Costume Party

May 16, 2012 in General

Prepare to die of cute.

I’m not joking. You’ve been warned.

My now four year old daughter, Maddie, came up with the genius idea of having a costume party for her birthday. She was incredibly committed to this scheme and it ended up being ah-mah-zing. This kid has more style and savvy in her little finger than I do in my whole body.

We had a blast. We made princess wreaths out of pipe cleaner, ribbons, and fabric flowers. We had ring pops and made linky necklaces. There was a Rapunzel cake. Her brother took a huge spoonful out of it before the party but she told him it was okay.

We had little girls in adorable costumes and poor Jamie the lone knight among the ladies.

It rocked.

Tags: birthday, family stuff, kids
1 Comment »

Putting in the Work, Michelle Kwan Style

May 14, 2012 in Random Rant, Writing

Writing, like anything else, is a lot of behind the scenes work for a few hours (or however long it takes you to read the book) of “glory.” You have to put in the hard hours, days, weeks, or years of work to make the team, or hit the home run, or sometimes even to just get out on the field. But when it all comes together it can be magic. Which brings me to a complete switch in my sports analogy from baseball to figure skating (this is just how my brain works, people). I have this huge fangirl crush on Michelle Kwan and have since I was thirteen or so. This long program of hers at the 2004 Nationals is completely, insanely inspiring. It’s just a four minute program, we don’t get to see the years of work that she’s put in…but yet in a way we do. It’s there in every line of her body, every perfect jump, every tight spin. It’s there in every breath she takes on the ice, and yet that’s not what you SEE. What you see is a beautiful piece of art. An athlete at one with their sport.

In no way am I comparing myself to Michelle Kwan…but omg can you imagine being the Michelle Kwan of writing? Being that consistently brilliant for that long? Um. Awesome. That would also means being that consistently dedicated for that long.

What am I trying to say here? God knows. Your guess is as good as mine. I’m just inspired by the woman. And when you’re in the trenches sometimes you need to be inspired. Over the last few weeks when I’ve wanted to tear my hair out and scream at the computer and ask the words why they won’t fix themselves (magically, you know, with no effort on my part), it’s helped me to watch this and “see” all her years of hard work. The work that starts at 4 in the morning in an empty ice rink, landing those damn jumps thousands of times until she had them perfect. Falling and getting back up and trying it again in spite of the bruises. ”Seeing” all of that in this perfect piece of art.

I warned you I was a fangirl.

Tags: Michelle Kwan, Random Rant, writing
3 Comments »

Fairy Tale Friday – Once Upon a Time

May 11, 2012 in Fairy Tales

It’s Fairy Tale Friday again! Go link up with your fairy tale related posts on Literary Transgressions, this week’s host.

Obsessed. That’s the only word to describe my extremely co-dependent relationship with the show Once Upon a Time. I loves it like Gollum loves his Precious.

And the season is ending on Sunday! I’m dreading it being over for the summer but I am SO excited for the season finale that I can’t wait for Sunday to get here. I might be slightly conflicted.

Meanwhile, the season one DVD set is available for preorder on Amazon. It comes out on August 28th. I just thought I’d share this information with you in case you have to have it in order to continue functioning like a semi-normal human being. I want behind the scenes featurettes, people, and I want a LOT of them!

Do you watch Once Upon a Time? Who is your favorite character? I’ve got a serious girl crush on Snow White (side note: Ginnifer and Jennifer as mother and daughter = genius level casting). I love Charming in the fairy tale world, but I have to admit, I wish he would man up a bit in the real world. I’ve got high hopes for him, though. I can only assume the curse wreaked some serious havoc on him (and the whole being in a coma the whole time and false memories I’m sure hasn’t helped). My biggest annoyance so far? That out of all of the little boys that the casting agent looked at for Pinocchio, they couldn’t find ONE who had blue eyes? August’s eyes are blue for DAYS. However, I’ve loved everything else so I guess I will let this one itty bitty teeny thing go.

