Character Spotlight: Marita Kadlec

Since Felix got some time in the sun yesterday, it's only fair that Marita take the spotlight today.

Marita Kadlec

Ah, and who is this Marita, you ask? I'm so glad you're curious. Allow me to give you an archived set of questions from Cait's blog, shamelessly borrowed from the no-longer-live linkup, Beautiful People. Here, we will discover more (or less) about this mysterious Marita -- who, somehow, has not been properly introduced before now on my blog.

~*~

1. What’s their favourite food? (Bonus: favourite flavour of chocolate!)

Her grandmother's stew. Hearty and thick and filling and savory, it's just the thing Marita craves on cold nights. Now, chocolate? She definitely seems like a dark chocolate kind of girl. Dark, but still rich and a little sweet.

2. What do they absolutely hate?

Spinning. Marita's convinced the spindle hates her, because no matter how careful she is, she's always pricking her finger and staining her aprons with the blood. There are only so many scars one can put on a fingertip. However, being the only daughter of a spinner, she's expected to take up the family business.

3. What do they enjoy learning about?

She enjoys tinkering and inventing, and she's very curious to figure out how things work and why they work the way they do. She wants to know how she can make things work better.

4. Who is the most influential person in their life?

Probably her grandmother. Inga Kadlec isn't in the best of health, but she's been around basically since Marita was born. With her father away at the gambling tables so often, Marita has learned to rely on her grandmother for advice and friendship. The two of them became very close after an accident killed Marita's mother.

5. What is their childhood fear?

Failing and never earning recognition for what she wanted to do. Even at a young age, Marita was interested in tinkering, but continual failure at her projects made them impractical child's play in her father's eyes.

6. What is something they have always secretly dreamed of doing, but thought impossible?

Marita obviously wants to invent useful things, but she struggles with perfecting her inventions in the eyes of others. Her main goal right now is to complete a mechanical spinning wheel that will take over her spinning for her for the rest of her life. After that? Who knows?

7. What is something he is impractically afraid of?

People's expectations and thoughts about her and what she does.

8. Are they a night owl or morning person?

Definitely a night owl. Mornings do not agree with her at all. She'd rather sleep in as much as she can.

9. Do they say everything that pops into their head, or leave a lot unsaid?

She probably leaves more unsaid than not. She's not a stranger to talking, but she's just not used to opening up deeply to people to let them know what's really on her heart. After being brushed aside by her father so many times, she does have difficulty with trusting people -- especially on a personal level.

~*~

And there we have it! For me, Marita was one of those characters who I had to get to know through writing her and following her around. Part of me expected her to be more hot-headed like Janelle had been in The Rose and the Balloon, but as her character came through the story, she was oddly calm. But reserved. Not so much as Disney's Aurora, however. I feel Marita has a little bit more backbone than that. At least, I hope she does.

One thing that I had fun with diving into her character was trying to find ways to keep her from sleeping. Sleeping Beauty is renowned for her 100 years of sleep, and I thought it would be fun to twist up the story and keep my Beauty awake. That was easier said than done, for Marita dearly loves her sleep -- much as Elizabeth Bennet dearly loves to laugh.

Important links to remember today:

• Add Spindle Dreams on Goodreads
• Instagram countdown to the release!

God bless!

Character Spotlight: Felix Barath

Welcome back to my week of shameless advertising!

I've realized that Spindle Dreams hasn't been much showcased on my blog. I recorded a short dialogue between myself and my Little Writer back in 2015 when I first began working on this story. After that, I remember posting snippets of the book here and here. And then I joined up with Melody's Quote Queste once here, and oddly enough that scene made it into the final edit of the book. Other than that, I've really only posted how much I wanted to publish it and how frustrating it was to hit so many setbacks.

But enough is enough, I always say. And this week, we're going to do this book some well-deserved justice and introduce it properly to the real world. Starting with introducing our lovely main leads. Staring with our humorous and handsome hero. (Also, yay for alliteration!)

