tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67660722443622708462024-03-05T02:34:55.443-07:00Page by Page with M.M. RoethigYoung Adult Fantasy Fiction,
Young Adult Romantic Fiction,
Contemporary Romance,
Romance Books for Teens,
Romance Books for Young Adults,
Fresh Fantasy Fiction,
Reviews,
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852143405241577052noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766072244362270846.post-23780702935869948582016-03-15T11:02:00.000-06:002016-03-21T11:24:11.198-06:00I've Moved!!!I've moved to a new domain! If you're not automatically redirected, please click <a href="http://mmroethig.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Thank you for stopping by!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852143405241577052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766072244362270846.post-9339539574143173382015-10-29T10:46:00.003-06:002015-10-29T10:58:20.362-06:00Reviewers Wanted!!<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The hardest part about being an author is finding readers willing to write a review. I'm looking for reviewers for my newest release, Dangerous Obsession. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I have 20 e-copies I'm giving away to 20 people who are willing to review. To thank my readers who've reviewed for me before, you get first dibs. All you need to do is fill out the form with your name, email address, your preferred format (Kindle or B&N), and the links to previous reviews. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The best way to thank an author is to leave an honest review of their work. To all my fans, you're the best!!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Happy Reading and thanks for stopping by!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><i>M.M. Roethig</i></span><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1pwwKlfdvv21_HxReEfPb8g7ZIySUcYQzeYR1n6eMx7c/viewform?embedded=true" width="660">Loading...</iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852143405241577052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766072244362270846.post-89864208736890926742015-09-03T07:30:00.000-06:002015-09-03T07:30:01.112-06:00DANGEROUS OBSESSION COVER REVEAL!<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: center;">Look at this amazing cover for </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8d5024;">Dangerous Obsession</span></em><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: center;">! Isn't it beautiful? I've been sitting on this cover for MONTHS and I'm ecstatic to be able to share it with you now. I purchased this over a year ago from the very talented Linda Boulanger of </span><a href="http://telltalebookcovers.weebly.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #c8ae79; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; transition: color 200ms ease-in;" title=""><span style="color: #8640ae;">TellTale Book Covers</span> </a><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: center;">when I saw it on her pre-made list. Eric and Chloe spoke to me then and have been in my head ever since. I'd often pull picture up and look at it as I wrote. I hope you love it as much as I do!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1u6_ZNI2_8c6PSw4qT9HOhpXM6NpLSPwRqSpNi2zSrdGJU8AlKBV12EWv3idZ6nHCmEjqQrv1XTJqqzISpFpXIwZGFAo-h5BhDlSiWvsMIb7AZE2kLaf17_flrRrpw9wki7I6cYdz1uX6/s1600/A+A+Kindle+Cover+Dangerous+Obsession+03112015+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1u6_ZNI2_8c6PSw4qT9HOhpXM6NpLSPwRqSpNi2zSrdGJU8AlKBV12EWv3idZ6nHCmEjqQrv1XTJqqzISpFpXIwZGFAo-h5BhDlSiWvsMIb7AZE2kLaf17_flrRrpw9wki7I6cYdz1uX6/s640/A+A+Kindle+Cover+Dangerous+Obsession+03112015+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px;">I'm also excited to announce a release date of </span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">September 15, 2015! </span></strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px;"> I can't wait for you to read Chloe and Eric's story and I hope you fall in love with these characters. They've been with me for over a year and I hold a special place in my heart for their story. </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; line-height: 1.8em;">As a special bonus, you get to read about Parker, Eric's twin, in the novella <em style="position: relative;">Reflections</em> included at the end of this book. How cool is that?!</span><br />
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<em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; position: relative;">A dancer and a Marine—two worlds collide.</em><br />
<em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; position: relative;">Chloe Johnson is no stranger to the spotlight. A prestigious member of the LA Laker Girls, she’s in the public eye regularly. Her world is perfect.</em><em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; position: relative;">Eric Taylor, on the other hand, is damaged, both body and spirit. Injured overseas, he returns home with fresh physical wounds, invisible emotional scars, and a bad attitude.</em><em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; position: relative;">When Chloe becomes the object of affection to an unknown stalker, she must leave her life behind and rely on a total stranger, and the only man she’s ever met who’s never happy to see her—Eric. Can she trust this hardened soldier with her life?</em><em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; position: relative;"> Adjusting to civilian life hasn’t been easy for Eric. Swearing off women forever, all he wants is to be left alone. However, his world is thrown into chaos when Chloe appears on his doorstep as an invited guest of Eric’s twin brother. Bewitched by her innocent charms, Eric fights to keep her at arm’s length, putting his No More Women resolve to the test.</em><em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; position: relative;">Everything soon changes when Chloe’s stalker tracks her down, making her a pawn in a cat and mouse game of Dangerous Obsession.</em><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px;">Pre-order your copy now from</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px;"> </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dangerous-Obsession-Taylor-Family-Saga-ebook/dp/B014RU6SPO/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1441197463&sr=8-8&keywords=dangerous+obsession" style="background-color: white; color: #8640ae; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-decoration: none; transition: color 200ms ease-in;" title=""><span style="font-size: medium;">Amazon</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px;"><span style="color: #8640ae;"> </span><span style="color: #515151;">or</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #8640ae; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 28.7999992370605px;"> <span style="color: #8640ae;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/573693" style="color: #c8ae79; text-decoration: none; transition: color 200ms ease-in;" title=""><span style="color: #8640ae;">Smashwords</span></a>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px;">Would you like to be one of the first to read </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; position: relative;">Dangerous Obsession</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px;">? I'm looking for readers who are willing to read and write a review once the book is available to the public. If you've written a review on one of my previous works in the past, you qualify. Simply fill out the below form with the links to your review, and you're entered. If you haven't written a review yet, there is still time. Simply write a review and submit your name. I will be giving away 20 copies to previous reviewers. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px;">HAPPY READING!</span><br />
<em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; position: relative;"><span style="color: #8d2424;">M.M. Roethig</span></em><br />
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<em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Disclaimer: </span></em><br />
<em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; position: relative;">Any honest review qualifies. </em><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; position: relative;">Reviews on</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; line-height: 28.7999992370605px;"> </span></span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/M.M.-Roethig/e/B00901QB44" style="color: #c8ae79; text-decoration: none; transition: color 200ms ease-in;" title=""><span style="color: #8640ae; font-size: small;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">, </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8104772.M_M_Roethig" style="color: #c8ae79; text-decoration: none; transition: color 200ms ease-in;" title=""><span style="color: #8640ae; font-size: small;">Goodreads</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">, </span></strong><strong style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/m.m.+roethig?fs=0&_requestid=103776" style="color: #c8ae79; text-decoration: none; transition: color 200ms ease-in;" title=""><span style="color: #8640ae;">B&N</span></a></strong><em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; position: relative;">, <span style="font-size: x-small;">or any other ebook outlet is acceptable. If you've written a review in any outlet, please consider copying and pasting that review to the other major outlets as well. Thank you for your continued support!</span></em><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1pwwKlfdvv21_HxReEfPb8g7ZIySUcYQzeYR1n6eMx7c/viewform?embedded=true" width="760">Loading...</iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852143405241577052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766072244362270846.post-39089910151680173472015-08-17T14:44:00.003-06:002015-08-17T14:44:52.291-06:00It's Giveaway Time!!!<div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px;">Happy Monday to everyone!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px;">Can you believe school is starting soon, if it hasn't already? My kiddo goes back on Wednesday! I can hardly believe the summer flew by so quickly. If you're anything like me, you're experiencing mixed emotions. I love having my kiddo home, but I also love watching him learn and grow throughout the school year. Having my last child starting high school this year is going to be a blast, and a whole new ballgame. I just hope I'm up to the task. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px;">To help keep my mind off the fact that time is going to fly quickly, I've decided to host a giveaway! What better way to start the school year off than a chance to win gift cards to Amazon and Starbucks?!! Anyone can enter by following the requirements listed below. However, to be entered for the grand prize, a $25.00 gift card to Amazon, (or B&N) and a $5.00 gift card to Starbucks, you must write a review of Raine in Goodreads, Amazon, or B&N. Copy and paste your review in all three and get three separate requirements, worth five (5) entries each. To qualify for the $5.00 Amazon card, do any or all of the remaining requirements for an entry.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px;">Happy Monday, my dear friends and fans! I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are!</span><br />
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<em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; position: relative;"><span style="color: #8640ae;">M.M. Roethig</span></em></div>
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="445db10e7" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/445db10e7/" id="rcwidget_2guah4dq" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852143405241577052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766072244362270846.post-35181080620675604022015-08-07T20:50:00.000-06:002015-08-17T20:51:16.651-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.weebly.com/uploads/2/4/2/9/24295669/188004379.jpg?316" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.weebly.com/uploads/2/4/2/9/24295669/188004379.jpg?316" height="320" width="228" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;">Thank you to Stephanie N. Pitman for being my guest author this month. Her debut novel, Honorable Disgrace, is my book pick of the month this month. Based on a true story, this book will have you running a gamut of emotions with every word. It is a great read and you can purchase it at any major online outlets. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><em style="color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; position: relative; text-align: justify;">(M.M. Roethig) </em><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; text-align: justify;">You can tell a lot about a person by their favorites so I always love to ask . . . </span><em style="color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; position: relative; text-align: justify;">What ‘s your favorite type of ice-cream?</em><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #8640ae;">(Stephanie Pitman) Vanilla Bean, or sometimes Blue Bunny’s Banana Split. Simply delicious!</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; position: relative; text-align: justify;">(MM) I love vanilla too. You can add so many things to vanilla. :)</em><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; position: relative; text-align: justify;">(MM) What’s your favorite writing beverage?</em><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #8640ae; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;">(SP) I drink water mostly. Every now and then, my sweet husband will surprise me with a cup of Bengal Spice Herbal Tea, and that is definitely the best beverage ever.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; position: relative; text-align: justify;">(MM) Do you have any favorite writing snacks you like to have on hand?</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #8640ae; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;">(SP) No. If I have anything to munch on, I do more munching than typing and that really puts a damper on getting in my word count.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; position: relative; text-align: justify;">(MM) How did you discover your love for writing?</em><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="color: #8640ae; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; text-align: justify;">(SP) I wrote my first book in 1st grade, completely illustrated by myself as well I might add </span><span a0="" calibri="" color:="" font-family:wingdings="" mso-ascii-font-family:calibri="" mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin="" mso-char-type:symbol="" mso-hansi-font-family:="" mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin="" mso-symbol-font-family:wingdings="" style="color: #8640ae; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; text-align: justify;">J</span><span style="color: #8640ae; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; text-align: justify;"> I still have it somewhere, but I couldn’t tell you what it was about. But I loved seeing my name on that front cover. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; position: relative; text-align: justify;">(MM) When did you begin writing and was your intention to become an author at that time?</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #8640ae; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;">(SP) It wasn’t until I was pregnant with my first child when I came across a writing aptitude test that I really started to think about writing. It’s been 14 years since my son was born and though I’ve written many books and started many others, my first book was only published this past February. (Happy note: February was the month I became a mother for the first time. That month is kind a special for me)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; position: relative; text-align: justify;">(MM) Tell us about Honorable Disgrace. This was a personal experience you endured. How hard was this to get out on paper? </em><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #8640ae; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;">(SP) It took me 5 years to write this. Part of that was because it brought up so many hard memories. But I began writing it because I started having nightmares. It had been fifteen years since I had been raped and I thought I’d overcome the horror of it, but those nightmares told me different. After several weeks of them tormenting me, I began to journal about it. That turned into trying to rewrite the ending. What if I had told someone about it sooner? Would my attacker have been brought to justice? Would I have gotten the help I needed then? Going at it from that angle helped me to put some closure on my feelings about the attack, my hatred for the attacker and my grief over my sister’s part in it, my feelings of betrayal. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #8640ae; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;">And then the big question. If I wrote this with the intention of it being read, becoming a book, would it help someone else who’d gone through a similar experience? I am grateful to know that after only a few months out, a lady approached me, someone I didn’t know, and told me she was taking my book along with her to her counselor and using it to help her with her past.<br /><br />So, yes, it was really hard at first deciding to write Honorable Disgrace. But all the remembered pain and anguish has been worth it. First, it helped me. I can talk about it and I no longer feel it was my fault. I have forgiven my sister and my attacker, which has helped to leach poison out of my life, and move on from it. Second, I know already it’s helped at least one person. And that’s enough.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; position: relative; text-align: justify;">(MM) That is so amazing! I truly commend you on taking that step. To know it helped not only you, but a stranger--what a gift!</em><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><br />(MM) Do you have any rituals?</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #8640ae; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;">(SP) Not really. I seem to do my best writing at night after the kids have gone to bed, but it’s hard to pull myself away from my husband time to write. Once I get going, I can write for hours. Except when I am writing my initial first draft. That’s rough. I guess that’s why it’s called a rough draft. Ha, ha. I do find that when I first begin a new story, its easier for me to write in a notebook. Something about the blank white page and that cursed cursor flashing gives me writer’s block something fierce.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #8640ae; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;">I do have one thing I love to do, but I don’t always do it. I like to wrap myself up in a blanket from my chest down like a burrito, hobble over to my desk and tuck my 5 lb Chihuahua in the folds over my chest and write while she nestles down to sleep. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; position: relative; text-align: justify;">(MM) Awww, that sounds like a wonderful way to write!</em><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><br />(MM) How many hours a day to you devote to writing?</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #8640ae; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;">(SP) Do you write every day? I wish I had time to write every day. But I think the key is “making” time. Extra time doesn’t just fall in your lap. You have to make the effort to it. Winter time is much easier, less outside distractions, plus I get some puppy snuggle time.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; position: relative; text-align: justify;">(MM) How did you come up with the title and was this the original working title?</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #8640ae; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;">(SP) Honorable Disgrace was always the title. I’m not quite sure how I came up with it. It just came to me when I was thinking about how I wasn’t really disgraced by what happened to me, even though I felt so ashamed and that even though horrible things happen to someone out of their control, doesn’t mean they don’t have worth. I was also thinking about how when people are discharged from the military that sometimes they are honorably discharged and sometimes not.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; position: relative; text-align: justify;">(MM) Very thoughtful title. I loved it, but knowing the story behind the words makes a greater impact on me. </em><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><br />(MM) What authors do you like to read? What book or books have had a strong influence on you and your writing? </em><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #8640ae; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;">(SP) I read anything, but I really love Julie Kagawa’s writing. She’s written quite an array of series, all fantasy, that grabs my attention and doesn’t let me go. Other’s authors who I love and have an influence on my writing are Brandon Mull, JK Rowling, Andrea Cremer, Stephen King, Jennifer Fallon, Rick Riordan, and Cassandra Clare. Fantasy and paranormal are is my favorite genre to read and is what I write. Honorable Disgrace is the exception. It was the book I never intended to write, but I feel the one that was screaming the loudest to be written. I actually put aside a trilogy I’d been working on to get it done.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; position: relative; text-align: justify;">(MM) What are you reading now?</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #8640ae; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;">(SP) I’ve taken a break away from YA (but not fantasy. I just can’t get enough) and I am reading Terry Goodkind’s Sword of Truth series. They are huge thick novels with such tiny writing I am only on the second book and that’s taken me a month. I do have the excuse of moving to put in there, plus training for a long distance relay race, lol.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span arial="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" quot="" sans-serif="">(MM) Tell me more about Honorable Disgrace. What was the hardest part to write? </span>Is there a message you want your readers to grasp? Is there one scene that stood out to you the most? </em><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #8640ae; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;">(SP) The hardest part was definitely the rape scene. Angie endures a much more violent experience than I did, but my sister was in the next room like Angie’s and I felt completely helpless and forsaken being able to hear her, but her not coming to my rescue.<br /><br />My main message would be for readers, especially those who’ve gone through rape, to know that no matter what happens to us, even if we are not in control of that moment, we are in control of our lives. We can choose how we react to things and what we are going to do about them. Don’t give the power to our attackers (or negative influences) to dictate who or what you are going to be in life. You are valuable.<br /><br />And I’d have to say my favorite scene was when Cory came to the rescue, and in close second is when Cory refused to let Angie push him away. He stood up for what he wanted.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; position: relative; text-align: justify;">(MM) What’s next for Stephanie Pitman? </em><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #8640ae; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;">(SP) Next is to get my butt back to the computer and get writing, ha, ha. I haven’t written in several months and I am feeling wholly unauthor-ly. Before the move, I started working on a paranormal romance set in Paris. Andrea finds herself in the midst of a 100+ year old murder, haunted by ghosts and a certain dark haired hunky historian, only to realize it’s her reincarnated self’s murder. My hope is to get it through the rough draft by the end of September and get a few revisions under my belt by the end of the year. There, I’ve said it. It’s out there, now people keep me accountable. </span><span a0="" calibri="" color:="" font-family:wingdings="" mso-ascii-font-family:calibri="" mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin="" mso-char-type:symbol="" mso-hansi-font-family:="" mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin="" mso-symbol-font-family:wingdings="" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #8640ae;">J</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #8640ae; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;">I also plan to get the first book in my trilogy, Tlaloc, done by the mid to end of February. I can do it. I just have to do like I said and sit my butt down to write.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><span arial="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;"><em style="position: relative;">(MM) Do you have any advice for other writer? </em></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><span arial="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #8640ae;">(SP) Write. That’s the only way it will get done. And don’t doubt yourself or compare yourself to other authors. You are completely unique. Believe in what you can do, and write.</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><span arial="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;"><em style="position: relative;">(MM) Where can we follow you?</em> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><span arial="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #8640ae;">(SP) Lots of places </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #8640ae; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;"><span a0="" color:="" font-family:wingdings="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" mso-ascii-font-family:arial="" mso-bidi-font-family:arial="" mso-char-type:symbol="" mso-hansi-font-family:arial="" mso-symbol-font-family:="" wingdings="">J</span><span a0="" arial="" color:="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" quot="" sans-serif=""> My website, </span><a href="http://www.literarypitstop.com/" style="color: #c8ae79; text-decoration: none; transition: color 200ms ease-in;" title=""><span a0="" arial="" color:="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" quot="" sans-serif="">www.literarypitstop.com</span></a><span a0="" arial="" color:="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" quot="" sans-serif=""> has links to my social network, but here’s a few. Twitter @stephpitman11 Facebook under Stephanie N. Pitman and you can purchase my book at this link </span><a href="http://tinyurl.com/p5gzr2k" style="color: #c8ae79; text-decoration: none; transition: color 200ms ease-in;" title=""><span 115="" a0="" arial="" color:="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:="" quot="" sans-serif="">http://tinyurl.com/p5gzr2k</span></a><span a0="" arial="" color:="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" quot="" sans-serif=""> on Amazon.