Monthly Archives: December 2012

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In Which Our Heroine Reflects on Finales

Some of you who have read this blog before are aware I’m a big Leverage fan because I adore stories with anti-heroes and that show has them aplenty. Yesterday, the sad news was released that Leverage was being canceled and the episode on the 25th will in face be the last.

*sad face*

Dean Devlin, the creator, had already foreseen this possibility and had used what he intended for the series finale for the season finale. I’m glad that his finale will be the finale he intended and that his story will be ended the way he wanted.

One of my favorite TV series, Chuck, ran into that danger zone too and its creators made an art form out of the season finales that could be a series finale if needed but could be continued as well. Smart move for a show that existed on the bubble a lot.

I’ve also seen other shows that intended for a certain season run but were pushed to continue or that ended up getting dragged out on a very undignified life support until the fans only watched it out of pity loyalty. I’m still not certain how I feel about the extension of Supernatural as Season 5 was the original intent for its run and the finale that season would have been an amazing series ender. I was also an X-Files fan back in the day and most long-term fans have agreed to pretend the final season didn’t happen. Clearly the case of a show that should have been allowed to end with dignity a season or two before.

Do you agree? Disagree? Know of any other shows that should make the list of shows that needed to be allowed to end sooner than they did?

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In Which Our Heroine Completes Draft 1

Woot! Woot!

I finished it! Yesterday afternoon I finished draft one at a bit over 64,200 words!

So what’s next for me?

Well, for one I need to shelve my draft for a week or two to be able to come at it with fresh eyes. This will also let me spend the holidays with all of the family we are seeing or visiting without trying to work in regular writing hours. I’m going to use my RWA resources to get some critique partners. While one might say that in theory I could do that during my break, I figure those people will be busy with holiday stuff right now and if I’m asking for critiques, I should do it when I’m available to do so in return.

I may consider outlining another project. What I do want to do with some of that time is catch up on some reading for fun. My stack includes romances of the historical persuasion, Tricked by Kevin Hearne, Cold Days by Jim Butcher, some YA books and while traveling, a bunch of novella length stuff by Kevin Hearne and Kelley Armstrong. Anyone else out there reading something cool right now? Maybe eagerly awaiting the the time for a particular book? Am I the only one with a back log of at least 80 books?

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In Which Our Heroine Gives an Update

I hate being ill, but my sinus infection hit the fever point last night. November and December are horrible illness months for me. Just horrible. However, I get a 2 week break starting next Friday. I look forward to this.

I’m working on the last two chapters of my draft. In the meantime, I’m posting what my query letter for my current manuscript will look like. Not only does it give a summary of my project but I hope that in giving it a page of it’s own, it can be a way to show potential agents and editors what projects I am offering for consideration.

So, here it goes: The Case Involving the Death by Dragon

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In Which Our Heroine Discusses Her Current Work in Progress

If I get the 4,000 words between today and tomorrow that I want then I will not only hit the 60,000 mark but that will leave me with about 10,000 words left until my goal. I’m really excited about this, and I’m especially excited about the prospect of pulling my RWA resources and getting into a critique group. I need to take a hiatus from Death by Dragon for a bit to come at it with a clear mind. I have a couple of other thoughts on how to spend that time.

One, my first Work in Progress for the year, a YA Romantic Urban Fantasy, The Blackstone Heir could use some looking at. I really want to have more than one project going because I feel like the more things you put out there, the more likely someone is to bite. Then if you do get a publisher to bite, when you finish writing your first series it’s easy to say, by the way, I have this other thing that’s already written, are you interested?

Two, my brain keeps batting around an idea that’s superhero based. I’m not sure if I should go back to work one or start outlining this one. Decisions, decisions…

In the meantime, as I finish up on my first draft. I’m considering posting up my “Back Cover Blurb” for Death by Dragon up on the site.

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In Which Our Heroine Discusses Anti-Heroes

I’ve made no secret of the fact that bad boy characters are often my favorites, I even wrote a post on it. Bad boys frequently fall on the anti-hero hero scale and there are many, many anti-heroes popping around entertainment right now. I’m going to talk about the anti-heroes hanging around TV right now.

Warning the rest of this post contains spoilers for Leverage, Once upon a Time and Revolution. I have labeled the sections regarding each show accordingly.

Once Upon a Time:

While I adore Charming, I cannot help but to squee whenever an episode features Hook. He stole another man’s wife and has been in cahoots with Cora, the Queen of Hearts. There’s also the part where he’s a pirate. Yet, he’s quickly become a fab favorite. You’re never certain what side he’s on, he’s charming, witty, you can’t help but to feel for him when his love was taken away by Rumpelstiltskin, and Emma did ditch him up in the Giant’s home. I think he’s so fascinating because he is so charming and witty that you want him to turn the tables on Cora and side up with the good guys. you also have to respect that he is so very clever. Is there anyone else who thinks he’s one part Jack Sparrow one part BBC Robin Hood or is it just me?

Revolution:

Miles Matheson is probably my favorite character because Billy Burke wields his dry humor like a weapon to provide some of the best one-liners ever. He helped Sebastian Monroe become the power he is today and trained his army of scary minions for him. But we root for him. Why? The loyalty he shows Charlie and by extension Danny. The fact he turned away from Monroe’s army, and you know, the whole thing where he rejected his former bond with “Bass” for his family. He’s a character that’s earning redemption whether he intends to or not.

Leverage:

I call it Ocean’s Eleven meets Robin Hood, and you know, the Parker Show because of how much I love her character. When it comes down to it, they are a group of thieves. You root for them because they try to help the little guy and take down people we see as greedy villains who harm others. At one point, most of the characters note that they’ve never physically hurt their previous targets (except of course, Elliot with the darkest past of all). Geeks relate to Hardison and his charm doesn’t hurt. people feel for Nate loosing his son the way that he did. Parker was clearly from a troubled home. Elliot has a soft spot for kids, veterans and small town honest folk. Sophie’s redemption is in the way she acts as a big sister to Parker and tries to make Nate a better man.