tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60516023845350057892024-02-07T01:28:51.336-05:00Linda Grimes: Visiting Reality Because I can't spend every minute of the day with my nose in a book. I know, because between writing and reading, I've tried.Linda G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04576828490765434497noreply@blogger.comBlogger511125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051602384535005789.post-24960966231679801692018-10-25T11:06:00.000-04:002018-10-25T11:06:23.275-04:00STOP! THIEF! (AKA, just a note to tell you I'm still alive.)<span style="font-size: large;">Oh, my gosh! It looks like someone stole <i>every single post </i>I made between July 27, 2016 and now!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And the posts were brilliant. Brilliant, I tell ya! Each offering was a veritable masterpiece of wisdom and wit. Fantastic fonts of fabulosity, rigorously written, every single one. So very many of them, too, now lost forever (sob!) in the swirling vortex of cyber space (maybe even THE DARK WEB!), stolen by some heinous cyber-thief (possibly even <i>artificial intelligence ... </i>or ... or <i>aliens</i>) to use for God knows what nefarious purpose. Oh, the humanity!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xOdvqLWmc5xjnyKSHVqUOp8ECKwyfSK1qpBr1KWE-k47csScngsO42oWjKcWpotFWmTQO7JLmDeS1G7Zw4ZVYYCpjRGa0n07mkbgGwggvKI71yZjce3lcT641d7WViMrY2iCDzLcO8Q/s1600/alien+finger+puppets+--+morguefile.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1457" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xOdvqLWmc5xjnyKSHVqUOp8ECKwyfSK1qpBr1KWE-k47csScngsO42oWjKcWpotFWmTQO7JLmDeS1G7Zw4ZVYYCpjRGa0n07mkbgGwggvKI71yZjce3lcT641d7WViMrY2iCDzLcO8Q/s400/alien+finger+puppets+--+morguefile.JPG" width="363" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo courtesy of morguefile</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Um, is anyone buying this? No? *sigh* Me, neither. But it sounds so much more entertaining than the truth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Okay, so it's been a while. What can I say? You know the old saying about life: "Shhh! It happens." (Compress that as you will.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The last few years have been ... well, challenging. Lots of medical drama--death, health issues, injuries, yadda-yadda-yadda, etc., etc. in my family. Mostly not me directly*, but close enough to demand my full concentration and attention. Still does, to a large extent, though I'm trying to hone my multitasking skills. I'm not going to bore you with the details because, heck, who wants to relive the sh!t? Not me!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As you've probably guessed by now, Ciel and Company are on a bit of a hiatus. I'm not saying they won't be coming back, but for now they're working deep undercover (i.e., hiding in my subconscious) while I'm amusing myself by writing a sexy little romantic comedy starring this handsome guy:</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo courtesy of morguefile</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Okay, maybe not <i>starring, </i>exactly. But Fugly is definitely a major player. That's right. Fugly. My hubs--the theater god, aka "TG" to those who've actually read my backlog of posts--suggested the name. He's the bulldog lover in the family, and I figured this would be a way of giving him one. He has to wait until he retires to get the real-life version, so he can be the one walking behind it with a little plastic bag, picking up all the bulldog poop, because I'm not going to do that. (See footnote regarding my knee.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, you see, I <i>have </i>actually been writing, after a fashion. Just not here. Because something had to give (see above regarding life and shh!it), and as much as I love both of my blog readers (ha! if I even have two left), I thought I'd better stick with with composing words I might have a prayer of selling one day. You know, once I'm better at the multitasking thing, and have perhaps mastered the art of not requiring sleep.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">* (This is the footnote I was referring to above. You may have already read it, if you peeked down here when you first saw the asterisk. If so, feel free to skip it now, because I don't think it's entertaining enough to warrant a reread.) The torn meniscus in my knee was definitely me directly, as was the subsequent four months of physical therapy before I could walk again with a (mostly) normal gait. I wish I could tell you a hilarious story about how it happened when I was thrown off a mechanical bull after knocking back tequila shots while visiting my family in Texas, but sadly it was an overuse/stress/took-a-wrong-step injury that occurred while moving my mother into an assisted living facility. Boring! Let's just go with the bull, okay? I'm a real whiz at slinging bull. ;)</span>Linda G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04576828490765434497noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051602384535005789.post-66463022624957157262016-07-27T09:29:00.000-04:002016-07-27T09:29:34.554-04:00Summer Heat Giveaway! <span style="font-size: large;">It's way too hot for an outdoor workout. (Here in this hemisphere, at least.) But you need to get your heart racing. Cardio is <i>important</i>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What to do, what to do...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hey, I know! Reading a fast-paced, sexy book has been known to rev up the ol' ticker. And it's way more fun than jogging outside in steamy weather. Plus, it's much less likely to give you heatstroke. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sooo....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/196598-all-fixed-up" target="_blank">IT'S GIVEAWAY TIME!</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">(Click on that link for a chance to win a signed first edition of ALL FIXED UP at Goodreads. It can even be personalized, if the winner so chooses.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hope you're all having a marvelous summer! And remember...</span><br />
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<br />Linda G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04576828490765434497noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051602384535005789.post-38727865975502297612016-05-24T06:38:00.000-04:002016-05-24T08:28:15.032-04:00ALL FIXED UP Release Day!<span style="font-size: large;">Let's get this baby launched!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="269" src="//giphy.com/embed/tO2Ws20kv13Dq" width="480"></iframe><a href="http://giphy.com/gifs/sight-pounds-lifted-tO2Ws20kv13Dq">via GIPHY</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That's right. Ciel Halligan #4 is now officially out there in the world! </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, 'tis moi, holding an actual copy of it.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">And, yes, there is a space-related theme to this one--Ciel's client is a NASA astronaut about to make a big announcement when a temporary crisis puts her in need of Ciel's special brand of "temp" service. Other than having to cope with a ride on one of these...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">...it <i>should </i>be a fairly simple job for Ciel. Of course, as we've found out in previous books, nothing is <i>ever </i>simple with Ciel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I hope you'll enjoy our intrepid aura adaptor's latest adventure! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">P.S. There's a release day interview with me over at The Qwillery (<a href="http://qwillery.blogspot.ca/2016/05/interview-with-linda-grimes-author-of.html?m=1" target="_blank">just click here</a> and you'll be magically transported there), and it has a great giveaway: all four Ciel Halligan books! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you haven't started the series yet, this would be a great way to do it. And if you already have the first three, hey, surely you have a gift-giving occasion of one kind or another on the horizon. ;)</span>Linda G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04576828490765434497noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051602384535005789.post-45265306871059877822016-05-16T07:40:00.000-04:002016-05-16T07:40:21.123-04:00Cover Reveal from Suz Korb<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So, a writing friend of mine is trying out something new: writing a novel chapter by chapter online. Well, she's done it before on her own blog, but now she's trying out Patreon. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now, that takes guts! I think I would crack under the pressure of not being able to change my mind a hundred times before finishing the book, but I suspect Suz is made of sterner stuff. *grin*</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Best of luck to you, Suz! May the motivation be with you! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Suz Korb's Newest Cover Reveal and Live Novel Writing</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hello, I'm Suz Korb and my new book project is titled: Flutterby Girl. Welcome to this cover reveal blog post, with a twist. And here's the cover...<br /></span><div>
<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlfk1M9WPSqF1m5xmbCk46Rl15ZAErbNu_yfgLRcgvJKY45IzjtpZ_ZAWk70_Y07OGv2p_BlZjfdtrRbtMlI-3cBXSxQnsYI7NZlKCt7Vjp5pX8OkrigkrUQj6U1OhiiRqD3DUJ7mURQ4/s1600/Flutterby%252BGirl%252BSuz%252BKorb.png&source=gmail&ust=1463481201560000&usg=AFQjCNHAnXFQNVsxJ-WDO7Srnz8jNSeSHQ" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlfk1M9WPSqF1m5xmbCk46Rl15ZAErbNu_yfgLRcgvJKY45IzjtpZ_ZAWk70_Y07OGv2p_BlZjfdtrRbtMlI-3cBXSxQnsYI7NZlKCt7Vjp5pX8OkrigkrUQj6U1OhiiRqD3DUJ7mURQ4/s1600/Flutterby+Girl+Suz+Korb.png" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" border="0" class="CToWUd" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlfk1M9WPSqF1m5xmbCk46Rl15ZAErbNu_yfgLRcgvJKY45IzjtpZ_ZAWk70_Y07OGv2p_BlZjfdtrRbtMlI-3cBXSxQnsYI7NZlKCt7Vjp5pX8OkrigkrUQj6U1OhiiRqD3DUJ7mURQ4/s400/Flutterby+Girl+Suz+Korb.png" width="266" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The twist is that this book hasn't been written yet. I'm going to write it live on Patreon. I<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://suzkorb15.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/the-keystone-kdp-publication-issues.html&source=gmail&ust=1463481201560000&usg=AFQjCNFF1SF3ItNcvCPs1cjyciXIjPzYHg" href="http://suzkorb15.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/the-keystone-kdp-publication-issues.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">'ve written a novel live before</a>, chapter by chapter, on my blog. And now I'm doing it again with Flutterby Girl! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I got the idea for Flutterby Girl, then I thought up a title, then I got the cover, and now I'm writing the story. It will go up on Patreon chapter by chapter, daily. You can read each chapter if you become my patron. I'm new at Patreon, so if problems arise I hope I can deal with them quick! It should be easy enough though.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I've decided to write my two most recent books live because it pushes me, and it makes my imagination flow more deeply.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.patreon.com/posts/flutterby-girl-5466009&source=gmail&ust=1463481201560000&usg=AFQjCNGeK8Vu14zK7EhNeQlvf4kk_jMh8Q" href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/flutterby-girl-5466009" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Chapter 1 of Flutterby Girl is up on Patreon now</a> and I hope you will join me in this young adult journey.<br /><br />Author Suz Korb<br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.patreon.com/user?u%3D3132217%26ty%3Dh&source=gmail&ust=1463481201560000&usg=AFQjCNFZZtYETai1JtOUkC9Z6d8lKs8Umw" href="https://www.patreon.com/user?u=3132217&ty=h" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Suz Korb Patreon</a><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://suzkorb.com/&source=gmail&ust=1463481201560000&usg=AFQjCNFxo7KaTn5tLgL_iqQE1yBjd2yuTg" href="http://suzkorb.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">suzkorb.com</a><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://twitter.com/SuzKorb&source=gmail&ust=1463481201560000&usg=AFQjCNGqAV7_hhQJVcMYtlQp42WU28F2pQ" href="https://twitter.com/SuzKorb" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Twitter @SuzKorb</a><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.facebook.com/korbsuz&source=gmail&ust=1463481201560000&usg=AFQjCNEUN-9CjDHM0iCYRoe73LAmiwhzEw" href="https://www.facebook.com/korbsuz" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Facebook Author Page</a></span></div>
