tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50404307821763628742011-11-27T17:14:12.955-06:00documentation of my journey as an aspiring author striving to get publishedthehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.comBlogger791100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-44800651157625799762011-05-10T00:32:00.000-05:002011-05-10T00:32:21.839-05:00

i just finished reading a terrible book because a dear friend bought it at dollar tree for the soul reason that it had to be terrible. my little brother got married last saturday. his new in-laws are still perstering me. my husband is asleep while i'm sleepless. oh, and i'm terribly sick due to a sudden lack of stress after at least three weeks of constant stress. my body has given out but my

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-41307282351789800812011-04-12T14:21:00.002-05:002011-04-12T14:21:41.524-05:00

Ok, so, I've revised the last three chapters of the story I'd been posting to make it a little more realistic than it had been.

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-60787391124504790812011-04-12T13:39:00.001-05:002011-04-12T13:39:02.759-05:00

forget gimmicks. i'll write when i feel like it.

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-17053478582144499692011-01-22T16:36:00.001-06:002011-04-12T14:20:58.326-05:00

Jasey was quickly beginning to resent every acquaintance she'd ever made, as they all seemed to have a penchent for being tardy. She was also resenting her best friend, her boss, and his little sister, as they were either too wrapped up in another person to notice the clock or simply apathetic. She was also resenting her own strange sense of punctuality and the terrible idea to invite Dakota a

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-77472713715385109452011-01-16T15:35:00.003-06:002011-04-12T13:57:20.251-05:00

Part of Jasey was a little bit scared he wouldn't show. Another part of her was a little bit hopeful at the thought of his abandonment. It was intimidating to think that a) he was eight years older than her - new to his thirties when she'd only been in her twenties for a little over three years - and especially b) that he'd not only been married before, but also, as it seemed, extremely in love

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-74205171100395834432011-01-16T15:12:00.002-06:002011-04-12T13:47:31.154-05:00

But it didn't. “What happened?” she asked. “I mean, if you don't mind telling me.” “No, I don't mind,” he said, surprised, and watched as the the last rays of sunlight – the only reminder that day had passed – finally disappeared and night set in. “Um, I married the girl I'd dated my last two years of high school a few months after graduation. I was hired by the company I'd been interning with

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-53438943020590582112011-01-16T15:08:00.000-06:002011-01-16T15:08:00.263-06:00

He climbed into his hammock and stared into the gradient sky. He folded his arms behind his head and thought to himself, It's good to be home. His cell phone went off in his pocket. He took it out and looked at the number. He didn't recognize it, so he turned the ringer off. Then he thought that maybe it was the girl from the cafe, so he hurried to pick it back up and answer. “Hello,” he said.

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-51166172289283700402011-01-16T15:00:00.000-06:002011-01-16T15:00:39.704-06:00

When she went home that evening, a red light was flashing on her answering machine. She put her purse down on the floor and went into her kitchen, where the answering machine sat on the countertop, waiting to tell her something. She pushed the play button and went to her fridge. “Playback. One new message,” a robotic voice echoed through her industrial loft. “Wednesday, March twenty-third. First

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-31765954407593423752011-01-13T10:26:00.002-06:002011-01-16T14:57:05.293-06:00

She tapped her lip with her pinky as she looked this scruffy hero over. His hair was an ashy shade of faded blonde; it was trimmed neatly, but sat disheveled on his head, like he shook his hand in there and left it. He had about a week's growth of unshaved hair on his chin and over his lip. His skin had a healthy tan to it, and he looked almost like he walked everywhere he went. His eyes were a

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-65013424849959685572011-01-13T10:04:00.003-06:002011-01-13T10:07:25.449-06:00

She leaned over the glass counter, her chin resting on her fists, her elbows pointed firmly at the pastries below the glass as she tapped her foot wildly, watching the punk kids through the big glass windows at the storefront as they slid up to the door on their skateboards, one runt running behind them with a camera focused on his friends. The boys picked up their boards. “Jude!” she yelled

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-59590085874562127372011-01-13T09:54:00.000-06:002011-01-13T09:54:25.348-06:00

