Cutie Queues - a homemade font!

CutieQueues.ttf is on DaFont!

CutieQueues was created by hand using my iPad, a stylus, and the Notability app along with a PDF template from MyScriptTemplate.com. Enjoy!

EnterTheMirror.com

I am now publishing under the pen name Catiana Nak Kheiyn because that is the name that I use on my Divine Memorabilia column at Blogos.org. In an attempt to begin to make a name for myself in this ocean of writers, I am trying something new: the serial novella, published online at EnterTheMirror.com!

The Mirror Has Three Sides is a serial novella that is published on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. In short, it's a young adult science fiction novel, combining fast-paced adventure, fantastical creatures, and innovative sci-fi technology with twists of teenage angst and witty humor. Sound like something you'd like? I certainly love it. ;-)

Synopsis: Bannert and Golden, lifelong teenage friends, escape reality by using a miraculous mirror that leads to an extraordinary library with books that open portals to fairy tale worlds. Unfortunately, this is no magic mirror. It holds a terrible secret that will ensnare them in a plot that tosses them across time and space to find and rescue the only man who can save them.

But wait! There's more! This isn't just a passive serial novella. No, no... It's an opportunity for YOU to share your art and photography skills to help illustrate this story right on EnterTheMirror.com! Wanna know more?

Join me over there to read as this story unfolds throughout the week. The excerpts are short and digestable, but the story stayed engaging. Oh yeah, and leave comments! I love me some comments. ;-)

Avian Runes by Inkaholics 12

We are working hard to finalize the last few Inkaholics books, dating all the way back to the beginning of the summer. The June writers group, Inkaholics 12, wrote an incredible fantasy story about a woman who must escape the clutches of dark magic called Avian Runes. Here's the synopsis:

Letto the rune crafter is an albino changeling—part hawk, part human—whose magical body is the target of a wicked consortia and their leader. Through some unseen enchantment, Letto’s ability to transform is taken hostage, sending her into uncontrollable fits of painful metamorphosis. As fate sweeps her deeper into a plot to murder the Court Magician of Hydridge Castle, Letto finds her only hope of escape falls into the hands of a pair of thieves and their unsavory professional network.

Will Letto find strength enough to fight for her freedom while her body is under the spell of evil forces? Will her thieving friends find hearts of  selflessness after living a life of greed? When the final moment comes, will Letto be able to save the one person who seemed to start it all?

Opening Paragraph Critiques!

I recently found out about this funky blog called "Teens Can Write, Too!" It's a great resource for teen writers—very encouraging and they are just now starting to grow.

Anyway, there's an opportunity for young writers ages 13-20 to get their first paragraph critiqued by the blog author (for free!) just by commenting on THIS POST. (<--Click that. Don't post it here. ;-))

The blog owner is a high school student named John who loves reading and writing YA fiction. Check it out!

Teens Can Write, Too!

No Idle Hands Here

You know those times when you don't really have enough minutes to finish a project properly but there are too many minutes to just sit around doing nothing either? In those times, I get strange graphic design ideas, and this was one of them:

I decided that, for some reason, I needed to update my Facebook cover photo with a custom one. I had had a clever (but stolen) image there for awhile which featured two beloved comic icons of 80s pop culture:

But it was time to change, and I had 40 minutes, so I looked up writing quotes and found this gem of quote from Stephen King's On Writing, a book that is part biography and part writer's guide--an excellent resource. (Though I must always give the caveat that it does contain a sprinkling of King's token profanity.)

The background is the scanned image of a page from one of my tutoring sessions. The red spatter is stock photography. The font is Urban Jungle.

Clockwork Conspiracy by Inkaholics 11

I'm super excited to announce our first steampunk Inkaholics novella, Clockwork Conspiracy by the Inkaholics 11 Writers Group. We had all of our writers from Inkaholics 9 in this group as well as one high schooler whom I met through NaNoWriMo's insanity last year--yeaaah!

One of the surprises that came from this story is a character named Agent Pierce. He appeared out of nowhere in one of the writers' scenes, and he ended up sticking around until the bitter end, charming the daylights out of me and my assistant editor. You get to meet this wonderful character in this delightful novella!

Magic & Mayhem are afoot.

Arminta Cogurae is known as the oddball of Brazenglass, but that doesn’t stop her from happily inventing novel machines and improving her fellow citizens’ timekeepers.

But life is not always pleasant in the city, especially under the watchful eye of the Red Flint Agency, an organization devoted to the suppression of magic. When Arminta and her young apothecary friend, Fred, are inadvertently entangled in the manhunt of a known criminal, they find themselves drawn deep into a national conspiracy.

