Tales of a Librarian

Remember me for centuries!

dragonsinger — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 15:25:48 GMT

Good morning! How are you?

A quick update on the state of me...

*Still querying WHITE SPIRIT and learning with each new letter. I've also pulled out DON'T FEED THE TROLLS (formerly MAYBERRY WITH MONSTERS) and am preparing to start draft two. So many plot holes, but I think I have some ideas to fill them.

*Having a lot of fun rewatching Highlander. A new post will be along as soon as I have some free time.

*Found a new laptop I like. It's an ASUS and it's affordable. My poor desktop is getting older so it is time for something new.

What have y'all been up to?

The Highlander Project: Duncan Does "Die Hard"

dragonsinger — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 21:50:06 GMT

Back again with more Highlander rewatch fun. Anyone joining in? Drop a comment below!

Previously on Highlander

S1E3: The Road Not Taken

The One Where:

Richie's friend dies while breaking into a building, and Richie and Duncan investigate the death. It all reminds Duncan of a friend he knew in Japan. A friend who is now hanging out in Seacouver.

You Might Be An Immortal If:

You have to prepare for The Gathering, when all the Immortals left alive have to battle it out in an epic duel.

Hey, Don't I Know You From Somewhere?

Dustin Nguyen: He was on 21 Jump Street.

Duncan and Richie, on another case. I love it when these two work together, but I wish Tessa had been with them. She was gone practically the whole episode.

But...but...we get to meet Angie, the only canon ship I have ever had for Richie in my head. Angie was awesome and tough, and I wish she had stuck around more. I love how she handled the bikers when Richie couldn't. So, so cool.

S1E4: Bad Day in Building A

The One Where:
Duncan does his best Bruce Willis. He systematically takes out mortal bad guys in a courthouse while protecting a little girl.

You Might Be An Immortal If:
You're shot in the back and return to life.

Hey, Don't I Know You From Somewhere?
Andrew Divoff: He's been a bad guy in EVERYTHING. And I mean everything. I remember him from the movie Toy Soldiers, which I adore and nothing beats Wil Wheaton trying to act like a tough mob son.

I also recognize the janitor, but Wikipedia is failing me on names right now. Anyone know?

The best thing about this episode is while Duncan is running around and kicking ass, Tessa is facing down Slade. Woman shows no fear. She insults him, she calls the police behind his back, and she stares him down. Yeah!

Also, how exhausting must it be to act like your boyfriend is dead when you know he can't die? I'm not sure I'd be able to keep that poker face going.

And what is it with early Richie and sleeveless shirts? I've never understood this wardrobe choice. I adore Stan Kirsch, but he does not rock the sleeveless look well. Really, nobody rocks the sleeveless look.

Four episodes down. Tons more to go. What do you think?

The Highlander Project: Scene Chewing and Good Ol' Boys

dragonsinger — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 23:19:12 GMT

Hello! Welcome to my Highlander rewatch project. We're starting at season one, episodes one and two today. Aren't you excited? I wanted to include pictures, but some of the images aren't very good. If you know where I can find some good pictures, I might be able to add them.

Also, my format is inspired by Forever Young Adult and the way they do their rewatches. I hope that's okay.

All right, let's do this!

S1E1: The Gathering

The One Where:

Connor McLeod shows up along with a bad Immortal named Slan. Slan is hunting our new Highlander Duncan, and Connor is hunting Slan. Scene chewing and sword fighting ensue. Duncan's girlfriend Tessa (my personal hero) gets mad. And it's all witnessed by the worst but prettiest thief in the world, Richie Ryan (sigh!).

You Might Be An Immortal If:

You feel the presence of another Immortal.

Someone wants to take your head and get all your power.

You can't fight on holy ground.

Hey, Don't I Know You From Somewhere?

Christopher Lambert: The original Highlander in the movie. He's also been in a ton of other sci-fi things and was a pretty good Tarzan back in the '80s.

Richard Moll: Bull from Night Court. Please tell me you remember Night Court. It was a staple of my childhood.

This episode wastes no time getting us up to speed on the premise. Connor is both torch passer and exposition here so we're all on the same page. Except no one knows why Immortals have to behead each other and "There Can Be Only One." They just do. Something about ultimate power or some such.

