tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65530151209976541462024-02-07T16:45:20.995-08:00Beck Nicholaslet me introduce you to my imaginary friends...beck nicholashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691281777316230017noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553015120997654146.post-58744330514374366052014-11-20T23:31:00.005-08:002014-11-20T23:31:49.452-08:00Find me on the web<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Please check out my website:</h2>
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<br /></h2>
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<a href="http://www.becknicholas.com/" target="_blank">www.becknicholas.com</a></h2>
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<br /></h2>
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It has lots of news about my sci-fi and contemporary YA books as well as a brand new quiz.</h2>
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<span style="color: magenta;">Hope to see you there!!</span></h2>
beck nicholashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691281777316230017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553015120997654146.post-3692730874166921002014-01-05T17:53:00.002-08:002014-01-05T17:53:44.039-08:00Being braveLike any <strike>wimpy, neurotic, human</strike>, writer I have nerves sending my work out. To CPs, betas, agents, editors and one day the big bad world. Nerves that sometimes make me stop and delay and overthink and all that good stuff. Like anyone putting themselves out there I guess.<br />
<br />
Even more is the nerves and fear in putting words down. None of these characters ARE me but I have to bleed to make them real.<br />
<br />
But this morning I had a lesson in being brave. From my Rockstar. All of 8 years old, with 2 hearing aids (1st in May, 2nd in Nov so she's still getting used to having a hearing loss) walked into a Musical theatre camp where she was among the youngest and knew no one else. Three hundred kids. She kissed me, smiled and didn't look back. <br />
<br />
See, she loves music and despite not having a voice that means a solo or anything she thinks it's worth putting herself out there.<br />
<br />
So today I'm going to be brave.<br />
Like her.<br />
(And maybe worry about her a little).<br />
<br />
<br />
And my characters will be brave, or scared or whatever but they will BE IT COMPLETELY.<br />
<br />
Are you brave? Do you think you need to be to write or whatever it is you like to do? beck nicholashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691281777316230017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553015120997654146.post-28894826159502673222013-12-18T22:16:00.003-08:002013-12-18T22:16:38.710-08:00General crazinessHello there crazy time of year!<br />
Busy here with usual Chrissy stuff as well as end of school year and my littlest Princess's Christmas Eve birthday.<br />
And with RENOVATIONS.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />
Yes, I felt it needed all caps. We're about a month in and the builders have been great and it's going to be great but... the kiddos are on hols and we're cramped. We've lost our backyard and it's too hot to move and writing is a struggle with three underfoot.<br />
<br />
Wouldn't you know it that my brain is firing with dialogue and scenes and ideas for linked stories? <br />
<br />
My problem is sneaking time to write.<br />
Without endless questions and water help and requests for food. And more food.<br />
What about you? Relaxing times?<br />
beck nicholashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691281777316230017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553015120997654146.post-22413467902020153762013-11-25T23:02:00.000-08:002013-11-25T23:02:00.046-08:00RunningI'm no athlete - although I love sport. I came last in EVERY SINGLE running race I had to participate in through school. Every one. <br />
<br />
But a few years ago I decided to do the Couch to 5k running program. Mainly because I bet hubby a camera on completing it. He knew my athletic prowess and thought himself safe... or he hoped to encourage me. Either way I was determined to SHOW HIM.<br />
<br />
And I did.<br />
<br />
And then I did a 7.5 km run raising money for cancer. <br />
<br />
And now I run 4 times a week. I'm still not fast. I suspect my knees turn in and my feet kick out. It's not pretty, but I feel good after. As long as I get through and get into a rhythm I can run for an hour now.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcAQRrjchlZ4IrgF9hdniloo5iqAPRal1OsedBxL69p5QiS979XRG9pNYs_zsnHooQQxP3rdtct2KGN9Rg3LA7uI5yNzjmPuYx7dY06ilWJarsgAPEG7Voe0qrr6FlIxhi98OwYoI4FLF/s1600/shoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcAQRrjchlZ4IrgF9hdniloo5iqAPRal1OsedBxL69p5QiS979XRG9pNYs_zsnHooQQxP3rdtct2KGN9Rg3LA7uI5yNzjmPuYx7dY06ilWJarsgAPEG7Voe0qrr6FlIxhi98OwYoI4FLF/s320/shoes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This week I retired the shoes I bought when I decided I'd run. Thanks to my handy app I know they've done 1000km. It's almost impossible to believe but it shows a little at a time adds up.<br />
<br />
Now I need to apply that to finishing the work in progress.<br />
=)beck nicholashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691281777316230017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553015120997654146.post-53135145801100261732013-10-14T02:45:00.003-07:002013-10-14T02:45:40.190-07:00On being a fanNot me this time... or not exactly.<br />
After 'seeing'/reading some of this author on twitter I was inspired to buy a certain little rockstar in my life <em><u><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Keeper-Lost-Cities-ebook/dp/B005C776A8/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1381743440&sr=1-1&keywords=Keeper+of+the+Lost+Cities" target="_blank">Keeper of the Lost Cities</a></u></em> by <u>Shannon Messenger.</u><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9zQ7Z7TG9BnyeyA6Q2JSg3HoRSYJYe2FDeot_PMOgdGQAoYZQFpjom4G3jZnSRcCCa7BMo8GjNCudL6JbfaxxMlzMFAVJi3ozj8K6Dr31k116Q5EyASAGtSM99Zm1CeeCTcwV5XqhzHX/s1600/keeper1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9zQ7Z7TG9BnyeyA6Q2JSg3HoRSYJYe2FDeot_PMOgdGQAoYZQFpjom4G3jZnSRcCCa7BMo8GjNCudL6JbfaxxMlzMFAVJi3ozj8K6Dr31k116Q5EyASAGtSM99Zm1CeeCTcwV5XqhzHX/s200/keeper1.jpg" width="133" /></a><br />
<em>Twelve-year-old Sophie Foster has a secret. She’s a Telepath—someone who hears the thoughts of everyone around her. It’s a talent she’s never known how to explain.</em><br />
<blockquote>
<em>Everything changes the day she meets Fitz, a mysterious boy who appears out of nowhere and also reads minds. She discovers there’s a place she does belong, and that staying with her family will place her in grave danger. In the blink of an eye, Sophie is forced to leave behind everything and start a new life in a place that is vastly different from anything she has ever known.<br />
Sophie has new rules to learn and new skills to master, and not everyone is thrilled that she has come “home.” There are secrets buried deep in Sophie’s memory—secrets about who she really is and why she was hidden among humans—that other people desperately want. Would even kill for.</em><em>In this page-turning debut, Shannon Messenger creates a riveting story where one girl must figure out why she is the key to her brand-new world, before the wrong person finds the answer first.</em></blockquote>
<br />
<br />
And she LOVED it. She's only just 8 and read in in a devouring rush of intense obsession I've only ever seen her have with music before (she is, after all, going to be a rockstar... or audiologist... or author when she grows up) and one other author.<br />
<br />
She copied the title to put up on her wall and she drew picture after picture. And she's saving for the sequel.<br />
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This is her fan art.... fan art! I can hardly believe it of her. I promised I'd post it for Shannon's <a href="http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">contest</a> and she just hoped one of her fave authors might see it!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQ0hYLTB0rT1UMnMyURbO_-Oo4BdRIIImFj5lj2KZEvupODMw5huy9-I0M21uoH0MirEdmcKPNZsPc2_mvn16D0_SyJSIYNYS9g3wy_jSZ9QvGhJhb_fIaXcyBgm1-iyoqJhN3S77a7i4/s1600/Keeper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQ0hYLTB0rT1UMnMyURbO_-Oo4BdRIIImFj5lj2KZEvupODMw5huy9-I0M21uoH0MirEdmcKPNZsPc2_mvn16D0_SyJSIYNYS9g3wy_jSZ9QvGhJhb_fIaXcyBgm1-iyoqJhN3S77a7i4/s320/Keeper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is Sophie how Rockstar sees her.</div>
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I'm so glad she feels this way about books. I hope to make people feel this way about mine!!</div>
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=)</div>
beck nicholashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691281777316230017noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553015120997654146.post-22556642497333164472013-08-21T21:22:00.000-07:002013-08-21T21:22:32.274-07:00Conference awesomeness<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFeUJm9apb8IU0iI7SwK1W9M8HRjvMe_Nosq1m4WtcCHSJro8Nc_lnyLlUakgYYyJgjdNIEXQZFpYiZL8vN-E1PCJJVjr2vAr_nAxCbq_e79IWsPlZQxznbXn-pqgMm1ART_iPeS0hvJ3/s1600/conf+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFeUJm9apb8IU0iI7SwK1W9M8HRjvMe_Nosq1m4WtcCHSJro8Nc_lnyLlUakgYYyJgjdNIEXQZFpYiZL8vN-E1PCJJVjr2vAr_nAxCbq_e79IWsPlZQxznbXn-pqgMm1ART_iPeS0hvJ3/s200/conf+3.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dlg4mm9RyNQGU96Ous4apVgGvo_MnOECeAu8yeg6ShKG0vJKt587UezcwfI78ecYSSyXAympbX24FOB6syrUXjy3Um73WNojRAPp0E9EraExbgHPFozl7h1gVq0Fy627P3VTBCE2Dow5/s1600/conf+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dlg4mm9RyNQGU96Ous4apVgGvo_MnOECeAu8yeg6ShKG0vJKt587UezcwfI78ecYSSyXAympbX24FOB6syrUXjy3Um73WNojRAPp0E9EraExbgHPFozl7h1gVq0Fy627P3VTBCE2Dow5/s200/conf+1.jpg" width="150" /></a>On the weekend I was lucky enough to go to the Romance Writers of Australia Conference. This year it was in Fremantle and they put on some wild wind and rain the first day but it gradually warmed up. I roomed with fab rural author Rachael Johns(see pic left) and had to take my little rockstar's netball beanie kid as she had a big netball final while I was away (right).<br />
<br />
As a bit of an introvert (I'm used to my fictional worlds) I found the buzz of so many writers at once inspiring and exhausting - in a good way.<br />
<br />
It was great to talk writing for a WHOLE WEEKEND. There were so many inspiring workshops and talks over the weekend and I scribbled so many notes I think it will take me weeks to go back through.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEe1NvdEldT45toYnKqB1Qw_S5g8yq8epYQSiQPFYWUDtq_akG7bKK9JCZX4WU_2KrUOr9TqTNYbVexE6pl9Fgj0JufZl8mI_zaQFfzMQ4TElmn54XO99wehZSagwB6Md24nUJOatl7Def/s1600/conf+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEe1NvdEldT45toYnKqB1Qw_S5g8yq8epYQSiQPFYWUDtq_akG7bKK9JCZX4WU_2KrUOr9TqTNYbVexE6pl9Fgj0JufZl8mI_zaQFfzMQ4TElmn54XO99wehZSagwB6Md24nUJOatl7Def/s200/conf+4.jpg" width="200" /></a>The social events were just as fun and I went for 'nice' on the Nautical or nice cocktail party on the Friday night. What could be nicer than a block of choc? And I got to wear purple hair! <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qzPuBRd9yR81nX9b3Yh5FsWfPPq1DgaGQmC3XkaQ1hH4jjpyrsC5ISaxc4d4EmPQtGPQvlnrfhmES4y7DiVXzs28Jj_kiIceKhBqRDNRGnRsRcj8TAVyzecZjSwkSU0j9uHoXXl4HAKe/s1600/conf+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qzPuBRd9yR81nX9b3Yh5FsWfPPq1DgaGQmC3XkaQ1hH4jjpyrsC5ISaxc4d4EmPQtGPQvlnrfhmES4y7DiVXzs28Jj_kiIceKhBqRDNRGnRsRcj8TAVyzecZjSwkSU0j9uHoXXl4HAKe/s200/conf+2.jpg" width="150" /></a> The awards gala was fabulous and included a choc fountain - sigh...<br />
<br />
There were so many highlights but for me it was a late night chat (there were a few of those!!) where I was talking about one of my stories and the room of writers gave me bucket loads of encouragement. terms like 'awesome conflict' and 'I can't wait to read it' are things I'll treasure as I get stuck back in.<br />
<br />
The organisers did an amazing job and I thanks them with virtual hugs and chocolate!!<br />
<br />
Have you been to any conferences recently?<br />
<br />
beck nicholashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691281777316230017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553015120997654146.post-65890382497491281622013-07-17T05:15:00.004-07:002013-07-17T05:56:46.324-07:00i don't even like this song<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AJlxid5PFXtq5aTMmGJLwjApphNZAn6jGWIU6GzeYnfeX5kI7qxeV6AGs_b5To8-70vyXPivlnXgKcbg7s-0-wtmTpS_5OVX0dFeYINIBf8TnwLlk054ry9sG_wb3W5e7NHJ_wRox_e0/s1600/yahighwayrtw.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_21seun="2" closure_uid_440658059="9" closure_uid_556689956="4" closure_uid_7f1n7h="17" closure_uid_97hoxr="3" closure_uid_ezu9bl="9" closure_uid_f6iazy="7" closure_uid_kg829t="6" closure_uid_kul4wl="2" closure_uid_piprg4="7" closure_uid_qbsh3f="7" closure_uid_z24j9f="5" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AJlxid5PFXtq5aTMmGJLwjApphNZAn6jGWIU6GzeYnfeX5kI7qxeV6AGs_b5To8-70vyXPivlnXgKcbg7s-0-wtmTpS_5OVX0dFeYINIBf8TnwLlk054ry9sG_wb3W5e7NHJ_wRox_e0/s200/yahighwayrtw.png" width="196" /></a>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. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b style="color: #006600;">This Week's Topic:</b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What song would you love to see a book based on?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now for this one I’m going to blame my little Rockstar.
She’s learning guitar and has an eclectic mix in her repertoire. From Holiday
by Greenday and Back in Black by ACDC to So What by Pink and Day Tripper by the
Beatles. Her fave singer is Taylor Swift and she plays songs she knows and the
album CONSTANTLY.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One keeps making me see a scene and it’s called The Last
Time and it opens:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Found
myself at your door,<br />
Just like all those times before,<br />
I'm not sure how I got there,<br />
All roads they lead me here.<br />
<br />
I imagine you are home,<br />
In your room, all alone,<br />
And you open your eyes into mine,<br />
And everything feels better,<br />
<br />
Right before your eyes,<br />
I'm breaking, no past<br />
No reasons why,<br />
Just you and me.<br />
<br />
This is the last time I'm asking you this,<br />
Put my name at the top of your list,<br />
This is the last time I'm asking you why,<br />
You break my heart in the blink of an eye.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just makes me ask all kinds of questions in my head. I do
like to write about the pain/fear of people leaving so maybe that explains it.
