tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27728503445630952422024-03-21T09:17:56.493-07:00Project 52(I've moved to http://bethfred.com)52 Books in 52 Weeks + Reviews, Random Ranting
and Any Commentary I Desire
Check out my new BlogBeth Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494316048252190314noreply@blogger.comBlogger107125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2772850344563095242.post-53880349365254863472011-01-24T09:21:00.000-08:002011-01-24T09:48:19.522-08:00Transitions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Lots of them.<br />
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I'd planned this beautiful new year's post about my aspiration to be a better person with specific goals to help me accomplish that. It was supposed to be one of the first posts of the new year and one of my first posts at <a href="http://bethfred.com/">bethfred.com</a> (which brings me to transition 1). However, I've tossed my glorious idea for this beautiful post and all of it's lyrical lines. Because as it usually does, life happened. <br />
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Transition 1: (No my transitions are not this abrupt in my fiction, promise...or at least only on pages where <a href="http://whatsonthebookshelf-jen.blogspot.com/">Jennifer</a> screams in red ink "Are you serious?"). <a href="http://bethfred.com/">bethfred.com</a> was an idea I had tossed around thinking maybe an easier domain would make me easier to find, friend, follow. But I've grown attached to P-52 and love all the awesome followers I have here. I decided not to do it because I would hate to miss any of you. Then, the unthinkable happened. Yes, my gmail account got hacked by some crazy virus. My password was locked and since blogger is attached to my gmail a year of my life was gone. I cried and screamed while my meticulously logical personal engineer set to work. I'm not the person to have had this problem. Following some steps sometimes allows you to recover your blog, but not always. My p.e. followed the steps and we got lucky. Lots of people don't get that lucky. It was time for a change. I'm taking the chance. I'm jumping to <a href="http://bethfred.com/">bethfred</a> and hope you'll tag along.<br />
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Transition 2: I'm in Milwaukee now and it's cold. That's a big jump from Austin, Texas. The Mexican food sucks here, but I'll have more time to write/blog/comment which means you should be seeing more of me.<br />
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Transition 3: Two days before I was supposed to quit my government job and follow my husband to the tundra my grandfather died. It was surreal. My family cried when they called to tell me and several people called to tell me. Pain gnawed at my stomach and in my throat but I didn't cry and as the hysteria wore off so did the pain. We drove the six hours from Austin to Paris and it still hadn't hit me. My grandmother hadn't made it home yet when we got there. The house was empty, dark, and silent, unusual. Still, it hadn't hit me. Ironically, the hardest thing to see in that house was the glass cake pan full of biscuits. The last batch he would ever make. I could feel the tears kicking in, because my whole life there had been biscuits in the center of that table and now there will only be an empty spot where the biscuits go. I quickly turned away from the table before the tears had time to escape. One day later I was asked to edit his obituary. His life reduced to two paragraphs of straight forward plain text on regular white typing paper. The realization sunk in. He's gone leaving a void in my life. A transition I wasn't prepared to deal with. I took a purple shirt and an old copy of <i>Lonesome Dove</i>, and that's all I have left of my grandfather.<br />
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This is my last post here at Project 52, so I hope to see you at <a href="http://bethfred.com/">bethfred</a>. I'll be kicking beth's blog off with a contest, because that is my style. First prize winner gets their choice of a $25 visa gift card or a book of their choice. Second prize is whatever the first prize winner didn't choose. Sloppy leftovers, but free stuff all the same.<br />
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</div>Beth Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494316048252190314noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2772850344563095242.post-58699521471971677552010-12-31T15:44:00.000-08:002010-12-31T15:44:22.202-08:00Split Book 52*Flash to Beth levitating as gold coins drop all around her like when u beat level 13 in Mario Bros. (Yes, I know this dates me). I finished the project with 6 hours to spare!* WOOHOOO<br />
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Now for a brief (and I do mean brief) review of Book 52. <i>Split</i> is a book that deals with domestic violence, but what I liked about it was that it didn't just deal with the abuse. It dealt with what the abuse does to a person. How child abuse still affects the victim in adulthood and I thought it addressed this quite well dealing with all the complex angles of it. I also liked that it dealt with the relationships of two siblings who grew up in an abusive home and how they relate and interact with each other.<br />
<br />
I didn't like that it was in the present because as previously mentioned it just annoys me. Also, there were some things I didn't find believable and I thought the abusive father was a bit overplayed.<br />
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It's a good book. I recommend it.Beth Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494316048252190314noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2772850344563095242.post-60016884546552378142010-12-28T07:16:00.000-08:002010-12-28T07:16:46.426-08:00Intertwined Book 51/Contest WinnersI'm sorry I'm late on announcing the winners, but they're at the bottom of this post. Promise. Although, I will be up front it will most likely be the last week of January before I can actually mail your books due to some changes coming in my life that I can't post about yet. Soon though, very soon.<br />
<br />
Now on to <i>Intertwined. </i>The premise gave a whole new spin to paranormal romance. Aden Stone is shipped from juvey home to mental institution and back again his whole because, well, when you walk around talking to yourself that is likely to happen. Except he's not really talking to himself. He's talking to the souls that reside in his head. He meets a girl.--She's not the one, but they can still be friends. (Heard that one before, lol). And so they are, which is probably for the best since the girl is in love with a rabid wolf. Aden falls for a vampire princess who the werewolf is supposed to be protecting. They're all running from packs of faeries/witches/goblins and Aden has a special disdain for...zombies. That's right, zombies....As you can see an intriguing read. I liked that it pretty much took off from the beginning.<br />
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I didn't think the romance was there though. The book was well written with all the perspectives that had to be covered but it just missed that special little spark for me. All in all it was a good read.<br />
<br />
I ONLY HAVE ONE BOOK LEFT TO READ BEFORE FRIDAY. <br />
<br />