Why does Tessa's hair always look flawless? Hell, she's flawless. I want to be her when I grow up.

Oh, Richie's terrible yet awesome neon green jacket. The height of '90s bad boy fashion. Very inconspicuous when you're trying to rob an antique store. A-maz-ing.

S1E2: Innocent Man

(On my DVDs, it says "Family Tree" is the second episode, but Hulu said this one was. Since we're watching on Hulu, we're going to go with it.)

The One Where:
Duncan's friend Lucas (a Southern gentleman) is beheaded, and a homeless man is framed for it. Small towns are creepy, and reporters are nosy.

You Might Be An Immortal If:
You feel your Immortal friend die, and it brings you to your knees.

Hey, Don't I Know You From Somewhere?
Vincent Shiavelli: He was the really pissed ghost on the subway in Ghost. I know he's also been in a bunch of other stuff.

Ah, nothing like the obligatory creepy small town, amirite? I grew up in a small town so I get a little twitchy about the stereotype. Oh, and the southern accents in this one. And poor Richie not wanting to be there. (Dear Richie, all you need is a small-town southern girl. I volunteer as tribute.)

Speaking of Richie, I think this is the first appearance of the sleeveless jean jacket. Whoo to the hoo!

How did Richie get his job at Mac's antiques store? Why did they leave that scene out? One episode he's spying on Mac, and the next, he's working for him. Weird.

Oh, and this is Randi's first episode. And because of her addition, HL passes the Bechdel test for the first time. So proud. I wish they had actually developed Randi. She could've been interesting. Instead, she comes across as a caricature of a take-no-prisoners reporter. So sad.

Thoughts? Feelings? Memories? Share them with me!

There Can Be Only One

dragonsinger — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 15:20:12 GMT

Good morning, everyone! Hope you're settling into 2015 well.

So, I've been thinking. I've seen other people rewatching some of their favorite shows and blogging about it. I've also enjoyed a lot of them.

But you know what I want to rewatch? Highlander. HL was my first online fandom, my first love, my intro to everything. I was fifteen and desperately in love with Richie Ryan. (For you young whippersnappers, that's him in the icon. Obviously, Stan Kirsch no longer looks like this and I'm afraid to see what he looks like today.)

I can't promise I'll blog my progress with any kind of regularity, but I'll darn well try. Who wants to rewatch with me? All of the episodes are on Hulu, and I've never seen all of season six (aka, the season that doesn't exist because of reasons). And to those of you who have never seen it, you should totally watch it.

A little background for those who have never seen it:

HL the series branches off from the first movie (totally rent it...it's worth it). Thankfully, they never acknowledged the second one (do not rent it...it is not worth it). Anyway, Duncan MacLeod is Connor MacLeod's cousin (give or take a few decades). He's 400 years old and was born in the highlands of Scotland (as the credits will tell you).

While an Immortal can walk around in the daylight and not have to drink blood (like a vampire), they do live by the code that only one Immortal can be left alive. The only way to kill one is beheading. So, all of the Immortals walk around carrying badass swords and fighting to the death. They're only safe from each other on holy ground (any religion or sacred place will do).

So, who else wants to indulge in this magnificence of 90's fantasy? It's gonna be awesome! We'll start on Thursday.

Sometimes it takes a woman to kick major ass

dragonsinger — Fri, 09 Jan 2015 18:59:05 GMT

Raise your hand if you're watching Agent Carter. Isn't it fantastic?

I was so excited when they announced this show, and it does not disappoint. Two episodes in, and I'm already squeeing.

Peggy holds her own in a sea of guys. Jarvis is an adorable sidekick. And I kind of want Sousa to stick around and help her out.

Who else is watching. Let's squee together!

Squeeworthy Books: The Starbound Trilogy

dragonsinger — Fri, 09 Jan 2015 18:55:50 GMT

I don't know if you've had a chance to read some YA sci-fi recently, but there's some good stuff out there. I've absolutely fallen in love with The Starbound Trilogy by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner. The first book is These Broken Stars and the second one is This Shattered World. A third one is coming out at the end of this year.

A quick and dirty description of TBS: Lilac and Tarver are the only two survivors of a luxury spaceship crash, and they have to rely on each other to survive. But they may not be entirely alone on the seemingly abandoned planet.

