Hey Lovelies!So I figured I'd give a little updating of what is going on. End of the Line is still being edited, I'll keep updates as I get news. I keep mentioning Beneath the Scars, It's been done since January, but I've been trying to get someone to proofread it before I hand it over the BCPublishing! Maybe I'll bug someone in my family this week, a friend said she'd read it, but it's been a couple of months. I have been having issues at school so I'm going for good news I'll really be trying to get that out soon! What better of a pick me up then getting a book that I really worked on getting published? Also other news I'll be helping in two blog tours! One is for Until Next Time by Amy Lignor the other is for Night Sky by Jolene Perry! I'm pretty excited for both, and hoping to do a blog tour myself if I can get Beneath the Scars out! It'll be fun and different for me! I feel like there is something else I'm forgetting to say...nothing knew...eep well hope that is everything!
~Ottilie
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Blast from the Past...
Hey Lovelies!Author's always post photos of where they got costume ideas, even I have posted a few. Bad news for me I lost the picture of the pink dress Emma wore at the ball in Family Ties. Which is sad considering it was really beautiful! It might have been a my generation thing, but those cartoon dolls you make online, anyone remember those? If not then I'm probably about to embarass myself! Well my friends and I had a lot of fun with them, and I liked using them to get ideas for characters, play around with different clothing ideas. I found my old photobucket account, the one where I used to upload images on my freewebs account when I had one. I figured I'd post the ones where you would recognize the characters. Just remember I used doll marker sites online, to put the images together, I didn't make the actual pixels. Also these are not the heights or body types of the actualy characters! I hope you have fun and have a good laugh! There are more from other stories, I'll probably post those on another date, but again have a good laugh!
Family Ties:
Abby:
Danielle and Zoey:
Abby and Cory:
Abby and Cory:
Cory and Abby:
Abby:
The Gang:
End of the Line: Lauren:
Lauren and Aaron:
Lauren and Aaron:
Alex/Cole (changing his name...) and Jill:
Lauren:
Aaron's Tattoo:
The whole group:
Lauren and Aaron:
Family Ties:
Abby:
Danielle and Zoey:
Abby and Cory:
Abby and Cory:
Cory and Abby:
Abby:
The Gang:
End of the Line: Lauren:
Lauren and Aaron:
Lauren and Aaron:
Alex/Cole (changing his name...) and Jill:
Lauren:
Aaron's Tattoo:
The whole group:
Lauren and Aaron:
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Mini Banners!
Hey Lovelies!I started to see these little banners on people's blogs and thought they were pretty cute! Then talking to another author, Shawn Maravel, I've interviewed her on here she emailed me because she had made ones for Family Ties and End of the Line! They are seriously adorable, I'll probably be adding more to my blog a little later because they are really cute! She made a bunch of them and you should click to check them out! Be free to steal these to add to your own blog!~Ottilie
Sunday, February 12, 2012
The Ulitmate Sample Sunday!
Hey Lovelies!
Since I am not really broadcasting Valentine's Day and some of my writings have been pushed back, then to extra top it off I have slacked on the Sample Sundays I decided to make an Ulitmate Sample Sunday! I will be posting links to EVERY sample that I have posted! You all will have fun exploring many chapters of varying stories! I hope you enjoy!
End of the Line
Chapter 1 Lauren
Family Ties
Chapter 3 Cory
Chapter 4 Abby
Beneath the Scars
Chapter 1 Rily
Chapter 2 Eponine
Project US
Old Prolgue
Chapter 1 Rachel
Chapter 2 Nick
Runaway
Chapter 1
Beaker to Life
Prologue & Chapter 1 Derek
Pirates' Life for Me
Chapter 1 Jocelyn
Since I am not really broadcasting Valentine's Day and some of my writings have been pushed back, then to extra top it off I have slacked on the Sample Sundays I decided to make an Ulitmate Sample Sunday! I will be posting links to EVERY sample that I have posted! You all will have fun exploring many chapters of varying stories! I hope you enjoy!
End of the Line
Chapter 1 Lauren
Chapter 3 Cory
Chapter 4 Abby
Beneath the Scars
Chapter 1 Rily
Chapter 2 Eponine
Old Prolgue
Chapter 1 Rachel
Chapter 2 Nick
Chapter 1
Prologue & Chapter 1 Derek
Chapter 1 Jocelyn
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Character Corner
Hey Lovelies!Sorry that it's been awhile since I have posted and I'm sorry! I added another tab above, if you click on it, you'll get directed to my little store at CafePress! Hope you all check it out, it has shirts for all ages, bags, ebook covers, jewerly, and more! I hope you all check it out. And if you have any suggestions or requests contact me and I'll try to get it up! Okay so since it's been awhile and especially since I did a Character Corner I thought it was time for a little take over. Since End of the Line is getting edited and I've been working on its sequel, Walking a Thin Line I thought it would only be fair to let Abby and Cory take over for today...
