A Modern Adaptation of a Classic Fairy Tale

I hope you are all staying well during this nasty cold/flu season.  I was under the weather myself last month.  Remember to take your vitamins.  I am and I'm feeling much better!

I recently saw the movie Beastly.  When I saw the previews, it didn't really strike my fancy, since "the Beast" was bald and tattooed.  I caught a clip of it one day, and decided I wanted to see it.  I enjoyed it.  It stayed true to the original tale for the most part.  One plus to watching the DVD was the alternative ending.  I predicted the movie was going to end that way, if it were to follow the classic tale.  I can't say I was crazy about the theatrical ending, since I felt that it left some loose ends.  There were aspects to both endings that I liked.  I do recommend this film for Beauty and the Beast fans; but make sure to watch the alternative ending, as well.

After seeing the movie, I decided to read the novel, which I'm about halfway through.  In the book, he really is a beast.  He's hairy with claws and fangs.  One thing I loved about the movie that the book didn't have was the tree tattoo on his wrist, which changed with the seasons.  So far in the book, he hasn't had much interaction with Beauty.  The plot will thicken when she is brought back in to the story, which means I will read faster.

They say writers should always be reading, as well.  It seems I'm always able to find inspiration from reading.

Have a Happy Valentine's Day!

Veronica

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  Sorry it's been a while since I last posted.  The holidays kept me quite busy as usual.

Santa brought me a Kindle Fire this year.  Though the new toy is fun and easier to read an eBook on than a laptop, I still find that I enjoy reading an actual book.  It could be because the kids wear the battery down playing apps, so when I'm ready to read, the battery is low.  I find my eyes tire easily also.

One of my new purchases for the Kindle was a Phantom novel.  I've been having a hard time keeping with it.  The first book I read by this self-published author was Phantom inspired, so she came up with her own characters and setting.  I feel that this author has really grown as a writer, especially since she made this story into her own. 

That brings me to today's discussion.  I've never really understood copyright.  My understanding was that a writer should create their own characters and if they dare use someone else's characters, it was copyright infringement if they didn't have special permission.  In recent years, I learned it was okay to use another's characters if the original author has been deceased for 100 years.  I can understand that, but now there's fan fiction.  How does that play into the whole copyright scheme of things?

When I was a child, I used to make up stories in my head using TV or movie characters.  I still do it, but it's in my head.  When the concept of my novel began to form in my mind, I was afraid to write anything down on paper because the characters were not my own.  I pondered how I would get the permission I needed to be able to write my story.  Time passed with no solution to my dilemma.  Finally, one day it dawned on me.  I had enough to make my own story!  To create my own characters.  To make my own setting.  To this day, it still baffles me how a little inspiration has brought me to where I am today with writing.  I still ask myself how I got from there to here.  And I wonder if readers will be able to determine what inspired me.  I feel that I chose the right path for me.  Sometimes, I wish others would go the extra distance to create their own characters.  It can open up whole new worlds and the possibilities are unlimited.

Veronica   

Great Tree Idea

 

Check out this neat idea for the holidays!  It's a tree made out of books with lights strung around it!  Very creative!  Makes me wonder if I have enough books to make one of my very own! 

 

Happy Decorating!

 

Veronica 

Breaking Dawn Part 2

On Thursday night, I went to the 10 PM showing of Breaking Dawn Part 2.  It was the first time I ever went to a first showing.  I loved it!  I thought it stayed true to the book for the most part.  I didn’t care for the song in the first scene.  There was a beautiful score at the end of BD1 and BD2 continued with a song with vocals.  And not just any song.  It has to be a male singer singing his highest tenor.  I found it very distracting for the scene I've waited months to see.  I would have preferred score.  Save the tenor for when they leave the house to go hunting.

Another thing I really didn’t care for was the animated face on Renesmee.  I know critics have criticized George Lucas for focusing too much on special effects and not enough on the acting, but I think sometimes it’s called for to be a perfectionist on CGI;  especially in this day and age.  You want your audience to be focused on the story, not getting distracted by the visual effects that are in sad need of improvement.  Maybe they should have had baby Renesmee be totally CGI?  When I visualized her in my mind while reading the novel, I thought of her looking like a regular baby.  They should have used the same baby they used for Bella and kept the facial expressions at a minimum.

I’m not one for "spoiling" movies for others, so I won't go into much detail here. The twist . . . to steal a line from Flynn Rider, “I did not see that coming!” It's like they took a page from M. Night Shyamalan! Everyone who made this film was probably laughing at us! I wouldn’t be surprised if they filmed audience reaction in selected theaters. I would have actually liked to have seen my reaction, like the pictures they take on amusement park rides! Anyway, I thought it was ingenious! This is storytelling at it’s best!