And TSW: Jubilee is a soldier. Flynn leads the rebellion. They shouldn't even be speaking, but circumstances throw them together when full-on war breaks out on the planet of Avon.

Both were amazing and stunning reads. The world is rich and fully developed, linking the two stories together. All four main characters are awesome. I found myself pulling and aching for them. Their voices are all distinct and I never once forgot who I was reading.

All in all, I adore this series and look forward to the third one.

Sequels!

dragonsinger — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 14:31:37 GMT

Oh, wow! I completely forgot I started this back in August. On the days when I don't have anything else to post, I'll try to finish it out.

In case you missed it, A is here.

B. Best Sequel Ever

That's a tough one. Many sequels I read are lackluster or don't have the same quality as the first book. But there are at least two series I read recently where the story got better in each book.

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo - It kept up the pace and raised the stakes from Shadow and Bone. I cheered for Alina and had a love/hate thing for The Darkling. It was so good, I immediately went into Ruin and Rising

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer - Going into this book, featuring new characters, I thought there was no way it could be as Cinder. Dude, it was better. I squeed, I worried, I was in it for the long haul. And Cress was just as fantastic. Now, I'm chomping at the bit for Winter.

What was the best sequel you ever read?

C. Currently Reading
D. Drink of Choice While Reading
E. E-Reader or Physical Books
F. Fictional Character You Would Have Dated In High School
G. Glad You Gave This Book A Chance
H. Hidden Gem Book
I. Important Moments of Your Reading Life
J. Just Finished
K. Kinds of Books You Won’t Read
L. Longest Book You’ve Read
M. Major Book Hangover Because Of
N. Number of Bookcases You Own
O. One Book That You Have Read Multiple Times
P. Preferred Place to Read
Q. Quote From A Book That Inspires You/Gives You Feels
R. Reading Regret
S. Series You Started and Need to Finish
T. Three Of Your All-Time Favorite Books
U. Unapologetic Fangirl For
W. Worst Bookish Habit
V. Very Excited For This Release More Than Any Other
X. Marks The Spot (Start On Your Bookshelf And Count to the 27th Book)
Y. Your Latest Book Purchase
Z. ZZZ-Snatcher (last book that kept you up WAY late)

Squeeworthy Books: Ms. Marvel

dragonsinger — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 01:20:32 GMT

I know I'm behind everybody else, but there's not a comic book store near me, and I'm a newbie to the format. Anyway, I did get Ms. Marvel: Vol. 1 for Christmas and devoured it in one sitting.

Loved, loved, loved this graphic novel. Kamala reacts to getting superpowers pretty much the same way we all would. Panic, excitement, and finally, learning to kick ass. Which she does beautifully. Kamala was such a real character, and watching her grow from issue to issue was a real treat.

If I can get my library to order it, I will shove this graphic novel into the hands of every girl and boy I see. They'll all love it!

2014 Year in TV

dragonsinger — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 16:55:05 GMT

I haven't answered these questions in a long time, so let's play!

Which TV shows did you start watching in 2014?
Forever (please stay on the air), Brooklyn 99, Gotham, The Flash, House of Cards, Outlander, Constantine, Reign

Which TV shows did you let go of in 2014?
Grimm, but not by choice. I somehow lost track of the episodes, and I need to go back and catch up.

Which TV shows did you mean to get into but didn't in 2014? Why?
I keep hearing good things about Penny Dreadful, but I don't have Showtime. I'm sure it'll hit Netflix at some point, right?

Which TV shows do you intend on checking out in 2015?
Agent Carter is at the top of my list. So looking forward to that one.

Which TV show impressed you least in 2014?
Haven. I'm not sure I like the direction it's taking. And then there's Jennifer. *Wails*

Which TV show do you think you might let go of in 2015 unless things significantly improve?
Sadly, I think it might be Haven. And probably Constantine if it gets cancelled. :(

Which TV shows do you think you'll never let go of no matter how crappy they get? Why?
Doctor Who, Castle (but that hasn't been crappy at all), Agents of SHIELD (I'm a slave to the Marvel universe)

Which TV show did you enjoy the most in 2014?
Forever, definitely! It fills the Highlander-shaped hole in my heart.