I love sharing theories and speculation over OUAT and what the writers have in store for us. Got any theories you want to hit me with? My friend Tori and I have a BIG one, but I don’t want to come off as a total nutcase so I won’t say what it is… yet.

Tags: Fairy Tale Friday, fairy tales, Once Upon a Time
4 Comments »

Plot Tangles

May 9, 2012 in Atone: A Fairytale

Ack! I almost don’t even want to write this post because I am convinced I will somehow jinx myself. What can I say, I’m a baseball fan and we are stupid-stitious to a fault.

Okay, I don’t really believe in jinxes.

Yes, yes I do.

Writing Atone, the second book in my Fairytale Trilogy is proving…challenging. Why? Well, a few reasons. I think first of all there’s the pressure of the sophomore release. This is a trap most bands fall into. It has to be amazing, it has to be better than the first, it has to have an ENTIRE orchestra! And if not the entire orchestra, than at least ALL OF THE STRINGS!!! With three exclamation points. Minimum. The trick is to find balance. Just tell the darn story in a good way, improve from your first book where you can (ahem, extraneous dialogue tags much Jessica?), and be true to your characters.

Another issue is the whole setting up of the third book that needs to take place in the second. Set up is important, but it shouldn’t detract from Atone’s storyline, it should flow seamlessly. It’s not necessarily easy to do, but good things aren’t always easy.

Lastly, there is my writing out of sequence problem. It’s a disease. I start writing in the scene where I have the strongest visual image, which for some reason is usually about 1/3 of the way through the book. This can result in serious plot tangles and issues for myself when I just let myself go. Conversely, this is usually how I do my best writing. Grrr.

I’m currently trying to go back through the first 1/3 of the novel and work out those tangles, write the stuff that’s missing, and set myself up for the grand finish (the mid part is already pretty solid). But guys! I wanna write the END! Cause it’s awesome and spectabulous and I can SEE it like a movie in my head! I am trying so very hard to pace myself and wait. I don’t want to wait! *commencing tantrum*

On the “Good News to Report” front: Nicholas and Becca? Oh heck, yes. The sparkle and fizz like firecrackers near an open can of gasoline when they’re “on screen” together. Good times. Seriously good times.

I see the challenges. I see the pathway out of the challenges. I am hoping that my feet are firmly on that pathway. And I’m writing.

Jinx.

Tags: Atone: A Fairytale, challenges, plot, writing
5 Comments »

Fairy Tale Friday – Red

May 4, 2012 in Fairy Tales

The blogs Books4Learning and Literary Transgressions are re-launching a weekly meme called Fairy Tale Friday. Talking about fairy tales, myths, and legends every week? Don’t mind if I do.

My entry into the Once Upon a Time Writing contest sort of got lost in the mix a bit as it was posted right before the Fairy Tale Giveaway Hop post, so I thought it might be fun to repost as part of this meme. I promise to have something new and fresh and fairy tale related (maybe my long overdue review of Snow White and the Alien?) for next Friday’s link up.

In the meantime, here is my super short (350 words) fractured fairy tale take on Red Riding Hood.

Red

No sunlight filtered down through the thick canopy this far into the forest. I listened for sounds of movement, pulling the hood of my mottled green cloak tighter. My red hair would attract attention even in the gloom.

There. The soft sounds of wolves moving through the forest. They drew closer, their panting now louder than the furious pounding of my heart. They weren’t hunting, but patrolling, guarding the Coven. Protecting the dark-haired, blue-eyed women who looked as if angels had bent down and molded their forms. But they were anything but holy. We lived in fear of their black magic. Fear and hate.

Every so often men from our village disappeared forever. Sometimes, years later, when the Coven came to trade with the village, you might notice that the children hiding near their skirts seemed familiar. A tilt of their eyes, or a dimple, or chin. You could notice, but you couldn’t say anything.

