Author: Destiny Rae Smith

Hello, lovelies! Welcome to my page, Words Of Destiny. Here you can experience a hodge-podge of topics chosen by yours truly. *finger guns* If you enjoy freaky legends, human kindness stories, and LGBTQ equality, I may just be the blogger for you! I’m a bit of an oddball, but I like to think it’s the endearing sort. 😁 I tend to love first, judge second. Unless your an M. Night Shyamalan film, in which case I will judge you. Hard. Annnnyway, come on in! Read some stuffs, and let’s be friends! ♥️

How I Got My Agent

Hidey-Ho, lovelies! Long time no blog, eh? Like…months too long. But hey, I’m here now, so let’s get into it, yeah?

*claps* Okay, let’s get into it! Forgive me if I’m a bit scatter-brained throughout this one, but I’m gonna do my absolute best to give you guys all the juicy details.

2015

I started my writing journey—the actual writing (not plotting) began sometime in the second half of the year. I wish I could tell you an exact date, but unfortunately I don’t have one. My first project was a Young Adult Fantasy (which I am currently rewriting, in case you were wondering. And, BOY, does it need an entire overhaul!).

2016- 2017

After about a year and a half of overworking my MS, I started to submit to agents. At this time, I was still learning how to find agents who were interested in my genre, figuring out when they were open or closed to submissions, the whole shebang. Naturally, I submitted to the wrong people at the wrong times among other blunders I still cringe at to this day. Now, I didn’t keep good records AT ALL for this first book. I’m guessing I sent about 70ish queries for this one? Of which I received two partial requests. Ouch!

As I went along I took EVERY rejection to heart, and implemented those into my MS. NOT GOOD! My story became a jumbled mess I hardly recognized by the end of it.

And then, I wrote another story. I only sent maybe four queries out for that new story before I shelved it.

2018

I’d hit a wall with my original story, but I wasn’t willing to shelve that one just yet. I knew I needed some outside help. So, I reached out.

I joined the #writingcommuity on Twitter, and started hearing about this wonderful thing called PitchWars. I submitted. I stalked the feeds. I connected with wonderful writers on the same journey I was on, and found some AMAZING beta readers who I am so fortunate to call friends now. (You know who you are *blows kisses*) Annnnnd….I didn’t get picked. I was devastated, and considered throwing in the towel.

Then, the most wonderful thing happened! I discovered THE BOOK OF MY HEART, and started drafting. Within two months, I had a rough draft. From there, I went through two rounds of edits, and started submitting.

End of 2018-2019

My first round of queries:

** Subbed to 50 agents— received 2 full requests and an R&R (Kinda? R&R as we went along together. It was an odd circumstance, really.) I was lucky to receive a lot of personalized feedback throughout this first round, and it became clear that while my premise was promising, my writing still needed work.

**Entered RevPit…didn’t get selected. I was devastated all over again, until I received the feedback of one kind editor who said she felt both my premise and my voice were strong, and she couldn’t do anything to improve it.

**Participated in PitMad; got requests that led to my second R&R.

I line-edited THE ENTIRE THING over again. Each chapter averaged about 10-12 hours of revision. It was a big one, guys, but my WORD was it better!

My second round of queries:

**20 agents—2 full requests, a handful of VERY encouraging rejections, and a referral.

Of those two requests, my now agent (the fantastic Jessica Reino) read my query and requested the full 40 MINUTES AFTER I SUBMITTED! I was over the moon! She read in less than a week, and a week after that we set up the call. She offered rep (and I nearly passed out on my back porch from excitement).

From there I countered the other agents who still had my manuscript, of which 3 requested the full.

Two weeks later I signed with Jessica, and let me tell you: I. AM. SO. BLESSED. She is so knowledgeable, and gets me/my writing better than I ever dreamed! Oh, and that first book I wrote way back when, the one that only got 2 partial requests? One of those partials was my now agent. So even though my writing wasn’t up to snuff at the time, we ended up finding each other in the perfect timing, and I couldn’t be HAPPIER!

So, to recap:

First book:

70 submissions, 2 partial requests

Second Book:

4 Submissions, zero requests

Third Book:

70 submissions, 7 full requests, 2 R&R’s and signed with my agent.

Moral of the story? DON’T GIVE UP! In the right time you’ll find the champion of your heart, your book, and your career needs.

Until then, stay persistent, lovelies! ❤

Written in the Stars

Okay…so it’s been forever. *insert excuse—NOPE! No excuses. Why? Because I have none. I’ve somehow let this little thing called writing get away from me. But see…it’s not little. In fact, it’s huge! Huge for my mind, huge for my spirit, huge just all around.

**Heads up, no idea where this post is going, other than in a very honest and transparent direction. If that’s not really your jam, I TOTALLY get it. Hop on outta’ here if you need.**

Writing is so much more than a daily sit at the computer, contemplating the next story, character, or plot point. It’s freedom. At least, it always has been for me anyway. Writing is an escape; that moment of breath in the midst of an otherwise chaotic world. And, I know I’m not the only one who feels this way: pent up, eager to smash down walls and rebuild cities of my own design. It’s what we do as writers, right? CREATE.

