Blindsided

Well, I've really been dreading this post. I am not sure how to say this or even if I'll do it right. Our family has been blindsided with a tragedy. I know you and many others may not see it that way, but to my family this is a devastating tragedy.

Two weeks ago our Dad passed away. It just feels so unreal to write it still. We didn't see it coming. There were no signs. He didn't act anything other than his normal self. But there was something wrong and now Dad has gone to be with the Lord.

Life has completely changed. I don't know quite how to describe it other than this is some alternate universe we're stuck in like the Twilight Zone and when we escape this Dad will be there and everything will be okay again.

Can I ask you something? Will you pray for us? People have been asking, if you need anything, let us know...well, what we need is prayer and a lot of it.

Must See Films

I have a new list of must see films that I hope you will also be looking forward to and if you have seen them, please, tell me your thoughts on the film(s).

The Hunger Games

I have yet to read the Hunger Trilogy, but the film has none the less sparked an interest in me. Mainly because I have this weird interest in totalitarian regimes {Nazi Germany in particular} and this one in a way uses the practice of eugenics. Something I was glad it was bringing it to light, however I doubt that was the author’s intentions. Anyway, it reminds of me of 1984, so I have to see it.

Act of Valor

Now, you should not be surprised by this. I first saw the promo to this while watching the Superbowl. I thought, wow, this looks pretty cool! I did my research and my family also subscribes to Entertainment Weekly which updated about this project. I already knew I was going to have to see this film {I believe it to be based on a novel by Tom Clancy}, but get this, it features active duty Navy SEAL’s. Uh, can it really get any cooler than that? Well, it can…the directors not only had the SEAL’s act in the film, but they actually took the Sailor’s advice on what was correct and how to make this factual. I love an accurate military film and it’s about time one was made!

October Baby

Just from seeing the promo on tv, I knew I had to see this. Not to mention one of the actors from “Courageous” is in this film. Awesome! The plot seems to be a young lady in search of her birth mother. Can anyone say, tear jerker??? I still have to see it! I’m a sucker for films/books that make me cry.

The Artist

The first mention of a modern silent film has me hooked! Just look at how fabulous the cinematography looks. The costuming is just marvelous. And it’s an indie film, I’m also a sucker for those indie films. {Bella! Saints and Soldiers! Just to name a couple.} Of course I’m also a vintage addict and love period films, needless to say, I have to see this film.

My sister and I are movie nuts and sometimes there are movie obsessions {The Help being the latest}. I don’t have a lot of them, but there’s at least one on here which I’m obsessing over. Can you guess which one that is? ;-)

Ladies and Gents??

So what ever happened to actual ladies and gentlemen? I’ve been pondering this for a while now and have to ask. And I’ve always been quite the vintage enthusiast, loving all the class and glamour of the eras of elegance. But all of that just seemed to fade away. In this generation of reality TV and sexting, it seems like ladies and gentlemen are becoming extinct. I know I’ll probably get some flack for this, but it’s something that has really been bothering me.

Lately I was referred to as “a piece of trash”. Now this man isn’t a gentleman in my opinion, because in my belief no man and/or gentleman would refer to a lady as “a piece of trash”. I refuse to reduce myself to petty name calling. I thought it would be childish, unladylike, and lowering my standards to his level of person.

I’ve pretty much been called every name in the book. By both men and women and none of them were acting ladylike/gentlemanlike in their behavior. My parents have raised me and my sister to act ladylike. Now, I may not be as classy my Mother or as my Grandma’s, but I learned from them and my Mother on how a true lady should act.

This post isn’t about how people dress or lifestyle, but just one of manners and behavior. Anyone else as perturbed as I am about lack of manners and proper behavior?? Call me old fashioned, but I wish for the long lost eras where women were ladies and men were gentlemen.

Reaching my goals {My WIP}

I would have to say it was about a year ago I began my current WIP {Sacrifices of the Heart} a novel set in early Victorian Indiana. It still needs a lot of work before I would think about letting others read it, but I’m rather proud of it.

