Wanderer's Pen: 2012

Interview with Sybra (Starbloods)

If you liked this post, come back every Saturday for more writing advice, character interviews, book reviews and more! On Sundays I have Soundtrack Sundays where I post a new score piece, Tuesdays are Tea Tuesdays with tea reviews, Wednesdays I have Wonderful Word Wednesdays where I post a new vocabulary word, and Fridays are Fan Fridays where I post tags and other goodies. To help support my dream to be an author follow this blog, like me on Facebook, watch me on deviantART, and follow me on Pinterest and Twitter. If you want to know more about my books check out them out here. Thank you! :)

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Interview with Rouyn, Sybra & Meldar (Starbloods)

Sybra (left), Rouyn (middle), Elasa (right)

Me:

Hey, everyone! I know it's been a while, but I'm finally back with another character interview! Today's is with Rouyn, Sybra and Meldar from my fantasy series Starbloods and hopefully we'll have no party crashers. *turns to Meldar, Sybra and Sybra, smiles* Hey, guys.

Rouyn:

Hello.

Sybra:

Good day.

Meldar:

Good day, but I have a question. Why I am I not in this picture?

Me:

Well, this is just a picture of the Iadlonu.

Meldar:

*crosses arms* So just because I'm not an Iadlonu, I don't get a picture?

Me:

*sighs* I was planning to drawing a picture of you, Rouyn and Sybra and another one of Lenerys.

Meldar:

All right. Good. Just because I haven't touched my blood with an intelligent animal doesn't mean I'm not important. *shoots look at Rouyn*

Rouyn:

*clamps mouth shut*

Meldar:

*frowns at Rouyn*

Me:

Well, anyway... A reader named "Curious" asks: "Can she (Sybra) tell us more about nymphs? Are they like the nymphs in Narnia? She (Sybra) sounds really cool." Since Sybra doesn't know what Narnia is I'll answer that question. No, she's not. I have nymphs like those, based on the ones from Greek Mythology which is also where C.S. Lewis got his idea for his.

Sybra:

What nymphs is the reader talking about?

Me:

Waterspirits and Treespirits.

Sybra:

Oh... No, I'm not a treespirit or waterspirit, but my race is cousin of waterspirits and mer-people. Of course we live on land, hence no fins or gills. *wiggles fingers and motions to neck* Oh and thank you for thinking that I'm cool. That means good, right?

Me:

*nods*

Sybra:

*looks up at ceiling* Something else about nymphs... Oh. We lived in abbeys in secluded places. We are solely female race, though we can take husbands if we want to.

Rouyn:

*glances at Sybra*

Meldar:

*glances at Sybra, looks at window* That songbird is very disturbed you cut the bushes around her nest.

Me:

*glances at window* Okay. I'm sorry. It wasn't me. It was my mom. Anyway... *looks at laptop* We also have a question from "Lyssa:)". She says: "I have a question for all you guys. How do you know all each other?" And she thinks you're really pretty, Sybra.

Sybra:

*blushes deep purple* Thank you.

Meldar:

Well, Rouyn is my brother, so I'm stuck with him. We met when he was a baby.

Rouyn:

And how we met Sybra... well you'll have to read our book whenever Victoria gets it finished. *frowns at me* We can't spoil everything in these interviews.

Me:

I'm working on the first Subsapien book right now, but I promise I'll work on yours in the next couple of months. With the writing challenge I'm doing, I can only write in one book for it to count for right now.

Rouyn:

*crosses arms* Hm.

Me:

Now for some other questions... Most of these are random, but they should be fun. *smirks* Beef or chicken?

Sybra:

I don't eat meat.

Meldar:

Sylphs don't eat any birds whatsoever and we don't have cows, but we do eat goat and fish.

Rouyn:

I've always wondered what bird tastes like though.

Meldar:

*wrinkles nose at Rouyn* You would want to try something that would disrespect our culture.

Rouyn:

*shrugs* You talk to birds and I don't. I guess I don't have that "connection" with them.

Me:

*sighs* Next question... Have any of you had any pets?

