tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69842830522313064482024-03-13T06:03:34.413-04:00Drunken Space PenguinReading, writing, and balancing the two! Come hang out with us, meet The Penguin, and get behind the scenes info on the latest in new authors, new books, and pure insanity!Ash Torbeckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07115227673822415273noreply@blogger.comBlogger311125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6984283052231306448.post-10842019347162323072015-07-05T19:42:00.000-04:002015-07-05T19:42:23.472-04:00SelfishIt's been a blue minute since my last post, and while I truly am sorry for the boring inadequacy of my blog, the time off was something long overdue and desperately needed for me. You see, I stretched myself too thin, trying to do too much for too many people and my own work started suffering. Things kept getting hairier and my posts became more infrequent and inconsistent. Then they stopped altogether, and the blog has been silent for over 6 months. Although it took me some time, I finally realized what was happening.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiThmImdnjPIhLbExeVz5rZ_uCJDtXMIj3Ue1aTm7sfmHDshNwzavyW2gkYK8CUdVY8guozF1ZI_o40ag9zk8qwhGGh1Ujw55gROmbAb-nP9kEiy5hFe_N01eB0ZlErdMYnuq0LPKEQskj9/s1600/Realization.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiThmImdnjPIhLbExeVz5rZ_uCJDtXMIj3Ue1aTm7sfmHDshNwzavyW2gkYK8CUdVY8guozF1ZI_o40ag9zk8qwhGGh1Ujw55gROmbAb-nP9kEiy5hFe_N01eB0ZlErdMYnuq0LPKEQskj9/s400/Realization.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDIc37f0EoFUpJvlzGURaw3NKd6JLcYo9hYoPnus36nfyPtjWv-VOk9tAEm2ehkS01c8aAoF5b6X3APA30FAXIDFCErN6R9ZVMwzdnJVxcCBdygtcNczSku5Rh64FYoUYcstEZiY_Lkg_/s1600/Lost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDIc37f0EoFUpJvlzGURaw3NKd6JLcYo9hYoPnus36nfyPtjWv-VOk9tAEm2ehkS01c8aAoF5b6X3APA30FAXIDFCErN6R9ZVMwzdnJVxcCBdygtcNczSku5Rh64FYoUYcstEZiY_Lkg_/s400/Lost.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">The more time and energy I spent on other people, the more I lost my own voice. My own self.</span></i><br />
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Please don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I don't want to help other people. Far from it. But the more effort I put into tracking down new authors to share and coercing them to let me spotlight them (which is ridiculous, if you think about it, and I'll explain why in a minute), the less I posted about stuff I wanted to post. Sure, I don't always have a lot to say every waking moment, but I do have a voice and I do have things to say. I have topics I want to talk about and an audience willing to listen to my nonsensical ramblings, but I wasn't using these things to my advantage. Instead, I put everything I had into making this blog into this ideal platform for new and unknown authors that I'd had in my head, and the harder I fought to make it happen, the less my hopes for this blog came to fruition. And the more the blog fought against me, the less interest I had in it.<br />
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Maybe this is just me being selfish, but I really had this idea that if I gave authors free publicity and a safe place to share their successes with people who actually want to hear about their stories, that word of mouth would spread and authors would start coming to me without me having to beg. I mean, as an author myself, I would go to blogs and beg them to host me on their pages. Often, they wanted me to pay them or would turn me down for one reason or another (hey, my books aren't everyone's cup of tea, and I'm totally okay with that!), but nobody came searching for me and asking me to be on their blog. Well, maybe once or twice, but suffice it to say getting any kind of promotion or publicity as a writer has always been my own responsibility. And when blogs offered me a spot without asking me to pay (a MAJOR pet peeve) I jumped at the opportunity. I didn't care how big or small the blog was, or what genre they typically worked with, or anything like that. Getting my name out there has always been my goal, whether it's to five or five hundred people. But it was getting harder and harder to get people on my blog. And when they agreed, they often backed out or just stopped responding to my emails. It's absolutely stupid.<br />
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So I sat back and asked myself <b>WHY</b>. <b>WHY </b>am I putting so much effort into hunting people down and begging them to let me have them on my blog? <b>WHY </b>am I letting people I don't know make me feel inadequate? I've decided no more. I've decided that if people want me to promote them, I'll be happy to, but I'm not begging or going out hunting anymore. Instead, I'm going to post things that matter to me, excerpts from my own writing, updates in my life, things I find cool, things I want to share with you, my ever-faithful readers and followers, and whenever another author wants promotion, I'll share that too.<br />
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I understand if you disagree with the new direction this blog will be heading, I'll hate to see you go, but I hope you understand that for the sake of my sanity and the future of this blog, I can't keep spreading myself thin and chasing down people who may not even want to be a part of this blog anyway. If I'm going to find my own voice again and keep posting to the blog, I'm going to have to take the selfish route and stop hunting down people to promote.<br />
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By no means does this mean I'm not going to host authors. I cannot express that enough. I still want to promote indie authors like myself. If you are or if you know an author who might want some free promotion, <span style="font-size: large;">PLEASE </span>fill out a contact form (or have the author you know fill one out) and I'll get back to you. But the majority of the upcoming posts will be me. I know I'm going to earn a few hate comments, but I'm prepared for that. I just hope you'll continue to follow the blog with the new changes.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>~Ash</i></span>Ash Torbeckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07115227673822415273noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6984283052231306448.post-83742254032150293742014-12-22T22:34:00.002-05:002014-12-22T22:42:51.345-05:00A Christmas Contest!!<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm a little late, but I had a great idea for all my fabulous readers and followers...<br />
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With Christmas upon us, I've decided to exploit the holidays for my own selfish gain by driving traffic to my blog with a contest. (Okay, it's not ENTIRELY selfish...)</div>
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<b>The prize?</b> </div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">Your choice of any ebook on Amazon up to $5.00 US. A Christmas gift you choose for yourself, so you'll definitely be pleased with it. And if you're not, then you only have yourself to blame. Lol, kidding, but seriously, no returns. </span></div>
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<b>The catch?</b> </div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">Since I'm an indie author and I totally love supporting my fellow indie authors, the book your choose can ONLY be by an indie/self-pubbed author. There are SO many excellent authors out there who just don't get the attention they deserve because they don't have big name publishers shoving their books into the media. With mad respect and love to the big-name authors like Stephen King, Nicholas Sparks, Dean Koontz, James Patterson, and more talent than I have room to mention, I have to give support to indie authors. </span></div>
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<b>The contest?</b> </div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">Let's be festive. I'll give you quotes from some Christmas-themed (or Christmas related) movies. You tell me the answers. If you get at least ten right out of 15, your name goes into a drawing for the prize, and if you get ALL 15 right, you get your name in five times. On Christmas Eve at 10pm Eastern time the contest closes, and all the entries are put into random.org for the drawing. The winner will be announced on Christmas day!</span></div>
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<i>But Ashley, this is a blog! If I put all my right answers in the comments, everybody else will see them and be able to cheat!</i></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">I thought of that. So please do NOT post your entries in the comments. Instead, please go to my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ash.torbeck" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> and message me your entry. Is it an extra step? Yep. Is it worth it? I hope so, because I'm putting a lot of effort into this, lol!</span></div>
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Sound fun? Then what are you waiting for? </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Christmas Quotes</b></span></div>
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1.<span style="color: #444444;"> "4:00, wallow in self pity; 4:30, stare into the abyss; 5:00, solve world hunger, tell no one; 5:30, jazzercize; 6:30, dinner with me - I can't cancel that again; 7:00, wrestle with my self-loathing... I'm booked. Of course, if I bump the loathing to 9, I could still be done in time to lay in bed, stare at the ceiling and slip slowly into madness. But what would I wear?"</span></div>
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2.<span style="color: #444444;"> "You're all fired, in the morning you'll all be on a bus back to Elfistan!"</span></div>
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3.<span style="color: #444444;"> "The only person that I let in on the fact that I was still alive was a six-year-old kid. I'm gonna be six years old again. Well, John, it's been fun, but I gotta go. I have a date with six-year-old boy... and you have a date with death."</span></div>
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4.<span style="color: #444444;"> "Maybe I'm off my hinges, but I believe you. That's why I'm gonna let you go. I'm gonna give you to the count of three to get your lousy, lyin', low-down, four flushing carcass OUT my door! 1... 2...(gunfire)...3. Merry Christmas, you filthy animal. And a Happy New Year."</span></div>
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5.<span style="color: #444444;"> "Cause when the thermometer gets all reddish, the temperature goes up. And when the temperature goes up, I start to melt! And when I start to melt, I get all wishy-washy."</span></div>
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6.<span style="color: #444444;"> "We're your worst nightmare. Elves with attitude."</span><br />
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7.<span style="color: #444444;"> " Do you believe in love at first sight? Nah, I betcha don't, you're probably too sensible for that. Or have you ever, like, seen somebody? And you knew that, if only that person *really* knew you, they would, well, they would of course dump the perfect model that they were with, and realize that YOU were the one that they wanted to, just, grow old with. Have you ever fallen in love with someone you haven't even talked to? Have you ever been so alone you spend the night confusing a man in a coma?"</span><br />
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8.<span style="color: #444444;"> "It was...soap...poisoning."</span><br />
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9.<span style="color: #444444;"> "When you've got a hit like we have, Patch, the people don't wanna wait a whole year, they're dying for a sequel! A sequel. That's it. We'll bring it out on March 25, and we'll call it... Christmas II!"</span><br />
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10.<span style="color: #444444;"> "She's my family now. Everyone should be home for Christmas! I'll be home for Christmas, and I'm going to bury the hatchet in your head."</span><br />
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11.<span style="color: #444444;"> I'm gonna give you a little advice, Claire... Scrape 'em off. You wanna save somebody? Save yourself!"</span><br />
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12. <span style="color: #444444;"> "Shitter's full!"</span><br />
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13.<span style="color: #444444;"> "In this town we call home</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"> Everyone hail to the pumpkin song</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"> In this town, don't we love it now</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"> Everybody's waiting for the next surprise!"</span><br />
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14.<span style="color: #444444;"> "First of all, keep him out of the light, he hates bright light, especially sunlight, it'll kill him. Second, don't give him any water, not even to drink. But the most important rule, the rule you can never forget, no matter how much he cries, no matter how much he begs, never feed him after midnight."</span><br />
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15.<span style="color: #444444;"> "Cassie! That marker in your mouth, I peed on it!"</span><br />
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Okay, there's all fifteen movie quotes. Some of them are easy, some are challenging, some are tricky, but I PROMISE they are all Christmasy movies! All you need is ten right, so message me your list numbered 1-15 on my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ash.torbeck" target="_blank">Facebook Page</a> for a chance to win! Don't forget, if you get all 15 right, you get your name entered in FIVE times!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">And...GO!!</span></b></div>
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Ash Torbeckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07115227673822415273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6984283052231306448.post-71374505495937542082014-12-17T08:00:00.000-05:002014-12-17T08:00:07.715-05:00Guest Post from Indie Author William G. Muir<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Musing on Christmas Traditions </b></span><br />
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Hello Drunken Space Penguins, my name is William and I’m an alcoholic...Oh wait a minute this is not a twelve step program; also I’m not much of a drinker. Now that we have gotten that awkwardness out of the way we can get down to what we all came here for, shameful monkey butt loving orgies! What, the orgies are on Thursdays? I guess the only thing left to do is blog.<br />
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Like I mentioned above my name is William. Ashley has asked me if I wouldn’t mind penning a guest blog. At first I was hesitate to do this, not only has it been some time since I updated my own blog, I have never been asked to be a guest blogger before. This is an extremely scary thing for me, the reason I rarely blog is because I feel like I have nothing of interest to say. A sentiment my friend and co-writer Michala would greatly disagree with. However I have a topic that I would like do some musing on today.<br />
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So what is it that I have decided to share with you fine readers, Christmas. More to the point I would like to share some feelings I have about the Christmas season compared to the rest of the year. Recently I was listening to a podcast where the host bitched about how everything about Christmas is the same. All the movies are the same thing year after year. That there is nothing new; they keep making the same thing over and over. Anything that tries something new is immediately rejected. <br />
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It is not only in Christmas movies that we prefer the older, traditional themes. In every Christmas story that we read, in every Christmas song that we listen to, every Christmas special that we watch on the television screen to the decorations we put up. Every year we want to not only recreate the memories of Christmas’ past, but we want to make a connection to a Christmas past that came before we were even born. We want that to experience that Victorian Christmas that Dickens wrote about in A Christmas Carol.<br />
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This stands in contrast to the rest of the year. For eleven months we are open to latest things our culture has to offer. Every Tuesday in store across the land you can find what is new in personal media. You can walk into any shopping mall and pick up the latest CD by your favorite artist, a Blu-ray copy of that blockbuster you saw just a few weeks prior, and a book that is sure to be on the New York Times Best Seller list by the end of the week.<br />
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I know when I was younger, and had much more disposable income, my best friend Mike and I every weekend would catch at least one if not two new movies. Without fail we performed what became a secular ritual for use for quite a number of years. Every Saturday and Sunday, after we would get off work, we would head down to the River Fall Mall and the Green Tree Cinema see what time the next viewing was, get a bite to eat, walk around the mall and then buy our tickets. It didn’t matter if the movie was good or not, what was important was that we were seeing the latest movies before all our friends did.<br />
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You can see how important new things are during this eleven month period. Starting on December 31 we can’t wait to toss the old year out on its rear in and welcome the New Year in with a glass of champagne, a kiss and open arms. Groundhogs Day we want to know just how much longer will winter be hanging around and when it will move on out letting the rebirth of Spring take its place. Even Halloween is an ever evolving holiday. I can remember back when I was a kid, it was only us kids that celebrate the holiday. Our parents sat at home and handed out candy. It was such a kid holiday back then I remember one Halloween the kids I was trick or treating with knock on this one door interrupting a young couple who were just moments from fucking. They shouldn’t have had their lights on if they didn’t want kids knocking on their door.<br />
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Now a days Halloween has become much safer for kids, to steal a joke from Jim Gaffigan, it is an excuse for women to dress like hookers. Not all of them of course, but browse the offering for costumes sold to adult females, there is no denying they are somewhat racy. We didn’t carry flashlights back then, and glow sticks were just come out. We went out without adult supervision, stayed out past midnight and walked over half the square mileage of Manhattan, KS. I’m not trying to make a value judgment on which era was better (that is because it is so obvious that it was better when I was a kid) I just wanted to point out how times have changed and that we have embraced newer dynamics in the way we celebrate this ancient holiday. <br />
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The first Christmas tradition that I would like to talk about can be divided into three parts. The reason I’m combining these three is because they are all variation on a theme, which is the first complaint, Christmas has become too commercialized. Many people believe the focus of the season has shifted away from the celebration of birth of their Lord and Savior Jesus and has become all about the purchasing of gifts. For these people the shift from religious festival to a secular holiday is one of a number of signs this country has turned its back on God and is heading down the wrong track.<br />
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Then there those people who get upset when Christmas merchandise starts to appear in the store before Halloween arrives. It seems like almost everybody in the United States loses their shit over this one, and I for one cannot understand why. First of all I love it when the Christmas decorations start to arrive in the store. I love it so much that I wished they had a section of the store dedicated to Christmas merchandise all year long. Anytime I hear somebody complaining about this I want to tell them just ignore it, it is not hurting you in the slightest. I would give the same advice to people who complain about junk mail and spam.<br />
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The finally thing people like to complain about is Black Friday. I come to the conclusion about people who complain about Black Friday, these are the kind of people who think they are better than everybody else, the snobs. These are the same people that will gleefully tell you that they don’t watch television and turn down their noses at the mere thought of the sporting event. They make sure everybody knows that they think the people who are waiting in line for the doors of Wal-Mart to open up are nothing more than mindless drones sucking off the teat of mother corporate America. They say all of this while hoping you don’t catch them in line to get that television that is on sale, the one that they don’t watch. <br />
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There are far more positive traditions we all associated with Christmas. Whether they are traditions that are within our families, in our communities or as a whole world (those parts that recognize the holiday). Every household, every year puts up a Christmas tree, but each individual family has their own way of going about it. There are some families that put the tree up as soon as they possibly can. As soon as Thanksgiving dinner is over with they are breaking out the ornaments and sing O’ Christmas Tree as they string up the lights. Other families wait until the week before Christmas to get everything set up. What kind of tree are you putting up; do you have fond memories of Christmases past and the woodsy smell of a real tree? Or do you skip the headache of searching lot after lot not only to find the best deal, but to find that tree that is completely symmetrical. To make sure there are no gaps in your tree you go with an artificial one. <br />
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What would the holiday be without all the Christmas specials? Every year the movies studios and the television stations create tons of new media try to get our attention. Every now and then one or two, say A Home Alone, A Die Hard, or Scrooged breaks through and joins the ranks of such beloved classics as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, A Christmas Carol or Frosty the Snowman. All of the other contenders are never heard from again. Why do some new special make it in while others don’t? What I believe is that those that make it through connect with that feeling of tradition. They find a way to take what we all hold dear and find a new way of looking at it. Whereas those that fail never try to connect us to those feelings.<br />
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The final thought I would like to leave you dear readers is that Christmas is a time of year to slow down and to reflect on life. Not only about the twelve month period that we have just lived through, but our lives and our society in general. It is a time to see just how far was come and to think about where it is we want to be when Christmas comes back around the next year. It is time to cherish those that we love, let the new people in our lives know how glad we are they have entered our lives, and to not only miss but to honor those that are no longer with us.<br />
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For eleven months out of the year we are witness to all the hardships that come with living in a modern human society. We see how cold and cruel the system can be to each and every one of us, especially the less fortunate among us. So please don’t forget another one of the Christmas tradition, seeing after your fellow man. When you are exiting the department store, do not blow by the bell ringer, dig into your pocket and place something in the bucket. Even if it is just the change the cashier just handed to you, it is better than nothing. If you can afford to do so donate a toy so a child doesn’t wake up Christmas morning with nothing under the tree.<br />
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Bless those who are not are not as blessed as yourself.<br />
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By William G. MuirAsh Torbeckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07115227673822415273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6984283052231306448.post-14345677052273803372014-12-14T22:06:00.003-05:002014-12-14T23:24:21.424-05:00Top Ten List Part IIDid you miss me? Or my faves of the nineties? You're in luck! I'm back with Part Deux (that's French!) of my Top Ten Things I Miss About The 90's. Let's not waste time, here ya go!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Top 10 Things I Miss About the 90's Part II</b></span><br />
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6. <b><i>Grunge</i></b>. All things grunge, but especially the music. Namely, Nirvana. I can't stress enough to you how much I deeply miss the grunge music and fashion and the "whatever, I don't give a f**k about anything" attitude...omigosh, it needs to come back. Especially Nirvana.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UjmoFc0WLWU/VI5OW7aKdRI/AAAAAAAAK54/MCuGFJcKqvA/s1600/furby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UjmoFc0WLWU/VI5OW7aKdRI/AAAAAAAAK54/MCuGFJcKqvA/s1600/furby.jpg" height="291" width="400" /></a><br />
7. <i><b>Toys were simpler</b></i>. Kids didn't demand the newest iPod or iPhone or iPad or big screen TV for their bedroom with internet connection so they can watch YouTube all day and night. Oh no. We had moon shoes, skip it, Simon Says, Barbie dolls, GI Joe figurines, Trollz dolls, slap bracelets, the original Furby, POGS, the Viewmaster, Sega Genesis (complete with Sonic the Hedgehog, Mortal Kombat, and Street Fighter), Lite Brite, Tamagotchi/Digipets/Nanopets (whatever the hell they were called)...clearly, 90's kids were among the last to actually play with toys that weren't an i-anything.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrt4-lAfxqoKMAp9I6fkXxF1FZqTEShx7LvGEY_KypoaXM9wQ7jFkiTfiO5jHoRhuiXlGCc0xaol5IeHUcR_419rD88m_ehptDFfXHKVHKr5bwWpXFtnq4IQzdof4a9cgPT7-NPoBXXzd/s1600/as+if.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrt4-lAfxqoKMAp9I6fkXxF1FZqTEShx7LvGEY_KypoaXM9wQ7jFkiTfiO5jHoRhuiXlGCc0xaol5IeHUcR_419rD88m_ehptDFfXHKVHKr5bwWpXFtnq4IQzdof4a9cgPT7-NPoBXXzd/s1600/as+if.jpg" height="226" width="400" /></a>8. <i><b>90's slang/terminology</b></i>. Omg, wtf, gtfo, stfu...WhatEVER! Possibly made most popular by Cher in the movie Clueless (btw, if you've never seen the movie, GO WATCH IT. Immediately.), the slang we used in the 90s makes the crap used today sound lazy and lacking in enthusiasm and creativity. I mean, things like: "psyche," "all that and a bag of chips," "eat my shorts," "as if," "NOT," "da bomb," "don't go there," "talk to the hand," "gettin' jiggy," "dope," "no duh," "cut. it. out," "word," "going postal," "chill pill," "can of whoop-ass," "you go girl/boy." There are so many more, and forgive me if some of these cross decades (I'm getting old here, my memory is blurring a bit), but this is a good list to start with. We didn't abbreviate words out of sheer laziness, we invented words and new ways to use old ones.<br />
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9. <b><i>Teen idols</i></b>. Now, to be fair, there ARE teen idols nowadays. But so help me if you think I'm going to sit here and accept that Miley Cyrus' vulgar, inappropriate, repulsive, depraved "performances" are acceptable or something that I would ever let any child in my care - be it my own child, a sibling, a niece/nephew, a friend's kid, or anyone - watch, you are demented! The same goes for the heartthrobs. I get that Justin Beiber (or however you spell his name) plays to his audience and gets the little girls all gaga, but that's still a terrible influence and/or role model. We had JTT, Devon Sawa, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears (pre-total meltdown), Mandy Moore, Gwen Stefani, Jonathan Brandis (RIP), Brad Renfro (RIP), Andrew Keegan, Nick Carter, BOTH Lawrence brothers (Joey and Matthew), Rider Strong, Mark Paul Gosselaar - and I should mention these are NOT in any particular order! Although I legit had this exact magazine pinup on my wall in high school. I might have to find the pics I took of my old room before I moved out just to show you how totally 90s I was.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ebONDdv7VW5Ixk4AAkmcn4dYhl8cYWBKnd1-FBHF61wVhCw8MbVLMRfsoY5NOdckGSPhjGgTdgGh9EEvITSocoC5SE_PPosa203j_81heB5vPUcFoqLCMuRejMRH0Guu0pTyOjhKkych/s1600/missing+youth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ebONDdv7VW5Ixk4AAkmcn4dYhl8cYWBKnd1-FBHF61wVhCw8MbVLMRfsoY5NOdckGSPhjGgTdgGh9EEvITSocoC5SE_PPosa203j_81heB5vPUcFoqLCMuRejMRH0Guu0pTyOjhKkych/s1600/missing+youth.jpg" height="320" width="266" /></a><br />
