After going on a sacavadger hunt for essays and surviving Fall 2011 Exam HELL 101 ... it's official, I'm FREE for the holidays! Just in time too, my brain was really starting to hurt from the massive study overload. No more late nights with me going to bed around 1AM, 2AM, 3AM, etc etc. 'Cause its just ridiculous and quite frankly I rather be writing/working on my book projects.
There are several MAIN projects I have either on paper, in a notebook, on my laptop or in my head at the moment.
01. The Last Masterpiece
My first Comtemporary piece stand alone novel that I've been working on since April/May Post-Graduation 2010, has more than half written/typed up
02. The AfterGlow Pentalogy
My Major Series that I've been working on since before Thanksgiving 2010, has various parts planned and written up
03. The Cybernetics Duology
My first Sci-fi/Thriller/Romance that I just cooked up a day ago, has ideas floating around and forming somewhat
And these are only a FEW of the books & story ideas floating around in my head. You readers are probably thinking: Good lord woman where do you fit all these things?! .... personally I dunno, I just do. [laughs]
Now I have to grab some books for next semester and return a Christmas present .... yippy.
Always,
Magpie~
*
Tuesday, 20 December 2011
From the Inner Workings of MAGPIE Comes ....
.... multiple story ideas, of course!
I have so many stories that whenever I think up another, my friends/family tend to say, "You got that look again." which I reply casually: "Look? What look? ... oh you mean THAT look."
Fortunately for them, I'm only working on TWO main projects at the moment - a stand alone and a 5 book series.
The stand alone book is half written ... actually its a bit more than that really. I can't remember. The last time I touched it was September and that was quite a while ago. It's very different from what I usually write, which is probably what keeps drawing me back to it. Most stories I'll write several chapters, plan it out, jump around, and such - only for something else to distract me and I never really seem to come back to it.
A sad thing, yes. Bad thing, yes. A good thing, perhaps yes too.
Every story I think about needs a strong voice to it, one that will keep bugging me to no end unless I actually write it. Of course the characters and setting and plot has to be interesting and complex/simple to some extent. But its the voice that keeps calling me back. Or rather something about the story that makes it so compelling that I must simply HAVE to write it. Kind of like those books I stumble upon and I can't put it down until I reach the end and crying for more - only better, because I can learn and discover the story on my own without having to wait.
And that's exactly what this book's main narrator/protagonist did.
That was April/May 2010 before I graduated Secondary School - now I'm at the halfway point of my second year in university.
That narrator/protagonist's story is still staying strong - voice and all.
He's fairly stubborn in that sense. Yes, it is a male protagonist. Yes, it is in first person. And that what makes me so nervous.
I'm not a guy but I have a guy-like mindset to an extent. Yes I like action, yes I like fighting, yes I like sports, yes I like getting down and dirty. Quite frankly I love doing "guy" stuff but that doesn't mean I'm not a girl in any way - oh no, I may hate make-up and girly things but I do adore stuff animals and cute/cuddly things. I'm a sucker for a cute kid/baby/animal every single time. Which is why I still can't say no to my 4-year-old cousin whenever he demands (in a cute nice way of course) to play trains and cars and whatnot.
Now that I've established the point I'm not a guy but a girl who LOVES her guy stuff - my uneasiness should be clear.
I've never written from First Person, much less a GUY'S. But I am willing to take up the challenge. I love challenges. Always have, always will. And yes, I've somehow managed to delved deep into his subconscious and ripped out what makes him tick, what makes him sad, what makes him happy - all the necessary things I did to know about him. In figurative sense of course, not literal!
Then for a test drive (yes, I like to think of the first draft as a test drive because you never know how readers are going to react) I gave the first chapter - the prologue - to my brother, who is younger than the narrator/protagonist, to read it. Now my brother often states he's not a BIG reader like I am (I'm just MAD about books) but he gave me the benefit of the doubt and read it. Oh the suspense that awaited me as I held my breath as he read it carefully and slowly. Once he was done I asked him how it was and the conversation kind of went like this:
Well that was pretty much the exchange that has renewed hope in me and installed confidence that I can see this story through. My younger brother happens to be a very HARD guy to sell a story to, especially a contemporary one. He's the kind of guy that likes those old war movies and actiony guns-ablazing dudes with explosives happening everywhere constantly. [laughs] But for him to say that was very shocking. Because every story before it, he'll nod and say its good but nothing else - probably thinking silently that it might be cliched or corny or "its been done before" mindset. So if he thinks its good, it's going to be. I'll be keeping my fingers cross about it.
As for other responses, I've explained the overall plot to one person who just looked at me in awe and told me I really should write it. That was my grandfather, who has been waiting to read it for almost two years now. [chuckles weakly] The other two people I've shown are friends of mine and they pretty much demanded more, which is kind of my own fault that I broke off in mid-sentence in the middle of the first chapter - not the prologue but the first. [laughs] Lastly I read a passage to a cousin of mine who just thought it was really well done. She's also been spreading the word to, about me aspiring to be a writer/novelist to her class, much to my embarressment. [laughs]
Once the next two days end, exams will be finally done for me, and I'll officially be free to actually do some major writing. I hope to complete it over the holidays and send it to people I know as a New Year's gift for feedback and whatnot. Then I'll spend time alternating between this novel, which is very likely to be my debut novel should it ever be published and my 5 book series.
This post is getting incredibly long now so I'll leave you guys with two things:
The stand alone novel's title is: "The Last Masterpiece"
And tagline is: "Even in the heart of a tragedy, there is a way to a smile."
It's also one of my many personal mottos too. [winks]
Always,
Magpie <3
*
I have so many stories that whenever I think up another, my friends/family tend to say, "You got that look again." which I reply casually: "Look? What look? ... oh you mean THAT look."
Fortunately for them, I'm only working on TWO main projects at the moment - a stand alone and a 5 book series.
The stand alone book is half written ... actually its a bit more than that really. I can't remember. The last time I touched it was September and that was quite a while ago. It's very different from what I usually write, which is probably what keeps drawing me back to it. Most stories I'll write several chapters, plan it out, jump around, and such - only for something else to distract me and I never really seem to come back to it.
A sad thing, yes. Bad thing, yes. A good thing, perhaps yes too.
Every story I think about needs a strong voice to it, one that will keep bugging me to no end unless I actually write it. Of course the characters and setting and plot has to be interesting and complex/simple to some extent. But its the voice that keeps calling me back. Or rather something about the story that makes it so compelling that I must simply HAVE to write it. Kind of like those books I stumble upon and I can't put it down until I reach the end and crying for more - only better, because I can learn and discover the story on my own without having to wait.
And that's exactly what this book's main narrator/protagonist did.
That was April/May 2010 before I graduated Secondary School - now I'm at the halfway point of my second year in university.
That narrator/protagonist's story is still staying strong - voice and all.
He's fairly stubborn in that sense. Yes, it is a male protagonist. Yes, it is in first person. And that what makes me so nervous.
I'm not a guy but I have a guy-like mindset to an extent. Yes I like action, yes I like fighting, yes I like sports, yes I like getting down and dirty. Quite frankly I love doing "guy" stuff but that doesn't mean I'm not a girl in any way - oh no, I may hate make-up and girly things but I do adore stuff animals and cute/cuddly things. I'm a sucker for a cute kid/baby/animal every single time. Which is why I still can't say no to my 4-year-old cousin whenever he demands (in a cute nice way of course) to play trains and cars and whatnot.
Now that I've established the point I'm not a guy but a girl who LOVES her guy stuff - my uneasiness should be clear.
I've never written from First Person, much less a GUY'S. But I am willing to take up the challenge. I love challenges. Always have, always will. And yes, I've somehow managed to delved deep into his subconscious and ripped out what makes him tick, what makes him sad, what makes him happy - all the necessary things I did to know about him. In figurative sense of course, not literal!
Then for a test drive (yes, I like to think of the first draft as a test drive because you never know how readers are going to react) I gave the first chapter - the prologue - to my brother, who is younger than the narrator/protagonist, to read it. Now my brother often states he's not a BIG reader like I am (I'm just MAD about books) but he gave me the benefit of the doubt and read it. Oh the suspense that awaited me as I held my breath as he read it carefully and slowly. Once he was done I asked him how it was and the conversation kind of went like this:
"It's different."
"Yes, I know its different, but is it a 'GOOD' different?"
"Yeah, it is." A pause. "I like it."
"Really?"
"Yes. I really did."
".... You realize its from a guy's perspective right?"
"Yeah."
"Was it any good? I didn't want him to sound corny or whiny or anything annoying like. Mainly does he sound like a guy?"
"Yes, he does, but one question: He's not going to stay this way throughout the whole novel is he?"
"Oh hell no!"
"Good."
"He's going to change over the course of the novel for the better."
"Better not be because of a girl, 'cause that's SO cliched."
"Umm .... not exactly? More like the reverse. She acts as a guide but in reality he ends up helping her. Completing his journey in a sense in a full circle-like effect."
".... alright, I'll give it a read when you've finished it. Don't go getting a big head about it though, I'm just curious how it'll turn out. It's actually very different from what I'd expected of you Mags."
"Aww really? Thanks lil bro!"
"Yeah, yeah, just don't turn him into a pansy or anything."
"I won't! I promise!"
Well that was pretty much the exchange that has renewed hope in me and installed confidence that I can see this story through. My younger brother happens to be a very HARD guy to sell a story to, especially a contemporary one. He's the kind of guy that likes those old war movies and actiony guns-ablazing dudes with explosives happening everywhere constantly. [laughs] But for him to say that was very shocking. Because every story before it, he'll nod and say its good but nothing else - probably thinking silently that it might be cliched or corny or "its been done before" mindset. So if he thinks its good, it's going to be. I'll be keeping my fingers cross about it.
As for other responses, I've explained the overall plot to one person who just looked at me in awe and told me I really should write it. That was my grandfather, who has been waiting to read it for almost two years now. [chuckles weakly] The other two people I've shown are friends of mine and they pretty much demanded more, which is kind of my own fault that I broke off in mid-sentence in the middle of the first chapter - not the prologue but the first. [laughs] Lastly I read a passage to a cousin of mine who just thought it was really well done. She's also been spreading the word to, about me aspiring to be a writer/novelist to her class, much to my embarressment. [laughs]
Once the next two days end, exams will be finally done for me, and I'll officially be free to actually do some major writing. I hope to complete it over the holidays and send it to people I know as a New Year's gift for feedback and whatnot. Then I'll spend time alternating between this novel, which is very likely to be my debut novel should it ever be published and my 5 book series.
This post is getting incredibly long now so I'll leave you guys with two things:
The stand alone novel's title is: "The Last Masterpiece"
And tagline is: "Even in the heart of a tragedy, there is a way to a smile."
It's also one of my many personal mottos too. [winks]
Always,
Magpie <3
*
Monday, 12 December 2011
My Dream Cast for The AfterGlow Quintet ~ B1 VictorianQueen
Just thought to do this for fun. I've always wanted to (and love doing) dream casts for my stories, makes it a bit easier to image the characters and whatnot. It needs work and more actors/actresses though ...
Kayilar 'Kai' Starrett – Alexz Johnson
Arien/Sam – possibly Max Thierot OR possibly Rupert Grint
Arien & Samhain Labrador - Max Thierot
Arien & Samhain Labrador - Rupert Grint
Shiloh – possibly Tom Felton OR possibly Alexander Nifong
Vito Nahuel Moreno – Luke Pasqulaino
Izairae Petersen– possibly Jessica Stroup OR Kaya Scodelario OR Kierstin Koppel
Gryffin Dore – possibly Rupert Grint [laughs] OR William Moseley
Alain Carter – possibly Pierre Boulanger OR ???
Nelson – perhaps Ukweli Roach OR Corbin Bleu
Eshe (6-7 year old African girl) – ???
Rza (12-14 year old Native American girl) – ???
Marik (15-16 year old Middle Eastern boy) – ???
Moondoggie – possibly Mitch Hewer OR Alex Watson
Vincent Davies - ???
Brutus Malcovich - ???
Oberon - ???
Elieen (Kai's Mum) - Sandra Bullock
Nate (Kai's younger brother) - ???
Dean Patricia Hawkins – possibly Amy Adams?
Mentor Kathleen Rowlings - Kate Hudson
Mentor Ruebus Rankin – Eric Balfour
Headmaster Char Hawkins – James Franco? OR Jensen Ackles [laughs]
Dementia – ???
Jack the Ripper (Voice Only) – ???
Vanessa 'Van'/'Vaness' Fritzsche - possibly Karen Gillan
Seamus 'Shamus' Morgan - possibly
Henry Jackson - ???
Frederick Abberline - ???
Henry Moore - ???
Walter Andrews - ???
Jack the Ripper - ???
That's pretty much the Cast List thus far ... will add more pictures and details and such on a later date.
Let me know what YOU think!
Suggestions are HIGHLY WELCOMED. [smiles, smiles]
Always,
Magpie~
Modern Day Cast ~ Year 2009
Mainly because Alexz Johnson has several of Kai's characteristics (being 5'4" feet, pale, the right short hair style currently), she’s also got attitude and a tough side to her and emotion, I’ve watched her in Instant Star and LOVED her so just dye her hair brown and I think we got our Kai! Plus her music resembles Kai's personality ... I've been listening to several and they suit Kai, especially Perfect, which is Kai's theme song for VictorianQueen. [smiles, smiles]
Arien/Sam – possibly Max Thierot OR possibly Rupert Grint
Arien & Samhain Labrador - Max Thierot
From the moment I saw Max Thierot in early movies such as Catch That Kid and The Pacifier, he just stole my heart and I just adore him~! [laughs] His acting in My Soul To Take has me firmly believing he can portray Arien’s darkness perfectly and capture his good side, also I think he can do Sam’s mischievous side. Just need to dye the hair orange-red. And lose some height since he needs to be shorter than Shiloh (apparently he's 5'11") … oops.
OR
Arien & Samhain Labrador - Rupert GrintRupert Grint has been one of my favourite actors that never ceased to make me laugh in the Harry Potter movies and it helps that Ron Weasley just so happens to be my absolute fave, right after the Twins of course and so on and so forth. But I think the reason why Arien and Sam have red-orange hair is because of Rupert and he could totally play as either or both of the Labrador Twins. He’s michivous and can be dark well he wants to be, and I’ve read somewhere in an interview that he’d like to try playing the bad guy like Malfoy so I think he really could do it, ya know? Plus he’s shorter (5'8" feet) than Felton (5'9") which reflects the height differences in the main story (Arien/Sam are supposed to be shorter than Shiloh).
Shiloh – possibly Tom Felton OR possibly Alexander Nifong
Shiloh Carter - Tom Felton
Everyone knows Tom Felton simply as Draco Malfoy from the Harry Potter movies, don’t worry I do too. [laughs] But he is a talented singer which really suits Shiloh and I think he can play stoic unemotional Shiloh, would be interesting to see him do it especially the Australian accent. Ironically when I looked up Felton, his birthday is ironically the same day as Shiloh’s! This was unintentional of course! [laughs]
OR
Shiloh Carter - Alexander Nifong
Yes yes, who the heck is THIS guy? Well Glee fans saw Alexander Nifong (and even got a good taste of his singing apparently) in an episode and I just happened to be shuffling through actors that had auditioned and lost the role of TMI’s Jace Wayland to Jamie Campbell Bower and stumbled upon Nifong. Looking him up, I found out that he’s a part of a band called Light, which instantly made me think, “I might have found my Shiloh~!!” I think he could do it. He also has the height to do it too (he's like 6 feet where Felton is 5'9" I believe). (Sorry Felton …) Plus he's already digging the threads that Shiloh usually wears. [laughs]
Luke Pasqulaino is of Italian heritage which Vito is and he has dark-toned skin and dark hair. I haven't seen anything he's in but so far he seems to be the PREFECT Vito I've come across so I'm crossing my fingers. Personally I think he would do wonderful as Vito, especially his playboy mischievous side [laughs]
Bradford 'Brad' West - Jeremy Sumpter
I keep bashing my head against the wall for not thinking of Jeremy Sumpter for Brad until last night ... The one particular reason is that he actually plays all kinds of sports … including BASEBALL. Seeing him in Peter Pan won me over. Never did I think of him until I did. Luckily he’s tall so that helps wonders (Brad happens to be I think the third or fourth tallest in the series behind Nelson and Rankin with Shiloh and Moondoggie right behind him). Personally I think he would be up for the challenge too. And plus he has the same birthday as me in real life! [laughs]
Izairae Petersen– possibly Jessica Stroup OR Kaya Scodelario OR Kierstin Koppel
Kierstin Koppel is probably the closest in looks for Izairae, but I still think there's someone else that could do Iza's character just right ... hmmm. Any suggestions?
Gryffin Dore – possibly Rupert Grint [laughs] OR William Moseley
Again Rupert Grint could play Gryffin but he wouldn’t be portraying any dark sides, possibly more of the scaredy-cat underdog of the series.
However William Moseley could also probably do Griffyn's character. He has the right hair colour and looks, and I think he would definitly play Gryffin's gentle nature and worrywart personality. I've adored Moseley in the Narnia movies and I think it would certainly be interesting to see him do Gryffin or be scared tryin'! [laughs]
Good natured as he is French, I think Pierre Boulanger could portray Alain’s calm demenor and tone. I think he’d be up for some trickery behind a smile too. Would certainly be interesting to see! [laughs]
Nelson – perhaps Ukweli Roach OR Corbin Bleu
Eshe (6-7 year old African girl) – ???
