle. Her government.<br />
-In the movie, you need only to watch ten minutes to know all of those facts and more.<br />
<br />
Or, perhaps even a better example is one of my favorite shows: <span style="font-size: large;">Once Upon a Time.</span><br />
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-Each character has a purpose and sometimes that purpose is even greater than you had expected. <br />
-Even when the characters don't have a huge impact, we still get a sense of who they are.<br />
-You can make almost every character related to each other in some way, just to make things amazingly complicated.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Also, character profiling is always good practice</span>. My very first blog post was an outline I found online and it has really helped me when I'm creating characters!<br />
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Here's the link:<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://authoressinthemaking.blogspot.com/2013/02/character-profiles.html" target="_blank">Character Profile Outline</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I hope that this post has either helped or inspired you to flesh out and spend time on ALL of your characters.</span><br />
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Lily Gaineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300851458357855176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3794421127850685300.post-46523235446884312482014-02-18T10:22:00.002-08:002014-02-18T10:22:30.037-08:00Towering by Alex Flinn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDRybxCj0HDbmpLqRllzSvvn09noxpj7OsLRXW47zktl6JV-Xhch8Cwu10i1O5169kbXOTcv8997nRKdVdX8Bw5g1iIb3c_geMDhdDhtfGeBjpwc86J4-sqtcY88ATutvwSsh0DlDJHc/s1600/towering.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDRybxCj0HDbmpLqRllzSvvn09noxpj7OsLRXW47zktl6JV-Xhch8Cwu10i1O5169kbXOTcv8997nRKdVdX8Bw5g1iIb3c_geMDhdDhtfGeBjpwc86J4-sqtcY88ATutvwSsh0DlDJHc/s1600/towering.jpg" height="400" width="257" /></a></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(From Goodreads)</span><br />
<span id="freeText4903775878005776975"><span style="font-size: large;">Rachel is trapped in a
tower</span>, held hostage by a woman she’s always called Mama. Her golden hair
is growing rapidly, and to pass the time, she watches the snow fall and
sings songs from her childhood, hoping someone, anyone, will hear her. <br /><br />Wyatt
needs time to reflect or, better yet, forget about what happened to his
best friend, Tyler. That’s why he’s been shipped off to the Adirondacks
in the dead of winter to live with the oldest lady in town. Either
that, or no one he knows ever wants to see him again.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Dani
disappeared</span> seventeen years ago without a trace, but she left behind a
journal that’s never been read, not even by her overbearing mother…until
now. </span><br />
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<br />
<span id="freeText4903775878005776975">~</span><br />
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<br />
<span id="freeText4903775878005776975"><span style="font-size: large;">Funny story:</span> On my 16th birthday I went to the library to leisurely browse and run my fingers on the spines of books. I bumped into a girl that I had spent last summer volunteering at the library with and we got talking about Doctor Who, Sherlock, and the like. Then she started recommending me more books than I could hold (literally!). The books took up a whole shelf on my TARDIS bookshelf. </span><br />
<br />
<span id="freeText4903775878005776975">One of those books was <i><span style="font-size: large;">Towering</span>:</i></span><br />
<br />
<span id="freeText4903775878005776975"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(my blurb) </span></span><br />
<span id="freeText4903775878005776975">Wyatt goes to live with a lady he barely knows, in order to escape his messed up life. He finds the diary of the lady's dead daughter. A <span style="font-size: large;">mystery</span> starts to unfold before him. Then, he begins to hear strange singing noises that no one else notices. <span style="font-size: large;">Something bizarre is happening in this small town</span>.</span><br />
<span id="freeText4903775878005776975"><br /></span>
<span id="freeText4903775878005776975">Rachel lives in a<span style="font-size: large;"> tower</span> in the woods, in order to be safe from the people who had killed her mother. She is cared for by another woman, whom she calls Mama, even though she knows she is not. Rachel starts to sense a change coming. <span style="font-size: large;">Something is about to happen.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span id="freeText4903775878005776975">~</span><br />
<span id="freeText4903775878005776975"><br /></span>
<span id="freeText4903775878005776975"><br /></span>
<span id="freeText4903775878005776975"></span><span id="freeText4903775878005776975"></span><span id="freeText4903775878005776975">When I noticed that this book was written my Alex Flinn, I was skeptical. I enjoyed the last book of hers I read<span style="font-size: large;"> (<a href="http://authoressinthemaking.blogspot.com/2013/06/beastly-by-alex-flinn_13.html" target="_blank">Beastly</a>)</span>, but it <span style="font-size: small;">wasn't</span> AMAZING and the movie adaption kind of sucked.</span><br />
