December Update: Counting Down To Christmas (Part 2)

Hi readers,

It's another update post today and probably my last before Christmas, though hopefully not my last before the New Year! This last week and the weekend have been a bit stressful though and I still can't wait for Christmas to be over and done with as it just feels like that will solve most of the problems! Anyway, I've hardly had time to think about that today because I've been at work all day and evening. Which is why I'm super glad I decided to get ahead yesterday and write up some of the parts of this post!

Kicking my post off today is an update of what's going on at my other blog. I've just written a nine part fantasy story, which people have seemed to be enjoying. I can't decided if I want to carry on writing or not. This week though it's all about the next six parts of my Trust novella. Yeah, my vampires Brook and Fern are back and this time I decide to bring in a new plot that I've been thinking about and adding in some new vampires. Of course, there are other stories all Christmas/winter themed still available to read and new ones will be up later this week. Here's the link; https://thestoryfiles.wordpress.com/ 

The only thing I made last week is peppermint bark. I've never made it before and it doesn't seem to be that bigger thing in the UK compared to USA. I found a real simple recipe that called for milk chocolate, white chocolate, peppermint oil and candy canes. I melted the milk chocolate first and also a bowl in the microwave- I thought it was heat safe, turns out it wasn't! I then poured that into a silicon tray, added some peppermint oil and let it set. I melted the white chocolate, added the oil to that and poured that on top of the milk chocolate. Then and really I should have done this before- I smashed up some of the candy canes with a rolling pin and sprinkled them on top, I pressed some of the bigger pieces down then I left it over night to set completely.

It turned out okay, though it did need some more peppermint oil! I shared some of with my friends from D and D and they all agreed it reminded them of Areo chocolate (which is mint flavored chocolate, for those that don't know). and they liked it. I've still got some in the fridge and might take some with me on Christmas eve.      

Last week, I decided to make small felt stars with the young people at the youth center. I made this one and had this idea of making more and having a string of them on my bookcase. I've just not had the time to do that though, but it would be a great way to use up some of my scraps of felt. The kids once we had thrown away the yellow silk, which wasn't good for this project, did enjoy making them, so I'd say make felt/fabric stars is a good craft for the kids to do. 

My second thing which I made on Saturday, is this stocking. I found the gingerbread man pattern at http://www.dreamalittlebigger.com/post/distressed-gingerbread-man-felt-stocking-pattern.html and it reminded me of the gingerbread men I made the other week. I know I didn't get it perfect, but I really like it. I wanted to give it ago as on Wednesday I'm running an craft activity at work and thought that getting the kids to design their own stockings would be a great idea. To save time and issues, I've spent time over the weekend and properly some more tomorrow cutting out the stockings, gingerbread men and a few other shapes. I really hope the kids like making them.

Christmas is just a great time to do lots of arts and crafts with kids and there's so many different things they can have a go at making. Today, I made Christmas cards and paper plate wreaths with two different age groups; juniors and seniors all of whom had additional needs. They seemed to have a great time and so did I!

This week I'm still burning Christmas themed Yankee Candles and it's one of my favorite set; Hot Butter Rum, Winter Garden and warm Chestnut. I think they were new and limited from a shopping channel and I've not really seen them around. However, I love the rich warm butter and rum scent which really fills the house. Warm chestnut has this hot earthy/outdoor nut smell to it, which to me is better then real chestnuts! Winter garden smells just like a frost covered evergreen garden. I can't decided my favorite out of them to be honest!

It doesn't feel like I've got any new music to share today. I've been listening to my normal things and some natural sound videos on YouTube. I've been listening to Christmas songs -who hasn't?- but due to them being mostly played in shops and at work, and the fact my mum keeps putting them on the TV music channels, I've not really been listening to them in my own time. Though I had to hear Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer a few times because that's one song I just don't hear anywhere else. I just makes me laugh a lot and it far better then some of the depressing Christmas songs. 

I've been getting lots of nice things in my advent count down sack, as the photo shows! I've got a few more things knocking about to, but this week it's mostly been about chocolate. Can't wait to tuck into that! I'm sad I've only got like three more presents to go now, I'm going to miss opening a present a day. Still though, I'll have lots to open on Christmas day! 

Lastly, here's my dog snugging in her new blanket. She's so cute!

Photos:

Christmas house and trees lighting up from: http://giphy.com/gifs/pretty-christmas-bHSCxaHfjZYwE
Yankee Candles 
All others; my own

Book Review; The Bone Season

Hi readers, 

I'm finally posting up my review of The Bone Season! I'm currently reading the second book, though I've only read like two chapters, just not had the time at the moment due to writing lots of stories and working. I also found out that this is a series of seven books and the publishing dates for the others have been released. I thought it was a trilogy and now knowing there are more books coming, I am not sure if I will read them all. I guess it depends on how the plot develops and if the characters start developing probably. As normal, I'm going to try and stay away from spoilers, but there might be some due to what I want to talk about. 

I'm not sure how I found out about this novel, but it was like around the time it came out last year, but I just couldn't fit it into my reading stack. I believed it was a dystopia novel and I did add it to my list. Then I found it in a very cheap bookshop around March/April and brought it, thus breaking my vow not to buy any books this year! However, it's only now that I've read it. For me it's more a book that boarders a lot of genres; science fiction, supernatural and alternate history, but I wouldn't say it was dystopia because it doesn't feel in the same vein as says 1984 or Wool or The Hungry Games.  

The plot of The Bone Season is that nineteen year old Paige Mahoney is a rare type of clairvoyant, a dreamwalker which allows her to get into peoples' minds and effect them. She lives in London 2059, where clairvoyants are banned and have to live in secret. Paige works with a group of others in order to survive, but she captured after visiting her father and wakes up at Sheol I. There she learns that the government has been sending clairvoyants to an alien race which are training the clairvoyants to defend them and the plant from another alien race. Paige, of course, sets about trying to escape.       

