Monthly Rewind: February (and Some Questions for You Bloggers)

I almost don't know where to start on my Monthly Rewind - February was . . . Intense.

At any rate, it's March (the month of appropriately mad weather for Michigan), which means it's time for the monthly link-up with Nicole at Feed Your Fiction Addiction. Instructions on how to join are here.

You may or may not have noticed that I was pretty absent for most of February. There are a few reasons - 

First, I picked up a second part-time job a couple weeks into the month, and both my time and internet access have become even more limited than normal. That being said, I'm still here! 

Working two jobs has also upped my caffeine intake, and made me seek out coffee from less savory places (like the gas station). I'm normally pretty spoiled because the coffee at the bookstore is amazing. Not so amazing at the gas station. But hey, it's coffee. I think.

Secondly, I've been having an endless amount of annoying problems with Blogger and Google+. They are currently refusing to let me comment on anyone's comments, or even read them when I'm logged into my blog. 

I didn't realize what a goldmine TOP* gifs were . . . until now ^^

Ugh. 

Anyhow, after much deliberation, I'm considering moving my blog to a different platform, or possibly my own domain.

Which leads me to these important questions:
1. Is it worth buying an actual domain name?
2. What blogging platform do you use, and why? Do you like it? Is one better than the others?

Any advice/feedback would be really appreciated! (Oh, and since I can't read your comments - note the contact form on the top right-hand side of the blog- thanks!)

And now that I have that out of the way - February in Review!

On the Blog and Reading fronts, my hectic schedule made hash of things - and I only managed 5 posts :(

-Current mood-

• Beautiful People - Couples Edition - the Writer Link-Up, helped me investigate two of my characters from The Butler Did It and determine if they were in a relationship or not. They still say "no." But you'll have to read it to decide for yourself ;P
• Continuing the inevitable February theme, I posted a list of my Top 10 Favorite Literary Couples. And there was some gorgeous fanart, as the cherry on top.
• Maybe my favorite Top Ten Tuesday ever - The Top 10 Songs that Need to Be Books. They all need to be written already!
• Top Ten Books I Ended Up Liking (In Spite of Myself) I included plenty of reasons, and a few disclaimers. And I totally restrained myself from gushing about Tom Imura.**
• I ACTUALLY FOUND TIME TO WRITE A REVIEW of Stars Above (The Lunar Chronicles) by Marissa Meyer. 4 stars

My reading count for this month was even worse - I started about 15 books, and finished only two of them! 

The first was Stars Above, and the second was The Guest by
Hwang Sok-yong. I'm not sure if I'll review it or not. It's about the 52 day massacre in the Hwanghae Province of North Korea during the Korean War. It was moving, disturbing, horrifying, and profoundly important if you're looking to understand a little more of the North/South Korean relations, the relationship of Korea with the West (especially the U.S.), and the two huge "foreign guests" of Christianity and Communism. It wasn't light reading, but I was glad I read it. I'm just not sure how to explain it in a review! (A funny place for a writer to be in, let me tell you).

I am also reading through a manuscript for a friend, so that's taken plenty of time and attention. 

And if you're interested, here are some of the books I'm currently reading:

Without You, There is No Us by Suki Kim

Passenger by Alexandra Bracken

The Star-Touched Queen (ARC) by Roshani Chokshi

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

H is for Hawk by Helen MacDonald

Small Data by Martin Lindstrom

Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard

Also in reading, Intisar Khanani's (novel-length!) follow up to Sunbolt, Memories of Ash, has a release date!! This is easily one of my most anticipated books of 2016. It's out May 30th - so just 3 months to wait!! In the meantime, there will be a cover reveal on March 16th, and it will be up for preorder on that day as well.

Off the Blog:

• I started the second job (at a new local brewery)
• I started yet another novel (I have very bad habits.) More about this in a minute.
• I turned 27
• I made lots of kimchi and discovered kimchi stew (soooo good. And kimchi fried rice is almost better!!)
• I basically did a lot of cooking, now that I think about it . . .
• One of my best friends got engaged and I get to be a bridesmaid (my second time)!
• The only movie I watched was Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (Because Matt Smith - Eleventh Doctor as MR. COLLINS)***, I watched none of the Oscars, and watched an unhealthy amount of YouTube videos when I should have been sleeping after 12-16 hour work days. 
• And to be honest, if anything else happened in February - I don't remember it. I was probably sleeping. My ability to fall asleep anywhere on anything at anytime just turned into a superpower.

Looking Ahead:

Hopefully I'll finish a few of those books this time around, and have some time for reviews! I'm also thinking of doing a series of editing posts on The Last Coffee Shop - to help me actually edit it, and because it would be fun. Thoughts? My major goal for March is to do at least one edit through.

Oh, and that book idea I mentioned above) - it won't go away. So I started writing it. It's basically a vintage sci-fi + western + Hallyu wave + high fashion novel in the world of TLCS (though not a sequel). The MC's voice is stuck in my head - he's an angry teenage model (yes, that's he) on the run from a truly freaky family situation. He takes refuge at a greasy spoon space diner, which is run by a posse of (former) warrior women who specialize in fried chicken. Because I just can't write anything normal. If you'd like to see a glimpse into it, here's the link to my Pinterest board.