But here’s where I’m at deep in my core, raw and unfiltered. While I’m without a doubt addicted to the world building and whirlwind adventures writing can bring to life, I think moreover I cherish the structure it brings. Life has this way of grabbing you by the throat, hurling you towards the next thing. Go here. Do this. Be that. There’s always that push. Words though…some take time. Some take research. Some take days, months, years even to percolate to their final form. It’s a unique development both internal and external, entirely hinged on what the words themselves want to say. Honestly, my subconscious has built such a protective wall it almost seems like words on a page are the only true gate left inside. Tragedy, love, loyalty, apathy: they’re all rooted in me the same as always and yet they require more of me than I’ve experienced in my past.

**Again, we’re hookin’ a hard turn here. Bare with me.**

Over the past month, I’ve paid careful attention to the #writingcommunity (I mean I always do, but deeper still) and I noticed something. SO MANY WONDERFUL PEOPLE ARE FEELING THE SAME WEIGHTS I AM! While we all have our own struggles, I noticed there seemed to be a trend in days and times. One heartbreak on my feed after another. (Gah, I just wish I could reach out and hug everyone!) And, like a lightbulb, I realized a common energy hidden within the turmoil, regardless how different the personal circumstances: a creative block. Writing is hardly easy, but this felt different. A strange, yet mutually experienced energy. An influence, a common string between us all. Naturally, I turned to the stars. The heavens if you will. And what did I find? Well, allow me to share the bare bones.

**Let the record show I am by NO MEANS a trained astrologer, and in energetic matters I encourage everyone to take shared thoughts with a grain of salt. YOU know what’s best for YOU.**

In regards to the influential energies I discovered in MY homework, I think the heavy hurts and hearts are due in part to planets in retrograde (when in retrograde, we tend to feel a planet’s adverse or less palatable energies.) And while four planets are currently in this state, I think Neptune requires careful attention this month.

Foreverconcious.com says it perfectly: “Neptune is the planet of art, creativity, magic, and spirituality. It also represents the veil between illusion and reality. Neptune’s energy is actually quite strong all through the month of June, and while retrograde, it is going to be helping us to sort through areas of our lives that we feel a bit foggy or confused about.”

In a nutshell, this month is a zinger, but can be incredibly beneficial if treated with care. It aims to help us grow and better understand our inner selves. You know it, I’m sure. That still small voice inside which alerts you when something is “off” or “not right”. THAT one. This month I encourage you to tap into it, really hear what it says of you and for you. Is there a specific change you’ve been considering? Maybe a project you’ve put on hold in fear the inspiration may not be there? FEEL it, lovelies. In the words of Jiminy Cricket—“Always let your conscious be your guide.”

So, for anyone wondering why life is a tad…tense, maybe, just maybe, it’s the stars. Be gentle and patient with yourself, take some extra breaths, and for sheesh sake, GIVE YOURSELF SOME GRACE! Create when you want to create, but don’t be afraid to stand still in those moments of reflection when they come. They are so precious and transformative!

Know you aren’t alone in these trying times, for the energy that holds the one, holds us all.

Until next time, be kind to yourself, lovelies. ❤

If you care to read more from foreverconscious.com, follow the link below:

https://foreverconscious.com/intuitive-astrology-forecast-june-2019

Gah, I’m such a B!

Hi, lovelies! Remember me? Probably not, seeing as I’ve been a complete slacker and haven’t posted in five weeks. Yeah! FIVE. WEEKS! I know, I know, for shame. But hey, I’m here now. Soooo, let’s get this week’s blog post rolling. Shall we? We shall indeed.

So I’ve posted on a variety of topics since the start of this whole blogging adventure, and true to form I’ll be doing so yet again.

This week I’m going to talk about BISEXUALITY! *fireworks sound* *strobe lights flash* *bass bumps*

I saw a video on Twitter (shoutout to @CortneyRadocaj for sharing it!) recently that encouraged the hell out of me and got me amped to share a little bit about my story with you guys today. Here’s the video that spurred today’s topic:

This got me thinkin’ about what I can do to let others like me know they are seen and loved. See, I grew up believing the lies in that video. I believed them about myself as I’m sure so many other Bi folks did and do. Growing up, I had gay friends and family members, I had straight friends and family members, but I had ZILCH in the bisexual arena. Or so I thought, anyway. I get it now, why that was, because I felt it too. My fellow bisexuals didn’t feel like they belonged…in either community.

With that being said, I’d like to share a little bit of my heart, my journey, and my self-discovery with you. ❤

Naturally, it started with the small signs. When I held my friend K’s hand in fourth grade and it sent butterflies dancing through me. I never wanted to let her go. That time A decided to run onto the football field and give me a hug in front of all of his too cool guy friends, and I felt like the prettiest girl on the playground. Both feelings just as strong, but complete opposite sides of the spectrum…or so I believed back then.

