#bit of an update as to why I’ve missed the past few days of Martha March

[suave-hogan]

🐞

[heyyyalexa]

A Time Of Change - Chapter One - The Arrival

Title: A Time Of Change

Chapter: One- The Arrival

Summery: Ava Bradford is a former Behavioural Analyst of the Miami Police Department. After the events of the past force her to journey to England and take up a job away from the family she had created, she tries to start anew. At Scotland Yard, she struggles to keep to herself and her life under control, as her nightmares from her past come to haunt her once again.

Author: Alexa @alex-awesome1023

Words: 1986

Characters/Relationships: OC x Sherlock

Warnings: Depression, Anxiety, Past Physical Abuse, Nightmares

Author’s Notes: Ok so this is my first ever Fanfic yay!!! Im super excited for you guys to read it. I’ve had long night and worked super hard with the help of Maddy and her wonderful patience and editing, she has been a super awesome teacher through his entire thing and a great new friend. Please let me know how you guys like it and what you think. There will be an update later on in the week of the next chapter. Love you guys!!!!! 

- Alexa 

Hey guys! This is Alexa’s very first fic and we are both super excited for you guys to see it!! Please let us know what you think about it by leaving us an ask in our inbox @sherlockxreader or even just reblogging it to another blog! We love hearing what you guys think of our fics so let us know!!!

- Maddy

Original Character Ava Bradford inspired by Zoey Deutch. Enjoy!❤

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All I could hear was the pads of my feet smacking on the pavement as I ran. I felt the rain drops hit my face like daggers against my skin, the cold evening air shocking my throat and lungs as I inhale deeper, faster, harder. Holding my side, I try to stop the blood coming from the throbbing gash I had. Feeling the warm blood seep out of the exposed wound, I press my hand closer against my side to stop the free flowing surge of sticky blood, but wasn’t helping anymore. I ignore the ache in my muscles, the fog in my brain and I tell myself to keep going. I knew he was right behind me. My heart beats frantically, all or nothing. Fail and my whole body will pay the price, run and the damage is limited mostly to my shins and knees. My lungs and heart were pumping, but the air didn't seem to be enough as I sprinted forward, panic trembling into my exhausted limbs. I can hear his heavy steps pounding against the asphalt. His groans of infuriation. He's right behind me. I feel his hand on my shoulder...

You jerk awake as the train stopped. Your heart was pounding, your mind empty, clear of distractions, as if a needle of adrenaline had been emptied into your chest. You unconsciously reach for your locket around your neck, rubbing it between your forefinger and thumb.

Telling yourself that it was just a dream, you feel your breathing and heart rate begin to steady. You looked out the window, realizing where you were. Westminster, London. Your decision to move here was sudden but you were looking for something and ended up here. You had a purpose to fulfil, or at least you were trying to find one. Moving here was your first step to finding what you had been looking for a long time, what you were missing. The plus side was that there was a job opening and you had family here. Your Aunt Martha moved here after her husband faced the death penalty and you hadn't seen her in a few years so you were excited to see her.

You gathered your things and headed towards the metallic doors of the train. You stepped out of Westminster Station, filling your lungs with the London air. It was a cold, muggy and damp kind of air but it was better than the hot humidity of Florida. Determination drew itself on your face and you straighten your back and your eyes, though set, were still soft in their emerald brightness.

You pulled out the small piece of paper where you had written the phone number and street address you had gotten from your Aunt when she mentioned that one of her friends was trying to rent a flat. Even getting a special deal out of it because she had talked her friend into giving it to you half price if you could pay the first couple weeks rent up front.

With your luggage filled with the essentials, which pretty much meant that you stuffed everything you owned into a duffel bag and a rolling suitcase, you walked aimlessly around London. With your earbuds still in from the train ride you decided to turn up the volume, taking in the sights a bit and dwelling in your own little day dream for a little while. You were in London, finally. You could check it off your bucket list of places to go.

