Hey there!

Hey world!
I just wanted to catch you guys up on a few things.

1. I'm currently RE-EDITING the sixth chapter of THE COFFEE SHOP. Yea, it sucks, but I've written up to chapter nine and I wanted to make sure that everything would flow, hence the delay. EXPECT THE NEXT CHAPTER BY THE END OF THIS WEEK!!! Seriously, this time!
2. If you guys follow my blog, you'll notice that "The Coffee Shop" tab is missing. That's because I've moved it over to it's own blog! That way, there's more space and I can put down more info for anyone interested. It seriously took me ALL SUNDAY EVENING/MORNING to do it, and I even went as far out to make a logo for the damned Side Street Brewery. I seriously need a hobby... Anyway, go here to view the new blog.
3. That being said, ALL TEASERS/WRITING NEWS/RAMBLINGS will be posted *HERE* on my regular blogger. The new blog is just for kicks and a place for me to sort out stuff, like an online filing cabinet...just...prettier. =)
4. Expect WONDERLAND to receive the same treatment. I already have the blog set up, just no details are added just yet. I'll let y'all know when I'm finished!

That's it for me! Have a great Tuesday, everyone!!

Xo, Lily

The Insults Keep Coming...

Normally I don't get riled up enough to write rants on Blogger, but for once, I'm going to forgo my usual "don't say anything because people are crazy nowadays and might kill you for having an opinion" way of doing things to speak out about something I feel that needs to catch people's attention.


You readers know that "The Coffee Shop" is written on experiences from those who had come from abusive homes, schools, and who have inflicted abuse upon themselves and others due to their upbringing. Their stories mean everything to me. These KIDS mean everything to me, for a few of them are my really good friends. That makes it hard for me to read headlines like this: SUIT FILED AGAINST REPUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, DISTRICT DIDN'T PROTECT GIRL FROM SEXUAL ASSAULT

I'm a huge fan of Laurie Halse Anderson, and SPEAK still is one of my favorite novels of all time because it affected me like few other books have. I speak of Laurie because it was her blogpost that got my attention of the filed suit in the first place.


For those of you who may or may not read the article/blog post that I linked to, it's basically summarized this way:


-Girl is harassed, assaulted, and raped by a boy in the 7th grade.
-Girl complains to school officials, who don't find her story credible. They make her WRITE AN APOLOGY LETTER to the boy who committed the rape and GIVE IT TO HIM PERSONALLY.
-School officials then SUSPEND the girl, after going through her claims multiple times WITHOUT HER MOTHER PRESENT and the biggest kicker is...
-NO ONE CALLED THE POLICE.
-Girl begins school next year, the same process repeats itself. The girl, knowing that her story wouldn't be believed by the school officials, told her mother. This time, to gain proof, mother and daughter go to a child advocacy center, where semen from the boy was found to back up the girl's allegations.
-A year later, a suit is filed, the boy is arrested, but the girl IS SUSPENDED FOR DISRESPECTFUL CONDUCT AND PUBLIC DISPLAY OF AFFECTION.


Does any of this sound remotely familiar?


One of my "Caleb" muses suffered from an event JUST LIKE THIS ONE. I was pissed off enough at the time to write a letter to the middle school, and used the experience for Caleb in "The Coffee Shop" not to invoke pity to his plight or something like that, but because crap like this happens every day - even in the United States. It's disgusting, it's heartbreaking, and I while I wish I could say "I can't believe it, say it ain't so!", but I know I can. My mother teaches an entire generation of students who in 5th grade are thinking of babies, sex, and use violence to get results.


So what's the point of my post? Simple: BE AWARE of what's going on in your community. LISTEN to your children when they come home from school and talk about their day. LOOK around the school yard when you pick them up from school. PAY ATTENTION. Don't let those who are silent fall through the cracks - those are usually the ones who need your help the most. And finally, SPEAK UP. If you don't, that's the greatest atrocity of all.


That's my rant for the day,
-Lily

Now, we must all fear evil men. But there is another kind of evil which we must fear most, and that is the indifference of good men. -- "The Boondock Saints" 

The Coffee Shop Ch.06

Good news! TCS 6 is finito!
I'm editing it as of now and hope to have it posted to the Lit site by tomorrow sometime. I know I put on my Lit homepage I would have posted it...er...yesterday, but I lied. I'm allowed to do that. =)
Anyway, as to give all you folks waiting for #6 so patiently, here's an extra long (unedited!!) portion of the chapter for y'all to enjoy! Xo, Lily.

Writing News!

So, I've got some good news: I'm finally back to working on The Coffee Shop again. I wrote 4,604 words in one sitting, having completely scrapped the first go at the chapter. Roughly 700 of those words will be cut or edited (it's the ending), and it's fairly short as far as chapters go. I might add more depending upon my mood. =)
Anyways, whilst procrastinating (I'm very good at that) I put up a TCS page on good ole Blogger here F.Y.E. It gives a bit of insight into Caleb and Peyton's world and most of it, unlike Wonderland, is based upon actual places and people. It's a bit of reading, and since Blogger sucks with pictures, most of those kinds of things are linked to other places on the Web, so don't be surprised when you may have a browser full of open web pages (sorry in advance)!
And just to give you guys a taste, here's a teaser from TCS Ch06:

Just to tease a bit further...

To be truly evil, I'm going to post a few snapshots of the upcoming chapters of Wonderland for your personal entertainment. =) Enjoy:

Wonderland Chapter 10 Teaser No. 2

I know, I know, I should have posted teaser #2 sooner, but I got sidetracked. Good news: I have chapters 11, 12, and 13 finished. I think a few more chapters and I'll have it wrapped up completely.
Anyway, without further ado, here is Teaser #2:
(BTW, if you missed Teaser #1, this is a continuation from where it left off, so go here: Teaser One so you won't be lost!)


WONDERLAND CHAPTER 10
TEASER #2