Wandering Thoughts of a Writer: cool

Showing posts with label cool. Show all posts

Here's a cool series for you to check out. Please excuse the different colors in this post. I don't know why it's doing that. I think this program is being moody or something.

Enjoy!

About the Dream Series

What if you could see everyone else’s dreams? That’s the question Sara has to wrestle with in the Dream Series. We first meet her as a shy, bookish college student who doesn’t think there’s anything extraordinary about herself. And then the dreams start…

Over the course of the series, Sara learns to live with these supernatural dreams and all the trouble they plunge her into. At the same time, she grows from a student to a practicing doctor; and from a single girl to a wife and mother. But every time she thinks she’s got everything figured out, life – and her extraordinary dreams – teach her that she’s always got more to learn…

What would you do if you could see other people’s dreams? If you could watch their hidden fantasies and uncover their deepest, darkest secrets…without them ever knowing?

Sara Barnes is about to find out. She thought that all she had to worry about was final exams, Christmas shopping and deciding whether she likes the cute freshman in the next dorm who’s got a crush on her.

But when she starts seeing dreams that aren’t hers, she learns more than she ever wanted to know about her friends, her classmates…and a strange, terrifying man whose dreams could get Sara killed.

“Dream Student” is the thrilling first installment of the Dreams series.

***

Dream Doctor (Book 2)

“I didn’t expect to be woken up by someone I don’t know dreaming about killing somebody. I thought I was done with that once and for all…”

But Sara’s not done with it. As if adjusting to life as a newlywed and starting medical school weren’t difficult enough, she’s started seeing the dreams of everyone around her, again. Before everything is said and done, those dreams might destroy Sara’s hopes of becoming a doctor, wreck her marriage and even end her life…

“Dream Doctor” is the thrilling second novel in the Dreams series.

***

Dream Child (Book 3)

"I would give anything to take this away from her. I would gladly go back to having the nightmares myself – the very worst ones, the ones that had me waking up screaming in a pool of my own vomit – rather than see Lizzie go through this..."

As a resident at Children's Hospital, Sara can handle ninety hour workweeks, fighting to save her young patients from deadly childhood diseases. But she's about to be faced with a challenge that all her training and experience haven't prepared her for: her four-year-old daughter has inherited her ability to see other people's dreams...

"Dream Child" is the suspenseful third novel in the "Dreams" series.

***

Dream Family (Book 4)

"Why is this so hard for me? Why am I having so much trouble? Why do I feel so helpless, so hopeless? What the hell is wrong with me?"

After tangling with murders and mobsters, not to mention medical school and three years of residency, Sara thought she could handle anything. And then the police show up without warning at her new office and arrest her for a crime she can't possibly have committed. Sara's confidence, and her grip on reality, is shattered during one terrifying night in jail.

Now, the very dreams that have endangered her life and driven her to the edge of madness may be the only thing that can help Sara find herself again...

"Dream Family" is the powerful fourth novel in the "Dreams" series.

***

Waking Dream (Book 5)

“Oh, God! We can hurt each other. Whatever we do to each other in the dream, we’ll do it to ourselves for real…”

When her own dreams are visited by a mysterious woman in a red dress, Sara realizes she has something she never expected: a counterpart, someone outside her family who shares her talent to see other people’s dreams.

When the woman in red keeps showing up in other dreams as well, leaving ruined lives in her wake, Sara knows she has something she never imagined: a nemesis.

Now, Sara must track the woman in red down in the waking world, before she’s forced to fight for her life in her dreams…

“Waking Dream” is the exciting fifth novel in the “Dreams” series.

***

Dream Reunion (Book 6)

"I wish someone - my mother, my husband, anybody - would really let me have it, instead of telling me everything's not my fault when it obviously is..."

Sara's seen the cost of interfering in other people's dreams firsthand; it's measured in ruined lives and cemetery plots.

When her supernatural dreams start up again, Sara is faced with problem after problem. And the only solution she can see is the one she's sworn never to attempt - changing the minds of the dreamers from the inside-out.

Sara thought that fighting against serial killers, mobsters and crooked politicians was difficult, but she's about to come up against the most difficult foe she's ever faced: her own conscience.

Dream Reunion is the emotional sixth book in the Dream Series.

***

A Box of Dreams (Books 1-5 collected into one Kindle Box Set)

What if you could see everyone else’s dreams?

Sara Barnes has just discovered that she can. And this gift – or curse – will lead her on an extraordinary journey.

Follow Sara as her newfound ability leads her into adventures she never imagined. She will hunt down a serial killer, investigate a plot to murder one of her teachers, unravel a conspiracy between a mobster and a corrupt politician and face off against her nemesis: a woman who shares her talent, but uses it to destroy lives rather than save them. And Sara will have to manage all that while finishing college, becoming a doctor and falling in love, too.

