30 Day Writing Challenge: 30 Random Facts

Day 18's writing challenge is to post thirty facts about yourself. I have to say, I kind of like making all these lists. It makes me feel so organized.

1. I am a student attending Community College.
2. I have strong opinions about what people say regarding Community College; it's not a place for slackers. You can receive just as good an education there as you can anywhere else. Don't mess with us college peeps.
3. My wardrobe is comprised mostly of blue and black, with a healthy smattering of geek-oriented stuff.
4. As far as fandoms go, I would say I am in a good many. However, I'm probably most invested in Harry Potter. I find myself referencing that the most, although Disney, Sherlock, and any classic literature fall in close behind.
5. I have my own box shaped like the Monster Book of Monsters from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, although I have not found anything worthy enough to put in it. Suggestions?
6. When I was little, I wanted to be a fairy when I grew up. Not much has changed, except when I die, I hope I'll be surrounded by Heavenly angels instead of fairies.
7. Wherever I am going, I always have either a book(s), a notebook and pen(s), or all of the above on hand. The reason I don't have one of those pretty clutch purses for weddings and stuff is because I can't fit all that into one.
8. One of my absolute favorite topics to study is mythology. It doesn't matter which part of the world it originates, I want to study it.
9. When I was a kid, a brick fell on my head. This was partly my fault. As I was climbing the tree in our backyard one day, I wished there were a shelf to keep my books on so when I was reading in the tree and had to go in for lunch, I could just leave the book on the shelf and come back out when I was finished. I started to work shortly after constructing a shelf out of blue rope woven from silk threads. Well, of course I needed to test it, and there happened to be a brick laying nearby. I tested my shelf with the brick, and it worked beautifully. Unfortunately, I forgot about it. A couple of days later while I was playing under the tree, the brick fell on my head and actually bounced off of it. I don't think I ever screamed that much. Mostly I remember my parents carefully pulling away bloody strands of hair to see if I needed stitches. Apparently I was just shy of needing stitches, but what I took away from that was my experiment succeeded! My shelf was functional! And so was gravity.
10. My favorite food is Taco Dip. It is a delicious layered concoction where you spread refried beans on the bottom of a pan, then taco meat, salsa, and finally Velveeta and chopped chili peppers. You cook it in the oven for about forty-five minutes to an hour and eat it with tortilla chips. There is absolutely nothing healthy about it, but it is so good!
11. Baking is one of my favorite hobbies. Cookies are probably my special-ity, although I've been getting into making my own versions of popular candy bars. My homemade Almond Joys? To die for.
12. I love spoiling my nieces and nephew! I will slap down an obscene amount of money for a stuffed animal or a nightgown if I know they will love it.
13. I was enjoying this whole list-making thing, but now it's getting kind of hard. Thirty facts? What is this, speed dating?
14. I love the TV show Sherlock, though one of my favorite Disney movies remains The Little Mermaid. Beauty and the Beast follows at a close second. I also miss the usage of choirs in movies like Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland. If you listen to those songs, you'll know exactly the sound I'm talking about.
15. I've read The Screwtape Letters at least three times.
16. In one year of high school, I read the Twilight Saga more than thought. (Shut up, I was fifteen, single, and hormonal.)
17. I loved the first season of Once Upon A Time on ABC, but now I feel like it's getting really weird. They brought in the Wicked Witch of the West, then they jumped on the Frozen wagon, then they brought in Cruella DeVil, and I know they've thrown in some Greek mythology in there. Stick with a realm, Kitsis and Horowitz. Disney was good, Grimm's was a really good move, but now you seem to be going on a Lost sort of path. But I will admit, Captain Hook is one of my favorite characters. Also, Belle cries, like, a lot. Is her weeping face a selling point? Miss the old Belle and Rumple.
18. Sorry, back on track. Random fact number eighteen, if I keep on the same track I've been going, I should be able to finish my degree in three years. Yay!
19. If I could have superpowers, which powers would I want? I think I would want the ability to control water, turn invisible, and fly.
20. If I had to choose one? I don't know why, but I think I would want to control water. Although being able to heal came to mind, if I had that ability, and just healed my family whenever they needed it, I wonder if I would become less faith-dependent. I've seen a lot of family members on hospital beds. Let me tell you, having faith during those times, when there are tubes down there throats, in their arms, and when they writhe in pain but you can't do anything but hold them, those are some of the moments where your faith is tested, and in some cases strengthened.
21. If I could go back in time and do something different, I think I would spend more time with my Pap Pap. He knew so much and spoke so little, his wisdom was sometimes in what he didn't say, or just the look he gave you.
22. I was homeschooled my entire life until I graduated high school. I loved being homeschooled, but I wish I had spent more being involved in theater productions. Not that I was social repressed, but I just didn't know they existed. I thought all actors were professionals, even the kids.
23. When the time comes that I am on an extreme budget and can only afford a few groceries, I have narrowed down what I personally would want for essentials, food-wise. If I had only $30 to spend on food, my entire pantry would consist of coffee, sugar, peanut butter, whole wheat bread, apples, and chocolate chips. Not including the coffee maker and filters, I can go without creamer in my coffee, so long as there's sugar. So my breakfast would be coffee with an apple or coffee with toast and peanut butter. Lunch would consist of a peanut butter sandwich or an apple cut into wedges with a side of melted peanut butter dip. For dinner, any combination thereof, except I would add chocolate chips for a treat. And that is my entire meal plan for when I inevitably will need to budget my food. There was actually a time not long ago where this pretty much was all that I ate, and I wasn't even buying the food. But I know that I can survive on these things. For a time.
24. I would LOVE to work on a movie set. Whether it's building sets, making costumes, doing interviews, working in make-up, making props, being the designated coffee-runner, or just being someone's personal assistant, just to be in that environment and seeing all of that stuff being created would be totally awesome!
25. When I was little, I wanted to grow up to be a fairy.
26. At the same time, I was convinced I was half-mermaid.
27. My favorite directors are Joss Whedon, Peter Jackson, and Andrew Adamson.
28. I have read The Screwtape Letters at least three times.
29. I am a YouTube and Pinterest junkie!
30. It took me a good two weeks to come up with this list.

