I Say Couch, You Say Chaise…

It’s funny how much we can tell about a person from their word choices for everyday items. Culture, upbringing, education. We get a totally different image about a person who calls a dress a frock vs. one who says gown.

We can use this technique to build deeper characters as well. It’s a fun game that’s sort of like word association.
    1. Pick an everyday item. Let’s use a pair of pants.
    2. Ask yourself how each of your characters would refer to that item, and write down the responses.

    3. Do the choices give better insight into your characters? Help with dialogue?
    Here's how it might play out with the pants example:

    Britches: Southern, rural, informal
    Trousers: More proper, possibly a business background.
    Fatigues: Army, military, lots of space for weapons and easy to run in
    Knickers: English, possibly a historical timeframe
    Dungarees: Rugged, adventurous, not as tight-laced as military
    Buckskins: Rural, back-to-nature, stealthy
    What's awesome is that I have characters who match some of these categories, and they really would use that specific word.

    Give it a try!

    Coloring the Page: Gray



    Let’s look at synonyms for GRAY today as part of the “Color Kaleidoscope” series. I'll avoid the Fifty Shades jokes if you will. :)

    For the back story on this blog series, see the previous posts for: “Red,” “Blue,” “Green,” “Yellow,” “Black,” “Brown” and “White.”

    Ashen: Lacking color or slightly grayish
    Clay: Light brown to light or dark gray
    Gun Metal: A metallic darker shade of gray
    Haze: Grayish
    Pearl Gray: Off white; a light gray from yellowish to bluish in hue
    Pewter: Silver gray
    Pigeon: Various shades of gray from light to dark
    Powder: Lighter shade of gray
    Slate: A dark gray to bluish gray
    Steel: Dark gray to almost a light purple

    The Sword Under the Sink

    Sarah Rees Brennan's Demon's Lexicon
    One of the authors I really enjoy reading is Sarah Rees Brennan. The opening of her Demon’s Lexicon series is a great example of how to set the stage and establish character within only a few sentences.

    Here are the first two lines of her book:

    The pipe under the sink was leaking again. It wouldn’t have been so bad, except that Nick kept his favorite sword under the sink.

    Now, let’s look at everything we know from these lines.
    • The pipe’s leaking – The house is old.
    • It’s leaking again – This is a recurring problem, and Nick has apparently fixed it before.
    • Nick thinks it’s not so bad – He’s not living in luxury, leaky pipes are the norm for him.
    • That’s where Nick keeps his favorite sword – He likes swords more than the average guy. He has more than one sword, enough to make this one his favorite. He has to hide it, rather than carry it out in the open or keep it in some sort of weapons safe. Might indicate he’s on the run.
    • We also know the world’s going to be a mix of fantasy (sword) and reality (indoor plumbing)

    That’s quite a lot of info for two lines, and it's doubly powerful because those lines do an awesome job of pulling in the reader, too.

    Look at your own first line. Or, if you’re ambitious, the first couple lines of each chapter. Write down what readers learn about your characters and world from those sentences alone. Are there opportunities to do more? The trick is not to go overboard with cramming in detail, but rather to leave enough intrigue that we want to continue reading to get the full picture.

    Writer Panels Galore

    Gorgeous artwork from Charles Urbach!

    I’m back from the festivities, where I stocked up on beautiful fantasy art and listened to incredible writer panels! We heard from Brandon Sanderson, Elizabeth Vaughn, James Sutter, Mike Stackpole, Matt Forbeck, Dave Gross, John Helfers, Mary Robinette Kowal and Howard Taylor.

    Lots of great author brains all in one place!
     
    Here are my favorite take-aways:
     
    Worldbuilding
    • Let idea seeds brew. When (if) they fuse, then you know it’s time to do an outline.
    • A good story is about great characters. No matter how great your setting is, you can’t have awful characters and still have a great story.
    • Leave doors open. Don’t fully explain every detail, leave it to the imagination and you can come back to it later in the series. Worldbuilding snafus can often turn into opportunities later.
    • Two types of worldbuilding: physical and cultural. You can decide where to invest your time. If you’re not a scientist, strict physical worldbuilding can back you into a corner with details. Get 80% there, then ask an expert.
    • Gardeners and architects: Gardeners grow the story as it goes. Architects build the story ahead of time. They might be susceptible to worldbuilding disease.
    • Iceberg Theory: Readers should only see the tip. You, the author, know the rest, but it doesn’t show.
    • Practical tips: Make sure water flows downhill, use real maps for inspiration on continent features, consider the influence of rain shadows, beware of medieval economics, consider sanitation needs.
    • Be crazy! You don’t have to base your world on medieval Europe and, remember, the entire world doesn’t all need to advance at the same pace. Certain regions can rise and fall or be more advanced than others.
    • Balance your readers’ learning curve by not introducing too much, too fast.
     
