#i know this is like the thousandth time I shared this project on my blog but I did get a bunch of new followers recently

[charlesoberonn]

This is the Avatar. Her name is Yumi and she comes from an isolationist island kingdom inspired by Korea (particularly North Korea)

Her kingdom (and much of the world) sees the Avatar as the enemy of the state so when she discovers she's the Avatar she is forced to go on the run as a refugee.

Her journey is inspired by Aang's journey in the original series as well as the real-life journeys of many North Korean defectors and other refugees from totalitarian states.

Art by the wonderful @secretuncle (left) and @katballesteros (right)

I'm in an Avatar mood.

I should work on ATBE (Avatar: The Broken Earth, my concept for a third series about the Avatar after Korra).

[mimzy-writing-online]

I hope this question isn't too stupid, but you're one of my favorite writing blogs so I'll give it a shot. I want to write a FanFic based on the 1971 version of Willy Wonka. I wanted the story to tell Violet Beauregarde's story, the one that turns into a blueberry. However, I have SOME questions as I'm fairly new to FanFic. 1). Am I better off focusing on each kid's perspective, going back and forth? Or is it good to narrow my focus one one character? 2). Can I give them a character arch, li

(2/3) like Violet's really mean in school but she becomes kind after her experience at the factory. Is that too cliche or predictable? 3). Why does she try waddling away after her blueberry transformation and the Oompa Loompas are singing/dancing around her? They're trying to help her, and I don't really get why she'd do something like that. 4). What are tips to better understand the characters I want to flesh out? I guess it circles back to the last question, understanding their psyche. Yikes

(3/3)  Yikes! Super sorry this ask is long. And I'm even more sorry if my questions were lame or you've covered them before. :P. I can overthink at times, ESPECIALLY when it comes to my writing. I'm such a perfectionist storyteller, it's not even funny. I hope my questions aren't bothering you. You're one of my favorite writing blogs, so I figured I could come to you. I apologize in advance for wasting your time. You DO NOT have to reply at all if you don't want to. :P Thanks, have a great week

First and foremost: this is not a stupid question, you are not wasting my time at all. This is actually a rare treat for my blog because I don’t get many asks that don’t involve blindness, though I usually know better how to answer those than I do other questions. So, here we go:

Are you better off focusing on each kid’s perspective, going back and forth? Or is it better to narrow your focus onto one character?

The general rule of writing is to simplify. If two background characters serve a similar purpose, just combine the characters, for example. Slimming down extra scenes that don’t contribute to plot or character development.

However, that advice is meant for people publishing novels, working within an overflowing industry, dependant on sales and royalties. They have to meet whatever industry standards are, like word count or POV types. They have to find someone willing to take them on as a client because they love that book.

Fanfiction is not bound by such nonsense. Fanfiction is a beautifully lawless land where capitalism cannot influence it. What defines what you do with fanfiction is if you enjoy reading it, and if you have the steam to continue a long project.

Some people easily write 200,000k fics within a matter of weeks or months (or in my case, just once, two years). Some people work best with short fics. Both (and everything in between) are wonderful.

So, how much steam do you have for this project? How long do you think you can carry it and still finish it? Because that defines how big you should plan to make this project. If you don’t think you can write a long fic, then maybe just stick to one character.

A compromise between the two is to focus primarily on one character, and examine the other characters more briefly. This could be done in just a single POV chapter, or a handful. This could be done with the characters connecting and seeing the side character through your main character’s eyes, seeing how they’ve changed.

There’s no wrong answer. This fic is for your enjoyment primarily. No matter what you write, it will appeal to at least a few people, if not crowds. But your fun comes first, both literally and figuratively. Write for you, write to explore the story for yourself.

Can you give them a character arc like Violet’s where she becomes kinder after her experiences in the factory? Is that too cliche or predictable?

I wouldn’t call it predictable, because I’d expect everyone to go into completely different directions because they were all such unique and individual people before they entered the factory, and they were foiled by their own quirks.

Violet was mean and fake, she was demanding. I don’t know how much I want to speculate on the plotline you have going for her, how you’ll develop her to make her want to be more kind.

But I would love to speculate on the others.

Agustus Gloop? 

I feel like his experience in the chocolate river and almost drowning would make it hard to enjoy chocolate ever again. I think it would be a long time before he had any sweets. Also, because of his weight, I imagine there’s got to be some body-image issues hiding under the surface. I’d also put money on him being bullied, and him acting out against the students who bully him and because of his size he is more intimidating, but that doesn’t stop people from saying things behind his back.

