tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60838240199426768352024-03-13T11:28:43.680-06:00Mountain MusingsThe occasional ramblings of an overwhelmed brainP.J. MacLaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03285032860369866978noreply@blogger.comBlogger314125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083824019942676835.post-37078060709056610842019-03-31T19:52:00.003-06:002019-04-01T09:21:35.433-06:00I'VE MOVED!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>I'VE MOVED!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you're looking for my weekly blog hop, you won't find it here. Head on over to <a href="http://pjmaclayne.com/">pjmaclayne.com</a>, where we're discussing what's guaranteed to make you laugh. And, give me a follow if you don't want to miss out all my latest posts and news!</span></div>
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P.J. MacLaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03285032860369866978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083824019942676835.post-49744464264813949762019-03-25T06:53:00.000-06:002019-03-25T06:53:01.727-06:00Best Sites for Publicity #OpenBook Blog Hop<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hg3QRq0CQPs/XE4rJe2kARI/AAAAAAAAECw/DMY3IxyG7zozzVPqS_QfW7oQYKgFAOGUQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Blog%2BHop6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="336" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hg3QRq0CQPs/XE4rJe2kARI/AAAAAAAAECw/DMY3IxyG7zozzVPqS_QfW7oQYKgFAOGUQCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Blog%2BHop6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">March 25, 2019</span></b><br />
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</b> <b>We did this a couple of years ago, but your answer may have changed. What are the best sites you use for publicity?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">When we discussed this several years ago, I praised the results I got using Robin Reads and EReader news. I still like them, but the last time I ran a book promotion, neither gave me the results I hoped for.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Don't get me wrong, I sold a decent amount of books with each of them. I even made it into the top 25,000 authors on Amazon. But with the increase in the cost of a Robin Reads listing, it's harder to break even.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I've also tried a variety of lesser-known sites in the meantime, and none of them match these two. I haven't tried the king of them all, BookBub, but based on what I've seen of their prices, I never will. I've also read a few articles that indicate that BookBub is losing its effectiveness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So what's an author to do? Well, I've got two potential promotion sites in mind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">First one is BookDoggy. Can't tell you anything about it, but it seems reasonably priced and I've heard good things about it. Worth a shot, anyway.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next is Amazon. Yes, that one. As much as I hate monopolies, it may be time to give their advertising a chance. Since I can control how much money is being spent, and end a campaign if it doesn't perform well, the risk seems lower.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm doing my research so I can make the risk as minimal as possible. Coming up with keywords isn't as easy as it sounds. And you can have up to 1000 keywords associated with your ad. That's a lot!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, wish me luck. I can use as much as I can get.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And, just a reminder before I hop on over and see what suggestions the other authors have. Next week, I should be posting on my new website. Don't worry, I'll post the link here when it's ready, but I haven't turned it on yet. See you there!</span><br />
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March 25, 2019<br />
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We did this a couple of years ago, but your answer may have changed. What are the best sites you use for publicity? <br />
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Rules:<br />
1. Link your blog to this hop.<br />
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.<br />
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants' blogs.<br />
4. Tweet/or share each person's blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.<br />
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.<br />
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Blogger<br />
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<!-- start InLinkz script -->P.S. I just wanted to give a shoutout to Jenny at Light Reminders Photography for the great new publicity shots she did. Here's one.<br />
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<br />P.J. MacLaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03285032860369866978noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083824019942676835.post-40667808012103082222019-03-18T06:48:00.000-06:002019-03-18T06:51:26.909-06:00The Smells of Childhood #OpenBook Blog hop<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ILzujn_hLsw/Wq7_e6jofAI/AAAAAAAADig/3dJc70kzZLwH0wwc0Ek9qsNO1X2Ae_wwgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Blog%2BHop6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="336" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ILzujn_hLsw/Wq7_e6jofAI/AAAAAAAADig/3dJc70kzZLwH0wwc0Ek9qsNO1X2Ae_wwgCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Blog%2BHop6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">March 18, 2019</span></b><br />
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</b> <b>If your childhood had a smell, what would it be?</b></span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">When I first read the question, I knew i wouldn't be able to narrow my answer down to just one smell. So you get two. I suppose that's cheating, but oh well.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">We lived out in the country, and smells were abundant. Everything from the fragile scent of whatever flower was in bloom to the lingering smells of the cow pasture next door. Some you became accustomed to, others you learned to ignore. "nose-blind" is the current terminology.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">But some things I never got tired of smelling. With spring came the blooming of the lilacs. There was a row of them behind the house and another group up in the back yard near the apple tree. Although my mother cut large bouquets for the house and to share with family and friends, there were plenty left on the bushes. When I played outside, I always stopped to take a whiff. I still love lilacs.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dUeUSSumiNY/XI7E-kQ2IBI/AAAAAAAAEHU/Y_9AL2H5z6cAsDugBjwZhSkP2Xikk5oMgCLcBGAs/s1600/bloom-blossom-flora-1431168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dUeUSSumiNY/XI7E-kQ2IBI/AAAAAAAAEHU/Y_9AL2H5z6cAsDugBjwZhSkP2Xikk5oMgCLcBGAs/s320/bloom-blossom-flora-1431168.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">And the second smell from my childhood was the mock orange. There were two bushes on the property; one near the dining room window that only produced sparse blooms, and the other,larger bush near the end of the driveway. The flowers didn't last long when they were cut and were best enjoyed while still on the bush. The delicate sweet scent reminded me of oranges. (Hence the name, but mock orange is not related to real orange bushes, scientifically speaking.)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hcPTW_rDBcA/XI7GASVH2PI/AAAAAAAAEHc/LExQpFZ3EywWcYoazSaeGev75CxrmLy9wCLcBGAs/s1600/mock-orange-1365920_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hcPTW_rDBcA/XI7GASVH2PI/AAAAAAAAEHc/LExQpFZ3EywWcYoazSaeGev75CxrmLy9wCLcBGAs/s320/mock-orange-1365920_1920.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/Hans-2/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=1365920">Hans Braxmeier</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=1365920">Pixabay</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I could have included the smell of a campfire or the scent of pine trees after a warm summer rain. Or when my mother made gingerbread cookies. or ...well, I guess I should stop now.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">What did you childhood smell like? I'm looking forward to seeing what our other authors remember.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: large;">By the way, stay tuned. I'll be moving my blog to my own web page. Watch this space for more news!</span><br />
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March 18, 2019<br />
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If your childhood had a smell, what would it be? <br />
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Rules:<br />
1. Link your blog to this hop.<br />
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.<br />
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants' blogs.<br />
4. Tweet/or share each person's blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.<br />
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.<br />
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P.J. MacLaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03285032860369866978noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083824019942676835.post-75789289151827105082019-03-11T06:52:00.000-06:002019-03-11T06:52:46.772-06:00Daydreaming #OpenBook Blog Hop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Uzgm_k1v1ks/W2ef7_SRcLI/AAAAAAAADzw/EGKI1-XRdHkZuTKNfQnA1rg07R-F-ymCgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Blog%2BHop6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="336" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Uzgm_k1v1ks/W2ef7_SRcLI/AAAAAAAADzw/EGKI1-XRdHkZuTKNfQnA1rg07R-F-ymCgCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Blog%2BHop6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</span> <b><span style="font-size: large;">March 11, 2019</span></b><br />
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</b> <b>When you are daydreaming, what do you dream about?</b></span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">When I sat down to write this post, I was struck by the realization that I don't daydream as much as I used to. Or, at least, my daydreaming is more organized.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-__AZJc0uO4Q/XIXPzY9e69I/AAAAAAAAEG8/Mm-HgOF9d8MigK3nVvl4ul8kRFkNgbI7QCLcBGAs/s1600/blue-clouds-day-53594%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-__AZJc0uO4Q/XIXPzY9e69I/AAAAAAAAEG8/Mm-HgOF9d8MigK3nVvl4ul8kRFkNgbI7QCLcBGAs/s320/blue-clouds-day-53594%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">I used to be able to sit and stare out a window and not even remember what I was thinking about later. I can't remember the last time I did that. I think it's because my creativity expresses itself in a different way now.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: large;">Now, when I "space out" I find myself thinking about my characters, past and current. What have they've been doing since I left them? What adventures did they get involved in that didn't get included in their book? If they are part of my current story, what have I missed that needs to be included?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: large;">Occasionally, I'll stumble across a new story as I ponder my old ones. That's where Lori's story in Wolves' Gambit came from. I knew she was unfinished business when I wrote her scene in Wolves' Pawn, but it took a couple of years to get back to her. And she was getting into all kinds of trouble when I wasn't looking!</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cZxspi-nnEk/XIXTeICQM-I/AAAAAAAAEHI/CXyrvDYv5HIpYxPMcAJvCGl_arizWMMGgCLcBGAs/s1600/Lori.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1423" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cZxspi-nnEk/XIXTeICQM-I/AAAAAAAAEHI/CXyrvDYv5HIpYxPMcAJvCGl_arizWMMGgCLcBGAs/s320/Lori.jpg" width="284" /></a></div>
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">I guess you could say that while I still daydream, my daydreaming is productive now. Is that a contradiction? I don't think so!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: large;">What do you daydream about? While you think about it, I'm going to hop over and find out what the other authors have to share,</span><br />
