The Liebster Award!! (a.k.a. The Post That Proves I'm Alive)

It's been a long time since I've posted anything substantive to this blog, so it's rather ironic that I've actually been nominated for an award for it. Nonetheless, I have by the fabulous Beth and Gayl of Sessions- Studio Time fame.  The Liebster Award is given by bloggers to bloggers, to promote the blogging sites we love and support and so it is my honor to accept this nomination. 

Thank you both so much!!


Accepting the nomination comes with these conditions:
1. Post the award on your blog.
2. Thank the blogger who presented the award and link back to their blog.
3. Nominate 5-11 bloggers whom you feel deserve this award and have fewer than or equal to 3,000 followers.
4. Answer 11 questions posted by the nominator, and ask your nominees 11 questions.

Now that steps one and two are complete lets get to my nominations.  It’s been awhile since I’ve read these stories so some writers may no longer be updating but they deserve these nominations so I had to nominate them no matter what.

My Nominees

Blupaws for Chambered Hearts 

Mela for Simtopi 

Laura for all of her Sims blogs but mostly my favorite Lakeside Heights Sims 2 

Bri for Golden Flames 

Veron Asher for After the Calling. I know Veron and this story are long gone but I’ll close my eyes tight and wish that somehow it’s possible to have my questions answered about that marvelous story that definitely would have deserved this nomination.

My Answers

1.  Do you have characters you really dislike?  Did you start out disliking them?

I don’t have any characters that I dislike. I love them all. I guess I would say there are some that frustrate me because they like to hide and not show themselves and the winner of that award would be Isabella Monacco.

2.  Do you plot your stories or just let them happen?

I start out trying to plot but I also allow for things to happen. I’ll have a 3am idea that can takeover where I wanted to go and drive the story in a different direction.

3.  How do you deal with writer's block if you experience it?

I suppose I’ll know once I get out of the block I’m currently in. I feel like I’ve painted myself into a corner I can’t get out of and have been stuck for about 2 years now (that coupled with RL stuff).

4.  If you've ever tried writing with someone, how did it work out?

I tried a long time ago to write with someone and it didn’t turn out well. We actually stopped being friends partially because of it. I think that was just a fluke and not particularly indicative of writing partnerships in general.

5.  Do you use fantasy objects like the weather controller in your sims stories and if so, how?

You know, I’d planned to use it but the story so far has never called for that particular object, though it definitely would for two “episodes” that were to come. I’ve never had a need (or thought of a way) to use those kind of objects, but it’s certainly an interesting idea.

6.  Has a character changed on you?  If so, how do you handle it?

 Uh…yeah.  His name is Nico DeSantos. He was supposed to be a background character in the beginning and has commandeered my story to epic proportions. I don’t think I’ve handled that well because he is a part of my writer’s block. I’ll say Isabella changed on me as well since she was a very different character when I first had the idea for this story. Again, she’s part of the block because she disappears on me.

7.  Do you tend to get lost in building the world and let the story lapse?  If so, how do you deal with it, or is that a feature and not a bug?

I’d say for the last year I’ve done just that. I’ve been procrastinating by “needing” to completely redo my story hood and all the sims. That started a long process of combing through downloads, going on exhaustive download hunts for no real reason, and now, finally, remaking all of my sims and making new townies, etc. Clearly I haven’t been dealing with it well, lol. I think it’s safe to say that for me this is definitely a bug.

8.  How do you deal with posing?

I used to try and make intricate and complicated poses when I was posting regularly. I think if I start again I would make things much simpler, not try to collect all the poseboxes (my “posebox project” was another procrastination technique) and not feel that I have to use 10 of them in each episode. I’m developing a more minimalist mind; less is more.

9.  Do you process your shots in Photoshop or a similar graphics program?

I use old Photoshop (CS3). Nothing fancy, just basic layers work.

10.  How long does it take to write and post a chapter?

The shortest time it took was about a week and the current chapter that I have yet to post is going on two and a half years now and that’s just the writing. I would say the average has been about 3 weeks give or take.

11.  If you had to spend an afternoon doing the most boring thing you can imagine, which of your characters would you force to spend it with you.

I would definitely take Sloane. She would make it a fun experience with her wise cracks.

My Questions

1. How do you come up with your character’s names? Do they hold a special meaning to you? Are they names of people you know?
2.  Are any parts of your story autobiographical in some way or based on any part of your real life or the lives of people you know? If so, which parts? 
3.  Which came first; the Sims characters or the story? 
4. Do you shoot your story shots in your playable hood on actual lots or do you have “sets” that you create (just boxes with decorated interiors)? 
5. What things, places, people inspire your writing/your story? 
6. Do you ever think of an alternate universe for your characters? Who would they be there and what would their lives look like? 
7.  How many characters is too many for you to work with at a time/ in one story? Do you have too many now or do you want more? 
8. Do your characters (or the idea of them) follow you around (i.e.: If they weren’t in this story would they be in a different one that you create)? 
9. If you weren’t writing what would your creative outlet be? Do you have ones other than writing now? 
10. If you are still creating your story, how much further do you think it will go? If you have stopped writing do you think you will ever continue?
11.  Which one of your characters would you trust to save you in a life threatening situation? Which one would let you die?

