Dreamwalkers: Snippet #4

Dreamwalkers: Snippet #4: Yohan's musical talent was undeniable; a cello prodigy and his ability to write songs on the fly was nothing to sneeze at either, but it wa...

Dreamwalkers: Snippet #3

Dreamwalkers: Snippet #3: Medea didn't know why she was staring at him, there was absolutely nothing special about him. Perhaps that was why she was so interested in...

Relatable song is relatable

"The Silence"

I remember a conversation, at a restaurant

With a friend of mine, he’d a successful mind

And he told me of his life

And the plans he’d made to come this far

Had gone so well and now we’re all so proud of him

And he told me how

But I couldn’t bear to listen

Cause all my life I’ve heard

Of the dreams of the organized

To be the best in the company

To win the awards but that’s not me

Cause all my life all I ever wanted

Was a love that lasted longer than the silence

All my life, all my life

Was a love that lasted longer than the silence

I had to say that I had to leave

Cause it was on my mind

That all he set in me were insecurities

But that dream was never mine

Cause the plans I thought I’d made so far

Had gone alright but all that I feel now is doubt

And he told me why

But I couldn’t bear to listen

Cause all my life I’ve heard

Of the dreams of the organized

To be the best in the company

To win the awards but that’s not me

Cause all my life all I ever wanted

Was a love that lasted longer than the silence

All my life, all my life

Was a love that lasted longer than the silence

Songs that Help Me Write

Avalanche City-You and I

If you found your toothpaste empty

I would squeeze out just a little more

And if you had the sweetest victory

I’d high five you till our hands were sore

If you were scared and worried

I would keep you safe and sound

If you were addicted to fabric

You could fill a whole room in our house

If we climbed the highest tree top

And you said you couldn’t climb back down

I would build the finest tree house

For our new life above the ground

And when you smile at me so sweetly

I love what happens in your eyes

When they open up to me my darling

It’s all I need and it’s so right

Finally found a HAPPY GabexLeah song.

Although this song can actually work with most of my ships since I LOVE the bestfriend turned more (in fiction and not in RL) but this song is pure GabexLeah. Because although KaixLei is also almost the same thing, Kai has the burden of his ties with the Pack and his position within the Pack, and also ties to his family.

But Gabe, for Gabe the world would burn and he wouldn't care as long as Leah is with him. Like the Triplets said, some people have just so much love to spare and they tend to focus on just a few people but they give those people their all...just as long as they earned it. And for Gabe, Leah is all, Leah is everything.

The Narrative-Eyes Closed

And this dormant love you've built

Inside your stubborn ways

Well its begging now for air

Of the sudden breath of change

Oh this can work for every one of the OTPs in my stories.

The Perishers-Nothing Like You and I

We spent some time

Together crying

Spent some time just trying

To let each other go

I held your hand so

Very tightly

And told you what I would be

Dreaming of

There's nothing like you and I

So why do I even try?

There's nothing like you and I

Very much a Kai and Lei song.  

Avalanche City-Sunset

The sun set too soon tonight

Now we are in the last of light

Far gone is the golden hour

The dark could never dim your eyes

We'll tip toe through the streets,

And creep over the eaves

And run across the roofs,

And hide like common thieves

We'll go until the stars expire

So here is where the culprit lies

Oh we'll steal love songs tonight

Oh we'll steal love songs tonight

Oh we'll steal love songs tonight; it's only you and I

This song is very the Lyall boys and Lei, how they just enjoy each other's company and have fun with each other.

The Paper Kites-Bloom

Can I take it to a morning

Where the fields are painted gold

And the trees are filled with memories

Of the feelings never told?

When the evening pulls the sun down,

And the day is almost through,

Oh, the whole world it is sleeping,

But my world is you.

Can I be close to you?

DreamWalkers, a Firdaus and Medea song. It's more a song from Firdaus' POV.

Avalanche City-Love Don't Leave

Her cheeks were red and cold and I held her hand in mine

She squeezed it tight and I felt the warmth escape my bones inside

We saw a storm from far away and we laughed as it wandered by

Then it turned around to hunt us down

So we ran away to hide and she said:

Love don’t leave me now

Love don’t leave me now

Her heart was beating fast and I hoped that we could stay

In our hiding place where it was warm snd cold could not invade

We laughed aloud and talked of things that happened yesterday

But the storm could hear our voices clear

So it came on its way and she said:

Love don’t leave me now

Love don’t leave me now

Well, lives and love won’t last if they won’t face the day

Will you answer this, she said and I hoped it was just a game

But I saw her skin change before me and cold became her face

So I took my hand from hers and began to walk away

Love don’t leave me now

At first I thought oh hey, another sweetly depressing song for Gabe and Leah but then wait, I am wrong. It's actually a sweetly depressing song for Kai and Lei. Ha. Take that, Muse.

