tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48396883307151207772024-02-06T23:34:39.377-07:00inklingsLeahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725517477366290193noreply@blogger.comBlogger192125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839688330715120777.post-85760152563436940172015-03-15T22:49:00.000-06:002015-03-15T22:49:02.240-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Thanks for stopping by! For this leg of the blog hop I'll be introducing you to The Parting Gift. My first publishing venture, co-written with Rachel Van Dyken and originally published by Astraea Press (now CleanReads.com).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjabIPctZ_WF9SVM0VuTR77T3HYiqFnLcD2akgu0tXClClvcdlSMmpOCi7jLmgcS8EDe_zKtuAd-6q1-vBm1-onNl6-BexcVeYPoZT6x6n3D7FSHNBblxYCLMLghQDEEAv3VtvX-5DMPq0/s1600/parting+gift+200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjabIPctZ_WF9SVM0VuTR77T3HYiqFnLcD2akgu0tXClClvcdlSMmpOCi7jLmgcS8EDe_zKtuAd-6q1-vBm1-onNl6-BexcVeYPoZT6x6n3D7FSHNBblxYCLMLghQDEEAv3VtvX-5DMPq0/s1600/parting+gift+200x300.jpg" /></a></div>
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Here's the blurb:<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Blaine Graham lost his mother when he was the tender age of eleven. Grief over the loss drove a wedge between him and his father, and soon proved too difficult for him to deal with. At the age of sixteen, he falsified his papers and made the trip across the border into Canada with his best friend to join the Royal Canadian Air Force and enter the war in Europe as a pilot. Ten years later Captain Graham finds himself flying commercial jets in Boston – his estranged father and his past life all but forgotten, until the day he receives a telegram from his dying father asking him to come home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The persistent Mara Crawford, a live-in nurse, has experienced her fair share of loss as well. Her attachment to Blaine’s father drives her desire to bring reconciliation between the two men before time runs out for her patient. But her best laid plans didn’t include falling in love again.</span></span><br />
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</span></span> <span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Check it out at: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1507701306/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1507701306&linkCode=as2&tag=inklings0b-20&linkId=FRQDJMEWO5XSQPW7" target="_blank">Amazon</a> <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-parting-gift-leah-sanders/1121133657?ean=9781507701300" target="_blank">Barnes&Noble</a></span><br />
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Enter the giveaway in the margin. Have a wonderful day!<br />
Please check out the next link in the blog hop.<br />
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Leahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725517477366290193noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839688330715120777.post-11696766278348842592014-10-26T20:53:00.000-06:002014-10-26T20:53:11.051-06:00Raif and Me: Part 4It's back around to me again.<br />
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I've been working with my two friends, Kelly Martin and Wendy Knight, on a pass-around writing experiment. And this story has definitely taken some surprising turns already.<br />
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Need to catch up?<br />
<a href="http://inklings-leahsanders.blogspot.com/2014/10/raif-and-me-part-1-pass-around-writing.html" target="_blank">Read Part One here</a>.<br />
<a href="http://wendyknightauthor.blogspot.com/2014/10/raif-and-me-part-2.html" target="_blank">Part Two here</a>.<br />
<a href="http://kellymartinbooks.blogspot.com/2014/10/raif-and-me-part-3.html" target="_blank">Part Three here</a>.<br />
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And without further ado, Part Four:<br />
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I knew I couldn’t. No matter what
the Cooperation said. Not with him this close. Not with the memory fresh in my
mind.</div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">“They want you back, Raif.”</span> I
whispered it, but I knew they were listening. “They aren’t too particular about
how they get you.”</div>
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His eyes betrayed no emotion.</div>
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“Why now?” It came out a growl that reverberated
deep in my own soul. “Six years, Tabitha. That’s how long you’ve been watching
me. Why now?”</div>
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“I-I-I don’t know.”</div>
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He stepped closer.</div>
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I couldn’t breathe. I could only stare
into his eyes and hope he heard the things I couldn’t say. Not with the
Cooperation listening. And shouting. So much shouting.</div>
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I knew they were sending back up. I had failed in my task. But I didn't care. I was under Raif's spell. Exactly where I'd wanted to be since the last time he'd held me.</div>
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His breath was warm on my forehead.
He lifted his hand slowly to my face. I closed my eyes in anticipation of the
familiar touch.</div>
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The touch I had craved for the
last six years.</div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">But it wasn’t familiar.</span></div>
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Instead of the velvet warmth I
remembered, the cold distant texture of a black leather glove caressed my
cheek. Raif gingerly pushed my hair behind my ear. My eyes shot open the moment
I knew, but it was too late. He ripped out the earpiece by its roots before I
could react, sending me spiraling into darkness.</div>
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I heard a blood curdling scream,
then just as I fell into the thick haze of black silence, a whisper that sent a
jolt down my spine.</div>
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“I’m sorry, my love, but<span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;"> justice
will be served</span>.”</div>
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Stay tuned for Part Five, coming next week from <a href="http://wendyknightauthor.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Wendy Knight</a>.</div>
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<br />Leahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725517477366290193noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839688330715120777.post-91367750535347130792014-10-17T08:00:00.000-06:002014-10-17T08:00:01.330-06:00Discord: The Judgment of Paris<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2SWeLvWBpVdSgWPOS0TWplCwUTpmL8ZNlPs5i9ee4Ig3gYoZlLrwDFx1ZxDlOBWZt2ZmXcFStOD58SocRsWKttkCcSKnIX4pB0sFTElsXmiiad6LO0PrQ0qJRuu9pPvk7fAXsReslv4/s1600/discord+meme+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2SWeLvWBpVdSgWPOS0TWplCwUTpmL8ZNlPs5i9ee4Ig3gYoZlLrwDFx1ZxDlOBWZt2ZmXcFStOD58SocRsWKttkCcSKnIX4pB0sFTElsXmiiad6LO0PrQ0qJRuu9pPvk7fAXsReslv4/s1600/discord+meme+4.jpg" height="276" width="400" /></a></div>
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Leahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725517477366290193noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839688330715120777.post-83463547758840616142014-10-06T13:43:00.000-06:002014-10-06T13:43:44.744-06:00Raif and Me: Part 1 — a Pass-Around Writing ExperimentJust for fun, two of my friends (<a href="http://www.kellymartinbooks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Kelly Martin</a> and <a href="http://www.wendyknightauthor.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Wendy Knight</a>) and I have decided to do a pass-around story. I'm starting it off with the section below, and each of them will take a turn picking up where the person before them left off and just take the story where it leads them.<br />
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Without further ado, I offer you the first installment of <i><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">Raif and Me <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif;">— </span></span></i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">a Pass-Around Writing Experiment</span></i><span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Raif Michaelson's routine never changed. On Mondays, he left the house at 8:07 and walked three blocks to the bus stop on the corner of Elm and 17th. He sat with his backpack hugged tightly to his chest and waited exactly six minutes for Bus #12 to arrive. When he boarded the bus, he sat close to the window in the third seat back on the left hand side. Then he read twelve pages in <i>Plato's Republic</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The same twelve pages every Monday.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">At the bust stop at 35th and Longfellow, Raif disembarked and walked 132 steps to the Walker Building, entered through the middle doors, stopped and sanitized his hands at Sanitizing Station 4, then disappeared around the corner to the right.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">He reappeared at precisely 4:12 in the afternoon, repeated his hand sanitization at Station 4, opened <i>Plato's Republic</i>, and left the building through the single door on the left, walked 137 steps to the bus stop at 35th and Longfellow without looking up from his book once.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Bus #71 arrived nine minutes later. He read fifteen pages in his book <span style="font-size: 12pt;">— the same fifteen pages every Monday </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">— and was dropped off three blocks from his house at 5:03 P.M.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That's just Monday, but I can tell you that the only thing that changed from day to day, Mondays through Fridays was the pages that Raif Michaelson read in <i>Plato's Republic</i>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On Saturdays and Sundays he never emerges from his house.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How do I know? That's your next question.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I'm Tabitha Charles. Some might call me a stalker. I prefer to think of myself as a Raif-ologist.