</span><span 115="" arial="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:="" quot="" sans-serif=""> </span><br /><br /><span a0="" arial="" color:="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" quot="" sans-serif="">Also, if you find yourself running in Southeast Idaho, you may come across me out on the road. You can follow behind there if you like, but please don’t pass me. I don’t like to feel slow. </span><span a0="" arial="" color:="" font-family:wingdings="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" mso-ascii-font-family:="" mso-bidi-font-family:arial="" mso-char-type:symbol="" mso-hansi-font-family:arial="" mso-symbol-font-family:wingdings="">J</span><span 10.0pt="" a0="" arial="" color:="" font-family:="" font-size:="" line-height:115="" quot="" sans-serif=""></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><span arial="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;"><em style="position: relative;">(MM) Last question: Flip flops or tennis shoes? </em></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><span arial="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #8640ae;">(SP)This is a tough one. Is bare feet an option? I definitely prefer flip flops, but I love my tennie’s. You can’t run in flip flops.</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><span arial="" en-us="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" mso-ansi-language:="" mso-bidi-language:ar-sa="" mso-fareast-font-family:calibri="" mso-fareast-language:en-us="" mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;"><br />Thank you again, Stephanie, for guesting on my blog today! You've got an amazing story to share. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;">Thank you, my friends and fans, for stopping by today! </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #8d2424;">M.M. Roethig</span></em><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em style="position: relative;">Stephanie N. Pitman has taught preschool for over 12 years and is a motivated entrepreneur, currently operating two successful businesses with her husband, Travis. She is a writer of fiction and nonfiction. Her first novel, a YA Contemporary, Honorable Disgrace, is based on her own story of overcoming the ugly side of life, betrayal and rape. She is a graduate of the Institute of Children's Literature and an active member of the SCBWI. Stephanie enjoys spending time with her husband of 16 years, and their two boys, visiting the beautiful splendor and diversity of their home state of Montana. Along with being an avid reader and dedicated writer, she enjoys pushing herself to her best by competing in triathlons, relay races, and half marathons along with being a Zumba and Yoga Instructor.</em></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852143405241577052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766072244362270846.post-80092287086373118602015-07-07T09:29:00.001-06:002015-07-07T09:29:34.998-06:00Meet Norma T. Rudolph and Enter the Giveaway!<a href="https://s.yimg.com/fz/api/res/1.2/utVsjNs1yQHnIMQh6vwc7g--/YXBwaWQ9c3JjaGRkO2g9MTYwMDtxPTk1O3c9MTA2Ng--/https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovmniHLqFBkiqOXnaI0c_C-ArCzU8K6IThwDWv88vWyAX6HLIPAZFihAVmu_0YkdpMOxzbfJ4tyPlkEtdy3PR8IxlccR92LRTadsFzpLVSf0pTXjjV3df1p0kJAFR5PWjlSJ1i0bN5C6B/s1600/IMG_2893-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovmniHLqFBkiqOXnaI0c_C-ArCzU8K6IThwDWv88vWyAX6HLIPAZFihAVmu_0YkdpMOxzbfJ4tyPlkEtdy3PR8IxlccR92LRTadsFzpLVSf0pTXjjV3df1p0kJAFR5PWjlSJ1i0bN5C6B/s320/IMG_2893-Edit.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">Thank you, Norma, for being a guest on my blog today!! I always like to start off my Q&A sessions with a very important question: What ‘s your favorite type of ice-cream? </span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><em style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px; position: relative;"><span style="color: #5040ae;">Vanilla straight up is best but I’ll eat about anything in the ice-cream family.</span></em><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">(I'm not going to lie, I love vanilla too. You can add anything to vanilla!)</span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">What’s your favorite writing beverage?</span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><em style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px; position: relative;"><span style="color: #5040ae;">I generally only drink water, but on occasion I break out the milk and graham crackers. </span></em><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">Do you have any favorite writing snacks you like to have on hand?</span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="color: #5040ae; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 26px;">I’m trying to get out of the habit of snacking while I write. It’s a terrible distraction. I eat pretty much anything that I can eat with one hand and type with the other. I’m trying to keep fresh veggies around like baby carrots and stuff so that I don’t kill myself. </span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"><em style="position: relative;">(</em>That's great advice! I think I'll adopt some of Norma's ideas on this one.)</span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">How did you discover your love for writing?</span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><em style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px; position: relative;"><span style="color: #5040ae;">I learned that I liked it in high school writing poetry for an English class. I mainly wrote in my journal though until later on.</span></em><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">When did you begin writing and was your intention to become an author at that time? </span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="color: #5040ae; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 26px;">I was reading Harry Potter to my girls at the time. While out walking I was thinking “I wish I could write stuff like that and make money.” The thought then immediately came to me “how do you know you can’t if you don’t try?” I started writing then and I haven’t stopped.</span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">Tell us about Gift of Lie’s. How did you come up with the premise for your book and what was your biggest influence while writing? </span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><em style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px; position: relative;"><span style="color: #5040ae;">I love the story of Aragorn and the elfish princess in Lord of the Rings. That whole forbidden love thing sort of fascinates me. From there I got onto the idea of “what if” they really had no choice but were stuck with each other no matter what they did. </span></em><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">Do you have any rituals? </span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><em style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px; position: relative;"><span style="color: #5040ae;">I wish I did, I’d probably get more done.</span></em><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">How many hours a day to you devote to writing? Do you write every day? </span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><em style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px; position: relative;"><span style="color: #5040ae;">I go in streaks. Sometimes I write every day and some times I don’t write for weeks.</span></em><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">How did you come up with the title and was this the original working title? </span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><em style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px; position: relative;"><span style="color: #5040ae;">The title refers to the “gift “ of the mind that the evil governor has. Yes it eventually became the working title although for a while I called it Soul Mates.</span></em><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">What authors do you like to read? What book or books have had a strong influence on you and your writing? </span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><em style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px; position: relative;"><span style="color: #5040ae;">There are so many I hate to make a list because it will be sadly incomplete, but a few authors are Jane Austen, C S Lewis, Barbara Michaels/Elizabeth Peters, Mary Stewart, Mercedes Lackey.</span></em><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">What are you reading now?</span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><em style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px; position: relative;"><span style="color: #5040ae;"> I’m embarrassed to say that I’m re-reading the Harry Potter series. </span></em><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span arial="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">Tell me more about Gift of Lie’s. What was the hardest part to write? </span><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">Is there a message you want your readers to grasp? Who is your favorite character?</span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><em style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px; position: relative;"><span style="color: #5040ae;">The underlying message in The Gift of Lies is about prejudice. Often we judge others because we don’t really know anything about them.</span></em><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">What’s next for Norma Rudolph?</span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><em style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px; position: relative;"><span style="color: #5040ae;">I’m still working on the sequel to TGOL and there are a couple of other things in the works that I’d rather not get into in case I jinx myself.</span></em><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span arial="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">Do you have any advice for other writers?</span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span arial="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"><span style="color: #5040ae;"><em style="position: relative;">Write what you’d like to read, make it as perfect as you can, finish it and then go for it.</em></span></span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"><em style="position: relative;">(</em>This is some fabulous advice.</span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span arial="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">Where can we follow you?</span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><a href="http://normasnovels.blogspot.com/" style="color: rgb(132, 12, 12) !important; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px; text-decoration: none;">http://normasnovels.blogspot.com/</a><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span arial="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">amazon.com/author/normarudolph</span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><a href="https://twitter.com/booknut77" style="color: rgb(132, 12, 12) !important; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px; text-decoration: none;">https://twitter.com/booknut77</a><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13393995.Norma_T_Rudolph" style="color: rgb(132, 12, 12) !important; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px; text-decoration: none;">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13393995.Norma_T_Rudolph</a><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/normarudolphauthor?ref=aymt_homepage_panel" style="color: rgb(132, 12, 12) !important; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px; text-decoration: none;">https://www.facebook.com/normarudolphauthor?ref=aymt_homepage_panel</a><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span arial="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"><em style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #5040ae;">There are other places if you really want to stalk me . . . just kidding, don’t do that that would be creepy.</span></em></span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span arial="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">Last question: Flip flops or tennis shoes?</span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span arial="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"><em style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #5040ae;">Depends on where I’m going. Definitely flip flops where I can, but if not a pair of slip on canvas tennies are a good alternative. I’m also rather fond of comfy hiking boots. </span></em></span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">Thank you, again, Norma for stopping by my blog today! All you book fans out there, follow her blog and get in on a give away happening right now to celebrate the re-release of Gift of Lie's. </span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">Thank you for stopping by and Happy Reading!</span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><em style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px; position: relative;"><span style="color: #da4444;">M.M. Roethig</span></em></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852143405241577052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766072244362270846.post-34865332366824378542015-07-04T10:55:00.001-06:002015-07-04T10:55:34.098-06:00Happy 4th of July, my Lovlies!<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">On this beautiful 4th of July holiday, please take a moment to reflect on those brave men and women who've fought for our freedoms, and helped make this country what it is today. Be safe out there today!</span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">Much love, </span><br style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><em style="color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px; position: relative;"><span style="color: #8640ae;">M.M. Roethig</span></em></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852143405241577052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766072244362270846.post-37356201206721209722015-06-15T14:55:00.003-06:002015-06-15T14:55:53.123-06:00I'm Back, My Lovelies!!!<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">Oh my has it been a long time since my last post. This last month has been horrible for me for electronics, thus, making my time online almost non-existent. Did you think I fell off the face of the earth? After weeks, and weeks, and weeks, and . . . well you get the picture, of having little to no online services, I am finally back online. The month of June is almost over and I have yet to make a post since May 7th! </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">To celebrate my connection with the outside world once again, I've put Raine: An Elemental Series Book 2, on sale for $0.99 for a limited time. You can purchase your copy from </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px; position: relative;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Raine-Elemental-Book-M-M-Roethig-ebook/dp/B00X1TL1OQ" style="color: rgb(132, 12, 12) !important; text-decoration: none;" title="">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/raine-mm-roethig/1120665506?ean=2940152216301" style="color: rgb(132, 12, 12) !important; text-decoration: none;" title="">Barnes & Noble</a>, iTunes, <a href="http://www.inktera.com/store/search" style="color: rgb(132, 12, 12) !important; text-decoration: none;" title="">Inktera</a>, <a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/search?Query=roethig" style="color: rgb(132, 12, 12) !important; text-decoration: none;" title="">Kobo</a>, or <a href="https://www.scribd.com/m.m.8roethig" style="color: rgb(132, 12, 12) !important; text-decoration: none;" title="">Scribd</a> </em><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">for a limited time. Yay!!! Please remember to write a review on </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px; position: relative;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23403149-raine" style="color: rgb(132, 12, 12) !important; text-decoration: none;" title="">Goodreads</a>, </em><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">and all major ebook outlets to let me know how you enjoyed my writing. If you're a Kindle Unlimited subscriber, you can read </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px; position: relative;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Elemental-Princess-Royal-Lines-Series-ebook/dp/B00X1T9QW0" style="color: rgb(132, 12, 12) !important; text-decoration: none;" title="">Elemental Princess</a> </em><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">for free as well, and I'd LOVE a review!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">It is wonderful to be back online! Stay tuned as I complete my current WIP and finally reveal my book cover. I can't wait to share it with you!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #8640ae; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"><em style="position: relative;">M.M. Roethig</em></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852143405241577052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766072244362270846.post-69567545916277449752015-05-07T15:13:00.000-06:002015-05-07T15:13:05.547-06:00Guest Author: Rachel Stiber<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAbF2v6vtv82GrgVa8BTl-S11T3jskWrVANJpfTbq0RhrEDEqY4ApXbIWUMXOvF2NaUKmqy7YfsXWIzz5_7oPuzQ9Q2TL8yUuoo9mQQ8PpC56yDpKx5QJXDreWxwxzStq0jj_ZDIulOSa/s1600/15572684506_873a9f92e1_n.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/AVvXsEgOAbF2v6vtv82GrgVa8BTl-S11T3jskWrVANJpfTbq0RhrEDEqY4ApXbIWUMXOvF2NaUKmqy7YfsXWIzz5_7oPuzQ9Q2TL8yUuoo9mQQ8PpC56yDpKx5QJXDreWxwxzStq0jj_ZDIulOSa/s1600/15572684506_873a9f92e1_n.jpg" /></a><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500; text-decoration: none;">Thank you to Rachel Stiber for being a guest on my blog. </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500; text-decoration: none;">You can tell a lot about a person by their favorites so I love to ask . . .<span></span><br /><span></span><span></span><span style="color: #8640ae;">What's your favorite type of ice-cream?</span> <em><span>Ben and Jerry’s Phish Food; it’s a chocolate lover’s paradise.</span> </em><br /><br /><span></span><span style="color: #8640ae;">What’s your favorite writing beverage?</span> <em><span>I usually drink coffee or water while I write.</span></em><br /><br /><span></span><span></span><span style="color: #8640ae;">Do you have any favorite writing snacks you like to have on hand? </span><em><span>Since
I don’t like healthy snacks, I try not to have any snacks on hand. I
could easily devour a large bag of Funyuns or M & M’s in one
setting.</span></em><br /><br /><span></span><span style="color: #8640ae;">How did you discover your love for writing? When did you begin writing and was your intention to become an author at that time?</span> <em><span>I
have wanted to be a writer since I was four years old. I guess my
grandfather who sat me on his knee and told me impromptu stories that he
created inspired me to create stories of my own.</span><span> </span><span>I
wrote my first “book” (more like a short story) in fifth grade, and a
friend illustrated it. My mother still has it in storage.</span><span></span></em><br /><br /><span></span><span style="color: #8640ae;">Tell
us about Elise’s Choice. What how did you come up with the premise for
your book and what was your biggest influence while writing?</span> <em><span>One
evening as I hiked a walking trail at the University of
Missouri-Columbia, my mind began to toy with the familiar Disney version
of Cinderella. I questioned, “What if Cinderella hadn’t fallen in love
with the prince? What if she wasn’t beautiful?” The answer to these
questions and more weaved themselves into <em>Elise’s Choice</em>. But don’t expect a retelling; the answers led the story in an entirely different direction. Here’s the synopsis:</span><span></span></em><br /><span></span><br /><span></span> <span>A stranger</span><br /><span></span><span>A legend</span><br /><span></span><span>A choice that will change Elise’s world</span><br /><span></span><br /><span></span> <span>Elise
and her best friend Anton grew up in the medieval village of Petheralm,
where life, though hard, is good. When a stranger arrives in her
village injured and unconscious, his handsome face and sweet demeanor
capture Elise’s heart. </span><br /><span></span><span>However,
according to ancient legend, the forest surrounding their small town is
enchanted, and any stranger unworthy to enter the village would be
stopped there. The village is leery of this stranger and wants nothing
more than for him to leave. </span><br /><span></span><span>Elise
pays no mind to the silly legend, and is shocked to discover that he’s
no ordinary peasant as everyone first thought. Before the stranger is
strong enough to leave Petheralm, she is forced to make a startling
choice between following her dreams and following her heart. Although
Elise feels strongly that she made the correct choice, the day soon
comes when she and everyone she loves must deal with the repercussions
of her choice.</span><br /><span></span><br /><span></span> <em><span>My
biggest influences while writing were my husband and my peer editing
group. I bounced ideas off them, they helped me work through tough
scenes, and they lent encouragement.</span></em><br /><span></span><br /><span></span> <span style="color: #8640ae;">Do you have any rituals? </span><em><span>When
I experience difficulty in writing certain scenes, I take a walk or a
shower, tidy the house, or work with my plants. I have mentally written
entire chapters while participating in these activities, brushing my
teeth, and/or styling my hair.</span> </em><br /><br /><span></span> <span style="color: #8640ae;">How many hours a day to you devote to writing? Do you write every day? </span><em><span>Since
I teach, I don’t have a regular writing schedule throughout the school
year. I write when I have a spare moment, and cram as much writing in a
weekend as possible. However, I do manage to write a little every day. </span></em><br /><br /><span></span> <span style="color: #8640ae;">How did you come up with the title and was this the original working title? </span><em><span>My
novel is about the consequences of choices, and the protagonist’s name
is Elise. Although simple, the original title fits like a glove.</span> </em><br /><span></span><br /><span></span> <span style="color: #8640ae;">What authors do you like to read? What book or books have had a strong influence on you and your writing?</span> <em><span>I
read a lot of indie authors because I feel they are overlooked and
underrated by a vast majority of readers. One of my favorites is Anita
Valle. Her <em>Nine Princesses</em> series is entertaining and well-written. Of course, <em>Raine</em> is on my TBR list as well.</span></em><br /><span></span> <span><em>I
hesitate to read mainstream novels (i.e. books with upcoming movies,
celebrity book club choices, etc.). I firmly believe in Haruki
Murakami’s statement: If you only read the books everyone else is
reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking.</em></span><em><br /><span></span><span><span> </span><em>Jane Eyre</em> by Charlotte Bronte, <em>A Voice in the Wind</em> by Francine Rivers, and <em>Game of Thrones </em>by
George R.R. Martin have influenced me and my writing. Someone once told
me that my writing style reminded her of Charlotte Bronte. That was one
of the best compliments I’ve received.</span></em><br /><span></span><br /><span></span> <span style="color: #8640ae;">What are you reading now? </span><em><span>Currently, I am reading Cerulean Isle by G. M. Browning.</span></em><br /><span></span><br /><span></span> <span style="color: #8640ae;">If you could adapt this book, or any of your writings, which one would it be and who would play your main characters? </span><em><span>If I could adapt Elise’s Choice into a movie, I would want the following people to play the main characters:</span> <span>Elise: Molly C. Quinn; Anton: Asa Butterfield;</span> <span>Ludiford: Jamie Campbell Bower</span></em><br /><span></span><br /><span></span> <span style="color: #8640ae;"><span>Tell me more about Elise’s Choice. What was the hardest part to write? </span>Is there a message you want your readers to grasp? Who is your favorite character? </span><span><span style="color: #8640ae;"><span> </span></span><em><span>The
hardest part to write was the ending. I can’t explain why or I’ll spoil
it, but I seriously considered changing the ending simple because I
found it difficult. It was absolutely gut-wrenching. </span></em></span><br /><span></span><em><span>The
message I want readers to grasp is that choices have consequences, and
not all consequences are negative. Good and poor, your choices have the
potential to affect those around you.<span> </span></span><br /><span></span></em><span><em>It’s difficult to choose a favorite character, but I am partial to Elise. The n</em>ovel is written in first person from her point of view, so I (mentally) spent the most time with her.</span><span></span><br /><span></span><br /><span></span> <span style="color: #8640ae;">What’s next for Rachel Stiber?</span> <em><span>Since the publication of </span></em><span><span>Elise’s Choice,</span></span><em><span>
I decided that I am going to write a series using the kingdom of Ogden
and specifically the village of Petheralm as a setting. The series will
be entitled </span></em><span><span><span>Maidens of Petheralm</span></span></span><em><span>. All of the novels will be stand-alone stories regarding characters from <em><span>Elise's Choice</span></em>.
Chronologically, the story on which I'm currently working is the last
of the series, but it ties the closest to Elise. While it is not
necessarily a sequel, it takes place sixteen years after <em><span>Elise's Choice</span></em> and focuses on a character that readers seemed to be the most curious about. It will be the next novel to be released.</span><span></span></em><br /><span></span><br /><span></span> <span><span style="color: #8640ae;">Do you have any advice for other writers? </span><em><span>Si</span></em></span><em><span>mply write, and write often.</span><span></span></em><br /><span></span><br /><span></span> <span><span style="color: #8640ae;">Where can we follow you?</span> <em><span>Please visit my website, Rachel’s Ramblings, at </span></em></span><em><a href="http://www.rachelstiber.com/" title=""><span>www.rachelstiber.com</span></a><span> <span>and like my Facebook page at</span> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Rachel-M-Stiber/530248957109874?ref=aymt_homepage_panel" title=""><span>https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Rachel-M-Stiber/530248957109874?ref=aymt_homepage_panel</span></a><span> </span><br /><span></span><br /><span></span> <span>I can also be found on Goodreads at</span><span> </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8460777.Rachel_M_Stiber" title=""><span>https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8460777.Rachel_M_Stiber</span></a><span></span></em><br /><span></span><br /><span></span> <span><span style="color: #8640ae;">Last question: Flip flops or tennis shoes? </span><em><span>It depends on the weather. If it’s warm, definitely flip flops. However, in the winter, I prefer tennis shoes.</span></em></span><br /><span></span><br /><span></span> Thank you, Rachel, for being a guest on my site! <br /><br />Happy Reading, y'all!<br /><span style="color: #8640ae;"><em>M.M. Roethig</em></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852143405241577052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766072244362270846.post-26242850338285667802015-05-04T10:15:00.003-06:002015-05-04T10:15:46.359-06:00Exciting Re-launch of my Elemental Series<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWE3uOoMlZPeZoxT3XEtKQ-PQrd5W3_yuAl8OV7QlVAju_UB5OIlj6KSju-n38U_0aBL5m3I0eMpB27zm4P-aeuWAl3cpx-hRcffxULlKqr58psO0aJ5xuRgK8LZIeHDWMLUUfUOXE6BM/s1600/Review+Giveaway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWE3uOoMlZPeZoxT3XEtKQ-PQrd5W3_yuAl8OV7QlVAju_UB5OIlj6KSju-n38U_0aBL5m3I0eMpB27zm4P-aeuWAl3cpx-hRcffxULlKqr58psO0aJ5xuRgK8LZIeHDWMLUUfUOXE6BM/s320/Review+Giveaway.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0c0c0c; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500; text-decoration: none;">Hello all my fans! <br /><br />Recently I received news from my publisher that affected my Elemental Series. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I would be receiving the rights back for my Elemental Series; Elemental Princess: Royal Lines & Raine. It was bittersweet news as I contemplated which direction I wanted to take, whether it be shopping for another publisher or stepping into the world of self-publishing. <br /><br />After many hours of research, several helpful emails with my publisher, and much prayer, I decided to take the plunge into the self-published world. This has allowed me to keep my works available to you,my fans, seamlessly. To help me celebrate this new and exciting step, I'm giving you the opportunity to purchase <span style="color: #840c0c;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Raine-Elemental-Book-M-M-Roethig-ebook/dp/B00X1TL1OQ" title="">Raine: Elemental Series Book 2</a></span>, for <span style="color: #840c0c;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Raine-Elemental-Book-M-M-Roethig-ebook/dp/B00X1TL1OQ" title="">$1.99</a></span> for a limited time! Come help me celebrate this new step by getting your discounted ebook before the price goes up! (You can also get in on my review giveaway, happening right now. Scroll down to the post with my rafflecopter giveaway for details.)<br /><br />I would be remiss if I didn't take this opportunity to thank my publisher, Creative Prose Publishing, for taking a chance on me. I've been long time fans of both Sherry Gammon and Cindy C. Bennett, and having the opportunity to work with them and develop lasting friendships has been an amazing opportunity and adventure. Not only are they wonderful friends, but they are major talented and I've learned much from them! <br /><br />I look forward to this new adventure and hope you will come along for the ride. Thank you for following and thank you for your support!<br /><br />Happy Reading!<br /><span style="color: #5040ae;"><em>M.M. Roethig</em></span><br /><br />Purchase from<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Raine-Elemental-Book-M-M-Roethig-ebook/dp/B00X1TL1OQ" title=""><span style="color: #840c0c;"> Amazon </span></a>here...</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852143405241577052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766072244362270846.post-287947179158390532015-04-27T06:59:00.000-06:002015-04-27T09:33:15.684-06:00Re-launch of Not So Easy (Souls in Peril) by Sherry Gammon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">To celebrate the re-launch of <b>Not So Easy (Souls in Peril)</b> I am giving away TWO audio books!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrgavWaFa31WZF4cJ1Lzgxo6613OuXPI2CT2JglgH5qV3Y4ugolBf2nXyiYBocJtDrAc2WgJopgu7KfYkmYfvR1n209oKR63buaPqwbrKFwRlOoTxONutw8UscqaFRsarCEhmay36TVs/s1600/Not+so+easy+ebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrgavWaFa31WZF4cJ1Lzgxo6613OuXPI2CT2JglgH5qV3Y4ugolBf2nXyiYBocJtDrAc2WgJopgu7KfYkmYfvR1n209oKR63buaPqwbrKFwRlOoTxONutw8UscqaFRsarCEhmay36TVs/s1600/Not+so+easy+ebook.jpg" height="640" width="434" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><bold><b>Not So Easy</b> (Souls in Peril) has a new cover, exciting edits, (a new chapter has been added), and now </bold><b>Not So Easy</b> is <bold>an audio book, narrated by the talented Ryan S</bold><span style="text-align: center;">haughnessy.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Not So Easy has a 4.9 out of 5 star rating on Amazon!</span></u></b></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center;">Blurb:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14pt;">Not So Easy<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Senior Max Sanchez has it all.<br />
<i style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; widows: 1;">Junior
JD Miller’s life is Not So Easy. </i>He’s the star pitcher for Port Fare
High’s baseball team. He’s dating the <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">head cheerleader, Emma McKay, and he has a great group of
friends. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Unlike Max,
JD struggles with making friends. He’s a social misfit, and <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">he’s being bullied at every turn. He’s also barely
surviving. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">A tragic accident changes everything, merging their lives
together, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">and Max soon learns that life is not so easy for everyone. Max
works to the point of exhaustion trying to help JD survive the chaos that
is his life, and his eyes are opened to a world he had no idea even existed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; widows: 1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Not so Easy
is a story about hope, surviving, and never giving up.</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<ol style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: #;">*<a href="http://kindlebooklove.blogspot.com/2012/09/souls-in-peril-sherry-gammon.html?zx=e1a9ee8e86b65f48" style="color: #0b5394; line-height: 25px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Kindle booklove:</a><span style="background-color: #; color: #; line-height: 25px;"> Dani: 10 Wonderful, Amazing, Fantastic Stars This story will stay with me forever. It spoke to my soul because I know what it's like to be bullied relentlessly by kids at school and then go home and have to deal with an abusive stepfather and feel like you have nobody to turn to, nobody to trust, and nowhere to go. I know as it said at the end of the book that not all people being bullied have the same home situations but mine almost resembled Izzy's experience with some differences of course. My heart broke while reading about JD's and Izzy's story. I cried for them and their situation. I fell in love with Emma's character because she was one of those rare people with an untarnished soul who doesn't look at people and judge them by what they look like....<a href="http://notsoeasythenovel.blogspot.com/p/a-few-reviews-for-souls-in-peril.html" target="_blank">Read the full review here</a>:</span></span></span></span></ol>
<ol style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">* <a href="http://mommasbooks.wordpress.com/2012/10/18/souls-in-peril-by-sherry-gammon/" style="color: #0b5394; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Momma's Books.</a> Brandy: If I could rate this book a 10 I would but Goodreads as well as amazon will only allow a 5. So it is 5+++++++ It was such an emotional read for me. It took me less than 24 hours to read this book once I started I could not put it down. I am honestly at a loss for words to explain how I feel about this book. But I will try so here I go… You will be taken on an emotional ride and your heart will hurt more times than not. You will wish you could just jump into the book and just rescue JD. I know I absolutely fell in love with Em she is the sweetest and kindest kid. I can only hope that my children turn out to be like her... It is absolutely AMAZING! <a href="https://mommasbooks.wordpress.com/2012/10/18/souls-in-peril-by-sherry-gammon/" target="_blank">Read full review (and check out the old cover;) here:</a></span></ol>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; widows: 1;">*</span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/423701167?book_show_action=true&page=1" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; widows: 1;"> </span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; widows: 1;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/423701167?book_show_action=true&page=1" target="_blank">Donna~ The Romance Cover</a> Heart wrenching, sobbed and sobbed through this book, so many familiar circumstances it was like reliving my school life all over again...very sad, very emotional but unfortunately oh so very true. A fabulous book, that puts you through an emotional wringer..not my usual romance but a great YA book that had some very important messages throughout the book..brilliant.</span><br /><span style="color: #222222;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Fantasy-Fiction-Souls-Peril-ebook/dp/B008YQJCL0/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/not-so-easy-sherry-gammon/1115360042?ean=2940151683531" target="_blank">B&N</a> | <a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/not-so-easy-1" target="_blank">Kobo</a> | <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/not-so-easy/id966461250?mt=11" target="_blank">iBooks</a> |<a href="https://www.scribd.com/book/251877351/Not-So-Easy-Souls-in-Peril-1" target="_blank"> Scrib</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Not-So-Easy-Souls-Peril/dp/B00W8KKA3C/ref=tmm_aud_title_0" target="_blank">Audio</a></b></span></span><br />
<ol><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-cEhxLOGtNAnm-kWw7og61UHK8B5UZgqbn0J7e37SDR6bx1BdNsx21iN419Fa1ZAdXptAY9LFvs5rt2UhHYPptOV5y2BltQKTzZGwRqAAF52XkY1gIKahDEu0hdZahNiRQb3HlSY7ukI/s1600/main+headshot+cropped.jpeg" height="150" width="150" /></span></ol>
<ol>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(73, 155, 201); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(148, 54, 51); color: #943633;"> Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?</span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(148, 54, 51);"> </span>I’m from a cornfield an hour and a half southwest of Chicago and the oldest of three children. I was high school valedictorian and passed the CPA exam after obtaining a Masters degree in accounting. Then I followed my dream and moved to Los Angeles to make a career in acting and not from a cubicle. Every day brings a new adventure!</span></span></li>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(73, 155, 201); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(148, 54, 51); color: #943633;">What do you do when you are not acting/narrating? </span><span style="color: #0b5394;">Every day I’m doing something that relates to my acting. Whether it be auditioning, shooting, or social networking, the acting never stops. Even when I’m watching shows on Netflix, I watch certain shows that would appeal to my age demographic.</span></span></li>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(73, 155, 201); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(148, 54, 51); color: #943633;">What is your favorite smell? </span><span style="color: #0b5394;">Mom’s pot roast coming from the slow cooker when I travel back to Illinois.</span></span></li>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(73, 155, 201); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(148, 54, 51); color: #943633;">What was your first acting project? </span><span style="color: #0b5394;">There were the spring concert shows in grade school, but my first main gig was in the summer before my 8th grade year where I was the ventriloquist’s dummy in the radio show in a production of “Annie”.</span></span></li>
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<ol>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(73, 155, 201); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(148, 54, 51); color: #943633;">How/Why did you get into acting? </span><span style="color: #0b5394;">I love entertaining people. After getting a feel of making so many people laugh with my lines, I was hooked. Looking back, I wish I would have pursued in sooner, but I didn’t realize I could make a career of it because of how and where I was raised.</span></span></li>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(73, 155, 201); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(148, 54, 51); color: #943633;">If you had 24 hours to live, excluding spending time with your family, what would you do? </span><span style="color: #0b5394;">Skydive, ride in a hot air balloon, bungee jump off a bridge, and take my family to the gorgeous beaches of Thai</span><span style="color: #499bc9;">land</span></span></li>
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<ol>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(148, 54, 51); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #943633;">What is your favorite kind of cheese? </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(73, 155, 201);"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Pepperjack</span></span></span></li>
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<ol>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(73, 155, 201); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(148, 54, 51); color: #943633;">Is there any particular actor or book that influenced you growing up or as an adult? </span><span style="color: #0b5394;">I grew up watching all the James Bond and Indiana Jones movies. It’s been a goal of mine to be James when I’m the right age. But Harrison Ford has always been an influence because he is also from Illinois and wasn’t given much of a shot at the beginning of his acting career. I feel I am very similar to him in that regard in that we both have had a chip on our shoulders to prove the world wrong.</span></span></li>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(73, 155, 201); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(148, 54, 51); color: #943633;">Would I find anything growing in your refrigerator right now? </span><span style="color: #0b5394;">Nope. I keep things pretty clean. If I let one thing go, it would probably be the dust in my bedroom.</span></span></li>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(148, 54, 51); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #943633;">How would you describe yourself in three words? </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(73, 155, 201);"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Intelligent, sarcastic, loyal</span></span></span></li>
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<ol>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(73, 155, 201); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(148, 54, 51); color: #943633;">Who is your favorite actor? </span><span style="color: #0b5394;">It’s hard to pick just one. Sean Connery, Harrison Ford, Denzel Washington, Matt Damon, and Tom Hanks are at the top of the list.</span></span></li>
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<ol>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(73, 155, 201); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(148, 54, 51); color: #943633;">What is your favorite part of acting and why? Your least favorite and why? </span><span style="color: #0b5394;">Favorite: Things are always changing but yet they are still structured. You may be on the same set, but the storyline is changing and things don’t get stagnant. Worst: Rejection haha.</span></span></li>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(73, 155, 201); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(148, 54, 51); color: #943633;">Chocolate or Brussels sprouts? </span><span style="color: #0b5394;">I’m a fan of both actually, especially if the brussels sprouts are doused in butter.</span></span></li>
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<ol>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(73, 155, 201); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(148, 54, 51); color: #943633;">What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an actor? </span><span style="color: #0b5394;">I was new to a class and the teacher thought I wasn’t taking the scene seriously. He said I wouldn’t amount to anything.</span></span></li>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(73, 155, 201); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(148, 54, 51); color: #943633;">What has been the best compliment given to you as an actor? </span><span style="color: #0b5394;">I took a three week intensive with a casting director, and after we finished the scene in the last week, he told me he could easily see me as a contract role on the show.</span></span></li>
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<ol>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(148, 54, 51); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #943633;">What is your least favorite smell? </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(73, 155, 201);"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Rotten eggs</span></span></span></li>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(73, 155, 201); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(148, 54, 51); color: #943633;">Do you have any advice to give to aspiring actors? </span><span style="color: #0b5394;">If a kid from a small town in Illinois with no formal training can move across the country and find a place in this crazy entertainment world, there is no reason you can’t do the same. You will most likely need lots of patience and a strong backbone, and most people from back home won’t understand the extent of what you are doing. But you will. As long as you believe this is what you were made to do, you will find a way to make it happen.</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; widows: 1;">What other are saying about <b>Not So Easy</b> (from the Souls in Peril series):</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">*<a href="http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/" target="_blank">Once Upon a Twilight</a>: As I try to compose all my emotions to write this review I feel an overwhelming responsibility to do justice to this book through my review. I laughed, I cried, I felt such bewildering sadness and in the end I laughed again. Sherry Gammon takes us on an astonishing journey through the eyes of Max Sanchez. Handsome and athletic with a wonderful and supportive family, Max lives a charmed life. Even as a seventeen year old Max knows that his girlfriend Emma will be the woman he grows old with. Em's beauty and brains are only out shone by her inner compassion and kindness. Max already recognizes that he can learn from her sweetness and tolerance. For the full review click her <a href="http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2013/02/book-review-souls-in-peril-by-sherry.html?showComment=1361391946149#c4347761856375732614" target="_blank">(Warning: SPOILER ALERT!)</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: start; widows: 1;"><b style="font-style: italic;"> * </b>Dani of <a href="http://kindlebooklove.blogspot.com/">KindleBookLove.blogspot.com</a>:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: start; widows: 1;"> Wonderful, Amazing, Fantastic Stars. This story will stay with me forever. It spoke to my soul...This book is amazingly written and so awesome. I will never forget this book. It got me deep... I recommend it to everybody with children, children, and adults alike. Everybody should read this amazing book. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start; widows: 1;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start; widows: 1;">*</span><i style="background-color: white; text-align: start; widows: 1;"><b><a href="http://authorcameliamironskiba.com/?s=Souls+in+Peril&submit=Search" target="_blank">Camelia Skiba</a>: </b></i><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start; widows: 1;">Sherry drives the reader to real emotions masterfully creating trials, conflicts and doubts. You'll cry and laugh, ache and root for these heroes. I also liked the messages that come with this book, that life is worth living, that we should never give up and we should always try our best.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> * <a href="http://cindybennett.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Cindy Bennett</a>: Souls in Peril is seriously one of the best books I've ever read. It had me in turn laughing and crying, my heart aching for all the characters involved. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Gammon's writing is full of humor, sorrow, realism, and pulls you into places you might not want to go, but will be happy you did when all is said and done. I HIGHLY recommend this book! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">More reviews </span><a href="http://notsoeasythenovel.blogspot.com/p/a-few-reviews-for-souls-in-peril.html" target="_blank">here</a><span style="color: #222222;">, </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Fantasy-Fiction-Souls-Peril-ebook/dp/B008YQJCL0/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">here</a><span style="color: #222222;"> and </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15734570-not-so-easy" target="_blank">here</a><span style="color: #222222;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Purchase links</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Not So Easy</b> ebook is specially priced for the next few weeks as I introduce the exciting audio book. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Here is a fun interview with my narrator Ryan </span>Shaughnessy</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Ryan's Links</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.imdb.me/ryanshaughnessy">http://www.imdb.me/ryanshaughnessy</a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Demo: <a href="http://youtu.be/hZ9ox8Q2HbI"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(71, 135, 255);">http://youtu.be/hZ9ox8Q2HbI</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Viral Clip: <a href="http://youtu.be/hbeEuYAZFL4"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(71, 135, 255);">http://youtu.be/hbeEuYAZFL4</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">@RynoShaughnessy (Twitter and Instagram)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Enter to win an audio book!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Thanks for stopping by!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852143405241577052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766072244362270846.post-59842564149473819272015-04-16T13:38:00.000-06:002015-04-16T13:38:04.044-06:00Giveaway!<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">I need reviews for Raine and I need your help! If you've read Raine or Elemental Princess, (or any of my other works) please consider writing a review. Write something simple or elaborate, as long as you write me something to tell me how I've done. The best thanks an author can get is a written review. You have 30 days to win one of three different prizes. Good Luck! Don't forget to spread the word!</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852143405241577052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766072244362270846.post-60060129343438714882015-04-14T15:34:00.003-06:002015-04-14T15:37:51.997-06:00Author Interview ~ Tifani Clark<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; line-height: 26px;">This month's book of the month is Tifani Clark's </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; line-height: 26px; position: relative;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Life-Soul-Saver-Book-ebook/dp/B00MMTWHG2" target="_blank">Shadow of a Life </a></em><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; line-height: 26px;">and I am privileged to have her on my blog today! </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">You can tell a lot about a person by their favorites so I love to ask . . .</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">What ‘s your favorite type of ice-cream?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #8d2424; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"><em style="position: relative;">I’m not a huge ice cream eater (like my husband), but when I do eat it, I prefer a flavor that has vanilla as a base and something else mixed in…like cookie dough, Oreos, fruit, etc.</em></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #8d2424; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #515151; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">What’s your favorite writing beverage?