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when-ramona-cries · 2 years

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My Old Friends Suck

I figured I should start with that just in case I fill in half of this blank sheet and in the middle of it all, I get swayed by my soft heart again, willing myself to forgive then without them even apologizing for what they have done to me. I mean, I'm not really a person who likes to hold grudges against people. I'm normally the oh-I-don't-have-the-energy-to-deal-this-drama-right-now-fast-forward-two-weeks-later-oh-was-I-mad-at-you-sorry-I-forgot person. Maybe that's why I'm mostly taken granted by the people I love (or maybe that's just my superiority complex victimizing myself, I'd like to think it's the former still). Maybe that's why I always get thrown under the bus. People always just think that I'd understand. Or that I'd be the more forgiving one. That I have much more wiggle room to provide so I should be the one adjusting.

At first, of course, when I started to realize it's coming this way, I cried to my sister. I was like, twelve, or somewhere around that age, definitely still in elementary. I cried to her and asked why people are like that to me when I just wanted to be friends with them. My sister, the ever-so nonchalant she is, dismissed it like it's no big deal, and told me that if it doesn't matter in the next five years for you, then you shouldn't bother with it at all. I remembered taking it to heart, thinking that's the first-ever sisterly advice I received from her, and just like how it is in the young adult novels I've been feeding myself despite me not fitting yet in that genre-category, I imagined myself and how I was going to carry that as I grow up, apply it to situations that will come at me, and be like her, oh-so cool and oh-so unbothered. I'm betting now she probably just read that around Tumblr or Twitter.

Anyway, it doesn't matter because no matter how much I forced myself to regroup my way of thinking into that line of thought, I was just so much a people-pleaser that I always end up either making people extra like me or spite me to death. I never really had childhood friends back at home. I graduated elementary with no secured friendships that I won't even be bothered to join reunion events. By the time I got in high school, wherein I entered an unchartered territory, where no one knows me, and everyone else knows my cool sister, I figured that was my chance. I'll be the cool girl who's friends with everyone and who's so nice that even if I keep rejecting their invites because of my strict parents, they'll keep inviting me in hopes that one day I'll come. At some point, I was that. I was part of a large group of friends in my class and every seniors know me as the Little sister of my sister. I joined clubs, ran for office in the class, and then later, in the whole department. I'll say I thrived. But it was the sort of thrive that comes from the validation of others.

Maybe that's why by the time I moved up Senior High School, I got tired of socializing, going out, and just... people-pleasing. Even though I brought some friends with me back in High school, I never really bothered keeping it tight because I was so focused in myself, in my drama, and nothing else. People still got something to say, of course, and I started to get people hating at me again for no reason. But I was too caught up with myself to give a fuck, and so I never really did. For them, Senior High School was this memorable part of their youth, bunch of teenage angst and fleeting memories of wild and adventure. It was just really like a time filler for me. If you ask me what was my favorite thing about it, I wouldn't really be able to say anything substantial.

And so when I moved out of the country, I had zero elementary friends checking up, wavering ties with my high school friends, and nothing much really with my Senior high. At this point in life, I just started to blame myself for not being able to keep them aflame. Maybe I was too intimidating. Was I too timid? Did I offend them? Maybe I showed less interest than they want. Or maybe more and then I started to creep them out. Whatever that is, people seemed not to bother with me anymore. No matter where I go, or how much I have achieved, it felt like I'm floating and I wasn't really there.

Of course it bothered me. I'm still a people-pleaser deep down despite me getting tired of the act. I grew up sort of like the golden child. I get awards for my parents in exchange for validation. I guess their words of affirmation defined what love is for me. My Mom isn't really into physical affection and my Dad is rarely in the picture for that. I have two other siblings and we weren't brought up materialistic. But my parents and the other people around did really love comparing us with each other, mostly me to my sister, and my brother to the both of us. Maybe that was it. What I'm trying to say is that words coming from them really hit differently towards me. So at a young age, I already knew how words worked and I learned how to play with them.

My old friends really do suck. By old friends, I'm pertaining to the high school ones, the wavering ones. Now that I'm self-evaluating, I'm wondering if I even should call that as friendship. I mean, we were in that young age, so caught up with the internet and self-image patronization. I don't know if we're being friends then, but I'm sure we were trying so hard to be cool. At least to the people watching. By that, I mean our Instagram followers.

