Story Excerpt: Pearl

“Excuse me?” Pearl said to a young man whose face contorted into confusion.

“What the hell do you want Pearl?” He spat and she took a step back.

“My locker?” She asked and he rolled his eyes. He pointed to a row of blue lockers against the wall and walked over to a locker. He titled his head to the side and raised his middle finger to her locker.

“Here you go your highness,” He crowed as Pearl walked over to the locker.

“Look its Pearl the nerd!” A voice crowed at the end of the hallway.

Pearl trembled as she tried to unlock it. She ran her hands across it and it illuminated in a spot. She placed her hand and it glowed a bright green color.

“Welcome student 00010101” A voice whispered and the locker door opened.

Pearl overwhelmed with everything decided to place her head into the dark blue locker door. Her body collided into the metal and she groaned in pain and fell to the ground. Her glasses smashed onto the tiled floor and she tried to get up when she heard a roar of laughter.

“Cut it out, Dot!” A voice cried and Pearl felt herself be lifted onto her feet. The hands adjusted the skirt and placed her glasses into her hand.

Pearl placed the broken glasses on her face to see a spider web cracked in the right lens and the puffy hair girl, April from her photograph.

“April?” Pearl asked.

NaNoWriMo 2018 Winner

NaNoWriMo 2018

The fastest I have ever completed a novel in my life.

Story Excerpt: Blue Blood II

Excerpt from Chapter Four

Evee leaned against the pillar out of sight as he opened the door.

“Hey!”

Evee heard, and recognized the voice. It was the blonde from the bar and she held back her chuckles. She knew that the blonde would lose her shit if she saw Evee in the house but Evee was surprised that she was the one friend that knew where Hawk lived.

“Hey Lucy,” He mumbled and placed his hand against the pillar to block her view and entrance.

“Uh can I borrow some sugar, and some time?” Lucille said and she stepped on her toes.

“I can't,” Hawk said and struggled to get rid of the peppy blonde figure.

“Hawk come on, you blew me off for that stupid city chick and now you turning me away, why?” Lucille asked and Evee popped her head on Hawk’s shoulder.

“Hey I started the shower, I’ll be waiting okay?” Evee purred as Hawk chuckled and Lucille's face dropped.

Evee could see the tears build in her blue eyes and her lip trembled a bit. She actually felt bad for her because she knew she wasn't staying to be with Hawk. This girl had a chance. However, her case was the most important and she knew she had to bring Delilah down.

“Oh hey Barbie,” Evee teased and Lucille threw her phone at Evee’s face.

Evee moved out of the way as Hawk shoved Lucille out the doorway. He slammed the door shut as Lucille banged on the door screaming and crying.

“I am so sorry I didn't think she would react like that,” Evee said as Hawk locked the door.

“Lucy and I, we got some history,” Hawk stated and Evee nodded.

“I’ll actually start that shower,”

He continued and walked away from the screaming. Evee heard vibrations and looked down on the floor. She reached down and picked up the cracked iPhone but gasped when she saw Sadie’s picture with the name Desiree calling.

NaNoWriMo 2018: Preptober

Goals 2018 - 2019

 

Its that time of the year where my best friend and I do our Goals for the year! This year had more personal and less goals. So this might be edited.  

1. Send out Query Letters  
2. Win a Writing Award [Accomplished May 2019]
3. Bigger Apartment
4. Bigger Family
5. Submit to a Writing Contest [Accomplished August 2019]
6. Travel outside of NYC  [Accomplished June 2019]

Story Excerpt: Job Interview

The sound of my nails clicking against the keys in the room boomed as the hours dwindled down. No one informed me that four years of college doesn't exactly lead to your dream job. Instead, I stared at the coveted degree hanging on my wall with disgust. I had spent the last few weeks bundled in a blanket, consuming my weight in Cheetos and applying for jobs on my trusty but failing laptop. I really needed a job more than anything.

When I first began the job hunt, I applied for my dream jobs at all the top publishing companies with high hopes. However, as the weeks went by and the rejections came in the hope began to drown in shots of whiskey I could barely afford. At this point, I applied for anything, in the building I hoped that I could even enter but even then, nothing came through.  