I imagine the chocolate thing is a form of self-comfort. Maybe he turns to other foods to over-eat with to cope. Maybe eventually he figures out that this isn’t helping him. Does he try to replace unhealthy foods with healthier ones? (idk, I have a personal turn off on getting into the concept of dieting, so I’m not going to dig in much there).

I’d like to see him learn to love himself, develop some body neutrality, that his body doesn’t define who he is or what his worth is. That he becomes okay with who he is as he grows up. People who are happy and comfortable with themselves are generally nicer and easier going than people who aren’t. Maybe with some self-love, he’ll be kinder to others.

Veruca Salt?

Okay, I have a confession. My brain thought of her when discussing Violet. I haven’t seen either of the films in years.

Well, let’s thank Wikipedia everyone, the greatest gift of the internet.

Veruca does come across as a spoiled brat. Her parents shower her in material objects, which might mean something. I have a close friend who hates people buying things for him or giving him gifts that cost money. This has to do with a parent buying him things out of guilt after episodes of emotional abuse. I asked him a while back what he wanted for his birthday (I meant baked goods, I bake or cook special meals as birthday gifts for my friends. A has asked for chocolate chip cookies for three birthdays in a row now. Several friends ask for cookies for Christmas). Anyway, my friend had a panic attack and couldn’t respond until an hour later.

Maybe there’s something to that.

What does she think about money as she grows up? Does her love language continue to be gifts? I think it might one day be quality time. Maybe it is now. It’s common for rich parents to be absent and barely spend time with their kids because of work and extravagant social lives that sort of money gives them access to, meaning they barely have time in the day to spend with their kids. Maybe gifts are the only way she can make sure her parents still care, the only way she can get their attention? 

Mike Teavee?

Apparently in the movie credits his last name is spelled Teevee. But I’m obsessed with tea (and this is the point where I remember my tea and wonder if I’ve let it go cold because I got too focused. Nope, it’s still there). So it’s Teavee here.

Wikipedia describes him as a young boy who only watches TV, nothing but TV. He’s especially interested in cowboys and Western films. He comes across as a know-it-all. He’s easily annoyed but gets along with others.

Anyone have a guess at where I’m going with this?

Mike is neurodivergent. I mean, that’s my new headcanon. I lean towards ADHD because that’s what I project, but like everything else, his interpretation is in the eye of the beholder. Every viewer sees something different in him.

Some common ADHD (and autism) experiences beyond having a specific interest is how others react to your special interest. You get used to people getting bored when you talk about your interest for the thousandth time, but it’s still important to you, but not to someone whose opinion matters to you. RSD is probably common.

Wikipedia says he’s described as lazy in the books? Common ADHD “symptom,” or rather something that outside viewers label as laziness. Really, he just doesn’t have the motivation to do any of those other things.

And Charlie?

Did anyone think I wouldn’t have any thoughts on Charlie, our hero and protagonist?

Oh no, I have thoughts. Charlie goes to great lengths to set his family up comfortably, he becomes generous with his money. He also knows nothing about running a factory. I’m hoping Willy Wonka gives him some help there. But I bet adult Charlie is a stressed-out workaholic who tries to do everything and thinks he has something to prove, that he’s not just some random lucky child, that he can do this. Charlie totally gets a work-related anxiety disorder.

Those are my thoughts. I still think giving them Violet’s arc isn’t cliche or predictable, but rather completely different from what you think would happen to all those kids.

I mean, maybe a few of them are still little jerks in their adult lives. There’s no one road to grow up on, even if you’re four strangers who shared a similar traumatic experience.

Why does she try waddling away after her blueberry transformation and the Oompa Loompas are singing/dancing around her? They're trying to help her, and I don't really get why she'd do something like that.

They strange looking short men she’s literally never talked to, never seen or heard of before today, who’s already taken away two children by this point, all while singing a song about what terrible children they were.

And she’s scared because her body is doing something strange and scary and awful. She’s scared. She doesn’t know what to do. What will happen if these strange men take her away? She doesn’t know what happened to the other kids.

And they’re not really communicating they want to help, just singing cheerfully about how awful children are.

What are tips to better understand the characters I want to flesh out? I guess it circles back to the last question, understanding their psyche.

A lot of it is just watching real-life people and wondering why they are the way they are. Listening to their reasoning and what they tell you about who they are and where they come from.

I know people who grew up like Agustus with using over-eating as a way to self-comfort, and the bullying they experienced. I know that if a kid was physically bigger than his bullies, maybe he’d fight them to make them stop and leave him alone. People who go through that journey of learning that their body doesn’t define who they are, accepting it because it is theirs and it takes care of them.

