Hi all, sorry to leave you all in the dark for so long, getting back on track took a little longer than I thought. For starters, I thought for sure I would get some blogging and/or writing done over the break but low and behold being back at my parents house in central Canada, I was not allowed to use my microsoft word because someone else in the house was using a microsoft project on their computer. That's what you get when you install the same OS on three computers.
But that wasn't the only reason writing was not done. Family stuff and activities with friends seemed to be happening everyday and soon enough it was time to fly back out east.
Oh well, I am back now so no worries. I return to the land of snow and crows, leaving behind the big cities and the constant happenings. I do not regret my decision.
Anyways, now on to the real reason why you all read my blog, an update on Hunter. Although I said I did not get any writing done over the break that does not mean I did not get some done before and afterwards. During study breaks I did some editing, finally fixed the page layout that was pissing me off, and wrote a tiny bit. Coming back I enlisted my friend who is working towards a Bachelor of Arts specifying in English to read over certain passages to make sure what I'm saying in them is clear and that it is grammatically correct. After much confusion, both of us referring to different things using the same word namely, she understood what I was asking of her and readily helped me fix one glaring problem in my more recent passage.
One problem I find with writing, is that when you want the characters to travel, you have to be careful -especially if you've never been to the locations in which you want your characters to travel to. For example, I've been to England, Scotland, Ireland, and the USA; all of which I could easily pick a location and not worry too much about proper description since most of the places I would pick are still quite clear in my mind (because I've taken so many pictures). However, I've decided not to send Kat and West to any of those places. Instead, I have sent them to, wait for it, Verona, Italy.
As much as I love Italy and I would like to go there someday, I'm quite clueless to the actual layout of the city. Any and all help in this department would be appreciated, not because I'm too lazy to look up pictures for it, but I think it would be more beneficial to hear a description from someone who has actually been there.
Luckily though, with my novel being set somewhat in the future, description of some buildings can differ, but I still would much prefer to hear how Verona looks now and compare to how it might look in like 40 years after various supernatural beings have taken over.
Although right now I have hit the dreaded stalemate of the story -that is where it is nothing but boring information that, unfortunately, needs to be there to advance the story... there are usual a good number of these- I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel and my good friend West is helping me move it a long. Yes, I do like to think of my characters as real people, for that, I feel, helps give them more personality.
Kat's as helpful as soggy mop to moving these parts a long, but she is key to the plot so I cannot simply stick her in a corner and tell her to wait until it's done -though I wish I could at times.
Anyways, enough about that. Just wanted to let you all know that YES I am still alive and working diligently on Hunter.
Now for another part that you all have been waiting for, book recommendations. YAY!
Today's book is Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel -which was given to me as a Christmas present from one of my sisters. There are not enough words in the human dictionary to describe how much I love this book. The story is based in the 1500's, during the reign of King Henry VIII of England, and follows the life of a cunning man by the name of Thomas Cromwell and his own rise to power during this time. I fear if I get started in trying to summarize the plot I will not be able to stop and thereby ruin the story so I shall leave it at that. Honestly, a great read!
And for you classic lovers, I do recommend Ovid's Meamorphoses, a collection of myths and stories from the Greek and Roman period. It contains a creation story, the story of the first werewolf, Lycaon, Pygmalion, Perseus and Andromeda, and the fall of Troy. From my own opinion, though I enjoyed the book, it is a good read, not a great one. Though that may differ depending on what one likes to read.
And finally, for the history lovers. Although I am not finished it... frankly I'm only on the first chapter, but nonetheless I am enjoying it, Lindsey Hughes last historical work, The Romanovs. Although more of a textbook than the other two I am referring tonight, it's an interesting read for those who are into the history of the Tsars and of Russia. I will add more information on the text as I read more, but like I said I am still on the first chapter.
With that, I shall leave you, as I always do.
Happy reading!
K. A. Becks
