tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13234425253320963102024-03-13T05:36:46.139-05:00BranwritesThis is the clutter in my brain. Like an attic...Brandi M. Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648502344247439901noreply@blogger.comBlogger145125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323442525332096310.post-24910748801967861002019-12-11T10:58:00.000-06:002019-12-11T10:58:16.313-06:00“Things Every Southern Woman Should Know How to Make”Alice clicked on the headline, mildly curious about what yet another stranger thought should be in her kitchen repertoire. Pictures of China plates mounded with crispy fried chicken, greens, cobbler, and a pile of biscuits a mile high flooded the screen, all set off with a pitcher of sweet tea beaded with condensation. The table was set; an apron draped off to the side next to a box labeled “Gramma’s Recipes” in fine calligraphy. She closed the browser and put away her tablet. She was born a Georgia peach, but she couldn’t make a cobbler to save her life. Did that mean she wasn’t southern? Or maybe just not “Southern.” <br />
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<br />For Alice, there was no recipe box full of family traditions. Her younger years were filled with rental homes in different states and her father’s voice coaxing her toward a text book rather than a cookbook. Metalworking and fabrication held more interest than learning to flambé or sauté.<br /><br />Did it make her less of a woman that her cooking skills consisted of fresh salads and calling for takeout? <br /><br />She’d visited her grandmother occasionally during the summers if they were close enough, and her vague memories were of hot evenings on the porch listening to the cicadas in the trees and her grandmother complaining that she couldn’t cook because it would heat up the house. <br /><br />One year, though, they’d visited in the fall, when the air was cool and leaves crunched underfoot, and on her grandmother’s counter had set a fresh pan of biscuits and a jar of honey from the beekeeper down the road. Even now, Alice remembered the rich, golden sweetness and the soft warmth of the first bite.<br /><br />Her grandmother died several years ago without passing on her knowledge, and Alice had grown up, gone to college, and had never thought of what she had lost until now. <br /><br />She swept up her tablet and pulled up a recipe; maybe she could reclaim this one piece of her heritage. </div>
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*** <br /><br /> <br /><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_eWC7SRELWU/XfERkWHAUlI/AAAAAAAAAZc/S-1105ZdRsAKOZHzwz2lS69WWjEdDi8FQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/ingredients.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_eWC7SRELWU/XfERkWHAUlI/AAAAAAAAAZc/S-1105ZdRsAKOZHzwz2lS69WWjEdDi8FQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/ingredients.jpg" /></a> <br /> <br /></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xSpgzwTKE7w/XfESUkyKA1I/AAAAAAAAAZk/mf09yF9qYrE309Vn_8JxrA89zoJVb4-hgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Tools.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Alice surveyed the items spread across her counter and glanced at the recipe on her screen; she’d gathered everything on a shopping adventure that took three times as long as it normally did. She’d stared at the different brands of flour for ten minutes before a kind elderly woman took pity on her and suggested her favorite. Embarrassed but relieved, Alice had asked the woman for help with the others.<br /><br />The woman had smiled. “It’s nice to see a young woman interested in cooking. I’m sure your beau will be happy.” <br /><br />Alice fought the temptation to explain how a click-bait listicle had challenged her identity or that she didn't need someone else for a reason to cook. Instead, she smiled and said, "Thanks. I hope they come out okay."<br /><br />“Oh, they’re the simplest thing! I’m sure they’ll come out fine.” </div>
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<br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xSpgzwTKE7w/XfESUkyKA1I/AAAAAAAAAZk/mf09yF9qYrE309Vn_8JxrA89zoJVb4-hgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Tools.jpg" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xSpgzwTKE7w/XfESUkyKA1I/AAAAAAAAAZk/mf09yF9qYrE309Vn_8JxrA89zoJVb4-hgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Tools.jpg" /></a>With her tablet propped against the knife block, Alice laid out her tools: cutting board, bowl, measuring utensils, a whisk. She carefully measured her dry ingredients and mixed them with the whisk before cutting her butter into cubes. The cold butter was hard to cut, but the recipe had insisted it be chilled. Alice had her doubts, but she didn’t dare deviate from the instructions. Finally, the dough resembled the photo on her screen, and she confidently made her hollow in the center of the flour. In went her buttermilk; she hummed a song her grandmother used to sing as she mixed it in. <br /><br />She kneaded it lightly--the recipe’s author had stressed the importance of not overdoing it--and turned the dough out onto her cutting board. </div>
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Alice rolled and folded, and then checked her social media while it chilled in the fridge and the oven preheated. For a moment, she thought about posting her progress, but she hesitated. What if she missed a step? Or burned them? Would her friends tease her? She could imagine them asking, “Are you really from the south?”</div>
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She’d heard it before. Her drawl had faded over the years, traded instead for an accent so generic that it had become a game to bet people that they couldn’t guess where she was from. When they gave up, and she revealed her southern roots, most didn’t believe her. </div>
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<br />The oven beeped. Alice rolled her dough once again and cut it with a glass--her one sacrilege, and only because she hadn’t been able to find a biscuit cutter in the store. <br /> <br /><br /> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-phwxz-y4YOQ/XfETMeW8vZI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/_9N-u09CcikGNlvU36RWJFTPV60uX9_AQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Cut%2BDough.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-phwxz-y4YOQ/XfETMeW8vZI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/_9N-u09CcikGNlvU36RWJFTPV60uX9_AQCEwYBhgL/s320/Cut%2BDough.jpg" /></a> <br /><br /><br /> Her grandmother’s song played again in her head as she waited, eagerly watching the dough rise through the oven window. She froze; suddenly disappointed. She’d forgotten the honey.<br /><br />But honey wouldn’t matter if the biscuits weren’t good. If this first batch was a success, she could find honey for the next. <br /><br />Alice inhaled deeply as her kitchen filled with the aroma of baking biscuits. And then, at last, it was time. She slipped her hands into oven mitts and moved the pan from oven to counter. They seemed fluffy, and the tops were nicely browned. </div>
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<br /><br /> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jTDMOcBPtVA/XfETMd563kI/AAAAAAAAAZw/y06T6YJLjOMT0YZYbddfreVprMwpFO9JQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Biscuits.jpg" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jTDMOcBPtVA/XfETMd563kI/AAAAAAAAAZw/y06T6YJLjOMT0YZYbddfreVprMwpFO9JQCEwYBhgL/s400/Biscuits.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><br />Humming, she transferred one to a plate to try. Steam curled from the soft middle as she split it open and placed a pat of butter in its center. When it had slightly cooled, she took a bite, and her eyes lit in excitement. She swiped away the recipe to video call her father.<br /><br />His weathered face brightened with a smile. “Alice! How’s my girl?” <br /><br />“I did it, Dad. Look!” She held the tablet’s camera towards the pan. “I didn’t think I could do it, but I made Grandma’s biscuits!” <br /><br />“Those look tasty, but what do you mean your grandma’s biscuits?” <br /><br />“It’s silly, really, but I was reading an article and realized I never learned to make any of Grandma’s recipes. So, I thought maybe I could recreate it.” <br /><br />Her father rubbed a hand over his face. “Alice, you’re Grandma didn’t make those biscuits. She was a terrible cook; burned everything she tried to bake.” <br /><br />“But, then who made them?” <br /><br />He cleared his throat and his eyes shifted away from the camera.<br /><br />“Dad?” <br /><br />“You remember Mr. Johnson? The beekeeper neighbor?” <br /><br />“Yeah?” <br /><br />“Well, he used to bring your grandmother a pan of biscuits and a couple gallons of honey in trade for her homemade cough remedy.” <br /><br />Alice studied the golden biscuits, her excitement slowly fading. Her grandmother had been as southern as sweet tea, and if she couldn’t cook, what did that mean? “What cough remedy?” <br /><br />Her father sighed. “Grandma made moonshine. She was the biggest supplier in the region.” <br /><br />“Oh.” <br /><br />“Well, they look great, sweetheart.” <br /><br />“Thanks, Dad. Want to get together for dinner this week?” <br /><br />“Sure.” <br /><br />“I’ll bring the biscuits. I have all this flour to use anyway.” <br /><br />“Can’t wait to try them.” <br /><br />“See you then. Bye.” Alice wrapped up the biscuits and cleaned up her mess. In a worn, cedar jewelry box was a slip of paper with a list of ingredients scrawled in her grandmother’s handwriting. She hadn’t known what to make of it before. A slow smile curled her lips as she thought about the copper sheeting in her shop, just waiting for a purpose. Maybe her grandmother had passed on a recipe, after all. </div>
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<br /><br /> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-afvqCTtYqds/XfETMdCLqQI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/bwt3W9ZBRP8CMye3zCHfJCAEJSn6TnwCACEwYBhgL/s1600/Biscuits%2BPlate.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-afvqCTtYqds/XfETMdCLqQI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/bwt3W9ZBRP8CMye3zCHfJCAEJSn6TnwCACEwYBhgL/s400/Biscuits%2BPlate.jpg" /></a> <br /><br /><br /> Author Note: My recipe is a modified version of Cristen Clark's, who writes the blog Food & Swine. The original recipe can be found here: <a href="https://foodandswine.com/fluffy-biscuits-fire-alarms/">https://foodandswine.com/fluffy-biscuits-fire-alarms/</a> </div>
