tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19941305029851881732024-03-04T22:04:21.811-06:00Katriena KnightsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12426149897017251628noreply@blogger.comBlogger237125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1994130502985188173.post-27683049650810789782017-01-25T06:00:00.000-06:002017-01-25T06:00:03.739-06:00Humpday Hump--Lady of the SealsFor this Wednesday's entry, I'm offering an excerpt from <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lady-Seals-erotic-selkie-romance-ebook/dp/B01MS9GGQZ/" target="_blank">Lady of the Seals</a></i>, one of my favorites, an erotic selkie romance set in Scotland.<br />
<br />
If you like what you read, you can find the book at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lady-Seals-erotic-selkie-romance-ebook/dp/B01MS9GGQZ/" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, or check out the <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/697647" target="_blank">Smashwords</a> edition for half off with the coupon code TW63G.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGh9m7FkLFQGZh8OSmsrUa36YaQB7nGJjXpHkNd5Vcm3h5dNkebAr6ls39lp2-LLw3zqYrh-q_qUm6SthvlxsITQSvF3sBkN1xIA-se_8dGvVNpudsAnGoLIC7c_VGD267rDPLcO08AQ/s1600/Lady+of+the+Seals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGh9m7FkLFQGZh8OSmsrUa36YaQB7nGJjXpHkNd5Vcm3h5dNkebAr6ls39lp2-LLw3zqYrh-q_qUm6SthvlxsITQSvF3sBkN1xIA-se_8dGvVNpudsAnGoLIC7c_VGD267rDPLcO08AQ/s400/Lady+of+the+Seals.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It was a dream, he thought. It had to be a dream. Or maybe it was heaven, because how else could this have come to pass? He had been halfway to death—more than halfway—and now he lay on the beach in the arms of a beautiful woman with large, brown eyes.<br />
<br />
Barely conscious, he registered her presence as if she were a dream. But her skin against him warmed him, gave back some of the life the cold ocean had tried to take.<br />
<br />
She was naked, he realized slowly, and so was he. They were rolled up together in a mass of heavy wool blankets, skin to skin, her breasts against his chest, her long legs scissored between his. He remembered, vaguely, the touch of her mouth on his as she put her own life’s breath into him. Now she shared her heat.<br />
<br />
He looked at her in the darkness as she lay there against him. Her eyes were closed, and he was almost certain she slept. Gently, he drew his hands down her back, and set his lips against hers. She tasted of life, and the salty ocean. He opened her mouth with his, tasting more deeply, and she stirred against him, and opened her eyes with a smile.<br />
<br />
His hands slid down her body, cupping the soft, warm roundness of her buttocks. Her thighs pressed against his and then opened loosely, inviting him in. Wrapped as they were in the blankets, it was difficult for him to align his body the right way, but he eased his thigh between hers as he kissed her. The wetness of her sex made hot dew on the skin of his leg.<br />
<br />
She moved closer to him, all of her body a warm welcome to his. He hefted her breasts, bent to take one, then the other, into his mouth. Warmth and more warmth, silky and soft and beautiful.<br />
<br />
“I’ll no’ hurt you,” he whispered, though she seemed to have no fear of him. Her hand slid between his thighs, pressing his scrotum against his body. The heat flashed through him, bringing him to life where the ocean had tried so hard to send him to death. She shifted her legs against his and the blankets eased around them. Her fingers, rising up the heavy length of his erection, eased him inside her.<br />
<br />
He stilled there, enraptured by her heat. Everything the sea had taken from him—his breath, his warmth, his very life—she had given back. The heat radiated from his sex up through the core of his body, through his limbs, to his skin. Through his heart.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12426149897017251628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1994130502985188173.post-1976832674864433132017-01-24T06:00:00.000-06:002017-01-24T06:00:02.784-06:00I Solemnly Swear to Continue to be Up To No GoodI've got another book reformatted and ready to go--this one's a previous Ellora's Cave title and one of my favorites, <i>Lady of the Seals</i>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lady-Seals-erotic-selkie-romance-ebook/dp/B01MS9GGQZ/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVMpCnD-57TGteofB_j9QOjTbRYG1m7NkYQhvwY6rehcaCQvjK6_o7KlGCveR4XL21c5H5KJHlrNRQpfXGiclu4fp7Wj-iNX4bAmbJjAT0s6PyrjDgPRNsoXTywnyTeIgOoXanAfZyQ/s400/Lady+of+the+Seals.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Please note this is an Elizabeth Jewell title, so it's an erotic romance, so if that's not your cuppa, be warned. And it's a Scottish selkie story, so if that IS your cuppa, go grab it!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Special offer for blog readers--if you go to <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/697647" target="_blank">Smashwords</a>, you can get the story at half-price with the code TW63G.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's also available at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lady-Seals-erotic-selkie-romance-ebook/dp/B01MS9GGQZ/" target="_blank">Amazon</a>. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12426149897017251628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1994130502985188173.post-38490723759508330172017-01-16T10:23:00.000-06:002017-01-16T10:23:14.816-06:00What I've Been Up To<div class="p1">
December and January have been a bit weird for me. There’s been a lot of work, but also a lot of down time. I’ve spent tons of time with family, from gatherings with my now-local parents, sister, niece and nephew and respective significant others, to a visit from my son, who’s still headquartered in Colorado while he finishes up college. December saw the release of <a href="http://https//www.amazon.com/Call-Me-Zhenya-Katriena-Knights-ebook/dp/B01M5JIITT/"><i>Call Me Zhenya</i></a>, a book I still really like. Based on the reviews, some other people like it, too.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MXeHPtDd2rM/WGwssjIEkFI/AAAAAAAAAsw/2xISSrosrfMa5Q7G3SAzgHrUAxtYAbN8gCPcB/s1600/Call%2BMe%2BZhenya-Revised%2BCover.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MXeHPtDd2rM/WGwssjIEkFI/AAAAAAAAAsw/2xISSrosrfMa5Q7G3SAzgHrUAxtYAbN8gCPcB/s320/Call%2BMe%2BZhenya-Revised%2BCover.png" width="211" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
There’s also been a big drop-off in client work, which is typical for the holiday season. It always worries me, though. I’ve been filling the time planning for 2017, promoting <i>Zhenya</i>, and working on some new projects. I’m writing a sequel to <i>Zhenya</i> with the working title <i>Code Name Anya</i>. You can follow a rather cryptic chronicle of my progress on <a href="http://https//www.pinterest.com/crazywritinfool/code-name-anya/">Pinterest</a>. This is where I dump research material, inspirational photos, and other bits and pieces while I’m working on a book. <a href="http://https//www.pinterest.com/crazywritinfool/call-me-zhenya/"><i>Zhenya</i> has a board, too</a>. Just think of it as a glimpse inside my brain.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
I’m also tackling a big project I’ve been picking at for ages, and that’s reformatting all the books I’ve published through Notes on Vellum. I’m making the interiors way prettier using Vellum (no relation), and I’m redoing some covers. The first book to get the treatment is <a href="http://katrienaknights.kabeka.com/?mbt_book=sweetest-songs"><i>Sweetest Songs</i></a>. (For some reason the new cover isn’t showing for me on Amazon, although it’s showing on my KDP dashboard. This is what it should look like—)<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB2lG9BeG8ycWfpUMozx4KOgAqyi82iAhq2pxCADsLIUmc61MrMAwitfjomqBp2XkPTWsWP3VATZCEvlHUqnjvWUGFt0WLzEZR1V8pELqlEu4lfaVVuB2mjrGnjsML2wBvpEAGc6UjJw/s1600/Sweetest+Songs-New.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB2lG9BeG8ycWfpUMozx4KOgAqyi82iAhq2pxCADsLIUmc61MrMAwitfjomqBp2XkPTWsWP3VATZCEvlHUqnjvWUGFt0WLzEZR1V8pELqlEu4lfaVVuB2mjrGnjsML2wBvpEAGc6UjJw/s320/Sweetest+Songs-New.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<style type="text/css">
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 18.0px; font: 14.0px Cochin}
</style>
<br />
<div class="p1">
<i>Sweetest Songs</i> is a little darker and sadder than most of my books, with a bittersweet ending. The hero goes through a process of change that’s painful for him, but at the other side of loss he finds his way to a new and better version of himself. I hope you’ll give it a look.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12426149897017251628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1994130502985188173.post-83049214230715321702017-01-04T08:00:00.000-06:002017-01-04T13:14:14.567-06:00Humpday Humpishness--Call Me Zhenya<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
My <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Call-Me-Zhenya-Katriena-Knights-ebook/dp/B01M5JIITT/" target="_blank">new book is out now on Amazon</a>, and since Marteeka Karland has reinstated the Humpday Hump, I thought I'd offer a contribution. Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Call-Me-Zhenya-Katrina-Knights-ebook/dp/B01M5JIITT/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MXeHPtDd2rM/WGwssjIEkFI/AAAAAAAAAsw/2xISSrosrfMa5Q7G3SAzgHrUAxtYAbN8gCPcB/s400/Call%2BMe%2BZhenya-Revised%2BCover.png" width="263" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
She woke abruptly to the sound of a growl. Evgeni’s head was still heavy in her lap. The growl came from him; he was dreaming.
