tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90686597640965302442024-02-22T05:38:23.198-05:00Out on a LimbShy Writer Goes SocialRuth Schiffmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625363295823548969noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068659764096530244.post-608023353710993092017-05-08T11:06:00.000-04:002017-05-08T11:06:48.938-04:00And the Winner Is ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There's nothing quite like celebrating life's milestones to make you feel grateful. My husband marked a big birthday this weekend. The family gathered. We shared a couple of good meals. Some stories. Some laughs. Getting together is always nice, but something about birthdays, maybe it's putting a number on things, always makes me feel grateful for all the years we've had together. Oh, and there was cake: my husband's favorite black forest cake. By the time I thought about taking a picture to include in this post, we had already enjoyed it. But believe me, it was a thing of beauty. (I'm not bragging. I didn't make it. I happily gave that up several years ago when we found a bakery version that we loved just as much.)<br />
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When I was part of a local writing group, we became quite good at celebrating. It was a great group of people who genuinely encouraged one another through the lows and cheered each other on through the highs. After that group broke up, a friend and I would mark triumphs on our writing journey with a version of Julia Cameron's Artist Dates, by visiting local galleries, doing something to enrich our creative souls.<br />
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I'm so thankful to be part of such a wonderful online group. I treasure each of my critique partners. And so I was thrilled that so many stopped by the blog here to help celebrate the release of <a href="http://patriciabaileyauthor.com/">Patricia Bailey</a>'s middle-grade debut, <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29742894-the-tragically-true-adventures-of-kit-donovan?ac=1&from_search=true">The Tragically True Adventures of Kit Donovan.</a> </b>Many thanks to all who commented. And the winner of a signed ARC is ... <a href="http://mirkabreen.blogspot.com/">Mirka Breen</a>!<br />
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Congratulations, Mirka! I know you'll love it.<br />
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What have you celebrated lately? Do you do something to mark the steps in your writing journey?Ruth Schiffmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625363295823548969noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068659764096530244.post-73236665649991348622017-04-24T06:00:00.000-04:002017-04-24T06:00:06.958-04:00Celebrating with a Giveaway<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Today I'm thrilled to have my friend and critique partner, Trish Bailey, here to celebrate the release of her middle grade debut, <i><b>The Tragically True Adventures of Kit Donovan</b>.</i> Trish is a talented writer who writes with a captivating voice and lots of heart. I'm so excited that readers are going to have the chance to get to know Kit, a character full of spunk and personality, and have the chance to be swept up in her adventures.</span><br />
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<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Summary:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0in;">Thirteen-year-old Kit Donovan made a lot of promises to her dying mother, and the most difficult one to keep – the one about being a proper lady – seems downright impossible in a place like Goldfield, Nevada. The corrupt owner the gold mine seems to hold sway over the whole town. When Kit convinces Papa to speak out against the dangers in the mine, trouble finds her family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now she must find a way to expose the misdeeds before it’s too late. With help from an unlikely friend, a Shoshone boy, and a newspaperman, she puts her big mouth and all the life skills she’s learned from reading <i>The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn</i> to work. But is she really brave enough to stand up for what’s right?</span></div>
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<b style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">What
factors influenced your choice to write for a MG audience?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I love middle-grade kids. They’re the best. Wild and funny, heartfelt
and serious. They’re always about growth – physical, emotional, social. The
middle-grade years are all about stepping up to new challenges – challenges
that take you just beyond what you know to be safe and secure and sure. New
schools, new friendships, new insights on parents and the world – it’s all
there in middle-grade stories. The voices are always clear and rich; the
struggles are real and meaningful; and in the end there is always a glimmer of
hope. Plus, there’s usually not much kissing, because…yuck.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Your main character, Kit, has so much spunk and such a strong
personality. Did <i>The Tragically True Adventures of Kit Donovan </i>come to you originally
as a story idea or did you hear Kit’s voice first?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I heard Kit’s voice first. She showed up the minute I wondered what it
would be like to have lived in Goldfield, Nevada during the boom years. She was
sad and mad and ready to tell me all about it. Her voice and her emotional
truth were there in the beginning and didn’t change even as the structure and
the plot evolved.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>I always enjoy hearing revision stories. I know <i>The Tragically
True Adventures of Kit Donovan </i>went through multiple iterations and started out
formatted as diary entries. Can you tell us what factors influenced your
decision to change the story to its current format and how you feel it improved
in the process?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was so hard. I kept getting conflicting feedback about the format.
Some people loved it. Others didn’t – but no one could really articulate why. I
didn’t want to lose Kit’s voice – but the deeper I got in the story the more I
knew that something was off. Eventually I made my way to a writing retreat
where one of the instructors said that she loved the voice and the story – she just wanted it all to
feel more immediate. She suggested I ditch the journal and make it all happen
in real time. And that did it. Make it more immediate. So simple. But it took
me so long to get there. <span style="text-align: center;">Once I rewrote the first chapter, I knew I was on the right track. The story just came together. The plot tightened, and I was able to ditch some scenes that were historically accurate but not necessary. And, best of all, I think it made Kit’s voice even stronger.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Do you have a favorite motivational phrase/quote?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I think my go-to phrase is
one Kit shares: How hard can it be?<br />
It never fails to get me started.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>It’s apparent from your blog that you are a dog lover. Middle grade is
a great audience for dog stories. (My personal favorite is <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13623899-a-dog-called-homeless">A Dog Called Homeless</a></i> by Sarah Lean.) What’s your favorite dog story? </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I’m a dog lover – and since I’m not yet a dog owner, I’m a fan of dog
books – as long as the dog stays alive. As a child, Jack in the Little House
books was my favorite – and I shed a fair amount of tears over that pooch. My
current favorite dog book is Kristin Gray’s <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26836203-vilonia-beebe-takes-charge?ac=1&from_search=true">Vilonia Beebe Takes Charge.</a></i> It’s
not a dog story exactly – but it’s a girl wants dog story – and I can totally
relate to that. After that I’d go with Barbara O’Connor’s <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27414384-wish?ac=1&from_search=true">Wish. </a></i>The cover says
it all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Is there a dog story in your future?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I think so. I'm working on two books right now – and both have dogs that
play key roles in the story. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Patricia Bailey grew up in a small town in Oregon. She now lives in a
slightly larger town in Oregon with her husband and three cats. She spends
her time hiking mountain trails, scribbling story ideas on sticky notes, and
longing for a dog. <i>The Tragically True Adventures of Kit Donovan</i> is her
first novel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Learn more about Patricia by visiting her here:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://patriciabaileyauthor.com/">Website</a> ~ </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;"><a href="https://twitter.com/patriciabtweets" style="text-indent: 0in;">Twitter </a> ~ </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/patriciabaileyauthor/" style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;">Facebook </a><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;"> ~ </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15143101.Patricia_Bailey" style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;">Goodreads</a><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Look for <i>The Tragically True Adventures of Kit Donovan</i> here:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Tragically-True-Adventures-Kit-Donovan/dp/0807581437/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484279594&sr=8-1&keywords=the+tragically+true+adventures+of+kit+donovan">Amazon</a> ~ </span><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-tragically-true-adventures-of-kit-donovan-patricia-bailey/1125000323?ean=9780807581438" style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;">Barnes and Noble</a><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;"> ~ </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;"><a href="http://www.powells.com/book/the-tragically-true-adventures-of-kit-donovan-9780807581438/61-0" style="text-indent: 0in;">Powells </a>~ </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;"><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780807581438" style="text-indent: 0in;">Indiebound </a></span></div>
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Giveaway!</h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Trish is giving away a signed ARC to one lucky commenter. Just leave a comment for her below to be entered. For an extra entry, head over to<a href="http://patriciabaileyauthor.com/index.php/2017/03/28/the-tragically-true-adventures-of-kit-donovan-book-trailer/"> Patricia's blog</a>, check out her book trailer, and leave a comment there as well. I'll announce the winner here next week. Good luck!</span></div>
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Ruth Schiffmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625363295823548969noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068659764096530244.post-58162887175070914692017-03-28T07:22:00.000-04:002017-03-28T07:22:11.922-04:00Trade-Offs This morning as I gave up my writing time to finally get the laundry situation under control, I thought about trade-offs. We all make them on a daily basis based on mood, preference, necessity. I regularly let my laundry pile up like Mt. Everest so I can steal away to my computer. Whether it's working on my WIP, reading for one of my critique partners, or sending out another query, the time must come from somewhere.<br />
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Life is full of trade-offs. After months and months in the query trenches, I started to think about all the things I've forgone. How much I've really invested. From the years of writing and revising to the months of querying, to all the things I have given up in the pursuit of this dream. Of course there have also been times I've put the dream on hold: when my children were younger and my desire to homeschool them won out. When my parents' health declined and my writing, in comparison, fell back into the category of a selfish pursuit. The trade-offs we make basically come down to perspective.<br />
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Last week I came closer than I ever have to thinking maybe all I've invested will come to nothing. Querying for long periods of time will do that to you, no matter how resilient you think you are. And yet, even on the days I give myself permission to give up this dream, I can't do it. The writing -- it feels essential. So I continue to make the trade-offs that allow me to do the work. I skipped grocery shopping today to get out a requested full and another handful of queries. And as long as dinner was in the crock pot, I pushed off the vacuuming for another few hours to ensure I got the next scene of my WIP written.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We devote ourselves to a writing project for years, all the while
knowing that it may not succeed. So, yes, it feels good to complete household
tasks: Laundry folded and put away? Check. Dinner simmering? Check. Especially
when progress in the publishing world is so achingly slow. But
maybe that's also why I'm okay with letting the dust gather a bit, or letting
the waste baskets fill to the rim before emptying. It doesn’t all have to get
done today. Tonight, I put aside my WIP to write this blog post, and tomorrow
I'll start letting another mountain of laundry accumulate, because I’m still
chasing that dream, one query at a time.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What do you most readily trade-off in pursuit of writing time?</span></div>
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Ruth Schiffmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625363295823548969noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068659764096530244.post-15298929507575706482017-02-27T06:52:00.000-05:002017-02-27T06:52:27.545-05:00Unexpected Paths<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAe-1U_GYfDbA9jsM2c9TwMx8gii_Fwn7K65O94qi5QOcYh7C10w5ql_xIXMIV2hzbUm1V7Q2Dx6uBefvGveRq6ewykLYaBeRrX8HkWqsfs0-kCA-DAmzoIdDHKkQ3T5xS5_M2QAIti5Mg/s1600/Mountain-lake-300x199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAe-1U_GYfDbA9jsM2c9TwMx8gii_Fwn7K65O94qi5QOcYh7C10w5ql_xIXMIV2hzbUm1V7Q2Dx6uBefvGveRq6ewykLYaBeRrX8HkWqsfs0-kCA-DAmzoIdDHKkQ3T5xS5_M2QAIti5Mg/s320/Mountain-lake-300x199.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image by <a href="http://www.freeartisticphotos.com/">Free Artistic Photos</a></td></tr>
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I love it when a book sets off a chain reaction; one book
leading to another, which leads to another. Often when I discover an author I
like, I want to read everything they’ve written. I’m sure we all do that. But I
love when a book leads us in unexpected directions.<span style="color: magenta;">
</span>(After reading The Fault in Our Stars, how many of us would have read An
Imperial Affliction if it had been a real book?)<br />
<br />
I just finished <a href="http://lianemoriarty.com.au/">Liane Moriarty</a>’s
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23751850-the-hypnotist-s-love-story?ac=1&from_search=true">The Hypnotist’s Love Story</a>. I’ve never been particularly interested in the
subject of hypnosis, but while reading, I was intrigued by the way the MC spoke
vivid images into her clients’ consciousness.I ended up at the library yesterday
searching <i>visualization techniques</i> and <i>guided imagery</i>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image by <a href="http://www.freeartisticphotos.com/">Free Artistic Photos</a></td></tr>
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I often experience anxiety in social situations, and in unfamiliar surroundings. When I traveled to New York City several years ago for Book Expo
America, I Xeroxed pages from my daily spiritual reading and pulled them from my purse whenever I began to feel panicky.