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10. <i><b>My youth</b></i>. Lol, okay so this one is just for me, but any 90's kids might agree with me that time is just whizzing by! And with that brings the loss of our youth. I might not be ancient or anything, but I'm definitely no spring chicken anymore, and time is already beginning to take its toll on my body. Seriously, I stand up after sitting for a while, and things pop and I have no idea what body part it comes from...hehe.<br />
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I do miss many things from my younger days, though truth be told, I probably wouldn't relive high school again. Or middle school. Or grade school. I actually like who I am now and where I am in my life, even if it is passing me by at an alarming rate. And that's pretty awesome.<br />
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Did I leave anything off the list? If so, share below! I'm sure there are plenty!!Ash Torbeckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07115227673822415273noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6984283052231306448.post-76973179484410847612014-12-10T08:00:00.000-05:002014-12-10T08:00:00.041-05:00Author Interview - Addie J. King<br />
The Penguin rustled up a special treat for you! Today, we have the honor of hosting an interview with the talented Addie J. King, author of The Wonderland Woes, The Anderson Ancestry, and The Grimm Legacy, to name a few of her works. She's absolutely fabulous, and I'm so pleased to have the chance to share her with some of the greatest readers and followers on the planet. (I'm talking about YOU here!)<br />
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This fabulous author let us interview her, so without wasting another minute with me blathering on, let's meet Addie J. King!<br />
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">DSP</span></i></span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">: For starters, tell us a bit about
you, we like to get to know our authors as a person! </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Addie</span></i></span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">King</span></i></b>:
My name is Addie J. King. I’m a full time lawyer who also writes modern day
fantasy…although there seems to be some element of mystery or courtroom drama
that seems to work its way into just about everything I write, whether I mean
to or not. My stuff qualifies as New Adult. I’m somewhere north of thirty,
married, a stepmom, my favorite color is blue, and I have a cat that I refer to
on social media as my Fuzzy Minion. If you follow me on Facebook, you’ll also
see me sharing lots of recipes; I love to cook, I just don’t always have the
time, so I share things to save for later!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">DSP</span></i></b>: Nice to meet you! So tell us,
where did you find the inspiration for your most recent book? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">AK</span></i></span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">: My latest book is THE WONDERLAND
WOES, which is actually book three of a series. The first book was THE GRIMM
LEGACY and the second was THE ANDERSEN ANCESTRY. I’m writing book four at the
moment. The whole series came about when I was looking for new ideas, and I
watched the movie<i>The Brothers Grimm, </i>with
Heath Ledger and Matt Damon. I liked parts of the movie, and parts of it left
me thinking about how I could tell a story with the Grimm Brothers <i>better</i>. Or at least, how would <i>I </i>tell it? I started doing research on
Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm, and found out that they studied law prior to studying
folklore and linguistics, and I was off to the races with an idea. Luckily, my
publisher likes the idea, and has allowed me to flesh it out into a series. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">DSP</span></i></b>: So, do you have any kind of
ritual for writing? Such as, you have to write with music on, or you can only
write when you’re completely alone, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">AK</span></i></span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">: Ritual? I wouldn’t know what that
is. Generally my writing time is me ensconsed on the couch with the netbook on
my lap, with the cat trying to climb over the screen into my lap, typing away
while the television is blaring in the background, the stepson working on
homework or playing videogames and the husband talking and checking
facebook…all in the same room. I’ve tried to write in a quiet room by myself
and I just can’t do it…the quiet is too distracting! I write on my lunch break,
when I’ve got a few spare moments, and in evenings and on weekends. I’ve even
taken the netbook to the soccer field and typed while my stepson was off the
field when I was on deadline. <br />
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">DSP</span></i></span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">: Do you foresee any more books to
continue this story? If so, do you think we can get a taste of what’s to come? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">AK</span></i></span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">: Well, I sure hope so…I’m writing
THE BUNYON BARTER at the moment…and once the edits, etc., are done, I’ll be
embarking on the final book of the series, THE PERRAULT VOW. Yes, this series
will close at five books. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Book Four has American tall tales coming to life with the
same set of cast and characters…who have to help Paul Bunyon to retrieve his
cow-napped ox, Babe, as well as main characters who are starting their bar exam
applications and job searches in their last year of law school. Book Five will
involve a bar exam, a wedding (though I’m not saying WHOSE wedding that might
be!), a talking cat with boots, a magical gown and slippers as well as the
return of an evil stepmother and the story of Bert the irreverent talking frog.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">DSP</span></i></b>: Do you have any aspirations to
be similar or comparable to another author? Why? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">AK</span></i></span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">: That’s a hard question. I don’t
want to be derivative, or be just like someone else, but I’d say that my style
is a blend between Christopher Moore and Janet Evanovich. Cory Doctorow has
been an influence, as well as Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, and Douglas Adams.
I like to write fun, funny stuff, but I do want there to be a point to the
story other than just entertainment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">DSP</span></i></span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">: Do you believe in fate or destiny?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">AK</span></i></span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">: Um, yes? Both? It’s hard not to
believe in either one. I signed a contract with a book that included a
stepmom…and two weeks later I met my husband…and later became one. Hard not to
believe there isn’t a bigger hand in things than we know…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">DSP</span></i></span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">: What’s your favorite candy? Ice
cream?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">AK</span></i></span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">: Sour Patch Kids. I love ‘em. Can’t
get enough of them. I have to be careful with them, though, because too many will
make the mouth sore from the citric acid in them. My other favorite candy would
be Peppermint Chews from a small local chocolate and candy store in my
hometown, called Marie’s Candies. Here’s a link… http://www.mariescandies.com/pech1lb.html<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">As for ice cream, the best is Mint Chocolate Moose Tracks.
With chocolate shell topping. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>DSP</i></span></span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b> </b></i></span>Would the 8-year-old version of
yourself kick your ass or praise you for what you’ve done with your life?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>AK</i></span></span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">: My inner 8 year old makes the squee
noise whenever I see my name on the spine of a book, or listed in a table of contents
in an anthology. I was the 8 year old who got in trouble for reading when I was
supposed to be vacuuming, reading when I was supposed to be mowing the yard,
reading when I was supposed to be doing chores…or well, anything really. My
poor mother…she was a school teacher, so how could she get after a kid for
reading? How could she not get after a kid for not doing her chores? I’m sure
there were plenty of moments that she felt really conflicted about this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>DSP</i></span></span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">: If you could meet one person (real
or fictional, alive or deceased), who would it be, and what one question would
you ask?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>AK</i></span></span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">: One? You’re making me choose ONE?
GAH! I have a list. A big one. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Alice Paul, Charlotte
Bronte, Baroness Orczy (who wrote THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL), Eleanor Roosevelt,
Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln…would be the ones deceased. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I keep meeting authors and writers at conventions, and
this still amazes me that I meet some of them and maintain a semblance of cool.
I met Patrick Rothfuss and was able to not only not make the Fangirl Squee
Noise (patent pending, by the way, lol, ;-), but be on a panel discussion and a
reading with him and sound coherent. I have had lunch with Debbie Macomber and
dinner with Jeffrey Deaver, and was able to be a normal human. The one I’d most
like to meet and the one I’m not sure I could hold it together for would be
Joss Whedon. I’d ask Joss for his best writing advice when dealing with
ensemble characters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>DSP</i></span></span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">: Imagine you’re the sole survivor of
a plane crash at sea, and you awake stranded on a deserted and uncharted island
in the Bermuda Triangle. Nobody knows you’re there, and you have nothing but
the clothes on your back. You’re all alone, and there’s terrifying sounds
coming from deep within the jungle. Late that night as you’re starving, a large
suitcase washes up on the shore. You open it up. What’s in the suitcase?</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>AK</i></span></span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">: Hopefully a still working satellite
phone with a good enough signal to call for help and get my butt off that
island! In the absence of such a thing, I’m hoping for a book on survival in
the tropics…’cause if I can look it up in a book, I might have an idea of what
to do next!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Make sure you check out more on Addie and her books!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CV6KgUrhTh8/VIfWVRzlnEI/AAAAAAAAK1A/9k93JPs99HU/s1600/07abadbd532f0ad8956e31_L__V150454888_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CV6KgUrhTh8/VIfWVRzlnEI/AAAAAAAAK1A/9k93JPs99HU/s1600/07abadbd532f0ad8956e31_L__V150454888_.jpg" height="312" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div>
Addie J. King spends her days as an attorney in Urbana, Ohio, and writes paranormal mystery and contemporary fantasy whenever she can. Her blog can be found at www.addiejking.com. Her short story, "Poltergeist on Aisle Fourteen" was published in the anthology, MYSTERY TIMES TEN 2011, and her novels, THE GRIMM LEGACY, THE ANDERSEN ANCESTRY, and THE WONDERLAND WOES are available from Musa Publishing. An essay entitled, "Building Believable Legal Systems in Science Fiction and Fantasy" appeared in EIGHTH DAY GENESIS: A WORLDBUILDING CODEX FOR WRITERS AND CREATIVES.<br />
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<i>How wonderful can Wonderland be if there's more danger than a visitor can see? </i><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e7WVKFO8j3I/VIfWTl6HBYI/AAAAAAAAK04/iSh2w9n83oA/s1600/thewonderlandwoes-200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e7WVKFO8j3I/VIfWTl6HBYI/AAAAAAAAK04/iSh2w9n83oA/s1600/thewonderlandwoes-200.jpg" /></a><i>Allie’s got a secret that she hasn’t shared with her friends, Janie Grimm, and Mia Andersen. Someone from her past is after her, and she’s got to keep them safe. When she realizes her childhood in Wonderland is putting her friends at risk, she jumps through a rabbit hole to lead the danger away from them, but it lands her back in the same situation she’d tried to escape just a few years before.</i><br />
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<i>Janie, Mia, Bert, Aiden, and all the rest are getting more experienced with magical dangers, and they can’t let their friend sacrifice themself if they can help. They organize a trip to Wonderland to look for Allie, and meet the White Rabbit, the Queen, the Jabberwocky, the Caterpillar, the Mad Hatter and others along the way, as they find deadly nightslip mushrooms, magic gone awry, a magical realm trial for stolen tarts, and further relationship drama. But will they save their friend before it’s too late?</i><br />
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Didn't I tell you it was a special treat? I had the pleasure of meeting Addie at a local convention (yes, I'm a nerd, you should really know that by now!) called FandomFest. It was absolutely fabulous meeting her, even if the meeting was brief, because she left an impression. That's pretty awesome, coming from someone who can't remember her own birthday. (True story.)<br />
If you wanna keep up with Addie, check out her stalker links below!<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.addiejking.com/"><span style="line-height: 150%;">www.addiejking.com</span></a><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Addie-J.-King/e/B005DYMDHQ"><span style="line-height: 150%;">http://www.amazon.com/Addie-J.-King/e/B005DYMDHQ</span></a><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Twitter <a href="http://www.twitter.com/addiejking" target="_blank">@addiejking</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/addie.j.king?fref=ts" target="_blank">Addie J. King</a></span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Ash Torbeckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07115227673822415273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6984283052231306448.post-9716027498830550772014-12-09T00:16:00.000-05:002014-12-09T00:16:14.101-05:00Top 10 List Part 1Dang, can you believe it's already December? I mean, I'm still waiting on summer to get here! Remember when older folks used to tell you, "When you get older you'll realize time goes by a lot faster?" Remember thinking, "Yeah, right. Fourth period lasts years, no way time will go by faster." Well, guess what? We were young, stupid, and despite thinking we were always right, we were SO wrong!! Holy snowflakes...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBljkKSel31ygzf4xQlhmZSH-TNEwO1w_xcxSGKIQzIS4x2VzcSPby4UDzvYbmJ6xhBbacY-xskxo1MKEBky5BHd0WuE_PIEY3HllK9wt5XylEMxwxf3dqmeEmUnB9l2Wdm_a6Ji57H6y9/s1600/Snowflakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBljkKSel31ygzf4xQlhmZSH-TNEwO1w_xcxSGKIQzIS4x2VzcSPby4UDzvYbmJ6xhBbacY-xskxo1MKEBky5BHd0WuE_PIEY3HllK9wt5XylEMxwxf3dqmeEmUnB9l2Wdm_a6Ji57H6y9/s1600/Snowflakes.jpg" height="414" width="640" /></a></div>
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Okay, so in honor of being young, stupid, and knowing everything about nothing, as well as the exponentially increasing passing of time, I'm not gonna bother you with a top ten or top five list of Christmas-y things. Oh no. You get the top ten things I miss about the decade I miss the most. The 90's. Broken up into two posts. Which means one tonight, and another sometime later this week. When? You'll just have to check back and see!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Ashley's Top 10 Things I Miss About the 90s (Part I):</span></b><br />
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<li><b><i>Boy Bands</i></b>. Omigosh, *NSync, Backstreet Boys, Boyz II Men, 98 Degrees, Hanson, O-Town, NKOTB, Crazytown, LFO, All 4 One...the list just goes on. I miss having boy bands that were trendsetters. The "boy bands" of modern music are useless imitators trying to mimic the greats and bring back an era of music in which they don't stand a chance. No offense to anyone who likes modern music, I really mean that. I'm not insulting you. I just miss the days of boy bands who introduced the world to a fad that was too short-lived and that can never be rivaled. My opinion here. :)<br /><br /><br /><br /></li>
<li><b><i>MTV</i></b>. I can barely stomach the idea that the letters MTV stand for Music Television but the networked stopped playing music videos before the decade ended. The introduction of "reality TV" (which is anything but real, by the way) like "The Real Life" and "Road Rules" suddenly changed the face of MTV from music to brain dead monkeys. I don't even know what kind of crap they air now. Since the loss of the music video, the network is cheap, generic, and pointless. Bring back music videos, damn it!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<li><i><b>Good Disney Channel and Nickelodeon shows</b></i>. This is kind of a pet peeve for me. I don't have kids, but if I did, they'd not be allowed to watch Disney or Nickelodeon. That crap they put out there for kids nowadays is brain damaging. I mean, Miley Cyrus was annoying and a terrible role model for girls before she went psycho brain dead cheap two bit whore. I have a little sister and some of the crap that she watches makes me realize she's either gonna be a stripper, a hooker, or failed pop star that lives at home with our mom for the remainder of her adult years because she won't be able to function in the REAL real world. Not because she's stupid - in fact, she's pretty brilliant and makes me one very proud big sis - but because these shows are her influence. Bring back Clarissa Explains it all, Are You Afraid of the Dark, Boy Meets World, GUTS, Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Saturday morning cartoons with a cat and mouse chasing each other with frying pans, Cinderella, Snow White, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<li><i><b>Cheap gas prices</b></i>. Now, as a child, this affected me so little, but now as an adult, I'd happily saw off my left arm to get those gas prices down around $1.35 again. Consistently and long-term, of course. I'm not losing my arm for a week of low gas prices or anything.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<li><b><i>Sitcoms</i></b>. Where are the sitcoms? Okay, in fairness, there are a few decent ones, but they all get cancelled WAY too soon. But we had Friends, Saved by the Bell, Full House, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Family Matters, Home Improvement, Roseanne, and just a whole slew of others. Gone now are the days of the true sitcom. It's a lost art that NEEDS to make a reappearance before the current and future generations become brain dead morons.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Okay, there ya have it, Part I of the top ten 90s stuff I miss. Did your faves make the list? If not, check back later this week, I'll bitch a little more about the stuff I miss. :)</div>
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Ash Torbeckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07115227673822415273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6984283052231306448.post-67188246312284823212014-12-01T09:00:00.000-05:002014-12-01T09:00:06.440-05:00Why I Believe My Cat is Out to Destroy Me<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Have you ever had a pure demonic spirit trapped roaming about your home wreaking havoc and driving you to the brink of insanity?</b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4C7KsDlvLxg/VHv5owYEaeI/AAAAAAAAKuE/GbTdAJNfz2E/s1600/Demon%2BKitty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><b><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4C7KsDlvLxg/VHv5owYEaeI/AAAAAAAAKuE/GbTdAJNfz2E/s1600/Demon%2BKitty.jpg" height="320" width="236" /></b></a><br />
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<b>Oh, excuse me, what I meant to ask is, have you ever owned a cat?</b></div>
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<b>Don't get me wrong, not all cats are hellspawns. In fact, I have one who is so well-behaved most people don't even believe he exists. But the other...she's a bitch. A cold-hearted, maniacal, loathesome bitch who is definitely plotting my demise.</b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4xLM5RrYcAs/VHv5rdd4OsI/AAAAAAAAKuM/H6HGXJvkVP4/s1600/Evil%2BKitty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4xLM5RrYcAs/VHv5rdd4OsI/AAAAAAAAKuM/H6HGXJvkVP4/s1600/Evil%2BKitty.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></b></a><br />
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<b>Let's just make this easy and create a nice hefty list of the ways she's trying to torment me.</b></div>
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<li><b>She doesn't care about any pathetic scratching post. She is fully content with clawing the hell out of the wood door frames, the wood doors, the hardwood floors, the couch, the ottoman, my leg, my boobs, the coffee table, the countertops, the desk, the end tables...you see where I'm going with this, right? I basically have nothing that hasn't been shredded by this little turd.</b></li>
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<li><b>She knows EXACTLY where she's allowed and not allowed (like, inside the Christmas tree, on top of the corner shelving unit, etc) but she gets up there anyway. And when she does, she looks you dead in the eye with that looks that says, "What? What are you gonna do about it? Nothing. That's what."</b></li>
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<li><b>There's little better than when you're laying down at night or deeply absorbed in my laptop or a movie, and to suddenly hear a THUD. This little devil child will climb up on top of the entertainment center and shelves and - her favorite - the dresser and/or rolltop desk in the bedroom, look you in the eye, and just knock stuff down. No remorse, no care, just a challenge to get me to get up and chase her, which she ALWAYS wins.</b></li>
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<li><b>I don't think I can accurately describe the look in her eyes when she's doing these things. There's a very real and distinct understanding there that what she is doing is wrong, but she couldn't care less. In fact, everything she does is a challenge to me. Daring me to do anything about it. And why? Just to piss me off. Yes, really.</b></li>
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<li><b>We can't have a Christmas tree that isn't filled with holes from her burrowing into it. Plus we lose half our ornaments every year because she bats them down. Why? To piss me off. And I suspect in hopes that they will shatter and I will slip and fall and die. There's no catnip or food in my will for her, I have no idea what she hopes to accomplish with my demise.</b></li>
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<li><b>We've come to my all-time favorite: she pees in and on EVERYTHING. The walls, the couch, MY PURSES, the stove, the clean dishes, important paperwork, the dog's water bowl, the clean clothes, the dirty clothes, pillows, the bed, my books, the coffee table, bags, my Nook, CD's/DVD's, my laptop, my desktop, the TVs, cell phones, the ottoman, the antique chest passed down from my great great grandmother, electrical sockets, my coat, Andy's hats, the dog...there is nothing off-limits for this girl, and I can't tell you how many times she's ruined my life by peeing on something incredibly important. </b></li>
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<li><b>After all the nightmarish things she does to torture me, she comes and curls up in my arms and becomes the most adorably adorable ball of adorableness that I temporarily forget her transgressions. Oh, she's good.</b></li>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L1gkjZZGIiY/VHv5tIrYOBI/AAAAAAAAKuY/TkygvYGQBds/s1600/Adorable%2BKitty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L1gkjZZGIiY/VHv5tIrYOBI/AAAAAAAAKuY/TkygvYGQBds/s1600/Adorable%2BKitty.jpg" /></b></a></div>
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<b>And the best part about it all? The moment I'm ready to drop kick her off a freeway bridge, she breaks out the adorable little kitten routine and I'm putty in her hands. She's conniving and she knows EXACTLY what she's doing. And this, my friends, is why I'm certain my cat is the furry spawn of Satan.</b></div>
Ash Torbeckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07115227673822415273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6984283052231306448.post-81381512162526495822014-11-30T21:10:00.001-05:002014-11-30T21:10:42.241-05:00With Apologies to the Readers...<div style="text-align: center;">
I've been out with some health problems and yet again my laptop was down. Le sigh! Life, eh?</div>
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But I'm back now. I have a brand spanking new laptop cord that promises to be lasting, I'm on a fairly decent internet connection, my health is getting back in line (well, we'll pretend Thanksgiving didn't happen and I didn't go into a food coma), so I think it's time to get back in the saddle and pick up the pieces of this poor neglected blog. For those of you amazing troopers who still follow me, thanks so much and I promise good things will be coming!</div>
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So, how is everyone? Did you have a fabulous Thanksgiving? Who's ready for Christmas and Hanukkah and Kwanzaa and Yule and all the other cool stuff in December? Man, I can't believe it's freaking DECEMBER!! Anybody besides me still waiting for summer to get here?</div>
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Sorry, for the first time in a long time, I am actually excited about the holidays. Perhaps because this year I'm not entirely flat broke, perhaps because I'm actually happy with who I am and where my life is headed. Don't get me wrong, this year has been filled with ups, downs, and everything in between, but I guess it's me on the inside that changed.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rpL-Z-Ti2Qo/VHvNvrsV2FI/AAAAAAAAKt0/qZ70DLofsxc/s1600/Too%2BMany%2BBooks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rpL-Z-Ti2Qo/VHvNvrsV2FI/AAAAAAAAKt0/qZ70DLofsxc/s1600/Too%2BMany%2BBooks.jpg" height="215" width="320" /></a><br />
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Okay, enough of the sappy feelings and emotions and crap. I know why you're here. You're a book junkie just like me. How about I go out and gather some goodies for you and put some posts together that you actually want to read? Sound good? Groovy. So I'll go do my thing, and you can just chill and check back when new posts are up! Yay! Okay, see you back here soon!!<br />
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~AshAsh Torbeckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07115227673822415273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6984283052231306448.post-86515960651446077682014-08-15T00:44:00.001-04:002014-08-15T00:44:54.046-04:00Author Spotlight: N.L. HoffmannHey folks! It's been a while, but I have some great stuff in the works for you, including a handful of new authors to introduce you to. Starting today!<br />
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are happy to share the cover for N.L. Hoffmann's upcoming novel, Death Design
(The Daughters of the Darkness #3). Stay tuned for a special sneak peek.