Anna fought back the surge of adrenaline that had struck her as she jerked awake, but her heart continued to pound hard at the back of her throat. Evgeni twitched against her, the growl morphing to a sort of whine. The sounds, and even the movement of his body as he jerked in the dream’s throes, seemed more dog than man.<br />
<br />
The whine disturbed her, especially when it came again, sounding even more mournful and pained than before. She’d had a dog growing up; she’d always woken him up when he made noises like that. She’d always worried, though, that he wouldn’t totally shake off the dream and would awaken with the same fear that caused those sounds, think she was a threat and bite her. She had the same concern about Evgeni now.
Instead of waking him right away, she stroked his hair. It had often worked with the dog; she’d stroke it, scratch at its ears, rub its head, and it would settle into a more peaceful sleep.<br />
<br />
He quieted as she pushed her fingers through his thick, dark hair, rubbed the back of his skull. “Zhenya,” she murmured. “Shhh.”<br />
<br />
He made an odd, breathy sound, and one hand closed on her thigh. She was starting to think he was getting a little personal when he turned his head and buried his face between her legs.<br />
<br />
She jumped. That was . . . unexpected. He took a long, deep breath through his nose.<br />
<br />
Anna shivered. Instinctively, her hand went to his head, prepared to push him back, but concerned about how he might react. Her hand, though, seem to want to push him closer. That was an interesting conundrum. She tugged gently at his hair, drawing his head to a more neutral position.<br />
<br />
He kept sniffing, moving up the side of her body across her ribs, her belly, over her breasts. His nose went into the fold of her armpits. His big hand closed over her breast, the touch almost neutral, as if he were just holding her still and it had provided a convenient handle. He lingered with his nose under her arm for a few long seconds, long enough for it to start to tickle, which was almost a good thing because it distracted her from the uneasy embarrassment settling over her.<br />
<br />
Oddly, though, she wasn’t afraid. It was strange, uncomfortable, and she didn’t understand all the ramifications of what he was doing to her, but he wasn’t hurting her. And he wouldn’t. Of that she was certain, but she wasn’t sure why.<br />
<br />
His head shifted, but he didn’t stop sniffing. His nose made a line up the side of her neck, to behind her ear, where he drew another deep, long breath. He sniffed at her face—her eyes, her lips. And then traced his tongue across her mouth, soft and hot.<br />
<br />
She let him. She held perfectly still and let him. It was strange but not threatening or even uncomfortable. He was taking liberties, yes, but it was the wolf, not the man. And she had a feeling this was a ritual of some kind, something important to the wolf that would help him accept her, see her as a friend.<br />
<br />
His tongue slipped past the seam of her lips, tracing the line between them but not asking for entrance. He drew back after a quick taste, and his teeth pressed against her jawbone, a gentle bite between the point of her jaw and the point of her chin. Then he curled up next to her and closed his eyes.<br />
<br />
<!-- start LinkyTools script --><script src="https://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=275460" type="text/javascript"></script><!-- end LinkyTools script -->
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12426149897017251628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1994130502985188173.post-72662173514338475772016-10-21T07:02:00.000-05:002016-10-21T07:02:02.914-05:00Promotion—The Necessary Evil<i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, "times New Roman"; font-size: 14px;">Over the last few months, I've been posting about my <a href="https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/1NDA1T4T4HNQA" style="color: #379cb3; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Kindle Scout</a> experience at <a href="http://rmfw.org/blog" style="color: #379cb3; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers</a>. This post originally appeared on their blog in July. It has been edited from the original post, since the original had specific, time-sensitive information in it that is no longer relevant. (It involved chocolate. Not to imply that chocolate is not relevant. Chocolate is always relevant.)</i><div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/1NDA1T4T4HNQA" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-igDMANoyMoQ/V-h8AVJ8lTI/AAAAAAAAArE/ps3wMFkATAYFxY6yXZfmHIp1gaKK8ldoACPcB/s320/Call%2BMe%2BZhenya-gold-smaller.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><i><br /></i></span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Promotional plans, and
lessons learned along the way.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hate promotion. I’m sure I’m not alone. In fact, I’m not
sure I know any fellow writers who tell me they love promoting themselves and
their work. For me, it’s not even so much that I don’t like talking about
myself and my work. It’s just a big workload piled on top of an already big
workload, and most of the time it feels like it’s not really getting me
anywhere.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know it’s necessary, though, so I do what I can. I don’t
think I do it particularly well, but sometimes I manage to find something
that’s actually fun, and that helps.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In any case, when it comes to my current Kindle Scout
project, it’s blatantly obvious I need to promote. So, while I’m finalizing my
edits and figuring out what system I want to use for my final formatting, I’m
brainstorming on some promotional ideas. Here are some things I think I’ll try
for online promotion:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Thunderclap. </b>I’m
not sure this kind of “tweetstorming” approach works consistently, but I know
people who’ve seen some decent results. I think it’s far better to have
numerous other people tweet for you than to tweet the hell out of your own
audience. Also? It’s easy. And free.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blog tours.</b> Also
free, unless I decide to pay to have someone set it up for me, which I don’t
think I’ll do.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Facebook boosted
posts.</b> I’ve done this a couple of times but not enough yet to have made any
conclusions about the results. I think it’s worth a shot.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Facebook ads.</b> I
had some good success with these on a past project, so I think I’ll give it
another go.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m also going to switch out my autoresponders on my
newsletter signup site to send out a sample of the book I’ll be Scouting. I’ve
been sending a romance short story to new subscribers, but I think it’s time to
switch it up a bit. I’ll also send this sample to my current subscribers. I’ve
found that I get very high open rates when I send out freebies. This so far
hasn’t really translated into sales, but at least I get people’s attention.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’d like to hear from anyone who’s tried these promotional
techniques, or who’s had a particularly good response from any other on-line
promotion approaches, so feel free to hit the comments. The promotional
landscape is changing at least as fast as the publishing industry itself, so
reports from the “front lines” are always useful and welcome.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>This is an encore post, but I'd still be happy to hear from anyone who's got great promotional ideas!</i></b></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12426149897017251628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1994130502985188173.post-31079099317941562202016-10-19T07:57:00.000-05:002016-10-19T07:57:11.852-05:00Never Do Your Own Cover Art. Unless You Want To.<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, "times New Roman"; font-size: 14px;">Over the last few months, I've been posting about my <a href="https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/1NDA1T4T4HNQA" style="color: #379cb3; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Kindle Scout</a> experience at <a href="http://rmfw.org/blog" style="color: #379cb3; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers</a>. This post originally appeared on their blog in June.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The continuing saga of <a href="https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/1NDA1T4T4HNQA" target="_blank">KK’s quest to conquer Kindle Scout</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/1NDA1T4T4HNQA" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-igDMANoyMoQ/V-h8AVJ8lTI/AAAAAAAAArE/ps3wMFkATAYFxY6yXZfmHIp1gaKK8ldoACPcB/s320/Call%2BMe%2BZhenya-gold-smaller.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In order
to submit your book to KS, you need to have 1. A book. 2. A cover. 3. Lots of
editing and formatting shizz. This post is going to cover number 2—the cover.
