It's Been Toooooo Long! :)

What a vacation I took! It's been much too long since I've written on my blog. BUT, that' shows I've been busy with my book, which I'm excited to say is completed! :) 71,000 words, over 250 pages, and I feel like my baby is graduating! :) I'm waiting to get the final 2 chapters back from the editor, and then it will be ready to send off in its entirety! :) Think happy thoughts, and then I'll just need Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust!

~Anngela

From the Mouths of Babes...

As I sit here, listening to my sweet husband read to our two little boys, it reminds me of when I was young and my mom read to me. One of my favorite things to do on a Saturday was go to the library. I'd run over to the Dr. Seuss section and pull out 'If I Ran the Circus.' As I got older, my tastes changed, but there are still 2 Children's books that immediately push me back to childhood, sitting with my Mommy on my bed reading: Helga the Troll, by Tomi de Paola and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. I LOVED THESE BOOKS! I wanted Helga to get a dowry so she could marry Lars (although I always thought he was a jerk). And, I always wanted to live in the town of chew and swallow and go sledding down a hill of mashed potatoes.

So, what are your favorite children's stories? Which ones take you back and mean the most to you?

Can't wait to hear from you,
~Anngela Schroeder

I Have a Dream....

If you've ever seen the movie Pretty Woman with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, you might remember the homeless guy at the beginning and end of the movie that says something like, "Welcome to Hollywood. What's your dream? EVERYbody's got a dream!" I was thinking about him today, because man I've been having strange dreams lately. They say that dreams are a reflection of our innermost desires. If that's the case, I really want to be grading Senior Projects soon, because that's what I've been dreaming about! Can't wait.

However, before I get those turned into me this Friday, I can still dream of something wonderful that will happen to me or my loved ones. Tell me what are your dreams? What do you want to accomplish? What to do you hope to achieve? Either that, or tell me about a real dream you've had.

Can't wait to hear from you,
~Anngela :)

A Rose by Another Name ....

Language is a beautiful thing...whether it's English, French or Arabic every culture has significant words that affect people in so many different ways. What's profanity in one language can be a term of endearment in another. The idea of words as separate concepts within cultures and languages has always appealed to me. I've also been fascinated by the sounds of words and how they roll out of ones mouth. For example, doesn't 'wretched' sound so much more involved than 'bad'? Or even 'enraptured' as opposed to 'interested'? Even the sound is better. So, today I'd like to ask you what your favorite words are: they can be anything at all, but please remember this is a family blog...nothing you wouldn't want me to read to my 2 year old. :)

Thanks, and I can't wait to hear from you,

~Anngela Schroeder

PS: My favorite sounding word is: Mellifluous. I heard James Earl Jones say it on a TV show once, and it sounded beautiful. Heck, he could say cockroach and it would sound poetic, though! :)

LIfe is just a Mystery...

To quote one of the most loved characters in literature, "It seems like a rather blustery day." And what better activity to do on a blustery day than to curl up with a good book? The question the comes down to what book to grab? A mystery? Adventure? Romance? Tell me what your favorite genre is and your favorite author?


ON a blustery, rainy day, I must say that I love to hunker down with a good Mary HIggen's CLark mystery, a piece of raisin toast and some Ovaltine. That is the PERFECT way to read. All I need is a HUGE corner window seat, and my dreams would be complete. :)

How about you? Can't wait to hear your answer.

~Schroeder

Friend or Foe...

Every now and then we read a book or watch a movie where the villain makes the story what it is. What would Star Wars be without Darth Vader? Pride and Prejudice without Wickham? The Great Gatsby without Tom Buchanan?

What is your favorite Villian? WHo makes the story for you?


Can't wait to hear your answer. :)

~Schroeder

Remember the who????

I don't know if you've seen the upcoming previews, but HOLY MOLY! There is a remake of Clash of the Titans coming out. Clash of the Titans was the first PG movie I ever saw. I remember when the announcer said: "Parental Guidance is suggested," and I was so worried because my parents weren't there to give me permission. I worried and worried. BUT, it was such a corny movie, I was ok in the end.