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… I may have watched too much <i>Moonshiners</i> while writing this. </div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Brandi M. Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648502344247439901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323442525332096310.post-70701987475461224152019-08-29T10:53:00.001-05:002019-08-29T10:53:10.557-05:00Comic Recs: unOrdinary by Uru-chan<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hey all!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm here with another Webtoon recommendation! Today, I want to tell you about unOrdinary by Uru-chan! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">In the world of unOrdinary, most people have superpowers, which sounds great! But, of course, people found a way to ruin it. A hierarchy allows the strong to control the weak, and it's often enforced with brute force. And if you're powerless like John, it's no place to be at all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Except John isn't powerless, and he may just be the most dangerous one of all...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Uru-chan does a great job of turning the superpower trope on its head. <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The whole "with great power comes great responsibility" view gets an amazing twist in this comic. </span>The elites dominate those with lesser abilities, and most accept that this is the way the world works. However, a few believe that the strong should protect the weak--a viewpoint in a book called<i> unOrdinary,</i> and one that is highly discouraged by society and the government. The authorities try to weed out the those who have read the book--which just happens to have been written by John's father--and reeducate them to society's norms. But people are still hitting the streets in costume, claiming to be superheroes, and dying. But are the authorities behind the deaths, or is someone else targeting these superhero elites?</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Though the story takes place in a private high school, the issues of the surrounding world aren't ignored. Rather, the structure of the school makes it a reflection of their larger society and its problems. It's especially interesting to see how the characters handle the tumult when their status quo is disrupted.</span></span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Season one just wrapped up with a whopping 155 episodes, and season two will start in November. Even if you don't normally read comics about people with superpowers, I highly recommend unOrdinary because it's so much more than special abilities. It's about human nature and what it takes to change it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">You can check out season one here: <a href="https://www.webtoons.com/en/fantasy/unordinary/list?title_no=679" target="_blank">https://www.webtoons.com/en/fantasy/unordinary/list?title_no=679.</a></span></span><br />
<br />Brandi M. Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648502344247439901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323442525332096310.post-39928133121142899212019-08-20T13:55:00.001-05:002019-08-20T13:55:56.142-05:00Ramblings of a Gamer: Open World MapsI love the freedom of an open world map. I've spent endless hours traveling across Skyrim, climbing mountains and discovering hidden altars and caves, enjoying the scenery, and meeting other travelers on the road. Of course, there's danger; a dragon could swoop down and roast me, bandits could (attempt to) waylay me, or I could get caught in a magic battle between two random mages. Most of the time, though, I can go about my business, hunt a few bears, and take in the countryside.<br />
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Sure, there's a story line to follow, but the game doesn't demand it of me, and I can venture into it at any time.<br />
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FFXV allowed me to roam for the most part, too. I repeatedly left my car behind to enjoy a chocobo ride with the guys, visiting my favorite fishing spots and seeing how far I could get before night fell and the hordes of fiends came out. I spent a lot of time exploring the map, searching out hidden places until I reached the point of no return and was funneled to the ending.<br />
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Dragon Age: Inquisition wasn't quite open world, but it did have huge areas to explore. Unfortunately, it didn't feel like it was utilized to its full potential. For such an open area, there were few secrets to find.<br />
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I'd say my favorite part is the little things I stumble upon that might not be important for the story, but make the world so much richer. Like the books that tell tales about the histories of the lands, the forgotten altars, ruins, and signs that hint at stories lost to time that add depth and realism that makes me feel like I'm not just an observer, but a part of world.<br />
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So, give me open world games with tons of Easter eggs and hidden treasures that build up the lore of the land. I'll travel to the highest peaks and deepest valleys to find them and spend a ton of time on your game. Make me want to stay there, and I'm highly likely to buy the next one.<br />
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<br />Brandi M. Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648502344247439901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323442525332096310.post-14738631228900536772019-08-06T07:00:00.000-05:002019-08-06T07:00:01.715-05:00Ramblings of a Gamer: FFXII: Zodiac Age II or I Sometimes Miss Random BattleLife's been busy, so gaming's been slow, but I managed to get a little time on FFXII: Zodiac Age. I'm currently hanging out on the Phon Coast, woefully unprepared for the flying fiends and in need of better equipment.<br />
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There are way too many birds for me to not have found Telekinesis.<br />
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I'm, of course, out of gil from my last shopping spree in which I loaded up on some spells I'd neglected early on, so I decided to go hunting. Unfortunately, hunting means finding the monsters on the map, battling, and then moving on to another map area to locate more monsters until I've made a circle back to my starting point.<br />
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I kinda need a lot of dough.<br />
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It's moments like these when I miss random battle systems. Need money or to harvest a drop item? No problem! Just spin around in this spot until the screen does its flashy transition to a battle. Need to fill your pockets with the equivalent of the king's coffers? Go for it. The enemies won't run out here.<br />
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Oddly enough in FFXII: ZA, I have killed enough skeletons in one section of a dungeon that they actually did not respawn when I left the screen and came back. I haven't run into it on the Phon Coast yet, but it's early, so once I manage to get a third long range weapon--now that I've opened my second jobs--I'll see if I can clear an area like in the mines.Brandi M. Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648502344247439901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323442525332096310.post-60480698153530661682019-07-31T07:00:00.000-05:002019-07-31T07:00:03.539-05:00Anime Rambles: Forest of Piano<div>
<i>Forest of Piano</i> is an anime presented for your viewing pleasure on Netflix. In the forest rests an abandoned piano, and Kai Ichinose, a poor boy from the nearby red light district, is the only one who can coax music from its keys. When his talent is discovered by his new friend Shuhei and his music teacher/former world-renowned pianist, Sosuke Ajino, Kai ventures out to hone his skills and share his piano with the world at the International Frederic Chopin Piano Competition.</div>
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Kai is this wonderful, bounce-back kid who doesn't let hardship slow him down. He has a natural talent for the piano, but he meets the challenges that Mr. Ajino sets before him with hard work and tenacity. It's about the love of the music for him, even when he's in a competition, and his enthusiasm lifts up his competitors so that they face their challenges head-on. Unfortunately, not everyone sees it as challenge to themselves. His childhood friend, Shuhei, whose dad is a professional pianist, creates this one-sided rivalry that later leads him to resent Kai.</div>
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I liked that each competitor had a backstory and we were shown how they were struggling and what playing in the Chopin Piano Competition meant to them, and how no one was particularly diabolical in their desire to win. There is, of course, some dubious machinations at work, but overall, the story is lighthearted and wraps up with a satisfying ending. So, if you like anime centered around classical music, particularly Chopin, then check out<i> Forest of Piano.</i></div>
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Brandi M. Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648502344247439901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323442525332096310.post-15895053469408603892019-07-25T10:49:00.001-05:002019-07-25T10:49:53.087-05:00Comic Rec: DAYS OF HANA by Seokwoo
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Today’s recommendation is the webcomic, DAYS OF HANA, by
Indonesian artist Seokwoo, whose romances are far more than a love story. They deal
with social perceptions of minority groups, in the case of DAYS OF HANA,
werewolves, what happens when the world views begin to change. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">In the world of this story, humans keep werewolves as pets,
but Hana and Haru were raised together like siblings, and the line between
owner and pet is blurry. Hana’s family took Haru in when they found him injured
