For the first time ever, I've gotten a novel to the point where I'm pretty much happy with it. I edited a novel, guys. Which means that now-- or in about two weeks-- I'm going to send it out to agents.
Since it's encouraged to put a link to your blog in queries, I've started a new blog: http://keliaingraham.blogspot.com It's kind of boring and basic right now, but I want a space where I can be more professional for agents who might be looking at it. Look there for any posts from me in the near future.
Kelia
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Monday, March 17, 2014
Poems
Here are two of my favorite poems I wrote for my creative writing class last semester.
The Piano
The worst of it is,
I cannot make a sound.
I’ve never sung a note
with my own free will.
No matter how hard I wish
for the hammer to move,
I still sit quiet
as a coffin,
mirror black and long,
my innards dead when silent.
But when a hand lifts my lid
and presses my teeth-keys,
my string-lungs start to sing.
Breath wafts over me and I
breathe it in,
the smell of someone smiling.
The taste of dust is wiped away
fingers caress my teeth,
my tongue,
my diaphragm
bellows each chord
and I can sing
and I can sing
The lid is lowered down.
The room is shuttered,
all I see is blackness now.
I cannot sing
by myself.
Chocolate dreams
Dove dark chocolate is the
best, and anyone who argues
has never eaten it
while sitting in a cave
in Acadia National Park,
the ocean just a stone
throw away and the pounding
of the waves echoing
throughout your cave,
the cave which you
used to clamber into
with all your sisters
when you were young and
all together.
It’s similar to chocolate mousse
which has to be experienced
at Parson’s Beach,
standing on that bone-dead tree
where you can see the entire
curve of sand, the green-black
sea that has no bottom,
and the marsh grass waving
at you in the wind, hello, hello,
why are you alone today?
I admit I’ve never had
smores while lying right on top
of Cadillac mountain,
all the stars bright over me
the pop and sizzle of a fire
behind my head and voices
singing soothing sounds
that wrap me up and
carry me to sleep, I’ll sleep
when we are all together.
-Kelia
2013
This year, I:
1. Auditioned at 6 schools
2. Went to Canada for the first time, though only for a few hours
3. Got accepted to 4 schools and wait listed for 2
4. Was offered two full tuition music scholarships
5. Accepted one of those
6. Wrote a very strange novel
7. Worked three jobs during the summer, once going 16 days without a day off
8. Visited a friend in Boston, traveling by train by myself for the first time
9. Drove a jet bike for the first time, and loved it
10. Wrote a very weird novel
11. Went to a Women's Leadership summer program at my college, had a fabulous time and made some great friends
12. Said goodbye to Kennebunk
13. Went to college
14. Made some amazing nerdy friends the second day I was there
15. Met a boy two weeks in
16. Went to six flags for the first time
17. Watched roughly 80 movies
18. Went to a haunted house for the first time
19. Played many games of chess, monopoly, and risk
20. Went to a midnight premiere of Catching Fire and then got breakfast at 3 AM
21. Did some schoolwork in between all that
22. Played three songs in a recital
23. Did not do NaNoWriMo for the first time in nine years, sadly
24. Had all my sisters home for the first time in two years
25. Had a fabulous christmas
26: Wrote roughly 80 poems
27: And so much more.
Wow, this is late. But I wrote it in December and never finished it, so here tis!
Kelia
26: Wrote roughly 80 poems
27: And so much more.
Wow, this is late. But I wrote it in December and never finished it, so here tis!
Kelia
Friday, August 30, 2013
What?
That's pretty much where my head is right now. It's the end of August, and I've been writing this post for so long that I now leave for college TODAY. Say what?
Things that have happened since I last posted (majorly summarized): I graduated! Anti-climatic, but still, it happened. Orientation was really fun and I met some cool music people. I had the piano festival at the end of June which was a blast other than only being 3 days long. July I managed to visit most of my friends-- a few trips to the beach, a day at Sebago Lake with a friend (I LOVE jetskiing), and an awesome trip to Boston for a day. Other than that I worked all the time (sixteen days in a row is my record), babysitting an 11 year old (so it's more like playing games and driving her places), and working at the bed and breakfast I've been chambermaiding at since last summer.
Oh and, I wrote another novel. I took a long break after finishing my last one (didn't really edit it) and wanted to write one in the summer, but didn't think I'd have time. But then in the beginning of July I had a dream that I couldn't get out of my head, and I had a window of time to write it in (exactly 4 weeks), so I did. It's a really weird novel of course, and my first non-fantasy! It's pretty wacko. And it's my tenth novel!
And then and then, for a week in the beginning of August I went to the University of Hartford for a week for a Women's Leadership Program. That was amazing and I met such cool people, and got to do fun things like Dragonboating, going to see Hello Dolly, and going to a Korean music concert, which was the best. I can't wait to see all my friends from that week again.
And I leave for college TODAY. I started this post three weeks ago I think, and never got around to finishing it. But I have to post something before I leave. I cannot believe the summer is over. I probably won't post at all in college, but who knows, maybe I'll have tons of free time (ahahahahaha not likely). I can't wait to see what this fall will be like.
So long!
Kelia
Things that have happened since I last posted (majorly summarized): I graduated! Anti-climatic, but still, it happened. Orientation was really fun and I met some cool music people. I had the piano festival at the end of June which was a blast other than only being 3 days long. July I managed to visit most of my friends-- a few trips to the beach, a day at Sebago Lake with a friend (I LOVE jetskiing), and an awesome trip to Boston for a day. Other than that I worked all the time (sixteen days in a row is my record), babysitting an 11 year old (so it's more like playing games and driving her places), and working at the bed and breakfast I've been chambermaiding at since last summer.
Oh and, I wrote another novel. I took a long break after finishing my last one (didn't really edit it) and wanted to write one in the summer, but didn't think I'd have time. But then in the beginning of July I had a dream that I couldn't get out of my head, and I had a window of time to write it in (exactly 4 weeks), so I did. It's a really weird novel of course, and my first non-fantasy! It's pretty wacko. And it's my tenth novel!
And then and then, for a week in the beginning of August I went to the University of Hartford for a week for a Women's Leadership Program. That was amazing and I met such cool people, and got to do fun things like Dragonboating, going to see Hello Dolly, and going to a Korean music concert, which was the best. I can't wait to see all my friends from that week again.
And I leave for college TODAY. I started this post three weeks ago I think, and never got around to finishing it. But I have to post something before I leave. I cannot believe the summer is over. I probably won't post at all in college, but who knows, maybe I'll have tons of free time (ahahahahaha not likely). I can't wait to see what this fall will be like.
So long!