<span id="freeText4903775878005776975"><br /></span>
<span id="freeText4903775878005776975">My expectation for Towering from reading the back: <span style="font-size: large;">"This is going to be a sappy love story."</span></span><br />
<span id="freeText4903775878005776975"><br /></span>
<b><span id="freeText4903775878005776975">"Today, I woke knowing something would happen. Something would be different. I opened my window. I was a long way down. Still, I wanted to leave the window open, to smell the world outside. I would plaay my harp and sing my songs, and the animal, at least, would hear me.</span></b><br />
<b><span id="freeText4903775878005776975"><br /></span></b>
<b><span id="freeText4903775878005776975">I sang the saddest song I knew, about a girl in love with a poor boy but unable to marry him.</span></b><br />
<b><span id="freeText4903775878005776975"><br /></span></b>
<b><i><span id="freeText4903775878005776975">I know where I'm going;</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span id="freeText4903775878005776975"><br /></span></i></b>
<b><i><span id="freeText4903775878005776975">And I know who's going with me.</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span id="freeText4903775878005776975"><br /></span></i></b>
<b><i><span id="freeText4903775878005776975">I know who I love;</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span id="freeText4903775878005776975"><br /></span></i></b>
<b><span id="freeText4903775878005776975"><i>But the dear knows who I'll marry.</i></span></b><br />
<br />
<span id="freeText4903775878005776975"><b>As I sang, I had once again that strange feeling, the feeling of being listened to, not by birds or squirrels or even deer. I rushed to the window to look. I saw something, or someone, moving. It was walking closer to me, struggling where there was no path, holding on to trees to keep its balance, but still coming closer. Perhaps it was the man I had dreamed of."</b><i> </i></span><br />
<span id="freeText4903775878005776975"><br /></span>
<span id="freeText4903775878005776975"><br /></span>
<span id="freeText4903775878005776975"><span style="font-size: large;">Halfway through the book</span> I began to wonder why they had put that especially lovey part on the back cover. Then, it finally started getting sappy. I don't like it when there's some strange, <span style="font-size: large;">magical connection</span> between a couple, and then all of a sudden they're deeply in love and feel like they'd die without each other. It's unreal.</span><br />
<span id="freeText4903775878005776975"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span id="freeText4903775878005776975">I mean, sure, love can be magical, but I think it's necessary for a relationship to have a foundation other than "I knew he was the one".</span></span><br />
<span id="freeText4903775878005776975"><br /></span>
<span id="freeText4903775878005776975"><span style="font-size: large;">Overall </span>I liked the beginning of the book, but the ending was predictable and the romance dripped with sticky, unrealistic love. </span><br />
<span id="freeText4903775878005776975"><br /></span>
<span id="freeText4903775878005776975"><br /></span>
<span id="freeText4903775878005776975">~</span><br />
<span id="freeText4903775878005776975"><br /></span>
<span id="freeText4903775878005776975"><br /></span>
<span id="freeText4903775878005776975">3 Stars</span><br />
<span id="freeText4903775878005776975"><br /></span>
<span id="freeText4903775878005776975">Ages 14+</span><br />
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<span id="freeText4903775878005776975"><br /></span>Lily Gaineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300851458357855176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3794421127850685300.post-49870716458142183512014-01-27T11:14:00.002-08:002014-01-27T11:14:19.294-08:00In a Heartbeat by Loretta Ellsworth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwLf2XyIdo20jbLCysT8PtboZPGAoj8KrFPuVbMHZV9wBJ-A6aFnyIervqKRBo4WzCQXd11XFkyQLf0YANuxVXIp79AZcCJwlYYKhWU1DoqEoiop_W7yRdX47RYiQ1d0NfS3VfywmRc4/s1600/in-a-heartbeat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwLf2XyIdo20jbLCysT8PtboZPGAoj8KrFPuVbMHZV9wBJ-A6aFnyIervqKRBo4WzCQXd11XFkyQLf0YANuxVXIp79AZcCJwlYYKhWU1DoqEoiop_W7yRdX47RYiQ1d0NfS3VfywmRc4/s1600/in-a-heartbeat.jpg" height="400" width="267" /></a></div>
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<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(From Goodreads)</span><br />
<br />
<span id="freeText11524061490063414338"><span style="font-size: large;">When a small mistake</span>
costs sixteen-year-old Eagan her life during a figure-skating
competition, she leaves many things unreconciled, including her troubled
relationship with her mother. From her vantage point in the afterlife,
Eagan reflects back on her memories, and what she could have done
differently, through her still-beating heart.<br /><br />When
