Welcome! Step inside the Tack Room, and make yourself comfortable. This is a place for me to write about my life and put my thoughts into words in the spirit of 1 Timothy 4:12.
(Otherwise entitled, Fun with Windows Movie Maker)
During our not-so-long drive home from a visit with family, Michael, Patti and I decided to pass the time in a more creative fashion. Thus, The Giggle Movie came into being:
As for those credits...well, we were bored. And we had a minute of song to use up.
Dragons, swords, and magical lands have been the highlight of fiction in the twenty-first century.Eragon, The Ranger’s Apprentice, Dragons in our Midst…just step to the young adult fiction shelf of your local bookstore.You’ll be hard-pressed to find anything but fantasy.
Into this era of chivalrous tales, enter thousands of young aspiring authors and authoresses.Many, if not all of us, have dreams of publication, and just take a look at some of the works being produced—the caliber of writing sometimes surpasses the sort that is already hitting the shelves in published form.Not so surprisingly, the genre you’re likely to come across most in these unpublished works is the same that dominates today’s fiction: fantasy.
So…good or bad for the upcoming author?Does this fantasy-frenzy mean an automatic consideration by publishers, or automatic rejection slip?
Part of me is inclined to think that, what with the popularity of fantasy, publishers will be quick to take a look at a promising new manuscript.That’s what I like to hope, anyway.Surely all of them are hoping to hit upon a second Eragon and end up on the bestsellers list.
But then there’s the reverse side of it all.Today I tried to wrap my mind around the number of unsolicited fantasy manuscripts that are likely flooding every publishing house that has not closed its doors to un-agented authors.I can’t even imagine it!Doubtless many are well-written pieces of literature, but to break into the fantasy market successfully, a novel will need to have something more than tasteful words.It needs a wide-spread appeal, something reminiscent of its predecessors.After all, material that has already been done successfully in one form or another has a chance of doing it again.
I find myself in a dilemma.I won’t (and probably can’t) write in a style that brings to mind other popular fantasies, and as such my novel-in-progress probably fits with thousands of others that have met with rejection.But I feel very strongly about the story I write—I feel as if this will be the only fantasy story I ever attempt, and the simple message should shine through.Regardless of whether it meets with success in publication, I will write with my heart and leave the rest to God.
After that, I imagine I’ll beat a hasty retreat back to historical fiction!
Another edit: I've been tagged again, so I may as well tack it onto this post...
1. If you could change your name, what would it be? Oh, what a question...I am quite fond of the name Haylee, but it wouldn't fit me at all.
2. What's your favorite animal? Horses.
3. What room are you in? My bedroom, sitting at my desk.
4. Do you have any magazine subscriptions? Not me personally.
5. What's your dream job? A writer.
6. What color are your bedroom walls? Very boring brown--hopefully purple and brown in the future.
7. How many much longer until your birthday? *stops to count* Fifteen days!
8. What did you have for lunch yesterday? Um...I completely forget! I don't usually eat much for lunch anyway. Oh wait--I had half a roast beef sandwich!
9. If you could live anywhere, where would it be? I would love to live in Scotland or Ireland--or at least, I think I would. I probably wouldn't when it came down to leaving friends and family!
10. What's your favorite song? At the moment I'm enjoying the Concerto no. 3 in C Minor for viola, by Seitz.
11. What color is your shirt? Gray.
12. How old will you be in 12 years? Fifteen days away from turning twenty-eight.
13. What's the last thing you read? The last book I finished was Redwall, I think.
What is your favourite type of building? Hm...I like old, authentic buildings like Civil War forts and such, although I'm sure castles are incredible if I could ever visit one.
What is your favourite animal? Horses, undoubtedly.
What is your favourite colour? Dark blues, dark purples, and sage greens, as well as some shades of brown.
What is your favourite landscape? Rolling hills with trees and a river, and horses grazing.
What is your favourite game? The Great Dalmuti is rather fun. :-)
[X] I've drunk Starbucks more than once in my life (Absolutely, regardless of what they think in New Zealand... :-D)
[X ] Sometimes I link arms when I walk with someone
[ ] I shop at AE, A&F, or HCO (Never heard of them...)
[X ] I own 4 or more dress shirts/dresses (Well, when one likes to make money playing at weddings and such, you do need a nice outfit or two...)
[ ] I will never be caught without my cell phone
[ ] I blow dry/straighten my hair on a daily basis
[ ] I will wear flip flops no matter what the weather (No--I wear flip flops in the summer and boots when it gets cold!)
