6 Characters Who Are Bound to Make You Smile

I have found a link-up that is destined to be marvelous! I adore link-ups and everything that goes along with them. 

This weekly prompt is hosted by the girls at The Broke and the Bookish. The idea is to have a top ten post every Tuesday. 

This weeks prompt is "Top ten books which feature characters who..."

I adore books. I live off them. I sometimes feel as though my only friends are in my books. And my absolute favorite of these books are the ones whose characters are bound to make me smile and totally forget the complete horror of reality. 

You'll notice there are only six. In a "Top Ten" post. I tried dearly to come up with more, but it felt more like filler than me actually thinking the characters fit the post. So I modified it to be just six.

1.  Razo from the Books of Bayern by Shannon Hale

I love Razo. He is seriously one of my heroes. He's quick witted, funny, down to earth, and just all around a good guy. Plus, he's got the older brother protectiveness syndrome that I find quite wonderful.

2. Percy Jackson from the Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and the Heroes of Olympus series' by Rick Riordan

Oh Percy. An obsession with blue food, an astounding ability to be simultaneously the smartest character in the books and the dumbest character to ever have been written. There isn't a lot of in between for my dear friend the son of the Sea God.

3. Gilbert Blythe from the Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery

Gil is the kind of character that if you aren't in love with by the end of the books, you need your head checked. He's just wonderful.

4. Dustfinger from the Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke

Dustfinger is amazing. His character has such depth. He is so pained and in anguish and trying so hard to find a lucky streak in life. It's hauntingly beautiful to read about him. (Though I suspect highly entertaining to write). I love how involved in his story I get when I read these books. 

5.  Sadie Kane from the Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan

Sadie is pretty much one of my favorite characters ever. She's funny, sarcastic, totally real, and entertaining to read. On the days when I need a serious pick-me-up or escape from reality, I turn to Uncle Rick's books, and most often, the Kane Chronicles. (Although Percy Jackson never fails to disappoint either.) 

6. Leo Valdez from aforementioned Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan

What can I say about Leo? He's totally crazy, entertaining, uplifting, and optimistic. What do I not love about this guy? Oh yeah. He's fictional. 

What do you think? Did I miss any? Which characters can make you smile no matter what?

A Few of My Favorite Things

Oh blogglings, how I love the little things in life! It doesn't take much to please me. So today, (because yesterday was a bit of a...disappointment on the happy level) I want to tell you about a few of my favorite things. *Que Julie Andrews*

1. Number one is the reason I had the idea for this post. My sister went to the library and came home with a book I've been dying to read. DIVERGENT! I know this book has tons of fans so I am so excited to join them! But the thing that makes me most happy is holding a new book in my hands. The thickness, the new worlds yet to be explored, the characters I may fall in love with. It just makes me so happy. :)

2. Music. I've been one a huge "different" music kick. I've been listening to a lot of music that has a totally different sound than my usual. Awolnation, switchfoot, that type. It's kinda awesome.

3. I just love pickles. Their taste is just epic. I suspect the vinegar. Which sounds crazy now that I say it...most people don't like vinegar...I must be quite a bit more different than I thought...anywho. *clears throat*

4. Penguins. They're so cute and awesome. :)

5. Blogs. I adore blogs and blogging. It's so fun to connect with people this way. It's refreshing to me. I don't ever want to stop.

6. French fries. Especially from McDonalds and B-Bops. Yum! (I haven't eaten at all today so really,  any food would probably taste good to me. But especially french fries.)

7. Being alone. I'm an introvert through and through.  I've mentioned that to my friends and they all get really confused. Almost all of them said they don't see me as an introvert at all. But I assure you. I crave solitude more than anything sometimes. I could be a hermit! I wonder if it would pay very well?

8. Rereading books. There's not much better than visiting an old friend. And that's always how it feels to reread a book I love.

9. Smiles. When people smile, really smile, I feel like I'm getting a glimpse into their soul. Especially if there's eye contact as well. It's simply stunning.

10. Rasberry tea. My friend and I are obsessed with tea. If we go out to eat with our friends, they know Joe and Beth will order some kind of tea. Most likely with no ice. It's pretty fun. :)

11. History. Im a sucker for history. History books, documentaries, pictures. I just adore learning about people long past. It's quite beautiful.

12. Sparkles. I can't help it. If it's shiny, lit up, colorful, or sparkly, I can't help but grin. A little bit of my A.D.D. side showing I guess.

13. Words. The way they roll off your tongue.  The way they sound, the way they look, the way they cut you to the core of your being or make you feel like you could sprout wings and fly. Poetry, prose, music. Whatever it is, it's absolutely stunning.

14. Pinterest. Yeup. I addicted. But usually, it doesn't feel like a bad thing. I just love it.

What are your favorite things? I would love to hear them! But instead of just commenting them, you could make your own blog post listing them, then comment here with the link!  (You could just comment them, but where's the fun in that? ;) I can't wait to see what you all say!

