tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43030862940330037352024-03-17T21:03:34.427-06:00Ninya TippettI write love.Ninya Tippetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00489922035777095433noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303086294033003735.post-33568855755645088242017-05-11T19:47:00.000-06:002017-05-11T19:52:41.136-06:00Mother's Day with PANDORA + Wattpad<br />
I'm not a perfect daughter.<br />
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In fact, I'm probably the farthest thing from it.<br />
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The fact that my mother continues, without fail, to still love me and be proud of me despite of that, is why she's an amazing soul.<br />
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It's a small thing but I hope that the <a href="https://www.wattpad.com/404748682-do-celebrate-mom" target="_blank">letter</a> I wrote her through Wattpad's letter generator and this simple bracelet from PANDORA will remind her at the very least that I do think the world of her.<br />
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I hope you check out the letter generator here: <b style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"> </b><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.wattpad.com/PandoraDoLove&source=gmail&ust=1494280735538000&usg=AFQjCNES8y96jHoIJ3-RfAzDPAzzKyne2g" href="http://www.wattpad.com/PandoraDoLove" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" target="_blank">www.wattpad.com/PandoraDoLove</a></div>
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Send your Mom a love note this Mother's Day.</div>
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#PANDORAxWattpad #ad</div>
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<br />Ninya Tippetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00489922035777095433noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303086294033003735.post-47154428156677916872016-12-27T17:52:00.001-07:002016-12-27T17:52:18.981-07:00Review: It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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5/5</div>
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I used to buy every New Adult novel to come out on the shelves but I quickly lost interest. There were a variety of reasons. I didn't agree with a lot of elements pushed in that genre. A lot of the stories read the same to me. There was too much focus on writing sex.<br />
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This is first New Adult book I've loved in a long time.<br />
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I've read Colleen Hoover's earlier books but I haven't picked up a new one from her in a while. Then this book came out and there was just such an outpouring of 'must-read-this' persistence in the book world that I had to do it. I knew it was going to be a heavy read based on reviews so it wasn't something I wanted to squeeze in between work and my house chores. I planned to read it on my Christmas break and I avoided spoiler reviews to make sure I go into it with an open mind.<br />
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This isn't a simple love story. Yes, love is in the book. In fact, you will meet several different people who will show you that there is no simple, straightforward way to love.<br />
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But romance is not the core message of the book. It's so much more.<br />
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This book is what NA should really be—a discovery of one's self as life and the world and the people in it make themselves known to you in full measure, and the evolution that must follow after it.<br />
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Lily lived through a lot in this story, and not just in the past. Even in the end, you knew there was still so much she would have to live through but you were reassured that she had the strength to carry herself forward. Some of it was strength the past had taught her to have, and the rest of it was strength from what she had to learn for herself in the present. I was proud of her when the story was done. She wouldn't be your kick-ass I'm-going-to-win-over-the-world kind of heroine but she's one that many of us can relate to. One who dreamed and hoped for the best and marshalled through the worst.<br />
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She wasn't just one main thing. There were so many layers and dimensions to her. She was naive but honest, sweet and funny but also fiercely protective and realistic when she had to be. She had compassion and understanding even in circumstances when no one would fault her for not feeling either. She didn't have the answer to everything a lot of times and I didn't think less of her because of that because isn't that us most of the time in real life? I love how Hoover was able to really sink us into Lily's psyche so much that we were spared none of everything she went through—the good, the bad, the ugly.<br />
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I won't spoil this book for anyone but I'll agree with everyone else out there who is telling you to read this. There's a lot to learn from this book. If anything, it'll let you see the grays that fill many pictures—the kind we don't see unless we're in one of them. Because as I strive to show in my own writing, there is not a lot of black and white. It's easy to speak to a black and white scenario—to categorize your answers and would-be-actions in two columns without being confused or torn. No matter the similarities, every situation is different and the people who are in the heart of it are different. Which is why there is no one-size-fits-all rule for loving someone.<br />
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I hope you give this book a try. And I hope you tell others to do the same because it's a story that more people need to read and learn from.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">*image from Goodreads</span><br />
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<br />Ninya Tippetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00489922035777095433noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303086294033003735.post-17332756045963347422016-12-20T05:05:00.000-07:002016-12-20T20:47:39.145-07:00On Writing in 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Writing was a major part of this year for me.<br />
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It's a year when I really understood that this wasn't just a simple hobby anymore. I've found opportunities through it. I've made friends and seen places because of it. It's now something that I'm going to do my best to continue because while I'm not expecting miracles here, I know that I have readers somewhere out there enjoying every scene, loving every character and getting inspired with every story. And maybe that can be enough.<br />
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This year also brought on a lot of choices and changes for my writing.<br />
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Here are five of them:<br />
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<li><b><u>Outline.</u> </b> This is usually easier said than done but this has become such a critical part of my writing routine now. I start out with something pretty general in the beginning and as I write chapter after chapter, I streamline it. Towards the end, I'll write down all the scenes that definitely need to be included. This allows me to anticipate how much more will need to be written and when I'll be done. This way, I can tease my readers and build the lead up to the finale.</li>
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<li><b><u>Waste no idea.</u></b> I try to focus on one story but whenever an idea comes in, I take the ten or fifteen minutes I'll need to capture that idea along with whatever scenes or dialogue I come up with. I may let it sit for months or years but some of the stories I've recently come up with are from ideas I'd long ago written down. You just never know which one might turn into something.</li>
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<li><b><u>Pre-write and stick to the schedule.</u></b> With Wattpad's serialized method of posting stories, it's a good idea to have a schedule you can stick to. I get it—writers are creative people—but it's quite different when you have an audience that's trying to follow your story as you write it. I try now not to post a half-cooked story. I'll commit to writing a story that has a pretty completed plot in my head even if it's still quite general. At least I know that it's going to go somewhere. I also try to write a few chapters ahead, that way I'll always have content even when something comes up in the week or if I have to travel. My usual goal is to finish one chapter with each new one I post every week. I owe this to my readers. They're quite understanding but I try not to test their patience. You give them stories they love. They, in turn, support you.</li>
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<li><b><u>Write what's necessary. Don't just fill a blank page.</u></b> I'm notorious for my long stories but in the past year, I've tried to be more conscious about my word count. Sure, you can trim a story later but that can be painful especially when you've already invested time and brain power to write those scenes out. Also, reading other books and looking back on my own stories, I'm starting to see where I could've been simpler and more straightforward. So now, I just write what's necessary to the scene. Sure, I still try to capture what I can of emotions and general details but I try not to go on and on about something. I surprised myself with my current story. I thought, with the timeline, that I'd have way too many chapters but I don't. I picked my battles with which part of the story to tell. It'll serve you and your readers in the long run.</li>
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<li><b><u>Take it easy on yourself.</u></b> I can get something written under pressure and sometimes, it even turns out great. But I'm writing on the side and trying not to burn out. While I have a deadline every week both to finish a chapter and post one (these are often not the same), there are times when I just can't sit down and write anymore. Times when I have to live my life a little. So I walk away and do what I need to do for myself. The last thing I want is to resent writing so whenever I feel like I need a break, I try to listen to myself and take small doses of it here and there. That's better than burning out and needing to take a year off.</li>
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I hope these things help out other writers out there.</div>