It was colder than you had expected but you found yourself relishing in the new climate. As a kid you loved the idea of winter and snow but you always got cold easily and had to bundle up in many layers to keep the weather at bay. You still do in fact. You had on your white, scoop neck t-shirt, covered by an oversized white knit sweater and your dad’s old denim jacket, which never failed to give you warmth. Paired with your thickest leggings and you favorite converse with polka dot laces, you managed not to shiver in the cool air of the city. (Picture not mine)

You had walked for a quite some time, taking pictures of everything that stood out to you in the foreign land and, when you stopped for some food at a nearby cafe, you looked to your watch, seeing that your inner wanderlust traveler had caused you to lose track of time. You began to head in the direction of where you thought you had come from, not looking at where you were walking as you used your phone as a GPS, until you were knocked over by a man running in the opposite direction. You fell to the ground and dropped your phone onto the pavement with a harsh sounding clatter.

"Ow!" You felt pain radiate from your arse and your face was twisted with it.

"Oh gosh, are you alright? I'm terribly sorry!" You heard the man ask from above you, his accent evident in his voice.

"Oh no don't be, I was the one not paying attention." You said as you stood back up looking down at your phone, facedown on the pavement. Wincing at the sight, you went to bend over to pick it up, but he beat you to it.

"Oh here, let me." He leaned down and retrieved your phone with delicate looking hands. His short brown hair was slicked back and his suit was obviously tailored expertly, the expensive fabric clinging nicely to his body. Great, I just had to walk into someone important.

"Oh um... Thanks." Your eyes narrowed suspiciously at his politeness, not quite used to people being so nice, but this was London, not Florida where the beaches were littered with cranky, old people in retirement who complain about the young folk and their habits.

He stood and looked at your phone, his dark eyes flickering to yours briefly. A feeling you weren't quite sure of stirred in your gut however you pushed that aside, anxious about the state of your phone.   

"Is it bad?" You questioned, scrunching up your nose and bracing yourself for the fact that you might have to buy a new phone, or a least repair the one you had, with the little money you had on your person.

He twisted the phone in his hands a few times before looking at you with a coy smirk upon his face. He handed you the phone.

"Not even a scratch." The Irish accent think in his voice.

"Oh thank God." Relief flooded through your body as you looked over the device and grasped the phone to your chest.

"I hope your first day in London wasn't ruined." You raised an eyebrow in suspicion. Did he find me? Already? Your eyes shifted as you felt your heart skip with anxiety but mentally, you shake your head and the thought away.

You looked down at your shoes and with a light laugh, peeked up at him through your lashes, a coy smile on your face. "Is it that obvious?"

He gestured toward your luggage. I really was stupid and paranoid for no reason, there’s no way he would have found me. Not this fast anyway. With a slightly mysterious grin and glint in his eye, he answered. "Well... I just know how to look at people."  

"Clearly. And you must be someone important, judging by your Westwood suit and uppity demeanor." You smirked, crossing your arms over your chest. You could tell he thought your comment clever by the way he raised his brow and curled his lips into a cheeky smile.

"Oh someone who knows their stuff, I like you already."

Stretching out your hand you introduced yourself. "Ava. It’s a pleasure make your acquaintance… um…"

“Jim." Taking your hand in his, he kissed your knuckles, at which you grinned and raised a brow It was obviously meant to be charming yet you saw through his mask when the corner of his lip twitched ever so slightly. So slightly that anyone else would have missed it entirely however, you weren’t just anyone else. Shaking your head, you cleared your mind. You weren’t working yet.

"Oh a lady-killer as well, uh?" You playfully ask.

"You have no idea. Are you here on business or pleasure?" He let go of your hand and stood straight again, his head cocked in curiosity. Choosing to ignore his comment you answered.

"Oh um, both I guess." You had always wanted to live here and it just so happens that there was an opening in your choice of work, but he didn’t need to know that. You heard a distant voice in your head, repeating words of advice. Remember, become anonymous as much as possible. No loose ends. Remember why you're here.

You were brought out of your thoughts when this man’s, Jim’s, phone began to play Staying Alive. His face dropped as he retrieved it from his pocket and answered the call. Putting it on hold he looked at you with a forced smile. "Well I must get going. As an important person, I'm very busy. Welcome to London." He said as he waved goodbye.

"Thank you. Bye!" You replied as you waved back and turned to walk away, curiosity getting the best of you as you kept him in the corner of your eye. You walked casually towards a nearby statue and hid behind it, peeking around the corner to see him as he brought the phone to his ear. He listened to whatever the other person was speaking about before he spoke back. Your eyes widen as you see his mask fall into an expression you can't explain. The soft and mischievous look in his eyes he had moments before had vanished, and were instead replaced with a clenched jaw and eyes as hard as the pavement below his feet, a face you had seen before in the past. Sending you to the dark corners of your mind, back to a weak, little child in a cramped, dark room, crying for her Mommy.