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For the last six years, I have lived and breathed Raif Michaelson. Call it an obsession if you'd like. I've studied him intently. Every move he makes. And what I've found is unwavering predictability.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That's why when Raif Michaelson, dressed all in black, emerged from his house at 7:07 P.M. on Friday, October 31st, I was completely taken by surprise.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype, serif;">I can't wait to see what the next installment holds!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype, serif;">Some time in the next week, <span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Wendy Knight</span> will add her part, continuing the saga. Please look for it on her blog at <a href="http://www.wendyknightauthor.blogspot.com/">www.wendyknightauthor.blogspot.com</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>Leahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725517477366290193noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839688330715120777.post-26946724252132988162014-07-25T00:01:00.000-06:002014-07-25T00:01:00.166-06:00Shattered Assassin: Cover Reveal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Leahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725517477366290193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839688330715120777.post-83612376259830305592014-07-23T00:01:00.000-06:002014-07-23T11:55:03.763-06:00WonHundred Word Wednesday: The Trap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4EPZ_-Y8bX4poKRTc7npu5gD-CIUcRMt6WJ_I7dtpP6YWFv_TZk8YizVO1i7fXHuUcXUBJKLyUbJFNsBcU9kAvUJCpPznGxn5SJg1gEAXxfCr44udxy_k_vvGBWDXIkZmpSU-vNZPaw/s1600/www7-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4EPZ_-Y8bX4poKRTc7npu5gD-CIUcRMt6WJ_I7dtpP6YWFv_TZk8YizVO1i7fXHuUcXUBJKLyUbJFNsBcU9kAvUJCpPznGxn5SJg1gEAXxfCr44udxy_k_vvGBWDXIkZmpSU-vNZPaw/s1600/www7-23.jpg" height="320" width="288" /></a></div>
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<b>THE PINK GLOVE LAY ON THE GROUND, ALMOST COVERED </b>by mud. But
Darwin saw where she had dropped it and the sly glance over her shoulder as she
crossed the road, tugging her skirts to avoid the muck. She had meant for him to
see — as close to an invitation as he would get.</div>
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Darwin didn’t
wait to be told twice. He bounded into the busy street, narrowly missing the
dairy wagon. He scooped up the glove and shook it, spattering mud all over his
clean shirt.</div>
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“Miss!”</div>
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<br /></div>
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She looked
at him through dewy lashes.</div>
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<br /></div>
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“I believe
you dropped this.”</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://romneyrants.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Ginny Romney</a><br />
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<a href="http://mistglenmoon.net/blog/" target="_blank">Jenna Eatough</a><br />
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Leahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725517477366290193noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839688330715120777.post-43700412820506792402014-05-27T09:43:00.000-06:002014-05-27T10:15:30.483-06:00The Mythology Files: Aphrodite<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4u6tY3wX2MzGU664Q3DEqQqu8-95wNf9zY197aRCZCbU8glWGMq8HnyHFwq0rVQkQ-PiipamfjwZn_ZiRL-FV5x5ewcjeUhwimI38qbv5IGFDGxk72_zItvpVu2d-WSUZ8qEjU6Zc-5E/s1600/aphrodite.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4u6tY3wX2MzGU664Q3DEqQqu8-95wNf9zY197aRCZCbU8glWGMq8HnyHFwq0rVQkQ-PiipamfjwZn_ZiRL-FV5x5ewcjeUhwimI38qbv5IGFDGxk72_zItvpVu2d-WSUZ8qEjU6Zc-5E/s1600/aphrodite.png" height="320" width="241" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I
am Aphrodite.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
see you staring. Go ahead. Stare. You’ll never see anything this hot again as
long as you live. That’s a fact. </span><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Carve it into stone, baby.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Oh
wait! Been done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Venus
de Milo ring any bells?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Speaking
of ringing bells… Alexandros of Antioch, the sculptor… well, I’m not really a
girl who kisses and tells… What am I saying? I totally posed for that statue.
He was never very good at carving hands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You
wonder why I can do that. Don’t you? Be unfaithful to the husband I was given
to? Hephaestus. The god of fire and metalcraft. One of the strongest of the
gods, if you ask me. He is also the kindest. I don’t deserve him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And
he doesn’t deserve me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
have a reputation to maintain. Love and beauty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: large;">You
think I’m vain.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s
okay. I know what the other goddesses say about me. That I’m vain and I have a
one track mind. The gods, on the other hand, say… </span><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">other things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
truth is I’m lost.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
don’t know where I came from or how I got here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
others — they all have a history, a lineage. They can trace their ancestry back
to Gaea, the Great Mother.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What’s
my story?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
floated up on the shores of Olympus on the foam of the sea. That’s it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">No
mother or father. Nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So
why did they accept me as one of them?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Because
I’m beautiful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s
all I’ve got. It’s all they see. I lose that one thing, and I will shrink back
into oblivion, return to wherever it was that I came from.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hephaestus
doesn’t deserve the kind of baggage I bring. He is a gentle, sweet, giving
soul. All I know how to do is take. I know it sounds heartless, but if I stop
now, I will lose everything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: small;">So
to concede the apple to any other goddess? Yes, even to the queen… </span><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">I can’t risk
it.</span><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
Leahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725517477366290193noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839688330715120777.post-31306430304920707082014-05-21T00:01:00.000-06:002014-05-21T00:01:00.246-06:00WonHundred Word Wednesday: That's Love<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">PROMPT: The truth about love.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwl5vaeona8nDVErz87FFap14Phe1EKiBsb4TI0uK29bwP7mAOZKsCXMHlUdowJ0qXf5OLkmNV4Gu1kbPwQM6LxumbQW24bAYKVx_IdEnmD3Xx4qLPVHMMT9dwYa8EWGe6BElGLb30Tmo/s1600/prodigal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwl5vaeona8nDVErz87FFap14Phe1EKiBsb4TI0uK29bwP7mAOZKsCXMHlUdowJ0qXf5OLkmNV4Gu1kbPwQM6LxumbQW24bAYKVx_IdEnmD3Xx4qLPVHMMT9dwYa8EWGe6BElGLb30Tmo/s1600/prodigal.jpg" height="215" width="320" /></a></div>
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He raised a
calloused hand, weathered by age and hard work, to shield his eyes from the sun
and <span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">cast a weary glance far into the distance.</span></div>
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Though the
days had stretched into years, he knew that some day he would see the figure
moving toward him —<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"> that familiar gait,</span> though perhaps a little slower for the
passage of time — but there he would be… coming home at long last.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Every day
the old man stood at the end of his driveway and watched the dusty road with
that one hope.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Some day…
<span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">perhaps today</span>… the prodigal son would return.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Check out the rest:</div>
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Leahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725517477366290193noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839688330715120777.post-59306881970952137382014-05-14T01:31:00.000-06:002014-05-14T07:52:45.814-06:00WonHundred Word Wednesday: Curiosity<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">PROMPT: You find a box in the attic that
isn’t yours.</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL39mSWJehUbg3SgUQ2jBxbpFfJaPgL3ONfxUXhCdDAo8a8RAwghfZn0uWdCYKU4M_hZHGmemPFgBRy1Xl3vKCUY0L6geakdHB9yB-ycLsk_8HyMoznJ2ga7zSjdK-3ABKNL_O316Sv94/s1600/shutterstock_117598546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL39mSWJehUbg3SgUQ2jBxbpFfJaPgL3ONfxUXhCdDAo8a8RAwghfZn0uWdCYKU4M_hZHGmemPFgBRy1Xl3vKCUY0L6geakdHB9yB-ycLsk_8HyMoznJ2ga7zSjdK-3ABKNL_O316Sv94/s1600/shutterstock_117598546.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It was
hand-carved, overlaid in hammered gold. I blew dust from the top and set it on
the floor before me. <span style="color: red; font-size: large;">What could be inside?</span> So many possibilities. The runes
encircling an engraved eagle spelled out a warning. I smiled. <span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Curses were a
myth.</span> Weren’t they?</div>
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<br /></div>
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Whatever was
in that box… I had to know.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I slid the
ivory pin from the latch and raised the lid. The hinges creaked their
objection.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Then the
rushing wind, <span style="color: red; font-size: large;">like a thousand bats taking flight with a screech</span>. I gasped and
slammed it closed, but t’was too late.</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">“Pandora!
