"Lost and Found"

So (as I'm sure most of you know, anyway), as of yesterday, the first chapter of my first novel got validated!!!!

I'm excited. Okay, I'm really, really excited-still, even though it got validated a whole day ago!!! It took 13 whole days for the fic to be validated, so it was so nice to see it finally make it. I really, really love this novel already-I've always written up to the fourth chapter and I'll be working on the fifth one this weekend! *gasps are heard* The second one's currently in the queue...

I really want this story to be known, as I told everyone who would listen to me in the SAYS Cbox. Well, not "known" exactly, but...I want it to be enjoyed. Like all of those other fics I see. My one-shots are another story-I don't love them as much since I hardly got to know them or spend time on them, really-but I really love this fic. I really want it to be known and enjoyed, because I really think people will like it if they read it. Conceited...? Well, maybe I'm just confident!!! Believe me, there are plenty of things that I write I'm not proud of-I just don't post them! *shudders at all the past fanfics that were written ages ago*

Anyway, if anyone wants to see a really nice contrast to my hideous banner that I made Wednesday (so hideous, I didn't even notify anyone of my new blog post), please check out the new banner by PrincessPotter. PrincessPotter, you're just as good as Alohomora-and I mean that will all my heart.

Thanks also to tiffers, who started reading my banner last time. I'm sorry I didn't thank you before-it really means a lot to me that you began reading this. Thanks also to anyone else who's reading this-just remember, the comment button is just a click away.

And of course, I'm not forgetting Lauren, who wins the award for my most loyal comment-er. Did everyone know she's joined SAYS now? Yea, I converted her! That means you all should join SAYS too...

XOXOXOXOX (and any advice on how to make my story known, is welcome),

Mara

Hideous (aka my first banner)

So, as my new story continues to wait its turn in the long queue and as I procastinate from doing my math homework, I did a major thing today!!!

I make my first banner!!!

Warning: EXTREME hideous alert!!! This is an attempt at a banner for my new story (the one's that validating as we speak), but it is no ways a work of art. In fact, quite the contrary. It's terrible. Hideous. UGLY!!!!

Blame the makes of Paint Shop Pro if you hate (which I am proud to say I most definitely do!!!), not be. It's so hideous that you shouldn't even bother giving me feedback on it. Okay, but it was MY FIRST ONE FOR PETE'S SAKE!!!! HOW MUCH AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW????

You have been warned...................

Ta-da! (*cringes in satisfaction*)



Lovely. I think I'll do my math homework now.

My New Story and More

So....my new R/Hr one-shot, "Revelation", is up!!! I'm very proud of this fic. Perhaps the characters aren't completely in character or it's not perfect grammartically (is that a word?), but I'm still proud. Hey, I haven't written in Ron and Hermione in ages, right? ;-) The beautiful banner is made by hpphoenix at the Dark Arts. Go there if you need a banner (though providing only GWP reads my blog and I think I told her about that, that's probably a pointless recommendation!!!).

Actually, I've almost always been a R/Hr shipper, ever since I heard they were going to end up together, so this fic has been a work in progress for about 5 years now. My old R/Hr fics were really bad (yes, I've been writing fanfic on and off for quite a while, really!), so this is a nice change. I made Ron so out of character it was scary!!! Anyway, thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far. I appreciate the feedback (though I won't change until or if I become a TA, I'm too lazy, sadly enough). 200+ reads already! That's 80 less than "Her Father's Gift" and that was only just posted!!!

So...chapter 2 of "Daughter of Darkness". Yes, it's still at the same point it was at the beginning of winter break, give or take a little. I'm really sorry you guys, but I have TREMENDOUS writer's block ending the 2nd chapter, so it might be a little bit. I know where it's going and though I'm not sure the events besides the end in the 3rd one, I really just need to covercome it a little. So, sadly, I'd just have to ask that you bear with me, but if you have any suggestions that won't move the story too fast, that'd be WONDERFUL!!! Please tell me if you do. :-( I'm writing some original fic too, so that's another thing. Maybe I'll take a challenge soon-I should write another one-shot!!! I'd like to write a humor fic, I'm just not sure if it will turn out to be funny. Oh, well-worth a shot...right? So, again I'm really sorry, but I have no idea when Chapter 2 will be up. I know how frusterating waiting for updates can be!!!

So-two more bits of news before I close. First, I joined SAYS-www.says-skills.com, by recommendation of the talented tiffers and I'm really enjoying my stay there. I got a cool siggy and an avator from there (you can get banners too) and the people are just so nice and friendly. It's not as big as the HPFF forums, but it's just a really nice group of people. Please join us at SAYS! I'd love it if you could. ;-) And it would be cool if you could join Gryffindor like me too...but you don't have to (GWP, you're a Gryffindor though, aren't you? Sorry "GWP" is shorter to write than "Lauren" or "GinnyWeasleyPotter", just three letters, I'm lazy!).

Second and my favorite bit of news-MY BIRTHDAY'S SUNDAY!!! I'm really excited. I'm inviting a friend to have fondue with me, so it promises to be really fun. Hope my plans don't fall through! I also have a long weekend (Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday), so that promises to make my birthday more fun. Can't wait!!! It'll be weird being older, but...that's life, right? *sigh*

Also, I've been getting even more into (if that's possible) "Her Secret" by tiffers (you know, who recommended me to SAYS???). It has some elements that vaguely remind me of an originalish fiction piece I'm working on, though it's very different too of course, so I realized that's why I'm drawn to it. I could gush on and on about this story, but I won't, I don't want to bore you!!! Well, yeah, I've just gotten even more into it.

XOXOXOXOXXO (And thanks for reading!!!)

-Mara_Mouse, :-)