Kristen Anselmo: Disappointed

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Disappointed

My goal was to read 52 novels in 2009. I only read 31. I will have to do better next year.

2 comments:

Lisa said...: I'm amazed at the 31 one novels read. Congrats and feel free to pass on reccommendations.

As for hitting 52, you may want to switch to YA novels (AKA Judy Blume and any other slim, quick read). There may be 52 books in the Babysitter's Club series if you are looking to breeze through a stack.

However, something tells me, you're a gal who likes a little more meat in her books. I currently reading Kingsolver's Lacuna, Hunger Games, and a biography of Ben Franklin and loving them all. The Help was also a thick, but quick read I recently enjoyed--as if you need more titles on your list of books to read.

Good luck in 2010!; December 28, 2009 at 6:12 AM
Wife and Mother said...: Make it 32. I just read a short Christmas story last night.

Some of the books took forever. Mysteries of Udolpho and Camilla were absolute marathons.

I loved your idea about 'cheating' with a lot of slim YA novels but I would probably have to off myself if I read 52 BSC books in a row. I doubt I could read one.

However, if we're talking Nancy Drew - well...now that is another story.

I'll have to check out some of your suggestions for other reads. I think I will try to do forty this year and see if I can accomplish the lower but still ambitious number.; December 28, 2009 at 4:44 PM

Where Are They?

Emmeline Revisited

The secretly unacknowledged niece of a wealthy American family, Emmeline, is raised out of the spotlight, in a small town in Baja California. She is content with her limited existence and as an autodidact, she enhances any educational opportunity that she can.

This all changes when her uncle chooses to visit her home and change the course of her life. Can Emmeline survive the machinations of her uncle or the pressures of her cousin? And if she is thrust upon the real world, what kind of person will Emmeline choose to be?

A modern adaptation of the the classic Emmeline, The Orphan of the Castle by Charlotte Smith.

Page Count: 102 (double space)
Word Count: 29,053
Status: Summarized. Narrative in process.

Amelia Rider
Amelia Rider, Edward Tennelin, Finley Abrielle

Young Amelia is taken abroad by her father to recover from her mother's death.

While in Italy, they meet a young man who accompanies them on some of their sightseeing adventures. Things are definitely looking up for a grieving Amelia.

While traversing the foreign shores, tragedy strikes and Amelia is thrust into a new world, filled with sorrow, struggle, and strength. Will Amelia survive the adventures that are thrown at her? If she does, will there be anything left of her to live again?

A modern adaptation of The Mysteries of Udolpho, sans the mysteries.

Page Count: 275 (double space)
Word Count: 75,348
Status: Third draft edited. A short section submitted for review.

Princess Azalea
Princess Azalea Bubblederry, Prince Ferdinand Alabella, and Auntie Petunia Periwinkle

Every marriage is a fairytale and then you see the balance sheet. What does a princess do when the castle is mortgaged, her husband enjoys expensive troll-hunting expeditions, and there is no retirement account (because Princes and Princesses don't age)? Oh yeah, and just who is going to clean those 17 bathrooms? A modern day fairytale about marriage and budgeting.

Page Count: 2
Word Count: 669
Status: Summarized. Need to write the narrative.

The Last Dance
Sean and Susie

She's lost her husband and children. His wife left him and the children behind. Who will they save their last dance for?

Page Count: 60 (single space)
Word Count: 31, 985
Status: First draft edited. Sitting happily on the shelf. Finished for now.

Emberlin, A Heavenly Adventure
(formerly known as Heroine in Paradse and DIAC)
Emberlin, Alexander, Neville, and Sebastian

In the words of Benjamin Franklin, "A man is not completely born until he is dead."

Emberlin Avery, bright, athletic and filled with all the potential of youth, looks upon her own empty body, a separation created by her recent, unfortunate, and untimely death and wonders, "Does anyone choose to die?"

Understanding that she is dead, but not understanding what death is, Emberlin leaves her body and ascends to Paradise Holding, a place where, even in death, adventures may be had, sorrows may come, and surprises may delight. Learning to live, even if one is dead, may be the hardest thing she will have to do in her life.

Page Count: 406 ( double space)
Word Count: 106,712
Status: Published on Amazon Kindle

Kindley's Sorrows
Emmalina Rivelly and Montgomery Kindley

Emmalina Rivelly knows three things.

First, she was raised by wonderful parents.

Second, she was adopted after being found mysteriously wandering near the town of Hallow Valley.

