My Writing Process: World Building

This is one of the more difficult writing process posts I've written. I think it's because a lot of this happens during my brainstorming phase, and it's one of the elements I end up working on as I go vs. planning it out in advance. I have some general ideas as I start drafting my book, but I work out the details as I write and in revisions. 

First of all, "world building" is a bit of a writers phrase, and not one other groups of people use very often. So, let's define that. 

World building is anything that has to do with the world the characters live in. At first glance, it's about setting. Where the characters live, the geography, etc. But it's so much more than that. World building definitely is about their home, their neighborhood, and other geographical elements. But it also spans to culture, politics, slang, swear words, religion, magic, where the characters hang out, where they go to school, values, ethics, clothing styles, what characters carry around with them, the list can go on and on. 

This is partly why I tend to world build as I draft my novels. There are so many details, it can get overwhelming. If I approach them as I need them, I can have a bit better of a handle on it. Then, when I go to my revisions, I can see where the gaps are in my world building and fill them in. 

Some writers can create whole binders and guides to their world. I think about some of the big fantasy writers like JRR Tolkien and George RR Martin and how they could have several books just about their politics and family histories and languages. Which is awesome, and I love that they can put such great realistic detail into their work!

I'm not one of them. I wish I could be one of them, and maybe I will be someday. But today is not that day.

One misconception about world building is that this is exclusively for fantasy and sci-fi fiction. This is not true! Contemporary, mystery, historical, and any other genre also need to have well done world building!

Let's say you're writing a book about a modern day teenager in the mid-west and most of the action takes place at school. I don't know about you, but the high school I went to was VASTLY different than the one only a few blocks away. Each school has their own groups, culture, trends, after-school activities, views, etc. The local hang outs will be different for each student body. Maybe one school wears uniforms and the other doesn't. One might be a public school and the other is religious. All of these are world building elements. This is what makes those books feel so real and relateable.

For historical, you have do a lot of research for clothing, culture, the way the homes were built, what was happening politically at the time, etc. I'm actually slightly terrified at historical fiction because there's so many details that I'm scared to mess them up!

When I think about how I've been going about setting up my Vampire Snow White novel, I did a lot of things the more traditional route when it came to my vampire lore. I had the main action happen in Chicago, which is where I live, mainly because I already know the city so well I would be able to put more of my focus and research on other elements. (Not that I don't have to research my home town - I totally do! There's a ton I've learned because of preparing for novels.) Some vampire stories do a lot of twists to the legends, which I really like. But, personally, I liked keeping some of the traditional things. Particularly when it came to weaknesses. (No daylight, wooden stakes can kill, can't touch silver, religious icons burn, etc.) Vampires are already very powerful creatures, and I didn't want them to be too powerful. A creature without weaknesses felt boring to me. So, that's the route I went. 

Once that was decided, I started to research the origins of the Snow White tale as well as German folklore. Since it is a German story, I wanted a lot of my magic and other world building aspects to be influenced by that history and culture. I was excited to see that some elements of the German vampire were slightly different than the traditional one we always see. So, even though I have a lot of the classic vampire in my book, there are a few unique twists I snuck in. 

For other world building elements, I tend to think of them and brainstorm them as I go according to the needs of the plot and the characters. If they need to have dinner in a scene, that's when I start to think about what sort of food they'll eat. When they go to buy something, that's when I'll brainstorm the economy and stores they'd go to. 

I for sure would love to improve my world building skills, because there are many authors who excel at this and I want my stories to feel like they're in real places happening to real people!

It does help to take some notes though, because if you're anything like me, you'll forget some details! I've also found that if someone presents me with the questions about my world, I can easily answer them. Having to come up with those guidelines on my own, I struggle. Check out my World Building Pinterest Board for some of the resources I've used. 

What are some books, movies, or TV shows where you've felt the world building was really well done?

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12 Days of Love Letters

Who doesn't love getting a letter in the mail? Not just an email. But a real letter in your mailbox. It's one of the things I like about the holiday season. For once, I'm not just getting random bills and advertisements. Here and there I'll get a nice card or a letter from a friend. Yes, I see their life updates on Facebook and everything. But getting that card or letter in the mail is extra special. 

I saw a friend tweet about 12 Days of Love Letters a few weeks ago, and it intrigued me so I clicked on the link. 

The World Needs More Love Letters gets requests for letters to be sent in bundles all year around, but in December they do a big campaign for 12 days of sending letters to people who need it. How awesome is that? It reminded me of the days of LoveBomb and LoveDrop that I used to participate in a few years ago. (Not familiar with those? Ask me or seek out @NateStPierre sometime.) Naturally, I signed up. 

Also, I love having an excuse to use my stationary. I don't get to use it enough.

It started this year on December 4 and is going through the 15th. I looked at my blogging calendar, picked a day, and today is the day!

