tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-112728082024-03-13T23:34:44.633-05:00Pamela S. MeyersPamela S. Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02728153219310940273noreply@blogger.comBlogger466125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272808.post-37543168865806601402016-10-28T12:40:00.001-05:002016-10-28T12:40:03.829-05:00My Blog Has New Address!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have moved my blog to </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_277798327"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.pamelasuemeyers.com/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">www.pamelasuemeyers.com</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Come on over and join the conversation!</span></div>
Pamela S. Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02728153219310940273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272808.post-35323047914161405572016-07-14T00:30:00.000-05:002016-07-14T00:30:27.453-05:00Interview with Talon Carlson from the Circle Bar Ranch novels, Give the Lady a Ride and The Final Ride ... And a Giveaway!!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6TcDl3L-TjkhWxChMdTuKG4cxiGxsiolx1CLVfwrSxUIXR246bTEGvHcJ_iE-w9BeFNMkKDQSXFgoVU6qi6bOt64Gn-ekHMORLdDk0WWuXSwRKz-ir3VkBxkNHL3TdYjdlIRp/s1600/Final+Ride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Final Ride Cover" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6TcDl3L-TjkhWxChMdTuKG4cxiGxsiolx1CLVfwrSxUIXR246bTEGvHcJ_iE-w9BeFNMkKDQSXFgoVU6qi6bOt64Gn-ekHMORLdDk0WWuXSwRKz-ir3VkBxkNHL3TdYjdlIRp/s320/Final+Ride.jpg" title="Final Ride Cover" width="207" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today I am
very excited to have visiting my blog author Linda Yezek’s male lead from her
new novel <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Final-Ride-Circle-Ranch-Novel/dp/099733360X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468236846&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Final+Ride" target="_blank">The Final Ride.</a></i> I have nothing against Linda—she’s a very good friend—but
if I can interview a bull rider, even a fictional one, I’ll take the bull
rider. Hey, I’ve got my own bull rider story coming out in January.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I first met Talon and Patricia in Linda's first book of the Circle Bar Ranch series, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Give-Lady-Ride-Linda-Yezak/dp/1496122585/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468236832&sr=8-1&keywords=Give+the+Lady+a+Ride" target="_blank">Give the Lady a Ride</a></i>. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In fact, I
hear the clink of his spurs as he approaches my door right now. Be right back
with my guest!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Talon Carlson
is one busy man. He’s the foreman of the Circle Bar Ranch, the preacher at the
local cowboy church, and a regionally famous bull rider. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ve always been
curious, Talon, why just <i>regionally</i>? Did you ever want to pay your dues
and go professional, like the PBR (Professional Bull Riders)?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Talon: No, not
really. Don’t get me wrong, I love the sport, but I love ranching more.
Whatever arena is closest to home is the one I want to ride in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pam: Well, the
PBR does mean a lot of travel on weekends. I imagine Patricia Talbert has
something to do with that decision.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Talon: Let’s just say she reinforced it. I’ve always preferred staying closer to the
ranch, she’s just the newest and best reason why.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pam: So you’re
okay with her wish that you stop riding entirely?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIdCzLfU5Y-XcLIVswBSpISCXhvBpvHvozSVVoHy6GnhdSmm9HLAze2gJubHftXWJFW32P-38lkdS3QqR14izdgbgwaKN9Br1khkfvZeRnDVhoit8uGcuMnZoUWcbBbDlxFGz/s1600/GiveTheLadyARide_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIdCzLfU5Y-XcLIVswBSpISCXhvBpvHvozSVVoHy6GnhdSmm9HLAze2gJubHftXWJFW32P-38lkdS3QqR14izdgbgwaKN9Br1khkfvZeRnDVhoit8uGcuMnZoUWcbBbDlxFGz/s320/GiveTheLadyARide_.jpg" width="206" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Talon: You had
to bring that up, didn’t you? Making the promise to stop riding was a whole lot
easier when my arm was broken and always itching in its cast. But now that it’s
good again, I’m suffering from a different kind of itch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pam: The itch
to ride?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Talon: ’Fraid
so. You’ve got to understand, I’ve been riding since I was a kid. Giving it up
cold turkey isn’t easy–especially since my last ride ended with me in the
hospital.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pam: How do
you think Patricia is going to respond to this itch?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Talon: I don’t
know. I just don’t know. Let’s move on to another question, okay?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pam: Sorry,
didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. Let’s switch to a happier topic. Have
you and Patricia set a wedding date?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Talon: Not
yet. She wants to take it slow–much slower than Chance and Marie did. Those two
fell in love when they first laid eyes on each other and weren’t so hesitant to
do something about it. Pat’s not willing to move that fast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pam: I
remember those two from the first book<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">,
Give the Lady a Ride</i>. But you and Patricia have been together for a while
now, haven’t you?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Talon: Yes,
ma’am, almost a year now. But you know her background, how her late husband had
been cheating on her the entire time they were married. She’s hesitant to take
that step again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pam: And
you’re willing to wait for her?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Talon: For as
long as it takes. She’s worth it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pam: You know
if you ride again, you risk losing her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Talon (squirms
in his seat): . . . Let’s move on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pam: Okay,
then. Moving on. I hear you got to meet Patricia’s aunt Adele. How is that
going?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Talon: Adele
is . . . a challenge. She has ideas in her head about what’s right for Pat that
don’t fit my ideas of what’s right for her. And she’s not too subtle about
letting me and the rest of the hands on the ranch know how she feels about us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pam: Such as?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Talon: Well,
her first night there, she came between us and our dinner. Now, you have to
understand, we put in a hard day’s work, and the noon meal doesn’t always
survive the afternoon heat and exertion. So when we can finally quit for
supper, we’re just short of starved. But Adele made us shower and change into
our fancy duds before we could come in for supper. Frank didn’t mind too much–I
think he’s a little sweet on her–but Buster was fit to be tied. Somehow,
between the time she refused to let us into the house to eat and the time we came
back dressed in our Sunday bests, she managed to get Consuela, our ranch cook,
mad. Her very first day on the Circle Bar, Adele managed to turn everything
top-side down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pam: All that
on her first day?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Talon: Yes,
ma’am. All that and more. It was mighty eventful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pam: Well, I’m
looking forward to reading about it in Linda’s newest Circle Bar Ranch release,
<i>The Final Ride. </i>Thanks for stopping by, Talon. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He tips his Stetson then ambles out and back to the Circle Bar and his chores.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">P.S. Talon didn’t know it, but I already had a sneak peek at <i>The Final
Ride</i> and it’s a wonderful story. So good I couldn't put it down. HERE'S THE <b>BIG NEWS!!! </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m doing a giveaway of <i>The Final
Ride </i>and you can have your name thrown into the Stetson by making a
comment on this blog and tell us about a time you made a promise you wished you
hadn’t and what did you do about it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If that hasn’t happened to you, no
worries, just leave your name and I’ll toss it in with the rest. I'll draw the winner's name on Thursday, July 21, 2016.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>MEET LINDA YEZAK:</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMn7SN4AYc3fJ2RMn2nf5y2_ViOwnL0yUxTyMkUfN9UWH3PokUQCI6ZARiTRDUsBnaBv6mhd6mC3zfcnzX3pqsT2x-2OmGvhLExAwpsLukl_We4Su9SvOTlMQNO4rCDdsaD7LJ/s1600/Linda+Headshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMn7SN4AYc3fJ2RMn2nf5y2_ViOwnL0yUxTyMkUfN9UWH3PokUQCI6ZARiTRDUsBnaBv6mhd6mC3zfcnzX3pqsT2x-2OmGvhLExAwpsLukl_We4Su9SvOTlMQNO4rCDdsaD7LJ/s320/Linda+Headshot.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Twenty-five
years ago, after a decade of life as a "single-again," author Linda
W. Yezak rediscovered God's love and forgiveness when He allowed her a second
chance at marital happiness. She is now living her greatest romance with her
husband in a forest in East Texas. After such an amazing blessing, she chooses
to trumpet God's gift of second chances in the books she writes. Linda's novels
are heart-warming hallmarks of love, forgiveness, and new beginnings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can find Linda at these places:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Facebook Fan Page:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://dld.bz/LWYFacebookPage"><span style="color: blue;">http://dld.bz/LWYFacebookPage</span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pinterest:
<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/lyezak/"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.pinterest.com/lyezak/</span></a>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Twitter:
@LindaYezak<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Amazon Page: <a href="http://dld.bz/LWYAmazonPage"><span style="color: blue;">http://dld.bz/LWYAmazonPage</span></a>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Goodreads: <a href="http://dld.bz/dSPmg"><span style="color: blue;">http://dld.bz/dSPmg</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">777
Peppermint Place: <a href="http://lindayezak.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://lindayezak.com</span></a>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Newsletter:
<a href="http://dld.bz/CoffeewithLinda"><span style="color: blue;">http://dld.bz/CoffeewithLinda</span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Pamela S. Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02728153219310940273noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272808.post-29114213860862706522016-07-11T17:43:00.000-05:002016-07-11T18:35:14.125-05:00Finding the Sweet Spot - Pointers on Closing the Deal at Summer Festivals and Craft Fairs<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfXay5yvYboBj7KcEdT8HDIV2TsUGxlRnxe5lqVi9yIIBLIRuc42_airy2jWAPNrV___HRQlr_xBELdZkzgNDUZZ21g3CgbmuMWfzdIHBFqhN5eovNc3SL_FSgtR8ONq4yARO/s1600/Authorfest+Promo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfXay5yvYboBj7KcEdT8HDIV2TsUGxlRnxe5lqVi9yIIBLIRuc42_airy2jWAPNrV___HRQlr_xBELdZkzgNDUZZ21g3CgbmuMWfzdIHBFqhN5eovNc3SL_FSgtR8ONq4yARO/s400/Authorfest+Promo.jpg" width="308" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This past weekend I participated in Authorfest in my hometown of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. This is the second year for this festival and my second time participating. I have also sold my books at craft fairs and over time, I have learned one thing. If you want to sell your books, you have to find the sweet spot of emotion in each potential buyer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hate pushy sales people as much as the next person and when I first started selling at craft fairs and festivals, I waited for the customers to flock to my table. If I were a well-known author with a famous name that probably would have happened, but in my case not likely. After a so-so experience at a couple craft fairs I decided I needed to step it up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You would think that my book <i>Love Finds You in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin</i> would be an auto-buy for anyone attending a book sale set next to the beach where the town's iconic Riviera Building is featured on my book cover. But not so much. I still had to sell the book to people and find that emotional connection for them to want to take my book home to read.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxm7A7X3goeF-vwOjaFr_fkuMUX-_vmBPeML1WI2krwxxANXZ872pgo8P2P5lCMeNqkZ_TIB2OUSnGsRLjHY1e1qbWC1SdzEQCwrPVlvrESYl5GYd7Ej3Ao_7TO_L_VfkFjb_/s1600/View+from+Table+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxm7A7X3goeF-vwOjaFr_fkuMUX-_vmBPeML1WI2krwxxANXZ872pgo8P2P5lCMeNqkZ_TIB2OUSnGsRLjHY1e1qbWC1SdzEQCwrPVlvrESYl5GYd7Ej3Ao_7TO_L_VfkFjb_/s400/View+from+Table+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the perks of Authorfest is the wonderful view! The Riviera Bldg. is left of center</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My table was situated along a sidewalk that sees a lot of walkers over the course of a sunny summer Saturday and it was also one of several first seller tables the walkers encountered if they approached from the west. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm not a shy person, but the first few times I made my pitch it was a little nerve-wracking. However, each time it got easier and I tweaked it on the fly when I saw what worked. Of course you have to make this applicable to your own situation, but I've broken the pitch down into increments to give you a head start:</span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. Know your target audience and begin to search the people approaching your location for those people. My main target group are women from approximately 20 years old and up. And out of that group, women from middle age and up narrows it down even more. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. When I spotted a woman that fit my target audience, I watched for her to look over at my table and slow her pace as she took in the large sign with a picture of my book. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. At this point I asked if she would be interested in stories set in historical Lake Geneva. By now, she had usually stopped walking and answered one of three ways: "Yes" or "Maybe" or "Not really." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4. I gave the not-really people my book mark that features my current books and they went on their way, but with those who answered "Yes" or "Maybe," I begin my sales pitch by telling them </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm the author of the book, which they were</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> sometimes surprised to learn. Then I continued on with the following facts:</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I grew up in
Lake Geneva (which gives authentication to the story).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My story is a
love story that also involves historical information woven in about what the
town was like in the 1930s and how the community project of building the new recreation building on the lakeshore brought the people together.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That the Riviera
Building is on the cover of my book, and how I learned a lot about life in the town during the Great Depression and prohibition that I never
knew.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I mentioned how hard I worked at research to make sure that the only stores and places named were ones that were there
at that time </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">About this point in the conversation I could tell if I had made an emotional connection with the person. And if I had, I'd found the sweet spot. At any point after this, they were usually reaching for their wallets. Note usually, because some still walked away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of course, if I were doing this in a different location or even
selling a different book at that time, my pitch would different. But the key point I’ve learned
is searching for that “sweet spot” where you make an emotional connection.
