Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Can't Wait for NaNoWriMo?

Crazy writers, are you longing for an opporitunity to write 50k in 31 days?
Then join me at for JulNoWriMo, a cousin of NaNoWriMo with lower stakes. I am Nenya_s Wings there.
Come join me!

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Evacuating London

Another round at this tag game: Put the music player on shuffle and answer questions.
Are you male or female?
Our God Reigns by John Waller
And he’s neither!
What do people feel when they are around you?
The Riders of Rohan from The Two Towers soundtrack
Does that mean they feel like hunting me down or like doing something valiant?
Describe your current relationship
Little Room by Matt Hoffland
No, I am not in a controlling relationship. There is “little room” in my life for romance right now.
Where would you like to be right now?
A Storm is Coming from Return of the King soundtrack
Well, I’d like to be in Middle-Earth…but maybe not right then
What do you feel about love?
Stand in the Rain by Superchic
Well, the lyrics are beautiful, but I haven’t had my heart broken like that
What's your life like?
You Are by Matt Hoffland
Okay, that makes no sense. I asked about MY life.
What would you wish for if you only had one wish?
Your Servant (Tarah’s Song)
It would be great to always be God’s servant
Say something wise:
Prodigal by Matt Hoffland
Actually, prodigals are foolish, but God’s love is amazing
If someone says "Is this okay. . ." You say?
The Battle from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe soundtrack
I wouldn’t start a battle over that!
How would you describe yourself?
Less than A Pearl by Enya
I could write a poem about that…
How do you feel today?
Let Forgiveness Flow by the Windles and Matt Hoffland
I can’t think of anyone I need to forgive though…
What is your life's purpose?
Dash Between Two Dates by Steven Petree
That one actually makes sense
What is your motto?
Le Chant du Depart
A song for departure? Well, I am in and out of the van a lot…What do your friends think of you?
Show You Love by Jars of Clay
Aw, that’s sweet.
What do you think of your parents?
Not Good Enough from Fireproof by Leeland
What? I love them! I think they’re good enough!
What do you think of very often?
Los Jilacatas: Panpipes from Chile
Certainly not!
What is 2+2?
Untitled Hymn (Come to Jesus) by Chris Rice
I don’t know what it has to do with 2+2, but it’s beautiful
What is your life story?
Leaving Here Someday by Me in Motion
And going to heaven!
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Right Here by Jeremy Camp
I like this area, sure
What will you dance to at your wedding?
Last Time by Moonlight by Enya
Pretty, it would have to be a slower dance though
What will they play at your funeral?
I Need You to Love Me by BarlowGirl
That’s kind of appropriate
What is your hobby/interest?
When I Fall by Rachel Lampa
I’m not clumsy!
What is your biggest fear?
Remembering You by Steven Curtis Chapman
Oh, I could make a story of that too
What is your biggest secret?
Praise the Lord by John and Diane Windle
Why should that be a secret?

What do you think of your friends?
Evacuee by Enya
Huh?
What will you re-post this as:
Evacuating London
Is there a theme here?

A Belated Award


Stylish Blogger Award from Squeeks at Hidden Doorways

The rules of this lovely award are to list five random things and then award five other bloggers!
1. I made a video trailer for my NaNoNovel (See it on YouTube by searching Three Dark Roses)
2. I am listening to Till We Have Faces on MP3
3. My internet is not working consistently.
4. The last movie I saw in theathers was The Blind Side
5. I like to edit stories
This Stylish Blogger Award is officially going to... Trav, Araken, Mary P. Limwen,Inkyelbows and Evergreena.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

I Hate This Book...So Why Am I Reading It?


Part of the answer to the title question can be summed up as "small libary=limited options." Another answer is that it does have flying kids, even if said flying kids have worst case of Sue/Stu syndrome I've read in a published work.
But, there is something to be said for awful books.
They teach you how not to write a book.
For example, the Maximum Ride series has genetically enegineered hybrids who gain new abilities in the blink of an eye. For example, the youngest one, Angel, is in a submarine miles under the ocean when she decides to go swimming. But it's okay, because she has gills and the ability to NOT be crushed into a soda can of bird-kid.
Seriously?
I was reading a poorly written fanfiction the other day on which someone had made a comment to the effect of "there's artistic license, and then there's bad research." Or an overvivid imagination.
So, what have you learned from bad books?

