Familiar, Yet Strange

Snow angrily cascaded down from the grey sky, it pounded the cabin with icy fists. The wintry wind howled like a phantom against the kitchen windows as I made my way down the claustrophobic hallway. I reached the area between the basement door and the undersized living-room. The cold linoleum sent shivers from my bare feet all the way up my spine. The bottom of my too long, red plaid pajama pants tickled the top of my toes when I shuttered. I stepped into the room and let the itchy green carpet warm up my lower half as I sighed.

The commotion from the living-room beckoned me to leave the comfort of my temporary room to find the source.

“Come on, don’t fail me now,” my grandfather bellowed dramatically as he hit the side of the T.V with his fist. His blue veins were seen through his almost translucent skin and stretched over his pale knuckles. Static danced across the large grey screen as he fussed over it. The bulky box was putting up a decent fight.

I rolled my eyes, “Popop, hitting it won’t help,” I said.

 He scoffed and barely bothered to look my way. “This, coming from the girl who used to blow inside her video game packs when they didn’t work,” he mumbled.

“Cartridges, they are called cartridges and blowing in them worked,” I defended. “Abusing the T.V will only make things worse,” I said.

My grandmother sucked in a breath and made a whistling sound with her teeth. That was her way of acknowledging that she agreed with me. She was seated in the brown, always squeaky, rocking chair in the corner. She was holding one of her handheld Solitaire game and stared down at it through her half moon shaped glasses.

I rolled my eyes at my grandfather and snaked them back over towards the windows facing the back of the cabin.

The wind blew the snow in an almost horizontal direction. Large frozen flakes covered the porch, but inside was warm. I thawed my icy feet on the prickly carpet that still had darker streaks in some areas from the earlier vacuuming.

We finally settled down after unpacking our things from our house in Allentown. Being a typical day in the winter season, the sun had already begun to set at only 5:30pm. It left a beautiful array of yellows and oranges streaming through the blinds.

“We are lucky we got here before the snow really hammered down,” grandma said.

“Definitely,” I said before I let a yawn escape my lips. The day had been long, and it felt oddly anticlimactic considering I was in one of my favorite places on earth.

About two times a year my family and I take a trip to our cabin in the Poconos, located within walking distance from Lake Wallenpaupack. There is no cell phone service, and only about twelve television channels. Despite this, we love it. Or at least we used to. Being here always used to feel like a cozy hug from an old friend. The kind of friend you could count on, even if you haven’t spoken in years.

 The scenery here was beautiful all year around. In the fall, loose leaves covered the trails, hiding them under a blanket of bright colors. In the summer, the beauty of the lake could take my breath away. The way it rippled in a light breeze made it looked like a stock photo featuring a happy family fishing and smiling. I never got tired of staring at the sun reflected in its surface. Unfortunately, the lake was now completely frozen over. Sometimes, my grandfather, sister and I would walk across it to the small islands located nearby. When we got tired of walking, my grandfather would pull us behind him in our rust colored sled. The sled still has the remains of my father’s initials JRH, written on the underside in faded black sharpie.  

Being in the Delaware State Park, the cabin is about a 20-minute drive from any real civilization, so my family doesn’t have a choice but to connect with each other. When I was little, my sister and I would play games like “Guess who,” Connect Four,” and, “SORRY.” If it was nice out, we would explore the woods until my grandma called us back for lunch. Back before cell phones, we had to rely on walkie talkies for communication. We were always warned, “Don’t go farther then the last fishing dock near the park.”

What did we do? We went so far past the park we could have reached New Jersey. Some of the best memories were the summers I spent at the cabin. Despite the humidity, ticks, and noxious smell of bug spray that never failed to somehow get in my mouth.

Right now, I was on winter break, so I had the next six days off. The cabin groaned like a tired old man. It was built in the 70’s and always made some sort of strange noise. Sometimes, when I waked on the carpet, it would make a crinkling noise. That signature crunch under underfoot was as familiar to me as my own voice.

I can hear another sound, like a soft sigh, coming from the fridge in the kitchen as I stood with my back facing it. I glanced in the direction over my right shoulder before finally sitting on the brown sofa. The leather whined under my weight, the spot was already indented from many years of use.

I curled my feet under me as I sat beside my sister who was paying more attention to her drawing pad than anything else.

