It’s been a while since my last update post! All of those holidays kept getting in the way, you know. 😉 Time to catch you guys up-to-speed on things!
I’m still peddling away at the bike, like I’d hoped to do in my 2017 resolutions, and as far as finding new foods goes, I’ve added baby kale to my diet (which isn’t bitter at all, yay!), and raw honey in my tea and coffee in place of sugar. Thai rice noodles have become my favorite replacement for spaghetti, since I can’t eat wheat, and they’re so good I’d eat them even if I could have wheat! They’re great in soups, or served as spaghetti with tomato sauce and cheese.
Keeping fit and healthy helps the brain perform better, which in turn helps this writer keep on writing. 🙂 Other than that, things haven’t changed much in the offline life.
WRITING
Strayborn is under revisions! It was read by a few beta readers, for the first time back in October/November, and since then I’ve received their feedback and have been reworking, tweaking, and polishing away! You could say that I’m at Step #7 on the Revising A Manuscript Is Like Cleaning A Castle blog post. 😉
So far, this step has been slow-going. Not as slow as the first couple of rough drafts, but it’s taking a lot of brain power as I’m doing more “thinking” than editing: Reading bits of feedback and thinking of ways to tweak the story, accordingly. Stepping back and looking at the book’s story as a whole. Analyzing the plot, to check if there are any better ways to rework it. Looking at the character’s arc separate from the story’s arc. And on and on and on… So, that is where I am at! I’ve also managed to cut back on Strayborn’s wordcount (currently 107,500 words), and will continue to cut away!
READING
I finished two books this past month (reviews linked below). Currently, I’m reading “The Vanishing Throne,” and “Throne of Glass.” (I am crazy for reading 2 at the same time, right?)
Books I recently finished are:
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This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab
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The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Click on the links to read my reviews. Both books got a high rating from me!
MOVIES
Rogue One
So good, and sad, and realistic! This story takes you back into the old Star Wars vibe, but with a much more serious note. It’s about the unseen, unknown heroes who made the fall of the evil empire possible. Without them, Luke would not have been able to destroy the Death Star. I enjoyed this movie for how different and real it felt from the main series. So, whether you’re a fan of Star Wars or not, you’ll most likely enjoy this story.
The Queen of Katwe
Based on a true story about an African girl who learns to play chess so that she and her family can escape the slum poverty around them, by entering into chess tournaments. This movie was touching in so many ways, and disturbing in some parts as you see what life is really like in the poorest places of Uganda, the every day dangers their young people face.
Trolls
Fun, lots of singing, and a lesson about where happiness really comes from. Kids will love this colorful tale, and most adults will get the sometimes crazy humor! I had fun watching these troll dolls come to life in a computer-animated film; it was like going back in time to those childhood days, you know? 🙂
How has your January-February been? What movies have you seen, and books you’ve read?
*This post is also a part of the Monthly Wrap-up Round-up link up by Feed Your Fiction Addiction.
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Wow, Strayborn is over 100,000 words? That’s awesome! Of course, some cutting back could be in order, but that’s still amazing that you managed to write that much of it! 😀
I agree, Trolls was pretty cute. 🙂 My parents were very nostalgic about it when we watched it and it was really fun with all the bright colors and music. ❤
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Haha, sure is! 😀 But you know, I looked up the book Six of Crows on ARbookfind.com and its word count is a whopping 135,275 words! (it’ll take me forever to read it, haha) I had no idea it was that long! Though I’m still looking forward to reading it.
The bright colors and songs were great in Trolls, not to mention that little king and the maid, who were so funny. ^_^ I’m glad you liked it too!
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Happy to hear you’re revising. (I knew that from a previous post but, still, glad it’s coming along. Keep at it.) 😉 I was going to read The Night Circus. Someone suggested that to me over the holidays. Time… I haven’t gotten to it but here is another good review. I’ll move that up on my TBR list. Thanks!
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Thank you, Sarah! Every bit of encouragement helps me to keep on working/revising away at it. 🙂
The Night Circus is such a dream-like tale, I loved it. Let me know what you think once you read it!
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Glad to hear you enjoyed Rogue One and Queen of Katwe. I saw both movies last year and really enjoyed both of them. And like you, I thought QoK was eye-opening as well for its glimpse into life in the slums of Uganda.
Also – yay for The Night Circus and This Savage Song! I’ve already pre-ordered TSS’s sequel Our Dark Duet and become a fan in general of Victoria / V.E. Schwab’s work, thanks to reading “A Darker Shade of Magic” back in December. She’s a wonderfully inventive writer and worldbuilder. 🙂
On the food bit: Have you tried squash noodles? I recently had it twice, made from spaghetti squash and zucchini, and really liked it. That could be another pasta alternative.
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More people should see Queen of Katwe. You’re the only other person I know besides my family that’s seen it. I wish it had been nominated for an oscar.
Ooh, when is Our Dark Duet coming out? She really is inventive with her writing!
I think I had zucchini noodles once, but I’ve yet to try making them myself. I should do that! Thanks for the reminder.
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I was surprised that QoK didn’t get nominated for an Oscar, either. It was extremely well acted, and as eye-opening as Hidden Figures and Lion, IMO. (I saw both of those movies last month – you’ll read more about that in tomorrow’s post.)
ODD is coming out in June or July, I think? I know it’s a summer book and have already pre-ordered it, but I don’t remember the exact date.
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QoK really did. It makes no sense to me why they wouldn’t.
You mean we have to wait until summer?! Noooo, I must read it now, please V.Schwab send us early copies!
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XD XD Hey, you and I both know that writing good novels doesn’t happen overnight. 😉
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LOL XD I should know better, shouldn’t I? 😉 😀
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[…] E.E.Rawls […]
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You are one inspiring chica, my friend! ❤ Miss talking more often, even if just in short bits. 🙂
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You’re so sweet, thank you! ❤ I miss it too, seems we're both so busy. 🙂
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I love rice noodles, especially in soups! Rogue One was so good. And I really want to see the Queen of Katwe. It looked really good.
storitorigrace.blogspot.com
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They are great in soup! Have you tried zucchini noodle pasta? I did once, and it was delicious! Yes, I definitely recommend Queen of Katwe. Another good “based on a true story” movie I just saw was The Eagle Huntress, about a young girl becoming the first eagle huntress.
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I haven’t tried zucchini but I have tried tomato and spinach and that was super good!
Oh yeah! I’ve heard of that girl!
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How do they get the tomato and spinach to stay together as a noodle? I’m trying to picture that.
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I don’t know but they do it somehow.
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[…] magicians of sorts, but it’s told in such a way that it feels possible. And that’s what really drew me into the story’s world. The circus is a wondrous place I wish I could explore, every tent is its own slice of magic filled […]
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