Also, I plan on plugging away at The Butler Did It, and reading everyone else's wonderful posts (I did a lot of reading posts in Feb, but rarely had the energy to comment, lol)

So that's it for me folks. How was your February? Do you have any big plans for March? What are you reading? And please tell me your thoughts on the blog move idea/domain name :) I'll give you all the virtual cake if you do!

Footnotes:

*From BIGBANG. SO MANY GIFSSSS

**Yes, I know he's fake. No, I will not get over it.

***Not as bad as I thought it would be, and Matt Smith was hilarious. 

Lovely Books: 10 Literary Couples I Was Actually Invested In (With Fanart!)

Image Source: Adventure Awaits/Tracey Dyck

Well, I'm behind on reading and reviewing, so I tossed it all out the window and decided to join Tracey Dyck's new February link-up: Lovely Books (Adventure Awaits)

This is a new link-up that goes live the Saturday of every month. Rules (very few rules) can be found here.

Since Lovely Books is all about loving on books with other bloggers and bookworms, I knew I had to join in. I totally missed the first one, but the second one was, you guessed it, Valentine's Day themed.

In unintentional rebellion, I'm doing it for President's Day.*

Looking good, George.

But, yes, favorite literary couples. I'm slightly embarrassed that I did a total mind blank on this at first. I love books and characters, but I never get that invested in romantic plots. That being said, there are some couples in fiction that were so awesome, I felt my heart clenching in concern for them.** That's some mighty fine writing, my friends. (I intentionally ruled out all manga/comic book couples, because that was easier and required less mental straining)***

Warning: Some of these might be a little spoilery (but I find that figuring out romantic plotlines is one of the easiest to do, so probably not).

There is also fanart. So enjoy! (All art is credited when possible and belongs to the artist. It is not being used for any profit/marketing/or anything other than promoting awesome artists)

1. Howl and Sophie from Howl's Moving Castle

Unfortunately, I have no idea who the artist is! :( I want to credit them. Source: Tumblr

It's a testament to the late Diana Wynne Jones' writing that she made us all fall in love with someone as awful as Howl. He's a spoiled brat of a wizard, albeit a brilliant one, and his antics are too funny. On the other hand, I think Sophie is one of the great unsung heroines of literature. She's smart, sensible, and forced to spend most of the book in the (fitting) guise of an old woman. Howl really doesn't deserve her - though I defy you to not want them to end up together. This a charming fantasy that resembles Beauty and the Beast, if the Beast was attractive in looks but not behavior, and the Beauty had a beautiful spirit but was a little old woman on the outside. A must read.

Sophie proving her love - movie version

2. Eugenides (the Thief) and Irene (the Queen of Attolia)

Attolia + Attolis by annmarieri on Deviantart

In Megan Whalen Turner's The Queen's Thief series, the story of how Irene comes to respect Gen as a man and an equal is an impressive, mature look at love and relationships. And these books aren't  romances at all. They're based around a fantasy world that resembles Ancient Greece and Rome, full of intrigue, deception and lethal scheming. In the center of it all is Eugenides, the titular Thief, whose charm, wit, and quick fingers get him in and out of loads of trouble. When he starts falling in love with the powerful, proud, and disdainful Queen of Attolia, things get messy, and deadly, fast. Just read it, I don't want to give too much away.

Via Natroze on Tumblr - so funny!

3. Beatrice and Benedick from Much Ado About Nothing. 

Love this - poster from Ali de Souza's 2011 production

Much Ado is one of the deepest, and yet most entertaining, comedies from the Bard. If you get the chance to see it live, take it, as it's hilarious to see the action. Beatrice and Benedick are the bachelors, the confirmed singles who have sworn of love, marriage, and everything in between. Their relationship is realistic and funny, contrasted with the "love at first sight" of Hero and Claudio. My second favorite couple in Shakespeare is the Macbeths - who put the bad in badass and are scary as all get out. They're also hopelessly devoted to each other. Take that, Romeo and Juliet.

She has such a way with words, you know.

Image Copyright: Laura Tolton

4. Sabriel and "Touchstone"  from Sabriel. 

Image Copyright: Laura Tolton

Another pair from a book that isn't really romantic. Garth Nix's Sabriel is awesome. Sabriel is the Abhorsen, a sort of reverse necromancer that puts the dead back, as opposed to calling them up. When she's forced to take on the responsibilities of her father (the current Abhorsen), Sabriel must leave the safety of school to confront all the powers of darkness. She's a feminine, authentic girl who is  way cooler than anyone you've met, yet identifiable. She's also strong, very strong, in a quiet way that never screams "I can do anything a man can do!" Her relationship with Touchstone is believable, touching, and humorous. READ THIS BOOK. (Artist Laura Tolton has an amazing gallery with more Abhorsen related works - check it out.)

