Friday, April 29, 2011

This Week . . .


Hi, everyone! It’s finally Friday, and that means that it’s time for an update on what I’ve been doing!

·        My stories aren’t going very well. I only got a page or so written this week. Fortunately, I’ve almost gotten all three of my main characters together! I am hoping to get a lot done next week, and even more done after school is over.
·        Speaking of school, the Standardized Test is quickly approaching, and though I’m not very excited about that (I may know the material, but it’s a big test), I am excited about what comes after the Standardized Test: the end of school!
·        I have decided that there is no such thing as the perfect weather, at least not around here. It always seems to be either too hot or too cold. This is because it’s been very hot summery weather this past week, and before that it was really cold, at least for spring. Oh well. At least it’s warm and not snowing.
·        I have found something new to read at last! The book is called Black, and it’s the first in a four-book series by Ted Dekker. Although I haven’t been able to read it yet, between school, some other books I’m rereading, what little writing I’ve done, and doing stuff on the computer, I’m very much looking forward to it!

Well, that’s about it. Thanks for stopping by!
-Sarah

Thursday, April 28, 2011

The Sacrifice Part Five

Hi, everyone! Sorry for posting so late again! I hope that once school is over, this will be fixed and I’ll start posting earlier. Anyway, I’m here, with the next part of The Sacrifice!

Part Five
Abbie watched as her mother bustled about the small room, pulling things from the shelves and putting them in a basket. “What are you doing, Mama?” she asked.
            Abbie’s mother, Bethany, turned to her daughter. “I’m getting ready to go somewhere, Abbie.”
            Matthias appeared in the doorway. “Dear, you can’t be serious about this. You know what the Elders will do it they find out.”
            Bethany shook her head. “Matthias, you worry too much. He’s a friend of the family. It’s not against the law. Goodness knows that He’s been hanging there long enough. Besides, they won’t dare bother me. I’m friends with most of their wives.”
            Matthias sighed. “Bethany, dear, you know the laws as well as I do. According to the Elders, He is a criminal, and anyone who takes His body down will be treated as an accomplice, no matter who the person’s friends are.”
            Abbie broke into the conversation. “Mama, where are you going?”
            Bethany resumed her work as she answered her daughter. “I’m going to get the Prince of Peace’s body, or what’s left of it after several days in the open, and see to it that His body is taken care of properly.” She turned to Matthias. “Don’t you dare try to stop me, Matthias. The Prince of Peace was the truest friend any of us had. It’s the least I we could do to give Him a proper burial instead of letting His body hang there for the crows.”
            Matthias sighed. “Very well, dear, but be careful.”
            Bethany smiled. “Of course, Matthias. When am I not careful?”
            “May I come, Mama?” Abbie asked.
            Bethany shook her head. “Not this time, Abbie.” She sighed. “Not this time.”
            Abbie frowned, but she didn’t protest. It won’t do any good anyway. She glumly left the room, leaving her parents to prepare for Bethany’s task.

What will happen next? Will Bethany complete her task without getting in trouble with the Elders? To find out, check back soon for Part Six! In the meantime, please comment! I’d love to hear what you think!
-Sarah
Update: Part Six!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Pathway

Hi, everyone! Yes, I know that usually I post a review today, but I decided to switch it to a picture, because of an unfortunate lack of new reviews. Since I know that several people want to see more of my photography, I decided to post a picture.




This is a picture of a stone pathway at a local public garden. I entered it in a contest last year, but it didn't win anything. What do you think of it? Please comment and tell me! I'd love to know!

-Sarah

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

The Sacrifice Part Four


Hi, everyone! Sorry for posting so late, but I’ve got the next part of The Sacrifice! Hope you like it!

Part Four
Matthias couldn’t look away. He wanted to, but at the same time he wanted to watch for any sign from his Prince. So he gazed, spellbound, as the Prince of Peace hung, the simple rope noose cutting into His neck. Matthias could do nothing. How could this happen? What has become of the Great King’s promise? His mind raced, remembered the words of the Prince of Peace. “I am the Way back to the Great King, the Truth, and the Life for those who believe. No one comes to my Father unless it is through me.
Matthias looked up at Him. The Elders were moving off, satisfied that their so-called enemy was gone. The Prince of Peace was still, and Matthias knew that he would move no more. The man fell to his knees. “Why, Great King?” he cried aloud. “Why? You said that You would send a Way back to You; You sent the Prince of Peace, but now he hang at a rope’s end. How could You let it end this way?”
Abbie’s small voice broke into Matthias’s misery. “Papa? Please don’t get upset. Please, Papa.”
Matthias looked back at his daughter. Oh, Great King, how can I tell her?
Abbie’s eyes were filled with tears. “Papa, please don’t get upset; please don’t. Didn’t you say that the Great King is in control? Won’t He take care of us?”
The simple words hit Matthias like a hammer. Of course! The Great King has a plan! He has to. Matthias knew that he was probably grabbing at straws, but any hope was precious now that the Prince of Peace was gone. Matthias looked once more at the still figure of his Prince. The dark clouds broke for a minute behind Him, letting the sun shine through. Matthias rose to his feet. I have to go on. It’s what He would’ve wanted. Picking up Abbie and placing her on his horse, he swung up behind her. Glancing one last time at the still figure on the hill, he spurred his horse to head for home. I must go on.           

