Merry Christmas, everyone!!

I realize it's Christmas Eve, but if I don't get the chance to say it tomorrow, I'm saying it now. Wow, this year seems to have just flown by... Kinda scary.

However, I think this is the year in which I've most grown as an artist - and a writer - and I'd like to thank each one of you for your constant encouragement and support. You have no idea how much your kind words lift me up on a daily basis, and how much you all mean to me. I am SO incredibly thankful for all of you. You all get giant virtual hugs.

This upcoming year is going to be crazy. I'm traveling abroad for the first time in my life, I'm finishing up another book, and hoping to get at least one published. It's all in God's hands.

But this year... man, you guys have just been so amazing. I can't even tell you how much.

I LOVE YOU ALL, and PLEASE KNOW how much you all mean to me.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! <3

Love,

Serena

Come join!: [link]

Doing another Korra piece. Click HERE: [link]

Hope to see you there!!

- Serena

Here's the link! : [link]

Livestreaming Makorra fan art. Come join! I have work in the morning, so I'll do as much as I can before I fall over from exhaustion.

Hey, everyone!

I'll be livestreaming TONIGHT at around 7:45 EST. Trying something different this time, hope it works. We shall see. I'll be drawing Sherlock!

LIVESTREAM HERE

Hope to see you there!

- Serena

Hey, everyone!

Hoping everything goes more smoothly this time -- I'll be livestreaming TONIGHT at around 7:45 EST.

LIVESTREAM HERE

Hope to see you there!

- Serena

Hey, everyone!!

Wow, it's been a while. First of all, like to wish everyone a happy February... hope you all had a lovely Valentine's Day. I'd like to thank those that sent Valentines -- can't tell you how much I appreciate it! I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to send out valentines, but I'm working full-time four days a week, and it's hard to get online. I honestly forgot it was Valentine's day until the day before...

ANYWAY, BIG NEWS!!

My new short story series ROSE AND SHADOW is NOW AVAILABLE on AMAZON for $0.99! This first story is a novella, but the following stories will be shorter. Here's a summary:



It takes a hero to fight crime. It takes a genius to solve it.

When spunky computer genius and high school sophomore Mallory Belrose discovers that the masked superhero Shadow is her sexy but arrogant next-door neighbor Giuseppe "Sepp" Torani, she finds herself thrown into a dangerous world of crime and mayhem.


If you purchase, let me know what you think!

I've also been sending out queries for my novel UNDER. Gotten a few rejections, and still waiting to hear back from several others. We'll see how things go!

I'm planning on doing a Livestream this weekend -- maybe tonight. This time with the correct link.

- Serena

Sorry, everyone! I'm still working on the Livestream.

HERE is the link: I apologize!!

LIVESTREAM: [link]

Hey, everyone!

Just wanted to let you guys know I'll be attempting my first Livestream drawing/painting tonight around 7:15 EST!

Please check out this LIVESTREAM!

This is a little of a test run, as I've never done one before, but obviously there will be drawing involved! I'll probably be drawing a Disney or Sherlock piece... maybe Harry Potter, we'll see. You'll get to see my process, the rough sketch, what I listen to, maybe even see me live. If you want to. If you don't... well, fine, be that way.

You can also chat with me and other DA/Tumblr members through the community chat right on the page. It's a lot of fun, trust me. And you can also ask me questions, and I'll do my best to answer. I'm a fast typist, so I'll get back to you ASAP. It's a fun experience, so please feel free to join! And if you'd just like to watch, that's perfectly fine too!

To repeat, the Livestream will start around 7:15 EST. Hope to see you there!

- Serena

Happy New Year, everyone!!

I'm feeling particularly cheerful right now, probably because I'm listening to "Just Around the Riverbend" instrumental soundtrack from Pocahontas. My favorite Disney movie along with Beauty and the Beast.

Thank you so much for your comments on the last post! Unfortunately Rose and Shadow keeps getting delayed due to UNDER, as well as work. But I've FINALLY finished UNDER, and am now waiting to hear from my mentor, an author, to see what she says about it. Fingers crossed!!!

