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#writing humor #writing

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#writing #writers #writing memes #writing humor #art meme #artists #art #art humor

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#writing humor #yours truly #writing is hard

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And...but...therefore...though... I'm guilty of them all.

my toxic writer trait isn't run on sentences. it's beginning them with 'and'.

#wip #editing #writing humor

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Sense & Sensibility 2024 Review

It is a truth universally acknowledge that if a new Jane Austen adaptation is released, I must watch it. ::sighs:: I’m way behind on reviewing Hallmark’s new adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, but in my defense, I was only able to watch a couple of weeks ago. It aired on the Hallmark Channel back in February; I don’t have cable so I had to find a place online to watch it. Special thanks to the kind soul who let me know where I could find it. If you’d like to see it, go here.

Now, onto my unorganized review.

We’re all familiar with the story: It is a tale of two sisters who dearly love each other, but couldn’t be more different if they tried. At first, they are unlucky in love and then later do make good matches for themselves. For me the love story is really between the sisters, that whatever may happened to them in life and in romance, in the end Elinore and Marianne only have each other.

Before I give my thoughts on this adaptation, let’s address the main complaint I’ve encountered regarding this version. Some viewers have criticized this movie for being Woke, because it dared to cast people of color in it. For Pete’s sake, it’s 2024! History has been white washed. People of color did exist in the Georgian and Regency eras, they moved in society, they fell in love and made matches. If you don’t want to watch this adaptation, fine, but please don’t insult it simply because the cast and crew are people of color.

What did I think? In general, I enjoyed it. I’m not a fan of Hallmark Productions, unless they’re Hallmark Hall of Fame movies. The usual Hallmark movies follow the same tired out formula. Now, since this is an adaptation of a classic, it doesn’t follow their formula and we do have a decent movie. The film quality was a step up, as were the locations, and the set design. I hope Hallmark considers adapting more classics, since this one was a win. I do have a few criticisms.

The movie hit all of the book’s highlights but things felt rushed at times. I wanted at least another hour for this adaptation, to spend more time in the Dashwood’s world.

In certain places it lacks in emotional range, contrasting the two sisters, showing the gravity of Marianne’s illness. Again, I think that is due to time constraints. If the movie were longer, it would have been able to flesh out everything.

It does rely heavily on Emma Thompson’s adaptation. Example: The character of Margaret is bigger and has been made into a tomboy, Lady Middleton is killed off, Sir John Middleton and Mrs. Jennings are especially close.  

When the Dashwood ladies move into Barton Cottage, we don’t feel the impact of them stepping down in society, or living in genteel poverty. They talk of their financial troubles, but it doesn’t seem real because Barton Cottage looks more like a mansion than a cottage. They looked like they just moved from one mansion to another.

Now, onto what I liked.

The age-appropriate actresses and actors. They may have been a little older than the characters they were portraying, but it wasn’t too drastic. We can tell Elinor and Marianne are both young and full of dreams, and they’re ready to fall in love. The one who plays Margaret is obviously their baby sister, but they don’t feel so much older for it to be impossible for them to be sisters.

No smutty opening scene of seducing 13-year-old Eliza Williams. The 2008 version opens with Willougby seducing a girl in the tackiest, most uncomfortable manner possible. It gives away the whole mystery of Willoughby, so when we heard about it later, it wasn’t a surprise. This version remains classy, respectful, family-friendly and follows Austen’s example by keeping it off-screen.

I’m not a costume expert or anything, but the costumes are crazy gorgeous. It gives the whole production a fairy-tale feel.

The actor who plays Sir John Middleton is hilarious. I was cracking up whenever he was on screen. And unlike previous versions, Mrs. Jennings isn’t plump or crude. Though she teases and gossips, she’s rather charming.

The Steele sisters are like they are in the book, but the one who plays Lucy took her manipulation tactics to another level. Kudos to her – you could tell in this adaptation that Lucy really enjoyed causing Elinor pain.

I really liked Edward in this version and he is always a hard character for me to like. You can see why Elinor falls in love with him.

Robert Ferrars is cute and a great coxcomb, just like his book counterpart. And I appreciated the hints o his and Lucy’s eventual attachment/marriage.

The age gap between Marianne and Brandon doesn’t feel awkward or uncomfortable, like it did in the 2008 version. You can slowly see Marianne falling in love with him; her changing her feelings towards him doesn’t feel that abrupt.

Mr. and Mrs. Palmer aren’t in this adaption, which was an interesting choice. But the way this adaptation was set up, they weren’t really needed.

Last but not least, the mention of historical figures! When Marianne and Willoughby discuss poetry, they mention reading Phyllis Wheatley. We often forget that Phyllis Wheatley was of that era, and the characters could have read her poetry. Also – the portraits of Dido Belle Lindsay and Olaudah Equiano are featured in the background in a couple of scenes.

So, yes, I recommend this version for any Austen lover and as I said, I hope Hallmark considers making more classic lit adaptations.

Have you watched Hallmark’s “Sense and Sensibility?” If so, what were your thoughts?

Until next time!

#sense and sensibility #sense and sensibility 2024 #period drama #jane austen #hallmark movies #Youtube

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Thank you to everyone who got me to 1000 likes! Didn't expect that. Have a wonderful day!

#1000 likes #tumblr milestone #thank you

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#books #anthony trollope #coffee #libraries

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no excuses writing meme, askbox version

drop one of these bad boys in my askbox and i will post, without editing

FIRST – the first two sentences of my current project

LAST – the most recently written two sentences of my current project

NEXT – the next line. meaning i will finish the sentence I’m on and write a new one, which you’ll get.

