My Book Writers Tag

So, my sister (Kathryn Thies from Bookwise) and I just got together and filmed a TMI Tag video and that got me inspired to create my own tag! I'm calling it the My Book writers tag- hopefully it does well! Knowing me, I doubt it will, but, in the rare case that you like it, feel free to do it and comment the link! I'm tagging Katie on this one.

Anyway, here are my questions and answers!

1. What is your book called?

Life in Mill Halley

2. State of Publication?

Part of it is posted on my blog, the rest is in progress. I hope to publish the whole thing on my blog soon!

3. Basic Plot?

Four girls, best friends, growing up together. Covers birth through death.

4. How long have you been working on it?

It will be a year next Wednesday.

5. State it is at now (if not done)?

Getting there. Not completely done with the first draft, but a lot of it is edited. That was contradictory.

6. Any ships?

Yes..... But, I won't spoil it.

7.  Theme song?

One for each of my four main characters:

Skyler- The Lonely by Christina Perry

Ginger- Make You Feel My Love by Adele

Roslyn- Stand by You by Rachel Platten

Linnette- no clue

8. Which character are you most like and why?

Skyler- neither of us can riddle out our own feelings.

9. Fact not included in the book?

I'm pretty sure I don't elaborate on how the girls climbed the ivy-covered fence to get into a private park in the summer, where they would swim illegally.

10. Where have you written most of this book?

No answer. I've worked on it everywhere- kitchen, living room, car, bedroom, basement, Wisconsin, everywhere.

HAPPY ONE-YEAR BLOGVERSARY!!

          One year ago today, The Words Flowing was born. I posted daily for the first few months, then slacked off when computers were hard to come by. I hope that this spring, I can write every day yet again!
          But this is a cause to celebrate! Curl up by the fire. Go through and read posts and drink hot cocoa. Though there is no snow here, it still is winter. Take off your shoes. Relax.

TOP TEN POSTS

Life in Mill Halley 3
       Ginger Gillam experiences kindergarten jealousy and commits her first minor crime.

Evening Writing

       "I love your ideas. Thanks for sharing!"

                             -Shay Lee

My Harry Potter Creation
      "AWESOME"
                             -Nicole Cooper

Risen
         What do you think of this spontaneous poem? The idea popped into my head, so I wrote it.

Ten Word Tuesday (3-1-16)
          Ten words to increase your vocab. I love these!

Life in Mill Halley (9)
           "You get top marks for that."
                          -Dave Diss

Ten Word Tuesday 3-08-16
          Ten words to increase your vocab. I love these!

Tears- My Mini Essay
         Why do we cry? What does it do for us? I love essays, and so why not write one about crying?

What's in a Balloon- Part 2
           Part two of my script What's in a Balloon. I really was just playing with this one, but if it made top ten, great!

SERIES STORIES

Life in Mill Halley
        My pride and joy. Life in Mill Halley is the novel I have been working on this for nearly a year, and it still isn't done. Not even ready for edits. But you can read a portion of part one now, so why don't you?
Writing Wednesdays
         These guys are so much fun. It doesn't matter whether it is Wednesday of not, these writing tidbits are all about being a writer- so read some!
Ten Word Tuesdays
          Also known as where I learned to speak
What's in a Balloon?
           A script that I never completed. But people like it, so great!
Evening Writing
           I also didn't finish this one. It was fun, but it was never completed.

COUNTRIES

One Year. 33 Countries. Here's the list I've recorded in a trusty old sketchbook.

1. USA
2. Germany
3. United Kingdom
4. Canada
5. India
6. Poland
7. Romania
8. Ukraine
9. Russia
10. Syria
11. Denmark
12. Spain
13. Vietnam
14. Sri Lanka
15. Netherlands
16. Brazil
17. Australia
18. Austria
19. Barbados
20. Israel
21. Mauritius
22. Sweden
23. Taiwan
24. South Africa
25. Dominican Republic
26. China
27. France
28. Malaysia
29. Turks and Caicos Islands
30. South Korea
31. Latvia
32. Saudi Arabia
33. Finland

Wow. I didn't realize how long that was.

