Book Challenge Day 13: Favorite Writer

Juliet Marillier

This was an extremely difficult decision. First, let me list a few writers that are runners up: J.R.R. Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, Jane Austen, Sarah Dessen, John Green, Robin Mckinley, Sarah Beth Durst, Gail Carson Levine, and Mary Hoffman.

Among other writers, I have never thought of choosing a favorite, because each writer brings their own elements to their stories, and in many cases they can't be compared to writers. 

To me, writing is not just an activity. It is a way of life. There are so many layers to writing, and each author brings something unique to their stories.

But once I examined the number of times I read these authors' books, Juliet Marillier won. 

What I enjoy about Marillier's stories is the element of folklore and the powerful voice of the protagonist. She combines mythology, magic and the coming of age story into a powerful epic. Of the books I have read by her, I become completely emmersed in the world and the main character's role in the story. Listening to the character tell their tale is magical. 

Reading Juliet Marillier's writing reminds me of the stories I want to write, and the strong voice I want the main character to have. So with many favorite authors on my list, I chose Juliet Marillier because her stories balance the human condition with the elements of folklore. 

If you're curious, here's her website:

http://www.julietmarillier.com/author.html

Polyvore set for Paula from Cybele's Secret

I made a set for Paula from Cybele's Secret. As an accent to the story, I added a statue of Cybele, and a book to compliment Paula's character. The earrings reminded me of the headscarf  that she wears on the cover picture. Her signature color is blue.

Full set here:
http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=74638240

Jenica Polyvore set

This set was inspired by Jenica from the novel Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier. I added Gogu the frog, her best friend, and her fairy crown from the story. Her signature color is green.
View the whole set here: http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=74441837

Entering the Wildwood (Comtemplating Art)

Prompt courtesy of The Daily Writer by Fred White

Prompt: "Spend several moments contemplating a work of art of your choice, and then write a one-page story in which you enter that work of art. Describe how you interact with your surroundings."



Piece of art: Wildwood Dancing by Kinuko Y. Craft
original website: http://www.kycraft.com/detail_pages/wildwood-dancing.html
Inspired by the novel Wildwood Dancing by Julliet Mariller
original website: http://www.julietmarillier.com/books/wildwooddancing.html



The music came as I completed the puzzle. Distant sounds of laughter and the slow lap of water beckoned me to put my ear to the work and listen. My ear touched soft mossy green, and I saw a light in the distance. I was no longer in my room, the haunting melody grew louder as the light came closer. I could it hear it now, the language of the other realm. I took another step and realized it was water. The light was getting closer, but now I wasn't moving. I finally saw the outline of a boat, in the shape of a swan and a person made of wood rowing toward me.
"Ready to cross the Bright Between?" He called.
I looked around, and only found darkness from the other direction.
"Yes," I said with a shaky nod. Disbelief fading away with the steady tempo of the music.
As I reached the shore, the light revealed my feet, which were not in the tennis shoes I had on moments ago. Delicate sky blue slippers peeked out of a matching ballgown. I sucked in a breath as the boat pulled up to shore.
"The Queen was expecting your presence." The tree man said, holding out his hand. I climbed in the boat and watched the shore slip away faster than I had expected. Different lights came into view, tiny dots of orange and yellow. They formed a pattern while the moon peeked from tree branches illuminated just enough to appear like a shadow in the distance. Finally, I saw them. Dancers dressed in bright colors twirled and laughed. Some had masks and others had little or no human appearance. Musing with her guests and watching from the throne, the Queen smiled at me. As the boat pulled up to shore I saw other ladies like me, dressed in finery and arriving to shore. One young woman dressed in green stood patiently with a frog on her shoulder. She waited until all the boats were emptied, then turned and saw me.
"Hello. You've never been here before have you?"
"She is a special guest of the Queen," My escort spoke for me.
"My sisters and I have been coming here for many years." The young woman smiled. "No harm will come to you here. The Wildwood is always safe during Full Moon."
"Thank you." I said smiling. "It is an honor to be invited here."
"The Queen requests your presence." My escort said. He took my hand and led me around the dancers and musicians. The scent of flowers and fresh pondweed filled the air as we walked around the guests. I passed under a giant butterfly wing and passed several feathers until we finally arrived at the Queen's throne.
"Welcome." The queen stood, holding a scepter. The harpist next to her played a soft but happy tune that rang through the air.
"Once a year we invite someone new to the Wildwood to enjoy the delights of the Other Kingdom. You have been chosen as our special guest. Jena?"
The girl with the frog on her shoulder stepped forward.
"Show this young lady around. I'm sure she would enjoy a tour before her first dance."
"Dance?" I asked.
My escort smiled at me. "Your escort is allowed a special dance which you pick throughout the evening."
Jena nodded and took my hand.
"First I should introduce you to my sisters."
As Jena described each sister by name and interest, she occasionally interrupted herself to talk to the frog on her shoulder.
"Yes Gogu I was getting to that." she laughed.
"This is Gogu. He's been my companion for years now. He says it's an honor to meet you."
"It's an honor to meet you as well." I smiled at the frog.
After a few dances and stories around the edge of the forest, a white fox appeared in front of me. I excused myself and followed him through the dancers to a flowery patch of grass.
"Are you having fun?"
AN old woman with silvery white hair stood next to the fox. Although she looked frightening, I was only curious as to what she had to say.
"I'm having a lot of fun, thank you." I swept my best curtsey and waited.
She laughed, a loud and gritty cackle that echoed through the trees.
"I am glad that you have been dancing here, but you have not been dancing where you're from."
I looked at her. Her eyes were crinkled with an all knowing smile.
"Yes I don't dance there very often. I like to sit on the sidelines."
"This is very true." She nodded. "But you have yet to realize that you can dance. Remember this when you return."
I nodded, but when I looked up she was gone.
I walked back to the forest and found that Jena was looking for me.
"There's not a lot of time left." she said, "Where were you?"
"I found a white fox." I told her.
"Draguta's up to her tricks again is she?" Jena said while the frog moved on her shoulder.
"No Gogu. I don't think she meant any harm. Anyway, the last dance is for everyone to join in."
The music grew louder as we all joined hands and spun around. Once the dance was over, the Queen left and everyone waved goodbye.
I followed Jena and her sisters to the boats where our escorts were waiting.
"It was nice to meet you." Jena smiled, "If you're ever in the Wildwood again, look for us."
I waved goodbye as the boat pulled away. My escort smiled.
"It was an honor dancing with you." he said, "I hope you enjoyed your time in the Wildwood."
I may have replied but suddenly it was dark again, and the music was fading away.
The next thing I knew, I was opening my eyes and staring at the completed puzzle. As I got up and stretched, I could have sworn that the old woman in the picture winked at me, and I could still hear a soft hum of music.

