Monday Muse: SAIL - AWOLNATION

Fun and exciting song! I first heard this song watching this exact clip. I LOVE Nanalew and Meekakitty. They do their own music videos in which awesome things happen and they're just hilarious. When I first saw the video I was like, "Aw, pretty Nanalew in the rain!" But then there's crazy faces and death...Or implied death (Cause Nanalew would never kill Meekakitty, they're besties). I figured you'd all think I was off my rocker for putting this video up, especially since there's been a rash of dark Monday Muse videos. I tried really hard to find a video version that wouldn't make you all think I was silently crying out for help or something, but alas, I again disliked the sound quality and the other videos. AWOL Nation's own video is disturbing, so I just give up trying to be PC. Please note the bright happy colors and dramatic representation of lovely young artists! And, despite the strangling bit the faces are pretty dang funny...Enjoy!



Lyrics:
Sail!

This is how I show my love
I made it in my mind because
I blame it on my A.D.D. baby

This is how an angel cries
I blame it on my own sick pride
Blame it on my A.D.D. baby

Sail!
Sail!
Sail!
Sail!
Sail!

Maybe I should cry for help
Maybe I should kill myself
Blame it on my A.D.D. baby

Maybe I'm a different breed
Maybe I'm not listening
So blame it on my A.D.D. baby

Sail!
Sail!
Sail!
Sail!
Sail!

La la la la la la oh!

La la la la la la oh!

Sail!
Sail!
Sail!
Sail!
Sail!

Sail with me into the dark
Sail!
Sail with me into the dark
Sail!
Sail with me into the dark
Sail!
Sail with me, sail with me
Sail!

Feature Friday: Esther Friesner

Have you ever met someone who is just a unique diamond-in-the-rough kind of person?  I've decided that's the kind of person Esther Friesner is.  Esther has been getting published in the SciFi/Fantasy realm for years, but she only just recently started writing historic YA novels, most specifically the Princesses of Myth series.  I've seen Esther on panels at Lunacon for years and I've always thought she was interesting to listen to.  This year I had the pleasure of being on a panel with her and that was quite a great experience.  This year I learned that Esther is a fellow Connecticut author, a lover of anime, and that she loves hamsters; but I didn't get to know the true Esther until I asked her to become a Feature Friday author and I read her info page on her website.  Holy moly what a fun info page to read!  It's a little too long to copy and paste onto the blog, but I encourage you to take a look here.  Even if you don't get a chance to read her bio page, I hope that this interview is enough for you to get a taste of Esther's personality and creative vision as an author. 

INTERVIEW:

A.L.:

All your heroines tend to be strong roll models for the readers you set out to write for. How much of this is intentional and how much is just your own inclination for that kind of character?

Esther:

It just happens because I like that sort of character and that sort of person. I hope I never set out to use a character as a lecture platform or a pulpit! I don't like reading what I call A Valuable Lesson characters and I doubt most readers do either. I also think that strong characters are more interesting, especially female ones, because it's never been easy--and still isn't--to be a strong woman in any society.

A.L.:

Your new book, Spirit’s Princess, is about a Japanese historical figure named Himiko. Can you tell me why you chose her?

Esther:

I don't remember when or where I first heard of Himiko. I know she's one of the illustrations in an Osprey "Men at Arms" series book. I do recall being fascinated to learn that she--not a warrior-queen but a shaman--managed to unite the warring tribes of Yayoi-era Japan, and that this was not just a legend since her existence is attested in the Chinese chronicles of Wei. Foreign historians gain nothing by glorifying the leader of another nation, especially not if said leader were purely imaginary. She was real, all right, a unifier and a peace-bringer. (BTW, she exchanged tribute with China and archaeologists have found evidence of this exchange. Very interesting!)

A.L.:

When it comes to choosing which YA book you write next, do you decide to choose an area, time period, or a particular historic figure/event first?

