Keeping My Promise

So, remember a while back when I mentioned that I would be one of a million to get a first look at Pottermore thanks to the Magic Quill challenge?  And remember how I promised to share a little more about it once I did?

Well, on Friday, I got my official welcome letter, and have been playing on Pottermore ever since. 

Guys it is SO FREAKING AWESOME.  The graphics are unparalleled.  Really I've never seen such beautiful graphics before.  Since it's still in beta, there are some bugs, but that'll be fixed by October when the site opens to all.

Since the biggest mystery of all is what it actually entails, here you go. 

Things you can do on Pottermore:

1.  Explore the chapters -  each chapter has 2 or 3 scenes constructed in the most gorgeous artwork ever.  You can zoom in on the images and search to collect things like chocolate frog cards, books, and potion ingredients.  This is also where you'll find the exclusive new content from Rowling.  (As writers, you will most certainly appreciate this new content.  One in particular had this sap in tears.  It's so so so amazing.)

2.  A wand and a sorting -  your first time through you go through a series of questions to determine your wand and then your house.  (RAVENCLAW FTW!)

3.  Earn house points -  there is a house cup (though I'm not quite sure how that works, or when it's awarded) that you earn points for by finding the items hidden through the chapters, and by successfully brewing potions or dueling with other students.

4.  Brewing potions -  yes, you can really for real brew potions.  I'm quite good at it, but it's very hard.  You've got to move fast and get everything just right.  If you don't, your cauldron will explode.  True fact.

5.  Duel -  I haven't gotten to do this yet, dueling has been down since I joined, but I've been practicing my spells.  I'll be ready once it's fixed.

6.  Common Rooms -  each house has its own common room where you can see what fellow house members are talking about.  I don't know about the other houses, but everyone in Ravenclaw is incredibly friendly and helpful!

That's a rundown for now!  I'm sure more will be added as we go -- all the beta testers are working hard at giving feedback and suggestions (and trying to win house points, of course lol).  Overall, Pottermore is addictingly fun.

Are any of you beta testers for Pottermore?  I'd love to hear what you think -- or to add you as my friend on there!

Pottermore

My blood is magical.

Er, at least that's what the site said when I made the cut for Pottermore early registration Sunday morning.  :)  <-- that's an understated smiley.  I feel more like this:

 

 If you're clueless, go to the Pottermore Insider and read.  The site is an online reading experience for the Harry Potter books.  You've heard of it, right?  It opens to the public in October, but they're having a string of contests for a week to allow a million (I think) people in for early beta testing.

Being over the top excited to get in on this early is one thing, but to think about the implications this could hold for all books is another. 

Think of it this way -- it's turning the whole book, the whole reading experience, into an interactive experience.  A game almost.  From where I'm sitting, this looks like a whole new realm to be opened up and explored, most especially for those reluctant readers.

I know there have been things like interactive book apps for kids and such, but Pottermore is taking it to a much higher level.  You don't just read the book, you live it.  Sometimes I think we all wish we could live inside some of our favorite stories, and now we get to go one step closer to that.

What do you guys think?  Excited about Pottermore?  Interested to see where you think it could take the future of books.  This is not meant as a doomsday for books post.  I think anything that draws more people in to reading is great.  :) 

So it Ends

Well, the world has officially experienced its very last Harry Potter movie premier.  It's exciting and heartbreaking all at the same time.  But we've already talked about what HP has meant to us, so we'll skip that today.

I actually saw the movie twice this weekend.  Friday I went with my sister and family, then Saturday I took Super Spawn and he was SO stinking cute, I thought I'd share a couple of pics with you.

He's my little Ron Weasley.  :)  And totally a Gryffindor personality.  He was so good in the movie, and he LOVED it.  I was worried all the fighting might scare him, but he was so into it!  In fact, he even cheered at the end. 

If you can't tell, I love that he loves HP.  It makes my heart all warm and fuzzy.  <3

Tell me, did you see the movie this weekend?  What'd you think?  I was very pleased, I thought they did a phenomenal job.  It was good enough I cried through the 2nd half of the movie BOTH times I saw it.  lol

What does Harry Potter mean to you?

I know not everyone here is a Potter Head, but I know some of you are.  My sister and I recently had a very heated discussion over why Harry Potter is important to me, and I had a tough time putting it to words.  So, lucky you gets to read it.  :P

Harry Potter has been a part of my life for about the last 10 years, like many people.  I read the books, I saw the movies, I enjoyed them.  The books inspire me, they transport me away from the worries of life and into a whole new world in a way another book has never done.  I feel as invested in the lives of Harry, Ron, and Hermione as I do anyone's.