What will happen now? Is the Great King’s plan destroyed? There’s only one way to find out: check back soon for more! In the meantime, please comment with your thoughts! I’d love to know!
-Sarah

Monday, April 25, 2011

Easter Trips and Spring Sunshine: My Week

Hi, everyone! I’m back, with an update on what I’ve been doing, and an explanation of why I switched the normal update schedule for today and Friday. Why? Well, read on to see!

·        My story is going ok. I’ve got two of the three girls together on arguing terms, at least, and the third is on her way. Unfortunately, I didn’t get much work done on it this weekend, only a paragraph or so.
·        What I did do this weekend, however, makes up for that. You see, we went to White Sulpher Springs this weekend. White Sulpher Springs is a hotel run by Officer’s Christian Fellowship, and it has retreats for various holidays throughout the year. We’ve been there several times in the past, so I was very excited about going. Unfortunately, it rained the first day, so that wasn’t much fun. Fortunately, it was warm and sunny the second day. While we were there, I got to see one of my pen-pals, which made the weekend much better and made up, more or less, for the rain.
·        On that note, spring weather is finally here! It’s supposed to be in the eighties all week here! Although, that might be more along the lines of summer weather. I, personally, don’t really care. I’m just glad that it’s warm at last.
·        I have found two new books to read: The Emperor of Nihon-Ja by John Flanagan, and The Thirteen Clocks by James Thurber. The former is the final book in one of my favorite series, Ranger’s Apprentice. The latter is a new book which I received a recommendation on from a friend. I am very excited about these, since I’m haven’t read anything new in weeks.

Well, that’s about it. Thanks for stopping by! Please comment and let me know how your Easter was. I’d love to know!
-Sarah   

Friday, April 22, 2011

Pansy Face

Hello, everyone! I'm back, with some of my photography! I know that normally I'd be posting an update on my week today, but I'm switching today's entry and Monday's entry, for reasons I'll explain on Monday. So, my picture for today!






This is a picture I took a while ago. It was the first picture I entered in a Photo Club contest. I named it PansyFace because it looks like it has a face on it. What do you think of it? Please comment and let me know! I'd love to hear your opinions!

-Sarah

Thursday, April 21, 2011

The Sacrifice Part Three

Hello, everyone! Ready for the next part of The Sacrifice? I hope so, because I’m posting it right now! In case there’s anyone who needs a refresher, here’s Part Two. And now, Part Three!

Part Three
Abbie frowned as she watched Matthias from the window. Where’s Papa going? She glanced back at her mother. Mama’s busy. She’s not watching me. In that split second, Abbie made her decision. I’ll do it! Quietly, she hurried to the door, grabbing her cloak from a hook on the wall as she went. She slipped out the front door and walked quickly through the courtyard. A crowd was passing along the street in front of the house, and Abbie joined them. Maybe they’re going wherever Papa went. Inwardly, Abbie was sure that Matthias had gone to find the Prince of Peace. Abbie frowned. Why did the people seem mad at him? He’s nice. She remembered the first time the Prince of Peace came to her home. She remembered how her mother and father had promised to serve Him in any way they could, and how he had always had time for her and her friends. Why would anyone want to hurt such a nice man?
            The crowd moved on, carrying Abbie along. Shuddering, Abbie realized where they were going: Death Hill. Death Hill was a barren hill just outside of town with a single, ancient tree at the top. The worst of criminals were hung there. Abbie remembered the one time she had seen someone hung, and she shuddered. Maybe they killed the wrong person and they want the Prince to bring him back to life. That could be it! Abbie had heard tales of the Prince of Peace healing sick or hurt people and even raising a girl from the dead. That must be it. Abbie hurried on, but something inside told her that she was wrong.
            When Abbie reached the hill, she saw Matthias standing beneath a tree, at the bottom of the hill. She ran to him. “Papa, what’s happening?”
Matthias frowned, a concerned look on his face. “What are you doing here, Abbie? I told you to stay at home. You shouldn’t be here. It’s not a good place for you to be.”
Abbie looked up at her father’s face. “I came to find you.”
Matthias sighed. “You shouldn’t have come, Abbie.” He put his arm around her. “Now that you’re here, you have to stay with me. Understand?”
Abbie nodded and watched the scene at the top of the hill. The chief of the City Elders, the group who ruled the city, was saying something. Abbie shivered as she felt the stern man’s black gaze sweep over her as his jet eyes scanned the crowd. Who is he looking for?  The Chief Elder finished speaking, and turned to the Prince of Peace, who was seated on an old horse, hands tied. A tall man nervously led the horse to stand beside the tree, and a noose was placed around the Prince of Peace’s neck. Abbie’s cry of horror was stifled as her father turned her away from the sight. She buried her face in his tunic, half-sobbing. This can’t be happening! It can’t!

