Robert Pattinson's latest film, Water for Elephants, is filming just one state over from mine!

Shameless self-promotion but I promise to make it interactive.

A couple of weeks ago I made a post about my new book coming out.

Well starting this coming Sunday August 1st and going through Saturday the 7th the Circlet Press Livejournal community will be holding what we can an author chat for that week.  Chat is a bit misleading because it's actually just journal posts that you can interact with the authors (and me the editor).  We'll be giving away copies of the book and answering questions and generally dishing on writing and erotica and whatever else tickles our fancy.

Why should you care?  One of the authors, Jana Denardo, started out as a fanfic author and is now a professional author so I thought some of you might like to pick her brain about that. :)  You can find the Circlet Livejournal community here:

http://community.livejournal.com/circletpress/

To make this post more interactive what author, living or dead, would you love to sit down and chat with?  

I think I've met all the living ones I want to but I'd love to sit down with either Nathaniel Hawthorne or God.  Yes, God.  He counts as an author too doesn't he?

I don't want to talk too much about the network itself but its shows, especially these three.

Psych- one of the funniest shows I've ever seen by far, Shawn and Gus are hilarious.

Burn Notice- Sometimes I wonder if the people of Miami notice all the explosions.

Royal Pains- Amazing the way people can be save with duct tape.

To make this interactive tell me your favorite shows in the USA network (white collar, the dead zone, Monk) or if you watch the shows mention above tell me why you like them or give me gifs and videos and what not, or just tell me your favorite shows in general.

Enjoy your Friday everyone!

I was curious to find out what movies were in theaters 10 years ago. Here are the top ten movies for this weekend in 2000:

I was pretty much amazed, because to me it really doesn't feel like some of these have been out for 10 years already. What's more crazy is the list from 20 years ago.

And I would just like to add: WAY TO GO, BRUCE WILLIS and HARRISON FORD! They're both on posters from ten years ago, AND from twenty years ago, AND they were at Comic-Con because they are going to be in movies coming out this year!

I am thinking about going to see a movie this weekend. Any suggestions as to what I should see? Happy FFAF!

And FYT:

 

Too funny not to share.

So Fresh. So Dry.

Oh my gawd, they have shirts!

 

My first campfire.. yay!

Right, so I'm watching Wolverine (Hugh Jackman, yum) and Taylor Kitsch pops up (double yum) so I'm searching his ass on IMDb, and he was/is (I'm not too sure) in Friday Night Lights. See, we don't get this in England, and it doesnt look like its coming down anytime soon but I'm considering watching it online and was wondering if any of you would recommend it?

I mean, is it actually worth watching?

and if you want, recommend your favourite tv programmes, or anything you definitely would recommend :)

and I'm not clever enough to put in pretty pictures... I wouldn't mind some help with that either.... ;)

anyone have any clue how someone does do that?!

thanks!

So...I'm hungry.

This ailment has been plaguing me for quite sometime, now.

Always the same feeling of loneliness in my stomach.

What to do?  COOK OV CHOOORRUS.

I haven't really stocked up on a lot of things in the pantry, yet.

So, that means I'm looking for recipes that are QUICK and EASY just like me.

Also, that may not require so much ingredients. (e.g. What did you cook for yourself in college?)

SHARE PRETTY PICTURES THAT WILL HAVE MY STO-MACK GRUMBLY.

I had this yesterday, & I am dying to make it:

At least I would like to think so. I was told by a very amazing ranger who shall remain nameless (thanks) that I should do this as a way to get my story out there for you all to read. I would like the think that the idea is very different and yet I'm not sure so I'm bringing to the best of the best ;-) and hoping that you all will take a moment and check it out. This is my first fanfic (which is not an excuse) and I would love opinions. It is not complete however I'm updating regularly. so let me know if it strikes your interest or if you have any suggestions.

Thanks!

Beautiful Destruction :
Edward left when Bella needed him the most. When suddenly she becomes a part of the world of fairy tales and monsters in a way that no one could have predicted. The pain and loneliness and destruction. Can he help her find a way back? (This story takes place during what would have been new moon after Edward left her and continues from there. First chapters are a bit short but I have been working to remedy that. :-))

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5554429/1/Beautiful_Destruction

Yes, I am suitably ashamed of that title but it's the end of a long week, okay?

Yesterday I found this article:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-10786279

Extract to wet your appetite: More women in the developed world are choosing not to have children. So why do friends, family, colleagues and even strangers think it's OK to question their decision?

It struck a chord, but what interested me was not just the article itself but the comments people left.  It seems that people have an opinion whatever you decide with regards to children.

For instance:

One of my friends just had her first baby at 24.  She looks younger than that and she got quite a lot of dirty looks and comments about 'young mums'.

