Kinky Business.

Quote of the Day: "You can find magic in the strangest of places."

You know what, I'm not even going to explain my absence, because I am damn proud of myself and that will become apparent down in my world of literature.

Other than that, I have broken seven of my New Year's Resolutions and it's not even February yet. Yes, that's how talented I happen to be. I'm yet to find a Resolution that I've kept.

Maggie's World of Literature

CLOCKWORK PRINCE is my favourite book. It's my favourite book and that is not a title I dish out freely. Before now, it was either Private Peaceful or one of the Harry Potter's, but I mean, Cassandra Clare just... Ohmigosh, I don't know. It was just a beautiful, beautiful book. Though, I so knew Charlotte was pregnant, she was being way too... erratic. And Will. Oh God, Will. The poor guy. I am actually scared that between now and the release of Clockwork Princess, he's going to somehow manage to top himself. I know that's impossible, but it still preys on my mind, okay? And I love him, because he's Welsh and funny and his letter almost made me cry because it was on his birthday and no one knew about his birthday because I worked it out (quickly, in my head, I didn't spend hours thinking it over or anything) that it was during the events of Clockwork Angel that he turned seventeen and I didn't hear (see) anyone wish him a happy birthday -- did you?

In other literary news, I am very proud of myself. And why? Because I've finished The Hunger Games and a sexy little book by the name of Evermore.

So, The Hunger Games was amazing. Just brilliant. Hooked from start to finish, could barely put it down. And Peeta Mellark is just so damn cute! And the actor who's going to play him in the movie  is perfection for Peeta! Oh, dear... I feel like watching the trailer again, which sucks because it makes me sad because it's not coming out till March 23rd and I can't help but feel that something else's happening on that day as well, but... I don't know...

Yeah, I didn't get along well with Katniss for a lot of the book. I thought what she was doing with Peeta was really mean because it was obvious he actually liked her and she was just playing him along for the cameras. But then the last line kind of... redeemed her for me.

Speaking of redeeming, I need to read The Last Four Things -- it's on my 'To Buy' list. I read The Left Hand of God and loved it because it was so damn different. It was a serious breath of fresh air. I hope they make it into a movie...

And Evermore was actually pretty good. I've had the book bought for so long, but I was always reading something else, you know? So, I finished that tonight and... Yeah, I'm definitely going to get Blue Moon, the sequel, even though there were certain aspects of Evermore that I found... disappointing. It was really good at the start, but then... her relationship development with Damen was all a little bit too quick and jumpy and then... it got very sappy towards the end and that's something I don't like. I mean, we all need some sappiness once in a while, but I've seen it delivered in ways that don't make it seem sappy at all, so... That was the only downside. Other than that, a highly recommendable book.

So, I've started now on Finding Sky, which I've actually read before right up until the last few chapters, but never really finished. Not sure what happened there. But I got the sequel for Christmas -- Stealing Phoenix -- and I intend to read the hell out of it sometime soon. Plus, if memory serves, Zed Benedict is utterly edible, so I shan't get bored with my re-reading duties.

And now we are onto my new love of poetry! I know, right? I've been reading poems and I would highly recommend that everyone else start doing the same:

Dreamland by Edgar Allan Poe -- So obvious he's high as a kite, but it's such a cool poem.

Annabel Lee by the same ol' opium eater -- Really sweet and simple... kinda disturbing as well.

Funeral Blues by W.H. Auden -- Upsetting enough, I guess, but good.

Dulce Et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen -- Love this poet, love this poem, but it's awful.

Right, well, as far as my own foshizzle (that's Yiddish) is concerned, I'm getting along alright. Projects laid to rest, permanently or otherwise, since last time include:

• Losing Ollie.
• The Celtic on with the faeries.

And projects in progress are:

• Just A Game.
• Imprints.

Just A Game - I'm on the very last chapter, literally rounding up the book and then I'm not allowed touch it. I'm bound by oaths to many a family member to bloody well publish the damn thing and stop nit-picking. So, I will. Very soon.

Imprints is something new I've started with a bunch of characters I was already familiar with. Basically, I was writing this story, then I abandoned it because I didn't like the characters, but I loved the story, so I found a new story for them all to fit into. And it's this one.

Yeah, I tried to make that sound dead intimidating, but I failed, so... Yeah. But it's going good all the same.