     
    Plotting
    • All plot stems from character growth.
    • Character growth happens when the character reflects on his or her own change. This growth is permanent and leads to “wicked cool drama.”
    • Always find room for romance.
    • Any fact in the story needs to have a set-up.
    • A new ending may emerge as you’re writing. Don’t immediately stop to rewrite. You can add plot hints in the second draft.
    • If you’re either totally confused or totally bored as an author, you have too much or too little plot.
    • Pacing is the “magic” of writing. It’s an instinctual feel.
    • The difference between short stories and epic novels is where you begin.
    • As you read a book, jot down what you like or don’t like about what the author did, then study how they accomplish it.
    • Betrayal is huge as a plot device.
     
    Oh, and we got to sit in on live tapings of the Writing Excuses podcast series, which was very fun!
     
    Without doubt, my favorite part was meeting Brandon Sanderson and being able to hear his advice firsthand. Among living authors, he is the one whose craft I most deeply admire. He’s done so much to pass along his writing insights to others (In case you didn’t know, he shares his lectures here and his novel drafts here), and he’s finishing my most beloved series. I wanted to say "thanks!"
     
    He and the others talked about believing in the power of writing and characters and stories for all the same reasons I do.
     
    It definitely was a reaffirming experience!
     
    How about you? If you could meet a living author, who would you want it to be?
     

    Getting My Geek On!

    I'm off to GenCon this weekend. It'll be my first time, so my friends are initiating me into the whole crazy fun experience!

    Things I'm looking forward to most:
    • Sessions with Brandon Sanderson - one of my all-time favorite authors
    • The artists' avenue - I think I may do some damage to the cash fund with this one ;)
    I'll be back next week with a full report and pictures. Maybe I'll even see a few of you there!

    And if you're looking for my "What If" Blogfest entry, it's here!

    Cinderella's Ball Was A Sting!



    I'm participating in the "What If?" Blogfest, hosted by the official heirs of the Grimm Brothers: Mark Koopmans, Leigh Covington, Cassie Mae and Morgan Shamy.

    Have you ever wondered what would happen if we swapped one tiny detail of our familiar, beloved fairytales? We get some incredible twists, that's what! I chose to join the "Best Plot Twist" group and decided to mess with the classic Cinderella.

    I got carried away with the story, so the first 300 words are the "official" blogfest entry. The rest is there in case you want to read on and see how it ends!

    Goodbye mild-mannered housemaid, hello smart suave undercover agent.

    Enjoy!

    What if Cinderella's Ball was a sting operation?

    In a cramped, nondescript office in mid-town, a screen flashed the pictures of two women. Below them, in thin black font, scrolled a warning: The Stepsisters – Wanted on Theft and Trafficking Charges.

    The room’s door burst open, and a pixie blonde in a dark suit strode in carrying a mop. “We got ‘em, Gus.” She tugged the hidden recording device from the mop’s handle and slapped it on the table in front of the wiry man monitoring the screens. “Ten years of sweeping floors and crawling through dusty air vents finally paid off. This is the evidence we needed.”

    “I don’t know, Elle. The Sisters are big names around here. Even with that tape you got, it’ll never stick. What we really need is a chance to catch them in the act.”

    “We have it.” Elle tapped the website she’d brought up on Gus’ computer. “Here.”

    “The Royal ball? Naw, too risky. The Prince is just an unwitting fall guy in the Sisters’ latest con. We can’t let this bounce back on him.”

    “What if we had someone on the inside? I lifted an invite from the Sisters’ mailbox today. All ladies of the house, it said. And I’m a lady.”

    Gus chortled.

    Elle ignored him. “We’ll set Jacques up as a potential buyer and get it on record. I know their weaknesses, and I’m telling you, we can nail them. Let me run the op.”

