tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85426832039522460312024-03-14T04:52:04.744-05:00Spirit CalledMagic done RightHuntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08155372788872245758noreply@blogger.comBlogger502125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542683203952246031.post-90221350455400422862022-04-05T06:58:00.000-05:002022-04-05T06:58:50.062-05:00Space Opera Deluxe<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhebRhYzLK8ZrVIOR67aR9GPQta99UhmJ0it8vdt2fiKrhqsd5XgSziiZKi8WzSsxECVEFuNI_UEKipwlPQp9TQeBQFrkwxG8eHuEhbshZ9r19gXn8Rb1Nlol-qyYGYi5FH92rJRe1N6ru_JPC59JrNUfbn3nRZgqdV_G1zwNLj0Dw5dHHPtHPJDi80aQ" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="267" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhebRhYzLK8ZrVIOR67aR9GPQta99UhmJ0it8vdt2fiKrhqsd5XgSziiZKi8WzSsxECVEFuNI_UEKipwlPQp9TQeBQFrkwxG8eHuEhbshZ9r19gXn8Rb1Nlol-qyYGYi5FH92rJRe1N6ru_JPC59JrNUfbn3nRZgqdV_G1zwNLj0Dw5dHHPtHPJDi80aQ" width="160" /></a></div><span style="text-align: left;">What can I say? </span></div><p></p><p>It has been awhile. About the only person who could bring me out of semiretirement is the fabulous</p><div>Alex J. Cavanaugh.</div><p></p><p>His excellent series has a new addition and it's a hummer. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">CassaDark<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">By
Alex J. Cavanaugh<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><i style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">“Cavanaugh returns to the world
of his Cassa Series…for a fourth inventive space opera.” – Publisher’s Weekly</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif; font-size: 12pt;">His
world is unraveling…</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Bassan’s
father is stepping down from command. His best friend almost dies when Bassan
freezes. Now, he’s being sent across the galaxy to speak at an important
conference. Despite saving the eleven races years ago, he’s paralyzed by doubt.
Could things get any worse?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Once
there, new acquaintance Zendar convinces Bassan to visit his planet for a humanitarian
mission. Bassan’s special connection to ancient technology is the key to saving
Zendar’s people. One problem though—it’s a prisoner planet.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">On
Ugar, he discovers things aren’t so straightforward. As each truth reveals
itself, the situation grows more desperate. If he can’t find the right answers,
he might die along with Zendar’s people. Can Bassan summon the courage to be a
hero again?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Links:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">iTunes
– <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/x/id1574189874" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Century",serif;">https://books.apple.com/us/book/x/id1574189874</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Amazon
– </span><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0982FL3SH" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Century",serif;">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0982FL3SH</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Century",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Barnes
& Noble – </span><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940164947033" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Century",serif;">https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940164947033</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Century",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Kobo
– </span><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/cassadark" target="_blank">https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/cassadark</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Scribed
– </span><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.scribd.com/search?query=9781939844859&language=0" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Century",serif;">https://www.scribd.com/search?query=9781939844859&language=0</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Century",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Goodreads
– </span><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58461762-cassadark" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Century",serif;">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58461762-cassadark</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Century",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj565NlEM3n43UATGhZQMxAxBeqxEK-p4Z0pXHwSyWjVIarHllkhS7m7nN5KksKxwrL1cBQfJi8Agv-XcJldD2PZkYzDTq77ukvq__uYoTIj0u0EwKvhIbTBZmjqpSuhBYBotCqXbdZKmfLAr_ZGl-BkPYWzaCXT_VhucqLAy1LsXhkBQ3H-nW4L2TdJg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="267" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj565NlEM3n43UATGhZQMxAxBeqxEK-p4Z0pXHwSyWjVIarHllkhS7m7nN5KksKxwrL1cBQfJi8Agv-XcJldD2PZkYzDTq77ukvq__uYoTIj0u0EwKvhIbTBZmjqpSuhBYBotCqXbdZKmfLAr_ZGl-BkPYWzaCXT_VhucqLAy1LsXhkBQ3H-nW4L2TdJg" width="160" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><br /><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Persistence + Humor = Published</div>Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08155372788872245758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542683203952246031.post-10196846054586059762021-01-04T13:41:00.000-06:002021-01-04T13:41:46.155-06:00Ice, Sunsets, Windmills, and a Suspicious Green Ghost<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-g0lJCIX1LwE/X_NvECapNqI/AAAAAAAADkA/x7yvor-GqyUeX7J31BoKKiM3DgvBxEpVQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-g0lJCIX1LwE/X_NvECapNqI/AAAAAAAADkA/x7yvor-GqyUeX7J31BoKKiM3DgvBxEpVQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="180" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Persistence + Humor = Published</div>Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08155372788872245758noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542683203952246031.post-77617892584150616752018-03-12T14:11:00.000-05:002018-03-12T14:11:01.943-05:00Kids These Days<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This video says it all.</b> Kids these days go through life with
no inkling of hard times and tough measures. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Or do they? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Or has every older generation since the dawn of time uttered the same words about the younger?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“People don’t know anything about hard times.”</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Can you imagine the present generation doing that.” </span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>My ancestors</b> were the first to settle in this part of
Missouri. My mother’s side in 1860 and my dad’s in 1840. First settlers, part
of the first families of this county, they lived a life we cannot imagine. In reading the fascinating genealogy of my people, their words made me gasp at their unbelievable pain at losing so many children to disease. The many gravestones in pioneer cemeteries</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> attest to that, the same years etched on the stones from several different families.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But not all is sad. Some of their words were sooooo familiar. And made me laugh.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Does human nature ever change? The past is a thread of
experiences that we share. Feelings, thoughts, emotions...all a part of who we
are.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those threads bind nationalities and cultures, not in years
but in centuries. Eons. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My evidence is small, true. </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’d bet about every person in their late thirties and
forties have said the same stuff as in the video, maybe not the same language or technology but the sentiments are certainly the same.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>“People don’t know anything about hard times.</b>” - said by Starling in 1920 about the hardships of moving by oxen and working the land in the 1860s.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>“Can you imagine the present generation doing that.”</b> - said in 1963 by my great uncle. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>“I remember when I was about 10-11 years old it was my job
to go with (my brother) to the day stack where he pitched the hay on the wagon and I
loaded it on. Then he hauled it to the fee bunks unloaded and I went from the
hay stack to school."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Generations haven't changed much. </span></h4>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Uo0KjdDJr1c" width="560"></iframe><div class="blogger-post-footer">Persistence + Humor = Published</div>Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08155372788872245758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542683203952246031.post-71872277415392624192018-01-15T09:32:00.003-06:002018-01-15T09:32:54.892-06:00Cold Days, Warm Bread<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://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AXLScs8Nwfg/WlzIUn9qEgI/AAAAAAAADaM/b322jNUQ_44W4tldBfaeq3iojDir-FviACLcBGAs/s1600/french%2Bbread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AXLScs8Nwfg/WlzIUn9qEgI/AAAAAAAADaM/b322jNUQ_44W4tldBfaeq3iojDir-FviACLcBGAs/s320/french%2Bbread.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think I let this rise too long. A little funky looking</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
I bake. Call it a leftover from my infatuation with Laura Ingalls Wilder.<br />
<br />
Since discovering store bought bread doesn't sit well with me, I started making more bread.<br />
<br />
In combination with my other blog, Unicorn Bell, I am posting a couple of my favorites. Plus the only wheat product I use now, King Arthur.<br />
<br />
Although this is a French bread-type loaf, I don't usually do the spraying with water etc that goes along with making it more authentic. I like the taste and simplicity but not the work.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
For a bread machine:<br />
<b>Add</b> in this order:<br />
<br />
1 C warm water<br />
1 T sugar<br />
1 t salt<br />
<br />
2 3/4 C bread flour<br />
<br />
<b>Make</b> a well in flour and Add, 1 1/2 t yeast.<br />
<br />
Set machine on dough. Mine takes 90 minutes to mix, knead, and rise.<br />
<br />
<b>Form</b> two loaves, or baguettes and place on greased cookie sheets. Slash tops with sharp knife.<br />
<b>Cover </b>and let rise 30 minutes.<br />
<br />
<b>Bake</b> at 375 degrees for 20 minutes.<br />
<br />
For a delicious hot roll recipe, go to <a href="https://unicornbell.blogspot.com/2018/01/cold-days-warm-thoughts-hot-cooking.html" target="_blank">Unicorn Bell.</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.kingarthurflour.com/" target="_blank">King Arthur Flour </a>has more information regarding how to form rolls and loaves. Also a fantastic <a href="https://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/bread-machine-bread-andmdash-easy-as-can-be-recipe" target="_blank">Easy Bread recipe.</a><br />
<br />
