Do you ever feel like a Squib of a writer?

Do you ever feel like a Squib of a writer? 

Okay, let me make it clear, I am not referring to the Chinese explosive or referencing Star Wars. 

I'm actually talking about Harry Potter; Specifically, Mr. Filch.  

For the avid Harry Potter fans, you may skip to the next bold sentence.  For this of you who have NO IDEA what I am referring to, continue reading.  

Mr. Filch is the grumpy caretaker in Harry Potter.  The only thing he loves is his cat Mrs. Norris and for those who don't know anything about him, he can seem like a cranky old man.  Okay, he is a cranky old man.  BUT there is a reason for his mood.  He. Is. A. Squib.  

Squib: Squib is the term applied to a child who is born of magical parents, but who develops no magical abilities. They are considered to be the opposite of Muggle-born wizards/witches.^[13] Squib births are rare: the only squibs noted as such in the books are Argus Filch, Arabella Figg, and Molly Weasley's second cousin who was an accountant. The Ministry does not require them to be registered as part of the Community.^[13] Squibs share some things with wizards and they are aware of and comprehend the wizarding world. They also can see Hogwarts, which ordinary Muggles cannot. However, according to Ron's Aunt Muriel, the custom with squibs has been to send them to Muggle schools and encourage them to integrate into the Muggle world, which is "much kinder" than keeping them in the wizarding world where they will always be "second-class". In contrast to most of the wizarding world's acceptance and even respect for Muggles and Muggle-born wizards and witches, it is often considered embarrassing to have a squib in the family. Rowling has stated that Muggle-born witches and wizards are descended from squibs who married Muggles; the magical gene may resurface after many generations unexpectedly. (Taken from Wikipedia.) 

So, Argus Filch is not JUST a cranky old man.  He is angry, annoyed and hurt that he has to work for those who have the magic, the magic he should have but can't. 

Here is the bold sentence for those who did not need to read the definition of a Squib.  

So, do you ever feel like that?  Like you're supposed to be a writer but you don't have the "magic" of it.  And so you help other authors.  Like posting reviews and going to book signings and attending writers conferences even though you just can't finish your own book?  

Yeah, that's how I feel right about now.  I know I am supposed to have "the magic" but I just can't seem to find it, use it or control it.  So instead of focusing on my work, I read books for review and help spread the word about new releases and I do giveaways and constantly talk about all the books I've read and the authors I know.  I wear t-shirts for various books and I even have pens and bookmarks custom made for other authors.  And though I LOVE what I do (don't get me wrong, I LOVE it).  Sometimes, I feel like a squib.  

It makes me wonder though.  Was I supposed to be a Writer, or just a helper for other writers?  

Like. . . Mr. Filch. (No worries though, I'm not gonna become a grumpy old man and be cold hearted about it, I honestly truly LOVE helping other authors.) 

Have you ever felt this way?  What do you do about it? Does it go away?  Have you given up writing and just become a book reviewer/blogger because of it? 

Battle of the Hero's and Villains!

Most people watch movies and read books and immediately pick out who is the Villain and who is the Hero.  Who is good and who is bad.  Right vs Wrong.  Beautiful vs Ugly.  I could go on but it doesn't matter how I word it, the meaning is the same.   So. . . what if we were wrong? 

 What if the person we deem evil, is really the good guy?  

I'm going to use certain movies as examples (they are easier than books to reference). 

Movie #1: The Phantom of the Opera:

*Spoilers from the movie*

Good:	Bad:
Raoul	The Phantom

The saddest thing about this movie, is the fact that most people don't even realize the Phantom of the Opera (or Opera Ghost) has an actual name.  (And I don't mean just in the movie)

I have only met three people who knew the Phantom has a name- It's Erik.  

Right off, he is deemed the bad guy but how can one say that without knowing who he is?  Erik wasn't born evil.  He wasn't born a murderer.  He was taunted, tortured and beaten because of his looks.  And the only way he was able to free himself was by taking away the life of the man who held him prisoner like an animal.  

I'm not saying that was his best choice or the right choice, but it was the choice he made and despite that choice one girl still helped him.  She could see the pain he was going through.  Now understanding a little bit about his past, do you still see him as an evil phantom out to kill everyone?  

