Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Fishtails and Mechacon

Wednesday, March 6, 2013


It's official, my loves....  Viktoria Rose. Burges (Lolita Alaine),  will be at Mechcon 2013!  Get ready world, I'm on fire!!  

This post is a prelude for what is to come... book reviews, meine Freunds! I just racked up on some amazing book titles, and I still have to review Asunder and Matched! I have a lot of work ahead of me.  Hopefully I can balance it out with school! Oh! And, just a side-note, I'm still a wreck after Asunder...Thank you very much, Jodi Meadows!  

So, this picture in the lower-left corner... yes, that is a fishtail braid!  I finally learned how to accomplish it!  This has been a great week so far, my loves, I'm glad to share it with you.  

I found this quote on goodreads and thought I'd share it... it's beautiful. 

Hold fast to dreams,
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird, 
That cannot fly
         -Langston Hughes 

Register for Mechacon 2013 here.  And if you register, let me know! We can be Con-buddies!  

Rock steady, until next time!
Viktoria Burges

Thursday, February 14, 2013

The L Word

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Wo ie ni.
Volim te.
Je t'aime.
Aloha wau ia 'oe.
Ti amo.
Kimi o ai shiteru.
Aš tave myliu.       
Ich Liebe Dich.
I love you. 


People all around the world say "love you" differently.  There are many diverse ways to profess your deepest feelings to the one you love.  Some do show it though actions, words, art, or music *cough! Incarnate! cough!*.  It's the same in books.  Authors write their characters to show affection, but how to they show it?  What makes the way one character displays is fancy different from how another character does it?  Yes, my lovelies,  in honour of St. Valentine's Day, I am writing about love.  Now, I'm not a professional, but I have read  A LOT of books.   This makes me a bit of a hopeless romantic.  

Similar to languages, books say "I love you" differently.  No two books are ever the same (Well, nowadays, maybe).  Love is one of the main reasons readers pick up a book.  Now don't go shaking your head, saying "That's not true!".  Think about it.  Yes it is.  Aside from the amazing plot, we are drawn to the romance.   We want to see what makes the characters human, and love is one of the most basic factors of humanity.   Basic, not easy.

To all my writers, how do you incorporate romance into your novels? I'd love to hear the different ways you write love into the plot. Being the hopeless slag I am, I stick it in every corner I possibly can.  Not to the point that it is suffocating, obvious and annoying, just little subtle hints.  

In Incarnate, (YES- I will always refer to this book) Ana and Sam have a beautiful relationship.  However, it is not without flaws! The two often disagree.  They both come from very divergent pasts.  Ana can be insecure at times and Sam can be so thick in the noggin, he might be classified as an Orc.  A beautiful Orc with musical talent beyond your imagination... Anyway, their love may be wonderful, but they are flawed and that makes it relatable.  

Matched by Ally Conde is another great book featuring a completely useless love-triangle.  If you haven't already noticed, I'm not a fan of such polygons.   Here we have Cassia who I instantly loved, and then slowly started to dislike.  I understand the whole, breaking away from the Society thing, but honestly, Ky?  I felt like she was just enamoured with him. Not love - just intense interest.  (I'm reviewing this book next! BE excited!) 

The Percy Jackson Series... good lord, who doesn't ship Peracbeth?  If you don't, you are not human.  Percy and Annabeth grew up together.  They met when they we twelve and their Godly parents hated each other.   THESE ARE THE MAKINGS OF A FINE RELATIONSHIP.  Then, the two slowly developed feelings for each other - and we were right there with them!  Percy refused immortality for her!  Annabeth searched the world for Percy when he went missing.  Dedication, my friends!  This is what makes this couple shine. Thank Mr. Riordan for sharing this wonderful love with us. 

In The Hunger Games, romance wasn't the main  focus of the story, but it played a part in it.  There was your typical nagging, unnecessary love-triangle.  Katniss and Peeta vs. Gale.  In this relationship, Peeta was the damsel in constant distress and Katniss was the strapping male character  that was always jumping though hoops to save him.  Wait, not right?  Ah!  Katniss was the female and Peeta was the male?  I had no clue.  Now I'm all for girl power, but this was a little ridiculous.  This was definitely a new twist on romance.  I liked it, but in book 3, it slightly irked me. 

Jane Eyre, my dream romance.  Jane, a young governess at Thornfield Hall falls for her employer, Mr. Edward Fairfax Rochester (AKA The Ultimate Valentine).  This book weaves such a beautiful romance, you are instantly drawn in and obsessed.   Jane isn't pretty, she is smart and passionate.  She's got her head screwed on right, a devout Christian and opinated.  This girl is my hero.  Mr. Rochester is a brooding man with a dark past and even darker eyes that you immediately want to drown in.  Perfection.  (All McFassy fans will understand that reference and probably even read that in his voice) Now, of course we can ignore skeletons and Bertha's in the closet and just agree that he is a fantastic catch. 

Now that these examples of great and not-so-great love have been given, I want YOU to post and tell me who is your ideal couple?  What makes their love so unique? Which fictional dreamboat would YOU want for a Valentine? 
 
 

  
Kip and Lafawnduh will alway be the greatest lovers in my book! 

Monday, February 11, 2013

Asunder Preview!

Monday, February 11, 2013

Sometimes, a girl has to buy herself a gift for just being awesome... this is one of those days.   I was at Barnes and Noble studying today, and to reward my good behavior, I purchased this amazing book!!!!!  So, my lovely readers, go out and get yourself a gift this week!  Don't wait for your Valentine!   