Today, we're rallying around Emma. Here's her story:

Tuesday, December 12

A friend of Emma’s requested a bundle for her + shared with us some of her story. She wrote:

“Emma is struggling a lot. She is currently recovering from an eating disorder, but struggles immensely with it. She also struggles with suicidal thoughts, self-harm, and has had to be hospitalized for several weeks. She has a hard time believing in herself and her abilities, and she tells herself constantly that no one cares about her and that she's not worth anything. I've tried so much to help her and to remind her of her potential and how much I love her, but she won't listen to anyone who knows her because she feels that they're lying to her. I really feel like she needs some reminders from people and some encouragement. Messages of hope, encouragement, and love from strangers might be all she needs to find herself again. She is only thirteen years old and has her whole life ahead of her. Her family is trying so hard to keep her alive, and would appreciate help from others. I miss her happy, sweet self and would love to see her like that again.”

My heart breaks for this girl and her loved ones. I've had a lot of friends and family who've struggled with depression, anxiety, body image, self-harm, etc. When you see someone you care about struggling and pieces of themselves disappearing, you feel so helpless no matter what you do. You try to help and encourage them, but it never feels like it's enough.

Then I think about Emma herself, and how hard this time must be for her. I get overwhelmed thinking about what must have happened or the mindset someone must be in at such a young age to have these thoughts and feelings. She needs that love and encouragement to show her that things get better and there is so much more out there in the world. 

When I sat down to write the letter, I almost was at a loss for what to say. I wished I knew more about her and what she liked. Her favorite colors, her fandoms, the music she listens to, etc. But, once I got going, the words came easily. 

Grab your pens and join us as we write some love letters to Emma!

PLEASE MAIL ALL LOVE LETTERS BY DECEMBER 20 TO:

Emma’s bundle

℅ Natalie S.

5033 N Kilt Ave

Meridian, ID 83646

USA

Here's more information about We Need More Love Letters and the 12 day campaign:

Homepage:  www.moreloveletters.com

12 Days Landing Page  http://www.moreloveletters.com/12days (where action will take place!)

Frequently Asked Questions: http://www.moreloveletters.com/diary/2017/11/29/frequently-asked-questions

Finishing My Hot Mess NaNoWriMo Project

It's the morning of December first and all I can think about is how tired I am and I want to go back to bed. Granted, that might be because I had to get up at 5:45am so I could get to work on time. But it's also because I just spent the last 30 days writing 50,000 words for my novel. 

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is officially done.

In the grand scheme of things, 50,000 words is a pretty short novel. If there are roughly 300 words on a page, that makes a 167 page book. About the length of The Great Gatsby. But, it's still a lot to do in a 30 day time period. 

Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol (another short book) in six weeks which in a way was his own little NaNoWriMo.

Let's be real though - my novel is nothing close to the brilliance of Charles Dickens and his was published right away. Mine is no where near being complete or ready to be published. 

My novel about vampire Snow White is a hot mess. There's scenes where I'm not sure where they'll go yet. Large sections have parts where I literally typed in [insert some awesome stuff abut this character and an action sequence here] just so I could keep going. In a way, this draft is basically a very detailed outline. I have a lot of chapters and scenes which have actual dialogue and action and plot line. But I also have a lot which are just a paragraph summary of what I think I want to happen. Some of my characters don't even have names yet. 

I have no idea how my book is going to end. 

But, 50,000 words exist on the page. I can see the skeleton of a novel coming together. Some characters are coming to life in my head. Plot lines I didn't expect are popping up and bringing things together. 

In spite of the hot mess and how tired I am, I'm proud of myself. Last year's NaNoWriMo was the first time since 2008 that I didn't complete the goal of 50,000 words. While that's not the end of the world and ultimately that was what was best for me, I was still disappointed. Knowing that I sat down everyday and put words to the page this year (even if some days it was only a couple sentences) was exactly what I needed.

I've spent so much time revising the urban fantasy novel I started a few years ago I almost have forgotten how to start a book from scratch. It was a muscle I hadn't used in a long time. 

Contrary to popular belief, in order to be a successful writer you do not have to write every single day. But you do need to make it a regular habit, and sometimes doing it for 30 days in a row is what you need to get that habit going.

I needed this to get me going again. 

My relationship with NaNoWriMo has changed over the years. I remember the first few years I would sit on the website for hours commenting in the forums, checking my mail, and making new friends. We'd chat on Twitter and swap ideas. It was so fun to get to know other writers around the country and the world all jumping in not knowing what was going to happen. 

I don't spend as much time on the website and looking through the forums anymore, because I've learned how to brainstorm and get my ideas. I already have my writing friends I go to and we chat via Facebook messenger or text message or Twitter DMs to talk through our problems and cheer one another on as we draft. Not just in November, but all year. 

Part of me misses those early years because NaNoWriMo was such an exciting time. Almost like Christmas as a little kid. But now as an adult, I still love Christmas as much as ever - but it's not the same as when I was a child. The same is for NaNoWriMo. I still love this month, but since my writing habits have changed my relationship with it have changed as well. 

I was listening to the Writing Excuses podcast for their episode about NaNoWriMo at the start of the month, and they talked about whether or not they participated and if they did how they approached it. Something they pointed out is that NaNoWriMo is mainly geared for people who are first time novelists. Those who have always wanted to write a book but never actually did it. November is that push to finally get it done.

