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Monday, April 21, 2014

Giveaway, Link-up, and World Book Night

           Dear friends and fellow bloggers, I'm excited to announce the very first giveaway on [insert title here]! Exciting, yes?

           This giveaway is for World Book Night, April 23rd, so it is a book giveaway (what is better than a book?). Have you heard of The Book Thief by Markus Zusak? Recently made into a movie. I haven't seen the movie. But the book is amazing (here's a review). If you haven't read it then, I charge you, you must read. It's brilliant. Genius. World-shaking. I did have to order it (because they didn't have the right cover I wanted at Wal-Mart and one of the pitiful things about living in a small town is that Wal-Mart is the only place to buy books).

           Unfortunately, I was unable to start the giveaway as early as I wanted. So the winner will be announced on the 24th instead of the 23rd. To enter this giveaway, there will a link-up for you to participate in. Link-up rules are normal link-up rules. But here than are anyhow:


Rules
1. Create a post on your blog following the prompt.
2. In said post, provide a link back to this blog.
3. Sign the link-up at the bottom of this post.
4. Tell others about the giveaway.

The prompt?

5 of your favorite book characters

           I'll tell you mine for the fun of it. In no particular order because I'm scattered-brained like that. :P

1. Tris

           From Divergent by Veronica Roth, I can relate to Tris in a lot of ways (no, I'm not short). I like how she's quick-thinking. I like how she makes sacrifices (big sacrifices) in order to find the truth. She's brave and selfless, not all the time. But she acknowledges her flaws too. (the movie was meh, just saying.)

2. Elizabeth Bennet

           The heroine of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. I love her wit. It's beautiful. Biting, yes, but she does learn about that, doesn't she? She probably says the things I only think. She too admits her faults when she finally sees how wrong she is. She likes going for walks and has said, "What are young men compared to rocks and trees?"

3. Cinna

           Katniss' fashion designer in Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games. But he is so much more than that. He's kind of like a father figure to Katniss in ways. He's one of the few stable things in her life (until he's martyred). He's not what you would first expect (and he's a genius). He's a rebel against the government and is willing to give the masses hope even if it means giving his life for merely designing a wedding dress that catches on fire. (if you haven't read the books, I charge you with reading that too, and Catching Fire was an amazing movie!)


4. Solvieg

           I can relate even more with Solveig from Matthew J. Kirby's Icefall. Solvieg learns about who she is, and that she doesn't have to be ashamed of who she is. She is very careful in her friendships and who she trusts. She's quiet, observant, little noticed, and sees people and things differently than others would. She is also rather brave, I think. She is Solvieg. (meaning, you must read the book).

5. Orma (from Rachel Hartman's Seraphina)

           Ah, Orma. He is so funny. The way he doesn't understand humans and yet understands them and their emotions more than he would ever let on. I love his fatherly relationship with the protagonist. He's kind of a mentor in a way. But not the all-knowing kind. Those are boring. Some of his advise. . . not always the kind you want to take, but I forgive him for that so long as he is himself.

           Who are your favorite book characters?

     a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, April 7, 2014

Snippets

          In some ways this could be an introduction to another character, Peril.     


           " But people call me Lucky Peril. You can call me Lucky or Peril. Whatever you like. Hit the ground!" Her sword shot out.
           Oddball flatted to the ground with Rocky at his side.
          
Swoosh. Her sword went over them. Something thudded to the ground.
           A snake head! Oddball leaped to his feet. Behind them a huge snake writhed in a tree. Blood spurted from where its head had once been.
           Oddball's lips twisted. It was all he could do to keep the shiver running down his spine in control.
            "How about Peril," he said. "Just Peril."




          Peril raised her hand to knock on the door, but two of the emperor's guards glared at her and passed more slowly than necessary. She grinned and bowed like an idiot.


           The door opened. Rocky came in. "Peril-"
           "This is Rocky," Peril said. "Joasalin, Rocky."
           "Ma'am." Rocky shook Joasalin's hand.
           "Kids, Rocky. Rocky, Terris; Skype; and Nara."
           And the kids immediately attached themselves to Rocky.



           Oddball bent his head. Peril didn't smile, but- he had to duck to walk in the doorway.
         "What are we doing here?" he asked.
         "Food, rest, such stuff. I'll return soon." She made for the door.
           "Wait, where are you going?"
           "Joasalin, Oddball. Oddball, Joasalin. Oddball, kids over there on the hearth." She swung the door open.
           Joasalin shook his hand. "Pleasure, sir."
           "But, what are you going to-"
           "Arrangements, good fellow. You want a horse."



           Why was playing the idiot so much work?



           The boys were staring at the horse.
           "How do you hitch a horse to wagon?" Oddball whispered.
          Rocky shrugged. "What do you even do with a horse?"
           Oddball set his chin on his fist. "How would I know?"
          The horse stomped and tossed its head.



          Kastor spoke behind her. "Peril, be careful."
          That was an oxymoron.


         
           "Good." Oddball was sitting next to him, his hands tied too. "You're awake. That means you can do the talking."
           "Why?" Rocky felt like he was in a fog.
           "Because you don't want her doing it." Oddball jerked his head to his left.
           Peril poked her head from around the opposite side of Oddball. "Close your mouth, lanky legs!"

          

           Oddball threw his tied hands to the right of them. "Over there, okay? I know you got your head bashed in quite a lot, but could you just wake up, already?"
           "Someone's in a mood." Peril pretended to pout.
           "He's always in a mood." Rocky glared at Oddball. "You get used to it.

         

            "What do you mean?" Peril drank from her cup.
           "What do you mean, what do I mean?" Oddball said. "Clearly Castella is trying to take over the whole Tearin Jungle."
            Her cup dropped to the floor. Peril's eyes grew as round as sludge trees. Or at least her one eye did. Her right eye  was forever hidden behind her tangled hair. "What?" she finally croaked out.


            "What are you doing on this side of the city?" The guy looked. . . concerned, was it? Worried? Like he cared?
           How could there be people who cared about Peril? It was like having an affinity for disaster.
            "Whatever I please." She cocked her head.



           ". . . and sometimes you are rather careless-"
           "I don't care to hear about your worrying. It's your fault that it bothers you. It doesn't bother me." Peril looked at him.
            The guy sighed. That was his point, of course.


        Another faction post is coming up soon, along with some link-ups for World Book Night.