Author: jennrae

Singe mom, part time writer of primarily sci-fi and fantasy. Also, a hopeless romantic that is into classic cinema and grunge/nineties music. Part time optimist, part time cynic Twitter is Jennisfora Rae.
Posted in Life

If You Didn’t Need Sleep, What would you do with all the Extra Time?

Posted on by jennrae

I actually haven’t been sleeping much. Just too excited with all these plans for all these things, and with the way twitter and my website are doing. I’m just really pleased so far how things are going.

That being said, I would probably write and post round the clock. Everyone might get sick of it, I don’t know. I would probably be ready to publish something. Maybe more than one something.

My house would probably be spotless too. I had a brief stint when I was unemployed, and that seems to have gotten a lot of the extra time when I wasn’t looking for work, I was cleaning. Maybe reorganize things. I all ready went through my movie collection recently. I have a lot of movies. Most are good, some are random ones people gave me. Most are good though. Maybe I’d reorganize my CD changer it is a mess. I bought it in 1997 I think. Still works. I also still have my PlayStation 2, also still works. Maybe fix some computers. Got an old laptop that I was hoping had some story files on it, but it only had one. I have a walk in closet that has hard copies of everything I’ve ever written, but damn if I can find anything in there. Maybe go through that. That would take a lot of time. Maybe do more drawing or take up painting. That would be fun. So little time, so much to do!

Daily writing prompt
If you didn’t need sleep, what would you do with all the extra time?
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Posted in Uncategorized

Top 3 Pet Peeves

Posted on by jennrae

I don’t like it when someone makes me repeat myself. It shows they aren’t really listening and it is very annoying. I also don’t like it when people don’t say thank you, or appear grateful. I guess I find it rude, and rudeness is annoying.

I also don’t like when someone says they will be there at a certain time, and they show up really late. It has to be more than ten minutes though. I personally hate being late, but I am realistic as far as traffic and unaccounted for things.

These pet peeves aren’t like serious deal breakers. I will still stay friends or continue talking to someone.

I’m the type who seethes on the inside and I may grumble about it a bit, but I don’t hold grudges and I don’t have ill will or anger toward anyone. If I do get upset, it doesn’t last. I am usually over it within hours. Life is too short to waste it on negative energy.

Daily writing prompt
Name your top three pet peeves.
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Posted in Uncategorized

Who are your current most favorite people?

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Most favorite. In my life currently it would be my son. Aspiring rock star, mathematically inclined with a heart of gold. I’m really lucky to have a teenager who is so sweet. And, I am super proud of the person he is becoming.

Further from my actual life, I have been influenced by a lot of people, supportive teachers, my parents, my brothers, and even ex romantic partners. Old friends most of which I have lost touch with unfortunately. There is just so many people who shaped who I am today, and who knows who may shape what I become tomorrow. The only constant in life is change afterall.

Writer-wise my influences are many from Ursula K LeGuin to George RR Martin, and lots in between. I like some classic sci fi Ray Bradbury, Robert A Heinlein, and some classics like Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. Albert Camus and existentialism has been an influence since The Plague. Twice Told Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne. I like gothic creepy. Classic fantasy like Lord of the Rings and Gormenghast and Chronicles of Narnia. I used to read everything by Anne McCaffery too. Dragonriders of Pern. I can’t wait to see what other gems I find in the future.

Culturally, I am influenced by interesting people, artists, writers, songwriters, poets. Creativity fuels creativity.

Daily writing prompt
Who are your current most favorite people?
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Posted in Uncategorized

What are Your Favorite Animals?

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It would be easier to say which animals I don’t like if I am being honest. I love animals in general. I have always had an affinity for birds, I even had a childhood nickname based around it, and used to love raising pheasants, quail, bantam chickens and the like. I also like chickens even if they are dirty dinosaurs.

I had a pet chicken named Spot once, she was mostly white, very petite with one black spot on her back. She used to fly up onto my shoulder. I had to stop her eventually because she was getting my shoulder muddy from chicken poop.

I also had a pet butterfly for a weekend. I found a hurt western yellow swallowtail. I took it with me everywhere and fed it hummingbird nectar from an eye dropper. It had a hurt wing, but it could fly short distances. I would set it down to go in the house because my mom didn’t want me to bring it inside, and go back outside and get it. It was cool because I could lift my finger and it would fly to me. But, Monday I had to go back to school, so I left it on a bush by the backdoor. When I came back it was gone.

I also had a pet rabbit, a goose, several cats, and different dogs growing up. We even had some horses at one time. But they didn’t like me much, or the one didn’t. He would scare me on purpose, like run at me toward the fence. He also would buck me off any chance he got. So, yeah, I didn’t ride him much. The other one was a traumatized racehorse. She spooked easily and she was a thoroughbred so her back was kind of boney and uncomfortable.

