In My Writing For the Screen Class

I learned about structure today in Writing for the Screen class. I liked it alot. He said that Star Wars follows the "ideal" structure like perfectly and it's made the writer ALOT ALOT of money. "So if you write it like that, that could be you!" ;D

So now I WANT TO WATCH "Star Wars!" (Mostly the first 3 ever made...you know Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Leia. Am I spelling her name right?)

This class is helping me alot with understanding how to write a good story that gets people hooked.

Why are stories good?

Because we like to watch the character struggled and win and struggle and win and up and down and up and down and be transformed or have our own perspectives as well as that of other characters' perspective change toward the main character, like we understand why he or she acts the way they act or does the things they do. It's really good.

I find that I struggle with putting my characters through challenging situations that they have fight through, but when I do I somehow feel freer and more at peace with the whole thing, versus stressing over it sounding bad or lame or not good enough. The story seems tp move along like butter much more easily when a crisis or something happens to the main character, causing them to make a hard decision or simply ignore it.

Oh, by the way, we didn't actually focus on Star Wars the entire time, maybe 1% of the time. I just realized how much I miss watching Star Wars...brings back good childhood memories of watching it with my dad (and mum and sister). Which it is also my dad's birthday today! On Holloween???

Happy Birthday dad!!!



What's happening with this story? It's not a novel!

This week and last week has been a challenge for me, especially since taking screenwriting class.
I thought it was going to be pretty basic.

Oh so cute and basic!

I just couldn't choose which baby, they both looked like good representative of being content with the basic...

Oh no!

Haha! Writing for the screen is far more complex than just dialogue!

We're learning about structure and treatment and log lines and plot and on and on and on the list goes. It's great! A little overwhelming, but oh my so helpful! Even as a novelist. It's teaching me how to be a better story planner, because for heaven's sakes I was not necessarily planning each book's "story" I was just planning the entire series' story, plot. Forget about the drive in the books individually!
Now that I am being forced to plan out my story, which I am using for my screenwriting class, it has made me make a very HARD decision. Something had to change, because going over what I had...what was the point of it all? I mean sure the scenes and dialogue and twists in the story I had written so far are exciting, but it's NOT ENOUGH.
AH!!!!

No worries! (I had to tell myself that, because I was like, "BUT I like what's happening with the ideas that are coming together, even though they don't have a MAIN plot!"
Well, I have resolved that problem, which in fact was actually a HUGE obstacle for me, because I was struggling with how to get anywhere, for the ideas for book one were being strewn together and going in a direction blindly. It's like they didn't know what their purpose was in book one, they knew their purpose for the whole series but not that first book.

I am therefore feeling much happier and more at peace about what is happening with book one, because it has more meaning and purpose to it. Though it is still up for tweeking of the meaning and purpose, but I know what the main plot of book one is and that's all that counts right?

No, not quite, but for now it is. ;)
And yes, it will be a novel, because that's what burns inside me to get out, we (meaning, me, myself, and I)just hit a rough patch and I'm sure there will be more, but this one, I didn't even know was blocking my way. That rough patch was what is the main plot is for book one, because there are A LOT of things in my "creating" for book one that have potential to be the main plot. Now you can go to my page, "Books of 'The Remmington Pirates Saga" and hopefully see more clearly what book one is about.

Well, I am glad, I got that out! ;)

Godspeed!

Cornwall Trip

The four hour bus ride there...I studied some of my German (for my beginner class), wrote about other supporting characters and more about a couple of my main characters for my "Remmington Pirates Saga," slept and listened to my i-pod the entire time. Oh and I drank 2 liters of water in the morning, so I was using the toilet on the bus...I am so thankful to have had a toilet on the bus. Or I'd be in trouble.

Some of our Minnesotan group learned how to surf, while some of us (like me) went and explored a town that sounds like "New-key" but that is NOT how it is spelled.



I wanted a Milkshake so I could dip my "Fries" in, but in England a milkshake is literally JUST milk with chocolate or strawberry or whatever flavour you can get. NO ICE CREAM!



SEE! I was sad at first!



It was a fun day!

We stayed in a really, really nice Hostel, which is like a hotel, except you have to put the sheets on your pillow, blanket, and bed. And when you leave, you have to take it off as well and put it in their laundry.