I wonder what he did before and what has happened to make him come back. The
risk of letting someone who’s left in again… it’s a biggie!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What about you??<o:p></o:p></span></div>
beck nicholashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691281777316230017noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553015120997654146.post-10204547898621851302013-06-05T00:56:00.003-07:002013-06-05T00:56:34.954-07:00Imagine<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AJlxid5PFXtq5aTMmGJLwjApphNZAn6jGWIU6GzeYnfeX5kI7qxeV6AGs_b5To8-70vyXPivlnXgKcbg7s-0-wtmTpS_5OVX0dFeYINIBf8TnwLlk054ry9sG_wb3W5e7NHJ_wRox_e0/s1600/yahighwayrtw.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_21seun="2" closure_uid_440658059="9" closure_uid_556689956="4" closure_uid_7f1n7h="17" closure_uid_97hoxr="3" closure_uid_ezu9bl="9" closure_uid_f6iazy="7" closure_uid_kg829t="6" closure_uid_kul4wl="2" closure_uid_piprg4="7" closure_uid_qbsh3f="7" closure_uid_z24j9f="5" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AJlxid5PFXtq5aTMmGJLwjApphNZAn6jGWIU6GzeYnfeX5kI7qxeV6AGs_b5To8-70vyXPivlnXgKcbg7s-0-wtmTpS_5OVX0dFeYINIBf8TnwLlk054ry9sG_wb3W5e7NHJ_wRox_e0/s200/yahighwayrtw.png" width="196" /></a>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. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><b style="color: #006600;">This Week's Topic:</b><br /><span style="text-align: left;">What was the best book you read in May??</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;">The best book I read in May was <strong>Imaginary Girls</strong> by Nova Ren Suma.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYbx_BI8fEZ7dHSVfNJfxYaA5Hk8YeMcZh0pugOwcv0W1fPaYCYVS7ZwsTdOVxSM8FNVeFzCUqUk6YX0Bk9m5_LpgIjU62CBtvdSEb2jGk3ol1AEx3VyoP2zy0afx-Gfw7O40G6Fh_HI_/s1600/imag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYbx_BI8fEZ7dHSVfNJfxYaA5Hk8YeMcZh0pugOwcv0W1fPaYCYVS7ZwsTdOVxSM8FNVeFzCUqUk6YX0Bk9m5_LpgIjU62CBtvdSEb2jGk3ol1AEx3VyoP2zy0afx-Gfw7O40G6Fh_HI_/s200/imag.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: left;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;">Here is the Goodreads blurb:</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><span id="freeText16901079627839333857"><em>Chloe's older sister, Ruby, is the girl everyone looks to and longs for, who can't be captured or caged. When a night with Ruby's friends goes horribly wrong and Chloe discovers the dead body of her classmate London Hayes left floating in the reservoir, Chloe is sent away from town and away from Ruby.<br /><br /> But Ruby will do anything to get her sister back, and when Chloe returns to town two years later, deadly surprises await. As Chloe flirts with the truth that Ruby has hidden deeply away, the fragile line between life and death is redrawn by the complex bonds of sisterhood.</em></span></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><span></span></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><span>This drew me in and got me thinking. Thinking til my brain hurt and although I read it weeks ago I'm STILL thinking about it. I don't know whether I actually liked any of the characters which normally would put me right off a book but this one... well, it worked for me anyway.</span></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><span></span></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><span>What about your best May read?</span></span>beck nicholashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691281777316230017noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553015120997654146.post-9770183551955432742013-05-29T05:18:00.002-07:002013-05-29T05:18:51.290-07:00A little surprising.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: black;">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. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.</span></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AJlxid5PFXtq5aTMmGJLwjApphNZAn6jGWIU6GzeYnfeX5kI7qxeV6AGs_b5To8-70vyXPivlnXgKcbg7s-0-wtmTpS_5OVX0dFeYINIBf8TnwLlk054ry9sG_wb3W5e7NHJ_wRox_e0/s1600/yahighwayrtw.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong><img border="0" closure_uid_267727093="4" closure_uid_2cq7g4="5" closure_uid_46qxle="2" closure_uid_6i3vr3="6" closure_uid_8i9kup="4" closure_uid_8ow5be="2" closure_uid_97hoxr="3" closure_uid_bxdz4l="6" closure_uid_f6iazy="7" closure_uid_fjx4s9="8" closure_uid_h8pf5x="4" closure_uid_k8eyo="2" closure_uid_szph1q="2" closure_uid_tu8c51="2" closure_uid_ymqxks="5" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AJlxid5PFXtq5aTMmGJLwjApphNZAn6jGWIU6GzeYnfeX5kI7qxeV6AGs_b5To8-70vyXPivlnXgKcbg7s-0-wtmTpS_5OVX0dFeYINIBf8TnwLlk054ry9sG_wb3W5e7NHJ_wRox_e0/s200/yahighwayrtw.png" width="196" /></strong></a></div>
<br /><strong>This Week's Topic:</strong><br />
<span style="text-align: left;">What's been your most surprising read of the year
so far---the book you weren't sure about going in that really swept you off your
feet?</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;">I've read quite a few great books this year but the one that really surprised me was <u>The Name of The Star</u> by Maureen Johnson.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNIBAPGwON8mihIY5c0jZhX7kB0bcQ1GO651ijONCSe_eLDGVT7cUmRgbFvuJC1GGWQT-zF6KsqEEqVpyHS6Y_OTVIG2IoT6GEUGHUvxjIX0ysLvrwYsQ8HdsqBm_TlNLV8G-t6oqq0WY/s1600/name+of+the.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNIBAPGwON8mihIY5c0jZhX7kB0bcQ1GO651ijONCSe_eLDGVT7cUmRgbFvuJC1GGWQT-zF6KsqEEqVpyHS6Y_OTVIG2IoT6GEUGHUvxjIX0ysLvrwYsQ8HdsqBm_TlNLV8G-t6oqq0WY/s1600/name+of+the.png" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: left;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;">I'm not sure it's the very best but I have to say I didn't think I'd love it. And I did. And I was terrified and it left me thinking for ages. All of which surprised me. I think it was the way just when I thought I was comfortable reading the stakes twisted and upped and I gasped and had to turn the next page. </span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;">What about you?</span>beck nicholashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691281777316230017noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553015120997654146.post-60873620126281612162013-05-15T20:04:00.002-07:002013-05-15T20:04:38.330-07:00Getting around to it.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AJlxid5PFXtq5aTMmGJLwjApphNZAn6jGWIU6GzeYnfeX5kI7qxeV6AGs_b5To8-70vyXPivlnXgKcbg7s-0-wtmTpS_5OVX0dFeYINIBf8TnwLlk054ry9sG_wb3W5e7NHJ_wRox_e0/s1600/yahighwayrtw.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_21seun="2" closure_uid_440658059="9" closure_uid_556689956="4" closure_uid_7f1n7h="17" closure_uid_97hoxr="3" closure_uid_ezu9bl="9" closure_uid_f6iazy="7" closure_uid_kg829t="6" closure_uid_kul4wl="2" closure_uid_piprg4="7" closure_uid_qbsh3f="7" closure_uid_z24j9f="5" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AJlxid5PFXtq5aTMmGJLwjApphNZAn6jGWIU6GzeYnfeX5kI7qxeV6AGs_b5To8-70vyXPivlnXgKcbg7s-0-wtmTpS_5OVX0dFeYINIBf8TnwLlk054ry9sG_wb3W5e7NHJ_wRox_e0/s200/yahighwayrtw.png" width="196" /></a>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. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>This Week's Topic: </strong>What book is your 'one that got away?' (What book have you always been dying to
read but still haven't yet?)<br />
<br />
<br />
Up until this week I had two vying to *win* this for me. However, after much prodding from hubby I've started Game of Thrones at last. He's a huge fan and I've been meaning to start but his <strike>whining</strike> intellectual discussion about the terribleness of the people and the world put me off.<br />
<br />
