Coming Soon, Songfics & tiredness

Alright everyone, sorry I've been kind of MIA again...at least in this perspective. At least I've kept up with responding to some of your messages, so that's good!!! =)

I'd like to take a moment to let you in on some secret stuff, which is why you all come to this blog in the first place, right? So here's the deal...and if you don't want to know this secret stuff and want to be surprised...stop reading now, I'll let you know when you can start reading again. 

So here's a bit of a secret, that I'm now telling you. I know already that the last chapter is going to for sure end with Leia's journal...although I might do it as the entire journal entry...or I might do all of Bespin in that fashion. But expect a LOT of Leia in those last couple chapters. I know...less Han...sadness, but what am I to do? He gets frozen in Carbonate for galaxy's sake! Anyways, after that final chapter...and here comes the really secret stuff...I will be leading into the next story. Now this story probably won't actually appear on Fanfiction until September at the earliest, because I want to get it written partly before posting, just so I can keep my head on straight once I get to the school year. This story is, as some of you already know, will be focusing on the time period between Empire and Jedi, and Leia's will to find Han. Now, I haven't read any of the books during this time period, but I am going to try and stay as close to what has actually happened as possible. But here are a few of the questions that are going to be answered in that story..."What are the odds of Han's survival? What does the High Council think of Leia's want to find the smuggler? Does Leia REALLY take a leave of absence? And what about Luke? Does he continue his jedi training during this time? How does he cope with the news he has just received?" The story itself is going to focus mainly around Leia's search for Han...and I can guarantee it won't be all sad...but there will be some tense moments and some hilarious ones thrown in there too. Like Lando's wearing Han's clothes...

Alright...if you didn't want to read that, you can start reading again. =)

Now, this is going to be a bit of a rant, not really because I'm tired, but we'll get into that in a minute. Anyway...Songfics. If you have talked to me personally, and I do have several conversations with many of you because I love meeting you guys and chatting and meeting new people in general, you might know that I don't pic songs to go along with my fanfiction. This goes back all the way to when I first started writing short stories (not that this story is anywhere near "short" anymore) on a site called Foopets. I always thought it was ridiculous that people would particularly have a song to go along with each chapter. Now, the background to it makes sense. I mean, some scenes in movies just NEED music to be right, but using modern day songs doesn't make much sense to me...even now after I've spent so much time on Fanfiction. But honestly, one my biggest pet peeves with writing is when someone uses a modern song IN their story. I HATE IT! Now, I'm not saying that all stories that use this are bad, in fact, there are some where the use of the song is very nice and I enjoyed it...but sometimes authors will have, for example, Han sing a country song...or Han sing in general. GODS, WHEN DO WE EVER HEAR HAN SING? I mean...Leia sang that one time in the Holiday special, but if you've seen that, you know how awkward THAT was. So how is that in character? Or when someone decides it would be a good idea to use a Disney song as the basis for a scene. As I said before, sometimes this makes sense. I mean...in Little Mermaid, when he's about to kiss her, "Kiss the Girl" makes some sense...but it's a totally different movie, with totally different characters and in a totally different setting. It doesn't make any sense in a story about Han and Leia.

Anyway, so to recap that, I don't like it when people use a song in their story unless it makes sense...which sometimes it does, and then it turns out nice. I mean, I myself have used music specifically in a piece of writing, but I always try to make sure it's in character. When I do use a piece of music for writing I go through it several times to make sure that it's still in character, because if it's not in character, I start over, and fix it. It's the number one priority...well, two I guess, because number one is making sure it's different from other stories. Either way, please don't use modern day songs in fanfiction unless it makes sense! I mean I don't think Han will be singing 'Boyfriend' or Leia will be singing 'Call Me Maybe' any time soon. Well...except for in that awesome Star Wars Call Me Maybe version...and if you haven't seen it, here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBM7i84BThE&list=PL07239155F39F57D7&index=14&feature=plpp_video

Also, speaking of awesome videos, if you have some time, I HIGHLY suggest you check out ApprenticeFacts by ApprenticeA productions and Corey Videl. Do go check it out if you love Star Wars! A fact a day for 1038 days! Link: http://www.youtube.com/user/ApprenticeFacts

And finally, tiredness...I am very tired. And so I shall go to bed, since it is now almost 1:30 A.M. and I have spent about half an hour writing up this blog post...because when I blog, I blog.

Goodnight everyone! I wish you lovely dreams about Han's hair and how soft it must be.

P.S. if you have a dream like that...please do tell. =) Also, please leave comments! I love comments! =) I have so very few comments! I know you are all there...reading this...SO COMMENT! PLEASE! You could leave a comment about your dream about Han's hair, or your opinion on Songfics! Or just leave a comment about your love of Star Wars...whatever is good for you. =)

Photography, Still Writing & Driving

I just wanted to give you all another update on what's been going on.

First off, I'm terribly sorry for the long wait on "40 Days". I've been so busy this last week that it's kind of ridiculous! Yesterday was the first day of the fair for me, meaning that I had judging for everything. I got first places all across the board, and also received a very special award...a state fair award on my enlargement in photography. This is pretty much the highest award possible for the county fair, and it means that my picture can go on to compete at the state fair starting next week. =)

And so, today is really the first time I've had time to do any kind of writing. I'v been keeping up with reading all of your lovely stories, and I plan to feature some of those in the next few weeks, because there are so many great ones! I really hope to finish the next chapter tonight or tomorrow, although I am having an extreme case of writer's block. The first part of the chapter is really cute, but I just don't know what else to write! LOL.