Anything else... Anything else...

Yes. I have another story and it's such a cute idea, but I don't have time to go through it right now.

And I entered a competition with a War Horse inspired short-story about sixteen-year-old Nathanael Iorath, a young Welsh private fighting in the trenches of WW1. It made my mother cry. Like, actually. It goes by the name of Up and Over.

And that's all from my world of literature until next time.

In other news, I've obviously seen War Horse and it rocked my frayed giraffe-print socks off. I loved it and I swear to God I tried my damndest not to shed a tear and I just about made it. If I wasn't so loyal to the movie, i would say that it's on par with Saving Private Ryan, but I can't say that because Saving Private Ryan is just... whooo -- you know?

I am yet to see Sherlock Holmes and I am not one bit happy about it.

BBC are my homies this weather. Normally, I hate TV, but these guys have gone ape since Christmas. It started with the Doctor Who Christmas special, then Great Expectations, then the Edwin Drood thing, Sherlock and now this Birdsong show I'm watching about (my new obsession) World War One. Only, don't watch it with your parents... kinky business...

And that is all from me for tha noo.

Over an' out.

Welsh Freaking Rocks

Quote of the Day: "Bravery is being the only one who knows you're afraid."

Well... this is a little awkward. Yes, I did another disappearing act. I hibernate randomly - it's something I can't control. And the internet reliability is dire in this fair kingdom of wonder and magic in which I reside.

But enough of that. HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Only it won't be that happy, will it? Because apparently we're all dying at the end. I've come to terms with that, though. I've decided that as long as I get to read and finish Clockwork Princess first, I can die happy.

Maggie's Little World of Literature

An update on my current reading habits: I have this thing going. I'm reading a modern novel, along with something classic, whether it's another novel or a play. For example, it was Silence (Becca Fitzpatrick) and the Importance of Being Earnest (my homie Oscar Wilde). Now, it's Clockwork Prince (Cassandra Clare) and A Tale of Two Cities (Charles Dickens). A simple system, but it's getting me through my reading list a lot quicker.

So, Silence. I've finished it and it was brilliant. I have to say, Becca Fitzpatrick outdid herself with this one and I was proud. Anyone who's interested in reading the Hush, Hush Saga, I would advise you to do so as soon as possible. Sexy angels, a lot of chemistry and a brilliant plot without overdoing the action (for anyone who's not all that interested in that sort of thing). It will be worth your while.

The Importance of Being Earnest was very good. I mean, I love Oscar Wilde to absolute bits, but I never expected his writing ti make me laugh like this. It was a little too slapstick for my liking, but not enough to actually bug me. It's dead short, unbeatable dialogue and a few interesting twists at the end. Loved it.

And that brings me onto CLOCKWORK freaking PRINCE.

As you can imagine, from that sentence up there, it is probably the most amazing book I've ever read and I've read some mind-blowing books. This is just... ugh! I can't eve describe it!

Right, I'm going to confess here. Normally, I wouldn't doubt Cassandra Clare in the slightest, but City of Fallen Angels was a little disappointing compared to City of Broken Glass, so I was worried about Clockwork Prince, because I loved Clockwork Angel so much. But I have no idea now why I was worried, because it's beautiful. It's a miracle in... a couple of hundred pages. It's a work of art. And I'm not even finished yet.

It's weird though, because I used to hate Will, but now I'm warming to him. I feel dead sorry for him because he's happy right now, but I know he won't be for much longer and it's almost making me sad. But it can't make me sad because Jem is doing me proud. I love that guy and I was afraid he was never going to get a chance at wooing the girl, but after what I've just read, I'm doubting Will's ever getting another look-in.

Seriously, though, the book is an emotional roller coaster. On every page I'm either in fits laughing at Will or I'm inches from tears thanks to Jem. And I freaking love it!

So, I'm just about to start on chapter... nineteen, which is called If Treason Doth Prosper. A very high and mighty title... I'm feeling kid of worried now. And I'm nearly finished, which makes it worse. But I do have plenty to keep me occupied for the net year.

I'm reading The Hunger Games next. I've heard great reviews and they're making the movie this year, so... seems worth my while.