When I started to truly question where I fit in, I turned to my best friend as most tend to do. She was straight, without a doubt. I told her how I felt when I was around a certain girl we knew, a mutual friend, and she reacted about as well as you’d guess. My parents eventually found out (I’m not sure if it was by her telling them or some other way) and they began to pray the gay away. And so, I labeled myself straight.

Now, I have to make something clear right here and now. I do not blame my parents! They were raised in the church, raised to believe that this was a sin. I don’t FOR A SECOND pretend to know the answers of the universe and what pleases or displeases He/She/Them. All I know is when I’m in the presence of God I don’t feel anything but love. Anything but acceptance and warmth, and THAT is what I choose to focus on. Not matter where I stand on religion, I will never stand for people being hateful to one another! I choose love. Period!

Alright, tangent over! *wipes brow* Still with me? Good.

In comes high school, and the gay is still very much present and in no way prayed away. Lol. I decide to talk to a friend who’d recently come out as lesbian in hopes of sorting through my confusing feelings at the time: Why I had found the red headed boy in comp tech class so cute, and yet the blue eyed girl in my theatre class had my heart all in a tizzy. My friend’s explanation? I only liked the boy because I thought it was what I was supposed to do. I was really gay. And so, I labeled myself lesbian.

Bisexuality had crossed my mind, sure, but I wasn’t one of “those people” I thought. The quote “greedy, going through a phase, only trying to get attention” crowd we were all warned about by one person or another. And let’s be honest, the bullying was REAL. So, I continually swallowed it down. Hid my relationships with girls in the shadows, and screamed at the top of my lungs about the boys I dated. I wanted so badly to be straight, and yet *spoiler alert* I’m not and never was.

All those years I struggled with myself, feeling I was never good enough for anybody, feeling trapped in my own skin. I fell in and out of fits of depression, heavily considered taking my own life on more than one occasion, and all around hated myself. But, by some miracle, I hung on.

Flash forward to when I met my now husband; the sweetest, kindest, most understanding person I have ever met in my life. (And the cutest!) For the first time I was comfortable sharing how I felt, warning him on our second date that I was “gay, convince me otherwise”. He took on that challenge and, obviously, won my heart. That was eleven years ago. Yet, throughout our eleven glorious years, I STILL QUESTIONED! Never my love for him or our life together, but rather, why defining myself as straight still felt like sandpaper coming up my throat. Or why when somebody commented how happy they were that I’d “outgrown my phase” it made my gut catch fire and my hand shake to reach out and slap them!

Because. I. Wasn’t. Being. Honest.

To myself, to my husband, to the world! And sure, it wouldn’t have changed anything really. I would still be happy, and snuggled up with my soulmate and fur babies in our cozy home today. But if I said it wasn’t worth it, admitting it to myself, I would be lying. Since I made the choice to fully embrace who I am, I discovered something profound. I LOVE MYSELF! COMPLETELY!

So, if you are bisexual or know someone who is, remember that you/they are valid! We have a place and a right to be ourselves just as much as every other sexuality out there. Are you bi? I see you! Are you questioning? I hear you! Do you know somebody who is, and have questions of your own? I’m here for you! Why? Because Bi is beautiful!

Until next time, be supportive, lovelies.

-Destiny ❤

The Soul of an Ink Fiend

Hello again, my most badass lovelies! How’s the last week been? Here’s to hoping it’s been epic in the best of ways! *raises mocha*

Sooooo, for this week’s topic, I wanted to write about something that’s been a huge part of my past, present, and the foreseeable future. TATTOOS! *happy shudder* I started collecting my little beauties almost ten years ago now (yes, I realize I’m not a young whipper snapper anymore. Gosh, didn’t have to point it out!) and, despite what I and so many other tattooed people have been told twenty times over, I haven’t regretted a single one of ‘em!

I think the main reasons for my zero regrets deal boils down to one simple truth. I’ve always considered tattoos as my own personal road map, one that I can look back on anytime and go: “Dang, Des! Remember that point in your life? Look how far you’ve come!” It’s just a glimpse back at a young me, and how could I ever come to hate that? Young Des might not have been the smartest in many ways, but boy did that girl have some good taste in ink! Lol. Here’s a couple of my all-time favorites that I still oogle at on almost a daily basis—

These in specific came from the very depths of my heart, both stemming from areas I knew I needed SO much personal growth in, so I wrote the reminders on my skin. I can tell ya too, IT WORKED! Seeing these pieces reflected back at me every time I’m in front of a mirror or seeing my knuckles wrapped around a pen…it truly moves me. STILL! I AM worthy of forgiveness! I WILL rise from the ashes! Life can try all it wants to convince me that I am unworthy, that I can’t overcome, that I’m too weak, but the truth? I AM WOMAN, HEAR ME ROAR!!! *pterodactyl screech*

Quick little side note here for those who’ve been following my blog for a while now. I’m sure you’re wondering what the heck is wrong with me, writing topics so off the wall different from each other like this. I mean, seriously! What am I, some kind of nut? 😉 Simple answer? Yes and no! I’m a nut about the things that make me passionate, just like everyone in this world, but even more so, I’m a nut for the connections we can make with others THROUGH those passions. And lemme tell you what, tattooed folks are my PEOPLE!

