Tag Archives: writer

How I Use Plottr to Outline My Stories

App & Software Reviews, chit-chatting with Cat, Tips May 5, 2023 Leave a comment

Please note some of these links are affiliate links. If you buy the product, I will receive some percentage of the sale but at NO additional cost to you. I only vouch for products I either LOVE or USE in my own life. Thank you.

Introduction

In 2019, I was lucky enough to be one of the first people who knew about Plottr. I was there in 2021 for their big update. And to this day, I still use the software Plottr to outline my stories and series.

What is Plottr?

Plottr is a subscription-based software (now app as well) that allows you to outline both novels and series, as well as to keep track of your characters’ timelines and items, locations, and much more.

You can check it out here.

How do I Use It?

Well, first of all, I found a “trick” to outline any type of stories I want. Screenplay? Sure! Comic book? No problem! Novels? Absolutely!

But how?

Let me tell you something first: When I started using Plottr, I had trouble making sense of how to actually outline the whole book and the characters’ timelines in something cohesive and intuitive directly into the software. But at the same time, I was deep into studying the Save the Cat method for both my screenwriting (Daphné and Philip) and other stories.

You can see where I’m going with this, huh?

So, one day, I figured “Why not?” and began creating “Chapters” with the beats’ names—this way I knew where to head to and which beat to hit next. Then, I created scenes to expand the chapters. I got through a lot of my Rise of a Heroine story like this!

Nowadays, you can purchase the Save the Cat method in Plottr as an add-on. While I do have it, I prefer creating my own. It suits me better and I can tweak it like I want; however, theirs is an excellent resource and/or starting point to customize your own.

I am now outlining the whole series of Rise of a Heroine (you can add covers to the books in your series in Plottr! Neat!), a comic book, and a novella.

Anything is possible!

As long as it’s for plotting and outlining. Otherwise, you might be at the wrong place…

In Conclusion

Plottr is definitely one of my top softwares to work with as an author/writer—and it was right from the start. Sometimes, it just needs a bit of customization to really grasp the tool, but once you do, you’ll get a-plotting with Plottr in no time!

Don’t forget to check it out here for more info: Plottr

See you next post, lovelies!

Screenwriting Tip: Fear and How to Beat It

chit-chatting with Cat, screenwriting, Tips October 28, 2022 Leave a comment

Cue Taylor Swift's Anti-Hero song

Yesterday, I was suddenly motivated and determined to keep on writing my short film for the first time in two weeks. When I sat down with an iced coffee in front of my Macbook Air, then page to my Arc Studio Pro's project at the ready, I felt dread blooming and I thought for no apparent reason:

"I see, so that's why I haven't been writing. I still shouldn't write it because I'm afraid–"

And, I shit you not, I immediatly reacted to this thought with:

"Oh noooo, not YOU again!"

The fear!

And then I burst out laughing as I remembered the scene in Swift's music video when she opens the door and sees… herself!

I pictured the same scene with me and my fear, where she waves and smiles at me and says the brilliant lyrics:

"It's me, hi. I'm the problem, it's me."

Because, yeah, she's damn right! My fear is the problem.

My fear of succeeding, of not being good enough (or at all!), of failing, of others' mean critics, of being laughed at, of… You see?

This, this fear, is my problem in writing.

What is yours?

It can be the same as me, or it can be writer's block, lack of self-esteem, deeply-rooted negative opinions of yourself or constant exhaustion…

But if it's the fear, please keep on reading.

I then realized that whatever I'd do, no matter how hard I slammed the door to Fear's face, shouted at her, pulled at my hair, cried myself to a puddle, or–gasps!–listened to her… The Fear would always be there. She'd stay around. Like a nosy someone.

She'd hover over my shoulder, making me feel afraid and doubt myself.

But you know what?

She would win… only if I let her.

I'm the one in control.

I'm the writer.

She's only real if I let her.

Just like a story, and a bad one at that…

And so, what did I do after picturing this scene and laughing?

I took a sip of my iced coffee and kept on writing. And I made progress.

I keep on writing and making progress even now.

Okay, sure, Fear is annoying.

But now I don't let her write my story.

Instead, I suggest you do this when she shows up at your doorstep:

Open the door, and smile
Invite her in calmly
Tell her: you can sit or hover, but I've got writing to do.
Sit down and write.
When she makes you afraid, tell her you know she's there, but she's fictional, too…
Then say, proudly:

"And I'm the writer after all."

I hope this bit of life helps you!

It sure did spur me into action and yes, I do the suggestion I gave you now, and yes, I keep on writing. 🙂

She's not invincible, the fear. She just wants you to think she is.

See you next post, darlings!

