Follow the Raven: One Year and Counting

Today I'm celeberating the one-year anniversary of my current project, "Follow the Raven." I began writing it on November 25, 2011 and am still working on it today. I'm about halfway through the second draft. I've changed some things around, but I think it's still a great story. I'm really proud of how it turned out. FUN FACT: I began writing the story because I knew exactly how I wanted it to end. I had no idea what the story would be leading up to that point, but I knew how I wanted it to end and so I started brainstorming, which led me to where I am today. The book has a grand total of six characters.

For those who don't know, the story is about a 15-year-old girl named Amber who has always dreamed of being a famous singer. She is sent to Moonlight Cove, where Dreams go to live once they've been born. (FUN FACT: When I was in elementary school my bro and I had a game called "Speed Punks." One of the tracks you could race on was called Moonlight Cove. I loved the track so much I told everyone I'd write a story about it someday.) There Amber meets a girl named Cale, who changes her life forever. How? You'll have to read to find out!

By the way, I know that authors really aren't supposed to have favorite characters in their own books, but I do. My favorite character in "Follow the Raven" is Marc, a lone wolf who has been given the task of guarding Moonlight Cove from the villain, Lord Hendrix. (No, not the Jimmy Hendrix kind of Hendrix.) I can't find a good picture that depicts Marc as I imagine him, so this will have to do:

Meh. It's close enough. :)

With any luck "Follow the Raven" will be editor-ready soon. Once I finish the second draft I'm going to read through it again and make sure everything looks good. I'm going to keep editing until I have the best final product possible. I love this story and I love the characters. I really want this one to be published, but NOT to Kindle or Nook. I want a hardback copy. I've always wanted to hold a book I wrote in my hands. :)

Anyway, I've officially been working on this book for a year today. Woot!

Holy Series Finale, Megas! (No spoilers, I promise.)

So, thanks to Nick, I've seen every single episode of Megas XLR. (Even that stupid Sonic parody which I will NEVER watch again.) The finale just blew my mind - I was seriously surprised how it turned out, although the last five minutes of the last episode were totally Coop. Haha. I really liked this show, even if it was kind of stupid. My favorite character is Jamie, though I don't know exactly why. My favorite line in the entire series:

Coop: Well...I've fought things bigger than this before.

Jamie: No you haven't! It's a FREAKING PLANET!

Haha you should check it out sometime if you're really bored. This is the best cure for boredom ever. Viva las Megas! :)

Rise of the Shredder

My bro and I always watch the latest episodes of TMNT 2012 together. Ususally we watch them the day they come out, but sometimes we have to wait a few days later. I'm so glad we didn't have to wait for today's episode - the Shredder finally reveals himself to the Turtles! What started out as just another plan to stop the Kraang ended in a brutal fight between the Turtles and the Shredder. Literally. The poor guys got their butts kicked like nobody's buisness. According to Splinter they were lucky to have survived. I can't wait for next weekend now - I just HAVE to know what happens next!

The Black Comet (A Sonic Story for the non-Mobians)

Seven years ago today, the Black Comet collided with Mobius, unleashing an army of dark aliens called the Xorda who were intent on taking over the world and using the limited population of humans as an energy source for themselves. While the rest of the world was in chaos, the chief Xorda, Black Doom, sought out Shadow the Hedgehog and informed him of his true identity: he was half Xorda. Talk about scary! How would you like this guy as your father?

Needless to say, Shadow was surprised. At the bidding of the dark lord, he sought out the seven Chaos Emeralds so that he could finally learn why he was created. Due to the nature of the game, there are nine different endings, each ranging from hero to neutral to villain. My favorite is the Hero/Slightly Dark ending, where Shadow becomes the defender of Mobius while still retaining some of his darker side. It suits him. Haha

In the video games Shadow is seen as a last-resort ally while in the comics he is a complete hero and is viewed as the second great defender of Mobius. In fact, when Sonic the Hedgehog "died" in the storyline, Shadow rose up to rescue the planet from destruction. But that's a story for another time. In the meanwhile, check out this trailer for the game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frhC6b_gFFU

And don't forget to keep an eye out for the Black Comet. If you see it drifting in the night sky, Shadow is coming!