On to the winners: Two books for Maggie and one for Jen Albin.Beth Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494316048252190314noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2772850344563095242.post-16631702350073029172010-12-20T05:56:00.000-08:002010-12-20T11:59:33.149-08:00Be Jolly By Golly BlogfestFor those of you who saw my check back message earlier I'm sorry. <a href="http://chrisphillipsclp.blogspot.com/">Chris</a>, thanks for the official forgiveness. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://jennifer-daiker.blogspot.com/2010/11/be-jolly-by-golly_11.html">Be Jolly by Golly </a> is hosted by <a href="http://jennifer-daiker.blogspot.com/">Jen</a> and <a href="http://melissa-throughthelookingglass.blogspot.com/">Melissa</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbg696aIQl3jazqWKDWpL7BrbuK1XUFItiXsNSoJWUwuhqy9Aj0HFvETezxcZSdW74RsKRprz8A-ky2OfQy3Ewtvs2kxQTTv1vwj-LLqUL6jnSIkqsasmGFM6DmuM1Xz_-5ZBauQmFlM9G/s1600/advent_wreath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbg696aIQl3jazqWKDWpL7BrbuK1XUFItiXsNSoJWUwuhqy9Aj0HFvETezxcZSdW74RsKRprz8A-ky2OfQy3Ewtvs2kxQTTv1vwj-LLqUL6jnSIkqsasmGFM6DmuM1Xz_-5ZBauQmFlM9G/s320/advent_wreath.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>As far as decorations go we usually decorate for <a href="http://beth-project52.blogspot.com/2010/11/contest-book-47-etc.html">Advent</a> first with wreaths. If I have young family members coming over I've been known to make pink and purple paper chains as well. (They can easily be replaced with green and red on Christmas Eve). We don't have children yet, but I've made a pie plate Advent wreath with my little nephew one year and we enjoyed that. You just buy the aluminum pie plate, three purple candles, one pink one, and one white one and arrange them nicely inside the pie plate. (The fat candles work better for this). Then you can buy either a wreath or evergreen garland, or whatever you want really from the dollar store or hobby lobby and decorate the outside of the pie plate. He really seemed to love this and it was a good way to teach him the prayers too. Usually, on Christmas Eve I would put up my tree but this year we don't have one. LOL.<br />
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I don't really do a lot of cooking for the holidays. We like to go somewhere really nice for Christmas brunnch (the kind of place we'd never be able to go to the rest of the year). But I do love puppy chow (you can find the recipe <a href="http://www.suite101.com/content/making-puppy-chow-with-chex-mix-and-chocolate-a124172">here</a>). It's great for gift bags or just sitting out to munch on before the meal starts.Beth Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494316048252190314noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2772850344563095242.post-33394259625462504802010-12-18T07:04:00.000-08:002010-12-18T07:04:19.859-08:00Contest ReminderHey just a reminder that my contest is open until Christmas Eve. It's open internationally. The first prize winner gets two books of their choice. The second place winner gets one book of their choice. You can find the details and how to enter <a href="http://beth-project52.blogspot.com/2010/11/contest-book-47-etc.html">here</a>. And I have to go Christmas shopping so that's all for today.Beth Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494316048252190314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2772850344563095242.post-36519570050658570322010-12-17T12:54:00.000-08:002010-12-17T12:54:40.439-08:00Blah.Yep. Nothing. Sorry. I just had to get that stupid letter off my blog. It's kind of saddening to think it almost got worse every time! LOL. Well, I sent version #8 with the materials to be critiqued. I had to copy and paste the first 50 pages after I made what little corrections I was able to into its own document on a comp. I don't usually use. I don't know how but somehow even with the same font style and size 50 pages in the full document was 61 in the new. I didn't get to send the scene I really wanted to. Not to mention I exected to have about 3 rounds of edits left. (I've done about three). After last night I'm convinced I have ten rounds of edits left. I, also, won't be surprised when my critique comes back looking like this:<br />
<br />
Dear Ms. Fred,<br />
<br />
Have you ever heard of a comma? They have handbooks for these things you know. You might benefit from one. I usually don't recommend them but in this case I feel it's appropriate. And is not the only conjunction in the English language. You do know English, right? Seriously, did you even read this? I think my suggestion is keep your day job.<br />
<br />
Thanks,<br />
Agent.<br />
<br />
I guess the only upside is since I know it will look like this, I won't be devestated when I see it? Haha. I'm not sure. I know it's just a critique and that this wasn't supposed to be a submission to begin with, but I just hate for any professional to see my work in that state. The irony is when I finished the last round of edits and clicked save I was so proud! I thought I'd really fixed it. Oh sure, I knew there would be more revisions. I figured they'd be of the following sorts: 1)omit passive voice 2)tighten verbal tics of characters 3)grammatical errors. I had no idea the backbone of the plot was still confusing and that there were still some holes to fill...AND THAT UNFORTUNTATELY MOST OF THIS WAS IN THE BEGINNING...the part I would be sending. But I survived. I guess.Beth Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494316048252190314noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2772850344563095242.post-38611849096600087282010-12-16T18:25:00.000-08:002010-12-16T18:25:13.520-08:00Last Try for a While<div style="line-height: 200%;">I bid on an auction for an agent critique on ebay. Irene Goodman is going to critique my first 50 pages, query letter and synopsis. While it's just a critique, I still want my work to be as polished as possible. This is going to be my last try for a while, because I know that I have a draft of another project to finish and when I get comments back for PF there is more work to do before I'm ready to query. Still, I find my heart pounding against a tough exterior as I make final changes. But I love the blog, because I could barely think straight when I started typing. So this is going to be my last try for a while, but can you give me one more look?</div><div style="line-height: 200%;">Thanks so much guys.</div><div style="line-height: 200%;">Dear Agent:</div><div style="line-height: 200%;"> Eighteen year old Brandi O'Malley knows phantom flames want to whisk her next door neighbor, former friend, ultimate enemy and long-time love interest (whether she would admit or not) Laurent Stephens (also eighteen) away forever. But she can’t mention this because she would have to admit her family bears an ancient curse causing her to sometimes live in a moment that hasn’t happened yet. A moment that unfolds to be watched by all like a play.</div><div style="line-height: 200%;"> Laurent torments Brandi in anyway that he can and with the help of his girlfriend, he does a good a job of it. When the handsome charmer, eighteen year old Damian Cooper, dances into Brandi’s life, Laurent’s actions go from cruel to protective. Laurent knows <i>what</i> he’s protecting her from. A secret he will never tell for fear of turning their love-hate relationship to pure hate.</div><div style="line-height: 200%;"> Laurent must find a way to protect his girl next door from the menace he brought into her life without letting her find out exactly how he knows Damian. But Brandi has her own secret: the fire she watches Laurent disappear in every night. </div><div style="line-height: 200%;"> If she's going to fight the flames, the secrets and lies must end. If she loses, the fire claims her love forever.</div><div style="line-height: 200%;"> With your interest in young adult <i>Phantom Fires,</i> a young adult urban fantasy complete at 104,000 words, should appeal to you. I look forward to hearing back from you as I believe together we could both tell and sell a good story. You can reach me at <span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="mailto:bethfred08@gmail.com">bethfred08@gmail.com</a></u></span></span> or by phone at ___. Thank you for your time and I hope you enjoy Brandi's story.</div><div style="line-height: 200%;">Thank you,</div><div style="line-height: 200%;">Beth Fred</div>Beth Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494316048252190314noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2772850344563095242.post-26131093589564197732010-12-16T05:54:00.000-08:002010-12-16T05:54:08.919-08:00Take 10<div style="line-height: 200%;">Thanks for all the critiques yesterday. I appreciate all your commentary. I realize it's a long story but I've cut just over 10,000 words since the first draft and there isn't anything left to cut without harming the story...I tried again.