Saturday, December 27, 2014

Playlist

Remember how, so long ago, I said that some of my stuff has playlists? Friday's lucky. She has a playlist. It's about 90% Ivy and 10%...other stuff. Not bad.

1) 'Nice Day'-Persephone's Bees

2) '15 Seconds'-Ivy

3) 'Decay'-Ivy

4) 'Four in the Morning'-Ivy

5) 'Lost in the Sun'-Ivy

6) 'Hideaway'-Ivy

7) 'Faithful'-Pearl Jam

8) 'Can't Keep'-Pearl Jam

9) 'Kite'-Ivy

10) 'Let's Go to Bed'-Ivy

Yeah, make that about...95% Ivy, 4% Pearl Jam, 1% other. This is probably the happiest playlist I have, now that I think about it. Anyways, I posted this before New Year's, so...yeah. I'm proud of myself. :p

-Lalla

Friday, December 26, 2014

News

Ladies and gentlemen, I have made a Wattpad account. Right now, it's not particularly exciting-just the first two chapters of each of my published books. BUT, as time goes by, I will be putting up short stories and other fun things expanding on the worlds of those books, so you guys should go check it out! It's free, but you don't have to make an account to read the stuff there. It's here: http://www.wattpad.com/user/LallaSqueglia

But life is not all rainbows and sunshine, I'm afraid. Sometime in the coming months-I don't have an exact day, but I'll let you know the second I do-Color Blind will be removed from Smashwords.com. I'll put it up on Amazon, don't worry, but it will be completely and utterly gone from Smashwords. Long story. So yeah, anyone that wants a free copy of that should start thinking about it.

I'll try to blog again before New Year's-Friday's got a playlist, maybe I'll put that-but if I don't, happy New Year's, everybody! It just isn't the same without Dick Clark, though...

-Lalla

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Summary

As promised, the summary for One Sunny Afternoon, before Christmas. Isn't that exciting? Happy Holidays all around. Have pie, good family/friends around you, and a nice break from school and work. And don't get a paper cut on that lethal wrapping paper.


It’s a sunny afternoon in the city Noir. Friday Jones has just seen her boss, Mitchel White, for what may be the last time.

Mitchel’s abduction should be a straightforward kidnapping case for the police. But when Friday becomes a target, she has to take matters into her own hands before she, too, disappears into thin air.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Title

Wow, where did this year go? Seriously, where did it go?

I don't know...

Anyway, I am posting the next title now, because then I'll HAVE to make sure it's ready, whether I'm motivated or not. I'm a procrastinating master, I really am. I have written papers the day they were due. (Don't do that, guys. You might get a good grade, but you still shouldn't do it. Write them the day before.)

Okay. Title. Now I don't have a choice.

One Sunny Afternoon.

Maybe I'll post the summary by Christmas. If I don't get lazy. :p

-Lalla

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Food

For those who celebrate, happy Thanksgiving! For those who don't, pie! And for everybody, the easiest recipe (besides PB&J) known to man.

A little background-I am a lazy chef. I like to cook, but I have zero motivation most of the time. So this...this is a dream come true. I don't know where my grandmother got the recipe, but it has served us well.

Yoghurt Pie

(all 'measurements' are approximated. we've never used as much as a measuring cup for this.)

Two tubs of Cool Whip (or something similar-NOT REAL WHIPPED CREAM. Trust me, if I thought it would be better with real cream, I'd be all over that.)

Four single-serve yoghurt cups. (whatever flavor you want!) We use Yoplait, but I think anything goes. Use regular-no whipped, custard...just the plain ol' original.

One pre-made pie crust. Or make your own. Remember when I said I was a lazy chef? Yeah, I meant it.

Mix yoghurt and one and a half tubs of Cool Whip together, pour into crust, smooth top. Cover with plastic wrap and chill until firm (we make it the night before, usually), 'frost' with remaining Cool Whip and prepare to lie about how you slaved over this all day.

Monday, November 10, 2014

Friday

...

Yeah, I know it's Monday. Trust me, I know what Monday feels like. Slow and sucky and just...blah. But if we had Monday off, Tuesday would get the blame. There's just no escape.