Esther:

I choose my heroine first, not her era or country, though to be more accurate, I choose at least three young women whose lives and histories interest me enough to set me wondering about what their girlhoods might have been like. Then I take my ideas to my editor and we pick one. The good part is, I am equally interested in writing about any one of the three or I would not suggest them, so it's win-win-win for me no matter which one, er, wins. :)

A.L.:

What kind of research did you do to prepare to write Himiko’s story?

Esther:

Books and Our Friend the Internet. There aren't many books available about Himiko, but the one I chiefly used was excellent. I am very thankful for all the online resources available concerning daily life in Himiko's time, Yayoi-era Japan. I also owe thanks to the Japanese Tourism Office in New york for maps and beautifully illustrated brochures. Finally, I am happy to say that I've been lucky enough to visit Japan twice and on my second trip was able to travel beyond Tokyo. I would love to do so again, and hope that my next journey will allow me to visit a reconstructed Yayoi village, about which I have only read online. It looks wonderful!

A.L.:

I’m assuming you’ll go along with the two-book-standard for Himiko, so we should expect a second book in her series, but after her, who do you think will be your next heroine?

Esther:

There is definitely a second book about Himiko, Spirit's Chosen.

And for my next heroine in the Princesses of Myth series, I am hoping to take readers to Ireland of the Iron Age in order to share the adventures of the girl who grew up to be the redoubtable Queen Maeve. She was quite the kickbutt character, probably able to give young Helen of Sparta powerful competition, but trust me, I've got some powerful surprises and twists in store for her! [Cue Author's Gloating Laughter here.]

A.L.:

Do you see yourself writing in another YA genre anytime soon?

Esther:

I'm having too much fun writing my YA historicals right now to turn to another genre, but you never know.

A.L.:

If you walked into a Japanese restaurant, what would you order?

Esther:

YUM! I love Japanese food.

I would order the following: miso soup; assorted sushi (I prefer roll style and my preferred kinds include, but are not limited to: tuna, salmon, yellowtail, cucumber, any combinations of the above featuring avocado, scallions, other veggies, and roe, but I am open to sampling new and untried varieties); rice balls, especially stuffed with ume (pickled plum); oshinko (assorted pickled vegetables); seaweed salad; udon (a specific type of noodle); green tea; sake.

Please note that I would not order all of these for one meal. I just don't want to leave out any of my favorite dishes. (Except I fear I might have done so anyway. There are so many good things! When shall we go?)

A.L.:

If you could give one piece of advice to budding authors, what would it be?

Esther:

May I give more than one?

Don't give up.

Recognize that your work is valuable and that you deserve to be paid for your talent and effort.

Don't take rejection personally. You are not being rejected, it's just that one piece of your writing was not a good "fit" for that particular editor/publication. Try submitting it elsewhere. Write more. If your submission receives a criticism from one editor, it might be no more than a matter of that person's taste, but if your submission receives similar criticisms from more than one editor, you might want to consider rewriting it.

Don't fall for any of the "We want to publish your book/be your agent!" scams out there. Reputable agents do not charge fees for trying to sell your work to a publisher; they receive a percentage of the money you receive once they do make that sale for you.

Beware of "contests" that charge entry fees.

If you aspire to become a professionally published author, remember the wise words of James Macdonald: "Money flows toward the writer."

A.L.:

What would you say is the most difficult part of writing a historical novel?

Esther:

The hardest part is making sure that I don't let my heroines act like 21st century young women who are playing dress-up. This means that sometimes they may accept as normal certain parts of their culture that we would find horrible.

Case in point: All three of the cultures about which I have written so far--ancient Egypt, Minoan-Mycenaean Greece, and 3rd century Japan--were slave-owning societies. It would be artificial for my heroines to declare "Slavery is wrong!" unless they first had the opportunity to think about it and the personal experiences that would bring them to this realization naturally.

And I get to give them those experiences. :)

A.L.:

Out of your three YA heroines (Helen, Nefertiti, and Himiko) which is your favorite? Likewise, whose story was the most interesting/fun to write?