It's not that they did me dirty. I mean, they did. But I feel like now, our friendship was so shallow that whatever they did to me is so detached that it practically feels like dust to me now. See, I'm the forget-it type, not the hold-a-grudge one. Though there are times where I will myself to remember the nasty so that I replant that fading grudge. It was that bad that even if I'm so detached and I'm never the grudge holder, I force myself to. I'm petty. I just won't allow whatever they did to just get past. They should at least know that it wasn't okay before I forgive them. But to be honest it has never really reached a point so far where they do ask for forgiveness. I think they're either too self-absorbed or I just don't matter to them that much. Both are depressing facts, by the way.

I grew up on novels of friends growing together, growing apart, then reconnecting and rekindling, to achieving their younger versions' dreams made together. I craved for the hanging out after school, learning about the mature stuff together, discovering things together, crying in bathroom stalls, throwing up in bathroom stalls, all that shit. But I guess those are just for some kind of people. And I'm never going to be in that kind.

While writing this, I originally thought of writing how much I have changed now that I'm in college. That I learned how to let go and cut off, how to move forward without stepping back just so I know I can keep up. I do acknowledge these growth. Still, I know in most parts of me, I still blame myself for me.

You see, I'm still a people-pleaser. I give a damn about what other people would say. I will always take hundreds of pictures so I could have the perfect one to post. I will always cater myself as the cool one.

What changed though, is I know now that my old friends suck. I know now who to cater myself to, who to only give my damns to. Sometimes I slip up, but I don't entirely crumble. I only try to those I consider. The rest, I don't give a shit, though I still assume that most look up to me. Now that's my superiority complex talking.

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onthepyre · 4 years

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and it hurts (part 3)

part 1 part 2 part 4

It shouldn’t be a big deal.

It’s just a sleepover, Zoe tells herself. Just a sleepover with your best friend who you’re in love with.

Yeah, maybe it’s okay that she’s making it a big deal.

She stares at herself in the mirror for a while, trying to decide if she looks presentable. She hasn’t changed since school ended, but her fingers twist in the hem of her shirt like it’s foreign. She pulls at the end of her braid, then undoes it completely. After shaking her hair out, she smiles at herself. Then she giggles, high-pitched and giddy and oh, my god, she did not mean for it to sound that much like a serial killer.

Zoe frowns, watching her reflection tilt its head in the mirror. Something isn’t right, but she can’t put her finger on it. She sticks her hands in her pockets and closes them into fists.

Connor.

Connor will know what to do. He’s not the nicest or the most romantic, but he obviously did something right, because Evan’s absolutely smitten with him. Zoe walks down the hall on tiptoes and knocks softly on his door, hoping for both sisterly and selfish reasons that he’s had a good day. She hears a grunt from within and the door swings open to reveal Connor, his hair in a lopsided bun and a hint of a grin on his face.

“What do you want?” he asks, none of the usual malice behind his smile.

“Let me in,” Zoe says. She shoves past him before he can respond, and sits down on the rocking chair in the corner.

“Hey! What do you need in here for?” He closes the door behind him anyways. Connor flings himself on his bed, turning to face Zoe.

“How did you get Evan to like you?” she asks. Connor’s face turns a bright shade of pink and he suddenly can’t look at Zoe.

“He doesn’t — we aren’t — I don’t-”

“He’s obviously crushing on you, Connor. What did you do?” Connor squints at his socks, pulls at his hair, tries to stutter through a denial, but something clicks in his head.

“Why do you need to know?” He makes eye contact with her for the first time since she walked into his room. “Does this have something to do with our favorite student council member?”

And then Zoe’s the one who can’t make eye contact.

Connor smirks. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

“I — I’m going over to her house. What the hell do I do? You’re my big brother, you should be good at this shit.” Connor chuckles, dry, then sighs.

“That’s fuckin’ hilarious, Zo. You honestly came to me for relationship advice?”

“Well, I’m not out to Mom and Dad and my best friend is the one we’re talking about. What else was I supposed to do?”

Connor chuckles again, then sobers abruptly. “Honestly? Lose the jacket.”

“What?” Zoe pulls it tighter around her shoulders. The jangling pins and loose patches are comforting, if a bit annoying. “Why?”

“You wear it like it’s a fucking shield. It makes you look like you’re about to go to battle or something.”