Sure, most tattooed folks are pretty badass, sexy, and the kind of people you’d want behind you during any bar brawl. *winks* But, what I truly appreciate about them is their bravery. I’m not talking about the bravery to overcome the physical pain, which in itself is a monumental achievement, but more so their transparency. Art is revealing and personal! To have tangible pieces of your soul permanently pressed into your skin feels so dangerous and vulnerable to me, in the most beautiful of ways! (Please know, I am in no way trying to pride myself here, I’m talking about others I’ve been blessed to meet.) THESE are the people I want in my corner, inked or not. The ones who are willing to share their soul with the world, no matter the scars or bruises: those who choose to let their weaknesses become their strengths! We need that kind of honesty in the world! THAT is where the change we need will come from. Unabashed honesty in spite of what the world might tell us is “too open” or “too much”. Let me to tell you right now, I don’t think there is such a thing as being too much. Raw honesty is by far the most attractive attribute I’ve ever found in this life! If you’ve got that honest well flowing within you then, honey, your soul is GORGOUS!

So, here’s the fun part where I explain a little more about why I chose to write on this today. For the first time in two years, I’m planning my next piece! And I’m not talkin’ a little piece, like I usually get as I’m a broke ass b*tch. I’m talkin’ BIG! As some of you have seen pasted on my page, I quit smoking a little while back now. Today is day 27 actually. My goal was always to treat myself after a few months, when I was 100% sure that no matter what craziness life tries to throw at me, I won’t fall back on old habits. And so…I AM PLOTTING! *evil laugh* So far, I’m considering a new neck piece or finishing off my Bowie inspired “Labyrinth” sleeve. (For those of you who haven’t see “Labyrinth”, what the hell are you still doing here? Go! Go now and learn about the gloriousness that is the goblin King Jereth!)

(Gahhh, he’s just the HOTTEST! *fans face*)

(That sacred geometry though! Image not mine, obvi. Not sure who she is, but girl is a goddess! If this turns out to be you, drop your social media links below, PLEASE. Trust me, we ALL wanna follow you!)

Whatever piece I ultimately decide on, I am BESIDE myself with excitement! Because I know, no matter what I choose, it will be another beautiful plot-point on the skin map of my life.

Thank you again for spending some time with me, guys. You’re the best! Are you inked like me? I wanna see! Drop a pic, description or story in the comments below and let’s connect through honesty! LOVE IT!

Until next time, lovelies, stay honest!

-Destiny ❤

Inside a Writer’s Mind: First Book Blues

Greetings, my fair lovelies! I hope the past week has treated you well, that you found something new to smile about, and you got all the hugs your little heart desired!

For this week’s post, I figured it was about time to bring up the elephant in the room.

(Painting by Jen Callahan)

I…I like to write. *gasps* Shocker, right? Yeah, yeah, you already knew. You mind reader, you! Well, how about we go deeper then? How about we talk about…first manuscripts? *gasps again* Mind you, I’m no writing genius and can openly say that grammar is ever the thorn in my side, but who knows! Maybe there is a tiny nugget of encouragement you can pull away from this. If not, I hope you at least get a smile out of it.

When I started drafting my first novel, I thought it was gonna be easy. That’s right, I thought at one point THAT WRITING WAS EASY! Ridiculousness! Naturally, I found it to be quite the opposite. So, skip forward, and I finished my first draft. I was on top of the world and that was it. I was donzo! Story complete!

(Picture is not of me 😉 )

Yeah, right. I still remember the first time my CP (who is still my go to gal, AMAZING editor, and a complete goddess btw) called me and demanded we have a sit down over a stack of IHOP pancakes. Come to find out, she hadn’t even made it halfway through when she had to stop! Yeah, it was THAT BAD! But, she had the guts to tell me and that I will always respect. Her feedback led to my first round of revisions, which focused on everything from characters suddenly switching features to vast jumps in time, and everything else in between. Yeah, it was a hot mess. But those first edit notes she gave me changed the course of my writing! From there I did four, yes FOUR, more rounds of edits on my own and then jumped into the querying trenches. That’s when I found out just how much more that story still needed.