No, the Friday of the title is a person.

I'm about ninety-five percent sure I'm going to go with the mystery novel for next year, so you guys need to meet somebody.

This is Friday Jones. (That really is her name, I swear. She's never forgiven me, but I couldn't resist making the terrible pun on 'Girl Friday'.) She is a private detective's secretary-you know, the type that types up the case notes with a healthy side of snark and calls the police in time to save our hero from getting thrown out of his office window? Yeah. One of those. She has yet to call the police in a timely manner, but that's okay. It's not her fault her boss tends to get into trouble outside of the office, and nowhere near a pay phone.

I have to feel sorry for her, really. It's bad enough that she has to clean out the filing cabinet every few weeks. And now with this whole 'kidnapping' thing...and that stalker...well. I wouldn't blame her if she quit. She won't, but I wouldn't blame her.

-Lalla

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Give me free stuff or give me...well, never mind

Guess what? The Muse will be free from November 15th to November 19th! Isn't that awesome?

On a side note, apparently spiders can teleport. I was sitting outside, minding my own business, when a mosquito landed in the web near my elbow. One minute the spider was a safe distance away, and the next it was...there. Did it spring? Do they have little cheetahesque bursts of speed? I don't know, but it gave me a bit of a shock. I think I'll move my chair away from the webs...

-Lalla

Friday, November 7, 2014

Slutwalk

Well, there's an eye-catching title.

If anybody here lives in Tucson, and if you're free on November 15th, you should totally come to Slutwalk. Do not ask me for directions. Seriously, you know those people that go, 'um, um, turn left at the Target...no, keep going, more, more...RIGHT THERE TURN THERE'?

Yeah. That's me. I'm bad with street names, worse with addresses, and forget about asking 'is it North or is it South?' But that's neither here nor there. You can find the location of Slutwalk on Facebook.

I know, I know. 'Why should I go? What kind of name is THAT?'

Slutwalk is a protest...movement...thingy...regarding rape culture and victim-blaming. You know, the people who ask, 'well, were you wearing a mini-skirt? yes? then you wanted it.' Um...no. Some people just want to wear their mini-skirt and not be assaulted. For that matter, that logic really makes no sense: people have been attacked while wearing the frumpiest clothing imaginable.

Sorry. Off-topic again. :)

So. Go! Dig out your tacky Halloween costumes and come with us! (And men, that means you. There's a fabulous picture on Google of a guy at one of these things...wearing a ginormous pair of fake boobs. It. Is. Hilarious.)

(Wow, there's a lot of parenthesis in here...anyway, tacky costumes not required. But what's the fun in only wearing them once a year?)

-Lalla

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Breather

Happy belated Halloween. Was it fun? We just stayed home with the lights off. Don't give me that look, we forgot to get candy and then we were too lazy to go and get some.

Wow. It's November. So soon? Where did the year go? And, seeing as it's November, are any of my fellow writers doing NaNoWriMo? I'm not, personally. I'm already sentenced to death by homework. :( Ah, well...to those of you who are doing it, good luck.

Anyway, it's about time to start picking what'll be out next year. I'm debating: mystery, or ghost story? Any preferences? Seriously, share them. Who knows? You might sway me...

Signing off,

-Lalla

Monday, September 29, 2014

IT'S ALIVE

I know, I know. I should blog more. I'm sorry. College sort of grabs you and never lets you do anything. 'Hey, I should be writing a blog entry...' 'PAPER'S DUE NEXT MONDAY.'

Whee.

Anyway, seeing as it's almost October (wow, that was fast), there's news. The House on the Moor will be free from October 27th to October 31st-I'll remind you, as per usual.

Well, I gotta go-that paper won't write itself, no matter how much I wish it would.

-Lalla

Friday, August 22, 2014

Here it is!

Today's the day!

And I'd like to take a minute and address some people. Hang on.

This is for everyone who said I'd fail, who told me to get a life, that this was just a phase. It's been a pretty long phase, my friend.

This is also for everyone who said I'd make it, even if they just said that to shut me up. :p Still counts.