She frowns. “But couldn’t I-”

“Nope.” Connor stands up and starts trying to pull it off her. “It’s staying here. I’ll take good care of her, no need to worry.”

“Hey!” Zoe resists, doing her best to foil Connor’s efforts, but he’s standing and has at least six inches on her if she were to stand too. With only a little bit of struggle, the jacket slides off her shoulders and Connor drops it to the floor. He smiles, clearly proud of his handiwork.

“Okay,” he says. “That’s better, but…” Connor stares at her, internally debating something Zoe can’t quite figure out.

“But what? Are you going to give me an e-boy makeover?” Zoe rolls her eyes.

“Not quite.” Connor strides over to his dresser and starts rummaging through one of the drawers. “Here.” He tosses a tube of eyeliner at Zoe, who promptly drops it on the floor.

“Why was this in your sock drawer?” she asks, twisting it between her fingers. “Will I get a fungus in my eye if I use it?”

Connor glares at her. “If I left it out, Mom would throw it away when she ‘does laundry’ in my room for half an hour. I made the mistake of putting nail polish on my desk and found it my trash when I got home from school.”

“That’s cool and all, but, uh. How do I do eyeliner?” Zoe looks up at him helplessly, and he laughs.

“Oh, my god.” Connor sits back down on his bed and pats the spot next to him. “Get over here, you failure of a Murphy.”

“Rude,” Zoe says, but she complies.

“Close your eyes.” Connor grips her face tightly with one hand. “Quit squinting, you dumbass. It’ll turn out weird.”

Zoe flinches when the liquid hits her face.

“Damnit, Zoe. Stay here, I gotta find the makeup wipes.” She feels Connor stand, but doesn’t open her eyes in fear of making it worse.

“This was your idea!” She snaps, eyes still shut tight. “I’m not responsible for fucking it up, you’re the one putting it on my face!”

“Why did you flinch? You knew it was coming!” Zoe feels him sit down next to her again.

“‘Cause I’m not used to eyeliner, you fucking emo.”

“Okay, I’m gonna wipe it off now,” Connor says, and starts rubbing at her eye before she can protest.

He spends another five minutes trying to perfect the makeup as they take turns grumbling about it. Zoe tries to touch it as soon as she’s allowed to open her eyes, but Connor smacks her hand away.

“What are you doing? You’ll smudge it!” He grabs her wrist and pulls her to the mirror in the corner. “See? Less like a warrior and more like a teenager.”

Zoe smiles in spite of herself, knowing he’s right. She looks less closed-off without the jacket, but the eyeliner adds a certain edge she lost with it. “Thanks,” she says. “I owe you one.”

“You absolutely do. Now go get her, kiddo.”

Zoe takes a last look in the mirror, nods, and leaves.

She’s back a few seconds later, muttering about her keys. She digs through the pockets of her jacket, still lying on the floor, then returns to her room to snatch her duffel bag.

“I’m staying at a friend’s house!” she shouts to the air. “I’ll be home tomorrow!” She tries to leave before her parents process it, but Cynthia is standing in the doorway to the kitchen in seconds.

“What friend? Do I know their parents?”

“Yes, Mom. Alana Beck? They came over for dinner a few months ago?”

Cynthia ponders for a moment before realizing. “Oh! I remember her! She’s-”

“Yep. See you later, Mom. Love you!” Zoe is out the door before she catches the reply. She sits in her car, psyching herself up for a few minutes before leaving. The radio blasts a sappy love song, but she turns it down, preferring to drive in silence rather than think about everything that could happen and everything that might not.

#galaxy girls #zoe x alana #zoe murphy x alana beck #zoe murphy #alana beck #connor murphy #dear evan hansen #deh #wlw #fanfiction #june's writing

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senoritaimperfecta · 5 years

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Here’s the lesbian DaVinci Fic that I based off of my own personal headcanon also I’m dying

Three pair of eyes. Destiny, Dallas, and Dejavú all waited patiently for DaVinci to speak. The night had gone well so far. All four of the siblings sat together enjoying each other’s company but now there was only dead silence. When Dallas asked DaVinci what they wanted to talk about, all they could feel was embarrassment. They didn’t understand why since they knew fully well that the triplets would understand better than anyone else in their family. They told themself that they would have to ask the triple D for advice or else they wouldn’t have the guts to ask them about it any other day.

