Nocturnal Mind

Don't mind me... Just finally getting back to my manuscript ✨✏️📒✨

I like leaving little notes for myself in the margins. It makes me feel like I have a slightly frustrated, often sarcastic co-worker.

We Are the Song

by Catherine Bakewell



The (a) story follows Elissa, a young girl whose voice has been divinely blessed by the Mother Goddess. She is part of a group of twelve musical devotees who can sing miracles into being, and who have been tasked with traveling across kingdoms torn by war, spreading love and healing to those who need it.

But when Elissa’s voice is inadvertently used to destroy instead of heal... https://www.nocturnalmind.net/the-streetlight/we-are-the-song/

There are various pros and cons between self-publishing and traditional publishing. I have my reasons for going the self-publishing route, but there is one reason in particular that has stood out to me recently. Read more here: https://www.nocturnalmind.net/the-streetlight/why-i-chose-to-self-publish/

Why do we like horror? What is it about, not only being scared, but CELEBRATING being scared that drives the stories we tell during the Halloween season in particular? Read more of my thoughts on the subject here: https://www.nocturnalmind.net/the-streetlight/why-horror/ . Also: have any of you experienced a brush with the supernatural? Tell me about it! 👻🎃💀

October is ✨ ✨

Buster and his friends would like to take this opportunity to remind you that love and kindness don't come with a cost. That everyone belongs in this world, no matter what. That no one should ever be made an outcast just because of their differences.

Make sure to hug someone you love today. And remember to let compassion and understanding guide your actions--not anger and fear.

❤️❤️❤️

Update: We Stand with the Banned

https://www.nocturnalmind.net/the-streetlight/update-we-stand-with-the-banned/

I'm more of a fiction person, but every once in a while I will attempt some poetry. Keep reading at https://www.nocturnalmind.net/the-streetlight/limitation-in-poetry/ to get a glimpse into some of my thoughts on poetry, and my strategies for writing it.

✨Now Available!✨

The story that has been ten+ years in the making is available for purchase as of today! "The Wishtalker" can be ordered in 6x9 hardcover editions (with dust jackets!) and 5.5x8.5 paperbacks wherever books are sold. You can also order 6x9 paperbacks and case-wrap hardcovers directly through https://www.nocturnalmind.net/ .

"Anita Abbernathi is disillusioned by life.

Abandoned by her father, overlooked by her struggling mother, and chronically unsocial, she secretly yearns for magic and adventure—everything she has ever read about in her favorite books. But Anita has long been resigned to the fact that her reality offers none of these things. That is, of course, until a magical stranger enters her life and promises all of that and more…if she helps save his world from a growing, faceless evil.

Suddenly whisked away to a realm of fantasy, where magic is at her fingertips and anything seems possible, it appears all of Anita’s dreams are coming true. Here, giant beasts roam the land, warriors are trained for battle, and Anita finally has a chance to prove she is more than what she was back in her dreary little reality.

But something is not right in this place—and it isn’t just the growing darkness. Everyone she meets is keeping secrets; a shadowy sorcerer wants her dead, and even in a world of magic, she once again finds herself powerless and limited. At a glance, it seems fantasy is not much different from reality after all. Only now, Anita is trapped in a web of unanswered questions and whispered warnings, and even those closest to her may be undeserving of her trust.

The people of this world need Anita’s power, and the price of adventure may be her life."

Cover Art by Cassie Levy

"Buster is a tiny dragon. His wings are too small, his spikes are crooked, and his claws are blunt. When Buster comes across some bullies, the tiny little dragon learns a very big lesson about kindness and love."

A story about empathy and finding strength through friendship, brought to you by the creative team at Nocturnal Mind 🦉

✨ Available for purchase May 30th ✨

More news to follow as events unfold 😉

✨ COMING SOON!✨

Those of you who read my monthly newsletter are already somewhat acquainted with this little guy 💖 But I've held off on posting about him because until recently he was still a bit of a work in progress.

But now I've reached a point where I'm getting ready to count down the days to his debut, so here he is! Meet Buster, the star of my first children's book, with illustrations by my very own brother Corey O'Brien 😄

This book was a family-inspired project that, honestly, came as a pleasant surprise even to me! I never really imagined myself doing much outside of the realm of young adult fiction, but when creative and passionate minds come together, it's hard not to have a story begin brewing, just waiting to be shared!

More details will follow soon, but in the mean time, I hope you enjoy this little sneak peek! 👀

So far, the only story I have ever purchased as an e-book. Not that I have anything against e-books in general--I just prefer the smell of paper and the feeling of turning pages to flat, cold technology. 📚

However, I will admit that I DID have a bit of a snooty reason for not purchasing a print copy... And my reason was that, after admiring the author's writing advice on YouTube for so long--and then reading some of the criticisms her books received on Goodreads, I was unsure if it was worthy of a place on my shelf.