(Which reminds me of a post I like that pops around here and there, that positive body image should be about more than how “sexy” your curves make you look. A person shouldn’t have to be sexy to be treated like a person. A person shouldn’t have to be sexy at all if they don’t want to, especially not all the time, and especially not a child. And there are a lot of obese children in the world who don’t have any positive body image messages designed for them)

I learned what my friend’s love languages are and why they have them and what they mean. Which is why I have that theory for Veruca.

Mike is just self-projection and listening to other neurodivergent people when they describe their life experiences or listening to their theories when they say a character is neurodivergent too.

I won’t lie, my theory on Charlie is based entirely on the Avatar: the Last Airbender fandom’s common head-canon that Zuko becomes a workaholic after he becomes Firelord. There might be some canon material in the comics that supports that, but I’ve never seen it. I think Zuko and Charlie have a similar vibe and that those three years Zuko struggled, and Charlie’s entire life before the factory make them both feel like they need to be perfect and do everything right to prove they deserve the job they’re given and that their backgrounds don’t define their worth.

Thank you so much for your ask anon!

And again, you are not a bother. I enjoyed digging into this movie I’d never thought in depth about until tonight. And you’re not alone, lots of writers are overthinkers and perfectionists. You are in good company. Our writing and fanfiction community welcomes and loves you <3

And thank you for your kind words! I’m so happy that you love my blog so much <3 It made my day to read that

Take care anon, and good luck in your writing :)

[purrincess-chat]

Fluff Month 24-31 NLS

A day late, but hopefully @miraculousfluffmonth won’t be too mad at me. Here are the rest of the prompts for the rare/non love square pairings. As I said before, I’ll be finishing up the love square over the next month, but I wanted to finish out the rare pairs in time to be shared on the official blog. Fluff month was super fun, and I enjoyed writing for so many different pairings and just spreading a bunch of happy, feel-good drabbles with the world. Thank you so much for hosting this event, and I will totally do it again in the future if it’s held again!

Day 24

FF | AO3

Chloe shoved her suite door open with a scowl and tossed her bag at the couch as she dialed Sabrina’s number. It was absolutely a nightmare! A travesty worse than a bad hair day! How could Mme. Mendeleiev do such a thing? Ugh, she hated that witch sometimes.

“Hello?”

“Sabrina, can you believe Marinette got partnered with Adrien for this stupid chemistry project? She knows that Adrien and I are close and that I hate Marinette, so how could she do such a thing?” She shouted.

“My, what a tragedy.”

“I know! I can’t get a leg up on that woman. She just doesn’t care. It’s appalling who they let educate the youth these days,” Chloe plopped on her bed with a sigh. “I need a hot stone massage.”

“It is hard being you.”

“Ugh, tell me about it. Being on top is so much work. I should take a vacation,” She said, examining her manicure. “Then I won’t have to put up with seeing Marinette all over my Adrien.”

“Who knows? Maybe he’ll realize that Marinette is far inferior to you and come crawling back.” Chloe smiled at the thought.

“That would be nice.” She laid back and let out a deep breath. “Thanks for letting me vent, Sabrina. I always feel so much better afterward.”

“No problem.”

Lila hung up and bit back a smirk. She’d let Chloe figure it out on her own.

Day 25 

FF | AO3

“Okay, so what’s the game plan?” Kim asked.

“Rose and Mylene are the weakest links followed closely by Nathaniel. Take them out first then go for Sabrina. Without her, Chloe is defenseless. Ivan will likely try to avenge Mylene, but if we’re lucky someone else will have taken him out by then. That leaves Juleka, who will likely fall shortly after Rose, and then there’s the love birds who will be our biggest threat,” Alix said, tapping her chin.

“This is why I picked you,” Kim nodded proudly. “I can’t stand losing.”

“Nothing is better than winning, so keep your eyes sharp. Once paint starts flying, it’s gonna be a warzone.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice,” He said, readying his paintball gun.

“Are all teams ready?” Max called from the center of the arena. “On your marks…get set…Go!”

Alix and Kim sprang from their hideout as the sounds of shots filled the air. They took out their first targets with ease and pressed forward.

“Nath at 10 o’clock!” Alix called, and Kim took him out. “Nice! Careful around this corner, we could get-”

“Ha!” Marinette beamed triumphantly as her team color painted their vests.

“Nice one!” Adrien cheered, high-fiving her before they ducked back around the other side of the wall.

