Q&A with CinderScoria!

Hiya! Annika here. Today I'm going to interview a friend and and fellow nanoer of mine. I hope you enjoy this! 

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Q: This probably isn’t a question, but how about you introduce your awesome self to our readers? XD

A: Oh! Sure, no prob! *waves cheekily* Whaddup, people? I’m Jasmine, AKA CinderScoria. Most people just call me Cinder though!

Q: You have an interesting take on the forever warring angels and demons in your novel, The Lucky One. But they’re not fighting by human standards of good and evil. They’re acting on their own merits, traditions and values. What made you decide to take on this view?

A: I had this scene pop into my head, where Lucky learns that Ava and Brock are a demon and an angel, respectively. But Lucky automatically assumes that Ava’s the angel, and she gets annoyed by it. It made me think that maybe demons aren’t perpetually evil, you know? Maybe angels just seized the humans’ good vs. evil perspective and painted them as the bad guys. And then that scene grew into a book and… well, you know the rest.

Q: What inspires you?

A: For writing? Music does. Other writers do. Contests especially, because I’m very competitive and I love prompts. I also have great friends who encourage me and my writing, so that’s another thing.

Q: Do you have any other hobbies or likes you’d like to share?

A: I sing and act. Majorly. If I could do all three—singing, writing, and acting—as a career, I would. I also play the piano and the guitar, and I am a bit of a linguist.

Q: If your book is published (and it will be ;D) do you ever think there is a chance some people will try to ban it? What do you think of that?

A: Oh gosh, yes. When I started writing it I didn’t realize how controversial it would get, but I am taking a lot of things from the Bible—which I have read and respect—that could anger some people. Gabriel, for instance, is a character in my book. So is God (or Adam, as I call him) and Lucifer. It takes the idea that they’re not good and evil, they’re just races in a misunderstanding that has lasted for… a very long time. It’s fiction, but at the same time it’s really cutting it close on the line.

Q: What is your favorite genre to write?

A: Mystery and action, actually. This is my first time writing fantasy. I love crime thrillers.

Q: Who is your favorite author?

A: Gah, I have to pick one? James Patterson is tied with Rick Riordan. And Gorman Korman.

Q: What is your favorite book or book series?

A: My all-time favorite book series is the Hardy Boys. I grew up with them. LOVE them. I also love the Percy Jackson/Heroes of Olympus series, and the Chronicles of Nick (Infinity and Invincible) series. My all-time favorite book is… Princess Academy. Probably. But there are so many of them, I just don’t know.

Q: Who, in your opinion, is the most awesomesauce character in literature?

A: Oh, I can’t choose one. There’re too many. Book literature, I’d have to say… Nick Gautier (Chronicles of Nick). I have died of laughter reading his snarky remarks. He is so awesome. Um, movies and television, it’s a serious tie between Riley Poole (National Treasure) and Carlos Garcia (Big Time Rush). DON’T LAUGH. They’re both amazingly epic, and I like Carlos because he’s one of the first genuinely happy-go-lucky guys I’ve seen. So there.

Q: What author do you aspire to be like?

A: Either Ally Carter or Rick Riordan. I love their plot styles and the way they incorporate danger and humor. It clicks so well with them!

Q: Do you plan out your novels or just wing it?

A: I plan them. Every single step. And even then it goes way off course. I’ve edited The Lucky One, like, nine times and it’s still in the editing stage.

Q: Do you have anything else you’d like to say?

A: Um, stay in school, kids, and stay true to your heart. Honestly, I’m youthful and I’m proud to say that I like the things I like and I don’t care what other people think. It doesn’t matter what they say—it’s your life and you can live it the way you want to.
Yeah, I’m not good at cheesy advice-giving sessions.
Thanks for interviewing me!

Oh Cinder, you are very, very welcome! Again, I hope you enjoyed this!  Be sure to check out her awesome novel, The Lucky One, on Wattpad!

Literary Heroine Blog Party!

Hiya! Annika here. Ashley over at Cheery-O  did one of these, and I thought it was really neat, so here we are! 


Introduce yourself!  Divulge your life's vision, likes, dislikes, aspirations, or something completely random!

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• Likes? Writing, Blogging, RPing, learning new things. Not to mention... Star Wars and Artemis Fowl! And Harry Potter. And Anne of Green Gables. And Percy Jackson and the- you get the point ;) Dreams... hmnn... beign a bestselling author, definitely. 
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• What, to you, forms the essence of a true heroine? 

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• One who is kind, well educated, resourceful, outspoken and just. And a major book worm.
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• Share (up to) four heroines of literature that you most admire and relate to.  

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• Anne Shirley, Marguerite St. Just and... Annabeth Chase.

• Five of your favorite historical novels?  

• Anne of Green Gabels, Rainbow Valley, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Anne of the Island and  Anne's House of Dreams  
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• Out of those five books who is your favorite main character and why? 

Anne. She is kind, resourceful and her antics are heartwarming.

• Out of those five books who is your favorite secondary character and why? 

• Gilbert Blythe or the Scarlet Pimpernel. They are both kind and heroic.

If you were to plan out your dream vacation, where would you travel to - and what would you plan to do there? 

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• Egypt! Or England... or Paris? I would write in Paris, explore England and find a lost tomb in Egypt!

• What is your favorite time period and culture to read about? 
• 
  
• 
  
• Tudor England and Ancient Egypt!