fourteen-year-old Amelia learns she will be getting a heart transplant,
her fear and guilt battle with her joy at this new chance at life. And
afterwards when she starts to feel different—dreaming about figure
skating, craving grape candy—her need to learn about her donor leads her
to discover and explore Eagan’s life, meeting her grieving loved ones
and trying to bring the closure they all need to move on.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
~<br />
<br />
<br />
There's just something I like in a book about <span style="font-size: small;">death</span> and cancer and medical issues. Maybe it's that they make me ponder how I would react in a similar situation. Would I be the kind of person that becomes depressed from my ailment, or someone that decides to push past it and make something of her life while she still can? I guess I won't know unless it actually happens.<br />
<br />
I can't imagine having a heart transplant. Through someone's death would come my life...<br />
<br />
Amelia goes through these emotional struggles as she copes with the knowledge of a stranger's heart taking the <span style="font-size: large;">place of her own</span>. She begins acting...<i>different</i>. Not like her normal, sweet self. She's snappish and suddenly likes the color purple.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Just like Eagan.</span><br />
<br />
Who, in the <span style="font-size: large;">mean time,</span> is experiencing a sort of afterlife...or mid-life...because she's kinda stuck in between life and death. You get to read what Eagan's life is like as it flashes before her eyes. Her mother is pretty pushy and strict about the way Eagan spends her time, wanting to make sure she becomes the best skater she can be. Eagan then dies when she messes up her triple lutz and cracks her head on the side board.<br />
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<br />
The ending was just right, if not a little weird, but I won't say anymore (just in case). :)<br />
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<br />
<br />
~<br />
<br />
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4 Stars<br />
<br />
Ages 14+<br />
(brief sexual references)<br />
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<br />Lily Gaineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300851458357855176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3794421127850685300.post-25392595597917602232014-01-15T08:10:00.002-08:002014-01-15T08:10:19.398-08:00I'm Sixteen...Now Where's My Adventure?I have finally reached the coveted age of <i><span style="font-size: large;">wonder</span></i> and <i><span style="font-size: large;">excitement. </span></i><br />
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Being sixteen is your ticket to <span style="font-size: large;">saving the world</span> or traveling to<span style="font-size: large;"> magical realms</span>...right?<br />
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Thankfully, as a reader and a writer I can do just that ;)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Anywho!</span><br />
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No, not a quest to the <span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">lonely mountains</span></span>, sadly.</div>
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Today, I ask you to join me on an adventure of<span style="font-size: large;"> many books</span> and the <span style="font-size: large;">scribbling of pens</span>. I only have another 364 days of being sixteen and I want to make them count. I want to look back a year from now and see <span style="font-size: large;">ridiculous selfies with friends</span> and glitter still lingering on my clothes from parties. I want to have a blog that's<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> grown</span></span>, hundreds of stories saved in my laptop, and have baked tons of<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> new desserts</span></span> that I've never tried. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So now</span>, I inquire you to join me on my adventure, my quest, my mission, and...<i>my life</i>. (whichever you prefer)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And here's to many more years of blogging adventures! </span><br />
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Plus, Happy Sweet Sixteen to Me! ;D</div>
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Lily Gaineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300851458357855176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3794421127850685300.post-2447132873231617062014-01-14T06:45:00.001-08:002014-01-14T06:58:20.150-08:00An Amazingly/Weird Dream<div>Be prepared for a blurb fit for tumblr...</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Someone in my family apparently worked on the set for Sherlock and KNEW Benedict. Then, for some reason, Sherlock was shooting in the US so I got to go on set and meet him! Then, THEN, he was invited to dinner with us. It got better. There wasn't room for me in our car (we had distant relatives over or something) so he said I could ride with him in his car! Then someone said we needed hot dog buns so he offered to get some. We stopped at this weird gas station-like place that had an abnormally large selection of hot dog buns. He grabbed these weird whole wheat roll things with tons of sesame seeds on top and I just laughed and he snickered and we bought some normal buns.