Ladies and gents,
Thanks for sticking in there with me. I know I haven't been around for a few months but I believe I am finally back now. I have a few new entries to add, I really need to update you all on book 2 and the beautiful art that's coming along with it! I really do want to make both books graphic novels but I have to start slowly. It's difficult starting out but I still believe that God has a purpose for these stories. That's why one of my priorities right now is to find a way to distribute these books for free! You heard me - FREE. Now this might just be to start out but right now I really just want to get Beautiful Sun: Boy Craze into the hands of kids, youth, and young adults.
This is a huge cause! This story may help change some kids lives, give them hope and most importantly help them to see Christ. But how do I get these books in large quanities? Lulu.com is the organization currently creating the book format but even I, the author, must purchase each book (at prices I don't really like). So I considered having people donate money for distributing the books - perhaps even sending a certain percentage of the donation to a Christian organization? Do you have any ideas for me? Would you donate if I had an easy online way for you to do so?
Suggestions are really needed, please reply or email me.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Random Update
I thought I would post a short and sweet update about the book since it's been over a month! Sorry guys and girls for leaving you hanging! Beautiful Sun's second book is in the making. A (probably) under-estimation would be a release of Christmas '08. Boy Craze sells have dropped a bit probably due to the author not advertising! Yes, I'm a bit frustrated at this but we are moving out of state and looking for jobs in Ohio without being there takes a bit of creativism of its own. However, I know that my supporters will keep up with me until we're settled. I believe things should be rolling again no later than the beginning of July, God-willing. :)
Thanks everyone, especially to jaems-kun for all the help.
In the meantime here is a lovely review by Ashley R. (this will be later placed in a Review section of the site):
"Beautiful Sun" is Beautiful
I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up the first book of the Beautiful Sun YA series, "Boy Craze". Yet, the moment, I began to read the story I could identify with the struggles faced by Saffire. Her story made me think about my own experiences. Like her, I was tormented mercilessly while in middle and high school. I would often come home sobbing, but since the school itself seemed to not take my harassment seriously, I was left to fend for myself, just like Saffire. The teasing itself was done realistically. How many girls are judged by their social rank or appearances in school? If you aren't in a group, you are left on your own and those that see you as weak will try to break you. But when they see you could serve some purpose for them, than you become someone with a face.
I liked how Saffire's teasing wasn't watered down - something that wound made the entire book a turn off. Kids can be crueler than adults give them credit for. So many parents will deny that their child is being mean, so they get away with it and leaving others with painful memories. As an orphan who chooses to be an individual, rather than a clone, I found her character realistic and refreshing. I've read too many Christian stories where the characters don't seem to be real. They rarely face adversity, and they don't seem to have a conflict that helps them grow mentally and spiritually. Saffire is a girl with dreams, and the desire for acceptance, something we all have. Yet, she refuses to compromise her faith. This is such a good message, especially for those who are struggling with trying to fit in, and not comprising their faith.
The only thing I would like to see more of is description of the setting, such as the location and such. I love the story, but I also want to know more about the setting. What kinds of plants does Saffire see? Does she live in a place that had lots or trees, or is it more known for its summer heat? I would defiantly recommend "Beautiful Sun: Boy Craze" by Rose Barnett, and will get the second book when it's out. It has a heroine that is realistic, so I will be eagerly looking forward to more books in the series. You can find out more about this series by visiting http://beausunnews.blogspot.com or buying it at www.lulu.com/4God
Thanks everyone, especially to jaems-kun for all the help.
In the meantime here is a lovely review by Ashley R. (this will be later placed in a Review section of the site):
"Beautiful Sun" is Beautiful
I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up the first book of the Beautiful Sun YA series, "Boy Craze". Yet, the moment, I began to read the story I could identify with the struggles faced by Saffire. Her story made me think about my own experiences. Like her, I was tormented mercilessly while in middle and high school. I would often come home sobbing, but since the school itself seemed to not take my harassment seriously, I was left to fend for myself, just like Saffire. The teasing itself was done realistically. How many girls are judged by their social rank or appearances in school? If you aren't in a group, you are left on your own and those that see you as weak will try to break you. But when they see you could serve some purpose for them, than you become someone with a face.
I liked how Saffire's teasing wasn't watered down - something that wound made the entire book a turn off. Kids can be crueler than adults give them credit for. So many parents will deny that their child is being mean, so they get away with it and leaving others with painful memories. As an orphan who chooses to be an individual, rather than a clone, I found her character realistic and refreshing. I've read too many Christian stories where the characters don't seem to be real. They rarely face adversity, and they don't seem to have a conflict that helps them grow mentally and spiritually. Saffire is a girl with dreams, and the desire for acceptance, something we all have. Yet, she refuses to compromise her faith. This is such a good message, especially for those who are struggling with trying to fit in, and not comprising their faith.