And finally, the second part of the best two days of my life...I PASSED MY DRIVER'S TEST! This means I am now free to drive by myself, and I am very excited. I'm like one of the last people to get my licence, and hopefully I'll have a car soon too!

I will try, as I said, to update ASAP. =)

New Chapter, Still Vlogging and Unnamed Stories

So I know I haven't posted since...the other day when I spent an hour working on writing up that giant "My Star Wars Story" but I do have some good news! I finished the new chapter today! Now, while I finished it, I might be holding it for another day just so I can spend tomorrow morning and early afternoon working on updating the rest of the story and working on the next chapter because I have very little time. I don't want to give you an surprises now though because it still very well might be up tonight, plus, thanks to half of the story being one scene (and you'll love it) I don't really have anything that I would be able to share ahead of time.

I am working on the vlogs, although I'm really not sure what I'm going to do with them. My computer is still not editing the videos, and I want to figure it out on my laptop instead of my home computer, so we'll see how that ends up working. I know I have to start soon though, and I've erased several videos already just because they are so old now and wouldn't make much sense. I'll get it done eventually though. I'm thinking that once school starts though I'll have to go to weekly vlogs just because I really don't have a lot of time and it would be more entertaining.

And lastly, I have been working on the next story. No, I unfortunately haven't been writing it, because I want to finish "40 Days" first so I have an idea of where I need to pick it up. On the other hand, tonight I will be working on notes and looking up pictures for the new story, which will hopefully be even more different than this story was for people. I can tell you this, but I will hopefully be releasing the full description at the end of the NEXT chapter, so not the one I already have done, the one after that, anyway...It's going to follow the storyline. So, logically, it's going to move from Bespin to their return to the Alliance, and follow through Leia's search for Han. I'm not totally sure how I'm going to write it, although I would prefer it be a different writing style than this story, although I'm thinking I'll keep Leia's journal no matter what, just because it offers a different side. Also, we'll be able to experience some characters we have yet to meet in my stories...like Luke, Lando and Rieekan. That should be exciting. Now, if only I could come up with a title. That would be very nice.

And so, that is about all for right now, although like I said, hopefully the new chapter will be up very soon. I'd like to thank all of you, like normal, for reading the story and this blog, and please, comment, follow me on Twitter and the other sites, and I'll talk to you soon. =)

My Star Wars Story

I have decided to write this post for a large number of reasons, but I'm not going to really get into all of that. This is, I'll tell you now, a REALLY REALLY REALLY long blog post...but if you wait about 5-6 days, I hope to have it up in vlog format on Youtube. We'll see how that goes. But if you want...go ahead, and read this GIANT post. =) It would make me happy!

Basically, everyone has a Star Wars story, and no, I'm not talking about my writing "40 Days" or about Han's Star Box, I'm talking about how I first got interested in Star Wars itself. There are so many Star Wars fans out there and every single story is different. Some are similar, some are totally one of a kind, but my story, I actually find it kind of funny.

For those of you who don't know, I am now 17, and I just "discovered" Star Wars about 9-10 months ago. Of course, I knew what Star Wars was, I just had never seen the movies, and I'll tell you right now...I honestly had NO idea WHAT-SO-EVER who Han Solo was...or that he was also Indiana Jones. I figure I should throw in here that I'm a huge Indy fan as well...and it was probably one of my first movie...obsessions...other than anything Disney. I watched it all the time, and when I was younger my favorite Indy movie was "Temple of Doom" although now I prefer the original "Raiders of the Lost Ark."

Anyways, so here's what I remember/thought of Star Wars one year ago...I remember when I was a young girl, seeing my dad get the Star Wars special edition DVD set (of which we still have) and that the cover on the ROTJ was green and had some dude called Luke Skywalker on it. I must have asked a little about it because I believe we watched all of, or a part of, Jedi sometime around there because I remember Darth Vader's helmet coming off and him dying...although he died differently in my head than he did in the movie. Either way, I also learned around that time that the Star Wars films were done "backwards", starting with 4 then 5 and 6, and then 1, 2, 3. I thought this was ridiculous and wondered why someone would do something so silly. Oh, and all of this occurred in my home office at my dad's desk. Why I remember that I have no idea.

Other than the Jedi cover being green, I remember a few things about the prequel series. I remember seeing Episode 1 at some point, but all I remembered from it was some guy has a lightsaber and there's a little kid that's named Anakin that lives in a desert that eventually becomes Darth Vader. Yep, that's about it. I remember a little about the second movie because I remember wondering how his hand got chopped off and thinking that it was bad that they were getting married even though they weren't supposed to. Now this brings us to the 3rd episode, which came out in 2005. Up to this point, I had never really seen an entire Star Wars movie and remembered what happened and understood...so my parents thought it would be a good idea to take me to see the final movie! Actually, it was more of a..."You're going to see a movie!?! I want to come!" and then my dad said "Sure" and I got to go. I really don't remember much about what I took away from that movie other than the guy with the purple lightsaber dies, the kid from the desert fights Obi-Wan Kenobi (because I knew who he was!) and then almost burns alive before becoming Darth Vader. I really don't remember ever realizing that Luke and Leia were born, but at that point the only connection I had with the originals was the fact that Darth Vader was Luke's father and Luke was the guy on the cover of Jedi. So that's about it as far as the movies go.

Now, what did I think about Star Wars in general? Honestly, I grew up thinking it was ridiculous. I never understood the appeal in something like Star Wars. I mean, blasters? People kill each other? Something about a senate? I mean...Darth Vader is cool and all, but what's so special. It just seemed weird to me. This is probably due to the fact that the really annoying and strange (yes...she's weird) girl loves Star Wars. At the beginning of my Sophomore year she was in my English class, and I remember we all had to bring in something that showed a hobby or something we love to class one day. She brought a Star Wars book and explained how she had like all of them, and I remember walking out of that class wondering who in the world could read such a thing. Now, I'll explain more about this girl a little later, just because I find that part of the story funny, but in general, I thought Star Wars was silly...sorry everyone, but as you know, my opinion is about to change!