Abby
At last! a little time to take over the blog!
Cory
Try not to be too evil or she might not let us do this again.
(Abby waves her hand in a 'nonesense' way)
Abby
She loves us. I mean come on she has already ploted out a sequel, The Invisible Bond, that has to mean something.
(Cory nods.)
Abby
Anyway she probably likes me better than you because I obviously smarter and get the better lines.
(Cory raises an eyebrow)
Cory
That's bias, you are both girls.
(Abby grins.)
Abby
Whatever we both know you are jealous.
Cory
Of what?
(Abby sighs)
Abby
Of how awsome I am of course!
Cory
Whatever helps you sleep at night.
Abby
So you think she's letting us take over to get out of a post about the upcoming holiday?
Cory
(speaks dryly)
You're one to talk about your beliefs on the holiday.
(Abby slaps Cory on the shoulder)
Abby
Shut up! She hasn't written the sequel yet so there is time for me to help her to torture you!
Cory
Do and I'll help her to pick on you.
Me
Guys, I did not let you take over the blog to bicker...
Abby
Whatever, he started it!
Me
Well I'm ending it!
(Abby rolls her eyes.)
Abby
Fine, ruin our fun, what a mommy.
(Cory chuckled.)
Me & Abby
Shut up Cory
Cory
(Cory sighs)
Women...
Abby
Fine, so with a little bit of V-Day talk, our tale is a modern day fairy tale. Little girls only think of a prince coming to get them and taking them from the life they know. For me, well I was kidnapped and was trying to escape, while I was in Germany I just wanted to be home.
(Cory takes hold of Abby's hand and grins.)
Cory
Well I missed you.
Abby
Missed you too...
Me
Well I think I'll stop the two today just so that too much isn't given away or before they start fighting once again... Happy Weekend everyone!
At last! a little time to take over the blog!
Cory
Try not to be too evil or she might not let us do this again.
(Abby waves her hand in a 'nonesense' way)
Abby
She loves us. I mean come on she has already ploted out a sequel, The Invisible Bond, that has to mean something.
(Cory nods.)
Abby
Anyway she probably likes me better than you because I obviously smarter and get the better lines.
(Cory raises an eyebrow)
Cory
That's bias, you are both girls.
(Abby grins.)
Abby
Whatever we both know you are jealous.
Cory
Of what?
(Abby sighs)
Abby
Of how awsome I am of course!
Cory
Whatever helps you sleep at night.
Abby
So you think she's letting us take over to get out of a post about the upcoming holiday?
Cory
(speaks dryly)
You're one to talk about your beliefs on the holiday.
(Abby slaps Cory on the shoulder)
Abby
Shut up! She hasn't written the sequel yet so there is time for me to help her to torture you!
Cory
Do and I'll help her to pick on you.
Me
Guys, I did not let you take over the blog to bicker...
Abby
Whatever, he started it!
Me
Well I'm ending it!
(Abby rolls her eyes.)
Abby
Fine, ruin our fun, what a mommy.
(Cory chuckled.)
Me & Abby
Shut up Cory
Cory
(Cory sighs)
Women...
Abby
Fine, so with a little bit of V-Day talk, our tale is a modern day fairy tale. Little girls only think of a prince coming to get them and taking them from the life they know. For me, well I was kidnapped and was trying to escape, while I was in Germany I just wanted to be home.
(Cory takes hold of Abby's hand and grins.)
Cory
Well I missed you.
Abby
Missed you too...
Me
Well I think I'll stop the two today just so that too much isn't given away or before they start fighting once again... Happy Weekend everyone!
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Roses
Hey Lovelies!
I just finished the first round of editing with Beneath the Scars and I'm happy with how the story devloped! It is a story staring Eponine and Rily who both have interesting sisters that I hope you all will get to enjoythis year. I have to see how my friend Amy feels about reading through it for the second round of editing, she's picking up speed in her stories which is really exciting! Amy and I talk about our stories and characters with each other especially when we need someone to bounce ideas off each other.