ALL RIGHT -- I'd like to introduce you to a truly amazing artist -- Kate Tortland, aka Montypython61. Not only is she incredible at detailed drawings, but she is also a landscape and sill life oil painter. Here are a few of her pieces:

GANDALF THE GREY


EDWARD AND BELLA





She also happens to be my best friend.

Please check out her gallery! She is absolutely fantastic.

- Serena

Journal coding by ~Thewinator
Journal design by ^pica-ae

Hey, everyone!!

It's been a few weeks, wow. Hope everyone's doing well!

A few things to mention.

First, in just a couple weeks I'll finally release the first story of my new series "ROSE AND SHADOW" on Amazon exclusively -- for the present. It's a short story series, like Sherlock Holmes, featuring a geeky computer genius and a bad-tempered superhero. Here's a short snippet of the story:


ROSE AND SHADOW: PREVIEW
Right after school, I rushed home to catch him before went on his daily hero patrol. I had to skip a chess club meet, but it was worth it. Or so I hoped. His cell-phone number was too easy to get, although it was a few minutes before I actually plucked up the courage to dial his number.

As the phone rang, I cleared my throat.

"Hello?" came Torani's voice. He sounded imaptient. Not a good start.

I tried to make my voice sound lower. "Greetings." Stupid, stupid. What the heck was that? "You are not the only one determined to fight crime, Shadow," I growled into the phone.

A long pause. I chewed on my lip.

"How'd you get this number?" Torani demanded sharply.

"Um... cause I'm sthmart," I lisped in a gravelly voice.

"What?" Now he sounded more confused than angry.

I sighed, cleared my throat again. "Look," I said, abandoning my ridiculous throaty tone, "if you don't want to blow your tall, dark, and scary cover, then maybe you should stop shouting into the phone."

A pause, then, "Who is this?" His voice was strained, struggling to return to composure.

"A friend," I said mysteriously, and hung up. That's how it worked for the computer genius -- I held all the cards. He wouldn't know my identity, but I knew his. Kept him on his toes. After a moment, I frowned at the phone. What if he were able to trace the call? I was smart... but was I smart enough? Hmm.

What a silly question. Of course I was smart enough.

- - -

Hope you all enjoyed!

Secondly, I'm in the final editing stages of my novel... VERY excited. I'm working with a published author, who's mentoring me in this final process and helping me IMMENSELY. She's incredible, extremely encouraging, and I'm so grateful to be working with her. Looking forward to the new year and sending out more queries! I'll keep you all updated on the progress. If anything happens, I want you to be the first to know!

Thirdly, for those of you who've been reading my journal, you'll know that my health has been really off lately. However, I'm insanely thrilled to say that I've been seeing a doctor, who's been healing me using food -- just food -- organic, unprocessed, real food. It's fantastic, and it's been WORKING!! Obviously I'm psyched out of my mind... So thank you so much for all your prayers and good wishes!!

Okay, back to writing, drawing, sleeping, working... not in that particular order, though.

- Serena

Hey, everyone!

Hope everyone's week is going well. A lot has happened in the past few days...

First, I'd like to ask for prayers due to the fact that a well-known agent has the first 30 pages of my new novel UNDER</u>, and I'm waiting to hear back to see if she'll take the full manuscript. Fingers crossed!!

Secondly, although I'd hoped this week's test would finally give me results on my stomach issues, unfortunately, it didn't. Very depressing. I'm running out of options now, and I have no idea what to do.

THIRDLY, I'd like your input on a new short story series I'm working on now. It's a teen detective/super hero mystery series featuring a computer genius who decides to give a helping hand to a solo vigilante, even though the gesture isn't much appreciated.

I'm already writing the first story, and have plans for several more. I was going to put them up as ebooks, like I have for Ocean of Emptiness. They're a blend of humor/mystery/and of course, romance. If you're interested, let me know! I'll give out more details in the days to come. The series is inspired by Sherlock Holmes. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is my idol, no joke. The man was amazing. Prolific writer.

Lastly, just to ask everyone again - if you've bought and read OCEAN OF EMPTINESS, please leave a review from the site where you bought it! I'd love to get people's thoughts on the novel.

- Serena

Hey, everyone!

First, I'd like to thank all of you for your comments and prayers. <3 You guys are amazing.

