tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30224134525472778092024-02-07T00:57:51.177-05:00* Writers' Spark * Every story has to start somewhere *Writing prompts and examples, convention reports, book reviews, and more!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger677125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3022413452547277809.post-89427259627641812222023-04-24T03:09:00.003-04:002023-04-24T03:35:09.219-04:00#WritersSpark: Steampunk Mystery<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8I98XS3Kd4Y25CLVMxoiPRuCcolUW4Gp9cwI3b5109-n470Hd8kIhxyuOOa61y_hXuiYRlAjxDehKMRIznw8wL4Z3_mWNP0HCSpzke0fhV2orhLRta5lQy7oKiwq3CjGZfCqZirvnjVzFXLUNhgso0HdAsmIAxzYahhBXIJH8kDFQK_8AEPjFig90" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="432" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8I98XS3Kd4Y25CLVMxoiPRuCcolUW4Gp9cwI3b5109-n470Hd8kIhxyuOOa61y_hXuiYRlAjxDehKMRIznw8wL4Z3_mWNP0HCSpzke0fhV2orhLRta5lQy7oKiwq3CjGZfCqZirvnjVzFXLUNhgso0HdAsmIAxzYahhBXIJH8kDFQK_8AEPjFig90=w400-h399" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Courtesy of <a href="https://happycolor.app/" target="_blank">HappyColor</a></span></i></div><br />Who is she?<p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p>Royal? Academic? Mage? Innovator? Rebel?</p><p>Is she as young as she looks?</p><p>Did she make the butterfly? Is it a pet? A companion? A gift? A toy?</p><p>What can she see through her goggles?</p><p>What scent is the flower on her hat?</p><p>What bird did the feather come from? Free or captive? Plucked or found? Given as a token? And Oath? Or bought as a pretty trinket and nothing more?</p><p>Do the gold ribbons mean anything? Status? Availability? Class? Profession? Age?</p></blockquote><p>What do <i>you </i>think?</p><div lang="en-GB" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">#</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #004d94; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div lang="en-GB" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">And so, with a loving heart, I offer you</div><div lang="en-GB" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Namaste</span></div><div lang="en-GB" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">I’ve heard many translations. Here’s my favorite:</div><div lang="en-GB" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">The light of the universe that shines within me recognizes</div><div lang="en-GB" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">the light of the universe that shines within you.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3022413452547277809.post-52352388195711033612021-06-27T23:24:00.003-04:002021-06-27T23:26:07.576-04:00Slowly through the dark tunnel<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>I had a great idea for 2020: I was going to video readings of public domain spec fic, maybe passages from my own writings, and invite other authors to share readings of their own. I even prepared the first one on January 5th...but technology defeated me. The video was too large, and I couldn't figure out a feasible model to make it work.<div><br /></div><div>And then...2020...</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMXDBFLk9EPXvrcZht9gRI1yF5R74KhSUL_qSeIbWHP6IGDs4_nF7oWRwmH63ep7mwITVU0a857xANYGRNs2tPvwH66Ux4HmXZuWRebkvyTpbIn_unhI6P717qt159jqhkH-lulQ6fFo/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="645" data-original-width="653" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMXDBFLk9EPXvrcZht9gRI1yF5R74KhSUL_qSeIbWHP6IGDs4_nF7oWRwmH63ep7mwITVU0a857xANYGRNs2tPvwH66Ux4HmXZuWRebkvyTpbIn_unhI6P717qt159jqhkH-lulQ6fFo/w200-h198/image.png" width="200" /></a></div>It's now the 15th month of the Covid19 pandemic, and although we are seeing signs of recovery on many fronts, we still have a long way to go.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2ZypGw5iMUht-lPC_Qn26td8Ab-Ezjo7ZGeIwuXGhgVicjrnP8NLxWm_idUrqXtsCXFLSyTtNs-mSJ6cI8NvvY6eVsRD0QfXJcad-9hTFYZGqlDKf4Sjaw0rkItwWFSGmtD7skC_E0E/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="484" data-original-width="624" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2ZypGw5iMUht-lPC_Qn26td8Ab-Ezjo7ZGeIwuXGhgVicjrnP8NLxWm_idUrqXtsCXFLSyTtNs-mSJ6cI8NvvY6eVsRD0QfXJcad-9hTFYZGqlDKf4Sjaw0rkItwWFSGmtD7skC_E0E/w400-h311/image.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>("<a href="https://www.deviantart.com/sugarsweet1994/art/Dark-Tunnel-168858150" target="_blank">Dark Tunnel</a>" by Sugarsweet1994)</i></span></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Personally, I have been in a "major depressive episode" for longer than that. Most days I barely have enough energy for the things that I *have* to do, much less the many things I want and "should" do. I never have enough spoons. And my body parts seem to be failing one after the other. Shoulder rotator cuff, hip joint, knee osteoarthritis, tension headaches...sweet jeebus, this getting older isn't for the faint of heart!</div><div><br /></div><div>All of this to say, I haven't been much of a writer. Or editor. Or publisher. And I miss all of that.</div><div><br /></div><div>I miss conventions! My tribe! </div><div><br /></div><div>That's a lot of people and energy though...</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-sOgwOZw9hlswu4kiC0rmi-txPvZlXmwr4vlne8TBbflx6BI4PGCHH73xKOuiull8CzOc0cWVebuUPR9WO2Q3e5wMulbhXgUF6_JpyPavdSyvQvDR-fwxo29jMFCeLyuDAwbo-vxGaic/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="522" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-sOgwOZw9hlswu4kiC0rmi-txPvZlXmwr4vlne8TBbflx6BI4PGCHH73xKOuiull8CzOc0cWVebuUPR9WO2Q3e5wMulbhXgUF6_JpyPavdSyvQvDR-fwxo29jMFCeLyuDAwbo-vxGaic/" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I have more I want to say, but for now, I'm thinking about revisiting my video readings idea. </div><div><br /></div><div>Stay safe and well!</div><div><div style="background-color: white; color: #004d94; font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;">#</span></div><div lang="en-US" style="background-color: white; color: #004d94; font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #004d94; font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;">And so, with a loving heart, I offer you</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #004d94; font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-style: italic;">Namaste</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #004d94; font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;">I’ve heard many translations. Here’s my favorite:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #004d94; font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;">The light of the universe that shines within me recognizes</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #004d94; font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;">the light of the universe that shines within you.</span></div><div lang="en-US" style="background-color: white; color: #004d94; font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #004d94; font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;">#</span></div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3022413452547277809.post-77252808542087941902019-09-29T23:19:00.001-04:002019-09-29T23:45:01.348-04:00Multiverse, Oct 18-20, Atlanta, GA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheUJcimuW1z94JGTrNWDYRhUoCn6y4XzZNVTBwUPNHC6x0bYTXjZnJsSPCEvScVoJNQZTEOV3xEGF927vh4B2F5oj0Wi7JV30dKsYuqrYL50o_68-18EhRMLD3R4DwMOUtPr7zgE8g8wg/s1600/Multiverse2019-title.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="1164" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheUJcimuW1z94JGTrNWDYRhUoCn6y4XzZNVTBwUPNHC6x0bYTXjZnJsSPCEvScVoJNQZTEOV3xEGF927vh4B2F5oj0Wi7JV30dKsYuqrYL50o_68-18EhRMLD3R4DwMOUtPr7zgE8g8wg/s400/Multiverse2019-title.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'm excited to join the first-year antics, ahem, I mean programming at <a href="https://www.multiversecon.org/" target="_blank">Multiverse </a>in Atlanta! Squeaking in under the wire as a last-minute addition, I'm only on one Saturday panel, but I plan to crash the Friday and Saturday nights Writers' Bar and to help out at the Prospective Press dealers' table. </div>
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I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of familiar faces and making new friends. Come say hi!</div>
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<a href="https://register.growtix.com/schedule/Multiverse_Science_Fiction_Fantasy_Convention_2019/Margaret%20S._McGraw?guest=238103" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="1052" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIqXv_OZJd0kEsZRKf-7OGBT7SjuHQAdDtvtbv-9Yc4-56Yi090YA6tdqVutoF_hi_u62WGeIcEEcI84juc1A2rINAvdiSps3FryLmOCgIkcRe_8rgl0-4L9xc8Z1GyP_LH9vxVMy8dTs/s400/Multiverse2019.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;">#</span></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #004d94; font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;">And so, with a loving heart, I offer you</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-style: italic;">Namaste</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #004d94; font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;">I’ve heard many translations. Here’s my favorite:</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #004d94; font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;">The light of the universe that shines within me recognizes</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #004d94; font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;">the light of the universe that shines within you.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3022413452547277809.post-44353380026163647112019-04-04T18:56:00.001-04:002019-04-04T18:57:51.168-04:00RavenCon Guest Schedule (Apr 5-7)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIbiozlvZ6hit1RB-dmYNSEiuvP8FBv9bYgUGJl0yLdzABYsVqCCF4TYr8IPM0T5ob784fRMC6k0iFHPQoailMeeMgRPb3ZXx-5Zr-mPF-alwTuDFCvOVdlWcJw94KlCd1sor9ZxROiG4/s1600/cropped-RavenConLogoSpring-web-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="101" data-original-width="420" height="95" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIbiozlvZ6hit1RB-dmYNSEiuvP8FBv9bYgUGJl0yLdzABYsVqCCF4TYr8IPM0T5ob784fRMC6k0iFHPQoailMeeMgRPb3ZXx-5Zr-mPF-alwTuDFCvOVdlWcJw94KlCd1sor9ZxROiG4/s400/cropped-RavenConLogoSpring-web-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of familiar and new faces at this year's RavenCon in Williamsburg, VA!<br />
Here's my schedule:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KulOet1rBR9QVKm5VZwvfGAljGaDpsYC9lQMe1JOgOuB_XG3sNPOUvXVDE5mUX60ecyPGvqDl-FmnDnnkYPL0p5YkIjWGphT41ZoeunGvKIHC_Mpm7PSE5KYQZLuFf5q0ViMB7Ublyg/s1600/RavenCon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KulOet1rBR9QVKm5VZwvfGAljGaDpsYC9lQMe1JOgOuB_XG3sNPOUvXVDE5mUX60ecyPGvqDl-FmnDnnkYPL0p5YkIjWGphT41ZoeunGvKIHC_Mpm7PSE5KYQZLuFf5q0ViMB7Ublyg/s320/RavenCon.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<b style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Friday</b><br />
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<span id="m_5459489283653595864m_5126416725107811151m_-4667369892097374224gmail-docs-internal-guid-61a81be9-7fff-eeb6-f68b-462072e104f9"><span class="im" style="color: #500050;"><br /></span></span>
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<span id="m_5459489283653595864m_5126416725107811151m_-4667369892097374224gmail-docs-internal-guid-61a81be9-7fff-eeb6-f68b-462072e104f9"><span class="im" style="color: #500050;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4 pm <i>Morality & Culture in Fantasy Fiction</i> </span></span></span></div>
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<span id="m_5459489283653595864m_5126416725107811151m_-4667369892097374224gmail-docs-internal-guid-61a81be9-7fff-eeb6-f68b-462072e104f9"><span class="im" style="color: #500050;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7 pm <i>Opening Ceremony</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8 pm </span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Angels in Literature</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Saturday</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">11 am </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Crutch Words and Verbing Adverbly</i> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">12 pm <i>Steampunk 101</i> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 pm <i>Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading</i> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6:25 pm <i>Reading</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">9 pm <i>Geeky Rants</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Sunday</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10 am <i>Fan Knit-In </i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">12 pm </span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Spirituality and Religion in SF/F </i></span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 pm </span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>American Gods: Perspectives & Personal Pantheons</i></span></span></span></div>