So for Beneath the Scars I had to do a little research on Roses, and the meanings behind each color. Using a couple of sites to compare the information just to double check information. Rily really doesn't buy into the information when being told that each color rose had meaning to it. I figured I'd share some of the findings between editings. For me I knew flowers had meanings, but when reading it was pretty interesting.
What girl doesn't like getting flowers? They are sweet gesture, and are beautiful. In Beneath the Scars a character talks about how when she was dating her boyfriend one Valentine's Day got off the train from work to see her. When he got off the train he a single white rose for her with a dark pink bow wrapped around it. Cute right? Things like that don't really happen? I'd like to take the credit for that cute scene, but than I'd be lying. Took that from real life, my ex when we were dating our only Valentine's Day got off the train later at night and when I picked him up he was there with a single white rose for me, well he also had a teddy bear too. I told him I used that for the story he didn't seem surprised.
Red
Love and affection, passion, desire, and respect...
Pink
Grace, gentleness, joy, harmony & warmth, and admiration...
Purple
(probably one of my favorite flowers now)
Love, enchantment, majesty, and wonder...
White
Purity, Innocence, honor, everlasting love, rememberance, youthful...
Blue
Mytherious beginnings, the impossible, unattinatable
Yellow
Friendship, Joy, Promise, Good Luck, Warmth,
Peach
Modesty, Closing of a new deal, Great cheer, Sincerity & Genuineness, Sympathy, Gratitude and Thankfulness, and Desire
Orange
Enthusias, Desire, and Fascination
Black
Farewell & Sorrow, Loss & Mortality, Death of Old habits, Begining of new things or journey, Courage & Resistance
I just finished the first round of editing with Beneath the Scars and I'm happy with how the story devloped! It is a story staring Eponine and Rily who both have interesting sisters that I hope you all will get to enjoythis year. I have to see how my friend Amy feels about reading through it for the second round of editing, she's picking up speed in her stories which is really exciting! Amy and I talk about our stories and characters with each other especially when we need someone to bounce ideas off each other.
So for Beneath the Scars I had to do a little research on Roses, and the meanings behind each color. Using a couple of sites to compare the information just to double check information. Rily really doesn't buy into the information when being told that each color rose had meaning to it. I figured I'd share some of the findings between editings. For me I knew flowers had meanings, but when reading it was pretty interesting.
What girl doesn't like getting flowers? They are sweet gesture, and are beautiful. In Beneath the Scars a character talks about how when she was dating her boyfriend one Valentine's Day got off the train from work to see her. When he got off the train he a single white rose for her with a dark pink bow wrapped around it. Cute right? Things like that don't really happen? I'd like to take the credit for that cute scene, but than I'd be lying. Took that from real life, my ex when we were dating our only Valentine's Day got off the train later at night and when I picked him up he was there with a single white rose for me, well he also had a teddy bear too. I told him I used that for the story he didn't seem surprised.
Love and affection, passion, desire, and respect...
Pink
Grace, gentleness, joy, harmony & warmth, and admiration...
Purple
(probably one of my favorite flowers now)
Love, enchantment, majesty, and wonder...
White
Purity, Innocence, honor, everlasting love, rememberance, youthful...
Blue
Mytherious beginnings, the impossible, unattinatable
Yellow
Friendship, Joy, Promise, Good Luck, Warmth,
Peach
Modesty, Closing of a new deal, Great cheer, Sincerity & Genuineness, Sympathy, Gratitude and Thankfulness, and Desire
Orange
Enthusias, Desire, and Fascination
Black
Farewell & Sorrow, Loss & Mortality, Death of Old habits, Begining of new things or journey, Courage & Resistance
Monday, January 23, 2012
Interview with the author Shawn Maravel
Hey Lovelies!Today I have a little surprise for you! An interview with the author Shawn Kirsten Maravel! Her and I met on Goodreads I guess last year on Goodreads and still talk. She is sincerely sweet and a great person. If that wasn't enough she has 3 equally awsome books, Volition, Serverance, and The Wanderer! I asked her if she would want to do an interview on my blog and she agreed! So I hope you enjoy the interview and check out her books.
1. What sparked the idea for The Wanderer?
I have a thing for men in uniform riding motorcycles. I figured that that wold be kind of a shallow story on its own so from there I tried to imagine where a soldier would be going if all her had was a packed up bike and what exactly it was he was running from.
2. Is there a common theme or message you like to have in your stories?
I like to write love stories, delving into how two people in love interact and how they work together.