And my apologies in advance—it’s a long one.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the first things self-publishing gurus tell aspiring
self-publishers is, “Never make your own cover art.” This is probably a good
piece of advice. Unless you want to make your own cover art, and are willing to
put in the due diligence to make one that doesn’t look like you put it together
in MS Paint (unless MS Paint is an important theme of the book, of course [sets
aside plot bunny for another day]).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So…confession time. I do my own cover art. Some of it is
stanky (and is on my list to be redone). Some of it is, in my own humble
goddess-like opinion, not too damn bad. Why do I do my own art? Because I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">like</i> doing my own art. I like learning
about graphics and Photoshop and Canva and GIMP and whatever else. For the most
part, I enjoy the challenge and the process.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I learned to use Photoshop making <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Buffy the Vampire Slayer</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Angel</i>
fan art. I made wallpapers with half-naked (and sometimes totes naked) David
Boreanaz on them because it made me happy. And I learned a lot. When I started
self-pubbing, I used those skills to start making covers. The first few I made—not
so hot. But I started learning. I have a friend who works for the cover art
department at one of my publishers, and she vets my work. My daughter is about
to become a photography major, and has a great skill and eye for art. My
college-age son has been making computer graphics for ages, and also has a
great eye for art. So they give me feedback, too. Which leads to feedback like,
“Mom, her face looks like it has a tumor on it,” and “No, those colors look
like three-day-old poop.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s the kind of feedback you need for this kind of
venture.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So what do you need to make your own covers aside from
somebody—preferably multiple somebodies—to tell you when your painstaking work
is a piece of crap?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1. An idea of how cover art works. There’s all kinds of advice
on the internet about how to improve/create cover art. My current favorite guru
is Derek Murphy, from <a href="mailto:http://www.creativindiecovers.com/more-about-me/">creativeindiecovers.com</a>.
On his site, you can find templates, author tools, and even an online tool
where you can create your own covers (I haven’t tried it, so I don’t know how
well it works, but give it a go if you’re so inclined). He also has published a
book on the topic, which has some interesting advice in it, much of which seems
to fly in the face of the advice of other cover gurus. For example, Murphy says
it’s not necessary to make the title big enough to read on a thumbnail, which
you’ll find as the Number One Guideline for Proper Ebook Cover Art just about
everywhere else. Since I’m super contrary, I figured this was the advice for
me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
His templates are very cool, but they’re in Microsoft Word
(!) and MS Word hates me, so I was unable to bend them to my will. However, I
imported some graphics into one of them, got a general idea of what I wanted my
cover to look like, then assembled everything in GIMP. More on that later.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2. Some graphics software. I used Photoshop for a very long
time, then I upgraded the OS on my computer and the old, old copy I had stopped
working. This was very stressful. I swore a lot. Then I consulted my Tech
Department (above-mentioned son and daughter) for recommendations. After some
fiddling with various freeware packages, I ended up with GIMP. It’s free, and
it does darn near everything Photoshop does, and with a similar workflow. (I
still needed a tutorial from my son, who helped me with my cover for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lord of the Screaming Tower</i>, but I’m
getting the hang of it.) I recommend finding something you’re comfortable with,
and then playing with it until you feel less like flinging the computer out the window. Find online tutorials or a
mentor-type to get you on your feet.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3. Some PICTURES!! Pictures are the most important part of
cover art. Because…well, because cover art. There are lots of places to find
photos—istock photo, fotolia, bigstock, dreamstime, etc. Some pictures are
pricier than others. My favorite price is free, so I’m going to talk about how
to get free pictures you can use for your covers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Firstly, though, you have to be VERY CAREFUL about this. Be
absolutely sure you have the right kinds of licenses for your photos before you
put them on your book cover. Some places, like morguefile.com and Wikimedia
commons, are mostly public domain, but still be sure to read the fine print.
Some pics at Wikimedia require you to change the picture, or require you to
credit the photographer. Don’t take shortcuts here—respect the photographers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anywho… Another way to get free pics, almost all of which
will have the right type of licensing for book covers, is to wait for free
trial memberships for major stock photo sites. I coincidentally was offered a
free trial to graphicstock and bigstock within a couple of weeks of each other,
and as a result ended up with close to 150 images for free. Once the trial is
over, you just cancel, and then feel guilty every time they offer you another
free trial (in all fairness, though, I’ve spent quite a bit of money at these
sites, so I should probably chill). All the pictures I used for this cover came
from the collection I downloaded during these free trials, and I have a bunch
more that I grabbed with an eye toward future projects.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4. Fonts!! Never underestimate the power of a flippin’
awesome font. You’re probably good with two for a book cover—one for the title
and one for your author name, possibly with an eye toward future branding. You
can spend as little or as much as you like for fonts, from what I’ve seen.
Again, I like free. My current site of choice is fonts101.com. They have a
gajillion fonts, and they have a Font O’ the Day mailing list, and how cool is
that?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You also have to look at licensing with fonts, so keep that
in mind. If it says only for personal use, I’d suggest not putting it on a book
cover. Look for fonts that are free for any usage or that specifically say free
for commercial use. Or, of course, pay for the commercial upgrade if you really
like the font.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s my basic how-to when it comes to covers. If you’re
comfortable doing it, I don’t see any reason why you shouldn’t. If you’re not
comfortable doing it, it’s probably better to outsource it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12426149897017251628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1994130502985188173.post-53674835375356136892016-10-18T09:52:00.000-05:002016-10-18T09:52:00.657-05:00But What About Editing?<i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, "times New Roman"; font-size: 14px;">Over the last few months, I've been posting about my <a href="https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/1NDA1T4T4HNQA" style="color: #379cb3; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Kindle Scout</a> experience at <a href="http://rmfw.org/blog" style="color: #379cb3; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers</a>. This post originally appeared on their blog in June.</i><br />
<div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "times new roman";"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><i><br /></i></span></span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, "times New Roman"; font-size: 14px;"></i>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, "times New Roman"; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/1NDA1T4T4HNQA" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-igDMANoyMoQ/V-h8AVJ8lTI/AAAAAAAAArE/ps3wMFkATAYFxY6yXZfmHIp1gaKK8ldoACPcB/s320/Call%2BMe%2BZhenya-gold-smaller.jpg" width="212" /></a></i></div>
<i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, "times New Roman"; font-size: 14px;">
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><b>Pros and Cons of
Automated Editing—a Discussion of AutoCrit</b><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the continuing saga of <a href="https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/1NDA1T4T4HNQA" target="_blank">preparing a book for Kindle Scout</a>,
let’s talk about editing for self-publishing. This could also apply to editing
for submissions, since you need to have your book in squeaky-clean shape before
you start submitting to publishers (I know a good number of people who don’t
believe this, but that’s for another post…).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you’re like me, the idea of getting a book in solid shape
for self-pub is a bit intimidating. I edit for other people on the side, but I
have very little faith in myself to find my own mistakes. I know my manuscripts
generally go to the editor far cleaner than many of the manuscripts I edit for
other publishers, but there are still mistakes—typos, weirdness generated by
Dragon Dictate when I use it, and of course the dreaded continuity issues.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ideally, before you self-pub a book, you should send it to a
professional editor. This can get pricey, though—I’m not sure I could afford
myself as an editor right now, and my rates are really low. <a href="http://rmfw.org/author/nathan-lowellgmail-com/">Nathan Lowell</a> beat me
to the punch in talking about using beta readers to crowdsource your editing in
his article <a href="http://rmfw.org/bootstrap-your-book/">Bootstrap Your Book</a>.
The methods he discusses here are very useful and effective. If you’re lucky,
you maybe have a proofer or editor on your list from a publisher you’ve worked
with before who might be willing to give your manuscript a gander for a low
cost. My group of proofers includes a fellow author I’ve edited for years as
well as a proofer/editor from one of my publishers. It pays to make friends in
this industry… Bartering can work, too—if you feel confident about your
abilities to find typos or point out continuity issues, work out a trade with
another author. Or offer large quantities of chocolate.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In any case, since Nathan covered the bases of crowdsourced
editing, I’m going to talk about another low-cost approach—automated editing.
Wait, wait—don’t run off. I have Important Things to Say.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m sure you’ve heard of Grammarly, which is a site where
you can upload your manuscript and have it spit out a number of different
grammar issues regarding your manuscript. I haven’t used this site, but I’ve
used AutoCrit, which I believe is similar. I’m going to discuss my experiences,
what automated editing can and can’t do, how it’s helped me, and why it might
be worth looking into.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I stumbled across AutoCrit by accident. I’d gotten a
sponsored email from Writer’s Digest with a free offer for a short video course
on creating dialogue. I have a tendency to grab and hoard free things (SHINY!
