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It’s Not Just You

/ Shauna Granger / Leave a comment

I was going to blog about this, but now I don’t need to.

Dahlia Adler's avatarThe Daily Dahlia

Confession: probably my biggest pet peeve on the planet is when people start a question with “Am I the only one who…?”

No. You’re not. You’re not the only one who writes that way, reads that way, likes that food, likes that band, thinks Benedict Cumberbatch sounds like a Game of Thrones character or looks like someone squeezed Spongebob and stuck googly eyes on him…you’re just not.

But.

There’s a different kind of “Is it just me?” feeling, and that’s the stress of when you’re drowning in something and nobody’s talking about it and you feel like everyone’s got it together but you, and so you don’t wanna say a thing, and it all snowballs until you basically wanna curl up and die. I know that feeling. It’s why I wrote this post after splitting with my first agent. So in case you are wondering any of these things, I…

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#PonyFest14 – Vote for me!

/ Shauna Granger / 6 Comments

When I was little, say, four or five years old, I really dug My Little Pony. I haven’t gotten back into it as it came back these last few years, but I still smile fondly when I see MLP stuffs in stores. But my friend and fellow author, Rebecca Enzor, has this pretty friggen cool contest on her blog featuring custom made MLPs where authors can compete to win one based on one of their books!

If you know me, you know I love toys. I really do. Right now, there are ten – yes ten – toys on my desk at this very moment. I have to keep myself from going to the comic book store or to Hot Topic too regularly otherwise my grabby little hands reach out for another of those awesome vinyl figures to add to my collection.

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Well, as you can imagine, when I realized I had the perfect theme/character I could use for MLP, I had to enter this contest. So the rules are, design your own pony based on you book, one of your characters, or a theme from your book, come up with a tag line and and explanation of the pony. I have a few works I could choose from, but the idea of a monster pony was too much to resist. So I’ve designed my pony based on the monsters from my Ash and Ruin Trilogy: the Pestas!

myPony

 

Monsters are real

Steeped in Norwegian mythology, the Black Plague was spread through the touch and breath of mysterious creatures, creatures that crept through the night, spreading their pox, called Pestas. Hunched backed, sallow skinned, and clawed fingered, the Pestas spared no one and when they gripped you in their cold, firm hands the pox was sure to follow. So my pony is a mix of Pesta creepiness and the result of becoming one of their victims, riddled with pox and dead-eyed.

Oh, I love it so! I hope you guys vote for me! It would be awesome to have this little guy on my desk as I write the final installment of the Ash and Ruin Trilogy!

Finding Inspiration

/ Shauna Granger / Leave a comment

Today is my day on the Spellbound Scribes’ blog! Come check out my post on finding inspiration, even when you’re always writing.

Shauna Granger's avatarSpellbound Scribes

As writers, we are expected to be a fount of imagination and stories. But even the most prolific writer can come to the well of inspiration and find it dry every now and then.

Supernatural, prophet, Chuck

When you’re a full-time writer, like me, you seem to always be writing, to always be creating, coming up with new ideas and always moving forward. I have friends who are not “big readers” but who follow me on Facebook and see me posting about the projects I’m working on (yes, plural, there’s always more than one). And when I see them in real life they always have a comment like, “I don’t know how you write so much!” The funny thing is, it doesn’t always feel like I’m writing very much.

I take breaks between projects – and sometimes that’s the hardest thing for me to do. I finished a book during Camp NaNo in…

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#BuffyWatch the Final Season

/ Shauna Granger / Leave a comment

I finally finished watching BtVS – come find out who won the bet!

Shauna Granger's avatarSpellbound Scribes

If you’ve been following along, you’ll remember that Brian O’Conor and I were embroiled in a battle of two T.V. series. Brian had to watch the first seven seasons of Supernatural before I finished watching the seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Whoever finished first get’s to decide which world we’ll use first for a spin-off game with our RPG troupe: MageTech.

And I am thrilled to announce that I AM VICTORIOUS! I DANCE THE DANCE OF VICTORY!