Dakota woke in the middle of the night to the sound of storms: a party of static and light and pouring water outside of his window. He got out of bed and stepped into his shoes then walked quietly down into the living room, where he saw Marly and Timothy twisted comfortably together under an afghan in his recliner. He passed them and paused as a massive bolt struck the ground outside of his house

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-29089193696939421072011-01-13T09:46:00.000-06:002011-01-13T09:46:18.235-06:00

“Dakota,” he could hear coming softly from the other side of the door. He squinted his eyes, as if he could possibly shut them any tighter. Someone rapped their knuckles against the door and called for him again, “Dakota.” The person opened the door and walked into the room. She gasped at the sight of him sprawled out on the rocking chair, a wide bottle lay on its side on the wood floor in the

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-88514394074237757462011-01-13T09:41:00.000-06:002011-01-13T09:41:18.277-06:00

Ok, so, i have some making up to do. I'm sorry. My January has been JAM-PACKED with things going on. It's been ridiculous. But, after this weekend, I'm totally free and clear for two whole weeks, so you'll be seeing a lot more of me ;). Anyway, to make up for last week, I will be bringing you 10 chapters this week. ---------------------------- His eyes followed the topless concrete box, which

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-60474628948413882372011-01-07T12:39:00.000-06:002011-01-07T12:39:37.208-06:00

Wesley was a tricky fellow. I knew it the moment he gave me his hand to help me up. But, there was something about him that caught me off guard and completely pulled me in. There was his smile, but that wasn't it. After he helped me up, there was something about the way he stood there and just looked at me for a moment. It was like he could see straight into me and read what was written on my

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-65265112284745064522011-01-07T12:01:00.000-06:002011-01-07T12:01:25.586-06:00

"Um," I answered the angry voice on the other line, afraid to get out the rest of my words. "You have got to be kidding me," my younger sister scolded. It's funny how things always seem to turn a one-eighty. "I'm not," I said. "You call me on my honeymoon to tell me some of the most disturbing news I have ever heard? How could you?" I could almost see her biting down on a quivering lower lip,

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-63151713896434695172011-01-05T17:17:00.001-06:002011-01-05T17:18:08.596-06:00

"It's a lovely dress," he leaned a bit closer so he could say so quietly. "Thanks," I said, just a tad offended. I mean, it's not like he was wrong. "I have an idea," he said, brushing dust from his pants as he stood. "What's that?" I asked, taking the hand he'd extended to help me stand as well. "What say you to us getting out of here?" he asked, smiling, and it was just a tiny step closer

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-42647996002362754552011-01-02T14:45:00.000-06:002011-01-02T14:45:32.287-06:00

"How about you?" I asked. "You don't look too keen on being here, yourself." "Let's just say, I'm here because it's a sort of moral obligation, rather than because I actually wanted to be here," he explained. "Then we're in the same boat," I smiled. "So, what's you're obligation?" he asked. "It's complicated," I told him before taking a gulp of my drink. "I'm sure my brain won't explode," he gave

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-12596288563140703232011-01-01T00:00:00.000-06:002011-01-01T00:00:43.414-06:00

alright, so, this is a brand new blog. the next couple of chapters discuss it, but there's a brand new chapter at the bottom if you want to skip to it. previously, this was meant as some sort of documentation of my attempts at becoming a published author. well, that resulted in my book, home is gone, being published via lulu.com, but it's only sold a couple of copies and not much else has

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-82380528310386781202010-12-30T12:41:00.000-06:002010-12-30T12:41:14.538-06:00

So, if you've checked recently, you may have noticed that there is a brand new background. With that, comes a new format for this blog. A new purpose, new posts, etc. Also, a new title, which I will be revealing at midnight on January 1, 2011. So, come back then to see what's up :)

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-3200545120345250852010-11-12T11:51:00.000-06:002010-11-12T11:51:33.390-06:00

So, today is To Write Love On Her Arms day. If you don't know what TWLOHA is, it's a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting young people who suffer from depression, addiction, and a plethora of issues connect to the resources they need in order to get better. It is supported by many musicians and artists, who where their t-shirts on stage in support of their mission. I wish it had been

