hello, may!

(Finally.)

HELLO, FABULOUS DRAGON-FRIEND! I am back from hiatus with a BRAND NEW SHINY POST FOR YOU!!!!

january, february, & march highlights, ft. a tiny vlog || getting my driver's license, turning 18, + ALSO starting college???

I Wrote a Piece of Flash Fiction??? || THE COMMISSION by Liv K. Fisher

HAPPY WEDNESDAY, DRAGONS!

It's finals week for me (YAAAAY 😬), so this post is a bit of a rush job, but anywhozens, I WROTE A SHORT STORY. (Or flash fiction, if you want to get technical. 😉) It's 314 words (less than half-a-page) with a medieval fantasy feel. You can credit the opening sentence to Rebecca @ SpecFaith, who's hosting her semiannual writing challenge. This was my entry (which I tried to submit, but all my browsers LOATHE me right now, so it's either (A) not submitted at all, or (B) submitted 1044756705 times + totally spamming the submissions section. I'm hoping it's A rather than B! 🤞)... I can't wait to share it with you!

Without further ado, The Commission...

B Y   L I V   K .   F I S H E R

The guard would never let me enter if he knew what I was planning. Even if I weren’t Queen.

A lone trickle sounds somewhere in the distance and hesitant footsteps fall, light and near against stained wood. From the depths of the shadows comes the scarlet hem of a soldier’s coat, followed by the gleam of his bronze buttons, until at last I can see his face.

Friðrick.

He bows, low and steady. “Your Majesty.”

“Where is Njӧrður? Did you leave him lurking in the dark?”

I hear a canine growl. I hold my breath; the floorboards shift. Then I see the edge of an enormous boot behind Friðrick, and I realize Njӧrður’s been there all along.

I exhale to expel a small ghost of fog.

“Ah, I see.” I face Njӧrður. “You may wait outside, Friðrick. Njӧrður will fill your post.”

I see Friðrick glance at Njӧrður, silent. He looks back at me and bows again. “Very well, Your Majesty.”

He trudges past me, up the stairs; I’m silent until I hear the door swing shut. Then I relax.

“The whole of the prisoners?”

Njӧrður growls: “All asleep, save for her.”

“Thank you.”

With that, I shove past him. I run. My slippers creak against the platform, and, for a moment, I’m afraid this aged wood will shatter, but then I see her.

I see my salvation.

I see my son’s.

She’s withered away, huddled in the far corner of her cell--

“You were the eldest?” Her voice is thin and wiry.

“Yes, of the twelve dancing princesses.” I glance behind me. “I need your help. Do you still have magic?”

“Yes.”

“My son’s the prince. He needs a wife.”

“Every man needs a wife, child.”

“He needs a humble, kind, brave girl.”

“My dear,” my Fairy Godmother says, “I know just the one.”

She waves her wand; glass slippers appear.

“Trust me.”

Be sure to stop by SpecFaith and read everyone's entries! (I'm 99.9% sure mine's not there. 😂🙈) They're all AMAZING. 😍😍😍 AND, if you haven't entered the challenge yet, GO DO THAT! Submissions close Sunday night.

'Til next time, Dragons, stay awesome and live boldly! 😘

LET'S CHAT!

Do you enjoy reading flash fiction? Have you ever written any?

❤,

Hello, 2019 & HELLO, DARLING DRAGONS! 😘

I'M FINALLY WRITING THIS POST.

Something that started as a belated May highlights, then morphed into May/June, and eventually made it all the way to some "May/June/July/August/September/October/November/December Highlights BASICALLY I FAILED AT BLOGGING LAST YEAR" hybrid. So, yeah.

I've been gone for a while, and, to be honest, there are a lot of reasons why (you can read my full post on that here). 2018 was rough. Jam-packed of wonderful new people + amazing experiences + SO MUCH FUN, but rough nonetheless.

My goal and prayer is for 2019 to be better.

Today, I'm going to take a look back at just a few of the blessings 2018 had to offer,* and some dreams + plans I have for this year. 😉

*Fair warning: all the photos might make this post look a little wackadoodle on some phones/tablets/feeds. 😅 I did my best!

Without further ado, let's dive in!

