A True Blue New Yorker

I don't really know who stated it but they say you're not a real New Yorker until you've seen the Yankees play (home). Now, I'm honestly not a sports fan but a week or so ago I managed to score tickets to a Yankees vs Texas Rangers (?) game as part of a promotion via a local gas station and decided to go.  Now, again, sports just aren't my thing and frankly, I could care less who is playing or how they are playing so long as everyone I'm with is having a good, safe, time. And when it comes to the venomous rivalries between teams & their fans, I'm on the outside looking in, wishing people could just settle down and enjoy themselves peacefully instead of the inappropriate behavior that had many parents removing their kids from our section when a group of fans got a little overzealous (and alot'a drunk). ps: good on the beer vendor who refused them when he saw what was happening.

Either way we got to the stadium early, went through security, picked up a nice promo beach mats (that seriously stinks like puke) & walked around for a bit. We wanted to check out the museums but one was closed and the other had a line far too long than any of us wanted to wait on. So we decided to get food. The restaurants were packed so we stuck with the kiosk vendors and of course the meal was more expensive than the food was worth (no lettus or tomato on a $7 chicken patty, really?)
Then it started to rain.

and it rained

and it rained

and it rained some more

By this time we had taken our seats which were located in the highest level under a nice over hang, yet even still, we got soaked. You'd think when they built the new stadium... they would have made sure the roof didn't leak. But, alas, drop by drop I was reminded "Hey! Hey! Hey! Guess what! It's still raining!"
Eventually by 9pm the rain let up enough that they started the game:

& For those who care, I'm pretty sure by the 5th inning the yanks had won 6:3 but I was too busy finishing off Brian Jacques' Redwall to really care.

Those poor officers had to stand out on the Field the whole time it rained

Real fans don't care about a "little" rain.

Our view before the stadium filled up. Did you know they also use the field for soccer?

 

 

 

 

 

Under Construction....

It's been a long while since I last posted and though I said this last post, or perhaps the post before, man... blogger has REALLY changed. I'm still trying to figure things out and in doing so I've decided to take the Nooler Blog in another direction.

While I truly wanted to keep the blog based solely on my writing... I see there is no way to keep it alive with my present pace. I'd like to keep it alive with hopes that I will have something positive to report on my endeavors and until that time comes I'll be posting about random things I've been getting myself into, from research trips to random outings meant to keep myself busy during down time. I may go back and post more pics from my time in Italy but for now I'll stick with my most recent activities.

I suppose I'll start here:

About 45 min or so from my house there is a public park that also has a pool and an animal preserve. I and many others had no idea it even existed 'till we were told about it by a co-worker, so I decided to pay the place a visit because, well, I was curious and... I love animals. The park itself was huge, there were swings and play sets for kids with a large picnic/party area, and I can only imagine how big the pool was (it was behind a brick wall) but the animal park, as large as it was, was lacking. The pens seemed far too small for the animals and many of them seem stressed and sickly. The park/preserve is free yet the place was nearly abandoned, which was sad since they run on donations, but nice because there weren't huge crowds to squish you in.
The animals they had were the usual fare:

 

and then there were other critters: (Of which I couldn't get good pictures) Bald Eagles, Hawks, Chickens, Owls, A black Bear (N/A), A buffalo (N/A), Red Fox, Turkey, Cow, White Tail Deer (N/A), horses, Budgies, Bunnies, Peacock/hens, I forgot what the oddest of the lot was called...

BTW: This is what the back of a peacock looks like:

A pony I thought looked like a moose:

and lots of bird houses for whichever birds would like to call them home:

(baby)(Sparrow)

And that will be all from me for now. I have a few more posts planned and with another research trip coming up I hope to be able to share each exciting day from while I'm down under.

till next time folks ~

 

 

 

It's been a while...

           ((Bored over holiday, went for a walk on the Brooklyn Bridge, first time ever!))

My, Blogger has certainly changed since I've been away... and I bet it will change again by my next, long un-awaited, post. The reason for my absence is unimportant, but I'll leave it as I have with my last posts: There's not much to report on. Thing haven't been going as I would like and it's hampering my ability to write/ edit. I still try but when I've been on the same paragraph for over a month I'm left to wonder why I keep trying, why is this so important to me? Why don't I just give up? No one has shown any interest and just when I thought I found someone literate, someone who likes to read, they shoot me down with ('scuse the language) "I don't like that fictional, fantasy crap." Yes it's a personal opinion that I should not hold to heart, but when I have so few people I can talk books, reading, writing, etc to, it kinda leaves me in a lonely slump. Then the longer I wait the more I see other books/comics/etc take on what I had wanted to (better than I could ever have) and I find myself deeper in the writing doldrums. My writing is nothing special, nothing new. SO... why do I even try. Why do I torture myself and keep going. Reading the same paragraph over and over and over? I don't know that answer to that, only... that I have to. It just means that much to me. I've been thinking about getting a word press account or even sticking around here and just posting chapters, seeing if maybe someone accidentally finds me and takes interest and see where that goes, but I remain hesitant to act upon it. My fears are always there nibbling at the back of my mind that my work will be hated, berated and trolled upon and at worst, stolen. Nothing is safe on the Internet. Well, one must take their chances right? So, we shall see...