They offered a kitchen for guests to use, so we made our supper each night and they served everyone breakfast in the morning, except I made my breakfast since I'm allergic to like everything.

The view at this Hostel, well its location is just spectacular. I love it there! I could totally live there too, I mean seriously you've got the ocean view, smell and sound. What more could you want?

Right outside our hostel!

We walked past this EVERYDAY to get to the bus, because the bus could not drive through the tiny streets. So we walked about 10-20min from the bus to our hostel. It was fun!

The next day...what did we do the next day? Oh yes!
We went to another seaside town. It was just beautiful! I tried scones and creamed tea. So yummy! They even had gluten free scones! Though they were out when I ordered, so I tried the ones with gluten, after taking my GlutenFlam pills (which basically kills the gluten...???).

Anyways, my sister and I walked along the narrow streets, looking in store windows and such.  I, of course, had to stop an look inside some of them, like the charity shops and girls or ladies' clothing store, where I happened find an awesome scarf, so you know I had to get it!

I like this place! They have a boat harbour!

The tea was delicious! And so were their scones! They even offered Gluten-Free Scones, but they were out when I ordered. =( But I would definitely like to try their Gluten-Free Scones next time???

Then we went to a prison from 1739 to early 20th century I think (???) (It started a couple decades after my books, which start in 1707.)

It was pretty wicked. The punishment and reason for being in prison are so different compared to today.



You would be imprisoned for a time...??



We saw rainbows practically everyday that we were there. (And I've probably seen rainbows almost every week here in England, since September!)



We celebrated September and October birthday that night at the Hostel and we each got such wonderfully, sweet Birthday cards.





October and September Birthday recognitions! With my friends - and me with the black jacket!



Jane and Grandmamma in Book 1 Part 2 of 2...It was part of the prologue

Previously in my post, "Jane and Grandmammain in Book 1 Part 1 of 2...It was part of the prologue," Jane has entered her Grandmother's luxurious bedroom...


     "Yes, thank you." Jane walked in and stood before her her beautifully aging grandmother, who was visiting her family for a while. Jane's father was Grandmamma's eldest of three sons. She generally resided at Uncle David's - the middle son.
     "Our Martha has gotten quite close to Lord Joshua, has she not?" The elder turned around to her vanity and picked up the hat. Martha was the cousin and best friend of Jane and her sister, Alexandra. She lived in Portsmouth with her mother and father, David Remmington.
      "Oh, yes, she has," Jane answered, not fully focused on the topic, but on the secretiveness of the thief. She debated between asking about what was stolen.
      "I would not be surprised if he asked her to marry him. Would you?"
      Jane decided she was going to ask about the thief. She answered, "Yes...Grandmamma, I don't mean to be, I mean, well, I was wondering..."
      "Yes?" Grandma Remmington turned around with a warm smile, holding the hat and adjusting the feathers on it to her liking. She still held youthful eyes in her wrinkled face and a beautiful hourglass figure. She had been molded to have a prim and proper stature.
      Jane opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She glanced downward. Maybe she shouldn't ask about it. Naturally, though her curiousity overruled, and she continued, "The thief? What did he steal?"
     The older lady sighed. "So you did hear." She turned around, walking toward the vanity. She set it down on top. "I am dying, as I'm sure you know."
     "Grandmamma, I'm sorry. I could not help but overhear." Jane looked up and met her grandmother's brown eyes. She felt horrible. Her grandmother was suffering something fatal.
      "Oh! It's all right, my dear." She rotated around to give her granddaughter a fondsmile. "You, Alexandra and Martha would find out eventually anyways."
       "Grandmamma?"
       "But it is not time for you to know yet."

Almost what Grandmamma's bedroom looks like!