I Finished Writing My Poetry Collection!!!

chit-chatting with Cat, My Projects, poetry November 25, 2021 Leave a comment

Hello, folks!

Yes, yes, yes, today, I reached a huge writing achievement for me: I finished my poetry collection!!!

WOOHOOT!

(My sweetheart Rachel Berry from Glee, thank you very much!)

This might not seem "big", but to me it is: it's the first lengthy and professional writing project I finished.

Ever.

So, this means a lot, and it makes me burst with pride and enthusiasm.

Through illnesses (yes, several), deep grief for my beloved grandparents, and many other bad events, I managed to hang on and seal the deal with my poetry.

Finally, I can do something big with my poetry! Like self-publishing!!!

Next step?

Well, I'll soon be reaching out to you dears for Beta Readers, so be on the lookout, won't you?

Please note there are Trigger Warnings, such as: death, abuse, suicide, murder, blood, self-harm

On the upside, it's an immersive reading where we go from status quo to the deep end and up to life and hope. It explores all of this through micro-stories and personal poems.

If you'd like to get a taste of my poetry, please go here for The Queen of Justice (what I call one of my "positive" poems) and here for Cold (a much darker poem, Trigger Warnings apply here). These two give you a glimpse at the range and intensity of my poems.

Still interested? Amazing!

If you already want to sign up as a Beta Reader, please do send me a message at catherinegv.writertranslator@gmail.com or on Twitter (@CatGV6).

Don't forget to contact me to be one of my Beta Readers, loves!

See you next post!

Animated gif about girl in mt: Legally Blonde the musical 🎀💖🌸 by -Na

plan it

The Clock: A Vampire Short Story

chit-chatting with Cat, My Projects, Short Stories October 4, 2021 Leave a comment

Hello folks!

I've got a treat for you -not yet a trick!- right for the month of Halloween!

Honestly, it's a beloved short story of mine titled "The Clock", which I wrote about a year ago. All my critique partners loved it and several suggested I should make a novel, if not a series out of it!

And since I love everything vampire, these characters, and I even kept wondering what happened to them after the end of the short story… So, of course, I gladly decided to go with their suggestion.

For Preptober (if you don't know what it is, it's a month during which those participating in NaNoWriMo prepare their story, plot it out and flesh out their characters), I chose "The Clock" to develop into a full-length novel. But I've a hint it will grow into a series… I couldn't be happier about that!

Enjoy my short story, which is below the graphic I made of the ambiance and my characters, and be on the lookout for my Preptober post coming very soon!

Leave a comment to tell me whether you enjoyed it or not, and please share!

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Blood, violence, nudity.

(Sir Roman is Henry Cavill and Agnieszka is Rachelle Lefèvre)

The moon is rising, her divine light shining down on the Baroque Moszna castle before me. Its ninety-nine spires attempting to rip the moon apart. I smirk. Home is where the heart is. It's been a long time coming. But I'm ready.

I rake my wet hair and leave my old BMW behind. We might be in 2019, but the antique style still gets to me. I guess how long I lived leaves traces where it can…

My coat flaps in the wind and I groan as a rotting leaf catches my face. Nothing will ruin this! NOTHING! I came here for a reason. A purpose I've long coveted. And hell be broken loose if I don't get what I want. The walk to the arched wooden doors takes an eternity, and trust me, I recognise it when I see her. She's been my partner in crime forever now.

But tonight, I will betray her.

If I had a breath, I would be out of it by now. Instead, I lift my hand and knock on the door, my white knuckles rasping on its coarse wood. I glance around me and observe the pouring rain and lightning cutting the sky. The thunder roars all around me. How tempting. How cursed. The door groans open like a bear awoken before his time. I don't smile at the small, insignificant man before me. Instead, I bore my eyes into his, keeping my voice to myself.

He's so nervous his head keeps bobbing up and down, his sleek black hair jumping out of its stiff hairdo and his thin mustache twitches.

"Oh, Sir Roman. The girls are ready," he chats like a mouse. "We've followed your every instruction."

I nod curtly and slip past him. Even though I've got all the time in the universe, idling away is unacceptable with me. When I want something done, it's now. Not in a second, not tomorrow. Now. He'd better learn it fast or he won't last.

"Please, Sir, enter here," the mouse gestures to the right door as he scrambles up to me. "We've only used the purest blood and the most stunning maidens. For you."

My head snaps to him. "I don't see who else it could have been for since I'm the one who ordered this," I hiss through my teeth.

"Yes, right. My apologies, good Sir. Please, I hope this will satisfy your hunger," he tells me with a low bow before retreating into the darkened hall.

I observe him for a minute, unnerved, and decide to let him live. For now. I walk into the stone room and find a delicious sight. I lick my lips in rising anticipation and delight.

Twelve nude women are bound and tied in a clock-ordered manner, with the most gorgeous one in the center. While they're all a pleasing view, what with the blood dripping down from their head down their face elegantly and their frightened stares, the one in the center gets all of my attention after the first look. The blood they put on her head is the purest-newborn's blood. She's got golden Mayan-like earrings, and she's looking around her, her mouth slightly opened in shock. She's trying to get her bearings, but I won't let her. Her fiery hair features a golden clip on the middle of her nape while the rest flows majestically around her shoulders. She's perfect.

The red head looks at me next, searching in my eyes an answer I don't offer her. Not yet. The thrill is ecstatic. It floods through my empty veins and I can't contain the small smile I give her. She closes her mouth and I'm sure she's judging me, judging this and what I might do to her. The others keep whining, but she, oh no, she simply stares, terrified, yes, but with a firm resolve to pass through this.

Indeed, she's the right choice.

I make my way to the centre of this human clock, like an arrow aiming for the heart of a lovesick fool. The women all cry and crawl the best they can with their hands and legs tied. My beautiful has only her hands tied. Why mess with something excellent? My instructions were indeed respected.

She won't have to die tonight. At least, forever.

Standing next to her in the middle of the infernal clock, I look down and see her peering up at me with those lioness's eyes, vaguely veiled by fear. She might be the prey here, but I know she can be the predator in order to survive. To rule.

"Stand." My curt voice echoes on the damp, rough walls. Nothing interests me more than she does.

In all her elegance, she moans and hoists herself up with her gracious legs. My help wasn't even required-or she deemed it important to make a point. That she didn't need me. And I bet she doesn't, but I do. Oh, how I do.

We're staring into each other's eyes; hers gray like a crystal, mine dark as charcoal. Her chin lowers subtly, but she's still supporting my gaze. Perfection.

"What is your name?" I rasp out, my breathing hitched.

Cries and shuffling permeate the background. But they sound like mice to me. The stunning woman in the ritual is the only one who has my true focus. I lick my lips as I watch a drop of blood drip down her upper lip.

"Agnieszka," she whispers in one breathe, her full and curvy lips moving gently.

I lift my hand and reach out to her neck in a calculated motion.

"Agnieszka…" Her name rolls on my tongue like thick and sweet red wine.

She tenses under my sudden grip, but still I come to her, sticking my body as close to hers as possible. My black coat swishes against her bare legs. In less than a second, I stab her in the neck with my acerated canines. Agnieszka gasps softly, and it's as though she knows there's no escaping me: she doesn't fight. The other girls have served their purpose in the clock, so I don't give a damn when they scream and cry and try to run away despite their chains.

Agnieszka's blood tastes like candy. Or at least, what I remember from it. It's as sweet as honey and pets de soeurs. And though it flows in and out of my mouth in large gushes, it's easy to swallow.

At some point, she hangs limply in my arms. I can hear my henchmen's intrigued mumbling. All eyes are riveted on us. Perfect. Her lips turn a striking blue and her skin white as snow.

The mumbling turns to whispers then astonished cries as my Agnieszka moans and moves in my arms. The men let out sounds of admiration while the girls shriek and cower, but I don't look at them. Only Agnieszka matters.

"My Lady," I tell her in a soothing voice.

She flutters her eyelids then her gaze fixes upon me. And I smile. She might be dead but she's more beautiful to me now. I hold her upright, gently but with a firm embrace, and her eyes dart over mine. She's searching for answers. She'll learn in time. An eternity is plenty.

Although at a loss, Agnieszka grins at me. She takes a slow look around the audience and the somber scene. When her eyes settle back on me, there's this spark of understanding… and desire I have been waiting after.

"Agnieszka, my Lady of the Night," I say formally.

I take out the key to her freedom from my inside coat pocket. Intently, I insert it in her chains' keylock and turn. They fall to the floor with a dull but loud noise. I lift my gaze back to her and offer my warmest smile—a silent promise.

She cups my cheek and tilts her head. Then, she distances herself and stands on her own with her head held high. Blood is dripping seductively down her nudity. Agnieszka winks at me and dips her index in a furrow of blood. Bringing it to her lips, she licks it and everyone can see how her canine teeth are now pointy, acerated.

I've found her at last. I didn't want to spend the rest of eternity alone though centuries passed and there was no one beside me. But choosing a worthy, strong-minded woman for our future together was crucial. This metamorphosis into a creature of the night, the vampyr, is almost instantaneous. It changes even the prey's perceptions and feelings towards the one who sired them. Now she loves me and I will love her. United forever, a vampyr's love song.

Grinning, I slip my arm into hers and we face our spectators. My henchmen kneel and chant:

"Welcome to the night, O Lady!"

