My world has crashed.

Something has died inside me. And it hurts. It burns. It's like being hit by a bloody wrecking ball.

I remember something Lalani said to me ages ago, about what could happen. And she was right, about all of it.

I've lost.

I'll come back with more explanations later, I just had to get this off my chest.

The Life and Times of M.O.N.T.E

This entire story is genious. But take an extra look at 2:05 to 2:11. It's wonderful!

(Unfortunately embedding has been disabled, so link is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWCPbsA5VkM (From Big Bang Theory, by the way.)

Halloween at Ikariam!

Remember how Ikariam was decorated for Easter?

They did the same now for Halloween!

^I must say they looked scarier at Easter...

I hope they do the same for Christmas.

First snow of 2010!

Last night I went downstairs for some things, and I looked out the backyard door and saw that it was snowing!

I grabbed hold of the curtains and jumped up and down in glee. Sure, my feet didn't leave the ground, but I was going up and down.

This is what I've been waiting for since it melted away earlier this year! Now, as you miserable folks go into winter depression, watch me come out of my summer depression!

Happy winter, everyone!

Gingerbread!

Was at Europris today, to try to find jumpsuits for some friends of Ann-Marie in Disney World, but instead of jumpsuits I came home with gingerbread! It's a bit too early perhaps, but I just couldn't help myself. When you deny yourself treats all the time, it's wonderful to binge every once in a while. A couple of pieces everyday, I can allow myself that :)

Surprise in the mail!

Guess what delightful little thing I got in the mail yesterday!

This spring there was three books that I raced through, they were so incredibly exciting. Poison Study, Magic Study and Fire Study by Maria Snyder. One of the characters in those books now have their own trilogy, in Storm Glass, Sea Glass and Spy Glass. I've already bought Storm and Sea, but I was anxiously waiting for Spy to be published before I started reading. I bought in on CDON about a week ago, when I found out it cost only 69 NOK, instead of 99 in the book store. And I pre-ordered Big Bang Theory Season 3 at the same time and got to use a discount code for free shipping. So that worked out nicely.

Yesterday I got it. I had been out all day, with Ragnhild, Marion, Heidi, Tine and Karine. So I had no idea it had arrived. But when I came home at 2 am, I saw the package on the kitchen table!

So now the trilogy is complete, and I can't wait to read it. Though I think I may wait a little while to start. I've already started reading Spirit Gate by Kate Elliot, but it's not an easy read. So I'm putting that book on hold, and then waiting with Glass until it's closer to the USA trip. They're easy read books, and will be much better for reading on the plane. One more thing to look forward to in November!

And once again I would like to remind you about something I need help with, in this post!

New layout!

New layout is now done!

xpenny-janex's header is still lovely, and I will use it from time to time. It's just nice with change sometimes. And my love for winter, werewolves and Remus Lupin inspired me to make this header and edit the chosen layout to fit.

Enjoy!

But, take a look at my previous post. I could still use some input on it!

Faces for the characters

I need some help. The other day I had a new idea about something in Lunar Illumination. And I did something about it. Myra's best friend is no longer Anna, but Hestia. It just felt more right. So now, since I hope to start posting around Christmas I need to get a grip on how I want the banner to look, and most importantly who I want to portray the characters in the art. I've got Myra covered. Emily Browning will be her, after I've darkened her hair in Photoshop of course. And I had Autumn Reeser for Anna, but now that Hestia will be playing a bigger role, I need someone to be her.

I remember that I spent ages finding the right person to be Shira (Amelia Warner) in SCHP and ATL. I also spent ages finding someone to portray Tegan (Zooey Deschanel) in LTEI. So now I think I have narrowed it down to two persons that can portray Hestia.

About the Hestia I have mapped out:

She has black, waist length, hair, almost always in braids. Her eyes are blue, but that's a detail easily changed in Photoshop or in words. She is a very good Beater for the Gryffindor Quidditch Team. Pure-blood. Short, skinny but strong. Is very good at school. Quidditch Captain in her 7th year. Wants to become an Auror (she is one in canon). Stick to the rules, never crosses a line. Was an insecure child, has grown more confident. Though she stick to the rules, she could talk herself out of or into anything. Sharp wit. Would have been in Ravenclaw, if it hadn't been for her bravery and fairness. Her favorite book is "The Beater's Bible". Rides a Nimbus 1000. Her boggart is drowning. Mother is a fantasty author (being a fantasy author in the magical world, means writing stories about Muggles). Father is a Healer at St. Mungo's. Her cousin is Gwenog Jones, captain and beater for Holyhead Harpies. She is born in the Cancer sign. Her wand is a 12" holly, with a dragon heartstring, which is good against evil, and good for dreams and fertility, effective in hexes.