Kelia
Friday, May 10, 2013
Books books books
I've read quite a few books this winter/spring, so I'll briefly talk about my favorites. (I don't really do reviews. Every time I try, I freeze up and don't write anything. Blabbing about everything I love is much easier.)
On the one hand we've got three sequels that in many ways surpassed the first book: Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale, which is LOVELY. It's been a long time since I read the first book, but I was so glad to get to spend more time with Miri and her friends, and in such a different setting and atmosphere than the first. Really enjoyed this one.
Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor, which is also very different from the first book, a lot darker. It made the moments of happiness stand out all the more. And it made me sob really hard, completely unexpectedly. I have to wait a YEAR for the next one?
Prodigy by Marie Lu, which was just as fast paced and intriguing as the first. I think I liked the characters even better than in the first one, and what an end! Also waiting impatiently for the last one.
Then we have three books by authors I love, that I had long been looking forward to: The Diviners by Libba Bray, which was a huge epic book full of great characters and seriously creepy moments. Love the time period it's set in, the 1920s are always great.
How to Lead a Life of Crime by Kirsten Miller, which is the first book I've read by this author other than the Kiki Strike series. This one was so different! I really enjoyed the main character, and the complexity of the plot, and all the other characters.
Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff, I loved this one. It's about a girl who's haunted by the ghost of her best friend, and a serial killer starts killing girls in her town. Obviously it has a huge creep factor, but also a romance that made me swoon, and a great portrayal of friendship.
Two books I read by authors who I'd never read before (but not their debuts): Every Day by David Levithan is the interesting idea of a person who wakes up every day in a different body. He/she has to adjust to a new life every day, and tries not to screw it up for the person who's body he/she's in.
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein. I've heard about this book for so long now, and it has gotten a million awards it feels like. I was almost nervous to read it because of all the buzz, but it really is a great book. I can't even talk about it properly yet, but I want to read everything else Elizabeth Wein has written.
Hopefully some part of that rambling was legible! Now I'm off to read more books.
Kelia
On the one hand we've got three sequels that in many ways surpassed the first book: Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale, which is LOVELY. It's been a long time since I read the first book, but I was so glad to get to spend more time with Miri and her friends, and in such a different setting and atmosphere than the first. Really enjoyed this one.
Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor, which is also very different from the first book, a lot darker. It made the moments of happiness stand out all the more. And it made me sob really hard, completely unexpectedly. I have to wait a YEAR for the next one?
Prodigy by Marie Lu, which was just as fast paced and intriguing as the first. I think I liked the characters even better than in the first one, and what an end! Also waiting impatiently for the last one.
Then we have three books by authors I love, that I had long been looking forward to: The Diviners by Libba Bray, which was a huge epic book full of great characters and seriously creepy moments. Love the time period it's set in, the 1920s are always great.
How to Lead a Life of Crime by Kirsten Miller, which is the first book I've read by this author other than the Kiki Strike series. This one was so different! I really enjoyed the main character, and the complexity of the plot, and all the other characters.
Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff, I loved this one. It's about a girl who's haunted by the ghost of her best friend, and a serial killer starts killing girls in her town. Obviously it has a huge creep factor, but also a romance that made me swoon, and a great portrayal of friendship.
Two books I read by authors who I'd never read before (but not their debuts): Every Day by David Levithan is the interesting idea of a person who wakes up every day in a different body. He/she has to adjust to a new life every day, and tries not to screw it up for the person who's body he/she's in.
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein. I've heard about this book for so long now, and it has gotten a million awards it feels like. I was almost nervous to read it because of all the buzz, but it really is a great book. I can't even talk about it properly yet, but I want to read everything else Elizabeth Wein has written.
Hopefully some part of that rambling was legible! Now I'm off to read more books.
Kelia
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Excuses, excuses
I know I haven't blogged in forever, but I have reasons!
Number 1: I kind of wrote a novel. Most of you will be saying: "We know, we know, you do NaNoWriMo every year, but wasn't that in November?" To which I say: "Yes, and I did write a novel then, but I wrote ANOTHER one." Which I've never done before. Yes it's my ninth novel, but it's the first time I've EVER written one outside of november. I've written a few short stories, and attempted to write novels, but I never got over 6 or 7K. So the fact that I wrote one is kind of amazing to me. I always thought I needed the stress and constant deadline of nanowrimo to write a novel, and having goals and deadlines definitely still helps me, but I actually finished this one.
It's the weirdest thing I've ever written. I fail miserably at trying to explain the plot, and it still sounds completely wacko to me. It's very dark (not the darkest, that dubious honor goes to my fifth novel, which I love dearly and want to rewrite again) and has a lot of death and it's fantasy and there are witches and ghosts and curses and a wee bit of time travel, and that's the best I can explain it. It's based on a dream, and it was one of those dreams where you remember the character's names. And while writing it, I dreamed about it two more times, which is odd, but helped with my plot. It's so strange, and I love the characters to death, and I don't if I'll ever have anyone else read it.
Total word count is 57,600, which also makes it the longest novel I've ever written. If I count only the days I worked on it and not the bunches I skipped, it took me exactly six weeks, which isn't too far off my usual month.
Number 2: College! I did all my auditions (six, ugh) and heard back from my schools, and I am officially going to Hartt School of Music at the end of August! It's beyond crazy that I only have four more months till college starts. Highschool is done so soon, and I have orientation in the beginning of June, and I'm trying not to think about it.
Number 3: The rest of life, which is mostly many music-related stuff, the most exciting of which was getting to have two of my compositions played at a new music festival! That was pretty strange, but nice. I wrote a piece for it, which was the first instrumental piece I wrote in two or three years, and I want to write some more but I got sidetracked with my novel. Maybe I'll try to write one now.
Hopefully I'll start posting again. The next post might be about books, because I've read some great books this year. The last one I read was Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff, which I LOVED. I'll go into more detail later!
Kelia
Number 1: I kind of wrote a novel. Most of you will be saying: "We know, we know, you do NaNoWriMo every year, but wasn't that in November?" To which I say: "Yes, and I did write a novel then, but I wrote ANOTHER one." Which I've never done before. Yes it's my ninth novel, but it's the first time I've EVER written one outside of november. I've written a few short stories, and attempted to write novels, but I never got over 6 or 7K. So the fact that I wrote one is kind of amazing to me. I always thought I needed the stress and constant deadline of nanowrimo to write a novel, and having goals and deadlines definitely still helps me, but I actually finished this one.
It's the weirdest thing I've ever written. I fail miserably at trying to explain the plot, and it still sounds completely wacko to me. It's very dark (not the darkest, that dubious honor goes to my fifth novel, which I love dearly and want to rewrite again) and has a lot of death and it's fantasy and there are witches and ghosts and curses and a wee bit of time travel, and that's the best I can explain it. It's based on a dream, and it was one of those dreams where you remember the character's names. And while writing it, I dreamed about it two more times, which is odd, but helped with my plot. It's so strange, and I love the characters to death, and I don't if I'll ever have anyone else read it.
