Pachelbel and Hugh Jackman

30 Day Music Challenge, Day 6: A Song That Reminds Me Of Somewhere
     This was one of the hardest to come up with. I've lived a lot of places but I haven't travelled all that much. I hear songs that make me think of tropical locations I've never been to, or songs that make me think of Italy or France or Ireland. (I have been to France but there wasn't a song I could associate with that trip.)
     I decided on a song that makes me think of the two years I lived in Hartford, Connecticut. I did grade 11 and 12 there. It was an interesting time for me, for a lot of reasons. I spent a lot of time playing this particular song on the piano. Hearing this song conjures up images of the living room where the piano was, and missionaries.

     And completely unrelated, and so the opposite of a relaxing classical song, I saw the movie Real Steel last night. I went in not expecting much and was surprised by how good it was. Seriously. I even got teary-eyed at the end (although that's not saying much since I get weepy in a lot of movies). So, obviously, my Crush of the Week is going to be Hugh Jackman. He's a great actor. He can be tough, sensitive, serious, AND he can sing and dance. Major bonus points for that. Love you Hugh.

You Put Your Arms Around Me And I'm Home

30 Day Song Challenge, Day 5: A Song That Reminds Me of Someone
     Here's my choice. A song I absolutely adore. And to Forrest Gump-it, that's all I'm going to say about that.
     And because I'm sick, I'm way behind on my writing and critiquing, and I'm trying to get up the energy to exercise, I'm going to leave it at that. Enjoy the song though, because it's awesome.

ARMS by Christina Perri



Don't Cry

30 Day Music Challenge, Day 4: A Song That Makes Me Sad
     Who wants to think about songs that make them sad? Not me. I like to listen to music that buoys me up.
     Oh well. There are some songs that make me sad. One of them is this one, Lover Dearest by Marianas Trench.

  
     I read recently that Josh Ramsay, lead singer of Marianas Trench, wrote the song as a letter to Heroin when he was struggling with the addiction as a teenager. When I listen to the song, I take a completely different meaning out of it, but now that I know that, I see it in a whole new light.
     No matter how you interpret it, the song is heart-breaking. And Josh Ramsay's vocals are amazing in all of his music (I love the scratchy-screamy power to his voice). This song is no exception. And if you've never heard of Marianas Trench, or don't know their music, try out Beside You and Good to You for slow songs, and Cross My Heart, Celebrity Status, and Acadia for faster tunes (All To Myself is good too, except it's got F-bombs in it, and I hate that).
     What songs make you sad?

RTW and Save The Last Dance For Me

This week's Road Trip Wednesday:

What supporting character from a YA book would you most like to see star in their own novel?

 

     Ooh, that's a toughie. On YaHighway, the poster chose Ron from Harry Potter and I immediately wanted to go with the same one. Because c'mon, Ron is awesome. But I'll try to be a little more interesting and come up with my own idea...
     There's a lot of characters I'd like to see star in their own novel because frankly, I love them and I'd love to learn their backstory more thoroughly or read about where they go next. I can't pick just one. So, my choices after perusing my bookshelf are:

Etienne St. Clair from Anna and the French Kiss.

Giovanni from Rampant and Ascendant

Ridley from Beautiful Creatures and Beautiful Darkness

And even though some of Breaking Dawn is in Jacob's perspective, I loved his voice so much that I would easily read whole books about him.

And on to my 30 Day Music Challenge, Day 3: A Song That Makes Me HAPPY
     Easy peasy. Actually, not so much because there are A LOT of songs that make me happy. It's hard to choose sometimes right?
    Anyway, I loved this song back when Harry Connick Jr sang it. I love it even more when Michael Buble sings it. It makes me happy. It makes me sing along. And it makes me want to dance (but that's a question for another day). I wish I was the girl dancing with Michael in the music video. I don't know what it is about it but I SMILE when I hear it.
     And I had a wicked story set around it which will probably never get written but hey, you never know.