Long story short, I'm glad I followed my instincts. 🫤

For the longer version of this story, you can check out the full review of "The Savior's Champion," by Jenna Moreci, at https://www.nocturnalmind.net/the-streetlight/the-saviors-champion/.

✨Prompt of the Month✨

Whether you’re enthusiastic about it or not, social media has been a huge part of peoples’ lives since the start of the 21st century. And while some of us (or is it just me?) would still prefer the simplicity of a phone call, or—dare I say it—a handwritten letter, our main outlets for communication these days include some form of online messaging.

So, how would your characters “sound” while speaking with each other through social media/text? Do they have a particular voice when they’re typing responses vs. vocalizing them? Are they fuddy-duddies who prefer to use proper grammar and punctuation, even online, or are they tuned into all the current abbreviations and slang?

Write an online conversation between two different characters. They could be characters that already exist in your mind, or they could be completely new. Just make sure your dialogue demonstrates how different their personalities are from each other.

Want more prompts and writing tips? Visit https://www.nocturnalmind.net/ !

To be honest, I'm not all that big on contemporary novels... I mostly read because I like to ESCAPE reality, not experience other people dealing with it. What can I say? 🤷‍♀️ But when I read the synopsis of this book I was so intrigued by the raw, emotional setup and subtle enough hint at the supernatural that I decided to take a chance.

Sadly, it didn't live up to my expectations. While there were a number of things I DID find enjoyable about this book, there were other things that ground my gears enough to, honestly, kind of ruin the whole thing.

You can read more of my thoughts on it here: https://www.nocturnalmind.net/the-streetlight/vampires-hearts-and-other-dead-things/ , but I'm suspecting there might even be a rant-y video on this one in the near future... I was that irritated.

Any books out there that really grind YOUR gears?

Remember all those excuses I had for skipping out on 2022? Well, if you're interested in hearing the rest they're all listed in our latest video for Nocturnal Mind. Plus, you'll get to see how certain members of the Night Crew took said absence....

I might be lucky to be alive. I'm not sure.

Check it out here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7ZvjKTdIKY

Recently I've been keeping a lookout for more books to read during the winter months... This here is a good one. Very atmospheric, and great for anyone who enjoys fairy tale retellings, a little bit of darkness, and strong female protagonists.

You can read the entirety of my thoughts at https://www.nocturnalmind.net/the-streetlight/spinning-silver/ . In the meantime, does anyone have some good suggestions for future winter reads? ❄️🌨⛄️

So... Yeah. Kind of disappeared there for a hot minute.

Fortunately I have a whole list of excuses for my absence--one of them being the most exciting excuse of all: checking off an item on my bucket list!

Last year I had the great honor of spending some time with friends in Northern Ireland 😍🇨🇮🍀 It was the first time I'd ever taken a trip outside of the United States, and I am confident it will not be my last!

Anyway, we're still here. We're still doing stuff. In fact what am I saying, we've been here the whole time, haha 😅

Happy New Year, everyone! 🎆 More posts to come in 2023!

Welp... It's that time again 😬😬😬

So, as those of you who signed up for our newsletter are already aware: I missed a deadline this month. Last year I set the goal that I would have a complete draft of the sequel to my fantasy novel finished by the thirteenth. In my defense, much of the first part of this year was dedicated to finishing up my Master's Degree... Which I did. So, there's that 👩‍🎓 🎉

But now the time has come: I need some new ideas for Missed Deadline Challenges. I do have a list going, but it could use some sprucing up before I get the next audience poll ready to go. So, what are your thoughts? Just throw anything out there at this point, and I'll tell ya if it's too crazy or not.

And, yes (before you ask), we are going to complete the Amnesia Challenge--it's just that some recent events have caused me to put the game on the back burner for now. It's an odd amount of work to get drunk and play a horror game, don't you know!

Anyway, comment below if you have any ideas about a fun little humiliation you'd like to see me go through in the future...

Hello, all!

Here's a little something for you: a "Part One" list of tropes, stylistic choices, and plot devices that just kind of irk me sometimes. Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXB4x80Cwvg.

Also, we have a new blog post up on Nocturnal Mind. Plus, tomorrow is the day for a new book review, so stay tuned for that! 📚

Night Owls, what is your chosen method of writing? Or, for those who work in more visual art, what are your methods for designing? 🤔

🦉🦉🦉

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It's Friday! 🎉 Which means we have a new blog post and podcast up on Nocturnal Mind--but we also have a special treat this week: another "Drunk Amnesia" video!

Hopefully we'll be cranking those out on a weekly basis now, because really there's just a lot of material from this series. We STILL haven't even gotten to the best parts (although I AM significantly drunker in this video than I was in the last...)

Come take a look 👀 and enjoy! And let us know what else you'd like to see from future challenges!

🦉🦉🦉

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Good morning, all!

Last month (AKA, yesterday) in Nocturnal Mind we gave you an extra video because April had an extra Friday 😁 Come see what we're planning for May 🌹

Also, as it is a new month, we have a fresh lineup of quotes, writing prompts, polls, and tips & tricks!