and alone one winter. There's an adorable montage of photos of Hana and Haru
growing up, ending with a family photo. But as the two get older, the hazy
boundaries between human and werewolf become a problem. Werewolves are given limited
rights—education, right to work for wages, etc.—with the hopes they they’ll be
able to live independently and on equal footing with humans. However, as the
werewolves explore their newfound freedoms, there’s pushback from the humans
who have owned them. Tensions grow as prejudices are aired for the world to
see, and social taboos strain Hana and Haru’s family. And under all of that is
a brutal world where werewolves are pitted against each other for the amusement
of the human elite.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">DAYS OF HANA does have romance, a sweet budding relationship
between two people who have known each other their entire lives, but it's
tangled in the social taboos, prejudices, and growing resentment of the
werewolves against the humans who refuse to accept them as equals. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is a complex story, and while excellent and brilliantly
told, it gets very dark and often heartbreaking. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you'd like to check out more about DAYS OF HANA, check it
out here: <a href="https://www.webtoons.com/en/romance/days-of-hana/list?title_no=1246&page=1"><span style="color: #0563c1;">https://www.webtoons.com/en/romance/days-of-hana/list?title_no=1246&page=1</span></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">And if you like it, be sure to check out Seokwoo's completed
comic, ORANGE MARMALADE, featuring a sweet vampire girl trying to blend with
the human crowd, the human boy she falls for, and the struggle of hiding her
true self. <a href="https://www.webtoons.com/en/romance/orange-marmalade/list?title_no=97&page=1"><span style="color: #0563c1;">https://www.webtoons.com/en/romance/orange-marmalade/list?title_no=97&page=1</span></a>. </span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />Brandi M. Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648502344247439901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323442525332096310.post-40452831594594994682019-07-23T08:18:00.000-05:002019-07-23T08:18:53.914-05:00Ramblings of a Gamer: Final Fantasy XII: Zodiac AgeI played the original FFXII way back in the day, and I didn't love it. The graphics were great, but Vaan annoyed the crap out of me, no one really stood out, the game battle mechanics were meh, and--a personal pet peeve--Ifrit and Shiva and my other favorite summons had been relegated to airships in favor of a new crop of espers.<br />
<br />
When Zodiac Age came out, I decided to give it a second shot--and it fell into my queue because my game TBP list is greater than my free time.<br />
<br />
But, at last, I found a moment, and I'm once again exploring Ivalice. And I still have mixed opinions.<br />
<br />
Vaan is still grating, though he doesn't seem as bad after he finally understands Basch didn't kill his brother. I didn't find much use for him in my original go-around, but this time, with the job system, I've been using him in battle a lot. As a shikari, so far he's fairly well-rounded when it comes to health/speed/strength, though I'm struggling with what I want his second job to be. The gambit system still lets me set the controller down and walk to the kitchen for the average fight, but I've wandered into a few places that demanded my attention.<br />
<br />
I've only acquired the first two storyline espers, Belias and Mateus. I've used Belias a bit, but usually not for long. I haven't had a chance to check out Mateus. In my last playthrough, I didn't find them very useful, but maybe with the job system limiting what each character learns, having an esper in my pocket will come in handy. However, they use the same gauge as the quickenings, which I can chain together for heavy damage, so I don't know what might be the better option at this point.<br />
<br />
I started my replay with the goal of paying attention to the things I'd forgotten/glossed over in my previous playthrough, and sadly, that includes the plot of the game. I remembered the basics, but I think somewhere around the middle, the political powerplays lost me. Of course, part of that may have been the hinky sound quality where the vocals drop to whisper levels--which still occasionally proves a problem in this version.<br />
<br />
Aside from that, the conversations often feel lackluster, and we get a lot of backstory in dialogue info dumps, which sometimes makes it hard to follow--especially if real life interrupts. I'm keeping up so far, but I have found myself tuning out during some of the longer scenes.<br />
<br />
I'm not far into the game at the moment, so I'll reserve my final opinion for now. Overall, I'm enjoying it more, but some of the issues I had before weren't really resolved in this version.Brandi M. Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648502344247439901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323442525332096310.post-74954983661871463792019-07-18T07:00:00.000-05:002019-07-23T15:04:38.295-05:00Book Recs: A BLADE SO BLACK by L.L. McKinney<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Alison “Alice” Kingston suffers the worst night of her life
when her father dies. Overcome with grief, she flees into the dark, and trips
down the rabbit hole. Only, the rabbit hole doesn’t take her to a brightly
colored world filled with odd wonders and a disappearing cat; it instead
threatens her with a monster—a Nightmare—and introduces her to Addison Hatta,
who recruits her to fight the Nightmares plaguing Wonderland and encroaching on
the human world. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">A BLADE SO BLACK is a magnificent twist on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Alice in Wonderland</i>, where Alice is a
dual-blade wielding Dreamwalker badass backed up by her mentor, the mysterious
Addison Hatta and the sleepy-eyed Maddie, a Poet who keeps them going with her
potions. She’s got a healthy fear of her mom, who worries about her and wants
her to stay safe in a world that’s not always safe for a black girl going about
her business. </span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I really like Alice and her friends. Even though she was a
skilled fighter, she didn’t come out on top in every battle, and she wasn’t
fearless. She struggles with helping Hatta as a Dreamwalker and the chance she
might not come home, and she has a hard time juggling her regular life and
friendships and her Wonderland adventures.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The story is engaging and action-packed, and the Wonderland
details are masterfully interwoven into the story without becoming a simple
rehash of a classic tale, and the <i>Sailor Moon</i> references accent the magical and action aspects nicely. The characters, both heroes and villains, are
well-rounded with complex personalities and histories. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">There’s so much going
on, and the book leaves the reader with a doozey of a cliffhanger, so it’s a
good thing the second book in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nightmare
Verse</i>, A DREAM SO DARK, comes out September 24<sup>th</sup>, 2019. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Definitely check out A BLADE SO BLACK, and to learn more
about L.L. McKinney, visit her website at <a href="http://www.llmckinney.com/">www.llmckinney.com</a>.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Brandi M. Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648502344247439901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323442525332096310.post-65212697384510399212019-07-11T07:00:00.000-05:002019-07-11T07:52:00.700-05:00Comic Rec: UNSOUNDED by Ashley CopeI may sound like a broken record, but if you haven't read UNSOUNDED by Ashley Cope, and you like twisted tales of undead wizards and cocky sneak-thieves with tails, you really should.<br />
<br />
This is an ongoing comic, and the author is 66 pages into chapter 14. It's beautifully drawn and intricately woven for a tight storyline that never fails to surprise you. The characters are wonderfully flawed, messy, and true to character throughout the story, and it's amazing to watch them grow as they face their prejudices and fears. The magic system is well-grounded and the world's history tied to it.<br />
<br />
Ashley Cope has successfully Kickstarted three volumes of UNSOUNDED at the demands of her fans, and she offers them for sale on her website with a few other items. BUT! You can read the story and enjoy the artwork for free right here! <a href="http://www.casualvillain.com/Unsounded/comic/ch01/ch01_01.html">http://www.casualvillain.com/Unsounded/comic/ch01/ch01_01.html</a><br />
<br />
So, check out UNSOUNDED and follow along as Duane, the formerly alive scribe, travels with Sette, the Sharteshanian thief-king's tailed, mouthy daughter, through countryside and town, attempting to avoid the troubles of political intrigue and clashing religious ideologies in a world where war threatens to unravel the very fabric of their reality. Brandi M. Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648502344247439901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323442525332096310.post-89158764948662275762019-07-08T11:00:00.000-05:002019-07-08T11:00:28.891-05:00Ramblings of a Gamer: DrakengardHey folks!<br />
<br />
Today I'm hopping into the game time machine! (cue flashy lights and eerie noises)<br />
<br />
I dove into gaming late. My brother played everything, but nothing really caught my attention until some high school friends of mine shoved Final Fantasy VII into my hands, and then I was hooked. So, for the longest, FF games were my go-to, and from there it was Square and later, Square-Enix.<br />
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DRAKENGARD was one of the first non-FF games I played. I was drawn to the gorgeous artwork and movie clips and it had dragons! And it was by Square-Enix, so I felt confident that I would love it.<br />
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And I did love it, but it was so very different from the worlds I was used to.<br />