Marble Sounds-The Time to Sleep

You're falling in a lower gear

A little rest is what you need

You're rolled up on the seat

Your arms around your knees

We met by chance, talked on the phone

We kept in touch 

I took you home

Sure, it proves we get along

And it will only get better from now on

We found a place to which we drive

And I offer you the time

To sleep - to dream

To wake up when we arrive

A Yohan and Medea from my other book DreamWalkers, in how Yohan's music lulls her to sleep and chases her nightmares away. 

Dreamwalkers: Snippet #1

Dreamwalkers: Snippet #1: Her head was killing her. And her butt was wet. Surely, a dream shouldn't hurt this bad? Medea opened her eyes and for a second she coul...

Dreamwalkers: Snippet #2

Dreamwalkers: Snippet #2: Medea turned and stared at Elena. "What do you mean?" Elena flicked her heavy braid over her shoulder. "We used to be magic users, then...

My Go-To-Youtube Channels

Nick Patera

MrHarris22

vlogbrothers

The Lizzie Bennet Diaries

Lablogotheque

Justin Robinett and Micheal Henry

scishow

crash course

Day 16: Mood Journal

So, I was just sorting out my stories, most especially my iTunes library, checking the playlists for different novels I'm writing and I realized something amusing. 

Even though Touched and The Wolf Series have a similar theme; a kick ass girl living among supernaturals and finding out something new about herself, action-packed with a smidge of romance and loads of angst and growing pains--the tone of the music I've chosen for them are VERY different. 

(Touched)

(The Wolf Series)

Even the relationship songs are different in both tone and atmosphere.

(Touched)

(The Wolf Series)

Touched darker, rawer songs while The Wolf Series has more earthy, more tribal and soulful. And I guess it's because although the story is almost the same (even the ending ended almost the same) the two main characters are very different.

Leah is driven, angry and rough around the edges while Lorelei is thoughtful, quiet, patient. When Leah will impulsively take action, Lei will wait and wait until all the possibilities are accounted for. 

And I am amused because of how different these two characters are, it affects the whole atmosphere of the story. It's kind of awesome. 

Anyway, I was writing my acknowledgements yesterday and wow, just seeing all those names, all those people that have stayed with me, that have gone above and beyond, who liked my story so much they stayed on for YEARS with me through the triumphs and the disappointments--it's an awesome feeling. 

Yes, there were a few tears. 

And I am truly touched by how these people, these strangers are now friends because they like what I do. 

Day 15: Mood Journal

General Mood: I want to say happy but again as I said before, happy is a state of mind for me, a momentary feeling and not a state being. So I think today, I'm feeling all right.

Today had no drama and the like. Everything was pretty good actually. It's my fourth day of SHARKWEEK and the headaches and back pains are gone, the cramps are few and far in between. But I do still feel unusually cold. My blood circulation isn't good apparently.

Anyway, I have finished listing endorsements that my readers have given me, have written blurb and sent the cover JPG, I only need to finish acknowledgements. Hopefully I'll finish it by tonight.

I haven't been baking in a while and I miss it. So, after searching for recipes, I found this:

PEANUT BUTTER BREAD


Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 cup milk
3/4 cup peanut butter
Grape jelly, optional

Directions
In a bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add egg, milk and peanut butter; stir just until combined. Pour into a greased 8-in. x 4-in. loaf pan.
Bake at 350° for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack. Serve with jelly if desired.

Yield: 1 loaf.

Looks simple enough and we have all the ingredients in he house already...except the egg. I can buy that from the store near the house. But will have to wait for tomorrow.

I don't know what it is about baking, maybe it's a nesting thing since I have reached 'that age', maybe because it reminds me of when I was a kid coming home to the sound of my mom's mixer, and of trying to wheedle my mom so I can lick the stuffing or the icing or whatever.

My mom used to be a great cook and had taken orders to get some money on the side.

