Mention Monday

Today I bring to your attention...

Writer, dragon lover, and overall awesome woman, E.M. LaBonte.

I mention her because she's been working at getting her author page 'like's up there and she wants to hit 400. I think she needs more than 400 because she's awesome enough that she should have more. She's one of the main people who posts things that jump out at me every day on Facebook. A hard worker, good writer, a kind friend, and great mom. Can't wait to see her published, she really deserves it for all the hard work she puts into everything.

So, go check her out. Plus, if she hits 400 likes, she's giving away a $10 Amazon gift card. Woot!

(Now, there's a chance she's hit the 400 already by the time you're reading this, but still go like her please. She's worth it. :)  )

You can find E.M. LaBonte on:

Facebook
Twitter
Blog (She does interviews(as a group w/ four other writers). The Blog Ring of Power, so make sure you check that out if you haven't already)

Now, go like and follow and whatnot. And happy Monday, Happy Martin Luther King Jr day for those who recognize it, and in general happy week. :)

Thursday TAG! - Utsav Mukherjee

(For all of my awesome followers who continue to stop by even though I've been slacking on getting to your blogs to comment: THANK YOU!! I've been trying to get caught up on my writing, revising, and critiquing so I can get back to commenting. It's hectic over here, but I'm getting there-slowly.)

Now on to the TAG! Today is Utsav Mukherjee. He's an awesome guy and writer who I met at...Why yes, of course, AQC! :D You can find him at his blog, Pineapple Lightning (he's lightning, btw) and he's also on Twitter.


1. When did you start writing?
At the age of 11. I started with a rip-off on Secret Seven/Famous Five and then transcended to a fan fiction of the Order of the Phoenix. It had several good plot points, which were quite similar to the actual book (Sirius dying, Fred and George's shop etc.) I had the threads of my current novel when I was 14 and although most of the story has changed since, a few words from that time still remain in my first chapter.

2. What made you want to write?
The joy of reading about a world you can immerse yourself in. I wanted to experience my own world and also, through it spread the joy to others.

3. When did you decide you wanted to write to be published? (As opposed to writing just to write)
I always had that thought in mind. I love writing but more than that, I love having my works read. For that, publishing is essential. I didn't know anything about the publishing process though and I probably still don't.

4. What genre(s) do you write?
Fantasy and Sci-fi. I don't think I am good for writing anything else, yet.

5. Why that(those) genre(s)?
You write what you read. And my favourite genre is High Fantasy, although I have ideas for a thriller.

6. Do you have any particular ritual when you write? (A specific way things are done during the process)
Get a laptop and type! No, not really. Although, I am a slave to my writing moods. I can't get too much done unless I am in one of them.

7. Do you use an outline, or do you just start writing?
A mix of both, I think. Having a vague outline is important, so that you know where you are heading. But then again, ideas keep popping in while you are writing, so I tend to go with the flow.

8. Is there something you MUST have when you're writing? (Aside from the typical writer tools-computer, pen, paper, etc)
Internet. I come up with so many questions while writing, that it is imperative for me to keep researching on topics.

9. Do you write out your story on paper and then transfer to a computer, or straight to the computer?
I used to write on paper when I started off. But college life turned me into one of those desk guys sitting in front of a computer. So now, it's directly on the computer.

10. How many books/short stories have you written? (Published or not, even those you wrote and then thought-what the hell?)
Two books and about ten short stories. None of them have seen the light of day. I may come back to them some day.

11. Is there, or has there been, anyone in your life (real or online) who thought you being a writer is/was just another hobby? Or that you are/were wasting your time as a writer?
Well, surprisingly no. Everybody always thought I had a way with words. But for me, sometimes writing takes a backseat because of the ten-thousand other equally awesome passions I have. Right now, writing tops the charts.

12. Do you do Social Media sites? If so, which ones? If not, why don't you?
I am not much of a social person. Other than Facebook, I have only recently joined twitter.

13. Any advice for writers that makes you cringe every time you hear it? (I know there is some cringe-worthy advice still worth following, so only advice you don't follow.)
I will keep that on hold because I don't have enough experience to comment. One thing I am comfortable with is long sentences, whether reading or writing, but run-ons seem to be a strict no-no.


14. Why do you write YA?
I don't have an age group in mind when I start writing. I selected the genre first, which was Fantasy/Sci-Fi and I guess it became a YA because I was 14 when I had the preliminary idea for Jimmy, so my writing and my story reflects that. I know, it is a norm to know your target audience because it helps the marketing of the book but we as authors want everyone in all age groups to connect to the story. Harry Potter is read by adults and LoTR is read by teens.

15. Are there many writers in India? (Just curious how common it is for people there to pursue writing)(And I mean this question in no offense at all, btw.)
I am not entirely sure, as to how popular writing for getting published is in India yet. But there are several leading novelists from India like Arundhati Roy (God of Small Things), Aravind Adiga (White Tiger), Chetan Bhagat (Five Point Someone) and a new favourite- Amish (Naga Trilogy).


