AUSTERE

Author bio:

Unicorns exist. I saw one once. I was a wee little tot wandering among the thickly foliaged forest, alone of course because that adds more of a survival thrill into the story. Anyway, something shiny caught my eye as it usually does and I uncovered a plot of dirt to find a rare gem. But I tossed it away because earthly pleasures are nothing to me and then I realized there was a bear nearby! It looked like it wanted to eat me! So I ran because that's the smart thing to do. I ran and ran until my little lungs nearly gave out and I tripped on a root and thought, "Oh great! How cliche! If I ever become a writer, which I won't now because that bear's going to eat me, I would never have my characters commit such a folly!"

As I was about to meet my demise, I simply remember light flashing before my eyes. They say never go towards the light, but you have to realize that I'm very curious and so I wanted to know what it was like, so I moved closer to it. I guess they were right because a hoof nearly knocked me out cold. I forgave the unicorn though when I saw it standing in front of me protectively. It healed the wound it gave me and disappeared right before my eyes!

Then my mommy called and I went back, running as fast as my little legs could take me. And that is the story of my unicorn encounter.

Since then, I've firmly believed that unicorns exist and the thought of their existence consumes my thoughts. No one believes me, they think I'm crazy, but I know they exist, and that's all right. I like anything unicorn. One day, I'd like to see another unicorn, but I doubt I will. They are enigmatic creatures that value independence. I don't blame them. If I were a unicorn, I'd never let anyone see me.

Anyway, like I was saying, I've grown up even though I've been on a search for Neverland since I turned sixteen (and not the ranch). Without any luck, I've decided wandering around this lonesome world will be good enough although I like to make fantastical journeys out of an existence such as this. I enjoy traveling and taking risks and dancing. And of course writing. How silly if I didn't enjoy writing.

This year I get to do this nanowrimo for a legit school project which is pretty beast. 200 points, sure! I'll take it. This is probably going to be one of my more foundationed (yes, add that word to your dictionary) stories since I'm in the process of writing the book that precedes it. It'll be one of my more less out there but still out there novels. I hope you enjoy the travels of my African American protagonist who's really a West African, soon Haitian resident, eventually Southern United States of America resident, Vodun practitioner, shape-shifter, Heart of Africa female. That's whatsup.

Because this is a college assignment, I needed an angel to help me out. And I got a beauty of a one. "Nalren is patient and persistent, and will help you write as often as possible by explaining to those around you that it is NaNoWriMo, and you have a world to change. He’s a very deep sleeper, and will curl up around your keyboard when you have to leave it. He enjoys freshly baked cookies, and will happily reward you with them when you hit major milestones. He is lanky, with an awkward smile and black wings, and will occasionally break into song when he thinks you aren’t looking. He works best with improbable plots that no one around you will listen to, but he'll love anything you give him." I adopted this little fellow. It seems we both have the same heart for freshly baked cookies and the need to curl up. Although I don't think I have an improbable plot, it might turn out that I do, in fact, and while I've had people listen to my plot, I feel that an extra angelic ear could never hurt. Thank you for Nalren, SignoraPsycheZenobia. He shall be much adored and taken care of; his wings shan't fall off. And I pledge to not delete a sentence of my nanowrimo novel.