Another friend, also 24, just got married.  She said that everybody at the wedding kept asking when they were going to start having babies.

I think this seems to be a pretty common experience - for some reason, every woman gets asked at some point in their lives (often repeatedly) what their plans are regarding children.  Whatever response they give is followed by some kind of judgement.

Why?  

Discuss.  (The article, your opinion, your own experiences, whatever you want to contribute).

I'm not asking for your own stance on having children/not having children (unless you want to share it) because for some people this might be a sensitive subject.  Mine will be in the comments.

I think we can all discuss this rationally without getting into the realms of parents-are-selfish, no-people-who-don't-have-kids-are-selfish arguments I've seen elsewhere.  This is not an opportunity to sling mud :).

Approved by grownasswoman, who I think might have been drunk.

This little preview of the new season was released recently...

Good afternoon and HAPPY FRIDAY!

(I mean, you know, for those of us for whom it is Friday upon stopping by this campfire...)

Gather 'round and bring your munchies for this Friday Fic List Compilation.

Today, I'm asking you to share with the Forest and all our guests the best you know in ALL HUMAN NON-CANON PAIRINGS.

Yesterday, there was some confusion. Yesterday, the request was for ALTERNATIVE UNIVERSE (i.e. vampire and werewolves et al) NON-CANON PAIRINGS...and, ah, some humans showed up anyway.

They're entirely welcome to return to the campfire today!

Let's share stories where our favorite Twilight characters are just human beings, but they're not with their canon sweetie!  Carlisle and Bella, anyone?  Bella and Embry?  Esme and Jacob?  Hey, if they're human, bring them!

This is the last of the planned fic lists.  Here, then, is the sum total of the lists that the Campers of ADF have compiled:

AU - Lemony Goodness

Canon - All Kinds

AH - Lemony Goodness

Wolfpack Prose

Angst & Heartfail

Rated T, PG, PG-13

Slash Fics

Fluffy Fics

Volturi Fics

One-Shots

Alternative Universe, Non-Canon Pairing Fics

That's a lot of fan fiction! Wow!

Now, if you're just joining us, these lists have been carefully compiled by Campers here at A Different Forest for the purpose of future reference.  If you click on the heart at the top of a campfire, you can mark the campfire as a FAVORITE. Then, when you wish to refer to it again, you merely go to the campfire icon and find My Favourites in the drop-down menu. Click on that and you'll see all the campfires you've marked.  

Regarding these lists, you can refer folks to them the next time someone says, "I'm looking for a great _________________story. What do you recommend?"  We've got it covered!   

REMEMBER: These lists are meant to be works in progress!  If you have already contributed to them but have new fics to add, by all means return to the campfire and edit your prior comment there.  If you haven't, you can add a new comment with your recommendations.  :)

Remember the rules of the campfire:  Keep it simple and no discussions.  I think y'all have it wired, by now. ;-)

My recs, as always, will be within.  

Thank you all so much for sharing your favorite ALL HUMAN NON-CANON PAIRINGS around the campfire! 

This is my first campfire, and since if FFAF I wanted to throw this up.

This picture just popped up online as one of the Eclipse after-party shots.

I am having great difficulty telling whether this is the real thing or someone's superb photoshopping skills. Either way, it's peeked my interest!

What do all of you think?

Hi Campers!

I need some assistance! I’m looking for recommendations for a very specific genre/category, one I don’t know much about...

My ficwife and beta-lady needs a break from angst and hearthurt/fail. And I haven’t a clue what to rec her since most of what I read is the aforementioned angst and hearthurt/fail. But I need her happy so that she will beta my own aforementioned angst and hearthurt/fail ;) So, this is IMPORTANT, lol.

Here’s where you come in. Recommend fics for me to pass on to her!

But because we’re difficult I don’t want just any “lite” reading rec.

Here’s my shopping list:

- Well written (a must – she’s an attorney with a Masters in some variety of Literature – um, this is why she’s an awesome beta btw)
- MUST HAVE HEA – as in the traditional kind
- Intelligent or clever... aka not contrived or done 8000 times
- No Manwhoreward
- No stupid Bella
- Any separation that occurs, by way of break up or other crap, must be resolved relatively quickly.
- Should contain “some” smut or adult content but it needs to be done well.
- Dialogue should not be overly sappy/silly/cheesy
- AU or AH is fine
- Canon pairings only, no slash
 - EDIT: WIP is okay as long as it doesn't look like there will be major heartache
 - EDIT: Some angst/whatnot is okay, but it needs to be resolved quickly and not terribly painful. She does read angst, just looking for something else right now.
 - Oh, and no crackfic.