J A N U A R Y

• Returned from my first ever New Year's Meeting
• Stayed up late with my mom on Sunday nights to watch Victoria (PBS) 😊
• Finished my fifth semester of high school + started my sixth

F E B R U A R Y

• Returned to Universal Studios / the Wizarding World of Harry Potter 😍😍😍
• Had my wisdom teeth removed (WHILE AWAKE???)
• Probably did something else significant but it's been almost a year since then so I honestly can't remember rn?? 😅

M A R C H

• Took the SAT for the first time
• Finished my editing job
• Grandparents came to visit 🙂
• Spent spring break hiking + visiting coffee shops / museums / beaches with da bestie and our families 💚

>> January/February/March Highlights <<

A P R I L

• Attended Placerville's Youth Meeting
• Took the SAT for the second (& LAST!) time
• Went to tea with Tasha @ curlycovering
• Realized my smol love for edible floral arrangements 😂😂😂
• Co-hosted a giveaway with Victoria Lynn @ Ruffles & Grace

>> April Highlights <<

M A Y

• Joined Instagram (my handle is @livkfisher, btw 😉)
• Went on a jeep caravan to Borrego Springs
• Traveled to Sacramento for a friend's graduation 😭💞
• Took my first ever AP exam 😏
• Launched The Language of Worlds linkup
• Da bestie came to visit! 😁

J U N E

• Volunteered as a poll clerk on Election Day
• Finished my junior year
• Discovered I was quoted on Introvert Dear, thanks to the lovely Lisa Pickle!
• Attended SoCalCWC (& met THE Nadine Brandes and Hailey Rose! 😱😻😻) (click here to see Hailey's vlog on it!)
• Got my driver's permit 😃

J U L Y

• Passed out flags for a realtor
• Watched fireworks from the driver's seat 😍
• Launched my readers' group (!!!!)
• Spent a day at SeaWorld + watched fireworks from the sky trolley 😍😍
• Camped for a weekend in Julian
• Found a TARDIS-styled little free library

A U G U S T

• Da bestie came to visit again 😊
• Attended my church's twelfth annual Youth Meeting (ft. sermons by Jonathan @ Pure & Simple Bible)
• Went on a two-week road trip with my family & went on SO MANY ADVENTURES 😍😍😍 camping, exploring, etc... the whole trip felt very lovely + bohemian! 😍😍😍
• Decided to go full-blown vegan 😬 (food-wise, at least 😉)
• Started my senior year
• Attended Livermore's Labor Day Meeting

S E P T E M B E R

• Registered at community college 😱😱😱

O C T O B E R

• Outlined Ignis (formerly titled The Scent of the Stars)
• Had a fun, pizza-filled Halloween with a school friend 🙂

N O V E M B E R

• Started writing Ignis
• Saw The Crimes of Grindelwald (totally noteworthy & honestly probably my new most favorite movie EVER 😍😍😍)
• Had my senior pictures done by the lovely Gina Lee Photography
• Attended Oakdale's Youth Meeting
• Grandparents came to visit for Thanksgiving 🌝

D E C E M B E R

• CHRISTMAS!
• Attended Oklahoma City's New Year's Meeting

chasing shadows by ashley townsend // where trains collide by amber stokes // the moon master's ball by clara diane thompson // an enchantment of ravens by margaret rogerson // scarlet by marissa meyer // fawkes by nadine brandes // waltz into the waves by sarah holman // common by laurie lucking

books: 53/53

writing: started ignis

travel: hollywood, ca // placerville, ca // borrego springs, ca // sacramento, ca // la miranda, ca // seaworld, ca // julian, ca // lost coast, ca // livermore, ca // oakdale, ca // oklahoma city, ok

work: finished editing job // volunteered at polls // delivered realtor flags

education: finished junior year // started senior year // registered for college

books: read 30 // join netgalley // re-read the harry potter series

writing: finish + revise ignis (draft 1) // write fey novella // write two books in medieval fantasy quadrilogy

travel: fullerton, ca // julian, ca

work: complete socalcwc registration job // find + start part-time job

education: finish senior year // graduate high school // start college

soul: spend one hour+ with God every day

health: stay vegan // eat more greens // do 15 min. yoga every morning // walk dogs three times each day // do stretches every evening

art: start + keep + add to bullet journal

HAPPY 2019, DRAGONS!!!! 😘💕 I hope you had an amazing 2018 + your 2019 is completely FANTASTIC & everything and more than you hoped for!

