A Recap Just for You

Hi there, friends and dear followers.

Since I've been out of bloggosphere-land, I thought I would let you know what I've been up to the past few months.

I'm enjoying my new job. I've been working in a medical field position for over 4 months now. It is crazy how time flies. I'm currently taking some training courses to get a certificate to allow myself the option for movement at the hospital in the future. Sweet-tastic!

Writing-wise: I have been querying out my second book, BOUND. I haven't been super religious about it, but at least it's out there. Of course, as to be expected, I have received some rejections, but the others I figure no news is good news. :D

Every once in a while, I have been flipping back and forth between two writing projects. In other words, whichever one piques my interest at the moment I focus on. My laptop had to go to the computer doctor to get rid of a nasty Trojan virus, so it was out of my hands for a week or so right when I was on fire with my projects. Drat, huh? Slowly but surely I will get there.

If you've read my sidebar's "About Me" section, you will know I'm sort of (well, totally am) a TV junky. I have been rewatching The X-Files series. I'm on the downward spiral of this madness by being in the 8th season. I grew up on this show and still loveth it to deatheth. Plus, the Mulder eye candy is an added bonus. hehe

I've been staying up on Once Upon a Time and Downton Abbey, too.

I've settled in nicely in my new apartment in Salt Lake City, Utah. Unfortunately, I will be moving again in May with the lease being up. That'll be four moves in a year and a half. Crazy-town all the way. I really wish I could just settle myself into a place, but that seems to be a far distant goal. No prob. Life moves forward regardless. If anything, I look forward to having a bathtub again!

In addition to all of that fun jazz, I've read Endlessly by Kiersten White--loved loved loved it! I'm currently reading Reached by Ally Condie. The Salt Lake City County Library system has been my BFF lately. It has supplied me with audio book listening pleasure for weeks on end now (I love me some audio books). The list has included all of the "Shiver" series by Maggie Stiefvater; "Finale" by Becca Fitzpatrick; "Artemis Fowl: The Last Guardian" by Eoin Colfer; and the first two books in the "Leviathan" series by Scott Westerfeld. Oh, how I love his books. I started "Goliath" today and am enjoying it already.

Well, these are the haps in my life over the past while. What have you been up to? Have you read any good books? Are you a TV junky like yours truly?

Writing Jewels

Flash Fiction Friday First

It's Flash Fiction Friday--a first--here on my blog. I'm gonna make a wee contest out of it. All those who enter will have the chance to win a $25 Amazon.com gift card just to make it all the more tempting.

Rules:

1. You must follow my blog (comment on this post with your name as it appears on my followers sidebar)
2. You must tweet, blog, and/or Facebook about the contest (leave the links)
3. Write your own flash fiction and post it on your own blog (comment on this post with the link) 
4. Comment with your email address so I can contact the winner

* For my Flash Fiction Friday Blog Contest, you need to write something within a 650 word limit starting with the phrase, "Once Upon a Time..." Ok, I'm obsessed with that TV show.

* Contest closes on Friday, February 24, 2012 at 5:00PM MST (New close date: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 5:00PM MST)

* The flash fiction entry I enjoy the most will win the Amazon.com gift card

* I will announce the winner on my blog on Friday, March 2, 2012 and share their Flash Fiction if that's ok
* Peruse the other entrees by following their links commented on this blog

Here's my flash fiction for some ideas (BTW: this is the first time I've shared anything I've written fiction-wise on my blog. Lucky you guys!):

The Purple Butterfly by Julia King

Once upon a time, a butterfly fluttered along a sunny path strewn with mossy shrubs and fragrant flowers, open and full of life. This particular day was the same as always—airborne, drinking the nectar of forest blossoms.

          Lexie never thought her life was quite right. Something was missing since she’d escaped from her cocoon. Maybe it wasn’t feeling comfortable in her wings like the other butterflies seemed to be. Most of all, it was the void in her heart. 

          Upon reaching the outermost corner of the woods—farther than she’d ever flown before, she smelled something different. It wasn’t the sweet smell of the forest but something stronger, not a bad scent but not what she was used to. Her delicate purple wings flapped harder to propel her closer to the source of the oddity wafting around her.

          The forest had thinned to a huge body of water with sand stretching into its depths. In the middle of the sea, a structure floated to and fro. Suddenly, something jumped off of it, splashing into the water. She watched the figure bobbing up and down, nearing the shore.

          Alarmed, she hid behind a rock. Once the tall form escaped from the water, he—a boy with suntanned skin—stepped over to where she veiled herself. Something about him spoke to her, made her want to be like him. He perched himself upon the rock almost crushing her. With a yelp, she dodged him, making a quick escape. His head turned, blue eyes narrowing on her.

          “Hello, beautiful butterfly,” he spoke sweetly. With a swift glide, he scooped Lexie into his hand. Fright overcame her, but his hand held her delicately. She didn’t try to escape. “What’s your name?” he asked, a coy smile glittered his handsome face.

          “Lexie,” she answered, shying away.

          He cocked his head quizzically to the side, then set her on the rock, backing away. “You answered me.  I…understood.”

          “What’s your name?” she asked as her heart thumped against her chest.

          “Max.” He drew closer, fixed upon her.

          “I’ve never spoken to a boy—a handsome one.” She fluttered her lashes at him. Without her control, she soared over to him until she was hovering near his face.

          “You are more beautiful than…” His wistful expression brought a bubbly sensation into her stomach. With timidity, she drew closer.  

          His searching eyes explored her. “Can I kiss you?”

          “Kiss me? I’m a butterfly the size of your palm.”

          “You’re the butterfly in my dreams. Today I’ve found you. I… I love you, Lexie.”

          A sigh escaped her mouth, joy heavy in her heart. “Then yes, kiss me.”

          Tenderly, he caressed her small form with a kiss she’d never forget. Then an unbearable stinging overtook her body. Falling to the sand, she felt as though she would die, if not from the fall, then from the anguish sparking up and down her limbs and wings.

          Perhaps hours later she awoke, Max bent over her, his hand brushing against her face.

          “Are you all right? I was so worried.” His jaw set.

          She tried to fly but nothing happened. Again, flapping her wings only resulted in them lifting up and down in the sand. Lexie’s gaze rested upon human arms instead of wings. With great panic, she stood, backing away from Max. “What happened?”

          “You transformed into a girl—a pretty girl with purple hair.” He drew closer with slow decided steps. “I saw the entire painful transformation. Are you okay?”

          “I’m…perfect. What I’ve always felt I should be. And I’m with you, even better.”

          “And I’m with you,” he declared as he gathered her into his lean arms. His lips pressed against hers passionately, then sweetly.

          They were meant for each other. Lexie from Max’s dreams, and him to transform her into what she was meant to be—a human girl.

          And they lived happily ever after.
______________

Your turn to write ---> Have fun and good luck!

Writing. Jewels.

Once Upon A Time: Are You Sucked In?

Have you ever watched an episode (yes, one episode) of a TV show and couldn't stop watching it. You think about it for days afterward. Then you start dreaming about it. That has happened to me with a few TV shows. IE: 24 and Stargate SG1. I'm a dork, I know. It's happened to me with many a book, too!

Anyway, my sister suggested me check out the new show Once Upon A Time. I ended up watching one episode and was trapped in the story (no pun intended--you'll understand that if you've seen the show).

Basically, the premise of it is fairytale characters like Snow White, Cinderella, Prince Charming, etc... have been banished into the real world. It all happened because of the Evil Queens rage against Snow White. She casts a wicked spell that sends all of the characters to a city called Storybrook, a place in the New England area. The catch is they don't remember who they were before, only the Evil Queen does.

Awesome, huh?

Possibly Once Upon A Time has me wrapped around its finger because I'm a writer and fancy stories. Or maybe because its a freaking awesome way to weave Grimm Tales into a sitcom. Pretty clever if you ask me.

This shows that stories can come from anywhere. You can very well use something already in existence to form a solid writing idea. Re-imagine it with your own twist. You never know, it may suck someone or many people into the thick of your story.

Have you ever re-imagined a well-known story or Grimm Tale for a book? What TV shows are inspiring to you? Do you have certain shows you watch every week? 

The shows I love are NCIS, NCIS:LA, The Closer, Unforgettable, & Rizzolli and Isles.

Writing. Jewels.