But the biggest impact Harry Potter made on me was through J. K. Rowling and her rags to riches story.  I've shared before some of the similar experiences I've had in my life, and nothing inspires to keep going more than to know that she pulled through it all.  Heck, she did way more than pull through.

The thing is, Harry Potter is more to me than a story.  It's what inspired me to gather up my courage and write a book.  It's what inspires me to continue writing books.  When I get down in the dumps, it's Harry I turn to.  (I know I'm a little crazy.  I accept that.) 

At the end of the day though, my sister still shrugged and said, "Meh, I still don't get it.  It's just a movie."

Which is when I bashed her head into a wall.  Not really.  But I may have daydreamed about it.  Because it's way more than "just a movie" to me.  Harry Potter is a symbol of all the struggles I've been through in my life, and of all the hope I have for my future.

What about you?  What does Harry Potter mean to you?

Harry Potter and Close Calls

So, we conquered the Wizarding World of Harry Potter this past weekend with about 50 million other people!  The park was so freaking busy, it was nuts.  Apparently Saturday was the slowest day they had seen in a month -- I asked -- and it was insanity.  Sunday was worse.

Click on people's faces in the photo to tag them.

Either way, we had a blast.  Super Spawn was in three-year-old heaven with all the rides and exciting things to do and see.  He even rode Flight of the Hippogriff (a roller coaster)!  He came home bedecked in every bit of Gryffindor paraphernalia we could find, Ron Weasley's wand, Scabbers, and a flying car.

I've got my own little Weasley.  :) 

Click on people's faces in the photo to tag them.

We drank butterbeer (YUM), ate in the Three Broomsticks (YUM), had Rock Cake (DOUBLE YUM), and even adopted a Pygme Puff named Hermione.

Yes, we had a blast.

We did have a couple near misses on our trip though.  As we left Islands of Adventure on Saturday evening we noted smoke billowing into the sky from the park.  We wondered what it was coming from, but shrugged it off and went to the hotel.  Later we learned that a ride in the Toon Town portion of the park had caught fire.  A ride we were looking for the entrance to, but gave up when Super Spawn decided he was ready to go.  *phew*  Thank you, Super Spawn.  (This ride has it out for me, I think.  On my Senior trip it broke down while I was on it and we had to evacuate.  Weird.)

The biggest, and scariest, near miss happened on the way home.

The interstates were packed full of cars, people trying to zoom in and out of bumper-to-bumper traffic.  Scary.  I don't like interstates, and I definitely don't like them full of bad drivers.  Lucky for us, we had my sister's GPS, which we set to take us home by back roads.

Out in the middle of nowhere, on a four lane road with a 65mph speed limit, we had our second near miss.

We were riding along in the left lane, a gray truck in the right about six or eight car-lengths in front of us.  A white truck pulled across the road, and I saw it coming. 

I said, "Oh no," and slammed my foot onto the brake.  The gray truck hit the white truck -- full speed, there was no reaction time -- and I swerved off into the median as they went flying off the right side of the road.  I screamed, "Call 911!"

My brother-in-law is a first responder, law enforcement.  He bolted out of the car and across the street as my sister called for ambulances.  It was terrifying.  I've never seen such a bad accident in person, and I've certainly never come so close to being involved in one.

My brother-in-law was able to resuscitate the driver of the white truck, and she was taken by life-flight as the seven others involved were taken away by ambulance. 

We have no idea of the outcome.

All any of us could say to one another the rest of the drive home was, "Thank goodness Holly was driving."  I have the fastest reaction time, and well, I drive the slowest.  It's doubly strange because just minutes before this happened my sister and I were talking about how differently we drive.  How I prefer the left lane, and she prefers the right.  How I am more of a defensive driver, and she is more aggressive.  We switched seats, so I could drive, not thirty minutes before this happened.

Not only is this a lesson in safe driving (PAY ATTENTION AND SLOW DOWN, PEOPLE!  There were two very small kids involved in this accident, and I shudder to think of the outcome had they not been belted properly in carseats.), it's also a lesson in chance and character.

It was chance that I was driving.  Chance that we chose to leave the interstate.  Chance that the GPS chose this route for us.  But it was character that had me in the left lane.  Character that I reacted the way I did.  Character kept us from being involved.

