tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28121079036948854762024-02-06T20:02:23.187-08:00Heidi TigheApparently wannabee, I mean, <em>aspiring</em> writers should have blogs. So this is my blog.Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17237687110595005423noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812107903694885476.post-82133191461832777372014-01-10T08:30:00.000-08:002014-01-10T08:30:02.392-08:00<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hi, Everyone!</b></span><br />
<br />
My name is Andrea Pearson and I'm an author of middle grade and young adult fantasy. In celebration of the completion of my Kilenya Series, I'm giving away eBooks! Read on for more details. :-)<br />
<br />
<i>The Key of Kilenya</i>, first book in the Kilenya Series (with 50 five-star reviews on Amazon), is available everywhere for free (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Key-Kilenya-Series-ebook/dp/B0058KBQRS/ref=as_li_tf_ssw?&linkCode=wss&tag=andrpearbook-20" target="_blank">Kindle</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-key-of-kilenya-andrea-pearson/1021181500?ean=2940011398773" target="_blank">Nook</a>, <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/68856" target="_blank">Smashwords</a>), <b>but only until the 18th of January</b>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxoCaWAvZwtizvhHZWaD6wypG-XcHV-bfEqTpnQ322yPaqfULFZ7-eZfLed6iI_WROaAAo2I9FFSptnBaltSJCmyyhK_PZrMlbCF3xLPRfPjj0jE7X2hzqyqsNiDI_EdHx7qqLviijsN4/s1600/Key+of+Kilenya.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxoCaWAvZwtizvhHZWaD6wypG-XcHV-bfEqTpnQ322yPaqfULFZ7-eZfLed6iI_WROaAAo2I9FFSptnBaltSJCmyyhK_PZrMlbCF3xLPRfPjj0jE7X2hzqyqsNiDI_EdHx7qqLviijsN4/s320/Key+of+Kilenya.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
It's originally $3.99, and is geared to readers 10 and older. If it were a movie, it would be rated PG. No swearing or vulgarity, and very minimal violence.<br />
<br />
<b>Here's the book description:</b><br />
<br />
We all have a choice—but we can’t choose the consequences.<br />
<br />
Jacob
Clark is chased down a path that takes him to another world—a world
where he is a wanted young man. The Lorkon want to control him and the
special powers he possesses. The people of the new world want him to
save them from the destruction of the Lorkon. All Jacob wants is to go
home, but even that choice has consequences. He doesn’t know what to do
and if he waits too long, the new world and the one he came from will be
destroyed. As Jacob looks for people he can trust, he finds himself in
the center of the fight for freedom—both for himself and the people he’s
come to know.<br />
<br />
Jacob has no idea where the path he chooses will take him, but once the choice has been made—bring on the consequences.<br />
<br />
<b>Back to Andrea</b>. :-) I had so much fun writing this book! I came up with the idea for the magical key when I was 10 - the same age as many of my readers - and built on it until I was 22, when I sat down and actually wrote the book. The Kilenya Series has sold really well and I've been so excited to find people just as passionate about the books as I am. :-)<br />
<br />
The second book, <i>The Ember Gods</i>, is available for $0.99 until January 18, but you don't have to buy it if you don't want to, because I'm giving it away for<b> free.</b> In fact, I'm giving away three different eBooks. The only thing required on your part is to decide which one you want, mention it on this blog post, then email me the info, and I'll send you the file. :-)<br />
<br />
Here are the books to choose from:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>The Ember Gods, Kilenya Series Book Two</i></b></span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguiRS5DTtDw4UNj5AdKPryyQFn4oLoo46TdSHmB9s-zGJzAQIW01nlLRHr9Igk8Zv7NXZq831ESFOV0byEiuqvayVgrq9gUauzIzfpNzqngADXPEK2gKESOb7l1Bw3JOWzeq6fX9W_U7LD/s1600/y.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguiRS5DTtDw4UNj5AdKPryyQFn4oLoo46TdSHmB9s-zGJzAQIW01nlLRHr9Igk8Zv7NXZq831ESFOV0byEiuqvayVgrq9gUauzIzfpNzqngADXPEK2gKESOb7l1Bw3JOWzeq6fX9W_U7LD/s320/y.jpg" width="204" /></a><b>Original and discounted price:</b> $3.99 to <b><span style="font-size: large;">$0.99 </span></b><br />
(or free, if you choose this eBook :-))</div>
<div>
Discounted Until January 18th</div>
<div>
<b>Genre and target audience: Fantasy for teens</b></div>
<div>
If this book were a movie, what would it be rated? <b>PG</b></div>
<div>
If you don't want it for free (ha ha :-)), you can download it from: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1466381612/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1466381612&linkCode=as2&tag=andrpearbook-20" target="_blank">Kindle</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-ember-gods-andrea-pearson/1105865333?ean=9781466381612" target="_blank">Nook</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Book description: </b><br />
<br />
Jacob
Clark’s new abilities are a blessing and a curse. He’s a hero for
returning the magical Key of Kilenya to its rightful owners, but at
school he's starting to get noticed for something other than his
basketball skills. And the attention is freaking him out.</div>
</div>
<br />
Balancing
both worlds is tricky enough, but Jacob has tasked himself with saving
Aloren who’s trapped in Maivoryl City by the Ember Gods. He doesn't want
to wait for the potion that will protect his team from the corrosive
influence of the Lorkon, but the desire to prove himself to the high
school basketball coach conflicts with his plans to rescue her.<br />
<br />
Feeling
pulled by both sides, Jacob must walk a tightrope of warring worlds
with lives on the line. Lives that will be lost if he doesn’t figure out
how to complete his quest and balance his abilities. Fast.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>August Fortress, Kilenya Series Book Three</b></i></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVj4GTLCai2nokYS6CvyLKBxc9CLl9o7pzSPOumT2DcSZXPR-Ut99r_vO-r6XobGA_Tr2TOGpyHuFLdSdQzFv9N40iUV3bNA5CGwjxl3SHDoMooh4QzpoTblLyShePJuY77sIyiIkcMpzL/s1600/august+fortress+NOOK.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/AVvXsEiVj4GTLCai2nokYS6CvyLKBxc9CLl9o7pzSPOumT2DcSZXPR-Ut99r_vO-r6XobGA_Tr2TOGpyHuFLdSdQzFv9N40iUV3bNA5CGwjxl3SHDoMooh4QzpoTblLyShePJuY77sIyiIkcMpzL/s320/august+fortress+NOOK.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>
<b>Price</b>: $3.99 (or free, if you choose this eBook :-))<br />
<b>Genre and target audience: Fantasy for teens</b><br />
If this book were a movie, what would it be rated? <b>PG</b> <br />
If you don't want it for free, you can download it from: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008AYUYB8/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B008AYUYB8&linkCode=as2&tag=andrpearbook-20" target="_blank">Kindle</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/august-fortress-kilenya-series-book-three-andrea-pearson/1111515442?ean=2940033289578" target="_blank">Nook</a>, <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/171342" target="_blank">Smashwords</a><br />
<br />
<b>Book
description:</b><br />
<br />
Since Jacob Clark discovered his abilities, his life has changed for the better—and the worse.<br />
<br />
The basketball coach won't notice him and high school is much more complicated than before. Jacob finds himself needed more and more in Eklaron where his abilities are saving lives. And then the call comes—he and his friends must rescue the powerful Sheingols from August Fortress where they've been held for fifteen years. The only problem is, Lorkon traps are everywhere and getting past them might be impossible.<br />
<br />
The closer he gets to his goal, the harder the traps are to overcome. Can he master more of his powers to fight the traps? Or has Jacob finally met his match?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Samara: A Kilenya Romance</b></i></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsarwXXtt3tohrEdEg6DZw3LBdYXGUeijfbU6mTPP1xEHuhyphenhyphenapQHYDJfAcV4ZQ3GtYFMrXANUNxt2zhpUNjDxiXDdSQvnCGXR_dOOns3y_GQBDJC-ZRAI7QdLbNPAoRigTdDBM4Z6t038M/s1600/EBookVersion.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/AVvXsEhsarwXXtt3tohrEdEg6DZw3LBdYXGUeijfbU6mTPP1xEHuhyphenhyphenapQHYDJfAcV4ZQ3GtYFMrXANUNxt2zhpUNjDxiXDdSQvnCGXR_dOOns3y_GQBDJC-ZRAI7QdLbNPAoRigTdDBM4Z6t038M/s320/EBookVersion.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
Original price:$1.99 (or free, if you choose this eBook :-)) <br />
<b>Genre and target audience: Clean teen romance</b><br />
If this book were a movie, what would it be rated? <b>G </b>(or a very, very soft PG)<br />
If you don't want it for free, you can download it from: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005YHTSRK/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B005YHTSRK&linkCode=as2&tag=andrpearbook-20" target="_blank">Kindle</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/samara-andrea-pearson/1111901112?ean=2940013306301" target="_blank">Nook</a>, <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/98535" target="_blank">Smashwords</a><br />
<br />
<b>Book description:</b><br />
<br />
When Samara Oldroyd meets the most amazing guy ever, she's frustrated
their conversation is cut short. Her wishes that they'll run into each
other again come true when she meets her sister's new boyfriend. It's
him! Eeek!<br />
Inspired by the film <i>Dan in Real Life</i>, this novella will tickle you pink as Samara tries—in vain—to undo her crush. <br />
<br />
(There is no magic involved in this story. It
contains characters you'll meet in the Kilenya Series and can be read
separately.)<br />
<br />
<br />
Now that you've chosen which free eBook you want, here's how you get it: <br />
<ol>
<li>Comment on this blog, saying which eBook you want</li>
<li>Send <a href="mailto:ap@andreapearsonbooks.com" target="_blank">me an email</a>
(ap@andreapearsonbooks.com) and tell me:</li>
<ol>
<li>The title of the book </li>
<li>The name of the blog that sent you</li>
<li>Which format you want the eBook in (Kindle, Nook, etc.) </li>
</ol>
</ol>
And that's all!<br />
<br />
I can't wait for you to delve into the world of Kilenya and discover the magic, monsters, and people there!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxb8ghogOvVqPSOISVBX54p1Yl81kBe5JERBQv-lz11cDE4Q-aZUnwZvsNEnJujiW8O4-JdlKS2k3-QG_Se3z0WbFcPDtNJL-cOwxDdbORWqJSsb09Mi_G0rWLfhWmhrIkxxh5dZLfG4I/s1600/AndreaPearson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxb8ghogOvVqPSOISVBX54p1Yl81kBe5JERBQv-lz11cDE4Q-aZUnwZvsNEnJujiW8O4-JdlKS2k3-QG_Se3z0WbFcPDtNJL-cOwxDdbORWqJSsb09Mi_G0rWLfhWmhrIkxxh5dZLfG4I/s320/AndreaPearson.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
Andrea Pearson, author of the Kilenya Series, Kilenya Romances, and Katon University series, lives with her husband and daughter in a small valley framed with hills. She is Executive Director of the Indie Author Hub group and creator of the writing application, Writer’s Progress Bar. She is an editor for the website Gather.com.<br />
