tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169132366213098142024-03-13T19:08:27.788-04:00Romance Writer's RevengeTerri Osburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17176989488447450585noreply@blogger.comBlogger1556125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-58645004390046039632013-09-30T03:30:00.000-04:002013-09-30T03:30:01.547-04:00Setting Sail In Style<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpvyiWPX9ePQyLkaATCekjZILN_dMWTEyqh4aKgCwMEFTnoCodmbnhirgkdFJAvbS-UEqGa2rCxKySkI3z3Zc53oALWDxLZ3AOfOjLy067vOWNT1D5BwWgkcS9u7mQtzcftg4kE2XpIcL/s1600/plaid-shirt.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/AVvXsEjnpvyiWPX9ePQyLkaATCekjZILN_dMWTEyqh4aKgCwMEFTnoCodmbnhirgkdFJAvbS-UEqGa2rCxKySkI3z3Zc53oALWDxLZ3AOfOjLy067vOWNT1D5BwWgkcS9u7mQtzcftg4kE2XpIcL/s320/plaid-shirt.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It's ironic that I'm writing this half blind, since that's
how we went into this blog six years ago. Hellie wrote me and said, "What
would you think about me starting a group blog?" I was on board
immediately. I mean, group blogs were "the thing" back then. Not that
they aren't now, but 2007 was sort of the heyday when a bunch of group blogs
were taking off. Add Hellie at the helm and sign me up.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In 2007, I'd never written a book. I didn't have an English
or Lit degree (still don't), and had no faith whatsoever that I could be a
writer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But Hellie never doubted me. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She never stopped pushing, reminding me that I AM a writer
and I could do this. When I'd get stuck, she'd talk me through it. She taught
me everything she knew about writing, and was nicer to me than she's ever been
to herself. She set the tone for this blog, which is why it's exactly as Janga
described it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"... different types of people with different writing
goals and different life experience all woven together in a community where
everyone is accepted, no one is judged, and a sense of humor is the only price
of admission."</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTPMgDCrLGrXHY4Ph2OYfRwwsulhgQQgNhVqdd3BQ6Pe1CxEi-2IVBSVYhvQbB9_1UTOLKJouUJgrzchOljeg8Ra2TYuXZod8p7D6l0X-KYSNVgNnppP3Y31Ua1-o2Y4E43wknshMBcma/s1600/all+wet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTPMgDCrLGrXHY4Ph2OYfRwwsulhgQQgNhVqdd3BQ6Pe1CxEi-2IVBSVYhvQbB9_1UTOLKJouUJgrzchOljeg8Ra2TYuXZod8p7D6l0X-KYSNVgNnppP3Y31Ua1-o2Y4E43wknshMBcma/s1600/all+wet.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That description fits because of our founder. I love every
wonderful woman on this ship, but it seemed fitting that the last blog be an
ode to the Captain. She's the reason I finished a book. The reason I'm
published. And the reason this blog kicked ass around the rough, unpredictable
publishing seas for so long. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I say in the dedication of UP TO THE CHALLENGE – <i>For Fran.
You've been with me from the beginning. Thank you for the push.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today is not goodbye. There are more adventures ahead for
this crew, and I'm excited to watch these ladies take over the world. Never
doubt that's exactly what will happen.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now, let's reminisce. What are some of your
favorite blogs from our six year stint? The Bon Voyage Rum Balls are on the
table, and Chance is still mixing drinks (with or without rum.) Raise a toast,
goose a hottie, and let's have a party.</span></b>Terri Osburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17176989488447450585noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-42844023099125045022013-09-27T00:00:00.000-04:002013-09-27T00:00:10.742-04:00Last Call at the Bar
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_ERgGbScNKQ8dsP72UYR6cs0hVGocRIyngTRDj8ckMWFYwOdluHczrLk55XHrRHBQw10KEtka87-uHcUf5ypkXZQ4S9QZDi65rpkj4BTNB0-0Pst84h8h22ReDZ_NXqai0dcniwYzHY/s1600/open-book-magic-on-black.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_ERgGbScNKQ8dsP72UYR6cs0hVGocRIyngTRDj8ckMWFYwOdluHczrLk55XHrRHBQw10KEtka87-uHcUf5ypkXZQ4S9QZDi65rpkj4BTNB0-0Pst84h8h22ReDZ_NXqai0dcniwYzHY/s1600/open-book-magic-on-black.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, I thought about getting drunk and having a blog full
of nothing by self-pity and whining and they’d we’d finally get over the
melancholy and start telling dirty jokes and laughing. But it seems like most
of that has all been done…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve wiped this bar a thousand times, from the first one I
put together, made up of old scraps lying about the deck. Some I fished out of
the water. The Kraken brought me more. I salvaged nail and used my shoe to
hammer it together. Only sat one, but the rest of you were willing to wait for
a turn. Or Hels would come by and kick Jack outta the way so the rest had a
chance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then I had the great fancy bar, but it really were a bit
much. And though Hector liked it, he was willing to help me start anew when we returned
to our less grand digs. At least he found me some shelves that weren’t so
warped. And time passed…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tales we told to each other, and drinks we shared,
friendships were forged and oaths sworn. And now? Now the Revenge prepares for
its greatest adventure…into the unknown depths of the cyberseas. And who knows
what she’ll find there?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I imagine, years from now, we writer selves will meet our
pirate selves upon a sandy beach, still warm from a day’s sun, the sky full of
a million stars bursting so bright one could read by them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The pirates will step to the beach, eyes telling impossible
stories of where they’ve sailed and what they’ve seen, the creatures they
discovered, the treasures and troubles they earned. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And we writers? We will be wise with the knowledge of life,
friendships and learning. Some with children, some with dogs, cats…partners.
Precious books in hand, read and written. I can see Christie, a kitten on each
shoulder, head shadowed by the deep hood of her jacket, bopping to the music
filling her head from the earbuds. Fran will smack her shoulder, dislodge one
of the kittens and hand it back as the earbuds fall away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Terri, Marnee and Halleigh… Santa, J Perry, Lisa and Sabrina…Donna
and Leslie…and the familiar visitors, Janga, Quantum, P. Kirby, Irish… What a
grand party it will be!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Off to the side, a fire roars, and two familiar voices call
out. Jack and Hector stop their constant bickering long enough to welcome back
all the pirates, real and cyber. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Me? I’ll be there. I’ll be handing out drinks, all the
favorites. The Glittery Hooha, The Mighty Mast, The Cock & Balls, The
Bo'sun Burner, The Penis Pill, Silent as Sin, The Wild Cock, Hells' Fire, The
Marneasy, The Rum n'Bum, The Seething Passion, The Booty Call, Sandy Pirate Sex,
Wild Undead Monkey Sex , The Captain's Cocoa Puff, The<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A'moral Compass, The Kraken's Feast ,The
Facegod, The Bombay Bomber, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stephanie's
Flaming Double Stuffed Twinkies, Full Sail Frappuccino, The Double Dori, The
Terrio Speedwagon, and more, or so many more! (If you want the full list, send
me an email, I’ll send it to you.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We’ll sing all night, swap stories and lies, kisses and
maybe more as I suspect the Bandits will come with the Hotties they employed
who lost their posts when the Revenge went off. The party will never end, and
slowly, the pirates and the writers will remember each other and as the sun
rises, we’ll be taking up the oars and heading for the ship…she waits for us,
just past the horizon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And I got nothing more to say. 2nd Chance is such a deep
part of myself, and I came to love her and want her and…want to be her. To me,
the Revenge will always be there, on the horizon… <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Kraken’s Mirror</i> started on this ship, in more ways then I’ll
ever reveal. And from that first, came the rest. Thank you, Hellion, Terrio,
Marnee, Hal and all for letting me crawl aboard and create my other self. We
have danced, and sung, drank and written, and thrown our critics to the Kraken…
Now, the wind fills our sails and the ship…she slips away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m off to cry. Then get drunk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/AeXeUUCpOYg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Maureenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517092592545660754noreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-76214703182682211642013-09-26T03:30:00.000-04:002013-09-26T03:30:00.562-04:00The Final FANTABULOUS Interview with Capt. Jack Sparrow Featuring Nan Reinhardt<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</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>
<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="1" 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:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jack:</b> Hello
there, darlings. You didn't think you could end this drunken voyage without
another visit from old Jack, now did you? Silly pirates. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/18100000/Captain-Jack-Sparrow-captain-jack-sparrow-18163396-1024-768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/18100000/Captain-Jack-Sparrow-captain-jack-sparrow-18163396-1024-768.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bosun:</b> Jack, we
had a deal. I agreed to let you have your moment, but you cannot make this
about you. Focus on our guest.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jack:</b> Don't get
your whistle in a twist, dearie. I've got your annoying blue cards right here.
*shakes stack of large blue index cards in Bosun's face* Now where is this Ms.
Reinhardt? This says she writes sexy romance novels. I must meet her
immediately.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bosun:</b> *smack her
forehead while pointing to the stage* She's over there. Just stick with the
damn cards for once.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jack:</b> *flitting
toward the guest* Whatever you say, Bossy. *takes the guest's hand dropping a
kiss on her knuckles* Welcome to The Revenge. Let's talk sexy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJNVF4qaaeCrrxZfkACqtiIDUd85asFRL5JyZrGh7Oz7On4HIZXAab7mPoTX5LZEhyQGT-LZC2L6b5QwpXWP_-efTdCk497gZyTmDGZBIBnMotezici70DfjA7CEQXPMLANNSCHRQPx3Kp/s1600/nan02.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/AVvXsEhJNVF4qaaeCrrxZfkACqtiIDUd85asFRL5JyZrGh7Oz7On4HIZXAab7mPoTX5LZEhyQGT-LZC2L6b5QwpXWP_-efTdCk497gZyTmDGZBIBnMotezici70DfjA7CEQXPMLANNSCHRQPx3Kp/s200/nan02.jpg" width="151" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Nan:</b> Oh, my,
Captain Jack... you do make a girl’s heart flutter! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bosun:</b> JACK!! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jack:</b> Yes, yes.