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March 11, 2019<br />
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When you are daydreaming, what do you dream about?<br />
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Rules:<br />
1. Link your blog to this hop.<br />
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.<br />
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants' blogs.<br />
4. Tweet/or share each person's blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.<br />
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.<br />
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<br />P.J. MacLaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03285032860369866978noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083824019942676835.post-36403529289871863112019-03-04T07:02:00.000-07:002019-03-04T07:04:47.821-07:00How to Recharge #OpenBook Blog Hop<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--gDzTHEi9Oo/VbYsMnHOCTI/AAAAAAAAA_o/yzrYs3caYa0pYRSh0kZ7eg8Pfh5c-64NgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/blog%2Bhop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="960" height="158" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--gDzTHEi9Oo/VbYsMnHOCTI/AAAAAAAAA_o/yzrYs3caYa0pYRSh0kZ7eg8Pfh5c-64NgCPcBGAYYCw/s400/blog%2Bhop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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</b> <b>March 4, 2019</b></span><br />
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</b> <b>How do you recharge?</b></span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: large;">Anyone who has hung around with me on here for awhile already knows the answer to that question. I head to the mountains. Maybe i take a familiar road and stop at a different turnout, or maybe a take a side road I've never been on before. Either way, I'm always on the lookout for some fresh beauty.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">I've posted many of these pictures here before, and some are fresh. I hope you enjoy them.</span><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>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZTKHLAZRlUE/XHyRwD1OjuI/AAAAAAAAEGk/3jCfQJi_1ZEeNrCfelwPaGYsqmHNcB7GgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZTKHLAZRlUE/XHyRwD1OjuI/AAAAAAAAEGk/3jCfQJi_1ZEeNrCfelwPaGYsqmHNcB7GgCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_1445.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Near Estes Park</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-64jQ1_fO_jk/Vvi5kbmsOUI/AAAAAAAACDI/91T1i_mgNBsALz-E91U2KqvheCdOI7TcQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_1583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-64jQ1_fO_jk/Vvi5kbmsOUI/AAAAAAAACDI/91T1i_mgNBsALz-E91U2KqvheCdOI7TcQCPcBGAYYCw/s320/IMG_1583.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wild Flowers in the Snowy Mountains</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qoPHbE1ePKY/Vvi5hFZVdSI/AAAAAAAACDI/zlZ0ZQIrHOot1OEzIr0NGYDQMLILcgjqACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_1533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qoPHbE1ePKY/Vvi5hFZVdSI/AAAAAAAACDI/zlZ0ZQIrHOot1OEzIr0NGYDQMLILcgjqACPcBGAYYCw/s320/IMG_1533.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There was a whole field of these wild flowers</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X62etBHShYw/W8PY13LNAmI/AAAAAAAAD7A/pKhfI0Y7gFwg9C5qMydRzAncSs-EUpfzQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_2333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X62etBHShYw/W8PY13LNAmI/AAAAAAAAD7A/pKhfI0Y7gFwg9C5qMydRzAncSs-EUpfzQCPcBGAYYCw/s320/IMG_2333.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lake Cowdrey</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hoVNBJBC2Ug/XHyKqQHtifI/AAAAAAAAEGA/dSowWx9tpGYhRokkiyYzjb6OXT4X_ZV_wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hoVNBJBC2Ug/XHyKqQHtifI/AAAAAAAAEGA/dSowWx9tpGYhRokkiyYzjb6OXT4X_ZV_wCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_3160.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Elk in a farmer's field</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Chambers Lake</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OmAV9ivp1P8/XHyK9ERHjQI/AAAAAAAAEGM/_I02CLTXIHEGqX795M-WniOJ6JM6WF9cgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OmAV9ivp1P8/XHyK9ERHjQI/AAAAAAAAEGM/_I02CLTXIHEGqX795M-WniOJ6JM6WF9cgCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_3276.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Moose in the woods. These are big fellows!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: large;">And one more. An oldie, from when we lived near the land of the redwoods. It's hard to do justice to a redwood tree.</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--SWDjLwc_Zw/XHyQfz1kZsI/AAAAAAAAEGY/OHPyBWuRfZwOwUgYa2uZk51P7ZazHjVCACLcBGAs/s1600/burl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--SWDjLwc_Zw/XHyQfz1kZsI/AAAAAAAAEGY/OHPyBWuRfZwOwUgYa2uZk51P7ZazHjVCACLcBGAs/s320/burl.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">And that's how I recharge. Thank heavens for digital cameras, because I'd go broke if I had to take rolls of film to the drugstore to have them developed.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: large;">Now let's find out what the other authors do!</span><br />
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<br />
March 4, 2019<br />
<br />
How do you recharge? <br />
<br />
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<br />P.J. MacLaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03285032860369866978noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083824019942676835.post-33565873570957109312019-03-01T07:15:00.000-07:002019-03-06T06:59:48.895-07:00Perspective #ISWG <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3KnHzD3CUs0/XHkzrk7fSHI/AAAAAAAAEFY/9XU5811hHMIeZTquhMrzfMK0rGLxhMt8QCLcBGAs/s1600/Insecure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="315" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3KnHzD3CUs0/XHkzrk7fSHI/AAAAAAAAEFY/9XU5811hHMIeZTquhMrzfMK0rGLxhMt8QCLcBGAs/s320/Insecure.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica";"><b>IWSG Day Question: Whose perspective do you like to write from best, the hero (protagonist) or the villain (antagonist)? And why?</b></span><br />
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</span> <br />
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica";">The awesome co-hosts for the March 6 posting of the IWSG are Fundy Blue, Beverly Stowe McClure, Erika Beebe, and Lisa Buie-Collard!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica";">I'd love to be able to write from my villian's perspective, but he won't let me!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica";">Let me explain that statement. I'm currently working on a prequel to my Harmony Duprie Mysteries, and I'm trying to write the story of how Jake, my anti-hero, meets Harmony. I wanted to write it from Jake's point of view. </span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-53cn-2UjOI0/XHk6q09q_XI/AAAAAAAAEFk/uzzq4lDRNxYf3omcpDNbGU6I8EZQpKRmACLcBGAs/s1600/LadysRing_teaser_5-8-15.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1280" height="212" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-53cn-2UjOI0/XHk6q09q_XI/AAAAAAAAEFk/uzzq4lDRNxYf3omcpDNbGU6I8EZQpKRmACLcBGAs/s320/LadysRing_teaser_5-8-15.png" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica";">It didn't work. I've tried four or five times to start the story, but never got past about 500 words. I tried different starting points, I tried a different opening scene, nothing worked.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica";">But I finally figured it out. Jake has too many secrets he doesn't want revealed. If I wrote the story from his side, those secrets might be slip out. So, he was blocking me, and I've restarted the story from Harmony's perspective. It's coming aong well, but slowly, thank you.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica";">When I think about it, It's true for all my books. I can think of only one instance out of the seven books I've written where I slipped (temporarily) into the mind of the bad guy.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica";"></span><br />
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica";">So Jake's secrets are still safe. Even I don't know what they all are. He won't tell me!</span><br />
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica";"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica";">But the new covers for the Harmony Duprie Mysteries aren't a secret. Have you seen them? Here's the new cover for the first book, The Marquesa's Necklace.</span><br />
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See that link over there ---> that says My Books? Click on it and you can find out where to buy my books.<br />
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<br />P.J. MacLaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03285032860369866978noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083824019942676835.post-54998065183001170492019-02-25T22:09:00.002-07:002019-02-25T22:09:31.950-07:00<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">New Covers! </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Check out these great new covers for the Harmony Duprie Mystery Series! (That's what I'm calling them now.) Over the next week or two, you'll be seeing them at e-book and print retailers. (Amazon, B&N, IBooks &Kobo.)</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Many thanks go to K.M. Guth, my cover designer for these great new covers. Now, on to the covers!</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lJTJSm-2H8M/XHTIfExoIdI/AAAAAAAAEEw/HEirRL4YJrUn8epyWVdBdnsnf2WAKLULgCLcBGAs/s1600/new_necklace_v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="995" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lJTJSm-2H8M/XHTIfExoIdI/AAAAAAAAEEw/HEirRL4YJrUn8epyWVdBdnsnf2WAKLULgCLcBGAs/s320/new_necklace_v2.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-03EyqYEnwAA/XHTIqP3OxoI/AAAAAAAAEE0/FejusgmJ_Z8jMspjUlNKvnHBx4LQDbJNgCLcBGAs/s1600/new_ring_v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="995" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-03EyqYEnwAA/XHTIqP3OxoI/AAAAAAAAEE0/FejusgmJ_Z8jMspjUlNKvnHBx4LQDbJNgCLcBGAs/s320/new_ring_v2.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Coming soon, The Contessa's Brooch</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b9bIpkMC200/XHTJ4S4f7uI/AAAAAAAAEFM/iYRAvjMM7cMyBl3x46zZQRJFe6EGmEUpACLcBGAs/s1600/book-3088777_1920.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b9bIpkMC200/XHTJ4S4f7uI/AAAAAAAAEFM/iYRAvjMM7cMyBl3x46zZQRJFe6EGmEUpACLcBGAs/s320/book-3088777_1920.png" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>And keep your eyes open, because soon I'll be moving to a new website. Stay tuned!</b></span></div>
P.J. MacLaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03285032860369866978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083824019942676835.post-71264100791303580672019-02-25T06:53:00.003-07:002019-02-25T06:53:34.730-07:00Make the World a Better place #OpenBook Blog Hop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XozwdwgoCSU/V5YPNptzrbI/AAAAAAAACak/2uXp9Ezv2EUWT7XKRyjkS6xc5YBUA6FmwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Blog%2BHop6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="336" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XozwdwgoCSU/V5YPNptzrbI/AAAAAAAACak/2uXp9Ezv2EUWT7XKRyjkS6xc5YBUA6FmwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Blog%2BHop6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Feb 25, 2019</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b> <b>What have you done to make the world a better place?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Does anyone remember the first Earth Day? Way back in 1970 when about 22 million people believed they could do something to make the world a better place.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was part of the 22 million. The school I was attending organized events for the day, with most regular classes cancelled. Many of us already took buses to school, but, that day, some rode bicycles, carpooled. someone even rode a horse to school.(And this wasn't in Wyoming!)</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TYfVpzbuOow/XHNgwTQdNMI/AAAAAAAAEEk/l-MJK2w62j4wrCG_d-ZxbtrpLLpWGf-lACLcBGAs/s1600/earth-day-2700666_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TYfVpzbuOow/XHNgwTQdNMI/AAAAAAAAEEk/l-MJK2w62j4wrCG_d-ZxbtrpLLpWGf-lACLcBGAs/s320/earth-day-2700666_1920.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Most of the days activities were scientific based, on topics such as eco-systems and other earth science topics. But we also went out and picked up trash from the neighborhoods around the school.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">As a Girl Scout, I was also involved in environmental activities. The troop I was a part of was outdoor-oriented. We did a lot of camping, and as part of that, we did a lot to improve the areas we visited.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Litter still drives me crazy. After buying our Jeep, one of the first things I did was put a box of garbage bags and work gloves under the back seat. That way, when we are out exploring, I can pick up trash other people have left behind. Sure, it still ends up in a dump, but at least it isn't as much of a hazard to wildlife or an eyesore.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Even when I go for walks in the neighborhood, I've been known to pick up plastic cups and haul them home to dispose of. I might even have been spotted chasing down and empty bag blowing through the Walmart parking lot so I can put it in the trash. And I always think- if everyone would pick up one or two pieces of litter on a regular basis, it wouldn't be the problem it is today. As John Denver sand "Celebrate Earth Day, every day."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So that's my little contribution to making the world a better place. What's yours? </span><br />
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Feb 25, 2019<br />
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What have you done to make the world a better place? <br />
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Rules:<br />
1. Link your blog to this hop.<br />
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<br />P.J. MacLaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03285032860369866978noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083824019942676835.post-64513756477949676442019-02-18T06:59:00.000-07:002019-02-18T06:59:01.775-07:00Drop The Mic #OpenBook Blog Hop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2Xb3pE0Tlgs/V7phwAxl0tI/AAAAAAAACeM/wLv7GqPgZDknGh44bBMSTLTwfdPsEg2igCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Blog%2BHop6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="336" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2Xb3pE0Tlgs/V7phwAxl0tI/AAAAAAAACeM/wLv7GqPgZDknGh44bBMSTLTwfdPsEg2igCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Blog%2BHop6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <b><span style="font-size: large;">Feb 18, 2019</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b> <b>What was your best drop the mic moment?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I had someone ask what a drop the mic moment is. According to the Urban Dictionary, it's "<span style="color: #2c353c;">A phrase describing the action performed after getting the better of someone, or c</span><span style="color: #2c353c;">alling someone out so hard that you just walk away indisputably victorious."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2c353c;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2c353c;">This feels like an opportunity to do a little bragging!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2c353c;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2c353c;">Now, I'm normally a quiet, reserved kind of person. But I work with a great bunch of guys who appreciate the finer points of sarcasm. And every now and then, I come up with a great retort that causes them to stop , shake their heads, and then laugh, because it's so unexpected. Can I tell you what any of those lines were? Not a shot. I don't remember the words, only the feeling of satisfaction.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2c353c;"><br />
</span></span> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2c353c;">So, instead, let's take a trip on the wayback machine to the year I was taking a speech class for a college degree. I was a fully functioning adult with a full time job at the time, and took the class because I figured it would be easy. After all, I'd faced down any fears of public speaking in several of the jobs I'd held. Not so for most of the college kids in the class, so I tried to set a good example.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2c353c;"><br />
</span></span> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2c353c;">From my point of view, the class was easy but many of my classmates struggles, even though we had a good teacher. AT the end of the semester, we had to do a 3 minute of longer reading. It didn't need to be anything we created ourselves, and I chose to present one of Allen Ginsberg's poems. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2c353c;"><br />
</span></span> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2c353c;">We didn't read in any particular order, and I held back until everyone who wanted to present had finished. After each speaker, there was a round of polite applause. I'd practiced the poem until I had it memorized, and held the book it came from more for comfort than from need. And I wowed the class with my presentation. When I finished, there was a long moment of silence and then the class rose in a standing ovation.</span></span><br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yJitECLoV8Y/XGo5hnQW49I/AAAAAAAAEEY/1bvfMqC5Qyc_vEhqF-LHEVgrxp_KrIytQCLcBGAs/s1600/drop-2945055_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yJitECLoV8Y/XGo5hnQW49I/AAAAAAAAEEY/1bvfMqC5Qyc_vEhqF-LHEVgrxp_KrIytQCLcBGAs/s320/drop-2945055_1920.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2c353c;"><br />
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<span style="color: #2c353c; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">And that was my Drop the Mic moment. Let's hop over and see what the other authors are sharing.</span><br />
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Feb 18, 2019<br />
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What was your best drop the mic moment? <br />
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<br />P.J. MacLaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03285032860369866978noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083824019942676835.post-90572501214132733132019-02-11T07:10:00.000-07:002019-02-11T07:10:18.792-07:00Save One Thing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">February 11, 2019</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b>
<b>Your house, containing everything you own, catches fire. After saving your loved ones and your pets, you have time to safely make a final dash to save any one item. What would it be? Why?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I don't have any pets right now. Can I save two things? No? Okay, whatever.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I didn't have to think about this one too hard. There's a ton of things I'd like to save, but I can't save everything. My needlepoint, the proof copies of my books, the rocking chair my mother gave me when I was pregnant with my daughter. None of those can be replaced and I'd mourn their loss but I can save only one item.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">How about the binders of my poetry? I've never transcribed the majority of my work to digital format. I'd hate to lose those. (Note to self- add that to my to-do list!) But the notebooks aren't what I'd save.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And I can't take my computer. Remember, I only can snatch one item. In order to take my PC, I'd have to crawl on the floor and detach a bunch of cables. No time for that. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But what I can grab is my backup drive. It'll only take a second or two. And yes, I can hear you thinking, <i>that's an interesting choice, but why? Is it because you've saved your books on it?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Good guess, and a nice bonus, but wrong. The real reason is because of all the pictures saved to it. We're talking old family pictures. Pictures of my parents' families. pictures of my husband's parents. Then there are all the pictures of the kids growing up- pictures I spent hours scanning from printed copies. Pictures taken before the invention of digital cameras, when film was used to capture memories. We have boxes of those, and in case of a fire, I'd never be able to save all the paper copies. But I've scanned many of them, and they reside on the backup drive.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Add in copies of all the pictures we've taken since we bought out first digital camera— it took pictures onto floppy disks!—and you get an idea of how much history 'lives' on that hard drive. For example, here's a picture of my grandfather from WWI.</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ax6P0T4tTww/XGDGnK4oRuI/AAAAAAAAEDo/wPyUmQCzgVgCasZYVlk2sF016T7j8y87gCLcBGAs/s1600/Edmund%2BGuth%2BWWI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="571" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ax6P0T4tTww/XGDGnK4oRuI/AAAAAAAAEDo/wPyUmQCzgVgCasZYVlk2sF016T7j8y87gCLcBGAs/s320/Edmund%2BGuth%2BWWI.jpg" width="203" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The pictures aren't replaceable. And that's why I'd grab the backup hard drive.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">What would you take? You can tell me in the comments. In the meantime, I'm going to hop on over and check out what everyone else would save.</span><br />
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February 11, 2019<br />
<br />
Your house, containing everything you own, catches fire. After saving your loved ones and your pets, you have time to safely make a final dash to save any one item. What would it be? Why?<br />
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3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants' blogs.<br />
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<br />P.J. MacLaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03285032860369866978noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083824019942676835.post-89618462958176768742019-02-05T22:42:00.001-07:002019-02-05T22:42:43.261-07:00 Other Creative Outlets #IWSG<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-toooBl94PVA/XFT5oAmFb9I/AAAAAAAAEDE/faT6roRiYUYQrRrkwLoerOZpn_z-Buk-gCLcBGAs/s1600/Insecure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="315" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-toooBl94PVA/XFT5oAmFb9I/AAAAAAAAEDE/faT6roRiYUYQrRrkwLoerOZpn_z-Buk-gCLcBGAs/s320/Insecure.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's the first Wednesday of the month again, and time for the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Today's Question: <b>Besides writing, what other creative outlets do you have?</b><br />
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Thanks to our Co-Hosts: Raimey Gallant, Natalie Aguirre, CV Grehan, and Michelle Wallace!<br />
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Most of my spare time these days is taken up by some aspect of my writing- whether it's actual writing, or publicity, or tending to social pages to get my name out there. But I have one other creative outlet that I've shared on here before- needlepoint and types of yarn art..<br />
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I think the reason I enjoy it is because there's an almost mathematical precision to it that results in beautiful designs. It's relaxing and exciting at the same time to watch yarn become art.<br />
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I did a blog post on this a couple of years ago, so a few of you may recognize some of my work.The pictures below may not be my original designs, but they are results of my hard work.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-povbRe0H6SQ/VZlN4aABv2I/AAAAAAAAA50/N7QjlUgPTeoEnXB93uCCXbbpe5NHhTyJwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_1960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1197" data-original-width="1600" height="239" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-povbRe0H6SQ/VZlN4aABv2I/AAAAAAAAA50/N7QjlUgPTeoEnXB93uCCXbbpe5NHhTyJwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/IMG_1960.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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So that's some of what I do besides write.<br />
