Petra Jacob

The State of the Writer: 7/26/20

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<–The State of the Writer: 7/12/20         The State of the Writer: 8/9/20–>

A post updated every other Sunday discussing my current writing projects and any completed the prior two weeks.

Finished Projects: 1

Project: Story
Title: The Broken Rose
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Fanfiction
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Length: Novel
Current Word Count: 251,552
Prior Word Count: 251,855
Word Difference: -303
Status: Editing
Progress: Prepping to post

I’m going back and forth on whether or not I need to do a third edit.  I did make some changes in the second, but I can’t decide if they were major enough for at least another read through.  Idk.  I have started looking for potential chapter covers, so it seems like my brain is telling me that’s what I should be doing lol.  I do still need to write the summary, but whether I do a final edit or not,  I should have the chapter posted before the end of the week.

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Supernice: Smile. Or Else. by Petra Jacob

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Title: Supernice: Smile. Or Else.
Author: Petra Jacob
Date Added: June 11, 2020
Date Started: May 20, 2020
Date Finished: June 22, 2020
Reading Duration: 33 Days
Genre: Science Fiction (Sci-Fi)/Speculative Fiction, Young Adult (YA)

Cover of Supernice by Petra JacobPages: 284
Publication Date: May 30, 2020
Publisher: Self
Media: eBook/Kindle

A funny and gripping story about a tyrannical alien invasion in a sleepy seaside town.

Chirpy YouTuber Nick and his cynical teenage daughter Natasha have their lives thrown into turmoil one afternoon when the walls start swallowing people. Over the next week, more and more are snatched away, until the announcement is made: Earth is under new management. Aliens have taken control and they’re not happy with how humans have been behaving.

The new leaders introduce a series of increasingly oppressive rules. Make a single mistake and you’ll be taken away – to be transformed into an upstanding member of the community.
An upstanding, smiling member of the community with a brain like mashed potato.

As their town, and the world, are thrown into chaos and the streets are filled with grinning automatons, Nick and Natasha each find their own way to deal with the horror. Nick becomes a YouTube celebrity, convincing the public to behave. Natasha joins a makeshift rebellion working out how to dodge the alien demands. Each wants the best for the other, but they end up on opposing sides in humanity’s most vital and bizarre battle.

Will they ever be united against the real enemy? Will the human race become the docile drones that the aliens want? Or is universal niceness an impossible and undesirable dream?

Supernice reveals the disparity between how the younger and older generations view and deal with an alien invasion, and the author showcases this early in Nick and Natasha, the father and daughter MCs whose perspectives the narrative bounces between.  This isn’t to say neither of their viewpoints change/evolve, but it is fascinating to witness how easily some people are taken in for the benefits, while others, while afforded and seemingly offered some of the same, understand the deeper implications sooner and reject them despite the cost.

This is one of those stories where the bad happening seems almost good, similar to the sentiment of “we’re the virus” in response to the current global pandemic.

Remember kids, be fashionable not fashy

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The State of the Reader: 7/1/20

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<–The State of the Reader: 6/17/20         The State of the Reader: 7/15/20–>

A biweekly post updated every other Wednesday detailing my current reading projects and what new titles I’ve added to my to-read list.  Title links go to Goodreads, and if you have an account there feel free to friend me!  I’d love to see what you’re reading and/or planning to read.

Purchased: 3

Finished: 1

Title: Supernice: Smile. Or Else.
Author: Petra Jacob
Date Added: June 11, 2020
Date Started: May 20, 2020

Cover of Supernice by Petra JacobMedia: eBook

Every single book I read by this author just gets better, and the first one I read, Riddled With Senses, was already excellent.  It’s like her take on current culture becomes more acerbic and accurate, because what occurs by the end of Supernice is exactly what would happen.  The mindset of people would absolutely lead them down heinous paths, and there would most definitely be others who’d oppose it.

Like I do with other books by self/indie published authors, I’ll be reviewing this next (or after the one I already have in draft) since reviews are way more important to get out for them.