So that leaves The Book Thief.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLVkbwEK2uwYwF1eaDUWI-MLReVcP9mIS8zYXPNYElAi-TueDKenx84OLc5eFWo1rcdjlmPmZ4SuyfG5ACZ_6MMvpM7qO6vNvGfH0v1tfJolY6mncTzd3uH9IfXvseApG9pZLcfpYJmJW/s1600/The-Book-Thief.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLVkbwEK2uwYwF1eaDUWI-MLReVcP9mIS8zYXPNYElAi-TueDKenx84OLc5eFWo1rcdjlmPmZ4SuyfG5ACZ_6MMvpM7qO6vNvGfH0v1tfJolY6mncTzd3uH9IfXvseApG9pZLcfpYJmJW/s320/The-Book-Thief.jpg" width="203" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I have it. I've picked it up. Managed two pages... and then... nothing. I believe it's good but I haven't managed to get into it. Yet. I will.<br />
<br />
What about you?<br />
beck nicholashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691281777316230017noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553015120997654146.post-29798816367291764742013-05-08T18:02:00.000-07:002013-05-08T18:02:12.131-07:00Looking for inspiration<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AJlxid5PFXtq5aTMmGJLwjApphNZAn6jGWIU6GzeYnfeX5kI7qxeV6AGs_b5To8-70vyXPivlnXgKcbg7s-0-wtmTpS_5OVX0dFeYINIBf8TnwLlk054ry9sG_wb3W5e7NHJ_wRox_e0/s1600/yahighwayrtw.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_21seun="2" closure_uid_440658059="9" closure_uid_556689956="4" closure_uid_7f1n7h="17" closure_uid_97hoxr="3" closure_uid_ezu9bl="9" closure_uid_f6iazy="7" closure_uid_kg829t="6" closure_uid_kul4wl="2" closure_uid_piprg4="7" closure_uid_qbsh3f="7" closure_uid_z24j9f="5" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AJlxid5PFXtq5aTMmGJLwjApphNZAn6jGWIU6GzeYnfeX5kI7qxeV6AGs_b5To8-70vyXPivlnXgKcbg7s-0-wtmTpS_5OVX0dFeYINIBf8TnwLlk054ry9sG_wb3W5e7NHJ_wRox_e0/s200/yahighwayrtw.png" width="196" /></a>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. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><b style="color: #006600;">This Week's Topic:</b><br />
What are some non-writing blogs/Tumblrs/Twitters/Pinterests<br />
/Instagrams, etc.,
that you follow and get inspired by?<br />
<br />
<br />
I can't wait to head out to see everyone's answers to this. I have to admit I mainly read about books/writing/authors... these are my happy places. <br />
<br />
Alongside that are the blogs/intagrams of some of my fave sport teams. I like the window into the players as people. i am so unathletic, I find it really interesting.<br />
<br />
Another is more recent. It's <a href="http://fatmumslim.com.au/category/photo-a-day-2/">fatmumslim</a> and the photo a day challenge. The pics get me thinking about the different ways to interpret one word and the different meaning it can have to diff people. Which reminds me...<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHuTLEaenE-dYbzPo3ZywsJkwNBsjyxX7fSBvh4u7DvNbboTzhU1HncDj1SeB9Ha0RAlV7JdI-D7iADCmyJH6dFf4NaWDd2eeAJJMBfYer7ycso3uLwG3s6D1RgwJLupfOSWkS4mGkRgF9/s1600/may3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHuTLEaenE-dYbzPo3ZywsJkwNBsjyxX7fSBvh4u7DvNbboTzhU1HncDj1SeB9Ha0RAlV7JdI-D7iADCmyJH6dFf4NaWDd2eeAJJMBfYer7ycso3uLwG3s6D1RgwJLupfOSWkS4mGkRgF9/s200/may3.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
4. In my cup - mmmm coffee... gone.<br />
5. Paper - so she can't spell - cute though<br />
6. Broken - hard to see but mil's gift was missing an udder<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlhm6xTBIo-s2RxN2DiUml8fI3RDy9VSgFnWBSAn9trqNihNPgbgHiouHez4iCxJBY4fO16kN-grFKYyomaLQ18Mug25PZjQtQVtnX9lUp4ylt0cGFAI8Om9s00wwbIy-nHet57ghc5nUC/s1600/may2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlhm6xTBIo-s2RxN2DiUml8fI3RDy9VSgFnWBSAn9trqNihNPgbgHiouHez4iCxJBY4fO16kN-grFKYyomaLQ18Mug25PZjQtQVtnX9lUp4ylt0cGFAI8Om9s00wwbIy-nHet57ghc5nUC/s200/may2.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
7. Something beginning with F - bottom pic -Flinders Ranges<br />
8. Shape - hubby's guitar<br />
9. A snack - mmm dip and cider<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
What's your inspiration?<br />
<br />
beck nicholashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691281777316230017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553015120997654146.post-53412224595002690222013-05-02T22:03:00.002-07:002013-05-02T22:03:39.563-07:00a picture tellsFor ages I've seen the Photo-a-Day challenge on <a href="http://fatmumslim.com.au/hey-its-may-photo-a-day-come-and-play/">Fatmumslim's</a> blog and thought about participating. And that's about where I stopped.<br />
<br />
But it's a new(ish) month and I want to try.<br />
So below is the first three. The pictures are anti-clockwise.<br />
<br />
1. I bought this<br />
2. Morning ritual<br />
3. This is really good<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKvN99bC63TQfubLT3nFbx8j0SMK3UdWYTP9xlPWOvhRfjV3Df4gXwacCCZWKhDRTgIiN8CrahMaETnnGgeEvS8Vkqiczq_lxeapT3l0iSn2MlR_31N_Lz8sBwLvNdZ7T_IFZlN8KvGTUH/s1600/may1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKvN99bC63TQfubLT3nFbx8j0SMK3UdWYTP9xlPWOvhRfjV3Df4gXwacCCZWKhDRTgIiN8CrahMaETnnGgeEvS8Vkqiczq_lxeapT3l0iSn2MlR_31N_Lz8sBwLvNdZ7T_IFZlN8KvGTUH/s320/may1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Hubby actually bought this toaster. I would never have spent so much on something that only cooks bread. And it pretty much needs us to get to the extension just to fit it in the kitchen. Awesome though!<br />
<br />
2. Each morning i try to sneak in 10 mins of writing before the school drop. it's a challenge.<br />
<br />
3. This is just a box, but inside... inside is a doll for princess 7. She's getting a hearing aid in a week and is terrified. The doll looks just like her including hearing aid. I'm hoping it helps. I opened it and was a little teary. This is really good.<br />
<br />
i love taking pics. Do you?beck nicholashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691281777316230017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553015120997654146.post-46942567496496890532013-05-01T03:27:00.001-07:002013-05-01T03:27:29.602-07:00This left me bruised<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AJlxid5PFXtq5aTMmGJLwjApphNZAn6jGWIU6GzeYnfeX5kI7qxeV6AGs_b5To8-70vyXPivlnXgKcbg7s-0-wtmTpS_5OVX0dFeYINIBf8TnwLlk054ry9sG_wb3W5e7NHJ_wRox_e0/s1600/yahighwayrtw.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_21seun="2" closure_uid_440658059="9" closure_uid_556689956="4" closure_uid_7f1n7h="17" closure_uid_97hoxr="3" closure_uid_ezu9bl="9" closure_uid_f6iazy="7" closure_uid_kg829t="6" closure_uid_kul4wl="2" closure_uid_piprg4="7" closure_uid_qbsh3f="7" closure_uid_z24j9f="5" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AJlxid5PFXtq5aTMmGJLwjApphNZAn6jGWIU6GzeYnfeX5kI7qxeV6AGs_b5To8-70vyXPivlnXgKcbg7s-0-wtmTpS_5OVX0dFeYINIBf8TnwLlk054ry9sG_wb3W5e7NHJ_wRox_e0/s200/yahighwayrtw.png" width="196" /></a>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. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><b style="color: #006600;">This Week's Topic:</b><br /><span style="text-align: left;">What was the best book you read in April??</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;">So, I was so busy this month AND school holidays were two <strike>excruciating </strike>wonderful weeks of children bonding but I also managed to read a few books. </span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;">The best was a hard decision (it always is - I'm a Libran and I tend to look for the positives in things) but I'm going to have to go with Bruiser by Neal Shusterman.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPl6Zq0uDay0T7PTyfBigC0avjl6jVRRv7w5eZ_AesNpF-QKM9x1nLMm_gMuIS9uhx6R8PQyHKBlanmFt35bdWGBlXj1VV-1Stv7BRIJzChmMHTPS7Vtu_J1cpNNUTTO6aV1xs9KTg5x_T/s1600/bruiser.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPl6Zq0uDay0T7PTyfBigC0avjl6jVRRv7w5eZ_AesNpF-QKM9x1nLMm_gMuIS9uhx6R8PQyHKBlanmFt35bdWGBlXj1VV-1Stv7BRIJzChmMHTPS7Vtu_J1cpNNUTTO6aV1xs9KTg5x_T/s1600/bruiser.png" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: left;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;">I'm on a bit of a magical realism hunt and this came up on a search. I loved it all. The writing felt spare but emotional at the same time. Every character had a flaw (or several) but I was still entranced. It left me thinking. it was 'different' whatever that is.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;">What was your best for April? Any magical realism?</span>beck nicholashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691281777316230017noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553015120997654146.post-54590318751623464832013-04-24T16:54:00.000-07:002013-04-24T16:54:12.238-07:00Best ever<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: black;">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. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.</span></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AJlxid5PFXtq5aTMmGJLwjApphNZAn6jGWIU6GzeYnfeX5kI7qxeV6AGs_b5To8-70vyXPivlnXgKcbg7s-0-wtmTpS_5OVX0dFeYINIBf8TnwLlk054ry9sG_wb3W5e7NHJ_wRox_e0/s1600/yahighwayrtw.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong><img border="0" closure_uid_267727093="4" closure_uid_2cq7g4="5" closure_uid_46qxle="2" closure_uid_6i3vr3="6" closure_uid_8i9kup="4" closure_uid_8ow5be="2" closure_uid_97hoxr="3" closure_uid_bxdz4l="6" closure_uid_f6iazy="7" closure_uid_fjx4s9="8" closure_uid_h8pf5x="4" closure_uid_k8eyo="2" closure_uid_szph1q="2" closure_uid_tu8c51="2" closure_uid_ymqxks="5" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AJlxid5PFXtq5aTMmGJLwjApphNZAn6jGWIU6GzeYnfeX5kI7qxeV6AGs_b5To8-70vyXPivlnXgKcbg7s-0-wtmTpS_5OVX0dFeYINIBf8TnwLlk054ry9sG_wb3W5e7NHJ_wRox_e0/s200/yahighwayrtw.png" width="196" /></strong></a></div>
<br /><strong>This Week's Topic:</strong><br />
<span style="text-align: left;">In our </span><a href="http://www.yahighway.com/2013/04/april-bookmobile-book-of-month-mila-20.html" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #3366cc;">Bookmobile
selection</span></a><span style="text-align: left;"> this month, Debra Driza's MILA 2.0,
the main character discovers she's an android trained to obey orders. We want to
know: </span><b style="text-align: left;">What other human-like robots (or
robot-like humans?) have you enjoyed in books, TV, or movies?</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">You say
human-like robots... i think ASTROBOY!! </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Oh, my,
favourite boy robot. This is the first TV show I can ever remember really
loving. He was so good and so sweet and so ASTRO! Sigh. There may have been a
small crush involved. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">And don't
get me started on the Robio and Robiette episode... I remember when<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>studied Shakespeare years later I deep down
wondered who had imitated who...</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Alas when
I watched it recently it didn't QUITE stand the test of time.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">What
about you? And fave human-like robot/androids??</span><span lang="en-AU" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400; mso-bidi-language: X-NONE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: #0400;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
beck nicholashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691281777316230017noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553015120997654146.post-87540227541649663042013-04-17T16:10:00.004-07:002013-04-17T16:10:57.743-07:00Ummm...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AJlxid5PFXtq5aTMmGJLwjApphNZAn6jGWIU6GzeYnfeX5kI7qxeV6AGs_b5To8-70vyXPivlnXgKcbg7s-0-wtmTpS_5OVX0dFeYINIBf8TnwLlk054ry9sG_wb3W5e7NHJ_wRox_e0/s1600/yahighwayrtw.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_21seun="2" closure_uid_440658059="9" closure_uid_556689956="4" closure_uid_7f1n7h="17" closure_uid_97hoxr="3" closure_uid_ezu9bl="9" closure_uid_f6iazy="7" closure_uid_kg829t="6" closure_uid_kul4wl="2" closure_uid_piprg4="7" closure_uid_qbsh3f="7" closure_uid_z24j9f="5" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AJlxid5PFXtq5aTMmGJLwjApphNZAn6jGWIU6GzeYnfeX5kI7qxeV6AGs_b5To8-70vyXPivlnXgKcbg7s-0-wtmTpS_5OVX0dFeYINIBf8TnwLlk054ry9sG_wb3W5e7NHJ_wRox_e0/s200/yahighwayrtw.png" width="196" /></a>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. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><b style="color: #006600;">This Week's Topic:</b><br /><span style="text-align: left;">April is National Poetry Month! Share your
favorite poem(s) or poet.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;">I'll come clean. I know NOTHING about poetry. Yes, I studied some at school, but thanks to my Glandular Fever in my final year and the allergic reactions that went with it, most of that is a blur.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;">I loved Dylan Thomas - <em>Do not go gentle into that good night</em> touched me as I worked in a nursing home through school and I still think about it. But I haven't even read any poetry recently.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;">So I'm on the hunt for recommendations - have any??</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"></span>beck nicholashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691281777316230017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553015120997654146.post-44183772115331764982013-03-27T15:57:00.000-07:002013-03-27T15:57:13.611-07:00A haunting one<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AJlxid5PFXtq5aTMmGJLwjApphNZAn6jGWIU6GzeYnfeX5kI7qxeV6AGs_b5To8-70vyXPivlnXgKcbg7s-0-wtmTpS_5OVX0dFeYINIBf8TnwLlk054ry9sG_wb3W5e7NHJ_wRox_e0/s1600/yahighwayrtw.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_21seun="2" closure_uid_440658059="9" closure_uid_556689956="4" closure_uid_7f1n7h="17" closure_uid_97hoxr="3" closure_uid_ezu9bl="9" closure_uid_f6iazy="7" closure_uid_kg829t="6" closure_uid_kul4wl="2" closure_uid_piprg4="7" closure_uid_qbsh3f="7" closure_uid_z24j9f="5" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AJlxid5PFXtq5aTMmGJLwjApphNZAn6jGWIU6GzeYnfeX5kI7qxeV6AGs_b5To8-70vyXPivlnXgKcbg7s-0-wtmTpS_5OVX0dFeYINIBf8TnwLlk054ry9sG_wb3W5e7NHJ_wRox_e0/s200/yahighwayrtw.png" width="196" /></a>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. In the comments, you can hop from destination to
destination and get everybody's unique take on the
topic.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><b style="color: #006600;">This Week's
Topic:</b><br /><span style="text-align: left;">What was the best book you read in March??</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;">I didn't read as many books as I would have liked in march but those I managed were great. I loved 'Wait for You' by J Lynn and agree with there being a fair bit of buzz about it around the place.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;">However it was pipped for my fave read by Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1dCFwCjpjaP9CTvLVXQuw2ESqlFFbaYlzLDwukDaYNpLl6MPlPKqq4eKrT02G2_0bKVBL0WSduRG0YxpaLHUpGGy334hytgSp_YejioZJrdYhtziKO3jAZ4dgY6A9CUMvv7A25vwTzM9/s1600/val.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1dCFwCjpjaP9CTvLVXQuw2ESqlFFbaYlzLDwukDaYNpLl6MPlPKqq4eKrT02G2_0bKVBL0WSduRG0YxpaLHUpGGy334hytgSp_YejioZJrdYhtziKO3jAZ4dgY6A9CUMvv7A25vwTzM9/s320/val.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: left;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;">This take kept me reading long after i was supposed to be doing other things. i nearly missed my kids school pickup (ooops) to keep reading.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;">It was haunting it the best was but not really a ghost story and had just the right amount of creep factor as well as a mystery and a brilliantly done setting.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;">What about you - read anything great lately?</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"></span>beck nicholashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691281777316230017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553015120997654146.post-55930205656383752332013-03-18T18:59:00.002-07:002013-03-18T18:59:58.192-07:00DreamingWe're at the very beginning of our renovating journey. We have more kids than bedrooms and would like to be able to separate them as they get older. It's a dream.<br />
<br />
Some days the ability to send everyone to their rooms (including me) seems like a fantasy. <br />
<br />
But we have the architect coming tomorrow to measure up for a rough plan. It meant we needed to make some decisions about our style and needs, not my best thing. And it reminded me of the preliminaries to writing a story. He needed to know what we want, which is I guess like knowing the story I want to tell. Then there were the pics - a lot like I rarely start writing without some visual reminders of my heroine/hero and their setting.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsM1MpaqU4ABG6Bqtd6_susLF3t4sKt4DQYIm22vA08-c1rbqsOShnC5hv0qkBYPg-FyWHRHFiksgWa8czDbdCLhFKVFOcLaSMcS33dOtqFyNub-VS12_DpujTMlp-pB64JB89Z6a8Yg16/s1600/IMG_0243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsM1MpaqU4ABG6Bqtd6_susLF3t4sKt4DQYIm22vA08-c1rbqsOShnC5hv0qkBYPg-FyWHRHFiksgWa8czDbdCLhFKVFOcLaSMcS33dOtqFyNub-VS12_DpujTMlp-pB64JB89Z6a8Yg16/s320/IMG_0243.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
One of the kitchens we liked.</div>
<br />
<br />
But the craziest part is letting someone else take over. I know we get the final say in everything but to let it out of my control is kinda scary. But exciting too.<br />
<br />
Have you renovated a story? Or a house?beck nicholashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691281777316230017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553015120997654146.post-35096307266727029792013-03-06T13:41:00.000-08:002013-03-06T13:42:55.483-08:00What goals?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AJlxid5PFXtq5aTMmGJLwjApphNZAn6jGWIU6GzeYnfeX5kI7qxeV6AGs_b5To8-70vyXPivlnXgKcbg7s-0-wtmTpS_5OVX0dFeYINIBf8TnwLlk054ry9sG_wb3W5e7NHJ_wRox_e0/s1600/yahighwayrtw.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_21seun="2" closure_uid_440658059="9" closure_uid_7f1n7h="17" closure_uid_97hoxr="3" closure_uid_ezu9bl="9" closure_uid_f6iazy="7" closure_uid_kg829t="6" closure_uid_kul4wl="2" closure_uid_piprg4="7" closure_uid_qbsh3f="7" closure_uid_z24j9f="5" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AJlxid5PFXtq5aTMmGJLwjApphNZAn6jGWIU6GzeYnfeX5kI7qxeV6AGs_b5To8-70vyXPivlnXgKcbg7s-0-wtmTpS_5OVX0dFeYINIBf8TnwLlk054ry9sG_wb3W5e7NHJ_wRox_e0/s200/yahighwayrtw.png" width="196" /></a>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. In the comments, you can hop from destination to
destination and get everybody's unique take on the
topic.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b style="color: #006600;">This Week's
Topic:</b><br />
<span style="text-align: left;">Quarterly check-ins! We're already 1/4 of the way
through the year--where are you on your reading and writing goals?</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">*hangs head*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here’s where I mention that I didn’t _exactly_ get around to
my writing goals of 2013. I blame the terrible virus that knocked me out to end
2012 and then the trip to Japan that blitzed the beginning of the year. Then
there was getting the kids to school and kindy, then…</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Doesn’t mean I haven’t been working though. I needed to
finish the WIP before I get stuck into revs on my sci-fi story and I’ve done
that. Am still waiting on some feedback so have started playing with 2 other
ideas. I’m struggling to choose because I know I will stop for edits on my
sci-fi.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">BUT THAT ENDS NOW.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQqKtkCgR9yPzcp60S0fR4MI0Mj8cwPz6RebbiqVWbGHTYNcjwMV9t5u8aP8uFI3x7_UgVqRZb1ie3QymPdmA6kCx_PID6w_XZ-wF203k4b7aV7VTTM_88pvb6aiQMQZxjP9Okkw14-i3/s1600/calender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQqKtkCgR9yPzcp60S0fR4MI0Mj8cwPz6RebbiqVWbGHTYNcjwMV9t5u8aP8uFI3x7_UgVqRZb1ie3QymPdmA6kCx_PID6w_XZ-wF203k4b7aV7VTTM_88pvb6aiQMQZxjP9Okkw14-i3/s200/calender.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Or soon, anyway. Maybe after some chocolate. My goal for the
rest of the year is to get my sci-fi the very best it can be. Polish up the YA contemp
I just finished and write something fresh. That’s a bit to be going on with.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What about you – how are your goals progressing?<o:p></o:p></span>beck nicholashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691281777316230017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553015120997654146.post-89760370201061505892013-02-27T13:50:00.001-08:002013-02-27T13:50:35.908-08:00Better late than...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AJlxid5PFXtq5aTMmGJLwjApphNZAn6jGWIU6GzeYnfeX5kI7qxeV6AGs_b5To8-70vyXPivlnXgKcbg7s-0-wtmTpS_5OVX0dFeYINIBf8TnwLlk054ry9sG_wb3W5e7NHJ_wRox_e0/s1600/yahighwayrtw.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_21seun="2" closure_uid_7f1n7h="17" closure_uid_828416914="7" closure_uid_97hoxr="3" closure_uid_ezu9bl="9" closure_uid_f6iazy="7" closure_uid_kg829t="6" closure_uid_kul4wl="2" closure_uid_piprg4="7" closure_uid_qbsh3f="7" closure_uid_z24j9f="5" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AJlxid5PFXtq5aTMmGJLwjApphNZAn6jGWIU6GzeYnfeX5kI7qxeV6AGs_b5To8-70vyXPivlnXgKcbg7s-0-wtmTpS_5OVX0dFeYINIBf8TnwLlk054ry9sG_wb3W5e7NHJ_wRox_e0/s200/yahighwayrtw.png" width="196" /></a>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. In the comments, you can hop from destination to
destination and get everybody's unique take on the
topic.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><b style="color: #006600;">This Week's
Topic:</b><br /><strong><span style="color: black;">What was your best book for
Feb?</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: black;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: black;"></span></strong><br />
<span style="color: black;">This was an easy one... because I only finished it a few hours ago. I'm a bit late on this cos I've heard raves about the book but with a huge TBR pile I kinda hadn't really listened.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">I'm glad I did.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMwxuezFLqmFj-K6m08xh1wvwufr2lEO34wHHbPJzjBmJ_dCpjtorjI_GmOPDhF3OrQ_P7bdQg1yvIc6loYLJMkr2LdIL6bJQsV6j5aH1WJhPt8viQiCI8JEzw4jHiFAEMP-JwfCY1MdW/s1600/cinder.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMwxuezFLqmFj-K6m08xh1wvwufr2lEO34wHHbPJzjBmJ_dCpjtorjI_GmOPDhF3OrQ_P7bdQg1yvIc6loYLJMkr2LdIL6bJQsV6j5aH1WJhPt8viQiCI8JEzw4jHiFAEMP-JwfCY1MdW/s1600/cinder.png" /></a></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">I adored Cinder by Marissa Meyer.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">It was fresh and captivating and I haven't sat and finished a book in one sitting for ages. I didn't LET life get in the way.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">I loved Cinder. Like, a lot. She was relatable and different and everything I'd want. The world was interesting and Kai was a great hero. I wasn't blindsided by some of the twists but still enjoyed them. Would certainly recommend this book.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">What about you? Read anything good in Feb??</span>beck nicholashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691281777316230017noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553015120997654146.post-28123741510323453242013-02-20T13:45:00.000-08:002013-02-20T13:45:03.294-08:00The very definition of insanity<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: black;">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. In the comments, you can hop from destination to
destination and get everybody's unique take on the