I turn to my queen and gestures at the pathetic, though beautiful ladies curling up in fear.

"And now we feast."

New Chapter Published on Inkitt: Rise of a Heroine: Resurgence (YA Superhero Novel)

chit-chatting with Cat, Miranda Kane (ROAH:R), My Projects August 25, 2021 Leave a comment

Hello, folks!

Are you missing Miranda Kane like me? Well, I've got good news: there's a new chapter of Rise of a Heroine: Resurgence up on Inkitt for you to read for free!

In this chapter, Miranda, overwhelmed by remorse at her supposedly incapacity to save her best friend during the assault by Thomas Lance, goes to visit Amy, her bestie, at the hospital. As the chapter progresses, the two friends exchange strong emotions and tears as well as hard truths. Miranda's also starting to get into her head that something needs to change… and maybe she'll be the one to bring it about.

Don't forget to read it here!

Also, please comment or like on Inkitt as it boosts my visibility and chances to get a publishing deal! You'll have to create an account, but it takes five minutes, so please consider doing it for me and Miranda Kane?

I hope you enjoy reading it!

See you soon with the next chapter, my loves!

Melissa Benoist - Benoistmotion | [Animations] #2: She looks amazing on repeat! - Fan Forum

A New Blog Post Series – Artists & Writing: Interview with Valentin Romero, Illustrator & Graphic Designer

Artists & Writing, Interviews, My Projects August 4, 2021 Leave a comment

Introduction

Hello, lovely folks!

So, today I bring you a new series of blog posts: Artists & Writing. I want to focus on the artists, to elevate the stunning and inspiring work they do, and to link all kinds of inspiration and art with writing. Because in my own view, writing is art, too.

As for the artists, I welcome all kinds, whether they're illustrators, home interior designers, fashion designers, animators, film producers… I want to expand people's view and understand of art. And to perceive its connection to writing and words and imagination overall.

I hope this series touches you in some way or perhaps inspires you.

My first guest?

Please welcome the amazing illustrator & graphic designer, Valentin Romero! He was kind enough to agree to this interview when I contacted him. I thought he would be a great person and artist to feature on my blog as he seemed to like my idea for this series and he is quite inspiring. His work is just jaw-dropping.

Enjoy the interview, loves!

Mighty Thor / Jane Foster by Valentin Romero, @valentinromeroart, 2021.

Interview with an Artist: Valentin Romero

1- What is your greatest achievement and why?

I remember that my greatest achievement was going to my 1st Convention, it was in 2019. It was in a big city that was about 100 km from my hometown. At the time I was on the other side of the country, due to university, but I was free at the time, so I took a plane there. It was great, I met a lot of my fans, talked to them and more. I had a nice time. Some of my friends came to congratulate me, and family members too. I had many other invitations to other conventions, but due to Covid they were canceled, so it's a shame, but safety comes first so we'll have to wait.

2- How did you come to work on Mortal Kombat, and what exactly was your main task?

It was an incredible opportunity, since I was a kid I played Mortal Kombat so it was a great moment to be able to officially collaborate. Mortal Kombat had collaborated with rapper Megan Thee Stallion, which I adore so it was a great opportunity. Megan was going to do a streaming video playing MK and she had also done a cosplay of the character of Mileena. My task was to design a poster of Megan as Mileena to transmit during streaming. Megan's reaction was so sweet so thanks to Megan and all the Mortal Kombat people who trusted me.

3- When did you start illustrating and graphic design as a hobby, and what attracted you to it?

I started illustrating digitally at the same time that I opened my Instagram account, about 2 years ago. All as a hobby since I recently graduated from high school. What brought me to this world was seeing that there were more possibilities to make art separate from the traditional. Being a cinematographer and artist, the movie posters, the concept art, the effects, the color palettes, etc., caught my attention. So I started using Photoshop from scratch and no one ever taught me anything, it was learning curiosity and investigating each function. Over time I got some digital tablets and that improved my techniques

4- What made you realize art was what you wanted to do as your career?

I was always an artist so more less I always knew that I was going to end up doing something related to art. I am currently studying Graphic Design, they do not teach me things related to programs or Morphology. The market is updating every day so I think the university should do it too. But if I'm honest with you, it would really be a dream come true to be able to play Wiccan in the MCU, I have studied acting apart from design, I am the right age and I am physically perished to the actor Julian who played him in his child version and also in the version adult from comics. Besides being gay, I would love to be able to give an excellent representation in this world of superheroes.

5- What is your professional journey?

My professional career was always based on commissions and these collaborations like Mortal Kombat. My followers ask me to transform them into a character and I love it, it is a good way to get out of the ordinary. I was also in a design studio for a few months learning about machines and it was a good experience.