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To find out what other authors do beside write, check out the other links<br />
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<br />P.J. MacLaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03285032860369866978noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083824019942676835.post-47642051622399680432019-02-04T08:21:00.000-07:002019-02-04T08:21:52.976-07:00Just One Change #OpenBook Blog Hop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">February 4, 2019</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b> <b>If you could make one change in the world, what would it be?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: large;">Is world peace too much to ask for? Unfortunately, I think it is. It's overwhelming to consider all the pieces and parts that it would take to make that happen </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: large;">So, I'm going to go for something not so out of reach but still lofty. I'd like to see everyone in the world have enough to eat.</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hUJhDGR2wtM/XFe9RZW07NI/AAAAAAAAEDc/cXE-3BXE2SctpxO4D_vbqgHVQMVRTX5qACLcBGAs/s1600/agriculture-arable-barley-265216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hUJhDGR2wtM/XFe9RZW07NI/AAAAAAAAEDc/cXE-3BXE2SctpxO4D_vbqgHVQMVRTX5qACLcBGAs/s320/agriculture-arable-barley-265216.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: large;">Experts say it's possible. It would take changes in what we eat and how we eat. Just the twenty-five percent of food that gets wasted between farm and.consumption could go a long way to filling the gap. Just think about the food that gets thrown out by supermarkets because it isn't perfect. How about everything that doesn't get eaten at restaurants because the serving sizes are so large?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: large;">The trick is getting the otherwise wasted food to the people who need it. The infrastructure to make it happen doesn't exist. Of course, there are also government regulations and competing interests that get in the way.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: large;">Then there's the debate about land that could be used to grow food being used to grow crops to make fuel. And another debate about our insistence of eating tons of beef and the effort and land that goes into growing crops to support that habit. And that leads to the debate about how much of the world's food problems could be solved if we all ate healthier.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm not wise enough or powerful enough to solve all those issues. But if I could change just one thing in this world, I'd wave </span><span style="font-size: large;">my magic wand and make sure no one was going hungry, and that the food they had was good quality.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Now let's hear from you. If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?</span><br />
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February 4, 2019<br />
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If you could make one change in the world, what would it be?<br />
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Rules:<br />
1. Link your blog to this hop.<br />
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<br />P.J. MacLaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03285032860369866978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083824019942676835.post-26913513746682106382019-01-28T06:39:00.000-07:002019-01-28T06:39:28.916-07:00Creating or Destroying #OpenBook Blog Hop<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hg3QRq0CQPs/XE4rJe2kARI/AAAAAAAAECs/27QE2sLODgEAEj-BR8HJ5fzzqIG6yFCrQCLcBGAs/s1600/Blog%2BHop6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="336" height="332" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hg3QRq0CQPs/XE4rJe2kARI/AAAAAAAAECs/27QE2sLODgEAEj-BR8HJ5fzzqIG6yFCrQCLcBGAs/s400/Blog%2BHop6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <b><span style="font-size: large;">January 28, 2019</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b> <b>Are humans better at creating or destroying?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: large;">In nature, destruction and creation are part of a never-ending cycle. A forest fire helps ensure the health of a new forest. A dead flower contains the seeds for new plants. A volcano destroys existing land to build more. A wolf will take down its prey to feed its cubs.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: large;">But humans are different. We have the ability to destroy for the sake of destruction and we use it. We've given the world the atomic bomb and the holocaust. The responsibility for the disappearance of hundreds of species- the dodo bird, the California grizzle bear, the passenger pigeon and hundreds of others- rest on humans. Of course, there's the current ongoing debate about global warning and its potential effect on human civilization.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: large;">On the flip side, humans are capable of creating things of great beauty. Powerful music that stirs our emotions. Books that make us laugh or cry, or both. Lovely paintings and other artwork that touch our souls.</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SsbX8Cmp99M/XE6Im_1aHBI/AAAAAAAAEC4/F9ScWay5IpA7Nh8Yt3F92x9h_Ce9r0o9wCLcBGAs/s1600/adult-art-artist-133170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SsbX8Cmp99M/XE6Im_1aHBI/AAAAAAAAEC4/F9ScWay5IpA7Nh8Yt3F92x9h_Ce9r0o9wCLcBGAs/s320/adult-art-artist-133170.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></div>
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: large;">So which are humans better at? Destruction can be easy, thoughtless, and swift. Being creative takes thought and effort. It can take months for a musician to write a song, years for an author to write a book, a lifetime for an artist to create a masterpiece. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: large;">So I'm on the side that humans are better creators. It's harder, but worth the effort. Now let's see what the other authors have to say.</span><br />
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January 28, 2019<br />
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Are humans better at creating or destroying?<br />
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Rules:<br />
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<br />P.J. MacLaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03285032860369866978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083824019942676835.post-44488393380023537692019-01-21T06:44:00.001-07:002019-01-21T06:44:40.058-07:00What Keeps Me Up at Night #OpenBook Blog Hop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">January 21, 2019</span></b><br />
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</span></b> <b><span style="font-size: large;">What keeps you up at night?</span></b><br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">When I was younger, I could sleep through just about anything. Thunderstorms, cars honking, my husband snoring, Babies crying was the exception. I'd always wake up for my babies.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;"> But I've added a few years and I don't sleep as well as I used to. Thankfully, I can still roll over and get back to sleep fairly quickly. And there are a few things that keep me awake.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: large;">I suspect my author friends are going to recognize this first one. If I've been struggling with a scene, searching for the right words, I'll continue to mull it over when I've gone to bed. Sometimes, I'll find the right way to move forward and hope I remember it in the morning. (Yes, I keep a notepad and pen by the bed- I've never used it!)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: large;">Then there's the battle with the thermostat. (Not <i>over</i> the thermostat, <i>with</i> the thermostat.) I don't understand how the temperature that was <i>perfect</i> when I crawled under the covers can suddenly get too hot in the middle of the night- and the thermostat hasn't been touched. Gremlins. Gremlins are the only explanation.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yzjGjwlLq64/XEVJVoi6InI/AAAAAAAAECM/zvmXriy4HHYDDHOLJjd6kTRuRSOqkA3uwCLcBGAs/s1600/bloodshot-1294920_1280.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1204" data-original-width="1280" height="188" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yzjGjwlLq64/XEVJVoi6InI/AAAAAAAAECM/zvmXriy4HHYDDHOLJjd6kTRuRSOqkA3uwCLcBGAs/s200/bloodshot-1294920_1280.png" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-size: large;">Some nights, I worry about the health of family members. I'm not worried about mine because I'm in pretty good shape for my age. Not all of my family is so lucky. At least they are getting the proper medical care and that helps.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">On rare nights I find myself thinking about my day job, going over checklists, making sure everything that had to be done got completed. Or trying to figure out ways to make the job run smoother. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">Those infrequent nights when I can't shut down, I have a few tricks to turn off my mind and go to sleep. I call up my memories</span><span style="font-size: large;">, I stand in front of my childhood home, and remember it how it was. Or, I take a walk up the dirt road that led past it. There was magic in the fields and woods, and that magic can still send me to sleep when I look for it.</span><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: large;">Now, before I fall asleep, let's go find out what keeps the other authors up at night.</span><br />
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January 21, 2019<br />
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What keeps you up at night?<br />
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Rules:<br />
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<br />P.J. MacLaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03285032860369866978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083824019942676835.post-11167392027800374052019-01-14T06:57:00.000-07:002019-01-14T06:57:00.776-07:00Author Services #OpenBook Blog Hop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9a3hl9W1SYY/VSSPD9MYpyI/AAAAAAAAAcA/_b3atx276HQHw6HS4T3cIBTWgGJTJtpqQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/11113002_10202895773910424_6657287389891500562_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="1146" height="158" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9a3hl9W1SYY/VSSPD9MYpyI/AAAAAAAAAcA/_b3atx276HQHw6HS4T3cIBTWgGJTJtpqQCPcBGAYYCw/s400/11113002_10202895773910424_6657287389891500562_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">January 14, 2019</span></b><br />