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I look forward to even better writing habits in 2017 but these ones are probably going to stay with me long after this year is over.</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">*images from Pinterest</span><br />
<br />Ninya Tippetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00489922035777095433noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303086294033003735.post-46141585590292973122016-10-23T10:15:00.003-06:002016-10-23T10:16:03.574-06:00#ladylike with H&MIt should be no secret to anyone who's followed me for some time that I love fall.<br />
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I love the cool weather, the rich colors, the dramatic makeup, the fashion.<br />
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So it was only appropriate that I jumped all over the opportunity to write a bonus chapter for The Mischievous Mrs. Maxfield in collaboration with H&M that not only featured Charlotte being the embodiment of ladylike's modern definition but also some creative ideas on how to dress her for her first day in college.<br />
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So some of you may ask, what does it mean to be #ladylike nowadays?<br />
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My take on it is simple.<br />
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Being ladylike celebrates what every woman should be—smart and independent with a voice she knows how to use and with the confidence to embrace all her curves and edges.<br />
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This campaign wasn't around yet when I wrote Charlotte but I love how it defined her perfectly. Whether she's in pearls and pastels or jeans and sneaker, she's a woman who knows her worth.<br />
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My bonus chapter is in The Mischievous Mrs. Maxfield book as well but you can find it in H&M's campaign below.<br />
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<br />Ninya Tippetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00489922035777095433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303086294033003735.post-37144974281037398432016-10-23T09:59:00.000-06:002016-10-23T09:59:11.125-06:00Writing Online Fiction with Wattpaders<br />
The fact that there's so much we can learn through online classes and tutorials now makes me so happy.<br />
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When I was first started writing stories, I went with gut instinct and what I was familiar with from books I've read and loved. That was a lot of trial and error over the years and while I would say that it still works, there are some much easier ways nowadays.<br />
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So many people in the Wattpad community are always reaching out to me asking for advice and coaching on their writing and while I wish I could dedicate time to help out specific people, that's not always realistic so I was thrilled when Wattpad partnered with Skillshare to create some free online writing classes with some of the writers on the site.<br />
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The three ladies I'm with on the list are all extremely talented so I'm pretty proud to be in their company.<br />
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Click <a href="http://skl.sh/ninyaWP" target="_blank">here</a> to check out the classes from our group and see if it can help spark your writing!<br />
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<br />Ninya Tippetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00489922035777095433noreply@blogger.com56tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303086294033003735.post-38824556479068880302016-09-01T20:46:00.001-06:002016-09-01T20:49:06.166-06:00A Summer Storm<br />
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Just like any writer, I love a good story—whether it's in books or film... or both.<br />
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That's the case with The Light Between Oceans.<br />
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It started with M.L. Stedman's international bestseller which is now coming to the big screen with Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander who are two of my current favorite actors.<br />
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I'm always drawn to the idea that love holds immense power over us. A power so strong it can lead us to make life-altering choices that will steer our fates.<br />
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In a collaborative project with Wattpad and The Light Between Oceans production, I wrote a story that explored that idea of love and the kind of choices it compels us to make sometimes.<br />
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A Summer Storm is a short, bittersweet romance—one that could've tuned the way the cliche typically would after you've read the first part. But I'm incredibly proud that despite the difficult and painful choices my characters make, they eventually choose the light.<br />
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The story is in the profile page of The Light Between Oceans in Wattpad.<br />
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<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/story/81962109-a-summer-storm" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgticaeJs9HMaHtVm9FBYmQbDBfVbsDd_3S3jkA3f3xVk6ZEOY2-3oLiGQiCb8FtNWhRCE2N9NICdkl0UORR_6EmcOVCWQsPEkYLzmlk0f_R9_sanh3AScJQtkXzpul81l-KnAfD6pjc-mz/s400/TLBO+SUMMER+STORM+COVER.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
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The movie is coming out in theatres September 2, 2016.<br />
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I think I'm ready to be put through an emotional roller coaster just like my readers are when they read or watch something like this story...<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Images from wattpad and imdb respectively</span></div>
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<br />Ninya Tippetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00489922035777095433noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303086294033003735.post-72656552842928295182016-07-10T11:22:00.001-06:002016-07-10T11:32:06.551-06:00Influencing at the Banff World Media Festival 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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It's been almost a month since I had the amazing opportunity to sit on the panel for Wattpad at the Banff World Media Festival 2016. </div>
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I was there with LD Crichton, a fellow Wattpad Star, and the head of Wattpad Studios, Aron Levitz. We were joined by Justin Williams from Turner Broadcasting and Damon Berger from Fullscreen. </div>
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The morning of our panel, Wattpad made the <a href="https://blog.wattpad.com/2016/06/13/frights-camera-action-turner-joins-forces-with-wattpad-for-first-of-its-kind-collaboration/" target="_blank">headlines</a> by partnering with Turner for a collaboration on the anticipated M. Night Shyamalan's Tales From The Crypt. It was a blazing sign of just how much influencers have penetrated the traditional entertainment models and this concept was reinforced over and over again through other panels in the festival.</div>
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The message is clear and simple: Influencers know their audience and that knowledge and rapport can open so many other doors that traditional media wouldn't normally have access to. </div>
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There were a lot of great conversations during the festival with different industry people. It really opened my eyes to the inner workings of something so simple as your favorite primetime TV show or your mindless YouTube channel surfing. In the big picture, the audience is the pinnacle which we all aspire to reach and with the continuing shift in entertainment habits and growing accessibility to content whenever and wherever, the battlefield is starting to look different. The rules of the game are changing and strategy has to follow.</div>
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Overall, it was a lot of fun to be there both as an influencer and a spectator myself. I look forward to what the new ideas and fresh perspectives will bring to the market. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Building new bridges between industry giants and influencers</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Influencer content is largely due to audience feedback and it's as intimate a feedback as you can get which makes it solid gold.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Banff is just so lovely.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">If there weren't panels, there were parties.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Despite the hectic schedule, we managed to pose and snap pics. Brought my Macbook with me because there's no rest for the writer. </span></div>
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<br />Ninya Tippetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00489922035777095433noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303086294033003735.post-38669373955117279152016-06-16T22:42:00.003-06:002016-06-16T22:49:13.411-06:00Writing Workshop Session #1: A Writer's Voice<br />
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<a href="http://skl.sh/ninya" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBWbpMc9JbBr-L3frqNSG8yxT9kzwW8gk9F5wf2eTHFfiyhP9_YJ4za_ZTpbv2LfLZNS-ANE1PUl0v0qeIh2bCUZvwPEXH1Yb82xcsu7-o2Aod0WF8hfJJ2V8FZvV1mbNlYcHpU4jsoUA/s640/skillshare+pic+promo+new.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Just because it's in words doesn't mean it has no voice.<br />
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In a medium where the artistry is reflected in a vast collection of mostly plain words creatively strung together, it can be a challenge to make what you write stand out and seize a reader's attention.<br />
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This is where your Writing Voice can make or break your story.<br />
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<b><u>Why is it important?</u></b><br />
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Your voice is your brand. Whether you're writing for yourself or for clients, it distinguishes your style and delivers consistent content to your readers.<br />