Goals for 2015

dragonsinger — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 16:37:56 GMT

With 2015 around the corner, it’s time to make some plans.

1) Continue querying agents. (Maybe one of them will take me on.)

2) Write and edit two more books.

3) Go full time at my day job.

4) Make more time for reading and get through most of the books I’ve bought.

5) Blog more often, even if no one's reading.

What are your goals for 2015?

As for last year's goals, the only thing I finished was the most recent draft of WHITE SPIRIT. That was a big accomplishment within itself.

Good Things All Around

dragonsinger — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 19:36:54 GMT

Since it's been ages since I blogged, let's talk about some good things.

Good Things at Work

No, I'm not a librarian yet, but I am getting more responsibility at work. Starting next month, I'll get to supervise the teen volunteer-run Reader's Theater at the library. I'm so excited!

Good TV

Forever has filled the Highlander-shaped hole in my heart. Is anyone else watching this show? I love that it's a procedural with a hint of fantasy. And Ioan Gruffudd is on my TV every week. I look forward to seeing the mythology unfold. So far, no swords or severed heads are involved.

Gotham has turned out better than I expected. Dude, Penguin is chewing the scenery all over the place and I love him!

Good Writing

Been sending out query letters, but no one has bitten yet. In the meantime, I'm working on my newest story about a merman hiding out on land in Charleston. Romance, death, and adventure ensue!

So, what good things are you enjoying?

I'm coming at you like a dark horse...

dragonsinger — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 16:20:40 GMT

I'm currently in the throes of procrastination right now so I give you a blog post!

My TARDIS cardigan, or TARDIgan if you will, came in from Her Universe yesterday. It is absolutely adorable! They also now have their Captain America cardigan available in my size again. So that's for the next paycheck. I'm going to be a stylin' librarian, peeps.

Hubby and I celebrated our eight wedding anniversary with a pizza, cupcakes, and The Lego Movie. When we do romance, we do romance.

Right now, I'm contemplating tossing my cat Sam out the window because he is getting into everything. Argh! To be fair, he hates the sound of the dishwasher. He won't calm down until it's finished.

In fandom news, I'm contemplating another round of The Original Character Big Bang over on LJ. A couple of people have sent me messages asking if I'll do it again so I'm trying to gauge the interest. I've been out of touch with fandom for so long. Are big bangs still a thing? So, if you're initerested, drop me a comment.

Okay, enough procrastination. Back to the story. Ghost hunters and sexy psychics aren't going to fix themselves.

Books, Books, Books

dragonsinger — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 17:56:13 GMT

Whoa! Two posts in one day! Whaaaaat?

Well, I saw this alphabet book meme in ignipes's journal and thought, "That looks like fun." But instead of everyone choosing a letter, I'll go down the list one my own. That way, I can get back in the habit of posting and maybe generate some more content around here. Plus, books!

So, we'll start with A:

A. Author You’ve Read The Most Books From

That would be Nora Roberts. To be fair, I think she's probably got the most books with more than 200 in print.:)

Anyway, I never seem to go wrong with a Nora book. No matter which one I pick up, I'm guaranteed to get a great love story, fantastic characters, and awesome dialogue. She's my go-to writer, always. Feeling blue? Pick up a Nora book. Feeling happy? Pick up a Nora book. Need a satisfying read? Pick up a Nora book.

B. Best Sequel Ever
C. Currently Reading
D. Drink of Choice While Reading
E. E-Reader or Physical Books
F. Fictional Character You Would Have Dated In High School
G. Glad You Gave This Book A Chance
H. Hidden Gem Book
I. Important Moments of Your Reading Life
J. Just Finished
K. Kinds of Books You Won’t Read
L. Longest Book You’ve Read
M. Major Book Hangover Because Of
N. Number of Bookcases You Own
O. One Book That You Have Read Multiple Times
P. Preferred Place to Read
Q. Quote From A Book That Inspires You/Gives You Feels
R. Reading Regret
S. Series You Started and Need to Finish
T. Three Of Your All-Time Favorite Books
U. Unapologetic Fangirl For
W. Worst Bookish Habit
V. Very Excited For This Release More Than Any Other
X. Marks The Spot (Start On Your Bookshelf And Count to the 27th Book)
Y. Your Latest Book Purchase
Z. ZZZ-Snatcher (last book that kept you up WAY late)

The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated...

dragonsinger — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 13:37:11 GMT

Good morning!

