tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30036219832989882942023-11-29T04:27:13.916-08:00The Unlocked DiaryWhat will you find?Cambriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15550062797037161324noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003621983298988294.post-48550518475233839952011-12-07T05:29:00.000-08:002011-12-07T05:29:36.225-08:00I Moved!!Hey Peeps!!<br />
<br />
I have some exciting news to impart. I am packing up my website and this fine blog to another location.....<br />
<a href="http://www.cambriahebert.com/">http://www.cambriahebert.com/</a> is now the home of my blog and my author website. But no worries - all the fun content that is here has been moved over there and everything is getting a new look! In addition to the blog you can find pages about my books, meet the characters in Masquerade and watch the book trailers. <br />
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I decided to roll everything into one place to make it a better experience for anyone who visits. I hope you all will come over there and check it out and enter the giveaway that's going on right now!<br />
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So remember from now on visit <a href="http://www.cambriahebert.com/">http://www.cambriahebert.com/</a> for all the goods! <br />
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Have a great day!Cambriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15550062797037161324noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003621983298988294.post-36311400183132438792011-11-29T19:55:00.000-08:002011-11-29T19:55:00.251-08:00Nevermore<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPAciJ09q3DgZtC5NoTdSLCl8QzI5IXTMa93YhOdUVXJk9dVi4-5evu_0QIryUqAOXajvbudXV-1FObsk5yX5khJGoGID2ZmyE4tuIUOCTLlAgrCIMdsso3nsP235gWE0FbX1XRqzcwtn/s1600/nevermore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPAciJ09q3DgZtC5NoTdSLCl8QzI5IXTMa93YhOdUVXJk9dVi4-5evu_0QIryUqAOXajvbudXV-1FObsk5yX5khJGoGID2ZmyE4tuIUOCTLlAgrCIMdsso3nsP235gWE0FbX1XRqzcwtn/s320/nevermore.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Title: Nevermore</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Author: Kelly Creagh</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Publisher: Atheneum, August 31, 2010</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Genre: Young Adult paranormal/fantasy</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Format: Paperback, hardback, Ebook</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">ISBN: 1442402008</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Isobel is a cheerleader, perky and blond, who is paired with a dark haired “goth” guy for an English assignment. At first she is horrified that she has to work with him. Even more horrified when she tries to talk to him and he is cold and aloof. Then he writes his phone number on her hand in purple ink.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">That one act seemed to have sealed their fate.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Even long after Isobel washed away the purple, she still felt the mark. And the more she gets to know Varen, the more drawn into his world she becomes. Unfortunately for Varen that puts a target on his back. Isobel’s possessive (and big fat jerk) boyfriend decided to make Varen’s life hell. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It doesn’t get any better when Isobel breaks up with the jerk. But Varen and Isobel are drawn to one another, despite the worlds they come from. One day, Isobel peaks inside the journal Varen carries with him and finds herself staring into a dream world that he has created. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When strange things begin to happen and things appear that only Isobel can see her world begins to unravel…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And she begins to realize that the power of a dream and written word are far more than she could ever have known. As Varen is slowly consumed by nightmares of his making Isobel must find a way to save him…<a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>or lose him forever.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I had heard some good things about this book before I picked it up. The cover art is stunning and I loved the purple writing (which I loved even more after I put the book down). I didn’t know what this book was about when I began reading, I figured I would read and be surprised as I went. I will admit, I really was expecting a vampire book. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I was wrong. There are no vamps in this book. (Yes, a relief to many of you who are sick of the vampire craze). It was a plot like no other I have read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is an original idea that I could tell the author put a lot of thought and time into.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I really enjoyed this book for that reason. It took me into a whole new world to explore, with characters that were new. Okay, mainly Varen was new to me. The whole cheerleader and football player thing has been done before, but that’s okay, they were still good characters. Anyway, I liked Varen because I thought it was cool that a not so “OMG, that guy is soo hot” guy caught the eye of a “She is so hot” cheerleader”. A lot of the YA books that I read are outcast girl gets hot guy not the other way around. So props to the author for that.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I will say Varen didn’t have me swooning over him, but I did like him. He was a likable character, once given the chance to get to know him. I liked the juxtaposition of him being a goth and also working at a ice cream shop and spooning up flavors like pineapple. He doesn’t seem like a pineapple kind of guy to me. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> He also drove a cool car. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Nevermore is a long book (over 500 pages), which I like, because it really gave me time to enjoy the book and get into the story. Although, about half way through I started getting antsy to know what the story was, what the book was all about. Up to that point it had mostly been about how Isobel and Varen grew closer and how her ex, Brad, bullied Varen. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The one thing that seemed to bother me was that I felt like I didn’t really know what the book was about. It seemed that Varen held all the answers and he never gave Isobel any. It bothered me. I was reading and reading waiting for his explanations that never came. Now, another character in the book explained a lot of things, and some things Isobel was left to figure out on her own…which I can see how that might be good, because as a reader I really felt like Isobel, identified with her, because I was trying to figure it out alongside her. On the other hand, as a reader, I want to know! I want to discover things, things that maybe even the heroine doesn’t know that way I can gasp then await for his/her reaction upon discovering what was really going on.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In the end I knew what the book was about, I knew what Varen’s “ability” was (for lack of a better term) but I never got to hear his side of the story. If I had been Isobel I would really be angry. Here she is in love with a guy who has one hell of a hobby that she got drug into. A little explanation please?? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And to be honest, some things still feel left unexplained, left unsaid. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Yes, there is another book to come out in 2012. Yes, by the end of Nevermore you have a clear picture of what the next book will be about, but still I wanted to know more.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Will I read the next book? Yes. For sure. It is a good story line, unique and I want to know what happens. I am hoping those answers that I look for will be given in book two.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I recommend this book to anyone who likes YA paranormal or fantasy and maybe wants something different, something without vampires and werewolves (why anyone wouldn’t want a werewolf- I will never know). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So there you have it. My opinion.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div>Cambriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15550062797037161324noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003621983298988294.post-20726524453803857172011-11-26T00:00:00.000-08:002011-11-26T00:00:05.609-08:00Haters Gonna Hate - A Guest Post from C.S. Splitter<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Hey Peeps!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I hope you are all recovered from your turkey and shopping induced hang overs and are ready to get to reading and to thinking! C.S. Splitter is here today and we are doing something fun and new. We are tag teaming our blogs!! Whoop Whoop. So read his guest post here and then click over to his blog <a href="http://www.splittersworld.blogspot.com/">http://www.splittersworld.blogspot.com/</a> and read my guest post there! An while you are visiting maybe you could follow his blog! It's great! We are both talking about writing and the in's and outs of the publishing industry (mainly traditional publishing vs. Indie pubishing). Splitter has some really level headed a wonderful insight on the publishing world and I reccomend reading ahead. Then... leave a comment tell us how you feel about what we are talking about and don't be afraid to share your opinion!!!! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So let's get things rolling...... </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Haters Gonna Hate</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Cambria</span></place><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> and I are trying something new today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are tag-teaming our blogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Read her guest post on my blog and then come back here to read my response.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hey, hit the follow buttons on both!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Cambria</span></place><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">’s story about her path to getting published reminded me of an argument I witnessed recently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><place w:st="on">Cambria</place> went with a small press publisher that is growing rapidly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am going the self pub route.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which is better?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">That has been a hotly contested debate going on around the internet and it has created a lot of animosity between “traditionally published” authors and the self pubbers (I won’t even get into the differences between Big Six published authors and indies and self pubbers).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who is bringing all of this hate?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On which side does it originate?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Cambria has said that she sometimes catches some heat from self published authors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe it because I have seen them say that traditionally published authors have “sold their souls.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have caught heat from traditionally published authors because, as a self published author, my work is “obviously inferior” and “not worthy of a publishing deal.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">See?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told you there was some hatin’ goin’ on lol.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The truth is: neither is the better route to having people read your work. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Cambria just wants to write and then do reviews in her spare time (like she has spare time!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to learn the ins and outs of getting a book to market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cambria had to suffer through a hundred rejections and three years of sitting on her work, I would have given up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the other hand, I worked twenty hour days leading up to my last release and would have killed for the help a publisher could have supplied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">She has at least three titles coming out in the space of just a couple months (can you say “prolific writer?”).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just put out my second book seven months after the first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her publishing company takes a portion of her royalties (that’s the selling of the soul part).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to somehow pay for my editor and other services (but since they are not employed by a publisher, they must be as bad as me).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cambria is awesome about getting the word out on her releases, I get bogged down in formatting and figuring out Smashword’s MeatGrinder.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So you see: everything is a trade off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no answer to which is the better route for authors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The REAL question should be which route is better for YOU.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Why all the animosity between the two groups then?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really do not know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love Cambria’s work and respect the snot out of her (nice turn of phrase, huh?).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has always given me honest reviews of my books and said nice things about me so I will assume she feels about the same way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know we both thought about doing things “the other way” before deciding on our own courses.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">My guess is that people who go one route or the other do not want to second guess their decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They tend to look down on the people who chose a different path because that makes them feel better about their own choices.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s BS!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who cares how the other guy or gal gets their work into the hands of readers?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why waste energy tearing them down instead of doing things like promoting your OWN work…which every author has to do no matter how they go to market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We should be supporting one another in this changing publishing environment.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">That is my take, at least.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Feel free to leave comments.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I found it interesting that Cambria wrote in first person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I agree with her that it is more personal, but that is not the only reason I decided to also go that route with the “Crayder Chronicles.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When I started writing the first book, I recalled something my highschool English teacher told me many years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said; “Only amateurs and hacks write in first person.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since I was an amateur and could only aspire to being a hack, I chose to write in first person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the way, that teacher failed me one year because he did not like my attitude.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">More hatin’ goin’ on lol.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The easy thing about writing in first person is organization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can get inside of one character’s head for a while and stay there as long as you need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From that perspective, it is easier than writing in third person where you need to be able to change gears quickly.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">However, first person is terribly limiting from a story perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You cannot just bounce around between characters to show the reader what is happening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reader only knows what the character knows so when something happens “off screen,” you have to figure out how to get that information to the character in a believable and, ideally, interesting way.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I have seen authors (and readers) argue about this too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some agree with my English teacher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some agree with the names like Glen Cook, Jim Butcher, and Roger Zelazny, that did whole series in first person.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Here again, there really is no single answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It depends on the writer, the story, and the characters.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In the words of Rodney King, “Can’t we all just get along?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I have this strange feeling that if writers spent more time on their own craft, and less time worried about how others do things differently, there would be a lot more good books being published from all directions.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Splitter</span></div><br />
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Wasn't that a really great post? I couldn't agree with his insight more..... "Can't we all just get along?" I respect ALL authors no matter where they are from. We all work hard.<br />
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Here's a little more about Splitter:<br />
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C.S. Splitter is the author of The Reluctant and The Willing both available now where all Ebooks are sold. <br />
I highly reccomend both books. They are fabulous reads and I am not just saying that. He writes with talent and makes unlikable characters likable.... its a gift.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXoXwW3QvEk65F6CLd_2r13cUMtLpjjGt7TJomdtcYmlfhhA-El-KAhr0cqmmWkMB8aPQscwAtvf1Ijo7nfgXPtZFt7NdwFllaBxCjLqEwUmKhHJ-sBdyaCAoNcpst3e8E5W7TyzmW0YEN/s1600/Reluctant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXoXwW3QvEk65F6CLd_2r13cUMtLpjjGt7TJomdtcYmlfhhA-El-KAhr0cqmmWkMB8aPQscwAtvf1Ijo7nfgXPtZFt7NdwFllaBxCjLqEwUmKhHJ-sBdyaCAoNcpst3e8E5W7TyzmW0YEN/s1600/Reluctant.jpg" /></a></div>Here's the link to buy it on smashwords: <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/52864">http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/52864</a><br />
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and his second book out just days ago....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8o5sKS0HMLY18FATLIoXmbsa2oXu2FQg2r0MEtu1ieD8bgbhXwmvHUBzFsrA_gPtdZlp8FT551ISkLBkXDoKaR_eMMnmtmvbr8j_lvflz2AKbh2sPVTYoTekyjUCbCuKBEvlo16yL7Kk6/s1600/Willing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8o5sKS0HMLY18FATLIoXmbsa2oXu2FQg2r0MEtu1ieD8bgbhXwmvHUBzFsrA_gPtdZlp8FT551ISkLBkXDoKaR_eMMnmtmvbr8j_lvflz2AKbh2sPVTYoTekyjUCbCuKBEvlo16yL7Kk6/s1600/Willing.jpg" /></a></div>Here is the smashwords link to buy it:<br />
<a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/105983">http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/105983</a><br />
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Don't forget to leave a comment on what your views on publishing and anything else writing that pops into your mind.... Splitter and I both will be here to get some dialogue going!!<br />
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*Special thanks to C.S. Splitter for being here today.Cambriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15550062797037161324noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003621983298988294.post-13728194592354296312011-11-25T17:00:00.000-08:002011-11-25T17:00:00.077-08:00Cold Blood giveaway winner announcement!Hey Peeps!!<br />
I know you are out probably shopping til you drop but I wanted to pop in quick to announce the winner of the Cold Blood Giveaway!!! One lucky follower can rest their weary legs tonight while reading a fabulous book!!<br />
<br />
And the winner is:<br />
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<strong>Latishajean</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Congratulations!!!!!!</strong><br />
I will email you your coupon code today!!Cambriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15550062797037161324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003621983298988294.post-57128620917216948352011-11-25T00:00:00.000-08:002011-11-25T00:00:02.354-08:00Christmas Lites is Available TODAY!!Hey Peeps! <br />
I have a Black Friday buster!!! And you don't even have to leave home to get your hands on the best gift to give this holiday season.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4NsHniXnABNaB48pom7xPIxOfEG8ZXa_44CdfX8mSJaTp67PmpD2DKYhBXLxIxv9zxewyZuPdW_2EEet5Cq8UEjBsDA0oAfjcLMProF6RAf91F0t2UuyF6b5ELgwAO_lPr6dG8pnFIpke/s1600/ChristmasLitesCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4NsHniXnABNaB48pom7xPIxOfEG8ZXa_44CdfX8mSJaTp67PmpD2DKYhBXLxIxv9zxewyZuPdW_2EEet5Cq8UEjBsDA0oAfjcLMProF6RAf91F0t2UuyF6b5ELgwAO_lPr6dG8pnFIpke/s320/ChristmasLitesCover.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><br />
Christmas Lites - A Creative Reviews Anthology is available today!!! You can go to smashwords right now and get the Ebook. It's only 3.99 and EVERY single penny goes to support the National Coalition against Domestic Violence. <br />
Here is the link to get your copy on Smashwords:<br />
<a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/104437">http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/104437</a><br />
<br />
Here is the link to buy it on Createspace in print (it is not yet available on Amazon but will be in about a week) : <br />
<div class="yiv1249909875MsoNormal" id="yui_3_2_0_1_132218021238182"><a href="https://www.createspace.com/3727894" id="yui_3_2_0_1_132218021238189" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #234786;">https://www.createspace.com/3727894</span></a></div><div class="yiv1249909875MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="yiv1249909875MsoNormal">The price is 12.99$ and all proceeds will also go to the NCADV.</div><div class="yiv1249909875MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="yiv1249909875MsoNormal">So go get a copy or two. They make great gifts for the season AND you are giving to a great cause. It's a total win - win situation. </div><div class="yiv1249909875MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="yiv1249909875MsoNormal">Want to know more about Christmas Lites? Read on!!</div><div class="yiv1249909875MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cxf19ZL_GpBe98TTWt3dbe4cg75GT3Qp4KzoJdJVLjh0m_7RKMn9VntGv36Goj9IuMJh3wZf-w4jkQKcLk0uAO5_Tbhfy6AyOL8fSTf6Kt7VqcQYQulma6cHhUPgCfu_19XgSCeSkWrk/s1600/cr_printBACKCOVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cxf19ZL_GpBe98TTWt3dbe4cg75GT3Qp4KzoJdJVLjh0m_7RKMn9VntGv36Goj9IuMJh3wZf-w4jkQKcLk0uAO5_Tbhfy6AyOL8fSTf6Kt7VqcQYQulma6cHhUPgCfu_19XgSCeSkWrk/s320/cr_printBACKCOVER.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The Creative Reviews group on GoodReads is filled to the brim with writers, reviewers, editors, proofreaders and crazy people. We decided to pull all our abilities to do something for others. Born: Christmas Lites. It’s a Short Story Anthology with the overall theme of Christmas. It will be available in Ebook and Print TODAY!!!! (November 25, 2011)<br />
<br />
26 authors submitted a short story to be included in the anthology and ALL the proceeds will be donated to the NCADV - National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. It’s a wonderful charity that we are honored to support. We are also donating FREE Ecopies to the deployed troops overseas via Operation Ebook Drop.</span></div><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/977DY6HlgeQ" width="420"></iframe><br />
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<br />
