I Almost Forgot !

So, as you all know Cobalt is picking back up with a new collaborative coffee table book. I have no idea why I am advertising this here but, please check it out. Maybe for a male friends graduating college or high school . . . ?

Bachelor 2.0

Cute Gingers

So, I know I have to acknowledge the happenings at Cobalt a little bit. It has been a tough couple of months, but we are coming out of it. Relationships both professional and personal have been tried, but there is one things that lets us escape it all. That is the writing so, that is what I will focus on. Just know Erik and I are sending positive thoughts out.



Picspirations

I have no picspirations for any of the characters (okay, maybe one).  I'm still working on that. Anyway, I do have some more dress porn :

The dress Seraphim sees Rin in the first time. I can't find the orginial picture I was using to describe it but, I liked this one :




The dress that Rin buys for Seraphim. Also what I imagine Seraphim's "uniform" looks like :

@ California_Blues

First of all, know that I love your username. Okay so, you said you can't imagine a hot red head. I actually looked into it and you were mostly right. However this is the best I came up with :

If the Gringotts jacket didn't tip you off that's Bill Weasly from Deathly Hallows.  To be fair he is played by Domhall Gleeson who actually looks more like this :



Also, there is  17 year old Cameron Monohagen from Shameless:

Chapter 2 & 3

When I post so far apart  I often forget what I was going to blog about. I imagine I will be blogging more after  Chapter 6. Like Lile says I am amazed at the emotions or character flaws you are able to tap into. Someone mentioned the relationship between Seraphim and Rin. In my head it is more of an older/little sister relationship. Where Rin is extremely protective of Seraphim and Seraphim's feelings.

I saw a photo and it kind of made me think of them. It is this photo of the Deschanels. Emily looks so protective :

@ MaTow-- I noticed you have a blog now, hon ! Will Bella be posting recipes ??


Chapter 4


Rin has discovered the murderer of her brother and seeks to avenge his death. Meanwhile, Seraphim reminesces on her first days in Eden

Chapter 4

Mad World

Let's play a little game . . . 

Of who, what, when, where and . . . why ? Also, I have decided to use more cuts in the blog posts.  I can see how not using them makes the page load slower.

Who ?

So far, the only characters I have fully introduced are Rin and Seraphim. I have to say coming up with names was so hard for DT. I am trying not to have an Aerith an Bob issue.

Also, the names are not supposed to be biblical except for Gabriel and Seraphim. A Seraph is another word for an angel and a Seraphim is the plural. And yes, you could argue Corrine is a angel mentioned once somewhere but, her name was always just Rin before I made Rin a nickname.
 

Also, are you all happy we are back to female characters ? I know I haven't go to the beating the Belchdel Tes part but, I will. I like having female character but, it didn't start out that way . . .

What ?

I can't really get into the what of the story. However I promise I will never start anything with a death again. I have to admit I may use that as cheap and easy character motivation.  I did it in Veritas to make Alan sympathetic and I did it in Sundays because that was where their story really starts.  I'll get to why I did it in DT later.

When ?

From the very beginning I knew I wanted to write about angels.  I got the characters and plot ready to go and when I began to write I realized I needed a setting. I needed a place to set this story. I thought on it and I came up with something kind of  . . . different.

The story is set in a steampunk time--which basically means Victorian era. It will never come up in the story so I figure I may as well say. Now for a subcategory :

  Steampunk w/ a twist 

 This isn't just steampunk, I wanted it to be a steampunk setting with a bit of lolita thrown in. I know what you are thinking when I say lolita and that is why I made a subcategory for this. Somewhere along the line of looking into the Victorian era/ Romanticism & Steampunk I came across the Gothic Lolita subculture and wrapped it into the story.

Basically, the dress of the characters is Lolita inspired, more specifically The Gothic Lolita. I can't explain it fully so, I'll steal from a lolita fashion website. Lolita is "a Japanese street fashion inspired primarily by the clothing and general aesthetics of the Rococo and Victorian periods." 

While we are defining things, it has nothing to do with the book Lolita or underage girls--it was a victim of word borrowing. In fact Lolitas have strict modesty codes and aren't supposed to show their thighs or cleavage. Now, I don't entirely believe this statement on no sexual undertones because I can see how some of the outfits have a sexual/pedophiliac/anti-femenist undertone. Ecspeially with the "Sweet Lolita"

Anyhow, this was the dress that inspired Rin's funeral outfit : 





















I admit, I was amused looking at the all the pretty dresses so, you may see some more dress porn (lol, did I use that phrase right)

Where ?

