NaNoWriMo + Month of Characters

NaNoWriMo kicks off for me in a little over an hour! I'm excited and so is Wendel.

November also begins in a little over an hour. And with November comes my first ever Month of Characters.

I will be featuring a variety of characters during the month of November...some will be from my novels, others will be from various authors. If you would like to see your character featured on the blog, please do one of the following:
1. Submit a letter from your character to their readers.
2. Fill out the questionnaire in this post.
3. Write a brief description or include a brief excerpt featuring your character.

Your name will be included (and a link to your website if you have one) with each and every character you submit. I am not looking to claim anyone's work...merely feature it and share it with others.

Submit all entries to aurumsisters@gmail.com

Happy Halloween!!

Photo #31: More Cover Art

Tomorrow kicks off the start of NaNoWriMo. This is an epic writing challenge to get 50,000 words written in one month (30 days). I will be participating this year (and as such, this blog will be used primarily as a writing blog).


For today's pictures, I give you two covers. The first is from last year's attempt at writing Wendel's story during NaNo. The second is for this year's attempt at writing the same story (starting completeley over). I am determined to get his story told one way or another. It's necessary for this coming summer, when we plan to start in on Enchantment.

You can follow my progress at: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/422976

Both covers made by me. =)

Photo #30: Hiding

There's a person hiding behind that fan... but who is it?

Photo #29: Just a Quick One

I'm still sick, but I feel ya'll deserve a picture.

So....

Picture taken by: Crystal

Picture of: Me as a vampire

Taken when: last Halloween

Photo #28: No photo :(

Hey guys. I'm sad to report that there will be no photo today. :( I'm sick with a fever and cough. I'll give you double photos the next time I post.

Also, don't forget that November is the Month of Characters. I'm still looking for more character submissions.

Photo #27: Bunnies on Stage?

Photo taken by: me
Photo of: Shinedown concert in Charlotte

Yes, they had bunnies on stage!

Photo #26: A Shot of Us from the Concert

Photo taken by: me

In Photo: Crystal and me

Photo from: Shinedown concert in Charlotte

Photo #25: My 23rd Birthday

So, it's actually a video of photos! Lucky you!

Photo #24: Happy birthday to me!

Photo of: Crystal and me
Taken when: November 2008 at Carolina Renaissance Faire

Guess who's 23 today? Me!!
Guess how I'm celebrating? The Carolina Renaissance Faire followed by a Shinedown concert.

Photo #23: The Foot Popper

Photo from: childhood
In photo: my sister, Crystal, and me (I'm the blonde)

This has always been one of my favorite photos of us as kids.

Photo #22: Peep Jousting

This is what happens when you allow ghost peeps to "joust" in the microwave. I'm not even sure who the winner was.

Photo #21: Super Dog!

Picture taken by: me
Picture of: Kandy (our dog)

Photo #20: More School Stuff

Picture taken by: me
Picture of: Fall Bulletin Board
Bulletin Board put together by my family and me last year.

Photo #19: Haunted House

Picture taken by: me
Haunted house designed by: me
What is it? Our class door decoration from last year!

Photo #18: The Ghost Cake

Picture taken by: me
Cake made by: Food Lion (the local grocery store)
Bought cake because: We bought it because of the ghosts. Not going to lie. The ghosts reminded us of Night's Final Hour over at Two to Write.
Was it good? It's very good. Chocolate cake...yum!

November Theme Announced!!

For those of you that follow my blog, you'll notice that I took October and turned it into a giant theme month (Photo Blog). I have really liked this and I've decided to do the same thing for November.

That being said, let me introduce the theme for November.....The Month of Characters.

This coming month, I would love your help!!

The goal for November is to feature a different character each day. That's 30 characters.

I could do this with only my (and Crystal's) characters, but I want more!

So, if you have a character you would love to see featured, then submit the following (by emailing* me):

Name of Character:
Species:
Birthplace:
Description (5 sentences or less):

Mini interview for the character:

What is your biggest fear?

What is your favorite hobby?

What would you change about the story you're featured in?


Feel free to add your own descriptors and adjust as needed. I want you to make this your own. Credit will be given to you and your name will be mentioned (and linked if desired) in the post. I would love to see lots of people participating! I may even do more than one character a day if I get enough entries!

Important: I need entries no later than October 30th so that I can have them up and ready to go in time for November (Blogger offers great postdating options). I am participating in NaNo and will need to keep time open for that.

*Email: aurumsisters at livejournal dot com

Photo #17: Advertising

Photo taken by: me

Photo of: Crystal hanging Two to Write flyers at the college

Photo #16: The Stone Quill

Photo taken by: me
Photo taken in: Nashville, TN

Photo #15: Koala

Picture taken by: me
Picture of: Koala
Picture taken at: Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, SC

Fun game: Let's give this fellow a name! I would love to hear your suggestions!! =)

Photo #14: Kandy

Picture taken by: me
Picture of: the family dog, Kandy

Photo #13: Jilly's Prize

So, I had to keep the prize cheap as I don't make a ton of money.

But, without further ado, I present to you Jilly's prize!

It's just a small bag, but it does contain a surprise or two inside!! Hope you enjoy it. I'll be sending it your way soon!

The smaller prizes for Tami and Layren are coming soon to a blog near you.

Photo #12: Just the Three of Us

Photo taken by: Faire worker

Photo taken at: Carolina Renaissance Festival

Photo taken when: October 10, 2009

We had fun!