5. Kate and Christopher, from The Perilous Gard, by Elizabeth Marie Pope. 

Christopher Heron by Whimsical Cow on Deviantart.com

Another book I've read that no one else seems to have heard of. And it's their loss, because The Perilous Gard is one of the best YA novels ever. Really.

Kate Sutton by WhimsicalCow on Deviantart.com

It's set in 1558, and the historical accuracy makes this the most believable novel I've read about the Fae. Kate is the heroine, exiled by Queen Mary Tudor to the Perilous Gard of the title. It's an unwelcoming place, full of secretive inhabitants, including the handsome, rude, and mysterious Christopher Heron.



Their relationship has a bit of the Jane Eyre-Mr. Rochester dynamic, but without all the creepiness (Christopher just acts like the type of guy who'd hide a wife in the attic, but he isn't). And there is a sad lack of fan art for this book! However, Jenn Rothwell's (Whimsical Cow) illustrations are perfect.

6. Gemma and Kartik - The Sweet Far Thing (The Gemma Doyle Trilogy #3) by Libba Bray

Image Copyright Sam Schechter

I read this book a long time ago (whenever it first came out), but to be honest, the only thing I really remember is the ending - and Gemma and Kartik's characters. I always liked these two fine, but I didn't really care about their romance until, gulp, it was threatened by death and destruction and mayhem.

I'll warn you, they don't get a "happy ending." But it's a beautiful finale that really proved how much they meant to each other. In other words, we had real, self-sacrificial love, that made sense, in a YA novel. Not kidding. And yes, fine, they had good chemistry and a convincing relationship too. At least, as far as I remember . . .

Dragon Fire by Leanna Crossan

7. Aerin and Luthe from The Hero and the Crown

Robin McKinley really likes her bittersweet endings. A lot. The Hero and the Crown is no exception. Somehow, her characters seem to make more adult decisions than most YA protagonists. Which means that these two do not end up together - because it would be irresponsible. Cue my twelve-year-old tears.

Yes, I really did cry for them when I was twelve. I just wanted them to be okay, you know? It doesn't affect me like this anymore (I'm all "hooray for people making the right choice instead of the romantic one"), but I still like them together. After fifteen years, it would be a shame if they weren't on this list.

There is basically zero fan art, or art at all, of either Aerin or Luthe. Sadly.

8. Luthien and Beren from the Silmarillion by J. R. R. Tolkien

Beren, Luthien, and Huan by Steamey on Deviantart.com

Tolkien wasn't known for romance, but is there anything more romantic than disguising as monsters to infiltrate "worse than Mordor" to steal a mystical gem from a guy who makes Sauron cower?

I didn't think so.

Beren and Lúthien against Carcaroth by Justin Gerard

In fact, Luthien and Beren are so hardcore that they die and come back to life, mainly because Luthien is so stubborn that she refuses to lose her man after everything they've been through. It's pretty epic.(I love all of Tolkien's couples, but Luthien and Beren are definitely my favorite!). On a side note, I could probably fill about five posts with all the quality fanart of these two, so narrowing it down to just a couple pictures was hard.

Cinder by chrysalisgrey on deviantart.com

9. Kai and Cinder from The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

Prince Kaito, Cinder, and Iko by Mari945

I admit that I was rooting for them just because I loved both of their characters separately.


Kai's evolution from a slightly silly prince into a seriously impressive Emperor was one of the highlights of the series. And Cinder is the sort of character I love the minute they're introduced. Practical, no-nonsense, not afraid to laugh at herself, headstrong, determined, you get it. I can relate (and I'll add that I wouldn't say no to Kai either . . .).Cute fanart aboundeth for these two.

10. Morwen and Telemain from The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede

Forest Scene by chibi-oneechan on Deviant.com

(I couldn't find art I liked of these two, but I did find some gorgeous forest art that reminds me of the entire series)

If you know who Morwen and Telemain are, can we be friends? I love this quirky little fantasy series, and the whole Morwen + Telemain thing is a definite highlight. Granted, the fact that they like each other isn't confirmed until very late in the series, and it is a side thing, but it was obvious.

They're hilarious every time they interact - the ultimate odd couple in denial. She's a sensible witch with a lot of opinionated cats, and he's an absent-minded magician (not a wizard) who relies on endless theories and experiments instead of raw power. Classic.

So there you have it: 10 of My Favorite Fictional Couples

True. Love.

The trick to getting me invested is making me care so deeply about the character that I want what they want. A good author can make you feel a little heady during a romantic scene. A great author can make your heart ache with the characters, make you want their "happy ending" for them so badly that you confuse it with your own feelings. And a brilliant author will do all of the above without you realizing it happened until it's too late ;)

What was the last fictional couple you got invested in? Why did you care (or not care) about a fictional relationship? Do you tend to anticipate the romantic bits, or are you like me, and distracted by swordfights? Have you read any of these books? Why not?

Footnotes:

*George and Martha approved
**Confession time: I actually have a fictional couples themed Pinterest board.
***Winter Soldier + Black Widow <3