6- As an illustrator and graphic designer working online as well, do you find it easier to find jobs online or in person, for example via conventions?

In my case, I live in a relatively small city so in person I don't see it as a viable option. The internet has given me more possibilities by having a greater exposure and I am always open to job proposals either in Argentina or abroad. One platform that has served me a lot was LinkedIn and obviously Instagram.

7- What made you choose digital art over traditional art?

I think that what led me to choose digital was the fact of realism. As I told you, I really like posters and photography and being able to combine it with a design software like Photoshop that gives you infinite possibilities is a great advantage. But in the same way I always sketch some ideas before starting a design in photoshop.

8- I watched your videos on your YouTube channel where you transform an actual picture into posters or other versions of the characters. Can you tell us what motivates you to do that and keep improving?

What always motivates me is to continue creating everything I imagine and to be able to give life to projects or ideas that I have in my mind and I would like to see them realized. Also give my followers constant content. But whenever I have a good idea and it motivates me, I put all my attention on making it as perfect as possible. I always practice new techniques "off camera" so I can apply them later. I have to buy better equipment, I always wanted to be a youtuber and have my content, but I don't have to have time to edit. Also as I mentioned I do a lot of practice outside the camera but I would also like to do something more of the lifestyle channel or something like that but I am locked up a lot so I do not know. There are days that I want to do everything and other days I just want to be with myself. But I would really like to do it, really.

9- What does a typical day look like for you as an artist?

Well, as we are in a pandemic there is not much to do, but I live in a relatively small city so we have a little more freedom. I am studying my first year in a virtual way at the university. I do not like it very much since I miss meeting new people or going to campus, so now I take classes 3 times a week via webcam but that alone so the process is quite boring and slow. But since I have most of my free time, I like to draw sketches all day. It is always good to practice. I also play Valorant online, it is a game that I discovered in this pandemic and I love it so I always play. I live 5 minutes away from the Atlantic ocean so I always go by bike for some long walks, on the other side of the city is full of mountains so it is also good to go for a walk. I also take my time every day to respond to comments or messages and check my networks a bit.

10- What advice would you give artists to break into the art world?

Artists who are just starting out in the networks always ask me what advice I could give them, or how I learned, etc. I think the best I can tell you is not to be ashamed to upload your art, out there they think that it is not so good to publish it but not all of us are born learning so there is no need to be ashamed of anything. After consistency is something important, always be practicing to improve and in the long run you will see the results .. And finally, publish what you want, do not pigeonhole into a single topic because otherwise you will get bored quickly.

11- Do you have specific study methods to improve your skills?

I think not, basically I am drawing all day, perfecting anatomy, postures, expressions etc. As for photoshop, I'm always trying new techniques or seeing how I combine my images and bringing my ideas to life. I always keep in mind details like lights, color palettes. The key for me is consistency and daily practice. That's it.

12- What are your favorite learning resources?

I love Pinterest, there are many ideas out there. I took some online courses at Domestika but they were mostly to perfect little things. YouTube always has some advice to implement but I don't like to copy the tutorials exactly as I like to develop my style. My last design class was one given by the designer Gina DeDomenico, she is a conceptual artist and did work for "Titans" "Stargirl" "The Boys" among others

13- Has any book inspired you, or is there any book you found helpful, whether fiction or non-fiction?

I have always read a lot since I was a kid. My dad was always giving me books, some were "Pride and Prejudice" "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" "Martin Fierro" "The Little Prince" "To Kill a Mockingbird" among others. These books always gave me a lot of imagination and opened my mind. Then I started reading the comics and one of the ones I read recently and I liked a lot was "young avengers by gillen & mckelvie" the truth is that I loved that style of illustration too much, along with the colors and the characters so it is one of my marvel favorites.

14- What are your thoughts on the different types of art? Do you feel inspired by movies, tv shows, books, crafting…?

Yes, of course. I find a lot of inspiration in movies, series, music videos, comics, etc. I really like to experiment with textures or colors that I see for example in music videos. Doja Cat is one of the artists who puts the most style in her videos in terms of art, so I really like talking about her videos, for example. I really like "Avengers Assemble" , the animation I liked a lot when I saw it. I also like the simple sketches, I think that not everything has to be complex to be beautiful. I love crafting, I used to make bracelets when I was 14 I remember with some rubber bands in school.

15- Do you think an art type can feed the other art types and vice versa? How does this affect you?

I think so. For example, I'm a lot of sketching poses, faces, costumes all day, and then I like to use markers to finish that drawing. I do this many times before starting a piece in digital. Since I don't like doing sketches in digital so much, I got used to pencil and paper. So I am always combining these techniques in my creative process. I also took painting classes for 3 years and I really like it, so it helped me a lot with environments and painting techniques, some of them I apply in digital with some digital brushes, maybe for environment, clothes, skin texture, etc.