Kim and Alix stood in stunned silence for a moment before a guttural growl erupted from her throat.

“Stupid lovebirds!”

Day 26

FF | AO3

Lila slumped toward the front doors after another long day of not making friends and dealing with begrudging stares. Seems as if the students couldn’t get over her behavior the first day, and now she was the school outcast. She hated to admit it was her own fault for getting carried away, but it still didn’t make them any better for isolating her. Every day she looked forward to the end of the day when she could just go home and distance herself from the world.

She reached the front doors and glanced up at the grey sky with a groan. Of course she didn’t have an umbrella. She missed her home in Italy. Paris had only proven itself to be just as cold and unforgiving as its citizens, and Lila wished that everything could just go back to the way it was.

“Hey, you need someone to walk you home?” She startled a little and turned to see that kid with the headphones from the other class.

“I’m fine,” She said haughtily, turning away with a sour pout.

“Oh, c’mon. It’s raining cats and ladybugs, and we’re going the same way,” He insisted with a smile, and Lila peaked up at him skeptically.

“I think it’s cats and dogs,” She replied pointedly.

“Where’s your sense of humor?” He chuckled, stepping closer so that his umbrella shielded them both from the rain.

“Why are you being nice to me?” She asked bluntly, folding her arms over her chest.

“Because you look sad all the time.”

Lila’s chest tightened at that, and she bit her lip to keep it from quivering. “Everyone hates me.”

“I’m not everyone.” She looked up into his earnest eyes and felt her cheeks warm a little. “So, can I walk you home?”

Lila searched his expression but found it to be sincere. He was the first person to forgive her for her lying to everyone, and something in that gave her a small sliver of hope that maybe things would work out after all. And even if everyone else still bore a grudge, at least she’d have one friend.

“Thank you.”

Day 27

FF | AO3

Kim shifted nervously as he waited under the Eiffel Tower. Max was usually extremely punctual, so he’d shown up early to make sure he had enough time to mentally prepare himself. His best friend hadn’t questioned why he’d wanted to meet him in one of the most romantic locations in Paris, but Max never usually questioned Kim’s antics, only went along with them.

He recited the poem he’d memorized in his brain for the thousandth time, heart pounding wildly in his chest. Max was really smart, and he wanted to impress him which is why he’d been agonizing over a profound way to confess his feelings all week. Wiping his palms on his hoodie, he glanced around for any sign of his friend, breath catching when he spotted him crossing the street. It was time. No more secrets. He was going to tell Max how he felt, and hopefully, he’d feel the same.

“Greetings, Kim,” Max waved with a smile that made Kim’s throat close.

“H-He…” Kim squeaked, gulping down that lump and taking a deep breath. “L-Love is like the wild-rose briar…Friendship, uh, like the…holly tree.”

Max gave him a quizzical look, and Kim shoved his hands into his pockets to hide how they shook. Why was he so nervous? Max was his best friend, and he’d always been there for him. Why was confessing his undying love so hard?

“The holly is dark when the rose-briar blooms but which will bloom most constantly?” Max continued, and Kim’s gaze snapped back to his. His gaze was warm and trusting, and it gave Kim the needed confidence to continue.

“The wild rose-briar is sweet in spring, its summer blossoms scent the air.”

“Yet wait till winter comes again, and who will call the wild-briar fair?”

“Then scorn the silly rose-wreath now, and deck thee with the holly’s sheen.”

“That when December blights thy brow he still may leave thy garland green.”

Kim felt the pressure building in his chest as three tiny words hid on the tip of his tongue until he couldn’t take it anymore.

“I love you, Max!” He blurted, cupping a hand over his mouth in shock. His face felt hot, his palms soaked with sweat, and his heart pounded a mile a minute in his ears as he waited with bated breath for Max’s reply.

His friend seemed just as shocked as he did, but it didn’t take him long before his smile returned, and he stepped forward to place his hands on Kim’s hips.

“I love you too, Kim,” He said, and Kim felt a rush of relief.

Stooping to meet his lips, all of his worry and doubt washed away, replaced by warmth and joy as they held each other close. It all felt silly now. Of course Max loved him. They’d been together since they were children, and Kim would make sure they were together until they were old. Max was his best friend, the love of his life, and his soulmate.

Day 28

FF | AO3

Alya had been faced with many challenges since becoming a super hero, and the most notable, in her mind anyway, was keeping up with the Ladyblog. It was impossible for her to film the fight and participate in it, but ever since she and Queen B joined, her viewers were itching for more coverage. Being a hero was everything she had hoped for and more, and she wouldn’t give it up for the world, but on the other hand, she also loved the Ladyblog. She wondered if her teammates had things like this to juggle as well.

