Promoting Creativity – Pooja Winter

This month for Promoting Creativity I had the great pleasure of interviewing another artist.  I first saw her art through instagram and knew I had to share it with you all. Today you get to meet Pooja Winter.

Tell us a little bit about what you do.

I recently graduated from high school and am taking some time off from school to work on my art and have another full time job to save up for college.

When and why did you start with your art?

I started getting into art when I was six years old and have been at it since! Art for me is an escape from reality since I’ve had a pretty rough childhood. I also like to create to give it away to friends and family as gifts.

 

Tell us about a project that you are currently working on that has you really excited.

Presently I’m working on holiday cards and some canvas paintings to sell at a Christmas bazaar where a certain percentage of my profits go to orphanages in Haiti. I’m excited to create and be able to use my talent to serve the children of Haiti.

What are some of your goals for the future?

My current goal for the future is to attend college and get my nursing degree. I plan on going to Lane Community College, since their nursing program is highly recommended.

 

How can we support you?

I think I could use a lot of support if you follow me on Instagram and Facebook! I usually post my art work on there and often that’s how people see it and want to buy it!

Be sure to follow Pooja on her instgram! 

NaNoWriMo Day 29

As I mentioned earlier NaNoWriMo has been a lot harder for me this year. Reaching the daily wordcount of 1667 didn’t happen. Writing every day didn’t happen either. I won NaNoWriMo today, but only by scrapping by and counting every word possible.

And I admit I feel a bit guilty about being an NaNo rebel of sorts. Yet at the same time I did write a lot of words this month. I’ve been busy. 

 

Twain’s End

Goodreads Synopsis: In March of 1909, Mark Twain cheerfully blessed the wedding of his private secretary, Isabel V. Lyon, and his business manager, Ralph Ashcroft. One month later, he fired both. He proceeded to write a ferocious 429-page rant about the pair, calling Isabel “a liar, a forger, a thief, a hypocrite, a drunkard, a sneak, a humbug, a traitor, a conspirator, a filthy-minded and salacious slut pining for seduction.” Twain and his daughter, Clara Clemens, then slandered Isabel in the newspapers, erasing her nearly seven years of devoted service to their family. How did Lyon go from being the beloved secretary who ran Twain’s life to a woman he was determined to destroy?

In Twain’s End, Lynn Cullen reimagines the tangled relationships between Twain, Lyon, and Ashcroft, as well as the little-known love triangle between Helen Keller, her teacher Anne Sullivan Macy, and Anne’s husband, John Macy, which comes to light during their visit to Twain’s Connecticut home in 1909. Add to the party a furious Clara Clemens, smarting from her own failed love affair, and carefully kept veneers shatter. Based on Isabel Lyon’s extant diary, Twain’s writings and letters, and events in Twain’s boyhood that may have altered his ability to love, Twain’s End explores this real-life tale of doomed love.

Find on Goodreads and Amazon.

Like most people I’ve read Twain’s book Tom Sawyer, and awhile back I read some of his short stories as well.  So as a big lover of Historical Fiction I was super excited to get a copy of this book.

Twain’s End is an easy book to read, it personally took me forever because I sometimes have a hard time reading books on my kindle. But once I actually sat down and forced myself to read I found the pages flying by.

Lynn Cullen is a fantastic writer. She made the man Twain come to life, and all of the characters actually, in such a unique way.  She shows the story of Twain and Lyon’s love from many different perspectives. And I loved it the way she made me feel for everyone, even the characters I hated like  Twain’s daughter Clara. Even Twain himself is an unlikable yet sympathetic character. Ruling over the women in his life with an iron fist and being an absolute dick practically all of the book. And yet I ended feeling for him so much.

Isabel Lyon’s character is so interesting. She’s so good, and loving and kind to everyone. Even with her flaw of loving Twain while his wife was alive, she never acted on her feelings.  She was also frustrating with how she let Twain walk all over her. How she let everyone walk all over her.  Mark Twain was abusive at times in the story and still she loved him and that upset me a little.

But in the end I really enjoyed the story. I gave it four stars on Goodreads, and was given a copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

 

On Reading 180 Books in 2016

Today I made it over my revised reading goal! 181 books total for 2016. Which means I might be able to make my original goal of 200 books.  Which I’m super excited about. Meanwhile I thought now would be the perfect time to post a general bookish update.

Currently I’m reading a couple of different books. But I’m trying to finish Twain’s End and Jacques the Fatalist and his Master first.

The last book I finished was actually a graphic novel titled Morning Glories Vol. 1 

Goodreads Synopsis:

Morning Glory Academy
One of the most prestigious prep schools in the country…But behind it’s hallowed doors something sinister and deadly lurks. When six brilliant but troubled new students arrive, they find themselves trapped and desperately seeking answers…and escape from a place where nothing is what it seems to be!

Two books I got from the library, and hope to read next are: Crown of Midnight and The Rose and the Dagger. I’m more excited about The Rose and the Dagger, as I’ve already read and loved the first book. Crown of Midnight I’m torn about…I didn’t really like the first book at all, but I’m trying to make it through the series.

So there we go! Just a quick update on my reading progress. How have you all been doing? Also if we’re not friends on Goodreads be sure to add me! 

Remade Episode 01

Goodreads Synopsis: You live. You love. You Die. Now RUN. ReMade is a thrilling sci-fi adventure that will take readers past the boundaries of time, space, and even death.

This is the 1st episode of ReMade, a 15-episode serial from Serial Box Publishing. This episode was written by Matthew Cody.

Holden Black never imagined his crush knew his name, much less that he’d suddenly be driving her to a party. But life can change in a second, especially when you’re 16. A look. A flash of headlights. A scream. What do you do when the unexpected jumps straight to the unbelievable, the dream becomes a nightmare, and waking changes everything except your heart’s desire?

ReMade Season One: In one moment the lives of twenty-three teenagers are forever changed, and it’s not just because they all happen to die.  “ReMade” in a world they barely recognize – one with robots, space elevators, and unchecked jungle – they must work together to survive. They came from different places, backgrounds, and families, and now they might be the last people on earth. Lost meets The Maze Runner in this exciting serial adventure.

Find at Goodreads, Serial Box and Amazon.

An interesting beginning to a story. At 36 pages ReMade 01 is fast paced Sci-Fi story. Our main character Holden is loner at his highschool, not really someone who people notice. You feel connected with him, without feeling sorry for him. His story keeps you turning the pages. At this point in the story there’s not much to say about the world other than it’s intriguing, and I when I came to the end I wanted to read more.

I would say that ReMade is a Hunger Games meets Ender’s Game story. And I’m definitely interesting in reading more in the series.  I gave it three stars on Goodreads.

Anam Cara

I’m currently reading a small book called Anam Cara, it’s a book of Celtic teachings and spirituality. So far I’ve really been enjoying it, though I am only on page 77. Anyway there was a beautiful little poem/prayer in the book that  I wanted to share with you all today.

A Blessing for the Senses

May your body be blessed. May you realize that your body is a faithful and beautiful friend of your soul. And may you be peaceful and joyful and recognize that your senses are sacred thresholds. May you realize that holiness is mindful, gazing, feeling, hearing and touching.  May your sense gather you and bring you home. May you senses always enable you to celebrate the universe and the mystery and the possibilities in your presence here.  May the Eros of the Earth bless you. 

 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. 🙂