This is for everyone who's ever read anything of mine, and for anyone reading this blog.

And finally, this is for You. I owe you so, so much. Thank you.

Okay. Enough of that. Here's the link.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MY6Q5M0

-Lalla

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

One More Month

One.

More.

Month.

Wow.

I'll admit, I procrastinated a little on finishing this one. Well, a lot. I always seem to have trouble finishing the last draft. I think it's some kind of subconscious, 'if I don't finish this I can keep it with me forever and ever and that will make me happy' thing.

But no matter! It's done, it's edited, and I'm making you wait until August 22nd, because I can.

-Lalla

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Taster

Who doesn't like free samples? (Nobody, apparently. Go to the Costco on a day that they're serving free food and watch the fun.)

Apart from being a little taster of The Muse, this is my life on a regular basis. Yes. Really.
***
Alice. Alice. Alice.
 
Alice sighed. Layne had perked up dramatically over the last few days. She felt guilty as hell admitting it, but she’d almost liked him better when he was sick-and quiet.
“What.”
You need to get a white cat.
“Huh.”
When it sits on your lap you can rub your hands together like you’re some kind of evil genius.
Really?
Although…that did sound kind of fun.
“Maybe.”
Awesome. Hey, go turn your laptop on.
Aw, man! She’d rather been enjoying her little break.
“Do I have to?”
Young lady, if you don’t march your ass over to that computer right now, I’ll start without you!
Pfft. Like he would really do it. He was still woozy.
“Whatever, Layne.” she snickered. “I’m gonna get a bowl of ice cream.”
She was just scraping the ice cream-hard as a rock, what the hell, man?-when he piped up again.
I was thinking we should kill John now. Maybe with some well-placed apple seeds-you’re by the laptop, right?-in his drink.
“Shit! I’m going, I’m going!”
She heard him cackle and envisioned him grinning like a homicidal maniac. Jeeze Louise, what had she done to deserve this? Did other writers go through this? If they did, she needed to write a self-help book or something.
Whatever. That would imply she had a handle on him. She envisioned Layne with a beaded purse handle sticking out of his spine and cringed. That was just not right.
“Okay, the laptop’s on now.” There was no answer. “Layne?”
Changed my mind. Go back to your ice cream.
Sadist.

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Musings on the muse

Some books give me trouble. Color Blind fought me tooth and nail about being finished. I had more writer's block on that one than anything else to date. (Knock on wood...) But The Muse...if anything, that one came too easily, and at bad times.

I got the idea, initially, while I was trying to edit Color Blind. I tried to ignore it, just until I was through, but Layne-and it would have to be him!-wouldn't shut up until I jotted down a few things.

I suspect, sometimes, that Layne is not 'my character' as much as he is some otherworldly being that likes to bug me. Admittedly, these suspicions usually come very early in the morning or very late at night, when I also think that doing a cartwheel isn't that hard. (It is. I can't do a cartwheel. I hurt myself.) All the same, though, I have to wonder. I hadn't been considering doing a story about a writer, or reading a lot of Greek mythology, or anything that might trigger a small landslide of ideas. It just happened. One minute I was going, 'am I really sure this scene goes here?' and the next minute someone else was going, 'hi! I know this is a bad time, but you need to write my story down RIGHT NOW or you'll never get any editing done.' No other idea has ever hit quite so hard, and quite so fleshed out. It was like some kind of inspirational lightning bolt.

As time went on, I got ideas for the story at the worst possible times. In the middle of a math test? There was Layne, prattling on about this horrible dog that nearly took his head off. At a family gathering? There he was again, bugging me to get rid of this crazy guy with an ax. I really do have to feel sorry for Alice. She's stuck with him 24/7. (Although some days it felt like I was stuck with him 24/7.)

I don't know. All I know is that this funny little man with the pink hair took over my life for...has it really been three years? And I really have enjoyed every minute of it, even though I really couldn't afford to be brainstorming during a math test.

-Lalla

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Post-Novel Depression

Yeah.

It's a thing. Every time I finish a book, I feel this crushing sense of loss.