Sybra:

I have a dragon, but I wouldn't count her as a pet. You can see her in the picture.

Rouyn:

I have a pegasus, but I wouldn't count her as a pet either. You can also see her in the picture as well.

Meldar:

I've taken care of various injured birds for periods of time, but I suppose I haven't actually had a pet. I don't really have time for them.

Rouyn:

I kept some gecko's in Adoth's urns a long time ago, but one of the urns wasn't finished and Adoth fired it with the gecko still in there. *shifts in his chair* It made an interesting skeleton imprint on the bottom of the urn.

Sybra:

*frowns at Rouyn* That's mean.

Rouyn:

I was six!

Me:

Okay. That's all the questions I have for you all today. I hope all you readers enjoyed it. If you have questions for any of my character post them in a comment below and they'll be included in a future interview. You can check out more about their book in current projects, their book's Pinterest board, pictures I've drawn for the book on deviantART and fan art on my Facebook page. Keep posted for upcoming artwork. I've had a request for a full drawing of Lenerys so I'm going to attempt that. :) Wish me luck. Thanks for reading! :)

You May Also Like:

Interview with Meldar (Starbloods)

Interview with Meldar (Starbloods)

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Hot n' Cold

Rouyn-Plushie came with me to France
so now he is officially a world traveler. ;)

So you remember that post about me saying I'd be back the following week? Well, obviously that didn't happen. As soon as I got home from France, my mom told me we were going to Miami for a funeral. I'm sorry for the delay, but I've been super busy with the Mission trip to cold France and then the funeral at smoldering Miami. I will try to post another character interview soon.

Anyway, both trips were good. :) They had their ups and downs like any trip, but there were some really fun times. Starting with France...

My mission trip team and I got to spend a lot of time helping the missionaries and one thing we did was distribute brochures for the only protestant church in the area of a town north of Paris called Senlis. In France, most people don't even know a thing about Christianity.

Really cool thing is we ended up reaching over 30,000 people. :) So now 30,000 people have at least heard about Christ.

On the Paris note I got to go see the Eiffel Tower...

And the Notre Dame...

And on the light of Miami, it was sad about the family member, but on the latter half it was nice spending time with family I hadn't see in a long time and I got to go to the beach briefly, which I didn't think I'd do this year. :) So that was a blessing.

Another thing going on is that I'm doing a writing challenge by Go Teen Writers called 100 for 100. It's basically writing a hundred words for 100 days, which I've managed to do even during the trips. I'm a quarter of the way there now! :D

I will try to get another character interview out soon, but it's been taking a while to get back into the home pattern after not being home for two weeks. :P By request it will be an interview including Sybra. :) And I will try to get some more artwork out soon. :) Hope you enjoyed this blog post! Thanks for reading. :)

Monday, September 10, 2012

Interview with Sybra (Starbloods)

Sybra (Starbloods)

Me:

Hey all! I'm back with another character interview and today's is with Sybra from my fantasy series Starbloods.

Sybra:

*staring at my laptop screen over my shoulder* Why is a painting of a human being used as my picture for the interview?

Me:

*sighs* Like I tell my other characters, I just find pictures close to what you all look like. Her facial structure is similar to yours.

Sybra:

*purses lips* Hm. I suppose. Well, if the readers want to see a real picture of me, they can see the Art Gallery.

Me:

Yep. Well, anyway to the interview. Tell us a little bit about yourself, Sybra.

Sybra:

I'm a nymph and I've grown up in a Nymphian abbey in Ibreain. I'm also an Iadlonu and my iadlonuse is a dragon. I was trained to be both a warrior and a healer.

Me:

Cool. Tell us more about Nymphs.

Sybra:

Nymphs are the most powerful healers of our world. We can sense a patient's pain to know exactly where he is wounded within the body as well as on the surface and wound he or she may not even be aware of. We can also manipulate emotions and state of consciousness.

Me:

Interesting. Random question: What is your favorite food?

Sybra:

Hm... Out of all foods? Jam roll pastries the Head Mother taught me how to make when I was a child.

Me:

Cool. And what's your favorite fruit?

Sybra:

*crosses legs* Pomegranates. I like the juice from them. They're very healthy too.

Meldar:

*walks in with and eagle perched on his arm* Look at this. Isn't he beautiful?

Me:

*widens eyes* Whoa. Um. He is very pretty Meldar, but I don't think it's a good idea to have an eagle in the house.

Meldar:

*strokes eagle's chest with the bag of his pointer finger* He was hunting from atop the barren trees with ropes connecting them outside and he said he's allies with a white cat.

Me:

*shifts* Well, I'm glad he's not enemies with her. He looks big enough to eat her.

Meldar:

He said he's considered it, but an alliance is more beneficial for them both.

Me:

*sarcastic* Oh yeah... That's comforting.

Sybra:

*looks at eagle, smiles* He reminds me of the sea eagles at home. Unfortunately, nymphs cannot understand birds like sylphs can.

Rouyn:
*walks in* Did anyone see my knife? It was in my pack and now it's gone.

Me:
*shakes head*

Sybra:
I have my own knife.

Meldar:
So do I.

Rouyn:
*blinks at eagle* Where did that come from?

Meldar:
*frowns* I found him outside.

Rouyn:
*rolls eyes*

Me:
*sighs* Well Rouyn since you're here, you have a question.

Rouyn:
*smirks, crosses arms* Good. I'm on the way to having more than that clay-brain, Bryce.

Sybra:
*squints* Who's "Bryce"?

Rouyn:
*glances at Sybra* I'll explain later. Now for the question.

Me:
Lyssa(: asks, Who is Landora?

Rouyn:
*flinches, smiles* Well she is my pegasus and my best friend, but she is missing so I have to look for her. *smile fades*

Me:
*looks away, buttons lips* Well, I think that's all the questions we have today.

Rouyn:
That's all? *huffs* I need more questions to beat Bryce. *looks at laptop* Readers, ask me more questions. Bryce has had a head start.

Meldar:
*looks at laptop* Are there people in there somehow?

Me:
*inhales, lets breath out* I'll explain later.

Sybra:
I'd like some questions too and maybe I can get more than that Pro girl. Nymphs are better than humans anyway. *smirks*

Me:
*frowns* Hey.

Sybra:
I'm jesting.

Meldar:
*shifts weight from foot to foot* I wouldn't mind a question either...

Me:
That's the end of this interview. Commenting a few questions for Sybra, Meldar and Rouyn would make them happy. *winks*

Rouyn:
Helps us get more questions than the Subsapien characters.

Sybra:
Or at least equal.

Meldar:
*smiles* The Subsapien characters are almost as cocky as Rouyn. More questions for us would put them in their places hopefully.

Rouyn:
*shoots a glare at Meldar*

Me:
I hope you all enjoyed the interview. :) You can check out more about Sybra's book in current projects, her book's Pinterest board, pictures I have drawings for the story on deviantART and fan art on my Facebook page. A reminder that there is not going to be a blogpost next week, since I will be out of country, but I will be back with pictures. :D The next interview is still undecided. Would you all like to read an interview with Subsapien characters from Starbloods? Any character in particular? Thanks for reading! :D

You May Also Like:

Interview with Caleb Heagen (Subsapien)

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Summer Summary 2012!

So this Summer has been a pretty good one for me. :) I had a lot of stuff go on and a lot coming with the mission trip and pitching to editors at an upcoming conference, but two big things were meeting two Hunger Games cast members and going to DragonCon with my cousin.

At a nearby Walmart, there was a Hunger Games DVD release party and two of the cast members were there, Ethan Jamieson (D4) and Ian Nelson (D3). (Why did that sound like the beginning of some fairy tale? Lol)

After almost two hours waiting, I finally got their pictures...

Ethan Jamieson (left) & Ian Nelson (right)

And their autographs...

Rouyn-Plushie wanted to showcase. He's Team Katniss. ;) Ethan and Ian were both very nice and it was great meeting them. Totally worth the wait.

Saw Stan Lee...