What she needed was a cameraman to do all the filming for her while she had to be Rena, but who could she con into doing that? There was Nino, but he was likely to get suspicious if she asked all of a sudden, and the last thing she wanted was her identity getting out. She could ask Rose or Juleka, but she didn’t really like the thought of putting them in danger. Kim was a possibility, but she wasn’t sure she trusted his judgment on what counts as “good” footage. Though as civilians raced for safety up the street, she was starting to run out of options. At this point, she’d take anyone, and glancing around, she spotted Lila exiting a café nearby.

“Lila!” She called, racing over to her. “I need you to do me a huge favor.”

“What?” Her eyes narrowed skeptically as she looked Alya up and down.

“I need you to get footage of the akuma battle for my blog,” She explained, placing her phone in Lila’s hands.

“Why can’t you do it?” Lila asked pointedly.

“Because…I have…cramps?” Her voice trailed up at the end, and Lila searched her expression for a moment. Alya was afraid she’d refuse, but to her surprise, a smile spread across her lips.

“Sure, Alya. I’ll film for you,” She said, and Alya breathed a sigh of relief.

“Thanks so much, I-”

“Ah-Ah!” Lila held up a finger. “I got this for you, but you owe me.”

“Of course! Anything you want,” Alya agreed, bouncing anxiously as a crash sounded around the corner.

“Great! Then I’ll pick you up on Saturday. I’ve always wanted a romantic date in Paris,” She replied with a smirk, but Alya was more concerned with getting away to transform to really process what she was requesting.

“Sure, sounds good, see you then!” She called, racing up the street, and it wasn’t until Rena Rouge landed on top of the roof that she fully realized what she’d agreed to.

Had Lila just asked her out?

Day 29

FF | AO3

Nino stood on the steps of the Trocadero with many other news reporters and innocent bystanders watching the events of the latest akuma attack pan out. Paris’s heroes were fighting diligently against a rather tough opponent, and Nino found himself holding his breath at times when a certain cat hero got a little too bold. He was so reckless, and it made Nino twitch nervously just thinking about it.

“Hey, don’t look so down, kid,” A police officer soothed, patting his shoulder. “Ladybug and Chat Noir have got this. They’ll be alright.”

“Yeah, I know,” Nino said, shifting his gaze to his shoes. “I guess I’m just a little worried about Chat Noir; he’s my boyfriend, and often times he can be a little too…brave.”

“So you’re the youngster Chat Noir is dating, huh?” A female officer chimed in. “You’re one lucky kid. I hope you know that.”

Nino turned his attention back to the battle where Chat Noir had just successfully shaken the villain, allowing Ladybug to use her Lucky Charm to retrieve the object where the akuma was hiding. The battle was over, and soon everything would go back to normal. Chat stood triumphantly by Ladybug as the reporters rushed in, and Nino felt his cheeks heat up a little as they locked eyes, and Chat winked affectionately.

“Don’t worry,” He mumbled to himself. “I do.”

Day 30

 FF | AO3

Nino heard a tap on his window, and he sat up, rubbing his eyes in confusion. The clock on his nightstand read 1:04AM, and he wondered what could be knocking on his window at that hour.  The what turned out to be a who as he slipped on his glasses and caught sight of a yellow and black figure floating outside. Shucking off his blankets, he stood up and paced over to the window to let her in, wondering why on earth Queen B was making house calls so late at night.

“Hey,” He greeted groggily with a yawn as she climbed in and seated herself on the windowsill. “Can I help you with something?”

“There’s something that’s been on my mind for a while, and I haven’t been able to sleep well lately,” She said softly, shifting her gaze to her lap. “I don’t like keeping secrets from you.”

“Uh, okay?” Nino tilted his head to the side a little in confusion. It was too late, too early, for this, but she seemed genuinely torn about whatever it was she was talking about.

“Nino, I love you, and I don’t want to hide anymore. I want you to know me inside and out. With the mask and without…” She stated, and he took a step back, holding up cautious hands.

“Whoa, whoa, I have a girlfriend,” He said, leaning away from her, but to his surprise she giggled.

“I know, you dolt,” She teased, slipping off the ledge and standing up straight. “And she’s got a secret to tell you because she cares for you so much.”

