Why "Endangered" is entitled that . . .

So, one of my best friends asked me why Endangered was entitled that. And I was going to explain it, but then I thought, "Wait. You need to write another blog post, so this is your chance." So here I am, writing a post about why I named my story "Endangered".

Um, well, when I first started writing it, it was called, "A Match Made in Paradise". But that was too cheesy, and it sounded way too modern. Then I settled on "Pirates, Treasure, and God". Haha, that should win a Worst Title of the Year award. But I thought it was good then. Until I started talking to someone about it, and they told me that if I wanted to publish this story (Which hadn't crossed my mind at that point) that I would need a title that drew people in and made them want more.

So I started thinking about what made a good title. I googled it, I asked people, I even started searching through my bookshelf and reading their titles, trying to see why they drew me in. I even took keywords in my story and tried to come up with something. To no avail.

At that time, my story didn't really have a plot. All I knew was that I had two VERY different characters, one had been adopted and was godly and sweet, the other . . . well, I hadn't figured out why he was so grumpy and rude. And I knew I wanted him to kidnap her. But that wasn't enough to come up with a title, not that I knew that.

But I wanted a title. A perfect one. One that everyone would love. And I was determined to come up with it. I thought hard about it, and then gave up. I just quit thinking and said, "Oh, forget it. It's not like I'll ever finish it." But I kept writing it, and I was at the kidnapping scene and I thought, "Hmm, she gets kidnapped by this guy, and this other guy is following her and wants to kill her (For some reason that I didn't know). Boy, her life's endangered like one of those rare species."

And then it hit me. Endangered!

And that's what I called it. And as the story changes more and more, it fits the title even better. And I am so glad that someone was bold enough to tell me my story title stunk. I really am. I will always be grateful to her for that. :) Thanks for reading!


God bless!
Galatians 6:9 KJV

The Game of Elevens. . .

Hey, all! Sorry I haven't posted in over a week, my computer broke down and I bought a new one, but that one turned out to be a piece of junk, so . . . yeah.

Anyway! Here is this game that my friend, Becki, tagged me in. It's called The Game of Elevens, in case you didn't know. Um, so let's see. First things first: Post the rules.

1) Post these rules (check!)
2) Round One: Post 11 random things about yourself
3) Round Two: Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post
4) Round Three: Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
5) Go to their blog and tell them they've been tagged
6) Post a link to your . . . post on the blog of your tagger, so they can see the questions you've answered.

Great! We're ready to go! Now, Round One! Eleven random things about me (Oh, boy.) . . .

1. I have seven siblings. *eyeroll* That's real random, right?
2. Baby dolls (Or any toy that has eyes) creep me out. They have ever since I was five and my grandma collected them.  They scare me more than clowns do. Toy Story didn't help much either. *shudder*
3. Everytime I am alone in a room with stuffed animals or toys with eyes, I turn them all away from me. I hate feeling like I'm being watched. (Old habits die hard. :P)
4. I love any (Christian or, at very least, clean) book/movie that has Texas/Wild West /cowboys and romance in it.
5. I love speaking in a British accent. I sound ridiculous, but my family has quite a few giggles over it.
6. I love checking the mail. It's the only time I hear silence.
7. I get my best story ideas when there is no way to get on any computer. Which is why I forget most of them.
8. I used to want to be a vet, nurse, hair stylist, and babysitter. Then I discovered my true talent.
9. Ick, I'm running out of things! Uh . . . . . . . I hate writing longhand. I always have.
10. I stink at writing cursive. Except L's. I love L's.
11. Last one!!!!!! Um, I like rocking babies to sleep.

Okay! Glad that's over! Now, Round Two! Answer Becki's questions!!!

         1.   Out of  all your possessions, which would you be MOST willing to give up?

Answer: Uh, as in an individual thing or group of things? Either way, I'd give up my . . . TV before anything else. I don't really watch it, anyway.

2. Cat person or dog person?
Answer: I love both, but I'll take cat over dog anyday. I love cats. ^_^

3. If you could switch lives with your best friend for a day, would you?
Answer: Hmm, depends . . . Oh, yes. I would. I'd love to do that!

4. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Answer: I really don't know. I'm happy with myself . . . though I'd probably stop procrastinating so much.

5. What is your pet peeve?

Answer: I don't really have one. Oh, never mind. I hate it when people dog-ear their books. HATE it.