Rza (12-14 year old Native American girl) – ???
Marik (15-16 year old Middle Eastern boy) – ???
Moondoggie – possibly Mitch Hewer OR Alex Watson
Mitch Hewer certainly has the looks for Moondoggie. But I haven't really watched anything he's in yet. But I've seen a few clips of him and I think he could do Moondoggie I have faith. [smiles, smiles]
Oh my gosh! When I saw Emma Watson’s younger brother Alex Watson I thought instantly that’s he’s my Moondoggie! I just wonder how he’ll act … he looks understanding and good-natured.
Vincent Davies - ???
Brutus Malcovich - ???
Oberon - ???
Elieen (Kai's Mum) - Sandra Bullock
For as long as I can remember I've admired Sandra Bullock for her strength and her acting. She never ceases to amaze me in every movie she's in like The Blindside, The Proposal, While You Were Sleeping, and many more. My Mum is a big fan of her too. She introduced me to Bullock's acting one day several years back when I was sick in bed. And plus, I had asked her (as a random question of course) if there was ever any actress that could portray her who would it be and she simply replied: Sandra Bullock. So you got your wish Mum. [laughs] And I think she would do Elieen's character PERFECTLY.
Nate (Kai's younger brother) - ???
Dean Patricia Hawkins – possibly Amy Adams?
Mentor Kathleen Rowlings - Kate Hudson
Mentor Ruebus Rankin – Eric Balfour
Headmaster Char Hawkins – James Franco? OR Jensen Ackles [laughs]
Dementia – ???
Jack the Ripper (Voice Only) – ???
The Victorian Era Cast, Year 1888-1929
Vanessa 'Van'/'Vaness' Fritzsche - possibly Karen Gillan
Seamus 'Shamus' Morgan - possibly
Henry Jackson - ???
Frederick Abberline - ???
Henry Moore - ???
Walter Andrews - ???
Jack the Ripper - ???
That's pretty much the Cast List thus far ... will add more pictures and details and such on a later date.
Let me know what YOU think!
Suggestions are HIGHLY WELCOMED. [smiles, smiles]
Always,
Magpie~
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Spreading Some Christmas Cheer Your Way
It's things like this that makes me proud to be not only be Canadian but to be born in Manitoba. [laughs]
And another thing when its one of my favourite christmas songs - completely remastered and possibly the best version I've heard yet.
And he has the guts to do this in SHORTS too. [laughs]
For those who don't know, winters in Manitoba are incredibly HARSH so that's why my hat off to you dude.
Much love to you Sean Quigley!
Keep on drumming!
Magpie~
PS.
I've finally read Cassandra Clare's The Infernal Devices Book Two: Clockwork Prince .... I just adore her writing style and her characters, but OH HOW MY HEART HURTS .... twisted and torn in two radically different ways .... I just hope the last book will patch some pieces of my heart back up or merely smash it mercilessly .... either way I'm probably going to blubber like crazy again ...
I still can't decide between Will and Jem. //SOBS
..... perhaps I'll start reviewing these books to pass the time?
Thursday, 1 December 2011
December Worries
Already the entire month of November has vanished, like the newly fallen snow - melted within a forenight last week. Where has the time gone? And I've been terrible with my writing projects and this blog. I've seemingly abandoned the university tell-tales since my blackberry crashed and I lost everything I wrote ... how unfortunate. it makes me sad but perhaps ... I'll continue it someday.
Still Christmas is in a few weeks. I'm somewhat looking forward to the holidays ... not that I dislike Christmas, more like what blocks my path still -- two more essays and five exams. [groans]
But I digress.
Moving onto a happier topic. I've been hard at work with planning and plotting stages of my stories and I say they've matured considerably. I've also gotten addicted to reading Manga again, my current obession seems to be Medaka Box by Nishio Ishin & Akatsuki Akira. Its a highly inventive story about the student council prseident and the gang trying to do good for the students and the school. Then it evolves into a darker atmosphere from the overly comical side -- it still keeps it luckily. I've seen mangas start out funny but then just drops to dead serious with no chance of comical moments. I'm usually picky when it comes to series but I've seen a lot of AMAZING ones and pity they have to stand against the more widely popular series like Naruto, Bleach, One Piece and such.
Yet I remain hopeful.
Thank you for reading as always,
Magpie~
PS.
I'll try updating more ... sorry !!
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