tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86622036715830915052024-03-15T21:10:18.117-04:00Sara McClungWriting, reading, laughing all the time.Sara {Rhapsody and Chaos}http://www.blogger.com/profile/09824996048264979275noreply@blogger.comBlogger320125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662203671583091505.post-68194858809497212242014-10-08T14:02:00.000-04:002014-10-08T14:02:32.192-04:00<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Yeah. It's been almost two years since I've posted here. WHOOPS. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">But I'm back with a post that I am SUPER EXCITED ABOUT! :) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Okay. Ready? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Set... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">GO!!
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; text-decoration: underline;"><strong>THE NEWS:</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; text-decoration: underline;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I wrote a book!!
It's a sexy little new adult romance called <em>Rock & Release</em>--and it's coming out<strong> next month</strong>! I wrote it under a pen name, Riley Edgewood. And I am SO EXCITED! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">If you like strong-willed girls and sexy times and rockstars, then you should probably follow along! :)
</span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></em>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><em>Rock & Release</em> is actually going to be serialized into three separate acts: <em>VIP</em>, <em>Starstruck</em>, and <em>Show Stopper</em>. <em>VIP</em> releases on November 17th. <em>Starstruck</em> December 1st, and <em>Show Stopper</em> Dec 15.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Here's what you can expect in <em>VIP (Rock & Release, Act I)</em>: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><em><span style="color: #333399;">When Cassidy Evans scores VIP tickets to a concert, she decides to use them for one carefree night before beginning a summer internship at her father’s Fortune 500 company. But one carefree night turns into a few too many martinis—with two unexpected twists: A steamy encounter with Gage Logan, sexy singer and guitarist, and a tempting job offer from Gage's boss to work at the concert venue she now knows quite intimately.</span></em> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><em><span style="color: #333399;">She definitely can't take the job. Her internship is an opportunity any business major would kill for. But the thought of working with her father, a man furious with grief over a family tragedy that struck six months ago, fills her with dread.</span></em> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><em><span style="color: #333399;">Then there's Gage. Working with him all summer could be <strong>hot</strong>. Cassidy can't stop flashing back to their night together. Molten kisses. His hands smoothing across the skin of her belly. The weight of his body above her own…</span></em> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> <em><span style="color: #333399;">And suddenly the decision about how to spend her summer is much, much harder to make.</span></em></span><br />
<em><span style="color: #333399; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></em>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><em><span style="color: #333399;">*********************</span></em> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><em><span style="color: #333399;">New Adult romance suitable for 17+ due to mature content</span></em> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong>The cover for <em>VIP</em> will be revealed on November 4th. AND ALL BLOGGERS are invited to sign up to post it that day!! If you want to be part of my cover reveal, <a href="http://xpressobooktours.com/2014/10/07/cover-reveal-sign-up-vip-by-riley-edgewood/" target="_blank">you can sign up with Xpresso Book Tours here</a>.</strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So I have a website for my alter ego, Riley, where I'll be posting most of my book news. Although I'll probably be sharing some of it here, too, if I can find the time! <a href="http://rileyedgewood.com/" target="_blank">RileyEdgewood.com</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">You can also add <i>Rock & Release</i>, all three acts, on GoodReads! <em><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23262589-vip" target="_blank">VIP</a></em>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23295818-starstruck" target="_blank"><em>Starstruck</em></a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23295828-show-stopper" target="_blank"><em>Show Stopper</em></a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I will love you forever if you follow my alter ego on twitter, <a href="http://twitter.com/rileyedgewood" target="_blank">@RileyEdgewood</a>!
OH. And I also have a newsletter if you want notifications along the way! <a href="http://rileyedgewood.blogspot.com/p/newsletter.html" target="_blank">http://rileyedgewood.blogspot.com/p/newsletter.html</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And, finally, here's a lil teaser I shared on twitter yesterday:
</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_naayXWFXWUbOUxh0agrxSq7u4_1iviI8I260hAHW5h6vYC6uUK4D3R43V2-FKYvCXLt54JOxK9EFW_2AcDTHteYkfYzBa5-3_5hD_FWYJeJlO-lr98tHc1ZVWQPgMLc-7JEGGaq-vKM/s1600/VIP+Teaser+1+final+Edgewood+resized+blogger.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/AVvXsEg_naayXWFXWUbOUxh0agrxSq7u4_1iviI8I260hAHW5h6vYC6uUK4D3R43V2-FKYvCXLt54JOxK9EFW_2AcDTHteYkfYzBa5-3_5hD_FWYJeJlO-lr98tHc1ZVWQPgMLc-7JEGGaq-vKM/s1600/VIP+Teaser+1+final+Edgewood+resized+blogger.jpeg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Hope you like! xoxoxo </span>Sara {Rhapsody and Chaos}http://www.blogger.com/profile/09824996048264979275noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662203671583091505.post-59300929103472419422012-12-17T11:00:00.000-05:002012-12-17T11:00:04.917-05:00A little update-ish thingamajigHey yo! Soooo wow. It's been two months since I updated this beyotch. And, let's be honest. It's been SIX MONTHS since I posted about something other than a contest or a celebration for a writing friend's good news.<br />
<br />
Whoops.<br />
<br />
I kept telling myself I would write something when I had something to say. Something other than a regular little generic post that I used to write just to keep this little blog looking current. Because, really? Who likes reading those things? NOT ME.<br />
<br />
I got into blogging to connect with other people. And to journal my writing journey. And I DID connect with people! I found CPs and friends and my life got so much fuller! But I learned something, too. It's HARD to blog about the truth of the writing journey if your blog is public. Because there are SO many disappointments and frustrations and things that are worth venting over--but the further into this awesome community I found myself, the more I realized I didn't want to post about those things. Staying positive became important to me, putting a positive face forward. Which is great and all, but it doesn't mean I always had things to blog about. Because another thing about this journey? It can be so repetitive, even as each step along the way brings growth. Still though, it goes: write, revise, repeat. Critique, query, take that next step in your career. Learn lots of stuff along the way--but discover that <i>everyone else</i> seems to be learning the same things along their own journeys, based on their much more eloquently written posts about the very things you were about to post about, ha. <br />
<br />
Anyway, I think that's enough rambling about all that. SO. Here's a Sara update:<br />
<br />
I'm working on my fifth book. Well, working in the loosest sense of the word, because I've got some Big Life things going on <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">:)</span> But this book. This fifth book. When I'm finally finished writing it and revising it and revising it some more, I swear I'm going to try to further my career with this one. It's time. I mean, I had a couple close calls with representation for the first book I ever wrote. (Which, thank goodness, were only close calls because that book? Oh mans, I will always have love for it, but I'd be verrrry embarrassed if it had ever been published.) Except, since then, I've gotten into this bad habit of writing books and then just shelving them. Or maybe it's not a bad habit. Maybe I've grown enough as a writer to understand that as much as I love the books I've written, I've also known deep down that they weren't strong enough to start my career with.<br />
<br />
This book though? Book number five? I'm even going through one of those standard writer "ugh my book sucks and it needs so much work already and . . . just . . . ughhhhh I suck at life and writing" moments, and <i>still</i> deep down I know it has the potential my other ones have been missing. <br />
<br />
So, yay! Now I just have to find the energy to get back into a writing groove even with the Big Life stuff. Keep your fingers crossed for me, okay?<br />
<br />
As for this blog? I've been thinking about shutting it down, because it's just been collecting so much dust, but I think I won't. I also, though, won't start posting more regularly JUST to have content here. Because you'd know and your eyes would glaze over while you read, yanno? Plus if I take the time to put effort into writing something? It's gonna be to finish book 5 <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">:)</span> I will, however, post when I have things to say. Hopefully more regularly than every six months.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, you can find me on <a href="http://saramcclung.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">tumblr</a> (omg please find me on tumblr; I'm falling in love with it--it's so much fun!), <a href="http://pinterest.com/saramcclung/" target="_blank">pinterest</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/saramcclung" target="_blank">twitter</a>.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: magenta;">♥</span><b>S</b></span>Sara {Rhapsody and Chaos}http://www.blogger.com/profile/09824996048264979275noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662203671583091505.post-47163892756549565302012-10-17T08:00:00.000-04:002012-10-17T08:00:04.513-04:00Holy Gorgeous Cover, Batman!!
