This is it.
We’re down to the wire.
It’s hard to believe that another NaNo is just about wrapping up. Today’s post isn’t going to be very long – and I’m going to be spending most of the day writing. I wasn’t able to get in as many words yesterday, with it being Thanksgiving and all, so I have a little bit of catching up to do. \. Nothing too major, just about 800 words – no biggie. Hopefully I’ll be able to finish this trash draft tomorrow.
That’s my goal. To get words on the page and just finish this draft.
I’m sitting around 47000 words, so I’m really not hurting. I tried creating an outline for this story – really, I was procrastinating actually writing, and wanted to fill up some words. So, I created this rough outline, leaving a lot blank. I knew I wanted a cutesy hot tub scene between Cassie and Chase. A scene where they almost kiss, but not quite. I legit wrote that in my outline and then promptly went to write the scene.
And guess what I did.
Well, I should say, guess what the characters did, because I stopped controlling them a long time ago. They’re writing themselves at this point. I’ve been sidelined and I’m just watching.
Cassie and Chase kissed.
Sorry, spoiler. But they freaking kissed.
And not only did they kiss – they kissed twice. They weren’t supposed to kiss at all!
I give up lol.
I’ve been writing this book all sorts of out of order, making the draft an absolute mess, but I’ve been hitting writing strides and just going with them. I have to write it all wrong before I can write it right.
My characters are continuing to surprise me. Cassie is super bold now that she’s moving past her sadness and anger. Chase is still goofy, but completely in love with Cassie and it’s adorable. Ryan is actually an absolute ass (completely different than how I intended him to be) and he’s super hard to write. Layne – who I never wanted to like – is being nice to Cassie after making her life a living hell. Not pretend nice, but genuinely nice and friendly and I don’t know what’s happening.
Also, for these four characters being in a house full of people, you never see any of the other occupants – something I need to address and fix in draft 2.
I’m glad that this draft is a mess. I might complain about it and my characters, but I really do have a better sense of what the story is supposed to be, what needs to happen, what I want to happen and who the characters are. I had this pretty idyllic idea in my head of what this book was supposed to be – a cute fluffy romcom – and it still is, but it has some heavier undertones to it. While I like the heavier undertones, I kind of want to try and write it without them – though I have a feeling that doing that is going to be really hard…seeing as how Cassie nearly drowns.
Anyways, I’m going to end this here. I’m exhausted, full of amazing food and maybe a bit too much wine and I’m going to just relax and enjoy the evening. Maybe do a bit of shopping out and about with a friend, and then when I come home, eat some home made apple pie! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with lots of good food and plenty of leftovers. And those of you who are still cracking away at NaNo, you go this, we got this. Today and Tomorrow. And then we can take a break! So good luck!
Title: The Chameleon with a Sword
Thanksgiving is 3 days away, so it seems like an appropriate time to do this Fall Bucket List Book Tag – seeing as after this week, it’s Christmas time. Sorry, I don’t make the rules. I love Fall, I love the leaves on the ground (as you can tell from my 
I’m going to go with the first book that pops into my head, which also happens to be one I’ve read fairly recently – Flawed by Becky Bird. This is a Pride and Prejudice retelling and it was such a fun, cute and quick read that kept me up until 4 AM. It just allows you to turn your brain off and just enjoy!
This is easy – since pretty much every book that has come out this fall is super hyped. I could say The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black, but since I haven’t read it yet, let’s go with Crier’s War by Nina Varela. This was a solid fantasy read, but for me, it didn’t live up to the hype unfortunately. I’m glad I read it and gave it a chance, and I might be inclined to pick up book 2 when it comes out next year.
Ooo this one stumped me, but I know! Sister of Shadows and Light by Sara B. Larson! I kind of love Loukas’ and Zuhra’s budding friendship. He’s the kind of guy that can bring out the right emotions in people, but he does that by pushing all the right buttons. He’s kind of goofy and harmless but clearly loyal. Even though they’ve only just met, I think they’re going to be fast and fantastic friends.
Easy. Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer. I absolutely love this book and its characters. It’s one of my favorite books to reread and I fall in love with it over and over each time I read it. It’s so wonderful and so amazing and it just makes me happy to revisit the characters and the world.
Honestly, I have no idea. Like none. I can’t think of a single book that I’ve read where a character cooks/bakes. Have I read any? I have no idea. Is this that phenomenon that plagues readers where all the books they’ve ever read disappears from their minds? Possibly. Legit the only book that comes to mind when I read “A Character Who’s a Talented Chef” is when Feyre offers to make Rhys soup, or whatever in A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas.
A book that made me jump for joy? I’m going to interpret that as a book that I received that made me super happy, versus the contents of a book. Let me tell you, when I was able to trade for a UK ARC of More Than We Can Tell by Brigid Kemmerer, I freaked out. Freaked. Out. I couldn’t believe it was in my hands.
After a three-hour car ride, where we all had venti coffees – the only downside was the line for the bathroom!
As I’m sure you’re all aware, this past week, The Queen of Nothing hit shelves – I still haven’t had a chance to read it, but I’m hoping to get to it this week. I fear that if I don’t get to it soon – I’m going to be inadvertently spoiled, and I’d really prefer not to be…as would most people. Holly was in conversation with Brigid Kemmerer, so they both talked about their books and how they created such kick ass female leads – Jude and Harper. They also talked about how they created their worlds. Holly mentioned that when she first started writing The Cruel Prince (you can read my reviews for 
The thing I resonated most with at the signing, was when Holly mentioned that she has to write it (the story) wrong, before she writes it right. Similarly, to me, she doesn’t really outline, and therefore the first draft becomes the outline. This is pretty much how I write. I have vague ideas, and work through them as I draft. Is this probably the harder way of doing things – Holly kind of thinks so, and she said she wants to get better at outlining.
I kind of feared that QoN might be spoiled or aspect might be spoiled at the signing, but I’m of the mindset that if I go to singings and I haven’t read the book yet, I can’t be too mad, since I’m aware that’s a possibility.
The one thing that kind of annoyed me was that, nowhere that I saw said that there was going to be a limit on the items that Holly would sign. I’d brought my OwlCrate The Cruel Prince, The Wicked King and The Queen of Nothing to be personalized and resigned on the inner title page (to be honest, I don’t really like tip-in pages, I appreciate them, but I like my books signed on the inner title page). I don’t have any other versions of these books, and yes, I’m aware they’re already signed, so it’s not a huge deal.
When it was time for the actual signing, we were informed that Holly was only singing & personalizing ONE book, and one of the books that you had to get signed was QoN. Like with every signing at this Barnes and Nobles you were required to buy a copy of the book there to get a wristband to get in the singing line. No biggie. I figured that I’d buy a copy and honestly, return it to my local Barnes and Nobles the next day. But I couldn’t get into the singing line without it. Anyways, it just would have been nice to know beforehand. Someone at my Barnes and Noble is going to get a nice little surprise when they buy the book. I ultimately didn’t get my copies resigned and took them with me for nothing, but it’s okay.
It was a fun evening; the drive back was long, and we didn’t get in until 12:20 AM. I was wired from the second venti coffee – that’s what happens when you drive 6 hours in the dark with only a little rest in between – it requires a lot of coffee. I kind of like the road trip these signings require, and they are definitely more fun with friends in the car!
Title: Every Last Breath (The Dark Elements #3)
I try to do these posts about a month a part and it’s been almost a month and I like doing these posts and sharing them with you all.
Title: Stone Cold Touch (The Dark Elements #2)
Title: Flawed 