As you're writing and delving into who your characters are, consider this.  Which lane would they have been in?  Would their outcome have been the same?  Would they fly across the street to save a life, be the one on the phone for the ambulance, or be the one still gripping the steering wheel, shaking from head to toe as they calm the baby down in the back?

Insanity

As promised, the insanity that is me when I get excited about something - captured on video.  Yes, I speak of my trip to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part one.  Along for the ride were my sister and brother-in-law, who are just as crazy as me...which makes for lots of fun when you're sitting in line for over three hours.

We went to the 10:45pm showing on Friday night and the crowds were still insane. The line went all the way down the theater hallway, wrapped back around and went out into the atrium area.  In the end they had to make our line about four rows deep.  Nuts.

So, want proof of my randomness and propensity to giggle at everything?  Here it is...

And then I thought I'd try to interview Super BIL...

Gotta love the awesome people you meet at these kind of shows...

And of course, with any making of a movie you're going to have some bloopers...

There were a lot more videos made, but you get the idea.

Doesn't that make you want to go to a movie with me?  lol  My sister calls me her personal entertainment system.  :)  I hope you all enjoyed a dose of my insanity.  We had a crazy good time, and the movie was awesome.

And Emma Watson?  OMG  She rocked this movie, let me tell ya.

I hope you all had wonderful holidays.  Much more insanity ensued on black Friday for the fearsome duo of my sister and me.  Unfortunately (or perhaps more fortunately) no videos were taken.  :)

Have a great Monday!

Friday! It's here!

It is finally Friday the 19th!  You all know what that means...it means it's the official release date of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1.  It means early this morning thousands were standing in line, and sitting in theaters across the country to get the first glimpse at the much anticipated movie.

Alas, I was not one of them.

Having a Super Spawn tends to mean I'm home in the wee hours of the morning.  Okay, so it means I'm always home in the wee hours of the morning.  lol

But lose no faith my fellow HP lovers!  I'll be seeing the movie tonight!

Seriously, I came to work bedecked in my Ravenclaw shirt.  Can't wait to show my boss...she's gonna make fun of me.  Love it.

If you've seen it, all I want to know is this:  Was it amazing?

NO SPOILERS!  lol  I don't want to know about anything they left out or added or changed.  I'm avoiding Facebook and Twitter until I see it because I want my first impression of the movie to be without bias.

Yes, I'm that serious about Harry Potter movies.  Don't hate.

I hope you all have wonderful weekends.  I've got a lot of revising and beta reading to do this weekend.  Plus that chili cookoff that we're gonna ROCK!  'Til Monday, my friends!

It's in the details

So, I'm re-reading Deathly Hallows in preparation for the movie this Friday.  I do this every time -- cram the book in one last time so it's fresh in my memory.  That way when they screw things up in the movie, I can still explain to my sister what's going on. (She hasn't read the books. She's one of those Twilight lovers -- and I try to explain how much more amazing HP is, but she doesn't listen.)

Anyway, back on topic.

Reading again, right.  Okay, so as we said in the comments yesterday -- reading this series, any of the books really, leaves me in awe of the amount of planning JKR did.  The way she wove those books together was masterful.

What I'm trying to grasp from this reading is how to effectively plan a series.  Did she sit down and plot out all seven books at the onset?  My gut says no.  She could have, but I don't know.

Either way, how do you handle such a massive undertaking?  Did she sit down to write the second book and go, "Hold on!  Let me go back to book one and see what I can pull in here to make the story richer."

How many of you have written, or are writing, series books?  Two, three, more?  What do you do to make sure details are carried from one book to the next?  Do you intentionally leave clues in the first book to feed the second, or do ideas stem from what you wrote and blossom in the later editions?

My current WIP is heading the way of two or three books, and though they've been in the back of my mind stewing on plot and characterization, I haven't sat down and really planned anything.  I've got a few  notes scribbled here and there, but that's all.

Tell me, lovelies, what do you do?  Or what would you do if you found your WIP couldn't be told in just one book?

Do you know what day it is?

We interrupt this blog post for an announcement that will shock the nation, send old men into hiding, and make young children cry (with glee). 

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part one releases this Friday.  I repeat, this Friday!

Who has their tickets?  Me, me, I do!!  Unfortunately, I don't get to go to the midnight showing *shakes fist at sky* as I have a Super Spawn that must be attended to.  But I will be going Friday night...to the IMAX showing.  HOORAY!!!!!