It's something I see in their face or their eyes or in something they say in response to what I've said. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLB3xWTxdOABhDsR3PDduSKezD0xSxgkD5XVMGM0I3JQdoPKrSjA_pzCMAGvbRyZAWzefHemKeD34RNRRND9YlCkgCD62dmc_sgCjVwwK7mPBYocAZh5YA8YkXsdVTbj7pX-Ix/s1600/Pam+at+Authorfest+2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLB3xWTxdOABhDsR3PDduSKezD0xSxgkD5XVMGM0I3JQdoPKrSjA_pzCMAGvbRyZAWzefHemKeD34RNRRND9YlCkgCD62dmc_sgCjVwwK7mPBYocAZh5YA8YkXsdVTbj7pX-Ix/s320/Pam+at+Authorfest+2016.jpg" width="221" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At my book table at Authorfest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One man loved the history of the area
but he was hesitant to buy a book that was a love story (Calling the
book a love story, as opposed to a romance, works better with men). With him I stressed the town's history that is shown throughout the story and assured him the love
story wasn’t the only element in the book. I even warned him
what part of the story had the first kiss so he could skim when he got to that
part. He laughed and bought the book.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I also learned I did right by setting the price point at a level that a majority of people considered reasonable to pay for a trade paperback book. I was told that other authors at the sale were selling their books as much as five dollars more then I was. This was not a strategical move on my part, but I do know that there is an invisible line that most book customers don't usually cross when considering an impulse purchase of a book. I try to stay below that line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All in all, Saturday at the Authorfest was a successful day. I have no idea how it will be for me next year when I’ll have a new rodeo
story to sell that is set in southern Illinois, but I'll still be looking for that sweet spot.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you’re interested in <i style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Love-Finds-Lake-Geneva-Wisconsin/dp/1609367693/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468275493&sr=8-1&keywords=Love+Finds+you+in+Lake+Geneva" target="_blank">Love Finds You in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin</a></i>
it is still available online at Amazon and other online stores. You can also purchase my other book, <i style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Thyme-Love-Cooking-Up-Trouble/dp/0996441409/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468275624&sr=8-1&keywords=Thyme+for+Love" target="_blank">Thyme for Love,</a></i> which I was also selling at Authorfest by clicking on the title of the book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
Pamela S. Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02728153219310940273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272808.post-47635581411516829172016-05-07T19:22:00.001-05:002016-05-07T19:22:21.462-05:00Cynthia Ruchti -- Award Winning Novelist Pens Another Great Story You Won't Want to Miss!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNs3IarKuI9FsvWNYTp-sb8zafE8-NWpVQxr1D_3DaSMdXeBfA-KcxOZSm8TwjxvQedEdSm5bB3xnBOFqfwak1r_q1I2_hdT_tXVBytWpZ4E4l0P_7tHlW4PsLIR31zEIdDm8Z/s1600/Song+of+Silence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNs3IarKuI9FsvWNYTp-sb8zafE8-NWpVQxr1D_3DaSMdXeBfA-KcxOZSm8TwjxvQedEdSm5bB3xnBOFqfwak1r_q1I2_hdT_tXVBytWpZ4E4l0P_7tHlW4PsLIR31zEIdDm8Z/s320/Song+of+Silence.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You know I am jazzed about a new book when I bring my blog out of the woodwork to rave about the novel. That's exactly what has happened.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've never read a book I didn't like from author Cynthia Ruchti and her latest release, <i>Song of Silence</i>, keeps that record standing strong.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lucy Tuttle, a career music teacher at a small K-8 school, is riffed at the end of the school year due to budget cuts. Often teachers are riffed at the end of a school year to help the district make budget, but they are hired back in the fall when attendance dictates it's necessary. This is not the case for Lucy. The entire music department has been cut. Not only is it an assault on her income but on her heart. Her late father had started the music department at the school and she feels responsible for it's demise. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lucy goes through denial, followed by depression, and finally acceptance. And with acceptance comes discovery in a most unexpected way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I highly recommend this book or any others that Ruchti has written. One of my favorites, <i>As Waters Gone By</i>, is one of my favorites. But all of the ones on her backlist promise hours of savoring the wonder of her prose. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I received this book from the publisher for the purpose of review and all opinions expressed here are my own. You can read more about her at <a href="http://www.cynthiaruchti.com/">www.cynthiaruchti.com</a></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI70ftyD6h1VUDBfUM2RirenEDkhrJkd1HLHOWew_C2JyRu60oFbRSKuhebp1V1YG7ACNJTuTuValQJM5_Gx1zQh-oRMfiBcVaV1nRIpbMqjAbYHxqQV4n5Ud3f8FvAXNe3ukL/s1600/cynthia.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI70ftyD6h1VUDBfUM2RirenEDkhrJkd1HLHOWew_C2JyRu60oFbRSKuhebp1V1YG7ACNJTuTuValQJM5_Gx1zQh-oRMfiBcVaV1nRIpbMqjAbYHxqQV4n5Ud3f8FvAXNe3ukL/s1600/cynthia.jpeg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #755a2b; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.375px;">Cynthia Ruchti tells stories </span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: teal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.375px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;"><em style="border: 0px; color: #755a2b; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;">hemmed in Hope</em></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #755a2b; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.375px;"> through her novels, novellas, devotions, and nonfiction, and through speaking for women’s events/retreats and writers’ conferences/workshops. She draws from 33 years of experience writing and producing the 15-minute daily radio broadcast, “The Heartbeat of the Home.” Her books have received recognition from RT Reviewers’ Choice, PW Starred Review, Selah Awards, Christian Retailing’s BEST Awards, CLASSeminars Award of Excellence, Golden Scroll Awards, and more. She serves as Professional Relations Liaison for American Christian Fiction Writers, is a board member of the Deliver Hope ministry, and is part of the worship team at her church. She and her husband live in the heart of Wisconsin, not far from their three children and five grandchildren.</span>Pamela S. Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02728153219310940273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272808.post-60534959488087523512015-08-08T15:42:00.000-05:002015-08-08T15:42:38.109-05:00Going Indie -- A New Frontier For Me -- Thyme for Love Has Been Reborn!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amzn.com/B011VCYWLI" target="_blank">!</a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Until July 29, 2015, I was a traditionally published author
only, but things have changed. On that July day, my first independently
published novel went on sale, making me a hybrid author.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIrVz8CNu63fewJReGZuReKpBWC6ahueF4x-hbpAc7NzDMbxwbYiOOJ_8dMkCZlkG58ts1qc2RRMMJvM4NWXz-2Zu64KeDM1CzIY6p27ljKSr4oSbTFEYe_-A1iQ0sxpOwejY/s1600/Thyme+for+Love+Front72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIrVz8CNu63fewJReGZuReKpBWC6ahueF4x-hbpAc7NzDMbxwbYiOOJ_8dMkCZlkG58ts1qc2RRMMJvM4NWXz-2Zu64KeDM1CzIY6p27ljKSr4oSbTFEYe_-A1iQ0sxpOwejY/s320/Thyme+for+Love+Front72.jpg" width="207" /></a>About six months
ago, I received my rights back from the publisher for <i>Thyme for Love</i> (TFL} and its sequel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Love Will Find a Way</i>. The only choice I had to keep the book in the market place was to step my toe into the waters of independent publishing, bettern known as "going indie."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When going indie and publishing your book yourself, you
become not only the author, but also the publisher, editor, cover designer, and
publicist. Here is a rough breakdown of the steps I had to take:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1. A professional edit is normally required, but since TFL was already edited by a professional editor
when it was first published, I did
not hire an editor. I tweaked the writing in some places and updated the technology, but the content remained the same.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2. I don't have the
ability to produce a professional looking cover (at least not yet).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The average cost of a good cover design runs
around $400, but I was fortunate to win a cover design through an
online auction and paid substantially
less than the norm. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3. The systems for Kindle, print, and other ebook sellers do not accept a Word document. I considered formatting my manuscript myself with the help of written instruction, but in the end, decided to pay a professional formatter. I've never regretted it. When I uploaded the
formatted manuscripts, they both passed on the first try. Well worth the nominal expense.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggeZU99DE9rRtQWS9QVIfiDVgd3vJOzRgbm3guyLQ57wOsCF4ByouwVSxd0KLma2Wk4_citArSvMTGsqCb42YgHA3MR0tDbn3T9XfCwHJUW3L09kag3k4I-GbvwWp4ZDcIISvN/s1600/Kill+TFL+MemeLG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggeZU99DE9rRtQWS9QVIfiDVgd3vJOzRgbm3guyLQ57wOsCF4ByouwVSxd0KLma2Wk4_citArSvMTGsqCb42YgHA3MR0tDbn3T9XfCwHJUW3L09kag3k4I-GbvwWp4ZDcIISvN/s1600/Kill+TFL+MemeLG.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my memes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4. Within days of submitting my manuscript to Amazon's Create Space for print copies, I was able to order author copies at a very reasonable price. Within a week, they arrived at my door, every bit the quality printing I have received from traditional publishing houses. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5. There are a few different packages you can use to upload to Kindle. I chose Kindle Direct for the first 90 days <i>Thyme for Love</i>
is on the market. This program gives Amazon an exclusive, and the agreement can be renewed
every 90 days. Several benefits come with this program, including promo packages and advertising. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You can check out the Amazon page by <a href="http://www.amzn.com/B011VCYWLI" target="_blank">clicking here!</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6. Marketing is the last, and probably the most important, step. Unless you can afford to hire a publicist, you are the publicist. Word of mouth is always the best way to get results, but to get the buzz going you need to get your book title out there. I've become quite adept at designing memes and posting them in various places like Twitter and reading groups on FaceBook. There's a fine line between posting enough to make your book known, but not so much people stop following you. But once you hit a good balance you should see steady growth in sales. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the best benefits of indie publishing is there's no waiting for a royalty
statement from my publisher. The Amazon site not only tells me how many books
have sold, but also the total amount of royalties I have coming. For a while I became obsessive in checking my sales, and anxious! More about that in my next post.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Does this mean I'm not planning to have my stories published by traditional publishers in the future. Absolutely not. I'm working on pitches right now for my editor appointments at the ACFW conference next month. The landscape of publishing has changed and is continuing to change at a rapid rate. At first the thought scared me quite a bit, but now that I've gone indie on TFL and will soon do the same for its sequel, I'm embracing the changes and finding the process quite enjoyable.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Have you published indie yet? Are you planning to? Please share your own experiences in the comments. I’d love to hear from you!</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Pamela S. Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02728153219310940273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272808.post-6009817443763661292015-07-28T11:46:00.000-05:002015-07-28T11:46:20.509-05:00Coming Tomorrow.... Watch for It!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggE5XGlmNhawn-Vt6LjM6h7lqLhvv8DW_w0sBsJpPs9URt1unI287AyGjXv_LBEVFccw_QtDlguIjZ_xBb74taGIraxtzeNmOsMVgrkfunlfr7YltbVXByTr3PJw74FrYWQBez/s1600/Murdered+boss.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggE5XGlmNhawn-Vt6LjM6h7lqLhvv8DW_w0sBsJpPs9URt1unI287AyGjXv_LBEVFccw_QtDlguIjZ_xBb74taGIraxtzeNmOsMVgrkfunlfr7YltbVXByTr3PJw74FrYWQBez/s640/Murdered+boss.jpeg" width="494" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Pamela S. Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02728153219310940273noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272808.post-1177947480605741132015-04-04T13:12:00.000-05:002015-04-04T13:12:21.148-05:00Buried Secrets--Irene Hannon's Latest Romantic Suspense--Another Great Read by This Prolific Author<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd-h16AIQTXShID3DEzpY83pvn_gr7bYn_tSHzll8uGtZ5ofLn-9MtfXlXaw9w7PoAL_wMcGpBCw2AJpI7BWEg77MT5j3T5dlBPkQn-J0sf_6kbl5jWEQUroOTcL_cMDOlt8aD/s1600/Buried+Secrets+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd-h16AIQTXShID3DEzpY83pvn_gr7bYn_tSHzll8uGtZ5ofLn-9MtfXlXaw9w7PoAL_wMcGpBCw2AJpI7BWEg77MT5j3T5dlBPkQn-J0sf_6kbl5jWEQUroOTcL_cMDOlt8aD/s1600/Buried+Secrets+Cover.jpg" height="320" width="208" /></a></div>