Other than the limited movies I'd seen, and this weird girl, I had gone on Star Tours at Disney World once. Now, I have some pretty bad motion sickness problems, so you can imagine a simulator ride through the stars did not settle well with my stomach. I felt terrible the rest of the day, plus I didn't understand a thing about the ride (although now I listen to the soundtrack from that old version and wish that "LIGHTSPEED TO ENDOR" was still there...because right after he says that, the Han Solo and the Princess theme plays...and it's just missing in the new version!). I typically hated that park, the Studios, because there was very little for me to do there. We didn't always have time for Indiana Jones, I was terrified of the "Alien" section of the Great Movie Ride (and still am)...more on the GMR in a few minutes...the Tower of Terror scared me since I was little...and I will NEVER go on it, unless I am able to do so with some famous person or something...I couldn't go on the Rock'n Roller Coaster because of motion sickness, I don't like 3D movies much, so that takes out the muppets, and that's about it...unless I wanted to go on the Animation Tour, but for a young girl, that wasn't always interesting. There are a few more rides, but let's just say the park wasn't great for me. Plus, of all the parts of that park, I can't ever really remember going into the Star Tours section. I NEVER walk that way, I always go the other way, so I really had no connection to it at all.

Alright, so now that the past has been explained, let's get to the actual part of this story...how I discovered Star Wars. So in the summer of 2010, my parents sprung on my brother and I that we were going to go to Disneyland for the first time ever the following summer. Now, I've been to Disney World over 20 times, but only to Disneyland once...that summer of 2011, so naturally, my brother and I were very excited. We had pretty much no idea what to expect, but I was really looking forward to getting closer to the Disney heritage that is located there compared to Disney World...where Walt never walked. At Disneyland, Walt lived there, he created it, he walked it...and it just makes for a totally different atmosphere. Either way, we had 6 days in the parks, and probably around the 3rd or 4th day, we stopped in Tomorrowland for lunch. Our trip was right after the re-opening of the Star Tours attraction, making it Star Tours: The Adventures Continue. My parents and brother went on it, but I just walked through the ride to the exit because of my motion sickness...and that meant that currently the Jedi Training Academy was going on. So while we were sitting at the quick-service restaurant in Tomorrowland, we noticed something happening...the Jedi Training Academy. We were at a pretty good location to see it going on as well, so I saw as the Jedi Masters entered, and I watched the little kids train, and then Darth Vader appeared...FROM THE FLOOR! I just thought it was so cool. It was at about this point that I realized I never really had seen Star Wars. I figured, at that point, that since I love movies, I really should watch something like Star Wars, because it is such a popular movie series and we had them and I didn't really remember much and just thought that it was a good idea.

So at this point, it's just kind of in the back of my mind. We finished our vacation, which was amazing, came home, school started a few days later, I was busy with Band stuff (I was Vice President last year and president this year), and I really didn't think anything of Star Wars until late October. I remembered that I was going to watch them and so one night I had some time. I thought about it and figured I would watch them in order of Episode, so 1 through 6, not in the order they were made, because I wanted to understand the story. So I grabbed the DVD for Episode 1 and find it doesn't work. I was angry, but then I realized that we had a VHS copy of it too. I remembered seeing that version in the cabinet and thinking "Pfft...Star Wars." I searched it out, and threw it in my VHS player in my room, one of the two working VHS players in the house (the other is in my kitchen). I watch it and get to the point where Anakin leaves home, and considering the fact that previously this is all I remembered from that movie, I figured...that's the end! It certainly seemed long enough to be the movie. But no...it kept going. All I could think about what "This is soooo long. How do people like this?" Of course, my mind thought back to that girl at my school and I wondered how there could even BE books about this....and I made a silent wish the other movies were better.

So I move onto Episodes 2 and 3. 2 was ok, better than 1, that's for sure, but I felt it was still a little strange, and I had already seen all of 3, so it made some sense. I also just realized I forgot to tell you something very important about 3! When I did see it in the theater, there's this part in the movie where there's a thunderstorm...and as we watched it, there was thunder outside. So in the next scene, when there is no thunder, there was still thunder, coming from outside, and my dad and I were very confused. We later found out that there was a GIANT thunderstorm, with a Severe Thunderstorm warning and everything and found it amusing that there was thunder without a thunderstorm in the movie. Anyways, everything made a lot more sense in these movies, and I decided that Yoda was cool and stuff and that was about it.

Well here we are at Episode 4. I throw the disk into the DVD player in my living room and my mouth drops open at how different it is compared to the others. It's like a totally different series, but I watch anyway. But you see, here comes the shocker. My dad was just telling me the other day that when Star Wars originally appeared in theaters that the "shocking" scene for a lot of people was the Cantina scene due to the large number of strange creatures. I agreed, it was the most shocking scene for me as well, but in a different aspect. My mouth dropped open AGAIN as a certain character appears...