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for all the love and support you've given me -- this past year especially. I'm so thankful for each and every one of you, and I pray your new year is absolutely wonderful. 💖

Now...

LET'S CHAT!

How was your 2018? What are your goals for this year?

❤,

The Language of Worlds: Kelpie O'Brien, the Twelfth Dancing Princess

HAPPY WEDNESDAY, M'DEAR DRAGONS! Today, I'm delighted to take part in my very own The Language of Worlds challenge 😉, and share a little sneak peek my current WIP!

A quick recap: The Language of Worlds is a character linkup -- think Beautiful People, but tailored to speculative Christian fiction. Anyone (writing Christian spec fic or not) can join in at any time! Click here to learn more.

A couple months ago, Spring Song Press announced its latest writing contest -- a fae-themed anthology, called Oath & Iron. And because (a) it's a writing contest, and (b) FAERIES!!!!, of course I have to enter! Thus, the past several weeks have been spent toiling away at happily conceiving a story... Fjord Phantom: pirates, pumpkins, apples, Norway-inspired, faerie-mortal romance, and a hint of Greek mythology.

This linkup, I'm focusing on the star of Fjord Phantom -- Kelpie O'Brien, my protagonist and the youngest (now all grown up) of the Twelve Dancing Princesses.

Without further ado, my responses to the latest edition of The Language of Worlds...

{Source.}

1. INTRODUCE YOUR CHARACTER & HER STORY!

How about a synopsis, instead? (Le gasp, I WROTE A SYNOPSIS!) 💜

Princess Kelpie O’Brien has known the legends of the fey courts her entire life. Still an infant when her eleven elder sisters danced for the fey folk, the closest she’s ever come to a Faerie is through the stories her family tells her.

But when her last unmarried sister finally weds, Kelpie is sent to the kingdom of Norland to explore ship-building… and a deadly accident flings her into the arms of a fey man -- if only he weren’t on the run.

Suddenly, Kelpie’s world is overturned and she is thrust in the fey realms, where she becomes entrapped in Faerie circus, must compete against the compassionate Moon Queen, and fights to survive the darkness of autumn. The only one who can help is the fey man who rescued her. But when Fire consumes him, she is cast into the depths of the Underworld -- and this time, her only hope is herself.

2. WHAT DOES SHE LOOK FOR IN A FRIEND (CONSCIOUSLY OR SUBCONSCIOUSLY)?

Strength and compassion -- two things of which Kelpie finds herself rather lacking. She's never considered herself strong (mentally or physically), and relating to others' sorrows is not her specialty.

3. IF SHE COULD STUDY ANY FOREIGN LANGUAGE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Elvish! (Pray disregard the fact that I've yet to read Lord of the Rings! 🙈) It's a romantic language and Kelpie likes romance. 😏

4. WHICH PERSON FROM THE BIBLE WOULD SHE BE BESTIES WITH? WHY?

King David. I'd like to think he was terrified of Goliath, but we know that, with God's help, he overcame his fear and saved his people. Kelpie's story is about finding her inner strength (and compassion) and overcoming her fears -- something that, as a cynical girl in search of stability, she does not learn easily. 💕

5. IF SHE WERE TO VISIT FOR A WEEK, WHAT WOULD YOU DO TOGETHER?

We'd go to Seaworld! Because honestly, I think Kelpie would adore marine life. 😁

6. WHAT IS HER IDEAL FUTURE?

{Source.}

LOL! 😂 Kinda? At the start of the story, she's determined it's marriage -- that finding a good-hearted nobleman will solve all her problems. But as the story progresses, she learns that such is not the case. 😉

7. IF SHE WERE TO SPEND A WEEKEND ALONE, WHAT SORT OF PASTIMES WOULD SHE PURSUE?

Reading! Lots and loooots of reading. 😊

8. IF YOU COULD SEND HER A CARE PACKAGE, WHAT WOULD BE IN IT?

• Chocolate
• A magical-creatures-themed coloring book
• Colored pencils
• The Moon Master's Ball by Clara Diane Thompson
• The Harry Potter heptalogy
• Every Ashlee Willis book in existence
• Uninvited by Lysa Terkeurst
• A brown, fuzzy, plush dove 💞

9. IS THERE A SONG THAT DESCRIBES HER JOURNEY?

Almost every single one of my characters has at least one song that could be applied to their journey. But for some reason I can't think of a way to limit Kelpie to just one?? 😅 So here's a whole playlist, instead 😜:

10. WHAT IS HER PLACE IN THE STORY (HERO, ANTIHERO, VILLAIN, SIDEKICK, ETC.)?

Heroine! Of course, there's a hero, too (it's a joint effort 😉). 💝

Dragons! Are you writing an entry for Oath & Iron? Have you done The Language of Worlds, yet? (Maybe I'm biased, but I totally think you should do BOTH! 😉)

❤,

Introducing... The Language of Worlds Linkup // May-June 2018

HULLO, MY DRAGONS!