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #8d2424; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"><span style="color: #8d2424;"><em style="position: relative;">Hmm…this totally depends on the day and the weather. It could be anything from water to milk to soda to hot chocolate.</em></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">Do you have any favorite writing snacks you like to have on hand?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"><span style="color: #8d2424;"><em style="position: relative;">When I’m deep into writing I don’t usually snack, which is a good thing. If I’m busy stuffing my face, my hands aren’t free to type. Of course, as I’m typing this, I’m stuffing my face with leftover Easter candy…</em></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">How did you discover your love for writing?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"><span style="color: #8d2424;"><em style="position: relative;">I’ve always wanted to write. I spent hours a day reading as a child and had quite an imagination. I knew that someday I wanted to create stories like the ones I loved.</em></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">When did you begin writing and was your intention to become an author at that time?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"><em style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #8d2424;">For years I knew I wanted to write, but I didn’t dare take the plunge until 2012. Once I finally started writing, I couldn’t believe I’d waited so long to try. At the time I wrote my first book, I didn’t know where it would go. No one knew that I was writing it—not even my husband—until I finished it. I decided to confide in my sister because I wanted her opinion since she likes to write, too. When she didn’t hate it, I decided to start sharing with others.</span></em></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">What was your inspiration for Shadow of a Life and Haven Waiting? </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"><em style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #8d2424;">I’ve always loved a good mystery and I enjoy learning about historical events and cultures. Shadow of a Life and Haven Waiting are both based on real events from history. When possible, I use the real people involved and try to portray them as accurately as possible. Sophia Briggs from Shadow of a Life intrigued me and I knew I had to write her a story. The third book in the series (still in the editing phase) has even more real people in it and I had a BLAST researching it.</span></em></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">Do you have any rituals?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"><em style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #8d2424;">Does cleaning count as a ritual? If my house is a mess or there are things hanging over my head like paying bills or making dinner, I can’t concentrate on my writing. I’m a morning person so I try to get up and get my house organized so I can start writing before my daughter comes home from pre-school. Sometimes I’m successful and sometimes I’m not.</span></em></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">How many hours a day to you devote to writing? Do you write every day?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"><em style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #8d2424;">The hours I write vary from one to ten, although those long days are rare. A lot of my writing depends on what else my family is doing. Right now, for instance, my husband is at work and my kids are happily playing together (okay, I honestly have no idea what they’re doing, but they disappeared upstairs and I don’t hear any screaming, so…) so I decided to sit down and write.</span></em></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">How did you come up with the title for your books?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"><em style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #8d2424;">Good question. I’m not sure how they actually came to me. My books are ghost stories and I feel like ghosts are living…yet not living—kind of like a Shadow. That’s where Shadow of a Life came from. With Haven Waiting, Haven is my ghost. She has been Waiting for a looong time to have someone help her finish her earthly business.</span></em></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">What authors do you like to read? What book or books have had a strong influence on you and your writing? </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"><em style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #8d2424;">I love a good mystery and something that makes me a little uneasy because of the suspense. If I have to think too hard about deep meanings in a book, I’m going to set it aside. When I read, I want to be entertained. As a teen I read the Nancy Drew series and anything by Caroline B. Cooney, Lois Duncan, and Mary Higgins Clark (sadly, no relation). I guess it’s no surprise that I gravitate to writing suspense novels for young adults.</span></em></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">What are you reading now?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"><em style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #8d2424;">Right now I am reading The Gift of Lies by Norma Rudolph, another author from Creative Prose Publishing.</span></em></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">If you could adapt this book, or any of your writings, which one would it be and who would play your main characters. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"><em style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #8d2424;">I’ve been asked this question before, and oddly enough, it changes every time. If this were to happen today, I would want Kathryn Prescott to play the role of Jamie Peters in the series. Dove Cameron would make a great Sophia Briggs in Shadow of a Life and maybe Ansel Elgort for Peter Ashby in the series.</span></em></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span arial="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">Tell me more about your series. What was the hardest part to write? </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">Is there a message you want your readers to grasp?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"><em style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #8d2424;">The hardest part for me was knowing how much liberty to take with the real events. For example, Shadow of a Life is based on a real-life unsolved mystery. I had to change the characters and circumstances since no one knows what really happened.</span></em></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span arial="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">Do you have any advice for other writer?</span><br />
<span arial="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"><em style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #8d2424;">If you’re thinking about trying it, just go for it. If you decide you don’t like writing, that’s fine, but you won’t be left wondering. And if you’re like me, once you finally give in and start writing, the characters carrying on conversations in your head will finally be silenced</span></em>.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span arial="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">Where can we follow you?</span><br />
<span arial="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tifaniclark?fref=ts" style="color: rgb(132, 12, 12) !important; text-decoration: none;" title=""> <span style="color: #5848b7;">www.facebook.com/tifaniclark</span></a></span><br />
<span arial="" color:red="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"> <a href="http://www.tifaniclark.blogspot.com/" style="color: rgb(132, 12, 12) !important; text-decoration: none;" title=""><span style="color: #7161d0;">www.tifaniclark.blogspot.com</span></a></span><br />
<span arial="" color:red="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"> <a href="https://twitter.com/TifaniClark" style="color: rgb(132, 12, 12) !important; text-decoration: none;" title=""><span style="color: #7161d0;">@TifaniClark</span></a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span arial="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">Last question: Flip flops or tennis shoes? </span><br />
<span arial="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"><em style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #8d2424;">If I absolutely have to put something on my feet, it’s flip flops all the way.</span></em></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"></span><span arial="" color:red="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" mso-ansi-language:en-us="" mso-bidi-language:ar-sa="" mso-fareast-font-family:calibri="" mso-fareast-language:en-us="" mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">Thank you, Tifani, for stopping by! We have the same rituals for writing. I can't concentrate either if my life is not in order. :) And great advice! Just do it!</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">Give my girl a follow and do yourself a favor by picking up her ghost books. They are amazing! </span><br />
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<span arial="" color:red="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" mso-ansi-language:en-us="" mso-bidi-language:ar-sa="" mso-fareast-font-family:calibri="" mso-fareast-language:en-us="" mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">Happy Tuesday, y'all. </span><br />
<span arial="" color:red="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" line-height:115="" mso-ansi-language:en-us="" mso-bidi-language:ar-sa="" mso-fareast-font-family:calibri="" mso-fareast-language:en-us="" mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"><span style="color: #8640ae;"><em style="position: relative;">M.M. Roethig</em></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852143405241577052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766072244362270846.post-963279584386429382015-04-08T15:24:00.000-06:002015-04-14T15:38:56.159-06:00Author Interview ~ Debra Chapoton<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41U140FOs-L._UX250_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41U140FOs-L._UX250_.jpg" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; line-height: 26px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">A huge thank you to Debra for being a guest on my blog, and for being such a great sport. I was supposed to spotlight her last month, but all excuses aside, I was unable to get her on until now.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: Merriweather, serif; line-height: 26px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px;">Enjoy the interview and be sure to check out Debra's works!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;">What’s your favorite type of ice-cream? </span></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #5040ae;"><em style="position: relative;">I</em></span><span style="color: #5040ae;"><em style="position: relative;"> absolutely go crazy</em> <em style="position: relative;">for Ben & Jerry’s Phish</em> <em style="position: relative;">Food. It’s a chocoholic’s delight</em>.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">What’s your favorite writing beverage? </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #5040ae;">If I eat or drink while I’m writing I get distracted. I’m one of those rare people who has never had a cup of coffee or tea and I don’t care for wine. I gave up diet soda a couple of years ago so now I’m pretty much a water, milk, fruit juice (and smoothies) type of gal.</span></em></span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Do you have any favorite writing snacks you like to have on hand?</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #5040ae;">Nope, I start writing as soon as I get up in the morning and don’t even have breakfast for three or four hours. However, if I have chocolate in the house I will go through a couple pounds a week. Yeah, it’s an addiction.</span></em></span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">How did you discover your love for writing?</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #5040ae;">I teacher friend of mine, Rick Farr (Hi Rick!), made writing a book a year-long assignment for his eleventh graders. I thought that if they could do it, so could I. I wrote my first novel on summer vacation and it was so much fun to do that I’ve been writing one or two novels a year ever since.</span></em></span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">When did you begin writing and was your intention to become an author at that time?</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #5040ae;">I started in 2002 and it was a total shock that this obsession would take over all my time.</span></em></span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">What was your inspiration for </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/A-Souls-Kiss-Debra-Chapoton-ebook/dp/B00IZO6EAS/" style="color: rgb(132, 12, 12) !important; text-decoration: none;" title=""><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #a82e2e;">A Soul’s Kiss</span></span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">? </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #5040ae;"><em style="position: relative;">I had read a novel years ago (I’ve forgotten the title) that was about a woman in a coma as told by all the people around her. I wondered what was going on in her head. What if she could leave her body? What if she could get into other people’s dreams? The idea expanded from there.</em></span></span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">How many hours a day to you devote to writing? Do you write every day?</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #5040ae;">I try to write all morning with a goal of 1000 words a day. I usually write 5 days a week.</span></em></span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">How did you come up with the title for your book?</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #5040ae;">Originally I called it Pocket of Uncertainty, then Kiss My Soul, but my publishers wanted A Soul’s Kiss and I agreed that it sounded best.</span></em></span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">What authors do you like to read? What book or books have had a strong influence on you and your writing?</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #5040ae;">I love the classics and I’ve read everything by the current biggies. Probably Dean Koontz had the biggest impact on me.</span></em></span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">What are you reading now?</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #5040ae;">I am on the beach in Florida for 5 weeks and right now I’m reading John Grisham.</span></em></span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">If you could adapt this book, or any of your writings, which one would it be and who would play your main characters?</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #5040ae;">For </span></em></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Edge-Escape-Debra-Chapoton-ebook/dp/B003U4WA74/" style="color: rgb(132, 12, 12) !important; text-decoration: none;" title=""><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #a82e2e;">Edge of Escape</span></em></span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #5040ae;"> I can see Alexander Kock (Junior in Under the Dome) as the psycho stalker. In</span></em></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/A-Souls-Kiss-Debra-Chapoton-ebook/dp/B00IZO6EAS/" style="color: rgb(132, 12, 12) !important; text-decoration: none;" title=""><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #5040ae;"> <span style="color: #a82e2e;">A Soul’s Kiss</span></span></em></span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #5040ae;"> I’d pick Josh Hutcherson for Tyler and a young Taylor Swift look-alike for Jessica.</span></em></span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Tell me more about </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/A-Souls-Kiss-Debra-Chapoton-ebook/dp/B00IZO6EAS/" style="color: rgb(132, 12, 12) !important; text-decoration: none;" title=""><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #a82e2e;">A Soul’s Kis</span><span style="color: #a82e2e;">s</span></span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">. What was the hardest part of your book to write? Is there a message you want your readers to grasp?</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #5040ae;">The main character, Jessica, falls into a coma and her spirit splits away from her body. Dealing with love on a supernatural plane can be exciting, strange, wispy, scary, suspenseful, and moving. Actually it can be all those things when you’re healthy and awake, too. There are lots of messages (be self-aware, don’t judge, love is right under your nose), but mostly I want readers to enjoy and savor the adventure of reading for pleasure.</span></em></span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Do you have any advice for other writers?</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #5040ae;"><em style="position: relative;">Learn grammar, edit a lot, read your work out loud, and don’t be in a rush to get published because a book takes a long time to develop and get all polished up for the public.</em></span></span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Last question: Flip flops or tennis shoes?</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #5040ae;">Tennis shoes, definitely, and a sweatshirt or t-shirt and jeans.</span></em></span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #5040ae;">Thanks for having me. I enjoyed the interview. I hope your readers will check out all of my novels. By the way, I have two more that recently became available for pre-order on Amazon, so please take a look at</span></em> </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=exodia" style="color: rgb(132, 12, 12) !important; text-decoration: none;" title=""><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #a82e2e;">Exodia</span></em></span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #a82e2e;"> <span style="color: #5040ae;">and</span> </span></em></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=exodia" style="color: rgb(132, 12, 12) !important; text-decoration: none;" title=""><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #a82e2e;">Out of Exodia</span></em></span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">.<br /><br />Thanks you for stopping by!</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852143405241577052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766072244362270846.post-50685716919172950792015-03-30T14:39:00.001-06:002015-03-30T14:42:00.407-06:00A Souls Kiss by Debra Chapoton ~ Book Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEC5Q9xH0gZm7clZefmW_H4P9Vjx0RZkQ-aqkfMI1EXJR2zH7fwL5xwRG-pdAWnlo1gtVqeI-kEmn53lhiR5XUL6UECex2SLZJuM9p9kWTHQ9YhvAnbYNy-hUKOyCuqN8igz8APAp6XlDd/s1600/soul.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/AVvXsEgEC5Q9xH0gZm7clZefmW_H4P9Vjx0RZkQ-aqkfMI1EXJR2zH7fwL5xwRG-pdAWnlo1gtVqeI-kEmn53lhiR5XUL6UECex2SLZJuM9p9kWTHQ9YhvAnbYNy-hUKOyCuqN8igz8APAp6XlDd/s1600/soul.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
This is my book pick for the month of March and I have to admit this was a refreshing tale to read. I was pleasantly surprised.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><i>"When a tragic accident leaves Jessica comatose, her spirit escapes her body. Navigating a supernatural realm is tough, but being half dead has its advantages. Like getting into people’s thoughts. Like taking over someone’s body. Like experiencing romance on a whole new plane - literally. Jessica learns an amazing truth as she struggles to return to her body before the doctors pull the plug, only she can’t do it alone. Now the only two people willing to help Jessica’s splintered soul are the two she’s hurt the most. They must find a way to guide her soul back to her body . . . before it’s too late."</i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">This is a cute story from many points of view, giving us an opportunity to dive inside the minds of all characters involved. It has an interesting twist on the world of mediums and what happens to our souls when they don't quite cross over. As Jessica navigates through this </span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">parallel world, </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">I found myself both cheering for her while wanting to strangle her at the same time. Tyler stole my heart and quickly became a favorite from the beginning. Hannah is the one we love to hate, and Michael, well there are no words.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">The characters were well developed and it was easy to follow from one character to the next, even with the changing POV's. I enjoyed the way Debra pulled the story together, and I think you will too.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Join the world of the paranormal and take a ride you won't soon forget. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Follow <a href="http://debrachapoton.com/" target="_blank">Debra Chapoton</a> and pick up your copy now!</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852143405241577052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766072244362270846.post-10554987084935223292015-02-10T10:02:00.000-07:002015-02-10T10:11:49.305-07:00Book Spotlight ~ Honorable Disgrace by Stephanie N. Pitman <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 24.0pt;">NEW RELEASE Feb 2, 2015 Debut Novel</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.5pt;">Honorable
Disgrace: the Story<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Sixteen -year-old Angie Adams is smart, beautiful, and
head-over-heels in love. Everything is going her way as she catches the eye of
her longtime crush, football hero Cory Jacobs, proves her strength to those
skeptics on the powerlifting team, and even lands her first job without even
having to apply.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">But Angie’s new job may be more than she bargained for. She soon
finds herself drawn toward her older, very good-looking employer, Brad. Cory is
everything Angie could ever want, so why does her stomach do flips every time
Brad looks at her that way?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Then, when Angie’s older sister, Lorraine, needs a late-night
ride to a friend’s house, Angie senses she could be making a big mistake. She
knows all about Lorraine’s problems with drugs and alcohol, but her concern for
her sister overrules her cautious instincts. That night, Angie is brutally
attacked and raped. All the while, Lorraine is just in the next room, oblivious
to (or ignoring?) Angie’s cries for help.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">In the aftermath of such cruel betrayal, Angie can’t bring
herself to trust anyone: not her family, not her friends, and definitely not
herself. She struggles to “be strong,” fighting against growing feelings of
worthlessness and despair. And for Angie, the horrors are not yet over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18pt;">Buy your
copy today at any of these online retailers:</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Honorable-Disgrace-Stephanie-N-Pitman-ebook/dp/B00QPCYIIC/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1422661451&sr=1-1&keywords=honorable+disgrace" target="_blank">Amazon</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/honorable-disgrace-stephanie-n-pitman/1121122678?ean=2940150008786" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id962271215" target="_blank">iBooks</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/honorable-disgrace" target="_blank">Kobo</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.scribd.com/book/253952124" target="_blank">Scribd</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="https://www.draft2digital.com/book/79289" target="_blank">Draft2Digital</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Read an
Excerpt:</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.65pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
Lorraine gasped, her eyes growing wide, mouth agape in
horror. She grabbed my arm, the ugly mottled bruises stark against my pale
skin, a myriad of color on a white canvas. “What happened?”<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.65pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
“Noth—” I tried to jerk away, but she held fast.<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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“<i>Don’t</i> you say nothing.” Her teeth were
clenched, her eyes smoldered, the intensity of her gaze too strong. Afraid of
the emotion, I looked away. “Those bruises aren't nothing. What happened?”<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.65pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
“It’s <i>nothing</i>!” I yanked my arm away, angry
tears seeping out of the corners of my eyes. I fled to the corner of the bed.<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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I didn't have to tell her anything, I didn't <i>owe</i> her
anything. She hadn't cared enough about me last night to see if I was alright,
abandoning me for Dave, just like the other night with Hobbs. I wanted to
scream at her, ask her why she hadn't come, why she hadn't saved me, why she
had put me in that situation in the first place.<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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I could see the question in her eyes, “Angie—”<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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“Just get out of here.” Quietly, I cut her off.<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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She stepped toward me and put a hand on my bed. I clamped
my mouth closed in an angry line and shook my head. She ignored my warning, her
knee pressing down the bed.<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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“Angie, who did that to you?” Her voice was full of worry.<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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I clenched my hands so tightly I felt what was left of my
jagged nails dig into my palms. Why hadn't she come back to check on me? Why?<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Flying at her, I screamed, “I said get out. Leave me <i>alone</i>.”