This blog has been quiet for a little while, but I have a good reason for that. And that reason is my manuscript, White Spirit.

If you've been following me for a while, you know I've been working on this story off and on for six years now (nine if you count the planning and false starts). Well, I'm nearing the end of this draft, and I think it's ready to be sent out into the world. I've got a list of agents, and we're going to see what happens. Wish me luck!

In other book news, my friend Alexandra Christian has a new short erotic horror piece called Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. It's about the dangers of being a fangirl. It's only $1.99. Give it a read!

I've also spent this summer hanging out on Tumblr and swooning over Sebastian Stan. It started with Captain America: The Winter Soldier and it got worse from there. I'd include pictures, but I'm at work right now.

So that's where I've been. What have you been up to this summer?

Summertiiiime and all I can think about is Buckyyyyy....

dragonsinger — Thu, 29 May 2014 14:21:47 GMT

Can we take a moment and talk about Sebastian Stan?

Yeah, the guy who played the bad guy in The Covenant. The guy who was the love interest in Labyrinth (The TV movie, not the one you're thinking of). Bucky freakin' Barnes!

He seems to have decided to take over my life this summer. Last summer, it was Henry Cavill. This summer, it's Sebastian Stan.

I'm contemplating sitting through Hot Tub Time Machine again for you, Mr. Stan.

Now, if I could only find a community...a mailing list...anything. Tumblr insists on making me feel old.

Such is the plight of the Fandom Queen.

Dusting off the blog

dragonsinger — Mon, 21 Apr 2014 19:29:36 GMT

Happy spring, everybody! It's been a while since the last update so I thought I'd let you know I'm alive.

-The first draft of Mayberry with Monsters (no titled Don't Feed the Trolls) is finished. I'm letting it chill for a while before I revise it.

-I'm starting in on the next draft of White Spirit. This one is going a lot better. At this point, I don't feel frustrated. Always a good sign.

-Query letters will go out this summer. All they can do is tell me no. I'm hoping they want to tell me yes.

-In non-writing news, I saw the newest Captain America. No spoilers: The Winter Soldier needs the love of a good woman. And I volunteer for that position. Also, Black Widow was awesome.

So, what's new with you?

How is it almost March already?

dragonsinger — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 01:22:04 GMT

Please accept my apology. I still have January posts to make. I don't know what happened. I've been writing and reading, and I suppose I forgot to post. I have no excuse to give.

Anyway, here's what I've been up to:

1) Passed 20,000 words on Mayberry with Monsters, which now has a real title of Don't Feed the Trolls. I'm still not in love with that title, but I'm keeping it. This world is a blast to write in. Dani still hasn't found her voice yet, but we're working on it. Having the outline has been a big help. It's kept me on track, and I haven't hit a wall yet.

2) Still miss Sleepy Hollow and Haven. Happy that they're coming back, though. Right now, I'm keeping up with Arrow, Grimm, Agents of SHIELD, The Voice, and I just picked up Star-Crossed. Yes, it's cheesy. Yes, it's for teenagers. Do I care? No. It's wonderful, and I have no regrets!

3) Work has been crazy busy. Everybody wants to come to the library. They also gave me more responsibilities, which makes me ecstatic. No librarian job yet, but I keep trying.

4) Hubby is still the best husband in the world! He such a wonderful man!

All in all, things are good right now. Will try to finish out the January meme and keep up with the blogging.

How was last month for you?

Oh, Duke Crocker, how do I love thee?

dragonsinger — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 21:44:53 GMT

I'm sorry, everyone. I didn't mean to fall so far behind in the January Topic Meme. I will get to all of your topics. I promise.

And, now, today's topic: Haven (how you got into it, what are your favorite things about the show/least favorite, favorite characters, whatever you want to talk about concerning the show) from dahlia_moon.

Ah, Haven. It's all seimaisin's fault. She came to visit back in September and brought the first season with her. We watched half of it, and I was hooked.

