tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66209605688449155252023-11-16T01:11:05.350-06:00Adventure AwaitsTracey Dyckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.comBlogger228125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-18078155293064859172019-07-06T07:59:00.000-05:002019-07-06T07:59:01.002-05:00I'VE MOVED!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h3>
Consider this a moving notice, friend. This is the LAST TIME I'll be posting here on Blogger... because I've launched my new website at <a href="https://traceydyck.com/" target="_blank">traceydyck.com</a>. I hope you'll come join me over there for the next leg of our adventure together! See you on the other side.</h3>
Tracey Dyckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-61255124118825593542019-05-04T17:23:00.000-05:002019-05-04T17:23:21.000-05:00Subplots and Storylines - March & April 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy May! Last time Subplots and Storylines came around, I recapped January and February. It's strange to think it's only been two months since then . . . it feels like four, considering how much was packed into them!<br />
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<i>[Note: be sure to catch the P.S. at the end of the post!]</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_wH9BAhQW8fgZbrR4TXlRniI8RBrta9dSzUGrKQGAEPPRGdS_dGVi5Upkw2CM_luLamG7N8PJH4ADzzUYvckKf0tlUFcObacVwsWlZbnXAz_CLIqiKeEv5h03UpyJNjsm5aAF0sREbI/s1600/IMG_5919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_wH9BAhQW8fgZbrR4TXlRniI8RBrta9dSzUGrKQGAEPPRGdS_dGVi5Upkw2CM_luLamG7N8PJH4ADzzUYvckKf0tlUFcObacVwsWlZbnXAz_CLIqiKeEv5h03UpyJNjsm5aAF0sREbI/s320/IMG_5919.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last day of college!</td></tr>
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For one thing, after a torrential downpour of school projects--and a great big entrepreneurship tradeshow thingie--<b>I am officially<i> done</i> college!</b> I don't get my diploma until June. But the work is done. Classes are over. Exams have been written. I am no longer a student. (!!!) It's been an adventure and a half, I tell ya. Someday I might tell you all about it.<br />
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What else . . .<br />
<br />
I registered for <b>Realm Makers</b>! I don't think I've announced that here yet, but yes--I'll be there for my third time in a row, and I can't wait. This time, <a href="https://thesteadfastpen.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">my bro Josiah</a> is coming with me!<br />
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In other news, we celebrated Easter, I squeezed in some friend time between college assignments (yay for Scrabble and London Fogs and pizza nights and trying African food for the first time!). I was also a bridesmaid in a dear friend's wedding.<br />
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My seven-year-old laptop rebelled and started crashing every time I used it. So I finally bought myself <b>a shiny new one</b>.*<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">*Feel like it needs a name, though . . . Maybe Sebastian. Because a) I like the name and b) it reminds me of Bucky Barnes, played by Sebastian Stan . . . and the laptop is sleek and metallic like Bucky's arm? IDK, man.</span><span style="background-color: yellow;"></span><span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
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Aaaand on top of all of that, I started my <b>new job</b> this week! I'm now in the marketing department of a nonprofit organization. My head is spinning with all the new things I'm learning, but I positively<i> love </i>what I get to do and who I get to work with. God is so cool!<br />
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Here's yet another<i> "and"</i>--<b>I joined the <a href="https://gohavok.com/" target="_blank">Havok</a> team!</b> Very excited to learn the ropes and start helping writers get their flash fiction into the world.<br />
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Screen Subplots</h2>
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<h3>
T V S H O W S</h3>
I rewatched two episodes of<i> <b>The Flash</b></i> <b>season 3 </b>and started<i> <b>The Flash</b></i><b> season 4</b> (so good!). Also rewatched an episode of<i> <b>Once Upon a Time</b></i><b> season 4.</b><br />
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<h3>
M A R C H M O V I E S</h3>
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<b>Christopher Robin</b><br />
Heartwarming, nostalgic, and so, so perfect. I cried. Several times. The Hundred Acre Wood was my childhood love, and somehow Pooh still has the ability to say just the right thing in his simple way. I loved watching him and his friends help a grown-up Christopher Robin recapture his wonder.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"Sometimes when I'm going somewhere and I wait, somewhere comes to me."</i></div>
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<b>Ralph Breaks the Internet</b><br />
This was actually pretty cute (minus a few sort-of crass jokes). It ended up having a much deeper theme than I expected, dealing with what happens when best friends go different directions in life. And interpreting the Internet as an actual setting was really cool. Worth seeing if you liked the first one! (Also Gal Gadot was in it!)<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"My autofill is a touch aggressive today."</i></div>
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<br />
<b>Captain Marvel</b><br />
IT WAS NOT AS BAD AS THE CRITICS SAID. I was leery after reviews (and Brie Larson herself) made it an ultra-feminism issue, but the movie didn't come off as preachy to me, thankfully.<br />
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And while it may not be my<i> favorite</i> Marvel movie to date, it was a fun addition with plenty of banter between Carol Danvers and Nick Fury, the surprise that is Goose, and 90's throwbacks. (Blockbuster, anyone?) Plus there was a super interesting take on the prejudices that drive war. I'm hoping for good things if we get any sequels!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"Do you know how to fly this thing?"</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"Maybe."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"That's a yes or no question."</i></div>
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<h3>
A P R I L M O V I E (S)</h3>
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<br />
<b>Avengers: Endgame</b><br />
AHHHHHHHH!!!! Pardon the fangirl in me, but that movie is INCREDIBLE. I'm in awe at the scope of the thing, the emotional depth, the satisfying conclusion. Three hours of awesomeness and feels.<br />
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It's bittersweet to see this massive story come to an end. After all, I spent most of my teen years looking forward to the next MCU release date. But it's been a good ride. *immediately wants to go on a Marvel movie binge* Maybe I'll manage to collect my thoughts in a full review once more of the world has seen it!<br />
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(There are so many quotes I'd like to list here, but this one's from the trailer, so it's not spoilery.)<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"Whatever it takes."</i><br />
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Page Storylines</h2>
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<h3>
M A R C H B O O K S</h3>
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<b>Reclaiming Shilo Snow // Mary Weber</b><br />
Remember me screeching about the amazingness of<i> The Evaporation of Sofi Snow</i> in <a href="https://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2019/03/subplots-storylines-january-february.html" target="_blank">the last S&S post?</a> Well, the sequel continued with the same guts and heart as the first book. As Sofi and Miguel hurry to save Sofi's brother, more heartpounding twists hurtled me right to the satisfying finale.<br />
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Together, this duology is inspiring in the truest sense of the word. It holds up a mirror and asks us to find our humanity, to choose goodness over rightness, and to make every choice one of love.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2237603645?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1" target="_blank">(Goodreads review here.)</a><b> 5 stars!</b><br />
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<b>Songkeeper // Gillian Bronte Adams</b><br />
Taking a decidedly darker turn than its prequel,<i> Orphan's Song,</i> this book follows Birdie through her struggle to hold onto hope when the Song feels distant, and Ky's misadventures as he tries to protect his Underground friends.<br />
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I took almost a month to read this (thanks, college). Maybe that's why the story seemed to lack that "just one more chapter" pull.<br />
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But hey, Gundhrold the griffin is still there, Amos is still his belligerent self, we get to explore the further reaches of Leira, and the ending plunges into the heart of darkness in order to reveal the cogs that have been turning the series' main conflict! So yay for that! I'm interested to see how everything shapes up in the third and final book.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1786236790?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1" target="_blank">(Full review on Goodreads.)</a><b> 3.5-4 stars.</b><br />
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<h3>
A P R I L B O O K S</h3>
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<b>The Scent of Her Soul // Bryan Davis</b><br />
In this human trafficking story with a speculative twist, Mike has the ability to track the scent of young girls’ souls. He’s been searching for his daughter (who was abducted three years ago) and trying in the meantime to rescue as many trafficked girls from prostitution as possible.<br />
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Needless to say, this was a sad, intense, and horrifying read—yet the heroes of the tale gave me hope. It’s absolutely sickening what goes on in our very own streets, right under our noses. But as Mike repeatedly reminds himself, “Every girl is special. Every girl is unique. Every girls needs a hero.”<br />
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<div>
Based on the subject matter, along with some swearing (which I felt was justified and not gratuitous), I would recommend this only for mature readers. Be advised that there is frequent talk of rape as well as on-screen violence. However, it was all very well-written from the perspective of motivating action in the reader. Mr. Davis has tackled an extremely difficult topic head on and has done an excellent job.</div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2578856370?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1" target="_blank"></a><br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2578856370?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1" target="_blank">(Goodreads review here.)</a> 5 stars!</div>
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<br />
<b>Sky in the Deep // Adrienne Young</b><br />
<div>
When I finally cracked open<i> Sky</i> a year after its hyped release, I hoped I'd love it as much as I wanted to. Vikings! Battle! Family! Gorgeous cover! And now I can say I DID love it.</div>
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<div>
Eelyn's a kick-butt, axe-wielding heroine, but she has a heart, which kept her from becoming just another warrior girl. That heart might be iced over with anger and bitterness, but her slow thaw was perfect.</div>
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I kind of hated Fiske at the beginning. I was worried he’d be the typical alpha male love interest who “makes up” for his foul moods by being hot. Thankfully that wasn’t the case! He too had a heart, fiercely protective of his family, and I loved him for that.<br />
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And Halvard!!! My previous boy! He was exactly the innocent touch that both Eelyn and the book itself needed. Inge and Iri are great too, even if Iri got overshadowed by Fiske toward the end. <br />
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<div>
I also loved the Viking-inspired culture, the crisp setting, and the beautiful-yet-punchy prose. Some truly heart pounding scenes took place! (And this is the perfect comp title for one of my own books, so yay!)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Some small dislikes include a few places where it was unclear who was speaking, a couple of make-out sessions, etc. And readers should be aware that the violence is rather bloody, and there is one<i> very</i> gory torture scene I wasn't expecting.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Other than that, though, I loved it! The power of family—of blood and of choice—runs through from the first page to the last.</div>
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<div>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2349304237?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1" target="_blank">(Full Goodreads review here.)</a> <b>4.5 stars! </b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6Q5-3nteeJsdobqavtkksFn-JCvDhkYRuzRTqANJSAtEArTCvRPlPLCfZHvusyzAAu3_hTWNhD0vosd65SP3OQ5FpwZpaaHcuixqHE2Y7F5TfoLI9A-nwrVDl4ptS-g2Z33C6Pen6WY/s1600/sentinel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6Q5-3nteeJsdobqavtkksFn-JCvDhkYRuzRTqANJSAtEArTCvRPlPLCfZHvusyzAAu3_hTWNhD0vosd65SP3OQ5FpwZpaaHcuixqHE2Y7F5TfoLI9A-nwrVDl4ptS-g2Z33C6Pen6WY/s320/sentinel.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<b>Sentinel // Jamie Foley</b><br />
<i>Sentinel</i> feels like it waltzed through the Story Elements Grocery Store and picked up a few bags of fantasy, a box of dystopian, a bit of supernatural, and a smidgen of alternate universe. Throw in some generous helpings of humor and voila! I don't know what it is, but hey. Breaking genres is cool, even if it confused me a bit in the beginning.<br />
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I loved the magic academy, the whole aether magic thing going on (there were some superhero vibes), and the fact that we get a sibling relationship from the younger one's point-of-view.<br />
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There's a big cast of characters and lots of banter going on. A few of my favorite people...<br />
<ul>
<li>Darien, the main character, is such a puppy--probably one of the more realistic 16-year-old boys I've read about (in terms of maturity).</li>
<li>Jet is just awesome.</li>
<li>Levi sounded exactly like Haymitch (*cough* I mean Woody Harrelson) in my head.</li>
<li>Sorvashti has a language barrier.</li>
</ul>
<br />
Some events felt like they needed more foreshadowing or explanation . . . just more development, in general. But I hear that a prequel novella should clear some of that up. Overall, though, it was a pretty fun story! (JET IS MY FAV. MUST READ MORE BECAUSE OF JET.)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1788104686?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1" target="_blank">(Full Goodreads review.)</a><b> 4 stars.</b><br />
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<b>Sword in the Stars (first edition) // Wayne Thomas Batson</b><br />
<i>Sword in the Stars</i> plunges you into Batson's richest, broadest fantasy realm yet--the land of Myriad. Here we roam forested kingdoms and ancient ruins and dark keeps, following a large cast of characters in a cinematic style. Rereading this book was a huge nostalgia kick. This was one of the tales that shaped my love of fantasy. Now, seven years later, a bit of the shine has worn off, but I still love the heart and vision of this book.<br />
<br />
Former assassin Alastair Coldhollow drives much of the plot forward. Wrestling with a bloody past and an addiction to Witchdrale, he nevertheless searches for the Halfainin, a hero prophesied to defeat the Dark King and save Myriad. But a baby he never wanted and a woman he meant to stay away from pull Alastair in another direction.<br />
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Before you know it, he becomes caught in a web of dark designs as his former master, King Morlan, secretly stirs the kingdoms to war.<br />
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<div>
I loved Alastair, Queen Maren (who's a total boss), the Shepherds, the slow decline of the people's faith, Cythraul (the creepy dude), and all the allegorical elements!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
What I didn't love so much were some spelling/punctuation mistakes that could've been caught with another proofread. Also there's a continuity problem with a character death--but the new-and-improved second edition fixes that! (I checked.) The beginning third of the book meanders. A few anachronisms like "okay" threw me off a little bit.</div>
<br />
But I was pleasantly surprised at how well the majority of this book held up so many years later! <br />
Myriad is a world I can sink my teeth into, meaty enough to carry the rest of this series (which I think is supposed to be seven books long). I applaud Mr. Batson for setting the stage as he did, choosing poignant characters to head up a story playing out on a global scale.<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2099055382?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1" target="_blank">(Full review on Goodreads, complete with a fully explained list of what I loved and didn't love.)</a><b> 4 stars!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>[I am also quite pleased that all six of these books either start with S or almost do, and all of the covers except</i> Reclaiming Shilo Snow<i> match really well. </i><i>#aesthetics]</i></div>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<i></i><i></i>Written Subplots</h2>
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Not much to report here yet, but in April I did write a short story very spontaneously. It was one of those "just for me" sorts of things and was so good for my head and heart. So take note, writers! If you need to spend some time writing something that you don't plan to do anything with, ever, give yourself that gift.<br />
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Hello, May!</h2>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
What have you been up to? Have you seen Endgame yet?! Read any of those books--or do any of them look like they should go on your to-be-read pile?</h3>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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P.S. I'm going on a blogging hiatus, probably for the month of May! Why? I'm going to start the Great Move (aka I'm moving from Blogger to my own website). I'll be back when everything is ready to go! In the meantime, pop in and visit me on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/traceydyckauthor/?hl=en" target="_blank">Instagram.</a><span style="color: #b01100;"> </span><span style="color: #000032;">See you later!</span></div>
Tracey Dyckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-28153901135837697282019-04-27T15:32:00.004-05:002019-04-27T15:32:47.354-05:00The Marvel Cinematic Universe Tag<div>
Time to blow the dust off Adventure Awaits again! I didn't mean to be absent for a whole month, but I'm happy to report I've emerged from college alive and well.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Well. That status might change once I see<i> Avengers: Endgame</i> this weekend.</div>
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In preparation for possibly the greatest super<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">hero film of the decade, t</span><a href="https://christinesmithauthor.com/2019/04/the-marvel-cinematic-universe-tag/" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">he brilliant Christine Smith has invented an MCU tag</a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">, which I am blatantly stealing. </span><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">(Spoilers for MCU films up to and including<i> Captain Marvel</i> will abound! You've been warned.)</b></div>
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<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; float: left; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><tbody style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0QZt-0F2wfFFk5zNZbHjxJBI1yFk4a7SVjuqwF74lzXsMiomS1Iw9v5uqPVs1qYfp7I3H0Gja8d1_rTOkMNtIavD9-cUaj9NRuHzFDNw2fbFW9k-jVZjAhLw9jo2rfrjwLh1jbMkrgmc/s1600/MCU+Tag.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0QZt-0F2wfFFk5zNZbHjxJBI1yFk4a7SVjuqwF74lzXsMiomS1Iw9v5uqPVs1qYfp7I3H0Gja8d1_rTOkMNtIavD9-cUaj9NRuHzFDNw2fbFW9k-jVZjAhLw9jo2rfrjwLh1jbMkrgmc/s640/MCU+Tag.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Credit goes to <a href="https://christinesmithauthor.com/" style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 0px;" target="_blank">Christine Smith</a></td></tr>
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<b></b><br /></div>
<div>
Here we go . . .</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsqZYoqQp_eUXWawq5kIW2YdgJ3HF4slfMxXKr6ZEH8g4WCoB-skp6Gn2akARxWr4hCoitnm8pJ5E7lXbZ6iEra9w4SHcfMwdI7PS4M7HUyEFIxxgPza_8LU-ZTtM7C69wRsLMg1tNKc/s1600/10566b173ac7b29252515615430e7335.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsqZYoqQp_eUXWawq5kIW2YdgJ3HF4slfMxXKr6ZEH8g4WCoB-skp6Gn2akARxWr4hCoitnm8pJ5E7lXbZ6iEra9w4SHcfMwdI7PS4M7HUyEFIxxgPza_8LU-ZTtM7C69wRsLMg1tNKc/s1600/10566b173ac7b29252515615430e7335.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thor // <a href="https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/833728949745164278/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></td></tr>
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<h2>
1. How were you introduced into the MCU fandom?</h2>
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<br /></div>
<div>
I'm pretty sure I have my brother, <a href="https://thesteadfastpen.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Josiah @ The Steadfast Pen</a>, to thank for watching<i> Captain America: The First Avenger</i> and then telling me I'd love it too.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You should've heard me when the plane went down at the end. "That's how it<i> ends</i>?" I shrieked. Josiah didn't say a word and let me sit in agony until Cap wakes up in the present. Needless to say, I became a Marvel fan.</div>
<h2>
<br />2. What’s your favorite Marvel film?<br /></h2>
<div>
THIS IS NOT A FAIR QUESTION, CHRISTINE.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
All of the Captain America movies, obviously, with<i> Winter Soldier</i> barely edging out the other two.<i> Spider-Man: Homecoming</i> is another huge favorite, because finally--FINALLY--we got a Peter Parker that was young enough, dorky enough, and earnest enough without being overly melodramatic. (Sorry, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield.) I also love <i>all </i>the Avengers films. And<i> Thor: Ragnarok.</i> And<i> Doctor Strange.</i> And--okay, I'll stop.</div>
<i></i><i></i><i></i><i></i><i></i><i></i><i></i><i></i><h2>
<br />3. Top favorite Marvel character?<br /></h2>
<div>
Preeeetty sure you've figured it out by now.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="400" id="image" src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/34/f2/ca/34f2cafbf2153e4ee0de735fd175b103.jpg" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-height: 715.2px; max-width: 1536px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" width="270" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Captain America // <a href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/34/f2/ca/34f2cafbf2153e4ee0de735fd175b103.jpg" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></td></tr>
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<div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: black;">Steve Rogers epitomizes true heroism. But Peter Parker is now tied as my favorite character ever since<i> Homecoming.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #000050;"><i><span style="color: black;"></span><br /></i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOL3NhqxiGIk9mrE7gLKZMh9N5W50EYPpN-uhjKNdBiwjJIEOwAdiq1kchPeGw90lztNgGCiEuImkFBhPYj2c-OfW7mcxtYT5qvr6RchrPn_zURUNbI5eQCTdhwswoHJ04VIuPzFKMI-E/s1600/e7e43a5aeed5cf22e0470b9d112e671f.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOL3NhqxiGIk9mrE7gLKZMh9N5W50EYPpN-uhjKNdBiwjJIEOwAdiq1kchPeGw90lztNgGCiEuImkFBhPYj2c-OfW7mcxtYT5qvr6RchrPn_zURUNbI5eQCTdhwswoHJ04VIuPzFKMI-E/s320/e7e43a5aeed5cf22e0470b9d112e671f.gif" width="246" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The spider is dead." // <a href="https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/833728949740499716/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></td></tr>
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<div>
<span style="color: #000050;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: black;">Very, very close runners-up (because I can never pick one favorite) include Bucky Barnes, Loki, Tony Stark, Peggy Carter, Shuri . . . the list goes on.</span><i><br /></i></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><u></u><span style="color: #000120;"></span><span style="color: #000032;"></span><span style="color: #000050;"></span><i></i><i></i><h2>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />4. If you were transported into the MCU and had to trade places with one of the superheroes, who would you choose?<br /></h2>
<div>
Um . . . none of them?! I wouldn't last five minutes.</div>
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<div>
I think I'll borrow Christine's answer and say Ant-Man, because he seems to have the calmest life of the bunch.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfuvS7sc7wqNFRdMYPDO8c6_BeWfYgrwGPyTZcbKPV9z9bisYm0KVGZVEKslHOetn_7MoofPSaOPjTrzK6DAzX9W892MQM6TD5bI6UBFvGLZotFxIdImScSa5led4Z7nwmoXf6ZerUM3Y/s1600/4d50b62181ba9ef0c44e021184db47fe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="644" data-original-width="564" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfuvS7sc7wqNFRdMYPDO8c6_BeWfYgrwGPyTZcbKPV9z9bisYm0KVGZVEKslHOetn_7MoofPSaOPjTrzK6DAzX9W892MQM6TD5bI6UBFvGLZotFxIdImScSa5led4Z7nwmoXf6ZerUM3Y/s320/4d50b62181ba9ef0c44e021184db47fe.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scott Lang // <a href="https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/209839663874617034/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></td></tr>
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<u><span style="color: #000120;"></span></u><br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
But I'd take Thor's place on Asgard prior to<i> Ragnarok</i>, because it's pretty cool. Oooh, or Hawkeye whenever he gets a chance to chill on his farm with his kids.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7B8q-pUO2ai9ZPD57mIan7wmwYmWwx5dP8jgjFXQ6-Me3v6qKkVM2kS-LIrOxJuyOad4WW9fu0vkY6BgLFwH0PFfA_5ZM9bZrLkAquXRDnj5SbubFWznSb2NxJCBPQnl4Ur5glN3HBCM/s1600/cc2a1ced5a1a6184711596eab6ac7b77.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="563" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7B8q-pUO2ai9ZPD57mIan7wmwYmWwx5dP8jgjFXQ6-Me3v6qKkVM2kS-LIrOxJuyOad4WW9fu0vkY6BgLFwH0PFfA_5ZM9bZrLkAquXRDnj5SbubFWznSb2NxJCBPQnl4Ur5glN3HBCM/s320/cc2a1ced5a1a6184711596eab6ac7b77.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hawkeye // <a href="https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/ATNhTlPHvpQWxKrtY2brxvV6PBm-UbO-1fM63JlQgdf29YKnGjJSEsM/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
5. What are some of your favorite quotes from the films?<br /></h2>
<div>
How many am I allowed to pick?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"You get hurt, hurt 'em back. You get killed, walk it off." -Captain America (<i>Age of Ultron</i>)</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i></i><i></i><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"Oh, we're using our made up names." -Spider-Man (<i>Infinity War</i>)</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"Get this man a shield." -Black Panther (<i>Infinity War</i>)</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"He's a friend from work!" -Thor (<i>Ragnarok</i>)</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FeiAxtiLWJWGSKUBbJPe08exRy3MCOm2MQId2hA_ogQ6zI9IS2jlKximpN2uFtg8NOtNvLbXo6YaHSJkbPkUuZwnnHsjgrqFPyimHMQ9tzUZrzWUFGxSJJnY6KIYRzIGlkhkCvMHlio/s1600/5b2230d96316f88fe17f201d73bc336f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="530" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FeiAxtiLWJWGSKUBbJPe08exRy3MCOm2MQId2hA_ogQ6zI9IS2jlKximpN2uFtg8NOtNvLbXo6YaHSJkbPkUuZwnnHsjgrqFPyimHMQ9tzUZrzWUFGxSJJnY6KIYRzIGlkhkCvMHlio/s320/5b2230d96316f88fe17f201d73bc336f.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hulk & Thor // <a href="https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/833728949741802220/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"Elevator's not worthy." -Captain America (<i>Age of Ultron</i>)</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"Even if the whole world is telling you to move, it is your duty to plant yourself like a tree, look them in the eye, and say, 'No, you move.'" -Sharon Carter (<i>Civil War</i>)</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"I promise you brother, the sun will shine on us again." -Loki (<i>Infinity War</i>)</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"Language!" -Captain America (<i>Age of Ultron</i>)</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"Doth Mother know you weareth her drapes?" -Iron Man (<i>The Avengers</i>)</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"I've mastered the ability of standing so incredibly still that I become invisible to the eye. Watch." -Drax (<i>Infinity War</i>)</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"I recognize that the council has made a decision, but given that it's a stupid-a** decision, I've elected to ignore it." -Nick Fury (<i>The Avengers</i>)</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"Don't do anything stupid until I get back."</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"How can I? You're taking all the stupid with you."</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>-Bucky Barnes and Steve Rogers (<i>The First Avenger</i>)</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"Do you know how to fly this thing?"</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"We'll see."</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"That's a yes or no question."</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"Yes."</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>-Nick Fury and Carol Danvers (<i>Captain Marvel</i>)</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i></i><i></i><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"Well done, you just decapitated your grandfather!" -Loki (<i>The Dark World</i>)</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"I'm Mary Poppins, y'all!" -Yondu (<i>Guardians of the Galaxy Volume II</i>)</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
Okay, I'll stop here. There's way too many more!</div>
<div>
<b></b><i></i><i></i><i></i><i></i><i></i><i></i><i></i><i></i><i></i><b></b><i></i><i></i><i></i><i></i><i></i><i></i><b></b><i></i><i></i><i></i><i></i><i></i><i></i><i></i><br /></div>
<h2>
6. Which crew would you want to be part of the most: Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, or Revengers?</h2>
<br />
The Avengers, hands down!<br />
<h2>
<br />7. Favorite and least favorite ship?</h2>
<br />
Steve and Peggy are one of my favs. And . . . hmm. I feel like the MCU excels in bromances and friendship in general, but I can't think of very many romance pairings that I really, really love. Wait--if we're counting the Amazing Spider-Man films, then I adore Peter and Gwen together.<br />
<br />
Least favorite ship? I'm not sure on that one either. I guess Bruce and Natasha.<br />
<h2>
<br />8. Favorite and least favorite villain?<br /></h2>
Favorite: LOKIIII. But I do get tired of the fangirls who excuse his crimes just because he's "misunderstood." He is that, but he also made some horrendous decisions. If he wasn't so charismatic, I doubt he'd be nearly as popular as he is. The reason I love Loki's character is because he's complicated--he has the potential for good and evil, and we see him waver between the two.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMzbxHdSa9B6JGHXIyMtHzv5IdF_7TVsiBotZHyWQhgEmjye3BsdsU_XxHeJpHKDFJ3gvdQs3zdk6cgTweudMKt6uZNUmGOCeWCtUG_xzkz1nDMEp0RBUDHHRKbY9NwMsbBgxvv65gCw/s1600/4fd096ad0aef9d6be8acc4f2db8d4145.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="415" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMzbxHdSa9B6JGHXIyMtHzv5IdF_7TVsiBotZHyWQhgEmjye3BsdsU_XxHeJpHKDFJ3gvdQs3zdk6cgTweudMKt6uZNUmGOCeWCtUG_xzkz1nDMEp0RBUDHHRKbY9NwMsbBgxvv65gCw/s320/4fd096ad0aef9d6be8acc4f2db8d4145.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loki // <a href="https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/379991287304854536/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Least favorite: Abomination from<i> The Incredible Hulk</i>. First of all, that's probably my least favorite Marvel movie, and second, Abomination is just plain ugly to look at.<br />
<h2>
<br />9. Unpopular MCU opinion?<br /></h2>
Ultron is a fantastic villain. I'm not sure why people give him--and the whole movie--a hard time. He was perfectly chilling, the way he learned and planned and spoke as an AI.<br />
<br />
<b>"Everyone creates the thing they dread. Men of peace create engines of war. Invaders create Avengers. People create... smaller people? Er... children! I lost the word there. Children. Designed to supplant them. To help them... end."</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #d5d4d4; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
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<br />
<br />
Plus we have the bonus of Ultron being Tony Stark's fear-fuelled creation. Yay for internal conflict becoming external conflict!<br />
<h2>
<br />10. What’s your favorite Stan Lee cameo scene?</h2>
<br />
CHRISTINE, STOP MAKING ME PICK. I laughed every time Stan Lee showed up on screen. It's going to be so different not to see him anymore.<br />
<br />
But okay, if I have to choose, it's the "Tony Stank" comment in<i> Civil War</i>, but I also love the "Did it work?" line when he tries towing Mjolnir in the first Thor movie.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Thanks for letting me steal the tag, Christine! It's the perfect way to reminisce on all the Marvel adventures we've been given thus far . . . right before I go have my heart shredded for three hours in the theater.</h3>
<br />
<h2>
Who's ready to see<i> Avengers: Endgame</i>? Have you seen it already? (Let's keep the comments spoiler-free for that movie if you have!) And tell me YOUR favorite Marvel character and Marvel quote!</h2>
Tracey Dyckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-88001616854591287492019-03-31T08:30:00.000-05:002019-03-31T08:30:07.536-05:004 Years of Adventures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVeV2OmlXg2Dz5TDcj7v2O_bWvpqzNGgRx9wttjSn1WphxrCM0xhuCWnLMBirSTfhMYpvk4ugH6imQ5vqtkW8MTJ0SkH1JLGVUtI9r73DuXl_IDzYFJ4w7hsooA5JhmruKhm7YK-AClqM/s1600/4+years+of+adventures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVeV2OmlXg2Dz5TDcj7v2O_bWvpqzNGgRx9wttjSn1WphxrCM0xhuCWnLMBirSTfhMYpvk4ugH6imQ5vqtkW8MTJ0SkH1JLGVUtI9r73DuXl_IDzYFJ4w7hsooA5JhmruKhm7YK-AClqM/s640/4+years+of+adventures.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /><br />
My, how time has flown! Adventure Awaits is past its toddler stage and is now four years old! (Who am I kidding, though; it's still a Very Small Child.)<br />
<br /><br />
Despite my spotty absences in the past seven months, I treasure this space. And the reason I treasure it is because of <em>you!</em> This is a gathering place for book dragons and adventurers and old souls. I've met so many wonderful people in the comments here. So thank you! If you've ever read a post or left a comment or two or a hundred, I appreciate you!<br />
<br /><br />
To celebrate four years of bloggerly adventures with all of you, I've dreamt up some reminiscent lists. Read on, friend. There might be some announcement-type items at the end.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Four Friends I've Met Through Blogging</h2>
I could probably list <em>400</em> friends I've met through Adventure Awaits (okay, maybe not quite that many), but four that spring to mind are . . .<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://jenelleschmidt.com/" target="_blank">Jenelle Schmidt</a> - half of the brainpower behind the Silmarillion Awards, a lovely author, and supermom of four hobbits</li>
<li><a href="http://sunshineandscribblings.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mary Horton</a> - if it weren't for her adorably long comment years ago, I never would've met this lovely friend who steadfastly holds to the light</li>
<li><a href="https://tobeashennachie.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Blue</a> - this fellow old soul deserves a gold star for her loyalty and faithful commenting</li>
<li><a href="http://sparrowsflysouth.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Emily</a> - who became my Scottish pen pal and critique partner thanks to bonding over each others blogs</li>
</ul>
<div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
These four ladies are dear friends whom I probably wouldn't have met otherwise! And I honestly could sit here all day listing <em>so</em> many more, along with friends I met elsewhere but have since connected with through blogging as well. YOU ARE ALL AMAZING.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Four Guest Posts</h2>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPjUtcH-dnsZuyPcqNn9kIyEnSOFkvSS2HMa7VqfwVSPpd1cSFaNOZk2d3H69HqFAEC-ZFpk8CH_RsxGQhVmaa67wpsOk6Pmr0CmIQRM_8uEQrt_DGYPKU-RDRsKSuj1zBZW0sQV6RWk/s1600/paper+crowns+cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPjUtcH-dnsZuyPcqNn9kIyEnSOFkvSS2HMa7VqfwVSPpd1cSFaNOZk2d3H69HqFAEC-ZFpk8CH_RsxGQhVmaa67wpsOk6Pmr0CmIQRM_8uEQrt_DGYPKU-RDRsKSuj1zBZW0sQV6RWk/s320/paper+crowns+cover.png" width="210" /></a>We've seen a modest number of interviews and guest posts over the years, but here are four particularly good ones.</div>
<br />
<br />
<ul style="border-image: none;">
<li><a href="http://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2016/03/four-elements-of-successful-villain.html" target="_blank">Four Elements of a Successful Villain by Josiah Dyck</a> // oh look, we're really sticking with the "four" theme (also hi, that's my brother)</li>
<li><a href="https://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2016/09/guest-post-interview-with-christine.html" target="_blank">Interview with Christine Smith</a> // one of my favorite writers shares about her writing life and process</li>
<li><a href="https://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2016/05/paper-crowns-blog-tour-interview-with.html" target="_blank">Paper Crowns Blog Tour / Interview with Mirriam Neal</a> // in which a writer/artist I admire talks about the fluffy wonderfulness called <em>Paper Crowns</em></li>
<li><a href="https://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2015/10/interview-with-artist-kianna-giesbrecht.html" target="_blank">Interview with Artist Kianna Giesbrecht</a> // I wish I could show you how far her art has come since this post, but what's here is already stunning</li>
</ul>
<br /><br />
<ul>
</ul>
<div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Four Special Things I've Written for the Blog</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2017/09/hey-dreamer.html" target="_blank">hey dreamer</a> // a love letter to creatives and dreamers everywhere</li>
<li><a href="https://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2016/10/the-cage-spooky-story.html" target="_blank">The Cage</a> // a creepy story for Halloween</li>
<li><a href="https://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2017/07/fantasy-in-my-veins-silmawards2017.html" target="_blank">Fantasy in My Veins</a> // not a fictional story, but a tribute to the mark that fantasy has made on my life</li>
<li><a href="https://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2016/08/starting-sparks-rewritten.html" target="_blank">Rewritten</a> // a self-aware look at the torture characters go through (mwahaha)</li>
</ul>
And as a bonus (yep, we're breaking the rule of four), here's <a href="https://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2016/01/starting-sparks-ann-marie.html" target="_blank">Ann Marie</a>. As it turns out, this is one of the very earliest inspirations for my main work-in-progress, <em>The Brightest Thread.</em> I didn't know at the time that a spark from that flash fiction would become a faint echo in TBT!<br />
<div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Four Struggles of Blogging</h2>
<ul>
<li><strong>Finding ideas!</strong> I'm out of practice due to college life, but blogger's block happens even when I'm posting regularly.</li>
</ul>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/d5/3c/3d/d53c3d789d74185a8faf649f60e20a62.jpg?b=t" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Searching For Inspiration - Writers Write" border="0" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/d5/3c/3d/d53c3d789d74185a8faf649f60e20a62.jpg?b=t" width="320" /></a></div>
<ul style="border-image: none;">
<li><strong>Taking the time to visit other blogs.</strong> I've been almost completely MIA on my friends' blogs lately, and I want to find a way to change that!</li>
</ul>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="border-image: none;">
<li><strong>Imposter syndrome.</strong> You know how it goes. "Who am I to speak to others? What do I have to teach? I'm no expert. Who am I to inspire anyone? I'm as messed up as they are. I'm not like what people think I am." It's a load of garbage, but we probably all face those thoughts from time to time.</li>
</ul>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="border-image: none;">
<li><strong>Balancing authenticity and privacy.<em> </em></strong>I love sharing life with you all, but sometimes it's hard to know how <em>much</em> of life to share online.</li>
</ul>
<div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Four Joys of Blogging</h2>
<ul>
<li><strong>Connecting with followers and other bloggers.<em> </em></strong>You all are the best, okay? I can't say it enough. It's the relationships formed that make this so fun and rewarding!</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><strong>Writing discipline.<em> </em></strong>Not counting these past few months (*cough*), blogging has helped me regularly exercise my writing muscles. Holding myself accountable to a schedule means learning how to show up to the table even when the Muse declines the invitation.</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="border-image: none;">
<li><strong>Reflection.</strong> My monthly Subplots and Storylines posts are signposts showing me how far I've come, inspirational posts cause me to reflect, and others force me to define my thoughts. It's a good exercise, putting what's in my head into actual words.