Clearly this book is fantastic!!! Grab your copy today!!!!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">List of Titles and Authors:</span></b></div><div class="yiv542149142msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Shane Stilson: Higher Ground</span></div><div class="yiv542149142msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">E.C. Stilson: How I Found My Soul Mate and Turkey Avenger</span></div><div class="yiv542149142msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Vered Ehsani: Christmas Ghost</span></div><div class="yiv542149142msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">C.S. Splitter: Whimper</span></div><div class="yiv542149142msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Phil Cantrill: Christmas Story</span></div><div class="yiv542149142msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Brett Talley: Last Year’s Eggnog</span></div><div class="yiv542149142msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Catherine Forbes: The Gateway Incident</span></div><div class="yiv542149142msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Mark Koning: Sweet Child</span></div><div class="yiv542149142msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Tricia Kristufek: Accidentally Gift Wrapped</span></div><div class="yiv542149142msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Paige <span class="yshortcuts2">Kellerman</span>: Christmas Disco</span></div><div class="yiv542149142msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">L.A. Wright: Star of Christmas</span></div><div class="yiv542149142msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">S. Patrick Pothier: The Road to Comfort</span></div><div class="yiv542149142msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Cassie McCown: Mirror</span></div><div class="yiv542149142msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Angel Armstead: All I want for Christmas</span></div><div class="yiv542149142msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Ottilie Weber: ‘Tis the Holiday Spirit</span></div><div class="yiv542149142msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Amy Eye: The Hunt</span></div><div class="yiv542149142msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">JA Clement: A Sprig of Holly</span></div><div class="yiv542149142msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Richard Phelan: Memories of the Splendid Splinter</span></div><div class="yiv542149142msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Mark Mackey: An Amy Harkstone Christmas</span></div><div class="yiv542149142msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Lizzie Ford: Santa’s Ninja Elf</span></div><div class="yiv542149142msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Nicholette Alexandr: Broken Glass</span></div><div class="yiv542149142msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Mark Faulkner: Face</span></div><div class="yiv542149142msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span class="yshortcuts2">Cambria</span> Hebert: The Perfect Ornament, Blank</span></div><div class="yiv542149142msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Angela Yukiro-Smith: Only That Day Dawns</span></div><div class="yiv542149142msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Mysti Parker: The Carpenter’s Wife</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Credits:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Amy Eye: Formatting, Editing</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Vered Ehsani: Editing</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Proofreaders:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Tricia Kristufek, Cassie McCown, Alan Zendell</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Cover Design and Print Formatting:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> Dafeenah Jameel, </span><a href="http://www.indiedesignz.com/"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">www.indiedesignz.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Christmas Tree Glyph: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Regina Wamba<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">, </b></span><a href="http://www.maeidesign.com/"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">www.maeidesign.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Ebook converting for Smashwords:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> C.S. Splitter</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">NCADV coordinator:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> Jenn Pringle</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><strong>Christmas Lites Trailer and Ebook Drop Coordinator: </strong>Cambria<strong> </strong>Hebert</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">National coalition against domestic violence.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Site: </span><a href="http://www.ncadv.org/" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts2"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">www.ncadv.org</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Info of what they do:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
NCADV believes violence against women and children results from the use of force or threat to achieve and maintain control over others in intimate relationships, and from societal abuse of power and domination in the forms of sexism, racism, homophobia, classism, anti-Semitism, able-bodyism, ageism and other oppressions. NCADV recognizes that the abuses of power in society foster battering by perpetuating conditions, which condone violence against women and children. Therefore, it is the mission of NCADV to work for major societal changes necessary to eliminate both personal and societal violence against all women and children. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">NCADV's work includes coalition building at the local, state, regional and national levels; support for the provision of community-based, non-violent alternatives - such as safe home and shelter programs - for battered women and their children; public education and technical assistance; policy development and innovative legislation; focus on the leadership of NCADV's caucuses developed to represent the concerns of organizationally under represented groups; and efforts to eradicate social conditions which contribute to violence against women and children.</span><span style="color: white; font-family: "Molengo", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">contribute to violence </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "Molengo", "serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>Book Trailer for Christmas Lites:</strong></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "Molengo", "serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></div>Cambriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15550062797037161324noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003621983298988294.post-87233305444107456152011-11-24T00:00:00.000-08:002011-11-24T00:00:08.670-08:00Happy Thanksgiving!!!This is what your good eats look like before Thanksgiving day-----------> <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_63QKEdOsKRgeI9_BJKv-zVb00me_kZXfXzlyiF3K2s5BrvNgwAcGt5rrRk-Z6SVZLe3Vyhx7fNdXq8n9YMQVSjI3sdAUzavAqWWxsgZCkpS_MaeDJxaY7HV9c3ib1vD3gITT9Lq20j40/s1600/turkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_63QKEdOsKRgeI9_BJKv-zVb00me_kZXfXzlyiF3K2s5BrvNgwAcGt5rrRk-Z6SVZLe3Vyhx7fNdXq8n9YMQVSjI3sdAUzavAqWWxsgZCkpS_MaeDJxaY7HV9c3ib1vD3gITT9Lq20j40/s320/turkey.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
And this is what it looks like on the day of Thanksgiving........<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc2ppcseTtroUbKdligYAoPSKmi7YegBaFcVIldXQfa0q7Xl8bUoL718rd7ccP1gMhmjGG5a6DEdyDzW9IR8vPNgzduApuRX9A23JphtGima3-32Fkpsk0zAMUvNX4OarIvBv6d7vzTzNj/s1600/raw+turkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc2ppcseTtroUbKdligYAoPSKmi7YegBaFcVIldXQfa0q7Xl8bUoL718rd7ccP1gMhmjGG5a6DEdyDzW9IR8vPNgzduApuRX9A23JphtGima3-32Fkpsk0zAMUvNX4OarIvBv6d7vzTzNj/s320/raw+turkey.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyxdWfDKBcELSLytYwIqBjP3Jn1yQivDqRHYxm6SCnR3fu32uPZ9KSwnx3c7Ag2Q6AzMklizLSndByhFP1NiDS7_9W5MWyDhc4VeDIXDqYleUHjGmdBQuDdul4EVF-48_bcRvYOyBSJWZ/s1600/happy+thanksgiving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyxdWfDKBcELSLytYwIqBjP3Jn1yQivDqRHYxm6SCnR3fu32uPZ9KSwnx3c7Ag2Q6AzMklizLSndByhFP1NiDS7_9W5MWyDhc4VeDIXDqYleUHjGmdBQuDdul4EVF-48_bcRvYOyBSJWZ/s320/happy+thanksgiving.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Today in honor of Thanksgiving I am going to do a special post! I have emailed a bunch of friends and fellow bloggers and asked them what they are thankful for this year and what their favorite holiday tradition is. Some answered one and some answered both... a few included a picture of themselves or of their loved ones...... I even made it a pretty orange color:<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">I am thankful for my wonderful family and </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">good friends new and old.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;"></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">Cooking up loads of delicious food and spending time with loved ones.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>~ Heidi Perman </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xfOaI_7x8pkjfpMlyLe_bU7kShD9CeQzflDHGwCRQwpQ5l0bT4rkcGo4FYT1KYNB_fVNZtS-5mF6PMkrQu_-Cat2o-4_AoneK9CzfKdo8owiDtvnmojexYsN5JuJ2o5eyHBGDvG24kki/s1600/Heidi%2527s+photo+for+thanksgiving+post.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xfOaI_7x8pkjfpMlyLe_bU7kShD9CeQzflDHGwCRQwpQ5l0bT4rkcGo4FYT1KYNB_fVNZtS-5mF6PMkrQu_-Cat2o-4_AoneK9CzfKdo8owiDtvnmojexYsN5JuJ2o5eyHBGDvG24kki/s320/Heidi%2527s+photo+for+thanksgiving+post.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This year I am thankful for my family, especially my little girl who brings us so much joy.</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">~ </span></i><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">Tricia Kristufek <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">This year I am thankful for my fiance, my book releases, my family and my friends.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">My favorite holiday tradition is getting together with my family on Christmas Eve, and going to mass and opening presents with loved ones on Christmas Day. </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">~</span></i><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;"> Beth Ann Masarik author of The World Among Us</span></div><div class="yiv883535800msonormal" style="background: white; margin: auto 0in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">This year I am thankful</span></i><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;"> for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">my wonderful family. My husband to is so wonderful, supportive and my best friend. My children, who make life.. Lively and beautiful. You are my inspiration and ultimate drive to succeed! I do everything I do for my family! My mother, and brother… whom I’ve known all my life (who’d a thought!? Har-har!) I love you to pieces. And all my other family. I have created and continue to create memories and moments from everything we share together. MUAH. I am also happily thankful for fudge brownies, snickers caribou coffee, sunshine, my maman, a warm and loving house, puppies, kittens and miniature things (I just LOVE miniature things…SO ADORABLE..they make me smile), and my friends… past, present and future! CHeERs!</i> </span><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">J</span></div><div class="yiv883535800msonormal" style="background: white; margin: auto 0in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;"> My favorite family holiday tradition is</span></i><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Deviled Eggs. Nuff said. MMMMM..</i></span></div><div class="yiv883535800msonormal" style="background: white; margin: auto 0in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">~Regina Wamba <a href="http://www.maeidesign.com/">http://www.maeidesign.com/</a> </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">My amazing son, wonderful parents, my health and blessed to have met so many wonderful people online through blogs and Creative Reviews this year.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">I'm thankful for my new friends who I smile when I see they have emailed me like you, Amy, Lizzy, Dafeenah and Splitter.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">You are all so awesome!</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">My favorite holiday tradition thanksgiving wise is pulling the wishbone with my dad though he always get the wish. I think it's cause he's stronger.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">~</span></i><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">Jenn Pringle <a href="http://www.indiesupporter.com/">http://www.indiesupporter.com/</a> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">"My favorite family holiday tradition is getting up early to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, then cooking and eating all day, followed by some serious football watching!" </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">~ Tish Thawer author </span></div><div class="yiv616947766msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">This year I am thankful for all the wonderful new friends I’ve made.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;"></span></i></div><div class="yiv616947766msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;"> My favorite family holiday tradition, well, I don’t have one. We are not that kind of family. On holiday we kind of get split up LoL,,, But we always call and msg each other. I have a little tradition of my own. On xmas eve of every year for the past 10 years or so, I seat with a big bowl of honey popcorn on my lap and watch the movies “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “Christmas Carol”. I feel like I can change the world after it. </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;"></span></i></div><div class="yiv616947766msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">~Elisandra Vargas Franzmann, book reviewer and friend.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJKIQUCcNVevleZBLoB1ySIjS8qzYy1oXfqXlMG6Y5IwqUNEiJS03DhGeL-vqIUVw84vioXzr9jViH4cM4Fw9Dff7RO2uBKSmSlp8vkV88Qo6t3w32QsPrAuVycBbR5NJ2XQhqDkav7qFN/s1600/meblondLILATHANKSGIVINGPOST.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJKIQUCcNVevleZBLoB1ySIjS8qzYy1oXfqXlMG6Y5IwqUNEiJS03DhGeL-vqIUVw84vioXzr9jViH4cM4Fw9Dff7RO2uBKSmSlp8vkV88Qo6t3w32QsPrAuVycBbR5NJ2XQhqDkav7qFN/s320/meblondLILATHANKSGIVINGPOST.JPG" width="307" /></a></div><div class="yiv616947766msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv616947766msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;"></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">My favorite family holiday tradition is: that my husband has taken over as official 'turkey day chef'. I don't have to spend all day in the kitchen - and he loves to cook so stop thinking I'm running slave labor over here! </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">~Heather Hildenbrand author of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dirty Blood and Cold Blood</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">This year I am thankful for so many things. My kids and my husband and my family. My dogs and cats. This year has been such a great year for me. I started a blog and met so many wonderful people, supportive and friendly people. I am grateful for the chance to publish my novel and the chance to see my dream come true.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">My favorite holiday tradition is looking through the black Friday ads on Thanksgiving morning and looking at all the things I probably won’t buy. LOL. I also love to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving day parade.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">~Cambria Hebert (ME!!!)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">So what are you thankful for this year? </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I wish you all the safest most joyus holiday that you can have. I hope your turkey is tasty and your pie is delish. I hope laughter rings through your home and the holiday spirit fills your chest until it might burst. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">And if you plan to go shopping on Black Friday.....</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-xWifOAzkb493HDwGEgvW3VozhBVCqta8zrJcrKs-AnIHK3Y2dKbkxTJoJwPtaAUL_e92vc2fq_5cplY8s2d8YSq24KP6jQKQviupQejp4pQK59HlWsgPFI5jZ9UFhrFIe1UxKAFluyG/s1600/sale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-xWifOAzkb493HDwGEgvW3VozhBVCqta8zrJcrKs-AnIHK3Y2dKbkxTJoJwPtaAUL_e92vc2fq_5cplY8s2d8YSq24KP6jQKQviupQejp4pQK59HlWsgPFI5jZ9UFhrFIe1UxKAFluyG/s320/sale.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="yiv616947766msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;"> Remeber the rules. </span></div><div class="yiv616947766msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">#1 NO pushing and shoving (unless someone is trying to steal what you want)</span></div><div class="yiv616947766msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">#2 NO talking dirty to the sales lady or sales man (unless they are HOT)</span></div><div class="yiv616947766msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">#3 No speeding while driving (Unless you have somewhere you really must be)</span></div><div class="yiv616947766msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">#4 Be polite. (Unless someone else is actin a fool)</span></div><div class="yiv616947766msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">#5 Spend money (but not more than you make.... unless its on sparkly items....)</span></div><div class="yiv616947766msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv616947766msonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!</span></div><div class="yiv883535800msonormal" style="background: white; margin: auto 0in;"><br />
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</div></span>Cambriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15550062797037161324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003621983298988294.post-25536345921417089982011-11-23T19:00:00.000-08:002011-11-23T19:00:05.643-08:00Whiteout Giveaway Winners!!Hey Peeps!<br />
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It was a fun release day!! But all good things must end.... luckily my book will still be for sale tomorrow.... LOL. But before I bid everyone a goodnight I have to congratulate the winners of the Giveaway!!!!!!<br />
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So here we goooooo.....<br />
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Winner of Snow Bank A : A signed poster, a copy of Whiteout and the Wolf ornament is:<br />
<strong>KATY!!!!</strong><br />
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<strong>Congratulations Katy!</strong><br />
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The winner of Snow Bank B: A 5$ Dairy Queen Gift card a 5$ Starbucks Giftcard and the snowflake ornament is:<br />
<strong>SP</strong><br />
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<strong>Congratulations SP!!</strong><br />
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Because tomorrow is a holiday I will not be able to get everything in the mail until Friday (afternoon because I am a crazy person and going shopping on Friday morning - LOL!!) But the gifts will come. I will email the winners and get a mailing address and then get your your goods!<br />
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Thank you all so much for entering! Remember to come back Friday when I announce the winner of the Cold Blood Giveaway!<br />
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Tomorrow I have a special Thanksgiving post up for Turkey Day so after you are stuffed come check it out!<br />
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Have a great night everyone and thanks!!!Cambriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15550062797037161324noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003621983298988294.post-41239383699558743042011-11-23T00:00:00.000-08:002011-11-23T00:00:00.711-08:00Release Day!! Whiteout!!Something great is happening today! Today is the release day for Whiteout my newest short story!!! Yay!<br />
I am super excited because Whiteout is a great story and just in time for the holiday season! <br />
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</div>In celebration of Whiteout's release I am posting A fabulous review from a Reviewer named Lila! Her blog is here: <a href="http://www.babblingaboutbooksandstuff.blogspot.com/">http://www.babblingaboutbooksandstuff.blogspot.com/</a> so I suggest checking out her site because she is hilarious and her reviews are one of a kind! Hint: they have lots of pictures!!!<br />
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I am also posting the trailer for Whiteout for your viewing pleasure and this afternoon I will come back to announce the winners of the two prize pack giveaways!!!!!<br />
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What was that??? Oh, yes the secret.<br />
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When I announced this giveaway I did find something extra hidden in a snow bank.... actually I found 2 somethings!!! Woop Woop!<br />
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Would you like to see what those secret prizes are????<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI5bFdLxbtoLiHGts02YkkYAi2ah4weagTnH9h2zqTokbEEMAGd2Opr35APY_VNsbFFNp4FwQUgUfDTXPEh343HjoP2GLAlYaa3SQqSK10NTGLnvkY3pVKYtCoIAA75dnffeTmrlnajDpz/s1600/ornament.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI5bFdLxbtoLiHGts02YkkYAi2ah4weagTnH9h2zqTokbEEMAGd2Opr35APY_VNsbFFNp4FwQUgUfDTXPEh343HjoP2GLAlYaa3SQqSK10NTGLnvkY3pVKYtCoIAA75dnffeTmrlnajDpz/s320/ornament.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>Here is the first..... an ornament for your tree!! Technically its a fox but this is exactly what I envison in Whiteout so I had to get it. :)<br />
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The second secret giveaway is also an ornament:<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jDRxW3Z7QofDvWhWVlvvrRc7Z33WfKBYSkwFI51Vz0jQOa97CZ7Ci43TZbdkakbDAzdvfS9W8Wftkg6YmDNpRKsdjwdR9eglPVgotnswFu8aCGkV_ROylguivBzrnCRP-YZbmXSv5FMo/s1600/snowflake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jDRxW3Z7QofDvWhWVlvvrRc7Z33WfKBYSkwFI51Vz0jQOa97CZ7Ci43TZbdkakbDAzdvfS9W8Wftkg6YmDNpRKsdjwdR9eglPVgotnswFu8aCGkV_ROylguivBzrnCRP-YZbmXSv5FMo/s320/snowflake.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>A pretty snowflake ornament that you can hang on your tree (or where ever you want) and remember the Blizzard that blew in from The Unlocked Diary.<br />
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So here's how this will roll. <br />
I am going to add the Wolf Ornament (I'm calling it a wolf - do not challenge me on this. LOL!!) to Snow Bank A, Thats the Ebook, the signed poster and now the wolf ornament.<br />
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To Snow Bank B I will add the snowflake ornament. Also in Snow Bank B are the gift cards to Starbucks and Dairy Queen.<br />
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If you haven't already entered there is time. Leave a comment below and tell me if you have ever kissed a stranger OR if you have ever been stranded somewhere with someone you didn't know....<br />
I will announce the winners here later today.... So come back! LOL.<br />
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Until then how about a most entertaining review from Lila.<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12992846-whiteout" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Whiteout " border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320185800m/12992846.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12992846-whiteout">Whiteout</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5298677.Cambria_Hebert">Cambria Hebert</a><br />
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My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/232781488">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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Ok,, I just finish reading (lots of embarrassement in front of my friends from work, as usual) and now I can go back to work LoL<br />
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Full review is yet to come, but for now I'll leave you with this pic that pretty much sums up how I'm feeling about this book:<br />
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<img alt="description" class="escapedImg" height="300" src="http://favim.com/orig/201106/24/cute-kiss-kitten-snow-squirrel-Favim.com-81144.jpg" width="300" /><br />
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Yep,, I'm feeling wild and fuzzy at the same time =0)<br />
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<strong>Reviewed on</strong> 11/14/11<br />
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How can something so beautiful be so lethal?<br />
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I love winter and cold, but I’m very susceptible to it. I feel cold all the freaking time. I have to sleep with a blanket even in the summer. Yep, pretty week of me. I was born in the first day of winter, but apparently, I didn’t get the props of extreme cold resistance LoL<br />
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But I still get amazed of the beauty of it. Even tough it could kill me. I guess that’s why girls like vamps so much. Mesmerizing, cold and lethal <sigh><br />
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<img alt="description" class="escapedImg" height="300" src="http://zeimg.com/uploads/wallpapers/3/Natureza/Paisagens/Winter-Wonderland-British-Columbia-Canada.jpg" width="400" /><br />
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<strong>The Plot -</strong> Simple, but so, so, so romantic. <sigh>But is also really scary and with a hint of comedy in it as well. Just like a fun read should be. Since I’m very cold all the freaking time and I tend to feel and see things as I read, yep, I get inside the story when the book is good, I felt pretty much like this in the beginning:<br />
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<img alt="description" class="escapedImg" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrpf9yp2pXy4jjaQf4yHAeXZF_UDLTQEU9y-r1FzVUqml45HQpNFdu4F0AvWDWUnP75KH9wkC_NIbS77jwM8ahfkI5tnLAN7Qt00zgxVt7AHPsKZqQ71jNhiU13stRsJMMbDeezQAsyGU/s1600/Frozen+Seal.jpg" width="350" /><br />
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<strong>The Characters -</strong> Tristan is courageous and so sweet I could bite him. Really a good boy. Grace is this girl with a loving heart and really long legs LoL. She saves Sam from the cold and have no idea in what she got her self into. Ok, I wanted to say so much more, but I have to stop here so I don’t spoil the big ginormous surprise. I’ll just say,,, it’s pretty big LoL<br />
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<strong>The Writing -</strong> 1º person, best ever :D Tristan tell us the story and while reading I felt the cold and even shivered a little. Witch only made my friends from work give me weird looks LoL This have some tricky twists n the writing and can get your head mess up. You think you know what’s going on, but then you find your self slapping your forehead and saying “How foolish of me.” <br />