OY YEAH, BURN WITH FIERY ENVY BRIAN!

Poor Brian.

Okay, but seriously. It did come kinda close there. Brian was trying to be a sneaky snearkerson and finished season 6 without telling anyone and was well into season 7 over the weekend. So much so that I realized, though I only  3 episodes left, he just might finish and I’d look like that jackass hare and he’d be the cool tortoise…

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#BuffyWatch Part Five

/ Shauna Granger / 2 Comments

Eeeep! It’s been almost two months since my last #BuffyWatch post. I know. That’s way too long. But I was finishing Time of Ruin and going through the edits and cover art consultations and all the other crap that goes into book production. I did finish Season 6 though and Brian’s only through Season 5 of Supernatural, so I’m still winning.

And, to be honest, I’m afraid Brian will wuss out and quit if I totally trounce him.

If you’d like to see his latest post, check it here.

If you need to catch up with my saga here are the links:

Post One

Post Two

Post Three

Post Four

I’ve put this post off for too long, so I’m gonna hit major points because memory.

When I last wrote I said if they could bring Buffy back in a believable way I would be down with her swan dive of death.

And you know what? They totally pulled it off.

Unfortunately it was at further cost to my original favorite character: Willow. Something happened over the course of Willow’s story that bummed me out. I get that they were paralleling her magic use with drug use and how a person will start to change in every way, but I wasn’t happy to see it happen. Willow just kept breaking my heart. I’ve seen people spiral out of control on drugs and not see/care what they’re doing to friends and family, so they did a great job with that, I just, well… I liked Willow so of course I don’t want to see this happen to her.

Once More With Feeling. Everyone was waiting with bated breath for me to watch this episode.

I was a little nervous, to be honest with you. I do not like musicals for the most part. I love theater and Broadway shows and I could probably watch Singing in the Rain for the rest of my life, but musicals usually aren’t like Broadway. I cannot tell you how relieved I was that this episode was written more like a Broadway show. I actually enjoyed it and I thought it was a great way for Buffy to explain to the gang, and Willow specifically, that no, bringing brought back from Heaven wasn’t awesome.

Buffy and Spike romance. Hmmm. I’ve made no bones about my feelings about Buffy in romantic relationships. She’s not very good at them and she doesn’t pick the right guys. I like this show so much more when she’s not in a romantic relationship. I liked the idea that Buffy was a strong enough woman to have a sexual relationship with a guy without having to give her whole life to him. But it was strange that Spike couldn’t deal with that – I mean, I know he still has that chip, but he doesn’t have a soul, this should’ve worked for him. Instead he went all love-spell-gone-horribly wrong.

But this is probably why I took so long to get through season six. I was warned that something was coming. Something we’ve all been talking about a lot. Sexual violence against women in fiction. It’s rampant and rage inducing. Even in shows where it shouldn’t happen, like Downton Abbey, we have to see it. I kept putting off watching because I didn’t want to see this AGAIN. I wasn’t sure who was going to be the victim, but I was 50/50 on it being Buffy.

I thought it COULDN’T be her because she’s the Slayer with Slayer strength, who’s gonna be able to do this to her?

But the other half said it was going to be her because it shouldn’t be and fuck writers who do this to characters who should be safe from this. I am glad, as glad as one could be, that they didn’t fully go through with it. That they realized she is the muther  fucking Slayer and has the physical strength to stop it.  But for fucks sake. Let’s stop this bullshit.

But after that episode, I can’t stand Spike. Every time he shows up on screen I find myself glowering or yelling, “I DON’T CARE SPIKE!”

Xander and Anya. Oh man. I was so sad after Willow and Oz, I didn’t know there was something else that could make me so sad. I’m still not okay with what they did here. I dunno, maybe they wanted Anya to be a vengeance demon again and couldn’t think of a way to make it happen if she was happy with Xander, but I really thought Xander’s arc and maturity were spot on for him to go through with the wedding. I never thought he’d stand her up. I hated that choice. I love Anya as a demon, but I hate that it came at the expense of Xander’s character growth.