That's not me anymore. 

Not that people who have written novels before can't participate in NaNoWriMo. They totally can and do all of the time! But when I heard them talk about this, it made me feel better about how my relationship with the event has evolved and I don't have the same enthusiasm I once did.

It's because the original intent of the month isn't geared toward me anymore. In a way, I've graduated from it, and that's kind of a cool feeling.

I'm still so glad I participated this month, even if the hot mess of my rough draft makes me cringe. (But that's why they call them rough drafts- right?) Then as long as I still have new novel ideas each November, I'll still participate in NaNoWriMo each year. Or if not, I'll use it as a time to do some hard-core focusing on revisions and edits on whatever project I'm working on at the time. I love having the month long excuse of "sorry, I have to lock myself up in my room and write for a few hours cause I need to have this word count in." Not that I can't do that in other months, but when I have something a bit more official to add to it, people tend to be a tad more understanding of why they don't see me for weeks at a time. 

So, I did it. I wrote 50,000 words in the month of November. 

I'm going to take a break from noveling for a bit. For some people, they like to keep going through December and keep writing if their book isn't finished yet. If they still have the momentum, this is awesome because then it can get done. That's not the case for me. As much as I love the dedicated four weeks, I'm tired. I like taking December as a time to relax and enjoy the holidays. 

This doesn't mean I won't work on it at all. When I have the chance I'll do some polishing and cleaning up here and there. When I have ideas I'll jot them down and work on fleshing out some of those scenes I haven't finished yet.

Even when it comes to reading, I've started the habit of taking it easy in December. I've heard of people only re-reading favorites during December and I kind of love that idea. I'll read a few new books but that's just because I have some cheesy Christmas ones waiting for me on my Kindle. Other than that, I'm going to go back and read the ones that I love no matter how many times I pick them up. Or one I really enjoyed earlier this year that I want to experience again. 

Sometimes, even when we love something, we need a break from it. Time to relax and enjoy other things for a bit.

And maybe bask in the glow of saying "I did it."

Did you do NaNoWriMo this year? What big tasks have you accomplished recently? What are your plans for December?

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November Reading Round Up

So... the year is basically over. That's ridiculous, isn't it? Oh boy. 

With November being National Novel Writing Month, I didn't get a whole lot of reading done since I was working on my novel. (I'll have a NaNoWriMo wrap-up post next week!) But, I find that kind of refreshing from time to time because in my spare time I also let myself focus on other things which I like when I'm hard-core working on my own book.

Some notes on how I review:

I rate books on a 5 star scale. One being the lowest, five the highest. Most of the books you see me review will get at least a 3 star rating because I enjoyed it. Usually, if I'm not enjoying a book, I don't finish it, and therefore won't have much of a review. Then, I also have included trigger warnings for people who find those helpful. If there are any I have missed, please let me know. 

These are all of my personal opinions on each book. If you would like plot summaries, click on the title of the book and it will lead you to it's Goodreads page. 

Also, when you see my use of the word "trope," do not take it as a negative comment, particularly with romance books. It is simply a term to express different standards in the genre. (Ex. friends to lovers trope)

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

• Genre: Classic Murder Mystery
• Format: Audiobook
• Rating: 3 Stars

I know... I'm awful that I only gave this book 3 stars. I feel like such a terrible person! I just... I found it boring. 

The premise is awesome. I love the setting of the train and the mix of people and how they all have different stories. The reveal is really cool and totally ahead of her time. Which is what makes it such a classic and I totally get why people love it so much.

But friends... I WAS SO BORED. The only things that kept me going were the fact that Dan Stevens was that narrator was AMAZING (seriously, I'll now listen to anything he reads. SO GOOD) and it was a classic so I wanted to see what all of the fuss was about. 

I'm glad I listened to it and I'll go see the movie, but overall not my favorite. 

• You'll like this book if you also enjoy: Other classic murder mysteries, travel, eccentric casts
• Trigger Warnings: there's a lot of negative stereotyping of different nationalities and genders, violent murder (off screen), discussion of a child's murder

Learn more about Murder on the Orient Express here

Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier

• Genre: Epic/Historical Fantasy
• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Rating: 4 Stars

I was pleasantly surprised by this one, particularly as it got towards the end. It doesn't read quickly, but not slow either. Just a nice leisurely and enjoyable pace. I was liking the book the whole time I read it, but wasn't in love. Then as the plot started to wrap up I realized I was much more invested in the characters than I thought! It was moving and I definitely want to continue to the next book. 

• You'll like this book if you also enjoy: historical fantasy, light fantasy, something with a folk/fairy-tale feel, light romance
• Trigger Warnings: on page rape (this was a big reason why this book doesn't have a full five stars, I had some issues because while the depiction of the aftermath and how it effected the main character psychologically was done well, I don't think it's necessary to have the actual event so detailed), animal abuse/death, violence, negligent parents

Learn more about Daughter of the Forest here

A Conjuring of Light by VE Schwab

• Genre: Epic Fantasy
• Format: Hardcover
• Rating: 4 Stars

This is the third and final book in Schwab's Shades of Magic trilogy. (Although, I've heard she's writing a spin-off series set in the same world. I'm unsure of if it'll be the same characters or not.) I know of a ton of people who are completely in love with this trilogy, and I'm so happy they are!