With that in mind, tell me about your favorite myth or folktale. Is it Zeus and his getting rid of Prometheus after he stole fire? Is it the story of Icarus flying too close to the sun? What about Poseidon causing Odysseus to wander the sea for 10 years. Or maybe, you're more of a folk tale kind of person? Johnny Appleseed? Paul Bunyan? Pecos Bill? (My favorite).

Let me know what your mind runs with.

~Anngela Schroeder

PS I'd have to say Pandora's box. I could never blame her for being curious about what was in the box. It's a woman's choice, you know? :)

History

History repeats itself, is a term that we've all heard during our lives. And, the strange thing is, that it really does. With that in mind comes the idea of repetition: repetition of plots, types of characters, and basic endings. So...what do you think was the best sequel of all times? Books or movies are eligible for discussion.

Can't wait to hear your thoughts,

~Schroeder

PS Mine would have to be any of the books from the "Anne of Green Gables" series. I loved them growing up, and the continuation of the story makes me love ANne Shirley more and more.
Movies, I'd have to say "Indiana Jones and the Quest for the Holy Grail." Epic!

Chay-Chay-Change...

I'm working on my book right now and started to reflect back on the idea and how it came to me. My story is about a present day family in France that believes they are the descendants of a child by Guinevere and Lancelot. There is a huge mystery involved and artifacts from Camelot (of course). The story began with a 'What If..." question as I was falling asleep one night. "What if I could change the ending of King Arthur's fable?" Actually, there was a little more to it than that, but that was the main idea.

SO, tell me...if you could change the ending/outcome of one book or story, what would it be? What would you change it to? Be descriptive. I'm curious... :)

Can't wait to hear from you,
~Schroeder

The Grass is Always Greener...

We live in a society of make believe. For all our reality TV, there are many things that aren't real: the characters created in World of Warcraft or D & D; supermodels looking that good 24 hours a day; or even the belief that if you graduate with a Bachelor's degree you're guaranteed a well paying job. :)

But, reality isn't all it's cracked up to be. WIth that in mind, what fantasy world would you like to live in? Middle Earth from "The Lord of the Rings" series? Forks, WA from Twilight? What about Narnia? Tell me what your ideal alternate world would be. I'm excited to find out. :)

~Schroeder

PS Mine would be 18th Century England, during the Regency period. Of course I'd have to be wealthy, because I don't want to be a servant in the house of Mr. Darcy or anything like that. :) Either that or PEI with Anne Shirley.

Exercising Your Mind...

What challenges you? There are things that I love doing that truly hurt my brain: Organizing events, crossword puzzles, reading my old college textbooks. However, even though they hurt my brain, I love the challenge of accomplishing something that is mentally stimulating.

So, what challenges you? Is it Math? Work? your Senior Project?


Can't wait to hear from you,

~Anngela Schroeder

Favorite Lines...

I'm watching my favorite movie as I type this (Pride and Prejudice), and have probably 10 favorite lines in it. What's your favorite book or movie line? Is it something well known, or is it an obscure little line that others might not notice?


Can't wait to hear from you,

~Anngela Schroeder

PS- Mine would have to be:

Movie- from Steel Magnolia's (one of my top 5 movies). "Janice Van Meter...looks like 2 pigs wrestling under a blanket."

Book- from Pride and Prejudice (top 3 books). "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."

The Strength from Within...

I'm in the middle of a final edit on my novel, and have been going over the plot and themes to make sure it's enjoyable. One thing that I've noticed is that Gwen, the main character, has to deal with a few things that some people might become weakened by. Do you think that adversity makes us stronger, or only causes us to be weaker?


Can't wait to hear from you,
~Anngela Schroeder

Foiled Again...

We all have read stories wher we get to the end and are shocked by the outcome. Whether they go back to their true love, don't get the girl, or don't win the battle. What story's ending really surprised you? What story had an unexpected twist? Was it a good or bad ending?