Linda G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04576828490765434497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051602384535005789.post-27130943877174313522016-04-01T16:13:00.000-04:002016-04-07T06:07:03.997-04:00Say "Cheese!" and WIN!<span style="font-size: large;">You know what I haven't done in a while? I haven't had a silly contest with a silly sur-prize. So let's do it! (Heh-heh. I said "do it.")</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I think this one should be a Silly Selfie contest. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">All you have to do is take a selfie and either email it to me at linda(dot)grimes(at)gmail(dot)com OR tweet it to @linda_grimes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Silly sur-prize will be revealed later. (Duh. That's why it's a SUR-prize, and not just a prize, silly.) But it will most likely contain silly candy, a (cheap) silly toy, and reading material that may or may not have been written by a certain author who may or may not be considered "silly" by some people.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Winner will be chosen, on a purely whimsical basis, by <i>moi. </i>(Natch. My sandbox, my rules.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hint</b>: I find pics of people holding one of my books next to their face while sticking out their tongue and/or crossing their eyes to be VERY whimsical. ;)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">BUT, if you are bashful about sharing your silly visage in a public place, entries <i>will </i>be accepted of people holding one of my books in front of their face, as long as they are accompanied by your solemn silly oath that it is indeed you holding one of my silly books.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Digital copies work, too. Just hold up your digital reading device with the title page displayed, and Bob's your uncle. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Also, bear in mind that my books are in a lot of libraries, so if you don't already have one, <b>no purchase is necessary</b> to add that extra bit of whimsy to your entry. In fact, I love libraries so much, I might even be tempted to award extra silly-credit for silly selfies taken holding a library copy of one of my books. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Or you could always send a selfie without one of my books. It's not mandatory, after all. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Best of all, anyone can enter! <b>(</b></span><span style="font-size: large;">Unless, of course, it is illegal for any reason where you live, in which case, follow the law.) </span><span style="font-size: large;">Enter as often as you like. The only rule is--and I can't stress this strongly enough--NO NAKED SELFIES ALLOWED. I don't care how good you look sans clothing (and I'm sure you're breathtaking), I do NOT want to see that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There you are. Easy-peasy lemon squeezy. Just get out your smart phones, make (or hide) a face, click, and send it to me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Oh, and let's see ... how long should I keep this contest going? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I know! How about until the release date of <i><b>All Fixed Up</b></i>? That would be May 24, 2016. So you have <i>loads </i>of time to get your silly on. Just don't put it on the back burner and forget about it, because you don't want to miss out on the <b>Silly Sur-prize</b>!</span><br />
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Linda G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04576828490765434497noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051602384535005789.post-50236501108675193822016-03-17T09:53:00.000-04:002016-03-17T09:53:04.707-04:00Happy St. Patrick's Day from Ciel and the gang!<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Wishing all of you the luck of the Irish!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And if you absolutely must read a real post, here's a rerun from 2010. TG has a show this year, so we won't be having our traditional dinner tonight. But we had Reuben sandwiches last night, so at least we got our corned beef and cabbage (in the form of sauerkraut), anyway. And I'll still wear that necklace. </span></div>
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Me & St. Pat, we got a thing going on...</h3>
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I love St. Patrick's Day. :)<br /><br />Every year I wear this:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-vPBWTSD5tkVG5j9yfrsMy09L61iFlrch9-RQiaeUIcRbHF5kUddkDyuk381LH_dylK7gJI9KChclt4-_S93Lzc4jKWUwY7NqBiHtnG5Pnv1wgivGxydt3mjVA9NHFatWOs44ha06S9Q/s1600-h/IMG_6454.JPG" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449590711170707090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-vPBWTSD5tkVG5j9yfrsMy09L61iFlrch9-RQiaeUIcRbHF5kUddkDyuk381LH_dylK7gJI9KChclt4-_S93Lzc4jKWUwY7NqBiHtnG5Pnv1wgivGxydt3mjVA9NHFatWOs44ha06S9Q/s320/IMG_6454.JPG" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 188px; margin: 0px auto 10px; padding: 8px; position: relative; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br /><br />It's not a shamrock, but I figure a four-leaf clover is close enough. This one I've had since I was born (which makes it *cough* over twenty-one), a gift from my aunts in Sweden (who were really my mother's cousins, but as close to her as sisters, so my brothers and I always called them aunts). They wanted me to have a life full of good luck.<br /><br />Here's the back:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpLMJ8S7G9Gz5XQDhZiFo8YgVPY157OxzVBeYs9ipsg1tTFLIlZAekI3iLqDEAwAGk9Nu-JOpZng8Wwmd74DNs0FyB53h60nw7_IVV5_fLhkUuqPWhf7vlA347PXMKIKOrh9HA4PObOs/s1600-h/IMG_6455.JPG" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449590719059615282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpLMJ8S7G9Gz5XQDhZiFo8YgVPY157OxzVBeYs9ipsg1tTFLIlZAekI3iLqDEAwAGk9Nu-JOpZng8Wwmd74DNs0FyB53h60nw7_IVV5_fLhkUuqPWhf7vlA347PXMKIKOrh9HA4PObOs/s320/IMG_6455.JPG" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 277px; margin: 0px auto 10px; padding: 8px; position: relative; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br /><br />Isn't that handy? I'll never forget my name as long as I am wearing it.<br /><br />Seriously, St. Paddy's Day is just about my favorite holiday. Yes, even above Christmas. As much as I love jolly old St. Nick, there <span style="font-style: italic;">is </span>a lot of mom-work involved with that holiday. Not to mention High Expectations from just about everyone.<br /><br />St. Paddy's Day is laid back. Relaxed. No gift shopping, no unavoidable card & candy & flower shopping (oh, you can send cards if you like, but nobody really <span style="font-style: italic;">expects </span>them, at least nobody I know), no hard-boiling & dyeing eggs, or filling up baskets with fake grass and goodies. No infernal racket & blowing your fingers off with fireworks.<br /><br />Just good ol' Guinness and a nice New England boiled dinner (corned beef and cabbage, and of course potatoes).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoyDtbws-rlr-1mePcj5ZhCD9rKkXc9peJp5nPLuVrL3osTSW4eydW5Gf7Ud-eyQYa37DoS7_MjJpTB57WjfWY5rRFi4qIbTqVOqHKQBec8oarJd4Sq-YUTwWcWr9_McTs6A0v0BV9plY/s1600-h/Corned+beef+and+cabbage.jpg" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449603069119783346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoyDtbws-rlr-1mePcj5ZhCD9rKkXc9peJp5nPLuVrL3osTSW4eydW5Gf7Ud-eyQYa37DoS7_MjJpTB57WjfWY5rRFi4qIbTqVOqHKQBec8oarJd4Sq-YUTwWcWr9_McTs6A0v0BV9plY/s320/Corned+beef+and+cabbage.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 224px; margin: 0px auto 10px; padding: 8px; position: relative; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br /><br />Normally I don't even have to boil that dinner, since the theater god loves to cook. But this year I may have to, if he doesn't get home from work in time to start the corned beef (it takes about three hours at a simmer to do it right). I am assured by both TG and DD (my darling daughter, who inherited her cooking skills from TG--too bad she's not here to step into the breach) that this meal is easy-peasy to produce.<br /><br />Ha. We shall see about that. Never underestimate my ability to screw up in the kitchen.<br /><br />Update later. If I haven't burned down the house.<br /><br />(And if I've had enough Guinness, I may come back and tell you about the time a gunrunner for the IRA tried to recruit TG and me in Dublin. Long story short, we, um, declined his kind invitation to be a part of a noble cause. Even though he did offer us a freezer full of steaks and a possible job connection at the Abbey Theater.)</div>
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Linda G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04576828490765434497noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051602384535005789.post-89080187349741396952016-01-19T10:38:00.000-05:002016-01-19T10:38:28.121-05:00ATTN: Readers of the Latest ARC! <span style="font-size: large;">It's that time again! ARC Tour!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of MorgueFile.com, "Fixed" by moi.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The USS ALL FIXED UP is about to embark on the traditional voyage of early readership. (Get it? Reader<i>ship</i>? Ha-ha! Sometimes I crack myself up. Then again, I'm an easy audience.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As many of you know, <i>All Fixed Up</i> won't be released until May 24th. BUT! (Am I using too many exclamation points? I feel like I might be. But this is exciting!) But (apparently I'm fond of "buts," too) if you don't mind a few measly typographical errors, you don't have to wait that long to read it. Because I have these:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And I'm going to send one of them out into the world, in all its uncorrected glory (don't worry, it's not <i>that </i>bad), so my loyalist readers can find out Ciel's bombshell early. (Please, no spoilers if you participate. But feel free to smile smugly at your secret knowledge.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If it's any encouragement to participate in the tour, I guarantee that in this one Billy is Billy-er, Mark is Mark-ier, and, most importantly, Ciel is Ciel-ier! One might say her character is <i>growing</i>. Which is, in my humble opinion, important in a series. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Once again, the magnificently bad-ass <a href="http://www.karlanellenbach.com/" target="_blank">Karla Nellenbach</a> has agreed to be my Tour Director, and will be juggling emails and plotting the best route for the book. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">To participate, all you have to do is email me at linda(dot)grimes(at)gmail(dot)com and tell me your address, and agree to mail the ARC on to the next person on the tour list when you're done reading.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">I'll forward your info to Karla, who will be the one giving you a heads-up when its on its way to you. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Once you have it, it would be great if you could finish in under a week, so the others don't have to wait longer than necessary for their turn. And if you sign it before sending it on, that would be absolutely lovely. The early-reader-signed ARCs of the first three books are some of my most prized possessions. :)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Oh, and if you would leave an honest review on Goodreads, Amazon, or B&N (after release day--May 24th--for Amazon and B&N), that would be great, too. But not mandatory.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Since I'm asking people to pony up the postage to send it on to the next person, I'm afraid I'll have to limit participants to the US. </span><span style="font-size: large;">It doesn't cost much to mail a book within the US. Under $3, last I checked. Lots cheaper than buying the book, anyway. ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">More incentive: I will send each participant a signed bookmark, once I get them from the printer. (Speak of the devil--just this minute got a email from the printer that they've shipped. Yay!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Hope you guys will enjoy it! Ciel, Billy, and Mark hope so, too. :)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Linda G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04576828490765434497noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051602384535005789.post-64218235487860452382016-01-01T10:16:00.000-05:002016-01-01T10:16:46.581-05:002016!<span style="font-size: large;">I would love to take a few minutes to write a truly inspirational post for this, the first day of 2016, but, frankly, Bill and Ted distilled it so much better than I ever could:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Think how much better the world would be if everyone did just that. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And now I'm off to begin my new year as I would like to continue it: working on a book. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">First up: Finish assiduously (wow, those SAT prep vocab words really do come in handy) perusing the First Pass pages of <i><b>All Fixed Up</b></i>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yup, it looks like a real book now! Stay tuned. May 24th will be here quicker than that jerk behind you at the light can honk when it turns green. ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">May the coming year bring you health, happiness, and creative fulfillment! </span>Linda G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04576828490765434497noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051602384535005789.post-43878060864132428702015-12-14T08:09:00.000-05:002015-12-20T14:57:13.831-05:00THE FIX UP releases today!<span style="font-size: large;">You read that right. TODAY!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I know. Sounds like it could be one of my books, huh? But no, it's not a Ciel Halligan book. Though it's such a hot and hilarious read I'd totally take credit for it if I thought I could get away with it. Alas, it has the rightful author's name right there on the cover, so I suppose it would be pointless for me to claim authorship ... unless, wait ... would anybody buy that my new pen name is Tawna Fenske? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">*<i>sigh</i>* I thought not. Too bad.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKfWgWiON8qMN2QclodaiVy_zeqwQ2PUw4N-_X1Wyn8L7xcs2WOcXJT6295YcwJjfkc0zhoFFYs-DvBy_KgyatjjDxzFFAwHvP0fQFc5Xe0A3ZuRz5LZyN8GuuOQ6P0AQUlTCY8c_LsE/s1600/TheFixUp_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKfWgWiON8qMN2QclodaiVy_zeqwQ2PUw4N-_X1Wyn8L7xcs2WOcXJT6295YcwJjfkc0zhoFFYs-DvBy_KgyatjjDxzFFAwHvP0fQFc5Xe0A3ZuRz5LZyN8GuuOQ6P0AQUlTCY8c_LsE/s640/TheFixUp_500.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Still, since it <i>is </i>such a hot and hilarious read (like all of Tawna's books), and I <i>am </i>such a nice person (no, really, I <i>am</i>--hey, stop snickering!), I'm going to tell you where you can find this fantastic read. And, because Tawna's blog post today is all about confessing laziness, I'm going to do it by telling you to click <a href="http://tawnafenske.blogspot.com/2015/12/confessions-about-my-new-rom-com-fix-up.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Seriously. <a href="http://tawnafenske.blogspot.com/2015/12/confessions-about-my-new-rom-com-fix-up.html" target="_blank">Click</a>. Go. Enjoy! You might even win an Amazon gift card! Worth enough to pay for the book, with a little left over! Honestly, with all you do for others, don't you deserve a little something-something for yourself?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hope you're all in the middle of a Happy Holiday Muddle, like I am. But no matter how busy you are, remember -- "me" time is important to your sanity. And *<i>cough</i>* reading is great "me" time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Tell you what. In the giving spirit of the season, I'm going to give one lucky commenter here a digital copy of <i><b>The Fix Up</b></i>. Just say hi (or ho-ho-ho!) below, and you'll be entered. :D </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">P.S. Bonus points if you share a way you've been naughty this year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Edited to Add: The contest is now closed. I threw the names in a hat and pulled out ... *<i>drum roll</i>*... <b>Susan Flett Swiderski</b>! Susan, I know you're going to enjoy Tawna's latest. Get ready to laugh!</span><br />
