great gatsby – Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

My Weekly Update – Happy Memorial Day

Published on May 26, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle6 Comments

I saw this on Google’s banner and loved it. I have seen this scene played out at airports a few times and I cry like a baby every time. My prayers go out to those families who didn’t get to experience this happy ending.

3Ups Blog Hop

Created by Randi Lee, this is a pay it forward blog hop. I had the pleasure of sharing three items about Michelle from Writer-In-Transit.co.za. We appear to have a lot in common. I did my research and seems like we have attended several of the same virtual parties, but haven’t officially meet.

She loves the Bloghop/Blogfest – In the last three months she has participated in Overcome Adversity Blogfest, Insecure Writer’s Support Group, Celebrate the Small Things, Top Ten Movie Blogfest, The Big Reveal and A to Z Blog Challenge.
She loves Flash Fiction – A true creative can compose a story out of five sentences and she hits on several different genres, which is cool.
She loves the blog community – She is a blogger, a writer, a contributor, a cheerleader to other bloggers and that makes her super cool in my book.

Thanks so much to Tyrean for the kinds words she said about me in the 3Up! Blog Hop

Post to Ponder

How to Write a Great Twitter Pitch by Ava at Writability – There is a Twitter Pitch party coming up on May 28th. Details available here.

Happy Memorial Day! My Depressing Yet Hysterical Military Career by Kristian Lamb – This story is hilarious and so unbelievable it has to be true.

What to do When You’ve Written the Worst Book Every by Amanda Fanger – It happens to all of us. So, read on for tips to handle it.

Stress and the Creative Process by Ali Cross – How do your emotions effect your writing?

There is Nothing Wrong with You by Randi Lee – I am tired of explaining myself to those who just don’t understand or don’t get it.

Coolest Things

Saw The Great Gatsby and it was a beautifully shot movie. Baz did a great job. I enjoyed the movie immensely, but there was much more tension created in the book then in the movie. Amazing thing to be able to create tension in the written word.

Saw Star Trek Into Darkness and I absolutely loved it. Spock was so perfectly frustratingly Spockish and I love him. I hate to admit it but James T. Kirk is growing on me. Khan is so gorgeous and not just in the bad boy kind of way.

New Followers

Jordan Latour

Next Weeks Schedule

Wednesday – Get Healthy Bloghop

Friday – The WHIP IT Good Blogfest

Saturday – Prince’s and Hero’s Bloghop

For someone who did not have the opportunities to enjoy three day weekends for the last 6 years, I am appreciating the pleasure of free time.

Secondary Character Bloghop

Published on May 20, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle22 Comments

Hosted by this generous group: Theresa Paolo, Kelley Lynn, Jessica Salyer, Jenny Morris and Suzi Retzlaff. They are giving away stuff, so sign up.

In Movies: Jack Nicholson as Colonel Nathan Jesup in A Few Good Men kept popping in my head when I thought about a secondary character who stole every scene.

Thanks to Aaron Sorkin for writing the words. Scene always gives me chills.

I did a little more research and realized Jack is a 4 time award nominated and 2 time award winning secondary character.

See Easy Rider, Reds, Terms of Endearment & A Few Good Men.

In Books: My favorite secondary character is actually the narrator of my new favorite book, Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby. I just love Nick’s consistent sense of hopefulness in Jay Gatsby. Nick wanted to believe in Jay so bad every step of the way. This one of my favorite scenes that demonstrate this:

“By the way, Mr. Gatsby, I understand you’re an Oxford man.”

“Not exactly.”

“Oh, yes, I understand you went to Oxford.”

“Yes —- I went there.”

A pause. Then Tom’s voice incredulous and insulting:

“You must have gone there about the time Biloxi went to New Haven.”

—

“I told you I went there.” said Gatsby.

“I heard you, but I ‘d like to know when.”

“It was in nineteen-nineteen. I only stayed for five months. That’s why I can’t really call myself an Oxford man.”

Tom glanced around to see if we mirrored his unbelief. But we were all looking at Gatsby.

“It was an opportunity they gave to some of the officers after the Armistice,” he continued. “We could go to any of the universities in England and France.”

I wanted to get up and slap him on the back. I had one of those renewals of complete faith in him that I’d experienced before.

Daisy rose, smiling faintly, and went to the table.

Again, must give credit to Mr. F. Scott Fitzgerald for the written words.

I haven’t seen the movie, yet. I’m a little skeptical whether Tobey MacGuire is able to do Mr. Nick Carraway justice.

