Novel...Almost complete!

News Update!

The novel, still untitled, is nearing completion. It is currently only a few hundred words beneath 100,000 words!!!!! Which is/was our ultimate goal! And, I'm willing to wager, it will surpass that goal, though I'm not sure by how much. I WILL know by the end of the week, however, for I've been promised by my co-writer (and much beloved fiance) that he'll have it finished by Sunday...if not before! (Needless to say, I'm sitting on the proverbial pins-and-needles waiting for the tidbits as he finishes the scene; one paragraph at a time).

Now, if there is anyone from Mernac who is reading this and wants to read the first five pages and/or novel, please, PLEASE let me know! We are going to pursue getting this published and, if we have no luck within a year, we have another idea on publishing our first novel, which is a bit of a romance/adventure novel. However, we really, REALLY want to go main-stream with this. Which means getting thoughts, opinions, and suggestions from people. People we trust.


Anywhos, I'm sure this poor writer is boring you with non-mernac news, but look at it this way; if I do get published, it might be a good way to pimp Mernac. (Wear my t-shirt, mention Mernac as the place where my writing improved, stick something in an interview, etc....provided it's allowed, of course! But I'll still wear the shirt at any and all conventions I may go to, lol)

Ya'll take now!!! And wish us luck!

Christmas Weekend

Well, my scribe tells me that she and her beloved celebrated their anniversary early...and are going for a repeat on Christmas Eve! Father, do send them your blessings! lol! I, myself, will be snuggling up with my beloved for a happy weekend getaway on my island home before leaving to spend Christmas Eve with Baudin's Family. Ah, the Unzerte Morti, a criminal organization that I actually feel at home with. Who would have thought it would happen?

Mother, I truly am sorry, but I simply cannot refuse that which I am; a rogue, a cungle. Once an assassin, always an assassin, I suppose. But you have to admit; I am good at what I do! lol! (Besides, look who my 'father' is! ~wink~)


A note from the scribe:
Well, fellow Mernicians, I hope you all have a wonderful and delightful holiday weekend and Christmas! May you get all you desire and have a safe time with those you love and cherish. If I don't get online (highly unlikely due to the frantic, last minute shopping I must do...and then Monday will be spent partly with my beloved) I hope you all have a wonderful time!

Love, hugs, and well wishes to you all!!!!

Work Parties and Other December Fun

Well, it seems the month is going by and I'm falling further and further behind...in more ways than one. My desktop's motherboard crashed, burned, and died so now I only have my laptop, which means renders are at an almost-stand-still. It also means that trivia has been pushed back even further due to the questions/answers sheet being ON my desktop and no time at work to get to search for questions. Work First, Play Later...unfortunately. And then, there's my grandfather's door: we're about half-done and I'm thinking my mother and I are going a bit too far on it this year (we're running into more problems this year than in prior years). Oh yeah, as there's also this little thing of a "Cookie Day" and the yearly "Christmas Luncheon" that I've gotta go to. I wanted to use my workplace as guinea pigs for my cookies and chocolate-covered peanut butter balls, which means less online fun at home next week and more time in the kitchen. Not that I mind baking, it just means, well, less time online! lol!

Oh, yeah, and I've still got Christmas Shopping to do.


All of which can be summed up by my favorite yearly words thus far "BAH HUMBUG!!!!" lol! At least the kids are having fun driving mommy nuts. I love the little devils terribly, so I'm staying a little sane, for their sakes.

Christmas Cheer and lots of Seasons Greetings to all!!!!

~Jy/Ryna/Jen

Daddy's Question

Ryna: Father's Question was "what is you're favorite song"? Well, I must admit that I have a long list of songs I love. My ultimate favorite would have to be an oldie "Devil with the Blue Dress On", I suppose. Of course, I also love almost every song that Dirt's King of Rock and Roll (Elvis) sang. My scribe also says he is her ultimate favorite, as well. Her fav by him was "didja ever"....the same movie it was in, G.I. Blues was also one of her favorite all-time movies.

As for current favorite, it would have to be the Christmas song "Santa Baby" by Eartha Kitt...who was also one of the many "Catwoman"'s on the old "Batman" tv-show on Dirt. I also love the band Finger Eleven's "Paralyzer" as well.

