Jackaby, Black Duck, and One Lovely Blog!

I was nominated for the One Lovely Blog award! See the bottom of this post for more info. :) 

So, as I think I've said before, I'm doing ANOTHER reading challenge. Similar to the one I did in August--actually, it's pretty much the same thing. The only difference is that I have a lot less books on my list this month. :P 

Since I reviewed Killer Instinct, I've read 2 books--Jackaby, and Black Duck. And oh my gosh, both were amazing. 

I'm about 99% sure that I looked like this upon finishing both. :P

But really though. I just. 

They're both so good. 

And, oddly enough, both are historical fiction. Well, actually, Jackaby might not be historical...but it's still amazing. 

Anyways. Without further ado....

Jackaby

Genre: Supernatural, historical(ish).

Author: William Ritter (his name seems like one you'd come across in the book, actually.)

Content: Um...none, really, that I remember. I mean, there's the violence that comes with this being a murder-y thing and [SPOILER] the whole Red Cap thing. *shudder* But other than that...there wasn't really anything in it!

Memory: Jackaby, Abigail, and Charlie being awesome investigator buddies. And Mona yelling at them. "We have cake." Douglas the duck. 

Rating: 5 stars. 

I really, really liked this book. A lot. It's just the coolest idea. Like, in the synopsis, there was this line that started with "Doctor Who meets Sherlock". SO. COOL.

And the charactersssssssssss. They're precious. <3

I'm kinda thinking it's a series? Or at least hoping?

Because I need more of Jackaby and Abigail and Jenny the ghost. And supernatural occurrences that crop up in New Fiddleham. <3

Black Duck.

Genre: Historical, suspense, could be mystery? 

Author: Janet Taylor Lisle

Content: Again, this one didn't have anything in it, really. I mean, there was the whole illegal transport of alcohol thing, and it got kinda violent at times, but other than that...

Memory: Tom Morrison's shack by the beach, Marina's clam chowder, and a rolled up fifty-dollar bill stuck inside a pouch and shoved beneath a mattress.

Rating: 5 stars!

This book. I cannot get over this book. It was jarring finishing it and being yanked out of New England in 1929, away from Ruben and Jeddy and Marina and Tom Morrison, and a speedboat called the Black Duck.

Also, can we just TALK about that ENDING?

I think I should have seen it coming? I read the book super fast, so I don't really remember if Ruben ever came out and said what happened in the beginning, but...still? Ow? I was hurt by that? But the bits after were amazing. The whole book was. 

I just really appreciated Black Duck because it's one of the only YA '20s books I've found that doesn't focus on flappers and parties and either Chicago or New York (yesIknowmybookisinNYCbutITSDIFFERENT).
Like, I get all of that was a big part of the 20s, but there's so much more! There's people like Ruben and Jeddy, people like Mr. Riley and the small sleepy New England towns, ships like the Black 

Duck. There's more.

//end rant. 

But yes. Black Duck is amazing and you should read it. So is Jackaby.
The two couldn't be more different, but they're both great. <3

I've been nominated for the One Lovely Blog award by Emily at Dreaming Hobbit! I'm super excited! :D

The Rules:

1. Thank the person who nominated you and leave a link to their blog.
2. List the rules and display the award
3. Add seven facts about yourself
4. Nominated 15 other bloggers
5. Follow the blog you were nominated by

So. 

Crap.
I have to come up with 7 facts about myself. 

Hmm...

1. I play piano.
2. Over the past couple of months, I've fallen in love with the '20s--the fashion, the books...GAH. 
3. On that note, I love vintage. The '20s through early '60s, really. <3
4. I am allergic cats, dogs, dust mites, cockroaches, and a variety of pollens. :/
5. I have three younger siblings. 
6. I've wanted to write since I was at least 10 years old. 
7. I love history. A lot. 

Well. There they are. *flops*

And now, my nominees. :D I don't even follow 15 blogs, so I'm not sure how many I'll come up with...

