Review: The Lost Symbol

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I really liked this book. It was more fast paced than The Da Vinci Code but lacked the major suspense of Angels and Demons. I love Dan Brown's novels because he writes in a way that keeps you guessing about certain aspects even if you've figured the rest out. I love the blending of true history with mystery and legend as well and how each of his books, in their own way, deal with personal faith.



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Book Recommendations

Now that Nano is over and I have some free time available I want to get back to reading those books that I haven't had a chance to. So what I'm asking of anyone who reads this is to post some book recommendations on what I should read. Let me know what book you've recently loved or something you are just passionate about getting more people to read. It can be any genre, any length, anything-  just comment below and let me know what you're currently loving in the literary world.

I'M A WINNER!

That's right everyone! I have finished the month of November and NaNoWriMo with 54,444 words! I managed to pass the 50K mark just past midnight on day 29 so I barely made it in the 30 days but I'm super excited I did it. This was my second year participating but my first win. I never imagined how fulfilling a win would be. I have not finished writing my novel yet and am enjoying a brief break before getting back into the swing of it, with a slightly slower pace, but look forward to finishing it soon. I've also recently decided to revisit the novel i was writing last year that I abandoned after Nano was over. So, hopefully, riding this brief high and winner momentum, I'll have 2 finished novels to show for my hard work. Congrats to everyone who participated in Nano this year. It's great to have tried even if you only wrote 50 words and Congrats to everyone who broke 50K- especially all my awesome writing buddies. I'm glad it's over because- whew- intense but I'm also sad to wait another year to do it again. There's just a special energy during Nov that I can't seem to find at any other time of the year but that's what makes Nano so special.

NaNoWriMo Starts At Midnight!!

I'm so excited for midnight! It's still 3 hours away but I'm determined to stay up and write at least a little bit before bed tonight. Work will suck tomorrow because I will be majorly tired from staying up late but it's worth it. I've been waiting for year for Nano to come back around! Most of my characters have been named- which is a step up from last year. I'm still working on getting everything worked out so that there's no stumbling when I start writing at midnight. I'm so worked up for this! Or maybe that's the halloween candy talking.

How much longer until NaNo?

Ok, so I'm having a hard time waiting for NaNo to start. I've got my plot bunny, I've got names (mostly) for my characters, I've got the conflict if not the resolution, and most importantly- I have the drive. So yes, I'm having a hard time waiting for NaNo to start Nov 1st. Most people ask me, well have you done character profiles? What about an outline? To them I say- no. Why not? Because I don't work that way. Would it help? I'm sure it would but I think I have a block, especially about outlines. I just can't stick to one and I hate putting the effort into making one. When I write I visualize what I want to happen, or what needs to happen- then I write it. It's like a movie playing in my head that I can then translate into words. There's probably a lot of planning or organizational stuff I can do to get ready and to take time, and I'm doing more of that this time around than I ever have previously, but I just want to write. I want to open the imagination and start typing. I guess it's a lot like brainstorming- I can't see the finished product until I get to that point. Then again that could just be my block on endings as well. Oh well- 1 week to go!

Check out my cover and banner for my Nano project!

I'm very excited about these! I used Picnik to make both and it was so easy I was surprised. I'm trying to be more visual this year hoping that it will help me see what I need to see when I'm writing. When I write my stories tend to play like a movie in my head and I get stuck when the reel stops. So no more stopping! Enjoy!

NaNoWrimo Is Almost Here!

So November 1st starts the time of year that I fell in love with last year- NaNoWriMo! 30 Days of writing insanity. And even though I didn't make the 50K goal last year I am determined to hit it this year. I am getting ready with a vengence- plot planning lunches, joining a group of writers online for support and general merriment, and downloading new writing products. And hopefully I'm going to update this personal blog through all of it! So look at my sidebar for some Nano stats!

Stories up online

So I have posted 2 of my original fictions on TWCS. Both are romances, one contemporary and one historical. Neither are finished but I wanted to be brave enough to put them out there. So if you want to you can go here to read them.

Productive day?

Last night, after a quick trip to walmart for cat food (cause I will starve if there is no food in the house but I won't let the cats), and cleaning off the 8-10 inches (possibly more) of snow that had accumulated in front of the front door (and on the stairs) I finally FINALLY got caught up on some of my fanfics I'm reading. Namely Almost Doesn't Count and In the Blood. I'm still working my way through Clipped Wings & Inked Armor (Chapter 23 is calling my name) but haven't had a chance to read it lately. I was so happy to finally get all caught up. Today, after getting up earlier than I wanted to for another drs appt, I again found myself at walmart. Why is it that I never seem to get out of walmart with under $100 of stuff? Admittedly this was gonna be higher cause I hadn't been shopping in about 3 weeks- well not serious FOOD shopping- but I was shocked! I swear I didn't get that much. I think there's an optical illusion with the shopping cart so it looks like you have less than you do, so you buy too much, and SPEND too much. So ok, grocery shopping done. I get home, put everything up and go to start the laudry before I eat lunch- just to discover that Jasper kitty has started spraying by the back door!!! (Yes, he needs to be fixed. Yes, we plan on having it done. But who has the $$$?) So after cleaning up after him and starting the laundry I finally get to eat- and watch Josie and the Pussycats (love that movie). After the movie was over I knew I had to make myself finish the task list I had left for myself or I'd spend all day on the couch watching movies and not get anything done. So I attacked (and in this instance- attack is accurate) the dishes that I had let pile up in the sink for the past week. Thank god we have a dishwasher because there was a LOT! So after the dishwasher was loaded, and turned on, I talked the pots and pans- I hate washing pots and pans. Seriously, I think it's the most horrible cleaning task. But I got them done. AND I baked cookies! So today has made me feel very productive. I'm still waiting on the dishes to dry to put them away, and the clothes to dry before I put them away too. And I still have to cook dinner, but I've decided that everything else can wait. The house isn't spotless by any means but I'm satisfied for now.

In other news, the snow has kept Susie from coming home since Monday. I'll admit it was nice to have the house to myself monday night but now- I'm so ready for company.

I guess that's really all. I know- not a very exciting post today. Oh well, not a very exciting day but satisfying all the same.

Why is there never toilet paper when you need it in a public bathroom? I don't get it. You'd think they'd stick extra rolls in too but nope.

Starting Over

Alright- So I started this blog a while ago. It was fun and I did it for myself- to let out whatever. Then me and Susie started the ApplesNFeathers blog- which don't get me wrong, I LOVE!- but it's not the same. So I've decided to start over here again. The ANF blog will still be all twiverse/all the time but this will be personal. This will be me and only me, saying what I need or want. It may be short or it could be long. If you're here reading this, thanks for taking the time out to stop over- leave me a comment about whatever.