Zelda

Zelda says uncanny things. Painted fingers stroke a ball that contains the universe, if you look closely enough. And look closely she will, at your behest. Her kohled eyes dim with futurous light, reflecting candles and mystical aethers. Her face pales and lips murmur, communing with spirits, or maybe just herself as she tells you what she knows. Some things you'll want to hear, some seem impossible. Others break your heart and you find yourself thinking of ways to beat the prophecy. Zelda is at once a terrible and wonderful experience. She is impossible to wholly believe, but also impossible to ignore.

*~*~*~*

Tada! That's Z! Thanks for coming along for the ride this month! It's been so much fun and I've learned a lot. Hope you enjoyed, and let's keep in touch :)

This month I am participating in the April A-Z Challenge! My theme for the month is ‘character development.’ Some days will be exercises from John Gardner’s The Art of Fiction, others will be profiles of characters from my book Armageddon: Pick Your Plot, and some will just be random characters I make up. I hope you enjoy!

You

Hey You!
Yes You.
I want to tell You something - You're pretty cool! This morning You got up, had your day, and some how have found yourself here. You might be someone who is participating in the A-Z Challenge - if You made it this far, congratulations! You're almost done! Or maybe You are a friend from Twitter, or FB, or maybe even a real life friend! Welcome. :) 

I most sincerely hope that You are doing well, and that You enjoy what you read here. This blog, after all, is mostly for You. OK it's partly for me since I like to play with words and have a spot to communicate with friends and family. But it's mostly for You. I always hope to make You smile, or laugh, or think. (and sometimes convince You to buy a book ;) ) 

Anyway, I just wanted to take a moment to acknowledge You, gentle reader. Because You're pretty great and I appreciate the moments that You come to visit my little corner of the interwebs. Thanks for the support with A-Z, and the super-amazing visits during the Blitz last Friday! 
~AJ

This month I am participating in the April A-Z Challenge! My theme for the month is ‘character development.’ Some days will be exercises from John Gardner’s The Art of Fiction, others will be profiles of characters from my book Armageddon: Pick Your Plot (paperback, Kindle), and some will just be random characters I make up. I hope you enjoy!

Xavier

Francis Xavier hates students who question.

(That's a little shout-out to all my CMH peeps!)

This month I am participating in the April A-Z Challenge! My theme for the month is ‘character development.’ Some days will be exercises from John Gardner’s The Art of Fiction, others will be profiles of characters from my book Armageddon: Pick Your Plot, and some will just be random characters I make up. I hope you enjoy!
This post also brought to you by..

Wes

**It appears that I am being blog blitzed! Oh my! Welcome everyone, I am so happy to have you here :) Hope you enjoy Naturally Sweet and come back to visit often!**

We knew Wes was different from the time he was a toddler. He'd sit, tiny curls brushing florid cheeks, intently focused on a speck on the floor. It was as if he could see the universe in that small spot. He loved to be read to and would spend long minutes babbling out his own stories. Wild hand gestures and big eyes told of the import of these stories. It was impossible to focus on anything else. As he grew, his depth increased. His teachers told us of moments that he'd seem so far away, only to snap back to attention and give a thorough and complete answer. They'd see him at recess 'preaching' to the other children - holding them rapt with his stories and graceful charisma. We had endless conversations about morality and free will, thinking surely our child would grow to be a preacher or philosopher. He's a good man. A strong, moral man. And so I plead with the jury to be lenient. He would never hurt those people! He's not a bad man! If he did what you are saying it was surely because he believed it was in their best interest...

This month I am participating in the April A-Z Challenge! My theme for the month is ‘character development.’ Some days will be exercises from John Gardner’s The Art of Fiction, others will be profiles of characters from my book Armageddon: Pick Your Plot (paperback, Kindle), and some will just be random characters I make up. I hope you enjoy!

Vera

She ties her shoes... deliberately, just so. Stands up, straightens her blouse, and checks her hair. There is comfort in old habits. Vera walks to the kitchen and makes breakfast. She barely counts the scoops of coffee as they spill into the filter; the grains trembling in time with her fingers. She stirs her oatmeal as the coffee brews, its complex smells awakening simple memories of morning conversations and late-night contemplation. Vera goes for her daily walk and says a prayer, thankful for another day of sunshine and memories.


This month I am participating in the April A-Z Challenge! My theme for the month is ‘character development.’ Some days will be exercises from John Gardner’s The Art of Fiction, others will be profiles of characters from my book Armageddon: Pick Your Plot, and some will just be random characters I make up. I hope you enjoy!

Underling

They clipped my wings, and forever sealed my fate as an Underling. I was a servant to my Lord, most devoted. But some thought I was trying to rise too far. My beautiful wings, they said, might make people think I was above my Lord... so they destroyed them. They cut me and made my wings non-functional, and trimmed the beautiful ends off my feathers. It will take years to regrow them. My Lord does not seek me out as he once did; my lack of beauty offends him. Even my song does not sound so melodious, as my gestures do not flow with the music, and my body tells no story.

This month I am participating in the April A-Z Challenge! My theme for the month is ‘character development.’ Some days will be exercises from John Gardner’s The Art of Fiction, others will be profiles of characters from my book Armageddon: Pick Your Plot, and some will just be random characters I make up. I hope you enjoy!