Now, you would have to wonder what the hell I'm doing reading A Tale of Two Cities and it's simple. Will and Tessa have this connection in The Infernal Devices series and it seems to be half based on their love of this one book, so I want in on the secret, I want to know what they're talking about when they quote it (which they do a lot. They had great memories in the Victorian era, though Will's cheated in that department, as it turns out) and I'm willing to endure Dickens' over-dramatic writing style to achieve that.

Dooby dooby doo...

So, on the subject of my own scribblings, I didn't achieve my goal thing. I still haven't finished Just A Game, but I am on the second last chapter. I've just killed off a character. It was hard, but I did it. For the umpteenth time.

My futuristic, sick, weird, new idea has flopped for the moment. I still love the concept, but it's just too complicated to develop while I'm working with JAG.

But I do have another couple of new bits in the works. I love one in particular. It's all Celtic and faeries and the Tuatha Dé Dannan and stuff, but modern, kind of. It's quite interesting...

And that's it as far as my world of literature goes.

In other news, I really want to see War Horse, the film adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's novel by none other than Steven Spielberg himself - mmph. I haven't read the book, but I've read some of Morpurgo's other novels and they're pretty damn wonderful.

Now, I have to see the new Sherlock Holmes movie. I do not have a choice in the matter. I've got to see this movie. It looks so damn beautiful.

Speaking of which, Sherlock on BBC1 is the most mind-blowing show on TV right now. I swear by it. Benedict Cumberbatch (what a name!) certainly gives Robert Downey Jnr. a run for his money as Holmes.

Oh, and I'm learning Welsh. Yes, Welsh. Because Welsh freaking rocks.

So... I think that's me for tonight.

Over an' out.

Brainstorming Aloud

Quote of the Day - "You must be very drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you."

Alright, so I think it's official. My parents believe that I might actually have gone crazy since last time they checked. And I don't blame them. I came up with this new idea the other day and went around the house babbling about it for several hours - it didn't matter to me whether anyone was listening or not. And I wasn't talking to myself. I was brainstorming aloud. Perfectly normal thing to do, so it is.
It wasn't even one of my pretty, fairy, romantic ideas. It was a bit sick to be honest, but it's really blossoming into something. Obviously, there's a love story going on in the background (what book doesn't have one?), but it's pretty heavy stuff. Pain in the ass to plan out though because it's all futuristic and complicated.


And I've discovered that Ike is short for Isaac. I love the name Isaac (I love all those biblical names for guys - Noah, Gabriel, Joshua, Jonah) and I liked the name Ike, but I was always scared it was going to be short for something awful. But it's not, so there you go.


What else... what else...


I have an aim. Well, I have several, but this one's important... kind of.
I have to have Just A Game completely finished before the New Year. AND my New Year's Resolution this year (apart from fixing my appalling diet and not sleeping in till lunchtime at the weekends and going to sleep early and... yeah) is to get published before October 5th, 2012.
Let's see if I can manage it.


And I've totally sent my Santa letter and guess what's right up at the tippy top...
This: http://www.hebeldesign.com/Words-Have-The-Power-To-Change-Us-Scroll-Pendant-MIPEND5.htm. It's not coming on time for Christmas Day, but hell, I couldn't care less. I'm getting it. I think that's the point.


So, I have my new, sick, futuristic work of art to dream up - more on that at another time.


Over an' out.

(Quote of the Day by Rad Bradbury.)

MIDGETS HAVE FEELINGS TOO

Quote of the Day - "Until aught but death part thee and me."

Wow... Where the hell have I been?

Truth is, I have no idea, but I'm here now and it has officially happened. I, as of December 6th 2011, own a hardback collector's first edition of Clockwork Prince. I'm trying my very, very best to ignore it for the time being and finish Silence (which is amazing by the way), but is nay goin' so good. I've read the first chapter or so and I'm right back in love with Jem Carstairs. It's not even funny.

So, we'll ignore that right now - like I'm supposed to be doing - and focus on Silence.

*Spoilers Alert*

I'm on chapter twenty-two or something and I'm in my element because at last Patch is back. It's amazing, since he, quite obviously, is a sexy beast, as I believe I have mentioned. And as it turns out, he's not a hobo as I originally thought. But he does live underground, which is a bit weird...