I'm not one of them. I definitely enjoy it, and I see why so many people have fallen in love with this trilogy. The world is unique and I love the relationship the characters have with magic. The first book was okay, but the next two definitely got better. Out of the three, I think this one was my favorite. It was very character driven and I liked getting into their heads more. There just is something about this series which doesn't draw me in the way some of my other favorite fantasy books. It's purely a personal preference sort of thing. 

• You'll like this book if you also enjoy: the other books in the Shades of Magic series, epic fantasy, multiple worlds, strong emphasis on magic, m/m romance, f/m romance, pirates
• Trigger Warnings: violence, torture, abusive flashbacks, pain

Learn more about A Conjuring of Light here

Romancing the Inventor by Gail Carriger

• Genre: Steampunk/Paranormal/Historical Romance
• Format: ebook
• Rating: 5 Stars

Well, this novella was all kinds of delightful and everything you'd want in a Gail Carriger book. Carriger writes Victorian Steampunk Paranormal and they're ridiculously entertaining and fabulous. It's funny, cute, witty, sexy, smart, and full of paranormal romance shenanigans. (This novella literally made me LOL. When what the last time you ACTUALLY laughed out loud while reading?) Many time with novellas I feel like they're lacking, but I never felt that way with this book. Also, it was fun to see characters from her other novels pop up!

If you aren't a fan of longing glances and sexual tension in a f/f/ romance... this book might not be for you. But if you're a total sap and love a cute romance like me, you'll love this one!

• You'll like this book if you also enjoy:  romance novels, F/F love interests, unrequited love trope, steampunk, The Parasol Protectorate series, Victorian England, vampires, werewolves, strong female leads, women dressing as men
• Trigger Warnings: sexual harassment

Learn more about Romancing the Inventor here

Binti by Nnedi Okorafor

• Genre: Science Fiction Novella
• Format: ebook
• Rating: 5 Stars

This is another one of those books I kept hearing about all last year and heard nothing but wonderful things (I believe it won a Hugo last year, but don't quote me on that), yet I haven't read it until now. Binti is a fast sci-fi read since it's barely even 100 pages. (I think it took me about an hour to read - maybe less.) So, if you want something good but don't have a lot of time, this will be perfect for you. Like Romancing the Inventor, in spite of it being a novella I didn't feel it was lacking at all. The world was beautifully built, Binti had a great character arc, and I loved how it was a classic space travel/coming of age/survival story while also exploring what it's like to be an outsider and moving to a new place where you need to learn how to hold onto your culture while also adapting to your new surroundings. I can't wait to read the next one!

Learn more abut Binti here

• You'll like this book if you also enjoy:  space travel, survival stories, short stories, unlikely friendships, African culture
• Trigger Warnings: graphic violence, loneliness, culture shock, homesickness, racism

Romancing the Werewolf by Gail Carriger

• Genre:Steampunk/Paranormal/Historical Romance 
• Format: ebook
• Rating: 4 Stars

Another awesome Gail Carriger novella. This one featured the London werewolf pack and took place at Christmas. I loved getting to know Biffy more and seeing him as the alpha. It wasn't quite as Christmasy and swoony as I had hoped - but I still completely enjoyed this one!

• You'll like this book if you also enjoy:  bumbling men with babies, m/m romance, werewolves, paranormal, historical fiction, comedy of mannors
• Trigger Warnings: child abandonment, cult-like religion

Learn more about Romancing the Werewolf here

Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe by Melisa de la Cruz

• Genre: Contemporary Romance Retelling
• Format: Hardcover
• Rating: 3.5 Stars

This was a ridiculously fast and cute read. I read it within a couple of hours yesterday. It's a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice where the characters are gender bent. (Mr. Darcy is Darcy Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth is Luke Bennett. Also, Bingley and Jim Bennett are gay and make me happy.) The big downfall of this book is that everything felt rushed. All of the events in this book happen within a few days. (MAYBE a few weeks.) Imagine cramming all of the events of Pride and Prejudice to make them all fit within a couple weeks of the Christmas season? Yeah.
But, it's still fun. If you want a really well-done modern retelling, go watch The Lizzie Bennett Diaries on YouTube. Seriously, it's one of my favorite Mr. Darcy's. This book was fun though. It was exactly what I expected and wanted. It's a book version of a Hallmark Christmas Rom-Com. And sometimes, that's what you want and need. 

• You'll like this book if you also enjoy:  Jane Austen, retellings, Hallmark Christmas Romantic Comedies
• Trigger Warnings: heart-attack, panic attack, some drunken kissing and making out

Learn more about Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe here

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Meet the Family Part 2- Flash Fiction Friday

I hope you all enjoyed part 1 of this story last week, here's the conclusion! 

If you have any prompts or ideas of a story you'd like to read for December, send it over! 

I wasn't planning on proposing. But after we talked about it once I couldn't get the idea out of my head and the next thing I knew I was at the jewelers inspecting rings. I'd kept the ring in my pocket ever since so I wouldn't lose it.

Clearly, that didn't work out so well. 

"What were you planning to do with this?" Jeff's hand was shaking as he held it, from the cold or at what the ring meant, I wasn't sure. 

My mouth went dry and I tried to swallow. "I just thought it looked cool."

That was by far one of the dumbest answers I could have given.

Jeff raised an eyebrow. "And keeping it in your pocket?"

I didn't have an answer. 

"This is only the first time you've met my family," Jeff said as he handed me the ring. When he did, I felt my heart bend. It didn't break, because he wasn't rejecting anything. But he also didn't look thrilled about it, and I didn't realize how much I wanted that ring on his finger until he was handing it back to me. So, my heart bent. 

"I'm sorry I've messed things up," I said and placed the ring into the box. It snapped shut and I flinched at the sound. 

Jeff stuck his hands in his pockets and looked at the ground. "We're so different Mike. I always liked that about us. But..."

My heart continued to bend. I didn't like the sound of where this was going. But I couldn't argue with him.

"Let's go back inside," I said before he could finish. "I don't want to be late for dinner and have your mom hate me even more."

Jeff opened his mouth as though he were going to say something then closed it again. He nodded his head and we walked back to the house in silence. In fact, a majority of the remainder of the day I spent in silence.

When we returned his family didn't say anything mean, didn't try to eat me, or made any comments about my spilling Grandma or almost poisoning them. They simply ignored me, and Jeff wasn't much better. It was as though I had faded to the background and became part of the wallpaper. I almost wished I could go back to ruining the day because then at least Jeff would talk to me. 

Normally, I would have loved to sit back and observe Jeff with his family. They all obviously loved him. He cracked jokes with his uncles, let his niece sit on his lap, and helped his mom in the kitchen. This should have made me happy. It would have if I could have been a part of it. 

His niece screeched at my side and I jumped. She was sitting on the floor with a toy vampire doll, but one of its fangs had fallen off. Tears welled in her eyes as she helplessly tried to reattach it. 

I held out my hand. "Let me try."

She gave me a wary glance but handed the toy over. I knelt on the ground and saw where the fang would be inserted into the mouth. Apparently it was retractable. With a bit of finagling, I was able to get it back in.

She gave me a hesitant smile then pushed along the floor over to me a bride of Frankenstein doll. Well, it was better than being ignored. 

Out of the corner of my eye I caught Jeff looking in my direction with a small smile.

Finally it was time to eat and we all gathered around the dining room table. Jeff started to say something to me but was interrupted by his uncle saying a prayer. We all bowed our heads and when he was done he started to cut into the meat.

"The way his kind acts toward each other I'm amazed they still pray," someone next to me murmured. I felt my cheeks warm. 

"That's enough," Jeff snapped. Everyone at the table stared at him, including myself. "Mike has been nothing but kind to you all day. Yeah, it hasn't been perfect, but he's tried. Which is more than I can say for everyone here. Including myself. I know we're different, but that's just how it is. I'm going to be spending the rest of my life with him and you better just get used to him, or get used to me not being around. It's your choice."

My jaw dropped and could have touched the table. He turned to look at me with pleading eyes.

He wanted to spend the rest of his life with me?

"I'm sorry," he said. "I should have spoke up sooner. If this is going to work, you're my family now."

I couldn't speak, so I reached under the table and gave his hand a squeeze and smiled. He smiled back. 

The rest of the night was better. I made an effort to talk to his family members, and his mom even apologized for how she acted in the kitchen that day. They were just protective of Jeff, and I couldn't blame them for that. 

As we put our coats on at the end of the night I heard something fall from Jeff's pocket and hit the ground. I picked it up. It was a ring box.

"Um..."

I opened the box. "What's this?"

Jeff shrugged. "I just thought it was cool and decided to keep it in my pocket."

"Oh really?"

His eyes were twinkling. "Yeah."

I pulled out the ring from my pocket and compared the two. They had the same engraving. "So... the rest of our lives. What do you say?"

Jeff pulled me close to him and kissed me. He took the rings from my hand and put one on his finger, and one on mine. "If we can survive my family, I think we can survive anything."

I kissed him back. 

"Just wait until you meet mine at Christmas."

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Five Fantasies Which Deserve a TV Show Other than Lord of the Rings

Don't get me wrong. I love Lord of the Rings I saw all of the movies in theater when I was in high school and I've read the books. Lord of the Rings is wonderful and brilliant and nearly all fantasy we have now exists because of this trilogy. 

But when I heard that Amazon was planning to make a Game of Thrones style TV show based on LOTR, I couldn't help but roll my eyes. 

As wonderful as LOTR is, it's already had it's time in the spotlight. There are a ton of other fantasy novels which deserve just as much recognition and could make for amazing TV shows. 