Felix Barath

I debated how to do this post for only a few minutes before I decided to sneak into the archives on Cait's blog and steal a month of questions from the long-favorited, but sadly cancelled, Beautiful People.

Let's get to know Felix, shall we?

~*~

1. What’s their favourite book/movie/play/etc.?

Since movies aren't around in the fantastical, fictional time period that I've created for Rohesia, I'm going to have to say books would be the only thing realistic from this list. Felix is typically an on-the-go kind of person, so he doesn't read a ton, but he enjoys short stories full of humor or a how-to book. He was never one to sit for a play or opera. 

2. Is there anything they regret doing?

As of right now, I can't think of anything he'd regret. He's had a good upbringing and education, he's active, he's got a good sense of humor. He desperately wishes he weren't plagued with these reoccurring nightmares, but he has no idea where they came from, what they mean, or how to get rid of them. 

3. If they were sick or wounded, who would take care of them and how?

His mother, hands down. Felix is an only child and is very close to his parents. They waited several years for a child before Felix was born, and she would be the one to stick to his bedside to nurse him back to perfect health from anything. 

4. Is there an object they can’t bear to part with and why?

Samson. His stubborn, mischievous horse. Felix loves him to death, even though many of his acquaintances are convinced Samson will be the death of him. 

5. What are 5 ways to win their heart (or friendship)?

1) Making him laugh. 2) Through his stomach. 3) Engaging in outdoor activities together. 4) Accepting his help when he offers it. 5) Being there to understand and sympathize when he is down. 

6. Describe a typical outfit for them from top to bottom.

Top to bottom, eh? Well, since Felix is a nobleman, he'd wear fine tunics and trousers, some with embroidery when the occasion demanded such frippery; his favorite outfits are ones that allow him to ride his incorrigible mount, Samson, around, particularly with a nice riding hat. However, Felix's silk stockings would normally go ripped and dirtied as he has picked up the odd habit of going about without his boots. 

7. What’s their favorite type of weather?

Anything but rain, really. Windy days are great to get out in, sunny days are great to get out in, snowy days are great to get out in, etc, etc. 

8. What’s the worst fight they’ve ever been in?

His latest fight with his father. Felix hates disappointing his dad, since his dad is basically his best friend, but they just can't seem to agree on what to do about these horrible nightmares plaguing Felix. 

9. What names or nicknames have they been called throughout their life?

Felix's closest friend growing up was his cousin, the Crown Prince Dmitri. However, Dmitri never told me if they'd ever had any nicknames. I feel a little left out knowing this now. 

10. What makes their heart feel alive?

Being needed. He loves helping people and making them laugh.

~*~

Felix was so much fun to write. Honestly, he was my little cinnamon roll from start to finish. I felt bad that I made him go through so much, but I knew he needed it. And he's all the better for it now, I'm sure.

I hope you enjoyed getting to know a little bit more about Felix today! Marita (our fearless heroine) will be featured with another set of Beautiful People questions tomorrow.

Important links to remember today:

• My Facebook Author Page 
• Spindle Dreams on Goodreads
• Book Review by Live. Love. Read.

Questions/comments/fangirling -- please drop me a comment below!

God bless!

(Shamelessly reminding you that I've written another book. Link.)

Beautiful People: Janelle

I just realized that I'm planning the publication of a book I've not talked about on my blog.

HORRORS!

Well, I'm not exactly sure how I did that, but we're gonna fix it. In the weeks/days leading up to the release of The Rose and the Balloon, I'm going to tell you more about the story. 

First, this is Janelle. (picture left) She's our main character, the Beauty heroine, and only daughter to Lord Roux. She lives in Rohesia, a kingdom that has the particular (and, in Janelle's opinion, distressing) habit of holding roses and flora shows in the highest opinion.

And this is a Beautiful People post, courtesy of Sky and Cait. (picture right)

To make things more interesting, I've invited Janelle to answer the questions for herself. Mostly because it makes for great answers, and also since she threatened to put Nicolas after me if I didn't. 

So, ladies and gents... here's Janelle Roux. 