The novel opens with a huge exposition about the world and clairvoyants and what's happened in the past. That alone would put most people off and unfortunately, there are other 'exposition dumps' and repeated facts throughout the novel. I get why Shannon has done this though and that's because it's the easiest and fastest way to give the reader information that they need to understand the plot. However, for me its a sign of lazy writing and a weak point in the novel. I understand that this is her first novel, she is under the age of thirty and the audience is teenagers, which might be the clues to the way this book is written. 

The other downsides to this book are that it feels a lot longer then it needs to be, it's over 400 pages long. I spotted parts that could have have been shortened or cut out and if there was less exposition that might have helped too. Paige seemed a bit static and I didn't connect with her like I would have liked too. The background characters and there seems to be too many of them, didn't develop well enough for me. Also, I read somewhere that there was meant to be a starting romance between Paige and her capture Warden, but this didn't come across for me, if it was intended, but it was probably more like Stockholm Syndrome and also the fact that Paige sees she can't escape without his help. Lastly, the aliens can drink blood and auras which they use to strength themselves and to me that just reminds me of vampires. I know there are other blood drinking creatures out there, but I didn't feel this was needed, just having them drink auras would have been fine. 

With all that said, I did enjoy the world building and the plot overall. I found it different to other things I had read. Though other reviewers say it's not different from books they've read, so I guess that depends on you. There is enough character development from the main characters, but for me it feels very plot led. I was fine with all the supernatural stuff to and I didn't mind the science fiction parts either. I can also understand with this being the first book in the series why it's been written the way it has and I just hope the next book is a bit different and more focused on the characters. It does seem like this book is dividing reviewers, so I'm going to leave it up to you to decided for yourselves, but I would recommend giving it a try.   

That's all for now and next week I'll be back with another December/Christmas Update. 

December Update: Counting Down To Christmas

Hi Readers,

I can't believe it's December already or that it's almost Christmas or that another year is about to end! Everything feels like it's gone too fast, but a part of me can't wait for Christmas to be over with. It always feels like it starts earlier every year. All the shops sweep Halloween away like it didn't happen and start slotting Christmas themed things up. Come the middle of November this just explodes and everything has to be Christmas! Then it's about the decorations, the presents, the food, the final plans. The word is on everyone lips, Christmas songs - old, new, classic, strange ones- are blasting everywhere and the only way to escape is to go and live under a rock for the next few weeks.

That makes me sound like a 'Scrooge', but I actually love Christmas! It just feels so commercialised now, like every other holiday or maybe it's been like that all my life, but as a child I never noticed? I think also this year because I'm finally moving away my family's traditional Christmas I'm feeling more stressed. I was trying to see if I wrote about the Christmas we have in my early posts. I found this one; http://hailscrazyblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/a-traditional-christmas.html though it doesn't go into the full details, but you can see how close my family is.

So, the move is that my boyfriend invited me over to have Christmas at his. After lots of thinking, arguing with my mum, doing the pros and cons, I decided to accept. I know I'm in for a very different, much quieter and less chaos/fun time, but the chance to finally say I spent Christmas with a boyfriend out weighs that. And who wouldn't want a quieter/peaceful Christmas day? Anyway, with that very mixed introduction out of the way, here's what's becoming my normal list of things on writing these update posts;  

At my other blog, The Story Files, you can find winter/Christmas themed stories for today, the rest of the week and last week. I've found a very interesting trend on there too and that is that people seemed to enjoy my flash fiction and shorter stories a lot more then the long single stories or part ones. I guess because they are fast to read and more to the point? I don't know, because some of the ones I wrote last week I wasn't too keen on, but people have really been liking them. The link is;
https://thestoryfiles.wordpress.com/ and you can also found it on Facebook, which I've included the link to at the end of this post. Also, if you've written a story and fancy submitting it -I'm still looking for Christmas and New Year themed stories- you can go to my guidelines page on that blog.

Tonight as I write this, I'm busy finishing painting and fake snowing a glass jar lantern. Remember the ones I made at Halloween? Well, that same person who came up with that design did a Christmas one too. I really liked the idea as giving them as extra gifts to people. So I made one for my best friend and forgot to take photos! So, I've now made this one to give to my mum. Even though its' not finished you get the idea. I've included the link to the website is; http://www.adventure-in-a-box.com/magical-christmas-lanterns/

They are really simple, cheap to make and effective. Once again, I had trouble with the drawing, so I blew up the image and that was easier, though the thickness of the glass and roundness of the jar made it harder so I free handed a lot of the roof tops! I just need to do another coat of paint, put on some fake snow and add the sand and candled to the inside.

The other thing on my list to make is this;

A sugar plum fairy felt socking. Which I thought would be easy to make, but the instruction seem to make it really complicated. I think this is a job for mum and me to do. We didn't get a chance this weekend so maybe next? I've got a few other things to get making, hopefully it'll put me in a Christmas mood.

This morning I made Gingerbread men. I've had a mad craving for them over the weekend, but hadn't had the chance to go and buy some, so I made my own today. I was a bit worried after my problems with all the stuff I made over October. However, these guys turned out fine! I followed this simple recipe; https://www.homemadebyyou.co.uk/recipes/baking/gingerbread-family , which I have in my favorite cook book. I stuck with it and took my time over it too. Unlike last time I also stayed in the kitchen the whole time and made sure they didn't burn!