</div><div style="line-height: 200%;">Dear Agent:</div><div style="line-height: 200%;"> Should she keep her secret, phantom flames would whisk her neighbor, friend, enemy, and long time love interest (whether or not she's realized it) eighteen year old Laurent Stephens (who antagonizes her) away forever. Should she confront the mysteries and try to find a cause for the mystical fire, eighteen year old Brandi O'Malley would be forced to admit her family bears an ancient curse causing her to sometimes live in a moment that hasn’t happened yet. A moment that unfolds to be watched by all like a play.</div><div style="line-height: 200%;"> To further complicate matters, a stranger danced into Brandi's life turning Laurent's actions from cruel to protective in a heartbeat. Aware of Damian's dark side, Laurent's insistent on keeping Brandi safe. He knows <i>what</i> he’s protecting her from. A secret he will never reveal for fear of turning their love-hate relationship to pure hate.</div><div style="line-height: 200%;"> Brandi knows the boys share a secret that neither are telling her. She even suspects it has something to do with the fire she watches Laurent disappear in every night. To fight fantasy flames she must uncover the truth behind the lies. </div><div style="line-height: 200%;"> <i>Phantom Fires</i> is a young adult urban fantasy complete at 104,000 words. I look forward to hearing back from you and appreciate your time.</div>Beth Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494316048252190314noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2772850344563095242.post-83276105075065440842010-12-15T14:12:00.000-08:002010-12-15T14:12:24.699-08:00Insanity by QueryYou wanna know what happens after you've written 9 versions of a query and your CP says 9 is worse than number 8? Well, the truth is to be able to answer that ? my brain would still have to be forming coherent thoughts. It's not.<br />
<br />
So I think it's best if I just relay the following set of events.<br />
<br />
Briana, my mc's overachieving older sister, got so frustrated by my thoughts she wrote this.<br />
<br />
"Dear Agent:<br />
<br />
Your arbitrary process is grating on my creator's nerves so badly she is ready to start killing off my family members, that punk next door, and myself. This is a rather unfortunate situation but as you know I protect my family, so if I'm forced to I will resort to using <i>the book.</i> The problem is I don't know whether to use it on you or my creator. I trust you will remedy this.<br />
<br />
Thank you,<br />
Briana<br />
<br />
Which got a rise out of Brandi and before she passed it to me to be mailed she screamed (as only a teenage girl can) "Quit calling him a punk!" Yes, that's love.<br />
<br />
Of course, I'm not nearly crazy enough to mail something like that. (Though, if you've read this far you're probably questioning that). <br />
<br />
But Briana's letter really did lighten my mood. And all I could do was think if Briana were in this situation what would she do. I laughed because I knew what Briana would do and that inspired query # 10. (Which, if I were being honest I would have to admit I've though more than once. However, I need an agent so this blog does not promote honesty. I've never thought this. It's merely part of my query inspired insanity and tomorrow I will remember nothing about it).<br />
<br />
Dear Agent:<br />
<br />
<i>Phantom Fires</i> is way better than <i>Twilight</i>. The heroine is not an overly altruistic 30 year old woman trapped in a 17 year old girl's body. The hero is not dead (though I must admit I have a thing for hot dead guys that sparkle and shine). No one is drained, or even threatened of being drained and it has fire. If you would like 15% please call me. If not, peace out. *flash to Beth pulling Armani shades over icy blue eyes as she single handedly pulls a cherry jollyrancher lollypop out of her mouth to blow you a kiss*<br />
<br />
~Beth~<br />
<br />
Disclaimer: I'm terribly sorry if I have offended any well meaning, arbitrary system using agents. In a moment of honesty, I'm sure they would understand just what queries can do to a person who already walks a fine line with sanity.Beth Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494316048252190314noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2772850344563095242.post-2889237141408452342010-12-15T06:21:00.000-08:002010-12-15T06:23:36.388-08:00Wed & Writing: 8th Try (PLEASE HELP)!!!<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">First of all, thanks to everyone for all the comments last week. Since most of them were about the projections and I don't think that's the focus of the book, I've completely rewritten the query. Eight times to be exact, including three versions I never intended to use because they were from different characters' povs. So now, I'm asking again, please critique my query.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Dear Agent:</span></div><div class="western" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Three people have become connected in a web of secrets, but only two should have ever known each other. Brandi O’Malley is the girl next door. Laurent Stephens grew up in the house beside her and has made a hobby of tormenting her. Damian Cooper is a mystery man with an alleged dark side.</span></div><div class="western" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> When the handsome charmer, Damian, dances into Brandi’s life, Laurent’s actions go from cruel to protective. Laurent knows </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>what</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> he’s protecting her from. A secret he will never tell for fear of turning their love-hate relationship to pure hate.</span></div><div class="western" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Brandi knows phantom flames want to whisk Laurent away forever. She can’t mention this because she would have to admit her family bears an ancient curse causing her to sometimes live in a moment that hasn’t happened yet. A moment that unfolds to be watched like a play.</span></div><div class="western" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> To fight the flames she must uncover the secrets. Failing is not an option because a phantom fire wants to steal the love of her life.</span></div><div class="western" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Phantom Fires</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> is a young adult urban fantasy complete at 104,000 words. I look forward to hearing back from you and appreciate your time.</span></div><div class="western" style="line-height: 200%;"><br />
<br />
</div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"></div>Beth Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494316048252190314noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2772850344563095242.post-23902421817329001572010-12-14T06:49:00.000-08:002010-12-14T08:48:40.429-08:0013 To Life Book 50First of all, look at that heading. Book 50, I might make it through this project after all! YAY!!!!<br />
<br />
Okay, I'm okay now.<br />
<br />
<br />
No joke, I like romance, especially that of the paranormal/magical variety. I just really do. Very few books really do it for me: <em>Twilight</em>, <em>Shiver </em>(Book 1), <em>Shade</em> (until she jolted me at the end) and <em>The Iron Daughter</em> (Ash really manned up). I looked at the title and assumed the girl was 13 and that it just wouldn't do it for me. But my friend and CP kept going on and on about how great it was and sent me a battered copy from where she had thorougly read it more than once, so I thought I'll give it a try. I'm glad I did.<br />