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<br />Linda G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04576828490765434497noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051602384535005789.post-61601859352619124532015-11-04T07:24:00.000-05:002015-11-04T07:24:24.490-05:00HAPPY BIRTHDAY MONTH, PATTY BLOUNT!<span style="font-size: large;">So, a writer buddy of mine is having a birthday soon. One of the biggies. You know, the kind that ends in a zero. This one begins with a five, so it's extra special, which is why she's getting a whole month's worth of celebration for it. Including, of course (because this is a Wednesday on my blog), this:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJEU-ZYEYY4aWKj2mpnUwfhH6zvJB6oqTU4TastDP09k4ZximKOpanwyQx0MFXXCb_qhpHKcYrHArs2KMbxkN8r5bitjB5rhhaPDviH27l7TvSzfw1WaoqXfY_SEYVXsxu86ovG02xwQ/s1600/Humpy+Birthday%252C+Patty%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJEU-ZYEYY4aWKj2mpnUwfhH6zvJB6oqTU4TastDP09k4ZximKOpanwyQx0MFXXCb_qhpHKcYrHArs2KMbxkN8r5bitjB5rhhaPDviH27l7TvSzfw1WaoqXfY_SEYVXsxu86ovG02xwQ/s400/Humpy+Birthday%252C+Patty%2521.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you don't know Patty, you can check out her Amazon page <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Patty-Blount/e/B0098N527Q/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1446556853&sr=1-2-ent" target="_blank">here</a>. As you can see, she's written quite a few books, both YA (Young Adult) and Adult fiction. Trust me, they are <i>good</i>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, Patty, for some reason, is finding this birthday to be a bit of a challenge. So a bunch of us are helping to ease the sting by showing her it's not all bad. (Check out <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1637299766549012/" target="_blank">Patty's Virtual "30 Days of 50" Birthday Party here</a>.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">See, it's all about the attitude. About putting the right <i>spin </i>on it:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiLoJQsJ831-6eb6ldF465ThLjdpf_bzLy2BYfUHyqGqb6Uc-ic2O9jSCoEAFnUMI02Dj8qEUlDUXk-irOseyFdAhf8vR0E5HC7ypeZMF_bpmbIFdt3PjC6eMh4H5aXHTz4SPtFE5pT0/s1600/cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiLoJQsJ831-6eb6ldF465ThLjdpf_bzLy2BYfUHyqGqb6Uc-ic2O9jSCoEAFnUMI02Dj8qEUlDUXk-irOseyFdAhf8vR0E5HC7ypeZMF_bpmbIFdt3PjC6eMh4H5aXHTz4SPtFE5pT0/s400/cake.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There. Doesn't sound so bad now, does it, Patty? Everything is more palatable with chocolate. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Also, birthday greetings from the right person can soften the blow:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxf7EQBkZrI9HQAMYUyKwioFEojqrJKqRSgG5h0MN_AUgqkjxZ1voHoIRnu9wxik8CKdvnzlFSDCwiuGyy3ac6E1thTiFPSfQlD5StYatHk3_YfP6b7KXrKKKusud1L9OSpk-NUmmf5IM/s1600/Jamie+b-day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxf7EQBkZrI9HQAMYUyKwioFEojqrJKqRSgG5h0MN_AUgqkjxZ1voHoIRnu9wxik8CKdvnzlFSDCwiuGyy3ac6E1thTiFPSfQlD5StYatHk3_YfP6b7KXrKKKusud1L9OSpk-NUmmf5IM/s400/Jamie+b-day.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And if that doesn't help, you can always wear this:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMaGslVmsrFBGvzJnlX2XF15_aacSpn7LR6SOqZf55DWFa-B8rkIA1UFQoazFxvZs5ARZ5e-obxakXvhTDSUXhy6woGVXy8JWYsrvFdsVuX07T91Et0yLpJJ_sajp04PDvuDHqeNIa2Pk/s1600/fun_50th_birthday_plus_tax_button-rd8d0802ab97e4ea483191282f179014c_x7j3i_8byvr_324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMaGslVmsrFBGvzJnlX2XF15_aacSpn7LR6SOqZf55DWFa-B8rkIA1UFQoazFxvZs5ARZ5e-obxakXvhTDSUXhy6woGVXy8JWYsrvFdsVuX07T91Et0yLpJJ_sajp04PDvuDHqeNIa2Pk/s400/fun_50th_birthday_plus_tax_button-rd8d0802ab97e4ea483191282f179014c_x7j3i_8byvr_324.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Seriously, Patty, don't worry about it! The fifties are fabulous! Take it from one who knows from experience. Lots and lots of experience. ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And if all that doesn't help, there's always pure escape. Might I recommend a little "vacation" with Ciel, Billy, and Mark to help put it out of your mind? A signed copy of <i>The Big Fix</i> will be heading your way shortly. Because if fifty isn't fun ... fuhgeddaboudit!</span></div>
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Linda G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04576828490765434497noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051602384535005789.post-63622118366232060642015-10-29T11:06:00.000-04:002015-10-29T11:06:22.448-04:00#ThrowbackThursday: Goosey Gourds and Naughty Poetry<span style="font-size: large;">Thursday again? Already??</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Huh. Funny how that happens on such a regular basis. One might almost say weekly. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Anyhoo, how about another Throwback Thursday post? Here's one from October 2011 that particularly amused me (three guesses why): </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And the wiener is...!</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You know, some women have to settle for getting flowers from their significant others, and then only on special occasions. But not me. Nope, my TG knows the best way to worm his way into my heart is via my funny bone, so he brought home this for me instead...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVHfihyphenhyphenSNWCWvjPWvwAXWedtrqlgpZl00P-Ru2EmVXgxkJdUTlYjKoKkVpUAVRUrwuAmSO-EhElbueeT7PzGzdBnI0EEvrxHgaH36BzodLtJsSGdsF7gwfN7ej3iGqLNbNk3QHy19tvkQ/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVHfihyphenhyphenSNWCWvjPWvwAXWedtrqlgpZl00P-Ru2EmVXgxkJdUTlYjKoKkVpUAVRUrwuAmSO-EhElbueeT7PzGzdBnI0EEvrxHgaH36BzodLtJsSGdsF7gwfN7ej3iGqLNbNk3QHy19tvkQ/s320/001.JPG" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="261" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />...just because he knew it would make me laugh. Plus, gourds are seasonal. Who doesn't need a good seasonal laugh? (I'm thinking of putting a knee-high stocking on it, and seeing if I can make visitors blush. Then again, my in-laws might come over unexpectedly, so maybe not.)<br /><br />TG's gift inspired a visit from<b> my muse's evil, limerick-spinning twin</b>, who planted this in my brain:<br /><br />There once was a gander, so fine,<br />Who saw a watermelon stuck to a vine.<br />It was lust at first sight--<br />So he goosed it all night--<br />And the result is apparently mine.<br /><br />Okay, okay...enough about my peni--er, goose gourd. On to what you're really waiting for!<br /><br />Thank you all so much for cracking me up with your entries to the <a href="http://www.lindagrimes.com/2011/09/whats-more-fun-than-angry-birds-angry.html" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;">Angry Camel Caption Contest</a>! They really got me giggling. So much so that I had to ask TG to help me decide the wiener...er, I mean, winner.<br /><br />We both zeroed in immediately (and, knowing us, unsurprisingly) on...<br /><br />*drum roll*<br /><br /><b>"I don't care WHO Catherine the Great is! I'm not in the mood!"</b><br /><br />Dianne, if you'll email me your address [linda(dot)grimes(at)gmail(dot)com], I'll send you your prize, which is not only dumb <i>and </i>edible, but also in keeping with the October Halloween season.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkqXOXwg3RMT-gbeZiv7Csb8lcHfHtXbUkOcGmKOaRy0mV-aVmu7RVE21r-UbbVRi5P72uJWvWl0dtEiyHSg6Z9uCvdmeJNo1Ci4FGCn7Y2PSS-ZbEEUD39cOTXPg0X2Bo7fPeLXBKpE/s1600/pumpkin+pez+and+peeps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkqXOXwg3RMT-gbeZiv7Csb8lcHfHtXbUkOcGmKOaRy0mV-aVmu7RVE21r-UbbVRi5P72uJWvWl0dtEiyHSg6Z9uCvdmeJNo1Ci4FGCn7Y2PSS-ZbEEUD39cOTXPg0X2Bo7fPeLXBKpE/s320/pumpkin+pez+and+peeps.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Why, YES! That <i>is </i>a<b> glow-in-dark Jack-o-lantern Pez dispenser </b>(complete with Pez candy) and a package of<b> ghost Peeps</b>!*<br /><br />Dianne, you lucky so-and-so, do realize how jealous all those other entrants are now? I <i>know</i>! It's tough to envision the extent of their envy.<br /><br />Oh, and since conventional blogging wisdom dictates one should always end a post with a question or two for the readers:<br /><br />How do you like my gourd? Do you have a gourd, too?<br /><br />Bonus third question: Is your gourd bigger than my gourd?<br /><br /><br />*Dying plant included in pic only for atmosphere, and not part of the Pez/Peeps Prize Package.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">[Back to the present]</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sadly, my gourd has long since withered. I'll have to look for another one, because I really miss it. Seriously, it was quite the conversation starter, and such a poetic inspiration! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">May the Halloween Fairy bring you all lots of candy! Or gourds. Gourds are fun, too. </span></div>
Linda G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04576828490765434497noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051602384535005789.post-89901064932948189962015-10-22T10:42:00.002-04:002015-10-22T16:37:06.642-04:00Cover News! (With bonus inappropriateness.) <span style="font-size: large;">Hey, y'all! <i>All Fixed Up</i> has a cover. Yay!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzRhb_nbmk2_QDGbvKu1YvlqSCK97Bx1W-UavWd63T2bHTY8fpCKC90mBLkGAMP5cJt1B0M8E4MIJGyXJCpKdwcmKjTYJ0IESgen77J7Dc-pY1VQ7iENjY58fErFtfRQhGv7jwaCAbr8/s1600/AFU+final+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzRhb_nbmk2_QDGbvKu1YvlqSCK97Bx1W-UavWd63T2bHTY8fpCKC90mBLkGAMP5cJt1B0M8E4MIJGyXJCpKdwcmKjTYJ0IESgen77J7Dc-pY1VQ7iENjY58fErFtfRQhGv7jwaCAbr8/s400/AFU+final+cover.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I <i>likes </i>it, I does! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here's a closeup of the picture:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Aren't those sparkly stars great? They not only allude to the magical quality of Ciel's aura-adapting ability, but also to the NASA theme of this particular book.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>CAUTION</b>: If you are under the impression that I am a sweet and decorous lady (though, if you've been reading my blog--or my books--for any length of time, I don't see how you could be), you might want to stop reading this post now. Nice cover, blah-blah-blah, so forth and etc. See ya on the shelves!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But if you happen to appreciate the occasional descent into juvenile humor, please proceed.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Now on to the *<i>ahem</i>* bonus inappropriateness. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Really, I probably shouldn't be telling you this, but according to one of my (admittedly notorious for her inappropriateness) critique partners, <a href="http://tawnafenske.com/" target="_blank">Tawna Fenske</a>, it's too good not to share. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And, after all, it is a peek behind the scenes of the publishing process, so I suppose we could call it educational. Yeah, let's do that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Just don't tell anyone I showed you, okay? Shhh...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">See, when my editor first sent me the cover picture it was fresh out of the Art department, and a certain *<i>cough</i>* wrinkle hadn't been, um, ironed out yet. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Which made for a very happy picture indeed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now, most people probably wouldn't even notice this, um, anomaly, but it popped right out at me. (What? Attention to detail is an important quality in a writer.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Oops. Do you see it? No? </span><span style="font-size: large;">If you're reading this on a small screen, you might have to blow it up. Er, so to speak. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, I admit it. My first thought when I saw it was, "Oh, my God! Is that a rocket in Mark's pocket, or is he just really happy to see Ciel?" </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">(Imagine me giggling. Because I was.