You closed your eyes as the memory flashes across your vision, clenching your fists as you felt your eyes begin to heat up with tears and your heart beat harder and faster. As you try to slow your breath down, you reached for your mothers necklace hanging around your neck and repeated the words like a mantra to calm the nightmares. “Stop. It’s not real, you’re fine. It’s….. Not real, not…. Anymore.” You say with a small quivering voice, tears begin to drip down your wind-bitten cheeks. You weren't in that room anymore, you are stronger than this. You weren't that little girl anymore.

Looking at your feet and taking a deep breath you felt yourself start to calm down. You put your  earbuds back in and found a song, the song, to drown out your own thoughts. You found your mother's favorite, Blackbird by The Beatles. It had always calmed you as a kid whenever you got scared or sick. Sometimes she would use it as lullaby to put you to sleep. Turning the music up as loud as you could take it, you leaned on the statue and just listened, letting your heart synchronize with the beat of the music and calming you down.

You walked towards the main road when you could breathe steadily again and hailed a taxi. You took out an ear bud as you heard the driver ask about where you were heading. Looking at the piece of paper you said the street address of where your new life was waiting to begin "Westminster Baker Street. 220B Baker Street please."

You see his eyes light up in the mirror looking at me with excitement "Oh, that's the street where Sherlock Holmes lives!"

You raise an eyebrow in question. "Who?"

[broomballkraken]

Title: Flowers for the Dead (and the Living), Chapter 2:  For the Living

Fandom: Bravely Default 2

Pairing(s): Galahad/Martha

Word count: 3090

Warnings: Spoilers for ch3 and a side quest shortly after

Summary: For the past year, Galahad has continued to visit Gladys’s grave every few weeks, but he now has another big reason to make the trek to Rimedhal: his rapidly-growing feelings for Martha.

“Will that be all, Galahad dear?”

“Actually, I, um, need another bouquet this time, please.”

The owner of the Wiswald flower shop, an elderly woman named Edith, raised a curious eyebrow at Galahad, who shifted uncomfortably under her gaze as he felt his face heat up. He was out and about early this morning, as he was planning on leaving for Rimedhal as soon as he finished up his business here. It had been just over a year since his sister had died, and he had made a habit of paying a visit to her grave at least once a month.

The past few months, however, he had increased his visits to every couple of weeks, and this time, it had nothing to do with his sister. Sure, he did like spending more time reminiscing at Gladys’s grave, but there was another reason that drove him to visit Rimedhal more frequently.

Martha. Or, more specifically, his rapidly-growing feelings for her.

Galahad had always thought that Martha was a compassionate and beautiful person, but over the course of the year, his fondness for her had grown way, way past the realm of just friendship. Most of the times that he had visited his sister, Martha had shown up at the graveyard too, and they would comfort each other as they talked about their memories of Gladys.

Sometimes, when Martha wasn’t in a rush to return to the Serpent’s Grotto, they would wander around Rimedhal together, usually ending with them enjoying a meal and drink at the tavern. Galahad would update her about current happenings in Wiswald, while Martha would tell him all about her encounters with those foolish enough to try and sneak into her master’s domain uninvited, and they would also just chat about whatever came to their minds at the time. He had grown to treasure these times with her, and it became harder and harder to go back to Wiswald, but Galahad had not been sure why that was.

The answer to that question came a month later, when he returned to Rimedhal. During his time away, Galahad had been oddly restless, and found it hard to focus on work. An empty feeling had settled within his chest, accompanied by a loneliness that he knew he shouldn’t be feeling; he had plenty of friends in Wiswald, after all. The feeling plagued him all month long, and Galahad was starting to think that he should see a doctor about it. However, when Martha found him at the graveyard, everything became clear as day to him.

When Martha had smiled at him, with her bright green eyes sparkling with joy and her steps eager as she approached him for a hug, the hollow feeling inside of him was immediately filled. When she wrapped her arms around him and settled into his embrace, a warmth spread throughout his chest, accompanied by an overwhelming feeling of happiness. When she leaned up and whispered into his ear how much she had missed him, he realized that she was the person that he cared about most, and the one that he would give everything up to protect.

He wasn’t sick, no, he was just in love.