• Mariesa at MeoBird/ 2 AM Readers
• Sam at The Writer's Nook
• Chloe at Curious Ramblings
• Elly at The Spilled Inkwell
• Ellie at The Restored Artist
• Charlotte at Photographer of Thoughts

So that's...six? *merp*

That's close enough I guess. :P 

[Book Review] Killer Instinct

Lemme tell you guys a story.
Mariesa told me a while ago that The Naturals was really good, and I read about a quarter of it before it had to go back to the library. This is about two months or so ago.
And then, December Reading Challenge starts. I think, oh, hey, The Naturals! I'll finish that!
So I did. Last Sunday.
And I've been in a sort of reading slump waiting for the next one to get in at the library.
AND THIS AFTERNOON I GOT IT.
I GOT IT AT ABOUT 5 O'CLOCK
AND FINISHED IT
JUST NOW
SIX HOURS LATER.

IT WAS AN EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER AND I SQUEALED AND SCREAMED AND LAUGHED AND I LOVE THESE BOOKS SO MUCH OKAY.

*coughcough* Okay. I'll stop screaming and, you know, actually review.

Killer Instinct-5 stars.

I'd Call It... YA Criminal Minds? It has a distinct Ally Carter-ish feel about it--brooding guys, thrilling chases, FBI involvement... no sign of Interpol, yet. ;)
In a Few Words... Cassie and co. pick up where The Naturals left off, only this time, someone's messing with Dean. Cue a freaky game that spans a few hundred pages, multiple dead ends--and bodies--AND squeal-worthy scenes between Cassie and Dean. <3
I'd recommend this to... Definitely not a children's book. :P Fairly graphic when it comes to the murders, and there's the creepy factor that comes with Cassie being a Natural profiler. Lia is questionable as always. :/ So...PG13?
I'm Left With... "I rose up on my toes, my body pressed against his, and returned the kiss, the pain in my face fading, washed away with the rest of the world, until there was only this moment--one that I hadn't thought I'd live to see."


Really though. Killer Instinct.
Jennifer Lynn Barnes, can I please have the third book? Pretty please? *bats eyes*
I just.
I cannot.

My ship sailed. 

My characters lived!

bUT I NEED MORE.

*pointed look at JLB and Jonathan Stroud*

I'm waiting on book three from both of you.

Starry-Eyed (12.7.14)

Guysssssssssss.
If ever there's been a time when I've lived up to my blog description--starry-eyed adventures--it is now. I've got so much that I'm excited for and doing right now, and I feel Starry Eyed.
First of all, STORY IDEAS.
My latest, and also what I'm going to be working on next, can best be summed up as "Pride and Prejudice meets Sherlock Holmes". It takes place in Regency London, which involves a lot of research.
I'm not complaining. Research is actually my favorite. But I'm a history nerd and always have been, so it's not a surprise. xD
Some of the topics I'm researching right now include...

• Regency dances 
• Regency London
• Police procedure in the Regency and Georgian eras
• And even though it's not 'research', I'm reading A Study In Scarlet and rereading Pride and Prejudice. :3

Right now, I'm doing a December Reading Challenge (similar to the one from August. I'm reading Burial Rites, The Naturals, and A Study in Scarlet, along with a lot of other books. :D

ALSO.

IT'S CHRISTMAS.

MERRY CHRISTMAS. 

*little kid voice*

andGodblessus,everyone.

Final Thoughts On NaNoWriMo '14

I hit 50,000 words on Thanksgiving--or the day after, I guess, given that it was about one o'clock in the morning. And I still had about 20,000 left at the most.
Tonight--before youth group started, with everyone talking and playing games--I finished my first ever first draft and got to type 'The End'.
Empty Alibi is 68, 6882 words long.
53 chapters. 9 parts.
It's done.
I'm happy, and sort of sad. I loved writing this book. I loved writing about Bethany and Elliot and Jules and Chapman, I loved killing people--creepy as that sounds--I loved listening to my novel playlist on repeat.
I love this book.
But gosh, I'm tired.
I'm taking all of December off from writing--and doing another reading challenge! :D--and then I'm starting back in January.
So.
NaNo.
I honestly think every writer should try NaNoWriMo at least once. Because it challenges you, and you know what? Even if you only write 10,00 or 15,00 or if you win and broke 50,000, you wrote. You wrote more than you would have written if you didn't do NaNo.
And it's fun. There's community, and it's fun knowing that there are other people doing this same crazy stuff as you.
ALSO.
WINNER GOODIES.
FREE COPIES OF YOUR BOOK PRINTED.
SUSCRIPTIONS TO AWESOME STUFF LIKE EVERNOTE AND SCRIVENER.
L O T S OF FUN.
So...will I be doing NaNo again next year?