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And <i>then </i>I noticed that Mark isn't really looking at Ciel. He's giving Billy the stink eye. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">(Now imagine me giggling <i>hysterically</i>. Because I was.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I gave brief thought to not mentioning it to my editor, because yeah, it would have made a fun cover (at least for those who, like me, pay attention to detail). And who knows? It might have even created a little buzz, which could conceivably help sales. </span><span style="font-size: large;">But my higher self took charge and pointed out the "problem," whereupon someone in the Art department airbrushed that "crease" away.<b>*</b> (Yeah, right. Crease.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now, if I <i>were </i>the decorous type, I never would have dreamed of mentioning it here. But we all know better than that, don't we? ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Besides, Tawna was right. It <i>is </i>too good not to share. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>*</b>Pro tip to photographers: make sure your cover models' suits have been adequately ironed ahead of time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Linda G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04576828490765434497noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051602384535005789.post-63039956046959163062015-10-01T08:47:00.000-04:002015-10-01T08:47:01.381-04:00A Very Important Lesson about Writing. With Random Fartage. (#ThrowbackThursday)<span style="font-size: large;">Hey, I'm kind of digging this #ThrowbackThursday thing. Even if it involves plagiarizing some of my earlier posts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">(Is self-plagiarism a thing? Oh, well. I'm fairly sure <i>I </i>won't be suing <i>me</i>. Not unless I get really desperate, that is.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This week's edition of #TBT is from March 2010, and involves an actual lesson in writing. If you dig deeply enough, that is. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you're not a writer, please just sit back and enjoy the flight. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Epiphanies in the Air: Flying, Fartage, and Phobias</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I hate flying.<br /><br />Well, it's not really the flying I hate so much as the not being able to get off the airplane if--and precisely <span style="font-style: italic;">when</span>--I want to. So it's really more like claustrophobia than...um, plane-ophobia?<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Maybe </span>if I could wear a parachute, and be assured the flight attendant would open the door for me if I wanted off, maybe <span style="font-style: italic;">then </span>I'd like it better.<br /><br />Nah, that wouldn't work. There's that whole being terrified of jumping out of planes from thirty thousand feet up to consider.<br /><br />*sigh*<br /><br />So, what I do is...live with it. The rare occasions when I must fly, I suck it up (along with a martini or two) and deal. It's worked for me so far. Sure, I get a few looks on morning flights, but that's a small price to pay for avoiding a major panic attack.<br /><br />What I can't seem to avoid on planes is the person who is operating under some sort of divine imperative to Tell Me His Life Story. (And by "his" I mean, for the most part, "her," but I try not to impugn my own gender when speaking in generalities.)<br /><br />It's my own fault. I exude a talk-to-me vibe. I realize this. There's just something about me that says "I am utterly fascinated by every aspect of your being--please share!" Maybe it's the glow from the martinis.<br /><br />The last time this happened (on a looong flight to Seattle) the woman sitting next to me pounced before I could pull my book of crossword puzzles out of my over-sized, stuffed-to-the-gills handbag (hey, when I travel, I like to be prepared for any eventuality--you never know when you might need a tape measure, three Chinese take-out menus, or an industrial-sized bottle of Tums).<br /><br />So, my new traveling companion--let's call her, oh, I don't know...does "Gabby" work for you?--caught my eye. I hadn't even scored a freakin' martini yet, so it couldn't have been the glow. Maybe she smelled the fear and, predator-like, struck while the opportunity was ripe.<br /><br />I tried to look away, but it was too late. She <span style="font-style: italic;">smiled </span>at me. I <span style="font-style: italic;">can't</span> be rude to somebody who smiles at me, especially twinkly little gray-haired ladies who look like everyone's favorite grandma. It is physically impossible for me to cold-shoulder them.<br /><br />An obvious pro at getting right down to the nitty-gritty before the possibility of being cut off, she started with her recent gall-bladder surgery, apologizing in advance for the emanations she feared might waft over from her general direction. Sadly, the operation had upset her system.<br /><br />Oh, joy. So not only would my ears be assaulted, but if I was interpreting her delicate references correctly, my nose was in for quite a ride too.<br /><br />I wanted to jam my hands together in the classic time-out signal and squeal "TMI! TMI!!" (that stands for "Too Much Information," for those of you not up on interwebz lingo), but courtesy forbade. Instead, I beckoned the flight attendant and tried to pre-order a martini using an elaborate system of hand and eyebrow gestures. She wasn't amused, and I'm sure she put me on a List.<br /><br />From there Gabby segued directly to grandchildren (the visiting of whom was the reason for her own flight). Takes a while to get through every milestone of cuteness in the lives of three children. And then came the pets. Two cockapoos and an ancient pekenese, all with impacted "you-know-where" glands that required regular draining (she could warn me about impending fartage but couldn't bring herself to say "anal"?), and she was terribly worried her pet-sitter would neglect to do that while she was away.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Huh</span>, I thought while smiling blandly (the first martini having been delivered somewhere around her granddaughter's first ballet recital...or was it her youngest grandson's honorable mention in the Junior Golf Championship?), <span style="font-style: italic;">you can bet your sweet bippy I'D be skipping that particular chore if I were pet sitting for you.</span><br /><br />But of course, I only nodded sympathetically and chewed my olives.<br /><br />THAT, dear blog reader, is when I had my Great Backstory Epiphany.<br /><br />And here it is: Nobody cares.<br /><br />Simple, huh? Nobody who doesn't know you gives a flip about the minutia of your life.<br /><br />(Unless you're a celebrity, and really that's only because they <span style="font-style: italic;">feel </span>like they know you. Or sometimes if you're really pretty, because they think listening attentively will get them laid.)<br /><br />Here's the writing connection: it goes for your characters, too.<br /><br />Early in your book, before the readers have learned who your characters currently are--right now, in the characters' "present"--they aren't interested in what happened to them before. It has no relevance until the reader knows enough about what's happening "now" to care about what happened "then." (Unless the "then" is a terribly sensational scandal of some sort, fascinating in its own right, in which case it should probably be part of your <span style="font-style: italic;">main </span>story, not your backstory.)<br /><br />[I <span style="font-style: italic;">KNOW</span>. It's been said thousands of times before, highlighted in every book on writing you've ever read. But sometimes it takes a real life connection to make it sink in. It did for me, anyway. Maybe you're better about learning vicariously.]<br /><br />So, when adding in your backstory (which is not entirely avoidable--your main story must have context), try to use a light hand. Reveal the past on a need-to-know basis. Retain a little mystery. Trust me, your traveling companion--*cough* I mean, your reader--will appreciate it.</span></div>
Linda G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04576828490765434497noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051602384535005789.post-54364729627864934082015-09-24T08:42:00.000-04:002015-09-24T08:45:34.785-04:00#ThrowbackThursday: A Lesson in Juggling, AKA Knive and Wives and Girlfriends<span style="font-size: large;">Still digging through my archives and resuscitating posts that most of you might have missed. This one harkens back to September 2010, and recounts a tale that harkens back even further. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">(Sidenote: The word of the day appears to be "harkens.")</span><br />
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Knives and wives and girlfriends, oh my!</h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">I'm so excited!!!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">Why, you ask? What could possibly have Linda jumping up and down to the extent she wishes she'd invested in a heavy duty sports bra?</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">Well, I'll tell you. I just found out </span></span><a href="http://www.fkb.com/welcome.php" style="color: #7d181e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 20.2222px; text-decoration: none;">The Flying Karamazov Brothers</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;"> are coming back to The Barns (the theater where TG is the reigning deity) next month, with their show entitled "4-Play."*</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">These guys are fan-</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 20.2222px;">effing</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">-tastic! A comedy troupe that juggles. Yes, a juggling comedy troupe! Sooo funny, sooo talented, AND they sometimes wear KILTS!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">Didja hear that, ladies? I said </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20.2222px;">KILTS</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">! And they all have really nice legs, which would be enough to make </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 20.2222px;">me </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">watch them, but did I mention they also </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 20.2222px;">juggle </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">while wearing kilts? What's not to love about </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 20.2222px;">that</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">?</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V585_t79W9Y" width="420"></iframe></span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 20.2222px;">Aah, memories... </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">*loses self in reverie*</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">You see, this is not the first time the troupe of kilted jugglers has been here. Many, many moons ago (as in, the '90s -- you know, the Dark Ages), The Flying Karamazov Brothers came to play at The Barns. The troupe has morphed since then--only one of the original members is left--but the spirit of F-U-N is the same.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">On that memorable occasion, I actually got to be up close and personal with the guys. They were doing two shows--a matinee and an evening performance--so naturally TG, being the hospitable guy he is, invited the whole troupe and crew to our house for a meal in between. Even though we had two little kids at home, I don't really cook, </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 20.2222px;">and </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">my elderly aunt from Sweden was visiting. Not that I'm holding a grudge or anything. I mean, I agreed and all. Still, I think he owes me for pulling it off.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">Yeah, I know. </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 20.2222px;">Me</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">, cooking. It is to laugh. But it's amazing what you can do with two frozen lasagnas (one with meat and one without, because there's always a vegetarian in an artsy crowd), bags o' salad, and baguettes from the bakery. If there's anyone who can throw together a passable meal without actually cooking, it's me.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">The first thing you should know about jugglers is, duh, they juggle. All the time, apparently. Whatever they can get their hands on </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 20.2222px;">will </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">go flying through the air. Yes, they're always honing those mad skillz.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">Honing is what makes them </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 20.2222px;">professionals</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">. *looks meaningfully at all writers reading this* Take from that what you will.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">Part of The Karamazov Brothers' schtick is a trick called "The Gamble," in which one of them (designated "The Champ") juggles any three items provided by the audience (as long as the items weigh more than an ounce, less than 10 lbs, are no bigger than a breadbox, and are not live animals**). Said items are voted on by the audience members, so the guys don't know in advance what they will have to juggle.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">TG says the most memorable thing an audience member brought to The Barns for this trick was a pig stomach stuffed with green jello. Eeew.