My father vanished when I was young. My mother never spoke of him. But I remembered.

Now it was Liam, my intended. He’d been gone for days. After the first night I knew he wasn’t returning. I couldn’t just stand quietly and wait for a black-haired witch to have a babe that looked like my love.

The wolves were near enough now. There were two. A young grey and an older wolf with russet fur.

I loosed my arrow, straight and true, into the heart of the grey wolf, catching them by surprise. The red leapt at me, snarling and flashing teeth. I dropped my bow, drawing my dagger. As we collided, I thrust with all of my might. His yelp told me I had wounded him gravely. He fell, and I stood, miraculously still alive, watching his life bleed out.

As his breath stilled he began to change. The fur faded and before me lay a man…one I remembered well although I hadn’t seen him since I was a child.

“Red,” the dying gasp came from behind me. I turned toward the big grey, my blood freezing in anguish.

“Liam!”

Tags: Books4Learning, Fairy Tale Friday, flash fiction, Literary Transgressions, Red, Red Riding Hood, short
5 Comments »

Winner: Fairy Tale Giveaway Hop

May 2, 2012 in Awake: A Fairytale, Giveaway

Thank you so much to everyone who entered to win a paperback copy of Awake! It was fun meeting so many other fairy tale lovers!

Mr. Random has spoken and selected:

And lucky comment #118 belongs to:

Congratulations Ana! Please email me at jessica@authorjessicagrey.com with your shipping info so I can send you Awake!

Tags: Awake: A Fairytale, Fairy Tale Giveaway Hop, winner
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Fairy Tale Giveaway Hop

April 25, 2012 in Fairy Tales, Giveaway

The Fairy Tale Giveaway Hop is all about YA books that are adaptations of, or loosely based on, fairy tales. There are tons of blogs participating and giving away books, so make sure the check them all out!

What I’m giving away:

A paperback copy of my debut novel, Awake: A Fairytale, which is an adaptation of Sleeping Beauty. The paperback is so purty, and I’m not just saying that because it’s my book. I’m lucky to have the most awesome cover designer ever and it’s stinking gorgeous. She was smart enough to make our paperback cover slightly different from the ebook cover and it’s seriously edible in real life. Enough gushing! Here’s a synopsis of the story:

Alexandra Martin didn’t believe in fairytales…

Alex has always been more interested in rocks and science than stories about princesses and magic.Now she’s far too busy with her summer internship at the Gem and Mineral Museum to think about children’s stories. Between avoiding her former best friend and high school baseball star, Luke Reed, and trying to hide her unrequited crush on her mentor at the museum, the real world is occupying all of her time.

…Until she walked into one.

It turns out fairytales aren’t all fun and games. A curse has turned her neat and orderly world upside down, and to break it, she bands together with a fellow intern and a recently awakened princess who’s been asleep for almost 900 years. Can this trio of unlikely heroines put an end to an ominous enchantment, discover true love, and keep an ancient and evil magic from being unleashed on modern-day Los Angeles?

In Which My Fairy Tale Characters Interview Me, Their Author:

Alex: Hi this is Alex, and Becca, and Lilia -

Lilia: Princess Lilia de la Foret of Arraine.

Alex: (cough) Yes, how could I forget? And we are the main characters in Awake: A Fairytale by Jessica Grey.

Becca: Alex is the heroine. Whoo hoo! Heroine in the house.

Alex: Well, we are sort of all heroines -

Becca: Eh, not really. We are like your awesome side-kicks.

Lilia: We all will get to be heroines in our own books. I am sure it is all very exciting. I probably should have been the heroine in the first book, though I have become quite fond of Alex.

Alex: Anyway, we are here today to interview our author, Jessica, about our book Awake.

Me: Hi. Thanks for having me…here on my own blog.

Alex: You know I love science, both Becca and I do. But you’re not a science person, so how did you come up with the idea to make us interns at a gem and mineral museum?

