Who Am I?

Anyone who sang that title, give yourself a pat on the back. And no, I'm not two-four-six-oh-one. I'm not even two-four-six. Or even two-four. In fact, I'm only two-oh. In the age aspect, at least.

But anywho, I digress. The reason for this post. *ahem*

Many times throughout the course of a day, a month, a year, a lifetime, etc. we hear someone tell us how similar we are to certain fictional characters. "You look just like {insert name}!" "You sounded like {insert name} when you said that!" "If you had a {insert such and such}, you'd be just like {insert name}!" You get the idea. 

Personally, I like to keep a list of those fictional characters people compare me to, and it's fun to go back over that list and see what people have said about you. Okay, it's not a physical list, but a mental one, yet it's a list just the same, thankyouverymuch. The point is I'd like to share some of the most recent characters on that list. It might help you get to know me a little better. It might not. It may make you laugh. It might not. That's all up to you.

The character I get most likened to should not be a huge surprise to some of my closer friends. Jo March. My family cannot watch Little Women without Jo doing something and someone exclaiming, "That's so Kiri!" I'm still trying to decide whether that's a compliment or not, as Jo is a little on the obnoxious side, but then again, she did get published. So, that's a pro. 

But what about Jo makes people think of me? She tends to be rather blunt, hating to beat about the bush when there's something she wants to say. She's extremely honest. She is incredibly loyal to each one of her sisters as well as to those whom she deems her best friends, doing what she thinks is best for their amusement, protection, etc. She doesn't care much for change, especially within her own family. And she's very, very (did I mention very?) stuck on writing.

For instance, my family thinks the following lines are extremely Kiri:

"That's my sister. She's completely bald in front."

"It's a shame you don't know the lady's part!"

"He's dull as powder, Meg. Can't you at least marry someone amusing?"

"I'm awake. Horrible piano."

"If only I were the swooning type."

Now I realize that all those quotes come from the movie. You should know that I do not base the story of Little Women entirely on the movie, having read and loved the book, but I currently don't have that many quotes from the book memorized.

Second up: Millie Warne from Miss Potter. I have to admit that Millie is probably my favorite character in Miss Potter, and though I may not be like her in all things, my sisters claim I still remind them of her. We won't belabor this point because I think it more fun for you to gain what opinion of it you will without me jabbering on about it; only allow me to give you a few lines. Again, all from the movie, because the story of Beatrix Potter really doesn't come from any specific book, unless you count the cute tales of bunnies and mice and squirrels, but who wants to be likened unto a mouse in a petticoat or a squirrel in a waistcoat?

"You have something to confide? How delicious!"

"If someone came along whom I loved and loved me, I would trample my mother."

"I have decided that we are going to be friends."

And then, of course, you've got what Beatrix herself says about Millie...

"You say outrageous things!"

Although, I tend to think that I don't say quite outrageous things as Millie. I do seem to say the wrong things at the wrong times, even with the purpose of creating normal conversation. I have learned that I am not a normal conversationalist. When faced with the obstacle of talking to people, I don't necessarily get scared, it's just that I can't think of anything to say. Instant mind blank. So, usually I say the first thing that comes to mind, and mostly that is something that is entirely unrelated to whatever it was with which the other person had started the conversation. I do this in my own family even. I am truly the person about which is said, "You can dress her up, but you can't take her out." *ahem* Moving on...

Now for two that I have not heard often, though my mother mentioned both to me within the last month or so, I thought they were worthy to put on my blog for the purpose of this point. Besides, they make the whole post longer, so why not? 

The one and only boy I've ever been compared to: George Bailey from It's a Wonderful Life. In this classic Christmas tale, George Bailey is pretty much the misunderstood hero. He saves his brother's life at a young age and suffers an awful ear infection as a result, leaving him entirely deaf in one ear. George worked at his father's business after school, earning money and waiting for the day when he could go to college and see the world. However, everything pretty much goes sour for him and he uses the money to send his brother to college. Then when his brother is set to return home and takes George's job at the family business so George can leave, his brother returns home married and with a job, and George is forced to stay where he is. 