That's Just Wrong

OK. I've noticed a lot of cartoon spoofs in Megas XLR. But the last episode I watched was just insulting. There have been brief Sonic references in past episodes but THIS reference just made me want to punch the smile right off that aardvark's face. FIRST look at Sonic:

And now look at this abomination, named "Augie the Aardvark":

Doesn't it make you want to punch something?! UURGH! It's all Nick's fault. If he hadn't gotten my dad to like the show and then get me hooked on it I wouldn't have had to see this horrible creation. UGH!! THAT is an episode I will not be watching again.

The REST of what I've seen, however, is simply addicting. My favorite character is Jamie. The poor guy is a total wimp but it's really funny! If you're ever looking for something to do in your spare time you should watch Megas XLR. (Just not the 5th episode of Season 2.)

Wreck-It Ralph!

I finally went to see Wreck-It Ralph today and it was AMAZING!! Sonic had six cameo appearances and one speaking line. It was over too soon. Eggman had a couple of appearances as well although he didn't have any lines. Besides that awesomeness it really was a great movie. It had a cute story. I want to see it again!! Maybe I can convince my dad to go with me once before it leaves our theater...haha :) If you haven't seen Wreck-It Ralph do it now!! This is a once in a lifetime oppurtunity to see Sonic the Hedgehog on the big screen! :D

Everything (A Sonic Fanfic)

Interested in reading my most popular fanfiction of all-time? Check out my book "Everything (A Sonic Fanfic)" on Wattpad! Over the course of five months it has gained 19 readers, 66 comments, 57 votes, and 2,000+ reads. Right now it is ranking #2 in Sonic Fanfiction. Take a look! http://www.wattpad.com/story/1526063-everything-a-sonic-fanfic

What the heck is Megas XLR?

The guys at my dad's computer shop are total nerds, just like me. Only they're into different kinds of things. Every time I'm there to work part-time they're watching a new show. They've varied from shows like Top Gear to Top Shot to BBC's Sherlock (AWESOME show, btw). Now, though, they're watching an animated series called Megas XLR. My dad told me a little about it and said I might like it, so he gave me about 20 episodes to watch on my laptop. On Saturday night I started watching them. I can't stop. I'm addicted. They're so stupid and they really don't have a plot, but the theme song is awesome and for whatever reason I just can't help but click on the next episode.

I blame Nick. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGHy6mKLxVo

TMNT 2012 is Turning Out Great!

Obviously, as a TMNT fan, I've been watching the brand new series, which premiered on September 29. So far there have been seven episodes, and I've seen each of them several times over. (Except for today's). The first three episodes were great; however, the next two didn't have real plots and were borderline stupid. Then there was "Metalhead" and "Monkey Brains," which totally blew me away. Both focused on Donatello, the third of the four brothers. In episode six he was trying to develop a better weapon because, and I quote: "How am I supposed to fight advanced alien technology with a stupid stick?!" So Donnie attemped to create the ultimate ninja, Metalhead, and it totally backfired on him. Then today's episode came along. It was so cute! Donnie was trying to figure out how to get April to hang out with him and ended up getting his butt kicked while out on patrol with her. It was kind of funny and really sweet because April got after his brothers for teasing him about "getting beat up in front of his girlfriend." Lots of great Donnie x April moments in today's episode. They are so cute! I'm kind of worried for Casey Jones' appearance. I really hope he's not a teenager. That would totally kill the romance between Don and April. Although on the other hand it would be amusing to see the two fight over her. Oh, well. I guess we'll see. Anyway, TMNT 2012 is turning out great! I loved today's episode. I'll probably watch it again and again and again and...well, you get the idea. Haha :)

Ms. Paronto and the Hen

It was the funniest thing ever. I went to deliver Ms. Paronto's fundraiser stuff after school today, and when I entered her classroom she was in the middle of a kid's game. The object: catch the eggs the hen was laying. Poor Ms. Paronto wasn't doing so well. It was seriously funny! I told her I'd probably post this, but I forgot to mention that I was on my way to Rooster's when I left. I think she would have liked that. Haha