Prologue

She watched the fighting from behind the big oak up on the hill. Her hair normally blonde was now a dark brown from the blood and dirt. Her favorite party dress was a tattered ruined mess. She had looked forward to her birthday party for days and the day had started out so beautifully. It was her tenth birthday, the birthday every Seelie girl looked forward to, the one that made you a woman, the one where you got all the cool gifts, the one where you got your true power.

Then the warning bell had sounded, at first they thought it was a training session, but then it had sounded again. She had learned to hate the sound of that bell. When she was younger she had loved running upstairs with Papa to watch him put his uniform on. However, two years ago the UnSeelie started to come through the portals. At first, they were considered a nuisance but lately they were becoming bolder. When Papa ran upstairs to put on his uniform, she stayed where she was. Papa was a centurio in the Aghmach he had to go. Mama gave him a hug with tears in her eyes; he hugged Ankou and got down on one knee.

“My little Princess I am sorry. I will make it up to you. Hold your head high and listen to your momma.” She threw her arms around him and tried to hold the tears in. When she stepped away he cupped his hand around her cheek, then momma’s and walked out the door. She wished she had said something more but the three just watched as he ran back towards Falias.

Padua 2

Caelestis stood in the middle of the courtyard, you had to take four steps up and then she was eye level. A scarlet rope surrounded Caelestis, making a circle around her. Two Aghmach guards stood on each side; they stood with their backs straight, shoulders back, heads high facing forward. Their left hand was on their sword the right hung at their side. The only part of them that moved was their eyes and those never stopped scanning the crowds.         

Padua

I have to admit that when I first thought of the name for Michelin's familys home, I had never heard of the Italian city. But after seeing pictures of it on the internet I think there are parts of it that match perfectly with what I had always imagined Padua to truly be.

Never forget the dogs he murdered

"As the dog lay on the ground fighting for air Phillips grabbed its front legs and Vick grabbed its back legs. [They] swung the dog over their heads like a jump rope then slammed it to the ground. The first impact didn't kill it so they slammed it again. The two men kept at it... pounding the creature against the ground until, at last, the little red dog was dead." NEVER forget the little red dog and its sacrifice." 
taken from

The Lost Dogs: Michael Vick's Dogs and Their Tale of Rescue and Redemption by Jim Gorrant

Pentagram vs Star

Michelin is a witch, I describe in detail how she sets up to do certain spells. I had used the pentagram the usual symbol that witches and wiccans use in their spells.  Yet their is such a stigma with the pentagram that I am taking it out and describing another star. My book will be geared towards young adults. While I do understand that they grow up so much faster, after working in Barnes and Noble for two years, many parents didn't mind the mystical side of stories involving witches, vampires etc...They didn't like the "unnatural, or evil" side of the mystical. While this is not my personal belief, I am conforming to mainstream. I hate that I feel like a sellout, but I do want to get published.

Two more

I have two more chapters to write and then I will be editing them, and then I will be having a few friends and family read them to let me know what they think. Like I said yesterday this is always the hardest part for me is letting someone read what you have spent so much time on. However, if you can't take it from the people you know then you won't survive it from those who reject or write you hate mail later. :)

Chapter 4

Is in the books. I cannot say enough how much more I am liking this version of Michelin's story. I will write two more, edit them and then let a few people read it. It's always nerve wracking when you let someone else read something that you have worked so hard on and that you love. What if they don't like it? What if the storyline is bad? So many ifs. I can only hope you like it as much as I do.

dogs

I foster dogs, more specifically American Pit Bull Terriers. I love the breed and cannot believe how ignorant people continue to be about the breed. They are one of the most loving and trustworthy breeds. One of my fosters Zorro, is a pit bull/boxer mix. He met his furever family yesterday, they have three children ages 19 months, 6 and 7. Zorro was so amazing and gentle. Hailey, their 19 month old, loves dogs. She followed Zorro all over their house. She gave him a stuffed bear to play with, he loved it and chewed on it. When Hailey walked over to him and started to play with his muzzle, Zorro stopped chewing and let her give him loves. When she was done she walked away and he started to chew on the toy again. He pulls horrible on his leash, unless Hailey has ahold of it. Zorro will be loved and adored by this family for the rest of his life. He and Hailey will grow up together. I cannot wait to see the amazing pictures of them as this occurs. Zorro will be a great ambassador for his breed not by winning any awards or doing fancy tricks. But by being the nanny dog his breed his known for. Taking care of his human children and loving them so gently.

research

I'm doing research on chakras and stones right now. It's very interesting. I'm not sure yet exactly how they will be used. I have a feeling it may be more for the second book than the first but I could be wrong, its been known to happen in my writing.

dreaming

I'm dreaming about Michelin again, I did this two years ago when I first wrote her story. She looks younger, I know weird, but hey its a dream. She likes the direction her story is going a few things have changed, we meet Pattie this time if only briefly. The information about her and Lacey isn't as clear yet.

pateint

the hardest part about writing I think, is being patient for the story to come out. I know what is going to happen to a certain extent so I want to rush to the end of the book. But building the story is just as important as what the ending will be. What fun is it to read a book and know the ending halfway through? I hate it when I figure it out, so patient, patient, patient....which of course has never been one of my strong suits.

First time for everything

I am finally rewriting Heart Stone. An agent recommended that I rewrite it as a teen book, so that is what I am doing. I have to admit I am thoroughly enjoying the rewrite. I fell in love with Michelin two years ago when she first came to me. I have felt guilt over the past year when I shelved Heart Stone, feeling that Michelin and her friends deserved better. So once again I have dusted her story off and hoping that I am a good enough writer to do her story justice.