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<a href="http://karenamandahooper.blogspot.com/">Karen
Amanda Hooper</a>, author of <i>Tangled
Tides</i> and <i>Grasping at Eternity</i>,
is sharing her newest cover today. The sequel to <i>Grasping at Eternity</i>, book 2 of The Kindrily series, is titled <b><i><span style="color: purple;">Taking Back Forever</span></i><span style="color: purple;">.</span></b>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Karen and her cover designer, <a href="http://www.coversbyalexandra.com/">Alexandra Shostak</a>, have worked
side by side to create the <i>Taking Back
Forever </i>cover. After lots of hard work (and a lot of love) here it is…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<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/AVvXsEgBVFbYOtR8ysKuwA_mYulCbgIOAgTzvQhdThG_F4v1M2QxI7vxAxOF79iW7qef4f93ITOGx7qfMjzdsmGDZcf8NoxIqYIW7ytBhGptkJ5mEoCXPLqigL6XysM4zXRKzMdJn0gI6U-o0-8/s1600/TBF+to+share.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVFbYOtR8ysKuwA_mYulCbgIOAgTzvQhdThG_F4v1M2QxI7vxAxOF79iW7qef4f93ITOGx7qfMjzdsmGDZcf8NoxIqYIW7ytBhGptkJ5mEoCXPLqigL6XysM4zXRKzMdJn0gI6U-o0-8/s400/TBF+to+share.jpg" width="258" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><b>I mean, who WOULDN'T pick this phenomenal piece of work up? Even if we weren't all already dying to read book 2???</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Want to know more? Here’s a summary of <i><span style="color: purple;">Taking Back Forever.</span></i><span style="color: purple;"> <b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="color: purple;">Forever is worth the fight. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .3in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .3in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: purple;">Maryah erased all memory of her past lives, but she
couldn’t erase her soul mate Nathan, or his undying love. Now, Maryah and
Nathan have a second chance at a future together, but first Maryah must
remember the person she used to be and embrace her supernatural gifts—more than
one kindrily member’s life depends on it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .3in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .3in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: purple;">Maryah’s power is Harmony’s best hope of finding her
kidnapped soul mate, Gregory. But Harmony isn’t big on asking anyone for help, and
she’s tired of waiting, so she’s taking matters into her own hands. Heaven help
anyone who stands in her way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .3in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .3in; text-indent: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">To
celebrate, Karen and Alexandra are giving away signed paperbacks of <i>Grasping at Eternity. </i></span>(Signed by
Karen AND Alexandra!)<i> <o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .3in; text-indent: 0in;">
<b>Contest is open internationally!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .3in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .3in; text-indent: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/YmFlODE0ZTNiYjMwNDdkM2MxZjE1N2VmZjNhYjFjOjA=/">http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/YmFlODE0ZTNiYjMwNDdkM2MxZjE1N2VmZjNhYjFjOjA=/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fZtTiPa2g0ePCuwEWjsZkK_ed6PkNoGwtgDE_qvejKMEtbi3KUEQ84OF688z2_2DZxxIZzlZZOtSSjNMFG-ueltF17wnOxviCn9xyx-B22yI1CPGBYedW_y8NoLKE_vOQJf_OG-smHE/s1600/shostak_author+picture.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/AVvXsEi3fZtTiPa2g0ePCuwEWjsZkK_ed6PkNoGwtgDE_qvejKMEtbi3KUEQ84OF688z2_2DZxxIZzlZZOtSSjNMFG-ueltF17wnOxviCn9xyx-B22yI1CPGBYedW_y8NoLKE_vOQJf_OG-smHE/s200/shostak_author+picture.jpg" width="142" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .3in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;">Alexandra Shostak is a
writer of dark and fantastical things, mostly meant for teenagers. She is a
freelance cover designer, and is available to do covers and interior artwork
directly for authors. She is also a former Irish dancer, a guitar player, and
the person who can get you through the zombie apocalypse without getting
bitten.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .3in; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .3in; text-indent: 0in;">
If you’re
especially worried about the zombie apocalypse, you can find her in one of
these places:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .3in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="http://www.alexandrashostak.com/">www.alexandrashostak.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .3in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="http://www.coversbyalexandra.com/">www.coversbyalexandra.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .3in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="http://www.yaconfidential.com/">www.yaconfidential.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .3in; text-indent: 0in;">
or on Twitter as
@a_shostak<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWK2bIAL_QPNL-cIl_irGm3LGOULxqbNIzTpbNbjFAUw6XmXrF4Q3p-7Yc6pfbAeaX9mpj_N_xryG86m-idXCB6t-3y29Kh-AFmxEQeDsw6Psp4UAp4NQ6F6OJ7wPAwhqCweVNamqXDQk/s1600/KarenHooper.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/AVvXsEiWK2bIAL_QPNL-cIl_irGm3LGOULxqbNIzTpbNbjFAUw6XmXrF4Q3p-7Yc6pfbAeaX9mpj_N_xryG86m-idXCB6t-3y29Kh-AFmxEQeDsw6Psp4UAp4NQ6F6OJ7wPAwhqCweVNamqXDQk/s200/KarenHooper.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .3in; text-indent: 0in;">
Karen was born and
bred in Baltimore, frolicked and froze in Colorado for a couple of years, and is
currently sunning and splashing around Florida with her two beloved dogs. She's
addicted to coffee, chocolate, and complicated happily-ever-afters. Due to her
strong Disney upbringing, she still believes in fairytales and will forever
sprinkle magic throughout all of her novels.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .3in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.KarenAmandaHooper.com">www.KarenAmandaHooper.com</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .3in; text-indent: 0in;">
Twitter:
@karen_hooper</div>
Sara {Rhapsody and Chaos}http://www.blogger.com/profile/09824996048264979275noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662203671583091505.post-80992996281397302712012-10-10T07:00:00.000-04:002012-10-10T07:00:17.479-04:00KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES Winners!!!<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Congratulations to <b>Jeff Fiet, Sheri Larsen, and A Canadian Girl</b></span>! You are the three lucky winners selected by Rafflecopter! Shoot me an email (sara.a.mcclung at gmail) with your mailing address and <a href="http://sarahwithachance.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Sarah</a> and I will get your prizes out to you this week!! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Seriously, you're going to LOVE <i>Keeper of the Lost Cities</i>!!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="color: #ff5d11; font-family: inherit;"><b>And for anyone who didn't win? YOU CAN STILL WIN!!!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Get your own copy of Keeper <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Keeper-Lost-Cities-Shannon-Messenger/dp/1442445939/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1349833504&sr=8-1&keywords=keeper+of+the+lost+cities" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/keeper-of-the-lost-cities-shannon-messenger/1107043745?ean=9781442445932" target="_blank">here</a>, or <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781442445932" target="_blank">here</a>!!!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://images.indiebound.com/932/445/9781442445932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://images.indiebound.com/932/445/9781442445932.jpg" width="212" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I promise you won't regret it--and you can thank me after you've read it! (But still, don't forget . . . Keefe is MINE, so back off . . . ) </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">:)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: magenta;">♥</span><b>S</b></span><br />
Sara {Rhapsody and Chaos}http://www.blogger.com/profile/09824996048264979275noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662203671583091505.post-56576071659066414682012-10-02T07:00:00.000-04:002012-10-02T09:10:38.828-04:00EEEEEEEE!! I'M SO EXCITED!!!!! <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b>HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY, SHANNON MESSENGER!!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
YOU GUYS.<br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES </i>COMES OUT TODAY!!</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigH9y4qosyf8IJ0aPsv6WhplpK_Wsys5ZxiD_TnnMw_1s9TtjmGDVsE9bYahpDs-x0t5fPYY5RhXVLGEVc-KB8iwy-VVAjQH-It0wdwFAiMNV-k9BacDsohz1yVFtY7Ea5AM2uVd2kKFk-/s320/Keeper_cvr_FINAL_LR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigH9y4qosyf8IJ0aPsv6WhplpK_Wsys5ZxiD_TnnMw_1s9TtjmGDVsE9bYahpDs-x0t5fPYY5RhXVLGEVc-KB8iwy-VVAjQH-It0wdwFAiMNV-k9BacDsohz1yVFtY7Ea5AM2uVd2kKFk-/s320/Keeper_cvr_FINAL_LR.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
CAN YOU FEEL THE ENERGY OF MY HAPPY DANCING ALL THE WAY OVER THERE???</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I AM SO FREAKING EXCITED THE REST OF THE WORLD GETS TO DISCOVER THIS AMAZING STORY. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
BUT.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">BUT.</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT STEALING KEEFE FROM ME. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xPP5qbmfNrv4EJauDbk3gHC6l9gSgJRbLevaXVcbsZEzPG2Bf4BPOLvB1o38Bv7j2ZygVp-owb9E-2TgoIJr61Jc0c5LDykhaNEm7cxWgnivL8K1Wff6SejqVhv1Gic7WZATkni7coo/s1600/IMG_1163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xPP5qbmfNrv4EJauDbk3gHC6l9gSgJRbLevaXVcbsZEzPG2Bf4BPOLvB1o38Bv7j2ZygVp-owb9E-2TgoIJr61Jc0c5LDykhaNEm7cxWgnivL8K1Wff6SejqVhv1Gic7WZATkni7coo/s400/IMG_1163.JPG" width="277" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
YEAH. THAT'S RIGHT. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
THE ONLY PERSON WHO GETS TO SHARE KEEFE WITH ME IS SARAH WYLIE. SHANNON'S OTHER CP. THE COOLER SARAH. BECAUSE I HAVE TO HAND IT TO HER, SHE CAME UP WITH THE TEAM KEEFE CONCEPT. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
BUT OTHERWISE?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
HANDS OFF, MOFOS. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
AND SPEAKING OF SARAH, WE'RE TEAMING UP IN ANOTHER WAY, TOO! <span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>WE'RE GIVING AWAY <u><span style="font-size: large;">THREE</span></u> COPIES OF <i>KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES</i>.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
DUDES. YOU WANT THIS BOOK. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: magenta;">YOU WANT TO DISCOVER SOPHIE FOSTER AND HER NEW (FREAKING AWESOME) WORLD. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: magenta;">YOU WANT TO DISCOVER FITZ AND KEEFE AND DEX AND BIANA, HER NEW (FREAKING AWESOME) FRIENDS.</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;">YOU WANT TO DISCOVER THE BLACK SWAN. </span></div>
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<i><span style="color: magenta;">OR . . . DO YOU?</span></i></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;">DUN DUN DUNNNNNN.</span></div>
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THIS MIDDLE GRADE NOVEL IS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT FOR MIDDLE GRADERS! EVEN RELUCTANT READERS WILL FALL FOR THIS STORY, JUST YOU WATCH.</div>
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BUT YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE? </div>
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THIS BOOK WILL REACH ANYONE OF ANY AGE. I'M 31 AND THIS BOOK IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES OF ALL TIMES. YES, I'M SHANNON'S CP, BUT I SWEAR, I'M SAYING THAT COMPLETELY UNBIASED. </div>
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I WILL READ THIS BOOK AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR <i>FOREVER</i>. </div>
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FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A FREE COPY OF <i>KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES</i>, ENTER HERE!!<br />
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/34e03d0/" id="rc-34e03d0" rel="nofollow">Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>!!<br />
<br />
IF YOU WANT AN EXTRA POINT, SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THE GIVEAWAY!<br />
<br />
THAT'S IT. </div>
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GIVEAWAY IS OPEN FOR A WEEK! SO MAKE SURE TO ENTER BY NEXT MONDAY, OCTOBER, 8TH. (AND IT'S OPEN INTERNATIONALLY!)<br />
<br />
PS. I'M SURE THERE ARE TONS OF CELEBRATIONS FOR KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES ALL OVER THE BLOGOSPHERE FOR SHANNON TODAY! DEFINITELY CHECK OUT <a href="http://sarahwithachance.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">SARAH</a> AND <a href="http://elanajohnson.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">ELANA'S</a> POSTS, TOO!!</div>
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<i><span style="color: #ff5d11; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Dear Shannon, </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #ff5d11; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #ff5d11; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I am so thrilled that today is finally here. The moment you've waited for, and worked so hard for. The release of your first novel! I'm so bummed I can't be there to celebrate with you today, stupid opposite coasts, and all. But I'll see you in a few short weeks, and we'll celebrate then. And for today, just know I'm grinning ear-to-ear, all the way to the store to buy my own, </i><b style="font-style: italic;">finalized</b><i> copy of </i>Keeper<i>! </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ff5d11; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Enjoy today. I wish you all the success in the world--you certainly deserve it. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ff5d11; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Love,</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ff5d11; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Sara</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: magenta;">♥</span><b>S</b></span> </div>
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Sara {Rhapsody and Chaos}http://www.blogger.com/profile/09824996048264979275noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662203671583091505.post-50428960141404390952012-10-01T14:00:00.003-04:002012-10-01T14:00:58.079-04:00THE ARCHIVED winner!Looooooong overdue. Sorry guys! I've been on <strike>a bit of a</strike> quite a long blogging hiatus. (More about that another time.)<br />
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But hopefully now is better than never!<br />
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The winner of my <i>THE ARCHIVED</i> arc is . . .<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Emily of <a href="http://edandemreviews.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Ed & Em's Reviews</a>! </span></b></div>
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Congratulations!!! I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did!<br />
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And to anyone who didn't win, come back tomorrow--I'm giving away one of my fave books of all time!!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: magenta;">♥</span><b>S</b></span>Sara {Rhapsody and Chaos}http://www.blogger.com/profile/09824996048264979275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662203671583091505.post-18867320170360251762012-07-16T08:00:00.000-04:002012-07-16T08:00:16.690-04:00Book Rec! THE ARCHIVED by Victoria Schwab (ARC Giveaway)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff5d11; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive. </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>j</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff5d11; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was, a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often-violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff5d11; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Being a Keeper isn't just dangerous—it's a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da's death was hard enough, but now her little brother is gone too. Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall. </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">j</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff5d11; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>In this haunting, richly imagined novel, Victoria Schwab reveals the thin lines between past and present, love and pain, trust and deceit, unbearable loss and hard-won redemption. </i></span><br />
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Let me just start by saying, I loved Victoria's first YA, <i>The Near Witch</i>. A lot. So I had high expectations going into this one . . .<br />
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She did not disappoint.<br />
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<i>The Archived</i> has flavors of The Adjustment Bureau (but way darker) and a few from Inception--but at the same time, it's very unique. The world in the book is built seamlessly--and creepily, I might add. There's the Outer, which is the world as we know it, and then the Archive, a place where Histories (aka bodies) are kept, storing the memories of the lives they once lived. But between them, are the Narrows, a buffer between the worlds.<br />
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"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Close your eyes and picture this: a dark alley, just wide enough for you to spread your arms and skim the rough stone walls on either side with your fingers. You look up and see . . . nothing, just the walls running up and up and up into black. The only light comes from the doors that line the walls, their outlines giving off a faint glow, their keyholes letting in beams of light that show like threads in the dusty air. It is enough light to see by, but not enough to see well.</span>" (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">ARC of <i>The Archived</i>, page 14</span>)<br />
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Those, my friends, are the Narrows. And they freaked me the freak out.<br />
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The main character, MacKenzie--Mac--is hardcore enough to complete her tasks (which, in case you didn't read the description, are to stop the Histories--so, you know, <i>the bodies of the dead</i>--from waking up and getting out of the Narrows) (creepy, right?) but also vulnerable enough (over the loss of her brother, and the way she feels about her family, and how she reacts to/forms relationships with other characters in the story) so that I could really connect with her while I read.<br />
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<i>The Archived</i> isn't scheduled to come out until January 2013, but I couldn't wait that long to share it with you! So I'm giving away my ARC.<br />
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To enter:<br />
<ul>
<li>Follow my blog</li>
<li>Spread the word about the giveaway (Tweet/facebook/blog/sidebar/whatever you want to do. 1 point for each! 2 for a blog post about it.) </li>
<li>Leave a comment telling me the following three things: </li>
<ul>
<li>How many points you have, with links to the ways you spread the word </li>
<li>A promise to promote what you loved about the ARC if you win it </li>
<li>Your email address for if you win</li>
</ul>
<li>That's IT!</li>
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This giveaway ends Friday, August 17th, and is open internationally!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">♥</span><b>S</b></span>Sara {Rhapsody and Chaos}http://www.blogger.com/profile/09824996048264979275noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662203671583091505.post-57069594845014011882012-07-11T08:00:00.000-04:002012-07-12T15:31:38.991-04:00In any language . . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Carry it with you</span>.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> In your heart</span>.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> And when your heart hurts</span>?</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff5d11;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Make it a decision anyway</span>.</b></span></div>
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<strike>I've been working on this.</strike></div>
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<strike>I lost power for five days at the start of July and forgot all about being kind.</strike> </div>
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I've really struggled with this recently.</div>
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But . . . I wasn't <i>as</i> unkind as I felt like being. So that's something, isn't it?</div>
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I stayed patient with the power company--I didn't even yell once. I kept a smile on my face toward my family (mostly) and stayed nice toward my husband (mostly . . . okay, <i>sort of</i>). </div>
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I mean, baby steps, right? </div>
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It felt like a failure at the time, but in hindsight, I actually think I've made some progress. Like this <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">kindness as a way of life</span></i> thing is kinda starting to sink in. A little. Because while I wasn't the epitome of kindness in a rough situation--I also wasn't the epitome of nastiness. Which, at times, I totally felt like being.</div>
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Anyway, I just wanted to say--to anyone who's struggled with being kind, I think sometimes even bothering to struggle puts you a mile ahead of the rest of the game. It's not a failure. It's a step forward. Yanno? Some people choose to be nasty and mean when they're frustrated--they let their inner monsters loose when it's the most difficult to be kind--and don't even think about it after. But if we keep ours in check, or at least try our hardest to? I think we're on the right path. </div>
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Baby steps are better than no steps at all.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">♥</span><b>S</b></span><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Too often kindness is relegated to a random act performed only when we’re feeling good. But an even greater kindness (to ourselves and others) occurs when we reach out even when we aren't feeling entirely whole. It’s not easy, and no one is perfect. But we’ve decided it’s not impossible to brighten the world one smile, one kind word, one blog post at a time. To that end, a few of us writers have established The Kindness Project, starting with a series of inspirational posts. We post the second Wednesday of every month. </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
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Check out today's posts by other writerly friends participating in The Kindness Project!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><a href="http://www.alinabklein.com/" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">Alina Klein</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"> </span><a href="http://katharineowens.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">Katharine Owens</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"> </span><br style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;" /><a href="http://www.andreahannah.com/" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">Andrea Hannah</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"> </span><a href="http://lenlambert.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">Len Lambert</a><br style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;" /><a href="http://barbaraannwatson.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">Barbara Watson</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"> </span><a href="http://lizakane.me/" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">Liza Kane</a><br style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;" /><a href="http://www.carolinavaldezmiller.com/" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">Carolina Valdez Miller</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"> </span><a href="http://sharppendullsword.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">Lola Sharp</a><br style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;" /><a href="http://christaramblesandwrites.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">Christa Desir </a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"> </span><a href="http://isabellamorgan.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">Lindsay Scott</a><br style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;" /><a href="http://clairehennessy.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">Claire Hennessy</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"> </span><a href="http://theqqqe.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">Matthew MacNish</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"> (available Jul16)</span><br style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;" /><a href="http://elanajohnson.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">Elana Johnson </a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"> </span><a href="http://micheleshaw.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;" target="_blank">Michele Shaw</a><br style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;" /><a href="http://www.lizwritesbooks.com/" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">Elizabeth Davis</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"> </span><a href="http://thestrangestsituation.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">Sarah Fine</a><br style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;" /><a href="http://writerelizabethpoole.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">Elizabeth Poole</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"> </span><a href="http://sarablarson.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">Sara Larson</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"> </span><br style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;" /><a href="http://ersworkinprogress.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">Erica Chapman</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><a href="http://sophiathewriter.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">Sophia Chang</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<a href="http://jessicacorra.wordpress.com/" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">Jessica Corra</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"> </span><a href="http://thewordsonpaper.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">Tracey Neithercott</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<a href="http://leightmoore.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">Leigh Moore</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Want to join us? Grab our button and spread a little kindness.</span></div>
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</div>Sara {Rhapsody and Chaos}http://www.blogger.com/profile/09824996048264979275noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662203671583091505.post-39694314246376734202012-07-08T15:57:00.001-04:002012-07-08T16:01:30.377-04:00Winners!<div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Eep! I'm
so sorry you guys, but I forgot I was having a giveaway! Between conferences
and moving into a new house and then losing freaking power for a week during a
heatwave (the definition of <i>misery</i>, believe me), I got all spun
around and just FORGOT.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Forgive
me!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The
winners of my ARC giveaway are:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #f94a00;">Monstrous Beauty</span></i></b><b><span style="color: #f94a00;">: Emily (Emily's Crammed Bookshelf)</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #f94a00;">The Raft</span></i></b><b><span style="color: #f94a00;">: Jessy B.</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #f94a00;">Wake</span></i></b><b><span style="color: #f94a00;">: Stephanie V.</span></b></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Please
email me (sara.a.mcclung at gmail) your mailing addresses and I'll have
the ARCs out to you asap!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Hope
everyone's having an awesome July! I totally meant to do a daily blogging
thingy again, like I did in May, but time . . . man, time just slipped away.