I shoved her, knocking her through the door, slamming it in her stunned face. I
locked it and leaned against it. My knees gave out and I slid to the floor. I
stared at my arm, transfixed by the dot to dot of discoloration, remembering
the cruel feel of <i>his </i>fingers.<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.65pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
The handle rattled above my head and then Lorraine knocked.
“Angie, let me in.” The knob rattled again. And then the door shook against my
back when she slammed into it. “Fine.”<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.65pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
Her footsteps retreated. Shortly after, I heard the distant
open and close of the front door.<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.65pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
I pulled a blanket off the foot of my bed, draping it
around my shoulders, pressing the heels of my hands to my eyes in a vain effort
to staunch the flow of tears. I could have told her. I <i>should </i>have
told her.<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 36.0pt;">Montana
Author </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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id="_x0000_i1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style='width:123pt;height:123pt'>
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Stephanie N Pitman<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<em style="outline: 0px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Follow
her on </span></em><em><span style="color: #551a8b; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/stephanie.footepitman" style="outline: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #551a8b; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Facebook</span></a></span></em><em><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> and </span></em><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10813729.Stephanie_N_Pitman" style="outline: 0px;" target="_blank"><em><span style="color: #551a8b; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Goodreads</span></em></a><em><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">.</span></em><o:p></o:p></div>
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<em style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">OR</span></em><o:p></o:p></div>
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<em style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> visit her at </span></em><a href="http://www.literarypitstop.com/" style="outline: 0px;"><span style="color: #551a8b; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">www.literarypitstop.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852143405241577052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766072244362270846.post-55554996187502736382015-02-02T11:05:00.001-07:002015-02-02T11:05:47.200-07:00Book of the Month ~ The End of Feeling by Cindy C. Bennett<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">New Month ~ New Book! </span></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ErDXLJ_DpG0/VM-z6GVWDvI/AAAAAAAAEnM/id1wJ9jUGLw/s1600/end%2Bof%2Bfeeling.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ErDXLJ_DpG0/VM-z6GVWDvI/AAAAAAAAEnM/id1wJ9jUGLw/s1600/end%2Bof%2Bfeeling.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I love sharing great book finds and this month I can't wait to share with you Cindy C, Bennett's re-release of <i>The End of Feeling</i>. This book is anything but, as you will feel the effects long after the last word is read. Benjamin Nefer and Charlotte "Charlie" Austin will follow you into your dreams and keep you company for weeks to come. I LOVED it!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We start our journey as Charlie moves to a new school, becoming the topic of conversation for many there. She is beautiful, smart, quirky, and an instant target for smooth talking Benjamin. The problem, she's already been warned of his reputation and she has a secret or two she'd rather keep private. Hiding is her specialty and she prefers to remain in the shadows. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Benjamin is the typical great looking, smooth-talking, high school jock with amazing footfall skills and a reputation for breaking hearts. On the outside he is the kind of guy every girl wants to date and every guy wants to emulate. But his home-life is a nightmare, one that will only be tolerable when he remains unfeeling. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Assumptions keep Charlie at arms length, giving Benjamin time to realize feeling empty may not be what he wants. Outside influences help Charlie remain at a safe distance from Benjamin's heartbreaking ways and wonder what it would be like to trust her secrets with the outside world. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This book is one emotional whirlwind that keeps you turning pages to see what happens next. I found myself cheering for Benjamin and Charlie as they navigate a world no teenager should ever have too, knowing that many do. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I had the privileged of interviewing Cindy C. Bennett! Not only is she an amazing author, but a wonderful person, both professionally and personally. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You can tell
a lot about a person by their favorites so I love to ask . . .</span></b></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> What ‘s your favorite type of ice-cream?
Cookie dough<br />
What’s your favorite
writing beverage? Water (boring, I know)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Do you have any favorite writing
snacks you like to have on hand? Chocolate, usually dark<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p><ul>
<li><o:p><b> </b></o:p><b>How did you discover your love for writing?</b><i> </i>I think I’ve
always loved to write and make up stories. I found one I wrote when I was 12
(it’s horrible). But in high school I had an English teacher who would have a
“10 Minute Writing” everyday where he’d have a subject on the board, and for 10
minutes we would just write. Anything we wanted about that subject. That’s when
I first realized that I loved writing enough to want to be an author. It was my
favorite part of every day.</li>
</ul>
</o:p><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>When did you begin writing and was your intention to become
an author at that time?</b> After that teacher in high school, I began writing in
earnest. However, I was so afraid of rejection that I always had a reason not
to try to publish: I was too young, I was too busy, etc. I never finished a
manuscript until about 6 years ago when I wrote <i>Heart on a Chain </i>and then <i>Geek
Girl </i>for my daughters.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Your first book, Heart on a Chain, was such an emotional
read. The End of Feeling is no different. What is your inspiration for these
soul searching books? </b><i>Heart on a Chain </i>actually
came from seeing a real girl who lived near us. She was <i>always </i>on her swing, whether 110° or a blizzard outside. It’s not
based on her real life, of course, but on my interpretation of <i>why</i> she was always outside on her swing.
<i>The End of Feeling </i>began with the
first line which came to me one day when I first woke up: “I don’t feel
anything anymore.” I’m not sure where it came from or why, but it intrigued me
enough I had to run with it and see where it went.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Do you have any rituals?</b> Nope. I never outline, I don’t have
specific hours that I write, I don’t have a specific setup for my computer and
what else I have with me as I write. I just write when the muse strikes.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>How many hours a day to you devote to writing? Do you write
every day?</b> It really depends. If I’m in the middle of a book that I can’t get
out of my head I write <u>a lot</u>. If I’m not particularly inspired then I
don’t write as much as I should. I try to force myself to write every day
because I believe you should, but I’m not really good at following that.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Tell me a little about your re-release of End of Feeling<i>. </i>How did you come up with the title for
your book? </b>The story is really Benjamin’s even though it’s told from
alternating POV’s of him and Charlie (short for Charlotte). And since it’s
about his journey from not feeling anything for anyone or anything to learning
to feel again, I thought it might be a nice, ironical title.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>What are you reading now?</b> I can’t remember the last time I
read a book for pleasure. All the books I read these days are either because
I’m editing them, I've been asked to do a review or endorsement, or it’s a book
that’s been submitted to Creative Prose Publishing that we’re considering for
publication. I will say one of my favorite reads from last year was your book,
Michelle. I love it! <i><span style="color: red;">(Thank you! This made my lip quiver!)</span></i></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>If you could adapt this book, or any of your writings, which
one would it be and who would play your main characters. </b>That’s a tough one. We all think we’d love to
see our books turned into film, but then that means we’d be giving our vision
over to someone else and hoping they do it justice. So it’s hard for me to say
I’d really like to see any of my books made into a movie just because what if
someone completely demolished it?</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Tell me more about End of Feeling. What was the hardest
part of your book to write? </span>Is there a message you want your readers to
grasp?</b> The hardest thing for me was showing the gradual changes in Benjamin as
he learned to feel again, because the story is told first person present
alternating between him and Charlie. So I wanted to show that he was beginning
to feel and have the reader understand that before he did.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><ul>
<li><b>Do you have any advice for other writer?</b> Just keep writing. If it’s your passion, don’t give up. You’re going to write a lot of crap before anything good comes out, so be willing to just keep writing the crap until you find the spark that brings out the book you want to publish.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Where can we follow you?</b></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cindybennett.blogspot.com/">http://cindybennett.blogspot.com/</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/authorcindycbennett?ref=tn_tnmn">https://www.facebook.com/authorcindycbennett?ref=tn_tnmn</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/cinbennett">https://twitter.com/#!/cinbennett</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4116333.Cindy_C_Bennett">http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4116333.Cindy_C_Bennett</a></div>
<br /><ul>
<li><b>Last question: Flip flops or tennis shoes?</b> Tennis shoes winter, flip flops summer. How’s that for an unclear answer? (I love it!)</li>
</ul>
<br /><br /> Thank you, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cindy-C-Bennett/e/B003ZULNNA/" target="_blank">Cindy</a>, for taking time out of your busy schedule! Like I said, she's amazing, isn't she?!</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />Pick up her book now at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/End-Feeling-Cindy-C-Bennett-ebook/dp/B00M139CYO" target="_blank">AMAZON</a> or <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-end-of-feeling-cindy-c-bennett/1119045111?ean=9781477821015" target="_blank">B&N</a> now! I promise you will not regret it, and she may just become one of your favorite authors. I know she's one of mine!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy Reading, my friends!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>M.M. Roethig</i><br /><br /><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852143405241577052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766072244362270846.post-5246925429217187332015-01-17T13:06:00.003-07:002015-01-17T13:06:41.096-07:00Flash Friday Freebie!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKh0EAJ_8VhhyfzyK8_rr6T8a4LjNK9yf67ekjBc2aQNRRBVL_X91gqnUhGclgbwa-wLZalAHpfuHlD9n_kJE8g9eI5SAFNbVk-V_m9hgqUOyI2lxCCCshTEpqvHT80IraoP2v1LDGweg/s1600/BookSwag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKh0EAJ_8VhhyfzyK8_rr6T8a4LjNK9yf67ekjBc2aQNRRBVL_X91gqnUhGclgbwa-wLZalAHpfuHlD9n_kJE8g9eI5SAFNbVk-V_m9hgqUOyI2lxCCCshTEpqvHT80IraoP2v1LDGweg/s1600/BookSwag.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Happy Friday, ya'll!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">To start the weekend off right, I'm hosting a giveaway. One lucky person will win this signed bookmark, vanilla lip balm, and key chain. I might even throw in something extra! *wink*</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Each action item you do gives you one entry, so do as many as you like. Just be sure to let me know what you did so you receive your entry. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Follow my blog by entering your email address in the upper right hand corner for Feedburner, or follow via Networked blogs. (make sure to let me know by commenting on this post.)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Leave a comment on my video interview and tell me what you think. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Connect with me on </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: small; line-height: 19px;"><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/+MMRoethigAuthor/posts" style="color: #003b77; text-decoration: none;" title="">Google +</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> and leave me a comment on the giveaway post.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Connect on </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: small; line-height: 19px;"><a href="https://twitter.com/MMRoethig" style="color: #003b77; text-decoration: none;" title="">Twitter</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">, favorite and share my giveaway tweet. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Connect on </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: small; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://instagram.com/mmroethig/" style="color: #003b77; text-decoration: none;" title="">Instagram</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> and comment on the giveaway picture. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Friend me on </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: small; line-height: 19px;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/authormmroethig" style="color: #003b77; text-decoration: none;" title="">Facebook</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> and comment on the giveaway picture. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Follow my </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: small; line-height: 19px;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/MMRoethig" style="color: #003b77; text-decoration: none;" title="">Facebook Author Page</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> and leave me a comment. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Don't forget to share this post with your friends, and have a fabulous weekend!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">You're all the best, my friends!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: small; line-height: 19px;"><em style="position: relative;">M.M. Roethig</em></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852143405241577052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766072244362270846.post-29709088352835958942015-01-14T11:45:00.003-07:002015-01-14T11:45:34.430-07:00Wednesday's Writing: New, New, New . . . Year, Goals, You, and Me!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5sF09GxiJm-N_X8pe-ERfWTWum23rfFUBltQ8ozBj_cUY3BoWLRW-fvHAb2MdryQMQmxKycAvUcw7CxxZy_tx5oPzuY3-hhpN0hu4Rt8oHi0B26N1FKs-y45QHcTNQyxRuDZTAOtPbjQ/s1600/Room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">With the new year comes an exciting time to start fresh, make new goals, and enjoy the view of a bright new world. I am so excited about the changes I've committed to make in the year 2015 and I'd like to share them with you. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">My followers may have noticed a certain 'absence' from my online social feeds. This is part of my new, improved approach to writing. I've spent the last few weeks de-cluttering, re-arranging, and designing my new office space. It's located in the back of the house, away from distractions, to give me a sanctuary for writing. I'm so excited to say my new office is almost complete and I LOVE IT!! </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5sF09GxiJm-N_X8pe-ERfWTWum23rfFUBltQ8ozBj_cUY3BoWLRW-fvHAb2MdryQMQmxKycAvUcw7CxxZy_tx5oPzuY3-hhpN0hu4Rt8oHi0B26N1FKs-y45QHcTNQyxRuDZTAOtPbjQ/s1600/Room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5sF09GxiJm-N_X8pe-ERfWTWum23rfFUBltQ8ozBj_cUY3BoWLRW-fvHAb2MdryQMQmxKycAvUcw7CxxZy_tx5oPzuY3-hhpN0hu4Rt8oHi0B26N1FKs-y45QHcTNQyxRuDZTAOtPbjQ/s1600/Room.jpg" height="194" width="640" /></a><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">It looks cluttered, but those are my writing notes. Once the walls are adorned with some of my favorite pictures and sayings, I will share the finished product. But for now, this is my 'writing cave' and I'm excited to lock myself inside and get writing. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">Now that I've shared my new office, let me share some of my goals this year. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: small; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><em style="position: relative;"><u>Personal: </u></em></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">1- I want to be closer to my Heavenly Father. That is a personal goal I am striving for each day.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">2-I want to really dive into my family history. It is something that has been nagging me for a while and what better place to start that at the beginning of a new year?!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">3-I want to become a new, healthier me. With my new PiYo workouts and my sons goal of more home cooked meals. I've set myself up for a healthier new me. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: small; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><em style="position: relative;"><u>Family:</u></em></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">1- We've vowed to do more family outings this year than we did last year. Hiking, bike riding, exploring the city and mountains. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">2- My son loves a home-cooked meal and our resolution this year is to eat at home more often. He'd rather eat at home all the time, but going out is nice once in a while. With my new resolution, I'll be trying new recipes too. Yum!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: small; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><em style="position: relative;"><u>Writing:</u></em></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">1- My goal is to set a regular time and daily word count goal to help keep me on track. In the past I've set word count goals, but with my new space I'm excited to dedicate time every day to accomplishing this. No TV in the background, no FB distractions. All writing!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">2- I vow to cut back on my social media so I can focus on what matters most; my family, my fans, my life.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">3- I am working on getting my next two books, Autumn and Skye, out this year. Many have asked when my next book will come out. I promise to work my butt off to make it happen. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">May your 2015 year be bright, full of peace, love, and joy, and may you fulfill all your goals for a bright future!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">All my love, </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: medium; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><em style="position: relative;">M.M. Roethig</em></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852143405241577052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766072244362270846.post-95286688400244122014-12-23T06:00:00.000-07:002014-12-23T06:00:08.013-07:00A Christ Centered Christmas by Stephanie N. Pitman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Blackadder ITC"; font-size: 18.0pt;">F</span>or
me, Christmas is 100% about Christ. It’s
in the name. And you can’t have
Christmas without the joy of music. As a
teen, I dreamed of one day making it big as a singer. That did not happen, but my love for music
and singing has not changed. Narrowing
down only twelve Christmas songs was quite difficult, as I could sing Christmas
songs for hours, until I go hoarse, but the following twelve songs reflect my most
favorite and the reasons why. And the
order has no bearing on which is the top, as that can change on any given day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><u>1. Away in a Manger</u><br />
</i>This was one of the first Christmas songs I remember learning as a child
and I remember lovingly swaddling my own baby doll as was the Christ child. Our
Lord and Savior came to this earth in the humblest of circumstances, as the
song states “…no crib for a bed,” and it is this reason I place this one first
on the list.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The First Noel</u></i><br />
Noel is an Old French word meaning Christmas.
