Liebster Award

I was nominated for this award by Jazen...I think she enjoys burning ants with her magnifying glass. But, she is my friend and what kind of friend would she be if she didn't include me in her mise...fun? She's a talented writer of several Sims' stories as well as the published author of the book Fiendish. Thank you again for the nomination, Mica :)

The Liebster Award is given by bloggers to bloggers, to promote the blogging sites we love and support.

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.

My Nominations:

~Misty for Ouroboros Legacy.
~Kiddo for The Connors.
~Gemly Teddie for Mattell Random Legacy.
~Luckygirl1975 for Painswater Point.
~MochaSims for Kasim's Adventures.
~Spladoum for The Frios and A One Time Thing.
~LateKnightSimmer for Paint the Town Gorgeous.
~Aikea-Guinea for Tangent, Sine and Cosine.
~Andantezen for The Last Canvas
~Katurah for Fashionably Late.

**And my last nomination I would like to posthumously award to a dear friend and extremely talented writer Jillyson for A Clockwork Heart.**

1. How would you achieve world peace? (yes I'm laughing as I type that LOL)

...7. Alright a better answer? I'd implant chips in the hearts of every human on the planet. The chip would be a tiny electronic device that would detonate at my discretion. If they dared step out of line, broke the law in anyway, shape or form, I'd press that little red button and watch them explode. Peace level achieved: 10.

2. Vanilla game or CC user? Why?

CC. Because there is just WAY too much awesome stuff to pass up. At one point, I had over 6 gigs of stuff (old computer). I'm slowly building that back up but hopefully I won't get too out of control. Not making any promises.

3. Do you prefer to make your own sims for your stories or use sims made by friends?

I make my own sims most often but I have used some from friends. For an upcoming story, however, I went with sims I found online from other generous creators. Why you ask? Well kind soul I will tell you, and thank you for asking. The story is about zombies and many of the sims may not survive (their fates are COMPLETELY in the hands of the readers). I couldn't very well let my own babies get eaten by brain craving, flesh rotting, death moaning, living dead monsters now could I?

4. Do you ever think you'll stop writing sim stories, or playing the game?

At this point I don't see an end. But, who knows. I know a lot of Sims 3 CC creators have taken to playing Sims 4 which is rather disappointing so there will be no new content from not only EA but the Sims' community as a whole which is a deterring factor. But for now, I'll be around. I've already planned a few more stories so you're not rid of me so easily. :)

5. Have you ever had your story veer off course from what you originally planned?

Yes. Many times. Sometimes the original plan for a story seems less um...what's the word...spectacular than something I can think of down the road. Often I will change events around to suit the new idea and since I plan my stories well in advance it's not usually too hard to edit. But there have been times I find myself writing a scene and ask myself "Now how did that happen?" or "How did we get here?" The characters can have minds of their own and She-Brain likes to work against me when she thinks something works better than my plans. The traitorous devil. You know she's broken up couples and killed people?? (By-the-by She-Brain is the nickname I give the voice(s) in my head).

6. If you were a sim, what would be your traits?

Animal lover, genius, good sense of humor, mean-spirited, perceptive.

7. What is your favorite sims EP?

Pets.

8. What is your least favorite EP?

I'd say ITF as I've not really explored that one. But it was University because of that camera stealing mascot. But since I've modded my game, he can no longer be an attention whore. Take that Fighting Llamas!

9. If you were stranded on an island, what (or who) would you want with you?

A boat so I can get back home. Duh! :P And not just any boat. I want a fancy, expensive yacht that can withstand anything in order to get me back to civilization. Other than that? My husband. Misery loves company and if I'm stuck without internet and my computer, so shall he be! My dog. Even though she is the biggest chicken I've ever seen in my life, she toughens up when strangers are around and that's all I need. She can protect me (because I know the husband would be running in fear). Um...an endless supply of food and water and a nice shelter to lay my head. If possible, internet and my computer. I'd make that island my private paradise!

10. How long do you spend writing or rewriting a chapter before you publish it?

Oh wow that can really vary. If I know what I want it can take a few hours, 6-8. And even though I'd just finished it and read and reread and edited and proofread, I'll ALWAYS do it again the night before or the day of release just to be sure everything is as perfect as I can make it. If I'm a little scatterbrained it can take weeks, months even. I've been on extended hiatuses because of writer's block. 

11. What is the 1 store set that EA created that you can't do without?

Um...hmm...um...well...see the thing is I much really prefer CC. But, since I HAVE to pick one. It would probably be the magic set although I haven't used it much lately. Yes. Going with that. It'll play a role in the current story I'm writing.

Questions to my nominees: (rehashed for the new selection)

01. When did you start writing?

02. Are any of your characters or situations based on real people or events?

03. What inspires you to write?

04. Which of your characters is your favorite?

05. Who is your favorite author?

06. What kind of books do you read?

07. If you could use the Sims Time Machine, where would you go and why?

08. You're stranded on a deserted island with 4 characters from your story(ies). Who are they and what do you think would happen? 

09. If you could be any character from a book or movie, who would you be and why?

10. If you could marry the man/woman of your dreams, who would you choose and why?

11. Sims have a lot of quirky and fun inventions and objects not found in real life. If you could choose one thing (for example, spellbook, time machine, Bonehilda) what would it be and why? (Feel free to choose from any of the amazing custom creations as well e.g. Pose Player, Pregnancy controller, lighting tweaks, etc.)

Thank you again, Mica, for the nomination :)

~Daijah

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Epilogue: No Regrets

Five years later…

Yvette reorganized the bouquet as she knelt beside the cold gray slab of marble in the center plot of Cedar’s Rest Memorial gardens. It had been his plot since the day after her mother was interred. They’d always talked about having a family mausoleum but never got around to it…and now it was too late. Scott was buried beside his first love and would always be. It had been two years since he’d taken ill and three since his passing. After the first remission of his cancer, Yvette had hoped that she would have more time with him but once it returned on Christmas day, they were both positive it would be the disease that got him.