</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/33/71/de/3371de412aba153e865c144468209c98.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="23 Awesome Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About “The Lego Movie” Vitruvius’ line, “Ah, we gotta write all that down ‘cause I’m not gonna remember any of it, but here we go,” wasn’t originally in the script. It was only added when Morgan Freeman said it during filming because he was frustrated with all the line changes." border="0" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="126" src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/33/71/de/3371de412aba153e865c144468209c98.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<ul style="border-image: none;">
<li><strong>Making a difference.</strong> I won't bother to <em>quantify</em> what sort of difference I make here. That's impossible. But I have long dreamed of lighting hearts aflame with words. Publishing is a long, long journey, so it has been pretty incredible in the meantime to send words into a corner of the world and (hopefully) fan a few flames.</li>
</ul>
<div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Four Things I've Learned About Blogging</h2>
<ul>
<li><strong>It's not about me.</strong> I mean, YES, obviously I talk about myself here. Quite a bit, in fact. But I am gradually learning that the purpose of my journey is not <em>me.</em> My highs and lows are, in fact, a means of connecting to others taking their own journeys. And so I try to structure my posts as a means of illustration and companionship to make your path a little better.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><strong>It's okay to talk about me.</strong> Doesn't that contradict the first point? No, because part of that companionship is me being <em>me</em>. Offering up a piece of myself, however silly and trivial or deep and heartfelt. We need each other. It's actually inspiring to hear someone ramble about what they're passionate about or share a story of what they're going through! I can recognize that in others, so it's about time I recognize that in myself.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><strong>We are lazy readers.</strong> Short paragraphs. Lots of images. Lots of white space. Easy to read fonts and light colored backgrounds. Please and thank you.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><strong>When the well runs dry, there's a good chance you've stopped adventuring.</strong> This applies to all of life, all of creativity. You can't write about new things if you're not experiencing new things. It's hard to produce good content if you're not living life, dreaming dreams, meeting people, getting things done, etc. Get out and go on an adventure. Live a life worth writing about!</li>
</ul>
<div align="center">
<img alt="I got You're free-spirited and adventurous.! The Color You Love Most Will Reveal A Deep Truth About You" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/e1/d3/8c/e1d38cb844e54c668666ad3144970520.gif" /></div>
<ul>
</ul>
<div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Four Ways I'm Going to Improve as a Blogger</h2>
College is over in just one month! Which means I'll have time to sweep out the dust bunnies around here and start posting more often. I've learned a <em>l o t</em> in the past couple of years, and I'm excited to start executing on some of those things! So here are four ways I plan to improve as a blogger.<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><strong>We are moving house!</strong> Yes sirree, if you missed the mentions in earlier posts, Adventure Awaits is going to pack up and move to a self-hosted website. Blogger has served me well, but I would like to step it up in terms of design and professionalism. Tentative moving date is the <strong>end of April/sometime in May!</strong> Don't worry, I'll keep you all in the loop and make sure that migrating to the new platform goes as smoothly as possible.</li>
</ul>
<br /><br />
<ul>
<li><strong>Post regularly.</strong> No explanation needed there!</li>
</ul>
<br /><br />
<ul>
<li><strong>Hone my focus.</strong> I'm going to zoom in on my niche (once I define what that is for me) so that I can offer you sharper, more valuable content on a consistent basis!</li>
</ul>
<br /><br />
<ul>
<li><strong>Launch my super secret project.</strong> Yeah, everyone and their pet dragon has a "super secret project," and yeah, you might've forgotten mine because it's been forever since I dropped a hint. But! It is stillll on the backburner! And I'm more excited than ever to get it going for real. (Note: the fact that this secret project is listed under <em>improvements as a blogger</em> might be a big hint in and of itself.)</li>
</ul>
<br /><br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Well, friends, let's pass out the chocolate cake and break out the balloons. Thanks for popping by for my fourth blogoversary! I'm looking forward to many more years with you!</h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(I couldn't resist, Four.)</td></tr>
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Tracey Dyckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-17693380208971411522019-03-03T20:14:00.002-06:002019-03-03T20:14:43.796-06:00Subplots & Storylines - January & February 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVVHQMU2T1Lsk5FAgciQQ67TzRiI9MzwJvBO3nolmQn9y3vtDwnafQq2aoOmL61llCIjqQHOv7n_QpHP10MVL3-paXMAIbcuUj0TaWBmZsQRfe-RGDTgWetUcZpT0i8MuiHiClSxgkLc/s1600/subplots+and+storylines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVVHQMU2T1Lsk5FAgciQQ67TzRiI9MzwJvBO3nolmQn9y3vtDwnafQq2aoOmL61llCIjqQHOv7n_QpHP10MVL3-paXMAIbcuUj0TaWBmZsQRfe-RGDTgWetUcZpT0i8MuiHiClSxgkLc/s640/subplots+and+storylines.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
Well hi there. Things have gone radio silent around here over the past seven weeks, huh? This final semester of college is a real doozy so far, and it's been such a frigid winter I think my brain froze. But . . . <strong>I got my first library card</strong> in January, so #priorities, yay!<br />
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In other good news, I'm done midterm exams, which means I'm that much closer to graduating, which means we'll be returning to a regular posting schedule soon. <em>Thank heavens</em>, you're all thinking! . . . Right? Right. You've all been wasting away here in my absence, I'm sure. *cough*<br />
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Speaking of which, the main life update to share with you is that I'll be starting <strong>a brand new job</strong> after college! It's exactly the sort of position I was hoping for. Having everything in place ahead of time is a huge relief and answer to prayer.<br />
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But now--on to the mini reviews of everything I watched and read during the first two months of 2019! Buckle up!<br />
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Screen Subplots</h2>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-cthref="http://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj6ooq1refgAhXNoYMKHQKcApgQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fanpop.com%2Fclubs%2Fonce-upon-a-time%2Fimages%2F40766650%2Ftitle%2Fonce-upon-time-garden-forking-paths-7x03-promotional-picture-photo&psig=AOvVaw3Q9LpeBVGTyjPkdfJBYg0E&ust=1551749943952307" data-ved="2ahUKEwiExInarefgAhUI0YMKHalSCt4QjRx6BAgBEAU" href="https://www.ibtimes.com.au/once-upon-time-season-7-episode-3-cinderellas-dark-secret-1560691" id="irc_mil" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;focus:irc.rl;irc.il;" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Related image" data-iml="1551663711099" height="356" id="irc_mi" src="https://www.ibtimes.com.au/sites/au.ibtimes.com/files/styles/v2_article_large/public/2017/10/19/once-upon-time.jpg?itok=t6xGQcS2" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Looking at you, Miss Poofy Dress*)</td></tr>
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<strong>Once Upon a Time // Season 7 (episodes 1-3)</strong><br />
Final opinions are, of course, suspended until I finish the season, but so far I'm having more fun <em>making fun</em> of Season 7 than I am actually watching it. Oops. Everything is different and they got rid of some favorite characters, replacing them with super bratty ones.* I'm also in the dark on most people's motives right now--hopefully they actually come to light and make sense!<br />
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<em><u>January Films</u></em></div>
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<a data-cthref="http://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjM8LuZrufgAhVGxYMKHYMhCfkQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.venom.movie%2F&psig=AOvVaw39JwTUlPmS_tEDKc_XeYFt&ust=1551750198347681" data-ved="2ahUKEwjM8LuZrufgAhVGxYMKHYMhCfkQjRx6BAgBEAU" href="http://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjM8LuZrufgAhVGxYMKHYMhCfkQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.venom.movie%2F&psig=AOvVaw39JwTUlPmS_tEDKc_XeYFt&ust=1551750198347681" id="irc_mil" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;focus:irc.rl;irc.il;" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor;"><img alt="Image result for venom" data-iml="1551663844109" src="http://www.venom.movie/discanddigital/images/share.jpg" height="336" id="irc_mi" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="640" /></a> </div>
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<strong>Venom</strong><br />
I WAS SURPRISED. Pleasantly surprised! Venom was never my favorite dude, and I'd heard this movie was gross and dark. But while it was darker than, say, <em>Captain America</em> . . I really liked it! So many laughs, so much suspense, and such a well-drawn villain.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">For those wondering about content, most decapitations occurred off-screen, but I wouldn't recommend it for young or sensitive viewers.</span><br />
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<em><u>February Films</u></em></div>
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<em><a data-cthref="/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjK9rS2rufgAhWW3oMKHUZNCKAQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2F819725569653089239%2F&psig=AOvVaw06dInAF1cC9uRtKf01IoT8&ust=1551750268662946" data-ved="2ahUKEwjK9rS2rufgAhWW3oMKHUZNCKAQjRx6BAgBEAU" href="https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjK9rS2rufgAhWW3oMKHUZNCKAQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2F819725569653089239%2F&psig=AOvVaw06dInAF1cC9uRtKf01IoT8&ust=1551750268662946" id="irc_mil" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;focus:irc.rl;irc.il;" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor;"><img alt="Image result for the grinch 2018" data-iml="1551663904978" height="358" id="irc_mi" src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/4b/4f/00/4b4f003c73f866e350c014ca54207bb6.png" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="640" /></a> </em></div>
<em>
</em><strong>The Grinch (2018)</strong><br />
Eh. So Benedict Cumberbatch voiced the green guy himself. That's great. The rest of it was pretty ho-hum, like they took the original movie and doubled the length without adding anything significant. (But I'm guessing young kids would enjoy it anyway.)<br />
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<a data-ved="2ahUKEwi6rdf3rufgAhWM44MKHbeKDesQjRx6BAgBEAU" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2019/01/17/box-office-lego-movie-2-might-gross-less-than-lego-movie-and-thats-okay/" id="irc_mil" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;focus:irc.rl;irc.il;" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor;"><img alt="Related image" data-iml="1551664041662" height="267" id="irc_mi" src="https://thumbor.forbes.com/thumbor/960x0/https%3A%2F%2Fblogs-images.forbes.com%2Fscottmendelson%2Ffiles%2F2018%2F06%2FLG2-T1-0038-1200x503.jpg" style="margin-top: 7px;" width="640" /></a></div>
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<strong>The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part</strong><br />
I looooved The Lego Movie, and I'm happy to report that I liked the second instalment just as much! The only thing it's missing is some of the novelty of the first one, but that's hard to replicate in a sequel, so I forgive it. Aside from that, there were plenty of dazzling visuals, romping adventures, one-liners, and clever twists of old tropes (and twists of the twists, imagine that!).<br />
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Also . . .<br />
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<em>"This song's gonna get stuck inside your he-e-ead!"</em><br />
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It did. It very much did.<br />
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Page Storylines</h2>
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<em><u>January Reads</u></em><br />
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<a data-cthref="/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjIj6uar-fgAhVL4YMKHfWVBcgQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.goodreads.com%2Fbook%2Fshow%2F21795840-a-time-to-die&psig=AOvVaw2HbDHNnttnsdyyqmRkGjOS&ust=1551750456295830" data-ved="2ahUKEwjIj6uar-fgAhVL4YMKHfWVBcgQjRx6BAgBEAU" href="https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjIj6uar-fgAhVL4YMKHfWVBcgQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.goodreads.com%2Fbook%2Fshow%2F21795840-a-time-to-die&psig=AOvVaw2HbDHNnttnsdyyqmRkGjOS&ust=1551750456295830" id="irc_mil" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;focus:irc.rl;irc.il;" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for a time to die nadine brandes" data-iml="1551664114504" height="356" id="irc_mi" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1400097364l/21795840.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="230" /></a></div>
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<strong>A Time to Die (reread) // Nadine Brandes</strong><br />
I reviewed this book back when I first read it in November 2017 <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1677007670" target="_blank">(check it out on Goodreads here!)</a> but it still deeply touched me the second time around. <strong>5 stars!</strong><br />
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<strong>Mark of the Thief (audiobook) // Jennifer A. Nielsen</strong><br />
This wasn't as good as <em>The False Prince</em>, but still entertaining. I liked how Ancient Rome was fused with fantasy, incorporating mythology and even some history.<br />
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Where this book fell short for me was in character motivations. Our protagonist, Nicolas, seemed to care about his friends and family only when it was convenient to the plot. And when other interesting things were happening? Well, he completely forgot about them. (For the minor spoilers on this, check out my <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2656065288" target="_blank">Goodreads review</a>.)</div>
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Other characters: Auralia had an attitude that came across a bit more caustic than snarkily endearing, and Crispus, although nice enough, was kind of arrogant.</div>
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Anyway. I did like the “One Ring” vibes the magical bulla was giving, and Caela the griffin was cool (because GRIFFINS). The pacing of the plot was quick and enjoyable too, so <strong>3.5 stars.</strong></div>
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<em><u>February Reads</u></em></div>
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<a data-cthref="/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwixmJn8r-fgAhXIo4MKHc5JCigQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fnadinebrandes.com%2Fbooktable%2Fa-time-to-speak%2F&psig=AOvVaw3eddgwoNr-s97jyU6Us9fY&ust=1551750633609152" data-ved="2ahUKEwixmJn8r-fgAhXIo4MKHc5JCigQjRx6BAgBEAU" href="https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwixmJn8r-fgAhXIo4MKHc5JCigQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fnadinebrandes.com%2Fbooktable%2Fa-time-to-speak%2F&psig=AOvVaw3eddgwoNr-s97jyU6Us9fY&ust=1551750633609152" id="irc_mil" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;focus:irc.rl;irc.il;" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for a time to speak nadine brandes" data-iml="1551664321458" height="356" id="irc_mi" src="https://i0.wp.com/nadinebrandes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/ATimetoSpeak5.jpg?resize=259%2C400&ssl=1" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="231" /></a></div>
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<strong>A Time to Speak // Nadine Brandes</strong><br />
Well, there goes my heart in a hundred pieces. Nadine Brandes did it again.<br />
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I can’t tell you how much Parvin’s journey is resonating with me. I wish I’d known her five years ago, but I’m glad to have met her now. She’s grown so much since the beginning of the first book—in purpose, in courage, and in tenderness.</div>
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And that shattered heart I mentioned? Every piece of it was stolen by Solomon Hawke, and I don’t think he plans to give it back. He and Parvin share one of the most solid and mature relationships I’ve ever read in YA!</div>
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I won’t even begin to flail over the plot, because there’s no way I want to spoil it for anyone! But I will say that . . .</div>
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a) Nothing is easy</div>
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b) Not everyone survives</div>
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c) Everything is vivid—the pain, the cold, the hunger, the hope<br />
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That’s what I love about this trilogy. It’s a gritty dystopian—like we’ve all seen before—except there’s hope burning brightly in the midst of darkness. And with that ending? Yeah, it’s way more meaningful than any other dystopian I’ve read. <strong>5 stars!</strong></div>
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<a href="https://i1.wp.com/nadinebrandes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/ATimetoRise_6_29.jpg?resize=388%2C600&ssl=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for a time to rise nadine brandes" border="0" height="400" src="https://i1.wp.com/nadinebrandes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/ATimetoRise_6_29.jpg?resize=388%2C600&ssl=1" width="258" /></a></div>
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<strong><strong>A Time to Rise // Nadine Brandes</strong></strong></div>
I was terrified for everyone during the majority of this book, but I’m pleased to say that after shattering my heart in all three books of this trilogy, Nadine Brandes did in fact manage to put it back together again!<br />
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The hope and contentment at the end is something most dystopian stories don’t have. It took pages of pain and stumbling to reach it. But we made it. Parvin made it, and I’m so proud of her.</div>
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My only complaint is that there were a couple spots I felt antsy and removed from the action, but on the plus side, it was nice to have a young heroine who isn’t the sole person responsible for saving the world. So . . . I can’t complain much. <strong>5 stars! </strong>Overall, this trilogy is a favorite!</div>
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P.S. I totally need a dogsled ride now!<br />
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P.P.S. Solomon is still one of the best love interests EVER.<br />
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<strong><strong>Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire // J.K. Rowling</strong></strong></div>
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I'm still reeling! Smack dab in the middle of the series, this book has the charm of the first three, but definitely takes a turn for the darker. Something I love about Rowling's writing is that she spends the first half of the book fooling you into thinking this is all fun and games and unrelated side quests--and then pulls everything together at the end. Everything is significant.</div>
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A few thoughts . . .</div>
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Harry is getting a backbone!</div>
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Ron is utterly clueless about girls.</div>
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Hermione is still a mini-me.</div>
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Snuffles!</div>
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It was fun getting a wider view of the wizarding world, what with the Quidditch World Cup, portkeys, and the Triwizard Tournament.</div>
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I didn't expect most of the plot twists!</div>
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That. Ending. Oh my goodness. *screeches* That was terrifyingly good and would've given me nightmares as a child!</div>
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I could ramble on if I let myself, but I shan't, because I want to keep this spoiler-free. (Side note: I went through this as a read-along with a few friends and 10/10 recommend the experience!) <strong>5 stars!</strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiWuupsIpyKEDIezKP5GIrlz_t6x_ul9N84uYfAkRgq61bms_WuW2dkZVnTiZIypLv35IeMmwLE9A24_RKsPwce_qZHy8kKGhFbHgHhp2KLCDtMbDrYAHYDRUT-XCMHPue8uVaw_NAvk/s1600/sofi+snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="312" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiWuupsIpyKEDIezKP5GIrlz_t6x_ul9N84uYfAkRgq61bms_WuW2dkZVnTiZIypLv35IeMmwLE9A24_RKsPwce_qZHy8kKGhFbHgHhp2KLCDtMbDrYAHYDRUT-XCMHPue8uVaw_NAvk/s400/sofi+snow.jpg" width="262" /></a></div>
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<br />
<strong>The Evaporation of Sofi Snow // Mary Weber</strong><br />
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</strong>That ending wrecked me. (And here I thought the <em>Storm Siren</em> trilogy cliffhangers were bad.)<br />
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But let me back up a bit. <em>The Evaporation of Sofi Snow</em> was exactly the cool, techy, futuristic sci-fi novel I wanted, but that’s not what made me love it.<br />
<br />
What I loved were the characters. Broken, bruised characters with scarred pasts. Characters running from guilt. Characters clinging to the very few good things left in their lives.<br />
<br />
What I loved was the gut-wrenching heart of the story. I knew that this book speaks on human trafficking, but I wasn’t prepared to flip the pages faster and faster, heart in my throat, as I witnessed the brokenness of humanity shouting from within the pages of a fictional world. <br />
<br />
<em>Rabbit trail: It’s books like these that are driving Christian fiction in the right direction. Some of you reading this review may not be comfortable with the light smattering of language, or mentions of sex, or references to characters sleeping around, or the depiction of the horrors of trafficking. It’s not pretty. But given the context, I think it was necessary. I think the grittiness was important, and wasn’t there for its own sake; it was there as a rolling up of the sleeves, a digging into the dirt to get to the root of deep pain. There are souls living the same pain that are crying out to be seen, accepted, and healed. They—we—need books like these.</em> <br />
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(Rabbit trail over.)<br />
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After devouring book 1, I am so eager to dive into the sequel ASAP! Thank heavens it’s sitting ready on my shelf. (I'm currently reading the climax, actually!)<strong></strong><div>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Written Subplots</h2>
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Nothing to see here that you don't already know! But in case you missed it, <a href="http://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2019/01/dead-magic-im-published-in-havok.html" target="_blank"><em>Dead Magic</em> appeared in Havok</a>--and has since been selected for consideration in the printed anthology!!! <a href="http://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2019/01/guest-post-how-realm-makers-impacted-my.html" target="_blank">I also guest posted on Realm Makers' blog</a> in January.<br />
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<br />
No actual writing occurred these past two months, sadly. I took a peek at <em>The Brightest Thread</em>. Once. I sighed wistfully and then went back to homework.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Your turn, friend! What's 2019 looking like so far? What's the last series you binge-read? Have you seen any of those movies? Let's chat--I've missed you all!</h3>
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Tracey Dyckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-86679373103812894132019-01-26T15:35:00.005-06:002019-01-26T15:35:58.064-06:00Guest Post - How Realm Makers Impacted My Writing JourneyEarlier this week, I had the honor of guest posting for the Realm Makers blog! So in lieu of a new post here on Adventure Awaits, I'll just drop the link here: <a href="https://realmmakers.net/how-realm-makers-impacted-my-writing-journey/" target="_blank">How Realm Makers Impacted My Writing Journey.</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSLoMQaLsHdhZOFTcuGvUQRYMALF8j5JtsxwdZBozLUBOp6h49Wy3GIsv-a3DDrx73MrFjbaT6ntG_1hlY0nBR4jTk8AyJiHS_BlMlF9AwL6sDM5-MbNudFk3gKNdKITR_cxPSOxVxkfc/s1600/2019_01_21_blog-bannerRM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSLoMQaLsHdhZOFTcuGvUQRYMALF8j5JtsxwdZBozLUBOp6h49Wy3GIsv-a3DDrx73MrFjbaT6ntG_1hlY0nBR4jTk8AyJiHS_BlMlF9AwL6sDM5-MbNudFk3gKNdKITR_cxPSOxVxkfc/s1600/2019_01_21_blog-bannerRM.png" /></a></div>
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It's a particularly timely topic for those of you who might be considering attending this year's conference, because registration opens on February 1st! (Wink, wink.)<br />
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Tally ho! These days of me being an MIA blogger are numbered, friends. Thanks for bearing with me.Tracey Dyckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-73084472677305081572019-01-17T07:00:00.000-06:002019-01-17T07:00:05.589-06:00DEAD MAGIC - I'm Published in Havok!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hey, friends! Just popping in to say that if you haven't heard yet, my story called <em>Dead Magic</em> is published on Havok's website! You can go read it right <a href="https://gohavok.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</div>
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But remember, it's available <em><u>today only</u></em> unless you're a paid subscriber to Havok.</div>
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Hope you enjoy it! I'd love to interact with you in the comment section over there throughout the day. Tally ho!</div>
<br />Tracey Dyckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-22183054331763089002019-01-12T20:08:00.000-06:002019-01-12T20:08:11.787-06:002018 Recap // 2019 Goals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHGX9_UcnHYe8XweeT-F4rlBhfc20fZyctdhXdljSc0cqMTwjJotXJc4TzO-A_yLhgaeyMIQitm2VDMaRaFmBZwcBRB5K-y7AwjiIxkamDdNfKtBVZ-U4i93AT6FBBFbxeq-2Ni6OTr4/s1600/2018recap2019goals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHGX9_UcnHYe8XweeT-F4rlBhfc20fZyctdhXdljSc0cqMTwjJotXJc4TzO-A_yLhgaeyMIQitm2VDMaRaFmBZwcBRB5K-y7AwjiIxkamDdNfKtBVZ-U4i93AT6FBBFbxeq-2Ni6OTr4/s640/2018recap2019goals.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A crisp new morning. The wide open feeling of new potential. This is January--or rather, it's my <em>idealized</em> January. At this time of year, I find myself reflecting on what the past 365 days have been like and where I hope to go in the next 365. It's definitely been a journey.<br />
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At the beginning of 2018, I slowed down and took a different approach to goal-setting. You can read about it here: <a href="http://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2018/01/what-lies-on-horizon.html" target="_blank">What Lies on the Horizon</a>. Today let's look at those goals and see if I hit them.<br />
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
2018 Goals</h2>
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<strong><span style="color: #38761d;">Organize my beta readers' feedback on <em>The Brightest Thread.</em></span></strong> Check! It was one whale of a job, but I did manage to wrangle all the feedback into one place and took an objective look at the critiques. (And smiled at the fangirly comments, let's be honest.)<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #38761d;">Try my hand at flash fiction and submit to a magazine.</span></strong> What do you know, I managed that too! I wrote a few flash fics, and <em>Dead Magic</em> was accepted by Havok. Details coming VERY soon!<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #38761d;">Edit <em>The Brigh<span style="color: red;">test</span> <span style="color: red;">Thread</span></em><span style="color: red;">.</span></span> </strong>I made progress on that front, for sure. The beginning of the novel gave me a hard time (how dare it), but the first 22,000 words are now in pretty good shape. I think. It's been a while since I looked at it, thanks to college.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: red;">Start querying literary agents.</span> </strong>Nope, I didn't make it that far, since I didn't finish editing TBT.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MeLdjZlfUV9W2XhYaT6OnTBXEeYGjKmlGgiMW_CPjjuGC7pL9i1M5zjnBovwGPBGz6aYjj9rTLlDCDE-FpLrH2xX-qFY7CPBXqu7fuu9O-4XmxERVGMMKBIzXSlx5dS4SlVxsaP3exQ/s1600/TECM1754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MeLdjZlfUV9W2XhYaT6OnTBXEeYGjKmlGgiMW_CPjjuGC7pL9i1M5zjnBovwGPBGz6aYjj9rTLlDCDE-FpLrH2xX-qFY7CPBXqu7fuu9O-4XmxERVGMMKBIzXSlx5dS4SlVxsaP3exQ/s320/TECM1754.JPG" width="320" /></a><strong><span style="color: #38761d;">Attend Realm Makers in St. Louis and pitch TBT again there.</span></strong> <a href="http://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2018/07/realm-makers-2018-recap.html" target="_blank">I <em>did</em> make it to Realm Makers for the second time</a> and pitched twice, with promising results. I'm excited to pursue that in the future.</div>
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<strong><span style="color: red;">Finish The Creative Way course.</span> </strong>Ahahaha . . . no. This was on my list of goals last year too, and I worked through even <em>fewer </em>lessons in 2018 than I did in 2017. College swallowed my LIFE.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: red;">Get my secret project off the ground.</span> </strong>Aside from brainstorming, I made no progress here either. See the above reason.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: red;">Spiff up the blog.</span></strong> Again, nope.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: red;">Maybe plan my next novel?</span></strong> Nuh-uh. You know the drill by now. #collegelife<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Three and a half achieved out of nine.</h3>
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A couple years ago, that might have made me depressed. But now? I can smile, nod, and turn my face toward the new year. Because I know that list of goals doesn't paint the whole picture. There were more important things I wanted out of 2018, bigger wins to achieve. Most of them can't be quantified.<br />
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<strong>I took more time for people.</strong> I noticed a marked difference in how I treated time spent with family and friends. Not that I'm oh-so-generous now, but I've become a little more willing, a little more able to shut up my inner critic when it wants to yak about the looming to-do list. The people in my life mean more than getting that blog post up in time or editing another chapter.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADFfdrdLBFU-3T2AqFq8-OszE0eJxioB3QVNsXoQf-GfnfNPHIpgIUoOfolVIYJX0dw_6jHqfqxBk3Zbpt2V5U7SC_JybVJC-To1jg2NdXd3vzBNY8jFMl5TTaJz6KYAydKupyf-_Fcc/s1600/IMG_0193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADFfdrdLBFU-3T2AqFq8-OszE0eJxioB3QVNsXoQf-GfnfNPHIpgIUoOfolVIYJX0dw_6jHqfqxBk3Zbpt2V5U7SC_JybVJC-To1jg2NdXd3vzBNY8jFMl5TTaJz6KYAydKupyf-_Fcc/s400/IMG_0193.JPG" width="400" /></a><strong>I carved out time to read and recharge.</strong> I skidded too close to burnout in 2017 and 2016, so with college ramping up this year, I knew it was even more crucial to stay rested. Again, I wasn't perfect at this, but there were many, many occasions I made the decision to pick up a book instead of a task in my free time. Sure, there were weeks in summer when I went full-steam ahead in editing my novel, and most <em>definitely</em> times during the school months that I worked my fingers to the bone. BUT. Overall, I took steps to nurture my mental health, and now I'm thanking myself for it.</div>
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<strong>Most importantly, I grew closer to God and forged a new devotional habit.</strong> Recently, I reread the <a href="http://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2018/01/what-lies-on-horizon.html" target="_blank">What Lies on the Horizon</a> post from last January . . . and it almost made me cry. Many of those words had faded from memory since writing them down, including this thought:<br />
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<em>"What I know right now is that every time I have hungered for more of God and cried out for a deeper knowing of Him, He has responded. And every time, all it took was asking... and then putting one foot in front of the other with my eyes open for an answer. Another thing I know right now is that I miss digging into the Word." [Jan. 2018]</em></blockquote>
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Since writing that, I started a contemplative Bible-reading plan--and kept up with it all year. Coming from a 2017 of very sporadic times spent with God, that's huge for me.<br />
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And when I look back at all the things God has whispered to my heart in 2018, I am moved by how kind and wise He is. All year, He encouraged me to rest, to accept grace, to trust Him. To do everything WITH Him. This was made especially clear at Realm Makers, where author Allen Arnold taught a class called Chaos and Creativity.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZvOU2MdU-h1ORYPF9UNa3rxNd5rkcWN1XyX_OqHve0Loi-KVopm4Zowt3dh3_0gyZO_CToeINkVVE76CofmXgByoFFKysrLYN4XGdPp4NpjPjyrvVontWid0kYxjeff-q4t44OtaDog/s1600/five+poisoned+apples+finalist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="700" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZvOU2MdU-h1ORYPF9UNa3rxNd5rkcWN1XyX_OqHve0Loi-KVopm4Zowt3dh3_0gyZO_CToeINkVVE76CofmXgByoFFKysrLYN4XGdPp4NpjPjyrvVontWid0kYxjeff-q4t44OtaDog/s320/five+poisoned+apples+finalist.jpg" width="320" /></a>Books I read, people I talked to, messages from church I listened to, songs I heard . . they wove together into a beautiful melody threaded through the year, snagging my wandering attention when I strayed too far.</div>
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(And on the more superficial side of things, I finished two semesters of business college, had <a href="http://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2018/04/five-poisoned-apples-celebration.html" target="_blank"><em>Mirrors Never Lie</em> place as a finalist</a> in Five Poisoned Apples, and <a href="http://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2019/01/books-of-2018.html" target="_blank">read 50 books</a>.)</div>
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I'm proud of 2018.</div>
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But now it's time to look to the new year.</div>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
2019 Goals</h2>
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<strong>Continue my devotional habit.</strong> But more than just continuing, I want to build more thought, study, and variety into it as time goes on.<br />
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<strong>Give myself more grace.</strong> This one goes without explanation.<br />
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<strong>Take better care of myself.</strong> This includes getting the right amount of sleep, being intentional about unplugging, and making space for just being still.<br />
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<strong>Graduate college and get a great job.</strong> I can't wait! As much as I grumble about college (which is something else I need to work on), it really has been a valuable experience. One of these days I'll share some survival tips for fellow students. Anyway, before I graduate in April, I'll be looking for the kind of job that will make me excited to get up in the morning.<br />
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<strong>Finish editing <em>The Brightest Thread</em>.</strong> I'm so looking forward to brushing up this darling child of mine . . .<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0mRoNpHlmDE71uzMImyyD8c8oRg7LQngqiEW0gMK_uKhBNE8O5wA1to60ed0hX6QjWNTeJnh13FGt_kMr_Y8l0frZQESSVqeUb88bSuv29v9Ep3W2-90WFy8b6Ru6XSqgJjNysmnDcA0/s1600/IMG_4235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0mRoNpHlmDE71uzMImyyD8c8oRg7LQngqiEW0gMK_uKhBNE8O5wA1to60ed0hX6QjWNTeJnh13FGt_kMr_Y8l0frZQESSVqeUb88bSuv29v9Ep3W2-90WFy8b6Ru6XSqgJjNysmnDcA0/s320/IMG_4235.JPG" width="240" /></a><strong>Send TBT to a literary agent.</strong> . . . And I'm looking forward to engaging in some serious querying!</div>
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<strong>Attend Realm Makers for the third time.</strong> It's my tentative plan, and I'm hoping it'll fit in the budget again this summer.</div>
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<strong><em>Actually</em> finish The Creative Way writing course by Ted Dekker.</strong> Because there's cool stuff to learn and it's about time I finish what I started an embarrassingly long time ago.<br />
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<strong>Move Adventure Awaits to a self-hosted website.</strong> You heard it here first, folks! Rather than simply spruce up the blog, I'm seriously contemplating moving to a bona-fide website later this year. I foresee many inquiries being sent to the more technologically-minded . . .<br />
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<strong>Bring that secret project into existence.</strong> And that's all I'll say about that. *wink*<br />
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I do have a handful of "bonus goals," smaller and easier-to-achieve things that would be <em>nice</em> to accomplish, but not absolutely imperative. Things like purging my room, purchasing a new laptop, reading another 50 books (including my nonfiction TBR stack), even getting a personal blender with which to make smoothies. But I think ten major goals are quite enough for now, thank you!<br />
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2019 holds some big changes, that much is certain. I'm eagerly anticipating a change of season, from full-time student to . . . well, full-time something else, and also the chance to revive my writing life. In the meantime, I hope to practice grace for myself and others--and face the future with a peaceful heart.</h3>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
What are you looking forward to this year, fellow questers?</h3>
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Tracey Dyckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-50830058383718632162019-01-01T16:11:00.002-06:002019-01-01T16:11:45.492-06:00Books of 2018In true bookdragon fashion, I enjoy tracking what I read and keeping tabs on what my friends read too, because bookdragons love company! If you're here at Adventure Awaits, I'm assuming you're my scaly, story-addicted kin. Welcome.<br />
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In the interests of satisfying curiosity--yours and mine--here are all the books I read in 2018, complete with the mini reviews and stats that were popular last year!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwL_7caS_625P_gx90zZ0QQh1x3tvq0cZrhqNpknyvFq3WDTsqNK9GDiWGSBHeYSaoTtUUW-P6oYnebPGJ7CKwQYSlaJTrOAgxNlJk0w0zDfRhvpULBq2i_xoMZN3bKr04LSNyhyphenhyphen4zGg/s1600/18jan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="1600" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwL_7caS_625P_gx90zZ0QQh1x3tvq0cZrhqNpknyvFq3WDTsqNK9GDiWGSBHeYSaoTtUUW-P6oYnebPGJ7CKwQYSlaJTrOAgxNlJk0w0zDfRhvpULBq2i_xoMZN3bKr04LSNyhyphenhyphen4zGg/s400/18jan.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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JANUARY</h3>
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<strong>Raising Dragons // Bryan Davis</strong></div>
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Boy breathes fire // Arthurian legend // dragonslayers // felt like returning to old friends // 5 stars</div>
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<strong>Siren's Fury // Mary Weber</strong></div>
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Steampunk meets fantasy // dramatic redemption // airships // darkness // cliffhanger // 5 stars</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFZJG7YaDFVIrmw0QByrcq46W8zKrrS3HuRdYtMiAw8iIker6_CNxCpJ-g8jpuSxQT1jlhy8R7imGrFjwbVwTrK7zEz0yGPIu6d1QfEPk1Pqq5i6DUwvYDLmQabmTTTjfocon2yzXoFY/s1600/18feb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="1600" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFZJG7YaDFVIrmw0QByrcq46W8zKrrS3HuRdYtMiAw8iIker6_CNxCpJ-g8jpuSxQT1jlhy8R7imGrFjwbVwTrK7zEz0yGPIu6d1QfEPk1Pqq5i6DUwvYDLmQabmTTTjfocon2yzXoFY/s400/18feb.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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FEBRUARY</h3>
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<strong>The Scorch Trials // James Dashner</strong></div>
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Improved over <em>The Maze Runner</em> // Newt and Minho are my favs // Teresa is annoying as all get-out // sorry, the movie was better // 4 stars</div>
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<strong>The Candlestone // Bryan Davis</strong></div>
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All my babies are growing up // vivid analogies // "truth is my sword" // singing in the midst of darkness // 5 stars</div>
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<strong>Hostage Run // Andrew Klavan</strong></div>
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Super fast read // video game affects reality // angry son actually works to forgive his father // Molly is great // 4 stars</div>
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<strong>Orphan's Song // Gillian Bronte Adams</strong></div>
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Cozy fantasy // griffins and orphans and swords // music is magic // Amos, the cranky peddler, sounds exactly like Hector Barbossa in my head // 4 stars<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
MARCH</h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Last Star Burning // Caitlin Sangster</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Dystopian China = very cool // sleeping sickness // confusing action sequences // common sense could've prevented 90% of the problems // backstabby characters // 3 stars</div>
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<strong>Circles of Seven // Bryan Davis</strong></div>
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So much symbolism // one of my favorites // Walter and Ashley snark // detestable villainess // Prof is the actual best // 5 stars<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
APRIL</h3>
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<strong>The Returning // Rachelle Dekker</strong></div>
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Powerful themes about identity // new generation of characters // I missed the old ones // some loose threads left unresolved // 4 stars</div>
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<strong>Tears of a Dragon // Bryan Davis</strong></div>
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Great character growth // rescuing dragon souls // fighting the Watchers // solid ending // 5 stars</div>
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<strong>The Story Peddler // Lindsay A. Franklin</strong></div>
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Cozy and full of wonder // exceeded my expectations // storytelling powers // headstrong heroine // ragtag band of misfits // I fell in love with the pirate! // 5 stars<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHIHgPv_DXixxq2cVwnBtRNnHPVxL6pFsLK9FCs7cwFuLkDwWxtYqHNGZNnrRHIB7WChM7aphYli-_JrSu8nFvrbro2WslhyphenhyphenXfnOCl5-Q4nhXFX9G9o05c1iCuhF0uW8rTHFTLH3IMRE/s1600/18may.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="609" data-original-width="1600" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHIHgPv_DXixxq2cVwnBtRNnHPVxL6pFsLK9FCs7cwFuLkDwWxtYqHNGZNnrRHIB7WChM7aphYli-_JrSu8nFvrbro2WslhyphenhyphenXfnOCl5-Q4nhXFX9G9o05c1iCuhF0uW8rTHFTLH3IMRE/s400/18may.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
MAY</h3>
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<strong>Eye of the Oracle // Bryan Davis</strong></div>
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History of millennia woven into overarching plot // underground slaves // portal jumping // Makaidos is my favorite dragon ever // 5 stars</div>
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<strong>The Sea of Monsters // Rick Riordan</strong></div>
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Hilarious // a taxi of death // man-eating sheep // Tyson is sweet // epic bad guys plans // would've liked a bit more introspection // 5 stars</div>
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<strong>Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone // J.K. Rowling</strong></div>
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Utterly enchanting // lovable characters // my first foray into the Wizarding World // some unnecessary sneakery // I'm gonna go live at Hogwarts okay thanks // 5 stars</div>
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<strong>Gravestone // Travis Thrasher</strong></div>
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Audiobook // dark and winding road // gloomy // creepy // a ray of light is coming // very lifelike emotions // 5 stars</div>
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<h3>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
JUNE</h3>
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<strong>Capital Gaines: Smart Things I Learned Doing Stupid Stuff // Chip Gaines</strong></div>
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Interesting anecdotes // family first // live fearlessly // felt a bit scattered // 4 stars</div>
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<strong>Steal Like an Artist // Austin Kleon</strong></div>
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Inspiration for the creative process // celebrate imperfection // pithy and quotable // catapults your own thoughts // 5 stars</div>
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<strong>Enoch's Ghost // Bryan Davis</strong></div>
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Sacrifice // Ashley is <em>super</em> relatable // creepy infinite staircase // so many awesome characters hurting so much, ow // 5 stars</div>
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<strong>Siren's Song // Mary Weber</strong></div>
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Epic final battle // heart-wrenching ending // Nym has come so far // Myles gave me Loki vibes // thematically magnificent // 5 stars</div>
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<strong>Unblemished // Sara Ella</strong></div>
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So fun and cute // fairy-tale-esque world connected to New York // twisty plot // love triangle // Team Ky all the way // 4.5 stars</div>
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<strong>The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap // Akira Himekawa</strong></div>
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Graphic novel // cute drawing style // the Pikori are adorable // good conclusion // 4 stars</div>
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<strong>Paper and Fire // Rachel Caine</strong></div>
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Left me breathless // good ol' rescue plot // creepy automatons // squad goals // stacks of dusty, old books // gearing up for an epic rebellion // 5 stars</div>
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<strong>Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets // J.K. Rowling</strong></div>
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The Weasely family is adorable // rollicking adventures // Mandrakes! // ugh, Lockhart // unexpected and satisfying ending // 5 stars</div>
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<strong>All the Crooked Saints // Maggie Stiefvater</strong></div>
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Charming, lyrical writing // eclectic pilgrims // the desert is a character unto itself // Pete, my love // healing is found through opening up to others // 5 stars<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
JULY</h3>
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<strong>Last of the Nephilim // Bryan Davis</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
War is coming // everyone's gathering in Second Eden (which is a really cool place) // lots of action // Elam! // 5 stars<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
AUGUST</h3>
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<strong>Embers // Ronie Kendig</strong></div>
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Love the premise // fire powers // a bit too many characters // set up for the beginnings of an epic "fellowship," though // 4 stars</div>
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<strong>The Bones of Makaidos // Bryan Davis</strong></div>
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One of my favorite books // epic cast // climactic battles // best-ever satisfying ending // 5 stars</div>
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<strong>Fairest Son // H.S.J. Williams</strong></div>
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Gender-bent Snow White // wild fey // unexpected twists // I fell in love with Prince Idris // beautiful story // 5 stars</div>
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<strong>Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking // Susan Cain</strong></div>
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Fascinating // made me more aware of my temperament's strengths // 4 stars</div>
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<strong>Hacker // Ted Dekker</strong></div>
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Took a surprising look at the unseen world // hacking the human consciousness // felt like an allegory // 4 stars<br />
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</div>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
SEPTEMBER</h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>The Magician's Nephew // C.S. Lewis</strong> </div>
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Focus on the Family audio // brought back memories // dawn of Narnia brings me to tears // 5 stars</div>
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<strong>The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe // C.S. Lewis</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Focus on the Family audio // classic // great voice cast // except Aslan's voice doesn't beat Liam Neeson in the movies // 5 stars</div>
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<strong>The Story of With // Allen Arnold</strong></div>
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Life-changing // awakens the heart // fiction and nonfiction fused together // 5 stars</div>
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<strong>The Horse and His Boy // C.S. Lewis</strong></div>
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Focus on the Family audio // I loved this one more than the first few times I read it // Bree is my fav // 5 stars</div>
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<strong>Prince Caspian // C.S. Lewis</strong></div>
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Focus on the Family audio // really fun // Trumpkin's voice is amusing // the Pevensies are back // 5 stars</div>
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<strong>The Voyage of the Dawn Treader // C.S. Lewis</strong></div>
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Focus on the Family audio // so many adventures // one of my favorite Narnia books // 5 stars</div>
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<strong>The Silver Chair // C.S. Lewis</strong></div>
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Focus on the Family audio // darker than I remembered // Puddleglum's the best // 5 stars</div>
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<strong>The Last Battle // C.S. Lewis</strong></div>
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Focus on the Family audio // I want to throttle that ape // Susan, why? // happy reunions // further up and further in // 5 stars</div>
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<strong>Song of the Ovulum // Bryan Davis</strong></div>
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Tale of mercy // new generation of characters // also a throwback to the Biblical Flood // 5 stars<br />
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<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
OCTOBER</h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Crazy Love // Francis Chan</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Audiobook // some good parts about the bigness of God // bit of a guilt trip in other parts // 4 stars</div>
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<strong>From the Mouth of Elijah // Bryan Davis</strong></div>
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Fiery volcanoes // madcap portal dashes // sacrificial love // Lauren's journey is particularly poignant // 5 stars</div>
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<strong>If We Survive // Andrew Klavan</strong></div>
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Audiobook // so intense // Will is such a good kid // I love all the characters, though // everything goes wrong, ack // 5 stars</div>
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<strong>Fawkes // Nadine Brandes</strong></div>
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Lived up to the hype // historical fantasy with color magic // Thomas! Emma! // twisty plot // 5 stars</div>
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<strong>Haven // Mary Lindsey</strong></div>
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Paranormal romance // clichéd plot, decently cool backstory // alpha male protagonist, overly aggressive // the romance was blegh, blegh, blegh // I got rid of the book // 1 star</div>
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</div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
NOVEMBER</h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>The Seventh Door // Bryan Davis</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Awesome parallels to <em>Circles of Seven </em>// Tamiel is one crafty villain // deeply sad scenes // Matt grows a lot // 5 stars<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1-SVsbFyTne3GIvHKmWqpRwDrNbMCO1UXfUIJk_GYFW23hMfQLJxyzk5rPvjRfslfXrf-d8vjNoTiisoiow4m5Yb6AQqsCuH1OECu8CtNNESLk3aIeI6j6JIJj9GbwqxdzEyn1RUj3k/s1600/18dec.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1230" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1-SVsbFyTne3GIvHKmWqpRwDrNbMCO1UXfUIJk_GYFW23hMfQLJxyzk5rPvjRfslfXrf-d8vjNoTiisoiow4m5Yb6AQqsCuH1OECu8CtNNESLk3aIeI6j6JIJj9GbwqxdzEyn1RUj3k/s400/18dec.jpg" width="307" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
DECEMBER</h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>The Scorpio Races // Maggie Stiefvater</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So good that it hurts // atmospheric // the <em>capall uisce </em>horses are SCARY // slow burn romance // Puck and I understand each other // love Sean Kendrick // 5 stars</div>
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<strong>Omega Dragon // Bryan Davis</strong></div>
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Apocalyptic conclusion // so many brave heroes // tied up the twelve books in a smashing finale // 5 stars</div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban // J.K. Rowling</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My favorite HP book yet // Lupin is the best // Harry is growing up // all the plot twists // I want to visit Hogwarts // 5 stars</div>
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</div>
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<strong>Horseman // Kyle Robert Schultz</strong></div>
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The Wild West of Neverica // magic and mayhem // spot-on humor // Julio the dragon is hilarious // 4 stars</div>
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</div>
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<strong>The Sacred Enneagram // Christopher L. Heuertz</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Enlightening // resonated with my inner journey // lots to chew on // Christian perspective on how to use the Enneagram for personal and spiritual growth // 5 stars</div>
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</div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Reading Stats</h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong>Total Books Read: 50</strong> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(10 more than 2017!)</span></div>
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<strong>Pages Read:</strong> <strong>17,656</strong> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(which is over 4,000 more pages than 2017!)</span></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Also, let us take a moment to cast an appreciative glance at a two-foot stack made of eleven college textbooks read during the year. I'm not sure how many hundreds of pages that pile would add . . . and I'm not sure I want to think about it.</div>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Genres of 2018</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This was the year of fantasy! But . . . I mean . . . that's not new. I did average a nonfiction book every other month, which is up from last year.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
Some other stats of interest . . .</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6muCB84hgFuEkTNBWdHoD_D5NMc9q-qtXYDFtd-LGOJUYSw9AyRZjQLa4oSTEOcnCLBRy2BTRoTDWr21AieYA8LTp3s8Xg6dl60ZOyXSlGS8Sygc7JiRWlIrm8M9vt9uUfBI3sigvTw/s1600/2018+audio+vs+phsyical.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6muCB84hgFuEkTNBWdHoD_D5NMc9q-qtXYDFtd-LGOJUYSw9AyRZjQLa4oSTEOcnCLBRy2BTRoTDWr21AieYA8LTp3s8Xg6dl60ZOyXSlGS8Sygc7JiRWlIrm8M9vt9uUfBI3sigvTw/s640/2018+audio+vs+phsyical.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I "read" a lot more audiobooks than normal (since normal used to be zero). And, as you'll see below, this was also the Year of Rereads!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTyqPn5at6JKw2n9bE9c3T8tSYpH72QhpMKhBxHdKfzQ-maK_QNKOE_b_EhVlwg3UtIIUHCybj74l5msL3fCcXzPXkxxr_CrVvVHoRrkw9q4T2_E71rJVOnKwavmpqb8gFUsyhCudLCIw/s1600/2018+new+reads+vs+rereads.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTyqPn5at6JKw2n9bE9c3T8tSYpH72QhpMKhBxHdKfzQ-maK_QNKOE_b_EhVlwg3UtIIUHCybj74l5msL3fCcXzPXkxxr_CrVvVHoRrkw9q4T2_E71rJVOnKwavmpqb8gFUsyhCudLCIw/s640/2018+new+reads+vs+rereads.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Star Ratings</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Pretty typical! I read a lot of books I enjoyed and very, very few that I didn't.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6ZmUWcYTJ1vhpWJSRA2EJPwyMLHBxPwd5ZbM2Tprn8zTT677tG3lfspy4tC3KUbkd48Z5YhgLMXT1eOe1_rL2mCpsLQ9bq_VUXp4TcuqL0NnrHeFuh9L4COLK3CoMnHRwhAGvQzUfIU/s1600/2018+starratings.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6ZmUWcYTJ1vhpWJSRA2EJPwyMLHBxPwd5ZbM2Tprn8zTT677tG3lfspy4tC3KUbkd48Z5YhgLMXT1eOe1_rL2mCpsLQ9bq_VUXp4TcuqL0NnrHeFuh9L4COLK3CoMnHRwhAGvQzUfIU/s640/2018+starratings.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Most Read Authors</h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<ul>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<ul>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
Bryan Davis (12)</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
C.S. Lewis (7)</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
J.K. Rowling (3)</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
Mary Weber (2)</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
Andrew Klavan (2)</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
Maggie Steifvater (2)</div>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<ul>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div>
</div>
</div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Favorite Authors Discovered in 2018</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Without a doubt, my favorite new-to-me authors this year were:</div>
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<div>
</div>
<ul>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
Lindsay A. Franklin (because <em>The Story Peddler</em> was awesome, Lindsay is awesome, and I can't wait for her next book releasing April 2019!)</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
J.K. Rowling (because I finally joined the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and I'm rather delighted to be here)</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
H.S.J. Williams (because her Snow White novella was just so beautiful)</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div>
<div>
</div>
</div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Least Favorite Book</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong>Haven by Mary Lindsey.</strong> I've already complained about it, so if you're curious about the details behind <em>why</em> I so disliked this novel, I'll just drop a link to my Goodreads review <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2217079563?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1" target="_blank">HERE.</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Favorite Books</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
IT'S SO HARD TO PICK. Because almost half of this year's books were rereads, I'm going to cheat and give you <em>two</em> lists--one of my favorite new books and one of my favorite rereads.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong>Favorite New Books</strong></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
The Story Peddler</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
Paper and Fire</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
All the Crooked Saints</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
Fairest Son</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
Fawkes</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
The Scorpio Races</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong>Favorite Rereads</strong></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
Circles of Seven</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
Eye of the Oracle</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
The Bones of Makaidos</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
The Horse and His Boy</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
If We Survive</div>
</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Happy Reading, Bookdragons!</h2>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
I'm pleasantly surprised to see what a great reading year this was! It was pretty different than my usual, what with rereads <span style="font-size: x-small;">(which used to be <em>rare</em>),</span> more nonfiction, and more audiobooks <span style="font-size: x-small;">(which saved my Goodreads reading challenge while in college).</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Looking forward to another great set of books in 2019! My TBR pile is as staggering as ever, threatening to hold me hostage; and new releases like <em>To Best the Boys</em> by Mary Weber, <em>The Story Raider</em> by Lindsay Franklin, <em>Romanov</em> by Nadine Brandes, and probably a lot more are just going to add height to the TBR . . . but that's a fun problem to have.</div>
<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Whew, you made it to the end! Now tell me: what were some of <em>your </em>top reads of 2018? And what's an upcoming release you can't wait to add to your dragon hoard?</h3>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Tracey Dyckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-82899398243559664812018-12-29T08:00:00.000-06:002019-01-01T12:46:17.700-06:00Subplots & Storylines - December 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXuAy8P82MX38sINKLJuUgDYRyq2tVF5eu6H1vZCexnRrd-H_rBWY_QmlTZ38VO33Gic_prz2Vi3xxyBxT94g19Cl_SGWR06gQ91SReAMm5fXh152wHimsP3VWx8r9Rg-8HHpxuBcXAw/s1600/subplots+and+storylines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXuAy8P82MX38sINKLJuUgDYRyq2tVF5eu6H1vZCexnRrd-H_rBWY_QmlTZ38VO33Gic_prz2Vi3xxyBxT94g19Cl_SGWR06gQ91SReAMm5fXh152wHimsP3VWx8r9Rg-8HHpxuBcXAw/s640/subplots+and+storylines.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="border-image: none;">
WHERE DID THE YEAR GO?</div>
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<div style="border-image: none;">
Ahem. Hello and Merry Christmas and Happy Almost-New Year! How was your December? The first half of mine was jam-packed, what with finishing the college semester and studying for final exams. Now that it's over, I've been relaxing with my family and soaking in the holidays.</div>
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Fluffy snow arrived just in time for Christmas, so I even went sledding for the first time in two years!</div>
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<br /></div>
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Also my first-ever Unicorn Crate (the November box) arrived and it was beautimous.</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggXJ8dssTqPpeWwWrmoU8xXM7EhAUAVShMv-zSSoVPlrGfaYkZychoGjZT2eLXAY2boWncSBB249CGsfCKpN0G4JRoRorXVeLi9hoaZZ_NEzSA76HRYr4lGRde7LCzooUxFmwZ4KUrNTE/s1600/unicorn+crate+nov18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggXJ8dssTqPpeWwWrmoU8xXM7EhAUAVShMv-zSSoVPlrGfaYkZychoGjZT2eLXAY2boWncSBB249CGsfCKpN0G4JRoRorXVeLi9hoaZZ_NEzSA76HRYr4lGRde7LCzooUxFmwZ4KUrNTE/s400/unicorn+crate+nov18.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unicorn Crate, ft. <em>The Light Between Worlds</em>, Hogwarts bookmark,<br />
Unicorn Berries wax melt, Rivendell tea, Peter Pan socks, Wizard of Oz<br />
pin, Narnia tote, etc.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Screen Subplots</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-cthref="/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwitv9yltMHfAhUTpIMKHcH-BN8QjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FOnce_Upon_a_Time_(season_6)&psig=AOvVaw3X4CED7b2CFDnH1oUuRNo6&ust=1546048012510177" data-ved="2ahUKEwitv9yltMHfAhUTpIMKHcH-BN8QjRx6BAgBEAU" href="https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwitv9yltMHfAhUTpIMKHcH-BN8QjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FOnce_Upon_a_Time_(season_6)&psig=AOvVaw3X4CED7b2CFDnH1oUuRNo6&ust=1546048012510177" id="irc_mil" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;focus:irc.rl;irc.il;" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for once upon a time season 6" height="400" id="irc_mi" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Once_Upon_a_Time_Season_6.jpg/220px-Once_Upon_a_Time_Season_6.jpg" style="margin-top: 25px;" width="287" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<strong>Once Upon a Time Season 6</strong><br />
I finally finished watching this season! It only took me all <em>year</em>, wow. Overall, it was a bit disappointing, but there were enough good parts that it wasn't a total write-off. I was hoping for a more epic conclusion, especially with all the build-up. And I really don't know what to expect of season 7 . . . I haven't heard much good about it. I feel like they maybe should've quit at season 6.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-cthref="/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjh_obFtMHfAhVtooMKHSmQCYYQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FRich_Man_(TV_series)&psig=AOvVaw3--sOCCRu7VLHWuinix-X8&ust=1546048198402609" data-ved="2ahUKEwjh_obFtMHfAhVtooMKHSmQCYYQjRx6BAgBEAU" href="https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjh_obFtMHfAhVtooMKHSmQCYYQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FRich_Man_(TV_series)&psig=AOvVaw3--sOCCRu7VLHWuinix-X8&ust=1546048198402609" id="irc_mil" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;focus:irc.rl;irc.il;" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for rich man kdrama" height="353" id="irc_mi" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/30/Rich_Man_%28%EB%A6%AC%EC%B9%98%EB%A7%A8%29_Poster.jpg/250px-Rich_Man_%28%EB%A6%AC%EC%B9%98%EB%A7%A8%29_Poster.jpg" style="margin-top: 2px;" width="250" /></a></div>
<strong>Rich Man</strong><br />
I started my first K-drama with my sisters, and so far we've seen just one episode.<br />
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<a data-cthref="/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiK0d3ctMHfAhUm1oMKHTRMAegQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FThe_Lord_of_the_Rings%3A_The_Fellowship_of_the_Ring&psig=AOvVaw1V9y78Q2xv5OjWc-T0ID9n&ust=1546048255524547" data-ved="2ahUKEwiK0d3ctMHfAhUm1oMKHTRMAegQjRx6BAgBEAU" href="https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiK0d3ctMHfAhUm1oMKHTRMAegQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FThe_Lord_of_the_Rings%3A_The_Fellowship_of_the_Ring&psig=AOvVaw1V9y78Q2xv5OjWc-T0ID9n&ust=1546048255524547" id="irc_mil" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;focus:irc.rl;irc.il;" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for the fellowship of the ring movie" height="327" id="irc_mi" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9d/The_Lord_of_the_Rings_The_Fellowship_of_the_Ring_%282001%29_theatrical_poster.jpg" style="margin-top: 15px;" width="220" /></a></div>
<strong>The Fellowship of the Ring</strong><br />
I actually watched the first half of this a couple months ago with a friend, and we recently watched the second half. (After baking butter tarts. Because Christmas.)<br />
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<strong>The Incredibles 2</strong><br />
THIS WAS SO GOOD. It definitely didn't suffer from the sequel blues! In fact, I'd say it was just as good as the first one. I'm glad they stayed true to the heart of it. (Best part: JACK JACK.)<br />
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<strong>Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban</strong><br />
More thoughts on the actual story in a moment, since I read the book this month too, but as far as the movie goes--it was good, but didn't meet all my book-inspired expectations. It could've been more cohesive, I think, and it missed some of my favorite parts of the book. Lupin was cool, however. (I didn't expect him to be played by David Thewlis, whom I've seen only in villainous roles up til this point!)<br />
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Page Storylines</h2>
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<strong>The Scorpio Races // Maggie Stiefvater</strong><br />
This one is now tied with <em>All the Crooked Saints</em> as my favorite Stiefvater book, and it's definitely one of my favorite books of the year!<br />
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The island of Thisby crackled with life. The characters were full of a spark of their own, too, painfully lifelike in their hopes and hurts and mannerisms. Puck Connolly reminded me at times very much of myself. Sean Kendrick stole my heart from page one. Together, their slow burn romance was A+. The story itself carries the emotions of best horse stories, while steering clear of most of the inherent clichés. The <em>cappall uisce</em> are downright terrifying, I want ten November cakes right now, and I plan to reread this lovely, haunting book next year! <strong>5 stars!</strong><br />
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<strong>Omega Dragon // Bryan Davis</strong><br />
Well, this concludes my epic year of rereading all twelve Dragons in Our Midst/Oracles of Fire/Children of the Bard books! What a joy to revisit these characters and relive their adventures, right to the apocalyptic (yet satisfying) end.<br />
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In this final instalment, explosions and gunfire rock the land, paths between worlds have become fraught with danger, and many dear characters shed sacrificial blood . . . some even to the point of death. Matt and Lauren have come far in such a short span of time. They're now right at home in their lineage of brave heroes. And that final chapter--it was the sigh of relief and contentment after a wild ride. <strong>5 stars!</strong><br />
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<strong><strong>Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban // J.K. Rowling</strong></strong><br />
My favorite HP book yet! This plot takes a more ominous turn, thanks to the Dementors. I can't help but love Harry more as he struggles with a far darker and more difficult reaction to these creatures than his friends do. Also Lupin is hands-down the wisest and kindest adult in Hogwarts, aside from Dumbledore himself.<br />
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The ending had more twists than I expected, and all my favorite parts are too spoilery to talk about--so I won't. But a certain person is AWESOME, and a certain spell is ALSO AWESOME. <strong>5 stars!</strong><br />
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<strong><em>[Currently planning to finish two more books by the end of the month: The Sacred Enneagram by Christopher L. Heuertz and Horseman by Kyle Robert Schultz. Will update post with reviews if successful.]</em></strong><br />
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Written Subplots</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8ic0p3nkE5MBomcDu1hUTyPX4p1jsxoFhRh85HwAm5WFb3obkw0C458gkmg_DXkk8sKJyyH2ITJOjUYCSOQvOGBnB3HIVMrbq3XbvRrPdLBgbrLAihMTOd48ld8HdF_81Vx-DnZxuqc/s1600/havok+contract+pic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8ic0p3nkE5MBomcDu1hUTyPX4p1jsxoFhRh85HwAm5WFb3obkw0C458gkmg_DXkk8sKJyyH2ITJOjUYCSOQvOGBnB3HIVMrbq3XbvRrPdLBgbrLAihMTOd48ld8HdF_81Vx-DnZxuqc/s400/havok+contract+pic.JPG" width="300" /></a>I HAVE EXCITING NEWS!</div>
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Those of you who follow me on social media have probably heard it already, but here it is in case you missed it:</div>
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<strong>One of my flash fiction stories was accepted by Havok Publishing!</strong></div>
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It's a fantasy thriller called <em><strong>Dead Magic</strong></em> (which I've mentioned briefly here before), and it's scheduled to appear on Havok's website sometime in January 2019, during their Rebirth theme! I'll be sure to share the details with you guys in advance so that you get a chance to read it while it's available.</div>
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I'm super happy! It's encouraging every time you hear a <em>yes</em>, because the world of writing comes with a whole lot of <em>no's</em>. Even if this <em>yes </em>is currently just for online publication (although print is a possibility, depending on things), it's still YES. And for any of you searching for a yes--in the world of writing or anything else--let this be an encouragement to celebrate every one you receive and keep going even when there are none in sight!</div>
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It's been a great month! Between Christmas and family and good books and the news about <em>Dead Magic</em>, I have a lot to be thankful for. I hope your December was kind to you, too.</h3>
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P.S. I'm keeping this post short on purpose, because a yearly wrap-up/looking-ahead-to-2019 post is coming up soon! There will also be a "Books of 2018" post, featuring mini reviews of allll the books I read this year! And I don't want you getting sick of me. ;)Tracey Dyckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-21441464757105896372018-12-22T07:30:00.000-06:002018-12-22T07:30:12.478-06:00How Beautiful on the Mountain<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">[Graphic mine; image via <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/Y56DIBnN7uY" target="_blank">Unsplash</a>]</td></tr>
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Merry Christmas, my friends!</h3>
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This time of year likes to sneak up on me, even though I <em>should</em> see it coming. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Y'know, it's not like it lands on December 25th every single year.)</span> Now that I'm on Christmas break and can forget about college for a couple of weeks, I've been basking in a quieter pace at home with my family. Somehow the rushing around to mail off Christmas letters and pick up the last few gifts doesn't feel all that crazy when there are no more textbooks to study.<br />
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Something I've been doing in my quiet time with God is read a series of verses picked out for Advent. My Bible has a convenient list of suggested readings, and it's only a verse or two each day, so I get to camp out on each one for a while.<br />
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Several days ago, this was the day's passage. It's something I've read plenty of times before, but it stuck out in a new way to me.<br />
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<strong>Ah, how beautiful the feet of those on the mountain who declare the good news of victory, of peace and liberation, the voice that calls to Zion, that chosen place for God's promise people, announcing to them, "Your God rules!"</strong> (Isaiah 52:7, The Voice translation)</blockquote>
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What are you declaring?<br />
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I want my whole life to proclaim the good news of victory, peace, and liberation that's found in Jesus. In December we sing, "Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere." But where have I been telling it? And <em>what</em> have I been telling?<br />
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Do people hear God's love when I'm standing in line at the mall? Chatting with friends on Instagram? Speaking to family and relatives?<br />
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Everywhere we go, our words, demeanor, and actions are a package deal. Together, they're communicating something twenty-four seven. So what are we saying?<br />
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Are we communicating stress with our frazzled tone and frantic pace? Are we sharing frustration and discord with our snappish replies?<br />
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Or could we perhaps slow down long enough to reconnect to peace--to the source of it, our Prince of Peace--and let our lives sing out a refrain of victory?</h3>
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I get it. It's hard to do when all month, our to-do lists have grown longer instead of shorter. It's hard when polarizing family members are placed in the same room and expected to get along. It's hard when a loved one is in the hospital. It's hard when bills are stacked on the counter and the boxes under the tree number fewer than you wish. It's hard when you're picking up the slack for others going through crises, or you're sifting through difficult memories of Christmases past, or things just aren't falling into place.<br />
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Those things are real. They hurt, and they're hard. But the Prince of Peace came for you, too. And the beautiful thing is that by welcoming Him into your brokenness, you let His light shine through to everyone around you. They will see the peace you carry amidst the darkness. Ah, what wonder. A small and humble miracle. A declaration of good news proclaimed from the mountain for all to hear.<br />
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Merry Christmas, friends. May this peace envelop your hearts no matter what is surrounding your life today.</h2>
Tracey Dyckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-26150253764501062952018-12-10T16:58:00.002-06:002018-12-10T16:58:33.568-06:00Book Review: Falling Snow by Skye Hoffert<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When I found out that long-time friend and writing pal Skye Hoffert had won a spot in Rooglewood Press's <em><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39697144-five-poisoned-apples" target="_blank">Five Poisoned Apples</a></em>, I was ecstatic! We've been beta readers for each others' stories a couple times before, and what always struck me about her writing were the characters. Stark. Gritty. Brimming with dangerous life. So to hear that the world would finally get a chance to meet some of them made me squeal with joy!<br />
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I was kindly provided an e-book copy of <em>Five Poisoned Apples</em> in exchange for a review of Skye's winning story, Falling Snow.* (Of course, I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.)<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*And once I get my hands on a print copy, stay tuned for a review of the full anthology!</span><br />
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Falling Snow</h2>
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Snow White at the circus--that was the first thing to grab my attention. And that grungy setting kept me entranced right to the final page. Skye succeeds in painting the two faces of the circus with vibrant brushstrokes, both the glamorous veneer and the dank shadows beneath.<br />
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The next thing to hook me in was, of course . . .<br />
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The Characters (most of whom are fae!)</h3>
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<strong>Snow:</strong> She's not the timid, cutesy thing of the Disney film. This Snow is guarded, capable, and wounded. If you've read the story, you know how much her emotions pop in the wire-walking scene!<br />
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<strong>Chayse:</strong> Easily my favorite character! Fiery abilities, a tortured relationship with his mother, and a tattered/hobo-like appearance make him a unique and lovable romantic interest.<br />
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<strong>Cynfael:</strong> He's everything you expect a fae prince to be, with a healthy helping of snark added to his cunning personality. He and Chayse sort of share the roles of prince and huntsman . . . but I shan't say more. Spoilers, sweetie.<br />
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<strong>The dwarves:</strong> They're a ragtag group of clowns who, in their own gruff way, look after Snow. Goodness knows she needs it.<br />
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<strong>The queen:</strong> She's the sort of villainess I love to hate, and she personifies the circus itself with her glittering mask hiding a heart of rot.<br />
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<strong>Alilion: </strong>He doesn't show up much, but he seems to play a minor role as the mirror. Also detestable, as one might expect.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
So what about the plot?</h3>
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Trust me, if you think you know the tired old <em>"Mirror, mirror, on the wall," </em>set up, you'll get a pleasant surprise here. The classic pieces have been rearranged on the chessboard, with some very clever twists to keep you on your toes.<br />
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Plot is my biggest struggle in novellas because it's hard to contain within such a small word limit. But Skye ratchets up the suspense and advances the game so deftly, I nearly forgot I wasn't reading a full novel. Even though I'd read an early draft, my heart was pounding at all the right moments! And there's just enough time before reaching <em>The End</em> to breathe a sigh of relief.<br />
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A dark blend of <em>Once Upon a Time </em>and <em>The Greatest Showman</em>, <em>Falling Snow</em> is a riveting start to the <em>Five Poisoned Apples</em> collection! I can't wait to see what Skye writes next.</h3>
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P.S. In the meantime, go pay Skye a visit at her blog, <a href="https://inkcalamities.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Ink Castles!</a> She's an artist as well as a writer, so poke around to find her paintings.</div>
Tracey Dyckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-10828418511073603982018-12-02T22:21:00.000-06:002018-12-02T22:21:13.318-06:00Subplots & Storylines - October and November 2018<br />
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Questers, it has been <em>A Very Long While</em> since we caught up! How was the tail end of your autumn? Did you stuff yourself with Thanksgiving turkey? Tackle NaNoWriMo? Do you have snow yet??? <span style="font-size: x-small;">I do!</span></div>
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My October and November was a long stream of homework interrupted by a few fun things, so I'll spare you the monotonous details and stick to the good stuff.</div>
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Life Subplots</h2>
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<strong>Thanksgiving!</strong> It was good and full of food. And it was in October, where Thanksgiving is supposed to be. *winks at all my American pals*</div>
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<strong>Tons of homework</strong>--oh wait, I said I would skip that part. Except I will say that my heaviest course involved talking to a dozen strangers over the phone, running around scheduling interviews, conducting marketing research surveys, and writing some major papers. Heh.</div>
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<strong>I went to an escape room.</strong> It was a bank heist theme and yes, I did escape. Funny thing is I managed to pass this off as research for school. (Long story.)</div>
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<strong>I turned twenty-three!</strong></div>
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<strong>Started Christmas shopping and had some soul chats with friends and listened to a lot of music.</strong> New favorites include Imagine Dragons' Origins album and a bunch of stuff by Mat Kearney.<br />
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Screen Storylines</h2>
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<strong>OCTOBER FILMS</strong><br />
<strong><br /></strong><br />
<strong>Once Upon a Time, Season 6 </strong>- just one episode<br />Nothing new to report here, really. I've been moving so slowly through the season that it's hard to update the S&S posts with anything meaningful.<br />
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<br /><strong>Tomorrowland</strong> (rewatch)<br />During a tough stint of school deadlines when I was too exhausted to read, I took to watching 20-30 minutes of this before bed. I accidentally forgot to finish it, though . . . Whoops. Fun movie, though!<br />
<3 p=""><br /><br /><a href="http://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjTn-D64oLfAhUS84MKHdzICygQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=http%3A%2F%2Frebloggy.com%2Fpost%2Fdisney-movies-my-edit-fantasia-fantasia-2000-firebird-suite-firebird%2F39090772804&psig=AOvVaw3G3EWlFMophgYEOLLh7326&ust=1543895995694616"><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/269e6fa04635b240fe8bfec918cc4f59/tumblr_mfrt6rsP3T1ru6sjgo1_1280.gif" /></a><br />
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</3><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Fantasia 2000</strong></span><br />
A change from my usual fare. This one was at times funny, other times poignant, and generally beautiful in a turn-of-the-century-animation way. My favorite piece was <em>The Firebird.</em><br />
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<br /><strong>Inception</strong> (rewatch)<div style="border-image: none;">
I've told people for years that this is one of my top favorite films even though I'd seen it only once. In October I watched it for the second time and remembered why I love it! Intense and paradoxical, the plot keeps you on your toes and the characters are fantastically well-defined.</div>
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<br /><strong>Ant-Man and the Wasp</strong></div>
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Scott Lang makes me laugh and this sequel was a nice breather after the intensity of <em>Avengers: Infinity War</em>. But that post-credit scene . . . !<br /><br /><strong>NOVEMBER FILMS</strong></div>
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<strong>Once Upon a Time, Season 6</strong> - again, just one episode</div>
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See above.</div>
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And it looks like that's all I watched in November! Wow. I guess I really was busy.</div>
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<h2 style="border-image: none; text-align: center;">
Page Subplots</h2>
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<strong>OCTOBER READS</strong></div>
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<strong>Crazy Love // Francis Chan</strong><br />
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A nonfiction audiobook? When does Tracey ever listen to one of those? When she spends two hours on the road every day, that's when.</div>
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This wasn't quite as good as I was hoping. It did have some great portions. I especially liked the beginning that reminded me of the bigness of God. There were more good reminders scattered throughout, but overall, some chunks seemed to be written to make me feel guilty rather than to inspire true change. Yet that wasn't the purpose of the book as the author described it. So . . . <strong>3.5 stars</strong>, I think.</div>
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<strong>From the Mouth of Elijah // Bryan Davis</strong> (reread)</div>
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From the fiery devastation of an erupting volcano to bullet-riddled battlefields to madcap dashes through one portal after another--sacrificial love once more leads the way. Lauren’s journey is particularly poignant in this book, but the entire cast of heroes demonstrate incredible faith too. <br /><br />And it was fun to see Matt and Lauren become more accustomed to their heritage, preparing them for the crazy adventures of the next two books. <strong>5 stars!</strong></div>
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<strong>If We Survive // Andrew Klavan</strong> (reread)</div>
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This was a reread and another audiobook, which was <em>excellent.</em> I already loved the book, but it was so fun to listen to it five years later. One of my favorite Klavan books!</div>
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High points include dear Will (who just wants to do the right thing, gosh darn it), Palmer Dunn (ex-Marine pilot full of snark and major skills), Meredith (the calm, stately friend who mothers everyone), the South American jungle setting, and the theme of "pointing your soul to God" in moments of great danger and worry. <strong>5 stars!</strong></div>
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<strong>Fawkes // Nadine Brandes</strong></div>
I HAVE BEEN LONGING TO READ THIS FOR MONTHS. AHHH. I held off buying it until Realm Makers in July and then . . . let it sit on my shelf for three months, obviously. But it was so worth the wait and the hype!<br />
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First of all, historical fantasy. I need more. Seeing the streets of 17th century London running with color magic was SO PANCAKE-FLIPPING COOL. Thomas was a fantastic protagonist and Emma pulled off "kick-butt heroine" without being annoying. (She was actually fabulous.)</div>
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The plot was twisty, the full cast of characters sparkled with life, the magic system was fun, and the White Light took me by surprise in a good way. <strong>5 stars!</strong></div>
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<strong>Haven // Mary Lindsey</strong></div>
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I am definitely not the target audience for this book. Steamy paranormal romance is <em>not. my. thing.</em> But I got this in a PageHabit box (I was subscribed for two months last year) and it had author annotations and I felt obligated to try it. So I did.</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2217079563" target="_blank">You can check out my full review on Goodreads</a>, but basically this was a Twilight-reversal with a troubled teen moving to a small, creepy town (of course) and "falling in love" with a female werewolf (who was aggressive and unlikeable and walked around naked after shifting back to human form, #thanksbutnothanks).</div>
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I say "falling in love" with quotation marks because neither party had much personality going for them, but neither one cared much because hey, all it takes to build a relationship is making out, right? Gag me now.</div>
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The first 50% of the book was packed with clichés. The midpoint involved Rain, the protagonist, being disgustingly pushy with Freddie, the werewolf. And the rest was exceedingly bloody. <strong>1 star.</strong></div>
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<strong>NOVEMBER READS</strong></div>
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<strong>The Seventh Door // Bryan Davis</strong> (reread)<br />
Since I've been rereading all twelve books in these interconnected series this year, the parallels between <em>The Seventh Door</em> and <em>Circles of Seven</em> were even more apparent this time around--which was really cool!<br />
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There are some deeply sad scenes (the abortion clinic, for those who've read it) and some thought-provoking ones (the missile) that I enjoyed. Lauren plays a crucial role here, and the book ends on a tense note. <strong>5 stars.</strong><br />
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Written Storylines</h2>
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In October, I dug up an old flash fiction piece and rewrote it. It's called <em>Dead Magic</em>, and working on it was a breath of fresh air! I submitted it to <a href="https://gohavok.com/" target="_blank">Havok Publishing</a> so we'll see if anything comes of that in the near future.<br />
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For a teaser, here's the first line:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<em>The door of Sebastian's Magickry opened with the tinkle of a bell precisely fifteen minutes after closing time.</em></blockquote>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Hello, December</h2>
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It's been a good but very full two months, and I'm <em>so ready</em> for Christmas break! How about you, questers? What have I missed in your corner of the world?</div>
Tracey Dyckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-5960808420622837872018-11-12T14:25:00.000-06:002018-11-12T14:25:13.795-06:00Dust & Clay<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6Ffvps43Cq1A_Qi9Rpnc0yhOqeGHfvTTJht401C4mXbKEcL90LURQoqUj-luxT2KuT_dNTxcOZsZXpsDNdcsqJInpunIdChG6Cz0winvsRjQeeYN3_NQ0Wqp8hIufl_o0AZda3JfB7U/s640/dustandclay.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="color: #0066cc;">Photo by </span></u><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/amojb6lvIwU?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText"><span style="color: #999999;">Paul Robert</span></a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/search/photos/clay?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText"><span style="color: #999999;">Unsplash</span></a> // Graphics mine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><br />
On the days you feel lifeless<br />
Hopeless<br />
Breathless<br />
<br /><br />
You are more.<br />
<br /><br />
When all you hold is dust<br />
Sand<br />
Ash<br />
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There is more.<br />
<br /><br />
When your mind whispers lies<br />
And the mirror tells you lies<br />
And the world screams lies<br />
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Look for more.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Still, Eternal One, You are our Father.</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
We are just clay, and You are the potter.</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
We are the product of Your creative action, shaped and formed into something of worth.</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Isaiah 64:8 (The Voice)</h3>
