July 3, 2013

  • North And South

    I don’t pretend to know everything about the Civil War. It’s not an area of history I’ve fully dived into quite yet, but I know bits here and there from reading history books while I was homeschooled and what I’ve learned from reading online and reading stuff in paranormal books. 
    But recently, I’ve read a few books by Ann Rinaldi. She writes historical fiction. One I read a week or two ago called Wolf by the Ears. It’s set in the 1800s and is about a girl who is a slave, but believed to one of Thomas Jefferson’s children. That one had more to do with slavery and finding out more about one’s self. The most recent I’ve read by Ann Rinaldi is In My Father’s House. I finished it yesterday. It is also set in the 1800s, around the time of the Civil War. The main character is a southern girl named Oscie and the war is seen through her eyes as she grows up and changes. Both were good books and both gave me lots to think about.
    But In My Father’s House has me thinking about the Civil War, the North and the South. What it was like back in those times. And not to mention, but this year is the 150th anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg. Today is also July 1st, which was the start of the battle and it went until July 3rd.
    The book and the 150th anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg have thinking about these things, but my dad also. And that’s because recently I was reminded of something he said when I was a kid.
    I was out with my parents one night and someone was talking to my dad about Gettysburg and our paranormal group ghost hunting there. And this, of course, gets him talking about the history of Gettysburg and the Civil War, which he has studied lots about. Whenever he gets to talking about Gettysburg and the Civil War at one point he always says “You know, the South should have won.” and explains how they could have won.
    Hearing that the other day brought back a memory, something I haven’t thought of in a very long time. But I can see it so clearly in my head.
    When I was a kid, I was with my parents in Gettysburg. I had to be younger than ten so this was before the ghost hunting, our paranormal group and regular trips to Gettysburg. It was during the summer and we were in one of the shops out there that sold authentic looking Civil War clothing. I think my dad was talking about the Civil War and Gettysburg while we were in the store. I was looking at the toy swords and I’m not sure what prompted me to ask, but I asked my dad, “What side do you think should have won?” and for a few seconds he paused. He could have been thinking over his answer, but I’m sure it was because he was wondering how my mother or I would react to his answer. But finally he replied and said, “Well, I wish the South would have won.”
    I don’t remember his explanation why he wishes the South would have won, but I do remember his answer. And I just know my dad seems to have an obsession with the fact the South should have won.
    And I’ve just been thinking, what if the South would have won? How would things be different now? Would things be different, or have ended up the same? These are questions that I will never know the answer to. 
    Do you think the South should have won? If they did, how do you think things would be now, better or worse?

July 1, 2013

  • Xanga Memories: First Short Story

    I’ve been writing since I was 12. At around 13/14 is when I decided what I wanted to do with my life is become an author. Throughout my teenage years I wrote short stories, songs, poems and was even writing a few books that I never finished. For a few years I stopped writing. And that was because of what an author said to me. I showed him one of my short stories and he told me I’d never be a writer. 

    Well, to hear that was crushing and eventually, I stopped writing. I began writing again after becoming a fan of Diana Wynne Jones and finding that I love fantasy very much and wanted to write it myself.
    However, I was still afraid to show anyone my work, especially after what the author said to me. But in April 2010, I decided to face my fear and share a short story I wrote on Xanga. I was very nervous. I was worried. What if no one liked it? What if I was told I was a terrible writer? 
    But I did post it. It was the first short story, or any of my writing, that I shared on here. And although I didn’t get many comments, I got a few very nice ones that encouraged me to continue writing.
    I know I don’t share my writing on here anymore since I save it for submitting to places. But posting a short story on here helped me get over my fears of people reading my work. I know not everyone will like my writing, but that’s okay and it hasn’t stopped me from submitting my writing.
    Through blogging, I was able to overcome my fear of people not liking what I write. And now I write with the intention of wanting as many people to read it as possible. So for me, posting my first short story on Xanga is a good memory.
    And if you’re curious about the story, I’ll post the link. I don’t think it is my best work, but it’s a nice story and my writing has improved since posting that story in 2010. But even with its flaws, if any of you read it, I hope you will enjoy it.

June 25, 2013

  • Book Recommendations: Wolf By The Ears

    Book: Wolf by the Ears
    Author: Ann Rinaldi

    Pages: 252

    Original Publication: 1991
    Harriet Hemings is a slave of Thomas Jefferson’s and has been all her life. But she’s been well cared for, educated and not worked very hard. In a few short years she’ll be 21 and that means she will be free. Harriet doesn’t want to go, doesn’t want to leave her home. How could she? She loves it there, but Harriet soon realizes taking her freedom will be for the best. And so she begins to prepare for her leaving when she turns 21.
    This is a historical fiction book about Harriet Hemings, who historians believe is a child Thomas Jefferson had with his one slave, Sally Hemings. 
    I’ve read one other book by this author and thought it was quite a good book. I liked this just as much. The author was able to take a story of a real person from history and mixed fiction along with it and it worked well. Harriet has a very strong voice. Her emotions are right there, all out there for you to feel. She is white and African, she is confused. Is Thomas Jefferson really her father? She doesn’t want to leave her home and yet she knows she has to. She has to leave everything behind to fit into the white world.
    I feel that I was able to relate to Harriet, being of a mixed heritage myself, sometimes it can be confusing and hard to find your place. Sometimes you think there is no place for you, that you cannot be yourself. I related to Harriet’s feelings and her confusion. But, Harriet was strong, too. She had courage and no matter what she would be always Harriet Hemings.
    The book was very good. If you like historical fiction, I definitely recommend it.

June 24, 2013

  • New Diana Wynne Jones Book!

    March 2011 one of my favorite authors, Diana Wynne Jones, passed away. She was 76. The last book she was able to get published was sent into her publishers a few days before she died, I remember reading a few years back.


    It was Earwig and the Witch, a children’s book. It was released in the UK June 9th, 2011. Released in America, January 31st, 2012. I had pre-ordered it a number of weeks beforehand. Besides that, there was a another book being published called Reflections which contained articles about written that she wrote throughout her career for different magazines. It wasn’t a book written by her, but just one put together of articles she had written over the years. So Earwig and the Witch was to be her final book.


    It was sad to think it would be the last Diana Wynne Jones book. No more stories would be coming from such a wonderful author. I had accepted that fact. Earwig and the Witch would be it. And it is such a wonderful book. Sure, it is for children, but I quite enjoyed it. If Diana were still alive, I could see that becoming the first of a series.


    However, there was another book. One that was almost finished, but Diana wasn’t able to write an ending for before her passing. There was a conference last year to celebrate her life. It was hosted by Diana’s family and friends. I would have so much-loved to go, but it was in the UK. Anyway, this book, the one that was almost finished except for an ending, some of it was read at the conference. From what I read online from people who went to the conference, the book was wonderful, what they heard of it being read.


    Diana’s sister, Ursula Jones, did say she might try to write an ending for it, but wasn’t sure. Well, a few days ago it was announced that there would indeed be another Diana Wynne Jones book. Ursula Jones had written an ending for it.


    The book is called The Islands of Chaldea and it releasing next year February 27th in the UK, the very next day in America. As soon as I can pre-order it from Amazon, I will.


    You can read more at the Publishers Weekly article. And it also seems that Diana’s family is looking into the rest of her archive. I suppose if there are more stories almost finished, they might eventually find their way into publication also.


    I am just so excited. I cannot wait for the book!

June 22, 2013

  • Summer

    So, yesterday was the first day of summer. I can’t believe summer is here already. It’s June, soon it will be July. The year is going by fast and I just wish it would slow down just a bit.