The only thing I would like to see more of is description of the setting, such as the location and such. I love the story, but I also want to know more about the setting. What kinds of plants does Saffire see? Does she live in a place that had lots or trees, or is it more known for its summer heat? I would defiantly recommend "Beautiful Sun: Boy Craze" by Rose Barnett, and will get the second book when it's out. It has a heroine that is realistic, so I will be eagerly looking forward to more books in the series. You can find out more about this series by visiting http://beausunnews.blogspot.com or buying it at www.lulu.com/4God
Monday, February 25, 2008
Beauty...the book
Beauty by Nancy Butcher. This is the latest book I've read besides re-reading Beautiful Sun book 1 currently.
Beauty is a mix between a modern story of a girl trying to please her mother and a medieval (or earlier) story of a queen and the princess who didn't wanted to be royal. If this sounds interesting to you, you may enjoy Beauty. Ana finds out early in her life that her mother, Queen Veda, does not like any challengers to her beauty. So Ana decides to make herself ugly in order to stay on her mother's good side. Yet all of her hard work (not bathing, eating pastries and dressing less than average, let alone, less than royalty) comes to nothing. Queen Veda seems to have better things to do than spend any time with her daughter. Since her husband died, Veda has to run the kingdom herself. But the book says little to nothing about the run of the kingdom as it focuses on Veda's overwhelming desire to be the most beautiful in the kingdom. So much so she's willing to kill for it. As the story goes along we find the main character and lots of other young girls (beautiful young girls) sent off to an academy that turns out to be a lot different than Ana originally thought. Soon Ana is faced with a situation that pulls her not only out of her ugliness, but also reveals the true leadership that she's hoping will never fall on her, to become queen.
The story isn't too bad, for a YA fiction. It's not so much the story but the delivery that spoils this fic. It's so long an drawn out for probably half the book. Seriously, the book has lots of background, lots of what ifs, ands, and buts...but no real storyline until about halfway through. You know it's leading up to something but nothing is actually HAPPENING and that ticked me off for most of this read. When something does finally happen, well the moral of the story soon degrades. You think it's about how there is beauty more than skin deep or that it's ok not to center your life on makeup, clothes, etc. Yet at the end of the book you are left wondering what the author is trying to communicate about beauty. The main character seems to yearn and want that surface beauty so much, it really kills the initial thought that the book would display beauty as more than surface or not something to covet. There is also a mystery character; well he's a mystery to me at least. They don't explain much about the beauty consultant and well he's kind of creepy. There's another part that is creepy in the book but gives me my favorite line from the story, "But she was already dead." Trust me, it's cool in an eerie way.
There are a couple of other things I don't quite get with this story either, but I can bypass all of it and just say, it's a not too bad story if you just want to read something. But truly, if you just want to read something (and get hooked, fall in love and maybe find direction for your own life while being entertained) I really suggest you pick up Beautiful Sun: Boy Craze. Purchase it at http://lulu.com/4God
Beauty is a mix between a modern story of a girl trying to please her mother and a medieval (or earlier) story of a queen and the princess who didn't wanted to be royal. If this sounds interesting to you, you may enjoy Beauty. Ana finds out early in her life that her mother, Queen Veda, does not like any challengers to her beauty. So Ana decides to make herself ugly in order to stay on her mother's good side. Yet all of her hard work (not bathing, eating pastries and dressing less than average, let alone, less than royalty) comes to nothing. Queen Veda seems to have better things to do than spend any time with her daughter. Since her husband died, Veda has to run the kingdom herself. But the book says little to nothing about the run of the kingdom as it focuses on Veda's overwhelming desire to be the most beautiful in the kingdom. So much so she's willing to kill for it. As the story goes along we find the main character and lots of other young girls (beautiful young girls) sent off to an academy that turns out to be a lot different than Ana originally thought. Soon Ana is faced with a situation that pulls her not only out of her ugliness, but also reveals the true leadership that she's hoping will never fall on her, to become queen.
The story isn't too bad, for a YA fiction. It's not so much the story but the delivery that spoils this fic. It's so long an drawn out for probably half the book. Seriously, the book has lots of background, lots of what ifs, ands, and buts...but no real storyline until about halfway through. You know it's leading up to something but nothing is actually HAPPENING and that ticked me off for most of this read. When something does finally happen, well the moral of the story soon degrades. You think it's about how there is beauty more than skin deep or that it's ok not to center your life on makeup, clothes, etc. Yet at the end of the book you are left wondering what the author is trying to communicate about beauty. The main character seems to yearn and want that surface beauty so much, it really kills the initial thought that the book would display beauty as more than surface or not something to covet. There is also a mystery character; well he's a mystery to me at least. They don't explain much about the beauty consultant and well he's kind of creepy. There's another part that is creepy in the book but gives me my favorite line from the story, "But she was already dead." Trust me, it's cool in an eerie way.
There are a couple of other things I don't quite get with this story either, but I can bypass all of it and just say, it's a not too bad story if you just want to read something. But truly, if you just want to read something (and get hooked, fall in love and maybe find direction for your own life while being entertained) I really suggest you pick up Beautiful Sun: Boy Craze. Purchase it at http://lulu.com/4God
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