"I'm Han Solo, captain of the Millennium Falcon..." and on and on. I honestly was freaking out because it took me all of a few minutes to figure out and confirm that Han Solo was indeed, Indiana Jones. I was shocked. Now, I didn't mention this before, but when I was little, I had this major crush on Indiana Jones...so you could see how I was blown away to realize that here is the same guy in Star Wars...the thing I thought was ridiculous and silly. I move on through the story, and I pretty much start turning around. I learned, finally, who Princess Leia was, and I experienced the destruction of Alderaan for the first time. And then comes Empire. I believe I watched it a day after I saw the original Star Wars, or a week or something, but it was close. It was here that I thought Han was hilarious and such, but the "moment" where I fell in love with Star Wars and Han Solo is similar to many other people..."I Love You" and "I Know." I've always been one for romance, but that blew me away...I couldn't believe how adorable something like that was. And then he got frozen in Carbonate and I prayed, like everyone else, that he was alive. That movie was shocking to me not because Darth Vader was Luke's father, but because Han was gone...he was GONE!

It was the Saturday or Sunday after Thanksgiving when I finally got around to watching the last movie, because no matter how shocked I was about Han, I had very little time. I finally saw Jedi, and honestly got very confused about the ending, because it was NOT how I remembered it. I did on the other hand love the Han and Leia parts...and freaked out when she rescued him and he was like "Who are you?" and she was like "Someone who loves you" and he was all "Leia!" LOL, anyways.

There is a bit more to this story though, and this is getting really long, but I'll finish anyways. So since I had seen the movies, and loved Han Solo, I kind of looked on the internet for some John Williams music and such, and at some point, I came across the John Williams is the Man video made famous by Corey Videl. I loved the video, got it on my phone and listened to it until I knew the words. It really officially changed how I saw Star Wars. And then the following January as I traveled to Disney World again, I got some motion sickness medicine with a goal to go on Star Tours. I wanted to at least try it...and find three things, the Falcon, Princess Leia and Master Yoda (and yes, I accomplished it! I found all three). I would never be able to go on that ride without my motion sickness, but I was very excited and that was it...I loved Star Wars, although, not the prequels, and mainly only Han Solo, but how could you not love Han Solo?

Now, since then, I've seen Empire a ton of times, and Jedi probably almost as much, as well as the original a few times. I got my dad the Blu-Ray collectors edition for Christmas, mostly for my own selfish reasons of wanting to see deleted Han and Leia footage, but now we have it either way. I got into reading fanfiction somewhere in December I believe, maybe a little sooner, because I remember reading it in January in Florida, and I started writing in March or April. I forced my friends to watch Star Wars, and one of them is now crazy about Star Wars just as I am, and we regularly argue over who is better...Han Solo (YES!) or Darth Vader. We had determined that they really can't be compared because they are both so awesome (they ARE the top two Star Wars characters of all time, after all, and two of the three star wars characters on the top 50 heroes and top 50 villains from movies of all time...Han is #14 on the heroes list and DV is #2 on the Villains list). We also love to lightsaber fight, and we often "shoot first" going "BANG" at each other all the time. We also know the entire "I'm Han Solo" dance from the Kinect Game, and we love to do "FORCE CHOKE!" to one another. So we have a Han thing (shooting first) and a DV thing (force choke!).

Now, I promised I would explain two more things...the Great Movie Ride and the girl from my school. So back in December or so when I was listening to the soundtrack for Star Wars, I came across this part in the original theme that I knew from somewhere but couldn't place it. All I could remember was people smiling, and that made no sense at all. My brother eventually figured it out, it was part of the ending montage in the Great Movie Ride...and because before that I had no idea who Princess Leia or Han Solo was, and that's who is mainly in the Star Wars ending of the montage, I never placed it. I thought it was pretty funny eventually when I went in January and saw it again. Then I was the one smiling and laughing.

And secondly, the girl from my school. She really is weird, but I probably say that because she stalked me for a while, but here's the funniest part about her and this whole Star Wars thing. So a few months ago I decided to read a Han and Leia EU book...and I regret it. I found "The Courtship of Princess Leia" and figured I would give it a go. I could get it on my Kindle for free from our Library, so I did and read it and HATED IT. I couldn't stand the darn thing, but that's another story for another blog post. So after that I decided Tatooine Ghost might help, and it did. I read it, loved it, but still didn't understand how to read all of the books...although someday I hope to read the Han Solo Trilogy and such. Now, for the kicker. We were on a trip to the Library at a nearby college one day in January (so I must have read the books in late December) and when we came back I went to my English teacher's room...just to hang out for the last few minutes of the school day, and we were talking about books. The girl was there and the subject of Star Wars books came up because I was currently reading a book by the same author of the Han Solo Trilogy and she was all "I LOVE STAR WARS" and I was like, yeah, I read a couple and I found one of them terrible and so on and so forth. So we were talking and she was like, "Oh, what ones did you read?" and I was all "Courtship of Princess Leia and Tatooine Ghost" and she was all, 'Oh, I've never read those." I honestly almost burst out laughing because I was thinking of the day the previous year in English when were was all "I have them all!" We continued to discuss a little bit and I mentioned that my favorite character was Han Solo and she said her's was Anakin or something like that and about how the prequels were better than the originals and it was at that moment that I really thought this was funny. It seems to me that the large majority of Star Wars fans HATE the prequels...and that many true SW fans think the originals are the only way to go, myself included...not that this doesn't make you a true star wars fan if you love the prequels...I just think they really are better because of the quality of the story and movies themselves. Lightsaber battles mean nothing in the world of movie making. So yeah, here I am, standing next to the most irritating and strange girl in my grade that I always felt was in a little over her head with Star Wars, and I realize...I might be more of a original Star Wars fan than she is. It's funny when she comes and sits by us during our extended learning time, when many of us meet in the library at "our table" and laugh as I read from the Star Wars book about Jaina and Jacen, because we have a total of two Star Wars books on the shelves near us, and the second I say Star Wars, she's there...and then she gets all bored because I skip all the parts NOT involving Han Solo. And so, I'm not saying, in any way, that it's weird to like Star  Wars, because it's not...I mean, if it was I'd be calling myself weird. Maybe I used to think that, but it certainly isn't true now...although I will never bring myself to read all of the books. I'm fine with sticking with fanfiction. =)