Heck. To. The. Yes.

NaNoWriMo Log: Day 28, Week 4

GUYS.
GUYS.
G U Y S.
I DID IT.
I STINKING BEAT NANO I HAVE OVER 50K WORDS HOLY WHAT.


okay so I beat it last night, but whatever.
Butttttt, I'm still writing, because I've got at least 15 thousand words more of story and plot to write. Which is kind of crap. D:  But hey, I did it! I wrote 50,000 words in a month! :D
This will probably be my last log until I do a post-Nano update on Monday. :P But, it's gonna be funnnnnnnnn when I do post again. Because Tangled gifs.
Total word count: 51,441
Today's word count: 1,434
Favorite line(s) written: Elliot shifts, and I watch him. “I don’t...” he trails off, shoving his hands in his pockets and looking immensely confused. “I’m not sure how to say this.”

Chapman leans forward. “Do your best, then.” He coughs. “I don’t know how to say the majority of what comes out of my mouth.”

“Obviously,” Jules mutters under her breath, and Chapman rolls his eyes, shoving her shoulder.

There’s a few moments of charged silence, where Jules and Chapman act like the children that they are and I stare at Elliot and Elliot stares at the ground.

“He doesn’t think it’s Oliver James,” I say, and when he looks up, I meet his gaze, and he shifts. 

NaNoWriMo Log: Day 26, Week 4 (plus a tiny apology)

....I'm really sorry.
Super, super sorry.
I didn't mean to disappear, I promisseeeee.
I didn't ask for this or plan it in advancceeeeeeeee
I was merely blown here by the winds of procrastination and sleep deprivationnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

Anyways. //end wicked reference.
But hey, I'm two thousand words away from WINNING NANO!
THIS IS BIG NEWS GUYS!
AGGGGGH!

Me doing NaNo.
Also I'm super tired so this'll mostly be gifs. :3

But yeaaaaah, I'm happy. But I'm also worried, because this story is not going to wrap itself in 2k. More like, 15k at the least. D:
Anyways. Onto today's thingy! :D
Total word count: 48,105
Today's word count: 2,177
Favorite line(s) written: My gaze switches between the photo and the three of them, and I study it from all angles, trying to find how it would have worked.

And it doesn’t. There’s no way he could have taken this photo, not that I can see.

I angle it up, eyeing the crisp photo, and then I look down at them. They’re in nearly the same position.

I glance between the photo and the scene below.

“No,” I breathe, looking back down at Jules. “No freaking way.”

NaNoWriMo Log: Day 22, Week 4

Ohmygosh. It's the last week of NaNo. How/when did this happen?? It was just November first?? o_O
Anyways. *le cough* I thought I should let you knowwwww...I've got a special post-y thing planned for December 1st. And it's going to be awesome. Also, it involves multiple Tangled gifs and explains NaNoWriMo! :D
BUT. I have mucho more writing to do today, so. I'm going to do my log and then fly off to write some more. :D
Total word count: 41,445
Today's word count: 1952 (but as I said, I'm going to do a lotttttt more.)
Favorite line(s) written: He takes a long breath, looking up at me. “Don’t start this, Bethany.” His voice shudders. “I know you mean well, but I’ve tried it all. I’ve looked into every possibility, every loophole.”

He pauses, and when he speaks again, his eyes are trained on me—cold, broken, angry. “The world gave up on my sister a long time ago,” he says, clenching his jaw. “No one even pretends to still look into her case. And then there’s me, living every day as if I’m not going mad, knowing that somewhere Penny’s killer is walking free.”