Contest Winners!!!

Well, thanks to all who entered my contest. I have chosen the winner (by random)!

Here's how I selected the winner:
I numbered the entrants, assigning them multiple numbers for multiple entries. Then, I went to random.org and entered the number of entries. I hit generate and received the winner's number. So, without further ado...

The winner is Jilly!!!

Tami and Layren each win a small prize for guessing our mystery performer correct.

The mystery performer was Gypsy Geoff and I will share lots of fun anecdotes from his shows tomorrow.

Congratulations everyone!

Keep your eye out for the next contest!

Photo #11: Mystery Performer

Two more shots of our mystery performer:

Pictures taken by: me

Taken where: Carolina Renaissance Festival

Don't forget the contest! http://pamelamaclean.blogspot.com/2009/10/photo-10-mystery-performer.html

It ends tonight at 11pm...but I may extend it if need be. Good luck!

Photo #10: Mystery Performer

Taken by: me
Taken when: last fall
Taken where: Carolina Renaissance Faire
Who is it?
Take a guess!! Here's a hint: http://www.royalfaires.com/carolina
(Contest description below!)

My contest:
The above picture is a picture of a mystery performer from the Carolina Renaissance Faire where I am spending today. This performer is someone that performed in the lanes of the Faire last year and I have some great stories from his performances (I'll share these on Monday after the contest has ended). This year, he'll be there again and I'm super excited because he'll actually be on one of the stages for a performance! Anyways, on to the contest.

The contest is simple: Guess the Mystery Performer!

How do I win? You will automatically receive a small prize if you guess correctly! (mystery prize)
There will also be a "grand" prize winner who will win an item from the Renaissance Faire (don't know what yet, as I'm going tomorrow).

How do I enter?
Several ways:
+1 for making a guess (automatic prize if you guess correctly)
+1 for each tweet made about this contest or Two to Write(limit 5)
+2 for blogging about it (sidebar is fine)
+1 for following my blog
+2 for following Two to Write
+2 for mentioning Two to Write in a blog post
+2 for posting a link (to this contest or Two to Write) in another place (ex: LJ, Facebook, etc.)
Deadline: October 11, 2009 at 11pm EST

Please remember to include some sort of contact information.
Good luck everyone!!!

*Two to Write is the writing journal that I publish with my sister. We would love it if you would spread the word about our FREE fiction. =) Thanks!

The Return of Fun Fridays? + A Contest!

Okay, not really the return but I am taking a moment to post a fun friday post. For those of you that were following me before October, you'll remember all about this. For those of you that are new to my blog, here's a quick explanation. Fun Fridays are designated as the day for hosting contests and the day for posting about the contests of others. Typically, it's one or the other. Today, it's both (my contest here - future post about other contests)!!!


First, about my contest. I will be hosting a contest along with tomorrow's photo. The contest will run from noon tomorrow until 11pm Sunday night (EST). I would love to have lots of participants. My last contest had zero entries. (I am hoping to spread the word about Two to Write* through this contest as well, so don't be alarmed by reference to it in the ways to enter.) Hint: It relates to the Carolina Renaissance Faire.


Now for my contest spotter:

Princess Bookie is holding another contest for free books at: http://www.princessbookie.com/2009/10/contest-time.html

Color Online is hosting a giveaway for Mrs. O: http://coloronline.blogspot.com/2009/10/mrs-o-giveaway.html

Another contest from Princess Bookie: http://www.princessbookie.com/2009/10/contest-of-month-1009.html

Maggie Stiefvater has extended her Ballad contest: http://maggiestiefvater.blogspot.com/2009/10/ballad-contest-extended-to-halloween.html

A giveaway from Alaine in celebration of her birthday: http://alainereading.blogspot.com/2009/09/huge-birthday-celebrations-for-october.html
Happy early birthday Alaine! (Mine's the 24th of October!)

A giveaway from the Eclectic Reader (Happy Blogversary!): http://teddyree-theeclecticreader.blogspot.com/2009/10/1st-blogoversary-giveaway-spookalicious.html


*Two to Write is the writing journal that I publish with my sister. We would love it if you would spread the word about our FREE fiction. =) Thanks!

Photo #9: Renaissance Faire Trio

Photo taken by: Me
In Photo {in order of appearance}: Crystal (my sister), Me, Natalie (great friend)
Location: Georgia Renaissance Faire (Fairburn, GA)

Photo #8: The Beginnings of Autumn

Picture taken by: me
Location: Oconee State Park

Photo #7: Hidden Falls

Picture taken by: me
Location: Hidden Falls (Oconee State Park, SC)

Photo #6: Hidden Falls Sign

Photo taken by: me
Location: Hidden Falls Trail (Oconee State Park, SC)

Photo #5: Two to Write Logo

My latest Photoshop project


Logo for Two to Write

Made by: me

Made using: Photoshop

Images from Oconee State Park coming this week!

Photo #4: Waterfall

Photo taken by: me
Location: Vogel State Park, GA

Photo #3: Blood Mountain

Photo taken by: Me
Location: Vogel State Park, GA

Photo #2: Play Cover for our Novel

Photo made by me with Adobe Photoshop.
Play cover for Dancing beneath the Moon.

Photo #1: Profile Picture

Photo taken by: me
Photo number: one

*All rights to photos belong to me.*

Comments and questions are welcome.