And dressed up as Katara from Avatar: The Last Airbender (the cartoon not the movie)...

And got some pics with some other Avatar characters...

And I dressed up Rouyn-Plushie after I got home for you all's amusement ;)...

He wasn't happy. ;) Also FYI I'm actually a blonde. The brown hair's a wig lol.

I'm still working on rewriting Subsapien Biomech. About that contest, I didn't win, but there's always another one. :)

Not this week, but the next week there will be no post because I will be out of the country on my mission trip to France. Prayers would be appreciated for safe travels. :) I will be back with loads of pictures. :D

I hope you all are enjoying this blog. :) I want to make it enjoyable for you to read. I'm coming out with another character interview very soon. :) Thanks for reading! :D

Are you enjoying the interviews and the chapters? How was my first attempt at writing advice? Is there anything you would like me to blog about in particular? A particular struggle you're dealing with in writing? I can do my best to give some advice. A particular character you'd like to see an interview with or another interview with?

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Character Chatting: How to Do It and How it Benefits Your Writing

Most of you reading this are probably thinking, "What the heck is 'Character Chatting'?" I thought the same thing when I first heard about it, but let me tell you it is a very fun, helpful, and addicting activity for writers. My friends and I who do it find it helpful to test run our ideas; develop settings and characters; tap into the subconscious; and get our heads back into the writing mode after a hiatus.

Here's how it works:

You need:
1.) A laptop or computer
2.) A writing buddy with a laptop or computer
3.) An internet connection
4.) A Yahoo!, Facebook, Gmail account or any online account with an instant messenger

Basically, you chat with your writing friend on these accounts as your characters. You chat like they'd talk and move. My friends and I put actions and description between asterisks to separate them from speech. There are two ways to character chat that I've discovered. I call them the Yahoo! Method and the Facebook Method.

In the Facebook, you put the character's name before colons to define the speaker.
For example:
Sarah: *smiles* Hey.
Marty: How are you?
Sarah: *shrugs* I'm okay.
Marty: *sits beside her on the bench* What's wrong?
Sarah: Nothing.

My personal favorite is the Yahoo! Method, because instead of having to type the characters' names all the time, you pick colors for each character, which makes the chat box pretty. ;)
For example:

Tips:

1.) Have a plan! - Plan out a basic idea with your writing partner of what your characters are going to do. For example: Have a bad guy of your partner kidnap one of your characters, so your characters and her/his characters have to rescue them.

2.) Let the subconscious take its course! - Don't be afraid to go off plan, because the new plan may be much better than what you intended, which also goes with writing your novel.

3.) Force yourself to show! - If you've been studying the craft of writing for any length of time you've probably been advised to show not tell. My friends and I character chat with no interior monologue from characters to force ourselves to show our character's emotions. Interior monologue is good in books, but I think it's best to omit it in character chatting.

4.) Mix genres! - Let's say you write fantasy and your friend writes historical. Combine those characters and you could get an amazing adventure going on. :) How would a pioneer girl react to the supernatural powers of your wizard? How would your fantasy prince react to technology of modern day? Character chatting with characters of different genres can help you think out of the box for your writing.

5.) Visit each other's worlds! - You know that one setting in your book where you just can't get a clear picture? Try making your characters in the chats go there. This can stimulate you describe that area and help your brain kick into gear and finally clear the fog for that town, castle, or forest. Doing this also helps develop culture since in chatting you must describe it for your friend so they know what's going on. What terms do your people in the elf village use or your sci-fi freedom fighters?

6.) Save your chats! - You did all this awesome character chatting and now you don't want to let it go get lost in cyberspace. Keep them in a document so you can look back at them and remember that little idea that you thought up or that line of dialogue you want to steal for your novel. Yahoo! has a long chat history and you can copy and paste from the Conversation History.

Tip: Holding down Ctrl then pressing C copies text after selecting and Ctrl then pressing V pastes it super fast.