I didn't have a whole family like the recipe calls for and I could only find two cookie cutters. So  I made a big and small gingerbread man. I also decorated them with ice writing pens, because that was all I could find. I can't wait to eat them with my parents later!

One of the smaller ones did have an accident though....I dropped one of the big ones on him when I was transferring them to the rack and his arm snapped off! I was going to leave him undecorated and eat him as my 'tester' but I just couldn't resisted doing this instead....

Halloween is still lingering in me!

This month I'm burning some new Yankee candles. I've had Cosy By The Fire melting in my burner this weekend. It smells really nice, though it is strong. It's like burning wood and warm mulled wine spices. I've also got Winter Glow and it smells piney and just like a winter garden soon after the snow has stopped falling and the sun has come up. That's the only way I can describe it.

I've smelt the other two new releases, Bundle Up and Berry Trifle. I wasn't too keen on the first one because it smelt too piney, but I did like the second one because it was very fruity and I got for the food candles more then the other categories.

At the minute I'm burning a big jar Fireside Treats. I love the smell of toasted marshmallows and a wood burning.   

Music time! With winter coming, I love listening to howling winds and fire places. Here's my current favorite of a winter storm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jrg9E2YBgsI This is perfect to listen too whilst burning a candle and reading a good book.

Lastly, I want to share my advent calendar bag with you. My mum heard of this idea about three years ago now and you buy a small present for every day in December and open one per day as you would an advent thing. This is the inside of my bag. Look at all those presents just waiting to be opened!

These are the things I've gotten so far:

The purple thing is a detangle hair brush, a notebook is next to it with a chocolate bear and a Yankee candle behind it. Also some fluffy socks and some jelly babies. I also got a bracelet that my mum made me which is in my jewelry box so it didn't get lost. I wonder what I'll get tomorrow?

Thanks for reading and please check out my blog.


Links;

https://thestoryfiles.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/thestoryfiles/


Photos:

Falling snow scene; https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBK8HyMhaJ0x2FwNgj9o348fcQkm6gw9a2q5WJY7USMxOA5_T-uwGrn1h93uYzRJV2-tATh9Y7RfQ-hGZQLXMMti68nRwxHTQzWdWgMbBYqqBLR8snvL2AvT6oS5r4MJ7vm7-HDkufsaI/s1600/tumblr_myvfv4s4Ec1r3t8ico1_500.gif

Yankee Candles; http://www.yankeecandle.co.uk/

The rest; all author's own.

Leeds Steampunk Market and Christkindlmarkt

Hi readers,

I'm slotting this post in before my first December update to bring you my day trip out to Leeds! Though to be honest I'm feeling really tired and I just want to snuggle in bed with a book. The weather has been rough today- very windy and rainy. Driving on the motorway was difficult (I didn't drive by the way, not insured yet) and scary as the wind was really blowing the car around. My actually day out was good though, but I didn't get to visit the cemetery and the Thackray museum still scares me. It's dedicated to the history of medicine, hospitals, doctors, nurses and patients, which for someone who has a big issues and a slight phobia of hospitals and medical stuff isn't good.

The Steampunk market made it worth it though! If you don't know anything about Steampunk here's a post I did on it awhile back; http://hailscrazyblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/steampunk-introduction-to-genre.html I've written about Steampunk and the market at the mill before. It was from there that I found out the Leeds one was worth a visit. They have four throughout the year and this was the last one for 2015. There was a lot of interesting stalls, a few of which didn't seem that steampunky to me, but I enjoyed seeing things I wouldn't be able to see anywhere else, like for example the guy who made robots out of recycled metal things and give them each a background story, he could even make a personalised ones.

There were some stalls selling clothes, which I always love looking at even though I can't fit in anything and it's expensive. I didn't go dressed up by the way. The hour traveling and the fact I wanted to be warm and comfy for the day saw to that. I've got a picture of me dressed up from the Mill market though. I was actually just looking for my post about the Mill and I can't seem to find it. I'm sure I did one though!

There were a lot of stalls selling jewelry, most of which was of course Steampunk and fantasy styled. I didn't see anything I really liked though, other then different versions of a pendent which my best friend had actually brought me for Christmas! I saw the dragon love necklace my boyfriend got me for our first year together. I'm excited to see what he's got me from Christmas at the moment. There were hats stall too and I so would love a hat, but I don't have a lot of things to wear one too!

There was also a glass etched stand, which had some cool designs printed on the beer glasses. There was a woman selling fairy like wings and other stuff, who had a pet skunk. I've don't think I've seen one in real life before and I do have to admit I thought it was fake the first time I saw it! Someone else was selling old army uniforms for reenactors and there was this man who made like Victorian style props. My mum brought this device which is meant to turn people having a secret conversations in a public place invisible! She said it'd be handy in the office and also she liked the flashing lights.  

I meet three authors who were selling their own published books. I connect with two of these and brought their books. I also told them about my blog and writings. I feel inspired to put together that collection of short stories I keep saying I'm going to do and have another go at trying to actually earn some money from my stories. Both of their books seems interesting and I've added them to the review list, though it won't be till next year now. I've got the second book of The Bone Season and another book to read first before anything else.  

There were two other stalls my mum and I got things off. The first was a beauty/bath one that was all like home made things. I got some cooling liniment for my back (I pulled a muscle last weekend and I'm still in pain) It smells like mint and I put some on before I sat down and it does seemed to have helped! I got some chocolate sugar lip scrub, mainly because it was in the sale items and I've always wanted to try some. The ones at Lush are too expensive and I've not got the time to make my own, though I've read it's very simple. Anyway, this one was really nice and my lips do feel better, less dry and chapped. I also got an apple and cinnamon scented bath fizz which also has popping candy in it. That smells so nice and reminds me of autumn - which I'm missing already! My mum got a few others things; a mint lip scrub, some massage oil and lavender oil. I picked up a card too and so in the future we can order more things. Here's a photo;

The other stall we got stuff off was a mixture of little gift like things. To be honest I can't remember what else was on it because I was so distracted by the clay dragons. There were four different sizes, lots of colors and characters. I picked out a large blue one for mum because I liked the fairy style wings and he seemed like a dragon with attitude. I picked out a light purple one then a darker baby one to go with it. Mum got the other two small ones, because they need friends! They are so cute though and I've got mine on my desk right now. The photo really doesn't show their full cuteness! 