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-61857138865250047892010-10-18T16:43:00.001-05:002010-10-18T16:48:48.592-05:00

NEWS FIRST: In a couple of months, the format of this blog will be changing slightly. I'll probably clean up the layout and whatnot a bit. Keep an eye out for some interesting things come January. That's pretty much it. Other than that, I guess I can tell you only one copy of my book has sold. Oh well. At least I'm published now, eh? It's what I've always wanted. I'm satisfied. Also, a little

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-79621784395109180362010-10-13T22:04:00.000-05:002010-10-13T22:04:12.957-05:00

When you're gone Only half of me is here And I can't be myself without you near Cause the rest of me is with you Wherever you go, my dear I will never be complete again Until you sit yourself right here Beside me Thread your fingers through mine Like tying knots of thread To form a fabric over time And wrap it tight around you to hold my stead Wherever you go, my dear The thought is always in my

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-25838876437548725262010-09-19T19:07:00.009-05:002010-09-20T14:36:09.649-05:00

And now for the announcement you've all been waiting for! I just published my very first book via lulu.com! It's title is Home Is Gone and completing it has been an intense labor of love over the past five years. Here's a quick synopsis:Eighteen-year-old Gray, tired of putting up with abuse from his alcoholic father, packs everything he can call his own into the back of his best friend's old

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-13738988471034673242010-09-07T20:00:00.000-05:002010-09-07T20:00:49.429-05:00

i've recently read an article in wired magazine that's got me thinking about self publishing through lulu.com, blurb.com, and possibly even through itunes' ibook app for the ipad. i'm nervous, as this is going to require some major work on my part to make sure the stories are perfect and to make sure that i market them as well as i possibly can. especially seeing as itunes only pays its content

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-73599397686802090502010-08-12T13:29:00.000-05:002010-08-12T13:29:54.834-05:00

akemi had never been on a date before in her entire life. truth be told, she was always too nervous to ask her parents for permission, knowing her father was strict and wasn't keen on his baby growing up. but, her parents had a new distraction, a new baby with a new childhood to try to extend for as long as possible. so, when chandler, the new boy at school, and passed her a note in class asking

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-965017102847610272010-07-18T20:25:00.001-05:002010-07-19T08:28:52.642-05:00

akemi had a feeling she was being watched. it gave her a chill, put her on edge. and, as she was usually lax in her posture and like to think she moved a bit like water, she felt oddly stiff at the idea that she was being watched. her elbows were locked at perfect ninety degree angles, her forearms flat on her desk. she sat up perfectly straight in her seat. her head was kinked a bit to see the

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-47479417428199283462010-04-23T16:49:00.001-05:002010-07-19T08:29:17.550-05:00

Akemi sat in the center of the connected chairs lined up against the wall of the administration office of her school. She had her head in her hands, her elbows resting on her knees, her knees pressed together, her ankles spread apart, and both of her heels bouncing in anxiety as her toes stuck firmly to the floor. She lifted her head, bound her hands together, and sat her chin on her linked hands

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-46865937969402468202010-04-20T14:34:00.000-05:002010-04-20T14:34:08.291-05:00

alright, so... i have recently come to the conclusion that i am going to write under a pseudonym for certain projects. here are my reasons: certain things, i'd like to keep a sense of anonymity so as to avoid hurt feelings. the best fiction is pulled from truths, and truth can hurt. statistically, young males avoid fiction written by women. many female authors, who write sometimes from male

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-26560135881839491082010-04-16T16:46:00.000-05:002010-04-16T16:46:07.801-05:00

so, things are going well with the plans to move to ft worth. we're going to check out a place tomorrow. our house should be ready to put on the market very soon. other than that, not a whole lot is new. i am working on a draft of time loss that is completely from ted's perspective. it's a little tougher than i expected, but it's going ok. i'll let you know how tomorrow goes... tomorrow. -

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-46018020088385902182010-03-25T14:09:00.000-05:002010-03-25T14:09:15.683-05:00

ok, so, i posted a while back that i had started a time travel novel. it's called time loss. i've just posted 4 chapters of it onto authonomy last night at midnight. it's already being backed by two authors on there! i'm so excited. so, since you were all there from the beginning of this journey, i'm giving you the link. if you want, join the site, leave reviews, and maybe back my book? thank

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-6030033107173864932010-03-21T17:38:00.000-05:002010-03-21T17:38:03.888-05:00

First, I will begin with telling you all about this awesome site I found that Harper-Collins has created called authonomy. Basically, you create a profile and upload 10,000 words of one of your books. Other members can read your work, review, place it on their 'bookshelf, ' and the most popular stories on the site will go to the editor's desk for review to be published. Pretty sweet deal, right?