Me: The very first “image flash,” or idea, I had for Awake: A Fairytale was the bed that was part of the sleeping curse. I saw the whole thing in my head – with a sleeping man on it, which is where the twist on the Sleeping Beauty story comes into this book – in accurate detail years before I started writing the book. At the time I didn’t think to connect it with a natural sciences type museum at all. However, when I sat down to finally start writing, I began with the scene where you discover the bed in the museum store room. I was heavily influenced by my daughter, Maddie who was two at the time and is four TODAY, the 26th (Happy Birthday, Maddie!) who had this complete obsession with rocks at the time. She still does actually, but when she was that age, she’d do things like take all of the eggs out of her Easter basket and fill it up with rocks. I just thought about what she would be like as a teenager, and a gem and mineral museum intern made sense. From there all of the magic in and around the gems just made sense.

Becca: So, what’s up with the male characters in our book? First you stuck us with Nicholas as an advisor, and he’s a total smarmy jerk -

Alex: I think that’s a little harsh.

Becca: Harsh, but true. And then the hero, Luke, who is admittedly hotter than heck, spends more than half the book basically in a coma. Can a hero be a hero if he’s knocked out for that long?

Me: Well, I’m truly sorry for giving you an advisor at the museum like Nicholas. He really is kind of smarmy, isn’t he? Though I know it’s hard for Alex to see, I always liked that you, Becca, can see right through him. It’s making writing the second book in the series a lot of fun. As for Luke, yeah, he’s pretty hot. I think “good guy heroes” are sadly under-represented so I was happy to make him such a good guy. As for the enchanted sleep thing, it was definitely a dilemma – how best to make him still involved as a character, not just asleep? One of my favorite things to hear from readers is that they love the character of Luke and how he tries to protect Alex even when he’s enchanted.

Lilia: My question would be, why did you send me to Los Angeles of all places? Is it not bad enough that I have been asleep for over eight hundred fifty years? I also have to leave the country of my birth and be awoken (by a peasant of all things), in a city such as this?

Alex: Are we really back to the whole Luke not being a prince thing again?

Me: I love Los Angeles -

Becca: Yes. Amen.

Me: I’ve spent the better part of my thirty-two years on this earth living in LA County, so it’s what I know. I moved to Montana last year right before I really started working on Awake, and the book became, in part, my love letter to my home.

A little inside *wink wink* in the book (as in so “inside” I’m the only one who knows and/or cares) is the rain that lasts throughout the book is my own personal homage to The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler. He’s my favorite hard-boiled detective writer and his books not only reflected the Los Angeles of his era, they helped define it. In The Big Sleep the out of season rain storms reflect the drama that’s happening in the story. And his descriptions of the rain in Los Angeles are amazing. The very first line?

It was about eleven o’clock in the morning, mid October, with the sun not shining and a look of hard wet rain in the clearness of the foothills.

L.A. is my home, I know it better than any other place, and that’s why I sent you there, Lilia.

Alex: Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions for us, I hope that everyone enters to win our book!

How to enter:

I know there’s a lot of blog participating and you’ve got lots of cool giveaways to enter, so let’s make this easy, shall we?

Mandatory entry:

Leave a comment and tell me your favorite fairy tale. That’s it! Hard, huh?

Extra entry #1:
Follow me on Facebook (please leave a comment telling me you did so).

Extra entry #2:

Follow me on Twitter (please leave me a comment with your twitter handle so I can say hi!).

So, that’s a total of three possible entries … which would mean three comments. Thanks guys, happy entering!

Also! Amanda over at Living, Learning, and Loving Life is also participating in the Fairy Tale Giveaway Hop with a giveaway of Awake!

*****

The fine print and all that jazz:

The prize for this giveaway is one paperback copy of Awake: A Fairytale by me. This giveaway is open internationally. Entries are open through 11:59 MST (that’s Mountain Standard Time, I know, what?) on May 1st, 2012.

This giveaway is now closed, thanks for entering!

Tags: Awake: A Fairytale, Fairy Tale Blog Hop, fairy tales, giveaway
146 Comments »

Once Upon a Time Entry – Red

April 25, 2012 in Fairy Tales, Writing

This is my entry for the flash fiction Once Upon a Time Writing contest hosted by Anna at Yearning for Wonderland and Susi Holliday. The theme is unexpected fairy tales and each entry has to be 350 words or less. There’s still time to enter! Awesome prizes abound (including a paperback of Awake). Without further ado, here is my little unexpected fairy tale clocking in at 350 words exactly.

Red

My father vanished when I was young. My mother never spoke of him. But I remembered.

The wolves were near enough now. There were two. A young grey and an older wolf with russet fur.

As his breath stilled he began to change. The fur faded and before me lay a man…one I remembered well although I hadn’t seen him since I was a child.

“Red,” the dying gasp came from behind me. I turned toward the big grey, my blood freezing in anguish.

“Liam!”

*****

Tags: fairy tales, flash fiction, Once Upon a Time Writing Contest, Red, unexpected fairy tale, writing
17 Comments »

In Which I Claim God as a Member of My Flash Mob

April 20, 2012 in Music, Random Rant

A few random facts:

I love the movie Newsies. Really, what is not to love? A young Christian Bale singing and dancing? Sign me up, please! This movie happened to come out when I was 12, so I was the perfect age to become mildly obsessed. I have passed on my obsession to my younger friends…I’ve been known to host a Newsies movie watching sleepover or two.

I have this annoying habit of singing and dancing in public. This is kind of awkward because I am not a great singer, and I am an even worse dancer. However, I am a total goofball. I’m also really good at denial. Once my boss pointing out that I sang and danced around the office all of the time and I was like “I never do that,” and he and my co-worker/best friend just looked at me as if I was telling them the sky was purple. They’re right. I do. I even, occasionally, perform amazing dance maneuvers with the grocery cart in the store. I’ve also been known to boogie with my kids in the cereal aisle.

This summer my good friend Becca came to visit for a whole month. It was awesome. My kids totally think she is their big sister or something. According to them their family consists of Mommy, Daddy, Becca, and Grammy. Becca shares my fascination with Newsies (and a name with the main character in Atone, this is not an accident, but more on that later). I was determined that before the summer was out we were somehow going to create an awesome Newsies inspired flash mob and take Helena, Montana by storm.

: A really distressingly bad picture of me but good picture of Becca and my kids in front of a waterfall outside Rimini, Montana this summer.

Tragically, my flash mob didn’t materialize quite the way I wanted it to because, well, there were only two of us. We managed to sing a few songs and do some choreography at 11pm in the parking lot of Hastings…but it’s not quite the same as a full on, Youtube worthy, flash mob when there are only two relatively goofy girls in it.

I, however, tried to convince Becca that our flash mob was way more awesome than it was. I told her, there were actually three people in it. She was pretty sure there were only the two of us because, you know, she was there at the time. I argued, no, three. I’m counting God in my flash mob.

And then she broke my heart.

She told me I couldn’t count God in my flash mob.

The nerve!

I tried to argue the “wherever two or more are gathered,” point… but it was a no go. Our flash mob must remain, sadly, only two members.

I still think it would be awesome to do a Newsies flash mob. Someday I will make it happen with more than just two girls. And I don’t care what anyone else says, God will totally be a member of my flash mob.

Tags: flash mob, Music, Newsies, Random Rant
11 Comments »

Costume Party

Putting in the Work, Michelle Kwan Style

Fairy Tale Friday – Once Upon a Time

Plot Tangles

Fairy Tale Friday – Red

Winner: Fairy Tale Giveaway Hop

Fairy Tale Giveaway Hop

Once Upon a Time Entry – Red

In Which I Claim God as a Member of My Flash Mob

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