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So what do you get when you throw hot guys, werewolves, the Russian Mafia, Cold War Politics, and the CIA together? Defintiely not Forks. The answer is <em>13 to Life. </em>There is so much more to this book than werewolves. And occassionally the author throws in a little tidbit that really reflects on issues but it's just enough to give the book a taste of the real world and hopefully make people think about things without being preacy. I really enjoyed that. (There is a brief discussion about health insurance and a one liner about justice for immigrants).<br />
<br />
Now I can't lie. This book isn't perfect. I felt there were some serious problems with the pacing for the first 150 pages. It would get really good and then just slow almost to a stop. Beginnings of books can be hard (not just for the reader, but the writer as well). There is so much to set-up. But 150 pages for the pace to really pick up is a bit too long for a 300 page book. The good news is that once the pace does pick up it doesn't stop until the last page. And then you're screaming for the sequel.<br />
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The other problem I had with the book was the MC, Jessie. She just never seemed quite believable to me. She has a best friend who did something so horrible, she should probably be in jail and though the book doesn't say this I'm guessing she would be had she not been a rich kid.(But that's the law school drop out coming out). Jessie was way too forgiving of this. At first, I really liked her, liked that she could overlook that. Then I realized they were never friends to begin with and I was just like wow. She needs to be institutionalized.<br />
<br />
But all in all it was a good book, and I'm looking forward to the sequel.Beth Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494316048252190314noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2772850344563095242.post-44272118646945115252010-12-13T09:16:00.000-08:002010-12-13T09:25:17.216-08:00Advent--Crazy Holiday BlogfestI'm not sure if it's an actual holiday but I think my favorite holiday of the year would have to be Advent. In fact, I love it so much I'm hosting a contest for it <a href="http://beth-project52.blogspot.com/2010/11/contest-book-47-etc.html">here</a>.<br />
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I could tell you that I love advent because the entire church is decorated in pink and purple. While the readings can be ominous the music is upbeat. I could tell you I love Advent because it is the one time of the year I can push my entire home into a blur of pink and purple without listening to my husband complain. All of this would be true. But the thing I really love about Advent is the anticipation--the anxiously waiting. The way the story unfolds.<br />
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Most holidays last a day. They are the event. Family comes or family leaves. There are customs to be shuffled through without ever wondering why the became customs in the first place. We get through the day. It ends. It's over until next year, because, well, tomorrow is just another day. But Advent is not the event. It's the coming of an event. It's the preparation for the event. It's the well manicured tension of a complex plot building to a climax. It's a month long. Each week a new candle lit until it unfolds, dissovles. Advent fades into Christmas, the climax. In a lot of ways Advent is a writer's dream holiday not only blanketed in often beautiful language but color and ceremony.Beth Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494316048252190314noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2772850344563095242.post-49462403932543284452010-12-10T05:53:00.000-08:002010-12-10T05:53:44.543-08:00Contest ReminderHey just wanted to remind everyone that I'm giving away two books of the winner's choice. A second person will receive one book of their choice. The contest and rules are <a href="http://beth-project52.blogspot.com/2010/11/contest-book-47-etc.html">here</a>. I'll announce the winners the day after Christmas. They'll tell me the books they want and I'll send it.<br />
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Also, my friend Jen at <a href="http://jennifer-daiker.blogspot.com/">Unedited</a> is four followers from 1000, so if four of you could hop over and follow her, I know she'll appreciate it!<br />
<br />
XOXOXO,<br />
BethBeth Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494316048252190314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2772850344563095242.post-23489712341246567912010-12-09T07:05:00.000-08:002010-12-09T07:05:42.800-08:00Shade Book 49All I can say about Jeri Redi Smith's <em>Shade </em>is wow. Really wow. The book is well written with an extremely interesting premise(duing a winter solsitce a massive shift occurs. Everyone born after the shift sees ghosts in shiny shade of violet. Only a handfull of people before the shift could ever see a ghost and they they were in color). All the way through the book stays interesting, but it's not one of those books where there is so much going on that you just can't keep up. It really is a twist on the paranormal romance.<br />
<br />
But as good as this book was I'm not sure it'll make it to my faves list. I didn't really care for the ending. I won't give it away but I can say that I didn't care for the ending enough that there is a good chance I won't be reading <em>Shift</em>, the sequel. I suppose you could say I'm a bad sport. This is the first time I've ever been on a losing team in a paranormal romance drama. My heart now goes out to all those Team Jacob people who had to watch Bella marry Edward Cullen, especially those who stuck it through to the very end. However, I can't watch my guy lose, so I'll cut bait.<br />
<br />
There is one other thing that really bothered me. I can't give too many specifics of it without giving a whole lot away, but a situation arises where an authority figure attempts to "persuade" a teen ager to do something and in doing so the adult admits that they don't really want anyone to know of their practices. I admit I'm bit older than 17, but I do talk to a lot of teen agers and it just seems to me the first thing any teen ager would have done at the point is fb, tweet, blog, text, utube the world. And if this character had done that I think she might have saved herself a whole lot of trouble. Not doing so almost seemed like a plot device.<br />
<br />
That being said Jeri really is a brilliant writer and if she hadn't put my guy on the losing team I'd so be scarfing the net looking for ARCs of the sequel right now.Beth Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494316048252190314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2772850344563095242.post-18823951728574695782010-12-08T06:51:00.000-08:002010-12-08T06:51:28.796-08:00Wed & Writing: HELP!!!!PLEASE CRITIQUE MY QUERY<br />
<br />
Dear Agent:<br />
<br />
<br />
Brandi O'Malley is just the girl next door. Well, she is once you've overlooked her uncontrollable projections. The projections force her to live in either the past or the future simultaneous with the present. She constantly lives the worst moments of her life or projects horrid possibilities. The worst part of it is these projections are vividly real and play out for anyone to see.<br />
<br />
She has always known her family was “special” but as she tries to make sense of her new found abilities she struggles to understand the sometimes cruel actions of her former best friend and next door neighbor Laurent Stephens.<br />
<br />
Laurent's actions turn from cruel to protective the moment Damian Cooper dances into Brandi's life. <br />
<br />
As Brandi's projections grow stronger so do Laurent's reactions to her new found love interest, the perfect gentleman, Damian. Is it possible Damian is just a bit “too” nice? Contemplating this, she begins to realize Laurent has a dark secret, a secret connecting him to none other than Damian Cooper. The only thing he will say is that Damian is evil, but it's Laurent Brandi continuously projects disappearing in phantom flames. <br />
<br />
Caught at a crossroads, she knows either the boy she grew up with and has known all of her life or the sensitive and charming Damian is lying to her. Join Brandi as she journeys towards the revelation of secrets and true love.<br />