The tinker will need to breech all boundaries and entrust her liberty to a few Red Flint agents and a stranger who has ensnared her very livelihood into a wicked design for war.

"Carl" by Inkaholics X

Just as we're beginning a new Collaborative Writers Group (Inkaholics 12), two more books are coming to their final stages. The Inkaholics X Writers Group novella, Carl: the Uprising of a Leprechaun Madman, is now available!

This incredible story tells the background of a minor character from The Case of Dr. What by Inkaholics 007. There are some blatant nods to prior Inkaholics books in this one that make it extra special. Here's the synopsis:

Carl isn’t your average leprechaun.

Sure, he has the green bowler hat and short stature, but he’s also the son of Mickey McPherson McWharle, son to Michael Marscapone McWharle, the Godfather of the Leprechaun Mafia. Trouble is, Carl doesn’t like being a hitman for the Family. All he wants is a peaceful life and a lovely companion.

With the help of his new friends Qué, a 6’ 6” meerkat, and Phish, a goldfish detective with telekinesis, Carl takes a leap of faith and attempts to leave the Leprechaun Mafia Family. His actions spawn a series of events which only get more dangerous and forbidding with every passing day.

Will Carl find the balance between the good in his heart and the evil in his genetic makeup? Or will one side rise up and reign supreme?

Comic: My Life in Line

One of my dear friends (and my Inkaholics assistant editor!) has a love-hate relationship with Colorado. The last time she visited, we ended up at Public Health to get her a tetanus shot. The time before that, I drove her down a mountain to go to the Emergency Room. She halfway jokes that she has an allergy to my state. Thus was born the inspiration for this:



I feel quite honored and loved that she keeps returning despite her misadventures...

Prophecy's Keys: Pieces of Souls by Inkaholics 9

We are super excited to present the latest novella from our young writers, Prophecy's Keys: Pieces of Souls by the Inkaholics 9 Writers Group. This group is pretty sure they are going to want to write a prequel and/or a sequel, so we have boldly added "Book 1" to the title.

All of the writers in this group were completely new to Inkaholics Groups, but I think we have them hooked because every one of them just finished being a part of Inkaholics 12. (More on that later!) Here's a little bit about this classic fantasy story from Ink 9:

Morgana is a fresh graduate of the Kentis Institute of Magic, but her wizard’s staff is already misbehaving. In fact, a dark power hidden inside the ornamentation has shrouded an entire village in a madness-inducing mist.

The young wizardess vows to correct the situation and finds help in a clumsy apprentice blacksmith and a paranoid, recluse dragon. But a wicked creature from her past interferes with their quest at every turn, or is he drawing them right where he wants them? Has circumstance brought these three together? Or are they a part of an ancient prophecy that connects them in more ways that they could possibly imagine?

Fast Track Collaborative Writers Groups 2012

School is almost out, and summer is on its way in. Looking ahead, what will you be doing to keep those creative juices flowing through June and July?

We have two Fast Track Collaborative Writers Groups planned for the summer. These groups will meet twice a week for three weeks--an accelerated rate to create a novella in just under one month!

Participants learn to work together to craft a story and contribute their own ideas and writing to the finished product. Every student will receive ONE FREE COPY of the final, professionally-designed, printed copy of the novella after the workshop ends. How cool is that? Check THIS LINK for a listing of the Inkaholics books we have completed.

Here's what other young writers have said about the Inkaholics Collaborative Writers Groups:

• "Epic Randomness!" 
• "I just loved the whole thing. :-)" 
• "It's a cool way to get together with other writers who like to write." 
• "The best thing ever besides Portal and Portal 2." 
• "It's a lot of fun coming up with ideas and a plot that you can claim for your own." 
• "Über fun and you even get published!" 
• "Funnnnnnnn!!" 

We'll have one Fast Track group each in June and July. Here are all the details:

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INKAHOLICS 12 WRITERS GROUP
*JUNE FAST TRACK* 

Ages: 13-18, Intermediate-Advanced
Day/Time: Tuesdays & Fridays, 2:00-4:00 p.m. (Meets 2X per week)
Dates: June 12-29, 2012
Cost: $75 for the entire workshop
EDIT: THIS GROUP IS CURRENTLY FULL (5/20/12)

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INKAHOLICS 13 WRITERS GROUP
*JULY FAST TRACK* 

Ages: 13-18, Intermediate-Advanced
Day/Time: Sundays & Wednesdays, 5:00-7:00 p.m. (Meets 2X per week)
Dates: July 15-August 1, 2012
Cost: $75 for the entire workshop

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These groups are a fantastic way to meet local writers, have fun, and create a story together in a cozy, caffeinated environment. (Panera Bread!) If you have any questions or would like to reserve your spot, contact me, and I'll get you on the list. Due to the speed of these groups, participation is limited to 6 writers per group. Groups tend to fill up fast, so get your reservation in today!