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And the rest of the time I will be hanging out in the Artists Alley selling books, swag, and bottled fairy lights! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSEm27Zkvy2V6jo71QPkrLXq7yp6oCpt5UUEVBByc9Zyx6rW74A7Taon-ZDCsOQdQ0Gh7qyjy4YHLSpg3YTXknci2aWjuUt8QTOP4omRuA1mlk4H8i3z01efwfCZ4JEwY4b3SqPTUzVw/s1600/Con+Sales+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="710" data-original-width="702" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSEm27Zkvy2V6jo71QPkrLXq7yp6oCpt5UUEVBByc9Zyx6rW74A7Taon-ZDCsOQdQ0Gh7qyjy4YHLSpg3YTXknci2aWjuUt8QTOP4omRuA1mlk4H8i3z01efwfCZ4JEwY4b3SqPTUzVw/s200/Con+Sales+crop.jpg" width="196" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94_Fd0foCK7ofyKnxqnj2DmBTZJjg6mkNl7nUelCi8Orf2GO1oCV1MVf129Z_pYrIIof1MRGih0oVfKMZ5LkC9XYtNLBoiHlM1Hg6lqfGFW-w_bAGLUuoEm8CStYPeNRvDueuvEQHjBc/s1600/Bottle+Lights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94_Fd0foCK7ofyKnxqnj2DmBTZJjg6mkNl7nUelCi8Orf2GO1oCV1MVf129Z_pYrIIof1MRGih0oVfKMZ5LkC9XYtNLBoiHlM1Hg6lqfGFW-w_bAGLUuoEm8CStYPeNRvDueuvEQHjBc/s200/Bottle+Lights.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #004d94; font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;">And so, with a loving heart, I offer you</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #004d94; font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-style: italic;">Namaste</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #004d94; font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;">I’ve heard many translations. Here’s my favorite:</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #004d94; font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;">The light of the universe that shines within me recognizes</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #004d94; font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;">the light of the universe that shines within you.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;">#</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3022413452547277809.post-90422092511932865792019-01-29T16:13:00.000-05:002019-01-29T16:13:07.043-05:00Bull City Robotic Rodeo Schedule<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis-OxmSU9-bUeO8WQYIq6Ph-6NmgFNdS9Rctj2sNzuf806wJhsIk96bwl9RKSWXLCje-4oH-DWl0M-hayxb32XdkjHWPaE_0PjggAyKb47riNc5iTLA78vHIDwMzOyy7M5FCzYr1vdnVs/s1600/BullCityRoboticRodeo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="768" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis-OxmSU9-bUeO8WQYIq6Ph-6NmgFNdS9Rctj2sNzuf806wJhsIk96bwl9RKSWXLCje-4oH-DWl0M-hayxb32XdkjHWPaE_0PjggAyKb47riNc5iTLA78vHIDwMzOyy7M5FCzYr1vdnVs/s400/BullCityRoboticRodeo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'm delighted to be a guest at the first <a href="http://festivaloflegends.com/roboticrodeo/" target="_blank">Bull City Robotic Rodeo</a> in Durham, NC this weekend! This first-year con is run by the same excellent folks who produce the annual <a href="http://festivaloflegends.com/" target="_blank">Festival of Legends</a>, so I know we're in good hands. Plus it's in my old stomping grounds from Trinoc-CoN days at the Durham Marriott & Convention Center!<br />
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So come join the fun and find me sharing a table with Emily Leverett, when I'm not on one of these panels:<br />
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<b><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #555555; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; padding: 0in;">Friday, February 1st</span></b><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #555555; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; padding: 0in;">6:00 pm</span></i><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> ~ <u><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Steampunk 101</span></u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #444444; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; padding: 0in;">What *is* steampunk, anyway? Panelists explain what Steampunk
means to them in storytelling, costuming, and making.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #555555; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; padding: 0in;">Saturday, February 2nd</span></b><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #555555; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; padding: 0in;">11:00 am</span></i><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> ~ <u><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">“Based on a True Story”</span></u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #444444; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; padding: 0in;">The weird-but-true wild West: The American Wild West had plenty of
“weird” stories of real people, and they will be shared here!</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #555555; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; padding: 0in;">12:30 pm</span></i><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> ~ <u><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Diversity of Culture and Gender in the Wild West</span></u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #444444; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; padding: 0in;">Representation matters. Women, people of color, and many
marginalized people have great steampunk stories to tell, whether they are the
authors or characters. This could touch on balancing “writing the other” and
the #OwnVoice movement.</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #555555; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; padding: 0in;">3:00 pm</span></i><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> ~ <u><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Folklore Panel</span></u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #444444; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; padding: 0in;">The influence and importance of folklore and tales through the
19th, 20th, and 21st centuries.</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #555555; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; padding: 0in;">4:00 pm</span></i><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> ~ <u><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Making the Old New Again</span></u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #444444; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; padding: 0in;">When a storyteller breathes new life into an old tale, it is
excitingly familiar and different! Let’s share some of the best examples of
steampunk that pull from classic themes in books and movies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #555555; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; padding: 0in;">Sunday, February 3rd</span></b><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #555555; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; padding: 0in;">11:00 am</span></i><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> ~ <u><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Firefly: The Story, and the Story-behind-the-Story</span></u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #444444; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; padding: 0in;">Firefly is a classic (and nearly perfect) example of “steampunk in
space. Let’s talk about that world, as well as the amazing tales of the making of
Firefly, Serenity, and more.</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #555555; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; padding: 0in;">12:00 pm</span></i><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> ~ <u><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">The Best Weird West Books and Movies</span></u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #444444; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; padding: 0in;">Get ready to pile on to your reading and watching lists! Panelists
will share their favorite examples of genre storytelling in books, TV, and
film. A recommended companion experience to our Weird West Film Festival on
Saturday.</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3022413452547277809.post-22130502743845663632019-01-12T17:55:00.000-05:002019-01-13T17:53:22.837-05:00MarsCon Guest Schedule (Jan 18-20)I'm jumping into the 2019 convention schedule with one of my favorites: MarsCon in Williamsburg, VA, January 18-20, 2019. Here's where I'll be, when not tending a table with Emily Leverett!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBqKeSxCVUeVwaDewf7lGK1-KQus6teU2CEtxnq6Gj62Tm9-KvaQxGgDBr47IW3-dCUUL9oDVmxi-_ZkOic-w_tuIsAeC9J9nq2HSGkzAz727YI6pjvh_kRhLeABeg3sOgN7jDsOsPLQ/s1600/MarsCon2019+Schedule.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="459" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBqKeSxCVUeVwaDewf7lGK1-KQus6teU2CEtxnq6Gj62Tm9-KvaQxGgDBr47IW3-dCUUL9oDVmxi-_ZkOic-w_tuIsAeC9J9nq2HSGkzAz727YI6pjvh_kRhLeABeg3sOgN7jDsOsPLQ/s1600/MarsCon2019+Schedule.PNG" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3022413452547277809.post-84600815461678325482018-10-23T22:25:00.001-04:002018-10-23T22:46:16.301-04:00Guest Author Gail Z. Martin talks about "The Spark that Starts the Fire" | Scourge & Vengeance Blog Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #073763; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="937" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnhX-sBpQuEjt8V0xpNdT6lyQECnZrhraMHiOQw0uzHJE6Qd7h2df7MUL8KdcBBjsyNHnvxmvhk_iKBwmiX3YeSjcvCltb0OyrcgwlR6lfDGHok1uFtjE16EoX64dURAGUBjH1xeeww0/s400/Scourge+and+Vengeance.png" width="400" /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">I'm delighted to host </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.3333px;">mentor and friend </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10pt;">Gail Z. Martin
for a stop on her blog tour, promoting <i>Scourge </i>and <i>Vengeance</i>, the first two novels in an exciting new
series from Solaris Books! Gail is a veritable force of nature and a publishing powerhouse, and I took this opportunity to ask where it all comes from. What is </span><i style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;">her </i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10pt;">#WritersSpark...</span></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Spark that Starts the Fire</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">By Gail Z. Martin</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Every story starts with a spark of an
idea, something that catches the author’s imagination and then fans into a fire
as the author fleshes out the idea with details, characters, dialog and
actions.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’ve had that spark happen with a
character idea, a plot bunny, a setting, or even an object. For me, the spark
is asking “What if?” I find one answer, and ask “and then what?” If I keep
alternating “what if” with “and then what” the plot shapes up pretty fast.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sometimes I’ll get a character in my
mind and I need to come up with the right story and setting for that person,
because he/she is real to me and fully developed. So I have to think of what
sort of danger/problem that would fit the character, and where they’d live,
what talents/abilities they’d have, etc.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In other cases, a myth, legend or
ghost story will catch my attention, and I’ll want to come up with a larger
tale to explain and incorporate it. Or there will be an odd historical
situation, and I’ll want to use it, so I have to build a story around it. I’ve
ended up creating stories because I come upon a really unusual, haunted, or
historical object and wanted to tell its tale.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Or maybe there’s something cool about
a time period that I haven’t seen a story deal with, so I’ll think about how to
put a twist on that element and make it mine. So with Scourge and the rest of
the Darkhurst series, I wanted to play with the concept of medieval city-states
that were in an economic alliance and how that could foster intrigue and murder
when you add in dark magic. I drew on the Hanseatic League and the Italian
city-states for inspiration, as well as role models like Machiavelli and the
Medici family. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Often, a setting will grab me. So with
my Deadly Curiosities books, a visit to Charleston, SC made me intent on
figuring out a fresh urban fantasy series that would be a natural fit for
Charleston. The same is true with all of our books with real-world settings. I
try very hard to make the setting/city a character in its own right, so that
the story couldn’t happen the same way anywhere else. That often has me looking
for local urban legends, haunted sites and ghost stories that I can tweak and
weave into the books, and more than once, has changed the direction of the plot
because I found something really awesome I needed to use!</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Like every author, I’m also influenced
by headlines, TV shows, movies, interactions with people at the grocery store.