What are some of your favorite secondary characters? Make sure to visit the other bloghop participants and discover other great secondary characters.

My Weekly Update – Breathless

Published on February 9, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle8 Comments

You know how the anticipation of something is sometimes better then then actual thing. Well, let me tell you, when you are shown something unexpectedly and it is amazing, that trumps it all.

I saw the The Silver Lining Playbook (Great Movie. Bradley Cooper was amazing) and caught the trailer for The Great Gatsby.

I wept. I moaned. I grinned, laughed and groaned. It took my breath away!

This is another book on my list I have to read before I see. Are you looking forward to seeing The Great Gatsby?

Grammy Night

Although I haven’t seen the Grammy’s in over 5 years. From the hype, its going to be a great show, more performance based. And, they are creating these amazing collaborations. This year pairs Rihanna with Bruno Mars and Sting & Alicia Keys with Maroon 5.

But, I can’t wait to see Justin Timberlake return to do what he was born to do. He and JayZ (love him) are performing their new single Suit & Tie. I am breathless just thinking about it.

Are you watching the Grammy’s? What performance are you looking forward to?

Post to Review

Get Writing Fit by Ellie Garratt – Guest Post on My First Book – I am focusing on #2 & #3 this year.

Free Writer’s Weekend in Hawaii by Mark Koopmans – I really want to go. Let me see how I can work it out. Plus, its my birthday.

Things I’ve learned from Star Trek #348 by Ali Cross – She even has a Star Trek video.

Writing Tips: Join Contest by Shannon A Thompson – One of my goals for the year. Great advice.

New Followers

Promote Your Book Blog

Out Where the Bus Don’t Run by Gus Sanchez

Next Week’s Schedule

Monday – The Versatile Blog Award – And the Award Goes To

Wednesday – Writers Group Re-Cap – another incentive to make me go

Friday – Prossia Blog Tour – Built From What-If

Sunday – My Weekly Update

What is Going on in that Place?

Published on June 20, 2012June 20, 2012 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle6 Comments

3972648550_96a148b8d7 — JET CHUCKLE HOUR GRANDMOTHER MISSED

Central park was unusually loud on 5th Avenue at this hour, Alana noticed. The park side of the street was crowded and she was having trouble getting into a rhythm on her morning jog. She couldn’t remember ever having to dodge people like this at 6 am.

At 82nd Street, Alana barely missed running over a man who was sitting on the sidewalk crying. He was in an old dusty grey suit. Strange.

Alana decided to slow down and walk until she could continue her run at the 72nd street entrance to the park.

Moving through the crowd, Alana began to notice that the people in the crowd were not dressed appropriate for the time of day or the weather. It was November. Everyone was dress for summer. They looked like they were going to a garden party. To Alana, they looked happy and drunk.

As Alana passed by, a handsome man gave out a chuckle. The man looked like an extra from the party scene in The Great Gatsby. He was talking to two women. Both were stunning, in ankle length sun dress with big yellow, purple and pink flowers on them.

“The lights. Did you see the lights?” One women said.
“The music was phenomenal.” The guy with the smart looks and loud laugh said.
“I loved the food.” the other women said, “I hope we can go back.”

Suddenly an elderly women interrupted the three hipsters.

‘That women looks like my grandmother,’ Alana thought to herself.

“You can’t go back in. They never let you back in.” The old women was dressed in a similar dress as the two young ladies. But, where they looked like they were ready for a fashion photo shoot about the 1920’s, the elderly women looked like she had been wearing her clothes since 1920. The only reason Alana recognized the dress was because the large colorful flowers were still visible on the faded fabric.

Alana continued on towards where the crowd was entering Central Park.

A younger women grabbed Alana’s arm, “Have you seen it?”

“Seen what?” The women lead Alana to the park entrance. As they turned the corner, Alana saw it.

It was magnificent. It was a castle. A castle in the middle of central park. Alana had taken this route many times and she was sure that it had not been there before.

The women let go of Alana’s arm and took off towards the castle.

Most people walking towards it were like Alana, mesmerized and curious. Those walking away were drunk and happy, but those who had been before, just stood around looking old and angry, like the old women and the old man crying on the street. Angry and desperate to get back in.

A jet flew overhead confusing Alana. You don’t hear jet engines overhead in New York City. Which made Alana realize she wasn’t in New York anymore.

“What is going on in that place?” Alana said.