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Your style is often an indicator of what you're passionate about. Passion intensifies the quality of your output, brings a little bit of literary magic and gives you the stamina to not only start a story but also finish it.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Nothing </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">sticks better than a consistent </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">message</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> or style. It's also what builds your readership. There should be something unique about your writing that they like, that they look for and somewhat expect in your story. Build a brand they can rely on to deliver a consistent quality of work.</span></span><br />
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<b><u>What is my Writing Voice?</u></b><br />
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There is no exact answer to this because it's often a combination of many elements, most of them coming from reader feedback. As a creative, it's tough to listen to criticism but to see your work through a different set of eyes can really give you perspective you may not normally have. So ask for feedback whenever you can.<br />
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Below are some guide questions you can ask yourself to get to know your brand of writing:<br />
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<ul>
<li>What stories do you enjoy reading about? </li>
<li>What are the top three things you get positive reader feedback on technique and style-wise?</li>
<li>What are your stories known for, whether it's good or bad?</li>
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<b><u>What now?</u></b></div>
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Just like in any good relationship, the process continues even after getting to know each other. It's the same with writing. You may already have a very solid idea about your style of writing or not have written enough to come to a conclusion. Either way, here are some quick tips to build the momentum from here on.</div>
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<ul>
<li>Allow yourself to start a new story without too many parameters. Start with whatever creative trigger you have—a character name, a story title, a scene, an idea or a dialogue line. Something must've been compelling enough about it to make you want to seek out a pen and paper. You can take that trigger and map out a Creative Brief to whichever direction your inspiration points you to next. </li>
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<ul>
<li>Write it down now and save it for later. Stories don't always come to us in a neatly-wrapped package. Sometimes, you don't have enough to take the idea and turn it into a full-fledged story. You don't always have to. Write it out with as much detail as your super-charged inspiration allows you to in that moment of pure creative rush. Use the Creative Brief to package the idea into something a little easier to use later on. Check your stack of ideas every now and then in case an old idea grabs on to you and gives you more to work with this time around.</li>
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<li>Build the characters piece by piece. If you have trouble figuring out their personalities or character type, write them lines you imagine them saying or actions you imagine them doing. Sometimes, these can reveal more about your character than a simple laundry list of attributes.</li>
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Writing is a very personal thing but I hope the tips above help. </div>
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Watch my free Skillshare class for a more in-depth discussion on <a href="http://skl.sh/ninya" target="_blank">Writing Voice</a>. It's a powerful tool for a writer if you know how to use it well.</div>
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Till the next session!</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Images other than the first one are property of their respective owners</span></div>
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<!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment-->Ninya Tippetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00489922035777095433noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303086294033003735.post-14433122240422836542016-06-16T21:45:00.003-06:002016-06-16T21:46:26.339-06:00Writing Workshop Sessions Start Now<br />
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I've withheld formal writing advice for so long thinking I wasn't an authority on it because I had no published book or writing awards to my name. But after writing on Wattpad for a few years now, I've learned a thing or two about writing in an even more challenging platform where your art is at the immediate mercy of millions of readers from all around the world. It's easy to get lost in its vast sea of writers and stories simply due to the sheer size of the community's population. Managing to steadily grow my readership and finding golden opportunities to partner up with brands despite all those challenges convinced me that I was doing something right and that I probably should share it with others.<br />
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I don't claim to be an expert by any means. This is one aspiring writer's advice to another.<br />
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It's free and hopefully, helpful.<br />
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So take what you can out of these Writing Workshop Sessions I'll be doing with a grain of salt and start telling your stories.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image from Pinterest</span>Ninya Tippetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00489922035777095433noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303086294033003735.post-47386612293205487252016-06-14T08:41:00.004-06:002016-06-14T08:43:57.284-06:00My Free Skillshare Class is now live!<br />
Hello everyone!<br />
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Today's a big day because my free class with Skillshare launched.<br />
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It's a short, fun class on your creative voice and how to use structure in organizing your story.<br />
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I really hope you check it out and learn something from it because whatever stage your writing may be, these tips apply.<br />
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I'll start posting some writing tips on my blog here soon for those who are always reaching out to me for writing advice. There will be more of that coming.<br />
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For now, enjoy this class! Find it here: <a href="http://skl.sh/ninya" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://skl.sh/ninya</span></a><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.skillshare.com/embed/video?sessionId=2447221&width=480&height=270&authToken=c3ad33bef6de9b07e238eb42a1cf13840263ae6a05b6126ad1b6c4d66e95c5c0" width="480"></iframe>
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Ninya Tippetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00489922035777095433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303086294033003735.post-40440182574658456802016-06-03T23:02:00.000-06:002016-06-03T23:02:06.057-06:00Wattpad Stars Invade the WP Headquarters <br />
I didn't really quite know what I was signing up for when I received the invite to tour the Wattpad HQ in Toronto but I knew it was something I couldn't possibly miss.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVaZj_jksgxB-ZZEHMqE7fKiUPaamORPAfDcnAxCHPYX15boQiY-vgJh0QFrpr8QxMhybppVwnHAn6X7NwAWNoGhi41PBRPmJhyphenhyphennDBWd5wLKqL-3FqC7BUEpm_uA_17Ltja55WgTtvtgx/s1600/WP+HQ+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVaZj_jksgxB-ZZEHMqE7fKiUPaamORPAfDcnAxCHPYX15boQiY-vgJh0QFrpr8QxMhybppVwnHAn6X7NwAWNoGhi41PBRPmJhyphenhyphennDBWd5wLKqL-3FqC7BUEpm_uA_17Ltja55WgTtvtgx/s640/WP+HQ+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Clockwise: 1) HQ rooftop with everyone still recovering from their travels; 2) 'Nuff said. 3) Toronto has some of the best graffiti I've seen; 4) Wind-blown but happy at the top of CN Tower. </span></div>
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In my mind, I was coming for two things: 1) Meet the amazing team I've been working with the past couple years and 2) Get to know other Wattpad writers who know what it's like.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Clockwise: 1) Farewell dinner at Hawker Bar; 2) CN Tower during lunch 3) Farewell dinner again; 4) Family picture; 5) Farewell dinner again</span></div>
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There were maybe about sixteen of us, mostly from US and Canada and a couple others from the UK. It was as diverse a group of genre writers as you could imagine—contemporary young adult, teen fiction, horror, fan fiction, romance, sci-fi, and fantasy, to name a few. And while many of us have never seen or talked to each other our entire lives before, the love for stories and the Wattpad experience brought us a bond we never expected. This might sound cheesy but for me, it was a precious opportunity because I don't know any other writer present in some immediate, relevant manner in my life right now. My husband is an awesome cheerleader (*except he can't dance and I'm not so sure about those short shorts) but it's different talking to other people who, like you, have stories, characters and dialogues swirling in their heads all the time. They had stories and experiences that some of us have learned immensely from, especially in being in a unique platform like Wattpad.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Clockwise: 1) At the Blue Jays vs Red Sox game; 2) Still enjoying the baseball game; 3) Oops, a double; 4) Amazing tour of the Trinity Bellwoods Park by none other than Aron Levitz; 5) The WP stars at HQ's kitchen/dining area</span></div>
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I was also pretty pumped about meeting Anna Todd. Took me the whole weekend to work up the courage to ask for a picture. But she was so sweet and we really learned a lot from her—from handling criticisms, appreciating the readers and fans, writing what you love and so much more. Despite her success, she was very down-to-earth and had a smile for everyone.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Clockwise: 1) The whole gang; 2) Finally, fan-girling over Anna Todd and snapping a pic with her; 3) Will never drink this Coke; 4) I need this clock in my life</span></div>
