The Vatican Book Two - Secondary Recruitment

I haven't blogged much about the second book in my series, but I've finished it and moved onto the third in the series. Although I haven't edited it yet. I'm looking forward to being able to bring this series to people and have their feedback.

This book brings in more bad guys for Rhiane to deal with while testing her inner strength and whit. I actually loved writing this edition (as I did with the first one) and can't wait to keep writing the third.

I'm also currently looking into alternative publishing means such as publishing through Amazon. I'm still trying the traditional method however. I just want to find the best option for me.

Hope y'all are enjoying your lives XD

Marvel VS DC (Movies)

I love all the superhero movies which have been coming out in the last few years and there is, of course, two title holders in this fight. DC comics with Superman and Batman, and Marvel with characters like Ironman, Thor and Captain America.
Normally I wouldn't bother trying to compare two companies like these, but I'm far too tempted not to.
It just seems that DC has a better artistic touch with their movies. Although, I do think that Christopher Nolan has a huge impact on that. Anything he touches seems to turn to gold, and he's put his bat in with DC.
Don't get me wrong though, I love the Marvel movies too, especially when they're all put in a group to form The Avengers. The dynamic between the characters is impossible not to laugh at and truly enjoy.
What's sparked this out of the blue post is that I watched Man of Steel last night. It was a good movie, if not a bit long in the final action scene. I enjoyed it none the less. What I did take note of however, was the personal touches that it had that Marvel seems to lack a little. The filmography was done with people in mind. Simple shots of a dogs face or rain filling up a bucket of pegs.
Being a writer, I knew immediately that they were trying to endear the character and situation to the viewer, but IT WORKED.
The muscle bound figure of Henry Cavill suddenly seemed soft, warm and homely. The character of tough as boots Superman was given a soft, family orientated side. Maybe it's just because I'm a girl, but I thought the effect was brilliant to add to a story everyone knows. It's moments like that when I think that Marvel needs to pick up the ball without dodging it. Emotion is a human condition. It's what it means to be alive, so sometimes a simple action flick isn't enough. Sure, it'll make money, but it won't make loyalty, and if you're trying to do what Marvel is doing, you need loyalty.

Savages

Savages, directed by Olivier Stone, staring Blake Lively, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Taylor Kitsch, John Travolta and Salma Hayek, was actually a better movie than I'd expected it was going to be. Admittedly I didn't know much about it before I watched it, I'd only heard of it once on an interview I happened to see with John Travolta. The trailer made it look like an alright movie, but I was skeptical about what sort of quality it was going to be. As a writer I tend to pick up on things in a story line which are lacking, or in this case, done quite well.

This has to be one of the first depictions that I've seen which showed a working polyamorous relationship, which wasn't a negative aspect of the plot. It bugs me somewhat that polyamory is generally shown in such a way which is negatively connotative. Where it's not a huge deal to me personally, I know others who have been in polyamorous relationships, and they don't always have to be bad things. For me, a prejudice against it is the same as any other prejudice. It would be in the same category as homophobia to me. The fact that it's shown in a way within this movie which is healthy and conducive to positivism, made this movie easier to watch, and gave it some intrigue as well.

I thought the writing and execution was very well done. The plot was engaging, and the back-story was deep enough that it was interesting, but not so deep that it took away from the current story being told. I also thought the casting was particularly well done. Every role was played amazingly and very believably. There are other things which I enjoyed about this film, but a lot of them are very specific, and I wouldn't want to ruin it for anyone. I would, however, like to encourage more people to see it. It's full of action and is fast paced, but it also has the romantic side to the story which helps to balance it. I thought it was a well rounded film that gave just the right amount of every piece of information.

Lawless

Two nights ago I watched John Hillcoat's 'Lawless'. I loved this movie. It is a bit on the gory side, so if you don't like blood, maybe it's not for you. This movie truly wasn't what i was expecting. I was on the edge of my seat most of the movie, waiting to know what happened next.
The story revolves around the three Bondurant brothers back in the prohibition era of the United States. It's all about their struggle trying to make ends meet through Moon Shine.

Shia LeBeouf plays the main character in this film. His portrayal of Jack Bondurant showed real talent. I was really impressed. He gave the piece a believability, and produced an affection for the characters. He made me really want the bootleggers to succeed.

This is yet another movie where Tom Hardy played his role exceptionally. It seems that every movie I watch with him in, his voice changes. He puts on so many different accents that I'm actually not sure what his real voice sounds like. He plays every role I've seen with a dedication and skill which is hard to find. I really am a huge fan now. Just like Shia LeBeouf, he also added and endearing quality to his role.