But I’m a visual learner. While I homeschooled my children, I was always
drawing diagrams and making charts to help reinforce a concept (if not for
them, for myself.) I love the idea of self healing with imagined images. So with that
thought, I’ll leave you with some gorgeous photos (not mine) that help me feel relaxed and grounded.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIY6X9SK3xkshTRdtzdRqEIpowLyz7FCIi840c4TUAMJziiPRSqTH86z2jflH7I4fhSVLo4qwAZ92RdpwUuabAYvLhFJQCOMQPD92GmLyAcx9PUyMV_kQzVZubwhFJp3Fr7r-_mbc7t1Y4/s1600/Black-Pine-199x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIY6X9SK3xkshTRdtzdRqEIpowLyz7FCIi840c4TUAMJziiPRSqTH86z2jflH7I4fhSVLo4qwAZ92RdpwUuabAYvLhFJQCOMQPD92GmLyAcx9PUyMV_kQzVZubwhFJp3Fr7r-_mbc7t1Y4/s200/Black-Pine-199x300.jpg" width="132" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image by <a href="http://www.freeartisticphotos.com/">Free Artistic Photos</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image by <a href="http://www.freeartisticphotos.com/">Free Artistic Photos</a></td></tr>
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What unexpected paths has reading led you down?</div>
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Ruth Schiffmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625363295823548969noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068659764096530244.post-20197858166376791032017-02-13T07:16:00.000-05:002017-02-13T07:16:44.699-05:00In Search of Balance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWlO32ylrXfJDkFtewO_pPW5yvmavlXgOm-_BIAq1s8OHroJB4TFrwrJPyhs37nZjSzbOZ96vxV2FE7ggOA3DX9QV2mmVDahDQR6pc9e3A3ncWLmnjBbAhVIEJUdhFYP8NurIZq5onUAeG/s1600/file000275155120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWlO32ylrXfJDkFtewO_pPW5yvmavlXgOm-_BIAq1s8OHroJB4TFrwrJPyhs37nZjSzbOZ96vxV2FE7ggOA3DX9QV2mmVDahDQR6pc9e3A3ncWLmnjBbAhVIEJUdhFYP8NurIZq5onUAeG/s320/file000275155120.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This week I thought a lot about balance: in work, in
writing, in life. Probably because it’s February, everything is covered in snow
and my four-year-old great niece asked me to take her to the playground. There’s an awesome seesaw
that was installed last year at one of the neighborhood parks, made out of
strong wood, with rubber tires underneath to prevent that terrible thumping
that can happen when your riding partner unexpectedly disembarks. I thought
about balance because she and I can’t ride that seesaw together. She needs
someone else on her end to balance things out. Usually, she and my daughter would be on one side, while I'm on the other, but this week, it was just the two of us. It
didn’t matter; with a blizzard that dumped a foot of snow days earlier and
temperatures in the low 20s, there would be no playground visit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Still the picture of the seesaw stayed with me all week. So
many of life’s struggles can be boiled down to finding the right balance: Between eating healthy and eating what we want. Between taking care of your
family, but also making time to stay in touch with friends. Between becoming so
focused on the road to publication that we lose sight of the fact that we would
write for the love of it, no matter what. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The more the image of that seesaw lingered, the more I thought
about what happens once we climb on. Once we achieve that initial balance. Then
it’s all about the ups and downs. Not only our own, but also our partner’s.
Just as satisfying as being the one in the air is watching the smiling face
across from you as they reach those heights. That’s what makes it interesting.
That’s what makes it fun. That’s what makes going to the playground worth it
(when the temperature is above freezing and you are properly attired.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s the joy of receiving a heart-shaped box full of chocolates
and then the devastation of staring back at the empty box a week later and realizing
you should be doing Zumba, or Pilates, or at least getting up from your desk to
do a few deep-knee bends between reading emails. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s the high we get when we finish a manuscript, get the
full request, have that agent call, countered by the disappointment of hanging
up the phone with revision suggestions instead of an offer of representation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I look back at this blog, it’s been about the highs and
lows. Those are the realities of life far more often than balance. I’d like
this to be a place where we can both celebrate and commiserate those realities
together. My heart was touched by all of you who came and commented on my last
post. It reminded me of how wonderfully supportive the writing community is, and I’m so grateful for each one of you.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wJhUJx8-nZGG1QCVmbKKTj5tp5LL8gQm4zntJ8xi38MzhpX6Q-ljcPHgu_WOnZbYQsZIexodtdgG1a3mDCb-Je9eAdtxxFDbmhFL-m9P25fhdTSOO_A2g7tNID6TrolhVbLiDLrK0qw4/s1600/by+your+side+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wJhUJx8-nZGG1QCVmbKKTj5tp5LL8gQm4zntJ8xi38MzhpX6Q-ljcPHgu_WOnZbYQsZIexodtdgG1a3mDCb-Je9eAdtxxFDbmhFL-m9P25fhdTSOO_A2g7tNID6TrolhVbLiDLrK0qw4/s1600/by+your+side+cover.jpg" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In celebration of Valentine’s Day, I’d like to share with you a
high point in my reading life. My daughter introduced me to the novels of Kasie
West and I am completely hooked. She writes feel-good contemporary romances
with great characterization and a lot of heart. Her latest,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>By Your Side,</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>released last week and will soon be
moving from my daughter's nightstand to my own. But really I recommend any of
her titles. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">Do you have a high or low from this week to share? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>Ruth Schiffmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625363295823548969noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068659764096530244.post-90177079783918786592017-01-30T07:12:00.000-05:002017-01-30T07:12:10.112-05:00Keep on Dreaming Even if it Breaks Your Heart<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Qo0kJldZClqoQtgUa0Asd7xEgjmqhwbSKUO_-VB7Sa_JtRVaDcEnxuMAS2U0mOkgOS89CAyqP9xe1yp_M4cMHUn3SSH4Dz1atFuxGpvKbdBMDIFzUGMW9pZqvEyS-3nLtbiFv-gHZf9D/s1600/DSCN2376.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Qo0kJldZClqoQtgUa0Asd7xEgjmqhwbSKUO_-VB7Sa_JtRVaDcEnxuMAS2U0mOkgOS89CAyqP9xe1yp_M4cMHUn3SSH4Dz1atFuxGpvKbdBMDIFzUGMW9pZqvEyS-3nLtbiFv-gHZf9D/s320/DSCN2376.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I used to own at least a dozen houseplants.They dotted the windowsills and hung from the ceiling in fancy baskets. I have zero left. They didn't all die. I gave some of them away for their own good. The problem was a lack of consistency. I'd neglect them until they were near death and then pamper them back to good health, only to let them languish again. It's an all-or-nothing mentality, and as much as I want to do better, this is how I continue to operate.<br />
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Look at this blog. I didn't mean to let it die. I only meant to take a short break. Then the reasons for staying away piled up and, well, here we are two-and-a-half years later.<br />
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On the up side, during that time, I finished another manuscript - YA suspense, which is new for me, and I've had a great time writing it. On the down side, I've lost touch with a lot of my fellow bloggers.<br />
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When I started Shy Writer six years ago, I admitted in <a href="http://outonalimbshywritergoessocial.blogspot.com/2011/08/breaking-out-of-bubble-life.html">my first ever blog post</a> that I tend to isolate myself. This is another behavior I have to consciously work at overcoming. Because even though my default is to go it alone, life is just better when we have people to share the journey with. And that's what has finally brought me back here: you, my fellow writers. Because you are the only ones who truly get it. This crazy journey. The feeling of elation when you've worked for three years on a manuscript and you're finally sure it's done. The feeling of possibility when you send those first queries out into the world. And then the feelings of disappointment that turn to despair as the dreaded possibility surfaces: maybe this one is going to end up in the drawer alongside all the others. That's a hard truth to swallow.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOshupKSTCLi6FApU6TusQR7y5fZUkl3Bds9rD64M_ibCEZ3l589-x2Rh-aIL2cZqW8CmuznnCcv0wmwO2Cf_OfqNm_kyBOMXB1dpfWYjYiPD0dvAUKgLKLcmqAp-iVtkXVHALfQAp3qK/s1600/free-artistic-photo-flower-red-orange-400x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOshupKSTCLi6FApU6TusQR7y5fZUkl3Bds9rD64M_ibCEZ3l589-x2Rh-aIL2cZqW8CmuznnCcv0wmwO2Cf_OfqNm_kyBOMXB1dpfWYjYiPD0dvAUKgLKLcmqAp-iVtkXVHALfQAp3qK/s320/free-artistic-photo-flower-red-orange-400x300.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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Today, I'm not only trying to bring this blog back to life, I'm hoping to revive my broken spirit by reaching out, reconnecting with old friends and maybe even making some new ones.<br />
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I don't know about you, but it's often music that gets me through the toughest spots. So I'm sharing a song that fits this journey and always helps me to take heart.<br />
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How about you? Do you have a song that keeps you going when you feel like giving up?Ruth Schiffmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625363295823548969noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068659764096530244.post-47516045558409246422014-10-13T06:00:00.000-04:002014-10-13T06:00:07.397-04:00Plot Twists<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2a8MmrapOMkT-XTJWL7w2ZB7Oo8ngDeU-TaewxmkANhonGzEbZTvjLDD7HLwZgv40q_9zLHkjA8AcFuAh26cTp2KuHBRAAqx3ktQM3FwR97SONmcoLzQqu2LTS7C73qLIORR2wXl8Aur/s1600/free-picture-photo-apuseni-path.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2a8MmrapOMkT-XTJWL7w2ZB7Oo8ngDeU-TaewxmkANhonGzEbZTvjLDD7HLwZgv40q_9zLHkjA8AcFuAh26cTp2KuHBRAAqx3ktQM3FwR97SONmcoLzQqu2LTS7C73qLIORR2wXl8Aur/s1600/free-picture-photo-apuseni-path.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I love unexpected twists in books. There's something very satisfying about being taken by surprise. At least in the story world.<br />
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In life - not so much.<br />
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Back in the spring, I had been toying with the idea of taking a blog break - something decadent, like, a couple of weeks to make some headway on my latest WIP. But things didn't play out as expected. My last post was five months ago. Five. Months. I blame it on a string of real life plot twists, including taking in my niece's three children at the same time my mother was in the ICU with congestive heart failure. All summer long - and even still today -I feel like I'm living a whole new life. During those first few months, I honestly didn't see how I would ever find time to write again. Which was excruciating. Each day that passed without my being able to write, I felt like something inside of me died. Then I received a rejection on a requested revision that had been out for nearly six months. And I thought: that's it. It's a sign. I have to give this up.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPlSirVPr-OWC7WoSQcWP_SPuh_7KzH7ZvnLOvgu1ezXgh1OGP11fjE62R0MqkcF68x8z5nCfCkgEYjK45Z9j3Ts4JHt-ZQhnWWrc3JvusLy2WR9HK0Uz10ab9I62mVJt6fm9EQm3UNtLH/s1600/file0001874402480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPlSirVPr-OWC7WoSQcWP_SPuh_7KzH7ZvnLOvgu1ezXgh1OGP11fjE62R0MqkcF68x8z5nCfCkgEYjK45Z9j3Ts4JHt-ZQhnWWrc3JvusLy2WR9HK0Uz10ab9I62mVJt6fm9EQm3UNtLH/s1600/file0001874402480.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>But the next day I woke up with renewed determination. I have been working at this for too long. I have come too close. I am not giving up. I sent out a new round of queries and had another full request within days. I participated in Pitmad and garnered six interested agents. I still don't know where things will lead, but I do know that I'm back in the writing life. It's not the same life I had last spring. It's busier, messier, more complicated. But it's also fuller, and richer, and full of unexpected surprises. It may have taken me a while to find my way back, and I definitely have more to juggle, by I'm still a writer, and I'm in this writing life for good.<br />
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<br />Ruth Schiffmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625363295823548969noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068659764096530244.post-13986877526098143542014-05-19T06:00:00.000-04:002014-05-19T06:00:05.440-04:00Binge Reading, Part IIYes, I am still aggressively avoiding my WIP. Although my preferred form of distraction is reading, I have branched out into de-cluttering various closets, cabinets, and even a portion of attic space. The results on that front is substantial, but less interesting than the books I've read, so, let's chat about those. . .<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5jTp_kCj-UuyMv3rQhdXHGCQAWBxmA3ey3n33hTpj4xznGi5H-OYKAwgC3KRNR0gNCmTklqYCVNrR8GjlVENMxQZSHeAyvNtwX_YwP-m3GGtCds4PyQZVcSBoP4K5Mcu3Xa-r3d7HGCYU/s1600/to+all+the+boys+I've+loved+before+cover+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5jTp_kCj-UuyMv3rQhdXHGCQAWBxmA3ey3n33hTpj4xznGi5H-OYKAwgC3KRNR0gNCmTklqYCVNrR8GjlVENMxQZSHeAyvNtwX_YwP-m3GGtCds4PyQZVcSBoP4K5Mcu3Xa-r3d7HGCYU/s1600/to+all+the+boys+I've+loved+before+cover+image.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15749186-to-all-the-boys-i-ve-loved-before?ac=1">To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han</a></h4>
Lara Jean has a hidden stash of letters that she's written to all the boy's she's ever crushed on. They were never meant to be mailed, but when somehow, they are, the consequences are unexpected. This book made me happy inside. I loved the strong family bonds between Lara Jean, her father and two sisters, the strong personalities of each of the characters, and that even though Lara Jean isn't part of the in crowd, she's completely comfortable being who she is - staying in to bake homemade cupcakes for her sister's class bake sale when her classmates are out partying. I loved that I wasn't sure what I was hoping for until halfway through the book. And I love that there's a sequel in the works so I can experience more of Lara Jean and her story.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6604794-the-sky-is-everywhere?from_search=true">The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson </a></h4>
When Lennie Walker's older sister dies unexpectedly, Lennie finds that grief changes everything -- the way she can't seem to talk to her grandmother anymore, the way her clarinet playing isn't what it used to be, the way she has to write down her memories, and the way she looks at her sister's boyfriend, Toby, who seems to share her grief in a way no one else does. And then there's Joe, the new boy in town whose smiles make Lennie want to experience life in whole new ways. This story is full of strong emotions, a mix of sheer joy and utter loss and writing that is lyrical, full of imagery, and makes me think I would read anything by this author.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1162022.On_the_Jellicoe_Road?ac=1">Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta</a></h4>
Okay, the beginning of this book was confusing.There are these territory wars between the cadets, the townies, and the boarders of the Jellicoe School. I wasn't sure what to make of all of it for a long while (maybe 100 pages?) but I had been told by numerous people that it was worth sticking with and that everything would come together and it would be worth it. IT WAS! I usually don't read the full blurb of a book. I like to be surprised by a story, and often the blurbs just give too much away, IMO. But in this case, I wish I had read the blurb. I think it would have saved me undue confusion. A lot of characters are introduced at the outset and I had trouble keeping them straight. Plus there are flashbacks introduced by way of a manuscript from one of the characters, that I just wasn't sure how they connected with the main story line for a while. But when everything comes together, every last piece falls into place. As a writer, I'm in awe of Ms. Marchetta and her ability to pull it off so beautifully. When I finished the last page, I immediately went back and re-read all of the flashbacks to make sure I fully appreciated every intricacy.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17586491-the-dirt-diary?ac=1">The Dirt Diary by Anna Staniszewski</a></h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQaMKE47v0iOzXVqd5OAu4WYxvapi7LP84RDL-fYgKwnhLq-Qf3pBWa55Nxc1lX6FlultjDoz8DgmG0fngd-q5C60-KaK94Pzaey4eaEyDuoa-QSDp2TrdwgLniUus5tWptMjY9gpuarX/s1600/the+dirt+diary+cover+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQaMKE47v0iOzXVqd5OAu4WYxvapi7LP84RDL-fYgKwnhLq-Qf3pBWa55Nxc1lX6FlultjDoz8DgmG0fngd-q5C60-KaK94Pzaey4eaEyDuoa-QSDp2TrdwgLniUus5tWptMjY9gpuarX/s1600/the+dirt+diary+cover+image.jpg" /></a>When you're in junior high, scrubbing toilets with your mother for extra cash is not the kind of job you brag about to your friends. It also makes encountering your classmates, and even your enemies even more uncomfortable when you're picking up their dirty underwear and dusting off their crazy zombie figurine collection. But, when Rachel's parents split up, her plan to get them back together involves paying off a plane ticket to Florida, so she puts on a smile, grabs a toilet brush and gets to work. This was a fast, fun, lighthearted read full of lively writing and mouth-watering talk of sweets. (Rachel is also a baker looking for the perfect recipe for the school bake-off.). I found it shelved as YA, although it had more of a MG feel to it.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15790873-this-is-what-happy-looks-like?ac=1">This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith</a></h4>
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This is a sweet contemporary romance that starts out with a misdirected email and ends up with a real-life encounter between a teenage movie star and maybe the one girl on earth who doesn't swoon over him. It's hard for 17-year-old Ellie to think of THE Graham Larkin as the boy she's been corresponding with for the past few months, but when he shows up in her small town to shoot scenes for his latest movie, she has to decide if being part of his life is worth the risk, especially since there's a secret in her past that, if the paparazzi uncovers, could change her life forever.<br />
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Ruth Schiffmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625363295823548969noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068659764096530244.post-62545003347403439452014-05-12T15:01:00.000-04:002014-05-12T15:26:16.849-04:00Binge ReadingI've been on a bit of a reading binge lately. Some might say this is because I'm avoiding my WIP. Those people would be correct. I'm in that dreaded (but familiar) <i>my writing is crap</i> phase. I hate that phase. But until it passes, I'm making a sizable dent in my TBR list. Here are some of the books I've enjoyed lately:<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13515320-the-living?ac=1">The Living by Matt de la Pena</a></h3>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjjV-wwcvwjSW7IlYfMuM1behK1odmF_eG2lojuE2oKEbLLJXlijLCFj_GBN-9ZiBTOI1Bzu6Uwe66lrsVvukw3rGkeDxSazRbd7PmGzALdXkdj-5i6FcTxzQ4Y2TcLZjraFQSsk8BAuIX/s1600/the+living+cover+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjjV-wwcvwjSW7IlYfMuM1behK1odmF_eG2lojuE2oKEbLLJXlijLCFj_GBN-9ZiBTOI1Bzu6Uwe66lrsVvukw3rGkeDxSazRbd7PmGzALdXkdj-5i6FcTxzQ4Y2TcLZjraFQSsk8BAuIX/s1600/the+living+cover+image.jpg" /></a>I got hooked on Matt de la Pena's books a few months back after reading <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7661718-i-will-save-you">I Will Save You</a></i> and <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6234369-we-were-here">We Were Here</a>.</i> His characters just feel so real. I decided I better ration the remaining of his YA books, but then my daughter came home with <i>The Living</i>, and of course I had to read it, probably too soon, because now I have to wait along with everyone else for the next book in the series. On the upside he has two other YA titles I can read in the meantime ;) <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV3f3K7cILCuh6EPlPTDjmMuiaKILyQvfQeNJLh6Ajhyphenhyphenh1rfgelnMhyphenhyphenqYniDOvGp83TgAZzrb9B9thAIpK7f3Wt0iFhg7M8BnlLj4vuYl3HxKArfGie9j1IOZOMU7QPgiBB1fBI4-M1Udl/s1600/some+quiet+place+cover+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV3f3K7cILCuh6EPlPTDjmMuiaKILyQvfQeNJLh6Ajhyphenhyphenh1rfgelnMhyphenhyphenqYniDOvGp83TgAZzrb9B9thAIpK7f3Wt0iFhg7M8BnlLj4vuYl3HxKArfGie9j1IOZOMU7QPgiBB1fBI4-M1Udl/s1600/some+quiet+place+cover+image.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15710557-some-quiet-place?from_search=true">Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton</a></h3>
This was one I picked up at the library having never heard of it before, mostly because the cover and the book's small size caught my attention. This story was unlike anything I've read before, with a main character who cannot feel emotion, yet she sees them hovering around in human form as physical beings. I can't wait for the companion novel <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17281362-where-silence-gathers">Where Silence Gathers</a></i>, coming out in July from Flux.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17299264-leap-of-faith?ac=1">Leap of Faith by Jamie Blair</a></h3>
From page one you can't help but feel for the main character, Faith, growing up with a drug addicted, prostituting mother who has recently let herself get pregnant so she can sell the baby. When Faith sees the drug dealing couple who are going to buy the child, she decides she's going to run off with the child to save it from the life she's had to suffer through for sixteen years; but also, to get back at her mother, because depriving her of that paycheck seems like the best way to make her suffer.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWlPvrzzKtx7vNMm9QUBxjhYcO9XuN7UsO0W6ErHMgPTgYG7JbOz1hIJAf8nF2aSQVkd1ui7s3-EvnumCxY3HzOmr5jMceW2H7BEy1BTG5B_frpOBob-s6TNu261fVboPP-3KzQU8ytOv/s1600/how+to+love+cover+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWlPvrzzKtx7vNMm9QUBxjhYcO9XuN7UsO0W6ErHMgPTgYG7JbOz1hIJAf8nF2aSQVkd1ui7s3-EvnumCxY3HzOmr5jMceW2H7BEy1BTG5B_frpOBob-s6TNu261fVboPP-3KzQU8ytOv/s1600/how+to+love+cover+image.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17332564-how-to-love?ac=1">How to Love by Katie Cotugno</a></h3>
I fell completely head over heels for this book and carried the characters in my heart for weeks after I'd finished. I loved the before and after way the story unfolds. You get to discover Reena and Sawyer's past relationship alongside their current when Sawyer appears back in town after an almost three year absence during which Reena has had his baby. Aside from the age of the main character, this book didn't feel particularly YA. (I think it's marketed as a crossover.) But it didn't matter. I'm sure I'll be reading this one again!<br />
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Ruth Schiffmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625363295823548969noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068659764096530244.post-63337262120690562022014-05-01T06:00:00.000-04:002014-05-01T06:00:04.033-04:00Blood of a Mermaid Cover Reveal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;">Today I'm participating in a cover reveal for the second book in Katie O'Sullivan's Mermaid trilogy set on Cape Cod. <i><b>Blood of a Mermaid</b></i> releases next month from Crescent Moon Press. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFYXRplUloScV7E-ryn30COHZxjO4KfwnmqjF8ILoPvzt8TcrlCCUw7qX8EhVtSDoSmgTij8FkL9LwnfAZmIjq5-33KlmI4jRY5BDE5Gwi65BL7LVJrxr5VwCIxSCdlJI05lZZSLyVOTT/s1600/BloodofaMermaid_cover.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFYXRplUloScV7E-ryn30COHZxjO4KfwnmqjF8ILoPvzt8TcrlCCUw7qX8EhVtSDoSmgTij8FkL9LwnfAZmIjq5-33KlmI4jRY5BDE5Gwi65BL7LVJrxr5VwCIxSCdlJI05lZZSLyVOTT/s1600/BloodofaMermaid_cover.jpeg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<b>About the Book:<i><o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Mermaid blood.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">When Shea MacNamara fell into the ocean for the first time, he found he could breathe underwater. The son of a mermaid, the sea is in his blood. Literally. The best part of Shea’s new life? His girlfriend Kae, who also happens to be a beautiful mermaid.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">But darkness lurks under the sea. When evil mermen kidnap Kae, the king reminds Shea that having royal blood means making tough choices. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">An Arctic dungeon, a fiery plane crash, the legendary halls of Atlantis…and narwhals?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Having mermaid blood just got a lot more complicated.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizjY2qus8u9lDyBuEmajpmqadSOYbmOR1O-oNPv19ywARoxj9YGW1bxasO_hs7nifrm2k0YFQk1dt5J00fjAPI7QqDTBhyphenhyphenXL4ZQAPaU0aysgcByjOSUcp3Y_QINjUV6syu4lLp499PP8eX/s1600/Katie_OSullivan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizjY2qus8u9lDyBuEmajpmqadSOYbmOR1O-oNPv19ywARoxj9YGW1bxasO_hs7nifrm2k0YFQk1dt5J00fjAPI7QqDTBhyphenhyphenXL4ZQAPaU0aysgcByjOSUcp3Y_QINjUV6syu4lLp499PP8eX/s1600/Katie_OSullivan.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b>About the Author:</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Katie O’Sullivan lives