I could hear the keys within the front door and sensed that my roommate, Marisol had come home from a day of work. One of us had to pay rent to stay afloat in this box called an apartment. She knocked softly on my door and unfortunately, I had to accept her presences within my room.

“Come in Sol.” I called and closed my laptop.

She opened the door and gave me a tight-lipped smile but I knew what it really said. Her eyes scoured the room and I could feel judgment with every passing glance. Piles of laundry shoved into the corner, boxes of takeout container that I shouldn't be buying piled on my nightstand, and me in the center of it all, a burrito wrapped in a giant Avengers’ comforter. My hair tousled into a haphazard bun, dark raccoon circles under my eyes and a ring of orange dust around my mouth.

“How is the job hunt going?” She asked and carefully leaned in the doorway.

I studied her appearance, black pantsuit with a soft blue button down, pearl earrings, to match the simple single pearl necklace. Her ID badge from her Wall Street job dangled from a belt loop with a bright smiling Marisol.

Lucky bitch.

“I just applied to Penguin Random House to be a janitor.” I answered coolly and tossed my laptop to the side.

"I'm serious, how is it going? You have been in bed for two months now, you need to get a job, and didn’t you graduate as a double major?" She asked.

I was dead serious about the job I applied for but she took it as a joke. The same way corporations took my degrees. However, Marisol was right; I had majored in Latin American studies and English but who cared about that? Clearly, not a single publishing house. I needed a job, I needed a job right now, and I was already in the hole with my parents for my portion of the rent. They, fortunately, assisted me with the money after my student jobs ended and said I would be able to get on my feet, I was so smart and had "so much" potential.

Every parent's favorite lie.

Story Excerpt: Connections

The train lurched to a halt and a round of groans filled the cart. I held the pole tightly and gripped my thermos filled with the green tea my mother insisted I drink. I pulled out my phone from my jacket pocket and accidentally hit the man to the right of me. He turned around nostrils flared and he went to open his mouth, but instead, he just rolled his eyes and walked away.

Thank the lord I thought.

The sun peeked in through the glass panes and it illuminated the passengers' true selves. Men dressed in wrinkled shirts forgetting they had to work the next day. Kids asleep on their parents still clinging to the air of the weekend. Hungover women hid behind their dark sunglasses wiping away brunch from their eyes.

Then my eyes settled on the woman sitting in the corner, reading a small paperback novel. Since I switched to the one train I saw her every day for months, always with a book, always with a unique shirt and always with bright pink headphones shoved into her ears. She captivated me with her love of books and her smile that she reserved for small children and the homeless.

If Tomas and Berto were here they would have been all over her and ooze their charisma over her. I wondered why I stood friends with them, but realistically the question is why they would be friends with me. I wasn't like them, and they weren't like me.

*

“Migs help this dumbass get here.” Tomas said and tossed his iPhone towards me.

I looked down to see a series of text messages from Berto calling Tomas an idiot and that he can’t find his way to the “effin” Heights. I chuckled at the two going back and forth before typing to him that all he had to do was take the A train to Dyckman and walk a block down. After a few more back and forth I tossed the phone back to Tomas.

“He’s taking an Uber.” I responded and cut into my fried cheese,

“That motherfucker could have just did that from the jump. Yo if he’s late and there’s no more mangu don’t give him any. That will teach him to be late to brunch.” Tomas scolded to Mateo and me.

"Eat a dick Tomas, its fucking brunch who cares. These shit bitches do anyway not us."  Mateo retorted.

"I'm sorry when did breakfast and alcohol grow a pair of tits. Bro I am hungry, the weather is nice, and we aint never meet up anymore. Sorry I want to see my bros over some bacon." Tomas ranted.

Updates: New Look, Birthday & Camp NaNoWriMo!

GREETINGS! 

Good Afternoon fellow readers, writers, and just simple viewers of Inksoaked!

First, to my faitful readers! I am back and ready to dive back into the blogging world! This is similar to a post that I wrote about a year ago and not much has changed in the updating world so lets just jump right into this bad boy

A few fun things to be on the lookout is ...

