Hey there, Guys and Dolls!  Let's start off with a little introduction.  My name is Darby, and this is my very first blog.  I know what you must be thinking, "Is she 12?"  Actually, I just turned 24 today.  Now, your next question is probably, "How is this her first blog? Does she live under a rock?"  The answer is that I honestly never felt like I needed to blog about anything.  This has all changed for me now.  

I graduated in May from the University of Central Arkansas with a degree in Creative Writing.  I love to write.  It is a hardcore passion of mine.  In my last semester, I completed a 55,000 word novel for a Novel Writing course with Dr. John Vanderslice.  I am quite proud of my fantasy/adventure and am in the process of editing it now.  I also write screenplays and short stories.  My minor was in history. 

I recently moved to Los Angeles, CA to pursue my other passion, acting.  In the meantime, I love to read.  I prefer it to watching television or playing games.  When I'm on a set, sometimes I'll wait for hours before I am needed.  Writing in this condition is not ideal.  So, I read.  I decided last week that I wanted to see how many books I could read in a year starting on my birthday (October 2).  So, here we are.  I finally have something I feel is worth blogging about.

I will try not to spoil any of the books I write about, but cannot promise anything.  Read with caution! 

The first book I decided to read is a pretty easy one.  J.K. Rowling's Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them.  I grew up on Harry Potter.  I was in the 4th grade (about 10 years old) when I started the first book.  Needless to say, I jumped at the chance to order Rowling's other creations.  This book is incredibly entertaining and has a foreword  written by Albus Dumbledore.  It is written like an encyclopedia.  In alphabetical order, Rowling explains each and every magical creature she has created.  There is a Ministry of Magic (M.O.M.) Classification system ranking the creatures from boring to wizard killer.  Not only do we learn more about creatures we grew to love, like the Phoenix and the Hippogriff, but we also learn of lesser known beasts like the Kneazle and the Lethifold.  

Since it is written to be like a textbook straight from the wizarding world, it is penned under the author name Newt Scamander.  The addition of "handwritten" notes and doodles makes the book appear to be from the actual students.  It is all quite entertaining and very well thought out.  I can imagine Rowling having a blast while she was writing this.  In return, it is a light and fun read.  One can easily get through it in an hour or so.  It is 88 pages, including the foreword by Dumbledore and the About the Author section in the back.  

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Harry Potter.