My friends and I have thought of a particular method for our character chatting, but do what you feel comfortable with your friend or friends if you dare to try three-way. Try thinking of this like training for writing, but don't let it distract you from your regular writing too much. For me, character chatting has helped develop my settings and characters immensely. Bryce and Able would not be the same without it. ;) Trust the subconscious. It will surprise you. :)

Do you have any questions about character chatting? Have you ever tried it?

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Interview with Able (Subsapien)

Able (Subsapien)

Me:

Hey, all! I'm back with another character interview! Just another update: I've entered another Writing Contest. *crossing fingers* Well, on to the interview...

Able:

*sitting cross-legged on the floor batting a red rubber ball between his hands, focused on it*

Me:

*sitting on the floor across from them* Hey, Able. How are you?

Able:

*has an underdeveloped voice* I am doing okay.

Me:

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Able:

Um... I like kitties, lizards, and bugs. I found this kitty once and showed it to Reuben, but he took it and dropped it in a recycle bin. That made me sad. *hugs rubber ball to his chest*

Me:

Aw. I'm sorry.

Able:

It is okay. Reuben is mean a lot. I am used to it.

Me:
*furrows brow sadly* Aw. Who's Reuben exactly?

Able:

He is one of my masters.

Me:

Your masters?

Able:

*nods* Yes, they take care of me and do tests and things like that.

Me:
*rubs his arm comfortingly* Why is Reuben mean to you?

Able:
*bounces ball* Because I am bad sometimes. That's what Reuben says.

Me:
You're not bad.

Able:
*looks at laptop, wrinkles nose* I don't have a beard. *touches celebrity look-alike picture with his finger*

Me:
*sighs* I know, but he looks the most like you.

Able:
Oh. He does a little. *rubs chin* A beard would be scratchy.

Me:
*sniffs a laugh* Yeah. *looks at ball* Are balls your favorite toy?

Able:
*smiles, nods big* Yes. I have... *counts on his fingers* ...four balls. I had some other ones, but I popped one, another grafting popped one, and Reuben shot one with his gun when I was being annoying. He says I am annoying a lot.

Me:
I don't think you're annoying.

Able:
You are nice.

Me:
*smiles* Well, thank you.

Able:
*his tail flicks into view, eyes lock on it, slaps it with his hand, lifts hand slowly, grooms fur on his tail straight* My tail was being bad.

Me:
*laughs a little*

White Cat:
*walks into room*

Able:
*gasps* Kitty. *crawls over to her, picks her up, scratches her gently under her chin*

White Cat:
*purrs*

Able:
*purrs like a cat, shifts metal wings, keeps petting the cat*

Me:
Well, I think Able is distracted by my cat right now. I hope you enjoyed his interview and if you have any questions for him comment below and subscribe to know when he replies. :) Would you all like to see a Subsapien or Starbloods interview for next week? Keep an eye out for more artwork, interviews and more. :) You can check out more about Able's book in current projects, his book's Pinterest board, pictures I've drawn for the book on deviantART and fan art on my Facebook page. Thanks for reading! :D

You May Also Like:

Interview with Caleb Heagen (Subsapien)

Interview with Bryce (Subsapien)

Monday, August 20, 2012

Interview with Meldar (Starbloods)

Meldar (Starbloods)

Me:

Hey, all! I'm back with another interview and today's is with Rouyn's brother, Meldar, from Starbloods. *turns to Meldar* Hello, Meldar. How are you?

Meldar:

*sitting on a stool with his white wings folded on his back* Hello, Victoria. I'm doing well.

Me:

*smiles* Good. So, Meldar, tell us a little about yourself.

Meldar:

Well, I'm eighteen reigns of moons, about to graduate lessons and begin my Guardian training. I live with my adoth, naima, and little brother, Rouyn.

Me:

Your adoth and naima?

Meldar:

My father and mother. We sylphs call them "adoth" and "naima".

Me:

Interesting. And what is "Guardian training"?

Meldar:

Training to become one of the most esteemed positions in my colony, a Guardian. Guardians take care of the kind of birds they study for and keep them in balance. I plan to become a Guardian of the Birds of Prey.

Me:

Wow. Are you excited about that?

Meldar:

*smiles* I'm looking forward to it.