Going home to the smell of something fragrant and sweet baking in the oven was kind of a great childhood memory for me.

It's funny how it's always the little things you remember.

Touched: The Sword

Here's the blurb that I've been working on:

My name is Leah Curran and my life sucks.
While other people inherit boxes of junk from their relatives, my family inherits powers. And not even cool powers. I have the ability to sense Angels, Demons and most importantly the Touched; people who are graced and cursed with the power of Angels and Demons,  responsible for keeping the balance between Good and Evil. When it came to them, my mother only had one rule; avoid them at all cost. I broke that rule and lost my mother because of it.
Now I try to live a quiet, careful life with my uncle’s family and my best friend, Gabe. But once in a while the universe likes to kick you in the face just to remind you that you are small and insignificant. The Touched are gathering in my small little town of nowhere, and some of them know me and know what I can do. Some of them want to hurt me, some of them want to use me, and so little few want to protect me. Avoiding them is no longer an option.
I will finally have the chance to do something that I have been hopelessly wishing for since the night my mother disappeared; a chance to fight back.
I have been waiting for this, I have trained for this. It’s time to do or die.

The Wolf Series: Short Story

The Wolf Series: Short Story: Connor eyed the limping girl as she walked in front of him. "Want some help?" Mey ignored him. "It looks like it hurts." Mey s...

The Wolf Series: Short Story: Stick and Stones

The Wolf Series: Short Story: Stick and Stones: Connor smelt her before he saw her. Not that she smelt bad, she smelt like most people smelt, but there was a trace of something else in he...

Day 14: Mood Journal

You know when it's the time of the month and your head hurts, your stomach hurts, your back hurts, and basically everything is just PAIN.

Well, today is that day. 

Anyway editor asks me for the list of endorsements that my beta-readers have given me, an acknowledgement page, the jpg of the cover, and the blurb for the back cover.

They say that the book will be digital and POD (print on demand) so that'll be cool for my readers in neighboring countries. 

Should have it all ready by tomorrow but I suck at writing blurbs and summaries, I always write it too long.

I'm thinking of starting like:

There are angels, there are demons then there are the Touched; people who are graced and cursed with the mark of angels and demons inside them. Their duty is to execute the most treacherous balancing act to ever exist; the balance between Good and Evil. In order for them to do this, there are also people like Leah Curran. 

Leah has inherited the family talent; the ability to sense angels, demons, and the Touched. This ability has been a burden to her for all her life. When she lost her mother to it, Leah closed herself off from the world but for what's left of her family and her best friend Gabriel. 

But the world refuses to stay away and her talent refuses to stay hidden. People are coming for her and she will find herself drawn into the war that has been playing out since time began; a war between heaven and hell. 

Oh meh, I'll rewrite this later. GAH.

Oh man, my head really hurts.

Anyway, once I send blurb, cover, etc to editor, the book will be published by the end of Feb or early March. Huzzah!

Day 13: Mood Journal

Life is irritating and then you fall flat on your face. 

And die. 

Note that down.

I would like to say more  but since Baby-Nala is strangely already asleep (It's a miracle!), I want to take this opportunity to get my much needed sleep.

Day 12: Mood Journal

I am sick. That is all.

Oh, and problems with editor is now fixed. It's all good now. Tuesday will have more news about the publishing of Touched: The Sword. I am doubtful that it will come out mid-Feb.

An old friend of mine messaged me telling me that his music album (that he has been working since forever) will hopefully be out the end of this month. He had knocked off 4 songs and has 6 songs to go over.

I'm really proud of him and he's really good too. He has a smooth, crooning and voice and his musicality isn't something to scoff at either. 

Here is a sample of what he does. This one is his cover of Maroon 5's Smooth Like Jagger (Latin Jazz Cover) which I really, really love. 

We often chat about how we suffer for our art, how we do it, why we do it, the reactions of people around us, the obstructions we get, the disappointments, the sweet success, and it wasn't a couple of months ago that we met for lunch and discussed about how he wanted to see me (who is still flushed from having signed a contract with a publisher) to gain some sort of momentum (and for me to whine about wanting to listen to his new songs (which I actually got to do)).

I think he just wanted to see that yeah, dreams really do come true.

And hey, it's funny that we have progress in the same month. LOL.