It had been two months since that day, and Galahad felt that he had worked up enough courage by now to tell Martha his true feelings for her. He just needed to not lose that courage before he made it to Rimedhal...

“Ah, g’morning Galahad!”

Galahad was snapped from his thoughts and turned to find Roddy entering the shop. He said a brief hello to Edith before turning back to Galahad, who rubbed at his neck sheepishly.

“Morning, Roddy. Are you getting some flowers for Lily?”

“Aye, I’m planning on surprising her at the institute today,” Roddy said with a slight nod of his head, “But what’s holding you up here? I thought you’d already be on your way to Rimedhal by now.”

“Er, yes, well, I will be leaving after this.”

“Well don’t dally too long, or it’ll get dark before you reach the Wayward Woods. Wouldn’t want you to get lost!” Roddy chuckled as his eyes wandered to the bouquet in his hands. “But it looks like you’re all set already. What’re you waiting for?”

“He needs another bouquet,” Edith chimed in, and a cheeky grin crossed Roddy’s face as he looked back at Galahad.

“Oh? Who for?”

They’re for...a friend…” Galahad mumbled, his eyes not meeting Roddy’s. The older man was silent for a moment, and Galahad could feel his gaze boring into him, as if he was trying to read his mind.

After a few moments of awkward silence, Roddy broke it with a simple question: “So, tell me about this friend, would you?”

Galahad let his gaze wander back to Roddy, and a smile slowly spread across his face as he spoke. “Ah, well, her name is Martha. She’s the guardian of the Serpent’s Grotto, and she was a good friend of Gladys’s.”

“She’s very insightful, and wise beyond her years. It’s so easy to talk to her, and I always feel like I can really let my guard down around her,” Galahad continued, his smile growing as he closed his eyes, an image of Martha appearing in his mind, “I don’t think I’ve ever met someone as compassionate as her, but she will always fight fiercely to protect her master, and anyone she cares about.”

He sighed fondly as the image of Martha in his head smiled sweetly at him, and he felt his cheeks heat up. “She’s also...incredibly beautiful. I’ve never seen a smile as bright as hers, and her eyes are so vibrant and a pretty emerald green. Oh, and her hair-”

Galahad was cut off when Roddy suddenly burst out laughing, and he flushed with embarrassment when he realized that he had been rambling. When Roddy composed himself, he slapped a hand to Galahad’s back and shook his head.

“Aye, it sounds to me like you’re head-over-heels in love with this friend of yours, lad.”

Flushing an even deeper shade of red, Galahad opened his mouth to protest, but he knew that it was futile at this point; Roddy had seen right through him. He let out a sigh of defeat, followed by a nervous chuckle.

“Is it...really that obvious?”

“Ach, of course it is!” Roddy said, and Edith giggled as she nodded in agreement. “You had a certain gleam in your eye when you were just gushing about her that told me exactly how much she means to you.”

“Really?”

Roddy laughed again, and shared a knowing glance with Edith. “Aye, I’ve been told that I get a mighty fond look in my own eyes when I talk of my dear Lily.” Galahad knew that look well. Roddy and Lily were certainly not shy about showing their affection for one another, and the thought of Galahad acting the same way only made him feel even more embarrassed.

“So I take it you’re planning on telling her, eh?” Roddy asked as he glanced over the counter at Edith, who had started putting together Galahad’s second bouquet.

“Ah, yes. Although...I must admit, I’m a bit nervous.” A bit was a huge understatement, as Galahad’s palms had begun to sweat just at the very thought of telling Martha that he loved her. “What if I say the wrong thing? Or she doesn’t feel the same? Oh, but what if I can’t say it at all-”

“Oi, hold on there.” Roddy laughed and shook his head. “What’s that saying that our old pal Elvis is always preaching? ‘Don’t sweat the details.’ Just tell her, and whatever happens, happens.”

“But-”

“Trust me, laddie. Better to confess with a chance of rejection than to leave these things unsaid, when they could lead two people to a lifetime of love and happiness together.”

Galahad’s brow creased as he pondered Roddy’s words. He was right. The regret that Galahad felt over not visiting Gladys more often when she was alive was enough to deal with; he didn’t need the added regret of never telling Martha how he really felt about her.

“Ach, I know, you’re right,” Galahad said, a determined look crossing his face as he pushed his glasses farther up the bridge of his nose, “I’ll tell her, as soon as I can.”