I won't expound on this character, either, as there isn't a ton of similarities between George and myself. I'm okay when other people get something better than what I get, I don't find it especially difficult to give money I worked for to other people... and now I feel like I'm boasting. Not my intention. Well, that's enough of that.

And the last is Danielle de Barbarac from Ever After. And no, I'm not disguising myself to free a fellow slave from the bonds of slavery, nor am I continuing to cling to that guise to keep myself from suspicion in the eyes of a prince. Actually, my mother said I was like Danielle because of this list of shared traits:

Long hair done up with braids

Flowing medieval dresses

Love of books

Longing for adventure

I do wish apple-throwing would be on that list, but unfortunately, a strong and precise throwing arm is something I do not have. Just ask my brother when we're trying to play football.

Well, readers, that's my list. And now, if you will permit it, I have a request of you. Which fictional characters are you most likened to? Who are people constantly comparing you to? I'd like to know! Write a post of your own, and please leave me a link! I'd love to read it!

God bless!

Interview With Joan Bassington-French

My dear friend and CBC, Joan Bassington-French, has just published her first book, a most excellent murder mystery, Christmas at the Tittletons! She is currently hosting a giveaway for a free copy of the book on her blog, Hidden Orchards, and you can find Christmas at the Tittletons HERE on Goodreads and HERE on CreateSpace.

Soon after the publication, I sent my friend an email, requesting an interview with her to share here on my blog. Being the loving CBC that she is, she heartily agreed, and now, m'dear readers, I am delighted to share that interview with all of you!

First, give me a short description of Christmas at the Tittletons.
This is the story of a Christmas party gone terribly wrong.  An unknown man is found stabbed in the alley behind Tittleton House.  Jessamine Warbling, a young London socialite, reluctantly lends Scotland Yard a helping hand at the request of Inspector Fionn, a Welsh inspector who also happens to be my favorite character.

What gave you the idea to write this story in the first place?

You know, Kiri!  Well, all right!!!  The story is based on a play that I wrote several years ago for my family and my CBCs’ family to act out together.  The play was so much fun that Kiri’s mother asked me if I was going to turn it into a book.  The actual idea for the story came to me probably four or five years ago, but I originally meant to set it in the U.S.

Who is your favorite minor character and why? 

My favorite minor character is Inspector Fionn.  Well, he is not exactly minor, but he isn’t one of the main characters, so he counts.  I like him because I have a partiality for Blond Moustaches.  NOT REALLY!   I actually like him because he is UNLIKE most of the Scotland Yard inspectors in stories.  He exhibits intelligence and he is a gentleman and if he arrives at an incorrect conclusion he is knows how to admit that he is wrong.

Is the current ending of Christmas at the Tittletons exactly as you imagined it would be when you first began writing the story?

Well, I hadn’t actually imagined the ending.  The play ends in ambiguity and all the characters have to try to solve the mystery on their own.  So when I wrote the story, I was dreading the ending.  I had no idea how I would end it.  Then, when I reached the reveal and conclusion, everything seemed to fall into place.

Let's suppose that someone just finished reading Christmas at the Tittletons and laid the book aside. What would you expect or hope his/her reaction to be?

His reaction?  Well, as you know, CatT has neither a sad nor a happy ending.  It has merely a resolution.  Therefore, I would expect the reader to be slightly shocked by the conclusion and a little sad that the story is over and sympathetic for the innocent characters who were affected by the evil and happy for the fact that a sequel IS coming.

Now let's switch topics from the enchanting story to the lovely creator. What is your purpose in writing?

My purpose in writing . . .  Well, I suppose I write because I like to write.  I mean, when I write any particular story, I am trying to keep a theme in place, but overall I just write because if I didn’t the stories would explode in my head.  Not literally, of course, but who knows?  If I hadn’t started writing I might be a raving lunatic right now.