with her family and big dogs next to the ocean on Cape Cod, drinking way too
much coffee and inventing new excuses not to dust. A recovering English major,
she earned her degree at Colgate University and writes romance for young adults
and the young at heart. Her editing column, “The Write Way,” appears in the
Literary Women section of CapeWomenOnline magazine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Living next to the
Atlantic influences everything she writes. Her YA mermaid series begins in
Nantucket Sound with SON OF A MERMAID, and continues the undersea adventures with
BLOOD OF A MERMAID, coming from Crescent Moon Press in May 2014. Her latest
contemporary romance from The Wild Rose Press is MY KIND OF CRAZY, a Cape Cod
story of second chances and starting over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Website: <a href="http://www.katie-osullivan.com/">www.katie-osullivan.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Blog: <a href="http://katieosullivan.blogspot.com/">http://katieosullivan.blogspot.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKatieOSullivan">https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKatieOSullivan</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/OkatieO">https://twitter.com/OkatieO</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Goodreads: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3326303.Katie_O_Sullivan">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3326303.Katie_O_Sullivan</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Amazon Author Page: </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/author/katieosullivan" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">http://www.amazon.com/author/katieosullivan</a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Excerpt from BLOOD OF A MERMAID,
by Katie O’Sullivan</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Shea grimaced. He
knew firsthand the damage wind could cause. He’d witnessed tornado destruction
back in Oklahoma, when he’d lost his dad and their farm. Wind could be
devastating. And deadly. He needed to focus on something else. Maybe curtains
and wallpaper weren’t such a bad thing to talk about after all. “Tell me again
about this lady who hired your mom to decorate? Why is it she can’t pick out
her own curtains?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hailey laughed.
“Decorating is about more than curtains, you troglodyte. It’s about creating a
whole look and feel for a home.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A deep male voice
crackled through the overhead speakers in rapid Greek, followed by English.
“Attention, passengers. This is your captain. Please keep seatbelts fastened as
we try to steer clear of this turbulence and find a pocket of better air.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“A pocket of
better air?” Hailey shook her head. “What does that even mean?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Chip leaned back
across the aisle and grinned. “Maybe this air is broken?” The light streaming through
Hailey’s window shifted as the plane changed direction and Chip’s grin faded.
“It looks like he made a ninety degree turn. That seems kind of drastic.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I’m sure the
pilot’s done this a million times,” Hailey snapped, looking out her window
again. “Ooh, look at that lightning over there! It’s like a fireworks display!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Shea resisted the
temptation to look out the window. His stomach already felt queasy enough, and
now a storm? A slow tingling sensation engulfed his toes. “How close?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Oh, look out there
now,” Hailey interrupted. “Water spouts!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Shea felt the
blood drain from his face. “Water spouts? Like, tornadoes on the ocean?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hailey glanced
back at him and gently patted his knee. “This isn’t Oklahoma. I’m sure
everything’s going to be fine,” she said as she pulled the plane’s information
card out of the seat pocket in front of her. “But I guess it never hurts to
review a plane’s emergency procedures.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As she removed her
hand from his knee to point at the diagram, Shea felt the tingling course through
his legs, zinging from his toes up into his stomach. It was as if some switch
in his body had flipped into high gear. Sweat beaded on his forehead and
dripped down his back. The air inside the airplane cabin suddenly felt like it
was clinging heavily around him, as if it were charged with electricity and
Shea was the only magnet on board. He’d felt this exact sensation before, back
at Plainville High School.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On the day of the tornado.</span></div>
<br />Ruth Schiffmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625363295823548969noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068659764096530244.post-65468938977443818952014-04-07T13:39:00.000-04:002014-04-07T13:39:39.714-04:00Awesomeness and the Revision Process<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Just over a month ago, I shared pictures, <a href="http://outonalimbshywritergoessocial.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-art-of-distraction.html">here</a>, of the mural
I've been working on at church. At that time, I mentioned that it was “mostly
done.” I can’t tell you how many times we left the church after hours of
painting saying, “One more day. It’ll be done tomorrow.” Then three days ago,
it was actually done. Like, for real. We cleaned up our paints, our brushes,
threw away roller naps, folded drop clothes and stowed ladders. But guess what
– the following day we were back again, adding a few more finishing touches,
because there’s always <i>one more thing</i>. </div>
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One of those afternoons while painting a bird perched over the
mirror in the children’s bathroom, my daughter commented, “Things keep getting
more and more complicated, but they keep getting more and more awesome too.”</div>
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<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">It’s the same way with our stories, isn’t it? Sometimes
it feels like they’ll never be finished. I remember the first time I thought my
novel was done. That was probably a couple of years and a half dozen revisions
ago. But the same thing holds true, the more and more complicated it gets, the
more and more awesome it gets as well. And I </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">do</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> love revising. I find it exciting to see a work evolve into more than I ever expected at the outset. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">How about you? Are you ever surprised by what your stories become throughout the process?</span></div>
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Ruth Schiffmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625363295823548969noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068659764096530244.post-17899975919965749982014-03-24T05:00:00.000-04:002014-03-24T07:14:01.582-04:00C is for Cape Cod Book LaunchToday I'd like to congratulate my friend, <a href="http://creativelychristina.com/">Christina Laurie</a>, on the launch of her first children's book <i>C is for Cape Cod, </i>published by <a href="http://www.islandportpress.com/bookshop/c-is-for-cape-cod.html">Islandport Press</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmyZl6LFO1PKd7NMasTDoAy1qHfse9au3RbkKGCkzYohMtb69I6HegiCA8_KTv9C-3P7V3nNEOoCuYSPtqEezLyqIY6OJ0_j7Vaq1njFV_f6jb65zHGg3YBtDI_MfQn-Cwlv-Az0svVdY4/s1600/c_is_for_cape_cod_cover_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmyZl6LFO1PKd7NMasTDoAy1qHfse9au3RbkKGCkzYohMtb69I6HegiCA8_KTv9C-3P7V3nNEOoCuYSPtqEezLyqIY6OJ0_j7Vaq1njFV_f6jb65zHGg3YBtDI_MfQn-Cwlv-Az0svVdY4/s1600/c_is_for_cape_cod_cover_web.jpg" height="243" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18210313-c-is-for-cape-cod?ac=1">Add to Goodreads</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">About this Book:</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This beautiful alphabet book combines playful verse, informative text, and stunning photographs to introduce children to the wonders of Cape Cod.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For each letter, a short four-line verse gives younger readers a fun introduction to the subject, and the main text provides information that will appeal to both older children and adults alike. The stunning photographs, by award-winning <em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">Cape Cod Times</em> photographer Steve Heaslip, tell stories unto themselves – from the doleful eyes of seals to children whirling on carousels, from a frog peeping out of a cranberry bog to the engineering marvel of the Cape Cod Canal. This is Cape Cod, replete with natural beauty, rich history, tourist attractions, and much more.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Christina Laurie</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">An internationally best-selling poet, Christina Laurie presents workshops, poetry readings, and seminars throughout New England. Her poems and haiku have appeared in magazines, anthologies, and periodicals across the United States, England, Canada, and Japan. Christina Laurie’s first book, <em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">Seasons Rising: A Collection of Haiku,</em> was published in 2011. She is the author of a memoir, two adult books on biblical characters, and a chapbook of inspirational insights, <em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">Inspiration Interludes</em> (whose funds benefit the National League of American Pen Women). She lives, writes, swims, bikes, gardens, and kayaks on Cape Cod.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Steve Heaslip</span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Steve Heaslip is the chief photographer for the <em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">Cape Cod Times</em>. He has been a National Press Photographers Association regional and national clip contest winner, and was named New England Newspaper and Press Association Photographer of the Year in 2001 and 2005. His photographs have been in two exhibitions, and have appeared in <em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">National Geographic</em>, <em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">Life</em>,<em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">Time</em>, <em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">Newsweek</em>, <em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">The New York Times</em>, and <em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">Yankee</em>. Originally from Rochester, New York, he lives in Barnstable and has been photographing Cape Cod since the 1980s.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.4em;">Don't you just love alphabet books?! </span><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">Is there an alphabet book you remember being particularly fond of as a child? Or maybe one that was special to your children? </span><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">My own children are grown, but <i>The Handmade Alphabet</i> by Laura Rankin still has a special place on my bookshelf. </span></div>
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Ruth Schiffmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625363295823548969noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068659764096530244.post-80999285380530671412014-03-02T22:00:00.000-05:002014-03-02T22:00:22.437-05:00The Art of DistractionIf there's one thing we have to get used to as writers, it's the waiting. Whether it's waiting to hear back from beta readers, agents, or editors, they say the best way to endure is to work on another project. So it was pretty much perfect timing when shortly after I sent my WIP to beta readers, I was asked to work on a mural for the nursery area in our new church building. I got to play around with paints and be a part of a larger creative process with two very talented people. It was great fun.<br />