Enjoy.<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Persistence + Humor = Published</div>Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08155372788872245758noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542683203952246031.post-57376847732496935382018-01-08T01:00:00.000-06:002018-01-08T01:00:43.350-06:00The Passing of Sarah<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Sarah.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The ravaged face twitched in answer to her name. The movement so subtle the onlooker wondered if he had imagined it. An eyelid flickered and he felt her presence. One side of her face drooped like half-melted wax and he knew she would never recover. Her mouth struggled, at war with the stroke that was gently sliding her into forever darkness. Or Light, if believed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And he knew she believed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Her breaths came quick and shallow now, the harbinger of death. But, in the time she had left, Sarah gathered strength spoke in trailing wisps:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Take me home.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The man frowned and searched the other faces around the deathbed for illumination. No one answered. “Sarah,” he began slowly, “you can’t be moved. It’s hard, I know. But...you’ve had a stroke. Here. At our house. Just half a mile from your home. You were visiting...”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">His voice trailed off as Sarah’s mouth moved into a caricature of a smile. Her good eye brightened and truly focused on him. “Not you. Him.” She looked beyond the man to the empty space at the foot of the bed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“I’m ready.” Her words came strong and the smile deepened as her eyes closed. “I’m ready.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As her last breath ended with a sigh and her neighbor knew she was gone. His wife cried out. The son of the old woman wept silent tears.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But the man held still in awe. For a Presence passed him from the foot of the bed. He felt the gentlest of touches as It reached for the lifeless old woman. Without form or substance, the man still knew it was there and made no sound as a separate life poured out Sarah and joined with the Being. Together, they rose from the bed and dissipated, like a mist on a sunny day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">**********************</span><br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U2liHN3TR08/WlJJdQXnc9I/AAAAAAAADZM/p3a3IxyJuZ0pHao4acTj-ZgXps-7o-glACLcBGAs/s1600/21832364_125521835210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="381" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U2liHN3TR08/WlJJdQXnc9I/AAAAAAAADZM/p3a3IxyJuZ0pHao4acTj-ZgXps-7o-glACLcBGAs/s400/21832364_125521835210.jpg" width="237" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sarah Frances Shaw Graves began her life in a dirt-floored slave cabin. She passed away on the oak floor bedroom of her white neighbors. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Born in Kentucky in 1850, she was only six months old when her master “allotted” or hired her mother to another man, leaving her husband and Sarah’s father behind, never to be seen again. After the Civil War and freedom, Sarah married. Together with her husband and only son, they farmed and worked the land until eventually acquiring 120 acres. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sarah was visiting her neighbors the day she had a stroke. Her husband had passed several years before and their son never married. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After caring for her several days, Sarah died surrounded by her white neighbors and friends in 1942 in their front bedroom. How do I know? Because as I write these words, I am sitting in the same room where she passed, the same house I’ve lived in for thirty-seven years. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have her beloved old cook stove on my patio. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I lay flowers on her grave in the spring.</span></h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Persistence + Humor = Published</div>Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08155372788872245758noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542683203952246031.post-45956722834119685632018-01-03T15:58:00.001-06:002018-01-07T09:23:15.353-06:00Ancestors<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>A relative gave me</b> a unique task; write the stories of our
great-great grandparents, their children, and brothers. The path took me to
sadness and a revelation of how hard life was in those times.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*******************************</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>During the Civil War, northwestern Missouri had its share of
strife and violence. Coercion and midnight visits from masked riders forced
many to take their families, leave their farms and homes, and run for safer
states.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cC_AkdnCKds/WlI7IMaIIKI/AAAAAAAADZI/DII-Zr-Xur0itYGDEhc06zt31hnLLbXswCLcBGAs/s1600/Masthead_for_the_French_portal_American_civil_war.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="1600" height="85" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cC_AkdnCKds/WlI7IMaIIKI/AAAAAAAADZI/DII-Zr-Xur0itYGDEhc06zt31hnLLbXswCLcBGAs/s320/Masthead_for_the_French_portal_American_civil_war.jpg" width="320" /></a><i>Anti-slavery sentiments ran high. Others were for states rights. Tempers boiled over. Neighbor hated neighbor. And no one could escape the terrible judgement that was to come.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Celia</b> fretted in the first days of fall, as the green leaves of the hot summer began to fade and turn to yellow and orange. She plucked at a loose thread on her skirt and felt her
belly jump as if her fourth soon-to-be-born child worried with her. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Eight months pregnant and soon, they had to leave. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
It was 1863 and word had reached even the farms in Missouri,
a hundred miles away, of the young men and boys slaughtered in Lawrence,
Kansas. A hundred and fifty souls lost to hatred and the pro-slavery views of Bushwhackers
like Quantrill and his renegades.<br />
People in Missouri learned to speak careful, in sidelong
conversations with folk they'd known all their lives. Taking a stand could mean vigilantes might come a-callin’. No
one could tell whom to trust. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Life was hard in those days. War made it more so. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Everything they could pack was in the wagon, the four oxen placidly waiting the call. Indiana, the
solidly-Union state, was their goal. Celia’s husband, Starling, mopped the back
of his neck with a blue cloth rag and glanced at his wife. The boys—John, six
years old and already working alongside his father, Archie, four, and Joseph
Constant, two—were excited and ready for an adventure. The three were as noisy
as boys could be on a fine day. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Celia met Starling’s gaze without speaking. He squared his
jaw and nodded. “You feeling like a trip, Ma?” </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Her mouth twitched but he couldn’t tell if she was laughing
or about to cry. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“Yes. Let’s be on our way.” She rubbed her protruding belly.
“Three years ago, it took twenty-seven days to get here from Indiana. Let’s
hope she waits that long.” </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“‘He’.” </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Celia smiled and looked down. She didn’t want him to see her
tears.</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Henry Thomas made his entry into the world before they
reached Indiana, a healthy red-faced boy. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But, with one hand, the Lord gives and with the other, He
takes away. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whooping cough took the life of four-year-old Archie after
they crossed into Indiana. In 1865, they returned to Nodaway County in Missouri
and began their life again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0ansS085-_A/Wk1JKjY72PI/AAAAAAAADXo/aZ_-5Hsbs2AvXU7_78ZJ5jvMQ5C2ZEO1wCEwYBhgL/s1600/Celia%2BWorkman%2BCarmichael.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="199" data-original-width="159" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0ansS085-_A/Wk1JKjY72PI/AAAAAAAADXo/aZ_-5Hsbs2AvXU7_78ZJ5jvMQ5C2ZEO1wCEwYBhgL/s200/Celia%2BWorkman%2BCarmichael.jpg" width="159" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qR-nxkbfHSU/Wk1JfxydC3I/AAAAAAAADXs/mBREQVkcicwlZTd-_VpmhJXCWQseZ8VSACLcBGAs/s1600/Starling%2BCarmichael%2B1%2B001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="226" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qR-nxkbfHSU/Wk1JfxydC3I/AAAAAAAADXs/mBREQVkcicwlZTd-_VpmhJXCWQseZ8VSACLcBGAs/s200/Starling%2BCarmichael%2B1%2B001.jpg" width="152" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Celia lived to fifty-nine and passed away in 1897. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Starling—or Uncle Star, as he was known—passed away in 1925 at a ripe old age
of 88.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3>
Joseph Constant grew up strong and manly. He married a young
woman, Mary Alexander and had four children.</h3>
<h3>
Their second child was my grandfather.</h3>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Persistence + Humor = Published</div>Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08155372788872245758noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542683203952246031.post-66397240813342483652017-12-18T09:44:00.000-06:002017-12-18T09:44:57.627-06:00There's Christmas Songs and then there's Christmas Songs<h3>
When I say I color not only outside the lines but on another page entirely, here is the evidence.</h3>
<br />
I love Bing Crosby old-style Christmas songs. But this is one of my favorites.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" gesture="media" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qWdfeTA-JYQ" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Truly, my mind works in strange ways.</h3>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Persistence + Humor = Published</div>Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08155372788872245758noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542683203952246031.post-43329930840036851862017-06-07T07:38:00.002-05:002017-06-07T07:38:53.339-05:00IWSG - Wishes<br />
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img alt="First Wed of Every Month" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zhUOVxU3zp8/VrFA7WKczhI/AAAAAAAAPFA/mPTyhiaBV80/s175/Insecure%2BWriters%2BSupport%2BGroup%2BBadge.jpg" /><b></b></div>
<br />
<div style="display: inline !important; font-weight: normal;">
<div style="display: inline !important;">
<div style="display: inline !important;">
<b><a href="http://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html" target="_blank"><i style="color: #4e2800; font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"><b>IWSG—Insecure Writers Support Group</b></i><b style="background-color: #e7c090; color: #4e2800; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">: The Final </span></b></a></b><b><b style="background-color: #e7c090; color: #4e2800; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html" target="_blank">Frontier.</a></span></b></b></div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="background-color: #e7c090; color: #4e2800; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22.4px;">
<div style="border-top: 0px solid rgb(220, 149, 34); padding-top: 0px;">
<b><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>These are the continuing voyages of the Ninja Captain, AJC. His mission, to explore all new writing venues, to seek out new authors and new blogs. </i></span></span></b></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: #e7c090; color: #4e2800; line-height: 22.4px;">
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>To boldly go where no blogateer has gone before.</i></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Coming together on the first Wednesday of every month for a virtual pat on the back. </b></span></b></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"><b><br /></b></span></b></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When contemplating Life<span style="font-weight: normal;">, the Great Beyond, and the
nutritional value of almonds, I forget I have a blog and posts for IWSG.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*cue Slinky falling down the steps*</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But toasted almonds top my munch-list, my belief in an All
Powerful Deity remains unfazed, and here is my Post for Insecure Writers
Support Group.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I wish:</b></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was less vitriol in social media, politics, and