What is happening? Is it what it seems like? What will happen next? To find out, check back soon! In the meantime, please comment and tell me what you think! I’d love to know!
-Sarah
Update: Part Four!

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Light Lines

Hello, everyone! Since I forgot to post a picture on Monday, I'm posting one today instead. Like last week's picture, this one will be a "before and after" set. Here's the before picture . . .






. . . . and the after picture.





Like most of the more abstract pictures I've posted, the after picture was created when I was playing around with filters in Photoshop. The picture is actually a picture of a ceiling light in our house. So, what do you think? Please comment and let me know!
-Sarah

Voyage of Slaves Review


Author: Brian Jacques

Adrift in the Mediterranean Sea, Ben and his loyal dog, Ned- cursed by an avenging angel to roam the earth forever- fall into the clutches of the slave lord Al Misurata. Thus starts a roaring adventure, ranging from the Libyan coast to the Italian border.

Survivla is a daily battle over land and sea as Ben and Ned gain good friends and encounter ruthless enemies in their quest for freedom. At times possessing nothing other than their wits, they must rely on each other to defeat the forces of evil.
-Summary from the cover of Voyage of Slaves


Characters: Very good! Ben and Ned are as amazing as ever, and the other characters are as colorful, entertaining, and interesting as the casts of the previous books have been. Al Misurata is especially well done, and he’s as evil a villain as you could possibly want.
5/5

Location: Good, but nothing particularly extraordinary.
3/5

Plot: Very good! The book’s single plot is exciting and full of suspense, with plenty of humor. However, it gets very sad at the end, for reasons I won’t reveal.
4/5

Other: I would definitely recommend this series as a must-read.

Overall Rating: 4/5

Series Rating: 4/5

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

The Sacrifice Part Two


Hi, everyone! Sorry for not posting a picture yesterday. I got so distracted by certain other things that I completely forgot. I will post a picture, as well as a review, tomorrow. Also, I will be posting a picture this Friday as well, and posting my usual update on my life on Monday.

Part Two
Matthias froze when they rounded the last corner and found the source of all the noise. No .  . . it can’t be! A crowd had gathered along the sides of the street, and they were jeering at a man being led down the center of the road. This, however, was not what shocked him. He had seen these harsh processions many times, and when he was younger and wilder, he had been a part of many such crowds. No, what hit Matthias like a punch to the gut was the man who was being led down the road, a man who had been Matthias’s dearest friend over the past months. Great King, no! It can’t be! This man was not an ordinary man. He was the Prince of Peace, the Son of the Great King. This cannot be happening! The Prince of Peace came to save us, to give us a way back to the Great King! He remembered how he had heard of people healed by the Prince of Peace; people brought back from the dead; hopeless people given hope.
            Abbie’s voice, small and frightened, broke into Matthias’s thoughts. “Papa? Why is everyone shouting at the Prince? You and He both said that He came to help us.”
            Matthias looked back at his daughter’s worried face. I can’t let her find out what’s happening. She’s too young, too innocent. He glanced back at the figure of the Prince of Peace, noticing the soldiers prodding Him, the blood streaming down his flogged back. The Elders’ work. I should’ve guessed. They’ve never liked Him. Suddenly, he wheeled his horse around. “Come on, Abbie. We’d better get home. I think a storm is coming.” He barely restrained himself from spurring his horse to a gallop, but couldn’t resist a canter. Behind him, he heard the sound of Abbie urging her pony on. I cannot let her see what is sure to happen.
            When the two arrived back at their home, Matthias sent Abbie inside, saying “Go in and find your mama, sunshine.” As soon as she entered the house, he turned his horse and sped away once more. I have to go find out what’s happening!

What is going on? To find out, check back Thursday! I apologize again for forgetting the picture yesterday. I’ll do my best to not let it happen again.
-Sarah

Friday, April 15, 2011

Names and Novel(la)s


Hello, everyone! Friday has finally come ‘round again, and that means it’s time for an update on my life!