Here are the first five books of the Dream Series, along with bonus material created especially for this collection. Included in this set are DREAM STUDENT, DREAM DOCTOR, DREAM CHILD, DREAM FAMILY and WAKING DREAM. In addition, you’ll find the short story BETTY & HOWARD’S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE starring Sara’s parents. But most of all, when you open this box of dreams, you’ll find romance, suspense, humor and plenty of heart…

Author Bio:

J.J. (James) DiBenedetto was born in Yonkers, New York. He attended Case Western Reserve University, where as his classmates can attest, he was a complete nerd. Very little has changed since then.
He currently lives in Arlington, Virginia with his beautiful wife and their cat (who has thoroughly trained them both). When he's not writing, James works in the direct marketing field, enjoys the opera, photography and the New York Giants, among other interests.

The "Dreams" series is James' first published work.

Social Media Links:

Purchase Links:

Dream Home

Amazon (Kindle or Paperback)

Dream Student (Book 1)

Amazon (Kindle or Paperback)

Amazon (audiobook)

Dream Doctor (Book 2)

Amazon (Kindle or Paperback)

Amazon (audiobook)

Dream Child (Book 3)

Amazon (audiobook)

Dream Family (Book 4)

Amazon (Kindle or Paperback)

Amazon (audiobook)

Waking Dream (Book 5)

Amazon (Kindle or Paperback)

Dream Reunion (Book 6)

Amazon (Kindle or Paperback)

A Box of Dreams (Books 1-5 in one Box Set)

Amazon

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I won the Liebster Blog Award.

Yay!

Ana at The Adventures Within blog, had informed me this morning that I won.

Thanks, Ana!

So what is the Liebster Award?

It’s an award that was started in Germany to give to bloggers who have less than 200 followers, and also to be recognized for their hard work. Liebster in German means, dearest, but it can also mean, favorite.

When Ana told me I won the award I was like, "Wow. Cool!"

Not too long ago I had mentioned I wasn’t striving to win a blog award. But hey, this is awesome and it made my day.

Anyway, there are rules that go along with this award. Here they are:

1.) Each person must post 10 facts about themselves.
2.) Answer 10 questions the tagger has given you and give 10 questions for the people you tagged.
3.) Choose 10 people and link them in your post.
4.) Tell them you’ve tagged them.
5.) Remember, no tags back.

So here are ten facts about me:

1.) I have a stuffed racoon named Coonie, that I cuddle with when I’m sad.
2.) I love dogs, but I don’t have the patience to take care of them.
3.) I’m a homebody, so I really don’t like to travel much.
4.) I don’t believe in organized religion, but I am a spiritual person.
5.) I have an irreverent sense of humor.
6.) I’m an emotional person. If something or someone touches my heart, I get choked up.
7.) I’m not afraid to die.
8.) I’m stubborn.
9.) I can’t watch commercials about abused animals. It hurts my heart too much and makes me cry.
10.) I love the woods and plan to live in them or nearby, some day.

Now here are the questions I was asked to answer, along with my answers:

1.) Name one book that you regret buying and wish you hadn’t read.

Actually, I don’t regret buying any books because I’ve learned from each one I had bought. However, I had bought Lord of the Flies, and I didn’t like the way it was written. It was a total yawner (is that even a word?). I don’t regret buying it though, because it's a classic.

2.) A book that you really want but haven’t been able to buy.

The original first Harry Potter book (Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone).

3.) What actor or singer would you want to meet if they were alive?

Marilyn Monroe

4.) Do you have an OCD?

Not really. . . Well, I do tend to narrate what I’m doing.

Example: I’m going to change my clothes, eat something, and then read for a while.

5.) If all the hot superheros asked you out which one would you pick?

If I wasn’t married or never met Kevin, it would be . . . I don’t know because here’s why:

Batman–When he disguises his voice, it annoys me.

Superman–He’s too goody-goody, and his outfit is lame.

Spiderman–He’s too skinny, and I hate spiders (see answer below).

Incredible Hulk–He’s too big, green, and looks like a Neanderthal.

Thor–I’m not attracted to long blond-haired guys. Eeew.

Ironman–Now, I might go out with him. Hmmmm.

Okay, I changed my mind. I’d go for Ironman.

6.) Your Phobias?

See below

7.) Do you have a phobia, if so what?

Yes. Spiders, wasps, ticks, roaches, and big things like grizzly bears.

8.) If you could visit any country in the world, where would you go?

Scotland!

9.) Favorite ice cream flavor or drink?

Peanut butter and chocolate ice cream from Baskin Robbins.

10.) Something you can’t live without?