One is Katie McGrath.

She does remind me a bit of Kristen Stewart in some photos, and that annoys me. But I can also see her as Hestia, somewhat. I think maybe she's too... defined, in her facial features.

Then we have Laura Breckenridge.

I feel more for her as Hestia. But there is something that doesn't quite feel right. And it's difficult to find good pictures of her, as she hasn't been in so very much.

And I also have a problem with someone who can play Remus. Most people tend to have William Moseley (too childish), or Chad Michael Murray (too pretty and too Lucas Scott), or James McAvoy (too old and too... strange), or Jude Law (too old and too weird around the eyes). The only Remus that looks right to me is David Thewlis. But he is also too old, for this story at least. It's about teenage Remus, and the younger images of David... Well, let's just say he's one of those guys who gets better looking with age.

So after some extensive searching yesterday, I've come up with Jesse Spencer and Mathias Lauridsen.

When I was looking for suitable pictures of Jesse Spencer I felt that he was the right person.

But I also felt that Mathias Lauridsen was the right person when I was looking for good images of him. Though he is a model, it's harder to find usable pictures. There's too much fashion in them, and too much focus on brands and fanciness.

So now, I need you to help me. Please tell me who you think is better at being Hestia Jones and Remus Lupin. Click on the images to see a larger version. If you don't like any of them, please give me suggestions. And I must say, that I have looked through every source at The Dark Arts. But I'm still open to suggestions, with a reason why you feel so.

Please help? Pretty please?

Lunar Illumination word count - Part 2

I'm so damn excited about the fact that I manage to write so much on a fanfiction that I have to share the current word count with you. It's not that much of an increase in words since September 13, but considering the fact that I've read through the entire thing several times and changed and added and removed, it's not bad.

Chapter 1: 4811 words / 7 pages
Chapter 2: 6469 words / 9 1/4 pages
Chapter 3: 5385 words / 8 pages
Chapter 4: 6355 words / 10 pages
Chapter 5: 376 words / 1/2 page
Total: 23369 / 36 pages

I hope I can start posting on HPFF and FF.Net around Christmas.

But I don't know for sure. Like I said, I've revised the entire thing so many times now I have lost count. But it was the same when I started Spell? Curse? Hex? Potion?. I went back over and over and over again, rewrote and revised. Thankfully there has been no need to rewrite anything, because I have become a better writer since then. It took a couple of years to get SCHP ready for posting, but as I thing back, I wasn't so inspired like I am now, and I had lots of other things that took up my mind. Like much more school. And Bjerkely. But it seems that I have got to revise and pluck things apart and struggle for the first few chapters before I feel confident enough to just go on.

Though now I got a bit more time on my hand. I know what time during the day I write my best. I know a bit more about planning a story. I have some interesting plot points that might lead me into writing this story for a long long time. (It's currently in the main character's fifth year at Hogwarts, Marauder Era, but I had ideas earlier today for some drama at the end of her seventh year. Nothing to do with her though, but her friends.)

I have toyed with the idea of eventually turning it into an AU. Just because there are several things I want to change in canon. Like Sirius dying. Like Remus dying. Like Remus marrying Tonks. (I do not want to make this into a story about Remus' Hogwarts true love that got away, and then came back to mess up his marriage with Tonks. That's cliche, and Tonks should be with Charlie Weasley instead, like she is in Dangerverse.) But most of all, I want Remus to have a happier life than what Jo gave him. Nothing too lovey dovey and sweet and sugary, but a normal life. Not the poor, between-jobs, lonely life he really had.

If what I'm working on now goes well, and I get a good instinct on how to write these characters, the plot is easily evolving in my head, and the response is good, I might consider it more seriously... (Siriusly :P)