So, for today's post I want to know:  Which Harry Potter book has influenced you the most, either as a writer or a reader, and how?

For me, it was Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.  It was, admittedly, the first book I read in the series.  I had seen the movies, and loved them, but never picked the books up.  When I picked this one up, my life was changed forever.  Seriously.  No melodrama intended.  I fell in love all over again with the art of words.  It drew me back to where I had been a few years before, back before a major life catastrophe.  It was like finding a long lost friend.

So much happens in OOTP, and Harry is forced to deal with more than ever before.  There's the betrayal he feels from Dumbledor, Ron and Hermione, there's always drama at Hogwarts, Voldemort is back, and then the unthinkable happens: JKR kills one of her lovelies.

I cried and cried and cried.  I cry every time I read it, and every time I watch the movie.  (It's my favorite movie out of all of them so far, so I watch it a lot.)

I'm not exaggerating at all when I say Harry Potter helped me find myself.  Because he did.  I've read the books over and over and over again through the years, and I'll never stop.  He reminded me of my love for reading, my love for words, and eventually he led me back to writing.

Tipsy Tuesday - On Vacation

Today, I am going to give you some Vacation/Theme Park tips from a Floridian who has been there and done all that. Me!

So, Florida is full of tourists on any given day of the week. We have beaches, Disney World, Universal, Miami, the rich and famous...let's face it: Florida's got it goin' on.

I also never fail to notice that tourists don't understand how to work the system around here. So, for my select lovelies, I'm gonna give you tips a la Harry Potter.First, just because it's cool, here's my quill and parchment I used to send letters home from Hogsmead!


Now, as most of us Florida residents know, when you get to a theme park (the minute it opens) you go straight to the attraction you most want to see. No lallygagging, girls! Hogsmead was amazing...beautiful...while the crowds were minimal. The later the day got, the more people showed up. Tourists -- some from the states, most from England and Switzerland.



Then, first thing when you get to Hogsmead, go ahead and grab a butterbeer. There was no line when we got there, but later in the day it was miles long. By the way butterbeer tastes like you're drinking butter cream frosting. Seriously. It's delicious, but soooo sweet!

Then, if you are a purveyor of rides, you need to make your way to a line. The earlier in the day you ride, the shorter the line is going to be. As of about 10am the wait for the ride in Hogwarts was only 30 minutes. (All of the walkways and stores in Hogsmead are really small. That's why they look so crowded. But trust me, the crowds weren't bad at all until about 1pm)



After you've ridden your little hearts out, go find the Three Broomsticks and settle in for an early lunch. If you wait until noon to eat the lines will be ridiculous, and you may not get a table very quickly. We ate at about 11 and were seated immediately with our delicious fare.


After lunch, head over to Honeydukes for desert. The cauldron cake was phenomenal. Oh, and don't leave without a box of salt water taffy...omg...best taffy EVER. Seriously. Get the taffy...and send me a box while you're at it.



One thing Non-Floridians don't realize is: while we are called the Sunshine State, it actually rains almost every day. During the summer it does rain every day. Every. Single. Day. Usually the rain will hold off until late afternoon when the clouds finally blow in from the coast -- instant thunderstorm. So, another benefit of going early in the day. We left at about 1 or 1:30, had been through all the shops and bought WAY too much stuff. (see below for proof) So we were back at the hotel when the clouds let loose their fury.


Overall, everything was amazing. If you need anything just ask any worker you see. They're all more than happy to snap a picture for you, or tell you where to find a broomstick.

Friday Fun

Something that made me giggle:

Not a single person that entered my contest claimed to be a Slytherin! Not a single one! Maybe that's because my blog is for writers, and let's face it, us writers -- we're more Ravenclaw material. Although, there were more Gryffindor than anything. A few Hufflepuff too. Gotta love the Hufflepuffs.

Guess what --

I LEAVE TODAY FOR THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER!!!!!!!!!

Erm...yeah. I'm sorta stoked.

Other awesome news --

My glorious crit partner, Susan, is nearly done with Emerald's Keeper! I'm all tingly in anticipation. I just finished rewriting the very last scene for the 100millionth time and I can't wait to see what she thinks. Naturally, I think it's brilliant. Also naturally, she'll help me make it even better.

Exciting things on the horizon, lovelies!

