Memories of Harry Potter, and working on first book.

He was just a boy of 11 years old, though this story isn't about Harry Potter, but a boy that  wished to live in Harry's world. He remembers the days when he heard the chatter and clatter of students around him gossiping about the latest new book series: Harry Potter. Learning about this, the boy researched all he could on the series. He asked friends how it was, he looked at the covers at the book sales in school, and desperately wished to read them. Though, his parents were devout Christian, and back then, Harry Potter was the devil. There were Christians that accepted it, and embraced it. Knowing full well that the book is just fantasy and not fact. Even knowing that it's a heroic story about a good wizard that saves lives, and has friends he cares about. But alas, the boy's church forbid it, and thus his parents forbade him from reading it.

And the boy never traveled with Harry, Hermione, and Ron on their perilous adventures in Hogwarts. From the Sorcerer's Stone all the way to the Order of The Phoenix, his parents wouldn't allow magic to be read in their home. And the flames of the boy's candle burned out.

But a small spark ignited in middle school. His English teacher thankfully had a copy of the first book, and with curiosity(and hiding from his Mom and Dad) he glued his eyes to the Sorcerer's stone, and couldn't pull away. The vivid imagery of Hogwarts, the mere descriptions of the magic and the characters, were all it took for the boy to become a fan, and have that candle burn proudly once more. By then, his parents weren't too strict on Fantasy. They started embracing it too, and realized that stories of magic aren't always Evil and malicious.

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Yeah, that was kind of cheesy, but all of this was my journey to reading Harry Potter. All it took was reading one copy in middle school. After all the brainwashing, and machinations of the church, I decided to think for myself, and read the first book. And I fell in love. As I opened that first page, I couldn't turn away. I almost skipped a day of school just to read the book all day, but of course, my Mother caught me. Soon enough, I became a fan in time for the final book, and still have the first edition Deathly Hallows in great condition here.

I, one day hope to be a successful author. I don't need to make the next Harry Potter, and I'm certain I won't. I'm just a guy who wants to write entertaining stories not just for young adults, but everyone. There was a time when I just dreamed of being a success, but now I'm not just dreaming. I'm doing my best to make sure that I live it. And that takes hard work, dedication,practice, and all the cliches you can throw out there. For anyone reading this, if you're an aspiring author too, I wish for you to succeed. Practice, practice, and practice. Nevertheless, also make sure you get critiqued. Because you can practice all you want, but if you're not getting any feedback, you don't know whether what you written is good or bad.

Right now, I'm working on my first YA Vampire/Paranormal novel. Hey, I love that type of stuff. As well as Fantasy. I will never turn my back on Fantasy. And one day, hope to write my own epic. Until then, I just have to keep on climbing until I get to the top. Whoever is reading, I thank you. Hopefully this wasn't too cheesy. Good day, good afternoon, good night...wherever you are, have a great life.

Game of Thrones review

Disclaimer: The following is my opinion, and I'm not stating it as fact. I feel as if I'm insulting the reader's intelligence by stating this, but there are readers out there(whoever is out there reading this) that will think my opinion is fact. Thank you.

In, "A Game of Thrones," George R.R. Martin delivers the greatest fantasy epic of all time. Yes, better than Lord of The Rings, better than Wheel of Time, better than anything else. I know I'm probably sounding like a fan-boy here, but I love this series, but as all writers will say: show don't tell. And of course, I shall.

 First off, it's the tone. Unlike most fantasy, Game of Thrones(or "A Song of Ice and Fire) is set in a gritty atmosphere, in a world that may just be like our own. Except, without all the technology of course. Instead of cheesy goblins, and species running around, instead of throwing magic in our faces, the novel uses the fantasy aspect sparsely. There's magic alright, but it's done in a way that makes one believe it can be real. That, maybe, just maybe that can happen in real life. The magic is usually more menacing and deadly than grandiose and flashy. And that's what I love about it most. That even the biggest over the top moments are grounded in reality, and grit.

Second, it's the characters. Characters can save a bad story and turn it into a great one. But characters can ruin and great story, and transform it to a horrible one. For Game of Thrones(and the rest of the series)it's the former. GRRM crafts intriguing characters with their own strengths, weaknesses, and depths. Their reactions feel true to life, and their passions as well.

Dialogue. You can't have characters without great dialogue, and the dialogue not only feels natural, it perfectly matches what they may have said back in those times. And it doesn't feel forced as if GRRM is constantly digging through a thesaurus for huge words no one today uses in normal speech.

And that's it. Besides obvious things like story, this is what makes Game of Thrones(or, A Song of Ice and Fire) the best fantasy epic of all time. At least to me. As it shows on the picture above, this is also an HBO television series. A damn good one at that. For whoever is out there, what did you love about Game of Thrones?