Scribe: Favorite song? hehehehe, now and forever "Dirty Deeds", for reasons all of my own....Of course, I also love Katharine McPhee's "Love Story" and also Finger Eleven's "Paralyzer". But no song can put a smile on my face like "Dirty Deeds" does....which I also tend to listen to every chance I get when my mp3 player isn't dead. ;-)

Recipe Attempts

Well, I've been toying around with a few recipes and I managed to come up with one really yummy treat: nests! Acquill Nests for you Mernicians! The dragon claws still need some toying around with to come out looking like dragon claws....but it'll come. That and making my own "eggs" are next on my menu, lol. At least for desserts! Oh, and I'll be trying to come up with my own version of koomba treats at some point, too. Wish me luck....

Here are a few pictures. Let me know what ya'll think!

Acquill Nests

dragon claws - 1st attempt

Update

Well, blogger isn't allowing me to upload pics, so visit my MySpace album to see 'em.

Click HERE!

Now, on to my update! I've gotten a little further with my next chapter, as well as several more pics done for my very own CafePress store! (Yeah, I know, Mernac has a store, but my fiance has been badgering me to open my own...go figure...lol) However, one particular character (NOT Ryna, which, btw, a mug will be coming soon at the Mernac store for her!) won't be available for sale until I can get her trademarked. And that's only gonna cost, ohhh, $350. So until that happens (spring of '08, I hope) her merchandise won't be appearing yet.

I'll also be uploading a mug and coaster and, maybe, a t-shirt for Alahnia and Ryna to the Mernac store. With luck, that is. I've currently been feeling ill and have been on antibiotics which have pretty much zapped my brain and desire to stay awake. (Yes, they actually DO affect me that way....I'm an elf, what more can I say???)

Trivia will be reappearing fairly soon, I hope. If nothing else, I will be continuing it on my blog, if that is ok.....comments welcome on that!

Till next time,
~Jy'lenn

Chaos for a Week

Well, this week has been nothing but Hell and Chaos. And not the good type, either, for some parts. Halloween went over well; my little Vampire Slayer dressed up as a ninja, my imp as a fairy, and me as Ryna....and I must admit in one picture I looked, well....ticked off. (Cause I was, lol). Pictures will be forthcoming eventually.... The week has been very rocky for me and, well, I really do NOT wish to discuss it (no, not even with you, sis....it's been THAT bad).

Anywhos, hopefully it'll be cleared up this afternoon. I hope.


Hope everyone has a fun and happy Halloween. The kids had a great time and, for the most part, so did I.

~Jy'lenn

A Scribe's Rant

This has simply been building for a while. I am going to stop writing for Mernac and stop ignoring my own writing. Tis time I stop allowing the irritation and anger gained from the multitude of immature behavior (in my opinion) that is occuring at Mernac. (Quont, I'm certain you, of all people, understand this.)

What behavior am I talking about, you may ask. Well, let's begin with the "find it out on your own" attitude that seems to be prevalent. Then there is the "it's my job so butt out" attitude that others have. I'm tired of dealing with a site that is attempting to become a professional workplace where there is no interest in sharing knowledge or accept help from others.

Tell me this: in a real-world job place, if you are supposed to train someone or someone comes asking for help, would you tell that person to "find it out on your own"? NO. And I can honestly say that THAT attitude is looked down upon by every single supervisor I have EVER had. Including a company director. Sorry, but that attitude isn't going to do anything but kill the business and make the person look scared that if he/she shares the info he/she may loose his/her job. I have only two words for those types of people: GROW UP.


Now, let's move on to the second attitude I pointed out. The “I'm doing it, so butt out” attitude. Not everyone can do everything and no one is omniscient. If you're offered help, be mature and accept it. Don't be snotty or snooty and think you are above everyone else. I've yet to work somewhere where that attitude works well. Quite the opposite: I've seen business fail because of that. So take the hand that is offered or at least listen to it. You never know who may have better connections or have that little piece of knowledge that will help.

And then we come to the site itself. I've been with it for a year. I've been a beta tester and I've been a part of it with writing and artwork. It's a great site and, needless to say, my artwork has improved over the past year due to the suggestions, compliments, and encouragement I've received from the people at the site. However, I have yet to see anything other than moneytary contests of the grab-and-go variety. The artists that enter, don't even allow the writers of the site the use of their artwork. Is that what we want for Mernac? A site where people can simply come, create a portfolio, then vanish without contributing to the site? How is that going to help make Mernac something that people will want to pay for??? Subscription ideas are ok, but they need more work and I honestly can't see the site making any money anytime soon.

Sorry, I don't mean to offend anyone, but that's how I see it. And, if you look from an objective view, you may just see that as well. What does Mernac have that no other site does? What is there that would make people want to subscribe/order/etc the stories? Other than Quont's stories, I see nothing. The site is confusing and hard to navigate. And as for getting stories from the site published, well, there's a lot of copyright issues that would probably deter a lot of publishers.