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Now that the mural is (mostly) finished , I've turned to a more familiar distraction: reading. These are a couple of YA titles that I highly recommend.<br />
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And now, I'm ready to get back to writing. What are you waiting for?<br />
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<br />Ruth Schiffmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625363295823548969noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068659764096530244.post-75717919658257476112014-02-10T05:30:00.000-05:002014-02-10T05:30:04.721-05:00Happy, Happy, Happy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Author Hugh Howey published an interesting <a href="http://www.hughhowey.com/most-books-dont-sell/">blog post </a>on happiness last week. Oh, wait. I guess it was on selling books, or not selling books. But really it was on our innate base level of happiness. Basically, he believes we choose our own happiness, which is only temporarily affected by outside factors. I believe that's true. For proof, we only need to look to our kids at Christmas when they get that toy, game, or gadget that they absolutely had to have. The initial happiness they experience upon opening that gift wanes quickly and their relative happiness goes back to base level before we parents have even paid the credit card bill. </div>
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We do this in our writing lives, too, don't we? <i>I'd be happy if only I were a better writer, could land an agent, get published, sell more books, win an award. . . </i> But the reality is that those things may bring a momentary surge of euphoria, but won't change our innate base level of happiness. Growing up, my mother always said that it was possible to be happy no matter what your circumstances. Mr. Howey says it this way: "How we feel should be up to us." Which is actually pretty empowering. I do not have to rely on anyone else for my state of mind. It is within my choosing to be happy and that starts, to quote Mr. Howey again, "by seeing the small good in the world."</div>
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I watched <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2194499/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_6">About Time</a> last night. It's a romantic time travel movie with Rachel McAdams and Domhnall Gleeson, that, in the end, reminds us to live every day deliberately, to find the extraordinary moments in an ordinary life, to savor the moment. This one. Right now. Without fretting over how it could be better if only...</div>
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Today, this music video is making me particularly happy. It may be a temporary high, but hey, I can hit play as many times as I want ;) I dare you to watch it and not smile! </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/y6Sxv-sUYtM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"> Do you have a favorite feel good movie, song, or book to recommend?</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>Ruth Schiffmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625363295823548969noreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068659764096530244.post-64432603425094614922014-01-27T05:00:00.000-05:002014-01-27T08:36:46.303-05:00What Blizzards are Good ForI can't attribute all of my recent reads to the weather, but getting snowed in for a day does go a long way towards hours of guilt-free reading. And I've enjoyed a run of five-star reads.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxGUDNJdlfwhc6N9NWHewEYPrFC5M1Ho1keuRXDnUXxrQhGZlYBT_1ldKvovxc9GgbT5-AN5mJi1f9nwua2Tc8OVIeVpPAh6We5xLEuyqJzjijUSzP60eWBXhmlrJ9eMTTl3ubTVZF7D6/s1600/redeeming+love+cover+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxGUDNJdlfwhc6N9NWHewEYPrFC5M1Ho1keuRXDnUXxrQhGZlYBT_1ldKvovxc9GgbT5-AN5mJi1f9nwua2Tc8OVIeVpPAh6We5xLEuyqJzjijUSzP60eWBXhmlrJ9eMTTl3ubTVZF7D6/s1600/redeeming+love+cover+image.jpg" /></a></div>
<b><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11422.Redeeming_Love?ac=1">Redeeming Love</a></i> </b>by <a href="http://francinerivers.com/">Francine Rivers</a><br />
brought chills, tears, and goosebumps,<br />
all in turn. An amazing love story!<br />
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<b><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9118135-state-of-wonder?from_search=true">State of Wonder</a></i></b> by <a href="http://annpatchett.com/">Ann Patchett</a><br />
takes you to the wilds of the Amazon.<br />
My thoughts returned there to ponder<br />
the story and characters long after I'd<br />
finished the last page.<br />
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<b><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7661718-i-will-save-you?from_search=true"> I Will Save You</a></i></b> by <a href="http://mattdelapena.com/">Matt De La Pena</a><br />
is chilling, shocking, and impossible to<br />
put down. I finished it within two days<br />
and couldn't request his next book (or<br />
two, or three) soon enough. <br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13138635-these-broken-stars?from_search=true"><b><i>These Broken Stars</i></b> </a>by <a href="http://amiekaufman.com/">Amie Kaufman</a> and <a href="http://www.meaganspooner.com/">Meagan Spooner.</a><br />
Okay, I haven't finished this one yet, so I guess the rating is premature. I'm 75 % into it, but as I look at my schedule for the next few days, all I can think about is<br />
finding time to read more of this book. I would possibly forego meals to continue reading this one. (My family may not be on board with that plan.)<br />
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I love book recommendations! What was your last five-star read?<br />
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<br />Ruth Schiffmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625363295823548969noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068659764096530244.post-75538958624515747762014-01-06T05:00:00.000-05:002014-01-06T05:00:08.598-05:00Good Books, Good Music, Good Food & Good FeedbackI'm a creature of habit. I sit in the same seat at church every week, I have been known to eat the same thing for breakfast for years, and I read a <i>lot</i> of contemporary YA. It's easy to get stuck in ruts. So in the interest of breaking away from the norm, for my first read of the new year, I pulled out a Lisa Genova novel (not YA) that I got <i>last</i> Christmas. I devoured it in a day and a half.<br />
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I'm thinking of reading a fantasy/sci fi novel next. I never read fantasy/sci fi, but I do have an ARC of The Bone Season kicking around here somewhere.<br />
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I usually write in silence, but I discovered The Lumineers album and I'm finding it impossible to turn off. Thankfully, I'm also finding it easy to write to. This song, Stubborn Love, is currently my favorite.<br />
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I'm totally enjoying revising one of my novels. This is the power of good feedback: when someone points you in the right direction and you can take off without looking back. That's where I'm at right now, and I'm so grateful.<br />
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For breakfast, I have given up my maple-flavored oatmeal for blueberry pancakes, fruit salads, Portuguese muffins and peanut butter/banana milkshakes (not all at once). But I confess, I still sat in the same seat at church this week.<br />
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Do you have new things on the horizon for 2014? What are you looking forward to most?<br />
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<br />Ruth Schiffmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625363295823548969noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068659764096530244.post-10375360868025546042013-12-30T05:00:00.000-05:002013-12-30T07:44:26.979-05:00The Scent of Fear Blog Tour & $25 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Scent-Fear-Susan-Reinhardt-ebook/dp/B00GTZEYKW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385341599&sr=8-1&keywords=the+scent+of+fear+susan" rel="attachment wp-att-17801"><img alt="the scent of fear by susan j. reinhardt" class="aligncenter wp-image-17801" height="320" src="http://dianeestrella.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/the-scent-of-fear-by-susan-j.-reinhardt-682x1024.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<strong>First came<em> The Moses Conspiracy</em>, now comes..... <em>The Scent of Fear</em>.</strong></div>
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The Zimmermans enjoy the tenuous peace in the wake of their hair-raising year battling the New Patriots. Unexpected visitors once again throw them into turmoil.</div>
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Jim Kenneman, Director of National Security, masterminded the plan to break up a hate group ravaging the Christian community. Now, his enemies are out to eliminate him. Should he make a run for it or stick by his tried-and-true negotiating skills?</div>
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Monty Addison, a topnotch operative, carried out his assignment in Bird-in-Hand. A plot to destroy his boss sends him on a mission. Without agency sanction, it may cost him everything - his career, his family, and maybe his life.</div>
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Dr. Abby Weaver strives to save infants and toddlers in Holmes County, Ohio. When she meets two strangers, she can't get the tall, handsome one out of her mind. Will their paths intersect again or will dangerous times keep them apart?</div>
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<strong><em>The Scent of Fear</em> is available at:</strong></div>
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<strong> ~~~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Scent-Fear-Susan-Reinhardt-ebook/dp/B00GTZEYKW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385341599&sr=8-1&keywords=the+scent+of+fear+susan">Amazon</a>~~~ </strong></div>
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<strong>~~~<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-scent-of-fear-susan-j-reinhardt/1117671560?ean=2940149053230">Barnes and Noble</a>~~~ </strong></div>
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<a href="http://dianeestrella.com/?attachment_id=17803" rel="attachment wp-att-17803" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="susan j. reinhardt" class="alignright size-full wp-image-17803" height="220" src="http://dianeestrella.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/susan-j.-reinhardt.jpg" width="176" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thswhimhefo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00BV8ZQ0Y" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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<strong>About the Author</strong>
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Susan J. Reinhardt's publishing credits include her debut novel, <em>The Moses Conspiracy</em>, as well as devotionals, short articles, and contributions to anthologies. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.</div>
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A widow, daughter, stepmom, and active church member, Susan resides in Pennsylvania. When not writing, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, couponing, gardening, and finding small treasures in antique shops.</div>
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You can connect with Susan at <a href="http://www.susanjreinhardt.com/">her Blog</a>, on <a href="https://twitter.com/susanjreinhardt">Twitter</a>, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSusanJReinhardt">Facebook</a>.</div>
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<strong>The Giveaway</strong>
Open to US addresses only. One person will receive a $25 Amazon GC and a copy of<em> The Scent of Fear</em>. <strong>Please use the Rafflecopter below to be entered</strong>:
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/deca94165/" id="rc-deca94165" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
The winner will be chosen from those entries and announced January 17, 2014. Good luck!