Duke Crocker is the character that has stolen my heart. I never really thought about Eric Balfour before, but something about this character has made me go, "Well, hello!" I think it's the whole nonchalant hotness he has going on. Heh!

The story is also unfolding really well. The end of the fourth season left me with my jaw hanging open. Speaking of, have they renewed the show yet? It started out small and simple and has grown into something complex. I want to write a story that unfolds like that.

So, yes, Haven now has my heart and I really want it to come back for another season.

Pen to Paper

dragonsinger — Sun, 19 Jan 2014 18:35:36 GMT

Happy Sunday! It's still cold and there's no snow, but other than that, it's a good day.

I've been failing on all the fannish things. I still owe people drabbles. I still have January posts to make. I'll catch up...I promise.

However, Mayberry with Monsters (which will get a real title, I promise) is going well. As a rough draft, it's still terrible, but the story is moving along. I've been sticking to writing four pages a day, and it's working. Thank you, Mercedes Lackey!

Dani's voice is stilted, but I'm learning more about her as I go. Her friends haven't had much to do, and she's only talked to Jared once. More to come, though, as the story unfolds.

At least I'm accomplishing something, right?

Teen Stories

dragonsinger — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 23:38:49 GMT

Brrrr. It's cold out there, and this Southern belle isn't used to temperatures this cold. That's okay. I can hear all of you Northerners, Midwesterners, and Canadians laughing from here.

Anyway, I have a topic for today, and you can still suggest a topic for this month. Just go here.

Today's topic comes from ignipes: Talk about YA literature and why you enjoy reading it and writing it.

Growing up, there wasn't really a YA section. There was upper juvenile fiction, which consisted of writers like Judy Blume, Ellen Conford (who wrote about a girl who discovered she was a princess well before Meg Cabot), and Paula Danziger. So, I mostly skipped over it to adult books.

But I fell in love with the genre when I took an adolescent literature class in college. My professor chose mostly old books that no one ever heard of, but we did get to choose some of our own. That's where I read Robin McKinley, Annette Curtis Klause, and an unknown debut author named J.K. Rowling. I was hooked.

I like adult fantasy, sci-fi, and romance, but they don't cover my favorite topics, like first love or discovering who you are. They're too busy covering bigger issues. But YA fantasy and sci-fi does. YA focuses more on character than worldbuilding. Of course, that's my opinion, and not all adult books cover only worldbuilding. But you know what I mean.

It also gives me a chance to enjoy the teenage years. My teenage years were awful, but I like the rosy version of high school some of these books paint.

In other words, YA is still doing fresh and new things, and I keep enjoying it.

Some of my recent favorites:
The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
The Rules by Stacey Kade
Spellcaster by Claudia Gray
Texas Gothic and Spirit and Dust by Rosemary Clement-Moore
These Broken Stars by Aimee Kaufmann and Megan Spooner

A Jumble of Thoughts

dragonsinger — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 15:05:26 GMT

Good morning, everyone! It's Monday, and everyone is back at school or work. The holidays are over. Pardon me while I pout for a bit. Anyway, random bits and pieces today.

*No topic for today, but there are lots of days left this month. Suggest a topic, even if you've already suggested something.

*I've managed to write every day this year so far. (Yes, I am looking for a pat on the back.) I'm using one of Mercedes Lackey's suggestions, which is to write four pages a day. For some reason, it feels less daunting than a word count. I don't know why, but it's working.

*So, Hubby and I are into season two of Battlestar Galactica.

Dee/Apollo seems really random.
I can't believe they killed off Billy. What?????
Why haven't Starbuck and Apollo gotten together yet?
President Rosalin is my favorite character.
What is the Cylons' endgame?

Hubby thinks that if they just send Starbuck into a lot of situations, everything would be solved in five minutes. She's his favorite character.

*Is Sleepy Hollow back tonight? Does anyone know?

*The new season of Sherlock is completely awesome! Can we keep Mary? Please?

So, an 18th century Patriot, a cop, a witch, and a headless horseman walk into a bar....

dragonsinger — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 16:14:50 GMT

Today's topic comes from njborba - Sleepy Hollow. Likes? Dislikes? Chat away!

Sleepy Hollow is my favorite new show. The whole premise sounded so crazy that I had to try it. And I did. And I loved every second of it.

