Thursday, January 31, 2008

The Prettiest Thing - Chapter Six

I know a lot of you have been waiting for this - especially Shanna - and chapter six of The Prettiest Thing has offically been uploaded onto AFF.net so do what you do best. Read, review, let me know what you think about the newest update. This is a chapter that focuses more on Trevor and Joy and a new character is introduced: Mrs. Moone, Trevor's math teacher, who is going to be a main character in the story as it continues on. I am so happy everyone seems to be loving this story. I hope I can keep it up and keep you all loving it.

Mrs. Moone

Happy Thursday

I have my brother and sister coming to visit me this weekend and my sister arrives tonight so I am not sure if I will be able to update at all this weekend until Sunday evening. A Fairy Tale is going to have three more chapters - the third being a short epilogue - so that story is nearly complete. I hope to have it finished within the week. As for The Prettiest Thing, I was looking over the original outline I had made for this story and though I have tweeked some things, I have kept most of the plot in tact. This story could easily be 30 or more chapters. I do not know if you all are interested in reading such a long story or if you grow bored with it and want something else. Please let me know in the comments section. Tell me what you really think - not what you think I want to hear. If enough people agree about it being too long, then I will do some editing and see how that goes story and plotwise.

I received an email from reader Tracey earlier this morning:

"Hi, Kate. I found some pictures last night while I was supposed to be doing homework. The first reminds me of Jim and Layla from Bus Stop because of the rain and since I haven't seen you post any art for that story, I wanted to hopefully give you your first. Also, the second picture reminded me of Trevor and Joy from The Prettiest Thing for reason other than it is a dark-haired male and a blonde-haired girl sitting on a bench at a football field. I hope you like them."

Check out Tracey's pictures below and remember that you can send me anything you want in regards to my stories - except flames or nasty emails. I love and appreciate everything I get from all of you. Also, reader Amanda sent me a bunch of pictures for The Prettiest Thing and I will post those when I update another chapter. I didn't want her to think that I forgot about her. I am working on the sixth chapter of The Prettiest Thing and I really hope to get that up before my sister comes tonight. Thank you.


Wednesday, January 30, 2008

The Prettiest Thing Fanart

Thank you a thousand times to Lauren who took the time to make this piece of art for The Prettiest Thing. It is beautiful and I love it. I love every piece of art I get from anyone because you found my stories enough to take time out of your lives and make it or find it for me so thank you to everyone. Sometimes, I get too much and I can't post it all but that does not mean that I do not like it or appreciate it. If you have any art or videos to send me, please email me at templetonko@yahoo.com. In the meantime while you're waiting for a new update, leave Lauren a comment and let her know what you think of her art. Thank you.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

The Prettiest Thing - Chapter Five

Someone left me a review saying that since I wasn't updating quickly enough, people were going to lose interest in my story. I hope that person was not serious because I have updated a chapter every day since Saturday. I cannot update any faster than I am right now. Chapter five has just been uploaded onto AFF.net of The Prettiest Thing. I'm trying to write all of you a good enjoyable story while at the same time, updating the story like I used to update my stories. Just remember that you all have to be patient with me if I fall behind. And in case anyone was wondering, A Fairy Tale will be updated on weekends so don't think I have forgotten about it while writing all of these chapters for The Prettiest Thing.

People have offered to do fanart for me and for that, I am so grateful. As for the real people I have for Brett, Ella and Trevor - they are models. I do not know who they are. I do know that Joy is an actress named Aimee Teegarden but other than that, I do not know the models' names. I know it will make fanart harder to do but thank you to everyone for trying.

Below is a print of Christina's World by Andrew Wyeth, which is featured in chapter five, and also, there is a video of "Lay Lady Lay" sung by Magnet. It is actually a fanvideo someone made for Sleeping Beauty but since that movie is one of my favorites and I love the song, I wanted to post it so you guys could at least hear the song that I listened to while writing this newest chapter. Please read and review for me. Thank you.