I just finished reading Irene Hannon's newest release, Buried Secrets, and as much as I couldn't put it down, I was sad when I read the last page and had to say goodbye to the hero and heroine I'd come to know and love so much.<br />
<br />
Like always, Hannon keeps the twists and turns coming in this suspense, while at the same time ramping up the very magnetic attraction between Mac McGregor and Lisa Grant, small town Carson Missouri's police chief.<br />
<br />
Mac, a former Navy Seal and now a detective for the county, teams up with Lisa to solve a 20-year-old mystery. In the process of digging out the truth Lisa finds herself in dangerous territory when she gets too close to the truth.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KimGvOmNYPCbxuX2ERVbO32RVzxNxqM5EXeE3pdjnSKVmyeP0GXxzA5tr48unXr_5WdoeEhVkTAkZtm3-5WMr3XXlHYBIODMcBq27ICabSlT8QAp4UNDyPM20I7x4TUMMLY7/s1600/Irene+Hannon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KimGvOmNYPCbxuX2ERVbO32RVzxNxqM5EXeE3pdjnSKVmyeP0GXxzA5tr48unXr_5WdoeEhVkTAkZtm3-5WMr3XXlHYBIODMcBq27ICabSlT8QAp4UNDyPM20I7x4TUMMLY7/s1600/Irene+Hannon.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a>Hannon's expert characterization skills go deep into whichever POV character she is writing in, including the killer, as layers of hurt and mistrust are peeled away like an onion. Like all her suspense stories Buried Secrets has more twists and turns than one of those switchback roads up a mountainside. I can't wait for the next book in this series to come out!<br />
<br />
Hannon's books are always an autobuy for me, but I'm very grateful to Revell Publishing for providing a complimentary ebook to me for review purposes. All opinions are mine alone.<br />
<br />
You can read more about Irene Hannon at her <a href="http://www.irenehannon.com/index.html" target="_blank">website</a>. And while you are there, check out her other titles. She also writes contemporary romance, which I also enjoy.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Pamela S. Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02728153219310940273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272808.post-82860215089831415582014-09-18T00:30:00.000-05:002014-09-18T00:30:01.750-05:00Ane Mulligan's Laugh Out Loud Debut Novel Is a Hit - Chapel Springs Revival Rocks!<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To win a copy of Ane Mulligan's Chapel Hill Revival, be sure to leave a comment below for Ane with your contact information and if you prefer a print copy of the book or an ebook. NOTE: PRINT COPY FOR U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Okay, since Ane Mulligan is one of my best friends you may think I am pushing her debut novel because I love her so much. But, even if I didn't know Ane at all, I would still say <i>Chapel Springs Revival</i> is a must read.<br />
<br />
I'm tickled to have her as my guest on my blog today and be part of her blog tour. So let's get started!<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ane, did you always know
you would be a writer?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No way did I ever think the stories I told as a kid (back
then they called it lying) and played out for weeks with my dolls, would
someday become books. I cut my authorial teeth as a playwright. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was Creative Arts director for my church and wrote my
first script in 1996. After we performed it, I was encouraged to send it to a
publisher. I did and they bought that one and everything I sent them
afterwards. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPklqaatwlkEXsHp83llYsU1yPSxO5oldFpn3rOr0FAy_BEkeE8i-LBV4yhpz5OSL72BmqS4qPgmX7x1QPOee_Cq41x1Qd7dyW-UObOZK7qHRZbRyWHn9IR-nG8mPIMutv8WIM/s1600/CSR+Cover+copy.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPklqaatwlkEXsHp83llYsU1yPSxO5oldFpn3rOr0FAy_BEkeE8i-LBV4yhpz5OSL72BmqS4qPgmX7x1QPOee_Cq41x1Qd7dyW-UObOZK7qHRZbRyWHn9IR-nG8mPIMutv8WIM/s1600/CSR+Cover+copy.jpeg" height="320" width="213" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How did you start
writing novels?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The hubs said I spent so much on books I ought to write one.
I realized that was God's call, because as soon as Hubs said those words, an
idea dropped into my otherwise empty mind. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Plays are a far cry
from novels. How did you learn? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First, I found an online Christian critique group and a few
mentors, who told me plainly I had a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lot</i>
to learn. What an understatement. POV? Never heard the term. Omniscient? That's
what God was. Show don't tell? How do I tell a story without telling? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yikes! Yet, with each critique, I absorbed a new concept. I
bought every writing craft book they recommended, read them, and absorbed more.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What’s one of the
most important things you’ve learned about writing fiction?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Absolutely the top thing I’ve learned is motivation is the
key to plotting and real characters. Make the motivation right and readers will
relate to your characters and will follow them through anything.<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Writing is a sedentary
occupation. What do you do for exercise?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have
a walking route I like. It starts at the coffee pot, goes through the
refrigerator and past the chocolate cupboard before ending up at my writing
chair. What do you mean that doesn't count? Okay, I go to the gym three times a
week with a good friend who feeds me story fodder. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">So, tell my readers 3
fun things they might not know about you.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I sing in a community choir of 130 senior citizens. Hubs is
the senior, I’m not. I’m still 35. Hey, I took that online Real Age test and
I’m 35...perpetually.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I once wrote humorous advertising poems for a commercial
roofer. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I sat in Maggie Thatcher's seat in the House of Commons
dining room in London while the luncheon guest of Lord Graham.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>Wow, I don't know about you, but I'm impressed. Not everyone gets to sit in Maggie Thatcher's seat!</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>Here's a blurb about the story to whet your appitite!</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Chapel Springs Revival<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">With a friend like
Claire, you need a gurney, a mop, and a guardian angel</b>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Everybody in the small town of Chapel Springs, Georgia,
knows best friends Claire and Patsy. It's impossible not to, what with Claire's
zany antics and Patsy's self-appointed mission to keep her friend out of
trouble. And trouble abounds. Chapel Springs has grown dilapidated and the
tourist trade has slackened. With their livelihoods threatened, they join
forces to revitalize the town. No one could have guessed the real issue needing
restoration is their marriages. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With their personal lives in as much disarray as the town,
Claire and Patsy embark on a mission of mishaps and miscommunication,
determined to restore warmth to Chapel Springs —and their lives. That is if
they can convince their husbands and the town council, led by two curmudgeons
who would prefer to see Chapel Springs left in the fifties and closed to
traffic.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>About Ane:</b></i></span></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAlE120zxZSMUisMmXiuaQ84v0TVXppep4EheF3K2nyy9ZqbG7FgRNr2ssUkfMCTLcb7x63RgRl1M4OhOOB33spYJY9M7bQXUSgP8PqgfuHG_zLE-7jCmdLSjtJsHeIXBNCMH/s1600/Ane-PR.headshot+copy.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAlE120zxZSMUisMmXiuaQ84v0TVXppep4EheF3K2nyy9ZqbG7FgRNr2ssUkfMCTLcb7x63RgRl1M4OhOOB33spYJY9M7bQXUSgP8PqgfuHG_zLE-7jCmdLSjtJsHeIXBNCMH/s1600/Ane-PR.headshot+copy.jpeg" height="200" width="156" /></a>While a large, floppy straw hat is
her favorite, Ane has worn many different ones: hairdresser, legislative
affairs director (that's a fancy name for a lobbyist), drama director,
playwright, humor columnist, and novelist. Her lifetime experience provides a
plethora of fodder for her Southern-fried fiction (try saying that three times
fast). She firmly believes coffee and chocolate are two of the four major food
groups. President of the award-winning literary site, Novel Rocket, Ane resides
in Suwanee, GA, with her artist husband, her chef son, and two dogs of Biblical
proportion. You can find Ane on her <a href="http://www.anemulligan.com/">Southern-fried
Fiction website</a>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/+AneMulligan">Google+</a>,
<a href="file://localhost/xhttps/::www.facebook.com:ane.mulligan">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4469633-ane-mulligan">Goodreads</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/AneMulligan">Twitter</a>, and <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/anemulligan/">Pinterest</a>.<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><b>Don't forget to leave a comment to win a copy of Chapel Hill Revival! See details at the beginning of this post. </b></u></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Pamela S. Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02728153219310940273noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272808.post-44164315289995216422014-09-03T15:12:00.002-05:002014-09-03T15:26:18.418-05:00Author Gina Holmes Has Done It Again With Driftwood Tides! A CFBA Blog Tour.One of my auto-buy authors is Gina Holmes. Her debut novel, <i>Crossing Oceans</i>, blew me away. I knew immediately she was an author that would be around a long while. That story still resonates with me. Then came <i>Dry as Rain</i>, followed by <i>Wings of Glass</i>. Each story as different as the one preceding it, and each one pulls the reader in until you don't want to put the book down until you've read the last page. Holmes can turn a phrase, saying ordinary things in a new and fresh way. As an author, I always say I want to be like Gina when I grow up.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwKyPxAS1MlMYlTHAYXOgaZKm-J9roVS1AdyhHM4x6eaFwCnpiIDKs5Wb8Nqqd9dTyaU6Dnyay_OrW6kgaAjcG4oa3PQE_pQcYgVZC__h1kYjMWCC635L3d9Vk93XDpOgwDhbPw/s1600/Driftwood_Tides.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwKyPxAS1MlMYlTHAYXOgaZKm-J9roVS1AdyhHM4x6eaFwCnpiIDKs5Wb8Nqqd9dTyaU6Dnyay_OrW6kgaAjcG4oa3PQE_pQcYgVZC__h1kYjMWCC635L3d9Vk93XDpOgwDhbPw/s1600/Driftwood_Tides.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
Gina's new novel, <i>Driftwood Tides</i>, releases this month...in fact it's releasing right now! Like her other stories, this one is totally different from the others. But the one thing they have in common is the way Holmes touches deep in her characters' hearts and pulls out the very thing that has been driving them. Issues that many of us face are written into her stories. Each one says much about God's redemption without preaching it.<br />
<br />
