Just giving an update as is expected of me :)
anyone notice the owl's name? akili means wisdom, with swahili origins. fun. i had an absolutely brilliant idea for the owl:

*******WARNING: SPOILER AHEAD!!! EXPLAINS A PLANNED ENDING(or a bit of it)OF LIFE AS I KNOW IT*********

So, i decided i really liked the owl, and i liked writing about him. so i was like, "he needs a bigger role than the one i gave him." cuz he wasnt gonna appear after they left cassandra's house. But then his nickname, cassie, gave me an idea. first because a nickname indicates a close relationship. but also, the name means "she who entangles men." so how perfect would it be if Akili were in love with cassandra? and she's in love with him too. they were gonna be married, and someone (an evil sorceress probably, or some such thing) turned akili into an owl to spite cassandra with whom she is enemies. what do you think?

*******SPOILER OVER**********

sorry about that. i couldn't resist sharing my brilliant idea :) i do so love talking animals. i hav four in the story, and plans of more to come. am i overdoing it? idk, someone tell me if i am, please.

incidentally i changed the name of the poetry collection, now entitled "the calm ensues" because it is a more creative title and i like it better lol. it is taken from a line from the chapter 3 poem. :)

i need ideas for a cover for Life As I Know It, and for The Calm Ensues. please share any ideas you have for a good title image :)