The Nevernight Chronicle by Jay Kristoff

Gentle friends, if you like Game of Thrones this series has everything you could possibly want. A bad-ass female assassin lead, graphic violence, revenge, sex, dark magic, a snarky shadow creature/familiar... it's epic and set in a fantasy world inspired by Florence, Italy. The first two books are published and they're fantastic.

The Kate Daniels Series by Illona Andrews

These books are urban fantasy, so a show wouldn't have the exact feel of Game of Thrones. But with it's post-apocalyptic (or as the book calls it - post-magic) world I can for sure see it having a Walking Dead vibe. Just replace zombies with vampires who have their minds controlled by the bad guys. Kate is one of my favorite leading characters and there's a shape-shifting beast lord that's a lion. A LION. Can it get an more epic than that? I didn't think so.

His Fair Assassin Trilogy by Robin LaFevers

They're nuns who are assassins. NEED I SAY MORE???? But seriously, it's a historical fantasy where we follow three young women who serve the god of death as his handmaidens. The main plot line also follows real medieval political conflicts between Britain and France. It's an awesome blend of fantasy and historical that I think would appeal to Game of Thrones fans as well as those who like shows such as The Tudors and Reign.

The Diviners Series by Libba Bray

With the awesome setting of the 1920s that Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them has, I think people will LOVE The Diviners. I just listened to the first book in audio over Halloween and it was phenomenal. You have multiple character points of view, magic, a ridiculously creep villain, love triangles, and the fun historical background. I can't wait to listen to the next one and would love to see it on screen.

The Grishaverse by Leigh Bardugo

I've read the first book of the Grisha Trilogy called Shadow and Bone and it was fantastic. I'm overly excited to continue with the series, then read the spin off duology as well. Nearly everyone I've heard who's read Bardugo's books have fallen in love and I've heard nothing but good things for each book. It's a pretty classic fantasy where you have a "chosen" one type of character who learns she has magic, but you also have this awesome Russian inspired backdrop and the whole thing is epic. Many people like the spin off duology even more.

Other Fantasies I've Heard Rumors of a TV Show/Movie in the Works I'm Excited For

Again, I've only heard rumors for some of these. Who who knows if it'll happen or not, so please don't take my word for any of this. Then if any of these aren't happening, they should. 

- The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss (I've actually heard this might be both a TV show AND a movie and Lin-Manuel Miranda is doing the music. Needless to say, I'M SO EXCITED.)

- The Shades of Magic Trilogy by VE Schwab.

- The Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas. (I'm a massive fangirl for this author and let's just say, if they ruin this TV show I'm going to become all Aelin fire-breathing-bitch-queen on them)

- The A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J Maas. 

- The Vampire Chronicles By Anne Rice. (Yes, there have already been some movies based on her books, Interview with the Vampire being the most famous. But it's been a long time since then, Queen of the Damned in my opinion was awful, and I'm really excited for this TV show because there are so many characters and plots to explore.) 

- The Paper Magician series by Charlie N Holmberg. 

Special Shout-Outs

Since Harry Potter has had it's time in the spotlight and we have the whole Fantastic Beasts franchise happening at the moment, I'm pretty happy with Harry Potter. That being said - if they were to do a TV show about the four founders of Hogwarts, I'd 1000% be there.

I've only read one Brandon Sanderson book and that was Mistborn. A lot of people LOVE this series and I can totally see it as an epic TV show or movie, but it wasn't one of my favorites even though there were elements I enjoyed. However, I've heard a ton of people tell me that I would really enjoy Warbreaker, and his most recent book in his Stormlight Archive series just was released. Since I haven't actually read his other books, I can't recommend them being adapted. But, I have a hunch Sanderson's books would be on many people's lists similar to mine. 

I have a ton of other epic fantasy books on my TBR, and I'm learning that I've barely scratched the surface of what fantasy novels are out there. We should totally recognize great works such as Lord of the Rings, but also realize that even more has come out since then and deserve just as much hype. 

Are there any adaptations you've loved? Did I miss any upcoming movies or TV shows? What fantasies do you want to see adapted? Are you excited for this rumored Lord of the Rings show?

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Meet the Family Part 1 - Flash Fiction Friday

I clutched the cardboard box containing a pumpkin pie between my hands to prevent them from shaking. "How do you think they're going to react?"

"It'll be fine," Jeff said and straightened my tie. "They're really open minded."

"Do they know about me?"

"They know your name is Mike," Jeff answered.

"Right..." I breathed as Jeff rang the doorbell. It was a normal house with a white picket fence and blue shutters. Everything was going to be fine. Nothing to be afraid of. Even if it was Thanksgiving. Not like it was a big holiday or anything...

The door opened and before me stood a tall green woman. The female version of her son. She smiled at Jeff, revealing her fangs, and then gave me a once over with her yellow eyes and the smile disappeared. 

"You're Mike," she said, her voice was more feminine than I had expected.  She sniffed the air. "And you're human."

"I brought pie," I said dumbly and outsretched my arms to show her. I wasn't even sure if they ate pie. 