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Death
Design</div>
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Series:
The Daughters of Darkness #3</div>
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N.L.
Hoffmann</div>
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<strong>Genre:
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<strong>Release
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Her
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She is
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She’s
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Blood
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Blake
Noble is assigned by her superior, of the Supernatural Crime Division, to
investigate the disappearance of his niece and to take down the Covert, a
several hundred year old vampire organization known for abducting their victims
off the streets. Things begin to go south when she begins to uncover truths
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After
finding out she is the daughter of Lucifer and a famous vampire mother, she
begins to use her newly appearing abilities to survive through the
investigation. Between demon lessons from her father and falling for the Deputy
Director of the Michigan, she attempts a nail biting journey to shut down the
biggest secret in vampire history.</div>
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Shadow
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U.S.
Marshal, Jacey Noble, has just taken a well-deserved vacation when one of her
fugitives ends up murdered. Detective Trent Vinolva is less than enthusiastic
to take on a new partner, especially the hot-blooded Jacey. When they encounter
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Jacey
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to manipulate darkness. Amidst the whirlwind of discovering her newly activated
powers, Jacey must solve the murder while battling sexual tension with
Detective Vinolva. Things get interesting when the pair is led to Jacey’s demon
father and her flame throwing sister. Finding herself in a new world on the
brink of supernatural war, Jacey doesn’t know who to trust. She must rely on
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are on her tail and solve a murder. The only assurance in Shadow Cursed is
uncertainty. Jacey must journey down a trail of mystery, destruction, and
romance.</span></div>
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About
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N.L
Hoffmann is a new paranormal romance author; she recently published her first
book entitled Blood Slaves, Book One to the Daughters of Darkness Series. She
is currently working on the second book to the collection.</div>
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Hoffmann
was born in Germany to her German native mother and her American soldier
father. The family moved home to the states, where she grew up in a rural farm
town in Michigan with her parents and two younger brothers. There, in her
pre-teens, is when she began writing and developed her love for
literature.</div>
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Today,
Hoffmann resides in Missouri with her husband and three children, where she
published her first book Blood Slaves in January 2014 and is currently working
on Book Two to the Daughters of Darkness Series. When Hoffmann isn't busy
putting words on the page she enjoys reading, drawing, playing loving pranks on
her husband, and spending time with her family</div>
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Pretty sweet stuff, make sure you check this series out and support a great talent! And be on the lookout for lots of new goodies coming soon to a penguin near you...Ash Torbeckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07115227673822415273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6984283052231306448.post-25577513379658723932014-07-20T21:48:00.000-04:002014-07-20T21:48:20.138-04:00Why I've Lost Any Shred of Faith in Humanity<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>***WARNING!!***</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This post is going to be filled with very strong language and questionable topics that may leave the reader thinking I'm a horrible person. Just know I'm ranting, and I'm upset, and if you don't want to read it, then please don't, but if you do and you don't like what I have to say, it's your own damn fault, don't come crying to me or whining to other people. This is NOT book or author related. This is me telling you about something that has me fired up, and seriously, you might not like it. But you've been warned...</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">* * * * * *</span></b></div>
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Everyone has lost someone - and sometimes multiple people - in their lives, and it never really gets any easier. But I know a family in mourning right now over a tragic incident that stole away the life of an innocent man, and the cause is something that up until now had never really touched my life. <div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Murder</span></i></b>. Cold-blooded and likely premeditated <b><i>murder</i></b>.</div>
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You hear about it on the news and you feel sorry for the victims and their families and friends, but I'd been lucky as hell to have gone just shy of 31 years without having to say I know someone who's been murdered. Unfortunately, that streak ended Saturday night when a random post about a murder in Oldham County (where I grew up and where much of my family still resides) on Facebook. Knowing that in a relatively small and closely knit community a murder was kind of a big deal and likely involved someone I knew, I quickly opened the link and my heart shattered. A guy I'd went to school with and who had become my regular Wednesday night ride home from work was a cab driver for the company he ran with his father, and he'd gone missing Thursday. Being a cab driver isn't exactly the safest job out there, in case you didn't know. </div>
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My newfound friend's name was Adam Gregg, and he was found in Oldham County with his throat slit after a shady ride from downtown Louisville into OC. </div>
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Now, I won't claim to be his best friend. Hell, I didn't even know him until the first day he picked me up back in February, when we realized we went to school together. But after the last 5 months or so, I'd gotten to know him and his lovely wife, and I actually looked forward to Wednesdays when I got to chat it up with them. This guy was such an amazing person that even in those 5 short months I got to know him, I feel horrified by this tragedy. Not just because of the way it happened, but as I sit here typing it, I keep thinking to myself this is some sort of mistake, nobody would ever want to hurt Adam. He was too kind, too generous, and too full of life.</div>
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His family is now crushed, torn apart, and grieving for the sudden, unexpected, untimely, and irreparable loss of their loved one. His parents are shattered. His wife - who is from Ukraine and may not have anyone else in the US to help her through this apart from his family - is undoubtedly inconsolable. </div>
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**Now, I have to warn you, my language is going to get a bit rough, because I'm fucking pissed.**</div>
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The "suspect" was arrested after a routine traffic stop in upstate New York driving the stolen vehicle. His name is not important, because he doesn't fucking deserve the publicity. First off, clearly this moron is a complete fucking idiot to be driving a stolen vehicle with the plates still on it. Second, this guy wasn't from Louisville, or from Oldham County. No, this fucktard is from Corydon, IN, and a fucking redneck. Not to mention a pussy ass bitch for trying to run to Canada. Neither Adam nor his family deserved any of this. NOBODY deserves this. Who the fuck gave this douchebag the right to take away someone else's life? When the hell did he get delegated the task of controlling population by killing people for no god damned reason? Tell me. Who the fuck does that shit?? And what did he get out of it? A tank of gas, a car for 2 days, about $70 bucks, and a drive to New York before getting put away with no bail. </div>
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Boy, I bet he's fucking proud of himself. </div>
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I've never said this about any human before, but I hope they give him the chair with an expedited speedpass to the front of the line to be executed next. Even that is too good for him, to be honest. You can argue with me until your fucking ears bleed about how wrong capital punishment might be or murder doesn't justify murder, but I'm not changing my mind. Eye for an eye, he deserves to have his throat slit after an hour of fear and left to rot. It's how he treated Adam, it's only poetic justice. No, it won't bring Adam back, it won't make anything this fuckhead did okay, nor will it justify or even satisfy the wrongful and intentional death he caused, but he doesn't deserve to be a drain on society by wasting taxpayers' money to keep him alive. If it were me, I'd strap him to a rocket and shoot him off into space to die alone and pathetic. </div>
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This fucker is why I've lost all faith in humanity. Adam did nothing wrong, he was only doing his job as a cab driver, and a monster took his life. <b>NO</b> reason. <b>NO </b>excuse. Just fucking <b><i><span style="font-size: large;">MURDERED </span></i></b>someone for the hell of it. <span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>MURDERED</b></i></span>. Let that sink in. He <span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>MURDERED </b></i></span>someone I'd consider a friend. For no reason <b>AT ALL</b>. </div>
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I don't want to live on this planet anymore.</div>
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So to you, Biggest Douchebag Fucktard Moron EVER, of Corydon, IN, you sir can go get fucked by a big ol' boy named Bubba, be his bitch, and service him daily until the time comes that you get what's coming to you. It won't be soon enough, it won't be punishment enough, and it won't heal the hurt, but you just don't fucking DESERVE three meals a day for the next however-many-years-till-you-fucking-die. Hope you're happy with the choices you've made, because you just fucked yourself buddy. Enjoy.</div>
Ash Torbeckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07115227673822415273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6984283052231306448.post-72047356375814095152014-07-03T00:53:00.000-04:002014-07-03T00:53:10.745-04:00Hell in a Handbasket<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Oh...My...Smurf...</span></b></div>
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Suffice it to say I've got issues. Mostly the technology kind. My laptop went down for the count and I've been stuck using my cell phone for all my internet needs. Which was fine for, like, five minutes, but managing my blog(s) and marketing my books and checking my innumerable emails and managing social media and staying connected in a digital world using only a cell phone can be excruciating. In fact, it was damn near impossible. There were times I wanted to rip my hair out because there are just some things that are easier to do on a computer. Like...type. Do you have any idea how many autocorrect fails I've had? I should win a friggin trophy for most inappropriate autocorrect fails in history. Sure, they were often funny, but the sheer gibberish that my phone created at times had me at my wit's end.</div>
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Thankfully, we got a desktop. Only problem? No wireless network adapter. DAMN!! So as a temporary fix, my phone is tethered to my computer and I'm using my data from my phone to power my desktop until I can remember to go get a wireless USB adapter to make everything all better.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yeah, I'm fairly certain technology runs away from me screaming...and when it doesn't, I wanna do this. -->></span></div>
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Anyway, I'm finally back, for good this time. (I hope!) And if you've contacted me through the contact form on this site, rest assured, I got your message and will be getting back to you shortly after the holiday weekend. I can't promise anything over a holiday weekend.</div>
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A personal update...I am working again full-time for a mail order pharmacy that helps people get their medicines free, like chemotherapy and other pretty important stuff. I'm really enjoying it, because I get to help people and it's a really rewarding job. I no longer feel like I should be ashamed of myself for not becoming a doctor or lawyer or something that would've made my parents super proud, because I really feel like I'm making a difference for people with little to no options who need their medicine to survive. Who wouldn't love their job when they actually get to make an impact on people's lives??</div>
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I haven't written much lately without a computer, but I'm hopping back on the bandwagon slowly but surely now that I have a functional computer. By the way, did anyone ever notice that as a writer, if you have a messy office that is cluttered, it blocks off your creativity, and you feel like a useless sack of potatoes? My dog decided to use my office as his hoarding space, and I had exactly zero desire to come in here. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Okay, so that's enough about me. It seems this site is still getting pretty nice traffic, so stop in and say hi in the comments. C'mon, don't be shy!!! </span></div>
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Ash Torbeckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07115227673822415273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6984283052231306448.post-2267659645253225332014-04-20T23:29:00.001-04:002014-04-20T23:29:28.440-04:00Happy Easter, my lovely friends and followers!! Hope the Easter bunny came to see everyone and left lots of eggs and candy! If not, wait till tomorrow when it all goes on sale and get your own. Hehe!!<br />
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In the meantime, rush out to snag your copy of Wings of Vengeance, by my dear friend Kylie Price!! It's free today and tomorrow, so grab your copy today. Enjoy these awesome teasers to get you through till you can get your copy!<br />
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Pretty awesome, right?! Look for wings of Vengeance on Amazon! Get it for free in the next 24 hours!!Ash Torbeckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07115227673822415273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6984283052231306448.post-74572503889958879342014-03-27T21:46:00.001-04:002014-03-29T18:58:06.108-04:00Blog Tour Stop - Abby's Heart by Kristine Raymond<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://sinfulthoughtsbookblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/abbys-heart-tour-banner.jpg"><img alt="Abby's Heart Tour Banner" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1113" height="175" src="http://sinfulthoughtsbookblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/abbys-heart-tour-banner.jpg?w=474" width="474" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://sinfulthoughtsbookblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/abbys-heart-cover.jpg"><img alt="Abby's Heart Cover" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1114" height="786" src="http://sinfulthoughtsbookblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/abbys-heart-cover.jpg?w=474" width="474" /></a></div>
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<b>Title:</b> Abby’s Heart (Hidden Springs Series #3)</div>
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<b>Author:</b> Kristine Raymond</div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Historical Western Romance</div>
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<b>Release Date:</b> February 15, 2014</div>
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<b>Synopsis</b></div>
Abby Prescott is a proper young lady who has never ventured far from home. She travels West to attend her aunt’s wedding and suddenly finds herself captivated by the beautiful, rugged landscape as well as the attention from not one, but two men. Malcolm ‘Boots’ Dunn is a young man who is on top of the world. He has re-opened Cooper’s Mine – a gold mine that has been closed up for more than twenty years. Fun-loving and easy-going, pretty Abby Prescott catches his eye and he knows that she is the one for him. Simon Archer is a solemn, hard-working man who spends his days apprenticing as a blacksmith and his nights dreaming for a woman to share his life with. When he meets Abby, he knows that she is the woman of his dreams and he will stop at nothing to have her. As both men vie for Abby’s affections, she innocently encourages their advances with disastrous consequences. When the dust settles, which one will win Abby’s heart? <div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20685408-abby-s-heart" target="_blank"><img alt="44b38-addtogoodreads" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1049" height="41" src="http://sinfulthoughtsbookblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/44b38-addtogoodreads.png" width="130" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://sinfulthoughtsbookblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/abbys-heart-teaser-5.jpg"><img alt="Abby's Heart Teaser 5" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1115" height="355" src="http://sinfulthoughtsbookblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/abbys-heart-teaser-5.jpg?w=474" width="474" /></a></div>
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<b>Buy Links</b></div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/1gYWrPU" target="_blank">Amazon</a> ~ <a href="http://amzn.to/NyN4Ph" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a> ~ <a href="http://amzn.to/1pgKuJO" target="_blank">Amazon CA</a> ~ <a href="http://bit.ly/1pgKwl3" target="_blank">Amazon AU</a></div>
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<strong>Excerpt</strong></div>
He lifted her up and swung her around in a circle. She held onto his shoulders, feeling dizzy as he spun her around. After several rotations, he set her back down on the ground but didn’t remove his hands from her waist. Taking a moment to catch her breath, she kept her hands on his shoulders and as her head cleared, she suddenly realized that he was looking at her intently. Her eyes widened in surprise as he leaned his head towards her, then closed when she felt the brush of his lips on hers. The tingling sensation that she had felt in the tunnel was now magnified and as he brushed his lips softly against her mouth, a feeling of warmth spread through her body. She had never been kissed before but she had imagined many times what it would be like. This kiss was so much better than her imaginings. All too soon Boots pulled away, his hands still on her waist. “Is it okay that I kissed you? I know that I should have asked for your permission but you are so beautiful, I just couldn’t help myself.” Ducking her head so that he wouldn’t see her blush, she responded, “Yes, it’s okay. It was very nice. And just so you know, if you had asked, I would’ve said ‘yes’.” <div style="text-align: center;">
<b>About the Author</b></div>
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<a href="http://sinfulthoughtsbookblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/kr-logo.jpg"><img alt="KR Logo" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1117" height="300" src="http://sinfulthoughtsbookblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/kr-logo.jpg?w=300" width="300" /></a></div>
Kristine Raymond loves to read and that naturally transformed into a love of writing. She has always been a fan of the Old West and lived in Arizona for several years, where she was able to appreciate the beauty and history of the region. She has released two books in the Hidden Springs series and is currently working on her third. When she is not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband and furry family, and occasionally watches a TV western or two. <div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kristine-Raymond-Author/470000156446606" target="_blank">Facebook</a> ~ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hidden-Springs-Book-Series/554131788027278" target="_blank">Facebook for Book Series</a> ~ <a href="https://twitter.com/k_raymondauthor" target="_blank">Twitter</a></div>
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<a href="http://kristineraymond.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> ~ <a href="http://amzn.to/1lNST8O" target="_blank">Amazon Author Page</a> ~ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7362213.Kristine_Raymond" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></div>
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<a href="http://sinfulthoughtsbookblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/abbys-heart-teaser-1.jpg"><img alt="Abby's Heart Teaser 1" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1116" height="355" src="http://sinfulthoughtsbookblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/abbys-heart-teaser-1.jpg?w=474" width="474" /></a></div>
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<b>Purchase Her Other Books Today</b></div>
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<a href="http://sinfulthoughtsbookblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/heretostaycover.jpg"><img alt="heretostaycover" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1118" height="300" src="http://sinfulthoughtsbookblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/heretostaycover.jpg?w=184" width="184" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GH4GCQ4" target="_blank">Amazon</a> ~ <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00GH4GCQ4" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a> ~ <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00GH4GCQ4" target="_blank">Amazon CA</a> ~ <a href="http://bit.ly/1hKLhjm" target="_blank">Amazon AU</a></div>
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<a href="http://sinfulthoughtsbookblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/hearts-on_fire_ebook_cover.jpg"><img alt="Hearts-on_Fire_ebook_cover" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1119" height="300" src="http://sinfulthoughtsbookblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/hearts-on_fire_ebook_cover.jpg?w=182" width="182" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HIOO7NC" target="_blank">Amazon</a> ~ <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00HIOO7NC" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a> ~ <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00HIOO7NC" target="_blank">Amazon CA</a> ~ <a href="http://bit.ly/1fLbJqy" target="_blank">Amazon AU</a></div>
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<strong>Giveaway</strong></div>
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Signed paperback of Abby's Heart (US Only) & Winner's choice of an ebook by Kristine Raymond direct to Kindle</div>
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/5656fe29/" id="rc-5656fe29" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></div>
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<a href="http://sinfulthoughtsauthorpromo.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Print" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1023" height="106" src="http://sinfulthoughtsbookblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/sinfulthoughtsauthor_logo.jpg?w=300" width="300" /></a></div>
