I like real problems, the human condition - twisted, darker stuff.- Drea De Matteo

What is it about twists on old classics that pulls us in?
Is it the comfort in knowing how it will end?
Or who the characters truly are?
What if they weren't who you thought they were?
What if evil was good and good was evil?
What if it all went to hell after the story ends?

I like to think that I am an avid reader, sometimes I don't read enough other times I can't stop. I enjoy classic stories, ones full of whimsical creatures and crazy adventures.Ones with a forbidden romance and a happy ending. but I also like the idea of a story after the original ends. 

I often find myself thinking about the stories afterwards. 

Like what if Alice never actually left Wonderland and was stuck in a never ending cycle of complete madness? Maybe the mad hatter slowly became a nightmare, getting increasingly crazier and slowly transformed into something evil. Maybe the caterpillar was indeed a complete stoner who smoked himself insane. His paranoia slowly consuming him until he snapped. 
That is one twisted Wonderland, but if it was once peaceful would it ever return? Was Alice just in a coma being kept alive by strange drugs? was she just on a bad trip? 

What if Dorothy was led astray by the wizard and was tricked into some nasty evil experiments? What if whatever she did in Oz was just for the sole purpose of the wizards creepy fantasy? What if the Wicked Witch was just trying to warn her about the wizard? Or maybe it was her sick twisted fantasy after all she always did say "I'll get you my pretty". 
Was it all really just a dream from being knocked around in a tornado or was auntie em just as messed up as the witch herself? Or maybe she was actually the witch all along? 

What if Winnie the Pooh suddenly decided that his friend Christopher Robin looked a lot like a delicious treat? What if he went on a killing spree and murdered everyone within a 100 acre radius of the Hundred Acre Wood? Would guilt consume him or would he be too full on roasted rabbit with honey? 

What if?

What if we twisted all of our old favorite children stories to become new ones, for our own adult amusement. Would we be considered crazy? insane? devoid of feeling? genius? 

Next time you read an old favorite try to imagine the effects the story will have after all the characters have moved on. Imagine the opposite of the characters. What would you do if it was twisted beyond recognition?

I know I'd enjoy it.

From one twisted mind to another, 

toodles xoxo 
Jess

“So many books, so little time.” ― Frank Zappa

Let's try something new here :)

As many people know I love to read. I carry either my Kobo mini or an actual book with me no matter where I go. I tend to read some strange books, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children being my favorite. Recently I discovered an idea for a TBR Jar, or a To Be Read Jar. Its a genius idea really. So I went to my local dollar and picked up a wooden box (all of the jars were too small) and some gorgeous decorative paper and made my self one. I filled it with slips of paper with all of the books I own on them. I just recently finished an amazing book that has actually been on my Kobo for almost a year and I found that I REALLY enjoyed it. 

Room by Emma Donoghue

Room is a heart breaking story told through the eyes of 5 year old Jack. His bravery and innocent curiosity makes the book quite the ride. The writing in this novel is quite amazing, its told from Jack's perspective but it is far from childish. He is an incredibly smart and observant child, and amazingly brave as well. I thoroughly immersed myself in this novel reading it almost non-stop for a few days. 

The story centers around Jack, Ma and Room. Everything in Room has its own personality, but not in an overpowering way. From Wardrobe to Bed to Skylight, everything Jack has ever known is there in Room. But Ma knows she cant keep lying to him forever. They are being held captive by the man they call "Old Nick". Ma was taken from the world she knew, her family, her education at the age of 19 and was held captive and treated in some inappropriate ways. She can't leave. After Jack's 5th birthday Ma creates a plan to escape, to rid their lives of Old Nick. Jack was to pretend to be sick. They took some rather unusual precautions to ensure that Old Nick fell for it. He didn't. At first. 

I don't want to give away too much of the book, but its for sure an amazing book. Its also semi-based on the very true story of Josef Fritzl who held his 18 year old daughter captive for 24 years as a sex slave. Scary stuff. Its truly a horrible idea, but reading it in Jack's perspective made this novel charming and took some of the terrifying factors away. 

Overall rating for me: I give it 4/5. Yes its an amazing books but the idea behind it sends shivers down my spine. And to think that that kind of thing is happening all over the world. Yikes!

Now for a first impression. 

Dorothy Must Die By Danielle Paige

Oh My gosh!!! I can not tell you how excited I am to read this. 

It is a new twist on the classic by L. Frank Baum. What if Dorothy found a way back to Oz? What if The Wicked Witch was actually the good guy?  What if Dorothy was the new Wicked one? 

So far the story is about the misunderstood Amy Gumm. Shes the misfit at school because she lives in the trailer park with her mother. Pink hair in all Amy is swept up in a tornado and transported to Oz. 