public.</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tolerance for all viewpoints.</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More quiet Dis-cussion and less Cussin’.</span></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>I wish... <span style="text-align: center;"> </span></b></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were fewer handouts and more handups</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
More encouragement and less battering of spirits</div>
</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
People realized the value of Routines, the Golden Rule, and
a child’s laugh.</div>
</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
Not more time but the insight to use time wisely</div>
</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I wish:</b></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b8wY_lHi7pw/WTfwrI1OY_I/AAAAAAAADVg/684xs7_slLgnP-5kGS1p4jcEXix4JzH-wCLcB/s1600/IMG_1707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b8wY_lHi7pw/WTfwrI1OY_I/AAAAAAAADVg/684xs7_slLgnP-5kGS1p4jcEXix4JzH-wCLcB/s320/IMG_1707.JPG" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">People would listen
to<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ6CX_k8fF8" target="_blank"> I Believe by The Lettermen</a> at least once a week.</span><b style="background-color: transparent;"><div style="display: inline !important; font-weight: normal;">
<div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 22.4px;">
<div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;">
<div style="display: inline !important;">
<div style="display: inline !important;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</b></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Watch more sunsets and sunrises and marvel.</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everyone had a dog or cat to love.</span></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b> I wish:</b></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">People would investigate and research rather than
accepting an internet source depending on donations, listen to people with dirt
on their hands and love in their hearts, and realize that desk-jockeys with book
smarts have no real experience.</span></blockquote>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xEKgbzXch4o/WTfxJy7mUJI/AAAAAAAADVo/rGYSTp7jaRoz33xTgQurioGQJylKKVVRwCLcB/s1600/a8f266cd4e6eeea9ffeb09afb3e0eb4a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1600" height="192" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xEKgbzXch4o/WTfxJy7mUJI/AAAAAAAADVo/rGYSTp7jaRoz33xTgQurioGQJylKKVVRwCLcB/s320/a8f266cd4e6eeea9ffeb09afb3e0eb4a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I want people to remember the sacrifices and courage of D-Day,
911, the Battle for Britain, Thermopylae, and watch <i>Schindler’s List</i> and <i>Saving
Private Ryan.</i></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And finally, I wish for more Hope, Less Strife, more Personal
Intelligence, and less Internet Intellect. More backbone, common sense, and
gentle determination.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My blog, my space, my wishes</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What do you wish for most in the world?</span></h3>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<b></b><div style="font-weight: bold;">
<b></b></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Persistence + Humor = Published</div>Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08155372788872245758noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542683203952246031.post-88394479701526768682017-04-05T01:00:00.000-05:002017-04-05T01:00:21.017-05:00IWSG - A to Z Challenge, I Haz a Sad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: black; float: left; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="First Wed of Every Month" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zhUOVxU3zp8/VrFA7WKczhI/AAAAAAAAPFA/mPTyhiaBV80/s175/Insecure%2BWriters%2BSupport%2BGroup%2BBadge.jpg" /></span></div>
<b><div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<a href="http://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html" target="_blank"><i style="color: #4e2800; font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"><b>IWSG—Insecure Writers Support Group</b></i><b style="background-color: #e7c090; color: #4e2800; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">: The Final Frontier.</span></b></a></div>
<div style="background-color: #e7c090; color: #4e2800; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22.4px;">
<div style="border-top: 0px solid rgb(220, 149, 34); padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>These are the continuing voyages of the Ninja Captain, AJC. His mission, to explore all new writing venues, to seek out new authors and new blogs. </i></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: #e7c090; color: #4e2800; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22.4px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>To boldly go where no blogateer has gone before.</i></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Coming together on the first Wednesday of every month for a virtual pat on the back. </b></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A to Z.</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Congratulations to all A to Z participants. You are so cool for doing it. I’m envious. And sad. I wish I could do more. But it just is not to be. I appreciate all the work and marvel at the participants’ ambition. *Big Thumbs Up*.<br /><br />But I just cant do it. I feel somewhat ashamed. </span><div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<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://1.bp.blogspot.com/-57ldkhfpm7Y/WOJ57R2-0iI/AAAAAAAADVM/vtZ3fiRE4lQ1vFLl02bfPJy5mi4oi8nwQCLcB/s1600/Ruffian%2BSo%2BSorry%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-57ldkhfpm7Y/WOJ57R2-0iI/AAAAAAAADVM/vtZ3fiRE4lQ1vFLl02bfPJy5mi4oi8nwQCLcB/s320/Ruffian%2BSo%2BSorry%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I iz sorry</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Don’t get me wrong. It was fun but just too much. Last year I repeated my A to Z theme, Guess the Movie. Then I discovered that not only did I use the exact same movie—<i>Young Frankenstein</i>—but even the very same quote as the clue that I used two years before. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">DOH.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So it's a No Go this year. But still...I'm wearing my frowny face.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>April 5 Question: </b>Have you taken advantage of the annual A to Z Challenge in terms of marketing, networking, publicity for your book? What were the results?</span><div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Answer: </b>Not so much. I like the exposure and am proud of the badges. Heaven knows we earned those, right? But I haven't pushed it. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Are you doing A to Z this year? Feeling remorseful? Wishing you could do more? *hanging my head*</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Persistence + Humor = Published</div>Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08155372788872245758noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542683203952246031.post-52310756273987814342017-04-03T01:00:00.000-05:002017-04-03T01:00:03.616-05:00Three Authors - There Be Fantasy Here<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Three of my favorite authors</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> have books coming out this spring. Patricia Briggs, Margaret Weis, and Robin Hobbs are contributing to my bottomless desire for new reading.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17499087_10208353857697698_3170043701929858266_n.jpg?oh=b9c04cfc51bfb73ef862475b6d0c51f1&oe=596B6FF1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17499087_10208353857697698_3170043701929858266_n.jpg?oh=b9c04cfc51bfb73ef862475b6d0c51f1&oe=596B6FF1" width="179" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Margaret Weis</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Like other people seek oxygen, I inhaled the books of team Tracy Hickman/Margaret Weis in earlier times. I could never get enough. By the time Ms. Weis released the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Star of the Guardian</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> series, I thought I knew what I was getting. Boy Howdy was I wrong. The level of writing, the intrigue, the political morass; it was an amazing set of books, one of the kind of tales that I want to read again and again just to see if I missed something.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Enter </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Spymaster. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Released March 21st, this tome is sitting in an UPS truck and making its way to my home even as I type these words. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Spymaster-Dragon-Corsairs-Margaret-Weis-ebook/dp/B01L7B9VG4/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1490970971&sr=1-1&keywords=spymaster" target="_blank">Spymaster, The Dragon Corsairs</a></b></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qoxdcptx0wo/WN5r2JS8AuI/AAAAAAAADTs/O7LzYmohjIgwBTaQRwfFVCNUvzSDVy7YwCLcB/s1600/silence-fallen-by-patricia-briggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qoxdcptx0wo/WN5r2JS8AuI/AAAAAAAADTs/O7LzYmohjIgwBTaQRwfFVCNUvzSDVy7YwCLcB/s200/silence-fallen-by-patricia-briggs.jpg" width="131" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Patricia Briggs.</b> Already at my side and consumed is </span><a href="http://www.patriciabriggs.com/books/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-style: italic; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Silence Fallen b</span><span style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">y Patricia Briggs.</span></a><span style="color: black; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Her continuation of the Mercy Thompson series came out March 7th. I was introduced to Ms. Briggs’ books via a wonderful employee at Barnes and Noble. It was the third book, </span><span style="color: black; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Iron Kissed, </span><span style="color: black; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">but I was hooked even though I usually don't start a book series in the middle. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Her <i>Alpha and Omega</i> series branches off in another direction without losing the rich history of the shifters and werewolves. My personal favorite is Bran, the Marrok or leader of the werewolves. I sincerely want much more of him. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Silence-Fallen-Mercy-Thompson-Novel-ebook/dp/B01H17UAF4/ref=pd_sim_351_16?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=AVKP8MDFW4BXMDX6KVGC" target="_blank">Silence Fallen</a></b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Robin Hobbs. </b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Thanks to the advice of my good friend <a href="https://mainewords.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Marcy,</a> I started a new series </span><i style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Farseer Trilogy </i><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">a couple years ago. </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Little did I know the journey I was about to take. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fitz</span></td></tr>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fitz and Fool evoke such emotions. Scenes about Nighteyes are wonderful, difficult, thought-provoking, and a dozen other emotions. Fifteen books later, my enthrallment has not waned. </span></span><br />
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">May 9th, the release of the last of the Fitz and Fool trilogy is due, <i>Assassin's Fate. </i>The cliffhanger at the end of <i>Fool's Quest</i> was a killer, btw.</span></span><br />