I got everyone's business card too. I've included the links at then end if anyone fancies checking then out.

  

We then left and drove a few minutes into the Leed's center. There we walked around the Christkindlmarkt or German Market. The wind and rain picked up when we arrived though, but the market was only small and in one area - unlike the Manchester Christmas market and I do plan to write about that when I go maybe next weekend of the one after. The place was more packed then the Steampunk market had been and as the afternoon got later more people arrived. We didn't buy anything other then some hot potato cakes/ rostis to share. Mum was tempted by a dragon which when you burnt an incest stick inside let the smoke escape out of his nose and mouth, but it was expensive and we don't have anywhere to really put it.

I did try to take some photos, but the weather, the dying light and the horde of people made it hard. I always end up feeling embarrassed too. I'm not sure why when people use their phone cameras and selfie sticks, because it's not like my camera is that big anyway. I don't know, maybe because I've been told off before and I really don't like that. I'll have to try harder at the Manchester one if I go.

So that was my day. What have you been doing today? Let me know in the comments and add anything else you want me to see in there too. I reply back to everyone, so don't be shy. Come back Monday for my Update post and please check out The Story Files. Thanks for reading.


Links:
https://www.facebook.com/thestoryfiles/
http://www.thackraymedicalmuseum.co.uk/
http://www.leedssteampunkmarket.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/CraigHallamAuthor/?fref=ts
http://carliemartece.com/
http://www.bimble.eu/
http://www.beckettstreetcemetery.org.uk/

Photos;
Google maps
All my own. 

November Update part 2 : Why I give up on NaNoWriMo

Hi readers,

I failed National Novel Writing Month. 

There wasn't an easy way to say that, but I failed to reach the 50,000 word count target in the 30 days of November. I only got to just under 15,000 words, though Trust is now at 44, 383. Which is still under! I do feel a little bit annoyed that I couldn't do it, but I was very ill two weeks ago with a bad cold. That put a stop to everything for a whole week - even going to work and playing dungeons and dragons! I somehow manged to post my daily short story though, (Thinking about it, it was all the Trust parts I'd already written!) but writing Trust went on hold. Unfortunately, I never picked it up again.

I did have thoughts about writing it and I do have an idea about where to take it next. I think the brick wall appeared when I suddenly realized that I didn't have a real enemy for my main characters. The vampire who was suppose to be decided he wanted to be good and that kinda meant there was only so much I could do with him. Now though, I've an idea to introduce some more characters and create some more tension. 

So, what did I learn from NaNoWriMo? 

Firstly, that I could write more a day then I was doing and thought I could do. I was able to write one or two short stories and between 500-1,000 words of Trust. 

Secondly, I'm not so great at talking to people online! Remember my thinking about trying harder to connect with people in my last post? Yeah, I didn't do much about it. I don't know, if I still feel over-protected of my stories or I'm just not balancing my time well enough. 

Thirdly, Changing the stats on the NaNoWriMo doesn't make me feel better. In fact, I feel guilty for not writing! 

Fourthly, I did try my best but being ill and life etc, didn't help, still though it doesn't mean I should give up. 

I think one of the others reasons I give up was because for me writing is a thing I do everyday anyway. I don't need to find time or space to write because I've a lot of that. And on the days I don't, I'm taking a break and thinking about things. I look for inspiration all the time - on the internet and around me which I then use in my stories. I've a Pinterest board/s where all my ideas go and which I refer to everyday. 

Anyway, here's my stats page for NaNoWriMo and yeah, I decided to add the total I had actually written, so the last day is kinda wrong, but I wanted to add it in.      

Well done to all those who did make it and to those who didn't! At least you've start writing now.

I did have a few other things to add, but I want to get this post up before midnight, so I'm going to leave it. I'm thinking of doing a post tomorrow about the start of Christmas, though it'll depend on timing as I'm at work and I do have a gift to make for my best friend.

How did your NaNoWriMo go? leave me a comment below and please check out my other blog; https://thestoryfiles.wordpress.com/

Book Review: Welcome To Night Vale A Novel

Hi readers, 

I'm becoming more determined to make Mondays the day I post to this blog. I'm not sure why, I guess the routine of doing so? Also, because I'm free on Mondays, it's like the only day I don't have anything else to do, well beside from starting work on getting ahead with short stories for my other blog and catching up with emails. Once, again I've no idea how long this is going to last for as I've all ready got some plans for the new year and I'll be writing more about them sometime in December. For now though, let's look at today's topic. 

Of all the books on my list this year, Night Vale was the one I was most excited about. I've been listening to the podcast for ages and enjoying them, though I often fall behind with them because I really can't do anything whilst I listen to them as I lose concentration with it. I was also lucky enough to go to a live show in Manchester UK with my boyfriend. Strangely, the podcast works on stage very well and it made me more eager to see how a novel would work out.

Firstly, you don't have to have even heard of Night Vale to pick up and read the novel. Of course, being aware of the settings and characters is useful, but the way the novel is written gives you everything you need to understand all of this. Though, if you are looking to find out why Night Vale is so supernatural then you won't find any answers here! Like with the podcast, you have to just accept Night Vale for the surreal unnatural world it is, where anything can and will happen.

