Jeesh, this year is spinning past me so quickly that I'm feeling a little dazed and confused. :) No worries, though. Now, before I present you all with this month's reading list, I'd like to take a moment or two to talk to you fine friends about romance. Yes peeps. Summer love is in the air and I am not immune. I, too, have caught the lovebug...well, in my writing that is.
So, any of you who have been following me for any length of time know that I am not huge on romance. Yes, I like to have a little love mixed in with my stories. Don't we all? But, I'm not a huge fan of romance for the sake of romance. I will read them and all the while think, "this is good, but when are the aliens going to invade? who's going to be viciously murdered, thus pushing the couple even closer together?" You see where I'm going? Romance is an essential part of any good story.
Then, I was assaulted by a shiny new idea that was (gasp!) all romance. Of course, being the writer that I am, I said to myself "Self, you must immerse yourself in romance if you are going to give these characters the story they deserve." And, so I did.
And, do you know what I learned? Every book you read can essentially be called a romance. But, the "romances" out there have really good stories behind the love story portion...as you will see by my list.
As always, I hope you find something on this list that you will enjoy!
THIRTEEN REASONS WHY by Jay Asher...Not only was this the first book I read this month, it was also my favorite! I already talked about this in an earlier post, so I will just say that if you haven't read it, you MUST!!
WILL GRAYSON WILL GRAYSON by John Green and David Levithan...Another awesome effort by Mr. Green, and although I've never read anything by Mr. Levithan, this book alone makes me want to go out and find all the other books he's written.
10 THINGS I LOVE ABOUT YOU by Julia Quinn...Historical romance at its finest. Smart, witty characters and a style of writing that had me comparing Ms. Quinn to Jane Austen (who I love, btw). I finished this in a handful of hours and am eager to read more by her
THE SHORT SECOND LIFE OF BREE TANNER by Stephenie Meyer...Eh. That about sums up my feelings on this novella. Maybe I'm a little sick of the whole vampire thing...at least the sparkly good-hearted vegetarian vamps because I really can't find anything I liked about this story. And, I feel a little let-down by the fight scene at the end. I guess I just expected more.
GO ASK ALICE by Anonymous...This is a very old book (published in the early 70s) that I found while rummaging though the bargain bin at B&N. And, let me tell you! Whew! I loved it. It's a very candid account of teenage drug abuse. Plus, it's completely in diary format.
NOT ON HER OWN by Cynthia Reese...This is the first time I've read anything pubbed by someone I "know". Yes, Cynthia and I banter back and forth on Twitter with a few other fun peeps, so when I decided to read romance, I thought of her first. I actually found this book of hers at the library, but you can purchase any of her books on Amazon. I finished this book in one sitting and by the end I was as in love with Deputy Brandon Wilkes as the heroine, Penelope. GO FIND HER BOOKS NOW!
WINTERGIRLS by Laurie Halse Anderson...Death, eating disorders, and the bonds of friendship. An achingly beautiful story. A must read for any YA-er
LOVE YOU HATE YOU MISS YOU by Elizabeth Scott...Ugh! This one just killed me. Hopping back and forth between letters to Julia (the dead girl in the book) and Amy's POV as she moves through life without her beautiful and fierce BFF. This one will send you on an emotional roller coaster that you will never want to get off.
THAT PERFECT SOMEONE by Johanna Lindsey...another historical romance with the beautiful lords and ladies of the ton and of course, a pirate thrown in for good measure. Plus, Ms. Lindsey uses characters from previous books, so the reader feels as though they are getting a peak into that elusive 'happily ever after moment'.
VAMPIRE MISTRESS by Joey W. Hill...Did I say I was over the whole vampire thing? Well, I must have lied a little bit ;) Anywho, this is a great story about a human vampire hunter who falls for a human who is in love with a vampire who happens to be a vampire hunter as well. Confused yet? Well, hold onto your panties cuz that's just the first little bit. Heads really fly when the human who is in love with the vampire-hunting vampire is brutally attacked and then turned into a vampire. Now, the vampire-hunting/vampire-hating human (Did I forget to tell you that his brother is a vampire as well?) must join forces with the vampire-hunting vampire to help the girl they both love through the rough transition of becoming a vampire. And, of course, this is only the first in the story of these three, so now, I am left wondering what is going to become of this vampire love triangle. WARNING for my fellow YA writing crowd: I found this in the romance section and it is labeled as "paranormal romance" but what they neglected to tell you is that it should also have the word erotic in that label. Very explicit sex scenes, but a pretty good story line.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Somebody Stop Me!!!
Okay, so I am being pulled in a thousand different directions right now. I am vacillating between TWO equally wonderful WIPs and now, I'm being assaulted from all sides by a gaggle of SNIs...one of which is a sequel to the suspense novel I wrote last year entitled FIRST INSTINCT (check sidebar for description).
So, instead of beating you over the head with yet another tag-team tease, I decided to give you a little taste of the world according to Charlie Pryce, the most reluctant psychic you will ever meet.
Enjoy!
I slowed the car to barely a crawl as the bridge crept into view. I peered anxiously over the steering wheel. It was now getting late, almost full dark, which reduced visibility to almost nothing, but I saw no approaching headlights.
Pulling in a deep breath and sending up a quick prayer, I maneuvered the car up onto the bridge. Slowly, ever so slowly, I directed the station wagon across, my hands locked in a white-knuckled death-grip around the wheel. I was halfway across the bridge when a pair of bright, bright headlights flashed out in front of me, blinding me.
“Ahhhh!” I groaned, squinting against the brightness. I honked my horn and flipped my high beams on and then off in quick successions to let the other driver know that he had his brights on.
The other car was headed right for me! And, it wasn’t slowing down.
Fear plowed through me. What was I going to do? He was headed right for me, with no sign that he was slowing. I honked the horn wildly and in my panic, I slammed my foot on the gas.
Get off the bridge! Get off the bridge!
But the other car was faster. We were going to collide! At the last minute, something inside me made me jerk the wheel sharply to the right. I heard a horrible screech fill the air as metal rubbed up against metal. I was rocked in my seat. Then the car turned, teetering as if on a seesaw that wasn’t quite sure in which direction it was going to go.
In the next moment, I was falling. My head hit the steering wheel, and I let out a pain-filled cry. Icy, frigid cold was suddenly surrounding me, making me realize that the car was now in the river.
And, I was about to die.
Now, somebody stop me from going forward with the sequel. Someone, please tackle me, screaming "No sequels till you sell the first! Don't do it!" Somebody? Anybody? Bueller?
So, instead of beating you over the head with yet another tag-team tease, I decided to give you a little taste of the world according to Charlie Pryce, the most reluctant psychic you will ever meet.
Enjoy!
