Smiling all the Way From A to Z -- T

Many things make me smile but the today's letter super-duper-with-sugar-and-the-kitchen-sink-on-top makes me smile. And big time. It is...

 

TRAVELING

 

I love being immersed in new cultures and seeing different places, especially if it requires taking a plane. Turbulence is a must at least a couple times while I'm in the air. Oh, just thinking about dropping in altitude makes me giggle. Yet, oddly enough, I don't like roller coasters so much. Go figure.

 

I've been all over the world and still have many a place to go! Before I kick the can (ugh, morbid, sorry), I plan on visiting every continent, even Antarctica. Yup, I'll play a game of tag with some penguins (I'll win, obviously) and most certainly wear bundles and bundles of warm clothing. Brrrr

 

Here's a list of places I've traveled to so far: Canada, U.S. (30 states), England (lived there), Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, South Korea, China, and Taiwan (lived there).

 

My favorite place I have been to is the Cinque Terre in Italy. Sigh!

 

Do you like traveling? Where have you been to? Where's your favorite place to vacation? Starting with the letter T, what makes you smile?

 

Writing Jewels

PS: Sorry I didn't check out many blogs yesterday, especially those people that commented on my "Sleeping In" post. My laptops power charger kicked the can (this is twice in all of a month). I had to purchase a new one. The person that let me borrow hers couldn't get it to me until later on last night; therefore, blogging wasn't able to happen. Plus, I was feeling a bit sick yesterday. So, long story short, sorry dearest followers. I hope I can do better today. :)

 

PPS: Refer to the blurb on the very top of my blogs sidebar to know why I am posting about what makes me smile. Go forward and smile!

 

 

Do You Like Action?

Okay, get your heads out of the gutter. I don't mean that kind of "Action"... I mean the important element of action that must occur in the first chapter of your book. I received notes back from an editor and one of the points she stated was getting to the pivotal point of action straight away. Granted I had maybe six paragraphs before the main action sequence, but it wasn't something that caught her attention. And to be honest, it was a little bit of an info dump if anything.

*shrugs sheepishly*

So, I took out some of that and jumped right into the action in the second sentence of my novel. It's more intriguing now and definitely will capture the reader's attention right off the bat.

I bring this up so that you won't be placed in the same predicament. The first chapter is crucial to make sure your reader moves on to the next chapter. If you dive right into the conflicting action, you'll suck them in. They most likely won't think: "Meh, that was okay."

So, how do you do this? Streamline that first chapter. Yes, you have to give some back story and describe the setting; however, it can be done with little cues here and there. As in the first chapter of my book, I show that it is cold outside by my MC shivering or the puff of air misting from his mouth. I give hints that he is crossing Pont Neuf Bridge. I let the reader know that something crucial happens in the Seine River. I even bring up the simple word Paris once.

The reader can tell now that it is winter-time and the book is set in Paris, France. It's those little cues that will allow you to jump right into the action instead of going on and on with back story, when the conflict has to arise quickly to capture attention. You want your audience to continue reading, right? Well, give them a reason to.  

What are your thoughts on this topic? How do you set up the first chapter?

Writing. Jewels.

PS: I'd like to thank the beautiful Elise Fallson for the 7X7 award. It made me smile so big I almost blew up all of the lightbulbs in my bedroom.

Vacation Time

So, I haven't been on a real vacation for a very long time. The last one was in 2009. I went to France and Italy for my graduation from university present to myself. A good thing too. It was the catalyst for my inspiration to write my first book. Since then the most I've done is backpacking trips, but that's sleeping on the ground in middle of nowhere. Not necessarily the go-sit-on-the-beach-and-relax type of thing, if ya know what I mean? Backpacking takes lots of stamina. Don't get me wrong, I love being in the outdoors with a pack on my back, fighting off bears and snakes... Ok, not that part, but the nature aspect and spending some quality time with my pops and whatever other old guys (his friends) want to join in. Yes, my backpacking buddies are all nearing their 70's.

*shakes head*

Well, I'm going to Wenatchee, Washington for its city festival called Apple Blossom. My brother and his wife go to it every year and have raved about it. Well, my lovely sister-in-law invited me this time around.

Yes, I get to experience the fun of the festival for the first time. Well, part of it won't be that fun; I've been wrangled into running a 5K--my first ever. I'm an active person, but not a runner due to not so great knees and ankles. Blast them. But, alas, I'm going to go for it even if I'm the last runner to cross the finish line. Of which, I'm pretty sure I will be. Shoot!

Well, I hope to spend some quality time with my nephews and niece--the cute-alicious little rugrats.

And I'm not going to do anything dealing with writing other than checking my blog every once in a while. But, because of the fact that we are road-tripping it from Utah to Washington, I'll have plenty of time to get some reading done (The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter).

So do you have any fun trips coming up? What do you like to do when vacationing? Or would you rather just tuck yourself in bed with a good book?

Writing. Jewels.

Name Revealed

I’ve been working on my novel for a year and a half now. During this whole time, I’ve been apprehensive to officially reveal its name. Perhaps it’s because she’s been such a major part of my life that I haven’t wanted to let her leave home to enter the big, bad world. I figure since I’m querying now, I may as well unlock the door and let her find her way into the capable hands of an agent and publisher.

I know this is cliché, but the idea came from a dream I had. Yet, it goes back farther than that. In July 2009, I treated myself to a trip to Europe as a graduation present to myself. The first stop was Paris, France. I’ve been smitten with that city ever since.

After coming back, I found myself there in my dreams all the time. Talk about a huge let down after waking up. Pft! But one of my Parisian dreams enthralled me; I thought about it for weeks. I told some family members its details with wishy-washy plans to write a story based around it. One sleepless night, I came up with the beginning and the end.

I started tapping away at the computer until I had a very rough draft finished. After many edits and revisions, I now have a complete manuscript. I’m where I’ve wanted to be for over a year. 

Query-dome! Woot Woot!

So without further explanation, I introduce you to my book’s title!

Félicité Found

My little secret is officially out of the bag. Félicité Found says to you:

BONJOUR! ENCHANTÉ! SALUT!

I hope you like the title, but WHEN it’s published you’ll enjoy its story even more.

To give you a little sneak peek into my book, I share the following pictures. 

They play special roles in my book. Enjoy! 

Pont Neuf Bridge

 Jardin des Tuileries and La Grande Roue (Ferris Wheel)

And of course the Eiffel Tower! Oui Oui!

I hope I've peeked your interest so one day you'll read my book!

Interesting Little Tidbit about Paris

A little background to today's post... The past two days, I went hiking in Southern Utah with some friends. I realized with the time driving there and spent enjoying nature that I really think about my book a lot. I ponder how I can make it better and, of course, how I can promote it. Any who, with that said, during the hiking adventure, me and a friend talked about Paris. The setting of "Felicite Comes" (my novel). Hehe! Recently, she spent some time in the "City of Love" or you could say the "City of Lights". Emphasis added. She expressed how much she enjoyed going to the catacombs. I did not know that Paris had catacombs. I went there last year and was completely ignorant of the elaborate system of catacombs that lay beneath my feet. I should probably say far beneath my feet. It intrigued me enough that when I arrived home, I decided to do some Internet research about the said catacombs. Of course, I got cleaned up and took notice to the sunburn that accompanied me home and sighed because the sun always gets the better of me. Enough with the tangents, Julia! Hmm, where was I? Oh, yes, it is simply amazing that underneath that city, millions of bones are deposited and, most excitingly, they are on display.

It takes me back to my trip to Rome, Italy last year. I went on a tour of some of the catacombs there. With the tour, they said that most if not all of the bones or remains have been relocated or else many hundreds of years ago were unfortunately robbed. With the catacombs in Paris, the bones are still there. They are even used for elaborate designs on the walls. I am going to post some links for you to feast your eyes on. That sounds sort of gross, doesn't it? Well, at any rate, on my trip that I am planning to take next year to Paris for research, I am most certainly going to take an afternoon off to enjoy the underground world of Paris, the catacombs.

http://www.catacombes-de-paris.fr/english.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catacombs_of_Paris

Some photos from my trip to Paris, France last year. Paris, the catalyst of inspiration for "Felicite Comes". I plan to go back soon to do some research.

Top: Me at Musee du Louvre

2 &3: Self explanatory

Bottom: Me taking a photo of a bust of a man (can't remember who). If you look carefully, you can see my image in the mirror. I did that on purpose.

My Novel

For those that do not know, I am in the process of writing a novel. I sort of wish that I had been blogging about it during the process of writing but just thought that I would start one now.

Here's how it began, I had a dream in December (yes, really I had a dream that inspired me). The dream just kept on bitting at me all day long while I was at work. For those that know me really well, I have dramatic, vivid and sometimes crazy, terrifying dreams. This one was not necessarily in that catagory but close enough. Over the period of a couple weeks, the dream still was just as vivid in my mind as it was the night I had it.

I decided that it was time to develop it into a plot line. I had tried to write before but to no avail however one very sleepless night I formed the beginning stages of the book in my head. I began to write in early January 2010.

Now, four months later, I am at 198 pages and some wrists that get very sore after writing for a while.

All I can tell you about the book, is it is set in Paris. My trip to Paris last summer paid off even more than just being able to see Lance Armstrong riding in Le Tour de France. I look forward to finishing the rough draft by the end of May 2010 and progressing forward through the editing process. That is the part that scares me but I will be fine.

I am completely dedicated to making this work a published piece of literary genius. Well, it sure won't be Tokien but close. :)

Check back for more information about the book and book signings to come. I will be doing that though. I am positive.