SHINY! FREE!), so I grabbed the course. I didn’t notice at the time, but it was
from the AutoCrit website. They started sending me emails offering me a GREAT
DEAL on a year-long membership to their site. After deleting several of these,
I finally thought okay, wait. I’ve got a manuscript I need to get cleaned up.
Let’s go sign up for the 7-day free trial and see what this puppy can do.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I did that. I then uploaded <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Call Me Zhenya</i>—all 93,000 words—onto the site and let AutoCrit do
its magic. It generated about ten reports, which I then downloaded and looked
over.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are, of course, limits to what this kind of editor can
do. It’s best to ignore a lot of the advice it produces, much like it’s best to
ignore most of the green squiggly lines MS Word automatically generates to tell
you you’ve committed a grammar infraction.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
HOWEVER.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The reports I got from AutoCrit found a good number of
things I had obviously missed on the forty quadrillion editing runs I’d done on
my own. The report on “ly” adverbs was particularly enlightening (My name is
Katriena and I am an adverb-aholic). It also found some typos I’d missed and
put my horrible word repetition habit into stark relief. (Seriously? 1600
repetitions of “quietly?” Good grief, woman!)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wasn’t quite as on board with the reports that supposedly
showed me show vs. tell writing. The parameters they used didn’t seem realistic
to me, as they were mostly keyed to certain verb tenses. The passive verbs
report seemed equally arbitrary. I do, however, feel like the time I spent
going through the reports and sifting out repeated words, typos, and adverbs was
well spent. I also took the plunge and bought the discounted year’s
subscription. It seemed like a reasonable price, though I probably would have
balked at a full-price subscription.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Overall, I thought it proved to be a good addition to my
self-pub repertoire, since it found a good many things a proofreader would have
marked up. That means I can send a much cleaner version to the actual humans
who read the story later, and that can only be a good thing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For those who might be curious, the reports AutoCrit
provides are:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">Adverbs in Dialogue Tags<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">Adverbs Overall<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">Clichés<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">Generic Descriptions<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">Passive Verbs<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">Redundancies<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">Sentence Starters<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">Show vs. Tell Indicators<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">Unnecessary Filler Words<o:p></o:p></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
You can run these one at a time or all in one fell swoop.
You can also decide whether to get a high-level report or a detailed report
that shows you exactly where all the noted transgressions are located in the
manuscript. This can be in a list form, or highlighted on a copy of your
manuscript. You can upload a few pages, a chapter, or the whole manuscript for
evaluation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Overall, I did find AutoCrit useful, and I think it provided a good way to spot some issues I would have otherwise missed.</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12426149897017251628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1994130502985188173.post-20058679851742151852016-10-17T09:47:00.003-05:002016-10-17T09:53:02.047-05:00What Is Kindle Scout?<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Over the last few months, I've been posting about my <a href="https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/1NDA1T4T4HNQA" target="_blank">Kindle Scout</a> experience at <a href="http://rmfw.org/blog" target="_blank">Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers</a>. This post originally appeared on their blog in May. This version is slightly edited from the original and discusses my decision to enter the book for a Scout campaign.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/1NDA1T4T4HNQA" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-igDMANoyMoQ/V-h8AVJ8lTI/AAAAAAAAArE/ps3wMFkATAYFxY6yXZfmHIp1gaKK8ldoACPcB/s320/Call%2BMe%2BZhenya-gold-smaller.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><a href="https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/1NDA1T4T4HNQA" target="_blank">Call Me Zhenya</a></i> is a full-length
paranormal romance novel about spies who’ve been genetically altered to have
special powers. The hero is a Russian werewolf; the heroine is an American
super-brain. Together, they fight crime!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wrote this book quite some time ago, then spent a lot of
time editing and fine-tuning, but mostly ignoring it while I worked on other
things that were already contracted. In the back of my mind, I always thought
maybe I’d send it to the Amazon contest, or find some other semi-unconventional
place for it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then Kindle Scout came along. This is a crowdsourced
publishing platform—you put your book up, cover and all, and people vote you up
or down for a publishing contract. Amazon’s editors then evaluate the books and
pick the ones they want for publication. Publication is not entirely based on
how many votes you get—KS is looking for well-written work that doesn’t require
massive editing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So KS ended up in the back of my mind, too. But when I
finally decided it was time to do something with the book, I submitted it to a
lot of traditional places first. I really felt it was one of the more
mainstream-type books I’d written in a long time (HA HA HA HA I used “I” and
“mainstream” in the same sentence pardon me), and might just have a chance with
agents/publishers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Apparently not. The responses I got were either, “This
doesn’t suit our needs at this time,” or “Wow, I liked this a lot, but it
doesn’t fit our line/paranormal isn’t selling right now.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, after numerous rejections, I decided to move on, and now
I’m preparing the manuscript for Kindle Scout. I have some misgivings, but then
I always have misgivings (“Do you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really </i>have
sufficient justification to eat lunch right now?” “Are you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sure</i> you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really</i> need to
stop what you’re doing and go to the bathroom?”). Aren’t you glad you don’t
live in my head?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On to some meaty stuff:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kindle Scout offers a good many pros and not many cons that
I could see. The manuscript has to be unpublished—not even on a blog or
Wattpad, for example. You also have to be sure you’ve done all the heavy lifting
editing-wise, and you have to supply your own cover. Then, during the voting
process, you have to run some marketing to get votes. If you’re chosen, you get
an advance of $1500 plus Amazon’s marketing machine working for you. The
contract is very straightforward, and outlines exactly what the conditions are
for you to ask for your rights back.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you don’t win—here’s where I was a bit surprised. To
prepare for this, I started scouting books (4 out of 9 of my choices have
gotten contracts—pauses to buff nails and look smug). If the book is NOT chosen
for publication, a couple of things happen that I thought were actually pretty
neat and author-friendly. First, if you subsequently publish the book through
Kindle, Amazon sends out an email to everybody who voted for your book. So if
you get, say, 300 votes but no contract, you can then Kindle-fy the book and
all 300 of those people will be notified that your book is available. In
addition, if you vote for books, those books stay on your Kindle Scout page. The
ones that have been published on Amazon will now have a link to their buy page <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">even if the book was not chosen for
publication by Amazon</i>. Now that’s a perk.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If a book you voted for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i>
chosen for publication, you receive a free copy and are encouraged to read and
review the book to further assist the author you voted for.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My assessment, then, is that this is a positive thing pretty
much all the way around. I also read several articles online where industry
watchdogs and the like analyzed the contract, just to be sure I wasn’t missing
anything. Overall, I feel pretty good
about that aspect of it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Getting Ready to Go Scoutin’<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My first step to prepare my book was to sign up for Kindle
Scout and start scouting books to find out how the process works and also to
check out what kinds of books are being submitted (gotta scope out the
competition, natch). The KS page presents the cover, the first chapter or so of
each book, a blurb and an interview with the author. I usually check the blurb,
then read the first chapter until I nope out of it. If I don’t nope out before
the end of the excerpt, I give it a vote. That’s my full process. I am lazy.