She gave me a wavering smile and took the food from my hands. "How... lovely."

We followed her inside and I whispered to Jeff. "So, they don't know about me."

"I could never find a good time to tell them. Just relax and be yourself. They'll love you!"

As we stepped into the living room a group of people the same shade of green as Jeff and his mom sat around laughing at a joke someone must have made and I felt a little bite on my leg. 

"Ow!" I cried out and jumped back, and in the process my arm slammed against the mantle. A glass container fell and shattered upon the hardwood floor and purple gunk oozed on the ground. "I'm so sorry!"

Jeff squatted down and picked up the little girl at our side. "It's not polite to bite company," he teased her.

"I don't get to eat him?" she pouted, her sad yellow eyes staring up at him.

"Ahh.... no," Jeff answered and handed her over to a parent. He leaned over to me with a whisper. "Our family has been off of eating humans for generations, I promise. It's just... my sister is on this whole 'organic and going back to our roots' thing lately. I'm sorry, I should have warned you. "

I swallowed. "No worries."

Just remember, you love him and he's spending Christmas with your family.

Another family member was at the ground, picking up the pieces of glass. Lightning bolts almost darted out of her eyes when she looked at me. "That was grandma."

I paled. "What?"

"We keep our ancestors blood," Jeff explained and handed his nice over to another adult. "You know, the way you would when you cremate someone."

Shit.

I started to apologize again and knelt to assist in the clean up, but before any progress could be made Jeff's mother screeched from the kitchen. "IS THIS PUMPKIN PIE?"

Jeff's head, and everyone else's in the room, snapped in my direction. They stared at me as though I had just brought a bomb into the house. "You didn't tell me it was pumpkin."

I shrugged. 

"Squash is poisonous to us," Jeff explained as we rushed to the kitchen. "I thought you would make pecan or something."

His mother had her back against the refrigerator with a spatula shaking in her hand, held out as though it was a sword. "Get it out," she growled. 

I nodded and picked up the pie from the counter. "I am so sorry," I said. "I had no idea, I can go out and get something else."

"Just get it out."

The pie was sent to the dumpster outside immediately, and in spite of the chill in the air, I hid in the backyard for a few minutes. This was not going exactly as I'd hoped. I dropped Grandma and almost poisoned his family. Oh yeah, and could possibly become his niece's next meal.

Jeff was a monster and so was the rest of his family. There was no way I was ever going to fit in here. Why had we ever thought this was going to work?

From the inside pocket of my suit jacket I pulled out the box I brought with me. I opened it and held the silver band inside in my palm. Nothing fancy, but I had gotten an engraving put on the inside of the ring.

Against all odds.

"How could you have let him into our house?" Jeff's mom's voice echoed through the window. "And you never told me. Your own mother! How can you betray me like this?"

"I knew you'd react this way!" Jeff answered. 

"He's a human. They're so different and don't understand our ways."

"He doesn't but, maybe-"

"No maybe! If your father was here..."

I couldn't listen anymore and shoved the box back into my pocket to take a walk. So much for against all odds. 

After I had walked about half a block a set of footsteps came running up from behind me. What if it was his sister wanting an organic meal for her daughter? Or what if there were other things living in this neighborhood? I hurried my pace. Staying at the house was a bad idea, and leaving the house was a bad idea. What a disaster. 

"Mike! Wait a second, it's me!" Jeff called. "Where are you going?"

I slowed down and breathed a sigh of relief. I should have figured.

Jeff caught up to me heaving. His breath created small clouds in the air between us.

"This isn't working,"  I said. "Your family hates me, and I'm ruining everything. This was a bad idea."

Jeff was silent for a moment and tried to catch his breath. His eyebrows were furrowed and he frowned. He reached into his pants pocket and held out the ring. I must have dropped it in the backyard. 

"Then what's this?"

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I'm An Aunt!

Well, my friends, I'm sure you've seen this all over my Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and everywhere else, but I'm just going to continue to gush because it's all I can think about and focus on and... sometimes you just need an easy blog post.

I'm an aunt!

Okay... technically I've been an aunt my entire life. But that's another story for another blog post.

My sister had her first baby on Thursday, November 9 at 9:38pm. Her name is Elsie and is by far the cutest baby I've ever seen.

Not that I'm partial or anything.

(YES, I'M SURE YOUR BABY IS THE CUTEST TOO.)

Originally, she was scheduled to have her c-section on Friday morning. So, you can imagine my surprise when I was at work Thursday evening and got a text saying that her BP was high and was going in at 9:30pm that night. 

Naturally, I started to freak out. Did I need to find someone to cover my shift? Was my sister okay? Did they need anything? Was this an emergency?

Thankfully, some friends who know far more about these things than I do, talked me down and I realized by the time all was said and done I probably wouldn't even be considered allowed to visit until at least midnight and my sister was going to be just fine. (They even had to explain to me that BP = blood pressure. Duh. You'd think I would have been able to figure that one out on my own.) So, my mom and I went over to the hospital right at noon the next day when they would let us in.

