Fourteen-year-old Zach Harriman can feel the changes. The sharpening of his senses. The incredible strength. The speed, as though he can textmessage himself across miles. The confidence and the strange need to patrol Central Park at night. His dad had been a hero, a savior to America and a confidante of the president. Then he died, and the changes began in Zach. What Zach never knew was that his father was no ordinary man-he was a superhero, battling the world’s evil. This is a battle that has been waged for generations and that knows no boundaries. And now it’s Zach’s turn to take on the fight. It’s Zach’s turn to…
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My Writing Story
I started writing seriously when I was ten or eleven. By seriously, I mean: I had a binder. And I wrote in it. How much more serious can you get? I had written a few stapled-together booklets (that were very heavily drawn from whatever book I was interested in) and illustrated them, but the urge to write – really write – struck at around age eleven. I think my writing interest had been sparked by a skinny American Girl book called Writing Smarts that appeared from I-don’t-know-where. (It’s out of print. I don’t really recommend it… If you want a good writing book for children, try this one.) I especially loved the mini character…
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Beginnings
I’ve decided to do a post of first lines from my numerous stories/story beginnings/story stuff. A few warnings before we start… When I first began writing, I had a “thing” for fairy tale endings, beginnings, and everything in between. “Once upon a time”, “they lived happily ever after”, etc. Later, I had an obsession with high fantasy (C.S. Lewis, Lloyd Alexander, etc.) and heavy accents that I knew nothing about (mostly influenced by Redwall books). Also, I was heavily under the influence of a… um… a writing program that was… less than desirable? And it told me to use lots of modifiers! Lots and lots and lots! And never use the…
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What I Think Of Emma Woodhouse
A poem in the style of Doctor Suess // Expressing my righteous indignation at Emma Woodhouse from Jane Austen’s Emma I do not like her in a book I do not like her in a nook I do not like her personality She would not win Miss Congeniality. I do not like her here and there I do not like her in her lair If people heard the things she said Behind their backs, they’d flush red. Perhaps I’d like her with some kindness Her biggest fault might be her blindness Her prejudice could be much less She’s worse than Miss Elizabeth*. I do not like her…
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Goodbye March // Monthly Recap
April is here and so is spring! It’s boiling, roasting, scalding, scorching hot outside right now. Which is why I’m quite glad I’m in the nice cool basement right now… (Mom said it wasn’t that hot, but it was pretty hot to me. I like air conditioning. It’s still too hot for April.) March flew by (but when doesn’t it?). It was a pretty normal month of school, writing, etc. Highlights One of our oldest chickens was killed by a hawk. Our power went out briefly after a storm and we sat around the table and drank drinkable yogurt. (Was that redundant? Probably.) Small group (with our church) started. My…
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Book Review // The Giver Quartet
Yes, I am that weird girl who takes pictures of her books on the back deck… *sighs. I read The Giver back in January, and I loved it! I don’t typically like sad books, but this… this! Everyone should read it. It has a few graphic descriptions and it’s (as aforementioned) very sad, so I would only recommend it to mature readers. But that ending! If you’ve read this book, you know what I’m talking about, and if you haven’t, go read it. (Kidding. Sorta.) I had to read the next ones. Had to. Because that story ended in one of the worst places ever. Five stars. Thus, I checked…
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A Library Haul//What I’ve Been Reading
It totally hasn’t been over a week since I posted. You’re imagining it. Forget what you were thinking and certainly don’t scroll down to look at my previous post. Oh, never mind. Yes, I haven’t posted for eleven days. Sorry. Kind of. The library might just be my favorite place… because where else would you get beauties like these (to follow)? Sarcastic reader: The bookstore, Zane. And I am totally not stealing an idea from Olivia. *Cough cough. A random fact: I can literally feel my heart pounding faster when I come into a library and know I can check out as many as fifty beautiful stories. Although I usually stick…
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Blogger Book Tag
I saw this book tag on Emily’s blog For The Bookish and immediately wanted to do it! It looked super fun and also I’ve never done a tag before. So here we go. 1. Name a book you’re embarrassed you haven’t read. Um, well, that’s a lot. The complete Pilgrim’s Progress? (I recently learned that my edition was abridged.) Emma? To Kill a Mockingbird? The huge stack of books in my room that I keep meaning to read? 2. What is the strangest thing you’ve ever used as a bookmark? Oh, dear. For the most part I use bobby pins, but the strangest thing? Hmm… Oh! Once I used a piece…
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February Recap
Hi guys! I’m doing my first monthly wrap-up post, and hopefully this will continue each month. And look, I’m only three days late! GENERAL These aren’t exactly in order. I couldn’t even remember everything that happened this month, so I looked back at my pictures. My memory… 😀 Everything was a little crazy, as usual. School. Church. Normal stuff. We had our Homeschool Valentine’s Party! Organized by Mom. Went to the Chik-Fil-A Daddy Daughter Date Night. It was really nice. Field trip to Old Salem. Went ice skating with friends. The softball season started! (We haven’t had any games, just practices. And Justus is playing, not me. Thank goodness.) I know I’m…
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Day Trip to Old Salem
We went to Old Salem in North Carolina yesterday. It was once a community of Moravians who immigrated from Germany for religious freedom. Lots of fun and really interesting. Definitely recommended. It took us five(ish) hours to get there and five more to get back. Here are some pictures. Because… why not? Hope before we left. Breakfast. Because breakfast is awesome. And I know you all wanted to see a picture of it. My writing gear. Not that I actually got much done… I did, however, manage to read three books: a book about CIA special weapons and equipment (I know. I’m weird.), Trixie Belden No. 11 (surprise!) and The Storybook…