What time of day do you find it the easiest to write?

Unfortunately, time of the day is incorrect.  I write my best and most at night, and by night I mean 10:00-3:00.  I am most definitely a night owl, and I find that I can write best when I am not worrying about having to cut my writing time short for anything.  Thus, most of CatT was written during those times named.

Do you often find what you believe coming through in your writing?

Oh, yes!  Yes, yes, yes!  In fact, Mama had to remind me that CatT was not a work of religion but a murder mystery.  In some ways this is good, because I am exhibiting Biblical truths in my writing.  On the other hand, I also have to watch out to make sure that my bad characters aren’t using Scripture quotations in their dialogue.

Every writer struggles with something when it comes to writing, whether it be plot, character development, dialogue, etc. What would you consider your weak point, and how do you plan on perfecting that?

My weak point is definitely character development.  Most of the time I am so wrapped up in the story that my characters ump from one frame of mind to another without an actual reason.  I am working on this by going slower as I write.  The best way to fix this, though, is to simply rewrite!

To wrap up, choose one of the stories you are currently working on (one of your favorites) and give me a taste of it, just enough to make me want to read more. 
I dug out The Dragon Bstirvm recently, so I’ll give you a sample of that:

 

           “I don’t want to know her name,” said King Edwin.  He looked at me curiously as I groveled on the floor before his throne.  “She is not important.  The fact is that you have a substitute.  Look upon this this woman, Gabrielle,” he said to a beautiful lady standing beside him.  “She is going to save your life.”

            I hated the king with my whole being.  I hated him for the fact that I could not speak, for the fact that he hadn’t the resolve to stand his ground, and for the fact that because of him, I was now an orphan.

            “Take her away and give her a dress befitting a princess, then send her out to the dragon,” said the king, waving his hand grandly.

            “Father, perhaps I could attend to her myself,” said the lady.

            “You!  Attend a commoner!”  The king’s dark eyes glistened with mirth.

            “I must thank her somehow,” said the lady.  “She is, after all, taking my place.”

            “Go, go, and get it over,” snapped the king.  “I don’t care what you do, as long as it is done and the dragon is appeased.”

            Gabrielle took me by the shoulder, and I shuddered at her touch.  I could not hate her, but I desperately wanted to do so.  Because she lived I was to die.

 

~ The Dragon Bstirvm

 

Again, if you'd like to add Christmas at the Tittletons to your virtual bookshelves, you can find it HERE on Goodreads, or if you'd like to get yourself a copy to put on your real bookshelves, you can purchase it HERE from CreateSpace, or if you'd like to enter the giveaway, you can click Here to visit the author's blog, Hidden Orchards.

God bless!

Christmas At The Tittletons Release, Tag, And Giveaway!

My dear friend and CBC, Kathryn, has published her first book! I cannot even begin to describe the thrilling sense of joy that is sweeping through my being right now! Having acted out the play the book was based on, and getting to read the preliminary copy, I know this tale is one of extraordinary characters, compelling plot, and page-turning excitement. Maybe one day, I shall manage to pen a review worthy of such a story. 

I must direct you to the CreateSpace link, of course, so you can pick up your own copy of this marvelous book! Did you visit yet? Click here! You absolutely must read this wonderful mystery!

Also, to celebrate the grand occasion, Kathryn is hosting a fun tag and giveaway on her blog, Hidden Orchards! Please click here to check it all out!

Yes, I know; I'm going a little link-crazy. Just a little. But I wanted to make certain you wouldn't miss it.



Tag Rules:
1.  Please post ALL the rules.
2. Please answer ALL the questions.
3. Comment on this post when you have completed the tag and include a link to your tag post.
4. Tag five other people.
5. Let the people know that you tagged them.
6. Include a link back to this post.