And I’m still scoring almost 50%. (I actually have no idea how that fact is
relevant to anything, but I’m still bragging about it. Because I can.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next step is marketing. Not for the specific book, but
for everything else I’ve ever published. (Okay, maybe not EVERYTHING.) The goal
here is just to get some additional people’s eyes on me. I’m focusing on my
mailing list and my Facebook page. I also revamped my website (actually both
websites, but the Elizabeth Jewell site isn’t as relevant to this effort). I’ve
read several books and articles about marketing as a self-publisher. From those
books, I’ve pulled out all the advice that’s common to all or most of them,
figuring those are probably the most efficient and effective approaches (they’re
also the ones that make the most sense to me). In the mean time, I’m also
preparing the manuscript and the cover art.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I see I’ve run on quite a bit, so I’ll stop here. Next time,
I’ll talk about the nitty gritty of getting a cover prepared and cleaning up
the manuscript. In the mean time, <a href="https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/1NDA1T4T4HNQA" target="_blank">go check out Kindle Scout</a> on your own and
vote for some books! It’s fun! I promise!<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12426149897017251628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1994130502985188173.post-34196671246402205842016-10-05T07:00:00.000-05:002016-10-05T08:52:15.343-05:00Guest Post from Fellow Scouter Heather MacKinnon<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today I'm turning the blog over to Heather MacKinnon, whose Kindle Scout book, <i><a href="https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/3Q05GJYYZSO0K" target="_blank">Changed</a></i>, is in its last few days of campaigning. She's also about to get married! I had already scouted Heather's book when I started my campaign--<a href="https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/3Q05GJYYZSO0K" target="_blank">drop by and hand her a vote</a>!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OzAnq0xwjPU/V_R32CJUbxI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/Aob4SVsJZegqXuGBVO8y5tkc5jErZEiWgCLcB/s1600/HM_Changed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OzAnq0xwjPU/V_R32CJUbxI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/Aob4SVsJZegqXuGBVO8y5tkc5jErZEiWgCLcB/s400/HM_Changed.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="a-section one-liner" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ff8100; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 22px;">
One night changed everything.</div>
<div class="a-section a-spacing-base" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 22px;">
<div lingdex="3" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; line-height: 18.2px; padding: 0px;">
Being Changed into a vampire wasn't in Adrienne's post-college plans. But when she wakes up in a strange basement and can see perfectly in the dark and move impossibly fast she's left to navigate this new world alone. Thankfully, Nicholas steps in to help her adjust. As their feelings grow, she finds out her centuries-old maker is looking for her and determined to make her his wife. Can she outrun the vampire who Changed her and explore her feelings for Nicholas before it's too late?</div>
<div lingdex="3" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px !important; line-height: 18.2px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div lingdex="3" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px !important; line-height: 18.2px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div lingdex="3" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px !important; line-height: 18.2px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div lingdex="3" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px !important; line-height: 18.2px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div lingdex="3" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px !important; line-height: 18.2px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div lingdex="3" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px !important; line-height: 18.2px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div lingdex="3" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px !important; line-height: 18.2px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div lingdex="3" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px !important; line-height: 18.2px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="color: #111111;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="normal" style="color: #111111;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>Tell us a little bit about your book, <i>Changed</i>. What
brought you to write it? What do you like most about it?</b></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="color: #111111;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="color: #111111; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="normal" style="color: #111111;">
<span style="color: #4a86e8;">Changed is a story about a young
woman who's made into a new vampire against her will. In this world, the Change
is something that involves forms, an orientation, and a training facility.
Although vampires remain hidden from humans, their world is governed and
orderly. So, when a newly orphaned vampire shows up, she throws a wrench into
their well-oiled machine. I’ve actually written a version of this story already
but it was not very good and so this one is almost entirely from scratch. What
inspired me was a lifelong love for vampires and their dark and mysterious
world. What I like most about this book is that it concentrates on an aspect of
vampires we don’t see often--the new ones. You’ll follow my main character as
she learns how to not only stretch her abilities but also curb them when
necessary.</span></div>
<div class="normal" style="color: #111111;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U8DnmJ9Lq6k/V_R32HUOd6I/AAAAAAAAAsU/9CEXkW1z9KE9lEt7_rdQ6jthdBQhSl3wwCEw/s1600/author%2Bpic2-Heather%2BMacKinnon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U8DnmJ9Lq6k/V_R32HUOd6I/AAAAAAAAAsU/9CEXkW1z9KE9lEt7_rdQ6jthdBQhSl3wwCEw/s320/author%2Bpic2-Heather%2BMacKinnon.jpg" width="199" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Heather MacKinnon</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="normal" style="color: #111111;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>Why did you choose to send the book to Kindle Scout?
What did you see as the advantages to this publishing platform?</b></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="color: #111111;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="color: #111111; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="normal" style="color: #111111;">
<span style="color: #4a86e8;">I’d been planning to
self-publish <i>Changed</i> when I saw a small ad for Kindle Scout on Amazon. I read
over all the material they provided and then did some research of my own into
other author’s experiences with publishing with Kindle Scout. The benefits
seemed plentiful (advanced royalties, professional editing, and the mighty
power of Amazon marketing) and the drawbacks few (not being able to control the
price of my book, and not being able to publish on any other platform) so I
decided to take the plunge!</span></div>
<div class="normal" style="color: #111111;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="color: #111111;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>Are you planning more books in the future? Will you be
sending them to Kindle Scout, or go a different route?</b></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="color: #111111; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="normal" style="color: #111111;">
<span style="color: #4a86e8;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="color: #111111;">
<span style="color: #4a86e8;">I’m already in the process of
writing a modern romance right now. I’ve put it on the backburner for the
moment while I deal with the last few days of my Kindle Scout campaign and get
ready for my upcoming wedding (October 14th is so so close!). Other than that,
I have a few ideas for stories flitting around my head that take place in the
same world as <i>Changed</i> does. If the book is received well, I might flesh some of
them out further. If I’m selected for Kindle Scout, I think I would submit
other books for a campaign as well. If they don’t choose my book this time,
I’ll probably just move forward with self-publishing from here on out.</span></div>
<div class="normal" style="color: #111111;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="color: #111111;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>Tell us more about yourself. Why do you write, and
what’s your favorite thing about writing?</b></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="color: #111111;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="color: #111111; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div lingdex="3" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px !important; line-height: 18.2px; padding: 0px;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:black;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<div class="normal" style="color: #111111;">
<span style="color: #4a86e8;">I write because I read.
Obsessively. I had to finally get a Kindle Unlimited subscription because my
fiance almost took my debit card away after seeing how many books I’d bought in
a month (just kidding, he wouldn’t do that, but he was definitely concerned--see
upcoming wedding comment above!). After reading so many fantasy and romance
novels and picking out parts I loved and parts I didn’t, I decided to try it my
way. Once I started, I found more and more ideas coming to me that I wanted to
make into stories. I have about 3 floating around right now and the only reason
why there’s not more is there’s literally no room left (see Kindle Scout
campaign and wedding comments above!). My absolute favorite thing about writing
is making a reader feel what I want them to feel. When someone reads my work
and is outraged at the bad guys or swooning over the good guys, that’s the
biggest payoff for me.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="normal" style="color: #111111;">
<span style="color: #4a86e8;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="normal">
Thanks so much, Heather, for dropping by the blog! And don't forget to stop by her Kindle Scout page and take a look at <i><a href="https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/3Q05GJYYZSO0K" target="_blank">Changed</a></i>.</div>
<div lingdex="3" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px !important; line-height: 18.2px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div lingdex="3" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px !important; line-height: 18.2px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div lingdex="3" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px !important; line-height: 18.2px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12426149897017251628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1994130502985188173.post-51481780598568184462016-10-03T15:12:00.000-05:002016-10-03T15:14:08.565-05:00Finding Anna--the Doctor Who Connection (More about Call Me Zhenya)When I write, I find it really helpful to find real people to "play" my characters while I'm spinning the story in my head. Sometimes I base them on pictures I find in magazines, but in most cases I cast an actor or another well-known personality, and incorporate some of their quirks into my characterization. It helps the characters come to life for me, and makes it easier to write about them.<br />
<br />