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">(I believe animal parts have since been added to the list of no-nos, at least at The Barns. So if you're planning to come to the show, don't bring any. Frankly, TG doesn't want to deal with it.)</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">They have another bit, called "The Terror Trick," wherein they juggle a salt shaker, a cleaver, a flaming torch, an egg, a block of dry ice, a fish, a ukelele, a bottle of champagne (with the safety wire removed), and a skillet. By the end of the trick, they're frying the fish and egg in the skillet, and drinking the champagne.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">(Huh. Maybe I should've let </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 20.2222px;">them </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">cook...)</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">At my house, they limited themselves to juggling a peanut, a bottle from the bar, a banana from the fruit basket, and a knife. Oh, and one of them was also juggling his girlfriend and his wife (who showed up *cough* unexpectedly to visit him on the tour). </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 20.2222px;">That </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">was rather awkward.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">What could a good hostess do? Other than seat them all at separate tables, smile brightly, and engage the wife in a halting Swedish-English conversation, with the help of a handy visiting aunt, while TG enlisted everyone else's aid in keeping the girlfriend from drinking too much wine and spilling the beans to the clueless wife over dessert.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">Gotta love showbiz.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">(No, I won't tell you which Karamazov brother it was. Contrary to the impression I may have left on loyal readers of this blog, I </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 20.2222px;">do </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">have some discretion. Doesn't matter anyway--he's no longer with the troupe. I suspect the on-the-road "juggling" became too much of a challenge for his personal life to sustain.)</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">Anyway, I cannot </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 20.2222px;">wait </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">to see their new show. TG hasn't said yet if he's invited them over for an encore meal. I suspect he's waiting to see if any of them have additional *cough-cough* baggage to deal with before making the commitment.</span></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">*Admit it. You were expecting me to make a crass foreplay joke here, weren't you? Well, some set-ups are just too easy. No challenge. Besides, you were already thinking it, so what's the point?</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.2222px;">**TG tells me the items also cannot present a danger to the audience or the juggler, should a mishap occur. So you wouldn't be allowed to give them, say, a balloon full of sulfuric acid or a piece of dynamite. In case you were considering it.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">[Back to 2015]</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, the <a href="http://www.fkb.com/index.php" target="_blank">Flying Karamozov Brothers </a>still perform. If you ever get a chance to see them, do it! Though you might not want to sit in the front row. Just sayin'. </span>Linda G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04576828490765434497noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051602384535005789.post-62495638044279837722015-09-17T09:53:00.002-04:002015-09-17T09:59:03.086-04:00Huh. Smells a little fishy to me (a #ThrowbackThursday post)<span style="font-size: large;">Wow. It's already Thursday again. Seriously, Universe, stop it already with this warp speed stuff. It's messin' wit' my head!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Okay, so in honor (once again) of #ThrowbackThursday, I dug into my archives and am resuscitating a post from a while back. If it smells a little funny, bear in mind it's almost five years old, and we all know fish start to stink after a few days. ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bam-Bam, the Fish, and the Universe</span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkpCF54F1Fxgo1952E984X2syUhfYts3sPctAxx_QDRzAxafPUm8FdIiHbSGD8Y9pRDavmcSe8NuZPPGWlV2_R-qySiz8cK0eqFTtpHa7-qLvbtClRXJbMTZZwuXIqxqhlta75X2IXPw/s1600/Lg_Boy_Fishing.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #7d181e; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkpCF54F1Fxgo1952E984X2syUhfYts3sPctAxx_QDRzAxafPUm8FdIiHbSGD8Y9pRDavmcSe8NuZPPGWlV2_R-qySiz8cK0eqFTtpHa7-qLvbtClRXJbMTZZwuXIqxqhlta75X2IXPw/s200/Lg_Boy_Fishing.gif" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="156" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">My dad died when I was twelve and my baby brother was three.<br /><br />(Relax. This isn't going to be a maudlin post.)<br /><br />My older brothers and I did our best to help Mom with, oh, let's call him "Bam-Bam." Because that's what we did call him. See, he had this little wooden hammer, and was not bashful about using it...but that's not really germane to this story.<br /><br />One of my dad's favorite pastimes was fishing. We'd go to the lake in the summer, and stay for a few days or a week, depending on how much time off Dad could get. He would spend every spare second down on the dock, fishing. My older brothers spent their fair share of time there with him, proudly holding their rods. (Heh-heh.)<br /><br />I'd join them sometimes, mainly to watch. And *cough* possibly to make a lot of noise, trying to scare the fish away before they were hooked. (Yeah, imagine how popular I was with the menfolk.) What can I say? I was a soft-hearted twerp. Besides, the worms were icky. I couldn't bear to squish them onto the hooks myself, and even when my dad did it for me, it still freaked me out. I mean, eew. Worm guts.<br /><br />So I spent most of my time in the camp's rec room, playing ping-pong and drinking Delaware Punch (the only non-carbonated beverage in the soda machine. Oh, and reading, of course. Good times.<br /><br />Bam-Bam wasn't old enough for any quality dock time before Dad died, but he'd heard stories. When he was about six, he got it into his head that he wanted to go fishing, just like his daddy. My other brothers were busy doing teenage boy things, and Mom didn't fish, so I figured it was up to me.<br /><br />Trouble was, I still couldn't stand to, you know...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /> Which was really fine, because I sure as heck didn't want to deal with...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />...an actual fish.<br /><br />See, what I had in mind was a nice afternoon bonding with my baby brother while he dangled a worm-less hook in the water. <i>Pretending </i>to fish. After all, just holding the pole was the important part. (Honest to God, I <i>tried </i>to come up with a way to not make that sound like a double entendre, but I don't think there <i>is </i>one.) Anyway, no worm, no possibility I'd have to deal with a fish, right?<br /><br />Ha. Hahahahahahaha. HA! (That would be hysterical hindsight laughter.)<!----hysterical--></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />So, what do you suppose happened the very first time Bam-Bam dropped that hook in the water, and jerked it back out in his sheer enthusiasm for the activity?<br /><br />That's right. He hooked a fish. Through its <i>back</i>.<br /><br />There, dangling from Bam-Bam's fishing line, was a four-inch, silver-gray fish who was suddenly having a very bad day.<br /><br />Picture it: you are the Einstein of fishes, much too smart to snap at a worm on a hook. No, you'd rather starve than place your mouth on any strangely still, hook-shaped worms. Because you <i>know </i>better. And then out of nowhere comes a freakin' worm-free hook, speeding through the water above you, and before you can wiggle your tail and swim away you are suspended in front of a six-year-old human boy shrieking, "Can we eat it? Huh? Can we eat it?"<br /><br />Like I said. Bad day for the fish. (And me--I had to *shudder* take the hook out.) But <b>Best Day Ever</b> for my baby brother, even though I had to explain to him that we had to throw the fish back because it was too small to keep. Didn't matter to him. <b><i>He'd caught his fish</i>.</b><br /><br />There's a lesson in there somewhere. Something about never taking anything for granted. Or about how life can surprise you in the damnedest ways. Or how, even when the odds are against you, things sometimes work out. Or perhaps how point of view is everything (think of the fish). Take your pick. Me, I just look back on it and laugh.<br /><br />How about you? Has life handed you any small surprises? How'd they work out for you?<!----hysterical--></span></div>
Linda G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04576828490765434497noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051602384535005789.post-13526220887282199852015-09-10T12:22:00.000-04:002015-09-10T12:22:26.365-04:00A #ThrowbackThursday Post about my Sordid Criminal Past<span style="font-size: large;">I was perusing the archives of my blog, marveling at how the quality of my posts went downhill after I sold my books. Who knew writing novels under deadline would drain so much creative energy? Alas, 'tis true. *<i>sighs</i>*</span><div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then I thought, hey, I bet a lot of visitors here haven't even read my earlier posts, and might be surprised to learn I can write about something that isn't, you know, one of the books I'm trying to sell!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then I thought, hmm, #ThrowbackThursday is a good excuse to dig up something from the past and post it now. (I'm quick that way.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, here ya go. A relic from 2013 relating an even older relic from my dubious past (geez, I hope there's a statute of limitations on my <strike>criminal behavior</strike> youthful antics...):</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My Sordid Criminal Past</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>WARNING</b>: The following post contains such words as "<b>h*t p*le</b>" and "<b>t!t</b>" and "<b>chickensh!t</b>" and "<b>bad*ss</b>." Read at your own peril.<br /><br />(Oh, come on. This is <i>me</i>. How bad can it really be?)<br /><br />Even before my walk on the wild side as <a href="http://lindagrimes.blogspot.com/2010/03/gunrunners-tale-kinda.html" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;">an almost-gunrunner in Ireland</a>, I had already dipped briefly into a life of crime. Difficult though it will be for you to believe it:<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am an international smuggler.</span></span></i></b></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />There. *bites knuckle* I've said it. Think of me what you will. But it's not my fault! I was young. I was impetuous. <i> </i><br /><br /><i>I was Double-Dog Dared.</i><br /><br />And we've already seen what <a href="http://lindagrimes.blogspot.com/2010/10/using-artfully-placed-scarves-to-hide.html" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;">depths I will stoop to when dared</a>, haven't we? So you can hardly be surprised to learn that this behavioral tendency has its roots in my murky past.<br /><br />It was my junior year of college, and I was studying abroad in Stockholm. (TG says he studied a broad in college, too--several, in fact...<i>ba-dum-bum </i>*<i>waggles eyebrows</i>*) Over spring break a group of us international students went Russia. We stayed five days in Moscow and four in St. Petersburg. Since we were tagging along with a high school study group, you'd think we couldn't manage to get into much trouble, wouldn't you?<br /><br />Yeah, you'd <i>think </i>that. But you'd be wrong.<br /><br />Listen, all I can say is, it's not that tough for five college girls to ditch one harried high school chaperone, who was naturally way more concerned with keeping tabs on his underage charges than on those of us who were supposed to be "mature." The poor man may even have been under the impression we would actually help him ride herd on the teenagers.<br /><br />[Pause for interlude of hysterical laughter.]<br /><br />Shortly after we arrived in Moscow (getting there was a harrowing experience in itself--I'm not sure how it is today, but back then there was a good reason Aeroflot was commonly known as "Aeroflop" *shudders*), one of our motley crew of college girls--let's call her TUNS (short for "Thinks Up Naughty Stuff")--decided it would be fun to take a cab to the nearest fancy restaurant and dine spectacularly on caviar and vodka.<br /><br />Well, the only thing was, the exchange rate from Swedish crowns to Russian rubles was not so great. None of us poor college students could afford it.<br /><br />"Ha!" says Tuns. "No problem. I know a guy..."<br /><br />Know a guy she did. He was a Pole (as in from Poland, not a staff, and quite classically handsome, if physical considerations are important to you) from our International Swedish language class. He happened to be visiting his Russian cousin at the same time as our trip.<br /><br />What a coincidence! I'm sure the timing of his trip had nothing to do with the fact that Tuns had been seeing him on the sly back in Sweden. He was married to a Swedish woman, purely, he assured us all, to gain residency. Didn't stop him from trying to date me, Tuns, and every other American girl in our language class. I think he had aspirations of U.S. citizenship. Tuns had no intention of marrying him, even if he did divorce his Swedish wife, but she couldn't see why that should stop her from letting him *cough* try to persuade her.