tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66363236248203644732024-03-06T22:34:15.611-05:00Courtney's CornerOfficial Blog of Author Courtney Rice Gager (aka me). Written from my office (which just so happens to be a comfy chair in the corner of my kid's playroom). Mostly literary musings, with the occasional "guess how many cookies I had for breakfast" confession. Because we're all friends here.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612316325849598049noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6636323624820364473.post-65022684961753594682014-12-03T07:30:00.001-05:002014-12-03T07:30:22.098-05:00Surprise Tour Stop: USA Today!Tess in Boots is being featured on <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/happyeverafter/2014/12/02/three-things-gager-cameron-gordon/19783799/" target="_blank">USA Today's "Happy Ever After" Blog</a> today. Check it out to get an inside look at three inspirations behind the book!<br />
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<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/happyeverafter/2014/12/02/three-things-gager-cameron-gordon/19783799/">http://www.usatoday.com/story/happyeverafter/2014/12/02/three-things-gager-cameron-gordon/19783799/</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612316325849598049noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6636323624820364473.post-13997183405005927192014-12-02T07:11:00.000-05:002014-12-03T07:11:41.431-05:00Woohoo - It's Release Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22779717-tess-in-boots"><img alt="Tess in Boots banner" class="align:center size-medium wp-image-5727" height="166" src="https://anaiahpress.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/tess-in-boots-blog-tour-banner.jpg" width="497" /></a></div>
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<b>Anaiah Press proudly presents<br />TESS IN BOOTS by Courtney Rice Gager,
<br />a contemporary romantic novel that releases today!</b></div>
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Tess Dougherty plans every aspect of her life right down to the last detail. But she doesn’t plan on running her boyfriend off by bringing up the topic of marriage before he’s ready. And she doesn’t plan to lose her job on the day she’s set to receive a huge promotion. So when her perfect world unravels, Tess makes a new plan: disappear. </div>
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Tess packs her bags and leaves her city apartment for a remote vineyard in North Carolina. At first, she’s put off by the slow pace of small-town life in the South. She’s especially irritated by Thatcher, the vineyard’s smart-mouth, dimple-faced farmhand. But she soon begins to appreciate the area’s charm, and Thatcher’s charm, too. She even swaps her trademark heels for a pair of cowboy boots. As Tess spends more time getting to know Thatcher, she finds herself loosening her grip on her old life little by little. Unfortunately, things on the vineyard aren’t as simple as they seem. There’s a secret here, and when the truth comes to light, Tess is forced to reconsider every plan she’s ever made.
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<b>Where to get the book:</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NDBW6ZK">Amazon</a> <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tess-in-boots-courtney-rice-gager/1120200617?ean=2940046115178" target="_blank">B&N</a> <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/468762" target="_blank">Smashwords</a>
<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/tess-in-boots/id911135042?mt=11">iTunes</a></div>
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About the Author:</div>
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<b><a href="https://anaiahpress.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/courtney-rice-gager-apc.jpg"><img alt="Courtney Rice Gager" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-5729" height="300" src="https://anaiahpress.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/courtney-rice-gager-apc.jpg" width="225" /></a></b></div>
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Courtney Rice Gager graduated from Virginia Tech with a bachelor’s degree in communication and a minor in creative writing. Courtney is also the author of The Buggy List. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and daughter.
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Connect with Courtney:
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<a href="http://www.courtneyricegager.com/" target="_blank">Website</a>
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/CourtneyRGager" target="_blank">Twitter</a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/courtney_rice_gager" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/CourtneyRiceGager">Facebook</a>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/author/courtneyricegager">Amazon</a></div>
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d3e9359412/" id="rc-d3e9359412" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612316325849598049noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6636323624820364473.post-80033969445856218282014-12-01T15:42:00.001-05:002014-12-01T15:42:05.271-05:00My Top 5 Pre-Book-Release Confessions<div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ever wonder what goes through an author's mind the day before a book release? Wonder no more! Tess in Boots releases tomorrow (eep!) and I'm sharing my top 5 pre-book-release confessions, because well... why not?</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Here they are, in no particular order:</span></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br></b></span></div>1. I've stress-eaten two-thirds of a pumpkin cheesecake over the past week.</b><br>Okay more like three-fourths of a pumpkin cheesecake. Okay fine, all but two pieces, but let's not split hairs. If you must know, it was one of those enormous Costco cheesecakes. I regret nothing.<br><br><b>2. I am really, really excited! Like, little-kid-on-Christmas-morning excited.</b><br>I've been dreaming of this day for so long, and now that it's almost here I can hardly contain myself! Let's wake up at the crack of dawn and start obsessively checking sales rankings, shall we?<br><br><b>3. I feel like hiding under the table and/or barfing on my shoes.</b><br>I've been dreaming of this day for so long, and now that it's almost here I find myself questioning <i>every last word in the book</i>. What if it's a huge flop and everyone hates it and I have to start a new life in a small town in rural Oklahoma? Also, I just realized I can't spell Oklahoma without autocorrect. What kind of writer am I? If you need me, I'll be locked in a dark closet eating the rest of that pumpkin cheesecake.<br><br><b>4. I've obsessively packed my schedule in an effort to avoid thinking about release. </b><br>I've managed to triple-book myself and generally overextend myself in every possible way for the next forty-eight hours or so. At first I thought it was just a randomly busy week, but I'm starting to think I may have done this on purpose so I don't end up <i>actually</i> locked in a dark closet annihilating the surviving slices of cheesecake.<br><br><b>5. I have an irresistible urge to hug a bunch of strangers.</b><br>That didn't come out right. What I mean to say is, I want to hug each and every reader who picks up and enjoys a copy of Tess in Boots. You are the best, readers. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612316325849598049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6636323624820364473.post-51312351771350758332014-11-18T08:37:00.001-05:002014-11-18T09:26:22.453-05:00The Tess in Boots book tour starts today!<div class="s4" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It's finally here, it's finally here! The <i>Tess in Boots</i> blog tour starts today! Check out the schedule below to find out where we'll be each day through December 16th.</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6636323624820364473" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6636323624820364473" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span class="s7" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-weight: bold;">Tess in Boots</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6636323624820364473" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6636323624820364473" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span class="s8" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">by Courtney Rice Gager</span></div>
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<span class="s8" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Release Date:</span></div>
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<span class="s8" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">December 2, 2014</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6636323624820364473" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6636323624820364473" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span class="s9" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-weight: bold;">Book Tour November 18-December 16</span></div>
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<span class="s8" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Book reviews, interviews, guest posts and giveaway!</span></div>
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<span class="s8" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Follow the Tess in Boots Book Tour:</span><br />
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<span class="s8" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">11/18 Katie's Clean Book Collection </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/">http://www.katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com</a></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="s8" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">11/21 A booklover's retreat<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.abookloversretreat.com/">http://www.abookloversretreat.com</a></span></span><span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><br />
<span class="s8" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">11/22 Paula Rose Books </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://paularosebooks.com/">http://paularosebooks.com/</a></span></span><span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><br />
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<span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">11/28 Shelf full of books </span><span lang="PL"><a href="http://kathrynsshelffullofbooks.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://kathrynsshelffullofbooks.blogspot.com</span></a></span></div>
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<span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Shelf full of books </span><a href="http://kathrynsshelffullofbooks.blogspot.ca/"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://kathrynsshelffullofbooks.blogspot.ca/</span></span></a><span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CBY Book Club </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://cbybookclub.blogspot.co.uk/">http://cbybookclub.blogspot.co.uk</a></span></span><span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
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<span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wonderous Reviews </span><a href="http://wonderousreviews.blogspot.com/"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://wonderousreviews.blogspot.com</span></span></a><span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
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<span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Angela Schroeder, Author </span><a href="http://angelaschroederauthor.blogspot.com/"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://angelaschroederauthor.blogspot.com/</span></span></a><span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
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<span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Krysten Lindsay Hager, author </span><a href="http://www.krystenlindsay.com/blog"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://www.krystenlindsay.com/blog</span></span></a><span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
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<span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Curling Up With A Good Book </span><span lang="PL"><a href="http://curling-up-with-a-good-book.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://curling-up-with-a-good-book.blogspot.com</span></a></span><span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
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<span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Breathless Ink </span><span lang="PL"><a href="http://breathlessink.com/"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://breathlessink.com</span></a></span><span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
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<span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12/3 Just Contemporary Romance </span><a href="http://www.justcontemporaryromance.com/"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://www.justcontemporaryromance.com/</span></span></a><span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
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<span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12/4 The Book Junkie </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.thebooknerd2013.blogspot.com/">http://www.thebooknerd2013.blogspot.com</a></span></span><span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
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<span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12/5 Bookish<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><a href="http://evie-bookish.blogspot.com/"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://evie-bookish.blogspot.com</span></span></a><span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
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<span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12/5 Melinda Dozier Contemporary
Romance Author </span><a href="http://melindadozier.blogspot.com/"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://melindadozier.blogspot.com</span></span></a><span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
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<span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12/6 I Am A Reader </span><a href="http://www.iamareader.com/"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://www.iamareader.com</span></span></a><span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
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<span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12/7 Musings From An Addicted Reader </span><a href="http://musingsfromanaddictedreader.wordpress.com/"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://musingsfromanaddictedreader.wordpress.com</span></span></a><span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
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<span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12/7 This is me... </span><a href="http://joshsmama05.blogspot.com/"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://joshsmama05.blogspot.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