Jane and Grandmamma in Book 1 Part 1 of 2...It was going to be part of the prologue

This scene was going to be in the prologue, but since discovering book one's main plot it will happen later in the book. (What can I say? It's part of the writing process to move things in or out and around.) ;)


    "I know what the thief looked like, m'lady, yes," said a soft, female voice.
     Nine and ten year old, Jane Remminton stopped abruptly outside of her Grandmother Remmington's cracked bedroom door and leaned against the wall next to it, listening.
      "So what did he look like," the older woman probed.
        Grandmamma! Jane recognized. What thief are they talking about? She peered through the cracked door trying not to budge it open more at the expense of getting caught. She could not see clearly, for the crack was so small. She was stuck with just hearing.
      The younger person - Jane figured to be the elder lady's servant - gulped then said softly, "He was strong and lean, with a short, but full goatee and moustache of hair. I don't remember, exactly ma'am. But I dare say he was handsome, even in hi..." she gulped again. "...in his array of dark and bright attire," said she hesitantly.
      "I see," said the older woman. "Do think he was a pirate?"
     "I, I think he was a..." the girl trailed off and gulped yet again.
     "A what?"
     "Yes, a pirate, m'lady," said she barey audible.
     "Why did you not tell me this the night it happened? Why now?"
      "I'm sorry, Madame, but I was so scared. He promised to come back and kill me if I said anything to anyone. And, well, he has not been back, so I'm hoping he's forgotten."
      "I see. Thank you." Grandmother Remmington was deep in thought, while her maid stood there with some nervousness. the older lady finally said, "You are dismissed."
      Immediately, Jane headed back in the direction she came, then changed her mind and pretended to nonchalantly walk to her grandmother's door. She lifted her hand to knock just as the servant swung the door open wider.
      "Miss Remmington!" The middle-aged servant jumped a little. "Excuse me." She bowed, stepping back to allow her to pass through. Jane acknowledged the servant with a nod, and then looked up at the elder Remmington, seeking permission to enter.
     "Jane, dear," the older lady smiled. "Do come in."
      "Thank you." Jane walked into the expensively furnished bedroom. She made a quick scan of the room. The big bed was heavy with bedding, unlit candles were on every wooden surface in the room, and a big Persian rug accented the room elegantly. The vanity against the wall with drawers held a mirror and on top of the flat surface was a big, wide hat.
      "What can I do for you? Are you well?" asked Lady Remmington.
    
(to be continued)

A maid...Grandma Remminton's maid.

Your Abs After All Are Central to Your Body

So I get these daily "Skinny Tips" from Bob Harper in my Email, and I thought I'd share some of them...

"Your spine strongly relies on your abdominal muscles for support. So strengthen your abs to help prevent future back problems!" (Bob Harper)

"The benefits of a strong core go beyond having a six-pack. Your abs are constantly in use because they are the key to good balance and posture. Because your abs are central to your body, nearly every workout move has a potential use for them. If you just focus on keeping your stomach tight and engaging your core during your workout, you will immediately notice a difference. So always be sure to use those muscles during your exercise so that you can get the most from your workout!" (Bob Harper)

Sailors and Pirates got strong abs and muscles by just working the sails and whatever else they to do.

Well, I certainly got motivated to do ab exercises!
I aimed for 30 reps in push-ups, plank twists, and leg-raises (lying on my back) or better yet, because I got bored with just moving my legs up and down I had my straight arms above my head and had my hands reach for my toes, as they met at the point of being pointed toward the ceiling. I call it the Pike Crunch. (And I think other professionals do too.)

I've noticed in my years of researching fitness stuff that there are so many different names for the same exercise. It's insane, but whatever. It's...I don't even know what it is.

Anyways, just trying to push my ab muscles to the point of exhaustion once a day feels GREAT! I've personally noticed a difference. Now my goal is to do so three times a day (Hmm...4-6 days a week?), but not just work that "six pack," outer, top-layer muscle that everyone can feel and see the easiest, I gotta work the inner, bottom layer (the one most responsible for balance and the hardest muscle to strengthen, because it's on the bottom layer. Correct me if I'm wrong. It is worked when doing ab exercises and anything you do, but is it really being challenged?

I think the best way to challenge that bottom, inner-most layer of the core muscles is to balance on one foot for as long as possible. And if that's too easy, close your eyes, read, bounce a basket ball, play catch, try a more wobbly surface to balance on. Challenge yourself!

The other core muscles I want to work on, are the side abs. (a.k.a the Obliques). My personal favorite are side plank lifts. Love 'em! I did like 16 reps my first time, but my goal is to get higher!

Another good one is Russian Twists, although I personally think they're pointless without holding onto weights, because I like to feel my muscles challenged. Because that's where the benefit comes from - the challenge.