Saturday, June 19, 2010

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader



After a two-year wait, we can finally drool over the trailer for Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Though it has been out less than a week, fans are already dissecting and analyzing it. While it may be unfair to judge a movie based on 2:08 minutes, directors are counting on favorable impressions to attract viewers; so we may assume the clips are an accurate impression of the movie.
Based on the trailer, several issues immediately pop out. Edmund seems to have the same problem as Peter in Prince Caspian--an inability to re-adjust to daily life. Jardis is seen in a ghostly green scene, again mimicing the last movie. And a shot of Peter and Susan seems out of place.
Other issues include the presence of a minotaur on the ship, a flying map, and a glowing girl (presumably Ramandu's daughter.) Also troubling is the absence of any reference to the seven missing lords, who form the reason for the voyage.
I fear that this movie will fall prey to the same errors as Prince Caspian, dispite the replacement of Adamson as director.
I have been looking forward to this movie for a long time. It just seems that Andrew Adamson left too much of a mark on the previous movie for the new director to have the courage to return to accuracy, which made the first film such a success. Narnia is not and never will be LotR. Why can't the director appreciate it for what it is, instead of trying to pander to other fans? While I am a LotR fan, I do not want Narnia to imitate it.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Letter from Kumalo

For my English final, I wrote a letter from Stephen Kumalo of Cry, The Beloved Country, to Hans Hubermann of The Book Thief

July 24, 1946
Ndosheni, South Africa
Dear Hans Hubermann,
Your last letter focused on the slowly growing evil in your country, a deep hatred of Jews fanned into flame by this madman, Adolf Hitler. In my country also there is hatred and oppression, but the people of my blood have become accustomed to inferiority, and the oppressors are not all united. For some see nothing wrong with the situation, and claim it is God’s will for whites to rule blacks, while others argue that blacks should be given opportunities for advancement.
But the situation in your land is quite different. For the hatred your leader has stirred is an ancient hatred, and the older the hatred the more justifiable it seems. And too, Jews and non-Jews are not distinguished as easily as black and white, and the suspicion of infiltration fans the flames of irrationality.
But it is just as wrong to stand by and do nothing as madman destroy your land as it is to join them in destruction. You asked me what can one cup of water do to extinguish the fire; how can one man stop a raging stampede?
The answer is not simple, but I shall begin in simple terms. In one sense, the answer is “nothing.” Nothing one man can do will stop the madness of our times, though the one man had all the gifts of wisdom. Only God’s mighty hand holds us back from utter destruction, though the earth may seem to stand on the brink.
But in another sense, one man’s actions might be just enough to tip the scales, the tiny bump in the path that upsets the overburdened wagon. For example, your friend Erik saved your life in the Great War by volunteering you to write letters on the day your entire regiment went into battle.
In the grand scheme of things, it made no difference in the course of the war if you lived or died. But on a personal level, Erik’s decision meant everything. He saved your life. Now, you have a chance to save the life of his son.
What is the worth of one human life? Only God knows; but the scales of men are often swayed to favor the powerful. My son Absalom shot a man, a white man, in fear during a robbery. The judge sentenced him to hang. Would he have delivered the same verdict to a white man who killed a black? I cannot say…
A life for a life, so the Scriptures say in the laws of Moses. But in this world, it is often a life for a mistake, a life to assuage the fear of men. In the eyes of the law, my son’s life was forfeit when he shot the white man. But there is a higher law, one that I do not dare hope that men follow; the law of God’s mercy. The Scriptures say, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Life for life; perhaps even life for death. You owe Erik your life, a debt you cannot repay directly. But his son has done no wrong, and yet is pursued by hatred and madmen. If you choose to take him in, your small deed may save his life.
One life. A small, small thing against the burning anger of the Third Reich. But one life is all anyone has. So how can we refuse to help because our actions will not make a difference?
It will make a difference to the one we help.
Go with God, Hans.
Stephen Kumalo

Monday, June 7, 2010

Book Tag

List twelve people and answer the questions:
I got really interested, so I did three of them.
List A
1. Bonnie Silver, Dragons in Our Midst by Bryan Davis
2. Milo, The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
3. Ransom, C.S Lewis's Space Trilogy
4. Quinton, The Bride Collector, by Ted Dekker
5. Meggie, Inkworld series by Cornelia Funke
6. Kumalo, Cry,The Beloved Country by Alan Patton
7. Turin, The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
8. Auralia, Auralia's Colors by Jeffery Overstreet
9. Abigail, Three Dark Roses by me
10. North Wind, At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald
11. Lucy, Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
12. Meg, The Time Quartet by Madeline L'Engle

