This Post Involves Lots of Books

You know what makes me happy?

BOOOOKS!!!

Just a couple of days ago I finished reading By Darkness Hid, by Jill Williamson.

Can I just say: Loooooove! I’ve been wanting to read this one for a good while now. It was so GOOD! I had already ordered the next one, To Darkness Fled, before I had even finished the first one, and now I greatly anticipate it arriving.

But, fortunately, while I wait I have some other reads to pass the time.

In addition to acquiring By Darkness Hid and ordering To Darkness Fled, I also recently visited a local secondhand bookstore and…well…I don’t really have any self control when I can get a book for just a dollar or two. I probably would have gotten more, too, if I had more time there, but, alas, I was not able to stay too long. But I’m sure I’ll go there plenty times more! Entering a store with rows upon rows of books all for dirt cheap is like entering Heaven for me. Except in Heaven they’d all be free. *winks*

I honestly don’t even know what half of the books I bought are, but when they’re so cheap, who cares?! It’s no great loss if they’re not good. Some, though, I was quite happy to obtain.

Dealing With Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede is something I’ve very much been wanting to read, completely oblivious that it’s the first of an entire series. Me being the fairytale/fantasy lover I am, I saw this nice hardback book and instantly ripped it off the shelf to see what it held inside. It was a very nice surprise.

Oh. A book with Dealing With Dragons plus all the rest of the series that I didn’t know was a series? Yes please!

I also found another treasure.

I am so very ashamed to admit that I have not actually ever read The Silmarillion. Yes…I know…it’s horrible. *hangs head in utter shame* As you probably all know, Tolkien is my hero and The Silmarillion is a must read for all Tolkien fanatics. I have been meaning to read it for years upon years, but I just never had a copy to actually read. So upon finding it for just $1 or something like that there was no possible way I was going to leave that store without it. I’m so happy to actually own a copy of it! Now, I would like to someday get a really nice copy of it. This is a secondhand bookstore after all, so most of the books are very much used. I like my books in mint condition; but, hey, when you’re getting them for dirt cheap, how can you complain about the condition?

Couldn’t pass up on Tolkien goodness!

You should probably know that I am a total Arthurian Legend nut. I get completely nerdy when it comes to King Arthur and Merlin and the Knights of the Round Table and Excalibur and Lancelot and Guinevere and all that wonderfulness!

I have not read much of Stephen R. Lawhead’s works, but what I have I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. It was a good while back that I was in a bookstore and saw a book entitled Taliesin by said author that was apparently the first book of a series called The Pendragon Cycle. Upon realizing Stephen R. Lawhead had an Arthurian Legend series, I was very quick to buy Taliesin. I found it a fascinating read and hoped to someday continue the series, but…I never did. Mainly due to me being broke. Heh. And also I always had other books I wanted to get more. The Pendragon Cycle just kept getting pushed back. But then, there on the bookshelf in the secondhand bookstore, was Merlin, the second book of the series. Yay! My only hesitation in buying it was that I really hate having a series when the books don’t match. And these two books don’t even look like they’re from the same series! But I knew I’d probably never get around to actually buying the right edition for who-knows how much. This copy was cheap. So bought it I did. (Maybe someday I’ll get it all in a matching set…)

I couldn’t help but snag up some more Arthurian Legend fiction while I was there as well. I don’t really know anything about these other titles, so we’ll see.

Just a few weeks ago I finished reading This Present Darkness by Frank E. Peretti, something I probably should have read a long time ago… It really was such a powerful story! I had no idea it had a sequel until after I had finished it. I was very excited to find said sequel on one of the bookshelves just waiting for me to purchase it.

You’ve probably already guessed I’m really a kid at heart. Being such, I still enjoy books for those dear younger people.

I feel as though this book, The Moffats by Eleanor Estes, has been following me around. It seems like every time I go into a bookstore it catches my eye for some reason. One time I really even almost just bought it because of that. I have no idea what it even is, but it looked like such a fun story. I’m pretty sure it is for young readers, but from what I can see it has a humorous, nonsensical storyline which is my absolute favorite thing! I love ridiculous stories! That probably says something about me… Ahem. Anyways, I was just about to leave the bookstore when I saw this on a bottom shelf. I was delighted, because I declare this curious little book has been haunting me. I did not question taking it home. Even if I don’t like it, it has an adorable cover. A nice addition to my bookshelf.