What have you done?”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
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Leahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725517477366290193noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839688330715120777.post-21184417384703113922014-05-10T00:01:00.000-06:002014-05-10T00:01:00.360-06:00NEW RELEASE: from Wendy Knight ~ Warrior Everlasting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOe126cIqr-GKjtGCpefTU2b8IaqTaMy4psCeqSm2KSiFTEIgH_4EbBWvQnkvAJQ7MgeK7jTleDLYK-ViKymDROe1oXlj4KNIs66Pg5ANcDs_oDx8bAgztnHOnshHvCNVwTO5d8lAxis/s1600/@Warrior+Everlasting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOe126cIqr-GKjtGCpefTU2b8IaqTaMy4psCeqSm2KSiFTEIgH_4EbBWvQnkvAJQ7MgeK7jTleDLYK-ViKymDROe1oXlj4KNIs66Pg5ANcDs_oDx8bAgztnHOnshHvCNVwTO5d8lAxis/s1600/@Warrior+Everlasting.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;">Fighting alongside the boy you
shouldn't love is hard enough. Doing it while riding a unicorn who would
gleefully fly to her death with you on her back is worse. What makes it insane?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Doing it in hell.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Scout and her unicorn, Ashra, risked
everything just to make it into Aptavaras. Their plan is to free Scout’s family
and the stolen souls, and seek vengeance on the man who took everything Ashra
had once lived for. What they hadn’t counted on was Trey and his unicorn, Torz,
following them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
It might be the only thing that will
save them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Because in Aptavaras, the soul
stealers are many and the chances of survival are slim. Even if they can get
past the demons, trick the demon master, rescue the souls and escape with their
lives, there’s only one person who can open the gate, and he’s on the outside
defending the world. But Scout, Trey, Ashra and Torz have one thing the soul
stealers don’t—<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
A reason to live.</div>
Leahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725517477366290193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839688330715120777.post-4630584562946253442014-05-08T13:14:00.001-06:002014-05-08T13:19:22.321-06:00The Mythology Files: Hera<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDyoPFmIoNs9LWgiBcFI-c34Z4aMYwdnI8_A-xr3X9wQHpOC86ybtbVVsOtcRPWZLpoBZMDDkPVqw2F5-xTye8G-ZC0Udcxb8ZVMOMtBxXTJN9qyDTfCHMSgQM4_10ss8ncb39Mhe6p0/s1600/hera.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDyoPFmIoNs9LWgiBcFI-c34Z4aMYwdnI8_A-xr3X9wQHpOC86ybtbVVsOtcRPWZLpoBZMDDkPVqw2F5-xTye8G-ZC0Udcxb8ZVMOMtBxXTJN9qyDTfCHMSgQM4_10ss8ncb39Mhe6p0/s1600/hera.png" height="320" width="216" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
am Hera.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Don’t
pretend like you don’t already know who I am.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Everyone
knows who I am.<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">I
am the queen.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Everyone
else answers to Zeus. <span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">But Zeus… he answers to me.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
know what people say about me. That I’m a jealous, vindictive wife. That I am a
vengeful witch.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">People
should mind their own business.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s
never a good idea to poke your nose in where it doesn’t belong. Especially when
it comes to how I deal with my husband’s… how should I put it? Shortcomings.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And
he has a plethora.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As
the goddess of marriage and fidelity, his philandering is more than just a
broken trust and broken vows. It is a blasphemous offense to my divine nature.
I deal with it accordingly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Case
in point.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Io.
A mortal woman. I can honestly say I don’t know what he sees in any of them,
but Io? Mousy brown hair, dull brown eyes, short and far too tan. And cankles.
She had cankles. A hideous creature. She reminded me of a bumbling bovine — and
not the sacred kind.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not
that I believe it was Io who started the whole affair. That was definitely
Zeus. I know how persistent he can be. When he asked me to marry him I refused.
I refused him over and over and over again. He would not give up. But I knew
even then he would be unfaithful. He had a wondering eye and already was
collecting a harem of immortal wives. Metis, the Titaness, for starters. She is
no longer a rival, however. After an unfortunate incident during a
shape-shifting game, Metis now resides in Zeus’s head. Forever relegated to
advising the king of the gods from within.<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">Like
a tiny little conscience.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well,
I use the term loosely, because either Metis turns the other way when Zeus is slumming
it with mortal women, or his thought process bypasses his head altogether. My
drachma is on the latter.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Like
I said, he’s persistent. After I refused his proposal multiple times, he got
creative.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He
turned himself into a bird.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You
heard me correctly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
great god Zeus shifted into the form of a bird and hopped around pitifully like
he had a broken wing. My intention was to help the bird.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Don’t
judge. I felt sorry for the poor little thing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
scooped it up into my arms and suddenly I wasn’t holding a bird anymore. It was
Zeus. And I knew that he would never give up, so I agreed to be his wife. And
his queen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So
yes, I know it probably wasn’t Io doing the pursuing. Zeus has always been the
pursuer. It’s not new. But I can’t just go around punishing the king of the
gods. It undermines both our authority. That leaves the pursuee. Always. And
sometimes, I also punish their illegitimate offspring. And to answer your question…
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">I sleep fine. </span>Someone has to suffer the consequences. It is simply the way
things are.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Zeus
turned Io into a snow white cow in order to hide her from me. Fitting,
considering the cankles. But I am very good at playing the game. I insisted he
give me the lovely little cow as a gift. He thought he was getting away with
something, and he didn’t want to give up his little secret, so he indulged me.
I set my personal bodyguard to watch her 24-7. How can anyone do that, you ask?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Argus
was no ordinary bodyguard.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He
had one hundred eyes spread over his entire body. They were never all closed at
once. Never. He was the perfect watchman.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Until
Hermes—<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
hate to even think about it. The little rat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You
may as well know the story.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Zeus
sent Hermes to rescue Io. The coward wouldn’t do it himself. He was too afraid
of me finding out about his torrid love affair with cankle-girl. Since Argus
was on duty, she wouldn’t be able to escape, and no one would be able to help
her. Except Hermes.<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">He
literally bored Argus to death.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With
the longest, most pointless, most stupid story ever. It went on and on and on.
Argus fell asleep. Every last eye closed. Then Hermes used his wand to make it
permanent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
will never get over that. Argus was my favorite. Ever.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That
was just one of a multitude of incidents. Zeus owes me big time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And
I. Never. Forget.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This
beauty contest? Should NOT even have happened. Zeus should have just given me
the apple and let life go on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m
the queen of the Greek gods. No woman — immortal or otherwise — can hold a
candle to my power and beauty. And that is a fact. Zeus would never have chosen
me as queen otherwise. So why is he hesitating now?<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Cowardice.
It’s disgusting.</span><i style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlEFyl0YZWCCTf9-xhpsE5DekJwCoDlE94sDuRplheCRuNf18S96UWb7lWqn0O2coezt7L_MYZ6XGTnDqBF7ta6Sg5hHvPfPPbu9iR3_J69XgV8mii3sz58fdT09Dr23xcy3-Nsg1DIzs/s1600/mythology+files+button+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlEFyl0YZWCCTf9-xhpsE5DekJwCoDlE94sDuRplheCRuNf18S96UWb7lWqn0O2coezt7L_MYZ6XGTnDqBF7ta6Sg5hHvPfPPbu9iR3_J69XgV8mii3sz58fdT09Dr23xcy3-Nsg1DIzs/s1600/mythology+files+button+2.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Read more of the story on <a href="http://www.wattpad.com/42529858-discord-chapter-one" target="_blank">Wattpad</a>.</span></span></div>
Leahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725517477366290193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839688330715120777.post-25932761853794830942014-05-07T01:30:00.001-06:002014-05-07T01:30:20.863-06:00WonHundred Word Wednesday: Young Love<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">PROMPT: You know what they say...</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfM84Yr_QcplOaFMoQ9USpN2-a6EgvETY1P_zKhnRyBAPLfT0lqE5stPchkHV7OJrqzie3CLKj7Ut5l8KhuEktWsw6HHKxTMRRhbP_e4xvYc3okVWacpGijwEzp1vZM0ymayXmkhfqzcI/s1600/Your-heart-tells-you-you-can-fly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfM84Yr_QcplOaFMoQ9USpN2-a6EgvETY1P_zKhnRyBAPLfT0lqE5stPchkHV7OJrqzie3CLKj7Ut5l8KhuEktWsw6HHKxTMRRhbP_e4xvYc3okVWacpGijwEzp1vZM0ymayXmkhfqzcI/s1600/Your-heart-tells-you-you-can-fly.jpg" height="208" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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It started
with a movie. I asked Betty. She accepted. Afterward on her porch, <span style="color: red; font-size: large;">I said goodnight
seven times, hoping for a kiss</span>, until her father flicked the light off and on.