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Assassins-Fate-Book-Fitz-trilogy-ebook/dp/B01GYPQRYM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1490972238&sr=1-1&keywords=robin+hobb" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Assassin's Fate</span></a></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you like the urban fantasy/fantasy genre and haven't tried these, give them a go. It'll keep you in reading material for a long time. </span></span></h3>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Depending on how fast you read :D</span></span></h3>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Persistence + Humor = Published</div>Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08155372788872245758noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542683203952246031.post-64126239956619560872017-01-09T16:03:00.001-06:002017-01-09T16:03:52.100-06:00Ghosting At the Edge of Shadows<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0VkrUG3OrPc" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Months fade. </b>Days run by like water and too often, we listen
to nagging excuses.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For me it was a lack of ambition. Annnnd inspiration, strong will. Of course there was determination, motivation, stress, the abundance
of cynicism, questioning my ability, defeatism, and doubting everything from
start to finish. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In other words, I am a writer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And so I’m back. No promises because that gets me in
trouble. Goals—when kept—work great. When not, well, it’s a killer. Having firm
objectives works for some people but not so much for me. Live and learn.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And thanks for the cheese. (You know who you are)</span></h4>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Persistence + Humor = Published</div>Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08155372788872245758noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542683203952246031.post-42452672372991110592017-01-02T01:00:00.000-06:002017-01-02T01:00:08.966-06:00A New Beginning and the Beginning of the End<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The world of the writer </b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">seems smaller to me today. Politics intervene in friendships. Publishers fail and kick their authors to the curb. Smarmy writers tell the self-published that they aren’t worthy. Too much going on for someone like me who prefers a quiet life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And my cat died along with my coffeemaker.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Politics.</b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> It isn’t easy for either side. Let’s pray violence doesn’t ensue due to hatred and media pushing their agenda. I hope we can give these next few months a chance without resorting to vitriol and mayhem. </span><br />
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<b style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Publishers. </b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you find a publisher who believes in you AND stays in business, “lucky” doesn’t begin to cut it. I didn't know how great </span><i style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Musa Publishing</b></i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> was until they closed shop. They paid their authors and gave us back our rights, an example of a moralistic company.</span><br />
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<i style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All Romance Ebooks</i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> is the opposite example. Total creeps. ARe closed its doors with a vibrating slam. How they treated their authors gives all small publishers a bad name. Two days notice and ten cents on the dollar for all those greedy authors. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Read </span><a href="http://blogcritics.org/publisher-all-romance-ebooks-closing-hits-new-low-in-stealing-from-authors/" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">shame shame</a> <br />
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<b style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Writers Living in Ivory Towers.</b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Self-publishing was my only avenue after <i><b>Musa</b></i>. After hearing some of the horror stories from other writers about their publishers, I didn't trust anyone with my books. It's been an okay move. I paid my way with professional editing and a great cover and I am satisfied. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But this established author doesn't believe in self-pub. It's as if she stepped into something foul and wants to scrub it off her shoes before it contaminates her life. The title of the article should clue you in: </span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laurie-gough/selfpublishing-an-insult-_b_13606682.html" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Self-Publishing: An Insult To the Written Word. </a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Go. Enjoy. Say a few four-letter words. Then read the comments. Trust me, you'll feel better.</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5MfSiM80YPE/WGbH43enhoI/AAAAAAAADSQ/E4IlgD_ktjcOtC4JgzqYs8M4DFP3onuYACEw/s1600/100_0185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5MfSiM80YPE/WGbH43enhoI/AAAAAAAADSQ/E4IlgD_ktjcOtC4JgzqYs8M4DFP3onuYACEw/s320/100_0185.JPG" title="" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>D'Oro.</b> He was fifteen when he died, my cat. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yes, I was expecting his demise. No, I didn't think I would react as I did because, well, I </span><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">was</span></i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> expecting it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">*sigh*. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He was a good cat. The kind that would sit in your lap and purr nonstop. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I buried him in a quiet place and told no one. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My family will ask someday, "Hey, what happened to '<i>D</i>'?" </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">And I'll tell them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Until then, I'll be sad and try not to think about him too much.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Time to turn over the calendar and give 2017 a chance. </span></h3>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Persistence + Humor = Published</div>Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08155372788872245758noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542683203952246031.post-11311447418810616092016-05-30T01:00:00.000-05:002017-04-02T17:25:47.596-05:00Honor, Service, and Sacrifice<h3 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />It isn't about barbecues, mattress sales, and beer. </span></h3>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ksQBFXPP0bs/WOF6X7IRmbI/AAAAAAAADU4/HIp7BU1TlfsfzuWpUiQzAt8uc4ae3AzdQCLcB/s1600/Flag-RequestsSmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ksQBFXPP0bs/WOF6X7IRmbI/AAAAAAAADU4/HIp7BU1TlfsfzuWpUiQzAt8uc4ae3AzdQCLcB/s320/Flag-RequestsSmall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">To all who serve their country, we honor their contribution and sacrifice.</span></h3>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Persistence + Humor = Published</div>Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08155372788872245758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542683203952246031.post-89520030811907807492016-04-18T01:00:00.000-05:002016-04-18T01:00:11.469-05:00Catalyst, Cover Reveal by Kristin Smith<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm super duper</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"> pleased to announce the cover reveal of my friend and fellow moderator on Unicorn Bell, Kristin Smith. Have a look and see why I'm so proud of her. She is a true talent.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: 18pt;">COVER REVEAL FOR CATALYST With $25 AMAZON GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY!</span></h3>
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<strong><a href="http://www.cleanteenpublishing.com/" target="_blank">Clean Teen Publishing</a> is proud to present the official cover reveal for CATALYST by Kristin Smith. </strong></div>
<strong>This is the first book in the thrilling new Deception Games series coming November 21, 2016!</strong></div>
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<span class="s1">Title: Catalyst (The Deception Game, Book One)</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Author: Kristin Smith</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Release Date: November 21, 2016</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Genre: YA near-future thriller</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Book Synopsis:</span></b></span></div>
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<i>Too pretty.</i></div>
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<i>Too smart.</i></div>
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<i>Too perfect.</i></div>
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In a crumbling, futuristic Las Vegas where the wealthy choose the characteristics of their children like ordering off a drive-thru menu, seventeen-year-old Sienna Preston doesn’t fit in. As a normal girl surrounded by genetically modified teens, all of her imperfections are on display. But after the death of her father, everything she's ever known and loved changes in an instant.</div>
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<span class="s1">With little skills to help provide for her family, Sienna clings to the two things that come easily—lying and stealing. But not all thief-for-hire assignments go as planned. When a covert exchange of a stolen computer chip is intercepted, she becomes entangled with a corrupt government official who uses her thieving past as leverage, her mother as collateral, and the genetically modified poster boy she’s falling for as bait.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">In order to rescue her mother, there may only be one option—joining forces with the Fringe, an extremist group, and their young leader who’s too hot to be bad. Problem is, these revolutionaries aren’t what they seem, and the secrets they’re hiding could be more dangerous than Sienna is prepared for. In the end, she must be willing to risk everything to save the one thing that matters most.</span>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29922963-catalyst"><img alt="27368-add-to-goodreads-button31" class="alignnone wp-image-20659 size-full" src="http://nerdgirlofficial.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/27368-add-to-goodreads-button31.png" height="45" width="134" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Enter to WIN a $25 AMAZON Gift Card! </span></b></div>
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<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="3d370a1c10" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/3d370a1c10/" id="rcwidget_qh6o5v0e" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br />
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">About the Author:</span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2XxIMCazR6A/Vw1IBKuENiI/AAAAAAAABJ8/BlRjJO8QvK4vRdBKRvC8klgStshK0_OuACLcB/s1600/Kristin%2BPic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2XxIMCazR6A/Vw1IBKuENiI/AAAAAAAABJ8/BlRjJO8QvK4vRdBKRvC8klgStshK0_OuACLcB/s400/Kristin%2BPic.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Kristin Smith writes young adult contemporary and science fiction novels with enough kissing to make her mother blush. She's a beach lover and a Just Dance guru who enjoys belting out karaoke (from the comfort of her own home). As a self-professed chocoholic, Kristin is a firm believer that if a dessert doesn't have chocolate in it, then it's not considered a dessert. (Except for crème brûlée. She can always make an exception for crème brûlée.) Kristin currently resides in the middle-of-nowhere North Carolina with her husband and five incredibly loud but extremely cute boys. To read more about her obsession with YA novels or her addiction to scarves, you can connect with her at the links below.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><a href="http://www.kristinsmithbooks.com/#!newsletter/bg70r"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Newsletter Sign-up</span></a></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://kristinsmithbooks.com/">Author Website</a></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://swordsandstilettos.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Blog</span></a></div>