Esther:

No contest: All of the Above, for all different reasons.

Never ask a mother to name her favorite child. :)

A.L.:

Some of your best baddies have been women; do you like writing female baddies more than male? Or is this just a coincidence?

Esther:

It's coincidence. I am an Equal Opportunity Baddie-Employer! I will admit, it can be a great deal of fun to write a really juicy villain's part. (Dracula is so much more interesting than Van Helsing!)

If you delve into history, you'll find plenty of examples of notorious baddies both male and female. Unfortunately, when they're a part of history rather than historical novels, they do real damage.

A.L.:

If you could be a particular female character (mythical/real) who would you be? Why?

Esther:

Off the top of my head, I'd pick Eleanore of Aquitaine. She was an independent ruler, she had the most marvelous real-life adventures, she traveled widely, and she lived into her eighties or nineties.

She could have had better luck with her husbands, though. Can I be Eleanore without that part of her life where her second husband, Henry II of England, imprisons her for years and years? Yes, it was a very comfortable imprisonment, but still--!

But she did get out eventually, and went on to make her own happy ending.

Or so I like to imagine, and for me, imagination's what it's all about!

Esther Friesner

Web: http://princessesofmyth.com/

THE GIVEAWAY!
For this Feature Friday giveaway we have a real treat!  Esther has provided two advanced reading copies of her new book, Spirit's Princess, as well as some autographed book plates.  The giveaway will run from April 20th to the 25th as part of my Showers of Books Giveaway Hop.

Spirit's Princess: Himiko the beloved daughter of a chieftain in third century Japan has always been special. The day she was born there was a devastating earthquake, and the tribe's shamaness had an amazing vision revealing the young girl's future—one day this privileged child will be the spiritual and tribal leader over all of the tribes. Book One revolves around the events of Himiko's early teen years—her shaman lessons, friendships, contact with other tribes, and journey to save her family after a series of tragic events. Once again, Esther Friesner masterfully weaves together history, myth, and mysticism in a tale of a princess whose path is far from traditional.

Read Goodreads Reviews
Buy Now on Barnes and Noble
Buy Now on Amazon

Showers of Books YA Giveaway Featuring Esther Friesner

 

THE GIVEAWAY!

For this giveaway we have a real treat! Esther Friesner has provided two advanced reading copies of her new book, Spirit's Princess, as well as some autographed book plates. The giveaway will run from April 20th to the 25th.

Spirit's Princess: Himiko the beloved daughter of a chieftain in third century Japan has always been special. The day she was born there was a devastating earthquake, and the tribe's shamaness had an amazing vision revealing the young girl's future—one day this privileged child will be the spiritual and tribal leader over all of the tribes. Book One revolves around the events of Himiko's early teen years—her shaman lessons, friendships, contact with other tribes, and journey to save her family after a series of tragic events. Once again, Esther Friesner masterfully weaves together history, myth, and mysticism in a tale of a princess whose path is far from traditional.

Read Goodreads Reviews
Buy Now on Barnes and Noble
Buy Now on Amazon 



TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

Enter the giveaway using Rafflecopter.  Hit the green "Do It" buttons, follow the prompts, and hit the green enter buttons when you're done. (You may have to log in using Facebook to do this). There will be two winners (selected by Rafflecopter). I will contact the winners via email. This contest is open to international entrants.

Monday Muse: Kyla La Grange - Been Better (official video)

I really love this song. It has a soulful folkie kind of seventies appeal to it. The video, while it goes with the song, is kind of dark and disturbing. I'm not the biggest fan of it, so I tried to find a better video. Alas, the other videos were either live or had bad sound quality. You can just listen and not watch if you'd like. :)



Lyrics:
Tell me, none of your longings
I don't need them, or you
And leave me, none of your wisdom
I don't need your lies, or your truths

I've been better, when the sky was red
And a face like yours couldn't make me scared
I've been better, with the things I've said
When I took the lead instead of being led

Feed me, none of your lines
I won't fall for them, 'cause I'll lose
And hold me, to none of my words
I don't mean them, when I'm with you

And the cars streak past with a life inside
Why is my life in your eyes?
And the windows glow with the hearts they've known
Why is my heart never mine?