1.  What is your favorite Historical Mystery book? *ahem*Christmas at the Tittletons*ahem* And no, I'm not being biased! Okay, maybe I am a little biased, but I have good reason to be so; it's that good. If I'm not allowed to say such things because the author happens to be my CBC, then I'd pick The Hound of the Baskervilles, the famous Sherlock Holmes story.
2.  Would you rather read a Classic or a Mystery? If I really had to choose, probably classic. I'm in the middle of Dickens right now, so my mind is greatly geared towards classics, although I do love a good mystery. 
3.  How do you think Christmas at the Tittletons will compare to your favorite Mystery? Compares grandly and not at all. Odd answer, you think? Let me explain... grandly in the sense that it can sit in equal rights beside your volume of Sherlock Holmes; not at all in the sense that this is unlike any mystery you will ever read. You have the same gripping elements of an exceptional mystery, but never have you encountered a mystery like this!
4.  How do you think Christmas at the Tittletons will compare to your favorite Classic? My favorite classic (for the moment) is Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens, and let me tell you, CatT may be a lot shorter than a Dickens, but the tale weaves together such intricate characters that Dickens would be proud of. I love the way certain characters have their own little habits that make them so... them. Kathryn, I think you know of whom I speak. ;)
5.  Do you think you would like to write a Historical Mystery sometime? Me? Most likely. I have some plans for a HM, but I haven't any solid notes on projects yet. My mind is too steeped in fantasy at the moment.

And the five people I tag to drag these five questions off to their own blogs:

Amy of Yet Another Period Drama Blog
Jessica of Safirewriter
Hayden of Story Girl
Elizabeth of The Country Handmaiden
Jessa Bri of Freckled Adventures

Again! Please drop by Kathryn's blog to check out the tag and giveaway, and don't forget to hop on over to CreateSpace to get your own copy of Christmas at the Tittletons!

God bless!

When Life Hands You An Award...

... you jump up and down for joy and then post about it on your blog!

 

Belle of In My Life has given me the Elegant Blogger Award! Thanks, Belle! :)

 

 

I would verbalize some on the particulars of this award, but we all know the only reason to read the award posts is to see how the awardee answered all the questions... and also to find out who she awarded at the end. So, without further adieu....

 

Rules:

When you receive the reward, link back to All Things Good and the blog that nominated you (In My Life)

Display the award button in the post

Answer all of the 12 questions given in this post (Do not make your own questions)

Nominate 8 bloggers

Notify them that they have been awarded 

Questions:

1. What made you decide to start blogging? It was mostly an experiment on my part in response to a challenge of sorts on my sisters' parts. Two of my sisters had made blogs, and they teased me that it was odd that I, the writer in the family, had none. So I began a blog about poetry (one that I have since deleted for numerous reasons), where I planned to post snippets of my poetry, my favorite poets, and all things poetry related. From that, a great love of blogging ensued, and now I am the proud but obnoxious bloggeress of Lianne Taimenlore, a blog about life and literature under a maple tree. And a lot of other stuff, but we won't get into details now.

2. What is your fashion style? Fashion? What's that? As far as I know, I have no real style. I like modest and comfortable. On most days, you will find me in a jean skirt and T-shirt.

 

3. What is something none of your followers know about you? My hands swell and get extremely red and itchy when I handle bleach. Therefore, I immensely dislike cleaning (what I sometimes refer to as) the water closet.

 

4. What are some of your blogging goals? To share what I love with those I come in contact with, to find like-minded friends, and to promote my writing.

5. Where is your favorite place to shop? I don't like shopping. But for the sake of the question, we'll say Amazon. Low prices, free shipping, etc. etc. I love how I can find really good deals on all the classic books (Dickens, namely). I got The Pickwick Papers for under five dollars! Now that, I like!