<br />
Phantom Fires, a young adult urban fantasy, is complete at 104,000 words. I believe this could be the first book of a series. <br />
<br />
I appreciate your time and look forward to hearing back from you.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Thank you,<br />
<br />
Beth FredBeth Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494316048252190314noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2772850344563095242.post-90611248938411869572010-12-06T14:25:00.000-08:002010-12-06T14:25:42.686-08:00Book 48 and a Plea to the Powers that BeReminder, you can enter to win two free books <a href="http://beth-project52.blogspot.com/2010/11/contest-book-47-etc.html">here</a>. And the first person to leave a comment telling me how to make a sidebar on this post gets one extra entry.<br />
Heather Swain's <em>Selfish Elf Wish</em> is book 48. It's a cute story about an Elvin family who moves from their hidden town of Averland to Brooklyn. It's actually a sequel, though it's easy enough to understand without having read the first book. It's another teen age love story with a splash of supernatural.<br />
<br />
I found Zephyr, the main character, to be a pretty typical altruistic YA mc. On the other hand, I found her cousin Briar to be refreshing. Briar seemed more like a real teen ager (or real person) to me. She's not a bad person. She has no desire to really hurt anyone, but she wants to get what she wants too and she's willing to take some risk and be michevious to do it. But she's not mean girl. Briar and Zephyr each have a crush on a boy that can't make up his mind. Their reacations are totally different. Briar is waiting for him to make up his mind and Zephyr just waits. I don't really like that Zephyr felt she had to wait around forever for this boy to decide he was over his ex, but I think a lot of young girls (and even old ones) find them self in that situation. But at least in the beginning, I didn't really like Zephyr's crush, Timber. She freaks out and gets kind of jealous, but she admits it. He just tells her it won't work if she's going to act "crazy." And Beth would have said, "Loser, if I tell you I'm jealous that you're making out w/ your ex on stage and she's glaring at me while kissing you, you say "Sweetheart, you have nothing to worry about." Not that I'm acting crazy! You wanna see crazy??? But Zephyr admits to acting crazy and goes home feeling bad.<br />
<br />
Throw in some almost accidental love spells and a pair of dark elves and things get a little crazy. But all is well that ends well. Everything works out. <br />
<br />
Now for my desperate plea to the powers that be in YA, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE quit publishing present! This book was okay, but present always annoys me and it gets awkward. It's not just this one, several YA books have been printed in present recently, and I can't think of a good reason for it. I've only seen one author be able to use the present tense in such a way so that it was not distracting. Even she had moments that could only be described as wordy awkwardness. Meanwhile, many a good book have suffered from this presentitis. So let's cure the plague and root the words back where they must be by the time something has been reduced to writing!Beth Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494316048252190314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2772850344563095242.post-6925745449465515832010-12-02T03:54:00.000-08:002010-12-02T06:39:16.175-08:00Six Things Before 6 A.M.1. Win a book of your choice by entering my contest <a href="http://beth-project52.blogspot.com/2010/11/contest-book-47-etc.html">here</a>.<br />
2. Follow my friend <a href="http://andlifegoesonasalways.blogspot.com/">Maggie</a> because she likes to write and has a blog that needs to be followed.<br />
3. I woke up at 3 am. Obviously, I did not go back to sleep. I spent two hours trying to go back to sleep before finally giving in to consciousness.<br />
4. It is not even 6 am and I have used half of my calories for the day. Is it any wonder I'm obese?<br />
5. Now I must write.<br />
6. Recap--cool <a href="http://beth-project52.blogspot.com/2010/11/contest-book-47-etc.html">contest</a>, cool <a href="http://andlifegoesonasalways.blogspot.com/">friend</a>, up way too early and must write.<br />
<br />
Bye-bye for now but ttyl.Beth Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494316048252190314noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2772850344563095242.post-33615920939531940562010-11-30T14:37:00.000-08:002010-12-01T12:02:35.108-08:00Contest, Book 47, Etc.This past Sunday was the first Sunday of Advent and my favorite Sunday of the year ;). As an apology for my extended blogcation I'd planned to post an Advent contest but never quite made it there. I missed the first Sunday of Advent and know that not everyone celebrates Advent. So I thought we'd make it a Christmas contest. (I know--not everyone celebrates Christmas either, but most people seem to know it's a holiday). So leave a comment on this post, follow me, blog it, fb it, tweet it, buzz it. Do what you gotta, just know you will get 1 entry for leaving me a comment and 1 entry for each social network you choose to post me on every day you choose to do it and 2 entries for following me. (Please provide links to electronic shout-outs). What will you win? Any book you want (under $25 Come on. I'm a writer). You choose it. I buy it and mail it. (Two for the first place winner and one for the second name random.org chooses). Contest is opened internationally. Contest ends midnight EST on Christmas Eve. (I will be in Florida).<br />
<br />
Now for a quickie review of P-52's 47th book <em>Ghost Town</em> the latest <em>Morganville Vampire </em>book. It didn't catch my attention quite as well as they usually do. In fact, I was about 77 pages in before I was completely hooked. This is probably because these books usually end on a cliff hanger and I read the last one in the spring so whatever the cliffhanger was I don't recall and could also be partly because the book before this kind of felt like a filler to me. <br />
<br />
Once it got started it was pretty good though. It kept me reading. Things with the confusion, allicance shifts, memory loss, and machine seemed to feel too familiar though. It's starting to get repetitive. <br />
<br />
Now for Etc. What did I do on my blogcation? Not much of the editing I was supposed to! I think I kind of had some sort of a mental breakdown instead. Haha. No worries. I'm back to my usual bouncy self now. The editing will continue with the blogging and I'll be back to commenting this week too. So look for me to make my rounds. I'm out of my cave!!! Hear me roar. (Okay, that was just quirky, but I've been out of this for a while what do you exepct)?Beth Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494316048252190314noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2772850344563095242.post-49601277044875772102010-11-26T11:24:00.000-08:002010-11-26T11:24:01.317-08:00Whisper Book 46<img alt="Whisper " height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1257815067l/6516627.jpg" width="131" />"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Joy is used to hearing Whispers. She’s used to walking down the street and instantly knowing people’s deepest, darkest desires. She uses this talent for good, to make people happy and give them what they want. But for her older sister, Jessica, the family gift is a curse, and she uses it to make people’s lives—especially Joy’s—miserable. Still, when Joy Hears a frightening whisper from Jessica's own mind, she knows she has to save her sister, even if it means deserting her friends, stealing a car and running away with a boy she barely knows—a boy who may have a dark secret of his own." (Blurb from goodreads).