(In case it wasn't obvious, I finished The Muse. You have to wait until August anyway, but it's done.)

I don't know why. Usually when I finish a book it's after three years or so of getting the idea, writing the first draft, editing, pleading with the characters to let me sleep (it's FOUR AM! I'm TIRED!)...so you'd think I'd do a little dance at the end. Maybe go, 'Novel has given Writer a sock! Writer is FREE!'

But no. I think I must like pain, because I sit at my desk, staring at the now novel-less screen, and feel a bucketload of angst settle down around my shoulders.

I don't know. Maybe I should do something with chocolate.

-Lalla

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Free!

Yes! It's happening!

What's happening, you ask? Why, only the most awesome thing in the world!

Well, maybe not that awesome. Nothing compares to bacon. Mm...bacon.

Beginning Monday, June 23rd (THIS MONDAY!), The Maze will be free on Amazon.com. The free period ends on Friday, June 27th, so act quickly. Well, sort of quickly. You've got all week, almost.

Get ready. It's coming.

-Lalla

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Nothing to Say

I haven't chattered about The Muse as much as I do about some of the others. I don't know why, really. There aren't words to describe it, maybe? Don't look at me, I don't know.

While the plot isn't particularly personal, the characters are. Layne and Alice are probably the two most personal characters I've ever come up with. I don't know why, and I didn't plan them that way, but when did things ever go the way we planned?

They can-canned (yes, really!) into my life when I was trying to finish up with Color Blind and refused to leave me alone. They have a knack for popping up at the most inopportune times. Math finals were a big one. It was an absolute nightmare.

I don't know. Maybe when it's out, I'll find something to go on about. But I don't think that's going to happen.

Anyways...

AUGUST. HOLY MOLY, BATMAN.

-Lalla

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Heat

So some poor guy has been found in the Phoenix area, dead from heatstroke.

I'm sorry.

Look, guys. Anyone that doesn't live in Arizona and is planning to come visit, listen good. We have four or five deaths every year-tourists, usually, that didn't realize how hot it can get here. Let me tell you something right now, it gets Damn Hot. You know what it was in Tucson today? 107 degrees.

Ouch.

Phoenix is usually a bit hotter.

So please, take my advice. Please. If you come down here, drink plenty of water. Don't hang out in the sun for too long. You can die very quickly from the heat. I see you rolling your eyes-they always do. Just listen to me, guys. I live here. I know. (Anyone else who lives here can back me up.)

Take precautions. Be careful. Shorts and a t-shirt and one little water bottle are not enough.

That was...depressing. The next update will be back to normal, I promise.

-Lalla

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

You Gotta Have Pink Hair

Yes.

Really.

Layne has pink hair. Not naturally pink, and for a while there he had dye stains on his shirt because he sucked at doing it, but yes.

And a lot of people, upon hearing this, give me a look and ask, 'Why?'

Honestly? I don't know. Layne and Alice can-canned into my head while I was editing Color Blind and Layne had pink hair. I didn't know he dyed it until later. All I know is that one of the set-in-stone characteristics was the pink hair.

I could tell you what I told my symbolism-seeking writing teacher (who was actually very cool apart from that): 'well, um...he wants to seem otherworldly without glowing, so this is the best he could do.' (Don't look at me like that, I was put on the spot, and he wasn't the type to take 'I dunno' for an answer.)

But...really...no idea. He just does.

But damn, it works so well.

-Lalla

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Release Date

I am very predictable person. I like things to be just so, I won't deny that.

So, in keeping with this predictableness, the release date for The Muse will be...

Are you ready?

How about now?

You're still reading this, right?

Okay, if you're sure...

AUGUST 22nd, 2014.

This is gonna be good.

-Lalla

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Be Afraid

I am a 'fear junkie'. Not dangerously-I don't go playing in traffic or anything silly like that-but I love the feeling of reading a horror novel and being so...on edge. I love it.

Unfortunately, I have a tolerance now. It takes WORK to get that fear response. But there are two things-one book and one film-that work so well. So anyone out there seeking that perfect scare, listen close.