Also, please visit Jodi Meadows' wunderbar blog and buy her books! 

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Books You Must Read Before You Ride the Pale Horse

Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Incarnate (Newsoul, #1)
Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I wish I could read Incarnate again through new eyes. I want to re-experience the captivating chapters and the wonderous plot that left me sitting in the bathtub for hours...screaming and crying for book II. Now, in two weeks ASUNDER will be sitting in my lap and I will be crying like a baby.

Incarnate was beautiful. I felt like reading something as whimsical as Alice in Wonderland and as romantic as Jane Eyre. There was so much in the book that I loved. The Idea, the Players and the Setting was just beautiful. If only I could see the Heart that I dreamed of. "If I could behold all I imagine..."

Incarnate had Dragons, I mean, come on! DRAGONS. Bloody Dragons.

I loved the relationship between Sam and Ana. It was so melodic...
Now, I am a fan of Music of any genre so when I learned about the music features in this story, I new I had to read it.

Did I mention how much I wanted to kiss and sob over the cover? No? Ahh...maybe I should refrain. Honestly, I have loved butterflies since the day was born, so when I saw this cover I knew that I must own the book.

And I do... sure, it's a library book, but I've had it for almost 3 months and they aren't getting it back.

As for book II...Asunder, I have a feeling it's going to be beyond amazing. I need this book in my life. Now.

View all my reviews

Author's note:  Did you see what I did there with the title?  Oh yes, I am impressed with myself.   Please visit my Goodreads page for more reviews and amazing book titles.


Monday, January 7, 2013

The Ride of the Pale Horse

Monday, January 7, 2013
Greetings, my faithful readers!  


Today's subject is something rather unpleasant, yet romantic and eerily beautiful.
Death.
*Shivers!*
In many of the books I read, my favourite characters have a habit of dying. It bothers me. Now, I know that everyone can't live happily ever after, but honestly, does every amazing character have to ride the pale horse? 
 In the final installment of the Hunger Games series, almost every character died or had a unfavourable ending. *SPOILERS* ( I know you just read that in River Song's voice) Finnick was decapitated! Prim was blown sky-high! I was definitely upset.
Now in the "Book Thief" by Markus Zusak, there are deaths, but they were acceptable and understandable, not excessive. I was sad, but I approved.
Unfortunately (or fortunately for my characters), I have a very hard time letting go of my characters. I have to decide very early on that they are going to die. If I don't, I'll become too attached and they will live on forever.
So to all my readers... what is YOUR take on character death? What is your best advice to writers that are too attached to characters? Comment and share your thoughts! 


-Lolita Alaine 

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Welcome to the Playground of the Insane

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Greetings!  Hallo!*

I am an aspiring writer under the pseudonym of Lolita Alaine.   Writing has always been a passion of mine.  I am a terribly dramatic and slightly bizarre character.  Writing is the easiest for me to express my whimsicality.



Q. Why did you start writing?

A.  In my opinion, writing is the simplest form of the expression.  It is an art.  Being an Artist, I am naturally drawn to any forms of artistry.

Q. Who is Lolita Alaine?

A.  Lolita Alaine is a pen name I chose for myself.  It is taken from variations of my two favorite writers, Lewis Carrol and Edgar Allan Poe.  Lewis - Lolita.  Allan- Alaine.  Simple enough.  It means, precious sorrow.

Q. What are you currently working on?

A.  Currently, I am working on two stories: one is a fantasy short story without a title and the other is a science-fiction trilogy entitled, The Arcane.  I'm afraid I don't give the stories enough attention, I am working on time management.  Pray for me. I need it!   Also, pray that the plot-bunny attacks stop, please!

Q. What inspires you to write?

A. Honestly, can I say myself?   It is a selfish statement, I know, but it is true.   I can't hold all these ideas in, they have to be shared.  (Cue Princess and the Frog. Only a true Disney fan would understand that reference.)  Writing for me is like shopping, it is an obsession.  It's all I think about, though I rarely have a chance to compose more than two chapters a day.



Q.  What are your greatest challenges as an aspiring authoress?
A.  Grammar.  You can learn all you want, but it's still a pain to execute.  And I cannot forget -Time!  Time is such a bully, but I mustn't insult him again! Honestly, time is my greatest adversary,  working against him is extremely...trying. 

Q. What is the main idea of this blog?

A. I started this blog as a way to track my thoughts and ideas as I write.  To tell the truth, it's a way to stop me from going insane! (I think that last word deserves an "even more" behind it.)   I figured I could entertain a few folks with my inner-thoughts and workings.  (Cue evil smile and maniacal laugh.)  I would love for other aspiring writers to follow this blog and post.  Maybe it will evolve into a little community of writers, helping and inspiring each other.

Q.  Who are some of your favorite Authors?

A.  I have so many!  I will name the few on the top of my head:
Edgar Allan Poe
Lewis Carrol
H.G. Wells
Hans Christian Andersen
Brüder Grimm (Brothers Grimm)
Alexandre Dumas
James Patterson
Suzanne Collins
Rick Riordan
Veronica Roth
And that's only a few!

I hope these few questions have given you a little insight into the fantastic world of Lolita Alaine!  Hopefully posts won't be as sporadic as my writing.  I am excited about this blog and I hope it spreads far and inspires many.

Bis zum nächsten Mal!* Until next time!  


*No, I do not speak German.  I wish I did, and hope to learn soon.  However, you will see many words in German on this blog!  :D  Because it's just a great language, I must promote it!