((A look into the setting I & my characters have been stuck in for the past month -picture taken by me-))


Fan Art: ((Art Trades from a while ago I thought I should post))

((Gaillen By Jacinta Maggie- More art here))

((The group by Goku Chan- More art here)) ((just a minor critique- rotate eye colors clockwise & add Dru's scars))













Till next time folks....

Deliberation- To Self Publish or Not to Self Pubblish

((Just a little look into the traffic I sit in everyday. Sorry it's not a great pic, took it with my cell phone & there was nothing better to post.))

So I've been thinking really hard lately on what I want to do about my novel. I've been looking into finding myself a Literary Agent, but so far I have come up empty or disappointed with my findings. The suggestion of "why not self publish?" seems to be coming up more and more often lately and I feel myself slowly turning to the side of giving in to temptation. I had been told many times that if you self publish the chances of being picked up by an actual publisher are slim but I have heard great tales of those who have succeeded through self publishing and been picked up by a major publishing house. I think the young man who wrote Eragon would be one example, correct me if I am wrong. But in that comes my concerns.

1) What can I do to promote myself?
Social Networking sites. That is the key, or so I've been told, yet I see my twitter page and the sparse number of followers and wonder, gee is this really supposed to help? (though I do get helpful/interesting links from time to time) Then Facebook, no I still refuse to use facebook. Youtube? Unless I use copy written material, which now may or may not be legal depending on the law they presently want to pass online)can I really get my message across to people willing to listen? How do I get your attention? I have this blog, should I get another web page? Publish the first chapter of my novel to get more interest?
I could always go around to libraries and hand off free copies of my book with hopes of people picking them up and spreading the word, but that is a hope and there are books I have seen on the shelves of my local library I don't think have ever been touched. I don't want to see that as my own, not to mention that I'm horribly self conscious that my novel is not up to par, material/editing wise, with sponsored publications.

2)What should I chose as cover art?
I know. Never judge a book by its cover, but the cover still stands as a visual testament to what the story pertains to. Do I draw my own cover art, commission someone? And then what do I chose? Do I go for simplistic (i.e. A pair of watchful eyes; a pattern described on a semi-important object); A setting of some sort like a bland yet mentioned landscape, or something like my original cover design (partially seen in my banner); Just feature a character(s); Or a scene of action from the body of the story itself & if so which scene? You don't want to give away too much.
There are so many choices to choose from.

3) what if my editing isn't up to par?
Do I add an authors note apologising for any mistakes one may find grammatically or otherwise?

There is still so much to think about, concerns to be had and work to be done & I don't even know where to begin. But I hope with the new coming year that I will come to a decision, especially with so much being changed in the lit world (real books VS e-books & the massive closure of book stores) I feel my options dwindling.

But as I keep finding stories like this online: http://selfpublishingteam.com/guest-post-why-i-self-published-my-novel-after-saying-i-never-would/
Perhaps it is in my best interest to just self publish.

