Friday, November 28, 2014

Writer's Group: Wedding Edition


Can I tell you  how much I love my writer's group? Sometimes we dress up when we meet together. This month's theme was The wedding edition. Yes, you heard right. We dressed up in wedding gowns, ate wedding cake, and took wedding pictures. You can see more proof below.

I love these girls a) because we can have fun and be silly, but mostly because b) they help me so much with my writing, and their friendship has been invaluable. If you are serious about your writing and want to meet your full potential as an author, I highly recommend finding or creating a writer's group. How do you do this? Network, connect with and make friends with other writers at events like LTUE, Storymakers, Comic Con, or even author signings. I met some of these girls at Barnes and Noble's Authorpalooza and one through an English class. Find a few writers who write similar genres to you and make it happen!





Monday, November 3, 2014

The New Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Orlando, Florida



The new Wizarding World of Harry Potter is incredible. I'm sure you could have guessed that with how Hogsmeade turned out in Islands of Adventure. Universal has researched every detail perfectly to not only get the fans approval, but also J.K. herself. Yeah, they've done their work, and it's paid off. The rides, the shops, the interactive wand experiencesit's all as it should be, making you feel like you've been transported into Diagon Alley. (That might sound cliche, but that's just how it is). 

You'll probably just scroll through this to the pictures, but I thought make a list of what you'll encounter below:  

Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.
Potions everywhere.
The Knight bus complete with Stan Shunpike.
Hedwig and Harry's trunks at King's Cross station.
Platform 9 3/4 (you actually disappear into the wall as you enter).
My baby trying to eat Butterbeer ice cream, which was way too good to share with her.
The queue line for the Escape from Gringotts ride with plenty of glaring goblins.

My favorite parts that I wish I could show you: 

Knockturn Alley. My Nikon died right then. But guys, it was freaky and amazing.
The whole ride Escape from Gringotts. It's everything you want it to be, and pardon the cliche again, makes you feel like you are really there.
The train. It was different going each way from Hogsmeade to Diagon Alley with magic happening on the windows outside as well as the compartment inside the train.

Enjoy the pictures and the surprise videos at the end!