I've been better, when the sky was red
And a face like yours couldn't make me scared
I've been better, with the things I've said
When I took the lead instead of being led
[x2]

I've been better, when the sky was red
And a face like yours couldn't make me scared
I've been better, with the things I've said
When I took the lead instead of being led
[x2]

I been better, be

Autism Awareness Blog Hop/Giveaway

This giveaway/hop is to help bring Autism Awareness to the readers at large. I have a couple of friends as well as some friends who have family with Autism, so it's a close thing to me. Even I didn't entirely understand what it was until I did some research. This morning, I wrote up a nice big informative blog post and was quite proud of myself. Then I tried editing it, somehow managed to delete it, and then didn't hit the undo button in time for the auto-save to make the deletion permanent. GRRR... Unfortunately, I don't have enough time to re-post what I had, so I have to do just do links. :( Sorry guys. If any of you would like to share information or stories, please feel free to leave a post!

These are my top sites for information and assistance:
Autism Fact Sheet
Wikipedia
Autism Speaks
Autism Society

THE GIVEAWAY:
The winner can select any one of the following novels:

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

Enter the giveaway using Rafflecopter. This hop runs from 4/11/12 to 4/17/12. Hit the green "Do It" buttons, follow the prompts, and hit the green enter buttons when you're done. (You may have to log in using Facebook to do this). There will be one winner (selected by Rafflecopter). I will contact the winner asking for their choice. This contest is open to international entrants.

Monday Muse: Sick Puppies - All The Same lyrics

This song has an old 90s feel to it. Mayhaps that is why I like? Enjoy!

Multiple Alternate Realities Convention

Come crazy o'clock tomorrow morning, I shall be boarding a plane to Ohio to attend MARCON (Multiple Alternate Realities Convention).  Before you get a confused face, yes, I do belong as a guest author at this convention.  Why?  Let's see...I write alternate world steampunk.  in Scar-Crossed, my YA paranormals create and move through portals into other realms.  My YA cyberpunk, The Anansi Inheritance, deals with a virtual reality RPG.  My urban fantasy series, The Will of the Fallen, deals with a parallel world where the biblical occurrences took a very different turn.  I'm also an author...So 75% of my daily existence takes place in a fantasy world. :D

I'm attending with two of my author friends, Stella Price and PJ Schnyder.  This should be interesting, seeing as I've never been to this con or any con like it.  It's also happening over Easter!  I didn't even look to see when this con was happening when I signed up for it and purchased my plane ticket.  I just kind of figured no one would plan a con over a holiday weekend.  Oops.  My poor mom!  I felt so horrible calling her up and telling her I wasn't coming for Easter dinner!

Anyway, I'm going to be on four panels: Costuming the Victorian Aesthetic, Paranormal Romance, Steampunk Lives in Literature, and Good Villains.  Considering two of the panels are late tomorrow night, it might be interesting to see just how multiple alternate realitied my brain is at that point. o.O  No joke, I get super loopy when I'm overtired and consequently hopped up on caffeine.  It's actually pretty funny...

Despite that, this con is definitely a break from last weekend's (I-Con), where I was flying solo and on nine panels.  Let's just say that sending a girl with anxiety and road-rage issues to Long Island on her own is a bad idea.  I got through it okay...So did the other drivers.  I'm learning to be Zen.  *Pats self on back*

I shall be back next week with Monday Muse and the Autism Awareness Giveaway/Hop.  Starting the week after that, I'll have a couple of non-con weeks, so there will be some more in-depth, writing related posts.  Look forward to some fun Feature Friday Authors as well!