• You have been invited to perform at the local charity concert. Singing, comedy, recitation - what is your act comprised of? 
• 
  
• Easy. I would read my book out loud, alternating the voices for each character!

• If you were to attend a party where each guest was to portray a heroine of literature, who would you select to represent? 
• 
  
• Elizabeth Benett or Anne of Green Gables, if we're going old school. For a book from now? Hermione Granger!

• What are your sentiments on the subject of chocolate? 
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• Not completely crazy about it, but yes, I like it quite a bit.

• Favorite author(s)? 
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• Rick Riordan, Eoin Colfer, J.K. Rolwing, Lisi Harrison, Gail Carson Levine, L.M. Montgomery and E.D. Baker  

• Besides essentials, what would you take on a visiting voyage to a foreign land? 
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• Books. And a computer. 

• In which century were most of the books you read written? 
• The 21st! 

• In your opinion, the ultimate hero in literature is…
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• It's a tie between Harry Potter and Percy Jackson!

• Describe your ideal dwelling place. 

• Big, cozy with a bigggg study and tons of inspiration and pink! Plus some Tudor touches and roses! And a perfect writing place...
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Sum up your fashion style in five words. 

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• Pink, chic, comfortable, action, fun!

• Have you ever wanted to change a character’s name? 
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• Actually... No!

• In your opinion, the most dastardly villain of all literature is... 
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• Lord Voldemort! Oh yes, his noseless villainy is delightful! 

• Three favorite Non-fiction books? 
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• 
  
• I don't read non-fiction much... but perhaps Writing Magic by Gail Carson Levine,  most books on Egypt :)

• Your duties met for the day, how would you choose to spend a carefree summer afternoon? 
• 
  
• 
  
• Writing and reading outside... 

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• Create a verbal sketch of your dream hat - in such a way as will best portray your true character. 
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• Hats?! Hmnn, not really my style, but a sparkly pink beret!

• Share the most significant event(s) that have marked your life in the past year. 

• Winning nanowrimo and having my first finished novel.

• Share the Bible passage(s) that have been most inspiring to you recently.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” - the Holy Bible, 

• 1 Corinthians 13:4–8

Fiction vs. Nonfiction

Hiya! Annika here. Today we're going to talk about an ongoing debate in the world of writing: Fiction vs. Nonfiction. While I do admit that I side with fiction because it is overall much more enjoyable for me to read and write, I will admit nonfiction has a place. But you do have to draw a line. Haven't you noticed at most libraries entire encyclopedia volumes just sit there for years on end, unopened,while the computers nearby whirl like crazy to keep up with every command? I swear those World Books haven't moved since I was five...

Anyways, pretty much the only reason I haven't really read The Hunger Games by now (besides not wanting to spend 8 dollars on something I will only read once or twice) is because there are like 30+ holds on everything related to it, including the Spanish dubbed audio books. 

Now, that doesn't mean that fiction is in anyway better, just in higher demand. But this is in terms of books, not the internet. Nonfiction does have the internet in its real-life encrusted fist. But with the emergence of sites like Fanfiction.net, Fictionpress.com, Wattpad, Figment and even e-books, this might change. Only time will tell, but it does makes sense to some extent. 

Now, I ask you, readers: What do you think? 

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: the Lighting Thief Review

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: the Lightning Thief is no doubt one of those amazing books that goes on my 'Read It Again and Again' list. I picked it up while doing NaNoWriMo 2011, just to see how another author took on Greek Mythology, which was the topic of my novel. To put it lightly, I was blown away. To the farthest corner of the Universe. The very edge of the cosmos. The- well, you get it. One of the things I liked most was that the book never actually said there isn't a God in the Christian sense. In fact, is hinted that personified and unpersonified Gods coexist.

Moving on... This book was hilarious. I could barely read from laughing so hard at some points. I also loved how Riordan took Greek tales and myths and created scenarios suited to them. I was interested to find out that Medusa was once Poseidon's girlfriend and that Athena had actually 'created' the Gorgon sisters after finding Medusa and Poseidon in her temple. Her sisters were punished as well, since they helped her sneak in. 

I loved Camp Half-Blood, and found the fact that most of the Cabins were honorary was an obvious fact that you don't get at first. I liked that the characteristics of each cabin corresponded to their respective god, such as Zeus' having lightening bolts and Hera's having pomegranates.

I also liked the chapter with Procrustes. I found his maniacal determination to make people fit into his beds funny and 'like, seriously?' at the same time.

I found the Underworld interesting. The Fields of Punishment sickened me and the Fields of Asphodel filled me with dread. It actually made me really think about getting something done in this life. 

Now, let's talk about Percy. According to the Camp Half-Blood wiki he's a twelve year old boy diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia who has been expelled from every school he's ever attended. This is Percy in a nutshell. The ADHD is something that while it might not help him function in a classroom as well, his ever shifting attention will help him keep an eye on things in battle. The dyslexia is a side effect of a mind wired to read Ancient Greek. All the demigods have both of these conditions, so things are more interesting. Grover and Annabeth were two very outstanding secondary characters that helped develop Percy. You got to know him better though them as well.  

I really liked the ending, especially Gabe's fate. 

Well, thank you for reading this review! I tried to keep it as spoiler-free as possible, but that was a big fat, Greek God sized flop, if you may. 

May the Force be with you! Annika Elipton signing off!