<br /><br />Long story short (or is it already too late for that?), Hot Pole's [<b>Heh-heh. I said "Hot Pole."</b>] Russian cousin was a taxi driver who dabbled in, um, unofficial currency exchange. Apparently, this sort of "moonlighting" was quite common then. Might still be, for all I know. He gave us an exchange rate approximately ten times better than the official one, assuring us that "nobody really minded" as long as we didn't try to take any Russian currency out of the country with us. We'd have to spend it all while we were there.<br /><br />This did not strike us as an especially bad hardship. *blink*<br /><br />Russian Cousin also said he could give us a very good rate on a cab ride to a nice restaurant. So five of us girls, plus Hot Pole (heh), squeezed into (heh-heh) a tee-niny cab, built to hold three passengers, tops.<br /><br />Have I mentioned this was March, and that this particular March in Moscow was colder than the proverbial witch's...um, bosom? (Bosom is better than <b>tit</b>, right? I'm working on my restraint.) With four-foot snowbanks along the sides of the roads? Also, apparently it's illegal for taxi drivers to over-stuff their cabs, drive without their meters on, and then not report the income to whoever the Russian equivalent to Uncle Sam is?<br /><br />Yeah. Well, it is, it is, and it is. So we spent the whole cab ride <b>caroming around icy streets, avoiding cop cars, and finally wound up slamming head-on into a snowbank</b>. Fun stuff.<br /><br />To give Russian Cousin his due, he did get us to the restaurant...after we all helped dig is car out of the snow. And the restaurant <i>was </i>spectacular. The food was amazing, the wait staff so attentive we felt like celebrities, and the vodka flowed freely enough that none of us felt our whiplash.<br /><br /><b>But back to the main point of this post.</b> After lots more antics along those lines, one of them involving all of us getting kicked out of Lenin's tomb for inappropriate laughter (what? he looked like a reject from Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum), we found we had some rubles left over as we packed to head back to Sweden.<br /><br />Tuns told us the rubles would make wonderful mementos of our trip to Russia, and that she fully intended to take hers with her. Went so far as to say if we didn't do the same, we'd be<b>chickenshits</b>, and she would spend the rest of the semester clucking at us whenever she passed us in the hall.<br /><br />Then she did it. <i><b>S</b><b>he double-dog dared us.</b> </i><br /><br />What choice did we have? The other girls stuffed rubles in their bras, but I thought that seemed too obvious. So I pried open my dental floss case, folded up my 5-ruble bill really small, crammed it beneath the wound-up white thread, and closed the case back up, good as new. Squeezed a small blob of toothpaste on the outside case for authenticity's sake, and to discourage any official who happened to rifle through my bags from actually touching it. (I thought that was a rather clever touch.)<br /><br />Then I proceeded to have heart palpitations until we were safely through airport security. No one checked any of our bags, but I didn't breathe easily until we were back on Swedish soil. <b>Badass</b>though I am, I don't think I'm cut out for a life of crime.<br /><br />How about you guys? Have you ever broken an international law? Do share in the comments. I swear your secret is safe with me.</span><div style="clear: both;">
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Linda G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04576828490765434497noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051602384535005789.post-43762988874267731082015-07-25T11:41:00.000-04:002015-07-25T11:41:18.435-04:00Ciel needs a vacay! (Why, yes, it's a contest.)<span style="font-size: large;">And you can go with her! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Just visit my Facebook author page (</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/LindaGrimesAuthor/posts/900636876649920:0" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">click here</a><span style="font-size: large;">) and let me know you're interested in having Ciel as a traveling companion. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">US only please. Because, sadly, it's expensive to send big packages to other countries. But international commenters could still win one of those little clapper-board key chains you see at the bottom of the pic, because they're a lot lighter than books. ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hope you're all having a fantastic summer! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Linda G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04576828490765434497noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051602384535005789.post-11459284829193261022015-07-10T10:26:00.000-04:002015-07-10T10:26:52.214-04:00Me, Emerging from the Revision Cave<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEYCYT0usQoduuA0MsbseJ8i8t9mGDWwtbwg_WT2rPz-Rce5b5a0MpQds68-_gYdo1y09cDwUfzzAL2jiEpd3VPVzpyV7kUASz_KUCtkNxI0d3bsjspOd7b2pZgJBten6up5M4gp5oHM/s1600/63299449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEYCYT0usQoduuA0MsbseJ8i8t9mGDWwtbwg_WT2rPz-Rce5b5a0MpQds68-_gYdo1y09cDwUfzzAL2jiEpd3VPVzpyV7kUASz_KUCtkNxI0d3bsjspOd7b2pZgJBten6up5M4gp5oHM/s400/63299449.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy of memegenerator.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What can I say? It's been a busy few months. First <i>The Big Fix</i> release in May, followed by a round of promo, including a fun visit to the RT Booklovers Conference, and then I had to dive right into revisions for <i>All Fixed Up</i>, the next Ciel Halligan UF/Mystery/Action-packed Romantic Romp. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Next up: copyedits and cover-choosing. I'm told the cover will be similar to <i>The Big Fix</i> (yay!). Same cover models*, but posed in a way to reflect the contents of <i>All Fixed Up</i>. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">*I'm currently trying to come up with a good reason they should invite me to the cover shoot. You know, to provide helpful artistic input. Adjust the guys'...um, collars. Powder their sweaty brows (hey, I'm sure it gets hot under those lights!). Or something. *<i>cough</i>* </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Or maybe just stand on the sidelines and drool. Whichever. I'm sure I'd be a valuable presence. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So, what have you guys been up to while I've been turning all mushroom-pasty in my cave? Hope your summer (or winter, for those of you down under) is going well! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Linda G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04576828490765434497noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051602384535005789.post-13722107122562414172015-05-12T06:55:00.002-04:002015-05-12T17:29:55.414-04:00IT'S A BOUNCING BABY BOOK!<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, the day has finally arrived! THE BIG FIX has officially been released. I think that calls for a trumpet fanfare, don't you? (Never let it be said I don't enjoy my "moments" to the fullest. *grin*)</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHm92znN1GRwP2d_OOdMxc5Y8C5IsxUb0Qr4FHrxJWElkigS9CcRDW8oGimwhghn2INhUpRkcbMAW9zsaXlrYIstd4Wl-ASXi_5v50gkIA9IPtHYiGFFGouSJtuFAMBImCA9mc32zIORQ/s1600/Trumpet+fanfare+by+Glenn+Brunette+via+Wikimedia+Commons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHm92znN1GRwP2d_OOdMxc5Y8C5IsxUb0Qr4FHrxJWElkigS9CcRDW8oGimwhghn2INhUpRkcbMAW9zsaXlrYIstd4Wl-ASXi_5v50gkIA9IPtHYiGFFGouSJtuFAMBImCA9mc32zIORQ/s400/Trumpet+fanfare+by+Glenn+Brunette+via+Wikimedia+Commons.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Glenn Brunette, via Wikimedia Commons.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">I tried to get that town crier who just announced the birth of Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana to record a similar announcement for me, but apparently some things are Just. Not. Done. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Oh, well. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">By the way, have you seen the new cover yet? (...asked Linda disingenuously.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What's that you say? It looks the same? Ah, but it's not! Look closer. See there at the bottom right? </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJqulNkKfHWVviO9PCvHY4f2ilHulGAGJWuuFG9fyrTaJb5kXWTotcsozgMk-E7YyY2cAybm0RuX5IDVifw2v2l0ADFV9RWKmUnfegX60_htC-aM2I3QV2Ap5MlCemUVvohEY1oDaXck/s1600/2015-05-11+18.29.46+TBF+author+copies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJqulNkKfHWVviO9PCvHY4f2ilHulGAGJWuuFG9fyrTaJb5kXWTotcsozgMk-E7YyY2cAybm0RuX5IDVifw2v2l0ADFV9RWKmUnfegX60_htC-aM2I3QV2Ap5MlCemUVvohEY1oDaXck/s400/2015-05-11+18.29.46+TBF+author+copies.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They added "<i>A Novel</i>." </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That's how you can be sure it's not, you know, my autobiography or something. ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And here it is NAKED:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7-Wg3mGUBVG6X1LmYk6QoeHq-ornT2ykiBmeu88j-2QNuowUnHoZEHsjvazxNkEzAyP7nWtOjxwRSoxvjk9pWsS3Z5Ydm94cJ578h-UpXHLNMi_LpJ3x7LjXwkobvNJOJkRs4kB1oho/s1600/2015-05-11+18.43.48+TBF+naked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7-Wg3mGUBVG6X1LmYk6QoeHq-ornT2ykiBmeu88j-2QNuowUnHoZEHsjvazxNkEzAyP7nWtOjxwRSoxvjk9pWsS3Z5Ydm94cJ578h-UpXHLNMi_LpJ3x7LjXwkobvNJOJkRs4kB1oho/s400/2015-05-11+18.43.48+TBF+naked.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It's hard to tell from the pic, but the lettering and Tor logo are in a metallic raspberry pink. Pretty! :)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And now I have a small favor to ask. (Don't worry, it doesn't involve lending me money.) All I'm asking is, if you have the opportunity, that you help me get the word out about THE BIG FIX on any social media platform you happen to participate in. </span><span style="font-size: large;">It can be something as simple as a tweet with the hashtag #TheBigFix, or a mention on Facebook, or Tumblr, or Pinterest, or Instagram, or even Google+ (does anyone even use Google+?). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Anything to raise awareness would be great! Because I'd kind of like to sell enough of these suckers to convince my publisher to let keep on writing them. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">P.S. I'm leaving for the RT Booklovers Convention day after tomorrow. If you live near Dallas (or will be in the area), stop by the Hyatt Regency on Saturday (May 16th) between 11a.m. and 2p.m. I'll be signing at the Giant Book Fair, and I'd love to see you!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Linda G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04576828490765434497noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051602384535005789.post-46768490504411758222015-05-06T09:17:00.001-04:002015-05-06T09:17:33.366-04:00And the Caption Contest Winner is ...<span style="font-size: large;">Last week I posted a picture of a camel and asked for captions. (No need to take my word for it. Click <a href="http://www.lindagrimes.com/2015/04/a-writer-camel-and-monty-python-all.html" target="_blank">here</a> to see for yourself.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I said another camel would be here this week to announce the winner, so here ya go:</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPIX7GSYLH0TKz9Ott4piGZOKUo3fH-gwc3pLehdkaEKd4ZymhUTaieRP3E7lz8wG5cr1Y1xGaxq-CKMTkaMnkGJj5QkdeXjNK0LkId05bVGdnGFPSvH3-0HC-aoJL4FGldvjMu2vuMl8/s1600/open-mouth+camel+--+morgueFile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPIX7GSYLH0TKz9Ott4piGZOKUo3fH-gwc3pLehdkaEKd4ZymhUTaieRP3E7lz8wG5cr1Y1xGaxq-CKMTkaMnkGJj5QkdeXjNK0LkId05bVGdnGFPSvH3-0HC-aoJL4FGldvjMu2vuMl8/s1600/open-mouth+camel+--+morgueFile.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo via morgeFile.com; words via moi.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you can't see what the camel is proclaiming, it's <b>Renee' Ross</b>!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Her winning caption? This:</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5TKpt-HPlR5y3JFxPQ4Ek0hRDhjsOAv_5uO7JWYkQJWu8KCtetT7BQ9pCfnJh9hi7gqvcm9ggeOioY3hxcpozvnNxCISOWrYrkJ1fmL8zvCeD7vR-BV_YUC0dOM7FIWA42w-6FJ3EDD0/s1600/smiling+camel+--+morguefile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5TKpt-HPlR5y3JFxPQ4Ek0hRDhjsOAv_5uO7JWYkQJWu8KCtetT7BQ9pCfnJh9hi7gqvcm9ggeOioY3hxcpozvnNxCISOWrYrkJ1fmL8zvCeD7vR-BV_YUC0dOM7FIWA42w-6FJ3EDD0/s1600/smiling+camel+--+morguefile.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo via morgeFile.com<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>"It's Wednesday, you say? Darlin', in my world EVERY day is HUMP Day!"</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'd say that expresses what that camel is thinking quite nicely. Or, rather, quite <i>naughtily</i>. Which, to me (of course), is hilarious. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Renee', if you'll email me at linda(dot)grimes(at)gmail(dot)com, I'll make arrangements for you to receive your pre-order of <i>The Big Fix</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Anyone else who left a caption, email me and I'll arrange a digital copy of <i>Pre-Fix</i> for you via Amazon (for Kindle) or Barnes and Noble (for NOOK). Well, as long as you live in the US. I'm not sure how to give digital copies internationally. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks to everyone who participated! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And may everyone have a Happy Hump Day! Whether it's Hump Day or not. *waggles eyebrows*</span><br />