-A.L.

Muse for Thought

This is actually kind of a serious muse post. I was a little leery about even posting this video, but I want to know what other people's thoughts are. I'll be candid about my own thoughts:

When I first heard this song, it was on a friend's I-Pod. I told him, "I love this song," cause I admittedly do. He told me that I should watch the video, that I would be like, "What? What's going on?" But that it was still a cool video.

So, I watched it.

The beginning got me a little freaked out because the thing that makes me most uncomfortable are people who abuse children. I was biting my nails and hoping this guy wasn't a creeper. But he was. What surprised me was this little girl's ability to fight back. I was like, "You go, girl!" I loved the idea of a child being given the ability to fight back and I'm obviously a huge advocate of the paranormal, so I liked her being able to have special skills that kept her safe.

As I watched, I grew more aware of the sheer violence this child wielded. Her eyes were black, as if the power controlled her or she, herself, was evil. That, and the demon...Which has it's own set of uncomfortable symbolic implications. Despite that, part of me was thinking of a dark guardian angel. That is until the end...When it's implied that she ruthlessly kills him. Even though the violence in this child frightens me and I don't think any child should be exposed to or use that kind of violence, part of me is like, "Good."

Because don't I always think that people who abuse others should be put out of their own and everyone else's misery? There's a reason why prisoners who are convicted of abusing the helpless and innocent are considered the lowest of the low, even by other inmates. There's a reason why they suffer a terrible role reversal when the bars are locked. I'm not saying it's the right thing, I'm just saying that I see the logic driving the system.

At the very end, the little girl is marking off her tally. She, or the demon, has done this before. Someone's a vigilante. What I'm wondering: "Is the little girl a slave to the demon or is the demon helping her protect herself and others like her from predators like this man? Does she welcome this violence or does it consume her? Is she just a result of her surroundings, the prey become predator?"

YA Inspired Photoseries

I love this blogger's YA inspired photo series.  Check it out!

The Real Fauxtographer

Monday Muse: Ellie Goulding - Lights (Bassnectar Remix)

Oh, I love this song. I love this song so much that I created a new radio station for my new novel and made this the first song. For those of you who are interested, I shall be adding additional music to the "Anansi Chamber Music" station over the next few months. It will have a more industrial/futuristic feel to go along with the cyberpunk! Happy Monday.

Lyrics: "Lights"

I had a way then losing it all on my own

I had a heart then but the queen has been overthrown

And I'm not sleeping now the dark is too hard to beat

And I'm not keeping now the strength I need to push me

You show the lights that stop me turn to stone

You shine It when I'm alone

And so I tell myself that I'll be strong

And dreaming when they're gone

'Cause they're calling, calling, calling me home

Calling, calling, calling home

You show the lights that stop me turn to stone

You shine It when I'm alone

Home

Noises, I play within my head

Touch my own skin and hope that I'm still breathing

And I think back to when my brother and my sister slept

In an unlocked place the only time I feel safe

You show the lights that stop me turn to stone

You shine it when I'm alone

And so I tell myself that I'll be strong

And dreaming when they're gone

'Cause they're calling, calling, calling me home

Calling, calling, calling home

You show the lights that stop me turn to stone

You shine it when I'm alone

Home

Yeah, hee

Light, lights, lights, lights

Light, lights, lights, lights

Light, lights, lights, lights

Light, lights

You show the lights that stop me turn to stone

You shine it when I'm alone

And so I tell myself that I'll be strong

And dreaming when they're gone

'Cause they're calling, calling, calling me home

Calling, calling, calling home

You show the lights that stop me turn to stone

You shine it when I'm alone

Home, home

Light, lights, lights, lights

Light, lights, lights, lights

Home, home

Light, lights, lights, lights

Light, lights, lights, lights

Home, home

Light, lights, lights, lights

Light, lights, lights, lights

Home, home

Light, lights, lights, lights

Light, lights, lights, lights