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<img alt="description" class="escapedImg" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2777/4281285527_e607c436aa.jpg" width="350" /><br />
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<strong>Considerations -</strong> I really liked this story, but I think it could be a little bigger. I wanted to see more of them and stuff. I don’t know nearly enough about Tristan and Grace as I would like to know. They sound really great characters and it left me wanting more. MOOOOOORE!!!!! LoL<br />
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<img alt="description" class="escapedImg" height="300" src="http://www.irrationalcomment.com/wp-content/artwork/2009/11/i-want-more.jpg" width="300" /><br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5374664-elisandra-franzmann">View all my reviews</a><br />
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If that review doesn't make you want to run over to her blog (the address is at the top of this post) then man, you have not one FUN bone in your body. For realz. <br />
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Thank you to Lila for the most awesome review!!! Me likey.<br />
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So.... now for your viewing pleasure I will post the Trailer for Whiteout (in case you haven't seen it, want to see it again or have no earthly clue what this short story is about)<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XESCQvJ7kB8" width="420"></iframe><br />
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And finally to end this Release Day fun I would like to post the links in case you might want to download a copy to read. Remember to wear your coat and your scarf while reading......<br />
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Smashwords:<br />
<a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/107024">http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/107024</a><br />
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Amazon:<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Whiteout+by+Cambria+Hebert&x=13&y=11">http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Whiteout+by+Cambria+Hebert&x=13&y=11</a><br />
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Barnes and Noble:<br />
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s?keyword=Whiteout+by+Cambria+Hebert&store=ebook&page=%2Findex.asp&prod=univ&pos=&box">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s?keyword=Whiteout+by+Cambria+Hebert&store=ebook&page=%2Findex.asp&prod=univ&pos=&box</a>=<br />
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Thank you ALL for being here to help me celebrate the release of Whiteout my second release this month. :)<br />
I appreciate you all!!! Now don't forget to enter the giveaway!!!Cambriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15550062797037161324noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003621983298988294.post-53304906893016895122011-11-22T00:00:00.000-08:002011-11-22T00:00:05.472-08:00Cold Blood Release by Heather Hildenbrand -SNEAK PEAK + Giveaway!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Fk9do2t2cJA2c1zDHDOkrSKwCzal_purEhjlROrAUejK3sJ2R4XpObqatZGbXrmwvCYmFYGm_h7rrMAKbtdgO5_NwEdeGeHCQnep0CD1J6oOGjFBxkZc-UrMkLCX_BZFtnmfQpWp98x4/s1600/cold+blood+final+md.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Fk9do2t2cJA2c1zDHDOkrSKwCzal_purEhjlROrAUejK3sJ2R4XpObqatZGbXrmwvCYmFYGm_h7rrMAKbtdgO5_NwEdeGeHCQnep0CD1J6oOGjFBxkZc-UrMkLCX_BZFtnmfQpWp98x4/s320/cold+blood+final+md.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is what we will be talking about today. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the book you can enter to win.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Ecopy ofr giveaway)</div><br />
Hey Peeps!!!<br />
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Its a fabulous day!! Fabulous because Heather Hildenbrand is stopping by today for her Cold Blood Blog Tour! I am SO excited about this book. For sooo many reasons. I'll tell you my top 3.<br />
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1.) Dirty Blood (the first of the series) was super awesome and this book is just a continuation of more awesome.<br />
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2.) There's werewolves. (really need I say more?)<br />
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3.) I'm a character in the book. - Nope, I didn't stutter or have a moment of crazed fandom. I actually am a character in Cold Blood. How did that happen?? Back before I even read Dirty Blood I saw a post about it on a fellow bloggers blog. She was hosting a giveaway, I entered hoping to snag a copy of the book. Instead I won the grand prize: to become a character in the next book Cold Blood.<br />
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So then I was like I must read this. So I downloaded a copy of Dirty Blood and I read it. It was fabulous and I wrote a review for it and posted it around (it is here on my blog). I even tried to send Heather a message on GR but it wouldn't let me. It said she wasn't accepting messages. I thought well, the crazies must be stalking this girl about the werewolves..... (admittedly, I kind of was too.... lol). So I let it go. <br />
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But that wasn't the end of it. <br />
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Heather saw my review and sent me a message!!! I was so excited I almost peed my pants. Okay, I didn't but I was excited. We got to talking and then i told her I was the one who won the contest. We would talk from time to time and then when it got closer to release she asked me to BETA read it. I said no. NOT!!!! Of course I said hell yes!!!! I wanted to see about Cambria and i secretly hoped that this Cambria character would fall insanely in love with a hot werewolf and they would ride off into the sunset where they would have werewolf babies and live happily ever after. <br />
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Hey, every girl can dream.<br />
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So I read Cold Blood and it was awesome! Heather delivers again! I really enjoyed the characters - old and new. And the character of me... (he he he) she's is totally fun!!! She's also kind of goth.... I'm thinking I might try out that look.... what do y'all think?<br />
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And of course, Wes is still and awesome guy... but there is also a new guy in town and i gotta tell ya.... I started turning my head AWAY from the wolf to get a better look at this guy.....<br />
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What have we learned here today?<br />
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1.) Heather is an awesome writer<br />
2.) A goth look might be the way to go<br />
3.) If anyone can make me the Queen of Wereowolf lovin' think about another guy while a perfectly good and hot were is standing there then thats some writing chops. Don't you think?<br />
4.) Heather is graciously offering a Ecopy of Cold Blood today for a GIVEAWAY!!! <br />
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But don't take my word for it (really, you should) how about a Sneak Peak of chapter one??? Yeah, you like that don't you? As you should.<br />
So here is your sneak peak of Chapter One of COLD BLOOD:<br />
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<div align="center" class="yiv908349051MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.4in;"><span style="font-family: "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: black;">Chapter One</span></span></div><div align="center" class="yiv908349051MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.4in;"></div><div class="yiv908349051MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.4in;"></div><div class="yiv908349051MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.4in;"><span style="font-family: "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: black;"> “I can’t believe this. You punched her in the face? Twice?!” My mother’s voice rose to a shriek. </span></span></div><div class="yiv908349051MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.4in;"><span style="font-family: "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: black;"> “Um.” There wasn’t anything I could say to make this one go down easier, so I stayed wisely silent and stared down at my hands propped on the faux marble of the island countertop. We were facing off in the kitchen. Two days had passed since… well, since I’d almost died. And mom, too. </span></span></div><div class="yiv908349051MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.4in;"><span style="font-family: "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: black;">Grandma was rummaging around upstairs, probably rearranging my mother’s furniture in the guest room. Again. Which I knew added to my mother’s stress level and left me taking the heat.</span></span></div><div class="yiv908349051MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.4in;"><span style="font-family: "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: black;"> In the aftermath of that day, I'd forgotten all about the incident at school. Only now did I realize how little the office had told my mother during that initial phone call before she’d gone and tried to sacrifice herself to Leo, my evil uncle.</span></span></div><div class="yiv908349051MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.4in;"><span style="font-family: "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: black;">I’d somehow dodged it again when she’d called to withdraw me from my high school, giving them the address at <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1321904825_0">Wood Point</span> to send my transcripts. Whichever clueless old lady she’d talked to at reception hadn’t even mentioned the suspension. But then today, she’d received the letter, and the explanation it contained from Principal Sellers that cleared it all up. In detail.</span></span></div><div class="yiv908349051MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.4in;"><span style="font-family: "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: black;"> My mother blew out a breath and a stray piece of hair flew off her forehead and then back down again. I think she would’ve paced, but then she wouldn’t have been able to hold the icy glare she was using on me. I shifted my weight, wondering if it would be a mistake to make a break for the stairs. Probably.</span></span></div><div class="yiv908349051MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.4in;"><span style="font-family: "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: black;">My mother waved the letter from Principal Sellers in my face, as if I might not remember whatever it said happened. </span></span></div><div class="yiv908349051MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.4in;"><span style="font-family: "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: black;">“I can’t believe this,” she repeated. “Suspended. For fighting. This goes on your permanent record, you know. Colleges will see it. If you make it that far. And at this rate, you might not. We’re lucky Grandma secured your spot at Wood Point already.”</span></span></div><div class="yiv908349051MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.4in;"><span style="color: black;"><i><span style="font-family: "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Wood Point. Yeah, lucky.</span></i><span style="font-family: "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> I hung onto my silence, but it was getting harder. I wanted to say that if I’d known it would get me out of boarding school, I’d happily punch Cindy Adams all over again. I had a feeling that was not something I should say out loud.</span></span></div><div class="yiv908349051MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.4in;"><span style="font-family: "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: black;"> The oven timer dinged, signaling the self-cleaning was done. My mother broke her gaze and glanced at the appliance like it was calling to her. “We’ll talk about this later."</span></span></div><div class="yiv908349051MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.4in;"><span style="font-family: "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: black;"> I scurried out before she’d finished pulling on her yellow cleaning gloves.</span></span></div><div class="yiv908349051MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.4in;"><span style="font-family: "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: black;"> I thought about going back to my room to hide out, while my mother worked her frustrations out on the oven, but it was depressing in there. All of my clothes were packed and ready to go for the trip to Wood Point tomorrow. So were most of my books, bedding, and anything else remotely important to me. Everything except Wes.</span></span></div><div class="yiv908349051MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.4in;"><span style="font-family: "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: black;"> I hovered outside my room, leaning against the wall, and trying to ignore the dull pang that arose from thinking his name. He’d been by every day, under the watchful and disapproving eyes of my mother. He was slow to convince that I really was recovering. At least, that’s why he claimed to be checking on me. He hadn’t said much about anything else, including us, or school, or how we were supposed to be ‘<i>us</i>’ with me <i>at</i> school. I was afraid to ask because I wasn’t sure what his answer would be.</span></span></div><div class="yiv908349051MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.4in;"><span style="font-family: "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: black;"> I was still hung up on the whole magnetic pull between us. The more time that passed, the more it bothered me. What if that was the only reason I was attracted to him? Or him, to me? What if we only wanted to be together because of some strange chemical reaction in our blood? It was hard to believe, because just thinking about him made me ache and yearn in ways I’d never thought possible. But, I couldn’t shake the doubts and wondering…</span></span></div><div class="yiv908349051MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.4in;"><span style="font-family: "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: black;"> And then there was his completely annoying over protectiveness that fell somewhere between macho extreme and unnecessary. I was trying to be understanding and let it go. I was the first to jump on the protective bandwagon when it came to someone I loved, but every time he made a decision about what was best for me, without actually consulting me, it grated. </span></span></div><div class="yiv908349051MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.4in;"><span style="font-family: "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“There you are.” </span></span></span></div><div class="yiv908349051MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.4in;"></div><div class="yiv908349051MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.4in;"><span style="font-family: "serif"; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "serif"; line-height: 115%;"><strong>So that's the sneak peak!!! You really should read this series, its fabulous and so is Heather. The end of Cold Blood really leaves you wondering what is going to happen and anxious for the next installement!! Want more sneak peaks? Heather is offering a sneak peak at the first 6 chapters of her book on the first 6 blog stops on her blog tour!!! Woo Hoo! For a list of her blog stops and places to find these sneak peaks go to her blog at</strong></span></span></span></div><div class="yiv908349051MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.4in;"><strong><span style="font-family: Batang;"><a href="http://www.heatherhildenbrand.blogspot.com/">http://www.heatherhildenbrand.blogspot.com/</a> </span></strong></div><div align="left" class="yiv908349051MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.4in;"><strong><span style="font-family: Batang;">So now the answer to your burning question..... How can I win an Ecopy of this fabulous book????????????? </span></strong></div><div class="yiv908349051MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.4in;"><strong><span style="font-family: Batang;">Easy! Leave a comment at the bottom of this post! Don't forget yo leave your email addy!!! I will announce the winner here on Friday the 25th.... that's right Black Friday. I figure you'll be shopping for others so why not get something for you? ;) </span></strong></div><div class="yiv908349051MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.4in;"><strong><span style="font-family: Batang;">So that's it Peeps! You can find Cold Blood (and Dirty Blood) at smashwords, amazon and BN!!! Grab your copy today!</span></strong></div><div class="yiv908349051MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.4in;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv908349051MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.4in;"><span style="font-family: "serif"; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "serif"; line-height: 115%;"><strong>I want to give a huge shout out to Heather for publishing her second book! Congrats girl, I wish you all the best in your publishing adventure!!!</strong></span></span></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Batang;">Now go leave a comment to enter to win!!!</span></strong><br />
</div>Cambriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15550062797037161324noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003621983298988294.post-26567474321408715612011-11-21T07:27:00.000-08:002011-11-21T07:27:32.131-08:00The Willing (Crayder Chronicles #2) by C.S. SplitterHey Peeps!<br />
<br />
My books aren't the only ones that are releasing this time of the year. A really good friend of mine and fellow member of the Dreative Reviews Group on GoodReads has a book coming out TODAY!!!!! <br />
<br />
So I am doing this special blog post as a shout out to C.S. Splitter and the second book in the Crayder Chronicles today. (CONGRATS SPLITTER!!!) This book is totally UNLIKE anything you have read before. How do I know? I have read both The Reluctant and The Willing. The characters are original, fresh and wuite a few of them you prbably will want to slap.... until you realize that you like them. That's the kind of talented writing that Splitter possesses. <br />
<br />
I highly recommend that you give these books a try. It will broaden your horizions, enlighten you about planes, make you laugh out loud and unfuriate you at the same time. Ladies -- while you are reading this you will nod your head and roll your eyes and think "I knew this is what men were like". HA HA HA.<br />
<br />
These books aren't my usual fantasy/paranormal genre but they are still Great and I am so glad that I got the honor of reading them both. I will be writing a review for The Willing just as I had for The Reluctant (which was posted on this blog along with an interview with C.S. Splitter -------> its over there in the archives.<br />
So be on the lookout for that. As well as a guest post about writing from Splitter himself - and trust me his views on writing and publishing are fresh and down to earth so its a must read. Just like The Willing.<br />
<br />
So enough babbling from me. How about some deets on The Willing?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgNE2K-8yY_03c5PoicFZQs0YfvEtF99yhyphenhyphengdC4eyhvWwwDagVYwVxiE4GkiQZeUT1Jxk278sYzvKa5VPazmI3VnHJRhrYRxjL5eQN0X1mBA5lwhcQZ-LFIQ-U9YcvdNJDzHzxQB3xwqu/s1600/Willing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgNE2K-8yY_03c5PoicFZQs0YfvEtF99yhyphenhyphengdC4eyhvWwwDagVYwVxiE4GkiQZeUT1Jxk278sYzvKa5VPazmI3VnHJRhrYRxjL5eQN0X1mBA5lwhcQZ-LFIQ-U9YcvdNJDzHzxQB3xwqu/s1600/Willing.jpg" /></a></div><span id="longdescr_full" style="display: inline;">Here is the Blurb:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="display: inline;">The second book in the "Crayder Chronicles."<br />
<br />
How far would you go to protect your friends and family? <br />
<br />
Tom Crayder is the All-American guy next door with a business, a wife, a son, a mortgage, and an expensive hobby. He is also a politically incorrect, wisecracking, operative working for a shadowy organization dedicated to administering justice outside of a broken system. Not even his wife knows of his other life when she finds herself unwittingly involved in a drug war. <br />
<br />
Strap in with Tom as he navigates his way through the strata of a drug cartel. Lock and load with Lorena, a hard hearted assassin, as she lends her deadly skills to Tom’s fight for his family. <br />
<br />
Sit back to watch Tom and Lorena figure out how to work together without killing each other. Join the rest of the cast from "The Reluctant (Crayder Chronicles)" as they pitch in to track down the hitmen that threaten their associate. <br />
<br />
Some mysteries are solved. Some questions are answered. Some live. Some die.<br />
<br />
Each volume in the "Crayder Chronicles" can be read as a stand alone. Book one, "The Reluctant," was published in 2011 and is also available at Smashwords.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="display: inline;">Here is the link to buy The Willing on Smashhttp://www.smashwords.com/books/view/105983#longdescrwords:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="display: inline;">price? $2.99</span><br />
<br />
<span style="display: inline;">So know you know all about it AND I gave you the link to get it.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="display: inline;">Are you "Willing" to give it a try???</span>Cambriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15550062797037161324noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003621983298988294.post-91167923726956319502011-11-18T19:35:00.000-08:002011-11-18T19:35:43.557-08:00Countdown to Release!!! Whiteout!!Hey Peeps!<br />
So I have got a real treat for you today...<br />
<br />
Wait. Did you just feel that? *shivers* I think the temperature just dropped in here.... *goosebumps race along my arms* Yeah, it defintely is cold in here..... Brrrrrrrrrrrrr.<br />
<br />
We interupt this special blog post to bring an alert from the national weather system......<br />
<br />
There is a Blizzard blowing in.....massive amounts of snow are about to completely shut down your area and strand you in your home. Be sure you have supplies and wood for heat. The winds will howl through the snow heavy trees and the world is about to be covered in white and ice.....<br />
<br />
And blood.<br />
<br />
Okay, so maybe a REAL blizzard isn't going to blow through your town but there is one brewing in your e-reader. That's right Peeps in just a few days Whiteout will be released!!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxNRhYuUsE6sC6SGZfLEqyEky8UKDIp3fYWHGUHB4mXSguglLKCseUyHa1R9LQs2mfnkZiXY7K9IK8iwx08bur-fBnaid_-tpTgNfE1awzZAlE-5kRLMSDIoTW1OMSoh64I4aZLRMTxC76/s1600/Whiteout-Final+Low+Resfor+WEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxNRhYuUsE6sC6SGZfLEqyEky8UKDIp3fYWHGUHB4mXSguglLKCseUyHa1R9LQs2mfnkZiXY7K9IK8iwx08bur-fBnaid_-tpTgNfE1awzZAlE-5kRLMSDIoTW1OMSoh64I4aZLRMTxC76/s320/Whiteout-Final+Low+Resfor+WEB.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>I am super excited to for this little read to be released. Why? It's a fabulous read and it's just in time for the holidays. It has something for everyone. Action, mystery, romance and ..... blood. <br />
<br />
Have I mentioned that you should never trust a woman with a shotgun?<br />
<br />
This short story was the most fun to put together for me out of the three releases that I have upcoming (Before was released on the 18th!). Why? Because it was the easiest. LOL. The story literally just blew into my head much like a blizzard and exploded onto paper. I haven't sweated much over the content and if people will like it. Because I truly think they will. It's a really fun, quick read and it will totally put you in the mood for the holidays. <br />
<br />
Sooooo, to celebrate this blizzard that is blowing in I have got some fabulous giveaways!! <br />
<br />
In Snow Bank A: An Ebook and a poster. <br />
the lucky winner will recieve a coupon code from smashwords to download Whiteout. They will also get a signed poster of the fabulous cover (designed by Regina Wamba - Mae I Design)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpc2IKS-EQjDvC6mgtyN6bWVnJo1_rvPeSxdQ6VpgAt1F79n1wvMs7I9RaORUPNEVlSBUzZMpNTOTeW2aKzkTSthL1_3dIXgu1EgJ9xfKggGkPbOQVl6U25F_aPRZNCpvCMtaoaWmbylcR/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpc2IKS-EQjDvC6mgtyN6bWVnJo1_rvPeSxdQ6VpgAt1F79n1wvMs7I9RaORUPNEVlSBUzZMpNTOTeW2aKzkTSthL1_3dIXgu1EgJ9xfKggGkPbOQVl6U25F_aPRZNCpvCMtaoaWmbylcR/s320/photo.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>this is the poster-------------><br />
<br />
<br />
In Snow Bank B: A 5$ Giftcard to Dairy Queen to get yourself a Blizzard..... brrrrrrrr.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6hhheOi3QyZtZhS4NnxzRv9T5-yRNAwOEB2JdG7_mbkCwm9pc1VhzK5fYAlMBwP3wWVagzERWErrb-LB3VoSZMtlteGH5opj-xaTmbu8ZlknQJfYj-dMy5W3D3PEgG-GmdcW-f-NZVg_w/s1600/Nov_featuring_B_O_M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6hhheOi3QyZtZhS4NnxzRv9T5-yRNAwOEB2JdG7_mbkCwm9pc1VhzK5fYAlMBwP3wWVagzERWErrb-LB3VoSZMtlteGH5opj-xaTmbu8ZlknQJfYj-dMy5W3D3PEgG-GmdcW-f-NZVg_w/s1600/Nov_featuring_B_O_M.jpg" /></a></div><br />
And also another $5 gift card from Starbucks. (you know how much I love me Starbucks....) I suggest getting a coffee and snugly up with your reader to read Whiteout.<br />
This is what your card will look like: -------------------------><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WzR7n56QUhpdFRCxGGcAKDhBhs_r7Z-Opa6NQf3XSHoBt6DdefHA6ynC3kk_9RhMvjgBQZ3MEJWYIWQMsRN0KKiChhGbyZTeyIx3TMykCcxhj3WUwl-Y9VQp10_QfgNYJR1Oqbnmz0vK/s1600/5761949a1b2d469cb9b5abc0c92ee9f7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WzR7n56QUhpdFRCxGGcAKDhBhs_r7Z-Opa6NQf3XSHoBt6DdefHA6ynC3kk_9RhMvjgBQZ3MEJWYIWQMsRN0KKiChhGbyZTeyIx3TMykCcxhj3WUwl-Y9VQp10_QfgNYJR1Oqbnmz0vK/s1600/5761949a1b2d469cb9b5abc0c92ee9f7.jpg" /></a><br />