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-56653566024678183792010-03-12T17:30:00.000-06:002010-03-12T17:30:11.060-06:00

ok, so, i'm saying forget that advice to not write short stories online. this is published. it's dated. my work is original. if someone steals it, surely there is some form of repercussions for it. i'm not scared of pirates. i'll do what i want to do. you know why? because writing short stories for you makes me happy. :D so, here it goes. **************** I wake up. My alarm clock is really

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-68591943331675019312010-03-08T14:22:00.000-06:002010-03-08T14:22:08.278-06:00

so, i found some exiting things. about a year and a half ago, my parents purchased a new computer for my ongoing business exhibitions, which continue to go on with minor success. it has about 10 times as much memory as my laptop, so i decided to put all of my stories that i had written on the laptop up to that point on a portable hard drive so that i could save some memory and split work between

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-2039631261293671952010-02-23T14:19:00.000-06:002010-02-23T14:19:02.445-06:00

i want to apologize for my extreme absence on this blog. i know, i'm starting to sound like a severely broken record. i'm not going to promise to be more regular in posting, but i hope i will be better. i've simply had some major changes take place and they've thrown me off balance.

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-59521316923225765642010-01-04T13:55:00.000-06:002010-01-04T13:55:34.179-06:00

Okay, so, as promised, I did in fact muster up the courage to call an agent. I actually just hung up with them less than a minute ago. Unfortunately, it was a no go. Oh well, onward and upward! I can only go up from here :)

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-86059629651720649922010-01-02T23:13:00.000-06:002010-01-02T23:13:27.249-06:00

So, Monday I am calling an agent. I have a new resolve to do so. If I don't, I've given my husband permission to tease me ruthlessly until I do.

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-48282528491300957672009-12-17T22:52:00.000-06:002009-12-17T22:52:26.105-06:00

So, I've been keeping something from you. I've started a magazine with my husband. It will be free and published online. It will feature many things, among which will be a series of short stories written by me beginning with the first issue. The first issue premiers January 1, 2010. Visit subStratummagazine.com for details. Sincerely, Alexis

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-41728620882381706472009-12-09T03:15:00.000-06:002009-12-09T03:15:09.783-06:00

I just finished typing out 8 pages in a story I hadn't looked at in months! And they're wonderful! I'm so proud of them! I'm really excited, because this is my first foyer into science fiction since I was twelve. I think I'm doing a darn good job at it, too, if I do say so myself. Thank you for being patient. -Alexis

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-30646432314112826292009-12-07T19:14:00.002-06:002009-12-07T19:14:10.598-06:00

I've been in the worst funk lately. I've written four sentences to start a story and can't get past that. I need help. :/ Sincerely, The Hopeful Author

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-18988382095521622832009-12-04T13:54:00.004-06:002009-12-04T14:05:03.679-06:00

We had a recent trauma. It's had me separated from this earth mentally for a little while. Hard to swallow, hard to wrap my mind around completely. But, it's over and we're dealing with the aftermath now.Thank you for your patience.______Sitting in a cold roomAll my pictures fledTrying to pass through my systemAll the verbiage I've been fedI'm drawing things that I don't meanJust so I don't have

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-2373794701262956002009-10-30T16:45:00.002-05:002009-10-30T16:48:55.892-05:00

I am so sorry for my three week absence!It's been a busy few weeks: moving parents, in-laws, helping people, major rehall on my own house... Just crazy.Good news for me (and you) is that the craziness all ends tomorrow night. My sister-in-law is getting married tomorrow AND we're going to the Brand New concert in Houston. After that, it's clear sailing for a while :DSo, that's it. I just wanted