Can't wait to hear,
~ Anngela Schroeder

PS- I'd have to say mine would be The 6th Sense. Freaky!

Fear...

Over the years, I've learned a few things about writing: Maintain the same verb tense throughout your story; make the characters appealing; Know your audience. However, one thing that I've focused on recently is fear. Every character needs to have a weakness to make them more realistic. Whether it's a fear of heights, fear of snakes, or fear of commitment [ :) ], we all fear something, even the seemingly bravest of us.

SO, what's your fear? What makes you recoil? Me? I'm afraid of most dogs. Attacked when I was little. That, and I have slight claustrophobia tendencies. What about you?


Can't wait to hear from you,

~Anngela Schroeder

Happiness...

Happiness is a state of mind. We do what we can to enjoy the world, but sometimes we have to pull from a place that is deep within us to get through the day.

What makes you happy? What brings you joy? I'm not talking about simple pleasure where you smile a little and move on. I mean pure, euphoric happiness.

ME? Obviously, my family. My husband can make me laugh and smile like no one else. He is hilarious and keeps me rolling on the floor constantly. No lie! My children are stinkin precious. I truly am blessed.

So, what brings you happiness?

Can't wait to hear.

~Anngela Schroeder :)

Music...

According to the Muse question a few days ago, music really effects our lives. What song do you think would be your 'theme song'? Is it something with a pulsating beat, like AC/DC's 'Back in Black'? Or a fun pop song, like Miley Cyrus's 'Party in the USA'? Or are you more of a classical fan of the Beatles? WOuld you be the 'Walrus'?


~Anngela Schroeder


I think I'd be John Mayer's song "Daughter's" . Whenever that comes on my IPOD it just makes me relax and gets into me. BUT, I must say, I've always wanted to be the James Taylor song 'Something in the Way She Moves'. I LOVE JT! :)

Gaming...

I got into a great discussion with a student today about how our society is losing their ability to communicate interpersonally. We are so focused on e-mails, texts, facebook, IM's; video games, movies, and youtube, that we are unable to effectively communicate. I have students that can't stay awake in my class because they're up until 3am playing World of Warcraft or Halo. I know people whose spouses are my age that have no more relationship with their partner because their spouse wants to live in this 'gaming' world that they have created, and not reality.


What do you think? Do you think this is a problem, or is it not as big a deal as I think?


~Anngela Schroeder

Plot....

Ok, today you need to think a little bit more. WHile doing some research for my book, I kept thinking, "Wow, this Gwen has a cool life. Traveling around the world to search out artifacts from Camelot. How great would that be?" Then I thought, "What book or movie would I most want my life to be like?"

After much thought, I think I'd vote for 'Emma', by Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice is my ultimate favorite book, but I think the I married a Mr. Knightly, and not Mr. Darcy.


So, it's your turn. What book or movie would you like your life to be like? Can't wait to see your answers. :)

~Anngela Schroeder

Your Muse...

We all have a muse, something that seems to inspire us to be creative: Write, draw, play music, sculpt, etc. What is your muse? What consumes you and allows you to be creative when you are stumped?

For me, my muse is the Pride and Prejudice CD. All I have to do is pull that up on my itunes, and I can't stop writing. It's a wonderful thing. :)

~Schroeder

Ode to Saturday...

Oh, Saturday...how I love thee.
-Sleeping late
-Date with my son
-DInner with friends.

WHy can't every day be Saturday? :)


~Anngela

The Obvious...

All week I've been asking questions about literature and characters. Well, today, I've got to go with the obvious topic...

Who do you like in the Superbowl? My pick?

Peyton's Colts-35, Bush's Saints- 32

GO COLTS!!!!!!

Adventure...

One aspect of my book that intrigues me is the action of it. Granted, there is no shoot'em'ups, as my Grandpa used to say, but it definetly has action and intriuge. With that in mind, tell me about your favorite action hero. is it Indiana Jones? Benjamin Franklin Gates? Jason Bourne? Or even Han Solo. Tell me why.