The Evil Trio. Jesus Christ I hate these guys. Every episode they showed up, I was waiting for someone to kill them. I know, I know, “We don’t kill humans.” BUT C’MON! Especially the insane asylum episode. Even I had a minute of, “wait. Maybe she is crazy.” And I felt horrible for Willow’s loss and what she went through, but I was happy to see her flay that asshole. He totally deserved it.

 

And now Spike has his soul back. I’ve started the first couple of episodes of Season 7. I’m actually kind of surprised the show was only 7 seasons. Season Six was some of the strongest writing of the show, I would’ve thought, after that, they would’ve had a few more seasons in the bag, not just one.

 

We shall see how it ends.

 

#BuffyWatch Part Four

/ Shauna Granger / 1 Comment

I’m still kicking Brian’s butt! Come read to see how I’m liking the show and how far I’ve come and how far I’ve yet to go!

Shauna Granger's avatarSpellbound Scribes

(I know you were expecting a Saint Patrick’s Day themed post, but I’m sorry, no lucky charms here!)

Whoa. It’s been awhile since I last posted about the great #BuffyWatch! My bad!

If you’d like to read the last installment, you can check it here. If you’re new to the #buffywatch saga, basically Brian O’Conor and I have a bet to see who can finish BtVS or Supernatural first (I’m watching BtVS, Brian is watching SPN). Whoever wins gets to decide which series we use as a one-off game for our #MageTech troupe RPG first.

So I finished Season 5 last night and that was a fantastic ending. If you’ve read my YA series, then you know I’m a big fan of killing MCs and bringing them back – if you can do it believably. I know, I know, Buffy died once already, but she died in a very…

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#BuffyWatch Part Three

/ Shauna Granger / 8 Comments

Oh yeah, you know what that means. I’m on to season four! And guess what? THE SHOW IS GETTING BETTER!

Faith is gone. Angel is gone. High school is over. I like this a lot better. (Also, Brian, how you thought I would like Faith I have no idea. I have nothing nice to say – she is not a villain that I can root for.)

But anyway, season four is really starting to get some legs for me. Funny how, you take out the Buffy/Angel story line, I like the show so much more.

But! Speaking of that, let’s talk about what the writers did with Buffy and her romances and how awful they’ve been so far.

I know, breathe, just bear with me.

Buffy and Angel are constantly breaking up. Buffy is constantly crying. There were so many episodes in a row where Buffy was just walking around sulking and hating life over this guy. I get it, we’ve all been there, but she’s supposed to be this badass heroine and when they drag these parts out until you kind of hope she loses a battle, they’ve gone too far.

I’m not even kidding when I tell you my husband walked out of the room right before Angel decides to take Joyce’s advice and tell Buffy he’s leaving and then came back ten minutes later when they’re in tears and walking away from each other, and he looked at me and said, “Let me guess: ‘I can’t do this anymore! I love you but I can’t be with you!’” And I just looked at him and said, “You just did that whole ten minutes in ten seconds.” There is a lot of predictability in these first three seasons when it comes to the love stories.

And can we talk about how Angel will lose his soul if he “experiences one moment of true happiness.” THAT HAS BEEN DRIVING ME CRAZY. What they mean to say is “if he has an orgasm.” I’m sorry, but if he and Buffy are in love, aren’t they happy? AREN’T THEY? WHY DOESN’T THAT MAKE HIM LOSE HIS SOUL? TELL ME!

So, Angel goes away and Buffy and Willow go to college. And Buffy falls for douchebag Parker after one week of hanging out together. They sleep together, Parker blows her off, and she’s hurt. All fine and good (well not good, but you know what I mean, I’ll buy all this). But then Buffy spends how long fantasizing about Parker falling for her and she won’t let him the fuck go? It is so frustrating. I like a hero/ine with flaws, they should have them, but Buffy has plenty (self-centered, flighty, naïve), this doesn’t have to be one. This was unbelievable, and I mean unrealistic. Someone like Buffy should’ve just wanted to smite the asshole, not daydreamed about him showing up with flowers when she saves his ass.