I hope you enjoyed this because it took me forever to write. I started writing it two days after my last post and it has taken me this long to finish it. Coming up with thirty facts about yourself is hard. Anyway, I'm trying to cluster the rest of the writing challenges to at least fit them in before the official end of the year. We'll see how it goes.

-Grace

-Grace

30 Day Writing Challenge: My Day in Bullets (points)

Hi everyone. I'm sort of squeezing this in between assignments, but it actually works out perfectly because the challenge for today is to bullet point your entire day.

• 7:51 -Awoke from a text sent by my sister. Was instantaneously happy.
• Went downstairs to find Mom awake.
• Discussed needing to buy more melting chocolate, a new toaster, as well as sorting out some other Christmas present stuff.
• Began getting ready to leave.
• Maverick visions promptly dashed when I realized I still had an assignment due by midnight tonight, and aside from doing the shopping and going to work, I was also helping my sister with her dress rehearsal.
• Mental note to brew extra coffee.
• Drove to bank. Deposited a check.
• Went to JoAnn Fabrics. Wilson's melting chocolate two for six dollars, plus a twenty percent off entire purchase coupon! Win!
• 9:51 am -Went to mall to finish Christmas shopping. Store in mall was closed until 5:15 pm. Drat!
• Went to Kohl's to find Steeler's merchandise. Nada.
• Braved the hallowed bulwarks of Wal-Mart for groceries.
• 11:41 am -Made it home without killing anyone.
• Realized I forgot to buy cat food.
• Fed the cat some lunch meat.
• Ham and cheese on pita for lunch.
• Talked with Mom before work.
• On way to work, realized I had an eighth of a tank of gas. Once at work, had a scintillating conversation with coworker about how far I could get on a quarter tank of gas. She asked what kind of car I had. How many cylinders? When I stepped on the gas was it more of a VVROOOMM or a vvvvroom? Told her it was more like a vvvroom.
• 12:53 pm -Punch in, started running racks.
• 4:54 pm -Punch out. Start car.
• Listened to new Cinderella soundtrack on my way to the church where the recital is going to be at, periodically glancing at the fuel gage and trying to remember along the road where each gas station was.
• 5:47 pm -Arrived safely at church with still an eighth of a tank. Parked under a non-functioning streetlamp.
• Upon entering I was almost immediately handed one of my nieces. Changed her into tights and a leotard. Tried to keep her from running on stage when it wasn't her turn. Several near misfires.
• Helped both nieces change into new costumes.
• Watched their dances.
• Helped the oldest out of her costume into something more comfortable.
• "Potty time!"
• Changed into first costume because it had a pretty tutu and we didn't pack the "Belle" dress.
• 7:54 -Left church.
• 7:59 -Got gas.
• 8:41 -Arrived home. Ate a late dinner. Watched the practice video with Mom, Dad, and Grandma. Yep. Rachael's still got it. You can tell she still loves dancing.
• 9:10 -Went upstairs to work on paper, due in three hours.
• Checked Blackboard. Paper not due until tomorrow.
• Binge watched YouTube.
• Decided to start paper anyway.
• Three questions in, remembered I still needed to blog for today.