Monday, January 28, 2008

The Prettiest Thing - Chapter Four

The Prettiest Thing has been updated with its fourth chapter on AFF.net so read it, review it, let me know what you think about it. I hope this story is shaping up to be alright. I am writing this story with details and intense feelings and I am not sure whether or not I am succeeding at it. The music in this story is very important as usual - being almost another character so listen to the songs on YouTube or another site if you have the time to. Also, if anyone has any fanart for this story, please email me. With all of my time going into writing, I haven't had time to search or make any so please, if you can, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you so much!

Sunday, January 27, 2008

The Prettiest Thing - Chapter Three

Chapter three of The Prettiest Thing has just been uploaded on AFF.net so check it out for me. I have been a little disappointed by getting so many hits and few reviews so please let me know what you think. You know how much I crave your opinion and feedback. Also, every song in this chapter can be found on YouTube if you are interested in hearing it for the story's soundtrack. Thank you to everyone who takes the time to read my stories. It means the world to me.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

The Prettiest Thing - Chapter Two

I just updated chapter two of The Prettiest Thing over on AFF.net. I hope everyone enjoys it. I must warn everyone in advance. This story is going to be very descriptive. Paragraphs will be devoted to describing a room or house. I especially paid great detail to Ella's bedroom since it is going to be a main setting for this story. If you have ever read John Steinbeck before, you know that the man is the king of descriptions. He will write paragraph upon paragraph describing just the nature scenery to the reader. I am no where near John Steinbeck obviously but I wanted to try writing more descriptively in his type of style.

Chapter two shows the Scott and Dawson families and you get to meet the parents. I wanted to give Trevor and Ella Scott and Brett Dawson decent families with decent upbringings. I wanted to give them normal lives and normal relationships with their parents. I hope I am able to show that realistically throughout the story. I'm glad everyone is excited about the return of this story. You all know what to do for me. Read it and review it.

Nick

Connie

Alex

Friday, January 25, 2008

Chapter Nine - A Fairy Tale

I updated the ninth chapter of A Fairy Tale on AFF.net and as many of you were hoping, there is a rather intense love scene between Andrew and Carrie featured in it. I hope you all enjoy it as well as the slight cliffhanger the chapter ends on. Please read and review for me and let me know what you all think of this story. It is almost finished and I just want to thank everyone so far who have enjoyed it as much as you all have seemed to.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Unexpected Update

I don't think anyone was expecting this but I rewrote the first chapter of The Prettiest Thing and posted it on AFF.net so you can re-read it here. I actually have the first four chapters planned out which means I suppose my inspiration for the story has returned. I will not post the second chapter though until I have completed A Fairy Tale. Read Brett and Ella's story for me and let me know what you think of the rewrite if you have not yet. This story is going to be very pop-culture driven with a lot of music, movies and random celebrity references thrown in. Pop-culture has become such a huge part of youth today that I wanted to incorporate it in one of my stories. Be on the look out for more updates. Thank you!

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

The Wedding Party

I don't know how anyone else reacted but I was completely shocked by Heath Ledger's death earlier today. I have always enjoyed him as an actor and I was eagerly anticipating his turn as the Joker in the newest Batman movie this coming summer. I actually had a story brewing in my head for some time with him imagined as one of the characters and with his death today, I wanted to post the idea for everyone to read. This story would be a one-shot or possibly a short multi-chaptered story. I was going to work on it after A Fairy Tale and The Wit of the Staircase but now, I am feeling inclined to work on it sooner rather than later.

The Wedding Party
At the wedding of Charlie Harlow and Tracey Crawford, the maid of honor, Nora Fleming, and the best man, Tim Dorman, are in the same room for the first time since their break-up two years earlier. As the reception stretches late into the night, Nora and Tim will both reminisce on their relationship that was once deemed perfect by everyone who knew them and try to make sense of their reasons for breaking up in the first place. Four best friends, one wedding, one night and one last chance.

Tim

Nora

Charlie

Tracey

Sunday, January 20, 2008

More Than Anyone FanVid

I don't think you guys have any idea how much it means to me when any of you take the time to review one of my stories or send me fan art or make a video to one of my stories. It seriously makes me tear up when I read your kind words or see what my stories mean to all of you. When I posted the first chapter of Wonderwall on AFF.net two years ago, I had no idea that it would turn out like this for me. I had no idea all of the fans and friends I would make from it.