topic.</span></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AJlxid5PFXtq5aTMmGJLwjApphNZAn6jGWIU6GzeYnfeX5kI7qxeV6AGs_b5To8-70vyXPivlnXgKcbg7s-0-wtmTpS_5OVX0dFeYINIBf8TnwLlk054ry9sG_wb3W5e7NHJ_wRox_e0/s1600/yahighwayrtw.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong><img border="0" closure_uid_267727093="4" closure_uid_2cq7g4="5" closure_uid_46qxle="2" closure_uid_688001127="2" closure_uid_6i3vr3="6" closure_uid_8i9kup="4" closure_uid_8ow5be="2" closure_uid_97hoxr="3" closure_uid_bxdz4l="6" closure_uid_f6iazy="7" closure_uid_fjx4s9="8" closure_uid_h8pf5x="4" closure_uid_k8eyo="2" closure_uid_szph1q="2" closure_uid_tu8c51="2" closure_uid_ymqxks="5" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AJlxid5PFXtq5aTMmGJLwjApphNZAn6jGWIU6GzeYnfeX5kI7qxeV6AGs_b5To8-70vyXPivlnXgKcbg7s-0-wtmTpS_5OVX0dFeYINIBf8TnwLlk054ry9sG_wb3W5e7NHJ_wRox_e0/s200/yahighwayrtw.png" width="196" /></strong></a></div>
<br /><strong>This Week's
Topic:</strong><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">Syncing up with our Bookmobile Book of the
Month, <a href="http://www.bookish.com/books/nobody-but-us-kristin-halbrook/ec2476a6-cf28-4629-a3af-33a90f8016d4"><span style="color: #3366cc;">NOBODY
BUT US</span></a> by our own Kristin Halbrook, we're asking: Will and Zoe hit the road
to be together. What's the craziest thing you've done for love, or what's your
favorite book/movie moment of someone doing crazy things for love?</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">Oooh, I love this topic. i kinda think love is the definition of crazy - putting yourself out there on a hope and not much else and giving someone so much power to wound and hurt. It's insane in a way.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">And brilliant.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">The craziest ting I've done for love... I guess it was the chance I took on first seeing hubby. 4 am, I'm 17, my friend drunk next to me in the car spotted two guys. I thought they were definitely axe murderers and she thought 'hot'. So we stopped and we talked (she did have to threaten to be ill in my car) and i tried to keep the slasher imaginings to a minimum. then a day later - under my friend's badgering - we went past their place to say hi.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">I would never let/want a daughter do it.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">But maybe somehow I knew. or I was the worlds biggest idiot and extremely lucky. Either way. </span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">=)</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">What about you - done anything crazy for love?</span>beck nicholashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691281777316230017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553015120997654146.post-53284927468958965062013-02-13T13:48:00.001-08:002013-02-13T13:48:29.131-08:00Ahhhh...... love....<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: black;">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. In the comments, you can hop from destination to
destination and get everybody's unique take on the
topic.</span></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AJlxid5PFXtq5aTMmGJLwjApphNZAn6jGWIU6GzeYnfeX5kI7qxeV6AGs_b5To8-70vyXPivlnXgKcbg7s-0-wtmTpS_5OVX0dFeYINIBf8TnwLlk054ry9sG_wb3W5e7NHJ_wRox_e0/s1600/yahighwayrtw.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong><img border="0" closure_uid_267727093="4" closure_uid_2cq7g4="5" closure_uid_46qxle="2" closure_uid_6i3vr3="6" closure_uid_8i9kup="4" closure_uid_8ow5be="2" closure_uid_97hoxr="3" closure_uid_bxdz4l="6" closure_uid_f6iazy="7" closure_uid_fjx4s9="8" closure_uid_h8pf5x="4" closure_uid_k8eyo="2" closure_uid_szph1q="2" closure_uid_tu8c51="2" closure_uid_ymqxks="5" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AJlxid5PFXtq5aTMmGJLwjApphNZAn6jGWIU6GzeYnfeX5kI7qxeV6AGs_b5To8-70vyXPivlnXgKcbg7s-0-wtmTpS_5OVX0dFeYINIBf8TnwLlk054ry9sG_wb3W5e7NHJ_wRox_e0/s200/yahighwayrtw.png" width="196" /></strong></a></div>
<br /><strong>This Week's
Topic:</strong><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"> </span><span style="text-align: center;">It's
Valentine's Day! Let's jumpstart the lovefest by blogging about
what you love most about writing (and/or reading)!</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">So, it's Valentine's Day here already in Australia. Started the day with a 5km run to make up for the bubbly or chocs am hoping for later *grin*.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">Writing is a bit like running in that I adore 'having written'. Yesterday I wrote 'The End' on the work in progress and it felt brilliant. Love was most definitely in the air. Won't count the draft as done until I've done a read through but it was pretty good.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">I love when characters speak to me. Hubby laughs when I'm at the computer grinning away because a character just said something I completely didn't expect.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">It's a certain kind of magic.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">What do you love about writing or reading??</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"></span>beck nicholashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691281777316230017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553015120997654146.post-29398369041672586302013-02-10T20:06:00.000-08:002013-02-10T20:06:11.590-08:00Music on a MondayI like music, lots I'd say, but I'm not a huge fan like hubby and Princess 7 - who is sure she's going to be a rockstar.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5E_MEeFzclFPjDRgi67JoDmzvxEGC5iHfLBHoV3E2z4dMpB3EYhIIcVkdqnUia3dtJXQL_HcwlI_YUoY8pttf3q9-bkdUCUtbhUd_R2SNSia7nieRidl1OTmI4qD43-FCdL2bMurtOzK_/s1600/music.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5E_MEeFzclFPjDRgi67JoDmzvxEGC5iHfLBHoV3E2z4dMpB3EYhIIcVkdqnUia3dtJXQL_HcwlI_YUoY8pttf3q9-bkdUCUtbhUd_R2SNSia7nieRidl1OTmI4qD43-FCdL2bMurtOzK_/s320/music.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
And I tend not to be able to listen while I write because I mentally sing along (badly) with the words. But i do find some songs will bring a WIP right into focus. Anything Taylor Swift (Princess 7 is playing this a lot) makes me think about my nearly-done story WIS.<br />
<br />
In a complete departure, some old Cure comes to mind for another idea I'm playing with.<br />
<br />
What about you? Can you write to music? Do you listen/read at the same time?beck nicholashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691281777316230017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553015120997654146.post-7457312985201080232012-12-05T13:48:00.001-08:002012-12-05T13:48:10.470-08:00Take a second... or a few<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: black;">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. In the comments, you can hop from destination to
destination and get everybody's unique take on the
topic.</span></span><br /><br /><br /><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AJlxid5PFXtq5aTMmGJLwjApphNZAn6jGWIU6GzeYnfeX5kI7qxeV6AGs_b5To8-70vyXPivlnXgKcbg7s-0-wtmTpS_5OVX0dFeYINIBf8TnwLlk054ry9sG_wb3W5e7NHJ_wRox_e0/s1600/yahighwayrtw.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong><img border="0" closure_uid_2cq7g4="5" closure_uid_46qxle="2" closure_uid_6i3vr3="6" closure_uid_8i9kup="4" closure_uid_8ow5be="2" closure_uid_97hoxr="3" closure_uid_bxdz4l="6" closure_uid_f6iazy="7" closure_uid_fjx4s9="8" closure_uid_h8pf5x="4" closure_uid_k8eyo="2" closure_uid_szph1q="2" closure_uid_tu8c51="2" closure_uid_ymqxks="5" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AJlxid5PFXtq5aTMmGJLwjApphNZAn6jGWIU6GzeYnfeX5kI7qxeV6AGs_b5To8-70vyXPivlnXgKcbg7s-0-wtmTpS_5OVX0dFeYINIBf8TnwLlk054ry9sG_wb3W5e7NHJ_wRox_e0/s200/yahighwayrtw.png" width="196" /></strong></a></div>
<br /><strong>This Week's
Topic:</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">For many, December is a post-NaNoWriMo revision