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">I like books with things going on outside the realm of possibility. I bought the book because of this line, "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Still, when Joy Hears a frightening whisper from Jessica's own mind, she knows she has to save her sister, even if it means deserting her friends, stealing a car and running away with a boy she barely knows—a boy who may have a dark secret of his own." In those words, I found potential for romance, adventure, and a series of action packed events.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">The problem is she doesn't understand her sister is missing until page 220 of a 280 page book. Everything that happens, happens in the last sixty pages and unravels rather quickly too. I didn't find the characters that realistic either. I don't like to give harsh reviews, but I can't say I would recommend this book.</span>Beth Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494316048252190314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2772850344563095242.post-1963006880718808592010-11-17T06:57:00.000-08:002010-11-17T06:57:26.048-08:00Kiss of Death Book 45<i>Kiss of Death </i>takes the Glass house-mates out of Morganville. They're road tripping to Dallas for Michael's music. On the way they get into trouble in some one-horse town much like Morganville...The town even has vampires, vampires struggling wit the same disease Claire and Myrnin found a cure for in Morganville.<br />
<br />
But these vamps aren't Morganville vamps. They're more out of control. I liked that there were vamps else where though. It raises questions of how many towns like Morganville could there be. <br />
<br />
I enjoyed it more once they go to Dallas. I liked having them out of Morganville where things could be more optimistic. But I hated that they had to go back.Beth Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494316048252190314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2772850344563095242.post-10282835089571138482010-11-15T12:36:00.001-08:002010-11-16T16:07:41.949-08:00The Train RideI gazed at the lush green mountainside through the little window, beautiful. I moved my head from the window to scan for a seat. I’d spent too long in my day dream. There were no seats to be found now. <br />
<br />
As the train took off my body spiraled forward. I reached for the nearest pole, but there really wasn’t one within my grasp.<br />
<br />
I felt a strong hand on my hip steadying me. I wanted to shriek but there was something familiar in the touch, something that told me the hairs on my arm weren’t standing up because I was in trouble. <br />
<br />
“I’m sorry.” He said. He had a drawl. A little inflection from another part of the world called to me from the voice. I knew that place. Home. But we were so far from there. “I thought you were going to fall. You look like a girl I knew. She’s clumsy. I just didn’t want to see you hit the floor. I’ll move.”The drawl told me he was from my place but something else called to me in his voice, tender words more familiar than the hand still supporting my hip, though the man had said he would move.<br />
<br />
“I—my—if—I.” I needed to tell him something but I couldn’t remember what. It left me. I turned my head to look back at the person standing behind me. My throat locked. I could be a child again. My breath caught. Now I could be a teen ager again. Vertigo slipped over me not without his notice and he slipped another arm around me to keep me off the floor.<br />
<br />
“Katie? You know you don’t stand up on trains.” He made no effort to let go of me. “What are you doing here?” He asked as he shuffled us forward to a shiny silver pole. <br />
<br />
“I.” I looked up at him again. My eyes spoke what my mouth couldn’t. They must have because he seemed to understand. He nodded once hard. His eyes wild like he tried to keep from passing out while trying to say something important the same something important I tried to spit out yet couldn’t remember, like he battled the same raw emotion I fought now. Like he knew we couldn’t be here, not together, but we could both breathe a sigh of relief because after all those years, we were here, together. <br />
<br />
I grasped the pole. He threw his arms protectively around me and the pole. He wouldn’t let me fall. I didn’t need the pole because the boy that used to take care of me would compensate my weight with every jostle of the train.<br />
<br />
The train stopped abruptly. My body tilted forward but not very far and only for less than a second before arms around my waist steadied me.<br />
<br />
“You’re okay.” He whispered.<br />
<br />
A couple of seats became available as two women exited the train. He towed me to them, helping me sit before taking the seat beside me.<br />
<br />
We sat side by side, no longer touching now that there was nothing to protect me from, not even a dirty floor. But his body angled in my direction. He leaned just a little too close to me, just close enough that I could smell and feel a mint breath on me. I closed my eyes as I inhaled, letting it tickle my body the way it once had. I couldn’t keep that breath in me forever. I had to exhale and when I did it hurt like I was letting go a second time. <br />
<br />
I felt the tears bubble around my eyes, but I didn’t cry, just a little leaky fluid in my bottom lashes. I leaned closer to him now. “Brendan.” I whispered.<br />
<br />
“I know.” He said softly. <br />
<br />
I brought my hand up to rest on his cheek watching in a serene contentment as he closed his eyes and sighed. I watched him surrender to what we knew to be true.<br />
<br />
He made no effort to move my hand. Instead he sighed my name, “Katie.”<br />
<br />
I let my lips turn up in a peaceful smile. He placed his hand over mine, running his fingers over my skin. I lost myself to bliss. <br />
<br />
“What’s—that’s--.” He pulled my hand off his cheek and stretched it forward with his. “You’re married.” He said it like an accusation but he couldn’t keep the pain out of his voice.<br />
<br />
I closed my eyes and fell further into the seat. The important thing I tried to tell him before we were back in our old roles again. The words I couldn’t get out, the thing I’d forgotten. I loved someone else the way I loved him now. Someone who would never do the things he did. Someone who loved me as much as he loved me, but who took care of that love and my trust like he never did. Someone who was my life now. <br />
<br />
A daunting realization, I loved them both. One made my present and would be my future and as painful as it was to let my mind wrap around the other was only my past. The thing about past is it has to turn to ash for the present to be fruitful. <br />
<br />
It didn’t change the fact that the man beside me still loved me. I heard it in his words and I felt it in his touch. <br />
<br />
“Katie?” He whispered begging me to say it wasn’t true.<br />
<br />
I choked past the lump in my throat through the tears in my eyes and nodded. “I’m married. I shouldn’t be here.”<br />
<br />
“It’s okay.” He whispered. "You can touch my face. Nothing will happen. You’ll get off the train. Life has already gone on but we can have this moment.”<br />
<br />
Something told me it wasn’t okay like touching his face was as much as acting on the forbidden love. I did it anyway. But this time as he slowly brought his hand up to cover my own I saw a shining piece of gold flickering light off his hand.<br />
<br />
“You’re married.” I said.<br />
<br />
Realization hit his eyes. He loved me. He just loved her too. He nodded as I watched his pain reflect my own. He would have to hurt one of us too.<br />
<br />
“But we can have this moment.” I repeated his words.<br />
<br />
“We have to, because I’m not strong enough not to.”<br />
<br />
I let go of the tears. I watched his eyes water as he traced my tears with his finger. “Don’t do that. He has to be better than me. I know what I did.”<br />
<br />
I fought past the lump in my throat again because I had to speak. “I—I hope she’s great—beautiful and she makes you pancakes. I love you, Brendan.”<br />
<br />
He fought tears now. “You cook for him.” He said feigning an amused smile. <br />
<br />
I looked at him. <br />
<br />
“I hope she makes you pancakes. You cook for him.”<br />
<br />
“I would have cooked for you.”<br />