~*~

1. Do they want to get married and/or have children? Why or why not? 

First off, I would like to take the small opportunity to say hello to all of Kiri's followers and also to state that I did not threaten her with Nicolas. The prince's younger son threatened her by himself because Kiri hasn't written his story yet. Not that Nicolas's threats are anything to worry about, but you can never tell with twelve-year-old boys. Especially royal ones.

Do I want to get married and have children? I suppose so... one day, if the Lord wills it. But getting married is not exactly on my to-do list right now. At the moment, I would rather have "Stop getting random proposals" on my to-do list. 

2. What is their weapon of choice? (It doesn’t necessarily have to be a physical weapon.) 

My mouth. Everyone says I have a quick wit and a knack for sarcasm. I have no need of other weapons to defend myself.

3. What's the nicest thing they've done for someone else, and why did they do it? 

Hmm... I would have to say probably caring for my father's roses every day. I really don't like them, especially the thorns, but I don't understand how people care so much for those flowers. I do love my father, though, so I continue to tend his roses.

Well, at least, I did tend his roses...

4. Have they ever been physically violent with someone, and what instigated it?

In my youth, I enjoyed practical pranks, but I have never injured someone. 

5. Are they a rule-follower or a rebel?

My father would say that I do follow rules regularly, but I am most stubborn. Prince Dmitri would definitely call me a rebel... although no one truly cares for his opinion. 

6. Are they organized or messy?

Organized. 

7. What makes them feel loved, and who was the last person to make them feel that way?

I love when someone takes the time to talk to me, but I will admit it has been quite a while since someone actually did that. My father does from time to time, but he has been greatly distracted of late with the flora show. 

8. What do they eat for breakfast? 

Probably the same that most Rohesians eat for breakfast. I enjoy sausages and scrambled eggs, but I do not enjoy rose petals in my tea. 

9. Have they ever lost someone close to them? What happened?

My mother died when I was young. Father doesn't speak of her often, so I don't know that much about her. 

10. What’s their treat of choice? (Or, if not food, how else do they reward themselves?)

Not many people know it, but I love a good cup of hot chocolate. Not overly sweet, but thick and rich. Or... if chocolate is not to be had, books are the next best reward. 

And that is the last question, so I will hand the reins back to Kiri and bid you all adieu. It is very nice of her to finally introduce our story on her blog. 

God bless!

Beautiful People: Grant

I haven't done a BP in a while, and since Cait and Georgie so kindly are hosting it again, I think I'll jump on the bandwagon. 

This month, I'll be showcasing (showcasing? *thinks* ... showcasing... somehow that seems rather boastful of me... anywhoz...) Grant from my story The Dragon Tamer, which as many of you know, is broken into three books (Children of a Legend and Rebirth of a Legend being the first two).

~*~*~*~*~

1) What does your character regret the most in their life?
Probably his temper. Grant tends to rush into things without thinking them through, and then usually ends up regretting something. He can be very stubborn, and that stubbornness carries through with his apparent dislike for certain people. As for any particular regrets, I can't say because he hasn't gotten to that point --

What regrets?

Grant?! Where'd you come from? You nearly gave me a heart attack.

What are you talking about? What regrets? I need to know.

No, you'll find out later.

But...

Listen, what good is a story when I say what happens in the end? Don't worry... you'll know what it is when we get to it.

Not fair.

2) What is your character's happiest memory? Most sorrowful memory?

You know, Kiri, you should have asked me to fill out the questions. They are about me.

Oh, really? Do you think you could do a better job?

Hey, who can know me better than me?

Your author?

Ha. Not funny. Now... my happiest memory. When Davin found me and told me I was the son of the Dragon Tamer. We had an epic fight and then I got to meet a dragon for real.

Hmm... and most sorrowful?

When... nope, can't say, Kiri. Spoilers, you know.

You're incorrigible.   

3) What majorly gets on your character’s nerves?

Ahmis!

Grant, be nice about your brother!


I am! I didn't say how he gets on my nerves.

4) Do they act differently when they're around people as opposed to being alone? If so, how?