Blinding light flashed in his room, and Nino shrank away, covering his eyes with his arm. After a couple seconds, it faded, and soft hands cupped his face. Blinking his eyes open, he came face-to-face with Chloe standing in her silk pajamas with a sheepish blush.

“Surprise,” She said, biting her lip as Nino processed what just happened.

“You’re…Wow, okay, uh,” He stammered, rubbing the back of his neck and clearing his throat. “So, you’re her every time?”

At that Chloe laughed, and Nino relaxed a little at the sound. Her natural laugh had become something dear to him, seeing her so at ease and open. He pulled her into his arms and placed a soft kiss on her cheek.

“I didn’t like keeping secrets from you,” She whispered, resting her head against his shoulder. “I want you to know every part of me.”

“Thank you for trusting me,” He murmured against her hair. “Your secret is safe with me, mon abeille.”

She giggled and nuzzled closer. “I love you, Nino.”

“I love you too, Chlo. With or without the mask.”

Day 31

FF | AO3

After twenty years of marriage, Tom and Sabine had grown quite comfortable with each other and ways in which they expressed their affection. So when they stood pressed together in the living room, swaying slowly to soft music, they weren’t fazed at all when Marinette popped in and out of the kitchen. She knew better than to interrupt them when they got in their moods, so she gathered her snack quietly and retreated back to her room, careful not to disturb them.

Tom sang along softly in Sabine’s ear, occasionally pressing gentle kisses to her hair. Even after twenty years, he still cherished every moment they spent together, and no amount of time could ever diminish the love he felt for the woman in his arms. She was his light, and the reason he greeted every day with a smile. By her side, nothing mattered.

“All these years later, and we still slow dance in the living room,” Sabine remarked with a dreamy sigh. “Reminds me of our wedding.”

“It reminds me of how much I love you,” Tom said, leaning his head against hers. “I’ll never forget the day that I promised myself to you. The day that I said I’m yours, forever.”

“And each day of forever has been just as sweet.”

[haleyfury]

It’s no surprise to say that I’ve had a hard time concentrating for long periods of time lately. This hasn’t really been an issue when it comes to reading- the inspiration behind today’s post- or blogging. I’m actually blogging more than I should’ve been in April because of being home. I’ve stuck to some elements of a routine – going for walks daily, eating three meals, reading for at least an hour a day- but the biggest thing I’ve been struggling with is school work. I’ve talked to my friends who are in the same situation as me and it’s been a common problem for all of us, being that we basically haven’t had to do any school work at home since high school. The problem for me is that I associate home with being able to relax and basically do anything un-school-related, so having to force myself to finish my second senior research project and complete assignments for my other two classes hasn’t been easy. I’m definitely getting the work done and sticking to deadlines… but with one or three books in between.

I’ve been loving  books that I am able to read in one or two days. I know some readers can read a book of any length in this time frame- I’ve definitely done this myself with Sarah J. Maas books particularly. However, the following recommend binge-reads are the types of books you won’t be able to and won’t want to read in more than one or two sittings because they’re that addicting. I’ve also based my recommendations on books that I’ve read in 2020. Let me apologize in advance for all the times I say ‘not able to put-down.’

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord – I know I’m basically three months late on the Tweet Cute love train, but I seriously cannot stop thinking about this YA debut featuring.so.much.FOOD. I really became invested in everything and anything about both Pepper and Jack’s storylines. Everyone knows that I love books that contain so many differently elements, but Tweet Cute is just the perfect example of a YA contemporary book that can do it all flawlessly and manages to make me hungry and crave the sweetest desserts while doing so.

The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee – You’ve probably seen The Thousandth Floor float around the YA book world since its debut in 2016 and I highly recommend checking it out in 2020 if you haven’t done so already (previously like me until this past weekend). I was craving a fun, fluffy, and yes, drama-filled read and this book was so perfect. If you’ve been re-watching Gossip Girl lately, this is the book for you.

What I Like About You by Marisa Kanter-   I think What I Like About You is going to find its way on to almost all of my recommendations lists. As a sidenote, reminder that this is a really important time to be supporting many books and authors right now, but especially debuts and recent releases (whether that’s tweeting about them, buying a copy, or putting books on hold from the library). What I Like About You definitely falls into the too-cute-to-put-it-down category, but also makes for a quick read because of its tweet and text conversations between Halle and Nash.

The Bromance Book Club and Undercover Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams – Hi my name is Haley and I am obsessed with everything and anything Bromance Book Club related. I know there’s been a lot of hype and love for this rom com series, but I am here to tell you that the hype is so, so worth it. I’ve devoured both books in the series within two days. While there is some fluff and plenty of steam & romance, this series really delves into a lot of stereotypes surrounding romance books and serious issues, especially in Undercover Bromance (warnings for sexual harassment and domestic violence) and handles it all so well.

