A very bad day

I had my latest draft of The Chosen One saved in three places but hadn't backed it up on my internet yet. I thought I'd be safe until I finished this latest round of editing.

Three backup places should be sufficient, but it wasn't.

My computer crashed, and then my new computer had a bad port which I placed my flashdrive in and it corrupted my drive and I don't think I can retrieve my story.

The bad news is that on the internet the last draft I have saved is seven months old and terrible. Just when I think my novel is getting to the point where I may be able to publish it I lose it. Figures.

So yeah terrible terrible day. I'm still exploring a few options, but optimism has significantly faded after six failed attempts.

Wish me luck. I can't even think about writing anything until this is resolved one way of the other.

I'm back to ground one for now and everything I've worked on this year could be lost...not a happy discovery.

The line between sci-fi and fantasy

As a writer the line between sci-fi and fantasy often blurs. It's hard to tell if you want your novel to be sci-fi or fantasy and how to tell what genre your novel falls under.

I've found that Orson Scott Card offers a pretty simply explanation. It went something to the effect that if your novel relies on scientific developments and inventions than it's sci-fi. If your characters rely on magic and things that can't be explained by science than it's fantasy.

Simple enough, right?

In theory, maybe it is.

But then the question is what if I use both magic and scientific advancements in my story? I was asked this just the other day.

The answer is that it doesn't really matter until you start trying to publish your novel and marketing publishing houses and literary agents. Finish writing the novel and then when it comes to trying to publish try to determine if you use more magic or scientific advancements in your story and then market it accordingly .

Readers have come to expect the line between sci-fi and fantasy to blur and so don't worry if that happens to you just keep writing the novel or marketing it. Eventually everything will work out.

~Danica Page

Belated Satruday Sabbatical...four 5-star books.

This weekend I read four different books, four books with four very different views, styles, and themes that all made my 5 star review list. I'd like to talk about each in turn:

First: Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

July 16, 1942?

Anyone?

Does anyone even know what happened on this date? I like to consider myself as something of a history buff and I had no idea. I have taken numerous world history classes and not once have I heard of this event.

So naturally reading this book I turned to the internet and researched it.

This is the date of the Vel' d'Hiv Roundup of the Jews in Paris, France. This tragedy was instigated by the Germans, but the French were only too happy to comply. Ignoring the order only to take grownups, thousands of children were taken too.

On this day the French police rounded up 13, 152 Jews and took them to the Vel' d'Hiv stadium and left them there for weeks before shipping them out to concentration camps in Germany and ultimately the gas chambers. Nearly all of the children taken were killed. 

 The French president finally apologized for this atrocity in 1995, over fifty years later.

This act is poignantly painted in Sarah's Key and this all-too possible tale broke my heart. This story is one that will leave you crying and deep in reflection about the world we live in. What killed me was I had never even heard of this before? Had you?

This is a beautiful book....one that I recommend to all of you.

Second: Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Kite Runner...nearly all of us have heard about this book. This is one of those books that people seem to always be talking about. I went into this novel with high expectations and those expectations were met. I read the first book and I was hooked until the very end. The first page made its way into my literary quotes book...no small feat.  This book is another book that will make you cry, but also uplift you at the same time. There are people out there brave enough to do the right thing, even when they don't think they can.

Third: Now They Call Me Infidel by Nonie Darwish

By this point, you should be realizing I read a lot this weekend:) I saw this book in the library and was intrigued by the title. I picked it up read the back cover and knew that I had to read this book. This isn't typically the type of book I read, but I decided to make an exception.

I read this book and was absolutely enthralled as Nonie Darwish shared her life's story and her views regarding the Islamic faith. A read that is both educational and informative. This is a must read for all history buffs and those who just love learning about the world around them.

I found this book enlightening and it exposed me to different cultures and viewpoints. In fact, this book went against a lot of my beliefs and opened my eyes to the other side of this issue. A must-read just to have this educational, eye-opening experience.

And Fourth: While We're Far Apart by Lynn Austin

Last but not least, While We're Far Apart, another beautiful book. Allow me to explain why. At first, I hated this book. I had read sixty pages and was severely disappointed. I usually love Lynn Austin and I didn't like this book. I was really upset and then all of a sudden I turned the last page and I was in awe regarding what I had just read. I finished the book whipped out my journal and started writing right away.

That automatically kicks this up to 5 stars just for that. This book once again reminded me that Christian and Jewish beliefs are actually very similar. I loved that this book delved into the life of Jews. I love books that make me do some soul searching and question my beliefs...this book fit that description.

A great book for those seeking an eye-opening experience.

Concluding thoughts:

These books all resulted in some deep soul searching and reflection and have stuck with me even days after I read them. All of these books are beautifully written centered around all-star characters/people, an intriguing plot/story, and caused me to question my beliefs.

Read these books, you won't be disappointed.

Thoughts from the blogger and a thank you too...

Dear Readers,

Writing and reading are two gifts that I have come to cherish over the years. No matter what happens, no matter how bad life seems at times, I have always have writing and reading.

These two incredibly beautiful activities have seen me through some of the happiest and darkest times of my life. Writing and reading are two things that have always remained constant and that I can always rely on.

No matter how many times I read a good book, I always find myself praying that things work out for the protagonist (even though I know the ending) or laughing at the funny sayings (even though I've read them before). Books are magical and a gift I've come to treasure. I love reading and I always will.

I've also always loved writing. Writing is a gift that allows me to express myself in ways that otherwise would be impossible. I hate trying to express myself with speech, but give me a pen and a paper and I'm in heaven. I'm always surprised by the discoveries I make about myself and the world around me. Writing is a gift.

Thanks readers for following me on my quest to explore a new aspect of writing and thanks for following me throughout my reading and writing adventures. Thanks for enduring these first six months of my blog as I try to figure out what I want my blog to look like and what I want to write about.

So thank you all!

~Danica Page
(who can't believe the summer is almost over.)