Oh and I noticed that my lower back felt so much better a few hours after having worked my abs (once the abs had a little time to begin their longish process of repairing and rebuilding). So yes, what they say is true. Stronger abs, less back pain.

And another thing, when Bob talked about keeping your abs engaged during your workout (I did notice a difference, even in five minutes), well I tried it whilst I sat working on my computer (and not having worked out for a couple days), even right now I'm keeping my abs engaged (it's hard to not just let them relax!). But after doing that for, I don't even know how long, but for as long as possible (which is a long time), I noticed a slight difference and felt better for it. Psh! I felt like a better person! Haha!

But seriously, try to keep your abs engaged all day long! Okay, maybe not ALL day long, but humanly possible????



Not Your Average Gluten Free Shortbread Cookies/Biscuits

       Who makes chocolate chip cookies without chocolate chips in the morning?

        Apparently I do. This sounds crazy but I, I guess I “stressed” and feared over trying one of the gazillion Chocolate Chip Cookie recipes I’d found Thursday, fearing they’d come out a disaster. That fear, worry got bigger and bigger, as I looked at and wrote down some gluten free recipes and non-gluten free recipes (the so-called regular or original, which ever you prefer to call it.)

        I don’t know why I do that to myself – give myself a high standard or a set expectation of time for something and then beat myself up when I don’t make it. Yes, I do this, for some reason, even with baking or simply eating or avoiding a certain food. But in life, I do this to myself with exercising, homework (I used to be on top of that – last year.) And honestly I hate to disappoint people; therefore I hate not getting my homework.

         Anyways, back to the cookies, the dough was delicious, then after baking the first couple batches of cookies I decided to try adding peanut butter. And the dough tasted even better as did the cookies.

         The first cookies without peanut butter, I did not know what to think of them other than that they crumbled and melted in my mouth like a buttery soft powder. Then later that today I figured out that the taste of the finished product reminded me of shortbread cookies.

        So I call them “Shortbread Cookies.” Or "Shortbread Biscuits," depending on if I'm using American or British term for the delicasy. ;)

        Notice that I have not added any chocoate chips. Why? Because I had none, unfortunately at the time of their making.

Here's the Recipe for "Gluten Free (Peanut Butter) Shortbread Cookie/Biscuit"

1 cup Sorghum Flour

1 cup Tapioca Flour/Starch

1/2 cup Buckwheat Flour (gluten/wheat free)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

(mix in a large bowl)

1 cup Butter, softened (Organic)

1/2 cup Light Brown Sugar, packed

1/2 cup Sugar

2 Tablespoons vanilla

4 Egg Whites (or 2 Large Eggs)

(mix in a medium-sized bowl then add to the large bowl and mix all together)

almost 1 cup Peanut Butter - maybe more (depends on your taste preference, but if you put in too much the dough gets crumbly and very stiff) (I added it in gradually - the dough will start to get stiff anyways) (I used organic - the kind you don't have to stir)

Bake at 160 degrees Celsius

Drop a couple teaspoon sizes or a tablespoon size dough ball on the pan and flatten slightly. (The cookie/biscuit will not change shape or size when it cooks. - It cooks better, perhaps even faster when you flatten the dough ball slightly.)

They were in the oven for at least five minutes, but I honestly have no idea long they were in, I did not keep track of the time. I'm pretty certain that it was more than five minutes. But I just checked them constantly and when the top of a cookie/biscuit was slightly hard, I pulled them out and waited for them to cool slightly (like a minute or two) then put them on plate and dished up the next batch!


History Facts:
Did you know that Shortbread cookies evolved in Scotland in the the 12th century? So it MAY have existed in the Middle Ages when they called them "biscuit bread," beacuse biscuits were made from left over bread dough. In fact, the whole British Isles took on this practice.

Regardless, the more modern shorbread biscuits were more familiar in the 16th century after sugar was added to sweeten it and when it was more expensive to make (because they added butter to leaven it). So it was made on special occasions, especially for ordinary people. It was a luxury for weddings and Christmas and Hogmonay (Scottish New Year's Eve).

The large amount of butter is what makes shortbread short: the term "short," when applied to biscuits and pastry, means crumbly, like "shortcrust" pastry should be. It is the reason why the fat added to biscuits and pastries is called "shortening."

Shortbread was classified as a bread by bakers to avoid paying the tax placed on biscuits.