The cards. So, Nan Reinhardt, since this is your first visit aboard the ship,
tell us a bit about yourself and these sexy stories of yours.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Nan:</b> Well, Jack,
I’m a romance author and yes, my stories are sexy, but more important, they’re
about women in their prime. Mature women who are still living life to the
fullest or at least trying to. My series is about several women who live in
Willow Bay, Michigan, thus <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Women of
Willow Bay</i>. Carrie in ONCE MORE FROM THE TOP is a photographer and a single
mom raising her teenaged son and doing pretty well when the man she’s always
been in love with reappears in her life. In SEX AND THE WIDOW MILES, Julie, who
is Carrie’s best friend, has been widowed a year and is trying to work through
her grief. She goes to Chicago for the winter to get away from all the memories
and discovers a new life and maybe even a new love. My heroines are all over 40
because as we all know women only get sexier and more interesting as they get
older. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FFIVRHM" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXnIeaKTerlls6SRGNQB3ZbfZishli8fcnRgSEosXnyEvD2eeHNVNaeGxZigrwURMpQkavhpDu3i1Bhko99HE5fxbSfneW-6B7ZCbMArdcnYjIFcf98tyuLC4csk5-EZNKB6BjuMR1SAk/s320/SATWM.final_small.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jack:</b> More mature
heroines sounds right up my alley. The young ones take too much effort anymore.
It's nice to find a woman who knows what she's doing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bosun:</b> Is there a
question in there, Jack?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jack:</b> Ignore the
control freak behind the curtain. Goodness knows everyone else does. Now where
were we. So two books at once. What made you take that route?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Nan:</b> Actually, my
editor, the fabulous Lani Diane Rich of <a href="http://www.storywonk.com/">StoryWonk</a>,
suggested releasing both books at the same time. At first I was a little
skeptical, but the old publishing model doesn’t work so well with e-books. We
wanted <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">both</i> books to be available so
that if you buy one and want to read the next one, you won’t have to wait
several months for it to release. They’re both right there, right now.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jack:</b> Solid
reasoning there. You follow your own path. I like that about you. *flips to
next card* Tell us a bit more about this Willow Bay. Maybe we could settle the
ship there after our final day in port here.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Nan:</b> Willow Bay
is a fictitious little village on the west coast of Michigan, but it’s based on
one of my favorite places in the whole world, Frankfort, Michigan, which is about
40 minutes south of Traverse City. I’ve always loved that area, so I chose that
setting. You ship would be welcome, I’m sure—there are plenty of deep water
harbors in the area and plenty of great places to eat. But mind you, it’s
north, so winters are damn chilly—lots of ice and snow…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jack:</b> Cold then.
Maybe we'll stick to warmer climes. I want to know more about the women of this
bay though. Exactly where does the sexy bit come in? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FFCNGHC" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVuI8SgISWmxJkExcKcP8XdElTJMCjGloM45uMJrVJw-t0q91NSKYuUC_osW0jcdbJu7HqxRAhVSEfZUoUjU88hrj5qzlOghpthtbrceuN_ZIyz8u-3J3d721fmQxZdt0i3TGZ5mYF7U-p/s320/OMFTT.final_small.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Nan:</b> The sexy bit
comes in when Carrie in ONCE MORE FROM THE TOP discovers that she’s still in
love with Maestro Liam Reilly and that the chemistry between them is just as
strong as it was sixteen years before—maybe stronger. As for Julie, in SEX AND
THE WIDOW MILES… well, she meets Will Brody, the handsome <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">young</i> guy in the apartment across the hall and they heat up a
Chicago winter when Will finds out that an older woman can be very hot.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jack:</b> I like you
even more now. A younger man, though? Wouldn't this Jules like a weathered
pirate? One who knows his way around and under—</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bosun:</b> *smacks
Jack in the back of the head* If you don't stop right there I'm ordering the
crew to leave you on a deserted island. Again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jack:</b> *rubbing
the back of his skull* You're a violent wench. No wonder the hotties are all
afraid of you. Excuse me, Nan. I was going to say under the stars. Yes, that
sounds plausible. Now, will there be more adventures on Willow Bay in the
future?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Nan:</b> You betcha. Coming
up, we have Sophie Russo, who was a summer resident for years, but has just
recently moved to Willow Bay permanently after a nasty divorce, and Sarah
Everett, the manager of the consignment shop from Julie’s book, is coming for a
visit and may just decide to stay and become a citizen of Willow Bay. After
that… who knows?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jack:</b> Lovely! Now tell us where we can find you to keep up with
your sexy exploits, and is there anything you'd like to ask the crew to get
things going today?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Nan:</b> Right now,
both books are KDP Select titles and are available exclusively at Amazon.com. You can click on the book covers to go directly to Amazon. You can
also go to my <a href="http://www.nanreinhardt.com/" target="_blank">website</a>, read blurbs from the books or my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/authornanreinhardt?ref=hl" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>,
and you can Tweet me @NanReinhardt. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I’d love to hear from
the crew! My question for the crew today would have to be, how do you feel
about romance novel heroines who are more mature—40, 50, or even 60 years old?
Is a story still sexy and romantic if the heroine isn’t twenty-something?</b></div>
Terri Osburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17176989488447450585noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-47323935953979415122013-09-25T00:00:00.000-04:002013-09-25T00:00:07.643-04:00The Power Of Inclusion...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCqy4s0nJT8PmAzTe3PZVyOw8l_DYfeNah9HL1P05zaicpF2TwfRGUkbNsf3S4a12lUk2_zOf-NHNnjSAtJwNwe3Ax2Qb6YBlN8iihgsaiv4EMTnPfFUD4ySnQXaUFC15NfpqYywa_qle/s1600/MH900430991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCqy4s0nJT8PmAzTe3PZVyOw8l_DYfeNah9HL1P05zaicpF2TwfRGUkbNsf3S4a12lUk2_zOf-NHNnjSAtJwNwe3Ax2Qb6YBlN8iihgsaiv4EMTnPfFUD4ySnQXaUFC15NfpqYywa_qle/s320/MH900430991.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As the newest crew member on The Revenge I wanted to use my last blog post to not only thank the rest of the crew for the wonderful opportunity, but also for the personal support that I know will continue on beyond the life of this blog. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Of all the things being part of this crew has given me, the lesson that will resonate forever with me is the power of inclusion. Being a newbie writer, struggling to find my way, to feel as if I had the right to call myself a writer, to find some sense of foothold along the treacherous path writers endure, something magical happened when I was officially asked to become a blogger with The Revenge. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Now I might not have blogged that often, nor can I claim to have given any immensely compelling insight into the writing process, but my inclusion as a member of this crew might have helped me more than my posts helped anyone else. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Advice. Support. Straight talk. Cheerleading. Reminders about big girl panties. Validation. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This crew has provided me with these and so much more and it all came down to the power of inclusion. They included me. By asking me to join their group it went beyond just writing a few blogs. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It lit a fire in me. I went from having spent two years trying to write my first book, to finishing the first, entering my first writing contest, outlining two more books while starting book two. Inclusion can do that. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">All it took was someone asking me to be a part of something bigger than the blank page in front of me. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This crew has taken me beyond what I could have done on my own simply by making me feel apart of something bigger that gave some legitimacy to the time I spent writing. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So with my last post I want to leave this crew and our readers with this one point - include someone. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Whether it's just including that writer you see sitting alone at a conference or asking a newbie like myself to join a blog or critique group, extending an invitation to them will mean so much more than you can image. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My writing journey really started when I signed up for the amazing Judi McCoy's writer's boot camp at the RT Booklovers Convention. As you all know, Judi was an amazing woman who lived to include, to build-up, and to empower young writers. At the same time I met Judi I met an equally amazing, and honestly, an even more empowering woman for me - Maureen, our own lovely 2nd Chance. Both took it upon themselves to connect with me and I will be forever grateful and in awe of their selfless acts to help new writers. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">What began with these two woman was lifted into something affirming and life-changing when Terri extended the invitation to become a writer here on The Revenge. It was the power of inclusion. Thank you so much for including me, for giving me a sense that I could conquer the blank page. Your invitation took me out of solidarity and allowed me to identify as finally, a "writer." </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>My dear crew, I'd love to hear your stories of being included - whether with your writing or personal life. Was there a special moment that has stuck with you as being a deal-changer or had long-lasting personal meaning? How did you come to join The Revenge?</strong> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08207269714279481677noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-35841930844150951232013-09-24T00:00:00.000-04:002013-09-24T00:00:08.739-04:00Having Perspective: Or "I Got a Whole Lot of White American Girl Problems"<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</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>
<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="1" 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:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Thousand-Splendid-Suns-Khaled-Hosseini/dp/159448385X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379968671&sr=8-1&keywords=a+thousand+splendid+suns" target="_blank">A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS</a> is the second book by Khalid
Hosseini, who also wrote The Kite Runner, which I have read yet but will since
completing this book. His writing is poetic, almost soothing to read, even as
you’re reading about such horrific monstrosities. There were parts I was
basically reading through my fingers because it was like watching a horror
flick for me. This book came out in 2007, so as you might notice, I’m clearly
not on any bandwagons or following anyone’s book clubs very quickly, but always
better late than never. Quite frankly, I think the Universe was having a bit of
a laugh at my expense because the last eight days have been less than my
favorites in my life. In fact, if there comes a point where the Counselor and I
are looking at my life on an iPad, I’ll be like, “Just skip those days. I’d
rather not remember them if it’s all the same.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But then I read this book, and what I’ve got is White
American Girl problems. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The main character of this book is Mariam, and this chick
has problems. So while I was pissed about my job and righteously thinking up
