Author Liesel K. Hill's Musings on Fantasia...
Showing posts with label RMQ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label RMQ. Show all posts
Monday, April 1, 2013
Teaser Tuesday, A to Z Challenge, Day 2, + RMQ
A to Z Challenge
Welcome to the A to Z Challenge! This is my first year participating. Basically, we post every day except Sunday, which in April means we'll finish on the 30th. We blog about something each day which starts with the corresponding letter of the alphabet. So, day 1=A, day 2=B, etc. Visit the A to Z blog for more details.
My theme is writing and related bookish things. A pretty vague theme, I'll admit, but as this is a writing/bookish blog, I thought I'd clarify.
Today's letter: B
B is for Back story.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Teaser Tuesday--Seraphina + RMQ
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
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"Did you bit Prince Rufus's head off, worm?" cried one of the Sons, a muscled riverman. He grabbed the newskin's twiggy arm as if he might break it.
"The treaty forbids us biting off human heads," said the newskin, his voice like a rusty hinge. "But I won't pretend I've forgotten what they taste like." (Print edition, page 20)
**By the way, Rebecca over at Vicariously! is doing a review of Persistence of Vision and interviewing me. If you have a spare moment, hop on over and see what you think!
Random Movie Quotes (RMQ)
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Today's RMQ is:
"I missed the part where that's my problem."
One point for film, one for actor, one for character. Any guesses?
Monday, March 11, 2013
Top Ten Tuesday--Spring TBR List
You may not be able to see this well, but written in green are the words, "Only 10 left in stock. More on the way." I don't know how many were originally ordered--maybe it was only a dozen. No idea--but I think it's safe to say my books are selling. Woot, WOOT! *does creepy author dance*
Top Ten Tuesday
Monday, February 18, 2013
Top Ten Tuesday--Favorite Characters + Blog Tour Stops & RMQ!
For today's Blog Tour Stop, hop on over to Page Girl's Page for a review of Persistence of Vision!
Top Ten Tuesday
Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!
Each week they will post a new Top Ten list that one of their bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All they ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.
Top Ten Favorite Characters in the Fantasy Genre
A lot of these you guys have probably seen before because I tend to rave about them and use them a lot in my Top Ten lists. But what can I say? I love them and never get tired of talking about them! ;D
10. Eddard Stark of A Song of Fire and Ice--he was so sweet and always did the right thing. I loved him as a father, a lord, and an all-around awesome human being!
| http://hbowatch.com |
9. Aragorn of The Lord of the Rings--Who wasn't rooting for him? And uncrowned kings? I'm kind of a sucker for them. (See #1)
| http://lotr.wikia.com |
8. Reep-a-Cheep of The Chronicles of Narnia--So funny and loveable! Fearless, even though he's only a few inches tall with a sword the size of a toothpick. He always says the funniest things, too. I always looked forward to scenes with him!
| http://themoviepostersite.com |
7. Zedicus Zu'l Zorander of The Sword of Truth--he's an old, white-haired wizard with a hysterical sense of humor, tons of power all on his own, and a healthy love for the ladies--even if they're his age. ;D
| http://legendoftheseeker-plus.com |
6. Brienne of Tarth of A Song of Fire and Ice--Totally love this chick! In a world of medieval men and customs, she picks up a sword and fights for the weak and innocent. She's kind of Sir Lancelot's other half.
| swordsdragonsnerds.blogspot.com |
5. Jon Snow of A Song of Fire and Ice--Totally swoon-worthy. He's a very decent guy--his father's son--and always worrying about doing the honorable thing. Love him!
| http://observer.com |
5. Perrin Aybara of The Wheel of Time--A blacksmith (a.k.a. very buff guy) and also very decent. He can talk to wolves and walk the world of the dream. "Awesomesauce!!!"
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| http://wot.wikia.com |
4. Egwene al'Vere of The Wheel of Time--She may have started out a somewhat snotty teenager, but she quickly develops into a determined, ambitious woman who knows what she wants and how to deal with people. No matter what happens, she always keeps her heart pure and her eye on the ball. So to speak.
| http://wot.wikia.com |
3. Arya Stark of A Song of Fire and Ice--Smart, adventurous, independent, and hilarious, she's my favorite character in this series to follow. The last book only had 2 chapters about her, which I thought was a crime so hopefully the next book picks up the story a bit.
| http://lexicopia.blogspot.com |
2. Nynaeve al'Meara of The Wheel of Time--I know I totally rave about her, but I can't help it. She's got so much personality, not all of it good, but she's got a good heart and is so brave and powerful! Love her!
| http://encyclopedia-wot.org |
1. al'Lan Mandragoran of The Wheel of Time--Uncrowned king of a country swallowed by the Shadow when he was an infant, he's pledged his life to fighting the minions of the Dark One and perhaps losing it to keep the Shadow at bay. Love this guy! He's so honorable and, you know, perfect. Totally want to marry him!
| http://tumblr.com |
How about you? Who are your top ten favorite characters in your favorite genre?