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Family Trees

X-posted to Tumblr

I've finally (for the most part) finished a project I've been working on for a while. Here you will find family trees for the characters of Life, Love, & Lies.

Spoiler Alert: Please note that there are some potential story spoilers in the descriptions for some family members; hell, the very existence of some family members are a spoiler.

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Discovery Pt. 2

La Casita Restaurant - Las Vistas

Isabella peaked out from underneath the large umbrella she was sitting under and stared intently at the line in the sky.  The forecast had predicted a 50% chance of scattered thunderstorms and that hedged bet remained uncertain as the blue horizon to the west collided with the smoky grey clouds running up from the east.

Discovery Pt. 1

Monacco Desert Cottage - Vista Hills

Nico scowled at the bright daylight flooding in through the window in the stairwell as he retreated from Isabella's bedroom. So much for his plans to leave the house undetected; hopefully it was still early enough for him to avoid the paparazzi that still showed up around the neighborhood despite the fact that it was gated. It didn't matter though, in a few days everything would be set and they could leave this mess behind them. The only question was would she be able to hang on for that long.  He heard her soft footsteps slide across the tiles and fall in tandem behind his as they made their way to the front door.  

Gravity

Monacco Desert Cottage – Vista Hills

If she had been asleep, the bright morning sun gleaming through her windows would have easily woken her up, but she hadn’t closed her eyes, even for a moment, all night long. Worry and uncertainty, along with the nagging sense that he might disappear if she blinked, had kept her company instead, while she rotated between watching Nico sleep and pacing.  She hadn’t gotten any closer to an answer to the question that had run circles in her mind: what happens now?

Uninvited

Monacco Desert Cottage - 10:00pm

Isabella had registered the streetlights whizzing by and the shadows of the giant red rocks, off in the distance, that seemed to move past in slow motion by comparison. She had watched the dust clouds kick up on the side of the car as the gritty desert floor encroached on the asphalt the further away they went from the city. She had even gone crossed eyed a few times trying to count the white dotted lines in the middle of the road; any and every distraction was welcome if it meant stopping the horrifying movie playing in her mind.

Scene of the Crime

Monacco Mansion - Vista Glenn, Las Vistas

“Make a right at the next street and then it’s the fourth house on the left,” Isabella instructed.  Blake did as he was told keeping one eye on the road and the other on her, giving special attention to her left knee, which hadn’t stopped shaking since they got into the car.  The closer they got to their destination the more it shook and he began to wonder if he should worry about her stomping a hole in the floor.  It finally came to a halt when he stopped his SUV at the front gate of a structure that looked more like a hotel than a house for any one family. She took and audible breath and pressed a few buttons on a small remote control that she’d fished out of her purse and the large iron gates creaked open allowing him to pull through into the concourse.  Before he could turn off the engine, she hopped out and began charging towards the house. 

Aftermath

Monacco Desert Cottage - Vista Hills

The garbled ring of the telephone echoed through the water as Isabella held her breath under the dissipating bubbles that floated on top: more reporters calling for more statements.  Didn't’ they understand that there wasn’t anything left to say? She was tired of talking about it to the police, to the press, to Lexie. All she wanted to do was forget but with the visions that had been on a continuous loop in her mind, that proved impossible. Whenever she let her thoughts wander all she could see was that big black car coming at her, closer and closer, her heart dropping into her stomach, her feet pinned to the ground, her legs unable to move, and then the suddenness of Blake’s body rushing against hers, dragging her to ground and out of the way just in time.

Close Encounters

Hard Body Fitness Studio – Downtown Las Vistas

Left, right, left, right, left, right.  Sloane’s feet slammed down on the rubber belt in quick succession as she increased her speed on the treadmill.  Her arms pumped up and down, flicking large beads of sweat as she continued to sprint. Nearly an hour had gone by but she was still too wired up to stop.  She could’ve pulled a freight train she was running so hard.

Past & Present Pt. 2

Santa Rosa Memorial Cemetary - Vista Glenn

“Please, please pick up.” The phone rang three more times before Isabella finally ended the call. She had been trying Eden all afternoon; at the house, on her cell, even Reese didn’t know where she was. She probably should’ve asked him to come instead of rushing him off the phone. She should’ve accepted when Lexie had offered to go with her. She should’ve, but she didn’t. Instinct had led her to dial the first few digits of Nico’s number, but involving him wasn’t an option at this point. So instead she sat there, glued to the car seat, terrified to get out, but determined to do so anyway. Stubbornness was the trait her father had passed down and she had gotten the lion’s share of it.