(I thought the snowy scene was appropriate.)<br />
<br />
So that's what's in the Snow Banks....<br />
Wait.....<br />
Do you see that..... *shivers* gets out a red shovel..........<br />
<br />
There's More!!!! I found more in the Snow!!!!!! What is it? <br />
<br />
Its a secret.<br />
<br />
That's right - a secret addition to snow bank number 2.<br />
You can find out what it is on <strong>Release day</strong> which is <strong>November 23rd</strong>. Just in time to download before you enjoy the bird on your table and give thanks. :)<br />
<br />
So what do you need to do to win these frosty but good prizes?<br />
Leave a comment on this thread and answer this question.....<br />
<br />
Have you ever kissed a stanger? OR Have you ever been stuck somewhere (maybe because of a blizzard) with someone that you don't know??<br />
<br />
So leave your comment and be sure to come back on Release Day. I will be posting the winners, announcing the secret gift AND be sharing a fabulous review of Whiteout from Reviewer Lila. <br />
Until then enjoy the book trailer and stay warm........ It's about to start snowing.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XESCQvJ7kB8" width="420"></iframe>Cambriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15550062797037161324noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003621983298988294.post-44967304964056360982011-11-18T13:28:00.000-08:002011-11-18T13:28:52.741-08:00Before Giveaway Winners Announced!!Hey Peeps!!!!<br />
Its been a wonderful release day so far and I want to THANK YOU all for such wonderful support. I hope that those of you who have downloaded my short story prequel are loving it and those of you who haven't........ what the heck are you waiting for???? LOL.<br />
<br />
Anyway, as promised I am here to announce the winners of the Before Giveaway Extravaganza (thats a fancy word for free stuff). So here we gooooo...... the winners are......<br />
<br />
Package A: Beauty Box : <strong>Krystal Larson</strong><br />
<strong>Girl you wil be looking HOT!!!!!!!! </strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Note: </strong>I cannot and will not be responsible for any wild party havin, Katy Perry video makin, or hot guy lickin ways..... wear that kickin make up At Your Own Risk. LOL!!!<br />
<br />
The winner of Package B: A free Ebook of Before and a Signed Before Poster: <strong>Misty Parker </strong><br />
<strong>Congratulations!!!!!</strong><br />
<br />
Now I also did say that since I had some international peeps that I would select a winner for a free Ebook.<br />
The winner is: <strong>Midnight!!!!!</strong><br />
<strong>WOOO HOOOOOOO</strong><br />
<br />
Misty and Krystal - I dropped your goods in the mail. Midnight I emailed you your code. <br />
<br />
For everyone who didn't win..... come back TOMORROW and enter YET ANOTHER awesome giveaway. Yup, Uh- huh. Its a good one two. I have 2 more pakcages to give away in celebration on Whiteout's Release on the 23rd.<br />
<br />
I want to thank everyone for helping to make this Release day so special!!! If you haven't checked out the super funny review of Before down below do it! If you have yet to watch the Trailer for Masquerade well then, I have just one thing to say: YOU CRAZY. now go on -------------------------------------------><br />
go watch........<br />
LOL.<br />
<br />
Have a fabulous day and until tomorrow!Cambriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15550062797037161324noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003621983298988294.post-14487491144022460382011-11-18T00:00:00.000-08:002011-11-18T00:00:12.417-08:00Release Day!!!!!!!!It's finally here!!!! Today is the day I have been waiting for. Before is officially published!!!!! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSojEkig_Rw2-0k6JmeVdh5oyhEzj_Rxo8PV-X8XyBTbdUtjuuRsaW9wbZK-oa95g_w1I8-usT7OLwJrRsm8aw9MgzUSj-R07BQbtOc8RIvfpduty6pvki8m0iW1IEzAEV_3OHS9ooOKt/s1600/Before-mock10+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSojEkig_Rw2-0k6JmeVdh5oyhEzj_Rxo8PV-X8XyBTbdUtjuuRsaW9wbZK-oa95g_w1I8-usT7OLwJrRsm8aw9MgzUSj-R07BQbtOc8RIvfpduty6pvki8m0iW1IEzAEV_3OHS9ooOKt/s320/Before-mock10+copy.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
It is available as an Ebook here are the links so that you can grab a copy (because you DO want a copy. LOL) It looks really pretty on an E-reader..... I gave mine a hug. Okay, a kiss too..... <br />
Here's where to get it at Barnes and Noble:<br />
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/before-by-cambria-hebert?keyword=before+by+cambria+hebert&store=ebook">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/before-by-cambria-hebert?keyword=before+by+cambria+hebert&store=ebook</a><br />
<br />
Here's Amazon:<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Before+by+cambria+hebert&x=11&y=27">http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Before+by+cambria+hebert&x=11&y=27</a><br />
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Here's Smashwords: Note: those without an E-reader can download a PDF from here to read on your computer. :)<br />
<a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/105048">http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/105048</a><br />
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Okay, so there's where you can buy it!!! And why would you want to buy it??? It's FABULOUS. *sigh* Fine. Of course I would say that. So don't take my word for it. How about the word of a reviewer named Lila? Lila was given an Advanced Review Copy to read and review (and no I had never met her before she was given a copy - she was not my friend. LOL. but she is now. and i think you'll see why after you see this fantastic review.) Lila has a brand new blog so check it out: <a href="http://www.babblingaboutbooksandstuff.blogspot.com/">http://www.babblingaboutbooksandstuff.blogspot.com/</a> <br />
Here's her review of Before:<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12964286-before" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Before (Heven and Hell, #0.5)" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1319669045m/12964286.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12964286-before">Before</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5298677.Cambria_Hebert">Cambria Hebert</a><br />
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My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/232288898">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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This is a bittersweet sensation,, great start,, tottal cliffhanging end,, me crying out NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO,,, as I read the last page and hiding my face in my hands,, <br />
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yep,, that's a recepie for hooking me up to a book LoL<br />
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<strong>Reviewed on</strong> 11/14/11<br />
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<strong>The Plot -</strong> Since this is a prequel, there’s not much going on here. Is just a taste of what to come. Mysterious guy likes pretty and oblivious girl. Something bad happens. I’m left hanging from a cliff. Yep,, I like that plot. LoL<br />
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<strong>The Characters -</strong> Mysterious guy is,, well,, mysterious LoL, but we can see a glimpse of him and I like the way he thinks and how he is so bad ass in one part and as soon as he sees her he kind of melts inside, but has to hide. She is your friend that is beautiful, cool to hang out with and honest. Yep. I mean, who does its own paperwork now a day? Seriously! Well, apparently, Hev does. <what a="" fool="">But, nerds apart, I like them already LoL<br />
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<strong>The Writing -</strong> First person narrative!!!! Can I have a high five? o/ <br />
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Yep,, my fave. It’s actually split in to Sam’s and Hev’s point of view. So we can see what each of them are thinking and feeling, but the best part is, even though they are really different, the way they thinks is not that different so the jumping from one head to the other doesn’t give you a head each. Her writing is very fluid and she doesn’t over detail which I love. My attention span, as I said before, is of a 5yo and I can’t retain to much info at the same time, specially if is a visual one. I don’t particularly care if the wall paper have daises hand painted by a grand grandmother of the late step father of the neighbor’s cousin. I just want to know what went down in the room, LoL,,, So, yep, really great, down to the point writing ,, high five on that uhuuuu o/<br />
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<strong>Considerations -</strong> The start let my hopes up for the next book and one of the things I really liked was the name: Before. Its about before it all,, before the change, before the start, before the encounter,, simply before,,, luv it cose it has all this meaning linked to it,,,<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5374664-elisandra-franzmann">View all my reviews</a><br />
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Is that not the BEST EVER review? LOL. It has moving pictures and everything. When i first saw this on GoodReads, I was like who is this girl and how fantastic is she??? LOL!!!<br />
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If that doesn't convince you to read Before then you probably shouldn't read it. :)<br />
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Soooo, moving on..... I did promise something today.... What was it again??? ......................<br />
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OH! Right. The Masquerade Trailer!!! Who wants to see? (You all better be raising your hands!) <br />
Enjoy:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fAZBkJjoT6c" width="420"></iframe><br />
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Soo I hope that got you excited for Masquerade debuting on Dec. 16th. If it did I totally recommending dowloading BEFORE TODAY to get a little taste of what's to come. :) It will for sure pretty up your e-reader or computer. :)<br />
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I know I said I would announce the winners today of the giveaway and I will, later on this afternoon! So if you haven't entered to win Package A: the beauty box to get Heven's look OR Package B: the Free copy of Before and an 11x14 poster then Enter NOW! I am also offering a free Ecopy to any international entries - just be sure to post that you are in another country. Also, tell us about your First Crush. In the spirit of High School and Heven's crush I thought it might be fun to remember the days of yore..... lol.<br />
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So that's it! Now if you will excuse me I am off to Damce around the living room in my skivvies with my E-reader. <br />
Oh! and if you buy a copy take a pick with your e-reader and send it to me. I will post it on my blog.<br />
email: <a href="mailto:cambriahebert@rocketmail.com">cambriahebert@rocketmail.com</a>Cambriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15550062797037161324noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003621983298988294.post-87253842577652290072011-11-17T07:48:00.000-08:002011-11-17T07:50:13.947-08:00The Golden Sky BlogfestHey Everyone!! <br />
Today I am posting as part of the Golden Sky Blogfest tto help fellow author and blogger, E.C. Stilson celebrate the release of her book, The Golden Sky. It officially releases tomorrow!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBNI5G1JL1kPFr-vuDQUAzif_zqlg0Kgbz_4FqUfc5jMOXBkmjS3u14-pVD-wzcML0tQoabj-SXYltiJ38WhYyvJEK3qKCmRZgxQEs4E-37vN4t_BGspzlW00mzi2jWMWh4qzxZPWA8n2/s1600/The-Golden-Sky-by-EC-Stilson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBNI5G1JL1kPFr-vuDQUAzif_zqlg0Kgbz_4FqUfc5jMOXBkmjS3u14-pVD-wzcML0tQoabj-SXYltiJ38WhYyvJEK3qKCmRZgxQEs4E-37vN4t_BGspzlW00mzi2jWMWh4qzxZPWA8n2/s320/The-Golden-Sky-by-EC-Stilson.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><br />
The Golden Sky is a heartlfelt memoir written in journal format and allows us to see through the eyes of a mother who goes through something many of us can only imagine - the loss of a child. In E.C.'s case it was the loss of a son named Zeke.<br />
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In celebration of the books release and in honor of Zeke - E.C. has asked a few of us bloggers to tell about a loss that we have experienced. I must say that E.C. is an incredibly courageous and strong woman to write about something so personal. While I do not pretend to know how difficult it is to lose a child, I do know something about loss. I myself have experienced loss in my life - as a young child.<br />
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Faced with this blank page I realize how incredible it is that E.C. was able to write a book and share that part of herself and her life. I really think that it will help people who have suffered some kind of loss themselves. Today, I am talking about something that I don't normally talk about, something that I usually hold close to the chest. It's something I don't try to hide it's just personal. It's a glimpse of me that you haven't seen before - a glimpse that is frankly diffucult to give. <br />
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When I was eleven years old my father died of Hodgkins Lymphoma Disease - in short - cancer. This kind of cancer is something that about 90% of patients can over come (don't quote me on that statistic) and he fought a good, hard fight (he was diagnosed when I was about 2 years old) but eventually the disease won. It was a difficult thing as a child to watch someone that you loved and looked up to slowly deteriorate. I do consider myself fortunate because he lived long enough that I am able to remember him and have those memories.<br />
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Having experienced that loss so young I will say that I'm not sure I fully understood the impact it would have on me. As an eleven year old I understood what death meant. I knew I would never see him again. I knew that I missed him. But now that I am an adult I understand that his loss is felt still. I think about him often, like when I got married and he wasn't there. When I had my two children that he would never meet and lately when I recieved a publishing contract and have 3 books coming out during the next two months. I got my creativity from him. He was very talented at drawing - in fact - when I was a child I loved Roger Rabbit. LOL. He drew a picture of him and wrote 'love daddy' on it. My husband had it framed a few years ago for me and it hangs in my house to this day. Everytime my children draw something beautiful and I tell them that they are artitsts they say "yeah, just like granpa."<br />
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I DO believe that he is watching and that he sees everything that I do. I believe he look as after my children as their gaurdian angel and I believe that he is with me still - but I think anyone who has lost someone would agree - it would be nice to see them and hear them say that they are proud. <br />
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He would have been 50 this year - on halloween - to be exact.... (maybe thats why I like werewolves so much....*wags eyebrows*) and I remember him with fondness - even though he was known to be stubborn. (another trait I think I might have gotten....) He loved any kind of candy and dessert especially Rolos and Root Beer Floats (well any kind of ice cream). He had blue eyes and very dark hair - that was very curly (just like my daughter) and he had a smile that people were very drawn too. He had a lot of friends and drove a Harley. (Yes, I rode it too... I had my own helmet it was blue sparkles.) When the gas needle in the car went to empty he would say "We can go for twenty more miles!" Sometimes he was right..... sometimes he ended up pushing while I steered to the nearest gas station. LOL.<br />
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His name was Edward Bryan Witt and though his loss was a very long time ago - about 19 years - I won't forget him. <br />
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So that's the glimpse into the side of me you don't really get to see - and probably won't see much more in posts to come.. Once again I hand it to E.C. Stilson for sharing her experience. It must not have been easy - perhaps it was healing. But I also think that its a wonderful tribute to a child that was taken too soon..... but you know the saying..... "Only the good die young". That is a saying that I think might be true.<br />
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So remember to pick up a copy of The Golden Sky tomorrow to get a glimpse into the heart of a very strong woman. Its an experience that will probably stay with you.<br />
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Coming tomorrow to The Unlocked Diary -- Release Day for Before!!!! Don't forget to stop by and enter to win one of the two prize packs that I am giving away.... tomorrow is the last day to enter! (you can enter today in the comment section of the post below this one) I will announce the winners tomorrow afternoon. I am also debuting the Masquerade Trailer and sharing a SUPER fabulous review that a reviewer wrote for Before..... please stop by and helo me celebrate my very first release!<br />
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Have a wonderful day everyone!Cambriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15550062797037161324noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003621983298988294.post-29510917763295388442011-11-14T22:00:00.000-08:002011-11-15T05:53:46.470-08:00Countdown to Release!! Before!!<span style="color: purple;">It's here! It's here! It's here! It's here!</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">And NO I am not talking about spiders in the bed or rats in the house - that would be a whole other kind of screaming. </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">I am talking about the release of my very first Short Story!!!!!!!! Friday is the day. I am so excited I might pee my pants! But don't worry I won't do it til after this post - but you might when you see what I have for you today! </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">So for any of you who have been living under a rock and don't know what the heck I am talking about here is the cover for Friday's release:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigw4IpL-28IaiZ_S1wWws-XBvysMNypS9iyXhBR3cu1O7cCvVrv6GTR026fl8U11GsjdrsbRCFVHsBwjxj2azBFARyN_imaWuaFVVdIIoRR-DpeYQee-dYXIDTr4FJmxxTxv2ma1nFb1OE/s1600/Before-mock10+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigw4IpL-28IaiZ_S1wWws-XBvysMNypS9iyXhBR3cu1O7cCvVrv6GTR026fl8U11GsjdrsbRCFVHsBwjxj2azBFARyN_imaWuaFVVdIIoRR-DpeYQee-dYXIDTr4FJmxxTxv2ma1nFb1OE/s320/Before-mock10+copy.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: purple;">But let's get to the goods. Cause that's why your here, right? It's why I'm here and i'm not even eligable to win! *pouts*</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">I have not one but two fantastic gift packages for you to win. To enter the giveaway all you have to do is leave a comment for me below AND... yes there is more... wait for it.... tell me about your first crush. You don't have to give me details - unless you want to *wags eyebrows* - it could be a name or a story or anything! Why am I making you do this? Because I love you. AND because Heven is in High School she has a hottie hot crush in the book. Soooo, hence, therefore I want to know about your crush. It doesn't have to be your first crush it could be any. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Note: Don't tell me about a guy that sits in the next cubicle at your work and talks to himself all say - about himself - in the third person. IF i hear that story you will be disqualified. I mean gross. </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">I will announce the winner here, on release day... which is this <strong>Friday the 18th.</strong> (Breaking Dawn... yes its coming out but you know you will wait in line. Download this Ebook and read it in line! If you take a picture and send it to me, I will post for all the world to see.)</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Package 1:</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">A Beauty Box. Get Heven's look. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFh_e_gnn8yGI6dwTlKXwNRWbb9a8MSXGf02sLs9_n1lvL3fWpcGMjvOBeungdfPAZxB3EEHbV_aZvLilhUoF8v8jzvX9TcYu8AavmQRIs97UJwJ4-GFRqlc3SWD6aW4MKc4OyKVy6OlXU/s1600/makeup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFh_e_gnn8yGI6dwTlKXwNRWbb9a8MSXGf02sLs9_n1lvL3fWpcGMjvOBeungdfPAZxB3EEHbV_aZvLilhUoF8v8jzvX9TcYu8AavmQRIs97UJwJ4-GFRqlc3SWD6aW4MKc4OyKVy6OlXU/s320/makeup.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: purple;">Here you can get two looks. The first look is the "innocent" - she isn't really innocent look. Rock the look with pale gold shadows, shimmer powder, pale pink lips and glittery gold fingertips. (don't forget the clear coat!)</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">THEN bust out of the good girl look and go out for a night on the town.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Swap the shadow for the pink and black sparkly shadow and the subdued golden polish for the super awesome glittery bright pink!</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">I suggest that with this beauty package this might happen to you: (And you'll like it!)</span><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KlyXNRrsk4A" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Note: No make - up was harmed in the making of that video - at least I hope not!</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Package 2:</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">An 11X14 Poster of the Cover and a Free Ecopy from Smashwords.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fj9c3r4ARqYxJVStOnjdCBgu-oyMNActGDrVNsFUBwrLjiih3w2lCjI9UKjam8yo1fr17K0UcTrCQq8IfNx60biVInZXRFHmYwHkNbo0y2m1AsTdg3ywWV02wb1ZzV9jJc9sQehFDqST/s1600/poster+shot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fj9c3r4ARqYxJVStOnjdCBgu-oyMNActGDrVNsFUBwrLjiih3w2lCjI9UKjam8yo1fr17K0UcTrCQq8IfNx60biVInZXRFHmYwHkNbo0y2m1AsTdg3ywWV02wb1ZzV9jJc9sQehFDqST/s320/poster+shot.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><span style="color: purple;">This is the poster. Close your eyes and imagine how pretty the Ebook will be! I will be autographing this poster before I mail it. (Unless the winner decides that my handwriting will ruin the pretty picture).</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">AND: AND: AND:</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Because of shipping rates I cannot mail these packages to International Entires SO what i am going to do is pick one of my internationl entries and giveaway a Ebook. SO if you are in another country make note of that in your post below and I will draw between my friends abroad for a Free Ebook.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">So thats kind of like I have 3 giveaways going on right now!!! Showin the love to my Peeps! :) </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">And that comcludes the free stuff! Don't forget to leave your comment below to enter and tell me about your crush. You can tell me which package you prefer but I can't garuntee its the one you will get. = No fighting over the make - up!! If no one wants my Ebook I will cry and go hide in a corner. Please drop back by on thurday the 17th and I will have another delightful post and it will be 1 day til release. Then on Friday please come by and help me celebrate this release! Not only will I announce the winner but... I will be giving everyone a First Peak at the Masquerade Book Trailer!! I am also hosting a guest review by my new friend and awesome reviewer: Lila (<a href="http://www.babblingaboutbooksandstuff.blogspot.com/">http://www.babblingaboutbooksandstuff.blogspot.com/</a>) </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Her review of Before is so so fabulous I had to share it. There are pictures and everything! Its a must see.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">So thats it peeps! Enjoy the gifts and the fun this week.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">And a quick shout out to everyone who is being so supportive of me and my publishing journey. This is the first of many awesome giveaways that I will be hosting thru December. Why? Because you have given so much to me, I want to give something back to you.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Thanks!!! </span>Cambriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15550062797037161324noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003621983298988294.post-28490557632689761182011-11-09T00:05:00.000-08:002011-11-11T04:53:20.907-08:00Christmas Lites Cover and Trailer Reveal!Hey Peeps!<br />
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It's an exciting day!! Who doesn't love a cover reveal? Well I got that. But I got something to go with the cover too.... a Book Trailer! Yay! Settle in your seat and get ready to delight your eyes and ears. :)<br />
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I have mentioned a few times that I am one of 3 moderators in a group in GoodReads called Creative Reviews... (our button is over there --------------> on the right side somewhere!). Well our group is filled (and I do mean filled - we have over 900 members) to the brim with writers, reviewers, editors, proofreaders and crazy people. (I be one of the crazy ones). We decided to pull all our abilities to do soemthing for others. Born: Christmas Lites. Its a Short Story Anthology with the overall theme of Christmas. It will be available in Ebook and Print this November. <br />