Secondly, in celebration of my finishing my latest mermaid novel UNDER, I've decided to give you guys another preview before I send out queries within the next couple weeks.

- - -

Aiden moves over to the window and throws it open. He then takes a black device with an attached wire and winds it around his bedpost before hooking it into place. After he tugs it, testing it, he grabs one of two backpacks off his bed and hoists it over one of his shoulders.

With a sigh, I take the other backpack and follow suit. I can't believe I'm doing this... I suppose I can lose him once I've gotten out of the building.

Aiden takes my hand and leads me to the window, saying, "The wire should be long enough. C'mon, get on my back."

"On your back? Are you crazy? That wire won't hold us!"

Outside the room, I hear men shouting and knocking down doors. Apparently, they've given up on the subtle act.

"Hurry up!" Aiden urges me. "Here, take my backpack." He hands it to me and gets up on the windowsill.

I sling the backpack through my arm and grab onto Aiden's shoulders, moving each knee against his sides. Aiden's balance shifts forward, and he lets out a curse as we careen forward off the windowsill and down -- I hold back a scream --

We jerk to a halt a few feet below the window. The wire holds taut as we slowly twist around. We're both panting, and I clutch Aiden, ensuring not to glance over my shoulder and see the ground stories below.

"Your claws are digging into my collarbone," Aiden grunts out.

"I'm sorry, next time I'll just let go and fall to my death," I snap back.

"Just - hang on," he orders, his voice strained.

"No, I think I'd rather jump from here."

He barks out a hoarse laugh. "All right, here we go. Hang tight." And he lets the wire go, and we drop down. My stomach rolls into my gut, but I keep my eyes open as we soar down faster and faster down the side of the building. When I feel we're nearing the bottom level, I dare a quick look down. The moment I do, the wire jerks us to a halt, and Aiden groans.

"That hurt," he gasps out. "You OK?"

"No."

"Great." Aiden looks down. "We'll have to jump the rest of the way. And when I mean jump - "

"You mean drop."

"Yep. You ready?"

I let out a long breath. "I just realized something, Aiden. I don't like heights."

But when we hear noises from above, we look up and see two men in black peering out through Aiden's open window and holding our wire.

"You picked a lousy time to tell me," Aiden comments. "Let go - now. Let the backpacks drop - they'll be fine. Just let go!"

Inhaling sharply, I drop the backpacks and let myself fall.

- - -

I'm hopefully going to have some art done of these characters within the next couple weeks. If you'd like to see the main character in her human form, check out this drawing:



Let me know what you think!

- Serena

Hey, everyone!

First of all, thank you for your feedback on my latest preview of UNDER. I'll be posting more bits of the novel in the coming weeks, maybe even this weekend, in honor of my FINALLY FINISHING THE NOVEL!! I'll be sending out queries within the next couple weeks, so prayer for that would be lovely!


Secondly, I'm very excited because I've been accepted to study abroad in Provence for the spring semester of 2012 - a lifelong dream of mine. If all goes well, I'll be studying art and history (and French) in the spring! My ultimate goal is to be fluent in French, but we'll see. It all depends...

Thirdly, I'd like to ask for prayer. For the past couple years, I've been suffering from a debilitating illness - stomach pains and extreme nausea, that none of the doctors can figure out. I've been through so many tests and procedures and whatnot, I'm at the end of my rope. And if it can't be fixed by January, then I probably won't be able to go to France... as it is, I'm limited to what I can do and eat.

I hope everyone is doing well and for those of us who live in the areas, enjoying the change of seasons. Hope you all have a lovely day! And thanks to everyone who's been buying and reviewing OCEAN OF EMPTINESS!</u> I absolutely love getting everyone's feedback!


- Serena

Hello, everyone!

I'd like to show another short preview of my new dark mermaid novel UNDER, which should be completed this week. Then it's editing time, then sending out query letters to agents! Fun times.

I'll describe UNDER in one sentence: It ain't the Little Mermaid.  

Enjoy!

- - -

"You all right?" asks Max with a frown.

I nod wordlessly and take another large drink of the coffee. The taste is strong, but incredible. A thrill rushes through me, a surge of energy that brings me to life. I feel as if I could take on the whole Terran world at once. I could even be brave enough to go out into the full sun.