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Clay is common. It's dirt. It's walked on, buried, and disregarded. It's worthless.<br />
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But the moment an artist scoops clay onto the potter's wheel and shapes it into something, that clay is imbued with value. Someone with expertise and creative vision has turned it into a work of art, and the artist's fingerprints are all over it. It has become a beautiful expression of the creator's heart.<br />
<br /><br />
It matters.<br />
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One day the Eternal God scooped dirt out of the ground,</h3>
<h3 style="border-image: none; text-align: center;">
sculpted it into the shape we call human,</h3>
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breathed the breath that gives life into the nostrils of the human,</h3>
<h3 style="border-image: none; text-align: center;">
and the human became a living soul."</h3>
<h3 style="border-image: none; text-align: center;">
Genesis 2:7 (The Voice)</h3>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoL2yzJi6YBw5OsSjo31YarVAXG21BT_yG9PRHn9aSOpjFRV6bXLsmdU4hDRhwPy-A0_Uj9FJB9CShI8g9MwqF7Urp3a_9vkpZgGq14ofdL0ODYCkYnNZa7pRMlIQbWOZ4RosQcVq3N6Y/s1600/quino-al-711813-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoL2yzJi6YBw5OsSjo31YarVAXG21BT_yG9PRHn9aSOpjFRV6bXLsmdU4hDRhwPy-A0_Uj9FJB9CShI8g9MwqF7Urp3a_9vkpZgGq14ofdL0ODYCkYnNZa7pRMlIQbWOZ4RosQcVq3N6Y/s400/quino-al-711813-unsplash.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/zjL2nfIoq3U?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText"><span style="color: #999999;">Quino Al</span></a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/search/photos/clay?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText"><span style="color: #999999;">Unsplash</span></a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
You are not worth anything based on what you are made of. You are worth something based on who made you. The Artist's signature on your soul is living proof. The breath in your lungs--which isn't yours--is proof.</div>
<br /><br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
I am dust</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
You are God</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
I am breathless</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Till You fill my lungs</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
-<em>Dust</em>, Steffany Gretzinger</h3>
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<br /><br />
I feel dusty sometimes. No matter how hard I try, my earthiness persists. I would rather be a vessel of polished marble or wondrous crystal, but instead I am a jar of clay. Yet I am worth more than a marble vase created by an amateur sculptor, because I was crafted by an expert artisan, and somehow He saw fit to place the treasure of His life within me.<br />
<br /><br />
<h3 align="center">
But this beautiful treasure is contained in us--cracked pots made of earth and clay--so that the transcendent character of this power will be clearly seen as coming from God and not from us.</h3>
<h3 align="center">
...So we have no reason to despair. Despite the fact that our outer humanity is falling apart and decaying, our inner humanity is breathing in new life every day.</h3>
<h3 align="center">
2 Corinthians 4:7 & 16 (The Voice)</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Breathe life today, friend. Walk through the dust and keep your chin up, because you are made worthy. You are an exclusive art exhibit on display in this world, authenticated by the Artist's unmistakeable touch.</div>
Tracey Dyckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-71693310002779744962018-10-20T22:28:00.002-05:002018-10-20T22:28:18.436-05:00Writers: How to Engage the Five SensesWriters, have you ever received a critique saying that your story wasn't <strong>immersive</strong> enough? Have you ever heard, <strong>"Show, don't tell?"</strong> Have you ever struggled to convey your story's setting in a way that <em>doesn't</em> devolve into paragraph upon paragraph of dry exposition?<br />
<br />
<br />
And readers, have you ever read a scene that felt like talking heads in a white room, with nothing to paint a picture of the surroundings? Have you ever felt <strong>detached</strong> from the main character, like you've become an outside observer instead of being welcomed into the character's deepest thoughts and feelings?<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
If you said yes to any of those questions, I've got a technique that will help you!</h3>
<br /><br />
The writers among us, that is. The only help the <em>readers</em> will receive is an understanding of one reason why they may not click with a story. Sorry, guys.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Let's talk about <strong>THE FIVE SENSES.</strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOb23YmUWTJTVpGJ1bkvKeJ4COsYDF2sEnmbdIN93xYqT1ABHPLWK1PNS2Vy7P8zz5veies6hKzba51qmq2EpG4FIspG4RXBxNzXr_lpcKfitDkOASI1qJU4C5j-sFhovnp0spfUlo0VM/s1600/how+to+engage+the+5+senses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="479" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOb23YmUWTJTVpGJ1bkvKeJ4COsYDF2sEnmbdIN93xYqT1ABHPLWK1PNS2Vy7P8zz5veies6hKzba51qmq2EpG4FIspG4RXBxNzXr_lpcKfitDkOASI1qJU4C5j-sFhovnp0spfUlo0VM/s640/how+to+engage+the+5+senses.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /><br />
Before you roll your eyes and tell me, "Yes, yes, we learned this in kindergarten," hear me out. Your story is lush and alive and teeming with creativity . . . in <em>your</em> mind. The challenge of writing is to transfer that vision to the page. It's harder than it looks. You have a living movie reeling through your thoughts, but the page? <strong>The page is blank until you start putting that movie into words.</strong><br />
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And some things get lost in translation. I've written story elements that seemed so clear and obvious in my mind, only to have beta readers get confused.</div>
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I've written descriptions I thought were the most brilliantly vivid words to grace the page, until I reread it the next day and found it flat and lifeless.</div>
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I've been writing long enough to have gotten better at this over time, but it's still something I wrestle with, particularly in first drafts. It might be a skill we writers will never perfect, but can continue improving.</div>
<br /><br />
So how do we transform lifeless prose and blank white rooms into that Technicolor movie in our heads?<br />
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<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Engage the senses.</h2>
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<br />
Sight. Sound. Smell. Taste. Touch.<br />
<br /><br />
When you draw on all of them, your setting--and more importantly, your character's experiences within the setting--will come alive.<br />
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<strong>You may find yourself leaning on one or two of the five senses and neglecting the others.</strong> I depend most heavily on sight, as do most writers, I suspect. My default is to describe what the setting <em>looks</em> like. Perhaps that is the most important sense most of the time. After all, if the reader cannot picture what a place looks like, it's very difficult to choreograph action or ground a scene.<br />
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<div style="border-image: none;">
<strong>But sight alone is not enough. Your character has more than eyes--he or she has ears, a tongue, a nose, and skin, and all of these are just as busy experiencing his or her surroundings as yours are.</strong> In battle, your character will not just see an enemy horde. He will taste dirt and blood, hear the moans of the dying, feel his arms vibrate with a heavy sword strike. Cozied around a campfire, your character will not merely see the flickering orange flames. She will feel their heat and smell the smoke and hear the crackle of popping logs.</div>
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When dispensers of writing advice admonish you to <em>show, not tell</em>, what they often mean is that instead of cruising over the landscape with a cursory "he did this and she felt that," you should <strong>dive deep into the sensory experience.</strong><br />
<br /><br />
Here are a few examples, some from my own writing, others from published books I've read.<br />
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<br />
<h3 style="border-image: none;">
SIGHT</h3>
<br />
<div style="border-image: none;">
<a data-cthref="/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj4tbeyxJbeAhVJMt8KHaH2BAgQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fgfycat.com%2Fgifs%2Fdetail%2Fhighraggedbrant&psig=AOvVaw2u3diYCrvUkQDcABuLV8rA&ust=1540176941934315" data-ved="2ahUKEwj4tbeyxJbeAhVJMt8KHaH2BAgQjRx6BAgBEAU" href="https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj4tbeyxJbeAhVJMt8KHaH2BAgQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fgfycat.com%2Fgifs%2Fdetail%2Fhighraggedbrant&psig=AOvVaw2u3diYCrvUkQDcABuLV8rA&ust=1540176941934315" id="irc_mil" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;focus:irc.rl;irc.il;" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for pixar gifs" height="209" id="irc_mi" src="https://thumbs.gfycat.com/HighRaggedBrant-small.gif" style="margin-top: 46px;" width="400" /></a><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<em><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong>Throngs</strong> of people choked a <strong>road winding uphill</strong> toward the <strong>castle</strong>.</span></span></span></em> [The Brightest Thread]</div>
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What do we see? Crowds, a twisty road, and some sense of a castle.</div>
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<br />
<div style="border-image: none;">
<em><span style="color: blue;"><strong>Shadows</strong> <strong>pooled</strong> between the <strong>trees</strong>.</span></em> [The Brightest Thread]</div>
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<br /></div>
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We see a forest, and the verb choice gives us a sense of mystery.</div>
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<br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">Norwood stood at his <strong>dented and stained herb table</strong>, the backdrop of his <strong>curio cabinet</strong> displaying rows of <strong>green-hued bottles and jars</strong>, most of which held some sort of <strong>powder, paste, or plant</strong>.</span></em> [Fawkes, Nadine Brandes)<br />
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These little details--the dented table, green bottles, powders and pastes--are potent enough to create an entire aesthetic for the room.<br />
<em><br /></em><br />
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<h3>
SOUND</h3>
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<em><span style="color: blue;"><strong>Low, rumbly voices</strong> filtered through the undergrowth, too <strong>muffled </strong>to make out the words.</span></em> [The Brightest Thread]<br />
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In one sentence we know there are multiple speakers, they are some distance away, and they are either male or monstrous. (Correct answer: they're ogres.)<br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">The yellow flags above me<strong> snap sharp and loud</strong> in the breeze as if to emphasize my owner's words that yes, she's quite aware such a high count is utterly ridiculous.</span> </em>[Storm Siren, Mary Weber]<br />
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"Snap" is a punchy verb bolstered by the two adjectives "sharp" and "loud," which together call to mind exactly the sound you're supposed to hear.<br />
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<h3 style="border-image: none;">
<a data-cthref="/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj7_JnXxJbeAhVlQt8KHWBRDeAQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.society19.com%2Frelatable-disney-pixar-gifs-describing-your-lifestyle%2F&psig=AOvVaw2u3diYCrvUkQDcABuLV8rA&ust=1540176941934315" data-ved="2ahUKEwj7_JnXxJbeAhVlQt8KHWBRDeAQjRx6BAgBEAU" href="https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj7_JnXxJbeAhVlQt8KHWBRDeAQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.society19.com%2Frelatable-disney-pixar-gifs-describing-your-lifestyle%2F&psig=AOvVaw2u3diYCrvUkQDcABuLV8rA&ust=1540176941934315" id="irc_mil" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;focus:irc.rl;irc.il;" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for pixar gifs" height="225" id="irc_mi" src="https://i1.wp.com/i.makeagif.com/media/9-04-2016/mL3UUi.gif?resize=463%2C261&ssl=1" style="margin-top: 46px;" width="400" /></a>
SMELL</h3>
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<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">The <strong>warm scents of buttered loaves and seasoned roasts</strong> were all that was left of the feast.</span></em> [The Brightest Thread]<br />
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Is your mouth watering yet?<br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;"><strong>Moist air</strong> wafted past my nose, carrying the <strong>odor of a brewery--malt and hops</strong>.</span> </em>[Reapers, Bryan Davis]<br />
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In this scene, we're getting a sense of where the protagonist lives, and the smell of a brewery adds a unique detail.<br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">The <strong>odor of fish</strong> mixed with the <strong>scent of roses, berries, fresh bread.</strong> <strong>Blood</strong> from the slaughter stall constricted my throat.</span></em> [Fawkes, Nadine Brandes]<br />
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Ah, nothing like the blend of aromas from a seventeenth century London marketplace, am I right?<br />
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<h3>
TASTE</h3>
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<span style="clear: left; color: blue; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="It took her awhile, but her reaction is priceless!!" class="_u3 _45 _y5 _4h" src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/17/6e/62/176e62fb638f97aa75a68595fa969512.gif" /></span><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">He tosses a berry in a high arc toward me. I catch it in my mouth and break the delicate skin with my teeth. The <strong>sweet tartness explodes</strong> across my tongue.</span></em> [The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins]<br />
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Mmm, now I'm hungry for berries . . .<br />
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(Oddly enough, I had a terribly hard time finding more good examples for this sense. It seems that the mere mention of food is often enough to conjure an idea of its taste. Other tastes often found in the books I read are blood, alcohol, salt, medicine, etc.*)<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*Sounds like I read fantasy. *wink*</span><br />
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<h3>
TOUCH</h3>
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<em><span style="color: blue;">Aleida jumped off the log and stumbled on unsteady feet. Her skin buzzed with the aftermath of magic.</span></em> [The Brightest Thread]<br />
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We all know how it feels to stumble or feel unsteady. We also get a sense of electricity with the word <em>buzzed</em>.<br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">Thorns <strong>scratched</strong> her ankles and tree limbs <strong>whipped</strong> past her face.</span> </em>[The Brightest Thread]<br />
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Rather than just knowing the character is running through a forest, we feel the scratches of thorns and branches reaching out to block her way.<br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;"><strong>Prickly</strong> <strong>vibrations</strong> raced along my cloak from the baggy sleeves to the top of the hood, <strong>tickling</strong> the two-day stubble across my cheeks and chin.</span> </em>[Reapers, Bryan Davis]<br />
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Here a sensation is woven into the book's first clues about who the protagonist is (a male wearing a cloak).<br />
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
All Together Now!</h2>
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Now that we've seen the five senses in action, let's see what it looks like when multiple senses are used together.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b0/c5/19/b0c519540fb459c7076fc22e11de78d3.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for disney tangled i have a dream gifs" border="0" class="_u3 _45 _y5 _4h" height="210" src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b0/c5/19/b0c519540fb459c7076fc22e11de78d3.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="color: blue;"><strong>Birdsong</strong> filtered through the <strong>branches</strong>. Every <strong>rock</strong> and <strong>pine</strong> <strong>needle</strong> <strong>poked</strong> her slippers, but it didn’t matter. She was out; she was on an adventure and about to set her parents at ease. The thought of someone detecting her absence and giving chase prodded her into a light run. How good it felt to <strong>stretch her legs</strong>.</span> </em>[The Brightest Thread]</div>
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The only <em>explicitly</em> referenced senses are hearing (birdsong) and touch (poking her slippers, stretching her legs). But notice how other senses are implied? You might have pictured the forest, since branches, rocks, and pine needles are mentioned (sight). You may have even assumed the temperature (touch again) or imagined the scent of forest air (smell).<br />
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In well-written description it's not the quantity of senses used, but the quality that depicts the mood.<br />
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The important thing isn't to reel out a grocery list of sensory inputs every time your character walks onto a new scene. <strong>It's to use whichever senses are most important at the moment and let the reader's imagination fill in the gaps.</strong><br />
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<strong><br /></strong></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
And that, my writer friends, is one way to immerse your reader in every scene you write! It's not the only tool by any means, but it certainly goes a long way in painting a vivid picture that lives and moves and breathes.</h2>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
***</div>
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<strong>Assignment #1:</strong> If you're looking to practice this method, try reading a chapter of your current work-in-progress and highlighting every sensory description. See which senses you use most often. Consider which senses are underused. Look for places you haven't described any senses at all. Then dive in and make some changes!<br />
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<strong>Assignment #2:</strong> Crack open a favorite book and page to your favorite chapter. On a separate piece of paper, make two columns. In the first, list all the senses that the author explicitly describes. In the second, list all the extra, unwritten senses you imagine as you read. Have fun!Tracey Dyckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-38301781792178890512018-10-08T20:14:00.001-05:002018-10-08T20:14:27.267-05:00Subplots and Storylines - August and September 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTd13a9HlYW5w_pXihpQQfbuxI4_YmHxBycYKXAMKIWiiDkkFjAaTSvnnG1pUvcrgh_Pk0DxSiqUfHiP1WhP_AonSVFxrXFigbIDsIGzpxXARu0zMYnEIpdTDQ7MtdAdyhZXns8KQ5oXc/s1600/subplots+and+storylines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTd13a9HlYW5w_pXihpQQfbuxI4_YmHxBycYKXAMKIWiiDkkFjAaTSvnnG1pUvcrgh_Pk0DxSiqUfHiP1WhP_AonSVFxrXFigbIDsIGzpxXARu0zMYnEIpdTDQ7MtdAdyhZXns8KQ5oXc/s640/subplots+and+storylines.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<h4>
Hey friends, it's been a while! My blogging schedule laughed at me and took a plane to Antarctica, I think. What with the fantastic Silmaril Awards taking place, I haven't written a "normal" post since July. And since I missed the August edition of S&S, we've got a double feature today!</h4>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Life Subplots</h2>
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<strong><em>August:</em></strong><br />
<ul>
<li>Relaxing</li>
<li>Editing <em>The Brightest Thread</em></li>
<li>Preparing for college year 2</li>
<li>Picking apples</li>
<li>Enjoying fresh corn on the cob</li>
<li>College started on the last week of the month</li>
</ul>
<br /><br />
<strong><em>September:</em></strong><br />
<ul>
<li>The Silmaril Awards 2018 was a smashing success</li>
<li>Nature had the nerve to <em>snow</em> on the very first day of autumn (thank goodness it didn't stick around)</li>
<li>I got a cold</li>
<li>Other than that, my days revolved around school. Because I switched campuses, I now spend 2-3 hours driving back and forth every day.</li>
<li>There's been a <em>ton</em> of homework and group work. No solitary Batman gig for me. But that's okay. I'm learning all sorts of cool things about business and marketing.</li>
<li>My biggest school project involves building a business with my team--coming up with an idea, validating it with input from real businesspeople, completing a feasibility study . . . and there's lots more to come. So if things are a little quiet here at Adventure Awaits, you know why.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Screen Storylines</h2>
<br />
<br />
<strong><em>August</em></strong><br />
<strong><em><br /></em></strong><br />
<strong><strong><strong>Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 1 (two episodes)</strong></strong></strong><br />
It's been so long, I honestly don't remember what exactly I saw. It was probably fun, though!<br />
<br /><br />
<strong><strong>Once Upon a Time Season 6 (two episodes)</strong></strong><br />
Some good bits . . . but also a lot that fell flat. The new villainess (SPOILER: <span style="font-size: xx-small;">The Black Fairy</span>) just isn't <em>scary.</em> She's hyped up as this dark, twisted being who's behind all sorts of other darkness, but when you meet her . . . eh. I didn't even flinch. Kind of disappointing.<br />
<br /><br />
<strong>Stay Here (two episodes)</strong><br />
This is a Netflix show about people who renovate short-term rentals like cottages and B&Bs, and also totally transform the owners' marketing strategies. I had to watch one episode for a school assignment, but enjoyed it enough to watch two!<br />
<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-cthref="https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjL58O7kvjdAhUK4IMKHaIBA9MQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fpopwrapped.com%2Fquick-thoughts-about-underrated-movies-the-lone-ranger-2013-&psig=AOvVaw3e-tw3o8wcnmmDH2P0XLO5&ust=1539132696065078" data-ved="2ahUKEwjL58O7kvjdAhUK4IMKHaIBA9MQjRx6BAgBEAU" href="https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjL58O7kvjdAhUK4IMKHaIBA9MQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fpopwrapped.com%2Fquick-thoughts-about-underrated-movies-the-lone-ranger-2013-&psig=AOvVaw3e-tw3o8wcnmmDH2P0XLO5&ust=1539132696065078" id="irc_mil" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;focus:irc.rl;irc.il;" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Related image" height="425" id="irc_mi" src="https://pop-wrapped.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/articles/92098/quick-thoughts-about-underrated-movies-the-lone-ranger-2013--1-med.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="640" /></a></div>
<strong>The Lone Ranger</strong><br />
I've been meaning to see this one ever since it came out. With a generous helping of embellishment and comedy, this wild west story was a lot of fun from start to finish. Johnny Depp is hilarious as Tonto. (And come on, that soundtrack is glorious.)<br />
<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong><strong>Now You See Me</strong></strong><br />
While <em>not</em> kid-friendly, this was surprisingly engaging! The cast was spot-on, the magic tricks were fascinating, the plot kept me guessing, and I didn't see that twist coming. Definitely need to see the sequel.<br />
<br /><br />
<img alt="Related image" height="337" id="irc_mi" src="https://boygeniusreport.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/avengers-infinity-war-post-credits1.jpg?quality=98&strip=all&w=782" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="640" /><strong><strong>I<strong><strong>nfinity War (rewatch)</strong></strong></strong></strong><br />
You all know how I feel about this one. *proceeds to curl into a ball and sob in a corner*<br />
<br /><br />
<strong><em>September</em></strong><br />
<strong><em><br /></em></strong><br />
<strong><strong><strong>Once Upon a Time Season 4 (just one episode)</strong></strong></strong><br />
Boy, my siblings and I are rewatching OUAT very s l o w l y. We started the season a couple months ago, and we're only on episode four. But Hook is as awesome as ever, and I'd forgotten how much I like Will (as stupid as he is sometimes).<br />
<a data-cthref="https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjYk42sk_jdAhUI4YMKHWZBDwsQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fbrandonvogt.com%2Fyou-will-unite-or-you-will-fall-each%2F&psig=AOvVaw3qHIOn0y0tYXikirF_-NcF&ust=1539132987649803" data-ved="2ahUKEwjYk42sk_jdAhUI4YMKHWZBDwsQjRx6BAgBEAU" href="https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjYk42sk_jdAhUI4YMKHWZBDwsQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fbrandonvogt.com%2Fyou-will-unite-or-you-will-fall-each%2F&psig=AOvVaw3qHIOn0y0tYXikirF_-NcF&ust=1539132987649803" id="irc_mil" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;focus:irc.rl;irc.il;" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor;"><img alt="Related image" height="271" id="irc_mi" src="http://brandonvogt.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Fellowship1.jpg" style="margin-top: 43px;" width="638" /></a><br />
<strong><strong>The Fellowship of the Ring (rewatch)</strong></strong><br />
A friend and I needed a fantasy fix, so we started watching LotR. We were both exhausted though, so we only made it through the first half.<br />
<br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-ved="2ahUKEwj2sIfik_jdAhUi8YMKHfMxDpcQjRx6BAgBEAU" href="https://www.bustle.com/articles/31186-10-important-harry-potter-and-the-chamber-of-secrets-book-movie-differences" id="irc_mil" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;focus:irc.rl;irc.il;" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Related image" height="384" id="irc_mi" src="https://imgix.bustle.com/rehost/2016/9/13/50d609b7-8d54-4c25-a208-760ec2a74a83.jpg?w=970&h=582&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=70" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AREN'T THEY CUTE?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<strong>Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets</strong><br />
The wizarding world is so much fun! Already Harry, Ron, and Hermione look and act a bit older than in the first movie, and I loved watching their shenanigans. Aragog was genuinely creepy. *shudders*<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Page Subplots</h2>
<br />
<br />
There's surprisingly quite a few books to talk about, so let's do these reviews blitzkrieg style!*<br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">*lightning war . . . short and to the point? I dunno, does that make sense?</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: small;"><strong><em>August</em></strong></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: small;"><strong><em><br /></em></strong></span></em><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-cthref="https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwib_rT9k_jdAhUj7YMKHaBLBgUQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FEmbers-Abiassas-Fire-Book-1-ebook%2Fdp%2FB013Z4JQAM&psig=AOvVaw2FJ_acyJ94UbYRR6PWAnJD&ust=1539133158042332" data-ved="2ahUKEwib_rT9k_jdAhUj7YMKHaBLBgUQjRx6BAgBEAU" href="https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwib_rT9k_jdAhUj7YMKHaBLBgUQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FEmbers-Abiassas-Fire-Book-1-ebook%2Fdp%2FB013Z4JQAM&psig=AOvVaw2FJ_acyJ94UbYRR6PWAnJD&ust=1539133158042332" id="irc_mil" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;focus:irc.rl;irc.il;" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for embers ronie kendig" height="356" id="irc_mi" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61y8uopQb-L.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="231" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><strong><strong><strong>Embers // Ronie Kendig</strong></strong></strong></span><br />
Loved the concept! A fire-wielding princess trades places with her crippled brother, and he must go on a quest to save her from his own paralyzed fate. Prince Haegan was a well-rounded protagonist whom I quite liked. Definitely some <em>Avatar: The Last Airbender</em> vibes with the fire abilities too. The only snags? The book took a little while to get going, slowed down by lots of points of view. Still, things were being set up for some epicness! <strong>4 stars.</strong> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2353150123" target="_blank">(See my full review on Goodreads for more details.)</a><br />
<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-cthref="https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwje8O6MlPjdAhVD8IMKHSI3DYMQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.goodreads.com%2Fbook%2Fshow%2F4495776-the-bones-of-makaidos&psig=AOvVaw1IopL34BT45Qy-lW2-ZBeJ&ust=1539133192232465" data-ved="2ahUKEwje8O6MlPjdAhVD8IMKHSI3DYMQjRx6BAgBEAU" href="https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwje8O6MlPjdAhVD8IMKHSI3DYMQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.goodreads.com%2Fbook%2Fshow%2F4495776-the-bones-of-makaidos&psig=AOvVaw1IopL34BT45Qy-lW2-ZBeJ&ust=1539133192232465" id="irc_mil" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;focus:irc.rl;irc.il;" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for the bones of makaidos bryan davis" height="356" id="irc_mi" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388288780l/4495776.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="237" /></a></div>
<strong>The Bones of Makaidos // Bryan Davis</strong><br />
One of my absolute favorite Bryan Davis books ever! Lots of tension as the full cast of characters gathers for war and so many people get hurt. Beautiful themes of sacrificial love are woven throughout. All the plot threads are brought to a graceful, stirring finale. <strong>5 stars!</strong><br />
<strong><br /></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9mpmndZ3aJbKo1YvjHGPq9rzEV_oNUO1LviuYZTnQsfQlEWGf3vW_vX33trmyEArnyjzeP-U6Cz3dMIio78huQpdFWKzE5DBjUSuy7XX_n0aD8Gddtth0B-krw17i9reaJYtIVDvjBHs/s1600/fairest+son+hsj+williams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1018" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9mpmndZ3aJbKo1YvjHGPq9rzEV_oNUO1LviuYZTnQsfQlEWGf3vW_vX33trmyEArnyjzeP-U6Cz3dMIio78huQpdFWKzE5DBjUSuy7XX_n0aD8Gddtth0B-krw17i9reaJYtIVDvjBHs/s400/fairest+son+hsj+williams.jpg" width="254" /></a></div>
<strong><strong><strong>Fairest Son // H.S.J. Williams</strong></strong></strong><br />
<a href="http://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2018/08/book-review-fairest-son-by-hsj-williams.html" target="_blank">I reviewed this lovely little Snow White novella in August!</a><strong> 5 stars!</strong><br />
<strong><br /></strong><br />
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<a data-cthref="https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwi41PmvlPjdAhVK5oMKHd2tC70QjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.ca%2FQuiet-Power-Introverts-World-Talking%2Fdp%2F0307352153&psig=AOvVaw0lCbnJ90itipvbDxhylMYs&ust=1539133264587538" data-ved="2ahUKEwi41PmvlPjdAhVK5oMKHd2tC70QjRx6BAgBEAU" href="https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwi41PmvlPjdAhVK5oMKHd2tC70QjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.ca%2FQuiet-Power-Introverts-World-Talking%2Fdp%2F0307352153&psig=AOvVaw0lCbnJ90itipvbDxhylMYs&ust=1539133264587538" id="irc_mil" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;focus:irc.rl;irc.il;" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for quiet susan cain" height="356" id="irc_mi" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81vOO4hRh0L.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="231" /></a></div>