But from there it got messy. I wish I had known from the start, and truly accepted it as fact, that rejections can and are incredibly subjective. I made the mistake with my first book of taking to heart EVERY bit of rejection and revising based off it. What I got? A huge pile of garbled dung. PLEASE, don’t get me wrong! Professional feedback is INCREDIBLY important and a HUGE blessing when you receive it! My personal mistake was that I read between the lines far too often, and tried to jam what I thought others wanted into my story, and lost my own vision in the process. Long story short (literally lol) this here is the only bit in my entire first story that I feel has some value:

“From the ashes of forgotten men,

came the wrathful Ancient Lores.

Their bodies woven of humanities sins,

and rotten fleshy cores.

One night they crept where children wept for their fallen sons and daughters,

and in this grief secured a thief the waking world had smothered.

A pact of blood and shattered bone befell the mourning daughter,

and on her back the world would track through the open doors of slaughter.

So fight and flee the sleeping key and the beasts that claw and tear,

For they will not cease ‘till their souls release, restoring their rightful heir.”

That, out of 90,000 words (NINETY THOUSAND) is the only bit I can say I am truly proud of. However, that story still remains the story of my heart. Not only did it teach me about myself and my weaknesses, but it remains an active inspiration! If it weren’t for that story, I would have never made it to my second, third, or fourth manuscript. Without that learning process, I’d have never learned how much I love the writing process. EVERY. SINGLE. SPECK. OF. IT. That story brought my soul to life! I’ll be honest, when I finished it and shelved it, I thought I would never love again. I truly believed that.

But then, one glorious rainy day, I fell in love once more! From there, it’s only gone upwards and forwards. So, if you take anything from this week’s post, let it be this: you WILL love again. Inspiration doesn’t run dry. Your mind won’t let you down, though sometimes it feels like it will. Keep your head up and your heart willing and you will find your spark once again! I promise you!

Until next time, keep it writerly, lovelies!

-Destiny ❤

Bird Box vs. A Quiet Place

Hi again, loveliest loves in the land! I hope you have been well. Been taking care of yourself? Drinking enough water? Making sure to rest? Good, I’m so glad to hear it!

So, for this post I decided to step into debate world. *gasps* I know, I know, it’s a risky step! The question at hand: which is the superior film, A Quiet Place or Bird Box? Now that I’ve had the pleasure of watching both, I’m ready to dive into this dark abyss.

DSC04279.CR2

Fright Factor

Let’s start with the predictable bit, which film is more frightening. Navigating through a hellish world with no sight or an inability to make sound? Now, while this really comes down to one’s personal fears, I argue the latter.

While not being able to see where you’re going sounds like a total pain in the ass, I think it’s a much easier issue to deal with. What…you don’t agree? Okay, hear me out. During the most emotional point in Bird Box, Sandra Bullock’s character, Malorie (along with her children, boy and girl) is being hunted by not one, but three creatures. While the creature’s voices and their ability to take on the tone of a lost love one is chilling, their strength lies in being seen. You no see, you no die. Simple as that. You can scream, you can run, you can hide. You can fight.

A Quiet Place? Yeah, that shizz don’t fly. You CAN’T run, you can TRY to hide, but only if you’re silent as death, and you sure as heck can’t fight! In fact, you can’t do anything BUT see. Emily Blunt’s character, Evelyn shows how f*cked the creatures of their reality are when she’s GOING THROUGH LABOR PAIN AFTER STEPPING ON A FRICKING NAIL, AND CAN’T MAKE A DAMN PEEP ABOUT IT! (If you’re about to argue how that’s a woman’s problem and inherently a woman’s fear, do me a favor and go stub your toe, really, really hard.)

A Quiet Place: 1 Bird Box: 0

The Creatures

For me, this one was easy.

The CGI in A Quiet Place was really quite lovely. The internal ear, the creature’s ability to pull its head apart, it’s grotesquely long arms/legs…yeah, creepy! But, in my personal opinion, that hinders the level of fear that COULD be experienced. The audiences experience in that regard is finite. But yeah…they were done well.

Now Bird Box…you never see the creature. Not. Once. You see the psychopathic followers of the creatures and their singed eyes. The gruesome suicides that ensue after one sees them, and the way gravity seems to ebb in response to the monsters approach. I don’t know about you, but my mind went ALL KINDS of nuts trying to picture what the characters were seeing on the side of the screen hidden from me! And what my mind came up with? Yeah…it kept me up that night. The mind is far superior to the eye, at least in my opinion anyway.

A Quiet Place: 1 Bird Box: 1

Directing/Filming

Naturally, the tie breaker must lie within the most interesting aspect of both films: the directing. Let the record show, I have CRAZY respect for BOTH directors!! I’ve worked as an assistant director in indie film (no, you wouldn’t know them. And NO, I don’t have a link. Lol) and attention to detail was one of my primary responsibilities. So, of course, I was struck by the amount of detail both directors put into not just the big picture, but the little things. The tiny bits that the viewer doesn’t even realize that affect the essence of the movie itself, and so the viewers experience.