Moves Like Jagger

     30 Day Song Challenge, Day 2: Your least favorite song.
     Why, why, why would I want to figure out my least favorite song? I don't even want to think about songs that I hate because then I'll get them stuck in my head.
     The first song that popped into my mind was for just that reason. I get this song stuck in my head and I can't get it out. Not only that, the only words I know are "I got the moves like Jagger, I got the moves like Jagger, I got the moo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-ves like Jagger."
     Annoying. (And I actually don't mind Maroon 5.)
     I know some people love this song, so if you do: Enjoy. But Beware. You will be singing it in your head for the rest of the day.

     Any other hated songs out there?

30 Day Song Challenge and an iPad Question

     I found this neat idea over at Crow River Writer. I decided to do it, even if it means a post of just one song title (although I probably won't post on Sundays since I like to have a day off from the computer). 
     It's no secret I love music. Like, LOVE it. (I know, a lot of people do.) But music is such a huge part of my life, I can't go a day without it. I have it on almost all day- thanks mostly to the speakers my husband had installed throughout our house that hook nicely up to my iPod. Love it.
     So the song challenge goes like this:

Day 01 – Your favorite song
Day 02 – Your least favorite song
Day 03 – A song that makes you happy
Day 04 – A song that makes you sad
Day 05 – A song that reminds you of someone
Day 06 – A song that reminds of you of somewhere
Day 07 – A song that reminds you of a certain event
Day 08 – A song that you know all the words to
Day 09 – A song that you can dance to
Day 10 – A song that makes you fall asleep
Day 11 – A song from your favorite band
Day 12 – A song from a band you hate
Day 13 – A song that is a guilty pleasure
Day 14 – A song that no one would expect you to love
Day 15 – A song that describes you
Day 16 – A song that you used to love but now hate
Day 17 – A song that you hear often on the radio
Day 18 – A song that you wish you heard on the radio
Day 19 – A song from your favorite album
Day 20 – A song that you listen to when you’re angry
Day 21 – A song that you listen to when you’re happy
Day 22 – A song that you listen to when you’re sad
Day 23 – A song that you want to play at your wedding
Day 24 – A song that you want to play at your funeral
Day 25 – A song that makes you laugh
Day 26 – A song that you can play on an instrument
Day 27 – A song that you wish you could play
Day 28 – A song that makes you feel guilty
Day 29 – A song from your childhood
Day 30 – Your favorite song at this time last year 

     So, for today- Day 1, my favorite song. Usually I have a hard time picking favorites of anything, but for song choice- it's easy. Because I love this song and I will for FOREVER. The song is, da-da-da-dum:
     Your Guardian Angel by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus.

     Fact 1: No, this song does not specifically apply to me. There is no one in my life who's died and I consider my Guardian Angel. I just love the whole idea, the lyrics, the music- everything about this song.
     Fact 2: I don't really listen to anything else by them, they are very heavy metal. In fact, on my iPod they are designated as "Screamo".
     Fact 3: I first heard this song on So You Think You Can Dance. It was a ballroom number.
     Fact 4: I've pictured this song in my last Jessica book in a very specific scene. If I ever get that far.

     In a completely unrelated note, I need some iPad help. My mom-in-law just gave me her old one (thanks Deb, you rock) and I'm wondering how to work on my WIPs on it. It has a notepad that I can write new stuff and then email to myself, but to work on existing stuff- how do I do it? Anyone know? Any writers out there have an iPad and use it to write? I write in Word and backup on a USB stick, but I don't know if either of those will work. Do I have to get a completely different APP? What's the best/easiest way?
    

Music, Mania, and Michael Buble

     My music annoys some people. I know. And I'm sorry, really. I keep it there because it's the soundtrack to my current WIP and I listen to it when I'm writing. And sometimes just opening my blog and hearing it is enough to get the brain juices flowing.
     Anyway, I put it on stop- so it will only play if you press play- mostly just for today's post.
     Music is a huge part of my WIP. My MC Ava plays and teaches piano. Eric, her love interest, is a famous musician. It took a lot of brain storming to decide what kind of musician he would be. I made him into a jazz musician, or more specifically, someone like Michael Buble.
     Why? When people think of musicians, they tend to form an image in their head right off the bat. Ex: Rock Star = wild hair, tattoos, and depending on your age- plaid and bandannas, or tight jeans and studded bracelets. Country singer = cowboy boots and cowboy hat. Rapper = black guy, or Eminem.
     I know, I know. These are STEREOTYPES. They're not always true. But that doesn't stop people from hearing "rock star" and picturing someone who looks like Axl Rose.
     Since Eric was already crystal clear in my mind, I pictured him in fitted suits and skinny black ties. Hence- jazz singer. (I hope against hope that when people hear jazz musician, they picture Harry Connick Jr. or Michael Buble and not some fuddy-duddy old guy.)
     Then I started listening to my Michael Buble CDs (I have all of them cuz he's awesome) and I found songs that not only fit with my WIP, but they fit right INTO my WIP. As in, songs he would actually sing TO her or ABOUT her. Like these:

     Near the beginning, Eric sings this at a party, but he's basically singing it right to Ava as she sits there listening. Ouch. I love how angry this song sounds, which is exactly how I'd picture Eric singing it.

    

     I do flashbacks in this WIP, and this song is during one of those. While Eric doesn't actually sing this song, he does tell Ava to "hold on". I listened to this over and over while writing the scene.

     I haven't written the scene where this song will take place yet- it's near the end. But I have it clear in my mind and I can't wait to write it. I just hope the feeling I get and what I imagine in my head when I listen to this comes out as strong and clear on paper.

     Those are just three of many. But three very important songs to my writing. And FYI- Michael Buble is AWESOME in concert. I saw him last year.

     Any music inspiring your WIP?

     ***PS- I've entered YAtopia's Pitch Contest with Mandy Hubbard. You can find it here.

     *** PPS- I LOVE Mandy Hubbard's book Prada and Prejudice and can't wait to get my hands on her new one, Ripple.

The Book Thief

     Yesterday, I said the best book I read in September was Anna and the French Kiss.
     Well, also yesterday, I finished another book that could give Anna a run for its money.

     The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

     These books are nothing alike. Where Anna is fun, light, romantic, The Book Thief is dark, sad, and scary.
     But it was AMAZING. Interestingly, the book is about a girl who loves words and Markus Zusak has this incredible way with words. Sometimes he'd say things that I would read over again because I just didn't understand. Other times, I'd read phrases and wonder how he came up with it and try to control my brimming envy. Some examples:
    
     At that moment, you will be lying there (I rarely find people standing up). You will be caked in your own body. There might be a discovery; a scream will dribble down the air. The only sound I'll hear after that will be my own breathing, and the sound of the smell, of my footsteps.

     As I made my way through, each person stood and played with the quietness of it. It was a small concoction of disjointed hand movements, muffled sentences, and mute, self-conscious turns.

     Those are both in the prologue, before the book has barely begun. And I have to share my favorite. And FYI, this quote is said by Death.

     It kills me sometimes, how people die.

     The Book Thief is the kind of book that everyone MUST read. (Warning, there are swear words- just FYI.) It's the kind of book I will NEVER forget. The kind of book that makes me feel like a crap writer but the kind of book that also makes me want to be better. The kind of book I will go to the store and buy tomorrow (I got it from the library) and pass along to everyone I know, telling them to read it ASAP. If you haven't read it, put it on the top of your TBR pile at once.

Kiss Me

     Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered.

     This weeks question: What was the best book you read in September?

     Although I did read some great books this month, this was an easy answer. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins.