The thing with him is, that he was really a perfectionist, you know? And he's also very academic, and I've always thought of him as someone who'll get a steady office job. Of course, back at school he rapped and loved music but as usual teenagers do, oh, and he also played the piano (but it was something we all did as we grew up, go to madrasah (which I didn't), go be a scout (which I also didn't) and learn to play an instrument (which I did)), so it was a surprise for me when he suddenly played the guitar, SING and got a band.

We both want the same thing, you know, to have what we love as our job. We both know that we still have a long way to go but, we want that.

It's the light at the end of the tunnel. 

We met when we were 10 at a spelling bee. Become friends at highschool, talked and emailed through college and the occasional 'happy birthday' calls...and now we both urge each other on to reach our dreams.

Life is funny that way. 

Day 11: Mood Journal

The baby is finally asleep. Let's see how long that lasts.

General Mood for today: Damn sleepy and PISSED OFF

Baby-Nala has been with me for a couple of days. And I haven't been sleeping the night through since then. I only have snatches of sleep and it's starting to show. I'm starting to get more and more irritated with everyone, easier to get upset and I simply hate everybody right now.

Which is why I'm so happy that new books are coming out like:

and

I'm also sort of in a bad mood because DreamWalkers, unlike what I planned, is starting to branch out in ways that...well, there's going to be 2 books.

Oh, and much to my dismay and worry, even though book is planned to be published on mid-February  there is still no news from editor /publisher on a definite publishing date for Touched: The Sword. This is worrisome. 

And I am upset.

And I'm wondering if something is wrong. And I tried to contact my editor but she remains elusive, so elusive in fact that I think she is studiously and purposely avoiding me. 

I am very close to writing a very angry letter. Or a post in my blog. And no one will be pleased when that happened. 

And I am also confused because my publisher isn't exactly a new publisher or a shady one, it is one of the biggest publishers in my country so, there is no excuse for them to be treating me this way. 

There had not been news, despite my (ignored) inquiries for weeks. And that's just not done either personally or professionally. 

I charitably thought, oh, maybe she is ill, but NOPE, her twitter is going strong. So I tweeted her, I emailed her I fb messaged her, I whatsapp her, I practically stalked her and still no response. 

Which is ridiculous and offensive. 

And I am now very, very angry. 

Day 10: Mood Journal

(this is the best I could do in an uneven surface, with one hurt hand and the other holding a sleepy baby monkey)

I passed on yesterday because me and my sister had to get our shots, and of course afterwards, our arms were like. "OW!!" for the whole night. I wasn't in the mood to do anything but sleep so I escape the pain.

Even now, I can't really lift my left arm over shoulder-height because IT. HURTS. 

Last month, I had my shot on the right arm and it also hurt but not this much, and it was uncomfortable because I sleep on my right, and when I sleep I unconsciously turn right and OW.

So yesterday I got the shot on left arm, thought I was being careful, but the pain doubled. I didn't even feel the need going in on my right, but on the left? PAIN and then when doctor pressed on the plunger, more sharp PAIN. 

And then all through the day and night and even today, PAIN.

Maybe I didn't feel so much pain on the right because it's my dominant hand and so my muscles are larger...I don't know. 

We have a lot of bananas in the house because of monkeys and when they go bad, we BAKE. 

Just made it this afternoon and it's already reduced by half. We REALLY like our bananas. 

Today wasn't so bad. Pretty much a repeat of yesterday without the shot (thank God) and I'm still currently dealing with a problem that I cannot say here. It is vexing and annoying and seriously starting to piss me off.

And I am still upset over being upset.

Don't have a lot of things to say today. 

Oh, the rain was so heavy today, windy too, and because of the strong wind half of the floor of my room is soaking wet because one of my walls is riddled with holes (for light and ventilation) instead of a glass window so the rain passed through easily.

Most of my clothes are damp, luckily my books were on the other side of the room. 

Day 9: Mood Journal

General Mood: Amiable 

Today...was okay. 

Woke up early and was concern because baby monkey was still sleeping, concerned when I saw her lying down when she's usually up and screeching. I carried her and fed her water which she apparently needed. She was really thirsty.

Yesterday, I told the kids to take care of her, apparently they're not up for her yet. Complained, got angry and lectured which of course made me upset. I don't always want to be 'the angry lecturing one' but you have to be in this case.