For example, John Krasinski literally embodied A Quiet Place. He not only co-wrote the screenplay and directed the film, but took his vision to the screen himself as the movie’s lead. John did it all, and his commitment to the story shows. Vividly! When he shook, I shook. When he questioned, I questioned! HE made the story believable, because he believed in it SO MUCH! Oh, fun fact! The entire movie has roughly 90 lines of dialogue throughout…NINETY! That’s nothing!! The silence was so impressive that the master of horror himself, Steven King, raved about it in a tweet. See here à https://twitter.com/StephenKing/status/982362520773017600 If I’m being honest, I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a unique horror flick. It wasn’t just scary for scary sake. It’s the kind of fear that moves a person. Make you question where your proprieties lie. (P.S. Random but valid side note: if you were curious how the tension between the main characters was so palpable, it could be because John and Emily are married in real life. *swoons*)

Bird Box’s director Susanne Bier is. A. MASTERMIND! I was so thoroughly disturbed by her creation that I watched the movie two nights in a row. That’s right! Yeah, yeah, I’m a nut. Anyway, she’s a genius, and here’s why. She has a brilliance with atmosphere that I feel is unparalleled (it’s no wonder the woman holds a Golden Globe, an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, and a European Film Award!!). For example, the small but impactful detail of Malorie’s connection with the color blue. Her jacket in the opening scenes, her blindfold, her pajamas…the woman is sad from start to finish, and it’s reflected in her outward appearance. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Susanne Bier decided on this detail remaining a staple in the film. Genius! And, again, Bier’s commendable decision to keep the creature’s identities a secret, challenging the viewer to dive deeper. Feel deeper. FEAR deeper.

Ending score…

A Quiet Place: ? Bird Box: ?

Yeah…they both win. Why? BECAUSE THEY ARE BOTH SCARY AS CRAP!! Feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts and cast your vote. Which movie terrifies YOU more?

Until next time, keep it curious, lovelies!

-Destiny ❤

The Haunting of Vineyard House

Hello again, lovelies! Back with another bout of words for you, this time of a much more…sinister tone. *maniacal laugh* I promised you ghosts, so ghosts ye shall get!

Of course there are a TON of ghost stories out there, all of them claiming to be true, but I didn’t want to just snatch a random story and dissect it for you. Instead, I chose a haunt that is not only close to my heart, but my location. Nearly in my own back yard sits Coloma, CA, the hub of the gold rush frenzy of the 1840’s. Approximately 300,000 people from all walks of life flocked to the small mining town for their chance to strike it rich. But, with great excitement comes great betrayal. All types of cruel occurrences unfolded in the interest of ones own potential fortune: gangs that brutally murdered lonely miners, a once revered teacher who killed his own student out of “love”. But, in my personal opinion, nothing compares to the travesties of The Vineyard House.

(The above picture is not mine, it was taken from google. All other pictures in this post were taken by yours truly.*finger guns*)

The 19^th century Victorian home (complete with four stories, nine fireplaces, and nineteen rooms) was once an Inn for wandering gold hunters, run in part by a Mrs. Louise Chalmers.

Louise and her first husband Martin Althoff moved to Coloma seeking a new life. Once settled, Martin decided to enter the job force as a vintner (winemaker.) His wines won special awards and the couple entered into a period of prosperity. But, that success was short-lived when it was discovered that Mr. Althoff had committed tax violations (bum-bum-bum) and was arrested. Deciding that he had brought shame upon his family, he took his own life and left the Vineyard to his widowed wife.

Now, here’s where sh*t gets shiesty my friends! Robert Chalmers (a widower twice over at this point) decided HE wanted ownership of the award winning Vineyard, and married Louise in 1869. He too won awards for his wine and in 1878 he began building his dream home: Vineyard House. Upon completion, the home proved to be lucrative in ways far surpassing money. People of great wealth and political stature became regulars at the Inn, and word spread of the home’s unparalleled beauty. But, the same as Althoff, misfortune found Louise’s husband once more. Robert contracted an illness that caused him to slowly lose his mind. As the sickness progressed he grew increasingly violent, screaming and attacking the Inn’s staff. He also grew infatuated with Pioneer Cemetery which sat across from their home, and studied the graves being dug with unflinching attention. On one occasion Mr. Chalmers was discovered lying in a dug-out grave with his hands crossed over his body and his eyes pressed closed.

And so, Louise made the strangest decision possible, and built A JAIL CELL IN THE BASEMENT to hold him! She lured him into the cell and chained him there. He lived in that dark, lonely prison until the end of his days when he eventually died of starvation. (Robert believed his wife was poisoning his food. Who could blame the poor guy??) The lingering spirit of Robert Chalmers is one of the most prevalent spirits haunting the old home. His rattling chains and tormented moan echo through the halls, accompanied by a chill in the air you can feel upon his approach. Guests have claimed throughout the years that he moves items around in the basement bar that lines his cell, sliding empty shot glasses from one end of the bar to the other. Again, WHO COULD BLAME THE GUY?? The bar sits by his PRISON!