I slowed the car to barely a crawl as the bridge crept into view. I peered anxiously over the steering wheel. It was now getting late, almost full dark, which reduced visibility to almost nothing, but I saw no approaching headlights.
Pulling in a deep breath and sending up a quick prayer, I maneuvered the car up onto the bridge. Slowly, ever so slowly, I directed the station wagon across, my hands locked in a white-knuckled death-grip around the wheel. I was halfway across the bridge when a pair of bright, bright headlights flashed out in front of me, blinding me.
“Ahhhh!” I groaned, squinting against the brightness. I honked my horn and flipped my high beams on and then off in quick successions to let the other driver know that he had his brights on.
The other car was headed right for me! And, it wasn’t slowing down.
Fear plowed through me. What was I going to do? He was headed right for me, with no sign that he was slowing. I honked the horn wildly and in my panic, I slammed my foot on the gas.
Get off the bridge! Get off the bridge!
But the other car was faster. We were going to collide! At the last minute, something inside me made me jerk the wheel sharply to the right. I heard a horrible screech fill the air as metal rubbed up against metal. I was rocked in my seat. Then the car turned, teetering as if on a seesaw that wasn’t quite sure in which direction it was going to go.
In the next moment, I was falling. My head hit the steering wheel, and I let out a pain-filled cry. Icy, frigid cold was suddenly surrounding me, making me realize that the car was now in the river.
And, I was about to die.
Now, somebody stop me from going forward with the sequel. Someone, please tackle me, screaming "No sequels till you sell the first! Don't do it!" Somebody? Anybody? Bueller?
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Double the Teasing, Double the Fun...
Thanks again for all your comments last week. I'm still not sure which of the two bright and shiny new ideas of mine to focus on. Last week's poll came out to a three way tie. Just as many people said HUNTED as said LOVE as said 'do what you want'. So I'm still undecided :(
Anywho...I thought that since I'm still so undecided, you all can get two teasers again this week! yay for Two for Teaser Tuesday!
LOVE IN A TIME OF POPULARITY (YA contemp romance)
The basket filled with all sorts of welcome goodies Mom had all but thrown at me this morning easily weighed more than both me and Cindy combined. It was all I could do to make it the short distance across the street and four houses down to greet our new neighbors. Cindy skipped up ahead, her blond curls bouncing in the mid-morning sunlight as I trudged behind her.
“C’mon, slow poke.” She sang out, tapping her foot and glancing at her watch in fake impatience all the while fighting to hold back giggles.
I tried to melt her with my glare, but it didn’t work. Instead, I hiked the basket higher in my hands and forced myself forward. It was nice of Mom to think of the new people, but how come I was the one who had to be the ‘welcome wagon’?
Cindy was already leaning on the doorbell when I finally made it up to her side. We stood and waited, listening to muffled clanging sounds from deep within the house. Another few minutes and she jabbed at the doorbell again. The slight chiming that echoed back at us was drowned out by the raucous sounds of people moving furniture and unpacking. She rolled her eyes and pressed longer and harder on the bell. A twelve year old girl—especially one as curious as my sister—lacks any kind of patience or tact.
She was about to hit the bell again, but I stopped her. Shifting the basket so as to free one hand, I knocked loudly, rapping my knuckles against the hard wood. Waited…waited…waited. Groaning—even I was beginning to get a little miffed—I balled my hand into a tight fist, pulled it back, and slammed it forward as hard as I could. They’d definitely hear that.
But, as my fist was just about to connect with solid wood, the door swung inward, and my knuckles met with soft flesh stretched over sharp bone.
“Ow!” He cried, his hands automatically flying up to cover his face.
“Oh!” I gasped, dropping the basket and stepping forward, hand outstretched to help. “I am so sorry. I didn’t—“
“Don’t!” He cut in, one hand clapped over his nose while the other palm slapped out between us, warding me off.
Beside me, Cindy’s mouth was hanging open, her eyes darting from me to the boy and back to me again. Then, nervous giggles erupted from her. “Well, isn’t that a nice way to welcome our new neighbors?”
and...
HUNTED (YA paranormal romance)
He fell in as I yanked the door open, a bloody sack of broken bones and shredded muscle collapsing heavily into my surprised arms. Another shriek made its way back up to the tip of my tongue before my senses came back to me enough to stop it cold. My eyes rounded in shock, disbelief, and over-whelming relief.
“Tanner!” I choked out, my arms locking around him as I stepped back to pull him into the shelter of our home. “Tanner, you’re alive! I’d begun to think that—“
“No time for thinking.” He cut in with a low, pained growl. “We’ve got to bounce before they unleash the hounds.”
Ice slithered through my veins at the mention of the hounds. They were close if the hounds were coming into play. Very close. I kicked myself mentally and focused all my attention on my brother.
“You’re bleeding.” I said, stating the obvious.
He rolled his shoulders, more to pop the bones back into place than to shrug. “Doesn’t matter now. Come on.”
He grabbed my arm and pulled, dragging me along close behind him as he staggered toward the back of the house. I followed him mutely, all the while worrying about the blood dripping down his arm and sliding into the folds of our entwined hands. How bad were his wounds? He’d made it back to me from who knows where, and I was certain that he wouldn’t last the night, not with so much blood oozing out of him. What would I do without him? How would I survive? Did I even want to?
There was no time to entertain such morbid thoughts. Tanner led me back to the tiny bedroom and shoved the window open. His breathing was already labored, and his movements were jerky, but they weren’t slow. In times like this, speed was key. Being wounded did not allow for any mistakes. If anything, it meant you had to fight that much harder to survive.
He motioned toward the window and yanked me forward. “Go.” He ordered as he pushed me through.
I landed on the cold hard ground just outside the window with a sharp thud that resounded painfully, slicing through the still night. Palms to earth to push myself upright, but I only made it to my knees before the heavy backpack slammed me back to the ground. I threw a quick glare over my shoulder at Tanner and then shook it off. Grabbing up the bag, I just barely had it on my back when he stumbled out the opening behind me.
He waved off my nervous hands, offers of help, and frantic questions of whether he was okay. Of course, he wasn’t not okay. He looked like he’d been tied to the back of a Buick and dragged for miles. Maybe he had, but I really didn’t want to know, nor was there any time to ask.
A flash of an instant and we were up and running. No time to stop. No time to think. We ran on pure instinct. Cut across the tiny back yard, sliced through the line of hedges that bordered the property, and then we were in the dense forest behind the house. We stopped once we were just inside the thick stand of trees. Hands on his knees, Tanner heaved out a long stream of labored gasps.
“We. Have. To. Keep. Going.” He wheezed.
I nodded mutely, not wanting to push him too hard but knowing that if we didn’t move soon, it would be our end. My ears perked up. There was something…The hair on my arms raised in warning, and cold panic speared through me. My hand shot out to clutch at Tanner’s arm, my fingers curling into the bloodied flesh. “Do you hear that?” I whispered loudly.