And so, now that this is super long, this is my Star Wars story. I now have plenty of Star Wars music, I keep the original VHS collectors set of the originals in my bedroom, I write Han and Leia fanfiction, own a green lightsaber, have a friend we often refer to as "Darth Shovell"...and she has a red lightsaber, regularly refer to things in Star Wars terms, say Han Solo quotes ALL THE TIME and spend time working on a variety of projects, some of which are Star Wars related. I also follow ApprenticeA productions, home of Corey Videl (John Williams is the Man) and their daily vlogs as well as the ApprenticeFacts. I own two Star Wars t-shirts, one of the Millennium Falcon (you can see Jason wearing it in the "The Empire" music video on Youtube, and if you haven't seen it...go watch.) and a Darth Vader shirt saying "Vader is coming, look busy." I have a Star Wars mug from Empire that I bought in New York for 10 Dollars, an R2-D2 dessert cup (he's cute!) sitting on my shelf next to my Jedi and Indiana Jones Mickey Mouses, and I am currently working on learning Han Solo and the Princess on piano. I hope to attend Star Wars weekends at Disney World someday and hopefully get myself encased in Carbonate through the "Carbon Freeze Me" thing they had this year (hopefully they will have it again!) and I am just as much of a Han Solo fan as anyone else...and I pray that someday I'll be able to find a Han Solo picture or Star Wars poster signed by Harrison Ford to put on my wall. Oh, and lastly, I can do my hair...Princess Leia Rebel Assault (on Endor!) style!

If you have read all of this...I'm surprised, but thank you. =) If not, that's all good...I never expected you to. LOL. I told you I can talk a lot once I get going. Alright, I've spent like an hour working on this and I have to get up in like...7 hours, so I'm going to go to bed now.

A Few Days Off

So I've been taking a few days off...well, kind of. I've been working on some other stuff, plus yesterday was my birthday. So after a couple weeks of constant writing for "40 Days" I figured I could take a couple days off. I did get some work done, but I'm finding this next chapter pretty hard to write...yay for writer's block! I mean, the beginning of the chapter is pretty adorable and meaningful, it's just the rest of the chapter that I don't really know how to write!

Either way, I'll get around to figuring it out tonight hopefully. We'll see though. I have to clean my room and work on my woodworking project today...plus I would like to do some photography stuff tonight if possible as well as some other stuff.

And for those of you that don't know...cleaning my room takes a heck of a lot longer than you might think. I don't clean it very often, but when I do it means everything basically comes out and gets re-organized and I get rid of things I don't really need in my room anymore. I box a lot of stuff up and put it upstairs into our storage rooms...stuff of which I'll have to go through one of these days LOL. So I'll probably spend the rest of the day working just on cleaning.

Anyway, I just wanted to give you guys an update on what's going on so you don't start getting worried that there hasn't been another chapter for what seems like forever. If I don't finish it tonight I won't get it done until later this week because tomorrow my two best friends are coming over and Wednesday I am going out with them and two more friends too see a movie and hang out and then Thursday I'm working for several different things. Let's just hope I get it done tonight!!!

And here's a picture to keep you happy!

A Vlog, Recipes, Millennium Falcon

So I decided to start over with my Vlog just because it really wasn't working...but I'd like your opinions...would you watch my vlog on Youtube if I made one? I'll make this a poll too, so you can vote that or comment on this post!!! It should be super fun though! =)

I've been spending a lot of time working today, which is kind of funny because it's summer...I'm not supposed to be working, but I am! Our county fair is in less than two weeks now, and I have a TON to do!!!! I only have one project done, although some are foods stuff. I was working on my recipe box tonight though, but decided I am going to do it differently, so I stopped. LOL. That and the fact that I'm super duper tired!

And finally, I'd like to thank everyone for reading 40 Days, and this blog...because if you are reading this you obviously read the blog...so yeah! I'm planning on starting the next chapter soon, although I have no idea when "soon" is because I still have to clean my room, finish my recipe box, finish my pictures, make some food and stuff, and start a woodworking project! Plus, it's my birthday on Sunday and on Tuesday I have my two best friends coming over and then Wednesday I'm going out with them and two more friends to see Brave (again!) and hang at the mall...because that sounds like fun. =)

And so, I shall try to write, but I can't guarantee anything...but then again, maybe I get a break...I did just finish and post two chapters in less than 24 hours!

Two Chapters, Two Days and a New Cover!

I can't believe I did that!

I got TWO chapters done in TWO days! They are both posted and I'm going to be doing an edit read later tonight for the newest chapter to correct any mistakes, but it's there...and you can go read it! This one isn't quite as exciting as the last chapter, and the conflict is resolved pretty quickly, but I really like the ending...and it's just going to lead into the next chapter! Wait a minute...I actually uploaded two chapters within 24 HOURS!

Anyway, yesterday, as I was waiting for Fanfiction to update so I could upload the new chapter (#1), I finally got around to making the cover for Small Talk...here it is!

Happy Birthday Harrison Ford!!!

That's right, as much as we would prefer he stay young, today is Harrison Ford's birthday! And the worst part...if you don't already know...he's turning 70! It's quite the rage today though, even making it on the Twitter trending list, and for good reason!!!