Happiness
　
Here are the blogs I choose for this award:

1.) Sweet Tooth Reviews
2.) Bazinga
3.) Books and Movies
4.) Tale Spins
5.) Threads
6.) Life in the pages
7.) she really does love books
8.) leopard kitty books
9.) Lost in a Sea of Words
10.) The Random Ranterer

Here are the questions for the above people:

1.) If you had to be an animal, which animal would it be and why?
2.) If you could have one super power, what would it be?
3.) What is your pet peeve?
4.) If you had the opportunity to know when you were going to die, would you want to know?
5.) If the vampire Lestat offered you immortality as a vampire, would you do it?
6.) If your house was haunted by friendly spirits, would you move?
7.) If you found a Ouiji board under a wooden floorboard in a 300-year-old house, would you play with it?
8.) If you found a time machine that worked, which time would you go back into?
9.) If you could change anything in this world, what would it be?
10.) If an alien mothership came to earth, along with smaller ships, and positioned themselves around the world in each state and country, what would you do?

cool, Liebster award, rules, won, 3 Comments

What are some of the cool things about writing a story? What about when a character materializes out of nowhere, or they do something unexpected?

When I started writing, Beyond the Eyes, my character Tree was one of those characters who had magically appeared before my eyes. I wasn’t planning on having a character in the story who was six foot five with a bitchin’ Mohawk. So when it happened, I was rather surprised. In fact, he became my main character’s best friend. I didn’t have to think about what type of personality Tree had because as I wrote scenes with him in it, his personality came through all on its own. It reminds me of automatic writing when your writing is produced without a conscious awareness of the content. Some people claim it’s produced from your subconscious mind, and others claim it comes from a spiritual source. I don’t know where it comes from, but it’s fun when it happens. However, I think the idea of Tree’s style, with his Mohawk and Sex Pistols sweatshirt came from a guy Kevin knew back in Germany that he had told me about. But Tree’s personality was purely organic.

Before I had started that story, I was trying to figure out what to write. I knew I wanted to write a YA (young adult) paranormal book with crossover potential, something that would cause the reader to question whether there was any truth to it. I wanted to write and tell it in such a way that the reader could actually be open to the possibility of it being real in our world. But what could that be? One day I was talking to Kevin about it and he told me to write something that totally freaks me out and is believable. Right after he said that, I didn’t have to think about what freaked me out. I knew what it was.

The Exorcist.

My mom used to play that damn movie over and over again, and it wasn’t during the day when she’d play it. Oh no. It was at nighttime, when I had to go to bed. And Mom was the type of person who had to have the TV blaring so loud; you could hear it throughout the house. I’d be trying to go to sleep and hear that freaky-ass music and the demon talking through Regan. I slept with my light on for a year after that. I also had nightmares about it for years, to where I’d wake up in the middle of the night with my heart pounding painfully in my chest, and my whole body felt like it was incased in a block of ice. So yeah, that’s what freaks my shit out.

Once I had that idea in my mind, I started getting busy on, Beyond the Eyes. I tried writing an outline for it, but outlines just don’t work for me. I do a rough character sketch though, but sometimes, like with Tree, characters appear out of thin air, and I have to write them in. So I started writing the story, and things began to evolve all on its own that pleasantly surprised me. I also wasn’t planning on making, Beyond the Eyes a series, but it turns out that this story could go on and on and on, like The Vampire Diaries, which by the way, I LOVE that show. Although, I was really upset when they killed off Jenna last season. I almost made a vow not to watch it again. Almost. However, I love the show too much to boycott it.

Back to the point of this post before my mind does a continuous loop back on The Vampire Diaries, and ends up hijacking the rest of this post.

Years ago, I read that J.K. Rowling said the idea for her Harry Potter series fell into her head. Now don’t get me wrong. I’d never equate what I wrote to J.K. Rowling. I mean, she’s a brilliant writer, and a genius. I think she’s in a class all by herself. But I do understand what she was talking about. And let me tell ya, that rush of creativity is so fun, it makes up for the blood, sweat, and tears you put into the story. When you get into that ‘zone’, you never know what’s going to happen. The same goes for dialog. Half the time, I don’t even know what the character’s are going to say, and then it’ll come to me. It’s crazy. But the thing is, it works. It’s not bullshit, half ass, dialog. It fits the situation and the character’s persona. There’s this one line I absolutely love that Nathan says to Paige:

"I can’t bear to see such woes of the heart in the eyes of my beloved."

I don’t know where that line came from, but it’s fitting for Nathan’s character because of where he came from.

I was just thinking maybe this happens to us writers because we put ourselves into the story. We become our characters and live in their world. It makes sense. At least to me it does. But regardless of how it happens, it’s still awesome. It’s almost like magic. So I better get busy on my next chapter to Dark Spirits, and see what kind of cool, magical thing(s) will take place in that chapter.

Oh, by the way. Right before every chapter I write, I do have an idea on what’s going to happen. I may not have a physical outline, but I do have one internally. I don’t blindly start each chapter, not knowing what to write. I do know, but sometimes the pulse of the story beats faster, pumping amazing information to me that I cannot ignore. And that is one of the coolest things about writing.