Interesting Facts:
January 6th of each year is National Shorbread Day.

Shortbread is made from flour, butter and sugar (though it can be made with a variety of flavours of choice).

Don't be surprised if you read some of my characters eating Shortbread on the holidays! ;)





Resources:
http://britishfoodhistory.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/shortbread/

http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/Scottish-Shortbread/

http://www.ehow.com/about_4688387_shortbread.html

http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Shortbread.aspx

Getting Your Heart Rate Up

Bob Harper knows what he's talking about. He gives me "The Skinny Rules Newsletter," in my email.

Here's what he said:

Today's Daily Tip The more lean muscle you have, the more calories you burn. So get familiar with your dumbbells because they are your ticket to burning calories!

Incorporate Weights Many misconceptions about working out revolve around lifting weights. Most often I hear people say that they don’t have time to fit in cardio and weights - weight training is cardio! Cardio isn't just limited to running. Any exercise that makes your heart pump is cardio! Your heart is working like crazy when you are lifting because your entire body is engaged! Strengthening your muscles requires tons of energy - burning calories. All it takes are some simple hands weights or even a kettlebell to get the job done, so anyone can do it! Try a cardio workout that incorporates weights, such as my Kettlebell Cardio Shred DVD, and make the most of your workouts!

So how will you get your heart rate up?

Push-ups?

50 Fast Squats (tapping the floor with your hands)?

Mountain Climbers?

Kickboxing?

KettleBells Swings?

Variations of the Plank?

Variations of Push-ups?

Barbell Squats?

Weighted Lunges?

What will you do?

What will I do?

For starters...

Push-ups (military style, scorpion, crow, close-grip, wide-gripe, pike and possibly some others that I can't currently think of...)

Fast Squats, tapping the floor with my hand (about 50)

I will definitely do more than just that, I mean seriously I'm aiming for at least an hour long workout here!

And if I don't have time then a half hour or SOMETHING!

So, go knock yourself out! Not literally! But push yourself to the limit. Push yourself till you can't do any more! That's where you'll see improvement!

And I need to seriously take my own advice and DO IT! I know what I need to do, so what's postponing me?

What's postponing you?

My Thin Buckwheat Pancakes

I wanted pancakes, so I made some for lunch. They were gluten free, corn free, dairy free, potato free and soy free.

I've been researching a TON of recipes for gluten, corn, soy, egg, dairy, and/or potato free. Because my body can't handle those things everyday, so I wanted to find recipes for almost any day.

(Plus I'm on a four-day food rotation, which means I can eat certain foods for 24 hours, and then avoid them for 72 hours - which is very hard to do if you like to cook and eat, like me. Am I alone?)

Anyways, I followed this one recipe that's basically the world's simplest pancake recipe with smallest call for ingredients I've ever seen. This is this person's recipe:
1 egg
1/2 pint milk
4 oz flour

That's it.
That's all the recipe had.

I was like perfect!
Oh and it said this recipe works with ANY flour.
Even more perfect!

Now I grew up with these amazing pancakes my mum made. They had vanilla and might have mashed bananas or apples in the mix. And they were fluffy to somewhat fluffy. (Like 2-3x more thicker than this person's simplest pancake recipe, because they looked very thin in their picture.)

So I made some changes to the recipe and I think it's safe to call it MY recipe, because this is what I did:

2 egg whites (I used egg white powder mixed with water...)
almost 1/2 pint Buckwheat flour
about 1/16 pint Amaranth flour
3-4 teaspoons vanilla extract (I'm guessing that's how much I used...because I just dumped.)
1-2 teaspoons baking powder (maybe even three...I once again just dumped)
3-5 Tablespoons Light Brown Sugar (packed) (I'm guessing, because I just dumped)
Milk (I just poured Vanilla Rice Milk till I liked the thinness/thickness of the batter)


They actually tasted quite good and very healthy. (I would say they tasted more like wheat than all-purpose flour, but if you know what buckwheat tastes like, then they definitely tasted like buckwheat. They taste fine without sugar, but if you're used to more of a regular pancake than you'll want some sugar or something to sweeten it up.)

Because at first there was no sugar or baking powder and boy were they thin and bland. Then I added some baking powder (I have no idea how much, I just dropped some on, guessing it to be on its way to a teaspoon). They then had ever so slightly more thickness, so I added more....and later some more, as well as sugar.)