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-76384708433973804782009-10-09T19:31:00.002-05:002009-10-09T19:46:12.214-05:00

13 months ago, I was in a great band called the Shoulda Couldas - who tried to be something like the lovechild of Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Silversun Pickups adopted by Brighteyes - with two of my best friends and eventually one good buddy, who I didn't know well at the time, but grew to be really cool with. Anyway, my very best friend was in this band, too.One year ago, I'd waited long enough and

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-68882936676846326882009-10-07T11:11:00.002-05:002009-10-07T11:19:44.821-05:00

I've been advised not to post anymore short stories :(, however much I enjoy sharing them with you.So, to replace short story Tuesday, I will begin Creative Tuesdays and share some tips to get creative. I may also share some artwork or poetry, too.On the finding an agent front... I'm a chicken.I've read somewhere that most of becoming successful in any area of the entertainment business, which

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-16245314386841548202009-10-01T15:31:00.002-05:002009-10-01T15:36:53.723-05:00

Okay,So, as you know, not only am I a hopeful author, I'm also a newlywed and novice homemaker. I'm not promising I'm not going to discus various things that happen in my married life that affect my writing life, because, let's face it, they're one and the same and constantly intertwine. I am, however, starting up a new blog called The Novice Housewife because I need a place to vent about it and

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-33877344364030853672009-09-30T16:38:00.002-05:002009-09-30T16:50:00.842-05:00

This week's band is one I just recently discovered thanks to Last.fm and the fact that Lydia was one of the most played artists when I typed The Forecast into my Last.fm Player.Judging but the name, you'd think it was a girl wanted to don the single name Madonna thing, but I'll be quick to inform you that you are completely wrong.Lydia is a sextet from Phoenix, AZ, with ambient sounds verging on

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-34676868153702113062009-09-29T00:46:00.002-05:002009-09-29T01:03:21.518-05:00

Alright, I can't sleep! So, now that it is officially Tuesday and I'm not in the mood to read anymore, I've decided to post the continuation of last week's short story in the wee hours of this morn ;).This week's story will be written while listening to a group I just recently discovered called Lydia. Check out their album Illuminate when you get a chance.----------Today was the day I was

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-71589959981107757372009-09-27T16:31:00.003-05:002009-09-27T16:43:44.365-05:00

Hey!I am so sorry for my absence lately. My husbands been coming home with a fever the past few nights and I've been busy trying to nurse him back to health. But I'm back!Some cool news I haven't shared yet: my sister-in-law is engaged! They're planning on getting married at the end of October, as the month is sentimental to her for many reasons. That's 3 weddings within 7 months, all of which

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-81729004151671707312009-09-22T23:42:00.003-05:002009-09-23T00:12:27.006-05:00

Okay, so, this week's short will be written to Death Cab for Cutie's album Transatlanticism - arguably their best - as it's what my husband has deemed necessary for him to fall asleep. Not that I'm complaining. I love this album.Just FYI, this is another completely new short. I'm pretty satisfied with where I left the last. In my mind, things end up great for them. I love quirky couples.---------

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-29661423953960953192009-09-17T18:28:00.004-05:002009-09-17T19:11:59.402-05:00

Alright, so... aside from being a writer, I am also a painter and graphic/web designer. I've done some exciting things with Adobe Illustrator lately that I would like to share with you all. First, a book cover and second, a t-shirt design.Book Cover:I actually drew this and hand-wrote the words in Adobe Illustrator with a small Wacom Pad. I overlaid the scanned image of a dirty page to make it

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-61528422832139787442009-09-16T17:47:00.003-05:002009-09-16T18:04:07.772-05:00

Before I begin with the music, I'll update you. I am currently on the hunt for a literary agent. Daunting task. I've been cross-referencing the few agencies I've found in Dallas with the list on P&E (Predators & Editors) and have mostly found them to have a few marks that make them seem iffy. I already have trust issues, so I've pretty much nixed those. The other agencies, the trust worthy ones,

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-25026202981121695742009-09-15T22:34:00.003-05:002009-09-15T22:56:52.272-05:00