I have many things to add to my bookshelf, whether I like them or not. I’m as much a book collector as I am a book reader. …Okay, I might be way more of a reader, but I sure enjoy collecting them, too! It’s a shame I don’t actually have anymore room on my bookshelf for these new additions…

Ah well, room for them or not, I’m a very happy elf!

I Write Because…

I write because there are countless stories within me wanting to be told.

I write because I think words are both beautiful and powerful.

I write because fictional people can sometimes make just as much of an impact as real people.

I write because the adventurous spirit within me is free to fly when I’m weaving tales.

I write because I’m a dreamer.

I write because I love to explore new worlds.

I write because my Muse tells me to.

I write because I enjoy creating chaotic mishaps.

I write because it allows my imagination to soar.

I write because it gives me the chance to befriend elves, ride dragons, dance with fairies, explore fantastical lands, meet heroes, and go on adventures.

I write because there are people, fictional though they may be, that beg to have their story told.

I write because God meant creativity for all of us.

I write because writing was ingrained into my heart.

I write because if I didn’t, I’d feel as though a piece of my heart was missing.

I write because I love to.

I write because I have to.

Knighting Peter - A Musical Tag

Over at Kiri Liz's Blog she did a music tag which she got from another blog who in turn got it from another and it’s just sort of been randomly floating around the blogs being used for fun.

So now I’m going to do it! It looked way too fun to pass up.

~Rules~
1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle. 
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.
4. Tag 20 friends. (Since this is an old tag this doesn’t really apply anymore, but if you’re reading this you’re absolutely welcome to steal it as well! Please do!)
5. Everyone tagged has to do the same thing.

~Questions~

If someone says "Are you okay?" you say…
I Do Believe in Fairies (Peter Pan OST)
Bwahahaha! That does sound like something I’d say.

What would best describe your personality?
Turkish Delight (David Crowder Band - Music Inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia)
*chokes* I’m apparently Turkish and a delight.

How would you describe yourself?
Gratitude (The Benjamin Gate)
I’m…gracious?

What do you like in a guy/girl?
Life of Praise (Casting Crowns)
YES! That is a very good trait to have.

How do you feel today?
Silent Night (Celtic Woman version)
I am silent right now, and I am kind of tired and wouldn’t complain if it was night so I could go to bed.

What is your life's purpose?
Cinderella (Steven Curtis Chapman)
Oh. My. Goodness. *dies from laughter* Anyone who knows me would know how hilarious this really is. My nickname is Cinderella because I’m always cleaning and my family is constantly asking me to do something or another, so sometimes they call me Cinderella as a joke. Just… *dies* Hilarious!

What's Your Motto?
Times (Tenth Avenue North)
I do use the word time a lot…

What do your friends think of you?
Mother Knows Best (Tangled OST)
…………..*snorts* I’m not a mother, but I do always know best. ;P

What do your parents think of you?
Summertime (Audio Adrenaline)
I’m just so sunny and warm! *grins* Actually, I do have tons of nicknames revolving around being sunny.

What do you think about very often?
The World is Alive (Casting Crowns)
Actually…yeah. o.O

What is 2 + 2?
With One Voice (Steven Curtis Chapman)
Well…there’s a number in there anyways.

What do you think of your best friend?
Fetch Long Tom (Peter Pan OST)
Because my friends are pirates! What’s hilarious though is one of my best friends is obsessed with Peter Pan. You know who you are. *winks*

What do you think of the person you like?
Uncreated One (Chris Tomlin)
He’s not born yet? Oh my! Or maybe it just means I don’t know him yet…which I probably don’t.

What is your life story?
It’s Over (Audio Adrenaline)
I can’t finish typing this because I’m laughing so hard. Excuse my while I go die…apparently.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
Shine (Jonah33)
I do want to shine!!

What do you think when you see the person you like?
On Jordan’s Stormy Bank I Stand (Jars of Clay version)
…I have no idea what to think about this one. But I don’t actually “like” anyone like that so… *shrugs*

What will you do at your wedding?
The Way You Are (The Benjamin Gate)
I’ll be myself!