In <a href="http://katrienaknights.blogspot.com/2016/09/how-call-me-zhenya-came-to-be.html" target="_blank">this post</a>, I talked a little about how I tuned in to the character of Evgeni. It was finding my Evgeni that got this version of the story moving along. But I also had to find Anna before I could really get underway.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NzR0DMhDIzU/V_K7GmgtZHI/AAAAAAAAArs/rTWXnheLE0QykV9tLRy3ytF3RigtmtqigCLcB/s1600/449e034fca525ca0be098d8f1fbbc696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NzR0DMhDIzU/V_K7GmgtZHI/AAAAAAAAArs/rTWXnheLE0QykV9tLRy3ytF3RigtmtqigCLcB/s320/449e034fca525ca0be098d8f1fbbc696.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Anna was a shakier process. Originally, I had pictured Faith from <i>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</i> (Eliza Dushku), but as the story changed into its current form, that didn't quite work. While I was doing my initial work, the news arrived that Elisabeth Sladen had passed away. Elisabeth played Sarah Jane Smith in <i>Doctor Who</i> back in the 80s and also in some of the more recent incarnations of the show. She was the first companion I saw, when I started watching <i>Doctor</i><i> Who</i> with Tom Baker's first story, "Robot," back when the original series was being broadcast on PBS.<br />
<br />
Right away, I wanted Anna to be a sort of tribute to Elisabeth Sladen. But she herself didn't quite work for me in the head canon of the role. I named Anna Slaten in her honor (yes, I changed it a little--it just seemed like the right name for Anna although, as an aside, for some reason I kept also calling her Stanten, and had to weed out those typos in the last few drafts), and then started looking at other <i>Doctor</i><i> Who</i> companions to fill her role. I tried Karen Gillan for a while, but that didn't work. Finally, while I was catching up with some episodes, I hit upon "Planet of the Dead," and the one-time companion Christina, played by Michelle Ryan. She was a kickass type who liked to wear black, and she immediately felt like the right face to put on my Anna Slaten.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EVhmW8czPpA/V_K7X7Y0aLI/AAAAAAAAArw/xIY3trnCU1c6ZHV13uAdkl8x-ddHciLjwCLcB/s1600/14913-michelle_ryan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EVhmW8czPpA/V_K7X7Y0aLI/AAAAAAAAArw/xIY3trnCU1c6ZHV13uAdkl8x-ddHciLjwCLcB/s1600/14913-michelle_ryan.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
I also "cast" Delgrado. This was a strange process, because I had him pictured very clearly in my head, but then couldn't place the face of the actor who had taken him over (this isn't the first time this has happened...). Finally I realized he was Clark Gregg, Agent Coulson from the Marvel movies and now <i>Agents of SHIELD</i>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qKkIKgxzew0/V_K7cPVlbuI/AAAAAAAAAr0/WhsLywjsEZIFoTGkhJ8bdOYXJh95JVwqACLcB/s1600/02_AvengerCountdownCoulson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qKkIKgxzew0/V_K7cPVlbuI/AAAAAAAAAr0/WhsLywjsEZIFoTGkhJ8bdOYXJh95JVwqACLcB/s320/02_AvengerCountdownCoulson.jpg" width="291" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
You can take a look at all my "casting" photos as well as some other research materials I used for the book on my <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/crazywritinfool/call-me-zhenya/" target="_blank">Pinterest account</a>. And please take a swing by my <a href="https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/1NDA1T4T4HNQA" target="_blank">Kindle Scout page</a> and drop me a vote!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12426149897017251628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1994130502985188173.post-66205497244950929172016-09-28T11:20:00.001-05:002016-09-28T11:20:51.459-05:00What is up with that Weird Title and Who the Hell is Zhenya, Anyway?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/1NDA1T4T4HNQA" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-igDMANoyMoQ/V-h8AVJ8lTI/AAAAAAAAArE/ps3wMFkATAYFxY6yXZfmHIp1gaKK8ldoACPcB/s320/Call%2BMe%2BZhenya-gold-smaller.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The answer to this question is that Russians have weird
nicknames. You might know that the nickname for Alexander is Sasha, and the
nickname for Michael is Misha…etc. Zhenya is the nickname for Evgeni, which
basically means Eugene, but Eugene is a boring name, so there you go.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The title itself comes from a scene a little ways into the
book, where Evgeni instructs Anna on how to control his wolf form for her own
protection. The wolf’s response to her assertion of control leads to all kinds
of interesting complications down the road.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Here’s the scene:</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“First I’ll answer your question about waking me, but not
waking the wolf.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She nodded. It was important she knew this. “All right.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Evgeni slid the backpack to the ground. It landed silently,
and his steps were equally silent when he closed the distance between them.
“First,” he said, “you touch me like this.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
His hand rose, and for a split second she thought she’d
misjudged him, that she’d followed him out here to the Alaskan bush just so he
could kill her where no one would ever find her body. His hand closed around
the side of her neck, resting partially on her shoulder, his thumb pressing
against her Adam’s apple. She flinched; she couldn’t help it. The movement
hadn’t been sudden or violent, and nothing about his touch hurt her, but every
cell in her body was suddenly, acutely aware that he could break her neck or
crush her windpipe with a single shift of that enormous hand. Was he really
answering her question, or was he making a point?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then his eyes softened again, and the grip shifted. The
thumb on her windpipe didn’t relax, because it had never been taut to begin
with, but it moved, stroking her skin. And that brought a whole new onslaught
of sensation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It’s important to touch me here,” he told her and tapped
her windpipe lightly. “It doesn’t have to be hard or rough—in fact it’s better
if it isn’t. But your thumb here, your fingers behind my ear.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What if…” She struggled to regain her composure. “What if
your back is to me?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Turn around and I’ll show you.” He released her and made a
twirling motion with one finger. The size and weight of his hand still lay
imprinted on her throat.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hesitant, she turned her back to him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The touch came promptly, but she was ready for it this time.
He laid his fingers along the line of her windpipe, his thumb pressing against
the base of her skull. Still gentle, careful, yet still a placement he could
use to kill her if he chose.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You hold me and speak to me,” he said, and she could feel
his warm breath against her ear. “You do not call me Evgeni. You say Zhenya.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was a diminutive, she knew, like calling him Sasha if his
name were Alexander, or like calling her Annie. “Zhenya,” she repeated.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yes.” His hand came free, and she turned back around to
face him. “You do it. Show me you understand.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She stared up at him. She wasn’t sure she could even reach
his neck, much less get her hand into the right position. Okay, maybe that was
an exaggeration, but he was definitely tall enough to make it awkward.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As if reading her dilemma on her face, he dropped to his
knees, a smile working his mouth. “Try now.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
God, this was weird. But necessary. He wasn’t playing games
with her. In a very real way, he was showing her how to control him. And he
didn’t have to do that.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She laid her hand along his neck and shoulder, mimicking the
position he’d used on her. Her thumb lay against the hard knob of his Adam’s
apple, which was roughened with overnight stubble. So was his cheek, where her
index finger brushed it. Her small hand seemed ludicrously inadequate for the
task she’d assigned it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
His Adam’s apple bobbed, then vibrated beneath her hand. “If
you were a mama wolf,” he told her, “you would take me by my neck and put me
where you wanted me. And if you were an alpha, you would take me by my neck and
show me I was not the alpha. So this shows control but also protection. If the
wolf is waiting there right under the skin, this will make it understand you
are a friend.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anna nodded, letting her hand drop. Since he was kneeling,
she walked around to stand behind him rather than asking him to turn. From
behind, she laid her hand again on his neck, thumb against the base of his
skull, fingers along the line of his windpipe. “Like this?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yes. Now say my name.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Zhenya,” she said obligingly. “Zhenya, wake up and don’t
try to eat my face.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He chuckled. “There, you see? It’s easy enough.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>END EXCERPT</i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hope you enjoyed it! And don't forget to <a href="https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/1NDA1T4T4HNQA" target="_blank">vote</a>!<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12426149897017251628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1994130502985188173.post-16694738330383578202016-09-27T11:05:00.000-05:002016-09-27T11:05:10.995-05:00How "Call Me Zhenya" Came to BeThis week, I'm going to spend some time talking about my Kindle Scout book, <i><a href="https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/1NDA1T4T4HNQA" target="_blank">Call Me Zhenya</a></i>, and how I came to write it. Next week, I'll be encore-posting some blog posts I did over at <a href="http://rmfw.org/" target="_blank">Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers</a> about Kindle Scout and the Scouting process. I hope you'll enjoy a peek inside my creative process (aka--KK's brain is freakin' weird).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-igDMANoyMoQ/V-h8AVJ8lTI/AAAAAAAAArE/ps3wMFkATAYFxY6yXZfmHIp1gaKK8ldoACPcB/s1600/Call%2BMe%2BZhenya-gold-smaller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-igDMANoyMoQ/V-h8AVJ8lTI/AAAAAAAAArE/ps3wMFkATAYFxY6yXZfmHIp1gaKK8ldoACPcB/s400/Call%2BMe%2BZhenya-gold-smaller.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>You might get tired of seeing this cover. <br />I won't. It's pretty. *pets*</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />The seed idea for this book hit me several years ago. I was watching an episode of <i>Angel</i> (first-run--I told you it's been a while...), during the Season Four arc when Angelus was unleashed. There's a scene where Wesley Wyndham-Pryce (STILL BITTER, JOSS WHEDON) breaks Faith out of prison so she can go do her vampire-slaying thang. She was in prison voluntarily, atoning for her sins from way back in Season One (and Season Four of <i>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</i>), but they needed her, so she took a fancy dive through a glass window and high-tailed it out with Wes. (Which, frankly, any lady in her right mind would do, because, hello, <i>Wesley Wyndham-Pryce.