List B
1. Koren, Starlighter by Bryan Davis
2. Smaug, The Hobbit, Tolkien
3. Adrwin, Birdwing, Rafe Martin
4. Benjiah, Binding of the Blade, L.B. Graham
5. Daryl, Echoes from the Edge, Bryan Davis
6. Caitlyn, Broken Angel, Sigmund Brouwer
7. Feanor, The Silmarillion, Tolkien
8. Dante, The Divine Commedy
9. Mila, The Music of Dolphins, Karen Hesse
10. Tabitha, I Know Why the Angels Dance, Bryan Davis
11. Cal-Raven, Auralia's Colors by Jeffery Overstreet
12. Justin, The Circle Trilogy, Ted Dekker

List C.
1. Grand Elusa, Lost Years of Merlin by T.A.Barron
2. John Mischief, Abarat by Cliff Barker
3. Don Quixote , Cervantes
4. Black from Paradise series by Ted Dekker
5. Peniel, A.D. Chronicles by Thoene
6. Shyllen, from Ander Collins by LoriAnn at ApricotPie
7. Goneff, Mossflower Brian Jacques
8. The Keeper, Auralia's Colors by Jeffery Overstreet
9. Robbie, The Door Within, Wayne Thomas Batson
10. Reepichep, Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
11. Wesley, The Princess Bride, William Goldman
12. Soren, Guardians of Ga'Hoole, Karen Hesse(?)

Who would make a better college professor, 6 or 11?
A. Kumalo or Lucy? Hard choice...but probably Kumalo. His perspective on criminal law would be fascinating.
B. Caitlyn or Cal-Raven? Caitlyn would have a unique perspective, but Cal-Raven would be more creative.
c. Shyllen, a dragon shape-shifter, or the Dread Pirate Roberts? Can't I have both?

Is 2 nice?
A. Milo is nice, but clueless
B. Smaug is not nice.
c. I'm not sure if nice is the right word for a seven-head man, but sure, Mischief's nice

12 sends 8 on a mission--what is it?
A. Meg sends Auralia to find Meg's missing father. Auralia calls upon the Keeper, who finds Meg's father in the Cent Regus Core, but the colors restore him.
B. Justin sends Dante on a mission? Well, considering that Justin's a Christ figure and Dante descended into hell...Justin would send Dante to one of the colored lakes.
c. Soren sends the Keeper to find his parents, but the Keeper returns with the Northchildren instead.

What is 9's favorite book?
A. Abigail needs something about grief management and health
B. Mila would like pictures of the ocean.
c. Robbie loves the Scrolls of Allebe

Would 2 swear fealty to 6, or vice versa?
a. I think Koren would swear to Kumalo, because she's a slave.
b. Smaug and Caitlyn both have wings, but I think Caitlyn would swear to Smaug because Smaug breaths fire.
c. Mischief would swear to Shyllen, because dragons are more frightening

Would 9 or 10 make a better roomate for 5?
a.I think Meggie should room with Abigail and the North Wind--Abigail and North Wind would get along nicely, and Meg could tell them stories.
b. Daryl should room with Tabitha because Mila is used to sleeping on a island, not in a bedroom.
c. Peniel would room with Robbie, because Reepicheep is too short.

What would happen if 3, 7 and 12 went out for dinner?
a. I think Ransom would leave his wallet behnd, but Meg would tab up the bill and figure out how to pay. Turin, though, would start swinging his sword and insulting people until Ransom knocked him out.
b. Ardwin, Feanor, and Justin...so, a winged boy, a crazy avenger, and a Christ figure. So..Feanor gets distracted by a jewelry store and charges in demanding the Silmarills. Ardwin's wing slips out from under his cloak and wounds someone. Justin gets them out and heals them with water and fruit. As a result, Feanor agrees to seek conseiling.
c. Goneff, a mouse, would be nervous around Soren the owl, and Quixote would attempt to spear cars, and no one would get to eat.

If 3 dueled 10, who would win?
A. Why would Ransom fight the North Wind?
B. Why would Ardwin fight 12-year-old Tabitha? She's too sweet...
c. If Don Quixote fought Reepicheep, I think Reep would win eventually

If 1 stole 8's most valuable possession, what would happen?
A. What, Bonnie didn't steal Auralia's cloak. She picked it up for safekeeping and gave it back.
B. Let's see, Koren took Dante's...guide, Virgil. She hoped he could guide her out of Starlight, but when he couldn't help, she gave him back.
c. The Grand Elusa, a giant spider, stole the people's dreams of the Keeper. The Keeper would...I don't know what he'd do.