    But now that it’s summer, I’ll probably be going more places.
    I know next month I will be going to Gettysburg. But over the summer I’d also like to go to Lake Tobias, Hershey Park and Knoebels. Not sure where else I’ll be going, but those three are probably places I’ll go. 
    I would also like to visit Saint Katharine Drexel’s shrine. She’s Pennsylvania’s only Saint and I would really like to visit her shrine.
    Do you have any summer plans?

June 21, 2013

  • Xanga Memories: Blogrings

    Remember Blogrings? There are called groups now, which I believe the Xanga Team changed that about a year or two ago.

    I liked it when they were called Blogrings better. You find can groups on a lot of websites, but Blogrings? Nope. That seems like it was just something on Xanga. 
    When Xanga was more active, I checked out the Blogrings a lot for new blogs to read. I found a lot of people that way. 
    Blogrings helped me find others who love books, who love to write and play video games. I’m sure there was a Blogring for probably about any interest you can think of. 
    I haven’t checked the “groups” for quite a long time now, but one of my favorites to look at was one called Bookish. Blogrings were quite cool and more active before, of course. It was fun to look through the blogs of those who in whatever Blogring I was currently looking at.
    Do you remember Blogrings? What Blogrings were you in?

June 20, 2013

  • Random Post

    I just woke up. I went to lay down for a few minutes to rest because my head has been hurting. I ended up falling asleep instead, but I’m up now.

    Sorry for not writing a post yesterday. Something happened that just made me not feel like writing anything. 
    I’ve been busy with making items for my online store. I actually went to the craft store yesterday. I went to Hobby Lobby, which is a huge store. I didn’t find exactly what I was looking for, but did buy a few items. A few metal hoops and some silver leather. 
    Also went to Walmart and bought some beads and leather from their craft section. But I still didn’t quite find what I was looking for. I’ll be going to Michaels today and hopefully will find what I need there.
    Besides crafts, I’ve been writing. I love the laptop I got for writing. I’m so happy to finally have it. 
    And I’ve been reading the books I borrowed from the library. The last book I finished was Wolf by the Ears by Ann Rinaldi. It was a historical fiction book and I thought it was very good. Definitely gave me a lot to think about. I might try to go to the library this Saturday to borrow a few more books. I already know a few that I want.
    Well, I’m not sure what else to blog about. Hopefully I’ll have something more interesting to write about tomorrow. For now, I need to get back to my crafts.

June 18, 2013

  • Xanga Memories: Featured Blog

    I know some of the newer users on Xanga probably won’t know about the Featured Blogs, but some of you who have been around for awhile do. 

    I remember many people submitted their posts for a chance to be featured. And it was an exciting thing, at least for me, when one of my posts was chosen. 
    I remember the first time when one of my posts were featured. It was featured April 2009 and It was called Light Skin Vs. Dark Skin. It was about something I had read on a message board that I used to go on regular. It was my first Featured Blog and it was exciting for me. So many people read it and I got over 100 comments! That was a lot for me. It also had over 4,000 views. It was just all very exciting. I never had that many views or comments before.
    So many people read what I wrote and it was just. . . amazing. Even if this is only a blog, having people read what you write, commenting and such is just wonderful. 
    I don’t know how others felt about being featured. But being a writer, I was just so happy to have people reading what I wrote.
    Even now, if there were still Featured Blogs were still around, I think I would still get just as excited being featured.
    Do you remember Featured Blogs? Were you ever featured?.  

June 17, 2013

  • Cool Bookshelves

    I was looking for interesting bookshelves and found some on this article. There are honestly some really cool bookshelves on that link. I’m going to post the pictures of the ones I like the most and would want to own myself.
    Which bookshelf do you like?

June 15, 2013

  • Pink Dreamcatcher

    This is a Dreamcatcher I recently listed on my store for sale. It is a small, the hoop is only two inches and wrapped in pink leather lace, white webbing with a bead in the center, light pink beads and feathers.
    It can be found on my store Tsalagi Dreams.