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</b> <b>Have you ever been duped by a so-called service to authors? And what is the best service you've ever used?</b></span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">I'll be the first to admit that sometimes I over-analyze and over-research simple things. I'll spend several hours deciding which hotel to stay in on a trip. I'll take at least that long or longer figuring out the best of several routes to take to our destination.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">So it shouldn't be a shocker that I do the same with my limited writing budget. I read endless posts to the writers groups I follow, check out the Writer's Beware page from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and hunt down reviews for services I'm considering.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">As I result, I don't think I've ever been scammed. Sure, I've tried out services that I wasn't happy with, but I've always received some results. Maybe not the ones I'd hoped for, but something.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: large;">For example, for my last release, I hired a publicity company. They got me lots of blog spots, facebook posts, twitter feed, but I still didn't sell many books. They developed a nice banner for the release and several memes, but the book never grabbed the attention of readers. So, I don't consider them a scam, just disappointing.</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pEoX2mtfZfw/XDv_4xo_JfI/AAAAAAAAEB0/qsZdRIF_VIgcVt-5EHhcTTm-UOzmR3MgACLcBGAs/s1600/HTP%2Bteaser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="611" data-original-width="900" height="271" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pEoX2mtfZfw/XDv_4xo_JfI/AAAAAAAAEB0/qsZdRIF_VIgcVt-5EHhcTTm-UOzmR3MgACLcBGAs/s400/HTP%2Bteaser.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">I tried out someone claiming to be an editor, but she was only a proofreader (and found a few things that needed corrected). I've paid for book promotion spots that didn't get result even though they were sent to the mailing list.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">But I've had some good experiences as well. Robin Reads and ENT (Ereader News Today) are my favorite book promotion newsletters. (I haven't tried BookBub yet.) Granted, Robin Reads is starting to get on the pricey side in comparison to sales, but they still sell books. And ENT does a great job reaching an audience.</span><br />
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</span> <br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My next 'big" experiment will be in trying to get reviews. I think almost every author out there knows what a struggle that is. But I'm not ready yet to take the plunge and join a paid site. I need to do a lot more research first. Anyone have any experience they'd like to share</span>?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">While I'm waiting, I'm going to check out what our other authors are sharing, so I can find out what to avoid and what to add to my list of trusted services! </span><br />
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January 14, 2019<br />
<br />
Have you ever been duped by a so-called service to authors? And what is the best service you've ever used?<br />
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Rules:<br />
1. Link your blog to this hop.<br />
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.<br />
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants' blogs.<br />
4. Tweet/or share each person's blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.<br />
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.<br />
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<!-- end InLinkz script --><br />P.J. MacLaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03285032860369866978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083824019942676835.post-5852625890041595692019-01-07T06:52:00.002-07:002019-01-07T06:52:50.671-07:00#Recipe From a Book #OpenBook Blog Hop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">January 7, 2019</span></b><br />
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<b>Share a recipe for a food that comes from one of your books.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Harmony Duprie, from my mystery series, lives a simple life. (With the exception of her salsa-red Jaguar.) She lives in a small apartment, buys used furniture, rarely eats out, preferring to cook her own food. Naturally, the food she cooks reflects that simplicity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the upcoming book, The Contessa's Brooch, I have Harmony cooking hamburger soup for Lando and Scotty. (Remember them from Book 1? Yes, they are making a return to Oak Grove!) She puts them to work helping her chop the vegetables, figuring it was time to wean them away from fast food.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Cutting up the vegetables is the most time-consuming part of this recipe. (Besides the cooking time.) I suggest you do it before you start the actual cooking process.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hamburger Soup</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef (or do half and half of hamburger and Italian sausage for an extra kick in flavor)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">3 stalks celery, chopped</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 medium onion, chopped</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">4 cups shredded cabbage</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 sweet bell pepper, chopped ( I like to use one green, 1 yellow and 1 red pepper for eye appeal)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 clove garlic, minced</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 8 oz can tomato sauce</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">4 cups beef broth (I usually end up using more)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/2 tsp seasoning salt</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/2 tsp basil</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/4 tsp garlic powder</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">salt and pepper to taste</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">( I like to add chopped carrots for added color)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Brown ground beef , onions, celery, garlic and pepper until meat is no longer pink. Add cabbage and cook together. (In real life, unless you have a really big frying pan, you aren't going to fit all that cabbage in it. I just add a little to the meat mixture to cook it, and throw the rest in the soup pot.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Drain the meat mixture, then add the seasonings. Transfer the meat and vegetables to a stock pot, add the beef stock and tomato sauce. Mix. Simmer 30-35 minutes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I like to serve with a sprinkling of cheese on top and rolls for dipping. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's the perfect dish for supper on a cold winter day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now that my mouth is watering, I'm off to see what the other authors are cooking!</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H_g8F_Z2930/XDK3kbeUI5I/AAAAAAAAEBo/_KflvEDj1VU0F9t5rs4QEDGG9lcI1SkugCLcBGAs/s1600/beef-bowl-cuisine-1731535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="929" data-original-width="1600" height="185" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H_g8F_Z2930/XDK3kbeUI5I/AAAAAAAAEBo/_KflvEDj1VU0F9t5rs4QEDGG9lcI1SkugCLcBGAs/s320/beef-bowl-cuisine-1731535.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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January 7, 2019<br />
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Share a recipe for a food that comes from one of your books.<br />
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Rules:<br />
1. Link your blog to this hop.<br />
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.<br />
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants' blogs.<br />
4. Tweet/or share each person's blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.<br />
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.<br />
<br />
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<!-- end InLinkz script --><br />P.J. MacLaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03285032860369866978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083824019942676835.post-7470597919999625992019-01-01T22:18:00.003-07:002019-01-01T22:18:45.991-07:00Favorite Questions #IWSG<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">What are your favorite and least favorite questions people ask you about your writing?</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thanks to this month's hosts, <span style="background-color: #f4f2f8; text-align: center;"> </span><b style="background-color: #f4f2f8; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.patricialynne.com/blog" style="color: #057452;" target="_blank">Patricia Lynne,</a> <a href="http://www.lisabuiecollard.com/" style="color: #3e62b4; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Lisa Buie-Collard,</a> <a href="http://kimlajevardi.com/" style="color: #3e62b4; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Kim Lajevardi,</a></b><span style="background-color: #f4f2f8; text-align: center;"> and </span><b style="background-color: #f4f2f8; text-align: center;"><a href="http://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com/" style="color: #3e62b4; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Fundy Blue!</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let's start with my least favorite question- are your mystery books written for young teens or tweens?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let's start with the answer first. No, my books are written for adults. They may not have sex scenes, but they do deal with adult topics and contain adult language. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And it took me awhile, but I get it. The covers give the wrong impression. So they'll get redone in the next few months, and switched to a more 'mature' design. Hopefully, the change will put an end to that question.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And my favorite question? When someone wants to talk about one of my characters. Usually it's Harmony Duprie, the main character in my mysteries. And I understand why - she's not the poster child for common sense. I've 'lived' with her for four years and almost four books, and she still surprises me. That's why readers fall in love with her. And why I'd like to sit on her steps and drink ice tea and spend an afternoon with her in real life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But sharing her adventures with anyone who cares to read my stories is the next best thing. That's why people asking questions about her is one of my favorite things.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For those of you dropping by from the hop who aren't familiar with my books, here's an excerpt from The Marquesa's Necklace, the first book in the mystery series.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> The folded, bright orange paper that must have been stuck between the screen door and the main door caught my eye. I almost dropped my laptop bag when I snatched it from the clutches of a sudden gust of cold wind threatening to send the sheet sailing. But I managed to hang onto it with my free hand, using my hip to push open the heavy wooden door.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Curious, I set down my laptop and purse and unfolded the paper without even kicking off my shoes first. Totally not like me. I sank down on my old brown couch.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> A crudely drawn skull and crossbones adorned the top half of the page. On the bottom half, scrawled in red ink, were the words “You got lucky this time.” I took a deep breath, picked up the landline phone, and hit memory five—Detective Thomason’s direct line.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> I was sitting at the bottom of the stairway, patting Piper, and practicing breathing exercises to calm my nerves when he arrived in a squad car, sirens wailing. To my shock, Piper didn’t even growl. The uniformed cop with him dashed up the stairs, his hand on the butt of his gun. The detective sat beside me and pulled the evidence out of my still-shaking hand. He flipped open the sheet, glanced at it, and folded it in half. His lips tightened into a thin line as he stared at the crack in the concrete beneath his feet. We sat there, not looking at each other, until the policeman came stomping down the stairs.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You can find links to all of my books <a href="https://pjmaclayne.blogspot.com/p/wolves-pawn.html">Here</a></span></div>
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<br />P.J. MacLaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03285032860369866978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083824019942676835.post-67313254238458780512018-12-31T08:09:00.000-07:002018-12-31T08:10:36.754-07:002019 Writing Goals #OpenBook Blog hop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>December 31, 2018</b><br />
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<b>Share your writing goals for 2019.</b><br />