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The game was an action-RPG, where I was used to turn-based RPGs, but I caught on quick enough. I honestly loved the weapon wheel and the ability to change weapons on the fly. My favorite weapons were the pole-arms, and that running dash that sent my enemies flying was the best. With the help of free expeditions, my body count was probably somewhere in the tens of thousands. (I liked clearing ALL the enemies from the stage, not just the targets.) Flying battles were meh, but manageable, and the few allies you could switch with came in handy from time to time.<br />
<br />
The story was bleak. In FF's darkest moments, there was always a hint of hope, but with DRAKENGARD? Nope. Each ending grew darker and more twisted as I progressed, and I couldn't help but follow the plot down the rabbit hole. Even the histories for the weapons consisted of curses or tragic tales. This was not a happy place, y'all. But I still wanted to know more, and with each ending, a new path unlocked, and more information would be revealed about how the world worked and why the seals and the goddess were so important.<br />
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I loved and hated the multipath storyline. There was a lot of replay--for one ending, you had to collect every available weapon, so if you missed a box or didn't beat a certain level in a certain amount of time, you had to go back. Usually, there would be just enough difference to the story to keep it from being too redundant. And then, to get the very last ending, all the hack-and-slash and buttons combos go out the window to be replaced by the second-most frustrating puzzle I've ever seen in my life. A rhythm puzzle, you had three buttons that worked: the one to unleash a black ring, one to unleash a white ring, and pause. I don't know how many times I had to replay that thing before I finished the pattern--only to get yet another unhappy ending. Of course, by then, I expected it.<br />
<br />
Some of the voice-acting in DRAKENGARD was cringe-worthy. When the main character, Caim, makes his pact with Angelus the dragon, he has to give up his voice, and to be honest, I was happy because his lines up to that point were pretty weak. I much preferred his silent glares.<br />
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It was interesting to play a game where no one was really good. Everyone had their vices and demons, and some characters were just horrible, and yet they somehow come together to fight against the monstrous future awaiting them. It was messy and definitely not uplifting, and it was the best contrast to the FF games I loved so much.Brandi M. Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648502344247439901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323442525332096310.post-26041757574420529842019-07-04T07:00:00.000-05:002019-07-04T07:00:07.206-05:00<span style="font-size: large;">Happy Independence Day! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">When you're celebrating the birth of the nation, mind your fingers, keep your fireworks on a level surface, and clear the area before detonation! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We'll see you next week! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />Brandi M. Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648502344247439901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323442525332096310.post-72612151702338954362019-07-01T07:00:00.000-05:002019-07-01T07:00:12.796-05:00Ramblings of a Gamer: Detroit: Become Human or an Interactive Choose-Your-Own-AdventureIf you're looking for a game with a lot of action, then this is not the game for you. However, if you're looking for a game that challenges the way you think and every decision affects the outcome of the story, look no further!<br />
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DETROIT: BECOME HUMAN lets you play as three different android characters in a not-so-distant future full of rising tensions between humans and the androids who serve them. As you play, a timeline is created for each character based on the decisions you make for them, which is cool because you can see how one simple choice bends the future in several different ways. I've only completed a single playthrough so far, and while I was mostly satisfied with the outcome, I have a couple characters that I would like to improve their futures.<br />
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A single playthrough doesn't take too long, but the replay value promises to give me my money's worth--which, by the way, was a bargain in the Quantic Dream collection with HEAVY RAIN and BEYOND: TWO SOULS. The whole thing was $30.<br />
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The story telling in this game is great. Even though you start out on three very different paths, eventually they cross and it's pulled together beautifully. The characters personalities really shine as you progress, and the information woven into the background between news reports, scenery, and random tablets available to read everywhere give the world depth.<br />
<br />
Gameplay-wise, it's okay. Movement is a little stiff and slow. There's occasionally a prompted button mash in an action sequence, but mostly it's about researching the scene and interacting with the characters/world around you. If you like choose-your-own-adventure stories, I would check this one out.Brandi M. Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648502344247439901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323442525332096310.post-10707652691882026422019-06-27T07:00:00.000-05:002019-06-27T07:00:02.313-05:00WEBTOON: Lots to Read, Lots to LoveHey all,<br />
<br />
I'm breaking from our regularly scheduled book rec because I'm behind on my TBR pile. (Sorry, delicious books. I will get to you shortly!)<br />
<br />
Today, I want to share with you the invaluable wonder of the WEBTOON, and all the excellent comics to be found there. It's a free app with hundreds of comics in just about every genre you can think of. Sometimes translations are hinky, but I've found a lot of real gems here. Some of my favorites are:<br />
<br />
SWEET HOME by Carnby Kim and Youngchan Hwang. If you like horror, this one's for you. A young man moves into an apartment building after the death of his family, and a strange sickness turns people into powerful monsters. The story and art are both amazing.<br />
<br />
LET'S PLAY by Mongie. Game designer, Sam, is devastated when her puzzle game<i> Ruminate</i> gets trashed by vlogger, Marshall Law, and his rabid fans downvote her into oblivion. And then Sam meets her new neighbor...Marshall, who has no clue he's destroyed her dreams. The art and story of LET'S PLAY tickles my little gamer heart--so much that I happily backed the Kickstarter for the print edition of Volume 1!<br />
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NOVAE by KaixJu. A necromancer and an astronomer meet and fall in love while a mysterious murderer lurks in the shadows in this paranormal historical M/M romance. Beautiful art, wonderful characters, and a hint of magic. If you're looking for something sweet and intriguing, then check this one out.<br />
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I'll list some more of my favorites later. Check out these and lots more on <a href="http://www.webtoon.com/">www.webtoon.com</a>. <br />
<br />Brandi M. Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648502344247439901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323442525332096310.post-21610726862224409342019-06-24T07:00:00.000-05:002019-06-24T07:00:06.195-05:00Ramblings of a Gamer: FFVII Remake First ThoughtsWhen the Final Fantasy VII: Remake was first announced, I expressed my excitement and fears for the new rendition of the game that turned me into a gamer. Years passed, and it looked like the remake might go the way of Versus:XIII, but once again, Square-Enix has announced the Final Fantasy VII: Remake--this time with a release date!<br />
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The game is supposed to release on 3/3/20, and the footage they've released looks promising. The character designs are top-notch, the secondary characters appear to have been given more a role in the story, and the game-play looks great. Reports of those who played the demo say it plays great, too. I hope those of us who weren't at E3 get a chance to play a demo between now and March, but I can live without it as long as the game gets the attention it needs to be the best version it can be.<br />
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The first installment centers on Midgar, which hopefully means that the story has been fleshed out. I'm eager to stroll through the sectors and see what's new compared to the original.<br />
<br />
A big difference is the voice acting. We have an all-new English cast, which appears to include a good chunk of the cast from MTV's<i> Teen Wolf</i>, and though I miss Steve Burton, the samples I've heard in what we've been shown so far have been good. Barrett might be a little heavy on the Mr. T vibe.<br />
<br />
Overall, it looks promising, and I hope to catch more news in the future. When I actually get my hands on it, I'll be sure to tell all about it here!Brandi M. Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648502344247439901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323442525332096310.post-88085955491974806402019-06-20T07:00:00.000-05:002019-06-20T07:00:10.772-05:00Book Recs: DAMSEL DISTRESSED by Kelsey Macke<div>
CW: Self-Harm</div>
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I'm not going to go into details on that, but it does play a factor in the story so be aware.</div>
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What I really liked about DAMSEL DISTRESSED is that Imogen is flawed, knows she's flawed, and even though she's trying to work on it, sometimes she fails hardcore. She sometimes thinks or says terrible things about people she loves, but she usually calls herself out on it or someone else will. Which was nice because too often things like slut-shaming or body-shaming slip into a protag's dialogue and they aren't pointed out as wrong.<br />
<br />
Imogen lives with clinical depression, and in her low moments, it's hard for her to believe in herself or other people, even when they are supportive of her. She struggles with the fact that even with therapy and medication, she still feels broken. She isn't magically cured by a pill or a couple therapy sessions or by the love of her best friend, Grant. Rather than curing her, the support of her family and friends gives her the strength to try. I actually liked that about this book because, like real life, there isn't a simple solution, and the ending is more about happy for now rather than happily ever after.<br />