“Harris—”

He stands. “Don’t,” he says, his voice cracking. “I’ve been doing this a lot longer than you have, Bethany. And if I couldn’t find an answer...”

He eyes me, shakes his head, and then walks out of the room, coat slung over his shoulder and hat on his head, and the photo clenched in his hand.

NaNoWriMo Log: Day 20, Week 3

I dreamed a dream in time gone byyyyy

Actually what I look like right now.

when hope was high

and so was my word countttttt

Okay, um, I kind of had to do that. Also: 

I think I'll try defying sanity!

And you can't make me sleeeeep!

I'm done this time, I promise. xD This is what happens when I have little to no sleep every night and my brain is forced to be creative multiple times a day. I GET A LITTLE CRAZY. 

But really though. I'm going to go into hibernation or something in December to catch up on all my sleep. *yawns* Anywho. A few things about NaNo this next weekend:

• I would really, really like to hit 45k before Monday. Because reasonssss. 
• I'm taking Thanksgiving off, so I need to get ahead. D:

Welp. Now that that's done with. 

Total word count: 35,699

Today's word count: 1617 (although I'd liked to squeeze a few hundred more in before I go to bed.)

Favorite line(s) written: I look up. “Aren’t you cold?” I ask, eyeing Chapman—and his rolled-up sleeves. He quirks an eyebrow.

“Says you,” he laughs, and a small sort of smile plays across his face. I rub my hands up and down my arms, shivering slightly.
“I think much better when it’s cold,” I say, my voice almost as shaky as the rest of me. “It feeds my creative genius.”

“Genius? You?” Chapman makes a psshing noise, rocking back on his heels. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Let it be known that I take no issue in hitting people,” I laugh, my voice shivering with me. “I’d watch your back.” 

NaNoWriMo Log: Day 18, Week 3

Oooooohmygosh. How's it already the 18th? Like, it was just November 1st. I swear. o_O
Anywho. On to NaNo related things.

Some fun stuff that happened today: 

• I figured out my villain's actual motivation (ya know. After what, six months of this story idea? :P)
• I wrote sass, fluff, pain, and friendship and it was wonderful.

And because I can't decide, you get two snippets today. Wootwoot! :D 

Total word count: 31,413

Today's word count: 1,266 (not my best. :P But I'm going to do a lot tomorrow, so I feel significantly better about this. xD) 

Favorite line(s):  “He’s...” I trail off, my nose crinkling. Oliver James is one of those people who, even if he were to be discussing saving war orphans, could give me a strong urge to slap him, multiple times. “No, Jules. He is. And I don’t know how all of this fits together.”

Also: 

A sort of smile plays across his face and he settles back in his seat. “Well, I thought so.”

I roll my eyes, and Jules coughs, so I look over at her. One eyebrow is quirked.

“If the two of you are done flirting,” she says, and I scowl.
“Jules. Shut up.”

NO JULES. Don't shut up.

KEEP DOING THE THING BECAUSE CUTENESS. 

Okay. I'm going to bed now. *slightly manic grin* 

NaNoWriMo 2014 Log: Day 17, Week 3

So I kind of forgot to do a post yesterday. D: I didn't get much done, really, though, so...yeah.
D:
I'm sorryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.
But here, have one for today plus maybe my favorite Elliot and Bethany thing I've written in the history of ever.
 Total word count: 30,147
Today's word count: 2,337
Favorite line(s) written: I turn to face him, the hem of my skirt swishing as I do. “Harris has a sister. And somehow, she’s connected to Hayley, Miss Lawson, and Russell.”

His eyebrows raise and he steps towards me, lowering his voice. “Penny, right?”

It’s my turn to be surprised. “How do you know that?” My voice is laced with curiosity and shock, and he smiles, a confident, teasing thing.

“When one is the grandson of Mason Elijah Moore,” he begins, his voice taking on a confident lilt, “one happens to gather useful information about a variety of people.”