haze! How do you approach editing/revising? Any tips or tricks or resources you
can share?</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">My biggest tip is TIME. Away from the story. Due to life stuff I had to step away from my story for a bit and it's not even quite done but my brain has been ticking over all the gaps that when i stepped away I would have said weren't there (it's genius... of course.... perfect draft... not....).</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">When life settles I'll be able to go ahead with fresh purpose but even more, I'll get stuck into the beginning and make it the story I first saw in my head.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">CPs are the other greatest tool. Those fresh eyes who don't (most of the time) read it straight from your head but deal with mere words on the page. They're just like readers... only they love you and aren't afraid to tell you it sucks and offer ways to fix it. </span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">Or at least commiserations as you try to fix it.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">What about you? Any tips?</span>beck nicholashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691281777316230017noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553015120997654146.post-25121629098034789062012-10-30T19:39:00.000-07:002012-10-30T19:40:33.670-07:00It's all about the boys<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AJlxid5PFXtq5aTMmGJLwjApphNZAn6jGWIU6GzeYnfeX5kI7qxeV6AGs_b5To8-70vyXPivlnXgKcbg7s-0-wtmTpS_5OVX0dFeYINIBf8TnwLlk054ry9sG_wb3W5e7NHJ_wRox_e0/s1600/yahighwayrtw.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_21seun="2" closure_uid_7f1n7h="17" closure_uid_97hoxr="3" closure_uid_ezu9bl="9" closure_uid_f6iazy="7" closure_uid_kg829t="6" closure_uid_kul4wl="2" closure_uid_piprg4="7" closure_uid_qbsh3f="7" closure_uid_z24j9f="5" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AJlxid5PFXtq5aTMmGJLwjApphNZAn6jGWIU6GzeYnfeX5kI7qxeV6AGs_b5To8-70vyXPivlnXgKcbg7s-0-wtmTpS_5OVX0dFeYINIBf8TnwLlk054ry9sG_wb3W5e7NHJ_wRox_e0/s200/yahighwayrtw.png" width="196" /></a>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. In the comments, you can hop
from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the
topic.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b style="color: #006600;">This Week's
Topic:</b><br />
<strong><span style="color: black;">What was your best book for
October?</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: black;"></span></strong><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Reading this one came about with a google search of 'best YA boy POV books'. I found 'Try Not to Breathe' by Jennifer Hubbard on a few lists and it was there on my kindle app a few minutes later.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">I read the opening and was hooked. Here's the blurb:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWU1eBIEw6R5IHBjLyen6iRdLJ72-tmsgtSfkHKXUisAuFmsVwLQIdXwwEu2UxAfSkKcQTVYeacmZ_v871KRU8URnfuSI7cuq1pvA4q-l1nfb6op-CABC00tGPfhGkQJitCAnZ5GAP02W-/s1600/breathe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWU1eBIEw6R5IHBjLyen6iRdLJ72-tmsgtSfkHKXUisAuFmsVwLQIdXwwEu2UxAfSkKcQTVYeacmZ_v871KRU8URnfuSI7cuq1pvA4q-l1nfb6op-CABC00tGPfhGkQJitCAnZ5GAP02W-/s320/breathe.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Try Not to Breathe</span></span></div>
<div class="readable stacked" id="description" style="right: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span id="freeTextContainer5832694571351728135" style="display: none;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Learning to live is more than just choosing not to die, as sixteen-year-old Ryan discovers in the year following his suicide attempt. Despite his mother’s anxious hovering and the rumors at school, he’s trying to forget the darkness from which he has escaped. But it doesn’t help that he’s still hiding guilty secrets, or that he longs for a girl who may not return his feeli</span><a class="actionLinkLite" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10378650-try-not-to-breathe?auto_login_attempted=true#"><span style="font-size: x-small;">...more</span></a></span><span id="freeText5832694571351728135"></span></div>
<div class="readable stacked" style="right: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Learning to live is more than just choosing not to die, as sixteen-year-old Ryan discovers in the year following his suicide attempt. Despite his mother’s anxious hovering and the rumors at school, he’s trying to forget the darkness from which he has escaped. But it doesn’t help that he’s still hiding guilty secrets, or that he longs for a girl who may not return his feelings. Then he befriends Nicki, who is using psychics to seek contact with her dead father. This unlikely friendship thaws Ryan to the point where he can face the worst in himself. He and Nicki confide in one another the things they never thought they’d tell anyone—but their confessions are trickier than they seem, and the fallout tests the bounds of friendship and forgiveness.</span></div>
<div class="readable stacked" style="right: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="readable stacked" style="right: 0px;">
It was painful and messy and made me think - probably what I liked best about it in the end. Instead of making me think about the boy POV I was working on it raised questions for my girl MC. And she has nothing like this going on. But the brain works in mysterious ways.</div>
<div class="readable stacked" style="right: 0px;">
=)</div>
<div class="readable stacked" style="right: 0px;">
What bout you? Read anything excellent in October?</div>
beck nicholashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691281777316230017noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553015120997654146.post-8542501547754203182012-10-24T03:55:00.002-07:002012-10-24T03:55:46.647-07:00Lights, camera... read!<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: black;">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. In the comments, you can hop from destination to
destination and get everybody's unique take on the
topic.</span></span><br /><br /><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AJlxid5PFXtq5aTMmGJLwjApphNZAn6jGWIU6GzeYnfeX5kI7qxeV6AGs_b5To8-70vyXPivlnXgKcbg7s-0-wtmTpS_5OVX0dFeYINIBf8TnwLlk054ry9sG_wb3W5e7NHJ_wRox_e0/s1600/yahighwayrtw.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong><img border="0" closure_uid_46qxle="2" closure_uid_6i3vr3="6" closure_uid_8i9kup="4" closure_uid_8ow5be="2" closure_uid_97hoxr="3" closure_uid_bxdz4l="6" closure_uid_f6iazy="7" closure_uid_fjx4s9="8" closure_uid_h8pf5x="4" closure_uid_k8eyo="2" closure_uid_szph1q="2" closure_uid_tu8c51="2" closure_uid_ymqxks="5" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AJlxid5PFXtq5aTMmGJLwjApphNZAn6jGWIU6GzeYnfeX5kI7qxeV6AGs_b5To8-70vyXPivlnXgKcbg7s-0-wtmTpS_5OVX0dFeYINIBf8TnwLlk054ry9sG_wb3W5e7NHJ_wRox_e0/s200/yahighwayrtw.png" width="196" /></strong></a></div>
<br /><strong>This Week's
Topic:</strong><br />
We'd like to know, in your opinion, what is it that makes some books seem ideal
for a film translation?<br />
<br />
This is interesting. When I write I generally 'see' the scenes playing out as a movie in my mind, but my WIP had a beta reader commenting 'I could see this being one of those movies where everything happens on one amazing weekend'. When interrogated... i mean, questioned, he didn't know whether it was different writing or what.<br />
<br />
For me, it's a combination. i would consider something that paints a vivid picture in my mind. it needs a good pace and a great hook to make a good movie poster.<br />
<br />
A cute hero and kissing is nice too!!<br />
=)<br />
What do you think?beck nicholashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691281777316230017noreply@blogger.com6