tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57181294617433944802024-03-06T02:23:01.641-05:00Fiction FlurryA Flurry Storm of Fiction GenresBeth Zellnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15666624892647090716noreply@blogger.comBlogger276125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718129461743394480.post-18189515809523571122016-01-31T11:27:00.000-05:002016-01-31T11:27:51.549-05:00Focus on WritingAt our last critique group meeting, we were discussing how each of us can start at the same place but write a completely different story, because our genre focus is different. One person writes a comedy, another a mystery.<br />
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So, just for kicks, we wanted to let our readers in on the fun. Below is a scenario – leave us a comment and tell what happens next in your world.<br />
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<strong>Scene setting</strong> . . . there’s a man in a boat in the middle of a large lake. </div>
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I know – simple huh? So tell us what happens next. I love everything paranormal – so in my story, the man in the boat is attacked by a dragon and an epic battle ensues.<br />
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Tell us... What happens in <i>your</i> story?Michele Downeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09228037752455627464noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718129461743394480.post-9592134609463746302013-03-28T09:28:00.004-04:002013-03-28T09:28:57.705-04:00Foodie Romance Author!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Interview with </span><span style="font-size: large;">Author </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;"><i><a href="http://www.kimberlykincaid.com/index.html">Kimberly Kincaid</a></i></span><br />
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I don't remember the first time I walked into a library, though I really wish I did. I can only imagine my wide eyed gaze as I looked at stacks upon stacks, row after row of glorious books! To this day, I continue to be amazed at the never ending choices of genre before me each time I walk into a book store or library. I've had many a love affair with certain genres, forsaking all others only to discover that yes, I love the new ones I stumble across, too. Just like the newest conquest in my Kindle! </div>
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Now, I went into this novella slightly biased,*I happen to know the author personally and adore her style* </div>
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but, let me tell you, she knocked my socks off with this debut! I cannot wait to read her Pine Mountain Series coming out next year. </div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Michele: Alright, dish! What inspired you to write <i>this</i> novel?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: red;">KK: I had some time in between projects, and my agent suggested a novella or two. I was a little (okay, a lot) writer's blocked, so I flipped through an issue of Cosmopolitan magazine, and saw a gorgeous photo of a model in a long purple skirt. She became my heroine in about three seconds flat! And from there, the whole story snowballed onto the page.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Michele: Care to share how you can possibly think, cook and write about food so much yet rock those heels?</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">KK: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: red;">Practice! No, at home, I am much more relaxed and mostly barefoot all the time. I cook a lot at home, whether for research, personal enjoyment or with my family. But when I am out, I am a total clothes horse. I'm allllll about the shoes!</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Michele: I may or may not have been caught out peeping on your Friday Man Wars on your <a href="http://www.facebook.com/kimberly.kincaid1?fref=ts">Facebook </a>page. Might I have stumbled across your inspiration for Noah there? </span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">KK: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: red;">Yep. Probably a lot! I used actor Taylor Kinney as my brain candy for Noah. I wanted someone a little rough around the edges, with that definite bad-boy air, but who was still a definite hero beneath it all. Taylor was perfect, but I'll admit, trying to work while his picture was on the idea board over my desk was a little giggle-worthy sometimes!</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Michele: Any deleted scenes you hated seeing hit the floor?</span><br />
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<span style="color: red;">KK: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: red;">There always are. I joke with my critique partners that I will write 40,000 words just to end up with a 30,000 word novella (you don't even want to know what my full single-title books look like in-process!) For this one, I wanted to incorporate Noah's brothers a little more than I was able to. I had a scene all mapped out in my head where they came to visit and met Violet. But, sadly, it wasn't meant to be!</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Michele: Last, but definitely not least, remember our class at RWA 2012? Have you managed to work any cocktail experiences into your upcoming novels? </span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">KK: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: red;">Yep! I'm actually working on expanding my full-length Pine Mountain series, and the next proposed book features a bartender as the heroine.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Michele: Are you sharing any details yet on your next release?</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">KK: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: red;">I can't keep that stuff under wraps-- I'm too excited! My next digital release is Jason's story (Violet's brother and Noah's partner). It will be out in late May. His heroine is the feisty owner of Mac's Diner, and they are thrown together in some very unusual circumstances. After that, my first Kensington release will hit shelves in October. The Sugar Cookie Sweetheart Swap is the kickoff to the Pine Mountain series, and it's an anthology with Donna Kauffman and Kate Angell.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Thank you so much Kimberly for stopping by today and the opportunity to chat with you! </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Click on Kimberly's picture above to visit her website or follow the links below.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6938229.Kimberly_Kincaid"><span style="color: purple;"><b>Goodreads</b></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Love-On-The-Line-ebook/dp/B00BL77PKO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361879144&sr=8-1&keywords=kimberly+kincaid"><span style="color: purple;"><b>Amazon</b></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Violet Morgan puts the personal
in personal chef, catering to clients who want the full cooking experience
rather than a culinary drop-and-dash. But when her brother’s police detective
partner is injured in the line of duty and needs help during recovery, she
makes an exception. Violet lost her father to the job seven years ago, and
worries for her brother’s safety every day. The last thing she wants is to get
up-close with her brother’s career-cop partner…again.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>For Noah Blackwell, being a detective isn’t just a
lifestyle, it’s a legacy. So when he’s forced to take mandatory leave and deal with the trauma amnesia keeping
him from identifying his shooter, it’s a literal case of adding insult to
injury— and now he’s got to deal with an unwanted culinary caregiver on top of
it. Never mind that he and Violet shared a steamy, secret kiss last New Year’s
Eve. She rejects everything related to the job, and Noah’s not about to be
distracted from recovering his memory and getting back to what he does best. No
matter how pretty Violet is.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Despite their differences, Violet and Noah share a
surprising bond in the kitchen that grows into something neither of them
expect. But as Noah heals and their feelings for each other extend from the
kitchen to the bedroom, Violet knows she must make an impossible choice. She
may wear her heart on her sleeve when it comes to food<a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>,
but can she risk it all to put love on the line?</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718129461743394480.post-3395299979438702572013-02-25T12:35:00.004-05:002013-03-03T19:20:33.091-05:00New Release e-novella, Love On The Line, March 2013!<h2 style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #686766; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I had the pleasure of meeting this beauty at RWA 2012 and let me say, she is as adorable as she looks. I owe my amazing week to a small group of extremely friendly authors, of which she is a part. I learned a lot at the feet of the gracious Kimberly and I'm not just talking about where she picks up her fabulous footwear. But, I digress, without further ado, I give you...</b></span></div>
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<tr valign="top"><td>Kimberly Kincaid writes contemporary romance novels that split the difference between sexy and sweet, taking the traditional idea of boy-meets-girl and infusing it with a sassy magic all her own. She believes in fiery yet flawed characters destined for a crash-course in falling in love-- usually the hard way-- and injects her trademark humor as well as poignant touches into her writing to create her stories.<br />
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Kimberly's writing journey has led down some bumpy roads (that first manuscript is under the bed, where it is very likely to stay), but there has been some fresh pavement too (her second manuscript earned her very first contest final, and landed the fantastic Maureen Walters at the Curtis Brown Literary Agency). One thing is certain -- the wild ride of being a writer is a lot richer in both its ups and downs because of friends and readers along the path.<br />
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When Kimberly's not sitting cross-legged in an ancient desk chair known as "The Pleather Bomber", she can be found practicing obscene amounts of yoga, whipping up anything from enchiladas to eclairs in her kitchen, or curled up with her nose in a book. She resides in northern Virginia with her wildly patient husband and their three daughters.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17373931-love-on-the-line?auto_login_attempted=true"><br /><img alt="Love On The Line by Kimberly Kincaid" src="http://www.kimberlykincaid.com/images/love-line-kimberly-kincaid.gif" /></a></div>
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Violet Morgan puts the personal in personal chef, catering to clients who want the full cooking experience rather than a culinary drop-and-dash. But when her brother’s police detective partner is injured in the line of duty and needs help during recovery, she makes an exception. Violet lost her father to the job seven years ago, and worries for her brother’s safety every day. The last thing she wants is to get up-close with her brother’s career-cop partner…again.</div>
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For Noah Blackwell, being a detective isn’t just a lifestyle, it’s a legacy. So when he’s forced to take mandatory leave and deal with the trauma amnesia keeping him from identifying his shooter, it’s a literal case of adding insult to injury— and now he’s got to deal with an unwanted culinary caregiver on top of it. Never mind that he and Violet shared a steamy, secret kiss last New Year’s Eve. She rejects everything related to the job, and Noah’s not about to be distracted from recovering his memory and getting back to what he does best. No matter how pretty Violet is.</div>
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Despite their differences, Violet and Noah share a surprising bond in the kitchen that grows into something neither of them expect. But as Noah heals and their feelings for each other extend from the kitchen to the bedroom, Violet knows she must make an impossible choice. She may wear her heart on her sleeve when it comes to food, but can she risk it all to put love on the line?</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718129461743394480.post-9495481863473372052013-02-11T20:24:00.000-05:002013-03-03T21:11:21.676-05:00Anything For You by Jessica Scott<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZCyGZgbvxIeglYo_g2aIv0Tuo11p_j-xLCSYzsd4zMn7FSEmXfgMP5oMJv8icZyTpc5qIPq-4kd_SB9A2zKHR64gxYIJTfpXoxfsvggr7ivEcpwjxLnLSe3vCSkRLnmyzHbh0rfvodQ/s1600/Anything+For+You+Jessica+Scott.jpg" /><br />
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Adorable! What a wonderfully written Love Story! Although, if you haven't yet read the rest of the author's series you should do so. This isn't a stand alone, but a continuation of a couple from Because of You, the first book in the Coming Home Series.<br />
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Now, on to what I thought of the novella. What an emotional story! Well written, attention holding, heart-wrenching then warming read! I loved it and will definitely be picking up the entire series.<br />
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My husband is ex-Army and I usually have a very hard time reading anything to do with deployments, September 11th or combat. That being said, I had the pleasure of meeting this writer at the 2012 RWA Conference in Anaheim, CA. Her personality alone won me over to reading anything she'll ever write. After a bit of initial hesitation I was pleased to find that the over-whelming honesty of both character's plight had my heart more involved than my own stressful memories.<br />
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Thank you for such a well written, emotionally engaging, love story!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718129461743394480.post-56318097239350877552013-01-19T16:09:00.000-05:002013-01-19T16:09:59.662-05:002012 Reading ListToday has been one of those no-good, rotten, very bad days. I don't really know why. Just one of those days when you wake up in the morning and look outside and the clouds are all scowling at you and the roads all seem to be sharpening their fingernails against the pavement, just waiting to slash your tires.<br />
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I've been sitting in my writing studio contemplating how much I don't want to write today, feeling like a fiction failure, arguing with all those little voices in the back of my skull. One keeps asking why I'm so eager to continue writing while the other keeps whispering encouragement. "Look at last year," it says. "You've come so far as a writer and learned so much since then. You simply can't give up right now." Why does this one only ever whisper while the other one always shouts?<br />
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Still, that little voice got me to wondering just how far I've really come since the beginning of 2012. For starters, I began entering the quarterly Writers of the Future contest last year and submitted two short stories, both of which were rejected. I'm still unpublished and still unknown, but I have actually come a long way as a writer from where I was a year ago and I suppose that's the important thing. I'm not actually entering the WOTF contest to win; I promised myself when I started that I wouldn't focus on winning because I have no control over whether I win or not. I enter because it gives me a quarterly deadline to reach and it keeps me writing and submitting.<br />
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I read a TON of books last year, probably more in one year than I've read at all in the last twenty years. Many of them were science fiction but many were also non-fiction, mostly about the craft of writing. I look at the list and actually start feeling pretty good at what I've been able to accomplish and that little whispering voice gets a little louder and I sense that it's smiling.<br />
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Both Stephen King and Orson Scott Card have said it over and over and I absolutely believe that it's true: if you want to be a writer, there are two things you must do -- write a lot and read a lot. At some point between starting college and starting my family, I lost my love for reading. Maybe it was working through the night shift after attending a full day of classes and homework. Maybe it was the transition from being single to being married to being a Dad. Maybe it was one bad career move after another. I've just been so busy over the last twenty years dealing with life that I forgot how rewarding a good book can be.<br />
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As the kids get older and leave the house and my career stabilizes and I settle into some sense of a normalized routine, I've taken the time to slow down and find ways to escape all the craziness of the day. Writing lets me escape into worlds that I create, where I can hang out with extraordinary people from my head. Reading lets me escape into other people's worlds and hang out with people they created.<br />
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Here's a list of the authors and books that let me enter their worlds last year:<br />
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FICTION<br />
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<li>Issac Asimov - Foundation's Edge</li>
<li>Nancy Farmer - House of the Scorpion</li>
<li>Charles Brokaw - The Atlantis Code</li>
<li>Ray Bradbury - Fahrenheit 451</li>
<li>Anne McCaffrey - Changelings</li>
<li>Arthur C. Clarke - Childhood's End</li>
<li>Robert Heinlein - A Stranger in a Strange Land</li>
<li>Steven Polansky - The Bradbury Report</li>
<li>HG Wells - War of the Worlds</li>
<li>James Patterson - Daniel X</li>
<li>James Dashner - The Maze Runner</li>
<li>Amy Kathleen Ryan - Glow</li>
<li>Susan Beth Pfeffer - Life As We Knew It</li>
<li>Ruth White - You'll Like It Here...Everybody Does</li>
<li>Arthur C. Clarke - The Hammer of God</li>
<li>Ray Bradbury - Something Wicked This Way Comes</li>
<li>Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson - Hellhole</li>
<li>Mary Shelley - Frankenstein</li>
<li>Edgar Rice Burroughs - A Princess of Mars</li>
<li>Kurt Vonnegut - Cat's Cradle</li>
<li>William R. Forstchen - One Second After</li>
<li>Mary E. Pearson - The Fox Inheritance</li>
<li>Diana Palmer - The Morcai Battalion</li>
<li>Michael Grant - BZRK</li>
<li>Anna Sheehan - A Long, Long Sleep</li>
<li>Orson Scott Card - Earth Unaware</li>
<li>Jeremy Robinson - Second World</li>
<li>David Weber - Out of the Dark</li>
<li>John Scalzi - Fuzzy Nation</li>
<li>Frank Herbert - Dune</li>
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NON-FICTION</div>
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<li>Annie Dillard - The Writing Life</li>
<li>Stephen King - On Writing</li>
<li>Ray Bradbury - Zen in the Art of Writing</li>
<li>Orson Scott Card - How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy</li>
<li>Sol Stein - On Writing</li>
<li>James Scott Bell - Plot and Structure</li>
<li>Donald Maass - Writing the Breakout Novel</li>
<li>Orson Scott Card - Characters and Viewpoint</li>
<li>William Zinsser - On Writing Well</li>
<li>William Noble - Conflict, Action, & Suspense</li>
<li>David G. Hartwell - Age of Wonders: Exploring the World of Science Fiction</li>
<li>Gloria Kempton - Dialogue</li>
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Forty-two books and I feel like I've only scratched the surface of what I need to know about writing. In addition to reading a lot, I wrote three short stories, joined a writing group that meets fairly actively every two weeks, and attended my first writing conference, where I met lots of outstanding people during helpful workshops.</div>
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Now that I've finished looking back, that whispering voice is beginning to shout, "What are you waiting for now? Get back to writing!" so I guess that's what I need to do for the next few hours.</div>
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If you feel like you're lacking motivation to write and wondering why you bother plugging along in a field that sounds so easy but ends up being so damn tough, take a look back at what you've been able to accomplish in the last year. Chances are, you've come much further than you thought. And if you can find a way to keep moving forward, this year will be even more productive and rewarding.</div>
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Morgan Broadheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13763595756431976235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718129461743394480.post-78928314592847960842012-10-09T09:10:00.001-04:002012-10-09T09:10:09.278-04:00Choose Yes if you mean No?I don't know about you but I absolutely Hate those pesky convoluted questions written by lawyers that land on the ballot. Does my yes choice mean yes or no? I have to read them several times and usually I'm still at a loss for what to choose. So, now I go to <a href="http://voterfind.tzo.org/unionoh/ballotlist.aspx">www.ElectionsOnThe.Net</a> print the ballot a few weeks ahead of time and do my research. I can poll my smarter friends and generally we figure out what the question means. <br />
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I know, you've heard enough about voting this election season. Well, I'm not hear to weigh in with my opinion, campaign for any person or cause. I simply want to share a resource and hope that everyone educates themselves with the facts. Nothing worse for me than being asked to make a decision and regretting my choice later because I didn't have all the facts.<br />
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If you are like me and don't like to be surprised or tripped up by verbage, then take a minute or two and search for your state's ballot. I've already got mine, highlighted and stuffed in my purse. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718129461743394480.post-63519425035055033582012-09-25T10:17:00.001-04:002012-09-25T10:17:36.718-04:00Miss Wheaton's Whiskers by Susan Gee Heino<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">New Release - Kindle Edition</span></i></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009G85NKE/ref=tsm_1_fb_lk">Miss Wheaton's Whiskers</a></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b><a href="http://susangh.com/">by Susan Gee Heino</a></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;">A Regency Romance</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;">Her little white lies are no match for true love...</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;">One little lie--the tiniest whisker--throws pampered Miss Wheaton into a pickle. Soon one lie leads to another, and now scandal is dogging her every move. What's worse, she's found herself in the arms of the notorious duke who caused all the trouble! Will this tangle of falsehood wrap them in ruin, or will Miss Wheaton's whiskers lead to true love?</span>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Quick! Go check it out! I'll wait.</span>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Congratulations on the new release Susan! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What a beautiful cover!</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718129461743394480.post-56897862140511132202012-08-02T13:18:00.000-04:002012-08-02T13:19:09.745-04:00Of Ducks and Witches<i>If she weighs the same as a duck...she's made of wood...and therefore...she's a witch!</i><br />
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I don't recall a time when I've ever stepped onto a political or social soapbox, but by gum I just have to say something about this whole Chick-Fil-A situation. Not about what actually was or wasn't said or which Constitutional Amendments might have been violated or even whether the pro-family right is a better or worse position than the liberal left.<br />
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What really gets my boxers in a bunch is how quick everyone is to allow misrepresentations in the media to inflame their thoughtless passions. I think <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">the Zombie Apocalypse started many years ago when sensationalist media started eating people's brains. </span></i>It's times like these that make me glad to be a writer, where I can escape from the chaos of reality and create worlds where people actually use their heads before grabbing torches to light up the old woman with nose warts and a black hat.<br />
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Maybe it's the way I was raised. My parents always encouraged me to be skeptical about the things I see and hear, to ask questions, to have doubts, to do a little research on news and issues, and to hear all sides before drawing my own conclusions. I don't depend on other people to tell me what or how to think and I absolutely REFUSE to become impassioned about something I first read on the Internet.<br />
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It didn't take long after Dan Cathy's interview statements were taken out of context by the media that liberals everywhere became outraged and photos began appearing all over social websites. The most ridiculous of these snapshots depicted billboards at national fast food chains carrying the slogan "We support Chick-Fil-A, now try to boycott us!" People began Liking all these pictures and sharing them on their personal accounts. Did anyone even once stop to wonder about the validity of any of this? My, how easily our nation is distracted and flustered by anyone these days with digital imaging software and access to the Internet. The pictures reminded me of my absolute favorite quote from Facebook:<br />
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<i>"Don't believe everything you see on the internet" - Abraham Lincoln</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">This whole Chick-Fil-A hype is really a call to arms for writers everywhere to remember our solemn duty to create work that inspires and restores order back into today's over-stimulated, over-reactive, over-entertained, over-educated, over-sensationalized, and over-manipulated society. Let's give people a reason to ask for their brains back because there's an awfully tremendous need for them right now.</span></i></div>Morgan Broadheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13763595756431976235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718129461743394480.post-16791154305625694372012-07-25T13:50:00.001-04:002012-07-25T13:50:21.343-04:00RWA 2012- Day TwoI've already met some very lovely ladies! Not that I expected any differently. But being a newbie at this Amazing and Large conference is super overwhelming. That being said, everyone has been very helpful, kind, informative and friendly.<br />
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My first friend is Tracy Brogan from the Dashing Duchesses! We met in the Chicago airport during our layover and she has been wonderful. Guiding me where I need to go, giving me very useful advice. The best of which has been, "Empty your bag frequently, you WILL keep getting free books and promotional swag."<br />
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So very right! I already have 12 new books just by checking in!!!! Can't wait to see what else I come away with. Got my camera at the ready too! Hope to update with photos later today!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718129461743394480.post-76834689170905838172012-07-24T11:43:00.001-04:002012-07-24T11:50:39.311-04:00RWA 2012 - Day OnePacked my bag last night. Yep one bag. VERY heavy.<br />
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Got up at 5:45 this morning, Ugh. With a capital U.<br />
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Drove the hour to Dayton, OH.Splurged and parked in a luxury valet site, even getting the oil changed in my truck while I'm gone. Very nice to have full service.<br />
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Check in was fun. Two separate couples in front of me had the strangest checked 'luggage'. Couple one took over 45 mins to check in with their three children and two unknown animals in their two crates. I never did get a good look but I'm thinking cats or maybe ferrets. I watched at they had to use a drill to put holes in the crates all the way around. That was great for the animals! Then run zip ties through each set of holes. TWO crates, may I remind you. Then, after that task was complete (Which the solitary male ticket attendant on duty did not multi-task like any good woman and usher anyone else through while he waited on the task to be completed.) next came a mountain of paperwork for each crate along with I'm not sure what all documentation needed to be strapped to the crates as well as individual bags of food. And I'm not even to the good part of the story yet. Next, he picks up both crates. I'm thinking, here we go, finally he'll put them on the conveyor belt and it'll be my turn soon; I'm second in line. Nope, hopes are dashed. He steps over the baggage scale and walks across the lobby to a special door in the corner with a TSA person. There is another 10 min or so lost while he helps them check the animals there. <br />
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SERIOUSLY?<br />
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They couldn't have been directed gone over there in the first place? Has no one heard of efficiency?<br />
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While this is going on a second ticket agent has shown up. Poor gentleman has the good fortune of getting the one person who is checking a FIREARM! Really? This is a post 9/11 world! Where have you been????? Best part, it only took them five minutes to fill out the necessary paperwork and turn over the item. That's it. <br />
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Here's your lesson. Animals are considered more dangerous on a plane than a firearm. Next time, ship the animals UPS and pack your gun.<br />
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Storms are still a brewing in the Dayton, OH area and in Chicago, my connecting flight to Anaheim, CA. I will get to the RWA Conference. I know I will. And dearest Susan Gee Heino will be waiting with a frosty cold one. I'm going to really need it.<br />
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*****11:48am UPDATE******<br />
In bound flight was just cleared to land. Yay! Hopefully, I'll be Chicago bound soon!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718129461743394480.post-7027151948093288032012-07-18T19:57:00.001-04:002012-07-18T20:23:47.477-04:00Headed to RWA 2012!!!!!I'm heading out next Tuesday for the 2012 Romance Writers of America Conference in Anaheim, CA. I absolutely, cannot, wait! Six days of girl time with my favorite authors. <br />
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Last night, I got together with the highly talented historical romance author, <a href="http://susangh.com/">Susan Gee Heino</a> and planned my wardrobe for the week. I have picked several very exciting and beautiful dresses along with matching shoes. In my small social sphere I'm well known for my addiction to footwear. See below picture of my must haves!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUve3ySdnDSxINJAXM0pTGtYqSFxUKZ9xqlW5on2lQC05TahszEc9Ss1Dhyp-C7DgcqnA2PnGAOuwEMt1cgi_L8GLNpuPzd7QjTsDMQyv8dyeTzcW-F8gLoM3goJHgGl26M8vjwcULApE/s1600/P7180012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUve3ySdnDSxINJAXM0pTGtYqSFxUKZ9xqlW5on2lQC05TahszEc9Ss1Dhyp-C7DgcqnA2PnGAOuwEMt1cgi_L8GLNpuPzd7QjTsDMQyv8dyeTzcW-F8gLoM3goJHgGl26M8vjwcULApE/s320/P7180012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I can already see that one or two of my favorites is missing. I really need a taller shelving system, don't I?<br />
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So, after planning what I should pack, we moved on to what goals I would like to accomplish during the event itself. Here is where I might go a bit fan girl crazy. You see, I'm a big, HUGE some might say, <a href="http://sabrinajeffries.com/">Sabrina Jeffries</a> fan. I own every book she's ever written. Even the anthologies.<br />
I buy them on release day.<br />
Always.<br />
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<img src="http://new.sabrinajeffries.com/wp-content/themes/responsive-sj/data/img/widget-sabrina.png" /><br />
Doesn't she just look like a lovely, fun person to know?<br />
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I have made it my goal, albeit not a writerly growth goal, to meet Ms. Jeffries during those few days. That being said...I have also warned dearest Susan that I, in all likelihood, will probably make a fool of myself and bumble my own name. If I can even spit it out.<br />
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I have given Susan the task of getting my picture, if I am still up right and conscious. Sabrina, if you are reading this (which I hope you are!) Please do not be worried that I am one of those crazy fans who is going to stalk you right into the ladies room, nor am I going to jump up and down and scream. Well, at least I hope not, anyway. But, in all seriousness, I have read your stories for all of my adult life. Some of them upwards of ten times! You are big part of why I have begun the monumental task of putting my stories in front of people who are going to critique my work, judge me. Decide if I can change my official occupation to Writer.<br />
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Her kind words of encouragement <a href="http://new.sabrinajeffries.com/about-sabrina/writers-advice/">written on her website</a> to her fans helped me find the gumption to dive into the writing world wholeheartedly.<br />
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I realize that I am staring into the face of great opportunity at this conference. There are important workshops given by amazing authors. Agents, editors, publishers....the list goes on of the who's who in the publishing industry that I will be rubbing shoulders with. I plan to attend everything I can. But, from the heart of a young girl, the most exciting aspect of this coming week is that I'll get to meet someone who's words made my heart leap, sore, dive and love. I can only hope I get the chance to say thank you.<br />
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Don't forget to check back in. I will have plenty of pictures and stories to post!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718129461743394480.post-27203204099427462992012-07-09T23:27:00.001-04:002012-07-09T23:27:20.423-04:00Blog NovelingWhen I was in college, while bored in my Philosophy class in sophomore year, I started writing a story about a girl named Liz McLancy, the second oldest of seven kids. At the time, I didn't know what I was writing. I knew the McLancy family was having a reunion. I knew Liz didn't want to go home for said reunion due to a scarred past.<br />
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Other than that...I had no idea.<br />
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Fast forward to the summer after graduation and I am still working on that novel, writing almost every day. I finish it by the end of the summer, and a month or so later I start revising it. This would become the first novel I would send into the world.<br />
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I stopped, though, because a year later, my writing voice and style had changed SO much that it didn't sound like me anymore. And I also realized that there wasn't a huge market for the story of a radical cult in the YA market right now (on top of that, I wasn't 100% certain it WAS Young Adult).<br />
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I've been wanting to re-revise this novel for some time now. It holds a special place in my heart and is almost constantly in the back of my mind. And so...<a href="http://www.northebattletothestrong.blogspot.com/">I'm blogging this novel as I fix it</a>.<br />
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Yeah. You heard right.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.northebattletothestrong.blogspot.com/">http://www.northebattletothestrong.blogspot.com</a></td></tr>
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I will be posting the novel sequentially, chapter by chapter (or, as it is, parts of chapter by parts of chapter) until you have the full novel. A FREE NOVEL! On a BLOG!<br />
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I'm very excited about this project!<br />
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I'll be posting parts of the novel on Mondays and Wednesdays, and some Fridays. On other Fridays, I'll be posting little "behind the scenes"-esque posts about the characters, the idea, the research...answering your questions...anything.<br />
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Also, if you go and "like" <a href="http://www.facebook.com/erinlmillarauthor">my Facebook author page</a>, you will be certain to get word of the new parts going up as soon as they happen!<br />
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I hope to see you around my blog novel and I hope you enjoy it!Erin Millarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12114515291967189057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718129461743394480.post-20353205946293191142012-06-27T10:01:00.002-04:002012-07-22T11:40:27.230-04:00Three Questions: Getting to Know Your Setting<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Location, location, location! In real estate, they say that location is <em>everything</em>. In your writing, SETTING plays a significant role.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1) Real or imaginary? If your location is a real place, have you actually been there? If not, best be planning a road trip or else some serious research. You need to truly know a place in order to write </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">about it so that your readers believe it. You don’t want to be called out on your descriptions by the locals – that’s something that could completely blow your credibility. Conversely, if the town you write about is entirely fictional, you need to describe it so your readers will believe that it actually exists or possibly could. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2) Big city lights or down-home hospitality? In some instances, your location actually becomes a supporting character. Think of <em>Sex and the City</em> or <em>The Andy Griffith Show</em>. In <em>Sex and the City</em>, New York plays a major role. The show would not have been the same if it were set in Detroit, for example. Same thing with <em>The Andy Griffith Show</em>. Mayberry has a flavor, a texture, a feel so that not only do you believe it is real, but you can actually imagine what it would be like to visit, or even live there yourself. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">3) Past, present or future? <em>The Help</em> would be a very different novel had Kathryn Stockett set it in 1942 or 2012. Instead, the setting is 1962, in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement. How would your story be different if it were set in the 1980’s? (Just think how much technology has changed since then!) What if it were set 10 years into the future? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Setting is too often neglected in discussions on good story telling. However, a little extra attention to this detail will reward your audience with a deeper reading experience!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you don't find Beth </span><a href="http://www.bethnbijoux.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">, come look out back in the garden.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>Beth Zellnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15666624892647090716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718129461743394480.post-11689656682501066112012-06-25T23:05:00.000-04:002012-06-25T23:05:34.612-04:00IridescentEvery so often, I stumble upon a song that pertains so perfectly to whatever project I'm working on at the time that I can't help but go buy it on iTunes right away. This happened to me with the Linkin Park song "Iridescent" a couple of months ago, and it hasn't left my iPod since. It's just one of those songs that fits perfectly in the mind of my main character in my dystopian project.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xLYiIBCN9ec" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<em>You were standing in the wake of devestation</em><br />
<em>You were waiting on the edge of the unknown</em><br />
<em>With the cataclysm raining down</em><br />
<em>Insides crying "save me now"</em><br />
<em>You were there and possibly alone</em><br />
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<em>Do you feel cold and lost in desperation?</em><br />
<em>You build up hope, but failure's all you've known</em><br />
<em>Remember all the sadness and frustration</em><br />
<em>And let it go, let it go</em><br />
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<em>And in the burst of light that blinded every angel</em><br />
<em>As if the sky had blown the heavens into stars</em><br />
<em>You felt the gravity of tempered grace</em><br />
<em>Falling into empty space</em><br />
<em>No one there to catch you in their arms</em><br />
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<em>Do you feel cold and lost in desperation?</em><br />
<em>You build up hope, but failure's all you've known</em><br />
<em>Remember all the sadness and frustration</em><br />
<em>And let it go, let it go</em>Erin Millarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12114515291967189057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718129461743394480.post-91081602066594225872012-06-20T20:59:00.000-04:002012-06-20T20:59:02.435-04:00Caption This!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here is my three-year-old son, don't we all just wish we could capture that much energy and excitement for even one day?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718129461743394480.post-66752708627956589872012-06-13T08:17:00.002-04:002012-07-22T11:39:17.921-04:00Three Questions: Getting to Know Your Character<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, here's a quick quiz for you. How well do you know your character? Can you answer these three questions about him/her?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1) What kind of underwear does your character wear? Tighty whities? Boxer briefs? Bikini? Commando? Underwear choice says a lot about a person. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2) If your character saw a penny laying on the ground, would they stoop to pick it up? Would they pick it up only if it were "heads up" because they are superstitious? Would they pick it up because they were so broke that they needed a measly penny? Would they step over it? Would they miss it completely because they have their head in the clouds?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">3) Who would your character take a bullet for? Their family? A friend? What about their boss? How about a complete stranger? Nobody? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Obviously, your reader doesn't need to know your answers. (Unless you are writing romance, in which case, question number one may be of paramount importance.) However, the better able YOU are to answer these things then the more rich and complex your character will ultimately be!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Happy writing!!</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Some days, you can find Beth here: <a href="http://www.bethnbijoux.blogspot.com/">bethnbijoux</a></span></div>
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</div>Beth Zellnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15666624892647090716noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718129461743394480.post-14573733400661965882012-06-11T23:44:00.002-04:002012-06-11T23:45:54.420-04:00My Ever-Inspiring RoomiesThese are my roommates. This is an example of what "normal" is around our apartment. And THIS is why I will never have a lack of inspiration when it comes to my characters...<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RlldMGeFjQA" width="420"></iframe>
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(I'll probably have to sleep with my door locked tonight, for posting this on the internet. Or perhaps I will just have to...not tell them. That seems the safer option!)Erin Millarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12114515291967189057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718129461743394480.post-50269575133093660112012-06-06T10:30:00.000-04:002012-06-06T10:30:10.344-04:00Fish Frenzy!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I could NOT resist! This will be me tonight after work. I have the great fortune to work for one of my best friends. Well, she is the back bone of this office, keeps all of us on task, on track and focused. She left today for a destination wedding and, well, we're already headless chickens!<br />
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Miss you much dearest!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718129461743394480.post-41196289722600074282012-06-04T10:23:00.000-04:002012-06-04T10:23:00.452-04:00Welcome To Summer.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrcINAEAyjQwZEgcMc2ZBuaoqhBf4eUWQDsNgigu9ptMDkTzkruwbMpXnpCE0gpSBxulZZmPNtSFHMEwxZDGOTrDOzmFLtD6nkrNULf51w-ruOMbibnGzZvBIBRTCrYxT2AuOc1K4p20/s1600/img_1%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrcINAEAyjQwZEgcMc2ZBuaoqhBf4eUWQDsNgigu9ptMDkTzkruwbMpXnpCE0gpSBxulZZmPNtSFHMEwxZDGOTrDOzmFLtD6nkrNULf51w-ruOMbibnGzZvBIBRTCrYxT2AuOc1K4p20/s320/img_1%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Summer is my favorite season. As a homeschooling mother of four I need the slower pace of the summer to take a break from my frantic schedule. As a family we enjoy swimming, hiking, and camping. For personal activities, I enjoy the slower pace to catch up on cleaning/organizing my house, walking my dog, and of course, writing! How about you...what do you enjoy most about summer?Colleen Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415635870598283027noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718129461743394480.post-48511444582747862202012-05-30T19:10:00.000-04:002012-07-22T11:38:02.429-04:00Bloomin' Wednesday with Beth<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><em>"People from a planet without flowers would think </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><em>we must be mad with joy the whole time </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><em>to have such things about us." </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">~Iris M</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">urdoch</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Poppies</em></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Sweet William, Bachelor Buttons, Coreopsis</em></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Lupine, Dianthus</em></td></tr>
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<br /></div>Beth Zellnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15666624892647090716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718129461743394480.post-38093110499802244862012-05-28T13:44:00.000-04:002012-05-28T13:44:10.467-04:00Trading BookcasesAlmost a year ago, I moved into the apartment I currently live in. When this event occurred, I only owned two decent-sized bookcases (one six foot, one three foot), plus a mini bookcase (for my writing things), and a tiny bookcase extension that attaches to the top of my dresser. When I moved, I moved figuring that I was going to buy another six foot bookcase eventually. This happened a few months after moving in, but mostly what went on there were the old, childhood books that I was determined to get out of their boxes.<br />
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The rest of my books, however, stayed where I'd put them the night I moved into my apartment.<br />
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For a while, this was fine, because it was manageable. And then many of the authors I love published new books...and books got sequels...and Half Price books had sales...and suddenly my original six foot bookcase got a little overflowing.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>It's like a game of Tetris when I buy new books.</strong></td></tr>
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Today was deemed the day in which bookcases were going to get reorganized. I've started reading so many books that are planned as trilogies or series, and I've gotten into reading so many different authors, that I know over the coming year, I'm sure I'll buy just as many books as I did the last twelve months. After a couple of hours, I had a much better book situation going in my room.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGsNIWW5Xrv0VKoHxRRHQvjPI_-TZ3_t6Ff2qw6Wcrs3heoRl726tFwbdQadUufbEjpnbGZS0d1JrliP3GvmX13bdnUQ9fy-GCKzkGxyVPqhMLpghfP56LvTEze6lxQHYWcSULaLzz4yA/s1600/SDC12817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGsNIWW5Xrv0VKoHxRRHQvjPI_-TZ3_t6Ff2qw6Wcrs3heoRl726tFwbdQadUufbEjpnbGZS0d1JrliP3GvmX13bdnUQ9fy-GCKzkGxyVPqhMLpghfP56LvTEze6lxQHYWcSULaLzz4yA/s320/SDC12817.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Bookcase #1 (the one with the original mess)</strong><br />
<strong>The After Picture</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Bookcase #2 (the one with all the childhood books and nothing else)</strong><br />
<strong>The After Picture</strong></td></tr>
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But best of all, my wonderful dystopian shelf has plenty of room for all of my dystopian-novel-obsessing. It has the tallest shelf, so I can easily stack books on top of each other, plus it's not even full yet. This is a great improvement from what it looked like before.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRFCwBaKoWEwm08igxZcy5Dq4pZKvduNilQPlH7AvgfR-RiStxnMt-JBkt1vI10ISi7JtF3iUFLebSWjOiEZpRvp6APd6CPNHIhTu6oMb6LaBncKy_T4kcq0iS6hyvjZ9Endy_rkitQo/s1600/120527-220243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRFCwBaKoWEwm08igxZcy5Dq4pZKvduNilQPlH7AvgfR-RiStxnMt-JBkt1vI10ISi7JtF3iUFLebSWjOiEZpRvp6APd6CPNHIhTu6oMb6LaBncKy_T4kcq0iS6hyvjZ9Endy_rkitQo/s320/120527-220243.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Dystopian shelf -- Before</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3bvTQxjTl3OppbUeve-APrz07p3m7FiifCKQ-dQUVBmJMVEV4utQwmpKGosHuRwHWoM4FsNLyeU7Fdf8vxp9IMyuphrn8XOhKVSEMtpB2R1MA6g3qP3m__jbUXoIUkX8q8Ox7nOLQK3w/s1600/SDC12819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3bvTQxjTl3OppbUeve-APrz07p3m7FiifCKQ-dQUVBmJMVEV4utQwmpKGosHuRwHWoM4FsNLyeU7Fdf8vxp9IMyuphrn8XOhKVSEMtpB2R1MA6g3qP3m__jbUXoIUkX8q8Ox7nOLQK3w/s320/SDC12819.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>New and Improved Dystopian shelf</strong></td></tr>
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The big test is going to be when I try to locate one of my books. I'm going to guess that it's going to take me some time to get used to my new arrangement!Erin Millarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12114515291967189057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718129461743394480.post-14650028629353297152012-05-25T14:07:00.000-04:002012-06-23T10:08:27.427-04:00Revision ChecklistI recently read a book titled "Stein on Writing" by editor/author/instructor Sol Stein. A section of his book is dedicated to helping writers revise their drafts in the most efficient and effective manner. Since many of our members have completed first drafts and are now in revision mode, I thought this would be a timely lesson to share.<br />
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When I first began writing, I figured I'd be finished with my story as soon as I typed the words "The End" in my first draft. I didn't know much about the revision process and thought my first draft would be my final submission after making a few minor spelling and grammar changes. Wow was I ever wrong!<br />
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I've come to think that the process of story-writing is much more like baking a cake. Writing that first draft is like gathering all the necessary ingredients together and setting them out on the kitchen counter to see what you have to work with and discover what you might still be missing. It isn't until the draft is written and the ingredients are all together that you whip out your revising cups and tablespoons and begin measuring in the flour, sugar, eggs, and spices until it tastes just right. Several revisions later, you're preheating the oven and spreading the frosting for everyone to enjoy!<br />
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According to Sol Stein, the best way to revise is to start with the big problems first. Then you work on the medium problems, small problems, and finally the tiny changes such as grammar, spelling, and punctuation.<br />
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Tackle these areas in succession to make your revision process as quick and effective as possible:<br />
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<ol>
<li>Determine what represents the sense of wonder, enlightenment, or excitement in your story and make sure that level of enthusiasm is maintained throughout the story. Too many stories start out exciting and then just fizzle out.</li>
<li>Is the main character exciting enough to hold the reader's interest throughout the story? What motivates the main character and drives her to act and change throughout the story?</li>
<li>Do you really like your antagonist? You should! Your antagonist should be just as motivated to accomplish her goals as your protagonist and just as driven to succeed. Is your antagonist truly bad, or does she just behave badly? Villains who are truly evil are much more enjoyable than cardboard cut-outs who just cause trouble for the heck of it. What endearing or charming qualities does your villain possess that would allow the reader to care about them?</li>
<li>Don't neglect your minor characters. They need to be credible and believable with their own motivations to act.</li>
<li>Is the conflict between the protagonist and the antagonist credible and strong enough to sustain the reader's attention throughout the story?</li>
<li>What is your most memorable scene? What makes it work so well? How can less memorable scenes be strengthened to this level?</li>
<li>What is your least memorable scene? Does it move the story forward? Would the story be stronger without it? Consider rewriting it or cut it out completely.</li>
<li>What are the three most important actions in your story? Are they motivated in a believable way? Remember that "coincidence" in a story is not a credible reason for any action to occur. Review all other actions and either strengthen, rewrite, or cut them if they're not absolutely necessary to moving the story forward.</li>
<li>Place yourself in the reader's seat and read the first page of your story. Are you compelled to keep reading? If not, you have work to do.</li>
<li>Make sure there's something visual on every single page of your story. Never give the reader an excuse to remember they're reading a story. Help them visualize and become involved in the story.</li>
<li>After fixing all the above, you're now ready for general revisions:</li>
</ol>
<ul><ul>
<li>Tighten the manuscript by cutting every word, sentence, paragraph and scene that does not contribute to the story. Be ruthless with your word choice and make every word work.</li>
<li>Vary your sentence lengths to avoid a monotonous voice.</li>
<li>Make sure the pacing matches your story arc.</li>
<li>Fix point of view errors.</li>
<li>Make sure the tension continues to mount throughout the story and the stakes are continually raised for the protagonist.</li>
<li>Get rid of all but the most essential adjectives and adverbs.</li>
<li>Eliminate all cliches and rewrite for originality.</li>
<li>Vary and clarify all dialogue tags.</li>
<li>Look for precise word choices and meanings.</li>
<li>Add variety to your dialogue. Can exposition be replaced by dialogue? Is the dialogue confrontational enough? Does it actually move the story forward or is it just banter?</li>
<li>Last but not least, correct all spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors.</li>
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By correcting the biggest problems first and working through your manuscript with the checklist above, your revision process will be much more focused, productive, and efficient.<br />
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By following this process, I've also learned to quiet my inner editor while I furiously write that first heated draft because I already know it won't be - and shouldn't be - perfect. I now know that writing my draft is just a way to sort through all the cupboards, drawers, and pantries looking for ideas and ingredients for a feast I can worry about baking and garnishing later for my readers.Morgan Broadheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13763595756431976235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718129461743394480.post-89397754163002356872012-05-23T09:32:00.000-04:002012-05-23T09:32:55.397-04:00Why I Need A Dry Erase Board In My ShowerThe funny thing about inspiration is you never know exactly when it will strike. <br />
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Below is am email conversation I had today with my writing partner. By the way, we're both Michele. To clear the mud I'm Michele B and she's Michele D. Writers that we are, we appreciate the comedy of the name situation.<br />
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<tr><td><b>Michele B</b></td><td align="right">Thu, May 17, 2012 at 9:12 AM</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="font-size: 13px;">Hey where were you last night? I was on until about 9ish.... Saw you wrote 800 words! That's awesome! You have to be inches from the finish line now!<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">In the shower this morning I finally came up with a hook for Treasures, I think. :)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="font-size: 13px;"><b>Michele </b></td><td align="right" style="font-size: 13px;">Thu, May 17, 2012 at 10:40 AM</td></tr>
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<span class="recipient">To: Michele Buchholz </span></div>
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No - I only got 1 file on chapt 18.</div>
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Thanks for looking at it - as I was going to sleep last night, I realized there were a couple things I need to insert in that chapter - just a few things here and ther<span style="background-color: white;">e but I always think of them on my way to sleep (as in, I don't want to turn my light on to write it down, so I think I'll remember it and then never do. I'm hoping I'll think of it as I'm doing revisions. It would be so much more convenient if I could think of them in the shower like you do. But no, my brain doesn't work that way) :)</span></div>
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<tr><td><b style="background-color: white;">Michele Buchholz </b></td><td align="right"><span style="background-color: white;">Thu, May 17, 2012 at 10:43 AM</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><span style="background-color: white;">Funny you think that about the shower. I jump out dripping, soak my floor and mat, then drip all over my dresser while I write it down... That's if I get out and write it down. Otherwise I do the same, repeat it hoping my goldfish memory will hold it until I"m done. :) Today I jumped out and wrote it down! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="font-size: 13px;"><b style="background-color: white;">Michele </b></td><td align="right" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Thu, May 17, 2012 at 11:26 AM</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Ok, so clearly there is no best way. Usually I'm so sleepy and warm and I'm almost ready to slide under and I just don't want to mess that up. Darn brain! Why do they do that to us?</span></div>
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Maybe you could find a whiteboard that won't wash off - then you could just write the idea down without getting out. :)</div>
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<tr><td style="font-size: 13px;"><b style="background-color: white;">Michele Buchholz </b></td><td align="right" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Thu, May 17, 2012 at 11:58 AM</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="background-color: white;">That is a fabulous idea!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="line-height: 6px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, let this be a lesson for all of you linear, mathematical, engineer types. Writers, well, we're creative, spontaneous and innovative. You have been warned. The bathroom floor may be wet, and there just might be marker or pen on unusual surfaces. Just know, it is for the greater good of the human imagination.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 6px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where was the strangest place that inspiration took hold of you? What did you do about it?</span></span></div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718129461743394480.post-18846042139770841322012-05-22T10:09:00.000-04:002012-05-23T20:11:11.239-04:00Graduation To-Do ListThis year my husband and I will be graduating our first high school student. You see, we have chosen to home educate our children, so on June 1st our oldest son will be graduating. We are participating in our home school support groups ceremony, and I'm really looking forward to the time. What I didn't anticipate was all of the things that needed to be finished prior to the "big day" <br />
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Here's a sample from my to-do list:<br />
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1. Choose graduation pictures<br />
2. Write biography for program<br />
3. Send pictures and biography to appropriate person<br />
4. Put together graduation board (this requires sorting through years of photographs which make you sad)<br />
5. Put together all info for college. (Transcript, loans etc...)<br />
6. Prepare party for approximately 200 guest <br />
7. Clean house for out-of-town company<br />
8. Make list and purchase items for everything son will need for first year at college.<br />
9. Cook, clean, grocery shop, maintain laundry etc....<br />
10. Work on writing...it's what I love!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2T8Dan9cj3_4DDt8_FlUcbFFqNRL_GIZFExIWQPbpbC8rbNBYpxXY88QW4EmJ4qYy4KbrWcKWc4cHhJYlz5NR8MhSQ72q8h5J3D3SiQuDQqzNuQhh_1dp1zEbmGASKDVCMQM_2SdF3k/s1600/images%5B1%5D+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2T8Dan9cj3_4DDt8_FlUcbFFqNRL_GIZFExIWQPbpbC8rbNBYpxXY88QW4EmJ4qYy4KbrWcKWc4cHhJYlz5NR8MhSQ72q8h5J3D3SiQuDQqzNuQhh_1dp1zEbmGASKDVCMQM_2SdF3k/s1600/images%5B1%5D+(2).jpg" /></a></div>
Congratulations to the class of 2012!!Colleen Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415635870598283027noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718129461743394480.post-58609156170372170062012-05-14T22:42:00.000-04:002012-05-14T22:42:23.431-04:00Camp NaNoWriMoFor eight years, I've participated in National Novel Writing Month in November. I've only passed the 50,000-word finish line for the last few years, but regardless, I find the experience a great motivator to getting me to write every day. I also love the community of writers that forms through the experience.<br />
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The Office of Letters and Light, the organization that hosts NaNoWriMo, kicked off an event last summer that they called "Camp NaNoWriMo", which was a novel-in-a-month event, but in the summer. It's geared toward people who either can't wait until November's event or who don't have the ability to participate in November at all.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1prHwKC8r3EOMk4Fi6NRKPZo7nMMPRMqnVax8G7KnjRsj7rFY6xLgjZdFN49vVgPrqzH3zU1uUmGTF9yLx1vSdjRXcKJj6Ihz2063LLQjjVmeVrhM7tcC3zYIqtWdvQlNkfqjG6ml_qE/s1600/Camp+NaNo+participant+2012.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1prHwKC8r3EOMk4Fi6NRKPZo7nMMPRMqnVax8G7KnjRsj7rFY6xLgjZdFN49vVgPrqzH3zU1uUmGTF9yLx1vSdjRXcKJj6Ihz2063LLQjjVmeVrhM7tcC3zYIqtWdvQlNkfqjG6ml_qE/s1600/Camp+NaNo+participant+2012.png" /></a></div>
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They're doing it again this year in June and August. You can sign up at the <a href="http://www.campnanowrimo.org/">official site</a>, and there you will eventually be assigned to a "cabin" with 4-6 other writers to cheer each other on, you'll have access to the word count trackers we're familiar with in November, and you'll have the epic motivation that comes from writing a novel in a month with a bunch of other nutcases.<br />
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I've signed up to participate in June. I need to get some first drafting done and this seems like as good an excuse as any. I hope all of you will consider joining me on my first summer in Camp NaNoWriMo!Erin Millarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12114515291967189057noreply@blogger.com3