Something on the news will catch my attention, and I’ll think, what if there
were vampires involved? Or magic? I’ll see a movie, TV show or book deal with a
topic, and wonder what would have happened if they had done it a different way.
That’s often the spark of something that is wholly original, but still rooted
in its inspiration. Or I’ll be people-watching at a restaurant, mall or airport
and see someone do something or overhear a conversation, and that will spark a
tangent, or a character, or a plot bunny. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">For me, the spark of inspiration is
everywhere. I usually have more ideas in my head than I have time to write!
That’s good for readers, because the tide of books won’t be subsiding any time
soon!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin: 5pt 0in; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">~Gail Z. Martin</span></div>
</div>
<h3 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "pt serif", timesnewroman, "times new roman", times, baskerville, georgia, serif; font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #073763;">About the books:</span></em></strong></h3>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><b><i>Scourge: A Darkhurst Novel<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrRVUwinYQgEtps_15-5lQFlta6u3CJBH4Ixz0PyxnnWRLq4fjq79umCSQBLjqgRUavhd6Ml6BqBkGOnL4pg-KTtr0EwmKtZ-RiC4DY_TjFrMHPi0Ww20MJfBJmqE6Rt13oNNSd1ZmZO4/s1600/Scourge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #073763;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="332" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrRVUwinYQgEtps_15-5lQFlta6u3CJBH4Ixz0PyxnnWRLq4fjq79umCSQBLjqgRUavhd6Ml6BqBkGOnL4pg-KTtr0EwmKtZ-RiC4DY_TjFrMHPi0Ww20MJfBJmqE6Rt13oNNSd1ZmZO4/s200/Scourge.jpg" width="132" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10pt;">In a city beset by monsters, three
brothers must find out who is controlling the abominations.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The city-state of Ravenwood is
wealthy, powerful, and corrupt. Merchant Princes and Guild Masters wager
fortunes to outmaneuver League rivals for the king’s favor and advantageous
trading terms. Lord Mayor Ellor Machison wields assassins, blood witches, and
forbidden magic to assure that his powerful patrons get what they want, no
matter the cost.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Corran, Rigan, and Kell Valmonde are
Guild Undertakers, left to run their family’s business when guards murdered
their father and monsters killed their mother. Their grave magic enables them
to help souls pass to the After and banish vengeful spirits. Rigan’s magic is
unusually strong and enables him to hear the confessions of the dead, the
secrets that would otherwise be taken to the grave.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">When the toll exacted by monsters
and brutal guards hits close to home and ghosts expose the hidden sins of
powerful men, Corran, Rigan and Kell become targets in a deadly game and face a
choice: obey the Guild, or fight back and risk everything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">ISBN-10: 1781085587</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">ISBN-13: 978-1781085585</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Purchase at:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Amazon: <a href="https://amzn.to/2AaCgCD" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">https://amzn.to/2AaCgCD</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Barnes & Noble: <a href="https://bit.ly/2qWHHSN" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">https://bit.ly/2qWHHSN</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Books-a-Million: <a href="https://bit.ly/2NFxxML" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">https://bit.ly/2NFxxML</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">iBooks: <a href="https://apple.co/2QSyqDP" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">https://apple.co/2QSyqDP</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><b><i>Vengeance: A Darkhurst Novel (Book
2)<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">(Winner of the Manly Wade Wellman
Award!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6xWGbh22ghXvjl5rbe7FkJwwITe4UtNCBvDSA5-kj8TA_GecmhkO3CSvLAja59Cxtpm_HYEJ5pSLjr-PBML02k5IQQU4CpXYRrumbRiCHVmiw-7ojb7CJTwNJd6QTMlYEhhGQ70nqtQ/s1600/VengenceL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #073763;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="332" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6xWGbh22ghXvjl5rbe7FkJwwITe4UtNCBvDSA5-kj8TA_GecmhkO3CSvLAja59Cxtpm_HYEJ5pSLjr-PBML02k5IQQU4CpXYRrumbRiCHVmiw-7ojb7CJTwNJd6QTMlYEhhGQ70nqtQ/s200/VengenceL.jpg" width="132" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10pt;">Fighting the monsters that killed
their family and friends cost undertaker brothers Corran and Rigan Valmonde
their home and livelihood and made them wanted men—but the worst is yet to
come.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The city-state of Ravenwood is
wealthy, powerful, and corrupt. Merchant Princes and Guild Masters wager
fortunes to outmaneuver League rivals for the king’s favor and the best trading
terms. Ambitious and ruthless leaders use betrayal and assassination to gain
their ends. Blood magic conjures monsters to further the goals of the ruling
class, and the price of stolen power is paid for by the deaths of commoners.
Now, the fate of Ravenwood hangs in the balance as rival city-states maneuver
to gain advantage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">When Corran and Rigan and their
friends became outlaw monster hunters and fled beyond the walls of Ravenwood
City, they thought they had defeated the source of the abominations that killed
so many of their friends and loved ones. But the more successful they become at
destroying the creatures, the more they realize a greater evil is at work –
larger and more monstrous than they ever could imagine…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">ISBN-10: 1939704758<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">ISBN-13: 978-1939704757<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Purchase at:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Amazon: <a href="https://amzn.to/2ygkBs0" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">https://amzn.to/2ygkBs0</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Barnes
& Noble: <a href="https://bit.ly/2CcohOd" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">https://bit.ly/2CcohOd</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Books-a-Million: <a href="https://bit.ly/2CejN9D" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">https://bit.ly/2CejN9D</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">iBooks: <a href="https://apple.co/2pSALmA" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">https://apple.co/2pSALmA</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10pt;"><i>Enter the Giveaway:</i></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10pt;"><i><br /></i></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Win a Kindle copy of both <i>Scourge
</i>and <i>Vengeance</i>! Contest runs October 15th thru the 29th by</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.3333px;"> Let's Talk! Promotions.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="9751c04216" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/9751c04216/" id="rcwidget_buerrt5i" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Rafflecopter giveaway</span></a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><b><i>About Gail:</i></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAINbEqk5c-6dNcKwqhhEVlu5OPqnFe5BxcV9ebbelY9LXNM5cpC3kWIR4mLqAObkUD63pUWJudngedl_lXp0ptuRfSvsr88gtw9yU_BTOW5N7dAOm-QdSQPGHnhHwvsiCmYU4zo1bRg/s1600/Gailpic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #073763;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAINbEqk5c-6dNcKwqhhEVlu5OPqnFe5BxcV9ebbelY9LXNM5cpC3kWIR4mLqAObkUD63pUWJudngedl_lXp0ptuRfSvsr88gtw9yU_BTOW5N7dAOm-QdSQPGHnhHwvsiCmYU4zo1bRg/s200/Gailpic.jpg" width="133" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #073763;"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Gail Z. Martin</span></b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> is the
author of <i>Scourge: A Darkhurst Novel</i>, from Solaris Books. Gail is
also the author of <i>Vendetta: A</i> <i>Deadly Curiosities
Novel </i>and <i>Trifles and Folly 1: A Deadly Curiosities Collection</i>,
the latest in her urban fantasy series set in Charleston, SC; <i>Shadow
and Flame</i> is the fourth book in the Ascendant Kingdoms Saga; <i>The
Shadowed Path</i> (The first Jonmarc Vahanian Adventures collection), as
well as <i>Iron and Blood</i> a Steampunk series, and <i>Spells,
Salt, & Steel</i>, both co-authored with Larry N. Martin.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">She is also author of <i>Ice
Forged, Reign of Ash,</i> and <i>War of Shadows</i> in The
Ascendant Kingdoms Saga, The Chronicles of The Necromancer series (<i>The
Summoner, The Blood King, Dark Haven, Dark Lady’s Chosen</i>); The Fallen Kings
Cycle (<i>The Sworn</i>, <i>The Dread</i>) and the urban fantasy
novel <i>Deadly Curiosities </i>and <i>Tangled Web</i>. Gail
writes three ebook series: <i>The Jonmarc Vahanian Adventures,</i> <i>The
Deadly Curiosities Adventures</i> and <i>The Blaine McFadden
Adventures</i>. <i>The Storm and Fury Adventures, </i>steampunk
stories set in the Iron & Blood world, are co-authored with Larry N.
Martin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Gail’s work has appeared in over 35
US/UK anthologies. Newest anthologies include: <i>The Big Bad 2, Athena’s
Daughters, Heroes, Space, Contact Light, With Great Power, The Weird Wild West,
The Side of Good/The Side of Evil, Alien Artifacts, Cinched: Imagination
Unbound, Realms of Imagination, Clockwork Universe: Steampunk vs. Aliens,
Gaslight and Grimm, Baker Street Irregulars, Journeys, Hath no Fury </i>and <i>A
Haven Harbor Halloween</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">You can also find Gail on: Twitter
@GailZMartin, on </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://facebook.com/WinterKingdoms"><span style="border: none 1.0pt; padding: 0in;">Facebook.com/WinterKingdoms</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">, at </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://disquietingvisions.com/"><span style="border: none 1.0pt; padding: 0in;">DisquietingVisions.com</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> on
Goodreads </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/GailZMartin"><span style="border: none 1.0pt; padding: 0in;">https://www.goodreads.com/GailZMartin</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">and free
excerpts on Wattpad </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://wattpad.com/GailZMartin"><span style="border: none 1.0pt; padding: 0in;">http://wattpad.com/GailZMartin</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763;">#</span></div>
</div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;">And because my mind makes bizarre connections--sparks, if you will...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="158" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eFTLKWw542g" width="280"></iframe>
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;">#</span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;">And so, with a loving heart, I offer you</span></div>
<div style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-style: italic;">Namaste</span></div>
<div style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;">I’ve heard many translations. Here’s my favorite:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;">The light of the universe that shines within me recognizes</span></div>
<div style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;">the light of the universe that shines within you.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;">#</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3022413452547277809.post-36163199879352918732018-10-09T23:20:00.003-04:002018-10-10T21:18:11.097-04:00Conapalooza Schedule<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.conapalooza.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="417" data-original-width="929" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahZFFBr1g6gl4RQpo8k2VyebHWKPtb2kfBm0voZKPmp6YkeKPRUfzKhCI3lFO0jOHmrFhTFjPmQpY6bpN1j4kGgLqY1oPQgOduq_ia_gc2oxjiYDsOpJPxPc9KK9lobOdm-BAqQy_LN0/s400/Conapalooza+2018.webp" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I'm delighted to be a guest at Conapalooza this year! Here's where you'll find me on panels:<br />
<br />
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Friday,
7:00pm “Diversity Matters” <br />
</span></b><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Diversity has been on the rise in speculative fiction and
throughout fandom bringing in stories, characters, and creators that represent
a wide range of life as we know it. Join our panelists for a discussion about
why people need both windows and mirrors, and exploration of how representation
helps.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Friday,
9:00pm "Geeky Rants" <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">An amazingly entertaining discussion that lets folks
good-naturedly vent on what's wrong in their chosen fandom. Whether it's the
cancellation of Firefly or exactly how "fast" is a parsec, this
never-the-same-twice event combines the best (and worst!) elements of
audience-participation comedy and couples therapy.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Saturday,
1:00pm “Buffy: 20 Years and Counting” (Mod) <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">1992
witnessed the onscreen arrival of <i>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</i>. Miraculously, Buffy
survived that debut and returned in TV form in 1996. The comic series is still
going strong, and there's perennial talk of an onscreen reboot. Why do we still
care? Let’s talk about our favorite Valley Girl, her friends, and her foes—the
stories, the characters, the musical, the good, the bad, and the ugly!</span><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Saturday,
6:00pm “Making The Old New Again” (Mod) <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">When
a storyteller breathes new life into an old tale or trope, it is excitingly
familiar and different! Let’s share some of the best examples of the genre in
books and movies that pull from classic tales, themes, and tropes. Think Ann
Rice's <i>Interview with a Vampire</i>, Gregory Maguire's <i>Wicked</i>, Neil Gaiman's
<i>American Gods</i>, <i>Star Wars</i>, <i>Batman Begins</i>, and so many more!</span><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Saturday,
7:00pm “The Force Doth Awaken” (Mod) </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Panelists
perform an unstaged dramatic (and hilarious!) reading of the wonderful
Shakespeare-esque <i>The Force Doth Awaken</i>.</span><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Sunday, 2:00pm
“Broad Universe Rapid Fire Readings”</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Broaden
your horizons in speculative fiction with bite-sized readings guaranteed to
leave you hungry for more from these fabulous authors. Come discover new
favorite authors and learn about an organization that supports women in the
genre, plus chocolate and chances to win free books!</span><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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I'm sharing a table with the effervescent Samantha Bryant, so come buy our books!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpFlyFFMLNCyxnlJtyJsAc6OeN9-8GFbJkableuSpLF-WLqM95oZPh41-LZbu4ub5ggBIUycbWLoYP028f3XUbEn-um4VBl9kLL97CHA9euWcwvlZVjBT3nsHOfQDdzUk7BVE3h7gf2YQ/s1600/Samantha+Bryant.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpFlyFFMLNCyxnlJtyJsAc6OeN9-8GFbJkableuSpLF-WLqM95oZPh41-LZbu4ub5ggBIUycbWLoYP028f3XUbEn-um4VBl9kLL97CHA9euWcwvlZVjBT3nsHOfQDdzUk7BVE3h7gf2YQ/s1600/Samantha+Bryant.webp" /></a></div>
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#</div>
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And so, with a loving heart, I offer you</div>
<div style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-style: italic;">Namaste</span></div>
<div style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
I’ve heard many translations. Here’s my favorite:</div>
<div style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
The light of the universe that shines within me recognizes</div>
<div style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
the light of the universe that shines within you.</div>
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#</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3022413452547277809.post-42692654890222112512018-10-04T21:15:00.000-04:002019-01-13T16:17:57.807-05:00Wander into the Weird Wild West<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQrvxLnezJFWFxTtbSNHVJfnXaqIHQ3z0nT2-ytvoa12OZ6p5gls-a8ftx1J116Yohfjx8e10q067vhZF63sdcIUzrQH617a-_hDSvn-YUEbf7KbYmEJlpVQzeBugPxdf88ultRgdV44/s1600/ESpec+Bestselling+YTD+2018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="954" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQrvxLnezJFWFxTtbSNHVJfnXaqIHQ3z0nT2-ytvoa12OZ6p5gls-a8ftx1J116Yohfjx8e10q067vhZF63sdcIUzrQH617a-_hDSvn-YUEbf7KbYmEJlpVQzeBugPxdf88ultRgdV44/s400/ESpec+Bestselling+YTD+2018.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://especbooks.wordpress.com/2018/10/03/from-the-publisher-2018-bestsellers/">https://especbooks.wordpress.com/2018/10/03/from-the-publisher-2018-bestsellers/</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I'm delighted to see that readers are still discovering and enjoying the terrific stories we brought together in The Weird Wild West! I loved everything about this project with my co-editors Emily Leverett and Misty Massey, and our publisher Danielle Ackley-Mcphail.<br />
<br />
You can pick up the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Weird-Wild-West-ebook/dp/B019NXQRCO" target="_blank">Kindle</a> or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Weird-Wild-West/dp/1942990014" target="_blank">print</a> versions from Amazon.<br />
And if you see me at a con, I have copies signed by all the authors & editors I could reach!<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">#</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And so, with a loving heart, I offer you</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: italic;">Namaste</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I’ve heard many translations. Here’s my favorite:</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The light of the universe that shines within me recognizes</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the light of the universe that shines within you.</span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3022413452547277809.post-55705151480470916272018-07-29T23:33:00.000-04:002018-07-30T23:41:54.597-04:00Guest interview: Donald J. Bingle | Wet Work Blog Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHxnogOr9KVciksE8gf71QKAZlZqmkRf9NCN-5EmqzMs3YUgmdMukUiNvGk3Je_aJBVVDV3SlzjLAkxSHBdZV6ppVnJyQhgzn2HIr6hnN-UrwXBSbtV-HXtm7qoKOUV50Znc4xBKbSjA/s1600/WetWorkBanner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="368" data-original-width="954" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHxnogOr9KVciksE8gf71QKAZlZqmkRf9NCN-5EmqzMs3YUgmdMukUiNvGk3Je_aJBVVDV3SlzjLAkxSHBdZV6ppVnJyQhgzn2HIr6hnN-UrwXBSbtV-HXtm7qoKOUV50Znc4xBKbSjA/s640/WetWorkBanner.png" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm honored to welcome Don Bingle on his blog tour, promoting his new thriller <i>Wet Work</i>. Join us for an interview and $25 raffle!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWaHWYUQi67q4vtAkUJDj_AvZeEMdBI57VvNRgjJsoBtfM6IZdwWV0VGRKgDSv6QdEU-CSNmnY7c_KFHL2WZfa_7_8VJ2JY0i18_p0FT4FujH2HO-3h7Vo3vtneqvtrIvdoC4ddOdNME/s1600/Waterline+Picture+of+Don+Smiling+.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWaHWYUQi67q4vtAkUJDj_AvZeEMdBI57VvNRgjJsoBtfM6IZdwWV0VGRKgDSv6QdEU-CSNmnY7c_KFHL2WZfa_7_8VJ2JY0i18_p0FT4FujH2HO-3h7Vo3vtneqvtrIvdoC4ddOdNME/s200/Waterline+Picture+of+Don+Smiling+.jpeg" width="160" /></span></a></div>
<span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Don is the author of six books (<i>The Love-Haight Case Files</i> (with Jean Rabe); <i>Wet Work</i>; <i>Net Impact</i>; <i>Greensword</i>; <i>Frame Shop</i>; and <i>Forced Conversion</i>) and about fifty shorter stories in the science fiction, thriller, horror, fantasy, mystery, steampunk, romance, comedy, and memoir genres. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
</span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">MSM: Tell us about the inspiration for Dick Thornby and his adventures.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">DJB: I wanted to have a spy who wasn't a James Bond type or a Jason Bourne type, but instead a middle-aged guy with a wife and a kid and a mortgage, plus a boss who gives him grief about using too many explosives, but still a hero in that he always does what needs to be done to protect the world, regardless of the personal cost to him. I think this makes Dick relatable, even if he isn't always likeable.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">MSM: You write in a lot of genres, and a lot of your stories are thrillers--what attracts you to that type of story?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">DJB: I used to write adventures and scenarios for roleplaying games and gamemaster such adventures. In a way, all such adventures are quests with danger and obstacles attached to completion, plus a lot of interpersonal stuff going on at the same time. You have to control clues, red herrings, pace, comic relief, provide fun new things to learn/do, and make sure everyone is entertained throughout the journey. Thrillers are basically the same thing, so my tendency is to write thrillers.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">MSM: How do you research for a spy thriller novel?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">DJB: There's two different kinds of research involved in my spy thrillers. First, there is the base plot. For that I want to make use of several interesting tidbits of information I've run across in my reading that the average reader wouldn't necessarily already know about, but would find compelling, then find some way to string those bits of compelling information into something that would involve the Subsidiary, my spy agency. Reading offbeat articles and magazines or checking out certain websites can help with that. Of course, some of the stuff is wild and incredible, but I can often get something credible out of even weird conspiracy theories and such. The second kind of research is stuff like vehicles and weapons, geography, the look and feel of specific locations, even what types of non-alcoholic beer might be available at a certain place. You just have to knuckle down and look that stuff up--you don't want getting basic things wrong take the reader out of the story. Of course, my browser history gets pretty bizarre. I spent the better part of a day once trying to figure out the largest yield Russian nuclear weapon I could fit in an old Volkswagen Microbus. Of course, I also spent hours trying to figure out if the Microbus came standard with an FM radio.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm6dujPmIHJvI4QdxwN7F7MxPJnQgQg5riVYAKs-qlMYU6LCdZ1bbQG_Xwq6YNsNVYqj14e8yU525ThcWfEXWp7RcBXYsPCmYFcR-sQTd7g0Xpd_np2qL8bnU-XBqJQLd2DmtGrt86WAI/s1600/WET+WORK+EBOOK+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">MSM: Will we see more stories about Thornby?</span></div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">DJB: The smart way to answer this question is to say "Of course!" But the true answer is only if <i>Wet Work</i> sells well enough to make it worthwhile. I've already got the base plot and a cover made up for the next adventure (the title is <i>Flash Drive</i>), but I won't put in the time to write up the book if it does not make financial sense. I've got other things I could write instead.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">MSM: GenCon is right around the corner (or has just happened, depending on our schedule). What are you most looking forward to \ was your favorite experience there this year?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">DJB: This will be my 39th GenCon. I was the world's top-ranked player of classic RPGA tournaments in the last fifteen years of the last century, so GenCon is an annual pilgrimage of sorts. (An older vendor a few years back told a cashier who asked me how to spell my name. "Don't you know who that is? That's Don Bingle. He used to be famous at GenCon." which is a cringeworthy compliment, I guess.) Classic style games have given way to campaign style, but there's several sessions of TimeWatch, a time travel game in the old classic style of things like Timemaster, Chill, and Star Ace, which I'll be checking out.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">MSM: We often hear author advice about "write what you know". What are elements of your stories that are based on your own life or interests, like pets, places, people, or hobbies?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">DJB: It's always handy to be able to shorten your research burden by using locations or aspects of real life, but I don't really like the "write what you know" advice. I write genre fiction. Fantasy, scifi, time travel, steampunk, supernatural horror--that's not real life stuff. Write what you enjoy writing or finding out more about.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">MSM: What’s the most memorable thing that’s happened to you as a writer?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">DJB: I went to the mailbox one day and found a box had been posted to me. Inside was a jewelry box with a cloisonné pin from the Time Travel Research Association with an unsigned note that simply said "Thank you for your contributions to time travel." I really need to get around to doing that some day. But I guess it worked. I put the pin on one of my suits and just went about my business at work and parties and such. Every once in awhile, someone would lean in close and ask, what's that lapel pin for. And I would simply say "I got it for my contributions to time travel research." with no additional elaboration. I expect it confused and befuddled my colleagues and clients.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The biggest compliment I ever got was when one guy who I knew to be a Viet Nam veteran asked me what unit I served in after reading a military action sequence. Never served, but I knew that I'd gotten the scene right for him to have asked.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">MSM: I wrote a short story about a rainmaker who was struck by lightning every time he "called the rain." I would have asked your insight if I had known about your own experience with lightning! Can you tell us about it?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">DJB: Just to be clear, it did not rain the day I got struck by lightning, nor was there any other thunder or lightning in the area. I was eleven. It was a hot, muggy day, and my mom had to go to a doctor's appointment. Since we didn't have air conditioning back then, she said if I got hot I could was my dad's car. So, I went out, soaked myself with water from the hose and was washing the hood of the car with a sponge when lightning apparently hit the car, passing the charge through me to the ground. All I remember was hearing a loud noise and arriving at the front door running very fast just as my thirteen year old sister opened it. I was very hyper and we decided I had gotten scared by the thunder and should lie down and calm myself. I couldn't calm down, so she called the neighbor lady, who called my mom at the doctor's office, and the decision was made to drive me to his office. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I remember walking in, not stopping at reception, and going back to an exam room where my mom was waiting with the doctor. He checked my heart rate, then reached over and picked up a hypodermic needle and plunged it straight into my chest without waiting to get my shirt out of the way. He turned to my mom, who was horrified by the size of the needle, and simply said. "If I hadn't done that, he'd be dead within a half hour. He has the fastest heart rate I've ever seen." There was a burn on my forearm where the power jumped from the hood to me, but the fact I was soaked with water (allowing most of the charge to pass through the water, rather than my nerves and bones, probably saved my life.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">MSM: What do you like to read, and what are you reading now?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">DJB: Just finished a not-so-compellingly written history of the Hoover Dam. I read a lot of stuff by Robert J. Sawyer, Jean Rabe, and Niven, Barnes, and Pournelle (in any combination). My favorite time travel book is Replay by Ken Grimwood.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">MSM: What else are you working on now?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">DJB: About to start up a ghost-writing project that I can't talk about. Also, getting ready to do a short story which deals with quantum entanglement in an odd setting.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">MSM: Where will you be – in person and online – this summer?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">DJB: You can always find me at my website at <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.donaldjbingle.com&source=gmail&ust=1533085838287000&usg=AFQjCNFrxXWcMRCfoqr3WSVQVmBtB8TsMA" href="http://www.donaldjbingle.com/" target="_blank">www.donaldjbingle.com</a>, or @donaldjbingle on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/donaldjbingle" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/donaldjbingle" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2779581.Donald_J_Bingle" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>.</span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm6dujPmIHJvI4QdxwN7F7MxPJnQgQg5riVYAKs-qlMYU6LCdZ1bbQG_Xwq6YNsNVYqj14e8yU525ThcWfEXWp7RcBXYsPCmYFcR-sQTd7g0Xpd_np2qL8bnU-XBqJQLd2DmtGrt86WAI/s1600/WET+WORK+EBOOK+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="428" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm6dujPmIHJvI4QdxwN7F7MxPJnQgQg5riVYAKs-qlMYU6LCdZ1bbQG_Xwq6YNsNVYqj14e8yU525ThcWfEXWp7RcBXYsPCmYFcR-sQTd7g0Xpd_np2qL8bnU-XBqJQLd2DmtGrt86WAI/s320/WET+WORK+EBOOK+%25281%2529.jpg" width="215" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thanks, Don!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">As part of Don's blog tour, we have a raffle (through 8/10) for a $25 gift certificate:</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'll be posting a review of <i>Wet Work</i> here soon. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You can pick up your own copy here:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><i>Wet Work</i>, Amazon: </span><span style="font-style: normal; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://a.co/1qni4lH&source=gmail&ust=1533085838288000&usg=AFQjCNEI2A3YJjCUYjFsrm2iAyMYtUQYRg" href="http://a.co/1qni4lH" style="color: #1155cc; text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank">http://a.co/1qni4lH</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><i>Wet Work</i>, Nook: </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wet-work-donald-j-bingle/1128291702?ean%3D2940159029973&source=gmail&ust=1533085838288000&usg=AFQjCNGNQABhuRO-5-vNOueiBdkiEuIfoA" href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wet-work-donald-j-bingle/1128291702?ean=2940159029973" style="color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank">https://www.barnesandnoble.<wbr></wbr>com/w/wet-work-donald-j-<wbr></wbr>bingle/1128291702?ean=<wbr></wbr>2940159029973</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Wet Work</i>, Kobo: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/wet-work-5&source=gmail&ust=1533085838288000&usg=AFQjCNGtFeNtAelTbi3g_MUiFABnU8Cj5w" href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/wet-work-5" style="color: #1155cc; font-style: normal;" target="_blank">https://www.kobo.com/us/en/<wbr></wbr>ebook/wet-work-5</a><span style="font-style: normal;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Wet Work</i>, PRINT: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://a.co/2il1eWS&source=gmail&ust=1533085838288000&usg=AFQjCNFNmd9fBlI65RVtsIJgi9NRqUyEwg" href="http://a.co/2il1eWS" style="color: #1155cc; font-style: normal;" target="_blank">http://a.co/2il1eWS</a></span></div>
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Here's the rest of <a href="http://www.ltpromos.com/2018/07/20/donald-j-bingles-wet-work-blog-tour/" target="_blank">Don's blog tour schedule</a>!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3022413452547277809.post-52537354423427636112018-05-29T22:51:00.001-04:002018-05-29T23:05:07.991-04:00Announcing Chasing the Light: A Benefit Anthology of Speculative Fiction<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt=" Chasing the Light" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0Zs6YBQTSNXVACmCj78mNtaEm_PdIhAOLpdCeC8v2nP9b7EOWWPT7VbwAbCTvrP0-8gX0pfsnFT7fTiKrGyADlvAsaVSMwI8BibzUhNfd34PQbQWNReMTWtDtkobfjoipo8YZkkGaSw/s200/Chasing-the-Light-COVER-sm.jpg" title="Chasing the Light" width="133" /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Once upon a time, </span><i style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">New York Times</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> and </span><i style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">USA Today</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> bestselling author Faith Hunter and award-winning authors David B. Coe and John G. Hartness agreed to mentor a group of rising authors—the Roaring Writers. </span><i style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Light-Benefit-Anthology-Speculative-ebook/dp/B07D9N12GD" target="_blank">Chasing the Light</a></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">—with tales across the spectrum of science </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">fiction and fantasy—is their celebration of success. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Light-Benefit-Anthology-Speculative-ebook/dp/B07D9N12GD" target="_blank">Buy it today from Amazon!</a> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">It is also a tribute honoring Melanie Otto (aka Melanie Griffin), one of the founding authors, who died unexpectedly in 2016. Melanie critiqued many of these stories at the Roaring Writers' annual writing retreats, and the authors will never forget Melanie's sparkling eyes and delighted laugh as she found passages she loved in each. With this collection, including stories by Melanie, the Roaring Writers share her light with readers everywhere.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="color: #1d2129;">Many thanks to</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"> our mentors, </span><a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=100001058385499&extragetparams=%7B%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/david.b.coe?fref=mentions" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">David B. Coe</a><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">, </span><a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1564775184&extragetparams=%7B%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/faith.hunter?fref=mentions" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Faith Hunter</a><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">, and </span><a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=518461305&extragetparams=%7B%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/JohnHartness?fref=mentions" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">John Hartness</a><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"> for all they have done to help us become our best. Thanks to fellow RW </span><a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1058100026&extragetparams=%7B%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/emily.leverett?fref=mentions" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Emily Leverett</a><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"> for editing this anthology--she's a terrific editor and expert cat herder! Thanks also to </span><a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=615968746&extragetparams=%7B%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/mcarthurwrites?fref=mentions" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Melissa McArthur Gilbert</a><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"> for the extra polish of proofreading, and to </span><a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=25009106&extragetparams=%7B%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/nataniabarron?fref=mentions" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Natania Barron</a><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"> for the beautiful cover.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thanks to the generosity of their mentor</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">s and contributors, all profits from the sales of this anthology will be donated to help Melanie's lifelong partner defray medical and legal costs. </span></span></span><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Remembering Melanie<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIRD_F1xwUzRB5z2AFJTpwb4bNz6050D9LCo1-eV9anlHm8snaNPxDk3nK9zZo9rdoOSbATdRbc5jQK74lZzj98-1Is4jRpCnCm3Phb-egiHzQmd11h_8pOIoFjvRSXRWgiksMGDOaE0/s1600/Melanie+Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIRD_F1xwUzRB5z2AFJTpwb4bNz6050D9LCo1-eV9anlHm8snaNPxDk3nK9zZo9rdoOSbATdRbc5jQK74lZzj98-1Is4jRpCnCm3Phb-egiHzQmd11h_8pOIoFjvRSXRWgiksMGDOaE0/s200/Melanie+Photo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 200%;">The first thing I remember about
Melanie, always, is her beautiful smile. Her delighted laugh as we shared our
love of stories, books, authors, movies, photography, nature, friends, and
life. We met at ConCarolinas 2013 in Charlotte, NC. Afterward, she emailed this
wonderful summation of the weekend: “</span><span style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 200%;">Truly, a person never knows what fine folk or fortunate
things one might discover coming one's way.” Through email, phone calls, and
our eagerly anticipated annual retreats, we shared stories, editing advice,
writing goals, travel adventures and dreams, and so much more. I knew from the
beginning that Melanie had some serious health issues, and to her chagrin, they
often impeded her participation in our retreats and activities. Even so, I
could never have been prepared for the shock of losing her so suddenly. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But Melanie hasn’t left the Roaring Writers. If anything, she
continues to bring us ever closer together. In honoring her, in sharing our
grief together, in committing to this benefit anthology project, we continue to
write and grow and learn and succeed together. And I still see Melanie’s
beautiful smile, just beyond the light.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">#</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And so, with a loving heart, I offer you</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: italic;">Namaste</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I’ve heard many translations. Here’s my favorite:</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The light of the universe that shines within me recognizes</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the light of the universe that shines within you.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 200%;"></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">#</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3022413452547277809.post-79514407436842475552018-01-10T23:05:00.001-05:002018-01-10T23:29:56.736-05:00Illogicon Schedule<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7KHawuDfNR9HA71vCxfM3sBHRj12_YNzGaT1VKgDJnXooBbkMjmWt7kfRz4Pm4s9gZJMjq9JbU-_6jW380iooHCT8P5qUABT_EfMMeY0nFqsqj3KiCeyozMsNPa8O-vxI6BUiNK5mTwk/s1600/Illogicon2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7KHawuDfNR9HA71vCxfM3sBHRj12_YNzGaT1VKgDJnXooBbkMjmWt7kfRz4Pm4s9gZJMjq9JbU-_6jW380iooHCT8P5qUABT_EfMMeY0nFqsqj3KiCeyozMsNPa8O-vxI6BUiNK5mTwk/s400/Illogicon2018.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Illogicon is a great way to start the New year -- and the con season!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Come join the fun in Cary, NC this weekend!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here's where you'll find me:</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Friday, 3pm<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Geeky Gateway Drugs</span></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> –
Smith<br />
Have a friend who “doesn’t like sci-fi”? We can help ease them in!<br />
Panelists: Joey Starnes (M), Margaret
McGraw, Gray Rinehart, Carol Cowles, John Lapoint<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Friday, 7pm<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Open Your Own Book: Personal Interests
and Storytelling</span></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> –
Smith<br />
They say to “write what you know” or “write what you like,” but it can be hard
to weave in your personal interests in your storytelling. Let’s get into it!<br />
<em><span style="font-style: normal;">Panelists: Margaret McGraw <b>(M)</b>,
Holly Walrath, Stuart Jaffe, Darin Kennedy, Emily Leverett</span></em><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Saturday, 12pm<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Broad Universe Rapid Fire </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Reading</span></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> – Crescent</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Don’t miss the women of the Broad Universe
Association in this whirlwind sampler of work!</span><br />
<em><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-style: normal;">Hosted by Broad Universe<o:p></o:p></span></em></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Saturday, 2pm<em><span style="font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">MFAs, Workshops, and Writers’ Groups: Which One is For You</span></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">?</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> – Reynolds</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Do you need them and are they right for you?</span><br />
<em><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-style: normal;">Panelists: Julie Steinbacher (M), Holly Walrath, John G. Hartness, Ian
Muneshwar, Margaret McGraw<o:p></o:p></span></em></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Saturday, 6pm<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Geeky Rants</span></b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> – Smith<br />
It’s a like a real-life TWEETSTORM full of only the ANGRIEST NERDS. What petty
hill would you like to die on today?<br />
<em><span style="font-style: normal;">Panelists: Chris Shrewsbury (M), Janet S. Planets, Jason Gilbert,
Michael G. Williams, Carol Cowles, Darin Kennedy, Margaret S. McGraw</span></em><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sunday, 10am<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">How What We Read for Fun Sculpts Us</span></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> – Reynolds</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“But it’s just a story!” Well, yes and no. How
what we consume can shape our ideas–for better or worse</span><br />
<em><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-style: normal;">Panelists: Jim McDonald (M), Tera Fulbright , Margaret McGraw, LeAnn
Rettell, Stacey Lantagne<o:p></o:p></span></em></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<em><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal;">Sunday 12pm<o:p></o:p></span></b></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Steampunk’d!</span></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> – Reynolds</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Panelists “steampunk” and movies based on
audience suggestions!</span><br />
<em><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-style: normal;">Panelists: Margaret McGraw <b>(M)</b>,
Tera Fulbright, Jason Gilbert, Natania Barron, Andrew Greeson<o:p></o:p></span></em></span></div>
<h2 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h2>
<h2 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sunday, 1pm<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Crowdfunding: Is It Right for Your
Project?</span></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> –
Smith<br />
Kickstarter and other crowd funding sites can be huge, but is it right for your
project?<br />
<em><span style="font-style: normal;">Panelists: Alex Matsuo (M), John Hartness, Margaret McGraw, Stacey
Lantagne, Suzanne Adair</span></em><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sunday, 2pm<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Greatness Past 50</span></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> – Reynolds</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Characters “of a certain age” still have a lot
of offer–a discussion of ageism, aging characters, and older characters</span><br />
<em><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-style: normal;">Panelists: Samantha Bryant (M), Chris Shrewsbury, Margaret McGraw, Dave
Ellis, Gail Martin</span></em></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<em><span style="background: white; font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></em></div>
<div style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">#</span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And so, with a loving heart, I offer you</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: italic;">Namaste</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I’ve heard many translations. Here’s my favorite:</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The light of the universe that shines within me recognizes</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the light of the universe that shines within you.</span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">#</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3022413452547277809.post-68288710966471674052017-11-17T15:27:00.000-05:002018-10-09T23:18:37.511-04:00AtomaCon ScheduleFor the past few years, several friends have told me how much they enjoy AtomaCon in Charleston, SC. I'm delighted to be a guest this year! Here's where you'll find me:<br />
<br />
<b>Friday, Nov 17</b><br />
<br />
7:00pm <i>Female representation in books and film. How far have we come?</i><br />
Nicole Kurtz, Samantha Bryant, Margaret McGraw, Kamika Mattis, Misty Massey, SL Figuhr<br />
Room 3 (Lit Track)<br />
<br />
<b>Saturday, Nov 18</b><br />
<br />
10:00am <i>Gods and Humans</i><br />
A discussion of the popularity of Gods interacting with humans as Portraited (sic) in American Gods, Legion, Percy Jackson, Clash of the Titans, etc.<br />
James McDonald, Margaret McGraw, William Fripp<br />
Room 2 (Fandom/Costuming Track)<br />
<br />
7:00pm <i>Diversity and Inclusion in Literature</i><br />
Samantha Bryant, Margaret McGraw, Kamika Mattis, Nicole Kurtz<br />
Room 3 (Lit Track)<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
8:00pm <i>Writing for an anthology, series or shared universe</i></div>
<div>
The ins and outs of writing in someone else’s universe<br />
Nicole Kurtz, Margaret McGraw, Misty Massey, Melissa McArthur, Alexandra Christian, John G. Hartness<br />
Room 3 (Lit Track)<br />
<br />
9:00pm <i>Falstaff Books Mixer</i><br />
Stop by the bar, buy a drink and have one on one conversation with the authors, maybe buy a book or two!<br />
Embassy Suites Bar<br />
<br />
<b>Sunday, Nov 19</b><br />
<br />
12:00pm <i>Geek Rants</i><br />
A good-natured discussion about what bugs you about your favorite fandom. From continuity to cancellations.<br />
Jason Gilbert, Chris Shrewsbury, Chuck Carte, Margaret McGraw<br />
Room 2 (Fandom/Costuming Track)<br />
<br />
1:00pm <i>The Wild West in a Sci-fi Universe</i><br />
From Wild, Wild,West, Firefly, West World, and Cowboys Vs Aliens; the Wild West Culture is becoming a staple in the Sci-fi genre.<br />
Margaret McGraw, Misty Massey<br />
Room 3 (Lit Track)<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
#</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
And so, with a loving heart, I offer you</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-style: italic;">Namaste</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
I’ve heard many translations. Here’s my favorite:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
The light of the universe that shines within me recognizes</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
the light of the universe that shines within you.</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
#</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3022413452547277809.post-81305985568359113382017-10-22T02:23:00.001-04:002017-10-22T02:23:30.673-04:00This stone sparkles<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763;">This stone soaks up starlight<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763;">Sparkles with silver frost</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763;">And feels almost beautiful<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;">#</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;">And so, with a loving heart, I offer you</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #073763;">Namaste</span></span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;">I’ve heard many translations. Here’s my favorite:</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;">The light of the universe that shines within me recognizes</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;">the light of the universe that shines within you.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #004d94; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3022413452547277809.post-55849849073588971612017-10-08T23:37:00.004-04:002017-11-17T15:30:36.513-05:00“The True Feminine”I am in love with this poem. (I did not write it - link below)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> “The True Feminine”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I am not sugar and spice and everything nice.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /> I am art.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /> I am a story.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /> I am a church bell, gonging out wrongs and rights <br />and normal nights.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /> I was baby. I am child. I will be mother.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /> I don’t mind being considered beautiful, <br />I do not allow that to be my definition.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /> <i><b>I am a rich pie strong with knowledge.</b></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><b></b></i><br /> I will not be eaten.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0.008); color: #444444; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5mfr _47e3"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f96/1/16/1f49c.png" width="16" /><span class="_7oe">💜</span></span><span class="_5mfr _47e3"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f96/1/16/1f49c.png" width="16" /><span class="_7oe">💜</span></span><span class="_5mfr _47e3"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f96/1/16/1f49c.png" width="16" /><span class="_7oe">💜</span></span><span class="_5mfr _47e3"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f96/1/16/1f49c.png" width="16" /><span class="_7oe">💜</span></span><span class="_5mfr _47e3"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f96/1/16/1f49c.png" width="16" /><span class="_7oe">💜</span></span><span class="_5mfr _47e3"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f96/1/16/1f49c.png" width="16" /><span class="_7oe">💜</span></span><span class="_5mfr _47e3"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f96/1/16/1f49c.png" width="16" /><span class="_7oe">💜</span></span><span class="_5mfr _47e3"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f96/1/16/1f49c.png" width="16" /><span class="_7oe">💜</span></span><span class="_5mfr _47e3"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f96/1/16/1f49c.png" width="16" /><span class="_7oe">💜</span></span><span class="_5mfr _47e3"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f96/1/16/1f49c.png" width="16" /></span></span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0.008); color: #444444; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 14px;"><a href="http://www.scarymommy.com/third-grader-poem-feminism-twitter/?utm_source=FBIP">http://www.scarymommy.com/third-grader-poem-feminism-twitter/?utm_source=FBIP</a></span></span><br />