·        My stories are going fairly well. I finished “The Sacrifice”, and I got some work done on my novel/novella, which I shall from now on refer to as The Call, despite the fact that I’m not sure if that will be the title.  I’ve done some explaining and figured out how to get my three main characters together in a situation where they’ll be on speaking (or at least arguing) terms, arguing terms being more likely.
·        I desperately want a new book by one of my favorite authors to come out. Ranger’s Apprentice #10 (John Flanagan), the title of which I can’t remember, is supposed to come out soon, as are the last Redwall book and possibly a new book or two by Bryan Davis, author of the Dragons in Our Midst and Oracles of Fire series. However, I haven’t seen these at the library or at any bookstores.
·        It finally feels like spring! The temperatures here have been in the sixties most of the week, and I’ve worn short sleeves every day except Sunday.
·        I, through the help of some people on the UG, came up with four name ideas for my bad guys, and from these four name ideas, I picked Black Tears as the name. I also decided to make a smaller elite group of these beings, called the Darkvells.

Well, that’s about all. Thanks for stopping by! Please comment! I’d love to hear what you think!
-Sarah

Thursday, April 14, 2011

The Sacrifice Part One

Hi, everyone! Welcome back to my blog! Since Rosa is over, I’m starting a new story: The Sacrifice. Ready? I hope so, because here’s the first part!

Part 1
“Abbie, your father wants to see you.”
            The golden-haired nine-year-old looked up at the older lady speaking to her. “Why, Mama?”
            Her mother smiled. “He’s waiting outside. You’ll see why when you go. Hurry and find him.”
            Abbie jumped up, her brown eyes sparkling, and laid the book she was reading aside. “All right, Mama.” She cheerfully skipped out of the family’s good sized home. In the courtyard, she saw her father standing beside his black horse. Behind the horse was a smaller palomino pony. Abbie ran the rest of the way to her father. “Papa! Am I allowed to ride with you now?”
            Her dark-haired father enfolded her in his strong arms. “Yes you are, sunshine. Excited?” His deep blue eyes twinkled as he smiled at his daughter.
            Abbie wriggled out of her father’s embrace. “Oh, yes! I am, Papa!” She hurried over to the pony. “Let’s go!” she exclaimed. Although Abbie had ridden in the stable yard behind the house many times, she had never been allowed to ride with Matthias on his excursions.
            Matthias smiled and helped Abbie into the saddle, then walked over to his own mount and swung into the saddle. “Ready, sunshine?” he asked.
            Abbie grinned happily. “I’m ready, Papa. Look, I can make her go myself.” Abbie made a clucking noise with her tongue and the pony began walking forward. “See, I did it!” Abbie looked at Matthias. “What’s the pony’s name, Papa?”
            Matthias urged his steed forward. “She doesn’t have a name yet, Abbie. After this ride, you can give her one.”
            Abbie nodded slowly. She knew all about her father’s view on naming horses and ponies. A name couldn’t be given until the horse or pony had been ridden by the namer. “Where are we going, Papa?” she asked.
            Matthias turned to look at Abbie. “Where do you want to go, sunshine?”
            Abbie bounced in the saddle. “Can we go to the sweet shop, Papa?”
            Matthias nodded and tugged his horse’s reigns to turn towards the town marketplace. “Aye, let’s go there, Abbie.
            Abbie’s smile got even brighter. “Thank you, Papa!” she exclaimed. She began dreaming of the cakes, rolls, and candy at the sweet shop. Suddenly, a commotion from up ahead broke into her thoughts. “What’s that, Papa?” she asked.
            Matthias frowned and spurred his horse to go faster. “I don’t know, sunshine. Let’s go find out.”
            Abbie frowned too as she urged her pony to a trot. Why does Papa look so worried?

What do you think so far? I know it’s not exactly the epic tale that I’ve posted thus far, but I’d love to hear your opinions anyway!
-Sarah
Update: Part Two is up!

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Poll Results: What Should I Post After Rosa Is Finished?

The Sacrifice: An Easter Story
  5 (55%)
The Treasure: The first written in my Tales of the Great Kign series
  0 (0%)
Halfling: The sequel to Knight's Quest
  4 (44%)
The Right Thing: A short story
  0 (0%)

Thanks for voting, everyone! The beginning of The Sacrifice will be posted tommorrow!
-Sarah

The Angel's Command Review

Author: Brian Jacques
"Master storyteller Brian Jacques is back at the helm with a double adventure: a perilous sea chase followed by a gripping escapade in the mountains of France!

Ben and his Labrador, Ned, castaways from the legnedary ghost ship Flying Dutchman, swore never to go to sea again- but a mishap in South America lands them aboard a French pirate ship with not one, but two vilainous sea captains in persuit. To make matters worse, Ben is still haunted by visions of Captain Vanderdecken, whose ghost seeks vengeance on the former cabin boy.

A daring chase through the shakr-filled waters of the Caribbean ends on the coast of France . . . from where a new adventure begins!