That's not arranged in any particular order. But, for my top five countries (drumroll please....)

5. India


4. Russia


3. Germany

2. France

1. United States

Also in the top ten are The UK, Canada, Australia, Ukraine, and Poland.

MY PRIDES AND MY JOYS

Over the past year, I've had some highlights. From Writers Camp to Life in Mill Halley, it's been great. Here are a few of my writing accomplishments.

1. Online writing was so much fun to organize and watch! I feel really accomplished to have this on my resume.

2. Life in Mill Halley was a joy to write. What started as a palate of characters has turned into my favorite project yet.

3. Starting this blog has been such a life-changing experience. I'm so excited for the year ahead! I hope I can bring smiles to faces all over the world as we go on this writing adventure together.

Book Review: Where Am I Now?

          I recently (as in one minute ago) finished the book Where Am I Now? by Mara Wilson, childhood actress that didn't go bad. Because this book really changed my thoughts on childhood performers, OCD, and so, so much more!

          I just have to review it.

          So, pretty much, the book opens with a prologue where Mara talks about watching a video of herself on YouTube of a memory she no longer has. She skims briefly over her feelings of child acting, and then dives into chapter one.

          As the book continues, Mara weaves the story of her life- from films to emotions, from boys to her life today. She talks about the death of her mother and the death of Robin Williams. She talks about show choir and boarding school. You would think she is telling you everything. And, well, who knows?

          I really loved this book. Sure, some parts of it got a little...edgy, but when it wasn't, I loved it. It was so hard to put down! Reading it sends a wave of emotions in your direction- sadness, joy, anger, sympathy. I love how Mara is so relatable. I would just be reading and think, I've felt that way, too. And then I got filled with such happiness.

          Now, whenever I see a picture of Mara Wilson, or see the movie Matilda sitting in our downstairs TV cabinet, I think, Movie stars have feelings too that can't be overlooked. I see a person that has gone through struggles. I see a woman who is hardly any different than I am. And I really liked how this memoir taught me so much.

          For my star rating? This is a hard one. I probably should give it a four our of five stars. My favorite books normally get 4.5, but this one would loose half a point for the edgy parts.  I would definitely recommend it to anyone. So go and read Where Am I Now?!

1 Star- Terrible

2 Stars- Meh.

3 Stars- Good.

4 Stars- Great Read!

5 Stars- Is it possible to write a book that good?

Ice Storm (a poem)

The curtains are drawn
on a cold winter's day
to keep those inside
warm.

The outside winds
can no longer see in
but they bang at the glass
panes.

Raindrops come pattering down
and hit the frozen ground
where they shiver and slowly
freeze.

The ice freezes over
bumpy yet smooth
and slowly the rain stops
falling.

The curtains stay closed
but people come out
and try to stay up on the
ice.

But it's only a matter of time
before the groups of cold people
carry their tired bodies
inside.

And so the curtains stay drawn
on a cold winter day
And the people inside can avoid
the ice.

Dear Society,

I've recently started a new project- Letter's I Don't Intend to Send.

They're kept in here. I write them to society, friends and family, and more. I'm currently writing one to society. I'll post it here, as I will other- not so private ones.

-------------------------------------

Dear Society,

         Stay out of my personal life. I don't mean that to be harsh, more assertive. But please. I have feelings, too, believe it or not. Even if you don't care about them, they are still in there. And I don't like it when you make my business yours. I don't stick my nose in your business!

         Newsflash: You don't get to make my personal decisions. I get to make them. You can make your own decisions. They can be as stupid as you want. But my choices are for me to choose. You also don't have the right to pressure me into feelings. I feel what I feel, not what you want me to feel.

         Because some days, I feel as if you come into my head like I am a toy and mess around. I feel like you come and say that I feel certain ways. I'm not a puppet. I'm a person. Big difference, society.

Pippa