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And so, with a loving heart, I offer you</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-style: italic;">Namaste</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
I’ve heard many translations. Here’s my favorite:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
The light of the universe that shines within me recognizes</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
the light of the universe that shines within you.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3022413452547277809.post-24400950389577080922017-09-06T02:26:00.000-04:002017-11-17T15:30:48.561-05:00DragonCon Schedule (actual)I'm still unpacking -- literally and figuratively -- from DragonCon. I'll post some notes soon, but here's what my panels looked like -- including a few I attended for fun, like the "Extreme Steampunk Makeover" and the "Wynonna Earp" cast panel.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0C8_WCaLfBno6aHCT9S7KG2D0UYRIUo6ggg00HncpF8ZT108G43WrpO0KdzvzVO-kZ32e5OJOKPDM_FjMWMeuYGvdaUiDrugknxQZ6DbyVHs-ZAoKABI6I6wNwxhEweYtsi_4BUPz3VQ/s1600/DragonCon+2017+Schedule+Final.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1090" data-original-width="597" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0C8_WCaLfBno6aHCT9S7KG2D0UYRIUo6ggg00HncpF8ZT108G43WrpO0KdzvzVO-kZ32e5OJOKPDM_FjMWMeuYGvdaUiDrugknxQZ6DbyVHs-ZAoKABI6I6wNwxhEweYtsi_4BUPz3VQ/s1600/DragonCon+2017+Schedule+Final.JPG" /></a></div>
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And so, with a loving heart, I offer you</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-style: italic;">Namaste</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
I’ve heard many translations. Here’s my favorite:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
The light of the universe that shines within me recognizes</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
the light of the universe that shines within you.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3022413452547277809.post-75029298014994648692017-08-30T00:49:00.000-04:002017-11-17T15:31:02.163-05:00DragonCon Schedule (planned)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYkEXjuexz9JrWtoNBCSy_l2FZBq8Rh-6L1097qAh-49R2m_pHIymcWy773mZXMNGWOTvN873Kp6-M0OeNjadsjs_jgi83qTXEsB4iMfZbXLfpoxU-8D9aUBWteHKlBvWLAG57BffSLk/s1600/DragonCon+2017+Schedule.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="985" data-original-width="639" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYkEXjuexz9JrWtoNBCSy_l2FZBq8Rh-6L1097qAh-49R2m_pHIymcWy773mZXMNGWOTvN873Kp6-M0OeNjadsjs_jgi83qTXEsB4iMfZbXLfpoxU-8D9aUBWteHKlBvWLAG57BffSLk/s640/DragonCon+2017+Schedule.JPG" width="415" /></a></div>
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<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
And so, with a loving heart, I offer you</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-style: italic;">Namaste</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
I’ve heard many translations. Here’s my favorite:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
The light of the universe that shines within me recognizes</div>
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the light of the universe that shines within you.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3022413452547277809.post-28550232500854739902017-08-21T00:12:00.001-04:002017-11-17T15:31:13.458-05:00New post on TheMillionWords.Net: Stream-of-ConsiousnessOver the years I have found stream-of-consciousness writing to be an excellent tool in my writer's toolbox.<br />
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: inherit;">So I talked about it on my <a href="http://themillionwords.net/2017/08/20/stream-of-consciousness-writing-exercise-or-therapy/" target="_blank">latest blog post on TheMillionWords.net</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOWol2OjBSBIR7iDWQbfg2NxmnX3H6oAUWZpmR6Ox9YCWYMxxbojopJ-wPOhWQcLvGUyp-1e76MsbKADCI2zOFhPSadz3XdRAAMkOqzNctBUb9EcYDljLMfpts5htA-RoJObyK0fvR8s/s1600/stream-of-consciousness2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="753" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOWol2OjBSBIR7iDWQbfg2NxmnX3H6oAUWZpmR6Ox9YCWYMxxbojopJ-wPOhWQcLvGUyp-1e76MsbKADCI2zOFhPSadz3XdRAAMkOqzNctBUb9EcYDljLMfpts5htA-RoJObyK0fvR8s/s320/stream-of-consciousness2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://themillionwords.net/">TheMillionWords.net</a> is a shared blog about our journey to become great writers. Join us as we talk about writing advice and our own experiences. </span><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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And so, with a loving heart, I offer you</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-style: italic;">Namaste</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
I’ve heard many translations. Here’s my favorite:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
The light of the universe that shines within me recognizes</div>
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the light of the universe that shines within you.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3022413452547277809.post-36850333203657696932017-06-26T00:27:00.002-04:002017-11-17T15:31:35.391-05:00New post on TheMillionWords.Net: Exploding the small moments<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: inherit;">There are lots of ways to think about descriptive writing. I like the idea of "exploding the small moments"...</span><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: inherit;">So I talked about it on my <a href="http://themillionwords.net/2017/06/25/exploding-the-small-moments/#more-556" target="_blank">latest blog post on TheMillionWords.net</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHxwha8E990F2ZPozi5T1xSdiySt3zd8kvFQhRGs2DuUBf9ketPEvI69s3JxsKterPecLarI1k5xWVQRtVmCJj9MQAZLFF88qBRPfNMUwAPO_1QiNYtx-ZNlToSXqZDpg4e19E3eyD1Y/s1600/SuperNova.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="286" data-original-width="440" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHxwha8E990F2ZPozi5T1xSdiySt3zd8kvFQhRGs2DuUBf9ketPEvI69s3JxsKterPecLarI1k5xWVQRtVmCJj9MQAZLFF88qBRPfNMUwAPO_1QiNYtx-ZNlToSXqZDpg4e19E3eyD1Y/s320/SuperNova.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://themillionwords.net/">TheMillionWords.net</a> is a shared blog about our journey to become great writers. Join us as we talk about writing advice and our own experiences. </span><br />
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And so, with a loving heart, I offer you</div>
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Namaste</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
I’ve heard many translations. Here’s my favorite:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
The light of the universe that shines within me recognizes</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
the light of the universe that shines within you.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3022413452547277809.post-38738420166395162492017-06-15T08:00:00.000-04:002017-11-17T15:31:48.752-05:00Happy Book Birthday to Lawless Lands!<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://giphy.com/embed/uDBR5EdLVLlSw" width="480"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/mtv-finding-carter-gifs-uDBR5EdLVLlSw">via GIPHY</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://books2read.com/u/mlKN09" target="_blank">Here are all the places you can get it today</a>!</div>
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(Paperback available next week)</div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1040" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZ_AcU2IvKM1BbX-Z_pKidXCZCPo2H48jR8db3kYIZSttR98Nxp3JgH4vKSKcnFTvdClrLhk0vTjjzfgJR3PUe097EQE2C-cRTdDebboeO6g0-r5UnpohraMCqUZjNaMhzWR0SqR5s_I/s640/Lawless+Lands+Cover.jpg" width="416" /></div>
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And so, with a loving heart, I offer you</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-style: italic;">Namaste</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
I’ve heard many translations. Here’s my favorite:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
The light of the universe that shines within me recognizes</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
the light of the universe that shines within you.</div>
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<span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 145px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 373px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 145px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 373px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3022413452547277809.post-56393686471896147832017-06-08T22:47:00.001-04:002017-06-08T22:47:38.697-04:00Prompt: City super powers<div style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Boston
speaks to me in dreams. Washington is wary, worn out by lies and broken
promises. New York has never said a word, but she can be such a
bitch--guiding hopes for one and crushing dreams for another. Paris really is
the city of love. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Every
city has a super power, a spirit imbued by the human lives that built them,
live in them, give their last breaths in them. </div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">
But
they're becoming quiet. Ordinary. They don't speak to me, and I can't feel them
any more. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Someone
is stealing their souls.</div>
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#</div>
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<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
And so, with a loving heart, I offer you</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-style: italic;">Namaste</span></div>
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I’ve heard many translations. Here’s my favorite:</div>
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The light of the universe that shines within me
recognizes</div>
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the light of the universe that shines within you.</div>
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<br /></div>
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#</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3022413452547277809.post-4324853862516973542017-06-06T16:40:00.001-04:002017-06-09T15:29:02.608-04:00Con Report: ConCarolinas 2017 Art of the Short Story <div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I moderated this panel on Saturday afternoon, with panelists: </span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Bobby Nash</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Robert Bevan</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">JD Blackrose (Joelle Riezes)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Melissa Gilbert</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tonia Brown</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">These are mostly my prep notes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hemingway said it
was no accident that the Gettysburg Address was so short.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3022413452547277809" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mario Puzo said, "If I'd had longer, this would have been shorter."</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Panel Introductions</b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I asked the audience: are you all writers or
readers?</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If all readers,
we'll talk more about examples of good writing than how to</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>What do you see as
the critical differences between writing short stories vs longer works?</b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>How do you think about short story structure?</b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Plot has a beginning,
middle, end</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Reversals
(backstory), recognitions</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tension/pacing</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Setting</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Characterization</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Motivation</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Strong opening is
even more important than for a novel!</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Set the tone</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Grab the reader and
pull them in</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Build curiosity</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Roberto
Bolaño, Chilean author, said "<span style="color: #414141; font-style: italic;">It is best to write short stories three or five
at a time. If one has the energy, write them nine or fifteen at a time."</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #414141; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I asked the panelists: Do you write stand alone or related stories? Do you
write several at once, or one here and there?</span></div>
<div style="color: #414141; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Let's talk about the
short story market </b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Can you make any money - significant income - with short
stories?</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lots of themed
anthologies recently:</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22105447-athena-s-daughters-vol-1" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;" target="_blank"><i>Athena's Daughters</i></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26064757-temporally-out-of-order" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;" target="_blank"><i>Temporally Out of Order</i></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24837495-dance-like-a-monkey" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;" target="_blank"><i>Dance Like a Monkey</i></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
in honor and support of CJ Henderson</span></li>
<li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19037763-the-big-bad" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;" target="_blank"><i>Big Bad I</i> </a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24870359-the-big-bad-ii" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;" target="_blank"><i>Big Bad II</i></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> - main
characters are villains</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And of course a
couple of </span><i style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25333353-the-weird-wild-west" target="_blank">Weird Wild West</a></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> and </span><i style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35059303-lawless-lands" target="_blank">Lawless Lands</a></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> - over 400 stories submitted between the two of them!</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Magazines like <i><a href="http://www.asimovs.com/" target="_blank">Asimov's</a></i>, <i><a href="https://www.sfsite.com/fsf/" target="_blank">Fantasy & Science Fiction</a></i>, and so many more</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">4-5 or 10 cents a
word - not going to get rich, but you *can* get published and get recognition</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Look for anthology calls</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://horrortree.com/" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Horrortree.com</a></li>
<li><a href="https://duotrope.com/" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">Duotrope</a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">$50 annual subscription </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Search on Facebook for "open calls"</span></li>
<li><a href="https://thegrinder.diabolicalplots.com/" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">The Grinder -Diabological Plots</a></li>
</ul>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Examples of great
short stories in the genre</b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Master: Edgar Alan
Poe</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Gardner Dozois'
"The Year's Best science fiction" collections </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/748044.Her_Smoke_Rose_Up_Forever" target="_blank"><i>Her <span style="color: #222222;">Smoke</span> Rose <span style="color: #222222;">Up</span> Forever</i></a>, James Tiptree Jr
(Alice Sheldon)</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Isaac Asimov </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/149075.The_Nine_Billion_Names_of_God" target="_blank">Nine Billion Names of God</a>, </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Arthur C Clarke </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3022413452547277809" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Google "speculative
fiction short stories" for links to lists</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Resources:</b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.aerogrammestudio.com/2013/03/07/stephen-king-and-the-art-of-the-short-story/"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">http://www.aerogrammestudio.com/2013/03/07/stephen-king-and-the-art-of-the-short-story/</span></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3022413452547277809" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/20526/20526-h/20526-h.htm"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">http://www.gutenberg.org/files/20526/20526-h/20526-h.htm</span></a></div>
<div style="color: black; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Short Story Writing</i>, Charles Raymond Barrett, </span></span><span style="font-family: "\22 georgia\22 " , "\22 times new roman\22 " , serif;">1898</span></span></div>
<div style="color: black; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3022413452547277809" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://youtu.be/vOKLmjFZxHg">The Art of the Short Story</a></span></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vOKLmjFZxHg" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3022413452547277809" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/by-writing-goal/improve-my-writing/how-to-let-plot-guide-your-short-story"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">http://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/by-writing-goal/improve-my-writing/how-to-let-plot-guide-your-short-story</span></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<a href="http://writetodone.com/short-stories-the-art-of-the-start/"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">http://writetodone.com/short-stories-the-art-of-the-start/</span></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3022413452547277809.post-45176220956571352432017-05-31T23:27:00.000-04:002017-06-05T17:14:57.983-04:00Appearance: ConCarolinas, Fri June 2nd - Sun June 4th<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's one of my favorite weekends of the year! So many friends to see again or meet for the first time. Come join the fun at <a href="http://www.concarolinas.org/" target="_blank">ConCarolinas</a>! Here's where you'll find me:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilJKFU1KCQPJetsSy0VU7duuC1W0Ko_3r0HGZudqAQ32B1R1-C4sv6vxewUjeNG3obtiwbk4x-EVAbNKo3VhF0TN6tmYmUKVgaXfVXSjMuiPIykbuEgHohlifChBLo3Dg7K9u8ZuTbCuw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-05-31+at+11.00.01+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="637" data-original-width="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilJKFU1KCQPJetsSy0VU7duuC1W0Ko_3r0HGZudqAQ32B1R1-C4sv6vxewUjeNG3obtiwbk4x-EVAbNKo3VhF0TN6tmYmUKVgaXfVXSjMuiPIykbuEgHohlifChBLo3Dg7K9u8ZuTbCuw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-05-31+at+11.00.01+PM.png" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3022413452547277809.post-76104021471101465612017-05-13T15:02:00.000-04:002017-06-09T15:04:39.343-04:00Prompt: If you open the door, you are not the only one who goes through<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is all Robin's
fault. "Let's go see a psychic for your birthday," she said. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A pedicure would
have been great--a chair massage and pretty toes. And I wouldn’t be standing on
this porch staring at the rain and wondering what the hell to do now. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I went to a psychic
once at my school's fall festival. There were three generations, and I got
stuck with the teen granddaughter. She puzzled over my hand and gave me some
generic nonsense. I figured she just didn't know how to fake it well yet.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When Robin and I
walked into this psychic's drawing room, she came out in a welcoming swirl of
silks and patchouli. As Robin was telling about my birthday, her daughter
Nina's custom <span style="font-style: italic;">Hamilton</span> ringtone sounded
from her purse. She fished it out, handed the psychic a few bills, excused
herself and stepped outside. The psychic turned her attention to me, motioning
me through the curtains into her reading room. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Come now, sit
and give me your hands," she said as she waved her fingers in a flourish
over the table. But as soon as she touched my hands, she paled. She gripped my
palms and stared with widening eyes, then snatched her hands away and jumped up
from the table. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Annoyed, I asked,
"What are you doing?" </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She
didn't answer as she picked up a pen and notepad and scribbled something on it.
Returning to the table, she sat and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>laughed ruefully. "Ordinary
has never sat well with you has it?"</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I drew back and wrinkled my brow, trying to make sense of all
this. What was this act all about? </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She tore
off the piece of paper from her notepad and slid it across the table. "Go.
He will tell you what you need to know." She hesitated. "If you
really want to know."</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She
reached her hand out over mine, then pulled back without touching
me. "Because once you do, you can't take it back." </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"What
do you mean?"</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"If
you open the door, you are not the only one who goes through."</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She jumped up and swept aside the curtains, motioning me to leave.
"Now, go. Latcho Drom. Be careful."</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">#</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And so, with a loving heart, I offer you</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Namaste</span></span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I’ve heard many translations. Here’s my favorite:</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The light of the universe that shines within me
recognizes</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the light of the universe that shines within you.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">#</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3022413452547277809.post-79887656070723780912017-04-22T21:14:00.000-04:002017-06-05T21:14:27.443-04:00Prompt: The sun doesn't shine here anymore<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Carolyn walked along
the dusty road, fingers trailing through the still air. She remembered flowers
blooming, dogs barking, breezes blowing, sun shining. None of that here.
Everything was gray, and still, and there was no sun in the sky, just then even
dim light of day after the absolute dark of night.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A tiger swallowtail
fluttered close, veered and landed on her outstretched hand. She held it close
to her ear, then swept her hand up as it flew away. "Thank you, my
friend," she called after it.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A bluejay squawked
noisily as it swept across the road into a tree near her. A few more loud
cries, then it chased after a crow that flew overhead. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Yes, I heard,
thank you, dear one!"</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Further down the
road, though how far she could not say, because the road had no beginning and
no end, she simply walked its unchanging length every day, she stopped short
and squatted like a child. A desicated frog sprawled against the margin.
Carolyn touched it with her fingertip, and the stiff body jumped like one of
those plastic toys, red and green and blue and yellow…Carolyn touched it again,
wondering when she had last seen those colors. She flipped the frog into her
palm and stood, bringing it close to her mouth. She blew on it gently, and the
frog's body began to plump up, as if she were blowing air into a tiny frog
balloon. It quivered, then jumped onto her wrist. She smiled and nodded.
"Yes, little one. Go on now," she encouraged it, leaning close to the
road as the frog jumped down and hopped away. It stopped and turned to look at
her, black eyes unblinking. She waved it on, and as it turned and hopped away,
she said in a small wistful voice, "Come and visit me sometimes…"</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">###</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Notes:</i></span></div>
<div style="color: black; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The idea for the story was a girl the walking along and a
butterfly flies up to your head lands on her and she asked like she's listening
to it in and says thank you and then a bird flies up and twitters at her and
she responds and then I suddenly had the idea that she is in fact a wraith </span></div>
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div style="color: black; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The title could be resurrection, but I do not know if I want it to
be that obvious</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">#</span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And so, with a loving heart, I offer you</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Namaste</i></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I’ve heard many translations. Here’s my favorite:</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The light of the universe that shines within me recognizes</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the light of the universe that shines within you.</span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">#</span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0