</i>)<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That scene got me thinking. What if a spy were in prison voluntarily, taking a hit for something that happened in an operation that wasn't her fault? That evolved into having her there for protective custody. Then another spy comes to let her out. And what if that spy were the man who betrayed her? Or the man who killed her lover?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The idea sat in my ideas folder for a long time, just called "Spy Girl." I'd thought about writing it to submit to a specific publisher, but then the line at that publisher was discontinued before I got the manuscript underway. So it continued to incubate.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MHlQ9aN8OnA/V-qX4BQZwyI/AAAAAAAAArU/2zO580u6gjk_l-1e5ki9kPH-ByA4FelVgCLcB/s1600/tumblr_n0rvb7YW8D1qmr3vlo1_400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MHlQ9aN8OnA/V-qX4BQZwyI/AAAAAAAAArU/2zO580u6gjk_l-1e5ki9kPH-ByA4FelVgCLcB/s400/tumblr_n0rvb7YW8D1qmr3vlo1_400.jpg" width="253" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Evgeni Malkin, Russian Werewolf Spy</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A few years later, my BFF and I were talking about story ideas, hockey player fic, and specifically Evgeni Malkin. (This was the same type of conversation that led to me writing <i>Blood on the Ice</i>, which started with "Vampire hockey. Go.") At some point, one of us said, "Evgeni Malkin, Russian Werewolf Spy." Maybe she said it, maybe I did--I don't actually remember. But that made me start thinking about "Spy Girl" again, and suddenly the whole story fell into place. The Spy Girl, inspired by Faith, became Anna, who's been sitting in a prison in Barrow, Alaska for two years under what she was told would be temporary protective custody. Then along comes Evgeni Belyakov, Russian Werewolf Spy, an assassin who's been having second thoughts about an assignment he was involved in two years ago. Poking around in places he wasn't supposed to, he found out things he shouldn't have. And now he's going to atone by breaking Anna out of prison. Because if she stays there, the Agency that promised to protect her is going to kill her to prevent the information inside her genetically enhanced superbrain from falling into enemy hands.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So that's the story of the story. I hope you'll <a href="https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/1NDA1T4T4HNQA" target="_blank">take a minute to drop by and vote</a>. I had a hell of a lot of fun writing this book, and I think you'll have a hell of a lot of fun reading it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /><br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12426149897017251628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1994130502985188173.post-60453759046396682352016-09-26T08:00:00.000-05:002016-09-26T08:53:19.823-05:00Big Announcement! New Book on Kindle Scout!<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>I’ve got a new book ready to go, and I need your help!</i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-igDMANoyMoQ/V-h8AVJ8lTI/AAAAAAAAAq4/T0YQFmTTAjEArafTCRedqoI7u3aWQtAAgCLcB/s1600/Call%2BMe%2BZhenya-gold-smaller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-igDMANoyMoQ/V-h8AVJ8lTI/AAAAAAAAAq4/T0YQFmTTAjEArafTCRedqoI7u3aWQtAAgCLcB/s320/Call%2BMe%2BZhenya-gold-smaller.jpg" title="" width="212" /></a>Over the past few months, I’ve been getting a manuscript
ready to submit to Kindle Scout. Scout is a platform on Kindle where readers
get to help Amazon decide what books to publish. It’s a little like
Kickstarter, in that your votes are part of the process that gets the book
picked for publication, but you don’t have to pledge money. All you have to do
is vote.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the end of the voting period, if my book is chosen and
you voted for it, you’ll automatically get a free copy. If it’s not chosen,
I’ll make it available at a low introductory price as soon as possible after
the voting closes, and I’ll have a contest to give away a few free copies.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I need your votes! The campaign runs for thirty days. <a href="https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/1NDA1T4T4HNQA">Here’s the URL</a>—go
check out the excerpt and add me to your Scouting list!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="a-section one-liner" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ff8100; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 22px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">He'll risk his own humanity to save her life.</span></div>
<div class="a-section a-spacing-base" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; margin-bottom: 22px;">
<div lingdex="2" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.2px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Short-term protective custody, they said. But two years later, Anna Slaten—and the data locked inside her enhanced brain—is still behind bars.</span></div>
<div lingdex="2" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.2px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div lingdex="2" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.2px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Evgeni Belyakov seeks atonement. Two years ago, the wolf shifter/assassin did what he was ordered to do. Since then, he’s learned the ugly truth about the Agency. And that Anna is next on their hit list. But saving her could mean risking everything. His heart. His secrets. And surrendering control to the most dangerous creature of all. His wolf.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12426149897017251628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1994130502985188173.post-9216956232400213852016-02-01T14:05:00.000-06:002016-02-01T14:05:47.422-06:00Reading Challenges for 2016I didn't quite finish the reading challenge I chose for last year, but I started a little late, so I'm not too worried about that. I also read a few books I didn't report on here, so I came closer than it looked.<br />
<br />
In any case, I'm doing a reading challenge again this year, but with different rules. First, I picked several different lists, including the one from last year, and I'm going to work on all of them. Second, I can't buy a book or get a book from the library specifically for the challenge. I have to find all the books from what I already own. Considering I have like nine bajillion quadloogle books, between my electronic hoarding habits and my overfull bookshelves, this shouldn't be too much of a problem.<br />
<br />
I set everything up in a journal for this year. I don't really do much in the way of journaling anymore, so this is just a book where I'm keeping notes on things that happen, books I read, movies I see, etc. Also it's a good place to keep track of just how many times I've seen Star Wars in the theater this year (I'm trying to break a personal record...).<br />
<br />
Some pictures:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V_pIdKYlZ9o/Vq-2rGoW0WI/AAAAAAAAApg/-9386dL630s/s1600/2016-01-28%2B10.03.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V_pIdKYlZ9o/Vq-2rGoW0WI/AAAAAAAAApg/-9386dL630s/s400/2016-01-28%2B10.03.55.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxOy-RoiTIspNTBAg48rpaJvAY3USSc-OIwGA5GDSlHa0yM6NGHyNTrupvsNFHmKK17hH1Bb9NZ3F8NZeCW6EAh5Bj-8vvTBuwCb7aB75GP2BH2NCU4MjidM3rXExm9phawjarjHQySw/s1600/2016-01-28+10.04.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxOy-RoiTIspNTBAg48rpaJvAY3USSc-OIwGA5GDSlHa0yM6NGHyNTrupvsNFHmKK17hH1Bb9NZ3F8NZeCW6EAh5Bj-8vvTBuwCb7aB75GP2BH2NCU4MjidM3rXExm9phawjarjHQySw/s400/2016-01-28+10.04.34.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GS32IBGvf6LhNHHjakUtMgRR6oVpZwGFQ0io8N8OPJYtB0C4nunLveB82AhrJLA0vE_fMVqUTpArSzs7eteXlgEUhN_WtI-b7WIoLXuI3IEBikc_0KS77ADHx2SqeenM6hDEazBgqA/s1600/2016-01-28+10.04.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GS32IBGvf6LhNHHjakUtMgRR6oVpZwGFQ0io8N8OPJYtB0C4nunLveB82AhrJLA0vE_fMVqUTpArSzs7eteXlgEUhN_WtI-b7WIoLXuI3IEBikc_0KS77ADHx2SqeenM6hDEazBgqA/s400/2016-01-28+10.04.04.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pNugCxHo8Uo/Vq-5Y9LyLKI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/A5w3Rmm0Y8I/s1600/2016-01-28%2B10.04.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pNugCxHo8Uo/Vq-5Y9LyLKI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/A5w3Rmm0Y8I/s400/2016-01-28%2B10.04.12.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiDUUS9KCeJe7V0xL7DaNcFoSq1mV9fMEa84DVs-tVdL-8EgCmlATheGsBiZtAi1T_fchT5tYjTAnSu92YW1TZFf76t9eZ9mcsX1KdOHCy-D0i62eSv0RXumUw1NcdXXQgDpw7uSvvg/s1600/2016-01-28+10.04.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiDUUS9KCeJe7V0xL7DaNcFoSq1mV9fMEa84DVs-tVdL-8EgCmlATheGsBiZtAi1T_fchT5tYjTAnSu92YW1TZFf76t9eZ9mcsX1KdOHCy-D0i62eSv0RXumUw1NcdXXQgDpw7uSvvg/s400/2016-01-28+10.04.22.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
So far in 2016 I've finished <i>The Martian</i>, <i>Pinocchio</i>, and <i>Smuggler's Run</i> (a Star Wars tie-in book). I've got a couple more books underway. I also signed up for the Goodreads challenge at a book per week, so I'm already behind--because of course I am.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12426149897017251628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1994130502985188173.post-13819355240720657572016-01-08T15:49:00.000-06:002016-01-08T15:49:27.276-06:00New Year, New Ventures<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-font-charset:78;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1791491579 18 0 131231 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wy1cj17_bxU/VpAreTpHzAI/AAAAAAAAApI/nX8I46lX_BA/s1600/new-years-eve-1-1325351-640x480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wy1cj17_bxU/VpAreTpHzAI/AAAAAAAAApI/nX8I46lX_BA/s320/new-years-eve-1-1325351-640x480.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can’t believe it’s a new year already. It seems like they
go faster and faster.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last year was a pretty good year, and I hope that trend
continues. I’m trying some new things for the new year, and I hope you’ll join
me for the fun.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mostly for this year, I want to focus on finishing things I
left unfinished. Partial manuscripts will get evaluated, and if I still feel
they’re worth the effort, I’ll finish them up and look into distributing or
submitting them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve also set up a Patreon page to help get some of these
orphan stories to readers who’ll hopefully enjoy them. If you’re not familiar
with Patreon, it’s a little like Kickstarter, except it’s for ongoing projects
rather than one big project. There are rewards at different levels, and lots of
fun stuff I’m planning to integrate into the project as it progresses. Check it
out at <a href="http://patreon.com/katrienaknights">patreon.com/katrienaknights</a>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you’re not on my newsletter mailing list, please consider
joining for updates and news. I’m also getting ready to add a special gift for
anyone who joins—a .pdf file of a couple of short stories and some excerpts from
other, longer works. If you join before I get the gift ready, you'll get it as soon as I get it all sorted, so don't worry about missing out. You can join using the form below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
promise not to spam you—I’m hoping this year to get something out in the
newsletter about once a month.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hope you had a fantastic 2015, and I hope 2016 brings you even
more great things.</div>
<!-- Begin MailChimp Signup Form -->
<link href="//cdn-images.mailchimp.com/embedcode/classic-081711.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"></link>
<style type="text/css">
#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; }
/* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.