The plot focus on two female characters and their search for a very unusual man who is waiting for them in a city that is very difficult to get to. Interjected between the chapters are extracts from the Night Vale radio station (which if you didn't know is how they do the podcast) and as these go along it becomes more apparent how they fit in with main plot. Plus, they are humors snips of life in Night Vale. Along the way are side-plots and themes about family, life, jobs and out of the box solutions. I could so go into a lot more with the plot, but I don't want to spoil it.     

I really connected with the characters and the ending linked them all together which nice to see. Even though the focus is on the main set of about four or five characters, the background ones feel like they have their own issues and aren't just there to be the stereotypical background people. I really hope that some of these characters get their own novels in the future because it'd be interesting to find out more about them. I think that nearly a everyone will be able to connect with a character or more in the novel because many are likable and have realistic problems such as being a parent, a teenager, a mayor etc. 

I did enjoy the narrative, which is linear, though you'd think given Night Vale itself, it wouldn't seem so straight forward, but that does mean that anyone can read it. If you know Night Vale then you might find yourself- as I did- hearing the voice of Cecil as you read, if not it comes over in a friendly, simple, matter of fact tone. The characters dialogue is natural enough and pacy too.  

My favorite part of the novel has to be the visit to the library, just because it's the complete opposite of a normal library. There's still bookshelves and books, but not as we know them to be. Also, the librarians are actually monsters that want to kill people. I really like the idea of the 'normal' being totally flipped and I think that's why Night Vale is so attractive.   

Overall, This novel was great and I loved it. I would say to expect the unexpected if you've just discovered Night Vale and if you're returning then the novel really does feel like an extension of the podcast only longer and more in depth about things. I seriously can't wait for the next one...I hope there's going to be one!  

  

November Update: Taking Part In NaNoWriMo For The First Time

Hi readers, 

I'm currently ill with a virus and I'd like to say I'm writing this from my bed right now, but I'm not. I'm at my desk, counting down the last hour before I try and head into work, (I keep meaning to write an updated post about that, but haven't had the time) I agreed on Saturday-when I wasn't feeling so bad-to cover someone's shift tonight and I'm in desperate need of the money for Christmas - isn't everyone?- So, I thought I'd take my mind off things and write this post, which I did mean to start on last week, but I've been busy. Also, I know I missed a post last Monday which was meant to be my review of the Night Vale novel, I was in hospital. (nothing serious, just stuff to do with my long term health condition, which I also plan to write a post about soon). 

I this year I decided to take part in National Novel Writing Month. I'm not sure how long I've known about it, maybe only a year or two? The idea behind it is to write 50,000 words of a novel in a month and it's useful if you're writing for the first time or you struggle to fit writing into you daily life or-like me- you just want to write more. There's lots of other reasons too and what I like most about it is that it brings writers of all levels together and gets rid of that whole writers-need-to-be-alone/solitude writer's life myth. Okay, I get many writers need alone time to write, but we also need a lot of support and feedback from other people, not just editors and publishers. 

To be honest that's what I wanted to use NaNoWriMo for; to connect with other writers, look at what they were writing about and how they were doing it. Have I achieved that 16 days into the 30 day time period? Not really...I connect with four people on the first day and haven't spoke to any of them since and the fifth person shouldn't really count as she is an old friend from uni. Though I've read the opening of her novel twice now and given her some well needed feedback. I guess I've not done it because I've been so busy. I've been trying to reach the word count goal every day and failing due to having to write short stories for my blog, working, being ill and struggling to actually write. I know these are things everyone else has been facing too, so why haven't I been able to reach out to others? I really need to change that!

My second goal, though it was impossible from the start was to try and finish my novel. I decided that I wasn't going to start a new one when I had about 30,700 words of Trust and I wanted to do the next six parts for my other blog this month. The first of which will be published this coming Friday. So, far I've written 13, 625 words and that is actually all six parts-since I aim for about 1,200 words per part and the start of the next six parts for December.  (You can read Trust here;

https://thestoryfiles.wordpress.com/wp-admin/edit.php?category_name=trust-novella ) 

 Below I've got a screen shot my of current stats and yeah, I know the total count is a little bit higher then what I just declared and that's because I might have been cheating just a little. But who can bear to have a empty gap on these kinds of things? I've made up the word count twice now, but it's been over the weekend and today when I've been ill. I struggle to fully focus when I'm like this and feel its' pointless trying to write. So, I've got some catching up to do and I've kinda all ready decided that I'm not going to reach the 50,000 word goal. I'd have to write 2,000 odd words a day, maybe even more to get there now and that's not something I can currently commit to. 

A blogger, I was talking to a few days ago after I'd read his post on the opening week of NaNoWriMo, said it was about 'quantity over quality.' And I agree with that. You are forced to write and to meet the goals, which isn't a bad thing if you are new or struggling, but for me I always do a little editing on the side throughout the writing now, because I find it saves time in the long run and it gets editing clearer in my mind when I actually come to it fully. For me, I'd rather focus on good writing then just spilling everything out on the page and praying it works - though I'm well known for doing that anyway. 

My finally thoughts for now are that I have proven one thing and that is I can get more writing done in a day if I set my mind to it and don't get distracted by other things. I've been able to juggle writing a short story or more (up to four so far) alongside writing a novel. That's the third thing I wanted to get out of this experience really. I overall, I think it comes down to this; the more you put in the more you are going to get out of these types of challenges. So, if you're busy taking part right now or thinking of giving it ago -there's still time, there always is- then good luck and I'll give a final update on my progress at the end of the month. 

Next time; my review of the Night Vale novel.      