When the moon is full
And the door is found
Five sisters walk down a staircase
Where water meets the ground
A frog prince and friend
Visit the wild wood
Until the night's end
Privileged to dance
Among fay and legend
Story and myth
Instinct and thought
Their fate is decided
Through wisdom of heart

Writing Prompt 8

Prompt: Choose your favorite book. Then, write a first-person narrative from the viewpoint of a minor character.



She was at it again. You wouldn't expect my older sister to freak out if you had known the way she acted a few weeks ago.
We were on our way home from Dancing Glade and neither Tati nor Jena wanted to go. Tati was wrapped up with her new found love Sorrow, while Jena looked around frantically for Gogu. Gogu is her pet frog, and all of us had decided to accept the way Jena talked with him and acted as though the frog was human.
For example, when Gogu jumped on the table while Cezar went on one of his rants, just after father left, Jena stared at the creature like she had been slapped. The interesting thing about Gogu was how welcome he was at Dancing Glade. All our other world friends called him "young master" and "your lordship". To be honest I thought that was cute.
Unfortunately I have a long way to go. While Tati and Jena absorb themselves in personal problems, the rest of us sisters must keep things normal around Piscal Draculai. Being thirteen can make this a little difficult.
First is Tati, the eldest just turned sixteen. She used to talk and laugh with us, but now she seems off in her own dream world. Then there's Jena. Jena has always been father's favorite and she seems the most responsible of all of us. The way she acts, you wouldn't guess that she is fifteen. She takes care of father's business and now she seems to take care of us more than Tati. It is a shock when Jena freaks out. She never freaks out. After Tati and Jena comes Iulia who just turned thirteen. She's ready to be a teenager. I'm next and considered the scholar of the family. My name is Paula. I go to dancing glade for different reasons than my sisters. While they dance, I enjoy a good debate with astronomers and the fay folk. My youngest sister, Stela makes flower chains with fairies and always follows the basic rules: No drink or food, no straying on the path and always leave when we have to go.
Jena was not obeying this rule at the moment. She asked everyone left and right about Gogu while the rest of us tried to find him by the boats. The rest of us except Tati, too occupied with Sorrow. It was times like these I felt blessed to be sensible.
"Let's go". I told Jena while she argued with Tati about leaving. Finally, we all went to the boats and made our way across the in-between, the portal from their world to ours. I glanced at Jena and wished I hadn't. Never had my sister looked more miserable. By the time I get to the dock, Jena and Tati are arguing again. Now my sisters were scaring me. Tati refused to leave Sorrow while Jena screamed for her to join us at the door. Then, a peculiar things happened. While they argued, Jena stopped and looked in the direction of a small and fast moving object.
"Gogu!" She screamed.
"The portal is closing." I reminded both of them.
As we put our hands on the door, a silent and strange understanding passed between Tati and Jena. All I could do was watch and wonder why both of them acted as though the world would end when they separated from their friends. Jena's case was more strange than Tati's but I couldn't help noticing the same tie between Tati and Sorrow, with Jena and Gogu. By the end of that night, I felt like Jena had abandoned me from the side of reason into the bizarre world of emotion.