I said goodnight one more time and turned to go, but she reached up on her tiptoes
and kissed me on the cheek.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
That spot
burned all the way home. <span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">And I knew I was in love. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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The next day
at school she told me. “I’m moving to Arkansas.”</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Mom said, “You
know what they say… <span style="color: red; font-size: large;">‘Absence makes the heart grow fonder.’</span>”</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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I asked
Paula to a movie.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://www.wendyknightauthor.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Wendy Knight</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.kellymartinbooks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Kelly Martin</a></div>
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<a href="http://alisonmillerwoods.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Alison Woods</a></div>
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<a href="http://thedistractedwriter.com/" target="_blank">Jessica Winn</a></div>
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<a href="http://lindzeearmstrong.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Lindzee Armstrong/Lydia Winters</a></div>
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<a href="http://katesnovelidea.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Kat!e Larson</a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.mirandadnelson.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Miranda D. Nelson</a></span></span></div>
Leahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725517477366290193noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839688330715120777.post-41969816643374479902014-04-29T00:01:00.000-06:002014-04-30T09:50:43.639-06:00NEW RELEASE: from Kelly Martin ~ Hindsight: Out of the Blue<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">Hindsight
#1: Out of the Blue</span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kelly
Martin</span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">This
novella is the first in a three part series.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjQu_YQbUiFRJ3GuoelrK8jdt5vjPwzzzMEWHCYG1m_qpCKS5bkKW-2gfcuYuw8zCO8aReOnLsDIMKOoDszMeQYTa7js8V299g6UQOpCKlwUdypmVGTkahNtcHe-H8FX2np8F4avIUkI/s1600/1503778_10202171347537888_349577049_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjQu_YQbUiFRJ3GuoelrK8jdt5vjPwzzzMEWHCYG1m_qpCKS5bkKW-2gfcuYuw8zCO8aReOnLsDIMKOoDszMeQYTa7js8V299g6UQOpCKlwUdypmVGTkahNtcHe-H8FX2np8F4avIUkI/s1600/1503778_10202171347537888_349577049_n.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;">Start at the beginning... </span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">
You want to know how it all began. </span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">
How I fell for her? How I started to love...? </span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">
You want to know how I met Oliver Weston. How I grew to hate him? Why I did
what I did? </span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">
You want to know how it all began? </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">
Because </span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">every story has a beginning</span><span style="font-size: small;">, doesn't it? </span><br /><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;">
Even mine. </span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">
Especially mine. </span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">
I loved her. I still do. </span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">
And I hated him. Still do. </span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">
So this is it. The start. My 'in the beginning'. </span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">
This is how an average guy from Oklahoma ended up here... talking to you. </span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">
It all started innocently enough. I needed a place to live. Jordan needed a
roommate. </span></span><br /><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">
It hit me out of the blue.</span> <br /><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;">
I only wish it had ended differently. </span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">
But we will get to that later. </span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">
Start at the beginning... are you sure you are ready?</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: blue; font-size: x-large;">Excerpt</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I should have followed my gut
instincts. We would have all been happier. I know I would have been. I would
probably be with her right now. Not talking to you…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">No offense. You are great and it’s
helping… I’m going to get back to the story now before I put my foot in my
mouth some more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Okay, so I walked up the stairs, well,
limped if you want the correct word. Limped because my knee was killing me from
all the walking on campus and the God-forsaken stairs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">God-forsaken. Let’s go off on that
tangent for a second. See, Sheriff Rivers asked me if I believed in God. If I
was a church-going man. And I answered him yes. Yes, I was… actually I said my
father was a preacher which basically means the same thing. I went to church. I
believed in God. I was saved at a very young age. You need to know all of that
before we go on with this story. You need to know that I prayed and I had every
faith that everything would turn out okay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Here’s the sixty-four thousand dollar
question… do I believe in God now? Three months later? I guess we’ll have to
get to that part, won’t we?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I didn’t have any of these thoughts as
I climbed up the stairs. I did, however, remember just as I got to the landing
on J’s floor that she had been mad at me. And I wondered, for a split second,
if she still was. I didn’t have to wait long.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">A shoe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;">A SHOE.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">A red shoe.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">A red high heeled shoe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Flew past my head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;">I had to do this really cool Matrix
move to keep the stiletto from impaling my eyeball.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Yep. Still mad.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I had a choice. Go up the stairs and
sulk or go talk to the girl. Maybe apologize. I wish I could say it was an easy
decision. A deadly object had been thrown at my head after all, but I decided I’d
take the high road for once in my life and go apologize to her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Didn’t mean that I went in all
confident, though. I have to say, I kept my hands up and sort of shuffled into
the room. I mean, I knew enough to know that shoes came in pairs. Only one had
zipped by my head. She had another one in there somewhere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: blue; font-size: x-large;">Author
Bio</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGgRQuW_gujlcFa34u4vrfP7Tu7hU0hy9NNHSUufN8jjXIUPi0NAL15X9pkrUt6aoQHBzUXPsEda2BmY3C5LkX5QhEwIlxCVrdVV14_aY95u03IyB0i1WoMvWWTH7ogUQlqf6ICSCQu4/s1600/DSCN0565-1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGgRQuW_gujlcFa34u4vrfP7Tu7hU0hy9NNHSUufN8jjXIUPi0NAL15X9pkrUt6aoQHBzUXPsEda2BmY3C5LkX5QhEwIlxCVrdVV14_aY95u03IyB0i1WoMvWWTH7ogUQlqf6ICSCQu4/s1600/DSCN0565-1-1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Kelly
Martin is the author of epic reads that you, your teen, and your Grandma Fannie
can all enjoy together. She has been on several Amazon best seller lists... has
won awards... and occasionally sleep (if she can ever get past that one level
of Candy Crush... sigh)</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">She
loves God, chocolate, Sleepy Hollow, and useless trivia.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Believes
in Sherlock Holmes. (Seriously, a total fan girl!!!)</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: blue; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">A
list of her books</span></div>
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<i style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Crossing
the Deep</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Saint
Sloan</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Big
is Beautiful: A Love Story</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
Deception of Devin Miller</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>The
Afterlife of Lizzie Monroe</i></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>Saving
Sloan</i> (Saint Sloan Sequel)</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>Hindsight:
Out of the Blue</i> (Part 1)</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Coming
in June: <i>Hindsight: The Black Heart </i>(2)</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In
progress: <i>Betraying Ever After: A Shattered Fairy Tale</i></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: blue; font-size: x-large;">Buy
links</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #0084b4; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Amazon:
</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hindsight-Out-Blue-Kelly-Martin-ebook/dp/B00JMSPVBE/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398532431&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=hindight+out+of+the+blue" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0084b4; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://www.amazon.com/Hindsight-Out-Blue-Kelly-Martin-ebook/dp/B00JMSPVBE/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398532431&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=hindight+out+of+the+blue</span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #0084b4; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Barnes
and Noble: </span><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hindsight-kelly-martin/1119209535?ean=2940149546688" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0084b4; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hindsight-kelly-martin/1119209535?ean=2940149546688</span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #0084b4; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Smashwords:
</span><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/432099" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0084b4; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/432099</span></a></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Leahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725517477366290193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839688330715120777.post-42797291552470721202014-04-25T00:22:00.004-06:002014-04-25T00:37:24.904-06:00The Mythology Files: Athena<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXc4J11L9iX1_UO9iPZEMj5FxvhyphenhyphenoMnVnsI8KAPElWAtf1wyy0KIfPqOJCskps7WKyKwd5-IZfzyVwLChz7F0HP4ODY0Fqo9at2W3cL-P8zy3iYr8w5MffZdslE_L20DPuEE_j__oijQ/s1600/athena.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXc4J11L9iX1_UO9iPZEMj5FxvhyphenhyphenoMnVnsI8KAPElWAtf1wyy0KIfPqOJCskps7WKyKwd5-IZfzyVwLChz7F0HP4ODY0Fqo9at2W3cL-P8zy3iYr8w5MffZdslE_L20DPuEE_j__oijQ/s1600/athena.jpg" height="188" width="200" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
I am Athena.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Goddess of wisdom, that’s my
official title — though there are a plethora of other subjects that fall under
the umbrella of my authority.</div>
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<br /></div>
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War strategy.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Arts and crafts.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Justice.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The list goes on.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I know you’re wondering why I’m
here. <span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">It’s a fair question</span>. One I have asked myself many times. Ordinarily, I
don’t go in for this whole thing. Beauty, drama… the thought alone repulses me.
So I understand your confusion. You would think my wisdom should have precluded
me from getting involved.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">I had a momentary lapse in judgment.</span>
That is all. And now I can’t seem to undo it.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I’m sure you’ll find this hard to
believe, but I occasionally have fits of temper. I’m not proud of it. In fact,
pride is actually my pet peeve, hence the rage.</div>
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<br /></div>
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You’ve heard of spiders? That is an
example of my handiwork. True, they are amazing creatures, capable of intricate
and beautiful weaving (one of my fortes), but the fact is <span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">spiders are a product
of my temper…</span> Of course, in that particular case, it was righteous indignation.
Most of my fits of temper fall into that category.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Medusa? Yeah, another victim of my
indignation. Well, I say victim, but really she brought it on herself. She and
Arachne both. <span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">Two peas in a hubris-infected pod.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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My mother is a Titaness, Metis, the
goddess of prudence. She had a momentary lapse in judgment at one point which
led to my birth taking place inside my father’s head.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Yes.</div>
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<br /></div>
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You heard me correctly.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">In. Side. Zeus’s. Head</span>.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Of course, it hurt him more than it
hurt me. I can’t imagine having my head split open by Hephaestus’s axe. But
when all was said and done, I emerged from my father’s skull the fully grown
goddess you see now.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Zeus has momentary lapses in
judgment all the time. None of us are immune. It’s just that with wisdom being
my strong suit, you would think I would be a somewhat less susceptible.