    Gus nodded thoughtfully. “Write it up. We’ll move tonight.”

    * * * * *

    300 words stop here

    * * * * *

    Three hours later, the unit’s make-up team had lengthened her pixie cut into the long tresses she wore undercover. This time, no dirt dulled their edges. The full skirt of her robin’s-egg dress disguised a wire and several guns. Oil-resistant elbow length gloves, compliments of Gus’ gadget collection, would mask any fingerprints in places she didn’t want to leave them. Gus handed her a pair of shoes, and she shot him a quizzical look. “These are glass.” In fact, they were exquisite.

    “It’s my latest camera design. We see what you see.”

    “Can’t you just give me a button?”

    “The shoes let me watch everywhere at once, even behind you while your back is turned.”

    She examined the pair. None of the electronics were visible to the naked eye. “Nice.”

    * * * * *

    Without the subtleties of the sting, the ball would have been utterly boring. Elle danced with a number of very eager, very vapid men before the Sisters made their appearance. “Finally,” she muttered when she spotted them on the verandah. She politely stepped away from her date. “Jacques, they’re moving toward you now. Let me know if you need me to intercept.”

    The ear pieces kept her in touch with Jacques, in position in the curtained balcony where they’d arranged for the meet to go down, and with Gus, in the tech van.

    “We’re set here,” Jacques said. “I can see them on approach. Gus, you getting this?”

    “Affirmative. We’re rolling.”

    “Hey, Elle.” Jacques again. “The Prince is wandering a little too close to our op zone here in the balcony. Can you steer him away?”

    “Moving now.” She caught sight of the Prince’s royal suitcoat through the crowds and headed toward it. He was already halfway up the main stairs. “Excuse me.” She touched his elbow, making her voice coy. “Aren’t you the Prince?”

    A couple eyelash bats, and he was hers. She steered him back to the main ballroom and kept him there for three songs while Jacques made the deal with the Sisters. Compared to the others, the Prince was a decent dancer. He kept up a steady stream of interested conversation, and she almost felt bad that her attention was on the voices in her ear instead.

    She carefully angled their latest waltz turn to get a better view of the balcony. It was empty. Too late, she realized the Sisters were heading back to the main floor. Close enough to spot her. She spun away from the Prince and whispered, “Guys, we’re blown. We’ve got the evidence. Get out now. I’ll ditch the Prince and meet Jacques at the car.”

    “We still need eyes on that building, Elle. If anyone walks out with the artwork Jacques fronted—”

    “On it.” She turned back and threw a hurried curtsey in the Prince’s direction. “I’m so very sorry. I must go.”

    “Wait” He stepped after her. “I simply must know who you are!”

    The Sisters were on the move. And Gus still needed eyes. Elle ran for the main entrance, weaving through the crowd and ignoring the Prince’s calls behind her. Just outside the entrance, at the top of the grand outside stairs, she smoothly stepped out of one glass slipper without losing pace. “Good enough vantage for you, Gus?”

    “Perfect, I can see all the exit points. Now, get your ass back to the car.”

    The car was a sleek silver beauty, all muscle and curves. It made get-aways a dream. The Stepsisters fired a couple shots in vain as she ducked in, and Jacques gunned it. Within minutes, she was back in the tech van with Gus, doing final op clean-up. And no one at the ball was the wiser. Elle shed the dress and undid her hair extensions.

    “Check this out.” Gus’ voice called from the front of the van.

    “What?” She hopped into the legs of her suit pants as Gus tapped the surveillance screen.

    “Your Prince came out on the steps looking for you. He’s gonna get himself into trouble if he doesn’t stop sticking his nose around.”

    Sure enough, there he stood, shadowed by Palace Security as usual.

    “Oh, for Pete’s sake,” Elle said. “I’ll handle this.” She climbed down from the van, skirted the next block to avoid drawing attention to their recon location and walked up to Palace Security, flashing her badge. “I’ll take it from here, pal.” She turned to address the Prince. “What seems to be the problem, sir?”

    “There was a shoot-out on our steps. That woman I was dancing with…I think they kidnapped her.”

    She barely stifled a snort, but no recognition flared in his eyes. That was good. Yeah, I look different out of a dress, don’t I, bub? “A shoot out, sir? That would be highly unusual on the palace steps, wouldn’t it?”