Then I cooked fried rice for me and Meda because there's nothing to eat. I mean seriously (apparently step dad and kids knew there were frozen nugget at the meat fridge and didn't tell us so we were like there's nothing to EAT. When it comes to food, this family often go 'every man for themselves, sometimes I am the only one who shares. I guess, I should stop that).

I folded laundry, got it done despite my cat's disturbance. 

Then spent sometimes exercising big monkey, letting him out and play in the grass and trees while Baby-Nala plays with my sister. Hiding in her hair as she does her assignments with her friends. 

Then at 3 pm, I went up to take a bath and get ready for I have plans to go out with my friend, Ayank, whom I knew since junior high. 

When I opened the door I was amused that we were wearing green dresses with almost the same shade. We often do this. It's funny. 

(see.)

(I really need to exercise. But my hair looks nice)

When I go out with her, it's really funny since she is so thin and I'm fat. It's hilarious. I got home at 9 then took a bath, fed cats. then picked up baby from my mom's part of the house. Now baby is currently asleep. Strangely, she never sleeps this early. What did they do to her?

Day 8: Mood Journal

General Mood: So Damn Sleepy

I haven't been sleeping the night through for four days because of baby-monkey. It refuses to sleep without being held. At least until if it manages to take off her blanket. 

Anyway, other news, I have tried to introduce cats to baby monkey and you can see how that goes through this pictures. 

(what is that thing near my human? Ignore it, maybe it will go away)

(I cannot believe it, it is still there. This will not be tolerated)

(This needs investigating. It is now on my human. The nerve.)

(I'll just lay here and wait until it is helpless)

(*hums* pink panther theme)

(TAIL! IT HAS A TAIL!!)

(CATCH TAIL!!)

And this is the end result!

Yes, this is my life. Joy. 

Day 7: Mood Journal

General Mood: Inquisitive

Not a lot happened today but for awesome food and finally naming the baby. Baby-monkey, I dubbed thee,  baby-Nala. 

Oh, and finally found a way to shut her up. Due to baby-monkeys always in a state of being held by their mother, my sister saw something from her friend's tweet about baby monkeys, we swaddled her with cloth like actual human-babies. And miraculously, baby-Nala immediately shuts up and feels safe, and comfortable and sleepy. 

YEY!

(ready for sleep)

Other than that, I am admiring how art can inspire art, how artists inspire other artists. For instance, there is a K-drama that I like right now called 'Flower Boy Next Door'. I know, the title sucks, but it is the latest installment of the Flower Boy series created by some cable show in South Korea. 

The concept is pretty simple but as the show progresses, the story shows depth and personality. 

Here is how the story goes. 

There lives a girl named Go Dok Mi who seals herself in her apartment, oh she goes out whenever necessity struck but really, really prefers not to. It's not a matter of laziness, it is a matter of fear. Her only window to the world is books and TV shows and, ha, the guy who lives next door.

The fact that she spies on the guy with binoculars should be sleazy and stalker-like but due to the character, it's more like sad and pathetic. And sad.

Anyway, through several misunderstandings and misconceptions, Dok Mi meets Enrique Geum, a genius computer game inventor who is everything Dok Mi isn't; self-assured, talkative, cheerful, in your face, personal space-challenged. 

Practically he is everything Dok Mi would hate. 

But the thing is, he has a knack for understanding her, even when Dok Mi doesn't say a word. In several sequences he practically reads her mind and she's freaked out by it.

But after a while we kind of see similarities between them, at how Dok Mi blocks the world outside by sealing herself inside her room, and how Enrique keeps the world at arms length by his optimism and cheerfulness.

I like how they make these two very different personalities find each other, slowly understand each other and how they find parallels inside their lives. 

I also like how the plot manages to put these little plot lines so both characters could read more into each other's lives; for instance, because Dok Mi is a copy writer/editor (?), she is assigned to edit Enrique's autobiography and because of it, Enrique manage to forcibly entrenched himself in her house and look over her stuff and making spot on deduction about her personality and by reading and editing his book, Dok Mi got a inside look of his brain. 

And between scenes, Dok Mi (who wants to be a writer) writes little snippets of ideas that summarizes the episode. 

It's really good and thoughtful. I like it so far. 

The side characters are also interesting and fleshed out, and because they all live in the same vicinity we kind of see how these people, who lives different lives, come together. 

And of course with TV series, MVs comes after. And I personally love these three because they show perfectly what the series is all about.