ways to send my resume all over God’s green earth, I’d read this and go, “Well,
at least I don’t work there. Under the Taliban.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And it made the work week slightly more bearable. I at least
didn’t go around with signs and saying, “You’re oppressing me!” because you
know, if you want to be comparative about it, I’m clearly not. I may be a bit
misused, but clearly, if it’s a real problem, I can find a new job—and that’s
totally allowed in this country, so long as you can find another. Eventually I
hope they’re not so thin to the ground and I can find something better. I’m not
stuck in a house I’m never allowed to leave, being beaten and denigrated daily,
and making rice for an ungrateful asshole. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then my relationship bubble burst, and that just degraded a
whole other aspect of my life and I was feeling sorry for myself, poor betrayed
heartbroken creature I am. And then I thought, “Well, at least I didn’t have to
live like Mariam and her marriage. I can move on or do something; in her
country, that’s not the option.” Which I basically thought every single time we
had to be in her POV and her husband decided to be his usual garbagy self. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s a story about how you know if you’ve lived a good life,
no matter how horrific its circumstances were, because that’s one of the
conclusions Mariam draws: she loved and was loved by the important people in
her life and her life mattered. So again, not a bad thought to be reminded
about while I was having my white girl problems. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyway, I totally recommend it. The writing is absorbing;
the plot is absorbing; the characters are memorable. I think I will always remember
Mariam as a heroine. And the last line of the book made me sob—so you know that’s
a good book. I mean, it was a “happy ending” of sorts, but the expense at which
it came was so great…you just seem to appreciate it all the more. I think we
should all read more of these kinds of books so we can all keep our white girl
problems in perspective.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>What do you read when you need to put your life in
perspective? Anything memorable where you went: DAMN, I don’t have problems
like that, Thank God….</b></div>
Hellie Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03933713255844695337noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-24937389079862357222013-09-23T00:40:00.002-04:002013-09-23T00:40:49.984-04:00Black MomentsWell, if you knew me well, you knew I loved talking about black moments in books.<br />
<br />
This week, there's been a lot of Black Moments roiling around me, threatening to sink my ship every five to ten minutes. There were days this week I came home and cried--and you know as well as I do there is no crying in pirating. I was so quiet and sad tonight at the farm, my dad grabbed my hand as I was leaving--and he doesn't do that, you see--and I asked if anything was wrong, and he just smiled and I knew he knew something was wrong I couldn't talk about. Which only made me love him more.<br />
<br />
I was thinking about that incident on the drive home, how I was having a Black Moment...and it was the kind that has literary fiction all over it. But then I remembered that my current reputation with bad days is that I've survived 100% of them and even been happy again, so it stands to reason even if I'm a little sad, in the midst of a Black Moment now, and it seems all hope is lost--well, I write genre fiction and the Black Moment is never where the book ends. And if it's still a Black Moment, then it's not the end. Goddamnit.<br />
<br />
So if we're all a little sadder than usual this week, if we all feel we're in the midst of a Black Moment from which no light shall shine again, just remember--if you're still in the Black Moment, it's not the end and just sail on until you do get to Tortuga...and there is rum and hotties and publishing contracts and everything you've dreamed of. It's all going to be okay. <br />
<br />
So I'm sorry this isn't a glamorous send off with a parody and dancing hotties and everything else my reputation begs me to present here for my very last blog on the ship, but it is a bit like the speech from BRAVEHEART, when William Wallace rides up and down the line of gathered Scotsmen and says, "They may take our lives, but they will never take our FREEDOM!"--sorta like that. <br />
<br />
Black Moments may take our happiness for a while, but they will never take our hope. And as you also know, if we writers didn't suffer, we wouldn't have anything worth writing about--so really, the suffering is just part of the gig. <br />
<br />
<strong>So not sure what the questions should be--maybe "If Hellie had not been in the doldrums, what would have liked to have seen for the last blog?"--we can have a little fantasy like that. Or really, talk about whatever...it's the last week. Tangents just beg to be done now. </strong>Hellie Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03933713255844695337noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-14895680618725393392013-09-20T02:00:00.000-04:002013-09-20T02:00:06.304-04:00Thanks...for the memories...Okay, so you have to have seen a Lawrence Welk show in your past to get that lyric - which is something no self-respecting pirate should ever admit. But this is my last post as a pirate, dammit! And even thought I haven't been here very long, I'm feeling sentimental.<br />
<br />
I didn't start out as a pirate, but these wenches...I'm sorry...rather piratey women, invited me to join their crew. And it was great! I love these ladies! They're funny and smart and they never say anything about my addiction to cake and vodka and cake-flavored vodka (mostly because it meant more rum for them).<br />
<br />
But every adventure has to have an end and I guess here's where The Romance Writers' Revenge docks for good - I'm assuming in Tortuga - or maybe to see new life as a Carnival Cruise ship (and if that's the case, we should probably take the undead monkey with us).<br />
<br />
Let me just say that if anyone on this crew ever needs an assassin for any reason - you know where to find me! Even if you don't need my, um, particular skill set and you just need some idiot to show up and act obnoxious - I'm your gal.<br />
<br />
Thanks guys, for letting me play a small part. You always made me feel like part of the crew. I love you all.<br />
<br />
And I hope we will all stay in touch because I need each and every one of you. And not just to help dispose of bodies - but for any other reason too (although I should say up front that you probably shouldn't ask me to be a square dancing partner - everything else is okay).<br />
<br />
All my love to the crew,<br />
The AssassinLeslie Langtryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06616716802552673056noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-33782151766727717322013-09-19T09:58:00.000-04:002013-09-19T09:58:24.347-04:00International Talk Like A Pirate DayI felt we should acknowledge this day. Being pirates and all. Also, great excuse to post some pirate hotties.<br />
<br />
Argh, me mateys! These be some prime pickins. (I didn't say I was good at the pirate speak.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://data.whicdn.com/images/26492733/564132_370121476366587_100001062140210_1140025_1304453389_n_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="http://data.whicdn.com/images/26492733/564132_370121476366587_100001062140210_1140025_1304453389_n_large.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://hollywoodhatesme.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/pirates-of-the-caribbean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://hollywoodhatesme.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/pirates-of-the-caribbean.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://media3.s-nbcnews.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070523/070523_flynn_vmed_3p.grid-4x2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media3.s-nbcnews.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070523/070523_flynn_vmed_3p.grid-4x2.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v344/Aclaire48/the-black-swan-henry-king-1942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v344/Aclaire48/the-black-swan-henry-king-1942.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Terri Osburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17176989488447450585noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-32419285333340701922013-09-18T00:25:00.002-04:002013-09-18T00:25:37.490-04:00Empty Nest<!--[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:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</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]--><br />
<!--[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="1" 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-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
text-indent:.5in;
line-height:200%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is my pirate goodbye. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I feel like I’m about to have one of those sad montages. You
know what I’m talking about. These scenes have a Boyz II Men song playing in
the background. Us pirates are garbed in white robes and the light of heaven
shines down on us while we tearfully hug one another promising to keep in
touch. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But in all reality, we’re just messing around and we rip off
our white robes to reveal sultry skimpy pirate garb and pull out barrels of
liquor to ply Satan with while we take over hell. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In all honesty, it hit me a little harder than I thought it
would. I’m not much of a sentimental girl. I don’t like hugs. I don’t like
talking about my feelings. But the thought of saying goodbye to a ship’s deck I’ve
spent countless days upon (well, more like all my time in the Crow’s Nest with
the Undead Monkey) is a little sentimental. It was upon the ship’s deck I
realized I could possibly write an original story. I could branch out from just
fan fiction. That I was capable of telling a different kind of story. I’ve
stumbled plenty over the years but reading the encouraging words of this ship’s
crew kept me going when I wanted to just give it up. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m really just a girl who likes to wear baggy sweatpants
and hoodies. I stay up way past a reasonable bed time in favor of romancing the
keyboard with my fingertips in an attempt to write the stories embedded in this
mind. Yet, these few year have made me feel like someone who could be a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">writer</i>. You made me feel like I just had
to put my mind to it and you’d believe I could do it. So thank you to the crew –
the pirates – who befriended a nobody fan fiction writer on the Eloisa James
board and encouraged me to come blog about a subject I really don’t have any
useful knowledge about (writing). And the commenters who stayed with me even
when my blogs turned into crazy rambling attempts to convey writing things. And
the readers who may not have commented but took the time to stop by. Last the
friends I’ve gained from this adventure. We’ll always be friends. That’s what
this is all about.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So thank you. May I see you again in the future; and if not,
good luck with your own adventures. When the going gets tough remember there is
someone out there waiting to read your story. I believe in you Dear Writer.Dear Commenter.
Dear Reader. Dear Friend.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tell me what’s been
your favorite part of the RWR experience and what you’ll miss the most.</b></div>
Sinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04693942923188644280noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-19767609803359895092013-09-17T00:00:00.000-04:002013-09-17T00:00:01.042-04:00Outlander: Finally Read<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</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>
<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="1" 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:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
To this day, I don’t understand why my favorite professor,
Dr. Barrow will not read the Harry Potter series. He says he can’t get into
them; they’re too unbelievable, etc, etc. I think he’s crazy. However, I also
realize my experience of the novel, Outlander, is probably a lot like Dr.
Barrow’s experience of Harry Potter (though I actually finished reading
Outlander and he cannot say the same for Harry.) After reading—finally finishing—Outlander,
I get it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not the Outlander experience or need for an amusement park
or the fandom, per se, but Dr. Barrow’s experience. Some books just don’t work
for an individual no matter how they’re written.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For instance, let’s take the fact that I love: time-travel,
Scotland, history, hot men, angst, humor, sex, and all the varied other things
that Outlander definitely included in its 800 some pages. But the arrangement
didn’t, as a whole, work for me. I cannot deny that Diana Galbadon is a good
writer; that she has an excellent grasp on the history, setting, psychology,
and social aspects of 18<sup>th</sup> century Scotland; that her description is
painstakingly flawless and as such, I never want to time travel to pretty much
any time before the time I’m living in because I’m way too spoiled. It’s just
in the end, it’s not a romance to me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maybe if I had read the series back when it first came out,
I was at an impressionable enough age then to have appreciated it in all its
gory glory, but now, not so much. Now for me, romance is HAPPY. I’m all about
the happy. It’s not that I’m against angst; I do love me some angst, but in the
end, I want me some HAPPY, not the kind of happy for the next five to ten
minutes in which this book seemed to end. Yes, it ended with a HEA resolution
of sorts, for the momentary second, but with all the promise of it all going to
hell again in five seconds. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Which it did. Because there was another book that follows,
right? And so on and so forth, and there’s a book coming out this year or so,
right? She’s like the combined version of Nicholas Sparks and G.R.R. Martin. I
wouldn’t say she writes romance, but she does write a love story; and of
course, like Martin’s fiction, the ending still has yet to be determined. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, there were some pages of the 800 or so where I was
like, “Oh, I would like to scan and send that to Deerhunter. That’s so
beautiful!”—but I think the sum total of these pages were 3. They were
beautiful, beautiful words; she completely captured the sentiment and emotion
of true love. And then she followed it up with something gory and dark, and I
was like, “Well, clearly winter is coming.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This book falls into an odd category for me. It was readable
and the pace picked up considerably where I was reading it all the time I had a
moment last week, but it is not a book I’d keep. I don’t think I would read
beyond this one, but who knows? So if people asked if it was a good book, I
would say, “Yes, it was a good book.” But if they asked if I’d recommend it—or if
it is a must read, not so much. And mind you, this book won a RITA. Apparently the RWA believed it was a romance (rather than a love story). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">So what do you think
of epic fantasy novels? A la Outlander…or Game of Thrones…or anything. Are
there some you prefer over others? Or do you avoid them altogether? </b></div>
Hellie Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03933713255844695337noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-25653966378911019262013-09-16T03:30:00.000-04:002013-09-16T03:30:03.507-04:00An Excellent Defense with Isla BennetToday I am happy to introduce my fellow Montlake Romance author, <a href="http://www.islabennet.com/" target="_blank">Isla Bennet</a>, who recently celebrated the release of her first book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Texas-Redeemed-Night-Novel-ebook/dp/B00CPPQ0HK/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1379258648" target="_blank">TEXAS REDEEMED</a>.<br />
<br />
Here's the blurb from Amazon:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBwHaS2uwlU2YdDYBBMPY4isGlc0aSuxYebF3yB-BgQfUvFe8OM-b_bpzMov10oQyMnPr8qqInWbpiE983jQtZ0I09Iu86P0dKrlXtbJj8cJnrYiVqdPlKujdmMZKAiKt84MFH37wLJns5/s1600/texas-redeemed-200.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/AVvXsEjBwHaS2uwlU2YdDYBBMPY4isGlc0aSuxYebF3yB-BgQfUvFe8OM-b_bpzMov10oQyMnPr8qqInWbpiE983jQtZ0I09Iu86P0dKrlXtbJj8cJnrYiVqdPlKujdmMZKAiKt84MFH37wLJns5/s320/texas-redeemed-200.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
Ranch owner Valerie Jordan learned the hard way that people carve out their own destiny. She knows firsthand what can come of one night of unchecked attraction and lost inhibitions. And she also knows there’s only one way to handle guarded missionary doctor Peyton Turner: with caution. Thirteen years ago, they went from being friends to lovers to strangers. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
To save himself and outrun his past, Peyton disappeared. Now the prodigal son of Night Sky, Texas, is home—though he has no intention of staying. But once the revelation that he and Valerie share a troubled teenage daughter sends him on a hunt for answers, there’s no avoiding one another…no ignoring the undeniable desire that draws them together.<br /><br />Texas Redeemed is a passionately written and emotionally gripping story of lust and risk, love and forgiveness, of confronting the damaging secrets of the past for a chance at redemption.<br /><br />Before graduate school, before college—before high school,
even—and certainly before I composed even one word of my debut contemporary
romance, TEXAS REDEEMED, I was a romance fiction enthusiast. It all began with
Judy Blume’s FOREVER, and soon after reading that I was toting thick historical
romances and dog-eared series paperbacks in my book bag. I read on the school
bus, in the cafeteria and in the library. I developed a mature vocabulary and
quite an imagination. Years after starting my secret tryst with the genre I
went to college and realized that there should be nothing “secret” about
reading romance. It was there for me when I was a kid trying to figure out what
kind of adult I wanted to be. It gave me the unshakable love for reading and
writing that I have today. I appreciate what it offers to readers—but what I
don’t appreciate are people who degrade the genre based on ignorance.<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirFYUxtPROCjbNaFy7y3MGlH5sLrOUZE_ILht4lmFswpjYNDjIlPCCiJUwDx2MyNWIeKpPv5BSym6xQjswIMA-l-Ptmu5h14Sd-Tjz0W8F6EAmtEmKlGTh6qEJr2AY_JM_sb6jq9QYbekN/s1600/IBennet+Author+Photo+0625.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/AVvXsEirFYUxtPROCjbNaFy7y3MGlH5sLrOUZE_ILht4lmFswpjYNDjIlPCCiJUwDx2MyNWIeKpPv5BSym6xQjswIMA-l-Ptmu5h14Sd-Tjz0W8F6EAmtEmKlGTh6qEJr2AY_JM_sb6jq9QYbekN/s200/IBennet+Author+Photo+0625.jpg" width="143" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In literary criticism classes and creative writing workshops
alike, I’ve been asked this question: “But you’re so smart—why do you read (or
write) romance?” That is quite possibly the biggest complisult (backhanded
compliment) ever tossed my way. It feeds some of the stigmas and fallacies
attached to romance fiction, such as 1) romance appeals only to unintelligent
people and 2) highly educated people can’t understand or enjoy complex, sexy
and relatable characters that face real conflicts and somehow overcome them to
achieve ultimate happiness. And 3) book smarts is the only measure of
intelligence. Not everyone has the opportunity to obtain higher learning.
Sometimes, it’s the stuff outside of textbooks and classrooms—life lessons—that
offers a true education.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So here’s the deal. I don’t like the segregation in academia
that values literary fiction but not popular fiction … or, say, the work of a
Brontë but not the work of a contemporary romance author. Not that romance
fiction needs to be intellectual, but I think it can be educational. After all,
it taught me a great deal about men, women, friendship, careers, sex and relationships.
It’s true that this genre isn’t for everyone, but it shouldn’t be written off
for containing themes of romance, passion or seduction when these very same
themes can be found in the most celebrated works of Homer, Shakespeare and
Austen.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, readers, why<b> </b>do
you read romance? Writers—why do you write romance?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">XOXO to Terri Osburn for introducing me to this terrific group and
hosting me on this kickass blog today!</span></div>
Terri Osburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17176989488447450585noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-87249483920662828902013-09-13T00:00:00.000-04:002013-09-13T00:00:10.820-04:00
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Luck – Yup, It’s All About the Luck<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What is the one thing that authors seldom talk about when it
comes to being published?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The role luck plays in everything. Good luck and bad luck.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Writers talk about stick-to-itness. About the rules, about
grammar, punctuation, agents, editors, and usually, they won’t mention luck.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Instead, everyone pretends it’s about how hard you work, or
how well you write, or…anything but luck. No one wants to acknowledge luck and
the role it plays.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But, ah…luck. Luck is the wind that pushes one boat just a tad
ahead of another… It’s the ride up the elevator with someone who knows someone
who knows someone who is looking for what you just wrote… Luck is having a
well-known TV personality diss your book and start a sales frenzy that never
seems to end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">That’s not to say that everything else doesn’t play a massive
part and sometimes, one doesn’t need luck, because the rest of life falls into
place to reward your abilities. And sometimes, you have it all, but bad luck
means it takes time…because your dream editor, who probably would have adored
your book…save she was served divorce papers today and you romantic hero has
the same name of her rotten soon-to-be ex.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But for a group that writes so much of luck and chance and
serendipity, it is amazing how many authors won’t acknowledge luck. As if
mentioning it will diminish their accomplishments. But really, it isn’t easy to
court luck. To woo luck and put yourself, constantly, on the road where you
hope luck will pass, see you and take notice. Because there are a lot of times
that luck isn’t on the road, it took a plane that day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">You can’t count on luck, but you can be humble in the presence
of luck. Light a candle to her, or him. However you view luck.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Luck is why I’m alive. If my husband had taken a longer
shower, or fallen asleep with earplugs in…I wouldn’t be here. Luck is why I’m
blogging today… Luck is how I found that swag room at the San Francisco RWA
Nationals and picked up that postcard, left by Terri.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I was lucky to find the Revenge and be part of this wonderful
experience…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcmmHEkVa9Xr9r2oGcXIRWGPU5vIGDbSvlsktWLdU2bC7VgfWXIJbFO3H_GKd-W-TlgCqehglEvXuxEobCTMleOdUjgt8ZqKjrsl4-hlLzfgz2ZJh1DiwO_uK8BiZxAfeV9VO-wSgSOY/s1600/1576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcmmHEkVa9Xr9r2oGcXIRWGPU5vIGDbSvlsktWLdU2bC7VgfWXIJbFO3H_GKd-W-TlgCqehglEvXuxEobCTMleOdUjgt8ZqKjrsl4-hlLzfgz2ZJh1DiwO_uK8BiZxAfeV9VO-wSgSOY/s320/1576.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And as luck had it, look who sauntered by? It’s Deuce! Or as I like to call him, Ace. And just in time for me and the hubby to leave for Washington DC! "Sweetie, got room on the jet?" (Yes, I'm flying on Friday, the 13th.)</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">How have
you been lucky?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
Maureenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517092592545660754noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-23755639691091846442013-09-11T07:06:00.004-04:002013-09-11T07:06:42.205-04:00Excuses, Excuses . . .This is my last blog . . . and I forgot to post it last night. This will come as a surprise to no one. In the past two years, I think I've put up my blog late probably half the time.<br />
<br />
And really, I have no excuse. There's a reminder in my personal calendar. There's a reminder that get's emailed to me. All the technology in the world is coming together to keep me on track, and I still somehow get behind.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<a href="http://littleguurrl.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/05-1125-cartoon_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="http://littleguurrl.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/05-1125-cartoon_large.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Which got me thinking about excuses, and the kinds of excuses we give.<br />
<br />
Has anybody ever come up with some excuse to escape, just to go read? Or write? I have to be honest, I regularly find myself making up excuses to leave a room or a group of people, to go read a book. I like books more than social interaction, but you can't say that to people. "I'm sorry, I much prefer to sit alone in a room with make-believe people than talk to you any more." It just doesn't have a friendly ring to it :)<br />
<br />
<b>Anybody else find themselves sneaking away from groups of people to go read a book? What kind of excuses do you give? What's the best excuse you've heard? Anyone else prefer a book to people? (Hellie, I know you're with me on this one!)</b><br />
<br />
And just because it's my last blog:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s538/emmaleewray/Post-hot-guy_zps93e004b7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s538/emmaleewray/Post-hot-guy_zps93e004b7.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />haleighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17495639119775924940noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-87843258970664268242013-09-10T09:37:00.001-04:002013-09-10T09:37:21.048-04:00Update: Outlander<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOTq-_bn4BVt-FYKoRu1zDRjxUU6Fpd3zIM-gO54tDT7C8poj-J2VgA6APCK6NftmsVishmYZBrkrjoZkMp3XsFZZdq34zaS9HE_ljWXB2MrMJQz_BbQUxXmR8nGtKt6rZBd1IAmFu2oh/s1600/abs-body-boy-boys-ryan-gosling-374020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOTq-_bn4BVt-FYKoRu1zDRjxUU6Fpd3zIM-gO54tDT7C8poj-J2VgA6APCK6NftmsVishmYZBrkrjoZkMp3XsFZZdq34zaS9HE_ljWXB2MrMJQz_BbQUxXmR8nGtKt6rZBd1IAmFu2oh/s1600/abs-body-boy-boys-ryan-gosling-374020.jpg" /></a></div>
Outlander is VERY LONG. I have nothing new to blog about bookwise because I'm still reading it. This is the only thing I find disappointing about the book so far because I prefer to have a new book every few days, due to my commitment issues.<br />
<br />
<b>What about you? Do you mind reading the same book for days--or weeks at a time? What are you reading this week?</b>Hellie Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03933713255844695337noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-69791918802813813402013-09-09T00:00:00.000-04:002013-09-09T00:00:02.158-04:00Is It Time for a Reunion Yet?