Currently SOTH, my novel, is 170 pages {single spaced}, 26 chapters {including a prologue and an epilogue}, and 91,944 words. My goal is 95,000 words, about 10,000 more than planned.

Isn’t it cool when you not only reach your goals, but exceed them?!

I’ve written two novels. {SOTH will most likely be the first one I finish.} And I can’t believe I was able to write over 90,000 words. I’m not sure how it happened or when it happened, but slowly my WIP grew. The first draft was 70,000 {or a little over} and I believe 75,000 words would be considered a novel. Again, how did that happen exactly???

I give all credit to God!

The novel isn’t quite complete. I have a couple of more chapters to add and I try and keep them at least 3,000 long. Sometimes they are 4,000, on good days that is. Then some chapters are under 3,000 and I would very much like for them to be longer.

That is about all for now! Good luck fellow writers with your WIP’s!

I Write Like....

The other day, my sister found this neat little website where your own manuscript is analyzed. Actually it’s much more than that. Your work is compared to that of classic and critically acclaimed authors past and present.

Mine was somewhat interesting {not nearly as interesting as my sister’s}. My first manuscript I had analyzed, my WWII fiction novel…was compared to author Gertrude Stein.

I then had my other novel {my current WIP} analyzed. The Victorian edgier piece was then compared to....author Margaret Mitchell.

Honestly, I have not read the any of the works or either author. Their work seems pretty different than what I am currently writing. But it’s pretty cool to match up with some pretty big names!

If you are interested in finding out whom you write like, visit I Write Like page; take either a paragraph or a full chapter of your manuscript and copy and paste it into the box provided; then just see who comes up. I’m pretty sure you’ll not only be surprised by the results, but pleased.

Update - Act of Valor

A little while ago I posted on the newly released film, Act of Valor starring active duty Navy SEALs. I had thought at first, because it was rumored, that a film was going to be made about the SEALs and supposedly the Pentagon gave out top secret info about the Osama bin Laden take out for said film. I was so wrong about Act of Valor being that film. And I’m so thankful. Because I’m just itching to see this!

It’s no secret I’m a huge military supporter and I love watching films about our military. But most of them totally miss the point. They don’t actually pay attention to detail and accuracy of the film; it’s just about a great piece of cinematography. That’s all good and well, and yes, they succeed. {Take Band of Brother’s for an example, it’s loaded with inaccuracies.} But really piss people like me off at the same time.

Last week’s issue of EW {Entertainment Weekly} did an article/review of Act of Valor and I was so excited to hear the SEALs themselves were showing the actors how it’s done. Live ammunition is used during the film and active military…Can this movie get any cooler???

I have no doubt that this film will be added to my “Film Obsession” list. And it’s a short list. I think the last time I was this excited about a film was after I heard about The Help {If you haven’t read/seen it, DO IT! It’s a wonderful combination of heart and comedy.} And the fact that it’s rated R has absolute no effect on me. There’s not much difference between PG13 and R rated movies anymore. :-/

Anyway, I look forward to seeing this and hope you will too!

Act of Valor

Now, I've heard some misleading facts about this film. Supposedly the Pentagon let out top secret info so this film could be made. However, there are some active duty SEAL's in here....which might be a contradiction to the whole Pentagon rumor.

Anyway, I'm a huge advocate for US military and the more I see the ad (yes, I first saw it while watching the superbowl) I REALLY want to see this film. What are your thoughts? Are you going to see this film? If so why, if not, why? I'm curious as to what other's are thinking.

As for me, like I said, I want to see this because I love our military. I want to support them. And if this somehow would put them into any danger whatsoever, I refuse to watch it.

The song in the add, by Eminem, what? So now I can't believe I actually like a song from him. Well, actually only the chorus.

Okay, enough rambling...it's your turn.

{Btw- although I enjoyed this years Superbowl - Giant's fan here- they are not heroes! Our military put their lives on the line and they do it because they love America and to protect you and me! That's a hero!}