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<br />Linda G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04576828490765434497noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051602384535005789.post-80863223989544377352015-04-29T09:33:00.000-04:002015-04-29T09:33:00.918-04:00A Writer, a Camel, and Monty Python all walked into a bar...<span style="font-size: large;">Okay, w</span><span style="font-size: large;">ho misses the camels? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">One person that I know of, at least. <i>You </i>know who you are. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In case anyone else has been pining for camel pics*, here ya go:</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6sJflg1eoaeQSYn_7CFvoLz3ft6Xy8M8-8wa_TlfpziHSl7soh6nT_0d3KdmrXVp-u4ZscyXE5JhYzcaEHCB8Mcx7uf6cSkDTrjk8DpicWO9ymC-vvv7t8hZFqjGL8NLWNHm5lCyt9w/s1600/smiling+camel+--+morguefile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6sJflg1eoaeQSYn_7CFvoLz3ft6Xy8M8-8wa_TlfpziHSl7soh6nT_0d3KdmrXVp-u4ZscyXE5JhYzcaEHCB8Mcx7uf6cSkDTrjk8DpicWO9ymC-vvv7t8hZFqjGL8NLWNHm5lCyt9w/s1600/smiling+camel+--+morguefile.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of morgeFile.com.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I love the smile on this camel's face. Makes you wonder what it's thinking. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Hmm. What <i>is </i>this camel thinking? Something nice? Something naughty? Something totally outrageous?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I know! Why don't <i>you </i>decide? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Caption-the-Camel Contest</b>:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">1. Study the picture.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2. Imagine yourself to be the camel. (If you're into method acting, that is. Otherwise, skip this step. It's not like I'll ever know the difference.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">3. Tell me in a comment what "you're" thinking.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">4. Amuse me! Move me! Enlighten me! Make me groan! (Your choice. You don't have to do all of them.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">5. You know I'm difficult to offend, but do try to keep in within the realm of decency. If you find that you, in your new camel persona, are thinking bad words, mask them in the customary way ("@#$!"). Trust me, I'll fill in the blanks just fine. ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The First Ten</b> participants will receive a free download of <b>PRE-FIX</b> (if you want it; if you already have it, you may transfer it to another party, or simply receive my gratitude for the smile you've no doubt given me).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Writer of the Caption I Like Best </b>(hint: this typically involves laughter on my part--I love to laugh), will receive a free pre-order of <b>THE BIG FIX</b>. Even if you're not in the first ten, you're still eligible for the main prize. (Again, this is transferable. Might I add that books make a great gift?)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Let's give it a week. The caption contest will end at 8 a.m. EDT next Wednesday, May 6, whereupon another camel will announce the winner. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">(This contest is US only, I'm afraid. But never fear, within a few weeks, in a guest post I'm doing on another blog, there <i>will </i>be an international contest! Details to follow.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">On your mark ...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Get set ...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Caption!</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">*As opposed to pining for the fjords.**</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">**Yes, that was a gratuitous Monty Python reference.***</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">***If you don't know Monty Python ... oh, come on. Nobody doesn't know Monty Python. But if your memory is cloudy on the Dead Parrot sketch, here's a refresher:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/e6Lq771TVm4?rel=0" width="420"></iframe></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">P.S. Yes, I know. There is no bar. The camel, Monty Python, and I are not, in fact, having a drinking contest. Which is sad, because that probably would have been fun. Sorry about that! (Geez, writers will say anything for attention, won't they?)</span>Linda G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04576828490765434497noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051602384535005789.post-8017689231980691552015-03-31T15:00:00.001-04:002015-03-31T16:36:50.193-04:00Exploding with News! (Not as messy as it sounds...)<span style="font-size: large;">Yikes! So much to share today. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QqtTj0kah7jFRtcOTEI1njTWAidH67F6PrAGsiJxGYCo4gzypdnm3PP93kqkh3WJsjEOF_JBxaVcu1dRFpTpPymgzp4mZTFhJOZTyQoY22s162gIpqhdRPJPyW2FSZ_kyW-oj2MjZ6A/s1600/So+excited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QqtTj0kah7jFRtcOTEI1njTWAidH67F6PrAGsiJxGYCo4gzypdnm3PP93kqkh3WJsjEOF_JBxaVcu1dRFpTpPymgzp4mZTFhJOZTyQoY22s162gIpqhdRPJPyW2FSZ_kyW-oj2MjZ6A/s1600/So+excited.jpg" height="400" width="270" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">First of all, Pre-Fix is out there as of today--yay!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJF0tTKlTCL0-jylD-XYiXG_i-Bfyg8lVim7v_0CyyhCh-CfLjU3D7GEnD3bpjahf-dMHJ_0LSKe3HvzelvZSTF0TkRqeNpa8x34ftMjei5L9WBi6dLKvq7_6MoqVhTbCsMe0QZnRw6Cc/s1600/Pre-Fix+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJF0tTKlTCL0-jylD-XYiXG_i-Bfyg8lVim7v_0CyyhCh-CfLjU3D7GEnD3bpjahf-dMHJ_0LSKe3HvzelvZSTF0TkRqeNpa8x34ftMjei5L9WBi6dLKvq7_6MoqVhTbCsMe0QZnRw6Cc/s1600/Pre-Fix+cover.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
Meet Ciel Halligan, aura adaptor extraordinaire, in this charming introduction to Linda Grimes' "sparkling series" (<i>Publishers Weekly</i>).</div>
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A genetic quirk means Ciel can take on the appearance of anyone she meets by projecting their aura. This startling ability presents endless possibilities, and she's one of a rare few who has it...so you'd think it'd be easier finding a day job that lets her put it to use. Actress? Model? Ethically dubious and possibly criminal activities, like her best friend Billy? Ciel's long-time crush and fellow aura adaptor, Mark, has found his calling as a CIA agent-a life of intrigue, danger, and the perfect utilization of their rather unique skill set. It seems like the obvious choice to Ciel: She could do good <i>and </i>spend time with her crush. What could be better?</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you'd like to buy a copy ($0.99--it's cheap!), you can find it in these fine establishments (and others, I'm sure):</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pre-Fix-Ciel-Halligan-Short-Story-ebook/dp/B00URY08JC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1427826197&sr=8-4&keywords=linda+grimes" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pre-fix-linda-grimes/1121455871?ean=9780765384041" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Linda_Grimes_Pre_Fix?id=eQNfBwAAQBAJ&hl=en" target="_blank">Google Play Store</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Oh, and lest I forget my poor neglected QUICK FIX -- it's out in mass market paperback today. Which means you can get it cheaper. (Hey, I don't know about you, but I am totally down with cheap books. Feeding a reading habit can add up.)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnCr2OFserj7JdchBuE6CLZiGxh1b_Y-DKZQ_q80WBkrxZDVLw62SCaDh9GNWvEGvPjbKRXrHY1FXFG9e4yI4lsqjA6t3g-r6DEFwtvht3qgDdtX-Br0F6maf00nUWlzspfEV1yNDLv0/s1600/QF+mass+market.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnCr2OFserj7JdchBuE6CLZiGxh1b_Y-DKZQ_q80WBkrxZDVLw62SCaDh9GNWvEGvPjbKRXrHY1FXFG9e4yI4lsqjA6t3g-r6DEFwtvht3qgDdtX-Br0F6maf00nUWlzspfEV1yNDLv0/s1600/QF+mass+market.jpg" height="400" width="245" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's available here, among other places:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Quick-Ciel-Halligan-Linda-Grimes/dp/0765368560/ref=tmm_mmp_title_0" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/quick-fix-linda-grimes/1113106682?ean=9780765368560" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780765368560" target="_blank">Indie Bound</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Linda_Grimes_Quick_Fix?id=WCNXdrAd9bcC&hl=en" target="_blank">Google Play Store</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And, finally, a bit of awesome news I just got today: THE BIG FIX got a starred (!!!) review from Publishers Weekly!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13VSZsVqEv2Y_ZY0OjVWcS_QT_6KZdp07b5zyqcbfcKkO53jiqUTYnqcvDFNtBhfOKf23y_cVSg5ozcthLQa6cd4J6gMoiEYs7YLKV83YnqSzsIuRLckmou9JknnFQ4TujhjdzVmEcKA/s1600/The+Big+Fix+PW+review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13VSZsVqEv2Y_ZY0OjVWcS_QT_6KZdp07b5zyqcbfcKkO53jiqUTYnqcvDFNtBhfOKf23y_cVSg5ozcthLQa6cd4J6gMoiEYs7YLKV83YnqSzsIuRLckmou9JknnFQ4TujhjdzVmEcKA/s1600/The+Big+Fix+PW+review.jpg" height="328" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm over the moon and grinning from ear to ear.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Funny thing: the "slightly discordant" moment the reviewer is referring is the absolute favorite scene of my agent, my editor, and the vast majority of my CPs, betas, and early readers. *grin* Whatever. I'm just thrilled with the rest of the review. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And the star. I'm thrilled with that, too. My first PW star. :D</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, sorry to unload all this on you at once, but that's how things in the publishing biz apparently work. Long stretches of waiting, punctuated by busy-busy-busy-ness. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hope all is well in your neck of the world. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Edited to Add </span><span style="font-size: large;">Breaking news: Tor just dropped the price of the IN A FIX ebook to $2.99! (See above about stuff happening all at once.) So, if you haven't gotten around to reading it yet, for whatever reason, now you can grab it for a pretty good price. </span><br />
<br />Linda G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04576828490765434497noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051602384535005789.post-49400055640104867672015-03-20T11:37:00.000-04:002015-03-20T11:37:51.398-04:00Coming Soon -- PRE-FIX! (In other news, I'm still alive.)<span style="font-size: large;">Yeah, yeah. I know. I haven't been around in a while. But it's not my fault. Somebody has apparently been speeding up time while I wasn't looking, and now <i>weeks </i>go by at the same pace it used to take a day or two. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Whoever's doing that -- STOP! Just stop it now!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><ahem> So, I wanted to give you a heads-up about the upcoming release of the first Ciel Halligan short story. It's a prequel to the series, and it's called <i>Pre-Fix</i>. (Get it? Ha-ha!) If you've ever been curious about how Ciel got her start in the fixing biz, here's your chance to find out. </ahem></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Or, if you know someone who hasn't started the series yet, this might be a good way to introduce them to it (and earn my undying gratitude at the same time). </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0LuSr8h2r27wSsRGKlb5xfCpMLXns99c8pbaK_Ph-_26Ys71wkmatWw0N1Pl80gwJ2Viacnh1tC6zyJiOwP-527MmQMAl9xSYGod2HgusMAkHMrSjksautEOJFud95H77M9FDjeXK24/s1600/Pre-Fix.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0LuSr8h2r27wSsRGKlb5xfCpMLXns99c8pbaK_Ph-_26Ys71wkmatWw0N1Pl80gwJ2Viacnh1tC6zyJiOwP-527MmQMAl9xSYGod2HgusMAkHMrSjksautEOJFud95H77M9FDjeXK24/s1600/Pre-Fix.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's being released March 31, 2015, but you can pre-order it now for your Kindle (</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pre-Fix-Ciel-Halligan-Short-Story-ebook/dp/B00URY08JC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1426864613&sr=8-4&keywords=Linda+Grimes" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-size: large;">) or your Nook (</span><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pre-fix-linda-grimes/1121455871?ean=9780765384041" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-size: large;">). Best part? It's only 99 cents! So not only is it easy, it's also cheap. Cheap & easy--what better combination is there? ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Oh, and as long as I'm sharing happy stuff, I just found out that RT Book Reviews has made THE BIG FIX a Top Pick!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhutOJQGsWI5IUPIDoYfw1axnAt0J-MT_-J1wqJjSKMHTI8cPNQov7UzJQcvxrNOw5EXXCf5erm6EeWh_o5h57EiNnao27TVjBfLqJZZ3GA12Dlc7QmeDVRfwIa4UQRpLiXwG4WDUqHgoU/s1600/The+Big+Fix+RT+Book+Reviews.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhutOJQGsWI5IUPIDoYfw1axnAt0J-MT_-J1wqJjSKMHTI8cPNQov7UzJQcvxrNOw5EXXCf5erm6EeWh_o5h57EiNnao27TVjBfLqJZZ3GA12Dlc7QmeDVRfwIa4UQRpLiXwG4WDUqHgoU/s1600/The+Big+Fix+RT+Book+Reviews.png" height="400" width="386" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm completely over the moon about that. :D </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Heck, now I don't even mind (much) that it's snowing/sleeting here on the freaking first day of spring. To quote my daughter, "Spring, you had <i>one </i>job..."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, that's all for now. Hope you all are doing well. If any of you have any good ideas about how I can slow down time, please tell me in the comments. </span><br />