“Oh right, that. Well you see…” DaVinci finally had the courage to say something, though their body language showed anything but confidence. The older sibling usually held their head up high and with pride. So seeing DaVinci avoid eye contact as they sunk further down into their pillow was something you didn’t see often. The Triple D could only look at each other and assume the worst. After the three exchanged a few worried glances they focused their attention back to DaVinci.

“Come on, DaVinci! It can’t be that bad, can it?” Dejavú said, clearly trying to lighten the mood. However all this accomplished was making DaVinci look more nervous than they already were.

“No! It’s not bad at all! At least I don’t think it is, it’s just hard to say out loud. That’s all.” DaVinci said as they nervously shook their head.

“Oh, you know she was only playing DaVinci!” Dallas spoke up. “You can tell us anything, we won’t judge!”

“You it’ll be a secret between all of us, mom & dad don’t even have to know!” Destiny chimed in.

“a secret? What- No! Why wouldn’t I want mom and dad to know? Actually, I want all of the family to know. It’s just- gah!” DaVinci let out a frustrated scream as they dragged their paws down their face. “It was so hard for me to admit it to myself but I didn’t think it would be this hard to say it out loud!” Dallas placed a paw on DaVinci’s back which caused them to stop their rambling and look up at their sisters. Each one of them had a comforting smile resting upon their faces.

“Hey, it's okay. Just take all the time you need, there’s no rush.” Destiny and Dejavú nodded in response to what Dallas said. True to her word, none of the three pressed the matter on more. DaVinci felt themself begin to relax as they sat up on their pillow.

“I was talking with DJ earlier. He kinda, I don't know, said something to me and it got me thinking? I know it was probably supposed to be a joke but I couldn’t stop thinking about it.” DaVinci trailed off, starting to avoid eye contact once again.

“Well, what’d he say?” Dallas asked, urging DaVinci to say more.

“He was watching me work on some of my artwork, right? And he said, ‘you must really love and be dedicated to your art, huh?’ And I am! So I told him, ‘of course I am! I paint what makes me happy!’” DaVinci pressed her paws to her cheeks clearly embarrassed. “So then he joked and said, ‘You must really love girls then.’ And I didn’t know what to say in that moment! I just laughed and didn’t say anything else but I couldn’t stop thinking about it. The more I thought about what he said, the more it made sense!” DaVinci threw her paws up in the air to emphasize her point.

“I’ve never really cared for guys, at all. A lot of the time I found myself being annoyed by them! But I always thought that it was because I never met a guy I could get along with. Guys just always seemed to get on my nerves. Then girls always seemed to make me feel flustered and get my attention so easily ...” DaVinci said as an awkward but genuine smile found its way onto their face. However it didn’t last long and they shook their head as if to snap out of it. “Look what I’m trying to say is that I think I’m….I think I like girls.”

For a moment all three of the triplets just sat in place processing the information that was just thrown on them. Then after what felt like an eternity to DaVinci, all three of the triplets threw themselves at DaVinci. Each of them holding the older pup in a tight embrace, tails wagging in excitement.

“Oh my dog! DaVinci that’s great!”

“Wait-“

“Do you have a crush on someone? Is it a girl we know?”

“Triple D-“

“Oh, we have to know all about her-“

“Guys!” DaVinci raised their voice which caused their three younger sisters to let go of them immediately. All three of them worried that they had done something to upset DaVinci. Especially since the older sibling wasn’t the type of dog to get frustrated or angry very easily.

DaVinci looked at their sister expressions and sighed, a guilty look making its way into their face. “Look, I’m really happy you’re all so supportive but…”

“But what?”

“You know how you’re all...how you all like girls?”

“Well, duh!” Destiny brought a paw up to her cheek and sent DaVinci a bright smile. “We, like, talk about it all the time!”

“I need to know how you do it.” DaVinci said in a desperate tone, studding leaning over her younger sister. Destiny pushed DaVinci back, patting her siblings arm as she did so.

“Woah there, DaVinci. I’m getting a feeling that there’s more to this then you’re letting on.” Destiny asked while she gave their older sibling a concerned look. Dallas and Dejavú nodded in agreement.

“Honestly? I just...don’t even know how to react to all this. It’s something I never even thought about before! Now it’s all I can think about.” DaVinci cowered into the security of their pillow, covering their face with both of their paws. “I know I can be happy. I know that because you guys are able to be so proud and confident in yourselves. I just wish I could be like that, I’m just not entirely sure how I can get there. Especially when it feels like my whole world is changing because of this. On one hand I’m glad I under more about myself then I did before. But at the same time I wish I never gave what Dj said much thought because this just all feels so sudden…” DaVinci rambled off, not having the voice to continue on anymore.