Over all, I quite enjoyed this movie. The soundtrack was good, the direction brilliant and the acting was outstanding, from all those involved. I'd watch this movie again if I could and would love to own it rather than just renting it. It's a good watch for anyone who likes a bit of action.

Second Day, Second Year

Year two of my university has come around and I have to say I'm excited. I'm taking courses which I actually want to take, rather than having to, and I'm actually going to be able to let my creativity run away with itself every now and again.

At the end of high school the concept of uni was petrifying to me. I had people believing I was excited, and I was, but those who knew me also knew the fear that was putting holes in my self esteem when it came to academics. If it hadn't been for my family and friends, I wouldn't of moved onto university.
The reason I'm saying this now is due to an epiphany I had only a few hours ago. Schooling, at all levels, is not simply a process between teacher and student. We need to support our children in all their endeavors. Young people need to be reminded constantly that they are capable of doing whatever they dream.
I avoided Chemistry because I talked myself out of it. It is one hundred percent my fault that I didn't do it, but I think the role of the teacher is not only to share knowledge. Our teaches need to tell our kids not only how they can improve, but what they're good at and what they've already improved on. If I'd had an unbiased eye about my marks in chemistry, then I wouldn't of had any doubt about my abilities.

I think it's extremely important to get our young members of society into universities, or some form of education after high school. Uni is not only a growth of knowledge, but it helps to form you into who you'll be. The experience of tertiary study gives a confidence which is hard to explain, and I believe, it sets a person up for life. 

Number Two

While I'm still in the editing stages of my first 'Vatican' book, the second in the series is starting to take some sort of form. I've been writing my ass off, and my summer holidays have allowed me to get an average of five pages done per day. That's even taking into account the odd day where I'm unable to fit writing into my day.
The second book develops the tale of the two sisters, Rhiane and Abigail. The younger of the two, Abigail, plays a greater part in this book compared to the first book, and her character is developed into a more solid entity. The trials of the girls continue with a new list of friends and foes added into the fold.
Relationships across the board reach greater depths and new understandings. Rhiane's workmates become people with history and stories of their own to tell. Their histories are worked into the second book, at times in very emotional ways. Where the first book explains some of what the main men went through, the second book will delve deep into their mental states.
I'm still working on an appropriate title for the second book in this series, but while I'm working on the skeleton of the second book, here's another snippet of the first installment. In a previous post I promised a snippet from the thirteenth chapter, so now I'm delivering on that promise.

“Get your questions out of the way quick so I can give you some morphine.” He said and Anton grabbed a chair, pulling it closer to the bed.

“Barney thought you were dead, what happened?” I asked with my voice slightly squeaky. I was so happy to see him.

“I was knocked unconscious. They’d called a med team before they left to get help. If they hadn’t made that call, I’d be dead, but if they hadn’t left, Zeb, Cass and Tech would be dead.” He said and his smile had something hidden in it.

“What else is there?” I asked and he looked down, away from me.

“You almost died. Literally, your heart stopped twice. There was so much internal bleeding. We all thought we’d gotten you killed.” He said and I just lay there for a moment and looked at him.

“It’s something that comes with the job. When I agreed to take the job, I knew what I was getting into, I knew I could have near death experiences, or even get killed.” I replied and he looked up at me and shook his head.

As always the copyright belongs to me. I hope you enjoyed this brief extract. 

First Draft... Done!

I am happy to announce that on sunday I finished the first draft of 'The Vatican'. It currently sits at 63,744 words before editing. I need to do some extensive work on editing to make sure my grammar and spelling is as accurate as possible and there are some scenes I want to add in.
Once I've finished my personal editing, I'll be handing it to a good friend for her to look over. She'll pick out anything I've missed and give me some critiques. After all that, I'll be submitting it to publishers. Within the year I'll be going through the motions of getting my book submitted to publishers, and hopefully have it on shelves soon.
When I've got another step completed, I'll do another update. For now I'm off to do some more editing. 

The Dark Night Rises

When on holiday with my dad, one of the movies we rented was 'The Dark Knight Rises' starring Christian Bale and directed by Christopher Nolan. I've loved the combination of these two people with their take of the Batman story. My opinion, for this movie, is that it's the best out of the three. It was well written, equally as well directed and the acting was top quality. I don't have any criticism of this movie.
The casting was brilliant. Tom Hardy played Bane and the justice he did to the character was amazing. I applaud his performance. I really think he's someone to be watched over the next few years. He could develop into a really brilliant actor, he's well on his way.
This is also one of the only movies I've seen with Anne Hathaway where she didn't annoy me. Usually she gets on my nerves, but in this, I thought she really did well. Her performance in this film proved my perception of her wrong.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt also played his role with skill. I remember him first from his role in'Third Rock from the Sun' then for his part in '500 Days of Summer' and later 'Inception'. A good friend of mine also has a huge celeb crush on him, so he's impossible for me to forget. His interpretation of his character in Batman has made him stand out even more to me.
And, as always, Christian Bale took the role of Batman and Bruce Wane to unbelievable heights. His skill in this role always amazes me.
I give this movie the highest rating. I loved it. If you haven't seen it, then I recommend you do. 