Ben and Ned flee the Pyrenees, where, with a new troup of friends, they find themselves confronting bandit gypsies, evil sorcery, even an avalanche!"
-Summary from the cover of The Angel's Command
  Characters: Excellent! Ben and Ned return, and they bring a whole host of colorful new friends and enemies, from the pirate captain Raphael Thuron to the British privateer Cap’n Redjack, from the strangely gifted artist Dominic to the evil Razan queen Maguda, and many, many more! Like the previous book, fans of Brian Jacques will be reminded of characters from the Redwall series in many places.
5/5   

Location: Ok. It’s clear and well done, but I didn’t find it particularly spectacular.
3/5

Plot: Like Castaways, The Angel’s Command contains two adjoining plots, both of which take place between the second and third part of Castaways. The first is a swashbuckling pirate tale, and the second is a no-less-exciting adventure in the mountains of France. Both plots are exciting and well done, with plenty of action and a nice amount of humor.
5/5

Other: The Angel’s Command is, in my opinion, the best book in the series. It’s definitely a book worth reading. However, some people may be disturbed by the appearances of Captain Vanderdecken.

Overall Rating: 4/5

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Alternate Ending for Rosa


Hi, everyone! It’s time for another story part! And, since the results of my “Should I Post The Alternate Ending of Rosa?” poll were 6 for and 1 against, I’m posting the original ending of Rosa: A Snow-White Remake. (For the ending I used, click here.) And now, the previously unreleased, mostly unedited, original ending!

Chapter Nineteen
At that same moment, Queen Leila was deep in conversation with Cullen. “Cullen,” she asked, “Are there any who are a danger to me?”
            Cullen hissed “Aye, my queen, there are those who would have you brought down from the throne right outside your door.”
            Leila gasped. “Do you mean my guards? I thought-“
            Cullen hissed once more, cutting Leila off. “Nay, not they guards. There are others.”
            Leila started to ask “Then who?” but the question died on her lips as her door and a tall, kingly man strode in. “Leila, “ he declared, “Your time for evil is at an end.”
            Leila’s already pale face got even paler. “Who are you?” she asked, her voice high and shrill.
            “I am Lord Alanal, eldest in the elven clan of Allë.” he said.
            At this, an angry look came over Leila’s face. “Guards!” she shouted, but no guards came. Instead, a smaller man, dressed in black appeared in front of her, his hand on the hilt of a dagger. 
He said “I’m afraid your guards won’t be coming for some time. They apparently decide that it was time for their afternoon nap. I may have helped the process along, but they’ll wake up in a few hours I’m sure.”
“Who are you?” Leila asked.
“Panthal, warrior of the Allë clan.” he replied. Then, he caught sight of the mirror in her hand, with Cullen’s face still in it, and he gasped. “Cullemanden!” he whispered, and turned to the others, who had com e crowding through the door. “It is a Cullemanden! We may have been mistaken in some of our calculations!” He turned back to Leila. “Where did you get this?” he asked.
“A man gave it to me one day. He said it would help me.”  Leila began to sob. “The man in the mirror made me do it. I didn’t want to become queen!”
No one said anything for several minutes, they just stood there and tried to digest this new development. Then, Rosa slipped up to Leila and asked “Why’d you try to kill me?”
Leila looked at Rosa and explained. “Cullen said that I was the most beautiful, and he would tell me if anyone was more beautiful than I. He’d warn me of threats and do other things like that.”
Lady Clarellë looked sadly at Leila. “He was trying to get you and all other members of the royal family killed so that he could emerge from the mirror and become king. I’ve seen it happen many times.”
Leila’s face suddenly turned purple with rage. She looked at the mirror  and said, between clenched teeth, “I will serve your desires no more!” Then, she hurled it across the room with amazing force. It landed it the fire burning on the hearth across from Leila’s bed. It lay there for a moment, then it exploded with a boom and a large puff of smoke. Everyone instinctively dove for cover.
When the smoke cleared, everyone came out of their shelter. Now one said a word. Then, Leila laughed. “I’m free!” she exclaimed. Then, she turned to the others. “Tell me what I can do to make it up to you!”
Prince Owen, Mandy, and Rosa looked at each other. Then Mandy said “Make it right with those you hurt.”

Epilogue
Well, Leila did make it right. She apologized to everyone she could, let out those who she had unjustly imprisoned, and resigned as queen. She left for the village she had come from soon after, and had a happy life there.
Rosa and Prince Owen finally told each other how they felt, and they were married on the day when they had first seen each other. After their marriage, they became the rulers of the castle and were known for their kindness.
As for Mandy, she was offered a position of high prestige. She, however, refused. Instead, she chose to remain as cook, for she had discovered that she loved that job. She stayed in the kitchen for the rest of her days, and made the castle famous for its plum pies and was always ready with advice and sugar cookies for those who needed them. And, whenever Rosa felt that being queen was too much pressure, she’d go down to the kitchen to see Mandy. Owen would find her several hours later cuddling with Mandy and eating sugar cookies, and all the kitchen servants suspected that he was the only king who had to ask the cook for his wife back.
And what of the elves? Well, they returned to their home in the forest and lived there happily for ages upon ages. However, they remained honored guests at the castle, and Rosa, Owen, and Mandy were always welcome in their clearing. And so, I guess you could say that everyone lived happily ever after.