Discernment is my first nature after all.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Case in point, <span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">I’m a virgin.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Before you start jumping to
conclusions, understand. That’s by choice.</div>
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<br /></div>
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No matter what anyone tells you,
casual sex is an entanglement that offers only trouble and heartache. You can
trust me on this one. But in case you need proof, just look at the problems
Aphrodite has. And Zeus. It honestly gives me a headache just thinking about it.</div>
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<br /></div>
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It’s not that I’m against love, mind
you. I just happen to believe that I deserve a god (or man) who doesn’t make me
share him with any other goddess or woman he takes a fancy to.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Until that one comes along,
abstinence is the wise choice.</div>
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<br /></div>
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So why do I care who wins the golden
apple?</div>
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<br /></div>
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It’s obviously not for the sex
appeal. <span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">But there is a logical explanation.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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I don’t like pride.</div>
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<br /></div>
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You can look at my track record for
evidence of that. And when I find it in mortals, I punish them. Severely.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">In immortals, pride comes in epic
proportions.</span> Unfortunately, I can’t just turn them into insects. If I could,
Aphrodite would have been morphed into one of those nasty lovebugs long, long
ago. She’s worse than Narcissus. And that is saying something.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Pride makes people, mortal and
immortal alike, stupid. And as the goddess of wisdom, <span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">stupidity is something I
simply cannot abide.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Aphrodite is getting far too big for
her britches, to coin a modern phrase. And Hera, well, I know she means well,
but this whole <i>I’m the queen</i> prima donna attitude has reached critical mass.</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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This is why <span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">I must win the golden
apple</span>. I’m the only one who can absorb the compliment and not have it go
straight to my head. I’m doing this for the good of everyone.</div>
</div>
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Leahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725517477366290193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839688330715120777.post-84249968133413023452014-04-23T01:27:00.000-06:002014-04-23T01:27:06.479-06:00WonHundred Word Wednesday: Stalking Ashton<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">PROMPT: Do you want fries with that?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Ten years.
That’s how long I’ve loved him.</div>
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<br /></div>
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He doesn’t
know I exist — <span style="color: red; font-size: large;">never once noticed me</span> — but I’ve loved him for ten years… from
the other side of my binoculars.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Every day I’ve
watched him. Every night I lay awake pondering what I would say to him if he
ever were to look my way: “<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Hello, Destiny</span>. I’ve been waiting for you to walk
into my life,” or “Do I know you or have I just seen you <span style="color: red; font-size: large;">in my dreams</span>?”</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">But no…</span> I
took one look in those baby blues and blurted, “Do you want fries with that?”</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Check out the others:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.wendyknightauthor.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Wendy Knight</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.kellymartinbooks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Kelly Martin</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://alisonmillerwoods.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Alison Woods</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://thedistractedwriter.com/" target="_blank">Jessica Winn</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.rkgtheauthor.com/" target="_blank">R.K. Grow</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://stephanieworlton.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">StephanieWorlton</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.lauradbastian.com/" target="_blank">Laura D.Bastian</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://jaclynweist.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">JaclynWeist</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://wildscottkids.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Amryn Scott </a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.krwilburn.com/my-blog.html" target="_blank">K.R.Wilburn</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lindzeearmstrong.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">LindzeeArmstrong/Lydia Winters</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://katesnovelidea.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Kat!e Larson </a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.mirandadnelson.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">MirandaD. Nelson</a></span></div>
Leahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725517477366290193noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839688330715120777.post-45518722340482967902014-04-16T00:01:00.000-06:002014-04-16T00:01:00.322-06:00WonHundred Word Wednesday: That's Mine!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b>PROMPT: Today's Horoscope: Your prized
possession will end up in someone else's hands.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<img src="http://www.jostens.com/apps/catalog/collateral/catalog/highschool/product/KEYCLASSIC/outlined-130.png" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jason smiled
and held my hand. <span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">I could get lost in those deep blue eyes</span>, and I did… often. I
squeezed his hand and released it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
"I have
something for you." I reached up behind my neck and unclasped my senior
key necklace. It was my most valued possession — <span style="color: red; font-size: large;">a symbol of my accomplishment</span>,
a sign that I was near to liberty. I re-clasped the chain and dangled it over
his open palm, gazing deep into his eyes so he would know the depth of my
feelings for him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">That was
last week</span>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Today Wendy
walked into class wearing it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Check out the others:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.wendyknightauthor.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">WendyKnight, Author</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.kellymartinbooks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">KellyMartin, Author</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://alisonmillerwoods.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Alison Woods</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://thedistractedwriter.com/" target="_blank">JessicaWinn</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.rkgtheauthor.com/" target="_blank">R.K. Grow</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://stephanieworlton.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">StephanieWorlton</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.lauradbastian.com/" target="_blank">Laura D.Bastian</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://jaclynweist.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">JaclynWeist</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://wildscottkids.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Amryn Scott</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.krwilburn.com/my-blog.html" target="_blank">K.R.Wilburn</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lindzeearmstrong.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">LindzeeArmstrong/Lydia Winters</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://katesnovelidea.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Kat!e Larson</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.mirandadnelson.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Miranda D.Nelson</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMSJSylV6PSDT7xGt7mJSH6lZfyooQfQ9HfHA8IvUT6lqCcriEfR7VbRvF7_LDg72fEb0oBu_fEMBoJaXMq6AITiJ4FhFVy36uXeyvqpBKvl_Jx6uEagCm8brCSMXEIs01c9qOqPX4-M/s1600/www.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMSJSylV6PSDT7xGt7mJSH6lZfyooQfQ9HfHA8IvUT6lqCcriEfR7VbRvF7_LDg72fEb0oBu_fEMBoJaXMq6AITiJ4FhFVy36uXeyvqpBKvl_Jx6uEagCm8brCSMXEIs01c9qOqPX4-M/s1600/www.png" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Leahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725517477366290193noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839688330715120777.post-5302176660735709082014-04-09T00:01:00.000-06:002014-04-09T00:01:00.089-06:00WonHundred Word Wednesday: Heart Trouble<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
PROMPT: That's what happens when you follow your heart.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJU4rwuX1-Zh8lqahIqFL3DMB0WzWhTcvQLv44L8CcR9OlrwN7O0JrisJv8JLsjAGVOGFG1jFXeqcCIiJrf0TOJe3oAqeVvqp5rxXPz2JoWKzQV1gh04Y4HqPhZBffxDWgm_MFxt6-uo8/s1600/chocolate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJU4rwuX1-Zh8lqahIqFL3DMB0WzWhTcvQLv44L8CcR9OlrwN7O0JrisJv8JLsjAGVOGFG1jFXeqcCIiJrf0TOJe3oAqeVvqp5rxXPz2JoWKzQV1gh04Y4HqPhZBffxDWgm_MFxt6-uo8/s1600/chocolate.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
The alarm pierced the air, sending a sudden shiver down my spine.