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White is released next week (8/31). I've already pre-ordered it on my Nook. Kiersten's blog is one of my very favorite to follow, so I can't wait to get my hands on this book. I just know it'll be awesome.

Also, on September 7th, The DUFF by Kodi Kepplinger is released! Another one I'm super excited about. But I haven't figured out how to pre-order it on my Nook. Maybe it's not starting out in e-format. Not sure. I'll get it one way or another.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend! I'll be back on Monday with a full report and the contest winner!!

Don't Forget!

Don't forget to enter my Birthday Party, Follower Celebration Contest BONANZAAAA!!

Prizes!!

One lucky winner will receive:

A surprise from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
Your choice of an ARC: The Wave by Susan Casey, The King's Mistress by Emma Campion, or Leaving the World by Douglas Kennedy.
My copy of Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass
AND one of my favorite pens- Uniball Signo


The winner will be chosen on August 28th (my birthday) in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

I'll post the winner on Monday August 30th along with pictures!

Entries close tomorrow at 5pm EST! (Leave your entry comments on the main post, not this one).

CONTEST TIME!!

It's time for the Birthday Party, Follower Celebration Contest BONANZAAAA!!

Prizes!!

One lucky winner will receive:

A surprise from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
Your choice of an ARC: The Wave by Susan Casey, The King's Mistress by Emma Campion, or Leaving the World by Douglas Kennedy.
My copy of Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass
AND one of my favorite pens- Uniball Signo


So how do you enter?! Easy!

1. You must be a follower to enter.
2. In your comment tell me which Hogwarts House you belong in.
3. Tweet about it for 1 extra entry per tweet (just leave your @ in the comments)
4. Blog about it for 3 extra entries (leave a link to your blog)

You do not have to tweet or blog about it to enter, just tell me which House you belong in. The tweets and blogs are just for extra chances to win!

Then on August 28th, on my birthday, in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter a winner will be chosen! I'll post the winner on Monday August 30th along with pictures!

Entries open today! Good luck!

Friday Fun

So, what did you all think of the Critique Party? Was it useful?

I know my query is going to sparkle and shine now!

Thank you all so much for participating, I had a lot of fun reading everyone's pages and responses. Even seeing people's critique's on someone else's work can make a light bulb go off in my head. "Hey, that's what my story needs!"

Well, I'm at 49 followers, and my birthday is this month. Sounds like it's almost time for a CONTEST!

I'm actually going to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter for my birthday.(SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!) Aside from my overwhelming excitement, I think I may just bring a prize back for a contest!! I've got some ARC's to give away, and paired with Harry Potter prizes? Well, I'm not sure it gets much better.

So, that's coming! My birthday isn't until the 28th, so I think I'll tie the contest around that date...somehow. OOH! Maybe I'll get my lovely cousin to pick the winner IN HARRY POTTER WORLD!!!!!! ON MY BIRTHDAY!!!!

OMG. I'm a little excited at the idea.

Dates and rules will come soon. Have a wonderful weekend, lovelies!

Book Recommendation - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
By J.K. Rowling

Blurb from Goodreads: "Harry Potter has never been the star of a Quidditch team, scoring points while riding a broom far above the ground. He knows no spells, has never helped to hatch a dragon, and has never worn a cloak of invisibility. All he knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley--a great big swollen spoiled bully. Harry's room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years. But all of that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to an incredible place that Harry--and anyone who reads about him--will find unforgettable. For it's there that he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic in everything from classes to meals, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him...if Harry can survive the encounter."



Sigh. I love this book.

So, I decided to pick up Harry Potter with a different purpose this time. I didn't read it to escape (though how can you not). I read it for the writing. Rowling is a master. She breaks the rules with such grace you can't help but adore it.
First thing- She doesn't open with her main character. Harry Potter opens with the Dursleys and doesn't even mention Harry until the end of the first chapter.
Second- She uses dialogue tags -- a lot. Everybody "said" something, but it is done so well you don't even notice.

Third- Descriptions -- they're everywhere! Now this is where Rowling really shows her mastery. Her descriptions pull you right in the midst of this magical world, but in a way that you don't even realize it.

It took me years to decide to read this book. I actually read from Goblet of Fire through the end and then went back and read the first ones.  

It is one of my all time favorite books and I read it about once a month.

If for some crazy reason you have never read this book, do yourself a favor. Sit down and savor it. Let it inspire you like it inspires me.