One thing I wished they would have put in the script were a few of Edward's lines from the novel.  I wish they would have put in when he says to Bella, "This is what you've been keeping from me?" and he addresses Jacob as, "My brother . . . my son."  The book made me cry during that scene, but the the movie did not.  The only time I teared up was when Bella realized her fate after her meeting with J.  New Moon was my tear-jerker movie in this saga.  I don't quite get why fans are so emotional about this being the last film.  Be happy it was made and that you finally got to see it!  And you never know, someday they may make another movie. 

I loved the final scene as it stayed true to the book, yet they changed the setting. And having A Thousand Years Part 2 playing was perfect! I absolutely loved it!  The credits had a curtain call, like at the end of a play, where the actors come out to take a bow.  What a great way to end the saga!

 

Afterthought:

Alice. 

Alice can be so pixie-like and sweet, but can be quite the she-cat when loved ones are threatened!   She’s one of my favorites out of the female Cullens.   Although, there has been one thing that has bothered me about Alice.  I’ve done some reading about physic ability, from Allison DuBois to John Edwards to Sylvia Browne.  I’ve found many common characteristics between them and other people who share their ability.  It seems most people, including those in TV and movies seem to share the misconception that psychics are all-knowing.  The irony of it is psychics are not psychic about themselves and are rarely psychic about their own family and friends.  I see this happen so many times on TV shows and realize that the writer's are going on misconceptions rather than bothering to research it.  Granted, I will give Alice’s character a break because her ability to foresee the future was magnified when she became a vampire, along with her other senses.  And I have to remember that she never claimed to be psychic.  That is the assumption we make when we learn she can see the future.

Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Veronica

A Thousand Years

With less than a week away from the release of the final Twilight movie, I watched Christina Perri perform her "reprise" for A Thousand Years (known as Part 2) on the Tonight Show on Friday night.  I went  on Hulu and watched it a few more times, trying to find the differences between this new song and the original.  I noticed the biggest difference in the first verse, but the rest of the song sounds very similar to the original.  While listening for the differences, I discovered something else.  A Thousand Years could be included on the "soundtrack" of my novel.  Now why didn't I think of it before with the numerous times I've heard the song on the radio?

With writing a historical, one has to know history.  With an idea blossoming this past week, I had to research the age of a historical landmark.  After all, a writer can't write about something that hadn't been created yet . . . or can they???

Veronica

Happy Belated Halloween!

Did everyone survive Halloween?  It was a busy Halloween for me with making a few costumes, helping with a school party and of course taking the kids trick-or-treating.  There was a little part of me that has considered dressing up as my author self (name tag and toting a laptop) or dressing up as my main character for Halloween.  For some reason, I think I would feel safer in my heroine's Empire gown and cape; there would be less questions that way.  Heck, I should just dress up as Jane Austen and kill two birds with one stone! 

My alarm clock interrupted my dream about firefighters this morning.  Don't worry, it was PG!  I dreamt I was waiting for the engine to get back from a fire so we could have a party - still PG.  I think it was triggered by the new firefighter show, Chicago Fire.

I am truly conflicted with who Elena should be with on the Vampire Diaries.  I think she belongs with Stephen, but there's a part of me that wants her to be with Damon.  Ahh, the love triangle.  I kind of have a little of that in my work in progress, minus the confusion on the girl's part.  I prefer to keep the confusion on the reader's part; to keep them guessing! ;o)

Beauty and the Beast is another new show that I've been enjoying.  I like the idea of Vincent not being the Beast all the time, but that he morphs into him.  I like the updated versions of Catherine and Vincent, but would like to see them get to know each other better.  In the original series, they had classic literature and music in common.  I would like to see the new versions find something in common besides homicide cases and government cover-ups.  I'm sure that will come as the season progresses.  I think what I like about the original characters is that they remind me of my characters by what they do to pass the time together.

Now that I'm getting some big projects behind me, I hope I will find more time to write.  I might surprise you with a snippet sometime.  Which character(s) would you like to know more about?

Veronica

I'm Back!

I realized it's been well over a month since I last posted!  Between school starting and home improvement projects, I've been busy!  Things should be winding down soon as a few of the home projects are almost complete.  With Halloween quickly approaching, I need to work on my kids' Halloween costumes, as well.  The Internet is a great place to look for costume ideas or even instructions if you're the DIY type. 

The sad thing is, I'm only on Chapter 22 with the book I'm reading, which was my last post!  I'm enjoying the story, but some nights after the kids are asleep, I'm too tired to even think of picking up a book!  Don't you ever wish we didn't need so much sleep?  I know I could get a lot more things done!

Sadly, the only writing I've had time for have been notes and letters.  I figure any form of writing is better than no writing. 

With Fire Prevention Week came the premiere of Chicago Fire last night on NBC.  I just love a man in uniform, and have a thing for firefighters!  It certainly doesn't hurt that Taylor Kinney (The Vampire Diaries) stars in it.  I'll be making sure to tune in on Wednesday nights! 

Speaking of which, I am looking forward to the season premiere of The Vampire Diaries and the premiere of Beauty and the Beast tonight.  Talk about must see TV!

Happy Harvest (and Fall Premieres),

Veronica