Reading Challenge Update:

My dear friends,

I have yet again failed to meet my goal of finishing a book withing the time frame of a month.
I had a feeling when I started this that I wouldn't fall through with it, mainly because of my habit to do the opposite of whatever I have planned.
It would seem that I was right.

The main goal of this challenge was to get me back into the flow of reading, and that has happened (though not in the way I preferred, which is fine).
And seeing as that goal has been met, and seeing as I haven't been able to meet the goal of finishing a book, I've decided to drop the challenge.
I much prefer reading for simple pleasure and finishing on my own time then having a challenge and having to finish it in only so many days, anyways.

Thank you for reading this update.


 Yours,


                            Edna Pellen

True Magic

Dear reader,

Today I want to talk to you about written words.
That's it, just words.

I want to remind you of the magic that they are.
Just think about it, you are reading this right now. You are reading this.
You are seeing these shapes, 'letters', put together in such a way that you understand them. And not just that, but you can envision what they are saying! If I say 'a single red rose', you can imagine a single red rose. And maybe you don't only see that, maybe you see it in a vase. Or maybe you see it sitting on a table by a window with the afternoon sun shining in.

Words... they are amazing.
When you take the letters and put them in the right order to make a word, and then take a group of words to create a sentence, it's like casting a spell.
You are creating something with all these words, weather they be for a letter, a novel, or a grocery list. Think of how amazing that is!

When I hold a pen in my hand, I often forget that I am holding a magical wand. But I am.
Putting that pen to paper, and moving my hand in these strange patterns, creates this beautiful, beautiful thing we call a 'word'. Oh, how astounding the whole thing is!

How my heart swells just thinking about it!

Maybe this is why I am a writer in addition to being a reader. Because seeing the words, reading the words, envisioning them, understanding them, just isn't quiet enough.
I want to deeply know the words, I want to have full understanding of each and every one. And I want to create with them.

With words, we weave worlds, we form characters, we bring mythical creatures to life. With words, I can ride a dragon, I can become a knight, I can be a princess. With words, I can fly. With words I can live a life that is unimaginable to others.

Do you see, friend? Magic does exist, and it is more powerful, more beautiful, more breath taking, astounding, horrifying, thrilling, and more extensive then anyone could ever have imagined.
Use this gift carefully, dear reader. With great power comes great responsibility, and you hold one of the greatest of powers within your mind.


I thank you for taking time to read my rambling passions, and I encourage you to write daily by hand. Even if it's just a single word. The magic flows better from a immediate source.

   
  Yours,

                           Edna

February Book of the Month ~ Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

To my Dear Companions,

By now, it has become very clear to me that continuing Oliver Twist this month isn't a good idea. I'm only in the first fifteen chapters, and it is a very dense read.
Perhaps starting this challenge off with work from Charles Dickens wasn't the best idea.

In any case, I won't be bringing this novel into February. I will finish it, but not for this challenge (as much as I hate to say that). Once I finish it, I will most likely write a review of it.
Instead of finishing it, I will be moving on to the next novel, which brings me to the next subject;

February's Book of the Month is none other then Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.
I've been meaning to read this for some time now, so I'm grateful to have found this copy in my house.
I've chosen this because I've yet to go to the book store to get any fantasy novels, and because it is short and the month of February is short.

I look forward to starting and finishing this classic. Let's hope I do actually finish it.


Have you, my friends, been partaking in this challenge? If so, how did the first month and book go over for you?

If you should have any novel suggestions for the coming months, I would be very grateful to hear from you (especially if your suggestions are in the fantasy genre).


  Yours,


                       ~Edna

Updates

My dear friends,

I recently returned from a trip far from home, and was unable to send you a letter.
This was poor planning on my part, I knew I should've written ahead and sent this while I was away, but my lazy bone got hold of me and I decided not to.

And as I've been busy, I hadn't thought up a good subject for this letter other then making it one of updating you all.
And so that is what it will be.


Update on Oliver Twist (reading challenge):

This letter wasn't the only thing my lazy bone stalled; I am now farther behind in Oliver Twist then I would like to admit.
It appears that it may drag into February, which will be fine so long as I finish it early on and manage to also begin and complete that month's book within the thirty days (or twenty eight, as the case will be).


Update on Poetry:

I have been working on more poetry and digging at the dirt of my mind to try and unearth the well of creativity which I have again misplaced in the clutter of life.
It is hard to create anything in such a busy world, isn't it? Other things always pile up on our writing desks and distract us.

But a new poem, or I should say a very old one, is in the works and coming along.


Update on Short Stories:

I have a few short stories in the works now. One, being named "Dream Warriors", one "Imaginary", and one "The Wolf's Son". All of which are taking far, far longer then they should. The Wolf's Son is my favorite so far, but as proven to be longer and more in-depth then I had originally intended.


Update on My Current Novel:

In the realm of novels, the one I am currently focusing on has hit some bumps as I've come to the realization that it makes no sense. And yet, I don't want to change it because I love it so much. But, it might be better if I do change it.
We will see how it plays out. I am now pausing the original, and have begun a new one following the same plot and all, but with the changes that will (hopefully) better it.

For now, I will leave the title to this story unknown to you. It is for the best, seeing as it doesn't have a set name yet, and is still in its infancy as far as development goes.


That's the end for now, consider yourselves updated. It's been a long day for me, and I look forward to settling into bed with warm blankets and the story of Oliver Twist. And, conveniently, a snow storm is raging outside my window.
What a perfect night to read!

Yours,

                  Edna Pellen

Book of the month ~ Oliver Twist

Dear friends,

With this month comes the reading of Oliver Twist!
I regret to admit that I am not as far in it as I would like. A week has past and I am only in the fourth chapter.
I assure you that I do have a reason for this.
I had begun a different book, but realized after reading it partly that it was not the first in the series. And I cannot stand reading books out of order. Should I ever do this, you can be sure that I am locked away in some dungeon somewhere and a impostor has taken my place.

But I have begun to digress. Allow me to get back on topic...

So far, Oliver Twist has taken my interest with ease. And thanks for that are due to Charles Dickens' intriguing prefaces and introductions (of which there are three and I will tell you more of once I've finished the book).
I am finding Oliver to be a dear and tragic character, one born into pain and sadness. From where my bookmark stays guarding my place between this book's pages, the only character I am certain I will see in later chapters is Oliver himself. No other character has come to stay, yet.
That being said, there isn't much else for me to write of.

But already I am looking forward to the end of this month, when I can give a completed review of this book.
I will say nothing more on the matter, or else I will have nothing to write about at the end of January.

So this letter, I am afraid, will be rather short. Which really is a shame, seeing as I prefer to make them longer.

If you have begun this adventure with me, the one of reading a book a month, I would love to read how your experience has been so far.

Otherwise, this is the end of this letter. Farewell, kindred spirits.


  Yours,


                     Edna Pellen