Valentin Romero

As a final word, I really hope you enjoyed this exclusive interview with this incredible and friendly artist. He was a joy to work with! If you'd like to be featured on my blog as an artist, please do reach me at catherinegv.writertranslator@gmail.com with an example and description of what you do! If you're not an artist in a "traditionally known way" (such as architects, and so on) but think it might count as art, I highly encourage you to contact me as well so we can discuss your idea! I think the more art types are known, the better we'll be for it.

Let's spread art, woohoo!

Thank you for being with me on this adventure, darlings, and see you next post!

A New Chapter for You to Read & And I’m Almost Finished Writing My Novel

chit-chatting with Cat, Miranda Kane (ROAH:R), My Projects May 21, 2021 Leave a comment

Hi, folks!

I've got two news for you relating to my novel Rise of a Heroine: Resurgence, a.k.a Miranda Kane (my main character).

So, I'm using Inkitt, a publishing platform similar to Wattpad, to post my novel online and land a publication contract with said platform.

Unfortunately, I've been neglecting it those last few months… BUT FEAR NOT! I am back in the ring with the 7th chapter now posted and ready for you to read!

YAY! Are you excited? I AM EXCITED! 😀

melissa benoist gifs Page 4 | WiffleGif

You can read my first 7 chapters and 2 prologues FOR FREE over at Inkitt: Rise of a Heroine: Resurgence

Please, sign up and leave a comment and/or rating. It really helps making my story known and gives me the opportunity to be offered a contract!

In addition to these news, I want to announce that:

I'M NEARLY DONE WRITING MY NOVEL! YES, FOLKS!

I've written 40 chapters out of 52 already! I'M SOON GETTING THERE!

Honestly, I'm looking at my novel like this:

Supergirl Melissa Benoist GIF - Supergirl MelissaBenoist KaraDanvers - Discover & Share GIFs

Genuine love, passion, tenderness, and awe. A bit of uncertainty, too. That's what I feel for it.

I'M SO READY!

I hope you'll give reading a try over at Inkitt, and that you'll enjoy my novel as much as I do.

Also, I made a vow to myself and you that I'd now upload a new chapter on Inkitt every two weeks. So, be prepared (*cue Scar's theme song from The Lion King here*)

Also, if you're wondering why I'm using Melissa Benoist in all my GIFs, it's because of this choice of face claims and here's a bonus graphic.

See you next post, lovelies!

Who Might The Giveaway Winner Be?

Blog Tours, Giveaways May 15, 2021 Leave a comment

Hello, folks!

We have a winner for my very first giveaway! It was for an ecopy of Bloodlaced, the first book in the Youkai Bloodlines series, by Courtney Maguire. You can read my review here.

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As a loyal reader of mine, Casthavian won the ebook via electronic draw to ensure fairness.

He's already been notified of the results, and I will send him the ecopy kindly offered by the author and Pssst… Promotions! as soon as I receive it.

I hope you all enjoyed the opportunity to participate in this giveaway. It sure made me happy!

I am confident Bloodlaced, a feudal Japan LGBTQ dark paranormal romance with vampires and demons, will delight Casthavian!

And what about you, dear reader?

Rest assured, you can always purchase an ebook or paperback copy at these retailers:

Amazon.ca

B&N

Kobo

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this deliciously dark and immersive book. And I thank you all for this amazing giveaway!

Now, go and read! Pick up a cup of ocha (おちゃ) and sit on a tatami (畳) and happy reading, loves!

See you next post. *kisses*

Light Reading GIFs - Get the best GIF on GIPHY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Courtney Maguire is a University of Texas graduate from Corpus Christi, Texas.
Drawn to Austin by a voracious appetite for music, she spent most of her young adult life in dark, divey venues nursing a love for the sublimely weird. A self-proclaimed fangirl with a press pass, she combined her love of music and writing as the primary contributor for Japanese music and culture blog, Project: Lixx, interviewing Japanese rock and roll icons and providing live event coverage for appearances across the country.
Her first novel, WOUNDED MARTYR, is a 2019 RWA® Golden Heart® Finalist in the Contemporary Romance: Short Category.

You can find her on social media: Facebook, Twitter or at www.courtneymaguirewrites.com

Love the Youkai Bloodlines Series? Keep an eye out for Blood Bound, coming in Spring 2022.
Worried you might miss it? Join Maguire's Reader Group, Courtney's Coven: https://tinyurl.com/3yuh2vxc or sign up for her newsletter at the bottom of her website: https://www.courtneymaguirewrites.com/about to make sure to keep up to date on your favorite characters.