[insert prompt here] – you post a prompt, and i’ll write three sentences based on that prompt, set in the same time/setting as my current project

WHAT IF – i will pick an important choice or event in my current project and write three sentences (or more?) about if it’d gone done differently

THE END – i’ll make up an ending, or post the ending if i’ve written it

BEFORE THE BEGINNING – three sentences (or more) about something that happened before the plot of my current project

POV – something that’s already happened, retold from another character’s perspective

feel free to specify a specific project, if i have more than one, or a fandom*, if you don’t know what i’m working on. 

#writing ask meme #ask meme #ask me anything

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#jane austen #humor #lol #costume drama #period drama

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Edit Note: I'm really amazed by how much love this post got. Guess it just shows we're all in the same boat. Never give up writing! ❤️

Edit Note 2: I can't believe this has reached 3000 notes. Been on tumblr for almost ten years (different account) and nothing like this has ever happened before. Thank you! 😊

#writing humor #writing is hard #writing

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#writing humor #lady sheriff novel #lady sheriff series #fire by night #eye for an eye

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#writing humor #writing is hard #writing

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Courage Under Fire

Wonderful news! I just learned that “Courage Under Fire” released by Hiraeth Books, (the kind folks who published a couple of my other stories) has been published and it features my historical fantasy, “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made.” If you’re interested in buying a copy, you can do so here.

I intend to do a Fun Facts post in a few days.

I hope you’re all having a good Monday.

Until next time!

#historical fiction #fantasy fiction #fearfully and wonderfully made #courage under fire #hiraeth books #short stories

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Q&A with After Dinner Conversations

I recently did an interview with After Dinner Conversation Magazine - the awesome publication that published a few of my short stories! If you're interested, please check it out!

#interview #after dinner conversation #ethics #ethical fiction #short stories #fiction #historical fiction #literary fiction #writing

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I feel this on a deep spiritual level.

*actual footage of me editing*

I'll finish the novel someday.

#writing humor #editing #revision #writing is hard

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Fun Facts About “The Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughters”

In my previous post, I announced that my story “The Light House Keeper’s Daughters” was published in the latest issue of Black Cat Weekly. If you’re interested in buying a copy of the magazine for your eReader, you can do so here.

Whenever I publish a story, I try to do a Fun Facts post about the story, to share what inspired it and what I learned in my research along the way.

Let’s begin with the two main characters – Minnie and Brenna Smith. Many, many years ago when I was a teenager, I wrote about a character named Minnie Smith. She had a younger sister named Brenna and she was an aspiring writer. I had planned to do a whole coming of age series on her. Though the stories were based in the early 20th century, Minnie Smith was supposed to be based on yours truly and Brenna was supposed to be based on my sister. A couple of years ago, I revived the characters Minnie and Brenna, only this time it was for a short mystery story that has yet to be published. And I have continued writing about them. So, after like twenty-five years of living in my imagination, Minnie and Brenna have finally appeared in print.

“The Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughters” is the start of a new series. I’m not great at titles, but for now I’ve been calling the it “The Sleuthing Smith Sisters Series.” I’m open to suggestions, if anyone can think of anything better.

The second story in the series, “A Slice of Life,” has just been accepted for publication.

I’ve been picturing Sophie Nelisse as Minnie Smith. Unfortunately, I don’t know who I exactly picture Brenna as. Though Minnie is my literary counterpart, I didn’t look at all like Sophie Nelisse when I was in my teens. My hair was often a greasy mess, I had bad acne, and I had glasses. But hey, this is fiction, right?

This story is based in January 1918, in Michigan City, Indiana. It was partly inspired by this photo of a mother and two daughters near the Michigan Lighthouse, after a blizzard hit. The father, who I assume took the photo, was the true historical lighthouse keeper of Michigan City. But for the sake of this story, it is Mr. Smith. I also researched lighthouses, and in the end, I had to create my own version of the Michigan City Lighthouse to fit my story. The Michigan City Lighthouse still stands today and it is a tourist site.  

“The Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughters” is set against the backdrop of the January 1918 Blizzard. The winter storm paralyzed the Midwest and it was considered the Blizzard of the Century until the Blizzard of 1978 hit. I did copious amounts of research about the blizzard, how long it lasted, the descriptions were based on photographs and commentary of those who witnessed it.

If you were alive in Indiana in 1978, you have a Blizzard of 78 story. To this day, no storm compares to it. I grew up hearing my parents, grandmother, and friends talk about it. Whenever we have a winter storm now, the Blizzard of 78 is referenced. When the blizzard hit, my dad lived in Michigan City, so some of the descriptions of the area and what he experienced found its way into this story.

Until next time!

#historical fiction #mystery fiction #crime fiction #the lighthouse keeper's daughters #black cat weekly #sleuthing smith sisters series #blizzards #blizzard of 1918 #blizzard of 1978

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Black Cat Weekly #137

Wonderful news! Black Cat Weekly released their latest issue and it includes my story, “The Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughters.” The BCW website hints that my piece could be the start of a new series…and it is. The second story has sort of been accepted by BCW and I’m trying to think of a third story, that way it’ll be a proper trilogy. Right now, I’m calling it the Sleuthing Smith Sisters Series, until I can come up with something clever. I’m up for suggestions too. Anyway, if you’re interested in reading the issue, you can purchase it here for your eReader.

In a few days, I’ll do a Fun Facts post about the story.

I hope you all have a Happy Sunday!

#historical fiction #mystery fiction #crime fiction #the lighthouse keeper's daughters #christian fiction #young adult fiction #sleuthing smith sisters series