Blogfest! He looks like what?

So today is the long anticipated "Guess That Character" blogfest, hosted by Jen at Unedited.  I'm showing you a snippet from my newest WIP, Anemone (the flower, not the seaweed), and you try to figure out what my character looks like by the small descriptions and dialogue.  Tomorrow, check back for the big reveal, as I show you the picture of a celebrity I imagine he looks most like as I am writing him.  

In this snippet, we have three characters--Reagan (her POV), Brady, and Brighton. What does Brighton look like to you?

As I approached Brady’s side, the stranger’s eyes darted quickly my direction.  I stopped instantly as our eyes locked.  He wasn’t looking through me.  He was looking right at me.

            He looked back at Brady, eyebrows scrunched.  “Who’s the girl?”  He nodded my way, his hair again covering too much of his face. 

            Brady cleared his throat and his voice came out a little uneasy.  “What girl?”

            “Uh,” he smiled, “let’s start with the one standing right next to you.”  He glanced toward the side of the house.  “I don’t see Mom’s car, and I know Dad’s out of town….  Don’t tell me they went soft and actually let you have a girl in the house when they aren’t home?”

            Brady turned to look at me, his face mirroring my surprise.  “You can see her?”

            He sees me!  A flutter along my shoulders satisfied me like relief—a burden taken away.  It was much easier to believe in my own existence when more than one person acknowledged... my existence.     

            “Brady,” he said in a sour tone.  “I told you, I don’t do that stuff anymore.  Now are you going to introduce me or do we just get to stand here and stare at each other?  Either way, I’m fine with it.  She’s pretty hot.  Impressive, baby brother.”  He took a step forward, feet resting on the threshold. 

            Brady appeared to be tongue tied, but eventually stammered, “Her name’s Reagan.”

            “Well, Reagan, good to meet you.  I’m Brighton.”  He reached a hand out for me to shake, so I did the same.  But we didn’t touch.  His hand passed through me, the sensation of pouring sand again tingling through my fingers. 

Guess that Character Blogfest TOMORROW!

The lovely Jen at Unedited is hosting a fun blogfest tomorrow and Friday, so check back HERE for my entry, and I'll be checking YOUR BLOG for your entries!  Sounds fun, huh? :)

Answers to Your Questions Part 1

A couple of weeks ago, I asked you for your questions--what was it that you, my faithful bloggers, wanted to know about yours truly?  Here is round one of Kristin Creative Q&A!

Q1- Crystal Cook asked, "How long have you been writing and how do you stay motivated?"

A1 - I remember when I was about 10 years old, I was home schooled at that time in life, and I went to my local home school group's activity day.  In one of our classes, we had to write a little story, complete with illustrations (or maybe I just wanted to illustrate it, because at that time, I was going to be an illustrator for Disney, of course).  The woman who was the guest "teacher" for that session pulled me and my mom aside after the class and said that I had potential as a writer.  (A ten year old?  Seriously?)  Come to find out, I'm pretty sure she was an editor for either a newspaper or a publisher or something (hence why she was brought in for our class), and she gave my mom all sorts of information so that I might be encouraged to keep at it.  Well, I was excited about that idea, but all I wanted to do was draw (now I can hardly draw a stick figure, but when I was young and had patience for it, I was much better than I am now).  The week before I graduated college in December of 2005, a story popped into my head and I couldn't stop writing it.  I even snuck in paper to my graduation ceremony (which was LONG--the only part I paid attention to was the speech by Barbara Bush! And yes, I did meet her!) so I could keep my ideas flowing.  Over the next couple of years I got frustrated and put it aside, then I'd work on it some more, put it aside. Then in 2009, something kicked my thoughts into gear and I finished that story (Between the Letters... it's now shelved awaiting some serious revisions or a paranormal twist), and have started two others (Still Loving Ghosts, and Anemone), and have ideas for several more.  My motivation now I guess comes from being inspired.  I read a lot, and often I think, well if they got published, I can do it too! And not even necessarily in a snarky way... I just choose to be encouraged as I read others work, that it's possible... that my stories (my new ones anyway) might actually make it somewhere.  I write because I love it (it's obviously not going to make me rich, so that's not even a thought), and because the stories in my head are itching to get out.  I stay motivated because I dream of seeing my published book on a shelf in Borders one day.  :) 

Ok, that was a really long answer and I don't even want to know how many typos I made. I'll just leave you with that for today!  Be on the lookout for round 2!

Happy Monday (It's raining here--we need it!) 

Counting Down

It's crazy to me how just over a month ago I was extremely upset about the idea of getting laid off.  Don't get me wrong, I'm still freaking out about having to find alternate insurance (especially since I have it on good authority that regular insurance company prices are about to sky rocket so we will be forced to be even more government dependent... because we all want that to happen...[but I'm not extremely educated on this, so I will save the ranting for blogs with that focus]), but now that it's sinking in more and more each day, and coworkers are increasingly getting deeper and deeper under my skin, and my butt keeps getting wider and wider... I've never been more ready to GET OUT!

I'd be stupid not to be a little concerned that my attempt at starting a business of my own will fail.  I mean, what a time in our nation's history to try THAT kind of venture... we are not exactly set up to support the little guy right now. 

But I do have hope.  I hope that I can make this work... that people will give this still-learning little girl a chance... that in six months, I won't be back in a cubicle somewhere, feeling the life drain from my fingertips and the fat pack on my thighs.  

A friend at work tells me just about every day how incredibly optimistic and inspiring I am... and it's amazing to me that I come across that way, when inside I am so unsure of everything. I'm still learning my craft, still learning how to be confident doing what I love, and still learning to trust that everything will work out--the way it's supposed to--for the better. Breathe.

Anyway, thanks for letting me rant.  I know it's not epic... but it helps to get it out, you know?  I will leave y'all with some highlights from the past week's sessions. Happy Tuesday.

Location Location Location!

This morning, Kim and I scouted Hermann Park for future photo shoot spots.  I have a photo shoot there in a few weeks, so I wanted to familiarize myself with the area.  Wow did it get hot!  We were tempted to swim in some of the water fountains!

Here are some of my pictures from our walk!

Happy Saturday!

Also, my photography blog has gotten a face lift!  Check it out!

And the Winners Are........!!!

We have our winners of the signed LINGER bookmarks!! 

Congratulations to

Wulfluva!

and

Kimberly Franklin!

Email me at kristinrae023(at)gmail(dot)com, give me the address you'd like it sent to, and I'll get it right out!!

Giveaway Ends TODAY!!

If you haven't yet entered for your chance to win one of two signed Maggie Stiefvater LINGER BOOKMARKS, today is your last chance!!! I will be announcing the winners TOMORROW!!

ENTER HERE!