Total word count is 57,600, which also makes it the longest novel I've ever written. If I count only the days I worked on it and not the bunches I skipped, it took me exactly six weeks, which isn't too far off my usual month.
Number 2: College! I did all my auditions (six, ugh) and heard back from my schools, and I am officially going to Hartt School of Music at the end of August! It's beyond crazy that I only have four more months till college starts. Highschool is done so soon, and I have orientation in the beginning of June, and I'm trying not to think about it.
Number 3: The rest of life, which is mostly many music-related stuff, the most exciting of which was getting to have two of my compositions played at a new music festival! That was pretty strange, but nice. I wrote a piece for it, which was the first instrumental piece I wrote in two or three years, and I want to write some more but I got sidetracked with my novel. Maybe I'll try to write one now.
Hopefully I'll start posting again. The next post might be about books, because I've read some great books this year. The last one I read was Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff, which I LOVED. I'll go into more detail later!
Kelia
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Favorite books of 2012
This year I read quite a few less books than last year, but I also delved into the world of manga. I read 44 novels in total, and 41 volumes of manga. Mangas are so much faster to read though, those would probably equal 10 or 15 novels. Anyway, back to the novels. I read a lot less fantasy than last year, or at least I read a lot of really good contemporary. Of these top 14, 8-ish (some are debatable) are non-fantasy/sci-fi, and it's definitely the first year those have been outnumbered!
This is going to be very haphazard. I gave up on giving most of them plot descriptions, sorry about that. And these are not in order at all (except for the last five, those are probably definitely my favorite five), I just found random categories for all of them so I wouldn't have to decide on an order!
Favorite classic: A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. I didn't think I would like this book, but I did. The tension was great, every chapter had me going 'Oh, crap,' at the end, the writing was gorgeous, and I loved the characters. The end was perfection.
Favorite adult (non-classic) novel: The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. True, it was the only non-classic adult novel I read this year, but I wanted to include it somehow. I actually just finished it today, and I really liked it. I've seen the movie before so I knew how it was going to end, but that didn't take away from it at all. I loved the haphazard way the plot progressed, it really drew me in. I also loved the frequently alternating voices, the present tense, and most everything about it.
Favorite book written in letters: Last Days of Summer by Steve Kluger. I loved this book so much. It's about a boy who writes to a famous baseball player and their friendship, and it's not nearly as cheesy as that made it sound. It's set pre-WWII, and the details about that time were really natural. The thing I loved most about this book was the characters, they were all so real and believable and unique, which is especially impressive considering it's all in letters. This is one I'll definitely be re-reading soon.
Favorite book about zombies: Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion. This is definitely my favorite zombie book of all time, not just that I read this year. It's so unique: it's a book told from the point of view of a zombie, and it's a love story. That's all I'm going to say about the plot, but I'll also say that the writing is really good and the story made me think, and I am SO excited for the movie.
Favorite fairytale retelling: A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan. First of all, this novel is the author's debut, and she wrote the first draft during nanowrimo, which makes me happy. The book itself is a retelling of A Sleeping Beauty, but it's sci-fi, and Rose wakes up from a decades long chemically induced sleep to find that she is the lone heir of a lot of money. Things I loved: the world (I do love some sci-fi), the characters (I didn't want the book to be over, and I can't wait for the sequel that doesn't have a release date yet), and the main character's growth throughout the book. She had a really excellent character arc.
Favorite two books by the same author: Everybody Sees the Ants, and Ask the Passengers by A.S. King. A.S. King is shaping up to be one of my favorite authors, her books get better with each one. I really loved these two books. They were both quirky, strange, had awesome characters, and compelling plots.
Favorite book that introduced by to an author I hadn't read before: The Fault In Our Stars by John Green. Obviously I'd heard of John Green (my sisters have loved him for years), but I hadn't actually read anything by him until I bought this book for myself as a birthday present. I loved it. I've read two of his other books since then, and I'm planning to finish his books next year.
Favorite book set in a desert: Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst. This book surprised me a lot-- I've read most of Sarah Beth Durst's other books, but this one blew them all away. The world was very detailed and drew me into it, the scope of the plot was large, the writing was good, and of course I loved the characters.
Favorite ensemble cast: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater. This book, more than any of the others in this list, was about all of the characters I thought. Blue and Gansey were the most prominent, but Adam, Ronan, and Noah were just as important in their own ways. And I loved Blue's mother and her friends. Anyway, this book is the weirdest of Maggie Stiefvater's so far, and I loved that. I loved the characters, the weird plot, the fact that nothing got resolved, the fact that it ended on an incredibly puzzling sentence, and the fact that I have three more books with these characters to look forward to.
Favorite sequel: Crown of Embers by Rae Carson. I squeed about the first book, The Girl of Fire and Thorns in my top ten list last year, and this one was just as good. Elisa has new challenges to face-- she's now a queen, her old enemy the Invierne are not really gone, and she's not certain she can trust her own counselors. Rae Carson is easily becoming one of my favorite authors-- her writing is SO good, I love Elisa and all the characters, Hector and Elisa's budding romance was one of my favorites of the year, and the action never stopped.
Favorite murder mystery: I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga. I LOVED Jazz's voice in this one. And it's too good not to give a plot description: 'Jazz has a best friend, a girl friend, he's great in school-- he would be just your average teenage boy if not for the fact that his father is a world famous serial killer, and everyone thinks that Jazz is going to follow in his footsteps.' So obviously it's dark, Jazz struggles with an incredibly heavy past, the expectations of everyone around him, his own fears and worries, and he has to figure out who this copycat serial killer who shows up in his town is also. Because of the darkness and depth though, it made Jazz one of the most likeable and layered protagonists I read this year. I cannot wait to read the sequel.
Favorite book about cancer: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews. I also could have categorized this one as funniest book of the year, and it really was, not because of the subject but because of Greg's voice. He's hysterical. Greg is forced to spend time with an old friend who has just gotten Leukemia, but he's quick to tell you that this will not be one of those sappy "And I learned the meaning of life as she died" stories. The author made this story as real as he possibly could while making me laugh at Greg and Earl's teenage boy crudeness, and it felt like I was peeking into someone's life to watch. I'm not doing a good job at explaining it, so just go read it, as long as you don't mind tons of swears.
Favorite book that's hardest to categorize: Where Things Come Back by Jon Corey Whaley. This book is about a tiny town in Arkansas where a teenage boy's brother is abducted, an it's the hardest one to explain. It's about Cullen dealing with his brother's disappearance, it's about a town that is suddenly famous when the Lazarus woodpecker (Ivory billed woodpecker, actually, with a different name) is sighted, and it's a bunch of stories woven together that don't make sense until the end. It's a book that could have made me throw it across the room if it hadn't ended the way it did, it has writing I fell in love with, and even to me it's inexplicable why it affected me as much as it did. But I did, and I loved it, and you should read it along with all the other books on this list.
Kelia
Thursday, December 27, 2012
100 poems
For many years now, one of my new year goals has been to write 100 poems. Usually I get to 70 or 80, but I can never seem to hit a hundred. This year, though, I did.
I realized in the fall that if I wrote a certain amount of poems each month, I'd easily hit a hundred. I think the reason I was able to do it so easily this year was because I kept writing in the summer, which is usually when I slack off the most. I wrote 10 poems in both July and August, instead of a normal three or four.
And last night I wrote my 100th poem! It's not the best, but I'm posting it anyway.
Poems can capture many things,
but some things they can't touch.
There is no way to sum up
these past days, no words
will bring back floods of memories
like hearing Falling Slowly--
nothing can bring smiles like
silly faces, grinning, laughter--
and no written scene can conjure up
the peace of reading in cafes
with lovely, lovely sisters.
In other news, The Hobbit was good, and Les Miserables (which I went to see Christmas night with my sisters) was AMAZING. I loved it so much, and I want to see it again.
I hope everyone had a great Christmas!
Kelia
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
December Life
So, life. Colleges and nano have been taking up most of my time lately, with a little bit of school inbetween.
I completed NaNoWriMo on November 25th, which is the fastest I've ever done it! I've been editing a bit this month, and I might have people read it soon. I actually like my story this year, which is always a good thing. Now I have to see if other people like it too. Nano was strangely easy for me this year, partly because I planned out my story a lot which helps, and partly because it was such a release for me. I'd been focusing so intensely on colleges that it was SO NICE to be able to think about something else. Colleges are so stressful, but I've sent in my CD to all the ones that need it. I've applied to six colleges between this month and last, and I might apply to two more, or I might not. Applying is so expensive! There's a fee for auditioning as well as applying, so for me it's twice what it would be for normal applicants. But oh well. I don't find out till January where I'm invited to audition, and then auditioning is mostly in February, and then I find out where I got in in April. So far away, but at least the first step is done.
And Christmas is so soon! We decorated the tree Sunday, made christmas cookies, and watched christmas movies. I've bought a few presents, but I really need to get more. Time is going way too fast. And for the most exciting news of all, I'm going to see The Hobbit tonight!!!
Kelia
I completed NaNoWriMo on November 25th, which is the fastest I've ever done it! I've been editing a bit this month, and I might have people read it soon. I actually like my story this year, which is always a good thing. Now I have to see if other people like it too. Nano was strangely easy for me this year, partly because I planned out my story a lot which helps, and partly because it was such a release for me. I'd been focusing so intensely on colleges that it was SO NICE to be able to think about something else. Colleges are so stressful, but I've sent in my CD to all the ones that need it. I've applied to six colleges between this month and last, and I might apply to two more, or I might not. Applying is so expensive! There's a fee for auditioning as well as applying, so for me it's twice what it would be for normal applicants. But oh well. I don't find out till January where I'm invited to audition, and then auditioning is mostly in February, and then I find out where I got in in April. So far away, but at least the first step is done.
And Christmas is so soon! We decorated the tree Sunday, made christmas cookies, and watched christmas movies. I've bought a few presents, but I really need to get more. Time is going way too fast. And for the most exciting news of all, I'm going to see The Hobbit tonight!!!
Kelia
Monday, October 29, 2012
SO SOON
November is almost here! Which means that NaNoWriMo is right around the corner (two and a half days away!), and I cannot believe it. As slow as things seem a lot of the time, these past two months have flown.
Nanowrimo is going to be insane this year. I don't have a ton of homework for my math class, and I'll only have to write one major essay for my English class, but I'm going to be recording my prescreening cds, doing a bunch of concerts, and sending in all my applications for 3 or 4 schools that have the December 1st deadline. And somehow I am going to fit in writing a novel too!
I have a plot that I'm very excited about, and I've been doing character planning, so I think I might be ready. I'm at least more prepared than I was two years ago, the year of the first-day-plot-switch. It'll be a rough adjustment into writing daily though since I haven't written anything but poems for months and months, so the beginning will probably be no good. I'll have to resist the urge to rewrite.
That said, I can't believe it'll be my last year in highschool, and maybe my last year doing nano for a while. I might attempt it in college but I don't know if I'll have time. So I'm doubly determined to squeeze it in this year, my eighth in a row!
Is anyone else attempting it this year?
Kelia
Nanowrimo is going to be insane this year. I don't have a ton of homework for my math class, and I'll only have to write one major essay for my English class, but I'm going to be recording my prescreening cds, doing a bunch of concerts, and sending in all my applications for 3 or 4 schools that have the December 1st deadline. And somehow I am going to fit in writing a novel too!
I have a plot that I'm very excited about, and I've been doing character planning, so I think I might be ready. I'm at least more prepared than I was two years ago, the year of the first-day-plot-switch. It'll be a rough adjustment into writing daily though since I haven't written anything but poems for months and months, so the beginning will probably be no good. I'll have to resist the urge to rewrite.
That said, I can't believe it'll be my last year in highschool, and maybe my last year doing nano for a while. I might attempt it in college but I don't know if I'll have time. So I'm doubly determined to squeeze it in this year, my eighth in a row!
Is anyone else attempting it this year?
Kelia
Monday, October 15, 2012
Two poems
Hello all! October has been going well. Every day is busy, but not too much. Highlights of this week include playing on a harpsichord for the first time (so strange!) and playing on a fortepiano that was built in 1806. It was rather incredible. Here are two poems, one written ten days ago which is just kind of fun, and one that I wrote 6 months ago and just rediscovered. I don't think I've posted it here - I didn't think much of it when I wrote it but I kind of love it now. And it pretty much perfectly sums up how I feel about my poems.
I hear November walking near
her black shoes tap like rattling trees
she's still across the street and I
can't feel the wind that tugs her hair.
Her dress is gray, that non-color
that takes the life straight out of things
her eyes, when she catches my gaze,
are dark as rotting leaves.
"Don't mind Nova," October says,
his fingers tightly wound through mine.
His smile's so infectious, I
forget November's there.
These words are a bridge
I hear November walking near
her black shoes tap like rattling trees
she's still across the street and I
can't feel the wind that tugs her hair.