Random Movie Quotes (RMQ)
Last week's RMQ was "It's a rare and beautiful thing when enemies share an enemy." This was said by J.R. played by Larry Hagman on the re-vamp series of Dallas. Evil as always, J.R. Beth of YA Vixen guessed this one. Great job, Beth!
Today's RMQ is:
Today's RMQ is:
"If I'm right about this, I could save a man's life. Do you know what that would do for my book sales?"One point for film, one for actor, one for character. Any guesses?
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Top Ten Tuesday--Favorite Romances + Tour Stops and RMQ
Today's blog tour stops include guest posts at both Racing to Read and Lost in Fictional Worlds. Hop on over and check them out! :D
Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!
What are your favorite romances?
Last week's RMQ was: "Loosen your corset and have a drink." This was said by Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) in The Hunger Games.
This week's RMQ:
Hint: This is a from a TV show that aired just this past week! One point for actor, one for character, one for show. Good luck! :D
Top Ten Tuesday
Each week they will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.
Top Ten Favorite Romances
I don't know if this was supposed to be favorite romance novels or just favorite romances within a novel, but I went with the latter because I don't read genre romance. :D Below are my sci-fi/fantasy picks. For my non-scifi/fantasy picks, visit my other blog, LKHill.
Disclaimer: Many of these are from books that are part of a series. There will be mild spoilers in this list as to who is going to get together in the series for Divergent, Harry Potter, Wheel of Time, A Song of Fire and Ice, Hunger Games, and Lord of the Rings. You've been warned!!!
P.S. I'm kind of a sucker or unconventional romance! :D
10. Tris and Four of Divergent--I recently read Divergent and very much enjoyed the romance in it!
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9. Remus Lupin and Tonks of Harry Potter--One of the saddest and sweetest love stories I've come across in recent years.
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8. Ron and Hermione of Harry Potter--Who doesn't love this one?
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7. Gimli and Galadriel of The Lord of the Rings--Okay, not a get-married-and-have-kids sort of romance, but much sweeter and more tangible than just about anything other relationship in the book.
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6. Eowyn and Faramir of The Lord of the Rings--I loved the way this one was done. It could possibly have felt like settling for sloppy seconds, but Tolkien handled it so delicately that it came off as heart-melting.
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5. Egwene and Gawyn of Wheel of Time--I was ticked off at first that Egwene didn't end up with...uh...someone else, but when this romance struck up, I was on board very quickly. So maybe Egwene and the other guy weren't so meant to be after all. :D
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4. Arya and Gendry of A Song of Fire and Ice--This one hasn't really happened yet. The fans are totally shipping for Ghendrya, though, and if Martin can move the story along in the 6th book, well, a make-out scene would be okay with me!
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3. Katniss and Peeta of Hunger Games--I know it was a triangle and that plenty of people were shipping for her and Gayle, but I just thought the bread-in-the-rain story beat all! How could you not love him for that!
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2. Richard and Kahlan of Sword of Truth--Totally die-hard, old-fashioned, awesome values romance! Couldn't get enough of this one while reading this series!
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1. Nynaeve and Lan of Wheel of Time--My all-time favorite forbidden-to-be-together romance ever! Totally in love with Lan and, Nynaeve's like my favorite female character ever so, yeah, was always totally delighted to read about these two. Unfortunately it was always a less-is-more thing with them, but that's exactly what made it so compelling! :D
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Random Movie Quote (RMQ)
| Soruce |
This week's RMQ:
"It's a rare and beautiful things when enemies share an enemy."
Hint: This is a from a TV show that aired just this past week! One point for actor, one for character, one for show. Good luck! :D
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Persistence of Vision Officially Released--Yea!!!
Today is the official release date of Persistence of Vision! Yea!!! Tour stops today include:
3) Author Interview on Second Book to the Right
Last week's RMQ was: "I could get used to a view like this. Yep, I'm used to it. Guys I want a castle." This was said by Eugene/Flynn Ryder in the Disney movie, Tangled. Charming film! This was guessed by Alex Cavanaugh. Great job, Alex!
Today's RMQ is:
1) Character Interview with Joan at Strands of the Pattern
2) Guest Post on The Howling Turtle3) Author Interview on Second Book to the Right
*Also, I'm doing a virtual launch tour for Persistence of Vision which starts today! The idea is, if you plan to buy the book, please please do it between 1/29 and 2/4. We want as many as possible bought up in the first week so we can get it on as many top lists as possible.