</div><div> </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtk_xH35V7ktOhizXHI5KRbRXq1_tUXoQja-bsSzc4WRHTD3Z2cJF6ZG_cnIBXqHk1Ir2b7lzfwZvJPf3XppaVhBLEIiSqH5Qt_tykGE59lXI5lwFlEDicv6TYFAod5TCXrEk0umpAos/s640/blogger-image-1711369435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtk_xH35V7ktOhizXHI5KRbRXq1_tUXoQja-bsSzc4WRHTD3Z2cJF6ZG_cnIBXqHk1Ir2b7lzfwZvJPf3XppaVhBLEIiSqH5Qt_tykGE59lXI5lwFlEDicv6TYFAod5TCXrEk0umpAos/s640/blogger-image-1711369435.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>That's where the semi-normalness ended...it just got weirder and weirder from there... This old lady tried stealing his car as we were coming out and since I was closest I jumped on it to try and stop her. The car somehow became a motor cycle and the old lady hopped off so I went swirving into a curb and got flung out into the middle of the street. He ran over and picked me up and called a rental car place, but somehow we ended up in this weird, multi-leveled, primary colored building. Suddenly, there was this monster thing that was after Benedict and we got to run all over the place, you know, Sherlock and John style.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtbI6sogjb4oMBS8mDzw-U3i1zu4uHD7Q1yjle6CppdNVqB4ccDNy0sflwx7SKCwLRYa6hZCiRZ0JuQjlLsB0a0L6agc-MOEPB6TyhPihTkXdN7BLLfbyRb2bexUkl3gUwu9Ncc09Ike8/s640/blogger-image--1391831514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtbI6sogjb4oMBS8mDzw-U3i1zu4uHD7Q1yjle6CppdNVqB4ccDNy0sflwx7SKCwLRYa6hZCiRZ0JuQjlLsB0a0L6agc-MOEPB6TyhPihTkXdN7BLLfbyRb2bexUkl3gUwu9Ncc09Ike8/s640/blogger-image--1391831514.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div> I guess somewhere in there we started falling for each other (I mean, obviously I was already head over heals for him, but it wasn't until the hot dog buns incident that he began to like me more). So we ran and ran...and ran...until we came to this lake/swimming pool thing. We were trapped and the monster grabbed me and pulled me into the water and turned me into a small fish. Then the monster disappeared (to who-knows-where) and Benedict was on his knees, dark curly head in hands, crying because I was a fish...</div><div><br></div><div>And then I woke up.</div>Lily Gaineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300851458357855176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3794421127850685300.post-83015251215385577152014-01-09T09:52:00.000-08:002014-01-09T09:52:33.978-08:00When You've Never Been Kissed<div>
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They say<span style="font-size: large;"> 'write what you know'</span>...and there is truth in that. However, as writers it is our place to write what we don't know. I'm sure not many fantasy writers have ever experience the sight of a head being sliced off or a king falling from his horse. We create scenes in our heads that we've never seen in reality.<br />
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Scenes, though, are different from emotions.</div>
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For someone like me who's never been in a relationship with a guy, it can be difficult to write romance. </div>
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How can a girl who's never been kissed, never held hands with a guy, never thought of one in 'that way', write about love and romance? </div>
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I say:</div>
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Love is love, no matter the intentions behind it.</div>
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I see love in the way my parents share a kiss after praying over our dinner. I see love when my little sister plays sweetly with her brother. I see love in the church, in the fellowship we have there.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Not only do I see love, but I know it.</span></div>
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I know it when I have long, emotional conversations with my mom that last late into the night. I know it when my brother desires snuggle-time. I know it when my sister gives me goodnight kisses and hugs.</div>
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Most of all, I know love because of my relationship with Christ. His love for me is forever and always, and no one will ever love me as much as he did when he took the wrath of God that I deserved upon his shoulders. No one, not ever. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I do know love</span>, thought not in the lustful way of the world. I know love in its <span style="font-size: large;"><i>purest</i></span> form; in the love of my Saviour. </div>