[ ] I own an over sized pair of sunglasses
[ ] I own 1 or more pairs of ripped jeans
[ ] I layer my shirts
[ ] I have/had a "Myspace mirror pic"
[ ] When I'm not drinking starbucks I prefer water
[ ] I get annoyed with tom-boys
[ ] I own an over sized bag or purse
[ ] I have seen every episode of Laguna Beach (I've never even heard of it)
[ ] My new fav is the Hills (Never heard of that, either...)
[ ] I say "lol" in online chat (well, I've said it once or twice...in general I stick to more original ways of laughing)
[ ] own straight legged jeans (I find them highly repulsive)
[ ] I walk across the street when cars are there or not
[ ] I wear necklaces
[ ] I own an iPod/mp3 player
[X] I have the internet (Obviously...)
[X] I have more than 1 screen name (that was before I settled on writer4him)
[ ] I own/have owned a small teacup dog
[ ] I have said "lol" or "OMG!" accidently in a real conversation
[X] I love shopping
[ ] I shop whenever I have a chance
[ ] I have watched the Simple Life. (Never heard of that, either... *sigh*)
multiply by 3 and put "I'm % City"
I'm 18% City!
How COUNTRY Are You?
have you?
[X] ridden a horse
[ ] owned a horse
[X] owned land (if you count my family's two acres)
[X] been 4 wheeling
[X] said "ain't" (never seriously)
[ ] been cow-tipping
[ ] been deer hunting
[X] been swimming in a lake
[X] caught a fish
[/] seen a deer get cleaned (That's a half X. I've seen a deer hanging upside down in a tree with its guts hanging out, but that's about it. Don't even begin to tell me whatever it is I missed.)
You....
[X] have worked on a ranch or on land (well...on our two acres!)
[X ] Have lived in a house in the middle of nowhere (oh, I loved that house. It was in a small town in Tennessee. We only rented it for awhile. It was a log cabin with lots of woods around it, and a pasture at the bottom of the hill with a spring and everything...of course, this is overlooking the fact that the house was infested with brown recluse spiders.)
[ ] have been duck hunting
[X] have/went swimming in a river
[X] driven in a truck
[ ] own or owned a rebel flag (I find this question highly offensive! ME? Own a Rebel flag? *shakes head*)
[ ] have said i dont like it... i love it
[ ] have a funny accent or people have told you that
[X ] own or owned a pair of cowboy boots (I love my Justin Ropers!)
[X] own/owned a cowboy hat (when I was younger...)
[X] own/have owned a big dog (I own three of them now...in my lifetime I've had six)
[X] say "y'all"
[X] have been made fun of for saying "y'all"
You also
[ ]swear when you're mad
[X] go/have gone to church on Sunday
[ ] have ridden a horse to somewhere in town (I don't think that would go over to well with my parents, although I'd like to try it sometime)
[X ] have gone on a field trip to a farm/ranch (this question ought to go in the city section--if you live in the country, why go on field trips to farms?? But yes, I've been one several)
[ ] made deer jerky
[X] have eaten deer meat
[X] have shot a gun before (Well...I shot a BB gun! And I shot a blank from a Spanish-American War pistol...)
I can't recall a time in my life when I didn't enjoy writing. When my sister and I were young, we would take turns at the computer, pecking away at the keyboard while keeping a wary eye out for intruders (neither of us would dare to write when anyone could see, a habit that has continued to the present day!). My first "published" book came off the press when I was eight: Adventures with the Puppies, complete with illustrations. I tied it with a pretty ribbon and set about planning a sequel. The sequel never came to be, but the book has found a forever place in my hope chest!
Lately I've begun to get much more serious about my writing. I'd always dreamed of publication, and now I feel that it's closer than ever, but still just out of reach. I've made it my goal to complete a decent draft of my novel by the end of 2008, and in 2009 I will set about editing and, finally, submitting.
Earlier this year I posted five chapters of this novel, and received quite a few comments in response. All of them were so encouraging and helpful! I still go back and read them periodically, when I need the motivation to keep writing. I read them this morning, and I would like to thank all of you who have been so kind to read what I write and give your feedback. You have no idea how it keeps me going!
I suppose all of this is ending up at the announcement that I have removed all chapters of The Blade Unbroken from public. I didn't feel comfortable leaving them up if I plan on moving forward with the book soon, so hopefully no one has counted on them being there! From now on I will be sharing chapters on an individual basis alone, for critique and feedback.
Oh--I also wanted to say that I would like to start posting more about my writing, for my own benefit if nothing else. Writing about my writing (what a paradox!) will inspire me to keep going, and who knows? Maybe it'll be interesting reading!
It began late Saturday night--er, early Sunday morning. Since my parents were out for their anniversary dinner, Toni and I decided to wait up for them. We put in a movie, and waited...and waited...and waited. Presently I decided that there was no sense in waiting when I could be sleeping, so I promptly made myself comfortable on the couch and drifted off into peaceful slumber (albeit with the cannons of "Gods and Generals" booming in the background).