 She was two years older then me and her stringy chestnut hair grazed the paper as she scribbled feverishly. The side of her right hand was smeared with traces of graphite where her skin made contact with the substance.

I leaned my head against the back of the couch, the spot was still cold as it waited for my body heat to warm its surface. The leather felt like smooth, milky skin under my legs as I stared at the dusty ceiling fan. The gilded chain that hangs from the light always makes a soft clink whenever it’s turned on. That sound always reminded me of the summertime.

But now, with the snow falling outside, the fan was dead still. If I concentrated, I could hear the crackling of the firewood downstairs. The smell of the burning wood wrapped around me like a blanket. The entire building was only about 700 square feet. The cabin was so familiar, so why didn’t I feel the excitement like I used to? I longed to pull out my cell phone and log into Myspace and connect with my friends. The “No Signal” in the top corner left an itch I couldn’t scratch.

“Ah ha. I got it!” My grandfather said triumphantly as the T.V sputtered to life and the picture of John O’ Hurley on Family Feud appeared on the screen.

That was my last chance to escape back into my room until dinner. I didn’t have the “the T.V isn’t working anyway” excuse anymore. If I got up now, my grandfathers accomplishment and efforts would be for nothing.

A gnawing started under my ribcage, the feeling of elation and relaxation that usually washed over me failed to make an appearance. My computer was left behind along with the cable box.

“I better preheat the oven for dinner.” my grandmother stood up from her chair and stretched her arms over her head. Her black Hush Puppies left little patterns in the carpet with each step to the kitchen.

I loved the time we had together here, and I loved how the cabin used to be more than just wood and stone. It was laughter and tears, it was my childhood. The gnawing sadness turned to guilt. Could I force myself to have a good time just because I would feel bad if I didn’t have fun? I didn’t want my grandparents to feel like I was too old to come to the cabin with them. And I certainly wasn’t going to admit it to myself.

In four days we would be packed up and heading back to the city anyway. I only felt half ready to finish out the remainder of my sophomore year.

Just then, the resonance of the cabin settling filled the room, it overshadowed the noise of Family Feud. The hums and sighs echoed through the living room.

“It sounds like the cabin is breathing,” my grandfather said as he sat down on the sofa next to me.

I smiled outwardly, but felt a frown developing deep within the roots of my face.

“Yes, it does,” I forced.

No matter how familiar and comforting these sounds were, something just didn’t feel the same. The habitual smell of the burning firewood downstairs, the sound of the cabin settling, or my grandfather sitting beside me didn’t make a difference.

I missed my friends, my boyfriend, and my phone service. Board games, exploring the woods, and watching Family Feud didn’t seem all that appealing anymore. As I listened to my grandmother fuss around putting a pizza into the oven, I wondered, would the cabin ever feel the same again?

Flash fiction-Goodbye Stranger

It was well past 2am and the girls knew they shouldn’t be awake, their parents would only get mad if they found out. The two girls faced each other with matching expressions, both blonds, one thin the other a little chubby. 

“I don’t know why you always have to be so stupid all the time Anna” the thin girl said to her heavier companion.

 Anna, the larger girl, opened her mouth to speak, her eyes held a plea for help. However, she was interrupted by the sound of first girl scoffing as a tear began to form in Anna’s blue eyes. 

“See, this is what I mean, you are weak” the slender girl remarked. She ran a hand through her long hair and backed away towards the bed. 

The second girl began to back up as well. The room they shared was small and held very little personal items.  A few volleyball trophies littered the dresser to the left. The weather outside was cold, causing the heat to turn on and make the girls jump slightly. The jittery girls faced each other again and the bony girl sighed and glared at her fatter partner. 

“I know it’s not always your fault, but I hate you” she said, tugging down her white T-shirt, her hopeless attempt to cover her exposed hip bones.

Anna turned her head down too, as if she was looking at her stomach in shame, but she remained silent. When the girls suddenly heard footsteps walking down the hall, presumable towards the bathroom, both girls froze. They brought a hand up to their lips to shush each other. The second girl’s fingers were significantly more round then the first. 

The thinner girl always called them her “sausage fingers.” Her chubby arms had several rolls and her cheeks puffed out whenever she moved her mouth. The smaller girl felt disgusted, but Anna brought her hand down and looked to her left towards the door.   