From there, Vineyard House went through a succession of owners, each seeming to experience bad luck. All the while guests complained of strange noises and disappearing figures in the halls. One couple even made a midnight run to the police station, claiming a couple next door was screaming bloody murder, only to find out the room had been vacant all along. *chills*

A personal connection (whom I trust with my life) told me a story about the catering business she worked for back in the day, and her co-worker’s experience there. The group had agreed to work an event, and when the night came to an end they placed all the chairs up on the tables to vacuum. They were the last two people on the property. They stepped out of the room for a few minutes at the most, and when they came back they found all the chairs they’d stacked back on the ground. Needless to say, they took off without vacuuming!

FLASH FORWARD:

It’s 1975, and a new owner has begun renovating the home. But, it appeared the house (and spirits within) had different plans. The new owner ordered new paint for the walls, only to receive completely incorrect colors. The scary part? Upon further investigation, the incorrect paint colors…MATCHED THE HOMES ORIGINAL WALL TONE PERFECTLY! Next, the owner aimed to replace the homes rotten porch. And so, it was removed…revealing three HOMEMADE coffins! Turns out, the cell that was once held Robert Chalmer had housed fugitives in the years after his passing. Fugitives who were HUNG FROM THE TREE IN THE FRONT YARD AND BURIED UNDER THE PORCH!!!! A fourth coffin was said to be discovered in a forgotten crawl space in the house as well. To recap, that’s one suicide, one tortured prisoner, three executions, and a random/unexplained death. Yeah…I think it’s safe to say, Vineyard House deserves the damned that lurk in its halls.

Welp, that’s all she wrote! Until next time, keep it creepy, lovelies!

-Destiny ❤

A special thanks to Steve Sammons for sharing his family history/knowledge of Louise’s first marriage to Martin Althoff. https://familyoforigin.wordpress.com/1878/04/24/haunted-house/

Kindness: is it dead?

Hi, lovelies! Welcome to week one of my words and ranting, so glad you decided to pop by! Before we jump in, allow me to give you a fair heads up on a few things:

I am a die-hard supporter of the LGBTQ community as I myself live by the B. If this bothers you, I ask that you head ‘em up and move on out!
I use far too many exclamations marks, sorry not sorry!!
I am a lover not a fighter, unless I see someone being mistreated, in which case, I WILL summon my inner tigress and lay you out. Got it? Good. Let’s be nice here guys.

Sweet! With that out of the way, let’s get this show on the road, eh? 🙂

So, I spent some time thinking on where to start, given the list of topics I aim to cover on my page. Almost instantly I settled on what I think we could all use a little more of: kindness.

In a world so hungry for recognition and one’s personal advancement, it can feel as though kindness and empathy fall by the wayside more often than not. But, as I see every day in the wonderful #WritingCommunity on Twitter (which I am so fortunate to be a part of might I add), kindness is still alive and well! We just have to remember to keep our eyes open for it. Take notice and receive it. All walks of life, all histories, coming together to empower each other with our experiences! In my mind, it’s as much about where you’ve come from as it is where you’re going.

Don’t believe me? Take a little peek at Rob and Reece’s story, and try not to cry. Go on, I dare you! *weeps all over keyboard*

https://youtu.be/d9QoK8L1YWo

Image result for rob and reece scheer

Want to learn more about the Scheer’s incredible journey? Follow this link and pick up a copy of the full story, written by Rob himself: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-forever-family-rob-scheer/1128550934?ean=9781501196638#/

Though mainstream media would like us to believe otherwise, empathetic warriors like the Scheer’s still exist, slicing their mighty swords of love and support through the darkness. What truly moved me about Rob’s story was his history, where he came from, and the fact that it didn’t define him in the usual sense. And yet, he’s never forgotten! He uses that past, painful as it was, to be the change in the world. To make the difference! See, we have a choice, always. Allow the pain to define us, stereotype us, and stunt our ability to empathize with those who hurt the same as we do. Or, we can make the hard choice, abolishing the idea that we are a product of our own environment, and rise above to become something different. Something stronger! We CAN be the change this world so desperately needs! One person, one small act of kindness, can have a domino effect that can echo out into the world further then we even imagine. I’ve always believed this, but Josh Coombes and Jade Statt LIVE this! The way they give themselves so freely is truly inspiring. Take a look.

https://youtu.be/Q0m12lXcSkM

Image result for Josh Coombes and Jade Statt

#dosomethingfornothing

Follow him on Instagram: JoshuaCoombes

What really moved me here (aside from the obvious care/work these wonderful people put into their community) is how Josh encourages us to simply check in. Check in on someone, see how their doing, support them where they’re at. It’s simple gestures such as this that can be life altering. I know they have been for me. There are days where my mind is so clouded with self-doubt and dread that I can’t see the forest through the trees. And yet, one person asking me how I’m doing…suddenly life has new meaning again. They saw me, noticed me! In the moment the doubt becomes a little easier to swallow, knowing that I’m not alone. I’m seen! Human connection, that’s the true and universal magic. And the best part? WE ALL HAVE THE ABILITY TO WIELD IT! It’s a never ending well within us, if only we tune in. How incredible is that?