It can also refer to a carol or hymn sung in honor of <i>The First Noel</i> sings of the shepherd, also in humble circumstances,
that recognized right away the magnificent meaning of the star “..Shining in
the East beyond them far.”<o:p></o:p></div>
Christ’s
birth. <br />
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<i><u>3. What Child is
This?</u></i><br />
Set to the familiar tune of Greensleeves, this is one I sing and hum throughout
the year. I recently was blessed to sing
this for members of my church Sunday, the
14<sup>th</sup> with a good friend of mine. I sang the melody, the soprano part while she
sang the alto. The arrangement was
slightly different than standard, and it was a great joy to sing it and feel
the spirit deep in my heart. You can
listen to and download this version for yourself by following this <a href="http://www.defordmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/what-child-is-this-sa-or-treble-duet.pdf" target="_blank">link</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><u>4. Oh, Come All Ye
Faithful</u></i><br />
Meant to be sung majestically and joyfully, this hymn is in reference to verses
in Luke chapter 2. In verse 9 and 10 it
says, “And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them. . . and they were sore
afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I bring you good
tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” And those tidings were the birth of Christ,
an event people had been awaiting for some time. I can only imagine the joy of being a part of
that, and I am grateful I have the light of Christ in my life today.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><u>5. Joy to the World</u></i></div>
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One of the 53 arias in Handel’s <i>Messiah</i>,
which he wrote in only 24 days, this is one sung annually in home and church,
and one I look forward to each year.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<i><i><u>6. Handel’s Dream</u></i></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This is a beautifully arranged piece, composed by Michael Mclean, that tells a
poignant fictional story of Handel. It
is a dream, and perhaps Handel had such a dream as his inspiration for the <i>Messiah</i>.
It is partly sang and partly narrated.
Young Handel is auditioning for the choir of angels to sing at Christ’s
birth. But he doesn’t make it. Told he has a different voice, one that will
be brought to the world in his own time, and that more orchestras and choirs
than he can now imagine will be giving voice to his feelings leaves me with
tears in my eyes every time I listen to it.
One you must hear, if you haven’t already. And if you have, give it a listen again. </div>
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<i><u>7. Were You There?</u></i></div>
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Composed by Natalie Sleeth, this is a treasured song. I have sang this many times for others since
I was a teenager and played my flute as well.
With many thought provoking questions throughout. Were you there on that first Christmas night?
Were you there when the wonder foretold came to earth? Did you hear how the
choirs of angels sang? Did you see how
they bowed? Did you know if was God’s
own son, the salvation of the world begun?
Did you know it was love that was sent from above to the earth? These are but a few of the glad, powerful
messages in this song. To learn more
about this great American composer, follow this <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalie_Sleeth" target="_blank">link</a>.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<i><u>8. Jingle Bells
& 9. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer</u></i></div>
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You have to have the classics. And
though the focal point of these songs is not the Savior, they are about Santa
Claus and what a great example of goodness was Saint Nicholas. If we all spread the goodness and cheer, the
true spirit of Christmas, like St. Nick does, the world would be a fantastically
better place to be. I believe in Santa
Claus. In the goodness and cheer and
love and service of his name.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<i><i><u><br /></u></i></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><i><u>10. Angels We Have
Heard on High</u></i></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Gloria in excelsis Deo. Gloria in excelsis Deo. Latin for “glory to God in the
highest,” in this French carol, the single word ‘Gloria’ is carried through
four full measures, for a total count of sixteen beats, with the rest less than
half that. Beautifully arranged and fun
to sing the ups and downs of the Gloria, is why this is on my top 12 most loved
Christmas songs.</div>
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<i><u>11. It Could Happen
Again</u></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Part of Colin Raye’s Christmas CD <i>The
Gift</i>, this song has touch me from the first time I listened to it. Even during the devastation of war, this is a
retelling of the well known story during WWI when opposing sides came together
to celebrate Christmas, only returning to fight against each other after they
were ordered to. This portrays the true
meaning of Christ-like love, that men could put up their arms, share what
little they had, sing Christmas carols and bring the spirit to an otherwise
bleak time. Find the CD <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Gift-Collin-Raye/dp/B00005NNJ6/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1418082774&sr=1-1&keywords=collin+raye+christmas" target="_blank">here</a>. This CD also happens to be the giveaway item
for today. Don’t forget to enter below.</div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<i><u>12. O Holy Night</u></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Many, many versions of this song are out there.
Rearrangements, numerous singers, wonderful song. <i>Cantique
De Noel, </i>or as we know it <i>O Holy
Night</i>, was composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847 and later the words were added,
written by Placide Cappeau, a wine merchant and poet who was also a professed
atheist. Over 150 years later this song is still bringing joy to those who know
Christ.</div>
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</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<i>As we seek Christ, as we find Him, as we follow Him, we shall have the
Christmas spirit, not for one fleeting day each year, but as a companion
always.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>~Thomas S. Monson<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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I
wish you all a very Merry Christmas and I hope you enjoyed reading this as much
as I enjoyed writing it. May we remember to keep Christ the center of our
Christmas celebrations and try to bring the feelings and actions surrounding
Christmas throughout the year.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Written by Stephanie
N. Pitman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Author of Honorable Disgrace due out Feb 2, 2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Available for pre-order <span style="background: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QPCYIIC" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QPCYIIC</a></span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852143405241577052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766072244362270846.post-90083317406680825402014-12-22T06:00:00.000-07:002014-12-22T06:00:01.870-07:00Eleven Elves by Candace Gleave<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8H23nQeoY534yEB_qrRsaY2U30DLXozRt44zNaBAly0QeGdqoG0x0ua2coKfwGSFCayCkZMF4wQfuNh1XsVNtjVsgeOZJxrvXusIfl4OFoyg9t7QaHzYSH_ZBKFitEOl_QIqhO961Ooy1/s1600/12+Days+Day+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8H23nQeoY534yEB_qrRsaY2U30DLXozRt44zNaBAly0QeGdqoG0x0ua2coKfwGSFCayCkZMF4wQfuNh1XsVNtjVsgeOZJxrvXusIfl4OFoyg9t7QaHzYSH_ZBKFitEOl_QIqhO961Ooy1/s1600/12+Days+Day+11.jpg" height="206" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every year my house as a kid was visited by elves. The sneaky Santa helpers would leave tokens, gifts, candies, and oral hygiene treasures in our homemade stockings, the 12 days leading up to Christmas.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The highlight of any cold December morning would be to reach my grubby little hands into my stocking and pull out the delivered bounty.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One gift per day would be the norm. However, sometimes the elves would be<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> lost in a blizzard, slept-in, or just down right forgetful and our stockings would be bare. This tragic occurrence would be promptly echoed in the house, as all five of us kids would voice our let down to our loving parents. Double gifts would find their way into our empty stockings the next day, a king’s loot, and joy would be established once more.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3lsVW5Q9WpLZnFJU6oKzvyzJHYsrUf8-ft8Nm5eMID0-izlvitSrBoIElGCwsWnydET3qIkuVoCiI37_d7qg1NMwYQ3NFc5a73n3DaA2KbCwr8WUfWO8flLAOsw1YGIkwuQZ36RAAK-UQ/s1600/GetAttachment+(6).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3lsVW5Q9WpLZnFJU6oKzvyzJHYsrUf8-ft8Nm5eMID0-izlvitSrBoIElGCwsWnydET3qIkuVoCiI37_d7qg1NMwYQ3NFc5a73n3DaA2KbCwr8WUfWO8flLAOsw1YGIkwuQZ36RAAK-UQ/s1600/GetAttachment+(6).jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This tradition has remained forever endeared in my heart. When first married, I tried to surprise my husband with such elfish tokens. Jerky, chips, soda, all made their loving way into his stocking, mine, however, remained bare. Sadness, and self-present-giving soon replaced tradition. Bahumbug!<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With luck and joyous renew, the arrival of my first born, Christian, the elves have found their way through the blizzard and gifts will be given once more. Hazaah!<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLlRG3E8Jr7EG63M-7ngb2ChBKwHtGWOquyW0UlM5uY8bxkMHJEWXm6eYQ78lZ-oP8ImS3Y33-5D1r3Q-AkoNk0HZfmhdgjFkMP7IizZ8tHUWcyNZOR89Ort8b39gG0VEbAUej40RXmMW/s1600/GetAttachment+(5).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/AVvXsEjJLlRG3E8Jr7EG63M-7ngb2ChBKwHtGWOquyW0UlM5uY8bxkMHJEWXm6eYQ78lZ-oP8ImS3Y33-5D1r3Q-AkoNk0HZfmhdgjFkMP7IizZ8tHUWcyNZOR89Ort8b39gG0VEbAUej40RXmMW/s1600/GetAttachment+(5).jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltnDs9fij4uLJBVo0BVEAO20UYUfrLmiPFSHHcsDT2V1MPV9TFfG_rYwhShyOIg0FD7fE__j3uT1baHUVsQt3I1PHia_QI-E9dOn8hLdNPoK5UoPUg_RxpiNdvM-5xaRCetS25kcqwgEJ/s1600/GetAttachment+(7).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltnDs9fij4uLJBVo0BVEAO20UYUfrLmiPFSHHcsDT2V1MPV9TFfG_rYwhShyOIg0FD7fE__j3uT1baHUVsQt3I1PHia_QI-E9dOn8hLdNPoK5UoPUg_RxpiNdvM-5xaRCetS25kcqwgEJ/s1600/GetAttachment+(7).jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am excited to start this tradition with my babe, for many Christmas’ to come. Merry </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Christmas!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Candace's humorous short story, Train Station: 3:00 p.m. can be found in the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Beginnings-Jamie-Canosa-ebook/dp/B00M66RH0M/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1406532273&sr=1-1&keywords=beginnings+jamie+canosa" target="_blank">Beginnings</a> anthology.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me…” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">How I loved singing “The Twelve Days of Christmas” song in elementary school chorus and high
school glee club. For Creative Prose Publishing’s special event celebrating The
Twelve Days with their authors, I won’t have to sing so I decided on something
better. I have the tenth day which is 10 Lords a Leaping and I’m going to share
my Top 10 Christmas movies. Here they are and I hope you’ll share your
favorites as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 21.4666652679443px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Laurie’s Top 10 Christmas Movies</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Every year my family and I watch these classics and they
never get old. From finding the right love, to simply believing in <i>something</i> (like magic or the power of love) or <i>someone</i> (like Santa), these titles truly highlight something <i>special</i> about the
holiday season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Yyxt0NOV_tNNkAbnaDPFBgd3SDlSnUliQs0eIOg8FC_MpraIVnJw9XAvVdKhSiFcNLhxs0KA2iLDxBXW1OrW7KsmrF42sUa7bXpMongQPIa66gaGQdAL1wzCjiEFVdyzmY1X9-g27yl6/s1600/MV5BMTY4NjQ5NDc0Nl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwNjk5NDM3._V1_SX214_AL_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Yyxt0NOV_tNNkAbnaDPFBgd3SDlSnUliQs0eIOg8FC_MpraIVnJw9XAvVdKhSiFcNLhxs0KA2iLDxBXW1OrW7KsmrF42sUa7bXpMongQPIa66gaGQdAL1wzCjiEFVdyzmY1X9-g27yl6/s1600/MV5BMTY4NjQ5NDc0Nl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwNjk5NDM3._V1_SX214_AL_.jpg" height="200" width="135" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjquGeCrurG31Q_NdDxHfJdGloRsLKWYkF3nz01ro8_Vu_fkGQKblevGiTUxBZU13I-XcFs4G8Mg4y0r1z2M9fYP9LzKyZFBCmMQuryL1yI63WZLVRWbsl9VDVwCnDCMGoCLs26iYcAFR0Z/s1600/MV5BMTU5NjU4NDUzMl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMjc4NDgzMTE@._V1_SY317_CR0,0,214,317_AL_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjquGeCrurG31Q_NdDxHfJdGloRsLKWYkF3nz01ro8_Vu_fkGQKblevGiTUxBZU13I-XcFs4G8Mg4y0r1z2M9fYP9LzKyZFBCmMQuryL1yI63WZLVRWbsl9VDVwCnDCMGoCLs26iYcAFR0Z/s1600/MV5BMTU5NjU4NDUzMl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMjc4NDgzMTE@._V1_SY317_CR0,0,214,317_AL_.jpg" height="200" width="135" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqJZsSdYKdJKc8ExvRzwO09wsi6vS7jfUsKvCKLB7hhlPm4YGLSYIMnaKOQ-o3qOmlXNPXX9kGt1a3sSZw-HGYNk8muwiEvvdToTJ8K4Mg6m31hyoTrgUtoFLgSZugSxxQi2-qDgy77wc/s1600/MV5BMTkwMDIwNzI0Nl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNDU1MjEyMDE@._V1_SX214_AL_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqJZsSdYKdJKc8ExvRzwO09wsi6vS7jfUsKvCKLB7hhlPm4YGLSYIMnaKOQ-o3qOmlXNPXX9kGt1a3sSZw-HGYNk8muwiEvvdToTJ8K4Mg6m31hyoTrgUtoFLgSZugSxxQi2-qDgy77wc/s1600/MV5BMTkwMDIwNzI0Nl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNDU1MjEyMDE@._V1_SX214_AL_.jpg" height="200" width="134" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>10. </b>TIE: <b><i>While You Were Sleeping</i></b>, <b><i>Love
Actually</i></b> and <b><i>Bridget Jones’s Diary</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sorry, but I couldn’t choose between these three zany holiday love
stories. Who can escape the charm of Sandra Bullock in <b><i>While You Were Sleeping</i></b>? Just because we may 'crush' on someone, doesn't mean that's 'the right one' for us. By the time Lucy shows Jack that
snow globe, I’m tearing up. As for <b><i>Love Actually</i></b>, what’s not to love
about this movie? There’s the stellar cast with the wide variety of love stories stemming from young to old, each sharing the backdrop of the holiday season. And we can’t forget the music! I <i>love</i> to watch Renee Zellweger
and Colin Firth in <b><i>Bridget Jones’s Diary</i></b>. So comical with sprinkles of truth, these two leads showcase the best of 'opposites attract'. That ending scene with a scantily clad Bridget with Mr. Darcy on
the sidewalk in the snow is hysterical and yet endearing, just like these three movies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>9. <i>National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Each holiday season I play this DVD and giggle like crazy at the hilarious
antics of the Griswold family. Who can forget the squirrel in the Christmas
tree? Clark trying to put lights on the outside of his house? The holiday meal? The sewer scene? The list
goes on and on….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>8.</b> <b><i>A Christmas Carol</i></b> (Alastair Sim,
1951)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The version of this holiday classic I adore features
Alastair Sim as Scrooge. In glorious black and white, Sim truly embodies
everything 'Scrooge' from his glare to his biting voice, even down to the
way he walks. When he's a changed man, he's a delight to behold. The lack of color helps dramatize the scenes even more. The
holidays are not complete without one viewing of this classic. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">7. <i>The Dead</i></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Based on my favorite James Joyce short story, this movie directed by the late great John Huston, is film-making brilliance. Married couple Gabriel and Gretta attend Christmas dinner and enjoy the company of friends and family. With lively conversation, dancing, singing and music, we are privy to how music invokes different emotions in each person, particularly in Gretta as she reminisces about her first love. Anjelica Huston steals the film with her revealing speech which captures my heart every single time.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkt7fSfT10mC1kDI-tj08R7DNG8T2hLaRgYW6njm-r1-cE-0SQc7V1sLO7yMWR_Ql5KQFeXpPAQLvTF-2ZQO04H-RdzSIKOZ5bz_uX98xsYZ2ScSGZ_V3Zy35e6H9AtP8DbmGwE6sIXzl3/s1600/MV5BMjEyOTgyNjk3N15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMTMwOTc2NA@@._V1_SX214_AL_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkt7fSfT10mC1kDI-tj08R7DNG8T2hLaRgYW6njm-r1-cE-0SQc7V1sLO7yMWR_Ql5KQFeXpPAQLvTF-2ZQO04H-RdzSIKOZ5bz_uX98xsYZ2ScSGZ_V3Zy35e6H9AtP8DbmGwE6sIXzl3/s1600/MV5BMjEyOTgyNjk3N15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMTMwOTc2NA@@._V1_SX214_AL_.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGd5xBPCOAiIAiwLrBVcgl4n9N-S87GWJEQo-O2OBPSW7zq6YOr2Hz5Tt-gwfvLGPIvraG6qdFV-ajqiNnxvR1Y0u8TKODU1YmRqktGgc2IBA2ZD2YKoyd3oDRDRHWDlXgSnlGH7OyJDw/s1600/MV5BMTc5MDY0MjkwNV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNTk2Njk3OA@@._V1_SY317_CR12,0,214,317_AL_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGd5xBPCOAiIAiwLrBVcgl4n9N-S87GWJEQo-O2OBPSW7zq6YOr2Hz5Tt-gwfvLGPIvraG6qdFV-ajqiNnxvR1Y0u8TKODU1YmRqktGgc2IBA2ZD2YKoyd3oDRDRHWDlXgSnlGH7OyJDw/s1600/MV5BMTc5MDY0MjkwNV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNTk2Njk3OA@@._V1_SY317_CR12,0,214,317_AL_.jpg" height="200" width="135" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpsxu6IHc71DEJge7-VBawCnw9WWsQUWKzdYJLGJOHfriEGKnIVj7Q77f3Mj67K-5ZTv6DikRPeNEtkLLvc4cIUNZk3DjAkVpMIXcovOxwYbh5BWAYt_l5fNDltioQD4urIPX79wlFCG4/s1600/MV5BMTM1NTU0NTE4MV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMTQ0MjEzMw@@._V1_SY317_CR0,0,214,317_AL_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpsxu6IHc71DEJge7-VBawCnw9WWsQUWKzdYJLGJOHfriEGKnIVj7Q77f3Mj67K-5ZTv6DikRPeNEtkLLvc4cIUNZk3DjAkVpMIXcovOxwYbh5BWAYt_l5fNDltioQD4urIPX79wlFCG4/s1600/MV5BMTM1NTU0NTE4MV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMTQ0MjEzMw@@._V1_SY317_CR0,0,214,317_AL_.jpg" height="200" width="135" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">6. <i>Prancer</i><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There's a special place in my heart for</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Prancer</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. Some may find this movie corny but I don’t care, I <i>love</i> it. When twelve year old Jessica thinks the injured reindeer she found belongs to Santa, no one believes her. She’s just a kid, right, but this determined girl will show the non-believers how wrong they are. With each repeated viewing, I’m always drawn in by her story and her voice and by the end I'm tearing up as that reindeer disappears off that cliff. Talk about magic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>5.</b> <b><i>The Nightmare Before Christmas</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>What’s this you say?</i>
I say this movie is a unique tale about the unforgettable Jack Skellington and friends all done up in
typical eerie cool Tim Burton style. Funny, bewildering, with songs to hum along to, who would
think something so ghoulishly creepy could be so much fun to watch in December? Me!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>4.</b> <b><i>The Polar Express</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While we’re on the subject of ‘believing’, what better movie
encompasses kids growing older and not having faith in Santa any more than <b><i>The
Polar Express</i></b>? Based on Chris Van Allsburg's </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">beautiful picture book</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">, director Robert
Zemekis (who also wrote the screenplay) transfers the magic of the story into an animated wonder. A nameless young boy gets to go on an adventure (on a wonderful train with Tom Hanks as a cool conductor) which helps him believe once again in Christmas.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmurV4RrYhHgdvf-7CJYsH43O8AnR4YswM2qs_FRGfSVhJ5x4YAd0-Okb_vuOcmsStNym1xCWQu_wkAhN3CcW3Po5BBMoXs4AuF5CKhfe0UxWaFejogIVwzdndFwlk6rOpyqyjpgPtst7A/s1600/MV5BNDY4MjgyNTk3Ml5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMTg1NTUxMQ@@._V1_SY317_CR5,0,214,317_AL_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmurV4RrYhHgdvf-7CJYsH43O8AnR4YswM2qs_FRGfSVhJ5x4YAd0-Okb_vuOcmsStNym1xCWQu_wkAhN3CcW3Po5BBMoXs4AuF5CKhfe0UxWaFejogIVwzdndFwlk6rOpyqyjpgPtst7A/s1600/MV5BNDY4MjgyNTk3Ml5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMTg1NTUxMQ@@._V1_SY317_CR5,0,214,317_AL_.jpg" height="200" width="135" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfwDW0WuF_7TM8rqpHczX1OwDBpYfVVmoGgDYibDfgps4CdkcYRDGCdC2516dkrage1HAokEVDCqva82uVK32mIZ46NMOkT_QUBiS_x_SYvcXL92yof8_V27jOhytSxTPgU5HSGBXYQr5/s1600/MV5BMjA3OTg1MDQxOF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMzc0MjAwMQ@@._V1_SY190_CR1,0,128,190_AL_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfwDW0WuF_7TM8rqpHczX1OwDBpYfVVmoGgDYibDfgps4CdkcYRDGCdC2516dkrage1HAokEVDCqva82uVK32mIZ46NMOkT_QUBiS_x_SYvcXL92yof8_V27jOhytSxTPgU5HSGBXYQr5/s1600/MV5BMjA3OTg1MDQxOF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMzc0MjAwMQ@@._V1_SY190_CR1,0,128,190_AL_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6q7RjZk7Z_ufG8ru1aJmBw87OTPf7ozwSuBj56ozkwZ2pHMUzYejqkl-n7tvWP76xIvWAWWBhaCRTr2_OMbpQfffvKzv8B9vD1ObXopJt8T6i5CD0BQz8LTQBgIZbYiBR9yI8jF8ivcsi/s1600/MV5BMTI4ODQ4MzgzMl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwODc5NTUzMQ@@._V1_SY190_CR0,0,128,190_AL_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6q7RjZk7Z_ufG8ru1aJmBw87OTPf7ozwSuBj56ozkwZ2pHMUzYejqkl-n7tvWP76xIvWAWWBhaCRTr2_OMbpQfffvKzv8B9vD1ObXopJt8T6i5CD0BQz8LTQBgIZbYiBR9yI8jF8ivcsi/s1600/MV5BMTI4ODQ4MzgzMl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwODc5NTUzMQ@@._V1_SY190_CR0,0,128,190_AL_.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>3.</b> <b><i>The
Santa Clause trilogy</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I never thought Tim Allen--the droll tool guy from the hit comedy TV show <i>Home Improvement</i>--could ever make me believe in his portrayal as a divorced dad who takes over as <i>Santa Clause</i>. He did. The first movie
was humorous, engaging and totally captivating. The first film is a classic, making</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> this trio a wonderful series to watch with the family.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2TW90MKhMt_V9FbfY8jbGbsDBYURF0hWG2fu4G79q1291VSm6GjOBd_yIqFRSXGUPQe3FKWra-4W9s6JVylN6MEi9HgxBBb1vVD-h_xoJQ3kIXmPT0gWi9GX7WYx7HJ9840nrauvYKVlF/s1600/MV5BMTI1NzY1NjkyMV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMjYxNjE0MQ@@._V1._SX140_CR0,0,140,209_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2TW90MKhMt_V9FbfY8jbGbsDBYURF0hWG2fu4G79q1291VSm6GjOBd_yIqFRSXGUPQe3FKWra-4W9s6JVylN6MEi9HgxBBb1vVD-h_xoJQ3kIXmPT0gWi9GX7WYx7HJ9840nrauvYKVlF/s1600/MV5BMTI1NzY1NjkyMV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMjYxNjE0MQ@@._V1._SX140_CR0,0,140,209_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYTd_ISWIDGg68f7VTd5bU_UWAj0nPiFdSJXsTsFHANghPylf_PZhyphenhyphenyqQnuv8EEnkROpgeKNQ86e42KJWIGXyt2z4LOXx0hpePd23WWftD0gIOYoz0oS2RzaBE77Y5KcYIGJa7Ol1Vkeh/s1600/MV5BMTcyNDIyMjc0MF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwOTcxNTkzMQ@@._V1._SY209_CR8,0,140,209_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYTd_ISWIDGg68f7VTd5bU_UWAj0nPiFdSJXsTsFHANghPylf_PZhyphenhyphenyqQnuv8EEnkROpgeKNQ86e42KJWIGXyt2z4LOXx0hpePd23WWftD0gIOYoz0oS2RzaBE77Y5KcYIGJa7Ol1Vkeh/s1600/MV5BMTcyNDIyMjc0MF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwOTcxNTkzMQ@@._V1._SY209_CR8,0,140,209_.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>2. </b>TIE: <b><i>A Christmas Story</i></b> & <b><i>A
Miracle on 34<sup>th</sup> Street</i></b> (1947, b&w)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's a battle of the kids! Ralphie and Susan rule these enchanting family gems. All
Ralphie wants for Christmas is a BB gun. But he'll shoot his eye out! All Susan wants is a family. Stern mom Kate is set in her chilly, independent ways. Each
story captures the magic of the holidays through the eyes of a child. Both are filled with poignant moments, lots of humor, and lovable kids.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQc63AC2gLf8-peOWybY21oXybLSVQLREP0FuVLOoV8O2qoW-QFH-sdxYZ6GSr5wms6ZmOQSLleoyPqT0uka18EfRO-0l8nITsVzopiC539gVRsZ6e2Phi_lLoYcEY03YHM2JUgOu3yP05/s1600/MV5BMTMzMzY5NDc4M15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMzc4NjIxNw@@._V1._SY209_CR0,0,140,209_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQc63AC2gLf8-peOWybY21oXybLSVQLREP0FuVLOoV8O2qoW-QFH-sdxYZ6GSr5wms6ZmOQSLleoyPqT0uka18EfRO-0l8nITsVzopiC539gVRsZ6e2Phi_lLoYcEY03YHM2JUgOu3yP05/s1600/MV5BMTMzMzY5NDc4M15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMzc4NjIxNw@@._V1._SY209_CR0,0,140,209_.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>1.</b> <b><i>It’s A Wonderful Life</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I never tire of watching this film in its original black and
white splendor (keep that creepy colorized version away from me). When James Stewart and Donna Reed are on screen, I can’t look
anywhere else. "Buffalo gals, won't you come out tonight..." Director Frank Capra created a true holiday classic with this endearing film. For me, each Christmas isn’t complete without one or two viewings. “Merry Christmas Bedford
Falls!” George Bailey has become synonymous with everything good
about Christmas and Clarence the angel, well, he gives the movie tremendous heart and leaves a bell as his calling card.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Honorable mentions:</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJfRNGMmcBuy_K5dIhiMpmsKHK1v8KoqqsgUJAOKhXVD3j8Qv8UkVQjKl4jYcZ-Ois8KQ40g0ViOnkwqb4qX5OF8h-W9hCTo9qM0rEToZpCRubzSPp86o5Ee_6suO2eBSvc_o2KTxxMUz/s1600/MV5BMTM1NTQ3NzQxM15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNDI2MTIwMw@@._V1._SY209_CR4,0,140,209_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJfRNGMmcBuy_K5dIhiMpmsKHK1v8KoqqsgUJAOKhXVD3j8Qv8UkVQjKl4jYcZ-Ois8KQ40g0ViOnkwqb4qX5OF8h-W9hCTo9qM0rEToZpCRubzSPp86o5Ee_6suO2eBSvc_o2KTxxMUz/s1600/MV5BMTM1NTQ3NzQxM15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNDI2MTIwMw@@._V1._SY209_CR4,0,140,209_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFT3eQxHZCFV5jlkyYwkpjcX5dGoW4GIwiQNhv-p66l2jk-4mOYSjvey-g02W2AcrI6KCX7hQvY6bc-IcCRGtuZmHb0c4dNmsYsnJ5Y91CLDeNSg8RnCK6X6xiXnZgXuKLx1TVc6rAmcJ/s1600/MV5BMTQ1NDQxNTcxN15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNzY1Njc1MzE@._V1._SY209_CR3,0,140,209_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFT3eQxHZCFV5jlkyYwkpjcX5dGoW4GIwiQNhv-p66l2jk-4mOYSjvey-g02W2AcrI6KCX7hQvY6bc-IcCRGtuZmHb0c4dNmsYsnJ5Y91CLDeNSg8RnCK6X6xiXnZgXuKLx1TVc6rAmcJ/s1600/MV5BMTQ1NDQxNTcxN15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNzY1Njc1MzE@._V1._SY209_CR3,0,140,209_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZQhkVjRyBRVsIRrfIEb655ngowFZeQMMDvS6zCo-9SePD3qSFqKJr2zgJiiv7gUPpiHEVnCJCG5N0bkJGeT8oiCUnW5K4BZIogkHhl5tB_35pd0p_zI-Z_NFflTgdI5ZXZVzTy0v2Pma/s1600/MV5BMTQyMDc5ODg4NF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMzc2OTIyMTE@._V1._SY209_CR9,0,140,209_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZQhkVjRyBRVsIRrfIEb655ngowFZeQMMDvS6zCo-9SePD3qSFqKJr2zgJiiv7gUPpiHEVnCJCG5N0bkJGeT8oiCUnW5K4BZIogkHhl5tB_35pd0p_zI-Z_NFflTgdI5ZXZVzTy0v2Pma/s1600/MV5BMTQyMDc5ODg4NF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMzc2OTIyMTE@._V1._SY209_CR9,0,140,209_.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">They may not be movies, but these television specials will forever hold their own special places in my heart and in the hearts of many.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>About the author:</b><br />Laurie Treacy is a fantasy, paranormal, and contemporary YA and NA romance writer. A graduate of Marist College, she lives in New York's picturesque Hudson Valley with her husband, three children, and various pets. When not writing or book blogging, she’s a proud Whovian, loves reading, photographing abandoned places, frozen Goobers, and watching anime. A member of the SCBWI and RWA, Laurie can be found at local writer's events and online at </span><a href="http://www.laurietreacy.com/" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">www.laurietreacy.com</a> and <a href="http://www.readergirlsblog.com/" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">www.readergirlsblog.com</a>.</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><b>Find Laurie here: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/author.laurie.treacy">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/llt806">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7280082.Laurie_Treacy">Goodreads</a></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Beginnings anthology</b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: white;"><br /></b></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtbVF46zzMlpV3WxaZzfK9B1M5URKnYrldR5BMm8PPlC5JJEJnWuqZIbXpPvHuQZ7eSuaVz5QDq8GVpBypPSadN-fk4nW6JinZVXdtw32j0Glyd1mG0ko5REqlSRC2dzuF6kG-vuCTDqt/s1600/Beginnings.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/AVvXsEhTtbVF46zzMlpV3WxaZzfK9B1M5URKnYrldR5BMm8PPlC5JJEJnWuqZIbXpPvHuQZ7eSuaVz5QDq8GVpBypPSadN-fk4nW6JinZVXdtw32j0Glyd1mG0ko5REqlSRC2dzuF6kG-vuCTDqt/s1600/Beginnings.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>ENJOY THE SILENCE by Laurie Treacy </b><br />Young fae Zander only wishes to live in the human realm, and leave Ashwoulde behind. But his reckless actions in one night might forever change his world - and that of those who love him. <br /><b>ETERNITY CRUX by Jamie Canosa </b><br />Aurelia and Sayer are on the run from the Legion, who would have them killed for what they know. In a moment of desperation, Aurelia is forced to leave Sayer behind, and manipulate the bounds of time itself to save him. <br /><b>ELEMENTAL PRINCESS by M.M. Roethig </b><br />Kaesen, an elemental princess, lives on a distant star called Maia. She loves Alwen, but as her sworn protector they're forbidden to be together. Promised to a cruel man, Kaesen will do whatever is necessary to change the stars and be allowed to love her Alwen. <br /><b>TRAIN STATION: 3:00 P.M. by Candace Gleave </b><br />A ball of gold the size of a cow's eyeball and a man worth his weight in fortune bring together a motley group of criminals, all who will do anything and everything to obtain both treasures.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Pick up Beginnings here: </b></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Beginnings-Jamie-Canosa-ebook/dp/B00M66RH0M/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1406532273&sr=1-1&keywords=beginnings+jamie+canosa">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beginnings-jamie-canosa/1120017788?ean=2940149632428&itm=1&usri=2940149632428">Barnes & Noble</a> | <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/462081">All other ereaders</a> \ </b><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Beginnings-Jamie-Canosa/dp/1500645249/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_pap?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1406594610&sr=1-1&keywords=jamie+canosa+beginnings">Paperback</a></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Giveaway</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm giving one winner a $10 Amazon gift card. Enter below.</span></div>
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<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="4d6552ef205" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4d6552ef205/" id="rcwidget_fv4omjlg" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852143405241577052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766072244362270846.post-23907899749654473642014-12-20T06:00:00.000-07:002014-12-20T06:00:02.158-07:00Nine Reindeer Prancing by Norma Rudolph<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4JqRYXgl8n1DIOZ-Ys-iirWQOzVj-zCGzVBXY0jb6CvD0h_ksGe7S4DKsTk9X_fvQ9MfnEo16OD_Wpe3WQdYTj8WXfM78ixBKu9Mm1T0Rp9JQJD_v8Z0AOKNRZraC_C-Iz4-Znfwelca/s1600/Dec+4+005.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/AVvXsEiZ4JqRYXgl8n1DIOZ-Ys-iirWQOzVj-zCGzVBXY0jb6CvD0h_ksGe7S4DKsTk9X_fvQ9MfnEo16OD_Wpe3WQdYTj8WXfM78ixBKu9Mm1T0Rp9JQJD_v8Z0AOKNRZraC_C-Iz4-Znfwelca/s1600/Dec+4+005.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
Hi, I’m Norma T. Rudolph. I’m new to the Creative Prose
group of authors, and so excited to introduce myself. </div>
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When your last name is Rudolph, the holidays can be a lot of
fun. On the ninth day of Christmas I give to you Nine Reindeer
Prancing. Nine, you ask? Yes, nine.</div>
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In Wikipedia we read that “In traditional lore, Santa
Claus's sleigh is led by eight reindeer: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet,
Cupid, Dunder (variously spelled <i>Donder </i>and <i>Donner</i>),
and Blixem (variously spelled <i>Blitzen</i> and <i>Blixen</i>),
with Rudolph being a 20th-century inclusion. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The names of Donder and Blitzen derive from Germanic words
for thunder and lightning, respectively.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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As you see, Rudolph makes nine, and he is the most famous
reindeer of all . . .<o:p></o:p></div>
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The original idea of reindeer pulling Santa’s sleigh is
generally attributed to a poem written by Clement Clark Moore called “‘Twas the
Night Before Christmas.” That poem was written in 1923, but it wasn't until
1939 that Rudolph joined the team. His story was written by Robert L. May and
published by Montgomery Ward as a giveaway booklet for their customers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The story didn’t really take off however until Robert May’s
songwriter brother in law, Johnny Marks, adapted the story into a song, which
was then picked up by Gene Autry in 1949. That song was such a hit that the
story went on to became movies, comic books, cartoon shorts, and all kinds of
memorabilia that can be purchased at Christmas still.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Our Rudolph family traditions have also developed over the
years. We have had to develop a good sense of humor about the whole thing.