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We didn't just hang out at WP's HQ, which, by the way, is probably the coolest and funnest office I've ever been in. There was the book-signing for the writers who participated in the Imagines anthology. It was a weird experience for me, in a good way. I'm usually very shy when it comes to book-signings. I would never approach an author. I would hang back and creep around. But there, I was so excited for the other Wattpad Stars as it was their first book signing. There was a huge line-up of fans waiting and it was so sweet to see the interactions, the shy nudges here and there between friends, parents and kids, trying to encourage each other to muster the guts to ask for a picture. I never saw it from that perspective but I was glad I was able to. It cured me of my nerves, that's for sure.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Clockwise: 1) Fans excited to get those autographs; 2) The Imagines squad led by Kfan; 3)Fans of the Imagines anthology lining up for signatures with the Stars</span></div>
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There was also the Wattpad Stars AMA (Ask Me Anything). I honestly thought it would go on for much longer but that hour was still a lot of fun for us. Watch it <a href="https://youtu.be/-IEa38XzDB4" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">L-R: 1) CN Tower; 2) TMMM on one of the leaves running down the front staircase; 3) Cupcakes to celebrate the birthdays of a couple of Stars; 4) Best pierogies ever</span></div>
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We went out for a little sight-seeing around downtown Toronto, went to the obligatory Blue Jays game (and they won, yes! and apparently there was a streaker), and walked around Trinity Bellwoods Park. It was just plain good times with such a vibrant, creative group.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbt6SfwN86gzTTMlmzYZxina9Ii56IY1xnjw8kHyuHvAKs2WOQBTe_EkxIY96tLoXVPVa2UTJBSCZ7dDrDQnZPWjehEbgFdXhJXFaA5s0ekAWqbuMfp28PlEsPdgAXsiZCBJG2etxg2FJs/s1600/WP+HQ+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbt6SfwN86gzTTMlmzYZxina9Ii56IY1xnjw8kHyuHvAKs2WOQBTe_EkxIY96tLoXVPVa2UTJBSCZ7dDrDQnZPWjehEbgFdXhJXFaA5s0ekAWqbuMfp28PlEsPdgAXsiZCBJG2etxg2FJs/s640/WP+HQ+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">L-R: 1) Rogers Centre/SkyDome and CN Tower; 2) View from the CN Tower; 3) My knees were getting wobbly in the five seconds it took me to do this shot and I only had my foot out</span></div>
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We were all sad to say goodbye but it wasn't really farewell. For many of us, it's the start of new friendships and a march into the future that's bright and brimming with stories still to be told.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVCYplISo10aP63-wqtjTNUHUUFhxS7bWFVvJ9ca3H3qCK_gaBUrH3LYtuPgTRBw-rWkIZyLkWElg28fefjEkQFzEaMhidZozQwWfnu3ph8rYn34p6_4VKxW8n_sItdrpVqHfTnknUsNp/s1600/tt_360_052716_124402087_01_tt1sk61%2521%2521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVCYplISo10aP63-wqtjTNUHUUFhxS7bWFVvJ9ca3H3qCK_gaBUrH3LYtuPgTRBw-rWkIZyLkWElg28fefjEkQFzEaMhidZozQwWfnu3ph8rYn34p6_4VKxW8n_sItdrpVqHfTnknUsNp/s640/tt_360_052716_124402087_01_tt1sk61%2521%2521.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Team pic with Caitlin (our WP fairy godmother), the wonderful Ashleigh, the goofy Aron, and Allan Lau and Ivan Yuen who founded the company. </span></div>
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The WP Stars gang who came to Toronto:<br />
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<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/user/nonfictionalex" target="_blank">@nonfictionalex</a><br />
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/user/Fallzswimmer" target="_blank">@Fallzswimmer</a><br />
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/user/RebeccaSky" target="_blank">@RebeccaSky</a><br />
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/user/kfxinfinity" target="_blank">@kfxinfinity</a><br />
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/user/famouxx" target="_blank">@famouxx</a><br />
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/user/ShaunAllan" target="_blank">@ShaunAllan</a><br />
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/user/PeytonNovak" target="_blank">@PeytonNovak</a><br />
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/user/katrocks247" target="_blank">@katrocks247</a><br />
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/user/GregCarrico" target="_blank">@GregCarrico</a><br />
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/user/knightsrachel" target="_blank">@knightsrachel</a><br />
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/user/Pandean" target="_blank">@Pandean</a><br />
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/user/winx1348" target="_blank">@winx1348</a><br />
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/user/leigh_" target="_blank">@leigh_</a><br />
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/user/zaarsenist" target="_blank">@zaarsenist</a><br />
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/user/imaginator1D" target="_blank">@imaginator1D</a>Ninya Tippetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00489922035777095433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303086294033003735.post-4716704174691488912016-05-21T15:01:00.003-06:002016-05-21T15:02:00.549-06:00Review: Dirty by Kylie Scott<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBkztUf3k23ckwY3xvcTrdZZ-QUkfiiknNw2Jevw9ou5FtUc9PdqFhJncXdBGAuiJ3uTikLBYkMQHG9GSJ595wdK2CAUNOPsfOdOGO1gWESSSXv3HXmLZebMUYvjbUrKgpKDfsJOlnHYI/s1600/Dirty_book_Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBkztUf3k23ckwY3xvcTrdZZ-QUkfiiknNw2Jevw9ou5FtUc9PdqFhJncXdBGAuiJ3uTikLBYkMQHG9GSJ595wdK2CAUNOPsfOdOGO1gWESSSXv3HXmLZebMUYvjbUrKgpKDfsJOlnHYI/s1600/Dirty_book_Cover.jpg" /></a></div>
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4/5</div>
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I'm a big fan of Kylie Scott's Stage Dive series. I haven't finished Ben's book though. Something happened somewhere in the middle of it that just didn't motivate me to keep going. Eventually, I'll finish it but even if that fourth book didn't quite do it for me, I'm still a fan of the series, the characters and the writing. Scott is one of the best voices of New Adult out there—upbeat, blunt and funny. </div>
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There are no famous rock stars in this new book (well, there might be but this books' not about them) and I would almost say that the whole scene's been a bit scaled down. We're not out in the spotlight like we were in the first series but music is still definitely a huge part of it. This is a bit more about average people falling in love which can be refreshing in a sea of books about rock stars and CEOs. But just because they're more regular Joes doesn't mean the male lead isn't as hot as hell. And like most of Scott's heroines, Lydia isn't physically perfect but has the attitude and smarts to make her irresistible. This is one of the things that I adore about her works.</div>
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I'm not going to spoil too much of the story but Lydia and Vaughn's fast friendship quickly turns into more and not before long, they find themselves questioning the decisions they'd made before they met and the dreams they'd dreamed without each other. They're two people in very shitty times in their lives, both struggling for something, both insisting they don't need more than what they're settling with. </div>
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I enjoyed this story a lot. I read it during the flights to and from New York last month. The fact that I didn't finish this in one sitting signifies that I wasn't as obsessed with it as I was with the first three Stage Dive books but it was still a good, sexy, funny read and I'll definitely be picking up the rest of the series.</div>
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Ninya Tippetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00489922035777095433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303086294033003735.post-64526507962671164242016-05-09T21:18:00.000-06:002016-05-09T21:18:24.388-06:00Never Forgetting New York City<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXj8pHorFp2OKOSGP1XmueimMPWbzhz2UY1imzE6zLf4p85giu9_0WuxkHwOyOfVEGm9LwNpUMNcMJiceLwIdokKQjJ4e0M5HNXIzp43uPh0IZJcXdOlYm-RIE8xS3IWJl4sPRy_xbiG_/s1600/NYC+collage+with+effect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXj8pHorFp2OKOSGP1XmueimMPWbzhz2UY1imzE6zLf4p85giu9_0WuxkHwOyOfVEGm9LwNpUMNcMJiceLwIdokKQjJ4e0M5HNXIzp43uPh0IZJcXdOlYm-RIE8xS3IWJl4sPRy_xbiG_/s640/NYC+collage+with+effect.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I've always told myself that the first place I'd ever visit outside of the Philippines would be New York City.<br />
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Of course, that didn't happen because I first moved to Canada but nonetheless, it's always been on my bucket list.<br />
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It's hard not to be fascinated with the iconic city when you see so much of it in your beloved books, movies and TV shows. It's not just a place—it's a culture, a sense of identity, a catch in time where the old and new mix merrily, a world with its own beat.<br />
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I was lucky enough to have gotten the opportunity to visit with my hubby tagging along.<br />
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I'd already made him promise we'd go to New York when I hit the big 3-0 but since the opportunity came up, we thought we'd speed up the timeline just a little bit.<br />
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We only had a handful days there but we did our best to see and experience as much as we physically could. From pounding the pavement as we walked block after block to taking the subway everywhere and keeping pace with the hardworking locals, we tried to get a real feel of what it's like living in a place many people only dream about.<br />
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I would go back in a heartbeat because there's still so much to experience but even if the next opportunity isn't coming around anytime soon, I'm still happy we got to go.<br />
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Just as promised, New York City is unforgettable.<br />
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Its memories live in my heart forever.<br />
<br />Ninya Tippetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00489922035777095433noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303086294033003735.post-21552393607999767782016-04-03T20:02:00.001-06:002016-05-07T14:12:46.770-06:00The Home of a Heart on AZN ModernIn case you guys missed it, check out this article about The Home of a Heart.<br />