Now, I’m sure some of you are thinking “Well yeah Des, this is awesome. But, I’m not in a position to adopt, cut someone’s hair, or treat a sick pup.” I get it, love. We all have our own gifts, ones we can offer in our own way. Another beautiful part of being human is just that, we all have unique talents! It may take some time to find that calling. But, while you meditate and think on what type of kindness legacy you want to leave behind, you can still find a way to spread love in the present. It’s the little things, lovelies. Being conscious of our surroundings and the people we pass each day is the first step towards lasting change. Giving, loving, grace…these inspire, and set a fire beneath us! With that in mind, I have one last video to share. It’s had over 30 million views since its release, and that number alone gives me so much hope for our future!

Life Vest – Kindess Boomerang https://youtu.be/nwAYpLVyeFU

Humble acts! Ones we can easily offer throughout each day by simply being present and aware of the needs of others. When we take the time to step outside out comfort zones and offer our attention to one another, there we will find the true meaning of life; community, love, and all the beautiful bits in between. Together, we rise!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read. You have no idea how much YOUR kindness has touched me. If you enjoyed yourself today, please, support the people you’ve seen in these videos. Share their stories and what they’ve taught you! And, if you feel so obliged, feel free to comment/like/share my page.

Until next time, keep it kind, lovelies!

-Destiny ❤

It’s…it’s…coming!!

Alright guys, it’s that time. Time to look 2019 in the face and say “yeah, you’re a big cruel beast with gnashing teeth, but guess what…I own you!” With that in mind, I’m finally ready to embark on my blogging journey! Here are just a few topics you can expect to be touched on in the year to come:

Bisexuality and breaking through the stigma.
Writing/Books.
Ghost/Paranormal/True Crime.
Anime and what it can teach us.
Mental/physical health.
Empathy/human kindness.
Empowering one another.

So keep those eyes peeled, because I got something special coming your way very soon!

In the meantime, keep it kind, lovelies!

-Destiny ❤

#BoostMyBio for 2018 #PitchWars

Hi everybody, I’m Destiny! This is my first year participating in #Pitchwars, and I am ecstatic to say the least! I already feel so blessed to be a part of this #amwriting community, and can’t wait to learn more about all of the stuffs! (Also, fair warning: I’m a lover of exclamation points!)

About Me:

Ah, the dreaded about me section. Is it just me or is talking about ones-self really tough? *clears throat* Okay, so um…oh! Let’s do some fun facts about things I love and that inspire me, yeah? Yeah. 😉

I married my best friend when I was 18, and he’s the absolute best thing to ever happen to my life!
I have two adorable fur babies, Zoee (After Elmo’s girlfriend on Sesame Street) and Furgus (named after the King of Hell from Supernatural.)
When I’m not writing, I enjoy making music and playing Video Games. (Currently obsessed with Dragon Age: Inquisition!)
I was a theatre nut in high school, and it just stuck with me. I can almost guarantee that if you put a musical on right now (any musical) I’d weep like a baby. There’s just so much creative power in the theatre!
I write about the dark and the strange. I’ve always had a curiosity for the things we humans hide in the depths of our souls, and I brought those often forgotten feelings into my story OF AN UNSOUND MIND.

Alright, that’s enough about me. Let’s get to the good stuff!

About my MS:

My YA Dark Fantasy takes the reader through a first person account of 17 year old Fey Masterson’s grim life; an anxiety riddled girl who’s plagued with disturbing nightmares. She finds herself shipped off to boarding school where she soon discovers that her nightmares are something all-together more threatening, deadly in fact.

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My story comes complete with:

A main character with giant beast slaying abilities.
A healthy best friendship, and Disney references of course!
A boy gifted in non-traditional, elemental magic’s.
A literal dream guy.
One chattering bloodstone created by a vengeful Infernal witch.
A love that’s transcended centuries and an ancient grudge that seeks to destroy it.

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Are you a fan of enchanted libraries, girls who like girls, and things that go bump in the night? Then OF AN UNSOUND MIND may just tickle your fancy!

#PitchWars 2018 mentee feels:

My heart’s desire is to share Fey’s story with the world so that it might inspire just one person. I wanted to show a hero who battles inward and outward at all times, and kicks some serious butt! The moral I wish to resonate the most is this; anyone can be a hero!

As a mentee I await the potential and exciting opportunity to jump down the rabbit hole of revisions with an amazing mentor leading the way! I am no stranger to constructive criticism or the blood, sweat, and tears that come along with revisions. Let’s do this!

Thank you for stopping by and reading all these words, you’re the best! Want to follow me on Twitter? I’d love it if you did!

@DestinyRaeSmith

Can’t wait to get to know you!