House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City #1) by Sarah J. Maas – I know House of Earth and Blood has been popping up everywhere but hear me out on this one- especially because this book is almost triple the size of most of the books here. It took me almost a week myself to read House of Earth and Blood (thanks homework), but I think even if you want a long and complex read right now, you can still manage to read this one in  1-3 days. For readers who haven’t yet read a Sarah J. Mass book, I think this is the perfect time to do so with House of Earth & Blood. Once you hit the one hundred page mark in this eight hundred page beast, you’re just so invested in this new world and mystery that it’s hard to not want to find out what happens next. While I certainly will be crying for the sequel until 2021, I also found that this book put me in a reverse book hangover, wanting to read anything I could get my hands on.

Harley in the Sky by Akemi Dawn Bowman – I was so invested in Harley in the Sky’s setting and plot that I managed to read it in two sittings during a school week! Following ‘if you like this TV show/movie, then read this book’ recommendations, if you’ve watched The Greatest Showman, this is the perfect book to read! Harley in the Sky follows Harley’s dream of being a trapeze artist and joining a rival circus to do so.

What are you binge-read recommendations? Have you read any of the books that I mentioned? Share in the comments!

Binge-Read Recommendations: What I’ve Read in 2020 So Far Edition It's no surprise to say that I’ve had a hard time concentrating for long periods of time lately.

[mystictruth123456-blog]