Below is the second video one of my readers have made for me. This one is to More Than Anyone and is from bulma-veggie, one of my fans from France.

"Hi, Thanks to Alessandra, I too discovered this website ^^ I created many video about friends and family, and also this one, for you, about "More than anyone", my fav story ! The song is "you and me" by Lifehouse, not one of my favorites songs but it looks good with their couple I think (I hesitated with "time after time"...) . Anyway, I hope you will like it ! bulma-veggie =D"

Thank you so much. I know I say it all of the time but I don't know what else to say except thank you. Please watch the video and let her know what you think of it in the comments section. Thank you to everyone for everything. I wouldn't be anything without any of you.

Chapter Eight - A Fairy Tale

Chapter eight of A Fairy Tale was just posted on AFF.net so as always, please read and review it for me. Chapter nine will pick up from where this chapter left off so if it isn't everything you wanted, chapter nine will be more of it. I promise. Chapter eight focuses more on Carrie and Andrew's growing relationship and Andrew and Jason's friendship. I hope everyone enjoys it. This story actually only has a couple of chapters left and I already know that I am going to miss Andrew and Carrie. I wanted to write a straight forward love story with a man and a woman falling in love and I hope I am succeeding at that. Below, are pictures of Andrew, Carrie and Jason and I also posted Everlong by the Foo Fighters, which is the theme song for this chapter.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

A Fairy Tale Slideshow

Thanks to Alessandra, who made a video for Reed and Cami, I tried to be a little creative myself as well and I made a picture slideshow of all of the characters in A Fairy Tale. It really isn't anything special - just pictures set to music. I just wanted to try it out and see if I could do it. Here is the final result. I am working on the eighth chapter of A Fairy Tale as we speak and it should be posted sometime this weekend.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

First Fan Video

I received an email from Alessandra today, who sends me a lot of fanart for my stories.

"Hello Kate, Since I have absolutely no life, I spent my only day off this week from work making a video about my favorite couple that you've written, Cami & Reed. It was my first video ever, and the program I was using was a little confusing, so it's not that great. I hope you enjoy it and have a nice rest of the day."

Watch the video and please tell Alessandra what you think. This took a lot of her time and effort so please give her your thoughts. Alessandra - thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Happy Wednesday

I hate going days without posting anything on this blog because I know people check it regularly and I also know that some of you wonder where I am or what I am up to. I'm sorry for lack of updates here since Saturday. How is everyone on this freezing cold Wednesday? Well, it's freezing cold for me anyway. I hope everyone is having a fantastic week so far. I am working on the eighth chapter of A Fairy Tale, which I am super-excited about, and I rarely use the words "super-excited" to describe things.

I am also working on another one-shot but that will only be posted on Fictionpress since I have decided to post all of my one-shots there from now on and post my multi-chaptered stories on AFF, since my larger fanbase is there. I also made a picture slideshow to A Fairy Tale with pictures of the somewhat large cast of characters but I am an idiot because I am trying to figure out now how to post it. I have never used this particular program before but I'm loving making videos. Hopefully, one day, I can actually share them with you. Leave a comment for me if you want. Let me know how you are, what you're up to... I want to get to know everyone better this year - one of my new year's resolutions.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Chapter Seven - A Fairy Tale

I posted chapter seven of A Fairy Tale over on AFF.net so as always, please read and review that for me. I had hopes for this chapter but I honestly have no idea if I accomplished what I wanted to. I don't know how I feel about it so please let me know how you think it turned out. In the next chapter to come, Andrew and Carrie will be having sex and there will be more drama to come their way in the form of Jason.

Friday, January 11, 2008

Book Cover

Thank you to Tracey who made me this book cover for The Wit of the Staircase and thank you to anyone who has ever made me fan art. I am always so flattered when you take the time out of your lives to create something for me. It means a lot to me. What do you think of Tracey's cover? Let her know in the comments!

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Listen To This

I wanted to post this song because not only is it one of my favorites but The Kooks are such a wonderful band, I highly recommend checking them out. Listening to this song reminds me of a lot of my stories and I suppose that you can say that it helps inspire me. Enjoy "Seaside" and let me know what you think.