🦉🦉🦉

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📚 Check out our book reviews: http://www.nocturnalmind.net/the-bookcase/

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Happy Friday, everyone! 🎉

Today was full of "flashbacks" for Nocturnal Mind. Most notably, we posted a skit that was originally going to be the first video on our YouTube channel before our plans were somewhat diverted...

We also shared an old blog post from long before Nocturnal Mind, when our "Studies in Character" somehow turned into sixteen-page long essays 😬 (Now split into parts, of course)

Come and see! 👀

🦉🦉🦉

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📚 Check out our book reviews: http://www.nocturnalmind.net/the-bookcase/

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Happy Friday, everyone!

This week in Nocturnal Mind we examined the dualities of good and evil as portrayed in Robert Louis Stevenson's "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," while also contemplating the universality of art. Plus, we posted part two of our first "Dormiveglia" podcast 😁 What a busy week!

Come on by and check it out! 👀

🦉🦉🦉

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📚 Check out our book reviews: http://www.nocturnalmind.net/the-bookcase/

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Happy happy Friday, y'all!

Well, it's here: part one of my Amnesia "Missed Deadline Challenge" is up! Sorry this first video is a bit of a slow start. In the future we'll be cutting more of the dull moments. And it'll definitely get better once I'm a little more tipsy and in a little more danger... 🍹🤪🍷

In other news, our latest blog covers the important differences between alpha and beta readers. Come check it out!

🦉🦉🦉

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📚 Check out our book reviews: http://www.nocturnalmind.net/the-bookcase/

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Hello, all! And happy Friday 🥳

I realize now that I forgot to alert you last week to the new video, but here it is: a teaser of what's to come with my latest "Missed Deadline Challenge." Thank you to all who voted ✅ But also, no thank you. (It will not take you long to realize how much this particular challenge torments me 😫)

In other news, our latest podcast is up on our Midnight Musings page, and it is one I'm pretty excited about: for this new segment I thought I'd try revisiting books I've read in the past that I only retained vague and scattered memories of. Let me know what you think!

🦉🦉🦉

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Today was not a day for a typical post. There were too many thoughts floating around in my brain this afternoon, all centered on the fact that this was supposed to be National Women's History Month. I would have much preferred to write a fun post, something about writing or else something about amazing women who have contributed to our country. But there was just too much I needed / wanted to say. And I still feel like I haven't said or done enough. But I'm trying to be better at speaking up. I'm so used to being a coward for safety's sake, but I'm getting tired of just surviving. I'm sure a lot of women are.

I'm trying to recognize and remember that my words can do more than entertain. I'd like to believe that my words can also inform and enlighten. But I'm still learning how to be better, how to stand up, and how to add my voice to those who are having trouble being heard.

Today, we did not have the post we wanted to write, but at the moment it was the one we needed to write. Our hearts go out to the Asian-American community and the families of Sarah Everard and all the other countless women and minorities who have been so senselessly ripped away from their lives due to some man and a society that does nothing to condemn the threats and the violence.

This, unfortunately, is the world we have created. No wonder I spend most of my time trying to escape into other ones.

Hello, all!

This week on our YouTube channel we have a continuation of the list of books I am hoping to read in 2021. In other news, I just recently bought myself four new books that I'll hopefully add to that list over the course of the year... Or maybe you'll hear about them next year. 📖📚

Also, in honor of National Women's History Month, our most recent blog post talks about one of my favorite female protagonists in modern fiction and all the positive and powerful traits she exhibits. Come check it out! 💪👩‍🦰

🦉🦉🦉

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Happy happy Friday to all! 🤩

Well, the results are in from our latest "Missed Deadline" poll, so be sure to keep an eye on our YouTube channel in the coming weeks. If you want to know future results ahead of time, you can sign up for our monthly newsletter! 📰 Also, please feel free to give us more suggestions here on Facebook for any future challenges 😁

Today we have a new blog and our first two podcasts posted on our Midnight Musings page. Night Owls, what are some writing and storytelling topics you would like to hear us discuss?

Also, in case you missed it, our latest "Board Meeting" is up on our YouTube Channel. 😄 Come check it out!

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📚 Check out our book reviews: http://www.nocturnalmind.net/the-bookcase/

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Happy Friday, everyone! 🥳

A new video is up: our "Part Two" of the romantic gestures list, for those who are curious to see where it ends. Planning to go a different route with our videos from now on, which you will hopefully hear a little more about during our next "Board Meeting..." 😁

We also have a new blog post up. Make sure to sign up for our newsletter in order to see posting schedules and some behind the scenes news! Also, don't forget to cast your vote in our current "Missed Deadline" poll. The closing date is fast approaching! 😅

📰 Sign up for our newsletter: www.nocturnalmind.net
📚 Check out our book reviews: http://www.nocturnalmind.net/the-bookcase/
📷 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/c.m._obrien/