Her dress is gray, that non-color
that takes the life straight out of things
her eyes, when she catches my gaze,
are dark as rotting leaves.
"Don't mind Nova," October says,
his fingers tightly wound through mine.
His smile's so infectious, I
forget November's there.
*
These words are a bridge
between my emotions
and understanding what
they actually mean -
sometimes I make it
over the bridge, and the world
is brighter and clearer
than before - sometimes
the bridge is unfinished
I look at it and sigh
and just leave it alone -
sometimes the bridge is
falling to pieces
and I'm halfway across
as it breaks, then the world
reduces me to a
pancake of what I once was
(but each poem, in the end
is really a brick
and someday I will see
what it is (who it is) I'm building)
How has October been for you?
Kelia
Saturday, September 22, 2012
September life
School has started, and while I'm not as busy as I thought I'd be, all my free time has been devoted to books, TV, or Tumblr. I feel bad for neglecting the blog!
I've also been trying to solidify my college list. I think I've gotten it down to a pretty good list of six (much better than 12!) though I'm still not sure about some of the ones I've cut out. It's stressful, but I feel better now than last week. I wish I could just pick one school and only apply to that one, but be absolutely certain it's the right choice. Not going to happen, but oh well. It's an adventure.
I'm taking two classes at a community college, which is interesting. I've had ten classes, and only one conversation with a classmate so far. (I understand the concept of starting a conversation, I just don't understand how to apply it in actual situations. How do people do it?)
And here's a random poem!
The sky was blue today
september-blue
with silver-white clouds
all puffed like risen bread
just hugging the horizon
I love staring up
at september skies
feeling like I could fall
up and up into the
dizzying deep blue -
I'd fall up and hit a cloud
it would rubberband me
back to earth to sit here
pen in hand, wishing that
I had kept falling
Kelia
I've also been trying to solidify my college list. I think I've gotten it down to a pretty good list of six (much better than 12!) though I'm still not sure about some of the ones I've cut out. It's stressful, but I feel better now than last week. I wish I could just pick one school and only apply to that one, but be absolutely certain it's the right choice. Not going to happen, but oh well. It's an adventure.
I'm taking two classes at a community college, which is interesting. I've had ten classes, and only one conversation with a classmate so far. (I understand the concept of starting a conversation, I just don't understand how to apply it in actual situations. How do people do it?)
And here's a random poem!
The sky was blue today
september-blue
with silver-white clouds
all puffed like risen bread
just hugging the horizon
I love staring up
at september skies
feeling like I could fall
up and up into the
dizzying deep blue -
I'd fall up and hit a cloud
it would rubberband me
back to earth to sit here
pen in hand, wishing that
I had kept falling
Kelia
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Non-angsty poems
Yes, you read that right. The second half of august I've been writing some poems that are actually non-angsty! It's a miracle!
To wake up when I feel like it -
say ten of ten -
the sun and blue sky smiling on me,
the whole day stretching forward
and my dreams still lingering in my head -
to sleep and dream and be rested
is one of my most favorite things.
I love it when the moon is just
a bright flare in the inky trees
and all the sky is dusky grey
and swirled with clouds, and all I hear
is chirping bugs and the night air
is silky on my face and the
whole world is dark, much darker than
the sky
Last night I kept waking up
and wishing I could slide back into
dreams that mixed memories with wants
and people with imagined things -
for in my dreams there was the sun
and endless sky, the marshgrass and
the chin-high coolness of the sea -
but in my dreams,
I could swim
I swam across a river and I
never once looked down.
Kelia
To wake up when I feel like it -
say ten of ten -
the sun and blue sky smiling on me,
the whole day stretching forward
and my dreams still lingering in my head -
to sleep and dream and be rested
is one of my most favorite things.
*
a bright flare in the inky trees
and all the sky is dusky grey
and swirled with clouds, and all I hear
is chirping bugs and the night air
is silky on my face and the
whole world is dark, much darker than
the sky
*
and wishing I could slide back into
dreams that mixed memories with wants
and people with imagined things -
for in my dreams there was the sun
and endless sky, the marshgrass and
the chin-high coolness of the sea -
but in my dreams,
I could swim
I swam across a river and I
never once looked down.
Kelia
Friday, August 24, 2012
August life
While I don't have any good poems to share, there are a couple of things I could talk about from this month. I've mostly been practicing piano, working, hanging out with some friends, and being on tumblr, but I've also been reading! I read three books last week, compared to one last month. I got a really good stash out from the library recently, and it's so lovely to curl up with a good book and just read.
The books I read were: 1. Black Heart by Holly Black, it's the third in a series and I've been waiting for it forever. This book was awesome, I love the main character and the plot was crazy as always. I read it in one day, as soon as I started it my day was just gone.
2. Looking for Alaska by John Green. Ever since buying The Fault in Our Stars in February (my first John Green read) I've been slowly working through his books, this is the third I've read. I love his writing so much. His characters are always believable and have such unique voices, they really make his stories work. Also, I love the Colonel.
3. I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga. Oh, my goodness this book. Normally this wouldn't be the kind of book I'd get (it's about a 17 year old kid whose dad was a serial killer, and now years after his dad was put in jail, dead bodies start showing up in town again), but I'd heard such good things about it that I immediately picked it up, and I'm so glad I did. It's very dark obviously, Jasper thinks about death a lot and whether or not he's pre-destined to become a killer also. But the plot is fast paced and intriguing, his friends are awesome, and it's really well written. I kind of fell in love with this one.
4. And the only book I read last month was the long awaited Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore! I waited and waited for my library to get this book, but finally I just went and bought it. So glad I did, this is a beautiful book. Other than the writing, it has gorgeous illustrations each new section, which I adore. I was so happy to meet Bitterblue and get to spend more time with characters from her other books too.
That is it for my summer books. Any good books you've been reading, whoever reads this?
Kelia
The books I read were: 1. Black Heart by Holly Black, it's the third in a series and I've been waiting for it forever. This book was awesome, I love the main character and the plot was crazy as always. I read it in one day, as soon as I started it my day was just gone.
2. Looking for Alaska by John Green. Ever since buying The Fault in Our Stars in February (my first John Green read) I've been slowly working through his books, this is the third I've read. I love his writing so much. His characters are always believable and have such unique voices, they really make his stories work. Also, I love the Colonel.
3. I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga. Oh, my goodness this book. Normally this wouldn't be the kind of book I'd get (it's about a 17 year old kid whose dad was a serial killer, and now years after his dad was put in jail, dead bodies start showing up in town again), but I'd heard such good things about it that I immediately picked it up, and I'm so glad I did. It's very dark obviously, Jasper thinks about death a lot and whether or not he's pre-destined to become a killer also. But the plot is fast paced and intriguing, his friends are awesome, and it's really well written. I kind of fell in love with this one.
