Once Upon a December

I don't know if it's because of the time of year or because I am so looking forward to the new year that I am feeling overwhelmingly nostalgic. I am sitting here thinking back on this past year and trying to will myself to not cry - a mixture of happy and sad tears. I was so hopeful for a good 2012 this time last year that I think I forgot to actually sit back and enjoy the year.

I combination of wonderfulness and crap filled my year. My 2012 was a roller coaster that I don't ever want to ride again. It was the worst year in recent memory - actually I think it was the worst year ever for me personally. I had such wonderful moments that lifted me up and filled me with such joy, but to think that those moments were so few and far between, I have a hard time remembering them.

But the one thing I have to keep in mind for 2013, is that the past is the past. I have such a hard time letting stuff go sometimes that I forget thinking about my past will only make me live there longer. I have to learn from the crappiness of my 2012 and make my 2013 so awesome that nothing else matters. I have to keep in mind that right now I am the only one that can my life better.

So Happy New Year fellow readers!

~Anastasia

A little shamelss self promotion

I have lots of books left to be sold. If anyone is looking for a good fantasy novel (sequel coming soon) for a christmas gift, then get a hold of me and let me know. I'm selling the books for $20 and I will sign each copy.

(okay, shameless self promotion over ) 

Happy reading!

~Anastasia

Still Hopeful for good things

Well fellow book lovers, it's that time of year again where we are all thankful for friends, family and the wonder around us. While my life hasn't been the best in the past few months, there is a part of me that is looking forward to the holiday season. And it's not just because I finally get snow (hehehe) but because I have the best people in the world that surround me. I have the best family and set of friends a girl could ask for. And while I have been lonely lately and longing for a love that seems to elude me around every turn, I am still hopeful and optimistic about what will come to me as this year draws to a close.

The one thing that still sticks with me, even now as an adult is the magic of Christmas. I look forward to the season more than most adults do, but I think that's because I'm still a kid at heart. My love for the season has nothing to do with presents, but everything to do with the magic the presents represent. I still believe in Santa Claus and I always will. The idea of a jolly old fat man, is just precious. But it's his image that gives me hope and I don't care how old I get. I'll always believe. 

So happy holidays everyone! I hope you all find the magic that lingers in this time of year and good things are brought to you next year. 

Happy Reading!

~Anastasia

Time to "Fall" Back

Autumn is my favorite time of year. The air is cooler. It's the time of year where the coats are brought out and the smell of leaves fills the air. Personally though, I am very much looking forward to a calm Autumn. I need a better season than Summer was. I was overly optimistic about my summer. And now that it's over, I am focused on Fall. I want to carve pumpkins and I want Halloween.

I look forward to the shorter days and the cooler nights. While I am still optimistic that I will have a better autumn (at least in my personal life I hope) I know that I have to take one day at a time and not delve so deeply into the love I know I have to give someone. I just have to find the right someone worthy of my awesomeness. And who knows, Autumn just might be my season. 

So while I have no words of wisdom about the thing I love most in the world - books - Just remember to keep reading. I will be back soon and hopefully with something new to talk about.

~Anastasia

Take 3 Seconds to notice where you are....

There are moments, pinpoints of my life that have changed me drastically. Moments that have helped shape and mold me into the woman I am today. I do not regret a single moment that has happened in my life. I am who I am because of these pinnacle moments.

Though the video above is a clip from a TV show (a very good one that makes me sometimes miss being in a newsroom....but only sometimes) It is from one of those moments in my life that has forever changed me. I won't go into details. Mostly because they are personal and very close to my heart.

I just had to share my feelings after watching this episode.

Happy Reading!
~Anastasia

What a month it has been....

Hello there fellow book lovers! It has been quite a month since last you've heard from me. Life has been hectic - no hectic isn't the word - life has been turned upside down. While I think I was a bit over optimistic about my previous relationship, I do not regret it. I learned something from him, douche bag he may be. But a good friend told me I have to get back on the horse and let myself learn to be loved the way I deserve. So I've gone on a couple dates, met a couple guys and ya know what? I'm happy. And that's all that matters.

(I just love this picture. And this was one of the things that helped me take pride in my new empowerment)

But while summer is only a few days away and the Kick off the Summer Right Party is this weekend, I am feeling better and looking forward to what the summer will bring me.

Keep reading book lovers! And have a GREAT summer!!!!
~Anastasia

Summer time....and the livin' is easy!

Well kids, it's that time of year! Time to put away the sweaters and boots and break out the flip flops and tank tops! While I have never been a fan of the heat or weather in any extreme really, I love when summer rolls around. It's a time when life gets a little more carefree and things start to slow down. It's a time for cookouts, beach parties, weddings, camping and bonfires.

So while I am really looking forward to carefree days full of sunshine and fun-filled nights of bonfires and beer, I am really just enjoying each day as it comes. I am so thankful for the year so far, as it has brought me many new things - family, friends and a boyfriend.

So welcome summer! You are going to be GREAT!!!!

~Happy Reading

Anastasia

Something old becomes new again

Remakes. They are nothing new, nor will they ever be. Since the invention of the motion picture, there have been stories told and retold again to give each generation a new view and updated look at a classic story. The one I will focus on right now is The Three Musketeers. This is such and old story and has been told in so many reincarnations - books, movies, music - that each generation has an image of what those men looked like.  For me, it was the early 90s and Chris O'Donnell played D'Artantian.

And before that it was countless other actors that have graced the screen to play the dashing young hero. Evan Gabriel Byrne played him in the movie "Man in the Iron Mask."

