Geek Chic

I've always been a geek.  In high school I felt at home with the drama/choir crowd, was scarily knowledgeable about musical theater, and burned through books like they were going out of style. Later, my wacky sense of humor, bizarre tastes, and growing lack of concern about what other people thought only made matters worse. It started with shows like Psych, Monk, Bones, and NCIS. Then, I discovered Glee, Harry Potter, and The Pirates of the Caribbean. I was just getting warmed up when I found the BBC and fell in love with Doctor Who, Downton Abbey, Merlin, Robin Hood, and Sherlock. By that time I was completely enamored with the entire Marvel Universe and fully addicted to Netflix. It was too late to hide my fanaticism. My bookshelves, DVD collection, and crazy tee-shirts plainly declared my mania.

When I stumbled into the online fandoms and acquired a new vocabulary (fangirling, shipping, canon, etc.) I felt like I'd found the mother ship. And it turns out I can rock geek chic.

So, when I saw this title at Barnes and Noble, it was only a matter of time before I devoured it.  In Fangirl, Cath is embarking on the new and frightening world of college.  For a twin, it's a weird sensation to be delving into new experiences all on her own, so she pours all of her stresses, social anxieties, and pent up frustrations into her fanfiction. As well-followed fanfic writer Magicath, Cath's love for spinning new scenarios for her favorite characters and the magical world they inhabit opens the door for new friendships, life experiences, and, if she's lucky, romance.

Though this story may seem sweet and silly, Rainbow Rowell ties in plenty of reality to ground the tale. I enjoyed following Cath's journey from damaged girlhood to finding herself and learning what she is capable of.  A truly fun story, but word to the wise, Fangirl is a more mature read, featuring both adult themes and language.

However, for the clean read crew, let me introduce Geek Girl:

Jen Jones is a high school student who's been bounced from one foster home to another. Still suffering from the tragedies of her childhood, Jen has her eye on nothing more than the next party and the next high. Until Trevor catches her attention. A geek to the core, Trevor is the most attractive of his sci-fi obsessed posse. Jen bets her friends that she can turn him into a bad boy and is certain she'll succeed. But while coming to know him, like geek makeover flicks10 Things I Hate About You, She's All That, and Drive Me Crazy, she is more altered by the experience than he is.  Facing her past seems like the hardest thing Jen will ever have do until Trevor discovers her secret and she faces losing the geeky boy she's fallen in love with.

I thoroughly enjoyed this tale of self-discovery.  Like Jen, I am certainly a Geek Girl at heart. Enjoy, my friends!  Both of these books are full of wonderfully written characters, fun adventures, and geeky goodness.  Find them at Amazon:
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Geek Girl by Cindy C. Bennett

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For more of my fangirl mania, check out Fanfiction & Fairtales, Embracing the Fangirl Within, The Con, and Embrace the Geek by fellow Geek Girl Raylynn. Thanks for stopping by!

The Con

We shall call it research!

I've always been a fangirl. Even when I didn't know what a fangirl was. After establishing an online presence this year, I settled happily into my place among the Whovians, Sherlockians, and whatever you call the people addicted to Downton Abbey. Like Dorothy with her ruby slippers, I realized there's no place like home.

With panels featuring amazing actors and a convention full of colorful characters, it's the perfect setting for a kindergarten teacher to unwind and a writer to gather new ideas. (But yes, a character based on John Barrowman would be larger than life.)

Some words of wisdom from my first Con:

Do good things just to make the world a better place. (Stephen Amell)

Smile when you feel down and choose a happy life. (John Barrowman)

If you haven't found the part that's made for you, keep looking. (Stephen Amell)

People don't love you? Why should you care? (John Barrowman)

The overall message of the Con is clear:

Whatever your passion, let your geek flag proudly and loudly! 

And just to prove I take my own advice...

And yes, I can use the Con experience, the wisdom of talented artists, and my own fangirl passions to inspire future projects. Don't be surprised if a future character is a hunky bow and arrow toting hero. 

Yes, that is Stephen Amell. And yes, appreciating his smoking hot abs does count as research.

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For more on my fangirl tendencies and/or using what you love to fuel your writing, try out Fan Fiction & Fairytales or Embracing the Fangirl Within.  I think you'll enjoy them!

Fan Fiction & Fairytales

Outside of my teaching career, I am many things: author, partner in crime, avid reader, musician, and--I'll go ahead and own it--fangirl. I haven't gotten into the vast collection of fan fiction available, but while watching BBC's Sherlock, which Mark Gatiss & Steven Moffat created out of their love for Arthur Conan Doyle's original stories, it hit me: this is fan fiction.

Which started me thinking, who else does that?

How about Peter Jackson? The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies are his tribute to J. R.R. Tolkien. Jackson read the series of books as a youngster and was quoted as saying, " I can't wait for someone to make a movie of this book, because I'd love to see it!"  Sounds like something I'd do. Uh, wait...

It was somewhere between fangirling over Sherlock, Loki, a bunch of hot dwarves, & the majority of the Avengers that I realized my favorite genre was also a form of fan fiction. If you hadn't noticed, I'm slightly obsessed with fairytales. And like Gatniss, Moffat, Jackson, & the entire Marvel Universe, I can't seem to keep my hands to myself.

Hey, at least I'm in good company.

So here I am, reading and writing twisted fairytales left and right. And why is that? Because I'm a fangirl and I'm proud to say it.  You're welcome to join me.