Here's the blurb on <i>Driftwood Tides</i>: <b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">He made himself an island until something unexpected washed ashore.</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"> When Holton lost his wife, Adele, in a freak accident, he shut himself off from the world, living a life of seclusion, making driftwood sculptures and drowning his pain in gin. Until twenty-three-year-old Libby knocks on his door, asking for a job and claiming to be a friend of his late wife. When he discovers Libby is actually his late wife’s illegitimate daughter, given up for adoption without his knowledge, his life is turned upside down as he struggles to accept that the wife he’d given saint status to was not the woman he thought he knew. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Together Holton and Libby form an unlikely bond as the two struggle to learn the identity of Libby’s father and the truth about Adele, themselves, and each other. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">If you would like to read the first chapter of </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1414366426" style="background-color: white; color: #00468c; font-family: Georgia, serif; text-decoration: none;">Driftwood Tides</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">, go </span><a href="http://thestorybeginnings.blogspot.com/2014/09/driftwood-tides-by-gina-holmes.html" style="background-color: white; color: #00468c; font-family: Georgia, serif; text-decoration: none;">HERE</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">. To learn more about Gina Holmes </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">you can go to her </span><a href="http://www.ginaholmes.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #00468c; font-family: Georgia, serif; text-decoration: none;">Website</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">To purchase Driftwood Tides you can buy it at: </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;">http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1414366426</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Note: I received a complementary copy of Driftwood Tides from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.</span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgre1kO7iWgSIM2lTeyWI-6eyUW3eKAnl4Rg0anilT-jYaECRftARcBRfsERS9DXMhApil5qMgIPaDKpJ0lReHrY8SVlUjr7KmHGM4A0g-MBGF9DtJAVbpWX9VLmJ2YmA3chvOj2w/s1600/GinaHolmes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgre1kO7iWgSIM2lTeyWI-6eyUW3eKAnl4Rg0anilT-jYaECRftARcBRfsERS9DXMhApil5qMgIPaDKpJ0lReHrY8SVlUjr7KmHGM4A0g-MBGF9DtJAVbpWX9VLmJ2YmA3chvOj2w/s1600/GinaHolmes.jpg" height="320" width="224" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Gina Holmes is the founder of Novel Rocket, regularly named as one of Writers Digest’s best websites for writers. Her debut novel, </span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgre1kO7iWgSIM2lTeyWI-6eyUW3eKAnl4Rg0anilT-jYaECRftARcBRfsERS9DXMhApil5qMgIPaDKpJ0lReHrY8SVlUjr7KmHGM4A0g-MBGF9DtJAVbpWX9VLmJ2YmA3chvOj2w/s1600/GinaHolmes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Crossing Oceans</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">, was a Christy and Gold Medallion finalist and winner of the Carol Award, INSPY, and RWA’s Inspirational Reader’s Choice, as well as being a CBA, ECPA, Amazon and PW bestseller. Her sophomore novel, </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Dry as Rain</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> was a </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Christy Award finalist</i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">. Her latest novel, Wings of Glass has been named as one of the best books of the year by Library Journal and was a SIBA Okra pick and a finalist for Romantic Times’ Reviewers Choice Award. She holds degrees in science and nursing and currently resides with her family in southern Virginia. She works too hard, laughs too loud, and longs to see others heal from their past and discover their God-given purpose.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgre1kO7iWgSIM2lTeyWI-6eyUW3eKAnl4Rg0anilT-jYaECRftARcBRfsERS9DXMhApil5qMgIPaDKpJ0lReHrY8SVlUjr7KmHGM4A0g-MBGF9DtJAVbpWX9VLmJ2YmA3chvOj2w/s1600/GinaHolmes.jpg" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgre1kO7iWgSIM2lTeyWI-6eyUW3eKAnl4Rg0anilT-jYaECRftARcBRfsERS9DXMhApil5qMgIPaDKpJ0lReHrY8SVlUjr7KmHGM4A0g-MBGF9DtJAVbpWX9VLmJ2YmA3chvOj2w/s1600/GinaHolmes.jpg" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-M1ENlrkrQZk%2FVAaE-SEylII%2FAAAAAAAAGxM%2F8hO7QAqhmPo%2Fs1600%2FGinaHolmes.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgre1kO7iWgSIM2lTeyWI-6eyUW3eKAnl4Rg0anilT-jYaECRftARcBRfsERS9DXMhApil5qMgIPaDKpJ0lReHrY8SVlUjr7KmHGM4A0g-MBGF9DtJAVbpWX9VLmJ2YmA3chvOj2w/s1600/GinaHolmes.jpg" -->Pamela S. Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02728153219310940273noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272808.post-55261086522967232752014-07-31T11:04:00.000-05:002014-07-31T11:04:27.509-05:00Meant to Be Mine by Becky Wade -- One of My Top Picks for 2014!<div class="MsoNormal">
I read Becky Wade’s novel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Meant to be Mine</i>, earlier this summer and loved it, and when I had
read the last page, I was sad I had to say goodbye to Celia and Ty, and
adorable little Addie, Celia’s daughter. <o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.beckywade.com/media_kit_files/MeanttoBeMine_comp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.beckywade.com/media_kit_files/MeanttoBeMine_comp.jpg" height="320" width="204" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.beckywade.com/media_kit_files/MeanttoBeMine_comp.jpg"></a><a href="http://www.beckywade.com/media_kit_files/MeanttoBeMine_comp.jpg"></a>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I posted right away on Facebook how much I loved the book,
and emailed the author saying the same. But before I could write an
official review, life got in the way and I’m only now reviewing this wonderful book. If
you like a romance that digs beneath the surface of its characters, involves a
serious subject but also injects humor at just the right time, and includes a
cowboy hero, then this book is for you.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Celia Park’s first crush was Ty Porter. That was in high
school when she was shy and too afraid to make her feelings known to the hunk.
Fast forward a few years to when the story begins. She’s on a getaway to Vegas
with a girlfriend, and they learn that Ty is in town at a rodeo event. On a
whim, they go to the arena and reconnect with him after the rodeo. Next thing
she knows she’s out on the town with him and, before the night is over, they
get hitched in a cheesy chapel. The next morning Celia is in
shock at her new married status but already enjoying the returned feelings of
attraction to Ty. Then reality hits her. Ty says it was a mistake. He doesn’t
want to be married. He travels a lot and he has someone at home he plans to
marry whenever he settles down.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To quote the back of the book blurb. “Five and half years
pass. Celia’s buried her dreams so she can raise her daughter. Ty’s achieved
all his goals. Or thought he had, until he looks again in the eyes of the woman
he couldn’t forget and into the face of the child he never knew he had.” What
is going on? She still uses his last name and this child couldn’t be his!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next pages of the story are as wild as taking a spin on
a rank bull. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As a rodeo fan and a person who never passes up an
opportunity to attend a Professional Bull Rider event, I offered to read the
book for a review. And I came away a new Becky Wade fan and wanting more of Ty
and Celia’s story. Ms. Wade has a knack of making the reader love her
characters, even one like Celia and her stubborn ways. And to give her an
endearing little girl like Addie who will charm any reader’s heart into loving
children, even if they don’t. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There’s plenty of rodeo scenes to please the cowboy and
rodeo enthusiasts, but there is also romance and a dose of women’s fiction as
well. I highly recommend this book.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
About the Author:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.beckywade.com/media_kit_files/Authors34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.beckywade.com/media_kit_files/Authors34.jpg" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Becky makes her home in Dallas, Texas with her husband, three
children, and one adoring (and adored) cavalier spaniel. Her CBA debut, <i>My
Stubborn Heart</i>, was a finalist in both the RITA and INSPY awards. <i>Undeniably
Yours</i> kicked off her Texas-set Porter Family series. Her newest
contemporary romance, <i>Meant to Be Mine</i>, has just hit shelves!</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was given a complementary copy of this book by the
publisher for purposes of review. All opinions are my own. <o:p></o:p></div>
Pamela S. Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02728153219310940273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272808.post-80312076279970539362014-05-21T12:12:00.000-05:002014-05-21T12:17:16.945-05:00The Miting - A Unique Amish Novel That Will Have You Thinking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxTBopIpH-BVAdU7j53evrwVFXe0W9FIFKYQ7BQkv6befwXnO4faWRBjNcgY8OKFVBEAqoj-Dw78WnnA7sRc4-Mq6Wq0Zn_95NEBK-uZnVhrLeTcB6PXkP9hA_YN-YaXYJdu8/s1600/The+Miting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxTBopIpH-BVAdU7j53evrwVFXe0W9FIFKYQ7BQkv6befwXnO4faWRBjNcgY8OKFVBEAqoj-Dw78WnnA7sRc4-Mq6Wq0Zn_95NEBK-uZnVhrLeTcB6PXkP9hA_YN-YaXYJdu8/s1600/The+Miting.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a></div>
I first met debut author, Dee Yoder, when we shared an agent. Over those years I became intrigued with her heart for the Amish and concerns that many of them had not truly found a personal faith in God. Her husband comes from Amish stock and, together, they have reached out to young Amish that have chosen to step away from their Amish roots because of all the rules and regulations, etc.<br />
<br />
Even though I'm not a fan of Amish stories, I couldn't wait for Dee's new book, <i>The Miting</i>, to come out because I knew she would delve into areas that many of the Amish novels today don't. Just days after receiving my copy of her book in the mail, I began reading it and couldn't stop until I'd finished the last page. The next thing I did was email Dee to ask her when the next book was coming out.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Leah is seventeen and Amish. Like many her age, she has lots of questions, but the temporary flight of freedom known as rumspringen is not the answer for her. She does not desire Englisher fashion, all-night parties, movies, or lots of boyfriends. Leah is seeking to understand her relationship with God, to deepen and broaden her faith by joining a Bible study hosted by an ex-Amish couple. She wants to know why Amish life is the only lifestyle her family accepts, why the church has so many rules, and . . . most disturbing, how godly men can allow her best friend to be abused in her own home. In the pressure-cooker environment of church and family, Leah is not allowed to ask these questions. When finally she reaches the breaking point, she walks away from the Old Order Amish life that is all she has known. Though adapting amiably to the Englisher world, Leah is tormented with homesickness. Returning to the community, however, entails a journey of pain and sorrow Leah could never have imagined. The miting--shunning--that will now be Leah's unendurable oppression every day is beyond her most devoted attempts to believe or understand. All the bishop and her family ask is that she abandon her practice of reading the Bible. Is that a price she is willing to pay?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span>
I loved how Dee treated the Amish in her story with great respect even though the story portrayed Leah's family in a difficult light. Leah never stopped loving her family even though she came to the conclusion she had to leave them if she was ever going to know the truth she was seeking.<br />
<br />
I highly recommend reading this book. Even if you are not a fan of Amish stories, I think you'll enjoy this story as I have. Published by Kregel Publishing, <i>The Miting</i> is available at your favorite brick and mortar store or on line at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Miting-Order-Amish-Novel/dp/0825443008/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1400691575&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a> and <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-miting-dee-yoder/1115597660?ean=9780825443008" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a> in both print and ebook formats.<br />
<br />