     I've thought a lot lately about how agents/publishers are looking for the BEST. Your MS has to be perfect, impeccable, fabulous, new, different, amazing, PHENOMENAL. And thinking about some of the books I've read, I couldn't help but wonder, what was it the agent saw in such-a-such book? Because for me, it didn't quite make the cut. Not that it was a horrible book, but was it really all that amazing? What stood out? What did the agent or publisher think that was PHENOMENAL about it? I read those books and think, my book could make it.
     And then there's the books that just are PHENOMENAL. A lot of times I can't pinpoint exactly why, they just ARE. Books that I finish and then think, I'll never be published because I'm not this amazing. Anna and the French Kiss was like that. I could not put it down. And even weeks later, I'm still randomly thinking about it. I want to read it again. That, to me, makes for a phenomenal book.

Raise Your Hands, Who Would Go Back To High School If They Could?

     I watched the movie Prom last night. It was cheesy, silly, funny, full of cliches (BTW, why can movies be full of cliches but books can't? Just wondering), and I loved every minute of it. What can I say, I love high school movies. They make me want to go back to high school.
     No, ahem, scratch that last. Let's be honest here.
     They make me want to go to high school in a movie.
     I want to be Nova. I want to be Gabriella from High School Musical. Cher from Clueless. Laney from She's All That. Kate from John Tucker Must Die. Kat from 10 Things I Hate About You. Viola from She's The Man. Amanda from Can't Hardly Wait.
     You get the idea (told you I love high school movies- did I miss any aside from all the Molly Ringwald ones?).
     All these girls have tough times. Some are nerds who get a makeover. Some are overachievers who learn to relax. Some just get the guy. But they all have happy endings. And I think that's what happens when we look back at high school- we want a happy ending. I had a few happy endings. I had lots of miserable endings. I didn't always get the guy. Hardly ever actually. Do I really want to go back to all that? Have I changed that much? No and no. I don't want to go back to high school because even though I've matured a teeny bit, even though I've realized that there's a much bigger world out there, I probably wouldn't be all that different (sad).
     What about you- would you go back to high school?
     Maybe you would if there was this guy, my Crush of the Week:

    
     Thomas McDonell. I don't usually go for guys with long hair, but his tough-guy-on-the-outside-but-sweet-softie-on-the-inside totally won me over.
     And if he wouldn't make you want to go back, what about Zac Efron, Paul Rudd, Freddie Prinze Jr, Penn Badgley, Heath Ledger, Channing Tatum, or Ethan Embry? (AKA: the love interests in the above movies.)

How's This For Funny?

    
     I'm stuck at this certain part in my WIP. I need a character to tell a funny story, or at least the end of a funny story. So I'm sitting there thinking, what's funny? What's the last funny story I heard? What's the last funny thing that happened to me? What makes me laugh?
     Well obviously I came up with a big fat NOTHING (hence the word "stuck"). I laugh a lot when I'm watching Friends, or The Big Bang Theory, but those aren't my jokes, so I can't use them. At my writer's group this past week someone shared a very funny story, but again- not mine- and I'm not going to steal it. So since I couldn't come up with anything, I vowed that I would remember that I need a funny story and to keep my ears and eyes open for one.
     Probably fifteen minutes later I found myself laughing so hard my cheeks were hurting.
     AHA! Right?
     WRONG.
     This is what happened: My two-year-old daughter had carried up three of these big inflatable hammers that squeak when you hit something (we won them at a theme park). Then we proceeded to whack each other with them over and over while both of us giggled uncontrollably.
     Did I laugh? Yes. Funny story? Sadly, no. And what's doubly sad? Most of my laughter, when it's not coming from TV or books, stems from silly things like this (or similar child-related happenings such as poop, weird words, funny faces, falls that don't involve crying, dancing, etc).
     Maybe I should be writing about something else...
   