Pieces of T.I.M.(e) by Inkaholics 8

I am super excited to announce the publication of the latest Inkaholics novella, written by the Inkaholics 8 Writers Group, Pieces of T.I.M.(e). Here's the back cover blurb:

Anthony Flynn is a machine of Artificial Intelligence existing in the world of humans. Life is a strange enough place, but after crossing paths with a fractious, bionic librarian and a self-exiled queen, he begins to learn that living is about more than complex computations.

Octopus Prime, a tenacious, tentacled crimelord, and his gang of aquatic ruffians, have a devious plan to destroy the creator of A.I. Stealing T.I.M., Anthony’s time machine, is merely the first step in extinguishing the mechanized race.

As time unfolds and events in history shift, Anthony finds himself grappling with his robotic side and his own programmed humanity. Which will win the fight? Or will he lose himself altogether?

---

Project 365: 90/365 - LOTR Deal

Found this box set merely discarded around the toy section of the second hand store. At half price, it a steal for $3.50 for all 4 books.

Project 365: 89/365 - Nose to Nose

This shows how well my daughter makes friends. She had just met one of my young writer friends that very day, and she was already nose-to-nose-happy with her. :o)

Project 365: 88/365 - Barely Matched

As you can tell, I have no shame when it comes to caring whether or not my socks match my outfit.

Project 365: 87/365 - Curried Noodles

Project 365: 86/365 - Empty

Gas prices here are hovering dangerously around ridiculous. How are they in your neck of the woods?

Project 365: 85/365 - Goofs

Doing what it takes to stay entertained at the doctor's office.

Project 365: 84/365 - Girly Grooming

Project 365:83/365 - Peacock

Project 365: 81/365 - Batman in Progress

My dear friend Legolas and I got together to do creative stuff, and she worked on a chalk drawing to submit to a t-shirt contest. Awesome!

Project 365: 82/365 - Fierce Yawn

Project 365: 80/365 - Lad Nah

More delicious offerings from my mom's Thai restaurant.

Project 365: 79/365 - Dirty Lemurs

Took this to show to my dear friend Midget that her favorite animal, the ring-tailed lemur, was being featured on one of my favorite shows, Dirty Jobs.

Project 365: 78/365 - Knitting Kninjas

I want to join!

Project 365: 77/365 - Happy to Be Bitten?

Why on earth is the ice cream on a stick SO HAPPY? Or maybe, if those eyes are any indication, it has turned into a zombie.

Project 365: 76/365 - 9th Birthday Cake

For my daughter's 9th birthday party. Made marshmallow fondant for the first time. Nom nom...

Project 365: 75/365 - Comic

While judging an artshow for a homeschool group, I spotted this entry in the art gallery, created by one of my Inkaholics writers!

Project 365: 74/365 - BFFs

Project 365: 73/365 - En Route

My dad was nice enough to let me help him haul a new-to-us futon onto his trailer, then drove it over to our house. Now we have additional comfy seating--yay!

Project 365: 72/365 - Back Up

I wanted to reformat one of our laptops completely, so I spend a couple hours allowing all the documents to backup on my terabyte drive.

Project 365: 71/365 - Cheesecakes

Other moms make cupcakes with frosting. For my daughter's birthday, I made mini cheesecakes with cherries or chocolate for her to share with her class. You can get the recipe for these HERE.

Project 365: 70/365 - Mini Golfer

Took my son out for miniature golfing for Sunday dates.

Project 365: 69/365 - Pedicures

My daughter's birthday is during the week, so we celebrated together on Saturday with ear piercing and pedicures. All in all, the day was a total success!

Project 365: 68/365 - Here Lies Molly

This is a shot of the screen of my dear friend Puella, who is writing a fantastic novel called Here Lies Molly. She describes her story as the child of science fiction and philosophy--and that is!

Project 365: 67/365 - Anime Girl

My daughter was taking pictures of herself, and with the hair right across the camera, anime is the first thing that came to mind.

Project 365: 66/365 - Crane

The crane is the only semi-complicated origami shape I can remember by heart.

Two New Robots on Etsy

This afternoon, I created two new robots for my Etsy store. I have been itching to do this, and I am quite happy with the results! Though these were made to be sold separately, they actually look pretty cute together. A note sits at the bottom of each description, suggesting that they be paired. Hope they end up going to the same home. ♥

Shawna Shorn:


Hugo Ecgo:

Project 365: 65/365 - Robots

Made some new robots for my Etsy shop.

Project 365: 64/365 - Retreat

Went to beautiful Glen Eyrie for a staff retreat today.