<br />
“I know. He—he takes care of you? He’s good to you?”<br />
<br />
“So good. Deserves better than a girl clinging to her past on a train.”<br />
<br />
I watched a bulge in his throat appear and disappear. “He can’t do better than my girl. Even if she’s evil enough to make a man cry on a train. Do you know how that looks?” He whispered.<br />
<br />
I smiled. “It’s Europe. They probably won’t think anything.” <br />
<br />
But I let my head drop to his shoulder now and didn’t fight when he tried to hold me while I—we cried. <br />
<br />
Words carrying the same drawl as his rang from a feminine voice now. “Katie. You’ve gotta get out of here. Are you crazy? A reporter saw you. Jason thinks—he thinks.” She didn’t have to finish the sentence for me to know what my husband thought—that I betrayed him—that I didn’t love him. But I did and now my heart filled with a new pain.<br />
<br />
The arms around me slid away for me to go do what I had to do. But he stood as I walked with Carrie closer to the door.<br />
<br />
I looked back at him. He looked into me. This thing between us real and raging.<br />
<br />
“Last kiss?”<br />
<br />
“Jason.”<br />
<br />
“You’re in trouble anyhow, might as well make it worth it.”<br />
<br />
I crashed into his chest and enjoyed every second of his hand on my chin tilting my head back, his lips crashing to mine his tongue tracing my mouth, Brendan devouring me. I pulled away. <br />
<br />
“I love you. Take care of your wife. Be good to her. Don’t do this again, and please,” and now the tears flowed again, “don’t forget me.”<br />
<br />
“I can’t I’ve tried. Katie, if he ever hurts you I’ll kill him. But I know he’s a good man because it’s impossible to look into his wife’s eyes and not know that with faith like that in the world you have to be a good man.”<br />
<br />
Carrie and I got off the train and took a cab to where my husband waited. Too my surprise, he wasn’t angry. “I love you.” He said.<br />
<br />
“I love you too. I’m sorry.”<br />
<br />
He wiped a tear from my eye. “Do you mean that? I mean that you love me.”<br />
<br />
“More than anything.”<br />
<br />
He nodded. “You don’t have to be sorry. I knew you had a past. I’m not the first man you’ve ever loved and I can deal with that. Don’t leave me though, please.” A new set of eyes begged for my affection now. The set of eyes that I owed everything to and had promised forever.<br />
<br />
“I—I didn’t even think about it. But I kissed him goodbye, umm…literally.” Now I sobbed with guilt. <br />
<br />
A new set of arms were around me comforting me. “Shh—does he kiss better than me?” I think it was supposed to be a joke. <br />
<br />
I laughed through tears, “Different?—he’s jealous that I cook for you.”<br />
<br />
“He’s jealous that I got the girl. But I love her and I take care of her. I won’t give her up without a fight.”<br />
<br />
“I’m—I’m not going anywhere.”<br />
<br />
He was mature enough to understand everything. That the feelings I still had for the boy I grew up with didn’t take away from the way I loved him. That the way he took care of our love and my trust meant more than fifteen minute train rides even if they were bitter sweet. That I loved him, he was my life. I would never do anything to damage our life together.<br />
<br />
I can’t say Brendan never crossed my mind again, or that I didn’t have moments where I hoped his wife wasn’t as pretty as me. But I can tell you we never saw each other again because he was in the past where he belonged.Beth Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494316048252190314noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2772850344563095242.post-42434184971768522912010-11-14T03:20:00.000-08:002010-12-14T16:43:06.615-08:00Bullying and My Word for the NerdsIt's been about a month, but not too long ago there passed a week in which several teens killed themselves as a result of bullying. <br />
<br />
I've talked about my purple hair and lack of coordination and alluded to the fact that I was made fun of by pretty much the whole town, including adults. Obviously, I didn't kill myself. In fact, my goal in life became to get out ASAP and go back cooler than them. I don't really know that I accomplished that last part but I do know that I was far more motivated in life and as a result better off now than an English major could reasonably expect to be because of said goal. What I'm trying to say is I understood the pain of being ostracized. Purple hair or not, shouldn't I be left alone to thrive in all my freakishness? Isn't that what this "free country" is about? What I didn't understand was why a teen (or anyone--let's face it acceptance still matters to most adults) would take their life over it.<br />
<br />
P-52 has a number of young followers still in school, one of which I've become particular attached to because she emails me/messages me quite often. I asked her what she thought about it like why do people let the actions of other people affect their world so much they would take their own life. We went around in circles neither of us coming up with an answer.<br />
<br />
This week something happened that made me remember one particularly traumatic incident. Traumatic in part because, at the time the person who said it (we shall call this person X) was the one person in the world I wished hadn't said it. While X said their piece, the kids in the courtyard noticed the confrontation and circled around X, X's three friends, myself and my one friend. When X finished this tirade he/she then went around the circle that now encompassed us and asked every member of it if they hated me. Most people said yes. Others just laughed. At the end of the game, two people said no. One defended me. In fairness, X had just cause to find me rather annoying. I was fourteen too. But I didn't deserve that. Annoying maybe, weird yes, mean very seldom and only with cause. <br />
<br />
I cried for a few days, not like gut wrenching sobs, though I did that for a while too. Mostly just tearing eyes, but even at school. I thought of transferring schools but couldn't convince my parents. (I suppose that's probably for the best. There were no good private schools and no magnet schools so it was the town school or the county school. I would have been weird either way). A couple of days later, another girl told X she was angry at X for making her friend cry. When X realized who the friend was, X just shot B a go to hell look and left it at that. <br />
<br />
If I'd killed myself you wouldn't have read about X today and either known that you should not do this to anyone ever because it's inhumane, or that if someone does this to you, you can survive. But I didn't. So why are we talking about X? What's the point in reliving something that happened twelve years ago? Well, looking back on it now--in some ways reliving it now--I remember the pain. I didn't kill myself but I wanted to die. I'm glad I persevered. I have my 58 blog followers, a few unpublished manuscripts, a husband who adores me, and few but GOOD friends. <br />
<br />
I need to say I'm not angry with X. I understand X was fourteen and had some things going on. I think X has probably built a decent life that doesn't involve publicly humiliating anyone at this point. I don't think I was X's only target but I was one of the few. X was a fairly nice person where most people were concerned so I think we can assume as an adult X is a decent person. But I am angry that it still crosses my mind so vividly that I'm blogging about it at 5 am because when it reappeared two days ago, it took root and refused to go away. I think the fact that someone like that still has enough power over my life twelve years later to inspire impromptu blog entries in a month I've vowed not to blog to write in some ways resolves the question my young follower and I tried to determine. How could the actions of someone affect you so badly you would take your own life? Because it does. It erodes any self esteem you have and leaves you questioning your own worth. But taking your life in response to a person that needs lessons on how to be human is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.<br />