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I may not have all of 2019 planned out, but I know what the first several months will look like for my writing.<br />
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First, I need to finish up my current work in progress, The Contessa's Brooch. Yes, Harmony Duprie is back in action, fighting crime in the small town of Oak Grove. This time, she's chasing down a firebug.<br />
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While I'm finishing the edits on Book Four, I'll also be working with my cover artist to design new covers for the entire series. Much as I love the current covers, (Thank you, K.M. Guth!) there are good reasons to make the switch. The main one being is that the cover appeals to the wrong audience.<br />
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I can't count how many times I've been asked if the stories are written for tweens or younger. If you've read them, you know they aren't. So the time has come to retire them and move on to covers that are more 'mature' looking.<br />
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And while all of that is happening, I need to start planning the next Harmony book. She's already nagging me. I don't know exactly what she has in mind, but I'm sure it'll be different!<br />
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Will there be another Free Wolves story in the works? I haven't decided yet. But getting two Harmony books out in the same year is pretty ambitious so I won't commit myself to anything more.<br />
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So while you say goodbye to the current covers, I'm off to see what goals the other authors on this hop have made.<br />
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Happy New Year!<br />
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<br />
December 31, 2018<br />
<br />
Share your writing goals for 2019.<br />
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Rules:<br />
1. Link your blog to this hop.<br />
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.<br />
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants' blogs.<br />
4. Tweet/or share each person's blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.<br />
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.<br />
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<!-- end InLinkz script -->P.J. MacLaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03285032860369866978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083824019942676835.post-11005468070214950062018-12-24T06:49:00.000-07:002018-12-24T10:40:20.856-07:00Holiday Greetings #OpenBook Blog Hop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">December 24, 2018</span></b><br />
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</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"> <b>What is your fondest holiday memory?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">That's tough, because there are so many good ones. Running downstairs to open the presents. Cleaning the silverware that only got used once or twice a year. Playing the new games with the family. Candy. Christmas decorations. Snow.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But the best of all? I loved going to church and singing Christmas carols. There was no professional chorus to lead the singing, no elaborate accompaniment, no soaring harmonies, just a lot of average voices joined in song. And unlike most weeks when people were tentative about joining in, everyone knew the melodies if not all the words and was willing to give it their best shot.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> And the songs themselves were uplifting and the messages were ones of happiness and peace. Something we all needed when the country was divided over political squabbles. (Kind of like now!) They put a touch of brightness and hope in our hearts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And that is my wish for each and every one of you this holiday season. May you be touched by the spirit of love in whatever shape that takes for you.</span><br />
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December 24, 2018<br />
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What is your fondest holiday memory?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />P.J. MacLaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03285032860369866978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083824019942676835.post-36667333373196666912018-12-16T20:33:00.000-07:002018-12-17T19:30:20.600-07:00True Love #OpenBook Blog Hop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</span> <b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">December 17, 2018</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b> <b>Do you believe in true love?</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">True love. The territory of poets for hundreds of years. How can I doubt it? I come from a long line of people who have found true love. My husband and I got engaged after six weeks after we met, married after three months and have been together for forty-three years! My parents were together in love for 60 some years, and separated only by death. My grandparents on my father's side were together happily for many years, again parted only by death. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">That doesn't mean it's been all sunshine and roses. We've had our rough spots, like most people. But we've never given up on each other, and I think that's what makes it true love. We're growing old together—not so gracefully—and I firmly believe we'll live up to our wedding vow of 'until death do us part.'</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Romantic love isn't the only kind of true love. Parents and children, siblings, even good friends can all know true love in different forms. And how about pets? The animals who choose to live with us can sense our feelings and know when we need an extra cuddle or a warm furry body that needs a head scratch. Because they demand so little in return, their love may be one of the truer forms of the emotion.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So yes, I believe in true love. And in the words of the old song</span><br />
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</span> <i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What the world needs now is love, sweet love</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It's the only thing that there's just too little of</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What the world needs now is love, sweet love,</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">No not just for some but for everyone</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Songwriters: Burt F. Bacharach / Hal David</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now I'm off to find out how the other authors feel about true love.</span><br />
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December 17, 2018<br />
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Do you believe in true love? <br />
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Rules:<br />
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<br />P.J. MacLaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03285032860369866978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083824019942676835.post-29991789257457682432018-12-10T06:52:00.003-07:002018-12-10T06:52:46.393-07:00Favorite Lines #OpenBook Blog Hop<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">December 10, 2018</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></b> <b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We are writers. This is our time to shine. What are some of your favorite lines from your books?</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This week is the dictionary definition of #humblebrag. Every now and then, I look at the line I just wrote and think "Wow, that's a good one!" So here are a few of my favorites.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I think this series of lines is when I first fell in love with Harmony Duprie, the main character of the Oak Grove Mysteries. The concept of this level-headed, intelligent woman having such a illogical reaction to an everyday event really helped me form her character.</span></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The bus ride home seemed longer than the morning’s trip as I studied each person getting on for a potential threat. Was the little gray-haired lady with the oversize purse and shopping bag packing a handgun? Did the teenage boy wearing a long black coat keep ninja stars in his pockets? And the woman in her mid-twenties holding a little girl’s hand? Was the child was just a prop, borrowed for the afternoon, solely to throw off suspicion? In reality, was the woman a super spy waiting for a chance to drug me and cart me off to her remote hideaway?</span></i></div>
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</span> <span style="text-indent: 29.76px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That's from The Marquesa's Necklace, if you haven't read it. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And here's a selection from Her Ladyship's Ring, the second book in the series.It's a conversation between Detective Thomason, Harmony, and her landlords. </span><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.49in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Did you hear the shot? Was there more than one?”</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What the hell? “No, I didn’t, I was singing.”</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Badly,” muttered Luke.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Off-key,” added Joe.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I never claimed to be good.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of course, I can't forget the Free Wolves series. Here's a quote from Wolves' Pawn.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dot was out of throwing knives, but she still had the wickedly sharp night stalker bowie knife Gavin had loaned her. The rival wolves quickly learned to avoid her, and when one shifted back to man form, she laughed and pointed the knife at his exposed genitals. He returned to wolf form, and paced around her, searching for another avenue of attack. A swift feint resulted in a nasty slice on his front leg, and a second saw a cut along his ribs. He wasn’t about to give up, and as he bunched his muscles for a third attempt, one of Dot’s companions rushed him from the side, knocking him over. While he was stunned, Dot wrapped a plastic zip tie around his muzzle, leaving enough of an opening that he could still pant, and two more ties went around his legs. “I should take lessons in calf roping,” she joked.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And another one from the same book.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>She knew this was a bad idea. Even as Dot mounted her motorcycle to start the convoy, the human portion of her instinct screamed at her to stop. But the feral grin on her face was that of the wolf, and the wolf was in charge</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One more. This is from Wolves' Gambit, the third book in the Free Wolves series.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> But the years of fighting and fleeing had scarred her, and hope didn't belong in her vocabulary. Only plans and action.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can find links to buy all of my books here: <a href="https://pjmaclayne.blogspot.com/p/wolves-pawn.html">My Books</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And I lied. Here's another short one from Wolves' Gambit</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">You're not as innocent as you appear, Miss Grenville. Although if anyone else showed up in my bed in </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">that</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> outfit this late at night, I'd think they were trying to seduce me.</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now I'm done, and off to find out everyone else's favorite lines</span><br />
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December 10, 2018<br />
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We are writers. This is our time to shine. What are some of your favorite lines from your books? <br />