Of course, there will be prizes! Anyone who can prove they purchased the book in this first week (a picture of a receipt or a confirmation email will do) will automatically receive book swag and be entered to win one of three $20 Amazon Gift cards!
If you have any questions, feel free to email me!
Random Movie Quotes (RMQ)!
| sodahead.com |
Today's RMQ is:
Loosen your corset and have a drink.
One point for film, one for character, one for actor. Any guesses?
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
The Hobbit Movie Review, Top Ten Tuesday--Settings + Blog Tour Stops
Today's Blog Tour Stops are:
1) Review at A Bookish Whimsy
2) Author Interview at Downright Dystopian
3) Review at Beth, Art From the Heart
Hop over and check them out! Be sure to thank the bloggers for all their hard work!
The Hobbit Movie Review
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| imdb.com |
So I finally got around to seeing The Hobbit film. (Yea!) I gotta admit, my expectations were kinda sorta low. I thought it would be good, but I didn't think it would be great. My thinking that had nothing to do with the actual movie or how good a job they were doing on it, but more with my own preference. While I loved The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, I only liked The Hobbit book, so I figured the films would produce a similar result.
Yeah...totally loved it! They did such a great job! The thing I loved most was that they didn't leave anything out. While the LOTR trilogy were awesome films, but they still had to cut a lot out because they only got one film per book. In this case, they get to do three volumes for one book, and it's shorter than each of the LOTR volumes was! That means they can go into a lot of detail and spend lots of time on each aspect of the journey.
It's a long film--nearly 3 hours, but at one point (just when they were leaving Rivendale) I glanced at the clock on my phone and it had already been 2 hours! My mouth dropped open. It felt like 10 minutes. Maybe that's because it was so early in the adventure. I knew there was tons to come so I couldn't fathom that the film was two thirds of the way done already!
| image: philstar.com |
I was very impressed with Martin Freeman. At the very start of the film, we see a few minutes of old Bilbo (Ian Holm) and Frodo (Elijah Wood) conversing before it goes into Bilbo's story. I had to smile at seeing Ian Holm. I thought to myself that this was Bilbo and no one could be the character like he could. But Freeman does an awesome job! He's very funny and personifies the wide-eyed innocence and hilarious indignation of Bilbo wonderfully.
| source: thehobbit.sqpn.com |
And I gotta say, for a dwarf, Thorin Oakenshield was pretty hot. I know a lot of Tolkien purists took issue with that. All dwarves should be heavy-set and bulbous-nosed, and Richard Armitage's Thorin definitely better looking than that. But hey! I'm a girl. I didn't mind in the least! ;D
Anyway, great film. Does kind of cut off in the middle of the action, but that's to be expected when a book is arbitrarily chopped into three installments. The effects are great, the adventures exciting and straight from the novel, and they bring in a good amount of foreshadowing toward the trilogy, along with characters we love from it. (Elrond, Galadriel, Saruman). If you liked the trilogy, you'll love it! Can't wait for installment number 2! :D
Top Ten Tuesday
Each week they will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.
Top Ten Settings I'd Like to See More Of
(Totally love this topic, by the way!)
10. Castles--everyone knows I'm all about the medieval lifestyle. The more castles the better!
| source: medievalcastlescc6.blogspot.com |
9. Isolated Places--whether a deserted island or just the wilderness away from civilization, lots of great stories take place amidst great isolation. I think it's because places such as these hold both great adventure and a lot of inner reflection. Adventure plus literary fiction? I'm there!
| source: lostpedia.wikia.com |
8. Grand Estates--Downton Abbey. Need I say more?
| source: dailymail.co.uk |
7. Tel'aran'rhiod--This is the "world of dreams" in Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time. I so wish Robert Jordan hadn't passed away so he could write more stories about this place. It's freakin' awesome!
| source: mizutori.deviantart.com |
6. Middle Earth--another one that will never be because the author has passed away, but what I can I say? I finally saw the Hobbit movie this weekend and it put me in a really Middle Earth mood. ;D
| source: lotrovault.ign.com |
5. By-gone Cities--I'm not big on contemporary or anything that takes place primarily in a city, but if we're talking historical fiction (or medieval fantasy for that matter), well that's a whole other ball game. Can't get enough of that!
| source: wellthatsdifferent.wordpress.com |
4. Winter's Heart--I'm a big fan of the ice wall in George R.R. Martin's A Song of fire and Ice series. Though I wouldn't want to live it, I always think stories set in frozen, snowy locations are dramatic and exotic.
| source: madnessletters.com |
3. Ghost Cities--there are lots of dystopian films that take place in burnt out cities and ghost towns. I'd like to see more books with these settings.
| source: whiggles.landofwhimsy.com |
2. Space--I'd like to get back to some great, old-fashioned sci-fi. It's been awhile.
| source: wallpapervortex.com |
1. Under Water--I'm collecting mermaid stories for my TBR and I'm going to go on a mermaid-binge of sorts during the summer months. Totally open to suggestions over here.
| source: paulvincenti.com |
How about you? What settings would you like to see more of?