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That book is close to my heart because so much of it comes from my origins, my own life, my own love story.<br />
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To Filipino readers out there, check out its Tagalog version also in Wattpad.<br />
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Check out the article here!<br />
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<a href="http://www.aznmodern.com/2016/03/07/filipina-housekeeper-finds-love-on-wattpad/" target="_blank">The Home of a Heart at AZN Modern</a><br />
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Check out the story here!<br />
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<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/story/62803035-the-home-of-a-heart" target="_blank">The Home of a Heart on Wattpad</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_yIJLaP9ytWOYs-X2w2l-wz96Sh5icybbgrthrK9nSB1aUcSEl_mYoyYzlESYcDwjKObX2ccg40_UoiuyTRWPUctubxNHJouHmgLIe4DA1dkRRwCo_6qVoNMOJIKs-lN-xUTcNvLkiOg/s1600/Snip20160403_11.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_yIJLaP9ytWOYs-X2w2l-wz96Sh5icybbgrthrK9nSB1aUcSEl_mYoyYzlESYcDwjKObX2ccg40_UoiuyTRWPUctubxNHJouHmgLIe4DA1dkRRwCo_6qVoNMOJIKs-lN-xUTcNvLkiOg/s640/Snip20160403_11.png" width="624" /></a></div>
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<br />Ninya Tippetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00489922035777095433noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303086294033003735.post-2845017057454846572016-03-06T12:17:00.000-07:002016-05-07T14:13:15.116-06:00A Barrage of UpdatesHello everyone!<br />
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I know it's been forever since I've been here, thanks to some domain issues I wasn't technical enough to sort through.<br />
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The year 2015 has come and gone so we'll just start over in this new year where there are so many other exciting things to come!<br />
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Before we do, here are just some highlights from last year that might be worth checking out.<br />
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<b><u>1. The Mischievous Mrs. Maxfield on cosmopolitan.com</u></b><br />
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I was so thrilled to be featured at one of the most popular magazine sites in the planet.<br />
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Check it out through the link here: <a href="http://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/bedroom-blog/a49131/the-mischievous-mrs-maxfield-wattpad/" target="_blank">TMMM on Cosmo</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ARgN6UptTJ5e2-y8GEBBBaV17iwEHtriOf-q36A25xnOQUpU7AlE59Tls8O8PT9TUeLPEHXY-2CfuGd7JfDDewCYJQUOvctRH0AF4EcW1B0yQTJJRH3b-r8PxXG0AYrgC7IC8eG0NRp4/s1600/Snip20160306_4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="417" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ARgN6UptTJ5e2-y8GEBBBaV17iwEHtriOf-q36A25xnOQUpU7AlE59Tls8O8PT9TUeLPEHXY-2CfuGd7JfDDewCYJQUOvctRH0AF4EcW1B0yQTJJRH3b-r8PxXG0AYrgC7IC8eG0NRp4/s640/Snip20160306_4.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><u>2. A Year of Short Stories</u></b><br />
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I was excited to work with several brands last year, creating short stories that take readers into different worlds. I know I'm notorious for lengthy books but I was surprised to realize that I enjoyed writing short stories. I used to write them a lot in high school and college when I was writing for the school paper but it's been a long time. There's something about highlighting a certain arch in a story and capturing the essence of the tale in those few short chapters.<br />
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You can find them all through their links below!<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.wattpad.com/story/23102724-at-the-crossing-a-short-story" target="_blank">At The Crossing</a> inspired by the Nicholas Sparks's book and movie</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCiQfcgSF-FdrDaKRzsbAcu2KAAENvN_7yCfcYOd5jHARI4-D5sb_GZQBP1QBw5hBd_XAS2ghpHG-220_SWryXqYJBPMbMJ48sm_TZDqAWOJoKwW5PufYIWHeoFVQx0b_YNCU6SZh0-kw/s1600/Snip20160306_5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCiQfcgSF-FdrDaKRzsbAcu2KAAENvN_7yCfcYOd5jHARI4-D5sb_GZQBP1QBw5hBd_XAS2ghpHG-220_SWryXqYJBPMbMJ48sm_TZDqAWOJoKwW5PufYIWHeoFVQx0b_YNCU6SZh0-kw/s640/Snip20160306_5.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><a href="https://www.wattpad.com/story/34255737-designs-of-destiny" target="_blank">Designs of Destiny</a> inspired by the movie Age of Adaline</b></div>
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<b><a href="https://www.wattpad.com/story/54535958-pitching-happy" target="_blank">Pitching Happy</a> inspired by the the Lays Wavy experience</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-J50oQGkKS44L6t1-SH2i5n2APiiNY7KiEfNeolsvsGzyuj3pvufiwrcu3avgS6NkkXKC_ueEN7s73JbQD506ESZc91mALQRZGNdpzF6HDwATYEZgX1-vcXqgS6hyAG8n-8sBuHIuj4q/s1600/Snip20160306_7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-J50oQGkKS44L6t1-SH2i5n2APiiNY7KiEfNeolsvsGzyuj3pvufiwrcu3avgS6NkkXKC_ueEN7s73JbQD506ESZc91mALQRZGNdpzF6HDwATYEZgX1-vcXqgS6hyAG8n-8sBuHIuj4q/s640/Snip20160306_7.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><a href="https://www.wattpad.com/story/62803035-the-home-of-a-heart" target="_blank">The Home of a Heart</a> inspired by the CIBC's efforts to bridge the financial needs of family and friends worldwide.</b></div>
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<b><a href="https://www.wattpad.com/story/62803500-kahit-nasaan-ka-man" target="_blank">Kahit Nasaan Ka Man</a> is its Tagalog version which had been fun to write!</b></div>
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<b><u>3. New On-Going Story - When Stars Burn</u></b></div>
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I was so happy to have been able to start posting this story. Star is quite different from a lot of my female leads and her story reaches deeper into the shadows of our heart. I'm about halfway through this story and I hope to complete it by end of May.</div>
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Check it out through the link here: <a href="https://www.wattpad.com/story/55707764-when-stars-burn" target="_blank">When Stars Burn</a></div>
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Ninya Tippetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00489922035777095433noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303086294033003735.post-48010063682881993412014-12-02T21:03:00.001-07:002016-05-07T14:13:37.280-06:00Wattpad Writers Get to Shine!This may be a small thing to others but this is phenomenal news for me.<br />
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An article in Entertainment Wise featured Anna Todd's skyrocketing journey from Wattpad-writing to publishing success. It also went on to list ten writers that are up and coming in Wattpad.<br />
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It's crazy to think about it, especially considering some of the names that are on the list, but I'm quite pleased to find myself listed. To think this was just me finding somewhere I could write more freely at first.<br />
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Wattpad in itself has grown to an incredible level—ripe with talents and opportunities and still very much evolving.<br />
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I just count myself lucky to be part of that circle.<br />
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If you want to check out that list, here you go: <a href="http://www.entertainmentwise.com/feature/162667/Anna-Todd-After-Which-Wattpad-writer-will-follow-in-her-footsteps" target="_blank">10 Wattpad Writers That Could Be The Next Big Thing.</a><br />
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Congratulations to everyone on the list! =)<br />
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<br />Ninya Tippetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00489922035777095433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303086294033003735.post-23845971947683162662014-11-27T21:07:00.001-07:002016-05-07T14:19:09.573-06:00Review: Lead by Kylie Scott<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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4/5</div>
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Lead is the third instalment in Kylie Scott's highly addictive Stage Dive series.<br />
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This is my second review because after I read the second one, I was in such a crazy, euphoric state I couldn't write and then I put it off and never got around to it. Which is fine because now I have an excuse to read it all over again so I could give it a proper review as it so rightfully deserves.<br />
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I was so looking forward to Jimmy's story that I called up a dozen book stores within three cities to see which one would have it on launch date and then I had my husband drive us in crappy winter conditions to pick up a copy. It was worth it.<br />
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First of all, the whole cast of the series is a fun, cool group to hang out with so I was looking forward to seeing the lot of them again in this book. It was good to see familiar characters in the periphery without their stories flooding this one. I've seen it happen before and it's painful (Beautiful Oblivion, anyone?)<br />
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Now, Jimmy and Lena immediately intrigued me when there were glimpses of them in Play. For one, Jimmy was such an a**hole in Book 1 that it made me curious what it would take to turn his world on its ear. And Lena had me piqued with the cool chic-nerd glasses and the unflappable attitude towards Jimmy.<br />
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Jimmy did not surprise me that he was still the same jerk he was in the first book. He was clean but he was still a bit of a crude ass. While I personally do not care for the swearing and mulish attitude, it fit in with Jimmy somehow. He wasn't kidding when he told Lena he wasn't a great guy. But what I do find commendable in all of this is that Scott actually integrated Jimmy and the flawed, impossible and infuriating character that he's supposed to be in one seamless persona. He didn't read like a character with multiple personalities (the one the author wants him to be and the one he comes across as). I was quite convinced that Jimmy really was the kind of guy you wanted far away from you if you weren't ready for an exhausting non-relationship-relationship. That conviction is important because I wasn't sitting there thinking, 'God, Lena. He's the perfect guy for you and here you are just being dumb and clueless about it. What are you waiting for?' I really felt like, 'God, Lena. He is not going to be easy. Life with him isn't going to be a walk in the park? Are you sure you're ready for this? I'll hold your hand, okay? And call me the moment shit hits the roof and I'll come smack him.'<br />