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Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code. Winning entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced here as well as e-mailed, and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Diane at <a href="http://dianeestrella.com/">That’s What I’m Here For… </a>and sponsored by the author, Susan J. Reinhardt. The author provided me with a free copy of The Scent of Fear to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a giveaway in return for the free book.VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.</h6>
Ruth Schiffmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625363295823548969noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068659764096530244.post-91588724421105762322013-12-15T21:58:00.000-05:002013-12-15T21:58:36.758-05:00A Wish and a SongIn the midst of this holiday season, I want to share with you my new favorite Christmas carol.<br />
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Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, surrounded by the ones you love most!<br />
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<br />Ruth Schiffmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625363295823548969noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068659764096530244.post-56696264139262790732013-12-01T22:02:00.000-05:002013-12-01T22:02:17.708-05:00More Mini Reviews<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKG5Eeu_Abe6cr8Qhu7c2toufH2K0RUbM2FAub6cVP9jljUpOeMekXg_wGMazLabQS1w25RZyDHFfHMQDczB-QpwzT6_OGNTqTpsqJeCYIR6TrzrDC6RHjbzX6k7yWmqdVEdrynXoZKHG/s1600/the+freedom+thief+cover+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKG5Eeu_Abe6cr8Qhu7c2toufH2K0RUbM2FAub6cVP9jljUpOeMekXg_wGMazLabQS1w25RZyDHFfHMQDczB-QpwzT6_OGNTqTpsqJeCYIR6TrzrDC6RHjbzX6k7yWmqdVEdrynXoZKHG/s200/the+freedom+thief+cover+image.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18811533-the-freedom-thief?ac=1">THE FREEDOM THIEF</a> By <a href="http://mikki-wordpainter.blogspot.com/">Mikki Sadil</a>. Mikki is one of my critique partners and her debut MG novel released last month from MuseItUp Publishing. I'm so excited for her! She completed this manuscript before I
joined the group, so although I’ve read several of her works in
progress, this was my first time reading The Freedom Thief. It’s the story of thirteen-year-old Ben, the son of a slave owner and the lengths he goes to save his friend and stand up for what he believes. Ben leads his best friend, a crippled slave, and his family through collapsing tunnels, foreboding swamps, a dangerous forest in a life or death adventure towards freedom. This is a book I would have enjoyed reading with my children when they were young. It's a story both boys and girls will enjoy.</div>
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Once I had commandeered my daughter’s Kindle, I decided to
keep it long enough to read <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15821579-elixir-bound?ac=1">ELIXIR BOUND </a>By Katie L. Carroll.(Am I the only one who forgets about books once they're loaded onto the Kindle?) I don’t usually
(ever) read fantasy, but I’ve been visiting <a href="http://www.katielcarroll.com/blog/">Katie’s blog</a> and hearing about her
book and, I just couldn’t help myself. I won’t say it made a fantasy convert
out of me, but I did enjoy the family aspect to the story. The quest and the life-changing decision Katora had ahead of her kept me pressing that page turn button. The characters were
likeable, there was a sweet romance, and I couldn’t help but
root for Katora and hope she would make the right decision. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Kbjq7RT2E5aK_rjAVJsoZY7Xare1OuwydQbsr_ocyBdmzmY0egUnHmBR3RC73b8nGmZH7zWhuhzTfWjnYT_Yw7tCCNR9gV09bd1-lppStUq7Rh71HL3p05MiY5U7ciVe3ALPOKQG6yng/s1600/canary+cover+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Kbjq7RT2E5aK_rjAVJsoZY7Xare1OuwydQbsr_ocyBdmzmY0egUnHmBR3RC73b8nGmZH7zWhuhzTfWjnYT_Yw7tCCNR9gV09bd1-lppStUq7Rh71HL3p05MiY5U7ciVe3ALPOKQG6yng/s200/canary+cover+image.jpg" width="125" /></a>Another title that had been waiting on the Kindle was
<a href="http://freckle-head.blogspot.com/">Rachele Alpine’</a>s <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12579262-canary?ac=1">CANARY</a>. Contemporary YA is where my heart is and I <span style="font-size: 12pt;">thoroughly enjoyed this one – even though I
wanted to shake Kate sometimes.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> She</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">, her brother and her father are all trying, in their own way, to hold what’s left of their family
together after their mother’s death. When Kate and her brother transfer to the elite private school
where their father has become the basketball coach, a whole new world opens up
to them, and changes them both in very different ways.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4lg3GwMv74NJGgbHBrkAEycdx9oa8KTrf6yn6rZ07zRcuusfcD_N3RLFe5e6lqLAGmfwZpaqz1eXjDUHHEdL9t58qgpXQ_02XqKwYzHInBAiBxUTV5hVb9P1sgvlxEz69B3q6i6O5zyiA/s1600/just+one+year+cover+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4lg3GwMv74NJGgbHBrkAEycdx9oa8KTrf6yn6rZ07zRcuusfcD_N3RLFe5e6lqLAGmfwZpaqz1eXjDUHHEdL9t58qgpXQ_02XqKwYzHInBAiBxUTV5hVb9P1sgvlxEz69B3q6i6O5zyiA/s200/just+one+year+cover+image.jpg" width="131" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I also read Gayle Forman’s <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12842134-just-one-year?ac=1">JUST ONE YEAR</a>, the
sequel to <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12842115-just-one-day?ac=1">Just One Day</a>. I loved Forman’s <i>If I Stay</i> and <i>Where
She Went </i>and how the second book was told from a different character’s
point of view. I was excited to hear that <i>Just One Day</i> and <i>Just One Year</i>
followed suit. But after reading the first book, I felt duped, slogging through a fluffy middle only to arrive at an end point that wasn't an ending at all. It felt as if one book had been split</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> into two. I would have preferred one tighter
book where the viewpoints alternated. Still, as disappointed as I was in the first book, I read the second one –
because, let’s face it, I was invested. *SPOILER ALERT* Sadly, a lot was lost in the wait for
the second book. The near misses the characters have while searching for each other go under appreciated because the finer details have been forgotten in the wait for the second book. And by the end of book two, Willem doesn’t
seem like much of a prize anymore. You almost don’t care if they end up
together. But the biggest disappointment was that book two ends exactly where book
one ended. (With all of a paragraph or two more – which is all telling.) Yup, I
got to the end feeling even more duped than I had with book one. At 368 and 323 pages, it was a big investment with little payoff.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">What have you read lately? Tell me about a book I just have to bump to the top of my TBR pile ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>Ruth Schiffmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625363295823548969noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068659764096530244.post-48370572316198972972013-11-18T07:44:00.000-05:002013-11-18T07:44:58.708-05:00Vulnerability & Self-Preservation <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRy5TkCrnSt_K08uZXtgZS_fE_zsh9mXakTAHzK0B9MjqEQFtBQWIEF8ubvJRT3SB2YqFAHYKlq3CLiAfS2Le9DnGxk-w3a2W1k_2uex2jRcOUNHTwJ4bcyt8k8C9b1kQeieBB-6br8zh/s1600/boat-in-the-middle-of-nowhere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRy5TkCrnSt_K08uZXtgZS_fE_zsh9mXakTAHzK0B9MjqEQFtBQWIEF8ubvJRT3SB2YqFAHYKlq3CLiAfS2Le9DnGxk-w3a2W1k_2uex2jRcOUNHTwJ4bcyt8k8C9b1kQeieBB-6br8zh/s320/boat-in-the-middle-of-nowhere.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of <a href="http://freeartisticphotos.com/free-pictures-fine-art-photography">Free Artistic Photos</a></td></tr>
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Several months ago, my good friend, Jen, recommended to me <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability.html">Brene Brown's TED talk</a>, <i>The Power of Vulnerability</i>. I jotted down a note to self and fully intended to watch it. But as with so many things that would benefit me, I delayed. But I've been thinking a lot about vulnerability lately. I mean, as a writer, we put ourselves out there every day. From the first words we lay on the page to sharing our work with critique partners and beta readers, to querying agents or seeing your words appear in publication. How can we make such a regular practice of something so uncomfortable?<br />
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For me, that reason is connection. As someone who's always been incredibly shy, the written word has given me a way to connect with others. Yet, I didn't do any writing last week. I wasn't sure why at first, but I soon recognized the feeling: my old self-preservation response to feelings of vulnerability. I reacted to a positive response to my work. Instead of celebrating, I started pulling away from my projects, separating myself from the work, preparing myself for future disappointments by telling myself that I don't really care and none of it really matters anyway. Yeah, it was an odd reaction that led to a rather depressing week.<br />
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"Connection is what gives purpose and meaning to our lives." - Brene Brown</h4>
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Then, Jen reminded me about that TED talk. (I told you she was a good friend.) And this time, I watched it. The timing was perfect. This was my first introduction to Brene Brown, but her words served as a timely reminder to something I learned long ago, and that is, "You can't selectively numb emotion. We can't numb vulnerability without numbing joy, gratitude, and happiness as well."<br />
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"Vulnerability is the birthplace of creativity." - Brene Brown</h4>
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The time I spent last week trying to convince myself that my writing doesn't matter, was time spent kidding myself, trying to become less vulnerable by raising the old walls of self-preservation. In doing so, I was blocking my own creativity. No wonder it was such an uninspired week.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyK2oXOcaaLZzeT-mRjGztJrJjQDrChrt7uT6ggv4jnF1yTGueJ8bRRNqFisK1uTVtqknM3GBR1iLQp4PTA7gRSCxqY6PgH5D-zRklAerj_w78yum_n0P6YX4davlMxUnQoGdxuFnEa4Sb/s1600/picture-dedicated-for-backpackers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyK2oXOcaaLZzeT-mRjGztJrJjQDrChrt7uT6ggv4jnF1yTGueJ8bRRNqFisK1uTVtqknM3GBR1iLQp4PTA7gRSCxqY6PgH5D-zRklAerj_w78yum_n0P6YX4davlMxUnQoGdxuFnEa4Sb/s320/picture-dedicated-for-backpackers.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of <a href="http://freeartisticphotos.com/free-pictures-fine-art-photography">Free Artistic Photos</a></td></tr>
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This Monday, I have a better plan. I'm going to take Ms. Brown's advice. I'm going to try my best to embrace creativity, authenticity, and yes, vulnerability.</div>
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How do you feel about vulnerability? Have you ever had a negative response to positive feedback? Do you ever hold yourself back in order to avoid possible disappointment?</div>
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Ruth Schiffmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625363295823548969noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068659764096530244.post-56274373192915099862013-11-04T05:00:00.000-05:002013-11-04T05:00:07.577-05:00Homeschool Co-ops 101 by Karen Lange, Book Tour & $25 Amazon GC Giveaway<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Homeschool-Co-ops-101-Karen-Lange-ebook/dp/B00G5HO0K8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382717379&sr=8-1&keywords=karen+lange+homeschool" rel="attachment wp-att-16930"><img alt="homeschool co-ops 101" class="aligncenter wp-image-16930" height="576" src="http://dianeestrella.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/homeschool-co-ops-1011.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<strong>Essential co-op tools, tips, and options for today’s homeschool families.</strong>
Thinking about joining or starting a homeschool co-op? Not sure if a co-op is a good fit? Homeschool Co-ops 101 weighs the pros, cons, and creative options available for today’s homeschool family.