16. Attorney by day/writer by night...Do the two ever mix/interfere with one another?
Sadly, more than mixing, being a lawyer hampers my writing time. Being on the call 24 hours a day makes it tough to continue writing on a regular basis, especially since I am not a legal drama writer like John Grisham. The one thing that has been a positive impact is my drafting skills have improved.

17. What would you do/think if you stumbled upon an invisible ladder?
Do what my MC did. Climb it and pretend to be Superman. Also I could make money getting other people to get pictures clicked like that.

18. Are there similarities between you and your MC in Averagely Extraordinary?
There are similarities and differences. I was decently well-placed academically and sports-wise and some of my friends, who were at that time not so inclined to study, used to get lectures from their parents. I wanted to put my fantasy of going on an extra-ordinary adventure being in the shoes of an average kid. And my story follows the dictum- Sometimes being average at everything is better than being good in one and bad at others. The desire to be special is strong in all of us. Jimmy wants to be special as well. The story is about how he responds when he understands being extraordinary is not always about being the best.


19. What do you do when you aren't writing?
Usually working, playing table tennis, cooking, academic pursuits and the minimum dose of socialising.

20. Any words of wisdom for anyone who is thinking of becoming a writer, or just something you think all writers should know?
Try and write so that you can see the events in your mind like a movie. To me, that is the core of writing.

X-Files

I probably could have thought long and hard for a way to make a sentence with all Xs, but I'm just not going to. I will say that if you missed my post yesterday, please go check it out after you read this one. Here's the link. :)

So in keeping with the paranormaly supernatural fantastical Fridays of the A to Z Challenge, I have some X-Files. Yeah, I don't really have any X-Files, BUT I have some paranormal/supernatural things for you today.

Zombies:

They come in different forms these days, but there is one thing that always sticks...They crave brains/human flesh. Why is that? I've never understood much about the whole Zombie thing really. I mean, if they're supposed to be brain dead people wandering around basically moaning about nothing (except brains or human flesh) how are they able to wander around wanting those things?

(A little edit: Caterina Torres (author of Zombie Whisperer) talks a lot about Zombies over at her website-go check her out, she's even got a short story series and it's pretty good :)   )

Vampires:

These 'undead' beings have definitely changed since Dracula stepped on the scene back in the day. Granted there are legends that talk about nightstalkers that roam the villages feeding of the necks of humans that date back into the era around 1045A.D. However, it was Dracula that really put them on the map. Nowadays, vampires come in many different forms-the pasty white hotties that Charlaine Harris is so fond of all the way to the sparkling swoon-worthy creations of Stephenie Meyer.

For anyone who doesn't know what I write about, vampires are my supe of preference(though I also have a series about shape-shifters that I'm working on). Vamps are my choice. My vampires are not like Harris', Meyer's or even Rice's-mine are, well, mine. They are not undead, or sparkly, or evil. They don't drink bottled blood, but they don't feed off of necks either. My vamps drink freely donated bagged blood.

Anyway, I love me a sexy vamp and I love me a evil pasty contorted faced vamp. I love vampires in general, and I will never tire of them. However,  I've heard rumors that vampires are over used and people are getting burnt out on them and eventually (some say it will be VERY soon) vampires will be a thing of the past that nobody can even stand to hear about. What do you think? Tired of vampires? OR will you be able to handle them diferences-or not?

Weres/Shape-shifters:

I know that weres are not exactly shape-shifters. I also know that many people write about werewolves more than weres in general. And that shape-shifters can (and a lot of times do) mean people who can shift into the shape of other people. I write about shape-shifters that shift into various animals, but they aren't weres because, well, they just aren't. What I wonder is, what happened to the good ol' fashioned werewolf and why is he not so popular anymore? I don't write about werewolves just because it doesn't fit my theme, but that doesn't mean I don't like them. I like the wolf-man that werewolves used to be. Not the gigantic wolf, or even the normal looking wolf that man shifts into. I don't have a problem with the new-aged style of werewolves, I just never had a problem with the old ones.

I could keep talking about other things...actually, why not:

Fae:

These spritely little creatures come in lots of different packages nowadays too. How do you like do see Fairy's (AKA Faeries) portrayed. Do you like the Tinkerbell variety or the human-looking kind? I like them all personally.

Aliens:

They come in different packages nowadays too, huh? They used to always be either evil monstrous creatures or green funny looking men with big ass black eyes-now they're humans walking around looking normal and even having sex with people like normal. What's that about? Not that I mind, I tend to actually enjoy the books about Aliens that look normal more than others.

Witches/Wizards:

These two don't always fall into a category together, but I'm trying to keep my post at least semi-short. So, do you like the Wiccan witches that sometimes have some supernatural powers but mostly congregate in their circle chanting and what not---or are you partial to the broom riding, pointy hat wearing, cackling over a cauldron kind of witches? I myself like the witches that are more normal. And wizards, I love me some Harry P, and actually, I don't know much else about wizards so yeah...