A Horror Comic Anthology: Texas Horror

Blog Tours, Book Reviews, chit-chatting with Cat May 13, 2021 Leave a comment

Now, finally, another great comic book arrived.

Now, let me just…

Comic Book GIFs | Tenor

Yes, let me just read it please.

So, I was fortunate enough to get an insider's look at Texas Horror by David Doub and Halo Toons (writers), and several artists such as Dominic Racho (art), Daniel Chan (letters), Terry Parr (art), Diego Garza (art), and Miguel Ángel Hernández (art).

This comic anthology has everything: diversity, LGBTQA+, horror, gore, humour… Name it! The drawing styles are different from story to story, which renews your attention, and there's one you'll like for sure.

As we all know, the pandemic makes it hard on everyone. However, conventions are an important part of making a comic book for creators; they help sell copies, spread the word about them, and generally get the connections and funds required–but where are the conventions now?

Exactly, none (or very few) is happening lately. So, ingenious creators turned to crowdfunding. After all, the public gets to read those comics, so a little contribution to the artists and writers can go a long way. If you want (and can) to help publish Texas Horror, please visit their Kickstarter page and make a contribution to receive benefits such as a copy of the comic book upon release: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/demonsinthedarkness/texas-horror

Read below for my review of the insider's look I was offered.

Thank you for reading and helping, loves! Please share and boost as any help will be useful. 😉

The first story I decided to read was Demons in the Dark, written by David Doub, art by Dominic Racho, and letters by Daniel Chan.

I really enjoyed this story. It was dark, gruesome, poignant, and emotional. I understand what these kids are going through; been there, suffered that. There's a lot of diversity, whether in regards to ethnicity and sexuality! Kudos for that, champs! Also, I rather enjoyed the moral of the story, it was touching. A bit too on the nose, maybe. But the characters are right: Anger hurts yourself, not the others. Plus, I thought the comic was too short. That’s a compliment.

On the negative side, sometimes the story felt rushed or cramped… again, I’d have preferred it to be longer. But it’s because it was good! Lastly, the drawings are detailed but the characters are supposed to be teenagers… Honestly, I thought for a few pages they were adults, or teachers, and then I debated the fact. Until it was made clear by their playing cards at the cafeteria they were teenagers…

The second story was Mask it or Casket, written by David Doub and art by Miguel Ángel Hernández:

That one was… hilarious, honestly. The names and the cynical & weirdo humour are perfect! I laughed a lot in the preview. But this comic can also be poignant as there’s a difficult family situation in the story, and the topic is about “masking”, something that is very current. Also, the drawings are both cute and pop with colours. They seem “light”, if drawings can have weight… it’s like you could cut them out and move them around like paper toys. That nice! They remind me of the latest Archie Comics, the newest issues. A different style, but that’s the vibe I get from this story. Finally, the horror looks to be ramped up… dangerous. Awesome!

The third story was Aerobicide Blockbuster, written by David Doub and art by Terry Parr:

The most beautiful and colourful of the stories! It’s so bright it pops, and I love the matte effect of the main character, blue-haired Sheri Ken (nice name there…, like a Shuriken!) This story was undoubtedly SO WEIRD, so upside down, with hints and allusions to old horror movies! So confusing, but so funny, and entertaining. I loved the nods to the classics, seriously! Honestly, I want to read the rest! Trust me, you’ll be surprised, too.

As for the other comics, the drawings look gorgeous to me, and they’re quite detailed (End World Escape, Luna Vino) and very cute (Kitchen Witches)! The stories sound very intriguing, and I wish the creators the best to publish Texas Horror Comic with YOUR help through their crowdfunding campaign.

Don’t forget to support them here to get a copy and bonuses: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/demonsinthedarkness/texas-horror

Please share this post, and talk about it on social media. Every bit helps!

Thank you, loves.

I hope this comic entertains you as much as it did me.

Love,

Catherine

Bloodlaced: A Book Review

Blog Tours, Book Reviews May 7, 2021 Leave a comment

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Courtney Maguire's Website

By Courtney Maguire

Genre: Fiction, Romance, LGBTQIA, Historical, Historical romance, Dark paranormal, paranormal romance
Number of pages: 314
ASIN: B08HW5ZRTH
ISBN: 9781648980152
Format: eBook (Kindle, Kobo, Nook), paperback
Publication date: September 29th, 2020
Publisher: City Owl Press
Type: Book, Novel, Series, First in a series

*I received a free ecopy in exchange for an honest review. No compensation has been given, and I write this book review willingly. A big thanks to Courtney Maguire, Let’s Talk Promotions, and Psst… Promotions!*

*Don't miss out on the ecopy giveaway for Bloodlaced here.*

Introduction

This was how I was approached with the opportunity to review this book: “Courtney Maguire's latest M/M dark paranormal romance, Blood Pact. Blood Pact is book two of the Youkai Bloodlines Series, and following its predecessor (and Author Shout Reader's Pick) Bloodlaced, this novel is once again set in a fictional world of a feudal Japan where monsters belong only in tales whispered in the dark–until they come creeping from the shadows.”