Why, you may ask. Here is why: We're writing in a realm Rick created with characters we've created branched off from his writing. Mernac and the saplings are HIS property and, yes, they are technically under copyright protection under his name. The characters, places, etc. we have created are our own property, not his. See the problem? I do. Hence why Wizards of the Coast does not accept anything but original stories: nothing from Mernac, except what Rick has written (if that), could be submitted to them. Including the d20 items. (Yes, if you know how and have the guts, you can approach them for your own stuff even though they don't have an open call for it.)

So there you have it. The reasons behind why I am backing off on Mernac-type stuff; writing AND artwork. If/when this changes, I may return in full-force. Maybe. But it all depends on if people are going to stop acting like children and start being mature enough to share information and knowledge. Until then, I will do my disciple-duties and if/when I become a god, then I will do what is required of that. Other than that, I have my own duties to my own family and writing.

You can still catch me in Email and PM's, if you so choose.

Ramblings of a Daughter

Well, the weekend went quickly and it is time for my to sit and tell my tale of bar hopping in Carnal City, Quontas to my scribe. Of course, another has begged for her tale to be told and my lady scribe seems to be torn between us. Alahnia, is her name, and she lives in Averyll, Garren. My poor scribe, she has so many stories to write and so little time! She has promised to write my tale one chapter at a time between my missions for Mother Terees.

Though, it seems Mother is a bit deliquent with her charges, her Shadow Guard. Too many problems on her scribe's homeworld of Dirt, it seems. Something about being a teacher and the problems thereof....with luck, she will return to us soon and be able to take a firmer grasp of us recalitrant children. ~wink~ Not that we need it, of course! lol

Father Quont has returned and I have recieved word that Lanesha, who has harried me quite often, has finally found herself within his dungeons! And it seems that Darnesha may find herself shackled beside her sister if she is not careful! Though I love my Father dearly, I must confess that I am thrilled to know they are finally gaining his fury! ~giggles~ Mostly because of the haressment I seem to garner from them at every turn! Sibling rivalry, you may think, but that is not the case! You see, I think it stems from the fact that I have been compared to them on many an occassion; My beauty, my seductive talents, and even the way I kill is all said to rival any of my Father's succubus! So, I think they are jealous that a mortal could be compared to them....and now that I am immortal, well, it seems that they just wish to kill me over and over and over again!

Good shall always prevail...but what if the one who is supposed to be "good" is not? What if she is neutral and walks both realms of good AND evil?

Bah, I always hated those types of questions! I think I shall go walk the shadows....tis more fun and less likely to get me into trouble!

Another Long Week

Well, it has been a rather long, tedious week. I myself have been lurking about in the shadows of Mernac searching for answers to many a question. My thoughts have just been a jumbled mess lately and it has been difficult to concentrate on any one thing. So, I have been relaxing on my isle off the mainland of Garren (which my scribe is SUPPOSED to be writing...) I think I shall return to the Shadows and Walks some more and clear my troubled thoughts.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From the Scribe:
Collaboration has come to a close and I have finally determined the plot beneath Ryna's trip to Carnal City. I have also managed to aquire the ability to sleep well except now the problem is my body wishes to catch up on that missed sleep. Perhaps I can do that this weekend, lol. My artsy side delved into Poser and came up with a delightfully wicked image for my beloved, which I subsequently entered into the "dark" contest. So I must find the time and ability to thank him properly for that encouragement and suggestion. ~impish grin~ I shall be posting Friday's question tonight, for those interested in the trivia contest.

Perhaps now that I have the knowledge of what I desire to write, the writing will now flow. One never knows.

Till next time, my dears,

The Scribe

Shocking Moments

Father has asked yet another weekly question, this time on the most shocking thing you've ever done. Hmmmm...I'm not really certain what that would have been. I know what the most shocking news was, but that doesn't really count. I don't believe there is much that a known assassin could do that would shock anyone. Unless you include the fact that Darnesha and I actually kinda get along, despite the fact she is a succubus! lol

Ooc:
Oye, most shocking thing I've ever done. lol, shocking to WHO, I might ask? I think I completely shocked my mother when I went to Michigan and married my now ex-husband. (yeah, yeah, yeah, she was right. but she is oh, SOOO wrong about my current beloved, hehehehe.) Other than that, I haven't a clue. For me, personally, it was shocking to discover that Mark and I had a true connection from the moment we first met. We were, odd enough, completely drawn to each other....he was the only one who I actually wanted to kiss me. Was rather disappointed when he didn't, but then we WERE in a rather public area of the workplace we were at, lol.