<br />
The story is dealing with a teen with teen problems, so if you're not comfortable with or no longer have the patience for the drama that comes with that part of growing up, then this book might not be for you. I would've liked to have seen more development around her stepsister Ella and her motivations for her actions, but in the end, I think the story is more about Imogen, her own perceptions/biases, and realizing that sometimes her worldview is skewed by her depression. Overall, I really liked it and rooted for Imogen even in her most awful moments, and I hope to see new work from Kelsey Macke soon.<br />
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You can find out more about Kelsey Macke at <a href="https://kelseymacke.com/">https://kelseymacke.com/</a>. </div>
Brandi M. Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648502344247439901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323442525332096310.post-52670712015141804952019-06-17T07:00:00.000-05:002019-06-17T07:00:02.052-05:00Ramblings of a Gamer: Kingdom Hearts III Part 3: Final Rant<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">**** SPOILERS****</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I have quite
a few bones to pick with Kingdom Hearts III; I’ve already mentioned the POV
fail and the overabundance of Disney, but there were a few other points that
hit my editing nerve.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The dialogue
tags were excruciating. There was no need throughout the game to keep naming
all the characters when they were talking to them. It came off very awkward the
first couple times, and was painful the longer I played.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The cut
scenes were another problematic area. Don’t get me wrong; I absolutely love
those little mini movies in my RPGs, but in KH3, there were so many that the
gameplay was interrupted. Cut scenes are good for a reward after a long battle
or to tell a part of the story that can’t be told in the gameplay, but too many
can pull the player out of the game, which was the case for me.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Kairi got
shafted in this game. She worked so hard to be a member of the team, and she
doesn’t even get to use her skills. Instead of being the fully-fleshed out
character she deserved to be, she was relegated to a plot device. I don’t know
if her story got left on the cutting room floor or was never developed, but at
this point in the game universe, she should’ve had a bigger part. </span></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My final
major issue was with the conflict resolution throughout the game. Too often,
problems were resolved without any meaningful effort from Sora. For example, we
were presented with restoring Roxas like it should be a goal to achieve, but in
the end nothing Sora did directly assisted in that goal. Sora doesn’t even
actively free Roxas’s heart from his. Any time Sora expressed doubt or worry,
it was brushed off and never addressed again. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Overall, I
think Square-Enix tried to resolve too many conflicts from too many stories
instead of centering on the original tale about Sora, Rikku, and Kairi. The
aftermath was a confusing tangle that lacked the solidarity to make this a
great game. If the secret movie at the end is truly a glimpse into the next
game, I hope that the writers are able to focus on the new plot rather than cover
any remaining loose ends. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And for the
love of Bahamut, please rethink those theme park attacks. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span>Brandi M. Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648502344247439901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323442525332096310.post-79880382792440603092019-06-13T07:00:00.000-05:002019-06-13T07:00:05.568-05:00Book Recs: A SUN IS ALSO A STAR by Nicola Yoon
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Natasha and Daniel’s lives collide on a crossroads to their
uncertain futures. Natasha is on a desperate mission to stay in the states, and
a poetic boy in a red tie doesn’t fit into her plans. But Natasha is the
twist-of-fate Daniel has been wishing for; the sign that he can escape the life
of Ivy League ambition his parents have planned for him. Coincidence or
destiny, their collision will change their hearts and minds forever. </span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Even though there is love-at-first-sight (at least for
Daniel), this isn’t a reality-breaking insta-love story where nothing matters
anymore because the characters are in love. They still have decisions to make,
and while they influence each other, they still have to make them on their own.
However, Natasha and Daniel’s meeting creates eddies that alter the world
around them, and these ripples add subtle layers that enrich the depth of the
story. These small twists make this one of those books that sticks with you
long after you read it.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You can find out more about Nicola Yoon and her books at <a href="http://www.nicolayoon.com/"><span style="color: #0563c1;">www.nicolayoon.com</span></a>. </span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span>Brandi M. Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648502344247439901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323442525332096310.post-63316100207885133232019-06-10T07:00:00.000-05:002019-06-10T07:00:02.421-05:00Ramblings of Gamer: Kingdom Hearts III Part Two: Plug Much, Disney?<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">****SPOILERS AHEAD****</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Kingdom Hearts started as a Final Fantasy/Disney mashup, and
I loved it. I loved the incarnations of my FF favorites and how they were
integrated into this strange new world that had me visiting Ariel in Atlantica
and the Beast in Hollow Bastion. Somehow, they were balanced so that one didn’t
overpower the other. That joy continued in KH2.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">And then we got to KH3. And there was something
conspicuously missing.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Where the heck did the Final Fantasy aspect go? Where were
Cloud and Aerith and Sephiroth? What had happened to Leon and Cid? And why was
everything so unapologetically pushing everything Disney?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Everything was Disney; the worlds (per the norm, fine), the
summons (okay), but then the special attacks? Theme park rides in full neon
lights? Really? </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">There was so much going on in this game when it came to
battles, and some of it was completely unnecessary. With special skills, group
skills, Rage form, weapon changes, and summons, the theme park could’ve safely
been left in this world. I didn’t need a carousel or Splash Mountain to fight
the Heartless. The skills of my Keyblades and comrades were quite enough. If I
was in a pinch, or just wanted to annihilate someone quickly, I had Rage form
and summons for that. The rides pulled me out of the battle more often than
not, and though I usually skipped them, everything being initiated by the
triangle button meant that I inadvertently triggered them when I really wanted
to join Donald in a fireworks spree. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I think they could’ve cut the rides altogether, and that the
summons would have been a good place to introduce some of the FF aspects we
were missing. Characters who’d helped us in the earlier games could have come
to our rescue—or even FF monsters like the Cactuar and its 1,000 Needles would
have been great. Instead, we got the Moogle store and the Build-A-Cactuar in
the Toy Story realm. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Disney was already there; more advertising missed its mark
with me.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span>Brandi M. Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648502344247439901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323442525332096310.post-79926904484904645762019-06-06T07:00:00.000-05:002019-06-06T07:00:02.961-05:00Book Recs: DREAD NATION by Justina Ireland
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you like kickass girls fighting zombies in a post-Civil
War alternate history, then you should read DREAD NATION by Justina Ireland.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Attendant-in-training Jane McKeene knows her way around a
sickle when it comes to taking out shamblers, and she hopes to use those skills
to make her way home to her family once she graduates from Ms. Preston’s, an
academy where black girls are trained to fight the risen dead to later serve
the white elites in the protected cities of the United States. But Jane has
different plans—graduation is her ticket to carve out her own path and attain
the freedom that the end of the Civil War failed to bring. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">DREAD NATION has great, well-rounded characters and a
fascinating alternate history. People’s prejudices often lead them to
underestimate Jane, and she uses this to her benefit not only to save her own
hide, but usually theirs as well. Unfortunately, Jane’s smarts are often dismissed
due to the racism of the white Survivalist party that’s in charge, and it shows
some people would rather shoot themselves in the foot than admit their way
might be wrong.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There’s some loose ends at the end of the book, and it’s
made clear that Jane’s journey isn’t over, so I hope we’ll see book two in the
near future.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In the meantime, check out DREAD NATION. You can learn more about Justina Ireland and her books at <a href="http://justinaireland.com/" target="_blank">http://justinaireland.com/</a></span></div>
Brandi M. Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648502344247439901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323442525332096310.post-38354626480880406242019-06-03T07:00:00.000-05:002019-06-03T07:00:03.239-05:00Ramblings of a Gamer: Kingdom Hearts III and a Storytelling Fail