Book Review: The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George

Hi Readers,

I thought I'd write a short book review about this novel. I finished it late October, but because I don't want it to be stuck in between my Halloween count down posts, I thought I'd type my thoughts now and post it up in the first week or so of November. It took me awhile to get into reading Bookshop because its really not my kind of thing, but it is really well written and so easy to get into. 

For me, though there wasn't enough grip from the plot and I didn't feel excited to find out how every thing was going to end. The story is set in France, mainly Paris, where the main character Jean owns a bookshop which is on a huge barge boat. He has this strange gift which allows him to fit a book to the mood or requirements of a customer. So, if you were feeling homesick or lonely, he'd have a book for that. I do like that idea. 

Jean has been grieving for twenty odd years over the lost love of his life, who having left only a letter behind her, returned back home to her husband. Jean never opened her letter, until now and reading it helps to make him finally set off to find her. He makes some solid friends on the way - a young writer suddenly thrust into frame by his first bestselling book, an Italian dancer also looking for his lover and two cats. Together they form a good friendship group and learn to be honest with each other. 

The side plot is that Jean is also on a quest to find the writer of his favorite novel. The work got him through the difficult times in his life and now he wants to try and thank the writer. And I won't spoil that for you nor anything else about the plot. As for the characters, I found them interesting and very reflective about their pasts and futures. There wasn't a great deal of tension between them and even at the end when Jean meets up with his lover's husband, where you'd expect there to be an explosion, was more of a flicker. 

My other problem with this book was it's too slow pace and I get that maybe that was done to match the slow journey of the boat and some people will enjoy that, but for me I like action and fast things. I also got bored of the wonderful descriptions of France. There was a lot of time - it felt to me- give up to just the scenery and backgrounds. Normally, I do enjoy a lot of description and close details, but this time I got bored of all the flowers and countryside. 

The book does have some interesting thoughts about wasting you life and trying to live to the full. I did like that message / theme and I can see how that would appeal to an older readership. It didn't move me enough to start looking at how I could life better though. I think the main reason why I actually finished this book was because I only had 150 pages to go and I brought another book I really want to read and that pushed me through the last quarter. 

Overall, I can see some people really enjoying this and getting involved in Jean's journey. I think other people might not bee so keen on it due to the things I've pointed it. Saying that it is an easy and quick read, so it can be worth having a look at.   

HAPPY HALLOWEEN !

Hi readers and happy Halloween,

I've spent all day being busy sorting stuff out, carving pumpkins and decorating. I'm now finishing writing this and editing it as I wait for the Trick or Treaters. So, firstly my pumpkins. I decided to go with Sparky from Frankenweenie and Jack Skellington from Nightmare Before Christmas. They turned out pretty good and I've already had some neighbors and parents really liking them.

I can't believe how long it took me to make them, even though they were simple designs. I watched nearly all of the second season of American Horror Story and I was glad of the distraction because asylums, torture and hospitals are the worse things for me and I can't really watch stuff with those things in them. I've got the last two episodes to watch now, but the setting has mostly moved out of the asylum now. I'm looking forward to watching the third season a lot more now and that's about witches which I'll be fine with. Anyway, here's my pumpkins close up;  

I'm hoping they'll keep the evil spirits away night! I've had 22 trick or treaters so far and I'm out of sweets. I made 20 party bags up and believed I'd have some to left to eat afterwards and now I'm having to give away my person Halloween sweets. I've never had so many kids before, but it's getting a bit later now, so I might have said goodbye to the last of them. 

I also manged to do the lantern from my last post and I'm really happy with it. I decided to not use the black marker to color in the outline as instructed, because it just wasn't working. So, I used my black glitter paint again and I added some purple glitter paint into the inside to give it more sparkle. I've still got another two to do, though they are going to have to wait till another time now. But I'm not too bothered because I'd love it to be Halloween all the time anyway! I'll be posting them up in November now and showing how I got on with them. Then In December, I'm going to do Christmas scene ones. 

In the kitchen yesterday, I made gingerbread ghosts, pumpkins and bats. I used a different recipe to the one I normally use and though they turned out okay, they are far from perfect. I think the problems from my Halloween Count Down part 2 post also effect me and again. They do taste fine, but I wish they looked better. I was tempted to put them in the goodie bags for the kids, but then decided against it due to not being sure if the kids were going to be okay with them and if the gingerbread icing would survive. My last biscuits went down so well and I can only hope these do to. I think next year, I'm so going to stick with the recipes I know work and do turn out really good. Who knows what I'll be up to next year, though?

One thing I always think about at Halloween is how many pumpkins are wasted. I know that sounds like an odd thought, but none of of the pumpkin goes to waste in my house and so tonight I made roasted pumpkin seeds. These are really easy to make! I washed and dried the seeds then added in some brown sugar and cinnamon. I cooked in them in the oven for an hour and half on a low setting. They are a tasty and health snack! Plus they can be added to lots of different dishes too.  

With the rest of the pumpkin the plans are to make my mum's pumpkin pie and a pumpkin soup. With her being away at a party, I've not been able to make those tonight and I've frozen the pumpkin so we can use it when she returns. I'll write about that next week because pumpkin pie is something no one should miss out on!

Here's a photo of all the stuff I got to go in the goodie bags. I was hoping to get some toys and maybe theme stationary too, but none of the shops I went to had anything like that. I just liked the idea better then mixing everything in a bowl and the kids really like them. I think I'll have to look at getting some more next year though because this time has been really busy. That's if I do decided to do it again though. 

I've fond memories of trick or treating with my family and friends or else going to parties and I just like the idea of those memories starting in other people. A part of me does wish I was hosting or going to a party tonight though. Oh, well, maybe next year.... 

