What a way to start the New Year! Apparently someone was kind enough to nominate 'Chocolate Scented' for The Annual Sailor Moon Reader's Choice Fanfiction Awards. (Thank You!) You can nominate any of your favorite Sailor Moon stories by visiting this website http:///nominate.html before April 30th. After that voting begins. You can see all the other current entries here: http:///entries.html.

Hugs,

Magawa 01/02/2007

So, I've updated and completed Chocolate Scented... That means that I have now uploaded just over 50,000 words or 200 pages total. In case you were curious - things are starting to look up. I've bought myself a brand new car and am dreaming about buying a house. I suppose I never do things by halves, eh?

I hope to write more frequently now, but I'm not going to say what or when. We all like surprises, ne?

Magawa 12/27/2006

I'm highly embarassed that I haven't updated this...

I got an adorable review today that said something along the lines of "Resurrect Me! I'm a good story!" and I would have replied to you if you had left me an e-mail address but alas!you didn't, you bum.

Fear not faithful followers! I'm just busy. I don't think that I'll be abandoning my beloved stories just yet. Not only that but I get that tingly proud feeling when I read your wonderful reviews. And who'd give that up?

Oh, and by busy I mean, dying from the overdose of reality I had shoved down my throat. I'm working 40+ hours a week and barely making ends meet doing sometimes interesting things that I am not necessarily good at. Usually when I write it is from some interesting/inspiring tidbit from my own life that makes one or more characters more alive/understandable. But I haven't had ANYTHING interesting happen. Nobody in anime/manga has to work a tedious job with their father in a small business and suffer from no locationally available friends and no lovelife when their car dies. Neither are they paying student loans, health insurance, car insurance blah blah blah. Somehow their lives have more magic than mine at the moment. I don't doubt that things will pick up... I'm just not seeing the silver lining around the clouds because they (the overbearing clouds of reality) are everywhere...

I will not give up writing. I just need to get to a place where I'm not drowning before I can hope to re-ignite my imagination. Until then, I am counting on YOU to supply with me enough reading fodder until I make it over this rough patch.

Hugs guys --

M 05/11/06

3/8/06

Most of my more recent stories are fueled by some of my little experiences in China. Believe me I did some crazy things. My life is very much like a manga at this point (Mostly Fruits Basket and Hana Kimi).

This is why: I am 21, naive, and the only girl in a group of six Americans to go to China for three months. We visited Beijing, Qingdao and Shanghai and spent most of our time in a city called Jinan in the Shandong province. While in Jinan we stayed in the international dormitory where I had two Japanese roommates (one at a time though). I had never studied Chinese or Japanese before although from fanfics and my own personal study I knew enough to impress them. So I can't read the characters, I can't speak Chinese, and I'm the only girl walking around with five guys. As if my image of a blonde American wasn't enough to portray me as a slut, I'm pretty sure walking around with five guys clinched the deal. Most of my time I spent with just two of my boys (one of whom I happened to think very attractive and wouldn't mind dating) both of whom were much taller than I (I'm sort of petite at 5'2" while they were easily topping 6'). I also mananged to get into trouble at almost every turn while by myself, fueled by the fact that I am apparently incredibly attractive in Asia. I'm nothing new or extraordinary in the States, but in Asia I'm something different. I've never been called beautiful by so many random men (and even women -- although it was much more frequent from the men) in my entire life. I don't think I'm skinny and I wasn't always clear-skinned and yet I had two very persistant Japanese male admirers, as well as countless Chinese admirers. It was CRAZY.

Specific details of specific crazy events will probably come out in my fanfics. Although if you happen to be thinking about going to China, I'd recommend it to anyone. Although it was a crazy, insane experience -- it wasn't something I'd change for a minute. If you have any questions about what it's like or what you should bring etc. I'd be more than happy to answer your questions. What I wouldn't have given to be able to ask someone who's been there done that what it was like and what to expect.

Well, so now I'm back in the States about to graduate with a degree in journalism from a very good college and I'm thinking about returning to China to teach English (or maybe the JET program) and then doing the Teach for America program. Soon I will have to say goodbye to my college friends. I'll have to get a ... real... job... gasp... Really the concept is almost painful.

I don't mind comments or criticism on anything that I write. In fact, I like them. So do me a favor and critique my work. Please?

Hugs for everyone! You all deserve them! 12/01/05 - 02/25/06