<strong><strong><strong>Quiet // Susan Cain</strong></strong></strong><br />
A fascinating (nonfiction) book on the power of introverts in a world that can't stop talking. I appreciated that the author didn't really do any extrovert-bashing in the process of affirming introverts' strengths. I now feel a bit more aware of why I think the way I do, why busy social settings tire me out, how I can create space for myself to recharge, and how I can bring quiet strength into any situation. <strong>4 stars.</strong><br />
<strong><br /></strong><br />
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<strong><strong><strong>Hacker // Ted Dekker</strong></strong></strong><br />
While it may not be my top favorite Dekker novel ever, it was still a great ride. I've found that the Outlaw series reads more like allegories or extended metaphors than anything else. <em>Hacker</em> took a surprising look at the reality of the unseen world. Hacking the human conscience was a nifty way to go about it. <strong>4 stars.</strong><br />
<strong><br /></strong><br />
<strong><strong><em>September</em></strong></strong><br />
<strong><strong><br /></strong></strong><br />
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<strong><strong><strong>The Story of With // Allen Arnold</strong></strong></strong><br />
This unique book is part allegorical fiction, part inspiring nonfiction--and its message is life-changing. <a href="http://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2018/07/realm-makers-2018-recap.html" target="_blank">I had the pleasure of meeting the author at Realm Makers</a> and attending his classes on the very topic written about in his book. (Scroll to the end of the linked post to see how amazing that was!) There were a few typos I wish had been cleaned up, but this is still a book I'll want to reread in the future. And I actually--gasp--attacked it with a pencil and underlined things! <strong>5 stars!</strong><br />
<strong><br /></strong><br />
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<strong><strong><strong>All seven Chronicles of Narnia audio dramas // C.S. Lewis</strong></strong></strong><br />
On my long commutes, I took to listening to Focus on the Family's radio theater version of this beloved series! Bless my heart, it was so, so good to return to Narnia. I found tears coming to my eyes multiple times as I followed the characters on their wild adventures, encountering Aslan in the most unexpected places. <strong>5 stars for all of them!</strong><br />
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<strong><strong><strong>Song of the Ovulum // Bryan Davis</strong></strong></strong><br />
This tale picks up fifteen years after <em>The Bones of Makaidos</em>, with a new generation of characters. The world is now fraught with danger for dragonkind. I really enjoyed rereading Matt and Lauren's adventure, and I love how strong their sibling bond becomes over such a short span of time. Joren and Selah's storyline, too, was really good. "What color is mercy?" is a question that haunts both Joren and the reader, and it is answered beautifully by the end. <strong>5 stars!</strong><br />
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Written Storylines</h2>
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<strong><em>August</em></strong><br />
<br /><br />
I surpassed my editing goals for the month by working through <strong><em>The Brightest Thread </em>chapters 6-11</strong>. I'm <em>still</em> not 100% happy with the beginning (#recoveringperfectionist) but I have ideas for how to strengthen it later. The important thing is that I made forward progress.<br />
<br /><br />
<strong><em>September</em></strong><br />
<br /><br />
Nothing. Zilch. Nada.<br />
<br /><br />
I've relinquished my writing goals during college, so I suppose you could say I accomplished everything I set out to write in September--which was nothing! Yay me! That has actually been one of the more difficult things about school, but I'm consoling myself with the truth that I'm living life right now, and that will mean more life to pour into my stories later.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Thanks for sticking around, fellow questers! I hope to get back to a biweekly posting schedule as promised, but in case all goes silent here, don't panic--probably just doing battle with the Beast of Homework. I still love you guys, and I'm positively <em>brimming</em> with ideas for how to shake things up around here next spring. In the meantime, tell me how your autumn is going. Happy October!</h3>
Tracey Dyckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-56940896063093575402018-09-28T08:00:00.000-05:002018-09-28T08:00:08.898-05:00SilmAwards - Most Magnificent Dragon Winner!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaJ60tJdhbq4mFsIG18L8ORAR-S-VnFqA1dF8KXKI7imYYmlauHNsbHSadqI8H9Y4uZaYbHSLctXD4JfJNRI4fBIDNMLk97LYnqKZWS36LkRYfhcmkn9-w8HpafrHfBaCxBixDSBtxU4/s1600/silmarill-awards-white.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="900" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaJ60tJdhbq4mFsIG18L8ORAR-S-VnFqA1dF8KXKI7imYYmlauHNsbHSadqI8H9Y4uZaYbHSLctXD4JfJNRI4fBIDNMLk97LYnqKZWS36LkRYfhcmkn9-w8HpafrHfBaCxBixDSBtxU4/s640/silmarill-awards-white.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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All is black. But the blackness feels big, as if the ceiling must be far overhead and the walls many spans apart. There is a rustling and the warmth of many bodies gathered in one place. Hushed whispers pass back and forth.</div>
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Then with a whoosh, torches flame to life and illuminate a massive cavern. Stalactites jag from the ceiling like great teeth. At one end, a stone slab is raised to serve as a stage, and the crowd of people are gathered before it.</div>
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"Greetings!" I shout from the stage, my voice echoing without the use of a microphone. "What a fine turnout we've had for the 2018 Silmaril Awards. Welcome to the final ceremony--today Smaug himself will award a Silmaril to the most magnificent dragon!"</div>
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Cheers resound.</div>
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<div>
"Before he arrives, just a quick recap in case you missed any of the awards ceremonies." I pull a list from my pocket. "This year's winners have included <a href="http://jenelleschmidt.com/least-competent-henchman-award/" target="_blank">a very sportsmanlike but incompetent henchman,</a> <a href="https://agwerff.blogspot.com/2018/09/and-most-mischievous-imp-silmaril-goes.html" target="_blank">a collection of mischevous imps</a>, <a href="http://zacharytotah.com/2018/09/strangest-character-winner-2018-silmaril-awards/" target="_blank">a rather strange and sock-ish fellow</a>, <a href="http://savannahgracewrites.blogspot.com/2018/09/silmaril-awards-2018-most-faithful_20.html" target="_blank">a not-so-little faithful friend</a>, <a href="http://www.djedwardson.com/silver-tongue-2018-silmaril-awards/" target="_blank">a beloved silver tongue</a>, <a href="https://deborahocarroll.wordpress.com/2018/09/24/wisest-counselor-presentation-ceremony-silmaril-awards-2018/" target="_blank">a wise and academically-inclined counselor</a>, <a href="https://kylerobertshultz.com/2018/09/25/the-2018-silmaril-awards-announcing-the-most-nefarious-villain/" target="_blank">a glamorous villain</a>, <a href="https://rawlse.wordpress.com/2018/09/26/the-winner-of-the-most-epic-hero-silmarilaward2018/" target="_blank">a princely hero</a>, and <a href="https://madelinejrose.wordpress.com/2018/09/27/the-winner-of-the-most-epic-heroine-award/" target="_blank">a spirited heroine</a>."</div>
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I gulp in a deep breath. "And now I do believe I'll pass things off to--"</div>
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A great rumbling fills the cavern. Guests look around worriedly.</div>
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"MY ARMOR IS LIKE TENFOLD SHIELDS," a voice booms from someplace unseen. "MY TEETH ARE SWORDS, MY CLAWS SPEARS, THE SHOCK OF MY TAIL A THUNDERBOLT, MY WINGS A HURRICANE, AND MY BREATH DEATH!"</div>
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Flames gush from a side passage. All at once, a humongous red-golden dragon bursts into the cavern and leaps onto stage. I sidestep to avoid the thrash of his tail.</div>
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"Smaug!" I say. "We were just talking about--"</div>
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"SILENCE!" he roars. "You have summoned me to present another Silmaril, and a Silmaril I shall present. Where are the worthy contestants?" He swings his head back and forth, luminous eyes scanning the audience. Everyone shrinks back in fear.</div>
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A much smaller, black dragon is the only one to chitter happily, a gleaming gem hanging around his neck.</div>
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"Ah, the toothless winner of last year," Smaug says. "I should hope this year's victor boasts a few more teeth than you, <em>night fury</em>."</div>
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Toothless grins, teeth rising from his gums to flash in the firelight.</div>
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I clap my hands together, lest these two dragons begin a fire fest, and call out, "Contestants, please come forward!"</div>
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Five figures venture out from another side tunnel and join us on the stony stage. I pull a scroll from my other pocket and unroll it so Smaug can read it. He lowers his head and peers at the scroll with one eye.</div>
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"In fifth place with twenty votes . . ." He glances at the contestants. <strong>"Kazul from <em>The Enchanted Forest Chronicles.</em>"</strong></div>
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Kazul bows her head to the audience and flies off the stage.</div>
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"Fraternizes with humans, that one," Smaug mutters. "I smell princess all over her. Ahem. In fourth place with twenty-two votes . . . <strong>Gem from <em>The Ilyon Chronicles.</em>"</strong></div>
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A blue and black dragoness flutters her wings in thanks, then joins Kazul on the ground.</div>
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"Do all these dragons make friends with men?" Smaug grumbles. "I should think such friendships diminish their magnificence, small though it may be."</div>
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"Not all dragons believe that magnificence is measured by gold and power," I say.</div>
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He snorts a plume of smoke and returns to the scroll. "In third place with thirty-five votes . . . <strong>Death-in-Life from <em>Tales of Goldstone Wood.</em>"</strong></div>
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An imposing dragon with black scales and glittering eyes shoots a tongue of flame. "Third place? How dare the hearts of men reject me!"</div>
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Smaug chuckles deep in his throat. "Now there's a more magnificent beast. Not quite so magnificent as myself, of course."</div>
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Death-in-Life storms from the cavern with a mighty shriek. By the relieved sighs from the audience, all are glad to see him leave.</div>
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"In second place with forty-four votes . . . <strong>Malcolm Blackfire from <em>The Afterverse.</em>"</strong></div>
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This time, boisterous cheers erupt as a great red dragon with piercing golden eyes steps forward. "Yes, yes, Headmaster of Warrengate Academy of Advanced Magic and all that rot. I must say, I am surprised to hear you <em>cheering</em> for me in this scaly form. Usually you prefer to see me in my natural state." Fire crackles and whirls around him, and he dwindles to a much smaller form. The blaze vanishes, leaving behind a tall, lanky man with grey-streaked red hair. He brushes an ember from the sleeve of his suit jacket. "Is this better?"</div>
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The audience whistles and claps all the louder.</div>
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Smaug thumps his tail, shaking the stone slab. "A dragon who <em>is</em> a man? Could your selection become any worse? Away with you, shape shifter."</div>
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"Careful, Volcano-Breath," Malcolm snaps. "In my dragon form, I'm really quite deadly." But he stalks off the stage just the same.</div>
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"Well," I say brightly. "It should be obvious now who the winner is. You may feel free to return to your Mountain now, Smaug . . ."</div>
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Before I can roll up the scroll, Smaug gets a glimpse of the final name. He spits a fireball, and I only just manage to let go of the scroll before it is consumed.</div>
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"WHAT IS THIS OUTRAGE?" He whirls around to face the last contestant, a small boy standing all alone with his hands behind his back.</div>
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The boy blanches under Smaug's stare. "Er . . . hullo, Sir Dragon. I'm <strong>Eustace Clarence Scrubb</strong>, but I'd prefer if you called me Eustace. Or Scrubb would do just--"</div>
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"A BOY?" Smaug roars. "I thought this award was to go to the most magnificent <em>dragon</em>, yet here the people have muddied the waters and voted for . . . for weak, incompetent, folly-some <em>humans</em>." Sparks fly from his large maw with every word, and the audience shuffles backward to put more space between themselves and Smaug's rage.</div>
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"He did receive a whopping seventy-three votes, Smaug," I say.</div>
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"Now see here," Eustace cries, "if you incinerate me, Mr. Dragon, I'll call the British Consul!"</div>
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I send him a warning look.</div>
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Eustace straightens his shirt and turns a little red. "I mean, that wouldn't be proper. You see, I was a dragon once."</div>
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"You?" sneers Smaug.</div>
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"Yes. And I'm all the better for it. It was a miserable experience, but thank Aslan I came out the other side of that ordeal a very different boy."</div>
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"Aslan?" More smoke pours from Smaug's nostrils. "And who, pray tell, is he?"</div>
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"Only the greatest king there ever was, the Son of the Emperor Across the Sea." Eustace pauses, and his eyes seem to tear up with memories. "He's a lion."</div>
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Smaug roars louder than ever and grit falls from the ceiling. "Enough! When you foolish folk decide to cease turning the Silmaril Awards into a circus, <em>then</em> perhaps you may call me to present again. I am through!" He beats his powerful wings and flies from the cavern, nearly snuffing out the torches in his wake.</div>
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I chuckle nervously. "Ah, he'll cool down before next year. In the meantime, Eustace, may I just say that I think you are a most worthy recipient of this year's Silmaril." I reach into yet another pocket and beckon him nearer.<br />
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Eustace approaches and kneels before me.<br />
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"Congratulations, Eustace." I pull out a gleaming red pendant, a jewel hanging from a satin ribbon, and loop it over his head. "Let this be a reminder of where you have traveled and what you have become!"<br />
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Eustace breaks into a grin and stands to his feet as the audience breaks into the most thunderous applause yet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFYekpys4yhjsYHnQLcexQyUvhgokrSCV18VfBiYogaWEVtvWf5R2Q2wX79fqxTJxERxkDo2UA75F6HQmV91gKm9VRu72PgQK4mjJrs4eK8egt_BvRmGG8aNarijfHosssrwu7B8Agrw/s1600/dragon-medallion-silmaril-award..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="785" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFYekpys4yhjsYHnQLcexQyUvhgokrSCV18VfBiYogaWEVtvWf5R2Q2wX79fqxTJxERxkDo2UA75F6HQmV91gKm9VRu72PgQK4mjJrs4eK8egt_BvRmGG8aNarijfHosssrwu7B8Agrw/s640/dragon-medallion-silmaril-award..jpg" width="489" /></a></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
"And that, my friends, concludes the 2018 Silmaril Awards!" I shout. "Thank you all! I bid you all a very fond farewell!"</h3>
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Tracey Dyckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-73271922040899400512018-09-10T08:00:00.000-05:002018-09-10T08:00:03.061-05:00SilmAwards Voting Round - Most Magnificent Dragon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Wasn't that a delightful flurry of activity last week? It was such fun seeing the nominations come pouring in across all ten categories of the Silmaril Awards! I think my TBR stack has grown . . . *gulp* . . . a few feet taller.<br />
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Now comes the time for the top five nominations in every category to move on to the voting round. While tallying up the scaly critters flying and flaming across Adventure Awaits this weekend, I had the misfortune of getting in the crossfire of several worthy dragons all vying for a spot in the top five. There was, you see, a four-way tie for the fifth spot. Competition was fierce. I even sport the burns, claw marks, and singed hair to prove it. But it's a small price to pay as a SilmAwards host.<br />
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So which dragons wrangled their way into the voting round?<br />
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Malcolm Blackfire from the Afterverse by Kyle Robert Schultz</h3>
Ancient. Mysterious. Sarcastic. Scottish. (Well, Caledonian, if we’re being technical.) Malcolm has little patience for humanity, and is not above immolating those who annoy him. However, when great evil arises in the Afterlands, he will ultimately fight to save humans--even though his methods cannot always be described as “heroic”. Plus, while he will never admit it, he has a fondness for the pathetic non-dragons, so long as they don’t try to pilfer from his hoard. His ability to shift into human form has allowed him to wear many hats over the centuries: military general, archaeologist, and even headmaster of a magical school. But all the same, he doesn’t feel truly himself unless he’s curled up on a pile of gold. Or soaring above the rooftops, shooting fireballs at peasants, but he doesn’t get many chances to do that in this tiresome modern age.<br />
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Gem from the Ilyon Chronicles by Jaye L. Knight</h3>
This non-speaking female dragon with blue and black scales is brave in battle and seems to understand her new rider's fear of heights. After her previous rider tragically perished, she was hurt and depressed until her new rider nursed her back to health. Now she is his faithful dragon.<br />
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Eustace Clarence Scrubb from <em>The Voyage of the Dawn Treader</em> by C.S. Lewis</h3>
Although not a dragon by nature, this petulant young boy spent some time in dragon form during his adventures aboard the <em>Dawn Treader.</em> It was a rather disagreeable experience, but the very scales that hardened his skin turned out to soften his heart. Eustace was never quite the same again (and you can be sure his cousins were most grateful for the change).<br />
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Kazul from the Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede</h3>
Kazul is fairly level-headed, for a dragon, though sometimes she can let her dislike for wizards overwhelm her... she's been known to eat more than one, especially if they are found inside the borders of her realm (she is King of the Dragons, after all) or messing with dragonsbane, a plant toxic to dragons. A while back, she agreed to take a princess who <em>volunteered</em> to be captured by a dragon, and the arrangement has been beneficial to both of them, as Cimorene's ability to bake Cherries Jubilee and organize her treasure room leaves Kazul with the ability to focus on the more difficult aspects of ruling her subjects.<br />
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Death-in-Life from Tales of Goldstone Wood by Anne Elisabeth Stengl</h3>
Whether he walks as a tall, pale-skinned man or a massive, black-scaled dragon, Death-in-Life has been known to strike terror in the hearts of many. The lives of men mean little to him, to the point that he gambles with his evil sister for their souls. Deathly poison clouds any place he settles. With a kiss on the brow, he steals the hearts of the unguarded and turns them into dragons themselves. He is so feared that his name has become a curse.<br />
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Remember, the voting period is open from September 10-14!</h2>
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Use the voting form below to cast your votes for all ten categories! Note: you only need to vote once, but you may want to visit all ten participating blogs to read descriptions of the contestants.<br />
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<a href="https://silmarillion.typeform.com/to/RDDCKi" target="_blank">CLICK HERE TO CAST YOUR VOTES.</a><br />
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Least Competent Henchman // <a href="http://jenelleschmidt.com/voting-round-henchman/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #495131;">Jenelle Schmidt</span></a></div>
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Most Nefarious Villain // <a href="https://kylerobertshultz.com/2018/09/09/2018-silmaril-awards-vote-most-nefarious-villain/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #495131;">Kyle Robert Schultz</span></a><br />
Most Epic Hero // <a href="https://rawlse.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #495131;">E.E. Rawls</span></a><br />
Most Epic Heroine // <a href="https://madelinejrose.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #495131;">Madeline J. Rose</span></a><br />
Most Magnificent Dragon // right here!<br />
Most Faithful Friend // <a href="http://savannahgracewrites.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #495131;">Savannah Grace</span></a><br />
Most Mischievous Imp // <a href="https://agwerff.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #495131;">Abbey Stellingwerff</span></a><br />
Strangest Character // <a href="http://zacharytotah.com/2018/09/2018-silmaril-awards-vote-strangest-fantasy-character/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #495131;">Zachary Totah</span></a><br />
Silver Tongue // <a href="http://www.djedwardson.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #495131;">DJ Edwardson</span></a><br />
Wisest Counselor // <a href="https://deborahocarroll.wordpress.com/2018/09/10/silmaril-awards-2018-wisest-counselor-voting/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #495131;">Deborah O'Carroll</span></a></div>
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Tracey Dyckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-43834731591023946852018-09-03T08:00:00.000-05:002018-09-03T22:36:00.601-05:00SilmAwards - Most Magnificent Dragon Nominations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Welcome, my friends, to the third annual Silmaril Awards!</h2>
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The Silmaril Awards are like the Oscars for fantasy characters. And <em>you</em> get to nominate (and later vote) for your most beloved heroes, villains, sidekicks, and more! I look forward to this time every year. There's such an outpouring of energy and enthusiasm among fans as we chat about our favorite fantasy books and the characters who live within.<br />
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Rules</h3>
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We have a shiny new website officially set up this year, with the full rundown on rules and past winners right <a href="http://www.silmarilawards.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a>. Here's a brief explanation of how the awards work:<br />
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<li>You may nominate as many characters as you wish.</li>
<li>You may also second as many characters nominated by others as you choose. The more "seconds" (and thirds, fourths, etc) a character receives, the more likely that character will move on to the voting round, which will be the top five most nominated characters from each category.</li>
<li>Nominations are allowed for <strong>fantasy book characters</strong> only! (Movie characters are not allowed, unless the book came first).</li>
<li>The Silmaril Awards are "lifetime" awards. Characters who have already won a Silmaril in previous years are not eligible to win the same award again (though they may win other awards.) For a list of past winners, please visit <a href="http://www.silmarilawards.com/past-awards/" target="_blank">silmarilawards.com</a>.</li>
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Important Dates</h3>
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Mark your calendars so you don't miss out on anything!<br />
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<strong>Nominations run from September 3-7</strong> // This is when you throw alllll your favorite characters into the ring in hopes they'll get seconded/thirded/fourthed/etc. by others.</div>
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<strong>Voting runs from September 10-14</strong> // This is when you pull out your hair and scream into the void over the impossibility of choosing between the top five nominations in each category.</div>
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<strong>Awards ceremonies take place September 17-28</strong> // This is when you wait with bated breath for the winners to be announced! A coveted Silmaril will be awarded to each winner by one of Tolkien's famed characters.</div>
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Speaking of Tolkien, <em>his characters are not eligible for the awards!</em> Why, you ask with a gasp? Because his works set such a standard for the fantasy genre, and because they are beloved by so many, we thought the characters of Middle Earth deserved to be presenters of the awards rather than contestants. (Or else they'd steal the show!)</div>
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Awards Categories</h3>
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Head over to each stop this week to nominate characters in all the categories!</div>
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Least Competent Henchman // <a href="http://jenelleschmidt.com/least-competent-henchman/" target="_blank">Jenelle Schmidt</a><br />
Most Nefarious Villain // <a href="https://kylerobertshultz.com/2018/09/03/slimaril-nominations-2018/" target="_blank">Kyle Robert Schultz</a><br />
Most Epic Hero // <a href="https://rawlse.wordpress.com/2018/09/03/silmaril-awards-2018-nominations-most-epic-hero-the-time-has-come" target="_blank">E.E. Rawls</a><br />
Most Epic Heroine // <a href="https://madelinejrose.wordpress.com/2018/09/03/3rd-annual-silmaril-awards-cermony-nomination-round/" target="_blank">Madeline J. Rose</a><br />
Most Magnificent Dragon // right here!<br />
Most Faithful Friend // <a href="http://savannahgracewrites.blogspot.com/2018/09/silmaril-awards-2018-most-faithful.html" target="_blank">Savannah Grace</a><br />
Most Mischievous Imp // <a href="https://agwerff.blogspot.com/2018/09/the-silmaril-awards-2018.html" target="_blank">Abbey Stellingwerff</a><br />
Strangest Character // <a href="http://zacharytotah.com/2018/09/2018-silmaril-awards-strangest-character/" target="_blank">Zachary Totah</a><br />
Silver Tongue // <a href="http://www.djedwardson.com/2018-silmaril-award-nominations-for-silver-tongue/" target="_blank">DJ Edwardson</a><br />
Wisest Counselor // <a href="https://deborahocarroll.wordpress.com/2018/09/03/silmaril-awards-2018-nominations-wisest-counselor/" target="_blank">Deborah O'Carroll</a></div>
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Most Magnificent Dragon Nominations</h3>
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With that said, I am ever so pleased about hosting the Most Magnificent Dragon category! After hosting <a href="http://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2017/07/silmarillion-awards-winner-of-wisest.html" target="_blank">Wisest Counselor</a> and <a href="http://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2016/07/we-have-winner-silmarillion-award-for.html" target="_blank">Best Riddling and Poetry</a>*, it seemed only natural to let my favorite scaly creatures invade Adventure Awaits.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*which was later renamed to Silver Tongue, FYI</span><br />
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<strong>What sort of dragon are we looking for?</strong> Why, the most magnificent kind, of course! That could mean the humongous dragons with infernos in their bellies . . . or the miniature, kitten-like dragons with big personalities . . . or the clever, gold-hoarding dragons with a gleam in their eyes. It could be the dragons that make you cower under the blankets in fear, the ones that make your heart swell with noble happiness, or the ones that make you want a dragon for your best friend. Talking dragons, non-speaking dragons, good ones and bad ones and in-between ones--we want <em>you</em> to head down to the comments and nominate your favorites! (As many as you wish, remember!)<br />
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It's up to you. Those winged beasts of terror and majesty aren't going to nominate themselves!</h3>
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P.S. Don't forget, last year's winner of the Most Magnificent Dragon Silmaril was Toothless, so he's no longer eligible.<br />
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P.P.S. Share on social media and grab all your fantasy-loving friends to come nominate characters too! Use #SilmAwards or #SilmAwards2018.<br />
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P.P.P.S. If you have any questions about the awards or how they work, ask away in the comments.Tracey Dyckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.com113tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-82753319168087785052018-08-18T15:55:00.001-05:002018-08-18T18:44:09.088-05:00Book Review: Fairest Son by H.S.J. WilliamsHi ho, my friends! I've got a book review for you today! Recently, I had the honor of reading <em>Fairest Son</em>, a novella by H.S.J. Williams, and loved it so much that I have to shout it to the world.<br />
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<em>Fairest Son</em> is a gender-bent retelling of Snow White. I don't know about you, but I was instantly intrigued by that twist alone. But it gets even better! This little tale draws from Irish mythology, including Seelie and Unseelie courts, the <em>sidh</em>, and a lot more that would be too spoilery to mention.<br />
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Here's another thing you should know: I read <em>Fairest Son</em> in <strong>one</strong> sitting. The plan was to read three or four chapters and then move on to writing a blog post. But I kept scrolling . . . and scrolling . . . until I lost track of time and read the story right to the end!*<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*I stopped once for a cookie break. Those are important.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "eb garamond" , serif;"><span class="color_25"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>The Fair and Foul courts of the fey folk have long yearned for one to bring them together in peace, but hopes are dashed when the fairest prince and the prophecy concerning him are laid to ruin. Burdened with shame and sorrow, the prince flees to the cold mountains far above the forests and lochs with nothing but animals and goblins for company.<br /><br />When a human huntress stumbles upon him in her search for a legendary predator, their fates are intertwined. But she hides deadly secrets, and if he dares to trust her, he may risk the doom of both courts to an ancient evil...</em></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="color_25">Wonderful Things</span></h2>