I think that decorating the house has to be my second favorite part of Halloween. (Pumpkins come first!) Being home alone and not actually having any plans isn't a great feeling and so to cheer myself up, I took a trip into the attic to find my Halloween decorates, yesterday. I found one box that had some stuff in, but nothing worth getting it and the second box had only my large pot lit up pumpkins, Spider chase lights and a box of parrot lights from my 21st birthday party. I'm really not sure where the rest of my stuff has gone to. There must be another box in the attic or else it's stored under my bed. Anyway, I decided to do what I could, but in handing the pot pumpkins to my mum their cardboard box completely split and she got whacked on the head by them. 

I was a little upset that they both smashed but then more so about my mum. She got a concussion and went into shock. I was really thinking my dad would have to drive her to the hospital or a walk in center. But once she had sat down and didn't feel sick and dizzy any more, she seemed okay. That though led to a small argument with my dad as my parents at that moment were getting ready to go away for the weekend and to a Halloween party with my dad's diving club. I felt pretty bad about the whole thing and my dad moaning about my 'wrong time'. I should be use to that over the years, but once again I had been going through the whole debate about not going into the attic and not decorating the house, but deciding that I really needed to. (This enters into another long story, which I'm hoping to write about at some point in November / December) I was hoping to find some super glue and get them repaired, but I can't find any and I've so not had the time today.

Anyway, here's a photo of the front of my house; 

I was hoping to do a little more decorating, but it rained heavily in the night and everything was soaking wet still. It's not meant to rain tonight, but it's been looking like it might do. I wanted to put my skeleton dog out tied up on the grass with an bowl and a bone, but I got scared someone might steal him. Which I know is a bit of a silly thought to have, but yeah.....issues. Don't think most of the kids would have seen him anyway because the front wall is high. Also, I never found the rest of my decorations.

Lastly, I'm about to burn my favorite candle; Happy Halloween from Yankee Candles. I know I've wrote about this one before, but I just love it so much. I got luckily too because I found it at a really good price on Amazon and after deciding there was a high chance I'd never find one at that price in the future due to them now retiring it and the fact they only released a limited number around Halloween anyway. I've got three of them now and one of which I'll never burn because I'm hoarding it away! Also, the photo isn't mine because my camera has run out of battery.  

Thanks for reading! Please remember to follow and share. Also check out my other blog: https://thestoryfiles.wordpress.com/ and get ready for a new month of stories starting tomorrow. 

Preview for next month;

The Little Paris Bookshop Review 

Welcome To Night Vale, A Novel Review

November Update 

Possible posts:

My long term health problem

Youth Centre work 

Preparing for Christmas  

October Update : Counting Down To Halloween, Part 3

 Hi readers,

I've got a mixture of things to share with you today in the third and finally count down to Halloween post. Kicking off this time are these Halloween lanterns ; http://adventure-in-a-box.com/enchanting-halloween-lanterns. I fell in love with them and really wanted to give them ago. As soon as I started buying and gathering everything I needed, I had all these ideas to make different ones. The one above is my practice one as art/drawing/painting is a weak spot for me. I'm so glad I decided to have a practice first because I learnt a lot from it. 

I'm pleased with how it turned out, though I wish I couldn't have got the orange background paint a little bit better. There are lots of different ways to make these lanterns and I guess depending on things you might find one way easier then the others. So, how did I make my practice one? Firstly, I printed out some designs that I found free to use online then I cut them out and arranged them on my clean dry jar. I stuck them to the outside with some tape then got a Sharpie permanent marker and drew around them all. I also drew a bumpy line to connect them all and represent a hilly landscape. Next, I painted in the outlines and the bottom of the jar. I used glitter black paint because I love how the candlelight catches of glitter and it just enchants it a bit more. I put on three coats because the paint was thin and I wanted there to be no leakage of the candlelight. 

I then mixed orange glitter paint with water and placed it inside the jar. I swirled it around and tried to get a good coverage. I was happy with it when it was done and left it to try. An hour later, I noticed that the orange paint and water mix hadn't stuck and had pooled at the bottom of the jar. I swirled it around again and spent time rolling the paint around to try and get it to stick. When I went to bed, I left the jar on it's side and whilst most of the paint had settled, it still hadn't dried. I added more paint, because I think I might have used too much water. I left it to dry and though it turned out a little bit patchy in places, it still looks good enough. 

My other one I made today was this The Nightmare Before Christmas image. The photo is a bit bad and I'm sorry about that, but my other problem was I didn't actually get the spray paint right!   

I sprayed too close and too much and thus really didn't get the right effect I needed. The other jar did spray alongside this one, was to make a lantern using the witch/ moon cat village scene from the above link. However, I used too much was was unable to trace the images through. I don't know what I'm going to do with that jar now, maybe just do like I did with my first one and trace them on the outside? 

However, I please to say that I learned from my mistake and I got another jar, which I'll be using for the scene correct, if not a little under colored, but to be honest after all the troubles I've had with stuff today, I don't mind. I did my two others jars which are actually cookie /kitchen food jars that I brought for £1 in ASDA Homewares, at the same time and got a nice effect on them and their lids. I've this awesome idea all set to do with them. I just ran out of time and I don't want to rush them. 

That's the biggest thing I found out about doing this project; not to rush. I'm really bad at drawing and I think my worries about these turning out how I really wanted them has been playing a big part in my mistakes. Now, I'm going to try and stop thinking about that and just get them finished. I want the two cookie jars to go outside on my front porch area - somewhere! I wish I could but the others in the front window, but that's going to be hard to do as it's a jungle of plants and ornaments. Plus we have colored glass so they won't be easily seen. Hopefully, by Halloween I'll have made them and be able to post them up.   