Abbie and her sister Jenny are total badasses. Ichabod is sarcastic and sexy. Irving is the best boss in the world. And Katrina is starting to get an interesting storyline.

Likes: Ichabod and Abbie have the best partnership ever. I love how they rely on each other without question.

I love that Jenny and Irving have been brought into the fight, and I'm shipping them like crazy.

I love that Katrina is a redhead (heh!) and a witch.

I love the whole premise of the show. What's going to happen next?

Dislikes: There's only really one, and that's I want to know more about the witches and how magic works in this world. If witches are fighting for the side of good, where are they in the modern age? The priest was killed in the first episode. Katrina is trapped in pergatory. Those other four witches were a circus act. Jeremy was supposedly killed and buried. I know Abbie and Ichabod, the two witnesses, are our main characters, but can't these mere mortals (as badass as they are) get a little witchy help? Other than Katrina?

Witches...they never get any respect.

Plenty of days are left. Suggest a topic.

Squeeworthy Books: The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

dragonsinger — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 20:50:21 GMT

Since no one suggested a topic for today, I have a new squeeworthy book for you!

The Body Finder Series by Kimberly Derting

Titles in Series:
The Body Finder
Desires of the Dead
The Last Echo
Dead Silence

Violet has a secret. She can find dead bodies, no matter how well the killers tried to hide them. And one killer in particular isn't happy about it.

Despite the light paranormal premise, this YA series is mostly a mystery series. Violet is an awesome main character, and her best friend (whom she's in love with) is there for her all the way. This series is squeeworthy because of how the mystery unfolds and how realistic the characters are. Each chapter in the first book ramps up the tension slowly until you hit the most exciting part.

Definitely check them out from the library!

OTP....Yeah, You Know me!

dragonsinger — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 21:28:02 GMT

It's the first of January, a new year, and time to kick off the January Topic Meme. Yay!!!

We're starting things with katikat's topic suggestion: Name 3 of your favorite OTPs and why you love them.

Narrowing down to three is going to be hard, but here we go.

The First Ship: Chloe/Clark, Smallville

When I started online fandom with Highlander, I never heard the word "shipping." I didn't learn it until I fell into the Smallville fandom. Chloe/Clark was the first pairing I ever fell in love with and wanted to write about all the time.

In the early days of SV, Chloe was the best. She had her own character arch, her own way of getting into trouble, and her own snark. I loved her, and naturally, I wanted Clark to love her, too. Of course, the creators of the show had other plans. Nevertheless, I couldn't get enough of Chloe/Clark fic. The angst, the fluff, the hurt-comfort, the PWPs, all of it, as long as it had a happy ending. Chloe was the perfect girl to bring out the personality in Clark. I still ship it to this day (I don't care what the creators did with them.)

The Ship With the Most Canon Satisfaction: Piper/Leo, Charmed

From the moment Piper and Leo started giving each other longing looks from across the room, I was sold. Piper was the geekiest one of the three Halliwell sisters, the long-suffering middle sister, and the one who wanted to be normal. Leo was the handyman who turned out to be much, much more.

These two went through everything - forbidden love, marriage problems, Leo going dark, and nearly breaking up. In the end, they made it through everything and got their happy ending. Yes!

The Newest Ship: Jennifer/Duke, Haven

Even though it's been around since 2010, I didn't fall in love with Haven until seimaisin sat me down and made me watch it. I loved Duke, but I didn't love his pining after Audrey.

And then, this past season, TPTB gave Duke a woman of his own - Jennifer. And she wasn't there for looks; she had a character arc of her own, a storyline that served the main plot. She complemented Duke and let him keep his bad boy with a heart of gold status. I really hope she gets to stay and they get their happy ending.

So, there you have it, three of my favorite ships. May they all have their happy endings.

And if you have a topic, slots are still open.

Happy new year!

dragonsinger — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 20:48:37 GMT

Today is the last day of 2013. Got your 2014 goals ready? I know I do. I'm going to be a better writer next year than I was this year.

People gave me some really good topics for The January Meme. I'm excited. I've got plenty of spots left if you've got a topic suggestion.

All right. Two hours left at work and then it's time to ring in the new year with friends. How are you ringing in the new year?