 

6. What would your ideal amount of blog followers be? I really don't have an opinion on that. I don't really want to become a mega-blogger with thousands of followers I don't know, yet I don't want to keep my blog so entirely to myself that I cannot share my posts with more than a dozen people. I have 60 lovely followers right now, so I think that's the perfect amount. However, if I ever reach 100, I'd probably say that was the perfect amount as well.

 

7. What are your talents? I am a true Jack-of-all-trades. I love writing and reading; I sing pretty much all the time; I'm a dedicated pianist; I sew a little and a lot; I love acting, though the level of quality will differ in people's opinions; I've been told I'm a good teacher; I... you get the idea.

8. Are you a leader or a follower? I'm the kind that makes her own wandering paths in the woods with everyone else looking on with confused expressions.

9. What is one of your favorite quotes? I'm ignoring the "one of" part of this question.

 Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read. ~ Groucho Marx 

Three can keep a secret if two are dead. ~ Benjamin Franklin 

A rose by any other name would be called something else. ~ Parody of Shakespeare

It simply isn't an adventure if there aren't any dragons. ~ J.R.R. Tolkien

10. Do you have a favorite book or book series? To be truthful, no, I do not have a favorite. I have many favorites. And if you wanted a list, you should have asked that.

11. Out of all the of the synonyms for elegant, which would you describe yourself with (smart - stylish - dressy - graceful - dainty - fine)? Umm... smart.

12. What is your favorite flower? Kosteletzkya

 

Who to award? Hmm... this is gonna be difficult. I would pass the award onto every one of my followers, but since I can only pick eight...

 

Aidyl

Nessima

Kendra

Maria Elisabeth

Lauriloth

Jessica

Melody

Keller Girls

 

And so it's easier to drag the questions off to your own blog:

 

1. What made you decide to start blogging?

2. What is your fashion style?

3. What is something none of your followers know about you?

4. What are some of your blogging goals?

5. Where is your favorite place to shop?

6. What would your ideal amount of blog followers be?

7. What are your talents? 

8. Are you a leader or a follower?

9. What is one of your favorite quotes?

10. Do you have a favorite book or book series?

11. Out of all the of the synonyms for elegant, which would you describe yourself with (smart - stylish - dressy - graceful - dainty - fine)?

12. What is your favorite flower?

 

God bless! 

Memorable Worlds: Neverland

"Second star to the right, and straight on 'til morning."

My first experience with Neverland happened years ago on a quiet street in London... er, rather, under a maple tree. I cannot recall what age I was when I first saw Disney's animated version of Peter Pan, but I found the story fascinating from the first moment I watched it. From there, I've seen the sequel Return to Neverland, as well as the four (rather disappointing) Tinker Bell films that the same studio has produced. Hook I also saw at an early age, and I can still clearly recall how much the scene wherein Hook placed the man in the trunk and then added scorpions unnerved me. I always left the room at that part. But the rest of the story was interesting, considering the boy who wouldn't grow up, in fact, did.

Then in 2004, I think it was, I saw the new, real-life Peter Pan, the one that stars Jeremy Sumpter and Jason Isaacs. I didn't like it very much back then, immensely preferring the vivid colors of the Disney version, but recently, my family got it back out of the library, and I found that I really actually do enjoy it (with the exception of a few things). About two days after watching it, I found J.M. Barrie's original story at a second hand shop and nearly burst out of my skin, anticipating reading it. Unfortunately, I didn't have money with me, so my sister bought the book and therefore earned the rights to read it first. I had to wait until she was done. I'm sad in a way that I didn't read Peter Pan (or Peter and Wendy as Barrie originally titled it) when I was younger, but I feel that I appreciate the story so much more now that I'm... well, older. Yes, I first read the book when I was 20. On the day that I turned 20. Your point?