Give a title for a story in which 7 and 12 get what they want.
A. Turin wants to escape fate, and Meg wants her father back. Because Turin's fate is tied to his father, the story is Rescueing the Father.
B. Feanor and Justin? Isn't it bad enough that they had to dine together? Justin wants to redeem his people, and Feanor wants his Silmarills back. But both are...Precious.
c. Goneff and Soren both want freedom and a role in life. Their story would be "Free"

What plot device would bring 1 and 4 together?
A. Bonnie Silver and Quinton? I think Quinton would try to take Bonnie as one of his "brides" and nail her to the wall...ew!
B. After the restoration of all things, Benjiah is sent to Starlight to help Koren rescue the slaves.
c. Black writes the Grand Elusa into his world, but the Grand Elusa eats him, thereby saving Billy, Darcy and Johanny much trouble

What happens when 7 visits for the weekend?
A. Turin? Oh no, lock away all sharp objects and hid from orcs.
B. Feanor? As if Turin wasn't bad enough, now I have a meglomanic human-hating elf prince in my house? Elbereth perserve me!
c. After Feanor and Turin, i can handle Goneff, a Prince of Mousethieves pretty easily. As long as he doesn't jump out at me.

What service would you want 3 to perform for you?
A. I'd just want Ransom to tell me about Perelandra.
B. Ardwin could tell me stories about flying.
c. I'd like Don Quixote to teach me swordplay

Does 11 like writing or drawing?
A. I don't know if Lucy does.
B. Cal-Raven likes sculpting, which is like drawing.
c. Wesley prefers piracy

If 2 had to join 4 or 5, which would s/he choose?
A. If Milo had to join Quinton or Meggie, he'd choose Meggie because she tells good stories. Plus, Quinton's a murderer.
B. If Smaug had to join Benjiah or Daryl, he'd try to burn them first, but Daryl would tell so many jokes he'd laugh to death.
c. I think John Mischief would rather join Peniel than Black, because Black is a murder.

What would 10's battle cry be?
A. The North Wind would sing a psalm about the end of sorrow.
B. Tabitha would sing, "Hallujah, I have found him"
c. Reepicheep would say "In the name of Aslan!"

What song characterizes 8?
A. Dante would sing, "I fell into a burning ring of fire..."
B. Auralia's theme song would be "Waiting for the World to Fall" by Jars of Clay
c. The Keeper's song would be "Lion" by Rebecca St. James, even though it's not a lion


What pickup line would 2 say to 10?
A. Milo would ask the North Wind if he may go out with her. Hey, it worked for Diamond.
B. Smaug would ask Tabitha to investigae his jeweled waistcoat.
c. Mischief would try asking Reepicheep if he likes cheese, but Reep would attack.

What would 5 be arrested for?
a. Meggie would be arrested for chaos from reading fictional charaters out of books.
b. Daryl would be arrested for interdimensional trespassing.
c. Peniel would be arrested on charges of religious intolerence

If 11 and 9 raced, who would win?
A. Abigail and Lucy wouldn't race, they'd have a leisurely walk and take so long the judge would go home.
b.Cal-Raven would ride and run better, but Mila could swim...wait, this isn't a triathlon.
c. Westley versus Robbie...Robbie would ride a dragon, but Westley can run really fast, so maybe a draw.

What was the lowest point of 1's life?
A. Well,Bonnie's mother died, she gets trapped in a stone, dies in Hades...I'm not sure
B. Koren's lowest point was in the cattle camp.
c. Grand Elusa has a low point of hunger

1 and 9 reluctantly team up to save the world from the threat posed by 4's sinister secret organization. 11 volunteers to help them, but it is later discovered that s/he is actually a spy for 4. Meanwhile, 4 has kidnapped 12 in an attempt to force their surrender. Following the wise advice of 5, they seek out 3, who gives them what they need to complete their quest. What title would you give this fic?

A. So, Bonnie Silver and Abigail team up against Quinton's evil scheme. Lucy joins them, but she's actually Quinton's spy. After Quinton kidnaps Meg, Bonnie and Abigail follow Maggie's advice and find Ransom. I would call it Rise of the Children, because all but two are underage.

B. Koren and Mila team up against Benjiah and his spy Cal-Raven, who have captured Justin. On Daryl's wise advice (Daryl? Wise?) they find Ardwin who defeats the villians. It would be called Somehow This All Works Out, because it's so upside down.


c. The Grand Elusa and Robbie team up against Black and Westley, who kidnap Soren. But Peniel tells them to find Don Quixote, who defeats evil. It would be called Sometimes Dreams Come True, because Quixote gets to fight

A Haiku

My busy summer
Started at church today, so
please expect few posts