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<span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12/8 Swooning Over Books </span><a href="http://swooningoverbooks.blogspot.com/"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://swooningoverbooks.blogspot.com</span></span></a><span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
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<span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12/9 Red Cheeks Reads </span><a href="http://redcheeksreads.com/"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://redcheeksreads.com/</span></span></a><span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
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<span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12/10 True Story Book Blog<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_1697699966"> </a></span><a href="http://www.truestorybookblog.com/"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://www.truestorybookblog.com/</span></span></a><span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
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<span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12/10 Angela Schroeder, Author </span><a href="http://angelaschroederauthor.blogspot.com/"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://angelaschroederauthor.blogspot.com/</span></span></a><span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
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<span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12/11 Bookworm Lisa<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_1697699970"> </a></span><a href="http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/</span></span></a><span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
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<span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12/12 Kit 'N Kabookle </span><a href="http://kitnkabookle.blogspot.com/"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://kitnkabookle.blogspot.com</span></span></a><span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
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<span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12/12 Perusing Bookshelves </span><a href="http://www.perusingbookshelves.weebly.com/"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://www.perusingbookshelves.weebly.com/</span></span></a><span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
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<span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12/16 Susana's Morning Room </span><a href="http://susanaauthor.wordpress.com/"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://susanaauthor.wordpress.com/</span></span></a><span lang="PL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s8" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Anaiah Press</span><br />
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<span class="s11" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: underline;">http://www.anaiahpress.com</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612316325849598049noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6636323624820364473.post-78217895784437961732014-11-01T07:13:00.000-04:002014-11-01T07:13:51.493-04:00Why I Say "No" to NaNoWriMoThere is a distinct possibility that a team of literary elves will appear and haul me off to their underground prison lair as soon as I post this blog. So if I go missing... ya'll know where to start looking.<div>
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But since I'm only a little afraid of elves, I'll just come out and say it: <i>I don't "do" NaNoWriMo</i>. </div>
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There. It's out. Before I go into why I don't participate, please know it's not my intent to bash the project. I think it's awesome to bring together writers from around the world and encourage them to get... well, writing. There are all kinds of good things that come from National Novel Writing Month. It's just not for me. And here's why: </div>
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<b>1. Debilitating social pressure sends my creativity packing.</b></div>
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Two days ago my Facebook feed was flooded with an army of jack-o'-lantern photos. These weren't your ordinary carved pumpkins with triangle noses and crooked grins. Every single one of these things was an intricate masterpiece, each in its own way worthy of eternal Pinterest hall-of-famedom. And as I scrolled through this digital art gallery, I realized: <i>we didn't even get a pumpkin this year, let alone carve one</i>. My mind raced with panicked thoughts about my numerous parental shortcomings. There was no time for a picturesque hayride through the pumpkin patch, or a carefully-planned etching of a spooky three-dimensional Halloween scene. Best case scenario: I could run to Walmart, and maybe - just maybe, there'd be one misfit pumpkin left in the bin. And even then, I'd end up carving a triangle nose into it's poor, pathetic misshapen little face. I knew in that moment I'd scarred my daughter for life with my lack of mom finesse, and she's only two! Then I realized, wait a minute... she's only two. "Do you want to carve a pumpkin?" I asked her. "No!" she replied, her voice filled with defiance. (Note: This was a trap. She says no to most things, because well... she's two.) I breathed a sigh of relief and banned myself from Facebook for the rest of the day.</div>
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I tell you this story because it's the same way I feel about NaNoWriMo. I see all the word count Tweets and I'm instantly reminded of the manuscript I put on the back burner over the summer. Then I feel guilty about putting it on the back burner to begin with, and suddenly there is this enormous pressure to not only dust it off, but to finish it by November 30th at 11:59 p.m. because... NaNoWriMo!</div>
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The trouble is, nothing zaps my creativity like social pressure. There is an ounce of rebellious teenager left in me (only an ounce) (okay, maybe two ounces) and this part of me wants to be different just for the sake of being a rebel. So not only do I find myself not writing an entire novel in November, I usually find myself not writing <i>at all</i> in November, in a very emo sort of way.</div>
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<b>2. The average woman in the U.S.</b><b> is a size 14.</b></div>
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What does that have to do with NaNoWriMo? I'm glad you asked.</div>
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Take a quick scan at the magazine covers this month and you'll see that we are <i>still</i> setting unrealistic standards of beauty. The real women in the world aren't walking around with photo-shopped faces and sinewy arms. On a good day, I've at least brushed my teeth and/or rubbed yesterday's mascara out from under my eyes. But, like most women, I'm still prone to pursuing this standard of beauty that's all around me and totally impossible to meet, simply because it's programmed into our culture. </div>
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My concern is that NaNoWriMo may affect writers in a similar way. If you're participating just for fun to kick start your creativity - fantastic! But if you're an aspiring writer who gives up because you couldn't get your novel finished in thirty days... then that's another story. </div>
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Writing takes time. And dedication. And time. </div>
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Did I mention time?</div>
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Sure, the occasional NaNoWriMo manuscript goes to publication. But that's the exception, not the rule. The vast majority of published authors have spent hours (and hours) (and seriously, I mean <i>hour</i>s) plotting, writing, editing, and polishing. I pretend to take a principled stand about not allowing other writers to fall victim to unrealistic standards of productivity, but really it's all a facade to distract from the fact that debilitating social pressure sends my creativity packing.</div>
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<b>3. November is a great month to query!</b></div>
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While writers everywhere are busy trying to cram as many words as possible into their microwaved manuscripts, agents and editors are <i>slightly</i> less inundated with queries this month. Focus on querying when the masses are busy writing, and you have a better shot at getting your (polished) manuscript noticed. It's sort of like going to the grocery store during the Super Bowl. Sure, you miss the big game, but the lines are shorter and the seven-layer bean dip is on clearance. (You should know that I have absolutely no data to back this up, it's simply a hunch. A logical hunch, for what it's worth.)</div>
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So there we have it - why I say "no" to NaNoWriMo. If you're participating in NaNoWriMo this year, good luck! Just remember, if you truly want to be a writer, there are 335 other days in the year. Promise me you won't give up when time runs out.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612316325849598049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6636323624820364473.post-22480382252800486882014-10-09T12:19:00.000-04:002014-10-09T12:21:43.509-04:00Interview with Scott Springer, Author of Bound by Blood<div align="center" class="normal" style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">I love chatting with fellow authors! Today I'm interviewing Scott Springer, self-proclaimed Law and Order connoisseur and author of the newly-released romantic suspense, Bound by Blood.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">1. Tell us a little about yourself and the book you're currently promoting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">About me? I actually do have an answer for that because I took an online test. Turns out I’m an introvert. No surprise there. I’m not the first guy you’d think of when you think Party! But that’s okay because I’d be happier hanging at the house with a good book, a project, or marathon TV episodes. I’m always in for Law and Order, and in case you’re wondering why they always show those things: my daughter has a Nielson Box. You’re welcome. I’d watch it on Netflix, but without commercials I’d never get anything done. Favorite movie: Good Will Hunting. While I’m nowhere near as smart as that guy, I do get that whole outsider thing he has going on. Favorite color: green. It makes me happy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">BOUND BY BLOOD is a great story. Julia and Rick get themselves into so much trouble with drug dealers, and that’s the kind of trouble that can get you killed. They also might be falling in love. I kind of hope so.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">2. What is your writing process like? Do you have any particular writing habits or rituals?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">One writing habit that I used to have was writing every day for an hour or so, always at the same time. I did this for several years and my time was five to six in the morning. I found that this worked well because I was tired in the evening, but the best part was that my dream state was still active. Also, I think that by committing the same time each day for writing my mind learned to prepare itself beforehand. I had a lot of great productivity with this schedule. I even completed a nanowrmo novel in a month by writing only during this one hour a day. I never actually reread that novel though. The style was too wordy.</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">3. What part of the publishing process is easiest for you? What part do you find to be the hardest?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">The part that is most fun is writing the first draft. This is the most creative time, and the project is fresh and new and full of hope. The rest of the process grows more difficult. Editing is not as much fun as writing fresh, but it is still fun to polish up the story and think about it from a reader’s perspective. I don’t mind sending out queries, and I can spot a rejection letter from the first sentence, and I don’t even care anymore. But apparently the hardest part is getting accepted. Now there’s a contract to read, and then lots of editing, and lots of reading and rereading the manuscript. I am blessed my novel is category romance length. I can’t imagine having written a four hundred page novel. Ouch. But again, while a lot of work, it is still fun. The absolute hardest part for me is the self-promotion. Like a lot of writers, I’m quiet and don’t really like talking about myself that much. I’m more used to listening than being the center of attention.</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">4. What did you learn while writing your most recent book?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">I learned a lot by working with the editors. It was like your book is great, but . . . let’s make it better. I learned to make rewrites quickly. And I learned to not start sentences with conjunctions (or did I?) For having gone through the process I have learned to write better, and that’s pretty awesome.</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">5. What literary character do you identify with most, and why?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">I got to say Tom Joad from Grapes of Wrath. The main thing about him is he was a stand-up guy that put family first, and he had that good ‘ol ingenuity. On their way out to California their truck broke down and they replaced a main bearing on the side of the road, having caught the old oil in a bucket so they could reuse it. That’s what I’m talking about. I have lived in California most of all my life, and the theme of farm owner versus farm laborer, especially later with Cesar Chavez, has always been part of life’s fabric out here. Of course, Tom was also a killer, but not every analogy is perfect.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;"><b>Check out Scott's latest release, Bound by Blood!</b></span></h2>
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has accepted the Lord and is busy returning her life to order. She is not ready
for love, especially when the new site foreman at work stirs up forgotten
feelings. She knows a playboy when she sees one, but to Rick Mercado the
attraction between them is surprisingly real. Other girls no longer interest
him, and if she wants to play hard to get that's fine with him. Let the games
begin!</span></div>
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he doesn't realize is that her dangerous secret is not a game.</span></div>
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brother has returned from the street, strung out and in trouble with rival
gangs. Loyalty to her brother draws Julia deeper into a world of drug deals and
thugs. Rick doesn't understand why Julia won't simply go to the cops,
especially once the bullets start flying. As Julia slips further into a world
of violence, Rick realizes how easily his heart can be broken. His brain says
to run, but his heart isn't listening. It may already be too late.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Book</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <b>Links:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Goodreads:</span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22365508-bound-by-blood"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"> </span></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22365508-bound-by-blood"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22365508-bound-by-blood</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Anaiah
Press:</span><a href="http://www.anaiahpress.com/"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"> </span></a><a href="http://www.anaiahpress.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">http://www.anaiahpress.com/</span></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Buy</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <b>Links:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Amazon: </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bound-Blood-Scott-Springer-ebook/dp/B00NO949Z6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411291813&sr=8-1&keywords=bound+by+blood+scott+springer"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://www.amazon.com/Bound-Blood-Scott-Springer-ebook/dp/B00NO949Z6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411291813&sr=8-1&keywords=bound+by+blood+scott+springer</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">B&N: </span><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bound-by-blood-scott-springer/1120359993?ean=2940046168280"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bound-by-blood-scott-springer/1120359993?ean=2940046168280</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Smashwords: </span><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/476345"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/476345</span></a></div>
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<script src="//widget.rafflecopter.com/load.js"></script></span></i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
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youth playing pretend and dreaming of being a writer. As an adult he worked as
a carpenter before becoming a software developer. Having produced much, his two
children remain his proudest accomplishment. His wife led him to the Lord, and
he’s glad that she did.</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-highlight: white;">Twitter:</span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/sb_springer"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-highlight: white; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"> </span></a><a href="http://www.twitter.com/sb_springer"><span style="background: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-highlight: white;">www.twitter.com/sb_springer</span></a></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-highlight: white;">Goodreads:</span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4771404.Scott_Springer"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-highlight: white; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"> </span></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4771404.Scott_Springer"><span style="background: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-highlight: white;">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4771404.Scott_Springer</span></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612316325849598049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6636323624820364473.post-44726962422301184562014-09-08T13:41:00.001-04:002014-09-08T22:53:59.683-04:00Tess in Boots Trailer Reveal Day!I'm so excited to reveal my trailer to you today! Is it December 2nd yet?<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/QNneLcbh0tM" width="560"></iframe>
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<b>Tess in Boots</b><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">Release date: December 2, 2014</span><br />
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<b>About the book:</b></div>
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Tess Dougherty plans every aspect of her life right down to the last detail. But she doesn’t plan on running her boyfriend off by bringing up the topic of marriage before he’s ready. And she doesn’t plan to lose her job on the day she’s set to receive a huge promotion. So when her perfect world unravels, Tess makes a new plan: disappear. </div>
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Tess packs her bags and leaves her city apartment for a remote vineyard in North Carolina. At first, she’s put off by the slow pace of small-town life in the South. She’s especially irritated by Thatcher, the vineyard’s smart-mouth, dimple-faced farmhand. But she soon begins to appreciate the area’s charm, and Thatcher’s charm, too. She even swaps her trademark heels for a pair of cowboy boots. As Tess spends more time getting to know Thatcher, she finds herself loosening her grip on her old life little by little. Unfortunately, things on the vineyard aren’t as simple as they seem. There’s a secret here, and when the truth comes to light, Tess is forced to reconsider every plan she’s ever made. </div>
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Add Tess in Boots on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22779717-tess-in-boots">Goodreads</a>!<br />
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I can't wait to share this book with you!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612316325849598049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6636323624820364473.post-9021775052917662432014-08-27T20:27:00.000-04:002014-08-27T20:43:32.644-04:00New Book Spotlight: Liberty Belle by Emily UngarToday I'm spotlighting Liberty Belle, an adorable new middle grade by Emily Ungar.<br />
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I think the best way to spotlight this book is with an excerpt:</div>
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<i>Today is my twelfth birthday, and I’m in the backseat of our family Subaru holding a dead goldfish. Poor Frank bit it somewhere between Georgia and Washington D.C., and now I’m holding a sandwich bag full of water and the lifeless remains of last summer’s carnival prize. Dad and I wanted to leave Frank’s little body in a nice puddle somewhere along the highway, but Mom pointed out that the moving van would have to stop, too, and we would create a scene.</i></div>
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<i>Mom’s biggest fear is creating a scene, and Dad’s biggest fear is upsetting Mom–that’s why I have my lime-green iPod in my left hand and my dearly departed goldfish in my right hand. Oh, and we’ve just moved away from the only house I’ve ever known, on my birthday to boot, so I’m miserable. At least I got a new iPod and permission to have a Twitter account out of the deal. Parental guilt equals appealing personal electronics.</i></div>
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I love this character's quirky voice and innocent observations about the "grown up world" around her. You can read a longer sample of Liberty Belle on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Liberty-Belle-Emily-Ungar-ebook/dp/B00MMZCR34" target="_blank">Amazon</a>. The book is also available on <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/liberty-belle-emily-ungar/1120079472?ean=2940046058567" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> and <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/455093" target="_blank">Smashwords</a></div>
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Check it out, it's seriously too cute!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612316325849598049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6636323624820364473.post-53529419255900559542014-07-30T05:56:00.001-04:002014-07-30T05:56:12.258-04:00Blog Tour and Review: Runaway by Renee Donne<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkxWyW0LibmNasUETk_XvHUAFJKXBnqTctzxVwDTVX81Kv_sHXtdBNfPdOil0AF_N0-B3oi5tNNAyw5vAkZr4PfQbcvOYwgnt2cd2CKPai_TKPUsQYQW3fJTShuOCWqR9qqBrhtQ7EP0/s1600/Runaway+Blog+Tour+Banner+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkxWyW0LibmNasUETk_XvHUAFJKXBnqTctzxVwDTVX81Kv_sHXtdBNfPdOil0AF_N0-B3oi5tNNAyw5vAkZr4PfQbcvOYwgnt2cd2CKPai_TKPUsQYQW3fJTShuOCWqR9qqBrhtQ7EP0/s1600/Runaway+Blog+Tour+Banner+.jpg" height="141" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Runaway by Renee Donne</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Imprint: Romance</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Release Date: July 29, 2014</span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28d0o05rFiJ6BK06mNMb3nHmav39hxRhX3WbCxJqH2evxCp8lqojCcdBfD2pY2e9mLj4gZ_DfrdxWxd1bsCkORl-BZSe2aKxoubsNfP5A_Rm_BWo51e4tf-sgb8gQnaQD9B7EPYmuku8/s1600/RunawayMedium.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/AVvXsEi28d0o05rFiJ6BK06mNMb3nHmav39hxRhX3WbCxJqH2evxCp8lqojCcdBfD2pY2e9mLj4gZ_DfrdxWxd1bsCkORl-BZSe2aKxoubsNfP5A_Rm_BWo51e4tf-sgb8gQnaQD9B7EPYmuku8/s1600/RunawayMedium.png" height="320" width="213" /></a><b id="docs-internal-guid-8182454e-1d33-0f55-035b-4693ce83a2d6" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blurb:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After Marianne discovers her bankrupt stepfather sold her into marriage to the highest bidder, she flees Philadelphia and heads west to start a new life.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unfortunately for her danger follows. First, a stage coach accident leaves her stranded in the middle of nowhere – with an injured driver. And henchmen, hired by her spurned would-be husband, are hot on her trail, threatening to return her to Philadelphia and the man who is determined to own her.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just when things seem hopeless, Marianne is rescued by a handsome, cowboy who offers temporary refuge. Knowing she can’t refuse, yet wary of his intentions, Marianne finds herself drawn to this quiet, enigmatic hero. But is he someone she can trust?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; white-space: pre-wrap;">My Thoughts:</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I began reading Runaway on a Sunday and finished it that day. It's a short, relaxing weekend read, and the author does a good job of pacing the story in a a way that makes it hard to put down. Even if you aren't a history buff (ahem, me), you'll be able to attach to the story because the characters' emotions have a modern and relatable feel. I'd recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a clean, romantic read that keeps you in suspense! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtH_IXAUuAc3oRV3sWCyOvGtF3zVXjAYU2lI_aDCufs5bI7e1gNHJIb2TYeuwk6arzmPP6Bbjk180bEZqYaQF2SwXqGrza_VxY-j8OPAi_ttjC2bffK-5TpIKm47BSOI9N8PK4QG0OWJU/s1600/RDonne.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtH_IXAUuAc3oRV3sWCyOvGtF3zVXjAYU2lI_aDCufs5bI7e1gNHJIb2TYeuwk6arzmPP6Bbjk180bEZqYaQF2SwXqGrza_VxY-j8OPAi_ttjC2bffK-5TpIKm47BSOI9N8PK4QG0OWJU/s1600/RDonne.png" height="150" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Author Bio: </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Renee Donne is a native Floridian with a penchant for writing books with a western theme. In her head she's a world traveler and an amateur chef. In real life, she's a hometown girl with an affinity for fine wine and good friends. Her favorite place to write is sitting on her veranda, overlooking the beach.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Author Links: </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.twitter.com/reneedonne" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">www.twitter.com/reneedonne</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/renee.donne" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.facebook.com/renee.donne</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trailer: </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Excerpt Link: </span><a href="http://www.anaiahpress.com/Runaway.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.anaiahpress.com/Runaway.html</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Buy Links:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon: </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Runaway-Renee-Donne-ebook/dp/B00M8EQ74E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1406659561&sr=8-2&keywords=renee+donne" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: normal;" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/<wbr></wbr>Runaway-Renee-Donne-ebook/dp/<wbr></wbr>B00M8EQ74E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&<wbr></wbr>qid=1406659561&sr=8-2&<wbr></wbr>keywords=renee+donne</a><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kobo:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;"> </span><a href="http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Runaway/book-kKJNjrcvC0yv0CWTWWQbGw/page1.html?s=QOMbQ_qWlk2QVp-PBhfH5Q&r=1" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;" target="_blank">http://www.kobobooks.<wbr></wbr>com/ebook/Runaway/book-<wbr></wbr>kKJNjrcvC0yv0CWTWWQbGw/page1.<wbr></wbr>html?s=QOMbQ_qWlk2QVp-PBhfH5Q&<wbr></wbr>r=1</a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Barnes and Noble: </span><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/runaway-renee-donne/1119887117?ean=2940046042153" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/runaway-renee-donne/1119887117?ean=2940046042153</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">iTunes: </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/runaway/id894052671?mt=11" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/runaway/id894052671?mt=11</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Smashwords: </span><a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/451935" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/451935</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Goodreads: </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20602860-runaway" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20602860-runaway</span></a></div>
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(I received this book free in exchange for an honest review.)<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612316325849598049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6636323624820364473.post-36258576437479979332014-07-28T14:22:00.001-04:002014-07-28T14:22:16.422-04:00Trailer Reveal - Operation Tree Roper: An Eye Above<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-3ea72558-1bac-f9b6-0c87-9ad01933438b" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIR5AGIFQawQIbAoshmJ7egf977ewwjArqRb5o4SJcigDsNFv4yR4K5hQF6EFhdEydhELLB5wGb2-mb92IhRi3IZvz89-A9kDYJgikG7s3S_PemXz07m8DoAErS_EIfh2U7S8fhOEx_TY/s1600/bannerfinal.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIR5AGIFQawQIbAoshmJ7egf977ewwjArqRb5o4SJcigDsNFv4yR4K5hQF6EFhdEydhELLB5wGb2-mb92IhRi3IZvz89-A9kDYJgikG7s3S_PemXz07m8DoAErS_EIfh2U7S8fhOEx_TY/s1600/bannerfinal.png" height="131" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Anaiah Press is revealing the trailer for OPERATION TREE ROPER: AN EYE ABOVE by Robert Polk today and we have it here on the blog!</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkp_6tsTiej0VZnsjg2bF1CWa9yKiTTB2LfRUon5XWje7MMZZwvPJ1KvR3WlC3alnvpnXc9-S486T6U49BiBcYDLxX6blFdHIiTa5hSAAAO6Aq1cyiC5gv4BxtoZSH6TYJoXZY-25bT8/s1600/Cover+1600x2400final.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkp_6tsTiej0VZnsjg2bF1CWa9yKiTTB2LfRUon5XWje7MMZZwvPJ1KvR3WlC3alnvpnXc9-S486T6U49BiBcYDLxX6blFdHIiTa5hSAAAO6Aq1cyiC5gv4BxtoZSH6TYJoXZY-25bT8/s1600/Cover+1600x2400final.png" height="400" width="266" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Blurb:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Twelve-year-old Declan Parker was born with only one eye, but all he seems to have trouble seeing in proper perspective is himself. All he wants is for kids to see him as normal before he starts a new school in the fall. To that end, he sets out to make money helping with his dad’s tree care business.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Unfortunately, when his dad lands in the hospital after a climbing accident, Declan’s surgery hopes are wrecked. His only hope remains in a neighbor girl and her uncle, a wounded army veteran. Can they help him save his dad’s business, or will Declan’s once-courageous drive turn into total despair?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Operation Tree Roper: An Eye Above</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> is a well-crafted story about a strong, dauntless young man who redefines the value of self-reflection. Declan is a character you won’t be able to forget.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Welcome to your new favorite book…</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Release Date:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">October 7, 2014</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Book</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Links:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Goodreads: </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22388584-tree-roper" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22388584-tree-roper</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Anaiah Press: </span><a href="http://www.anaiahpress.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">www.anaiahpress.com</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Author Bio:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPHp10xEf1Ilnj4-Jz7yOXN8QlilFgO8N9666BWgRoVIZfdlFzruhAhESaZct4VPnZgy8SjfMpmZrFl13YJi3L64yMlzgn5Jx2hV5yccP7HtdvytEZuHjvtQHZDj2XjelDrG6Evgg8mQ/s1600/Author+Photo-+Robert+Polk.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/AVvXsEjOPHp10xEf1Ilnj4-Jz7yOXN8QlilFgO8N9666BWgRoVIZfdlFzruhAhESaZct4VPnZgy8SjfMpmZrFl13YJi3L64yMlzgn5Jx2hV5yccP7HtdvytEZuHjvtQHZDj2XjelDrG6Evgg8mQ/s1600/Author+Photo-+Robert+Polk.JPG" height="200" width="130" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Robert Polk lives in western Nebraska where he shares his love of books and the great outdoors with his wife and seven children. He is a former school counselor, business owner, and tree climbing arborist. Robert participates in his church and local community, currently serving on several non-profit boards.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Author Links:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Website: </span><a href="http://www.stmercy.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">www.stmercy.com</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Twitter: </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/RobertPolk2" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">www.twitter.com/RobertPolk2</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Goodreads: </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8286827.Robert_Polk" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8286827.Robert_Polk</span></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612316325849598049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6636323624820364473.post-67871012765436742052014-07-25T05:46:00.001-04:002014-07-25T06:12:01.177-04:00It's Finally Here! Tess in Boots Cover Reveal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://anaiahpress.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/tess-in-boots-cover-reveal.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover Reveal - Tess in Boots Banner" class="aligncenter wp-image-584" src="http://anaiahpress.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/tess-in-boots-cover-reveal.jpg?w=300" height="140" width="400" /></a></div>
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It's cover reveal day, it's cover reveal day, it's COVER REVEAL DAY!</h3>
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Thank you to cover designer Kayelle Allen and the team at Anaiah Press for this beautiful cover!<br />
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<a href="https://anaiahpress.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/ap-tessinboots1600x2400.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tess in Boots Cover Reveal" class="aligncenter wp-image-585" src="http://anaiahpress.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/ap-tessinboots1600x2400.jpg?w=200" height="400" width="266" /></a><span style="font-weight: normal;">Tess Dougherty plans every aspect of her life right down to the last detail. But she doesn’t plan on running her boyfriend off by bringing up the topic of marriage before he’s ready. And she doesn’t plan to lose her job on the day she’s set to receive a huge promotion. So when her perfect world unravels, Tess makes a new plan: disappear.</span></h4>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Tess packs her bags and leaves her city apartment for a remote vineyard in North Carolina. At first, she’s put off by the slow pace of small-town life in the South. She’s especially irritated by Thatcher, the vineyard’s smart-mouth, dimple-faced farmhand. But she soon begins to appreciate the area’s charm, and Thatcher’s charm, too. She even swaps her trademark heels for a pair of cowboy boots. As Tess spends more time getting to know Thatcher, she finds herself loosening her grip on her old life little by little. Unfortunately, things on the vineyard aren’t as simple as they seem. There’s a secret here, and when the truth comes to light, Tess is forced to reconsider every plan she’s ever made.</span></h4>
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<b><u>Release Date:</u> </b>December 2, 2014</h4>
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<u>Goodreads:</u><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22779717-tess-in-boots">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22779717-tess-in-boots</a></span></h4>
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Website: <a href="http://www.courtneyricegager.com/">http://www.courtneyricegager.com</a></h4>
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Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/CourtneyRGager">http://www.twitter.com/CourtneyRGager</a></h4>
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Pinterest: <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/courtneyrgager">http://www.pinterest.com/courtneyrgager</a></h4>
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Goodreads: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/courtney_rice_gager">http://www.goodreads.com/courtney_rice_gager</a></h4>
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Facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/CourtneyRiceGager">http://www.facebook.com/CourtneyRiceGager</a></h4>
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Google+: <a href="http://www.plus.google.com/+CourtneyRiceGagerWrites">http://www.plus.google.com/+CourtneyRiceGagerWrites</a></h4>
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Amazon: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/author/courtneyricegager">http://www.amazon.com/author/courtneyricegager</a></h4>
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<b><u>Author Bio:</u></b></div>
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<a href="http://anaiahpress.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/courtney-rice-gager-apc.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Courtney Rice Gager" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-307" src="http://anaiahpress.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/courtney-rice-gager-apc.jpg?w=225" height="300" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Courtney Rice Gager graduated from Virginia Tech with a bachelor’s degree in communication and a minor in creative writing. Courtney is also the author of The Buggy List. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and daughter.</span></h4>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612316325849598049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6636323624820364473.post-37523663564159121642014-07-11T07:20:00.000-04:002014-07-11T07:20:00.153-04:00Cover Reveal! Operation Tree Roper: An Eye Above - by Robert Polk<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-3ea72558-1bac-f9b6-0c87-9ad01933438b" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Operation Tree Roper: An Eye Above by Robert Polk</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Adventures, Anaiah Press</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Blurb:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Twelve-year-old Declan Parker was born with only one eye, but all he seems to have trouble seeing in proper perspective is himself. All he wants is for kids to see him as normal before he starts a new school in the fall. To that end, he sets out to make money helping with his dad’s tree care business.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Unfortunately, when his dad lands in the hospital after a climbing accident, Declan’s surgery hopes are wrecked. His only hope remains in a neighbor girl and her uncle, a wounded army veteran. Can they help him save his dad’s business, or will Declan’s once-courageous drive turn into total despair?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Operation Tree Roper: An Eye Above</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> is a well-crafted story about a strong, dauntless young man who redefines the value of self-reflection. Declan is a character you won’t be able to forget.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Welcome to your new favorite book…</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Release Date:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">October 7, 2014</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Book</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Links:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Goodreads: </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22388584-tree-roper" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22388584-tree-roper</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Anaiah Press: </span><a href="http://www.anaiahpress.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">www.anaiahpress.com</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Author Bio:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPHp10xEf1Ilnj4-Jz7yOXN8QlilFgO8N9666BWgRoVIZfdlFzruhAhESaZct4VPnZgy8SjfMpmZrFl13YJi3L64yMlzgn5Jx2hV5yccP7HtdvytEZuHjvtQHZDj2XjelDrG6Evgg8mQ/s1600/Author+Photo-+Robert+Polk.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/AVvXsEjOPHp10xEf1Ilnj4-Jz7yOXN8QlilFgO8N9666BWgRoVIZfdlFzruhAhESaZct4VPnZgy8SjfMpmZrFl13YJi3L64yMlzgn5Jx2hV5yccP7HtdvytEZuHjvtQHZDj2XjelDrG6Evgg8mQ/s1600/Author+Photo-+Robert+Polk.JPG" height="200" width="130" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Robert Polk lives in western Nebraska where he shares his love of books and the great outdoors with his wife and seven children. He is a former school counselor, business owner, and tree climbing arborist. Robert participates in his church and local community, currently serving on several non-profit boards.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Author Links:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Website: </span><a href="http://www.stmercy.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">www.stmercy.com</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Twitter: </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/RobertPolk2" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">www.twitter.com/RobertPolk2</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Goodreads: </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8286827.Robert_Polk" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8286827.Robert_Polk</span></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612316325849598049noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6636323624820364473.post-11050715016006675332014-06-09T13:29:00.001-04:002014-07-05T06:18:12.602-04:00My Writing Process: Blog Tour<span style="background-color: white;"><span data-reactid=".34.1:3:1:$comment603444786421204_603445503087799:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0" style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">I'm thrilled to be taking part in the My Writing Process Blog Tour today! My friend and fellow author, Emily</span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;"> Ungar, posted her entry last week. You can check it out here: <a href="http://emilyungar.com/2014/06/02/my-writing-process-blog-tour/" target="_blank">http://emilyungar.com/2014/06/02/my-writing-process-blog-tour/</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Without further ado, it's time to answer four questions about my writing process:</span></span><br />
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<span data-reactid=".34.1:3:1:$comment603444786421204_603445503087799:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0" style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;"><b style="background-color: white;">1) What am I working on?</b></span></h3>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">I'm currently in the final editing stages for <i>Tess in Boots</i>. It's a sweet contemporary romance set to be released with Anaiah Press in December 2014. The story is about, you know... a girl named Tess who wears boots. Kidding. It's so much more, of course. My heroine, Tess, gets an opportunity to step out of her routine and totally reinvent herself on a remote vineyard in North Carolina. The story speaks to the pressure we place on ourselves to play a certain role in our daily lives, and how this pressure can hold us back from conquering our fears and experiencing personal growth. Lots of secrets, twists, and turns make this story hard to put down. (So does my dreamy leading man, Thatcher. I can't wait to introduce him to my readers!) This book is funny, heartwarming, and comes with a money-back guarantee if you don't cry near the end. (Just kidding on the guarantee thing.) But seriously, get your tissues ready.</span><br />
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<span data-reactid=".34.1:3:1:$comment603444786421204_603445503087799:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$2:0" style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;"><b style="background-color: white;">2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?</b></span></h3>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">When people hear I have a romance coming out, they often assume it's a bodice ripper. I'm a pretty awkward person. (Fortunately for me, I'm not out there in the dating world, because if I had to flirt with someone they'd probably assume I had some sort of nervous twitch and feel sorry for me.) So when people think I'm writing something steamy, it makes me blush and want to hide under the table. My work is different because it's clean. Though packed with lots of heart-fluttering moments, <i>Tess in Boots</i> is contracted with a Christian publisher, and there are certain guidelines the book must adhere to with respect to language, romantic scenes, etc. It's a perfect fit for me, because I'm a clean writer through and through. I love the challenge of writing a fantastic, gripping story while keeping it safe to read with Grandma looking over your shoulder. When I can strike that perfect balance, I call it a win!</span><br />
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<span data-reactid=".34.1:3:1:$comment603444786421204_603445503087799:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$4:0" style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;"><b style="background-color: white;">3) Why do I write what I do?</b></span></h3>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Ever since I was a kid, I've always adored books that make me feel like I'm on vacation. I'm a sucker for a good escape read, and I want my readers to feel like they're getting away when they pick up my book. The picturesque setting of <i>Tess in Boots</i> is a vacation in itself, but more importantly, this is a story you'll get lost in and won't want to leave. Every time I finish up a round of edits, I'm a little sad because I wish I could spend more time with these characters and this story. </span><br />
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<span data-reactid=".34.1:3:1:$comment603444786421204_603445503087799:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$6:0" style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;"><b style="background-color: white;">4) How does my writing process work?</b></span></h3>
<span data-reactid=".34.1:3:1:$comment603444786421204_603445503087799:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$6:0" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: inherit; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">What a loaded question! To keep my response concise, I'll stick to a few key points with links to longer posts I've written:</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">I don't sweat the beginning. Or the entire first draft, for that matter. </span></span></li>
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<li><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">Once I get an idea, I run with it and let myself enjoy the process all the way through the first draft. Then, I go back to edit and tighten things up. (<a href="http://www.courtneyricegager.com/2014/04/o-is-for-opening-proven-sure-fire-and.html" target="_blank">Read more about this here</a>.)</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">I write really early in the morning.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">Most days I wake up to write before 4 am. There's a lot of coffee involved. (<a href="http://www.courtneyricegager.com/2014/04/e-is-for-early-worms-dont-sleep-in-yall.html" target="_blank">Read more about this here</a>.) </span></span></li>
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<li><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">I use a calendar to map out my plot.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">Yep, a good old-fashioned, paper calendar. It helps me keep track of my characters' busy lives! (<a href="http://www.courtneyricegager.com/2014/04/c-is-for-calendar-my-biggest-plotting.html" target="_blank">Read more about this here</a>.)</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">I know when to walk away.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">Sometimes, slacking off is a good thing. When I have writer's block, I step away from the keyboard. (<a href="http://www.courtneyricegager.com/2014/04/b-is-for-block-writers-block-and-how-to.html" target="_blank">Read more about this here</a>.)</span></span></li>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">Next up on the tour, June 16th...</span></span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnkCWBCmSIZst48DZ4Zx9vrHvxnbe3i7CqLP6LtN5ds1ILv5M9M3yDN79A5hOoqyqwVCqml9baCx5C8lZTpGY9iX4O1xPpGVAttPSpCEOxQNUX6mdYhn7zOcLf5KHBX9Z4shaaIRBUiSJU/s1600/deniese-kohles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnkCWBCmSIZst48DZ4Zx9vrHvxnbe3i7CqLP6LtN5ds1ILv5M9M3yDN79A5hOoqyqwVCqml9baCx5C8lZTpGY9iX4O1xPpGVAttPSpCEOxQNUX6mdYhn7zOcLf5KHBX9Z4shaaIRBUiSJU/s1600/deniese-kohles.jpg" height="200" width="168" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 15.359999656677246px;"><a href="http://deniesekohles.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">Deniese Kohles</a></span></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Deniese Kohles is a wife of 37 years, mother, grandmother, interior designer, retired art teacher and youth minister, who resides in Grand Junction, Colorado. She was creatively inspired by a reoccurring vivid dream to write <i>Heaven Has a Secret for You!</i> as a gift for her grandchildren. The second book of this series, <i>Do Flowers Go To Heaven?</i> is coming soon.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBkCZTalak1SHyXZbgMujWXCpPuQacgFwvLZFqXgdxFsqk77GPXzxkaYEwTc6z-2sskl2XA9H9R4aJAKNaxaI-iMOnsrmQ8X4TGqOTVuHqlZT0unc6_UWf-AGPnfy_k2FSIJ0iHk3crtz/s1600/amanda-salisbury.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBkCZTalak1SHyXZbgMujWXCpPuQacgFwvLZFqXgdxFsqk77GPXzxkaYEwTc6z-2sskl2XA9H9R4aJAKNaxaI-iMOnsrmQ8X4TGqOTVuHqlZT0unc6_UWf-AGPnfy_k2FSIJ0iHk3crtz/s1600/amanda-salisbury.JPG" height="200" width="132" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 15.359999656677246px;"><a href="http://recoveringquitter.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">Amanda Salisbury</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span class="auto-style41"><span class="auto-style19" style="margin-top: 0px;">Amanda Salisbury lives on the red planet of Oklahoma. All her best stories</span></span> <span class="auto-style19" style="margin-top: 0px;"><span class="auto-style41">are sifted through the screens of her education and experience in history, law, finance, and mothering. She lives with her husband and boys in a lair, a classroom, or a castle, depending on the moment.</span></span></span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".34.1:3:1:$comment603444786421204_603445503087799:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$6:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612316325849598049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6636323624820364473.post-32614801557400723832014-05-07T07:34:00.001-04:002014-05-07T09:11:09.063-04:00Unplugged: Recap from my (Almost) Technology-Free WeekendI'm keeping my promise to update you all on my weekend without a cell phone, a weekend during which I was operating on limited senses. To be clear, I'm not making an analogy about how turning off my phone was like losing a sense. I'm referring to literal circumstances, in this case an intense head cold which left me unable to smell or taste. (My hearing was a little off, too.) It was fitting, though, and if this were a work of fiction it would be worthy of a few minutes of book club discussion. "I think the cold was a metaphor for our inability to navigate and relate to the world around us without the use of technology." <i>I can hear the nods of agreement now.</i><br />
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Anyway. My weekend:<br />
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<b>Friday, 4:49 pm</b>: The phone rang a mere eleven minutes before I was scheduled to turn it off. I took the call and enjoyed chatting with a friend in much the same way one enjoys scarfing down a cheeseburger the day before a diet. </div>
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<b>Friday, 4:56 pm:</b> The call ended and I spent approximately two minutes pacing around the kitchen and rethinking my decision. </div>
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<b>Friday, 4:58 pm</b>: I called my mom to give her a quick update on something and to say a very dramatic (though brief) goodbye.</div>
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<b>Friday, 4:59 pm:</b> I sent out one last tweet because... Twitter withdrawal.</div>
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<b>Friday, 5:00 pm:</b> I turned off my phone.</div>
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I did it. <i>I turned off my phone. </i></div>
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This wasn't by design, but the no-phone challenge coincided with a weekend getaway for my family. It was the first time my little family of three went away by ourselves, for no particular reason other than to spend time together. This was especially fortuitous because it meant I was busy "packing" - which, when you have a toddler running around the house means you put the same things into a suitcase thirty times because toddlers <i>love </i>emptying suitcases as you pack them. They live for that stuff. The task of packing provided a helpful distraction from the fact that I had practically just chopped off my arm and tossed it aside to rot. (Did I mention I was feeling a bit dramatic about all this?)</div>
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By about 6:30 pm we were on the road heading to Cape May, NJ. The little one was nodding off in the backseat and my husband was driving. This would normally be a time for me to catch up on emails, find recipes on Pinterest that I have no intention of ever actually making, etc. Instead, I asked my husband a few "How's life?" questions, and we talked for the duration of the trip.</div>
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All this talking had me feeling much more emotionally present than usual, perhaps <i>too</i> emotionally present, because I started bawling when I entered the lobby of our hotel. The last time I had been there was on a ladies' weekend with a particularly fantastic lady who has since left this world. Walking into this space opened a floodgate of memories and I was unprepared for the rawness of the experience. If I had my phone on me, I expect I would have been distracted, if not numbed by the task of looking up our reservation details so I could be extra-ready for check-in.<br />
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The clerk at the desk (probably because she felt sorry for the crazy lady with the runny mascara) upgraded us to an oceanfront townhouse. This was awesome because it provided a great view and more space. This was not awesome because the townhouse had a fully-stocked kitchen. The kind of kitchen which includes a coffee maker, but <i>no coffee</i>.<br />
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This led to my first technology cheat. I awoke at 5am Saturday morning and used my husband's phone (not mine!) to locate a 24-hour Wawa so I could buy some coffee. Ordinarily I would have been able to smell it, but like I mentioned before, head cold.<br />
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I returned victorious from my mission, brewed some coffee, and sat down for my morning Bible study. I'm currently doing a Kelly Minter study on the book of Nehemiah, and usually I use my Bible app to bounce back and forth between translations. This morning, I used a physical Bible, you know - with pages and everything. It was all very wonderful and rustic.<br />
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When I was finished, I spent some time using a pencil and paper (I know, more paper... mind-blowing, right?) to map out the theme of the manuscript I'm currently editing, with the goal of finding areas where it could be tightened up. I had one of those "eureka" moments, and I'm confident I wouldn't have had it if I were using this time to browse Facebook instead.<br />
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We spent the day at a leisurely pace, taking our daughter to a park, walking through town and by the ocean, even napping in the afternoon. At one point I tried to stop and smell the roses (literally), but I couldn't smell them. Oh, well. At least I tried.<br />
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There were lots of little moments during which I had nothing urgent to do, and these were the moments I most noticed the absence of my phone. These were the moments when I would normally do a quick check to stay connected to the outside world. Instead, I found myself doing quick checks to stay connected to the world right in front of me. This resulted in some deeply satisfying bubble-blowing sessions, dance parties, and laughs. (We took our daughter to a restaurant she had no business being in, and the look on her face when the waiter approached us in a very no-nonsense, <i>this is not Bennigan's</i> sort of way had us in stitches for most of the weekend. For the record, she defied all expectations and behaved like Princess Kate.)<br />
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My other technology cheat was using my husband's phone to take pictures. In my defense, I packed an actual camera, but I packed the wrong charger. I decided the photos were an admissible offense, because it was certainly a weekend I wanted to capture in photos.<br />
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So that was my weekend without a phone. There are a lot of things I love about my phone. I love staying in touch with friends, and finding coupon apps, and taking digital notes so I don't have a ton of papers shoved into my purse. The phone is not a bad thing in and of itself, but getting rid of it for a while wasn't a bad thing either. I think my family felt more loved as a result, and I felt like there was more room. More room for conversations, giggles, possibilities.<br />
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It was a good exercise. I may do it again, though not in such a legalistic way next time. And hopefully when that does happen, I'll have my senses back.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612316325849598049noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6636323624820364473.post-57542502382275693302014-05-05T06:17:00.000-04:002014-05-05T06:17:05.720-04:00Trailer Reveal: Liberty Belle by Emily Ungar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.staceynash.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/LBbanner-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="LBbanner (2)" class="size-medium wp-image-1480 aligncenter" src="http://www.staceynash.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/LBbanner-2-300x110.jpg" height="146" width="400" /></a></div>
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On the same day she turns twelve years old, Savannah moves away from everything she’s known in sweet, sunny Georgia to preppy Washington D.C. Not only will she miss her best friends Katie and Tessa, Savannah will start a new school. She soon discovers that her schoolmates love to brag—about their clothes, their parents’ governmental connections, and even who has the in with the school authorities. </div>
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Unhappy and lonely, Savannah decides if she can’t make life better, she can at least make it sound that way. Soon she is living in the childhood home of George Washington, riding in the limo of the vice president’s daughter, and even moving into the former Luxembourg embassy.
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All is well until she learns that her true friends from Georgia are coming for a visit. Now Savannah must create the life she’s been talking about in her letters—and fast! Will Savannah find herself or lose her friends? <br />
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<b>Release Date:</b></div>
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12th August 2014</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21802855-liberty-belle"></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21802855-liberty-belle"><img alt="goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47" class="size-full wp-image-1106 aligncenter" src="http://www.staceynash.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png" height="41" width="130" /></a></div>
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Anaiah Press: <a href="http://www.anaiahpress.com/">http://www.anaiahpress.com</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.staceynash.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/LIBERTY-BELLE-Author-Photo.-eungar-2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="LIBERTY BELLE -Author Photo. eungar (2)" class="alignleft wp-image-1481" src="http://www.staceynash.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/LIBERTY-BELLE-Author-Photo.-eungar-2-283x300.jpg" height="210" width="198" /></a><b>About the Author:</b> Emily Ungar is a graduate of Indiana University, where she majored in journalism. After living in seven different U.S. states by the time she finished college, she now lives in Indianapolis, Indiana, with her husband and very curious twin toddlers. When she isn’t chasing after her twin boys, Emily loves to curl up in a chaise lounge with a book in one hand and a lemon cupcake in the other. Emily loves connecting with her readers, so she welcomes you to say hi on her blog at emilyungar.com.<br />
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Connect with Emily: <a href="https://twitter.com/emilyungar" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/emilyungar/">Pinterest </a>| <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/13863166-emily-ungar">Goodreads </a>| <a href="https://www.facebook.com/emilyungarauthor">Facebook</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612316325849598049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6636323624820364473.post-46765713414466858102014-04-30T12:06:00.003-04:002014-04-30T12:09:12.909-04:00Z is for Zeal: It's Not the Same as Commitment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHufZ06BLn-hZaza8HABbGcwuFmEFb2mPpc0EZ6FtexGJGzS9GNCjLhn8Fc_yyO-16sGC8689YNJIT7khx8OJhBycuO7X0ezgPxmUCLuS8Txpn-T6Ej-ZRcUztjodoxPIR3_40iIdDfJ0P/s1600/Z.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/AVvXsEiHufZ06BLn-hZaza8HABbGcwuFmEFb2mPpc0EZ6FtexGJGzS9GNCjLhn8Fc_yyO-16sGC8689YNJIT7khx8OJhBycuO7X0ezgPxmUCLuS8Txpn-T6Ej-ZRcUztjodoxPIR3_40iIdDfJ0P/s1600/Z.jpg" /></a></div>
It's Z day!<br />
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It's Z day, <i>it's Z day</i>...<br />
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<b>It's Z DAY!</b></h3>
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Ahem. Sorry for that. </div>
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It's Z day, a day which has me excited to wrap up this challenge and get back to my usual sparse blogging habits. Kidding. I've enjoyed blogging more frequently, and I hope to kick things up to a moderate pace from here on out.</div>
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One of the most important things I've gleaned from the A to Z challenge is the understanding that while you generally need zeal to spark a commitment, you don't need zeal to <i>keep</i> a commitment. </div>
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There were days during the challenge (cough - I day - cough - V day) when I felt like doing anything but following through to the end. The commitment to do so kept me moving forward, and that same commitment brought me a fresh sense of unexpected zeal at times. Like the day I woke up wondering, "What on earth am I going to write for W?" only to look at my sweet daughter and be flooded with words I couldn't wait to get out there. Commitment kept me focused, and resulted in gifts of renewed zeal when I needed it most.</div>
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I expect this relationship between zeal and commitment can be applied to any commitment we take on in this life. If you're feeling a lack of zeal today, it's not necessarily because something is broken. It's because commitment takes work.</div>
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Just a little encouragement from me today to stay steadfast in your commitments. Zeal will ebb and flow; commitment will move you forward.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612316325849598049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6636323624820364473.post-17881114487569357212014-04-29T20:24:00.001-04:002014-04-30T11:36:00.356-04:00Y is for Yesteryear: My (Slightly Scary) Time Travel Experiment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRm36xYD6nzeK9__D20Mkz_ItrXI6VjzdgxFovDnj13vz43FI5Hwnw2fOdcDpsGTX7x-qQIzIXNbEVyqWlNZYBF99MZ2rsU7Ziu3xktojPsf-LgXKW-vzwl0CwWxr0ZeuErNeUdrErCxpZ/s1600/Y.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/AVvXsEgRm36xYD6nzeK9__D20Mkz_ItrXI6VjzdgxFovDnj13vz43FI5Hwnw2fOdcDpsGTX7x-qQIzIXNbEVyqWlNZYBF99MZ2rsU7Ziu3xktojPsf-LgXKW-vzwl0CwWxr0ZeuErNeUdrErCxpZ/s1600/Y.jpg" /></a></div>
Growing up in Virginia, I got my driver's license the day I turned sixteen. I'm not saying it was the best idea ever, but I was itching to get behind the wheel of my Geo tracker and drive (or sputter, I should say) off into the sunset.<br />
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A few weeks after getting my license, I was handed a clunky rectangle-shaped object. It was rather large and if I'm remembering correctly, it had a retractable antenna. It was a cell phone, my parents said, and I was to keep it in my car in case of an emergency. I tossed it into my glove compartment and <i>didn't give it a second thought</i>. As I'm typing this, I'm realizing the battery probably died a couple days after I received it, so it wouldn't have been too helpful in an emergency anyway. Oh, well.<br />
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The point is, I didn't have it with me at all times. I didn't know my number. I'm not sure if I even knew how to turn it on. Perhaps I'm becoming a bit of a curmudgeon, but my heart has been feeling burdened recently by the fact that today's teens don't get to spend much time looking up at the world around them. They don't get to experience the awkward anxiousness that comes from having to ask a girl's parents if she can come to the phone. They don't get to do a lot of talking and listening, because they have to do a lot of typing and reading just to keep up with the status quo. They don't get an escape from the constant chatter; don't get to be alone with their thoughts - and <i>they've never known things any other way.</i></div>
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This got me thinking about how I <i>have</i> known things another way. I remember what it was like to not be constantly connected, and yet I find myself forgetting to look up at the world around me. I find myself forgetting to listen; forgetting to study the faces of the people I love. I'm feeling drained by this lately, so I've issued myself a challenge:</div>
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I am committing to-</div>
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<i>Hang on. It is a little scary to even put these words out there. Ok. Whew. I can do this.</i></div>
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I am committing to completely turning off my iPhone for an entire weekend. </div>
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<i>Deep breaths. It's going to be ok, Courtney.</i></div>
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I'm turning back the clock a few years. I don't have a specific reason for issuing this challenge, other than I have a feeling there's something to learn from this; something to be gained from unchaining myself in this way.</div>
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So there it is. I'm publicly committing to turning off my phone Friday at 5pm until whenever I wake up Monday morning. I'll check back in with a blog update next week on my strange journey to the past. If I come back at all, that is. ;)</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612316325849598049noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6636323624820364473.post-40799506657372743022014-04-28T08:14:00.003-04:002014-04-28T08:30:06.862-04:00X is for X-Key: Editing, the Backspace Key, and Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7PHdEHe4npUP8bcS1XSz8bsywUkOWD6ArpQLUrykfQKkv0CuQ2pjLJ2Hy_o_aiD2k2HUMMrCRR9A16_0ftys4Ro5zPJOxYA0y-LXBW4mlu3HZeva-nWulDvyWDkEbTca0nxeHoheKLX0/s1600/X.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/AVvXsEha7PHdEHe4npUP8bcS1XSz8bsywUkOWD6ArpQLUrykfQKkv0CuQ2pjLJ2Hy_o_aiD2k2HUMMrCRR9A16_0ftys4Ro5zPJOxYA0y-LXBW4mlu3HZeva-nWulDvyWDkEbTca0nxeHoheKLX0/s1600/X.jpg"></a></div>
It's X day today, a day I've been dreading since signing up for the A to Z Blogging Challenge.<br>
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I had absolutely no idea what this post would be about, and then it hit me! I've been staring at this little beauty for the better part of the past month:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">(This is a photo of my actual keyboard, and yes, that </span><i style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">is </i><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">a coffee stain... and dust.)</span></td></tr>
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X! <i>Ha!</i> The backspace key was my best friend during my recent round of edits. Today, I'm providing a quick glimpse into my editing process. I realize this is the authorly equivalent of blogging about my weight, but I'm going there anyway, because... A to Z Challenge.</div>
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I began with a 74,000 word manuscript. Characterization edits, additional descriptions, and a modified beginning brought my manuscript to over 77,000 words. Then, it was time to put the backspace key to work.</div>
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This statistic makes me want to cry, but it's fascinating: By cutting out unnecessary adverbs and superfluous words such as <i>just</i>, <i>that, </i>and<i> now</i>, I brought my manuscript down to 75,704 words. That's about 1,500 words, and not one of those words was cut out as part of a mass removal of content. I simply went through the manuscript and plucked them out, one by one. All 1,500 of them.</div>
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<i>Shudder.</i></div>
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Much love to my amazing editor for seeing the beauty past the mess! Three more rounds of edits to go, and I'm sure I'll be spending more quality time with my friend the x-key.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612316325849598049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6636323624820364473.post-76253596741997404832014-04-26T06:46:00.002-04:002014-04-30T16:00:57.516-04:00W is for Wonderstruck: A Moment in Awe of the Great Author<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOSWI5-ICs-EmoELUPRj3rsH9x7uwREz3z2MkfKjIFFK4s92RxpZ5S44Ny5rORVG7YFmByFS5Lfx_HNT_meWCweHckGLwLx8ZbbE-gauuBUyXmsjZeJWcTV1aARhaIewwSxt9Ax8_e6-8/s1600/W.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/AVvXsEgUOSWI5-ICs-EmoELUPRj3rsH9x7uwREz3z2MkfKjIFFK4s92RxpZ5S44Ny5rORVG7YFmByFS5Lfx_HNT_meWCweHckGLwLx8ZbbE-gauuBUyXmsjZeJWcTV1aARhaIewwSxt9Ax8_e6-8/s1600/W.jpg"></a></div>
I have a general aversion to being kicked in the face.<br>
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It is for this reason (and not because of any particular parenting philosophy) that I encourage my toddler to sleep in her crib. I try my best to keep her out of the bed, but sometimes it's inevitable. This week, we've been traveling, which means Little Miss has had to endure the uncomfortable confines of the portable crib. This would have been bad enough had she not come down with a cold. Just when we thought we had hit rock bottom, her two-year molars began to make their appearance. It's the toddler trifecta of sleeplessness, and conditions have been favorable for me being kicked in the face.</div>
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I awoke around 3:30 this morning to an especially rousing roundhouse kick. </div>
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Unable to go back to sleep, I spent some time staring at my sweet little girl, who is really quite precious when she's not hurling her feet in my direction. Any mom can relate to this moment of pure awe; looking down at a perfect little human who once didn't exist and being wonderstruck by her presence.</div>
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I have been thinking a lot about characterization during my editing process, about what makes us who we are. In this early morning moment, I felt an indescribable reverence for the one who created this little girl. I have suffered loss and know full well that it is impossible for a heart to beat by man's will alone. I am certain this beautiful (and at times, spritely) person is the work of a great author. An author who has perfected the human character sketch in our DNA, and who adds His unique touch to each special creation. In a way I am thankful for being kicked in the face this morning, because it provided a welcome glimpse into this beautiful truth.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="text Ps-139-13-Ps-139-16" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">You know me inside and out, </span><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-139-13-Ps-139-16" style="position: relative;">you know every bone in my body; </span></span><span class="text Ps-139-13-Ps-139-16" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, </span><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-139-13-Ps-139-16" style="position: relative;">how I was sculpted from nothing into something. </span></span><span class="text Ps-139-13-Ps-139-16" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;</span><span class="text Ps-139-13-Ps-139-16" style="background-color: white; font-size: 7px; line-height: 0px; position: relative;"> </span><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-139-13-Ps-139-16" style="position: relative;">all the stages of my life were spread out before you, </span></span><span class="text Ps-139-13-Ps-139-16" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">The days of my life all prepared</span><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-13-Ps-139-16" style="position: relative;">before I’d even lived one day. (From Psalm 139, The Message)</span></span></i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612316325849598049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6636323624820364473.post-26347118552291811522014-04-25T12:17:00.000-04:002014-04-25T12:18:18.273-04:00V is for Verruca: Win Words With Friends Using these 5 Uncommon V-Words<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4L-Uil-jQXwtNkWUtl-ctMQrCTv9oQkwjqicQW48ZPQX5X_Au49nUrvba0zBMnuO3MJnkZag-z9N6Iop1-tNnmibHVYX1HJhbxVQmDJYI-F42v8LgMnzGCF6jDV8buqAbjI8QlbyYE1Kz/s1600/V.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/AVvXsEi4L-Uil-jQXwtNkWUtl-ctMQrCTv9oQkwjqicQW48ZPQX5X_Au49nUrvba0zBMnuO3MJnkZag-z9N6Iop1-tNnmibHVYX1HJhbxVQmDJYI-F42v8LgMnzGCF6jDV8buqAbjI8QlbyYE1Kz/s1600/V.jpg" /></a></div>
Isn't it funny how when you get to the end of a tube of toothpaste, there always seems to be one last drop left? You think to yourself, "This is it. The last squeeze of toothpaste." You've emotionally prepared yourself to say goodbye and open a new tube, and yet the next day there's just enough left for one more brushing session. This goes on for days, weeks even, depending on how efficient you are with your toothpaste. (Toothpaste efficiency experts are a special kind of hero in my book.)<br />
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I mention this toothpaste phenomenon because I AM that tube of toothpaste right now, but I'm not giving up the A to Z Challenge. I'm too close! Must... keep... blogging. Today (because this is seriously the best I can do) I'm listing 5 uncommon V-words you can use the next time you get in a jam while playing Words With Friends. Or Scrabble. Do people still play Scrabble? Or is that just me?</div>
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Your v-words await, blog friends! Links to Merrium Webster definitions and Scrabblefinder.com point values are below. And if you're going around using these words in your everyday speech, please leave a comment so I can give you a virtual high five for paying super-close attention in your SAT prep courses.</div>
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<a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vatu" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Vatu</a> (noun)</div>
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1. the basic monetary unit of Vanuatu</div>
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<a href="http://www.scrabblefinder.com/word/vatu/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>9 points in Words with Friends</i></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/verrucae" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Verruca</a> (noun)</div>
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1. a wart or warty skin lesion (Um... ew.)</div>
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2. a warty elevation on a plant or animal surface</div>
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<i><a href="http://www.scrabblefinder.com/word/verrucae/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Use the plural, "verrucae" for 16 Words with Friends points.</a></i></div>
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<a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vexillum?show=0&t=1398441138" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Vexillum</a> (noun)</div>
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1. a square flag of the ancient Roman cavalry</div>
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2. the web or vane of a feather</div>
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<i><a href="http://www.scrabblefinder.com/word/vexillum/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">25 points in Words with Friends.</a></i></div>
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<a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vilipend" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Vilipend</a> (verb)</div>
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1. to hold or treat as of little worth or account</div>
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2. to express a low opinion of</div>
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<i><a href="http://www.scrabblefinder.com/word/vilipend/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">18 points in Words with Friends.</a></i></div>
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<a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vug?show=0&t=1398441623" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Vug</a> (noun)</div>
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1. a small unfilled cavity in a lode or in rock</div>
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<i><a href="http://www.scrabblefinder.com/word/vugs/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Use the plural, "vugs" for 11 Words with Friends points.</a></i></div>
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And there you have it. Take <b><i>that</i></b>, A to Z Challenge! See you tomorrow, when we'll see what's left in the old toothpaste tube for the letter W.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612316325849598049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6636323624820364473.post-52577632347792301412014-04-24T07:42:00.001-04:002014-04-24T18:51:39.840-04:00U is for Underwear: Why my Characters are a Little Clumsy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJgEosfMRc6pyBrxdXgUhsxzAOg8vKprwXMZnJYbz7lmDnQJCaopodgNx6moZJscvHk9G089eeiWRgUNTSdZ1XAJ6Wil9IDlq0oFswBKqlFisE15viQR6Lwh3RR9E1lse7_nCBQi3q19WV/s1600/U.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/AVvXsEjJgEosfMRc6pyBrxdXgUhsxzAOg8vKprwXMZnJYbz7lmDnQJCaopodgNx6moZJscvHk9G089eeiWRgUNTSdZ1XAJ6Wil9IDlq0oFswBKqlFisE15viQR6Lwh3RR9E1lse7_nCBQi3q19WV/s1600/U.jpg"></a></div>
The year was 1996. The Macarena was catching on like an unstoppable dance virus, there were empire waist dresses as far as the eye could see, and I was sitting in my sixth grade math class with a set of gleaming purple braces and an overstuffed zippered binder.<br>
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I felt something brush against my shoe and peeked under the desk to investigate. At first glance, it appeared to be a dingy rag.<br>
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I gave it a kick.<br>
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The object moved slightly, and I could see it wasn't a rag, but a pair of underwear; an old, holey pair of underwear with a thick Jockey waistband.<br>
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I stifled a giggle. What was a pair of dingy underwear doing on the floor of my middle school classroom?<br>
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This was too weird. I couldn't keep it to myself. Our desks were arranged in pairs, so I elbowed the boy next to me and pointed out the underwear on the floor. He laughed. I laughed. It was an all-around humorous discovery, and a welcome distraction from the morning's rigorous set of word problems.<br>
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I was still chuckling to myself about it several minutes later when it hit me: <i>There was something strangely familiar about that pair of underwear.</i><br>
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My pencil dropped to the floor as the sickening realization set in.<br>
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It was my underwear.<br>
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I was sure of it.<br>
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This was the part where I woke up and realized it was all a dream.<br>
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Right?<br>
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<i><b>Right?</b></i><br>
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Wrong. I was not waking up. This was actually happening to me. My underwear was on the floor of my math class. It had gotten stuck in the leg of my jeans while in the dryer, and had just now decided to rear its ugly head.<br>
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<i>And I, in a moment of pure naive oblivion, had pointed it out to the boy sitting next to me.</i><br>
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For a while, I considered leaving it there. But this was sixth grade. This kind of thing wouldn't go unnoticed. I imagined there would be some sort of investigation to determine the owner of the underwear, so the guilty party could be tortured for the duration of their middle school career. Maybe even the duration of their <i>life.</i><br>
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I couldn't let that happen. The awkward preteen years were unkind enough to me. I couldn't risk adding the label of "Underwear Girl" to my already feeble resume.<br>
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I waited until the class was packing up to leave. Then, with the stealth of a cat burglar I snatched the underwear, stuffing it deep into my binder and yanking the zipper closed, all the while making forced small talk with my desk partner in an effort to distract him.<br>
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It worked! I made it out of math class alive, with the underwear tucked out of sight. That was first period. I went the rest of the day without opening my binder, even going so far as to tell my English teacher I had forgotten to do my homework. I couldn't open the binder and hand her my essay. It was too risky.<br>
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The underwear incident was the first in a long (ongoing) series of embarrassing mishaps for me. I'm what my husband calls "endearingly clumsy" - which is just a nice way of saying it's only a matter of time before I back the car into something... <i>again. </i>It seems everyone has that one friend who is always stumbling herself into crazy situations. I don't have that friend, because I <i>am</i> that friend. Growing up, my mother would often console me after such an incident by placing a sympathetic hand on my shoulder and saying in her sweet southern voice, "Well... I guess God just wants you to be a writer."<br>
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She was right; the awkward mishaps make for great character inspirations. They say you write what you know, and I find myself writing main characters whose clumsy tendencies get them into trouble. Perhaps one day, I'll branch out and write a graceful main character who is the picture of poise. But not for a while, because I have far too many <i>un</i>graceful stories to tell.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612316325849598049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6636323624820364473.post-89512126462560180842014-04-23T12:24:00.001-04:002014-04-23T13:00:05.309-04:00T is for Twitter: 5 Great Writing Resources<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAK84yvM4r_J1rKgDVGnnkPYYIy86gDRBINF9y8BmGV6jKTjfBhfB_HhOJUH0q0_0akfDujNXQDx_CkXsWshbVuwhVgq6tfhXBgdND_tFqClfx3rCiJD3DWlh0ejeqJLgIxxi96ASxWrOq/s1600/T.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/AVvXsEhAK84yvM4r_J1rKgDVGnnkPYYIy86gDRBINF9y8BmGV6jKTjfBhfB_HhOJUH0q0_0akfDujNXQDx_CkXsWshbVuwhVgq6tfhXBgdND_tFqClfx3rCiJD3DWlh0ejeqJLgIxxi96ASxWrOq/s1600/T.jpg" /></a></div>
I don't know how writers existed before Twitter. Besides being an amazing way to procrastinate when I'm panicking about a deadline, Twitter has opened up countless new opportunities for me (<a href="http://www.courtneyricegager.com/2014/03/for-writers-hashtags-are-new-glass.html" target="_blank">Tess in Boots was contracted as a result of a Twitter pitch party</a>, for instance) and has helped me become a better writer in general.<br />
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Today, I've compiled a list of five great writing resources I found while searching the #writingtips hashtag:<br />
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1. <a href="http://www.fastcocreate.com/3018559/pixars-22-rules-of-storytelling-visualized" target="_blank">Pixar's 22 Rules of Storytelling--Visualized</a> - This one is especially poignant: "Trying for theme is important, but you won't see what the story is actually about until you're at the end of it. Now rewrite." (Thanks <a class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link js-nav" data-user-id="379522746" href="https://twitter.com/laurenmagaziner" style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="username js-action-profile-name" style="color: #8899a6; direction: ltr; font-size: 13px; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="color: #b1bbc3;">@</span>laurenmagaziner</span> </a> for tweeting.)<br />
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2. <a href="http://www.healthcarecommunication.com/Main/Articles/12055.aspx#" target="_blank">30 things every writer must do before they turn 30</a> - Number one made me laugh, but it's so true! Take a look. (Thanks <a class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link js-nav" data-user-id="6852682" href="https://twitter.com/MarkRaganCEO" style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="username js-action-profile-name" style="color: #8899a6; direction: ltr; font-size: 13px; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="color: #b1bbc3;">@</span>MarkRaganCEO</span> </a>for tweeting.)<br />
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3. <a href="http://lialondonbooks.com/2014/03/story-themes/" target="_blank">The moral of the story is...</a> - This is a nice piece on remembering the importance of theme in your writing. (Thanks <a class="twitter-atreply pretty-link" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/LiaLondon1" style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #ce7834; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e1ae85;">@</span>LiaLondon1</a><span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #292f33; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span> for tweeting.)<br />
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4. <a href="http://fantasycollective.wordpress.com/2014/02/18/getting-to-the-heart-of-character-development/" target="_blank">Getting to the Heart of Character Development</a> - This author shares an interesting method for writing believable characters. (Thanks <a class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link js-nav" data-user-id="188504956" href="https://twitter.com/Weifarer" style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="username js-action-profile-name" style="color: #8899a6; direction: ltr; font-size: 13px; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="color: #b1bbc3;">@</span>Weifarer</span> </a>for tweeting.)<br />
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5. <a href="http://romanceuniversity.org/2013/12/12/tips-on-creating-conflict-in-your-novel-by-janice-hardy/" target="_blank">7 Ways to Create Conflict in Your Novel</a> - If you're plotting, this is a great resource of ideas for developing conflict. (Thanks <a href="https://twitter.com/@DeeLeone3" target="_blank">@DeeLeone3</a> for tweeting.)<br />
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Happy reading (and writing)!<br />
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Follow me on Twitter here: <a href="http://twitter.com/CourtneyRGager" target="_blank">twitter.com/CourtneyRGager</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612316325849598049noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6636323624820364473.post-83801783523965651322014-04-22T15:42:00.001-04:002014-04-22T15:45:43.979-04:00S is for Surprise: My Unexpected Freak-Out Over Clicking "Send"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBbmOtwyeP5RXbNCp8vSYTPGDPWSo87UUIkAJIIkL9hnOfEOyyhyiaDecMsaz6nA6UlXPlFSo6qh0FGHN-bw0WEFiIsQqNIzllWf9t04fE6AOg-ESmaYu3rjAlvp9vijnU790J18EMijLw/s1600/S.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/AVvXsEhBbmOtwyeP5RXbNCp8vSYTPGDPWSo87UUIkAJIIkL9hnOfEOyyhyiaDecMsaz6nA6UlXPlFSo6qh0FGHN-bw0WEFiIsQqNIzllWf9t04fE6AOg-ESmaYu3rjAlvp9vijnU790J18EMijLw/s1600/S.jpg" /></a></div>
I have good news! I just sent my first round of edits for Tess in Boots to my awesome editor, Kara Leigh Miller.<br />
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I'm pretty sure I should be leaping through a field of wildflowers, or relaxing with my feet dipped in a sparkling blue pool, or something equally picturesque and celebratory... but I'm not. Instead, I'm freaking out a little. I had to literally take deep breaths and force myself to click the send button. (I should mention I just realized that every sentence so far in this blog has started with the letter "i" - because this is the type of thing you realize when you've been on an editing binge.)<br />
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Just curious to see if any other writers have had this feeling. It's surprising to me, and it's difficult to place exactly where the feeling is coming from, except to say that sending over my edits feels extremely official, like I should be this perfect writer who<i> never</i> relies too heavily on adverbs (used three in this sentence - ack!) and who does not occasionally (make that four adverbs!) find herself crafting a run-on sentence such as the one you're reading right now.<br />
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I think it's safe to say I'm losing it a little. :) Time to call it a day. Check in please, writers! I'd love to hear from you.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612316325849598049noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6636323624820364473.post-52237807128312451432014-04-21T07:42:00.003-04:002014-04-21T07:46:24.083-04:00R is for Retro: Why I'm Not an Illustrator<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The A to Z Challenge will make you do crazy things. Today, in an attempt to get some quick blog content up so I can focus on editing, I'm sharing some embarrassing childhood poetry I found over the weekend. <i>With pictures!</i><br />
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I'm estimating this retro poetry to be from around third or fourth grade. Today's excerpt comes from my limited-edition, self-published (and self-crafted) book, <i>Sea Poems.</i></div>
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Try not to be blown away by my cover art...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTOrN-4VJHj_Pkb9INBXT3ecnAUMZntywkdWaDbhyw3XRupkMWSLus-8h7T3IwnpofY2wC0kNuxXXmzunNGSXdWpWlNtPgqOG2CyyUrzuyVO81KiMSB7J0pltOEpWezlmA730xRqKeOwQ/s1600/photo+1+(5)Sea+poems+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTOrN-4VJHj_Pkb9INBXT3ecnAUMZntywkdWaDbhyw3XRupkMWSLus-8h7T3IwnpofY2wC0kNuxXXmzunNGSXdWpWlNtPgqOG2CyyUrzuyVO81KiMSB7J0pltOEpWezlmA730xRqKeOwQ/s1600/photo+1+(5)Sea+poems+1.jpg" height="320" width="258" /></a></div>
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I'll set the stage for this work of pure poetic genius by sharing the illustration first. A few points of note:</div>
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<li>That is <i>not</i> a magic carpet. It's a beach towel.</li>
<li>The snorkeler is wearing partially-drawn scuba equipment. I assure you this isn't a technical oversight but rather a philosophical statement about how doing things halfway will result in your demise. (Case in point: this man's snorkel did not extend beyond the water, and his only back-up plan was his incomplete scuba gear. I'm sorry to say he didn't make it.)</li>
<li>Depth perception has never been my thing.</li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffZokgFzhZZvJZvyQYbM2rAdGnC4MHaqqHtCNpsOfLc05yXC46NntQXnWoP-ZjwwJGObniCrySDR2cHH_Ugq_TS2RMgoZD6nx5OmWuSl-m1gB99hpL6kxBP6CmJJl3QjWY2oRurAZKmAp/s1600/Sea+poems+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffZokgFzhZZvJZvyQYbM2rAdGnC4MHaqqHtCNpsOfLc05yXC46NntQXnWoP-ZjwwJGObniCrySDR2cHH_Ugq_TS2RMgoZD6nx5OmWuSl-m1gB99hpL6kxBP6CmJJl3QjWY2oRurAZKmAp/s1600/Sea+poems+2.jpg" height="320" width="260" /></a></div>
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And now, the poem you've all been waiting for. This gem speaks for itself:</div>
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I'll leave you to wipe away the single tear that's rolling down your cheek. </div>
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Happy Monday, everyone! Is it Z yet?</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612316325849598049noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6636323624820364473.post-10942384647216237282014-04-19T05:44:00.001-04:002014-04-19T05:44:46.858-04:00Q is for Question: Ask Me This if You Want to See Me Sweat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I guess Q is also for quirk, because today's post is going to divulge a quirk of mine. It's Saturday, so I figure we'll have some fun. <br />
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Here goes: If I am asked to name my favorite (movie, book, food, Beatle, anything), I instantly break into a sweat and start to panic a little.<br />
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I have major commitment issues, though not when it comes to <i>actual</i> commitment. I got married at the are-these-kids-serious age of 22. That was almost eight years ago and every day I wake up a little happier I made the decision to marry my amazing husband. (Please don't do the math because then you'll realize I'm about to turn 30 and I'm not entirely ok with that yet.)<br />
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My commitment issues tend to pop up over minor matters. In fact, the more minor the matter, the faster it sends me into a nail-biting tizzy. I once had to choose between soup and salad at Chili's. I chose soup, but as soon as the waiter left I changed my mind. I ended up leaping out of the booth and shouting, "Wait! Salad! Salaaaaaad!" in a desperate voice akin to Stanley Kowalski's famous cry for Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire. I should mention that this particular waiter displayed a remarkable amount of grace and seemed unfazed by my outburst. Whew.<br />
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Occasionally people will discover I'm a writer and they'll ask, "Who is your favorite writer?" It's such an innocuous, small-talk question, yet every time it's asked I find myself flustered and stammering until someone changes the subject. It's as if all my credibility is hanging on this one simple answer. And besides, I absolutely <i>love </i>to read, but during this particular season of my life most of the books I read contain short rhyming words and lots of pictures. <i>"I'm a huge fan of Sandra Boynton - her early work, not the overly-commercialized boxed sets. Because I'm a purist."</i><br />
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The favorite writer question is by far my <i>least</i> favorite writing-related question to answer. A close second is any sort of question that assumes my fictional writing to be 100% based on real people and things. "Is this character me?" or "When did <i>that</i> happen to you?" These are the things that keep me up at night, people.<br />
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So now you know how to send me into a tailspin. Just thought I'd share something fun, because there are only so many words that start with the letter Q. Enjoy your weekend everyone, and Happy Easter!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612316325849598049noreply@blogger.com2