Hi (: My name's Amanda.

Check me at facebook ;)

I love to read and write. I can see a story in the mundane, which makes grocery shopping interesting. I fail at updating, but only because I can agonize for hours over whether to put the or an before I finally give up. That, and each day I think of something new, and it takes my attention away from whatever project I'm currently slaving over. A procrastinator's path is never easy.

Even though writing is my favorite pastime, my true passion lies with animals. It's why I will be attending Ohio State University in the fall (ahhh I'm a college kid now!) for zoology. I'm big on conservation and veterinary medicine, so hopefully I'll one day be able to do something in one or both.

My favorite authors include my all-time love Tamora Pierce, plus Karen Miller, Juliet Marillier, Jacqueline Carey, Lynn Flewelling, and J.K. Rowling. As you can tell, they're all fantasy, which is my favorite genre. But I also like Sarah Dessen, Stephen King, Michael Crichton, Alex Flinn, and Philippa Gregory. I know, shocker, Stephanie Meyer isn't on here, but she probably would be if I wasn't surrounded by Twilight paraphernalia in every Barnes and Noble I dared to step foot in.

Please, guys...no more lame vampire stories ): I can only take so many clichés.

This Tainted Magic is my better-written story, I think, and any reviews on that would be greatly appreciated. However, I wouldn't mind any feedback on my new story, The Sorcerer's Will, which I'm just beginning to feel out. The first one was planned; the latter is a spontaneous creation.

I firmly believe in reviews for reviews, so if you review me I will do my best to remember to get back to you, even if your story isn't really my thing. No promises, though, because I tend to fall back. But really, it's only polite.

However, I would like to point out that if I read a story that has atrocious grammar and / or spelling, chances are I'm just going to skip the whole thing and let you know that it is, in fact, atrocious. I especially can't abide "definitely" being spelled "definately."

There are other instances in which I find it difficult to review, but I think it is absolutely appalling when people spend half their profile listing everything that a "proper" story should or should not be. A good story involves well-rounded characters, description, and a plot that is the product of the writer's extensive imagination. When people think it makes them sound cooler by comparison to pick out every little detail of a story that's wrong in their eyes, even going so far as to complain about someone's pen name - it's pathetic. I am all for both giving and receiving constructive criticism, but really, children, let's not be petty.

Anyway, I would appreciate any comments about my story, and if you want to just talk, feel free to message me (: