tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937966549962012962024-03-26T23:38:07.493-07:00Samantha Combs Writes!Hi, I'm Samantha. I write books. These are my literary musings.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783063839921214559noreply@blogger.comBlogger328125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893796654996201296.post-83567887506475373342014-10-29T00:09:00.000-07:002014-10-29T00:09:44.756-07:00Changes...and why October is Now Known as SucktoberAs the title of this post would imply, October has not been the most fun month in recent memory. No kicky meme or graphic will grace this post. I have a full plate and don't feel like animating it.<br />
<br />
My father's family took two devastating hits this month. My beloved Uncle Buddy passed away from an untimely heart attack. He was taken at only 64, less than two years after retiring and fulfilling his dream to live the rest of his years in Mexico. Sucktober.<br />
<br />
Less than two weeks later, my father's wife passed, also as untimely, she from a seizure in a parking lot of a store. Daddy is reeling from the one-two punch from Life and fighting a losing battle with his memory. Hard days are ahead for us facing this life-changing eventuality. Sucktober.<br />
<br />
I am also contemplating moving. We have never been as happy where we are as we could be, and I yearn for a backyard for the kids. I keep looking, and hoping to find soon. Sucktober.<br />
<br />
Okay, so the biggest sucky thing about October, about THIS October in particular, is that with Life bitch-slapping me around, I haven't wanted to write. Like, at all. I'm sure this will change as recent events are just taking all my emotional juice, juice I usually reserve for writing times. But still, as much as I miss it and have over-crowded my mind with words not typed, I just can't do it yet. Even writing this post is like pulling teeth. Like if I say any of the bad things going on out loud, I give them power. I just can't do that willingly.<br />
<br />
Authorly speaking, i do have things going on. Here's whats on deck: I have a completed book in a just-begun series, and about 30K words on a second one. A slew of appearances and signings will begin in just a few couple months and they could be great for my writing brand. Bits and pieces of short stories are swirling around in the valuable real estate in my head (valuable only because it's scarce right now), and I have a great idea for an all-female authored anthology of creepy stories. I even have a great name for it, and no, i will not tell you. A girl's gotta have some secrets.<br />
<br />
Through all this turmoil and change, I am reminded of one thing. I am resolute. I am positive. And I am a survivor. The funniest thing was that even as I thought of this, I realized these are the same traits that make me a good author. <br />
<br />
I am resolute because I can take the bad reviews, bad blog posts, and crappy writer's block. <br />
I am positive because being positive is sometimes all I have. That, and an insanely blank screen with a bitch of a cursor blinking at me. <br />
And I am a survivor because I'll be goddamned if death, taxes or bad reviews is going to stop me from spilling my every little thought, freaky, sick, or otherwise, on the laptop of my choice. <br />
<br />
I hope you feel the same way.<br />
<br />
Hey. Look at that. I wrote something. <br />
See? <br />
I'm a positively resolute survivor. Ha!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783063839921214559noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893796654996201296.post-71982342423483671622014-09-04T05:00:00.000-07:002014-09-04T05:00:01.675-07:00New Author Alert.....Introducing Geoffrey SaignContinuing this blog's tradition of highlighting and introducing the readers to new authors, it is my pleasure to invite Geoffrey Saign to the bloggy. His post tells us about his writing journey and accomplishments far better than I could, so I'll let him do all the talking. (P.S. He has an uncanny knack for using amazing and enchanting names in his stories) Enjoy!<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPiXAed59rS9hW-XqM4-xSs0_06mAcf9Q-xkQCrCj9Ak9itk5Gx0w4UlP-UHvEUQ0COWhmyl2l_uQLAgOTMPWBK7Ym8eV45Mh8ffv0lY1xELa51-PBCaANabU17h5qBBcfd1e-cRbiBge4/s1600/WhipEye+author.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPiXAed59rS9hW-XqM4-xSs0_06mAcf9Q-xkQCrCj9Ak9itk5Gx0w4UlP-UHvEUQ0COWhmyl2l_uQLAgOTMPWBK7Ym8eV45Mh8ffv0lY1xELa51-PBCaANabU17h5qBBcfd1e-cRbiBge4/s1600/WhipEye+author.jpg" height="169" width="200" /></a></div>
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MY JOURNEY</div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Mrs. Stifter, my high school
creative writing teacher, stood in front of our class and said, “I’m going to
read someone’s writing, and a writer like this comes along about once in
seventeen years.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I was shocked she read my piece,
but it gave me confidence to write, and started me along a journey that would
take me through six NY agents, some of the biggest, and through failed
contracts from publishers, contracts I blew based on bad advice I followed when
younger, three published non-fiction books, and many magazine articles and
write-for-hire projects for children’s publishers.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Still, I never sold fiction. I
think I was always a little bit behind the curve, too little, too late. My
biggest agent expected to get a minimum of $50k in 30 days for an adult
thriller. When it didn’t happen, and I asked him what he thought was the
reason, he said, “They’re all stupid.” I laugh at that now.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
After that I wrote a screenplay
that an ex-Hollywood producer friend liked, and wanted a short rewrite on. I
had been suffering from years of terrible allergies and pain, and decided
instead to quit writing for ten years. I just didn’t have it in me to continue.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
In 2006, when I found a solution
out of my health issues, I flew back into writing and revamped a lot of my
adult material into young adult and middle grade; this time I was in line with
the publishing industry, where Potter was just beginning to make his mark.
Also, the age range fit better with the stories, and I had spent decades
working with children of all ages, 4-21, in educational settings, so I knew my
target audience.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Still, no agents took me on and
no publishers bought anything.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I have a great love of nature
and water (sailing, swimming, etc.), and understanding myself and the world. In
2008, my health was finally good enough to be back in the sun again, back in
water, and back in nature. I had lived for almost 15 years in a ‘boy in a
bubble’ existence. I have no regrets and I learned a lot, and all of this prepared
me to begin writing <i>WhipEye</i> in 2008.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtd17TDAX3mzkHOSjSInJN-met0xTv1W4JWiI_jPTpNT9VdrPON7_ZiXsgV9MI_9O1Gwg-dfkB6dXqciHMqPCFCTOWZC1-5vPUF8-4E3S0Hou3_k4cHTJeFNQW0ZUHupMZFH_rWIXleKTP/s1600/WhipEye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtd17TDAX3mzkHOSjSInJN-met0xTv1W4JWiI_jPTpNT9VdrPON7_ZiXsgV9MI_9O1Gwg-dfkB6dXqciHMqPCFCTOWZC1-5vPUF8-4E3S0Hou3_k4cHTJeFNQW0ZUHupMZFH_rWIXleKTP/s1600/WhipEye.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
In <i>WhipEye</i>, Samantha is grieving her mother and she’s an animal nerd
in love with wildlife. I loved writing this character, and I gave her a friend,
Jake, who is missing his absentee father, and gave them both a mentor, a
thousand-year-old parrot, who imparts his wisdom with wisecracks. The parrot
allows the ‘teacher’ in me to put some wisdom into the book without being
preachy.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
The publishing industry is like
the Wild Wild West, and anything and everything is going on now to get books
published. However, I didn’t want to self-publish. Still, no agent, no
publisher wanted <i>WhipEye</i>. (BTW my
sister commented two weeks before I sold it, that the working title was boring
and dull and needed to be one word. I thought she was right, and for two weeks
thought on this. While watching a movie, the word, WhipEye, came to me. <span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">I had
no clue what it related to, and no idea where it came from. But I liked it. I
had to write backstory into the novel to fit the new title.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
In 2013 a small publisher picked up the book.
In spring of 2014, a month before the book was to come out, they informed me
I’d get 4 pennies, yes, 4 cents/book
royalty. I said goodbye, and since I’d already been doing most of the heavy
lifting for the book, I self-published, happily! My cover artist in Poland
disappeared a few days before the final cover was due, and I had to scramble to
find another, and he improved on the color in the staff, so everything worked
out for the best, as usual.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<i>WhipEye</i> is garnering great reviews on Lit Pick, Amazon, Middle
Shelf, and in print, and I’m proud of it. The second book, <i>Gorgon</i>, is due out in spring of 2015, with two other series either
self-published or with small online publishers starting in between. A few
singles will go out too.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
It’s great to feel that finally
my writing will have a voice, get out there, and be recognized positively. One
of the greatest joys as a writer is hearing from strangers, adults and kids,
that they loved your book. One young <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>girl wrote me from NC,
saying she was going to read anything I ever write. How sweet is that?!!!<br />
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">WHIPEYE BLURB:</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>Can
a girl grieving her mother, a boy missing his father, and a thousand-year-old
parrot save two worlds with the supernatural staff, WhipEye?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>Samantha
and her neighbor, Jake, have no idea that Samantha’s best friend, a parrot
named Charlie, is a thousand years old. Charlie is also at the center of a
secret battle between magical creatures and an ancient, evil man. When Charlie
asks Samantha and Jake to protect him, they are chased by monsters from both
sides. To save Charlie, and two worlds, Samantha and Jake have twenty-four
hours to figure out how to use the supernatural staff, WhipEye, and find the
courage to confront what they fear most…<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Geoffrey Saign<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Watch the</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="color: #76923c; font-family: "Matura MT Script Capitals"; font-size: 24.0pt;">WhipEye </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">book Trailer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQQt4_0PIO0">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQQt4_0PIO0</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.geoffreysaign.net/">http://www.geoffreysaign.<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">net</span></a></span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783063839921214559noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893796654996201296.post-31497625348281999412014-09-01T11:18:00.000-07:002014-09-01T11:18:02.813-07:00Baby StepsNo, that is not the name of a new book of mine. While I do have a recently finished contemporary New Adult (SPARK, first in a series!), it's the writing baby steps that weigh in my mind at the moment. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYJOB6k2hYwEmsXlLYWPQFvo-5B2ql7C6LUQss2kmz1na4_gBdntuS5YXiq3jnkkhlmga0m9Oe-7n1PvRSG4FvxSHFvDCWPguRFGcQM9GJwloANi0RoBkWh174gjoHA4PQYbiEukwQuuv/s1600/Tennis_Racket_and_Balls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strike><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYJOB6k2hYwEmsXlLYWPQFvo-5B2ql7C6LUQss2kmz1na4_gBdntuS5YXiq3jnkkhlmga0m9Oe-7n1PvRSG4FvxSHFvDCWPguRFGcQM9GJwloANi0RoBkWh174gjoHA4PQYbiEukwQuuv/s1600/Tennis_Racket_and_Balls.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></strike></a></div>
So, I am sitting here watching the US Open. Now, watching tennis is one of my favorite things. Most holidays, and especially Labor Day, I look forward to doing it. I played the game a lot when I was younger and I really enjoy the elegant, classy sport. Plus, I loved the cute outfits. The only cuter ones were on ice skaters and ice and I don't get along well. But, I digress.<br />
<br />
Anyway, as I am watching I am also appreciating the intelligent and interesting commentary from McEnroe and Carrillo, a seasoned duo of callers from the USTA roster of personalities. They always find something to say that provokes my thoughts, something new, even though they have been calling this game forever. They did again today.<br />
<br />
They spoke of one of the US Open hopefuls working hard to get into the quarterfinals. The statement struck me. Why wasn't she working hard to win? The answer came with an almost revelatory epiphany. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyY6wngSeeFkLuKNstIJi_RgiTAw2B_XarGQyH3_5Fcpeh9Ohyphenhypheneea_y-6NZoD5bG2mkRHKS3E0ERQr8hVRRPEIAJUbR9DVeCyZukU5vLxzSTwgbZq_uhtEpOY0iSs04noWOg6v9Of2RheA/s1600/babys+first+steps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyY6wngSeeFkLuKNstIJi_RgiTAw2B_XarGQyH3_5Fcpeh9Ohyphenhypheneea_y-6NZoD5bG2mkRHKS3E0ERQr8hVRRPEIAJUbR9DVeCyZukU5vLxzSTwgbZq_uhtEpOY0iSs04noWOg6v9Of2RheA/s1600/babys+first+steps.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><br />
Because she can't win at the finals unless she gets there first.<br />
<br />
Perseverance.<br />
<br />
Endurance.<br />
<br />
Baby steps.<br />
<br />
Writers, don't forget that the baby steps you take are the only way to get there. Write, and write some more. Read, and read some more. Hone your craft before you unleash it on the world. One step at a time, not skipping stones, no hopscotching.<br />
<br />
How does that compare to tennis, you ask? Here's an example: I finished a book. Before I can even dream of selling or publishing it, there are many steps to be taken. I need to read the book. Out loud. To myself. Grammar will certainly need to be addressed, as well as the spell-check. Then editing will begin in earnest. Paragraphs, whole chapters may end up on the cutting room floor. I don't need to tell you that step; as writers we fear, dread and respect it.<br />
<br />
I'll write a blurb. Then I'll write it again. And again. I'll consider a log line. I'll croak out a query and struggle to create a synopsis. Throw it all away and start over. These are the baby steps I'll take as I conduct my own Open, work my own brackets. My Round of 16, Round of 8. My quarterfinals to the semis. Each step I take gets me closer to the final. The finished book.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuM9rzPYWuCKvEsDDeypcpZ5ncQsdjS79-7kDIzrHFWsIBRpBdc81Z0s2IOvn1YMRYVOUhOrFhI6FNqqTcBugizu4m_3ZxLoIVDKojf81a7_BWaEh1Kz4RrajCmO8iAl2LJ4qgnUJImHA8/s1600/baby+shadow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuM9rzPYWuCKvEsDDeypcpZ5ncQsdjS79-7kDIzrHFWsIBRpBdc81Z0s2IOvn1YMRYVOUhOrFhI6FNqqTcBugizu4m_3ZxLoIVDKojf81a7_BWaEh1Kz4RrajCmO8iAl2LJ4qgnUJImHA8/s1600/baby+shadow.jpg" /></a>Many people have said it many ways, but the essence in all remains. A journey of a thousand miles begins with but one step. They just forgot to mention it was a baby step.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783063839921214559noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893796654996201296.post-48603329080209393842014-08-04T05:00:00.000-07:002014-08-04T05:00:00.321-07:00Top Ten Spelling MistakesI am guilty of four of these. Like, constantly. Like, even though I KNOW they are wrong. *sigh*<br />
(Borrowed from a meme on Facebook Sorry there is nothing concrete to credit)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<ol><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9UoVEd55KMqMyguhVrXaoK5x5AeiVKueLNyyIA8OENc_9PHtbcul87xTa0rAN-ilNN8y0KNQucssy_p83j8AqSc4EGxI3BWCtfKUxFVswk9W7cNXIDxuPcxEdZ4HoFGPsVa8RtUufmmb/s1600/Scrabble+letters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9UoVEd55KMqMyguhVrXaoK5x5AeiVKueLNyyIA8OENc_9PHtbcul87xTa0rAN-ilNN8y0KNQucssy_p83j8AqSc4EGxI3BWCtfKUxFVswk9W7cNXIDxuPcxEdZ4HoFGPsVa8RtUufmmb/s1600/Scrabble+letters.jpg" /></a>
<li><span style="color: magenta;">"Your"</span> and <span style="color: magenta;">"you're"</span> are two completely different words.</li>
<li>The contraction of <span style="color: magenta;">"could have"</span> is NOT <span style="color: magenta;">"could of"</span></li>
<li><span style="color: magenta;">"Then"</span> is a sequence of events. <span style="color: magenta;">"Than"</span> is used for comparison.</li>
<li>Most of the time, <span style="color: magenta;">"affect"</span> is a verb; <span style="color: magenta;">"effect"</span> is a noun.</li>
<li><span style="color: magenta;">"They're"</span>, <span style="color: magenta;">"Their"</span> and <span style="color: magenta;">"There"</span> are completely different words.</li>
<li><span style="color: magenta;">"To", "Two", and "Too"</span> are completely different words.</li>
<li><span style="color: magenta;">"Definitely"</span> has no "a" in it - it definitely doesn't.</li>
<li>Pants are <span style="color: magenta;">"loose"</span>; you <span style="color: magenta;">"lose" </span>your keys.</li>
<li>You <span style="color: magenta;">"bear"</span> weight with your <span style="color: magenta;">"bare"</span> hands.</li>
<li><span style="color: magenta;">"A lot"</span> is always two words.</li>
</ol>
<div>
How about you? What constant misspellings make you crazy??</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783063839921214559noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893796654996201296.post-3296150242499287752014-07-30T22:26:00.000-07:002014-07-30T22:57:02.683-07:00Submission Tip/Checklist - 16 Things to Check Before Sending Your Submission!Back to the literary doin's! I troll the web looking for tips for my aspiring author-friends and boy, did I find a winner today. Courtesy of one of my favorite sites for the first-timer, the established author, even the published-and-weary-of-it-all writer, I got this gem from Chuck Sambuchino's blog Writers In the Storm (http://writersinthestormblog.com/) and can't wait to share it with you all.<br />
Here are Chuck's 16 tips for your submission.<br />
And as always, please feel free to add your own.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq14x03MZ2oehrLU0osnaBdZzfjEp9jpzglYKkR7DoYYFOtsiXfFKo6iOiS2rjA4DQYxX6qOfKhLhTY5Jrie_GmZk__l3YIDpvW4qYXb12KkQxyfRYxUpcPk3nIIdgc45OTBm9IhFXDkX-/s1600/THinking+Writer+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq14x03MZ2oehrLU0osnaBdZzfjEp9jpzglYKkR7DoYYFOtsiXfFKo6iOiS2rjA4DQYxX6qOfKhLhTY5Jrie_GmZk__l3YIDpvW4qYXb12KkQxyfRYxUpcPk3nIIdgc45OTBm9IhFXDkX-/s1600/THinking+Writer+(1).jpg" /></a></div>
<strong style="font-family: verdana, 'sans serif'; font-size: 14px;">Submission Tip Checklist</strong><br />
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<li><em><span style="color: blue;">Be formal</span>.</em> Although you’ll be sending most queries electronically and there is a tendency to be less formal over e-mail, <nobr><a class="FAtxtL" href="http://writersinthestormblog.com/2014/07/submission-tip-checklist-double-check-these-16-things-before-sending-your-book-out/?et_mid=684495&rid=239564495#" id="FALINK_5_0_4" style="background-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-width: 0px 0px 1px !important; color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; display: inline !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important;">address</a></nobr> the agent as you would in a paper letter. Remember that elements like sarcasm and self-deprecating humor do not necessarily come across well in unsolicited correspondence.</li>
<li><span style="color: blue;"><em>Personalize</em></span> your query to each agent or market. (No mass submissions to multiple people at the same time.) Make sure that you have the agent’s name spelled correctly. If their name is “Sam Johnson” and you are not positive of their gender, use neither “Mr. Johnson” nor “Mrs. Johnson,” but rather just address them using “Dear Sam Johnson.”</li>
<li><span style="color: blue;"><em>Double-check the agency or publisher guidelines</em></span> to make sure you’re submitting the correct materials to the correct contact. This, obviously, is a huge point—so take your time with it.</li>
<li><span style="color: blue;"><em>Make the e-mail’s subject line specific</em></span> if the market requests it. If not, simply writing “Query: (TITLE)” is a safe bet. If you’re sending your e-mail to a specific agent at an agency, but the agency only provides a generic e-mail address (e.g., query@xyzagency.com), then use the subject line “Query for (Agent Name): (TITLE).”</li>
<li><span style="color: blue;"><em>Keep your emotions in check</em></span>: Submission e-mails should be professional and businesslike, so resist the temptation to say something off-putting like “Although you inexplicably did not respond to my last query, I am trying you again with a new project and <nobr><a class="FAtxtL" href="http://writersinthestormblog.com/2014/07/submission-tip-checklist-double-check-these-16-things-before-sending-your-book-out/?et_mid=684495&rid=239564495#" id="FALINK_3_0_2" style="background-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-width: 0px 0px 1px !important; color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; display: inline !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important;">hope</a></nobr> you will at least get back to me on this one.”</li>
<li><em><span style="color: blue;">Do not say “I welcome your feedback or comments on my work/pitch</span>.”</em> It’s not an agent’s job to critique the work for you, and they will see such a comment as a red flag.</li>
<li><em><span style="color: blue;">Don’t type in all caps or all lowercase</span>.</em> Use <nobr><a class="FAtxtL" href="http://writersinthestormblog.com/2014/07/submission-tip-checklist-double-check-these-16-things-before-sending-your-book-out/?et_mid=684495&rid=239564495#" id="FALINK_4_0_3" style="background-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-width: 0px 0px 1px !important; color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; display: inline !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important;">proper punctuation</a></nobr> and pay attention to grammar and spelling always. (You can write your book’s title in all caps in the <nobr><a class="FAtxtL" href="http://writersinthestormblog.com/2014/07/submission-tip-checklist-double-check-these-16-things-before-sending-your-book-out/?et_mid=684495&rid=239564495#" id="FALINK_2_0_1" style="background-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-width: 0px 0px 1px !important; color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; display: inline !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important;">query letter</a></nobr>, but not anything else.)</li>
<li><span style="color: blue;"><em>Double check the mailing address</em></span> or e-mail inbox you’re sending to. One wrong letter in an e-mail address is enough for your query to be lost in cyberspace forever.</li>
<li><em>Respect the importance of the query.</em> A good query will open doors, so make sure others have seen and critiqued your letter before you send it out to dozens of markets. The same goes for your synopsis or nonfiction book proposal. Don’t go into battle with questionable weapons.</li>
<li><em><span style="color: blue;">If <nobr><a class="FAtxtL" href="http://writersinthestormblog.com/2014/07/submission-tip-checklist-double-check-these-16-things-before-sending-your-book-out/?et_mid=684495&rid=239564495#" id="FALINK_6_0_5" style="background-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-width: 0px 0px 1px !important; color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; display: inline !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important;">querying</a></nobr> by e-mail, make sure all your font and type size is the same</span>.</em>Since you will be cutting and pasting into e-mail, different sentences can appear different sizes. Send yourself or a friend a test e-mail to check for such an issue.</li>
<li><span style="color: blue;"><em>Make no demands.</em></span> Anything that seems like a demand (“Respond to my letter within three weeks to respect my time”) is a major turn-off.</li>
<li><span style="color: blue;"><em>Act with humility</em> </span>when talking about yourself. No matter your current accomplishments, and no matter how much you think your novel is the best thing since “Breaking Bad,” you need to simply discuss the story. Even if your writing history is impressive, be sure to state your accomplishments quickly and humbly.</li>
<li>Unless you have a serious health concern that prevents you from using a computer, submit your own book yourself. In other words, <span style="color: blue;"><em>don’t have a friend or relative submit your book for you.</em></span> This kind of communication gets confusing and the agent may not know whom to address in correspondence. Plus, it can give an agent pause to wonder why the writer is not confident enough to submit his or her own work.</li>
<li><span style="color: blue;"><em>If you do use snail mail, don’t try to set yourself apart by using fancy stationery.</em></span> Standard letterhead and envelopes are preferable. Don’t include any extraneous materials that were not requested.</li>
<li><em><span style="color: blue;">Do a final check to make sure the agent (or market) in question is still open to submissions</span>.</em> For example, if an agent suddenly closed herself off to unsolicited queries this morning, she will usually say so on Twitter first, and also make a note of it on her official agency website. Those two online locations are good places to visit right before you hit “Send” to double-check that communication lines are still open.</li>
<li><span style="color: blue;"><em>And after you do send off the work, ensure that you noted the e-mail on your submissions spreadsheet</em>,</span> so you can effectively keep track of each agent you’ve submitted to and when.</li>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783063839921214559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893796654996201296.post-82959884195884773942014-07-24T23:28:00.000-07:002014-07-24T23:28:08.736-07:00And Now For Something Completely DifferentWe depart from the literary world of tips and tricks for this. Because I have been to Target way too many times in my life and, sadly, I have done all of these things, and, quite frequently, all on the same day. It's not pretty and I apologize to no one. *sigh* Borrowed from @Dynamom with thanks and slack-jawed awe.<br />
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<b><u>10 Things Moms Do At Target</u></b><br />
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10. Circle the lot 4 times looking for a better parking spot. Feel misplaced sense of pride when finding a spot 2 spaces closer than the one you spied when you arrived 12 minutes ago.</div>
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9. Upon entrance, make a beeline directly to the in-store <a class="bingknowledgewidget" data-entityid="a11be6ad-ce9e-6e8c-39bc-3987c3cbf2e9" data-explicit="true" data-filters="ufn%3a"starbucks"+sid%3a"a11be6ad-ce9e-6e8c-39bc-3987c3cbf2e9"" data-form="MSNLIV" data-formcodeinside="BWTPFO" data-height="290px" data-processed="true" data-processing="false" data-query="starbucks" data-type="snapshot~ecasz=20,iiee=1,nolink=0,dc=def,ss=1,sor=1,ndf=1,vlh=1,sz=99,crres=1,crre=1,fbh=1" data-width="340px" href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=starbucks&filters=ufn%3a%22starbucks%22+sid%3a%22a11be6ad-ce9e-6e8c-39bc-3987c3cbf2e9%22&FORM=MSNLIV" rel="nofollow" style="color: #333333;">Starbucks</a>. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. Instead, *spend* $200 buying a tall latte for yourself and a milk box and bag of Cheddar Bunnies for the kidlette.</div>
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<img alt="Mom shopping" class="img1" height="273" src="http://blu.stb.s-msn.com/i/43/74192B9EFE49E6429791F2C514971.jpg" width="437" /></div>
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8. Head to clothing section. Consider a cute peplum top in slimming black, while kid complains in cart about how long it's taking to get to the toy section. Put peplum top into cart and hope it achieves its purpose in your wardrobe: to stylishly camouflage belly flab.</div>
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7. Set latte down in cart while contemplating new workout gear that will be worn for sitting on the couch. <a class="bingknowledgewidget" data-entityid="8786a0b8-446e-fcae-46bf-93cde256dd36" data-explicit="true" data-filters="ufn%3a"sigh band"+sid%3a"8786a0b8-446e-fcae-46bf-93cde256dd36"" data-form="MSNLIV" data-formcodeinside="BWTPFO" data-height="290px" data-processed="true" data-processing="false" data-query="sigh band" data-type="snapshot~ecasz=20,iiee=1,nolink=0,dc=def,ss=1,sor=1,ndf=1,vlh=1,sz=99,crres=1,crre=1,fbh=1" data-width="340px" href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=sigh%20band&filters=ufn%3a%22sigh%20band%22+sid%3a%228786a0b8-446e-fcae-46bf-93cde256dd36%22&FORM=MSNLIV" rel="nofollow" style="color: #333333;">Sigh</a> when kid spills latte with leg. <a class="bingknowledgewidget" data-entityid="2f1db72e-623a-03bf-d5a1-3b57fd4a407b" data-explicit="true" data-filters="ufn%3a"search tv show"+sid%3a"2f1db72e-623a-03bf-d5a1-3b57fd4a407b"" data-form="MSNLIV" data-formcodeinside="BWTPFO" data-height="290px" data-processed="true" data-processing="false" data-query="search tv show" data-type="snapshot~ecasz=20,iiee=1,nolink=0,dc=def,ss=1,sor=1,ndf=1,vlh=1,sz=99,crres=1,crre=1,fbh=1" data-width="340px" href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=search%20tv%20show&filters=ufn%3a%22search%20tv%20show%22+sid%3a%222f1db72e-623a-03bf-d5a1-3b57fd4a407b%22&FORM=MSNLIV" rel="nofollow" style="color: #333333;">Search</a> for paper towels to no avail. 'Mop' up latte with <a class="bingknowledgewidget" data-entityid="a397d4f4-7553-0d8b-708b-eec021bd5a92" data-explicit="true" data-filters="ufn%3a"old navy"+sid%3a"a397d4f4-7553-0d8b-708b-eec021bd5a92"" data-form="MSNLIV" data-formcodeinside="BWTPFO" data-height="290px" data-processed="true" data-processing="false" data-query="old navy" data-type="snapshot~ecasz=20,iiee=1,nolink=0,dc=def,ss=1,sor=1,ndf=1,vlh=1,sz=99,crres=1,crre=1,fbh=1" data-width="340px" href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=old%20navy&filters=ufn%3a%22old%20navy%22+sid%3a%22a397d4f4-7553-0d8b-708b-eec021bd5a92%22&FORM=MSNLIV" rel="nofollow" style="color: #333333;">Old Navy</a> receipt found in handbag.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px;">6. Arrive at toy section. Child wants 3 new Hot Wheels trucks.</span><span style="font-size: 13px;"> </span><a class="bingknowledgewidget" data-entityid="d44a05a4-479e-73df-a32b-ef16a27cb8d6" data-explicit="true" data-filters="ufn%3a"Within Temptation Enter Album"+sid%3a"d44a05a4-479e-73df-a32b-ef16a27cb8d6"" data-form="MSNLIV" data-formcodeinside="BWTPFO" data-height="290px" data-processed="true" data-processing="false" data-query="Within Temptation Enter Album" data-type="snapshot~ecasz=20,iiee=1,nolink=0,dc=def,ss=1,sor=1,ndf=1,vlh=1,sz=99,crres=1,crre=1,fbh=1" data-width="340px" href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=Within%20Temptation%20Enter%20Album&filters=ufn%3a%22Within%20Temptation%20Enter%20Album%22+sid%3a%22d44a05a4-479e-73df-a32b-ef16a27cb8d6%22&FORM=MSNLIV" rel="nofollow" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">Enter</a><span style="font-size: 13px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">into lengthy in-aisle discussion with child about how they need to appreciate the things they have and enjoy what they already own.</span><span style="font-size: 13px;"> </span><a class="bingknowledgewidget" data-entityid="cd941245-b052-4a1f-84c2-fe3df60c88d7" data-explicit="true" data-filters="ufn%3a"revel atlantic city"+sid%3a"cd941245-b052-4a1f-84c2-fe3df60c88d7"" data-form="MSNLIV" data-formcodeinside="BWTPFO" data-height="290px" data-processed="true" data-processing="false" data-query="revel atlantic city" data-type="snapshot~ecasz=20,iiee=1,nolink=0,dc=def,ss=1,sor=1,ndf=1,vlh=1,sz=99,crres=1,crre=1,fbh=1" data-width="340px" href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=revel%20atlantic%20city&filters=ufn%3a%22revel%20atlantic%20city%22+sid%3a%22cd941245-b052-4a1f-84c2-fe3df60c88d7%22&FORM=MSNLIV" rel="nofollow" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">Revel</a><span style="font-size: 13px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">in glory from respected glances via other Hot Wheels Aisle Moms clearly struggling with same issue. Settle on one new truck for child, feel accomplished and await Good Mom Award or sash of some stripe.</span></div>
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5. Feel very frugal buying dog food on sale, even though it's only $.15 cheaper than normal. Put another bag into cart. Contemplate emailing TLC to be featured on Extreme Couponers because obviously this is talent, people.</div>
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4. Find food section. Add the following: fruit chews, potato chips, Cheez-its, granola bars, peanut butter, frozen waffles, giant bag of mandarin oranges. Every. Time.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px;">3. Browse housewares section for no apparent reason. Realize you really need an owl candle. And a citrus scented home fragrance diffuser. And that white lacquered tray.</span></div>
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2. Look at contents of cart. Experience momentary guilt about home décor purchases. Remove peplum shirt and set next to stackable crates. Consider buying a stackable crate.</div>
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1. Check out at the register. Feel simultaneously proud and horrified that you're spending $148. Realize your kid is still holding the Hot Wheels truck. Make that $152.</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783063839921214559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893796654996201296.post-14760065077393923562014-07-14T22:33:00.000-07:002014-07-14T22:33:53.295-07:00Hate Writing the Synopsis? Tips and Tricks For YouAs an avid reader of Chuck Sambuchino's blog, Writer Unboxed, I often find topics that simply must be shared. Today I am reposting one written about the dreaded synopsis. I hate writing one of these almost as much as I fear writing the query. <br />
Many agents and editors will request one as part of your pitch. They want to see where the story leads, and how it gets there. The story arc is important to them. Writing a synopsis doesn't have to be scary. These tips will help. This article has helped me numerous times. Okay, more times that I care to mention. <br />
Check it out.<br />
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<strong style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.6em;">1. Reveal <em>everything major</em> that happens in your book, including the ending</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.6em;">. Heck, revealing the story’s ending is a synopsis’s defining unique characteristic. You shouldn’t find a story’s ending in a query or in-person pitch, but it does leak out in a synopsis. On this note, know that a synopsis is designed to explain everything major that happens, not to tease — so avoid language such as “Krista walks around a corner into a big surprise.” Don’t say “surprise,” but rather just tell us what happens.</span><br />
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<strong>2. Make your synopsis two pages, double-spaced</strong>. There is always some disagreement on length. This stems from the fact that synopses used to trend longer (six, eight, or even 12 pages!). But over the last five years, agents have requested shorter and shorter synopses — with most agents finally settling on 1-2 pages, total. If you write yours as one page, single-spaced, it’s the same length as two pages, double-spaced — and either are acceptable. There will be the occasional agent who requests something strange, such as a “5-page synopsis on beige paper that smells of cinnamon!” But trust me, if you turn in a solid 1-2 page work, you’ll be just fine across the board.</div>
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<strong>3. <span id="more-11776"></span>Take more care and time if you’re writing genre fiction</strong>. Synopses are especially difficult to <nobr><a class="FAtxtL" href="http://writerunboxed.com/2012/02/27/untitled-2-27/#" id="FALINK_6_0_5" style="background-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; display: inline !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important;">compose</a></nobr> if you’re writing character-driven (i.e., literary) fiction, because they may not be a whole lot of plot in the book. Agents and editors understand this, and put little (or no) weight into a synopsis for literary or character-driven stories. However, if you’re writing genre fiction — specifically categories like romance, fantasy, thriller, mystery, horror or science fiction — agents will quickly want to look over your characters and plot points to make sure your book has a clear beginning, middle and end, as well as some unique aspects they haven’t seen before in a story. So if you’re getting ready to submit a genre story, don’t blow through your synopsis; it’s important.</div>
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<strong style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.6em;">4. Feel free to be dry, but don’t step out of the narrative</strong><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.6em;">. When you write your prose (and even the pitch in your query letter), there is importance in using style and voice in the writing. A synopsis, thankfully, not only can be dry, but probably</span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.6em;"> </span><em style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.6em;">should</em><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.6em;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.6em;">be dry. The synopsis has to explain everything that happens in a very small amount of space. So if you find yourself using short, dry sentences like “John shoots Bill and then sits down to contemplate suicide,” don’t worry. This is normal. Lean, clean language is great. And lastly, do not step out of the narrative. Agents do not want to read things such as “And at the climax of the story,” “In a rousing scene,” or “In a flashback.”</span></div>
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<strong>5. Capitalize character names when characters are introduced</strong>. Whenever a new character is introduced, make sure to CAPITALIZE them in the first mention and then use normal text throughout. This helps a <a class="external external_icon" href="http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents" style="background: url(http://writerunbxoed.writerunboxed.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/plugins/sem-external-links/external.png) 100% 50% no-repeat; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #18183e; padding-right: 13px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">literar</a>agent immediately recognize each important name. On this subject, avoid naming too many characters (confusing) and try to set a limit of five, with no more than six total. I know this may sound tough, but it’s doable. It forces you to excise smaller characters and subplots from your summary — actually <a class="external external_icon" href="http://www.chucksambuchino.com/?page_id=15" style="background: url(http://writerunbxoed.writerunboxed.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/plugins/sem-external-links/external.png) 100% 50% no-repeat; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #18183e; padding-right: 13px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">strengthening your novel synopsis</a> along the way.</div>
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If you enjoyed this reprint article. make sure an visit his blog: Writerunboxed.com</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783063839921214559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893796654996201296.post-57867320133114269822014-04-28T21:52:00.000-07:002014-04-28T21:52:12.739-07:00Welcome L.M.Randem!A facebook friend of mine is releasing a new book and I am happy to present it to you here. Please enjoy meeting and reading my friend, the author L.M. Randem!<br />
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Hey, folks! L.M. Randem here. :)</div>
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I’ve just self-pubbed my first Kindle
book under my new pen name, which is a contemporary—and somewhat steamy—romance.
No shifters, no vamps, no paranormal anything, just a good old-fashioned love
story where a man and a woman fall for each other at first sight.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-MZcPWmGZMFIYoRbE9gwFvTZefogxfDWPrFEua2whZuZDhGIBeRL_V3dlA1s9gy2BCQKksIq58zK3kewbv8X4O4m3DclIcSglwmNMBCkVNA4OcMkN5JD5GOLUEgsaLAnUY_EInOwIOjYG/s1600/LP+Randem+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-MZcPWmGZMFIYoRbE9gwFvTZefogxfDWPrFEua2whZuZDhGIBeRL_V3dlA1s9gy2BCQKksIq58zK3kewbv8X4O4m3DclIcSglwmNMBCkVNA4OcMkN5JD5GOLUEgsaLAnUY_EInOwIOjYG/s1600/LP+Randem+cover.jpg" height="320" width="220" /></a></div>
<div class="Body">
How was it for me to write this story? Well, let me begin by
explaining that the story itself is being told in a trilogy of shorter-style
e-books—estimated print length ninety to one-hundred pages each—titled
#1 UnDone, #2 UnHinged, and #3 UnStoppable. UnDone was published on April 9,
2014, UnHinged is in the final stages of editing and will be released within
the next couple of weeks, and UnStoppable is at about the halfway point of
being written and is scheduled to be released within the next month.</div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
As for the content, I’m one of those people who always said
I’d never write anything too steamy, because it just wasn’t
my thing. I know how it works and all, lol, but it’s like being in
someone’s bedroom with them when they should be alone. After much
internal and external debate (with friends and family), however, I decided to
change my mind. I’ve seen a huge influx of stories from
sorta sexy to straight-up erotica, and they all seem to be selling like
hotcakes. What’s that saying? I believe it goes like so, ’If
you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em,’<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">
</span>and that’s exactly what I’m
attempting to do with this trilogy. There’s at least one long
sex scene in each book, and I don’t mind saying that I feel I’ve
done a great job writing them with as much class as possible. Each scene gets a
little easier to write, too, so perhaps one of these days I’ll
become much more comfortable writing in this genre.</div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
In this trilogy, you’ll follow Sam and Billy (short for
Belinda), as they are brought together by a strange twist of fate, and fall
head-over-heals in love. There are also hurdles they both must overcome,
tragedies from the past that come back to haunt them, and unexpected dreams
that come true. I hope you’ll give it a chance, and that you
enjoy my debut into the world of writing romance and drama.</div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrpQ7PMx5ec0cS-nNGxyquGG20qspwSBOQzGYvKvOxvTZ4FebFuW50a0olLB8xZPUNIatOIiHXIkH7iHOdT140mI2Gxxeoe33jeIr0aFKb0ES5oq-RaapESmR1qTgBWjyckQqx5HY3jEQd/s1600/LP+Randem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrpQ7PMx5ec0cS-nNGxyquGG20qspwSBOQzGYvKvOxvTZ4FebFuW50a0olLB8xZPUNIatOIiHXIkH7iHOdT140mI2Gxxeoe33jeIr0aFKb0ES5oq-RaapESmR1qTgBWjyckQqx5HY3jEQd/s1600/LP+Randem.jpg" height="320" width="208" /></a></div>
<div class="Body">
Thank you,</div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
LM Randem</div>
<div class="Body">
Facebook: </div>
<div class="Body">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/LM.Randem"><span class="Hyperlink0"><span style="color: black;">https://www.facebook.com/LM.Randem</span></span></a></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
Amazon:</div>
<br />
<div class="Body">
<a href="http://tinyurl.com/mhxlzdy"><span class="Hyperlink0"><span style="color: black;">http://tinyurl.com/mhxlzdy</span></span></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783063839921214559noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893796654996201296.post-76825626421706605242014-04-20T22:09:00.001-07:002014-04-20T22:09:57.157-07:00Being StuckEvery time I open my computer, several pages have been defaulted to open immediately. You know, the usual. Facebook, MSN.com, Google, etc. Another one that opens is my blog post. So, every time it opens I am reminded that it has been a hella-long time since I wrote a post. And I wonder why that is. Except, I already know why. I'm stuck.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS0meK9PdBMtILqlxX4FqR3NmXho7a4YIl858egREMPehb4kD9omMm-Yfw3xS-__3GBRvZVvcHQBeKIsY9Z1i0oD7vabl86sji-o_G2wG3VkO3D0568p7r1PdrLe5JYX4rKxsgZ2GzKzW1/s1600/stuck-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS0meK9PdBMtILqlxX4FqR3NmXho7a4YIl858egREMPehb4kD9omMm-Yfw3xS-__3GBRvZVvcHQBeKIsY9Z1i0oD7vabl86sji-o_G2wG3VkO3D0568p7r1PdrLe5JYX4rKxsgZ2GzKzW1/s1600/stuck-2.jpg" height="149" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
In fact, being stuck is a relatively normal thing for me right now. I feel stuck at work. I adore my job and absolutely love what I do, but I know changes need to be made, involving me and my department, and if they are to be made, I will have to do something about them. But, I don't want to. So I am stuck.<br />
<br />
I'm also stuck with my home life. Actually, to be more specific, with my home. My family and I want to buy a house, make it a home, have a backyard, fret over paint colors and bald patches in the rug, and which tea towels bring out the color scheme of the kitchen. Except, we can't. Not yet anyway, and we are working to make "not yet" go far the hell away, but for right now, it is here, prevalent. So I am stuck.<br />
<br />
I am stuck on the page as well. The written page. Or, in my current case, the UN-written page. I have ten published books and I am writing the eleventh. You know what? It's really friggin' good. The whole genre itself actually represents another departure for me, another veer from course, another challenge accepted. Can I write a book for a young to new adult that doesn't have one single solitary paranormal element? YIKES! A contemporary story? So, as I am writing it, it turns out I can. I have a great premise, bitchin', fleshed-out characters and one bears a striking resemblance to the girl i wanted to be when i was younger. See? Exciting stuff. Except, I am stuck.
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO3AvLQ5zbDbhiQVjVBqxmFlS1p4FvuHjqzqsum9RvabPeRzCX_CwNrCaMEHhT02eAXLNAdJRNHASi1gFfKnyygmOdQvJtVTtXk9VHrw3ziWMp7hEh6NV-GMDAOyfrw9NnDFu81UAjW6md/s1600/Stuck-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO3AvLQ5zbDbhiQVjVBqxmFlS1p4FvuHjqzqsum9RvabPeRzCX_CwNrCaMEHhT02eAXLNAdJRNHASi1gFfKnyygmOdQvJtVTtXk9VHrw3ziWMp7hEh6NV-GMDAOyfrw9NnDFu81UAjW6md/s1600/Stuck-1.jpg" height="134" width="200" /></a></div>
I know the story I want to write. I want to write the story others want to read. But, being stuck is really getting in the way lately. To an annoying degree. I've come to understand that while I am, indeed stuck, and this is now a level of normalcy for me, I am not at all comfortable here. It's like when I went to Magic Mountain when I was a young adult with friends. There were five of us and a Pinto. (This now will age me, I'm sure.) I was skinny and cute back then, so I was put in the middle of the back seat. Remember the middle of the back seat? The one with the hump on it? Yep. Rode that bastard all the way from San Diego to Ventura goddamn county. It was bearable, sure, but verrry uncomfortable. That's what being stuck feels like.<br />
<br />
The good news is I have been here before and the territory is familiar. The bad news is that I have never been here in so many areas of my life at one time. I'm not depressed; far from it. I am....considered. Thoughtful. Anticipatory. And pissed. Very definitely pissed. I need to buckle down and kick this whatever-it-is in the ass. How I have decided to do that is to make a list. I have been making lists my whole life. In fact, I come from a long line of list-makers and we excel at our task. So, here is my list. It's called Things That Will Happen In 2014 Because I Want Them To Happen.<br />
<br />
1. My Hubs and I will buy the home I love for my family.<br />
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2. I will finish Book #11, start and finish Book #12 and start Book #13.<br />
3. I will come to the attention of an influential literary giant. (agent , publisher, editor, I don't care)<br />
4. I will blog more often, willingly, because there will be many joyful events on which to report.<br />
5. I will have a greater presence everywhere: in my children's lives, in my book-babies, in my marriage, and in my profession.<br />
<br />
In short, I will be kicking some ass and I will be starting with my own.
It may be April, and very nearly May, but for me, 2014 just started.
And it better look the hell out.
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783063839921214559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893796654996201296.post-29920701852051111262014-03-24T22:50:00.000-07:002014-03-24T22:50:05.272-07:00Cover Reveal from Annamaria Bazzi!And here is another wonderful new release from a talented independent author previously featured here on the bloggy! Enjoy!
The day has finally arrived. I would like to present to all of annamaria's readers the wonderful cover for:
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Book:</strong> Incantation Paradox</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Author:</strong> annamaria bazzi</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Cover Designer:</strong> Natasha Brown</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Genre:</strong> Urban Fantasy</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Release Date:</strong> Undetermined</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.annamariasbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IncantationParadox-small.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-796" alt="IncantationParadox-small" src="http://www.annamariasbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IncantationParadox-small.jpg" width="250" height="400" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Blurb:</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">A car accident cuts Dolores Reynard’s life short, leaving her with a long list of unfulfilled dreams. When she awakens in a strange bed, inside a much younger body, and living with a new family—she can’t worry she might be going insane. How can she be a teenager again?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Jason Richmond understands the danger awaiting his new houseguest. Wanting to ease her concerns, he works to earn Dolores’ trust. But attraction flares in the most unexpected way, and he finds himself caught between setting the situation right and following his heart.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">An enduring evil threatens not only the blossoming love but their lives as well. As Dolores and Jason struggle to unravel the truth behind her resurrection, they find themselves tangled in a web of murder, intrigue and magic. Only together can they hope to overcome the incantation paradox holding them captive.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Dolores: </strong></p>
<a href="http://www.annamariasbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IncantationParadox-Facebook.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-799" alt="IncantationParadox-Facebook" src="http://www.annamariasbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IncantationParadox-Facebook-150x150.jpg" width="150" height="150" /></a>Hello, my name is Dolores and I'm a forty-something mother of two high school girls, Ella and Chloe. On my way to their recital, I was in a car accident that changed my life forever. We all desire to be young again, but never in someone else's body. If you think magic doesn't exist, think again. There truly are people in the world who can wield magic, and I'm not talking the illusion kind we see on stage, I'm talking real magic, the magic you read in books with wizards and sorceresses. You don't have to take my word, read my story and find out for yourself the ordeal I had to go through to find my way back home.
<strong>Author Bio:</strong>
<a href="http://www.annamariasbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/2013-06-28-17.56.30.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-815" alt="author pic" src="http://www.annamariasbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/2013-06-28-17.56.30-172x300.jpg" width="172" height="300" /></a>
Although born in the United States, annamaria bazzi spent a great deal of her childhood in Sicily, Italy, in a town called Sciacca. Italian was the language spoken at home. Therefore, she had no problems when she found herself growing up in a strange country. Upon returning to the states, she promised herself she would speak without an accent. She attended Wayne State University in Detroit Michigan, where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Computers with a minor in Spanish.
annamaria spent twenty years programming systems for large corporations, creating innovative solution, and addressing customer problems. During those years, she raised four daughters and one husband. annamaria lives in Richmond Virginia with her small family where she now dedicates a good part of her day writing.
You can visit annamaria at:
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://annamariabazzi.com" target="_blank">Blog</a> - <a href="http://www.annamariasbooks.com" target="_blank">website</a> - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Author.annamariabazzi" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> - <a href="https://www.twitter.com/AMBazzi" target="_blank">twitter</a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Annamaria-Bazzi/e/B00API579Q/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0" target="_blank">Amazon</a> - <a href="mailto:annamariascorner@yahoo.com">email</a></p>
Check in on Kendíka’s <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kendika.burkeshire" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783063839921214559noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893796654996201296.post-26507592987419227602014-03-17T23:14:00.000-07:002014-03-17T23:16:20.335-07:00Author Nicole Zoltack Introduces Her Newest Novel<span style="font-family: inherit;">Continuing in this bloggy's tradition of introducing and promoting independent authors, I have a new one for you all. Please meet Astraea Press author, Nicole Zoltack. Her newest book, Starving for Love, releases tomorrow. </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Starving-Love-Nicole-Zoltack-ebook/dp/B00J2HZXAY/" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">http://www.amazon.com/Starving-Love-Nicole-Zoltack-ebook/dp/B00J2HZXAY/</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZb463yO91a4Afjb8gHdHrzey4DkHEnqUH3wYA0AxlK4Hr98Hga_kZ4HjqGSKTR4GH62OOqno0nA-67UZpnpiVcEHoG5TKYwviheEyBI764swbbiukjG6RZNEip0ESiVIXMr3j4nhntz2w/s1600/StarvingforLove_1600X2400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZb463yO91a4Afjb8gHdHrzey4DkHEnqUH3wYA0AxlK4Hr98Hga_kZ4HjqGSKTR4GH62OOqno0nA-67UZpnpiVcEHoG5TKYwviheEyBI764swbbiukjG6RZNEip0ESiVIXMr3j4nhntz2w/s1600/StarvingforLove_1600X2400.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Blurb:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sirena never thought
a trip to the surface would change her life forever until she meets Kristian.
The sea might hold her body, but Kristian now holds her heart. Their love can
never be, however, for she is a mermaid and he a human.<br />
<br />
Rushing to steal some time with him, Sirena swims as if sharks are after her
only to find Kristian's lifeless body in the sea. Heartbroken, she turns to a
sea dragon witch. With the promise to bring Kristian back to life at the mere
cost of Sirena's memories of him, the sea witch works her magic. Only, Sirena
isn't specific enough with her request, and her love returns as a zombie who
threatens the mortal world.<br />
<br />
Longing to fill the emptiness inside, Sirena swims to the surface and discovers
a distraught child crying about a monster eating his family. Appalled at the
notion, she promises to slay the monster, not knowing she is seeking to destroy
the man she loves. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mxWU1JFUMooDd8a-gp7eUnxsAg1N2U-Ck84dwDyxDEZZGTTOmcnc89oHUB0hMM3Uu5BenJ88fiOShAEBpxiPr8tXqN3TvBmCk2yf96g07c4i-ON64LPmfD7Je0Hy-CZkxcSZHc53DSkq/s1600/Nicole+Zoltack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mxWU1JFUMooDd8a-gp7eUnxsAg1N2U-Ck84dwDyxDEZZGTTOmcnc89oHUB0hMM3Uu5BenJ88fiOShAEBpxiPr8tXqN3TvBmCk2yf96g07c4i-ON64LPmfD7Je0Hy-CZkxcSZHc53DSkq/s1600/Nicole+Zoltack.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">BIO:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Nicole Zoltack loves to write
in many genres, especially romance, whether fantasy, paranormal, or regency.
When she’s not writing about knights, superheroes, or zombies, she loves to
spend time with her loving husband and three energetic young boys. She enjoys
riding horses (pretending they’re unicorns, of course!) and going to the PA
Renaissance Faire, dressed in garb. She’ll also read anything she can get her
hands on. Her current favorite TV show is The Walking Dead. To learn more about
Nicole and her writing, visit <a href="http://nicolezoltack.blogspot.com/">http://NicoleZoltack.blogspot.com</a>.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nicole Zoltack<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://s.wisestamp.com/links?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nicolezoltack.com%2F&sn=bmljb2xlLnpvbHRhY2tAZ21haWwuY29t" target="_blank">www.NicoleZoltack.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">~<a href="http://s.wisestamp.com/links?url=http%3A%2F%2FNicoleZoltack.blogspot.com&sn=bmljb2xlLnpvbHRhY2tAZ21haWwuY29t" target="_blank">Where Fantasy and Love Take Flight</a>~<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kingdom of Arnhem trilogy: Woman of Honor,
Knight of Glory, & Champion of Valor<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">New Release: BLACK HELLEBORE - Perfect for
any superhero fan<br />
Newest Release: MASKED LOVE - A heartwarming Christmas Regency novella<br />
Available from <a href="http://s.wisestamp.com/links?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.desertbreezepublishing.com%2Fbrands%2FNicole-Zoltack.html&sn=bmljb2xlLnpvbHRhY2tAZ21haWwuY29t" target="_blank">DBP</a> ~ <a href="http://s.wisestamp.com/links?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%2Fref%3Dla_B00304YARW_B00304YARW_sr%3Frh%3Di%253Abooks%26amp%3Bfield-author%3DNicole%2BZoltack%26amp%3Bsort%3Drelevance%26amp%3Bie%3DUTF8%26amp%3Bqid%3D1382723857&sn=bmljb2xlLnpvbHRhY2tAZ21haWwuY29t" target="_blank">Amazon</a> ~ <a href="http://s.wisestamp.com/links?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftinyurl.com%2Fa4wzrxg&sn=bmljb2xlLnpvbHRhY2tAZ21haWwuY29t" target="_blank">ARe</a> ~ <a href="http://s.wisestamp.com/links?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%2Fc%2Fnicole-zoltack&sn=bmljb2xlLnpvbHRhY2tAZ21haWwuY29t" target="_blank">B&N</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[endif]--></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783063839921214559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893796654996201296.post-85780033936899292942014-03-04T23:34:00.003-08:002014-03-04T23:36:49.650-08:00Lunch with Lovers with Lindsay Downs<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hey all! In another installment of my feature, Lunch with Lovers, I am thrilled to have on the bloggy today, Regency and Mystery Author Lindsay Downs. A wonderful friend and prolific writer, Lindsay had a chance to chat with two characters from the recently released The Masked Lady and the Murder (A Markson Regency Mystery) at a recent time-traveling sit-down. What? You'll understand soon. *grin* Enjoy!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Character interview
for Samantha Combs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Samantha, thank you for allowing me to stop by with
an interview I’ve had with one of my characters. I’d planned on talking with
Jessica Sales but unfortunately she’s currently in a hospital in southern
France in critical condition.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> So, with her unavailable I queried Lord and Lady
Markson if I might impose on their valuable time. The only problem, well for me
at least, is I’ve got to travel back in time to 1814 London. As an author of
regency romantic mysteries nothing’s impossible, I hope. If you’ll give me a
few minute I need to change into appropriate attire so I may call on the
Viscount and Viscountess of Hampshire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Now properly dressed in a deep blue jacket over a
cream coloured linen shirt with a cravat tied to perfection I felt ready. My
valet had also suggested buckskin britches tucked into polished well-worn
riding boots to set the proper image of a country gentleman to which I agreed.
Then again, as a regency author I knew what to wear but this was the first time
I had to dress the part.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> With a deep, calming breath I climbed the marble
stairs leading to the most impressive polished oak door I’d ever seen, let
alone written. With a kid gloved hand I raised the solid brass knocker and let
it fall against its plate and waited. Within moments an elderly, but familiar
man swung the door open.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Bing, is it. I’m Mr. Lindsay Downs. I’ve an
appointment with Lord and Lady Markson.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Yes, please come in,” he said as I watched him
swing to door wide and step aside so I can enter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">With a nod I stepped into the massive marble floored
entranceway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Sir, as I was informed you’re interrogating them as
what how they solved the murders of the late viscount and Lord Markson’s older
brother.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Yes. As I understand it there were several
interesting events which happened during the investigation and wish my readers
to learn more about them,” I replied, handing over my gloves and great coat,
for London can be a bit chilly in late fall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Sir, won’t your reader learn about them by reading
the book, <i>The Masked Lady and The Murder</i>.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-xBHe6qPHF-vuoqzF2xPDHqz_b-pYZDyAzW31JQdNohCs1J9ZTxJnvMx8zNx4HR2Q7hJ4ZKKYouSBt8TTqA2l0IpQJMVjwvAIa86XnlzEtfIf6MUDSUT8V5o2XbcOW36GKdoe_MgVFhd/s1600/The+Masked+Lady.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-xBHe6qPHF-vuoqzF2xPDHqz_b-pYZDyAzW31JQdNohCs1J9ZTxJnvMx8zNx4HR2Q7hJ4ZKKYouSBt8TTqA2l0IpQJMVjwvAIa86XnlzEtfIf6MUDSUT8V5o2XbcOW36GKdoe_MgVFhd/s1600/The+Masked+Lady.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Don’t you think they’d like to learn more about what you didn’t write, meaning
no disrespect.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Mid-stride I halted, pondering his words only to
realize he might be correct.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Bing, if I understand you correctly you’re
suggesting I speak with you, Evan, Mrs Stoneworth and Amanda.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Yes sir. For example, do you know why Evan showed
up in Hyde Park right after m’ lord was shot? Or how Mrs Stoneworth was able to
get her sister ensconced as housekeeper in Mr Markson’s house in India. Or how
I knew the Well’s butler would aid in protecting m’ lord and m’ lady?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“And why Evan and Amanda weren’t caught kissing but
she did present evidence of such an event when they found Lord and Lady Markson
in an embrace before marriage vows were exchanged?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Stay tuned for more of this interesting and unique
interview!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Buy The Masked lady and the Murder: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FMasked-Murder-Markson-Regency-Mystery-ebook%2Fdp%2FB00I9S4FZG%2Fref%3Dla_B007NQAIIS_1_6%3Fs%3Dbooks%26ie%3DUTF8%26qid%3D1394003243%26sr%3D1-6&h=eAQHN9lFZ</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And Check out all the Lindsay Downs regencies:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVveM_xr1-K9SS-9ryY7YEqv0AjUFwxwCKaQlDT2bVsSlxVd_Wt4K6oLFn47dm7XmGn6YXf_-IXQQ9K_EY7cLLsOlWEHRuFQ4lq18d87Vd0S95PT4maL3HNYFGtESAJDQ8d0s0sCMdFa2v/s1600/Lindsay+Cross+the+Countess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVveM_xr1-K9SS-9ryY7YEqv0AjUFwxwCKaQlDT2bVsSlxVd_Wt4K6oLFn47dm7XmGn6YXf_-IXQQ9K_EY7cLLsOlWEHRuFQ4lq18d87Vd0S95PT4maL3HNYFGtESAJDQ8d0s0sCMdFa2v/s1600/Lindsay+Cross+the+Countess.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8AK-eJhz86gZ8uzLLsQ2_ppeKvEYqLVf0Wn3OWCkxXjAXZ-reVGL4NPhzjpaoiIgA1YXxHe-8d_TJPQybHkiTriDfLO1B5Os314QnSvxnidTDyndh8p8idoh5sD8k07cu-On9QIeJdFSH/s1600/Lindsay+Christmas+Surprise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8AK-eJhz86gZ8uzLLsQ2_ppeKvEYqLVf0Wn3OWCkxXjAXZ-reVGL4NPhzjpaoiIgA1YXxHe-8d_TJPQybHkiTriDfLO1B5Os314QnSvxnidTDyndh8p8idoh5sD8k07cu-On9QIeJdFSH/s1600/Lindsay+Christmas+Surprise.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYP-UTIBN9egIKVrZcHjcUHlYL6bqRtzsurAs3MVQHJMygBViS4jEnv7lSbPdYY1AAgzzubuUOHmXoZQQKEPLsFssMmje9DWph_SVtDwkaZN0l82pJ0OLp1fgLIUR3jLmM8zlXBRYKrtV/s1600/Lindsay+Spy+Catcher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYP-UTIBN9egIKVrZcHjcUHlYL6bqRtzsurAs3MVQHJMygBViS4jEnv7lSbPdYY1AAgzzubuUOHmXoZQQKEPLsFssMmje9DWph_SVtDwkaZN0l82pJ0OLp1fgLIUR3jLmM8zlXBRYKrtV/s1600/Lindsay+Spy+Catcher.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQsAaD6-o67NHWEQRtlLR1ohN85-brnQuP4Hp79M7Hr0_rkg7Fg4gk8IKGGLuaKYGfm4qp2CtVb_Vn8_NplSR2wybu3M9ABisG5rZRQ0rkygHIMVJpeLWikGgX0Jrv-wmYkubUtPzX5MH/s1600/Lindsay+Saved+by+a+Maid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQsAaD6-o67NHWEQRtlLR1ohN85-brnQuP4Hp79M7Hr0_rkg7Fg4gk8IKGGLuaKYGfm4qp2CtVb_Vn8_NplSR2wybu3M9ABisG5rZRQ0rkygHIMVJpeLWikGgX0Jrv-wmYkubUtPzX5MH/s1600/Lindsay+Saved+by+a+Maid.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783063839921214559noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893796654996201296.post-32231717159149741132014-02-24T20:58:00.002-08:002014-02-24T20:58:32.407-08:00Author Laurie White, Introduces Without A Trace<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Since I am always excited to introduce a new author, or at least an author new to me, today will be no different. I am pleased to bring a new friend and author onto the bloggy. Please help me welcome Laurie White, the author of two novels at Secret Cravings Publishing, and her upcoming third one, Without a Trace. Enjoy!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_wZmw5_U1HbvPeX1Y4UNPn8V-X4FFvrSl-M5OfxblP0_V9xJuwSILPg0GUU6pN3kqYHJZcDxtEgtJp-GtZaHpzSpRXY5-7a-n4syvMgpzCHaucYzY-J85U6oerAvz4-BgAA-RUtt549j/s1600/WithoutaTrace_LRG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_wZmw5_U1HbvPeX1Y4UNPn8V-X4FFvrSl-M5OfxblP0_V9xJuwSILPg0GUU6pN3kqYHJZcDxtEgtJp-GtZaHpzSpRXY5-7a-n4syvMgpzCHaucYzY-J85U6oerAvz4-BgAA-RUtt549j/s1600/WithoutaTrace_LRG.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">BLURB:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Magazine journalist Rachel Bennett has a reputation for getting to
the heart of a story. However, when her sister disappears and is suspected of
embezzling from her employer, the story has suddenly become personal. The last
thing Rachel wants right now is the distraction of Matt Romero, the detective
assigned to the case. She wants no involvement with this rough-and-tumble
cop...or so she thinks.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Matt accepts the risk that goes with his job. Two years ago, his
wife was murdered, a tragedy he blames himself for. He's vowed to protect his
family and friends because he doesn't want to go through the pain of loss
again. However, the lovely journalist soon begins breaking through the icy wall
around his heart.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As Rachel and Matt
search for answers in order to find her sister, they uncover a corruption that
puts them both in danger – and a passion that puts both their hearts at risk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">EXCERPT:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Something wasn't right. <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Rachel Bennett felt uneasy from the moment she'd set foot in her
sister's apartment. A bead of perspiration trickled between her shoulder
blades. <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">She'd been unable to reach her younger sister Paige for the past
three days. She hadn't even shown up at work. Rachel cut short a long-awaited
Palm Springs vacation out of concern for her. The three-hour drive back to Los
Angeles this morning was a blur. <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Paige?” <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Something made her almost whisper the word. She paused outside
Paige's half-open bedroom door before peering into the sun-splashed room. A
hint of Paige's signature scent, Ed Hardy, hung in the air. The bed, normally
covered with a cheerful floral comforter, sat unmade in the messy room. Unusual
for her neatnik sister. <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">She would never just take off like this. At least not willingly. <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>What's happened to my sister? </i><u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Rachel noticed several black smudges on the wall by the window. A
nervous feeling gnawed at her. Slowly, she stepped into the bedroom, toward the
telephone. She needed to call for help. <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Police! Stop right there.” <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The resonant male voice was strong and authoritative. Rachel
froze, confused, blood pounding in her head. The hair on the back of her neck
prickled. “I'm Rachel Bennett. My sister, Paige Bennett, lives here. I have a
key.” <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Okay. Turn around.” <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In slow, careful movements, Rachel complied. Her pulse thrummed
even harder as she came face-to-face with the most overwhelming man she'd ever
laid eyes on. His features were rugged and darkly handsome, his hair black as
sin. She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she'd been holding. <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A
twinge of wariness assailed Rachel as her gaze took in the man. All in all, he
made a dangerously sexy package despite his ordinary dark gray suit and tie. He
looked like no cop she'd ever seen, but his open-legged stance and the familiarity
with which he held his pistol—aimed at her—seemed to show years of experience
on the force. Or simply a lot of practice using a gun. <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Certainly
he won't shoot, she told herself, heart crashing hard against her chest. “Can I
see your ID?” <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
man's steely dark eyes never left hers as he unclipped the gold badge from his
belt and held it out to her. <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Matt
Romero, LAPD Detective Support and Vice,” he said. <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Rachel
studied the badge. In her work as a writer for Southland Life magazine, she'd
seen enough cop badges to know this was the real thing. What sort of trouble
could Paige be in? <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“How
did you…?” <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“The
apartment manager let us in. We had a search warrant.” He lowered his gun, then
clipped his badge back onto his belt. <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Search
warrant? Has something happened to Paige?” A cold knot formed in the pit of her
stomach. Although a part of her didn't want to know, her reporter's instinct
demanded answers. <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Skepticism
flickered across Romero's face, but as he studied her he seemed to relax. He
holstered his weapon. “I saw a photo on the desk over there of you with your
sister. You resemble each other very much. Why don't we sit down?” He motioned
toward the living room. <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Rachel
trudged down the hallway, struggling to prepare herself for whatever this man
was about to tell her. Horrifying possibilities whirled in her mind. Had Paige
been arrested for some reason? Worse yet, badly hurt or even—no, she couldn't
allow herself to think about that last one. A shudder rippled through her. <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then
she felt one of the detective's large hands on the center of her back. The
guiding gesture, although gentle, unnerved her. The heat from his palm burned
through the thin fabric of her blouse. She walked a bit faster. <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In
the living room, Rachel sank into Paige's comfortable powder blue sofa. She
took a deep breath to calm herself, but her stomach knotted up when Romero
settled into the chair beside the sofa, right next to her. <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Why
are you here, Detective? Where is Paige?” <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“That's
what my partner and I are trying to find out, Ms. Bennett.” <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“What
do you mean?” she asked, managing to sound a lot less anxious—and a lot less
aware of the man across from her—than she really was. <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">He looked her dead in the eye. “Your sister is missing, Ms.
Bennett.”<span style="font-size: large;"><u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFKt-NfpDX4cGdnB7nVPqJq2ogimp-gHZUhMDNYxbHOg1qdFvIKsuVHTmNj089YauyryvubXDtEpm_Ok2ph6RR-69_0gTCnsJZQcwoKT9oMskqGkGHNay6aSlb0OG4h4XzPB7JbVg4-La/s1600/Laurie+WhiteIMG_1043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFKt-NfpDX4cGdnB7nVPqJq2ogimp-gHZUhMDNYxbHOg1qdFvIKsuVHTmNj089YauyryvubXDtEpm_Ok2ph6RR-69_0gTCnsJZQcwoKT9oMskqGkGHNay6aSlb0OG4h4XzPB7JbVg4-La/s1600/Laurie+WhiteIMG_1043.jpg" height="320" width="241" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">BIO:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Laurie White is the
author of two romantic suspense novels from Sweet Cravings Publishing. Her
latest novel, WITHOUT A TRACE, was released January 30, 2014 from Secret
Cravings Publishing. Laurie is a member of Romance Writers of America and
Georgia Romance Writers. Aside from writing, she enjoys reading, spending time
with family, traveling, and watching movies. She is the proud mama of four
adorable cats and lives in the hills of Tennessee.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">PUBLISHED NOVELS:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">WITHOUT A TRACE<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">TWIST OF FATE<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u1:p></u1:p>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">DESERT HEAT</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783063839921214559noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893796654996201296.post-80098333359222851632014-02-20T22:54:00.001-08:002014-02-20T22:55:40.296-08:00Want to Win a Nook Simple Touch AND a Gift Card to Fill It?My publisher, esKape Press, is announcing a new contest that starts tonight. To promote my most recent novel, and first release with them, we are doing a giveaway!<br />
<br />
Simply read WINGSPAN, post a review and add the link to the rafflecopter here:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f655e57/">http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f655e57/</a></span><br />
<br />
And that's it! You will be entered to win a brand new Nook Simple Touch ereader and that's not all. You will also get a $20 egift card to start loading your new best friend! You can enter once a day and the contest will run for a whole week.<br />
<br />
To remind you, this is WINGSPAN:<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Chessa Dawning never thought she’d be the kind of girl who’d
be on the run. Yet, here she was, having
left the only home she’s ever known, staying two steps ahead of the men chasing
her and falling for a resourceful ex-criminal with colorful friends. And that
was just this week.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Most of the time, Charlotte Lake can’t believe her
life. The reluctant leader of a rebel
faction called the Ginger Nation, Charlie’s days are filled with planning
surveillance, rescuing detainees, and exposing government conspiracy. Surrounded by loyal friends and soldiers, she
knows she can never reveal the true nature of her quest: finding her real
father. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>When a sudden twist in both their lives brings these two
girls together, revelations about their past will make them rethink where they
came from, and define their future in ways they never could have imagined. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Not every scientific breakthrough is a gift.</i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783063839921214559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893796654996201296.post-72026978871453960632014-02-18T22:21:00.000-08:002014-02-18T22:24:33.906-08:00Does Your Character Speak to You?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98Fc1FTpmRrElrmuhE89KzlG8OSV7LlG4tejdCWabKlVE5WJ5ZgHN8zNI1A3JlO3VnWTNWo-lXTqAqMHJN9sEMXdQMJa4JfOFJBsy9-btiChEoH51KVN2GeqB6wjlSmB3P4LqA3DrQgX_/s1600/smiling+emoticon.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98Fc1FTpmRrElrmuhE89KzlG8OSV7LlG4tejdCWabKlVE5WJ5ZgHN8zNI1A3JlO3VnWTNWo-lXTqAqMHJN9sEMXdQMJa4JfOFJBsy9-btiChEoH51KVN2GeqB6wjlSmB3P4LqA3DrQgX_/s1600/smiling+emoticon.png" height="200" width="200" /></a>Today, I got to have this really great conversation with a fellow writer I got to know through my writer's group, the Children's Book Writers of Los Angeles. And of course, it motivated me to write a post about it. Thanks, Kate!<br />
<br />
So, we were in the middle of talking about our characters and their voices. My writer friend had recently agreed to read and review my latest book, Wingspan, and we were chatting about how she enjoyed it. She was quite complimentary, and I won't bore you here, but she did say that the characters were believable and she enjoyed the dialogue.<br />
<br />
After the smile stopped threatening to break my face, I admitted something to her. Initially, one of the man characters had a different name. I wrote him and thought the personality was developing as I was going along. When I would re-read the sections, there was something wrong and I couldn't put my finger on it. This has happened to me before and I have one sure-fired way to fix it. I change the character's name.<br />
<br />
Patrick, who appeared fleshed-out became Mickey. He stopped being a skeleton. The moment I did that, I realized what was wrong with the previous name. It's a great name, but not for him. The problem was that when he was Patrick, I couldn't see him. And i have to be able to "see" my babies in order to understand them. And when I understand them, I can write them. I can write the <i>hell</i> out of them.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4e-NFDRXg95oa2OS-Xq0jx5OiYovh3DSp2HLS44VDSo1X6WRWB24kXGjzA-4Va3VKExOA_Ft0LZZAif9QA7pt6h5OEesSpIaGwX876_uZBpJiS4V0_lSAEVXCW6o1ux00gHfudg5H_my/s1600/skeleton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4e-NFDRXg95oa2OS-Xq0jx5OiYovh3DSp2HLS44VDSo1X6WRWB24kXGjzA-4Va3VKExOA_Ft0LZZAif9QA7pt6h5OEesSpIaGwX876_uZBpJiS4V0_lSAEVXCW6o1ux00gHfudg5H_my/s1600/skeleton.jpg" /></a></div>
When Patrick became Mickey, he morphed into a living, breathing person. In my mind, it was almost as if a stick figure I had created suddenly filled out, with organs, and blood vessels, and flesh. I could see what he looked like, how he related to others, and how he spoke. He became the protector, the loyal friend, the sidekick for my protag. And then he became a protag himself. With his new name, he became more than a secondary. He was a primary. And he demanded equal billing!<br />
<br />
I went back and rewrote him and his dialogue. His clipped way of speaking, the tell-you-only-what-you-need-to-know way of giving you information, it all flowed effortlessly. All because I changed the name.<br />
<br />
So, I wanted to share with you this little trick that helps me. Hope it helps you. And interesting side note: when I was seven, I decided I wanted to change my name. I love my first name now, but then, I thought it was awful. I changed it to Jessica. It didn't last, and I got my old name back, but I remember when I was Jessica, I had an epiphany. As her, I could change anything and reinvent myself into anything I wanted. The power was overwhelming and made me giddy. Maybe your characters feel that way too? *grin*<br />
<br />
Happy writing.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783063839921214559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893796654996201296.post-51714543715718056242014-02-11T23:30:00.000-08:002014-02-11T23:30:14.541-08:00Five Habits of the Rich...and How They Apply to WritersSo, like the rest of the free TV-watching world, I am watching the Olympics. There are some amazing stories and some even more shows of excellence. I am also amazed at the mind-boggling money spent on the event and the even more that simple families came up with to send one, two, three, four, and more family members to watch loved ones compete. Like always, my frugal scrutinizing wasn't far behind.<br />
<br />
Like how do you even afford a ticket to a place halfway across the world? Of course my answer is you have to be rich. Then my brain goes to work. Why are rich people rich? How do they get there and better question: how do they stay there?<br />
<br />
In my travels I came across an article giving me the five<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJR9ilQS2tj_XhK3VJOB2F53ia-ujoBXszQS7bKTRkpVXaRcfgQCBG1Dd7aS4oSILp8JcJblsJbIEirVTNTqYVR4HEWLui2Zu_K23c3OHXWDr_TrpRs755xfLhyBsOLKWgaO_5XB8RF4rd/s1600/lists.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJR9ilQS2tj_XhK3VJOB2F53ia-ujoBXszQS7bKTRkpVXaRcfgQCBG1Dd7aS4oSILp8JcJblsJbIEirVTNTqYVR4HEWLui2Zu_K23c3OHXWDr_TrpRs755xfLhyBsOLKWgaO_5XB8RF4rd/s1600/lists.jpg" height="320" width="247" /></a>traits of the world's wealthiest people,<br />
They aren't what you think.<br />
<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>They eat less junk food</li>
<li>They exercise regularly</li>
<li>They don't procrastinate</li>
<li>They keep learning</li>
<li>They nurture relationships</li>
</ol>
<div>
Simple rules, but I always have to know how to live them as a writer. So I came up with my own list, after studying the most prolific or successful writers of my and past generations.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
1. Eat less junk food. Okay, most of us exist on coffee and cheese puffs (or fill in your own favorite go-go juice and snack) For me as a writer, this means ice tea and tangerines. Or Sprite and trail mix. The idea is to make the snack an actual snack. Oftentimes the lure of good food keeps me off the laptop. So I make sure my snacks are not filling and don't weigh me down. Oh, BTW, ice cream does not count. Ice cream is approved for any situation any day of the week. But, I digress. (And there is none in the house right now. Whatever. Move on.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
2. Exercise regularly. As one who eschews any kind of formal anything, I don't do jumping jacks or the like. I exercise my brain. The internet is my vice of choice and I am on it constantly. I make sure I am subscribed to thought-provoking sites as well as TMZ. A girls gotta have her gossip, mmkay?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
3. Don't procrastinate. Well, duh. I have an appointment to have that tattooed across my body. But, maybe I'll do that later. If you don't write it today, it will be gone tmrw. Even if you jot down a note, today's thought will NEVER be the same the next day.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
4. Keep learning. Even the greats like Stephen King and James Patterson say they learn something new every day. As early an adopter as Mr. King is, he is always willing to take on a new challenge. And Mr. Patterson, with the easy way he collaborates with, well, anyone, proves that you are never too old to learn a new trick. And by old, I mean experienced. And by trick, I mean multi-million dollar making novel.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
5. Nurture relationships. Like those authors I named, they are always making new friends, meeting new people and nurturing the right relationships. The proofer you use for your very first book may become the editor-in-chief at the most sought-after publisher. And that freelance editor? She may just become The SuperAgent of the future. *wink* You never know.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I would keep these five reasons handy. I actually typed mine up and am laminating it tmrw. But don't tell anyone. I have a rep to protect. *giggle*</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783063839921214559noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893796654996201296.post-2937803828045382672014-01-29T20:44:00.000-08:002014-01-29T20:45:31.107-08:00Vicky Locey Takes Her Characters to Lunch!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I have a wonderful new author friend to introduce you to. Vicky Locey, one of the insightful authors at Secret Cravings Press with me, has agreed to share something really cool.....a sit-down with her protags! It's a great concept, one I am keen on recreating. So join me in welcoming Vicky and her brain children, Alain and Vivian!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><u><b>Lunch with Lovers by Author Vicky Locey</b></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Thank
you Sam for having me here! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> There
are few things more enjoyable than sitting down with friends. I got to do just
that recently with the stars of my erotic sports romance, <i>Pink Pucks & Power Plays, </i>the first book in the To Love a
Wildcat series. Given that Alain has a rather severe dislike of the press
and/or interviews, I wasn`t sure he would agree, but my gal Viv finagled the
handsome young D-man into meeting me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> We
arranged for the interview to take place at The Black Boar Bar & Grill, a popular
eatery and sports bar a few blocks from The Houseman Arena where the
Philadelphia Wildcats play. Alain is one of several `Cats who own a share of
the trendy meeting place. I picked the table by the small stage in the large
dining area. Rumor has it Philly sports stars perform here on occasion, but
I`ve yet to see it. Maybe someday I`ll catch a performance by a Wildcat or two.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiadszWvystT9EGtumbeMtNCTU4Nh4NOv_8cJR8wnEyKuJYlU2GvP79shMHeYO5dY0Jg5Hz_nEqk_-MWAyzwTrtwRYABxJlPCC5nAJE_CQf4asr6wUELUfOMmCrcAREWL3WSAAhlOCLixnt/s1600/bigstock-Row-of-tables-red-seats-and-b-29480387.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiadszWvystT9EGtumbeMtNCTU4Nh4NOv_8cJR8wnEyKuJYlU2GvP79shMHeYO5dY0Jg5Hz_nEqk_-MWAyzwTrtwRYABxJlPCC5nAJE_CQf4asr6wUELUfOMmCrcAREWL3WSAAhlOCLixnt/s1600/bigstock-Row-of-tables-red-seats-and-b-29480387.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The hot spot was rather quiet, as it was after
the lunch crush. There were televisions filling every available inch of wall
space that wasn`t covered with sports memorabilia. As a friendly young waiter
dressed as a referee delivered my decaf, I saw the couple arriving. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "Alain!"
the few lingering patrons shouted as if we were at <i>Cheers. </i>Lessard smiled at his fans, slapping backs as well as shaking
hands as he followed Viviana to the table. I smiled at the woman. She was, as
she always is, vibrant. Her clothes were sexy, colorful and playful, accenting
her legs and her breasts, for she knows how much her lover admires them. Viv
and I bussed cheeks. We`re the same height and possess the same curvy form so
seem to feel an affinity for each other. Alain enveloped me in a brotherly hug.
My eyes grew wide. I peeked at Viviana. She smiled. Alain released me to pull
the chair out for his lady love. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "Thank
you for doing this, Alain," I said as he hurried to push my chair in for
me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "It
is my pleasure," the Quebecer said as he dropped his well made frame into
his seat. I could easily see what Viv saw in Alain. Six foot two, one hundred
and ninety pounds, black curly hair, hazel eyes, athletic build, and a mouth
that begs to be kissed. I`d be drawn like a moth to a flame as well! "This
is not like a regular interview."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "See,
not all interviews are bad," the sassy brunette said as she ran her eyes
over the menu. Alain rolled those pretty hazel eyes playfully. His hand rested
on the back of Viviana`s chair possessively. "Let`s get a fish dinner then
split it." Viviana looked at me with eyes the color of white grapes. Her
eyes always amaze me. I nodded at the suggestion. After the order was placed
and Viv and Alain`s drinks were brought out, we started chatting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "So,
how does it feel to be the stars of your own book?" I asked the couple. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "I`m
tickled to be the first of the Wildcats women`s story that you told,"
Viviana said then sipped at her raspberry flavored water. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "It
is very nice," Alain answered tactfully. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "He`s
not always so tight-fisted with his words," Viviana pointed out as our appetizers
arrived. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "Oh,
I`m well aware of how he can talk once he`s comfortable," I replied with a
wink for the hockey star. His mouth curled into a shy smile. "Although you
do seem to have the lion`s share of the dialog in the book, Viv."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "Yes,
see, <i>chaton</i>, I don`t talk much
because you are doing all the talking for us both," Alain joked. "I
cannot fit the words in edge like."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "Oh
pooh on both of you." Viviana dipped a mozzarella stick into some red
sauce then offered the first bite to Alain, her left hand cupped under the
dripping stick. "It`s hot," she warned. Probably so he didn`t burn
those lips of his she is so keen on kissing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "Speaking
of sex," I said as I dipped my own stick. Both my characters eyes widened
with surprise. "Were you two pleased with the amount of it in your
book?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "Is
there such a thing as too <i>much</i>
sex?" Viviana asked with a impish gleam in her eye. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "It
was very nice," Alain responded. I suspected that was his stock reply
whenever he felt the matter was too personal to discuss. It was better than
being told it was none of my business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "The
sex was wonderful," Viv interjected as she fed Alain the rest of the
cheese stick. "I do love a juicy read, and this story certainly is
that!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "But
there was more than the sex, no?" Alain said after dabbing sauce off his
mouth with his napkin."The sex, it was great, but the lesson my Viviana
learned, that was big importance too, was it not?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I
looked pointedly at the woman trying to decide which mozzarella stick to chose
for herself. "Was it, Viviana?" I asked directly. Her eyes flicked to
me then returned to the basket holding our appetizers. The patrons hooted at an
old replay of a Stanley Cup game on one of the TV sets. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "Can
we talk about the sex instead?" Viv inquired. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "No,
we are talking about all the book, not just the steamy sex scenes," Alain
hurried to say. I leaned back into my seat, nibbling the scalding hot stick
carefully, my napkin held under my chin. "So, did you learn a lesson,
Viviana?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "Yes,
I learned a lesson! Does that make you both happy?! For goodness sake, one
would think I was Dr. Doom or something!" she huffed as she made a grab
for a stick in the bright red plastic basket. Alain grabbed her hand, raised it
to his lips and then laid it on the table beside Viviana`s plate. Then he chose
a stick to feed her. I shifted around in my chair, suddenly quite
uncomfortable. It felt as if I were watching the lovers in their bedroom. I
smiled at a man eating his lunch behind us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "What
did you learn?" I asked when the sensual stick feeding was over with. "And
for the record, we all adore you Viviana," I added, for it was the truth.
Sure, Viv could be rather brusque at times, but her heart was most generally in
the right place. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "I
learned that we should talk about one of the other ladies in the series. Let`s
chat about the rest of the books! I`m sure your readers would like to know a
bit about those instead of hearing more about the poor choices silly old me has
made."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I
let her have that victory. She was far too clever to wrangle into such a
private confession. She <i>had</i> been a
reporter after all. Viviana Land had lots of pride, and chutzpah. I didn`t wish
to push either her or Alain too far. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "Alright,
let me see. The next book will be <i>A Most
Unlikely Countess</i>."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "Look
at that dreamy look," Alain teased. I felt the heat creeping into my face.
"Ah poor V. L., she does so love goalies."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "Okay,
yes, I do have a thing for goalies. Everyone knows that." I hurried to
grab my coffee to hide behind. Viviana patted my arm while laughing at my
discomfort. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "It`s
fine, " Viv assured me. "A woman would have to be dead and buried not
to be swept off her feet by Veikko Aho. He is perhaps one of the most
classically handsome men I have ever laid eyes on."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "Ahem!"
We both looked at Alain with his arms now folded over a tee that read 'Old Time
Hockey' and featured the Hanson Brothers from the movie, <i>Slapshot.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "Aside
from you of course, darling." Viviana patted his muscular bicep. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I
hurried to carry on lest more male ego was trampled. "After <i>A Most Unlikely Countess</i> will be <i>O Captain! My Captain!, Reality Check,</i>
and <i>Language of Love</i>. I`m also toying
with a few ideas for other Wildcat books, but we`ll see how things hatch with
the planned five before I count chickens."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "I
for one hope they do well. If women knew just how sexy hockey players are,
they`d flock to grab those books." Viviana leaned back to give the server
room to place her half a fish dinner. My mouth watered when my plate of flaky
flounder, thick steak fries, and a side of coleslaw was set in front of me.
Alain was eating rare steak with a fat baked potato that was topped with sour
cream and chives. I guess the players get tired of chicken. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "I
can`t argue that point," I said then waggled an eyebrow. Alain smiled
self-consciously.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "He
does humble well," Viviana whispered as she passed the ketchup bottle to
me. The meal progressed pleasantly. We chatted about small things. Alain seemed
to relax completely by the time dessert was brought out. We each had a small
dish of ice cream. Mine was vanilla, Alain`s fudge ripple, and Viviana`s black
raspberry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "So,
can I ask a question?" Alain said as we enjoyed our frozen treats. I
nodded. "How do the Wildcats do in our quest for Lord Stanley`s cup?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "Oh
no you don`t!" I shook my spoon at the charmer, "You`re not wheedling
that information out of me. No way and no how!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "I
could send a certain goalie over to persuade that information out of you,"
he teased, his hazel eyes sparkling with mischief. I stared at him over the
table. Viviana slapped his arm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "Would
you stop tormenting the poor woman so! If you wish to know if the `Cats win it
all, or if any of our friends find love, buy the books."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "But
Viviana, how do I find time to read when I am working to keep you happy?"
Alain asked with utmost sincerity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "Oh,
he`s good," I muttered under my breath. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "Yes
he is," Viviana purred, leaning over to steal a kiss from her Wildcat. It
didn`t take the couple long to finish their ice cream, snap up the check, and
wave goodbye. I sat back with a contented smile. One Wildcat happy ever after,
four more to go! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*~*~*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHbFA3Hl0VuXLa1ceJw9dAY3w9bIERMBzuRUwwHQEmU2I0dy_0doQrX7Zw1hyphenhyphenc6w1jWENdcaIsaXNQp1fZ5yMZGwqtEt1XAmGmY5CByruM1w92NI0G-EIyRq3IZKshyphenhyphen99gnoENAYaWry9/s1600/PinkPucksPowerPlays_SM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHbFA3Hl0VuXLa1ceJw9dAY3w9bIERMBzuRUwwHQEmU2I0dy_0doQrX7Zw1hyphenhyphenc6w1jWENdcaIsaXNQp1fZ5yMZGwqtEt1XAmGmY5CByruM1w92NI0G-EIyRq3IZKshyphenhyphen99gnoENAYaWry9/s1600/PinkPucksPowerPlays_SM.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Blurb:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FFD1D1;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Viviana Land just can`t seem to say no to her younger sister.
Somehow, the curvaceous society page reporter gets lassoed into serving as her
niece`s Busy Bee scout leader. One overheated engine later, Viviana and her
girls find themselves in the Green Hills Ice Rink. Enter Alain Lessard, the
charmingly handsome defenseman for the Philadelphia Wildcats, who is donating
his summer to coaching the youth league.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FFD1D1;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When our intrepid reporter is given the opportunity to write<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">the</span></em><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span>break-out story of her career,
Viviana leaps at the chance. Thinking it would be easy to flirt and tease some
juicy tidbits out of Alain, Viviana soon finds herself falling for the sensual,
younger, kind-hearted man. Will she put aside her virtual pen for a chance to
stay at her new paramour`s side? Or will Viviana finally get away from those
mundane bakery opening articles by using the man she may possibly be in love
with? </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="NoSpacing1" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">You
can find <i>Pink Pucks & Power Plays</i>
at the Secret Cravings Store as well as all other major retailers:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing1" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="NoSpacing1" style="line-height: 150%;">
<a href="http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=48&products_id=814"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Secret Cravings Publishing</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing1" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Vicki/Documents/Blog%20post%20for%20Pink%20Pucks%202.docx"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Vicki/Documents/Blog%20post%20for%20Pink%20Pucks%202.docx"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">All Romance eBooks</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Samantha/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.Outlook/XC3JAJDJ/Red%20Room%20Interview%20Viv%20and%20Alain.docx"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">B&N</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, belly
laughs, anything romantic, Greek mythology, New York Rangers hockey, comic books and coffee. (Not necessarily in
that order.) She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two
cats, a steer named after a famous N.H.L. goalie, and a flock of assorted
domestic fowl. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> V.L. is a self-published and
conventionally published author. She is a proud Torquere Press and Secret
Cravings Publishing author. When not writing romantic tales, she can be found
enjoying her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a
cup of fresh java in hand, writing, or cheering on her beloved New York
Rangers. She can also be found online on Facebook, Twitter, and GoodReads.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I love
to meet new friends and fans! You can find me at-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Facebook-
</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/VL-Locey/124405447678452"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">https://www.facebook.com/pages/VL-Locey/124405447678452</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Twitter-
</span><a href="https://twitter.com/vllocey"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">https://twitter.com/vllocey</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Goodreads-
</span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5807700.V_L_Locey"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5807700.V_L_Locey</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">My blog-
</span><a href="http://thoughtsfromayodelinggoatherder.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">http://thoughtsfromayodelinggoatherder.blogspot.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 150%;"> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783063839921214559noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893796654996201296.post-8992026887337923072014-01-18T21:58:00.000-08:002014-01-18T21:58:47.734-08:00Introducing....Lauren Frederick<div class="MsoNormal">
I have a new author friend. She was an aspiring writer and now she is about to be a published one! I asked her if she wanted to share how it all began for her and she agreed. I love when I can feature a new author before she becomes big and famous. So, please welcome with me, Lauren Frederick.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Writing Journey</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Honestly, I’m the worst person to talk about a journey that
happened at such a young age. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been
conjuring up my own worlds and putting them on paper. It started in early
elementary school while I was bored in class. At the time, I thought my drawing
skills were prodigious, and I’d make my own little loose leaf-bound graphic
novels. It didn’t take me long to realize that my talent really sparkled in the
little speech bubbles next to my horrendous drawings of talking dogs and cats. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Reading definitely fueled my passion for writing lengthier
pieces. I wasn’t born a book worm; I actually started reading<i> </i>because I was in competition with a
close friend (she wasn’t about to finish <i>Harry
Potter </i>before me!) It was a struggle at first, but it wasn’t long before I
started reading books as quickly as my mother could get to the book store.
Immersing myself into other fantasy worlds opened my imagination to the
potential of creating my own stories. I started making my own characters to plug
into stories, filling numerous notebooks with embarrassing fan fictions, and
eventually creating my own first short story. It was for a 6<sup>th</sup> grade
creative writing assignment, and I went 20 pages over the requirement. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Completing my first manuscript came years later. I was on
the verge of graduating college with no clue what I wanted to do afterwards.
Taking a gap year during the rough economy wasn’t unheard of, and I decided to
do some serious soul searching in that year. How did I cope? I wrote. I came up
with my idea for my forthcoming debut novel, <i>Lucid</i> in college, and I really wanted to do my characters justice
by finishing the story. Eighty-five thousand words later, I had this
manuscript. I remember sighing with relief, pouring myself a glass of wine, and
saying , “I did it. I started a multi-million dollar career. I’m going to be on
the New York Times Bestseller list by the end of this year.”</div>
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I was a very naïve 22 year-old. </div>
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Getting my first rejection letters was a real blow to my
ego. I was used to getting everything for which I applied. Scholarships, poetry
contests, school play roles, honors societies, you name it. Having someone tell
me that she’s not interested in my work, my world I’d created over the span of
5 years, was a pretty tough pill to swallow. I took a break from writing,
applied to grad schools (for writing, because I obviously needed help,) and
only faced more disappointment. (How was I supposed to know MFAs were
competitive, and my BS in psychology didn’t help my case?!) My virgin writing
eyes were opened that year, and it took a lot of self-loathing and reflection
to realize something important.</div>
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I didn’t need an agent or a publisher to tell me that my
work was good in order to keep writing. Did I write my dog stories and fan
fiction because I wanted to be rich? Of course not! They made me happy, and I
enjoyed writing things even if no one else would ever read them. While having
this revelation, I was a middle school substitute teacher, and I realized that
my middle school students were always looking for cool things to read. I
started talking about my own stories, and soon enough, I had a little audience
eager to hear about Devon and his adventures into a dangerous dream world. I
realized that writing was the reward, whether the story was heard or not. The
fact that my story brought joy to my students was a huge plus that fueled my
continuing to query agents and publishers. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I still am naïve to the writing world, but I’m learning as I
go on. Forty query letters and a year and a half later, I’ve secured a
publishing contract for <i>Lucid. </i>Again,
I thought that was going to be the end of it. All I had to do was sign the
contract, and the rest would fall into place. I laugh at myself (only months
ago,) but I find it’s not a bad lesson. The path to success is not easy, and it
shouldn’t be. Even CEOs have to start in a cubicle, and famous actors got their
starts in mediocre plays off-Broadway or in sketchy LA comedy clubs. </div>
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Determination to find one’s path to happiness is everything.
If attending the gym weekly has taught me anything, it’s that hard work pays
off in both mind and body. In order to be the best version of yourself, you can
never quit. You may not walk the premeditative path you had planned out for
yourself, but it’s all right. If you work hard, never give up, and believe you
will find happiness, you’ll end up right where you need to be. I just started
my journey, and it’s not without its stress and setbacks, but I know there’s no
use in complaining. If I keep trucking along, and remember that writing is the
work <i>and</i> the reward, everything will
be fine. You will, too. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1893796654996201296" name="_GoBack"></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783063839921214559noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893796654996201296.post-80588578986904890492014-01-15T22:05:00.001-08:002014-01-15T22:05:49.947-08:00How Can Google Alerts Work For You?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We all know the value of facebook and Twitter for marketing our books. Social media has been a boon for the self-made and independent entrepreneur. With all the various apps out there, Google Plus, LinkedIn, Tumblr, and probably a million others, it is not only in our best interest we avail ourselves of them as writers, it is damn near imperative.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Also, as indie authors, or even aspiring indie authors, we write posts for friendly blogs, articles for publication, and give interviews when we can. Have you often wondered how to keep up with all the internet footprinting you must be doing? I have and was given a wonderful tip that pays me back every day....google alerts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Never heard of them? They are great. You input a search item, be it a word, a phrase, or like in my case, my book titles, and every single time that word or phrase shows up on the internet anywhere, you get an email advising you about it. This is a handy trick if you don't want to spend your whole day surfing the web. Even every time someone posts a review of one of my books, I get the alert, even if I wasn't even aware of the review. It's a nice way to keep track of who is reading your work, and which bloggers are in your camp.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Setting up the alert is easy and painless (way different than writing, huh?) You simply plug in this web address: <a href="http://www.google.com/alerts">http://www.google.com/alerts</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You get a page that looks like this:</span><br />
<table class="layout" style="background-color: white; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; margin: 12px 44px 24px; padding: 0px;"><tbody>
<tr style="border-spacing: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><td class="form" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-spacing: 0px; color: #333333; margin: 0px; min-width: 468px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><table class="create-form" style="border-spacing: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><tbody>
<tr class="select-label" style="border-spacing: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><td style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-spacing: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; height: 44px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 16px 0px 0px; text-align: right; width: 117px;">Search query:</td><td style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-spacing: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; height: 44px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 16px 0px 0px; text-align: right; width: 117px;"><input id="focus_elt" maxlength="256" name="q" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-bottom-left-radius: 1px; border-bottom-right-radius: 1px; border-color: rgb(192, 192, 192) rgb(217, 217, 217) rgb(217, 217, 217); border-style: solid; border-top-left-radius: 1px; border-top-right-radius: 1px; border-width: 1px; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; height: 29px; line-height: 24px; padding-left: 8px; vertical-align: top; width: 250px;" type="text" value="" /></td></tr>
<tr class="select-label" style="border-spacing: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><td style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-spacing: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; height: 44px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 16px 0px 0px; text-align: right; width: 117px;">Result type:</td><td style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-spacing: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; height: 44px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 16px 0px 0px; text-align: right; width: 117px;"><div aria-haspopup="true" aria-hidden="false" class="goog-select kd-button goog-inline-block goog-menu-button" id="subscription_selector_button" role="button" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.218s; -webkit-user-select: none; background-color: whitesmoke; background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, rgb(245, 245, 245), rgb(241, 241, 241)); border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: 1px solid rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392); color: #444444; cursor: default; display: inline-block; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; height: 27px; line-height: 27px; min-width: 72px; padding: 0px 8px; position: relative; text-align: center; transition: all 0.218s; white-space: nowrap;" tabindex="0">
<div class="goog-inline-block goog-menu-button-outer-box" style="display: inline-block; height: 27px; position: relative;">
<div class="goog-inline-block goog-menu-button-inner-box" style="display: inline-block; height: 27px; position: relative;">
<div class="goog-inline-block goog-menu-button-caption" style="display: inline-block; margin-right: 5px; overflow: hidden; padding-right: 5px; position: relative; text-align: left; width: 211px;">
Everything</div>
<div class="goog-inline-block goog-menu-button-dropdown" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-style: solid dashed dashed; border-width: 4px 4px 0px; display: inline-block; height: 0px; line-height: 0px; position: relative; top: 12px; vertical-align: top; width: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr class="select-label" style="border-spacing: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><td style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-spacing: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; height: 44px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 16px 0px 0px; text-align: right; width: 117px;">How often:</td><td style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-spacing: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; height: 44px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 16px 0px 0px; text-align: right; width: 117px;"><div aria-haspopup="true" aria-hidden="false" class="goog-select kd-button goog-inline-block goog-menu-button" id="email_freq_selector_button" role="button" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.218s; -webkit-user-select: none; background-color: whitesmoke; background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, rgb(245, 245, 245), rgb(241, 241, 241)); border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: 1px solid rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392); color: #444444; cursor: default; display: inline-block; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; height: 27px; line-height: 27px; min-width: 72px; padding: 0px 8px; position: relative; text-align: center; transition: all 0.218s; white-space: nowrap;" tabindex="0">
<div class="goog-inline-block goog-menu-button-outer-box" style="display: inline-block; height: 27px; position: relative;">
<div class="goog-inline-block goog-menu-button-inner-box" style="display: inline-block; height: 27px; position: relative;">
<div class="goog-inline-block goog-menu-button-caption" style="display: inline-block; margin-right: 5px; overflow: hidden; padding-right: 5px; position: relative; text-align: left; width: 211px;">
Once a day</div>
<div class="goog-inline-block goog-menu-button-dropdown" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-style: solid dashed dashed; border-width: 4px 4px 0px; display: inline-block; height: 0px; line-height: 0px; position: relative; top: 12px; vertical-align: top; width: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr class="select-label" style="border-spacing: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><td style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-spacing: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; height: 44px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 16px 0px 0px; text-align: right; width: 117px;">How many:</td><td style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-spacing: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; height: 44px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 16px 0px 0px; text-align: right; width: 117px;"><div aria-haspopup="true" aria-hidden="false" class="goog-select kd-button goog-inline-block goog-menu-button" id="volume_selector_button" role="button" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.218s; -webkit-user-select: none; background-color: whitesmoke; background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, rgb(245, 245, 245), rgb(241, 241, 241)); border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: 1px solid rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392); color: #444444; cursor: default; display: inline-block; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; height: 27px; line-height: 27px; min-width: 72px; padding: 0px 8px; position: relative; text-align: center; transition: all 0.218s; white-space: nowrap;" tabindex="0">
<div class="goog-inline-block goog-menu-button-outer-box" style="display: inline-block; height: 27px; position: relative;">
<div class="goog-inline-block goog-menu-button-inner-box" style="display: inline-block; height: 27px; position: relative;">
<div class="goog-inline-block goog-menu-button-caption" style="display: inline-block; margin-right: 5px; overflow: hidden; padding-right: 5px; position: relative; text-align: left; width: 211px;">
Only the best results</div>
<div class="goog-inline-block goog-menu-button-dropdown" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-style: solid dashed dashed; border-width: 4px 4px 0px; display: inline-block; height: 0px; line-height: 0px; position: relative; top: 12px; vertical-align: top; width: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr class="select-label" style="border-spacing: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><td style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-spacing: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; height: 44px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 16px 0px 0px; text-align: right; width: 117px;">Deliver to:</td><td style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-spacing: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; height: 44px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 16px 0px 0px; text-align: right; width: 117px;"><div aria-haspopup="true" aria-hidden="false" class="goog-select kd-button goog-inline-block goog-menu-button" id="delivery_selector_button" role="button" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.218s; -webkit-user-select: none; background-color: whitesmoke; background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, rgb(245, 245, 245), rgb(241, 241, 241)); border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: 1px solid rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392); color: #444444; cursor: default; display: inline-block; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; height: 27px; line-height: 27px; min-width: 72px; padding: 0px 8px; position: relative; text-align: center; transition: all 0.218s; white-space: nowrap;" tabindex="0">
<div class="goog-inline-block goog-menu-button-outer-box" style="display: inline-block; height: 27px; position: relative;">
<div class="goog-inline-block goog-menu-button-inner-box" style="display: inline-block; height: 27px; position: relative;">
<div class="goog-inline-block goog-menu-button-caption" style="display: inline-block; margin-right: 5px; overflow: hidden; padding-right: 5px; position: relative; text-align: left; width: 211px;">
Samanthacombswrites@gmail.com</div>
<div class="goog-inline-block goog-menu-button-dropdown" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-style: solid dashed dashed; border-width: 4px 4px 0px; display: inline-block; height: 0px; line-height: 0px; position: relative; top: 12px; vertical-align: top; width: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="border-spacing: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><td style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-spacing: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; height: 44px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></td><td class="buttonbar" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-spacing: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; height: 44px; margin: 0px; max-width: 250px; padding: 2px 16px 0px 0px;"><input class="kd-button kd-button-red" data-g-action="Create" id="create_alert" role="button" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-transition: all 0.218s; -webkit-user-select: none; background-color: #d14836; background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, rgb(221, 75, 57), rgb(209, 72, 54)); border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: 1px solid transparent; color: white; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; height: 29px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; min-width: 72px; padding: 0px 8px; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 1px; text-transform: uppercase; transition: all 0.218s;" type="submit" value="Create Alert" /><a class="kd-button" data-g-action="Go to manage alerts" href="http://www.google.com/alerts/manage" id="preview_link" role="button" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.218s; -webkit-user-select: none; background-color: whitesmoke; background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, rgb(245, 245, 245), rgb(241, 241, 241)); border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: 1px solid rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392); color: #444444; cursor: default; display: inline-block; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; height: 27px; line-height: 27px; min-width: 72px; padding: 0px 8px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.218s;"><nobr>Manage your alerts</nobr></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Identify your search item, decide how often you want to be alerted, than add in your own information for the email address. Press the big red button and off you go!</span><br />I am the author of ten published books (as of yesterday!), so I have 11 alerts; one for each book title and one for my name alone.<br /><br />Great luck to you discovering your own digital footprint!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783063839921214559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893796654996201296.post-73473048558357916062014-01-14T23:30:00.000-08:002014-01-14T23:30:16.366-08:00Wingspan Spreads it's WingsAs of this moment, Wingspan is now available on Amazon and Smashwords, so far. I am pretty stoked. I have some reviews already done and I'm looking forward them to be posted. Please take a gander at the sneak-peak at the book. I'll post one every couple days until you can't stand it anymore and simply HAVE to get the book. Thats how it works, at least in my mind. And and one other thing.....thanks for continuing to support this grateful independent author.<br />
<br />
WINGSPAN<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WkH_0HbBbxAXA91MDW0cnCRr0i3vXxR2HMiwti5Y66kAWb_qMLZzMgfAypYl7bixU8zPieuJDa5RH_iTewztEZtm-Co01RVNL8MTLsc4U6gWn-AyWtRXi4Dp7uuF9-ZFLBQehD6JSZkg/s1600/Wingspan+500x750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WkH_0HbBbxAXA91MDW0cnCRr0i3vXxR2HMiwti5Y66kAWb_qMLZzMgfAypYl7bixU8zPieuJDa5RH_iTewztEZtm-Co01RVNL8MTLsc4U6gWn-AyWtRXi4Dp7uuF9-ZFLBQehD6JSZkg/s320/Wingspan+500x750.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
Sneak Peak:<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Chessa refused
to meet his gaze. Maybe if she kept her
face straight, Ryan wouldn’t see the flush creeping its way across her
skin. “Shouldn’t you keep your eyes on
the road?”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Ryan
chuckled. “Wow. Not used to compliments is my guess. What?
Never had a boyfriend before?”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“I’ve had my
share.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Is that
so? You ask me, I’d have guessed never.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Whatever. You don’t know anything about me.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Whoa. I know more about you than most. I know about your wings-and-things there,
don’t I?”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“So what? I have no idea what possessed my Dad to let
you take me anywhere.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Hell, I can
drop you anywhere you like. This is a <i>favor</i> I’m doing you. But, you just say the word and I’ll take this
truck to the shoulder and offload you quicker than a longshoreman.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Fine.” Take me to the nearest bus station.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Ryan spread his
arms wide. “In case you hadn’t noticed,
we’re not exactly in the big city anymore, girl. There’s no bus station within 300 miles of
here.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Chessa glanced
out the window. She had been so involved
in their conversation, she had not noticed that they had left the city limits
long ago.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Where are we?”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Ryan drummed
the steering wheel. “We’re on the way to
Shan-gri-la, baby. Just like Daddy
Dearest requested. Why? Still want that bus station detour?”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Chessa settled
back into the seat. Might as well just
get to the cabin and make some more plans once there. She sighed.
“No. Let’s just get to the
cabin.” She checked the
speedometer. “Think you can do that
without killing us?”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“That’s my
specialty.”</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783063839921214559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893796654996201296.post-71376195797746707002013-11-27T05:00:00.000-08:002013-11-27T05:00:04.759-08:00Meet Author Patricia Kiyono<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">While I have a truckload of friends and fellow author colleagues from Facebook, I have only a handful I have met IRL. (In real life). My friend Patricia Kiyono is one of them. She traveled with her daughter to my sunny neck of the woods and we got a spare afternoon to meet, lunch, and talk books, both reading and writing. She has a new release perfect for the holiday season and I am happy to host her, and the new book, here on the bloggy. Read about how she got the idea for the new story! See, everything you know holds a possible new idea....Patricia proves it.</span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"><u>Post by PATRICIA KIYONO </u></span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I've
always been fascinated by cultural references. I think they make up the essence
of a town. While in most areas of the United States the population is a mixture
of many cultures, there are some pockets of a concentration of one ethnic
group.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEE2Kh_R4S7qA2kJNFCLHn0_cdzfxjvgz4ImYJZZUq2ly1R651i2HXKgRH5JtVo7ho92XutjBpEDE0ZEdUWjn_4UHwHdtnT68YbhdTfoa6OIAuLKuaPOqj8_MWvgPfz07F93tSAPYnnEB/s1600/Patricia+Kiyono.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEE2Kh_R4S7qA2kJNFCLHn0_cdzfxjvgz4ImYJZZUq2ly1R651i2HXKgRH5JtVo7ho92XutjBpEDE0ZEdUWjn_4UHwHdtnT68YbhdTfoa6OIAuLKuaPOqj8_MWvgPfz07F93tSAPYnnEB/s200/Patricia+Kiyono.JPG" width="190" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In
southwest Michigan, the city of Holland is recognized as a miniature tribute to
the Netherlands, the nation to which many of its inhabitants can trace their
ancestry. There are several Dutch language churches, and the city hosts the
Holland Tulip Festival each May. The streets are swept clean during the
Kinderparade, and groups of dancers perform in their klompen, or wooden shoes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">While
the cities of Holland and nearby Grand Rapids are typically urban, the villages
between them are quaint and picturesque. The Dutch heritage is evident here as
well, as several schools, churches, and towns boast names reminiscent of the
Old Country - Drenthe, Zeeland, Vriesland, and Borculo are some of the burgs
named for people and places in the Netherlands. The telephone book is full of
names beginning with the prefixes Van (meaning from), Vander (from the) and De
(the). This is where I grew up, and where I still live today.</span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Of course, my family is Asian, so
we always stood out among the tall, fair, blue eyed population. But this
community stood up and protected my father and his family during the World War
II, when thousands of Japanese families were shipped off to internment camps
and lost everything they had. But here in Grand Rapids, Michigan, church
officials and civic leaders petitioned the federal government and somehow
assured the powers that be that this little family posed absolutely no threat
to national security, and that it was not necessary to take them away. Still,
Dad remembers being hauled out of school and taken to the federal building and
fingerprinted – just in case. Black limousines followed him and his brother
whenever they went out with their friends. But thanks to the good people of
Grand Rapids, they were able to keep their home. We owe this Dutch community a
lot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">It is this type of community that
I tried to depict in <i>Christmas Wishes</i>,
my newest release. It's about the sense of belonging, and about making wishes
come true. Here's a little bit about the book.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouwK-3xX7r7XOZR_MNlGLZv-3O8sRoWqPX-AmJQDcSgWAkLPU0qdEC57EDieSyRPYSY8YL__9DW9GmTrg9zw344UsV32iC8lMArzacqI3Mv5fw-tYO2NZNsDdey-fRbuLIO6UtUjckh4B/s1600/ChristmasWishes+500x750+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouwK-3xX7r7XOZR_MNlGLZv-3O8sRoWqPX-AmJQDcSgWAkLPU0qdEC57EDieSyRPYSY8YL__9DW9GmTrg9zw344UsV32iC8lMArzacqI3Mv5fw-tYO2NZNsDdey-fRbuLIO6UtUjckh4B/s320/ChristmasWishes+500x750+(1).jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<br /></div>
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<b>Blurb:</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Photographer
Mitch Carson is tired of big city life. He just wants to settle down in a quiet
town with his daughter, Angie. Even that doesn't quell his fear of losing his
daughter to his scheming mother-in-law.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Sophie
Gardner wants to be a screenwriter. She's ready to leave small town Zutphen,
Michigan and go to Hollywood. With a theater degree under her belt, she's busy
writing scripts while helping out her sister Joanie, who's bedridden with a
difficult pregnancy. Unfortunately, Joanie has somehow coerced Sophie into
directing the Christmas pageant at Zutphen Community Church. <o:p></o:p></div>
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When
Sophie and Mitch meet, the attraction is instant and mutual. But each wants
what the other is trying to get away from. Can they deny their feelings and
pursue their dreams? Or will the holiday prove to them that their true wishes
might not be what they'd thought?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Excerpt:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Mitch
tightened the knot on his tie. The action seemed symbolic of tightening a noose
around his own throat. He had never thought he’d be going to another church
service. Sending his daughter to Sunday School with the VandenBerg family was
one thing, but attending a service with her was quite another. But for his
little girl, he’d do almost anything, and she wanted to go to the Big Church
with him on Sunday, so he’d agreed to go.</div>
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Angie
sat on his bed, dressed in a new outfit his mother had helped her pick out. Her
hair was neatly combed, though he noticed the curls were somewhat uneven. She
opened and closed her little purse to make sure she had everything she needed.
He wasn’t sure what a six-year-old would need for a church service, but he knew
her two grandmas would have instructed her.</div>
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“Are
you almost ready, Daddy?” she asked. “Jennie says it starts at nine o’clock.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“I’m
almost ready, sweetheart, and we’re not going to be late. The church is only
ten minutes away.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“Sunday
School is after church. There’s four other girls from my class at school. And
there’s no boys, so it’s more fun.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Mitch
held in his laughter. Her views on boys would change soon enough. For now, her
distaste for boys was good.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“Miss
Sophie is going to work on our Christmas Pageant songs with us during the first
part of Sunday School. She’s so pretty. I think she’s the prettiest lady in the
whole world.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“Mmm.”
He wasn’t inclined to disagree.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“Daddy?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“What,
sweetheart?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“Your
tie looks funny.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
He
looked in the mirror. He’d triple-knotted, and the resulting knot was twice as
large as it needed to be. He sighed and unwound the fabric so he could start
over.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Bio:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
In
a previous life, Patricia Kiyono taught elementary school students by day and
changed diapers at night. Now she teaches college students part time and
changes diapers only when she's taking care of grandkids. She loves to do
anything that doesn't involve exercise. Right now her favorite activities,
other than writing, include scrapbooking, sewing, and making music. She and her
husband live in southwest Michigan, near their five children and nine
grandchildren.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Buy links: </b><i>Christmas Wishes </i>can be purchased at <a href="http://amzn.com/B00GGNA44C">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/christmas-wishes-patricia-kiyono/1117325618?ean=2940148919742">Barnes
and Noble</a>, and other ebook outlets.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Author links: </b>Patricia Kiyono can be found
at her <a href="http://www.patriciakiyono.com/">website</a>, <a href="http://creative-hodgepodge.blogspot.com/">blog</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Patricia-Kiyono/149294485148710">facebook</a>,
<a href="http://amzn.com/e/B0067PSM5C">Amazon</a>, and twitter @PatriciaKiyono</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783063839921214559noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893796654996201296.post-1282994717315667842013-11-25T21:01:00.000-08:002013-11-25T21:03:49.079-08:00WINGSPAN Cover ReleaseI am excited to show the cover for Wingspan, designed by the unbelievably talented Elaina Lee. She designed the covers for Spellbound, Everspell, and Ghostly. As I made my choice to release Wingspan with a new publishing company, esKape Press, I was both surprised and delighted to learn she would be my new artist. She just knows how I like the covers to look, and she just GETS me. Thanks, Elaina.<br />
<br />
So, I'd love to unveil the beautiful cover here, and entice you with both it and the blurb. Look for Wingspan, coming early December, from esKape Press!<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Ybbk4FHHVcsCdsSfrN7GbjavKIxCaiMBDdYGRtWoC88NtfSZZ1DQj-mffKMxnDSOLNUOPcFnpmXzcc8sMAhupoR3ccAQKHTG_GUXNldKe9_JmYVh_oHoavtkt71EXvB4jtg-7CyTLlvN/s1600/Wingspan+453x680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Ybbk4FHHVcsCdsSfrN7GbjavKIxCaiMBDdYGRtWoC88NtfSZZ1DQj-mffKMxnDSOLNUOPcFnpmXzcc8sMAhupoR3ccAQKHTG_GUXNldKe9_JmYVh_oHoavtkt71EXvB4jtg-7CyTLlvN/s320/Wingspan+453x680.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Chessa Dawning never thought she’d be the kind of girl who’d
be on the run. Yet, here she was, having
left the only home she’s ever known, staying two steps ahead of the men chasing
her and falling for a resourceful ex-criminal with colorful friends. And that
was just this week.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Most of the time, Charlotte Lake can’t believe her
life. The reluctant leader of a rebel
faction called the Ginger Nation, Charlie’s days are filled with planning
surveillance, rescuing detainees, and exposing government conspiracy. Surrounded by loyal friends and soldiers, she
knows she can never reveal the true nature of her quest: finding her real
father. </div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
When a sudden twist in both their lives brings these two
girls together, revelations about their past will make them rethink where they
came from, and define their future in ways they never could have imagined. Not every scientific breakthrough is a gift.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783063839921214559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893796654996201296.post-22820669314278635012013-11-09T05:00:00.000-08:002013-11-09T05:00:05.381-08:00The Writer's Alphabet - Y is for Young AdultThis is a timely post since I was just conversing on facebook with someone on this very topic. I started my writing and publishing career with the young adult genre, so it is close to my heart. Over two years ago, I wrote a post on writing YA and I want to share it here today. If I have missed anything, I'd love you to let me know. Thanks and enjoy!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqIItU5r354SRAjNn-ano1uOJH01L1DKKk7UlBqPNLIgdtOcslm-SU-LLsRWNo6t22hrSjmVDpqhJ4WYPLVKnL6ryEGuTHN9KkmgVlCURrVMnGmv4Br3BtSXgoIuUlRSSfxU34Jc3sCMuo/s1600/YA2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqIItU5r354SRAjNn-ano1uOJH01L1DKKk7UlBqPNLIgdtOcslm-SU-LLsRWNo6t22hrSjmVDpqhJ4WYPLVKnL6ryEGuTHN9KkmgVlCURrVMnGmv4Br3BtSXgoIuUlRSSfxU34Jc3sCMuo/s1600/YA2.jpg" /></a></div>
<ol>
<li>Remember at all times that writing for teens doesn't mean write as though they are stupid. They aren't. In most cases, they are highly intelligent kids, learning about themselves and the world around them, and feeling their way through some of the most enlightening period of their lives. Respect that.</li>
<li>Don't trivialize what they are going through. If your think the scene you wrote sounds like a bad after-school special, it probably is. Treat your characters with dignity, no matter what you have them going through.</li>
<li>Don't think the lingo and terminology from YOUR youth will still play today. It won't. At the risk of aging me, the Valley-girl crap is O.U.T. Your readers will realize it almost on the first page if you try and fake it. If you intend to write for a specific age group, you have to spend time with them. Join a library group and read to them, volunteer at a school, or just go hang out at the beach. But do it A LOT. One hour at the mall won't do it. Teens have a whole different language and it will take time and dedication to master it. There is no Rosetta Stone for teenspeak.</li>
<li>Understand a teen's attention span is about the same to us as our life is to the life of the common housefly. SHORT. You have to capture it on the first page or they toss the book/ipad/kindle aside and grab a DS/Wii/PSP instead. There is no world-building/character-study/working-up-to-it-ness allowed in a middle-grade or young, young-adult book. You have to slam them into the action IMMEDIATELY and keep them there for the whole first chapter. They have to be asking questions at the end of the first paragraph and wanting answers or you already lost them.</li>
<li>Covers are EVERYTHING. Splashy, gaudy, dripping with color, or with a teen just like them on the cover and they will buy it every time. Think of every Sarah Dessen book you ever saw. What's on the cover? Something that relates to a teen-aged girl, right? Look at her latest one....back view of low-rise jeans, bottoms covering the feet, hands stuffed in the back pocket in the classic "What-EVER." pose. That cover SOLD that book. Plus her name of course....synonymous with teen angst and empathy.</li>
<li>Here's the plus side: If you get all that right, teens practically DEMAND books they love get<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_pfomBmjzj6ZWr7NAKmwdL9EmTBGvtyLemDZg9iH8ieuMe1biduXRo1FlZJ7IQYfVH7kd5Ir5sSEKUxFBlr3iiMMDSSoFk-1w0bkeK6YtWLATqY6m6rQ0qN-b35oZ7XrULoEE0JSc1eAp/s1600/YA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_pfomBmjzj6ZWr7NAKmwdL9EmTBGvtyLemDZg9iH8ieuMe1biduXRo1FlZJ7IQYfVH7kd5Ir5sSEKUxFBlr3iiMMDSSoFk-1w0bkeK6YtWLATqY6m6rQ0qN-b35oZ7XrULoEE0JSc1eAp/s200/YA.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
made into movies. They buy and buy and buy until agents and movie producers sit up and take notice and before you know it Mandy Moore and KStew and Emma Stone are lining up to play your angsty teenaged heroine in a movie based on your book! (So I dream. We all do. Whatever. Move on.) </li>
<li>All I'm saying is everyone thinks it's so easy to write YA and I just want you to know, it's not. Just remember, as complicated as you were when you were a young adult, consider putting all THAT done on paper. Right? I rest my case.</li>
</ol>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783063839921214559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893796654996201296.post-41088882263509475082013-11-07T23:26:00.000-08:002013-11-07T23:26:19.216-08:00The Writer's Alphabet - X is for ExitOkay, I know I am cheating with this letter, but the topic is perfect for the end of the alphabet. I want to talk about the end of your story. The exit. From my own experience, I am all too excited to get to the end of the book I am writing. So excited, in fact, that I have to stop myself from steamrolling down to the last word. I have OFTEN rewritten the ending the next day or next week that in my overwhelming joy I pounded out the day or week before. With unbridled restraint.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghS-rLP__GGzYa78E3u6OtRT7g8Sp5BilTB7o61mdDRyRGcqoo8xpDn4CQ16i3nc5J2NhTxzwklTxjKArOWm59iCaW5BpTCZ1kV0OaF-L4xNkZ7aFtY_e-Ukn9H1TQsSw8dBT_3iVfVMwz/s1600/The+End2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="109" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghS-rLP__GGzYa78E3u6OtRT7g8Sp5BilTB7o61mdDRyRGcqoo8xpDn4CQ16i3nc5J2NhTxzwklTxjKArOWm59iCaW5BpTCZ1kV0OaF-L4xNkZ7aFtY_e-Ukn9H1TQsSw8dBT_3iVfVMwz/s200/The+End2.jpg" width="200" /></a>Possibly you are thinking this might go against the advice I always give that the first draft ought to be written all the way through without stopping. I'm not. I still write my novels without editing along the way, still with wild abandon. But, the fact remains and must be said: I stop and consider thoughtfully the ending. Of a novel, a novella, a short story. I have to. Because as far as I am concerned, it's the most important part. You know, next to the start and the middle. :-)<br />
<br />
Since I don't write series, as a general rule, I have this unhealthy need to wrap all loose ends up at the end of a tale. So much so that I often retrace my literal steps to make sure no stone goes unturned. And here again, lies the rub. You, of course, know I have written a series. I swear it was quite by accident and I pride myself with the knowledge that even though the books (SPELLBOUND and EVERSPELL) are in a series, they can be read and enjoyed as stand-alones. But, I still need to tidy everything up and wrap it in a great big bow.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJFhNLDFknOmB0xbb9twZZguxxh64syAggx6Er93YhBOqMBZMI1MjZ-HQBtcspifkde6lcjptCU-o7bFZvHqrCbXc4NO-wWixImQafL96lVxAPjhOcXettz7aMS3QUUzVPcTk0N063na9/s1600/The+End.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJFhNLDFknOmB0xbb9twZZguxxh64syAggx6Er93YhBOqMBZMI1MjZ-HQBtcspifkde6lcjptCU-o7bFZvHqrCbXc4NO-wWixImQafL96lVxAPjhOcXettz7aMS3QUUzVPcTk0N063na9/s200/The+End.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
And that is why X is for exit. As a writer, we have a dual intention. We want to write an exit befitting the genre and the characters. And even if it ends, we want there to be just the tiniest hint we might revisit their worlds. If the readers like them enough, they will practically demand it.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783063839921214559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893796654996201296.post-40138105955011576502013-11-03T05:00:00.000-08:002013-11-03T05:00:02.593-08:00The Writer's Alphabet - W is for Word EchoWhen I am writing, as I have mentioned before, I use words over. And over. And over. My editor has mentioned this to me as well. She has asked me not to do this in my writing.<br />
<br />
See what I did there? I made a terrible, but pointed demonstration of a word echo. In this case, I used the word mentioned and the word writing in two different places in the same thought line. This doesn't mean you can't use the word "said" one time in a 300-page manuscript. This means that the word should not appear incessantly in one scene, or one paragraph, or even in one chapter.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-yxJ8cpxqLxEWLthEjxdCPHP9pAdqcpPltqMArEZWhkkfFRToj5mn2kkt2dF6Men-qT80ITUBo1todNqhFuzpkKhzQ73kmL8NCyMTKkBS2jOhyphenhyphenRqxlRWBkyYmsZaBM6kQlx7ZBhyphenhyphenM5uF/s1600/word+echo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-yxJ8cpxqLxEWLthEjxdCPHP9pAdqcpPltqMArEZWhkkfFRToj5mn2kkt2dF6Men-qT80ITUBo1todNqhFuzpkKhzQ73kmL8NCyMTKkBS2jOhyphenhyphenRqxlRWBkyYmsZaBM6kQlx7ZBhyphenhyphenM5uF/s200/word+echo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
If you think you have a problem with word echoing, try this exercise: take the word you think you have an unhealthy addiction to, and plug it into the find and replace button on the editing tools for your Word document. I have done this and continue to do this every time I finish a manuscript. It is enlightening and astonishing at the same time. My word nemesis, ask my editor, is the word "clearly". I am like a whore for this word, using it willingly and wantonly in every novel or short story. last time I checked, I started with 62 times. Seriously. After some hard editing, I have reduced it down to 8 times. This is a MAJOR achievement for me. Again, ask my editor. (Sorry Kay)<br />
<br />
Another trick I use is to take the offending paragraph or chapter and read it out loud to myself. I find that often my brilliant mind will insert the word that should have been there and make it that easy to remove the word crutch. That's what I call the knee-jerk reaction word, mine of course being "clearly".<br />
<br />
Try these out and see if they don't help. The best news is that when you do them several times, soon they will become old hat and you'll find you don't even need them! I hope to be there some day. Until then, these tricks make me, force me actually, to be a better writer. That's what we all want, right?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3yWRMjvE__gmX2gVZkA811IOfovRAu8LzJxneNl5TEqZ_CRRejgHrNKNiSJLiPK-K2I9EBTirjyIcowO_mQ8C-CwZaOqRRnHHPaMHU-4ncB0xZPfvnJ_CU3rgFfbVQbgET5KuD0Po7qKu/s1600/fun+facts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3yWRMjvE__gmX2gVZkA811IOfovRAu8LzJxneNl5TEqZ_CRRejgHrNKNiSJLiPK-K2I9EBTirjyIcowO_mQ8C-CwZaOqRRnHHPaMHU-4ncB0xZPfvnJ_CU3rgFfbVQbgET5KuD0Po7qKu/s200/fun+facts.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
And here is a fun fact: the word echo comes from Greek mythology. Echo was a nymph whose job it was to talk incessantly to Hera, Zeus' wife, so she would be distracted when Zeus was having affairs. When Hera found out, she was so angry that she cursed Echo to only be able to repeat what someone else has said, thus the word "Echo".Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783063839921214559noreply@blogger.com0