~Anngela

PS- Mine is definetly Indiana Jones. How can you not love Harrison Ford?

Romance...

One of the hardest things for me to do was decide if I should have an element of romance between the 2 main characters in my newest book, The Stone of Camelot. I didn't want Gwen to be thought of as a sappy heroine who is just as interested in finding a husband as finding the stolen artifact and Adele. I wanted her to be a cross between Indiana Jones and Nancy Drew; to never be the victim because her emotions got in the way. I believe I succeeded in that. The element of romance is just a slight side bar, and not a main topic throughout the novel.


On that note, tell me who your favorite romantic characters are. Romeo and Juliet? Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy? How about Scarlett and Rhett from Gone with the Wind? What made them your favorite characters? Was it the unrequited love? Their devotion? The fact that they DIDN'T end up with each other at the end? or the fact that they surpassed all obstacles to stay together.

Can't wait to hear from you,


~Anngela

Favorites...

Well, last night was a little rough. I started to finalize the copy on a chapter after it was edited, and realized I wasn't happy with it at all. Instead, I went back and deleted almost the entire chapter and started over again. :-( BUT, if it's not perfect, it's not worth it, right?

Well, changing things around made me think of favorites...favorite, teams, favorite movies, favorite books. So, today, tell me who your favorite characters from a book are. Are you an Elizabeth Bennett fan? How about John Proctor? Maybe Jay Gatsby? Or even Shylock from the Merchant of Venice.


Can't wait to hear from you! :)


~Anngela

Oh yea, I'm an Elizabeth Bennett, Anne Shirley fan! <3

Questions for the Day....

I'm going to start jotting down some daily thoughts, about books, life, sports, whatever's on my mind, and I'd love to have you respond to them.

Today's Question:

What do you think is more important...a great story line, or great characters?

Can't wait to hear your answers!


~Anngela

Conference was a Success!!!!!

What a great weekend! I was able to schmooze with some pretty cool people and sit in on some amazing workshops, mostly by John Reed, an author and former professor. I also made a great connection with someone from Penguin Publishing who wants to not only see my COMPLETE manuscript, but also wants outlines of ideas I have to further the Gwen Arthur series further along. HOW SUPER FABULOUS!!!!!

I still need a couple of readers, so if you're interested in reading my novel and willing to give brutally honest (But not hurtful) opinions please let me know. :)

~Anngela

Teaser...

Excited about a writing conference this weekend in San Diego. I've decided to post the teaser on my query letter, so the secret of what my book is about is over. Are you ready? Here you go:



Being the chief researcher for The Daughter’s of the Round Table is an ideal career choice for Guinevere Arthur: traveling to distant locations, authenticating Arthurian artifacts, and studying ancient texts. Ideal, that is, until she receives a letter from Adele Lake claiming to be a direct descendant of a child by Guinevere of Camelot and Lancelot du Lac. Flying to Paris to research Adele’s claims, Gwen is immediately swept up in a mystery after Adele’s aunt is murdered and Adele herself kidnapped. With the help of Adele’s brother, Val, Gwen has only 10 days to discover the secret proof the Lake family claims to have, and find the mythical sword Excalibur to insure Adele’s safe return. In this 62,000-word mystery, we follow Gwen Arthur on a quest through ancient ruins and timeless relics to discover the secrets of Camelot.

Tell me what you think. :)

~Anngela

Update

Hello, friends.

I'm finally able to get back in the swing of things and work towards finishing my novel. My sweet Schro let me work for 1/2 a day yesterday uninterrupted. I was able to finish almost a whole chapter. :) I should (if I work really hard at it) be able to finish the book in the next 2 weeks, which would be GREAT because I'll be at a writer's conference the last week of January. We're up to almost 200 pages, which is much more realistic than my first novel which had its first draft at over 400! Not o desirable, but I was a neuby in the ream of literature. (I'm just so experienced, now, huh? :) )

If there is anyone that would be interested in maybe proofing a few chapters for me, let me know. I've gotten some good feedback so far, but constructive criticism is always appreciated.

~Anngela