Nope.

I wouldn't think so.


What?

You're more pensive when you're alone.


Only when you want me to be pensive. You know, I really don't like to think that much.

I've noticed.


Ouch.

5) What are their beliefs and superstitions? (Examples: their religion or lack of one, conspiracy theories, throwing salt, fear of black cats.) 

I believe in the one true God of the universe, the eternal Creator, and the Savior of men's souls. 

Well said, my little fighter. But you still have a long way to go to learning more about Him.

6) What are their catchphrases, or things they say frequently? 

*rubs head* What do I say, Kiri?

I don't think you have a catchphrase. You just yell a lot.

Hey, now!  

7) Would they be more prone to facing fears or running from them?

Facing them. I'm always ready to fight.

Not everything.

*glares*  

8) Do they have a good self image?

Of course! Everyone loves Gruesome Grant! Or... at least, everyone in East Delt did.

9) Do they turn to people when they're upset, or do they isolate themselves?

He isolates himself.

No, I don't!

*pointed look* Yes, you do. You hate human intervention. 

10) If they were standing next to you would it make you laugh or cry?

If who were standing next to me?

If you were standing next to me, Grant. Technically, this question's mine. 

Oh, well... go ahead then.

I... hmm... I really don't know. You have a natural talent to make people laugh, but with everything you've been going through, I feel slightly frustrated with you, and I doubt you could make me laugh right off the bat.

Frustrated?

Yes, frustrated.  

Naw, but you wouldn't cry. You still love me too much to do that.

*sigh* I guess you're right.

Are we done now?

What? Yes, we're done. That was all ten questions.

Good. Now go finish writing my scene. You left me hanging there.

A "please" might be nice. And I did not leave you hanging.

That's because you know what's happening! I don't, dash it all!

Fine. I'll go write.

Thanks. I'll sign off for you. So long, folks!

Wait... my picture!

You don't need that.

Yes, I do!

But it's not even you.

It's nice to end a post with a picture.

Fine. Here's a picture.

Good-bye.

*growls*

Beautiful People: Celesta

Have you ever had a story that grabbed you by the throat and wouldn't let go until you agreed to write it? A story that knocked you down and sat on your head and refused to let you think of anything else? A story that made itself so important in your life that it was unpardonable NOT to work on it?

That's what's happening to me with Secret of the Hazel Tree. I began this as a small story for NaNo last year, and now it's grown to, well, basically consume me. I can't think of any other story right now because SotHT is too commanding. I have to finish this story. And I am determined to finish it. I have been writing at least 300 words on it every day this year, and if the Lord wills, I will be writing every day until I finish it, which I'm hoping will be sometime in March. We'll see. This story started out as only 75K long in the planning and grew to be 70K as only the halfway point. 

But enough on that. I've determined to let you all know more about my wonderful, amazing story (hey, it can be that in my eyes, right?), and so, since I haven't done one in forever, I'm Beautiful People-ing.

And yes, I think that's acceptable phraseology. Hush up, Little Writer.

Celesta Le'Blancard

1. If your character’s house burned down, and they were left with nothing but the clothes on their back, what would they do? Where would they go? Dear Celesta, forced from her beloved home... well, she'd most likely go with Ahna to a friend's house until they (or the duke) figured out what to do. The Leigns or Kronwards would definitely not hesitate to take them in. Celesta would mourn the home she lost, of course, but she would take the move better than most.

2. Are they happy with where they are in life, or would they like to move on? Celesta is currently happy with her life, even though there are a few, or a bunch, of dark spots that tarnish her world. The most "moving on" that she would want to do is exactly what she envisions her future 5 years from now: her stepsisters married, and her stepmother preoccupied with her daughters' lives, and she can be alone again. Well, not alone. Ahna would never leave her side. And of course, Ahna has plans very different from Celesta's, much to Celesta's dismay. 

3. Are they well-paid? Not paid at all in coin. She works as a servant in her own house, and in return for her labor, she is fed and given clothes and a place to sleep.