“That’s a good lad! I wish you luck!”

“Thank you, Roddy,” Galahad said, and they bid farewell to each other when Galahad paid for his flowers and left the shop. As he followed the road that led out of Wiswald, Galahad started contemplating exactly how he would go about confessing his feelings to Martha. He looked down at the bouquets in his hands and swallowed thickly.

“I think I might need all the luck that I can get…”

---

Rimedhal was as cold as ever, and Galahad shivered slightly as he placed a bouquet at Gladys’s grave. He closed his eyes, mumbled a few prayers, and cleaned the snow from the headstone, like he always did when he visited. Martha hadn’t shown up yet, and the nerves that Galahad had been trying to keep at bay started stirring again within his gut.

To try and distract himself, Galahad moved away from Gladys’s grave and wandered towards the frozen lake. He had never really taken the time to appreciate how beautiful the area near the graveyard was, and Galahad was glad the Gladys had been laid to rest somewhere with such a spectacular view.

“Oh! There you are, Galahad!”

Galahad’s eyes widened as he turned around to see Martha walking towards him, and the beautiful smile on her face made his breath catch in his suddenly dry throat.

“H-Hello, Martha. It is...good to see you.” Galahad managed to force the words out, and he held his arms out when she moved to hug him. The feeling of her arms around him made Galahad’s heart race, but as his face pressed against her hair, the sweet lavender scent of her shampoo helped to ease his nerves a bit.

When they parted, Martha’s eyes darted to the bouquet of flowers in his hand. “Did you not visit Gladys yet? I thought I saw a bouquet at her grave already.”

“W-Well, yes...I put those there.” Martha tilted her head curiously as she examined the flowers, and Galahad couldn’t help but think that she looked incredibly adorable, especially when she smiled as she looked up at him.

“These flowers are so pretty! Are they for Gladys too? Oh! Is there a special reason that you brought two bouquets for her? Oh no, maybe I should get another one-”

“Actually no,” Galahad quickly interrupted her, and he paused to take a deep breath when she looked at him with a curious eyebrow raised. He let it out slowly, and he could barely hear himself speaking over the roaring of his heartbeat in his ears. “They...they’re for you, Martha.”

“Me?” Martha’s eyes went wide, and Galahad swallowed thickly as he tried to gather his scattered thoughts.

“I just, well, I wanted to-No wait, uh, you see, M-Martha, I really, uh, like s-spending time with you and...no, wait, I’m…” Galahad stumbled awkwardly over his words, and he felt like his nervousness was going to overwhelm him. He grit his teeth and cursed his weakness; he was going to mess this whole thing up at this rate.

“Galahad...Are you trying to tell me that you love me?”

Galahad’s jaw went slack as he stared dumbfounded at Martha, who watched him patiently with an amused smile on her face. First Roddy, then Martha...Galahad really was too easy to read when it came to these kinds of feelings. When he finally snapped out of his stupor, he let out a nervous chuckle and rubbed at the back of his head.

“I, uh, y-yes, I am. I-I love you, Martha, r-really.” He must have looked like a complete, stuttering fool, and his glasses began to fog up from the heat radiating from his beet-red cheeks.

Martha giggled - and what a soft, wonderful sound that was - as she reached up and gently took Galahad’s glasses. She pulled a handkerchief from her coat pocket and wiped them clean, and Galahad’s heart raced as he watched her with wide eyes.

When she was finished, Martha placed his glasses back where they belonged, and Galahad opened his mouth to thank her. His words caught in his throat, however, when her hands moved to cup his face, her soft fingers lightly caressing his overheated cheeks. Galahad’s eyes locked with hers, and she leaned up, pressing her lips to his in a feather-light kiss.

All of the air left Galahad’s lungs, as if he had been punched hard right in the gut, and he forgot how to breathe. Martha...was kissing him. Martha was kissing him. He really couldn’t believe this was actually happening. He was at a loss as to what to do, and he could only stare slack-jawed at Martha when she pulled away, her hands still cupping his cheeks.

“I love you too, Galahad.”

If it was possible, Galahad’s jaw would have dropped right to the ground. Instead, he snapped his mouth shut and barely managed a soft response. “You...do?”

“Of course I do!” Martha said, as if this was an obvious thing that he should have known already, “I’ve loved you for quite some time now!”