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Jimmy, up to the last page of the book, remained the gruff, brusque, no-niceties kind of guy and that was alright with me. Lots of people wouldn't agree because love is supposed to transform that kind of guy. In reality though, love doesn't always have the magical powers of romantic fictional prose. I'm saying this and I write guys readers want to order off Amazon because they are modern-day princes. Some guys will always have a tougher exterior. Jimmy was neither prince nor poet. He was crude a lot but he didn't strike me as evil. Some days, you wanted to run him off the road but deep down, he cared and in time, we could only hope that his relationship with Lena, and the kind of stability he'd missed in the first twenty-something years of his life, would soften those rough edges. Doesn't mean he'd be polished and shined then.<br />
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It takes a certain kind of girl to take Jimmy by the horns because while in this modern day and age we like to say that looks don't matter, they do, at least superficially, and since we have layers to the soul, there will always be a superficial side to us. And Jimmy's rockstar looks and bad-boy vibe make a combination potent enough to at least distract you from seeing the full picture right away.<br />
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I actually really enjoyed Lena's character. She made me laugh so hard so many times. Her voice was vibrant and rich and highly entertaining. Her dry wit, self-depracating humor and sparkling comebacks made her the perfect antidote to Jimmy's overly brooding character. She spoke plainly, stirred him up and out and gave him sh*t when he deserved it. I loved how she was as a person. She knew her vulnerabilities and was very human about them. She had insecurities but didn't seem that hung up on them. She had bad relationships and terrible taste in picking people to surround herself with. While I couldn't directly relate to her exact example, I understood that many of us are like that in life in general—prone to the things we know aren't good for us but unable to stay far away for good. Sure, she gushed and pined for him but let's be honest here. Who doesn't do that (at least internally) when thrown in such close quarters with someone you want but can't have? I'm less sentimental than most people but I'm not made of wood. Lena wants love but she's had to toughen up. Anyone who'd suffered tough blows and got herself back on her feet because she deserved better would always be a bit of a contradiction that way. Lena knew she wasn't perfect but she was comfortable with herself and I liked that, no matter what body type her character may have been given. It's so easy as an author to decide to write about someone with body issues. You can tell a reader that. But it's an entirely different thing to make a reader feel what the character feels about who she is. There's an honesty to Scott's writing that makes her characters very grounded and relatable—even the rockstars. Lena embraced who she was, even her sexuality which I know lots of other authors write about in their books nowadays. I've read a book where someone's sexual liberation was so overly emphasized it felt like I'd stuck my nose right on an open bottle of very strong perfume. I get it, I get it. This doesn't have to sound, or read, like an oration of just how much you want to 'bump uglies' and how you should be able to do it all the time because you are empowered, etc, etc. Go, do it, whatever. I won't judge. But I won't sit here and have the knowledge of it crammed down my throat either.<br />
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So, back to the book before I start ranting about something else entirely... I loved how seemingly ordinary it started. I know some people seem unimpressed that there was no dramatic first meeting (although I personally thought their first meeting was quite amusing) or any grand falling in love twist. When they started out, they weren't heading there, which was a great thing sometimes because then it didn't feel too.. inevitable (which is a little ironic for me because I do want my romance books to feel a bit inevitable). It was like you could see it coming but with so many ups and downs, you could almost be certain that it might just not happen. I liked that it kept me on the edge, which was pretty much what Lena and Jimmy did to each other.<br />
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I enjoyed this story a lot because it made me feel a lot of things. The sex was pretty blunt and there was no shortage of dirty talk but that only made it more interesting than most. The dialogue was well-paced and felt easy and natural, even when they were saying incredulous things.<br />
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The end, while it was not the kind of declaration scene worthy of a blockbuster romantic comedy, felt pretty appropriate actually because I could just not picture out Jimmy doing it smoothly and perfectly. It would be too big a gap from who he was as a character if he suddenly swooped down in a horse like a white knight. It's just not Jimmy. But it doesn't mean he shortchanged Lena. While we mutter about his less-than-sterling manners, Jimmy really felt like he was struggling for ground when it came to dealing with people, not just women. You could feel him fumbling and finding no purchase sometimes, even with his brother. He still had a long way to go but coming to Lena like that was no small step. It was no big leap to prince charming either but it humbled him enough to own his actions this time around.<br />
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Ben's story is next and I think I know where it's going but as with the three Kylie Scott books I've read this year, I might still be very pleasantly surprised.<br />
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Read more reviews about it here in: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19286623-lead" target="_blank">Lead by Kylie Scott</a><br />
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<br />Ninya Tippetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00489922035777095433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303086294033003735.post-38987333850725985962014-10-14T20:34:00.000-06:002016-05-07T14:14:09.335-06:00The Best of Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>"Love like that doesn't go away. It's here with us forever."</i></div>
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They say first love never dies...<br />
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It only goes from one lifetime to the next.<br />
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Who could resist tales of first love? I know I can't.<br />
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There's something magical about first love—the ups and downs, the wrongs and the rights, the world and you.<br />
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Sometimes, the world wins. Sometimes, we lose the first thing we feel we can never live without.<br />
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And sometimes, we live lost only to find our way back again.<br />
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I love this story.<br />
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I love the fragility of first love and its incredible strength at the same time, enduring time and the worst and best of us.<br />
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October 17—along with Dawson and Amanda, we'll fall in love all over again.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">*Image from pagetopremiere.com</span>Ninya Tippetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00489922035777095433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303086294033003735.post-73382284751894221142014-09-27T17:56:00.003-06:002016-05-07T14:14:22.974-06:00Fall Flavors: One-Pot Autumn Herb Roasted ChickenI have a feeling I'm going to be talking about a lot of fall-related things.<br />
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It is my favorite season after all and there are so many incredible things to explore and enjoy in the next couple of months as the leaves turn crisp and dry and the world turns a rich palette of yellows, browns and reds, even if it's a bit more cool and gray.<br />
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I haven't made this dish yet but I have all the faith in prolific collection of unique and utterly divine-looking recipes from <a href="http://www.halfbakedharvest.com/" target="_blank">Half Baked Harvest</a>.<br />
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I've been following that blog for a while now and every morning, I click on the site and serve me a little food lust.<br />
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This one is a must-make in my autumn recipe-list.<br />
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Just look at it.<br />
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It already looks delicious and it's in one pot.<br />
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Go ahead.<br />
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Gush.<br />
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Eat with gusto.<br />
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Find the recipe <a href="http://www.halfbakedharvest.com/one-pot-autumn-herb-roasted-chicken-butter-toasted-wild-rice-pilaf/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">*Recipe and photo courtesy of Half Baked Harvest.*</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>Ninya Tippetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00489922035777095433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303086294033003735.post-88021071291862955352014-09-25T05:08:00.004-06:002016-05-07T14:14:42.373-06:00A Favorite Thing: Perfect Fall Coffee<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I love sleep but some nights you just can't fall or stay asleep. </div>
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I woke up at 3 a.m. and tossed around for a bit but no luck so I figured I'd sit in front of my computer and write. The bane of being a writer, I tell you. As much as I'd like to schedule my creative flow, it's very hard. When it hits you, it hits you.</div>