3. When you had started writing Volition did you have the ending for Severance already ploted out?
To be honest, I had originally planned for the ending of Volition to be vastly different. In fact it was only going to be one book, and Alex's role was going to be much less significant. Though the epilogue to Severance was more or less what I'd planned to use as the ending for Volition. But after watching a suspense thriller on TV I felt like I'd been flipped upside down, seeing Volition through different eyes. At the time I'd been nearly finished writing it but couldn't seem to end it just yet. After watching that movie I finished it within a few days with the new cliff hanger ending and moved right along to Severance!
4. Is there a reason you chose to write The Wanderer in third person unlike the Volition which is in first person?
I enjoy reading both first person and third person. the dynamic is a lot different. With third person I could delve into a bit more of each character without having to formally alter perspectives.
5. Is there a character of yours you feel like is most like you? If so who?
I think if I'm most like any of my characters it would be Max. I like to get my hands dirty and I'm kind of a tomboy, but I know how to dress nice if I have to. I envy her in a lot of ways as well, I kind of took who I am and who I wish I was and spun them together into the web of who Max is. She completes aspects of my personality that are what you might consider incomplete. I took an autobody class in high school for example and know a bit about body work on cars. But she is skilled in her profession of working on bikes. I would love to have a motorcycle where Max actually has one. A collection of other things as well.
6. You've written in two female and two male perpectives, is there one you found more difficult?
I found Landon to be the most challenging to be honest. He's been through a lot more than I ever have and I felt a bit bold trying to gauge how he would approach different situations, especially taking his PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) into consideration. Luckily I had a lot of help from my husband and another soldier who has been through almost exactly what Landon has and they were able to confirm a lot of what I was unsure of.
7. Is there something about writing you really love?
I love being able to create a story after my own heart and finding that it appeals to not only me but other readers as well.
8. What is your favorite dessert?
Oh no, that's a hard question! Haha. I like chocolate fudge cake but it's been a long time since I have been able to get my hands on one! Probably a good thing...
9. You've grown up in Jersey, lived over in Germany, and now live in New York is there one place you enjoyed living more than the other?
New Jersey is where I grew up and I'll always love it and New York has a lot of potential...but Germany takes the cake. I miss it almost every day, especially now that it's snowboarding season! I'll always consider Germany my second home.
10. Do you think that your different locations help spark the creative juices?
I wrote all three books in Germany, so being there definitely helped! Since our move to New York I've been going from one old story idea to another trying to decide which one to pick up and really get into again but I'm not sure that I can say I've felt nearly as inspired as I did in Germany. But as far as inspiration goes I think it has a lot to do with what I'm doing in my life and less about where I am.
11. What is your favorite genre to read?
I enjoy YA paranormal and contemporary, a romance novel here and there, but I think my favorite would have to be contemporary literature. I like to read about an ordinary yet somehow extraordinary story. I especially enjoy a book with humor. And of course if I had to pick, I really enjoy a good love story.
12. Do you have a writing routine?
I used to but I kind of fell away from it since we got ready to move. I don't really believe in forcing myself to write if I'm not feeling inspired but I do try and set aside time every day and the amount of time I end up writing per day varies from there.
13. Are you working on anything right now?
I am actually going back and working on a story that I jotted down a year or so ago in Germany. Cross my fingers I'll be able to get it all down! If all goes well it's going to be a fun, lighthearted, love story.
14. What has been your favorite/best marketing tactic?
My favorite marketing tactic is getting to know readers. Now and then I'll go through the people who have marked my books as "to-read" on Goodreads and send a random selection of people a message offering to send them an ebook copy of any or all of my books. It's kind of an unannounced giveaway. And I like to talk to readers about things we have in common whether its the books we like to read, travel, or any other collection of topics. When you're an indie author marketing is about establishing your "brand". So I try and reach out to people, I want my brand to be an author who is approachable and personable, someone who isn't just out to make money and sales.
15. Do you have any suggestions for future writers?
Be willing to take the critiques both good and bad. Read as much as you can. Branch out and read outside of your "genre comfort zone", you may be surprised what books you might like but never considered before. Research marketing techniques and reach out to fellow authors as well as book bloggers, they'll be your best allies in this very competitive industry. And don't give up. Once you stop trying to improve your work, reach readers, or market your books chances are your career will quickly see its end.
Blog
Volition
Serverance
The Wanderer
1. What sparked the idea for The Wanderer?
I have a thing for men in uniform riding motorcycles. I figured that that wold be kind of a shallow story on its own so from there I tried to imagine where a soldier would be going if all her had was a packed up bike and what exactly it was he was running from.