“You...have?” Galahad asked slowly; he was still trying to process the fact that she had actually loved him in return, and the revelation that she had also been hiding her feelings for him was almost too much to deal with. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“I suppose I was just waiting for the right moment. And I can’t think of a much better moment than right after you confessed first!” Martha said, a cheeky grin crossing her face as she pressed her forehead against his. Galahad stared at her for a moment, before he burst out laughing. Gods, he really was in love with the most amazing woman in the world. An overwhelming amount of happiness flooded through him, and he suddenly wrapped his arms around Martha and lifted her into the air.

“Martha, you’re just...incredible.” Without waiting for her to respond, Galahad used one arm to support her, while he reached up to place his other hand behind her neck, and he gently guided her head down so that he could capture her lips in another, more passionate kiss. Martha let out a surprised squeak, but she managed to recover quickly and eagerly returned the kiss, her arms snaking around Galahad’s neck to pull him even closer.

When they finally parted, Galahad was given pause at the look of absolute admiration in Martha’s stunning emerald eyes as she looked at him, and he really didn’t feel at all deserving of a look like that. Yet, she still loved him of all people, and he would never, ever take that for granted.

“Oh, I’m so happy, Galahad!” Martha gushed as she placed her hands on his shoulders, “This really does seem like a dream come true, being loved by such a sweet, handsome man!” Galahad let out a sheepish laugh as he rubbed at the back of his neck.

“I’m surprised that you still think so highly of me, after I blundered my confession so badly.”

“Oh, I don’t mind at all! It was cute, seeing you all nervous and flustered like that!” Martha teased, and Galahad averted his gaze bashfully.

“Martha, please...” Galahad’s cheeks burned with embarrassment as Martha tried and failed to stifle her giggles, but a smile slowly spread across Galahad’s face and he placed a quick kiss on her cheek. “Will you allow me to try and redeem myself, at least?”

Martha nodded and Galahad gently set her back on her feet. He took one of her hands, which seemed so small and delicate compared to his own, and lifted it to his face so that he could place a tender kiss on her knuckles. Her face flushed a bright pink in color, and Galahad gazed fondly at her as he entwined their fingers together.

“I love you, so much more than words could say. I know that I failed to protect Gladys and Mona, but even so...I want to protect you.” Galahad reached up to cup her face and his thumb brushed gently over Martha’s lips, and his heart soared when he felt her smile against his skin. “I want to protect this beautiful smile of yours, and I want to make you happy, more than anything.”

“I can protect myself, you know,” Martha said with a wink, “but if that’s what you really want, then in exchange, I’m going to protect you.”

Galahad’s eyes went wide at that. He had always been a large and rather intimidating man; he easily towered over all of his peers in Wiswald. He could defend himself and others well enough, but this was the first time someone had offered to protect him. It was a weird, yet comforting feeling, and he knew that he was in good hands if he had the guardian of the Serpent’s Grotto looking out for him.

“I...think that I can live with that.” Galahad kissed her forehead and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her flush against him, and he could feel her heart beating just as fast as his. “Thank you, Martha. You really have become the brightest part of my life. I really cannot thank you enough for being here for me when my grief threatened to consume me. I love you.”

Martha let out a content sigh as she sank into his embrace and nuzzled her cheek against his neck. “I love you too, Galahad. You have a good heart, and I feel so blessed that you’ve chosen me to share it with.” Galahad let out a rumbling chuckle as he ran a hand through her hair.

“That feeling is very much mutual...my beloved,” Galahad whispered. The chilly winds of Rimedhal started to whip up around them, but Galahad felt nothing but warmth, and he knew that the bitter cold that had once held his heart in a vice grip would never touch him again, as long as Martha was by his side.

[chefbstrikesagain]