I received a review copy of <i>The Miting</i> from the publisher for the purpose of review. All opinions expressed here are my own.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><b>About the Author:</b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1.0-9/486184_437510282996888_1592236651_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1.0-9/486184_437510282996888_1592236651_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Dee Yoder's fiction is based on the lives of her former-Amish friends. She is actively involved in the Mission to Amish People minsitry as a mentor, volunteer, and author. In addition to writing over eighty short stories, her coming-of-age novel, </span><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">The Powerful Odor of Mendacity</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">, won the FaithWriters Page Turner contest in 2011. Dee lives in central Ohio.</span></span>Pamela S. Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02728153219310940273noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272808.post-27198945839207467512014-04-30T07:30:00.002-05:002014-04-30T07:31:14.757-05:00Spring Has Sprung and the Boats are Back in Lake Geneva!<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMDx92-FqOoyecV6-AT5nELFsDW3TwWsGmTFgQtXVWQJ2VgCAL0oF8gG-wpgpwbhsLapaxpSnnbDwI4XbjvEL72qZPgFgMyDxoTwlB73YMalrCsk1zQS7NH8_6IqNHytXFnC4/s1600/IMG_0738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMDx92-FqOoyecV6-AT5nELFsDW3TwWsGmTFgQtXVWQJ2VgCAL0oF8gG-wpgpwbhsLapaxpSnnbDwI4XbjvEL72qZPgFgMyDxoTwlB73YMalrCsk1zQS7NH8_6IqNHytXFnC4/s1600/IMG_0738.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boats are visible, lined up at the docks in this shot of the beach.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I posted on The Barn Door blog earlier this week about the Lake Geneva Cruise Line's boat returning<br />
to their summer home at the Riviera docks in Lake Geneva. What a joy it was to see pics of their beautiful excursion boat moving through waters that were finally free of ice!<br />
<br />
Below is the beginning of my blog post. Click on the link to go to the actual blog where you can see pictures of the fleet.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As most Barn Door contributors can attest to, we in the Midwest have never been so anxious for spring as we’ve been this year, and it was very late in coming. Here in the Chicago area, just a week ago, we had another bout of measurable snow. It was mostly gone by the next day but even so, we were not happy campers!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, by Easter weekend, the temperatures had warmed, and one sure sign of spring for me was when I checked the webcam that overlooks my hometown of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin’s lake front and saw the excursion boats had returned to start another season of tours of the lakeshore. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thebarndoor.net/2014/04/you-know-spring-is-here-to-stay-when.html" target="_blank">Read more</a> ....</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Pamela S. Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02728153219310940273noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272808.post-55987602460923519842014-04-24T19:42:00.001-05:002014-04-24T19:43:53.745-05:00I'm Coming Out of Hibernation!! - It's been a long and cold winter around my parts and with the Polar Vortex bearing down, I kind of put this blog into hibernation. But now I'm back and intend bring this site back to life with posts I write on other sites, book reviews, author interviews--stay tuned!<br />
<br />
<br />
I haven't been totally off the grid as I contribute to several other blogs on a monthly basis. I thought I'd start with cross posting an article I posted at Novel Rocket earlier this week that was written by Ramona Richards, Senior Acquisitions Editor at Abingdon Press.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The Reality of an Author’s Legacy – What </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>We Will Leave
Behind</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By Ramona Richards</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIK3zDm-mDUVyf_RM5Gmxt3Jx8m5mpWOnIh45jQDbT8qlUSjV1ZrkfGMx-NowC_ehCtcdhRyOqP6Z_C5bH9PDtIXPJcClx06PeSRXEvePnOUtQ_uVHDsXXt5Sqiyslta4Uf07kTQ/s1600/CannonJulie.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIK3zDm-mDUVyf_RM5Gmxt3Jx8m5mpWOnIh45jQDbT8qlUSjV1ZrkfGMx-NowC_ehCtcdhRyOqP6Z_C5bH9PDtIXPJcClx06PeSRXEvePnOUtQ_uVHDsXXt5Sqiyslta4Uf07kTQ/s1600/CannonJulie.jpg" height="200" title="" width="166" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Julie L. Cannon</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Julie L. Cannon
cared, deeply, about many things. Her family. Her God. Her art. In fact, she
cared so much for God and the depth of her faith that she refused to take them
out of her art. This cost Julie far more than many people realized, as she
turned from releasing best-selling books with mainstream publishers to books
written from her heart for the Christian market.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.novelrocket.com/2014/04/the-reality-of-authors-legacy-what-we.html" target="_blank">Read More ... </a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Pamela S. Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02728153219310940273noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272808.post-68149206376575344522013-12-15T12:54:00.000-06:002013-12-15T12:54:01.020-06:00Diann Hunt - A Legacy in Grace, Humor, and Faith<br />
I have been AWOL from this blog for about two months or so. Blame it on a packed schedule of editing my current WIP, preparing for the ACFW 2014 Genesis Writing Contest that I oversee, and life in general.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4CvQu6bzuHBQ02kbvWM0vIfAV71q4kBgnpjMUuSikujLH4nSdbSS0-hYQGLVBAIAIc5bLd-WQ-IyEtmAitQBJ__zv1vkfuH42GnKsup9tUKCNu6ZYLuypsun5MO7onLPj2n0/s1600/Diann.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4CvQu6bzuHBQ02kbvWM0vIfAV71q4kBgnpjMUuSikujLH4nSdbSS0-hYQGLVBAIAIc5bLd-WQ-IyEtmAitQBJ__zv1vkfuH42GnKsup9tUKCNu6ZYLuypsun5MO7onLPj2n0/s1600/Diann.jpg" /></a>One very precious and important lady has drawn me out of hiding. Today, a number of ACFW members are paying tribute to fellow author, Diann Hunt, who recently passed away.<br />
<br />
Diann was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer about five years ago. For a short while, she went into remission, and then it returned. I lost my best friend to the same cancer about ten years ago. Mary Ann died eleven months, almost to the day, after her diagnosis. I thought with Diann it would probably be about the same<br />
<br />
But it wasn't.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
God's timing is always what prevails, and He kept her alive for several more years. How long? I can't remember exactly, but during that roller coaster time of good and bad spells, she wrote several more books, including contributions to the <i>Smitten</i> novella anthologies, published by Harper Collins/Thomas Nelson. The other authors in that series are Di's nearest and dearest friends, Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, and Denise Hunter.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL1PdHRuQBUpwQJcgABQj-3aQyEYKhpNLZ4T1K3nCqWv56Y9hi58b57Qw_Vi1DDBmSymDiUJpdvCmOGKDW4xMdMUK2iLFVR3189ylYCiQBmrtiUGW__jdZP-4rhx_borFHlnV0/s1600/For+Better+or+Worse.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL1PdHRuQBUpwQJcgABQj-3aQyEYKhpNLZ4T1K3nCqWv56Y9hi58b57Qw_Vi1DDBmSymDiUJpdvCmOGKDW4xMdMUK2iLFVR3189ylYCiQBmrtiUGW__jdZP-4rhx_borFHlnV0/s200/For+Better+or+Worse.gif" width="200" /></a>She also ministered to many, often writing emails to them from her sickbed, encouraging them in their own struggles with cancer and <br />
other ills. Diann was not only an author and dear friend of many, but a wife, mother, and grandmother. Many are grieving, but none as much as her daughter Amber, son Aaron, and husband Jim. Please keep them all in your prayers. Christmas was Di's favorite time, and their loss will be strongly felt this Christmas.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGvtPjt3haWacZoSOE0xSybSpjtVODkuLGTYvQQ3l_jVYRq2MEFJ1igMOCGcEHKXkF2nYXkcEWJXWCfvkJGMerFUw34atau1Lp3_CtSpzvLTY94O9IWuXo8pVJn8zsmw9grpJ/s1600/Love+Letters.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGvtPjt3haWacZoSOE0xSybSpjtVODkuLGTYvQQ3l_jVYRq2MEFJ1igMOCGcEHKXkF2nYXkcEWJXWCfvkJGMerFUw34atau1Lp3_CtSpzvLTY94O9IWuXo8pVJn8zsmw9grpJ/s1600/Love+Letters.gif" /></a>The number of books Di wrote are too numerous to mention here but Ane Mulligan managed to list quite a few on her blog <a href="http://www.anemulligan.com/2013/12/diann-hunt-my-tribute.html">http://www.anemulligan.com/2013/12/diann-hunt-my-tribute.html</a> .<br />
<br />
The covers shown here are a couple of Di's books I've not read, but ordered after she died. <i>For Better or Worse</i> is being made into a Hallmark movie and will be on the Hallmark channel in July! <i>Love Letters in the Sand</i> is set during World War II, and then later in the 50s. <br />
<br />
Check them and other Diann Hunt books out for yourself and maybe pick up a few to read . You won't be disappointed.<br />
<br />
<br />Pamela S. Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02728153219310940273noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272808.post-85728682240094400422013-10-08T13:00:00.002-05:002013-10-08T13:01:02.954-05:00Brandilyn Collins' New Release! Dark Justice!<h3 class="post-title entry-title">
<br />
</h3>
<div class="post-header">
</div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5500/1432/1600/CFBAreviewer_gif.0.gif"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5500/1432/320/CFBAreviewer_gif.0.gif" style="cursor: hand; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a></div>
<center>
<span style="font-size: 130%;">This week, the</span></center>
<center>
<a href="http://www.christianfictionblogalliance.com/"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Christian Fiction Blog Alliance</span></a></center>
<center>
<span style="font-size: 100%;">is introducing</span></center>
<center>
<span style="color: #993300; font-size: 130%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1433679531">Dark Justice</a></span></center>
<center>
B&H Books (October 1, 2013)</center>
<center>
by</center>
<center>
<span style="color: #006600; font-size: 130%;"><a href="http://www.brandilyncollins.com/">Brandilyn Collins</a></span></center>
<br />
<br />
<br />
I have been a fan of Brandilyn Collins' suspense stories ever since I read <i>Eyes of Elisha</i> years ago. After that book Collins quickly became an "auto-buy" for me--and I've never been disappointed. Check out her newest release then run--don't walk--to your favorite book store and pick one up for yourself. <br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #ff6600; font-size: 100%;">ABOUT THE AUTHOR:</span></b>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRzVFIPR7dJ2rczQjissP95gu9Nh7mfOuoEHNc5aAMviNkPi7eTLWVa8KoaxxkVRYH1BVat7zM6XE8mvDskvwHuDPetqUjPPcPdsnucDeqtYPtcYljpGaVHWWd8GCTfHQSrZhXQ/s1600/Brandilyn+Collins.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRzVFIPR7dJ2rczQjissP95gu9Nh7mfOuoEHNc5aAMviNkPi7eTLWVa8KoaxxkVRYH1BVat7zM6XE8mvDskvwHuDPetqUjPPcPdsnucDeqtYPtcYljpGaVHWWd8GCTfHQSrZhXQ/s1600/Brandilyn+Collins.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Brandilyn Collins is a best-selling novelist known for her trademark
Seatbelt Suspense®. These harrowing crime thrillers have earned her the
tagline "Don't forget to b r e a t h e . . ."® Brandilyn's first book, <i>A Question of Innocence</i>,
was a true crime published by Avon in 1995. Its promotion landed her on
local and national TV and radio, including the Phil Donahue and Leeza
talk shows. Brandilyn's awards for her novels include the ACFW Carol
Award (three times), Inspirational Readers' Choice, and Romantic Times
Reviewers' Choice.
<br />
<br />
Brandilyn is also known for her distinctive book on fiction-writing techniques, <i>Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors</i> (John Wiley & Sons). The Writer magazine named <i>Getting into Character</i> one of the best books on writing published in 2002.
<br />
<br />
When she's not writing, Brandilyn can be found teaching the craft of fiction at writers' conferences.
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #ff6600; font-size: 100%;">ABOUT THE BOOK</span></b> <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMj3hAES4HgZKGaKoyMBawH7ng-FTZbzIvy1LJQT2NuXsW8lngs1cGBIkHBRevd4NAFheZrkkhnzNrH9LXB51tMYeQ29sfnUUGFzUnRpzGqv0oVntauCNdQi2iLsfPJZQQ0S3Orw/s1600/DarkJustice.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMj3hAES4HgZKGaKoyMBawH7ng-FTZbzIvy1LJQT2NuXsW8lngs1cGBIkHBRevd4NAFheZrkkhnzNrH9LXB51tMYeQ29sfnUUGFzUnRpzGqv0oVntauCNdQi2iLsfPJZQQ0S3Orw/s1600/DarkJustice.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
If I’d had any idea what those words would mean to me, to my mother and
daughter, I’d have fled California without looking back.
<br />
<br />
While driving a rural road, Hannah Shire and her aging mother, who
suffers from dementia, stop to help a man at the scene of a car
accident. The man whispers mysterious words in Hannah’s ear. Soon people
want to kill Hannah and her mother for what they “know.” Even law
enforcement may be involved.
<br />
<br />
The two women must flee for their lives. But how does Hannah hide her
confused mother? Carol just wants to listen to her pop music, wear her
favorite purple hat, and go home. And if they turn to Hannah’s
twentyseven- year-old daughter, Emily, for help, will she fall into
danger as well?
<br />
<br />
Pressed on all sides, Hannah must keep all three generations of women in
her family alive. Only then does she learn the threat is not just to
her loved ones, but the entire country . . .
<br />
<br />
If you'd like to read the first chapter of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1433679531">Dark Justice</a>, <a href="http://thestorybeginnings.blogspot.com/2013/10/dark-justice-by-brandilyn-collins.html">HERE</a>.
Pamela S. Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02728153219310940273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272808.post-74869431688474001922013-09-22T13:47:00.001-05:002013-09-22T15:02:19.739-05:00ACFW Conference 2013 -- Frank Peretti, James Scott Bell, and Robin Jones Gunn...Oh My!The past week or so has been a huge blur to me. Before heading out to the ACFW Conference on September 12th, my good friend and writing buddy, Ane Mulligan flew into O'Hare on Tuesday and spent two nights with me.<br />
<br />
We first went out for some Chicago style pizza at Lou Malnati's, and then on Wednesday I took her to Lake Geneva, WI, about an hour away, so she could see my hometown and setting for my book in person.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQe46dNnnJQ-fr84s0c5_epnMDCnXWS_dpM5SB28TTovOwjxp7a8SKFv2atsK1D7vnhCkbb5tmiV_BSSXXVft9IA-d0wvqK2mvHq9Xpl-DJsdHx_0dfO8T5Cv7C9VxPqVMjXj/s1600/Lobby+Convos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQe46dNnnJQ-fr84s0c5_epnMDCnXWS_dpM5SB28TTovOwjxp7a8SKFv2atsK1D7vnhCkbb5tmiV_BSSXXVft9IA-d0wvqK2mvHq9Xpl-DJsdHx_0dfO8T5Cv7C9VxPqVMjXj/s200/Lobby+Convos.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the Lobby from overhead ramp</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We hit Indy on Thursday and got registered for the conference and settled in our room. A good part of that day was spent hanging out in the hotel lobby giving hugs, and having great conversations about writing.<br />
<br />
Thursday night, we headed for P.F. Changs with several other authors for dinner. Dummy me, never brought out my camera<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1Snf4rwOrgRJZ90gLLb5G1k4_7x833uuF7yXTn3pw4nMP0YMXILLUxqejLCG2SUFy8T1Vz5qqTIy5pOKCGhdihjsI3t74Rlasq5PtPwKZCzfUJ7e9PnI-yt9mK5LiPAHobi-/s1600/Robin+Jones+Gunn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1Snf4rwOrgRJZ90gLLb5G1k4_7x833uuF7yXTn3pw4nMP0YMXILLUxqejLCG2SUFy8T1Vz5qqTIy5pOKCGhdihjsI3t74Rlasq5PtPwKZCzfUJ7e9PnI-yt9mK5LiPAHobi-/s200/Robin+Jones+Gunn.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robin Jones Gunn</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The next day Robin Jones Gunn gave the first of her two keynote addresses. I have never heard Robin speak before, but I hope it won't be the last time I do. So encouraging, so insiteful, so uplifting. So transparent.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizVGOmLa3Y1F3iXpr8ds11uvMmjmeHZhbgwhZl9L1QP2cjvQBjFzfod6blVbNtACMgfdHyh8aW84k6R5g84IBIZeRsI9GXg7inKPuu9ylbphS86R2ikokNYt6nD6GhvPv8kVC3/s1600/Ane+and+Pam+Genre+Dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizVGOmLa3Y1F3iXpr8ds11uvMmjmeHZhbgwhZl9L1QP2cjvQBjFzfod6blVbNtACMgfdHyh8aW84k6R5g84IBIZeRsI9GXg7inKPuu9ylbphS86R2ikokNYt6nD6GhvPv8kVC3/s200/Ane+and+Pam+Genre+Dinner.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me Dressed as my Character with Ane Mulligan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
That night, people could dress as their character from their book. What a hoot to see all the different outfits from all times in history and even the future from the speculative gang. I dressed as Meg Alden, my heroine from my 1933 historical romance, <i>Love Finds You in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. </i>Just two weeks earlier, I'd found the coolest hat from that time period in a consignment shop in downstate IL. That hat was the hit of the evening.<br />
<br />
Saturday I spent the whole day in James Scott Bell's Quantum workshop on setting the plot for your story. An awesome instructor. I had to leave a couple times for editor or agent appointments, and I really hated to step out.<br />
<br />
Saturday night my Penwrights critique group went to an Irish Pub that has been featured on the Food Network and had a great time.<br />
<br />
Sunday was more editor and agent appointments, and I ended up playing hooky from the workshops I'd signed up for. I am getting the recordings and will listen to those. So much great teaching I can't wait to hear them all.<br />
<br />
Another highlight for most everyone was meeting author Frank Peretti in person. Frank was the recipient of this year's ACFW Life Achievement Award. He spent the entire weekend hanging out and having his picture taken with just about everyone, including me!<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hpMtxwdkIFu3rAWjaT5jR6TZldLXpTK467dAq8HSeVjcyy0NwnG7sZCnp43Xqr_DG9I2JXt5WWkVr_bSOeo4DNIKEMEur37o4YOJh97qOePVtri6bJm3VB-Y8Wd9LInGPq_G/s1600/Gala+With+Frank+Peretti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hpMtxwdkIFu3rAWjaT5jR6TZldLXpTK467dAq8HSeVjcyy0NwnG7sZCnp43Xqr_DG9I2JXt5WWkVr_bSOeo4DNIKEMEur37o4YOJh97qOePVtri6bJm3VB-Y8Wd9LInGPq_G/s200/Gala+With+Frank+Peretti.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frank Peretti & Me at the Gala</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Sunday night was the Awards Gala and my role as Genesis Head Coordinator gave me the huge blessing of being able to announce our nine category winners and give them their award plaques! What a joy to meet most of them in person and see their smiling faces when I announced their names.<br />
<br />
Monday, I returned home exhausted, but praising God for yet another glorious ACFW conference.<br />
<br />
Hopefully, in the near future I can report some news here, but for now it's all in God's hands. I can't think of a better place to be. <br />
<br />Pamela S. Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02728153219310940273noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272808.post-69175507423464185302013-08-27T19:43:00.001-05:002013-08-27T19:47:50.502-05:00New Cozy Mystery Series Holds Promise of Good Reads to Come!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKRhirRFDn7F-omJbbWLdiItrdpXaoTIvIzJwl_WU-ijZ5M_9rnBs7QWcuSiIoXM_BJBd0DXDoCSqxLHp_WeWDUWAIdBnoJoOBapJub1G6Ir3ihHYlIy4SOiqlE376Sr1Ecsk/s1600/Rules+of+Murder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKRhirRFDn7F-omJbbWLdiItrdpXaoTIvIzJwl_WU-ijZ5M_9rnBs7QWcuSiIoXM_BJBd0DXDoCSqxLHp_WeWDUWAIdBnoJoOBapJub1G6Ir3ihHYlIy4SOiqlE376Sr1Ecsk/s1600/Rules+of+Murder.jpg" /></a></div>
Not only does Julianna Deering's new release <i>Rules of Murder</i> take place
in the thirties, but the story is written in the style of English
mysteries from that period. Not to mention that the cover absolutely
invites you to settle in with a spot of tea and get lost in the story.<br />
<br />
As
an avid mystery reader from the time I first learned to read chapter
books and feasted on Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden mysteries, I've loved a
good mystery. When I grew older I started reading mysteries that were
penned in the thirties and forties from Agatha Christie and Mary Roberts
Rhinehart. Thus, I picked up this book with great anticipation.<br />
<br />
I
found the beginning to be a bit slower paced than I generally like and
the opening chapter had so many characters that I became confused more
than once and found myself going back to double-check who someone was.
For that reason I'd give the book 4 stars if I used the star system here.<br />
<br />
But once the dead body
(don't all cozy mysteries require a dead body??) was discovered the pace
picked up, the cast became less confusing. The main character named
Drew Farthing partners up with an American named Madeline and together
they try to get to the bottom of the mystery - who is the murderer?<br />
<br />
I recommend this read for anyone who likes a good mystery of the cozy variety.<br />
<br />
The book was provided to me by the publisher for review purposes. The opinions are completely my ow<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwkXxQcx29H34Xn2UjKddTPNoqmbs1t79NvwNlV0J8nWBQqO20ir7OrjY-QMVS1M5R8zsPlI9_82bcKQdHyXxuLhOufew0UWro7PzVdU0DhrjOa86rg0RrQA3K0q51vREXfpDh/s1600/DodsonA+Rules.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwkXxQcx29H34Xn2UjKddTPNoqmbs1t79NvwNlV0J8nWBQqO20ir7OrjY-QMVS1M5R8zsPlI9_82bcKQdHyXxuLhOufew0UWro7PzVdU0DhrjOa86rg0RrQA3K0q51vREXfpDh/s200/DodsonA+Rules.jpg" width="159" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;"> </span></b></span>JULIANNA DEERING has always been an avid reader and a lover
of storytelling, whether on the page, the screen or the stage. This, along with
her keen interest in history and her Christian faith, shows in her tales of
love, forgiveness and triumph over adversity. A fifth-generation Texan, she
makes her home north of Dallas with three spoiled cats and, when not writing,
spends her free time quilting, cross stitching and watching NHL hockey. Her new
series of Drew Farthering mysteries set in 1930s England debuts with <i>Rules
of Murder</i> (Bethany House, Summer 2013) and will be followed by <i>Death by
the Book</i> (Bethany House, Spring 2014) and <i>Murder at the Mikado</i>
(Bethany House, Summer 2014). She is represented by Wendy Lawton of the Books
& Such Literary Agency<br />
<br />Pamela S. Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02728153219310940273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272808.post-86257117914497595682013-07-25T17:20:00.004-05:002013-07-25T17:23:04.881-05:00Becalmed and Cooking Up Love -- Two Great Reads from Two Great Author Friends!I am so excited to share news two of my favorite author friends have had their books come out this month. And I've had the privilege of reading both.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGF4n0x-2Pj0c-casGEMJ3n6CaVIwMjXRb9lCIdxOHMkyLxvTnasaL3ttzerZARwqT2GFLrpglvt-cUHNm8a0dJ96tqcHjKqFezd6g5o9BvAOakEL0iiohKA0ZxtLFtM6cQMz4/s1600/normandie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGF4n0x-2Pj0c-casGEMJ3n6CaVIwMjXRb9lCIdxOHMkyLxvTnasaL3ttzerZARwqT2GFLrpglvt-cUHNm8a0dJ96tqcHjKqFezd6g5o9BvAOakEL0iiohKA0ZxtLFtM6cQMz4/s200/normandie.jpg" width="171" /></a></div>
<h2>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Becalmed by Normandie Fischer</b></span></h2>
I already gave a strong pitch for this book on my Facebook Page this morning. I cannot say enough about this story. I took it to bed with me every night to read before lights out. I've not had time to read much during the day this summer, but knowing I had the book with its delicious characters waiting for me at bedtime, kept me looking forward to turning in.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEh7Ab8YYKWLYs8x-O8hKqpEzOfBysgeh-4vdTJdiniEt5Vetn-OtsWuqkBHLFIF2JO_TnYVRZLSERbnhwCvV4oz-6fajKWofs1gCiIs7jJX_4tsrv1r2jWh1R-JlfYcU1NXaF/s1600/Becalmed+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEh7Ab8YYKWLYs8x-O8hKqpEzOfBysgeh-4vdTJdiniEt5Vetn-OtsWuqkBHLFIF2JO_TnYVRZLSERbnhwCvV4oz-6fajKWofs1gCiIs7jJX_4tsrv1r2jWh1R-JlfYcU1NXaF/s1600/Becalmed+cover.jpg" /></a>If you love sailing, you will enjoy this book. But you don't need to know anything about the sport. Just enjoy the ride as you sail out to sea with Tadie (it rhymes wih Sadie) the heroine. But Tadie's sail hits some rough seas when she encounters Will, the hero. He's a widower with the cutest little redheaded daughter named Jilly. She's a bit precocious, but not obnoxiously so.<br />
<br />
It's easy to see Tadie and Will are made for each other, but they're both too blinded by life to notice. How in the world will they ever get together?<br />
<br />
I'm not going to tell you, but I will say reading this book is like enjoying a lazy hazy trip to the Carolinas and settling back with a glass of sweet tea and one of Tadie's cookies.<br />
<br />
I was sure sorry when I read the last page. Not because of a dissatisfying ending, but because I had to say good-bye to the characters I'd come to love so much.<br />
<br />
Watch out for Normandie Fischer. She's a new fiction author we haven't seen the last of. I'm already chomping at the bit for her next book. You can get it at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, both on line, and at many of your favorite bookstores.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
<span style="color: #783f04;">Cooking Up Love by Cynthia Hickey</span></h2>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9sv1cIkpxPQBU5BJW__F19-rSursWLpgz2ois0CzCy5sN2GXeuvbaXsU0YVJ-yM1O7Ck64-0HZJi-GWvmwLpFoJuakEkT6osY8zKwuBfDo0CXIkcFUU6iRrr3BatwZopxyfQc/s1600/Cindy+H.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9sv1cIkpxPQBU5BJW__F19-rSursWLpgz2ois0CzCy5sN2GXeuvbaXsU0YVJ-yM1O7Ck64-0HZJi-GWvmwLpFoJuakEkT6osY8zKwuBfDo0CXIkcFUU6iRrr3BatwZopxyfQc/s320/Cindy+H.jpg" width="320" /></a> I first read Cynthia's new book when she submitted it to our critique group. I read the first three chapters, and then couldn't wait for her to send more. It's a fun romance that also teaches the reader about the Harvey Girls. I'd heard of Fred Harvey restaurants that used to be scattered around the U.S. before all the fast food restaurants took over. People knew that when you ate at a Fred Harvey you would get good food at a great price.<br />
<br />