New story time!Alright, in the spirit of keeping it short, I'm beginning an entirely new story! Yay! I may revisit the other one at another time.This week, I'll be writing to a playlist featuring the likes of Metronomy, Datarock, Does It Offend You? Yeah and Midnight Juggernauts. Enjoy.----------I looked out the window of the classroom to my right, ignoring all the ignoramuses that filled the

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-85208484595463416862009-09-11T18:30:00.003-05:002009-09-11T18:53:57.587-05:00

I HATE sounding like I'm making excuses, but that's what I'm about to do. My grandfather had surgery on an artery in his neck earlier this week and I've been dealing with the repercussions of in home construction ever since last weekend, so it's been hectic.On the publishing front, I've decided to look for an agent. We'll see how this turns out. If you know of any good agents in the Dallas area,

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-83308715176004832712009-09-08T20:32:00.003-05:002009-09-08T20:42:30.888-05:00

I have a new spot! Literally, they just opened up today.Let me reacquaint you with some facts: I ride my bike everywhere - no car; I usually stay in my house to write; sometimes I travel with my husband to his work and stick around in Barnes and Noble when I need a change; sometimes, if I'm desperate, I ride to Hastings or Starbucks for a change in scenery.The problem with the places I generally

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-70710272924525341892009-09-05T16:51:00.003-05:002009-09-05T17:04:19.771-05:00

Quick update on authorization before we begin:Beginning a search for an agent on Tuesday.Don't want to self-publish.Searching out multiple publishers for consideration.Now, for the demo.My husband is currently tearing out the ceiling of our studio so that we can raise it. All of its former contents now fill my kitchen. Fun stuff! I'm asthmatic and can't find any masks, so I've wrapped one of his

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-72824029350744960102009-09-02T22:47:00.001-05:002009-09-02T23:11:08.387-05:00

Where we left off: Eli spots a woman and introduces himself to her at a bar. They discuss the classic Hitchcock film while Eli's ex and friends dance in the background.----------"It's very nice to meet you, Eli," Marnie said and extended her hand.He smiled and shook her hand as he said, "Likewise."Suddenly, he's jostled by someone slamming into the bar next to him. His ex had stumbled. She was

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-70961162421426818432009-09-02T13:43:00.004-05:002009-09-02T14:48:53.777-05:00

Today has been filled with music - both good and bad.First is the bad. I won't name names, but I will just let you know that I used to have a friend. This friend pretty much abandoned everything worthwhile in his life to chase a music career. While this career seems to have taken off for him, he's not making anything new or worth listening to. He abandoned all of his principles as a musician to

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-17218154949681774742009-09-02T00:37:00.002-05:002009-09-02T00:41:09.598-05:00

I literally JUST arrived at my home from my trip to Houston.Stephanie is doing fantastic after her surgery. There was only 1 scare involving a dog and a fall, but other than that things have gone smoothly and we left satisfied that Steph's well on her way to recovery.It was great to see my twins as well. I love you and and I miss you guys already.It's great to be back home with my husband.Good

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-1628472576762721792009-08-29T13:41:00.002-05:002009-08-29T13:47:17.105-05:00

Alright, so, bad news first. I'm ripping off the band-aid.As of 3:00 PM central time today, I will not be able to post until Tuesday.Here are the obstacles:My brother-in-law is getting married tomorrow (Sunday) at 3:00PM. My husband is the best man, which means my early day is pretty much dedicated to prep for that.My best friends' (the twins) mom is having surgery on Monday morning, so, my mom

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-45022796816312369782009-08-26T11:45:00.002-05:002009-08-26T11:59:22.234-05:00

This Wednesday's act is the ultra-talented Manchester Orchestra.Many of their lyrics don't make much sense - not literally anyway - and singer Andy Hull's voice can tend to the scratchy, squealier side of rough and intense, but all of that simply adds to the awesomeness of this band.They have great, melodic acoustic guitar in some songs, wailing and rowdy guitar in the next, intricate drums and

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-42259323400685667992009-08-25T18:56:00.003-05:002009-08-25T19:23:50.274-05:00

