2017 Discoveries

I am totally mooching off Katie Grace today!! She wrote this epic, gorgeous post about her findings of 2017, so this post is springboarding off that because I've been sick all week and am hard up for ideas ...

Before we get started, please note that I'm not guaranteeing a 100% clean and happy media. Just things I really enjoyed overall, often with some self-editing. Only the ones I'm featuring are actual recommendations from me to you, complete with warnings. Be careful with the { A L S O } sections ;)

{ A R T I S T S }

Ludovico Einaudi // Nicholas Yee // Audrey Assad // Imaginary Future // Shawn Mendes

{ S O U N D T R A C K S }

La La Land // Imitation Game // The Village

{ S O N G S }

By Night ~ Sophie Hutchings // Thy Will ~ Hilary Scott // One Call Away ~ Charlie Puth // Monody ~ The Fat Rat + Laura Brehm //  // I Choose You ~ Sara Bareilles

{ Wonder Woman }

Let me first make it clear that I'm more of a Marvel person than DC person. Actually, I'm more of a Captain America person than anything else ;P But this movie. Oh. My. Goodness. I had such high hopes, I was afraid to even watch it. HELLO, it delivered.

It did not push feminism or "girl power." It had the Greek mythology element and seemed pretty historically accurate. 

I was afraid Wonder Woman would be unbelievable, but she's not human. So I bought it ;) Ares was an actual character, which kinda pops any Christian bubble, but the messages were spot. on. Diana is pretty naive and she's appalled at the evil Ares has caused (the war). The points about love and human nature as she grows were really excellent.

And it came this close to making me cry in the theatre. Totally loved it. So don't believe all the media flack the actress and her role are getting. That's because she did a nice job without being pushy.

{ Murder on the Orient Express }

I freely admit I have not read the book. But I did see the original "classic" movie, so I had certain expectations. While you didn't get to know this incarnation of Hercule Poirot as well, I really enjoyed this movie. Kenneth Branagh always does an excellent job. The acting from everyone (even actors I don't really like) was superb. And the scenery and cinematography was pretty epic. The story hold pretty true to the other movie, so I'm guessing it holds pretty true to the book? This one was a little more fast paced in the unravelling of the murder, so a little more captivating of a drama. And that's all with me knowing the outcome as I went into it. I would definitely watch it again!

{ A L S O } 

Beauty and the Beast // Age of Adaline // Zootopia // Safe Haven // The Zookeeper's Wife // Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

{ The Crown }

There's not even much I need to say here. It's Queen Elizabeth II gaining the throne and the sacrifices that requires. Often it's the country or her family as she struggles to balance being a wife and queen. When she can tell Parliament what to do, it's hard not to treat her husband like a subject. ;) It's a slow drama, but I was shocked at how much history I learned and the acting is absolutely phenomenal. It's the Netflix Original that has redeemed all the other Netflix Originals. xD

Read a parent's guide before watching this one. You'll want to avoid some brief nudity in the first two episodes. After that, it's relational stuff and perhaps some mild language. Worth the watch for sure, but you've been warned. ;)

{ The Good Doctor }

My sister and I are watching this one as it airs on ABC through Hulu right now. I can't believe how much we enjoy it! What am I saying? It's Freddie Highmore (only the best child actor on the face of this planet) is now grown up, autistic, and American. Two of those are a put-on, but I could watch him act for forever. As an autistic surgical resident with quite the past, you'll learn medical things and become greatly attached to all the sweet characters. Pretty sure at least five of the seven episodes so far have made me cry? Yeah ... But it's worth it! xD

As for content, there's been one pretty gory episode, but I'm the world's most sensitive person. And there are some extramarital relationships going on behind the scenes in a few episodes, but I think they might actually be going good places at this point. There's also been one episode that was just pretty gritty in the nature of the diseases.

{ A L S O}

A Series of Unfortunate Events // Anne with an E // A Gifted Man // Suits // Lost in Austen // Agents of Shield Season 2

I picked six of my 5 star reads from this year to share with you here. (I promise I don't rate every book that highly. I hit the jackpot this year.) 

I'm not going to discuss any of these at length since I've already done that in my monthly newsletter. (Yes, you're missing out. The sign-up is in the sidebar. xP)

The images link to Goodreads where you can find my reviews.

    

    

     

And there you have it! What are some of your favorite watches and reads of the year so far? Give me all the recommendations!!!

ALSO: If you were the awesome person who suggested the title Behind the Act as a replacement for Matinee Regulars, I love you xD Because I'm seriously considering that one. For all the rest of you, honest thoughts on that option?? Thanks!

The Signature Contest + A New Title

I am so excited about today's blog post! I've got two announcements in store for you guys, neither of which will work without your participation!

First off, we have a signature contest. This idea came to me a few weeks ago, when I was randomly doodling one of my character's names over and over. As much as I might try to write it differently, it always looked like my handwriting.

Well, I have this thing for staring in awe at all the ways different people write the same things! (Don't ask, it's a quirk.) So that led me to thinking: why not have signature contests?

I think handwriting says a lot about a person. So I'm going to give you my characters "profiles" telling you how I perceive their handwriting (and therefore signature). They will be released one at a time throughout my social media accounts. But it's up to all of you to sign the names! You can do as few or as many as you'd like. It doesn't have to be a work of art, although you're welcome to do fancy lettering if you want to. All I need is a photo of your signature of the character's name.

There is no right or wrong here, as it's a matter of your style matching my character's style! So please don't get self-conscious and refuse to join in the fun!

As much as I'd like to give you all my characters for every story I've ever thought of ... I shall refrain. ;) Instead, I'm going to be releasing one profile at a time through my social medias (like the one above). You can reply with your photo in the comments, send them to me through a Google Hangouts chat, or through email (abiclaire98 at gmail dot com). If you want to post it on social media, please use the hashtag #sigcon and tag me @abitheauthor to make sure I see it! :)

My goal is to release one new profile each week (not sure how many I'll do yet) and announce my selections around the new year.

I know, I know. What's the prize? The prize is that you and your signature will get featured in the back of my book once it's published as a little extra for the reader.* And I will send you a handwritten thank you note signed by me for your effort!

*I guess I can't guarantee this if it becomes traditionally published. But you will at least make it in the acknowledgments and get a thank you note!

The second event of the day is much simpler. All you have to do is vote on a new title for Matinee Regulars. If you're particularly attached to that one, I would like to know, but at the moment I think it's too obscure and cryptic to actually catch a reader's attention. (It doesn't tell you much out of context.) I've been tossing lots of ideas around and I'm not 100% sold on any of them. But if all my potential readers are, then we're set! :)

The book has a smalltown, old-timey vibe in a modern world with a disgruntled young adult. Or at least that's the goal. So the title could hint at that? Or the cover alone could make it clear. So many decisions!

Below are just a few options I've come up with. Any other suggestions or feedback would be extremely welcome! I absolutely despise titling things. -_-

If the embedded form didn't show up, then click here. I'll take your thoughts for ten days (through Nov 21) and then make a decision!

Thank you for reading! Are you going to participate?! The more the merrier, so please feel free to share this around with any of your friends who might be interested! Be looking for my first character profile this Tuesday, November 14. :D