FILM

The Silence of the Lambs. We've all heard of it. Hannibal the Cannibal, Buffalo Bill, 'hello, Clarice'...

I didn't see it for several years. I knew of it, and it didn't sound that scary. A bit of background information-my mother managed a Halloween store, and one of the props we sold was a life-size Hannibal Lecter. It was neat-he had a straitjacket and his mouthpiece and he said things, and sometimes the mouth piece would come down. But he wasn't that SCARY. I thought, 'pfft. This can't be that good if the giant prop isn't that scary.'

Never have I been so wrong.

I settled down with some popcorn and the lights off and hit play one rainy night a few Octobers ago. I wasn't expecting much. I've read crime thrillers. They didn't scare me.

Then...then there was Hannibal's dinner. And the ending, when Clarice and Buffalo Bill...well, those of you who have seen it will know.

I didn't sleep for two days. It was amazing.

THE BOOK

Stephen King scares me. He's good at it. (Obviously, that's his job.) But there's one thing of his that does it more than anything else. Not The Shining, not Salem's Lot. No.

Pet Sematary.

My god.

I made the mistake of reading it while I was home alone. My parents were having a 'date night' and I was bored. So I'm reading it, and I come across the words Oz, the gweat and tewwible.

And then the back door swings shut because of the wind. I'll admit it, I freaked out.

I didn't sleep that night. And on and off for the next few days the words Oz, the gweat and tewwible popped randomly into my head and I'd get this little shiver of dread.

So. Anyone looking for a good scare should check those out.

-Lalla

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Characters

I actually spaced on this. I do that more than I like to admit. I'm sorry. Forgiveness?

Great. Anyways, I can't draw, but I can sew! So I made these. If Layne and Alice were rag dolls, they would look like this.

 
Layne is the one with pink hair. Don't even ask. I don't know. He's always had pink hair. *shrugs*
 
 
-Lalla

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Banning Books

Yesterday, I read an article about the top ten 'frequently challenged' books of last year. (Must have been a slow news day-books? In the news? Don't they need to be covering Justin Beiber? Get on that, internet!)

Sarcasm aside, I had to laugh at the whole idea. You see, I think banning books is just ridiculous. You know what it does, don't you? It makes people want to read them even more. Really, if you think something is objectionable, there is only one solution.

Don't read/listen to/watch it! It's just that simple.

It bugs me a little, though, when they go for the kid's books. I'm willing to bet that most people complaining haven't read the book they're complaining about. Take Captain Underpants, for instance. Potty humor? Bucketloads. The main character is a rotund, bald guy flying around in his underwear, for heaven's sake! (But admit it, that was hilarious. Rotund, bald guys flying around in their underwear are always hilarious.)

If you don't like it, that's okay. But you don't get to make decisions for other people. It goes into the same category as those people who knock on your door and try to convert you. I'm sorry. I have my views, and you have yours, and let's just accept that and have cookies.

That's not to say you have to like everything. I am...less than a fan of Twilight. Really. But you're entitled to like it. You're totally allowed to have a crush on the sparkling vampire. (It's okay. I used to have a crush on the Scarecrow. Must've been the psychotic nerdy-ness.) Just...don't tell me what I can and can't read, okay?

-Lalla

Monday, April 14, 2014

Editing

I LIVE!

I'm so, so sorry for the long delay. I could feed you a whole bunch of excuses, but I won't. Just tell yourself I was trapped on an island with no Wi-Fi.

You know what the worst part of writing is? Editing. I loathe the editing stage. You have to slice and reword and reread until you absolutely hate it and want to just delete the whole file.

But the best part? (Well, second-best. I'm sorry. I just love that feeling of writing the first draft, of not knowing anything about the story yet.) The best part...is sharing. So.

Sometime in August. I think the world will be prepared for Layne's antics by then.

-Lalla

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Rainy Days

It rained today.

Fine. For some of you, that may not be a big deal. But for Tucson, it's a big deal. It wasn't just a sprinkle, understand-it rained. Real, live, giant raindrops. It was great. But it got me thinking about life. I'm weird like that. I think a lot of people are weird like that.