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What I wish I had right now is a nice warm cup of coffee, preferable a pumpkin spice latte.<br />
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Every fall, this gourmet coffee invades the world—from dessert to body lotions to scented candles. It does drive everyone a little crazy but I'm cool with it.<br />
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I love the season and everything that comes with it.<br />
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Since it's a bit early to be driving out to Starbucks, I'm just going to sit here and stare at pictures of the coffee in Pinterest until I could taste it in my mouth.... sigh...<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">*photo from dashing dish.com</span><br />
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<br />Ninya Tippetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00489922035777095433noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303086294033003735.post-16577379353421603672014-09-21T08:31:00.001-06:002014-09-21T08:31:31.268-06:00Falling for Fall<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I love summer but there is just something about fall that makes it so special. </div>
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I grew up in a country that didn't have it but since moving to Canada, I've had all four seasons and this is by far my favorite.</div>
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There's a certain understated beauty about this transition of time and temperature that transforms the world for a little bit. </div>
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It's here today and I hope it lingers its full season. </div>
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Happy Autumn!</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">*collages sourced from bloglovin.com, Laura Spellman and rebeccaVC1 on Flickr in their respective order</span></div>
<br />Ninya Tippetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00489922035777095433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303086294033003735.post-21308933858618446532014-09-15T19:49:00.000-06:002016-05-07T14:19:22.804-06:00Review: Dark Skye by Kresley Cole<br />
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3/5</div>
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So, I've been dragging this review for a while now.<br />
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I've read this over a month ago, pretty much the day it released and I devoured it in a day but I couldn't review right away.<br />
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I love the Immortals After Dark series. I love Kresley Cole's brand of writing—always full of attitude, humor and sensual undertones. It's always fun to read anything she's written.<br />
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The story between the sorceress Lanthe and Vrekener Thronos have been hinted at in several of the previous books and it has always intrigued me. He's always hunting her down, viciously as it was implied, and she was always running from him. Those little hints were already packed with potential for an extensive backstory.<br />
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And there was a back story. The preliminary chapters offered an almost bittersweet history to the two but it fell a little short in terms of how much it impacted me and my sympathies toward the kind of relationship these two now have many centuries later. Nonetheless, there was a lot going for the book to keep me glued for several hours straight and many times, I did swoon a little at some things about Thronos. I didn't really have too much of a problem with Thronos except that maybe, if he'd been so obsessed about Lanthe, he would've kind of picked up a little bit on the fact that she was being terrorized by Vrekeners. Thronos had a lot of redeeming qualities and personified the kind of alpha males many of Cole's books have—fiercely possessive, infuriating as hell but still pretty damn sweet.<br />
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As for Lanthe... Hmm... I liked pretty much every female lead in the past IAD books but I do have my favorites. Lanthe always struck me as the stereotype younger, more shy, more innocent sister but she had a lot of spunk on her own once she was free from Sabine's shadow—at least until much later in the story. I just don't know that a lot of it was in the right place.<br />
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I still enjoyed this book quite a bit. No regrets.<br />
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I would've given this four stars if it didn't quite become clear to me, so early in the story, that this book has more couple's therapy than an actual session or a self-help book—on top of the very established and empowered sexuality that Lanthe embraced.<br />
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I get it, Lanthe wasn't a nun locked away in a monastery somewhere remote wearing a chastity belt. I get it, she slept with a lot of guys and a lot of times, for the wrong reasons, and yes, I'm not going to criticize her for it. That's fine by me. I just didn't need to be constantly reminded every other chapter. I would've liked to have read more about the actual story. I hated those moments but some parts I felt like skipping through because I felt like I was watching a Jerry Springer episode. I wanted to read a sexy, exciting and highly amusing paranormal romance, that's all.<br />
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I felt that the book might have embraced Lanthe's sexual liberation a little bit too much. It's the modern day and age, sure, and we are all responsible adults who can make decisions about our lives. No one needs to tell you what to do. Lots of reviews of books nowadays loudly criticize 'slut-shaming' and I think this book was a bit in-your-face about not judging someone for the way they are. I wouldn't get in someone's face and tell them they have to lead a sainted existence so there is no need point a finger at my face and dare me to criticize Lanthe's choices. This almost felt a bit like 'virgin-or-less-sexually-experienced-adult-shaming' if I really wanted to go so far. But anyway, a little less of that and I might have actually enjoyed the story a bit more instead of wondering every few pages here or there if I even wanted these two to end up together.<br />
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And for someone who's so empowered in one thing, I felt that Lanthe still got a bullied around by Sabine and Morgana toward the end. Balance is a beautiful thing, you know, but I guess, how are we to love our fictional characters if not for their flaws, right?<br />
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I'm still looking forward to the next instalment. The whole series just feels epic even though this particular pair was a little less so.<br />
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I'm looking forward to Nix's story the most. So far, not a ton of hints as to who would steal the heart of this clever Valkyrie who has everyone moving on her chessboard like pawns in a game she's playing with an unknown enemy. God! Loved her little moment with the goddesses!<br />
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Read more reviews about it here: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18775652-dark-skye" target="_blank">Dark Skye by Kresley Cole</a><br />
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<br />Ninya Tippetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00489922035777095433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303086294033003735.post-58085016351175511992014-07-06T17:42:00.001-06:002016-05-07T14:19:33.897-06:00Review: Beautiful Oblivion by Jamie McGuire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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4/5</div>
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<b>***Spoiler Alert***</b></div>
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I'm not sure if many would agree with me but I think that despite the many mixed reviews, Beautiful Disaster most likely propelled the New Adult category into the spotlight. I read it and loved it, even when there were parts of it that I didn't always agree with. </div>
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I started reading Walking Disaster and stopped at the first couple of chapters because I was seized by this fear that I might read something that will move me out of my happily oblivious state and change my mind about Beautiful Disaster. I wanted to preserve that fascination and the reviews and ramblings of what followed in the rest of the series (and what little I had read of Walking Disaster) threatened it a little so I stayed away.</div>
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When I first heard that the rest of the Maddox brothers were going to get stories of their own, I sighed in relief because while the books are most likely going to exist in the same immediate world as Beautiful Disaster, it was going to be focused on new love stories with new people and new dynamics. It was a happy compromise so I went for Beautiful Oblivion the moment it came out. I drove to the next city to get the copy because all the other book stores near me haven't got their delivery yet. LOL.</div>
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Anyway, my thoughts on this...</div>
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I actually like Trent Maddox although I worry that he's forever going to be cast in the shadow of his more famous brother, Travis. He's a sweet guy (although it's totally unfair that he shamelessly relied on the cutest five-year-old girl in the world to win him a lot of extra points). He's got the same nasty, virulent, violent streak as Travis (because this is apparently a very Maddox sort of thing), a healthy dose of baggage that all NA male leads seem to have in excess, the possessiveness, the confident swagger, the to-die-for face and build, the reckless charm. I also like the fact that he's a little more grounded as a character, made more realistic by the fact that he isn't rolling in cash or has some fancy-schmancy job. Although I'm not sure how he makes enough money considering how often he goes out and gives away free tats but then he doesn't drive a swanky car or pay a fortune for rent. He's quite down-to-earth, funny and protective. </div>