A magical adventure in the woods

Today I felt bored. A bit in a rut. I had been grieving about my mum for many days and things felt a bit pointless. It seemed like nothing was exciting me that much and I Didn't have much of a plan for the day. I had read A few pages from Ram Das's book the mirror of the soul, about how to accept everyone and everything in our life as part of our life curriculum, that our desires create our world.  I was thinking about staying at home for the day but realised after pulling the reversed butterfly card from my animal medicine card deck that belonged to my mum, that it was time to embrace change.  So I walked out of my apartment after breakfast onto the street, I prayed beforehand for an adventure.  the sky was a clear blue and the sun was out which is rare in England. Since it gets dark around 4pm nowadays out here I thought that it was important that I moved quickly, if I wanted to experience any good weather in the woods. I realised how strange it was walking around Harrogate because I spend most of my time in Leeds and when I am in Harrogate I usually just am in my studio. I went into this bookstore called "Waterstones " and looked at the joke section of the store. I looked at everyone and remarked in my head for the thousandth time how strange English culture was in how reserved and private people are. Nobody looking at each other, nobody acknowledging each other. it's just weird and a bit awkward.  I marched my way all the way to the valley gardens, a collection of beautiful flowers, trees in a park, of all different sorts, with a little stream, mini ponds and ducks.  I got near the trails in the woods and told myself "This is all a dream."  I called the spirit of the dragonfly to teach me. A spirit that breaks illusions and reveals the magic of reality. As I entered the trail in the woods I begin to see the magic of it all, the trees, plants, the grass. Everything was very much alive. In my thoughts was still this voice of boredom and apathy. I kept wandering through the Woods off the trails until I reached a spot by a tree where I sat down. I thought to myself "if you have a day where you don't know what to do and feel you are in a rut, you could either stay in the apartment all day or wander around the Woods." I just decided to sit with and surrender to my feelings of boredom. A part of me felt it was unfair that I should deal with this sense of pointlessness after all that Had happened with my mum. There didn't seem like there was any positive reason for this. I just sat and sat, having a sense of perspective about things and suddenly I noticed my mind drift from my boredom and apathy to random thoughts about people, funny experiences and things I liked. I begin telling jokes to myself and quoting a Will Ferrel blooper from one of his movies where he goes "check out my my plums, all swollen, blue hued and juicy." I kept saying this to myself hoping to cheer myself up, remembering that I have a sense of humour that I forget this at times. As I was sitting there dogs started to come past. Usually I have a fear of dogs because I was bit  by a dog  as a child, yet this time I just radiated love toward the dogs and the owner. My practice now is to look into someone's eye and see that awareness that We share, that is not their body, not their mind or their feelings. I did that with the dogs and noticed a lack of fear. Our minds are constantly projecting our interpretation of reality onto things, and quite often are pretty inaccurate. That was another mantra for the day, that my mind often plays tricks on me. The miracle that really got me out of my mind rut was the the dogs that showed up out of nowhere. First it was this dark, mop looking dog just staring at me, sniffing the ground then staring at me again, then came the procession of wiener dogs. One, two, three, four of them, one of them black and brown like a Rottweiler and the others ones more whitish with traces of other colours. It was a very random pack of wiener dogs. I said to myself "The wiener dog coalition" and begin cracking up as the owner and the pack left the scene. I went on a excited wandering through the woods at this point, spotting different varieties of wild mushroom, calling in thousands of coyote spirits, hummingbird, and porcupine spirits to lighten up the mood. I noticed for a while now that People had just known me for being that silly guy, because I had tried to have deeper conversations and it wasn't received well. Now I felt I could integrate the deeper part of me and the comic in me together. My humour has always been one of my great strengths and brought me back to life after a challenging time.  My memory kept getting flooded with hilarious adventures I have had with friends. Such as my often shy Spanish friend who went back to Spain a few weeks prior, being drunk one night and like a hunter, spotting a girl and then making out with her. it's easy when you are grieving to forget these happy times in life, and when your having them it's easy to forget what those tough times feel like as well. My journey led me to a open field, the clouds amidst the blue sky alive and powerful. From there I reached a more open wooded space, with trees dotted around and the sun shining through the trees. I thought of how my mum told me that whenever she was abroad and looked at the moon she knew at some point her family or friends far away were looking at the same moon. I looked at the sun and thought of my stepdad looking at the sun and Imagined what it would be like in his shoes, living his life which I'd never fully know in this life. I came upon another field, on the other side of a stone wall, the sun shining brilliantly on the grass and through the foliage. There was sheep in the field. I could have imagined my mum saying "look at the sheep, look at the sun, look at the trees" with that childlike curiosity she had. The wiener dogs came past again, I scuttled around them and the lady who owned them said "don't worry they won't hurt you." I Felt a sting of pride to my manhood. I was only one percent afraid of the wiener dogs and she called me out on that one percent. I also received an invite a party in Burley Park, Leeds from a friend. I reached the bottom of the wooded path and began my ascent back up. This time reflecting on the people that had past through my life in Leeds. The invite to Burley Park reminded me of these things. I had also made deep connections with my flatmates when I lived in Burley Park for a month in the summer. It seemed like a dream. It always mystified me, how you could be close to people, have this story together and next second it could be all over like it never happened. I reminded myself that those people and experiences were still in my heart and though there may not be as much action in my life this week, It didn't mean I had lost my spark of adventure. It was still there. Overall upon leaving the woods, I was very excited that I had taken this little journey into the nature. It had proven to be very fruitful. When you are in a rut do something different. Life is fully of adventure when you come at it at the right angle. Check out part two of day. The Italian restaurant  Part 2 After leaving the woods I arrived in busy Harrogate on a Friday, the Indian restaurant that I wanted to go to was closed so I decided to go to an Italian restaurant. I felt a bit introverted yet I wanted to order my food in Italian from the Server. Mustering up the courage, because I was very new to Italian, I ordered my food. The server came back and I asked him "di dove sei di Italia?" (Where you from in Italy?) he looked at me and said, "I am not from Italy, I am French. " So I quickly slipped into French. An older English couple begin chatting to me because they overheard me saying that I was American to the waiter. I was more surprised that someone had started a conversation with me in England because that rarely seemed to happen but I appreciated it. Usually I am the one starting the conversation.  Upon leaving I said "au revoir " to the waiter who shook my hand and "arrivadeci" to the owner. I realized that I had a bit of a prejudice towards many French people, often when hearing that they were French, not wanting to speak with them. This came from experiences early this year where I had made one French friend and had a French flatmate who I had grown fond of over time. My French friend introduced me to the other French that he knew in Leeds and they acted very friendly towards me at first but when they were together they kinda ignored me quite often. My French French said that the French were often like this. I had many more encounters like this where the French seemed very closed if not downright rude to new to people they didn't know that well. With the waiter I realized I just needed to let go of that. That we wear all different types of mask in life and all these external things we identify with are not our true authentic selves. That these people I have met whether I liked them or not, also have their challenges, fears, desires, positive qualities and negative qualities. To let go of those judgments, that protective armour that keeps us separate and freezes our hearts. To give everybody the benefit of the doubt, take everyone as an individual, that is the goal. I went back to my house and after some blogging I had a chat with my Stepdad. We debated some of these concepts I have mentioned here. Overall it was a very fruitful day and I had many eye opening experiences. Accept people as they are is one great lesson I learned