What will they play at your funeral?
Losing Control (Audio Adrenaline)
This song is actually almost appropriate for a funeral honestly.

What is your hobby/interest?
God Almighty (Chris Tomlin)
HE IS MY INTEREST!!!

What is your biggest fear?
I’ll Fly Away (Jars of Clay version)
But…but…I want to fly! But I don’t want to “fly away” from my loved ones, that would be awful.

What is your biggest secret?
Hosanna (Christy Nockels)
What?! NO WAY. I want to spread the word of that!

What do you want right now?
Christmas Time is Here (Vince Guaraldi – A Charlie Brown Christmas)
I want Christmas time to be here! (Actually I am enjoying the spring.)

What do you think of your friends?
Dreams Don’t Turn to Dust (Owl City)
And neither do my friendships! <3

What's the worst thing that could happen?
Realization and Escape (Tangled OST)
Realizing your “mother” is actually a villain would be pretty terrible.

What is the one thing you regret?
Sailing (Celtic Woman)
Well…I’m terrified of the water and wouldn’t want to go sailing at all really.

What makes you laugh?
Beautiful (Jonah33)
Beautiful things don’t make me laugh…

What makes you cry?
The White Witch (The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe OST)
YES! All the things she did really did bring tears to me eyes.

Will you ever get married?
Fireflies (Owl City)
Sounds hopeful to me! …Hopefully I won’t marry a firefly though. That’d be awkward.

What scares you the most?
Learning to Fly (Peter Pan OST)
Hold up… First my biggest fear is “I’ll Fly Away” and now “Learning to Fly” scares me the most?? How did this happen?! No, no, no! It’s my DREAM to fly!

Does anyone like you?
Joy (Newsboys)
*shifty eyes* What does this mean?

If you could go back in time, what would you change?
The Great River (Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring OST)
I would change the Great River? It would be nice to go back and warn the Fellowship what’s to come after the river in hopes things will go better. *sniffles*

What hurts right now?
Lift Us Up to Fall (Tenth Avenue North)
Falling does hurt. But in this case, it can bring healing too. ^_^

What would you want to say to the person who tagged you?
Treason (Kutless)
O__O What? NO! Then again…I did kinda sorta steal this tag, so does this mean I’m committing treason?

What will you name this post?
Knighting Peter (The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe OST)
Well…okay then. That’s awfully random but… *shrugs*

This was way too much fun. Brought me a lot of laughs!

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And on a totally random note, I’ve jumped into the Pinterest bandwagon…and have become way too obsessed with it. You can find my Pinterest HERE.

Hope you all have a day filled with joy and laughs. Blessings!

Brilliant Blog Bouquet Award

I am such a shameful blogger. The fantastic Kiri Liz awarded me with a blog award over a month ago and here I am getting to it just now. I am so honored by her kindness!

~Rules~

Put a link to who gave you the award
Post the award to your blog
Answer the questions
Choose 5 blogs to receive the award
Let them know you've awarded them

Questions~

1. If you could have a "flower pen name" like we have here on our blog, Violets and Daisies what would it be?
Roses have always had a special spot in my heart so I’m inclined to say something with “Rose” in the name. Actually though, Sweet Pea has always been my signature flower, mainly because I love sweet pea scented things like lotion, soap, etc. Not to mention it’s pink, and everyone I know (or even barely know) is aware that pink is my favoritest color ever. All that to say, if I had chosen a flower pen name for myself it would no doubt have something to do with sweet peas.

Sweet Pea

2. What is your favorite ever Bible verse and why?
Favorite Bible verse? Gracious… There are just so, so many, I can never really choose! I’ve always been very fond of Psalm 18:2: “The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” It’s something I like to remind myself daily.

3. What are the blogs which inspire you most?
Of Faerie & Faith, Christ is Write, Further Up & Further In, Go Teen Writers, Lianne Taimenlore, Nothing Less than Bread, and…my entire blog list plus some.

4. If you and your friends could visit any country in the world, where would you go?
Ireland or New Zealand! No doubt about it. Or just a trip across the entirety of Europe then head off over to New Zealand. Yeah, that sounds good.