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Red-handed.</span> That’s how they’d find me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Get in. Get the goods. Get out. </span></i>That
was the plan.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
But somewhere between picking the lock and making off with the score,
my plan had gone horribly awry.I thought I’d had every detail accounted for…
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">everything but my blasted Achilles’ heel.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
All my life I’d been told to follow my heart — it would lead me where I
needed to go. But I think <span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">something is wrong with my heart’s GPS.</span> It only ever
leads me to trouble.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well…
trouble and chocolate.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
CHECK OUT THE OTHERS:</div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.wendyknightauthor.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: black;" target="_blank">Wendy Knight</a></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.kellymartinbooks.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: black;" target="_blank">Kelly Martin</a></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://alisonmillerwoods.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: black;" target="_blank">Alison Woods</a></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://thedistractedwriter.com/" style="background-color: black;" target="_blank">Jessica Winn</a></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.rkgtheauthor.com/" style="background-color: black;" target="_blank">R.K. Grow</a></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://stephanieworlton.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: black;" target="_blank">Stephanie Worlton</a></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.lauradbastian.com/" style="background-color: black;" target="_blank">Laura D. Bastian</a></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://jaclynweist.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: black;" target="_blank">Jaclyn Weist</a></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://wildscottkids.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: black;" target="_blank">Amryn Scott</a></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.krwilburn.com/my-blog.html" style="background-color: black;" target="_blank">K.R. Wilburn</a></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lindzeearmstrong.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: black;" target="_blank">Lindzee Armstrong/Lydia Winters</a></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://katesnovelidea.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: black;" target="_blank">Kat!e Larson</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mirandadnelson.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: black;" target="_blank">Miranda Nelson</a> </div>
<br />Leahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725517477366290193noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839688330715120777.post-46568561383628430502014-04-02T00:01:00.000-06:002014-04-02T00:01:00.170-06:00WonHundred Word Wednesday: Fred<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">PROMPT: The devil's name was Fred.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTbJSzFu15rQ3h79rMiSHTHP-g5T9mRrXKtCKWXRNxOvuDIAjTC6GELw8TkuCGJWlvdfp5M26NldQ135s8QXea4KDgzXdr-aCzuYy-OqFyRSM_t-3NecL6yKCZzj849EkRbXogPAFxk8A/s1600/shutterstock_78008677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTbJSzFu15rQ3h79rMiSHTHP-g5T9mRrXKtCKWXRNxOvuDIAjTC6GELw8TkuCGJWlvdfp5M26NldQ135s8QXea4KDgzXdr-aCzuYy-OqFyRSM_t-3NecL6yKCZzj849EkRbXogPAFxk8A/s1600/shutterstock_78008677.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
I found
my keys in the toilet this morning. I have an idea how they got there, but <span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">Mom
refused to hear my theories.</span> Naturally, I was late for school. And after a
bottle of sanitizer, my hands still felt diseased.</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
I slipped
into geometry. The teacher was already collecting the homework, so I reached in
my backpack to grab mine.<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"> I’d spent an hour and a half trying to make sense of
it</span>, but I finally understood. With a proud smile, I held out the paper.</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
When Mr.
Welburn hesitated, I glanced at the paper.</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">Fred is <i>so</i>
dead.</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
CHECK OUT THE OTHERS:</div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.wendyknightauthor.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: black;" target="_blank">Wendy Knight</a></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.kellymartinbooks.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: black;" target="_blank">Kelly Martin</a></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://alisonmillerwoods.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: black;" target="_blank">Alison Woods</a></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://thedistractedwriter.com/" style="background-color: black;" target="_blank">Jessica Winn</a></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.rkgtheauthor.com/" style="background-color: black;" target="_blank">R.K. Grow</a></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://stephanieworlton.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: black;" target="_blank">Stephanie Worlton</a></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><a href="http://www.lauradbastian.com/" style="background-color: black;" target="_blank">Laura D. Bastian</a></span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://jaclynweist.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: black;" target="_blank">Jaclyn Weist</a></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://wildscottkids.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: black;" target="_blank">Amryn Scott</a></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.krwilburn.com/my-blog.html" style="background-color: black;" target="_blank">K.R. Wilburn</a></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lindzeearmstrong.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: black;" target="_blank">Lindzee Armstrong/Lydia Winters</a></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://katesnovelidea.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: black;" target="_blank">Kat!e Larson</a></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.mirandadnelson.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: black;" target="_blank">Miranda Nelson</a></div>
Leahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725517477366290193noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839688330715120777.post-26180820106990325642014-03-26T00:01:00.000-06:002014-03-26T00:01:00.074-06:00WonHundred Word Wednesday: I See You<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;">PROMPT: You are on a crowded subway platform when you see a familiar face.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLO8n5A83t8IsCUBIO5B2i5V2rgGawfWRfi5d8EoJGTVLc5YXoWXyAA5123hcwV4J5s2EgWiRzXMh-HWr5KqT1KFxsShqiyl2qaA3UhCsUK39gvnEJqadHiIK6M-PV75H1PXaiEpi-eFE/s1600/shutterstock_101505778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLO8n5A83t8IsCUBIO5B2i5V2rgGawfWRfi5d8EoJGTVLc5YXoWXyAA5123hcwV4J5s2EgWiRzXMh-HWr5KqT1KFxsShqiyl2qaA3UhCsUK39gvnEJqadHiIK6M-PV75H1PXaiEpi-eFE/s1600/shutterstock_101505778.jpg" height="200" width="188" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Across the sea of faces, I see his eyes light up with recognition. <span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">He knows who I am.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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When he begins the trek toward me, I swallow hard and search for a means of escape. Anywhere. <span style="color: #ffd966; font-size: large;">But I’m blocked in</span> — it’s just too crowded.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My stomach flips upside-down, and I can feel the pizza I ate for lunch fighting for its freedom. The closer he comes, the harder it struggles. <span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">I must get away, somehow.</span> My palms are cold and clammy. My feet shift beneath me, inching backward in self-preservation.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #ffd966; font-size: large;">Suddenly, he’s there.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Thought that was you. So… you in?”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;">For more WonHundred Words:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><a href="http://www.wendyknightauthor.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Wendy Knight</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><a href="http://www.kellymartinbooks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Kelly Martin</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><a href="http://alisonmillerwoods.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Alison Woods</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><a href="http://thedistractedwriter.com/" target="_blank">Jessica Winn</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><a href="http://www.rkgtheauthor.com/" target="_blank">R.K. Grow</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><a href="http://stephanieworlton.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Stephanie Worlton</a></span></span><br />
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Leahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725517477366290193noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839688330715120777.post-84497028055644995872014-01-31T13:48:00.002-07:002014-01-31T14:59:12.427-07:00The Mythology Files: Eris<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vziIbYl_HOT_jBmxCpVt8hip12BBc9-Imehp5palXHN90N8PoImEylBUAkiX8Whcbbz5mrbsgE9gNNZRSB65CIAjswf3TJBZsQB_3xue7tzDpCkjgJlRck5QFaVfy7UhnNMJnLfTetY/s1600/eris.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vziIbYl_HOT_jBmxCpVt8hip12BBc9-Imehp5palXHN90N8PoImEylBUAkiX8Whcbbz5mrbsgE9gNNZRSB65CIAjswf3TJBZsQB_3xue7tzDpCkjgJlRck5QFaVfy7UhnNMJnLfTetY/s1600/eris.png" height="320" width="244" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">I
am Eris.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">The
Spirit of Strife.<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Not
a goddess, as some of you may have thought. Just a spirit. And as the title
implies, my whole goal in life — my entire reason for existing — is to stir up
dissension. I would say it makes me happy — a room full of fussing people — but
that would be a lie. After all, I am the Spirit of Strife. By definition,</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">I don’t
cause happiness for anyone.</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Including myself.<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: small;">My
main companions are Pain and Panic, also spirits in their own right. You can
probably tell just by hearing the names that they aren’t the best company. You would
think that our commonalities would make us like peas and carrots. But how can
it? </span><span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">I<i> am</i> strife.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">The
gods and goddesses can’t stand to have my trio around most of the time, though
on occasion they’ll tolerate us if it suits their purposes. Except for Ares. He
has a soft spot for all three of us. Mostly because his purposes involve
starting war where there used to be peace.<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Funny
how you never hear about the Spirit of Peace. I know I’ve never met her.