<br />
<ul>
<li>Section 1 includes essential, digestible info on co-op ingredients such as planning and organization, schedules, teaching, finances, and addressing conflict and burnout.</li>
<li>Section 2 shares a sampling of co-op games and activities, and</li>
<li>Section 3 contains five hands-on unit studies. These ready to use studies include lessons on Leonardo da Vinci, Birds of Prey, Public Speaking, Tall Tales, and Creative Writing, and are suitable for co-op or home use. This section also includes unit study guidelines that are easily customized to suit any topic.</li>
<li>Section 4 offers suggested books, curriculum, and other resources.</li>
</ul>
Karen Lange has gathered insight from years of co-oping and now shares her own and others’ experiences in this valuable and encouraging handbook.
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><em>Homeschool Co-ops 101</em> is available at:</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong> ~~~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Homeschool-Co-ops-101-Karen-Lange-ebook/dp/B00G5HO0K8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382716752&sr=8-1&keywords=karen+lange+homeschool">Amazon</a>~~~ </strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>~~~<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/homeschool-co-ops-101-karen-lange/1117238959?ean=2940148399711">Barnes and Noble</a>~~~ </strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>~~~<a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/homeschool-co-ops-101">Kobo</a>~~~</strong></div>
<strong><a href="http://dianeestrella.com/?attachment_id=16925" rel="attachment wp-att-16925"><img alt="karen lange" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-16925" height="300" src="http://dianeestrella.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/karen-lange-200x300.jpg" width="200" /></a>About the Author</strong>
Karen Lange, her husband, and three children were active in co-ops during their sixteen-year homeschool journey. Her experience includes serving as a local homeschool support group coordinator and consultant for a state homeschool network in New Jersey. Karen’s children have since graduated, and she is now a freelance writer and online writing instructor for homeschooled teens.
You can connect with Karen at her<a href="http://karenelange.blogspot.com/"> Blog,</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/KLELange">Twitter</a>, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/authorkarenlange">Facebook</a>.
<a href="http://dianeestrella.com/?attachment_id=17541" rel="attachment wp-att-17541"><img alt="homeschool co-ops 101" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-17541" height="250" src="http://dianeestrella.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/homeschool-co-ops-101.jpg" width="317" /></a>
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<address style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Blog Tour Schedule</strong></span></address>
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</address>
<address style="text-align: left;">
<b>November 4</b>
~Ruth Schiffman, <a href="http://outonalimbshywritergoessocial.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://<wbr></wbr>outonalimbshywritergoessocial.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/</a>
~Robyn Campbell, <a href="http://robyn-campbell.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://robyn-campbell.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/</a></address>
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<address style="text-align: left;">
<b>November 5</b>
~Carol Alexander, <a href="http://lessonsfromthehomestead.com/blog/" target="_blank">http://<wbr></wbr>lessonsfromthehomestead.com/<wbr></wbr>blog/</a></address>
<address style="text-align: left;">
<address style="text-align: left;">
~Diane Estrella, <a href="http://www.dianeestrella.com/" target="_blank">www.dianeestrella.com</a></address>
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<b>November 6</b>
~Gena Mayo, <a href="http://ichoosejoy.org/" target="_blank" title="http://ichoosejoy.org">ichoosejoy.org</a></address>
<address style="text-align: left;">
~Marja Meijers, <a href="http://sacredsabbath.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://sacredsabbath.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com/</a></address>
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<address style="text-align: left;">
<b>November 7</b>
~Sandie Crozek, <a href="http://chattycrone.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://chattycrone.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com/</a></address>
<address style="text-align: left;">
~Melissa Brander, <a href="http://mkbrander.com/" target="_blank">http://mkbrander.com/</a></address>
<address style="text-align: left;">
~Cecelia Lester, <a href="http://quietspirit-followingmyking.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://quietspirit-<wbr></wbr>followingmyking.blogspot.com/</a></address>
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<address style="text-align: left;">
<b>November 8</b>
~Susan Reinhardt, <a href="http://www.susanjreinhardt.com/" target="_blank">http://www.susanjreinhardt.<wbr></wbr>com/</a></address>
<address style="text-align: left;">
~Cecelia Lester, <a href="http://quietspirit-followingmyking.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://quietspirit-<wbr></wbr>followingmyking.blogspot.com/</a></address>
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<address style="text-align: left;">
<b>November 10
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<address style="text-align: left;">
~Laura V. Hilton, <a href="http://lauravhilton.blogspot.com/">http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/</a></address>
<address style="text-align: left;">
~Melissa & Tiffany, <a href="http://www.homegrownfamilies.net/">http://www.homegrownfamilies.net</a></address>
<address style="text-align: left;">
~Janette Dolores, <a href="http://janettedolores.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://janettedolores.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com</a></address>
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<address style="text-align: left;">
<b>November 11</b>
~Susan Sundwall, <a href="http://www.sundwallsays.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.sundwallsays.blogspot.com</a></address>
<address style="text-align: left;">
~Michelle Isenhoff, <a href="http://www.michelleisenhoff.com/wp" target="_blank">http://www.michelleisenhoff.<wbr></wbr>com/wp</a></address>
<address style="text-align: left;">
</address>
<address style="text-align: left;">
<b>November 12</b>
~Carol Alexander, <a href="http://lessonsfromthehomestead.com/blog/" target="_blank">http://<wbr></wbr>lessonsfromthehomestead.com/<wbr></wbr>blog/</a></address>
<address style="text-align: left;">
~Jeanette Levellie, <a href="http://www.jeanettelevellie.com/" target="_blank">http://www.jeanettelevellie.<wbr></wbr>com/</a></address>
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<b>November 13</b>
~Susanne Dietze, <a href="http://susannedietze.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://susannedietze.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com/</a>
~Sherryl Wilson, <a href="http://www.simplysherryl.com/" target="_blank" title="http://www.simplysherryl.com">simplysherryl.com</a></address>
<address style="text-align: left;">
~Anne Payne, <a href="http://duhpaynes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" title="http://duhpaynes.blogspot.com">duhpaynes.blogspot.com</a></address>
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<b>November 14</b>
~Rhonda Schrock, <a href="http://www.rhondaschrock.com/rhondas_blog/" target="_blank">http://www.rhondaschrock.com/<wbr></wbr>rhondas_blog/</a>
~Abi Buening, <a href="http://myheartbelongs2books.blogspot.com/">http://myheartbelongs2books.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/</a></address>
<address style="text-align: left;">
~Amber Schamel, <a href="http://www.amberschamel.com/history_blog" target="_blank">http://www.amberschamel.com/<wbr></wbr>history-blog.html</a></address>
<address style="text-align: left;">
~Renee, <a href="http://motherdaughterbookreviews.com/" target="_blank" title="http://motherdaughterbookreviews.com">motherdaughterbookreviews.com</a></address>
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<b>November 15</b>
~Crystal King, <a href="http://asimpleheartforhome.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://asimpleheartforhome.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/</a>
~Barb Winters, <a href="http://inthemidstof.wordpress.com/" target="_blank" title="http://inthemidstof.wordpress.com/">inthemidstof.wordpress.com/</a></address>
<address style="text-align: left;">
~Tyrean Martinson, <a href="http://tyreanswritingspot.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://tyreanswritingspot.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/</a></address>
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<address style="text-align: left;">
<b>November 16
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<address style="text-align: left;">
~Julie, <a href="http://soaringeagle8.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" title="http://soaringeagle8.blogspot.com">soaringeagle8.blogspot.com</a></address>
<address style="text-align: left;">
~Sarah, <a href="http://www.myjoyfilledlife.com/">myjoyfilledlife.com</a></address>
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<b>November 17</b>
~Amada Chavez, <a href="http://ascphotosanddesigns.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" title="http://ascphotosanddesigns.blogspot.com">ascphotosanddesigns.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com</a></address>
<address style="text-align: left;">
~Cindi Clubbs,<a href="http://ccclubbs.com/"> http://ccclubbs.com/</a></address>
<address style="text-align: left;">
~Rebecca Boerner, <a href="http://ohiohomeschool.blogspot.com/">http://ohiohomeschool.blogspot.com/</a></address>
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</address>
<address style="text-align: left;">
<b>November 18
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<address style="text-align: left;">
~Carlene Havel, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6440085.Carlene_Havel/blog">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6440085.Carlene_Havel/blog</a></address>
<address style="text-align: left;">
~Cindy Loven,<a href="http://cindylovenreviews.blogspot.com/"> http://cindylovenreviews.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com</a></address>
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<address style="text-align: left;">
<b>November 19
</b></address>
<address style="text-align: left;">
~Karen Loethen, <a href="http://taytayhser.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">http://taytayhser.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com.au/</a></address>
<address style="text-align: left;">
~Amy Smith, <a href="http://myseasonsofopportunities.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" title="http://myseasonsofopportunities.blogspot.com/">myseasonsofopportunities.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/</a></address>
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<address style="text-align: left;">
<b>November 20
</b></address>
<address style="text-align: left;">
~Darlene Arroyo-Lozada, <a href="http://lovebookslozada.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://lovebookslozada.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/</a></address>
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<address style="text-align: left;">
<b>November 22
</b></address>
<address style="text-align: left;">
~Sarah Bailey, <a href="http://growingforchrist.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">http://growingforchrist.<wbr></wbr>wordpress.com</a></address>
<address style="text-align: left;">
~Thumb Updown, <a href="http://momsthumb.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://momsthumb.blogspot.com/</a></address>
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<b>December 2
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<address style="text-align: left;">
~Jennifer Shirk, <a href="http://jennifershirk.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://jennifershirk.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com/</a></address>
<address style="text-align: left;">
~Ticia M.,<a href="http://adventuresinmommydom.org/"> http://adventuresinmommydom.org/</a></address>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<strong>My Review</strong><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><i>One of the things I liked best about homeschooling was the
freedom - not being tied down to someone else's schedule. But that didn't mean
I wanted to go it alone. For several years, we participated in a local co-op. I
wish I had a resource like </i>Homeschool Co-Ops 101 <i>to get me started at the time. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: #38761d;">Whether you're looking for opportunities to network with
other homeschooling families, looking for social outlets for your children, or
hoping to find someone who's good at teaching a subject that you struggle with,
there are many benefits to joining a co-op.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Karen packs all the “need
to know” information you might be looking for into this easy-to-read 78-page
book. And that’s good, because a homeschooling parent is a busy parent!</span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></i>
<strong>The Giveaway</strong>
Open to US addresses only. One person will receive a $25 Amazon GC and a copy of<em> Homeschool Co-ops 101</em>. <strong>Please use the Rafflecopter below to be entered</strong>:
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/deca94157/" id="rc-deca94157" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
The winner will be chosen from those entries and announced December 5, 2013. Good luck!