But anyway, the way things were looking, Becca's latest is so very intense that I thought it might just beat CC for my favourite book of the year, but... well, I mean, this is Cassandra Clare we're talking about. I have a feeling that she might be Jesus (put it this way - if it turns out that I'm not the Messiah, then she definitely is), so as brilliant as Becca is, she just can't do it. I've only read about three chapters tops of Clockwork Prince and all I want to do is fall inside of the book and stay there - forever.

So, about that. I think I have Will all figured out. He opened a Pyxis and released a demon that killed his little sister and he's wracked with guilt ever since, making him into the knob (pardon my language) (or don't bother - whatever floats your boat) that he is these days. Now, there was also a mention of the demon putting a curse on him - hence him going to Magnus Bane and all that - so I'll have to think a little more on what that could be about. It complicates things with Tessa, so presumably it has something to do with his love-life...

And I've had another revelation in my long absence, unfortunately for you.

It's time to start talking about my books, methinks. Simply because MIDGETS HAVE FEELINGS TOO, 'kay?

(And yes, that is my only reason.)

So, my first baby - I mean, book and the only finished one is Just A Game. It's the first in a four/five part series about... a lot of different things. Anytime anyone asks what it's about, all I can say is that it's complicated, but I eventually wrote a blurb to shut people up for a while, so here it is -

Ava Grey returns home from boarding school to find that her twin brother Andy’s been turned into a vampire. Very soon her eyes are opened to the truth of the world and it seems that no one and nothing is what it seemed before - not even Ava herself.

At first, it’s not all bad. There are the Shaydes - Andy’s eccentric, but charming adoptive family, and more importantly, there’s Lynk Shayde - Ava certainly isn’t complaining about him. And her very human best friend Neia is always there to balance her life out with a touch of normality.

But that can’t last forever, can it? Very soon things start to go wrong. There’s something stalking the streets of their quiet little city and it stalks with a purpose. But who will it be? Ava? Andy? One of the Shaydes? And can it be all that bad? I mean, it’s just a game…

So, that's that. I'm working on editing it right now and it's going pretty well, if I may say so myself. I'm going to be totally big-headed the next day and stick up a teaser because I'm that freaking amazing.

All I need to do is try to steer clear of Jem and Co. because I desperately want to finish Silence first. Wish me luck with that - I'll need it.

Over an' out.

Synonyms include... Shagalicious

Quote of the Day - 'Being a writer is like running your own personal insane asylum.'

So... The prologue of Silence - mind-blowing! I was cringing with fear at one point. Fear for Patch, that is. It's not that the book's scary, but no one goes near Patch on my watch.

So, we have business to attend to.

Fwoah: A Definition

Fwoah is a term used to describe, or express appreciation of, a highly attractive individual.

The word Fwoah, must be said in a very particular way. It must be dramatically dragged out and spoken on a breath, so it almost sounds like a sigh. The speaker must have an awed, or appreciative air about them.
The word Fwoah must be written in italics, as it is more like a sound than an actual word and must be stressed.

Example 1: 'Patch Cipriano is just... fwoah.'
Example 2: Attractive male walks past a group of girls. Group of girls all go, 'Fwoah...'

Synonyms of Fwoah include...

• Striking.
• Eye-catching.
• Hot.
• Attractive.
• Sexy.
• Bangable.
• Shaggable.
• Shagalicious.
• Gorgeous.
• Do-able.
• Yummy.
• Scrumptious.
• Babe-magnet.

I hope that gets the idea across.
So, I'm just going to do a few reccomendations because I'm class* -

Recommended Book of the Week: Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick (I have a good feeling).
Recommended Movie of the Week: Breaking Dawn Part One (I give it an 8/10).
Recommended Comfort Food of the Day: Mince Pies (let's get festive).
Recommended Download of the Day: Iron by Woodkid (as heard in the Assassin's Creed Revelations ad).

Over an' Out ;)

*class - Irish slang for 'awesome', or 'cool'. Not that I'm Irish, or anything...

Next Time: Why Cassandra Clare Might Just Be Jesus.

In A Nutshell: Bangable

Alright, so I've made a little promise to myself and that promise is to finish all the books that I own and haven't read, before the year is out. So, it's a nice little challenge that I'll have to fit somwhere into my schedule... not that I have a daily schedule or anything. I mean, I'm normal, so why would I have something like that? That's just ridiculous. Jeez...

