Quiz de Fantasy

Quiz time. I drew this pic and couldn't decide exactly what she was pondering over, so I thought I'd ask you...

1. What's she thinking?

a) Revenge, aka do him in because he did her in (and incidentally reunite them in death).
b) Curses, aka make his shoes constantly tie themselves together for the rest of his life.
c) Love spell, aka looove spell. It's just her soul on the line.
d) How to get back to earth to reclaim her very hot guy, and avoid the reincarnation problem.

2. What's her background?

a) High school student
b) Dead girl
c) Witch-in-Training
d) Jealous lover

3. What's he about?

a) Vampire
b) Honor student AND hot
c) Temperamental (and temporary) foreign exchange student
d) Dating her sister

Reply in the comments and I may just have a short story to write for y'alls. :)

Completions and Celebrations

Hello, my friend!

I believe you've been well. As well as one can expect with all the twists Life gives you, but well, nonetheless--because you are that kind of person who comes out on top, in little things and big, in your own way.

A year passed since I saw you last. A year on my end filled with an unexpected move, an unexpected stay in an in-between place (still there, actually), an expected new addition to the family (due in May), and also an eagerly expected win. Last time I saw you, I had a BIG goal in the works. And...

... you're asking, did you make the goal?

YES! Yes, I did.

Let's have lots of cheering and celebrating :D.

I officially wrote THE END on my novel. Not in the middle, and not in a fireplace, but after a complete last chapter.

My edited times a thousand novel. It will always need more clean-up, but I was happy enough with it to feel brave and I subbed my first query to agent-of-choice yesterday! I'm supposed to hear back within 7 - 10 business days whether they want to follow up or not. Fail or win, we shall see. But I proved I was human by answering the question 36 - 5 = ___, I have a new lucky number, and I received a confirmation page saying "Thank you."

Well, you're welcome. My pleasure entirely :).

And then I was thinking on new goals, and thought that really? I just want to love life. To quit worrying. To enjoy my inky creative process through art and through words, and to allow myself to be happier inside each moment of every day.

Come do it with me, will you?

Much love,
Elm

Chicken Sacrifice

Today, we are discussing chicken sacrifice. Graphically.*

The big picture. From one angle... and the other.

Discussion among the hens. Is it ethical? Will this truly empower our baby?

Chanting. The sacrifice is drugged and ready.

The white swan in the corner gazes steadfastly to the egg on the other side.

Then this.

Still, the white swan looks away. A new order is born.

Was this calamity courtesy of the chickens? The toucan? The white swan? The egg? Or was it the gods, angry at chicken stupidity?

Sacrifice is meant to make one stronger. Did it work for any of them? Well, the chickens ended up wasted, which wasn't much of a change. The white swan ended up as guardian of a super baby (this sounds dreadful). And the toucan exercised patience and came out alive. 

What do you think? I think I'm happy the toucan gets to keep sucking on its cherry.

Oh yeah, the gods? They got tired of sacrifices and are moving on to mummification.

*Photos by me, terraforming by Sunshine and Squish.

Have Hope

My dear readers,

Now that the goal has changed and I am writing, I’m really writing. Just kind of intense like that. So I've decided I won’t waste your time with weekly filler (which would be filler if I didn't give the right time on it). Instead, I’ll share when I have meaningful and good stuff for you.

Meanwhile, these tulips are to show you that the groundhog was wrong. Spring is coming.

Love always,

Elm

Icy Terrain

I went on a run the other day to get out of a funk, and found that the scenery was too interesting to rush past. The sun had melted the snow into these little formations that were like looking at Antarctica or the Andes from a satellite. Or like some alien landscape.

Enter metaphorical mindset (you do that when you're in a funk). You're this beautiful, fragile snowflake when you fall to the earth, and then the wind and the big noisy snowplow and the sun all beat on you, along with some extreme temperature changes (brr... pant... it's like that in Virginia)...

... and you end up turning into this glowing object that is like no other, with this amazing character and heart.

I smiled, because I knew I'd way rather be someone tough and sparkly than someone who disappears at the touch of a finger.

I walked back to the house and appreciated that we live on this planet where if you just look around outside yourself, a new beauty can make its way in.

Pole of the day - What kind of snow-being are you?

a) the abominable snowman

b) a snow angel

c) a snowy owl

d) a snow-boarder

e) a glacier

behind and before

be-hind and be-fore

the present is sandwiched

be-tween

with me

and i can see both scenes

slipping yet solid

crying

i don’t budge

from this place

i grasp at my be-s

they balance me so i can step

confident

along my mountain

only a pebble at the rise

yet great, because i have grown

to notice the difference

i’d rather be here

now

not back where i could not see

nor ahead where i cannot be

steady

but always, i am stepping up

to who i will be-come

Celebrating

Dear friends,

Happy New Year! I hope you had the best holidays and celebrated hard. I have relished doing absolutely nothing (except eating) and I’m feeling the creative itch inside my fingertips again. It feels all zippy and zappy. Zzzt.

I have news that involves more celebrating. This blog is officially ONE.

As in, one year's worth of short fiction entries for your reading and viewing pleasure. This was my Goal with a capital G for last year.

This year, I have a new goal.

To finish my book.

I’m several revisions into my YA novel and am hoping to finally, finally send it off to agents for agent-ly feedback. I firmly believe you can polish a book endlessly (and it will never be just right, lol), but so many wonderful writers have given me so much amazing feedback which I’ve tried to take to heart, that this year, it's time to move on.

Kinda bursting with alternate personalities, here... they must be freed.

I'm going to write it as quickly as possible. Honestly, how else will you ever read it? I want you to read it. I’m in love with this book. I'll give you the occasional update to let you know how it’s faring.

Thank you thank you for hanging with me, and I wish you the happiest year. If there is anything I can do to lighten your world, I’m on it.

XOXO,

Elm