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As writers we have the <span style="font-size: large;">right to write</span>. Now, how to write <i>well?</i> - that is the question. If you're facing difficulty in writing emotions, my best advice is to dive deep into your own. Remember your envy, anger, shyness, love. Experience it, express it.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Write it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*all photos used were found on <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/lilyember/him-her/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> </span></div>
Lily Gaineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300851458357855176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3794421127850685300.post-76155677457979424752014-01-02T08:39:00.002-08:002014-01-02T08:39:31.337-08:00A Year-Round Short Story Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">52 stories in 52 weeks!</span> I've been wanting a challenge, right? Well, here is one that I'm committing to, and I hope some of you will join the numerous amount of writers participating! I've also decided to try and post one short story a month, so that will be new for me :) </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Let's do this! </span></div>
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Lily Gaineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300851458357855176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3794421127850685300.post-43979301606028511182013-12-31T06:44:00.002-08:002013-12-31T06:44:58.268-08:00'Tis the End of All Things {this year}<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Happy New Years Eve everybody! <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Do you have any special plans for tonight? I'll be attending a costume party, which should be fun.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">After long consideration I've set on going as Nancy Drew and you may, or may not, be seeing pictures of my fab outfit in the near future ;)</span></span><br />
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I have hopped on here after a very (VERY) long absence, for which I apologize, to give you all a taste of what I hope this next year will hold for this blog.<br />
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Hopefully, by having a plan I will feel the pressure of responsibility. Because, let's face it, even bloggers that love to blog will get in slumps where they don't have the motivation to write their emotions down for all to read.<br />
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With Christmas, and a new job, I have been unmotivated to write for my blog, which I regret. <i>There may come a day when I lose all interest in blogging and having a life on the internet.</i><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">BUT IT IS NOT THIS DAY!</span></b><br />
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Now, onto the plan! I love making plans and schedules and task charts, but hardly do I ever accomplish them. That's why I'm letting you all know my plan, that way I'm held accountable.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">2014 Blog Plan</span></div>
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At least 2-3 Book Reviews a Month</div>
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At least one post about something writing related per week</div>
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1 post about my life and what's happening on my side of the screen each month</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">2014 Blog Goal </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Have enough followers by the end of the year to start doing giveaways</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">If any of you have book recommendations it would be appreciated greatly! Also, if you know fellow bloggers that would enjoy my blog, please share it :) Thanks everyone, and have a Happy New Year!</span> </span><br />
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<br />Lily Gaineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300851458357855176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3794421127850685300.post-87333358352813169082013-12-09T08:19:00.001-08:002013-12-09T08:19:32.883-08:00The Fault in Our Stars by John Green <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Or, more accurately:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">From Goodreads:</span> <span id="freeTextContainer12645540991186901421">Despite the
tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel
has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon
diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly
appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be
completely rewritten.</span><br />
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<span id="freeTextContainer12645540991186901421"><span style="font-size: large;">~</span></span><span id="freeTextContainer12645540991186901421"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
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<span id="freeTextContainer12645540991186901421"><span style="font-size: large;">My review (SPOILER FREE): <span style="font-size: small;">The Fault in Our Stars is a beautifully written story about two cancer kids that fall in love. It's about the way we look at life and how, after a life close to us is taken away, that perspective effects the way we cope. It's about learning that people aren't who they seem (or who you want them) to be. People will disappoint you greatly, or perhaps surprise you into love. This book is about LIFE. <i>Real</i> life. Real people. Real love. </span></span></span><br />