Monday, January 7, 2008

Addicted

I love to write. I could never stop writing. And I love writing for all of you - even though some of you feel I am pathetic or a liar or something along those lines. Thank you so much for all of the support you have ever given me. I would like to continue to write for you. It is going to slow down for a little bit - about a chapter a week, if that. Please, just be patient with me. Thank you everyone. I mean that. I am still writing the seventh chapter of A Fairy Tale and I really hope to have that up by the end of the week. If anyone finds any pictures of Andrew (Christian Bale), Carrie (Keri Russell), Elizabeth (Halle Berry) or Calvin (George Clooney), please e-mail them to me.

Saturday, January 5, 2008

Tyson and Amy

Thank you to reader, Kima, who found pictures of Tyson and Amy from The Prize for me. They are such a good-looking couple. She also found pictures of Casey and Amelia from Some Kind of Wonderful as well. With everything going on in my life and with me trying to finish A Fairy Tale, the one-shot featured this couple has been put on hold for the time being put I promise that I will write it when I have spare time.

Amy

Tyson

Casey

Amelia

Thursday, January 3, 2008

The Wit of the Staircase

The Wit of the Staircase:
On a train from Amsterdam to Paris, Americans Sam Wyatt and Haley Dane, both in Europe for their own reasons, meet and after a sudden turn of bad luck, find themselves stranded and about to embark on an adventure that will take them across the European countryside together – whether they want to be stuck together or not. A story of love finding you in the most unexpected of places.

L'esprit de l'escalier (the wit of the staircase) is a French term that describes the predicament of thinking of the right comeback too late.

My goal as a writer is to always try to grow and try different things within my stories. The Wit of the Staircase has been an idea stewing in my head for some time now and I am finally going to be brave enough to attempt it. After I complete A Fairy Tale, this is the story I am going to work on next. In all of my previous stories, I have used a large "cast" of supporting characters but in this newest story of mine, it is going to rely heavily on just Sam and Haley - their conversations, their arguments, their chemistry together. There will be people they meet during their journey but for the most part, the story is going to feature only them.

If you have seen the movies Before Sunset, Before Sunrise or It Happened One Night, that is where I have driven my inspiration from this time. That and for Christmas, I received a book of photos of Europe and the countries there have such a romantic feel/look to them that I wanted to use it as a backdrop for a story. I have visited England and Scotland and have used them as settings in my stories before. I think it is time I return there. I am eager to write this and I hope there are some that are eager to read it. I will announce progress on the story once I have completed A Fairy Tale.

Happy 2008, everyone. A new year, a new crop of stories.

Sam

Haley

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

So Contagious

Thank you so much to reader 7 Years who suggested the song So Contagious by Acceptance for a song that reminds her of Andrew and Carrie from A Fairy Tale. Ever since she commented about it, I have been listening to it on repeat and it is definitely one of my songs of the moment. Below, I have posted a video of the song from YouTube but beware that it might hurt your eyes. The creator used a lot of pink but it was the only video I could find that didn't have a live version of the song or that was a fanvid. Listen to it below and let me know what you think.

I don't know if everyone enjoys the music I post on this blog but if you read my stories then you know that music is always a large part of them and I want to post the songs so you can feel more connected to the stories. To those who like the newly added musical aspect of the blog, I'm glad. After you listen to the song, let me know what you think of it. What song makes you think of Andrew and Carrie? Or any of my characters for that matter?

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

A Fairy Tale - Chapter Six

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had fun last night and that everyone was safe. Thank you to everyone who sent me New Years messages. I, without a doubt, have the best readers a writer could ever ask for.

I just posted the sixth chapter of A Fairy Tale on AFF.net so read and review it for me. Just an advanced warning: chapter six is extremely long compared to the other previous chapters. I couldn't seem to stop writing it and I didn't have the heart to cut it or chop it into two installments. Next chapter, Calvin and Elizabeth will return as well as more time between Andrew, Carrie and Abby. I hope you all enjoy the update and I am so happy that there are so many of you that are loving Andrew and Carrie's fairy tale love story. Read, review and enjoy the new year! Thank you.

Carrie's Dress