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As for Cami, I'm a little more torn about her. She's drawn up to be tough and the drinking and smoking probably add the extra edge to her, along with her future tattoos. I liked her a lot of times, when she speaks up and puts her foot down but in pretty much half the story, she gets pushed around—by her boyfriend, her brothers, her father, occasionally her best friend, and sometimes, even by herself. It does make her a more complex character, giving her a flaw parallel to her strength which is hard to do but I'm just not sure that the two sides to her came together quite as smoothly to give her more pull as a character that readers would understand and relate to as well. </div>
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As for the plot, I will never be ashamed to admit that I like formulaic stories, mostly because I like to know that I'm getting exactly what I'm looking for. I'm not the type to find excitement in picking out a chocolate from a box and leaving it to fate to decide which one I'll get. I'm a bit of a maximizer that way. I like picking up a book and knowing that yes, I'm going to read about a modern Cinderella or a girl who's always been in love with her brother's best friend, etc. I loved the are-we-just-friends-or-are-we-more-than-friends plot of Beautiful Disaster. The push and pull, no matter how infuriating at times, really got me right there, smack in the middle of Travis's and Abby's drama. I wouldn't mind reading a story like that again. I just don't know that I would want to find it in another book so close to Beautiful Disaster that BD's plot was unfolding in the background of <i>this </i>story. I also wish I didn't know what was revealed about Travis and Abby's marriage in the Beautiful Wedding but it came up here.</div>
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This is where my overall feelings about this book get a bit tricky. Trent is a Maddox and I get that those boys share an overwhelming amount of similarities. I grew up an only child that this isn't something I can totally relate to but that's fine. The only thing is Trent is very much like Travis at times that their lines nearly echo each other in some parts, especially when Trent is trying to deal with Cami in where they stand exactly. I know a lot of stories are going to overlap in some plot dynamics, especially in romance, but I just found myself a little perturbed at times when I was reading this that I could hear BD's lines in the back of my head and I haven't reread that book in a while and I don't have the best memory in the world. I reminded myself that it was that plot that really won me over to BD and it shouldn't be something to complain about in BO (I really don't like this acronym, by the way) so I read on.</div>
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One thing that did distinguish this plot from BD is the presence of T.J. (if <i>presence </i>is what you could call it considering how absent he really was in the entire duration of his relationship with Cami that the book covered). Lots of people commented about this 'reveal' and it struck me as a little odd that it caught people by surprise because even though it's been a while since I read BD, something from there clued me in almost right away, as soon as T.J.'s identity was hinted at, about his connection to the main characters. It's not given away until you're literally at the last page or two of the book and I get that there are reasons why Cami didn't confess anything (even though it's not explained in this book) because it's probably going to be in future books but it's just a little weird that something that important a detail was hush-hushed all the way to the end. But enough said.</div>
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I would still recommend this book, especially to all faithful followers of the Beautiful Disaster series, because despite all the little bits here and there that didn't quite make it a perfect read for me, I still had an awesome good time reading it and really, those Maddox boys are going to cost you your heart at some point. A lot of issues that New Adult books should address (but many don't for which they are getting dragged through the mud) really got highlighted here: the struggle with second jobs, having to drag out college and taking fewer classes because you just can't afford both the time and money for it, dealing with a family you love and hate and who still think they've got all the say in your life when you're already out there trying to make your own way, opting to work where money's guaranteed instead of risking the stable income to try to finish your degree, etc. And of course, there are those toxic relationships a lot of people around this age get into, from which they would hopefully learn valuable lessons so they can use better judgement and make better decisions in the future. And trust me, there are some pretty toxic relationships in this story. There's a great cast of supporting characters and even their drama can get to you.</div>
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McGuire's work here bears the same brand of realness to the dialogue and the relationship-building that has appeared in her most popular work. It has the same edgy humor, the boldness of larger-than-life personalities, the bittersweet angst of first <i>and </i>true love that characters reluctantly resign themselves to eventually, and the same kind of slow, simmering attraction that burns right under the surface.</div>
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I'm so looking forward to the next Maddox Brothers book! </div>
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Read more reviews about it here: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18104607-beautiful-oblivion?from_search=true" target="_blank">Beautiful Oblivion by Jamie McGuire</a></div>
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<br />Ninya Tippetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00489922035777095433noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303086294033003735.post-10523739732327185102014-07-01T17:34:00.002-06:002016-05-07T14:19:51.905-06:00Review: Four Seconds To Lose by K.A. Tucker<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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4/5</div>
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Ever since I picked up K.A. Tucker's One Tiny Lie from an airport souvenir store a few months ago, I seemed to have developed the habit of picking something from her whenever I come across the difficult decision of bringing <i>one </i>book with me on my travel.<br />
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This time I brought Four Seconds To Lose and it didn't disappoint.<br />
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It holds the same signature Tucker employs in her previous books but this has a grittier side to it—one that Charlie glosses over in an effort to keep it out of her reality. Some might say it's an opportunity the author could improve on but I think the way it's approached, since the story is told between Charlie and Cain's first person POV, is effective because we feel it the way Charlie would like to feel about and <i>not </i>feel about it. Her reality is one she likes to pretend doesn't exist even though it would eventually catch up with her. I actually liked Charlie although I did get a bit confused in the end what her name really is.<br />
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And Cain's a great guy. He really is. It's hard not to like a guy who goes out of his way by a long stretch to help people out. Like most New Adult male MCs, he's got a lot of baggage but in this story, it didn't overwhelm his character.<br />
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I only wish that there were more moments between Charlie and Cain before the calm set in just as hell was about to break loose.<br />
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It was an addictive read and I felt the pull of both characters. I'm looking forward to Ben's story next!<br />
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Read more reviews about it here: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17571140-four-seconds-to-lose" target="_blank">Four Seconds To Lose by K.A. Tucker</a>Ninya Tippetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00489922035777095433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303086294033003735.post-53731739432607631892014-07-01T17:16:00.001-06:002016-05-07T14:20:05.478-06:00Review: The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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5/5</div>
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For years now, my reading choices have narrowed to one genre—romance—and I'm yet to regret it.</div>
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There aren't many other kinds of stories that interest me currently and I knew, while picking up this book, that it wasn't going to be my usual but I had a pretty good feeling about it. Maybe, in physically touching the book, some of the Roux family's magic seeped through my fingertips and granted me the same instinct that has taken so many of them down strange, tumultuous and tragic paths. </div>
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The lyrical, mysterious and whimsical quality of Leslye Walton's writing is the main strength of the book. And with that voice, she wove a story that transcends the stark, ordinary reality as we know it while letting you feel every raw nerve the layered plots hit each time. </div>
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The story is filled with so many people—beautiful, grotesque, broken, reckless, foolish, wise, all hungry—and they vividly portray a human condition that could never be fixed or improved because its very root is that fact that the culprits and contributors are all, simply enough, human. </div>
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I won't say too much about this book because I feel that I couldn't fully describe it. It is more of a life-altering experience than a mere read. It encompasses the many foolish and tragic things we do for love and the versions of it that we settle and waste our lives for. </div>
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In the end, it is a love story. Whose is a more complicated question to answer.</div>
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Read this book if you want to feel parts of your heart you didn't know existed to ache and mourn, and bits of your soul to let go and soar.</div>
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Read more reviews about it here: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18166936-the-strange-and-beautiful-sorrows-of-ava-lavender" target="_blank">Goodreads - The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender</a></div>
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<br />Ninya Tippetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00489922035777095433noreply@blogger.com0