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1. Unexpected twists</h3>
No spoilers here, but this story deftly twists and weaves the Snow White we all know into a fresh new tale--a tale that stands strongly on its own, yet sends little winks and nods to its source materials at all the right moments. Every "aha" was a delight!<br />
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2. Wild fey</h3>
Disney's Tinkerbell is nice and all, but the kind of fairies that <em>really</em> enchant me are those that tend toward the wilder side. A little darker, a little more capricious and untamed, a little truer to the fairy tales of old. The Seelie and Unseelie courts here were populated by just that sort of fairy (a.k.a. <em>sidh</em>), which made me happy.<br />
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3. Perfect pacing</h3>
Novellas are tricky when it comes to pacing. Longer than short stories, they must have a strong enough plot to merit about 20,000-30,000 words; but shorter than novels, they don't have the space to delve into the characters or the world quite as deeply as a 400-page tome. Yet Williams crafted a story that sucked me in quickly, settled me into the world comfortably, and made me fall in love with the characters in very short order. I didn't feel that anything was lacking or terribly rushed. But now the problem is <em>I want more!</em><br />
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4. Lovable characters</h3>
Like I said, I fell in love . . . most strongly with Prince Idris! He is a gentle soul, yet strong. Deeply hurt and disfigured, yet trusting. His mirthful disposition was a ray of sunlight in a snowy landscape. Calling him a "precious bean" or "soft cinnamon roll," as is the practice of many fangirls when talking about this type of character, just isn't good enough for dear Idris!<br />
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Our main character, the reserved and secretive huntress Keeva, formed the perfect complement to him. Capable and cunning, she held her own without being an emotionless "strong heroine." And guys, I ship these two so hard!<br />
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The band of seven goblins, cleverly named by personality, were a lot of fun too! They paralleled Disney's dwarves somewhat and were surprisingly easy to keep track of--which is no small feat when there are seven of them running around.<br />
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5. Pretty prose</h3>
I'm a sucker for lovely narrative. It's no substitute for a good story, of course, but it's the delicious icing on the cake. And Williams achieved a style of prose that harkens back to the time of fairy tales, with an omniscient style and a whimsical voice that reminded me at times of Anne Elisabeth Stengl.<br />
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6. Stirring themes</h3>
THIS IS THE REASON I'M GIVING IT FIVE STARS. I can't tell you how or why or what happened without giving away the ending, but <em>Fairest Son</em> had me grinning, widening my eyes, clutching my heart, and then at last smiling softly with satisfaction, all because of its beautiful themes. Though unexpected, they arose naturally from the story and put a twist on love and redemption that I didn't see coming.<br />
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Not-So-Wonderful Things</h2>
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1. A few typos</h3>
Just a small handful, really, and perhaps a phrase or two that could have been smoothed out. Very, very minor details. I loved the story too much to care.<br />
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2. It wasn't long enough!</h3>
Okay . . . so that's not really a negative, because it <em>is</em> a novella and Williams <em>did</em> do a fantastic job of fleshing everything out within her space limits. But I enjoyed my time in these pages and want more!<br />
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In Conclusion</h2>
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<em>Fairest Son</em> is a beautiful, moving tale of a disfigured fairy prince and the huntress who finds him in the woods. It is a story of recognizing the foul among the fair and uncovering the fair among the foul. It balanced elements of Snow White within a rich world drawn from Irish myth, written with both humor and heart. It's definitely worth a buy, and I hope to get it in paperback as soon as I can! (Partly because there are two gorgeous illustrations inside that need to be <strike>petted</strike> admired on the page!)<br />
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I hope Williams goes on to write full-length novels too, because I would gladly spend more time under her enchanting spell. Five stars from me!<br />
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<em>From the beginning, H. S. J. Williams has loved stories and all the forms they take. Whether with word, art, or costume, she has always been fascinated with the magic of imagination. She lives in a real fantastical kingdom, the beautiful Pacific Northwest, with her very own array of animal friends and royally loving family. Williams taught Fantasy Illustration at </em><a href="http://www.msoaonline.com/"><em>MSOA</em></a><em>. She may also be a part-time elf.</em> <br />
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<a href="https://www.hsjwilliams.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> // <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1732430608/" target="_blank">Amazon</a> // <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40542019-fairest-son" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> // <a href="https://www.instagram.com/h.s.j._williams/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> // <a href="https://hsjwilliams.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Hannah's art page</a><br />
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<em>[I received a free ebook copy of Fairest Son in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are entirely my own.]</em>Tracey Dyckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-50794261471073910472018-08-04T07:30:00.000-05:002018-08-04T07:30:12.163-05:00Subplots and Storylines - July 2018 // ANNOUNCEMENT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3C_KucKMzMvHbGYquUQqsqjbjHspFDoWLd0b9UpWqe6tTCssJB_al5xzCxjTAs7dFFC6Fme_PE1qEpwYu2BHb_O3zFTHDHUkHuNfUUQQUl0ORc4nA_Hg1YRzTGMet4iHjIWqlBD6yLg/s1600/subplots+and+storylines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3C_KucKMzMvHbGYquUQqsqjbjHspFDoWLd0b9UpWqe6tTCssJB_al5xzCxjTAs7dFFC6Fme_PE1qEpwYu2BHb_O3zFTHDHUkHuNfUUQQUl0ORc4nA_Hg1YRzTGMet4iHjIWqlBD6yLg/s640/subplots+and+storylines.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /><br />
The month of July, in its swirl of humidity and heat, seemed to orbit around the gravitational pull of the <a href="http://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2018/07/realm-makers-2018-recap.html" target="_blank">Realm Makers conference</a> I attended. The first three weeks were full of preparation for the trip, then the conference actually took place, and then I spent the final week recovering!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Life Subplots</h2>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Preparation</h3>
<br /><br />
Filmed and posted a vlog, because why not put off one's blogoversary celebration until the busiest month of the year, right? (Here's <a href="http://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2018/07/q-vlog-part-1.html" target="_blank">part one</a> and <a href="http://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2018/07/q-vlog-part-2.html" target="_blank">part two</a>.)<br />
<br /><br />
Put together my Cinder cosplay, which involved attacking a t-shirt with scissors and genuine mechanic grease and testing out silver face paint on my "cyborg" hand.<br />
<br /><br />
Also revamped my one sheet for <em>The Brightest Thread</em> in order to have material on hand for pitch appointments at the conference.<br />
<br /><br />
Most importantly, I stuffed myself with as many fresh strawberries and sugar snap peas as possible, because their growing season doesn't last long.<br />
<br /><br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
The (In)famous Realm Makers</h3>
<br /><br />
You might be sick and tired of me and all the attendees raving by now, so I'll spare you a regurgitation of the details and will instead point you back to the link in the first paragraph of this post, in case you missed my recap!<br />
<br /><br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Recovery</h3>
<br /><br />
Because yes, an introvert needs to crash after two days of travel and three days of non-stop people. And a lover of words and worlds must somehow step back into real life after being to Narnia and back. Recovery involved sleeping . . . and more sleeping . . . and typing up all my Realm Makers notes* . . . and also watching <em>The Fellowship of the Ring</em>.<br />
<br /><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">*Thirty typed pages of notes, people. THIRTY.</span><br />
<br /><br />
I also just enjoyed summer and played water balloon volleyball and took my siblings to the city for a ride on a surrey bike. It's like a tandem bike, except built for four people and shaped like a golf cart with pedals. Lots of fun! Pedaling uphill is not for the faint of heart. Or faint of legs.<br />
<br /><br />
P.S. I had a blast participating in Nadine Brandes's Instagram challenge for the month of July! If you're on Insta, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/traceydyckauthor/?hl=en" target="_blank">I'd love to connect with you there</a>!<br />
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Screen Storylines</h2>
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<br /><br />
<strong>Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1</strong><br />
I actually watched five episodes of this with my sisters, which is more than we've seen in a while. We just got to some good backstory for Zuko!<br />
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<strong>Once Upon a Time season 6</strong><br />
Two episodes of this with my sisters. One of the episodes was deep and interesting and involved Prince Charming. It felt like the <em>Once</em> that I've always loved. But the other episode . . . blegh. A certain person acted very out of character, <em>plus</em> he was played by a different actor. This whole season has been a bit of a mixed bag.<br />
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<strong>The Fellowship of the Ring</strong><br />
Can you believe this was only my second time watching it? I still get emotional at . . . well, pretty much every part. The Shire, the little hobbits at the start of their adventure, the forming and the breaking of the fellowship, Gandalf and the Balrog, Boromir, Sam swimming after Frodo. MY HEART IS SO FULL. This was my sisters' introduction to Middle Earth on the big screen, so that was even more fun!<br />
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Page Subplots</h2>
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My reading accomplishments were pretty pitiful this month, especially after devouring nine books in June. I read just one book in July. Sniffle. I did start a second, but it's still not finished.<br />
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<br /><br />
<strong>Last of the Nephilim // Bryan Davis</strong><br />
<br /><br />
War is coming. In this, the seventh instalment in a story world that started with <em>Raising Dragons</em>, all the heroes gather in Second Eden to face the coming storm. Dragons, giants, prophets, oracles, warriors, healers, the old, the young--all are desperately needed.<br />
<br /><br />
What I loved:<br />
<ul>
<li>Elam got lots of time on the page</li>
<li>Sapphira had to face the darkness yet again</li>
<li>All the action scenes with the plane were great! (<em>Merlin II</em>, is it?)</li>
<li>Dikaois--he ranks right up there with horses like Bree from C.S. Lewis's <em>The Horse and His Boy</em></li>
<li>Second Eden is such a cool setting!</li>
<li>Angel's choice near the climax--I get shivers every time I read that scene</li>
</ul>
What I didn't like:<br />
<ul>
<li>A very minor complaint. The identity reveal of someone's grandfather didn't seem <em>quite</em> as important as the characters were making it out to be, but maybe I missed a detail, what with my reading time being spread so thin.</li>
</ul>
<br /><br />
Overall, <em>Last of the Nephilim</em> is an epic book that sets the stage for my one of my favorite series conclusions ever: <em>The Bones of Makaidos.</em> <strong>5 stars for this reread!</strong><br />
<strong><br /></strong><br />
(Speaking of Bryan Davis, he has a <a href="http://www.theauthorschair.com/shopping/" target="_blank">fantastic discount on his books going on until August 5th</a>!)<br />
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Writing Storylines</h2>
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As I mentioned, I did rework my one sheet, so that kind of counts toward writing. Right?<br />
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I also edited chapters 3-5 of <em>The Brightest Thread</em>. It's still slow going, but that's all right with me. Some of the editing is dealing with deep-seated story elements, particularly around the beginning, and that always takes longer. This month, I hope to ease into the early/middle chunk of the story, which should be a bit easier to work on.<br />
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Almost forgot--I wrote and edited a super short flash fiction called <em>Blackened Shell.</em> I submitted it to Splickety for consideration in a live critique session they did at Realm Makers. While I wasn't selected as one of the ten stories they critiqued, I did learn plenty of tips and tricks for improving my flash fic next time!<br />
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Announcement</h2>
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(You probably scrolled right to the bottom to see what this is all about, didn't you? Come on, be honest now!)<br />
<br /><br />
Life is always busy. I'm not a fan of that term, <em>busy</em>, although I use it all the time. Truthfully, every day is composed of the exact same twenty-four hours, and we choose how they are filled. But they are always filled with <em>something</em>. Therefore, life is always <strike>busy</strike> full.<br />
<br /><br />
I choose to fill several hours each week with blogging because I love it. I love writing new posts to share with you here, whether they're life updates like this or book reviews or jolts of inspiration to wake your heart. I love reading all of your comments and having conversations with you.<br />
<br /><br />
But there are also other things I love, and on top of that, there are some "have-to's" filling my hours--just like your life, I imagine. Balance is key, and different seasons demand we shift our balance from time to time. So I'm shifting some things around right now.<br />
<br /><br />
Not to worry! I am not quitting the blog! <strong>I REPEAT: ADVENTURE AWAITS IS STILL ALIVE.</strong> Neither am I leaving on hiatus. Rather, I am adjusting my posting schedule for a while. With college beginning in less than four weeks, I have a few boring affairs to get in order. I'd like to edit more of TBT before classes start too, and it'd be nice to read a few novels before the textbooks come down in a landslide. So here's how it's going to be.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Old posting schedule: Every Saturday, including<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> a</span></span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Subplots and Storylines recap every month.</span></span></strong></div>
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<strong><br /></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>New posting schedule: Every <em>other</em> Saturday, including the</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>same Subplots and Storylines recap every month.</strong></div>
<strong><br /></strong><br />
This means that instead of four or five posts a month, you'll be getting two or three. It may feel weird to keep such frequent S&S posts with the new schedule, so I may slow those down too. We'll see! This new schedule will go into effect starting now (so don't be alarmed when there's no new post next Saturday) and it will run until I graduate college at the end of April 2019.<br />
<br /><br />
See, I've been ruminating on ways to make Adventure Awaits an even better place to visit, and I know that pushing out sub-par content simply for the sake of a schedule would have the opposite effect. I'd rather give you better posts, even if they come less frequently.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
How does that sound, questers? Thoughts? How was your July? And your summer in general so far? Let's chat!</h3>
Tracey Dyckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-2968469551633420782018-07-29T21:25:00.001-05:002018-07-29T22:30:01.113-05:00Realm Makers 2018 Recap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCXfiYHNcm5Bf3MYpOkWJMfipi7VNQ7qSULSQwFjYatV8zmfhvcVnOxf3oqMdSjdp6Z7fT-HsjEio_3dIgoznjmqfSCnn1gm9E-ehVbRncNXATJhD_S15T2SrUQR7yccgkM05XBeCJVU/s1600/rm2018banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCXfiYHNcm5Bf3MYpOkWJMfipi7VNQ7qSULSQwFjYatV8zmfhvcVnOxf3oqMdSjdp6Z7fT-HsjEio_3dIgoznjmqfSCnn1gm9E-ehVbRncNXATJhD_S15T2SrUQR7yccgkM05XBeCJVU/s640/rm2018banner.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
Realm Makers . . .<br />
<br />
<br />
I've been putting off writing this recap because I don't know where to start! Recently, I told a friend that I feel like a Pevensie returned from Narnia. There's a wistfulness and a yearning about leaving a place that feels so much like home.<br />
<br />
<br />
I met <em>so</em> many friends at RM, even more than <a href="http://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2017/08/realm-makers-2017-recap.html" target="_blank">last time</a>! New friends, old friends, and quite a few of those friends I've known online for years but had never met until now. I met authors who are incredibly genuine, humble, and kind. I left with my mind stuffed full of writing/publishing knowledge and the glimmerings of new ideas. I left with my heart full and my soul fed. There's no other way to say it.<br />
<br />
<br />
To give you an idea of just what goes on at Realm Makers, I'll take you through a quick recap of each day of the conference. Then, because I have a couple of special stories, I'll share those at the end. <span style="font-size: x-small;">Warning:</span> <span style="font-size: x-small;">This is going to get long, so I won't blame you if you skim!</span><br />
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<br />
<h2>
Day 1: Wednesday</h2>
<br />
<br />
This was my travel day and my second-ever flying-on-my-own trip! I felt a lot more at ease this time. From home, I flew to Toronto and then down to St. Louis, Missouri. I met my roomies <a href="https://deborahocarroll.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Deborah O'Carroll</a> (finally, yay!), <a href="https://clairembanschbach.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Claire Banschbach</a>, and <a href="http://ekaiserwritesablog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">E. Kaiser Writes</a> for the first time, and we grabbed another friend to go for a late supper.<br />
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<br />
<h2>
Day 2: Thursday</h2>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://toscalee.com/" target="_blank">Tosca Lee's</a> pre-conference workshop was <em>amazing.</em> She really made us attendees get up and get to know each other throughout the class--a smart idea, because otherwise that room of mostly introverts would never have started talking--and then she laid a solid foundation for the life of a writer. She also delved deeply into characters. Like the <em>ouch, now I'm digging into my own dark corners</em> kind of deep. I loved every bit of it and scribbled a dozen pages of notes.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPDgiabmvCNviPSw1OsQGhLGfUpo8l5h5Mo7hdKySw0TVAhrZ48a7Qy5fk0RAeL2M-E_QcKRdwfrvJBcx98Yq0e6SMvcQpJEKYiViZ1DcQNNVil_dtOLLKBfsALFiOVOj_7zE-ZtFnCu0/s1600/IMG_4459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPDgiabmvCNviPSw1OsQGhLGfUpo8l5h5Mo7hdKySw0TVAhrZ48a7Qy5fk0RAeL2M-E_QcKRdwfrvJBcx98Yq0e6SMvcQpJEKYiViZ1DcQNNVil_dtOLLKBfsALFiOVOj_7zE-ZtFnCu0/s640/IMG_4459.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left to right: <a href="http://audreycaylin.com/" target="_blank">Audrey</a>, <a href="http://savannahgracewrites.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Savannah</a>, <a href="http://sunshineandscribblings.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mary</a>, me</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Since I've enjoyed Tosca's books for years (and also followed her Instagram for a while), it was also neat to meet her in person and get a book signed. She's sweet and funny and down-to-earth.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPy1coR4ftXaHyKkbehc-Z833AXw-LWGNRpk1W3Ux5Fm_55LsAyxpXK9NhSOLUImqUSXCGlrD4J_-_aZWphnaK4mF7p7wCf0ghQVDK_aCZKzPDFEHKU6Jp_uw4N2MMvy9zEij1WHFyFvI/s1600/IMG_4465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPy1coR4ftXaHyKkbehc-Z833AXw-LWGNRpk1W3Ux5Fm_55LsAyxpXK9NhSOLUImqUSXCGlrD4J_-_aZWphnaK4mF7p7wCf0ghQVDK_aCZKzPDFEHKU6Jp_uw4N2MMvy9zEij1WHFyFvI/s640/IMG_4465.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Tosca Lee</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Halfway through the pre-con session, I went out to nab a taco lunch with friends, and we found Wayne Thomas Batson sitting in the corner of the restaurant. Of course we <strike>ambushed him</strike> introduced ourselves.<br />
<strike><br /></strike><br />
After Tosca's session, I met more people who had recently arrived, including the darling <a href="https://musingsofanelf.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Christine Smith</a>! By this time, my group had fairly doubled in size, and we ate more tacos for supper.<br />
<br />
<br />
The evening kicked off the actual start of the conference with <a href="http://www.maryweber.com/" target="_blank">Mary Weber's</a> opening keynote (she gets right to the heart, guys), an editor and agent Q&A, and a live flash fiction critique sponsored by <a href="http://splickety.com/" target="_blank">Splickety</a> (both informative and helpful). I was elated to hear two of my friends' flash fics read out loud--Deborah O'Carroll and Savannah Grace!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM80D3FAppr3Lr4TGh6EJ9lvyP52iuWBeYNJMIcTtUcMNcfdqAXa6lnyXXOYI81E5D3NySFTr5D9sarU-xICrtKZK7Bjh9ZjiMQIANi-lVgr0_EwGZLVazBzFT5qhXX3Uzaq86PReZLW4/s1600/IMG_4480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM80D3FAppr3Lr4TGh6EJ9lvyP52iuWBeYNJMIcTtUcMNcfdqAXa6lnyXXOYI81E5D3NySFTr5D9sarU-xICrtKZK7Bjh9ZjiMQIANi-lVgr0_EwGZLVazBzFT5qhXX3Uzaq86PReZLW4/s640/IMG_4480.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left to right: me, Mary, Savannah, Christine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Day 3: Friday</h2>
<br />
<br />
Regarding classes, I attended . . .<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.withallen.com/" target="_blank">Allen Arnold's</a> continuing sessions on <em>When Chaos and Creativity Collide</em>. I've got a story about that class for later, but for now I'll say it stirred my heart and breathed life into my soul.</li>
<li><em>How to Pitch Your Novel Without Sounding Like a Robot</em> by <a href="https://nadinebrandes.com/" target="_blank">Nadine Brandes</a>, which was every bit as helpful as it sounds. I finally feel like I can tell you what my WIP is about in one sentence without sounding like a complete dork.</li>
<li><em>Everything You Need to Know About YA</em> by Mary Weber and Nadine Brandes. Super information shared by two of my favorite authors!</li>
</ul>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOZYbAhKaSArX07UtpG0-n0j7XQJ5cOH7vt6KHvahYn7nWT0anwJWwCCi0vbnGsqsNdYYwye_hA3j0WeO_2IYE-AczszuZ3zYFTnzkqj1_JrB7zdsNzOBLIcWCoMTmuNL2BVolws1s04/s1600/IMG_4493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOZYbAhKaSArX07UtpG0-n0j7XQJ5cOH7vt6KHvahYn7nWT0anwJWwCCi0vbnGsqsNdYYwye_hA3j0WeO_2IYE-AczszuZ3zYFTnzkqj1_JrB7zdsNzOBLIcWCoMTmuNL2BVolws1s04/s640/IMG_4493.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Nadine Brandes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
In between, I had a short mentoring session with one of the faculty and walked away with some actionable steps to take in honing the focus of this blog. I also pitched to an agent, which went well--a great confidence boost!<br />
<br />
<br />
But in true RM style, there is much more going on than just learning! I went out for pizza with a big group of friends, including all of the SilmAwards peeps who were in attendance. So much awesomeness in one place.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94VJFGlgMz3iGbubDFeHMmd2H7i2pw9vafWdwtafIoYSVTQxOh6PoNBAJTkTLnpp4WzfAkx7TZZo6NuTMRmzjRpo7y2JyUaXJhas9eh2btoWkJvZ0Sj2V9SZWUOjZiCTooan3MpCbByY/s1600/IMG_4500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94VJFGlgMz3iGbubDFeHMmd2H7i2pw9vafWdwtafIoYSVTQxOh6PoNBAJTkTLnpp4WzfAkx7TZZo6NuTMRmzjRpo7y2JyUaXJhas9eh2btoWkJvZ0Sj2V9SZWUOjZiCTooan3MpCbByY/s640/IMG_4500.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SilmAwards folks! Left to right: Savannah, Deborah, <a href="http://jenelleschmidt.com/" target="_blank">Jenelle Schmidt,</a> <a href="https://kylerobertshultz.com/" target="_blank">Kyle Robert Shultz</a>, me,<a href="https://madelinejrose.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"> Madeline J Rose</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdP6xGslC54Ok-9mpEPfyfu8xmsNmddQXkabV9PyN_k0mOaAvjTZQLqXsOZMh9RC_Cx-hBVnkWb7dIsgzMBfUrLoUjV2giGFftTK8q1Yj2rlhnoKnRV7DSW4994C7w3FqMcbfkd0qXbG0/s1600/IMG_4519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdP6xGslC54Ok-9mpEPfyfu8xmsNmddQXkabV9PyN_k0mOaAvjTZQLqXsOZMh9RC_Cx-hBVnkWb7dIsgzMBfUrLoUjV2giGFftTK8q1Yj2rlhnoKnRV7DSW4994C7w3FqMcbfkd0qXbG0/s640/IMG_4519.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With my fairies, Christine and Deborah!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
Friday was also the night of the awards banquet, where almost everyone shows up in costume. It's one of my favorite parts of the conference--seeing the creativity everywhere, striking up conversations with random strangers about our shared fandoms, snapping dozens (hundreds?) of pictures.<br />
<br />
<br />
I cosplayed as Linh Cinder of <em>The Lunar Chronicles</em> by Marissa Meyer, and I was honestly shocked at how many people recognized who I was!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6PbljuwvNtAAD0fcyblVIclBorbsRzC65EPjtsWtOYqAWWkHFBdhP3MT_aeUb52y78HoLw2fgMS9mGFmXP7q3taIXWaafjAKUrXuefJFu-UqjTQKejjwArDVX5mByekEKFEeSmVIMhSY/s1600/IMG_4533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6PbljuwvNtAAD0fcyblVIclBorbsRzC65EPjtsWtOYqAWWkHFBdhP3MT_aeUb52y78HoLw2fgMS9mGFmXP7q3taIXWaafjAKUrXuefJFu-UqjTQKejjwArDVX5mByekEKFEeSmVIMhSY/s640/IMG_4533.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's Cinder!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRQdnyRzQAM1hy_E9ytk3dVQ8snB2u8ZiU6O6yD4fShyphenhyphenWHlgb1BM1kemDi9bNOsIkuOPWTtZLBKu4ICAvopMRphxWbHqhdIOYeENH95TzQ9nuNnqH6a09eZKvZaf53JvMrX5YJ68oYGc/s1600/IMG_4548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRQdnyRzQAM1hy_E9ytk3dVQ8snB2u8ZiU6O6yD4fShyphenhyphenWHlgb1BM1kemDi9bNOsIkuOPWTtZLBKu4ICAvopMRphxWbHqhdIOYeENH95TzQ9nuNnqH6a09eZKvZaf53JvMrX5YJ68oYGc/s640/IMG_4548.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Mary Liz as Mary Poppins (practically perfect in every way!)<br />
(Audrey's photobombing is amazing too)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgafdtXIvErVWvKAw8UKID2-rZG3syfjHmbSPbNKMFbc1V9MeEblstQOklhXAvSskM6Ssi1OabL1IL_G50bNGUkp6i7_0kL8JIm4KqFqwZpv6aSC3r-JnVI6uaMbQxsoHSMdBnc2bFfY/s1600/IMG_4560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgafdtXIvErVWvKAw8UKID2-rZG3syfjHmbSPbNKMFbc1V9MeEblstQOklhXAvSskM6Ssi1OabL1IL_G50bNGUkp6i7_0kL8JIm4KqFqwZpv6aSC3r-JnVI6uaMbQxsoHSMdBnc2bFfY/s640/IMG_4560.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Madeline's got the epic steampunk look down pat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLHFIM4VkUFHT1gwJ_gIxPq-QlBqI9UBykCUvdysA6s74ge-A6OKvXI7S8tsp87jOoNVKxaOr_sKGEQtioMHXnUvsmIBmaSjxsfJgVNSIvTHYdAZrI48dHMeiUTlcRdJJlWXJlBa-9gg/s1600/IMG_4574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLHFIM4VkUFHT1gwJ_gIxPq-QlBqI9UBykCUvdysA6s74ge-A6OKvXI7S8tsp87jOoNVKxaOr_sKGEQtioMHXnUvsmIBmaSjxsfJgVNSIvTHYdAZrI48dHMeiUTlcRdJJlWXJlBa-9gg/s640/IMG_4574.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With <a href="https://ashley-townsend.com/" target="_blank">Ashley Townsend</a> as Eelyn (from <em>Sky in the Deep</em> by Adrienne Young)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3KahN6H4P7DGXYfOr57T0vdJBSUOvhq1B-gjVeV-KYMk2kEmaesDM_fcLvntgCSP6yOrV88G8eMhKVYmJ9m1ITzP1CgOJQTeTQObES7NvIGe1IYUniK9rFW_XZpclebbq0AHByHlfyLU/s1600/IMG_4580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3KahN6H4P7DGXYfOr57T0vdJBSUOvhq1B-gjVeV-KYMk2kEmaesDM_fcLvntgCSP6yOrV88G8eMhKVYmJ9m1ITzP1CgOJQTeTQObES7NvIGe1IYUniK9rFW_XZpclebbq0AHByHlfyLU/s640/IMG_4580.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Jenelle as Jyn Erso</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQ4z25PUMC29aj2F4c0bSnntbDERtp8d6Dbothq7wVZmoiVLNhZiKQMRYJ3-4tE_7hapjHT5EzQSFjV071ikDEko_lXCF6Q_qgVUXy9Aw0DMx7MmKpWV8XB28FEAxw8URHB_XzSYRhWA/s1600/IMG_4582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQ4z25PUMC29aj2F4c0bSnntbDERtp8d6Dbothq7wVZmoiVLNhZiKQMRYJ3-4tE_7hapjHT5EzQSFjV071ikDEko_lXCF6Q_qgVUXy9Aw0DMx7MmKpWV8XB28FEAxw8URHB_XzSYRhWA/s640/IMG_4582.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With newfound friend <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cassandraia/" target="_blank">Cassandra</a> as my Cinder twin!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xLn6RfmUXeB7OF9ArDIaUb411q1l4geqBeioTd7u6WRfrzYsgdmvdMt__TUqk4fZzt5yCtaF9JXoZOH3nUNh0YfK1PFppq2OWHp8cwOLLm4PqNfRHZ8B9SzpBl-Fvuob8hutHNkwrnc/s1600/IMG_4590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xLn6RfmUXeB7OF9ArDIaUb411q1l4geqBeioTd7u6WRfrzYsgdmvdMt__TUqk4fZzt5yCtaF9JXoZOH3nUNh0YfK1PFppq2OWHp8cwOLLm4PqNfRHZ8B9SzpBl-Fvuob8hutHNkwrnc/s640/IMG_4590.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With <a href="https://adsheehan.com/" target="_blank">Andy Sheehan</a> as Captain America (he does a great Steve impression too)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0fW0CL_HzNTaVfI666fxjz_rsSFU-ApD2No8kTFz0b8DTs3EkP98kSm_6EJkFl8JaJL7TfIuz44Modt9vyBwWZMhnqxSWLL_HDF9zmBeHFqevVBtO2_6jb7Ci-v5isP5TLvUjuwKDFk/s1600/IMG_4591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0fW0CL_HzNTaVfI666fxjz_rsSFU-ApD2No8kTFz0b8DTs3EkP98kSm_6EJkFl8JaJL7TfIuz44Modt9vyBwWZMhnqxSWLL_HDF9zmBeHFqevVBtO2_6jb7Ci-v5isP5TLvUjuwKDFk/s640/IMG_4591.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Nadine Brandes as Trelawney (whom I haven't read about yet!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtasIah_fT4laRr9KlsfHddavOK7FgN-7t7r-qWOcbl1Q3A7W2zNodFaaXH3CBj8ZRIlVbzozrt8qcEaWO1hh0CRc2WgS7CTCDZ2X_RPR9DE0WlCJsFab26hR6w5cQ3Iq8r7VHzjw1S0I/s1600/IMG_4594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtasIah_fT4laRr9KlsfHddavOK7FgN-7t7r-qWOcbl1Q3A7W2zNodFaaXH3CBj8ZRIlVbzozrt8qcEaWO1hh0CRc2WgS7CTCDZ2X_RPR9DE0WlCJsFab26hR6w5cQ3Iq8r7VHzjw1S0I/s640/IMG_4594.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With a steampunk Mary Weber</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SvrzlKmTGtC9_SwuTPPCWXz3G5SAjH17VIiP1AMiTqs39f51YpzNa02ymsj2k2rnYmPc9q0OcN0aZvtoo5j17GmftYw3PyRuR690IRPCdRwFWdJQPT_4yZzfMv0l0wMjEy6gfk-SXZw/s1600/IMG_4596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SvrzlKmTGtC9_SwuTPPCWXz3G5SAjH17VIiP1AMiTqs39f51YpzNa02ymsj2k2rnYmPc9q0OcN0aZvtoo5j17GmftYw3PyRuR690IRPCdRwFWdJQPT_4yZzfMv0l0wMjEy6gfk-SXZw/s640/IMG_4596.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With <a href="http://writeratops.com/blog/" target="_blank">Mollie Reeder</a> as a Jurassic World character and <a href="https://emilyhayse.com/" target="_blank">Emily Hayse</a> as Black Widow</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaV4yf5tJ66T_SmBDxl9TCcHU6CdWUMqyrMZH4ax2retgSHvHc24VRfkI7OnbcIy5vL7wkiNYue2lW13GBConLyPbyaH51sY1e97vndKcIgz2Gk1E6_ItaODCVnbHeDS4UwVXZExofZU8/s1600/IMG_4600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaV4yf5tJ66T_SmBDxl9TCcHU6CdWUMqyrMZH4ax2retgSHvHc24VRfkI7OnbcIy5vL7wkiNYue2lW13GBConLyPbyaH51sY1e97vndKcIgz2Gk1E6_ItaODCVnbHeDS4UwVXZExofZU8/s640/IMG_4600.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Christine as a steampunk Alice and Deborah as<br />