There is going to be alot of psuedofancophile-ness in DT as well. I just really like French names and words so I use them.

Anyhow, the Palace de Tuileries is based on the palace of Versailles. There is a real Tuileries, if you are curious but, I have no idea what it looks like.

Why ?

I can't really get into the why  of the story. I can't even say why I wrote it other than I wanted to write a PR. It's hard because there is so much I can say but,I haven't posted very much. All I ask for is honesty because I have no idea how the story is coming off.

Double Chapter Post :

Chapter 1

-1- Mad World by Adam Lambert ( i love a good cover and i love this song)

-2-Beloved by Yiruma

-3-Cristofori's Dream by David Lanz

Chapter 2

-1- May Angels Lead You In by Jimmey Eat World

-2-All Myself To You by Yiruma

-3-Take My Breath Away by Jessica Simpson ( i know, i know but, I love parts of this song though  . . .))

Rin's brother has just died and she has buried him, but now her father tells her their is more to the story than she knew.

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Lead me into the light

Challenge Accept --wait for it . . . .







I had so much fun with the challenge piece. I don't really have much to say about Will's End, I can't even fully verbalize how it came to be.


Like I said my biggest inspiration for Will's End were the chapters after the fire in LL. But, I also really love the characters of Emile and Kayla and I wanted to focus more on them. I just really loved the domestic kind of perfect family scene part of it. I just really wanted to proposition Clara, Emile and Kayla as this happy family. Of course we know there is something much darker going on behind all of it. It was all in good fun.


Also, the last line of it was supposed to kind of mimic that section in DSI when Lile clues us in that Fierro and Clara are in the same hotel with just one simple line. I kind of wanted to imply that Fierro wants to open himself up to being around others but, is afraid to. That is kind of the sense I got from some chapters in LL.


@Lile--- I tend to re-read comments sometimes to get sense for how I can change things and I reread your comment from Will's End. You said "I get nervous re-reading my own work so this was nerve wracking and fun."


I thought it was funny you considered reading my interpretation like re-reading your own work. I was super honored.




Paranormal Romance


I am pretty hesitant to use the phrase paranormal romance because I'm learning I'm not following many of the tropes/aspects people expect in a paranormal romance.  I did some surface research by reading synopsis of other PR novels but, not much after that. I think I will stick with calling it Paranormal Romance until I think of a better genre.


I was inspired by many things. In my last post I said it was a combo of :Paranormal Romance, Litany Lane, The Hunger Games, NBC's Kings, Shakespeare, Gothic Literature Romanticism, Zack Snyder, Jane Austen, Classical Mythology. 


I fully intend to add to that list but, I can't think of what I need to add.


 Most of the characters and pieces of the plot are taken from greek mythology. In fact classical mythology/ epic poems are a big inspiration. I have twisted and changed it a bit so it doesn't follow exactly. That way, if do figure out which myth I am pulling from you won't be able to predict the ending.


Side Note-- When I was looking for a lyric from Perry's ET to make the title I was looking at the lyrics and realized how much that lyrics kind of sounds like the song is about rape . . .


De Tuileries 


You are going to see a very,very,very familiar framing devices but please trust me, I'm not crazy. (well  . . . ) I wouldn't use the same thing unless I absolutely had to.






Playlist


-1-  Kiss the Rain by Yurima (Just discovered him and he is brilliant ! On playlist this song is noted as Bella's Lullaby for some reason. I don't think it is Bella's Lullaby)
-2- Not as We by Alanis Morrisette
-3-  Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven

Gabriel . . . 

Hidden and Moving Forward

Fan Site


So, Erik showed me the forum site recently. I don't usually look at it but, the layout it delicious ! The cupcake in the banner is so cute, I have to ask does anyone know where it is from ????






Hidden and Then Some


I am working very diligently on En Moritas. However, it has kind of gone from a series of vignettes to a pair of vignettes. I don't want to just throw random stories in there so I may keep it at a pair of very short stories.


I mentioned I wanted to blog a little more about Hidden because I was reading it in preparation for En Moritas. Really it is one aspect I noticed and wanted to blog about.


One of my favorite parts of Hidden is the relationship between Haley and Alan. Haley is this kind of sweet, softspoken blonde young man who is optimistic and appears naive when he really isn't. Alan is kind of a cynical, dark haired, heartbroken guy with a dangerous past.


As I am reading Hidden on my lunch break at work I looked around and realized Haley and Alan's relationship reminds me a lot of Joel and Mansfield's relationship. And Haley was written well before I really knew Mansfield so, I thought it was kind of funny.