It's Chritmas Time

Merry Christmas everyone. I hope everyone's holidays go to plan and something wonderful happens over this time of celebration. 

Rampart

This movie was not one which I would have chosen myself, but when my parents brought it home from the video store, I figured that I may as well give it a go. Woody Harrelson plays the main character and does the role well, but that has to be my only praise for this film. I struggled to watch it the whole way through. It was dull, the direction was strange and the plot didn't seem to go anywhere.
When it first came out I heard a lot of praise for the movie, but I personally don't understand that. Perhaps it would be a better watch for people who remember the rampart scandals of the late nineties. It works well with that context, but I know very little about it. I was only just starting school when the scandals arose, so my interest in world news was non-existent.
For me, this is one of the few movies that I wouldn't give another shot. I found it boring and completely uninteresting. I'd like to have something great to say about it, but I'm struggling to see any greatness in it. I would like to applaud Harrelson for taking on the role however. It was a big commitment to make and he did it so very well.

Shinedown

I've known of Shinedown for a couple of years now. I first heard their music on a compilation album which I was given for christmas a while ago. About six months ago, I got more of their music, but it's only been in the last two weeks or so that I started to listen to it.
I'm quickly beginning to realise that I really enjoy their sound. The leading singers voice has a certain quality. My mum and I have had many a conversation about this. Singers such as Scott Stapp from Creed, Chris Cornell from Audioslave, J.D. Fortune from the show Rock Star INXS, M. Shadows from Avenged Sevenfold and so on, have this quality. It's like they're crying their emotions out through their song. It adds a depth to the listening experience. It's also a quality which is almost solely masculine. Very few women have it, unfortunately.
Shinedown for me, is becoming music which I will purposefully listen to, instead of letting it simply just play whatever. They're definitely rock, which I love, but they're not so heavy that they become overbearing. So far I haven't had to avoid them because of my mood, which I have to do with other music.
If you haven't heard of them yet, and like a bit of rock, I'd say that it'd be worth giving them a listening to.

One left

With only one exam left for the year, everything is coming to a close for me.
I don't have any more lectures, friends hanging around the city or reason to keep bussing in, yet, I wish it hadn't gone so fast.
Before starting university this year, before leaving high school, I was terrified. The unknown scares me immensely.
Now that I've done it, I don't know why I was so worried. Sure, there where some trials along the way. I've lost touch with a lot of people I consider friends and I miss them. I've met new people, gone out on the town partying for the first time, and learnt what life outside of my once small world was like. The culture shock had been massive, yet I wouldn't change a thing. I like things how they are. I care about the people I've got to know. I enjoy the social group I've formed.
Regrets would be futile. That's what this post is aimed to say. There are things that could have gone differently, or I could have handled differently, but mourning that would not do anyone any good.
Live life for today, for now, and for yourself. Planning for the future is great but living within it is useless.

Rock of Ages - Movie

So apparently Tom Cruise can sing...

I first heard of this movie while on a date. I immediately wanted to see it. I had no idea what it was about or who was in it, but 'Rock of Ages' by Def Leopard is one of my all time favourite songs.
Unfortunately the guy didn't work out, but seeing the movie did.

Last week my family and I managed to rent this movie from the DVD store. Watching it on a rainy day while eating junk food and singing along to every song.

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. I won't give away the plot, but I'd say it would be worth a watch for anyone who enjoys eighties music. I loved it and it set me in high spirits for days. 

Point of View

Recently I've noticed something. My point of view on life can be dependent on the weather, and so can my writing. I tend not to write when I'm in a bad mood because it comes across in the story. The tone of my writing changes. It's something I've been attempting to change, but have not yet had the success I require. A good day translates to decent writing, where a bad day does the opposite.
So I do my best to avoid bad days for my writing's sake, but this isn't really a way to continue. I need to find a way to detach my feelings from what I'm writing. The story requires an emotion of its own, and forcing myself to feel that emotion can be unhealthy, and waiting until I feel that way makes my writing process slow.
I'll let you all know if I make any progress on this front, but for now, I'll continue working how I always have. So far its worked for me, hopefully I'll be able to find another way which works too.
Peace out y'all.