    “Well, yes…but they were right there. A man and a woman fighting two others. And there was this car. Like a tricked-out silver car you see in movies.”

    In the background, the clock struck midnight.

    “Sir, I can assure you there were no shots fired. There was no car of that kind.”

    “B-but, I saw it. It drove right there and slowed down. I’ll show you.”

    Elle turned where his finger pointed and hid a smile. The curbside and the field beyond were empty now, of course. Jacques had taken the ride back to HQ. Only a few animals remained scrounging for food along the gutter.

    “Those are mice, sir. They’re eating a pumpkin.”


    Olympic Blog Relay: Closing Ceremonies


    First of all, thanks to everyone for your great support! You made hosting this relay an amazing experience, and I loved reading all the stories and comments.

    Special kudos go out to our torch-bearers for sheer awesomeness!

    I also promised prizes, and what's more fun than official London 2012 hat pins? I had a blast collecting these kind of pins in '96 and '02, so I hope you guys enjoy 'em too! Here we go:


    Bronze: Alex Cavanaugh - For getting us all into shape to chase down our writing medals!



    Silver: Mark Koopmans - For sharing what I think might be one of the most inspiring Olympic stories ever. If you missed it, check it out here.






    Gold: DL Hammons - For true grit! The relay fell right in the midst of Write Club, and DL is a writing all-star for balancing both. That takes some guts, man!



    Winners - email me your addresses, and I'll mail these out to you. And thanks again to ALL OF YOU for making the relay such a blast!

    In other news, lots has been happening in the Blogosphere.

    • Thanks to the folks who joined Write Me A World as new followers.
     

    The Finish Line


    “A gold medal is a wonderful thing, but if you’re not enough without it,
    you’ll never be enough with it.”
    -John Candy, aka Coach Irv Blitzer, Cool Runnings

    It’s so tempting to think everything would fall into place, if only we could…

                …win the gold.
                    …get published.
                         …become a bestseller.

    But that’s a risky line of thinking. Does it mean we don’t see ourselves as true writers unless we get published? Does it make our characters and stories any less compelling?

    No!

    That’s why John Candy’s advice is so wise. He’s talking about inner value, having confidence in yourself and your work, no matter what the outcome.

    Like the Jamaican bobsled team, your writing is unique, beloved and unforgettable!


    Stop back tomorrow for the relay's Closing Ceremonies and prizes!

    Today's Torchbearer: Alex Cavanaugh



    The ever-talented Alex Cavanaugh shares his advice as part of the Olympic Blog Relay. I've gotta say - I love this post!

    Writing Should be an Olympic Sport

    If the past two weeks of Olympic coverage have taught us anything, it should be that sports and writing have a lot in common. Granted we don’t usually sweat or experience injuries. (Unless we’re prone to falling out of our chairs.) But the similarities are striking and reveal more than the tip of the iceberg.

    Athletes at the Olympics fall into several categories: those who are grateful just to be there, those trying to attain a personal best, those hoping to medal, and those who won’t be happy unless they win Gold.

    Writers who become authors also fall into several categories: those happy to self-publish, those grateful to land a publisher, those grateful for their agent, and those who won’t be happy unless they achieve bestseller status.

    Athletes spend endless hours training. They get up hours before dawn to practice. They push themselves beyond the limit every single day, struggling through pain and injury.

    Writers spend long hour perfecting their craft. We work on our manuscripts whenever possible, be it late at night or early in the morning. We study and take classes, trying to hone our skills.

    Athletes make many sacrifices. They lose sleep. They forego their favorite foods. They miss out on a social life or lose time with their family. Training and competitions take them away from home. They sacrifice money they don’t possess.

    Writers make sacrifices. We also lose sleep. We give up other pastimes to write. We don’t spend as much time with our families. We don’t go out and enjoy life like normal people. We spend endless hours writing with no fanfare or encouragement.

    Athletes don’t just practice, practice, practice, and then show up for the Olympic tryouts. There are endless races and competitions they must attend. There are tryouts and qualifications. They need these to advance their careers.

    Writers can’t just write and then produce a great book. We need to study and learn our craft. We need to read writing books, attend classes, and go to conferences. We need to perfect query writing and gain acceptance.