I basically got to this recipe with gradual experimentation, adding ingredients in tiny bit by tiny bit.
I mean isn't that how they did it back in the old days? (Like, I'm thinking 16th, 17th, and 18th century, but surely even before that, but the late 17th to early 18th century is basically when my books are set in.) A time when did they not dump and guess and experiment with their ingredients?



At any rate, I forgot to take a picture, but this is about what they looked like...

Even my sister said that they tasted somewhat good, which is actually quite hard to get her to agree to like anything I make that's not made with all-purpose flour with gluten in it.

So I'm getting somewhere in the area of knowing what she likes. What her tastebuds like. ;)

Tom Has Some Fighting Fun

I'm just going to go straight into the scene...

    The crowd cheered and cringed when Tom tried to avoid the punch from a tall man, but it caught him in the cheek and he staggered backwards.
     Tom caught his balance, wiped slobber from his chin, and turned around with a grin. He brought his clenched fists up toward his opponent in ready position.
      They side-stepped in the circle that was created by the bystanders. Tom stepped forward to throw a cross punch, but missed and got pounded in the back.
     The crowd caught his upper body, but not his lower body.
     To his right he noticed a girl he knew in the front of the mix right next to him.
     She laughed, as he got up.  
     "Tom!" a male voice yelled from somewhere in the noisy pub.
      Tom smiled at her. She was an attractive girl in too small of a dress.
      She put her hand on his sweaty shoulders beaming up at him. He gave her a kiss. The crowd laughed and he turned around to face his opponent with a smirk.
      "I'll give you some more later!" she yelled.
      Tom and his opponent got their hands up toward each other. Tom threw a punch at the challenger's hands, locked one of his competitor's arms with his elbow - so it was out of his way, - and gave his opponent some uppercuts in the ribs.
      His rival groaned and pushed him away. Tom swaggered to the edge of the circle, preventing himself from falling. He turned around to see the brute's fists up and ready, so he did the same.
      He walked to him, quickly brought his fists down into his opponent's fists and then put his fisted hands next to each other to throw a double-fisted punch into the man's face.
     The chap's head jerked back, but both of their fists were up and ready again. They stared at each other.
      "Tom!" a male voice carried loudly across the room.
      Tom looked and was immediately landed with a heavy punch that knocked him flat on his back.

...The Legend.

Alex, Marty, and Jane are in the one-room home of an old man they have never met before, sitting in chairs facing the old man with a cup of tea Jane tried to warn them not to drink out of...


     He looked up at them suddenly, meeting each of their eyes. "There is a legend you must know."
     They narrowed their eyes at him.
     "In Naples, Italy, during the last years of King Henry VII, a notorious pirate was trying to hide all of his treasure from his enemies, during a war. He hid the treasures on three different islands for his three complicated and selfish daughters. They were about your age, between sixteen and eighteen."
      "I'm nineteen," Jane snapped. "Those two are eighteen." She pointed at Alex and Marty. How dare he accuse them of being selfish and complicated?
       "Ah, well, you're all so young and pretty, anyone could make that mistake, eh?" He smiled warmly.
       They blushed.
      "Now, where was I?"
      "He had three selfish daughters..." said Marty.
      "Oh yes! But he loved them very much. As a result, he used one island for each girl, well one treasure pile for each girl. However, when his daughters started falling in love with men from Greece, Venice, and Algiers, they started to...not get along and refusing to see each other. So, he decided to go with his original plan of using this one uncharted island to put their ultimate treasure on, in hopes that they would find it together. Unfortunately, they all died before seeing the treasure."
        "Oh. Sad," said Alex seemingly deeply moved by the story. "Did his daughters even know about the three islands?"
       "Oh no! He told them nothing until he gifted each of them with a gem that he had made special for them. And even then he was discrete about it, because he did not want anyone else to find the treasures. But yes, they did find the islands."
       "So did his daughters find their treasure?" asked Marty.
         "No."
        "How do you know all this?" Jane asked suspiciously. "And how do we know this is not just some old-wise story?"
        "Let's just say that, I and some friends of mine have been around long enough to learn from some people that lived during the right time. And it is a true legend to be certain."
       "Oh, right..." said Jane with distrust.
       "Did...Did you find the treasure," asked Alex. "You and your friends, I mean?"
      "No." He got up and started hobbling across the room to his bed.
       "Has anyone found it...the treasure." asked Marty.
       "No one has found their treasure." Stopping before his bed and the barrel he picked something up.
      "Why not?" asked Jane. 'The islands are charted are they not?"
        "Because I only have seen a third of the map."
      "You mean the map is not all in one piece?" asked Alex.
     "Aye. There may be one more or two more pieces to the map."
      "Do you have part of the map?" asked Marty.
        "No. And no one has been fortunate enough to maneuver the islands safely. Even with the letters."
       "The letters?" asked Marty. "Where are they? What can they do?"
        He turned around holding a book. "I have found most of them."
       "So...where are the islands then?" asked Jane watching him hobble back.
       "You need the..."
       "The what?" asked Marty.
       "I am certain that you will figure it out. By the way, follow it," said he offering Jane the book of all the books. The Bible.
       "Me?" asked Jane, setting her cup on the ground next to her and taking the book."
        "All three of you."
        "This book?" Marty looked up from staring at the book.
       "But it's a Bible," said Alex.
       He chuckled. "I am pleased you girls know of the Book."
        "What are we to do with it? It's naught but words of randomness," said Jane, handing him back the book. "How is it a..."
        "A key?" he suggested.
       "Yes," they said not in unison.
       "Indeed. This is a key." He handed it back to Jane.
        They gave him a quizzical look.
        "Those random words have clues. They have answers," he said the last sentence with big eyes.
       "How do you know? You have not even found their treasure yourself," Jane stated.
      