She ran her hand over the engravings and read them over and again in her head. Always on my mind, forever in my heart. Brett’s hand rested on her shoulder and she wiped away a tear as Autumn came to sit beside her. “You think Grandpa liked roses?” Autumn asked and placed a single orchid next to the grave beside the large vase.

“He was a boy, Autumn,” Austin replied, dropping dramatically at Yvette’s side. “And boys don’t like flowers.”

“That’s not true!” Autumn asserted. “Boys can like flowers! Can’t they, Mommy?”

Continue Reading: "Epilogue: No Regrets"

S7: Chapter 11: Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot?

“Alright, start from the beginning,” Special Agent Alec Rafferty commanded as he pressed the record button on the audio device sitting on the table. He took a seat across from a handcuffed Yvette and rolled a thin toothpick around his lips, briefly pursing them in slight annoyance.

Yvette moved her arm and the sound of metal on metal echoed in the small room as she adjusted the cuff around one wrist with a groan. It was a nice break from the annoyingly ticking clock hanging above the door that seemed to be five minutes too slow. “I didn’t kill the President.”

Continue Reading: "S7: Chapter 11: Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot?"

S7: Chapter 10: Brace Yourself

“We go live on the scene with our correspondent Amanda Elliott.”

“Thank you and good morning, Kent. For the viewers at home who are just joining us, let me repeat, Air Force One has crash landed before reaching its destination of New York City’s John F. Kennedy International airport. Firefighters encountered smoke, leaking jet fuel and the bodies of many passengers when they arrived at the scene of the crash just moments ago. The crash occurred just outside of Camden Beach shortly before six this morning.”

Continue Reading: "S7: Chapter 10: Brace Yourself"

S7: Chapter 09: The Price We Pay

“Dad, have you seen my phone?” Yvette asked as she searched through the living room cushions for her cell. “I thought I’d left it in here but now I’m not so sure.” Ethan came around the corner with the device in his hand. He had broken it into pieces and dismantled the gadgetry completely. “What are you doing?”

“Yvette, someone’s bugged you.”

“What?” Holding the pieces up for her to see, Ethan pointed out the small listening device that had been implanted in the back of her cell. “What the hell?”

“I heard interference this morning when I went to check the radio for any news on our mission. Everything is still dark but there was a cross channel coming from the living room. After sweeping it, I found the device inside your phone.” Yvette listened as she continued examining the small microchip listening device; puzzled by the fact that she’d let her guard down enough for it to have happened at all. “Do you have any idea when this could have happened?”

Continue Reading: "S7: Chapter 09: The Price We Pay"

Updates soon (ish)

Dear readers,

Surprise! I'm still here! I know, you probably thought I fell off the face of the earth but that is simply not true. What has been happening? Well, I was doing school which I can say I've finally finished the bulk of and it was taking a huge chunk of my time. On top of that I am still, sadly, having game issues. But, do not fret, I am building a new system that will hopefully be done before the end of February and I can try and get back on track with everything.

Simming for me right now? I cannot go in game for more than a few minutes before it freezes my entire system and forces me to warm boot or force reset. I hate it. I don't know what is happening with the game/computer but I am pretty sure it has something to do with my rig being 7 years old (yep you read that right.) In 2008, I built a gaming monster that could withstand anything that was thrown at it. I didn't start to see a decline in some things until just recently and, amazingly enough, if it's not the Sims game, the Widow still outshines with MMORPGs and other games (i.e. HD resolution, awesome frame rate, and absolutely zero lag).

Story updates:

Codename: Danger - Last update: 07/31/14 - Would it surprise you to know that I am currently writing the last chapters of this story? Yeah, I know! Surprised me too. But after I found myself with time on my hands, my fingers got busy making sure Yvette, Brett, Dustin, Ryan and Victor came back to life, so to speak. I have completed chapter 9 and I am now working on the 2-part (thus far) finale and epilogue. I can't believe this story has not been updated since July...wow. So crazy how quickly time gets away from me. But, hopefully, I can crank out the last chapter and have it ready for shots before my new computer arrives! I am like a kid on Christmas morning I tell ya.

After Midnight - Last update: 01/06/15 - While this one had some traction this month, it stalled again. UGH! I know, I know. It's terrible. I do have a few chapters written that are awaiting shots but, as stated, my game does not allow me to play for longer than a few minutes so taking shots becomes impossible. I will be able to update this story in February once the new computer arrives. Taking the shots should (hopefully) be rather easy.

Cold Blooded - Last update: 11/02/14 - I haven't written anything for CB. *runs and hides* Is it safe? What started out on such a hot streak seemed to have fizzled in a few short months. I've been very busy with other projects (including the un-aired collaboration of Changes of Season). I will start writing for this story again. Unlike my older ones, this one is not so bad to work with. The writing comes pretty easy and shots aren't too bad either.

The Chameleon - Last update: Un-aired - This story I've had the greatest success with. I have the first season completely written. I've even written 3 chapters into the second and planned the other seasons (minus the 5th). On top of that, I have the epilogue pieces done and pretty soon (when the new rig gets in) I'll be able to start shots. Although this story is not planned to air until after the last episode of Codename: Danger, I will have a HUGE head start on this one. I am determined to not let writer's block end me again on my work.

I want to thank each and every one of you for your support and for sticking with me through the cold months. I know how inconsistent my updates have been and I hate having droughts like these. I will work harder to keep them from happening again and a new computer will go a LONG way with that.

Thank you again everyone and Happy New Year!

~Daijah

Continue Reading: "Updates soon (ish)"