Past & Present Pt. 1

Ronstad & Bradshaw, LLP - Downtown Las Vistas

“So you are alive. I was beginning to wonder if you had fallen off the face of the earth,” Blair said as Blake walked into her office. He placed a large gift basket on her desk and took a seat. His sister was the incarnation of their mother: same intense blue eyes, thick jet black hair, and the same nurturing spirit that, while comforting, had the capacity to annoy him as well. It wasn’t that her near hovering concern was unwelcome; rather, it simply reminded him far too much of what he had been missing from their mother in the years he had been estranged from his parents.

Opposition

Ronstad & Bradshaw, LLP - Downtown Las Vistas


Little children were playing in the park across the street, running around after each other, taking turns on the swings, teetering up and down on the seesaw. For the second day in a row the same older couple came and sat on down on one of the benches, sharing a bag of what she could only assume were peanuts from the street vendor they had stopped at before. She watched a flock of birds move from tree to tree, taking off and landing in sync together. Simple events that weren’t very interesting and probably happened day after day, but for some reason she couldn’t help but be sucked in as if her life depended on cataloging each one.

The Tipping Point

8:45am Monacco Desert Cottage - Vista Hills



Her hand slid from underneath the warmth of her pillow and began methodically rubbing up and down the length her legs that, at some point, had been tucked up against her chest. The raised goose bumps dotting her skin began to recede as the chill ran down to her feet. She used her other hand to blindly pull the tightly made bed covers down until she was able to tuck herself underneath of them, pulled them up high, bunching them up to her neck to keep out the cool breeze that had wafted into the room. It wasn’t until the sun peaked out from behind a cloud and flashed through her window, that she realized it was morning.

Complications

Stevens Public Relations Offices - Downtown Las Vistas



"Did you send it?"

"I told you I would get it done baby."

"Did anyone see you?"

"No I had someone else do it"

"Damn it Pierce!"

"Relax sweetness. She has no good reason to screw herself by telling anyone anything. She’s been well paid. Now come here."

Friends & Enemies

Fountain Park - Downtown Las Vistas


“Have you finally gotten what I've been asking for?” Thad spoke, continuing to look straight ahead as if he didn't know the man sitting next to him. “Yes. Her house is too secluded and the neighborhood is gated. I had to wait for her to go to him.”

Crossing Paths Pt. 2

Chanel Boutique - Palisades Ave., Downtown Las Vistas




Blake shifted his weight on the hard seat of his chair, so that the left side of his butt wouldn’t fall asleep again and stretched his legs out, fighting for space with the pile of shopping bags at his feet. He pulled out his phone to check his emails; nothing since he had looked ten minutes ago. How long could it take to find one damn dress, he thought to himself. He had left to grab something to eat 30 minutes ago and she still wasn’t finished. It was already quarter to five and he had to pick up Rachel at seven. She was going have to hurry up or he would have to cut this short, an option he didn’t like given that he had yet to be properly rewarded for his patience.

Crossing Paths Pt. 1

Phoenix Heights, Downtown Las Vistas



“Foul!” Wes shouted as Rider’s shoulder plowed into him sending him to the ground. “Bullshit,” Rider shouted back as the ball left his hands and flew towards the basket, hitting the rim rather than going through the net. “You bumped into me and I’m the one with the ball. If anyone has a foul it’s you.” Wes sat up but remained on the ground, winded from the fall. “Fine, then I call a time out. Take your damn shots.”

Next Move

DeSantos Bros. Auto Body - Downtown Las Vistas




Nico shot straight up as the loud blast of a car horn echoed in the garage beyond his office and the sharp pain in his neck that resulted sent his hand up to soothe it with a tight massaging grip. The buzz of an air drill and lug nuts clinking on the ground a few seconds later confirmed his assumption that Carlos, his service manager, had arrived at work, it also explained the horn. Groggy and irritated, he slowly turned to look up at the clock on the wall. It was 8:25am. Somewhere between berating himself about his fight with Bianca and going over the week’s profit sheet, now a crumpled heap of papers on the floor, he had managed to doze off.

Truth Hurts

10:00pm – DeSantos Residence – Sagebrush



Nico slammed the door to his car and stood outside looking up at the window of his daughter’s room. The light was on; she was still awake. He had left the house at the crack of dawn and stayed at the garage until well after dark. He had even taken the long, long way home: the scenic bypass around the city, back up through the foothills and down the coastline. No radio, no CDs, just dead silence and his thoughts. He was strategizing, trying to come up with the right way to handle this, but most of all he was stalling. The few days he had taken to let himself and Bianca calm down hadn’t given way to a solution to his dilemma. No matter how many ways he tried to get around it, he had no other choice but to tell his daughter the truth.

Reflection

Monacco Desert Cottage - Vista Hills




Nico stood on the familiar stone steps in front of Isabella’s house, sullen and paralyzed with apprehension. He had stood in that same spot not so long ago – his heart in his throat – wondering if she would let him in, hear him out, let him tell her how much he still felt for her. Miraculously, she did let him in and everything in his life after that moment had changed for what he wanted to believe was the better.