    Finally, athletes must be ready for defeat. Sometimes they stumble and fall. Sometimes they are disqualified. Sometimes they give it their all, but it’s just not enough to win or place. They need to pick themselves back up and try again.

    Writers also experience defeat. We spend months on a manuscript only to realize it’s not very good. Our critique partners suggest massive changes. Our query letters meet with rejection. Our pitches are met with ‘no thanks.’ Our agent can’t find a home for our manuscript. With each of these scenarios, we need to keep trying.

    And after all that, we really should get a medal when we succeed!

    Alex J. Cavanaugh
    http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/
    http://twitter.com/AlexJCavanaugh  

    Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design and graphics. He is experienced in technical editing and worked with an adult literacy program for several years. A fan of all things science fiction, his interests range from books and movies to music and games. Online he is the Ninja Captain and founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. The author of Amazon Best Sellers, CassaStar and CassaFire, he lives in the Carolinas with his wife.

    Thanks, Alex! You're Olympic material in my book.

    One Moment



    The next time you see a medal ceremony on TV, watch the face of the person who took Gold. These are, without doubt, my single favorite moments in the Games. And the most powerful.

    You see, this is when it all starts to sink in for the athletes. The work is over, the race is won, and the full impact of what they’ve accomplished finally hits them. As the medal is placed around their neck and the first notes of their nation’s anthem begin to play...right then...that’s when you see this change come over them.

    Some smile, some sing along, some fight back tears. Many simply stand there in silent awe, drinking it all in. But you can always see it in their eyes – years of sacrifice, sweat and tears have come down to this moment. It must be the most humbling, fulfilling, rewarding moment of their lives. I can't fully imagine what they must experience. They’ve done that rare thing we all strive to do: catch our most closely-held dreams.

    It never fails to get me.

    Sometimes, I wonder what that moment will be for me in writing. When will it truly hit me? What will it take to get that feeling? I don’t know yet. I don’t even think there’s only one possibility – there are many – and like the Olympic athletes, I’ll keep striving until I reach one.

    And then I’ll break down with a great big smile on my face and sob like a baby!

    What does that moment look like to you?

    Tomorrow's Coach and Champion: Alex Cavanaugh

    Second Chances


    The road to our dreams rarely takes the route we expect. Dan Jansen skated and fell twice before he won gold. I bet Kerri Strugg didn’t envision her win coming with an injured ankle.

    It happens in our writing too. The detours and setbacks get so frustrating, but it doesn’t have to end there. If we’re flexible and give it time and our best energy, good things come when we least expect it.

    I swam competitively for years. One year, I was racing to qualify for state in the hundred yard breaststroke. It was my last chance.

    I missed the cut by two hundredths of a second. When you're that close to something...it's heartbreaking.

    What did my coach do? Tell me too bad? Better luck next year?

    No way!

    I was scheduled to swim the 200 yard breaststroke later that same meet, so my coach and I decided to try to submit my split time from that race to qualify in the 100. That meant I had to swim my little butt off for the first half of the race (even faster than I’d gone in my earlier 100 yds.), and then still stick it out for the remainder of the 200 yards to make the time official.

    It wouldn’t exactly be pretty or fun, and it’d probably hurt like hell in the homestretch. But it would give me another shot.

    So I took it…and I made it!

    We might have to hit a few circles and dead ends to get to our dreams. We might have to take a shot-in-the-dark chance that we think has zero possibility of panning out. In the end, those risks are worth it.

    Cheering Us On Tomorrow: Mark Koopmans

    Today's Torchbearer: Chris Fries



    DL passed the torch to Chris Fries of A Writer's Expanding and Slightly-Warped Universe. He's here today talking about the underdogs of the Games.

    Let me first offer a big “Thank you!” to Nicole for hosting this fun Olympic Inspiration Blogging Relay! There have been some great inspirational posts, and I’m really pleased to be able take part in it.

    To me, it’s always inspiring and entertaining watching the Olympics. I love the drama and the excitement in the competition, even when it’s taped-delayed as it has been here on NBC in the States.