Random Movie Quotes (RMQ)
Last week's RMQ was: "Grace has Bob's dead wife's heart!" This was said by Bonnie Hunt in the film, Return to Me. Great movie! This one was guessed by Christy of Christy Writes. Great job, Christy!
Today's RMQ is:
Today's RMQ is:
"I could get used to a view like this. Yep, I'm used to it. Guys I want a castle."
One point for character, one for actor, one for film. Any guesses?
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
3 Tips for Writing that Crucial First Scene
| source: wannabelitagent.wordpress.com |
First there's that all-important query letter, which I won't discuss today. If you want an awesome formula for writing the perfect query (it's the one that I use) I'll refer you to Elana Johnson.
But let's say you get past that query milestone and the agent or editor picks up the first page of your story. You have to impress them with that first scene or they will read no farther. Guaranteed. So, how do you do that? It's the topic of endless discussions among would-be authors. Here are some modest tips that I've found can help:
1. Start in a moment, not in a world. I've been told over and over by industry professionals that you should always start out in a character's head, in a significant moment. Now, by "significant moment" I don't mean the climatic battle or defining crossroads of their existence. Rather, it's a significant moment because the character is immersed in it. Focus on being in the character's head, on their observations and sensations.
It was an odd-looking vine...It was the smell that had first caught his attention, a smell like the decomposition of something that had been wholly unsavory even in life. Richard combed his fingers through his thick hair as his mind lifted otu of the fog of despair, coming into focus upon seeing the vine...Terry Goodkind, Wizard's First Rule
en.wikipedia.org
You see? We are in his head, experiencing what he is experiencing. These are the first few paragraphs of this series, and the author doesn't talk about the world, the situation, the character's life or history, etc. He does, however, hint at a despair that makes us curious to keep reading.
2. Assume the reader already knows your world. Not "telling" is a given in writing anyway, but it's even more important here. We tend to want to tell about everything in our story because these are the first few lines and we want the reader to understand things about our world. Big no-no! Don't tell about your world or your character's past or anything like that. Now, this is a fine line. You can talk about the world without explaining it. That's what I mean by assume the reader already knows it. In this next example, we begin in the middle of a scene where two men are arguing.
Elan Morin grimaced. "Look at you," he said scornfully. "Once you stood first among the Servants. Once you wore the Ring of Tamyrlin, and sat in the High Seat. Once you summoned the Nine Rods of Dominion. Now look at you! A pitiful shattered wretch. But it is not enough. You humbled me in the Hall of Servants. You deeated me at the Gates of Paaran Disen. But I am the greater now. I will not let you die without knowing that..." Robert Jordan, The Eye of the World
en.wikipedia.org
This is not the beginning of the book, but it's a few pages into the first scene. Do you see how Jordan speaks about the world as though the reader already knows it? Do you see how, if he had paused to explain what the Hall of Servants or the Nine Rods of Dominion were, it would take away from the narrative and pull the reader out of the story. This is one of the most powerful scenes I've ever read--the prologue to one of the greatest epic fantasies ever written--and it's beautifully executed. Part of that is that the author mentions details of the world he's built without explaining them. It lends authority to his writing and makes us want to continue on.
3. Take Author Barbara Kyle's advice. In an article entitled Making an Entrance she gives the following advice:
a. Determine your character's defining quality.
b. Show that quality through action.
With your first scene, it will always be your main character. By showing their defining quality and showing it through action, you establish the character in the reader's mind and write a compelling first scene. This is how, according to Kyle, your character "makes an entrance."
| source: youthvoices.net |
What do you think? What tips or experience have you had with your first scenes?
Random Movie Quotes (RMQ)!
| source: startrek.com |
Yesterdays RMQ was: "Are you sure it isn't time for another colorful metaphor?" This was said by Leonard Nimoy playing Spock in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. Awesome film! So funny! Alex Cavanaugh guessed this one. Great job, Alex!
Today's RMQ is:
"Grace has Bob's dead wife's heart!
One point for film, one for actress, one for character. Good luck! :D
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