1. New design & Theme: Currently I am creating all the artwork for the blogs new look at that is taking a minute due to the tenacious work that HTML takes. Also, I am adding a new section to that will be connected to a YouTube channel! Yes I said it we are going live with video!

2. New Ventures: Safari Mommy is no longer live but will now be revamped as Writing Mami! Right now the look is being designed and I am working on a new logo for it but so far I have a few ideas I ALREADY written. Yes, I have ready to be posted and its all thanks to my threeanger! So stay tuned!

3. Road to Grad - Was an idea that was going to be about how I am going to grad school but now it will about my time leading up to and grad school experience! 

***
July 2018 - Camp NaNoWriMo

Lately, a lot of my stories have been short ones, but you know when you get an idea in your head it wont leave you alone!? Well I do and I am finally working on another novel series, and this July I am dedicating a good chunk of my time fleshing the ideas out and in November either have a great start or the basics for me to bust out the 50K words even though I am aiming for 100K+. 

Other than that ...

Thank you guys for the support, love and friendships!

Road to Grad: MFA or MA?

Right now I am at a fork in the road and a girl does not know what to do. In the fall, I will be joining a graduate program to earn a degree for creative writing. However, I do not know if I should join one that will end with a MFA or MA. For a long time (too long) I did not know the difference between the two degrees, and felt that a MFA was more towards students venturing in actual arts such as painting, acting and music. However according to Chron.com “For example, a creative writing MFA is qualified to work in any job position in which non-journalistic writing is required – for example, at a magazine or advertising agency, or even as a self-employed creative writer. As MA programs tends to be stepping stones, the prospects for the graduating MA student emerge from the open spots at doctoral programs in the field. Oftentimes MA students are able to stay on at the university from which they’ve received their degree and study for their doctorate.” The issue with this is that at some point I would love to maybe teach in higher education, it’s interesting and if I get to a program I am looking at my PH.D will be free! As the time dwindles on I have to make a choice but I will and I am just thankful for everything that is happening in my life. So be prepared to discover more with me on …

The Road to Grad!

Camp NaNoWriMo 2018 - April

Every April, I participate in Camp NaNoWriMo and usually I spend the time revising a novel but this time I am going to set out to write another novel! Why not give myself a challenge? Most of the time my friends and I join a cabin but this year I am thinking about venturing out into a public one!

Here is some info about the “Camp”

Camp NaNoWriMo is your virtual writing retreat. Every April and July, take four weeks to embrace your creativity and dive into your next great writing project.

At Camp, you can:

1.     Tackle any writing project, novel or not. Are you revising your next draft? Preparing to write the next great musical, a la Lin Manuel Miranda? Penning a collection of poems? Camp is fertile ground.

2.     Set your own writing goal. Warm up for 50K by setting a word-count goal of 25,000. Or track hours, lines, or pages… whatever works for you.

3.     Find your own, personal writing group. At Camp NaNoWriMo, you can be sorted into a public cabin with writers according to your preferences, or create a private cabin for you and your already-established writing buddies.

You can message me anytime! Name is Phoenix.Trinity and I will be checking in from time to time. 

* 

That was from a post I wrote about a year ago and it still stands true to what I said.  It has been a while since I have felt inspired to write a series, or even a large story not meant for class. It is true what they say that once you start doing something you love for a degree on some level you tend to dislike it. This Camp NaNo, I am searching fort that inspiration and re-reading some of my favorite books, Harry Potter, FanGirl, Embrace. Which I recommend that everyone reads at some point in their life!

Happy Writings!

Book Review: How to Window Box Small-Space Plants to Grow Indoors or Out by Chantal Aida Gordon and Ryan Benoit

How to Window Box Small-Space Plants to Grow Indoors or Out by Chantal Aida Gordon and Ryan Benoit

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Living in New York City is quite a feat when it comes to any type of gardening. My mother-in-law, grows some herbs and vegetables on her balcony of her condo but I do not have that luxury. While I do not have exactly a small apartment I do not have any space to truly grow plants. However, it does not discourage the green thumb I want oh so bad. So why not review a book about how to grow plants indoor. What I love about this book it tells you the best plants based on how much light, if it is indoor or outdoor and what soil is best. What stops this book from being a five is how short it is, you can go through the entirety of the book in about five to ten minutes and be done.