4. And the only book I read last month was the long awaited Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore! I waited and waited for my library to get this book, but finally I just went and bought it. So glad I did, this is a beautiful book. Other than the writing, it has gorgeous illustrations each new section, which I adore. I was so happy to meet Bitterblue and get to spend more time with characters from her other books too.
That is it for my summer books. Any good books you've been reading, whoever reads this?
Kelia
Saturday, August 11, 2012
I've been tagged!
This is way overdue, but I am doing it! The lovely Katie from http://insanitycomeswithapenandpaper.blogspot.com/ has tagged me to answer these questions, some of which made me think a lot!
1. What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you?
I've been trying and trying to think of something... I guess I haven't had a lot of embarrassing laugh out loud moments, which is fine with me!
2. If you could get paid for doing anything, what would you do?
Three answers to this one!
1. Obviously, if I could get paid for traveling the world, eating lots of delicious food, and watching TV and reading books as much as I want, that's what I would do with my life.
2. If there was just one thing I'd love to do even if I don't get paid for it, that would to be in an episode of Doctor Who. (*dies just thinking about it*)
3. And I'm sure this is not what the question meant, but if I could learn how to fly (hey, you said do anything) and get paid for it, that would definitely be my life goal!
3. Who has been the biggest influence on your life (so far)? What lessons has/did that person teach you?
I can't really pick one person out-- my parents gave me life and have influenced me in every way I can think of, and my sisters made me who I am. I can't imagine who I would be without any of them.
4. What is your definition of love?
There are a whole lot of definitions of love, and right now I can't think of one better than the classic 'someone you care about more than yourself.'
5. Have you experienced any miracles? OR do you believe in miracles? Why/why not.
I don't think I've experienced anything miraculous, but there definitely are some unexplainable things that happen in the world.
6. What are your major goals in life?
Travel the world, find a career I'll be happy in, be brave in everything I do, meet everyone I can, (yes be in an episode of Doctor Who), and find out who I am. (Argh that sounds so cheesy! But it was either that or find inner peace.)
7. Favorite movie(s) – go!
Ooh so many! In no order, Mulan, How to Train Your Dragon, Finding Nemo, The Lion King, Aladdin, The Incredibles, Princess Bride, Galaxy Quest, The Lord of the Rings. And yes, most of those are animated. They're the best.
8. What is the weirdest thing you have done in the past (that you feel comfortable discussing)?
When I was a little kid, I liked to eat pickles with peanutbutter on them. EWWWWWWW everyone says! But I have found two others who enjoyed the same thing! I am not alone.
9. What places in the world would you most like to visit? Why?
Everywhere, everywhere. But really, France, Italy, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, England, Mongolia, Tibet, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Japan, Sweden, Holland, Norway, Estonia, Russia, Egypt, and everywhere else.
10. Just for fun! According to your birthdate, what is your zodiac sign? Do you believe you fit that sign’s description or not?
I am an Aquarius! I think it's pretty accurate.
11. What is your favorite (guilty pleasure) snack?
I don't snack a ton, but I love desserts with a passion. If any dessert is in the house that's my snack, and I don't feel too guilty!
And that is it! I am so late with this post, sorry!
Kelia
1. What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you?
I've been trying and trying to think of something... I guess I haven't had a lot of embarrassing laugh out loud moments, which is fine with me!
2. If you could get paid for doing anything, what would you do?
Three answers to this one!
1. Obviously, if I could get paid for traveling the world, eating lots of delicious food, and watching TV and reading books as much as I want, that's what I would do with my life.
2. If there was just one thing I'd love to do even if I don't get paid for it, that would to be in an episode of Doctor Who. (*dies just thinking about it*)
3. And I'm sure this is not what the question meant, but if I could learn how to fly (hey, you said do anything) and get paid for it, that would definitely be my life goal!
3. Who has been the biggest influence on your life (so far)? What lessons has/did that person teach you?
I can't really pick one person out-- my parents gave me life and have influenced me in every way I can think of, and my sisters made me who I am. I can't imagine who I would be without any of them.
4. What is your definition of love?
There are a whole lot of definitions of love, and right now I can't think of one better than the classic 'someone you care about more than yourself.'
5. Have you experienced any miracles? OR do you believe in miracles? Why/why not.
I don't think I've experienced anything miraculous, but there definitely are some unexplainable things that happen in the world.
6. What are your major goals in life?
Travel the world, find a career I'll be happy in, be brave in everything I do, meet everyone I can, (yes be in an episode of Doctor Who), and find out who I am. (Argh that sounds so cheesy! But it was either that or find inner peace.)
7. Favorite movie(s) – go!
Ooh so many! In no order, Mulan, How to Train Your Dragon, Finding Nemo, The Lion King, Aladdin, The Incredibles, Princess Bride, Galaxy Quest, The Lord of the Rings. And yes, most of those are animated. They're the best.
8. What is the weirdest thing you have done in the past (that you feel comfortable discussing)?
When I was a little kid, I liked to eat pickles with peanutbutter on them. EWWWWWWW everyone says! But I have found two others who enjoyed the same thing! I am not alone.
9. What places in the world would you most like to visit? Why?
Everywhere, everywhere. But really, France, Italy, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, England, Mongolia, Tibet, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Japan, Sweden, Holland, Norway, Estonia, Russia, Egypt, and everywhere else.
10. Just for fun! According to your birthdate, what is your zodiac sign? Do you believe you fit that sign’s description or not?
I am an Aquarius! I think it's pretty accurate.
11. What is your favorite (guilty pleasure) snack?
I don't snack a ton, but I love desserts with a passion. If any dessert is in the house that's my snack, and I don't feel too guilty!
And that is it! I am so late with this post, sorry!
Kelia
Sunday, August 5, 2012
July poems
I wrote ten poems in July, most of which were no good, but there were a few okay ones. This first one I wrote at my job, which I really like most of the time, but I cannot STAND being in the quilt shop.
The air conditioner hums
its song of coolness and
the fabric cutter shrieks
it's indignation at my awful skills
and the rest of the world is silent
I'm alone in the shop
and for all I do I might as well
be standing still
This next one I just find funny (the fact that I wrote it, how very dramatic and ridiculous it is, and how nervous I am to post it).
I barely said a word to you
or looked at you, except of course
to watch your fingers on the keys
your shoulders move, your head tilting.
Before that you had just smiled
at me for one moment, your hand
lightly resting on my elbow
as you went past me and onstage.
I stared at you the whole time that
you played, marveling at the sound
and your shoulders, and then I could
not think of anything to say.