Princess Kamarie (one of Jenelle Schmidt's characters)</td></tr>
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Without meaning to, I ended up sitting at Steve Laube's table for dinner. Yes. <em>The</em> Steve Laube. I sat next to him and fumbled through my meal with my one free hand, my painted hand hovering over my lap so as not to turn everything silver. 'Twas rather amusing.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmMYqeVzY6HyBqPfb8NJA_Wa7843ijFniEW8DCIt3U2ERFhzfi2lsMl75WfnvOK4gga4lf7u1LzscFcA86b-iYJC_kGLCGnTwaYK5LlDHtRwWTAexrMPfGBbqIbgks4F-H_etR9kroWaI/s1600/IMG_4566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmMYqeVzY6HyBqPfb8NJA_Wa7843ijFniEW8DCIt3U2ERFhzfi2lsMl75WfnvOK4gga4lf7u1LzscFcA86b-iYJC_kGLCGnTwaYK5LlDHtRwWTAexrMPfGBbqIbgks4F-H_etR9kroWaI/s640/IMG_4566.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://stevelaube.com/" target="_blank">Steve Laube</a> (wearing a sign that reads "The Dream Crusher)<br />
with <a href="http://fightingwrite.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Carla Hoch</a> as a rather bloody editor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Later, I was having such fun that I stayed up past midnight chatting with a circle of friends.<br />
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<h2>
Day 4: Saturday</h2>
<br />
<br />
Bryan Davis was in town and stopped at the conference for breakfast! I missed the beginning of his talk, thanks to the aforementioned decision to stay up late, but it was so great to say hello in person (and get one of his latest books signed)!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECMoJPEXknlV7wjlT6DWkN7N2qhkxZ2iVoeu_xYU4IHQJCgaQ8GRW9G5metbzbRMFED9vd4hZbw8M_VCyF-EucXkEX0NQRHj_cg8lwCzXQL8xVJfdJ62Vuw0nnUT7dWeFfADL2fKLY3E/s1600/IMG_4618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECMoJPEXknlV7wjlT6DWkN7N2qhkxZ2iVoeu_xYU4IHQJCgaQ8GRW9G5metbzbRMFED9vd4hZbw8M_VCyF-EucXkEX0NQRHj_cg8lwCzXQL8xVJfdJ62Vuw0nnUT7dWeFfADL2fKLY3E/s640/IMG_4618.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With <a href="http://www.theauthorschair.com/" target="_blank">Bryan Davis</a>!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTRSWWnHxgIaicR0sOR6QFWgXuktcfeUjZZy4ATvA8OJX8zcajW9tiuxlgqEjDr697HIxEUEf_OU0hT0fNFuZlOLIMu885DS9xyZiuLHhk4KWeYvAweud77XJEFASp3dYPUxkVSoR9-U/s1600/IMG_4620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTRSWWnHxgIaicR0sOR6QFWgXuktcfeUjZZy4ATvA8OJX8zcajW9tiuxlgqEjDr697HIxEUEf_OU0hT0fNFuZlOLIMu885DS9xyZiuLHhk4KWeYvAweud77XJEFASp3dYPUxkVSoR9-U/s640/IMG_4620.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With a sweet blog follower named Jessi Rae!<br />
*waves* Thanks for stopping to say hi!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
I attended the last session of <em>Chaos and Creativity</em> and Part 2 of Mary and Nadine's YA class (which focused on marketing to YA). In between, I pitched to a second agent--that also went well, thankfully. I later went to a paid faculty lunch, which meant eating the catered hotel food and chatting over dessert with Mary Weber (I love her, guys). Then it was off to several short spotlights and panels, on topics such as editing and writing believable futuristic technology.<br />
<br />
<br />
Mary gave her closing keynote, full of sisterly advice to writers. Every time she speaks, it seems that she re-centers my focus on what matters.<br />
<br />
<br />
One of my favorite memories of the conference is Saturday supper. Mary W. and Nadine B. gathered a massive gaggle of fans (mostly from their street teams, but I must've snuck in) for tacos! Yes indeed, I ate tacos three times in two days, and didn't even care.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3WBvfPVXxFqsfDn8xeknBiU3VF7ahjMBtCqASaevTs26D7Wzhgpgh0aGGk7CbGjRnJFZneoX8p83a57YAT5WCRX59C3VDon075DTaj4zS4RXYeEcFuHAOb4ZLXfcHjPmLLp1FjACXn0/s1600/IMG_4648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3WBvfPVXxFqsfDn8xeknBiU3VF7ahjMBtCqASaevTs26D7Wzhgpgh0aGGk7CbGjRnJFZneoX8p83a57YAT5WCRX59C3VDon075DTaj4zS4RXYeEcFuHAOb4ZLXfcHjPmLLp1FjACXn0/s640/IMG_4648.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tacos with the gang</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyv7W4tLtQLg0iy4Pfink6XEQR3rlFkQ0WtvNF5lw-SnwSX1lM86MqLtVYfZBLuqTSPUSBGo9-Nk2-Zpp23scYbUC55hyphenhyphen5oA371XHHfcWvbdTO0KN8ZnRR7jRdv1fgT2kWk2iCxAShuQ/s1600/IMG_4647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyv7W4tLtQLg0iy4Pfink6XEQR3rlFkQ0WtvNF5lw-SnwSX1lM86MqLtVYfZBLuqTSPUSBGo9-Nk2-Zpp23scYbUC55hyphenhyphen5oA371XHHfcWvbdTO0KN8ZnRR7jRdv1fgT2kWk2iCxAShuQ/s640/IMG_4647.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Instagram and Goodreads friend <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/52143310-heidi" target="_blank">Heidi</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfaR7hlxS_cuQAibVbD5f1a7LfdXzp2s-mogusgxmlMh8kU8W1hK6gvXc9rGKmpX4CHh5W6Ni6byGDl5ctjttMe1C84Xjpv97O19gTwbUcGfe3OPBWxttepgyYHG3N1um4Y4bCPTrFKYk/s1600/IMG_4651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfaR7hlxS_cuQAibVbD5f1a7LfdXzp2s-mogusgxmlMh8kU8W1hK6gvXc9rGKmpX4CHh5W6Ni6byGDl5ctjttMe1C84Xjpv97O19gTwbUcGfe3OPBWxttepgyYHG3N1um4Y4bCPTrFKYk/s640/IMG_4651.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With<a href="http://awritersfaith.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> Katie Grace</a>, who's every bit as sweet in person as she is online</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfMy3SfegR3qTqzT4b42mas9eujZl3duAMA9Mui0ll2600dOGqvikPQ0_1L-cfveTo5xNLAcnt_OIJfbZvU0trMmtyHTVKY2cMDE-YNKdfeCytPctQwsYmhonpllUlb9zE1Ds9W1Cijq0/s1600/IMG_4660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfMy3SfegR3qTqzT4b42mas9eujZl3duAMA9Mui0ll2600dOGqvikPQ0_1L-cfveTo5xNLAcnt_OIJfbZvU0trMmtyHTVKY2cMDE-YNKdfeCytPctQwsYmhonpllUlb9zE1Ds9W1Cijq0/s640/IMG_4660.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Instagram friend <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rjeangyger/?hl=en" target="_blank">Rebekah</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDs9CWXnU5Rqm17lAbIAsfMZ8czJSc9TaINzBu57hL6sbY_ifgk3rUqLtegrsyPDhAiBlhjrmTKJ-BE7DVQ44As_l4mZFPjlarmlEmUyjG0OP3OHWklMFPKEPLI1MBITTprdfIGeH4GWg/s1600/IMG_4668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDs9CWXnU5Rqm17lAbIAsfMZ8czJSc9TaINzBu57hL6sbY_ifgk3rUqLtegrsyPDhAiBlhjrmTKJ-BE7DVQ44As_l4mZFPjlarmlEmUyjG0OP3OHWklMFPKEPLI1MBITTprdfIGeH4GWg/s640/IMG_4668.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With <a href="https://www.instagram.com/i.have.too_many.feelings/" target="_blank">Hann</a>, a sweet friend from last year</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<em>[Note: I'm very sad to mention that I somehow neglected to get a picture with Blue, a faithful blog follower and lovely friend! Blue, please forgive me!]</em><br />
<br />
<br />
That evening, the Realm Makers bookstore was teeming. Authors signed books, readers bought more books than they could carry and stood in line, the raffle prize winners were announced (my pal Audrey won the free conference registration for next year, and I'm so stinkin' happy for her!), and it was basically a bookdragon's heaven. I got books signed by Lindsay Franklin, Nadine Brandes, Mary Weber, Wayne Thomas Batson, Allen Arnold, <a href="https://jamiesfoley.com/" target="_blank">Jamie Foley</a>, and Kyle Robert Schultz.*<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">*Thank goodness I had twenty pounds to spare in my suitcase for the flight home.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjck9q5t_Mbq0kUxVGXIENhnx7aZyNsa8kf06TojlaVNk84rtmYgvA7kUGsiR8JFPIeGiYUE3nkd30Fq5WtU0KC9jvDSLAGbVJV2qliAK79ti-Z72p2Xz-xqrfZZAyMY0SUjidQ8Kp-acU/s1600/IMG_4659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjck9q5t_Mbq0kUxVGXIENhnx7aZyNsa8kf06TojlaVNk84rtmYgvA7kUGsiR8JFPIeGiYUE3nkd30Fq5WtU0KC9jvDSLAGbVJV2qliAK79ti-Z72p2Xz-xqrfZZAyMY0SUjidQ8Kp-acU/s640/IMG_4659.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With <a href="https://www.lindsayafranklin.com/" target="_blank">Lindsay Franklin</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQMuGJCbDfdAQeyBJqhr3U6kV8L7adeur4kUwsgfDmxokd38LnN_QivS8jFTdjBKqXpMcvLDnw4ZxXfo6rx76uOkAc-aOGvPhcyVgqUce7lFuK-ozLQ0mvetfsPNig5XnUkBq71kmKxXY/s1600/IMG_4662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQMuGJCbDfdAQeyBJqhr3U6kV8L7adeur4kUwsgfDmxokd38LnN_QivS8jFTdjBKqXpMcvLDnw4ZxXfo6rx76uOkAc-aOGvPhcyVgqUce7lFuK-ozLQ0mvetfsPNig5XnUkBq71kmKxXY/s640/IMG_4662.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With <a href="http://enterthedoorwithin.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Wayne Thomas Batson</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">By the time the book festival wrapped up, I was exhausted. Sadly, I didn't have the energy to join the Nerf war this year, so I watched the first round from the sidelines, than bade a teary goodbye to a couple of friends and retired to my room to pack.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivM_oZrp-nNY72RsL7PVpgIZcKSi7tJsLyjlyyVje5oALTb2Bpx4zeqF65xXUvq-BZxuggOerEiNg7kdNCVJFDSpiJPzsY6yTo-c4IYwXK1zQOZLuDNzyWNJ3cIvP-HZFlhfyZqsotUsM/s1600/IMG_4680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivM_oZrp-nNY72RsL7PVpgIZcKSi7tJsLyjlyyVje5oALTb2Bpx4zeqF65xXUvq-BZxuggOerEiNg7kdNCVJFDSpiJPzsY6yTo-c4IYwXK1zQOZLuDNzyWNJ3cIvP-HZFlhfyZqsotUsM/s640/IMG_4680.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Nerf war is underway...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Day 5: Sunday</h2>
<br />
<br />
A very sleepy Tracey woke up early to catch her flight home. That's it.<br />
<br />
<br />
Well, I had to miss Carla Hoch's fight workshop, sadly. But I had a lovely conversation in the St. Louis airport with a gentleman and his wife who were flying to Canada to play golf. And the only other highlight of the day was returning to home soil and reuniting with my family.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Who I Want to Be When I Grow Up</h2>
<br />
<br />
You know how I mentioned that all the authors I met were super nice people? Yeah. That had a bigger impact on me than I expected. I've interacted with plenty of nice authors before--online, in person, at Realm Makers last year--but something about meeting so many of them at once was inspiring. Just a few vignettes . . .<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Wayne Thomas Batson</strong> // My friends and I interrupted his lunch, and he was totally cool with it. Later, when I got one of his books signed, I confessed that my first novel included a character who was basically a carbon copy of his Captain Valithor, except in dragon form. He seemed to think that was the coolest thing. He told me Valithor's famous jibes were straight from a book of Shakespearean insults.<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Nadine Brandes</strong> // She is my top favorite Instagrammer ever. I love her color theme, I love her posts, I love how she interacts in the comments. Every time I see a new Nadine picture scrolling by, I smile. (Her <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkMFKBEt3hI-vpevBh9PojA" target="_blank">YouTube channel</a> is also the best!) And you know what? She is just as kind and encouraging and dorky in real life as she is online. I want to be that genuine too, the kind of person who is the same no matter where you meet her.<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Mary Weber</strong> // Maybe it's because she's a youth pastor and counsellor as well as author, but this woman has an insane memory. She remembered my name, she remembered meeting me last year, she remembered I have a year left of college. I was blown away, especially after seeing her signing line stretching out the door. She took the time to talk to each and every reader in that three-hour lineup--she made them feel like they mattered.<br />
<br />
<br />
So many other authors were also wonderful! Not one of them put on airs. I want to be as authentic as they are.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
The Story of With</h2>
<em><br /></em><br />
This is actually the title of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Story-Better-Live-Love-Create/dp/0692769587" target="_blank">Allen Arnold's book</a>, but it's also become the title of my own personal encounter with God during Realm Makers.<br />
<br />
<br />
I'd noticed fear creeping into my writing recently. Feeling the pressure of summer winding down and classes starting soon, I knew my writing time was limited. I found myself projecting this book months into the future and worrying about getting an agent, building my platform, deciding between the general market and the Christian market, etc. When I sat down to edit, I felt like I was spinning my wheels.<br />
<br />
<br />
This is the mental debris I took with me into Realm Makers.<br />
<br />
<br />
Then I attended Allen's class and I was reminded of who I am. Who my Father is. I reawakened to the truth that God invites me to co-create with Him joyfully and with abandon. He wants to create <em>with </em>me, not just have me write <em>for</em> Him or <em>about</em> Him. (I wish I could share all my notes with you, but instead I'll just recommend you buy the conference audio!)<br />
<br />
<br />
I sat there through all three sessions and soaked it all in. <em>This</em> is what I was missing. This joy, this freedom. It dovetailed so beautifully with the little nudges God had been giving me all summer. <a href="http://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2018/06/when-overachiever-rebels-brain-dump.html" target="_blank">"Slow down. Pace yourself. There's no rush."</a> But it was about more than just adjusting my pace, it was about the whole act of writing, the entire life of a creative person.<br />
<br />
<br />
See, when we are faced with chaos in life--which is pretty much most of the time--we react with fear, anger, confusion, and doubt. We try to control it, suppress it, or ignore it. But what did God do in the face of the chaos that was the void, before creation? He stepped into the void and called forth beauty and order. He created. He created in the chaos, and He calls us to do the same.<br />
<br />
<br />
But not on our own. With Him.<br />
<br />
<br />
So by the time I sat down in Allen's last class, I was already telling God, "I get it now. I'm surrendering this to You--all the to-do lists and stress and burdens I'm not meant to carry--they're Yours."<br />
<br />
<br />
Halfway through that final class, I slipped out to a pitch appointment. And it went really well, like I mentioned . . . except that it kind of came with a suggested deadline. A deadline I realistically couldn't meet unless I worked my tail off in the next month before the semester kicks off.<br />
<br />
<br />
"I just told You I wasn't going to do it this way, God," I told Him. "And now there's this opportunity, and I don't want to miss it."<br />
<br />
<br />
I hurried back to Allen's class to catch the last half, my mind spinning. At the end, he opened it up for questions. <em>I'm going to ask him about my dilemma afterward,</em> I thought to myself. <em>One on one. No way am I going to open up about it in front of this whole room of people.</em> Yet I found my hand slipping up in the silence, and then I was blurting out my situation and fighting off tears.<br />
<br />
<br />
Two things you need to know: one, sleep is a low priority at a conference. Two, I'm an easy crier. Mix that with a dream that matters deeply to me, and the waterworks start.<br />
<br />
<br />
I felt a little embarrassed, wiping my eyes as Allen responded with the encouragement to pray, to tackle this question <em>with </em>God, and to surround myself with prayer warriors. If this was an opportunity God wanted me to take, He would provide everything I needed to make it happen. If not, maybe this door would stand open until next summer (when I'd have more time to walk through it) . . . or a better opportunity would come up. Ultimately, what would give me more life? My old way or God's way?<br />
<br />
<br />
Turned out that I didn't have to seek out prayer warriors--they found me. The minute the session ended, I was fiercely hugged by two dear friends who shed tears with me and prayed for me right then and there.<br />
<br />
<br />
As the day wore on, I slipped often into snippets of conversation with God, turning this dilemma over and over. I realized that I felt peace about waiting. About giving myself and my manuscript the time we both needed. It's what I had been getting little nudges about all summer, and here it was: the chance to choose a path of peace rather than one of striving.<br />
<br />
<br />
Later that evening, I had the chance to chat with Allen again. He asked me if God had given me any direction so far, and I shared the decision I'd come to. We then had a very encouraging discussion, and now I know.<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>If there was one reason I had to attend Realm Makers this year, this was the reason. </strong>This reawakening of my heart, this peace. I'm walking into my story <em>with</em> my Father.<br />
<strong><br /></strong><br />
<h3>
Realm Makers was a power-packed experience, brimming with the laughter of fellow dreamers and the buoyancy that comes only from bumping into God and realizing He was right beside me this whole time. I'm planning to attend again. Next year, same time, same place! Maybe I'll see you there.</h3>
Tracey Dyckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.com52tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-27918069646716421752018-07-21T07:30:00.000-05:002018-07-21T07:30:00.310-05:00Q&A Vlog Part 2I'm waving hello from St. Louis, Missouri, where Realm Makers is currently underway! (<span style="font-size: small;">If you couldn't make it this year, please read <a href="http://musingsofanelf.blogspot.com/2018/07/brief-hiatus-notice-some-thoughts.html" target="_blank">THIS POST</a> on Musings of an Elf. It's everything I'd say to you right now.)</span><br />
<br /><br />
As promised, the second half of the vlog is here! Just a couple of notes this time:<br />
<br /><br />
<ol>
<li>The timeline is a bit off, because I mentioned, "by this time next week, I'll be at Realm Makers," not knowing that I'd split the vlog over two weeks.</li>
<li>The guest post I referenced is <a href="http://www.theauthorschair.com/2015/04/01/courage-to-save-the-mockingbirds-guest-post-by-tracey-dyck/" target="_blank">this one over at The Author's Chair</a>.</li>
<li>All credit for the music (a song called <em>Movement</em>) belongs to <a href="https://chasingnoise.bandcamp.com/album/on-hand" target="_blank">Chasing Noise</a>.</li>
<li>The dragon makes an appearance at last!</li>
</ol>
<br /><br />
I hope you enjoy the rest of these ramblings. Do feel free to shout out suggestions for that question I ask a bit closer to the end. And if I haven't caught up on comments by the time this post goes live, I do apologize. I'll reply to everyone once I return home, and also share a giant Realm Makers recap like I did last year! Then it'll be back to regular content here on Adventure Awaits.<br />
<br /><br />
Once again, thanks for watching! You all are the best!<br />
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Tracey Dyckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-58632634175560836012018-07-14T21:07:00.001-05:002018-07-14T23:03:08.618-05:00Q&A Vlog Part 1<h2 style="text-align: center;">
At last, the vlog has arrived!</h2>
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Thanks again for all the great questions, everyone! I had so much fun answering them, the vlog turned into . . . ahem . . . an hour-long video. So because no one wants to sit and watch sixty minutes of dorky chit-chat, and because I'm running short on time on my end, we're splitting this thing into two parts! If I can, I hope to get the second half ready for next Saturday, when I'll be at Realm Makers.<br />
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Little disclaimer: I filmed this on my phone, which was running so short of storage that I had to film it one piece at a time, upload to my computer, delete from my phone, and then continue. So there are awkward pauses in between that my miniscule video editing skills couldn't avoid. Just pretend we're facetiming or sharing Instagram stories or some other such casual thing, and let's <em>not</em> pretend that I'm some polished YouTuber. That would take a great deal of imagination.<br />
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So without further ado, here's the first segment!<br />
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<strong>EDIT:</strong> The background music is <em><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkdNmuHUrd8" target="_blank">Lost in Las Vegas</a></em> by Two Steps from Hell. Full credit goes to them!</div>
<br />Tracey Dyckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-50395208743776726202018-07-07T22:32:00.002-05:002018-07-07T22:32:34.130-05:00Belated Blogoversary + #MyFirstPostRevisited<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXe7yFFgKeaNLtK53dVuk7IQmPoNEUoOQZpq6FaXJkmHWIIg-SZA0eTkSBoQsMSb8Y7obiuYZNYb9kmMa27HX7dDTUKVNuXyEGKdKqJMsFHPgPEQFn8u1H0tjfROr9UzM0RrK4-825n4Q/s1600/third+blogoversary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1190" data-original-width="1600" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXe7yFFgKeaNLtK53dVuk7IQmPoNEUoOQZpq6FaXJkmHWIIg-SZA0eTkSBoQsMSb8Y7obiuYZNYb9kmMa27HX7dDTUKVNuXyEGKdKqJMsFHPgPEQFn8u1H0tjfROr9UzM0RrK4-825n4Q/s640/third+blogoversary.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Adventure Awaits turned three at the end of March, and I promised some kind of party, didn't I? But I've arrived <em>so</em> late, even my wizard status can't excuse my tardiness. Gandalf is ashamed of me. As they say, "better late than never," so here we are! Help yourself to angel food cake and strawberries, because that's what I just ate, and we're going to happily live in the delusion that I can offer you a slice via the internet.<br />
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Blogging is a discipline I'm so glad I started. Sure, there are weeks (like this one) when getting a post up in time is a struggle. Life gets busy and sometimes I run out of inspiration. But I love sharing my heart here. Yet what I love even more is YOU. All of you who read, comment, and keep coming back--you're the reason Adventure Awaits exists! I hope your own journey has been impacted, even in some small way, by mine. Because life is story, after all, and we're all living epic tales of our own.<br />
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In the fashion of <a href="http://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2017/04/two-year-blogoversary-blogger.html" target="_blank">last year's blogoversary</a>, let's kick off the party with some quick stats! Measuring growth is fun, right? It's like penciling in your height on the pantry wall.<br />
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Stats</h2>
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<li><strong>161 followers</strong> across Google Friend Connect and Bloglovin' <span style="font-size: x-small;">(It was closer to 140-150 at the time of my actual blogoversary, I think . . . which is about double what I had last year . . . Anyway, I'm so grateful for every single one of you!)</span></li>
<li><strong>204 posts</strong></li>
<li><strong>216,678 pageviews</strong></li>
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Top Ten Countries</h4>
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Most of those pageviews come from . . .<br />
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<li>United States</li>
<li>Russia</li>
<li>Canada</li>
<li>France</li>
<li>Ukraine</li>
<li>Germany</li>
<li>United Kingdom</li>
<li>Netherlands</li>
<li>Australia</li>
<li>Ireland</li>
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It shocks me that this little place has grown at all in the past year, what with me going off to college and being less consistent here than I'd like. Here are some wild and wacky (and some predictable) ways people have found my blog:</div>
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Search Results</h4>
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<em>-larryboy and the fib from outer space</em> (what? why???)<br />
<em>-rooglewood press</em> (makes sense)<br />
<em>-josiah dyck </em>(oh, look, that's <a href="https://thesteadfastpen.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">my brother</a>!)<br />
<em>-a girl who walk alone on the road </em>(. . . this girl who walk alone needs to get better at grammar)<br />
<em>-allison tebo the reluctant godfather </em>(why yes, I was part of her <a href="http://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2017/06/book-review-blog-tour-reluctant.html" target="_blank">blog tour</a>)<br />
<em>-adventure award wise counselor</em> (ah, good times)<br />
<em>-five enchanted roses: a collection of . . . </em>(it cuts off the end of the phrase, but I know which book that is, and it's excellent)<br />
<em>-rooglewood press contest</em> (not like I entered any of those, LOL)<br />
<em>-adventure awaits blog</em> (very sensible search result)<br />
<em>-Tracey</em> (oh, so we're on first name basis now, Google and I?)<br />
<em>-summer book haul</em> (always a good thing!)<br />
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Top Ten Most Popular Posts</h4>
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I'm always somewhat bemused as to what gets a lot of pageviews and what doesn't. Whatever the reason, here are my most-viewed posts of all time! Numbers 1, 3, and 9 are some of my personal favorites.</div>
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1. <a href="http://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2017/08/realm-makers-2017-recap.html" target="_blank">Realm Makers 2017 Recap</a><br />
2.<a href="http://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2017/08/sunshine-blogger-award.html" target="_blank"> Sunshine Blogger Award</a><br />
3. <a href="http://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2017/05/retellings-love-em-or-hate-em.html" target="_blank">Retellings - Love 'Em or Hate 'Em?</a><br />
4. <a href="http://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2017/01/beautiful-books-writing-goals.html" target="_blank">Beautiful Books - Writing Goals</a><br />
5. <a href="http://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2016/12/subplots-and-storylines-november-2016.html" target="_blank">Subplots and Storylines - November 2016</a><br />
6. <a href="http://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2016/09/book-review-five-enchanted-roses.html" target="_blank">Book Review: Five Enchanted Roses</a><br />
7. <a href="http://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2016/11/subplots-and-storylines-october-2016.html" target="_blank">Subplots and Storylines - October 2016</a><br />
8. <a href="http://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2017/07/silmarillion-awards-wisest-counselor.html" target="_blank">Silmarillion Awards - Wisest Counselor Nominations</a><br />
9. <a href="http://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2017/01/why-fiction-matters.html" target="_blank">Why Fiction Matters</a><br />
10. <a href="http://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2016/12/problematic-opportunities-opportunistic.html" target="_blank">Problematic Opportunities and Opportunistic Problems</a><br />
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#MyFirstPostRevisited</h2>
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Over half a year ago, the ever-creative <a href="http://storitorigrace.blogspot.com/2017/12/myfirstpostrevisited-blog-hop.html" target="_blank">Victoria Grace Howell @ Wanderer's Pen tagged me to participate in #MyFirstPostRevisited</a>. Thanks, Tori! I thought it'd be fun to incorporate this into my next blogoversary! The rules of the tag are as follows:<br />
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<li>No cheating. You must highlight your first post. Not your second post, not one you love… the first post only.</li>
<li>Link back to the person who tagged you (thank them if you feel like it or, if not, curse them with a plague of ladybugs).</li>
<li>Cut and paste your old post into a new post or reblog your own bad self. (Either way is fine, but NO editing.)</li>
<li>Put the hashtag #MyFirstPostRevisited in your title.</li>
<li>Tag five (5) other bloggers to take up this challenge.</li>
<li>Notify your tags in the comment section of their blog (don’t just hope they notice a pingback somewhere in their spam).</li>
<li>Feel free to cut and paste the badge to use in your post.</li>
<li>Include “the rules” in your post.</li>
<li>Completely silly rules that I’m making up as I type:</li>
<li>Write your post while wolfing down your favorite dessert.</li>
<li>Do 10 cartwheels after you hit “Publish.”</li>
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Well, I did just eat cake. But I'll neglect that last rule, because if I attempted a cartwheel, I would break something. Like my head. Or a piece of furniture. Or my pride. Let's have a look at my very first post from March 31, 2015!<br />
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Welcome!</h2>
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Well met, fellow travelers!<br />
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I suppose introductions are in order. My name is Tracey Dyck, and at the moment, all the clever ways I planned to succinctly introduce myself have scurried out the back window and left me with a blank page. So let’s start with the basics, in no particular order.<br />
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I am:<br />
-19 years of age<div>
-Canadian</div>
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-a homeschool graduate</div>
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-a writer</div>
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-a God-chaser</div>
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And now for some random facts.<br />
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I feed on words. The smell of spring is hope to me. My bookshelves are congested. I have awesome parents and three awesome younger siblings. I live in the Prairies. I read and write pretty widely, but fantasy is my homeland. I write because I need to, and because I hope that someone else needs me to. New notebooks call to me. I take pictures of shadows. I sketch. I am a slayer of evil dragons and a friend of good ones. I am an introvert. My space is organized chaos. I love the colors of the Caribbean, of watermelon, and of new leaves. Please take me to Narnia because I left my heart there. I love children. Dark chocolate trumps milk or white. Captain America is, without a doubt, my favorite Marvel superhero. Apparently my personality type is the same as Batman’s, though I fail to see many similarities. I laugh easily and cry easily. I am a paradox because a sunny optimist and a cynic coexist in my brain. I adore humor. I am a girl of strong convictions. Jesus is the difference in my life; He is my anchor, my shield, my fortress.<br />
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Now, what should you expect on this blog? Good question. Even I’m not entirely sure. But I think you’ll find a mix of the big and the small, the important and trivial. A blend of life and faith and anything story-related. I aim to post about once a week, but that schedule may change as I settle into it and find out what works.<br />
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Life truly is a grand adventure! I sincerely hope that this place will be a rest stop where you can brush off the dust of your travels, warm your hands by the fire, and find stories in the coals. I hope that this is an armory where you can sharpen your blade, shine your armor, and stock your quiver. Here is where our quests intersect. Let’s swap tales, remind ourselves of the light, and look for the story the Author is weaving in each of our lives. To the wanderers, the wayfarers, the voyagers—I bid you welcome!<br />
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Surprisingly, that actually wasn't as cringey as I expected. I still hope this place is a rest stop for questers on their journey, I'm still looking for the heart I left in Narnia, and my bookshelves are more congested than ever!<br />
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Thanks for celebrating with me, friends! I appreciate each of you immensely and feel honored to spend time with you in this space. Next up is that vlog I'm working on! (Hopefully. Somebody send me a bottle of Extra Time, please.)</h3>
Tracey Dyckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.com32