d e v o n
Monterey Bay Aquarium
almost home
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Janaina Medeiros
Today's Document
Cosimo Galluzzi
Claire Keane
roma★
ellievsbear
if i look back, i am lost
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he wasn't even looking at me and he found me
AnasAbdin
hello vonnie
Misplaced Lens Cap
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$LAYYYTER
Sade Olutola
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seen from United States
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@booksbysteffi
QOTD: What have you been doing today?
Today is all work for me! And after work, I’m hoping to work a little more on my cross stitch! I’ve started to actually make some progress - at least the top corner looks like a stone now, and not a mess of grey threads!
Quarantine, at least, gives you a chance to try new things or make some time to do something you love that you keep putting off!
QOTD: What’s your favourite season?
As much as my body hates Autumn (and Spring) I really love autumn. Cool enough to wear fun, warm weather clothing and not boil when you’re trying to sleep, but still warm enough that you don’t freeze through the day and night!
QOTD: What is your favourite genre/s and why?
I honestly really love this quote, because I think it is important for all writers to remember. I don’t think you have to ever completely stop reading a genre you love, but reading widely is incredibly helpful. You never know what will trigger your next bout of inspiration or what will help you over a hump or a plot hole.
QOTD: What is a nostalgic series or book for you?
When I was still in primary (grade) school I was very much a horse girl. All I’d ever borrow from the school library was the Silver Brumby over and over again. It got to the point that our librarian told me to give others a chance to borrow them and try something new. She recommended the Redwall series, specifically Mossflower.
It was my first “fantasy” series and I honestly never looked back! I loved the story, the setting, the characters, everything. And it set me on the path of becoming a writer. Every time I read Mossflower, or any of the Redwall series, I gratefully remember a very stern librarian telling me to read something new, and thank her fervently for it!
QOTD: Do you ever wait to read a book until you’re in the right mood? How do you know what the right mood is? What was the last book you waited to read?
For me, it’s The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage. I loved His Dark Materials so much, I worry this won’t live up to it. I need to get myself into the right mindset to carry on the series. Maybe I need to reread His Dark Materials and then just dive into the new series immediately after!
QOTD: Is there a saying, quote or mantra you use when you need to give yourself a pep talk? Or do you have a friend you go to when you need help or encouragement?
My favourite saying comes from the indomitable Carrie Fisher, “Be afraid but do it anyway.” For me, it helps remind me to not to scare myself with possibilities.
QOTD: Do you have a favourite novel centered around a magical creature?
The Last Unicorn is one of my favourite books and movie adaptations. There is so much about it that’s brilliant about both the book and the film. The amazing characters, the romance, and the modern fairy tale feel to the story.
Unfortunately, the amazing Peter S. Beagle has been dealing with abuse from both the original production studio withholding his profit and shares, and then horrible accounts of elder abuse and fraud from his manager.
I hope the future is a lot kinder to Peter S. Beagle, as he’s been responsible for one of the most beautiful books and films I grew up with.
QOTD: Are you a Sherlock Holmes fan? Are you a book fan, a TV show, movie or all round fan? If not, what is your favourite detective or mystery novel?
I do really love Sherlock Holmes. The stories are a lot of fun, especially with how outlandish some are! I also feel terribly sorry for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle who came to hate his creation in the end. Even his mother begged him to keep going, poor man!
QOTD 2: Do you have a favourite Sherlock Holmes story? Mine is “The Adventure of the Speckled Band”!
The Gaslight Prophecy - Book One
“The girls had been missing for three days, and Rye was determined to find them…”
QOTD: What is a book or series that you loved as a child or teenager?
Animorphs was a series that carried be from primary school, well into high school. I wasn’t able to collect or finish the series then but I’ve spent the last few years tracking every single book down.
I absolutely love every single one of these books and they were a huge part of why I wanted to become a writer. I also really loved how well handled all the characters were, their voices and motivations, and how they were changed by everything they experienced.
If you haven’t had a chance to read this series before, I absolutely recommend you try! K. A. Applegate has the first two books in the series out as audiobooks. I absolutely recommend them!
QOTD: What fascinates you? It could be anything at all!
Space fascinates me! I’ve done a lot of research for my writing. The Fermi Paradox especially is just an incredible concept! I wish we’d gone deeper into space at school.