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqN2CLIxX5-8D-rT7_BnzylS01TeslZKoloZfbzAu7u3AsWQEGrsXZniw60uWAifoy0jwDxga8ybicvXiStNYZBeMSKlB1zhqla3pJNhA9nYUzxZTDdqwgPrrQt5c_f0ZxJyfZmOp-ENWT/s1600/ryan+gosling+writer+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqN2CLIxX5-8D-rT7_BnzylS01TeslZKoloZfbzAu7u3AsWQEGrsXZniw60uWAifoy0jwDxga8ybicvXiStNYZBeMSKlB1zhqla3pJNhA9nYUzxZTDdqwgPrrQt5c_f0ZxJyfZmOp-ENWT/s1600/ryan+gosling+writer+1.jpg" /></a></div>
I feel a little bit like the crew and I are part of a great
sitcom like FRIENDS. We’re comfortable; we’re funny; and we’ve had seasons
where you were like “Alright already!”, but you tune into us every week just
the same. Also, no matter how long you watch FRIENDS, not all threads tie up
and some things are still left where you know there are more stories to see.
Only you know that if you try to have a spin-off from this fabulous sitcom
(i.e. your own blog), it’s probably going to go a lot like that tragic season
of JOEY. It’s just not the same. <br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Sadly, ten years later, I still miss FRIENDS. I still
wouldn’t </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybJjNonQUvkV9fr0dXUN0mxpUarj2fu6YuIvkmLULXQkqpisORmRtk0iarldOuOJddghOfRBVpsYD9048VyMrqJmIoVj95cKYxEnblGqVyWz6FJs5MpQaNd_25pSqU3mjHdPO2inN46sL/s1600/ryan+gosling+writer+2.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/AVvXsEiybJjNonQUvkV9fr0dXUN0mxpUarj2fu6YuIvkmLULXQkqpisORmRtk0iarldOuOJddghOfRBVpsYD9048VyMrqJmIoVj95cKYxEnblGqVyWz6FJs5MpQaNd_25pSqU3mjHdPO2inN46sL/s320/ryan+gosling+writer+2.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
mind some made for TV movie of FRIENDS as a reunion. I’d love to see
how the twins are doing; if Ross and Rachel are still together; and if
Joey—bless his heart—actually ever made it. I also figure in ten years—and I’m
sure less—I will wish the Romance Writer’s Revenge will have a “made for blog”
reunion and catch everyone up on their shenanigans. But we probably won’t.
Here’s why: we all saw the Dukes of Hazzard reunion movies. Exactly. And the
Little House on the Prairie. And the—you get the idea. Reunions are for
reliving things that happened, but the fact is we’re all quite destined to
having even greater things after this blog. (And we’ll be much more successful
at it, I promise, because I’m pretty sure no star from FRIENDS actually went on
to another successful career in which anyone actually wants to watch the end
product. We’ve only been on air for half the time—and we’re much funnier. We’re
going to be okay. More than okay. We’re going to be kick-ass ninja awesome.)<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><!--[endif]-->So in ten years there won’t be a RWR reunion because there
won’t be a need to relive the good times. In ten years we’ll be counting up our
stack of books published between us, pointing at the awards on our mantels, and
talking about the new book we’re writing that is the best thing we’ve ever
done. Because that’s what writers do. We’re always producing the next big
thing. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqFCq_FnD71IseWQOI3ipF93d8qGjUXqCagiTHHy70_9lfueB9jjosGVIWKkVaT5OGUtDQpSBJfYCFLYTYoMVhyYS-5RA-TxgGv49it2vYzHGJpDdiZUCSrjeI32nggY4tcrZ0Ksb4EMt/s1600/what+a+writer+is+actually+doing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqFCq_FnD71IseWQOI3ipF93d8qGjUXqCagiTHHy70_9lfueB9jjosGVIWKkVaT5OGUtDQpSBJfYCFLYTYoMVhyYS-5RA-TxgGv49it2vYzHGJpDdiZUCSrjeI32nggY4tcrZ0Ksb4EMt/s1600/what+a+writer+is+actually+doing.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><!--[endif]-->So our RWR followers who have sailed with us all this time:
thank you, from my heart of hearts. Your kind attention and hearty discourse
made the RWR the best place to be. And to my pirates, keep sailing ahead. Our
best pirating is still before us—and you’re some of the best pirates I know. </div>
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><strong>So up for discussion: does anyone else miss FRIENDS or
is it only me? (That 70s Show and The Big Bang Theory helped immensely with the
loss, I must say.) Any good “reunion” shows that didn’t botch it? What is the
next big thing you’ll be doing when you leave the ship?</strong></span>Hellie Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03933713255844695337noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-1995620072455155812013-09-06T00:00:00.000-04:002013-09-06T00:00:03.966-04:00
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Dreams…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Yeah, I know we be looking ta go our separate ways soon, and
sail off on new adventures on our own, but I thought today…we could dream a
bit…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">About the ideal place to go, and who to go with. But being
writers…where would we go and with what writer…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And to make it extra fun…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Real place, living author as guide/mentor/best
buddy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Real place, dead author as guide/mentor/best
buddy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Fictional place, living or dead author as
guide/mentor/best buddy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Now, what sparked this idea? Terri’s posting of a dream workshop
being offered by Eloisa James. In Italy, ten days long. Yeah, really...<a href="http://www.minervaeducation.net/home.html" target="_blank">go look.<o:p></o:p></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Which, I admit, is tasty sounding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Got me thinking…where would I go and with who?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Being a big reader of fantas/scifi stuff…I sorta had a
difficulty. Since Middle Earth isn’t real…or the myriad of other worlds I’ve
trod across with a fav author… I had to work my imagination!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So… My picks, and why<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Tuscany, with Francis Mayes. Why? Okay, I admit, I
haven’t read the book, but I did see the movie, and it seemed to me that she
would be a fabulous guide to the Italian countryside. And I have a feeling…that
for what I write…I’d get more out of wandering about, talking writing with her
than with Eloisa. (As much as Eloisa is a darling…I don’t write real history.
But I do like to dive into the sort of memoir that Mayes wrote.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Ah…this was fun… And difficult! Alaska, with Jack
London? New York/New Jersey with Walt Whitman? The South Pacific with James
Michener… The Mississippi with Mark Twain… Ireland with Maeve Binchey… Too many
to pick from! (And yes, all authors I feel I could learn a great deal from!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Oddly enough, I’m not going to go with the
obvious. Nope, not Middle Earth with Tolkien. I think I’d have to go with the
Foundation Universe, with Isaac Asimov. Though the Chicago of Harry Dresden
with James Butcher is tempting…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And just for grins, I’m gonna add one more…
Fictional place/fictional character. Book or movie!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Commander Taylor and Terra Nova! (Though my
alternate might be the Caribbean, with Jack. Or Hector!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9UFI4dRa60CzXBSleZl1lfj8irWInaEVtYYnqS7yB_nnzut-YyGZwocUPMZj_VXO2ju6xD1Zg9KW1Oceo3kmbojtWlIpeXa8gPafRPo5khIXp_dkvDnYehOJL_OAp8r7hMUqXtQQsUQ/s1600/terra-nova-stephen-lang-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9UFI4dRa60CzXBSleZl1lfj8irWInaEVtYYnqS7yB_nnzut-YyGZwocUPMZj_VXO2ju6xD1Zg9KW1Oceo3kmbojtWlIpeXa8gPafRPo5khIXp_dkvDnYehOJL_OAp8r7hMUqXtQQsUQ/s320/terra-nova-stephen-lang-1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And with that, I get my hottie of the day in!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So,
readers, writers…visitors… Let’s hear your four answers!<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
</div>
Maureenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517092592545660754noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-22523685520579746002013-09-04T00:00:00.000-04:002013-09-04T00:00:04.285-04:00The Gunner's Final Thoughts<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is my last post on this blog. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Saying that makes me sad. I’ve been blogging here since the
beginning, back in fall of 2007, when we set off on this ship together. I still
remember the message Hellion sent me, asking me to join this crew. I don’t
know if I’ve ever said how happy I was, but I will now. My oldest son was wee small, not even
walking, and he was a rough baby. I was writing, but floundering with it,
trying to figure out my voice, trying to regain part of myself after having a
baby. It was a hard time and this ship was a lifeboat for me then.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Back then, there were only five of us and we weren’t sure
what the heck we were doing. That part
hasn’t changed—we still don’t always know what we’re doing—but other things
have changed. We changed web addys. We picked up new crew members along the way and some have set
sail on their own. We’ve all managed milestones along our paths. Some have
published. Some have gotten degrees. Some have had babies. Some have taken
breaks from writing and then returned. We’ve walked through all of this
together and through it all, one thing is constant: we have supported one
another.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is why I love the women on this boat so much and why I’m
thankful to have shared this deck with them for so long.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I need support with my writing, I turn to these women
and they have never let me down. I have been truly blessed to make their
acquaintance. And I know that while this blog may be coming to an end, our
friendships will continue.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So thank you, all of you.
Thank you, Hellie, for helming this crazy endeavor. It’s been a wild
ride.(O Captain, my Captain.) And thank you all who’ve come by and given your thoughts
and input over the years. My life has been enriched by knowing you.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>My final question to you here, just for fun. Let’s talk
crystallizing moments. Tell us about one moment in your life that changed you
forever. Good or bad.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh, and we decided there should be hotties this month. I aim to please.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRwfn8xWt8GgGTijBvMGH452I4SxWJSvZoyac4clIfXNXYGupnKzsIoFtIosGtXYNGr5Jo0fE_EoSoyV4VpTYReUQ377z_bZNyFfg2Zu9kg72Lg3nJHhNlxjpLHzheplHjCLdFdNqfQoF/s1600/for+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRwfn8xWt8GgGTijBvMGH452I4SxWJSvZoyac4clIfXNXYGupnKzsIoFtIosGtXYNGr5Jo0fE_EoSoyV4VpTYReUQ377z_bZNyFfg2Zu9kg72Lg3nJHhNlxjpLHzheplHjCLdFdNqfQoF/s320/for+blog.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Marnee Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01533816213473440342noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-58715742338797242812013-09-03T00:55:00.002-04:002013-09-03T00:55:41.142-04:00Books You Wish You Could Read Again the First TimeI've been distracted, so this isn't going to be the typical review. I didn't have a "new book" to share this week. Last week, I read a book I had read before--a handful of times over the years to be honest--but had been itching for.<br />
<br />
BEWITCHING by Jill Barnett. <br />
<br />
I was in college when this book came out the first time: purple with gold lettering and lots of stars. (It's the copy I still have.) And I remember my friend Jackie and I shared a room, but we couldn't share the book. We wanted to read it together, then we could stop and go, "Oh my gosh, did you get to the part--" It was really a most magical book, and I'm not talking about it being about a character who isn't a very good witch. Jackie and I swooned over this book and over Alec, the proud duke who wished to control everything and had no hope of controlling his wife. <br />
<br />
Have you ever been out in public and you see someone reading a beloved book on your keeper shelf--and you realize they're reading it for the very first time? You know, because you asked. Despite being introverts, bookworms will almost always ask: "Is it your first time reading it? Isn't it wonderful?" And if it is true; it is their first time, the bookworm will get a wistful look on her face and you know she's wishing she could read the book again for the first time. There is magic in a second reading, where you catch things you didn't see before or you relive a beloved moment (how can you not love that Alec's laugh sounds like the bark of a seal?), but there is only the first time you ever read a truly magical book.<br />
<br />
Harry Potter--the series, but especially the last one. The Lucy Hatch books. Hush, Hush. The Secret by Julie Garwood, and Saving Grace. Texas Destiny by Lorraine Heath. I could go through my keeper shelf and pull down a score or more of books that I wish I could read again for the first time. <br />
<br />
Yet there are books that other bookworms adore that I haven't read yet--and one in fact that I'm reading right now: OUTLANDER by Diana Gabaldon. No serious Scotland fanatic could possibly claim to have not read it, but I have not. I've had the book bought for over a year now and it's been on my TBR pile. I got it at a used book store for $2. I mean seriously, I paid full price for the other books listed above or thereabouts, but for OUTLANDER (the mecca of Scottish fiction), I didn't want to invest too heavily. *LOL* <br />
<br />
I'm on page 152 and loving it. Can't think why I haven't read it before...except for the fact the series still hasn't finished and the first book was published in 1991. That might have something to do with it. That aside though, I know there are bookworms out there who wish they could read OUTLANDER for the first time again, to experience the magic wholly again. <br />
<br />
<strong>Have you ever reread a book? Is there a book you wish you could read again for the first time? And are you reading anything now that is raved about everywhere that you know others wish they could read for the first time?</strong>Hellie Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03933713255844695337noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-77237233538940792312013-09-02T00:53:00.000-04:002013-09-02T00:53:11.595-04:00The Beginning of the End<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-MDoGR3QHyQI922oBsWTT6xmF_3U5NpDn7q5-47_H5GE-Ife9Hesj8hVWAjFnV3ksPIA1uPhTY1c0X9KKVL8dY89oRXkSy8xxMUjJbsA2pr_KuuDYwObNA4zR5g6rAeM5YQ-OPQa_PAW/s1600/blender+boy.bmp" 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/AVvXsEhe-MDoGR3QHyQI922oBsWTT6xmF_3U5NpDn7q5-47_H5GE-Ife9Hesj8hVWAjFnV3ksPIA1uPhTY1c0X9KKVL8dY89oRXkSy8xxMUjJbsA2pr_KuuDYwObNA4zR5g6rAeM5YQ-OPQa_PAW/s200/blender+boy.bmp" width="139" /></a>First off, hope everyone (here in the US) is enjoying the
Labor Day weekend. Have an extra hot dog and one final dip in the pool before
fall unofficially begins.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, to the business.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am sad but resigned to report that this ship has sailed
her course. As of October 1, we will have been on this journey for six years.
Some might say that's five years longer than we had in us, but we're proud of
what we've done here, and thank every stowaway, press-ganged author, and new
crew member we gained along the way.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS-BKOzFg5AkC9H8hXxTpdslwRriz-NRMayeuaoQLwzcBQVUP778BtQ2-70zWGkvkzWgj2-X99GQFcFz8doVZfAK8qrQP9cVOX2iA8w7tDLAcjecTi_ThY6sRsQbyIEpHHZXeMQ6cjfenL/s1600/plaid-shirt.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/AVvXsEjS-BKOzFg5AkC9H8hXxTpdslwRriz-NRMayeuaoQLwzcBQVUP778BtQ2-70zWGkvkzWgj2-X99GQFcFz8doVZfAK8qrQP9cVOX2iA8w7tDLAcjecTi_ThY6sRsQbyIEpHHZXeMQ6cjfenL/s320/plaid-shirt.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Over the years, we've done parodies and poems. Shared
triumphs and turbulence. Propped each other up, smacked each other around, and
drank more than our share of virtual rum. We'll miss the crazy drink
concoctions, the sandy deck parties, and the camaraderie. And the hotties. We
can't forget the hotties. (I've
sprinkled a few through this post for old time's sake.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I'd like to say that the month of September will be a blow
out farewell, but as you'd expect from this lazy pirate crew, we haven't
planned anything spectacular. In all honestly, we haven't planned anything at
all except this announcement and the day we sail off into the sunset.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTKXNFkLAFkQhq8COMYTxlw-ahSEjk74XaL36DcD7_LZ8z5LE1RYT70gZwhgpECOC5fQML9arBHhXYpeZ8NKShbgjVbLtmZ1GJAU7rGsQKPIWIkxmCRej-trvM1T6Fd0aWq6dViuBpyvT/s1600/insand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTKXNFkLAFkQhq8COMYTxlw-ahSEjk74XaL36DcD7_LZ8z5LE1RYT70gZwhgpECOC5fQML9arBHhXYpeZ8NKShbgjVbLtmZ1GJAU7rGsQKPIWIkxmCRej-trvM1T6Fd0aWq6dViuBpyvT/s200/insand.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">On a personal note, I'm certain that if it
weren't for this crew, I'd have given up on writing years ago. You all changed
my life, and that's something I can never repay. </span>Terri Osburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17176989488447450585noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-85731015383745732852013-08-30T01:30:00.000-04:002013-08-30T01:30:00.056-04:00The Assassin Is Sad...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMzXzyr_Si1_fJ26FKWtfWtgH7E49Wt5jx4Zngf6o0DGv4PFskVB5lnjVTN87xFd2uXXjhI1sPscwRWrL_2DGJkT6tXcThHiyxuMz9C2BcP8JvUYI29EusAXDywIJcAWm4ejfAFtZA_l_I/s1600/226183_107841642648859_5781397_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMzXzyr_Si1_fJ26FKWtfWtgH7E49Wt5jx4Zngf6o0DGv4PFskVB5lnjVTN87xFd2uXXjhI1sPscwRWrL_2DGJkT6tXcThHiyxuMz9C2BcP8JvUYI29EusAXDywIJcAWm4ejfAFtZA_l_I/s320/226183_107841642648859_5781397_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My Girl Scout Troop at camp 2 years ago.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioss8izM4D5AT8-QmKvL3Yk81ECEgZs8TzDVFYG6fLKtc6Q-qmhYy-S3Q_zPrC2MjHfOiAX_iyyqrfQGUdGIn_-P7YQ9_SpotMFSN7W-XqWb-UhszAfnCar_8zOIjKpwp_muYibkTeM7Uw/s1600/262227_282385385194483_1563127939_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioss8izM4D5AT8-QmKvL3Yk81ECEgZs8TzDVFYG6fLKtc6Q-qmhYy-S3Q_zPrC2MjHfOiAX_iyyqrfQGUdGIn_-P7YQ9_SpotMFSN7W-XqWb-UhszAfnCar_8zOIjKpwp_muYibkTeM7Uw/s320/262227_282385385194483_1563127939_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My Girl Scout Troop at camp last year.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Sigh. It's going to be all over on Sunday. This weekend is my Girl Scout Troop's 10th Annual Labor Day Camping Trip at our local Girl Scout Camp. It's hard to believe it's been 10 years. We started with them as Daisies in kindergarten and they're all in high school now. These girls were featured in 'SCUSE ME WHILE I KILL THIS GUY - only I didn't turn them into assassins. They'd have made great pirates though!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We are disbanding the troop after this weekend. It's kind of a mutual thing. When we started out - we had 4 leaders and 8 little girls. Now we're at 10 big girls and 1 leader. They all have extracurricular activities that would make a professional scheduler go insane. I'm old. Okay, I'm not old - but I am oldER. And I'm cranking out more books than I ever did before. A couple of parents took me aside recently when I suggested disbanding because setting a date for regular meetings had become impossible. They said it wouldn't break their hearts because they are already overloaded taking kids everywhere.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's sad, but it's time. We've done more than most troops ever do from countless weekends of camping, horseback riding, archer, zip line, ropes course and canoeing to selling cookies, marching in parades, providing at table on a country for Thinking Day - we've had a good ride.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'll miss these young women. They turned out so well, I'd like to think I played some very tiny part in it all. But they were great kids to begin with, so I can't take much credit. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Good luck ladies with all you do in the future! I'll be cheering you on!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The Assassin</div>