And the last one is all over the place, so does it make sense to anyone else?
Flipping through these pages is
the closest I've gotten to time traveling
each poem-journal is a bit of me
impressed and imprinted on the page,
ready to spring to life and show me
who I was then, how different
and how exactly the same
So many of them, if pictures,
would find me in this same exact spot
trying to sort my brain so I can
go to sleep, my eyes on the clock
The only thing that changes is
the words I put down
the worries all stay
and having the pieces of me
in a pile like this just wafting with
emotions and angst
makes me realize
I think that all my poems, and me
could be summed up with
I don't even know.
And despite how rather unhappy those three poems are, I had a great July! This summer has been really fun. Hopefully I'll start posting more often, I was tagged by Katie ages ago so that will be my next one!
Kelia
The air conditioner hums
its song of coolness and
the fabric cutter shrieks
it's indignation at my awful skills
and the rest of the world is silent
I'm alone in the shop
and for all I do I might as well
be standing still
This next one I just find funny (the fact that I wrote it, how very dramatic and ridiculous it is, and how nervous I am to post it).
I barely said a word to you
or looked at you, except of course
to watch your fingers on the keys
your shoulders move, your head tilting.
Before that you had just smiled
at me for one moment, your hand
lightly resting on my elbow
as you went past me and onstage.
I stared at you the whole time that
you played, marveling at the sound
and your shoulders, and then I could
not think of anything to say.
And the last one is all over the place, so does it make sense to anyone else?
Flipping through these pages is
the closest I've gotten to time traveling
each poem-journal is a bit of me
impressed and imprinted on the page,
ready to spring to life and show me
who I was then, how different
and how exactly the same
So many of them, if pictures,
would find me in this same exact spot
trying to sort my brain so I can
go to sleep, my eyes on the clock
The only thing that changes is
the words I put down
the worries all stay
and having the pieces of me
in a pile like this just wafting with
emotions and angst
makes me realize
I think that all my poems, and me
could be summed up with
I don't even know.
And despite how rather unhappy those three poems are, I had a great July! This summer has been really fun. Hopefully I'll start posting more often, I was tagged by Katie ages ago so that will be my next one!
Kelia
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Piano camp
Today was the second day of piano camp, and I'm pretty crazy busy so I probably won't post for the rest of this week. Here's an old poem, from January 2009 that I really like.
Silence sits
high on the wall
and waits for night to fall
Noise he suffers
as he waits
and watches shadows crawl.
From corners first
they spill to floors
and slowly creep along
Colors change
and sounds die down
as silence sings it's song.
A sticky web
that coats the mind
and seems to make all shrink
Silence spreads
and takes control
he moves so fast-- don't blink.
Before they know
or comprehend
that there is no more light
Darkness breathes
and silence sighs
they merge and form the night.
Kelia
Silence sits
high on the wall
and waits for night to fall
Noise he suffers
as he waits
and watches shadows crawl.
From corners first
they spill to floors
and slowly creep along
Colors change
and sounds die down
as silence sings it's song.
A sticky web
that coats the mind
and seems to make all shrink
Silence spreads
and takes control
he moves so fast-- don't blink.
Before they know
or comprehend
that there is no more light
Darkness breathes
and silence sighs
they merge and form the night.
Kelia
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Nano excerpt #10
The end of chapter two! Also, I know yesterday was the summer solstice, but happy summer!
That night I couldn’t sleep, my head was going in circles. I was restless too, first I’d be too hot and as soon as I shifted I’d get in an uncomfortable position and then I’d have an itch. I tried not to watch the clock ticking the night away.
And then I started to hear something-- a bird singing, or maybe just my blood rushing, or a song… I felt an actual pain in my chest as the noise drifted into something almost recognizable. It was still too far away to make out-- no, I corrected myself. The sound wasn’t getting closer. It was just the band starting up. I hadn’t heard them for years. I had a vague memory of weird dreams that music caused though, and it was getting loud enough to make my head spin and my heart thump-- so I reached over and grabbed the ear plugs on my desk. The night was finally silent, and I sighed and went to sleep.
Kelia
That night I couldn’t sleep, my head was going in circles. I was restless too, first I’d be too hot and as soon as I shifted I’d get in an uncomfortable position and then I’d have an itch. I tried not to watch the clock ticking the night away.
And then I started to hear something-- a bird singing, or maybe just my blood rushing, or a song… I felt an actual pain in my chest as the noise drifted into something almost recognizable. It was still too far away to make out-- no, I corrected myself. The sound wasn’t getting closer. It was just the band starting up. I hadn’t heard them for years. I had a vague memory of weird dreams that music caused though, and it was getting loud enough to make my head spin and my heart thump-- so I reached over and grabbed the ear plugs on my desk. The night was finally silent, and I sighed and went to sleep.
Kelia
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Nano excerpt #9
This is a new section, which I don't know if I really need. I like it fine but it doesn't really do anything :/
“We’re home!” Jake announced, banging the door shut to really let us know. He had just picked up mom from work, and I headed towards the kitchen and the cake. “I am staying out here until you light it,” he informed us from the hall and Elle grinned at me with the lighter in hand. Mom was standing in the door way still in her nurse’s scrubs, smiling at us.
“Hi mom,” I said and went over for a peck on the cheek.
“Hi,” she said, smoothing my hair back into place. “The cake looks beautiful.”
“Thank you,” I said, looking back as Elle lit the candles. It glistened, the dark chocolate covered in home made caramel sauce and studded all over with chocolate chips. It really had turned out well.
“Hurry,” Jake begged us and I rolled my eyes.
“He’s been looking forward to this all month,” mom said in her quiet, amused voice. “Or all year if you believe him.”
“Done!” Elle announced and I flicked the lights off. The glowing candles were in a formation to make a twenty one, and they only lit up the curve of Elle’s chin and her long fingers. The rest of the room seemed pitch black compared to the sparks of flame and the one patch of gleaming moon light behind Elle.
“Happy Birthday to you,” mom started singing, and I joined in enthusiastically off key. Jake appeared, wincing at either the sound or the darkness, and Elle moved back from the candles so he could sit at the table. “Happy birthday to you!” we finished, Elle almost giggling.
“We should record that sometime, it’s quite special,” she whispered to me and Jake shushed her. He thought for a long time, his face turned away from us from where he sat, and finally blew all the candles out with a huge gust of breath. We clapped and mom turned the lights back on, and the room transformed back into the one I knew. I could see mom’s expression now, she was smiling at the back of Jake’s head and looked tired like usual. Jake twisted around to grin at us and Elle grabbed the knife to cut up the cake.
“You know how to do it Elle?” Mom asked, though Elle had already started.