2. Is there a common theme or message you like to have in your stories?
I like to write love stories, delving into how two people in love interact and how they work together.
3. When you had started writing Volition did you have the ending for Severance already ploted out?
To be honest, I had originally planned for the ending of Volition to be vastly different. In fact it was only going to be one book, and Alex's role was going to be much less significant. Though the epilogue to Severance was more or less what I'd planned to use as the ending for Volition. But after watching a suspense thriller on TV I felt like I'd been flipped upside down, seeing Volition through different eyes. At the time I'd been nearly finished writing it but couldn't seem to end it just yet. After watching that movie I finished it within a few days with the new cliff hanger ending and moved right along to Severance!
4. Is there a reason you chose to write The Wanderer in third person unlike the Volition which is in first person?
I enjoy reading both first person and third person. the dynamic is a lot different. With third person I could delve into a bit more of each character without having to formally alter perspectives.
5. Is there a character of yours you feel like is most like you? If so who?
I think if I'm most like any of my characters it would be Max. I like to get my hands dirty and I'm kind of a tomboy, but I know how to dress nice if I have to. I envy her in a lot of ways as well, I kind of took who I am and who I wish I was and spun them together into the web of who Max is. She completes aspects of my personality that are what you might consider incomplete. I took an autobody class in high school for example and know a bit about body work on cars. But she is skilled in her profession of working on bikes. I would love to have a motorcycle where Max actually has one. A collection of other things as well.
6. You've written in two female and two male perpectives, is there one you found more difficult?
I found Landon to be the most challenging to be honest. He's been through a lot more than I ever have and I felt a bit bold trying to gauge how he would approach different situations, especially taking his PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) into consideration. Luckily I had a lot of help from my husband and another soldier who has been through almost exactly what Landon has and they were able to confirm a lot of what I was unsure of.
7. Is there something about writing you really love?
I love being able to create a story after my own heart and finding that it appeals to not only me but other readers as well.
8. What is your favorite dessert?
Oh no, that's a hard question! Haha. I like chocolate fudge cake but it's been a long time since I have been able to get my hands on one! Probably a good thing...
9. You've grown up in Jersey, lived over in Germany, and now live in New York is there one place you enjoyed living more than the other?
New Jersey is where I grew up and I'll always love it and New York has a lot of potential...but Germany takes the cake. I miss it almost every day, especially now that it's snowboarding season! I'll always consider Germany my second home.
10. Do you think that your different locations help spark the creative juices?
I wrote all three books in Germany, so being there definitely helped! Since our move to New York I've been going from one old story idea to another trying to decide which one to pick up and really get into again but I'm not sure that I can say I've felt nearly as inspired as I did in Germany. But as far as inspiration goes I think it has a lot to do with what I'm doing in my life and less about where I am.
11. What is your favorite genre to read?
I enjoy YA paranormal and contemporary, a romance novel here and there, but I think my favorite would have to be contemporary literature. I like to read about an ordinary yet somehow extraordinary story. I especially enjoy a book with humor. And of course if I had to pick, I really enjoy a good love story.
12. Do you have a writing routine?
I used to but I kind of fell away from it since we got ready to move. I don't really believe in forcing myself to write if I'm not feeling inspired but I do try and set aside time every day and the amount of time I end up writing per day varies from there.
13. Are you working on anything right now?I am actually going back and working on a story that I jotted down a year or so ago in Germany. Cross my fingers I'll be able to get it all down! If all goes well it's going to be a fun, lighthearted, love story.
14. What has been your favorite/best marketing tactic?
My favorite marketing tactic is getting to know readers. Now and then I'll go through the people who have marked my books as "to-read" on Goodreads and send a random selection of people a message offering to send them an ebook copy of any or all of my books. It's kind of an unannounced giveaway. And I like to talk to readers about things we have in common whether its the books we like to read, travel, or any other collection of topics. When you're an indie author marketing is about establishing your "brand". So I try and reach out to people, I want my brand to be an author who is approachable and personable, someone who isn't just out to make money and sales.
15. Do you have any suggestions for future writers?
Be willing to take the critiques both good and bad. Read as much as you can. Branch out and read outside of your "genre comfort zone", you may be surprised what books you might like but never considered before. Research marketing techniques and reach out to fellow authors as well as book bloggers, they'll be your best allies in this very competitive industry. And don't give up. Once you stop trying to improve your work, reach readers, or market your books chances are your career will quickly see its end.
Blog
Volition
Serverance
The Wanderer
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