I was awakened around 12:00 a.m to the creaking of the back door as my parents entered. Remembering that I do have a bed, I immediately got up and stumbled sleepily towards the bedroom, calling a feeble "good night" over my shoulder...but my father detained me, saying that he wanted to talk. Now who in their right mind wants to talk at twelve in the morning? On the other hand...who in their right mind wants to stay up arguing at twelve in the morning? So, I plodded back to the couch and slumped down.
My father and mother then informed Toni and I, very solemnly, that they had a joint birthday present for the two of us. It was in the back of the car if we would care to get it. For my part, I didn't care to get it--not now, anyway. But strangely enough my parents insisted, so the four of us made our way out to the driveway. On the way daddy innocently informed us that if we preferred, we could leave the present in the car until the next morning. But as I had already woken up enough to walk outside, there was no sense in turning around...so we made it to the car and opened the back door.
"Surprise!"
Sitting there in the back of the car was...well, it took me a moment to decide, as my eyes were rather groggy. Eventually I realized that it was Danielle, an old friend from California! What she was doing in our car remained a mystery, but I was far too tired to be concerned with mysteries at the moment.
Whatever the circumstances that had brought her here, we all trooped inside a good deal more awake than we had been when we walked out. The whole great secret was revealed, as well as the fact that she was here to spend the week! We then proceeded to stay up till past one, talking and giggling. Little did we know what adventures the morrow would bring.
* * *
Sunday morning dawned bright and early. Much too early. I got up shortly after eight in time to get to worship practice at nine, and we all arrived home from church around twelve thirty. Daddy then asked if we would like to take Danielle horseback riding, which we all (excepting Danielle, perhaps) agreed would be quite fun.
Now, you must understand that Danielle is a born and bred city slicker--much like we were up until a few years ago--not to mention the fact that she claims she is scared of horses. Normally I would sympathize with this, but when you know a person your whole life you tend to overlook such things. So I assured her all would be well, and Buddy really is a nice horse once you get to know him. With that we set off.
After saddling the horses, I decided to take Buddy for a quick spin to see how he was behaving. Surprisingly there was no heading for the barn, no crowhopping, and he even picked up a nice trot when I asked him. This is quite an achievement, so I informed Danielle that she would do just fine.
Unfortunately, Buddy's good manners were not to last. Danielle mounted up, and immediately upon being asked to move forward the old horse began his usual crowhopping. After he had returned to his favorite speed (which is "stopped immovably"), poor Danielle climbed down and declared that her cowgirl days were officially ended.
Undaunted, I decided that it was now time to take the horses out on the big open thirty-four acres. Danielle and Toni elected to take turns leading one another, since neither were very keen on the idea of riding double atop a crowhopping old Quarter horse. With everything arranged, we left the arena and entered the wild, untamed hill country.
For some time all went well. We were a ways off from the house and the arena, following the fenceline through the property. We passed by a few cows in the pasture, calmly munching away. Danielle asked if this was normal, to which I replied that they were cows. What in the world would a cow have to do with us?
Shortly after we passed them, the cows became very vocal in their usual mooing. I looked back and saw that a few of them wer plodding after us. How strange, I thought. I've never seen a cow move quite that fast...
It is then that we learned how fast a cow truly can move. The small group of heifers (Danielle declares that there was a bull) picked up speed until they were in a full gallop (as far as cows go). This would have been fine, had they been headed any other direction.
My first though was: Oh, dear. They're going to scare the horses. It was followed by: Hm, I wonder what Danielle thinks of this?
After quickly dismounting to avoid any unpleasant situations, I turned around to check up on Toni, Danielle, and Katy (who had tagged along). Toni was standing at Buddy's head, hanging onto his neck for dear life. Danielle had grabbed Katy's hand and made for the nearest tree, leaving a trail of smoke behind her. She looked to be in the act of climbing the sickly little thing, while Katy pretended to hide behind its four-inch trunk.
Meanwhile the cows lumbered past us at a great rate, mooing their heads off. When the fearsome creatures had passed us, I ventured to suggest that Danielle unwrap herself from the tree.
The rest of our trail ride passed comfortably. I found an open area and loped Lance (my favorite horse ever) around it as the sun disappeared behind the trees....there is something truly incredible about being on horseback at a time like that. But before I wax poetic, I shall bring this tale to a close.
We arrived home in safety, and no one talked much about the cows until after most of the family had gone to bed. Then, as we all sat around the living room, the subject of Danielle's tree climbing was raised.
We spent the rest of the evening in hysteric laughter.