Maybe I'll do it in September or something, when the crazycakes hecticness of
summer is winding down.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f500ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 32.0pt;">♥</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 32.0pt;">S</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>Sara {Rhapsody and Chaos}http://www.blogger.com/profile/09824996048264979275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662203671583091505.post-6167093186122055282012-06-13T08:00:00.000-04:002012-06-13T09:20:20.396-04:00The Kindness in Forgiveness<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<a href="http://comefillyourcup.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/broken-heart-broken-hearts-6853604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="294" src="http://comefillyourcup.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/broken-heart-broken-hearts-6853604.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&client=safari&sa=N&rls=en&biw=1303&bih=528&tbm=isch&tbnid=xl530EcOZ46QDM:&imgrefurl=http://comefillyourcup.com/2012/03/21/forgiveness/&docid=AYwFmGdnfxYdZM&imgurl=http://comefillyourcup.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/broken-heart-broken-hearts-6853604.jpg&w=947&h=872&ei=DUm-T6uCHpG56AHlhp1M&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=488&vpy=155&dur=1157&hovh=215&hovw=234&tx=131&ty=94&sig=107371081933478722363&page=2&tbnh=152&tbnw=142&start=11&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:11,i:171" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">source</span></a></i></div>
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It's not always easy.</div>
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In fact, sometimes it's beyond difficult.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But forgiveness? It's kind to two people.</div>
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The person you're forgiving.</div>
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<br /></div>
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And you.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95Du21uNtq-I9VNzRLm5MmgBeL_8wYtn9gNmyCfHV7vL0ctXwRtusMwHfADwy2ICS0gLUoSpsrrIOYLFzLGJIDG5OkGD3ZHCFDUuiw6HBCx2bIBUmmA2wZ7NYNUl_DpjobtjW3c52rdI/s1600/forgive_by_onlycurious.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95Du21uNtq-I9VNzRLm5MmgBeL_8wYtn9gNmyCfHV7vL0ctXwRtusMwHfADwy2ICS0gLUoSpsrrIOYLFzLGJIDG5OkGD3ZHCFDUuiw6HBCx2bIBUmmA2wZ7NYNUl_DpjobtjW3c52rdI/s320/forgive_by_onlycurious.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&client=safari&sa=N&rls=en&biw=1303&bih=528&tbm=isch&tbnid=t2hWPUbytn8Q2M:&imgrefurl=http://inbythroughhim.blogspot.com/2012/04/spirit-of-forgiveness.html&docid=MHKO8KSZ0HrLYM&imgurl=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95Du21uNtq-I9VNzRLm5MmgBeL_8wYtn9gNmyCfHV7vL0ctXwRtusMwHfADwy2ICS0gLUoSpsrrIOYLFzLGJIDG5OkGD3ZHCFDUuiw6HBCx2bIBUmmA2wZ7NYNUl_DpjobtjW3c52rdI/s1600/forgive_by_onlycurious.jpg&w=900&h=599&ei=DUm-T6uCHpG56AHlhp1M&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=245&vpy=153&dur=302&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=160&ty=113&sig=107371081933478722363&page=5&tbnh=139&tbnw=209&start=62&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:11,s:62,i:305" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">source</span></a></i></div>
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Let's be real.</div>
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People can be assholes.</div>
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People can do shitty things.</div>
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Intentionally--or not.</div>
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<b>But so can I.</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>And so can you.</b></div>
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Keep that in mind. Gather empathy from those past experiences in which you've been the wrongdoer. Use it to forgive.<br />
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People make mistakes; people grow; people change.<br />
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Or they don't.<br />
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But you will.</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff5d11; font-size: large;">"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong." ~Mahatma Gandhi</span></b></div>
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Sometimes it's easier when someone asks for forgiveness. When they apologize for the wrong they've done.</div>
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<i>Sometimes it's harder</i>. Sometimes you want people to just disappear and never come back--and when they do, it's a constant reminder of that hurt.</div>
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But they've made the effort. They've apologized. Maybe more than once. Maybe over and over. They've taken that first step toward communication.</div>
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Forgive them.<br />
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You don't have to forget what they've done--that might not be possible. But (and warning: this is a total cliché<i>, but it's also the truth</i>) life's too short to hold onto hurt.</div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.oprah.com/oprahs-lifeclass/Forgiveness-Quotes-Quotes-for-Letting-Go-of-the-Past" target="_blank">source</a></span></i></div>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Take a second and really think about this quote. Let it sink in. </span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>It's kind of amazing in how simple--and how true--it is</b>.</span></i></td></tr>
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Sometimes those who've hurt you don't think they need to apologize. They don't see that they've done anything wrong.<br />
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Still,</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTmoLUc2mhV0roV220C0bIP4nFi3xY4X5STz1_brV5kfnHRn9kxWPB_wUQmmMJgeUK29yhT17qrvL4alhyHJou9R11Qzeqs3aZP_s2FP1tB6H0Dilz8fPnny6tCjfihnuDUolS6nrGfg/s1600/forgive.jpg&imgrefurl=http://lipstikevents.blogspot.com/2012_04_01_archive.html&usg=__dGo3NHn5oADUZ_zb3CYmLqFI5aA=&h=792&w=553&sz=134&hl=en&start=1&sig2=0vp6sbi1JEy3YJ5GFg8m6A&zoom=1&tbnid=WSGF4k4x1oBFcM:&tbnh=158&tbnw=110&ei=OnTXT77DFtP46QHcm6iXAw&prev=/search%3Fhl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DG%26rls%3Den%26biw%3D1357%26bih%3D737%26tbs%3Dsimg:CAQSYxphCxCo1NgEGgIICgwLELCMpwgaOgo4CAESEv0H_1wfXB_1UH1QfWB9IH1AfTBxogigVdm_1Z7e7qnVo-BeHdjiPqQU1lYiGnKcqECFogwyVQMCxCOrv4IGgoKCAgBEgS6pes9DA%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=223&sig=107371081933478722363&page=1&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:55&tx=81&ty=69" target="_blank">source</a></span></i></td></tr>
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<br /></div>
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Because here's the thing: People need love the most when they act like they least deserve it.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Hurt people hurt people</i>.</div>
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Forgive them.</div>
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If you can't do it for them (and believe me, I know how much easier it is to blog about this than to practice it in real life), do it for yourself.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/580278_3437718015601_1050017399_32869896_853863092_n.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.facebook.com/people/Pam-Blakemore/1050017399&usg=__L6c8k7oLtukC4c4A25GDo7VfVVA=&h=642&w=960&sz=122&hl=en&start=1&sig2=bimPHRB2X2JDL38PpchG9Q&zoom=1&tbnid=RWZq2p2yorURuM:&tbnh=158&tbnw=209&ei=vXTXT9SwK-PB6AGxrcCRAw&prev=/search%3Fhl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26biw%3D1357%26bih%3D737%26tbs%3Dsimg:CAQSYBpeCxCo1NgEGgIICQwLELCMpwgaNwo1CAESDxENGhT_1AvcCGK4BiAKBAhog2499VzaUZ6aP3MLZZ3xZg6BoirVT68eIhqwDuciHKQwMCxCOrv4IGgoKCAgBEgQcYcrLDA%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=254&sig=107371081933478722363&page=1&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:55&tx=128&ty=83" target="_blank">source</a></span></i></td></tr>
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Letting go of the pain someone's caused you can beyond difficult. But when you hang onto it? All you're doing is giving that person--or those people--headspace that could be used for <b>so many better things</b>. Story ideas. Childhood memories.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<i>Freaking grocery lists</i>.</div>
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Anything is better use for that area of your brain. Your heart.</div>
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Ask yourself: Do you want to feel this pain/anxiety/regret/negativity in a year? In two? Five? Ten?</div>
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God, I hope not. I sure don't.</div>
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So let go. Today. Tomorrow. A week from now. Maybe it will take a year--but get give that ball a gentle shove toward the top of the hill. Big or small, it won't be easy. But eventually, it will pick up speed and you'll find yourself feeling lighter, faster, freer.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://simplifyyourlife.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">source</a></span></i></td></tr>
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<b>This is your kindness challenge for the month: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Forgive someone.</span></b></div>
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Give them kindness in the relief of being forgiven.</div>
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<i>Give yourself the kindness of letting go</i>.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">♥</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>S</b></span><br />
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~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*<br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Too often kindness is relegated to a random act performed only when we’re feeling good. But an even greater kindness (to ourselves and others) occurs when we reach out even when we aren't feeling entirely whole. It’s not easy, and no one is perfect. But we’ve decided it’s not impossible to brighten the world one smile, one kind word, one blog post at a time. To that end, a few of us writers have established The Kindness Project, starting with a series of inspirational posts. We post the second Wednesday of every month. </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
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Check out today's posts by other writerly friends participating in The Kindness Project!</div>
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.38536595925688744" style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://sophiathewriter.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sophia Chang</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><a href="http://sarablarson.blogspot.com/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sara Larson</span></a><br /><a href="http://ersworkinprogress.blogspot.com/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Erica Chapman</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><a href="http://theqqqe.blogspot.com/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matthew MacNish</span></a><br /><a href="http://jessicacorra.wordpress.com/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jessica Corra</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><a href="http://saramcclung.com/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sara McClung</span></a><br /><a href="http://www.lizwritesbooks.com/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Elizabeth Davis</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><a href="http://gretchenmcneil.blogspot.com/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gretchen McNeil</span></a><br /><a href="http://christaramblesandwrites.blogspot.com/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christa Desir</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><a href="http://leightmoore.blogspot.com/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Leigh Moore</span></a><br /><a href="http://thestrangestsituation.blogspot.com/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sarah Fine</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><a href="http://thewordsonpaper.blogspot.com/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tracey Neithercott</span></a><br /><a href="http://clairehennessy.blogspot.com/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Claire Hennessy</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><a href="http://katharineowens.blogspot.com/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Katharine Owen </span></a><br /><a href="http://elanajohnson.blogspot.com/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Elana Johnson</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><a href="http://writerelizabethpoole.blogspot.com/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Elizabeth Poole</span></a><br /><a href="http://lizakane.me/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Liza Kane</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><a href="http://sharppendullsword.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lola Sharp</span></a><br /><a href="http://amiekaufman.com/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amie Kaufman</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><a href="http://micheleshaw.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Michele Shaw</span></a><br /><a href="http://www.alinabklein.com/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Alina Klein</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><a href="http://www.meaganspooner.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Meagan Spooner</span></a><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.carolinavaldezmiller.com/" target="_blank">Carolina Valdez Miller</a></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Want to join us? Grab our button and spread a little kindness.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvReAkZjrCkzcX8rxj5MvT7Ws6_2S4H9cZmOIb7fKYGXr3uKOvJzxdSs-waoUDc9CMmCyRvhgDzYwzhV3J8Ge-KuVEH76VHli-pRZFY6Y2TMc9KFhAupqeZT44lSUJQBTZaOR29Zgdw8/s210/KP+Button1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvReAkZjrCkzcX8rxj5MvT7Ws6_2S4H9cZmOIb7fKYGXr3uKOvJzxdSs-waoUDc9CMmCyRvhgDzYwzhV3J8Ge-KuVEH76VHli-pRZFY6Y2TMc9KFhAupqeZT44lSUJQBTZaOR29Zgdw8/s210/KP+Button1.jpg" /></a></div>
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</div>Sara {Rhapsody and Chaos}http://www.blogger.com/profile/09824996048264979275noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662203671583091505.post-79448369875544837832012-06-12T08:00:00.000-04:002012-06-12T08:00:10.899-04:00Let's Do This Thing.Do you guys know <a href="http://kathybradey.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">Kathy Bradey</a>?
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<b>You should! </b></div>
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For many reasons. She's sweet; she's funny; she's talented . . . She's a fellow nail polish junkie! <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">*high five*</span></div>
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But what I'm focused on today is the fact that <b>she's organizing an auction to raise funds for cancer awareness.</b> </div>
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Here's the thing: </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><em>“Be Here Now”</em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">is an inspiring documentary about the actor Andy Whitfield, who put the same determination and dedication that he brought to his lead role in the hit television show, “Spartacus: Blood and Sand,” into fighting life-threatening cancer.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">It was Andy’s hope that by opening his story up to a documentary, he might help or inspire others facing similar challenges, while pushing to accelerate the pace of cancer research around the world.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><em>“When Andy was told his lymphoma had returned and that without treatment he had 3 – 6 months to live, he was compelled to share his exploration into the unknown. He selflessly invited a film crew into our lives, who followed us through out the last year of Andy’s magnificent and courageous journey. We now need your support to finish the documentary and fulfill Andy’s legacy.”</em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">~ Vashti Whitfield (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.maybemcqueen.com/" style="text-decoration: none;">http://www.maybemcqueen.com/</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">)</span></span></div>
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Kathy's raising funds for the completion of that documentary. She and other fabulous authors are offering critiques and books in exchange for donations toward the project!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">It all starts TOMORROW.</span> Bid on critiques from: </div>
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<b>DEBRA DRIZA</b> (author of MILA 2.0, Katherine Tegen)</div>
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<b>LAURA TIMS</b> (YA writer and intern at FinePrint Literary Management)</div>
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<b>MICHELLE PAINCHAUD</b> (YA writer represented by Jessica Faust of Bookends) and <b>E. K. HENRY</b> (YA author of FREAK)</div>
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<b>KATHY BRADEY</b> (YA writer represented by Suzie Townsend of Nancy Coffey) and <b>MELANIE SANTIAGO </b>(YA writer)</div>
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<b>MINDEE ARNETT</b> (YA author of THE NIGHTMARE AFFAIR, Tor)</div>
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<b>DAWN RAE MILLER</b> (YA author of LARKSTORM)</div>
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<b>REBECCA ROGERS</b> (YA author of the SILVER MOON series and UNDER THE STARS)</div>
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<b>SUSANNE WINNACKER</b> (YA author of THE OTHER LIFE and THE LIFE BEYOND, Usborne/Marhsall Cavendish)</div>
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<b>RACHAEL ALLEN</b> (YA writer represented by Susan Hawk of Jenny Bent) and <b>ANGIE SPARTZ</b> (YA writer and book blogger)</div>
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<b>ELIZABETH LIGHT</b> (YA writer represented by Lindsay Ribar of Sanford J. Greenburger)</div>
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<b>KAITLIN WARD</b> (YA writer represented by Sarah LaPolla of Curtis Brown and YA Highway blogger)</div>
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<b>JENNIFER WALKUP</b> (YA author of SECOND VERSE, Luminis)</div>
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<b>KARA TAYLOR</b> (YA author of PREP SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL, St. Martin’s Press and former intern to Elana Roth)</div>
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<b>STEPHANIE KUEHN</b> (YA author of CHARM AND STRANGE, St. Martin’s Press/Egmont UK and YA Highway blogger)</div>
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<b>LORI LEE </b>(YA writer represented by Suzie Townsend of Nancy Coffey)</div>
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The full list of critiques and books up for auction--and all the other deets--can be found on <a href="http://kathybradey.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Kathy's blog</a>.<br />
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If you're able to donate, I hope you'll consider it! (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">But dude, hands off Kathy's full MS critique. *gives you all the side eye*</span>)</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">♥</span><b>S</b></span> </div>
</div>Sara {Rhapsody and Chaos}http://www.blogger.com/profile/09824996048264979275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662203671583091505.post-45066930090043098972012-05-31T08:00:00.000-04:002012-05-31T08:05:58.603-04:00Today's the last day of Blog Me MAYbe and I've got to say, I've loved blogging this month! Having a schedule like that made it so much easier to keep my thoughts organized and I never lacked inspiration for what to post about.<br />
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Tomorrow June starts. And June? Yeah. It's gonna be the VERY definition of <b>crazycakes</b>, so blogging'll be back to sporadic at best.<br />
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BUT.<br />
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I'm going to try to do this all over again in July! Any of you interested in joining?<br />
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I mean... Blog Me JULYbe doesn't have the same ring, but still. If you're game, I am. And either way, we'll definitely do this again next May, too.<br />
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For today, instead of telling you about a certain person--I'm reposting the original sign up link thing. So take a few minutes and check out some of these blogs. Meet someone new today, after all it's the best part of blogging isn't it? Joining in with the community?<br />
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Enjoy the last day of May!!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">♥</span><b>S</b></span>Sara {Rhapsody and Chaos}http://www.blogger.com/profile/09824996048264979275noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662203671583091505.post-76806608519987202842012-05-30T08:00:00.000-04:002012-05-30T08:00:02.760-04:00Regarding CommentsHow do you like your blog comments responded to?<br />
<br />
I ask because there are so many ways for to do it--and I'm never sure which is preferable.<br />
<br />
If you comment on someone's blog, do you like for them to reciprocate and respond to your most recent post? This is what I've been trying to do recently with comments here on my blog. <i>When I can, that is!</i> I've been so swamped with the move, I haven't had much time to comment these days. And even when I'm not gearing up to move, my blog reading list is a little out of control and I don't have time to read all the blogs I want to--or, when I do have a chance to read, I don't have time to comment everywhere--but I try very hard to make that effort for people who visit this place. Yanno? You visit me, I'll visit you sort of a deal.<br />
<br />
But . . . If I'm being honest, that's not why I comment on other people's blogs. Like, I don't get offended if I comment on Blog X, and then Blogger X doesn't come over here to comment on my post. I know some people leave comments for that purpose--and I'm not saying there's anything wrong with it! That's a great way to build community and get to know people, for sure. But I just like to comment on posts that I actually have something to say about after reading. And that's what I'd like to happen here, too. If you have something to add or question or contribute, do it! But don't feel obligated just because I've commented on your blog.<br />
<br />
So then there's the email response. Your comments come into my email account and, if your email is linked to your profile, I can hit reply and respond directly to you.<br />
<br />
OR I can reply directly in my comments section on my blog. But with blogger, I don't think it notifies you that I've written back to you, which means you have to revisit my blog to see if I've responded. That sounds like an extra bit of work. However, I could always switch to <a href="http://disqus.com/about/" target="_blank">Disqus</a>, which a lot of blogs have already done. With Disqus, you'll be notified when I respond. So you don't have to come back again, unless you want to reply to <i>my</i> response.<br />
<br />
Gah!<br />
<br />
Am I way over-thinking this? Probably. But I'm still curious--so let me know!!<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.englishgraphic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/thanks-for-visiting-leave-a-comment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://www.englishgraphic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/thanks-for-visiting-leave-a-comment.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.englishgraphic.com/thanks-for-visiting-leave-a-comment/" target="_blank">source</a></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">♥</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>S</b></span></span>Sara {Rhapsody and Chaos}http://www.blogger.com/profile/09824996048264979275noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662203671583091505.post-41373726529156669992012-05-29T08:00:00.000-04:002012-05-29T08:00:06.032-04:00I am . . .<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">♦ </span>Freaking exhausted after packing up our house all weekend.<br />
(<i>With the exception of an awesome day I spent at King's Dominion with Cristin Terril and Copil Yanez</i>!)<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">♦ </span>Closing on a new house this week!<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">♦ </span>Trying desperately to come up with something else about me . . .<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">♦ </span>Failing . . .<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">♦ </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">*<i>Krumping to distract you</i>*</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">♦ </span>Unable to Krump without looking like an awkward chicken.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">♦ </span>Failing some more.<br />
<br />
. . .<br />
<br />
. . .<br />
<br />
. . .<br />
<br />
Oh, here are a few things:<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">♦ </span>SO excited that So You Think You Can Dance is back on! It's my favorite summer show. Well . . . It's really a tie between SYTYCD and True Blood.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">♦ </span>TOTALLY missing my WIP. Moving has taken up my month and I'm stoked to finally getting back to revision after BEA next week.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">♦ </span>Hoping this post is long enough to actually constitute being a post. Ha.<br />
<br />
And in case it isn't, here's an example of Krump to distract you.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> :)</span><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zNJfmHDW7Bw" width="500"></iframe>
<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">♥</span><b>S</b></span>Sara {Rhapsody and Chaos}http://www.blogger.com/profile/09824996048264979275noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662203671583091505.post-54959710361820946552012-05-28T08:00:00.000-04:002012-05-28T08:00:09.252-04:00Don't Forget.<div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.howlatthemoon.com/dueling_piano_bar/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/memorial-day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://www.howlatthemoon.com/dueling_piano_bar/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/memorial-day.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A0PDoX2fgMFP.WcAcc.JzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBlMTQ4cGxyBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1n?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Dmemorial%2Bday%2B2012%26fr%3Dyfp-t-701-s%26fr2%3Dpiv-web%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D23&w=388&h=303&imgurl=www.2012presidentialelectionnews.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2011%2F05%2F213memorialday.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.2012presidentialelectionnews.com%2F2011%2F05%2Fhave-a-blessed-memorial-day-2011%2F&size=24+KB&name=Have+a+Blessed+Memorial+Day+2011+%C2%AB+2012+Election+Central&p=memorial+day+2012&oid=675dac925ef7343ee031d254f04fe1f6&fr2=piv-web&fr=yfp-t-701-s&tt=Have%2Ba%2BBlessed%2BMemorial%2BDay%2B2011%2B%25C2%25AB%2B2012%2BElection%2BCentral&b=0&ni=21&no=23&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=12lrt4t4u&sigb=13dsrdrvf&sigi=12ijjrdum&.crumb=/A/fOxdeGsm" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">source</span></a></td></tr>
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Instead of blogging about writing today, I just want to ask you to take a moment to remember--<i>and be thankful for</i>--the men and women who've given their lives to keep us safe.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWLKfBzuwXm-PzNdYnUdhgvTU0zphsr015Bo56FxBMfc1AwwnWipd-j8DRVGWzCzHLp4_c87eKd4y1lhUIyE-BLLdM3l-sX5vqVszm5flyZSWilkKG3aXCOqLXHsORZ_P-IQEiYHHqzcV/s400/flag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWLKfBzuwXm-PzNdYnUdhgvTU0zphsr015Bo56FxBMfc1AwwnWipd-j8DRVGWzCzHLp4_c87eKd4y1lhUIyE-BLLdM3l-sX5vqVszm5flyZSWilkKG3aXCOqLXHsORZ_P-IQEiYHHqzcV/s400/flag.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">source: <i>Me</i>! I took <a href="http://simplysaradise.blogspot.com/2009/04/ten-things-that-you-must-do-in-boston.html" target="_blank">this pic</a> in Boston a few years ago.</td></tr>
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Thank you to everyone who's ever defended our freedom. </div>
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And to the families of our fallen soldiers, please know they'll never be forgotten. </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">♥</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">S</span></b></span> </div>
</div>Sara {Rhapsody and Chaos}http://www.blogger.com/profile/09824996048264979275noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662203671583091505.post-40801521868342818942012-05-25T08:00:00.000-04:002012-05-25T08:33:27.396-04:00Who WOULDN'T workout for this?<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff5d11;">First of all? </span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff5d11; font-size: large;">HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY TO KAREN HOOPER'S</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff5d11; font-size: x-large;"><i>GRASPING AT ETERNITY</i>!!</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Leave it to Maryah Woodsen to break the one rule that will screw up eternity: Never erase your memories. </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Before entering this life, Maryah did the unthinkable—she erased. Now, at seventeen years old, she’s clueless that her new adoptive family has known her for centuries, that they are perpetually reincarnated souls, and that they have supernatural abilities. Oh, and she's supposed to love (not despise) Nathan, the green-eyed daredevil who saved her life. </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Nathan is convinced his family’s plan to spark Maryah's memory is hopeless, but his love for her is undying. After spending (and remembering) so many lifetimes together, being around an empty version of his soulmate is heart shattering. He hates acting like a stalker, but has no choice because the evil outcast who murdered Maryah in their last lifetime is still after her. </i></span></div>
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Find <i>Grasping at Eternity</i> on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Grasping-Eternity-The-Kindrily-ebook/dp/B0085CI5IE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337798685&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a> or <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/grasping-at-eternity-karen-amanda-hooper/1110985145?ean=2940014362870" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a>!</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff5d11;">Also?</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff5d11; font-size: large;">Happy Friday!</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"> ♥</span><b>S</b></span> </div>
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</div>Sara {Rhapsody and Chaos}http://www.blogger.com/profile/09824996048264979275noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662203671583091505.post-33528589543324068412012-05-24T08:00:00.000-04:002012-05-24T08:00:10.702-04:00CHANNING TATUM, Plus: Karen, Katy, Literary Rambles . . .MAY I TELL YOU ABOUT CHANNING TATUM???<br />
<br />
So this happened:<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylxOg4CHdt6Z2fhU738Bqi5RJsE54NXKCbEj6PdjRvrSWSfiD1O-kiUUerwrh76_sX-C2noOp5T_P5QFXaB8QP12Aeobx4v70L-0QvySrUe7cl5-ykgpK3gCX0oM2XuAFzGbcp-eZLuc/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-05-23+at+2.35.04+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="75" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylxOg4CHdt6Z2fhU738Bqi5RJsE54NXKCbEj6PdjRvrSWSfiD1O-kiUUerwrh76_sX-C2noOp5T_P5QFXaB8QP12Aeobx4v70L-0QvySrUe7cl5-ykgpK3gCX0oM2XuAFzGbcp-eZLuc/s400/Screen+Shot+2012-05-23+at+2.35.04+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
And then I became really popular with retweeters for a day. It was fun.<br />
<br />
I mean, I know it's a small thing. One little retweet.<br />
<br />
But, um, Channing Tatum tweeting me?<br />
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<b>Made me giddy</b>. </div>
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I've loved him since Step Up and see every movie he's in.<br />
<br />
(I don't even care if it was his marketing people or whatever either. In my mind? Me and Channing had a <strike>conversation</strike> twitter moment that will last forever.)<br />
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Next up? Ryan Gosling. I now have faith that it could happen. And maybe Adam Levine. And Jared Leto.<br />
<br />
Okay, and even cooler news?<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff5d11; font-size: large;">Karen Hooper's book, <i>Grasping at Eternity</i>, comes out tomorrow!</span></b></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1337649323l/13505141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1337649323l/13505141.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Leave it to Maryah Woodsen to break the one rule that will screw up eternity: Never erase your memories. </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Before entering this life, Maryah did the unthinkable—she erased. Now, at seventeen years old, she’s clueless that her new adoptive family has known her for centuries, that they are perpetually reincarnated souls, and that they have supernatural abilities. Oh, and she's supposed to love (not despise) Nathan, the green-eyed daredevil who saved her life. </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Nathan is convinced his family’s plan to spark Maryah's memory is hopeless, but his love for her is undying. After spending (and remembering) so many lifetimes together, being around an empty version of his soulmate is heart shattering. He hates acting like a stalker, but has no choice because the evil outcast who murdered Maryah in their last lifetime is still after her. </i></span><br />
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I've already posted about this novel, but you guys. Please, please get it and fall in love the way I did. You can thank me after you've stayed up way too late to finish the story, okay?<br />
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Find <i>Grasping at Eternity</i> on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Grasping-Eternity-The-Kindrily-ebook/dp/B0085CI5IE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337798685&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a> or <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/grasping-at-eternity-karen-amanda-hooper/1110985145?ean=2940014362870" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a>!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff5d11;">And in other news, there are some cool books and ARCs up for grabs in contests!!</span><br />
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<a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1326469854l/12842828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1326469854l/12842828.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
Three ARCs of Shannon Messenger's <i>Keeper of the Lost Cities</i> <a href="http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/2012/05/finally-keeper-of-lost-cities-arc.html" target="_blank">at her blog</a>. (Trust me. You want one of these babies. Bad.)<br />
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTlgUK-_Zyl9zzF-n8gZinj6pZUmbjwI8TQfdPCQ5x225ef7328" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTlgUK-_Zyl9zzF-n8gZinj6pZUmbjwI8TQfdPCQ5x225ef7328" width="131" /></a></div>
A SIGNED copy of <i>The Disenchantments</i> <a href="http://katyupperman.com/2012/05/22/may-i-tell-you-about-a-giveaway/" target="_blank">at Katy Upperman's blog</a>!<br />
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTZrvYvA42N9-3gVGTbaEXkrHBDNDlVeoiQ3-bgJe3k0DXclD0-" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTZrvYvA42N9-3gVGTbaEXkrHBDNDlVeoiQ3-bgJe3k0DXclD0-" width="131" /></a></div>
<i>Lola and the Boy Next Door</i> also at <a href="http://katyupperman.com/2012/05/22/may-i-tell-you-about-a-giveaway/" target="_blank">Katy Upperman's blog</a>!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCPVnpR4RT6zoCiNEC4YewIOJJcG90D2r_Cxh87X69UU4rLiVIB3GZmg_-czo_BPVCv3D1y2ZWSJ-524SZa944vIlCGWlWb7r-JA0YicbhBDXjxH0S6KmU8ncomBDT2eqCEWdMYKYMcQ/s320/Torn.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/AVvXsEjXCPVnpR4RT6zoCiNEC4YewIOJJcG90D2r_Cxh87X69UU4rLiVIB3GZmg_-czo_BPVCv3D1y2ZWSJ-524SZa944vIlCGWlWb7r-JA0YicbhBDXjxH0S6KmU8ncomBDT2eqCEWdMYKYMcQ/s200/Torn.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<i>Torn</i> at <a href="http://www.literaryrambles.com/2012/05/stephanie-guerra-interview-and-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Literary Rambles</a>!<br />
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And <a href="http://babblingflow.blogspot.com/2012/05/do-you-want-these-arcs.html" target="_blank">my own giveaway here</a> for <i>Monstrous Beauty</i>, <i>The Raft</i>, and <i>Wake</i>!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7z5pE-LzqqpA_HLdXO7ApMVkp6TgklZt2_egxd4CPFrboLDsrPzoLHkwOCJCPtwMi-VldgoVWxLHWy5xGJh3NDw7EdGbUJAAbeLRvhNcF0E_c8O4gGBs6CTTX68sfrzhNYfoPjf6U1Q/s1600/water+ARC+giveaway+pic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7z5pE-LzqqpA_HLdXO7ApMVkp6TgklZt2_egxd4CPFrboLDsrPzoLHkwOCJCPtwMi-VldgoVWxLHWy5xGJh3NDw7EdGbUJAAbeLRvhNcF0E_c8O4gGBs6CTTX68sfrzhNYfoPjf6U1Q/s320/water+ARC+giveaway+pic.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Are there other giveaways I'm missing? If so, leave them in the comments for other people to see!<br />
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Happy Thursday.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">♥</span><b>S</b></span>Sara {Rhapsody and Chaos}http://www.blogger.com/profile/09824996048264979275noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662203671583091505.post-41465007882285890642012-05-23T08:00:00.001-04:002012-05-23T08:00:08.565-04:00Do you want these ARCs??We're moving! Woohoo!<br />
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But between packing and getting everything in order and set up, my reading (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">and revising, <i>sigh</i></span>) time is being almost completely consumed.<br />
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I'm worried I won't have time to promote these ARCs the way I'd like to before they come out. So I'm dropping the responsibility on YOU.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1335461483l/12971662.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1335461483l/12971662.jpg" width="132" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Out September 4th</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff5d11;"><b><i>Monstrous Beauty</i> by Elizabeth Fama</b>.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> Fierce, seductive mermaid Syrenka falls in love with Ezra, a young naturalist. When she abandons her life underwater for a chance at happiness on land, she is unaware that this decision comes with horrific and deadly consequences.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Almost one hundred forty years later, seventeen-year-old Hester meets a mysterious stranger named Ezra and feels overwhelmingly, inexplicably drawn to him. For generations, love has resulted in death for the women in her family. Is it an undiagnosed genetic defect . . . or a curse? With Ezra’s help, Hester investigates her family’s strange, sad history. The answers she seeks are waiting in the graveyard, the crypt, and at the bottom of the ocean—but powerful forces will do anything to keep her from uncovering her connection to Syrenka and to the tragedy of so long ago.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1329014074l/12987986.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1329014074l/12987986.jpg" width="131" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Out August 21st</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff5d11;"><b><i>The Raft</i> by S. A. Bodeen</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">. Robie is an experienced traveler. She’s taken the flight from Honolulu to the Midway Atoll, a group of Pacific islands where her parents live, many times. When she has to get to Midway in a hurry after a visit with her aunt in Hawaii, she gets on the next cargo flight at the last minute. She knows the pilot, but on this flight, there’s a new co-pilot named Max. All systems are go until a storm hits during the flight. The only passenger, Robie doesn’t panic until the engine suddenly cuts out and Max shouts at her to put on a life jacket. They are over miles of Pacific Ocean. She sees Max struggle with a raft.<br /><br />And then . . . she’s in the water. Fighting for her life. Max pulls her onto the raft, and that’s when the real terror begins. They have no water. Their only food is a bag of Skittles. There are sharks. There is an island. But there’s no sign of help on the way.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320388139l/10586539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320388139l/10586539.jpg" width="130" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Out August 7</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff5d11;"><b><i>Wake</i> by Amanda Hocking</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">. Lose yourself in the magic of Watersong, an unforgettable new series about two sisters who nearly lose their lives - and their loves - when they fall under the spell of three beautiful but deadly sirens.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">First in a four-book paranormal romance YA series from bestselling author, Amanda Hocking.</span><br />
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Let's make this simple. Here's how it's going to work:<br />
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To enter:<br />
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<li>Follow my blog</li>
<li>Spread the word about the giveaway (Tweet/facebook/blog/sidebar/whatever you want to do. 1 point for each! 2 for a blog post about it.)</li>
<li>Leave a comment telling me the following four things:</li>
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<li><b>Which ARC you'd like to win</b></li>
<li><b>How many points you have</b>, with links to the ways you spread the word</li>
<li><b>A promise to promote what you loved about the ARC if you win it</b></li>
<li><b>The country you're from</b>--one winner is guaranteed to be from someplace other than the US! </li>
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<li>That's IT. </li>
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This giveaway ends Wednesday, June 13.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">♥</span><b>S</b></span>Sara {Rhapsody and Chaos}http://www.blogger.com/profile/09824996048264979275noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662203671583091505.post-2980036261577792432012-05-22T08:00:00.000-04:002012-05-22T11:15:49.025-04:00The Perks of Being a Bad RemembererMy memory is <b>$#!T</b>.<br />
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There. I said it.<br />
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I mean, you guys, <i>it's bad</i>.<br />
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Some things I remember with absolute clarity*. But other things? It's like peering through the thinner parts of a strand of cotton candy. I can see what I'm trying to remember, but only through a kind of sticky haze.<br />
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Which, yanno, to put it lightly, sucksssss.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://weheartit.com/entry/12185020" target="_blank">source</a></i></td></tr>
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But this actually isn't a post to whine or lament about that cotton candy piece of my conscious. Because here's the thing: there's one area of my life where having a shoddy memory actually works to my advantage. And it's one of my<b> favorite </b>areas.<br />
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Here's a hint:<br />