And so, today I'm going to work extra hard on two things...number one, a short story involving, of course, Han...and his birthday! And secondly, the next chapter of 40 Days!

In case you didn't notice, a chapter went up yesterday, and it's pretty darn adorable if I do say so myself! LOL...I wrote it, but it honestly had me going "AWWW" at the end it was so cute.

Anyways, let's all wish Harrison a happy birthday, and many more!

New Chapter

Just thought I would let you guys know that I have the next chapter finished...but thanks to the fact that there are new site updates rolling out today, I am unable to update! This chapter is SOO adorable though...just in case you weren't excited! And so, for my blog followers, here's a little preview!

“Hey, you’re up!” Han said as he entered the cabin, looking towards Leia. He was carrying a small plate of food, probably her breakfast again, as she had tried to get a bit more sleep while he went out to start on work.

“Yeah” she responded, standing up from the bed, “I just woke up a few minutes ago.” Leia walked toward him, and the food now sitting on the desk, “Is that my breakfast?”

“It is Your Worship” he replied, grinning.

“I should probably actually come out for breakfast tomorrow, or Chewie and 3P0 are going to start worrying.”

“Nah, don’t feel like you need to. Chewie knows what’s going on and Goldenrod is…annoying like usual, so it’s probably better for you to avoid him.”

“You told Chewie about my nightmares?” she asked, biting into the bread he had brought her.

“Yeah, I figured he should know what all your screaming was and not get the wrong idea.”

She blushed, “Oh. Alright. I was going to…to tell him anyway.”

“You going to be alright in here alone so I can go work in the main hold?”

“I think I can manage Captain” she laughed.

“Alright then. You can come help me later if you want” he said, lightly kissing her forehead before moving towards the door.

“Han, wait…” she started.

He turned around, and there she was beside him, pulling him down into a forceful kiss. She instantly wrapped her arms around his neck and he pulled her closer, savoring the feel of her lips against his.

When she finally pulled away he asked, “What was that for?”

“I just wanted to say thank you for being there every morning.”

“Well it’s not like I’m far away from you or anything” he added, a crooked smile coming across his face.

“No, but it really is nice of you” she returned, giving him another light kiss. “You should probably get to work.”

“I suppose” he laughed, “but this sounds much better.” He kissed her again, but she pulled away, pushing him towards the door.

“Go, you have work to do! I want to finish eating and take a shower.”

“And after your shower you’re going to come help me, right?” he asked, still grinning.

“Of course, I wouldn’t miss it” she finished, turning towards the fresher as he walked out of the room.

And that isn't even the good part!!! Alright, alright. I'll stop teasing. The new chapter should be up as soon as possible! 

Vlogging, Writing, and Changes

So today has been an interesting day, but in a much better way than yesterday was.

Today I was trying to edit my very first vlog. That's right...I'm not only doing a blog and all kinds of other stuff, but I'm doing a vlog too. This is mostly to get some experience on camera before I do some other stuff this fall (which is all starting "production" next month so I can get ahead before school starts again! It's going to be about basically everything...it's just my daily vlog, which I was inspired to do by several people. I just figured I would enjoy vlogging as much as blogging, so I figure, why not? I was filming my second day today and it was honestly more fun, I really am starting to enjoy it! Hopefully Day one will be up sometime tomorrow on my Youtube.

So along with making that awesome picture this afternoon and working on the vlog, I also continued work on "40 Days" which is probably great for many of you to hear. =) I am at just over 1000 words right now and I'm hopefully going to finish it tonight yet after I finish writing my blog posts and updating everything. I feel like once the school year starts, I'm going to need to set aside like an hour for writing in general, an hour for updating everything on the internet, and then another hour for other stuff, and I can't forget an hour for editing! It seems like a lot, but it's all stuff I love doing, and I'm exaggerating a little bit. It obviously doesn't take me an hour to update everything, thanks to my fast typing, and I write when I feel like it. I couldn't just set aside a time to say, "I'm going to write now" because it wouldn't work.

Anyway, speaking of that, I'm working on many changes throughout internet sites right now so I can update everything so it's easier for me to use so I can get in the habit of using it so when the school year comes around again, I won't be totally disconnected from the world outside of school, my house and facebook. That's right...I'm going to keep this up this time, although I probably just jinxed myself right there.

Thank you everyone for your support through the last few days! It means a lot to me that I have so many people backing me! Although I wish you guys would comment more! LOL...I don't want to feel like I'm talking to myself! =)

A New Day

Today is, in every way, a new day.

I'm feeling much much better today, mostly thanks to the amazing comments from all you readers! Thank you so much! I will be continuing on 40 Days soon, probably starting the next chapter tonight. =)

The other thing I did today was make this picture. For a fair project, my brother is doing an enhanced digital image, and so I figured, why not do a Jedi and a Sith battling? You need to do a ton of editing to make this work...especially since the Sith and the Jedi are the same person...me! So before I could help my brother, I had to figure out how to do it myself, and that's just what I did!

Thank you everyone for keeping up with me, and for all the great messages. You guys really made my day. =)

The End of Another Day

Today has been extremely rough for me, for obvious reasons.

But, I'm sure you will all be glad to know that as of right now, I plan on continuing with 40 Days until the end...and will decide what to do after that when I get there. I ask that you continue to help me with the issue at hand today, and to continue reviewing...and letting me know if there is anything that seems directly copied.

I had a few people who really cheered me up tonight as well, and I'd like to say thanks to those people...they know who they are. =) They reminded me that people can complain about how this story has been done before, and that ideas used in it seem similar to those in other stories, but no matter what, this is my version of the trip to Bespin, and what really is important is that I wrote it and I'm honest about my writing...which I am, 100%. And finally, that no matter how many ideas are used in the story, it's always going to be about Han and Leia...no matter what. So let the haters hate.