"Caffine-oholic," mutters Aiden. "Give me that." He takes the coffee from me and sips it, shooting me an irked stare. "You practically drank the whole thing." He pauses, adds, "Your spit won't poison me, will it?"

I return his gaze with a cool expression, saying nothing in return. After a prolonged silence, his eyes narrow, but he takes another sip. Behind the cup, I see the faintest upward twitching of his mouth. How curious. For some reason, a part of me wants to grin back at him.

"So, Riley... can you talk to the animals?" Max asks, grinning.

"Can you talk to animals?" My tone is unwittingly acidic.

"Uh, no. I just figured... You know, that you'd be able to talk to the fish. Or dolphins, maybe."

"We eat fish," I say flatly. "Dolphins are simply pets for the Whitewaters and the Bleuwaters. We rarely see them where I live. If they did come down, we'd eat them, too."

Max, taken aback, just replies, "Oh." Regaining his bravery, he adds jokingly, "You eat humans, too, right?"

"If they're dead, then yes."

The color leaves Max's face; Aiden looks quite unperturbed, however. While I feel I should be surprised by Aiden's lack of response, judging by his past behavior, I'm not. Max rubs the back of his neck and looks quickly at the window. I wonder if he's contemplating throwing me overboard.

"I'm not going to eat you, if that's what you're thinking," I tell him.

"What? No, no, of course not," Max says, laughing nervously. "Thought never crossed my mind. You like me too much for that."

I confirm his statement with a nod. When Aiden looks up at me, I decidedly ignore him. Meanwhile, Max grins and takes another huge bite of his pancakes. After picking at the inedible food for a moment, I push the plate away.

"I can't eat this, I... apologize." Apologizing is as unfamiliar to me as giving thanks. "You said something about shrimp?"

- - -

So we learn a bit about Riley's eating habits.

Let me know what you think!

- Serena



UNDER and all characters (c) Serena Kay 2011.

Hey, everyone!!

Sorry, this post is going to be short. Just wanted to let everyone know that I've changed my Tumblr name from Serena Kay to Serena Kenobi. I felt it would just be easier.

So, here's the new link to my Tumblr - same page, different address: [link]

On my Tumblr you'll find more WIPs, just to let you know. Enjoy!

Sincerely,

Serena

Hey, guys!!

Hope everyone's doing well. I've been busy working on commissions, finishing up the first draft of my new novel, and working. Fun fun fun!

I'd like to show you guys an artist who continues to just blow my mind with her amazingness. She's just an incredible artist. I am in envy of how she can draw without any reference whatsoever. Truly gifted, definitely.



Visit her profile and check out her work!! Here's a Catwoman piece she recently did for a friend's birthday.




Also, I'd like to have a Q&A about OCEAN OF EMPTINESS. If you guys have any questions, I'd be more than happy to answer - about characters, situations, etc. I'm going to being doing/finishing more artwork for the novel.

Just so you guys know, portraits of Thallie, Rayan, and Nick, which you can see in my gallery (or at the header of this journal) are now all included in OCEAN OF EMPTINESS.

So, if you have any questions, let me know!

- Serena

Hey, everyone!

First of all, I'd like to thank everyone who's participated in the OCEAN OF EMPTINESS poll here. The numbers keep switching, but it seems to be pretty neck and neck between the four main characters. Interesting...

Secondly, I'd like to announce that I'm going to give the person who has my 30,000 pageview a kiriban prize of a requested digital artwork of their choice. Now, although the concept of a kiriban is not new to me (although the word still trips me out... :/), I've never participated in one before, so this will be my first. So, whoever is my 30,000th viewer will take a screenshot of their pageview and send it to me.

Sounds like fun, non?

Also, the other day - this is pretty random - I found on Google by chance a forum that mentioned me. Just a random forum with people I'd never heard of before, and all these people were discussing a scientific argument I'd had here on Deviantart THREE YEARS AGO. Um.... OK? I'm a little creeped out that people were actually watching the argument and then going off to write about it. The thing that gets on my nerves is they didn't have the guts to argue with me - they were just having fun bashing me behind my back, so to speak. Good grief. I don't understand people...