<br />Leslie Langtryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06616716802552673056noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-933118471870048782013-08-28T09:44:00.003-04:002013-08-28T09:44:28.824-04:00Action and Romance<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I started writing this story, Terri told me that she
thought I might be an action writer who likes romance instead of a romance
writer who likes a little action. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This assessment made me laugh. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hadn’t thought about it before, but I think she might be
right. I love a plot-driven story. At least the writer me likes a plot-driven
story. I love when things are life or death and the characters are running and
fighting and DOING things. In fact, most of the stuff I’ve written is like
that. Full of movement and suspense.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But, not at the expense of the emotion in the story. Because
I think that big life events, of any kind, bring out the emotion in everyone. Heck,
when I’m in transitions in my life I become a huge emotional mess. And most of those transitions aren’t life or
death. I can’t imagine going through some of the stuff I put my characters through
without becoming a wreck. Neglecting those emotions in the story would do it a disservice.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So maybe I write action stories full of romance and
emotion. I have no idea. I just know that in my mind, it’s very much
connected. I have tried to write character-driven stories and I don’t think I
do it well. Not that I couldn’t do it if
I wanted to. I just don’t think my voice is as happy there. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>How about you? Do you
prefer to read more action-based, plot driven romances or more
internally-conflicted, character-driven romances? How about in your writing?</b></div>
Marnee Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01533816213473440342noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-28051794971050513602013-08-27T00:00:00.000-04:002013-08-27T00:00:00.210-04:00Review Tuesdays: TRUE LOVE by Jude DeverauxIt's not an Edilean book, which has become my favorite new series of Jude Deveraux's, but I stayed in bed all day Saturday to read it, then finished it on Sunday. What's a weekend for if not to read and lounge around?<br />
<br />
At first I wasn't sure what to think about the ghost, Caleb. Then I wasn't a big fan of Jared, the hero, though I'm sure that was intentional and Jude always makes a wonderful point of making sure her heroines aren't so in love with their heroes they forget to be the wonderful women they are. And wonderful sex can make a person a bit forgetful and apt to let the boys run the show. I love how Jude makes sure that this conflict is raised, dealt with, and conquered by the end of the book--rather than having a book where everyone falls in love at the end and they don't deal with the issue of losing one's identity when one is "in love."<br />
<br />
Jude had a large cast of characters this time, all of which ran the gamut of personality. You've got the beautiful, flamboyant, men-fawn-all-over-her mother of the heroine who, if you're like me, you don't like because you always hated being cast in the shadow by such a woman, but can't help but admire how she's able to make things happen--and you're just happy she's a good person as she makes things happen. You've got the heroine's father who makes this splendid scene of yelling at the hero for being an asshat and he better make it up to his little girl or there would be consequences. There's all of Jared's cousins on Nantucket, including the beautiful ethereal Toby (whom I hope the next book is about) and the people who work for Jared. I adored everyone. Even the ghost. <br />
<br />
In fact, I got very worried about the ghost, because it became clear something was going to happen to him by the end of the book. And then I got worried for one of the other characters, in which something very BIG was clearly going to happen. It was worrisome. But Jude being Jude, it all worked out all right in the end. <br />
<br />
In the end, there's a big question--how long would you wait for True Love? Forever, Jared said. And Caleb agreed. <br />
<br />
And there was that age-old question of what do you do about a wedding that your family hijacks and you no longer want. Good times. Loved it all.<br />
<br />
I heartily recommend--but it does help if you love Jude Deveraux. (I think Jude is my Nora Roberts. I'm not the Nora fan than many of you are, but I think Jude is the storyteller that many of you think of Nora as, you just love her voice and how she draws characters. That's how I feel about Jude.)<br />
<br />
<strong>So what have you been reading? What do you recommend?</strong>Hellie Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03933713255844695337noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-56101748349574622772013-08-26T00:00:00.000-04:002013-08-26T00:00:00.530-04:00Musical Monday: I Have Confidence!
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What will this book be like?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I wonder.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What will my sell-through be?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I wonder.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">It could be so wonderful,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">To be out on the shelves,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">To be read.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">My heart should be wildly rejoicing<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Oh, why is it beating with dread?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I’ve always longed to be famous<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">To write things others never dared,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Now here I am facing a blank page,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Why then am I so scared?<br />
A duke with seven siblings<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What’s so fearsome about that?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Oh, I must stop all these fears,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">All these worries,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">If I don’t, I know I won’t write a
line.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I must dream of the story I am seeking,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I am seeking the courage’s that mine.<br />
The courage to make this book the best,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">To write even when I fear it’s dreck<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Show this book I’m worthy<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">nd while I show them,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I’ll show me! So!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Courage to meet my deadline with
compliance,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Face my plot holes without defiance,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Show them I’m worthy<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">And while I show them,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I’ll show me! So!<br />
<br />
Let those pages spill out all their problems,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I’ll do better than my best,</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I have confidence,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">This book will put me to the test,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">But I’ll make my agent see,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I have confidence in me!<br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Somehow I will impress them,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I will be romantic but sexy,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">And all those readers,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Heaven bless them, <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">They will run to the bookstore for me<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">And buy me.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">With each chapter I am more certain<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Everything will turn out fine. <br />
I have confidence the publishing world can all be mine<br />
They'll have to agree I have confidence in me<br />
<br />
I have confidence in wallflowers!<br />
I have confidence in rakes!<br />
I have confidence that true love is all it takes! <br />
Besides what you see I have confidence in me!<br />
<br />
Strength doesn't lie in talent<br />
Strength doesn't lie in luck<br />
Strength lies in days of persistent writing<br />
When you write, <br />
Write up! It’s exciting!<br />
<br />
All I write<br />
I give my heart to<br />
All I write becomes my own<br />
I have confidence <br />
In confidence alone…<br />
<br />
I have confidence in confidence alone!<br />
Besides what you see I have confidence <br />
In me!!</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><strong>When you write, what do you have confidence in? And if you don't write, what do you have confidence your favorite author will deliver?</strong></span>Hellie Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03933713255844695337noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-18386455646004065972013-08-23T00:17:00.001-04:002013-08-23T00:17:40.048-04:00Cosplay – Fun or A Playground for Tyrants?
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Okay, cosplay. For those of you who are scratching their
heads, I’m gonna try to explain. First, this is what wiki states.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
"Cosplay - short for "costume play", is an activity in which participants wear <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costume">costumes</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fashion_accessory">accessories</a> to represent a specific <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Character_(arts)">character</a> or idea from a work of fiction. Cosplayers often interact to create a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subculture">subculture</a> centered on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Role_play">role play</a>. A broader use of the term cosplay applies to any costumed role play in venues apart from the stage, regardless of the cultural context."<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">So, it’s about
dressing a part and playing with it. Fun? Well, I dress up like a pirate, but
no particular pirate so…am I a cosplayer? According to one of my sources, no. I
might be a semi-cosplayer. That’s fine, I’m good with that. I could say I’m
dressing up as Miranda…or if I felt confident enough I could be Jack’s
girlfriend in the last movie. If done very accurately, I might qualify as
cosplay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Though, since I
am not the slender Penelope Cruz…I would likely be ridiculed and harassed by
the royalty of cosplay. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">This is where it
can get nasty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">I’ve been
watching the Heroes of Cosplay on the SyFy channel. It follows several serious
cosplayers all over the country as they compete against each other for prize
money and really nice ribbons. And they are SERIOUS about this. And one judge
is part of this show, and she is radically serious. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Now, I enjoy
watching the costumes put together and it’s entertaining to see the conventions
they attend. (I gotta get to a comicon one day…looks insane! MY PEOPLE!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">But an episode
this last week cast a shadow on the funness. A newbie to the competition, but
not to the idea, came to compete. Chloe Dykstra. She was a kick! And competed
as Lydia Deetz from the Beetlejuice cartoon. Along with a sandworm. (Loved the
sandworm! Made from a bunch of kitty tubes and a lot of foam…)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Chloe is a rail
thin tall woman, who hosts an internet show about all things nerd/geek. And she’s
funny. The night before competition, she joins several serious cosplayers,
along with a judge, for coffee. Where she is informed that it is frowned upon
for someone to attempt a character whose body type they don’t resemble. So…no
fat superman. In fact, if you think about it, no fat anyone. Because let’s face
it, there are no fat characters in fan world. Men or women. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">You could cover
yourself completely, try a costume that doesn’t show yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">But Chloe
objected, saying ‘what the hell, cosplay should be for fun!’ She was stared
down, and considered a naive amateur. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ah! Blood rose
across the world and Chloe’s popularity is exploding. She stood up for US! I
liked her on FB…as well as many, many, many others. A question I didn’t hear
posed, which I wonder about…so…can you be a black superman? An Asian Luke
Skywalker?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">I don’t know, but
I’m curious.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">I could probably
really get into cosplay…if there were someone I could portray realistically. I
asked my source, ‘Bob’, if my lavender wig put in mind someone. He said, yeah,
the female hero in KickAss. Probably with that? She’s tiny, she’s young…not a
chance I could do it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Maybe I could do
her after she’s retired and taken up eating bonbons for a living?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">*snort!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">So, what is my
point in this blog. Well, it’s Friday, so why be too serious. At the same time,
I find the idea of being laughed off a stage, no matter how fabulous your
production and creation…because you don’t fit the physical perfection of the
character…disturbing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Nerd/geekdom is
facing a lot of internal conflict right now. Accusations of sexism run rampant.