Currently Reading

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The State of the Reader: 6/17/20

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<–The State of the Reader: 6/3/20         The State of the Reader: 7/1/20–>

A biweekly post updated every other Wednesday detailing my current reading projects and what new titles I’ve added to my to-read list.  Title links go to Goodreads, and if you have an account there feel free to friend me!  I’d love to see what you’re reading and/or planning to read.

Purchased: 4

Currently Reading

Title: Keturah and Lord Death
Author: Martine Leavitt
Date Added: August 16, 2016
Date Added: June 6, 2020

Cover of Keturah and Lord Death by Martine LeavittMedia: Hardback
Progress: 26%

I love Death and the Maiden stories.  Shocking, I know considering everything I’ve written has been one.  This is no different.   Keturah literally meets Death after chasing a hart into the forest and wandering for days.  She manages to strike a bargain with him: if she can find someone to love her in the next 24 hours then she can keep her life, otherwise Death will marry her instead.  I already know how it’s going to end, but I can’t wait to see how it gets there.

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The State of the Writer: 12/15/19

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<–The State of the Writer: 12/1/19         The State of the Writer: 12/29/19–>

A post updated every other Sunday discussing my current writing projects and any completed the prior two weeks.

Finished Projects: 1

Project: Story
Title: The Broken Rose
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Fanfiction
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Length: Novel
Current Word Count: 253,415
Prior Word Count: 253,463
Word Difference: -48
Status: Editing
Progress: First edit of Chapter 21

Because of extenuating circumstances (which I’ll detail in a bit), I haven’t gotten much editing done on Chapter 21.  I have started it, though, and cataloged what I need to add/work on.  I’m hoping to play catch today after some major setbacks over the weekend and be back on schedule with everything soon.

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Peddling Doomsday by Petra Jacob

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Title: Peddling Doomsday
Author: Petra Jacob
Date Added: June 6, 2018
Date Started: June 18, 2018
Date Finished: July 3, 2018
Reading Duration: 32 Days
Genre: Fiction, Drama, Psychological Thriller

Peddling DoomsdayPages: 345
Publisher: Self
Publication Date: May 31, 2018
Media: eBook/Kindle

No matter where she is, Deirdre feels out of place. So when a cult known as the Center contacts her, wanting her join up, she’s intrigued. They say a terrible war is coming, humanity is in danger and without explaining why, say she’s needed for the fight. Suddenly the chance to be spectacular is within her grasp. With the charismatic Myra as the cult leader, and talk of prophecies and psychic abilities, Deirdre is soon seduced and ditches her humdrum life to join up. 

Once inside, her understanding of the world shifts. She learns the truth about the elite, a secret organisation that has meddled with humanity since the beginning of time. The elite use entertainment and the media as a constant distraction to stop people from reaching their true potential. To free themselves of this conditioning, the followers must give up ‘excessive’ food and sleep. They also carry out increasingly bizarre rituals under the critical eye of the Captain, a minor leader of the new followers. He seems to take pleasure from turning them against one another. 

Tensions increase. The followers gain odd new abilities, but bullying and hysteria also grow. Meanwhile Myra’s prophecies become increasingly extreme. As paranoia intensifies, Deirdre questions where the belief ends, and delusion begins.

‘I suppose life is just whatever stories we choose to tell ourselves at the time,’

If you ever want to dive into the machinations of how a cult can draw in and take over “normal” people, this second book from one of my favorite indie authors is the one you want to read.  From the outside, it’s painfully obvious what’s going on, but if you really want to be believe something or believe in something because you have nothing else to cling to, you will.  That’s how cults and certain religious sects prey on the most vulnerable.

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The State of the Writer: 12/1/19

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<–The State of the Writer: 10/20/19         The State of the Writer: 12/15/19–>

A post updated every other Sunday discussing my current writing projects and any completed the prior two weeks.