Today, I want to share something with you -- something I've been working on ever since Cait @ Paper Fury and Sky @ Further Up & Further In announced the final Beautiful People linkup. Linkups like Beautiful People have played such a hand in my writing: they've taught me more about my characters, made them more human. They've made me realize just how much my stories mean to me -- and how much books mean to readers. They've drawn me closer to fellow bloggers, introduced me to their tales and fed a love for reading my friends' words. Thus, now that one of my favorite linkups has gone, and I'd love to continue learning more about the characters in my fellow bloggers' works-in-progress, I'm proud to present: The Language of Worlds...

The Language of Worlds is character linkup. Think Beautiful People, but different. 😉

• The Language of Worlds is tailored to speculative Christian fiction, but other genres are more than welcome!
• It's bimonthly -- every two months, a new set of questions releases. This first linkup lasts from May 'til June, and the next begins in July and ends in August.
• There are ten questions per linkup, and new ones every time!
• Anyone can join! All I ask is that you use the graphic (above) and link back here, to my blog (click here for the official HTML).

Without further ado...

1. Introduce your character and his/her story!
2. What does he/she (your character) look for in a friend? Consciously or subconsciously?
3. If he/she could study any foreign language, what would it be?
4. Which person from the Bible would he/she be besties with? Why?
5. If he/she were to visit you for a week, what would you do together?
6. What is his/her ideal future?
7. If he/she were to spend a weekend alone, what sort of pastimes would he/she pursue?
8. If you could send your character a care package, what would be in it?
9. Is there a song that describes your character's journey?
10. What is your character's place in the story (hero, antihero, villain, sidekick, etc.)?

My linkup gadget is, unfortunately, acting a bit fidgety, but hopefully it'll be ready in time for the next linkup! For now, feel free to drop a link to your The Language of Worlds post in the comments, below.

I hope you'll join me on this exciting new venture! And I can't wait to see your answers!

Lord willing, my responses will be up next week, with a sneak peek at my Oath & Iron entry! 😉

❤,

April Highlights (SUMMER'S ALMOST HERE!!!!)

📷 cred: Anastasia

WELL, HELLO THERE, MAY. *waggles eyebrows* You're my favorite month bc you mean that SUMMER IS ALMOST HERE!!!! Which means strawberries🍓 and watermelons🍉, picnics🥧 and tents⛺️, art📚 and adventures🌼... I'M JUST SO EXCITED fdgtrb ewbrbfelbr;sdlkvfb

{Source.}

LIFE HAPPENINGS

• Me: *applies for position as poll clerk morning before deadline* // Human: *calls that night to say that I GOT THE JOB* // Me: WOWZA THAT WAS FAST
• Mom: Let's stop by the dmv and get you that driver's handbook. // Me: OH DEAR
• I went to Sac the weekend before last and got SUPER SICK but lol I'm going back again this weekend for my bestie's graduation so 😎
• Bestie: *driving* // Me: Have you ever listened to the Lumineers? // Bestie: OMW YES *blasts the Lumineers all the way home*
• *end of SAT* // Kid next to me: Well I AM SO TAKING THAT AGAIN // Me: lol I remember those days
• MY FIRST AP EXAM IS A WEEK FROM TODAY AND I. AM. FREAKING. OUT.
• I finally figured out how to Instagram and not be just a stalker anymore??!! (My Instagram handle is @oliviakimwrites, btw 😉)
• Lionsgate is making a Robin Hood movie and IT LOOKS SO EPIC, YOU GUYS (trailer below)