Okay, Today's short story, the first of this new weekly posting, is inspired by a playlist including music by Ryan Adams, City and Colour, Emma Burgess, and Ben Kweller.-----He was sitting lonely at the bar, not worrying himself with anything other than his drink at the moment. He was trying to busy himself with people watching, taking in the ridiculous things his friends were doing on the dance

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-41536204544853466912009-08-25T00:12:00.002-05:002009-08-25T00:43:03.701-05:00

I've recently found a notebook from all the way back in... 2007. It contained some interesting writing - a good depiction of teenage a girl/writer with damaged self-esteem thanks to a boy. Let's set up the scene and get into where I was at the moment.I was a month from 18. A boy, neigh, a man who should have known better, was playing with my heart to feel better about himself and I was too

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-18551142229657909612009-08-24T23:01:00.001-05:002009-08-24T23:02:58.160-05:00

I found an extremely talented artist's blog. The link: http://yourfaceblog.blogspot.com. You should take a look.

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-53747026749815068922009-08-24T17:03:00.002-05:002009-08-24T17:09:50.952-05:00

My brother, Tyler, has copious amounts of personality. He also has many opinions and a HUGE talent for creative writing.He recently began his own blog. It's at amalgamant.blogspot.com.His humor can come off a bit strong, but nothing is ever meant to offend. You have been warned.

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-74171960288966444632009-08-24T15:30:00.006-05:002009-08-24T21:56:22.350-05:00

Hello!Sorry I hadn't posted in a few days. I've been extremely busy editing a novel, not to mention we had family come to visit on Thursday. My cousin Aaron's wife recently had their second child, and they live terribly far away (5.5 hours drive if you speed). Needless to say, I don't get much of an opportunity to spend time with them, so I spent the past 5 days holding the cuddly little Cole and

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-55616868351734503932009-08-19T22:01:00.004-05:002009-08-24T16:04:32.380-05:00

Hey there!So, my husband, brother, friends and myself have all come together to build a website dedicated to art, comedy and creative genius in general. It's called Straight Jacket.Visit it at www.straightjacket.tk. There's much more in store for Straight Jacket, so keep checking in.PS: This does NOT mean that I'm leaving thehopefulauthor.tk! I'm still here and I'll still be posting.

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-31323023527748021862009-08-18T13:26:00.007-05:002009-08-18T16:26:04.880-05:00

Ok, so, here is a picture.L2R: Nice guy with cool stories, Nice guy's pretty wife, Taylor (14-year-old brother of Allen), Tyler (my brother, 16 at the time), Allen (nice, well-intentioned snob, 21 years old at time), Me (18 and finally figuring out who I was and wanted to be).Can you feel the awkwardness just teeming out of this photo? Particularly the right side of this photo?You see, the other

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-8124913518536981732009-08-17T16:31:00.002-05:002009-08-17T16:44:17.063-05:00

So it seems that I can't force myself to edit while I'm at home. I always end up finding something else that needs to get done. Also, with an incredibly busy weekend behind me (brainstorming ideas with my brother and husband on our joint project - Straightjacket - and a wedding shower for my brother-in-law and future sister-in-law, etc), no editing was achieved beyond Friday. This is problematic

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-11120454013051522432009-08-13T17:54:00.004-05:002009-08-13T18:14:04.424-05:00

Today, I needed a change of scenery. I needed to take my MacBook and my writing out of the house and into the open.There was a problem.As stated in a previous blog, my husband and I have simplified our means of living and now share one, tiny, gas-efficient vehicle. I, being used to having the luxury of my tiny, orange Bug 24-7, only have a little yellow messenger bag printed in multi-colored

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-30348741699553316472009-08-13T10:49:00.005-05:002009-08-13T13:06:38.800-05:00

I've grown dissatisfied by my current layout. So, by sometime this afternoon, expect to see the black and white gone. We're going to have something more refreshing.***Update 08/13/09 12:55PM***The new layout is up! What do you think?