He gave a quick nod—just one small jerk of his head—as his eyes darted back and forth, calculating where the sound was coming from, which escape route was the best, and most importantly, whether we had a snowball’s chance in Hell of getting out alive.
Our chances of survival melted more and more the longer we stood still, and we both knew it.
Quiet reigned as we waited, frozen in place by the notion that the hunters were closer than we’d originally thought. Long minutes passed. Nothing…not even crickets chirping their midnight songs. Something about the stillness felt wrong. I tossed a glance Tanner’s way and found his face held the exact same expression as mine no doubt did. It was just too quiet, and that kind of silence only meant one thing.
Anywho...I thought that since I'm still so undecided, you all can get two teasers again this week! yay for Two for Teaser Tuesday!
LOVE IN A TIME OF POPULARITY (YA contemp romance)
The basket filled with all sorts of welcome goodies Mom had all but thrown at me this morning easily weighed more than both me and Cindy combined. It was all I could do to make it the short distance across the street and four houses down to greet our new neighbors. Cindy skipped up ahead, her blond curls bouncing in the mid-morning sunlight as I trudged behind her.
“C’mon, slow poke.” She sang out, tapping her foot and glancing at her watch in fake impatience all the while fighting to hold back giggles.
I tried to melt her with my glare, but it didn’t work. Instead, I hiked the basket higher in my hands and forced myself forward. It was nice of Mom to think of the new people, but how come I was the one who had to be the ‘welcome wagon’?
Cindy was already leaning on the doorbell when I finally made it up to her side. We stood and waited, listening to muffled clanging sounds from deep within the house. Another few minutes and she jabbed at the doorbell again. The slight chiming that echoed back at us was drowned out by the raucous sounds of people moving furniture and unpacking. She rolled her eyes and pressed longer and harder on the bell. A twelve year old girl—especially one as curious as my sister—lacks any kind of patience or tact.
She was about to hit the bell again, but I stopped her. Shifting the basket so as to free one hand, I knocked loudly, rapping my knuckles against the hard wood. Waited…waited…waited. Groaning—even I was beginning to get a little miffed—I balled my hand into a tight fist, pulled it back, and slammed it forward as hard as I could. They’d definitely hear that.
But, as my fist was just about to connect with solid wood, the door swung inward, and my knuckles met with soft flesh stretched over sharp bone.
“Ow!” He cried, his hands automatically flying up to cover his face.
“Oh!” I gasped, dropping the basket and stepping forward, hand outstretched to help. “I am so sorry. I didn’t—“
“Don’t!” He cut in, one hand clapped over his nose while the other palm slapped out between us, warding me off.
Beside me, Cindy’s mouth was hanging open, her eyes darting from me to the boy and back to me again. Then, nervous giggles erupted from her. “Well, isn’t that a nice way to welcome our new neighbors?”
and...
HUNTED (YA paranormal romance)
He fell in as I yanked the door open, a bloody sack of broken bones and shredded muscle collapsing heavily into my surprised arms. Another shriek made its way back up to the tip of my tongue before my senses came back to me enough to stop it cold. My eyes rounded in shock, disbelief, and over-whelming relief.
“Tanner!” I choked out, my arms locking around him as I stepped back to pull him into the shelter of our home. “Tanner, you’re alive! I’d begun to think that—“
“No time for thinking.” He cut in with a low, pained growl. “We’ve got to bounce before they unleash the hounds.”
Ice slithered through my veins at the mention of the hounds. They were close if the hounds were coming into play. Very close. I kicked myself mentally and focused all my attention on my brother.
“You’re bleeding.” I said, stating the obvious.
He rolled his shoulders, more to pop the bones back into place than to shrug. “Doesn’t matter now. Come on.”
He grabbed my arm and pulled, dragging me along close behind him as he staggered toward the back of the house. I followed him mutely, all the while worrying about the blood dripping down his arm and sliding into the folds of our entwined hands. How bad were his wounds? He’d made it back to me from who knows where, and I was certain that he wouldn’t last the night, not with so much blood oozing out of him. What would I do without him? How would I survive? Did I even want to?
There was no time to entertain such morbid thoughts. Tanner led me back to the tiny bedroom and shoved the window open. His breathing was already labored, and his movements were jerky, but they weren’t slow. In times like this, speed was key. Being wounded did not allow for any mistakes. If anything, it meant you had to fight that much harder to survive.
He motioned toward the window and yanked me forward. “Go.” He ordered as he pushed me through.
I landed on the cold hard ground just outside the window with a sharp thud that resounded painfully, slicing through the still night. Palms to earth to push myself upright, but I only made it to my knees before the heavy backpack slammed me back to the ground. I threw a quick glare over my shoulder at Tanner and then shook it off. Grabbing up the bag, I just barely had it on my back when he stumbled out the opening behind me.
He waved off my nervous hands, offers of help, and frantic questions of whether he was okay. Of course, he wasn’t not okay. He looked like he’d been tied to the back of a Buick and dragged for miles. Maybe he had, but I really didn’t want to know, nor was there any time to ask.
A flash of an instant and we were up and running. No time to stop. No time to think. We ran on pure instinct. Cut across the tiny back yard, sliced through the line of hedges that bordered the property, and then we were in the dense forest behind the house. We stopped once we were just inside the thick stand of trees. Hands on his knees, Tanner heaved out a long stream of labored gasps.
“We. Have. To. Keep. Going.” He wheezed.
I nodded mutely, not wanting to push him too hard but knowing that if we didn’t move soon, it would be our end. My ears perked up. There was something…The hair on my arms raised in warning, and cold panic speared through me. My hand shot out to clutch at Tanner’s arm, my fingers curling into the bloodied flesh. “Do you hear that?” I whispered loudly.
He gave a quick nod—just one small jerk of his head—as his eyes darted back and forth, calculating where the sound was coming from, which escape route was the best, and most importantly, whether we had a snowball’s chance in Hell of getting out alive.
Our chances of survival melted more and more the longer we stood still, and we both knew it.
Quiet reigned as we waited, frozen in place by the notion that the hunters were closer than we’d originally thought. Long minutes passed. Nothing…not even crickets chirping their midnight songs. Something about the stillness felt wrong. I tossed a glance Tanner’s way and found his face held the exact same expression as mine no doubt did. It was just too quiet, and that kind of silence only meant one thing.
Monday, June 21, 2010
My Th1rteen R3asons Why...Well, Really Only Seven
Recently, I read a slew of novels that had me looking at the world outside my own little corner of the Seventh Circle of Hell a bit differently. I can't say that they changed my life, HOWEVER they did get me to thinking. Each one had me wondering about some little aspect of life that I had previously taken for granted.