But what is it about Neverland that makes it memorable? Well, for one thing, Neverland truly is the land of dreams, made up of dreams. It's the place children dream about at night, it's the place where they can always be young and have fun. It's the land of pirates, mermaids, fairies, redskins, and so much more. This is what Barrie had to say about it:

"Of course the Neverlands vary a good deal. John’s, for instance, had a lagoon with flamingos flying over it at which John was shooting, while Michael, who was very small, had a flamingo with lagoons flying over it. John lived in a boat turned upside down on the sands, Michael in a wigwam, Wendy in a house of leaves deftly sewn together. John had no friends, Michael had friends at night, Wendy had a pet wolf forsaken by its parents."

Another thing that makes Neverland, or really the story of Neverland, so unforgettable is the characters. I mean, who hasn't heard of Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, Wendy Darling, or Captain Hook? When talking about boys never growing up, who doesn't think of Peter Pan? When someone mentions the word "fairy" who doesn't conjure up images of a certain green-clad Tinker Bell? The characters J.M. Barrie created and wrote about may not be real, but he portrayed them in such a way that they seem real. Who hasn't waited at the window, looking for the second star and a guide to Neverland? Who hasn't dreamed of flying and fighting pirates?

These are also the characters of the impossible. Where else would we find a tick-tocking crocodile? A boy who can fly? A loveable pirate who always wipes his glasses instead of his sword after killing and thinks of himself as menacing as he sits at his sewing machine? A band of boys who fell out of their prams, were never claimed, and so were sent to Neverland? A...

Okey dokey, we're getting too many questions. But you get my point. Neverland and its occupants has changed the children's land of dreams and adventures forever. And it's one of my favorite imaginary worlds. 'Nuff said. 

So, how has Neverland affected my writing? Neverland opened up the possibility of the impossible. It's all dreams and imagination. And those are two things a writer must have. Since a man with a hook instead of a right hand can be popular, and a boy who flies and never grows up can become legendary, anything is possible, right? Write with confidence, even when you're writing about characters of the impossible! If you don't think they are real, then no one will think them real.

By the way, did you know that J.M. Barrie originally wrote Peter Pan as a play titled The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up? The character of Peter was based on his brother David who died as young boy, and Barrie's mother was credited for saying that she was comforted in the fact that her son would never grow up and remain a boy forever. I want to say that I've heard of rumors that Barrie planned to write a sequel to the play and never did, but while I could be wrong (I can't locate the site where I read that info), it's interesting to think of what Barrie had in mind for Neverland's future! 

This post was written as part of the Memorable Worlds series, and by request of Kendra of Knitted By God's Plan, as she is anticipating the release of her new book, The Ankulen. Do stop by her blog!

God bless!

Memorable Worlds: Findenland

And now on to a world of my own...

Findenland is one of the twelve kingdoms in my fantasy world. Yes, all of my fantasy stories take place in one world. It's my own planet and universe in a sense. I'd go into more on that, but this post is strictly about Findenland, so we'll skip the universe topic.

Anywho, the following picture is what I do on Paint. It's not a grand map, nor is it very detailed. It would be, but alas, I do not know all that there is to know about each of the twelve kingdoms. Not yet, anyway.

As you can see, there are twelve kingdoms, all part of a rather large continent. Terretmere is technically an island, but we'll overlook that for now. Findenland, the kingdom in which my story The Twelfth Kingdom (TK) takes place is right smack dab in the center of the other kingdoms. I also marked it with the story title (The Twelfth Kingdom) so that it will be easier to find. And it's entirely landlocked. That actually has quite a bit to do with the story. I'm not sure how well my map is going to turn out, so let me give you a quick tour. Above Findenland and to the left is Darancia, followed by Calottes, Troisem, Renarda, and Veymark. Malarber and Moyena flank Findenland on the left and right, respectively. To the south we have Cotédor, Sablia, Pennin, and the island nation of Terretmere. Those, m'dears, are the twelve kingdoms. And Findenland is the twelfth kingdom.