I love the idea of horses, but I never had great experiences with them. But I was always reading horse books, and drawing horses and deer. I also drew unicorns and dragons though. I can honestly say I have never successfully ridden on those either. So, there is that.

I love cats as well, but each one is different, so they are almost like little demanding people. One of mine kept me up last night because my son stayed at a friend’s house. It is like she didn’t understand why I wasn’t worried.

I like dogs too, but they require more maintenance. Although I love their loyalty. Unlike most people, you know where you stand with them. They are honest. I like their goofiness as well. They can be downright silly.

Daily writing prompt
What are your favorite animals?
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Posted in Fiction

Time to Write — Feline Curiosity

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The cat was black and white with bright green eyes shining like jewels. It slunk down an alley avoiding garbage and random bottles on a mission to some unknown place. At the other end of the alley a slender dark haired woman with green eyes appeared walking in red heels, confidently striding into the street. Annabelle turned around uneasily. Was she being followed? She tried to lose her tail earlier by becoming the cat but sometimes hunters know that trick.

She walked into the nearest bar with its noise spilling out onto the cobblestone streets. She slid into an unassuming corner, looking around the room cautiously. There was a pair of drunks arguing over there. A sad older woman drinking alone at the counter. A group of young friends carousing into the early hours. Then she saw him. A man in dark clothes with a hat pulled low covering most of his face, nursing a cup of coffee sitting alone at a table.

She didn’t want to make any sudden movements or attract his attention. She carefully slid out of the red shoes, and tried to calmly walk to the door. She sensed something behind her but didn’t want to turn around. She kept going forward, and then she felt it. Something hit her in the back of the neck. She felt her body go numb and she began falling. I guess this was her ninth life after all.

Posted in Uncategorized

Beach or Mountains? Which do you prefer? Why?

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I prefer beaches because I love hearing the surf going in and out. I find the sound soothing and the views are breathtaking. I like being near the ocean. But, I don’t like crowds, and that can be an issue. I love mountains as well for the views, and just the unspoiled nature. So, it is a tough choice. An unspoiled private beach though sounds like paradise to me. Just listening to the water, and soaking some sun, with sun screen of course. Sounds really nice.

Daily writing prompt
Beach or mountains? Which do you prefer? Why?
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Posted in Uncategorized

Your Family’s top 3 favorite meals?

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My son seems to want to eat at Taco Bell 7 days a week, but that’s too much for me. As far as stuff I make, I would say a pepper jack smoked salmon scramble with pancakes and toast with raspberry preserves. Or any omelet really. We love eggs. Good source of protein.

Second, the classic spaghetti with meatballs. Italian heritage american style. Might be tied with Chicken Parmesan, my son loves both, kinda similar style dishes. Comfort food for the win.

Any kind of enchiladas or tacos. Had some mahi mahi fish tacos that were good. Definitely making those again.

Daily writing prompt
What are your family’s top 3 favorite meals?
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Posted in Uncategorized

If I Could Meet a Historical Figure.. Who and Why?

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Jules Verne would be fun, because he was one of the first writers of science fiction. But I would need a translator. I would love to interview him and ask him how he came up with his ideas. I have always liked Captain Nemo. I wouldn’t want to go too far back because living standards in medieval times and such were kind of gross. I like showering and not emptying buckets of filth into the streets. I like some modern conveniences. Modern plumbing and hygiene are good things.

Daily writing prompt
If you could meet a historical figure, who would it be and why?
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Posted in Uncategorized

Musings and Plans

Posted on by jennrae

I decided to look at some famous writers who happened to have been born in November. There were some good ones, Madeline L’engle was tempting, but I think I covered her a long time ago. Mark Twain’s birthday is coming up too. I happen to be a descendant of his younger half sister from his Dad’s second marriage. There are no direct descendants because all his daughters died without having children. So, I guess I’m as close as one gets? Consolation prize?

But, I am just not feeling it. There are a lot of influential sci fi writers from the classical era that I could cover as well, Spider Robinson, Gordon R Dickson. But I am just not feeling like doing the research on these guys. I know of them, but I would need to read up on them more to do them justice. And, I just had a long workout at the gym. Feel like maybe I overdid it. Probably going to be feeling it tomorrow.

I am sapped energy wise. Probably should have written beforehand. Oh well, guess that is a lesson learned. I appreciate people reading this blog and plan on doing more fiction soon. I am also thinking about compiling my short fiction into a collection. I have to polish them up first, and then decide how to go about that.

I may attempt something drastic with the novel. I may cut the beginning until I find it interesting, switch the main protagonist to the character that I find the most interesting. It will change the tone and feel quite a bit. But it isn’t like I don’t have a hard copy of the original if I hate it.

I could try to plot out a new novel. I have some ideas. I just am trying to get the wheels turning and feel like I need some WD 40 to get it working. Thanks for being here and there. Your support means the world to me and I take nothing for granted. Thank you. JennRae.