What do you think? Did you like the ending I actually used or the original ending better? Please comment and tell me! I’d love to know.
-Sarah

Monday, April 11, 2011

M'n'Ms

Hello, everyone! Monday has come around, and that means that it's time for some more of my photography. This is a picture that I took last year for a photo contest.


Not particularly impressive, I know. However, when you use some special effects, it turns into this:






Different, isn't it? This is just one of many special effects available in Photoshop. Like my flower collage two weeks ago, I made this when I was playing around, seeing what I could do. So, what do you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
-Sarah

Friday, April 8, 2011

This Week . . .


Hail, all ye who cometh to my blog! Since today is Friday, it’s time for an update on my life!

·        My stories, sadly, aren’t going as well as I’d like them to be going. So far, I’ve only gotten the chase scenes and the attacking, but no answered questions. I hope to remedy this today or tomorrow, if possible. My Easter story isn’t doing much better, as I only have two scenes in part two. Fortunately, it’s a short story and I already have Part One written. Also, I finished typing Ovulum this morning, which is good. However, I need some help with one of my other stories. You see, I need a name for a certain group of bad guys. These bad guys are evil, twisted humans (and possibly elves as well) who, at the moment, wear all black, typically have hoods on so you can’t see their faces, and wield swords and some kind of taser-type weapon that looks like a black staff. If anyone has any suggestions, they would be much appreciated. (And please do not suggest “pretzel people.” Someone has already suggested that and the humor has worn off.)
·        I have started and finished Pilgrim’s Progress. It, quite obviously, went a lot faster than I expected. It was also a bit, dare I say it, boring. And while I’m quite aware that it’s an old book and an allegory, I highly prefer the Kingdom and Knights of Arretthrae series, both of which are by Chuck Black.
·        Now, the piece of news that I’m most excited about. As some of you may know and most of you probably don’t, I spend quite a bit of time reading the Webkinz Insider and Underground forums. These are two forums, the first of which is primarily for Webkinz-related stuff, though there’s considerably more than Webkinz on it, and the second of which is a forum for The Berinfell Prophecies by Wayne Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper, one of my favorite series. I have wanted to get an account on one or both of these for quite a while, and this week, I actually got accounts on both of them! My past week’s computer time, other than what I spent on my blog and stories, has mostly been spent exploring these new accounts. And, I like both of them even more than I expected to.

Well, that’s about it for this week. Please comment and vote in my surveys! I always like to hear what you think!
-Sarah  

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Rosa Chapter Nineteen and Epilogue

Hello, all! I hope everyone’s ready to read the next chapter of Rosa, because I’m posting it now! If you need a refresher, here’s Chapter Eighteen! And without further ado, Chapter Nineteen!

 Chapter Nineteen
At that same moment, Queen Leila was deep in conversation with Cullen. “Cullen,” she asked, “Are there any who are a danger to me?”
            Cullen hissed “Aye, my queen, there are those who would have you brought down from the throne right outside your door.”
            Leila gasped. “Do you mean my guards? I thought-”
            Cullen hissed once more, cutting Leila off. “Nay, not the guards. There are others.”
            Leila started to ask “Then who?” but the question died on her lips as her door and a tall, kingly man strode in. “Leila,” he declared, “Your time for evil is at an end.”
            Leila’s already pale face got even paler. “Who are you?” she asked her voice high and shrill.
            “I am Lord Alanal, eldest in the elven clan of Allë.” he said.
            At this, an angry look came over Leila’s face. “Guards!” she shouted, but no guards came. Instead, a smaller man, dressed in black appeared in front of her, his hand on the hilt of a dagger. 
 “I’m afraid your guards won’t be coming for some time. They apparently decide that it was time for their afternoon nap. I may have helped the process along, but they’ll wake up in a few hours I’m sure.” He said.
“Who are you?” Leila asked.
“Panthal, warrior of the Allë clan.” he replied. Then, he caught sight of the mirror in her hand, with Cullen’s face still in it, and he gasped. “Cullemanden!” he whispered, and turned to the others, who had come crowding through the door. “It is a Cullemanden! We may have been mistaken!” He turned back to Leila. “Where did you get this?” he asked.
“A man gave it to me one day. He said it would help me.” Leila’s tone was defensive. “And it has! I’m now queen!”
Lady Clarellë looked sadly at Leila. “He was harming you more than helping you. The mirror warns you of threats, correct?” Leila nodded, and Lady Clarellë continued. “Many of the threats were not threats at all, but instead people who wouldn’t have harmed you. He was trying to get you and all the royal family killed so he could emerge from the mirror and take over the throne.”
Leila’s face turned purple with rage. “No!” she cried. “Cullen would never do that! He says I’m beautiful! He said that no one would harm me if he could prevent it!” She tried to rush to the door, but found her way blocked. She turned and tried to reach the small window, but then she tripped. The mirror cracked, and a fiery smoke emerged, filling the room. Everyone except Leila rushed for cover. There was a loud boom, and the room shook. Then, the smoke cleared. Leila and the mirror were gone.
Rosa was the first to speak. “What happened?”
Lord Alanal shook his head sadly. “The mirror cracked, and the spirit within could not survive, but it took Leila with it.”
Everyone was silent for a minute, and then Skyellë asked “So what happens now?”
Prince Owen answered her, his voice quiet. “We make things right.” 
And now, since there’s only the short epilogue left, I’ll post that too.