“Yes mom,” she said. “And besides, no piece is too big right?” mom laughed at that, a sound which I always thought made her seem younger.
“You’re right,” she agreed. “Give the biggest one to Jake.”
“That sounds good,” he said and soon we were all eating away. It was delicious, rich and sticky and the chocolate chips provided the perfect bit of crunch along with it. We all sat around the table, for the first time since Christmas and I couldn’t help but look at our reflections in the window. You could barely see the moon light on the floor any more, our bright artificial light was pushing it outside. We took up the whole window, all I could see in it was laughter and faces eating and the perfect family of four.
“We’re home!” Jake announced, banging the door shut to really let us know. He had just picked up mom from work, and I headed towards the kitchen and the cake. “I am staying out here until you light it,” he informed us from the hall and Elle grinned at me with the lighter in hand. Mom was standing in the door way still in her nurse’s scrubs, smiling at us.
“Hi mom,” I said and went over for a peck on the cheek.
“Hi,” she said, smoothing my hair back into place. “The cake looks beautiful.”
“Thank you,” I said, looking back as Elle lit the candles. It glistened, the dark chocolate covered in home made caramel sauce and studded all over with chocolate chips. It really had turned out well.
“Hurry,” Jake begged us and I rolled my eyes.
“He’s been looking forward to this all month,” mom said in her quiet, amused voice. “Or all year if you believe him.”
“Done!” Elle announced and I flicked the lights off. The glowing candles were in a formation to make a twenty one, and they only lit up the curve of Elle’s chin and her long fingers. The rest of the room seemed pitch black compared to the sparks of flame and the one patch of gleaming moon light behind Elle.
“Happy Birthday to you,” mom started singing, and I joined in enthusiastically off key. Jake appeared, wincing at either the sound or the darkness, and Elle moved back from the candles so he could sit at the table. “Happy birthday to you!” we finished, Elle almost giggling.
“We should record that sometime, it’s quite special,” she whispered to me and Jake shushed her. He thought for a long time, his face turned away from us from where he sat, and finally blew all the candles out with a huge gust of breath. We clapped and mom turned the lights back on, and the room transformed back into the one I knew. I could see mom’s expression now, she was smiling at the back of Jake’s head and looked tired like usual. Jake twisted around to grin at us and Elle grabbed the knife to cut up the cake.
“You know how to do it Elle?” Mom asked, though Elle had already started.
“Yes mom,” she said. “And besides, no piece is too big right?” mom laughed at that, a sound which I always thought made her seem younger.
“You’re right,” she agreed. “Give the biggest one to Jake.”
“That sounds good,” he said and soon we were all eating away. It was delicious, rich and sticky and the chocolate chips provided the perfect bit of crunch along with it. We all sat around the table, for the first time since Christmas and I couldn’t help but look at our reflections in the window. You could barely see the moon light on the floor any more, our bright artificial light was pushing it outside. We took up the whole window, all I could see in it was laughter and faces eating and the perfect family of four.
Kelia
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
50th Post! Nano Excerpt #8
I can't believe it's my 50th post already! Pretty crazy.
“Don’t go in the kitchen!” I warned, and stepped inside.
Something was different. I paused, one foot still on the porch, and took a breath. The cake smell was gone, replaced by the aroma of old leaves. With all the greenness and the warm wind, that was the last thing I expected. It smelled like fall.
“Move,” Elle said behind me, her arms full of pillows and bags, and she shouldered her way past me before I could think.
“I won’t, don’t worry,” Jake said in answer to my warning and followed Elle inside, leaving me still in the doorway. Was the smell of fall so weird? I wondered. I shivered slightly and stepped the rest of the way inside, shutting the door and looking around. Everything was exactly the same, the family picture of us from ten years ago, a painting Elle had given mom last year, a photo of the three of us being goofy last summer. I could hear Jake and Elle talking from her room, their voices loud and reassuring as I followed the smell past the kitchen and into mom’s room.
Maybe she’d been home, I thought, and gotten some fertilizer out for the garden. That was probably it. But that didn’t explain the leaf sitting on her dresser, a large silver leaf with golden veins. It almost looked like metal but it was soft, I picked it up and it felt like a feather. And it smelled like fall.
“Hey,” Jake said from the doorway, poking his head in. “What’re you doing?”
“Nothing,” I said with a frown, looking down at the leaf “Have you ever seen anything like this?”
“No,” he said, his eyes flicking down and back up. “Where’d you get it?”
“I found it, here,” I said, and he slowly leaned against the door frame.
“Mom must have found it,” he said with a shrug, and I nodded. There was no reason for me to think that it hadn’t been there before I’d gone to get Jake, no reason other than the smell. “Aren’t you going to make my cake?” he asked, cracking a smile, and I nodded. “Cannot wait!” he said, high fiving the door frame as he turned to go and already whistling. I put the leaf down and left the room, closing the door behind me.
Kelia
“Don’t go in the kitchen!” I warned, and stepped inside.
Something was different. I paused, one foot still on the porch, and took a breath. The cake smell was gone, replaced by the aroma of old leaves. With all the greenness and the warm wind, that was the last thing I expected. It smelled like fall.
“Move,” Elle said behind me, her arms full of pillows and bags, and she shouldered her way past me before I could think.
“I won’t, don’t worry,” Jake said in answer to my warning and followed Elle inside, leaving me still in the doorway. Was the smell of fall so weird? I wondered. I shivered slightly and stepped the rest of the way inside, shutting the door and looking around. Everything was exactly the same, the family picture of us from ten years ago, a painting Elle had given mom last year, a photo of the three of us being goofy last summer. I could hear Jake and Elle talking from her room, their voices loud and reassuring as I followed the smell past the kitchen and into mom’s room.
Maybe she’d been home, I thought, and gotten some fertilizer out for the garden. That was probably it. But that didn’t explain the leaf sitting on her dresser, a large silver leaf with golden veins. It almost looked like metal but it was soft, I picked it up and it felt like a feather. And it smelled like fall.
“Hey,” Jake said from the doorway, poking his head in. “What’re you doing?”
“Nothing,” I said with a frown, looking down at the leaf “Have you ever seen anything like this?”
“No,” he said, his eyes flicking down and back up. “Where’d you get it?”
“I found it, here,” I said, and he slowly leaned against the door frame.
“Mom must have found it,” he said with a shrug, and I nodded. There was no reason for me to think that it hadn’t been there before I’d gone to get Jake, no reason other than the smell. “Aren’t you going to make my cake?” he asked, cracking a smile, and I nodded. “Cannot wait!” he said, high fiving the door frame as he turned to go and already whistling. I put the leaf down and left the room, closing the door behind me.
Kelia
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