<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="http://www.poshchicago.com/assets/images/PSH01813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.poshchicago.com/assets/images/PSH01813.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&biw=1303&bih=672&tbm=isch&tbnid=peG8li8g4nLVJM:&imgrefurl=http://www.poshchicago.com/product.asp%3Flt%3Dd%26deptid%3D3073%26pfid%3DPSH01813&docid=CRp_JCjOSYYWdM&imgurl=http://www.poshchicago.com/assets/images/PSH01813.jpg&w=300&h=400&ei=doy6T4BCwdfqAfi-oNsK&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=176&vpy=298&dur=2037&hovh=259&hovw=194&tx=125&ty=154&sig=107371081933478722363&page=1&tbnh=138&tbnw=105&start=0&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:0,i:144" target="_blank">source</a></i></td></tr>
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Yep. BOOKS! Don't get me wrong, I hate when my friends start discussing books and, even though I've read them, I can't really contribute much because I can't really remember much. Character names. Secondary plots. Character motivations and reactions. (I could go on and on.) Even with books I've loved.<br />
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It also means I get to reread my favorite books over and over again without their stories ever losing their sparkle. Because of my crapy memory, reading the first page of a book for a second time is like slipping back into an amazing dream that's gone a little wispy around the edges--and sometimes in even more so in the middle.</div>
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It's awesome, getting to rediscover so much.</div>
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It's the one area I feel bad for people with amazing memories. Sure, they still reread for pleasure--but it's never as close to the first time for them. Because they remember too much. Which is something I rarely have a problem with.</div>
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Of course, I do remember some things. Endings, major plot twists . . . Those are almost impossible to forget. But man I love that second reading when little forgotten details jump back out at me. Secondary characters reshape among the pages. Plot threads begin to weave back together. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">I get to re-fall in love with the love interest</span>. I'd <i>never </i>complain about that. I get a second, third, fourth (all right, maybe not <i>fourth</i> . . . by the second or third readings, usually books are more cemented in my mind) chance to love books like the first time I read them. </div>
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And here's something else about me:<br />
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Just watch, now that I've admitted how bad my memory is, it'll suddenly get awesome. That's how things seem to work with me. I tell someone I'm one way--<i>because I am</i>--but then I end up changing, either down the road or right away. It's all very confusing, but kinda makes sense at the same time, I guess. Like when you evaluate yourself in some way, you become more attuned to that aspect. How can it not change or shift in some manner with all that attention? That's why I try not to make blanket statements about myself, because they never end up staying the same. But in this case? <i>I'm hoping for it</i>. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">:) </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">♥</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">S</span></b></span></span><br />
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*<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">I felt the need to add that statement 1) because it's true, and 2) I suddenly got nervous. What if I'm called to witness something in court someday and somebody uses this post to discredit what I say?! So let me clarify here: I don't ever lie about what I can't remember. </span></i>Sara {Rhapsody and Chaos}http://www.blogger.com/profile/09824996048264979275noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662203671583091505.post-18044539657144855842012-05-21T08:00:00.000-04:002012-05-21T08:00:04.938-04:00The SECRET TrickI'm not gonna lie. This writing technique isn't groundbreaking. It's something you've probably already thought about. And I'm sure I'm not the first to blog about it.
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But I always love getting reminders about stuff like this. Just because I know it, doesn't mean it's always at the front of my mind. Yanno?</div>
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So. For today, here is your reminder:</div>
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<b>Give each of your characters a secret.</b></div>
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<i>Each</i> character. Not just your main character(s), but your secondaries, too. And your tertiaries. (<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff5d11; font-size: small;">I totally had to look up the spelling for tertiary. I could have sworn there was a "c" in there somewhere . . .</span></i> )</div>
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I try to know as many of my characters' secrets as possible before I start writing a draft. They each have one very significant one. A secret that they'd do <i>just about anything</i> to keep from coming to light. (Sometimes characters have more than one. That's when things get super fun.) (I'm a poet and I know it.)</div>
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Some characters' secrets become large parts of what drive my plots. Their unveilings can lead to major twists. Or small ones. Or they're not twists at all, but something else entirely. Not every secret has to be CIA spy-worthy. Sometimes the secrets never even come out--but they still definitely motivate their character's actions.</div>
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A character's secret can be deep and dark. Scary. Or it can be light, like hidden love. Or somewhere in the middle. Really, anything works. As long as the secret exists and makes a difference to the character.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flyguychronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/livingsecret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.flyguychronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/livingsecret.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="http://www.flyguychronicles.com/2010/03/living-with-a-dangerous-secret/" target="_blank">source</a></i></div>
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I mean, think about it. We can deepen a character's development <i>in spades</i> just by understanding their secrets--and how they react to them.</div>
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Take . . . <i>Shelly</i>, the main character in your new WIP. Or, yanno, insert the real name of a character here: ______________ <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">:)</span></div>
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What's her secret? And whom would she share it with? Her best friend?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">(What's her best friend's secret?)</span> </i>Her parents? <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">(What are their secrets?)</span></i> Nobody? Someone only at the last minute and under duress?</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">How does her secret affect other characters in your WIP?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"> How does it affect your plot?</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">If it came to light, would it impact her life and the world around her?</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Or does she only <i>think</i> it would have an impact, but you <i>the big bad author</i> know otherwise?</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">Will you let her secret slip out into her world?</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i>How</i>?</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">What about a secondary character whose secret affects your MC? What will you do with that?</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Or the tertiary character whose secret affects that secondary character?</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Or the <i>second </i>secondary character whose working against the first secondary character because his secret involves, or depends on, the first's secret?</span></div>
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I could keep asking questions like that for hours. Happily! Because each answer opens up something new. And all the sudden there's the start of this spiderwebbed plot. </div>
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Each answer makes it that much stronger.</div>
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<b>Okay, and maybe you're a pantser and don't think about these things ahead of time. </b><i>No big</i>. This trick still works.</div>
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Have you ever stumbled into a corner that you haven't known how to write yourself out of? Of course you have! And not because you're a pantser. I mean, I do that all the dang time, and I plot <i>forever</i> before I start writing. It happens to all of us.</div>
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But dude. When you do write yourself into a corner?</div>
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Give a character a secret and let it explode. Either your main character, or someone near her. The result from it being leaked?</div>
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<b>Boom.</b></div>
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That corner's destroyed in the rubble and you'll find a million different places you could go. Or maybe just two or three--or maybe just a single strand to pull on, but it'll be enough to move your character forward.</div>
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Or, if you want to be evil, backward. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">:)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And one other little trick for this technique? </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff5d11; font-family: inherit;"><b>Reread this, but replace the word <i>secret </i>with a different noun. </b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff5d11;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Give each character a <i>past</i>. A <i>dream</i>. A <i>fear</i>. </span>A <i>weakness</i>. A <i>strength</i>. An <i>ability</i>. A <i>disadvantage</i>. A <i>weapon</i>. A <i>goal</i>. A <i>tendency</i> . . . </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">♥</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">S</span></span></div>
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</div>Sara {Rhapsody and Chaos}http://www.blogger.com/profile/09824996048264979275noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662203671583091505.post-33800627589235244742012-05-18T08:00:00.000-04:002012-05-18T08:00:03.906-04:00Prank Calls Never Get Old<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Yep. This is another throwback, but not because I'm lazy this time. I just like to share this every year or so, because it cracks me UP. :)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px;">Prank Call Edition</span></div>
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<c><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" flashvars="autoPlay=false&orig=" height="354" src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:mvideo:cmt.com:40319" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" wmode="window"></embed></span></c></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000033; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Happy friday!</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">♥s</span></b></span></div>Sara {Rhapsody and Chaos}http://www.blogger.com/profile/09824996048264979275noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662203671583091505.post-30810592153679682272012-05-17T08:00:00.000-04:002012-05-17T08:00:10.785-04:00Something Amazing.<br />
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Originally my title for this post was "Something Kinda Amazing," but in truth? There's no "kinda" about it. This? It's straight up amazing.</div>
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I'm just going to refer you to <a href="http://andthistimeconcentrate.blogspot.com/2012/05/grab-your-tissues.html" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Summer Frey's post from yesterday</span></b></a>.</div>
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If you have five minutes to spare today, I'm begging you to watch the video she shared. It's truly inspirational.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So go over. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff5d11;"><b>Meet <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Arthur Boorman. </span></b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">And grab some tissues for the happy tears.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Most importantly?</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://hillaryrubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/M93Never-Give-Up-Winston-Churchill-Posters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://hillaryrubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/M93Never-Give-Up-Winston-Churchill-Posters.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="314" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?q=never+give+up&num=10&um=1&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&biw=1288&bih=598&tbm=isch&tbnid=WWWmBqS3SSYT8M:&imgrefurl=http://hillaryrubin.com/featured/why-giving-up-is-not-an-option-7-steps-to-take-the-pressure-off/&docid=R5Ghc7Uun8vNBM&imgurl=http://hillaryrubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/M93Never-Give-Up-Winston-Churchill-Posters.jpg&w=400&h=407&ei=HAe0T8X2I6mZ6AHEq9H7Dw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=706&sig=107371081933478722363&sqi=2&page=1&tbnh=120&tbnw=134&start=0&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0,i:142&tx=65&ty=55" target="_blank">source</a><br /></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Sara {Rhapsody and Chaos}http://www.blogger.com/profile/09824996048264979275noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662203671583091505.post-74102982134765712642012-05-16T08:00:00.000-04:002012-05-16T08:00:14.931-04:00Vacay-brainNot gonna lie.<br />
<br />
I'm still mentally in Mexico.<br />
<br />
So today? Yeah. Today is a short post day. But it's good, because I get to ask YOU something.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff5d11;"><b>Where's the last place you took a vacation? </b></span></div>
<br />
Here's a picture of mine!<br />
<br />