BALI

There are about 400 other things that I should be doing right now instead of writing a blog post including lesson planning and organizing my upcoming scuba diving trip with students buttttttt here goes nothing. I just had a week long Holiday from school and traveled with 7 of my ETA friends to Bali, Indonesia. It was so nice to get out of Malaysia and experience another new country and culture. Before I dive into my week let me give you a little info about Bali aside from what it's known for (beaches, yoga, finding youself, etc). The majority of Bali practices Hinduism (most easily identified by Ganesh-- the elephant idol) and speaks Bhasa Indonesia which is very similar to Bhasa Malayu. All around Bali there are small temples where people make daily offerings at to spirits to keep them safe and in good graces. Offerings can range, but typically consist of a banana leaf made into a bowl, which is then filled with flowers, incents, and sometimes a small cracker. These little offerings are legit everywhere. From on top of a trash can, inside someones car, on the sidewalk, you will see them. Magic mushrooms were legal until about 2 years ago in Bali. This might have something to do with why so many people 'find themselves' -but who knows for sure. The people are all extremely welcoming but not as curious about you as there are so many other white people. You're just another orung puti to them. We started the week off in Canggu, a small quiet beach town on the southwest coast of Bali. For people back home, the town was like Myrtle beach and Marthas Vineyard had a baby. Some super bougie boutique shops paired with 'crappy' (by Bali standards) beaches. We stayed at this beautiful Hostel called the Farm Hostel which had its own pool and large futuristic beds that we kept referring to as pods. We settled in and explored Canggu and blew our tastebuds minds (as we have only been eating fried rice for the past 3 months) with dedicant breakfasts and lunches. Truly balling out- ha. After our two days of exploring we moved on to the bulk of the trip which took place in Ubud. Ubud is the cultural center of Bali. Located about an hour from the nearest beach it attracts less tourists interested in instagramming the white sandy beaches. Here we stayed in a beautiful Airbnb known as the BliBli villas. The owner was beyond attentive and greeted us with glasses of fresh squeezed juice out at our own personal pool. To enter the villa you had to walk across a Koi pond which had floating steps in them. There were 4 bedrooms with beautiful beds and feather pillows and bathrooms fit for royalty. We spent a good amount of time at the airbnb lounging by the pool and drinking- but also got to see some really cool things in town. We started off the morning with going to the Sacred Monkey Forest which is a bunch of temples with monkeys everywhere. They had no problem jumping on you and trying to steal everything out of your hands and packs. Martin actually got bit by one and after some googling it seems like he should be fine?? (I'll keep you all updated). We then went to some markets, which were extremely overwhelming, to get some gifts for our mentors back in Malaysia. The group split up and the boys went back home to hang and nap while the girls went on a trail walk in a rainstorm! I was also fortunate enough to be able to celebrate my birthday in Bali! It was a day of TREAT YO SELF. At 6:30 am we were woken up by the whole house shaking, which I thought was Janna or Betsy rattling my door, but it was an earthquake. And not just any earthquake.... it was a 6.4!! I pretty much slept through the whole thing but some people were so rattled that they stayed up. A few hours later we went to yoga at the Yoga Barn. This was so cool as the studio was in a treehouse and was a meditation focused class. We listened to the sounds of children laughing at a nearby school, the heavy chords of the piano music playing over the loudspeaker, the chirping of birds in the treeline, and our own breath. This was an amazing way to start the day off and began to understand more why people think Bali is so restorative and rejuvenating. After yoga, we went to a Mexican restaurant and had REAL MEXICAN FOOD. It had been so long since i've eaten guacamole and didn't realize how much I missed it. I stuffed myself with nachos and a burrito and was happy as a clam. We had to hurry back after lunch to make our appointments for our massages which took place in our beds at our Airbnb. Once we arrived back, 5 massage therapists rolled up and took each of us into our own rooms. I had an hour long balinese massage for about 12USD-- absolutely incredible. While 5 of us got massages Janna and Betsy got poolside pedicures while sipping on drinks. We hosted a bday party for me later that evening and about 20 ETA's, who were also in Bali, all came over to hang out. Our Airbnb explicitly said no parties or guests but when the owner learned it was my bday all bets were off. He said he only had one rule for the evening and that was no pool water in the Koi pond....... We stayed up late celebrating and they even got me a gift. I had been wanting a hammock and all of my friends pitched in and surprised me with such a super cool one- can't wait to try it out at the next tip of borneo trip. It was definitely a birthday for the books and feel so special and grateful for everything everyone did for me. Hungover and exhausted, we left Ubud and had the longest road trip ever to Uluwatu. This town is where all the iconic Bali beaches are located and it definitely lived up to its reputation. We went to two beaches during our stay and even rented motorbikes to bop around. One beach we had to crawl through a cave to get to and the beach was super private and even had a giant shipwreck on it further on down. The second beach we went surfing at and spent the day laughing and swimming in the crystal clear water. Later that evening we motorbiked over to watch the sunset at a famous temple right above the ocean. Surrounded by monkeys, tourists from all around the world, and my friends who made the trip so special, we watched the sunset drop into the ocean and with that our vacation came to a close. It was a long travel day back to Malaysia, which started promptly at 5 am, but it was so worth it. I look forward to our next trip together (which is in 2 weeks to Taiwan). Really feeling lucky and appreciative of all the unique opportunities I have and the cool people i've met along the way. Signing off, Cikgu B

[char27martin]

A Writer’s Journey: Launching Without an Agent with Lora L. Hyler

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By Lora L. Hyler

A few short months ago, I shared a bit of my writer’s journey detailing my search for the perfect agent and how artist and writer residencies provide me with space to breathe, reflect and accelerate my productivity. Well, I have an update. I’m excited to share that I have a publishing deal and my middle grade novel, The Stupendous Adventures of Mighty Marty Hayes debuts in March 2018!

My successful journey toward publication, finally, was due to a shift in focus. My corporate background consisted of communications, public relations and marketing. And since I founded my marketing company, Hyler Communications in 2001, I’ve had many successes for clients ranging from retail, education, corporate, non-profit organizations, and authors. As I lamented taking another year or two to find an agent, I had an aha moment. I decided to play to my strengths. My past business success was due to knowing when to take detours to make forward progress. What I knew for certain was that with a published novel, I would do the necessary work to get my multi-cultural cast featuring superheroes, science and spy gadgets in the hands of children everywhere.

I signed this fall with HenschelHAUS Publishing, Inc. Since 2002, this Wisconsin publisher has ushered more than 550 books into the world. A non-fiction book co-written by former Major League Baseball player Darryl Strawberry is one of their latest offerings. When owner Kira Henschel lauded my marketing background, I knew I had made the right choice. We form a formidable team.

A Leap of Faith: Launching without an Agent

Once I took the leap of faith to launch the book agent-less, I’ve been thrilled and humbled by the reception, and all this, pre-publication! Some highlights:

Working directly with a talented illustrator from Barbados to bring my four main characters to life for the front book cover. Dracanima Art is based in Barbados.

Speaking slots at two fall 2017 conferences: Society of Children Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and Wisconsin Writer’s Association.

Invitation from the U.S. Department of Education’s 2017 National Assessment Education Panel to participate in a 22-person panel of writers and educators to assist with setting the 4th grade writing assessment. Side benefit to the Atlanta, Ga. meeting: making in-person connections with fellow writers and 4th grade teachers, who are now excited to read my novel. I’ve already received three unsolicited school visit invitations!

Invitation to help launch my book on a fellow SCBWI author’s blog.

Guide to Literary Agents 2018

Invitations I issued, that were accepted by prominent reviewers to receive Advance Readers Copies.

Booked an NPR radio interview just before book launch day.

Made in-person contacts with bookstore owners, leading to invitations for appearances and in-store signings.

Showcasing my novel at the Bologna, Italy March 2018 conference! My goal is to go global with my three-part middle grade series.

Selected for my latest booked writer’s residency in the south of France, in Cassis. If you missed it, my August 2017 article reveals why residencies are vital to my writing process. Consider applying to a residency to boost your writing career.

Approached to market a fellow author’s books.

I’m truly just getting started. Here’s what I have not lost sight of … supporting my fellow authors. When I started my journey toward publication, I attended many conferences and workshops. I admired, learned from, and purchased countless books of many authors. Many are SCBWI members. I vowed to stand in their shoes someday soon. And that day has arrived.

What will I do differently? I will continue to serve SCBWI and other writer’s organizations, purchase countless books, and provide bits of hard-earned wisdom to pre-publication authors. No matter the path, we share the same goal: to get good books into the hands of readers.

Lora Hyler’s debut middle grade novel, The Stupendous Adventures of Mighty Marty Hayes, will be published in March 2018. She founded her Wisconsin-based public relations and marketing company in 2001. She is a member of SCBWI and the Wisconsin Writer’s Association. She holds a 2016 Jade Ring award from the Wisconsin Writers Association for an adult short story, several screenwriting and news awards, and has published hundreds of corporate articles. She was the recipient of a 2017 artist residency at Marnay sur Seine, France and two previous residencies at Noepe Center for the Literary Arts on Martha’s Vineyard, Mass. Her next planned residency is in the South of France in February 2019. More about Lora at www.hylercommunications.com.

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