“Oh, DaVinci.” Dallas brought their older sibling into another tight embrace. “It’s okay, you’ll be okay.”

“But listen closely to what we’re going to tell you DaVinci.” Once Dallas let go, Dejavú brought her paws up to DaVinci’s face to make sure they were looking at her. “Your world is changing but that’s not a bad thing.”

“Yeah, Dejavú has a point! Every single day the world around us changes, even if it’s just a little. Change is just a natural part of life, it definitely isn’t anything you have to be afraid of.” Dallas added on.

“But I know things like this can be hard to get used to and accept but just know that we got you got your back. We’ll always be here if you wanna talk about it” Destiny gave DaVinci a playful punch on the shoulder, which received a quiet laugh from DaVinci.

“When did you guys get so smart? I’m your older sibling, I should be the one giving you advice,” DaVinci sniffled. They then pulled the triple D into a hug, one that the triplets immediately returned.

“We’re just amazing little sisters like that I guess.”

“Yeah, not everybody can be us, you’re lucky DaVinci.”

“I really am. I couldn’t have asked for better sisters.”

“Okay. I hate to stop this nice sisterly bonding moment, but we can’t just ignore the fact that Dj obviously knew DaVinci was a lesbian before they did.”

“Oh my dog you’re right- hey! you three stop laughing this is serious.”

______________________________________________________________

“Hey Dj, can we talk for a moment?” DaVinci said as they sat down right in front of the younger pup.

“Oh, I didn’t see you there.” Dj put down the violin, the latest instrument that the musically inclined pup was dedicated to learn. He recently started learning to play the instrument and had been practicing nonstop. “But totally we can talk about whatever.”

“I wanted to talk about what you said the other day. You know back when we were hanging out-“ DaVinci started before they were cut off by the sound of laughter.

“Oh my dog, are you still thinking about that?” Dj said with an amused look on his face.

“Yes! When my own brother implies that I like girls I happen to think about it a lot, actually.” DaVinci said with a frown, crossing their arms. “I just wanted to know what gave you that idea in the first place.”

“The way you talked about girls was a dead giveaway.” DJ smirked which just caused DaVinci to stick her tongue out at him. “But really I just felt like maybe teasing you about it would help you realize it sooner. And You should thank me, I saved you from whatever dramatic thing Dante had planned. Plus I wanted to win the five bucks.”

“Wait, so you knew I was a lesbian?”

“I think Dante and I were the only ones who knew, maybe Mum too. We just hang around you the most.” Dj shrugged.

“Okay fair enough.” DaVinci chuckled and gave their brother a playful punch on the shoulder.

#DONT LOOK AT ME IM EMBARRASSED #also if this has spelling mistakes I don’t care I’m tired 😭✌🏽#Same goes w grammar mistakes I’m bad at English #DO I PUT THIS IN THE TAG.#IM PUTTING IN THE FUCKSINB TAG #101 Dalmatian Street #DaVinci Dalmatian #Destiny Dalmatian #Dallas Dalmatian #Dejavú Dalmatian #Dj Dalmatian

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sophiarose1816 · 5 years

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Happy Release Day for The Flight Path Less Traveled by Leigh Dreyer

I am tickled to be able to share a special post about this exciting second entry in the Pride of Flight series, a Pride & Prejudice modern continuation story. Blurb:

In this modern Pride and Prejudice continuation and sequel to The Best Laid Flight Plans, 2nd Lieutenant Elizabeth Bennet and Captain William Darcy are facing trials after the events of Elizabeth’s last flight. Darcy’s proposal lingers between them as Elizabeth becomes almost single sighted to her rehabilitation and her return to pilot training. A secret is revealed to Elizabeth about Mr. and Mrs. Bennet’s past that throws all she has known to be true into a tail spin. The romance between our hero and heroine begins to blossom through military separations, sisterly pranks, and miscommunications. Can Darcy and Elizabeth come together or will flying in the Air Force keep them apart?

Let me introduce author, Leigh Dreyer, and her books through a Q&A she is sharing with us.

1. Tell us a little about yourself and your background?

I work as a speech pathologist, currently in the Las Vegas area. I work both in person at a charter middle/high school and a long term acute care facility and doing teletherapy (which I absolutely love) from my home. Yes. I have three jobs plus writing because I apparently enjoy being crazy. I write while my kids take naps, during teletherapy breaks, and at night. I have an incredible husband who is a pilot in the Air Force and two amazing kids. My son is four and my daughter is two. Both my husband and I are children of Air Force pilots which makes for fun family get togethers. Needless to say, I very rarely have to do a lot of plane-related research.

2. Give us an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is so special?

Elizabeth Bennet has just gone through tremendous trauma at the end of The Best Laid Flight Plans and now she has to get back up, brush herself off, and push forward. In the original Pride and Prejudice Elizabeth faces a lot of invisible enemies (marriage or lack thereof, the entailment, etc.), but I wanted to see where she would take me when her enemies were very much physical. Would she be strong and fight?

3. Which writers inspire you?

Jane Austen is the obvious answer, but I’m also inspired by so many JAFF authors. People like (in no particular order) Linda Wells, Joy King, Diana J Oaks, Maria Grace, Abigail Reynolds, Jenetta James, Karen Cox, Beau North, Jan Hahn, Elizabeth Ann West, Rose Fairbanks, etc. inspire me to fall more deeply in love with characters I already enjoy. I also love Diana Gabaldon, Neil Gaman, Aled Hossein, Tom Wolfe, William Makepeace Thackeray, Agatha Christie, and CS Forester.

4. What are you working on at the minute?

Book three, Came a Flight Gently and a short story about how Mr. and Mrs. Bennet meet and get married. I’m also working on outlining a time-travel story.

5. What’s it about?

Came a Flight Gently will start where The Flight Path Less Traveled ends and will continue the story in New York and feature the Reno Air Races (National Championship Air Races), the last of the great pylon races.

6. Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead character from your most recent book?

When I answered this for The Best Laid Flight Plans, I said maybe David Gandy for Darcy and Katherine McNamara or Lily Collins for Elizabeth. Now, I’m kind of thinking brunette Chris Evans and Gal Gadot or a young Marissa Tomei. I picture a modern Elizabeth as a strong, independent female, but also fun and feisty and never cruel.

7. How much research do you do?

It really depends on the scenes I’m writing. My favorite research to do is everything to do with food. I have spent many the hour figuring out what to for a big event catered by Mrs. Bennet. I like to really think through what each character would be eating and making. Obviously, Mr. Collins likes potatoes and, if you read book 1, you know Darcy does not eat bacon, but what about everyone else? For flight scenes, I write a lot of them on my own then send them to my husband, father, and father in law to be checked for accuracy. Normally this results in a long page of notes from my father to make it sound authentic (apparently I am very bad at writing what the characters might say on the radio when speaking to tower).

8. What made you decide to sit down and actually start something?

After going through The Best Laid Flight Plans I changed the ending because I just wasn’t ready for it to end. I wanted to see what happened next and leave the door open to really learn more about Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Colonel Fitzwilliam, etc. I needed another book or two or three for the story to end for me.

9. This book is part of a series, tell us a little about it?

The Flight Path Less Traveled is book two in a series of three planned books: The Best Laid Flight Plans, The Flight Path Less Traveled, and Came a Flight Gently. The first book is a P&P variation whose story line closely follows the events of P&P. The next two are original continuations although you will definitely see other favorite Austen characters and events as the story continues. Each book is an altered line from a poem that I find meaningful and that I feel speaks to the tone of book I wanted to write.

10. For your own reading, do you prefer ebooks or traditional paper/hard back books?

I prefer paper books, but I do the vast majority of my reading on kindle or on my phone because they are so easy to drag around with me. I work a lot and am frequently running around with my kids so carrying a paperback isn’t always practical. I do all my reading on my Kindle Paperwhite and have for about five years.

11. What book/s are you reading at present?

Right now I’m reading Rational Creatures edited by Christina Boyd on Kindle and listening to Ghengis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford, but ask me in a few days and I’ll be on to something else. I’ve averaged at least five books a month for the last six or seven years.

12. Do you proofread/edit all your own books or do you get someone to do that for you?

I was blessed to work with Christina Boyd of The Quill Ink. Let me tell you, she is amazing to work with and the book is so much better for having had a professional editor. My sister in law is also great about giving me really fantastic feedback as a beta and ARC reader. She is currently working as an editor for some online sources and is amazing.

13. Tell us about the cover/s and how it/they came about.

The photoshoot was done in Utah by Monica Cook, a military spouse, who runs Joyous Reflections Photography and Portraiture, at the Air Force museum at Hill Air Force Base. It was important to me to highlight Elizabeth as a female officer. Females are so rare in the pilot world that I wanted to be able to see Elizabeth as I see her, a strong woman who is willing to work harder than anyone else to achieve what she sees for herself. I made the choice to have the little ringlets and her hair up in a kind of braid Mohawk, because I thought it was a fun throwback to the Regency hairstyles. Of course, after the events at the end of The Best Laid Flight Plans, she is pictured out of a flight suit and in her blues, but I wanted to continue to present that strong image as she fights to recover.

14. Who designed your book cover/s?

My amazing friend Alishia Mattee. She is a military spouse and my next door neighbor when we were stationed together at Hickam Air Force Base and she is so talented.

15. What is your favorite movie and why?

Gone With The Wind. Partly because I am an eighty-five year old woman trapped in a thirty year old’s body (please see my love for all classic film, 1940s jazz and classical music, and other habits like insisting my family eat at the table) I love the costumes, the romance, the huge sets, the language. I love it all. Scarlett is one of my all-time favorite characters. She doesn’t let other people tell her she can’t achieve. She needs to take care of her family, so she does, in whatever way she can. I find her strong, capable head something I would love to emulate, even if she is a little stupid with her heart.

16. What advice would you give to your younger self?

Just do it. Jump in. You can figure it out while you’re doing it, but if you wait until you understand every nuance of a task, years will pass and it still won’t be done.

17. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Write. Also, edit. I recently had a friend who decided her NaNoWriMo draft was ready for publication. She had not even re-read it. Yikes. I tell every aspiring writer I know to write and then let someone read it and critique it. Critique can be hard to accept, but you’ll only get better.

18. Can we recognize your adopted hometown of Del Rio, Texas in The Flight Path Less Traveled?

Absolutely. Longbourn City is based on my hometown of Del Rio and Meryton Air Force Base is based on Laughlin Air Force Base which is about fifteen minutes out of town. My parents and siblings still live and work there. You see less of Longbourn in this novel, but the place that Aunt Gardiner takes Elizabeth to eat taquitos rancheros is Julio’s on Highway 90. Julio’s is famous for their chips and salsa. Love those things—seriously, they are amazing.

19. What’s the worst job you’ve had?

I worked at a restaurant (which will remain nameless because I signed an “I won’t whine on the internet” clause when I got hired) during grad school in Lubbock and I often refer to it as “the worst job ever.” It was on fourth street in Lubbock, Texas, although that location is now a Chick Fil-A. My manager was crazy and often switched from sickly sweet to horribly insulting. The food was meh at best. I worked there for three months and outlasted eleven employees. That should tell you something about the work environment.

20. Where do you get your ideas?

Well, book two is not just a general pilot training book anymore. You read the basics of Air Force life in The Best Laid Flight Plans, but now Elizabeth isn’t a naïve butter-bar Second Lieutenant anymore. She’s learned and grown. Many of her experiences in the novel are based on my friends and family who have had similar things happen to them and gone through the board process. I’m trying to avoid spoilers in these questions, but let’s just say, the events that occur to her are certainly not out of the ordinary. For Darcy, many of his experiences are based on my growing up with a T-38 instructor. Cross-countries were just part of the gig. My husband is in a staff-type job now, but when he was actively flying, he was gone more than he was home.

I do love interviews for all that I learn about the background for author and books. Thanks so much for sharing with us today, Leigh!

Where can you find Leigh and her book? Flight Path Less Traveled Links

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44427328-the-flight-path-less-traveled?ac=1&from_search=true

US link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PNFN962/ref=x_gr_w_glide_ku?caller=Goodreads&callerLink=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44427328-the-flight-path-less-traveled?ac=1&from_search=true&tag=x_gr_w_glide_ku-20

UK link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Flight-Path-Less-Traveled-Continuation-ebook/dp/B07PNFN962/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+flight+path+less+traveled&qid=1552874830&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spell

The Best Laid Flight Plans Links

US link: https://amzn.to/2IkAWTF

UK link: https://amzn.to/2SfGA9m

Contact Information

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: Leigh Dreyer

Facebook Page: @leighdreyerauthor

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/leighdreyer

Website: http://www.leighdreyer.com/

Social Media Information

Hashtags: #TheFlightPathLessTraveled #LeighDreyer #JAFF #AustenInspired

Before she heads out on tour with The Flight Plath Less Traveled, let me share the blog tour schedule so you can join in with more fabulous posts.