This book is a great how to for any budding gardener. I recommend this book for all ages, but great for potential gardeners 

Book Review: When God Made Light by Matthew Paul Turner

 

When God Made Light by Matthew Paul Turner

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Once again Matthew Paul Turner and David Catrow make a beautifully illustrated story. Emmy screamed with glee when she saw the book and it has become a family staple in her book bed time routine.This time our protagnist is on a mission with her sister discovering why God has made light. It goes on to demonstrate that the ligh tis within yourself. That the light radiates, chases away the shadows and doubts that may grow within yourself, and provides the wonder of space. Finally, that there is a spark within everyone and it will change the world one day.

It is a great story overall and everyone should buy it for their child.

I recommend this book for all ages, but great for children 3+

Depression Portrayal in ODAAT

One of my favorite shows right now is One Day At A Time a modern remake of the show to fit current times. We have the rambunctious dancer Lydia, suave and cool teenager Alex, high strung lovable Elena, dorky but kind Schneider and then we have Penelope aka Lupe. 

Lupe is not one of those perfect moms and that is what I love about her. She is rough around the edges, takes no bullshit from anyone but has softer spots especially when it comes to family. Lupe is a veteran nurse from the army where she was stationed with her husband at the time Victor. After returning home from the wars, Victor developed a drinking problem whereas Penelope developed anxiety and depression. As Lupe moves on with her life we pull back layers 

I know that feeling of not wanting to get out of bed or dealing with people. It is not that you don't want to but you cant. Your body feels heavy, your energy is beyond low, you can't stand the sight of light or food. You do not mean to push people away but the darkness creeps up and you act unlike yourself. As a person that is creative I have two moods, days of writing and letting it flow naturally and then other days when I am weeping with a blinking cursor begging for a word. 

So when the episode Hello, Penelope aired on Netflix, I stopped mid-episode and sobbed because I admired Lupe but to watch her be vulnerable broke my heart. Justina Machado did an amazing job with this episode with the small moments. Her tearing up about the dress, and then admitting that she knows she is blessed, she cannot explaining the overwhelming sadness. Trying to do this sucks because I have been through this where I would start crying but I am married to my best friend, raising a gorgeous smart little diva and blessed with a group of friends that mean the world to me! However, that feeling ... its there and yes some people can do without the pills but some cannot. 

Her portrayal should win her all the awards for its authenticity and I thank the writers of the show for its hard work!

Go watch this show!

Cant wait for season 3! 

Story Excerpt: Coldhearted Coney

Bright, colorful lights painted the dark sky like a Pollock painting for three friends. Each ride at Coney Island had its own parade of sounds and colors. Include the cheers and screams of the regulars in the Brooklyn spot you had a wonderful August night.

The Wonder Wheel’s line had significantly grown in the last half an hour. Hailey hated to wait for anything but at least Julian’s snippets about the last Avenger comic had kept her entertained. Appreciation for the tall, lanky fellow was an understatement and he was the best friend a girl could ask for.

She viewed the other patrons of Coney Island and viewed pair couples, groups of best friends, tiny families and tourist who want bragging rights. Hailey was brought from her thoughts when she heard a voice.

“Hail?”

Hailey turned to see Malik Jordan, her new guy best friend from summer school. He sported a new Suicide Squad hoodie and dark blue khakis. He waved at her and in return she signaled him over. Julian let out a scoff as Malik sauntered over to the two. He held in his hands two corndogs covered in ketchup.

“Hey M!” Hailey greeted and pulled him into a tight embrace.

“Hey there punk, oh hey Julian!” Malik greeted and stuck his hand out for Julian who just nodded.

“What are you doing here? I thought you hated Brooklyn!” Hailey asked as Malik just smirked.

“Peeped your IG and stalked your tiny ass” He joked and Hailey laughed.

Day 1 of 2018

To start the year right I'm going to use these four journals. 

1. Recollections Planner
2. 365 Day Jourjal
3. Personal Journal 
4. Bucket list Journal 

As the days dwindle on I'll continue to grow as a writer, mother and wife. Look out for post for each journal. Happy New Year!