The List:

1. Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick
2. Wither by Lauren DeStefano
3. The Angel Experiment (Maximum Ride) by James Patterson
4. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
5. Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard
6. Romeo & Juliet & Vampires by William Shakespeare and Claudie Gabel

So, I guess I should start Silence later on today...

Yeah, so you can probably see that I'm one of those girls. One of those girls who just can't get enough of the ol' YA fantasy romace stuff. And I have a major thing for vampires, so as you can imagine... Twilight.

Oh, yes. I said it.

I hate to admit it, but I was once one of those kids who'd rape Edward Cullen if I saw him in the street. And he wasn't Robert Pattinson, or anything, because Edward was real and one day, I'd kill Bella and marry him like nothing normal... Yup... Not some of my finer moments, but what can you do?

Luckily, I'm one of those fangirls who discovered the Mortal Instruments and realised, with mind-blowing shock, that there are better books out there! As impossible as it may have seemed at the time! Now, most books I've read, beat the Twilight Saga. But the movies... Well, see, I have this tradition of sorts with a bunch of my crazier cousins. We always - always - see the Twilight movies the first day they come out (we have a lot of memories based round these movies), but recently it's more of a "We have to do it because we've always done it" kind of thing, as opposed to "Holy mother of sweet Jesus - we're going to see Twilight!"
But there's no denying that they're entertaining movies, in all fairness.

So, back to books. Books, books, books.

I bought Wither today. It looks really interesting. It's different. No vampires, or werewolves - no mythical creatures at all, actually... Bit odd for me.

And as for Silence, here's Amazon's run-down:

The noise between Patch and Nora is gone. They've overcome the secrets riddled in Patch's dark past...bridged two irreconcilable worlds...faced heart-wrenching tests of betrayal, loyalty and trust...and all for a love that will transcend the boundary between heaven and earth. Armed with nothing but their absolute faith in one another, Patch and Nora enter a desperate fight to stop a villain who holds the power to shatter everything they've worked for—and their love—forever.

I've read the entire Hush Hush Saga and all I can say is that Patch is... fwoah.

Now, 'fwoah' is an impossibly powerful word. In that word is contained so many other words and expressions. I will explain it in depth someday, but in a nutshell, it means 'bangable', to be blunt. If I had to chose my favourite of the notorious YA hunks, it would be a toss-up between Patch Cipriano and Jace Wayland. But of course, neither could win.

Why?

Because my heart's always going to belong to Jem freaking Carstairs.

I love that guy. So, as a warning, my reading list up there is going to be messed up bigtime when Clockwork Prince comes out. I've had it preordered from the Book Depository since May and it's not even coming out till December 6th (*tear*).

And that brings us on to my Cassandra Clare addiction... How about we don't deal with this right now... It's difficult to talk about...

Over an' Out ;)

Next Time... Fwoah: An In-Depth Definition.

Babylonian Grammar Nazi

What am I even doing? This is insane... But I'm going to follow through with it.
Why?
Because I am insane.

So, this is a blog. It's my blog and I can do whatever the hell I want with it. I can put whatever the hell I want on it. I am the Overlord of this blog.
And I like it. I like it a lot... 
I did a little dance there, by the way, like a wiggle. It's my Ultimate Overlord Wiggle. It was amazing.

Right, so let's get this straight. I babble. I think I was born in Babylon - I swear to God. Except I'm not Babylonian, which is kind of awkward... But I tend to digress. It's an affliction almost as bad as being a caffeine addict, a Grammar Nazi and a bit of a sociopath - all of which I am, but I'm like a really nice sociopath. I don't want to kill anyone. It's fine.

So, I'm going to write most things on this blog and I'm going to enjoy it, but God help the poor souls who read it... (Psst! Yes, that does mean you.)
I like reading (expect book reviews and freak-outs about books), I notice a lot of really weird things (expect a lot of really weird things), a lot of things annoy me (expect rants), and I write. the writing's the first thing I should've mentioned because I can talk a lot when I get started on my writing, so expect a lot of things about that.

But I mean, this could work. It could be fun. If it isn't, I think I'll just go back to sleeping at night, but hopefully it won't come to that. So... I need to get up at eight and unfortunately being trapped in this mortal form forces me to get some rest. It sucks. But I mean... these things happen.

Over an' Out ;)