Well maybe so but let's go a little deeper.  Are you aware that he didn't really know what he was feeling?  He thought it was Love and so he felt hurt when Christine didn't feel the same.  And Christine still cared about him, just not the same way.  What Erik felt was lust.  But the moment when she kisses him he realizes that what he did was wrong.  He begins to understand what he really felt and he knows that he cannot hold her prisoner because he truly understands what love is.  

And while Erik is going through this learning process and making mistakes and learning from them,  what is Raoul doing? "Protecting" Christine because he loves her.  But if you truly love someone, would you honestly use her as bait to capture someone you believe to be a monster?  

Would you tell everyone that he only way to end The Phantom of the Opera is to kill him because he is evil? Raoul knew what happened to Erik and yet he still deemed him a monster.  He never gave Erik a chance to change.  

So, truly is Erik/Phantom of the Opera/Opera Ghost the bad guy?  Is he truly Evil or has he made mistakes he doesn't know how to fix? 

Movie #2: Harry Potter Series

*Spoilers*

Good:	Bad:
Harry Potter	Severus Snape

I'm pretty sure by now everyone is aware that Professor Snape was never truly a bad guy.  But most people were upset when they believed that he was.  And most readers jumped right to the conclusion that he was evil.  Right from Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone.  Everyone believed that he put a hex on Harry's broom and he kept getting in their way.  When I read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows I cried like no other while reading about who Snape really was.  What he did for Harry.  

And more tears were shed when I watched the movies!  

In this case, he truly was never a bad guy.  But he had to show everyone that he was so that he could keep Harry Protected.  And that is what makes it so sad and beautiful.  He gave away everything to make sure Harry Potter was able to destroy the man who killed the one person Snape loved.  And even through all of that, Snape cared for Harry.  He just couldn't tell him that.  

I was so mad at J.K Rowling for killing everyone throughout the Harry Potter series but when I read what really happened with Snape, I couldn't care about any of the other characters.  I didn't care who lived or died.  I wanted Snape back.  I wanted to turn back time and fix it.  Make everything alright again.  

Snape has truly become one of my favorite literary characters because of what he did.  (And Alan Rickman did an incredible job playing him).  Snape is my favorite. . .Always. 

Movie #3:   Avengers

*Lots and lots of Spoilers*

Good:	Bad:
Nick Fury, Avengers, Shield Agents	Loki

This movie is the opposite.  I'm not defending Loki (although he is my favorite villain ever. . . but we will discuss that later this week). Yep you guessed it,  I'm calling one of the mentioned above 'good guys' a bad guy.  Wanna guess which one?  

Nick Fury.  And no, I'm not really deeming him a villain but he is pretty evil.  Now, every  super hero has to make sacrifices and maybe do a little evil to make a lot of right happen.  But Nick Fury is ruthless and lied to all the Avengers just to make sure they would work together.  Yes, Phil died.  Yes, he died believing that the Avengers were the only ones who could stop Loki.  And Yes, he really did want Captain America to sign those vintage cards.  

But telling them that he had the cards in his pocket, AND wiping blood on them to make it convincing, Was. Just. Wrong.  You don't do that. You don't.  Yeah, yeah, yeah the Avengers needed the push.  They weren't getting along but did they really need to be lied to?  

Stooping so low as to "planting" cards (and putting blood on them) is something a villain would do.  That is something Loki would do. The good guys shouldn't do it to each other just because they can't get along.  

No, Nick Fury is not a villain.  But he can be pretty evil.  

So do you agree?  Disagree?  

They do this with a lot of cop shows.  NCIS, Numb3rs, NCIS LA, Unforgettable, Suits, White Collar, Psych, Monk,  CSI, Law and Order. . . etc 

They have "Guests" come on and pretend to be good guys and it turns out that they are the villain(s) and vica versa. . . They make you think one person is the villain and really they are the hero.  

So who is your hero? And who is the villain? 

10 points for Gryffindor. . . or whicever house you belong to.

A great big thank you to all those who participated in the Very Harry Potter Giveaway!  (Don't worry if you missed out, I will be doing another one around Christmas!) 

And a great big congratulations to our winners:

 The first prize winner (A Pair of Very Harry Earrings which you can see HERE) is

Adrienne McElwain!!

And the Second prize winner (A beautiful Harry Potter Bracelet, which you can also see HERE) is

Matt Ferrell!!