ANYWAYS...

Life is like a rainy day. Seriously, it is. You've got the monotony of day-to-day stuff (work, school, whatever) in the clouds and the drizzle. And sometimes bad things happen to you-that's the lightning and the high winds, the kind that blow your neighbor's tree down on your fence. (Yes. That happened once.) And then, now and again, really good stuff happens-that's the rainbow.

I guess the trick is to learn to dance in the rain. I don't dance. I can't dance. I look like a short, drunk, giraffe when I dance. But I like the rain anyway, so it's okay that I can't dance.

Wow. That was either absolutely awful or incredibly profound. Maybe I should get off the internet now...

-Lalla

Sunday, February 9, 2014

The Muse

You know, I don't really know what to make of The Muse. It's my favorite piece, I know that, and I know what it's about (obviously), but other than that...

You know what it reminds me of? Alice in Wonderland. It makes sense by making no sense whatsoever. Layne's world, the way he interacts with people...I don't know. It's weird. He's weird. I'm glad he's not my muse, really, because I'd probably be completely insane.

It's coming. It'll be here in late summer/early fall (Tucson doesn't have seasons, you know.), and then you'll see what I mean.

-Lalla

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Free

Great news, all! The Maze will be free from Friday, January 31st to February 4th. I'll post a reminder and a link when it's time.

-Lalla

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Music for The Muse

Unlike some of my stuff, The Muse does not have a formal 'soundtrack'. But if there's one album I've listened to a lot while writing/editing it, it would be Mad Season's live album. (Found in the box set, if anyone's curious. It's gorgeous. Just saying.)

I don't know why that particular album hits the inspirational spot for this story. I don't even know why it has to be the live one, not the studio one. But it does, and it has to be. Eh. My brain's weird like that.

On the topic of The Muse, in the next few weeks I will be posting a (rough) look of the two characters. Well, sort of. You'll see.

-Lalla

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Poe

We have gathered here today to celebrate the life of one of America's great writers.

Happy 205th birthday, Edgar Allan Poe.

Seriously. The guy's influence stretches pretty damn wide. All you Sherlock Holmes fans (myself included) should thank him for creating Holmes' predecessor, Dupin. (Thanks, Mr. Poe!)

So yeah. I'd toast him, but I can't legally drink yet. :( Think I can get away with Sprite in a fancy glass?

-Lalla

Monday, January 6, 2014

#@%&!*$ Waluigi!

Okay, so maybe I sort of hate Waluigi. He looks annoying, he sounds annoying...and he's a terrible cheating bastard (pardon my typing).

Those of you that aren't Nintendo people have no idea how much rage it can inspire. Especially MarioKart. And my nemesis, Waluigi. Wait. Not nemesis. Archenemy. Sounds cooler. (Take that, John Watson! People really do have archenemies in 'real life!' Sort of...)

Imagine, if you will, driving along, having your three red shells all lined up to knock him off the side of Rainbow Road. You hit bananas twice, but the last one SMACKS him in the back and sends him, wailing, off the edge. The finish line is in sight! You're there! Aannd...

Waluigi appears out of NOWHERE and steals first.

Cue the rage quit.

I have no clue how he does it. All I know is that it's hugely unfair and leaves me blinking at the television, wondering what happened.

Yeah. I loathe Waluigi. Whenever I'm playing my game, I always pray I don't have him as an opponent. Or a teammate, for that matter. He sucks when he's on my team, but he's brilliant when he's playing for the computer.

Little monster. May camels spit in his eye and a seagull steal his ice cream cone.

-Lalla

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

New Year's

WOW, 2013 flew by. Happy 2014. May you keep all of your resolutions, have a happy year, etcetera.

Now! For the important stuff. (What? We all know that if you wanted New Year's crap, you'd check out your friends' Facebook pages. I did.)

Very soon-another month or two, maybe-I will post another snippet of The Muse on here. Huzzah. Get excited with me! You're going to love this. At least, I hope you will. Layne knows you will, but ignore him. He also thinks the world revolves around him. Whatever.

-Lalla