Whoever she is. I think she likes to keep to herself. I know I would, if I were
her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Regardless
if she actually exists, you know she ain’t gonna be beating down the door to
meet me. We’d be arch-rivals. And Peace doesn’t want any part of this, let me
tell you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">I
would win. Plain and simple.<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">I
fight dirty.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">And
let’s face it. The irony here is if Peace<i> fights</i><span style="font-size: small;"> with me, I’ve already won.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">I
know I sound bitter. And probably irritable. You may as well know now, it’s like
perma-PMS up in here. A real joy to be me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">You gotta understand how it is.<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">It’s
a nasty job. But somebody has to do it.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">But
sometimes?<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Sometimes…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">I wish it could just be somebody else.</span></div>
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~from <i><span style="color: #f1c232;">DISCORD</span></i>, the Mythology Files (in progress)~</div>
Leahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725517477366290193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839688330715120777.post-14935901903530164222013-10-15T22:00:00.000-06:002013-10-15T22:00:07.189-06:00Bad Boy Anon Blog Hop<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhitfKPY7HlSFtMsJ_YyMuQ9d2o_RX1kujh4v9VONHRzxU6-RyABWMVDpsJq8xETNQunJavR-NUWBTxaEz32PkIrN_0yznoMDig0h-7N7Pb9Hg22vjoTXReq2gV99yYFWPFqFlgAQSJhYU/s1600/bad+boy+anon+hop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhitfKPY7HlSFtMsJ_YyMuQ9d2o_RX1kujh4v9VONHRzxU6-RyABWMVDpsJq8xETNQunJavR-NUWBTxaEz32PkIrN_0yznoMDig0h-7N7Pb9Hg22vjoTXReq2gV99yYFWPFqFlgAQSJhYU/s320/bad+boy+anon+hop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Welcome to the blog hop!</span></div>
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This may be dating me, but when I was a kid I used to LOVE watching 'Happy Days' re-runs. The Fonz. Seriously. The ultimate <i>Bad Boy</i>. He could snap his fingers, and girls would literally come out of the woodwork and fall all over themselves to get to his side. There's just something about the bad boy.</div>
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And let's face it.</div>
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Some of us are more addicted than others.</div>
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Allow me to feed your habit! I have three ebooks to giveaway today. Each one with a bad boy hero to satisfy your craving.</div>
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Just leave me a comment below with your favorite Bad Boy of all time (don't forget contact info so I can let you know if you win!). I'll draw three names at random to give away one of the three following books (winners' choice).</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Picture by Stephanie Taylor</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSqKu1Px2UA3bXCM40TsUF3gHdWmCS_gYUabjlc_Fe7hCVqUAj9If-FLYfPetks-nwWoGZcJiFzpvJWNT8sGOBwj0A8FYr7MsrRTe2v5Vte9y9Av6TN8K_XerXe_vucS2LYzx1FzeOsk/s1600/picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSqKu1Px2UA3bXCM40TsUF3gHdWmCS_gYUabjlc_Fe7hCVqUAj9If-FLYfPetks-nwWoGZcJiFzpvJWNT8sGOBwj0A8FYr7MsrRTe2v5Vte9y9Av6TN8K_XerXe_vucS2LYzx1FzeOsk/s200/picture.jpg" width="130" /></a>Sophie lives her life as a hospice nurse running from her past and over-compensating for her sins. She wants nothing more than to help others the way someone once helped her. But she never expected to get so attached to one of her patients. Nicholas is suddenly looking for more meaning in his life than money, fast women and flashing lights. Life as a rocker has left him empty. Only Emily filled the gaping hole in his heart and with her death, his soul is broken into pieces. When two lives collide, Sophie and Nicholas know they'll never be the same. Together, they try to figure out a message Emily has left behind. Can they succeed before the realities of life tear them apart?</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Beguiling Bridget by Leah Sanders & Rachel Van Dyken</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGh7gLk7nIxyChNMTyjpQcMZ2ApadVv_TV4Uza8zYbj0UNWF21fW0YGaS0PMmZtT2kBL04OuJHjz2ldsVCfHumE7lQ9FQIrIozAUjZSAYS0_QV_L2XTvujHCW1LSyPPWoN-BWA714wd_Y/s1600/Beguiling_Bridget_453x680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGh7gLk7nIxyChNMTyjpQcMZ2ApadVv_TV4Uza8zYbj0UNWF21fW0YGaS0PMmZtT2kBL04OuJHjz2ldsVCfHumE7lQ9FQIrIozAUjZSAYS0_QV_L2XTvujHCW1LSyPPWoN-BWA714wd_Y/s200/Beguiling_Bridget_453x680.jpg" width="133" /></a>Driven to distraction by the redhead across the room, Anthony Benson barely hears the terms of his brother’s challenge before agreeing to them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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No matter. It will be easy. Viscount Maddox has never had any problem impressing the ladies. And four weeks is more than enough time to win over this so obviously neglected wallflower.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But things are never as easy as they seem.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The lady has lofty aspirations. And not one of them includes love or marriage. Especially not with an arrogant and self-assured playboy like the viscount. No matter how attractive he may be.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large; text-indent: 0in;">Ruin by Rachel Van Dyken</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLQctC6wQpWwJKkcFhX7aLhkfnymlIbnBvE4XBbZBhdeDc6zRUzNx5T97g4SyzdUmcgI-Z3j2oRvdviou64mEsQ89Egt7PZaKXFtu1SWDRBNIlqODyM_kEknd21r7t1nEv6QZjFFOfKA/s1600/ruin+500x750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLQctC6wQpWwJKkcFhX7aLhkfnymlIbnBvE4XBbZBhdeDc6zRUzNx5T97g4SyzdUmcgI-Z3j2oRvdviou64mEsQ89Egt7PZaKXFtu1SWDRBNIlqODyM_kEknd21r7t1nEv6QZjFFOfKA/s200/ruin+500x750.jpg" width="133" /></a>I'm not your typical girl. I've been running away from the memories that haunt me for so long that depression has become my only comfort. I was content in the darkness...until Wes Michels offered to be my light.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I didn't know that time wasn't my ally -- that every second that ticked past was one step closer to the end of something that was beginning to mean the end of myself. He tried to warn me. He promised me all he was able to offer--each moment as it came--but it would never be enough.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sometimes when you think it's the end, it's only the beginning. Wes thought he could save me, but in giving me everything, he ruined me. Because after one kiss, one touch, I couldn't--I wouldn't ever be the same.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And from that moment on, his heartbeat became my own.</div>
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Don't forget to follow the hop! Lots of Bad Boys to be had! :)</div>
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<!-- end LinkyTools script -->Leahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725517477366290193noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839688330715120777.post-71296197178267744052013-08-31T17:44:00.000-06:002013-08-31T17:44:30.600-06:00Bad Boy Anon Blog Hop Sign-Up (October 16-19)<div style="text-align: center;">
Have a BAD BOY book addiction?</div>
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Wanna share your favorite book bad boy with the world?</div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;">GOOD NEWS!</span></div>
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Now there is a venue for just that! Join the Bad Boy Anon Blog Hop as your first step toward recovery.</div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">Hello. My name is...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">And I am a bad boy addict.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyFHJU9WK74nCCGIh-8V3mO6ork0R4JBQE0oH_v85RwjE-2neHAC_VLUZo4PrjAGWnxUFdo_hzfmJ9aPVmH0JvD7XR9i8IsWZ1__2QvhDIymBovUiI7f3lSkITdRCVosZlgDfsm5LW-w/s1600/bad+boy+anon+hop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyFHJU9WK74nCCGIh-8V3mO6ork0R4JBQE0oH_v85RwjE-2neHAC_VLUZo4PrjAGWnxUFdo_hzfmJ9aPVmH0JvD7XR9i8IsWZ1__2QvhDIymBovUiI7f3lSkITdRCVosZlgDfsm5LW-w/s320/bad+boy+anon+hop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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RULES:<br />
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<li><span style="text-indent: 0in;">The Bad Boys Anon Blog Hop image must be a part of your giveaway post.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: 0in;">You must give away a book(s) (ebook or paperback) with a hero who is a bad boy.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Include the linky list with all the participating blogs at the end of your post OR link to the host's site.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Keep your giveaway easy to find for the entire time the hop is open.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Be clear about what you are giving away and how the guest can enter.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: 0in;">If your blog has steamy/racy pictures on it or if your giveaway is steamy/racy, make sure to post a warning in case there are underage hoppers checking things out.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Please try to keep your giveaway rules as simple as possible.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: 0in;">No more than 6 entries allowed, only 1 mandatory entry.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: 0in;">If you are using Rafflecopter, set it to begin accepting entries on October 15th and to stop accepting entries on October 19th.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: 0in;">All posts need to be up by 12:01 AM on October 16th. Up to 24 hours early is fine. But don't be late. Once your post is live AND accepting entries please email shoelace.sanders (at) gmail (dot) com your direct link so we can update the linky.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: 0in;">To sign up to host a giveaway for this hop please add your blog to the linky with your shipping info (either US only or INT) in parenthesis following your blog name. If you forget we will assume you are shipping to the US only.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Each blog is responsible for obtaining a prize for giveaway and paying for the shipping.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Check the linky the day of the hop to be sure you are still on it and that your link still works.</span></li>
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Go to the linky to sign up! :)</div>
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<!-- end LinkyTools script -->Leahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725517477366290193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839688330715120777.post-21461956521210329332013-08-23T22:00:00.000-06:002013-08-23T22:00:04.121-06:00Sweet Saturday: Red Dust<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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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;"><img height="240" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/34/Dust-storm-Texas-1935.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dust storm approaching Stratford, Texas. (Photo in public
domain<br />