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26 authors submitted a short story to be included in the anthology and ALL the proceeds will be donated to the NCADV - National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Its a wonderful charity that we are honored to support. We are also donating FREE Ecopies to the deployed troops overseas via Operation Ebook Drop.<br />
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We planned a release date for November 25th (yes, Black Friday for our US residents). It will be for sure out there in Ebook via Smashwords, Amazon and BN. Print? I planned on it. But from I hear Createspace takes a while so i will let you know about that soon....<br />
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Until then, let us feast our eyes on the beautimus cover:<br />
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Soooo pretty. <br />
Cover Design by Dafeenah Jameel. <a href="http://www.indiedesignz.com/">http://www.indiedesignz.com/</a><br />
She does great work and her prices can't be beat. <br />
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Here's the Blurb to give you the flavor flavor of the book:<br />
I'm making it red to get into the holiday Spirit!!! Deck the Blogs with a bunch of red, fa la la la la la. What you don't like my singing?<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span style="background: white; color: red; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> Once upon a time, a rough and tumble seven year old caught Santa sliding down the chimney…</span><span style="background: white; color: red; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="background: white; color: red; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Then a ninja elf came and broke Santa out, no net is strong enough to keep out this ninja elf! Off past the faithful family pet they ran and jumped in the sleigh. They raced to another house but refused to stop when ghosts were there to greet them. Santa doesn’t tangle with ghosts. He doesn’t tangle with vampires, either. </span><span style="background: white; color: red; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="background: white; color: red; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">At the next stop, he met a runaway gingerbread man who yelled, “You can’t catch me, I’m the gingerbread man!” Santa didn’t bother to catch him; he had things to do.</span><span style="background: white; color: red; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="background: white; color: red; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">On his way to his next delivery, he passed a werewolf jumping out of a plane and dodged a zombie hungry for his brain.</span><span style="background: white; color: red; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="background: white; color: red; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">He finally touched down in a nice, normal town full of tidings and great joy…</span><span style="background: white; color: red; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="background: white; color: red; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Or did he?</span><span style="background: white; color: red; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="background: white; color: red; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Dive into a world of variety—a world of spirit with this Creative Reviews anthology. What better way to celebrate the holiday season than with some short stories that entertain <i>and</i> encompass the true meaning of Christmas? All proceeds of this book will be donated to the NCADV (national coalition against domestic violence). Debut authors and published authors have come together in this one-of-a-kind compilation – please help support a great cause and plunge deep into our imaginations.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="background: white; color: red; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">And if that wasn't enough fun, how about the trailer, for your viewing pleasure....</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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So what do we all think? Does this look like a fun, entertaining good read? Does it look like it would be something that you could enjoy AND fell good about buying?<br />
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Are you in the Holiday Spirit yet? You should be! <br />
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As I said, A LOT of people went into helping to create such a great book. I will do a blog post later that gives thanks to them all. Until then, Thanks Peeps! You know who you are. :)<br />
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So keep your eyes peeled (hold them open) and be on the look out for this fab anthology. More to come about its release!<br />
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Have a great day! HO HO HO HO Merry Christmas! What? Oh its not Thanksgiving yet? Whatever. :)Cambriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15550062797037161324noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003621983298988294.post-78424255618840092002011-11-07T06:41:00.000-08:002011-11-07T06:41:04.838-08:00Adventures in Publishing - Interview with a Designer!Hey Peeps!!!! <br />
I have some super most excellent most creative and colorful post for you today. Oh, yeah, and its informative too!!! (Excuse me while i catch my breath..........) <br />
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Aaaand I'm back! <br />
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Today I have an interview with Regina Wamba, a super talented designer. She has designed all 3 of my book covers. She is sooo good at what she does and book cover design isn't all she does. Nope. Uh-huh. She does websites, logos, photography and book trailers. I'm pretty sure she'd knit you a sweater if you said please. She knows her stuff. If you need a designer you should check out her site. <br />
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<a href="http://www.maeidesign.com/">http://www.maeidesign.com/</a><br />
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So my cover designs aren't enough to convince you? (really, I am totally offended) Fine. Here. Look at some more of her awesome work!<br />
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And now that you can see she knows exactly what she is doing how about hearing what she thinks makes great designs and what you can do to make sure you have a great cover and website! <br />
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Mae I Design is a full service design business that offers a variety of services. Can you tell us everything you offer?</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #5f497a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">Well, full lists of services are provided. But mostly I offer three categories Graphic Design, Website Design and Photography. A whole realm falls under those three from book cover design to search engine optimization.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Out of all these which one is your favorite thing to do?</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0;">Out of all my services I love photography, photo manipulation and book cover design or graphic design. There is a lot of creativity here and I enjoy it a lot! </span></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">How did you get started in the design business? <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0;"></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went to school here in Minnesota for graphic design and visual communications. I <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>always a painter and drawer and knew I wanted to do something with art as a career. I started doing freelance immediately after graduating while working through different graphic design positions. In February 2009, I took the leap and opened MaeIDesign and Photography. </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is your knowledge of art and computers self taught?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Mostly. I actually taught myself photography, web design, and photo manipulation. As you grow as a designer you learn and explore.. that is what I have done. I tried some things I didn’t know, and loved them. </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you have a cover design that you have done that is your favorite?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Oh gosh.. I can’t say I have a favorite.. I enjoy them all and they all have a place with it’s own story. Every cover I do is enjoyable, and I do always do my best for the author. If something just isn’t clicking.. I think on it.. and try new things. </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What do you think makes a great cover design? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s a mixture of balance, color, and typography. It needs to have a good balance of space with a focal point, it needs a good balance of color. Too much or too little can make for an uninspiring cover. Finally the typography needs to bring in the cover as a whole. It should blend well with rest of the art and be legible from a fair distance.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is there any one type of design or image that you think is overused? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I guess it depends.. I have seen the same image on a couple of covers for authors, and was confused by who’s book was who’s. I can tell you certain fonts can be overused and the image can be great, but the font or title can be uninspiring leading to a “Okay” cover. </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Does cover design go in trends? If so, what is hot now and what isn’t?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0;">In a sense.. mostly it blends with what’s “HOT” to read. Paranormal reads are on the high, so you’ll see a lot more fantasy like covers out there…</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How long have you been designing?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0;">Designing since 2005 and I’ve been an artist my whole life. </span></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What are the top three must haves when making a website for your business or book? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1. Always make sure your branding or look is consistent. It’s important for people to feel like they have visited one site, not three. 2. I always recommend that if you design a site, to have some sort of lead generator or way to engage. For example.. Facebook feed, or “WIN A FREE AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF MY BOOK!!” or something that gets people following you, or entering their email so you can keep in touch. 3. Always make sure your links and the functionality of your site are in working order. Your forms sending to the right address, your links are working, and your navigation goes to the right page.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What kinds of things should people stay away from when designing a website? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Well, I always discourage an overuse of images. A good balance of information and images is right. UNLESS you are specifically a portfolio site, but a good amount of text/information is always recommended. Always spell check your content. And again make sure that you have a relevant look and feel that flows throughout your whole website. </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are a photographer, so what would your dream photo shoot be like? Whose picture would you like to take?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would say I would love to do some great fantasy shots.. like human unicorns..and ravens, dark and mysterious, fantasy and mythical.. I would need a huge studio and some serious equipment.. My plan is to have one of those one day!</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Who’s picture? ANYONE WHO is WILLING! People who love photography and creative shots as much as I do!</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What is the best thing about being a designer? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The ability to create and imagine.. and try new things. It’s very liberating.. and I wouldn’t trade it for anything!</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The worst? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The technical stuff like contracts, statements, taxes. </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Where do you see yourself in 5 years? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I will have a location, maybe a website designer to do the websites and a studio for photography.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where does your inspiration come from when designing a book cover?<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0;"> </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The details and the story. The more an author is comfortable giving the story or details, the better my mind spins. I even dream about them!! I can sometimes pull together details the author never thought of! </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">SIDE NOTE: I honor every client I have and respect their privacy. In no way EVER do I share any information.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">*I can second for this, I gave her Whiteout to read before she designed the cover and she was very respectful. I also gave her sections of Masquerade when when designing my book cover.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Have you ever had to deal with a difficult client? Someone who didn’t like anything? How did you handle that? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Oh yes, eventually I settle with them and make an agreement. We then go our separate ways.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What kind of books do you like to read? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I love historical romance, paranormal, and paranormal romance. BUT if it has good reviews, I am open to ANYTHING! </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is perfection? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When you get excited. Completely. When your whole body is just happy. You feel the connection when you look it over and say.. WOW.. THAT is good.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you had to lose one of your 5 senses which one would you choose and why? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To lose? Probably my sense of smell..ONLY because I could live that. I wouldn’t want to, but I could deal. I would have issues if I could never feel my children’s hair, or taste the exotic foods I like to eat or listen to my family.. I could deal. Tough question!!!!</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What is your favorite color?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0;">Green. I love green. BRIGHT green!</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Do you shop at Walmart? If so, what is the thing you buy most? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Haha.. Yes, probably groceries and birthday presents.. lol.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please tell us how to contact you here:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/MaeIDesignandPhotography"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">www.facebook.com/MaeIDesignandPhotography</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://www.maeidesign.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">www.maeidesign.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="mailto:regina@maeidesign.com"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">regina@maeidesign.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://www.ghwamba.deviantart.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">www.ghwamba.deviantart.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">612.568.6234</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Thank you sooo much! What great questions!</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;">What a great interview. I would highly reccomend Regina to anyone who needs design assistance. Thanks for stopping by today!!! Leave us a comment if you have something to say!!! </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Oh and here's a little homework. That's right I said homework. It will only take a few minutes and I would VERY much appreciate it. :)<br />
Please go to Regina's FB page and Like it. And while you are on her page, please go to the picture I posted on her wall of Cocoa (my little puppy-- awwww- who says no to a Puppy??) and leave a comment with the pic. Its for a contest and I could win a free cover!!! Me need covers. Regina needs Likes. You need homework. No? You don't. Well do it anyway. Like you have anything better to do anyway. Besides this is for a good cause. LOL.<br />
Here's her FB link: </span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/MaeIDesignandPhotography"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">www.facebook.com/MaeIDesignandPhotography</span></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">THANK YOU!!</div>Cambriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15550062797037161324noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003621983298988294.post-79841227438888100092011-11-04T06:26:00.000-07:002011-11-04T06:26:02.113-07:00All that Glitters - A Sparkling Guest Post<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Hey Peeps!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">We busted through another week and I have got something super glittery, something super shiny for you to brighten up your day!! Jenn from Indie Supporter is here today with a completely random post. That's right, Random. She is going to be telling us all about her love of sparkly, glittery things! There are even pictures!! LOL.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">So get out your sunglasses and have some fun!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">First off, let me do my usual GUSHING THANK YOU to Cambria for letting me use her blog, AGAIN!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">You seriously are such an amazing chick and I heart the heck outta ya!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Get your sunglasses ready people, this is gonna be one bright post! Today’s random post is about my love for things that sparkle (Except Vampires, Sorry Meyer). That’s right, I said it, things that sparkle. I’m not a really big girly girl but this one stereotype does fit me, I can be distracted by things that glitter.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">This love goes back to when I was a tot and has always stayed with me. I love me some diamonds and love some Swarovski crystals. What about rhinestones you ask? Well, those are ok but they aren’t the same as crystals, because they don’t sparkle as brilliantly. I’ll give you an example later as a case in point.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">While I have always had this love of things that sparkle, I’ve kinda been in the closet so to speak because it’s not always been so fashionably acceptable to be all crystalled out. Now, I am busting down that door and watching the glitter spray everywhere!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t deny or hide it any longer.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I was so excited when I started my part time job a few months ago and I saw that chicks were ALL OVER the rhinestone scene. It’s EVERYWHERE! T-shirts, jeans (Miss Me jeans are so gorgeous btw, nothing hotter than a bedazzled butt) shoes, hats, hair pins, headbands, jewelry, EVERYTHING!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">At first, I was a little gun shy, I mean I am 25, can I really pull it off at MY age? (ok, fine add 5 more years and that’s how old I am) Then , I said, “Screw it! I’m gonna start bling blangin all over this joint!”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I was like a dog with a big fat bone and went so far as to take a trip to Hobby Lobby (best place for this stuff) and get some do it myself tools. NO, I did not get a bedazzler contrary to belief of many members of Creative Reviews. I wonder if they even still make those……..bedazzlers, I mean. I went and got the BEST supplies that I could find and afford.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">E6000 is the BEST glue on the market for all your crafting needs, this stuff makes super glue look like flour and water.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-highlight: yellow;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0DNb_hkH9HCkfuBUU9ENNxy2PakIXwUEaacPQyqLLbLH2kiJI0F6kMDxoccLpZq3GD7k7cc3BgoxpbCJemtugtiq60oauUaX67LtMYO7a2RBUD59w8ochOswzqAjBN3CSj-7KnB7rKGd/s1600/e62.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0DNb_hkH9HCkfuBUU9ENNxy2PakIXwUEaacPQyqLLbLH2kiJI0F6kMDxoccLpZq3GD7k7cc3BgoxpbCJemtugtiq60oauUaX67LtMYO7a2RBUD59w8ochOswzqAjBN3CSj-7KnB7rKGd/s320/e62.jpg" width="103" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I got a pick me up stick which one side is is like this putty type substance that helps you pick up the little jewels for placement, the other side has a sharp point that doubles as a weapon and flip that over for a slanted side to push the little buggers down.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-highlight: yellow;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheY4OhzPekIuolfDUOi8m02vojOVM7TS6PJR_U8MOpQh8MgR1ebBLkIdD44CY7HoGqpIcCgZ7mEfbjIkV8MMbr2CCDf6IDDHvhyphenhyphenW3pagjU8lsyCZvr8BtvXPtE8vCY9EA-_f6g9MbMoYfm/s1600/pick+me+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheY4OhzPekIuolfDUOi8m02vojOVM7TS6PJR_U8MOpQh8MgR1ebBLkIdD44CY7HoGqpIcCgZ7mEfbjIkV8MMbr2CCDf6IDDHvhyphenhyphenW3pagjU8lsyCZvr8BtvXPtE8vCY9EA-_f6g9MbMoYfm/s320/pick+me+up.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I got several packages of the not so cheap Swarovski crystals and some rhinestones just for good measure. Off to work I went, I started with a black leather bracelet. ..</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-highlight: yellow;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOlZvbQiFYhocd3mJWA-dDHBvphGlL9QlaLiZSTfESAtNOLd0wkqbZ6weEdFV-FetqR78DsELTP_-VOIZUvRYdZlZY6_jwX7SJ7b2OSQbDvUg-m35LJ4N8Eb7E9NBWhAzXmDl3MfkLPiNW/s1600/bracelet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOlZvbQiFYhocd3mJWA-dDHBvphGlL9QlaLiZSTfESAtNOLd0wkqbZ6weEdFV-FetqR78DsELTP_-VOIZUvRYdZlZY6_jwX7SJ7b2OSQbDvUg-m35LJ4N8Eb7E9NBWhAzXmDl3MfkLPiNW/s320/bracelet.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The top of the bracelet consisted of bigger crystals than the bottom and took about a hour to do.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Just in case you were wondering, here’s the size of the smaller ones I did for the bottom AND my name tag.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-highlight: yellow;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUS2K4Dsd2dCcgs98xbmkc38H_ZBh7zePIeh4dRmOMPfeTSWE4tcvxlg0oT6i23Q5ymnVSiverM9AX78w41cOuOEgRMT9GXY_BYmkIK5hC70QIeTM6iUCPij0hvub3WMTKyvLYlKgKaZb/s1600/crystal+size.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUS2K4Dsd2dCcgs98xbmkc38H_ZBh7zePIeh4dRmOMPfeTSWE4tcvxlg0oT6i23Q5ymnVSiverM9AX78w41cOuOEgRMT9GXY_BYmkIK5hC70QIeTM6iUCPij0hvub3WMTKyvLYlKgKaZb/s320/crystal+size.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I hate that the picture doesn’t do it justice cause this bad boy BLINGS!!!!! I get A LOT of compliments on it but not as much as I do my name tag that took almost 2 HOURS!!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-highlight: yellow;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEm1aHLeknbrBS6V5QRB-yWI6UYDfy7UrwQcXfTGQzwmIl5MdxtPtLbaPcdonmLA9mNR18w1UvVP6ihXq9-PgdH5v-vRY3OuiUywZPMIoQIBv9L2aDu0a0eovKtSnWvYwT2krenkdf4fam/s1600/name+tag+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEm1aHLeknbrBS6V5QRB-yWI6UYDfy7UrwQcXfTGQzwmIl5MdxtPtLbaPcdonmLA9mNR18w1UvVP6ihXq9-PgdH5v-vRY3OuiUywZPMIoQIBv9L2aDu0a0eovKtSnWvYwT2krenkdf4fam/s320/name+tag+2.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I’m telling you, if the light hits this thing just right it will BLIND you and I gotta say, I LOVE IT!!!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">And so, I went off to try out the rhinestones before I finished and what I am about to show you is why rhinestones most often than not, can NOT be compared to crystals……</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-X9y6sSSwXv9fZB8tnJnBeK_0gRrN5BBqaa0hE5yFRKdD4nnjnufCxL9WsbF5zS7ZcTiJlv5PV1v6J70qUJK9rzqrbhi0uxTNCfLz64wssbDCO6IgQxdlA5_Jq2OcCuEIGjL6BBSsm8aq/s1600/shampoo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-X9y6sSSwXv9fZB8tnJnBeK_0gRrN5BBqaa0hE5yFRKdD4nnjnufCxL9WsbF5zS7ZcTiJlv5PV1v6J70qUJK9rzqrbhi0uxTNCfLz64wssbDCO6IgQxdlA5_Jq2OcCuEIGjL6BBSsm8aq/s320/shampoo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Yep, that’s right, it’s a shampoo bottle. I travel a lot and so I wanted to be able to tell the difference from my shampoo, conditoner and bodywash…..ok fine, it gave me a good excuse to try out my new found skills too. The reason why I don’t like the rhinestones as much is because as you can hopefully tell, they are rather dull.There’s not that sparkle that I so long to see and takes my breath away. I hope that when I go to heaven, God sees fit to have a pair of Swarovski wings waiting for me, cause that would just be the ULTIMATE!!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Anyway, that’s how my love for things that glitter began and have become the subject of many jokes around “group”. Before I go, let me share with you a few more pics of some of my favorite things….PPPPLLLLLEEEEAAAASSSEEEE?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Here is a pic of a cowgirl hat that I have yet to wear.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURceZ4U4Ox_BPT28upNxUSWtwNr2GE9otUOdwEHae4jECftI7PbQywZq3kIbGoPT046U2EsqHXBR17ItOb_fqTl9FurIEulj3Eg67LH4nPCGE8pLztdC-8vGpjNDryvKIB2CkgGJEsB9M/s1600/hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURceZ4U4Ox_BPT28upNxUSWtwNr2GE9otUOdwEHae4jECftI7PbQywZq3kIbGoPT046U2EsqHXBR17ItOb_fqTl9FurIEulj3Eg67LH4nPCGE8pLztdC-8vGpjNDryvKIB2CkgGJEsB9M/s320/hat.