I think Alan gains this love to hate and hate to love relationship with Haley. Alan is annoyed by Haley but, he wants him around still. I just kind of loved some of their interactions :

Alan : “I don’t want to be brainwashed by you.”

Haley: “I’m not brainwashed.”

Alan: “That’s what brainwashed people say.”

and I was looking at this conversation that happens after they see the report of the bombings and the tv shuts off.  :

“What did it say happen ?,”

“I don’t . . .I don’t know.” Haley said

“It was probably nothing,” I said but, the boy’s eyes were starting to  brim with tears

“I’m scared, what if it’s a raid. What if  we are next, what if--,”

“Stop it,” I said,” Listen if it was an actual nuclear bomb we would have heard or felt something--,”

“But, Alan--,”

“Shut up, I’m going to bed you should do the same.”

I'm not sure if it was my original intent but, I thought it was an example of Alan's reluctance to be friendly to Haley. Alan wants to say everything will be okay and be like a friend to Haley but at the same time he doesn't so he just tells him to shut up. Alan knows caring about Haley or befriending him will mean he has turned his back on Jean. 

Also a lot of people asked about the name Hidden. I kind of regret the name but, I also  think this conversation they have on Christmas sums it up :

“I’m not the one who looks like life has beat me, you are,” Haley said,” I wish you could see how you look to me. So, defeated and angry and begging for a way out. You really aren’t like the others. You are lost and afraid, it’s hidden beneath that body of steel.”

There were a lot of things I kept hidden. I never really mourned Minnow’s death, I had gone straight to killing guys for Rayne. I wanted to cry, I could feel the tears building up but, I always held them back.

Minnow/Minnie

A while ago Lile asked if there was a difference between Minnow/Minnie because someone asked about Rose/Rosalie. 

Minnie is kind of the cute, affectionate nickname Minnie goes by. Jean calls her Minnow because he sees his sister as an adult and not a little girl. Alan calls her Minnie because that is how she introduces herself but, notice after they have sex he starts calling her Minnow and continues to do so through the whole thing. In short it is kind of like the Baby/Francis ( . . . Dirty Dancing anyone ?) thing.


Also,  I had her go by  Minnie so it would be less obvious that the Dorys were named after fish.

Paranormal Romance

So, De Tuileries is coming along quite nicely. Unless I have a big stroke of creativity I think the name will be staying the same. I will say this works does some things that are similar and also different than what i have usually done. I was going to give more hints about it but, I can't seem to think of any.

Moving on:

You'd think I would introduce En Moritas after talking lengths about the Veritas universe ? Well, I'm not. You'd think I'd give you a chapter of De Tuilieres ? No.

I am going in a whole different direction completely. 

I have completed my challenge piece for the challenge LiLe and I had. It started off hard and then got easy and then got hard again. I wanted to mimic her voice and style but, found it difficult.  I  may have messed up some cannon stuff and changed some characterizations so, if something is out of character I want to know.  I almost felt like this reads  a little to much like a fanfiction but, it's what  I came up with.


And yes, I making complete crack fic . Halfway through I literally almost wrote an alternate universe, out of character story. I'll tell you about it later.


I did re-read Litany Lane for this and I have to say one of my favorite scenes in that is Christmas when they all give gifts to each other and I think Clara's is like clearing the dishes and then Fierro gives Emile another rent free year in his house. I don't know I just adore chapter 10 and 11.

Will's End

The playlist is more of an homage than a playlist, I'll admit.

-1- Le Onde by Eindaudi

-2- Berlin's Song by Eindaudi

-3- I Giorno by Eindaudi

-4- Clair De Lune on piano

Clara DeLune has arrived and lived in Litany Lane for a while. Her life was turned upside down when a fire consumed her  home. Now she lives in a large Victorian house with 2 men . . .

Will's End

Encounters, Take Two

Okay, so I see some of you have an issue with Encounters and maybe I didn't explain it properly or preface it correctly. Anyway I hope you will enjoy chapter 2 better.

Encounters 2

Okay, so as I am sure many of you have figured out, Encounters was part of a poorly planned April Fool's day joke. In fact, it was so poorly planned I never thought of a reveal and I kind of wanted to see how far I could go with it. I mean, I could have just put April Fools under this cut but, I didn't because for some reason I am determined to keep this joke going.

It is hard to write something bad yet, still believable as something I would write. It's funny I actually went back to that Cove story Lile fans hated and I have to say I kind of want to know how it goes. Can we get that ghost writer back ?