<br />
Andrea spends as much time with her husband and daughter as possible. Favorite activities include painting, watching movies, collecting and listening to music, and discussing books and authors. <br />
<br />
Her mother says they can't possibly be related because Andrea isn't in love with chocolate and tomatoes, though she’ll eat either. (But not together.) She would much rather snack on toasted English muffins with lots of butter or nearly anything with cheese.Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17237687110595005423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812107903694885476.post-84550945322868174322013-12-06T06:35:00.000-08:002013-12-06T06:35:09.141-08:00Author Interview: Michelle Bellon of ROGUE ALLIANCE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Today we're hearing from <a href="http://www.michellebellon.com/">Michelle Bellon</a>, who just released <i>Rogue Alliance.</i> Check out this whirlwind description!<br /></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><i>Trying to escape a horrific past, Shyla has immersed herself in life as a tough cop in the bustle of LA. When the case of a lifetime takes her back to her hometown of Redding, she is thrown into a world of organized crime, deceit, and bitter reminders of her childhood. </i></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><i>As Shyla’s path crosses that of Brennan, a troubled sidekick to the ringleader she’s intent on taking down, she discovers he has a past even darker than hers and she is forced to re-evaluate everything she believes about herself, her job, and what she knows about right and wrong. </i></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><i>Can she face the demons of her upbringing and learn to trust again? Her life will depend on it.</i></span></span></div>
<br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNa95c4RCcTmvGRdb2y0v49g4YTBeZE-RAMuZBLhRfLAI_QUyFowpkT8dlvfSZenhPAPyVASqDtVn-1WE74JMEpYL0h6UbbN0smBrqBJwokMp19UYzfVY9JaWdqY8Ttuen12QoWY6f2xA/s1600/rogue+alliance+front+cover+only.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNa95c4RCcTmvGRdb2y0v49g4YTBeZE-RAMuZBLhRfLAI_QUyFowpkT8dlvfSZenhPAPyVASqDtVn-1WE74JMEpYL0h6UbbN0smBrqBJwokMp19UYzfVY9JaWdqY8Ttuen12QoWY6f2xA/s320/rogue+alliance+front+cover+only.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />And now we'll hear from Michelle herself!<br /><i><br />Q: First of all, let's start with the good stuff. Everyone loves a good publication story. Tell us yours! </i><br />
<br />
A: The long version or the short version? (laughs)<br />
<br />
Let’s see…at first, it took me many years of toying with the idea of writing a book before I actually made the decision to take it seriously. Once I did, I realized the only way to get the job done was to take a disciplined approach and commit to writing at little every day.<br />
<br />
Six months later I had a finished product. It was a complete mess and needed edited within an inch of its life, but it was a book! Unfortunately, I was clueless about the industry and knew absolutely zero about what it took to publish a novel.<br />
<br />
After researching for hours on end and writing query letters until my eyes felt like they would fall out of my head, I began to reach out to agents and publishers. This is when the rejections began and my scope of what I was trying to accomplish became very concrete. I was swimming in a sea of aspiring writers who were taking the flourishing e-book industry by the horns. By this time I was already well into writing my second book and was very excited about ideas for the third. Writing was no longer an option. It was necessary. I loved it.<br />
<br />
So, I decided that I not only wanted to write but I wanted to write really well. I read everything I could on the craft of writing. I joined critique groups both online and offline. I went to conferences and took workshops. I immersed myself knowing I had a lot to learn.<br />
<br />
The first small press to offer a contract was Fingerpress Publishing out of London. They signed my YA, Embracing You, Embracing Me which won the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award in its category in the summer of 2012. Due to their aggressive schedule they were unable to acquire my other books so I went back to the drawing board and found Old Line Publishing. They contracted to publish my novel, His Salvation, romance suspense, and The Complexity of a Soldier, commercial fiction. I was less than pleased with the way they treated their authors and decided not to pursue further negotiations with them.<br />
<br />
For my next book, Rogue Alliance, I searched high and low and found a press out of Ireland. They had a smart approach to marketing so I took the chance although they were brand new. Just a few months after the release date, after a few key promotions, the book began to climb the Amazon ranks rather quickly. Excitement grew as I began to believe all my hard work was about to pay off.<br />
<br />
Then I got the call. My publisher had a family emergency and planned to close the business immediately. Rogue Alliance would be pulled from the shelves. I couldn’t believe it!<br />
<br />
After only a few hours of feeling despondent and wondering if I should just throw in the towel, an all-encompassing calm came over me and I remember thinking, “Good, now I can find my real home.”<br />
<br />
At that moment, I knew that another door would open. I decided that I wouldn’t go searching in earnest for the next publisher. I would remain open and see what came my way.<br />
<br />
A few months later, I accidently came across Pandamoon Publishing on Twitter. After doing my research, I wrote the owner, Zara Kramer, a very in-depth email about where I was in my career and where I wanted to go. She emailed me back. Then we had an amazing phone conversation where I discovered her incredible work ethic, professional history, and general outlook. The rest is history. I’m so proud to say I’m a Pandamoon author now.<br />
<br />
<i>Q: What was the biggest obstacle you, personally, encountered as a writer?</i><br />
<br />
A: By nature, I’m not a patient person. But as you all know, nothing in this industry happens quickly. There are weeks, months, and even years of waiting as you write, edit, submit, and revise your work. Everything from the query letter submission to the book cover production to the multiple edits, takes time, time and more time. Sigh.<br />
<br />
Have I learned patience during this process? Not a chance. But I’ve learned to survive it and even make the most of it.<br />
<br />
<i>Q: And the biggest strength you had? </i><br />
<br />
A: My mom told me countless times that I could do anything that I set my mind to. Through this evolution as a writer, I’ve learned how true that really is. I’m relentless. I work myself until I’m exhausted. That’s not always a good thing, but it has been essential to getting to where I am today. I honestly believe that if I just keep my nose to the ground and work harder, learn more, try again, that I really will achieve my goals and dreams. Hopeless dreamer? Maybe, but I don’t understand the purpose of aiming low.<br />
<br />
<i>Q: You've listed some illustrious inspiration! As a person with degrees in both literature and creative writing, I love to get all nerdy about specific literary influences. How did each of the authors you listed as inspiration influence your work? Technically? Personally? Inspirationally?</i><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="text-align: center;">A: I’m consistently inspired by other writers; all of them. While immersing myself in the world of social media, I’ve made connections with countless authors from various genres and degrees of success. Without a doubt, watching them strive, work, fail, try again, and succeed, is the single most inspirational journey. Trying to make a name in this industry is difficult but when you reach out and start networking with others who are in the same boat as you, it can be very motivational. Suddenly the journey isn’t quite so lonely or daunting. </span></div>
<br />
<i> Q: What do you feel readers can most look forward to from your book? What makes it unique?</i><br />
<br />
A: The uniqueness itself is what I believe readers can look forward to. As one reader said, “Bellon has given the vampire theme a whole new twist.” There really is nothing out there quite like it. My goal with this story, well one of them, was to make it a page turner. Every chapter will raise the stakes and have the reader eager to find out what will happen next.<br />
<br />
Thank you so much!!! Happy Holiday and thanks for having me.<br />
<br />Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17237687110595005423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812107903694885476.post-87000056281254781702013-11-09T08:06:00.000-08:002013-11-09T08:06:09.916-08:00Guest Q&A Jackson Paul Baer with Earth Bleeds Red!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDeHtXXfPqW9MLbFzZgpMspZGBV5_JSI__NSh9gb1ebMx_1URAskatW3IaoO1nP0K4BaB8FNP0WStSqXaDNhCwmTFVQdJav08lzxFYsKAXumFoydvxfgwDjbqlnshdPXp-_FNYVgczevg/s1600/Jackson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDeHtXXfPqW9MLbFzZgpMspZGBV5_JSI__NSh9gb1ebMx_1URAskatW3IaoO1nP0K4BaB8FNP0WStSqXaDNhCwmTFVQdJav08lzxFYsKAXumFoydvxfgwDjbqlnshdPXp-_FNYVgczevg/s320/Jackson.jpg" width="208" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDeHtXXfPqW9MLbFzZgpMspZGBV5_JSI__NSh9gb1ebMx_1URAskatW3IaoO1nP0K4BaB8FNP0WStSqXaDNhCwmTFVQdJav08lzxFYsKAXumFoydvxfgwDjbqlnshdPXp-_FNYVgczevg/s1600/Jackson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /><br /><br />Q: First of all, let's start with the good stuff. Everyone loves a good publication story. Tell us yours! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A: I signed with Pandamoon Publishing after a #pitmad event on Twitter. I actually received interest from two lit agents and another small publishing company from that event. After querying for about a month, I signed with Pandamoon due to their marketing plan and vision for "The Earth Bleeds Red."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Q: What was the biggest obstacle you, personally, encountered as a writer?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A: The biggest obstacle is finding the time to write. I work full time and go to school full time. I'm also married with four kids. If I could only find a few more hours in the day...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Q: And the biggest strength you had? </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A: My biggest strength has been a supportive wife and family. My oldest daughter loves to listen to my ideas and read my books as soon as I let her. It's nice to have the people that love you, take an interest in what you care about. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Q: You've listed some illustrious inspiration! As a person with degrees in both literature and creative writing, I love to get all nerdy about specific literary influences. How did each of the authors you listed as inspiration influence your work? Technically? Personally? Inspirationally?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A: My favorite author is Joyce Carol Oates. Her novel, "Them," is the best book I've ever read. It influenced me as a reader, a writer, and a person. It helped me to write with a degree of heartache that we all secretly hope to read about. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Q: A thriller releasing on Halloween! That's an exciting promise for your readers. What do you feel readers can most look forward to from your book? What makes it unique? What's going to keep me up reading and then keep me up because if I close my eyes SOMETHING WILL COME OUT OF </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
THE DARK AND GET ME?! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A: "The Earth Bleeds Red" is a literary suspense. It will force you to question why bad things happen to good people. A perfect family has lost their only daughter, and a serial killer is on the loose. I think you will find yourself on a bit of an emotional roller coasting- hoping that justice is somewhere to be found. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jELMq70Yz7_A-0XW9pq7yUtd5wlomZY1Oom-rkqJhnI-W25AoIeGWXjVVsQ3tdexSoJM8LNxfegWOO_F51p0S92VwnCfDrH3zi2cegbNPAVMP7O0q6jhsPaCA732qiqo2nd4nRo3sqg/s1600/the-earth-bleeds-red-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jELMq70Yz7_A-0XW9pq7yUtd5wlomZY1Oom-rkqJhnI-W25AoIeGWXjVVsQ3tdexSoJM8LNxfegWOO_F51p0S92VwnCfDrH3zi2cegbNPAVMP7O0q6jhsPaCA732qiqo2nd4nRo3sqg/s320/the-earth-bleeds-red-cover.jpg" width="231" /></a></div>
Scott and Jessie are a couple in love. Ashley, their only daughter, is 17-years old and has vanished; leaving behind nothing but a pool of blood. Her strange disappearance is quickly thought to be a homicide. Her cozy, northwest town is stunned when police find the body of another girl at the bottom of the Willamette River. The eerie signature found on the girl links to a monster dubbed the Hail Mary Killer. While Scott searches for Ashley, the FBI feels convinced that she is the killer’s latest victim.<br />
<br />
In spite of three other bodies with the same distinct marking, no one prepared themselves for the discovery in southern Oregon. Local hikers stumble upon a car in the mountain brush and a tattooing needle with an evil history surfaces inside. A cabin appears nearby with another gruesome discovery. Scott finds some solace in his friendship with Father Henry as he and Jessie try to salvage their marriage and move on beyond the loss of Ashley. The FBI finally catches a break when they unearth the dark past of the Hail Mary Killer’s family. What emerged in his basement is more terrifying than anyone could have possibly imagined.<br />
What happens to the Miller family and Father Henry will shake your soul and keep you reading till the last page.<br />
<br />
<br />
Links:<br />
Website: <a href="http://www.jacksonpaulbaer.com/">www.jacksonpaulbaer.com</a><br />
Facebook Author Page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JacksonPaulBaer">https://www.facebook.com/JacksonPaulBaer</a><br />
Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/JacksonPaulBaer">http://twitter.com/JacksonPaulBaer</a><br />
Goodreads: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/JacksonPaulBaer">http://www.goodreads.com/JacksonPaulBaer</a><br />
Amazon Author Page: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jackson-Baer/e/B0060BDIM0">http://www.amazon.com/Jackson-Baer/e/B0060BDIM0</a><br />
<br />
<br />Author Bio:<br />
<a href="http://jacksonpaulbaer.com/about-2/">http://jacksonpaulbaer.com/about-2/</a></div>
Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17237687110595005423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812107903694885476.post-954033219903517482013-11-08T11:18:00.000-08:002013-11-08T11:18:54.767-08:00Guest Post: Stacy Lynn Carroll with Frogs and Toads on Writing Techniques!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRAj_duRV1l4bzu_PLfRp36RBCCBAb5hezlR_Q4X3zoC37TWUGE4VUDMBNjxTBq6V4kMPVOHRZ5qUUDMJmJewWOvH2nU71CpVstLOpJtsp2l4cl-sidplCl0cfZsqxAFgO1JR3RaM2x1g/s1600/Author+Pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRAj_duRV1l4bzu_PLfRp36RBCCBAb5hezlR_Q4X3zoC37TWUGE4VUDMBNjxTBq6V4kMPVOHRZ5qUUDMJmJewWOvH2nU71CpVstLOpJtsp2l4cl-sidplCl0cfZsqxAFgO1JR3RaM2x1g/s320/Author+Pic.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmea9pWQ3vLUe9D5TuIyu5N6yuxk6fureBojr59uW_xhS8zCtBAretUNUJcWxPxrrABQFF4cECM16vnjBjesbmyhsy-0TlSEfAevBa7-T3fgHmq4iYmfLrV3GoXQK7CTeSldHBxvmHxhg/s1600/FrogsAndToadsCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
First I’d like to thank Heidi for being a part of my blog tour, and hosting me on her blog today! Let me introduce myself. I’m Stacy Lynn Carroll. I write Young Adult Contemporary Fiction. I like to add a little romance into my books as well, but not the over-the-top mushy stuff. By day, I am a Mommy to three little monkeys who keep me very busy. By night, I turn into “Writer Woman”. Da da da! Sometimes it’s more like “I’ve had a Long Day, How am I Going to Write?! Woman”. But no matter which one appears, there is still the word “write” in it.<br />
<br />
I always enjoyed writing, from book reports and short stories in elementary school, to poetry, 20-page reports, and longer stories as I got older. But it wasn’t until ninth grade that I realized I might be good at it. There was a writing contest at our school and my English teacher offered extra credit if we entered. Well, I wasn’t so good at the whole homework thing, so I knew I needed the extra credit. Lo and behold my poem won for my school, my district, my council, and eventually went on to compete at the state level. I entered every year after that and won every year. Sweet! I had a future! When I got to college I got my degree in English, with an emphasis in creative writing. During college, I worked at the school’s writing center, helping other students write their papers, and tutoring students who were ESL or struggled with English classes. As part of my work, we were required to take classes in both writing and editing. This was when my passion really grew! I knew I not only wanted to write, but I wanted to be an author and write novels. I wanted to inspire people, and give them an escape from their own lives.<br />
<br />
After college, I got hired as an editor for a small publishing company. Then when the company moved and I was unwilling to move with them, I went on to write/edit Operation and Maintenance manuals for an engineering firm. (Boring!) That’s when my husband and I started our family and I was able to quit work and become a fulltime mom. (Hallelujah!) I also finally had a little more time to spend on my own writing and when my daughter was eighteen months old, my first book (The Princess Sisters) was published.<br />
<br />
I have only been a published author for a little over three years now, but as I look back and reflect on my experiences, I have learned a lot about writing. I know I will always continue to learn as well. The number one best piece of advice I think I’ve ever been given as a writer, came from another writer. He told me to write every single day, whether it’s one sentence or five chapters. That way, no matter what, I’m always making progress and in the end, I will have a finished book. Before this technique was revealed to me, I think I had some strange idea that you had to write eight hours a day to be a “real” author and to ever finish a book. But I took his advice and eighteen months later, I had the proof that it worked in my hands.<br />
<br />
Another technique which helped me get past some hurdles was never edit-as-you-go. That’s not to say you shouldn’t correct a misspelled word when you see it. But don’t spend your time trying to fix and polish each paragraph as you go, or you could wind up in an endless cycle of always editing and never really making any progress. It’s best to keep writing, then edit when the entire book is finished. That way you will actually finish the book, and it will turn out better in the end. Along these same lines, don’t ever edit your own work. Definitely check your own writing before passing it on, but don’t only edit on your own. Our brains are created in such a way that as we read over our own writing, we will read what’s in our minds and not what’s actually on the paper. Always hire at least two other editors to look over your work to catch mistakes and offer suggestions to help make it better.<br />
<br />
I continue to learn more writing techniques all the time, but the last one I want to share for today is about writing descriptions. Everyone has heard of “Show Don’t Tell”, but frequently we are given this advice without actual suggestions for how to accomplish it. I am going to give some simple examples. Don’t use “was” to describe something, when you can use one of the senses to enhance description instead. Here are a couple examples from my own book. Instead of saying, “The bathroom was disgusting.” Try: “Now that her mission was complete, she realized just how bad the tiny bathroom reeked. It was worse than any outhouse or port-a-potty she’d ever been in, and this was inside a house! She wanted to splash some water on her face, but one look at the sink told her she could get a number of diseases just by touching it. The amount of hair, grime, and unidentifiable smudges on the counter and sink made her wonder if the bathroom had ever been cleaned before. She saw some green near the faucet and leaned in for a closer look. Yeah, that’s definitely growing something. Snow White covered her mouth as she began dry heaving.”<br />
<br />
The second example is instead of simply saying, “He was handsome.” Try something like: “Everything from his tan skin to his dark hair and eyes reflected his Latino roots. But his flawless American accent indicated he was second generation. His character grinned, revealing his perfect white teeth, embellished by a dimple on the right side. His dark, long lashes winked right into the camera during a close-up shot and Snow White actually giggled. She quickly covered her mouth in embarrassment, looking around, but her cousins were too lost in his charming voice to notice.”<br />
As with everything else in life, we learn from experience and past mistakes. Most of the techniques I’ve learned have come from other writers. I am always looking for ways to learn and from suggestions from other authors on how to better myself and my writing. The moment you stop learning is the moment you stop living!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmea9pWQ3vLUe9D5TuIyu5N6yuxk6fureBojr59uW_xhS8zCtBAretUNUJcWxPxrrABQFF4cECM16vnjBjesbmyhsy-0TlSEfAevBa7-T3fgHmq4iYmfLrV3GoXQK7CTeSldHBxvmHxhg/s320/FrogsAndToadsCover.jpg" width="207" /></div>
<br />
One kiss can change the future...for better or for worse.<br />
Belle and her cousins have conquered their fears. Now as they navigate their way through the dating world, they start to see a "happily ever after" on the horizon. But when an unexpected school assignment forces them to examine their past, the Princess sisters realize they have a lot of questions about the fathers they've never met. Secrets are revealed, long lost family members are discovered, and now the girls must decide who belongs in their future and who should be kept in the past.<br />
<br />
Author Bio:<br />
Stacy Lynn Carroll has always loved telling stories. She started out at Utah State University where she pursued a degree in English, learned how to western swing, and watched as many of her fellow students became ‘True Aggies’. She then finished her BA at the University of Utah where she got an emphasis in creative writing. After college she worked as an administrative assistant, where she continued to write stories for the amusement of her co-workers. When her first daughter was born, and with the encouragement of a fortune cookie, she quit her job and became a full-time mommy and writer. She and her husband have three children, two Corgis, and a fish named Don.<br />
Links:<br />
Frogs & Toads: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Frogs-Toads-Princess-Sisters-ebook/dp/B00G47G83Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383109118&sr=8-1&keywords=Frogs+%26+Toads+carroll">http://www.amazon.com/Frogs-Toads-Princess-Sisters-ebook/dp/B00G47G83Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383109118&sr=8-1&keywords=Frogs+%26+Toads+carroll</a><br />
The Princess Sisters (first book): <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Princess-Sisters-ebook/dp/B005D5J3I2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383109260&sr=8-1&keywords=the+princess+sisters">http://www.amazon.com/Princess-Sisters-ebook/dp/B005D5J3I2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383109260&sr=8-1&keywords=the+princess+sisters</a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17237687110595005423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812107903694885476.post-10728857869902717072013-10-20T08:30:00.000-07:002013-10-20T08:30:00.701-07:0066-Day PresentI've often wished that my writing habit were as strong and consistent as my Facebook habit. That would be wonderful. Best self-gift ever. Recently, I stumbled across this study showing that simple new habits are formed, on average, in 66 days. <br />
<br />
Now, writing every day is not as simple as drinking a glass of water after breakfast, but since Christmas is only 66 days away, it's just too perfect not to try to give myself that gift. <br />
<br />
So, the goal by Christmas day is to have a default writing habit. That is, when I sit down to nurse or rest or wait for dinner to simmer for ten minutes, I write instead of checking Facebook. The method is to complete this activity five times a day, leaving my computer open to my novel instead of to an Internet browser. This doesn't mean that I can't check Facebook. It just means that I need to reinforce my writing habit first. <br />
<br />
I'll be interest to see if this works. It would be super cool if it did. Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17237687110595005423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812107903694885476.post-89910466158023262582013-08-23T06:18:00.002-07:002013-08-23T06:18:34.625-07:00A New Way of Finding BooksUsually I choose books the way a sniper shoots: research, pick a target, locate target, fire.<br /><br />It's okay, but I want to branch out. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I've started grabbing likely-looking books at yard sales. No research. No reviews. Maybe they're by an author I like, maybe not. I just buy them.<br /><br />Then I get home and, in the spirit of <a href="http://blog.ted.com/2013/07/26/8-tips-to-make-your-life-more-surprising-from-a-surprisologist/">ceasing to google away delight and surprise</a>, I just start reading. No review-checking, no what-is-this-about. Just going into it cold.<br /><br />I'm enjoying it. We'll see if it pans out.<br /><br />Currently Reading: The Sixes, by Kate White</div>
<div>
Currently Writing: PHOTO FINISH</div>
Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17237687110595005423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812107903694885476.post-89046955610308318542013-08-19T07:12:00.000-07:002013-08-19T07:53:41.209-07:00Donna K. Weaver Giveaway: Audiobook of A Change of Plans<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9HG_sfAo-epZ2u47xdPpWrGkP9LMWdj0Hd5pPCRHejYfrOHBiBRXAUj9TxhIv1miipFfKRF98p0UtvId1DOFWRdAUvp1y55t4I-Iw04s3nJETFovNxL_dCmTL5l_YdQ6p40qSCZfxn-eo/s1600/vertical-banner-audiobook-giveaway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9HG_sfAo-epZ2u47xdPpWrGkP9LMWdj0Hd5pPCRHejYfrOHBiBRXAUj9TxhIv1miipFfKRF98p0UtvId1DOFWRdAUvp1y55t4I-Iw04s3nJETFovNxL_dCmTL5l_YdQ6p40qSCZfxn-eo/s400/vertical-banner-audiobook-giveaway.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm so excited about the release of the audio book of Donna K. Weaver's adventure romance <i>A Change of Plans. </i>Bonus! She and her publisher, <a href="http://www.rhemalda.com/">Rhemalda</a>, are hosting a giveaway. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">And there can be two winners!</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-HW3IYDh-w7MqbyTzKsJGIWRTHUdtdGuzgXA2NjnFOs_b_VDbw0XlvTPgFvgNbBSJNEDC29qwwiAhf0UDpkZPwHljv8g6mlV2Daecu3dgkjP_Boz0d9BlXXhFUpjiZEqPvz4PVoIK5A0/s1600/ACHANGEOFPLANS_FRONT--Audiobook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-HW3IYDh-w7MqbyTzKsJGIWRTHUdtdGuzgXA2NjnFOs_b_VDbw0XlvTPgFvgNbBSJNEDC29qwwiAhf0UDpkZPwHljv8g6mlV2Daecu3dgkjP_Boz0d9BlXXhFUpjiZEqPvz4PVoIK5A0/s200/ACHANGEOFPLANS_FRONT--Audiobook.jpg" width="194" /></a>When Lyn sets off on her supposedly uncomplicated and unromantic cruise, she never dreams it will include pirates. All the 25-year-old, Colorado high school teacher wants to do is forget that her dead fiancé was a cheating scumbag. Lyn plans a vacation diversion; fate provides Braedon, an intriguing surgeon. She finds herself drawn to him: his gentle humor, his love of music, and even his willingness to let her take him down during morning karate practices. Against the backdrop of the ship's make-believe world and temporary friendships, her emotions come alive. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
However, fear is an emotion, too. Unaware of the sensitive waters he's navigating, Braedon moves to take their relationship beyond friendship--on the very anniversary Lyn is on the cruise to forget. Lyn's painful memories are too powerful, and she runs from Braedon and what he has to offer.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It’s hard to avoid someone when stuck on the same ship, and the pair finds themselves on one of the cruise's snorkeling excursions in American Samoa. Paradise turns to piracy when their party is kidnapped and Lyn's fear of a fairytale turns grim. Now she must fight alongside the man she rejected, first for their freedom and then against storms, sharks, and shipwreck.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/kiMpq7NUFV8" width="560"></iframe></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_2?asin=B00DUGRIGU&qid=1375999155&sr=1-2">AUDIBLE</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Change-Plans-Donna-K-Weaver/dp/193685077X/">AMAZON </a>| <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-change-of-plans-donna-k-weaver/1115288145?ean=9781936850778">BARNES AND NOBLE</a></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e2f8dd0/" id="rc-e2f8dd0" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></div>
<div>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script></div>
</div>
Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17237687110595005423noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812107903694885476.post-48807854116928504442013-06-04T06:00:00.000-07:002013-06-04T09:20:11.965-07:00Author Interview with Donna Weaver, author of A CHANGE OF PLANS.<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Donna Weaver is the author of <a href="http://www.rhemalda.com/index.php/books/all-books/a-change-of-plans-detail">A CHANGE OF PLANS</a>, available at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/A-Change-of-Plans-ebook/dp/B00D3U3K2E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370194135&sr=8-1&keywords=a+change+of+plans">Amazon.com</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-change-of-plans-donna-k-weaver/1115288145?ean=9781936850778">Barnes and Noble.com, </a>and a number of other places. You can follow her on <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDonnaKWeaver">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Donna-K-Weaver/417995298257527">Facebook</a>, visit <a href="http://weavingataleortwo.blogspot.com/">her blog</a>, and check out her book on<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17696146-a-change-of-plans"> Goodreads</a>.</b></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHIg9qMlKhOXWvTkuNb2aZb9MNCepynkWE2kMJV31Oq8aQxh3u7BMDhtCU3ey3uTqwdgfBxi4XFWEH4Kws4sR-CGsaA51HjW8vUOWtNhq8h5GrMclmK3vLKuHaxs6UXjvHf-3mySyNKz4/s1600/a-change-of-plans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHIg9qMlKhOXWvTkuNb2aZb9MNCepynkWE2kMJV31Oq8aQxh3u7BMDhtCU3ey3uTqwdgfBxi4XFWEH4Kws4sR-CGsaA51HjW8vUOWtNhq8h5GrMclmK3vLKuHaxs6UXjvHf-3mySyNKz4/s200/a-change-of-plans.jpg" width="125" /></a><b> </b><i>Heidi: One thing you're most known for is how much you like Harry Potter. Whenever there's a writing discussion, you'll pop up with an excellent example from one of the HP books. Even though A CHANGE OF PLANS is a very different genre, I bet you were still inspired by HP. What were the top three writing lessons from Harry Potter that help you succeed with A CHANGE OF PLANS? </i><br />
<br />
Donna: lol Am I really most known for that? That makes me smile. Jo has spoiled me for many writers because she's such a master at "things hidden in plain sight". I find myself, now, expecting deeper meaning in little items or snippets. I'm frequently disappointed. <br />
<br />
Obviously, I'm not tricksy like our precioussss Jo, but I do try to make sure that when something happens, there's some tie to it later in the story. That's good and bad. When you interweave everything, you have to be careful if you happen to edit it out later, or you can end up with bits and pieces that now have no reference. <br />
<br />
Another thing I love is Jo's humor. I'm not funny or witty like she is, but I do try and see the humor in situations. Perhaps the third would be names. Jo's character names frequently tell the reader much about the character--if the reader tales the time to do a little checking. Like Sirius--the dog star? Lupin with its lunar relationships and Remus, one of a pair of brothers who were raised by wolves? I don't always name a character because of the name's meaning, but I do research names and try to find ones that say something about the character--either like Jo did or sometimes I choose a name that is the opposite (almost a mockery) of what the character is like. That last one comes into play in Jori's book, the companion novel to A Change of Plans that I'm editing right now.<br />
<br />
<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/AVvXsEjJFZZQ7FzB8XXhxr7yYzuJy5n9hrR9umxcO00IMYkHPTRzHV9n9bNn0NpiTEWGhvQk_4yn31sX_F_kzZ5_Vwr-zrfzpMX0Ke71hpDo8uIsGt1sPiZ3VGrEYBUH5PuQoyIx-MBpwsTKwl8/s1600/Dave+and+Harry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFZZQ7FzB8XXhxr7yYzuJy5n9hrR9umxcO00IMYkHPTRzHV9n9bNn0NpiTEWGhvQk_4yn31sX_F_kzZ5_Vwr-zrfzpMX0Ke71hpDo8uIsGt1sPiZ3VGrEYBUH5PuQoyIx-MBpwsTKwl8/s320/Dave+and+Harry.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Donna's son Dave with a Harry Potter poster</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><br /><br />Heidi: That's very cool. I'm going to watch for all of those things.</i><br />
<br />
<i>Another thing you're known for is how encouraging and optimistic you are, both about your own journey and about other writers' challenges. Is that something that comes naturally to you or did that develop as part of your growth as a writer?</i><br />
<br />
Donna: I think my optimism has been a part of me for a long time, perhaps reinforced by the things I was drawn to as a teen and young adult. One of my favorite quotes is by Thomas Edison (who is famous for how many times he failed).<br />
<br />
"You only fail when you quit trying."<br />
<br />
I'm also all about the nobility that is possible in people. The summer after I graduated from high school the movie Man of La Mancha came out. It spoke to me. Following is a soliloquy by the amazing Peter O'Toole, portraying the author Cervantes in a prison awaiting a hearing before the Spanish Inquisition. In order to save his manuscript from his fellow prisoners, he's performing the story. Cervantes is challenged by one of them that his main character (Don Quixote--the guy famous for chasing after windmills he thinks are dragons--and where that term comes from, I'm sure) is just crazy, refusing to face reality.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/MhE7xY6r9pM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
<br />
That's me, trying to see life as it should be. Our perception controls our reality, so I look for what's right in the world. Because among all that's wrong, there's so much that's right if we'll search for it. That's the treasure in the trash, so to speak, rather than seeking treasure where there's only trash.<br />
<br />
<i>Heidi: That's such a cool world view. I love that! So how did that optimism come to manifest itself in writing?</i><br />
<br />
Donna: Except for the pirates and the scumbag fiancé, everyone in A Change of Plans is a decent person. Even Jori, who is a real woman user in the beginning, is better than he thinks. I don't know if positive energy follows you around, but I don't see a lot of the ugly stuff I hear people talking about. I'm not speaking of the news; there's plenty of nasty stuff out there. I'm talking about my neighborhood, my congregation. <br />
<br />
<i>Heidi: With what a fan you are of Harry Potter, one might expect fantasy to be your favorite genre, yet your book is a romance. What do you typically read, and what drew you to writing romance?</i><br />
<br />
Donna: You know, it's really Harry who sucked me into fantasy. I was a diehard SciFi elitist for years. I did start reading Terry Brooks when my oldest son discovered the Shannara series, but SciFi was my fave. I've been a romance fan since I was a young teen and started reading my mother's gothic romances. I do prefer a romance to have more than just the romance at its core, though I enjoy those once in a while, too. A romantic element really ups the stakes for the main characters. When I decided to write A Change of Plans, I wanted to put in things I like. That's why there's a cruise (I LOVE cruising), karate (I'm a black belt), piano (I wish I could play and used to fantasize about it), Power Metal (my sons have a band), tropical islands (I love Hawaii and I lived in the Philippines for two years as a teen), and Montana (I spent a couple of summers with my aunt in northern Wyoming).<br />
<i><br />Heidi: And after all that, what brought you to emphasize writing as opposed to music, art, or any other creative endeavor? </i><br />
<br />
Donna: I've done lots of different creative things, though I'm not particularly good at them. Maybe if I'd devoted the time to them that I do to writing, I might have. I've dabbled at painting--my house is full of wall murals. I've got two artist sons (I've attached a picture the oldest did for his senior project before he graduated from college in art, and a couple of shots from our mural room.) If you notice the wall behind me holding A Change of Plans the first time, I painted that.<br />
<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/AVvXsEjEMsaRDzBcKSL5N_BlTWgMT2jNtARIq4Yy0Bo08cjnqUHMSHpLYW0XJA263egPirMtm_c3eCNX6bjbfqEJC4h6wvSsEGyR9s0lUkgnI20ZLpFkZB9H570nAArfc0OSWM4GhbttisuVUXQ/s1600/Game+Room+Murals+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMsaRDzBcKSL5N_BlTWgMT2jNtARIq4Yy0Bo08cjnqUHMSHpLYW0XJA263egPirMtm_c3eCNX6bjbfqEJC4h6wvSsEGyR9s0lUkgnI20ZLpFkZB9H570nAArfc0OSWM4GhbttisuVUXQ/s320/Game+Room+Murals+014.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A painting by Donna's son (apparently he got the drawing gene).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<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/AVvXsEhnyzI0X8Hh3sebM3VZkKb3ZZVwImH3WJVzWcDJxBWs7olsb_gPP4pRcg1nri9dzWjSM-crjf6sL3IMJe05D62xDVLuLNGGLNT32DjvInTFth4rNe1ev5_0i5XPy9s8RFTcED9zQR_6i_s/s1600/HarryPotterWall+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnyzI0X8Hh3sebM3VZkKb3ZZVwImH3WJVzWcDJxBWs7olsb_gPP4pRcg1nri9dzWjSM-crjf6sL3IMJe05D62xDVLuLNGGLNT32DjvInTFth4rNe1ev5_0i5XPy9s8RFTcED9zQR_6i_s/s320/HarryPotterWall+(1).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A painting by Donna's son Dave, who just graduated from art school.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEjvNb3CFM2Ge3HOajbtpGipeNj8oQVYDXdmN3Pg6MaYwAaqMC4nj6M3L3jn2HR8qxl3MXfcVZyn480cB6QzkrtmLZC8gCZYJnbSswTT60tjfnTG8qz3vFAIH7RQhTegr5Hm4c9ywZr-qIQ/s1600/Me+and+My+Book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNb3CFM2Ge3HOajbtpGipeNj8oQVYDXdmN3Pg6MaYwAaqMC4nj6M3L3jn2HR8qxl3MXfcVZyn480cB6QzkrtmLZC8gCZYJnbSswTT60tjfnTG8qz3vFAIH7RQhTegr5Hm4c9ywZr-qIQ/s320/Me+and+My+Book.jpg" width="126" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But look at that wall! Donna painted that! She saved some of the drawing gene for herself!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<i>Heidi: Thanks for this interview! Here's the final question: What one thing do you most comes out of A CHANGE OF PLANS, both for your readers and for yourself?</i><br />
<br />
Donna: First and foremost that they're entertained, I guess, but I would hope that the story touches them in some way. It's interesting with some of the feedback I've received about the story making readers cry--and what caused the crying. They've all been things that go back to that particular reader's personal history, something in the story that touched them. And they were all unique things, not necessarily something that happened in the book at all. That's pretty cool.<br />
<br />Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17237687110595005423noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812107903694885476.post-37260112767918223122013-05-30T00:00:00.000-07:002013-05-30T00:00:02.824-07:00Guest Post: W. B. Kinnette with Waiting Fate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwgWeTrPIxvPnImqUVjKUFBaLdD-bAe5lfW0DWtPJrsqKZg5lJe0diqu_0Bp9hAy5Dvu03ytm8YewAVOzTqfTxt52PaJTOouXcf2wSCBymwMPAiAr9oKd9YTDa-AIhc-0hQQMzWSxRT8/s1600/WaitingFate_500x750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwgWeTrPIxvPnImqUVjKUFBaLdD-bAe5lfW0DWtPJrsqKZg5lJe0diqu_0Bp9hAy5Dvu03ytm8YewAVOzTqfTxt52PaJTOouXcf2wSCBymwMPAiAr9oKd9YTDa-AIhc-0hQQMzWSxRT8/s200/WaitingFate_500x750.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Thank you so much, Heidi, for letting me visit and talk
about my new release, Waiting Fate! <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Waiting Fate is very close to my heart because it’s based on
the true love story between my husband and I. If you ever hear me talking about
him, it’s clear pretty quickly that he is literally my hero. For one thing, he
can do <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">anything</i>. He dyes my hair, he
bakes, he cooks better than most restaurant chefs. He rebuilds houses, chases
spiders, and puts up with all my eccentricities without ever complaining. I
must have Pringles at 11 pm? He’ll get them. The man deserves a medal. But he’s
also my hero because he saved me from a life of darkness and pain.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Which is why, when my publisher had an open call for
submissions for true love stories, I jumped at the chance. Admittedly, I didn’t
realize how <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hard</i> writing our story
would be, because we went through a lot of trials to get to our happy ever
after. But I wrote it and, I’m thrilled that I am able to share it with
readers. I hope that by sharing our story and my trials with escaping domestic
abuse, it will help someone else who might be in a similar situation realize
that there is a way out, and that you don’t have to do it alone!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Author Bio:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
W.B. Kinnette was born and raised in Utah, the baby of the
family and spoiled rotten. She lived briefly in Texas and Alaska before coming back
to raise her family only a few miles from her childhood home. She’s loved
writing since she was small, because daydreams demand to be written down. She believes
that dreams must be chased, if only so she can tell her children honestly that
dreams do come true if you work hard enough – and never give up! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman Bold"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><strong>Book Blurb:</strong> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="message">Sometimes Fate hides in plain sight
while you stumble through darkness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="message"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="message">Ivy escapes from an abusive husband,
finding peace with her daughter in her childhood home. She’s determined to keep
her past a secret to protect those she loves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="message"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="message">Archer has been in love with the same
girl since seventh grade. When Ivy comes back into his life—bruised, broken,
and haunted by secrets—he knows he can’t lose her again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="message"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="message">But Ivy made a promise to her daughter.
No one would hurt them again. She’s afraid to trust, afraid to be wrong again,
and afraid that the one man she’s loved forever will break her heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="message"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="message">Fate might take its time, but it won’t
wait forever. </span><br />
<span class="message"></span><br />
<span class="message"><strong>And Now an Excerpt . . . Oh So Juicy</strong></span><br />
<span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">As he
walked her to her door, she slid her small fingers into his, and he ran his
thumb across the back of her hand. The night was cool. At the door she turned,
smiling up at him. “Thank you Archer. It was… fun.” <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">He couldn’t see clearly, but he
could swear she was smirking. <i>Yeah, you blew your chance. Way to go. </i>So
he hugged her, wrapping his arms around her waist, like he’d done a hundred
other times before. They were a huggy group. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">He was surprised when she rose
on her toes and slid her arms around his neck, holding tight like he was a
lifeline. He pulled back, just a bit, hoping but afraid to hope as he searched
her eyes. They sparkled, just a bit, and then she leaned forward, closing the
gap between them and brushing her lips against his. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Time stopped. The world stopped
and he froze in shock. It took him several seconds to realize what was
happening, and then he kissed her back, holding her tight against him. He could
feel her heart racing, matching his. When she relinquished his lips, he sucked
in a breath, struggling to breathe. “I’ve wanted to do that since high school,”
he muttered, almost without realizing it.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> <strong>And Finally, Where to Get the Rest and Follow W. B. Kinnette</strong></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Links: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WbKinnette"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.facebook.com/WbKinnette</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Twitter: @wbkinnette<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Website: <a href="http://www.wbkinnette.wordpress.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.wbkinnette.wordpress.com</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Waiting-Fate-ebook/dp/B00CY4A5IM/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1369290043&sr=1-1&keywords=Waiting+Fate<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p></o:p><br /></div>
Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17237687110595005423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812107903694885476.post-42823837342571497382013-04-23T05:01:00.004-07:002013-04-23T07:29:32.600-07:00Author Interview: Rebecca Rode--How to Have Peace When You're Falling to Pieces<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51gKzeedMJL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA278_PIkin4,BottomRight,-56,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51gKzeedMJL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA278_PIkin4,BottomRight,-56,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
I had so much fun interviewing Rebecca Rode, author of <i>How to Have Peace When You're Falling to Pieces. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
The book explores some of the challenges that are unique to mothers and gives sage advice and pithy stories for how to pull through those tough times when you just don't think you can sort it all out. <br />
<br />
Rebecca was kind enough to answer some questions for me, so here are some of her insights into her own role as a mother and writer and a few additional thoughts for the rest of us:<br />
<br />
1. Early in the book, you share your desire to find a book on finding peace as a mother and not being able to find one. How did you go from that moment in the bookstore to deciding to write such a book yourself?<i><br /><br />When I couldn't find that book, I started gathering research and talking to other moms. I was surprised to hear that many of them were going through the same stresses that I was! Then I realized that if I didn't write it, no one else would. I think that unfulfilled need for sanity and peace is why so many moms relate to this book. </i><br />
<br />
2. You talk a lot about the importance of finding balance as a mother. How did you find balance in raising three young children while writing this book?<i><br /><br />My "balance" when I was writing this book was more like teetering on the edge of a cliff while juggling. I was on a really tight deadline, so I had to drop a lot of the regular housecleaning and yard duties for a couple months so I'd have time to write. Obviously I couldn't write much when the kids were awake, so that made it hard. My wonderful husband picked up a lot of the slack when he got home in the evening. Now that I'm looking back, I still don't really know how we did it.</i><br />
<br />
3. You also mentioned the necessity of giving some things up. What did you have to give up in order to fulfill your dream of writing this book while still keeping your children a priority? Was it harder than you thought? Easier?<i><br /><br />The biggest things I had to give up were sleep and perfectionism. I wrote late into the night and then woke up at 5am for a month or two. I think the funniest parts of the book were written at midnight when I was loopy with exhaustion!<br /><br />The perfectionism thing, though, was the hardest sacrifice. I like everything just right--there's a chapter about that in the book, as you'll recall--so it was a real mental battle to let the house slide a bit. As for my kids, I quickly learned to give them more time, not less. When I spent a focused half hour with each of them, playing whatever they wanted, then they were much more understanding when I had to disappear for some writing time. </i><br />
<br />
4. Many times women get so overwhelmed that even the steps outlined in self-help books seem like too much work. What would you say to a woman who reads your book and likes the ideas but still doesn't know where to start?<i><br /><br />Oh boy, do I understand. Take it a day at a time, one chapter at a time. Some of the things we discuss in the book are simply different ways to look at our roles as moms, like putting on a pair of glasses. Other things are more specific and we can incorporate them easily and immediately. If there's a chapter that really hits you and you think, "Wow, I totally do this! I need to change in this area," then maybe it's a good indication that something can be tweaked. I'm often surprised at how different parts of the book hit people differently. Many moms love the Mom Guilt section, while others really relate to the divine potential and Anne Shirley chapters. I guess each of us takes what we need out of it.</i><br />
<br />
5. Can you share some of the highs and lows of your journey? How did you keep going during the lows and how did you celebrate the highs?<i><br /><br />The biggest high and low actually happened the same day. I got an email from Jennifer at Cedar Fort, saying they'd loved the first few chapters I'd written and were offering to publish it. When I read that email, I pumped my fists toward the air like I'd just made a touchdown and called my husband at work. After we were done whooping and hollering, he asked, "When do you have to have the book done?" Since the book had been accepted based on a query and the first three chapters, that was all I'd written to that point. I skimmed the contract and my jaw dropped. I had thirty days to write the rest of the book. And I was going to be on vacation in Italy for two of those four weeks!<br /><br />I did eventually get a little bit of an extension, but start to finish, it probably did take thirty writing days. I can only say that I couldn't have gotten it done without help, divine and otherwise! I thought it would be amazing to see my name in print and my book on the shelf, but honestly, the biggest high of all has been the reaction of the readers. It's had overwhelmingly positive feedback, and many of them buy other copies for their sisters and friends. I think that's the very best outcome I could have hoped for, and it makes everything worth it.</i>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17237687110595005423noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812107903694885476.post-12378074276893527442013-04-04T20:00:00.001-07:002013-04-04T20:00:40.123-07:00A Change of Plans Cover Reveal: Donna K. Weaver<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcfDpuGV7QfC_vr7S5xUUIXugMIi72zcCgUXJD3uW5CjEN3gOV2yJynTr-Lb53bi8mp8U5fbe9vBLdeo8RFC4KcnUAK3E9vwh1INuSCnRwGVnBCFpIgYEo4YGc4NqDk8HoXFrtkWFtqM/s1600/a-change-of-plans.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/AVvXsEjlcfDpuGV7QfC_vr7S5xUUIXugMIi72zcCgUXJD3uW5CjEN3gOV2yJynTr-Lb53bi8mp8U5fbe9vBLdeo8RFC4KcnUAK3E9vwh1INuSCnRwGVnBCFpIgYEo4YGc4NqDk8HoXFrtkWFtqM/s320/a-change-of-plans.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
So Rhemalda sent me this freakin' huge promo package of stuff I could include, and as I was staring at it trying to figure out what to post, I decided to sack all that and post my actual thoughts.<br />
<br />
For starters, Donna rocks and no one deserves this awesome victory more than she does. She's funny, friendly, smart, engaging, always willing to help little old peons (that would be me), competent as heck and totally obsessed with Harry Potter. (I really think there should be a drinking game wherein folks must correctly predict what Harry Potter reference Donna will make at any given moment.)<br />
<br />
I beta read A Change of Plans, and it is awesome. I'm not much of a romance fan, but this one, I enjoyed. I was so super over the moon thrilled when I heard that Donna had a publishing offer from Rehmalda. <i>Rhemalda, peeps! </i>She considered it and had a lawyer read the contract and had phone calls with the company and then she signed and fairy bells rang out.Yeah. That happened. <br />
<br />
Seriously cool. Someone in my group. A book I'd beta read. Published, and very deservedly so. Yeah. Freakin' cool.<br />
<br />
And the cover? Gor-geous, can I just say?<br />
<br />
Now here's all the actionable content. You know you've been waiting for it.<br />
<br />
First, here's what the book is about:<br />
<br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When
Lyn sets off on her supposedly uncomplicated and unromantic cruise, she
never dreams it will include pirates. All the 25-year-old, Colorado
high school teacher wants to do is forget that her dead fiancé was a
cheating scumbag. Lyn plans a vacation diversion; fate provides Braedon,
an intriguing surgeon. She finds herself drawn to him: his gentle
humor, his love of music, and even his willingness to let her take him
down during morning karate practices. Against the backdrop of the ship’s
make-believe world and temporary friendships, her emotions come alive. </span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">However,
fear is an emotion, too. Unaware of the sensitive waters he's
navigating, Braedon moves to take their relationship beyond
friendship--on the very anniversary Lyn is on the cruise to forget.