Dedicated

Just a few hours ago I started up a new twitter account dedicated to all my writing. If you're interested for a little more information, check me out at https://twitter.com/AlyssaHillWrite 

Keep being amazing everyone.

Three More Days

Including today, it's only a mere three days until I go on study leave and be done with lectures for the rest of the year. I can't tell you how insane that feels, but it does make me wonder what life will be like next year. I'm changing my course completely, even moving faculties  as I'm finding the art history here far too basic. I'm loosing my passion for it and I can't let that happen.
Wednesdays are my days which I use to tie up any loose ends. For most of the day I'm alone, so I have a lot of time to do nothing much. It's my day to finish any study I should have already done, write blog posts if I feel I have anything to say, and just generally organize things. Sitting downstairs in the business building drinking coffee is pretty much what my day looks like, if you throw the laptop into the mix anyway.
For some reason, today has inspired me to have a look at the year just been and the one that could be coming up. Very soon it will be my little sisters seventeenth birthday and that's made me realize that I don't actually have that much time up my sleeve. Time has passed so quickly.
Maybe it was seeing an ex who I haven't seen in a long time, or noticing the difference in my own attitude which has sparked my inspiration, but whatever it is, I've decided one thing.
I don't want to waste another moment stressing about what others think of me or being too hard on myself. I want to be my own person. I want to live my life the way I deserve to and not feel bad for that. I also want to spread a little advise. It has helped me this year, although I haven't always been good at practicing it.

Take every moment as it comes and live life the way you want to live it, not how someone else convinces you should. 

Of course this advise is relative, I mean, don't go out hurting people because I worded it wrong, but be who you actually are, not who you tell other people you are. 

Sick of Being Slow

With the start of University this year I bought a laptop with some of my loan. It's taken me a while, but I've finally gotten around to getting rid of Internet Explorer and moved onto using Google Chrome. So far, even though it's only been a few days, I like the change. It is mostly because Chrome somewhat resembles the apple browser Safari, which I love. I've tried Safari for windows but didn't enjoy it at all. There's something about the compatibility with the windows operating system which simply isn't as nice when it's on a mac computer. 

Anyway, I've been finding a lot more user friendly browser than explorer. Technically I knew it was going to be better, but I'd never used it before. It's nice and simple to use and everything seems to be in a logical place. I have spoken to a couple of people who prefer explorer, but the majority I've talked to about that topic prefer Chrome. I'm quickly finding that I should have changed sooner. 

To anyone still stuck using Explorer who might be finding it annoying, like I was, and want an easy alternative, I'd recommend giving Chrome a thought. 

Progress

My book I'm currently working on that I've titled 'The Vatican' is coming along nicely. Currently I'm sitting at my desk searching for some inspiration to finish writing chapter 13. So far, even in the planning, it has to be one of my favourites so I want it to be perfect. I've got the word document open on my laptop and am blogging on my desktop.

I am pleased to say that I've reached about a third of the way through story line wise. it's coming together nicely but I'm doing my best not to rush the process. I don't want to ruin the story because I was too eager to get it down.

I'll put a snippet up from this chapter soon. I'm more than excited to be getting to this point. 

It's My Life

Recently I've realised something. No matter how hectic or busy my life becomes, I always make room for music and writing. I've attempted a couple of times to join both interests into lyrics, but I've found I don't have that skill at the moment. Even when my daily life if far from predictable, I will always make at least five minutes to right something and to listen to my music.
Skipping through my ipod selections can sometimes be interesting. Just now it jumped from Avenged Sevenfold to Van Halen then Adele. Many people seem to have more specific tastes, but mine jump around. For example, I can go from listening to Disturbed to Sir Mix-A-Lot. It can be confusing sometimes.
Anyway, I think my rant concerning my music is over. Hope y'all enjoy the rest of your day. I'm off to do something productive.

Road Tripping

Last week, while I was off uni for my mid semester break, my sister, dad and I went road tripping around some of our area. We saw some of the sights that the top of the north island has to offer and I was reminded how beautiful the country I live in is. Along the way I took many pictures t remember the trip by and spent a couple of nights in different motels. seeing sights ranging falling down churches in the middle of nowhere, the oldest church in the country and a tree thought to have been a seedling around the time of christ.

It really is amazing to see what New Zealand has to offer. Although I'd been to most places before, visiting your own backyard is always interesting. I really enjoyed the trip even though it meant spending hours sitting in a car over three days.