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Yes, it’s on my son’s koo koo bird.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-highlight: yellow;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqgpu_ToQDxeWQDPXu3RjSIRaAEQ6ZQhOVhRbueaN9yvHhYMB3VKoYJvOH54vH0O7K-mTfy7yakN9-mTdxQ5B1AC-fzCFr0B_hsARbvbHweVvGEu4-l6Jky4IVrigsSIMgVJp4atIxuo8/s1600/key+chain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqgpu_ToQDxeWQDPXu3RjSIRaAEQ6ZQhOVhRbueaN9yvHhYMB3VKoYJvOH54vH0O7K-mTfy7yakN9-mTdxQ5B1AC-fzCFr0B_hsARbvbHweVvGEu4-l6Jky4IVrigsSIMgVJp4atIxuo8/s320/key+chain.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">OH MY GOSH, and here is a pair of the most AWESOME shoes EVER!!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Seriously, the are called sunflower box or something like that and they are the most comfortable shoes EVER! I live in these shoes as you can tell as the name is now worn plum off.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-highlight: yellow;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18JRtP6jdmvjDBWNqEWSegtxDR87LIhdoq2Sn-Dn4EYo8ULGaFofCu5Fqa9no7wBzkOmFd9LN1QfGauvInXImigUYacwf_oZjvnAWF40K1YcYtiC6t5dULeo2h6cT7bL77Z5w4fvgDI8s/s1600/flip+flops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18JRtP6jdmvjDBWNqEWSegtxDR87LIhdoq2Sn-Dn4EYo8ULGaFofCu5Fqa9no7wBzkOmFd9LN1QfGauvInXImigUYacwf_oZjvnAWF40K1YcYtiC6t5dULeo2h6cT7bL77Z5w4fvgDI8s/s320/flip+flops.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Last but not least my recent aqusition:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk48dY2cXRFiN4HNBpd85xBL46LKOBz2I-1nuTtmtMbZa-UdF6qFfsG11HTaRaE75uDOcbsRwyyKadq80xImMIkwyOiHW4Dztnr0Q6D9rgQdI5OaptTJnXqMGah3y1Yx4K9tUJNNc1GSuq/s1600/belt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk48dY2cXRFiN4HNBpd85xBL46LKOBz2I-1nuTtmtMbZa-UdF6qFfsG11HTaRaE75uDOcbsRwyyKadq80xImMIkwyOiHW4Dztnr0Q6D9rgQdI5OaptTJnXqMGah3y1Yx4K9tUJNNc1GSuq/s320/belt.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 2.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">This, ladies and gentlemen (if you are still reading) is a pic of a rhinestone belt.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">There is a underlying joke to this belt.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">See, my ex showed up one day all cowboyed up complete with a belt…with..RHINESTONES!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Yep, I said it, a rhinestone belt ON A GUY!!!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I was shocked to say the least and thought to myself, what the hell? I don’t even own one of those and I love that stuff. So, I found one and bought it to show him how belts like that should be worn……ON GIRLS!!!!! And that my friends, is how my love for all things bedazzled began and continues to do this day.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">But wait, it’s not over yet, I know you are thinking, “Seriously? What more could this chick have?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Well I have quite a few more things and Cambria is being gracious enough to let me do a two parter for this story.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I actually found a store that caters to my obsession and yes I frequent it. My next post will be about said store and some of the most AMAZING pieces that I have bought there.Until next time, here is a teaser of what you will be seeing….</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-highlight: yellow;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRi4ECU6IthGdLmhthbVvkzWjxh-mMEt2y-Ashhvhuf68AR-3Ay9AniAswc3XVmJuOL3FB_9fw99lyhfAh9oCEhOFCqNePmok1Vv1eIZ2tEyoOEpGkbzlezas-wLiRUE6yFpMVSQ-3X-ZY/s1600/favorite+pieces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRi4ECU6IthGdLmhthbVvkzWjxh-mMEt2y-Ashhvhuf68AR-3Ay9AniAswc3XVmJuOL3FB_9fw99lyhfAh9oCEhOFCqNePmok1Vv1eIZ2tEyoOEpGkbzlezas-wLiRUE6yFpMVSQ-3X-ZY/s320/favorite+pieces.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">As you can see, the white tiger is an AMAZING bracelet and the other two pieces are GORGEOUS headbands!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Thank you so much for letting me take over your blog for this post, Cambria and thanks to everyone who read this through till the end! </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">(In case you are wondering, yes I do use moderation and only wear like 2 pieces at once)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> <strong>Thanks to a blinged out Jenn for being here today! So for all my peeps out there, do you like to wear a little sparkle? If you do when and where and how? What is your favorite sparly something to wear?</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div>Cambriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15550062797037161324noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003621983298988294.post-71622265630155156052011-11-01T17:09:00.000-07:002011-11-02T07:00:22.768-07:00Adventures in Publishing - Announcing Whiteout!Hey Peeps!<br />
<br />
Well as most of you know the months of November and December are just plain crazed for me! Yes, that's right I am about to be even crazier than usual. As you know my debut novel, Masquerade, comes out December 16th and the short story teaser, Before comes out November 18th. <br />
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That isn't all I have being published. I also have another short story - a stand alone - being published this month. November 23, 2011 - to be exact - right before Thanksgiving. It's called Whiteout. Its a paranormal short story that will be available as an Ebook only. It is a great story for around this time of year (the holidays and winter time in general) because it involves Christmas and a blizzard. But it's also a great story for anytime because there is, well, some goodness. LOL. (I can't give it away!!!)<br />
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So bundle up and grab your copy....<br />
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Here is my newest publishing baby:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCHzXZiVa1Xo3MOh1C3yiPK-JyWDtnYqqtW_rQOlpktg80tLp10RtmYdUdP_ee6erRt24XHckGq_JOFSHwkUwECHarlJCAJJQfVN-S59_Hr4gVH8N7tZMqmpkPFwwFmnFKfBkcnEkvu5i/s1600/Whiteout-Final+Low+Resfor+WEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCHzXZiVa1Xo3MOh1C3yiPK-JyWDtnYqqtW_rQOlpktg80tLp10RtmYdUdP_ee6erRt24XHckGq_JOFSHwkUwECHarlJCAJJQfVN-S59_Hr4gVH8N7tZMqmpkPFwwFmnFKfBkcnEkvu5i/s320/Whiteout-Final+Low+Resfor+WEB.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>Cover design by Regina Wamba <a href="http://www.maeidesign.com/">http://www.maeidesign.com/</a> <br />
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Here's the blurb:<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Lost in a world of white, I lay. Pain and cold were my only companions. How long would it take me to die? Would the cold freeze my heart and stop its beating?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A red plastic sled saved the day. A woman saved my life.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Unfortunately,<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="_GoBack"></a> saving my life might cost Grace her own. We get one day together, Christmas day, one day of bliss among misery. Too soon the tree is down and all that’s left of the cinnamon biscuits are crumbs. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The people who want me dead come back to see their task complete. I didn’t have a plan, but Grace did. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Never trust a woman with a shotgun.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If that wasn't enough to entice you how about the trailer?</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/XESCQvJ7kB8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As I said, Whiteout will be released November 23, 2011</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If you are a memeber of GoodReads I invite you add Whiteout to your TBR list. If you are not on GR then I invite you to read the book when it is published. lol. If you would like to discuss Whiteout then feel free to leave a comment below!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Oh, one other thing....</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Where will you be when it starts to snow?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div>Cambriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15550062797037161324noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003621983298988294.post-79532288865657454022011-10-28T08:55:00.000-07:002011-10-28T08:55:25.065-07:00Adventures in Publishing - Interview with a Publisher!!Hey Peeps!<br />
<br />
I have got something Amazing today! It's an interview with a Publisher! but not just any publisher. MY publisher. Lynn Calvert is the founder and owner of <strong>Otherworld Publications</strong>. She is the go-to gal for the publishing house and is the bestest boss lady in the land.<br />
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And she knows all about publishing too. So I thought, who better than to bring the people (yeah, you) the answers to all of their publishing questions? She is going to give us all the inside scoop on a small publishing house. <br />
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I'm not going to keep rambling (yeah, like I usually do) because this is too good to delay!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhaIRDc7aRWBOcF8IDnjvDX4a-5gMi5Va_Hx27yMb3eFaA9DgRK2CmxID6A3k3SfxgyF5cPbBQ5H4lCJKEev3QrAU0LXYAw-oYn7CtSH4-W1l4dhA_PDNEYE5I2dwcv45bt6r4btk8gUk/s1600/owp+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhaIRDc7aRWBOcF8IDnjvDX4a-5gMi5Va_Hx27yMb3eFaA9DgRK2CmxID6A3k3SfxgyF5cPbBQ5H4lCJKEev3QrAU0LXYAw-oYn7CtSH4-W1l4dhA_PDNEYE5I2dwcv45bt6r4btk8gUk/s320/owp+logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfp7oPsGA6Hak6juvxxb-q02_8V5vP7ue6sRBXd6dFjzCrXQLty8mkW9TVEEli6yE0EIlmZ1s28zl_kFe-HF7iNJmj3gO8yOZcq4iqwYRI-4hWkPWzeTYRlv0CWAbCgedVqibS4jWMEtFS/s1600/lynn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfp7oPsGA6Hak6juvxxb-q02_8V5vP7ue6sRBXd6dFjzCrXQLty8mkW9TVEEli6yE0EIlmZ1s28zl_kFe-HF7iNJmj3gO8yOZcq4iqwYRI-4hWkPWzeTYRlv0CWAbCgedVqibS4jWMEtFS/s1600/lynn.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1. You own and run Otherworld Publications, a small publishing house, what made you decide to start a publishing house?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">After going through the process of trying to get published and receiving rejection letter after rejection letter, I was one of the fortunate ones. I met my publisher, Blackwyrm Fiction, through a writers group in Louisville, Kentucky. He liked what I had written and offered me a contract. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to open Otherworld to offer one more avenue in which authors had a opportunity to be published. I could help some of the fantastic authors out there in opening the door to them in this industry. I tell all of my authors that if a bigger publisher takes note of them, by all means take the opportunity! Just say nice things about us on the way. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">2. What is the hardest part of running Otherworld Publications?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Paperwork! You don’t know how much paperwork is involved! Shipments, receipts, invoices, deposits, manuscripts, contracts, payments, royalty schedules, emails, emails, emails, you get the picture.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">3. Besides running OWP you are also a published author! Can you tell us about your book and the publishing house it is published by?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">My first book, Afterthoughts, and my second, Left in the Dark, are both published by Blackwyrm Fiction. They are waiting for me to finish writing my third, Buried Deep. They are all psychic crime thrillers that follow a Police Detective and her family in Louisville, Kentucky. These are not your usual psychic thrillers. They deal with mind manipulation, possession, and mental illness while murder is a foot. Just as a teaser, there’s a little voodoo in the mix in the third.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;">Note to all: More info about Lynn's books will be at the end of this post!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">4. Do you plan to write another book and if you do will OWP publish it or will you find another publisher?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I do plan to write more, and I do not plan for OWP to publish any of it. I didn’t start the company to publish myself. I want to keep it separate. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">5. Do you ever really have time off from work or do you eat, sleep and breathe publishing?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Time off? What’s that? haha I work A LOT. I even wake up during the night and write stuff down. Every now and then I do take a day and veg. I have to for my sanity and for my family.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 12pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 12.0pt; text-indent: -12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What is the one thing you wish authors/writers understood better about the publishing process?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I wish they understood that there are no guarantees. Even though they are officially a published author, that is where the work starts. Authors have to put themselves out there and market. Most sales for unknown authors are to their friends and family. While we market for our authors too, we can’t force people to buy books. We can only provide them with the opportunity to do so while trying to entice them. Sometimes that generates huge sales, sometimes only a handful. If there were a secret recipe for success, every author would be a best seller. The market is fickle and in this economy and the changing industry its harder than ever.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">7. About how long does it take for a manuscript to go through the process of being published?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">That depends. We try to plan ahead for the year. I can potentially have a manuscript in hand, edited and ready to go in October of 2011 and not plan to publish it until December 2012. Or, I could have one and publish it next week. We try to space it out so that we can be more dedicated to each one as their time comes up. With all that being said, we are gearing up so that we can put more out there and get through the process faster with the personnel to back it up.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">8. When you read what genre do you enjoy most?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I love Fantasy and Paranormal. I’m a huge Harry Potter fan! Every now and then, I have to fall into a great romance. Romance was my first love! Then came Mystery. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">9. What can a writer do to make their manuscript more attractive when sending it out to publishers?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Have someone proof read or edit it. It really is a huge turn off to receive a query and it be full of errors. It makes publishers think that if you can’t put that much effort into something that important (your first impression), then the rest is probably not worth look at. Be polite and follow their submission guidelines. As a follow up, don’t be rude. I’ve actually had some rather mean follow up letters sent with two weeks of a query. Because of that, their submission was pulled from the possibility folder and moved to the trash.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">10. About how many manuscripts do you receive for consideration a year? Do you go through them all personally or do you have a staff that helps? How many do you actually select to be published?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Oh gosh, that varies. I think I have over 100 now that I’ve not been able to touch still. I did have an Editor In Chief that was helping me but due to some family issues, she had to back out. So, right now, I’m on my own again. Be patient with me! We’ve only selected a handful to publish. There are so many talented writers. I wish I could publish them all!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">11. What would your best marketing tip be for selling your book?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Truly believe in it. Help others believe in it too. Write a synopsis that proves that. Talk to people about it. If you believe in yourself, others will follow suit.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">12. Where would you like to be in 5 years? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Doing this exact same thing with a bigger budget to work with and a bigger staff committed to making it happen for our authors!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">13. How important is cover design when publishing a book?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Very! It’s the first impression. It should draw you in and make you want to peek inside.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">14.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If someone gave you a million dollars what’s the first thing you would buy?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A bottle of champagne. The rest would be given to the family first, then invested in the business second, a big fat charity donation, then retirement for when I get so old I can’t see what the heck I’m doing!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">15. What is your favorite food?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Do I look like I have just one? Hehe. If I had to choose, it would be my husband’s shrimp scampi. He won me over with it on our first date. Of course, I blame it on the scampi. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">16.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What is at the top of your Christmas list this year?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Time to spend with my family and some of my doggies’ favorite peanut butter biscuits. To see them drool every time I reach for one for them is priceless.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">17. If you could go anywhere on vacation where would you go?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Australia. I want to see a kangaroo in its natural environment.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">18. How many books does OWP plan to put out within the coming year?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">That’s still up in the air. Once I finish getting staffed up, I can plan better! Minimum of twelve! I want to stay on track to release at least one a month.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">19. Why do you think the publishing industry is so hard to get into (for authors)?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There’s a lot of talent and not a lot of publishers. Although, the landscape is changing. Small Independent Presses are gearing up to pick up the slack. The trend is going towards genre fiction and not the cookie cutter mass printed trade books. The industry is struggling to support that model now.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">20. How do you think E-books and E-readers have changed the industry? Do you think that eventually print books will become obsolete?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s changed the landscape for sure. I’m one that prefers to hold a book, take it to the beach or out by the river. I’d be afraid of damaging my e-reader otherwise. Do I think print books will go away? No. There will always be a place for them as long as there are people like me. Just think of how many books you can buy second hand or discounted for the cost of one e-reader.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">21. Do you have any pet peeves?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Putting the toilet paper on the holder the wrong way is a huge irritation for me. Over the top guys! Make it so you can easily grab the first sheet! Of course, my husband argues the “other” point of view. :)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">22. Tell us something about yourself that we don’t know.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I sometimes like to mix butter with brown sugar and eat if off the spoon. Of course, that’s very rich so I can’t eat much! But when I can’t find a sweet snack, that’s what I go for. I already know I’m weird. That’s okay. :)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">23. Do you have any advice for a writer trying to find a publisher for their work?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Don’t give up. When the rejection letters start rolling in (and they will), thicken your skin, listen to any and all advice they may offer and keep plugging away. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As Lynn mentioned she is also an author (talk about a lady who understand BOTH sides of the coin!) Here are her two published books:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5n5_OerAwHf31mo_KDYBQLQdNEfdCGoWAfe-_MfKzvvaoIO1YFQsbDH6qp3tOyDer-6EU7JMa0MPDDMqDnCKOR2XfbGl0AqTbPfIwaYnUbipKDJ4We4cuuxECPRRdkbvtsv1wXsTuxOq/s1600/afterthoughts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5n5_OerAwHf31mo_KDYBQLQdNEfdCGoWAfe-_MfKzvvaoIO1YFQsbDH6qp3tOyDer-6EU7JMa0MPDDMqDnCKOR2XfbGl0AqTbPfIwaYnUbipKDJ4We4cuuxECPRRdkbvtsv1wXsTuxOq/s1600/afterthoughts.jpg" /></a></div><br />
AND<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaOua2nGkfneLlxB3XY33zlrKK9h7IeLNGTdW1rBVQ9IdtpMSzin9t-PGzbHZhBEKKDM99XoDC1UXVtb58yPcoE8n0bG_3amNLR_pVFSehq0-L1VvlKPdaXVoHw-BQWoLBa2z94S4um9XB/s1600/left+in+the+dark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaOua2nGkfneLlxB3XY33zlrKK9h7IeLNGTdW1rBVQ9IdtpMSzin9t-PGzbHZhBEKKDM99XoDC1UXVtb58yPcoE8n0bG_3amNLR_pVFSehq0-L1VvlKPdaXVoHw-BQWoLBa2z94S4um9XB/s320/left+in+the+dark.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
Here is the link to her Good Reads Author page where you can find out more information:<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2781421.Lynn_Tincher">http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2781421.Lynn_Tincher</a><br />