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<span class="s1"><a href="https://twitter.com/SwordsStilettos"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Twitter</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/swordsandstilettos2/">Facebook</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://instagram.com/kristinsmithwrites"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Instagram</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/swordsandstilettos2"><img alt="Facebook-Icon" class="alignnone wp-image-29795" src="http://nerdgirlofficial.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Facebook-Icon-300x300.jpg" height="125" width="125" /></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SwordsStilettos"><img alt="twitter-icon" class="alignnone wp-image-29796" src="http://nerdgirlofficial.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/twitter-icon.png" height="125" width="125" /></a><a href="http://www.kristinsmithbooks.com/"><img alt="website" class="alignnone wp-image-33804" src="http://nerdgirlofficial.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/website-296x300.png" height="126" width="125" /></a> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15184285.Kristin_Smith"><img alt="Goodreads" class="alignnone wp-image-38836" src="http://nerdgirlofficial.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Goodreads-300x300.png" height="117" width="117" /></a></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Persistence + Humor = Published</div>Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08155372788872245758noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542683203952246031.post-42454198805854593882016-04-06T01:00:00.000-05:002016-04-06T01:00:12.418-05:00IWSG - Routines. HTML and A to Z<div style="background-color: #e7c090; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">
<div style="border-top-color: rgb(220, 149, 34); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t4FB6s33udA/UdN-qInyJAI/AAAAAAAAB6s/E-T-5NJbZq0/s1600/InsecureWritersSupportGroup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t4FB6s33udA/UdN-qInyJAI/AAAAAAAAB6s/E-T-5NJbZq0/s200/InsecureWritersSupportGroup.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="border-top-color: rgb(220, 149, 34); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<a href="http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html" style="color: #b5653b; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><i style="color: #4e2800; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Insecure Writers Support Group</b></i><b style="color: #4e2800; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">: The Final Frontier.</span></b></a></div>
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.4px;">These are the continuing voyages of the Ninja Captain, AJC. His mission, to explore all new writing venues, to seek out new authors and new blogs. </i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 22.4px;"><i>To boldly go where no blogateer has gone before.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Coming together on the first Wednesday of every month for a virtual pat on the back. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Routines</b> are about the hardest chore. I try, I really try but sometimes stuff gets in the way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My daily goal is to get all my stuff done by 9 am then spend two hours plus writing.
After noon, I start in again about 1 – 1:30 and continue until 4-ish.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But Life doesn’t work that way and interference results. Cows have calves, toilets
overflow, and cats need a trip to the vet. Grownup kid calls and spouses want a
hand fixing the tractor. Weather interferes. Computer goes loony tunes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But more likely the interference begins with shiny objects, the proverbial <i>Squirrel! </i>Oh well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">B.I.C. is still the best advice. Avoiding Facebook is the
other. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Spouses though...What can you do when he says, “Hey honey.
Did you know its national Pillow Fight day?” *sigh*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>HTML and other
strange letters.</b> Do you know how to leave a comment with a link to your
blog? It is an efficient way to tie your name to your site. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I’ve clicked on names that
takes me to multiple blogs or Google+. If you sign off with a link, it directs people to your blog. Way easier.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Go to <a href="http://blackkatsdesign.blogspot.com/2010/06/how-to-leave-clickable-link-in-blogs.html" target="_blank">this site</a> for the recipe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>A
to Z.</b> My blog—Spirit Called—is not participating this year, but <a href="http://unicornbell.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Unicorn Bell</a>
is. Wander over there for our posts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Do you have a writing routine? Can
you keep it in any semblance of order? Do you have a sign off for blogs? Crazy
enough to participate in the 2016 A to Z Challenge?</span></h3>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Persistence + Humor = Published</div>Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08155372788872245758noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542683203952246031.post-56503972489383854462016-03-28T01:00:00.000-05:002016-05-10T18:36:48.153-05:00A to Z Challenge, Unicorn Bell, Backing up Data...<h3>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">...Updates, Conspiracies, Healthcare.gov, and the descent into Madness.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>A to Z Challenge blogfest
is huge,</b> a monster. I participated in 2011 and a two more years after that.
Don’t think the word <i>challenge </i>is
there for looks because it is most definitely hard. Not only posting every day
except Sundays, but commenting on other posts every day as well. But when it’s
done, you’ve made new friends and experienced new outlooks on life. Plus
instilled a discipline in your writing. Good stuff all around.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Over at<a href="http://unicornbell.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> Unicorn Bell</a>—our writer’s blog—we are participating
in this year’s Challenge. The eight moderators are taking turns posting each
day, commenting on blogs, and bringing new perspectives to the game. Check in
and see how we do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Backing up info.</b>
My OCD comes out when backing up my documents, files, financial records,
photos, and emails. I am</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.storagereview.com/images/StorageReview-Seagate-Backup-Plus-Slim-Portable-Drive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.storagereview.com/images/StorageReview-Seagate-Backup-Plus-Slim-Portable-Drive.jpg" height="272" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> nothing if not redundant. Since I have Amazon Prime, I
let it back up photos and docs. Google catches docs also. Norton makes my
system image and backs up all of the above as well. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have a Seagate 2 terabyte external drive for most stuff
and use Google Cloud, Amazon Cloud drive, ICloud as backups for the backups of
the backups.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Can’t be too safe with your important records.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FuXaTtlMTlU/VvgJzJZp2PI/AAAAAAAADKk/sYfbMhNAI1QB2xxIjHuWDLAbhKO7pLbBg/s1600/dot%2Bgov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FuXaTtlMTlU/VvgJzJZp2PI/AAAAAAAADKk/sYfbMhNAI1QB2xxIjHuWDLAbhKO7pLbBg/s320/dot%2Bgov.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>HealthcareDotGov. </b>The
cost of our individual health insurance became unsustainable when it went from $500
a month to $1200 in four years, forcing us into the Obamacare marketplace. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you’ve heard about the horrors of working through the
bureaucratic morass of signing up, believe me it’s all true. I’m still fighting
the paperwork.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Win 10. </b>I became a conspiracy theorist—looking over my shoulder—right after I upgraded to
Windows 10 and the </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">subsequent battle to clean it out again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rather than allow automatic updates to my computer, I check
once a week for anything labeled “Security”. An <i>Important</i> or <i>Optional </i>update
always rates another look and research.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">One of the updates, KB3035583 is labeled <i>important. </i><a href="http://www.infoworld.com/article/3016033/microsoft-windows/enough-already-microsoft-pushes-windows-nagware-patch-kb-3035583-for-sixth-time.html" target="_blank">Lookee here what it actually is</a>, a way for Microsoft to worm its way back into my ‘puter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Since I cleaned out the folder containing the mutant Win 10,
I discovered it is still knocking on the door wanting in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Are you an A to Z Challenge Crazy Person? Overindulge in backing up? Have skyrocketing insurance costs? Wonder who is peeking in your computer?</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Descending into Madness like me? </span></h3>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Persistence + Humor = Published</div>Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08155372788872245758noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542683203952246031.post-82815854862241204822016-03-21T01:00:00.000-05:002016-05-10T18:37:10.332-05:00Win 10. Do you really want it?<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I’m a geek freak.</b> I love new programs and technologies. So I
was interested when Microsoft offered the Windows 10 upgrade. Since my computer was
six months old with Win 7 OS I was sure it would work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I hesitated for a while since reports of the horrors of Win
8 are legion. But there was the “free” button, <i>upgrade now and if you don’t
like it, well boy howdy, you can go back.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I listened.</b> I upgraded and all was good...for a while. Then
stuff began happening. See my progress, from <a href="http://spiritcalled.blogspot.com/2015/08/windows-10-blogger-and-norton.html" target="_blank">Hey this is cool </a>to <a href="http://spiritcalled.blogspot.com/2015/08/hokey-smokes-if-technology-was-so-great.html" target="_blank">What did I do</a> and <a href="http://spiritcalled.blogspot.com/2015/10/iwsg-in-fog-of-recovery.html" target="_blank">Baseball Bat </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I said no thanks and went back to good old Win 7. ‘Cuz
that’s what they say you can do, right? If you don’t want it, just go back to
your old OS. Easy as pie.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Not so fast. The registry of some programs didn’t go back to
the restore point. Win 10 stuff stayed. The automatic backup went looney tunes
requiring a fix to clean it up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And there's that darned Window thingy insisting I needed to upgrade to 10, over and over and over again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>It seems Microsoft</b> has tentacles that reach down the
throat</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/2f/ef/1d/2fef1dbb2c2e2320c3f2897c70d32bf8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/2f/ef/1d/2fef1dbb2c2e2320c3f2897c70d32bf8.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> of your computer like the thing in Alien and lays its eggs in the body
of your ‘puter without you knowing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Do you see the little box that keeps popping up saying your
upgrade is waiting on you? Uh oh, someone’s watching you. Check the updates. If
the optional update has a checked box by the Windows 10 upgrade, be careful.