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-57635425914059267542009-08-12T22:50:00.003-05:002009-08-12T23:00:12.697-05:00

This week, our artist is Laura Veirs.When I first started dating the man who later became my husband, Jacob, he suggested that I listen to Laura Veirs' Saltbreaker.I don't typically favor female vocalists, simply because the idea of some guy singing to me is romantic - that's part of why I ultimately fell for my husband - so about 70% of my music collection is comprised of acts featuring male

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-84112790259817288142009-08-11T12:12:00.005-05:002009-08-13T13:05:13.769-05:00

Sometimes I find myself really attached to my characters. I take that back. I always find myself extremely attached to the characters. So much so, that I can't find it in myself sometimes to end their story.I've been getting better at it. The novels I've begun to write in the past year have very clear, definite endings generally before I even start typing the first paragraph.Older stories,

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-65962664322976794082009-08-10T18:54:00.004-05:002009-08-10T19:29:10.600-05:00

So, today is the first day of my new, refreshed life, and I'm sick.I guess I'll fill you all in. I quit my job. This past Friday was my last day.Now, I'm not crazy, and while I would like to say that I did it because I'm a dreamer and would love to dedicate all of my time to my writing and pursuing a publisher, that's not the entire truth. I'm not nearly that brave.I did it because I wasn't

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-45348225230342089972009-08-07T15:38:00.003-05:002009-08-07T15:46:33.211-05:00

I'm new to this.Not to write, and not even to blogging.I'm new to sharing with strangers.A few years ago, I had this idea - it was a stupid one - of writing a story chapter by chapter in MySpace blogs. Dumb, I know. I've already spoken of my fear of plagiarism, how could I think open sharing a story like that was ever smart??? Well, I wasn't thinking, honestly, and I was frustrated as all get out

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-29396646591952753752009-08-07T11:11:00.004-05:002009-08-07T11:15:31.220-05:00

My husband and I made a silent movie with one of my best friends the other night. The friend is Katie, mentioned in a previous blog discussing characters.Here's the gist, Jacob comes home from work to find that I've adopted a baby without asking him. Not just any baby either, but a giant baby. 20s style ranting ensues.And, yes, that is a John Dear themed room. We've only been in the house for 2

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-42507725529627880662009-08-05T12:14:00.006-05:002009-08-05T12:47:53.774-05:00

Something that helps me greatly when I'm feeling down because I'm contending with a drought of inspiration or waiting for what seems like forever to hear back from a potential publisher is music. Great and wonderful music.On top of that, music has served as one of the largest inspirations in my life. I have playlists compiled specifically for each of my books to help me delve deeper into certain

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-8600657283161059012009-08-04T15:30:00.020-05:002009-08-07T21:08:38.127-05:00

My stories revolve around vivid characters. One female lead in particular has such a strong personality, in fact, that my husband claims that she can annoy him at times.All characters are based on people the author knows. It is impossible not to base a character, even a little bit, on ourselves, our families, and our friends.So, this blog is about the characters in my life, the people from whom I

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-84965491549665055942009-08-03T13:36:00.005-05:002009-08-03T14:41:22.689-05:00

There are times when I get the dreaded writers' block.There are a lot of things my husband and friends have to recommended to assuage this issue, some have worked for me and some haven't. There are also a few things I've sort of just spur-of-the moment decided to do that have worked for me.Here are some suggestions. You may find it helpful:Write a quick, short story. This could be as short as one

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-81046957662768407202009-07-30T14:22:00.004-05:002009-07-30T14:32:43.468-05:00

So, I'm not going to lie. I have some qualms about sending manuscripts in because I am SO scared of someone stealing my story. I have a friend who sent a manuscript to Disney and - WHAM! - six months later a movie hits the box office that is remarkably close to her manuscript.I'm not saying it's impossible for Disney to have writers who have written similar stories, the instance simply felt like

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040430782176362874.post-31976461119983250162009-07-30T11:34:00.002-05:002009-07-30T13:05:55.134-05:00

My name is Alexis Holton.When I was little I dreamed of becoming a rancher. That dream abruptly ended at the age of 9 when I frightened a horse - which, in turn, frightened me - after I let loose my balloon in the excitement of actually seeing a horse. The balloon reached the hot metal ceiling overhead and - POP!After that, I found a new dream. I had a dream that I could become an author. As an

thehopeful_authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815043077826567696noreply@blogger.com0