NaNoWriMo Log: Day 15, week 2

Hehe.
Gosh, it's been a while since I've done a NaNo log. :3 But I'm back, and as far as I know there are no more vacations in November! So...back to regular posting. :P
I got about 7k written this past week, and as of today I'm a couple thousand words ahead. Which is beautiful. :D
Total word count: 27,897
Today's word count: 1,812 (but I am planning on getting more in before I go to bed tonight. *cracks knuckles*)
Favorite line(s) written: “Bethany,” he starts, his voice strained. “Please tell me you understand what this means.”

Why do people keep asking me that? Do they assume that I don’t understand what it means?
That there is a psychopathic killer stalking my every move?

That I’m in danger with every breath I take?
How is that hard to understand?

“I understand perfectly well,” I say, my voice taking on a hard edge.

He sighs. “Don’t get defensive,” he mutters, rubbing his temples. “I want you to understand,” he begins, looking up at me, “What is going to happen after this.”

He pauses, as if giving me time to take this in.

“There is a serial murderer watching your every move,” he says carefully. “Which means that where you go, he goes, or at least one of his tools. You’re in danger every waking moment of your life until we apprehend him.”

“Yes,” I say, looking up him. “This isn’t new information.”

NaNoWriMo Log: Day 9, Week 2

Guys.

I found.

The best.

Gifs.

To describe.

NaNo.

Like. Wow. Wowwwwwwwwwwww. Such accuracy. 

Anywho.

While I'm thinking about it: Tomorrow, I won't be posting a log, because it's my birthday! :P And I might just do a massive post Saturday evening, because this week I'm probably not going to have much time. So. 

On to today's log, I suppose. :P 

Total word count: 19,821

Today's word count: 2354

Favorite line(s) written:  I swallow hard and force myself to take in the room without thinking of letters or Judah Anderson.

I shiver, wrapping my coat tighter around me. Why is it so cold in here?

For one ridiculous moment, I let myself remember the ghost stories Thomas tried to terrify me with when we were younger. Elliot had always made him leave me alone, and we made up our own stories. Usually ones where a nasty, simpering something named Thomas was defeated by heroes Elliot and Bethany.

But those stories had scared me nonetheless. And I got to a point years ago where I only rolled my 

eyes when he told them late at night, but I think right now, that part of me has ran away.

And for one moment, I let myself wonder if Miss Lawson is haunting this room.

NaNoWriMo Log: Day 8, Week 2

Ahahaha. Remember when I actually wrote things for these instead of rambling and then doing my log? Haha, yeah. 

actually me right now

Those were fun days.

You know. Back when I wasn't half asleep trying to write. .-.

Total word count: 17,786 

Today's word count: 2095 (but I'm going to try and make myself break 18k tonight, so it might end up as a few more.)

Favorite line(s) written: “Tell them,” he says, his voice low. “We both know the truth.”

And I know, now, that this has to be him. It doesn’t make sense but it has to because until now I hadn’t remembered the scar, but it’s the only thing we really had to distinguish him. And Stanton’s face was scarred in a different way, marked by grief.

I want to launch myself at him, hurt him. For killing Hayley and for killing Miss Lawson, and for showing no regret.

He watches me, and I watch him. My head spins. 

Eurgghhhhhrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgghgggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I'm so tired I just.

NaNoWriMo Log: Day 7, Week 1

So, it's been a week since I started this, and that's kind of crazy. But also cool. Because I've written almost 17000 words in a week. :D
Also, in addition to being me right now, that gif is on my storyboard! :D
Total word count: 16,429
Today's word count: 3370
Favorite line(s) written: I can’t help it, I raise my voice. “What’s gotten into me? I don’t know, let’s think about the past month. Our butler, murdered! My teacher, murdered, and I chased down her killer! What’s gotten into me is I want to help with this but I don’t know how! And don’t tell me I’m too young or I don’t know enough about this, because I’ve watched you do this for as long as I can remember and if anyone should be involved in this, it’s me!”

I’m gasping for breath by the end of it, by I don’t regret it. All the emotions and words I’ve bottled up for the past month had to come out sometime, I suppose.