Once the toilet flushed and the sound of the footsteps began to disappear, they faced each other again. “You are always there bringing me down, and just looking at you makes me sick” the thin girl began to get angry now as the second girl looked frustrated but still hurt.

            Anna opened her mouth to let out a sob, causing her chins to fold up in an unsightly manner . Except, the sound came from the beautiful, skinnier girl instead. Anna quickly closed her mouth and tried to quiet down her sobs. Her attractive adversary suddenly became angry and raised her fist at the heavier Anna. Feeling defenseless, Anna raised her pudgy fist and tried to seem threatening. The first girl became angrier and angrier until she finally brought her bony fist down onto the face of the second girl.

The sound of the crash was louder then the girl anticipated as she watched the glass crumble onto the floor, covered in splatters of her own blood.

            Nothing was left except the brass frame and the wall on which the mirror was suspended. The emaciated girl looked down at herself, grabbed onto her skin and cried. “Stupid, fat and weak” she mumbled to herself before wrapping her hand with an old ripped T-shirt. She thought she would feel better, but she somehow only felt worse.

The Great Gatsby- Book review #24

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is considered a "classic novel." If you have ever gone to school, I'm sure you have heard of this book. The main plot of this book is about a man named Nick Caraway who meets a fascinating guy named Jay Gatsby. Nick comes from a world that's much different from Gatsby's. Gatsby has a large house, nice cars and popular parties. Nick has a love hate relationship with Gatsby and is fascinated by his lifestyle. There is a brief love story that takes place throughout the novel. Sadly, it ends tragically.

The book takes place in the 1920's when everyone just wanted to have a good time. Nick, who loves to look at Gatsby's nice things, seems like his feelings towards men in the novel might be questionable.

Overall, the book has both good and bad qualities to it. When I first read it, I didn't really understand the point of the novel, but there are so many places to go with this. The novel seems to be about the death of the American dream, and the fantasy of social mobility. It's deemed more important then it really should be.

The Great Gatsby is a fairly quick read, so if you get the time to read this book or need a "roaring 20's" book to write about for school, I recommend this one. The book covers some of Nicks underlining feelings towards Gatsby himself, it covers the love between Gatsby and Daisy as well as a few unfortunate deaths. While reading this novel, it's important to think about the loss of America and the importance of staying true to who you are.

Gatsby wanted to be someone who was worth knowing, so he thought if he had money and threw fun parties, people would like him. Unfortunately, Gatsby was living in a world where people only cared about the social class, not the individual people. This book definitely has its moments and as I said, I would recommend it to someone who is looking to read a good classic.

Interested in Self-Publishing?

Getting a book published can be hard work! Writing query letters, manuscripts, book proposals and trying to find an agent can get time consuming. There are a few companies that will, for a large sum of money, handle all of these things for you, but giving someone money to do your work, doesn't make your book any good. It just means you were able to write something down and have someone do your self publishing for you. Larger publishing companies can be hard to reach out to and most of them don't accept unsolicited work, yet you finished this novel and you just know people will love it, so what do you do? Consider self-publishing. It can also get fairly difficult, but there is such a satisfaction in doing with work yourself, it's worth it.

Because of how technology is today, there are several websites that can help you get your book in print. For my first two books I went though a company called CreateSpace LLC and they are now partnered with Amazon. Using CreateSpace is fairly simple and it allows you to do all the work yourself, OR you can pay for a few other options. CreateSpace has their own editors, a professional cover designer, and a team that will promote your book! If you are short on cash, you can always design your own cover using their pre-made designs, or you can completely make your own cover and uploading this as a PDF. Because I am non-artistic and do not have Photoshop, I found this to be quite difficult! However, it was nice to see my hard work paid off and I loved holding my design in my hands when it was done.

Amazon also has options for self-publishers. You can use this to help you upload your eBook, or a hard copy.

If you have a book, novella, short stories or even a play finished, consider using either CreateSpace or Amazon KDP to upload your file. The file will go through approval and if there are any issues, you have plenty of time to fix them. CreateSpace lets you preview your book before submitting it for approval. If your manuscript was approved, congratulations! Now that your book is on the market, you can either promote your book by yourself, or use the CreateSpace and Amazon provided options. Facebook and family are the best ways to get your book out there. Good luck!

Story of Thieves- Book Review #22

I know it has been a while, but since my grandfather passed away on the 21st of February, I have been busy with family stuff. Also, now that I am on spring break, I have a little free time from school to read and write. I am currently in the middle of reading a book that reminded me a little of my own book Lost Prince of Waydale because the main characters are able to jump into books!

 Story of Thieves by James Riley is targeted for younger readers (ages 10-14) and it is the first book in a four book series. Story of Thieves follows Owen, who has discovered a fellow classmate, Bethany, jumping out of a storybook! Owen is thrilled and can't wait to visit his favorite hero Kiel Gnomenfoot. Owen finds out that Bethany has been jumping from book to book in hopes of finding her father, who is a fictional character that got lost in a book and hasn't come out. Owen agreed to help Bethany if she took him into his favorite series. Little does Bethany know, Owen has a plan to save one of his favorite characters from being killed! Bethany insists Owen does not interact with any main characters or else it could mess up the whole story. When the two friends enter the novel and Owen saves the his favorite character, the consequences are severe! Will Bethany and Owen be able to fix what they have done? Will Bethany ever find her father?


I don't want to give anything away, but I am about half way though this book and I think it is fantastic so far. The style and tone is sophisticated enough for older readers not to get bored, but it's simple enough to appeal to the younger readers. The subject of this series is what had me fascinated because (as everyone knows) I love the thoughts of going into a story. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a book that will "take them away" to another world.  Whether you are an older adult, a teenager or a middle school student, this book is the perfect fit for anyone who has an imagination and a love of adventure.

Existence- Book review 21

Existence by Abbie Glines is a fantastic novel that I have read and re-read twice over. There are 3 more books in the series but I am only review the first one for now. What I like about this book is the fact that it's different. Existance involves a love story between the main character Pagan and Dank. Pagan has the ability to see the souls of the dead and Dank is death himself. After Pagan gets chosen for death, Dank goes to her and gets ready to take her but when he accidentally falls in love with her he tries to fight for her soul.
           Abbie Glines sets the stage for a unique love story that defies the norm and sets itself aside from other paranormal romance. I liked this book because the thought of death being not only personified but made into an actual person, is fascinating. There are a few other people in the story who try to stop Dank from saving Pagan and Pagans boyfriend Lief has a few secrets of his own.
          I recommend this book to those of any age who enjoy reading paranormal romance with a twist. Also, I would highly suggest reading all the books in the series including the side book written in the point of view of Lief.


Disclaimer- Sorry this review is so late, I started it about a week ago and planned on finishing it by last Friday but things got away from me. My grandmother is dealing with health issues and my grandfather who has had cancer for almost 13 years has made a turn for the worst. I have spent the past week and a half taking care of them, going to the hospital and doing what I can. I will try to have another review out soon.

The Water Mirror-Book Review #20

          The Water Mirror By Kai Meyer is part of The Dark Reflections Trilogy. This book, originally published in German, is a young adult fantasy novel. It is in the point of view of 14-year-old  Merle and follows her as she journeys though the magical world of Venice. In this world there is magic, mermaids, mummies and even the mysterious "Flowing Queen" that protects Venice from the Egyptians.
         Merle and her friend Junipa first arrive from an orphanage as apprentices to Acrimboldo, a magic mirror maker. After many unforeseen events take place, Merle finds herself in a very tough situation. With her new found friend Serafin, Merle has to fight for the freedom of the Flowing Queen and save Venice from harm.
          Years ago, when Merle was a baby her parents left her in a basket with nothing but a single item: a hand mirror with a water surface. The water is warm and voices can be heard from within. Merle can stick her hand completely inside the mirror and feels a  hand grab hers from the other side. Could this be the friendly hand of Merle's mother, reaching out to her? Or something much more dangerous...?
         I read this book when I was in high school and immediately had to pick up the other two books in the series, The Stone Light and The Glass Word. I love that these books can take you to another world and I was always a huge fan of magic and mysteries. I recommend these books to not just those who are younger, but anyone who enjoys a book that can really suck them into a magical world.

Exciting new things happening

First I would like to say that I am sorry for not doing any reviews since October! I have so many things happening in my life right now
that my blog has taken back seat. First, I have my last two weeks of school happening right now and I have so many papers due that I haven't had much time to read or write anything personal. Also, I recently got engaged (Monday, November 21st) and have been planning a bit for my wedding and engagement party. I have a few appointments to look at wedding venues for the next few days, and finals beginning Monday the 12th that I need to study for. With that said, I will be posting a book review either later today or tomorrow on one of my favorite book series' ever. Besides Harry Potter, these books also take me away to another world and I can't get enough of the magical places.

Even though no one asked, I will be posting pictures of my engagement ring because I am so damn happy and proud of it. My fiance and I dated for 3 years and 7 months before finally getting engaged. Along with starting my last year of college in a few months, looking to move into our own home and planning a wedding, I am feeling overwhelmed. The semester is ending soon and I will have about a month off so I will try to finish my novel and keep my blog updated.

So B. It-Book Review #19

So B. It by Sarah Weeks is a book unlike any I have ever read.I was in eighth grade when I first came across this book and it really stuck with me. This book centers around 12-year-old Heidi who lives with her mentally disabled mother and her agoraphobic neighbor Bernadette. Her mother faces a lot of difficulty and Heidi knows nothing of her mothers past or who her father is.
        When Heidi's mother won't stop saying a new strange word, "Soof" Heidi begins to get curious about where her mother came from. Heidi finds an old photograph of her mother at a place called "Hilltop Home" and decides to make the journey across the country to find more answers. Bernadette, unable to leave her house, stays behind and cares for Heidi's mother while she is away. On her journey, Heidi learns new life lessons, a bit about lying, and the truth about her mothers past.
         Now I certainly do not want to give anything away but the ending is quite sad but overall this novel is wonderful. It is a coming of age story that has an effect on its readers long after they read it. This is not your typical "young adult" book, it really opens your eyes to real issues and unimaginable self discovery.
           The characters are so dynamic and one can really relate to Heidi and her quest for the truth. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone who simply enjoys a good book and wants to feel themselves grow as a person because of it.

All for one Halloween special!

In celebration of Halloween I wanted to do three stories related to horror and Halloween (my favorite holiday.) I am not sure how many of these smaller book reviews I am going to do so just stay tuned, enjoy and Happy Halloween!

"Masque of the Red Death" by Edgar Allan Poe.
The overall content of this story involves a beautiful mansion with several large rooms in it, all of which are painted a different color to represent the stages of life. During the "Red Death" Prince Prospero gathered all this friends together and threw a party at his mansion for several months. Despite their best efforts to protect themselves from the "Red Death," it gets into the mansion anyway. This story is about life and the unavoidable event of death. The "Red Death" is described as tall and gaunt, wearing a bloody shroud and a mask. This story is a typical macabre tale that Poe is known for. With lots of symbolism included, this story has much to offer and is perfect for Halloween.


Frankenstein by Mary Shelly

Frankenstein by Mary Shelly is a well know classic novel with countless adaptations. Many know the story but not many know the book. The book begins with a series of letters recounting the narrators experiences with Victor Frankenstein. Dr. Victor Frankenstein attempts to create a creature out of used body parts, and one night he finally succeeds. He gets scared and leaves the creature behind. The creature is sad and alone, unsure of who he is but he eventually learns human speech. When the creature finds out about the man who created him, the creature starts to hate him. When he finds Frankenstein he insists he makes a female for him and he does, but he soon destroys her. I wont give anything else away because I highly encourage people to read it.

Luna-Book Review # 18

          Luna by Julie Anne Peters is one of those books that stays with you long after you read it. Luna is seen through the eyes of 16-year-old Regan O'Neil as she lives with her transgendered brother Liam. Liam goes by the name Luna by night, and can only be herself by the light of the moon.

          This book is powerful due to it's touchy subject matter and the fact that it's seen though the eyes of Liam's sister. It gives readers insight to how Liam's life has an impact on her whole family. Luna's struggles also effect her sister Regan as she tries to live the normal life of a 10th grader who is interesting in a boy. This book is definitely for a more open minded audience who can be sensitive to Liam and Regan's situation. I read this book in freshman year of high school and haven't forgotten it since. The topic is very controversial and unique for it's time. 

          If you are someone who is interesting in sexual disorders or transgender issues I recommend this powerful novel. I decide to read it again after all these years in order to see if their is anything else about it I can understand that I didn't pick up on before. Julie Anne Peters has written other fantastic novels that I would also recommend to anyone who is interested in gay/lesbian related books. 

Short Story?

I am considering turning an old school paper into a short story but I am not sure how to go about doing it. I normally like to write new short stories but this one, I feel, is too good to let go and not continue. This story is meaningful to me and uses sensory language to appeal to my readers personal memories. Below I included a short preview of it and will later decide if I wish to revise/continue it.




There are times much like these in which I find myself sitting in the living room alone, absent of sound, that I summon up enough courage to reminisce on an old friend. He was my best friend for six short but wonderful years; his presence in my life but was taken out far too quickly. I met him in the backyard of a mutual friend’s on June 12th 2005. I was only twelve-years-old. His name was Cody, and he was unlike anyone I have ever met. The first thing I notice about Cody that separated him from the rest was his strong British accent. He was young too, about fifteen. His innocent blue eyes showed no hidden lies or callous, he wasn’t yet jaded and he had this liveliness about him that I craved. The summer air was warm that night as we made awkward small talk with each other by the pool. The grass was prickly and itchy as I crushed it between my bare feet.

Apologies and update.

First and foremost I have to apologize for how few and far between my reviews are. I have been waiting until closer to Halloween before posing the special review I have had for a few weeks now. Also, the past 2 weeks have been really hectic for me because I have mid-terms and papers due at the same time. Hopefully by the end of the week things will calm down before getting crazy again. Two of the school clubs that I am in are having several events that I need to participate in which takes up a lot of my writing/reading time.

As far as my novel, Lost Prince of Waydale, goes I am so close to the end that I can taste it! Once I finish it I need to edit it before sending the manuscript to the appropriate place. Don't worry, it will still be coming out in November so I will update you on the pre-order option on Amazon. I will try to have one more book review before my Halloween special just because I need to have a more recent one. I am thinking of doing either a special one for banned books, or just review one specific banned book.

Overall, I hope everyone is enjoying their fall so far and I look forward to informing you about the completion of my book. Stay tuned for more reviews as well!

This Place

I feel your icy lips
Brush across my face.
For so many years I have been longing,
for your sweet embrace. 
________________________

Reaching my hand up,
I place it on my cheek,
Trying to soak up
Where your lingering touch is weak. 
________________________
I feel your gentle hands
Tightly grip my face
I really wish you were here,
In this saddened place.
________________________

I pretend that you are here,
I see your face in the mirror.
I wish it wouldn’t be,
But you are a part of me.
______________________

Everything beautiful reminds me of you.
Even a flower or a fancy shoe.
Pain like this
Is nothing new.
A single tear traces my face,
how did I end up here
in this painful place?

Demon in My View-Book Review #17

          Since I did promise another book review before my Halloween special, I decided to do one of my favorite books. Demon in My View by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes is a fantastic book about teenage author Jessica Allodola. Jessica is a high school outcast who uses a pen name, Ash Night, so no one knows she is the author of the popular vampire book Tiger, Tiger. Demon in My View begins with her senior year and two new students seem to take an interest in Jessica, bubbly Caryn and brooding mysterious Alex.

          Long story short, Jessica realizes that the two new students are in fact two characters from her book, Alex is really Aubrey the vampire and Caryn is a witch. There isn't too much detail given as to how Jessica knew about the world of vampires and witches other then the explanation that Jessica's real mother was a vampire.

       I love this book mainly because the author who wrote it was 13 when she wrote the first book in the series, In the Forest of the Night. You don't have to read the first book in order to understand Demon in My View, the first book just gives you more insight to thee vampires and witches. I read Demon in My View before reading In the Forest of the Night  and I was fine. I read In the Forest of the Night because I wanted to know more about Aubrey. Another reason I love this book is because, as a writer, I love the idea of my book characters coming to life. I read this book quite a while ago when I was about 14 or 15 and I liked that it didn't fit your typical vampire novel. There is no romance or teen girl infatuation, the focus of the story is how Jessica relates to this vampire world and how her dreams allowed her to write this book about them. Although there might be a interest between Aubrey, that is not the main focus of the story.

          If you like stories where the book characters "come alive," with vampires, and witches without it being cheesy, I recommend this book.

