The Evolution of Nikki

Archive for June, 2010

So, tonight I received a message on FB requesting my help. As some of you know by now, I’m the Lee DeWyze Examiner, which is great. I’ve met some truly nice people since starting this new topic.

One of the people that I’ve had the opportunity to get to know is Brian Friedopfer, a very good friend of Lee DeWyze. When we first started talking, I told him if he ever needed help with anything to just holler. Tonight he took me up on that offer.

Brian is trying to become the first MTV TJ, but in order to do that, he needs to be nominated, so right now we’re encouraging people to vote for him.

I even wrote up an article that includes some questions I posed to Brian so those voting for him would have the chance to get to know him more. (An excerpt from the article can be found below.)

I would like to take a minute, though, and thank Brian for asking to me help out.  I truly enjoy helping others, and I want to make a difference and pay forward all the good deeds that have been done for me.

Over the past few months, I’ve received a tremendous amount of support and guidance from my fellow TCA members, like Jenny and Acadia. There’s no words to describe how grateful I am for all the help they’ve done for me, so this was another way for me to thank them.

And Brian, seriously, it was fun working with you on this. I truly hope this works out and you get that fresh start that you need and want. You know I’m rooting for you.

Article excerpt:

Q: Why do you want to win?

A: I feel like I’ve already sort of stepped into a similar role, and this would give me a better foundation. It would definitely be a better opportunity to bring more to the fans, which is really what’s important. I think I can bring a different perspective to the entertainment world. I’d watch me!

Q: What would winning mean to you?

A: It would mean a huge step forward for me!! Things haven’t been so easy for me lately. I’m currently unemployed and have been looking for work for 4 months now, and it’s really hard out there. The economy is in really bad shape. This could be a fresh start for me — a chance to show the world who I am!! I’m excited just thinking about it!

You can read the rest of the article here.

I know. I know. I haven’t written in a few days, but it’s not because I haven’t been busy. I have been. I have a ton of stuff on my plate right now, and I’m trying to get it all done. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Today,  after weeks of arguing with my short story’s main character about the story was headed in, the flood gates opened, and I was hit with a diluge of ideas. They hit me one after another, and I couldn’t type fast enough. It felt like the words were pouring from my fingers like a rushing waterfall. What a great feeling it was. I felt productive and alive.

I think part of the reason I’ve felt blocked and was having such a hard time with the plot was because I wasn’t allowing myself to step out of my comfort zone and immerse myself in the world that I was creating in the story.

Part of me was afraid to open up because this story is the total opposite of Second Chances. Where SC was filled with hope and love, this story is darker, grittier and filled with images that are a bit disturbing, at times.

Now that I’ve allowed the ideas to pour forth, I feel calmer and like I can truly bring this story to life. I knew the potential was there before, but I also knew I needed some kind of breakthrough in order for the story to reach its full potential.

I think, knock on wood, that I’ll have the first draft done by my birthday on July 2nd. After that, I’ll tackle another short story that’s sitting on my desk, begging me to finish it.

But for now, my sole focus is on my current short story. I want to hold that story in my hands and feel the weight of it.  I want to see the end result. Am I scared by how it may turn out. Absolutely, but I’m also filled with anticipation because this story is unlike any other that I’ve written. So here’s to progress. Hopefully tomorrow is as productive as today was.

As you all know by now, author Jennifer Hudock has been touring the blog world, allowing us all the chance to get to know her and her work a little better.

If you’re not familiar with Ms. Hudock’s work, you can visit her official site, which is loaded with lots of goodies, including reviews, short story excerpts and podcasts of the ever popular Podcaturday and Goblin Market.

So without further ado, let me introduce you to one of my best buds Ms. Jennifer Hudock.

Q- I know you have been asked this question tons of times already, but could you tell us a little about the Dark Journeys stories?

A- The Dark Journeys Collection are a series of stories I wrote over the last five years. They are completely unrelated to one another, save that they are all characters on a dark journey in life. They are available currently on Amazon and Smashwords for $.99-$1.99, and will eventually be combined into an anthology collection I hope to put into print.

Q- What about Goblin Market? What’s that about?

A- My free serialized podcast novel, Goblin Market, is a story about a young woman who spent her life taking care of her younger sister. When her sister is abducted by the king of the goblins, Meredith ventures Underground to save her and bring her back home again. While there, she discovers the truth about who she is, and that in order to preserve everything she’s ever loved, she must make the ultimate sacrifice: herself.

Q- Can you tell us a little about the sequel to Goblin Market?

A- The sequel to Goblin Market, Jack in the Green, takes place about seventeen years after the original story. The main characters are Meredith’s two sons, Jack and Krayven. One grew up in the Upland, and the other as a prince. Heartbroken and devastated by the events in her past, Meredith hasn’t exactly been the picture perfect mother, and her son, Prince Krayven will do anything to win her love, including venture Upland to bring her son Jack home to her. But Krayven has a wicked agenda, for he is his father’s son.

Jack in the Green is set to kick off as a free podcast on my website this July, but you’ll definitely want to check out Goblin Market first.

Q- For those who don’t know, where can they find your work?

A- Goblin Market, as well as a few other projects, including short audio stories from time to time, and a weekly roundtable chat podcast called Podcaturday are all available for download on iTunes and my official website: http://jennybeans.net.

Q- Do you have any messages for your fans?

A- Thank you for believing in and supporting me. It means a lot to me to know there are people out there who enjoy and look forward to my work.

Q- How can people stay in touch with you?

A- Aside from my website, please feel free to add me on:

Facebook

Twitter

The Creative Alliance

The next set of questions are some different ones that I thought all of you would love the answers to. Enjoy!

Q- Of all the Dark Journeys stories, which one is your favorite and why?

A- This is a really hard question because I really love them all. I become incredibly attached to my characters when I’m writing, but if I had to choose, my favorite story is one that hasn’t been published yet. It’s called Two Weeks and it will be the thirteenth story added to the full collection once I publish it this July.

Q- If you could take one of your Dark Journeys stories to make a movie out of, which one would you choose and why?

A- I would love to see Black Velveteen turned into a short movie because it is one of my all time favorite stories. It was the first time I’d ever delved into science fiction writing, and I was so happy with how it turned out.

Q- If you had the chance to pick the cast for said story, who would you pick and why?

A- I would love to see Edward James Olmos to play Detective Proctor. He is one of my favorite actors, and I think he would do the character justice.

Meagan Good would probably be able to do justice to Velvet.

Q- Which songs would make a good soundtrack for the movie?

A- “Black Velveteen” by Lenny Kravitz, which inspired the story would be a perfect song for the soundtrack.

* Now here is a chance for all of you to voice your opinions. If you’ve have an opinion on which Dark Journeys story you would like to see made into a movie, leave a comment below along with your reason why. Make sure to include who you would love to see star in it. The person with the best answer will win a copy of the next installment in the Dark Journeys series.

Now remember, be creative and thorough with your answer because Ms. Hudock will be the one judging them.