And I think I just blew out my eardrum by listening to Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood's "Remind Me" too loud on my iPod.

Also, waiting to hear back from an agent who will decide whether or not she will represent my novel is extremely frustrating. But I know I'm impatient...


ALSO: I'm thinking about doing kiriban book giveaways as well if anyone's interested.

- Serena

Hey, everyone!

First of all, thank you so much for your feedback on my last journal post. I've seriously taken into account your comments, I just want you to know that.

Secondly, I'd like to let everyone know that I just sent off OCEAN OF EMPTINESS to an agent who requested to read it, so now I'm waiting to see if she'll like it. If she does, OCEAN might be in print. But I'm not jumping ahead of myself, here, but mermaids are in right now, so we'll see. Prayer would be appreciated for that.

Thirdly, I'd like to give you guys a short excerpt from my new Teen novel UNDER. It's also a mermaid novel, but current day, filled with a lot of action, suspense, romance, some horror elements, and with a bit of humor thrown in, of course. I'm about two thirds of the way finished, but right now I'm debating whether or not to send it straight to ebook to attempt to send it to agents first... Thoughts?


Anyway, here's an excerpt from UNDER:


The helicopter's floodlight beams down directly into my eyes, and I wince and look away; but my finger accidentally touches the trigger again, and another shot rings out.

"You don't know how to shoot!" Aiden shouts up at me. The car swerves into another lane, and I nearly tumble to the car floor. Max grabs my waist and steadies me.

"You don't know how to drive!" I yell back.

"YOU'RE GOING TO FREAKING CRASH!" Max bellows.

Aiden slams his foot on the brakes; I lurch back towards the front seat. Although Max's hold on me tightens, it's not enough. The gun bangs against the roof of the car and flies out of my hands. One more shot pierces the sky, and the helicopter's floodlight disappears. In the midst of the chaos, I hear a strange clanking noise. From my awkward place in between the front seats, I see the helicopter swaying in the air. After a moment, it plunges towards the ground.

"Go faster!" I yell to Aiden.

"Will you let me drive or not?" Aiden demands.

As the car bursts forward with sudden acceleration, I slam into Aiden's seat, tossed around like a limp fish in a shark's mouth. More shots blare through the pandemonium, shots that hit our car, banging off and cracking the apparently bulletproof windows.

"They're shooting at us!" Max shouts, alarmed. "Why are they shooting at us?"

The freeway takes us onto a bridge with a wide, gaping river beneath. Crammed in between the front seats, I catch Aiden's eyes and know what he's going to do. He jerks the car into the lane right next to the bridge railing and flinches as more bullets fly at our truck. One of the windows smashes, glass shattering everywhere, and we duck down.

"HANG ON!" Aiden shouts, and twists the wheel to the right.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Max bellows.

But it's too late for second thoughts. Our truck crashes through the railing, and for one moment, we're flying mid-air over the black water far below. Then, it's down. Down, down, down we fall.


- End of Excerpt -

Thoughts? I'm cooking up some art for the new novel, so to speak.

UNDER (c) Serena Kay 2011.

Hey, there, everyone!

I got a question for all of you girls. I'm working on a new novel (which also features mermaids, but not the space-dwelling variety), and I wanted to get the opinions and thoughts of potential readers... or people who just have some input. For those who have read my first novel OCEAN OF EMPTINESS, this might be easier to answer, as you've read my writing.

Question is: What would you like to see in this new novel? I'm not asking if you'd like an Ariel cameo, which would be fun, but more specifically, would you like to see more romance? Action/adventure? Drama? (Please don't refer to Twilight on that...) Mystery? Humor?

My new novel is geared towards grades 9-up, and it's definitely darker and more violent than OCEAN. But I'd like to know what you think. It's also a modern-day mermaid story.

And I'm just asking the ladies because the majority of people who read teen fiction are girls. Well, who can blame the guys when sappy sparkly vampire books are dominating the market? We need another Harry Potter to save us with an "Expelliarmus Edward!".. waaaahhhhh.... Rowling WRITE MORE!!! I really would like to see her write either/and the Marauder era/future era.

But as I'm gearing this book towards girls, I'm asking them for now. But if you've already read my novel and you're a guy, then please, let me know!

- Serena