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Rules:<br />
1. Link your blog to this hop.<br />
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.<br />
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants' blogs.<br />
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<br />P.J. MacLaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03285032860369866978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083824019942676835.post-57085973694165586042018-12-04T18:25:00.002-07:002018-12-04T18:25:27.330-07:00My Writing Space #IWSG<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KiZ0TUicqOE/XARumIgcxkI/AAAAAAAAD_A/zObDRXuN_QQAMqgHFW2q41mcd1aM9tcGwCLcBGAs/s1600/Insecure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="315" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KiZ0TUicqOE/XARumIgcxkI/AAAAAAAAD_A/zObDRXuN_QQAMqgHFW2q41mcd1aM9tcGwCLcBGAs/s320/Insecure.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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IWSG Day Question: What are five objects we'd find in your writing space?<br />
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First off, thanks to this month's co-hosts: J.H. Moncrieff, Tonja Drecker , Patsy Collins, and Chrys Fey!<br />
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I recently re-did my desk, so it's a lot cleaner than it used to be! The Harry Potter magic wands have been put in a safer location. And the stack of sticky notes have been trimmed down to almost nothing. But what's still here?<br />
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First off is the computer. That's a given. Although I have written books entirely by hand, I find I write cleaner if I type a story rather than compose on paper. I write slower on the computer but spend less time editing.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1wFEniZDa_Q/XAcmAChXV4I/AAAAAAAAD_Y/6-f9q5bkMrw6IqVkE_B4s9sVL4CZlA4QQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1196" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1wFEniZDa_Q/XAcmAChXV4I/AAAAAAAAD_Y/6-f9q5bkMrw6IqVkE_B4s9sVL4CZlA4QQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_0174.JPG" width="239" /></a>Second are my pens. It's an addiction. I have more pens than I'll ever need. Once I pulled a dozen <br />
from my purse.<br />
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Third is a Thesaurus. I keep a physical copy handy. I'm good using an on-line dictionary, but when it comes to hunting down the perfect word, I get better results flipping trough the pages.<br />
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Next is the wolf sculpture my son bought me. I have a series of wolf shifter books and it serves as inspiration.<br />
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Last but not least? I confess, I didn't get rid of all the stick notes. They're a great way to keep track of the details on my WIP. What day it is, what last name did I give to that minor character who appeared six chapters ago? I just have to remember to get rid of them when I finish the story.<br />
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Now, I'm going to find out what the other insecure writers have in their writing space.<br />
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<!-- start LinkyTools script --><script src="https://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=103850" type="text/javascript"></script><!-- end LinkyTools script --><br />P.J. MacLaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03285032860369866978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083824019942676835.post-20597058608843231272018-12-03T07:03:00.001-07:002018-12-03T07:03:08.869-07:00No Failure Allowed #OpenBook Blog Hop<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vlp_rCRRccI/XARt31sd_vI/AAAAAAAAD-4/oGzR6HvG0KImhOtwTbfkWBvq8aWN5rcBACLcBGAs/s1600/BlogHop%2B6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="768" height="160" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vlp_rCRRccI/XARt31sd_vI/AAAAAAAAD-4/oGzR6HvG0KImhOtwTbfkWBvq8aWN5rcBACLcBGAs/s320/BlogHop%2B6.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>December 3, 2018</b><br />
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</b> <b>What would you do if you knew you could not fail?</b><br />
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</b>I didn't even have to think about my answer. If I couldn't fail, I'd be a full-time author. But what would that mean?<br />
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First off, I'd have to fully replace my current job and benefits. I've got other people depending on me and I can't let them down. Or maybe it would be better to say that I'm not willing to risk letting them down. Then I need extra on top of that for some long-term financial needs.<br />
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Second, I want to be able to maintain my status as an indie author. I like the freedom to write what I <br />
want to write and to control my own prices. Although I don't necessarily enjoy the business aspects of being an indie, I like the control being an indie provides.<br />
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Third, I'm going to need an full-time editor. One who can help me get books released faster. I don't think I can accomplish my goal when I'm only releasing one or two books a year. And if I had someone else helping with editing, I could write faster!<br />
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And of course, I'd want to make a best seller list or two. Or three. I'd also have to go to more reader/author events. I don't mind traveling, so that would be fine.<br />
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So, for those of you that are already full-time authors, what have I missed?<br />
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Now let's hop over and see what the other authors would do.<br />
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December 3, 2018<br />
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What would you do if you knew you could not fail?<br />
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Rules:<br />
1. Link your blog to this hop.<br />
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.<br />
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<br />P.J. MacLaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03285032860369866978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083824019942676835.post-84307807904901352692018-11-26T06:55:00.001-07:002018-11-26T06:55:23.672-07:00New Experiences #OpenBook Blog Hop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TbRPFUAo_3A/WDuq42UGBII/AAAAAAAACqU/HnIJvrXVQqgBux-phMPUT6OIIuByupnfACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Blog%2BHop6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="336" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TbRPFUAo_3A/WDuq42UGBII/AAAAAAAACqU/HnIJvrXVQqgBux-phMPUT6OIIuByupnfACPcBGAYYCw/s320/Blog%2BHop6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>November 26, 2018</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>When was the last time you did something for the first time?</b><br />
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I'm one of those annoying people who believe that you should never stop learning. I earned a major new certification relating to my job last spring, despite being well into the 'old fart' range in terms of my age.<br />
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But I did something this past fall that I've never done before.<br />
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I took time off work to celebrate my birthday.<br />
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It doesn't sound like anything major, but I've never done it before. I've always worked unless my birthday happened to fall on a weekend. Sure, we might go out for supper or celebrate in another way, but I've never taken the whole day for myself.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-reJbkY_0EPs/W_tcgpYRzAI/AAAAAAAAD-g/_ICXce_gxykW05ewEUmBw9vg0k-bxVAyQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0142%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1196" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-reJbkY_0EPs/W_tcgpYRzAI/AAAAAAAAD-g/_ICXce_gxykW05ewEUmBw9vg0k-bxVAyQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_0142%255B1%255D.JPG" width="238" /></a><br />
That changed this year. I took two days off and me and the hubby stayed in a nearby mountain resort town. We rented a better than average hotel room and took it easy. We didn't make any plans but did things on the spur of the moment. Mostly, we just spent time together. Heck, the most ambitious we got was taking a long drive down some back roads. I didn't even do any writing!<br />
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And the best part? I didn't feel guilty about any it. Not the time off work, not the money we spent, not the temporary pause in finishing my current WIP. Oh, and we got to share the hotel with wild turkeys!<br />
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One more good thing- I bought some old Nancy Drew books - the yellow ones - at a used goods store we stumbled across and decided to check out. Maybe they'll be the start of a collection to replace the ones I gave away when I went to college.<br />
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So that's my newest new thing. What's yours?<br />
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Now I'm off to see what the other authors are doing for the first time.<br />
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November 26, 2018<br />
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When was the last time you did something for the first time?<br />
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Rules:<br />
1. Link your blog to this hop.<br />
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.<br />
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants' blogs.<br />
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<br />P.J. MacLaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03285032860369866978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083824019942676835.post-10815710252446263122018-11-23T08:13:00.000-07:002018-11-23T08:17:14.199-07:00#BlackFriday #MysteryExchangeRemember the Mystery Exchange? A few of the authors have teamed up to bring you some specials for the holidays or to fill that new tablet you just bought. Just in time for #BlackFriday!<br />
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<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-4f6fcd77-7fff-e46a-0d16-02654edd0efd" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="351" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/1psi1uDemmRd_GkzYQkGFf-jL7FR1ldpkSHvu0qB3qZyKCI1mUrENj-PQ2mm-v4D_QE8CaNoziXvfVg7YC_YnwGQQMFOTkFKFIRs6aMib3wNqBKAwibMt7NfcL1R-SGCaRnvqqBM" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What We Found, by Kris Bock</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Another action-packed suspense novel by Kris Bock, perhaps her best to-date."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Audra goes back to her small hometown after college, she just wants to fit in, work hard, and protect her 12-year-old brother from their overbearing mother. Finding a dead body in the woods changes everything. Her former crush, Jay, insists they don’t report the body. But the dead woman was murdered, and someone starts targeting Audra. She has to stand up for herself in order to stand up for the murder victim. It’s a risk, and so is reaching out to the mysterious young man who works with deadly birds of prey. But with danger all around, some risks are worth taking. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“This is a love story and suspense all in one.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I couldn't stop reading.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What We Found is mystery and romance in small-town New Mexico. This title stands alone and is not part of a series.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sample or buy </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What We Found </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">on</span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0094V0OD4/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Learn more at </span><a href="https://www.krisbock.com/books" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kris Bock’s website</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kris Bock writes novels of suspense and romance with outdoor adventures and Southwestern landscapes. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Mad Monk’s Treasure</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> follows the hunt for a long-lost treasure in the New Mexico desert. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whispers in the Dark</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> features archaeology and intrigue among ancient Southwest ruins. In </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Counterfeits</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, stolen Rembrandt paintings bring danger to a small New Mexico town.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fans of Mary Stewart, Barbara Michaels, and Terry Odell will want to check out Kris Bock’s romantic adventures. “</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Counterfeits</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is the kind of romantic suspense novel I have enjoyed since I first read Mary Stewart’s </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Moonspinners</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” 5 Stars – Roberta at Sensuous Reviews blog</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Read excerpts at</span><a href="http://www.krisbock.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">www.krisbock.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or visit her</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kris-Bock/e/B006WV4I5O/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon page</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><a href="https://api.elasticemail.com/contact/subscribe?version=2&pID=ec2a3fcd-0446-44b3-ba07-aa52ff098807" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for announcements of new books, sales, and more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*****</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="472" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/YwqIqoX_6kEUdJlWBJbLkHXnPhUm8n9N1_rlTHouW4YS8K8maDuSwrkbd9QCuQdlX7UO49qKTlsa0oMMGN47qGldFOZKMQx7nv7_YUqehWoJZfpcKC28FmUkeQGbJjwPjOEERZuI" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wolves’ Knight, by P.J. MacLayne</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tasha Roeper knows what it means to protect your own. So when her friend, Dot Lapahie, CEO of Lapahie Enterprises, suspects that the Free Wolves are under attack, Tasha immediately signs on to lead the investigation and guard Dot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But Tasha's not convinced it's the Free Wolves that are the target. She fears that her own pack—the Fairwood Pack—are the actual quarry and Dot is only a decoy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The deeper Tasha digs, the more puzzles she uncovers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Torn between tradition and a changing world, will Tasha risk everything to save a friend—including her own life—when old enemies arise?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wolves Knight is the second book in the Free Wolves series, but can be read as a stand-alone. And while it's not your standard mystery, there is a puzzle to be solved. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This fast-paced paranormal is a breath of fresh air. Action packed and full of amazing female characters, I loved reading a book where the women were more bad ass than the men! Great plot and intriguing characters. Highly recommend!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Author Bio:</span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Born and raised among the rolling hills of western Pennsylvania, P.J. MacLayne still finds inspiration for her books in that landscape. She is a computer geek by day and a writer by night who currently lives in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. When she's not in front of a computer screen, she might be found exploring the back roads of the nearby national forests and parks. In addition to the Free Wolves’ stories, she is also the author of the Oak Grove series.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sample or buy Wolves’ Knight on </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wolves-Knight-Free-Book-ebook/dp/B0199BC6YI/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon</span></a><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> It’s currently on sale for 99¢</span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can follow P.J. MacLayne on </span><a href="https://facebook.com/pjmaclayne" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Facebook</span></a><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or on her blog at </span><a href="https://pjmaclayne.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blog</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 26pt; font-style: italic; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">An All-Consuming Fire,</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 26pt; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Monastery Murders 5</span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Christmas wedding in a monastery—idyllic. If the groom can finish the film his predecessor was killed making and the bride can escape the murderer stalking the Yorkshire moors.</span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/All-Consuming-Fire-Monastery-Murders-Book-ebook/dp/B019G904Z6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1450381823&sr=1-1&linkCode=as2&tag=themonamurd-20" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">99¢ All December</span></a><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="451" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/YTMg70X53sO50ceqzaucdbCKvmYrvqI9orv5RAZeJRivpAg4nZcnArvGSXleHfxIB02Y_oJk6wmNldJQ4-Lt9bFzvQNQFeoOV79hNxjfBsbl4utkU5GIWgfW1L6U-1pg4GPw5nxs" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="291" /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Donna Fletcher Crow has created her own niche within the genre of clerical mysteries. — </span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kate Charles, </span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">False Tongues, A CallieAnson Mystery</span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Crow gives us, in three extremely persuasive dimensions, the world that Dan Brown merely sketches. — </span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Timothy Hallinan, </span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Queen of Patpong,</span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Edgar nominated Best Novel</span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Crow is the leading practitioner of modern mystery entwined with historical fiction. — </span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mike Orenduff, multi-award winning Pot Thief series</span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="184" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/qvfPJkt_buSTo_9HjypqM3mEjCEWJuoW0iSIjx76MZTAt8BvPup67_bl4XmGfE_wnbSLUYl9NpSZfw9FOzkFb9pcyitQtTI65bxeHFcXbqdgpT4gIVFHAK3M55klonOlvbmOn90I" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624" /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Monastery Murders incorporate vivid characterization, intricate plotting, and rich background development that brings ancient spirituality alive in contemporary murder mysteries. Felicity Howard, a young America woman studying theology in a Yorkshire monastery, and Father Anthony Sherwood, her church history lecturer, become embroiled in mysterious events that bring the past into the present.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">See more at</span><a href="https://www.donnafletchercrow.com/index.php" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.donnafletchercrow.com/index.php</span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "lobster"; font-size: 26pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Avery Daniels</span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-size: 16pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Resort To Murder Mystery Series</span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">LUXURY RESORTS, MURDER, A SMART HEROINE, AND A TOUCH OF ROMANCE</span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="291" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/MYEEBhXFoVjZ6FR-EFHxTxjtoogXpIRc9vcEyPITA_6-hcDKQO-cL8Db_OhLgwfpCE6nrVelccDK7JGA33t14Edt7cIVdO-UwO14U1_ZU1FJLl5ZMynTdm4iRGAR-Bbix1AM1p2t" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="182" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Julienne has her ideal job as an event planner at a prestigious resort. During a luncheon event she coordinated, a renowned celebrity pastor is killed next to the buffet. All eyes turn to her as the suspect. If she wants to stay out of jail or even keep her job, Julienne needs all the help she can get to solve the crime. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> She has her work cut out for her with a vengeful high school rival now reporter, the public demanding she be fired, plus family who knows what's best for her, and a boyfriend who doesn't understand her. She turns to friends and a new ally to uncover who wanted to put the pastor on ice. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Julienne goes undercover and investigates a local swingers group as she follows the trail of clues before they go cold. Can she gather enough suspects and motives to convince the police to widen their investigation? Can she do it before the killer sets his murderous sights on her? Will her personal life ever be as simple as unveiling a murderer?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | GooglePlay | Overdrive | IndieBound |Audible</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Julienne is snow bound in the middle of the Rocky Mountains with a killer striking at will.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Julienne LaMere gets to attend a Resort Management conference at a prestigious ski resort in the Colorado Mountains. What should be an enjoyable getaway attending workshops by day and shopping and enjoying the resort by night comes to a screeching halt when a loud-mouthed guest is murdered plus the roads and town shut down for an epic blizzard.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> In addition to attending the conference, dodging a smitten teen boy, and seeking clues among the gossiping - and increasingly tense - guests, her best friend’s heart has warmed to an unlikely man and may get broken. As if her mind isn’t already fully occupied, Julienne and her new boyfriend Mason are skiing down troubled slopes in their relationship. Will Julienne put the scant clues together and unveil the culprit before a murderer gets away?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | GooglePlay | Overdrive | IndieBound |Audible</span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="273" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/FMWnxKSj9TL5tnbPbI7EMsThTyJIIESUFBASmKHgRkfVl_EuHsdwjz6sLPRwOJEdBZynD2EvdzrPOQjaEIFcBOM9AjR1av_Qp6HbQ502phUdyKPjA8km_2P-_KZI73-kaV0TQ0TW" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="182" /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> A Private Investigator who is competing to be on the reality show "Real Investigators" dies under suspicious circumstances with Julienne's business card on his body. Her boss asks her to work to keep the resort's reputation from taking another hit from a murder. She is more concerned with how her card got on his dead body than she lets on. The investigator was playing with fire before he got poisoned, and Julienne is attempting to figure out who spiked his last moments.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She begins to look into the less reputable investigator to keep the Resort's name, as well as her own, away from any suggestion of scandal for both their sake. In the meantime, she is coordinating a last minute event and dealing with a handsome British gent who has his eye on her while still trying to work things out with Mason.</span></div>
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<br />P.J. MacLaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03285032860369866978noreply@blogger.com0