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The truth is no one cares about the Homecoming Queen after high school. Time changes everything. Life goes on and jocks age like the rest of us, muscles turning to fat. The cool kids struggle like everyone else, but I think in life (which lasts far longer than high school) nerds/dorks/geeks have the advantage. See, we're used to the struggle. We know what it is to see the turned up noses and rolling eyes. We will walk through it. We will persevere. <br />
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So here is MY WORD FOR THE NERDS AND ANYONE ELSE WHO GETS BULLIED: ENDURE. That's right. Endure. Let the so-called cool kids make fun of you because of your purple hair, ripped up jeans, the neck jewelry you wear as a head piece, your star wars collection. Whatever it is that has you picked on, embrace it. Be the best you, you can be. Because you are the only you there will ever be and you hold a special place in the cosmic design of the universe. You have a role to play that ONLY you can play. If the cool kids make fun of you, who cares? It's very likely that as a nerd, in ten years you will drive a cooler car than the cool kids. You will one day be the cool kid and when you are you will be kind to the cool kid that used to taunt you, because you know what it is to be "other."<br />
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Beth Fred is glad she made it through middle school, junior high, and the bit of high school she was present for. Emil Fred says the joke is on X.Beth Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494316048252190314noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2772850344563095242.post-17071135732541856912010-11-12T05:59:00.000-08:002010-11-12T05:59:18.517-08:00Carpe Corpus 43/Fade Out 44<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i>Carpe Corpus </i>is another of my favorites in this series. Partly because I liked <i>Lord of Misrule </i>so much and it leads into this one. The romance between Shane and Claire is still getting stronger but Michael and Eve start having some problems. (I think this is where their problems start). The four friends and the town of Morganville start trying to take their town back from Bishop.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">My favorite thing about this book is something that some other reviewers seemed not to like, but I love Ada who is Myrnin's(who has been one of my favorite characters since his introduction to the series) computer ghost assistant (and I think they were probably in love or at least involved at one point). After draining her Myrnin chose to imprison Ada into his a computer that runs the town of Morganville to keep her from being completely lost. But Ada gets a little too powerful and steps out of the box! I found that amazingly creative. There are hardships and struggles but as this is a series you know the show goes on<i>.</i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i>Fade Out </i>brings back time for honesty. This one was not a favorite. Shane's crazy ex-girlfriend is the new character in this one. She's a crazy ex. There isn't much more to say. I guess it might be worth mentioning that she bugs the Glass house to make sex videos.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Honestly, I didn't find much of a point in that whole part of the plot. But it connected to a media project she was working on about the "situation" in Morganville. There were further vamp/human issues and Micheal and Eve's relationship becomes a bit more out of wack. Overall, it felt like a filler.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><br />
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</i></div>Beth Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494316048252190314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2772850344563095242.post-53985945440312262522010-11-10T06:40:00.000-08:002010-11-10T06:40:15.985-08:00Feast of Fools Book 41/ Lord of Misrule Book 42<i>Feast of Fools</i> balances the battle of to keep from being food for the walking dead with something we all struggle with--parents. I really love this one actually because it isn't just that Claire's parents have randomly shown up, bought a house and try to make her move home even though she has been living independently. Amelie's (the vamp matriarchof Morganville) evil father has also shown up which can and does only lead to disaster. <br />
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Our four friends step up and brave it out with emotional battles on the horizon as well as the run not to be lunch meat. As always the series ends with a cliffhanger which progresses directly into ....<br />
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<i>Lord of Misrule </i>which is a vampire war and everyone must choose a side. There are bad and worse among the vampires but the tension is this one is more built up than in many of the previous books. As the characters work their way through alleys and into/out of chaotic situations I found myself on the edge of the seat with this one so to speak. It's one of my favorites of the series.<br />
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Of course, it seems these books will never end any other way--it too closes on a cliff hanger...Beth Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494316048252190314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2772850344563095242.post-6877948237494299112010-11-08T05:32:00.000-08:002010-11-08T05:32:08.401-08:00Guilty Pleasure: An Ode to the Morganville VampiresAt the onset of this P-52, having read through an insatiable appetite for paranormal romances, with a particular fondness of vampires, especially sparkley ones. Having blown through all my paranormals I hit a book store and picked up <i>Glass Houses</i> and <i>The Dead Girls Dance</i> in one volume. I read <i>Glass Houses</i> was not impressed and gave a rather harsh review of it.<br />
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I had no intentions of reading <i> The Dead Girls Dance </i>(Book 39) even though I already owned it. <i>Glass Houses </i>left that kind of impression on me. Then one month, I got broke--it happens. I was out of books and my library orders were slow to arrive. I gave in and picked up <i>The Dead Girls Dance</i> which I read in one sitting. ;) <br />
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<i>The Dead Girls Dance </i>was still a little slow for me, but the pace had really started to pick up. The romance picked up. (That's what I'm after). And things started tying together to lay a good foundation and make sense. It ended with a cliff hanger. It was a lot better than <i>Glass Houses.</i><br />
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I had no choice. I had to read <i>Midnight Alley</i> (Book 40). And so I did, again in one sitting. This one really picked up. The vampires became darker. The romance ran deeper. Claire Danvers, the MC, grew stronger. Honestly, all of the characters started showing sings of change.<br />
New characters were introduced too. Some of which I absolutely love. New concepts were laid and the story really began to get intriguing.<br />
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So why haven't I reviewed the books sooner? Haha. Mainly, because I was embarrassed of my harsh review of <i>Glass Houses</i>, which I stand by. If I hadn't got broke that month I would have never read <i>The Dead Girls Dance. </i>It would have been better if <i>Glass Houses</i> and <i>The Dead Girls Dance</i> had been combined and woven into one book--they're the same story. Rather than being sold as two separate books, or marketed as two books in one volume. But as I find myself anxiously awaiting the arrival of <i>Ghostown, </i>it seems I owe Rachel Caine some positive reviews. I've loved the rest of the series, just not the first book. So I've declared this week <i>Morganville Vampires</i> Week.Beth Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494316048252190314noreply@blogger.com0