The same with robotics! I loved doing the small amount we did at school, but there wasn’t much opportunity to follow it further. I love being a writer, but there are some things I’d love to do or try, nearly as much!
Laklas slumped in the saddle. He gripped the pommel, and Roper’s neck, fighting to stay in the saddle as his head swam. “They’ve gotten worse under Priddy.”
They were bad enough before, Roper snorted and picked his way down the muddy road.
Laklas huddled in his worn, leather coat as they plodded along. His head ached, his eyes were stinging, and his body felt distant and heavy. Laklas wanted nothing more than to be home and dry, with a mug of beer and a home cooked meal from Rosie.
Except they weren’t heading back to Lierwick.
“Where are you going?” Laklas asked as Roper slipped off the main road and onto a thin little path that wound through the trees.
There are harudell out, it’s pouring, and I’m not walking another five hours, Roper grumbled. And you need to learn to keep your mouth shut!
Laklas made a half-hearted attempt to wrench back control, rain slick reins slipping through his sodden glove. Roper danced sideways, banging Laklas’ knee against a tree.
“Dammit, stop!” Laklas hissed. “And I don’t need you to tell me to keep my mouth shut!”
Well someone needs to! Roper tossed his head, tearing the reins from Laklas’ hands and continued heading down the trail. If you won’t listen to your own species, you’ll listen to mine.
QOTD: What is your quarantine/lockdown project?
Melbourne is in lockdown now, though I have been in self-imposed lockdown now for a month because of my health. To stop going stir-crazy I decided to start my first ever cross stitch project.
...it is so much bigger than I thought. I may have made a terrible mistake XD
But it's so pretty and so like the Arthur Rackham illustrations I love! So I am determined to finish, even if it takes a lifetime!
Look after yourselves, be safe, and find even the littlest things to make you happy <3
QOTD: What made you start your current WIP or read?
I have actually been working on Gaslight since I was 14. Yes, cringe, I know! It started out as a really dumb teenage attempt at a novel to what it is today. At the time, I was inspired - as a lot of young writers are - by other books I’d read, TV and movies.
But the current version of The Gaslight Prophecy is something I’ve been really inspired to do. In part I wanted to imbue the book with my love of Steampunk, as well as my love of all things Norse. But I also wanted to write a little bit about my feelings on the world, politics, family and relationships, and war. And what better way to do that than through a sweeping fantasy series, lol.
I don’t know if I’ll be able to convey everything I want to convey. I don’t even know if people will like it. But I sure am enjoying the adventure. And at times like these, I feel like we all need to dig deep into the things we love. So share your love of whatever makes you happy, right now, and let’s encourage each other to do our best!
Dr Oretto was at his side in moments.
“Easy, easy,” the man said, water dripping onto Rye’s face from his wet hair. “Looks like the three of you have been through the wars.”
“You’re not wrong,” Tamara muttered, walking over, axe still in her hand. Rye caught her staring at the doctor suspiciously, but another wave of pain distracted him.
“Tell me what’s going on,” Dr Oretto said, setting down a heavy looking leather bag.
“I think she’s in shock,” Rye said, nodding to Lily.
“And you?” the doctor prompted.
“Dislocated shoulder…I think,” Rye said as the man rested a hand on his forehead.
“Among other things,” the man sighed. He turned to rest a hand on Lily’s forehead as well. “We can’t leave you three here. I have some friends across the lake. They got a house. It’s not much but it’s drier and warmer than here. Do you think you can make it?”
Rye’s stomach dropped. The last thing he wanted to do was move. And what were they going to do about Lily?
QOTD: How is everyone doing? How are you keeping yourselves busy while social distancing?
I had to go into hospital yesterday for a procedure. We are trying to figure out the source of some abdominal pain and bleeding. At first we thought it was my appendix, so we evicted it. Yesterday we ruled our Crohns, to my utter relief! But we still haven’t found an answer, which is frustrating.
It was also sad to see the security measures in place in the hospital. Unfortunately, people had been raiding it for masks and hand sanitizer. This is just…really sad. People have lost their humanity.
To my fellow Australians - don’t lose your Australianness and compassion in the insanity. We are one and we are many, and we should be caring for each other, not tearing each other to pieces. Everyone is scared, so be kind to each other.
QOTD: How was everyone's weekend? I got a little bit of art started and had some decent naps! I also got a little writing done. I hope you all had a great weekend and plenty of rest!