A Parallel World: Your Turn (KaLyn)

Photo credit: João Silas on Unsplash

As you know from Laurie's post on Tuesday, she and I were both at Realm Makers this past weekend. It was amazing! I came away with fresh ideas and renewed excitement for my middle-grade science fiction novel.

As I dig into edits this week, I'm looking for ways to include more world-building details about the parallel version of Earth featured in the book. It shares a common history with Earth that deviates after the tenth century, but this fact is too subtle in the current draft.

Part of what makes parallel dimensions fascinating to me is the idea that changing one detail or event can impact every aspect of life and development that occurs after the change and the infinite possibilities of those changes.

Imagine if fire never existed in our world. How would it change where we live, our houses, and our clothes? And what about our food - how would it change what we eat? After all, fire has been the primary cooking method for most of human history.

Consider also all the expressions and stories that include the word fire or other words that have to do with fire, like smoke, ash, flame, etc. How would they change?

How do you imagine our world would be different if fire never existed?

Portal Time: Your Turn (Julie)

Alright readers, let's have some fun. If books were portals, which book would you love to be sucked in to for a day? 

Are you a sci-fi geek and want to end up in a story like Ender's Game or War of the Worlds entrenched in high tech gadgets or fighting aliens?

Maybe you prefer the fantasy realm? Learning magic at Hogwarts, live in an underwater community, setting foot in Hobbiton, or hanging out with the fairy tale characters we all know and love?

Or perhaps you want to experience our world in the future like in Scythe or The Hunger Games?

This is a momentously hard question for me to answer. One book for one day?? Right now it's a tie between Harry Potter and Fablehaven. Two of my favorite series. I mean who wouldn't want to roam around Hogwarts and sit in on Professor McGonagall's class? Or learn how to fly a broomstick? Then again, who wouldn't want to visit a magical creatures's preserve and meet all those exciting magic beings? Both would be jammed packed with adventures and cool characters. 

But then again to travel over Middle Earth!!! *Sigh* too many. But now that I've had to chose, what about you? What book calls to you?

Organizing Your Life: Your Turn (Jill)

This week, I'm up to my neck in graduation events. Any of you who have been through a graduation knows what it's like. In fact, just yesterday, my oldest set up her college classes for her first semester--I can hardly believe it.  Amid the plans for baccalaureate, graduation, rehearsals, and parties, writing has been pushed to the back burner. (Not writing makes me slightly cranky, but I know that I'll have ample time this summer.)

I've always used a planner to keep a semblance of order to my days. But this week caused me to break open a brand-new pack of Post-its, and the sticky squares now decorate many surfaces in our home. It made me wonder: what do many of you do to keep chaos from taking over?

I've heard some people use bullet journals. While they look like fun, it also looks like more work, having to pencil in all my lists of things to do in coordinating colors with fancy headings. My husband uses phone apps -- I'm just not technologically savvy enough to figure it out.

So I'm sticking to my planner/Post-it method. What works best for you? Let me know in the comments!

Your Turn: Gadgets and Gizmos (KaLyn)

It's no secret that science fiction has introduced many gadgets and gizmos long before they were a reality: cell phones, in-ear headphones, virtual reality games, electric cars, etc. (If you're curious to discover more, check out Gizmodo's infographic covering the various ideas that went from science fiction to science fact.)

Of course, there are also those that have yet to become a reality despite the best efforts of many - like the hoverboards in Back to the Future. While the hoverboards on the market currently are fun to ride, they still don't actually hover above the ground.

Personally, I'm waiting on teleporters to become a part of everyday living. There are some intriguing prospects out there in the field of quantum mechanics, but it'll be awhile yet before anyone can walk into their living room and say "Beem me up, Scotty."

What about you, any science fiction inventions you're hoping will become a reality?

Are You Your Character? (Julie)

Do you see yourself in your main character? Or maybe your mc is someone you wished you could be or do things you wish you could?

Do we manifest our desires into our main character intentionally or unintentionally?