• My friend Anastasia (who has just recently started #hairstagram-ing and YOU SHOULD TOTALLY GO GIVE HER A FOLLOW) and I went out to tea (pics above) after I took the SAT for the last time & it was such a wonderful, peaceful, relaxing decision 💖
• Me: Are you going to eat your garnish flower? // Anastasia: No, go ahead // Me: *slowly eats it* // Me: That was really sweet... and then REALLY GROSS // Anastasia: Now the waitress is going to return and be like, "Oh no, what happened to the garnish flowers?!" And I'll let her know that the vegan ate them. // 😂😂😂
• Me: *should be doing homework* // Also me: *compiles a list of 100 titles she wants to read this summer, but probably won't*
• I discovered the joy that is the Oh Hellos' album Notos
• THE FROZEN ON BROADWAY SOUNDTRACK RELEASES IN JUUUUUUUNE
• I FINALLY saw The Greatest Showman and it was SO BEAUTIFUL but THEY TOTALLY BUTCHERED THE LEGACY OF JENNY LIND, THOUGH
• Fan: *goes kaput* // Mom: *buys a new fan that is basically an oscillating rectangle of Antarctica* // Me: *is way too excited*
• Yesterday Stephanie Garber announced that Caraval is getting ANOTHER sequel and I AM ALL KINDS OF HAPPY, RN
• Current mood bc SUMMER IS SO CLOSE:

{Source.}

• Also, here's a summer countdown because qwoifre gebgb b gbfrb I CAN'T WAIT ⮛⮛⮛

READING CORNER

1. Sinking by Sarah Armstrong-Garner [4/5]. Mermaids, Ireland, pirates, unwanted suitors... um, YESH. I was a little slow getting into it, but the more the heroine's character developed, the more I enjoyed her story!

2. Where Trains Collide (ARC) by Amber Stokes [5/5]. I LOVED IT; IT WAS PHENOMENAL. Let's start there. Keep an eye out for my full review as a part of the blog tour, coming June 8th!

3. How a Star Falls by Amber Stokes [3/5]. Not nearly as lovely as Where Trains Collide, but still a fun little read! I so enjoyed seeing little snapshots of Humboldt County (I didn't realize there were so many places I didn't know existed!).

4. Word & Deed by Rachel Rossano [4/5]. A very different sort of story, but interesting. I was quite pleased with who-got-who, in the end! 🙂

5. The Moon Master's Ball by Clara Diane Thompson [5,000,000,000,000/5]. I ADORED IT. And yah see that five-trillion out of five? That means that THIS IS BASICALLY RIGHT UP THERE WITH HARRY POTTER. It was THAT GOOD. 💕

6. The Spinner & the Slipper by Camryn Lockhart [4/5]. It took me an insane amount of time to get into this, but I'm pretty sure that was all me. And as soon as I met the green-eyed man, I knew it was love! 😍😉

7. The Prince & the Dressmaker by Jen Wang [1/5]. No. Just no. It takes me waaaay to long to explain why, but you're welcome to read my Goodreads review with my reasons. 🙃

8. An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson [4.5/5]. I AM STILL ON A HIGH FROM THIS BOOK!!!! The romance, the worldbuilding, THE CHARACTERS... Oh my word, I adored it! 💖

WRITING DESK

You know how I said I'd be doing Camp NaNoWriMo?

Hahahahaha-- UM. Anywhozens.

The Scent of the Stars didn't get written. I... got a little distracted. Because, shortly into Camp, I learned about Spring Song Press's new writing contest and MY BRAIN FELL IN LOVE. Thus, my WIP for the next month-and-a-half is called Fjord Phantom, and it's a Nordic, gender-swapped retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice. Here's the Pinterest board:

APRIL BLOG ROLL

ELSEWHERE IN THE BLOGOSPHERE

• Cait @ Paper Fury and Sky @ Further Up & Further In released the last Beautiful People challenge 😭😭😭
• Spring Song Press is hosting a writing contest! 🌟
• Savannah @ Inspiring Writes (formerly known as Scattered Scribblings) and Madeline @ Short & Snappy redesigned their blogs!
• Abbiee @ Abbiee and Sarah @ The Introverted Extrovert returned from hiatus!
• Ivie @ Ivie Writes reveals the cover for her debut novel (Uprising) on May 19th!
• Rebekah @ Rebekah's Remarks releases her poetry book on Sunday! (And she's offering some pretty neat swag to anyone who joins her in celebrating the release, this weekend! 😉)

What's new with you, me'Dragons? Any fun plans for May? Are you excited for summer?

❤,