Elsie is adorable, happy, sweet, and sleeps a lot. My sister and brother-in-law are doing great, and everyone is ridiculously happy. 

So, if anyone asks me what's new in my life they'll be shown a bazillion photos of the baby that all look exactly like the other but I SWEAR THEY'RE DIFFERENT BECAUSE SHE'S CLEARLY MAKING A DIFFERENT FACIAL EXPRESSION IN EACH ONE. 

Yup. I'm that aunt and I don't care. 

Also, since we can nick-name her "Elle" you know I'll be buying her a stuffed chihuahua named Bruiser and a pink Harvard Law shirt because... obviously. 

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My Writing Process: Characters

Over the last few months I've been sharing about my process when I am writing a novel. Previously, I wrote about brainstorming, then last month I wrote about outlining. Today, I'll talk about one of my favorite elements.

Creating characters.

For me, characters are one of the most important part of a novel. The plot might be simple, the magic ordinary, writing style not that great, etc. But if you have characters that I can completely fall in love with? Or even characters I may not like, but I find fascinating? I forget about the rest. Characters are the heart of a book and are what make you care about the story.

Then, building relationships around those characters. I love figuring out who is friends with who, their family dynamics, who will fall in and out of love, and seeing the differences between my protagonists and antagonists.  

I will admit, for my current project, Vampire Snow White, figuring out my cast is pretty easy since it's a retelling. The cast is already there for me! Snow White, an evil queen/stepmother, a huntsman, the "prince," the "seven dwarfs," etc. But, the trick was still to find ways to make them unique to my book, and not in a way which is done often and would speak to my story the best. 

The Main Character

This should be pretty obvious, but your main character is the one you should be spending the most time with. It's who the whole book is about after all! The author should know this character the best out of all of them. 

Honestly, I'm slightly in love with my vampire version of Snow White. She completely fascinates me, and I think she's much different than your "typical" Snow White. Making her a vampire, and a particularly old on, gave her a much different vibe than other characters I've written before. I've loved trying to see the world through her eyes.

When you're the scariest thing in the room - what are you afraid of? When you've lived for several centuries, how do you view people and culture? What memories and time periods stand out to you the most? Why does the evil queen want you dead? What did you do to her? What is it about the prince character that you're drawn to? Why would you decide to live in a house with seven strangers? 

Slowly, the pieces of her came together. I also took inspiration from some of my favorite vampire and historical figures I think she would appreciate. Researching the origin of the tale also helped me to shape her character. 

The Antagonist

I love reading and watching a great antagonist. They can make or break a story. But for some reason, I struggle writing them. I'm still working on my evil queen/stepmother character. She just isn't coming to me. 

Maybe I'm just not evil minded enough. Who knows?

But, something I love to do when I have an antagonist is to compare them to my main character. I figure out how they're alike, and then see the ways they're different. Maybe they have similar backgrounds and personality traits, but they make different choices. 

A classic example of this is in Harry Potter. As Harry learns Voldemort's history and plans, he notices that in many ways they are very alike. But, they made very different choices, which makes them excellent foils against one another. 

Visuals

As I've said in previous blog posts, I'm a pretty visual person when it comes to my characters. On my secret Pinterest boards, I pin images of who inspires my characters and it helps a lot. When I was first brainstorming about my "prince" character, he wasn't very clear in my head. He was just "some magic warlock sexy man guy." Then, I saw a photo of an actor and it was like lightening struck. I just though "that's him." All of the sudden I could sense his personality, his background, his style, and his values. He wasn't just the quintessential love interest. He was a person. 

To Keep in Mind

When stuck on a character, the biggest thing to think of always is "what do they want, and what's preventing them from getting it?" Then, from there you can figure out why they want that certain thing, what would be the first things they try, who is in their way, etc. 

Then, I think about their core values. Are they loyal? Are they selfish? Do they put friends or family first? What's the most important thing to them? 

When you know their values, you can think of what would cause them to betray those values. You think about what can make or break the character. What's going to push them to their limits. 

If you do a search on Google or Pinterest, you can find a ton of character sketches which are really helpful to start brainstorming characters. Scrivener has a character sketch template which is pretty bare bones where you can map out some key elements of their physical features, a few personality traits, background information, and a brief bio. For some people that works well. For others, they may want more details and you can find a ton of templates to help figure out the tiniest things like favorite colors, most embarrassing moment, people they admire, and favorite foods. 

For me, I like to do these to an extent, but don't always go full out for each character. Sometimes, they just come to me and develop as I write. But, I do find character sketches useful when I'm getting stuck and they help me dig a bit deeper than just the surface level information. 

Many times, I love to do character interviews. These were fun when I had longer commutes and during my drive I could put on some music and have a "conversation" with a character. It was surprising how much information I had stored away in my head that I didn't realize was there once I started "talking" to them!

Also, I've learned that you don't always have to like a character. But I do find that thinking they are interesting is important. I remember when I read the book Gone Girl that I really didn't like any of the characters. But they were fascinating, so I wanted to keep reading. 

Who are some of your favorite characters from books, TV, or movies? What do you think makes them so great?

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