You might accidentally download the horror again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And there is an interesting folder on your computer:
$Windows.~BT with a 5 gb stored there. That is your alien growing in your
chest. It is waiting for a signal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Oh no, not again." - Spaceballs</span></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RrxlbLVcpqI" width="560"></iframe>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you don’t want Microsoft and its minions to be a backseat
driver, here are a few sites for more information.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.infoworld.com/article/2983777/microsoft-windows/how-to-clean-the-windows-10-crapware-off-your-windows-7-or-81-pc.html?nsdr=true" target="_blank">Information on Win 10</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-update/how-do-i-get-windows-update-to-stop-asking-me-to/21e105ed-cec8-46ac-b83b-79a1a89c238f?auth=1" target="_blank">How to clean it up</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Check out both of these sites before attempting to sort stuff out or delete. I took their advice and turned off the Automatic Updates. If I need to download a security patch, I will do it myself. But no more optional downloads if I don't see the need. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And ask yourself how much you want that spiny alien watching over your shoulder.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Win 10: Good or bad. </span></h3>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Persistence + Humor = Published</div>Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08155372788872245758noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542683203952246031.post-69600857174222490902016-03-08T01:00:00.000-06:002016-05-10T18:37:20.170-05:00How to Intrigue a Reader <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Authors and Writers, Take note. This is the ultimate journey into the mind of a fantastic marketer. Introducing Roland Yeomans to followers of SpiritCalled.</span></h3>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cemlW6jQqDA/VtdOqMZRG9I/AAAAAAAADJo/4wJ6SvjzM5A/s1600/dreamstime_l_37350176_the.not.so.innocents.000.abroad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cemlW6jQqDA/VtdOqMZRG9I/AAAAAAAADJo/4wJ6SvjzM5A/s320/dreamstime_l_37350176_the.not.so.innocents.000.abroad.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">WE ONLY THINK WE KNOW</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Roland Yeomans, here on my way about the internet not doing a book blog tour. J<br /><br />In past posts, I have talked of sex (my novel is of a honeymoon cruise you know). Not about me, of course, even though I do write science fiction!<br /><br />I have talked of romance, and in the words of Ernest Hemingway: “When two love deeply, it never ends well.”<br /><br />Of course when two do not love deeply, it hardly ends up a bed of roses either!<br /><br />But I have not talked of alternate history – which is what Steampunk truly is – you seize history and give it a good twist. But real history is twisted enough.<br /><br />If you walk the ruined corridors of history, you will see that those living in any age had no clue what was truly going on … who the real villains actually were … how many children died needlessly.<br /><br />But let’s not brood on politics gone astray. Instead let’s focus on why Steampunk is so popular:<br /><br /> On the most basic, most appealing social level, steampunk is a way to masculinize romance. That is to say: Steampunk takes something stereotypically feminine that most boys hate — Victorian lace and frills and tea and crumpets — and says, “Hey, how about some vampires and airships with world that?”<br /><br />Steampunk basically lets us go back, at least in our imagination, and try again — lets us tap into that sense of wonder at the unfolding universe </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">
that our grandparents might have felt when modern science was just beginning to open up all its incredible new pictures of what the world could be.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Love –</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Do we know what is entailed when we marry someone? Do we truly love that person? Or do we merely love how that person makes us feel?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Is there a love for which we will sail through Hell to save or is that the kind of love that will save us in the end?</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/e0TR6xk3DWo" width="560"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">(In my best Rod Sterling voice)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Imagine if you would an Earth where unseen factions ruled the world and warred among themselves to gain advantage over the other …</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A world where a People from another Dimension walked among humans …</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A world where one decent man with the blood of death in his veins tries to keep innocents from dying needlessly as his whole family had … in front of him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.createspace.com/6106702" target="_blank">The Not-So-Innocents Abroad</a></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Vampires, Vengeful Spirits of the Earth, Aliens Among Us, and a Man with the Blood of Death in his Veins trying to keep it from being spilled before his honeymoon is over. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Come join the maiden voyage of the first Air/Steamship, the Xanadu, where murder, intrigue, and betrayal reign supreme ... and that is just in the newlywed's bedroom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Joining the newlyweds are Mark Twain, 11 year old Nikola Tesla, his faithful black cat, Macak, Horace Greely, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Ada Byron, daughter of Lord Byron, and the mysterious Greek physician, Lucanus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lurking in the shadows, hoping to kill them is the insane Abraham Lincoln, the crippled General Sherman, the vampires, Abigail Adams and Benjamin Franklin, Empress Theodora, ruler of the Unholy Roman Empire, and the vengeful Captain Nemo, following in his Nautilus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Steampunk intrigue and adventure was never so much fun.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3ZxmgpTJP34/VtdOknhil6I/AAAAAAAADJ0/pkpN27y8Iks/s1600/7MDRqH1455124526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3ZxmgpTJP34/VtdOknhil6I/AAAAAAAADJ0/pkpN27y8Iks/s400/7MDRqH1455124526.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Find it at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Not-So-Innocents-Abroad-Roland-Yeomans/dp/1530302722/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1457445655&sr=8-1&keywords=not+so+innocents+abroad" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></h3>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Persistence + Humor = Published</div>Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08155372788872245758noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542683203952246031.post-76764037853051420922016-03-02T01:00:00.000-06:002016-05-10T18:37:49.942-05:00IWSG – Politics and Social Issues...<h3>
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">...or how to alienate
half your followers</span></b></h3>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t4FB6s33udA/UdN-qInyJAI/AAAAAAAAB6s/E-T-5NJbZq0/s1600/InsecureWritersSupportGroup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t4FB6s33udA/UdN-qInyJAI/AAAAAAAAB6s/E-T-5NJbZq0/s200/InsecureWritersSupportGroup.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html" style="color: #b5653b; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><i style="color: #4e2800; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"><b>IWSG—Insecure Writers Support Group</b></i><b style="color: #4e2800; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">: The Final Frontier.</span></b></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>These are the continuing voyages of the Ninja Captain, AJC. His mission, to explore all new writing venues, to seek out new authors and new blogs. </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #e7c090; color: #4e2800; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;"><i>To boldly go where no blogateer has gone before.</i></span><br />
<div style="background-color: #e7c090; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Coming together on the first Wednesday of every month for a virtual pat on the back. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Issues divide</b> the country like a pizza. Some like thick
crust, others like crispy. Everyone has an opinion. But when vicious name-calling
starts and vitriol splashes the headlines, take note and tread lightly. Those people are nuts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Democrats are getting Hillary whether they want her or
not. Bernie is a likable guy but I don’t see his racecar getting the checkered
flag.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Republicans have their own problems. Nuff said. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So who do you like? And what do you think about SCOTUS,
abortion, immigration, BLM...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">WAIT WAIT!! </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Don’t...for Pete’s Sake, answer those questions!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Because I can guarantee, you will P. O. a fan or reader. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Have an opinion. Do the research. Be firm in your convictions. Don't cuss contrary views; Discuss. Who knows? Maybe we can exchange ideas and the world will be a better place.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LNBbefyPoPA/VtYC9ckl3NI/AAAAAAAADJM/9aPMfDESG7I/s1600/IMG_1686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LNBbefyPoPA/VtYC9ckl3NI/AAAAAAAADJM/9aPMfDESG7I/s320/IMG_1686.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Note to all raccoons
that read blogs</b>: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you stay out in the wild, the Very Large Dog can’t
catch you and probably won’t even try. However, if you come onto my patio to
hassle the cats and eat their food, you will die. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">With the help of The Lady Who Feeds </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Him, Ruffian will send
you on a one-way trip to the Great Beyond. Even dressed in an L.L Bean,
long-flannel nightgown, </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">and flip-flops, The Lady is </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">county </i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">and knows what to do and how to do it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">What do you think about the varmints taking advantage of your good nature? </span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And what about those raccoons also?</span></h3>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Persistence + Humor = Published</div>Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08155372788872245758noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542683203952246031.post-21010435286124981022016-02-29T01:00:00.000-06:002016-05-10T18:38:02.056-05:00Are You a Closet Sexist?<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://36.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lkacmn8W4k1qj8u6mo1_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://36.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lkacmn8W4k1qj8u6mo1_1280.jpg" height="226" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I read what I enjoy</b>.