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<br />Linda G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04576828490765434497noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051602384535005789.post-16376684726982500842015-02-03T09:54:00.001-05:002015-02-03T09:54:44.264-05:00An ARC tour of THE BIG FIX, aka Read It Way Early and Super Cheap<span style="font-size: large;">So, it has been brought to my attention that I haven't yet organized an ARC tour for THE BIG FIX, even though I've actually had some ARCs (Advance Reading Copies) for *cough* a little while now. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sorry! My mind has been totally focused on finishing FIX4, to the detriment of all else. (Seriously. All else. You should see the dust bunnies tumbling by me on the floor right now.) But now I'm done with phase 1 of FIXER UPPER* (getting it out the door to my critique partners, beta readers, and agent), so I can concentrate on TBF again for a while. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, I did an ARC tour for the first two books, and I completely adored the feedback of the participants. Everyone who had an early read signed the ARC before sending it on to the next person on the waiting list, and at the end, I got back Very Special copies of the books. Those two books are among my most prized possessions. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here's what my editor (Tor's fantabulous Melissa Frain, recently promoted to Senior Editor!!) tweeted almost a year ago, when she was working on TBF:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHmLjJaUt0RPcK0rO39t_PwjLCM1TFiSiCc1SUG_ihSXOko_srkTlibo_IgKFOujqdqRGFW1uJs5g9mGWS6CS7G6skSdNTYS-Xg0XgIQ_UNczw2ipBvMb4J2CtlCRcwmm9Sn2g3rt144/s1600/Mel's%2BTBF%2Btweet.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHmLjJaUt0RPcK0rO39t_PwjLCM1TFiSiCc1SUG_ihSXOko_srkTlibo_IgKFOujqdqRGFW1uJs5g9mGWS6CS7G6skSdNTYS-Xg0XgIQ_UNczw2ipBvMb4J2CtlCRcwmm9Sn2g3rt144/s1600/Mel's%2BTBF%2Btweet.png" height="365" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">*<i>Ahem</i>* If that's any inducement to sign up for an early read ... </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Once again, the magnificently bad-ass <a href="http://www.karlanellenbach.com/" target="_blank">Karla Nellenbach</a> has agreed to be my Tour Director, and will be juggling emails and plotting the best route for the book. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">To participate, all you have to do is email me at linda(dot)grimes(at)gmail(dot)com and tell me your address, and agree to mail it on to the next person on the tour list when you're done reading.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'll forward your info to Karla, who will be the one giving you a heads-up when its on its way to you. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Once you have it, it would be great if you could finish in under a week, so the others don't have to wait longer than necessary for their turn. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Oh, and if you would leave an honest review on Goodreads, Amazon, or B&N (after release day--May 12--for Amazon and B&N), that would be great, too. But not mandatory.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Since I'm asking people to pony up the postage to send it on to the next person, I'm afraid I'll have to limit participants to the US. </span><span style="font-size: large;">It doesn't cost much to mail a book within the US. Cheaper than buying the book, anyway. ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hope you guys will enjoy it! Ciel, Billy, and Mark hope so, too. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">*Yes, that makes it FU for short. Yes, that tickles my immature funny bone. (Heh-heh. I said "bone.")</span>
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<span style="font-size: large;">P.S. Even if you don't want to join the cruise, please feel free to say hi in the comments. I miss you guys! </span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Linda G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04576828490765434497noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051602384535005789.post-24895871699193998532015-01-20T07:22:00.002-05:002015-01-20T07:24:42.303-05:00TUNNEL VISION<span style="font-size: large;">Today is a very special day. This book is being released:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtdRWDwUDC62WkA_sElJV0gVSPE-tQxR1WL3q_I3ZlBB8n7jA2DOYih5GBCIv-YdT5ISXe2M7ojdWwRxF389KqvCQ3zvLpPzWB_JdctPrc62S3mnjkdR_3BaY9tdIwOFMF1T7CQF93p4/s1600/Tunnel+Vision.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtdRWDwUDC62WkA_sElJV0gVSPE-tQxR1WL3q_I3ZlBB8n7jA2DOYih5GBCIv-YdT5ISXe2M7ojdWwRxF389KqvCQ3zvLpPzWB_JdctPrc62S3mnjkdR_3BaY9tdIwOFMF1T7CQF93p4/s1600/Tunnel+Vision.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The reason it's so special (well, other than that it's a fabulous book) is that it was written by a very special friend of mine, my critique partner, Susan Adrian. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Suze (or Suzerooni, as I am wont to call her) has traveled this rocky writing path with me for years. <i>Years</i>. We met, long long ago, on the CompuServe Writers Forum (now known as <a href="http://forums.compuserve.com/discussions/Books_and_Writers_Community/ws-books" target="_blank">The CompuServe Books and Writers Community</a>) and became fast friends. We've supported one another through many a book. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Suze is the epitome of the <i>Galaxy Quest</i> quote "Never give up, never surrender." Her first few books didn't sell, not because they weren't good (I can vouch that they were), but for whatever vicissitudes of fate were knocking around the publishing industry at the time. (Nasty things, vicissitudes.) But she stuck with it, and now readers are going to profit immensely from her strength of will and determination in an industry that knocks most writers on their asses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here's a little info about Suze:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7DrNiONZqsD0TyFE3cJhJjbp9iKfnjm23vxCN8MsjoBUJt1nWoqP7eDpZI2noJ4vOMsahQPLGPT6tmj_Uotx4wszgP1oTrgUk2CmYfrnAyH-U1ufBNWmbJgqtDVNpclh4LD1ELQJ2yP8/s1600/Susan+Adrian.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/AVvXsEh7DrNiONZqsD0TyFE3cJhJjbp9iKfnjm23vxCN8MsjoBUJt1nWoqP7eDpZI2noJ4vOMsahQPLGPT6tmj_Uotx4wszgP1oTrgUk2CmYfrnAyH-U1ufBNWmbJgqtDVNpclh4LD1ELQJ2yP8/s1600/Susan+Adrian.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Biography</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Susan Adrian is a 4th-generation Californian who somehow stumbled into living in Montana. In the past she danced in a ballet company and worked in the fields of exotic pet-sitting, clothes-schlepping, and bookstore management. She's settled in, mostly, as a scientific editor. When she's not with her family, she keeps busy researching spy stuff, learning Russian, traveling, and writing more books.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And here's a bit about her debut novel:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Romance and action come crashing together in Susan Adrian's <i>Tunnel Vision</i> in which a teenage boy with incredible powers is brought to the attention of the government.</b></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Jake Lukin just turned 18. He's decent at tennis and </span><i style="font-weight: normal;">Halo</i><span style="font-weight: normal;">, and waiting to hear on his app to Stanford. But he's also being followed by a creep with a gun, and there's a DARPA agent waiting in his bedroom. His secret is blown.</span><br style="font-weight: normal;" /><br style="font-weight: normal;" /><span style="font-weight: normal;">When Jake holds a personal object, like a pet rock or a ring, he has the ability to "tunnel" into the owner. He can sense where they are, like a human GPS, and can see, hear, and feel what they do. It's an ability the government would do anything to possess: a perfect surveillance unit who could locate fugitives, spies, or terrorists with a single touch.</span><br style="font-weight: normal;" /><br style="font-weight: normal;" /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Jake promised his dad he’d never tell anyone about his ability. But his dad died two years ago, and Jake slipped. If he doesn't agree to help the government, his mother and sister may be in danger. Suddenly he's juggling high school, tennis tryouts, flirting with Rachel Watkins, and work as a government asset, complete with 24-hour bodyguards.</span><br style="font-weight: normal;" /><br style="font-weight: normal;" /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Forced to lie to his friends and family, and then to choose whether to give up everything for their safety, Jake hopes the good he's doing—finding kidnap victims and hostages, and tracking down terrorists—is worth it. But he starts to suspect the good guys may not be so good after all. With Rachel's help, Jake has to try to escape both good guys and bad guys and find a way to live his own life instead of tunneling through others.</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Plus, I even interviewed her!</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1. You chose (or were chosen by, if you will) a male
protagonist for <i>Tunnel Vision</i>. How
did you go about capturing the male energy for writing Jake, and what was the
most difficult aspect of it?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #31849b;"><span style="font-size: large;">You know, it's funny. Most of
the time it wasn't hard at ALL. It was kind of eerily like there was an
18-year-old male part of my psyche, all ready with a very different way of
seeing the world. Though apparently I did mess it up on the first draft—one of
my crit partners said to tone down the number of times he mentioned a male
agent's hair color…that it was a little "bromance". I laughed and cut
it out.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">2. What's your short pitch for Tunnel Vision? IOW, how would
you convince a busy reader to give <i>Tunnel
Vision</i> cuts in their To Be Read line? </span></div>
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<span style="color: #31849b;"><span style="font-size: large;">TUNNEL VISION is a YA thriller
with psychic spies, graveyard chases, gaming, romance, and a stubborn little
sister you'll wish you had.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">3. What are your favorite writing snacks (sweet? salty? combo?)
and do they vary according to what sort of scene you're writing?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #31849b;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hmm. Since I usually write at
5:30 am, that would be coffee. But chocolate and tortilla chips are both
favorite snacks any time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">3(a). How do you keep your keyboard clean? (Seriously. I
could use some tips.)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #31849b;"><span style="font-size: large;">I DO NOT. But this is my work
keyboard…because I constantly am eating at my desk at work. (But seriously,
those air-in-a-can things are genius.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">4. You have a fulltime job and a family (not to mention
demanding critique partners). How do you carve out time to write? </span></div>
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<span style="color: #31849b;"><span style="font-size: large;">That whole 5:30 am thing! It's
tough sometimes, but on the whole it seems to work. My husband travels a lot
too, at the moment, so I sleep in and move writing time to the evening on those
days.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">5. Tunnel Vision is set in lovely burg of Herndon, VA. What
made you decide on that setting? ;)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #31849b;"><span style="font-size: large;">Welll…I knew I wanted his
parents to work in Washington, DC, and be part of the military/government
complex, so he would be somewhat familiar with all of it. When I needed a
bedroom community near DC, I picked one I'd heard about, where a certain CP
happened to live… (yes, you! It was because of you!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">6. You and I both worked at this writing thing for a long
time before our dreams of publication were realized. (Pays to be stubborn,
yes?) So, your final question: How is the actual experience different from your
dreams? (For me, it was the disappointing lack of cabana boys.)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #31849b;"><span style="font-size: large;">I think it's mostly the sheer
amount of work that happens AFTER the sale, to get the book ready for
publication, out there in reader's hands, and get at least a few people to read
it. And second, that the stress doesn't really seem to let up. I'm still trying
to sell books, still hoping, still writing at strange hours and putting myself
out there. So that part at least doesn't change. BUT it definitely pays to be
stubborn, and persistent, and crazy…because I made the dream happen at last,
just like you!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #31849b;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thanks, Linderoo. You've been a
fantastic, supportive writing friend for all these years! And a great critique
partner too.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> As have you, Suzerooni. Enjoy your success! You've earned it. </span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-size: large;">Suze's books are available from booksellers everywhere. Take your pick! And then get ready to buckle up and enjoy the ride! Because you will. :) </span></o:p></div>
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Linda G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04576828490765434497noreply@blogger.com10