Ash Torbeckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07115227673822415273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6984283052231306448.post-2037223909078959832014-03-10T08:00:00.000-04:002014-03-10T08:00:06.580-04:00Blog Tour Stop - Forever Doomed, by Mary Ann KempherHey hey, lovely readers, followers, and friends!! Join me in this exciting tour stop with author Mary Ann Kempher for her book, Forever Doomed! Sit back, relax, and get ready to be entertained!!<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>As the body count rises, and time slips away, Jack has to ask himself, “Did someone commit the perfect crime?”</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Jack watched Marni leave, torn. Did he think she’d killed Pam? No, but she was keeping something from him, something to do with Pam’s murder. He looked down at his arm, seeing her small hand. His heart was still beating hard. It had taken real effort to hide his feelings when she’d touched him. After a few minutes, he started walking, and was soon standing outside Marni’s cabin door. He hesitated. He told himself he was just going there to talk to her, to try to make her tell him what he sensed she was holding back. But that was a lie. He reached up and knocked. She opened the door wearing a towel.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Jack didn’t respond. He walked into her room, shoving the door shut behind him. He took hold of her towel and pulled her tightly against his body, his mouth covering hers, his tongue searching for hers, his hands yanking the towel off and tossing it to the floor. He easily picked up Marni and carried her to the bed. She pulled his shirt up over his head, her hands running themselves through his thick chest hair. She reached for his belt buckle, undoing it slowly, her eyes watching his. Then she pulled his pants down and gasped.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I spent my honeymoon in Saudi Arabia. Someone approached our guide and offered to buy me.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I spent a year in Korea, about 90 miles from Seoul.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I grew up in Milwaukee Wisconsin, but moved to Reno NV when I was 15 years old.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>My first job was at the Circus Circus casino in Reno. On their second floor, they have arcade games similar to a carnival, and a stage where acts are performed. I worked all the different games.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>She quickly opened the pantry door and stepped inside. <em>Oh good, my cake.</em> By the sound of the wind, rain, and even the occasional thunder, she could tell the back door had finally been opened. She cracked the pantry door an inch and peeked out. A tall, muscular man was there, he was making a sandwich. She’d wait him out. The lights in the kitchen flickered on and off, then on again. Suddenly, another man entered the kitchen. <em>Jeez, I’m never gonna get out of here.</em></div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“What are you doing in here?” she heard him ask. His tone concerned her. He seemed annoyed, maybe even angry. <em>At least I’m not the only person in the kitchen that’s not supposed to be here.</em></div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The other man didn’t answer. He picked up a rolling pin and hit the guy on the side of the head, hard. The man fell to the floor with a thud. His head lay outside where she was hiding. Through the crack in the door, she could see blood on the side of his head, his eyes wide open and vacant. She swallowed hard and willed herself not to freak out. She’d need all her composure so she didn’t give herself away. She watched, shocked, as the man rushed to the kitchen’s swinging doors, looked out, then quickly returned. He picked up the dead guy and walked outside.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>She wasn’t thinking straight. Should she wait, see if he was coming back? Should she run like hell and hope he didn’t see? She did what any good stripper would do. She went to the other side of her cake, bent down, and with all her strength pushed that cake out of the pantry, through the kitchen, and out of the cafeteria. She pulled up the hood up on her overcoat and kept it there until she arrived at her destination.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>about the author</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><img alt="" src="http://everythingmarie.com/images/Author_Picture.png" style="height: 300px; width: 200px;" /></div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>MaryAnn Kempher loves to write mystery with a dash of romance. She spent her teen years spent living in Reno NV where her first book, Mocha, Moonlight, and Murder is set. The setting for her second book, Forever Doomed, was inspired by her love of the ocean. Her writing influences include favorite authors Agatha Christie, Jane Austen and Janet Evanovich. Her guilty pleasures include any and all sweets, including a good cup of Mocha. She is married with two children.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>contact maryann</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMaryAnnKempher" title="">facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.blogger.com/mkempher.com" title="">website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/maryannkempher" title="">twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7056748.MaryAnn_Kempher" title="">goodreads</a></div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17829786-mocha-moonlight-and-murder" title="">goodreads</a></div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Instead of feeding her late-night appetite, a midnight food run nearly gets 28-year-old Katherine O’Brian killed. She’s the only person to see the man who brutally murdered a local woman, and the killer is hell-bent on making sure she doesn’t talk.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Scott Mitchell left a broken engagement behind when he moved to Reno, and the last thing he needs is more melodrama. But when he and Katherine are paired for a college project, that’s what he gets. It can be very distracting when someone is out to kill your lab partner. Together, they try to figure out what the police haven’t been able to—the identity of the murderer. Passion flares, but with Katherine’s life in danger, romance seems like more than a bad idea.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Scott and Katherine will face jealousy, misunderstandings, lust, and rivals, not to mention attempted murder—and all before their first real date</div>
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Pretty awesome, right? Well, I have another treat for you lucky boys and girls: an interview with the author!! Right now, I'm waiting to get the questionnaire back from Mary Ann, and as soon as I do, I'll update it here for your viewing pleasure. So make sure you check back, this is one you do NOT want to miss! </div>
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Ash Torbeckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07115227673822415273noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6984283052231306448.post-45735043035928513782014-02-19T22:43:00.000-05:002014-02-19T22:43:00.468-05:00Blog Tour Stop - Absolution by Amanda DickHey hey, kiddies! Today we're spending some time with author Amanda Dick! She's taking her latest masterpiece Absolution on tour - let's see what she's brought for us!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjUCFhaNgDsGB0P9kZIeNPswSdFTlOCO1rj6dU3eoC6eaqfMKSgmEVoGYbd6ZTGFAQU1_QOuMrQxebCrVItYLVBztbE5nwHExbGRPPhd8bUhLJz5PuSIMQTeGFlpk5_Daeqo3Q_9wGwbPLU5XgxJaForoScazuB=" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://everythingmarie.com/images/absolutionbanner.jpg" style="height: 275px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> A
freak accident, a moment in time, and life changes forever. Stay or go -
there's no such thing as the easy way out. The accident wasn't his fault but in
the horrific aftermath, Jack's actions may have possibly caused consequences he
could never have foreseen. Consumed with guilt and unable to listen to reason,
he takes the only option he believes is open to him: he disappears. Living a
quiet life away from everyone he loves, he drops off the grid but the memories
continue to haunt him. </span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Four
years later, a funeral signals a homecoming fraught with tension as he finally
forces himself to face up to the consequences of his actions. Betrayed and
angry, his former best friend Callum wants nothing more than to see him
disappear once again - for good this time. Meanwhile his ex-girlfriend Ally has
moved on and he can see that his return is anything but easy for her. People
change, life goes on and things are never as simple as they seem. The past has
a habit of catching up with you when you least expect it. </span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Living
with regret and guilt almost tore him apart, but there is no guarantee that
trying to make amends will soothe his soul or help the people he loves the
most. </span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Courage
has many faces. Fighting for what you believe in, no matter what. Showing
strength of mind and body when the cards are stacked against you. Rising to the
challenge and playing through the pain.</span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> And
yet sometimes, courage means simply standing your ground.</span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18483255-absolution?from_search=true" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;" title="">goodreads</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: large;"><b>Excerpt</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “You
want to know if I told her about what happened that night.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Callum
glared at him, and Jack could tell he was on the right track.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “The
answer is no, I didn’t. But why the hell didn’t you? You were there, you
knew.”</span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Because
it wasn’t my place to tell her – it was yours.” Callum snapped.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Jesus,
Callum! You just let her think God knows what, all this time?”</span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “What
the hell do you care what she thought! You weren’t here, remember? I didn’t
tell her because what the hell would be the point?”</span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “What
would be the point?” Jack repeated indignantly. “She would have
known!”</span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Known
what? That you were a coward? She figured that one out for herself when she
woke up and you were gone!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Jack
opened his mouth to speak, but Callum cut him off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Don’t
you dare come back here and start blaming me or anyone else! No one told you to
go – you made that choice yourself.” Callum hissed, eyes blazing. “You did the
wrong thing then and by coming back now and stirring it all up again, all
you’re doing is making it worse. You’re here for your own selfish reasons, not
because of Tom or because of her!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I’m
trying to make it right!” Jack insisted, heart racing.</span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “And
how in the hell do you think you’re gonna do that?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Jack
stared at him dumbfounded, knowing that he had asked himself that question a
million times and come up empty.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “She
doesn’t need you anymore. The best thing you can do now is just crawl back into
whatever hole you crawled out of and leave her be.”</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Jack
shook his head determinedly, his heart pounding. “No. I’m not going anywhere,
not this time.”</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Callum
laughed scornfully. “That’s your master plan? Seriously?”</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Jack
glared at him in silence, his anger mounting.</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Oh
come on – you gotta admit, that’s a reckless statement, especially for you.”
Callum snorted derisively. “You disappear when the going gets tough,
remember?”</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Jack
clenched his teeth so tight his jaw ached. “That’s not what happened and you
know it.”</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Do
I? Because that’s what it looked like from where I was standing!”</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “You
know damn well why I left!” Jack blurted out, his voice thunderous and
desperate. “You knew what I did – you were there!”</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Yeah,
I knew what you did - big deal! You were trying to save her life - she wouldn’t
have blamed you!” he said hotly. “You did the wrong thing, Jack – you should’ve
stayed.”</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Jack
stared at him, his heart racing. He thought about the relationship they used to
have – how close they were. Like brothers. And now this; strangers - worse than
that; enemies.</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I
made a mistake.” he choked. “I won’t make that mistake again.”</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Callum
shook his head. He stood up straight and took a step backwards, eyeballing Jack
as he forced his hands back into his pockets.</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Here’s
the thing – you made your choice. Now you have to live with it, just like the
rest of us. You can’t change what happened and if you stick around, you’re only
gonna hurt her. Is that what you want?”</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Jack
opened his mouth to reply but Callum didn’t give him a chance.</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “She
was just starting to get her life back together, after everything she’s been
through. Don’t rip it all apart again.” he pleaded quietly, clearly emotional.
“Do the right thing this time - leave.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: large;"><b>Playlist</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><img alt="" src="http://everythingmarie.com/images/Absolution_-_playlist.jpg" style="height: 306px; width: 450px;" /></span></div>
</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>Link
to <a href="https://play.spotify.com/user/amanda_dick/playlist/04uns1gMUwHXgE2VsLopL6" title="">spotify</a></i></span></div>
</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: large;"><b>Dreamcast</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><img alt="" src="http://everythingmarie.com/images/Absolution_-_Dreamcast.jpg" style="height: 309px; width: 550px;" /></span></div>
</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Purchase inks</b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G1XXDRW/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00G1XXDRW&linkCode=as2&tag=everymarie-20" title="">amazon us</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Absolution-Amanda-Dick-ebook/dp/B00G1XXDRW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390775085&sr=8-1&keywords=amanda+dick" title="">amazon uk</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Absolution-Amanda-Dick-ebook/dp/B00G1XXDRW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390775131&sr=8-1&keywords=absolution+amanda+dick" title="">amazon ca</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com.au/Absolution-Amanda-Dick-ebook/dp/B00G1XXDRW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390775166&sr=8-1&keywords=amanda+dick" title="">Amazon au</a></span></div>
</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: large;"><b>About Amanda</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEi9kkxZK060fPQrs6PpzUOlMqcxWYz5TQJ0vIOBYYtUjctDi9aIbd98zvl5gK-EmGnGWBYg2vJVb23EDABUKpTJTihbfZgdXk-ZuP2Ph6ZdEp02x1K-St-Alm9zFKOwx8M7uMiQla8vbDIwvUFx9BVAi-D8VTe55YOb1_PitjY=" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://everythingmarie.com/images/Amanda_Dick_-_author_pic.jpg" style="height: 401px; width: 350px;" /></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Amanda
Dick is a night-owl, coffee addict, movie buff and music lover. She
also writes.<br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Born
in Opotiki, New Zealand, she is rather partial to dark chocolate and believes
in the power of a good vanilla latte. She has a passion for the
colour green (particularly in clothes and gemstones) and insists there is
nothing sexier than a man in a kilt.<br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> She
spent several months traveling around Europe in her late 20’s (there’s a story
there – she’ll get around to writing it one day). After ridding
herself of her wanderlust, she met the love of her life (while working to pay
off said wanderlust) in Edinburgh, Scotland. They moved in together
the week after their first date – so yes, she believes in love at first
sight. She also believes in Women's Intuition and following your
heart.<br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> She
writes on her trusty laptop, predominantly late at night, when it's quiet and
interruptions are few. Most of all, she enjoys writing about human
behaviour - love, loss, joy, grief, friendship and relationships in
general. She loves to put normal, everyday people into situations
that will test their boundaries. She is passionately curious about
how we, as human beings, react when pushed to the edge.<br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> After
living in Scotland for five years, she has now settled back home in New
Zealand, where she lives with her husband and two children.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: large;"><b>Contact Amanda</b></span></div>
</div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: large;"></span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: large;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: large;"><b>
</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/amandadickauthor" title="">facebook</a> | <a href="http://www.amandadick.com/" title="">website</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7265772.Amanda_Dick?from_search=true" title="">goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.wattpad.com/user/ADAuthor" title="">Wattpad</a></span></div>
</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b>Title:</b> Fractured Steel</div>
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<b>Author:</b> T.J. Loveless</div>
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<b>Release Date:</b> February 15, 2014</div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Thriller/Contemporary Fiction</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Synopsis</span></b></div>
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After a bloody tour in Iraq, all Karen Barnes wants is a simple life, surrounded by horses and the mountains of Wyoming. But when a stranger tries boarding a famous horse worth millions at her stable, Karen grows suspicious that the horse has been stolen.<br />
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When her worse fears are confirmed and her life is threatened, her instinct for survival kicks in. But things are far worse than she could have even imagined when she discovers that the theft is just a coverup for espionage.<br />
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With the lives of those she cares for at stake, can she find the courage to fight one more battle, or will the violence and carnage tear her to pieces?<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20453850-fractured-steel" target="_blank"><img alt="c64e3-goodreads-badge-add-38px" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-666" src="http://sinfulthoughtsbookblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/c64e3-goodreads-badge-add-38px.jpg" height="38" width="120" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Buy Links</span></strong></div>
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<i>Amazon </i>- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IGI2BHS<br />
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<i>Amazon UK</i> - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fractured-Steel-T-J-Loveless-ebook/dp/B00IGI2BHS<br />
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<i>Amazon CA</i> - http://www.amazon.ca/Fractured-Steel-T-J-Loveless-ebook/dp/B00IGI2BHS<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></strong>
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Excerpt</span></strong></div>
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Johnny swung the M16 and pointed it at me, “Come here, honey.” He smiled, and I held back the waves of nausea. I knew the smile, what he wanted, knew if he got me out of here, I was going to hurt.<br />
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“Stop shooting and I will.” I kept my feet planted, hoping the fear didn’t show.<br />
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He turned and shot a man trying to crawl away. I flinched as blood and thicker things spread over the floor. “You don’t negotiate. Come here, Karen. We have unfinished business.”<br />
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I took a deep breath, the smell of copper pennies and released bowels covering my nose and throat. <i>Don’t cry, show no weakness. There are others that might survive.</i> I took a step, followed by several more. If I managed to get Johnny and Jake out of here, they could lock down and call for help. Peripheral vision said at least seven survived. <i>The good of the many outweigh the good of the few, or the one</i>, I repeated in my head, remembering the line from the eighties movie, Star Trek: Wrath of Khan. I wasn’t brave like Spock, I was a coward, and couldn’t live with myself.<br />
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Standing in front of Johnny, I released a punch, sending him reeling. I grabbed his M16 as he lurched to the left, and turned it on Jake. I hesitated, seeing his beautiful eyes, a dozen years of memories flashing in front of me. Shaking my head, I pulled the trigger. His body jumped and moved, eyes wide with pain and surprise.<br />
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I turned the muzzle to a hunched over Johnny, “Look at me. For once, don’t be a coward, and face the person who is going to take your life.”<br />
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<a href="http://sinfulthoughtsbookblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/fractured-steel-teaser-3.gif"><img alt="Fractured Steel Teaser 3" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-791" src="http://sinfulthoughtsbookblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/fractured-steel-teaser-3.gif?w=474" height="609" width="474" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">About the Author</span></b></div>
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<a href="http://sinfulthoughtsbookblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/tj-loveless.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="TJ Loveless" class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-789" src="http://sinfulthoughtsbookblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/tj-loveless.jpg?w=150" height="150" width="150" /></a>T.J. Loveless has been reading and writing stories since the fourth grade. A former copy/content editor at a medium sized pub house, she now spends her time writing and helping other authors reach for the stars through Cliffhanger Press, LLC.<br />
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She lives with The Writing Zoo, a Hubby who prefers her mood when writing, and a teenager who loves to tells stories of Mom on the floor trying to visualize "legs all akimbo" and the long, often yelling, conversations with the computer screen.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/TJLovelessAuthor" target="_blank">Facebook</a> ~ <a href="https://twitter.com/tjloveless3" target="_blank">Twitter</a> ~ <a href="http://tjloveless.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> ~ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/TJLovelessAuthor" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Purchase Her Other Books Today</span></strong></div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/18KPl0M" target="_blank">Amazon</a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Giveaway</span></strong></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Open Internationally</div>
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$100 Visa Gift Card, Signed Paperback of Fractured Steel and an ebook of Going Thru Hell/Odd Number Five</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>20 Fun Facts</b></span><br />
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1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I used to race on dirt tracks at the I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Arkansas. I never won, but I’m damn good at crabbing around a corner.<br />
2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>English is technically my second language. I spoke Inupiat first.<br />
3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I can shovel water like nobody’s business, and drive heavy equipment, learned while working for a construction company in Florida.<br />
4.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I’m obsessed with American classic cars – the muscle cars of the 1960’s, the curves of the 1940’s & 50’s, the roar of a gasoline guzzling engine.<br />
5.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I used to rescue Rottweilers, managed to retrain and place 172 dogs.<br />
6.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I can cuss up a storm, and make an inmate blush.<br />
7.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I love the show Supernatural. My favorite character? Baby. The boys are cute eye candy, but I squee over the Impala.<br />
8.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I have PTSD, and large cities/heavy traffic are my worst triggers. I have a teddy bear I carry with me, if Hubby isn’t available.<br />
9.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I love snakes … I’m terrified of spiders. I once jumped out of the second story window of our house and broke my leg to get away from a wolf spider.<br />
10.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I’m a USDA, card carrying, certified klutz. I trip over nothing, and proud of it.<br />
11.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I’m addicted to coffee. The real surprise is that I didn’t drink coffee until 2003. Raspberry Mocha Lattes with two extra shots from Paramount Café are my Kryptonite.<br />
12.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I adore Star Trek, Star Wars, and used to have a collection of X-Men comics from the late 80’s.<br />
13.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I’m a biologist at heart, and love anything science-y.<br />
14.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>My fourth grade teacher still has the first short story I ever wrote. She has it hanging on her living room wall with pictures of her family. I don’t remember what the story was about.<br />
15.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I don’t like popcorn.<br />
16.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I love winter and the long nights.<br />
17.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I have no sense of fashion. Hence, I wear a lot of jeans, t-shirts and sneakers. For fashion advice, I go to Hubby, my teenager, or friends. I didn’t know what Jimmy Chu’s were until a writer friend explained them to me.<br />
18.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I don’t watch scary/gory/horror movies.<br />
19.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I can’t do anything craft-y to save my life. I can imagine it, but the execution looks like a hamster on crack tried to make it.<br />
20.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I had to have Hubby help me think of 20 interesting things to share.Ash Torbeckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07115227673822415273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6984283052231306448.post-17802628342855718892014-02-14T14:54:00.000-05:002014-02-14T14:54:17.040-05:00Book Blitz: Forever DoomedIt's not wise to wander the cruise ship Forever alone at night. You might not live to see daylight.<br />
Detective Jack Harney agrees to do an old Army buddy a favor. Curt Noble had some personal business to attend to, he didn’t say what. What he did say was he needed someone to temporarily take over his duties as head of security on the struggling cruise ship Forever. Jack hesitates, but he owes Curt his life so agrees. He’s told the worst mischief he can expect to encounter will be the occasional shoplifter, or drunk. Instead, one week into the cruise, a beautiful red head and a member of the crew are ruthlessly murdered. Are the two murders connected? It’s up to Jack to find out. He must find the killer before the ship returns to Tampa’s port, or worse, before another dead body is found. This won't be easy. The ship is old, it's security systems outdated, and clues are few, or so it seems at first<br />
It’s not just a sense of obligation that motivates Jack to agree to Curt's request;<br />