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I suggest adding these books to your To-Read list today!<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I want to thank Lynn for taking time out of her insane schedule to be here today! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Is there anything that wasn't answered that you would like to know? I plan to do more segments on publishing in the future so leave a comment if there is something you want to read about. Otherwise drop a comment about how great Lynn is!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Have a great day!!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div>Cambriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15550062797037161324noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003621983298988294.post-22633372952300006622011-10-26T05:51:00.000-07:002011-10-26T05:51:14.499-07:00Abduction<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Title: Abduction</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Director: John Singleton</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2G5JhjQVB23IFba2sWSZ-TYVRiQD6wHIEdciHk7ghbbXqrXxp9dJpsJRStxdbFzfbU2OT2PKdIMsBGw1TXO15yGa5klDfmv3SH2bnbPWx65AYhV2NtZPsRKmWMVRejnvphOoHXZbVoYO/s1600/abduction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2G5JhjQVB23IFba2sWSZ-TYVRiQD6wHIEdciHk7ghbbXqrXxp9dJpsJRStxdbFzfbU2OT2PKdIMsBGw1TXO15yGa5klDfmv3SH2bnbPWx65AYhV2NtZPsRKmWMVRejnvphOoHXZbVoYO/s1600/abduction.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Rating: PG-13</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Genre: Action, Suspense</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Format: In theaters now</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Starring: Taylor Lautner, Lilly Collins, Alfred Molina</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Nathan is a carefree teen with a normal suburban life, living with his two parents and crushing on the girl next door….</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Until one day he sees a photo of him from childhood on a missing person’s website. At first he doesn’t believe that the little boy could be him but he can’t shake the odd feeling he has so with the click of a button he ages the photo and is left staring at a picture of himself…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Which leads me to the question:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What would you do if you discovered that the people you lived with, your parents, weren’t really your parents? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What would you do if your life had been one big lie? Nathan decides to confront his mother who breaks down and admits that she isn’t the baby momma. After telling him how much she loves him she rushes from the room to get his “dad” (not really the baby daddy) but is sidelined…permanently.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Nathan witnesses his faux (but real to him) parents get murdered before his eyes and then a whole chain of events is set into motion…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Who can he trust? Who is he really? And why do a bunch of people want him dead?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The only thing he knows for sure is that the girl next door is hot and he wants to kiss her so he has to keep her safe. (A good tag line – yes?) he he he.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Yeah, Yeah, this is a teenager flick. I know that’s what you’re saying. But clearly something about the movie (could it be Taylor Lautner’s abs?) has you interested enough to read this review. Could it be because the thought of seeing your childhood self on the back of a milk carton is enough to make you shiver? Is it because you wonder what you might do if you found out you weren’t really who you thought?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s a good concept. When I saw the previews I was intrigued (and no NOT by his hottness’ abs – well okay maybe a little…) and it seemed like a good plot. So when the opportunity arrived for me to drag my husband off to the theater to watch it I was thrilled.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Was it any good?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I liked it. It wasn’t the best movie ever but it was an interesting plot and had a lot of cool action scenes. I liked Lautner and I thought he did a good job and he easily fits into an action movie. The setting was cool and it changed a lot because Nathan was constantly on the run. There were cool cars, motorcycles and even trains. There was baseball and guns too. Every guy’s dream, right?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It also had Sigourney Weaver, who played Nathan’s head shrink. (Surprise, he suffered from anger management and felt like a stranger in his own life!) I liked her, she is a great actress and she was a great addition to a cast I didn’t really recognize much (besides Lautner, of course).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There were some things about the movie that bothered me. Such as, Nathan’s crush, AKA the girl next door. In the beginning its clear they have some sort of history and they give each other long lingering looks from across the hall. Except, for me, her long lingering looks looked more like “I know you want me but I’m too hot for you”. It annoyed me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And also, why did she have to be dating a jerk at the beginning of the movie? What point did it serve really? To show that Nathan had anger issues but managed not to bash in the other dudes face? Okay, that happened, but really Nathan didn’t conquer his anger because right after the confrontation he went and got drunk. It’s called drinking away the pain, my friends…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Anywhoo, this girl continued to annoy me (I know I’m not being nice, but I have reasons) during the movie because really did she not own a brush? Her hair seriously needed one. There was one scene when she had finally pulled it back and I was like “Thank You!” but then two seconds later she had it back down. I wanted to tell her that, “Hey, yeah, guys like long hair, but only when combed.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And then there was this scene where she hurt her shoulder. She’s all climbing out of the rubble (Rubble from what you ask? Watch the movie!) and holding it making a “owie” face and then they are speeding away on his bike to his hospital. I’m thinking, “W<a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>ow, people are trying to kill him and he has to run, but he’s making a pit stop at the ER for his girlfriend, she must really be injured”.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Nope.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">They slap a band aid on her shoulder.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Yup. A band aid. It’s square.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I wanted to smack her. Seriously, you couldn’t wait to get a band aid so your boyfriend could run from the men trying to murder him? High maintenance, that girl.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Then later, she does something else I don’t care for. Okay, I’ll tell you. The bad guy catches her and wants her to tell him the room number that Nathan is in. She tells him no. The guy threatens to break her finger and she caves…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I mean really? It was nothing another band aid couldn’t have fixed. Way to stand up for your man. Never mind that he saves your life like fifty times during the movie (fifty might be a little exaggerated).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So, aside from a few inconsistencies here and there it was still entertaining. And I think that would be the goal of a movie like this. To entertain and to make you wonder what you would do in his position. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I would recommend this movie to anyone who wants an action movie that doesn’t take a lot of thinking to figure out. It’s just a good time, with a popular actor as the lead. Nothing wrong with that.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So there you have it. My opinion.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div>Cambriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15550062797037161324noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003621983298988294.post-89249395782414040502011-10-21T05:48:00.000-07:002011-10-21T05:48:19.494-07:00Adventures in Publishing - Interview with an EditorHey Peeps!<br />
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It's Friday!! The end of the week is near and the weekend is just around the corner! But we aren't at Saturday yet. Nope. Nuh-huh. And I know you might be at work or home and just staring at the clock wishing it would just come on already... so hows about a little break?<br />
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Today I am continuing my Adventures in Publishing Segment with and interview with an Editor. Now, this editor isn't just any editor. Nope. She has - on occasion - admitted to wearing a poncho and goggles to edit in. Clearly she's very serious about her job. :)<br />
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My guest today is Amy Eye, founder and editor at The Eyes for Editing. She is also a really great friend of mine. Amy id my editor of choice. In fact, I won't use anyone else. She's that good. I swear she's like a bloodhound, sniffing out anything in a manuscript that could cause problems.<br />
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And apparently, I am not the only one who thinks so. Amy has done a lot of freelance work over the past few years and she has also done editing jobs for two publishing houses. But most recently Amy has been hired on at Otherworld Publications (yes, that's my publisher - their logo is over there on the right ---------><br />
click on it to visit their website) as a staff editor!!!!! So if you can't take my word for her fantasticness (really, you should have your head examined) then how about the word of 3 publishing houses?<br />
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Congrats to Amy and to Otherworld Publications on the new hire!!<br />
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So, I think we all can agree that Amy knows her stuff when it comes to editing (and also to knee socks but thats another story...) so I thought that I would interview her and bring you The People some info about editing. <br />
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So without any delay here is Amy:<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1. You started The Eyes for Editing recently, but you have been editing for a long time. Why did you decide to start your own editing business?</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I guess I just made it official because I had so many people asking to see my website and ask me what my rates were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was just the next logical step.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And everyone knows how logical I am…*snigger* I can’t even keep a straight face while typing that!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">2. What is your favorite thing about editing?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Molding a great piece of work into something the author is thrilled to call their finished product has to be one of the best feelings in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Receiving that e-mail once they have gotten the final edits completed and ‘hearing’ how happy and excited they are…it <a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>makes me giddy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It makes me feel I made a real difference to them.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">3. What is the most common mistake that writers make?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There are quite a few, but one that is worth mentioning that will never be caught by spell check is mixing up homophones – words<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that sound alike but mean different things – such as pear, pair; peek, peak; whole, hole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh…and NOT getting an editor, I know a LOT of writers who make that mistake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if it isn’t me, my dear writers, PLEASE – get an editor!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">4. How many times a day do you bang your head against your computer?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I love my computer, and would never torment her so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do keep what I have dubbed “The Screaming Pillow” next to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It helps relieve the stress, it may actually get promoted to the “Punch the Poo Outta Me Pillow” at some point, I just haven’t gotten there yet.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">5. You also do formatting for E-books. Was that hard to learn and what’s the hardest thing about formatting a book?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Oh boy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I learned to format and convert e-books (which are two completely different things) I really had only a VERY basic grasp on Microsoft Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did I mention I was pretty much Microsoft Word helpless??<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Trying to learn why certain things will convert and why ONE STINKING LITTLE THING will mess up an ENTIRE BOOK has to be the more challenging thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seriously, it happens, I have had it happen, I said a few words that I choose not to share with the audience, and I combed through the book looking for said mysterious glitch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes you find it…Sometimes you don’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then you have to START OVER.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>UGH…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">6. What is your dream vacation?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">HARRY POTTER THEME PARK!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Followed by getting released from the Florida police for trying to hide out in the Hogwarts castle, and possibly some scuba diving later to calm my nerves while I plot another way to burrow into the Griffindor common room.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">7. What is the worst thing about editing?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I have said this before in another interview, and it really is the worst thing…watching a great author and a wonderful book get turned<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>down time and time again by publishing companies for whatever reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As an editor, I usually work very closely with my clients, and by the time the process is all over, I have made a new friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s terrible watching a friend and a wonderful story sit and collect dust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It can be heartbreaking! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">8. How long does it take to edit a manuscript?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If there were only one way to answer that question…But that really depends on MANY factors:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>what type of editing is being done, how long the book/story/article is, how much time the author has to dedicate to edits, how much chocolate I am bribed with….</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">9. What is the difference between a copy-edit and a content edit?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When I do a copy edit, I go through and check to make sure punctuation and grammar issue are correct through the manuscript as well as making sure the formatting is as it should be (no extra spaces in between words, indentation is correct, etc).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also check the text to ensure that words are spelled correctly and that the proper words are used to express the correct thoughts.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A content edit is what I call “The whole kit-n-kaboodle”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The content editing that I do is sometimes also called substantive editing or developmental editing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can work with an author from the very beginning of their project – as in when they start their outline or first draft or the author can bring me in later on in the process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But either way, I go in, check for EVERYTHING: clarity, organization, structure, grammar, punctuation, tone, plot holes, inconsistencies, and word choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That really isn’t all there is to content editing, but for sake of not boring the pants off everyone, we will just leave it there!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">10. Which one of those services do you think writers need most?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I think both are very important, but if an author does not have the money to get a full content editing done,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a copy edit - at least - on a MS is vital prior to doing anything with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">11. What kind of books would you like to see more of on the shelf?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">All types of books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would just love to see more kids/people reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t care what the subject matter or the genre is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more books on the shelf, the more likely there will be something out there to catch everyone’s attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes, it only takes that one special book/poem/short story to create a lifelong love of reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">12. Do you sing while you edit?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I sing while I do all sorts of stuff!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes I even “Rick Roll” myself just to keep me on my toes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Phineas and Ferb</i> theme song is a favorite, and every now and again, I may break out in some show tunes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">13. Would you date Harry Potter?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If only I were 16 again, you bet your broomstick I would!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as I am WAY older than that, this question is quite creepy…LOL</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">14. Who is your dream date?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I have no one<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in particular in mind, but the person would have to be<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>intelligent, funny, literate, enjoy my sense of humor, be just a bit left of self-centered, love music….wow…I don’t expect much…do I?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">15. Would you rather shave your head or wear knee socks with shorts for a year?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I already wear knee socks with my shorts, what are you trying to say, Cambria?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">16. Do you have any unique talents?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I can open doors with my toes, and I can put both of my ankles behind my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have an anti-talent: I cannot whistle, nor can I speak jive. (although I wish I could)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">17. What made you want to be an editor?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Ever have one of those feelings that you need to be doing something and you just can’t remember what it is?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once I started editing, that feeling went away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It really was like I found what I was supposed to be doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(cue clouds opening up and ray of sunshine bursting through….)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">18. What is the best book you have read in the last year? Why?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">OK – ONE BOOK??<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are kidding, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will throw out a small list…and remember, these are just books I have read THIS YEAR…not my all-time faves!! HEHE</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">(I am going to say Masquerade here because I HAVE had the chance to read it, and it ROCKS your KNEE HIGH SOCKS OFF!!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wither, That Which Should Not Be, Imperial Hostage, A Modern Witch, Hunger Games, Masters and Slayers, The Mysterious Benedict Society, Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula, the Pariah series…OH…I should stop now….But I have read 94 books so far this year, and there are MANY more I would love to put on this list!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">19. What qualities do you think make a good editor?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Enthusiasm, patience, hard-working, honest, flexible, respectful, motivated, dedicated, and a big sense of humor doesn’t hurt either!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">20. Tell us a little about the process you go through when editing?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">First thing I like to do is read the MS to get a feel for what I will be working with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will make notes as I go about any kind of problems in continuity or flow that I see and any portion of the text that is difficult to follow or doesn’t seem to contribute anything to the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I will go through and break it down by chapters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Get down and dirty” chapter by chapter and really dig into the material.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">21. Are you currently accepting new editing jobs? What kind?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I am currently accepting new editing jobs!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I prefer to work on fiction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can do non-fiction, but I really do not enjoy it as much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People always tend to work better on things they really enjoy, and non-fiction simply does not appeal to me as much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So anyone writing a textbook should PROBABLY not look into hiring me to edit an Economy book…JUST SAYIN’.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">22. Would you rather have a monkey or a warthog for a pet?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">You have to put a diaper on a monkey, but warthogs eat a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll take the monkey and train him to fetch my poncho for me…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">23. I’ll give you a word and you say the first thing that comes to mind:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sleep-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>sheep</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Perfection-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hogwarts<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(What??)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Fun-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>please!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Purple-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>heart</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Soft-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Snuggie</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Rain-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Singing</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">24. What is the biggest misconception about editing?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">That it is not needed by new authors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That once an author gets “big” is when he or she should start investing in an editor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>WRONG.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The best way to get your work noticed and get your name in the same league as the “big” authors is to put out your best work from the start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether an author plans on trying to find an agent, send unsolicited manuscripts, enter contests, or self-pub, you need to always put your best foot forward, and you cannot do that if you have only done half of what it takes to finish the work.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;">A big HUGE thanks goes out to Amy today for stopping by and giving us a peak into editing. Now if you’ll excuse her she has to go, I just sent her something else to edit…. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;">If you would like to inquire about Amy’s editing services please visit her website:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;"><a href="http://www.theeyesforediting.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.theeyesforediting.com</span></a> or email her at <a href="mailto:amy@theeyesforediting.com"><span style="color: blue;">amy@theeyesforediting.com</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;">you can also contact her via Otherworld publications <a href="mailto:amy@otherworldpublications.com">amy@otherworldpublications.com</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;">"Like" her on FB <a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/Theeyesforediting">https://www.facebook.com/#!/Theeyesforediting</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Have a question about editing that Amy didn't answer? I invite you to leave a comment and I will make sure that it gets answered! Have a great Friday!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div>Cambriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15550062797037161324noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003621983298988294.post-82417461602062575102011-10-20T18:50:00.000-07:002011-10-20T18:50:42.072-07:00100 Followers Giveaway Winner!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22TFWRTZ8PrtJAmp4Ti6ggi9IpjrvnbVwmuGLG6BWuzYiVf6LNbinulARxJI5PRoQ74F1tirvSgR1FbA6a4qKPQSIadoC7K2kj694KUDmZhkIJeh-UvoMygIhu8VlomxN5L-a7XgzBpC7/s1600/balloons3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22TFWRTZ8PrtJAmp4Ti6ggi9IpjrvnbVwmuGLG6BWuzYiVf6LNbinulARxJI5PRoQ74F1tirvSgR1FbA6a4qKPQSIadoC7K2kj694KUDmZhkIJeh-UvoMygIhu8VlomxN5L-a7XgzBpC7/s1600/balloons3.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Well The Unlocked Diary made it to 100 followers! Actaully I am 124 followers! Yay! You guys are so awesome!!! So I did say that I was going to be giving away a 15$ BN gift card when I hit 100... well we did and I haven't done the giveaway. Until now!!!!!!!<br />
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The winner of the $15 Barnes and Noble gift card is :<br />
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Stephanie @ FAB<br />
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Congrats girl! I will be in touch to send you your prize!!!!<br />
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Bummed you didn't win?<br />
No Problem.<br />
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As you all know my book comes out in December and I have a short coming out in November.... and I am going to be doing a TON of giveaways. And no, not just my book either. I have t-shirts, Masquerade masks, Jewelry and more!!!!!!<br />
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Don't miss it and stick around for the Goods. :)Cambriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15550062797037161324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003621983298988294.post-85959313060824338162011-10-17T05:53:00.000-07:002011-10-17T05:53:36.892-07:00A Guest Review- Anna Dressed in Blood<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Hey Peeps! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I thought I would start out the week here at The Unlocked Diary with a Guest Review from author Dale Ibitz. I read this review of hers and it just got me really excited about this book and I thought it was something to bring to my people (yes, you). I love, love the cover for this book and after reading Dale's review I added it to my TBR list on GoodReads. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So before the review I thought I would tell you a litte about Dale, who is a member of my Creative Reviews group on GR (our button is over there on the right and we also have a FB fan page AND we are putting out a short story anthology for charity this November...). Dale is just great company. She always has good things to say and she is friendly and fun! In short, she's a great gal to have around.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I do not have a picture of her because when I asked her for one she told me that she didn't have one because she was short, old and wrinkly. LOL. She said I could just put up a picture of a raisin. BA ha ha ha ha ha ha...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Well, Dale, I disagree. I am betting that someone as fantastic as you is gorgeous so this is how I am going to choose to view you in my mind (hence, everyone else shall too.):</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqh34veMXOGh3L2W00IsYK2N2RpkhUT4i_HuW_aVY28nSh0e7uIbnxaXY9BnxVuK1G2wCfo7wyUUpBfxfh9M0lmpH66_1VRs3BEksMYiFVVoHJTDR74huAZQG8QbAzXqnF-wVLMODeIQ5S/s1600/Dale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqh34veMXOGh3L2W00IsYK2N2RpkhUT4i_HuW_aVY28nSh0e7uIbnxaXY9BnxVuK1G2wCfo7wyUUpBfxfh9M0lmpH66_1VRs3BEksMYiFVVoHJTDR74huAZQG8QbAzXqnF-wVLMODeIQ5S/s320/Dale.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Gorgeous. <br />