Picture Prompt

Hello again! I completely forgot it was Thursday! Prompt day to be exact! I didn't know what to do because I had already posted something long and with lots of words so I figured this prompt should be different. Quick as a wink I flew off to Pinterest and found three pictures. The prompt is to choose a picture and write for 15 minutes. Remember to write how it makes you feel and what you can see as though you were there. Got it? Good!

Rules:

-Pick a photo

-Write for 15 minutes about it.

-Post your piece in the comments. (You may have to post half in one comment and the other half in another. Blogger is weird.)

-Comment on other's pieces and tell all your friends about it!

Okay here are the pictures! I know I'm going to have a hard time choosing!

Of Failure and The Beauty of Life

Good day to you all! I must apologize for my fail on the writing prompt yesterday. I will get my piece written. I fully intended to get it done yesterday but pretty much right after I published it, my day kindof went into a downward spiral and I couldn't find the time or will to do it. You can still participate in it! And last weeks as well. There's no deadline or specific timeslot to do them in. I would love to see what you can come up with!

I was thinking about yesterday, and overall, it was an okay day. There were plenty of ups. But it was the downs that I remember the most vividly. Why is that? 

Why do we as humans allow ourselves to get caught up in the bad things in life? Why are we so caught up in our struggles instead of rejoicing in our victories and triumphs? 

I've often wondered about this. We're constantly talking about and thinking about "what could go wrong?". And not in the sarcastic sense. 

We seem to be paranoid. There are plenty of people who are optimistic! I wish I was one of them. But even optimists get the grumps. Even they can start seeing things for worse than they are. 

It makes me sad that it's so easy to see bad in people and around us. We see how polluted the skies are and we wonder what we did for it to be this bad. Why don't we remember the fields and the meadows. The untouched places where silence can seem so loud. The beauty stuns us. Let's remember those. 

Let's dwell on the good things in life. Let's remember the fields and the lilies. The sun and the great big blue sky. The people in our lives who build us up. Because life should be enjoyable. Not full of worries and cares. 

Life is a beautiful gift. Have you ever just thought about it? We are so blessed to be able to love! To see colors and appreciate beauty. To feel and to touch. Wouldn't life be boring if everything felt the same? Taste. I love food! Life would be sad if things didn't taste different. It would be bland. Smells are glorious. How different would it be without smells? We can enjoy being around our friends. We can create art. We can enjoy and play music. This is life. So why shouldn't we enjoy it? Why shouldn't we dwell on the good things? 

Your thoughts? 

A Peek Into My WIP (Work in progress)

This is an interview I found on the blog "The Magic Violinist" and I decided to fill it out with answers about my current baby, "To Save The Lost".  

(You can find the original post here)

1: What is the working title of your book?

To Save The Lost

2: Where did the idea come from for the book?

It was a really long time ago but I think I was reading a bird field guide. I thought, "Wouldn't it cool to have a race of people who could turn into birds at will?" And the idea was born! It didn't really become a novel until NaNoWriMo of 2011 though. But I cheated and didn't actually finish it during that NaNo. Or the Nano after that. *hides in shame*

3: What genre does your book come under?

YA Fantasy.

4: Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Logan Lerman for Cooper as far as looks. He's not that good of an actor (in my opinion) though so maybe Josh Hutcherson as an alternative? Liam Hemsworth for Harris Hwane. (The evil brother.) Whoever played Arya from Eragon or Jane Bennett for Sarah Hwane. Mark Ruffalo for King William. Paul Bettany for Duncan. (Mostly because he's one of my favorite actors EVER and has to fit somewhere. :) Fenoglio for Sir David. David's not really that big of a character but I love Fenoglio's actor (I'm blanking on names for some reason) so I had to add him.  For Marty...uhhh...I don't know. He's such an odd character that I don't know if there's really someone I've seen that could play him. The same with Ria and Sandor. They're my three favorite characters so it's hard to find someone "just right". I thought of maybe Belle from Once Upon A Time for Ria. Her voice is so captivating! But I don't know for the others.

 5: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

A princess goes on a quest to free her long imprisoned father after finding out he is still alive. 

6: Is your book self-published, published by an independent publisher, or represented by an agency?

It's not even done yet!

7: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

I haven't even finished the first draft...*sigh* But I started it November of 2011 so it's been a while. 

8: What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

Probably The Door Within series by Wayne Thomas Batson, The Rangers Apprentice by John Flanagan a little bit. I wish I could say the Merlin series by T.A. Barron but I doubt I'll ever be able to write as beautifully as he does.

9: Who or what inspired you to write this book?

I don't really remember. My family is pretty supportive of my writing. All three of my sisters write but only two of them are really serious. I'm pretty sure if I ever become famous it'll be because of Livie's writing and artwork. She's so talented! 

I've been reading a lot of writing blogs recently and the one that's really made the biggest impact on me is Jeff Goin's blog He is a phenomenal writer and so encouraging and uplifting to read.

The Write Practice is another one of my favorites. I love the variety of the different guest bloggers they have. I have found a bunch of new blogs via that. (The Magic Violinist, Of Faerie And Faith, Apassionata The Book Chewers To name a few. :) 

10: What are some of the big differences between this book and other books you've written?

Well I haven't really finished any others. But I started one a long time ago, thinking it would be the one I would slave over for the next couple years, but I only got a couple chapters in before To Save The Lost took over. The differences I would say are really just a different feel about them. The worlds are extremely different but the characters have a lot of similarities.

11: What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest

I just have to say, Ria is me. I didn't really plan that, but she has a lot of traits that I do. I'm not a princess sadly, but I do love books (as does she), I'm clumsy (check!), and I think in a similar voice and fashion as Ria. It makes it easier to write and (hopefully) makes her more relatable. 

So there it is! My baby. :) 

Copy and paste to your blog and fill in your own answers if you want. :) 

Why I Write

I write.

It's simple. I just do it.

But really, it's not simple.

It is and it isn't.

I write because I adore it. It makes me happy.

I feel full and satisfied when I write.

But I hate writing.

Because it exposes who I am.

I see myself clearly when I write.

And it scares me to death.

But I also love it.

It's so complicated. It feels like a tangled set of Christmas lights. It's a beautiful thing. Full of twists. Full of colors. Surprises. Light.

But also full of anxiety.

What if there's one bulb that's broken and I can't find it? What if it gets so tangled I'll never be able to use them again? What if I mess them up and they look stupid?

The fear oftentimes keeps me back.

I stop writing for a month, maybe two or three.

I staunch the flow.

Does that really do anything for my self esteem? Hiding away and not confronting things?

In reality, I just postpone the self-consciousness and the self-loathing until a later date.

I may think I'm stronger now than I was then and am thus more equipped to deal with it. But that's not true at all.

I'm timid. Scared. Afraid to expose myself. It holds me back. And when I finally just do it, I feel stronger than ever before.

I did it!

I can move mountains now! I can change the world! I can be myself without any fear! I can do anything!

I am so proud of myself. I get giddy. I reward myself.

And then it comes again. Within hours sometimes.

The self-doubt. Loathing. Fear.

I'm not good enough. I never will be. I can't do anything right.

I will never write again.

And here I am. Stuck. The pit is slowly dragging me in. Trying to eat away any creativity, goodness, inspiration, or good feeling I may have.

It works fast.

Sometimes within minutes, I am stripped back to my insecure, fearful, self-loathing inner skin.

And I am miserable.

So why do I do it?

For the feel good moments.

The moments of pure bliss when I can soar above the clouds, move that mountain, do what I used to think I couldn't do. Those moments are the best.

The very best.

They keep me going.

They are why I write.

The Best Books I've Ever Read

I love books. I always have, and I know I always will. And I'm pretty sure I've read more than I would ever be able to count. But I thought I would share my favorites.

It's funny...most of these books I only read because they were on my free reading list for school and I HAD to choose one. Now I'm so glad that I did. :)

Note: These aren't really in any particular order. Just when I thought of them.

The Best Day of My Life

As you may know already, I'm a huge fan of poetry. And although this isn't really what you may think of when you think poetry, it's one of my absolute favorites. I would love to be able to be like the person in this poem but I fall short of it...by a lot.

The Best Day Of My Life

Summer Better Hurry Up

I don't know about you guys, but I for one am dying for summer to get here. I don't like these cold, wet, muddy days that we've been having.

Summer is pretty much THE best time of year. I adore it. My friends and I are together almost every day of summer and I like it that way!

Summer can get REALLY hot but it's completely worth it if you ask me. That's part of the charm! It can be miserable, but it's summer!

Top 10 Best Book Series' To Read As A Teenager

As you may have realized, I love books. Especially if they're in a series. That way I can revisit the world and characters and it's not always the exact same story. So I put together a list of my favorite book series's (series'? I don't know how to properly say that...) for you!

My 10 Favorite Movies

Hello all!
 I was thinking today, about movies. The best of movies that happen to be my favorites. :) So I thought perhaps I would share them with you! Here is a list of my current favorite movies!

1. The Avengers
One of the best movies of 2012. By far. I don't really ever get tired of watching it. And I can't ever decide on a favorite character...I love them all...

Alone Time

I have been sitting in my room for the past 3 hours.

You may call me crazy. Or you may understand.

See, I'm not mad, sad, or annoyed with people as you may think.

I just craved alone time.

Chased By A Minotaur

So I was driving to my best friend's house yesterday. It was the first time I'd driven there by myself and I was excited.

On this particular trip, I was being followed rather closely by an annoying fellow driver. Naturally, I began to imagine they were following me. It was only logical right?

Mulan

You know what's a fantastic movie? Disney's Mulan. One of my all time favorites!

"If I was my real size, your cow here *points at horse and horse whinnies in indignation* would die of fright. Down Bessie!"

"They're disgusting..."
"No, they're men! And you're gonna have to act just like 'em to fit in."
"I don't think I can do this..."

"Did you see those Hun? They popped out of the snow! Like daisies!"

Penguins

So, Ive been thinking a lot recently. ( Not usually a good sign)

As far as happiness goes, people can't just say: "Okay, Im going to be happy now."

They need something to influence their mood. Something interesting and almost guaranteed to bring a good mood or a happy thought or even a smile, however brief a time it may stay.

Which brings me to my next point.