And THAT got me to thinking about my writing. Leave it to a writer to take anything at all and turn it into a fantastical tale in their own mind ;)
So, instead of regaling you all with yet another Neighbor Man tale of ridiculousness, I am going to give you a list...My Reasons Why...why I write, why I blog about my lunatic family, why I am the person I am. And, I will be using the books that I have read throughout my life as a sort of reason guide. Why? Because I'm a writer, dammit, and writers can't help but talk about books 24/7.
So sit back and enjoy everyone, and don't worry. We will resume our regularly scheduled Neighbor Man programming next week!
1. STRANGERS by Dean Koontz...I started reading when I was just a wee little one...like 4 or 5. This was the first "adult" book that I had read (at the age of 8), and I was hooked. It was at this point that I truly believed that my destiny was to grow up to be a female version this amazing writer. Now, I am *cough* years old, and I still love Mr. Koontz's work, but I realize that I will never be him, nor do I want to. I write like me. No one else.
2. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE by Jane Austen...If you know me, you know that I am most definitely NOT a fan of romance novels. Not that I mind romantic elements in novels, but I don't really want it to be the main storyline. I want a homicidal maniac on the loose, or an epic battle between good and evil, or even a family tragedy that brings the two lovers together. So, why is this my favorite book of all time? One that I read even before I discovered Mr. Koontz? Because there is no better heroine than Miss Elizabeth. She is strong, smart, and above all, independent. She is not some simpering damsel in distress. She is her own woman. Basically, she is the kind of heroine that I can get behind, someone who knows her own mind and is not easily dissuaded from it.
3. THE DEATH OF IVAN ILLYCH by Leo Tolstoy...Forget WAR AND PEACE. Forget ANNA KARENINA. This was the tale of his that I instantly fell in love with. A short story that I picked up in the U of M pavilion my Freshman year, I read it in one afternoon, and it changed my life...my writing life that is. If you have not read this story, you must find it. It's a heartbreaking tale of a man's last days as he tries so very hard to conceal the true depths of his suffering from his loved ones simply because he does not want to cause them any further distress. This was the book that had me believing that I could and would write a novel just as touching and poignant.
4. THE VAMPIRE LESTAT by Anne Rice...yes, vampires. Did you really believe this list would not have any? Obviously, you were wrong. I read this (the second in her Vampire Chronicles) when I was in eighth grade, and was instantly hooked. Yes, I have read all her other books, vampire or not. This was the first book I'd read--outside of Sweet Valley High and RL Stine's Fear Street--that was in a series. I knew from that moment on that I wanted...no needed to write a series. Really, how many times have you finished a novel and wondered what would happen to those characters next? I know I have!
5. SUZANNE'S DIARY FOR NICHOLAS by James Patterson...I love all kinds of books. Seriously. I read everything from YA to suspense to memoirs, but before this novel came out, I was under the terribly misguided notion that I had to choose one genre in which to write and stick to it. But then, something wonderful happened. Mr. Patterson came along and said, "No, Karla. Write whatever is in your heart and needs to be put to paper. Just look at me! Who would have thought that I'd write anything besides the suspense/mysteries that I am known for?" Okay, well maybe he didn't call me up and say that, but with this novel, that was the message I got loud and clear. Do you here me, James? I got you message!!
6. THIRTEEN REASONS WHY by Jay Asher...This is the book on this list that I've read most recently. A haunting tale of a teenager who believed no one was listening, but was so upset with those she felt were somehow at fault with her own unhappiness that she sent our her suicide "note". If you have not read this, you MUST. Beautifully written, and by far the best novel I have read in a very long time :)
7. LUCKY by Alice Sebold...One of the first memoirs I read that I did not have to read for school. This was written before her mega-blockbuster THE LOVELY BONES came out, and it spurred me into writing. I know it sounds weird. Hello? I've never really had that kind of tragedy touch my life, but Ms. Sebold wrote this account so well that I felt as though it was ME that all this had happened to. I came away from this book with the realization that all good tales must feel real to the reader, whether the story is true or not, it must feel that way.
So there you have it, friends...my Monday Funday list of why I write the way I do and the things that I do. What about you? I'd love to hear in the comments!
And THAT got me to thinking about my writing. Leave it to a writer to take anything at all and turn it into a fantastical tale in their own mind ;)
So, instead of regaling you all with yet another Neighbor Man tale of ridiculousness, I am going to give you a list...My Reasons Why...why I write, why I blog about my lunatic family, why I am the person I am. And, I will be using the books that I have read throughout my life as a sort of reason guide. Why? Because I'm a writer, dammit, and writers can't help but talk about books 24/7.
So sit back and enjoy everyone, and don't worry. We will resume our regularly scheduled Neighbor Man programming next week!
1. STRANGERS by Dean Koontz...I started reading when I was just a wee little one...like 4 or 5. This was the first "adult" book that I had read (at the age of 8), and I was hooked. It was at this point that I truly believed that my destiny was to grow up to be a female version this amazing writer. Now, I am *cough* years old, and I still love Mr. Koontz's work, but I realize that I will never be him, nor do I want to. I write like me. No one else.
2. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE by Jane Austen...If you know me, you know that I am most definitely NOT a fan of romance novels. Not that I mind romantic elements in novels, but I don't really want it to be the main storyline. I want a homicidal maniac on the loose, or an epic battle between good and evil, or even a family tragedy that brings the two lovers together. So, why is this my favorite book of all time? One that I read even before I discovered Mr. Koontz? Because there is no better heroine than Miss Elizabeth. She is strong, smart, and above all, independent. She is not some simpering damsel in distress. She is her own woman. Basically, she is the kind of heroine that I can get behind, someone who knows her own mind and is not easily dissuaded from it.
3. THE DEATH OF IVAN ILLYCH by Leo Tolstoy...Forget WAR AND PEACE. Forget ANNA KARENINA. This was the tale of his that I instantly fell in love with. A short story that I picked up in the U of M pavilion my Freshman year, I read it in one afternoon, and it changed my life...my writing life that is. If you have not read this story, you must find it. It's a heartbreaking tale of a man's last days as he tries so very hard to conceal the true depths of his suffering from his loved ones simply because he does not want to cause them any further distress. This was the book that had me believing that I could and would write a novel just as touching and poignant.
4. THE VAMPIRE LESTAT by Anne Rice...yes, vampires. Did you really believe this list would not have any? Obviously, you were wrong. I read this (the second in her Vampire Chronicles) when I was in eighth grade, and was instantly hooked. Yes, I have read all her other books, vampire or not. This was the first book I'd read--outside of Sweet Valley High and RL Stine's Fear Street--that was in a series. I knew from that moment on that I wanted...no needed to write a series. Really, how many times have you finished a novel and wondered what would happen to those characters next? I know I have!
5. SUZANNE'S DIARY FOR NICHOLAS by James Patterson...I love all kinds of books. Seriously. I read everything from YA to suspense to memoirs, but before this novel came out, I was under the terribly misguided notion that I had to choose one genre in which to write and stick to it. But then, something wonderful happened. Mr. Patterson came along and said, "No, Karla. Write whatever is in your heart and needs to be put to paper. Just look at me! Who would have thought that I'd write anything besides the suspense/mysteries that I am known for?" Okay, well maybe he didn't call me up and say that, but with this novel, that was the message I got loud and clear. Do you here me, James? I got you message!!
6. THIRTEEN REASONS WHY by Jay Asher...This is the book on this list that I've read most recently. A haunting tale of a teenager who believed no one was listening, but was so upset with those she felt were somehow at fault with her own unhappiness that she sent our her suicide "note". If you have not read this, you MUST. Beautifully written, and by far the best novel I have read in a very long time :)
7. LUCKY by Alice Sebold...One of the first memoirs I read that I did not have to read for school. This was written before her mega-blockbuster THE LOVELY BONES came out, and it spurred me into writing. I know it sounds weird. Hello? I've never really had that kind of tragedy touch my life, but Ms. Sebold wrote this account so well that I felt as though it was ME that all this had happened to. I came away from this book with the realization that all good tales must feel real to the reader, whether the story is true or not, it must feel that way.
So there you have it, friends...my Monday Funday list of why I write the way I do and the things that I do. What about you? I'd love to hear in the comments!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
You Like Me! You Really REALLY Like Me!!!
Today, I received my first award! YAY!!! Cue "We Are The Champions" by Queen as I do my victory dance. **really lame dance on par with the weird jerky-dance of Elaine on Seinfled**
Whew!! Okay, now that I've blinded all my followers :( I shall tell you a little bit about it. Are you ready???? Here it is!
Isn't it pretty? This award was presented to me by the wonderful Caitlin. If you do not already follow her, you should. Do it now! Did you follow her? Good! :)
As with all blog awards (at least the ones worth getting), there are a few suggestions as to how best to accept said award. Being the stickler for rules that I am (ahahahaha! I crack myself up!) I shall pay this forward.
1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass the award along to 15 bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic for whatever reason! (In no particular order...)
4. Contact the bloggers you've picked and let them know about the award.
Seven Things About Me That You Might Not Know....Yet :)
1. I spy on my neighbors...well, only the ones I think might be serial killers
2. I'm deathly afraid of bridges over water, snakes, and earthen basements.
3. For some reason, every animal I have ever owned grew to be 3x bigger than normal.
4. I am a rabid Red Wings fan.
5. I have a tiny (okay huge) geek crush on Matthew Gray Gubler (plays Reid on Criminal Minds)
6. I could eat sushi every day of the week and twice on Sunday and still love it.
7. I'm writing this blog post when I should be beta reading...Sorry Liz :(
Now, those AWESOME bloggers who are receiving this award from little old me, their links, and why you should check them out...
1. Cynthia Reese because she writes kick ass contemporay romance that gives me hope that not only will I find the man of my dreams, but I may actually be able to write a romance without having to add in ghosts or angels or zombies :)
2. Kelly Breakey because she and I are working very hard to have Thursday be named the new Friday. Please join us in starting our weekends early. Our campaign needs your support!
3. Remilda Graystone because her Friday Finds are kick ass and her teasers are gripping.
4. Tawna Fenske because she really cracks my sh*t up! Her books come out August 2011 (shameless promo) and because if I hadn't started blog/Twitter stalking her, I wouldn't have found...
5. Linda Grimes who is the funniest, snarkiest chic. Probably because she only visits reality every now and then ;)
6. Liz Page who currently holds the Kick-Ass Beta award. Yeah, I know the prize is for recently discovered, but she needs to be mentioned!
7. Annie McElfresh for holding awesome contests, writing great paranormal YA, and being a fellow Supernatural fan girl. We need to start a campaign to have John Wincester brought back from the dead...just saying ;)
8. Jill Wheeler a great writer who I've been slacking on commenting on her posts, but I have been reading them!
9. Cory Jackson for keeping all us up to date with conference news, holding contests, and being an all-around fantastic blogger!
10. Kate Hart because well...she's great and I am hooked on her Field Trip Friday Twitter version blog posts :)
11. Bri because I just love her WIP BUILDING FORTS and can't wait to read more
12. Caitlin O'Connell for writing such a great epistolary novel as LETTERS TO OLIVER that I was inspired to write my own epistolary-esque novel...not historical or magical but still...
13. Caitlin Darrel (TOC...the other Caitlin...I may or may not have read too much John Green lately. lol) the instigator of this whole award and also the writer of my fave tease this week :) (although this list is in no particular order, I am secretly glad she ended up as lucky number 13)
14. The ladies at GotYA because these bitches rock...er...I mean that in the nicest way possible :)
15. Kara who thinks she's been a terrible blogger lately but she is made of win!
Whew!! Okay, now that I've blinded all my followers :( I shall tell you a little bit about it. Are you ready???? Here it is!
Isn't it pretty? This award was presented to me by the wonderful Caitlin. If you do not already follow her, you should. Do it now! Did you follow her? Good! :)
As with all blog awards (at least the ones worth getting), there are a few suggestions as to how best to accept said award. Being the stickler for rules that I am (ahahahaha! I crack myself up!) I shall pay this forward.
1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass the award along to 15 bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic for whatever reason! (In no particular order...)
4. Contact the bloggers you've picked and let them know about the award.
Seven Things About Me That You Might Not Know....Yet :)
1. I spy on my neighbors...well, only the ones I think might be serial killers
2. I'm deathly afraid of bridges over water, snakes, and earthen basements.
3. For some reason, every animal I have ever owned grew to be 3x bigger than normal.
4. I am a rabid Red Wings fan.
5. I have a tiny (okay huge) geek crush on Matthew Gray Gubler (plays Reid on Criminal Minds)
6. I could eat sushi every day of the week and twice on Sunday and still love it.
7. I'm writing this blog post when I should be beta reading...Sorry Liz :(
Now, those AWESOME bloggers who are receiving this award from little old me, their links, and why you should check them out...
1. Cynthia Reese because she writes kick ass contemporay romance that gives me hope that not only will I find the man of my dreams, but I may actually be able to write a romance without having to add in ghosts or angels or zombies :)
2. Kelly Breakey because she and I are working very hard to have Thursday be named the new Friday. Please join us in starting our weekends early. Our campaign needs your support!
3. Remilda Graystone because her Friday Finds are kick ass and her teasers are gripping.
4. Tawna Fenske because she really cracks my sh*t up! Her books come out August 2011 (shameless promo) and because if I hadn't started blog/Twitter stalking her, I wouldn't have found...
