Concerning Jodi

Although my books are all published under my real name, I chose to blog under the name of one of my characters, Jodi Fairforest, partly for safety and partly because we have a lot in common.

Jodi is the co-star of my newest book, The Gallant. Like me, she is a writer, but a much more successful one. She lives in the semi-fictional* town of Avalon Beach, Florida, the famous "Home of Real Superheroes." Her life, if not exactly ordinary, is pleasant and mildly exciting until she uses the town's slogan as inspiration for her (fictionally) bestselling novel, The Gallant. Everything changes one morning when a man who looks exactly like her main character, the dashing Sir Errol the Gallant, shows up at her apartment. It turns out that there are real superheroes in Avalon, almost exactly as she has described them in her book. Unfortunately, there is also a very real supervillain with dark plans for Avalon Beach. The most wonderful thing that ever happened to Jodi might also be the death of her...

*I took a great deal of creative license in describing Avalon in my book because I honestly didn't know it existed. In the book it is a combination of quaint beach town and thriving metropolis. In reality, it is just a quaint beach town.

You can find out more about Jodi Fairforest here:

 http://www.lulu.com/shop/olivia-taylor/the-gallant-2nd-edition/paperback/product-21751674.html

Hello from Jodi

"We are too young to know that certain things are impossible...so we will do them anyway."
William Wilberforce

First of all I want to say thank you to Angelina Zoe for inviting me to be part of this blog! Although I have written and self-published four books, this is my first blog post!

I put  the quote by William Wilberforce in because it has inspired me throughout my adventures in creative writing. One of the most important things I have learned in my journey so far is that you don't need to have a big publishing deal to get your work out there. It doesn't have to be horrendously expensive. I started out printing my books at home and getting them bound at Staples. At the moment, I use an online self-publishing company called Lulu.com. The actual publishing part is free, but you have to order and pay for the actual books. They do charge an outrageous amount for shipping. Still, it's a much simpler process than going through a publisher.
Don't be afraid to share your great ideas with the world! Always remember that the most awful rough draft that you've actually typed is a hundred times better than that perfect story idea in your head. It will become even better with love, time, and work. Try to enjoy the journey of writing a book as much as the destination!

Angie's Inspiration

This week's random inspiration from Angie...

WORD PROMPT! 

I'll put the prompt, and then I'll put the small snippet of the inspiration I wrote from it.  

"You know, I just don't care..." 

Brushing a dark strand of gelled hair that stuck straight up and out of place among his neatly arrayed hair, he lifted his chin regally and glanced at his visage in the mirror.  Very proper looking, he thought to himself.  Proper indeed.  "Look, Darling, your business is your business and my business is - well - mine." 

"I just don't see why I can't choose the victim this time, Daddy," the adolescence whined, slouching on the futon she was draped across with a pout spread across her round face.  

"Oh, for the thousandth time!  I specifically told Juanita to get all the blood out of my white laced kerchiefs!"  He muttered angrily, picking through an array of blood stained handkerchiefs to place in his coat pocket.  Turning towards his daughter, he delicately picked a small pistol from the top of his dresser and tucked it in his gun belt under his suit.  "You know, I just don't care...  Go pick your own for all I care, and here," he handed her another pistol, loading it and putting the safety on.  "Take this while you're at it."    

Hope this one sparked your creative spark.  I'd love to hear yours! 

~Angie 

Ultimate Writer's Hideout!

The first post on the new blog... *happy sigh*  I want to savor this moment so when I'm famous I can look back and cry at how youthful I used to be... *wipes a single tear away*  Give me a moment.

Ahem.  Anyways, I'm happy to introduce this new blog/website/writing corner to the world!  May it bring inspiration and encouragement to all writers out there, whether they be young, old, experienced, inexperienced, everyone.  There will be different types of inspiration (picture inspiration, word inspiration, inspiration through critique, all that fun stuff) for all types of writers.  This site will (hopefully will grow to) be the ultimate writer's hideout.

I hope that here, writers will come to unite together, be bold, be unafraid, be... INSPIRED.



~Angelina Zoe