Jack moved thousands of miles, started over, and still can't get Amy O'Brian out of his heart or mind. When she shows up on the ship, as part of a large wedding party, Jack must fight to stay focused. To make matters worse, Amy isn't his only distraction; a sexy and mysterious woman has made it her mission to seduce Jack.<br />
As the body count rises, and time slips away, Jack has to ask himself, “Did someone commit the perfect crime?”<br />
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forever doomed</h3>
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maryann kempher </h3>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19232942-forever-doomed?from_search=true" title="">goodreads</a></div>
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purchase links</h3>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H0OFCDY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00H0OFCDY&linkCode=as2&tag=everymarie-20" title="">amazon us</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Forever-Doomed-MaryAnn-Kempher/dp/1494211270/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391278927&sr=8-1&keywords=forever+doomed" title="">amazon uk</a> | <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/link?id=vGlJ3rrJ*Vg&offerid=239662.2940149069187&type=2&murl=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.barnesandnoble.com%2FForever-Doomed%2FMaryAnn-Kempher%2Fe%2F2940149069187" title="">barnes & Noble</a> | <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/link?id=vGlJ3rrJ*Vg&offerid=314164.100691230000204232&type=2&murl=http%3A%2F%2Fstore.kobobooks.com%2Fen-US%2Febook%2Fforever-doomed" title="">kobo</a></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
excerpt</h3>
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Jack watched Marni leave, torn. Did he think she’d killed Pam? No, but she was keeping something from him, something to do with Pam’s murder. He looked down at his arm, seeing her small hand. His heart was still beating hard. It had taken real effort to hide his feelings when she’d touched him. After a few minutes, he started walking, and was soon standing outside Marni’s cabin door. He hesitated. He told himself he was just going there to talk to her, to try to make her tell him what he sensed she was holding back. But that was a lie. He reached up and knocked. She opened the door wearing a towel.</div>
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“I was about to take a shower,” she said.</div>
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Jack didn’t respond. He walked into her room, shoving the door shut behind him. He took hold of her towel and pulled her tightly against his body, his mouth covering hers, his tongue searching for hers, his hands yanking the towel off and tossing it to the floor. He easily picked up Marni and carried her to the bed. She pulled his shirt up over his head, her hands running themselves through his thick chest hair. She reached for his belt buckle, undoing it slowly, her eyes watching his. Then she pulled his pants down and gasped.</div>
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<em>Oh my</em>.</div>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
about the author</h3>
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MaryAnn Kempher loves to write mystery with a dash of romance. She spent her teen years spent living in Reno NV where her first book, Mocha, Moonlight, and Murder is set. The setting for her second book, Forever Doomed, was inspired by her love of the ocean. Her writing influences include favorite authors Agatha Christie, Jane Austen and Janet Evanovich. Her guilty pleasures include any and all sweets, including a good cup of Mocha. She is married with two children.</div>
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contact maryann</h3>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMaryAnnKempher" title="">facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.blogger.com/mkempher.com" title="">website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/maryannkempher" title="">twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7056748.MaryAnn_Kempher" title="">goodreads</a></div>
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previous books</h3>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17829786-mocha-moonlight-and-murder" title="">goodreads</a></h3>
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Instead of feeding her late-night appetite, a midnight food run nearly gets 28-year-old Katherine O’Brian killed. She’s the only person to see the man who brutally murdered a local woman, and the killer is hell-bent on making sure she doesn’t talk.<br />
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Scott Mitchell left a broken engagement behind when he moved to Reno, and the last thing he needs is more melodrama. But when he and Katherine are paired for a college project, that’s what he gets. It can be very distracting when someone is out to kill your lab partner. Together, they try to figure out what the police haven’t been able to—the identity of the murderer. Passion flares, but with Katherine’s life in danger, romance seems like more than a bad idea.<br />
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Scott and Katherine will face jealousy, misunderstandings, lust, and rivals, not to mention attempted murder—and all before their first real date</div>
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hosted by</h3>
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Ash Torbeckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07115227673822415273noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6984283052231306448.post-39217115364908712952014-02-08T18:23:00.000-05:002014-02-08T18:23:29.919-05:00Checking In!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LmvSWFe72Ac/Uva5h1nGfKI/AAAAAAAAHYU/e3mCiCKMlik/s1600/Funny+Monkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LmvSWFe72Ac/Uva5h1nGfKI/AAAAAAAAHYU/e3mCiCKMlik/s1600/Funny+Monkey.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><br />
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Holy monkeys! So, I started back to work this week for the first time in a year and a half.<br />
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I. Am. Exhausted.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1STeRMHXbgw/Uva7SeSmLeI/AAAAAAAAHYg/bu1B-gy8vrc/s1600/broke.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1STeRMHXbgw/Uva7SeSmLeI/AAAAAAAAHYg/bu1B-gy8vrc/s1600/broke.gif" height="257" width="320" /></a>But I'm SO grateful to be getting back out in the workforce (and out of my house, thus releasing me from the clutches of cabin fever!!) to help my hubby pay the bills. I don't complain a lot on here, so unless you follow my personal Facebook page you may not realize the long run of bad luck our family has been facing for the last 2 years. I had trouble finding a job for a while, but now that I'm working again at a job I absolutely LOVE thus far, there's finally a light at the end of the long dark tunnel. We're really hoping that this is the end of the horrific nightmare of being flat broke and the beginning of a new chapter in our lives.<br />
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That being said, I don't have any promo posts set up for next week just yet, and I may keep it that way so I don't miss any posts and have time to get acclimated to working again. I'll still try to pop in and post stuff as I have time, but I make no guarantees unless the post is already pre-arranged before Monday. :P<br />
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So, the blog might be a tad bit quiet this upcoming week, but I promise, neither the Penguin nor myself is abandoning the blog - you can't get rid of us that easily! So I hope you don't abandon us either!!<br />
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Till next time, have a happy weekend and stay safe in this crazy ass winter weather we've been having!!Ash Torbeckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07115227673822415273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6984283052231306448.post-3428030463251852852014-02-05T08:00:00.000-05:002014-02-08T16:06:10.231-05:00Blog Tour Stop - Intractable Souls by Tricia DanielsWe've got an extra surprise for you today! A blog tour stop with the lovely Tricia Daniels, who just happens to be taking her book Intractable Souls on tour. Sound fun? Let's see what we've got to share with you...<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Excerpt</b></span></div>
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“Lay down on the couch baby, the desk is too hard and cold. I want you to be comfortable.”<br />
Moving to the couch, she sits down feeling awkward, not entirely sure how he wants her. Although she was momentarily disappointed about not living out her fantasy of being ravaged on his desk she’s thankful for the soft, warm leather underneath her. When he walks toward her with that confident, commanding swagger her stomach bottoms out. Roller coasters were less exciting than being alone with this man. He grins. “Look at you. You’re so beautiful.” Sitting down beside her, Ethan studies her expression. “You look nervous. Like it’s the first time we’ve ever been intimate.” That seems to give him great pleasure. Running his hands along her leg, he makes her pulse quicken. Parting her lips to breathe through her mouth, Olivia tries to ease oxygen into her lungs.<br />
“I love the reactions I get from you.” Ethan says, twirling her hair around his fingers before brushing his thumb across her bottom lip. Holding her chin and tipping it up he claims her lips in one hell of a possessive kiss, adding to the intensity as he parts them to slip his tongue inside. When she trembles in anticipation of what's to come he pulls his lips away to look at her face. He’s intrigued by her reaction to him tonight. It’s driving him wild, feeding into his inner caveman. “Why do you look so nervous, baby? Tell me.”<br />
The words spill from her mouth unrestrained. “I never know what you’re going to do. One day you’re all love songs and twinkle lights… the next day you’re all about ripping panties and fucking. I never know what to expect.” His shoulders tense as he leans forward and rests his nose against her forehead, nuzzling for a moment, needing to know the answer but afraid to hear the truth. “Do you think I could ever hurt you?”<br />
“No, I’m not frightened.” She says confidently, not wanting to give him the wrong impression and have him pull back.<br />
“So you’re nervousness is from suspense then? You’re excited?” She can feel the relief roll through his body.<br />
“Yes.” Her body tenses and she squeezes her thighs together growing impatient for him to touch her.<br />
“I’m not gonna lie. I like that.” He brushes his cheek down hers moving his mouth to her ear. “Do you trust me to look after your needs?” He whispers before sucking her ear lobe into his mouth and nipping it with his teeth.<br />
“Yes.” She moans as he slides his hand between her thighs and gently pries them apart moving upwards towards her panties.<br />
“Good, because that’s my job now. Only mine.”</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Interview</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WRw70VHGCkE/UvGdA9uhUMI/AAAAAAAAHX4/nebtHg8wNck/s1600/Intractable+Souls+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WRw70VHGCkE/UvGdA9uhUMI/AAAAAAAAHX4/nebtHg8wNck/s1600/Intractable+Souls+Cover.jpg" height="400" width="306" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: For starters, tell us a bit about you, we like to get to know our authors as a person!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Tricia</i></b></span>: I live in a small town in Southern Ontario, Canada where I raised 3 sons as a single parent. The simple truth is... I'm just a normal woman, struggling to pay the bills and trying to raise my kids in a home where they feel empowered, supported and loved. They have all grown up to be fine young men and I couldn’t be any prouder of them.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Nice to meet you! So tell us, where did you find the inspiration for your most recent book?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Tricia</i></b></span>: Love.... love inspired me to write this story. The same way you all feel when you connect with a fictional character and you feel their emotions, their angst... when you're body gets all warm and squeezy at the good parts. An author experiences those things too when they are writing. I loved when I was writing and the characters took over the story. I loved the plot twists that developed that I hadn't planned. I loved the start of the journey to the HEA, even though sometimes that road had a lot of bends in it. I love how two imperfect characters can love each other perfectly. My reward, my inspiration is experiencing through them, a love so deep that I feel it in my own heart.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>DSP</b></i></span>: So, do you have any kind of ritual for writing? Such as, you have to write with music on, or you can only write when you’re completely alone, etc.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Tricia</i></b></span>: I need complete and utter quiet. Nobody around. I do my best writing up at the lake.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Who is your favorite character in your book, and why? How about the character you had the most trouble with?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Tricia</i></b></span>: I love them all for different reasons. I hate them all for different reasons. It’s a complex cast of characters and I don’t think I could chose. Of course Ethan O’Connell the smoking hot, alpha, Irish man with a killer romantic side is kind of dreamy ~sighs~<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>DSP</b></i></span>: Now, when you sit down to write a book, a paragraph, or whatever you‘re working on at the moment, do you just sit down in front of the computer, or do you need an outline of some sort? Is there any other prep you need in order to organize your thoughts either before you write or in the process of writing?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Tricia</i></b></span>: I always have a story line, but the characters often do what they want. At times they get so far away from my intended story I scratch my head and wonder how I’m ever going to get it back on track. Sometimes that’s the fun part about being the author… Not even I know what’s actually going to happen until it’s down in ink.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Do you foresee any more books to continue this story? If so, do you think we can get a taste of what’s to come?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Tricia</i></b></span>: Yes, and to avoid any confusion on the part of your followers please let me clarify… Intractable Souls is the first book in what’s planned to be a trilogy, telling the story and journey to love for Ethan O’Connell and Olivia James. The trilogy is part of the “Bound for Ireland” series. There will also be spin off books in this series telling the stories of some of the secondary characters. There seems to be some confusion among some of the readers who were unaware that Intractable Souls was not a stand alone. For that I apologize and chalk it up to a rookie author error. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Other than this most recent story, do you have any ideas for different books that might be published in the future? Care to give us a teaser?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Tricia</b></i></span>: After all three books in Olivia and Ethan’s trilogy are done I will work on the secondary characters from this series. Just for you… A sneak peak into Carter Brant’s Story. But don’t tell my friend Trisha because she’ll faint. She’s team Carter all the way. Who doesn’t love a rugged Australian man?<br />
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<b><i>Carter Brant - Impulsive (planned for release November 2014)</i></b></div>
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Carter puts his beer down and turns in his seat. “Because I’m going back to Australia in a week and she’s not the kind of girl you mess around with once and leave behind. I can tell.”<br />
“You can tell? How can you tell?” Ethan asks curiously as he glances back at Kate, taking in her warm smile when she catches him looking.<br />
“I just can.” He pauses trying to think of a way to explain it to him. “Ok, listen… remember how you felt about Olivia the first time you saw her? The way you said she had gotten under your skin just by the way she looked at you. You said it was as if she saw right through you and past all your bullshit. That was all it took for you right? The look in her eyes…You’ll never forget it. What if that was her. Could you could take her home and make love to her and then just leave her behind a week from now?<br />
“Not a chance. But there’s no harm in just being friends right?”<br />
“Yes there is Ethan. When I look at Kate I feel obsessed, like I have to have her. If I spend time with her, and see just how sweet she really is… I won’t be able to hold back. Once I’ve had a taste of her it will kill me to leave her behind. You must understand that. ”<br />
“Wow, how the mighty have fallen.” Ethan teases.<br />
“You’re one to talk Mate.”<br />
Carter glances over to the other side of the bar where Kate is surrounded by several guys trying hard to capture her attention. He can hear the charming and flirty conversations taking place and suddenly feels like he’s capable of murder. He’s still staring when she looks past her current admirers and locks onto his gaze. When a smile forms on her beautiful lips, a spark ignites a flash fire deep in his belly, giving him the urge to walk across the room and knock all those assholes out of the way. Yes, let’s start with that. Pulling her to her feet, he’ll back her up against the wall and kiss her. The way a girl needs to be kissed. Holding her hands over her head; his lips roughly against her like he means it, and with no intentions of stopping<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Have you named the computer you use for writing?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Tricia</i></b></span>: I think it’s name must be “ARE YOU KIDDING ME?” because that seems to be what I yell at it a lot.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: What is your greatest fear about being an author?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Tricia</i></b></span>: Oh definitely that everyone is going to hate my story. I want everyone to like the story. Even if you’re not a fan of one of the main characters I hoped to write it so that there is someone everyone can connect with. It wasn’t easy… but it was the reason for the 3rd person pov. I wanted you all to know each character personally, as they are such a huge part of Ethan and Olivia’s lives.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Which of the characters in your book do you feel is the most like yourself, and in what way?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Tricia</i></b></span>: Well, I deny it a lot and it makes my friends laugh. I’m very much like Olivia James. Always throwing up walls and keeping people at a distance. Afraid to let them get to close.<br />
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And now, for something completely different… some slightly off-the-wall and possibly irrelevant questions, just to get to know this author a little better!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Are you planning to bring sexy back?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Tricia</i></b></span>: I was planning on it but I heard there were no refunds or exchanges.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: If you could be any cartoon character for 24 hours, who would you pick and why?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Tricia</i></b></span>: Road Runner, just to annoy the hell of out of Wile E. Coyote.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: How many ridges are there around a quarter?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Tricia</i></b></span>: Cdn or US? What exactly is the exchange rate on ridges?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Do you believe in fate or destiny?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Tricia</i></b></span>: Yes, but I also believe that one can change their stars. One of my favorite parts from the movie A Knight’s Tale in 2001<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Tricia</i></b></span>: None, because the Canadian beaver hid it all.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: What are your thoughts on string?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Tricia</i></b></span>: Yo Yo’s would be no fun without it.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Boxers or briefs?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Tricia</i></b></span>: Boxers… or MMA fighters… and a couple of wrestlers…<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Thong, G-string/v-string, or other? If other, please explain.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Tricia</i></b></span>: Cringing. None of the above<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: What is your favorite song?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Tricia</i></b></span>: Ice Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Do you have any tattoos? If so, how many, what are they, and where are they on your body? (PG-13)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Tricia</i></b></span>: No, But I’m considering getting my celtic knot tattoed on my shoulder.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: What’s your favorite candy? Ice cream?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Tricia</i></b></span>: Mike and Ikes<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: If you had to pick a CB handle, what would it be?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Tricia</i></b></span>: Celtic Soul<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP </i></b></span>Would the 8-year-old version of yourself kick your ass or praise you for what you’ve done with your life?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Tricia</b></i></span>: I think the 8 year old me would be proud of me.<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">DSP</span></i></b>: What is the last song you listened to?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Tricia</i></b></span>: Say Something - Christina Aguilera and Great Big World. and yes… it made me cry<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>DSP</b></i></span>: Do you have any talents you haven’t shared with us?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Tricia</i></b></span>: Only those rated 18+<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Imagine you’re the sole survivor of a plane crash at sea, and you awake stranded on a deserted and uncharted island in the Bermuda Triangle. Nobody knows you’re there, and you have nothing but the clothes on your back. You’re all alone, and there’s terrifying sounds coming from deep within the jungle. Late that night as you’re starving, a large suitcase washes up on the shore. You open it up. What’s in the suitcase?<br />
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Tricia</span></b></i>: Dear Lord, I’m praying it’s Jason Statham! </div>
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You are NOT the first person to want a Jason Statham, and I have to admit, I wouldn't be upset to find him either!! </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>20 Fun Facts</b></span></div>
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1. The word sausage, always makes me giggle<br />
2. I’m extremely competitive at sports<br />
3. Schmirnoff Ice makes me lose the whereabouts of my shoes and my bra<br />
4. I’m currently single because no man will ever be as good as my book boyfriend<br />
5. I taught your boyfriend that thing that you like. <br />
6. I’m a huge Eminem fan<br />
7. I have some kind of kinky thing for elves and men who use a bow and arrow.<br />
8. I love line dancing and sometimes I dance just a little askew of the line… cuz that’s how I roll!<br />
9. I DESPISE sock and shoes. I’d walk around barefoot 24/7 if I could<br />
10. One of my favorite times of the day is when I get to take my bra off.<br />
11. I’m a slow waker. I hit the snooze button several times before I actually get out of bed.<br />
12. I currently work in an office as the assistant to management team. It’s like having 7 husbands. ugh<br />
13. Granny panties - yeah, I went there.<br />
14. I deal with stress by laughing. It’s really awkward at funerals.<br />
15. I often get in my van… point it in any direction and GO !!!<br />
16. I blush when I edit the sexy parts of my books.<br />
17. I just recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of my 29th Birthday! Go ahead and do the math.<br />
18. Pumpkin Pie makes me gag.<br />
19. I have a huge obsession with Classic Muscle Cars.<br />
20. I don’t float.<br />
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Well, there ya have it folks! Hope you enjoyed this stellar interview and go get this book!!</div>
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Ash Torbeckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07115227673822415273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6984283052231306448.post-56139423423297560272014-02-04T08:00:00.000-05:002014-02-04T08:00:04.827-05:00Blog Tour Stop - Daring the Wild Sparks by Ren Alexander<div style="text-align: center;">
We're on a roll with blog tours and promotions!!</div>
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Today brings us a new blog tour stop - Daring the Wild Sparks, by Ren Alexander. As the second book in the series, it's got everything in a book you could ask for. Seriously, check it out and read the interview at the bottom of the post!!</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> In
the follow up to “Chasing the Wild Sparks,” Hadley Beckett’s quest for wedded
bliss perseveres…<br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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would you do if the love of your life were closer to making your dreams come
true?<br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Riding
high in her relationship with her sportscaster/local daredevil boyfriend, Finn
Wilder, Hadley Beckett makes plans concerning her future with Finn. Big
plans.<br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Spending
time with Finn at his parents’ house for Easter, Hadley can’t wait to share
some of her ideas with him, hoping he will go along. She knows she has an
uphill climb ahead of her, but she’s optimistic that after what they recently
went through, Finn will be receptive to what she has to say.<br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Infamously
anti-marriage, Finn promised Hadley he’d consider taking her to the altar if
she gives him more time. Diving headfirst and with encouragement from her best
friend Morgan, Hadley devises a backup plan if Finn can’t make a decision soon.
