The Social Porcupine

The title of this post is a line from my current WIP. Though I wrote my character being snarky as she said that, how I wish I had this much confident positivity. But, yeah, I tend to share all the sour parts and hope people still see the good things in me, as if those will speak for themselves.  Maybe I should share more good and less bad.  Maybe I'm saying my own words through the mouth of my character convicted me just a little ;) Alfalfa, activated charcoal, and vitamin C. Been taking this a lot, so why not make a vitamin flower?  And now it's time to share all the bad things that have been happening. Because who are we kidding??? Complaining is addicting.  So this month has been ... not so good. Last month I was sick, and I thought I got over it. But as soon as I thought I was better, I got sick. Again, and again, and again. My head always hurt, I was completely exhausted, and at the end, I acquired the most horrid sinus affection ... but...

Welcome to Keturah's Korner, Cait! I'm so excited to be talking with you today. Could you start out by telling us some things about yourself?  Thanks so much for having me on your blog! And hi to everyone! My name is CG Drews (also known as Cait from Paper Fury) and I'm an author and cake enthusiast from Australia. When I'm not writing, I'm trying to convince my small dog that the bed is not his (I have zero luck here) and making my own ice cream from scratch (writing fuel!). How long have you been writing and how many stories have you written? I started writing seriously when I was fifteen ... so ten years now (yiiiikes I feel old) and I've accumulated over thirty drafts. I promise they're not all very intelligible though! Can you tell us the story behind finding your agent/ publisher? I started querying for an agent when I was nineteen. I'd researched the process (ah, Google, my old friend) until I was overflowing with advice and had a query le...

Mrs. Henry was in the kitchen humming a song and kneading a lump of dough when she heard her children arguing. She wiped her floury hands on her apron and went to the edge of the room to spy on her children before scolding them. Both of her sons faced each other, their fists clenched and ready to fight. Jimmy's face flushed red with indignation as he yelled at his brother. "Mother said it's evil to lie!" Billy, the elder of the two whispered, "Sh. Mother doesn't have to know." Jimmy shook his head. "But God will know." Mrs. Henry's heart swelled with pride. Both of her boys were good boys, but Jimmy was already showing a sign of loving God that touched her just where it felt wonderful. Billy, on the other hand . . . he was a difficult child. The mother sighed making her presence known. Both boys jumped, Billy so much that he wasn't even close to his younger brother anymore. "What are you trying to make Jimmy do now...

I haven't shared anything about the wall online. Not because I've been hesitant to stir up controversy—those that have followed my blog for very long know that I love to discuss the untalkable subjects half the world fears to think about — but because I've been very unsettled in my own thoughts concerning the wall. And even after much thought and study, I'm still not completely sure what I think. But I think I am finally ready to share what I am currently thinking. I just ask one thing, all my friends (trolls, too). Please read to the end before commenting. And please bear with me. I will try to share cautiously so as not to needlessly offend anyone, and I ask that no-one look for offense where it's not intended, which I do not intend ever.  Most of my Trump Wall  "research" I have heard through podcasts or my Dad. I've tried to listen to a variety of opinions, but most of my media intake has been pro-wall. Pro-wall: Louder With Crowder ,...

I mentioned a while back that I've been published again! I have two stories in this anthology of twenty-eight fairy tales. I just finished reading through my contributor copy, and so I thought I'd share mini-reviews about each of the stories.  First, I'll say that I didn't do well keeping track of content. Quite a few stories had language, and I think I remembered all which stories did. But I can't be certain. It wasn't an overload of language, though, so I don't think it will bother most of you. I believe the whole book had one or two B*** and a handful of D*** and then a few other crude words.  And now onto the stories themselves!  The Gingerbread House - Karen Over "Hansel and Gretel" retelling. I really loved this story—perfect way to start this collection of fairy tales! While large parts of it stayed true to the original there were many surprised in store. In some ways, this story was less dark than the original, and in other...

On the last day of the year, the Pevensie family spent the evening sitting around their fireplace passing small gifts to one another, a tradition started by Mr Pevensie’s father years ago. Peter had just opened his gift, a book called The Pilgrim’s Regress—a rather dull looking book, Susan thought, by Clives Staples Lewis. Lucy handed Susan a small brown parcel. Susan thanked her younger sister and tore the paper away. Part of her would rather be out with her American boyfriend on New Year’s Eve, but Susan couldn’t very well break family traditions without an exceptional excuse. And Mr and Mrs Pevensie hardly approved of Susan’s boyfriend as it was. Besides, Carl was spending the week visiting his family in America. He wouldn’t be home for two more days. The paper fell to the floor amidst previous discarded wrappings and Susan held a rectangular metal object. Small fiery-pink blossoms were painted on the silver encasing. Susan knew at once that it was a compact mirror. Lucy ...