Book review info and Lost Prince of Wadale

Since I know it has seemed like  awhile since my last review I thought I would mention something. I have 3 book reviews prepared and written as drafts and I have been waiting until Halloween to release them. But since it appears that I haven't been doing any I wanted to clear that up. Since it has been long I decided to do a review before I release the Halloween special ones just to satisfy everyone. Also, I am almost done with my novel Lost Prince of Waydale, and I am at the most interesting part know as the "climax." I am so proud of it so far and I can't wait for everyone to be able to read it. Since it has been so long I thought I would give you a small tidbit from LPW. Enjoy and I hope you have a good weekend.

Flint opened his mouth to speak but Collin interrupted him. "My name is Prince Collin James of Waydale, and we have come to speak to you about important property of ours that was stolen." The wiseman looked at Collin for the first time, and when he did, Collin felt his blood run cold for a moment. The mans eyes were cloudy and pale like a pearl that lost its shine. Collin shivered.

   "I don't think he can see us," Collin whispered only for Flint to hear. "I do not need to see with my eyes Prince Collin, I see with my soul" he replied. Collin swallowed hard and shifted uncomfortably. "Please sit down gentleman and I will tell you what you need to know," the Wiseman said. The two boys obeyed and sat on a gray and white pillow beside the fire pit. 

What Happens After re-release

After much thought I decided to re-release my first book "What Happens After" just because there were a few extra things I needed to add. So here it is, the ebook link to my book, it will be back on Kindle soon. Click here!

All for one special book reviews-#17

So since I have been so busy with school and haven't had much time for my blogs or my novel, I wanted to do something special. For my next 2 book reviews, instead of doing them on long novels, I am going to highlight 2 short stories that I think are classic and deserve recognition. I will begin with one of my favorite authors.

Kate Chopin- Story of An Hour: This short flash fiction is about a woman who finds out her husband has died in an accident at work. The woman, Mrs. Mallard, begins to cry and goes off to her room and looks out the window. Suddenly she begins to feel happy and "free." I believe this story is trying to explain how women back in the 14th century felt trapped in marriage and the only way she could escape him is for him to die. I like this story because of all the different ways it can be interpreted. Is the wife cruel for feeling free or do you sympathize? There is a nice ironic twist at the end but I won't give it away.





Kurt Vonnegut-Harrison Bergeron: I love this story because it has the "dystopia" theme that I always enjoy. It is set in the year 2081 and overall this story is about a world in which believes that the world should all be equal. No one should have any advantages over someone else. For example, if you are a fast runner or are really beautiful, you had to wear an ugly mask and weights on your feet. The main character Harrison Bergeron is covered in a mask and a lot of heavy weights because he is attractive and athletic. He is seen as a criminal in the story because of how many "handicaps" he has. I wont give away the ending but it is definitely worth the read if you enjoy futuristic dystopia's.

School!

So as you know school has begun and my workload is unbelievable so I will try my hardest to keep up with my blog. Apparently getting a BA is a lot harder then getting an Associates degree. Just to give you an idea, I have 6 assignments due in one day including two papers, 3 discussions and a quiz. The work is not necessarily "hard" but the amount is too much. 

          I am also trying to keep up with my novel and I am about 30 pages away from being done. I know it may seem like a lot but its actually only 5 chapters until I finish. I can only manage my time and not let myself get too overwhelmed with the workload. I will keep everyone updated and I will hopefully find another book/story/poem to review by next week. 

          I wish everyone else who has returned to school the best of luck in their studies!

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child- Book review #15

So as promised I will review the newest Harry Potter book by J.K Rowling. This book is definitely a must read for any Harry Potter fan. This book starts right where the seventh left off. Harry is older and married to Ginny Weasley, they have 3 children. This book basically revolves around his middle child Albus.
         I won't go into too much detail and spoil it but you get to learn some new things about your favorite characters and see what happens to them after the series ended. For example, Hermione is the minister of magic (at first), and Professor McGonagall is the headmistress of Hogwarts. So it's definitely interesting to see how time changed and the characters as well as those who grew up reading HP have aged.
        The plot is good but sort of similar to the original except it's new characters. Also, despite its decent length, the book is a fairly quick read, I could have finished mine in 1-2 days if I dedicated actual time to it. If you were a Harry Potter fan growing up I would definitely recommend this for you because it's like reading a new Harry Potter book and brings the feelings of your childhood back. I know I missed reading the books after the series ended so it's refreshing to have something new. The story has action, heart and a lot of lessons to learn. Pick this book up and read it if you have the chance, I suggest getting it for a Kindle of ebook if you can because the book is pricey.