    And of course there’s the fabulous pageantry – did you see the opening ceremonies? I think it’s awesome watching the parade of nations as the athletes enter, country-by-country. Most here in the US cheered the entry of  the large contingent of our American athletes with pride. There were a ton of them -- 530 American competitors went to London.  It was one the second-largest single-nation group in the Olympics. Great Britain, being the host country, has 541 athletes competing. Other countries also brought a huge contingent: Russia has 438 athletes, Australia 410, Germany 392, and China 380.  It’s always impressive seeing these massive waves of competitors, all dressed in the colors of their countries, all eager for the chance to bring home victory for their nations.

    But you know what really inspires me? Seeing the entry of the three athletes from countries like Belize, Chad, or Brunei. Or the tiny contingent of only two athletes from countries like Gambia, Dominica, or Nauru. How many of us even know where Nauru is? I had to look it up – it’s HERE, in Micronesia.

    Amid the grandeur of the Olympics, competing against the vast national powerhouses that can field hundreds of athletes, these small nations send their competitors to the games in the hope of bringing a small slice of glory back to their homelands. These athletes come without the huge entourages, without the deep financial backing, and all-too-often without much recognition from the global community.

    But they come, and they give their all to compete on an international stage against the giants.

    To me, writing is like that -- especially as an unpublished writer. I’m plugging away in anonymity, doing my best to compete against the giants of the writing and publishing industry, hoping that I can master my craft enough to gain a few readers and a small bit of recognition. And despite the overwhelming odds, no matter what, I’ll stay committed, practice diligently, and do all I can to compete to the best of my ability,

    And maybe – just like an unknown athlete from a tiny country who defies the odds and ends up medaling – I’ll someday earn my own piece of writing glory.

    I absolutely love this angle! Thanks so much for sharing, Chris.

    Pray


    Give us strength to stand in the midst of the storm.

    This happened just south of me in Milwaukee. Please keep the victims, families and responders in your prayers.


    Today's Torchbearer: DL Hammons



    Cheering us on toward Olympic gold today is DL Hammons, who's taking a breather from Write Club to give us some advice.

    Check it out!

    Up Next in the Parade of Champions: Chris Fries

    Half-way!



    We interrupt this blog relay to bring you…an Olympic update.

    I don’t know about everyone else, but I’ve become desperately distracted by the Olympics these days. Though, maybe I shouldn’t be surprised. Apparently my hometown is #4 in the nation for Olympic viewership. Want to see where your town ranks? This article lists the top five areas.

    Just like we each have our own favorite genres , authors and characters, we probably all have our favorite moments so far in these Games.

    Mine?
    • The Opening Ceremonies torch lighting. I thought it was brilliant and touching how the young athletes lit it together, and it grew into the final flame! And the forged rings were amazing!

    • Michael Phelps. What can I say? I’m a swimmer. I love seeing my sport get coverage, and there have been SO many awesome swims in these games!!

    • The 39-year-old Bulgarian gymnast who’s still competing so he can “give hope to the younger generation.” He trained for 10 years in my old roomie’s hometown!

    • Gymnastics has been awesome so far! The US ladies won, and it was a delight to watch the hometown reception for the Great Britain guys’ medal too.

    • The stories of family sacrifice. Can you imagine moving across the country, away from your family, to pursue writing? One Chinese athlete had been home for a grand total of 17 days in the last decade. That’s a level of commitment that’s difficult for me to imagine. It’s so heartwarming to see it pay off!
    How about yours?

    And tomorrow, in the fighter's corner, we have Write Club coach extraordinaire DL Hammons!!

    A Very Special Eye of the Tiger



    While the Olympics are all about hard work, determination and mental toughness, we also get to see the athletes have moments of fun and humor too. It's been fantastic to watch the crowds get into the music of the floor routines during gymnastics the last few nights, and it got me thinking. So...we’re breaking out the old classics today for some purely musical inspiration.

    Talk about getting in the zone. Does any song get you pumped up more than this one? Especially when it involves Jensen Ackles lip-syncing? (You’re welcome world.)


    Break out the boom box, crank it up and get motivated! You know it's gonna be stuck in your head all day.

    Today's Torchbearer: Misha Gericke



    Misha Gericke is carrying the torch today in the Olympic Blog Relay over at My First Book. She's teaching us how to go "Faster, Higher, Stronger" with our writing.

    What are you waiting for? Get over there!

    Today's Torchbearer: Leigh Covington


    The blog relay is stopping by Leigh Covington’s today for some amazing inspirational advice.

    Hop on over and check it out!

    Up next: Misha Gericke