Me:

Good luck with that then.

Meldar:

Thank you.

Me:

What do you think of your younger brother?

Meldar:

*frowns slightly* He's irresponsible, reckless, and he spends too much time with his pegasus, even for an Iadlonu.

Me:

You don't seem to care for him that much. What is an "Iadlonu"?

Meldar:

A special type of person that can connect in spirit with one intelligent animal such as a pegasus or phoenix or dragon.

Me:

Neat.

Rouyn:

Meldar!

Meldar:

*sighs deeply* Here we go.

Rouyn:

*walks in the room*

Meldar:

I was in the middle of an interview.

Rouyn:

*frowns* Well you interrupted mine.

Meldar:

What is it?

Rouyn:

*looks at Meldar* Landora and I are going to watch the Moonlight Dance in the woods tonight and I'm spending the night in the woods. I was wondering if you could cover collecting clay tomorrow morning for me?

Meldar:

*sighs through nose, looks at me* Do you see what I mean?

Me:

Yeah. I'm an older sibling, so I feel your pain.

Rouyn:
*looks at Meldar expectantly* So?

Bryce:

*stands in doorway* So what's going on in here?

Rouyn:

*frowns at Bryce*

Me:

*sighs long* Bryce, leave. I'm doing another interview.

Bryce:

Crystal. *sits on the floor*

Me:

*frowns* What part of "leave" made you think you could stay?

Bryce:

You may not want me here, but the readers do. I'm their favorite and we all know it.

Rouyn:

That's not true. Someone commented on liking both of us.

Bryce:

Who got a vote for favorite character?

Rouyn:

If I was on that poll, they would've voted for me.

Bryce:

*scoffs* Yeah right.

Meldar:

*looks at Bryce* What's going on? Who are you? And what race are you?

Rouyn:

Don't get involved, Meldar.

Bryce:

Bryce. Subsapien. You?

Me:

Okay, boys. Settle down. But Rouyn and Bryce, since you're here, I have some questions for you.

Bryce:

Ugh. Why is it always more questions?

Me:

You interrupted so you get more questions.

Bryce:

Fine.

Rouyn:

*smirks, crosses arms* See you're not the only one who gets questions.

Bryce:

*waves Rouyn off*

Me:

*looks at laptop* They're all from Jedi_Kyra117. Does Rouyn only use a bow, or does he train with other weapons as well?

Rouyn:

Mostly bow. A little bit with a knife, but not that much.

Meldar:

Our race does not encourage violence. We only use it for necessary defense.

Rouyn:

*sighs through nose* I had it.

Me:

Next two questions are for Bryce.

Bryce:

*smirks Rouyn*

Rouyn:

*glares back at him*

Me:

*sighs* Has Pro ever really tied Bryce's tail in a knot?

Bryce:

*shifts* No--not yet.

Rouyn:

Afraid, cat-man?

Bryce:

*growls at Rouyn*

Meldar:

*rubs temples*

Me:

Last question: And Bryce, why do you have to be so antagonistic?

Rouyn:

*smirks*

Bryce:

What?

Meldar:

The definition is hostile or unfriendly.

Bryce:

Huh. *shrugs* I don't know. Because a lot of people are annoying. *looks at Rouyn*

Me:

Well, that's all we have time for today. I better end this before it breaks into a fight.

Meldar:

But my interview was so short.

Rouyn:

Now you know how I felt. And are you going to cover for me or not?

Meldar:

*opens mouth to say something, breath catches* I don't know. I'll think about it.

Bryce:

*watches Rouyn and Meldar*

Me:

If you have any questions for Rouyn, Meldar or Bryce, comment below and subscribe to know when they reply. :) You can check out more about Meldar's book in current projects, his book's Pinterest board, pictures I've drawn for the book on deviantART and fan art on my Facebook page. Next week's interview is still debatable. Would you like to read one about a Subsapien or Starbloods character? Keep an eye out for more artwork; character interviews and I may try my hand at some writing advice. :) I hope you enjoyed this interview! Thanks for reading. :)

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