5. Linda Grimes who is the funniest, snarkiest chic. Probably because she only visits reality every now and then ;)
6. Liz Page who currently holds the Kick-Ass Beta award. Yeah, I know the prize is for recently discovered, but she needs to be mentioned!
7. Annie McElfresh for holding awesome contests, writing great paranormal YA, and being a fellow Supernatural fan girl. We need to start a campaign to have John Wincester brought back from the dead...just saying ;)
8. Jill Wheeler a great writer who I've been slacking on commenting on her posts, but I have been reading them!
9. Cory Jackson for keeping all us up to date with conference news, holding contests, and being an all-around fantastic blogger!
10. Kate Hart because well...she's great and I am hooked on her Field Trip Friday Twitter version blog posts :)
11. Bri because I just love her WIP BUILDING FORTS and can't wait to read more
12. Caitlin O'Connell for writing such a great epistolary novel as LETTERS TO OLIVER that I was inspired to write my own epistolary-esque novel...not historical or magical but still...
13. Caitlin Darrel (TOC...the other Caitlin...I may or may not have read too much John Green lately. lol) the instigator of this whole award and also the writer of my fave tease this week :) (although this list is in no particular order, I am secretly glad she ended up as lucky number 13)
14. The ladies at GotYA because these bitches rock...er...I mean that in the nicest way possible :)
15. Kara who thinks she's been a terrible blogger lately but she is made of win!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
A Slacker and A Tease...Yep! That's Me!
I'm sure you all have been wondering where I've been the last couple of weeks. Yes, I did fall into a hole...one called SNI Heaven/Hell, depending on how you look at it :) Heaven because I absolutely LOVE Shiny New Ideas...Hell because I abhor writing beginnings. Ah well, such is the life of a writer.
This week, I am hopping on the Two for Tuesday Bandwagon that Kate Hart started. Yes, friends! I am going to give you TWO Teases for the price of one! How sweet is that? The only catch? I need all you lovelies to tell me which one I should concentrate on. I like them both!
Okay...so deal? Yes? AWESOME! Here you go...your comments and votes are much appreciated!!!
HUNTED: YA paranormal romance
Sucking in a shallow, almost silent breath, I flipped back through my memory banks, searching for Tanner’s location. We’d split up several days ago. Traveling was always easier when we were separate. Much easier to elude the hunters that had been tracking our every movement for nearly a decade. Tanner had promised that he’d meet up with me in a day, no more than two. The morning would bring day three.
Had they found him? Tortured him into giving up my location? Had my sudden wakefulness been my body’s attempt at self-preservation? I didn’t really have a chance to mull any of these questions over for the little leprechaun that lived in my head was violently screaming for me to Run! Run! Run! as fast as I possibly could. And, I knew he was right. If I wanted to survive to see another dawn I had to get out and now, but at the same time, another smaller but more insistent voice was telling me to calm down and think this through.
If nine years of running, constantly looking over my shoulder had taught me anything, it was the value of being smart. All the muscle in the world would not save you if you were stupid enough to walk right into a trap. Even if there was no time, I had to stop and plan my next course of action. My survival depended upon it.
I had to leave. There was really no way around that. If they found Tanner...who was I kidding? They did find my brother. There could be no other explanation for his continued absence. Grief slashed painfully through me, ripping my chest wide open at the terrible realization that I was the only one left.
And then there were none. Our line ended with me. The hunters were so close to getting what they’d wanted for all these years…destroying my family.
Gathering up as much courage as I could muster, I shoved up and raced around my room, grabbing up the few clothes and possessions I really couldn’t live without. The one and only bright side to living on the lam was that you never amassed more than a handful of things. You learned quickly what was of true value and what you could do without when you could only take what you could carry in a small knapsack.
I shoved it all in, yanked the zipper shut, and hoisted the bag up onto my back. Then, I crept slowly toward the bedroom door. Easing the old, rotted wood aside, I peeked out into the living room. The house I was currently living in was tiny, no more than a shack, so it was easy to see from my vantage point that the rest of my home was empty…but not for too much longer, I was sure.
I slithered out through the door, slinking my way through the living room. I snatched up a loaf of bread that was sitting on the table as I moved by. When I reached the front door, I breathed out a small sigh of relief. Squaring my shoulders and telling myself that I would make it, I would survive this night, I pushed the door open.
The scream flew out of my mouth before I could think to stop myself. It didn’t matter anymore. I was about to join the rest of my family in death.
And....another :)
LOVE IN A TIME OF POPULARITY: YA contemporary romance
The great thing about living in a small town is that nothing ever happens. Everyone knows everyone. The girl next door is the same one who’s been there since you were five. The man delivering your paper, the one fixing your car, the kindly old woman running the bakery, the doctor who fixes all your hurts: always un-changing.
There is an immeasurable amount of comfort in familiarity.
On the same token, the bad thing about living in a small town is that nothing ever happens. Everyone knows everyone, and everyone knows everyone else’s business. For instance, Mrs. Fellows, across the street, has four grown children and a large collection of grandchildren, but what she loves above all else is the assortment of stray cats that she feeds. Mr. Greenberg, on the next block, runs the hardware store. To anyone who hasn’t lived here all her life, he might appear to be a macho guy, but even if no one talks about it, we all know that Mr. Greenberg’s favorite movie is Sleepless in Seattle and he cries every time he sees it.
My family—like everyone else—has its own rituals, an unending cycle of sameness. Every fall, we go as a family to the cider mill outside of town and get several bushels of apples so that Mom can create an applesauce sweatshop in which my sister and I spend long hours hunkered over the table, peeling and coring apples until our fingers are about to fall off. Every Christmas, we trudge through the streets singing off-key carols. For New Year’s, it is our house that is crammed with half the town, everyone toasting in celebration of another year of absolute monotony.
And, after school lets out for the summer, Dad always comes up with some sort of project to do around the house, something designed to keep us kids out of trouble and simultaneously improve the overall aesthetic of our home. Usually, the heavy lifting would fall to Grant because 1. he is the oldest and 2. he is a boy and by all rights should be able to handle any kind of manual labor. But, with him off to college, the one who would be drafted into slave labor would be me. Oh, joy.
This year’s project? Repainting the house. Double joy. So, while other kids were off having fun and doing things that were so much more interesting, I would be painting a house.
Telling myself that I really didn’t have anything else planned for the summer didn’t seem to help. Yes, all my friends had already shipped off to various summer adventures. Becca was going to California with her parents on vacation. Charlotte, Katherine, and Micah were all going to band camp while Jill and Maggie were headed off to soccer camp. None of them would return until just before school started back up. I was all alone. Just me, a paint brush, and the house. How lucky could a girl get?
