Did I Even Write This?

So, Day 1 of editing, and I don't even recognize my own writing! I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing, but at one point I got caught up in the book and forgot I was supposed to be editing! I had to go back a full chapter!
I still can't believe I finished the story! I know I have a bunch of kinks to work out, but I'm loving every minute of it!
First of all, Ero? Hawt!!! I have totally fallen for him...even though he wasn't even supposed to be a big character! I won't say more, or I'll spoil stuff. Eeek!
Secondly? Avi totally developed this thing for pockets. She loves them and I don't know why!
Third...there's some crazy stuff going on with Celeste that no one, even me, saw coming!
Going to get back to work! (Right after I watch New Girl!)

It's Official!

That's right! It's officially official. As of 1:01 a.m. today, October 9th, 2013, I officially typed the last word of my first draft!
Now for the exciting part, editing!
I have never felt so many emotions all at once.
The think I feel the most, however, is complete and utter exhaustion. Tomorrow (well, technically later today), I begin the grueling process of editing!

Ataxia: Book One in the Anarchia Series

NatureFreak. Mute. Weirdo. Avi Ford, a seventeen year old in rural Parkville, Tennessee, has been called this and more her entire life because of her strange family and her incredible shyness. In her senior year, however, she is finally starting to overcome these obstacles, with the help of two friends, Bryn and Bret Harper. When a series of terrorist attacks by an anarchist group strike close to home, her "conspiracy theorist" parents decide to pull her out of school during the last month of her senior year. Knowing this will ruin her chances of being seen as normal, she goes to school anyway, determined to enjoy her Senior Field Trip to Dollywood with her friends. When political turmoil brings the country to its knees, can her new-found sense of self help her to survive when disaster hits?

Top Ten Things To Know About Me!

1) First of all, some background on me. My name is Destiny Shackleford. Keep an eye out for it under the title Ataxia, my debut novel. I live outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee, with my husband Jake, my younger brother Dalton while he's studying at UTC, my Yorkie Scrufflepuppy, and my new rabbit Snugglebunny (and Dalton's red-tailed boa, Mr. Snake.) I'm 21, Aries, and LDS. :)
2) I have a never-ending, passionate love affair with books. Reading is the one thing I can do for hours on end. I can read anywhere, and love books from all genres, from fantasies to westerns to history.
3) I am constantly busy doing something. Writing, reading, editing, working, playing with Scrufflepuppy and Snugglebunny, singing Disney songs, volunteering at the Hosanna Community, thrift shopping, hiking, crafting, spending time with family and friends...the list goes on and on...and I'm often doing more than one of these at once. I'm not very good at just sitting still.
4) I have a tendency to rush headlong into things without a backward glance. Call me impulsive, or rash, or whatever you like...I set my mind to something and then I do it!
5) I'm wayyyy behind technologically. I still don't have a smart phone, just now started trying to figure out Twitter, and have no idea how to SnapChat or what it has to do with ghosts...
6) I adore holidays. My favorite holidays are Christmas and Thanksgiving, but I enjoy all of them! I especially like unofficial holidays, like Talk Like A Pirate Day and International Pancake Day.
7) I have the interests of a 9 year old kid, basically. I love Disney, Marvel & DC comics, Harry Potter, the Chronicles of Narnia, Cheetos, theme parks, stickers, and anything miniature. I can quote just about any Disney movie ever made, and sing the songs too. I have a thing for Peter Pan, and for Alice in Wonderland, which is my favorite book of all time.
8) I still haven't narrowed down what I want to be when I grow up. So far, the list includes author, editor, songwriter, teacher, equine therapy instructor, businesswoman, personal assistant, and about twenty other things.
9) I love weapons. I got my handgun carry permit this year, and my first two handguns. I also have a compound bow and a rifle of my own, and am looking to build my collection! (Evidence of this shows up in my books quite a bit!)
10) If my life were a movie (according to my boss, Chuck) it would be called The Continuing Adventures of Destiny and Food. I love food! Chinese, Mexican, Thai, Indian...even good ol' fashioned American food. That being said, I'm still learning to cook. My next big adventure is learning to cook fish!