Paranormalcy and Abduction

     Another great book: Paranormalcy by Kiersten White. Loved the voice, loved Evie, loved Lend, loved the twist on paranormal, loved everything. I loved how Evie can "bag-and-tag" vampires, but she dreams of having a locker. She kicks butt, but she's got this innocence that's endearing and sweet. I love how she's obsessed with this high school drama TV show (which sounds like Gossip Girl to me), she wears zebra print dresses and pink boots, and she carries around a pink sparkly taser she calls "Tasey". As if that's not awesome! (Because it totally is.) I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel, Supernaturally.

     I saw the movie Abduction last night. My husband laughed when I said I wanted to see it. His actual quote was, "You just want to see it because you have a crush on Taylor Lautner."
     Um, no. Okay, well maybe. But just a little. I've already done Crush of the Week this week, but who cares! Here's another.

     I didn't want to see it because of that reason though. Truly. The movie looked interesting to me, for one. And for two, I wanted to see Taylor Lautner in another role besides Jacob (and that itty bitty Valentine's Day part he had). That's the same reason why I started to watch (but never finished because I hated it) Adventureland. I obviously don't have a crush on Kristen Stewart. But I wanted to see her be someone else other than Bella.
     Anyway, the movie was pretty good. It was cheesy at times, but I think Taylor Lautner held his own. The action was good, the plot interesting, the chemistry between Taylor and Lily Collins believable.
     So maybe that's not the best movie review you've ever read, but, well, too bad. If you really don't like it, I'll get you with my own Tasey.
    

UGH!

     Progress on my WIP as of right now? 42,000 words. What I've written today? Twenty-nine words.
     Ugh. What do you do when everything around you is distracting? One daughter is watching iCarly, another is screaming at me because she doesn't want to watch iCarly, I'm trying to eat the lunch I didn't get to eat earlier, and as I had my word screen open, all I did was stare blankly at the two sentences I had written and wondered, what exactly am I doing here?
     Ugh. Ugh, ugh, ugh! This has been the worst productivity week, ever! Where did that 10,000-words-a-week-me go? I want her back. Her and all her brilliance. Instead, I think I'm wearing idiotic-Melanie. (P.S. I don't like her very much. She's not all that interesting.)
     Let's just hope that I can shed idiotic-Melanie this weekend sometime and get back to brilliant-Melanie for next week. Because she's got A LOT of catching up to do. (And I don't want to make Sheldon cry!)
    

Stealing Mona Lisa

    
     I love reading a great book. It makes my day (or days, depending on how long it takes me). I just finished a great adult historical book called Stealing Mona Lisa by Carson Morton. If you like heist novels- you'll like this one. Here's the blurb from Goodreads:
    

What happens when you mix a Parisian street orphan, a hot-tempered Spanish forger, a beautiful American pickpocket, an unloved wife, and one priceless painting?

The charming Eduardo de Valfierno makes a very respectable living in Argentina fleecing the nouveau riche—they pay him to steal valuable pieces of art, and Valfierno sells them flawless forgeries instead. But when Eduardo meets the beautiful Mrs. Hart on his latest con, he takes a risk that forces him back to the city he loved and left behind—Paris. There he assembles his team of con artists for their final and most ambitious theft, one that will enable them to leave the game forever: The Mona Lisa.

But when a member of the team turns up missing, and Mr. Hart shows up in Paris, Valfierno and his crew must stay one step ahead of a relentless police inspector, endure a devastating flood, and conquer their own doubts to keep the priceless painting in play—and survive.

Based on the actual theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre in 1911, and published on the 100th anniversary of the crime, Stealing Mona Lisa is a sophisticated, engaging caper, complete with a richly imagined group of con artists and a historical mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end.

    
     This book had great characters, a wonderful setting, I love historical, I loved learning about the art, it was fast-paced, and the end surprised me. I really like the fact that it's based on actual events, even though the author obviously took liberties. Still, love that.
     My only complaint- the blurb is a little misleading. It doesn't happen exactly the way blurb says, which annoys me, but isn't a deal breaker obviously. Another thing I love, which is kind of silly- short chapters! I LOVE short chapters. Honestly, it keeps me reading longer. It'll be late at night and I'll skim through to see how long the next chapter is and if it's long, I won't read. But if it's short... well, I probably end up reading more short chapters than if I'd read just the one long chapter. Seriously. Just a note to all you other writers out there. Long chapters- BOOO!

Beautiful Covers

     Ooh, I like this week's Road Trip Wednesday prompt:

What are your all-time favorite book covers?

     I've talked about covers before and how they can totally draw me in. For example, I wanted to read these two books and bought them, merely because of their gorgeous covers (and oddly enough, I loved one of them but the other- not so much):

     Other covers I've loved:

     And then there's the covers that I didn't love at first, but once I read the book, I love them now because they represent a particular scene from the book:

     I think it's interesting that most of these are Yound Adult books. I think they really do a good job trying to draw in younger readers with excellent covers. I know there's more that I haven't thought of, but these are the ones that I probably love the most. I do have to note that I love movie-tie-in covers. When I've seen the movie first and decide to then read the book, I usually try and buy the movie version of the book cover. Like these:

Entertainment Tidbits and Crush of the Week

     1. Last night I watched the movie Street Dance. Like all dance movies it had occasional weak dialogue, cheesiness, and predictability... but the dancing didn't disappoint. Once I got over the initial shock that it was British (I don't know why that shocked me but it did, I just wasn't expecting it), I really enjoyed the movie. If you like dance movies, give it a try.

     2. In that movie was this great song called "Life Is Beautiful" by Vega 4. I've been listening to their whole album today and it's pretty good. Give them a listen, especially that song- it's beautiful.

     3. I heard another song in the store the other day and loved it. Reading a magazine this morning I found out the song is called Skyscraper by Demi Lovato. It's an amazing song- listen to it!

     4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 comes out on DVD on November 11th. Yay! Can't wait for that.

     5. Crush of the Week: John Krasinski. I watched Something Borrowed the other day and I just love him in that movie. *Spoiler alert* I really wanted her to end up with him in the end. It made sense to me in the movie (even though it didn't when I read the book because his character isn't as important). He's just so endearingly cute.
   

Slump-ish-ness

    
     Does anyone else go through the mid-book slump? This is actually the first time I'm experiencing this particular problem. I'm 40,000 words in. I know exactly where my WIP is going. I know what's going to happen next. I'm not having problems with plotting. I know how the story ends. But for some reason, I've lost that manic enthusiasm I had in the beginning. I wonder why. I feel like I'm dragging and therefore it feels like the story is dragging. Not good.
     So how do you get that enthusiasm back? What do you do?
     I know some people just put the story aside, even for a little bit, and work on something else. I'm way too neurotic to do that. I have to finish this. But how can I get excited again? Because I feel like when I'm not fired up, it reflects in my writing. I don't like that. I need it back. I need my writing mojo back.
     Any suggestions?

Vampires, Witches, and Trailers, Oh My!

     Last night The Vampire Diaries came back on- YAY! I love that show. What can I say, I love teen shows. The season opener didn't disappoint- Damon was funny, Elena sweet, Stefan heartbreaking. Of course it can be overly dramatic at times, but what do I care? I don't. I love it. If you don't watch, here's a sneak peek...

     I also tried out one of the CW's new shows- The Secret Circle. Although I wouldn't call it a favorite yet, I was hooked. I'll definitely watch more to see where it goes. My favorite part was in the forest with the floating water drops. Here's a sneak peek of that...





     I know there's a lot of Twilight haters out there. I am NOT one of them. Breaking Dawn is probably my least favorite of the four books (except when it's in Jacob's perspective- I love that). And the first teaser trailer that came out a few months ago made me laugh. But watching this trailer has made me excited to see the movie. I love watching favorite characters come alive on screen. And I'll probably reread the books around then too so I'm excited for that. Anyway, enjoy the trailer.