What I didn't know was that for many years Fred Harvey fed multitudes of train passengers as they rode the rails, crisscrossing the U.S. The trains would stop to refuel and while they were doing that, the passengers would file into a clean comfortable restaurant to dine on food they'd already selected from a menu earlier during the train ride. Everything had to be done precisely and quickly as the train had a schedule to keep.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiucv0EgWrbv-ALWPnZHFHfbpY77Xh0w4z1tQgIWh5xEDO5hHegm1lMdQlGW70XmcKFn0N2qkBSC0Umtv1ZFNPJJIJvWBttRqo3ifHdVfAE4RmPn6ZS3HO002hEriK6lybF_xG/s1600/Hickey+Book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiucv0EgWrbv-ALWPnZHFHfbpY77Xh0w4z1tQgIWh5xEDO5hHegm1lMdQlGW70XmcKFn0N2qkBSC0Umtv1ZFNPJJIJvWBttRqo3ifHdVfAE4RmPn6ZS3HO002hEriK6lybF_xG/s320/Hickey+Book.jpg" width="201" /></a>Harvey Girls were held to strict rules which included no fraternizing with fellow employees of the opposite sex. Tabitha McClelland knows this, but wouldn't you know that on her train ride to begin training as a Harvey Girl she meets handsome Fred Harvey chef, Adam Foster. Well, she doesn't have any intention of getting involved with a man, so no loss. She wants to travel and live an exciting life.<br />
<br />
Adam is falling hard for Tabby and isn't going to take no for an answer. Other girls are angling for Adam's attention when the head waitress, Miss O'Connor (whom I picured looking a bit like O'Brian, the maid on Downton Abby) while all Adam wants is Tabby.<br />
<br />
Adam has a plan to settle down in California. Can he convince Tabby that his plan won't be perfect unless she joins him as his wife?<br />
<br />
I've loved all of Cynthia's historicals, but she's hit a winner with this series. A short fun, romantic read. Great to take along to the beach or pool...or just lazing in a hammock on a summer's afternoon. You can find Cooking Up Love on Amazon, iTunes, Christianbook.com, as well as other sites. Pamela S. Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02728153219310940273noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272808.post-75457292932899121582013-07-14T18:26:00.000-05:002013-07-14T18:31:02.118-05:00A Morning Walk BlessingSince I attended my church's Saturday evening service last night, I stayed home this morning and savored a long special time with God. Since the day was heating up fast, as soon as I finished my Quiet Time I hustled out to walk before I could talk myself out of it because it was too hot.<br />
<br />
My condo complex is adjacent to a small strip mall with a rather eclectic mix of businesses. There's an Italian restaurant, a dentist, a nail salon, a magic shop, a tanning spa, and a bakery, followed by a veterinarian's office and a hair salon. And bringing up the rear is a dry cleaners.<br />
<br />
I always love going by the dry cleaners because the owner is often there, sitting in the early morning light, reading his Bible. The first time I noticed him, I stuck my head in the door and let him know I'm also a Christ-follower and we rejoiced in the way Christians often do when first meeting like that. Since then, whenever I see him there I wave. <br />
<br />
Today I walked by, knowing he wouldn't be there because, after all, it's Sunday. He wasn't, but this Bible was--open and ready to enrich, bless, and teach. I couldn't help it. I pulled out my phone and snapped a picture!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0URnYbQqkdid5KNdURUrB8xOZtG_MOG2keEqggN5292PYO_lEjT8i9ArXwiaTu8m0a6CZGjO2D51YnFd7lnNiLsX0omQEGMw_7EQj3pMyOAkoKYqHMdG0m1uBC9Gto50k9AR/s1600/Dry+Cleaners+Bible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0URnYbQqkdid5KNdURUrB8xOZtG_MOG2keEqggN5292PYO_lEjT8i9ArXwiaTu8m0a6CZGjO2D51YnFd7lnNiLsX0omQEGMw_7EQj3pMyOAkoKYqHMdG0m1uBC9Gto50k9AR/s320/Dry+Cleaners+Bible.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
As the camera clicked, a black SUV pulled up and the dry cleaner man climbed out.<br />
<br />
Caught red-handed.<br />
<br />
<i>He must think I'm casing his shop or something.</i> I laughed and told him I loved how he left his Bible open and ready for him to dive in, and I wanted a picture of it. He laughed with me (whew!) and said he just worked out and had stopped by to read the Bible and then clean up for church.<br />
<br />
I didn't look at the picture I took until a little while ago and I still smile. I wish I could flip through the pages, see his notes or what has been underlined. But I probably wouldn't understand much anyway. It's likely written in Korean. And that warms my heart even more. Many language groups all following the same Jesus and He hears all our prayers no matter what language.<br />
<br />
It was an awesome way to begin my Sunday.Pamela S. Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02728153219310940273noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272808.post-37269844385219501152013-07-04T11:53:00.000-05:002013-07-04T11:53:13.011-05:00Let's Remember Old Glory on this Special Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5BejVXRA1M5DMKfNX19YAaVKZjL_B-kmFy_KDuX5Vw_twizi47K25oiq4rnaa2Mmk6UPZhnntVEXBGr4Unqc8Eq8B8NwVrSino0pl-3ni8R80WfoACmsX107Rud4issjPs1a/s1600/American+Flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5BejVXRA1M5DMKfNX19YAaVKZjL_B-kmFy_KDuX5Vw_twizi47K25oiq4rnaa2Mmk6UPZhnntVEXBGr4Unqc8Eq8B8NwVrSino0pl-3ni8R80WfoACmsX107Rud4issjPs1a/s320/American+Flag.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
On this Fourth of July Morning during my walk I passed a house that had about three or four dozen small American flags lining both sides of its circular driveway, and another large flag waved over their backyard swimming pool. I wanted to stop and tell the owners, "Thank you."<br />
<br />
Too many times anymore I see the American flag disrespected. People wear it like clothing, and in one recent case a website suggested using it as a tablecloth for your Fourth of July celebration. Even worse, some have stomped on it or burned it.<br />
<br />
Our forefathers fought for this country and many gave their lives to give us the land they called the land of the free and the home of the brave.<br />
<br />
How many people today can't even say the Pledge of Allegiance or know the words of the Star Spangled Banner? Read the words of the Pledge of Allegiance think about them for a moment.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to
the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all." </span><br />
<br />
On this day I think of my ancestor John Bancroft who fought in the Revolutionary War. I remember the day my cousin Mary and I found his grave site in a small cemetery in Springfield OH and we both were struck with how he fought for the country we've both been blessed to be raised in and enjoy the benefits of what he fought for. And what our military fights for today.<br />
<br />
I'm not against picnics, parades and firework shows on the Fourth of July at all, but let's not forget the true reason for this day and pray that God would continue bless this country as he has in the past.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Happy July Fourth everyone!!!!Pamela S. Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02728153219310940273noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272808.post-4086422739557730972013-06-23T06:28:00.001-05:002013-06-23T06:28:27.510-05:00My Website Address Is Now Under Construction!If you are reading this on my blog site you already know this because you got here using the www.pammeyerswrites.blogspot.com address. <span style="color: red;">That is now the direct access to my blog.</span><br />
<br />
The www.pamelasmeyers.com domain address is currently undergoing an extreme makeover.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_71elP3wVBtYT1gi24XmdZ1Uo7x-BID5McnKtSSMrO79_1P5f1WFHW73v4SyhumyOQO-FCB47qdlCLx5xK1V42o7Zu4ee6GmXDQhzK7TKht2JjIjCXp3BQUHxJko-EzxQwqMv/s1600/Under+Construction+Sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_71elP3wVBtYT1gi24XmdZ1Uo7x-BID5McnKtSSMrO79_1P5f1WFHW73v4SyhumyOQO-FCB47qdlCLx5xK1V42o7Zu4ee6GmXDQhzK7TKht2JjIjCXp3BQUHxJko-EzxQwqMv/s320/Under+Construction+Sign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Pamela S. Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02728153219310940273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272808.post-31923526588894715072013-06-18T10:57:00.001-05:002013-06-18T11:24:58.773-05:00Slow Moon Rising -- Another Great Read from Eva Marie Everson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmMgfBH7No5WLhrUSaqm6TtBM0cSg4GO0ZrX9GARntbuZVTThatA9O7eU1_y_mMGZX2MKB8ZG-pfVUqugrPaCmLe0OqWv9Eby5TArY9qWfVJ5TPlinGzT32FqCLkX8tVQA1Wb/s1600/SMR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmMgfBH7No5WLhrUSaqm6TtBM0cSg4GO0ZrX9GARntbuZVTThatA9O7eU1_y_mMGZX2MKB8ZG-pfVUqugrPaCmLe0OqWv9Eby5TArY9qWfVJ5TPlinGzT32FqCLkX8tVQA1Wb/s1600/SMR.jpg" /></a></div>
I have been reading Eva Marie Everson's Cedar Key series of novels since she began writing them, and have loved each one. A good author friend of mine told me about Cedar Key, Florida many years ago and made it sound so delightful I was ready to jump on the next plane and plant myself there to do nothing but write. But, so far I've not yet made the trip. At least by reading this series, I've been able to vicariously enjoy the setting through Eva Marie's wonderful characters.<br />
<br />
I jumped at the chance to review her latest -- <i>Slow Moon Rising</i>. But when it arrived I was in the middle of a number of writing projects and other things and had to put the book on my to-be-read pile. When I realized a few days ago that the blog tour was this week, I made myself take time to start reading and I'm better than halfway through it. I only wish I could just sit for a whole day and do nothing but read. It's that good!<br />
<br />
The only complaint I have is that the first couple chapters were a little too slow-paced for my taste. But having read many of Everson's books, I had faith that the pacing would pick up, and it did. If you find this small nit-picky point to be the case with you, hang in there because the best is yet to be!<br />
<br />
The back-cover blurb gives a tantalizing description of what's inside.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The beautiful Claybourne home on Cedar Key has long been a place of
rest, healing, and release. Each member of the family has turned there
in times of confusion, loss, and hurt, only to feel their spirits
renewed and their hearts restored.<br /><br />But Cedar Key might also be the birthplace of a lie that is poisoning the family from within. <br /><br />Join
the five Claybourne women--Anise, Kimberly, Jayme-Leigh, Heather, and
Ami--as they search the past and confront the truth. Their unique paths
will lead them through heartbreak, misunderstandings, and pain. But
their journeys will also bring reconciliation with each other and the
precious renewal of love in their own lives.<br /><br />In her lyrical,
evocative fashion, Eva Marie Everson weaves a tapestry of complicated
relationships that, when complete, reveals the most beautiful work of
art there is--family.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">You can purchase the book at <a href="http://tinyurl.com/n22lrf6" target="_blank">Amazon</a> or any other online store, as well as your favorite bookstore.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">ABOUT THE AUTHOR:</span></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvZ119yfvPc9zLWWKvZdWgE7AdM2JxRT29KTKW5MRNrqBI72bPZJtrn0J6_U8rj7ET-sZBn_MnvpIUMZD-C311uaVHwyByGyCF2Zcc34l4tBawgo-zRApO8-j86WC00Sz0lOfn/s1600/EVA+MARIE+JPG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvZ119yfvPc9zLWWKvZdWgE7AdM2JxRT29KTKW5MRNrqBI72bPZJtrn0J6_U8rj7ET-sZBn_MnvpIUMZD-C311uaVHwyByGyCF2Zcc34l4tBawgo-zRApO8-j86WC00Sz0lOfn/s320/EVA+MARIE+JPG.jpg" width="203" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I was born and reared just outside of Savannah, Georgia. Yeah, I have a
southern accent. It gets a little more southern every time I cross the
Florida/Georgia state line.<br /><br />If I had all the time in the world,
I'd probably lie on the sofa all day and watch old movies. I usually
have to get sick for something even close to that happening.<br /><br />I
can quote entirely too many lines from Pretty Woman (You do? You think
I've got potential?). In fact, I quote lines from movies and songs so
often that most people are unaware of what I'm doing. I may or may not
have offended some folks. If I have...I'm sorry.<br /><br />I'm an ex-nurse
and a seminary graduate. I hated nursing but love God with a passion and
can hardly get through a conversation without talking about our
relationship! I think the Old Testament is totally FUN to read (I mean,
HOW much stuff can one clan of people get in to?) and the New Testament
draws me closer to Heaven. Yeah!<br /><br />I'm married even though my hubby
had to have his wedding band cut off due to an infected spider bite.