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<span id="freeTextContainer12645540991186901421"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">This story and the characters in it are alive in my heart and they will never leave. Reading this book brought laughter to my lips, tears to my eyes, and deep thoughts to my mind. What a marvelous combination! The way John Green writes makes me <i>feel </i>and <i>think</i> - not many writers can do that, and he does it wonderfully and fluidly. John Green, you are <span style="font-size: large;">MAGNIFICENT.</span> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span id="freeTextContainer12645540991186901421">The main two characters: </span></span><br />
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<span id="freeTextContainer12645540991186901421"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hazel Lancaster</span> - <span style="font-size: large;">"<i>I told Augustus the broad outline of my miracle diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer when I was thirteen. (I didn't tell him that the diagnosis came three months after I got my first period. Like: Congratulations! You're a woman. Now die). It was, we were told, incurable.</i>" </span>~Hazel, page 24. </span></span></span><br />
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<span id="freeTextContainer12645540991186901421"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hazel is sixteen, her favorite book is An Imperial Infliction, and she enjoys watching reality TV shows with her parents. She attends college classes and has a huge vocabulary. Because of the metastasis forming in her lungs she is constantly hooked up to an oxygen tank. She has short brown hair and is told by Augustus she looks like Natalie Portman in <i>V for Vendetta</i>.</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZ8NYVAKV3u1kJNqOn0VIBtMgrSPy-JKk0XumiYAhyphenhyphenjNARK4Qb-olpBpLOIbW2HHpBpjiX4xXLZ8P4wbr5gFFSkciSmtZapaWY2JhtJ9pvwpKDOnF3FAGxQbecfaEFJgMvvF8WcJzHrw/s1600/v-for-vendetta-natalie-portmans-buzzed-hair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZ8NYVAKV3u1kJNqOn0VIBtMgrSPy-JKk0XumiYAhyphenhyphenjNARK4Qb-olpBpLOIbW2HHpBpjiX4xXLZ8P4wbr5gFFSkciSmtZapaWY2JhtJ9pvwpKDOnF3FAGxQbecfaEFJgMvvF8WcJzHrw/s1600/v-for-vendetta-natalie-portmans-buzzed-hair.jpg" height="320" width="257" /></a></div>
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<span id="freeTextContainer12645540991186901421"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintrcQvrBj2BqxjjzTpqKddAoqUBEhJsxHZsQb31ffu9wkdX-MHxd1dOGxzAwT-xs_Kc7XHn7_k-lKeTsb0BuhKXUxK9sYCpZhW06ghEXKQFWLdCq5JvHFHpGQpqafCf0f03Rw6wiwmts/s1600/403980-divergents-shailene-woodley-shows-off-short-hair-for-the-fault-in-our-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintrcQvrBj2BqxjjzTpqKddAoqUBEhJsxHZsQb31ffu9wkdX-MHxd1dOGxzAwT-xs_Kc7XHn7_k-lKeTsb0BuhKXUxK9sYCpZhW06ghEXKQFWLdCq5JvHFHpGQpqafCf0f03Rw6wiwmts/s1600/403980-divergents-shailene-woodley-shows-off-short-hair-for-the-fault-in-our-.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shailene Woodley as Hazel in the upcoming film adaption.</td></tr>
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She is an up-beat, sarcastic girl that has an irrepressible affection for... <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Augustus Waters</span> - Handsome and flirtatious, this guy stole that piece of my heart reserved for book boyfriends as soon as I set eyes on him. Augustus meets Hazel at Support Group and they start their relationship with a steamy stare-down, which Hazel wins. Confident, charming, tall. This guy has it all...well, I guess there's the little detail of him having one leg due to the Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) that was in it.<br />
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Augustus is determined to leave his mark on the earth before he dies. In this way he is very different from Hazel, who is afraid to hurt anyone by leaving her mark and does all she can to prevent the pain others will feel when she herself dies. Augustus complains at one point of the book that he just wishes he could have a major impact on people. <span style="font-size: large;">"</span><i><span style="font-size: large;">It crossed my mind to fake a choking incident or something so that
he might give me the Heimlich. Maybe then he could rid himself of this
fear that his life had been lived and lost for no greater good."</span> </i>~Hazel, page 237.<br />
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She then tries to make him understand that by just living he impacts those around him: <span style="font-size: large;">"</span><i><span style="font-size: large;">I just want to be enough for you, but I never can be. This can never
be enough for you. But this is all you get. You get me, and your