The other project I completed last week was this one. I made a bat and a ghost out of toilet roll tubes. I thought they'd be a good idea for the kids at the youth center as I went back to work since being off ill last Tuesday. I didn't get a chance to do the activity though as I wanted to take it easy and someone else had already set up a dot-to-dot drawing art for the kids to do. I shall be doing them tomorrow though with my felt pumpkins - see part 1 for them- and I know the kids will love them! 

There's lots of different ways to make these. I didn't follow anyone else's pattern and I just free handed it. I got a cardboard tube and flatted the top part. I then shaped the corners into points for the ears. I covered the whole thing in black tissue paper then drew bat wings and cut them out from the same tissue paper. I stuck them on the sides before adding white and black circles of the eyes. I decided to complete the bat with a strip of red and two white fangs. 

For the ghost, I balled up some white tissue paper and stuck it on the top, before measuring out enough white tissue paper to drape across the tube. I stuck it down at the top with some tape then made some black eyes and mouth, which I taped on too. 

I'm happy with how they turned out and just wish I had enough time to make a witch - I've seen one on Pinterest or maybe a vampire or a pumpkin too. I've seen some spider ones which look pretty good too. They are so easy and simple to make, yet look effective. I also thought about getting some white string or thread and hanging them up. A collection of bats would look nice in the hallway.
    

Today in the kitchen I made Headstone Biscuits. The recipe for these came with a chocolate moose tray bake graveyard in the third cooking book I own. I made the tray bake three or four years back and it turned out really well. However, I like making the gravestones more! These turned out so good and am way pleased with them. They are a vanilla butter biscuit with a hint of ginger and cinnamon, which I added myself. I spent awhile decorating them too and thinking about what to put on them. I don't think they are going to last very long around here though! My parents have been sneaky eating them since I told them they were like my test run and not for any purpose. 

I've got two other recipes for gingerbread Halloween shapes to try later on now. I'll be writing about them in my Halloween post. Hopefully, I'll get time to make at least one of them, because I've signed up to be a stand in member of staff at work over the half-term holidays, so I might get called in. I so need the money for Christmas and to put towards a car. Anyway, moving on.   

Of course, my candles this week have to be Yankee Halloween ones! I'm still annoyed that there's only the choice of two this year; Witches Brew or Candy Corn. I do like the smell of the Witches Brew as it's just patchouli, which is dark and spicy but not overpowering. The Candy Corn on the other hand isn't sweet enough for me, nor does it fill the room and linger like the Witches Brew and other scents do. I really hope next year Yankee brings out some new candles and/or works on improving the smell. I'm loving my new pumpkin wax tart melter though! The whole range can be found here; http://www.yankeecandle.co.uk/en/uk/halloween/icat/halloween

Comparing these candles to the set I brought off Amazon, I do have to admit that I was more impressed with them. I like the mixture of smells and the different choice I can pick through. I'm burning the purple Witching Hour again, mainly because it was already in my white wax melter. It smells like patchouli, cinnamon and jasmine, though I know there's a few other things too. I've still not tried Witches Brew, Tricks or Treats and Mulled Cider. I'm sure I'll have time before Halloween though. Here's the link if you are interested and please read count down part one for more information. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Halloween-Scented-Wax-Tart-Melts/dp/B00FBM8680/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&qid=1445613462&sr=8-21&keywords=Halloween+candles

This week I'm writing my novella Trust. The six parts will cover everyday (starting yesterday and ending Friday) expect Halloween, on which there'll be a Halloween night themed story. Trust is the story of newly made vampire Fern and her maker/lover Brook. It's about Fern's changing and growth as a vampire. It's also about the conflict between other vampires and the challenges they have to face in 2015. 

These next parts -19 to 24- are about the arrival of another vampire, who Fern and Brook have already had a brush with. Fern seems to be falling in love with this other vampire, but has Brook become too distracted trying to defend his home/territory to notice Fern's wondering attention? 

If that's got you as interested as it has me, you can find the full listings here; https://thestoryfiles.wordpress.com/wp-admin/edit.php?category_name=trust-novella

I finished reading The Little Paris Bookshop last Wednesday and I've written a small review to be published sometime in November. I also re-broke my not buying any books promise. It's a bit too late anyway as I've brought about 12 books, which for me is actually good because it should be double or triple that really. I brought The Welcome To Night Vale novel and I'm so into reading it right now. I've posted about Night Vale before, but here's the link to them on YouTube anyway. It really is worth checking out; https://www.youtube.com/user/WelcometoNightVale. I'm sure I'll be reviewing it as soon as I'm done! 

Lastly, I brought two pumpkins at the weekend, sorry there's no photo of them, there was meant to be one but they are currently being stored in my mum's car and I forgot to take a photo and now it's too late. But I'll do one before I get carving them. I've still not decided what to carve actually. I wanted to do a wolf but then saw I'd done that last year. I also wanted to do something that children would recognize, like with my 2013 Minecraft pumpkin. I was thinking of a Disney character, but I'm not that big a fan of anything Disney or animation to motivate me enough. I did think about doing a vampire because I've never done one of them, but I've yet to find a design I like. It'd be interesting to do a matching or connecting pair of something though. I'm sure more research would give me more inspiration and now I've got the pumpkins I can really start doing that. 

Thanks for reading, feel free to leave comments and check out my other blog. I'll be posting next on Halloween night and putting up lots of more photos, so be sure to come back then.    

Links To Me; 

https://thestoryfiles.wordpress.com/

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https://twitter.com/ironmaidenfan9

Photos; My own. 
(The Frankenstein lantern stared in last week's post, but I got a better a photo of it to share today; )