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
**** SPOILER ALERT: IF YOU HAVEN”T PLAYED AND HAVE MANAGED
TO AVOID SPOILERS, RUN AWAY NOW! *****</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
Still here? For real, there’s going to be spoilers because I
can’t talk about this without them. Staying? Okay! Here we go!</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
I’ve been a fan of the Kingdom Hearts series since the early
days. The thought of Final Fantasy mashed together with my fave Disney
characters was just odd enough to make me check it out, and that gorgeous
opening sequence with Utada Hikaru’s Simple and Clean absolutely drew me in. The
game was beautiful and strange, and it had a compelling story that somehow made
these characters from completely different franchises work. </div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
I bought a Gameboy Advance to play Chain of Memories, and I
eagerly snatched up KH2 when it came out, but after that, I couldn’t keep up. There
were too many games on too many platforms, and while I love my gaming
collection, I’m not much of a handheld gamer, and I couldn’t justify all these extra
purchases for a single game. </div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
Still, I eagerly awaited Kingdom Hearts III, and twelve long
years later, Square-Enix finally released it. The game was ridiculously sold
out locally, but I finally got my hands on it in March. </div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
I have thoughts, too many for one post, but I’m going to
start with this one because it hits my writer nerve, and I can’t stop thinking
about it.</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
The story in this game is a mess. Not even the recaps
accessed from the menu screen could completely pull the story together for me. The
timeline of events was difficult to place with the different side stories that
had been woven into the main game. The main characters of the original
storyline were shuffled off to the sidelines, doing things that were given
cursory attention while the characters from the smaller games became the focus.</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
I wanted Kairi, Riku, and Sora to finally be a team and to
get to fight together. It would have made sense after KH2; our team was
together at last! What can they do now they’re united! I wanted to see their
story coming to a satisfying conclusion, but instead we set off on a half-ass
journey to regain powers and maybe put Roxas back together. Which leads me to a
major storytelling fail in this game:</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
Sora should not have been the main character. </div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
With the story we’re given, Riku should have been our
protagonist. He’s the one doing important things, struggling with his darkness
and against enemies even with great power, and progressing the story. When he
struggles, it matters. </div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
When Sora struggles, it’s blown off so easily and quickly
that there’s no sense of urgency at all. We follow him around and listen to
half-pint jokes, but it feels like we’re on a road trip rather than a mission.
When the matter of Roxas came up, I thought, “Finally, a real mission!” </div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
Nope. We continue the road trip, and the whole Roxas issue
is resolved without us, and other than the convenient fact of Sora acting like
a heart footlocker, we’re not necessary to that plotline at all. If you took
Sora, Donald, and Goofy out of this game, for the most part, nothing would
change.</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
Towards the end, there’s this kinda cool thing where Sora
helps the different teams reunite during one of last battles, and I thought, why
couldn’t this have been the story? Reuniting these friends, restoring their
hearts and bonds in order to defeat Organization XIII once and for all would
have at least given our journey purpose. </div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
That would have been a cool game.</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
But no. We got the meh, messy tale of a sidekick and his
buddies wandering around doing the job with the least impact.</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
You might argue in the end that Sora’s the only one who
could have defeated Xenahort, but I’m not sold on that. The rest of the game
didn’t sell it. And that’s a storytelling fail.</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
</div>
</span>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span>Brandi M. Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648502344247439901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323442525332096310.post-30402005792093395492019-05-31T09:20:00.000-05:002019-05-31T09:20:46.072-05:00Return to the Attic: The Blog Lives!<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">*dusts
off cobwebs*</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; orphans: 2; text-align: left; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hi! </span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; orphans: 2; text-align: left; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; orphans: 2; text-align: left; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's been awhile since I've visited
the attic. Many things happened in my personal and professional life, and this
blog unfortunately fell by the wayside.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But! Here
I am, ready once again to ramble about whatever gets stuck in my mind and needs
an outlet.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here’s a
brief recap: </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Shortly before
the release date of my book, things went awry, and an agreement was made that I
should have it back. Bittersweet, but I haven’t given up on that story yet. There
was much to be done, and frankly, some tears to deal with, but it wasn’t all
bad because in the midst of it all, I signed with Nicole Resciniti of the
Seymour Agency. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After the
dust cleared, I set to work on a new WIP, which I love and hope to share with
the world, and now I’m 52K into my next. Words are flowing, and I’ve got new
ideas and plans to rework some of my existing projects. Progress feels awesome!</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I want to
share my excitement and my words and thoughts, so here we are! I’ll be posting
about writing and books, video games, and anything else that I just can’t
contain. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Let the
rambles begin!</span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span>Brandi M. Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648502344247439901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323442525332096310.post-89821027225964790162016-02-05T09:57:00.001-06:002019-06-07T09:18:20.984-05:00Ramblings of a Gamer: On the Final Fantasy VII Remake (from an FFVII Fanatic)<div abp="2476">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Happy 2016, folks!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div abp="2476">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">First off, I’ve decided to stop calling myself a
casual gamer. I may not be a hardcore gamer, but I do take my games seriously;
therefore, I am a gamer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div abp="2476">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What does this have to do with Final Fantasy VII? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div abp="2476">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Everything. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div abp="2476">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">FFVII was the RPG that opened my heart to gaming.
The immersive story pushed me to keep going even after I died repeatedly trying
to get past that giant freaking snake. (If you’ve played, you know the one.) I
was so in love with the characters that I didn’t want their stories to end, and
when they were continued through spin-offs, I eagerly bought them to live in
their world for just a little bit longer.. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div abp="2476">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Thank you, Crisis Core, for the uncontrollable
sobbing, by the way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div abp="2476">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Over the years, Square-Enix has teased us with demos
for the new platforms, showing us glimpses of what a remake could be like,
planting the dream of traveling through a HD Midgar with a detailed Cloud
Strife and crew.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div abp="2476">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And now it’s going to be real.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div abp="2476">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m terrified, but I can’t wait. I need to see how
they handle turning a 20-year-old turn-based game into something that will grab
new fans while keeping the love of the old fans. There isn’t much info so far,
but the snippets Square-Enix has released look really killer. Some people think
episodic is a bad way to go, but honestly, if this allows them to flesh out all
the story gaps from the original and to turn out the best remake they can
possibly make, then I’m happy to dish out the extra cash. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div abp="2476">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This version will be fully voice-acted, and I’m
hoping Steve Burton and George Newbern will continue to play Cloud and
Sephiroth. I’m pretty happy with Steven Blum as Vincent, too. They have a great
roster of actors who are familiar with the characters from previous games and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Advent Children</i>, so they shouldn’t have
to search too far.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div abp="2476">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Things are changing—Square-Enix has made that clear.