Findenland's inspiration comes from northern countries near the UK, namely Denmark and Norway. The name Findenland really isn't anything special, as I just made it up one day thinking of country's names and realized I didn't have any names that ended in "land" such as "England," "Iceland," "Greenland," "Switzerland," "Thailand," etc. I wanted one at least to end in "land" and then I just stuck "Finden" in front of it. I want to say that "Finden" was derived from a French word meaning something pertaining to the kingdom, but I neglected to write the inspiration down and thus have forgotten it's meaning. I tend to do that a lot.

Geography-wise, Findenland is a mountainous region, with little summer and harsh winters. The mountains surrounding the kingdom harbor terrific storms, so everyone knows to take shelter when they see gray clouds on the horizon, coming over the peaks. Findenland has little to no agricultural resources, so to receive a simple salad with dinner is a major event. Most of the greens that are able to grow in the rocky terrain is tough, and Findens eat more roots and potatoes than any other fruit or vegetable. Just to give a little bit more, this is what Princess Nattalaris says about her kingdom:

“[W]e have no access to the sea and our trade can only come to us from over the mountains. Now, because we have a strong mining industry, we're economically stable. However, we have a weak military and absolutely no navy. That gives us a disadvantage when it comes to political power.”

The people of Findenland are tough like the land. A great epidemic swept through the kingdom previous to the start of TK, and it left a great many of the children in Tellorn, the capital city, as well as many of the other major cities, orphans. It is not uncommon to traverse the streets of Tellorn and see homeless people in the gutters and alleyways. In fact, one of the kingdom's most well-known laws pertains to the orphans. Those who are among the poor and destitute, the orphans and the urchins, are not allowed real names. Instead, they are given letter labels at birth, such as B, J, N, T, Z, etc. This is obviously a rule written by a rich royal, for we all know there are only twenty-six letters in the alphabet, and there are many more than twenty-six orphans. But what do the royals care that the orphans stumble about in confusion due to so many people having the same label? They don't. That's the urchins' problem.

Inside the great castle in Tellorn live the twelve princesses, the people's pride and joy. They are very proud of their princesses, and even though there may be twelve princesses in all, each Finden could recite to you each of their names. Why are they so proud? Because the princesses each used to be part of the dirt on the streets. They were orphans and urchins themselves before the king took pity on them and adopted them as his royal daughters. Who wouldn't be proud of such a king? Well, to be truthful, the princesses themselves, but we won't get into that. That's more about the story of TK rather than the kingdom itself. ;)

The most popular way to travel about Findenland is by horse, although when traveling through the mountains and passes, carriage use is not suggested. The kingdom boasts a great expanse of wilderness amidst the rocks and crags, and it is not uncommon to meet up with the animals of the mountains while traveling. Wild cats, lurking on cliffs and in canyons, are among the worst threat to the safety of travelers, yet the beasts stay away from the lighted and noisy cities. Deer, elk, and other such creatures thrive in the wilderness, and venison is considered a staple on most Fiden tables.

I realize this isn't a very long post, but I want to save some of the info I could put in here for future TK posts, when I'm writing about the story itself and not just the kingdom. So, this is all you get for now.

This post was written as part of the Memorable Worlds series, and by request of Kendra of Knitted By God's Plan, as she is anticipating the release of her new book, The Ankulen. Do stop by her blog!

God bless!

Memorable Worlds: Amara

When Kendra announced she was hosting a series of Memorable Worlds posts in celebration of her new book, The Ankulen, I naturally was very excited and decided immediately to contribute a post or two. Or three. So, I began a list of worlds that are memorable to me and that have influenced my own writing. The list of favorite worlds, I noticed, included many of the same worlds that Kendra posted about, save for one (or at least, when I'm writing this, she hasn't posted about it yet). I know this world isn't very well-known, so it's not surprising, but I still felt it deserved a place in my list.

What is this world? Amara. 