4. Can they read? Yes, and probably too much. Celesta expects no adventure in her life, not that she'd wish for much anyway, but she loves reading and fantasizing adventures in books.

5. What languages do they speak? The common tongue of the Twelve Kingdoms. Troisem is one of the northernmost kingdoms on the continent, but for a few exceptions, the whole continent speaks the same language. Each kingdom does have a slightly different dialect or accent, each in its own way. Most of the Troisans speak with a "peasant accent" which, in our world, sounds very muchly like a thick Brooklyn accent. Celesta, being the daughter of a duke, no matter how lowly he might be, was educated well, so while she's familiar with the peasant accent, she doesn't speak it.

6. What is their biggest mistake? By whose standard? Celesta would count hers as losing the love of her father. How, she's not exactly sure, but she would do anything to regain it. Ahna would say that Celesta's biggest mistake is her thinking less of herself, not in a worldly sense, but in doubting her ability to do or accomplish anything and believing herself to be of no consequence. Celesta's stepsister, Veroniscen, would believe that mistake to be not doing what she wants done, right now.

7. What did they play with most as a child? Books. Celesta was never much for dolls, and the stories written down already were much more interesting than anything she could make up herself.

8. What are their thoughts on politics? Don't know if she really has any. Celesta feels deeply about helping people, but the affairs of state, international issues, importance of imports/exports... not really. She doesn't ever expect to have to worry about that stuff, so she doesn't.

9. What is their expected life time? Pretty much the same as humans in our world. Most people live to 70-80 years, so I'd expect Celesta to live about the same. However, I can think of people who'd love to disagree with my expectation.

10. If they were falsely accused of murder, what would they do? How would they react? Firstly, be shocked that anyone would stoop to recognize her. Then the shock would change into terror when hit with the realization of the accusation, and she would deny the charge and try to clear her name. Celesta tends to be naturally curious, even though she'd timid, so her investigation would be mostly avoiding direct contact with, you know, people.

God bless!

Beautiful Lands - Dron

Anne-girl is holding a Writer's Conference over at Scribblings of my pen and tappings of my keyboard! And for the first workshop, we've been instructed to dig into the Beautiful People archives, and answer the questions based on your fictional country. 

For this and to help get me in the mood for NaNo (which I hope to participate in and add another 50K words onto Children of a Legend), I've chosen Dron, the fictional country in my story CoaL. 

There aren't any big cities located in the
mountains, but this picture just looks
very Dron to me with its gray landscape.

What is their biggest accomplishment? Dron's biggest accomplishment is probably that of having a mostly united country. It's a rather large country, having both plains and prairies and mountains and cliffs, and the people tend to be diverse, but the government is strong. For the most part, everyone living in Dron recognizes the rule of the king/lord in the capitol city, Marndid. Note I said "for the most part."

What is one of their strongest childhood memories? Dron has many memories, the strongest being mostly of the Dragon Tamer. It wasn't that long ago from the present day that the Dragon Tamer first rose up in opposition against the iron rule of Lord Vernd. The many battles that came out of that opposition the land remembers too well. The people, encouraged by Lord Vernd, forget the fighting and the dragons that stayed at the Tamer's side, but there are those who have not completely forgotten those times. 

What is their favorite food? Dron, because of its many peoples, has a diversity of foods. While many struggle to put even the smallest amount of it on their tables, not many people see it as their main love. Food is for survival, not for recreation. However, food is to be enjoyed, so the quality of each meal tends to be high.

Do they believe in love at first sight? Dron isn't romantic; I would not recommend it as a possible honeymoon location. Is love at first sight possible? Yes, but not many people would be looking for it when they were struggling to fight and survive.

What kind of home do they live in? Everything ranging from farmhouses, tiny hovels, stone town homes, and old manors and castles. 

What do they like to wear? Dron's plains tend to be warmer, while the mountain regions harbor freezing chills that scare away its inhabitants. In the prairies, plain clothing suited for work and living is handed down from one person to another, mended whenever a hole appears in the weave, and covered over with vests and jackets of leather. In the mountains, very, very few people stay to brave the cold, but their clothing would be more fur to keep them warm.

What would they do if they discovered they were dying? If Dron died, the land would be devastated from wars, ruined beyond any hope of recovery. The animals would flee the country in search of better living, and the people wouldn't be long behind in following. 

What kind of holidays, or traditions do they celebrate? I actually haven't assigned any holidays to Dron... currently. I have thoughts for a few special days and traditions in the works, but I haven't written about any of them... yet. But Lord Vernd would definitely support a holiday as long as it was in his favor and gave him a positive boost among the people.

What do your other characters have to say about them? Dron doesn't think much of the countries around her. Indeed, there aren't that many around her at all. Dron is located on a peninsula with maybe one or two smaller countries located where she touches the mainland. Because Dron is so large, her neighbors feel that it is safer to ignore her, unless doing so jeopardizes their own safety.  

If they could change one thing in their world, what would it be? The unrest. With the Dragon Tamer's location and status unknown, Lord Vernd is anxious to find the Tamer and be rid of him. The peasants are tired of the iron hand that pushes down on top of them, forcing them to give up most of their work to Vernd. Dron may look peaceful on the surface, but underneath lies a thick layer of unrest.

God bless!

Beautiful People: Bethjasmine

I know it's been a while since I've done a Beautiful People, so I thought it was high time that I began the practice again. I feel rather ashamed when I see everyone else's beautiful people posts, and then I realize I haven't done any... *ahem*

This month's beautiful person is Bethjasmine from The Twelfth Kingdom. I dove into the BP files and withdrew questions from February of 2012. Now that I'm getting more in the habit of remembering to fill out BP questions, I may become guilty of posting BPs too often... ;)

Anywho! 

1. If your character could be played by any actor, who would it be? I've spent some time searching pinterest for a good pic of Bethjasmine, and I think I finally found success when I came across the picture I posted above (look up ^^^). The actress's name is Genevieve Bujold, and I think she makes a rather good Bethjasmine.


2. Does your character have a specific theme song? Hmm... I never thought about a theme song for Bethjasmine. In truth, I see her as a gentle Sleeping Beauty type of character, so I suppose a good theme song for Bethjasmine would be "Once Upon a Dream." She has many dreams, even though they don't necessarily relate to marriage. When TK begins, she's a sickly orphan living on the streets of Tellorn, the capital of Findenland, and despite the poverty and grime around her, she's full of hope and optimism. 


3. What’s their worst childhood memory? Really? I don't know that much about Bethjasmine's past. Yeah, that's not a good thing for a writer to admit about her characters. I suppose her worst memory would be watching her parents die. They lived poorly and when a deathly epidemic swept through the city, they didn't survive. Bethjasmine was alone until she met another girl who was orphaned in the same epidemic. For anyone who's interested, that's Josette. 


4. If your character had a superpower, what would it be? Based on her personality, Bethjasmine's superpower would be the gift of healing. 


5. If your character crashed on an island with a bunch of other people, how would 
your character help the group survive? Bethjasmine is not the type of person to dictate orders and manage big things. She prefers to stay on the sidelines and lend a helping hand where it's most appreciated but least noticed. 


6. Are they married? If not, do they someday wish to be? Bethjasmine is only 15, so she's definitely not married. She loves being part of a family, so naturally she would wish to be married sometime in the future, but at present, it's not a big thing on her mind.


7. What is a cause they would die for? The safety and well-being of her loved ones. Especially her best friend, Josette.


8. Would they rather die fighting valiantly, or quietly at home? Definitely quietly at home, surrounded by those she loves best. 


9. If someone walked up to them and told them they were the child of the prophecy, would they believe them? She might. It would really depend on what prophecy it was, and what was expected of the one being prophesied about. If it involved action and fighting, Bethjasmine would probably feel obligated to perform her duty, although she detests violence. 


10. Do they prefer the country or the city? Probably the country. I can really see Bethjasmine living on a large manor in the middle of the country with lots of gardens. 

God bless!