Everyone watches me, and I don’t like it, but I suppose I asked for it. A moment later, Chapman whistles.
“That was something,” he says. “Mind if I quote that?”

NaNoWriMo Log: Day 6, Week 1

LOOK AT HIM.

Today has maybe been one of my favorite writing days so far. I introduced one my favorite characters, Noah Chapman. This guy. He's so full of snark and I love his dialogue.
He's a reporter for a struggling newspaper who agrees to help Bethany by looking into a possible suspect (even though she hasn't exactly told Harris about this yet).
I really like this guy, in case you couldn't tell. Most of their dialogue today was them trying to out-sass each other, and I'm looking forward to throwing some of my other characters in with them as well. >:D

Total word count: 13,205
Today's word count: 2067
Favorite line(s) written: When the door clicks shut, he laughs.

“You’ve got them going pretty good, kid.”

Oh, God, he did catch the stutter. The thought crosses my mind that maybe he’s involved in all of this and he knows about the letter, but I bat it away. He doesn’t seem like that.

But Hayley didn’t seem like a killer, either. 

NaNoWriMo Log: Day 5, Week 1

Hello people. :) I wrote a lot today, which is amazing. :D Also, I got really cool books from the library.
Total word count: 11, 421
Today's word count: 2901
Favorite line(s) written: My dreams are little more than nightmares. I’m plagued by the sight of Miss Lawson’s body and the killer diving through the window, and a car hitting a small girl’s body.

Over and over and over again.

I wake up trembling and make myself go back to sleep, and I’m torturing myself.

I toss and turn through the night, never really getting any sleep, and when one of the teachers comes in at seven o’clock, I’m already dressed.

She watches me for a moment and then crosses the room, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. “I’m so sorry,” she murmurs, squeezing me.

What do I say to that? Thank you?

I nod instead, and she stands. When she walks out, Jules get up and gets dressed. I wait while she does her hair in the mirror, wordless.

“Bethany...” she begins, but I stop her.

“I’m fine,” I say, stepping towards the door. I look back at her, and she’s watching me, sadness and concern swirling across her face. “I’m fine,” I say again, and my voice cracks, but I make myself step out into the hall.

NaNoWriMo Log: Day Four, Week 1

Today went a lot better than yesterday, which is awesome. I really liked the scenes I wrote today, and I actually got to rewrite the scene that came from a sentence that inspired the entire novel's idea, which was fun.
So.

Total word count: 8515
Today's word count: 2555
Favorite line(s) written: “Are you asking me for help?” he asks.

“Um, sort of?” I look behind me, mostly to see if Bea is there. “I...I think Bea’s hiding something. And I think it might be important.”

“So you need my help with an unofficial interrogation?” A slight smile plays across his face.

I stifle a laugh. “That sounds questionable,” I say, and behind him, Mason gestures for him to follow him out the door. I wave as Elliot walks away.

“I’ll be back for the questionable interrogation tomorrow morning,” he whispers as he walks past me.

Also, this is what happens when NaNo people videochat at night: 

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Mariesa.

Sam

And me!

So....yeah. That's it, I suppose. I'm super tired so yeah bye I guess.

NaNoWriMo Log: Day 3, Week 1

I'm going to be completely honest.
Day 3 hurt.
I've got a cold (thanks to my brother) and it's allergy season, so combined my nose is pretty much useless. And I've had a serious case of I-don't-know-what-to-write today.
But obviously I can't not write. A couple hours ago Mariesa, Sam and I videochatted and attempted to word war while singing Wicked.
Surprisingly, I got a lot done (although that's probably thanks to Write Or Die).

So....
Total word count: 6141
Total word count: 2008
Favorite line(s) written so far: Harris ended up staying for dinner. So did Oliver James.

And apparently, murder doesn’t make for good dinner conversation. 

I'm out. To sleep, or maybe post in a character lounge because feels. See you all tomorrow, I guess. *sleepy wave*

NaNoWriMo Log: Day 2, Week 1

Day two has left me exhausted, depleted, but kind of happy. Because I've written a little under 4k words in two days. Two days! Ah!

Actually me right now. 