Lyn's painful memories are too powerful, and she runs from Braedon and
what he has to offer.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Their
confusing relationship is bad enough, but when the pair finds
themselves on one of the cruise's snorkeling excursions in American
Samoa things get worse. Paradise turns to piracy when their party is
kidnapped and Lyn's fear of a fairytale turns grim. Now she must fight
alongside the man she rejected, first for their freedom and then against
storms, sharks, and shipwreck.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Second, here's all about the author (this is at least as interesting as the book, IMO):</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANI_2C9yQHzYRXHY4Ps3V-7zZGsojjXQLpw448EwB-qaZseuXxIljjuUPwcAhDHqZ4nOZvokTGUUn8Ven_qGqIaqe3h52gZak_3gUPJIpJXdg9mFz8eyRGMO4lxX-Ye4X6-DvLhwA57o/s1600/Donna-Author+Pic+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANI_2C9yQHzYRXHY4Ps3V-7zZGsojjXQLpw448EwB-qaZseuXxIljjuUPwcAhDHqZ4nOZvokTGUUn8Ven_qGqIaqe3h52gZak_3gUPJIpJXdg9mFz8eyRGMO4lxX-Ye4X6-DvLhwA57o/s200/Donna-Author+Pic+2013.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
Donna K. Weaver is a Navy brat who joined the Army and has
lived in Asia and Europe. Because she sailed the Pacific three times as a
child, she loves cruising and wishes she could accrue enough vacation
time to do more of it with her husband.<br />
<br />
<div style="word-spacing: 0px;">
At fifty, Donna decided to study karate and earned her black belt in Shorei Kempo.</div>
<div style="word-spacing: 0px;">
After
recording city council minutes for twenty years, Donna decided to write
something a little longer and with a lot more emotion--and kissing.</div>
<div style="word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
Donna and her husband reside in Utah, they have six children and eight grandchildren who live all over the world.<br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Interested yet? I thought so. Check out the trailer on YouTube </span>(I'd embed it here, but I haven't figured out how to do that yet.) http://youtu.be/MPI1uZQG66k<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://youtu.be/MPI1uZQG66k" target="_blank"></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">You can find, and like, and mark as to-read on <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17696146-a-change-of-plans">Goodreads</a>. I know it's going to kill you to wait until it comes out, but until then, you can get your fix by stalking Donna on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Donna-K-Weaver/417995298257527?fref=ts">Facebook</a> or Twitter (</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">@TheDonnaKWeaver)</span>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I'm so excited to read the final draft. Congratulations, Donna. Happy cruising! </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17237687110595005423noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812107903694885476.post-7106128238746128112013-03-18T09:00:00.000-07:002013-03-18T09:00:04.947-07:00Guest Post: Wendy Knight, Feudlings Author, on Support Groups<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigC42Rcunb6U9gEMrZvlgGWkLrSzNz2lcti9KUustr8Z8BSg_s3xM1kq_lZ7zKInNeHkIqWsqhjGQOhe4p_dbZF_LpGp8Q5Jln90V7gF1xSPGKlJGtVlxBSgbZNa5qnUy1edWsFIsdw20/s1600/Wendy+Knight+Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigC42Rcunb6U9gEMrZvlgGWkLrSzNz2lcti9KUustr8Z8BSg_s3xM1kq_lZ7zKInNeHkIqWsqhjGQOhe4p_dbZF_LpGp8Q5Jln90V7gF1xSPGKlJGtVlxBSgbZNa5qnUy1edWsFIsdw20/s200/Wendy+Knight+Photo.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
I am so excited that my friend Wendy Knight's book comes out this week! It's been such an inspiration to watch her journey, and I could not be more thrilled for her! She's got a wonderful guest post here and a wonderfully juicy blurb and excerpt from her book! Follow her, see her cover, and find out how to buy her book at her <a href="http://writethroughthenoise.blogspot.com/">website!<br /></a><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:TargetScreenSize>800x600</o:TargetScreenSize>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
And now, her words of wisdom on support groups!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Support Group – You want one!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I spent the first…however long I’ve been writing, writing
alone. It was sketchy. Sometimes I would write a lot, but then I’d get bored or
burned out and I’d quit for months or even years on end. It wasn’t that I
didn’t love the story, and it wasn’t that I didn’t have awesome support from my
amazing husband. There just wasn’t a lot keeping me going. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Which is why it took me two years to finish Feudlings.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once I started querying, though, I realized I needed help
from people who had been doing it for longer than me – people that might
actually know what they were doing! So I started branching out (which is saying
a LOT for me, because I’m massively shy). I found a chat room just for writers,
and I found writer friends and I discovered Twitter, which seems to be made
just for writers. I could be wrong, though.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It might seem counter-productive. I mean, you’re in a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">chat</i> room, and there is a lot of
chatting going on. BUT. There is also brainstorming and advice and support.
Don’t believe me? Well, here’s some facts. It took me two years to write
Feudlings, my debut novel coming out this month. It took me a year to write the
sequel. Toward the end of that year is when I discovered my writer friends. In
less than six months, I’ve written two more, started a third and a fourth and a
short story, and edited the sequel to Feudlings. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, it may defy the odds or common sense or something, but
it really works. Having friends in the trenches with you makes sooo much
difference and being a writer doesn’t have to be a lonely profession. Who knew?<br />
<br />
--Wendy Knight</div>
<br />
And now for the good and juicy stuff! Jump right in with a great excerpt!<br />
<i><br /></i>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:TargetScreenSize>800x600</o:TargetScreenSize>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
</style>
<![endif]--><i>
</i><br />
<div class="Default">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Shane,
I’m tougher than I look. I can handle it,” she said, although she wasn’t sure
she wanted to know any more about his magic than she already did. It could get him
in trouble. But she couldn’t just leave it alone. Part of her wanted to
know. Maybe the monster-killer part of her. </span></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="Default">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">She
squashed that thought. </span></i></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="Default">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Shane
stopped, studied her. Under his intense blue gaze her heart started to pound
and she thought giddily that her favorite color just happened to be the exact
color of his eyes. What were the odds? “I’m serious, Ari. There’s this war
going on, and knowing anything about it could get you killed.” </span></i></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="Default">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Killed?”
Ari tried to look dubious. </span></i></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="Default">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Shane
glanced around and grabbed her hand, pulling her with him out the front doors.
The air was crisp and cool; Ari could see traces of her breath. If Shane was
aware that half the student population was watching them speed-walk into the
woods, he didn’t show it, and after a final glance back Ari ignored them too. </span></i></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>When the school was out of sight, she stopped and pulled her
hand away. “Okay Shane. Spill,” she commanded. She crossed her arms over her
chest and tried to look cold. Normals would be cold right now, but because of
the flames flowing through their blood, neither she nor Shane could feel it.</i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Shane
sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Where to start? Even the short version
is long. We’re sorcerers, and there are two sides to this war… of course,
because that’s what makes a war, right?” he rambled. Ari raised an eyebrow at
him as she tried to shiver. “I’m a Carules. I have magic that stems from these
blue flames that, well, they’re in my blood. Hunter, too. And all other
Carules. The other side is Edren, and their magic comes from red flames.
Basically, we spend all our time trying to kill each other. It’s a lot of fun,”
he said with a bitter frown at the ground. </span></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“So you
hide your magic because if an Edren found you...” </span></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“They’d
kill me. Or try to, anyway,” Shane finished for her. </span></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Ari
flinched at his words, and she knew right then that if she had seen him on that
battle field in Adlington, she wouldn’t have been able to kill him. Her eyes
widened in shock, her mouth opened into a silent “Oh”, and her heart
started to pound. This was a very, very dangerous revelation she’d just made to
herself. </span></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>She had a weakness. And it was Shane.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know! Delicious or what?! And here's a bit more info!<i> </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:TargetScreenSize>800x600</o:TargetScreenSize>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Back Cover Blurb</b></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Nothing makes a new school suck worse than discovering the
guy you’re in love with is your prophesied nemesis.</i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Ari is the most powerful flame-throwing sorceress ever, and
her people’s last hope in an ancient war. But she’s also a seventeen-year-old
girl, and in her free, not-hunting-nemesis times, she jumps from school to
school, trying to figure out regular people her own age and pretending she’ll
get the chance to graduate.</i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Shane lives a double life. He goes to school and masters the
art of popularity, hiding the fact that he has a fate with a slim chance of his
survival. He’s destined to end a 300 year-old war by killing or being killed.
He knows he’s hunted by a powerful enemy who’s not afraid to die. Only problem?
He has no idea who that enemy is. </i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>When Ari shows up at Shane’s school, angry and sullen and
determined to keep him at arm’s reach, neither of them realize they are
supposed to be killing each other, not falling in love. Until Ari <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">does</span> realize it, and she almost dies –
by Shane’s hand.</i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Author Bio</b></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Wendy Knight was born and raised in Utah by a wonderful
family who spoiled her rotten because she was the baby. Now she spends her time
driving her husband crazy with her many eccentricities (no water after five,
terror when faced with a live phone call, etcetera, etcetera). She also enjoys
chasing her three adorable kids, playing tennis, watching football, reading,
and hiking. Camping is also big: her family is slowly working toward a goal of
seeing all the National Parks in the U.S. </i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>You can usually find her with at least one Pepsi nearby,
wearing ridiculously high heels for whatever the occasion may be. And if
everything works out just right, she will also be writing. </i></div>
Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17237687110595005423noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812107903694885476.post-35899941195541680982012-09-06T18:46:00.001-07:002012-09-06T18:46:32.361-07:00Getting Life Back Together Post-BirthThe thing that surprised me most about this pregnancy was the pain. I've never had such strong, constant joint and muscle pain in any of my other pregnancies. (The pain finally made sense once Baby was born. Big baby+little mom=ouch.) In addition to making it hard to write, the pain also made the house go from clean to barely functional. It just hurt me too much to move, and Hubs could only do so much when he got home from work. Now, post-baby, I'm trying to get the house back to working order. Out of eleven rooms in the house, I got 2 at a satisfactory level today. Another six are moderately cluttered and three are unmitigated disasters. I'm hoping if I eek out just an hour a day, I can get the rest of the rooms in some kind of decent shape.<br />
<br />