 

     And PS- my playlist is sitting on the right side of the screen if you scroll down a bit, just press pause and you can shut off the music. I know it can be annoying to some but it's my WIP's playlist and I listen to it while I write. (And it's obviously distracting while watching a video.)

Love and Winners

     Here's this weeks YA Highway Road Trip Wednesday Topic:

What themes, settings, motifs, scenes, or other elements do you find recurring in your work?

 

     So, um. Huh. This is a little hard because the first MS I wrote Daze and Knights, and then its sequel (which is 90% done), both take place in the past. Different times in the past. Daze and Knights in Medieval Times, Untitled Sequel in 1781 Virginia. The WIP I'm working on now, Sway, is contemporary. So there really aren't any similar settings. We're talking castles to Colonial Houses to LA Mansions. Medieval villages to rural outdoors to beaches.

    The one recurring theme in all three... well, that's easy. Love. Love. Luuuurve. I didn't really think of my first two MS' as romances, or even love stories as I was writing them. But really, they are. And so is Sway. I've realized that I like to write about relationships. Those are the scenes that go easiest for me. The scenes I love to write. Anything to do with love, heartbreak, jealousy, and pining after someone shows up in all three.

     I can't help it. I love me some luuuurve. (And I love saying luuuurve.) (And there were so many pretty heart pictures, I couldn't choose just one.)

     And because I love to spread the love, last week in honor of reaching 100 followers, I did a contest to enter your first 25 pages for me to critique. Since there were only three entries, I hereby name you all winners.
     So, Jenna Cooper, Kirsten Lopresti and Prerna Pickett, you can all email me your first 25 and I'll take a look at them. Email me at mmstanford(at)hotmail(dot)com.
     Love you all!

Adversity

     The talks in church this past Sunday were all about adversity. And it got me thinking... I haven't had a whole lot of adversity in my life.
     Now before you snort in derision or even throw food at me, I haven't exactly had it all. I've lived a fairly middle-class life. Growing up our houses were all big enough to fit seven kids, but not mansions. I did a lot of thrift-store shopping but my mom made sure I never wore clothes with holes in them. We had an in-ground pool in three of the houses I lived in, but I never got a car until I could afford to buy one myself (age 20). My parents are very frugal and I grew up that way.
     But, I've never had to deal with major illness, poverty, tragedy, etc. Even death hasn't been all that prevalent in my life until recently.
     I realized that one of my adversities is not succeeding. Writing is fun. But there's that voice in my head that says, you suck, you'll never be a good writer, you'll never get published, no one wants to read your stuff, this is too hard just quit... that's adversity. One of the speakers in church talked about how this world is a world of instant gratification. And I thought, nah- I don't expect anything instantly, I don't expect things to be handed to me. And then I thought- wait, do I?
     It shames me to admit that when I finished my first draft of Daze and Knights I thought, I did it. I'm done. Now I'm going to be a bestseller.
     Man, was I stupid.
     I've learned since then that this is not easy. That writing one draft of a book does not an author make. That it is a hard road and no matter how much I work and work at it, the stars may never align in my favor. I may never be published. I may never be a bestseller.
     So do I just quit?
     Heck no. Because now that I'm facing a challenge in the face, I'm not going to bow out, slink away, or hide out in shame. I'm going to look my adversity in the face and say, BRING IT. I will last. I won't give up. I will work, work, work at this.
     I had a motivator song before I started writing Daze and Knights. It was Simple Plan "When I'm Gone". Here are some lines (from the two verses) that really spoke to me, because I was afraid they WERE me and I didn't want them to be me.

I look around me, but all I seem to see

Is people going nowhere, expecting sympathy

It's like we're going through the motions

Of a scripted destiny

Tell me where's our inspiration

If life won't wait

I guess it's up to me

Procrastination running circles in my head

While you sit there contemplating

You're wound up left for dead

Life is what happens

While you're busy making your excuses

Another day, another casualty

But that won't happen to me