Thus began my summer of sameness…that is until he arrived.
This week, I am hopping on the Two for Tuesday Bandwagon that Kate Hart started. Yes, friends! I am going to give you TWO Teases for the price of one! How sweet is that? The only catch? I need all you lovelies to tell me which one I should concentrate on. I like them both!
Okay...so deal? Yes? AWESOME! Here you go...your comments and votes are much appreciated!!!
HUNTED: YA paranormal romance
Sucking in a shallow, almost silent breath, I flipped back through my memory banks, searching for Tanner’s location. We’d split up several days ago. Traveling was always easier when we were separate. Much easier to elude the hunters that had been tracking our every movement for nearly a decade. Tanner had promised that he’d meet up with me in a day, no more than two. The morning would bring day three.
Had they found him? Tortured him into giving up my location? Had my sudden wakefulness been my body’s attempt at self-preservation? I didn’t really have a chance to mull any of these questions over for the little leprechaun that lived in my head was violently screaming for me to Run! Run! Run! as fast as I possibly could. And, I knew he was right. If I wanted to survive to see another dawn I had to get out and now, but at the same time, another smaller but more insistent voice was telling me to calm down and think this through.
If nine years of running, constantly looking over my shoulder had taught me anything, it was the value of being smart. All the muscle in the world would not save you if you were stupid enough to walk right into a trap. Even if there was no time, I had to stop and plan my next course of action. My survival depended upon it.
I had to leave. There was really no way around that. If they found Tanner...who was I kidding? They did find my brother. There could be no other explanation for his continued absence. Grief slashed painfully through me, ripping my chest wide open at the terrible realization that I was the only one left.
And then there were none. Our line ended with me. The hunters were so close to getting what they’d wanted for all these years…destroying my family.
Gathering up as much courage as I could muster, I shoved up and raced around my room, grabbing up the few clothes and possessions I really couldn’t live without. The one and only bright side to living on the lam was that you never amassed more than a handful of things. You learned quickly what was of true value and what you could do without when you could only take what you could carry in a small knapsack.
I shoved it all in, yanked the zipper shut, and hoisted the bag up onto my back. Then, I crept slowly toward the bedroom door. Easing the old, rotted wood aside, I peeked out into the living room. The house I was currently living in was tiny, no more than a shack, so it was easy to see from my vantage point that the rest of my home was empty…but not for too much longer, I was sure.
I slithered out through the door, slinking my way through the living room. I snatched up a loaf of bread that was sitting on the table as I moved by. When I reached the front door, I breathed out a small sigh of relief. Squaring my shoulders and telling myself that I would make it, I would survive this night, I pushed the door open.
The scream flew out of my mouth before I could think to stop myself. It didn’t matter anymore. I was about to join the rest of my family in death.
And....another :)
LOVE IN A TIME OF POPULARITY: YA contemporary romance
The great thing about living in a small town is that nothing ever happens. Everyone knows everyone. The girl next door is the same one who’s been there since you were five. The man delivering your paper, the one fixing your car, the kindly old woman running the bakery, the doctor who fixes all your hurts: always un-changing.
There is an immeasurable amount of comfort in familiarity.
On the same token, the bad thing about living in a small town is that nothing ever happens. Everyone knows everyone, and everyone knows everyone else’s business. For instance, Mrs. Fellows, across the street, has four grown children and a large collection of grandchildren, but what she loves above all else is the assortment of stray cats that she feeds. Mr. Greenberg, on the next block, runs the hardware store. To anyone who hasn’t lived here all her life, he might appear to be a macho guy, but even if no one talks about it, we all know that Mr. Greenberg’s favorite movie is Sleepless in Seattle and he cries every time he sees it.
My family—like everyone else—has its own rituals, an unending cycle of sameness. Every fall, we go as a family to the cider mill outside of town and get several bushels of apples so that Mom can create an applesauce sweatshop in which my sister and I spend long hours hunkered over the table, peeling and coring apples until our fingers are about to fall off. Every Christmas, we trudge through the streets singing off-key carols. For New Year’s, it is our house that is crammed with half the town, everyone toasting in celebration of another year of absolute monotony.
And, after school lets out for the summer, Dad always comes up with some sort of project to do around the house, something designed to keep us kids out of trouble and simultaneously improve the overall aesthetic of our home. Usually, the heavy lifting would fall to Grant because 1. he is the oldest and 2. he is a boy and by all rights should be able to handle any kind of manual labor. But, with him off to college, the one who would be drafted into slave labor would be me. Oh, joy.
This year’s project? Repainting the house. Double joy. So, while other kids were off having fun and doing things that were so much more interesting, I would be painting a house.
Telling myself that I really didn’t have anything else planned for the summer didn’t seem to help. Yes, all my friends had already shipped off to various summer adventures. Becca was going to California with her parents on vacation. Charlotte, Katherine, and Micah were all going to band camp while Jill and Maggie were headed off to soccer camp. None of them would return until just before school started back up. I was all alone. Just me, a paint brush, and the house. How lucky could a girl get?
Thus began my summer of sameness…that is until he arrived.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Milkmaid For a Night....
As many of you may have been keeping up with the Monday Funday Neighbor Man series, you may have noticed a distinct pattern to the stories. For the most part, the misadventures revolve around my Dad being in cahoots with the Neighbor Man. While you may think so, that is not always the case.
Enter my older brother, Buddy**.
Shortly after my dad's accident, Mom went back to work. When Buddy and I were young, Mom always worked, but when our little brother came along, she decided to be a stay-at-home-mom. Obviously, that all changed when Dad became disabled and thus lost a substantial amount of his income. As her experience was in food service--namely waitressing--she quickly nabbed a lucrative position at one of the restaurants in the Frankenmuth.
Now, anyone from Michigan will tell you that this Christmas town is always hopping, even in the summer months, and Mom was beyond excited about her new job. She came home from her orientation and proudly showed off her uniforms...a red white and blue number that brought to mind the image of a milkmaid on crack. We all had a little laugh as she modeled the outfit for us and exclaimed how the clothing made her waist look tiny and her boobs look big.
A few weeks later, I came home to find the Neighbor Man, Dad, and Buddy gathered around the table in serious discussion. I stood in the kitchen for several moments trying to figure out just what they were trying to persuade my brother to do. Confused, I watched as Buddy bounded out of his chair and disappeared into my parents' bedroom.
Meanwhile, Dad and the Neighbor Man hurriedly got out the Polaroid camera and sat back down at the table in anticipation of the bedroom door opening. I didn't ask any questions, just sat down and waited for whatever show was about to be put on.
When the door finally opened, my jaw dropped, high-pitched giggles tumbling forth, even as Dad snapped pictures. Buddy was wearing Mom's extra uniform, waist cinched tight and socks stuffed in the chest to give him "boobs" He danced a little jig for us and then went back in to get dressed.
When he came out again, he held his hand out and the Neighbor Man handed him a five dollar bill. It's sad to know how easily Buddy can be bought. And then, of course, Mom came home to the photographic evidence of the night's festivities.
Life Lesson Learned: Everyone has a price...Evidently, my family's is very low, in deed. :)
**Names changed to protect the not-so-innocent
Enter my older brother, Buddy**.
Shortly after my dad's accident, Mom went back to work. When Buddy and I were young, Mom always worked, but when our little brother came along, she decided to be a stay-at-home-mom. Obviously, that all changed when Dad became disabled and thus lost a substantial amount of his income. As her experience was in food service--namely waitressing--she quickly nabbed a lucrative position at one of the restaurants in the Frankenmuth.
Now, anyone from Michigan will tell you that this Christmas town is always hopping, even in the summer months, and Mom was beyond excited about her new job. She came home from her orientation and proudly showed off her uniforms...a red white and blue number that brought to mind the image of a milkmaid on crack. We all had a little laugh as she modeled the outfit for us and exclaimed how the clothing made her waist look tiny and her boobs look big.
A few weeks later, I came home to find the Neighbor Man, Dad, and Buddy gathered around the table in serious discussion. I stood in the kitchen for several moments trying to figure out just what they were trying to persuade my brother to do. Confused, I watched as Buddy bounded out of his chair and disappeared into my parents' bedroom.
Meanwhile, Dad and the Neighbor Man hurriedly got out the Polaroid camera and sat back down at the table in anticipation of the bedroom door opening. I didn't ask any questions, just sat down and waited for whatever show was about to be put on.
When the door finally opened, my jaw dropped, high-pitched giggles tumbling forth, even as Dad snapped pictures. Buddy was wearing Mom's extra uniform, waist cinched tight and socks stuffed in the chest to give him "boobs" He danced a little jig for us and then went back in to get dressed.
When he came out again, he held his hand out and the Neighbor Man handed him a five dollar bill. It's sad to know how easily Buddy can be bought. And then, of course, Mom came home to the photographic evidence of the night's festivities.
Life Lesson Learned: Everyone has a price...Evidently, my family's is very low, in deed. :)
**Names changed to protect the not-so-innocent
Monday, June 7, 2010
In The Beginning...
My apologies for my absence last Monday Funday, but it was a holiday. And, damn it! I took the day off :) So, I'm back, and with another installment of the Adventures of the Neighbor Man.
Once upon a time, in a land far, far, far away from reality...okay, wait. That's not right. It wasn't once upon a time, but 'long ago' but the reality part is pretty spot on. ;)
So, anyway...where was I? Oh yes.
There lived a family of four. Now, this family of four was very comfortable in their staid, everyday lives. Nothing exciting ever happened. No hijinx ensued. No shenanigans were afoot. They were just a normal, run of the mill family.
This family bought a parcel of land in which they were going to build the home of their dreams. 25 acres to be exact. It would be great. Out in the middle of nowhere on a road with no heavy traffic, and no neighbors sitting right on top of them. Pure joy surrounded them at the prospect of having such a home.
They had just finished dinner one night when there came a knock on their door. Standing on the doorstep was an odd little man with smirk on his face. In the years to come, this family would come to recognize this smirk for what it was: the beginning of a new adventure with the Neighbor Man.
He came inside and introduced himself, telling the family that he had just bought the property next door to where the family would be building. In addition to that, he declared that he would also be renting the house next door to where the family was currently dwelling. To try them out as neighbors before they actually were neighbors, he said.
To which the parents replied, "Well, what happens if we don't meet your standards as neighbors?"
The Neighbor Man had no answer.
At this point, any sane group of people might have wondered if this man was a serial killer stalking that particular family. Not so with these trusting people. Fortunately for them, this man did not turn out to be a serial killer (...dognapper maybe, but no serial killer).
After a short discussion between the parents and the Neighbor Man, they all decided to hop in their respective cars and go up to the properties...to discuss their future as possible neighbors.
Neighbor Man got into his sporty little truck parked right behind the family's big red truck. The dad, without consulting his mirrors (or maybe he did but couldn't see the Neighbor Man's little toy truck behind him), threw the vehicle in reverse.
CRUNCH!!!!
Yes, there was a minor collision. Yes, this was the first meet with this fellow. Yes, this was the beginning of a very beautiful friendship between the family and the Neighbor Man. (If you don't believe me, just read any of the other Monday Funday posts!)
Life Lesson Learned: Some people are gluttons for punishment. Really that is the only thing I can think of as to why the Neighbor Man continued to hang around with us after that!
Once upon a time, in a land far, far, far away from reality...okay, wait. That's not right. It wasn't once upon a time, but 'long ago' but the reality part is pretty spot on. ;)
So, anyway...where was I? Oh yes.
There lived a family of four. Now, this family of four was very comfortable in their staid, everyday lives. Nothing exciting ever happened. No hijinx ensued. No shenanigans were afoot. They were just a normal, run of the mill family.
This family bought a parcel of land in which they were going to build the home of their dreams. 25 acres to be exact. It would be great. Out in the middle of nowhere on a road with no heavy traffic, and no neighbors sitting right on top of them. Pure joy surrounded them at the prospect of having such a home.
They had just finished dinner one night when there came a knock on their door. Standing on the doorstep was an odd little man with smirk on his face. In the years to come, this family would come to recognize this smirk for what it was: the beginning of a new adventure with the Neighbor Man.
He came inside and introduced himself, telling the family that he had just bought the property next door to where the family would be building. In addition to that, he declared that he would also be renting the house next door to where the family was currently dwelling. To try them out as neighbors before they actually were neighbors, he said.
To which the parents replied, "Well, what happens if we don't meet your standards as neighbors?"
The Neighbor Man had no answer.
At this point, any sane group of people might have wondered if this man was a serial killer stalking that particular family. Not so with these trusting people. Fortunately for them, this man did not turn out to be a serial killer (...dognapper maybe, but no serial killer).
After a short discussion between the parents and the Neighbor Man, they all decided to hop in their respective cars and go up to the properties...to discuss their future as possible neighbors.
Neighbor Man got into his sporty little truck parked right behind the family's big red truck. The dad, without consulting his mirrors (or maybe he did but couldn't see the Neighbor Man's little toy truck behind him), threw the vehicle in reverse.
CRUNCH!!!!
Yes, there was a minor collision. Yes, this was the first meet with this fellow. Yes, this was the beginning of a very beautiful friendship between the family and the Neighbor Man. (If you don't believe me, just read any of the other Monday Funday posts!)
Life Lesson Learned: Some people are gluttons for punishment. Really that is the only thing I can think of as to why the Neighbor Man continued to hang around with us after that!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)