family, and this world. This is your life."</span> </i>~Hazel, page 241.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP3hp5PuVhMETeYbdnsCK48Ja8ZslV47BkCEQzkWt_j9fdBaJB-h4PUEM0U2K04m4aWxf9s5FsQ3NNC0A3usV00s8r0u2xAZtcj-HTPzcPgtnNJgWIm8_KalumSqwmMh5Z2kUK-5V2EXU/s1600/Screen-shot-2013-05-08-at-2.20.26-PM1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP3hp5PuVhMETeYbdnsCK48Ja8ZslV47BkCEQzkWt_j9fdBaJB-h4PUEM0U2K04m4aWxf9s5FsQ3NNC0A3usV00s8r0u2xAZtcj-HTPzcPgtnNJgWIm8_KalumSqwmMh5Z2kUK-5V2EXU/s1600/Screen-shot-2013-05-08-at-2.20.26-PM1.png" height="204" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ansel Elgort as Augustus in the upcoming film adaption.</td></tr>
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They are young and in love and bring to mind a favorite quote from Doctor Who: <span style="font-size: large;">"Life is short, and you are hot"</span> ~Billy Shipton in the episode <i>Blink</i>.<br />
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5 Stars<br />
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Ages 15+ (depends on maturity level)<br />
-some language, sexual references, and brief sex scene-<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> (End of spoiler free review)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><i><b>SPOILER ALERT</b></i></u> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">SPOILERS!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;">SPOILERS!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">SPOILERS!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">SPOILERS!</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">SPOILERS!</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">SPOILERS!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">SPOILERS!</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Okay, if you're still reading this I am assuming that a) you've already read the book, or b) you want the book to be completely spoiled for you.</span> <span style="font-size: large;">I will not take any blame for poor, spoiled blogglings, understood? </span> <span style="font-size: large;">;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Note: This part of the review is more likely to be a sobbing rant, rather than a well written review. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> My emotional status in the last 50 pages went from this:</span><br />
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To this:<br />
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To this:<br />
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It was just too much! The other time I have cried this hard because of a book was reading Allegiant! I came downstairs, my face swollen and red, and my mom looked at me and was all "What's the matter?!" and I was just like:<br />
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After realizing that I was just crying over a book, which is pretty normal, she gave me a hug and teased me about how 'it's just a book, it can't hurt you really'. You know, the normal mom talk.<br />
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John Green you are very skilled at making me sob violently, thank you. Like I said, you are a magnificent writer.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">BUT I WILL NEVER GET OVER AUGUSTUS DYING!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">They deserved better! They deserved each other!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I guess that's just life though, right? We're all dying, not just cancer patients. Every minute we live is another minute closer to death. Cancer patients just have to live with that constant reminder, unlike those that lead 'healthy' lives. Just because I don't have cancer doesn't mean I'm guaranteed a long life. Now, I'm not saying that people with cancer don't have it worse than non-cancer people. We go about our lives normally, while they (like I just said) are repeatedly reminded that they could die any minute. Their lives are painful, emotional, and sad. The Fault in Our Stars gives a peek into what living with a tumor inside your lungs is like. I really appreciated this, because in all the movies I've seen with cancer patients they are always so angelic and perfect. Hazel and Augustus are not. They fight (with each other and their parents), they're selfish, sarcastic, thoughtful, and have many of the same emotions every teenager has. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">And they loved. They loved each other in a way that wasn't just the normal 'boyfriend/girlfriend' way.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, naturally, Augustus had to go and die.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Of course.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Throw a pile of bricks at my heart, why don't you? </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">You know it must be an amazing book if it can make you have all these feels.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">And this, my blogglings, is most certainly an <i>amazing </i>book.</span></span><br />
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<br />Lily Gaineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300851458357855176noreply@blogger.com3