The nurse said either that or the finger would fall off. I was going for
the second option, but was alone in that. :) Now he wears it on his
right hand. I can live with that. We have kids and grandkids and two
absolutely adorable dogs, Hope and Poodar. <br /><br />I'm rarely still and I sleep very little. <br /><br />Life is good.</span>
</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Note: I received a complementary copy of Slow Moon Rising from the publisher for review purposes. All opinions are my own. </span> </span>Pamela S. Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02728153219310940273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272808.post-28171649706279665722013-06-03T11:20:00.000-05:002013-06-03T11:20:09.713-05:00That Certain Summer by Irene Hannon - A Great Read for Summer!
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have always enjoyed Irene Hannon’s suspense novels. When I learned she had written a </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAOqZwOWC_H4UhbRsXSnPgS-7tbG1PYzQzp-HAn9YJRBeCxwVxvpACZ2xrfRdnvN-U4DpmRwd1j_x2XRK39FfD68M_9vYA3nEB9Y1-rkBkFh_HVf4OWC98-xRPLHihKFR_Jfc/s1600/Certain+Sumer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAOqZwOWC_H4UhbRsXSnPgS-7tbG1PYzQzp-HAn9YJRBeCxwVxvpACZ2xrfRdnvN-U4DpmRwd1j_x2XRK39FfD68M_9vYA3nEB9Y1-rkBkFh_HVf4OWC98-xRPLHihKFR_Jfc/s1600/Certain+Sumer.jpg" /></a></div>
contemporary romance, I was intrigued by
the plot, and knew it would be a good story because I was familiar with Irene’s
writing. I wasn’t disappointed!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>That Certain Summer</i> is about two sisters who couldn’t be
more opposite in personality, outlook on life, and the directions they took as
adults. Karen Butler had married and never left their small Missouri hometown,
while her sister, Val Montgomery, had moved to Chicago to seek a career in
theatre. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The story opens with newly divorced Karen struggling to raise her teenage
daughter mostly on her own since her ex seems to float in and out of
their lives. Never married, Val teaches drama in a Chicago area high school
and seems to have everything going right for her (in her sister’s eyes at
least). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The one thing they have in common is their aging mother who
has just suffered a stroke and is in the midst of rehab. Cranky before the
stroke, Mom is now more crotchety than ever and testing the patience of Karen. As much as she
and her sister don’t always get along, Karen cannot wait for Val to take over
some of the weight of caring for their invalid mother. Val’s summer break
from her teaching duties can’t come any too soon.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What Karen doesn’t know is that Val is bringing home more
baggage than then kind you put in a suitcase. She has a secret from her
past that she hopes to resolve by coming back to where it all happened.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What is unexpected for both women, are the two good-looking
guys that enter their lives that summer or the women's admissions that their mother
isn’t the only one who needs healing. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I really enjoyed this story and how Hannon deepens her
characters as the story develops and the sisters start peeling back
onion-like layers to get to the nub of what has caused misunderstandings
between them over the years. I hope to see more multi-layered romances from
Irene Hannon. She is certainly an author I’ll be looking for in this genre!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I received a complementary copy of this book from the
publisher for purpose of review. The opinions expressed here are my own and no
one else’s.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h2 class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><b>About the Author:</b></span></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="style2">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFZnd0q961dW_BPwvy-Mj4PURBEV3m8YHR4Tj1m0EkyUNyYNQmmCL5csdLG4hsJRPCoZhvMdgKz6OIBfLSvG-m9N8yyatcYqf4DkplC8uslG3WQK1VKlu1gaM8l2e1FnBRlV2/s1600/Hannon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFZnd0q961dW_BPwvy-Mj4PURBEV3m8YHR4Tj1m0EkyUNyYNQmmCL5csdLG4hsJRPCoZhvMdgKz6OIBfLSvG-m9N8yyatcYqf4DkplC8uslG3WQK1VKlu1gaM8l2e1FnBRlV2/s1600/Hannon.jpg" /></a>Since then, she has written more than 40 romance and
romantic suspense novels. Her books have been honored with two RITA
awards—the “Oscar” of romantic fiction—and she is a six-time finalist
for that prestigious honor. Her books have also won a Daphne du Maurier
award, a Carol award, a HOLT Medallion, a National Readers’ Choice
Award, a Retailers Choice Award and two Reviewers’ Choice awards from <em>RT</em> <em>Book Reviews</em> magazine. One of her novels was also named by <em>Booklist</em> as one of the top 10 inspirational fiction books of 2011.</div>
<div class="style2">
<br /></div>
<div class="style2">
Irene, who holds a B.A. in
psychology and an M.A. in journalism, juggled two careers for many
years until she gave up her executive corporate communications position
with a Fortune 500 company to write full-time. She is happy to say she
has no regrets! </div>
<div class="style2">
In her spare time, she enjoys
cooking, gardening and singing. A trained vocalist, she has sung the
leading role in numerous musicals, including “South Pacific,”
“Brigadoon,” “Oklahoma” “The King and I” and “Anything Goes.” She is
also a soloist at her church.</div>
<div class="style2">
<br /></div>
When not
otherwise occupied, Irene and her husband enjoy traveling, Saturday
mornings at their favorite coffee shop and spending time with family.
They make their home in Missouri<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
Pamela S. Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02728153219310940273noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272808.post-59782503158364970772013-05-14T10:57:00.000-05:002013-05-14T11:41:47.229-05:00The Scent of Lilacs and a Lesson in Incorporating the Senses Into Your Writing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Back in April 2010, I wrote a blog post about lilacs and how when each spring their fragrance takes me back to a warm day, likely in May. Miss Thomas, my fourth grade teacher, had raised the windows wide open in our nearly half-century-old classroom to let in some air. Air that was unusually heavy with humidity for so early in Wisconsin. Those kind of days usually didn't kick in until the hot days of July and August.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_MxFta3v10NwTFWqfVAUsfYVLLU9QEwmfoqzKXtgCjOdIjl4E8ESJPn-vdkSdqb9UmWAqkWsHgaHnCBP2ZZYlFrpJK4dndJCI5rRPHiH8OmcGQ84ppFdFMuNuRqOVCGZG9tO/s1600/Lilacs+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_MxFta3v10NwTFWqfVAUsfYVLLU9QEwmfoqzKXtgCjOdIjl4E8ESJPn-vdkSdqb9UmWAqkWsHgaHnCBP2ZZYlFrpJK4dndJCI5rRPHiH8OmcGQ84ppFdFMuNuRqOVCGZG9tO/s320/Lilacs+2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lilacs I picked yesterday on my walk.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The lilacs were in full bloom and many of us kids would pick huge purple bouquets of the fragrant blooms and bring them to our beloved teacher. Fast running out of glass vases, she usually resorted to filling whatever she could find--old coffee cans or empty jars--to hold the flowers.<br />
<br />
In the near-tropical air that long-ago day, their heavy fragrance seemed even more pronounced, and I sat at my desk, inhaling the scent and reveling in the heady feeling that came over me. Yesterday while out for my walk, I stopped and picked some lilacs, and right now I'm inhaling the scent and for one brief moment I'm transported back to Central School in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. <br />
<br />
It's interesting how a sense of smell can transport one back to another time in our lives--sometimes pleasant and sometimes not-so-pleasant.<br />
<br />
Maybe it's time to revisit that article I wrote back in 2010 about incorporating the senses into our writing, particularly the sense of smell. The book I refer to in the piece is <i>Love Finds You in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin</i> that just released last month, and the scent of lilacs is mentioned in its pages!<span id="goog_1840275064"></span><span id="goog_1840275065"></span><br />
<br />
<i>April 30, 2010 </i><br />
<br />
Yesterday seemed more like March than April in Chicagoland. The southern
winds kicked up a lot of debris and flower petals fell from the
crab apple trees like a pink and white blizzard.<br />
<br />
But one thing I noticed most of all was the scent of lilacs.<br />
<br />
I pass a lilac bush on my
walk each day, and I always stop to smell the flowers because in a few
day's time, that wonderful scent will be gone until next year.<br />
<br />
That
got me to thinking how in my stories I need to make sure I incorporate
as many of the five senses as possible. My current project takes place
during spring in my hometown, and I became excited as I realized the
novel concludes during May. I'll be able to bring my very precious
memory of springtime in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin to the story.<br />
<br />
No
matter what the season your stories take place, be sure to bring in as
many of the five senses as possible. The smell of a burning fireplace as
your character walks outside on a cold winter's night. In summer, the
scent of suntan oil on a hot beach. When I think of fall, the aroma of
pumpkin pie baking in the oven conjures of memories of Thanksgivings
past. Adding the senses to your story deepens your story and draws the
reader closer. If you haven't done so already, be sure to work in smell,
touch, hearing, tasting and sight before you turn in that final draft.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, I'd better run outside for one more sniff before the lilacs disappear till next year!
Pamela S. Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02728153219310940273noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272808.post-68765828647816512812013-05-12T13:36:00.000-05:002013-05-12T18:20:43.430-05:00I Almost Never Knew my Mom <style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-font-charset:78;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1791491579 18 0 131231 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This Mother’s Day I’ve been thinking about my mom. She
passed away in December 1982, at the age of 70 after a long illness. She died
earlier than many, but I’m grateful that Mom never had to live in a nursing
home. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today I listened to a message my pastor Colin Smith preached
a couple weeks ago on Hagar, the maidservant of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. My mom’s
life was nothing like Hagar’s, but the message caused me to think about my
mother’s suffering as she went through my birth. She almost died. Even though
I’ve known that for a long while, this morning the thought jarred me as I
realized I could have been raised without her in my life at all. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsUg8g7CT0yAgkkgiaDS4wrT93Z-z3QG8uZ-mQosDHnxS_ZiXkXOAgHuX1DldaODyrP7psytUnBHy3yY-lqFQz82WLFX4zRyOhsj2tVG7aOcJoNJRwflEJ1xvn-Pt_RaK1mFd/s1600/Mom+%2526+Pam+LG+Beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsUg8g7CT0yAgkkgiaDS4wrT93Z-z3QG8uZ-mQosDHnxS_ZiXkXOAgHuX1DldaODyrP7psytUnBHy3yY-lqFQz82WLFX4zRyOhsj2tVG7aOcJoNJRwflEJ1xvn-Pt_RaK1mFd/s320/Mom+%2526+Pam+LG+Beach.jpg" width="320" /></a>My mom was in nursing school when she came down with
Juvenile Arthritis. Almost out of her teens, it was very unusual for one so old
to get the disease. After being told by doctors that she’d never walk again,
she proved the them wrong and did walk again, but she also had a permanent
curvature to her spine. The curve wasn’t overly pronounced, but it was there. Because
of that, she was told that if she ever became pregnant she’d have to have her
babies by C-section rather than natural birth. And back then C-sections were
not often done. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After my parents married, it was six years before she became
pregnant with me. I sat here this morning, wondering if like Hannah in the Old
Testament, my mom prayed daily for a child and God delayed the answer. I’ve
heard bits and pieces over the years but never about the years of barrenness.
Maybe that part was too private.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How much Mom must have rejoiced when she found at long last she
was pregnant. I wonder if that joy was tempered by the warning given to her
over 12 years earlier that she should deliver her babies by C section. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The sad thing is that by the time she reached her ninth
month of pregnancy none of the doctors who had advised her against natural
birth were around, and the only doctor available to do the delivery waved off
the warning. He told her she would be fine. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course, I remember none of it and that’s probably a
blessing, because after about two or three days of labor, I entered the birth
canal and it wasn’t long before the doctor realized those other doctors were
right. To deliver me the natural way would be very dangerous for my mother. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The doctor found my dad in the waiting room (those were the
days when husbands paced the floor and were not in the delivery room). He told
my dad I was too far into the birth canal and he could save me, but he couldn’t
promise that my mom would live through the birth. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course, as you have figured out, my mom again proved a
doctor wrong and lived through the birth. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I
heard the entire story, and when I did, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I immediately realized why I’m an only child.
And also why my mom loved me so fiercely. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another profound thought popped into my mind today—if it
weren’t for the grace of God I wouldn’t have known my mom at all. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The picture is one that is printed at the back my book, Love
Finds You in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. I was about two years old at the time—not that
long after the ordeal Mom went through having me. How deep must have been the
joy she felt being alive and able to hold me and enjoy a beautiful summer day
at the beach. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m very grateful that God chose this Mother’s Day to bring
these thoughts to mind.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms who read this!</div>
Pamela S. Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02728153219310940273noreply@blogger.com6