CHAPTER 20 IS BEING WRITTEN RIGHT NOW AND WILL BE POSTED AFTER SCHOOL IS OVER! YAY! I FOUND TIME TO WRITE IT! Feel free to catch up on any missed chapters while you are waiting.

I have noticed that people are viewing my History of Tortall story but some seem only to be reading just up to the 1st chapter (thanks to the new "view counter"I can see how many people have seen my story and how many have reviewed it!) I encourage everyone to read past it, as it does get better and does come into the "present" Tortall times eventually. It may seem like an odd story plot at first, but it becomes more "normal" as time passes. My writing style also changes ever so slightly as well. Maybe some day I will go back and revise the earlier chapters but as the story progresses in style, it also progresses in plot development. If by the end of the current chapter (19 right now) you are still dissatisfied, please leave me a constructively critical review as to how you think I can improve. All I ask is that you give it a chance as it is my work-in-progress and my way of improving myself when it comes to writing. It is also a pasttime that I like to take up whenever I get a free moment.

Okay, first off, I'd like to say that I LOVE REVIEWS! I like to give them and receive them. But so far, I don't have that many reviewers. There are a few that have reviewed for more than a few chapters of my History of Tortall story. I just want to thank you all for sticking with my story. Thank you, too, to those who have reviewed for less than all my chapters, you know who you are. Anyway, I welcome new readers and your reviews. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE REVIEW! I like reviews and it tells me people are actually reading my stories. Anyway, on to the rest of my bio:

I'm a girl (like I'm sure most of the people in the Tamora Pierce story section are. If you're a boy, good for you.) I live in the USA and I'm very curious about other cultures. I know some about England and only stereotypes and things I've heard about Australia. I love to write but it seems as if schoolwork is gonna be a big priority this year, so I will only update when I can; sorry. Read my stories. Review them. Any questions, comments email me and I'll respond. I like email and having friends who email me.

Also, I have a belief about what writing should be like. Here's the speech:

It's better to write the story the way the story wants to be written. That may sound weird, but I believe that a truly great story is one where the author does not force anything upon the characters. Things happen the way they happen.
An author should always keep an open mind as to the future of the story. Like the gods say in Tortall, even the gods don't know what's going to happen.
An author is like a god, the characters in their story are like the people the gods rule over. They should be kept in suspense, too. Don't force a relationship or action upon the characters. Maybe they aren't meant for each other or the action isn't supposed to happen. It is okay to stick to a BASIC plot, but going into many specific details is frowned upon. It's like they say: K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Stupid.) The more details you plan out before the story is written, the harder you are forcing your characters to do what they don't want to.
People who die should be unnecessary to the story (or maybe it's vital to the story that they die). Don't worry about what happens and don't mourn over something that turns out different from what you want. It's just part of writing.
I always get annoyed when I read things like "tell me what happens and I'll write it" or "tell me who gets killed/married/born/put in the story and I'll write it" because it does not make for a good story. Although, sometimes an author (god) may be able to get away with forcing a few things (see the Graveyard Hag and Daine in Emperor Mage or even Alianne and her story if you've read it).
It is nice to get ideas from fans and try to incorporate them all into the story, but don't be afraid to disappoint them, either. The story is what the characters make it and sometimes an author has no control over it.
To those who just read this: keep writing and may the characters take you to new and un-thought-of places in their lives.

Just for those who want to know: I have three stories (as you may be able to see below). The one about Duke Roger I am currently undecided about continuing it. I have no ideas for a basic plot to a second chapter. Gainel:Tourguide to the Inferno is a parody of Dante's Inferno using Tamora Pierce characters instead. It is a one-shot, meaning that I won't update anymore on it. The one about the History of Tortall is still in progress. Chapter 20will be posted soon, but only if you review, review, review and if I ever get a break in my workload to write it!.

As for things I like: I like to read and write (duh!) There is no real point to this part (assuming you want to add it in cuz you feel like it), so in my favorites I'm only going to list books that I've read and who they're by (if I can remember) in hopes that whoever reads that list will read the books I've read and maybe figure out what my philosophies are.
His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman
The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
Every book written about Tortall by Tamora Pierce
Daughters of the Moon series by Lynne Ewing
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain (I only read this once, but I like the ideas/plot in it)
The story of Narcissus and Echo- Greek mythology
The Giver by Lois Lowry
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

Well, that's my list. Very short. There're more, but I can't think of how I use them in everyday life or anything I've learned from them. Anyway, read those books and learn from them. If you're looking for other books just go to the bookstore or library and look under Fantasy or Adventure or whatever. That's where you find lots of good ideas and new philosophies that you can try out.
Also, another thing regarding philosophies and ideas. If you have a story that has hidden things that make the reader guess, or a puzzle with a tough answer, or well, anything for that matter that makes me think, and you are looking for a response from the readers to guess, I will NEVER put my guess in my review. If I have an idea and I think I know it, I will tell you I know it in my review. Then, if you have an email address, I might email you with my idea. I feel that if I put my answer up, people will read it and base their answer on mine. They won't form their own opinion, even if it turns out to be the same as mine. For example, if you are hinting at a "reborn character with orange magic" I won't tell you I think it's Roger in my review. I'll email you and tell you. That way it's "confidential" and no one else can take the idea. If another person puts up an idea of the answer, I sometimes get influenced by what they say. It defeats the purpose of "keeping the reader guessing" because then if I see the answer, it's not really my idea when I say what I think. Get it? Good.

Music: anything as long as it's not rap. Although, if it's rap by a rock artist, then that's okay (like Linkin Park). My all time favorite song is: Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven. Can't play it on the piano, but I sure as heck love to listen to it. Another is Hands by Jewel. Oh, and I kinda like Ave Maria by Schubert (I think)

What else? Nothing? Okay, good. See way above about the whole questions/comments thing. PLEASE READ MY STORIES. BASIC PLOT IDEAS WELCOME FOR THE DUKE ROGER STORY (as well as the History one, but that one I have figured out).