An M/M, dark paranormal, romance, Youkai, feudal Japan, monsters… What is there to say expect “YES, PLEASE! (ONEGAI SHIMASU!)”?!

It was exactly what I love about books, and honestly, I wasn’t disappointed. In fact, I was enthralled, highly entertained, and I fell in love unabashedly with this series.

To know how it happened, let’s go through this review together, shall we?

Blurb

Kanjin hardly view their servants as human. Even less so when they are different.

Asagi is different. Both a man and a woman.

In the wake of his failure to protect a boy he saw as a son from their abusive master, Asagi is sold into the house of a young nobleman, Mahiro, who is the opposite of everything Asagi has ever known—gentle, kind, and generous.

Mahiro bonds with Asagi and their friendship blooms into a deep and profound love. But when Asagi is poisoned out of jealousy, Mahiro reveals himself to be youkai, a demon who feeds on blood, and he has no choice but to turn Asagi to save his life.

Asagi awakes reborn, strong, and eternally youthful. But the price for Asagi’s new life is high.

The blood of the innocent.

Just as Asagi’s trust in Mahiro falters, the boy he failed to protect, now a man, reappears.

New master, same threat.

With both a literal and proverbial monster at the door, Asagi must decide what it means to be human to protect what he loves most.

Content Warnings: physical abuse, sexual abuse (off-page), self-harm, blood, graphic violence

The Positive Sides

My introduction into the Youkai Bloodlines series was with the very poignant and exciting first chapter. I FELT there with Asagi and Goshujin-sama, and the little boy. I was on the tatami with Asagi. I’ll be bold and declare it’s one of the most captivating first chapters I ever read.

The darkness of this book is delectable what with demons, vampires, and many more dangerous topics (please be aware of the trigger warnings in the blurb above!) I’m a sucker (I swear this pun wasn’t intended!) for such darkness in stories. While the story is dark in itself, the main character is something else in more ways than one. I love how Asagi is lovable and different… But you’ll have to read to learn how ;). It’s just special and fun! Something unique I had yet to read about—in a certain way, I mean.

Also, I LOVED the relationship between Asagi and the little boy he tries so hard to protect. I mean… how sweet, and… Well, you’ll have to read it. 😉 But it’s fun to see how it comes back to bite him in the a**. As for the romance, well… The romance and survival game between Asagi and Mahiro is something I live for. Here’s my heart, thank you. ❤

What about the writing? Well, it’s so seamless I read it effortlessly. I had that strange but highly pleasant feeling of “not reading”… I didn’t have to “concentrate”, it was just so fun and well-written. Because this is a compliment, it doesn’t mean it’s easy nor simple writing, it means it’s so well woven with good cultural inserts and the characters jump off the page into your heart, that it was as though the story was put directly into my head, you know? Highly enjoyable!

And lastly, if there’s something I squealed and fangirled over was her knowledgeable use of the Japanese language and precision of the culture. There’s even a Japanese glossary, YES! As a polyglot who speaks Japanese, all these details about the language and the culture, *correct* details, make me so happy and giddy! I would just have enjoyed if there were kanji and kana (Japanese writing systems) in the glossary as well as romaji (Japanese pronunciations in our Western writing). It would have been a nice touch, but I know this is quite complex to do. Still, I am thrilled she included a glossary!

A bonus: look at that cover! JUST LOOK AT IT. BE MESMERIZED. It is gorgeous, ominous, so faithful both to the story and the culture explored in this book. Honestly, I just want to print a picture of it and display it on my bedroom wall. It features pretty much everything I love in a story and in general. :3

The Negative Sides

…… None? I loved everything about this book! Mostly Asagi, and it’s rare I love main characters, but he’s so charming and kind. And the paranormal is so fun and dark! A gem.

So, really, nothing negative to report, haha.

(I’d still love the kanji and kana in the glossary though, just for my personal amusement.)

In Conclusion

Now, frankly, would it be a surprise to say I am giving this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars? No, it would not. I know. But it's worth it, trust me! If you enjoy dark paranormal stories, vampires, an angsty bittersweet romance, anything related to the Japanese culture (hmmm, does sushi count here?), a seamless reading experience, and a completely magical world with lovable characters that sweep you off your feet, please, do pick Bloodlaced up.

Read the book the heat kino GIF - Find on GIFER