So, help me, campers! Please? Pretty Rob smiles at those who will! :D

Good evening Happy Campers!

Okay, so I know I lack patience, time and talent. These are pictures I have modified not made. I am hoping one of them is good enough for my story but to be truthful I don't believe they are all that good.

I could use your help in choosing which is better though. My story is called Green Eyes and it is about Bella being a strange vampire with green eyes and many powers. She constantly meets a human Edward and they both fall in love every time, but he always dies when she tells him of their past and tries to turn him. Once she decides to stop looking for him, he shows up and he is no longer human. Bella goes against her decision and finds the vampire Edward but tries to keep a distance emotionally so that she can spare his life. But when her father finds out, how will he react? Will he come between the two and try to stop the prophecy that hangs over his and Bella's heads?

Okay so here are my two ideas but like I said they aren't to crash hot, so if you think you can do better (not hard to do) I'd be more then happy for you to give it a shot *hint hint* And these are supposed to be Bella but I don't really see my Bella looking fragile like Kristen-Bella

Let me know what you think and if you would like to read my story:

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6118777/1/Green_Eyes

Thank you!

SO, I saw this today.

It's a Swedish cop on the street.

Both embarrassing and awesome.

We all do strange things, and some of them we regret.

Please to be posting videos/pictures/stories of people doing embarrassing things.

Ex: dancing like a fool, fail videos, drunk pictures...

Hi everyone! Happy Free For All Friday!

So I was listening to the radio the other day and they were talking about how mean people, particularly women, can be to each other. Even if not directly to each others faces, women in particular can be very critical! Its so unnecessary!

Very few people in my life know just how terribly low my self confidence and self esteem is. I have got to a point where I am fed up of being so critical of myself, let alone worrying what other people think! I need a self esteem boost!

So heres the thing, how will anyone else think that I am awesome if I don't think it?

So this right here is the Campfire of Awesomeness!

Firstly, I want you all to come in and join me, and complete this sentence;

I am awesome because ................................

Now is not the time for modesty, think hard and tell my why you are awesome? Do you have a great job you are proud of? Are you a stay at home mum raising wonderful children? Are you beautiful, sexy, intelligent? It can be whatever you feel!

The second part is for you to let someone else know they are awesome! If you sometimes need a little boost, surely everyone else does too right? Go let someone know, it can be someone in The Forest, a family member, a best friend you rely on or a colleague you admire. Just go let them know what you think!

Hopefully, this little 'pick me up' will put a little spring in everyones step today!

Mine will be in the comments!

Since it's FFAF, I figured I'll take advantage.  So the lovely Gondolier, author of the compelling Hydraulic Level 5 is having a wee bit of a photography contest.  I was thinking of entering (and I hope you are too) and was going through some old pics of mine and thought, 'hey why not a picture campfire.'  So campers, share your favourite pics that you've taken here.  I want to see.

Mine is inside.

hello campers!

so, I just got a new tattoo, and don't really have anyone to gush about it with. (pic in comments)

Just in the few days I've had it, I really have noticed a difference in the way people react to me. Even just walking through the grocery store, some will stop to admire it, others will send me evil glances. Its a bit strange, but hey, I asked for it when I got the thing, right?

My questions to you all: do you have tattoos? If so, I wanna see 'em!  Have you experienced prejudices? If so, how did you handle it? 

Happy Friday :]

So today I was coming home from a road trip. I have been in South Carolina the last week and have been complaining all over twitter (and once or twice in the forest) about my terrible sunburn. 

Well, I had started peeling yesterday and I will be the first to say I look(ed) TERRIBLE. I have dead skin peeling off my face and omg, I wouldn't get out of the car the whole road trip except for one bathroom break at a rest stop. 

I was coming in to my town and I stop at a gas station. Well, one of my friends that I was driving with went in with me and said my name. So the guy at the counter was being pretty cool and you know, just nice. And when he was giving me my change, he said, "Here's your change for the beautiful Ashley." 

I know he was just being nice, but I so smiled like there was no tomorrow. :D I had mascara smeared, peeling, and everything else and he said I was beautiful and that just made me plain happy, even if he was lying. ;) (Which, btw, in my world he was not. :D)

Now that I've explained my story, I want you campers to do something for me. Do a random act of kindness or a compliment, stranger or not. Tell them they look extra pretty today or they have a great smile. Anything to make them smile like this is the last day EVER to smile. 

And then come back in this campfire and tell me stories like these, in the past or what you did to someone after reading this. :D kindness never hurt anybody, you know. ;)

:D

http://www.theonion.com/video/alqaeda-calls-off-attack-on-nations-capitol-to-spa,17688/