However, her other close friend, Rod, disagrees with Morgan’s advice, partly to
just oppose her in spite, but also having actual valid points of his own.
Feeling conflicted, Hadley takes both of their suggestions and blends them
together, formulating her own way to handle Finn.<br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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the other hand, unbeknownst to Hadley, Finn has plans of his own as
well.<br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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alexander</span></div>
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links</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <span class="s1"> </span>He buries his lips against my
neck and purrs, “I’m sorry, baby. How can I make it up to you?”</span></div>
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“I don’t know. I’ll think of something.”</span></div>
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“<i>I</i> can think of something.”</span></div>
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“No way. I get to decide, not you.”</span></div>
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He drags his lips up and down my skin, and closing my
eyes, I swallow when he asks, “Are you going to tease me <i>all</i>
day?”</span></div>
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I squeak, “I might.” He lifts his head from me and tries
to turn me around, but I grab onto the fence, preventing him from doing
so.</span></div>
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“Is this how you’re going to be?” I hear the ambiguous
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“Maybe.”</span></div>
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I eye him from over my shoulder, his lips dangerously
close to mine as he asks, “What am I going to have to do to get my kiss?” His
eyes are marginally pleading and he rolls his lower lip under his teeth, surely
tempting me. Gripping the fence tighter, I viciously resist those full,
glistening lips of his, and kissing him with wild unrestraint.</span></div>
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Wickedly smirking at him, I whisper, “Work for it,
Wilder.”</span></div>
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Turning, I walk along the fence and around the corner,
finding another sign to distract me. Stopping, I glance at Finn through the
white metal as a few women walk past him, furtively checking him out and
giggling as they walk by. Unless they watch him online, I doubt they’re
Finnatics since we’re far from Richmond. No, they were staring at my boyfriend
because of how scrumptious he is.</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
It’s positively the mood-ring hair.</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
Wait. On second thought, it has to be his scorchingly
carnal, dark-chocolate eyes that melt your soul with just one look.</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
Still in the same spot I left him, Finn transiently angles
his head to see where the laughter is coming from. Not being able to help
himself, he gives the women a polite nod accompanied by a crooked, shameless
grin. Instantly, their mouths drop and they stop blinking as they bump into each
other, caught in his magical allure. He must be recruiting new
Finnatics.</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
It’s definitely his sexy smile.</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
I should be pissed at his flirting, like I was at the
race, but I’m used to seeing him flash that smile on TV to his Finnatics,
making them hot and bothered. I trust him. I’m okay with him innocently
acknowledging other women—it’s part of his public persona. However, when
they’re all over him, touching him in places that only <i>I</i>
should be, that’s when I can’t take it.</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
Finn Wilder is <i>mine.</i></span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
Finished with his apparent networking, he looks back at me
and I give him a flirty smile, obviously gawking at him myself. He rolls his
eyes and looks away from me. Is he chagrined that I caught him checking out
other women or is he proud of himself checking out other women in front of me?
Putting his hands on his hips, he laughs and shakes his head.</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
Finn embarrassed? Never.</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
He languidly starts walking to me, looking thoughtfully
around him, as if he’s formulating a plan. I watch him approaching as he passes
by the metal rails, the view of him alternatingly obscured by the vertical
bars. He turns the corner and I shift my stare to the sign in front of me.
Every molecule of my being is on high alert, eagerly anticipating his
closeness.</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
With the hair on the back of my neck on end, he’s once
again behind me, and for a second time, he puts his arms around my waist and
his lips against my neck. My body is singing for his touch. He discreetly
flicks his tongue as his lips close over my skin, doing this up to my ear. He
then nips at my earlobe, causing me to harshly inhale. He repeats biting my ear
several times, driving me crazy. As I continue to stare at the sign in front of
me, I strive to not be too affected, since we’re openly in public.
Unexpectedly, he tersely breathes into my ear, huffing in short bursts,
simulating his panting during sex. I gasp and reach up to hold onto the
fence.</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
Grasping the fence on either side of me, his lips graze my
ear as he brusquely whispers, “Do you want to kiss me now, Becks?”</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
I swallow and wheeze, “Nope.” <i>Be
strong.</i></span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
I feel his smile against me. Finn Wilder lives for one
thing in life: a challenge he refuses to lose.</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
He pants and groans into my ear. “Oh, Hadley, baby, you’re
so sexy. I want you. I don’t care who watches. I’m going to come so hard inside
you.” My knees nearly buckle. I quietly whimper and close my eyes.</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
I’m supposed to be showing him other ways than sex to be
close to me. My plan is backfiring, big time. <i>Damn
it</i>!</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
He whispers, “What about now?”</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
I nod and hoarsely say, “Yes.”</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
He whispers, “Good.” He slides his teeth over my ear.
“Because two can play at this game.”</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <a href="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:user:renalexander:playlist:11X0791ZXxE5QVE287p2wm" title="">Playlist via spotify</a> | <a href="http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLs5M8FFCxvrSago6xjAw9ahUF0z3RqtRX" title="">playlist via youtube</a></span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <img alt="" src="http://everythingmarie.com/images/chasing.jpg" style="height: 424px; width: 318px;" /></span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Chasing
the wild sparks </span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Book
#1</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18652751-chasing-the-wild-sparks" title="">goodreads</a></span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> What
would you do if the love of your life doesn’t want the same life you do?<br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Hadley
Beckett has failed in not only her career, but as a daughter, friend, and
girlfriend.<br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Hadley’s
longtime boyfriend, Finn Wilder, who is Richmond, Virginia’s local daredevil
and favorite sportscaster, isn’t afraid of anything…except for LASIK surgery,
dancing, marriage, and kids—the last two being what Hadley desperately wants
with him. Finn leads a very public life; however, he leaves Hadley in the dark
about most of it. Despite his public persona, Finn is viciously protective of
his private life. Excluding their families, his best friend and Hadley’s
friends, nobody knows he has been dating her for three years. Finn loves Hadley
and he knows she wants to get married. Nevertheless, he has his own reasons for
not wanting to marry her.<br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Fearing
at 33 that she will soon be too old to have kids, Hadley wants Finn to change
his mind and marry her, yet her insecurities about his seemingly charismatic
personality and his constant rebuffs have her questioning her aspirations. With
conflicting advice from her friends, Hadley concludes she should take things
into her own hands.<br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Would
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Finn
pressures Hadley into moving in with him, but being traditional, she wants to
be married first and she wants to stick to her beliefs, just as he clings to
his own. Finn has tolerated Hadley’s stubbornness long enough and he’s reaching
his breaking point.<br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Finn
Wilder has his own story to tell.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Purchase
links</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <a href="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:user:renalexander:playlist:46umyn0HpzkMbbK7qsviCA" title="">Playlist via spotify</a> | <a href="http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLs5M8FFCxvrRJBAfZDQG1pfanW0QlRK1M" title="">playlist via youtube</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> about
the author</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiPwz-B89LtkT6TBglNODIZpG4nghimLsIMlMuWMh8N9UIuqVKkBVL9Zx-iOLphXpZhOL1838s91I8F-zdj7-icYnfvjNM5mns-QZ-ORKxRTlFrEJ1UG9AGfUOtUCfKJimRRlSi-KMOiITfyopp4Jv2=" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://everythingmarie.com/images/author_pic.jpg" height="320" style="height: 120px; width: 117px;" width="312" /></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Ren
Alexander was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, but grew up in a nearby tiny,
historical, college town in the Northern Panhandle of the state. She graduated
from West Liberty University, where she received a B.S. in criminal justice.
Although interested in that field, her true passion was reading and writing.<br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> She
currently lives in Detroit, Michigan with her husband, two daughters and two
cats.<br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> "Chasing
the Wild Sparks" is Ren's first novel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> contact
ren</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RenAlexanderAuthor" title="">facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7275138.Ren_Alexander" title="">goodreads</a> | <a href="http://renalexanderauthor.blogspot.com/" title="">website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/wild_renalex" title="">twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00HNWRZ4C" title="">amazon author page</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/5f72814/" id="rc-5f72814" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter
giveaway</a> <script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <img alt="" src="http://everythingmarie.com/images/everything marie
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>How about that interview? Let's learn about Ren!!</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>DSP</b></i></span>: For starters, tell us a bit about you, we like to get to know our authors as a person!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Ren</i></b></span>: I’m a married mother of two little girls and am originally from Wheeling, West Virginia, but currently live in Detroit, Michigan. I’ll just include that list of 14 things I was hit with this week on Facebook:<br />
<br />
1. My favorite ice cream is chocolate/peanut butter, but I don't do the kind with the cups in it.<br />
2. The smell of peaches and cucumbers make me viciously gag. I can't even walk through a produce aisle without breathing out of my mouth or holding my breath when I'm around them. Peaches are especially smelly there.<br />
3. Watermelon, banana, and peach candy flavors are GROSS.<br />
4. I LOVE lighthouses!<br />
5. I'm a huge history buff. I could watch the History Channel all day when they're showing actual shows about history.<br />
6. I'm right-handed, but can only drive with my left hand. If I drove with my right, I would drive into a tree or off a cliff.<br />
7. I've only owned two cars, both Toyotas. The first, I had for 10 years.<br />
8. I can type 65-70 WPM.<br />
9. I'm addicted to Diet Mt. Dew ever since they changed the flavor about five years ago.<br />
10. I can't stomp on bugs. I will hurl.<br />
11. Mushrooms are the devil.<br />
12. I developed asthma when I was 27.<br />
13. I have a B.S. in criminal justice.<br />
14. When I write, I can't write scenes out of order. It drives me insane. I have to be driven to that point in order to express the characters' emotions to my full capacity. It's not organic to me.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Nice to meet you! So tell us, where did you find the inspiration for your most recent book?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Ren</i></b></span>: It was weird. I was dabbling in fan fiction with my best friend just for fun. I’d write and send her each chapter as I finished it. One day she told me I should write my own story, but I was absolutely stumped for what to write about. The harder I thought, the more blank my mind became. So, I returned to the fan fiction and focused on that again. When I wasn’t trying too hard is when the ideas started flooding my mind, so I stopped writing the fan fic and started listing all the new ideas and went from there.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>DSP</b></i></span>: So, do you have any kind of ritual for writing? Such as, you have to write with music on, or you can only write when you’re completely alone, etc<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Ren</i></b></span>: I do my best writing alone in my dark living room with my laptop, iPad and earbuds. I can only listen to certain music. For example, I ADORE the Beastie Boys, but I can’t write to them because they’re too distracting for me. When I write, I usually have a song on repeat because it helps set a mood for scenes. Therefore, I will listen to a song endlessly until the scene is finished. If I listen to something else, it ruins my flow, so I will essentially beat a song to death to get the story right.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Who is your favorite character in your book, and why? How about the character you had the most trouble with?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Ren</i></b></span>: My favorite character, hands down, is Greg Rodwell. He is so fun and the easiest to write, which is weird because he’s the most ironic. Everything about him is unexpected and contradictory, yet he’s the one yelling the loudest in my head. He’s extremely sharp-tongued and quick-witted, but I don’t think I’m either of those. I don’t know where he comes from. I probably need therapy to figure that one out. Then again, I’d rather not know.<br />
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The character I’ve had the most trouble writing is definitely Finn Wilder. He doesn’t open up as much as my other characters. I write the story from both Hadley’s and Finn’s POV’s, and Finn’s definitely take longer; therefore, are fewer in the books. He’s still a puzzle to me because I understand his stance on issues, yet I don’t.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Now, when you sit down to write a book, a paragraph, or whatever you‘re working on at the moment, do you just sit down in front of the computer, or do you need an outline of some sort? Is there any other prep you need in order to organize your thoughts either before you write or in the process of writing?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Ren</i></b></span>: I do plot an outline, but most of the time the story dictates itself, no matter the elaborate outline I have made for it, unfortunately. However, that sometimes works out better than I had originally planned. Honestly, if it’s not planned, then I just write what enters my head and rework it later if it doesn’t seem to fit.<br />
Other than not having my kids jumping all over me, the only prep I do is to listen to music to inspire me. I pick up little pieces from all kinds of songs.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Do you foresee any more books to continue this story? If so, do you think we can get a taste of what’s to come?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Ren</i></b></span>: Yes. I actually wrote all three at the same time, but it amounted to over 300,000 words. When I was looking into finding an agent or publisher, I found from my research that nobody would touch that kind of word count, so I had to split my story into three books. I am planning a fourth for my “Wild Sparks” series. Beyond that, I don’t know at present.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Other than this most recent story, do you have any ideas for different books that might be published in the future? Care to give us a teaser?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Ren</i></b></span>: No. I just want to finish this series before I get more ideas in my head. Though, some people have asked for a spin-off involving Greg Rodwell from my “Wild Sparks” books. We’ll see.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Who is your greatest inspiration to write? What person makes you believe in yourself, and how?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Ren</i></b></span>: I don’t really have an inspiration to write, per se. I just write for myself, but I love it when I find people who love my characters as much as I do. You could say that definitely inspires me to keep writing. My dad has always been a huge champion for my writing ever since I was a kid. He even bought me a diary and told me to write in it every day. I would fill up pages and pages of just the happenings of a single day. When I went to college and chose criminal justice as a major, he questioned why I would pick that when I always wanted to be a writer. When I confessed to him about my revived affair with writing recently, he was elated.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Do you have any aspirations to be similar or comparable to another author? Why?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Ren</i></b></span>: I strive to be the best writer I can be and always look for ways to improve, but no. I have my own writing style and personality in which I try to convey through my books. I don’t want to be like anyone else, though any comparisons would be flattering.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: What has been the biggest high since becoming a published author?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Ren</i></b></span>: When someone sent me a message to tell me how much they enjoyed my books and are now a fan of my work. That’s the absolute best feeling and is the most rewarding experience thus far.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Have you named the computer you use for writing?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Ren</i></b></span>: Oh, my laptop. We have such a tempestuous relationship. Although I’ve decorated it with stickers and fortunes from cookies, I didn’t give it a specific name. However, I do yell things at it. Does that count?<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Has becoming an author changed you, or the way you think about certain things? If so, how?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Ren</i></b></span>: I don’t think it has, except for having to be more social online. I’ve made so many great friends through this experience. That definitely would be my second most rewarding experience. My friends are awesome.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: What is your greatest fear about being an author?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Ren</i></b></span>: I could just say “failure,” but I don’t think I’ve failed because I’ve already accomplished my dream. I’ve written a book that has at least touched one person. That’s all I ever set out to do. I suppose I could say my biggest fear is not staying true to myself. I never want to stray away from that. Ever.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Which of the characters in your book do you feel is the most like yourself, and in what way?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Ren</i></b></span>: One of my friends says I’m a mix of Rod and Hadley. Maybe a little, but not as much as she thinks I am.<br />
<br />
I think…<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: From the first word to the moment it became available for purchase, how long did it take you to write and publish this most recent novel?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Ren</i></b></span>: I actually started writing my book back in March of last year, but when I realized it was over 300,000 words, I had to split it up into three. It took almost six months to write them and I’m currently editing the third.<br />
<br />
<br />
And now, for something completely different…some slightly off-the-wall and possibly irrelevant questions to help us get to know you on a more personal level!<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Are you planning to bring sexy back?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Ren</b></i></span>: Definitely, but why did he leave in the first place? I may need to reexamine my tactics.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">DSP</span></i></b>: If you could be any cartoon character for 24 hours, who would you pick and why?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Ren</i></b></span>: The Roadrunner for obvious reasons. Or maybe Garfield, again, for obvious reasons.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: How many ridges are there around a quarter?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Ren</i></b></span>: There are 119, which coincidentally is the same number of times I question my sanity on a daily basis.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Do you believe in fate or destiny?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Ren</i></b></span>: Do you watch The Bold and the Beautiful because I’ve been asked about Ridge, fate, and destiny? If a Logan question comes up, I’ll definitely peg you as a B&B fan.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Ren</i></b></span>: 119<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: What are your thoughts on string?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Ren</i></b></span>: A quartet, bean, a-long, bikini, cheese? You have to be more specific.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">DSP</span></i></b>: Boxers or briefs?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Ren</i></b></span>: Boxer briefs<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Thong, g-string/v-string, or other? If other, please explain.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Ren</b></i></span>: None of the above. I’d be picking things and that’s not a pretty picture.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: What is your favorite song?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Ren</i></b></span>: Out of all the questions I can be asked, that’s always one I can’t give a definitive answer because I love so many songs! One of my faves is The Neighbourhood’s “Let It Go.” That band is utterly brilliant, from their profound lyrics to their complex, but unique, sound. They are tragically underrated.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Do you have any tattoos? If so, how many, what are they, and where are they on your body? (PG-13)<br />
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Ren</span></b></i>: I have one on the inside of my right wrist, a skeleton key with an “R” worked into the top.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">DSP</span></b></i>: What’s your favorite candy? Ice cream?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Ren</i></b></span>: Anything peanut butter and chocolate.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: If you had to pick a CB handle, what would it be?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Ren</i></b></span>: Little Sparkler<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Would the 8-year-old version of yourself kick your ass or praise you for what you’ve done with your life?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Ren</i></b></span>: She’d first kick my ass for taking so long, but then praise me for finally doing it. On the other hand, I’d be crying and devastated I had my ass kicked by my own self, an eight-year-old me, no less.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: What is the last song you listened to?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Ren</i></b></span>: The Neighbourhood’s “Sweater Weather”<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Do you have any talents you haven’t shared with us?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Ren</i></b></span>: I have somewhat mad photoshop skills.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: If you could meet one person (real or fictional, alive or deceased), who would it be, and what one question would you ask?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Ren</i></b></span>: Lizzie Borden.<br />
<br />
In college, I did a 30-page term paper on the murders of her father and stepmother.<br />
I’d ask her, “Because a woman of your size could not have slung that heavy axe as many times as it took to kill your parents, who helped you?”<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Imagine you’re the sole survivor of a plane crash at sea, and you awake stranded on a deserted and uncharted island in the Bermuda Triangle. Nobody knows you’re there, and you have nothing but the clothes on your back. You’re all alone, and there’s terrifying sounds coming from deep within the jungle. Late that night as you’re starving, a large suitcase washes up on the shore. You open it up. What’s in the suitcase?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Ren</i></b></span>: I pray it’d be my sanity or Reese Cups.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
To answer your question, Ren, I am not a B&B fan, but I was named after a character on The Young & the Restless...hehe! This has been very entertaining and enlightening, and I'm sure I can speak for the readers when I say it's been fun. Ren, you are welcome here at DSP any time - even if it's just to pop in and say hi or to scare the readers on Halloween. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Sorry readers!! She knows too much about Lizzie Borden, I can't pass on it!)</div>
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<br /></div>
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Thanks again, Ren, and best of luck!!</div>
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Today, we have an awesome blog tour stop by the talented Carlie Sexton as she promotes her sexy book, Beholden to You! I hope you're in the mood for something steamy, because this book has it all...</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_T4J2FVj5us/Uu1qkZJuWTI/AAAAAAAAHXc/Ov6zKgj0nSk/s1600/blog+tour+5-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_T4J2FVj5us/Uu1qkZJuWTI/AAAAAAAAHXc/Ov6zKgj0nSk/s1600/blog+tour+5-2.jpg" height="211" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://fisfieryreads.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/beholden-to-you-v15-part-2-11-e1390424020694.jpg"><img alt="Beholden To
You.v15 part 2 (1)" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-291" src="http://fisfieryreads.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/beholden-to-you-v15-part-2-11-e1390424020694.jpg" height="711" width="474" /></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Beholden To You Synopsis:</span></b></div>
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On the heels of tragic loss, the stunning and innocent
Natalie Mason, meets handsome business mogul Mac Carter. As Natalie attempts to
pick up the pieces of her shattered life, circumstances beyond her control draw
her and Mac into a situation she wants kept secret. The two are a matched set
having both experienced immense loss in their lives. Uncertain of what she
should do, she decides to give fate a chance, opening her heart to Mac, who
just wants to love her.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But the past, who often times takes no prisoners, rears its
ugly head in a double dose. Mac’s ex-girlfriend cannot accept that their love
affair is over and takes drastic measures through deception and blackmail to
ensure that Mac will be hers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Natalie, on the other hand, has to face the one responsible
for her sister’s death. As her journey begins to bring justice and closure, the
past transports to her feet an unexpected surprise—a long lost love desiring to
posses her as his once again.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Will Mac and Natalie’s newly blossoming love be able to
endure what the past has delivered or will the victors of their hearts be the
old flames who are staking their claim?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://fisfieryreads.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/love-at-first-sight.jpg"><img alt="love at first
sight" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-282" src="http://fisfieryreads.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/love-at-first-sight.jpg" height="328" width="474" /></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Author Bio:</span></b></div>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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I have always had a passion for reading my entire life. I
love it so that I dedicated my life to educating children. As a teacher, I have
had the profound pleasure of teaching children to read and explore their
imaginations through a good book. Just recently I decided to write a story that
had been on my mind. Now I have several that I want to turn into additional
books. Writing has become a passion that I dearly love.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I live with my handsome husband in Southern California. We
enjoy the relaxed lifestyle that California provides. We have two beautiful dogs,
but on children.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>20 Fun Facts About Carlie Sexton:<o:p></o:p></strong></div>
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<ol><o:p></o:p></ol>
</div>
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<br />
<li>I
was born in Louisiana. Still consider myself a Southern Belle, even though I
have lived in California longer.</li>
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<br />
<li>I
never eat lima beans because they remind me of stink bugs.</li>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<li>In
high school, my favorite sport in P.E. was archery.</li>
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<br />
<li>My
toes are always painted.</li>
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<br />
<li>I
lived in Hawaii from 5-9 years old. Learned to hula then.</li>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
<li>I’m
technically challenged and didn’t send my first text until
August~2013.</li>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
<li>I
met my hubby at a church singles group.</li>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
<li>When
writing the Killer Next Door series, I watched all of the Dexter episodes in
about a month!</li>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
<li>My
favorite color is purple, but I only have 2 purple items in my
closet.</li>
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<li>I
have 2 dogs. One whines and one groans to get my attention.</li>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
<li>My
hubby is complicated and I modeled Neil after his assertive side and Mac after
his perceptive, nurturing side.</li>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
<li>My
favorite super hero is Wonder Woman.</li>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
<li>I’m
addicted to mint chocolate chip ice cream.</li>
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<li>I
became a teacher at 35.</li>
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<li>My
hair is naturally curly, but I straighten it.</li>
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<li>My
favorite wine is Moscato.</li>
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<br />
<li>I
never played Scrabble until I was in my 30’s.</li>
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<li>In
college I drove a Camaro.</li>
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<li>I
love decorating and my home has an Italian flare to it.</li>
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<li>I
eat an apple and a pear every day.</li>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="http://fisfieryreads.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/mac-love-natalie.jpg"><img alt="mac love
natalie" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-285" src="http://fisfieryreads.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/mac-love-natalie.jpg" height="366" width="474" /></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<strong>Meet the Characters:</strong></div>
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<a href="http://fisfieryreads.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/dreamcast.jpg"><img alt="Dreamcast" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-281" src="http://fisfieryreads.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/dreamcast.jpg" height="613" width="474" /></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Excerpt 1:</b></div>
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Closing the door behind me, I was grateful to be back in my
own room. Peeling out of my clothes, I quickly got into the shower. It felt
like an oasis, the water caressing my body. Thoughts of Mac and I in bed were
coming back to me like rapid fire from a machine gun. These thoughts startled
me as my body began to respond to the pictures in my mind. Mac knew his way around
a female’s body and it certainly felt as though he had pulled out all the stops
with me. When I closed my eyes I could visualize his head between my legs. The
memory of it made my insides clench down deep. Then I remembered the
culmination of his efforts and my body’s response in a tantalizing orgasm. It
was unlike anything I had ever experienced before.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I had to push those thoughts out of my head because the
whole situation was crazy. We got married, and he didn’t seem to be taken aback
by it. In fact, he was calm about the whole thing. Strange reaction for a guy.
I felt kind of bad for running out of there like I did, but when I fell on him,
things became real—too real. I began remembering in that moment our intimate
interaction, and for a split second, I thought about surrendering to my desire
for him. Again. Willingly. While sober. If I had, we’d be in bed together, and
he’d be doing…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://fisfieryreads.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/mac-proclaims-love.jpg"><img alt="Mac proclaims
love" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-299" src="http://fisfieryreads.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/mac-proclaims-love.jpg" height="366" width="474" /></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Excerpt 2:</b></div>
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<b> </b>She looked so open and carefree,
that all I wanted to do was scoop her into my arms and kiss her. “I’m going to
lay my cards on the table, no pun intended. I like you. I have from the moment
you walked into the Statton’s kitchen. I’d like for us to get to know each other
better and I want to start dating you when we return to San Diego. How do you
feel about that?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Natalie looked down at her hands for a moment. When she
looked up at me she had a coy smile on her face. “I’d like that.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was so happy I acted on impulse. I leaned in and kissed
her, gently at first, but then I couldn’t hold back and I invaded her mouth
with my tongue, stroking hers in an erotic dance. My hands found her waist and
I pulled her toward me, positioning her on top of me, her legs straddling my
hips. She kissed me back with a passion I hadn’t experienced before, like she
had been dying to be kissed and I was the cure. I untied her robe and slid my
hands around her ribs. She was wearing a tank top and boxers. I debated running
my hands over her breasts, but in light of her inexperience, I didn’t want to
move too fast. So I just continued kissing her, pulling her body close to mine
as she moaned in my mouth, causing my blood to overheat. I wanted her and I
wanted her bad.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b></b><a href="http://fisfieryreads.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/penetrated-heart.jpg" style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: center;"><img alt="Penetrated
heart" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-300" src="http://fisfieryreads.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/penetrated-heart.jpg" height="474" width="474" /></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Excerpt 3:</b></div>
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Natalie went to shower, and after getting dressed, I went to
place our order with Trina. When breakfast was ready and Natalie had still not
come up, I decided to check on her. As I approached the bathroom, I heard sobs
coming from within.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Baby, are you okay?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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She just cried more.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Can I come in?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Okay,” her trembling voice answered.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I could see her gorgeous body shaking through the clear
shower door. I grabbed the towel off the rack, opened the door, and took her by
the hand. Stepping out of the shower, I wrapped both the towel and my arms
around her. Continuing to cry, she choked out, “I’m sorry.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Shh. There’s nothing to be sorry about. It’s only natural
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“I just miss her, Mac. So much.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I know, baby, I know.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Social Media Links: </span></b></div>
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Website: <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.carliesextonromance.com/">www.carliesextonromance.com</a>
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Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/carliesextonromance">https://www.facebook.com/carliesextonromance</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Goodreads: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6901016.Carlie_Sexton">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6901016.Carlie_Sexton</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Book Trailer Links:</span></b></div>
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Trailer FFY: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IhEU9YBk2Y&feature=youtu.be">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IhEU9YBk2Y&feature=youtu.be</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Trailer TBY: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_P05VA9_Zrk">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_P05VA9_Zrk</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Trailer GTY: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7g2zvHp3cA">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7g2zvHp3cA</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Buy Links: </span></b></div>
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BTY Amazon
Global Link: <a href="http://mybook.to/btyamazon">http://myBook.to/btyamazon</a></div>
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BTY Barnes
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<strong>The Killer Next Door
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FFY Amazon
Global Link: <a href="http://mybook.to/ffyamazon">http://myBook.to/ffyamazon</a></div>
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TBY Amazon
Global Link: <a href="http://mybook.to/tbyamazon">http://myBook.to/tbyamazon</a></div>
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GTY Amazon
Global Link: <a href="http://mybook.to/gtyamazon">http://myBook.to/gtyamazon</a></div>
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Nat" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-286" src="http://fisfieryreads.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/mac-waiting-for-nat.jpg" height="366" width="474" /></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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I have a feeling we're gonna be seeing a lot of big things from this outstanding author! Carlie, please come back and keep us posted on all the exciting adventures and successes you experience, and to the readers, make sure you get your hands on Beholden to You now!</div>
Ash Torbeckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07115227673822415273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6984283052231306448.post-75326476898152604802014-02-01T00:00:00.000-05:002014-02-01T00:00:05.658-05:00Daughters of Night Cover Reveal<div style="text-align: center;">
Imagine the world you know being ripped away from you, and suddenly you realize all the fairy tales and scary stories just might be true...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-3kgmRq8MUbPEDIeQT9ZURfM0zBryckLa2mkQh7YIM0w4OeZmSof8TT_TuGCJkUcLnayLlZ1GBYrDazmnAOIkrhaAm9zg8sldHVjZrpPa2bw7AQkqqSVt0a1Uiq5jbDwTkdKG-T04d7T/s1600/Cover+Reveal+Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-3kgmRq8MUbPEDIeQT9ZURfM0zBryckLa2mkQh7YIM0w4OeZmSof8TT_TuGCJkUcLnayLlZ1GBYrDazmnAOIkrhaAm9zg8sldHVjZrpPa2bw7AQkqqSVt0a1Uiq5jbDwTkdKG-T04d7T/s1600/Cover+Reveal+Banner.jpg" height="235" width="640" /></a></div>
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The only thing Carmen really wanted was to live a normal life, but when the man of her dreams turns her into a monster and she learns of her witchcraft heritage, she said goodbye to normal and entered the world of the Daughters of Night.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Daughters of Night: Sanctuary</b></span></div>
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Life is hard. Death is harder. But for Carmen, the two go hand-in-hand.</div>
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Just when Carmen thinks her life is looking up, fate steps in and forces her into a life or death decision. Literally. Choosing to follow the guidance of her soulmate Gaviyn, Carmen breaks a centuries old curse and learns to live life as a vampire and a witch. With so many unanswered questions and hidden truths, though, Carmen keeps learning new facts about the past that only leave her with more questions. But the dangers are far from over as the pair is hunted by The Eradicators-whose goal is Carmen’s eternal demise. Gavin and Carmen seek out Sanctuary-a coven of misfit vampires and witches-in the battle for all their lives, and only the greatest sacrifice can save them all.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Daughters of Night: Possession</span></b></div>
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Taking refuge in the Colorado Mountains, Carmen and Gaviyn finally have it all. Friends, followers, and the family they had always dreamed of. But when a new vampire coven threatens to destroy Carmen’s family and release an evil with a thirst for blood upon the world by consuming Carmen’s mind, body, and soul, the vampires and witches of Sanctuary find themselves at war again. The key to Carmen’s salvation from the grips of a powerful demon, however, lies with a girl that none have ever met. With Carmen’s possession growing stronger by the minute, it’s a race against time to find the mystery girl and save Carmen before the demon consumes her – and still find Damien – before it’s too late.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Daughters of Night: Tribulation</span></b></div>
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After all that Carmen has been through, there is nothing she won’t do for her family. Nothing.</div>
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With Damien still missing and the new vampire coven still on the prowl for Carmen’s blood, Carmen goes looking for trouble, and finds more than she bargained for. Carmen’s sudden disappearance forces Gaviyn to make some changes at Sanctuary-one of which will change the course of their coven, and pave the way for the future of Sanctuary. Damien, after being tortured to the brink of death over and over again, finally finds an ally, but she’s hiding a secret that Damien might not be able to forgive. With more twists, turns, and loops than a roller coaster, Carmen and Gaviyn work with some surprising new friends to save Damien and defeat the wicked coven-and their tyrannical High Priestess-once and for all, while Damien tries to survive the torture and find his way back home. But as always, sacrifice is the name of the game, and this time, it may be a sacrifice nobody is willing to make.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>About the Author</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaRuJGZFsElz5Htr2bNmGL-iWavkfupOENg535JGNIFX9ulTLHSPgyFgRQeTCp9a-fwvat96ubT-z2KUYQOZmmmNbJZ8W2awh8C6_QnNQGcg4nHoLSVqyDIJWvOvt6EJYoOKsSs0c5fUTy/s1600/Author+Pic+1+Torbeck.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaRuJGZFsElz5Htr2bNmGL-iWavkfupOENg535JGNIFX9ulTLHSPgyFgRQeTCp9a-fwvat96ubT-z2KUYQOZmmmNbJZ8W2awh8C6_QnNQGcg4nHoLSVqyDIJWvOvt6EJYoOKsSs0c5fUTy/s1600/Author+Pic+1+Torbeck.JPG" height="200" width="111" /></a></div>
<blockquote>
An avid reader and sarcasm specialist, Ashley's quirky and bubbly personality stems from the vast amount of information she crammed into her head as a child. No genre was off limits, but she developed a fondness for Stephen King books early on. Of course, growing up in Eastern Kentucky, life moved a little slower, so books became her closest friends. </blockquote>
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Fast forward a few years, and the vast insanity that surrounded Ashley became her life. In January 2009, she married the only person on Earth as insane as herself, and they now reside in Louisville, Kentucky, patiently awaiting the zombie apocalypse while she taps away at the laptop with a plethora of stories to keep you entertained.</blockquote>
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<b><i>Stalker Links for Ashley</i></b></div>
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Facebook (Author Page) – <a href="http://www.facebook.com/Ash.Torbeck">http://www.facebook.com/Ash.Torbeck</a></div>
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Twitter – <a href="http://www.twitter.com/Ash_Torbeck">http://www.twitter.com/Ash_Torbeck</a></div>
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Website – <a href="http://www.ashleytorbeck.com/">http://www.ashleytorbeck.com</a></div>
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Blog – <a href="http://www.drunkenspacepenguin.blogspot.com/">http://www.drunkenspacepenguin.blogspot.com</a></div>
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Goodreads – <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6523844.Ashley_Torbeck">http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6523844.Ashley_Torbeck</a></div>
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Amazon (US) – <a href="http://www.amazon.com/author/Ash.Torbeck">http://www.amazon.com/author/Ash.Torbeck</a></div>
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Amazon (UK) – <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ashley-Torbeck/e/B0093CHSE2">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ashley-Torbeck/e/B0093CHSE2</a></div>
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G+ – <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/1/103109720404542532267/posts/p/pub">https://plus.google.com/u/1/103109720404542532267/posts/p/pub</a></div>
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Tumblr – <a href="http://www.ashleytorbeck.tumblr.com/">http://www.ashleytorbeck.tumblr.com</a></div>
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Facebook (Book Page) – <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DaughtersOfNight">https://www.facebook.com/DaughtersOfNight</a></div>
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Facebook (Character Page: Damien Hartford) – <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DamienHeathHartford">https://www.facebook.com/DamienHeathHartford</a></div>
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Join us on Facebook between March 3rd - March 9th to celebrate the re-release of Sanctuary, the re-release of Possession, and the debut of Tribulation, all in one week. There'll be contests, giveaways, trivia, and more. We look forward to seeing you there!</div>
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Click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/592576637488773/" target="_blank">here </a>to join the party!</div>
Ash Torbeckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07115227673822415273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6984283052231306448.post-89161289833113764352014-01-30T11:59:00.001-05:002014-01-30T11:59:58.458-05:00Book Series Blast: Ruby Lake Series by Sherrill Willis<div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q0n7gzv56_s/UuqC4skGEVI/AAAAAAAAHWY/TUGVN9ziU-Y/s1600/Rocket_Launch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q0n7gzv56_s/UuqC4skGEVI/AAAAAAAAHWY/TUGVN9ziU-Y/s1600/Rocket_Launch.jpg" height="320" width="253" /></a><div>
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<b>...3...2...1...BLAST OFF!!</b></div>
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Wait! You damn fools, where are you going! You can't launch the shuttle without me, I'm the Penguin!</div>
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Damn. Well, since I have some extra time while NASA tries to recover the shuttle they launched without me, I'm gonna have another drink. While I'm doing that, how about I introduce you to some great books, hm? Today we have the Ruby Lake series, by author Sherrill Willis. Have a look, and I'll have a drink, then you can let me know what you think while I have another...</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sherrill Willis is the author of the much loved Ruby Lake series. Ruby Lake is the first book which was published originally in 2011, but was re-released after being professionally edited in 2013. </div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The second novel in the series, A Wedding in Ruby Lake, was released on 8/16/12, and the third, Stay A While in Ruby Lake, was released on 12/12/13. Sherrill lives in northern Wisconsin with her two sons, and - in addition to writing which is her passion - enjoys reading, meeting friends for coffee and loves talking to her readers!! </div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12569190-ruby-lake?from_search=true" title="">goodreads</a></div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>ruby lake #1</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sydney Myers has been through several failed relationships in the past year, in addition to several other trauma's, and is now giving up on finding her knight in dented armor. When her boss sends her to Ruby Lake, a small, rural town in northern Wisconsin, the last thing she was looking for was love at first sight, not to mention a place in the world where she finally fits. Add in her city-savvy best friend, a jealous ex-girlfriend, a famous father, and a coffee shop full of off-the wall characters, and it becomes more challenging for Sydney to manage than a spinning plate competition.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>When disaster strikes close to home, Sydney is left with the unbearable choice of her family, or the life she has always dreamed of. Come with Sydney on her journey and laugh, cry and rediscover why some choices are not really choices at all, they are simply fate.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Really? What were you doing about twenty minutes ago? And don’t tell me you were thinking, I know what your ‘thinking’ face is. Besides, we’re leaving Saturday, and we are staying at the hotel until then so it’s not like I am going to get a chance at him anyway. I was just commenting on how cute he is.” Illana folded her arms over her chest and stuck her chin out at Sydney. “At least I’m honest about it, unlike some people.”</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“What do you want me to say?” Sydney threw her arms up in frustration. “Yes, I think Zeke is hot, like burn-me-at-the-stake kind of hot. The man brought me a perfect cup of coffee while I was sleeping. Who does that? I almost spilled my coffee this afternoon when Betty told me he called her to find out how I like my coffee. So, yeah, I want him. How could I not? I mean, the only thing that would make him sexier is a gold-hoop earring! My heart does jumping jacks whenever he walks into the room,” At Illana’s wide-eyed look, Sydney said, “and he’s standing right behind me, isn’t he?”</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Yeah, but don’t stop now, especially if you’re going to do jumping jacks,” Zeke said, leaning against the door jam and wearing a very satisfied grin. </div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>a wedding in ruby lake #2</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>A Wedding in Ruby Lake finds Sydney Myers and Zeke Greyson planning the perfect wedding, only to receive several unexpected, but not unwanted, houseguests. Illana Garet, Sydney’s city-savvy best friend, decides to come rather unexpectedly as does Zeke’s friend Tyler Shepard. They both arrive just in time to be embroiled into a new threat which proves to be far more dangerous than anyone at first had believed. The attraction between Alex, Zeke’s brother, and Illana deepens and Illana finds it hard to keep her well-maintained defenses in place. Annie “Attila the bun” Greyson is also back, but with a few surprises of her own.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>From the meddling ladies at the local coffee shop, the Stay a While, to the machinations of a psychopath, A Wedding in Ruby Lake is full of ups and downs, twists and turns, and a few new characters to get to know. Join the Ruby Lake gang as they find out, mostly the hard way, that sometimes walls need to be torn down in order for a better foundation to be built.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Illana walked quickly into her room and grabbed her black clutch purse, opening it to drop her cell phone in it. She checked her hair, red tipped today, and makeup one last time in the mirror above the dresser and then walked out the door, pulling it shut quietly so as not to wake the other houseguest. Turning around, she ran smack into his chest.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“No, I’ve been up for hours actually,” Tyler said, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall. “Just so you know, my heart has already been spoken for. But if it wasn’t, you’d be very fun to chase…and catch.”</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Illana felt a pang of disappointment, and a wave of relief. “Ha, like you’d catch me to begin with. I never date men who are prettier than me.”</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>After a shooting incident—which left Sydney Greyson and her new sister-in-law, Annie Greyson, injured—the residents of Ruby Lake now face more difficulties than ever before. Sydney is left trying to navigate a new marriage and the upcoming arrival of her twins, while dealing with the fear that shadows her every waking moment. Annie is coming to terms with a life drastically different than the one she had hoped for, and makes some painful decisions regarding who will be in her life and who she must let go. Illana Garet will have to make some tough choices, and will gain and lose much during the process. Meanwhile, the women at the local coffee shop, the Stay a While, will do everything in their power to keep everyone’s spirits up, amid much laughter and love.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Stop yelling, I’m awake, for goodness sake,” Diana said, pulling her fancy new earbuds out of her ears.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Diana put a hand on Illana’s knee. “I know what you thought, and it is coming. I hope you don’t do that when I do go. When I go home, there won’t be any more pain. You must be brave, my girl, you must. There are so many things I want to say, do, see with you. I want to dance, I want to sing more songs, but we are running out of time. I want to say I love you a thousand more times, so much so it will soak into your skin and stain it. So you will have it forever.”</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSherrillWillis">https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSherrillWillis</a></div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/SherrillWillis">https://twitter.com/SherrillWillis</a></div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Pinterest: <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/sherrillwillis/">http://www.pinterest.com/sherrillwillis/</a></div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Email: <a href="mailto:sherrillwillis@yahoo.com">sherrillwillis@yahoo.com</a></div>
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So...whaddya think? *hiccup* I might've had a couple or five drinks waitin' on you...hehe. This idiot NASA guy is bugging me to do...something...I don't know, I'm having another shot while you tell me what you think. Leave a comment, and I might just comment back at ya...using Ashley's profile of course, since the idiots in the internet won't let a penguin have a profile...</div>
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Ash Torbeckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07115227673822415273noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6984283052231306448.post-13521301100743367652014-01-28T08:00:00.000-05:002014-01-28T08:00:03.686-05:00Blog Tour Stop - Protective Love, by P.J. Belden<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Welcome back, lovely readers whom I love so dearly!!</i></b></span></div>
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Today, we have a very special treat. A dear friend and fellow author just released her latest book, Protective Love, and she's going on tour. Guess who gets to be part of that tour? Yep! DSP!! We have a lot going on, so let's get started first with the preliminary post.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">***A WORD OF CAUTION!!***</span></b></div>
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This book is graphic and contains adult content meant for readers 18+. There are parts in the teasers that may make readers uncomfortable and again are intended for mature adult audiences, so please use caution and don't say I didn't warn you!!</div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Everyone has secrets. How far would you go to keep them hidden? What would it take for you to rid yourself of the secret…. to move past it all?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Kayla Williams was stuck in a reoccurring nightmare. The problem was Kayla wasn't dreaming. This really was her life for the past sixteen years. No matter what, she knew she had to keep this secret, from everyone she knew and loved especially her ten brothers and sisters. It was a secret that would break the family apart. Kayla is the middle child of a large family. Kayla found it all too easy to blend into the background. When her twin sisters have a graduation party, Kayla decides to stop by only to tell them congratulations. She had tried to stay away from her family and her family home as much as she could. Kayla loved her family, but it was hard to face them, knowing the awful secret she was hiding. What Kayla didn't know was that going to this party would cause the first domino to fall and trigger the next.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jason Gold, a dutiful son, was a loner all his life. To Jason, honesty and trust were only a figment of people’s imagination but something he believed in. Jason, a police detective is married to the job. When Jason’s sick mother asks him to attend a party on behalf of her, he meets the one girl that he could not ignore or forget.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Secrets are dangerous…. they can cause bonds to break and hearts to shatter…. Will Kayla survive her hidden secret or will it claim her forever? Will Jason come clean on his secrets or let them tear away the only woman he has cared enough about to pursue?</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kayla, your brothers are watching you while your dad and I attend this banquet dinner. Your sisters are at Aunt Lucy‟s for the weekend. Keep an eye on things, please. All the boys are together, you know how messy that can get. Jake and Carson should be calling to let us know when they will be home. Can you please write the message down and leave it on the fridge?” my mom said to me.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jane Williams was a beautiful woman. Many say she could pass for a model even now. I could remember hearing several of my brothers‟ friends saying those words when they met our mom for the first time.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Yes, ma‟am.” I said rolling my eyes. Nothing I hated more than being told how to do the obvious things. I knew how to answer the phone and take a message, as well as where to put it.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: center;">