The end.
This is day fifteen for this writing challenge. I'm halfway done.
Still not sure how I feel about that.

-Grace

Blog Interview with Tracy Krauss

Morning! Today I'm happy to share a lovely interview I had with author Tracy Krauss, whose had quite a busy 2014. Read on and enjoy!

(Author Tracy Krauss)

Q: So besides being a writer, you're also a drama teacher. That's awesome! How did you get into that?
A: I did my first degree in Fine Art Education and interned as an Art teacher. During that time I also volunteered in the Drama department and joined the Drama teacher's association. I had always loved drama when I was in high school, and my love for theater just continued to grow over the years as I got involved in various amateur theater and church theater projects. I took a sabbatical from teaching to raise my family, but in 2001 I got hired as an Art teacher at a local Secondary school. Since it was a small school, I was also asked to teach a Drama class. I was hooked. I threw myself into the role and teaching drama has become my primary focus.

Q: Was drama something you wanted to pursue before writing or did the two just follow each other seamlessly?
A: As I said, I always enjoyed getting involved in local theatrical projects, but I really came to writing plays by default. I started writing way back in the eighties when my eldest child was just a baby and I needed a creative outlet that wouldn't be too much hassle. (I had previously focused on my visual art, but our first tiny home was not conductive to an artist's mess.) I started clacking away on an old typewriter and have been compulsively writing ever since. (Mostly novels.) As far as plays go, other than a couple of church Christmas plays, I started writing plays for my students back in 2001 when I couldn't seem to find the right fit. Most were met with very positive audience response and good reviews in local media. In 2010 I decided to start pitching a few to various play publishing houses. To date I have seven plays in print (out of dozens I have written and produced).

Q: Wow! That's amazing. Although you really are an incredible writer, so it doesn't strike me at all that you would fit into any other writer's category such as playwright as well as you have. :-) So what are you working on now?
A: I am taking a bit of a breath and considering my options at this time. Last year (2014) was crazy for me in terms of releases. Counting all the installments in the various series I was involved in, as well as plays, a children's book, devotional book, and a novella, I had twenty new releases last year. Of course I do have a couple of works in progress, but no contracts at this time.

Q: What is your next work to be released? Tell us about it.
A: The next two volumes in the COLONY ZERO Series should be releasing soon. My story DUPLICITY comes after your NEW EARTH. It follows the story of the colonists after the natural disaster that has devastated the colony and is part of the second series. After that, I believe the backstories should be releasing. (Book III of the Series.) My [back]story is called LEGACY and focuses on Renata, the spiritual leader.

Q: Sometimes I feel like I'm writing for 20 different kinds of people. My audience, my publisher, my friends, my family, myself. Especially when you incorporate all the social media we have to keep up with, it can sometimes make it difficult to see where the center point is and what you're trying to say. How do you manage it all?
A: I have struggled with this dilemma, myself. Of course it is important to stick to a publisher's guidelines, and it is essential to know your audience, but if I'm not writing for myself then the whole endeavor is pointless. Perhaps it is my background in the visual arts that makes me more egocentric than I should be, but I'm just being honest. Artists approach their art from a place of inner inspirations -a quirky need to express themselves in a unique way. Of course there are a lot of painters selling lovely landscapes to hang over the sofas of the masses, too. I've had to ask myself about my motivation. Is it to sell a few books or to express a message? Writing, and all the other demands that go with it, is too much work for me to do for any other reason than the latter.