Anyway, with Encounters I tried to do little things to make it "bad" like blantant plagarism, mixing piranha and piriah, saying bones are made of ivory when they aren't, also that quote isn't from Romeo and Juliet is is from Othello, I think. I also copied that long drawn out descritption of something no one cares about like Smeyer did with the Italian restuarant scene in Twilight. Oh and of course this. How did no one catch this ?


The Truth

Some of what I did say was true though. I am working on what I am now not calling a paranormal romance anymore. What I am working on is the love child of Paranormal Romance, Litany Lane, The Hunger Games, NBC's Kings, Shakespeare, Gothic Literature, Romanticism, Zack Snyder, Jane Austen, Classical Mythology among others.

I told myself I had to avoid what happened with OHG and not post until I was sure but, I actually have 8 chapters outlined, 4 chapters written  and I am wrestling with 3 or so endings so, I decided to share some of it with you. Mostly because I feel kind of bad about the whole joke thing.

I don't have an official title for this. I was going to post it with the joke but, then I realized I didn't have a title so I couldn't post it. I am at a total loss for a title so, it is going by it's working title--which I think may become the actual title.

Okay, now scroll down to see a preview video.























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---Keep scrolling----

De Tuileries

So, yes that is the title and I am sure you can see the LL inspiration already but, I promise it is totally different. I'm not sure what else I can say except I am going to start stretching myself to accomplish something. I haven't even started my challenge piece or finished En Moritas. 

Oh but, I will say songs used in the Encounters playlist are from the De Tuileries playlist so I will use those songs again. Also, I had that Katy Perry song in mind for a preview before it was released. Didn't mean to get all top 40.

I do love this story but, I won't say it is my new favorite like I said in the joke post. In fact, I was re-reading Hidden and I kind of like that the most at this point. I realized there was so much more to the story I hadn't talked about and I want to.

Okay, let me point you in the direction of a prologue.


Prologue. 

This is Not An April Fool's Joke

I really wanted to update soon and I regret this update comes on this day because I have some news that some (okay, most) of you will not like and hope I am joking about. Okay, prepare yourselves. I pre-apologize.





On Higher Ground is on Hiatus

): Did you know Harper Lee wrote a second novel called The Long Goodbye but, was never able to finish it ? Also, the well known Pillars of the Earth took 10 years to write ? I hope that softens the blow.

I know, I know, I know.  I am so, so, so , sorry , I feel so bad about this but, I am putting a semi-permenant halt on OHG updates. Mostly because . . . there is nothing to update with.

OHG came to me as a good idea with some key plot points but, no real story. I thought the story would just come organically like UL did but, it didn't and I kept getting behind.  As I started work on the end of chapter 4, it became a real chore and I was in a writer's crisis. I had no idea how to move the story forward, I hit a wall. At this point the story is such a jumbled mass I need to organize it. I feel so humiliated about this.

Honestly, I have been flirting with pulling a Midnight Sun and canceling OHG completely. I am not super happy with it. I am sure if I hadn't posted it, I would have never posted it. I even thought of doing a Pushing Dasies and tying up loose ends or something in a chapter or so. I mean I am going to keep working on it. There are still some moments I want to write but, right now . . . it won't be my priority. *cringe*

What's Next ?

During the time when OHG was giving me issues I started working on my other works. At this point in time I have lots of stories going on. En Moritas is coming along nicely but, I want to finish all the "drabbles" before I post them.  I have a complete outline for my "challenge story" with Lile. I am so excited about it.

I  spent an extensive amount of time thinking about this paranormal romance. I mean a lot. I even started hand writing it just for fun.  I really wanted to rewrite the same old same old. I also wanted to appeal to a younger audience. Not like pre-teen but, fewer adult overtones. The paranormal romance became my obsession, I could not stop thinking about it and pretty soon I had made a dent in it. So . . .  I am happy to share with you this new "paranormal romance"  serial.

Encounters

This serial has been months in the making. Actually, I mentioned a paranormal romance last year off hand so, it is a year in the making. This serial has a special place in my heart because it gave me stress relief when OHG was causing me trouble. The words flowed so perfectly. This has been a big undertaking because I really wanted to fit the genre requirements but, I really do love my interpretations.

I wish I had made a complete banner or video or something to preview this but, honestly I just want to get to the story. I have been holding on to this and I really love it so, it is very strange showing it to you all. I hope my gushing doesn't prejudice you.  This is my first time writing original characters in a while so, that has been interesting.


Look out for a special author's note !

-1- Ironic by Alanis Morisette (really wanted the acoustic ):

-2-Somebody Told Me by The Killers

-3- The Vigil by David Nueve (love him !)

Chapter 1

Out of my mind

Hello!

I feel like I need to say hi because it has been so long.