<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/AVvXsEirEZDRgh3DU8MtN66BFG11Zkhyoj6dTFtRbe_HMDrS6nSxLhjCJioZfrkzAjyNMcLVwjWhXsd8X_kpdVEMFPQMcMJ_u7ghe9donwlLySnxW3SWLL1nYdx8RwtzyojrijynpmOVQ6afuB0/s1600/IMG_0486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirEZDRgh3DU8MtN66BFG11Zkhyoj6dTFtRbe_HMDrS6nSxLhjCJioZfrkzAjyNMcLVwjWhXsd8X_kpdVEMFPQMcMJ_u7ghe9donwlLySnxW3SWLL1nYdx8RwtzyojrijynpmOVQ6afuB0/s320/IMG_0486.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With <a href="http://www.cambriadillon.com/" target="_blank">Cambria Dillon</a> in Puerto Vallarta! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Sara {Rhapsody and Chaos}http://www.blogger.com/profile/09824996048264979275noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662203671583091505.post-44250960600192037002012-05-15T08:00:00.000-04:002012-05-15T08:00:00.724-04:00Sara A-Z<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I first
saw this survey on <a href="http://alisonmiller20.blogspot.com/2012/05/blog-me-maybe-may-i-tell-you-something.html" target="_blank">Alison Miller's</a> blog, and she found it via <a href="http://katyupperman.com/" target="_blank">Katy Upperman</a>!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Here we go!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">A is for age:</span></b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"> Ummmm . . . How old do you THINK I am? I'm always curious about this! Leave your answer in the comments--and I promise nothing will offend me!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">B is for breakfast today:</span></b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"> Special K with Berries! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">C is for currently craving:</span></b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"> MEXICO. I want to go back. Like, right now.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">D is for dinner tonight:</span></b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"> Something bad for me. I ate really healthy for six weeks before my trip and I am ready to CHEAT.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">E is for favorite type of exercise:</span></b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"> Dancing! Hip hop is my fave. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">F is for an irrational fear:</span></b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"> Dying. I'm terrified of it. To an unhealthy level. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">G is for gross food:</span></b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"> Chicken breasts. (Trust me. Get Salmonella even once and you'll be agreeing with me.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">H is for hometown:</span></b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"> Fairfax, VA, baby! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">I is for something important:</span></b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"> My family. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><b>J is for current favorite jam: </b><i>Until We Bleed </i>by Andreas Kleerup--It's one of the songs I've built into my playlist for the WIP I have planned for when I'm done with my current one. Don't know the song? Don't worry. I'm going to blog about it soon with a video for your enjoyment!</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">K is for kids</span></b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">: Don't have any yet--but someday, someday . . . <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">L is for current location</span></b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">: My couch in my living room. It's sad. I spend so much time here (even though I have a desk, this is where I do most of my writing) that there's a big Sara-sized dip in my usual spot. All the cushion has been worn out. Hmmm . . . I wonder if there are any companies that will re-cushion couches?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">M is for the most recent way you spent money</span></b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">: We just bought house! Which I COULD NOT BE MORE EXCITED ABOUT. If everything goes as planned (omg keep your fingers crossed for me PLEASE!) we'll be moving in at the end of the month!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">N is for something you need:</span></b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"> About <s>five</s> <s>ten</s> fifteen
more hours in the day? (<i>Stole this answer straight from Alison!</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">O is for occupation:</span></b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"> Writer! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">P is for pet peeve:</span></b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"> Intentional rudeness. Nothing sets my teeth further on edge. That, and lies.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><b>Q is for a quote: </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; line-height: 16px;"><em style="color: black; font-style: normal;">Keep your face to the sunshine</em> and you cannot see the shadow.</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">" (Hellen Keller)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> (More on this in a blog post coming later.)</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">R is for random fact about you: </span></b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">I have a weird thing with numbers on digital clocks. If I check the time, I have to make the numbers add up from 1 to 10. Take 12:36 for instance. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">1, 2, 3, 1+3=4, 6-1=5, 6, 6+1=7, 6+2=8, 6+3=9, 6+3+1=10</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">. (Thankfully this doesn't happen when I check the time on my phone!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">S is for favorite healthy snack</span></b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">: Fruit! Kiwis! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">T is for favorite treat</span></b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">: Anything with melted cheese. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">U is for something that makes you unique</span></b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">: My tattoos! Here's one of them! My <a href="http://babblingflow.blogspot.com/2009/10/enso.html" target="_blank">ensō</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">V is for favorite vegetable:</span></b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"> Cucumbers. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">W is for today’s workout:</span></b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"> Zumba! Tonight! I'll be a sweaty disgusting mess and LOVING IT.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">X is for X-rays you’ve had: </span></b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">Yeah. Too many to count. I used to be a gymnast, and danced my whole life . . . <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">Y is for yesterday’s highlight:</span></b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"> STILL BEING IN MEXICO! (With <a href="http://www.cambriadillon.com/" target="_blank">Cambria</a> and our hubbies!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Z is for your time zone:</span></span></b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> Eastern.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a1a1a;">Your turn! Take this survey and come back to share the link with me!</span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Sara {Rhapsody and Chaos}http://www.blogger.com/profile/09824996048264979275noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662203671583091505.post-9485535949423822922012-05-14T08:00:00.000-04:002012-05-14T08:00:00.283-04:00The Thirty Minute Hat Trick<br />
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I'm cheating a bit today . . . I actually posted this in March 2011 for the first time. But I'm in MEXICO, baby! So I prescheduled a throwback. What can I say? You get a throwback post, while <i>I'm</i> throwing back those margaritas, baby!</div>
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I thought I'd let you in on a little trick I've been using to yank myself up out of my writing rut.</div>
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It's kind of like a pull up.</div>
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<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Pull Up</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">: an arm exercise performed by pulling yourself up on a horizontal bar until your chin is level with the bar</span> </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(</span><a href="http://www.google.com/url?ei=BMZ3TYT4LoTMgQeWhvXFBQ&sig2=U5fl9IiBdsGCfJ3WRooMJQ&q=http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn%3Fs%3Dpull-up&sa=X&ved=0CBYQpAMoAw&usg=AFQjCNFvjlsE_DLFuLUB7FR3H3lEq4xtIQ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">)</span><b> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">(duh)</span></b></div>
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I STILL hold the record at my elementary school for the most pull ups done at one time by a girl. I think it's like... 28 or something ridiculous like that? (In case you think I'm full of it: I used to be a hardcore gymnast, the number 28 could very well be erring on the low side.)</div>
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Now, I'm<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span>as old <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">(plus a bit, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">sigh</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">) </span></span>as that once amazing pull up number. And I can't even do one measly pull up. Believe me, I know because Hubster bought an over the door pull up bar for P90X and I can barely even hang from it, let alone lift myself.</div>
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That is, until I put a chair a few feet away from where the bar hangs and use one foot on the chair to help pull myself up. Then I can do at least . . . <s>three</s>. <s>a million</s>. eight.</div>
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And that's kind of like the writing trick I'm about to share with you. My flipping amazing CP <a href="http://cristinterrill.com/">Cristin Terrill</a> suggested it--almost offhandedly--to me, and it works like whoa. She basically revived my WIP with a toss of casual words that acted as that necessary chair under my foot. And now, it's become my mantra on those days when I. just. can't. make. myself. want. to. write. I call it <b>The 30 Minute Hat Trick</b>.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b><i>Hat Trick</i></b><i>: </i></span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><i>a</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><i> </i></span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><i>clever</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><i> </i></span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><i>or</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><i> </i></span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><i>adroitly</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><i> </i></span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><i>deceptive</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><i> </i></span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><i>maneuver. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(</span><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hat+trick"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hat+trick</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">) </span></span></div>
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Original image (and other REALLY cool optical illusions, found here:</div>
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<a href="http://www.dullsheep.com/tag/optical-illusions/">http://www.dullsheep.com/tag/optical-illusions/</a></div>
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I used to set word count goals for myself. Like, on a day when I really didn't feel like writing, I'd tell myself I'd just get 500 words in, and then I could be done. Except on those days,<i> every single word</i> felt like squeezing blood from a stone <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(um, and stones don't bleed, fyi)</span>. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(Double duh.)</span></span> And one day, I was<s> complaining about </s>explaining it to Cristin and she threw these little words out that completely changed me:</div>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nb8cQo3_8IE/TXfU4zpEO5I/AAAAAAAABaQ/0N7o5omiNpA/s1600/30+minutes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nb8cQo3_8IE/TXfU4zpEO5I/AAAAAAAABaQ/0N7o5omiNpA/s1600/30+minutes.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div>
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I stared at her for a minute and I'll admit, I was doubtful. <i>Thirty minutes? How can I call myself a serious writer if I only write for thirty minutes? I'll probably get like... six words done in thirty minutes. Sheesh. </i>But then, thirty minutes are better than no minutes. They're better than spending all day trying to squeeze out 500 words and then feeling like a failure. This way, I could meet my time goal and still feel like I accomplished what I wanted to do--<i>even</i> if I only wrote 6 words.</div>
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But guess what happened when I tried it?</div>
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Before I started, I spent a little time rereading what I'd written the past few days. Then, I looked at the clock and it was 12:47 <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(or something like that) </span></span>so I told myself I just had to make it until--</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">*pauses to do the math* </span></div>
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--<s>1:27.</s></div>
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--1:17.</div>
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The first fifteen minutes or so weren't easy. I won't lie: getting those initial few sentences or paragraphs written is HARD when your creative juices aren't flowing. But then--all the sudden--I looked up and it was 1:13. I only had four minutes left and then I could be done!</div>
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Except, I didn't want to be.</div>
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And I didn't have to be. I passed my goal by THREE hours--and a <i>few thousand words</i>--that day. And I've had similar success every single time I've used The 30 Minute Hat Trick. I think there's something about that 22 to 26 minute mark where everything clicks into place and the words begin to flow.</div>
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So, to make a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">(holy cow how did this post get so) </span></span>long story short--<b>when you're struggling to find the motivation to write, try giving yourself a 30 minute goal. And then see how far you end up getting :) </b></div>
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Then, come back here and let me know how it worked!!</div>
<br />Sara {Rhapsody and Chaos}http://www.blogger.com/profile/09824996048264979275noreply@blogger.com11