March 19- From Pemberley to Milton

https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpress.com/

March 21/22- My Jane Austen Book Club

March 23- My Love for Jane Austen

March 23- Interests of a Jane Austen Girl

March 25- Austenesque Reviews

March 26- So Little Time

March 27- Diary of an Eccentric

March 28- More Agreeably Engaged

April 3-Half Agony Half Hope

April 4/5- Margie’s Must Reads

#newrelease bookrelease blogtour leighdreyer austenesque militaryromance

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sobdasha · 5 years

Text

given the way things seem to be going with the reboot

I'm anticipating that I'm gonna be hit hard with a lot of Kyou-n-Kagura feels. Not the ship itself (Kyou's not romantically interested in Kagura, Kagura's relationship with Kyou is Not Healthy, Kyou hates the way she clings to him and doesn't respect his space and emotions and wants, etc), but I think they're gonna nail me super hard with, yes Kyou is awkward with people but he did like that Kagura was one of his first playmates and he did have a lot of fun no matter her motivations and they do have a long history of closeness and despite how annoyed he is with her not respecting him he does show her a bit of fondness and softness and tolerates a lot from her, they are ~friends~

So I'mma just start now giving myself self-indulgent headcanon things for my heart

–

At some point early on after Kyou and Tohru move out of town and Kyou starts working at the new dojo, Kyou ends up being put in charge of a little kids' class because Reasons and he completely panics.

Like, Kyou is reasonably confident in his skills, okay, he knows he is a decent teacher, he knows he is a likeable person, he kinda played at being Assistant Instructor practicing stuff with Haru on their own time when they were kids so he's very comfortable instructing his peers. Kyou's fit in quite well at this dojo.

The thing is, little kids are not his peers.

Kyou could call Shishou, but he doesn't because he already knows that Shishou is going to go "aww" and give him the same speech Tohru has already given him about how he's wonderful and he's going to do just fine, just relax and be yourself, kids will love you, etc etc.

So instead, Kyou calls up Kagura, like:

"Kagura you work with small children for a living, how do you deal with them???"

(Kagura also gives him the "aww" and the speech at first because dang, Kyou, you're just so adorable. Chill a little, kitty cat. Kids don't--okay, well, sometimes they do bite but it's fine you can handle it.)

They're just small and extremely difficult to understand humans, Kagura tells him. Just treat them the way you'd want to be treated. Try to remember what it felt like when you were tiny and just starting martial arts.

"I can't do that!" Kyou says. "When I was their age I was already used to people treating me like shit, and I always just wanted Shishou to train me like an adult! Which he did, so it was great! But what if these kids wanna be coddled?"

Awww how could Kagura not take pity on this giant nerd. Also she loves being regarded as big-sisterly and sensible enough to dispense advice, this is very flattering to her ego that Kyou would ask her for her help and expertise, so she also gives him some concrete details.

"Star charts," she confides. "You get a big piece of poster board, and you put all their names on it, and you make a grid so there's a box for every class. And then each class, if a student attends and does a good job, you give them a star or a sticker to put in the box."

(The secret is, every time a student attends class they have done a good job. Each kid will always get a sticker, because a star chart isn't a punishment and like also Kagura's 100% confident Kyou will always find something good the kid has done that day. He's a soft papa at heart.)

"Uh-huh, uh-huh," says Kyou, taking literal notes. Bby this is not that hard. "Star chart. Stickers. Poster board. Lots of decorations." Looks like he and Tohru are running out to go shopping tonight, but it's fine, Kagura's just saved his ass so it's fine.

"And let them give you lots of high-fives," she says. "And do all your usual lessons, but turn them into games. And have someone record it on their phone and send me the video so I can see you being a stupid dad."

"Yeah okay I think I've got enough and I'm hanging up on you now thanks."

(Kagura texts Tohru and gives her very detailed and specific instructions about how to work the video recording feature on the phone because they are bros and Tohru's got her back.)

#sobdasha fic adjacent #fruits basket

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