@ Lile--

You did a little shout out for me so, I thought I might do one for you ! You have really been an inspiration to me. I have been battling with writers block for a while and it's causing a traffic jam . . . if that makes any sense. A single block has been keeping me from where I want to go. Can't wait to see what you get up to.

Layout

I really wanted to update for Valentine's Day but, I just wanted to hold on to what I was working on a little longer. Either way, I want to use this layout for a while.
 

What's New ?

Before I get into OHG, I want to talk about the ideas that are kind of floating in my head. In fact I took a little cue from LiLe

En Moritas

I'm sorry if that was really awful. I considered just flashing the cover images.

As I work on OHG, I realize how much I miss short form writing, A few plotlines about the Veritas characters kept creeping up on me so, I decided why not ? And I decided to write some short stories.  I won't say to much but, En Moritas will basically be some  1,000 - 3,000 word stories. I know what they will all be about but, I am only 800 words deep in one of them. It won't be posted soon but, I loved Lile's trailers so much I thought it might be fun to make one.

Caught In Your Paranormal Romance

Ah, the paranormal romance. There is no real progress on this story but, I thought  I might update you. I keep the idea of a paranormal romance in the back of my head and over the past few weeks I have come up with one good solid character. They have a name, a personality and everything. I just need the right plot for them and supporting cast. (yep, no gender clues)

I know exactly what the "paranormal" aspect will be. I also have some of the romance worked out but no real story. I may start plotting some items soon.

This will most likely be another short story. Maybe 5 or 6 chapters, if that.

OMG, OHG

I have to say this serial started out as just one simple short story (Teenage Dream). I really thought I had some meat and topical-ness for this story but, it has been harder than it thought. I have recently found some new inspirations so, it has gotten better.

There is definitely a reason most "dirty realism" is written in short story form. It is hard to write in simple prose with characters who are supposed to essentially "do nothing" for so long.

But, I do love these characters so much so, it's all good. Plus, I have some great music I plan to use in the future. I have some songs I could listen to over and over again.

Chapter 3 

Playlist in the sidebar !

-1- Home by Sheryl Crow

-2-  Broken by Lifehouse

-3-  Need You Now by Lady Antebellum

-4-  Healing Begins by Tenth Avenue North

Chapter 3

The post I could get sued for

New Covers

So, I finally felt inspired enough to make some new 'covers' for my serials. They were all inspired by  other YA books but, mostly Sarah Dessen. I've posted some of them and their original  inspirations here.

     

You can see the rest of the cover redesgins on  shawnaharrison.yolasite.com

Role Call 

So, the characters are give or take 5 years older. I never really had picspirations for them, I just couldn't find any but, I have finally found some who are similar. I am only doing characters who have appeared so far.

Juliana Clark : Mix between young Anna Paquin & Amanda Seyfried 

 

Rhett Clark : I never had an inspiration for him but, the moment I saw Ian Harding I was like he looks just as I imagine Rhett. I always new Rhett would have wavy or curly hair  but, I was afraid that would make him to much like Sawyer.

Jocelyn Sullivan-Clark : Andie McDowell, I think I said Minnie Driver at some point as well.

Savannah Clark : Elizabeth Gilles

Cody : Am  I allowed to use Jamie Campbell twice ? His look in The AMC series the Prisoner is almost exactly how I imagined Cody in RGGS .

Genre Maltov

I did want to clarify some of the genres I am using. I say Christian fiction when I should have said religious fiction. There will be some religious undertones (and overtones) in this work but, what can I say . . .  I can't resist the occasional NSFW scene.

As for the women's fiction part, I meant it would also deal with themes more related to women

Ah, those trenches

  I hate that I invinted this phrase, it sounds so depressing but, I am in the trenches with this story constantly re-tweaking it. I am in no rush to finish it because I have nothing else in my head right now and I have to say . . . it's a little lonely. I think I'll be sad if I don't have anymore plots to work out

On Higher Ground

It is is a few days after Christmas, Rhett and Juliana have their first kiss as Rhett boards a bus from Union Hill, Mississippi to the Coast Guard Training School in Elizabethtown, North Carolina . . .

OHG2

Playlist

So, yes I used mixpod because there were some songs that werent on playlist.com. (scroll down to see the playlist)

-1-  Dreaming with a Broken Heart by John Mayer

-2-Little Victories by Mat Nathanson

-3- Little House by Amanda Seyfried

-4- Walking in Memphis by Lonestar

-5- What I've Done (cover) by Marie Digby

-6- Say it Again by Marie Digby.

Music Playlist at MixPod.com