Books like <i>Wheel of Time.</i> Bonding
with </span>the characters—Rand, Perrin, Mat, and the women, Egwene, Min, Nynaeve—tied
me forever to them and the story.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The <i>Game of Thrones</i>
books/TV show keeps me up at night. I wonder at the depravity and violence. And
bonding with a character usually is a sure-sign their death is on the next
page.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Deadpool</i>...ho,
man, I can’t wait for it to come out on video so I can watch it again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">All the above and more pull me into a story, but...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">...it turns out I am a closet sexist, promoting sexism,
violence toward women.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>According to some</b>
in the publishing community, sexism abounds in literature, GoT promotes the
rape culture, and strong women are threatening.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vwst3eiV6P0/VtOCu0v3INI/AAAAAAAADI8/K_2O70QwFj8/s1600/savvy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vwst3eiV6P0/VtOCu0v3INI/AAAAAAAADI8/K_2O70QwFj8/s400/savvy.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://mythcreants.com/blog/five-signs-your-story-is-sexist/">The Five
Signs Your Story is Sexist</a> is an article by Chris Winkle detailing her
opinion on this matter, an opinion I mostly disagree with. In her first
example, she postulates the women in <i>WoT </i>and
<i>Dune</i> are strong with lesbian tendencies
which is threatening to men and therefore sexist. Whaaaa...?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I didn’t get that from the books at all. The genders took
turns being all kinds of bad. No need to single out one. And as far as being,
lesbian...if so, it did a fly-by on me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>GoT shows warfare</b>
and the aftermath in a rainbow of colors. It isn’t exactly my cuppa but IMO it does
depict real war, the conquered and the victors. Check out documentaries about
WWII or ISIS today. All the gore in GoT and more. Much more. Real battles aren’t
unicorns and fluffy bunnies. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The TV program is violent. I can’t watch it because it
reaches my limit of depravity in the first ten minutes. But still, I can admit
it takes stories out of history and today’s headlines.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://s3.foxfilm.com/foxmovies/production/films/103/images/gallery/deadpool1-gallery-image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://s3.foxfilm.com/foxmovies/production/films/103/images/gallery/deadpool1-gallery-image.jpg" height="171" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>You wanna know real
sexism?</b> Try this: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/ryan-reynolds-debunks-the-myth-that-women-dont-like-superhero-movies_us_56c1ea67e4b0c3c55051e8bb" target="_blank">the studios almost didn’t make <i>Deadpool </i></a>because the Suits in the Head Office didn’t think it would
appeal to women. Yes, it is profane. A lot of nakedness. Blush-worthy sex
scenes. Violence. But this woman loved it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Think of all the good movies not made due to this ‘tude.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Honestly,</b> a person can find offense in anything if they look hard enough. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So
are you a sexist? Do you depict stereotypical characters? Do you care? Or is
all this mostly irritating hogwash?</span></span></h3>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Persistence + Humor = Published</div>Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08155372788872245758noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542683203952246031.post-82525676980764292432016-02-22T01:00:00.000-06:002016-02-22T10:40:39.212-06:00Angela Brown, Unicorn Bell, and Facebook Security<h3>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Every now and again, posts and blogs catch my eye and shout
out is in order.</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6wJk57U16C4/Uy48MmyYISI/AAAAAAAAEak/BTtkcyOlK8Y/s1600/Angela.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6wJk57U16C4/Uy48MmyYISI/AAAAAAAAEak/BTtkcyOlK8Y/s1600/Angela.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://publishness.blogspot.com/2016/02/pick-your-brain.html" target="_blank">Angela Brown</a></b> caused me to consider</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> the lack of diversity in books.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On the one hand, I agree. More variety is a good thing. There is a market for different takes on life, rationales, and
opinions. But I question whether someone such as I—farm girl, introvert, and
fantasy aficionado—could deliver a true picture of life in New York City of a
Broadway show cast member who loves to party. Or life as a transgender girl in
Spain. I don’t think I have it in me. The amount of research blows my mind even
if I kept my derriere home and Googled it all. I have no doubt traveling to these
spots would be a living and breathing <i>stranger
in a strange land </i>experience.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Summary: I fall back on <i>write what you know. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I like twisting my set-in-her-ways mind in different
directions. It’s creates flexibility by encouraging the synapses to branch out.
But I can’t go down the path of forcing writers to be diverse when the
experiences aren’t there. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Compelling works only so far. After a line is crossed, the
story becomes awkward, fake, and unbelievable. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'd rather read it than write it. But that doesn't help the diversity problem, huh?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jvCzVXpdlmo/Vsov-xsSjMI/AAAAAAAADIs/q4SWq03QY64/s1600/banner%2Bfor%2Bmagnet%2Bpng.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jvCzVXpdlmo/Vsov-xsSjMI/AAAAAAAADIs/q4SWq03QY64/s320/banner%2Bfor%2Bmagnet%2Bpng.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>UnicornBell lost</b>
a fantastic moderator this week. E.J. Roberts is the force behind<i> <a href="http://adropofinkreviews.com/" target="_blank">A Drop of Ink Reviews</a></i>, a book review site in demand from readers and publishers. Even Random Books wants
her reviews. How cool is that? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our critique site will miss her, but we wish her well and
hope to hear many more great things.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Paris_Tuileries_Garden_Facepalm_statue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Paris_Tuileries_Garden_Facepalm_statue.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Facebook and security</b>. When I edited my profile of FB, I made of
point of NOT listing my birthday. IMHO, it gives too easy access to sensitive
information. How many sites ask for your birth date as a security measure?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But I have relatives who know when I was born oh-</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">so-many years ago and post happy birthdays galore. Oh well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Do you stretch you writerly mind with diversity? Enjoy
concise, fair book reviews?</span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Think relatives need to mind their own...er, do you believe posting
your birthday is a security concern?</span></h3>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Persistence + Humor = Published</div>Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08155372788872245758noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542683203952246031.post-33385757784832708652016-02-15T11:25:00.000-06:002016-05-10T18:38:16.783-05:00First Page Contest, Deadpool, and The Walking Dead<h3>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I don’t usually celebrate Valentine’s Day other than with a "have a
happy". </span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But yesterday was memorable.</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>My Sweet Baboo</b> of
42 years doesn’t go to the movies much let alone enjoy the same outrageous
stuff that I do. He likes <i>Sabrina</i> and<i> American President</i> type movies. Chick
flicks I reckon. I like <i>Galaxy Quest,
Star Trek/Wars,</i> and the Marvel universe. Yesterday, he manned-up and took
me to see <i>Deadpool</i>. What a sweetie,
huh. Not sure he liked it all that much but love was in his heart.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Deadpool</i></b>...okay, wow. Funny, amazing special effects, and way
cool script. I was laughing from the first opening credits to the end and enjoyed
every minute. I want to see it again to catch what I missed. So many inside
jokes that it doesn’t always connect at first. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is so different from the other characters in the Marvel franchise that it seems a whole new genre.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
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</div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">No spoilers here but keep in
mind, this is not for kids. Don’t take your thirteen year old to see this.