Demons:

Evil or no? Do you prefer them evil or nice and hot? Or both? ;)

Okay, now I'm done-enjoy. :)

Happy X-Filing :D

Legends

Yes, this is keeping with my Fantasy/Paranormal/Supernatural/etc theme. I figure since it's Friday the 13th, talking about legends fits.

Legends Lift Listeners Like Laden Lies

Right, so...

Legends

There are soooooooo many of them, right? But I'm just going to talk about a few, at random of course because that seems to be how it works this week. :)

Leprechauns: I picked this first one because it's Irish and an L. In Irish folklore the Leprechaun is a fairy. He likes to make shoes and to be mischievous. If you catch one, he'll grant you three wishes in exchange for his release. On a funny note, aside from Irish lore...the movies are ridiculously stupid enough to damn near be comedic. I mean, really what was dude thinking when he wrote that script-or maybe it's more like what was he on?

Lir: As in the Children of Lir. So I don't know how many people know this one, to sum it up for those who don't...Lir had babies with his wife and then his wife died so he married her sister. The sister didn't like the kids so she turned them all into swans. There are variations, but the way I know it goes: they spent a total of 900 years in a few different places and then a kind witch turned them back to human. Problem is, humans don't live to be 900 years old, so they withered and died. What do I get out of that story? Don't marry your sister-in-law...just saying.

Loch Ness: Oh don't we all love the legend of the scary *insert which of the thousands of descriptions you prefer* monster that can be found in Loch Ness located in the Scottish Highlands. Since the 1930s(and some say even before then) there have been rumors of this monster and pictures that 'prove' its existence. Here's a famous pic for everyone to show you how real it is...

(EDIT: If you'd like to see the photo, click here.)

...spooky right? Yeah, sure it is. There are people who say it's without a doubt a hoax and there are people who hold it to be the best proof of the monster. I have to say, I'm not sure I believe Nessie is real, but I don't know how comfortable I'd be on a boat out on Loch Ness.

Local Legends-here are two from Oklahoma

Bulldog Man: Now this legend is of old and has been 'tainted' throughout the years. In Sand Springs, Oklahoma there is a road called The Old North Road and it is narrow and winding and can be scary dangerous at night-hell sometimes at day too. In goes through Sand Springs into Tulsa. In the 1920 on a bend of said road, there was an amusement park. A very poor family with too many children and 'accidentally' left a son behind. The son lived in the park eating discarded food and sleeping in various places in the park. Two years later the park closed and he wandered the woods. He came upon the Brick Factory and the workers took him in. One night a pile of hot bricks fell on him and disfigured his face making him look like a bulldog. Years later the factory closed and the boy stayed there guarding 'his territory', shooting at anything/one who came near him. When I was younger the thing was-go to Old North Road, stop your car, flash your headlights three times and wait for him to come 'get you'. Rumors went around of people who encountered the Bulldog Man, but I never did. I traveled the road a lot and I even did the flashing lights and stopping thing, but he never came for me. It's still a fun legend regardless.

Gilcrease Museum: This is a 'haunted' museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It's been said that the man who established the museum, Thomas Gilcrease, haunts the grounds. It has also been said that you can hear children playing, a woman singing and men arguing. But there are tons of 'sightings' of Thomas Gilcrease. I'm not a skeptic, and I wouldn't be shocked if his spirit truly does still roam the museum at night. I've never gone there to see it for myself though.

So, this is a long post, sorry about that. But there were so many legends I wanted to talk about. I actually had to make myself stop when I did. Sorry I'm late, I had the post scheduled but I forgot to go back in and finish editing and click 'publish'.

So Happy Legending-yeah that's a word, sure. :)

Fantasy

(Since I would normally leave my Friday open to give more light to my awesome Thursday TAG!-if you haven't, please check out my Q&A with the Fabulous-E.M. Labonte.)

My Friday semi-theme is going to be about a genre I enjoy. I read every genre, but Fantasy is my absolute favorite. I know that many people think of 'High Fantasy' or 'Epic' novels in association with this genre, but it's more than that. Dystopian, Paranormal and Urban, even Sci-Fi (in some aspects) are all capable of being in this category. For me. when I think Fantasy I think anything fantastical and magical, anything that isn't really real. Faeries, vampires, weres and shifters, angels, demons, dragons, witches, wizards, elves and so many more. Reading is imaginative, so why not read about something that takes you to a different reality?

Fantasy: Fantastically Fun Fiction

Find yourself on a journey into a world that doesn't exist.
And take your mind to a place where the impossible is really possible.
Normal is people doing things that can't be real.
The ideas are true as you go page by page.
Animals are humans and no one is what they seem.
Supernatural things are more natural than they are 'supposed' to be.
You find yourself somewhere that is full of wonder and adventure.

Happy Fantasizing ;)

How about you? Do you like to read about the paranormal/supernatural/magical? Why do you or why don't you? What's your favorite genre?