Epilogue
Well, they did make things right. After some dispute, it was decided that Prince Owen would rule until there was time to sort out who was the rightful ruler. And he, with the help of Mandy, Rosa, and the Allë clan, did his best to right Leila's wrongs. Those who were unjustly imprisoned were set free, and anything else that could be done was done.
After this process finally came to an end, something wonderful happened. Prince Owen and Rosa told each other how they felt. They were married on the anniversary of Rosa’s healing, the healing that was brought about by love. The day later became a national holiday in that land. Their marriage also solved the problem of who was the rightful ruler. Together, they ruled as king and queen, and they were known even beyond their kingdom for their great kindness.    
As for Mandy, she was offered a position of high prestige. She, however, refused. Instead, she chose to remain as cook, for she had discovered that she loved that job. She stayed in the kitchen for the rest of her days, and made Aren Castle famous for its plum pies and was always ready with advice and sugar cookies for those who needed them. And, whenever Rosa felt that being queen was too much pressure, she’d go down to the kitchen to see Mandy. Owen would find her several hours later cuddling with Mandy and eating sugar cookies, and all the kitchen servants suspected that he was the only king who had to ask the cook if he could “please have his wife back?”
And what of the elves? Well, they returned to their home in the forest and lived there happily for ages upon ages. However, they remained honored guests at the castle, and Rosa, Owen, and Mandy were always welcome in their clearing. And so, I guess you could say that everyone really did live happily ever after.

Well, Queen Leila and Cullen are both gone, Rosa and Owen are together, and everyone can finally relax. So, what did you think? You can tell me in the comments, or in the survey that I’ll be putting up soon. Please don’t forget to vote in my other surveys too!
-Sarah

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Castaways of the Flying Dutchman Reveiw

Author: Brian Jacques

The Flying Dutchman! The legend of the wind-tattered ghost ship and its mad sea captain, cursed to said the seas forever, has been passed down throughout the centuries. But what of the boy and his dog who were trapped aboard that ship? What became of them?

Sent off on an eternal journey of their own by an avenging angel, the boy and dog roam the earth throughout the centuries in search of those in need. Braving wind and waves and countless perils, their travels lead them to Chapelvale, a sleepy 19th-century village whose very existence is at stake. Only by discovering the buried secrets and solving the dust-laden riddles of the ancient village can it be saved. This will take the will and wile of all the people - and a very special boy and dog.

This is Brian Jacques as you have never seen him before!
-The summary from the cover of Castaways of the Flying Dutchman

Characters: Very good! Ben and Ned are the type of characters that you can’t possibly help liking, and the rest of the characters are diverse and colorful. Readers familiar with the Redwall series will find pleasant reminders of favorite characters in the cast of Castaways of the Flying Dutchman.
4/5

Location: Very good! There’s plenty of description, and although there’s no map, it’s very clear all the same. 5/5

Plot: This book seems to have two or three plots within the main plot of Ben and Ned’s adventures, a fact which makes it seem like there are two or three books in one. All the plots are well done and clear, and I like how the focus switches between Ben and Ned and the bad guys.
4/5

Other: I will note that this book is slightly violent, although there is not graphic violence. Also, some people may be slightly disturbed or frightened by the last scene on the Flying Dutchman.

Overall Rating: 4/5

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Rosa Chapter Eighteen

Hi, everyone! Ready for Chapter Eighteen of Rosa? I hope so, because I’m posting it right now! (If you need a refresher, here’s Chapter Seventeen.) And now, on with the tale!