Q: Can I get that on a plaque? Those are words to live by. Wonderful answer. But onto some more light-hearted stuff....Which books are on your list to read?
A: I read a lot of mid-list authors -people I've come to meet online, etc. I have several by [Helping Hands Press] authors, Astraea authors (on of my other publishers), and others. I also plan to finish a Ted Dekker series I started a few years ago, and a few by Sigmund Brouwer that have been languishing on my shelf for a while. Oh, and Dana Pratola's latest offering in the Descended Series is coming soon and I've been looking forward to that.

Q: Do you have any book recommendations?
A: My top three fiction books from last year are: Descended Sebastian by Dana Pratola (a supernatural fallen angel-esque series); God's Daughter by Heather Day Gilbert (a Viking historical. She's an HHP author); and Tattered Innocence by Ann Lee Miller (she has become one of my favorite authors -very realistic but with a Christian message).

Q: What movies or TV shows (if any) do you like to kick back with?
A: A rather eclectic mix... I'm an HGTV addict. I'm a long-time Sci-Fi nerd as well. Last year I was following a show called Continuum, but it has gone off the air. I also really enjoyed Downton Abbey and am looking forward to the 5th season.

Q: Your caffeinated beverage of choice would be...?
A: Coffee straight up.

Q: Where can we find you on social media?
A: My website has links to everywhere: http://tracykrauss.com
FB: http://tinurl.com/Tracy-Krauss-Author-Fanpage
Twitter: http://twitter.com/TracyKrauss
Blog: http://tracykraussexpressionexpress.com

Thanks so much for talking with me, Tracy. :-)
And to visit Tracy's Amazon author page for a list of her books on amazon, here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/Tracy-Krauss/e/B003J3QU7W/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1420299343&sr=8-1

Q&A with Author Mark Venturini

Hello everyone! I apologize profusely for my extended absence. College does keep you busy, especially when the subject does not come naturally to you. However, I'm here now, and I am so excited to share with you the Q&A with fellow-Colony Zero collaborator Mark Venturini. Enjoy!

1. I know from previous talks that you've been writing for quite some time now. Did you always want to write fantasy/sci-fi or was there another style you preferred before stumbling into our Narnia of a genre?

 

I’ve always been interested in science fiction and fantasy. One of the first books I remember owning as a child was The Runaway Robot by Lester Del Rey. There was also the classic, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle  

 

2. Your book "Whispers from Forbidden Earth" was written for middle grade readers. What made you want to write for that age group?

 

I didn’t purposely start out to write a story for middle grade readers. Whispers has a long, convoluted history. It started out as a short story until someone in a critique group mentioned that it would make a great novel. From there, the initial novel drafts were geared toward a YA audience. But I finally came to the realization that the overall plot and theme would probably appeal more to a younger crowd. So, the final version that is available through Amazon and B&N grew organically with no outline or game plan. I was essentially winging it with a lot of detours along the way. It was definitely NOT the recommended way to write a novel.  

 

3. The Collaboration for "Colony Zero" has been such an interesting process for everyone involved. We all must coordinate ideas, hammer out details (like spelling "Breneman" correctly), have a sense of our character's journey throughout the story. At the same time we have to remain open-minded about certain things and be willing to compromise when it comes to the essence and integrity of the story. Although it is far from over, what have you taken away from this experience?

 

When Helping Hands Press first contacted the group of authors about the Colony Zero project, I had my doubts. I mean, we had seven different authors with seven unique styles and seven different ideas. I think writing a sci-fi story made it all the more complicated. We had to get the scientific elements, if not 100% accurate, at least believable. I was very pleasantly surprised how well all of the different elements and voices came together to make a compelling origin story.