Re-created parson's softcover Holy Bible from the 17th century

...The Old Man With...

Do you remember when Jane, Alex, and Marty were walking along the street in one of my previous blogs "Jane, Alex, Marty, and..." (here's its link...http://hannahlorenz.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/jane-alex-marty-and.html )
They bumped into an old man trying to convince them to come with him. And he spoke of destiny. Whatever is he talking about? Who does he think he is? What importance does he play in their life? Why?

Well, here's the what happened next...



      He paused and looked back at them. "Someone very trustworthy, I assure you. Now come! We must waste no more time." He limped away.
      Marty looked at Jane and Alex murmuring, "Why not?"
      "Are you mad?" hissed Jane. "This is a trick! He's probably going to poison us for being rich and steal our money."
      Marty ignored Jane and smiled sweetly, saying to the man, "Ok. We will come."
     "But we're not," whispered Alex - mostly to Jane - received a surprised look from Marty. "I mean we don't have any money on us."
     "Oh!" whispered Marty following the man, as he said that it was not too far. Alex followed. Jane gaped, rolled her eyes and trailed behind.
     After passing some buildings, stores, people, carriages, horses, carts and wagons, the short, balding man entered a small, run-down cottage. Stepping inside, their eyes straightaway noticed a table in the middle of the room. But, immediately Jane, Alexandra, and Martha were drawn to the light coming from their right,where they saw a little fireplace burning with a small fire. By it were four chairs.
     "Come, sit down. I tell you what I hear." He went to the fire place, pulling out a pot and setting it on the table.
      Marty was the first to obey, however Alex and Jane stopped, hesitating. Marty paused to look at them, wondering why they weren't proceeding. Perhaps she had missed something that she should have taken note of. For she now felt rather naive, but could not figure out why they were being so cautious. The old man seemed nice enough.
     Alex was staring at the three chairs that faced the one chair, making a semi-circle. Was he expecting them? She wondered.
     Lurking in the left corner of the cottage was a small flame burning on a candle. It sat on a barrel with an opened, old-looking book. Next to the barrel against the left wall, she noticed a bed with something black in the middle of it, breathing. She blinked a couple of times. Her eyes adjusted to see a black cat sleeping peacefully.
     Jane and Alex would have turned and run away, but were drawn to the man by curiousity as to what he was going to tell them. So, they followed Marty farther into the room to the chairs and sat down. Jane set the bundle of clothes in her lap and her hands sat on top.
     He poured some steaming liquid into two cups. "Care, for some tea?" asked he, handing Jane and Alex a cup.
     They accepted daring glances at each other.
     Jane mouthed to Alex and Marty, shaking her head, "Don't drink it."
     "It's going to be a beautiful day," said he nonchalantly.
      Marty and Alex mouthed in unison the word "What?" at Jane.
      "I hate to bring you ladies inside, but your..."
       Jane tried pointing to her cup, Alex and Marty nodded their heads while mouthing, "Yes." Jane then began shaking her hand above the cup, mouthing, "Don't drin-" she stopped abruptly when he turned around with two more cups.
      He handed one to Marty, saying, "...someone must know..."
      And once he seated himself with the steaming cups in hand, he looked downward for a long time. They glanced at each other with puzzlement, holding their warm and steaming cups.
     He looked up at them suddenly, meeting each of their eyes. "There is a legend you must know."
      They narrowed their eyes at him.

