Renamed for the Third Time

After writing a book with BBG being called Bleydis instead of his original name Bladis, I have officially decided I can't stand having his name spelled differently and therefore he will return to being named Bladis.

I just hope people will actually pronounce it right. Maybe I should add a sentence in when I first introduce him with a character commenting how someone with a name about blades could never be a good guy. Then folks would have an idea how it's pronounced!

I can only hope...

My Niche

There isn't much that I can name that's more wonderful than curling up with my lovely writings/readings at the end of the day. While I sure do love the feeling of having a full day accomplishing a lot of tasks, there's something to be said about shutting out the outside world and turning your attention to the one thing that stirs passion in your heart, warms contentment in your chest, and erases all worries but the next words you'll be reading.

That's why I can't wait until I have more time to escape to these dusty pages of words written over the years. They are familiar. They are a comfort.

And, above all, they are mine.

Around the Farm

The new LGD Lacy hiding in the tack room

Nothing makes Fish happier than a warm nap on a bag

Casper is getting better at riding on roads

Indy is convinced snakes are trying to kill his owner

Book 3 is Complete!

I reached the end today. After working on this one since November, I am so happy to have it done. It rang in at 265 pages unedited, making it my shortest book so far with Book 1 at 280 and Book 2 at 300.

However, I could not be more satisfied with the end. It was poetic, it was graceful, it was lovely. Unlike my other books, the end to this one was not as cheerful. Since we are midway through the series the story is finally becoming more serious and tragic than before and this end had to be somewhat heartbreaking. I ended up killing off an additional character than I planned to but the story just demanded the death.

There will be tons of editing to do as I now plan out Book 4 but I've always loved editing. So here's to the end of another story and many more to come.

Also, as is customary with finishing a book, here is the first and last sentences.

First Sentences

Last Sentences

Most Epic Speech Ever

“Four centuries ago, the nations made a choice to break away from the north in an attempt to hold onto their freedom. They fought against the greater nation and they won. And now here we are, repeating history again. Yes, I am a traitor but I will gladly admit it. A traitor does not stand for injustice. A traitor does not stand silently in the dark while others needlessly suffer. A traitor does not support a cause that undermines the very freedom and essence of the human existence.

So today I will say to everyone that I am a traitor. I will not watch the masses suffer, I will not allow war crimes to take place, and I will not allow death to take place in camps like this. And today it isn’t just me who is a traitor. We are all traitors. Because today, we are patriots.”

Errors are to be expected since I haven't edited this yet.

Crisis #1

Last night saw the first crisis in Book 3. It was Roan's chapter and followed a scene I had more fun writing than I have in a long time. So when it came down to breaking my beloved character's spirit, I was hesitant. No writer enjoys making her characters suffer.

I still went on with it and it turned out considerably well. I will have to edit it somewhat heavily as I struggled to add the ending on after an interruption but I'm satisfied with how it went. Now that Roan is pretty much wrapped up save for the last climax chapter it's time to move back to Arobin. He will be getting one last chapter for his own crisis. I foresee it as being equally difficult to write since the series first true love storyline will come to an end but thus is the life of a writer!

Here's a brief snippet from last night. After only hearing bits and pieces for three books, the reader finally figures out what caused the barn fire that began the entire series. Plus, they also find out why Roan has the flaws he does.

"He held his right hand out to Morgan and nodded at the scar along it. “You asked me how a barn accident could cause something like that. I told you the truth. I accidentally broke the beam a few weeks before this happened and never fixed it. I tried to escape from my father and grabbed the shattered beam. It hurt so bad that I couldn’t get away. Even when my father and brother went inside for the night, I stayed out there instead of facing them again.”

His eyes stinging, Roan pulled his hand back and used it to rub his face, groaning through his fingers. “I learned my first medic trick that night and cauterized the wound. But my brother came to the barn to check on me at the same time as I used the spell. I couldn’t control my magic. The barn caught fire. That was the day the rumor started about the boy who used fire magic and killed his brother at the same time.” "

Contentment of the Day

Happiness is the warm cozy feeling you get in your chest when you find yourself okay with where you are in life, even if it isn't where you expected. Whether you find that moment while snuggling a disheveled kitty that smells like straw bales, riding on a horse looking up at the blue sky God created in all his brilliance, or the voice of the little toddler telling you to play with the kitty with her, it's all the same in the end and I am truly thankful for at least that.