 

4. Where do you turn to when you need a bit of inspiration?

 

If you’re asking about inspiration for new stories, I have a VERY difficult time coming up with ideas. I really struggle with that. When the muse strikes, it’s usually by way of a single image or sentence. With my short story, The Passing of Things, it was a single phrase: the touch of my master’s hand. For my sort story, Severed Roots, I imagined a tree on a knoll with ribbons of sunshine spilling through the branches.   

 

5. I know you're involved with a lot of writer's groups, providing detailed critiques for various projects. At the same time you are doing your own writing and make a living as a software engineer. How are you able to find balance?

 

What’s balance? (LOL!) I’m answering your questions while on my lunch break at work. Unless you write fulltime, there will always be tradeoffs. The sad reality of the writing industry is, unless you’re an A-List author, or if you’re with a small publisher like we are, much of the marketing falls on your shoulders. If I’m writing, I’m not building my social network and promoting my stories. If I’m on Goodreads or Twitter, or one any of the bazillion other social outlets, I’m not writing. Then there’s the work thingy and the hour commute to work along with yard work in the summer. I am so lucky to have the best and most understanding wife in the world (I love you, Kathy).

 

6. In what way have past experiences affected your writing? Do they appear in stories or influence perspective?

 

Quite a bit in my short stories. Part of If Only to Say Goodbye takes place in a cave. That comes from my spelunking adventure through Bear Cave near Blairsville PA. My flash fiction Piece What About Louie? was written after a major layoff in my company. My flash memoir, That Place I Cannot Go, talks about my wife’s diabetes. I think you can still find most of my flash pieces online if you google my name and the title.

 

7. Which writers have influenced you the most?

 

Oh, gosh . . . George R. R. Martin for his Song of Ice and Fire series (without the blood-letting), Ann Rice (Interview with the Vampire), Neil Gaiman, Dan Simmons (Hyperion), Connie Willis (Doomsday Book and Lincoln Dreams).   

 

8. If you could be a character in another sci-fi or fantasy series (television and video games included) which series would you be in and what would be your role?

 

I honestly never thought about that. I don’t play video games, so that’s out. For a series, I’d have to go back a few years. I LOVED the X-Files and wouldn’t miss an episode. My character would have to be Fox Mulder. I loved his never-wavering belief in the supernatural.

 

9. What's been your most rewarding experience as a writer?

 

When I received the check for my very first short story sale – If Only to Say Goodbye. It was only $47.00, but I can’t describe the joy and the sense of vindication.

 

10. What is your caffeinated beverage of choice?

 

Keurig coffee, especially Caribou Coffee and Newman’s Own Extra Bold.

 
And here is a link to Mark's personal chapter in "Colony Zero -Volume 3 -In the Midst of Sorrow":
http://www.amazon.com/Colony-Zero-Volume-Midst-Sorrow-ebook/dp/B00JFZJXLI/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1398131587&sr=8-4&keywords=mark+venturini

Also, a link to Mark's collection of short stories, "Darker Passages":
http://www.amazon.com/Darker-Passages-Mark-Venturini-ebook/dp/B00IU112Y4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398131657&sr=8-1&keywords=mark+venturini

Ta!

-Grace

Sand Pits and Rabbit Holes

My mind and body feel as if they've fallen into a pit of sand. I move slowly, the sand oppressing every undertaking, and still it's almost as if I have made no progress at all. My eyes hurt from staring at my computer (and really, one should never stare at his or her computer) and right now my curser is blinking because I left my computer on during the night. School follows the sunrise, but not before coffee, thank goodness. I wonder if it will be an easy day tomorrow? I enjoyed the reading for school. We moved on from poetry to fantasy, and we had to read excerpts from "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass". How curious that Lewis Carroll was able to write two entire books out of unpredictable events. I got dizzy reading of Alice's constant change from too tall to too small, and still she left the key on the glass table. Nevertheless, it does not solve my sand-pit predicament. Why does my mind move so sluggishly when the urgency of every next activity is palpable? I don't know. It's like I've been stuck in the "real world" for far too long, and am in great need of some fantastical liberation. Where is a rabbit hole when you need one?
Gotta go. Almost midnight. Good night.

-Grace