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dust-storm-Texas-1935.png#file">http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dust-storm-Texas-1935.png#file</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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“What is it, Pa?” Naomi caught the panic in Lem’s demeanor
the second he set foot in the front yard at a dead run. <span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;">Her heart leaped to her
throat</span> and her gaze drew to the horizon behind him — a dark red swirling cloud
darkening the sky in the middle of the day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Dust storm!” His boots clattered across the porch. “You get
the boys, I’ll get the windows! We’re gonna need wet rags. <span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">That’s Red Dust
comin’!</span>”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Naomi didn’t wait to be told twice. She dropped the laundry
into the basket, gathered her skirts and ran around the house hollering at the
top of her lungs, “Mel! Kilion! House!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Her two boys looked up from where they were fixing the back
fence. Seeing her frantic movements, they glanced at the sky and understood
immediately. Mel ran for the barn to bar the door, while the younger of the two
sprinted toward the pump behind the house.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Where are the rags, Ma?” he called.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“In the barrel!” she yelled back. The wind was picking up
now, and the howling filled her ears. They had only moments before the dust
would be upon them. The third time this month.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Back inside the house, Kilion distributed the wet rags, and
they huddled together around the kitchen table listening to the wind whip
around the house. Lem had gathered the lanterns and lit them, but <span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;">the dust
outside covered the sun, leaving no light but what they could get from the oil
lamps.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">“They’re getting worse,”</span> Kilion muttered through the wet rag
over his mouth and nose.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Lem leaned forward on his elbows with his hands folded in
front of him. He had secured a wet bandana over his face, and Naomi could see
his knuckles grow white with tension. From her place beside him, she reached
for his hands, covering them with her own gently.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When his gaze finally met hers, she could see the raw
emotion he was desperately trying to conceal. Lem was a man of few words, but
when he did speak, it was for a purpose. Naomi waited as the flying dust
whistled outside the thin walls.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Lem swallowed hard. “<span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;">The top soil’s gone.</span> Won’t get no crops
this year.” His eyes searched hers for understanding.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Naomi nodded. Her stomach seemed to twist in empathy for her
husband’s grief. She knew he felt it was a failure on his part, and her heart went
out to him. There wasn’t anything he could do about the dust storms, but there
was no telling him that. He was a proud man and saw it as his most important
responsibility to provide for his family.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">This here’s a famine, Ma</span>. And we don’t stand no chance,
lessen’ we pack up and move.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Mel and Kilion stared at their father, their bright blue
eyes reflecting the flickering lantern light. Naomi knew he had been
considering it, but he rarely thought out loud. Lem was a figuring man. And
there was no chance he had made the decision lightly.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Where d’you figger on goin’, Pa?” she asked. Naomi knew her
husband would have his plan all worked out before he ever announced his
intentions to the family.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“What about the farm, Pa?” Mel asked. Kilion’s eyes seemed
to echo his concern. They had worked their whole lives on this piece of land —
scratched out a meager existence through rain and drought, harsh winter cold
and brutal summer heat. <span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;">They were inextricably bound to the land.</span> It was part
of them. It was part of all of them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Inevitable loss took root in Naomi’s heart then, slowly
encompassing her until she couldn’t contain the sorrow any more, and it began
to spill over through her tears.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Heared tell thar’s work out west. California, maybe. We’ll
head that way, see what we can find.” Lem turned to his sons. “Done talked to
yer Uncle Jude. He’ll keep an eye on the place fer a bit ‘ til this drought
passes. Then we’ll be back.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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He squeezed his wife’s hand, no doubt an effort to infuse
reassurance. She smiled back at him, taking his cues to comfort their sons.
“Yes, a’course we’ll be back. <span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">This drought’ll be over ‘fore ya know it, and
we’ll come right back.</span>” Some hope. Naomi would cling to that.</div>
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~ Following Naomi (in progress)</div>
Leahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725517477366290193noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839688330715120777.post-4430156695746698912013-08-19T00:00:00.000-06:002013-08-19T00:00:03.260-06:00Meet & Greet: Garrett Kelly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1uQgEBIOqAqs3R3o6gJgDPmKsnZPQ26adgMMtIgMm5Ekyt1QIDzRokOaqKuOU4sQmuYrx0gurylHnPf1S8ZEIkL9_XmZ68oh7ceE7w9qEZIzTNV_-FO-nMj-nEIJHUU5PJxdzhUZQEDA/s1600/Garrett.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1uQgEBIOqAqs3R3o6gJgDPmKsnZPQ26adgMMtIgMm5Ekyt1QIDzRokOaqKuOU4sQmuYrx0gurylHnPf1S8ZEIkL9_XmZ68oh7ceE7w9qEZIzTNV_-FO-nMj-nEIJHUU5PJxdzhUZQEDA/s320/Garrett.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;">Garrett Kelly</span></div>
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All business and music, Garrett Kelly runs a successful Miami night club for his uncle who lives in Chicago. He's <span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">quiet and serious</span> with little patience for the college boy antics that is the standard for Jack and the other guys who play his club.</div>
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But it's Marley Ryan's carefree and sweet personality that intrigues him. How can she be so happy and trusting? Perhaps it is because she hasn't seen the dark side of the world he has lived in his entire life. And now <span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;">the most important thing to him is protecting her from that world and preserving her wide-eyed innocence</span>... no matter the cost to him.</div>
<br />Leahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725517477366290193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839688330715120777.post-17777697123873485112013-08-18T19:06:00.000-06:002013-08-18T19:06:53.222-06:00Spotlight: Rachel Van DykenToday's spotlight is on Rachel Van Dyken, the author of the Seaside series, the London Fairy Tales series, the Wallflower trilogy (co-authored with me), the Renwick House books, and several other widely-read titles.<br />
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I don't know if you know this or not, but Rachel has a recent release (August 12, 2013) entitled Ruin, which she wrote for her uncle who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. All proceeds for the first two weeks of sales from Ruin will be going to help out with his medical bills. That alone is an excellent reason to check this book out.</div>
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BUT...</div>
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If you needed another reason to induce you, I have read Ruin and can tell you it is one of her best books to date, so it is well worth both your time and the minimal amount it will take to make this book yours!</div>
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We want to help out Rachel's uncle as much as possible, so to that end I am going to post the buy links for Ruin here, and then ask you to Tweet, FB, and spread the word as much as possible. To thank you for all that helpfulness, I have two signed uncorrected proof paperbacks of Ruin to give away.</div>
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In order to be eligible for the drawing for one of these two books, just leave me a comment below letting me know you shared the links (and an email where I can reach you if your name is drawn).</div>
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Here are the details about Ruin:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9bzD79TqXyrC9aaZElAFATqPasK703gGlJQuisdXh5VNmNJ2yx1EJve_G81Hb90gL9DLiB7LYfqaJFLOGxdv7ZTePIUVqeUvSzVZTwKVbKbFwtJuP7nC34HkMrFiHDXywnJQdBVd74c0/s1600/ruin+500x750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9bzD79TqXyrC9aaZElAFATqPasK703gGlJQuisdXh5VNmNJ2yx1EJve_G81Hb90gL9DLiB7LYfqaJFLOGxdv7ZTePIUVqeUvSzVZTwKVbKbFwtJuP7nC34HkMrFiHDXywnJQdBVd74c0/s320/ruin+500x750.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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FROM THE COVER:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9V14_ucO6McIM3tL71asiBdeqayD539DdAKP7qGq9PBbQ_r3wP_XKFwlyjouYhUhL7BYolFxMa1HgTFyNSrLJ1Agc6ulc_4tI11Qv9LEehsjCiAFHm2WNfe2n6YgEoRgMQizqyawIJg/s1600/i+heart+wes+michels.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9V14_ucO6McIM3tL71asiBdeqayD539DdAKP7qGq9PBbQ_r3wP_XKFwlyjouYhUhL7BYolFxMa1HgTFyNSrLJ1Agc6ulc_4tI11Qv9LEehsjCiAFHm2WNfe2n6YgEoRgMQizqyawIJg/s200/i+heart+wes+michels.png" width="200" /></a>I'm not your typical girl. I've been running away from the
memories that haunt me for so long that the shroud of depression has become my
only comfort. Ignorant, I was content in the darkness… until Wes Michels
offered to be my light.</div>
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I didn't know that time wasn't my ally, that every second
that ticked pass was one closer to the end of something that was starting to
mean the end of myself. He tried to warn
me and promised me what he was able to offer, each moment as it came, but it
would never be enough.</div>
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Sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying. And when you think it's the end, the final
curtain, sometimes that’s only the beginning.
Wes thought he could save me, but in giving me everything, he ruined me.
Because after one kiss, one touch, I couldn't… I wouldn't ever be the same. And
from that moment on, his heartbeat became my own.</div>
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BUY LINKS:</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ruin-ebook/dp/B00EH3EIFO/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1376872802&sr=8-1&keywords=ruin+rachel+van+dyken" target="_blank">Amazon</a> <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ruin-rachel-van-dyken/1116394969?ean=2940148728252" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/345741" target="_blank">Smashwords</a></div>
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Also available in the iTunes store!</div>
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REMEMBER: If you are interested in entering the drawing for one of two signed paperback copies of Ruin (uncorrected proofs), just leave a comment below to let me know you shared the buy links. I'll draw for the two recipients on Monday, August 27th.</div>
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