Anyway, before I leave to go either work on 40 Days or head to bed, I thought I would share something I found on Pinterest tonight that really sums up today. I'd really like to point out the following part, "What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create Anyway." Isn't that what I've been doing? I spend hours on end writing these chapters, but yet something like that review threatened to destroy all my work overnight...but I'm going to keep creating, because it's what I love to do.

Thank you everyone for being there for me during this...as it really has affected me...and has had me at Rock Bottom all day. But thanks to all of you, I'm able to go and get along with my life...and put the past behind me. Thanks again! =)

Writng Fanfiction

I'd just like to say that I'm very upset still, and so what I am about to say is totally rant because of my anger.

I understand that I ask for reviews in general, good ones to keep me going, helpful ones to fix things, and bad reviews so I can improve my writing overall, but this is ridiculous. I'm just terribly upset about this whole thing. I mean, really? You have the nerve to tell me that of all the fanfiction authors that have written the Trip To Bespin, mine is the one that is copied? I try to keep it as original as possible, but with over 900 stories JUST on Han and Leia, there are certainly things that are going to be used more than once, and not just in my fics. I'm sorry that I disappointed you, whatever...maybe it wasn't what you are looking for, but telling me to "fix" my story so that it doesn't include Nightmares, journals, cooking, a wookie, a droid and a Han or a Leia, because it's been "done before" is my version of totally inappropriate. I'm just another author trying to write my version of the trip to Bespin, and I'm certainly not using other stories to write mine. I spent hours on these chapters and being accused of plagiarism is just...it hurts.

And now I don't feel like watching Star Wars, I don't feel like writing Star Wars (honestly I'm almost afraid to continue "40 Days"), I don't feel like reading Star Wars fanfiction...I don't even feel like looking at Han and Leia fanart (or on-set pictures). I feel terrible (almost like my planet has blown up or I've been tortured by the Empire).

Too bad I don't have any Han Solo to comfort me.

Maybe I should just delete 40 Days, delete this blog, and stop writing.

A Note: Please Read

This is a very important message, and is placed currently as a note on the story...please read. 

Today I received a review from a member I will leave anonymous, and I feel that this message goes to all readers, not just the reviewer.

I would like everyone to know that I do indeed spend a lot of time writing this story, and NOTHING is directly copied. Since this is a story that has been written before, there is always going to be some overlap. Han and Leia fanfiction is very common, and there will ALWAYS be something that is similar. I have read a lot of fanfiction on this couple myself, and many MANY stories use the same ideas. When there are hundreds of stories about the same people, eventually there are going to be similar ideas and stories posted. I mention even in the description to the story that I have seen this story done before. The trip to Bespin is probably one of the most popular Han and Leia fics around.

Again, everything in this story, as well as in my other fics, is written by me, and if something is specifically taken from another story, I credit that story in the chapter it is used.

If you find something that maybe I missed that is in your story or another story you have read (please be specific...many ideas are used by more than one author just because it is a story about the same thing), please let me know right away. I don't wish to make anyone unhappy, and I don't wish to be reported for something as silly as a word or two used in another story about the same thing.

This message was sent specifically in the chapter Nightmares (Chapter 28). I agree, Leia's nightmares have been done before, but I never meant to overlap anyone. This is not just used in my story, and it's hard to tell who the original author of the "nightmares" idea was. I can't say enough that I spend hours on each chapter writing them out carefully, and it is not copied from any other story, or used in reference to any other story.

Overall, if you can't tell, this review bothered me, and although I am unable to delete this story just because there has been more than one story about the Trip to Bespin and some of my ideas overlap, I felt the need to comment on it to everyone right away, because it is such a serious issue. There are probably 20 or more authors who have done the trip to Bespin, not just me.

I realize that this reviewer is just giving me a warning, but this story is not intended to be anything but my version of the trip to Bepsin. There are indeed going to be things similar to other stories, but I do not intend this to be used as a copy of any other story. Overlap tends to happen often when there is more than one story about the same topic, as I have said before, such as the Trip To Bespin. I have never had a problem with this before, so I see no reason for it to be a problem now.

And so, before you report me, please let me know if something is wrong and I will work to change it. I hope you all still enjoy "40 Days" and know that I am fully working to stray from other stories on the topic and make it my own. This doesn't always work, but I try my best.

Thank you for all your consideration.

-EpcotExpert

I would like to let everyone know that this review really upset me, and so I ask for your support at this time. I have put "40 Days" on hold until this issue is resolved, to give other authors time to respond if I have used something they felt was theirs to begin with. Hopefully this issue will be resolved quickly so the next chapter can be posted on time. Thank you everyone. 

Fanfiction Down?

I don't know about you guys, but it seems to me that fanfiction is down. 

This is sad due to numerous reasons. First, and most important to you guys, I finished the next chapter!!! You are in a bit of luck though, as I just sent it to my beta reader and won't upload until tomorrow sometime at the earliest.

Now, just to touch a topic that has been bothering me for a while now...

I know this blog is pretty new, and that I have a pretty small fan base right now, and that you don't all have a ton of time, but I'd like to ask you guys to comment on these posts! Right here on the blog! I do try to update about once a day, but it's dishearting to find no one responding...or sometimes even looking. 

I'm a very busy person, even now during the summer, and here's why...