<i>What really matters: </i>Today I wrote 1201 words and reached 70.7% of the way through this draft. (This sounds good, but I think by the time I finish, the point at which I currently am will actually be about 30% into the novel. I have got <i>a lot </i>more words to write and even more to excise. I'm trying not to think about this.)Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17237687110595005423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812107903694885476.post-69822656419014449822012-08-23T09:25:00.001-07:002012-08-23T09:25:08.014-07:00Maslow's Hierarchy and Web Addiction<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/130604457914780833/">This </a>is funny, but on a more serious note, I <i>do </i>think the issue of web and phone overuse and addiction actually has a great deal to do with Maslow's hierarchy. Specifically, as a culture we have the bottom two levels basically nailed but are woefully starving, perhaps to an unprecedented extent, for the top four. The Internet sometimes gives us the ability to gain those top four levels, but most often, it simply gives us the illusion. Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17237687110595005423noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812107903694885476.post-16011882198459279452012-08-18T08:53:00.002-07:002012-08-18T08:53:47.455-07:00On The Advice to "Just Keep Writing"See, I'm not sure about the advice to "just keep writing."<br /><br />On one hand, if you're consistently putting out a thousand words a day, you know that you're definitely not becoming stagnant and passive as a "writer." <br /><br />On the other hand, quite frequently when I follow that advice, what I write (often vast chunks of thousands and thousands of words) just end up getting tossed. That's what's going to happen to everything I wrote in the last couple weeks before I decided I was wasting my time and spent three days reading HOW TO WRITE A DAMN GOOD THRILLER instead of writing a word. Then I put the book down, replotted, started writing again, and now I'm back on track. <br /><br />Did I waste all those hours, like a snake swallowing its tail? Maybe. I'm leaning toward yes. Hard to say. <br />Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17237687110595005423noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812107903694885476.post-22452251891584920052012-08-16T15:53:00.001-07:002012-08-16T15:53:17.994-07:00Bad Blogger. Spamming! Bad blogger, right? I post nothing for, lemme check, <i>ever </i>and then I get all spammy for a contest. Ah, c'mon. It's Rob Wells. If you're reading this blog it's because we've chatted online or something, and you know that I pretty much stalk Rob Wells online. (And thus you've learned never to be TOO accessible to chatty fans via Twitter. You may thank me for this demonstration by sending me ARCs when <i>you </i>are published.)<br />
<br />
Anyway, he's having a contest: ARCs. I love ARCs and I never seem to win them. (In fact, the basis of my desire to become a published author is to become part of the regular ARC-exchange community.) Check out the contest. I'd ask you not to enter, but that's not very sporting of me, so I'll take my chances.<br />
<br />
Awesomeness is here: http://www.robisonwells.com/2012/08/the-big-three-arc-contest/Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17237687110595005423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812107903694885476.post-52163160607547284752012-07-28T08:04:00.002-07:002012-07-28T08:04:47.419-07:00Twisted VisceraYou ever feel like the right words are deep down, all twisted up in your viscera, and if you were just willing to reach in and pull hard enough, they'd come free?Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17237687110595005423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812107903694885476.post-84058021766182979442012-07-20T20:51:00.002-07:002012-07-20T20:51:19.241-07:00Log ReportToday I worked for 30 minutes and got 41.2% of the way through draft 2 of PHOTO FINISH.Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17237687110595005423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812107903694885476.post-74678303973575727782012-06-30T05:57:00.000-07:002012-06-30T08:13:39.055-07:00Relentless Pacing: Compressing ActionLast night I read a rejection letter (it wasn't mine, because I'm not cool enough to have started getting those yet), in which the agent said that novels must have "relentless pacing." I've heard the phrase before, but last night it caught my attention. What <i>is </i>relentless pacing? How does it work? What are its characteristics? Sure, I've studied fail cycles, etc., but I still don't have pacing anywhere close to mastered.<br />
<br />
As it happens, I'm reading <i>Odd Thomas </i>by Dean Koontz, who is pretty much the master of relentless pacing, and one thing I've noticed about his book is that the action is extremely compressed. My action is often slow and spread out because I want my book to be realistic, and in reality, major events rarely happen on the same day as each other; characters usually dink around before they get around to doing things; and important discoveries usually occur over time rather than at the most convenient, interesting moment.<br />
<br />
But let's take a look at what happens in the first 24 hours of <i>Odd Thomas. </i><br />
<br />
<b>SPOILERS AHEAD.</b><br />
<br />
<b>I MEAN IT. LOTS OF SPOILERS. IF YOU HAVEN'T READ ODD THOMAS, YOU SHOULD REALLY LEAVE THIS POST AND GO GET THE BOOK RIGHT NOW. IT'S QUITE GOOD.</b><br />
<br />
<b>AND MORE SPOILER WARNING . . . </b><br />
<br />
'Nuff said? Okay, then.<br />
<br />
In the first 24 hours of the book, Odd Thomas identifies a child killer, chases him through a house, saves another child, and turns the killer over to the cops. (That's in the first hour of his day.) Then he slings hash for several hours. Then he spots a suspicious character, breaks into his house, and discovers a portal to hell and the character's shrine to mass murderers. He reports that to the cops, and then he sees the suspicious character again and tries to chase him down, picks up his girlfriend for dinner, gets chased from a church by a rampaging poltergeist, gets engaged, tucks his girlfriend into bed, goes home to find a dead body in his apartment, disposes of the body, confronts a pack of coyotes, releases a hooker's ghost from limbo, discovers that his contact on the cop force has been shot, and finds a meditation card that is basically meant to summon the devil. In addition to this, he makes about 6 social calls, describes 6 different locales, and interacts in about 10 different major relationships (7 of them with the living, 3 with the dead). <b> </b><i> </i>And I don't think he's even hit the 24 hour mark yet.<br />
<br />
Now, I realize that not every book is suited to be a Dean Koontzian novel, but this is an excellent example of how time and events are tightly compressed so that bam, bam, bam. There's never a down moment.<br />
<br />
Of course, there's a lot more to relentless pacing. There's the variety of setting and character dynamics. There's the variety in types of conflict. There are reveals that dangers were misunderstood or underestimated. There are the introductions of new dangers and new disasters. There's the overall sense that this world is alive and moving on, with or without the reader. I'll probably write more about those later as my brain works through them, but for now--compression of action. This is one of my biggest weaknesses, and <i>Odd Thomas </i>is a great example of how to take it to the extreme, and pull it off.Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17237687110595005423noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812107903694885476.post-64845178562642737422012-06-18T06:36:00.002-07:002012-06-18T06:37:34.084-07:00This Story is Too Smart For MeI woke up this morning with a great idea for a time-travel thriller. (Ran it past hubs, who is totally willing to tell me when my ideas suck or are mediocre, and he confirmed that this is indeed a exciting idea.) The problem is that I'm the type of writer who thinks I need five generations of explanation for why my MC owns a dog, so trying to plot and come up with adequate quantum and character background for a time-travel thriller is literally giving me heart palpitations and a headache.Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17237687110595005423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812107903694885476.post-59079196525496295452012-06-15T11:24:00.000-07:002012-06-15T11:24:01.431-07:00I Want to QuitToday is a day when I really want to quit writing, but I won't because after ten years of trying, I know it won't do any good.Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17237687110595005423noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812107903694885476.post-78486443935325295672012-05-10T19:55:00.000-07:002012-05-10T19:55:05.057-07:00An Open Letter to My ParentsDear Parents,<br />
<br />
Remember that time in first grade when I hid my nightgown in my backpack, wore it all day at school, told everyone that I was a fairy princess and could grant them wishes if they drank water from an old spice bottle, and signed all my homework Rose? <br />
<br />
If it's any consolation, I am now trying to raise myself. I tell BookBoy to brush his teeth, and fifteen minutes later, he's still in his room with an old shirt wrapped around his face. Why? He's being a ninja. I tell him to go to bed. He can't because he's a mad scientist and has figured out how to make himself nocturnal. I tell him to get dressed. His shirt and shoes end up backwards because he was thinking about what he would do if he lived 125 million years ago and a dinosaur was chasing him.<br />
<br />
So don't worry, folks. There is justice in the world. It's served every night at bedtime, courtesy of your oldest grandson.<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
<br />
(Your now remarkably pragmatic daughter) <br />
<br />
HeidiHeidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17237687110595005423noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812107903694885476.post-43171459567253349762012-05-06T18:30:00.000-07:002012-05-06T18:30:12.570-07:00After the FlashIt's always weird to get a great idea or have a ton of new insights because on one hand, I get so excited thinking that <i>this </i>idea, <i>this </i>solution, is going to be the thing that fixes <i>everything that is wrong </i>with my story. (And I always think there's a great deal wrong with it. I can't imagine what it would feel like to think, even for a short time, that a manuscript was good enough.)<br />
<br />
On the other hand, I know that as soon as I start trying to implement the idea or apply the structure, the entire idea (or at least some part of it) is going to fall apart like a card house and I'm going to have to re-invent swaths of plot, character, and dialog, and that even then, I'm not sure I will get it right. <br />
<br />
Before I dive back into PHOTO FINISH (which has a partial request on it), I need to reorder my plot according to <a href="http://elanajohnson.blogspot.com/">Elana Johnson</a>'s<a href="http://ldstorymakers.com/conferences/2012-conference/"> Storymakers</a> presentation on beats and strengthen some of my characters and scenes based on <a href="http://www.annettelyon.com/">Annette Lyon'</a>s presentation on the Hero's Journey<br />
<br />
I rarely get discouraged when I have to grade a huge stack of papers or clean a phenomenally messy room or weed an hugelovergrown patch, no matter how big the task is. This is because it has a seeable beginning and a seeable end, and I know that one step after another will inevitably get me where I need to be. This is different. One step after another could just send me trudging in circles. However, I can't see any other way to approach this. I'm just going to have sit down, start doing the work, and hope that somehow it takes me in the right direction and gets me where I want to go.Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17237687110595005423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812107903694885476.post-67735271484485147602012-04-26T14:37:00.001-07:002012-04-26T14:37:28.940-07:00It's overcast and warm, and there's this staticky feeling in the air, like somewhere some kids are finding a coin that half-grants their wishes or stepping into a wardrobe rich with the smell of cedar. I wish I could just grab this feeling out of the air, slam it onto the page, and <i>make it stay there. </i>*Sigh*. Limitations.Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17237687110595005423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812107903694885476.post-69514665689130583422012-04-26T13:01:00.000-07:002012-04-26T13:01:03.488-07:00Stalled on EditsBlech. Something feels wrong. I'm trying to edit PHOTO FINISH, and while I can normally muster the creative energy to write something that at least sounds okay for the moment, for the past few days I've just been dragging. The sentences are short and choppy. They all have a repetitive form. The verbs are muted or strained. Everything sounds like this.<br />
<br />
I suspect that there are several culprits: stress, exhaustion, the deep immersion in choppy academic writing (I'm grading a lot of papers right now), and the fact that I haven't read anything good for a few days. I know a lot of writers suggest staying away from good writing, especially within your genre, when composing or revising, but for me a great novel is like a drink of water or lube for an engine or a spark for a fire. It gets things started, keeps them going, and gives them the energy to run. <br />
<br />
And of course the mounting panic that comes from realizing that I have to pitch in 8 days and feeling like my novel is total garbage is not helping.<br />
<br />
I need sleep, chocolate, water, melon, watermelon (as long as we're on the topic), sunshine, new flowers, a good book, and an hour long massage. Ah, man. A girl can dream.Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17237687110595005423noreply@blogger.com0