And third, she knows how to keep house and the only open position in town is that of housekeeper to the odd and intimidating Montgomery Kindley.

Will Emmalina choose to return to Hallow Valley to discover her roots? If she does, can she accept who she is?

Page Count: 258 (double space)
Word Count: 68,708
Status: Working on some re-edits of one character's storyline.

The Uniqueness Within
Abigail, Julianna, William, and Christopher

Set in Windsor, Connecticut from 1696 to 1698, shy, unassuming Abigail must find the courage to step into the woman she was always meant to be.

Page Count: 165 (single space)
Word Count: 87,790
Status: Revisions need to be redone, specifically to three characters. Waiting for inclination.

Island Hopping

After a plane crash on a remote island, the surviving members of a documentary crew spar. Rape and murder change three lives forever. Will redemption ever be possible?

Page Count: 3 (single space)
Word Count: 1,562
Status: Summarized. Narrative needs to be written.

Where Are The Shorts?

Domino, a Novella

After exchanging love letters with the shy bartender, through her new friend, Amaryllis, Ashley follows her friend's advice and marries him.

James married the girl that his mother asked him to, for the sake of a legal issue.

Too bad they married each other, both under mistaken understandings. And, to make matters more complicated, the person who orchestrated the union, has mysteriously disappeared.

Will Ashley and James come together to unravel hurt feelings, confusion, and the legal wrangling that comes with divorce?

61 Single Space Pages - 18,861 Words

Published on Amazon Kindle

Thistle and Brexten (A Fairly Dark Short Story)

Thistle is hiding in the cupboard in the castle kitchen, waiting for the siege to end.

Brexten, part of the siege, discovers her.

Please, she whispers. One tiny word.

Will it be enough to spare her life? Will she want him to?

10 Pages - 4,402 Words

The Blind Prince (Part One - The Four Princes Series)

The Blind Prince is a fairy tale about a young, handsome prince, who spends a little too much time thinking about looks.

When he mistakes a sorceress for an ugly girl and rejects her, he is cursed to be blind to any young female that does not possess a pure heart.

Without the benefit of full sight, will he learn to find his way?

19 Pages - 8,403 Words

The Porcine Prince (Part Two - The Four Princes

Series)

The Porcine Prince is a fairy tale about a young prince who made a tiny mistake at a ball. He ruined the dress of an undercover sorceress who decides to teach him a lesson about manners by turning him into a warthog.

Will the snouty prince find someone to see beyond the exterior and break the curse? And if he does, will he choose to use kindness in return?

21 Pages - 5,877 Words

The Seafaring Prince (Part Three - The Four Princes Series)

The Dragon Prince (Part Four - The Four Princes Series)

Fenton and Belina
Fenton, Belina, Oliver, Spencer, and Valerie

What if you were allowed to return, once a year, to your home and loved one? What if you witnessed those that have gone on beyond, in your home?

Words:1,035
Pages: 6 (double spaced)
Edited and Filed

Naughty Neville
Neville and Halloween Creatures

Naughty Neville is an inappropriate children's story about a little boy who delights in making mischief all night long on Halloween. Naughty Neville wreaks havoc and gets away with it...or does he?

This is a completely irresponsible and delicious read, if you have a twisted sense of humor like me and my tribe of sons.

Chapters: Eleven
Pages: 16, illustrated with clip art
Edited and Filed

Heartfelt
Julia and Finley

What if your heart could literally be ripped out and broken?

Words: 4,688
Pages: 9 single space
About to be edited

Grimmton: A Repulsive Halloween Tale
Phineas, Quimby, and Emerald

Seeing someone take their little sister, Emerald, two brothers, Phineas and Quimby, embark on a daring and dangerous rescue to the town of Grimmton to try to rescue their little jewel.

Grimmton is a town inhabited by vile, reprehensible creatures. Will the three innocent children live to tell the tale? No.

Words: 6,116
Pages: 17 single space
Edited and filed
*alternate shorter version exists
Edited and Filed

Here: A Conversation
Man and Woman - no names
Words: 1,092
Pages:2 single space script
Edited and filed

A Novel Existence: A Ghost Story
Liliana, Branden, Felicity, Ellie, and Charlie

Liliana is head over heels in love with Branden, who is smart and good looking.

The problem?

Branden is a living, breathing person. And Liliana is, well, technically not.

Can a ghost hunter and a ghost find true love?

Words:4,424
Pages: 11 single space
Edited and filed

Kristen Anselmo

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Disappointed

2 comments:

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