5. If you have one, feel free to share your testimony as to how you became a Christian.
Ah, just thinking about what Jesus did for me, dying on that cross so I can be with my Lord and Savior for eternity…it brings tears to my eyes. I was at the age of 7 when I gave my heart to Him. My entire family was trying to get over a stomach virus and we were all in desperate need for something to pass away the time so my dad and brother left to go to a nearby video store to rent some movies for us all (yep, back in the days where you actually went to a video rental store, before Netflix). My little sister was just a baby at the time so it was mainly mom and I hanging out. We were in her and dad’s bedroom atop the bed when we started discussing godly matters. Having been raised in a Christian home I already had much of the knowledge, I had just yet to accept Him into my heart. But something happened that evening. As mom and I talked and talked I felt a stirring and excitement within me and I gave my heart to the Lord then and there. Best day of my life? OH YES! Who cares about stomach viruses!

Awarding~

I’m passing on this award to these 5 lovely ladies:

Sienna North
Sky
Jessa Bri
Kellie
Sarah Elizabeth

Instead of asking new questions, this award has the same five questions for everyone. If anyone else wants to answer these questions in a comment or their own blog, feel free to!

Questions-
1. If you could have a "flower pen name" like we have here on our blog, Violets and Daisies what would it be?
2. What is your favorite ever Bible verse and why?
3. What are the blogs which inspire you most?
4. If you and your friends could visit any country in the world, where would you go?
5. If you have one, feel free to share your testimony as to how you became a Christian.

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Okay, for something else fun, Kiri Liz also has a list of 11 questions on her blog post HERE that obligates all readers of said post to answer them in either a comment on that post or on their own blog. I couldn’t resist answering them, they seemed like such fun questions. Since I’m doing this blog award, I thought I would just answer these questions here as well.

1. Do you have any allergies? If so, which ones?
I think the better question is: Do I not have any allergies? I tend to become allergic to everything after a while. To name a few: Chocolate (at least when I was little, I might be over that but I actually hate chocolate [yes, you read that right] so I don’t eat enough of it to know if I’m allergic to it anymore or not), penicillin, Ibuprofen, pretty much every soap ever (my skin is uber sensitive and eventually develops an allergy for basically everything I put on it after a while), hotdogs, artificial cinnamon (I guess that’s what you’d call it. I can’t have cinnamon candy or use something like cinnamon toothpaste), erm…I’m drawing a total blank at the moment but, needless to say, I get allergic to stuff all the time.

2. Would you rather be a skilled musician, a talented writer, or a brilliant artist?
Talented writer! No question. I adore music and wish I was more skilled at it and I would love to be able to draw, but writing is most definitely my biggest passion.

3. Do you say "sur-rup" or "seer-rup"?
Sur-rup.

4. Favorite non-Disney animated movie?
How to Train Your Dragon. Love it!!

5. Last book you read?
Well, I’m almost done with This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti, but the last book I read in full would be Me, Just Different by Stephanie Morrill.

6. Which book would you recommend to me to read? And why?
O____O So…many…books… Well, my favoritest series ever is the Dragons in Our Midst and Oracles of Fire series (which happens to be one series, the names just changes halfway through…it’s confusing) by Bryan Davis.The first book of the series is Raising Dragons so I’d recommend that one.

7. Favorite breakfast?
I usually don’t eat breakfast honestly, it just doesn’t settle well with me, but when I do pancakes would definitely be first choice. I love me some pancakes.

8. If time travel were possible, which Bible story would you love to watch live?
Goodness me, tough one! I think going back and watching the animals enter the Ark would be so amazing. I know that’s really random, but I love animals and it just seems like it’d be fascinating. I’m a strange one…

9. What song do you find yourself singing a lot?
Our God by Chris Tomlin. One of my most favorite songs and constantly going through my head.

10. Are you a Grammar Nazi?
YES. I refer to myself as one constantly. And yet I make so many mistakes myself…

11. What three words would you use to describe my blog, Lianne Taimenlore?
Fun. Creative. Inspirational. (Seriously, I just LOVE your blog!!)

I hope the rest of this week is a blessed one for everyone! (Where did this week go??)

My Muse Moseley

If you’re a writer or an artist or…just about anything honestly, you’ve probably experienced those moments when it feels like there’s something within you budging your creativity in a certain direction. A writer may suddenly be inspired by a new plot that badgers them into dropping everything and writing down. An artist might unwillingly find themselves sketching a dragon when just moments ago they were painting a vase of lilacs. A photographer may suddenly have this great urge to snap pictures of nature instead of human portraits. There’s something in our brains that gives us this great desire to do a certain thing, despite if we are busy with other projects.