Anyways. It's been a craaaaaaazy day, starting with Daylight Savings giving me MORE SLEEP (wOOT!) and ending with a Pastor Appreciation Day service at church. (Love ya, Rountrees. *fistpump*)  Which involved cake. Cake is always good. 

Total word count: 3923

Today's word count: 1403 (although I might write a bit more before going to bed.) 

Favorite line(s) written today: “But why would he leave it behind?” Elliot asks. I shrug, helpless. Why is a good question. Was he just particularly incompetent? Is it even the killer’s?

What if whoever it was wanted to be caught? 

Aaaaaaaaand, that is all. I'm off to (hopefully) get a few more words in on Empty Alibi, read Brave New World (which is amazing), and drink tea. It's a good life.

NaNoWriMo Log: Day 1, Week 1

Oh.
My.
Gosh.
Today is day one of NaNoWriMo. And, oddly enough, I'm still fairly sane. :P

Word Count: 1807

Pages written: 11

Favorite line(s) written so far: “Hayley is...” my mom prompts, trying her best to sound soothing, but I know she’s mildly concerned. And internally freaking out. 

“He’s...he’s dead. In his office, I went in to ask him something and he’s just lying there, all bloody and pale and oh my God, I can’t do this—” 

Also, reward chocolate: 

Milk chocolate caramel Doves. I'm in love.

That's it for today! How are you all doing with your word counts?

Three more days???

Three days.
Oh gosh.
Three days to plot and plan and freak out and do last minute research on the '20s.
Three days of not having to write 1,667 words a day.
Three days of sanity.

Three more days, and NaNoWriMo begins.

Well, actually Barricade Boys, it's three, but whatever.

But oh my gosh. Seriously. I am not ready. I'm the opposite of ready. I'm terrified and excited and intimidated and bouncing.

T h r e e  d a y s. 

This is not possible.
Doctor, where are you with the TARDIS? I'd like to go back a couple of months and make myself plot. 

Anywho. That was a rather short post, I guess. 

But hey, at least I posted!

Strangely enough...

Oh goodness. In my last post, I said I would be participating in NaNoWrimo. And I'm still ridiculously excited for it and I've done a lot of outlining this past month. But I'm also supposed to be finishing my WIP, Falling Dark, and I'm kind of stuck.
So since my brain was tired of staring at a non-changing word document, I'm just going to ramble for a bit here to refresh it. :)
Before I get to that, though, I guess I should explain the title. :3 I'm using it as a series-ish thing for when I just want to write something and don't want to try and come up with anything terribly smart or a title. :3

Sooo...I've been up to quite a lot the past few weeks. I was in North Carolina last week, and it was lovely. :) Of course, that eight-hour car trip meant a lot of reading for me! Some of the books I read this month are...

Right now I'm reading Knightley & Son by Rohan Gavin. It's really good so far, if a little confusing.

I've got Dangerous Creatures from the library, also, and I'm really excited. It's a companion novel to the Caster Chronicles by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, which I loved. :3 It focuses on Riley, and as far as I can tell it's her POV for the events of Beautiful Creatures--sounds awesome. :D

Oooh, and Halloween's coming up! I'm going as a femLeo Valdez from Rick Riordan's Heroes of Olympus. Bonus: I get a Camp Half Blood shirt and an excuse to quote Leo all night. xD
Speaking of Rick Riordan, the last book in Heroes of Olympus, The Blood of Olympus, came out earlier this month. I finished it a day after it released, but I haven't reviewed it. Mostly because I disliked a lot of things about it and I'm not quite sure how to put how I feel about it into words.
I loved the Percy Jackson series, and all four books before BoO were amazing, but this one was just kind of...meh. Besides not having any POV chapters from Percy or Annabeth (or Hazel!! D:), it kind of fell flat towards the end.
But anyways.

Like I said before, NaNo is coming up fast. I'm hoping to do a writing log at least every other week, but whenever I get a chance I'll post. They'll pretty much just be short updates on where I am and how I'm doing on my word count. :D

And on that note...I kind of need to go write for Falling Dark so I can do NaNo. :3