Character Development

So I just got finished watching an episode of Once Upon a Time with my parents. We're a week behind, and tomorrow we are watching the most recent one. But, boy, how I just love all the character development in this show!
In case you've never watched this show, it is about a 28-year-old woman named Emma whose son, whom she gave up for adoption ten years prior, tracks her down and makes her take him back to his hometown, Storybrooke, Maine. But the twist (one of many) is that every person in this small, quaint little town is a characters from his book of "fairytales," appropriately named "Once Upon a Time." Obviously Emma thinks Henry, her son, just has a wild imagination, when in reality, the citizens of Storybrooke are under a curse which made them forget who they really are. So while Snow White is a saintly school teacher, Prince Charming is in a coma, and they don't know they are husband and wife. The basic theme of Storybrooke is that everyone has a past, and it appears no one gets a happy ending, one of the bonuses of the curse. Snow White's step-mother, Regina, is the Mayor of Storybrooke, and she is determined to keep the truth hidden, even if it means hurting her adopted son... Henry.
Whew! What a mouthful. Needless to say the plots are very intricate and the writers pull characters not only from Disney, but also from Grimm's Fairytales and even Sir Richard E. Burton's "Arabian Nights." So you have Mulan, Red Riding Hood, the genie; Aurora, Rumpelstiltskin, and the Mad Hatter. (All right, that last one was Lewis Carroll, but you get the idea: every children's fictional character comes to life.)
The show usually starts out in Storybrooke where Emma or one of the other characters face some sort of dilemma, and then it flashes back to their old lives, as Snow White instead of Mary Margaret, or Rumpelstiltskin instead of Mr. Gold. This episode I just watched was focused on Rumpelstiltskin and his phase between losing his son and meeting Belle. Oh, and I probably should have mentioned this earlier, but -SPOILER ALERT! Here, Rumpelstiltskin and Kilian Jones cross paths, and Kilian remarks how Rumpelstiltskin's skin resembles that of a crocodile. Not that that is very insightful on my part or anything, but I like how the writers tied it in.
The gist of this whole monologue is that there is so much characters development, and it is all so rich, that sometimes it can feel a bit... a bit like having a huge piece of cake and a plate that's too small. But I love how in-depth they go, the gory little details, a slight-of-hand trick or a notorious phrase. It makes me want to sit down and plan out some of my characters like that, with gory little details, heartbreak, betrayal, and hopes and wishes. Because everyone has felt that childlike happiness, where it feels like you're just bathing in light, like nothing in the world can touch you. I love finding those moments for my characters. It helps me figure out what makes them tick. But you know what's even more fun? Integrating it into the stories, and letting the audience get glimpses of the person's past. Maybe that will be a personal goal for me this month: to pick a character and uncover their history, how I would see it in Once Upon a Time. What are their flaws? What are their strongpoints? Why?
Well, I sincerely hope I haven't bored you with all this yammering, but if I didn't get it out now, I wouldn't have been able to concentrate on reading my Bible.
Anyway, goodnight, and stay safe from all this rain.

-Grace

A Bit About My Second Story

Some good friends of mine are reviewing my second story before I send it out to Trestle, but I have to admit, it differs from the first story in every way, shape, and form. However, I'm hoping that does not affect the quality of the story.
This story, which is for now called The Last Spring until I can think up a better title (which may be never), is about a little girl named Lily who lives with her grandma and mother. And it is basically a love story. But you throw the Woman in Scarlet into that mix, and who knows what will come of it? What I tried to achieve with this story, and even with my last story, was telling a tale through a child's eyes. In this second one, the focus is on the mother, but through her seven-year-old daughter's perspective. And I tried to incorporate a simple lesson in there, as well, without sounding preachy. Actually, I wonder if people will even pick out the lesson? Hm. Eh, just have to wait and see. I like this story, though. A few of the characters are based off real people. David, Grandma, Ishmael, even Freddie... sort of.
I can't wait for this next one to be released.
Later!

-Grace

Winter in October

You know what's funny? The fact that my first story takes place in the winter, presumably around Christmas time, when right now we're in the middle of October. My second story, which hopefully will be released in about a month, takes place around spring/summer. Either way it is much warmer outside than when the first story took place. Now I'm working on my third story, which is taking place around Halloween, but it will probably come out in the middle of December. Yeah, try reading a book about ghosts two weeks before opening presents under the Christmas tree. I just think it's kind of funny how the stories don't at all match up with the seasons right now. Hmmm... Maybe I'll get things back on track come the fourth volume. Yeah, I'll make it around Valentine's Day. That should be fun.

-Grace

On the Clock

Let the countdown begin! As of tomorrow, my very first short story, The Woman in Scarlet: Where Snow May Fall, will be available for purchase on Amazon.com! I can't believe it. It has been such a whirlwind since Trestle contacted me a few weeks ago. Ever since then it's as if my days were being fast-forwarded. I would get an e-mail from Trestle and eagerly type a reply, my knee bouncing in anticipation for what was to come next. Now the ball's rolling and I can't wait to see what is ahead!
Thank you, Lord, for giving me this opportunity, this gift, this passion. There is no doubt I wouldn't have made it this far if it weren't for you. You are marvelous!

You can check out my Twitter @graceyee_123 , Pinterest, and Goodreads (I think) for more updates and possibly random facts.
Adios.

-Grace

Remember

I had forgotten what it felt like to read into the night. But thanks to my sister's copy of Ella Enchanted, I remember.

-Grace

First Look

Here's the first look at the cover for my series, The Woman in Scarlet. The flower is a red oleander, which means "Caution" or "Beware." Intrigued yet?

Calling

Observe a hummingbird. Notice how it darts to and fro, how it's wings are a blur as it tries to stay airborne. Sometimes it feels like my heart beats as fast as a hummingbird's wings. Like now, for instance. Now and the past week or two. There's this euphoria, this elation that I'm not used to. I've heard of the feeling of being able to fly, but I like experiencing it more. My God is so good! His blessings are abundant! I encourage you to think about what you truly want from life. Do you want a successful career or a strong family? Why not both? But how can those things be achieved, except by asking the Lord constantly for guidance, wisdom, strength and courage? I don't mean to sound preachy. It's been a long day and, as I said earlier, I've been in this kind of dreamy state ever since getting word back from Trestle. Still, I don't want anyone to think asking for something like wisdom is selfish. The real test is doing what we are called to do and gaining that wisdom. I truly hope I can be a blessing to others and to my Lord as well.
In the meantime, there are stories buzzing around that are just demanding to be written.
Goodnight.

-Grace