In other news:
The other day I was playing around with the web site Written, Kitten! http://writtenkitten.net/ which rewards you with a "kitten" (aka a picture of a kitty)each time you type/write 100 words on their page. Curious I began randomly typing and this is what I came up with. Its nonsense of course, but perhaps something interesting to read, and like all rough draft ideas I come up with, it begins as one big run on sentence.
(surprisingly the web site saves your work so each time you go back -so far- what you have written is still there, however without a kitten. I think I may have gotten up to four or five kittens)

~~~~~
"Well there we were, that's all it was, but in the end when we really think about it, it was just that, it was a whole lot more. Not just a little bit but a story that could have filled another two life times each. But we'll get back to that, the end, after I return you to the beginning. The beginning when things were so easy they were hard, before hard was so hard it was the next thing before death. The time where youth was innocent and age was wise. Where the air was clean, water ran and stomach were filled with food, delectable sweets and seasoned meats. But that was before the sky fell. Before the air turned to haze, the water ran dry and the food soured... Before the innocent had to wisen up before their years; the wise went before their time, and hope wavered that tomorrow would be another day. There are no roads left for us to take, no shelters left for us to make. We were left on our own with none to turn to but each other as we were found, battered, scared and lost without a future, without hope. If I think back, far back to where it all seems like a lost dream I can remember the past. I used to push back all the time as my tears warmed my face on cold, lonely, fearful nights but now I don't push, I don't think, I don't want to know because that past, that dream is what makes a nightmare of our present. Many call this "new beginning" a gift. This is our world and there was no other and though I know better, I believe it because the end of the world is no place for dreams, its just a place for renewal for those left behind, striving for life. We believed that. We believed it because there was nothing else, no sun to look up to, no grass or bug to look down upon. Not that this belief filled our stomachs or cured our pains, or gave us back what no longer was. It just gave us something to think about, something to fill our minds when it came to the silence, the vast and emotional emptiness left in the wake of the fall. Yet it wasn't the ideal that gave us strength to go on. No, it was the voices who chanted it, the determined faces of those who held it firm and true, the voices that silenced after the Second Fall, where our numbers decreased and new life came to those without it. This was life. Life for us, death for them. This was the world over and there was no turning back. Just sluggishly moving forward, side by side, weapon in hand and one goal in mind. Survive. -..."

Ps: A little numerical history- Make a wish.

Lights Out

((Ever seen a cloud with a shadow... in the sky? I know I haven't... Until now, of course. Took the photo myself, it is in no way photoshoped, I assure you.))

Sorry folks. I've been having trouble posting to Blogger lately so entries I meant to post, never made it up. Honestly I'm kinda glad 'cause while I found some comedy in my time spent in the dark after Hurricane Irene, I find myself lucky & have nothing to complain about when it come to others whose homes have been destroyed by recent floods, tornadoes, and fires.

So in short- My power went off after Irene blew through and stayed off for an entire week, for unknown reasons. It took a crew from Iowa & North Carolina to get us back online and I am thankful for lights and a good hot shower.

((This was the only real damage in my neighborhood, thankfully no one was hurt, but there is still some cleanup to be finished))

Otherwise nothing has really been going on. Novel progress is going at a snails pace still, but I'm trying not to get discouraged... Luckily there are people out there who are supportive and its little gestures like this that make my day and keep me working:

FAN ART!!!


Thanks Sinsyne. (To see more of her art go here)













Oh yes, and I've decided not to post about my research trip because honestly... I don't have much to say. So, I'll share some of my photos instead (some random and some that may hint towards events in Volume 2, if I ever get to it)
Sorry the pictures are kind of all over the place I'm still not sure how to get them to line up accordingly.











Enjoy.

Chapter Titles; Alternate Universes; Allegories & More

((This is still how I'm feeling, take it as you will...))
((Note- The picture was taken by me and this hatchling's momma was not happy to have me standing beneath her baby taking pictures >_<))


Slowly but surely I'm coming off my hiatus though I'm still not feeling 100% with my writing. While I've gotten past the area that had been irking me so badly, I still find myself with lacking support and with more questions than I do answers, which could put me at ease. As troubling as it all might be, I've had some time to think and while I don't plan on giving my chapters titles, I'd have to say this latest chapter (which is three shortened to one) would/should be called "Cursed". It's an ironic yet good fit.

The only other chapter that I have given a "title" to takes place earlier on in the story & introduces one of the secondary main characters. Just always felt "The Wolf in Woman's Clothing" was a very apropos, if not comical name for it, if one needed to be given. But that's me. ^_^'''

Another thought that bided my time over this hiatus (and even a few before it) was: "What would my characters be like if they were placed in another setting/ an alternate universe?"
The responce to this question comes in many forms. While the real story takes place in a Medieval/Renaissance styled era, my characters have found themselves put in settings that vary from anime/school life/slice of life (a few times with a bit of magic); an alien invasion (on earth); a western; to even modern day (or something like it), where I realised how easily my novel can be an allegory for such things as the military and medicare, if I really put some thought into it. I won't, however, for several reasons including the fact that I just don't want to go there. I have my plans/ ideas and I'm sticking to them. mmyup. Keeping it more light-hearted that way.
None the less its always interesting to see what positions my characters take in these settings and how they react to their given circumstances.
((There was a doodle I was going to post of one of my chars dressed in military fatigues here but the scanner I borrowed no longer wants to scan and digital imaging with a camera is not an option... oooh the horrid blurr & shadows >_< so maybe another time... maybe))

Otherwise that's how things are standing, I guess. It's been suggested to me that I should really start looking into self publishing but at the moment I think I'm a little too self conscious for that.
In due time however I'm sure I'll come around...

Just gotta keep editing; figure out the best title for the novel(s); decide if the first book will remain as a whole rather than be split in two; and choose what the cover art will be (something simple or something more complex/detailed)

Any ideas?

oh and maybe work on the tag/synopsis/ pitch a little more.

Till next time folks...

(P.S. if any previous posts have disapeared... I'm having issues with Blogger right now)

The War Within- Hiatus

I think I'll be going on Hiatus for a little while. Things havn't been improving much and just when I thought things were starting to look up... I took a nose dive right back into the depth I had just risen from.

As a creative soul its not uncommon to have these feelings where one moment you're so inspired you may burst with ideas & then the next day, week, month you reach a low point where your muse abandons you, leaving you dry while sinking into the depths of despair, frustration, what have you...

So while for a while I was trudging along like this:



I can't help but now feel this: ((in the sense that I want to give up but I just can't bring myself to do it))




its not that I'm stuck or throwing the whole novel away... its just I've lost the motivation to move on. Suddenly the one thing that meant something to me, seems pointless... so until I find reason and/or purpous... I can't bring myself to half ass my work... and frankly... I don't know what I'm going to do