And are based on fact, trust me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Growing times for
the scifi/fantasty world. And it’s about time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">There are the
strict gatekeepers for every enthusiasm. Be it writing historical, or dressing
up like superman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Do you know anything about cosplay? Have you ever
been part of a group held hostage by the gatekeepers? Anyone else watched this
show? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Maureenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517092592545660754noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-245544427994613222013-08-22T00:01:00.000-04:002013-08-22T00:01:01.113-04:00Welcome Guest Author Kieran Kramer to the Ship! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoB2rP_S7JZU7puJ5STUsMO_PsXIotrYA2v8IXiVLzWrJZ5peMToFb9EQP8DIZOqwA0uqUEBCmsKX7T1SdibG-sLyP2AvXfiJg2rZ88vjEZjJvMKtR_mqvMH8QwP8Wi35p1uXcABMR-p7/s1600/KieranKramer-SYTTDtourbanner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoB2rP_S7JZU7puJ5STUsMO_PsXIotrYA2v8IXiVLzWrJZ5peMToFb9EQP8DIZOqwA0uqUEBCmsKX7T1SdibG-sLyP2AvXfiJg2rZ88vjEZjJvMKtR_mqvMH8QwP8Wi35p1uXcABMR-p7/s320/KieranKramer-SYTTDtourbanner.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My love of Kieran Kramer books goes back to her debut - it seriously rocked my reading world! <em>When Harry Met Molly</em> was one of my favorite books that year and as a reader I read it over and over again. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As a writer, Kieran's book offered me much in way of writing lessons. To this day, I still find the prologue to that book to be the exception to the rule you always hear about never including a prologue. It was perfection for me as a reader and it made the writer side of me take notice right off the bat. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Secondly, Kieran is not a slave to historical accuracy in her writing. Yes, I know many of my fellow pirates would make her walk the plank for that but to me, she does it so well, so seamlessly that it again proves a writing rule - if the characters are amazing and the writing soars then you can get the reader to suspend disbelief and just fall in love with the flow of the story. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Lastly, Kieran gives good laugh. That book really wooed me with it's wit and charm, plus genuinely funny characters that could not be ignored. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><em>So what I want to know is have you ever run across a book you loved a reader and that taught you lessons as a writer? What book was it (come on we all need to know!)? If you are a historical purist, is there a point where a book could speak so much to you that you'd be willing to overlook the inaccuracies? Why or why not? Lastly, anyone else read a fantastic prologue?</em></strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43kGiKCNo3h10xucNbMcv8Kwkf5e6MLTDfWs0XAKd7XNdbHiosVHmS0BGzZDDJ_z7YLsTjg_UuLj-_wrCohWmAC3NFKobkqpill5ZlbwkGvqjNrsRLvAUPy7YT2MUFCHd7VmkZqX-5gM7/s1600/KieranKramer-SayYesToTheDuke.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/AVvXsEh43kGiKCNo3h10xucNbMcv8Kwkf5e6MLTDfWs0XAKd7XNdbHiosVHmS0BGzZDDJ_z7YLsTjg_UuLj-_wrCohWmAC3NFKobkqpill5ZlbwkGvqjNrsRLvAUPy7YT2MUFCHd7VmkZqX-5gM7/s320/KieranKramer-SayYesToTheDuke.jpg" width="195" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Today, we're hosting Kieran as part of her blog tour for her latest book <em>Say Yes To The Duke</em> which I have no doubt I will devour as quickly as I can get my hands on it. Don't forget to enter to win the huge prize pack Kieran is offering as part of the blog tour!
</span><a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/a4a59a7/" id="rc-a4a59a7" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Click Here To Enter The Rafflecopter Giveaway</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>Say Yes To The Duke</em>: </span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>CAN A SCANDALOUS BEGINNING…</strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Janice Sherwood wants to marry for love, but she’s failed to make a match after two Seasons. Her parents, the Marquess and Marchioness of Brady, arrange to send her to the Duke of Halsey’s country estate as a short-term guest of his grandmother, the dowager, in hopes that she might win the duke’s affections. What they never could have imagined is that Janice would fall for the ruggedly handsome servant Luke, who lives in the stables and carries an air of mystery and temptation. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>LEAD TO A FAIRY-TALE ENDING?</strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When Luke Callahan learns that he is the legitimate heir to a dukedom, he will stop at nothing to claim what is his. But first, he must begin a game of disguise to secure his rightful inheritance. Janice isn’t part of his plan. But by engaging her in this dance of deception, might he lose her forever? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Raves and Reviews for <em>Say Yes To The Duke</em>:</u> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Kramer’s gift is her innate ability to tell a story with unerring honesty, deep emotion and humor. Readers will laugh, cry and deeply sigh from beginning to end of this beautifully told, enchanting love story.” —4 1/2 stars <em>RT Book Reviews</em> Top Pick! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“The third book in Kramer’s “House of Brady” series offers everything this author’s fans have come to expect including a sinfully sexy romance between two perfectly matched protagonists, a richly amusing cast of unconventional secondary characters, and a lively plot that doesn’t take itself too seriously.” —Booklist </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Kieran also The Revenge this sneak peak of <em>Say Yes To The Duke</em> to share:</strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yet he was a servant doing a servant’s job. How could he be as enthralling a figure as a duke? </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: inherit;">He’s not. He’s a groom. </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: inherit;">But when she was very young, she’d been a shop girl. And you always will be, you fool, if you can’t keep your eyes off the help. </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: inherit;">The crowning moment came when Mr. Callahan finished his chore and walked purposely down the steps. “All finished, Your Grace.” He stood at relaxed attention, his gloved hands dangling at his sides, while the dog stared avidly at him, their tongues lolling. </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: inherit;">He was a Very Bad Man, Janice thought. And, God help her, she couldn’t look away. </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: inherit;">Except she must when seconds later, she walked past him. Even with snow pelting her cheeks, she felt his heat. And his gaze. Yet she wouldn’t look at him. That wouldn’t be proper. Kissing him wasn’t proper, either. But what was done was done. She could be proper starting now. She would behave as a real lady should. </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: inherit;">But as she cautiously ascended the freshly cleared steps to the front door with the duke—finally!—his unremarkable friends following behind in much the same way the hounds were, she had an odd craving. Considering how fortunate she was to be with His Grace—she wished a wayward groom were escorting her up these stairs instead. </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: inherit;">Was it exhaustion or desperation that made her think this way? Every woman in London would like to trade places with her right now. The duke’s grip was firm and his body next to hers intimidating. Beneath his coat, his calves strained with muscle, and his belly was flat as a washing board. He was clearly in the prime of his life. </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: inherit;">And he was without a wife. </span></em><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Excerpt from Say Yes To The Duke ©2013 by Kieran Kramer . All rights reserved.</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsah-V1k84LCeZwvuYpszFgu6-YzlCbUA-NCkxaOF5-9vWJRevDpn3uSDgLR_IEmy6W57S9tj-_iN8QZf2mbK6__V9TKUgxVjAgeoKRzT6U7XddMO4G5sJZDoTYHRqgEu5S2aNrO08_fEh/s1600/KieranKramer_author_HeadShot.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/AVvXsEhsah-V1k84LCeZwvuYpszFgu6-YzlCbUA-NCkxaOF5-9vWJRevDpn3uSDgLR_IEmy6W57S9tj-_iN8QZf2mbK6__V9TKUgxVjAgeoKRzT6U7XddMO4G5sJZDoTYHRqgEu5S2aNrO08_fEh/s200/KieranKramer_author_HeadShot.jpg" width="176" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><u>About Kieran:</u></strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Double Rita®-finalist and USA Today bestseller Kieran Kramer writes Regency historical romances and now contemporary romance for St. Martin’s Press. THE EARL IS MINE, the second in her House of Brady series, is her latest release. SAY YES TO THE DUKE premiers in August 2013. SWEET TALK ME, set in present-day South Carolina, comes out in March 2014. A former CIA employee, journalist, and English teacher, Kieran’s also a game show veteran, karaoke enthusiast, and general adventurer. She lives where she grew up--in the Lowcountry of South Carolina--with her Naval Reserve commander husband and their three children. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Author Site: </span><a href="http://www.kierankramerbooks.com/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.kierankramerbooks.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Facebook: </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/KieranKramer1"><span style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.facebook.com/KieranKramer1</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Twitter: </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/kierankramer"><span style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.twitter.com/kierankramer</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Follow Kieran on the rest of her blog tour </span><a href="http://kierankramerbooks.com/say-yes-to-the-duke-blog-tour/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">here. </span></a><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08207269714279481677noreply@blogger.com30