New Month, New Fun

A Word from the Scribe:

Well, tis a new month on Dirt and time for this poor scribe to start writing more. I have been working dilgently on figuring out how best to write Ryna's tale of bar hopping in Carnal City, Quontas. I even did a little rereading on her original tales to be certain I had it all correct.

Father Quont is holding his scribe hostage, who I hear is a bit irked about some Dirtly things...politics and such, tis a messy subject no matter what plane or planet you reside on. At least they know they have support from me and I'm fairly certain from many others who love Quont and his scribe a great deal. I do so hope things work themselves out. (Remember: breathe in, breathe out, and throw in two good jabs....~wink~)

I plan on continuing writing Alahnia's tale and I really do need to post her next chapter for the critique'ers. Mother Terees needs a bit of a break, I think. ;-)

I've been reminded once more on just how much my beloved loves me as well as the fact that there are some people whose jobs do not allow them such fun as what we have now. Point in case: a close, dear friend of mine, a mother of two sweet and adorable little boys, is returning to Iraq once more. I truly wish her a safe turn over there and I pray she returns in one piece and of solid mind.

And now a word from the Trivia Queen:

Well, it seems that none of my courtesians managed to answer Friday's Trivia Question. I was really hoping Skjald would have gotten it, but alas, no. Here's a bit of a suggestion: sometimes the answer is right in front of you while other times the answers will be buried deep in the rarely read parts of Mernac.

Please, do not think that simply because one person has answered, it is the correct answer. I will make a post saying who got the answer first and, since there is no way of switching posts around (good thing for that!) it will be fair.

Now, come one, come all! Join the Trivia Queen and her Court!

State Fair Results

OMG!!!!! I WON 3rd PLACE AT THE STATE FAIR!!!!!!!!!

My amusing little Red & Wolf won 3rd place!!! Ok, so it's not 1st place or "best in show" but...come on!!!! I WON at the state fair!!!! Whoohooo!!!! I won fair and square, no influences used! lol (do NOT ask about that one, lol).


That's just sooo coool!!!! Here's the winning picture:

Sleep, or Lack There of

Ah, sleep, the perpetual thing most normal people do at night. Why is it, then, that sleep eludes me for strange and unusual dreams? Dreams that keep me tossing and turning at night?

Father, oh dearest father, is there anything you can do to help me? Mother, how about you? Can you not suggest something that would help me sleep well at night?

There must be SOME way that I can finally fall into a relaxing, and complete, sleep, where I will not feel so tired when I wake up?

I wonder if the problem is due to Mother's missions she's constantly sending me on? Could that be the problem? Too much stress in my rather poor diet? (Yes, Father, I DO eat....when I'm hungry and feel like it...;-) hehehehe, spoken like a true child, no?) Perhaps if I promise to eat healthier, you will stop sending me out on missions where I continously find one of Father's succubus?

Please! Someone! Send me a suggestion!!!! Either that of send me some hunky man! lol

Trading Card Sketch 1

Well, here's what I've managed to get done so far with my "trading card" for Ryna. I like where this is going, except for you can't really SEE the roses she's holding. I plan on using the picture from my previous post with this frame. The frame looks similar to a heart, so I think with a little more proding in Photoshop, I can REALLY make it look like a heart. Ugh: long, tedious hours of postwork. As if I didn't already have enough to do! lol

hmmmm...I think the lighter background will look MUCH better with the black and red frame...don't you?

Anywhos, my beloved has given me more fun toys for Poser to play with. He's such a sweetie! But then, he does have good connections, lol. I take what is given and I do not ask for specifics.
:-)

Did I mention love is also on the blind side? ;-)

Perhaps eventually I can get myself back into writing.... Actually, I think my next post will be a teaser from the novel I'm working on for the Wonderful World of Mernac!


~Jy'lenn

Tutorial Done

Whahooo! I finally got the DazStudio tutorial done! Ugh...now I just gotta figure out how to get it posted, with pictures...and where...

Ah, the problems and joys of such tedious tasks.

Anywhos, I still prefer Poser, but isn't this a pretty picture of a fairy? (And Daz is still on the restrictive side when it comes to morphs and stuff, but it's a good stepping stone.)

The skin tone is rather nice, don't 'cha think?

Now why can't Poser do that????