Chapter Eighteen
Rosa quickly found the servants’ stairs, and they all hurried up to just outside Queen Leila’s chambers. However, there they ran into another problem. That problem came in the form of two burly guards stationed in front of Queen Leila’s door, who weren’t too keen on letting in uninvited guests. The group soon learned this when they tried to persuade the guards to let them in, a conversation that went something like this.
            “Let us pass!’ ordered Prince Owen.
            The guards laughed. “Not happenin’ little half-royal pup. We’re under direct orders from the queen not to let anyone in!”  One guard scoffed.
            “Yeah,” agreed the other, “Now go away before we decide to make you leave.”
            The quality of guards that the queen merits has obviously gotten worse. Mandy thought.
            Suddenly, Panthal appeared in front of the guards, holding a pair of daggers like he knew how to use them. “I would suggest that you not say that.” he said, his voice soft but dangerous.
            The two guards looked uncomfortable for a moment, and then laughed again. “It’ll take more than one man with a few little knives to scare us!” they scoffed. “Now leave us in peace before we decide to chase you away!”
            Panthal sighed, and looked at Lord Alanal and Prince Owen. “Should I?” he asked.
            They both nodded.
            Panthal turned back to the guards. “Well, too bad for you I’m an elf, not a man.” Then, almost casually, he expertly threw the two daggers so the hilts hit the guards’ heads heavily. The guards looked bewildered for a moment, then their eyes crossed and they dropped to the ground.
            Rosa gasped. “Did you kill them?”
            Panthal shook his head. “Nay, they’re just knocked out. They’ll wake up in a few hours with humongous headaches, wondering what hit them.” Then, he looked around and asked “Everyone ready?”
            They nodded, and Lady Clarellë and Mandy almost simultaneously said “Aye.” They were all eager to confront Queen Leila.

What will happen next? Will our friends be able to defeat Queen Leila? There’s only one way to find out: check back soon when I post the next chapter! In the meantime, please comment and vote on my surveys. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
-Sarah
Update: Chapter Nineteen and the Epilogue are up!

Monday, April 4, 2011

Chilly Cherry Blossoms

Hi, everyone! Yesterday morning, I went with Daddy to a semi-nearby public gardens-type place to take pictures of the cherry blossoms there. Unfortunately, it was very cold there and the cherry blossoms weren't completely open. Also, it was quite windy. I managed to get one or two pictures worth editing, which I shall post here.

Cherry Blossom Branch HDR

Cherry Blossom HDR

Non-HDR version of the above picture
As you can see, my pictures ended up being rather blurry because of the wind. Still, please tell me what you think. I'd love to hear your opinions!
-Sarah

Friday, April 1, 2011

Books, Music, Tales, and a Few More Books: My Week

Hi, everyone! Friday’s here again, so it’s time for me to give an update on what’s going on with me! So, without further ado, my week in short.

·        I finished Morgoth’s Ring on Sunday or Monday, which I can’t quite remember. As it turns out, there’s a lot more than I thought that you can’t find in any other books, to my knowledge. Tolkien, apparently, had two ideas for The Silimarillion, and the unused one is found in Morgoth’s Ring. It's actually rather interesting, believe it or not, as is the (slightly confusing) piece on where Orcs came from.
·        I am beginning to wonder if someone in the music group BarlowGirl has read The Door Within. One of their songs, which happens to be one of my favorites, is called “Never Alone”, which has a large connection with this series. Of course, it could be nothing, like my “someone in the Newsboys likes The Lord of the Rings” theory.
·        My story is going fairly well. It’s got so many mysteries that even I’m not entirely sure of everything that’s going on, my one of my character’s dreams just got even stranger, and another character has spied on my creepy guys in black, finding out their plans . . . though she has no idea what in the world they’re talking about. I plan to have a lot of attacking going on soon, as well as a nice-sized chase scene or two and a bit of answering questions. As you can hopefully see, I’m having a lot of fun writing this.
·        I plan to either reread The Swiss Family Robinson or read the full version of Pilgrim’s Progress this month. Why? Well, for the past three or so months, I’ve been setting monthly reading challenges for myself, the purpose of which is so that I’ll have extra encouragement to read some of the longer, more difficult-to-get-through books in a slightly more reasonable amount of time. If I didn’t do this, I’d probably still read the books, but reading them would take a few months, like reading The Book of Lost Tales did, instead of one month. The Book of Lost Tales, by the way, is basically the very beginnings of The Silimarillion, and it took me most of the summer to read it. I do not plan to repeat this incident, since the reason for the lengthy time was not that it was a long book (The Silimarillion is far longer, and I finished it in a month), but simply that I was putting off reading it.
·        As many of you can probably guess, Rosa: A Snow-White Remake is almost over. For this reason, I will have two surveys up very soon. One will be “What Story Should I Post Next?” The other is a little more complicated. You see, Rosa actually has two endings, one that I actually used and one that I ended up “discarding”. However, I do still have both versions. So, if you want, I could post the original ending so you can see which you like better. Please vote in both of these surveys; I really do want your opinions.

Well, that’s about it. Please comment and vote! I’d love to hear what you think!
-Sarah