I’m going to embrace it, for better or worse. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div abp="2476">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I hope this has been in the planning for much longer
than we’ve been told, and the first installment will hit in 2017—the 20<sup>th</sup>
anniversary of the original FFVII. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div abp="2476">
</div>
Brandi M. Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648502344247439901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323442525332096310.post-84964113824502252092015-10-19T12:59:00.001-05:002015-10-19T12:59:52.039-05:00PitchSlam! 250 Word Critique Selections: Peeves Edition<div abp="1123">
<div abp="732">
Hi there, PitchSlammers! The Goblet of Fire was sent out for cleaning--can't have all that smoke tarnishing its shine! We tried to get a mandrake to choose, but frankly, we couldn't handle the shrieking. So we asked resident poltergeist Peeves to choose the 100 selections for this second feedback round.</div>
<div abp="733">
</div>
<div abp="734">
To be honest, he didn't seem interested, but he enjoyed the brief moment of tossing the paper slips into the air. Until he shredded them, that is. These were titles left intact.</div>
<div abp="735">
</div>
<div abp="736">
Titles are sorted by AGE category. Please read carefully to see if your title is included. Please remember that feedback is subjective. </div>
<div abp="737">
</div>
<div abp="738">
<strong abp="739">Adult</strong></div>
<div abp="740">
THE DARK MATTERS</div>
<div abp="741">
FOUR TRAGEDIES</div>
<div abp="742">
THE REBIRTH OF LILLIAN ROSE</div>
<div abp="743">
CIRCUITS</div>
<div abp="744">
SETTLE THE SCORE</div>
<div abp="745">
SERENGETI</div>
<div abp="746">
</div>
<div abp="746">
BEAUTY BOUND</div>
<div abp="747">
THE MAD BARON'S DOOMED DAUGHTER</div>
<div abp="747">
AVA AND GRAHAM</div>
<div abp="747">
KISMET FALLS</div>
<div abp="747">
A FRAGILE STATE</div>
<div abp="747">
FAE FAVORED</div>
<div abp="747">
FINDING PERSEPHONE</div>
<div abp="747">
</div>
<div abp="747">
COLLARED</div>
<div abp="747">
THE GOLD IN THE RED DIRT</div>
<div abp="747">
THE VALLEY OF ROSES</div>
<div abp="747">
THE REMOTE PART</div>
<div abp="747">
BAD THINGS COME IN THREES</div>
<div abp="747">
SADISTIC</div>
<div abp="747">
</div>
<div abp="747">
WINTER RAINS</div>
<div abp="747">
THE PENDRAGON'S SON</div>
<div abp="747">
INFINITY LINE</div>
<div abp="747">
TIDES OF MAGIC</div>
<div abp="747">
A SONG FOR SARAH MCPHEE</div>
<div abp="747">
</div>
<div abp="748">
<strong abp="749">Women's Fiction</strong></div>
<div abp="750">
THE PERFECT WIFE</div>
<div abp="750">
THE CONFESSIONAL</div>
<div abp="750">
</div>
<div abp="752">
<strong abp="753">New Adult</strong></div>
<div abp="754">
MY SOUL TO GIVE</div>
<div abp="754">
ASHES</div>
<div abp="754">
ALETHIA</div>
<div abp="754">
CHASING HAPPILY EVER AFTER</div>
<div abp="754">
JESSICA ROSIO, PI</div>
<div abp="754">
</div>
<div abp="756">
<strong abp="757">Young Adult</strong></div>
<div abp="758">
THE STOLEN GIRL</div>
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GLUTEN FREE</div>
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THE EVASION THEORY</div>
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A CURSE MOST WICKED</div>
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STORM COMPASS</div>
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THE OTHER PLACE</div>
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SKIN DEEP</div>
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FOUR WINDS FROM A TEMPEST</div>
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CLOUD 9</div>
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THE BLOOD PIRATE</div>
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LOVE STORIES</div>
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NAKELLE</div>
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THE DECEMBER STONE</div>
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AS SEEN ON EVIE</div>
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ECHO CHAMBER HEIST</div>
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AFTER LIFE</div>
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HASHTAG WITNESS</div>
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EMBERED FLAME</div>
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A COMPLETE LIFE OF ITS KIND</div>
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TOP SECRETS</div>
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RIDE THE LINE ETERNAL</div>
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RED</div>
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GHOST KARMA</div>
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SPIRITS OF SHAMBHALA</div>
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MUSE</div>
<div abp="769">
SUN OF THE BEAST</div>
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HEADS OR TAILS</div>
<div abp="769">
THE TRAVELER'S TRUTH</div>
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DEFINING NORMAL</div>
<div abp="769">
MY GOOD ANGEL</div>
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</div>
<div abp="769">
THE GHOST FROM NOWHERE</div>
<div abp="769">
GENESIS</div>
<div abp="769">
PROTECTORS</div>
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THE MARK OF THE CARAIRAIN</div>
<div abp="769">
THE CURSE OF JENNY GREENTEETH</div>
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LITTLE BLACK BOX</div>
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A TALE OF JACKETS AND PHONES</div>
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</div>
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REMINISCE: CALL OF TWO ROADS</div>
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MISSION X</div>
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THE FIRST LAW OF LOYALTY</div>
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FIELD OF VIOLETS</div>
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STAGED</div>
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GLORYLAND</div>
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</div>
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THE UTOPIANS</div>
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CUSTODIAN</div>
<div abp="770">
FIREBIRD</div>
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HER GOLDEN CRIMES</div>
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THE STONE OF VIRTUE</div>
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SYD-PLY MISUNDERSTOOD</div>
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BAD BLOODS</div>
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RED RAIN</div>
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</div>
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THE MEXICAN DREAM</div>
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THE LAMB</div>
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DIA DE LOS MILTON</div>
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</div>
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<strong abp="772">Middle Grade</strong></div>
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I'M NOT A ZOMBIE, BUT I PLAY ONE ON TV</div>
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SEARCHING FOR HOME</div>
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THE CHALLENGER</div>
<div abp="776">
JEREMIAH STOUT AND THE CURSE OF THE GOLDEN HARP</div>
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THE SHADED EYE</div>
<div abp="778">
THE OSTRICH AND THE ROSE</div>
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</div>
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THE TREASURE OF ZENO ARCHIMEDES SMITH</div>
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WHIMSY GRAYSE</div>
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THE NOWHERE STAIRS</div>
<div abp="782">
PETDEMONIUM</div>
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SULTANA SINKING</div>
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</div>
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THE GRYPHON RIDERS</div>
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FINDING ME</div>
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BUMPER MCGEE</div>
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WHEN YOUR BEST FRIEND WANTS TO BE YOUR GIRLFRIEND (AND OTHER HORROR STORIES)</div>