But the newest reincarnation of this classic tale has a new look, a new focus and has made a handful of no name actors a little bit more famous. Yes there are some seasoned actors in the movie and some younger, better known actors - Orlando Bloom and Mila Jokavich - But the newest face is that of the young actor Logan Lerman who plays D'Artanian.

I'm not saying the new version is good and I'm not saying it's bad. It's good for what it is, just like the ones before it. It's an old story, brought to new light for a new generation in a new and different way. So my recommendation, go rent a few versions and pick out which one you like best. Or better yet, go read the book! 

Until next time

Happy reading and happy watching

~Anastasia

Old characters brought to new light

So I'm not much for talking on here about what I am working on. I'd rather talk about what I've read and what I've experienced in the world of literature, music and art. But for once, I'm going to break out of my norm and talk about something that has been close to my heart for many, many years. In fact, this has been a story I've been working on since 2001.

Over the years, I have talked to a few people about "The Legend of Jade" (my opus as I call it) I have been so scared of this story for so long - it's been something that I have held onto so tightly that I am afraid that people won't like what they read. I won't go into detail about the story, mostly because I want people to read it and enjoy it someday. I want my fans to exclaim loudly "YES! This is what we've been waiting for!"

There have been so many influences into this story and these characters. Most of them are based on people in my life. As I have gone through to re-read what was previously written, I can tell exactly what I was feeling and exactly what I was going through. I have always been able to write better when I was mad. I guess it's because I've always worn my heart on my sleeve. I pride myself on being an honest writer and having honest characters.

I have been in love with this whole story and part of my soul has gone into it. I am so excited to have everyone read what I have worked on for so long and I love the fact that there are people out there actually excited to read it. I want nothing more than to bring this to all of you. I just ask you to be patient with me and let me finish it and make sure it's worthy of all your excitement.

Happy reading all!
~ Anastasia

It's that time of year again....to pick up my favorite book

This time of year, I tend to re-read my favorite book - The Mists of Avalon - written by Marion Zimmer-Bradley in 1981

Last year, I bought myself the hard cover edition because I had lost my soft cover book I had read in college. If you ever have the chance to read this book, I suggest that you do. It is a wonderful version of a story we all know so well - King Arthur. Only this time, it's told from the point of view of Morgaine La Fey.

(This is my favorite picture of her. I think it's perfect with her coming out of the mists on the boat from Avalon.)

 

 A Brief over view of the book - 

Mists of Avalon is a generations-spanning retelling of the Arthurian legend, but bringing it back to its Brythonic roots (see Matter of Britain). Its protagonist is Morgaine, who witnesses the rise of Uther Pendragon to the throne of Camelot. As a child, she is taken to Avalon by High Priestess Viviane, her maternal aunt, to become a priestess of the Mother Goddess and witnesses the rising tension between the old Pagan and the new Christian religions. At one point, she is given in a fertility ritual to a young man she will later learn is Arthur, her half-brother. Unbeknownst to Arthur, Morgaine conceives a child, Gwydion, later called Mordred, as a result of the ritual.
After Uther dies, his son Arthur claims the throne. Morgaine and Viviane give him the magic sword Excalibur, and with the combined force of Avalon and Camelot, Arthur drives the invasion of the Saxons away. But when his wife Gwenhwyfar fails to produce a child, she is convinced that it is a punishment of God: firstly for the presence of pagan elements (a stance which Morgaine deeply resents), and secondly, for her forbidden love for Arthur's finest knight Lancelet. She increasingly becomes a religious fanatic, and relationships between Avalon and Camelot (i.e. Morgaine and herself) become hostile.
When the knights of the Round Table of Camelot leave to search for the Holy Grail, Mordred seeks to usurp the throne. In a climactic battle, Arthur's and Mordred's armies square off, and in the end Avalon and Arthur are magically removed from the circles of the world. It is Morgaine alone who lives to tell the tale of Camelot. (Taken from Wikipedia) 

A few words from Marion Zimmer-Bradley herself -  (Taken from Wikipedia)

 

“

About the time I began work on the Morgan Le Fay story that later became Mists, a religious search of many years culminated in my accepting ordination in one of the Gnostic Catholic churches as a priest. Since the appearance of the novel, many women have consulted me about this, feeling that the awareness of the Goddess has expanded their own religious consciousness, and ask me if it can be reconciled with Christianity. I do feel very strongly, not only that it can, but that it must... So when women today insist on speaking of Goddess rather than God, they are simply rejecting the old man with the white beard, who commanded the Hebrews to commit genocide on the Philistines and required his worshipers daily to thank God that He had not made them women... And, I suppose, a little, the purpose of the book was to express my dismay at the way in which religion lets itself become the slave of politics and the state. (Malory's problem ... that God may not be on the side of the right, but that organized religion always professes itself to be on the side of the bigger guns.) ... I think the neo-pagan movement offers a very viable alternative for people, especially for women, who have been turned off by the abuses of Judeo-Christian organized religions.[2]

”

(This is my second favorite picture of Morgaine Le Fey. I find her striking as she stands in the circle at the ring of sacred stones in Avalon. She is the picture of pure serenity as she accepts the goddess into herself.)

 

 

I may be a bit bias when I say that this is the best book of the Arthurian myths - but I am a bit of a feminist and I think that anything written from a woman's point of view is amazing, especially because the majority of the legends surrounding King Arthur are told from a male perspective. 

 

I leave you all with a little bit of advice - even if you don't think that The Mists of Avalon isn't for you - pick up something different. Find something out of your norm and see if maybe, you find a book that turns out to be your favorite. 

 

Happy Reading! 

~Anastasia