I think that's enough for today, eh?
The legend you will find out in a blog yet to come! ;)

Earl Basil McLovel of Ogle (a supporting character)

If you're a Pride and Prejudice fan, then I must confess, he is like Mr. Darcy in wealth...almost.

Miss Alexandra finds him to be the perfect match for herself...he's kind, understanding, easy to talk to and get along with, a nobleman and rich (that's what her family wants)...

Earl Basil, at age 24, is tall (6'4") with straight, very dark brown hair and dark brown eyes to match.

He has a house in London. He's also 2nd Baron of Barnard.

He grew up in a privileged home.

He is very good-natured, charming, modest, respectable and pleasing manners.

He wants what is best for his family. He is single, but (like Mr. Darcy) he takes care of his younger sister.

Favorite phrase:

"By Jove..."

Normally I would put bits o' conversation that he partakes in, but I mostly have pieces of conversations about him, so he's not actually present...

Bit o' conversation 'bout 'im:

      "What kind of a name's Ogle?" asked twelve year old, Julie Remmington.

      "It's where he's from. It's not his name," said Alexandra.

       "I know," came the rapid answered.

       "What do you care what his name is?" asked Alex.

      "That must be the ugliest town under the heavens," said Julie not hearing her sister.

       "Julie!" Alex gasped with horror.

       "Do you like him, Alex? Do you think you will marry Ogle?"

      "It's McLovel. And I'm not answering any more of your silly questions. Go get some fresh air."

        "Yes, like that's going to stop me from asking questions. I will find out eventually, you know," said the younger Remmington, as she left the room.

Bit o' conversation 'bout 'im:

      It was mid-afternoon when Alex walked into the entry hall of her aunt and uncle's grand manor, just as Marty rushed down the stairs to greet her.

      "Who was that?" asked Marty.

      "That was Lord McLovel," said she.

      "Was he handsome?"

      "Many say he is," said Alex, as a maid approached her.

        "I mean for you?" Marty tilted her head.

        Alex hesitantly answered, narrowing her eyes, "Yes...?"

        "All right, so you are not sure yet. That's okay. Next question, was he agreeable?"

        "He was in no way disagreeable," said Alex, allowing the maid to help her take off her coat, hat, and gloves.

       "Good! Was he a man of information?"

       "Why do you want to know if he's a man of information?"

       "Why not? It seems like a good quaility to have."

       "Well, then in that case, all his statements seem correct."

       "And was he a man to your liking?" asked Marty, as the maid walked away with Alex's outer wear.

       Alex stopped herself from taking a step forward to meet Marty's intent look. She realized she did like him. She wasn't sure if it was the beginnings of love or not, but she admired him greatly at least.

         She answered, "I do."

        Marty could not conceal her pleasure. "Oh, Alex! I am so happy for you!"

     

Miss Julie Remmington is twelve years old and pretty tall for her age. She looks like a younger version of her sister, Jane. She has a mop of blond hair and a pair of hazel eyes. She looks angelic but is known to throw temper-tantrums from time to time.

Therefore, she is in the midst of coming out of childish things and becoming a young woman.

She is very outspoken and bold. She is headstrong, a little snobbish, frivolous and silly. She treats acquaintances in general with inattention and sometimes contempt, recoiling from vulgarity, even when it is accompanied by good nature. She treats selfish and snobbish people with disgust. She totally ignores grave people and makes no attempt at civility to insipid people, however the people she does love, she loves with warmth and leaps over all barriers - even the barriers of propriety.

Her sorrows, joys, antipathy and love all have no moderation.