For instance, if you call my brother in law over the holidays you may be asked
to leave a message at the sound of the shiny red nose.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It is interesting to note that the story almost didn’t make it
into publication because of the shiny red nose thing. Back then a shiny red nose
was associated with being a drunk. I assure you that my particular family of
Rudolphs does not drink, so any red noses are strictly a result of playing in
the snow in bitter Wyoming weather.<o:p></o:p></div>
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At our house for Christmas we decorate with lots of
reindeer. We have a collection of stuffed reindeer that we have gathered over
the years. We also have reindeer ornaments, reindeer tins, reindeer toys, Rudolph costumes.
One year I even bought all the girls one piece brown pajamas with Rudolph
slippers built into the feet. Yeah, that may have been a little over the top .
. . they were not impressed. But hey, I couldn’t resist. Even our car has a red
nose and antlers this time of year.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When carolers come to our house they always sing Rudolph the
Red Nosed Reindeer. Luckily we don’t get many sets of carolers or that could
become a bit annoying.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Even Halloween can be extra fun. My daughter who is on a
mission needed a costume for a church party. Easy peasy; put on some antlers
and a red nose and she’s Hermana Rudolph, complete with name tag.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I won’t bore you with the story of Rudolph, because it is
generally well known, but if for some reason you are not familiar with it (say
maybe you’re an alien who grew up in an invisible city in the badlands of
Wyoming like some of the characters in my upcoming book) it is easily available
online.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I invite you to join the Rudolph fun by winning your very
own set of antlers and a blinking red nose in <a class="rcptr" data-raflid="0d3b7b9b1" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0d3b7b9b1/" id="rcwidget_jvortkyr" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a> (click the link). All you need to do is follow me on twitter and you will be entered to win. I’ll
try to get them to you before Christmas but it may be tricky as it's getting pretty late.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p>
Follow my blog at <a href="http://normasnovels.blogspot.com/">http://normasnovels.blogspot.com/</a> for updates on my upcoming book and any other crazy Rudolph ramblings that pop into my mind.</div>
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<i>Thank you for stopping by,</i></div>
<i></i><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><i>Creative Prose Publishing</i></i></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852143405241577052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766072244362270846.post-30499546848110871252014-12-19T06:00:00.000-07:002014-12-19T06:00:00.314-07:00Eight Gifts-a-Giving by Jamie Canosa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8z__3c3q4psxFc0WChcb1lTDDeY9Wqn3d5okXbZLxp3p-4t_tNcmUWXo9DI8uOzIIrpOtzzK10u5mZbDTDeLvUoh9S_vcWdaTRFhzmeFdB4nQTPdokLw_XIepTw0v6tOMdoTXirlyGrEr/s1600/12+Days+Day+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8z__3c3q4psxFc0WChcb1lTDDeY9Wqn3d5okXbZLxp3p-4t_tNcmUWXo9DI8uOzIIrpOtzzK10u5mZbDTDeLvUoh9S_vcWdaTRFhzmeFdB4nQTPdokLw_XIepTw0v6tOMdoTXirlyGrEr/s1600/12+Days+Day+8.jpg" height="206" width="640" /></a></div>
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Eight of the most <i>unbelievably </i>popular holiday gifts. They may seem a bit ridiculous now, but at the time, it just wasn't Christmas without them. No judgement here. I wanted/had (possibly even *cough* <i>have</i> *cough*) all of these, myself.
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">8. Skip-It</span>
Because skipping is fun, but when the alternative is tripping yourself and face-planting on concrete, it becomes a matter of survival. I <i>still </i>have scars.
<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">7. Moon Shoes</span>
Because a broken ankle is a small price to pay for the chance to bounce around like a kangaroo on crack. Your insurance company thanks you.
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">6. Treasure Trolls</span>
Because they're so ugly, they're cute. And if you're going to have something shedding all over your room, it might as well have neon colored hair.
<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">5. Tomagotchi</span>
All the neediness of a real pet, without any of the cuddly rewards. Three kids later, I realize that feeding, entertaining, and potty training aren't nearly as much fun as they marketed them to be.
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">4. Furby</span>
Because who doesn't want the world's creepiest toy of all time, blabbering at them 24/7? I still have bags under my eyes from that lil furball.
<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">3. Beanie Babies</span>
With the tags ON! Because, one day, they'll be worth a fortune! I'm still sitting on that goldmine.
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">2. Books</span>
Because . . . well, duh! <span style="font-size: large;">And, the number one gift you can give on a holiday, or ANY day, is . . . </span><span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">Your Time.</span>
More than any gizmo or gadget-no matter how coveted or impossible to find it is, more than any toy they'll look back on and wonder why they ever wanted it in the first place, the thing your loved ones will remember the most is the time you spent together. So amidst all the shopping and wrapping this holiday season, don't forget to relax, have fun, make memories, and have a wonderful Christmas!
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: red;">Merry</span> <span style="color: lime;">Christmas</span> <span style="color: red;">and </span><span style="color: lime;">Happy</span> <span style="color: red;">Holidays!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">And just to help you start building your retirement fund, </span><span style="color: lime;">I'm giving away this mint condition, adorable Penguin Beanie Baby . . . </span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: lime;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jamie Canosa is the author of several YA books including </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dissidence-Jamie-Canosa-ebook/dp/B00ADQ6YQU/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1391202567&sr=8-5&keywords=jamie+canosa" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Dissidence</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">. Discover more about Jamie and her writing at her </span><a href="http://jamiecanosa.blogspot.com/" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">blog</a><span style="font-size: large;"> and on </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jamie-Canosa/e/B00AAWCLIC/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">Amazon</a><span style="font-size: large;">.</span></div>
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<i>Thank you for stopping by,</i></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852143405241577052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766072244362270846.post-24385709501501550672014-12-18T06:00:00.000-07:002014-12-18T06:00:03.858-07:00Things I'm Grateful For by Sherry Gammon<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">12
days of Christmas: Day 7<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
seven things I’m most grateful for!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I chose this
topic because I feel gratitude is one of the most important things in this
life. As we show gratitude, for some reason, our eyes are opened even more, and
we realize just how blessed we really are. The same can be said for
ingratitude. The more sour and ungrateful our attitude, the more blind we seem
to become.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Christmas, at
least for me, brings those things I am most grateful for to the forefront of my
mind. So for my 12 days I’ll share with you my top seven. (There are more, of
course, but who wants to read a 145 page post,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>know what I mean? ;)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">7. My business
partner, Cindy C Bennett. I have never met someone so talented in all things
that have to do with writing. She amazes me every day. She truly has the gift
of words. Many can write stories, only a few have the talent to craft it so
well. She is an inspiration to me.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">6. The Wigz.
This is my writing group, which consists of Cindy C Bennett, Camelia Miron
Skiba, Juli Caldwell, and Jeffery Moore. They have helped me improve on my
writing skills leaps and bounds. Their insights, their talents, which they share
freely with me, have changed me as a writer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While I’ve met all of them in person with the exception of Jeffery, I only
have a photo of three of us together</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">, though I hope
to remedy that soon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrBlEbwQTd78LpGcfOCnpFAAgYAjFX79ws5Udkoulfb4nNKfm5F_5X1hQCaS3IQawd12QXXwTe_IILbO_oMaUgVSRzWcdZ7HvlpFroMnuwwOYv6J8gj7j6rlEUFN0gNZ0fAcXfMgsAt8YL/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrBlEbwQTd78LpGcfOCnpFAAgYAjFX79ws5Udkoulfb4nNKfm5F_5X1hQCaS3IQawd12QXXwTe_IILbO_oMaUgVSRzWcdZ7HvlpFroMnuwwOYv6J8gj7j6rlEUFN0gNZ0fAcXfMgsAt8YL/s1600/6.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">me, Cindy and Cami in NYC</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">5. Don’t laugh…
Donny Osmond! Like most young girls, I fell madly in love with the toothy young
boy when I heard his crooning’s of Puppy Love. But what impressed me the most
was the way he lived his life. His example changed me forever as I embraced his
beliefs and made them my own. He literally saved my life by his example, and
for that I will forever be grateful.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgVgbC_M6sE-fodlTg9TazBzl6r-cGTH9naNLD_hwd7OtfcVgc0Tq2_lFEJxI2bx4AXPcoKbazo2n73yVcNhVj3vdPO3Jw_WMkcxCn45jx0S24JntuiuQrlBpMHK41BZA27BqhUqPHCFf/s1600/AC01976-F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgVgbC_M6sE-fodlTg9TazBzl6r-cGTH9naNLD_hwd7OtfcVgc0Tq2_lFEJxI2bx4AXPcoKbazo2n73yVcNhVj3vdPO3Jw_WMkcxCn45jx0S24JntuiuQrlBpMHK41BZA27BqhUqPHCFf/s1600/AC01976-F.jpg" height="195" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This was the first Donny Osmond record I ever bought!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">4. My readers!
Man, I love you guys. Your support means more to me than you’ll ever know. I
stress with each book I write, not wanting to put junk out there just to make
money. If I don’t feel it is good enough, I delete it and start over. You have
stood by me as I wrote, and rewrote, </span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">and
rewrote,</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> Cole's story because I wanted it to be right. So thank you from the
bottom of my heart!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zL5GLgOBou63oW8dODRFn_vGFmN0xIBqbUfZr7rP_y1fKWxwfR8ltZYQUb1tNWrQuCXKSly46ooYlj6roj38zccpSWZ14PER_XFiL6N5bNtEbcOduFk3lFUFVrYFRfEVfBj3LRAtMj39/s1600/WordLove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zL5GLgOBou63oW8dODRFn_vGFmN0xIBqbUfZr7rP_y1fKWxwfR8ltZYQUb1tNWrQuCXKSly46ooYlj6roj38zccpSWZ14PER_XFiL6N5bNtEbcOduFk3lFUFVrYFRfEVfBj3LRAtMj39/s1600/WordLove.jpg" height="200" width="155" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">3. My
grandbabies! They are so much fun! I love them with all my heart and they bring
me such joy! I love their cherub faces and infectious laughter. I love their
wonder as they examine and learn about the world around them. I love when they
bring me a book and ask me to read to them. I just plain love them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSvR7WBhvF2y-jYkyavs8dE5Px0QWZFG6wkPQYnXrq8cS-PWc6hvm8ih855pSKT_cKpz8bHQQvvD7ce_MScUXx82DufKhtnhhZxKmgtLh7TFajYdDPUVsXj-fJLD3JR9EmhNAxQ1Gt3cg/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSvR7WBhvF2y-jYkyavs8dE5Px0QWZFG6wkPQYnXrq8cS-PWc6hvm8ih855pSKT_cKpz8bHQQvvD7ce_MScUXx82DufKhtnhhZxKmgtLh7TFajYdDPUVsXj-fJLD3JR9EmhNAxQ1Gt3cg/s1600/3.jpg" height="118" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yes, they are adorable<3!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">2. My family.
Never in my life did I know such a love existed until I had a child. Never did
I know it was possible to love like that. Never. It stunned me, it changed me.
Becoming a mother is the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me.
Truly there is </span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">No Greater Joy</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">. If I
accomplish nothing else in this life than that of being a good mom, then I have
succeeded. </span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">No other success can
compensate for failure in the home</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">. (David O McKay) Truer words were never
spoken.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">I am truly the luckiest, most
blessed woman ever. Add to that a wonderful strong, cutie pie of a husband who
has stood by me, supported me, and loved me through the years. My life is
complete!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDX2cDd5iukjvOPNZAaeUGe5_bnEq6hMur2OSaFbRMFGU_RW2kFqQKG983TbeRjJHmYf7ND3OowH7nPQSt1E5ZOp8FhARN2W0BLm1d2-BCR95ISBDEk_kZVqBi_6ISK8m3BZ1ngkXwHXb/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDX2cDd5iukjvOPNZAaeUGe5_bnEq6hMur2OSaFbRMFGU_RW2kFqQKG983TbeRjJHmYf7ND3OowH7nPQSt1E5ZOp8FhARN2W0BLm1d2-BCR95ISBDEk_kZVqBi_6ISK8m3BZ1ngkXwHXb/s1600/2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">My family!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">1. My Savior. In
a day and age when religion is no longer in vogue, I am proud to proclaim my
love for my Savior. He has paid a price for me that I myself could never pay,
and yet He doesn’t ask that I do. Some say only the weak lean on religion, but
I say only the strong have enough courage to do so.</span><span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <i>‘If you have
not chosen the Kingdom of God, it will make in the end no difference what you
have chosen instead’,</i> CS Lewis. I believe this with all my heart. I feel
His love most keenly at this time of year as we give gifts to others to show
our love for them. I am by no means perfect, and I judge <i>no one</i> who does not share my beliefs, <a href="http://www.mormon.org/" target="_blank">but I won’t shy away from proclaiming that He lives, and that He loves us all. And for this gift I am the most grateful for.</a></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CXUSmS6JUheM0_eZQ1wR8zJjHgXdv3O_0HBn4d-pCnjpaaYF_4ZLQJuIUXcjDwsPTDUDkcwa0N0EEqQgpJFUYg92xuyBj_1_st9CdkuqBwIWekoRK3FxEhJYacgWQjS72FDs6IwH4nEx/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CXUSmS6JUheM0_eZQ1wR8zJjHgXdv3O_0HBn4d-pCnjpaaYF_4ZLQJuIUXcjDwsPTDUDkcwa0N0EEqQgpJFUYg92xuyBj_1_st9CdkuqBwIWekoRK3FxEhJYacgWQjS72FDs6IwH4nEx/s1600/1.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">#Heisthegift</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">To express my
gratitude in a physical way, I am giving away a copy of my favorite DVD </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Christmas Carol</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">, with Alastair Sim, my
all time favorite version!! I watch this every Christmas Eve as I wrap gifts
for those I love. I debated on whether to give a copy of </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It’s a Wonderful Life</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">, another great Christmas movie that focuses
on gratitude, but Scrooge won out, mostly because I love the changes in Scrooge
as he becomes grateful for all that he has been blessed with! He goes from a
selfish, bitter man, to a generous, giving man full of joy.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUC9kvXxSc8a5vthb64S5ecvsJIFKWRby-UvbxxkMLlo456x6wbXmszS0kA-VzTJLWsgrZ2HvuvdlbpUCiyd6PAf7iqADBaEmYHq4A4t_o24MFMea1R17kgEdZjht6kqSRnczAJjWQFyNW/s1600/51DIqGCHMJL-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUC9kvXxSc8a5vthb64S5ecvsJIFKWRby-UvbxxkMLlo456x6wbXmszS0kA-VzTJLWsgrZ2HvuvdlbpUCiyd6PAf7iqADBaEmYHq4A4t_o24MFMea1R17kgEdZjht6kqSRnczAJjWQFyNW/s1600/51DIqGCHMJL-2.jpg" height="320" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Best version ever!!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<!--EndFragment--><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Merry Christmas
and don’t forget to count your blessings!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">My books:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004K1F9BA">Unlovable</a>
* <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CBOVW64">Unbelievable</a> * <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Unbearable-Port-Fare-Book-3-ebook/dp/B00KT1YDJE/">Unbearable</a>
* <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PLCNX0Q">Loving Marigold</a> * <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AWKTU5E">Pete & Tink</a> * <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008YQJCL0">Not so Easy</a> * <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DVTLKRY">The Experiment</a> * <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fantasy-Christmas-Sherry-Gammon-ebook/dp/B00G7UTWXS/">A
Fantasy Christmas</a> * <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00855WQZO">It’s a
Love Thing</a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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