It’s called our muse. Or, as some others may prefer, “That irritating voice in your head that won’t be quiet until you do what it’s telling you to do.”

I think every person has one. That little thing that inspires our creativity.

For some, their muse may simply be a special place, like a quiet wood in their backyard or the cozy atmosphere of a library where inspiration flows. Others may even find their muse in a physical person that is a source of ideas for them. A lot of writers I know have one of their story characters as their muse. And then a certain few has…something else.

Meet Moseley. He’s a dragon. A green one.

Now, he would like for you to imagine him as a fierce, 100 foot long, fire breathing creature that strikes fear in the hearts of even the greatest of warriors.

He’s not.

He’s actually only about 2 feet long from the end of his long tail to the tip of his snout, and I don’t even think he can breathe out that much fire, if any. And now since I’ve given away that he’s not that fierce looking at all, he would like for me to inform you that he is at least very adorable. *rolls eyes*

Yes, Moseley is that little voice “moseying” around in my head always forcing creativity upon me. I say “forcing” because, as most writers are probably aware, muses are very demanding and not always that pleasant to have around. They’re usually the ones that wake you up at 3 in the morning screaming in your head, “You should write about THIS!” and then proceed to keep you awake for the rest of the night hurling one idea after the other through your head, as if the muse is throwing rocks at your brain until you actually do it. That’s the thing about muses—they don’t give up. Most muses of writers spend every single second of every day doing something along the lines of…

Perhaps you have a project you’re already working on, maybe even have a deadline for it and need to get it done. Well, muses don’t care about that. Have you ever been working on something consistently and suddenly you have no desire to do it anymore due to this inexplicable urge to work on something new? Yep, that’s your muse. Usually, they have no sense of responsibility and take pleasure in just throwing caution to the wind without a lick of common sense. Or, at least, that’s how it is in my case.

Moseley is a mischievous little thing. I do believe he takes pleasure in torturing me. Constantly chucking one idea after the other into my brain before I even have time to work on any one of them; or giving me a terrible urge to work on something at the most inopportune times. For example, he always gives me a great new story idea and the deep desire to work on it right in the midst of NaNoWriMo when I couldn’t possibly start something new. Or I might be going in a certain direction in a story and he insists I totally forget that idea and go an entirely different way.

Then my silly, oh-so-full-of-himself muse decided that he wanted to be in one of my stories. That would be all well and good if he wanted to be in one of my many, many high fantasy stories swarming with dragons. But oh no, that’d be much too easy. Nooo, he had the mindset to be in a steampunk, time travel story I’m writing that has absolutely no place for a little dragon. Dragons do not even exist it in that world, Moseley!

I’m going to interrupt myself here and tell you one thing about muses: There is no fighting them. When they get a mindset, that’s that. They will badger you and badger you, day and night, until there is absolutely nothing you can do but finally acquiesce to their wishes. Some writers may claim their muses as nothing more than slave drivers. (Not that I feel that way or anything. *cough, cough*)

Want to guess what story Moseley made it into?

*siiiigh*

Now, don’t get me wrong, muses can be quite useful. I often enjoy the many plot bunnies Moseley plants into my brain, or the sudden bursts of inspiration that come from him. I just wish he chose to give me those bursts of inspiration not at 3 in the morning. But, then again, without a muse I’d probably never actually get any writing done, so they have their perks.

But they also can be extremely annoying.

Ahem.

Muses are stubborn, incessantly demanding, rarely quiet (unless you actually need them to give you inspiration, then you usually won’t hear a word from them), often very sporadic, cause your sanity to disperse completely, and usually have no bit of common sense…so it seems. Despite often fighting my muse, I’ve learned, as hard as it is to admit, your muse is usually right. (Oh, stop smirking, Moseley.) Even if the ideas they give you seem absurd and will never work, in the end they usually do, quite well. So, as much as I want to, I’m learning to stop arguing with my muse.

Besides, when you’re a writer, throwing caution to the wind is the best thing you can do for your stories.

…Or so says my Muse.