</div>
Brandi M. Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648502344247439901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323442525332096310.post-65452261599964126672015-10-17T14:31:00.001-05:002015-10-17T14:31:38.171-05:00PitchSlam! The Pitch Round Goblet of Fire SelectionsHey PitchSlammers! it's the moment you've been waiting for, agonizing over, maybe even losing sleep over! <br />
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The entries have been tossed into the Goblet of Fire, and the following have been spat out of the flames! *blows off ashes*<br />
<br />
Selections are grouped by <u>age category</u> and listed by <u>title</u>, so please read carefully!<br />
<br />
<strong>Adult</strong><br />
ERIN JANE<br />
TO FIND THE AIR<br />
MENDED<br />
THE COINS OF MAMMON<br />
SERENGETI<br />
THE LAST LEAF<br />
THE TREASURES OF DODRAZEB<br />
SUFFER THE CHILDREN<br />
START, KILL<br />
INNOCENT LIVES MATTER<br />
KISMET FALLS<br />
THE MAD BARON'S DOOMED DAUGHTER<br />
INVISIBLE INK<br />
WINTER RAINS<br />
THE VALLEY OF THE ROSES<br />
THE DARK MATTERS<br />
THE ORCHID GIRLS CHASE<br />
VENOM<br />
THE STALKING HORSE<br />
COLLARED<br />
A SONG FOR SARAH MCPHEE<br />
FINDING PERSEPHONE<br />
FAE FAVORED<br />
BAD THINGS COME IN THREES<br />
THE STAGE<br />
THE WRITE TYPE OF WRONG<br />
UNTIL THE END<br />
TUMBLE INTO ME<br />
SADISTIC<br />
CODED FOR MURDER<br />
BEAUTY BOUND<br />
FAMILIAR SPIRITS<br />
A STORM'S MIGHTY FURY<br />
<br />
<strong>Women's Fiction</strong><br />
THE PERFECT WIFE<br />
AMERICAN PANDA<br />
STUPID GIRL<br />
BEATRICE BLAKE, NOVICE<br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>New Adult</strong><br />
NOT FIGHTING FAIRE<br />
CHASING HAPPILY EVER AFTER<br />
AN UNDERGROUND FAIRY TAL<br />
GOOD GONE DARK<br />
ALETHIA<br />
MY SOUL TO GIVE<br />
SCIONS AND SAINTS<br />
DEEPLY ALIVE--A BADASS LOVESTORY<br />
SECOND-SELF<br />
<br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>Young Adult</strong><br />
LITTLE BLACK BOX<br />
NORTHERN GHOSTS<br />
SEVEN SEAS<br />
MISSION X<br />
THE FATED UNDESIRABLE<br />
SOUL BLADE<br />
PROTECTOR: AURIA'S SONG<br />
THE UTOPIANS<br />
CUSTODIAN<br />
FOUR WINDS FROM A TEMPEST<br />
DIA DE LOS MILTON<br />
A MARVELOUS FAMILY TRAGEDY<br />
ISLES OF ALYIS <br />
BAD BLOODS<br />
ILLUSION<br />
<br />
FIELD OF VIOLETS<br />
THE EVASION THEORY<br />
PROJECT SIREN<br />
THE PALACE OF SAND<br />
THE VAULT<br />
DRAGON'S CURSE<br />
SOCIOPOP<br />
THE BACKSLIDERS<br />
THE STOLEN GIRL<br />
THE DARKNESS DEVOURS<br />
HAVEN<br />
IMMORTAL SECRETS<br />
A COMPLETE LIFE OF ITS KIND<br />
<br />
MUCH ADO ABOUT HOMECOMING<br />
THE DREAM WARS<br />
WHITE RAVEN<br />
HACKER GIRL<br />
THE MECHANICS OF HAVING HORNS AND WINGS<br />
STATUS: POSITIVE<br />
CHILDREN OF AVALON<br />
MUSE<br />
ALICE GAMES<br />
THE NEW RECRUITS<br />
<br />
THE CHALLENGER<br />
RESPAWN<br />
FAIRY RING<br />
SMARTS<br />
WILD CALLING<br />
THOSE NOT CHOSEN<br />
LILY AND LION<br />
AFTER LIFE<br />
THAT PLACE IN MY HEART<br />
UNDER THE ICY LAKE<br />
WEIRD<br />
THE DROWNING OF MOLLY WHITFORD<br />
<br />
MARISOL<br />
A TALE OF JACKETS AND PHONES<br />
GLORY'S REALM<br />
BETWEEN SOUND AND SILENCE<br />
RED RAIN<br />
OUT OF THE COLD<br />
TOP SECRETS<br />
THE CURSE OF JENNY GREENTEETH<br />
THE GARDEN<br />
REMEMBER NINE<br />
THE WOLF AND THE RAVEN<br />
WILLOW MARSH<br />
FINALLY AWAKE<br />
SYD-PLY MISUNDERSTOOD<br />
<br />
THE DISAPPEARANCE OF SLOANE STEVENS<br />
ALISHA'S TREE<br />
A TRACE OF MADNESS<br />
SAVAGE ARIA<br />
REMINISCE: CALL OF TWO ROADS<br />
THE WORLD IN GRAY<br />
THE UTOPIANS<br />
EMBERED FLAME<br />
RIDE THE LINE ETERNAL<br />
FOREST LAKE<br />
THE DESTINY MATRIX<br />
SKIN DEEP<br />
A CURSE MOST WICKED<br />
WHITE AS SNOW<br />
IN THE SPACE BETWEEN<br />
<br />
BORNLESS<br />
BRAIN DAMAGE<br />
186 LIES & COUNTING<br />
DEFINING NORMAL<br />
HASHTAG WITNESS<br />
HOTEL FROM HELL: THE 108 MILE MURDERS<br />
THE FLAMES OF ORIANA<br />
THE BLOOD PIRATE<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Middle grade</strong><br />
WHEN YOUR BEST FRIEND WANT TO BE YOUR GIRLFRIEND (AND OTHER HORROR STORIES)<br />
THE SHADED EYE<br />
THE MARVELOUS ADVENTURES OF GWENDOLYN GRAY<br />
FINDING ME<br />
THE CHALLENGER<br />
PETDEMONIUM<br />
LARIMAR--THE HIDDEN CITY<br />
BFF GUIDE TO EVERLASTING FRIENDSHIP<br />
THE LAST PAPER DAHL<br />
SULTANA SINKING<br />
THE HOUSE ON WINGING WAY<br />
TO THE OTHER SIDE<br />
GIRL<br />
THE STORYTHING COMETH<br />
MERMAID OF THE FORGOTTEN ISLAND<br />
CATNAPPED<br />
THE JUSTICE DRAGON'S SECRET<br />
THE OSTRICH AND THE ROSE<br />
Brandi M. Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648502344247439901noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323442525332096310.post-30384745915320711372015-10-05T09:32:00.000-05:002015-10-05T09:32:27.069-05:00#Pitchslam is Nigh! A Bit About Feedback<div abp="1314">
It's time for another season of Pitchslam, the writing contest with the bonus of feedback! For all the nitty-gritty, you can check out our fearless leader's post here: </div>
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<a href="http://linkis.com/llmckinney.com/wjY1x">http://linkis.com/llmckinney.com/wjY1x</a></div>
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There's all kinds of bonuses to writing contests: feedback, getting your work in front of agents who might not be open to queries at the time, camaraderie between contestants, and even finding critique partners who get you but aren't afraid to tell you when you're way off course. (Seriously, crit partners (CPs) are essential. If you don't have one, get one. Or three.)</div>
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What I really like about writing contests is getting fresh eyes on my pitch or first pages. As the writer, we know the ins and outs of our story, and those details never really leave our minds. So when we're writing queries or pitches, it's easy to think our summary makes sense when really we're filling in a gap with our insider knowledge. When we think it's good, that's when we need fresh eyes on it. </div>
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If an outsider can tell what your novel is about from the pitch/query, then you're on the right track. If not, then you might want to look at it again.</div>
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:: FEEDBACK IS A SUGGESTION, NOT A DEMAND::</div>
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All feedback, when it comes down to it, is a suggestion. No one is required to make changes someone else recommends. It's important to strike a balance in receiving and utilizing suggested revisions. If a dozen people give you a dozen different comments, then it's probably safe to disregard them. If a dozen people give you the same piece of advice, then you should probably consider reworking that place in your story.</div>
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::WAIT BEFORE YOU JUDGE THAT FEEDBACK::</div>
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You've toiled away on your novel, put into it lots of blood, sweat, and tears, and having someone tell you that you need to change it can be hard to swallow. Step away from it all for a minute, take a breath, and really consider it. Depending on the size of the change, take a week or month if you have to. Decide if it's the right move for you. If it feels like it's absolutely wrong, then thank them for their suggestion and move on.</div>
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::REVISIONS ARE A NORM::</div>
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Expect change. Nothing we put out is perfect. All the way up to the day your novel hits the bookstore shelves, you'll be asked to make changes by your critique partners, your agent, or your editor. And even after it's all said and done, you probably find something you'd wished you'd changed. If you can see it as an opportunity rather than an obstacle, it'll make the road a lot less bumpy.</div>
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So, in the spirit of feedback, give me some of yours in the comments!</div>
Brandi M. Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648502344247439901noreply@blogger.com0