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</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“You‟re sure you don‟t want to go to Aunt Lucy‟s? We could drop you off on our way.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: center;">
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</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Yes, mom. I would rather stay here. I have a project to work on anyway.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: center;">
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</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I didn‟t like going to Aunt Lucy‟s. She was a little out there in an odd way, and I much preferred to stay at home when my sisters went over there. They did all the girlie things; I was happier just getting muddy and climbing trees.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: center;">
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</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Okay, love you guys! Behave yourselves, boys, and keep an eye on your siste,r please,” Jane yelled as she headed out the door on my father‟s arm.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: center;">
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</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Eli, do you have some time to help me with a school project?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: center;">
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</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I loved all my siblings, but I had bonded most with Elijah and Jake. They were overprotective but I still loved them.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: center;">
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</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Can we work on it tomorrow, Kay? We‟re going to have some friends over and play some pool.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: center;">
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I forced a smile, trying hard to hide my disappointment at not being able to spend time with my brothers, who were home on break</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: center;">
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</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Sure,” I said. “I will stay in my room and out of the way.” He hugged me and I headed to my room.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: center;">
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</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My room was simple. I had a daybed up against one wall. Across from the bed was a built-in entertainment center with shelves for all my favorite books and movies. There was a built-in desk at the far end of my room, and a walk in closet that had more than enough room for all my clothes and shoes. I even had my own bathroom. It wasn‟t huge, but it was big enough for a bathtub/shower, a sink with vanity, and a toilet. I didn‟t have to share it with my brothers or sisters, and that was all I cared about. There was nothing about my room that screamed „girlie;‟ the walls were beige and the carpet was white. The linens were lilac, as were the curtains. I loved my room; it was peaceful, relaxing, and easy to stay focused on my studies. I sat down at my desk and started working on my homework assignment.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: center;">
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Music started playing loudly from downstairs. I slowly made my way to the top of the grand staircase. When I got to the banister, I saw a room full of people. My brothers were hamming it up big time for the girls there. I sighed heavily and shook my head at my brothers‟ actions. Judging by the amount of people and their laughter and music, I knew it was going to be loud for a while. So I made my way back to my room, turned on the radio, put my headphones on and went back to work on the project.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: center;">
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few hours later, it was late and I was tired, so I decided to call it a night. The music was still going downstairs, so I knew the only way I was going to get any sleep was if I switched to my wireless headphones and wore them to bed. After changing for bed and brushing my teeth, I crawled in bed and fell asleep in no time.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: center;">
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unsure of how long I was sleeping when my bedroom light came on. I sat up and tried to get my eyes to adjust to the light. Through the blur I thought I saw my brother in the doorway.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Jeez, Nick! I was sleeping, you know?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was just walking up to the front of the house when I froze in my spot. Staring at the sight before me, I watched as a woman came running from the house. Her long, brown, curly hair was flying like silk in the wind behind her as she ran. It was like watching her in slow motion.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For the first time in a long time, as I held this woman in my arms, I had a feeling of peace come over me. Something about this woman called to me. She wasn‟t the normal type that I took to bed when I was frustrated. She was different. I can‟t put my finger on why, but I wanted to get to know her better; a lot better. She wiggled and her breasts rubbed against my chest and I had to bite back a groan. I knew it had been a while since I had been with a woman but this was ridiculous. No woman has ever affected me like this one. Instead of making me want to run away, I wanted to get closer.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Twitter: <o:p></o:p><span style="line-height: 21px;">@PJBelden</span></span></span></div>
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Wicked cool right? Check out these buy links to get your copy!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Buy Links:</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>US</i>: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I1JCVWM">http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I1JCVWM</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>UK</i>: <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00I1JCVWM">https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00I1JCVWM</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>AU</i>: <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00I1JCVWM">https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00I1JCVWM</a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
So...how about an interview with this superb author? Yeah? Okay, you got it!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: For starters, tell us a bit about you, we like to get to know
our authors as a person! [You can include anything from your age and marital
status, to your favorite color and food. The only limit is that it’s about YOU,
not necessarily your book or writing. Just a little something to introduce you
to the world.] <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>PJ</i></b></span>: Oh about me…hmmm Let’s
see… Well I’m 31 years old. I have 3 amazing kids. I’ve been married for almost
11 years now to a man that drives me crazy in both ways that that can be taken
LMAO!!! Good enough LMAO!!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Nice to meet you! So tell us, where did you find the inspiration for your
most recent book? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>PJ</i></b></span>: Well I was sitting down
and thinking about things, chatting with the hubs…It just kind of hit me. It
was something I needed to do. I put pen to paper and took off. Yes I wrote this
book in a notebook (several actually) before ever typing it out.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: So, do you have any kind of ritual for writing? Such as, you have to write
with music on, or you can only write when you’re completely alone, etc<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>PJ</i></b></span>: There is no real method to
my madness most times, but for this specific book I needed to be in quiet so I
could get inside my own head thus into the story better. This was an emotional
book to write.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br />
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Who is your favorite character in your book, and why? How about the
character you had the most trouble with?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>PJ</i></b></span>: Wow this is a hard one. I
loved Kayla and Jason (the main characters) but honestly all the characters
have a place in my heart for one reason or another. Though the character I did
struggle with in the beginning was Kayla’s dad. It wasn’t that I didn’t know
what to make of him but more how to put it in words. In the end, I hope that
came through.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Now, when you sit down to write a book, a paragraph, or whatever you‘re
working on at the moment, do you just sit down in front of the computer, or do
you need an outline of some sort? Is there any other prep you need in
order to organize your thoughts either before you write or in the process of
writing? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>PJ</i></b></span>: Most of my books start a
blurb. Occasionally, it will start from a scene, but most times the characters
start with an overall story on what I want the book to be about. I have no real
process or outlines. I just write what they tell me too LOL. In some cases that
ends up changing the blurb in the end. LOL<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Do you foresee any more books to continue this story? If so, do you think we
can get a taste of what’s to come? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>PJ</i></b></span>: Absolutely. The series is
Hidden Secrets. It is based off the Williams family. So all the siblings will
be getting their own books. The order
for the stories is as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Book 2- Carson (currently
finished and in for edits) <i>Teaser in
email for this one.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Book 3- Mary (almost
complete)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Book 4- Jackson (currently
working)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Book 5- Jacob (currently
working)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Book 6- Eli (currently
working)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Book 7- Kylee<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Book 8- Colt (currently
working)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Book 9- Jeff<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Book 10- Mylee<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Book 11- Nick<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br />
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Other than this most recent story, do you have any ideas for different books
that might be published in the future? Care to give us a teaser? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>PJ</i></b></span>: Aside from the Hidden
Secrets series books I listed above, I have 4 other books in the works. I am so
excited about these. They are stand alones. One is a play on student/teacher
(sort of. You’ll understand when you read it). It’s called Ruling Your Heart.
(teaser in the email for this one) Another is about how life can change
suddenly even when we try to keep our heads down and ignore everything all
around me. Third one is about how letting go and forgetting things can lead to
stupid decisions that can change your life. It’s called Delayed Happiness. The
fourth one is kind of a top secret project at the moment and once it’s closer
more will be said on it. Hehehe<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br />
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Who is your greatest inspiration to write? What person makes you believe in
yourself, and how? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>PJ</i></b></span>: My greatest inspiration is
my kids. They push me when I want to just push it aside. They believe in me and
I want to give them a reason to keep believing in their dreams no matter how
out of reach they may seem.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have an amazing support
system so I can hardly narrow that down to just one person. They all know who
they are and how much I love them for all their opinions and tongue thrashings
from time to time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Do you have any aspirations to be similar or comparable to
another author? Why? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>PJ</i></b></span>: I don’t know. I just want
to write my stories and have others read and enjoy them. So I can’t say I’m
striving to be like anyone, but myself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: What has been the biggest high since becoming a published
author?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>PJ</i></b></span>: Well naturally I want to
say just getting the reviews in but it is also the people I’ve met along the
way. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Have you named the computer you use for writing?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>PJ</i></b></span>: Nope but my kids
have. It’s called the adult computer.
Hahahaha Which they conclude is full of boring stuff like how to take all the
fun out of their day when they don’t clean their rooms. Hahaha<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Has becoming an author changed you, or the way you think
about certain things? If so, how?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>PJ</i></b></span>: Nope. Still the same ol’
me. I just get the voices in my head to stop screaming so loud LOL!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: What is your greatest fear about being an author? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>PJ</b></i></span>: Hmmm…I’m not sure. I’m
actually scared every time I publish a book. Hahaha<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Which of the characters in your book do you feel is the most
like yourself, and in what way?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>PJ</i></b></span>: Kayla. Her will to push
past and move forward no matter what happens.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: From the first word to the moment it became available for
purchase, how long did it take you to write and publish this most recent novel?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>PJ</b></i></span>: Oh crap! Ummm, well
ummm…Hey I never said I was a mathematician! LOL I have no clue on this one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And now, for something completely different…some slightly
off-the-wall and possibly irrelevant questions. Just a few questions to help you get to know the author on a more personal letter!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Are you planning to bring sexy back?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>PJ</i></b></span>: LMAO!!! It’s already been
brought LOL<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: If you could be any cartoon character for 24 hours, who would
you pick and why?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>PJ</i></b></span>: Hahaha umm Jessica Rabbit.
First one to pop in my head LMAO!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>DSP</b></i></span>: How many ridges are there around a quarter?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>PJ</i></b></span>: Ugh! More math…hahaha 62<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Do you believe in fate or destiny?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>PJ</i></b></span>: Yup. Sure do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck
wood?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">PJ</span></b></i>: A whole hell of a lot.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">DSP</span>: What are your thoughts on string?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>PJ</i></b></span>: String is fine and can be
turned into a ball. Oh the joys of string! Endless fun!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Boxers or briefs?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>PJ</i></b></span>: Boxers!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Thong, g-string/v-string, or other? If other, please explain.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>PJ</i></b></span>: For me or a character
LMAO!!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: What is your favorite song?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>PJ</i></b></span>: It will Rain by Bruno Mars
or Won’t Let Go by Rascal Flatts or Through the Rain by Mariah Carey<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Do you have any tattoos? If so, how many, what are they, and
where are they on your body? (PG-13)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>PJ</i></b></span>: Nope<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: What’s your favorite candy? Ice cream?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>PJ</i></b></span>: Anything carmel.
Cookies-n-Cream or Cookie Dough</span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: If you had to pick a CB handle, what would it be?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>PJ</i></b></span>: Ugh! Have no idea. LOL <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Would the 8-year-old version of yourself kick your ass or praise
you for what you’ve done with your life?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>PJ</i></b></span>: Definitely praise me and
ask for advice too.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: What is the last song you listened to?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>PJ</i></b></span>: Jesus Take the Wheel by
Carrie Underwood<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>; Do you have any talents you haven’t shared with us?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>PJ</i></b></span>: I’m a very crafty person.
I enjoy making things.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: If you could meet one person (real or fictional, alive or
deceased), who would it be, and what one question would you ask?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>PJ</i></b></span>: Fictional: And I can’t
name one LOL I have LOTS I need to question LOL<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>DSP</i></b></span>: Imagine you’re the sole survivor of a plane crash at sea, and
you awake stranded on a deserted and uncharted island in the Bermuda Triangle.
Nobody knows you’re there, and you have nothing but the clothes on your back.
You’re all alone, and there’s terrifying sounds coming from deep within the
jungle. Late that night as you’re starving, a large suitcase washes up on the
shore. You open it up. What’s in the suitcase?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>PJ</i></b></span>: Well not food, but things
that I can use to kill food and make shelter…and maybe a change of
clothes…though then again if I was the only one there…hahahaha On second
thought let it be a man LMAO!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Information overload...brain melting...oh, wait, I'm not equipped for that, nevermind. Crisis averted! Heh heh...<br />
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So, one last thing before we go, and that's the dreaded review. (I only say that to scare the pants off PJ and make her think the worst before she reads it!!) Read on to find out my thoughts on Protective Love!<br />
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Review of Protective Love<br />
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First and foremost, I have to caution readers that this book will make you uncomfortable, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. But you should be warned before reading it that it or my review that it contains scenes you may not like because of how real and terrible they are.<br />
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Moving on, this story follows Kayla, a young woman who's fallen victim to a horrendous crime...over and over and over again. She is used and abused in every way to settle a debt, but the debt seems neverending as it spans over sixteen years. When she finally meets Jason - the only man she dares let close to her even a little bit, both their lives are suddenly in danger, and with both having a sordid past, the fight to stay together is a harrowing tale that makes you want to throw the book across the room, yet you can't put it down.<br />
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The prologue hooks the reader into this young girl's life during after one of her earlier attacks, and you can really feel what Kayla feels - horror, anguish, violated, like a piece of trash. She's silently screaming for help, and too terrified of the repercussions if she did ask for help. She's caught in a dangerous and deadly situation where the only one who can really help her is herself.<br />
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The author puts the reader inside the mind of someone who's faced down evil and lived to tell about it repeatedly. It elicits a slew of emotions from the reader - many unpleasant - and puts them into the action, where they really don't want to be. It almost shoves reality in the face of the public, screaming "HEY! This stuff really happens! Don't turn a blind eye; you could be next!" Which is very true.<br />
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The rape scenes are brutal and powerful. I won't detail it here - you NEED to read this for yourself. But I will tell you that after you've finished reading this rollercoaster of emotions, you'll be exhausted, and so incredibly thankful for the blessings in your life that you may just wanna hug someone.<br />
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There were some minor pacing issues, where the actions seemed to drag a bit and get a little repetitive, and the style of writing seems geared toward younger readers (of course, the content is absolutely NOT for younger readers). All in all, I'd give Protective Love 4 stars, losing a star only for the pacing and the writing style not quite matching the subject matter. I don't feel it takes away from the overall story, but it's worth mentioning so I have to include it here and in my score.<br />
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<b>Buy Links:</b><br />
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<i>US</i>: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I1JCVWM">http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I1JCVWM</a><br />
<i>UK</i>: <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00I1JCVWM">https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00I1JCVWM</a><br />
<i>AU</i>: <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00I1JCVWM">https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00I1JCVWM</a><br />
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Well, that's all I got folks! Go pick up PJ's book and tell me what you think!<br />
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And to PJ - sorry for making you wait (and for the mild heart attack before sharing the review), and thanks for letting DSP be a part of your release tour. Please come back soon and let us know all the great things coming your way!!<br />
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<br />Ash Torbeckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07115227673822415273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6984283052231306448.post-41795357128647890892014-01-26T18:48:00.000-05:002014-01-26T18:50:55.775-05:00Cover Reveal and Tour Signups - Daughters of Night Trilogy<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>In case you haven't heard, I'm having a super awesomtastical event from March 3rd to March 9th. SQUEEE!!!! Daughters of Night: Sanctuary is being re-released with new content, Daughters of Night: Tribulation is debuting, and all three are being branded together with brand new covers! Yay!! </b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7P78ZzAFZ_t7Klcq_C1rfXxxjCWmQf1V0SOpUEabGN0mkxdFSl4ldOSHRNX7dQ6pNOr3gc7ccUp-sZ_iZcH0niCsjgtInhfRtaQ5TD6MIpLlebYTCLX25cCJwCvTOdL-oRSLQGVHapxG/s1600/Cover+Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7P78ZzAFZ_t7Klcq_C1rfXxxjCWmQf1V0SOpUEabGN0mkxdFSl4ldOSHRNX7dQ6pNOr3gc7ccUp-sZ_iZcH0niCsjgtInhfRtaQ5TD6MIpLlebYTCLX25cCJwCvTOdL-oRSLQGVHapxG/s1600/Cover+Image.jpg" height="235" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>We're doing a cover reveal on February 1st, and could REALLY use some bloggers to participate. You can sign up for the cover reveal <u>below</u>! I promise to make it as painless as possible. :)</b><br />
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<b><iframe frameborder="0" height="500" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1bf9AzMa_6AndUChFO1Wqzs-dL9o-ohjbuh4VjlGyvOg/viewform?embedded=true" width="760">Loading...</iframe></b></div>
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<b>If you'd be willing to be a part of the blog tour during the week of the releases, you will also have your Facebook page and Twitter account listed as entries to the Rafflecopter giveaway. You can sign up here to participate in the blog tour - we'd love to have you!!</b><br />
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<b><iframe frameborder="0" height="500" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1AWqfZRk2Uj_196ql0cB3ervKTZ8BiMdpPiaRseinblM/viewform?embedded=true" width="760">Loading...</iframe></b></div>
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<b>And of course, everyone is invited to the Facebook event, where we'll be having giveaways, contests, and lots of fun. Join in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/592576637488773/" target="_blank">HERE</a>!!</b></div>
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<b>So make sure you sign up and join in on the fun!! </b></div>
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<b>Coming up on Tuesday (1/28): the Penguin's blog tour stop for the book Protective Love, by P.J. Beldon!! LOTS of fun stuff there!!</b></div>
Ash Torbeckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07115227673822415273noreply@blogger.com0