Absolutely not for the young’uns.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">One thing, IMHO, staying for the two teasers after the
credits was a waste of time. Not like Iron Man III for example. Or Thor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And another thing: If graphic violence (of bad guys getting their comeuppance),
multiple curse words, nudity, and sexual situations offend you, don’t watch. I
didn’t feel any of the above was gratuitous but yanno, that is my opinion.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-18Y48EHTjiI/VsIGZobxkJI/AAAAAAAADIM/KyCz9eRvTAc/s1600/the-walking-dead-season-6-b-key-art-michonne-gurira-rick-lincoln-alt-800x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-18Y48EHTjiI/VsIGZobxkJI/AAAAAAAADIM/KyCz9eRvTAc/s320/the-walking-dead-season-6-b-key-art-michonne-gurira-rick-lincoln-alt-800x600.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>The Walking Dead</i></b> premiered its second half of its sixth season
with an on-the-edge-of-your-seat shocker. This show just gets better and
better, keeps me wondering who will die without killing off too many—aka Game of
Thrones—to ruin the ride. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For writers, it highlights how to plot, divert
attention from the real story, and blow up expectations. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Regarding the last, if you can guess the storyline, predict
it, the surprise factor is a mound of glue. Surprise, shock keeps the reader
interested. Not just via deaths but unexpected plot twists.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>First Page Contest.</b>
Here is your chance to get your writing noticed, create interest, and build a
platform to display your skills. Plus, you win BOOKS! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It’s a contest
over at <a href="http://unicornbell.blogspot.com/2016/02/first-page-contest.html" target="_blank">Unicorn Bell, our critique site.</a> Moderated by the multi-talented
Charity Bradford, it gives writers a shoutout. Enter soon and win bragging rights.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Are you a Marvel Universe fan? Want to see Deadpool? Worship
Walking Dead? Ready to enter a writing contest?</span></h3>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Persistence + Humor = Published</div>Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08155372788872245758noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542683203952246031.post-81023906026919515832016-02-08T09:59:00.000-06:002016-05-10T18:38:31.860-05:00The Quiet Knock<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Ambition waved</b> goodbye several months ago. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I shrugged and went about my day. The days turned into weeks then months while Shame and Guilt competed to bring me down.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>A knock</b> at the door in my mind. I notice a familiarity about it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ambition stands there shuffling its feet, not knowing if it is welcome. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think I will let it in. Maybe it will fill the space in my heart and crowd out Shame and Guilt. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For today, at this hour, I will call it a win and hope it is the turning point.</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b01ETMufcsc/Vri4oe8w-0I/AAAAAAAADHw/zUr0T3aNcUc/s1600/100_0643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b01ETMufcsc/Vri4oe8w-0I/AAAAAAAADHw/zUr0T3aNcUc/s400/100_0643.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Maybe the guttering candle flame will blaze into the conflagration it once was. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And I will name myself Writer once more.</span></h3>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Persistence + Humor = Published</div>Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08155372788872245758noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542683203952246031.post-86136630118157415402015-10-12T11:06:00.000-05:002015-10-12T11:06:58.553-05:00For the Love of Fall<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k3XYkJwzLjU/VhvW9hbKmsI/AAAAAAAADEU/b23FF6nMTMA/s1600/IMG_1307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k3XYkJwzLjU/VhvW9hbKmsI/AAAAAAAADEU/b23FF6nMTMA/s320/IMG_1307.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is nearly universal, this love for the halcyon days of
pumpkins, glowing leaves, and changing weather. </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ELpUSec2Er8/VhvW5SZZWzI/AAAAAAAADEI/ws2AYC3Qf74/s1600/IMG_1309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ELpUSec2Er8/VhvW5SZZWzI/AAAAAAAADEI/ws2AYC3Qf74/s320/IMG_1309.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The angle of the sun gives the fields a depth of color that wasn't there in the summer.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OGsIIY0OT6s/VhvW7ox867I/AAAAAAAADEQ/ZeTae5zc_cc/s1600/IMG_1328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OGsIIY0OT6s/VhvW7ox867I/AAAAAAAADEQ/ZeTae5zc_cc/s320/IMG_1328.JPG" width="213" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And the decorations make it extra super, doesn't it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If only the Asian beetle didn’t crash the part. So annoying.
They look like the esteemed Ladybug but they aren’t. See the difference? </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/insects/find/multicolored-asian-lady-beetles/img/M1176-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/insects/find/multicolored-asian-lady-beetles/img/M1176-4.jpg" height="223" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">They bite, invade the house, and fly around on warm fall
days waiting to land on me. If bothered, they eject a stink like no other. Yuk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Go <a href="http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/multicolored-asian-lady-beetle" target="_blank">here </a>to see how they ended up in my living room.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>On the Farm</b>. Harvest is in full swing with days of greasing </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">the combine, moving equipment, and bringing the lovely grain to bins.
Beautiful, beautiful weather has made a wet spring a distant memory. Thank
Heavens.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Halloween </b>is coming soon and in the spirit of the season,
here is a video that made me actually scream.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Have a happy. If you can. *evilgrin*</span></h3>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Persistence + Humor = Published</div>Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08155372788872245758noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542683203952246031.post-4144696720622681812015-10-07T09:49:00.002-05:002016-05-10T18:38:51.564-05:00IWSG - In a Fog of Recovery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t4FB6s33udA/UdN-qInyJAI/AAAAAAAAB6s/E-T-5NJbZq0/s1600/InsecureWritersSupportGroup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t4FB6s33udA/UdN-qInyJAI/AAAAAAAAB6s/E-T-5NJbZq0/s200/InsecureWritersSupportGroup.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html" style="color: #b5653b; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><i style="color: #4e2800; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"><b>IWSG—Insecure Writers Support Group</b></i><b style="color: #4e2800; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">: The Final Frontier.</span></b></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>These are the continuing voyages of the Ninja Captain, AJC. His mission, to explore all new writing venues, to seek out new authors and new blogs. </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #e7c090; color: #4e2800; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;"><i>To boldly go where no blogateer has gone before.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Coming together on the first Wednesday of every month for a virtual pat on the back. </b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><b>If you check the date</b> of my last post, you’ll see it’s been nearly two months. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I’ve had longer periods of inactivity but </span><br />
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this time I had a purposeful dry spell. You see, I quit writing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />It was a time out session intending to get the juices flowing again. After motivation goads that only served to foment guilt, I took a break from it all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />This week, a tiny spark became a guttering candle-flame, easily blown out but determined, and I began to write again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Thank Heavens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><b>Windows 10 update.</b> In the name of all that’s Holy, be careful upgrading this pile of buggy poop. Especially if you have Win 7 with older programs. My computer is only seven months old, so it was well able to handle the upgrade. But some of the programs did not play well with Win 10. For about a week all went well and I was doing a happy dance. Loved it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Then came a Microsoft “fix” and all went south. </span></div>
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<li>Windows Live mail went into recovery mode</li>
<li>Windows Media Player (not Center) deleted all music playlists</li>
<li>Internet connection failed or was cut</li>
<li>Cortana left me</li>
<li>Store button quit working as well as the Start button</li>
<li>Desktop kept freezing</li>
<li>Control Center went into hiding</li>
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Things went downhill from there. <br /><br />Microsoft had no answer. The forums were filled with comments but no solutions. I re-installed Win 7 and got most of my functionality back but some programs needed a personal adjustment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />I replaced Windows Live Mail with Outlook and I am in the process of retrieving all my music files and inserting them into WMP. My desktop is back. No more blue screens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />A clean install might be a better choice for someone deciding to go this route. Just be careful and watch for all the above after a few days. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EqP4fuimDgY/VhUwk1RjYsI/AAAAAAAADDk/j65-YTcFwPk/s1600/IMG_1357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EqP4fuimDgY/VhUwk1RjYsI/AAAAAAAADDk/j65-YTcFwPk/s320/IMG_1357.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><b>On the Farm.</b> It’s Hammer and Tongs time. Harvest, in other words. The weather is cooperating but equipment breakdowns are delaying some aspects.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />My heart goes out to the folks on the East coast with over two feet of rain in a very short period.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Got Win 10? Liked it? Hated it? Or are you running like a scared rabbit from the upgrade?</span></h3>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Persistence + Humor = Published</div>Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08155372788872245758noreply@blogger.com14