HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY WORDS ARE ARROWS!

Hello! It is a very exciting day, because once more it is My Words Are Arrows' birthday! I don't have anything planned to post today, other than an expression of my gratitude.

It has been two years since I decided, on a whim, to start a blog so I could inflict share my opinions with others on the internet. I started out writing poorly structured reviews for books I'd read, with no real schedule. Since then, I have posted almost 100 times, met and talked to several amazing authors (including but not limited to: Jennifer Niven, Cassandra Clare and Holly Black), written, edited and published my own novel, signed almost 100 copies of my book, signed alongside award-winning YA author Claire Zorn, spoken at Book Week events and attended my own book launch.

I can't actually explain how happy it makes me to know that people not only enjoy reading my posts, but also actively keep up with my recommendations and decide to spend their own time reading books I've suggested. I think my goal starting this blog was to make friends, to interact with other people who loves books too, and I've managed to go above and beyond that in my time here. I've made so many friends, whether they be fellow bloggers, writers or just book lovers, everyone who I've met has added something different and unique to my blogging, reading and writing experience, and I'm so grateful to you all.

I have put my heart into not only the blog posts but also the writing I post and sell through MWAA,

and to have people say they value it and loved it makes me feel unimaginable joy. I cannot adequately describe the feeling I get when I receive emails from people telling me how much they loved my book or a particular post. It's one of the greatest feelings in the world, for me.

This blog is something I have worked extremely hard on over the last few years. Even though I miss a Sunday every now and then (trust me, no one is angrier at me than myself on those days), MWAA has become a part of me and I love it to pieces.

Sorry I don't really have any proper things to share on this momentous occasion! I'm still working on my NaNoWriMo project, and you can read some snippets of it in my last post, if you missed it.

Until next time, thank you so much for reading MWAA, I value you so much.

I'll see you soon with a proper post.

Lily xoxo

NaNoWriMo 2015!

Hey! Sorry this post is a week late, but I've been so busy with, you guessed it, National Novel Writing Month!

For those who don't know, NaNoWriMo is where writers all around the world band together to write a 50,000 word novel in the 30 days of November. Last year, I wrote Hide And Seek, my debut novel, in NaNoWriMo, and here I am again!

This year, I'm writing another psychological thriller/mystery. It's an odd mix of Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars, and Lauren Oliver. It's been stretching my writing skills, that's for sure! This is the first time I've written in present-tense third-person, so I've been playing around with that and figuring out how to use it most effectively. I'm also finding a challenge in my characterization, due to the fact these characters I'm writing are so odd and distant and unreliable as narrators. I'm very used to writing honest, lovable characters (eg. Ellie from Hide And Seek), and so it's been fun and also difficult to play around with them and see just how they work and interact with one another.

I wrote a little synopsis for the story on my NaNo profile page, which you can read below:

The greatest minds are capable of the greatest vices as well as of the greatest virtues…

Under the shining, freshly polished face of the Hawthorne Academy, there's dark secrets, twisted lies and dangerous students.

There's fights, parties, challenges… and murder.

Gemma Stone's death brings along with it police investigators, reporters, and a whole lot of suspicion. The girls at Hawthorne have been getting away with everything for centuries. It's part of their identity. But will Gemma Stone's death unmask their darkest secrets, exposing them to the retribution they know all too well they deserve?

It's not the best summary for the story, but if it intrigues you, let me know! I've been wanting to write it for ages, and it seems to be coming together okay. I also have a few excerpts to share with you! Throughout the month, I will try to keep you guys updated with not only my progress but also bits of my story. Here are some snippets from the (completely unedited!) manuscript:

And so Esmerine has never worried about going under a car as she runs across the darkened highway. She has never worried about the water that might spill into her lungs as she tries to escape the ropes the hold her at the bottom of the river. She has never worried that the amount of foreign substance she puts into her body will do her harm, because she does not care if her death comes about playing dangerous games with dangerous girls on the fringes of school property. If her end comes in the form of squealing, cheering girls, short dresses, her lipstick smudged on her perfect collar, her youth glowing on her face as the light drains from her eyes, she will be content. Better than being bored, as she always said.

***

“People think I murdered Gemma,” she says quietly.

Esmerine shrugs. “People think many things. Did you know that, according to the first years in Mr Roberts’ English class, I have an exotic European boyfriend who whisks me away each night, and showers me in endless gifts? What a fanciful life I lead!” she says. She speaks with her hands, they punctuate her words and add a new level of crazy to conversing with her.

“Do you think I killed Gemma?” Olive asks, her voice steely.

Esmerine laughs. “God, no. Well, I don’t think so. You never know… You’ve got to be careful of the pretty, innocent ones,” she says, tapping Olive’s cheek. She lowers her voice. “They are, sometimes, the maddest.”

Olive doesn’t know what to make of this. There isn’t much consolation in Esmerine’s half-trust in her. The way Esmerine smiles makes it seem as if she knows all Olive’s secrets. Perhaps she does. Wouldn’t be surprising. Esmerine seems to know everything; and she’s unexpectedly smart.

“Did you kill her?” It’s not a question she expects to be answered truthfully. But then again, Esmerine is so insane, she transcends all expectations Olive seems to have.

Esmerine just grins. “Good question! Do you think so, Amateur Detective James? Look at the evidence, darling, and make your deductions!” She draws out her words, mocking.

Olive rolls her eyes and shoves her way past Esmerine. “I have things to do. Things that don’t involve conserving with power-obsessed, emotionally dry lunatics.”

 So there are some snippets from the story! Let me know what you think in the comments below or via any of my socials or even through a message on the NaNoWriMo website, if you are also participating. I'd love to know what you think!

If you are participating in NaNoWriMo this year and you would like to friend me, go to my page and add me! Send me a message letting me know you came from my blog and I'll add you back and we can be writing buddies! I'm so excited to keep writing and updating you all, and I'd love some more buddies to write with this month.

I'll see you with another post and some more updates on my progress soon!

Lily xo