Amara is the fantasy world of Donita K. Paul's The DragonKeeper Chronicles. There are a total of five books in the series, DragonSpell, DragonQuest, DragonKnight, DragonFire, and DragonLight. I was first introduced to the land of Amara when my sister and I came across the books in a Christian book catalogue. Interested as we were in fantasy, we decided to look them up and were delighted to discover that our library had all five books. We were at that time sugaring, and while sitting around the fire waiting for the maple sap to boil, there was sufficient time to read. And read I did. I think I finished all five books within two weeks. Yes, they are that good. 

But we won't harp on the books. Let's talk about the land in the books. Amara is the home to strange creatures beyond count, although you will never find an actual human or man within its borders. Not by name, actually. Instead, there are what Mrs. Paul has dubbed the seven high races. Yes, there are the seven low races as well, but they aren't the main focus of the story. 

O'rants are the main characters in this particular series, and from their description, they are the closest to what you'd expect a human/man to look like. Kale Allerion is an o'rant, and she is the main protagonist in DragonSpell and so on.

Doneels are fun, little creatures, and they enjoy fine clothes, bright colors, music, and that sort of thing, and they also are furry. Quite furry. Mrs. Paul's doneels tend to be my favorite characters in the series, particularly a certain little doneel named Toopka. 

Then there are mariones. Mrs. Paul describes them as excellent farmers and warriors, being short and broad, usually musclebound rather than corpulent. 

Emerlindians are Mrs. Paul's elves. At least, that's what I imagine them closest to. They have pointed ears, and they are born pale with white hair and gray eyes. As they age, they darken. At five hundred years, they are considered "grannies" and their skin is by that point rather brown. At one thousand years, they are dubbed "grand emerlindians" and are black. Height-wise, they can range from five feet to six and a half feet. 

Next are urohms, which are described as gentle giants, well proportioned and very intelligent. There aren't very many urohms that make an appearance in the series, but they're fun characters to have about, anyway.

Tumanhofers I find myself likening to dwarves oftentimes, although they are not the same iron-mining, rugged beings that Tolkien wrote about. While being short, squat, and powerful fighters, they enjoy literature and intellect. Tumanhofer cities are renowned for their libraries. Just ask Librettowit. 

The last of the seven high races is the smallest. Kimens are under two feet tall, and they are fast. In fact, it is rumored they can fly. They are probably the most mysterious of all the races for they have an odd habit of glowing, and while they are fun-loving beings, not much is known about them as a race. As a comparison, I'd say they were much like fairies. 

Not one of the seven high races, but a huge part of these books are the dragons. And there are three kinds, really. Minor dragons are about the size of a kitten and have different abilites depending on the color of their scales. Major dragons are large enough to ride, most being about the size of an elephant, and they are used in transportation. Meech dragons are the most unusual, for they are the most intelligent of all the dragons, as they are capable of speech. They can grow to be taller than most o'rants and emerlindians, and can walk on two legs much like their fellow inhabitants of Amara. Regidor is a meech in DragonQuest, and yes, I would count him a favorite character.

There is so much I could say about this world, but I fear if I continue on, I may spill too many spoilers for you all to enjoy the books yourself. Besides, this isn't meant to be a book review; it's a memorable worlds post. And how is Amara a memorable world for me? It's a fantasy world just like any other, but with it's own unique twists. There's forests, canyons, mountains, passes, valleys, swamps, bogs, islands, deserted castles, grand cities, small villages, gateways, pretty much everything you could hope for in the terrain and architecture.

But really memorable? Well, truth be told, it was really this series that really got me into writing fantasy. Reading Narnia and LOTR, the classic fantasy stories, only solidified my love of fantasy, but reading Mrs. Paul's books made me realize that fantasy isn't something that only professors with English accents monopolize. You can make your own world. And you can make it seem real. I've read a lot of fantasy and enjoyed (most of) it, but this series, and this particular world, proved to me that I could write fantasy, too. Mrs. Paul may not have influenced the world of literature the way Tolkien or Austen or Twain has, but she influenced me, and I'd say that was success. ;)

God bless!