I am so excited for this read. Danielle Paige's writing style may just be the best part. The words flow and its just so... unexplainably good. 

I recommend them immensely, whether you are looking for an interesting read or looking for a twist on an old favorite. Check them out!

For now that is all I have. 

Toodles xox 

Jess

“Fear doesn't shut you down; it wakes you up” ― Veronica Roth

I can't explain.

Fear

Its crippling,

Its heart wrenching. 

Its a rush. 

I love it. 

The anticipation of a scare. 

The building feeling 

Of something going to happen. 

The rush you feel when it happens. 

A picture. 

Dark, 

Creepy, 

Abandoned. 

It scares me to think about, 

and yet it makes me incredibly happy. 

What makes people scared?

Is it the tingles on the back of the neck?

The increased heart beat?

the music that plays in the movies?

Or even reality? 

What scares me,

clowns, being alone

and most of all,

my own mind. 

My ideas, 

my plans, 

my thoughts can scare me. 

its because i write

that i can get over it. 

but word of advice....

Don't Look Down.

Toodles xo

Jess

The people who influence you are the people who believe in you -Henry Drummond

Whether it be my writing, my life, everything, there are people who had an impact in my life.  They helped to shape me into who I am and who I strive to be.

My literary influences have to be the ones that have made me see that a story doesn't have to have a million different characters to have an impact. Also that writing what I like to read is very important because if I don't want to read it who will?

Molly McAdams:
She writes amazing yet sometimes heartbreaking stories. Those who have read her novels will know what I mean when I say I cried over Chase at least a dozen times. Her books are natural. They feel as if you are living the stories, living the relationships. She is by far one of my favorite authors and will be for a long time. 
Check her out  http://www.mollysmcadams.com/ 
I HIGHLY recommend reading Taking Chances.. to everyone!!

Ransom Riggs:
His style of writing and the stories what can I say other then amazing! He uses found pictures and strings a story to them. I mean its genius. As the author of Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children he influenced me to write on what I see, write a story so magical that it transports you. He is incredible as both an author and i film maker as i have seen many many times on youtube.
Check Him out   http://www.ransomriggs.com/

K.C Wayland: 
His scripts are genius!! He wrote the podcast We're Alive, a zombie podcast and also on of my biggest inspirations. The script is phenomenal and so realistic. He writes excellent stories and relatable characters, like Datu, the sarcastic yet lovable maintenance guy who happens to get himself in to trouble. Or Riley, a trained chef who is kick ass with a bow and arrow.Yes I realize its only a podcast so you cant really see anything but you get to know the characters and love them. I want my characters to be like that. 
Check out the Podcast http://www.zombiepodcast.com/

Get ready for sappy. My real life influences are another story. They helped me in every time of need and every time I was ever down on my luck. They really raise my spirits and help me get to where I want to be, who I want to be.

My Mom:
We may argue, and bicker but in the end shes there. We have had some pretty rough patches in our lives with exes that cause more and more drama, to friends who I thought were going to be there. She stepped in and helped me cope. After my dad passed away almost 2 years ago she was my rock, she was strong. I wasn't. Through all of the heartaches and the pointless drama she has always told me to stay calm and it will all work out in the end. No matter how many rough spots life gives me I know I will always have her. Love you mom

My twin: 
Not my actual twin but she knows. Shes has seen me at my worst and I can trust her with my life. I think she knows me more then anyone ever has. She has influenced me to channel my inner nerd, to not be afraid to  be yourself. We have been best friends for a long time and I don't think that will change, even if we don't see each other a lot we are very close. I don't think shes just my best friend anymore shes my sister. Because of her I am confident in my own ideas. Thank you :) 

My Gramma:
This is a rough one. I lost my gramma 5 years ago and to this day its hard to talk about. She taught me to be strong, and fight for myself. She was my best friend and taught me a lot of life lessons. I remember calling her after a boy asked me out. I will always look at her as my angel, the reason I strive to live my dream. I want her to be proud of me. I want her to look over me as I write and be happy, to be proud that I am finally being myself. 

My dad:
He is  where I got my writing from. He wrote poems and stories and like myself doodled over everything. I miss him like crazy. He showed me my first horror movie and I've been hooked since. He showed me all of the classics like The Shining, It and Pet Sematary. I loved it. I wanted to write stories like that and I believe in my heart he knew that. I was an odd child always liking ghosts and being scared but he taught me to embrace it and write from my heart, no matter how weird. I think he'd be proud. 


Although there are many things in my life that made me who I am there are a few people that have impacted it. I am grateful everyday for them all. Even those I have never met. I can write and live how I want to because they taught me too. 

Love you All 
Toodles xoxo 
Jess