Anyway, that storyline is over and I have high hopes for the Riley storyline.

I can’t even talk about Oz and Willow right now. When Oz gave in to his animalistic tendencies for that HOEBAG BITCHFACE PIECEOFCRAP VERUCA I nearly broke my television. I just can’t.

Also, I was very disappointed that they killed the character of Sunday in the first episode of season 4. Now she was villain I could’ve lived with for a while. She was like the femme Spike (who I am happy to find is back), they would’ve made a fantastic team. I haz a sad about that.

Season four’s Halloween episode was fantastic. You could see the change in the special effects, shit was actually scary! You know, until the three inch demon materialized, that is.

I wasn’t jazzed about Vampire-Harmony, but after watching the slapfest with Xander and actually laughing out loud about it, I’m willing to give her some time.

So we’ll see. I’ll need some heart-mending over the Willow and Oz story though. Where’s the chocolate?

If you’d like to see how well *cough* Brian is doing, check his latest post here.

Guilty Pleasures

/ Shauna Granger / Leave a comment

If you’ve been following along, you know I suffer from insomnia. Usually when one of these awesome (read: KILL ME NOW) sleepless spells occur, I lay awake watching crappy TV. The other night, I was awake past midnight, one husband snoring softly and two dogs figuring out how to push us off the bed and steal it for themselves, and scanning through the TV guide.

And a fantastic movie was on: The Day After Tomorrow.

YES THAT’S RIGHT, YOU HEARD ME, FANTASTIC!

I know. People hate this movie. They call it stupid and question the science and blah blah blah. Whatever. I like that movie. I don’t really know why. Maybe it’s Bilbo or learning at what temperature fuel freezes. For whatever reason, if that  movie is on, I will watch. There are other movies like that for me, every single Harry Potter movie. The National Treasure movies (another, I don’t know why), Book of Eli, most Pixar movies. See? Most of that list isn’t bad. Most of that list wouldn’t make anyone embarrassed to admit they’ve watched a thousand times.

But the key word there is “embarrassed.” So, lying in bed, enjoying one of the best worst movies, I started wondering why we’re embarrassed by some things we enjoy. Whether it’s shows, movies, or books. Remember how people used to look down on romance novels? You’re reading along, enjoying a smutty scene and someone asks, “What are you reading?” And you didn’t really want to tell them?

Who cares really? I mean, obviously you’re not the only person enjoying this little escape, otherwise shows like Jersey Shore wouldn’t have lasted as long as it did and Revolution wouldn’t still be on the air.

I mean… I just found out that I wasn’t supposed to enjoy Gravity with Sandra Bullock. Apparently the physics didn’t add up. What the fuck, people? Can’t we just watch a movie or a show and enjoy the story being told? Can’t we suspend our disbelief for a couple of hours and just listen and watch? Why do we have to tear down people for liking stuff that probably couldn’t happen in real life. Hate to say it, but DUH IT ISN’T REAL LIFE. Let me enjoy my damn story.

There are a lot of shows I enjoy that I know some of my more intelligent friends don’t vibe. My two favorite shows right now are Elementary and Grimm. Every week they’re on hiatus, a tiny part of me dies. But I’m not embarrassed to admit I like these shows. Elementary because I love BBC’s Sherlock too and, while I was skeptical in the beginning, I love the gender-swapped Watson. Grimm, because well, it’s awesome. But I don’t really know anyone else who likes that show besides my hubs.

Anyway, I just think it’s silly, that, as adults, we’re embarrassed to admit we like certain shows and movies. Who cares? There are shows and movies your friends like that you don’t, or that you think are stupid or whatever. So it’s okay for you to enjoy the things critics call THE WORST THING EVER. Put on your PJs, cover yourself in cats or dogs (whatever your flavor of crazy), and cue up the DVR and watch with pride.

Let’s stop calling them “Guilty” Pleasures and just enjoy.

Are there shows, movies, or books you’re kind of embarrassed to admit you enjoy? Share it here and revel in your honesty! OWN YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE!