Selling My Services for a Good Cause

I mentioned a few days ago that I was running in the Susan G. Komen for the Cure 5K. I also mentioned that I would like to raise $100 to donate to the foundation, 75% of which goes directly to local breast cancer education and prevention services. However, I know that in this economy everyone is struggling, and it's difficult to give which is why I would like to offer you something in return for a donation.

Donate $5 and I will critique the first 50 pages of your MS.

Donate $10 and I will draw/paint your MC (or any other character) and mail it to you. (Of course, you'll have to provide a description and also specify what you are looking for (action, pose, standing, etc.) To see examples of my artistic skill, go to my Deviant Art page.

Donate $50 and I will mail you my autographed copy of Nicholas Spark's The Lucky One. (I only have one copy, so whoever donates $50 first will get it.)

I consider myself a more-than-adequate critter and a decent artist (working in watercolor, pencil and acrylic) and will spend a considerable amount of time on each (hence, you'll get your money's worth).

To donate, go to my Susan G. Komen Profile Page and click "Donate to Brandi!"

Once you've made your donation, email me at bguthrie17(at)yahoo(dot)com and let me know what name you donated under and what service you're requesting. (Yes, if you donate $15 you can get both the critique and the character drawing OR three critiques.)

Thank you ahead of time!

I Stole This Truck...Uh, I mean "Photo"

I like to do things backwards, apparently. I read Lydia Sharp's post on 15 inspirations and was like, hmm, what are my inspirations for Dragon Queen? I came up with five. Three songs and two images.


1. Linkin Park's NEW DIVIDE



2. Kelly Clarkson's BEAUTIFUL DISASTER



3. Disturbed's THE NIGHT



4.

5.

And that just wasn't enough. I wanted to come up with 15 inspirations (even if they're after the fact). So I whip out my handy-dandy Google and start searching for random things.

Using the search "red princess" I found this...

http://anathematixs.deviantart.com/

First reaction: OMG!!!

Second reaction: ZOMG!!!

This is EXACTLY how I pictured my MC, Jade. This artist (Suzanne van Pelt) totally shares my brain waves. I mean, holy cow!!! Craziness. I couldn't even draw Jade this well. (And I tried.) This artist is, seriously, my new best friend. 

So, even though I was cheating on my inspirations, I'm glad I found this photo. It's totally my new inspiration. 

Have you ever stumbled upon a picture/photo that fit your MC perfectly? Please share!

I'm a Deviant!

I have mentioned (briefly) that I enjoy drawing and painting, and I'm doing my best to get back into that. So, I've joined Deviant Art.You can find me under BrandiFey. So far, I've only got about four things posted, but I shall raid my art tonight and try to post more.

Deviant Art is actually an awesome website...and a great source of inspiration for a flagging imagination. Skill levels vary, but all the artwork has something to offer. It's amazing how many great artists are out there and the wide range of subjects. Though I favor fantasy, you can find photography, cityscapes, animals, landscapes, etc.

Check it out!

Ideas Are A-Swimming

Since FURY is officially on the back burner until my beta reader (a wondrous and generous person) gets back with me (aside from the dreaded synopsis writing), I have been able to procure a few new story ideas.

I've got the itch again, people. The writer's itch. No fear, it's not contagious (except maybe to other writers).

I will be expanding ONE THOUSAND soon from its short story stagnation to a novella or even a novel. There's so much potential there that I'm not limiting myself.

But, I have to share a new idea with you. I had a very vivid, fantastic dream about a dark, outcast girl who inadvertently causes evil things to happen around her. She's even been accused of killing her parents. And when the beautiful Priestess goes missing, fingers point at our outcast. It doesn't help that everyone knows Outcast has a burning desire for the Priestess's lover, so of course she must have been the one responsible. But Outcast is freaking tired of the accusations and she's ready to prove all the idiot villagers wrong by going into the evil tree that has taken the Priestess and saving her. (And to assuage her own guilt that maybe she DID make this happen.)

And on that note, here's a picture of the Outcast, Morgan, as she prefers to be called.

Yes, I did draw that myself. I'm itching to draw Achlys (the MC in One Thousand) and will probably do so once I get my freaking taxes done.

However, I HAVE noticed a trend in my writing lately. Dark. Dark. Dark. I am a dark fantasy writer, people. Or a dark fantasy romance writer. Whichever. :)