I am in 4-H, meaning I do several projects for the fair. I've been working on them little by little, but I hardly have anything done, and I have some projects that I have yet to start. This is a big worry since the fair is in just about two and a half weeks. I have no idea how I'm going to finish this stuff! Along with that, I have several graphics projects I've been working on, such as my Disney Trip Bucket List...which you can find on my other blog Everyday Disney (www.everydaydisney.blogspot.com). That took a large portion of my day today! Next up is the one you all care about...40 Days. Lately, I've been writing a chapter every 2-3 days...and that's writing pretty fast. I am more often sitting at a computer than I am doing anything else (Excluding sleeping!) And finally...I am working on something new. I have always admired people who do vlogs...and in preparation for my trip to Florida, I'm going to try and start one...but it will have plenty of different sections. I hope to work on some of that tomorrow morning when I have the house to myself, as it's just easier when no one else is around. =) 

Anyway, so that's what I've been up to lately...and please please please leave some comments on here so I know you guys are alive! =) And finally, just to give you all a little sneak peek for looking at the blog...here is a selection out of the next chapter: 

____________________________________________________

“Han?” Leia asked. “How did you do the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs if a parsec is a unit of distance, not time. It’s impossible to…”

“Don’t you ever listen…I say never tell me the odds. Now, to answer your question. Thanks to the special modifications I’ve made to the Falcon, she’s able to navigate closer to black holes and asteroid fields than most ships. The average distance of the Kessel run while still in the save zone is 12 parsecs, but because I can cut so close, I can shave off half a parsec or so on the actual distance it takes me. Pretty tricky stuff, huh Princess?”

“I suppose that makes sense.”

“Well of course it does! I’m always…”

[We know Cub, you’re always right] interjected the wookie.

Han just smirked back at his co-pilot.

“Except for a few times” Leia pointed out, holding back a laugh as she ate another spoonful of stew.

“What are you talking about Your Highness?”

“Well, there was that time back on Yavin, when you said Alderaanian Wine…”

“That was an honest mistake Sweetheart!” he pleaded, “I’m not some expert on wine!”

“But you were still wrong!”

“Fine fine, so maybe I’m not right all the time…but I am right a large majority of the time. I mean, if I hadn’t flown into that asteroid field…like I knew we should…we would all be dead!”

[That was a very dangerous, but brilliant move] said Chewie. [I wouldn’t have done it…but it was smart.]

“See!” Han said, pointing a finger in the Princess’s direction.

“Well I have to say, it was a smart move, the empire was crazy to follow us, but you did admit that you might have made a mistake!”

“But I didn’t!” he argued, “I navigated us right through those asteroids…and look, we’re still alive!”

“You were just doing it to impress me.”

“I was doing it to save our skins!” he replied, and everyone was then silent for a moment. “Did it work?” Han asked, breaking the silence.

“Well yes, it appears we are still alive!”

“No no…I mean, did it impress you?”

_____________________________________________

WHAT'S HER RESPONSE? I'm so mean sometimes! Find out what her response is in the next chapter!!!

Everything

Alright, for those that didn't notice...I updated late Late LATE last night...because I love you all so much! LOL. Anyway, today I've spent my time working on some other projects, as well as getting totally distracted by Pinterest and CraftGawker! Pretty good day if you ask me!

Anyway, as I was searching through CraftGawker, I came across this picture...and what else could I think of if not "40 Days?" It's not the totally same quote, but it's so close that I just had to post it!!!

Also, There's a picture of a scrabble Love You...wouldn't that be cute to do something like that with "I Love You" and "I Know"???

Also...30 readers so far today! I'm amazed everyone!! Thank you so much...and please, leave some comments, follow the blog, etc. The more people I have commenting and following, the more I will be posting upcoming hints, pictures and more. Plus, I'd love to read and review some of YOUR stories...and then post them here so others can find you as well, because I KNOW (lol...I know) there are a lot of very talented writers out there!

Thanks again...and here are those pictures!

Official Cover & The Odds

The new chapter, "The Odds", should now be up. I posed it a while ago, so you should be able to read it now.

As I mentioned at the end of the chapter, I'm looking for a beta reader, and also, I'm sharing some light information on the next story. =) I know you are all excited to find out for sure what it's going to be, but I'm looking for ideas for the name! We're going to do a poll, but you won't find out the official name until the first chapter of that story is posted.

Here's the basic storyline: A story written through Leia's continued journal and light conversation narrating Leia's journey to rescue Han.

So if you have any ideas for that story title, please post them in the comments and I'll go through them and add the ones I especially like to the poll, where we will then vote for the official title. =)

Also new today is my cover for "40 Days." With the addition of the image manager on Fanfiction, I decided I would make a cover for on the site, so it's not just my profile picture. I'll be doing one for "Small Talk" as well, but here's the cover for "40 Days." It should appear on Fanfiction soon. =)

New Chapter Coming Soon!

I'm back!!!

I'm sure you are all very glad to hear that I am indeed alive...and not stranded on the Falcon at sublight speed in the middle of no where! I got back early Saturday afternoon, but I've only had some time here and there to work on stuff. I have a bunch of stuff to get done within the next few days, including pictures on Facebook, some Deviantart stuff for my recent photography, watch Star Wars (doing that right now!), and finish the next chapter, which is almost finished.

I have about 300 words left in it, so you can expect a chapter to appear sometime today. =) Since it's going to be up so soon, I'm not able to really give you any hints as to what to expect, other than a lot of arguing! This will be a much more...tense....chapter compared to the last few.

Wow...Han really likes to point his finger. LOL. He does that four times in his argument with Leia in the South Passage. And here he goes out on the Taun Taun.

Anyway, I really should get to some writing while Luke is on screen, and Han isn't. LOL. Here's a picture that I found today to keep you going AWWW while I finish the next chapter. =)