6. What question do you hate people asking you?

Answer: "Are these your kids?" or "Are these ALL your kids?" To the first one, I always answer, "No, I'm 13. I'm too YOUNG for kids, thank you. Good grief, do I look old or something? THESE ARE MY SIBLINGS!!!" And to the second I always want to answer, "Nope. I kidnapped them. Yeah. It was cool." -_-

7. Would you classify yourself as "crazy"?
Nope. I prefer insane or unrealistically creative.

8. What's the strangest/most memorable dream you've ever had?
Answer: I've had so many strange dreams . . . it would probably be a tie between the one where I was being hunted by my FMC Guinevere (She wanted to kill me) and the one where I was locked in a castle with a bunch of other people and we had to compete against each other to survive. Only one "team" would make it out alive. That was pretty weird.

9.  Introvert (get energy from being alone), extrovert (get energy from being around people), or ambivert (need 50-50)?
Answer: Ambivert.

10. Nightowl or Early Riser?
Answer: Both. I can stay up all night, and I can wake up around 3:30 in the morning and be fine all day. Mostly.

11. Are you ready for this to be over? (If so, SURPRISE! IT IS!!)
Answer: Um, yay? I liked the questions, not the random stuff though. In case you haven't noticed, I'm not very random. :P

Wait, now I get to make up questions?!?!? Whoohoo!!! Yay! Okay, here we go!

1: Could you live without computer/internet?

2: What is your favorite book (Fiction or non-fiction)?

3: Do you like sports or hate them?

4: What is your most hated chore?

5: What is your favorite song or song genre?

6: If you could go back or forward into time, what time period/year would you go?

7: If you could have any other name, what would it be?

8: What is your least favorite movie?

9: When you don’t feel like blogging, what do you do?

10: What is your favorite outdoor activity?

11: Um . . . . I'm about out of questions. Did you enjoy this?

Now I get to tag bloggers!!!!



Sarah Faulner @ Inklined
Bethany Baldwin @ The Ramblings of a Young Author
Elizabeth Lewis @ Exhortations by Elizabeth
Sienna North @ A Christian Writing Blog: Of Faerie & Faith

Those are the only blogs I can think of right now. Thanks for reading!

God bless!
Galatians 6:9 KJV

Writing prompts!

Welp, today starts off Camp NaNo. Yesterday I said I'd be doing writing prompts to get me warmed up. And I said I'd post them. So . . . here is one.

I've chosen ones that go along with my story, in a way, so I could warm up my brain for "Endangered". Here we go:

This time, you’re in too deep. Your gambling losses have been mounting and, with a recent ill-advised bet, have put you $50,000 in debt. Your bookie, knowing you don’t have that kind of cash, is willing to wipe your debt clean if you carry out a very dangerous mission for him. (This isn't exactly what I'm writing about, but I stayed on topic as much as I could.)

What I wrote: 

Lord Mendes threw his last few pounds on the table and rubbed his jaw, feeling the rough stubble that lined his lower face. That was it. He was now officially ruined. He had lost it all. All because a horse had to go lame. He ought to pummel the stable hand for not exercising the horse properly before racing him. 

     Lewis Redler strutted up to him with a smug smile across his face. "Well, well, well. The great Lord Mendes has been defeated." He jabbed his thumb into his chest. "By me."

     Lord Mendes shrugged. "We all have bad bets. I shall win it back soon enough." He said, trying to believe the lie. 

     Lewis laughed and shook his head. "Sure you will. I think we both know you are out of money. And I think you know that you have just given up your children's inheritance." The smug smile quickly grew into a grin, only provoking Mendes' anger. 

     "I shall win it back. I will." He glared at Lewis, hoping to intimidate him from saying anything else. 

     Lewis just raised an eyebrow. "I do not believe you will. Which is why I am giving you a chance to win it back."

     Mendes leaned back in his chair, putting his hands behind his head. "I am listening."

     Lewis pulled out a chair, his smirk telling. "For me to erase your debt, and perhaps give back what you have lost, you have to do one favor for me."
     Mendes nodded. "Anything."
     "Wonderful. You should have no problem with this then. There is this . . . family. They are no one really. Just a few servants, though one of their daughters, who is nineteen years of age, is pretty enough. Anyway . . ."
     Mendes felt his heart drop. Whatever it is that Lewis wants you to do is not good, his gut told him. I have no other choice, he thought back. David and Cordelia . . . This is the only way to save our estate and their inheritance. 
     He quickly made his decision and pushed his conscience to the side. "I told you, whatever it is, I will do it."
     Lewis smiled slowly and nodded, his eyes triumphant. "Good, good. I want you to kill the family. Oh, but save the daughter. Only then will you be debt free."
     Mendes felt like he had been punched in the gut. Should he? No. Could he live with that on his conscience for the rest of his life? Perhaps. He needed the money back . . .
     His head shot up and he looked Lewis in the eye. "I will do it. When?"


I don't think this will be put in my story . . . but hey, who knows? Maybe it can go into "Threatened". I'll post more writing prompts later.

God bless!
Galatians 6:9 KJV