so i've been reading a book series called "The Tales Of The Otori" (and if you haven't heard of it, i would consider hearing about it now.) it's a wonderful book series taking place in feudal japan, just before the first foreigners (the Portuguese, if you're interested) came to the country. well, it's set in a suedo-japan. the author wanted to write an un-cheesy Samurai vrs. Ninja story, and she (Lian Hearn) did an absolutely FANTASTIC job. the story and characters are very unique... the only japanese words in the whole series are place and people names. i dunno, i was very impressed with her ability to make the whole thing SO japanese, but without using the language at all-- it feels like a japanese story translated into english.

it's very, very impressive.

well, those of you who are frequenters of American novels are familiar with the basic set-up---- and please don't fight it, because no matter how awesome and wonderful and great and good many american novels are, they do frequently follow a distinct patter xD;;-- you have some antagonists, you have some protagonists, you have a series of events that lead to a climax, aaaand then the story ends (and generally it's a Good Wins or Happily After Ever).

but this series? ooooooohhhh no. i read the first book back in high school for a book report and when i was finished with it, i was angry, unsatisfied, sad, and exhausted XD and i loved absolutely every bit of it. see, in this story you get some characters, some other characters, expectations of the reader are raised, some stuff that happens, and then everything goes to hell in a glad bag and the reader is left going, ".....THAT WASN'T HOW IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN. THIS MAKES ME ANGRY." and it's absolutely wonderful :D i expressed this feeling to my class during my report and my teacher laughed at me and told me i was a True Reader xD it was hilarious.

i quickly consumed the other 2 books in the series.

then i discovered a 4th book i didn't know about almost 2 years later

and then a prequel came out in august :D

THE. BOOKS. ARE. AMAZING. beautifully written, and told in almost 100% description. there's really very little real dialogue in the book. it's WONderful D: WON-DER-FULL. no really.

it was wonderful enough to inspire me to dig out my old sketch pad. i haven't wanted to draw something with this much intensity in such a long time! i sat here in my living room, digging up pictures of geisha's and parasols and obi's and stuuuuuufffff.... and it took me, like, 3 hours xD;;

i got so tired of bishonen-y, anime, idol hair cuts on Otori fanart.... so i wanted to do something more accurate to the story and the setting.

(it looks much better in my sketch pad D:)

i wish i weren't so paranoid about coloring sketches i'm proud of D: i was so inspired by this book i've been reading~ where i'm at in the story, it's fall and all the lands the main characters are traveling through are the most vibrant, golden and red colors... so in my mind, the colors emulate that. deep red into orange into golden-yellow with golden-pinkish petals... the parasol with a similiar coloring, golden and red in her hair, red makeup on a powdered white face, and blackest of black hair.... it's so strong in my head--- OH do i wish i were brave enough to color it! xD;;

PS --
How many of you out there are spreading awareness for wrist-related injuries?
I know I am.