<br />
<h6>
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code. Winning entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced here as well as e-mailed, and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Diane at <a href="http://dianeestrella.com/">That’s What I’m Here For… </a>and sponsored by the author, Karen Lange. The author provided me with a free copy of Homeschool Co-ops 101 to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a giveaway in return for the free book.VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.</h6>
Ruth Schiffmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625363295823548969noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068659764096530244.post-79771066887412702652013-10-27T22:00:00.002-04:002013-10-30T18:09:27.955-04:00Kidlit Q & A<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcIb-ehjwycHEegQxjstd_Hb8zMVsT3QSGhAeytIlzsGDygbWWEn_WnggF3NxIz7eAQuW4GmjPLSFfUoleEHuG4U8Gvt4QDHVAHc7Tobjyr_fdhmzWJOhWuGt3QdXJFoZI2et7mz_mX1wg/s1600/file0002037593574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcIb-ehjwycHEegQxjstd_Hb8zMVsT3QSGhAeytIlzsGDygbWWEn_WnggF3NxIz7eAQuW4GmjPLSFfUoleEHuG4U8Gvt4QDHVAHc7Tobjyr_fdhmzWJOhWuGt3QdXJFoZI2et7mz_mX1wg/s320/file0002037593574.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I was tagged by the lovely, <a href="http://vijayabodach.blogspot.com/">Vijaya Bodach</a> to answer a few questions about my current writing project. (Click <a href="http://vijayabodach.blogspot.com/2013/10/blog-tour-q.html">here</a> to read her answers.)<br />
<br />
Years ago, I took a writing class where the teacher advised us not to give our stories away. By that, she meant that we should not talk too much about them before getting them written. Talking about our stories, she said, steals some of their energy. The more we talk them out, the more we lose some of the drive to actually capture them on the page. I have found this to be true and often have to hold myself back from submitting a project to my critique group too soon. I do better to keep my stories close as they develop. So I'm going to keep my answers brief.<br />
<br />
<h4>
1. What are you working on right now?</h4>
<br />
I'm polishing two picture books and drafting a YA suspense novel.<br />
<br />
<h4>
2. How does your YA suspense novel differ from other work in its genre?</h4>
<br />
As I write this, it's getting late, and if I fret over this question too long, I'm not going to get to bed, and then I'll be cranky in the morning. So in the best interest of all the individuals who I will encounter tomorrow, I'm going to skip this one.<br />
<br />
<h4>
3. Why do you write what you do?</h4>
<br />
I wrote short stories, articles, and essays for years before having the courage to tackle a book. Writing for a YA audience has always been my first love, so it was a given that I would try my hand at YA novels. And writing flash fiction has helped me to be concise - very helpful with the ever decreasing word counts desired in picture books these days.<br />
<br />
<h4>
4. How does your writing process work?</h4>
<br />
Until recently, my process consisted of snatching as many moments at the computer as I could. Those moments were hard to come by, so I never squandered them. Now that I have more time, I'm realizing that I have a real need for structure. Although I've always considered myself a pantster, with my current WIP, I've deliberately tried something new. I've done a ton of planning. I'm hoping this means the actual writing will go more quickly. I guess I'll have to wait and see.<br />
<br />
<h4>
5. Any departing words of wisdom for other writers?</h4>
<br />
As best you can, focus on your work and trust the process. The more we get involved with social media, the more distracted we can become with the successes of others. It can seem like everyone is moving ahead but you. Nothing good comes from comparing ourselves to others. We're all on our own journey. We all have to find the way that works for us.<br />
<br />
Now this is the point where I'm supposed to nominate other writers to answer these questions, but I think this has made the rounds pretty thoroughly (and like I said, it's getting late and I really want to get to bed.) So, if you're reading this, and you'd like to share a little bit about your WIP, please consider yourself tagged. And do stop back and let me know you've posted so I can come by and read your answers.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Ruth Schiffmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625363295823548969noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068659764096530244.post-39728273406428952762013-10-14T08:13:00.000-04:002013-10-14T08:14:08.078-04:00Sweet Talk<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I hope you have a sweet tooth, because today's post is full of sugar: sweet blogging buddies and drool-worthy photos. </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">By the time you click away, you may have a sugar buzz.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">First I'd like to thank <a href="http://marciahoehne.blogspot.com/">Marcia Hoehne</a> for nominating me for the Super Sweet Blogging Award.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 18px;">The rules are: 1. Answer the following five sweet questions 2. Nominate five sweet bloggers.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #323232; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgNf0brr9UxwdzRNHmvcCeFhTSorItVKIYrNem0NfevfAR3CX4We-c0bI-D0HR-0LpITgcAlqnU_R1IhsLeVgjV24FNQCk0goYoU6eNC1MTFYqQsPmj3x0qcvzvFFXjQ_lUBqcYoCK_uv/s1600/SuperSweetBloggingAward.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgNf0brr9UxwdzRNHmvcCeFhTSorItVKIYrNem0NfevfAR3CX4We-c0bI-D0HR-0LpITgcAlqnU_R1IhsLeVgjV24FNQCk0goYoU6eNC1MTFYqQsPmj3x0qcvzvFFXjQ_lUBqcYoCK_uv/s320/SuperSweetBloggingAward.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #323232; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"><br /><span style="color: #4c4b4c;"><br /><b>1. Cookies or Cake?</b> Cookies, preferably chocolate chip, or peanut butter, or peanut butter chocolate chip. Of course, homemade are best, but I'll confess to keeping Place and Bake's on hand for- <i>ahem</i>, emergencies.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #4c4b4c;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8Q4INGxGCXmIy6F7qrVBO_NwCNpcTUz3SpLaaD4BGPfVDbQnuGO1lzfcej-P4ULcvxbYYaTHdu_m6XN1SY9dZiVbHhc3-MePNBinbijZ1KQ5EGi1QmmlnYZ8VA3fMn0NvYLdOOR6772v/s1600/file5381298506938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8Q4INGxGCXmIy6F7qrVBO_NwCNpcTUz3SpLaaD4BGPfVDbQnuGO1lzfcej-P4ULcvxbYYaTHdu_m6XN1SY9dZiVbHhc3-MePNBinbijZ1KQ5EGi1QmmlnYZ8VA3fMn0NvYLdOOR6772v/s320/file5381298506938.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #4c4b4c;"><br /></span><span style="color: #4c4b4c;"><br /><b>2. Chocolate or Vanilla?</b> Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate, unless we're talking Oreos. Then it's the Golden variety all the way. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #4c4b4c;"><br /></span><span style="color: #4c4b4c;"><br /><strong>3. Favorite Sweet Treat? </strong>H</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4c4b4c; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">omemade fudge. My mother's recipe.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c4b4c; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>4. When Do You Crave Sweet Things The Most?</b> After lunch and dinner. The meal just doesn't quite feel complete until I have a taste of something sweet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #4c4b4c;"><br /></span><span style="color: #4c4b4c;"><br /><b>5. Sweet Nick Name?</b> My husband calls me Honey. Always. I have rarely heard him say my name. Actually, I think it would freak me out and I'd wonder what was wrong if he called me Ruth. Although, not as much as if he called me Debra, or Angie, or, oh never mind.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Now, I'd like to share this award with five sweet blogging friends:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://writofwhimsy.blogspot.com/">Victoria Lindstrom</a> When I think of sweet people, Victoria is at the top of the list.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://leandrajwallace.blogspot.com/">Le&ndra Wallace</a> Even though she gives a shout out to vanilla in her profile, and I am decidedly chocolate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://spbowers.blogspot.com/">Sara Bowers</a> Her posts are short, sweet, and give you a lift - just like a good snack.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://theartofpuro.blogspot.com/">The Art of Puro</a> This boyfriend/girlfriend illustrating team have the sweetest illustrations. Take a look at their blog header.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://saradobie.wordpress.com/">Sara Dobie</a> Because your first blog award should be absolutely delicious!</span></div>
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Ruth Schiffmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625363295823548969noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068659764096530244.post-17680848199391586842013-09-29T21:50:00.001-04:002013-09-29T21:52:16.409-04:00Catching Up: Three Quick Reviews<div class="MsoNormal">
Today I’m doing some catching up with a few quick
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The first is a book I received as an advanced copy from the
author. Gabrielle Prendergast runs <a href="http://versenovels.com/">VerseNovels.com</a> and does a tremendous job
supporting the genre, so I wanted to support her by spreading the word about her
book, <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13628605-audacious?ac=1">Audacious,</a></i> (YA) which releases October 1st. I hadn’t read a novel in verse in a while and I think I was long overdue. I finished this one within
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From reading her blog posts, I know that Ms. Prendergast
enjoys a bit of controversy. During Banned Book week she expressed the
desire that her own novel would make the most challenged list one day. Given
that a great deal of the story revolves around the C word, I’m betting she’ll
get her wish. Although the story wasn’t really for me, I think the audience
for verse novels is growing and there are plenty of readers out there who will
feel differently.</div>
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My second review is for<i> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17302690-somebody-up-there-hates-you?from_search=true">Somebody Up There Hates You</a></i> by
Hollis Seamon. The premise sounded unique: a 17-year-old cancer patient tries to get the most out of life while living out his final days in Hospice. I hunted
down a copy of the ARC at BEA, even though it meant crossing the Javits Center
more than once with critically aching feet. The writing was excellent, the boy
voice rang true, and the story line kept me reading at a quick clip. I would
have preferred more romance and less lustiness, but perhaps that’s more true to
the teenage boy POV.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Also at BEA, I picked up <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17355334-the-show-must-go-on?ac=1">The Show Must Go On!</a></i> By Kate
Klise (for ages 7-10). I’ll be honest, I didn’t seek this one out, but someone
handed it to me and I didn’t know how to say no. I recently decided to share it
with my 8-year-old nephew and before giving it to him, I thought I’d read it, so we
could discuss it later. I was pleasantly surprised. It was a lot of fun, with
black and white line drawings throughout. It has humor. It has heart. It has a
dastardly villain who the circus performers must band together to overcome. It
uses wordplay and even incorporates a little math, as well as clever characters that
young readers will root for. I hate to nag my nephew, but I’m dying to know
what he thinks of it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>Ruth Schiffmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625363295823548969noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068659764096530244.post-26850241562810175302013-09-15T22:03:00.001-04:002013-09-15T22:03:57.068-04:00Multitasking FailsDo you ever feel like you're so preoccupied with constructing fictional lives for your characters that you fail at real life?<br />
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We all multitask, right? Whether we're good at it or not. We're trying to get more done in a day than is reasonable so we try to juggle more and more.<br />
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I am not great at multitasking. Mostly, I am aware of this shortcoming. I don't talk on my phone while driving. In fact, if you know me well and you're riding in the car with me, when I come to a particularly hairy intersection, you stop talking and let me focus. (Yes, I turn down the radio, too.)<br />
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The other night, when I finally peeled myself away from the computer to prepare dinner, my mind was still on my WIP. In my head, I was writing the next scene as I prepared two dishes - chicken Parmesan for my husband and I, and a stuffed chicken breast for my daughter. When the timer rang, the table was set and we were ready to eat. I went to the oven and pulled out <i>one </i>casserole dish. My daughter's dinner was done, but where was the chicken Parm? It didn't take long for me to find it--in the fridge. I have no idea why I put it there and no recollection of doing so, because my head was in a fictional land of my own making, putting words in my characters' mouths instead of dinner on the table.<br />
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Do you make these blunders, or are you better at turning your stories on and off?<br />
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<br />Ruth Schiffmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625363295823548969noreply@blogger.com29