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Dale is a YA and MG author. Her two published books are Fire in the Blood (young adult) and Racing Nightmares (middle grade). They are available at amazon and BN and createspace. She has a blog:<br />
<a href="http://dalesplace-dale.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1318855174_4"><span style="color: #234786;">http://dalesplace-dale.blogspot.com</span></span></a> Follow her!!<br />
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And she has an author website:<br />
<a href="http://www.wix.com/daleibitz/daleibitz" id="yui_3_2_0_1_1318855169958131" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1318855174_3"><span style="color: #234786;">http://www.wix.com/daleibitz/daleibitz</span></span></a><br />
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Here's her brief bio:<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I currently live in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1318854209_1">New Hartford, CT</span>. Hard to say where I'm 'from' because we moved around a lot when I was a kid, but did time in both <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1318854209_2">Connecticut</span> and Washington state...I won't bore you trying to name all the towns we lived in. And, yeah, I'm not a 'dude', despite the name. It's kinda neat now, but growing up it was almost tragic...I heard things like "are you a girl or a boy?" way too often to be funny.<br />
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I hold a full-time day job so writing is something I do just because I like it [am obsessed with]. When reading, I trend toward the YA fantasy genre, but will read just about anything, well, except maybe the dictionary, or anything non-fiction that's drier than the dinners I habitually burn. Music inspires me, especially alternative metal, at least while the group is edgy and full of angst. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">And now for the fabulous Review that Dale has written: <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliHPA4I3jZUOlBToWJmzX3WU1sqK2iY3uey6lCTAfKYj6jZ0IQ9YLFS9eRIBMfjIpEhc48roCGixtKzBWl43KIb_j1xwq1-zMVJGkgbw543_5R2lXgdj0ws0-QPPjvayzo1wN-RHYdXtJ/s1600/annadressedinblood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliHPA4I3jZUOlBToWJmzX3WU1sqK2iY3uey6lCTAfKYj6jZ0IQ9YLFS9eRIBMfjIpEhc48roCGixtKzBWl43KIb_j1xwq1-zMVJGkgbw543_5R2lXgdj0ws0-QPPjvayzo1wN-RHYdXtJ/s320/annadressedinblood.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Anna Dressed in Blood<br />
Kendare Blake<br />
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Cas is a high school kid who travels around with his mom, who's a witch, and kills ghosts. It's a tough business, bopping from home to home, killing ghosts, no friends, a loner...a Sam or Dean type from Supernatural. But Cas has purpose. He's in training, doing jobs and getting better and stronger, cuz he's going back to get the thing that killed his dad when he was 7 years old. Then he meets Anna, and a cast-load of kids who think they're going to channel the gang from Scooby Doo, and the shit hits the fan.<br />
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I have one word for this book.<br />
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Wow.<br />
Great.<br />
Yummy.<br />
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Okay, that's three words, but really, this book is by far the best book I've read this year. I loved it.<br />
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First, let me gush a little about the voice. I loved the voice of this book, kind of reminiscent of Scott Westerfield and Peeps (yeah! Scott rocks!) with tight, solid writing, and a witty smart-ass style. <br />
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The characters. We have a strong, snappy main character who ain't afraid of no ghosts. Okay, maybe a little, sometimes, but he's also not afraid to admit it when a girl ghost kicks his ass. The other characters have depth, are true to life, though maybe just a tad sterotypical. You have your dick jocks, popular girl who has more between the ears then she lets on, and your geek loner that no one notices (who also happens to be a black witch), and you know what? I loved them all, cuz they were so realistically drawn.<br />
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The dialogue is smart and smooth. The plot didn't have any holes that I noticed...I didn't find myself tripping through the book. And 3/4 of the way through the book we're wading through dead bodies and thinking we're winding this bad boy up, and the author throws in an OMG-I-didn't-see-that-coming moment. I love OMG-I-didn't-see-that-coming moments. Because basically I love saying OMG-I-didn't-see-that-coming when I'm reading. The more times I say it, the better. <br />
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You have a bad-ass ghost that's whacking people as a matter of purpose, and bodies are dropping faster than snowflakes, but there are two sides to every coin. The author paints this picture as deftly as a double-edged sword...there's more to this ghost than your evil slasher-type from a B horror movie. No one is evil just to be evil. There's a purpose to the evil here, and it's not the ghost's fault.<br />
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So, bottom line. Get the book. Read it. I hope you love it as much as I did.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">That's what I have got for you today! Thank you so much for spending a few minutes of your Monday with us at The Unlocked Diary!! (like you would really rather work. Ha!)</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>Cambriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15550062797037161324noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003621983298988294.post-60970299897171712602011-10-14T07:45:00.000-07:002011-10-14T07:45:57.611-07:00Interview with Beth Ann MasarikHey Peeps!!<br />
It's finally Friday!! Are as thrilled as I am that its the weekend? It felt like a marathon to get to the end of the week but we did it! Today I have something fun for you guys... an interview with a fellow Otherworld Publications author. (FYI Otherworlds Logo is over there on the right-- you can click it to visit their website).<br />
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Beth Ann Masarik is here today. Beth Ann's debut novel The World Among Us was published recently and she also has a short story published titled Murderous Regrets (don't we all have some of those? Oh, we don't? Forget I said that....). But that isn't all Beth is doing, nope. She's got numerous writing projects in the works and she also founded the earth friendly E-magazine called Literary Lunes, check it out, its chocked full of literary lunacy. (I'm going to be writing reviews for the mag and also have an upcoming interview.... yes, that means that I am a lunatic.... like you didn't know that already). You should sign up! It's free and we all LOVE free stuff. <br />
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Anywhoo, let's get on with the interview.... and after that I will post my review of The World Among Us, for your reading pleasure, of course. :)<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">What’s the best thing about being a writer? </span></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Courier New";">The best thing about being a writer I would have to say is being able to create your own world for people to visit. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Even if it’s only through imagination. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I don’t know about you, but I would take being in a fantasy world over the real world any day!</span><span style="background: white;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">If someone gave you a million dollars what’s the first thing you would buy? </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">I would open up a camp for kids with learning disabilities.</span><span style="background: white; color: #000099;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">What do you find more inspiring writing books or reading them?</span></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";"> <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">While they are both inspiring, I would have to say writing books is more inspiring. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Anyone can pick up a book and read it, but it takes a special kind of person to be able to sit down and actually write the book.</span><span style="background: white; color: #000099;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">The World Among Us is your debut novel, you also have a short story (Murderous Regrets)</span><span style="background: white; color: #000099;"> </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">out by Otherworld Publications. You have said the short story was inspired by the novel, can you</span><span style="background: white; color: #000099;"> </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">tell us how and why?</span></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";"> <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #000099;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">Murderous Regrets goes deep into the mind of Leon Greene, one of the villains in the novel itself. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Leon, though a small character, was one that I felt needed to have his own voice. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>He was one of those characters that needed to be heard. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>So, I came up with Murderous Regrets, which shows the how and why he does what he does.</span><span style="background: white; color: #000099;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">Who is your favorite character in your novel and why?</span></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">Ooh I have so many, but I would have to say that I really enjoyed writing about Damien’s character. Emily also comes in as a close second.</span><span style="background: white; color: #000099;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">Where do you see yourself in ten years?</span></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";"> <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">Happily married with two kittens, possibly a mother, and a very successful author & business woman. I’d like to have 3-5 books published by then as well.</span><span style="background: white; color: #000099;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">Would you rather go through a hurricane or a snow storm? </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">Considering I’ve been through both, neither. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>BUT a hurricane isn’t quite as bad as a snowstorm in my personal opinion. </span><span style="background: white; color: #000099;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">Who is the first person you told when you got a publishing contract?</span></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";"> <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">My best friend, Robin Sussman. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>She was in the room with me when I got the contract.</span><span style="background: white; color: #000099;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">What is your personal best marketing tip you can share?</span></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">Network…network…and network. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s all about who you know and making connections with the right people in this business. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Make sure you are hooked up on facebook and twitter. You will soon find that those are your best marketing tools. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Also, if you don’t have a blog already, get one and use it.</span><span style="background: white; color: #000099;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">You run an online magazine called Literary Lunes. Tell us about that and where to find it.</span></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";"> <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">Literary Lunes is a magazine for writers. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>We offer literary advice for beginner writers as well as seasoned writers. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>We feature book reviews, poetry, short stories, and author interviews, etc. It is a totally free magazine for anyone to read. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>We just ask that you please spread the word. Recently, I started publishing free issues of the magazine on<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://smashwords.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #0658b5; font-family: "Courier New";">smashwords.com</span></a><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">, so it is now available in all eformats. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>You can find out more information on the magazine by going to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.literarylunes.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #0658b5; font-family: "Courier New";">www.literarylunes.com</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #000099;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">What is your favorite movie?</span></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">Oh that’s a tough one. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I’d have to say The Lion King</span><span style="background: white; color: #000099;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">What is the greatest challenge about being a writer?</span></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">There are several challenges that I face being a writer. The biggest one, however, is actually finding the time to sit down and write. I have so many commitments, that sometimes it’s almost impossible to write anything.</span><span style="background: white; color: #000099;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">Did you go to college to become a writer or something else?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">I actually went to college to become a secretary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go figure! LOL. I do plan to go back to become a journalist or an English major eventually however.</span><span style="background: white; color: #000099;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">You traveled abroad in September. What are the places you most wanted to see?</span></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Is this</b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #000099;"> </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">your first trip out of the United States?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: #000099;"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">Yes, this is my first trip out of the U.S.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My aunt and I went to Prague, and saw pretty much everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got to see where my great, great uncle, Tomas Masaryk (it was changed to Masarik when he immigrated to America) lived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was the first president of the Czech Republic (pretty awesome huh?).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So the whole trip was awesome.</span><span style="background: white; color: #000099;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">What gave you the idea to add illustrations in your print copies of the book? Was it fun to</span><span style="background: white; color: #000099;"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">work with an illustrator?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">It was very fun to work with an illustrator because she is my best friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Robin was the one who actually suggested I put them in, and offered to draw them herself </span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="background: white; color: #000099;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">Please share the links to buy your book here:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #000099;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/World-Among-Us-Darkness-ebook/dp/B005HMO7PA/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_1"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.amazon.com/World-Among-Us-Darkness-ebook/dp/B005HMO7PA/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_1</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/World-Among-Us-Prince-Darkness/dp/1936593165/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1318305296&sr=8-6"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.amazon.co.uk/World-Among-Us-Prince-Darkness/dp/1936593165/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1318305296&sr=8-6</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-world-among-us-beth-ann-masarik/1104513185?ean=9781936593156&itm=2&usri=the%2bworld%2bamong%2bus"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-world-among-us-beth-ann-masarik/1104513185?ean=9781936593156&itm=2&usri=the%2bworld%2bamong%2bus</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Murderous-Regrets-World-Among-ebook/dp/B004PLNNHC/ref=pd_sim_kinc1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.amazon.com/Murderous-Regrets-World-Among-ebook/dp/B004PLNNHC/ref=pd_sim_kinc1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murderous-regrets-beth-ann-masarik/1030176050?ean=2940012289728&itm=1&usri=murderous%2bregrets"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murderous-regrets-beth-ann-masarik/1030176050?ean=2940012289728&itm=1&usri=murderous%2bregrets</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #000099;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New";">I want to thank Beth Ann for being here today!!! Here is her book and short story:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8SsjBvMFBTV0mN03tlc9jhyjX6TTQn-N2bzTUlPr2tz1hLLnaf9uSyLjZSMr3CRXJqZRWVN0zb5-rrarWMleMpbp6ctzFO5g7nG84BwLF9vhf14A6lvtZrTIqtISy6k67cwgxzvEx-vn/s1600/theworldamongus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8SsjBvMFBTV0mN03tlc9jhyjX6TTQn-N2bzTUlPr2tz1hLLnaf9uSyLjZSMr3CRXJqZRWVN0zb5-rrarWMleMpbp6ctzFO5g7nG84BwLF9vhf14A6lvtZrTIqtISy6k67cwgxzvEx-vn/s320/theworldamongus.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEowWHHObaLrtl36RUWs-oLGcgnoWuzjGDD-dbuRyX06BsrGSSONNHYwDzIVqWaZvu2s1uSTNYU2HSLmwh0qzjNvGLGMvYbYT11WW4dxRzt_iYq-xSXLQ0MnlyPqUyO-aWdKFiPNxsZedn/s1600/Murderous+regrets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEowWHHObaLrtl36RUWs-oLGcgnoWuzjGDD-dbuRyX06BsrGSSONNHYwDzIVqWaZvu2s1uSTNYU2HSLmwh0qzjNvGLGMvYbYT11WW4dxRzt_iYq-xSXLQ0MnlyPqUyO-aWdKFiPNxsZedn/s320/Murderous+regrets.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><br />
Nice covers, huh? :)<br />
<br />
Here is my review for The World Among Us<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Title: The World Among Us (Prince of Darkness #1)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Author: Beth Ann Masarik</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Genre: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Publisher: Otherworld Publications, August 2011 </span><a href="http://www.otherworldpublications.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">www.otherworldpublications.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Format: Hardback, Paperback, Ebook</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">ISBN:</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1936593165 Hardback</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><img alt="*" height="13" src="http://www.blogger.com/PicExportError" width="13" /><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">BN-ID 2940013112650 </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><img alt="*" height="9" src="http://www.blogger.com/PicExportError" width="9" /><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Hades is one bad dude. (Well he most certainly isn’t the tooth fairy!) So what does a bad dude do when at his most vile? Try and take over the world of course. (You didn’t think I was going to say bake cookies, did you?)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Unfortunately for Hades, his son (and only heir) Damien is not too cool with Big Daddy’s plan. But when you are the son of Hades nothing but the most evil will do, so Damien finds himself being manipulated to kill the only woman he has ever loved, Selene.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Selene isn’t just a girl, though. She’s a goddess. The goddess of the moon to be exact. Damien cannot live with the fact that he has destroyed the light of his life and he leaves the underworld, vowing to never return. But where can the son of evil go, where does he fit in? With the Gods? With the creatures of the night? Will anyone trust him?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Meanwhile, Hades is doing everything in his power to set in motion his plan of world domination. Having Selene killed was just the beginning, a stepping stone to bigger kills. You see, Selene was the favorite granddaughter of Gaia, head deity. Because of her power and strength, Gaia is the natural enemy of Hades and this is just one way that he can weaken her on his quest for power. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Next on Hades hit list is another close ally of Gaia’s, Jason Aysel, the leader of Creatures of the Night. And who better to kill Jason but his own best friend, Leon. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Tsk, tsk, tsk, Hades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When all of these plans are set into motion a violent war is sure to take place on Earth between the creatures of the night and the gods. When better to take over the world? Muh ha ha ha ha ha</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But Hades is in for a few surprises because Damien has been busy…busy working for the other side. He’s been protecting a secret weapon that is sure to help tip the scales in favor of the gods. Only one question remains. Can the gods and the Titans put aside all their differences and work together to stop Hades and his villainous plans? Or will dark shadows fall over the world as we know it?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The World Among Us is a debut novel from an author (Beth Ann) that I am sure we will all be seeing more of. Her novel is a great smash-up of all the great creatures and characters in every paranormal book we have come to love. There is something for everyone in this book. Like mythology and Gods and Goddesses? Check. Like vampires, good and evil? Check. Like wizards? Check. How about my personal favorite: werewolves. Yup, there’s some of them too. They all co-exist in this book separately, yet together. It’<a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>s great!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Gods and Goddesses are really done well in this book because even though they are really, really old they are current. They talk in current lingo and they behave in current fashion. And something else that made me smile (and maybe this is just me) but they all have like abazillion kids (yes, that is a number) but they act like they only have two. Lol. Can you imagine how big your dinner table would need to be to seat fifty kids? Wow.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I like the love story between Damien and Selene as well. It is reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet because they are from complete different families yet they are pulled together in spite of their differences. I really didn’t expect Damien to kill Selene, I thought he would make a stand and they might run away together (cut to a beautiful beach scene where they run hand in hand in the glittering sun….oh wait. Vamps can’t go out in the sun.) But that isn’t what happened. What happened was original and cool. It brought a new love element to the story. Can love survive even death? Can it survive the ultimate betrayal?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">You want to know, don’t you. Buy the book. Read it. You won’t be sorry.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Beth Ann Masarik has a great writing style that is easy to read and follow. Getting lost in her imaginary world is easy and before you know it you will be closing the book and wondering when Prince of Darkness #2 will be released.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">You will never be bored while reading because something is always happening. The story moves right along with a series of events and there is never a lag in the plot. The setting is fabulous as well. The reader gets to experience the underworld, earth and the world of the gods all in one tale. We even get a little trip to the moon. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I recommend this book to any fantasy, paranormal lover that wants to go on a ride. I would suggest grabbing a copy and settling in with your favorite snack and beverage and then jetting off into a world like never before.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So there you have it. My opinion.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Have a great Friday!!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div>Cambriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15550062797037161324noreply@blogger.com1