I was asked once if I modeled my heroine after myself. At first I said no, but then I stopped and thought about it. And my answer changed. She does happen to have a few similar physical and character traits. And she will go on wild adventures and see fantastic places. Totally things I want to do but won't be able to, at least not to her degree. And certainly not the same types of places and adventures. She gets chased by ogres. I don't think I'll have that adventure. I hope anyway.

When I first began fleshing out my main character, I didn't realize that I put a bit of myself in her. But now, knowing her better and looking back, I see it much clearer. For example, my heroine has a talent for the bow. I have always found archery fascinating. I haven't picked up one since I was young, but I'd love to be proficient (like Katniss in Hunger Games).

In my case, I unintentionally put a bit of myself into my main character.

What about you? Are you your character?

Reviews: Your Turn (Jill)

 A few days ago, I was on Facebook following a thread concerning appropriate reading material, in particular YA fiction. If any of you have read any YA lately, sometimes it reads more like adult fiction--very adult fiction.

If that YA novel you picked up is for a younger family member, say a son or a daughter, you may be giving them more of an education than you thought. This is one of the reasons I'm a big proponent of reading what my kids read (but that's another blog post for another time).

Although I check reviews for my reading choices, I also use them for my youngest daughter. She loves graphic novels, but some of them have sexual situations, graphic violence, and other questionable content I know she's not ready for.

Because I usually buy books for Easter instead of candy (although a few jelly beans and chocolate bunnies may find their way into the baskets!), Goodreads and Amazon reviews have proven invaluable when I'm making my purchases.

What about you? Do you use them? How do they help you? Or do you use a different method/site when choosing your reading material?
Let us know in the comments below!

Your Turn: Must-Dos During the Holiday Season (Julie)

Bob Hope in The Lemon Drop Kid

Thanksgiving has passed, and it’s time to think about Christmas. I don’t know about you, but the day after Thanksgiving, when I felt like I could move again, out came the Christmas decorations. As I hung my stocking with care, and decorated my tree,  holiday tunes played merrily in the background. Songs from greats like Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby and some newer artists like Mandisa and The Piano Guys. Once it was all finished, I fixed a nice cup of hot tea and put on The Lemon Drop Kid.  If you’re into classic movies, this is a must see as it’s hard to beat Bob Hope and all his antics. Dressed as Santa, he and the leading lady stroll arm in arm through the streets of New York singing Silver Bells. Of course, at some point, there has to be a White Christmas night, where I can only but dream of a white Christmas since subtropical islands don’t see snow. I’m not sure how many will agree with this one, but one of my must-watch every Christmas is the Muppets Christmas Carol. There’s something so fun and likeable about this version.

We all have our traditions and must-dos during the holiday season. Even in Japan I still cling to certain traditions. Like singing along to Nat King Cole’s O Holy Night or Louis Armstrong’s Zat You, Santa Claus? Watching my favorite Christmas movies, and at some point, drinking some wassail! If I lived in the States, I’d add one more thing to my must-do list...riding around looking at Christmas lights! There’s a few here, but not much.

The above is only a tiny taste of what I love about Christmas time. What are some of your must-dos during the season?

Your Turn: Great Expectations? (Jill)

After much waiting, our family finally sat down Sunday night to watch Wonder Woman. I was very excited. I grew up watching the  television series, and when my girls discovered the reruns, we would watch them as a family.

I loved gorgeous Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, and Chris Pine did a good job as Steve Trevor. But can I just say how underwhelmed we were with the storyline? Also, the CGI at the beginning was painful to watch -- thankfully, it improved for the climactic fight between WW and Ares. And some of you may know my feelings on HEAs (Happily Ever Afters). They are necessary. In. Every. Way. I won't go into detail in case some of you haven't seen it yet, but suffice to say, my family and I debated several better endings after we saw it.

I felt this way about the Divergent trilogy, too. I read that series, rooting for the MC and the love interest to the very end. And when I reached the last chapter of Allegiant, I felt betrayed.
So here's my question: what movie (or book) did you feel could've been done better? Maybe not just the ending, although that is a factor, but the book as a whole?
You know both of my choices, so please share yours in the comment section below.