Finished Projects: 2

Project: Story
Title: The Broken Rose
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Fanfiction
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Length: Novel
Current Word Count: 253,463
Prior Word Count: 254,260
Word Difference: -797
Status: Editing
Progress: Posted Chapter 20

Sephiroth staring forward with an almost expressionless look on his face even though his lips are curled slightly up. His slit pupils are clearly visible, as well as the upturned color of his black, leather coat. Silver hair frames his face surrounded by embers and the suggestion of flames. In the top left corner are the words "Chapter 20 Mercy."I went through the gambit of pictures before settling on this one alone.  If I were better at image manipulation, I would’ve done a layered one with Aeris looking at him, but I decided to scrap that due to lack of skill.  I absolutely adore this picture though; I’ve used it quite a few times in my slideshows, and it resonated with me for this particular chapter, which has been building since the very beginning.  My readers are quite bloodthirsty, too…I’ve already received some accolades for this selection.

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The State of the Writer: 10/20/19

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<–The State of the Writer: 10/6/19         The State of the Writer: 12/1/19–>

A post updated every other Sunday discussing my current writing projects and any completed the prior two weeks.

Finished Projects: 1

  • Secret Project – Even though it was a bit late, I finally finished my secret essay and I can now start working on Preptober…more than halfway through the month *sigh*

Project: Story
Title: The Broken Rose
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Fanfiction
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Length: Novel
Current Word Count: 254,260
Prior Word Count: 254,301
Word Difference: -41
Status: Editing
Progress: Prepping to post Chapter 19

I was hoping to have Chapter 19 posted by today.  In fact had I not woken up at 5 I probably would have. Everything is all set up; I just need to do it.  If I get this post done in a timely manner and I have the brain power, I will afterwards.

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The State of the Writer: 10/6/19

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<–The State of the Writer: 9/22/19         The State of the Writer: 10/20/19–>

A post updated every other Sunday discussing my current writing projects and any completed the prior two weeks.

Finished Projects: 0

Project: Story
Title: The Broken Rose
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Fanfiction
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Length: Novel
Current Word Count: 254,301
Prior Word Count: 254,387
Word Difference: -86
Status: Editing
Progress: Chapter 19 Third Edit

So I lied…again.  I was going to post Chapters 19 and 20 concurrently in order to fulfill the intention of my promised delivery of justice.  That is no longer true, because I want to get Chapter 19 out as soon as I finish it, leaving you all to wallow in anticipation for just a bit longer as you await this fabled retribution, or I would think this if I were even half as narcissistic as I claim to be when in reality I know you all have way better things to do than await my next chapter hahaha who am I kidding but seriously I’M WORKING AS FAST AS I CAN PLEASE DON’T HATE ME.

I thought Chapter 19 was going to be shorter, but it’s a decent length chapter in its own right even after truncation, and since I’ve already sorta edited parts of Chapter 20, it shouldn’t take as long to get that out *fingers crossed*

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The State of the Writer: 9/22/19

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<–The State of the Writer: 9/8/19         The State of the Writer: 10/6/19–>

A post updated every other Sunday discussing my current writing projects and any completed the prior two weeks.

Finished Projects: 0

Project: Story
Title: The Broken Rose
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Fanfiction
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Length: Novel
Current Word Count: 254,387
Prior Word Count: 254,472
Word Difference: -85
Status: Editing
Progress: Chapter 19 Second Edit

 

Okay, so I might have lied a little bit, though not intentionally, which means it’s not really a lie, is it?  It’s more like I gave the information I had at the time, and that information changed.  Chapter 19 will not featured one of my favorite and definitely most vengeful part of the story.  I decided to do some rearranging because I wasn’t thrilled with how the next chapter started, so I combined parts of Chapter 20 with the original Chapter 19, which means the beginning part of the latter is now going to be its own chapter, and Chapter 19 is now going to be Chapter 20.  If that doesn’t make any sense, don’t worry about it.  I’m planning to post both Chapters concurrently, so you’ll still get what I promised; in fact, you’ll get more 🙂

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