We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */
</style>
<br />
<div id="mc_embed_signup">
<form action="//katrienaknights.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=f3deb3767c6e9cd190a84222f&id=ca0f72664d" class="validate" id="mc-embedded-subscribe-form" method="post" name="mc-embedded-subscribe-form" novalidate="" target="_blank">
<div id="mc_embed_signup_scroll">
<h2>
Subscribe to my mailing list</h2>
<div class="indicates-required">
<span class="asterisk">*</span> indicates required</div>
<div class="mc-field-group">
<label for="mce-EMAIL">Email Address <span class="asterisk">*</span>
</label>
<input class="required email" id="mce-EMAIL" name="EMAIL" type="email" value="" />
</div>
<div class="mc-field-group">
<label for="mce-FNAME">First Name </label>
<input class="" id="mce-FNAME" name="FNAME" type="text" value="" />
</div>
<div class="mc-field-group">
<label for="mce-LNAME">Last Name </label>
<input class="" id="mce-LNAME" name="LNAME" type="text" value="" />
</div>
<div class="mc-field-group input-group">
<b>Email Format </b>
<br />
<ul>
<li><input id="mce-EMAILTYPE-0" name="EMAILTYPE" type="radio" value="html" /><label for="mce-EMAILTYPE-0">html</label></li>
<li><input id="mce-EMAILTYPE-1" name="EMAILTYPE" type="radio" value="text" /><label for="mce-EMAILTYPE-1">text</label></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="clear" id="mce-responses">
<div class="response" id="mce-error-response" style="display: none;">
</div>
<div class="response" id="mce-success-response" style="display: none;">
</div>
</div>
<!-- real people should not fill this in and expect good things - do not remove this or risk form bot signups-->
<br />
<div aria-hidden="true" style="left: -5000px; position: absolute;">
<input name="b_f3deb3767c6e9cd190a84222f_ca0f72664d" tabindex="-1" type="text" value="" /></div>
<div class="clear">
<input class="button" id="mc-embedded-subscribe" name="subscribe" type="submit" value="Subscribe" /></div>
</div>
</form>
</div>
<script src="//s3.amazonaws.com/downloads.mailchimp.com/js/mc-validate.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script type="text/javascript">(function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';fnames[1]='FNAME';ftypes[1]='text';fnames[2]='LNAME';ftypes[2]='text';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true);</script>
<!--End mc_embed_signup-->
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12426149897017251628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1994130502985188173.post-27165059379303675152015-09-14T10:00:00.000-05:002015-09-14T10:00:04.226-05:00Another Reading Challenge UpdateHere's where I am so far on the reading challenge:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uCtBs7AqUF4/VfYeah9f7TI/AAAAAAAAAow/rRCVHY503zk/s1600/2015-Reading-Challenge-September%2Bupdate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uCtBs7AqUF4/VfYeah9f7TI/AAAAAAAAAow/rRCVHY503zk/s400/2015-Reading-Challenge-September%2Bupdate.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
Added this time are:<br />
<br />
1. A book I've been meaning to read. I read <i>Rocks of Age</i>s by Stephen Jay Gould, which has been on my reading list for a VERY long time. It's a fascinating breakdown of the unnecessary "feud" between religion and science, how it came about, and the history behind it. I found it particularly interesting (and also disheartening) given that this issue has actually intensified since the book was initially published.<br />
<br />
2. A book that was originally written in a different language. <span id="freeTextContainer12110901214216143699">Haruki Murakami, <i>The Strange Library</i>. I picked this one up because it looked like it might have a Neil Gaiman-y feel, and it did, but it didn't have that thoroughly satisfying "I've read this before, maybe in another lifetime" feeling that so much of Gaiman's work has. I'm guessing the book is more rooted in Japanese mythology, because duh, the author is Japanese, and that might be why, since I'm not as familiar with that mythology. But I don't know. In any case, an interesting book, though the knife-twist on the last page seemed unnecessary.</span><br />
<span id="freeTextContainer12110901214216143699"><br /></span>
<span id="freeTextContainer12110901214216143699">3. A book recommended by someone with great taste. </span><span id="freeTextContainer12110901214216143699">Haruki Murakami again, <i>What I Talk About When I Talk About Running</i>. My BFF recommended this one. It was a quick and easy read, but with depth to it, and it's more--or at least as much--about life and writing as it is about running.</span><br />
<span id="freeTextContainer12110901214216143699"><br /></span>
<span id="freeTextContainer12110901214216143699">If anyone else is working on this list, I'd love to hear from you!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12426149897017251628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1994130502985188173.post-45091754815098966422015-09-02T12:31:00.002-05:002015-09-02T12:32:22.029-05:00It's All in Your HeadThis is a flash fiction piece written for the <a href="http://creativewriting.ie/writing-prompts/" target="_blank">Creative Writing Ink</a> prompt for August 26. Fellow writers--take a look at the link and see if anything sparks your muse!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjvdaKhdukIuHOqRJd3eMwNYQuyIS3i8BNltYlzjzUxJGfuwQBR23jLz8M7Oag-B2zV_sCthkKps0TgRHfsuBE8pxQ1ZAeQ7fL7yfYb7mpS6ORd-QkcWrlxlYqZUAGJNQ0eya9_82IQ/s1600/walking-around-town.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjvdaKhdukIuHOqRJd3eMwNYQuyIS3i8BNltYlzjzUxJGfuwQBR23jLz8M7Oag-B2zV_sCthkKps0TgRHfsuBE8pxQ1ZAeQ7fL7yfYb7mpS6ORd-QkcWrlxlYqZUAGJNQ0eya9_82IQ/s640/walking-around-town.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style>
-->
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>It’s All in Your Head</b></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She wears the headphones for a reason. They drown out all
the sounds in her head—the random thoughts and wayward musings of everyone
around her. She blasts the music so loud sometimes people give her the
side-eye. Without it, though, she couldn’t function. There would be no room in
her head for herself.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It doesn’t drown out <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">him</i>,
though.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He’s been following her for three days. She’s never seen
him, but she can sense him. Somehow the background noise that is his roving
brain eases past the blast of screamo and dubstep that constantly inhabits her
skull. It’s a soft voice, so she’s not sure how it manages to find her in the
midst of the chaos, but somehow it does.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mostly it’s a low murmur, like white noise, a burbling
river. Like those music tracks you get to help you fall asleep—the ones that
don’t wok for her because they aren’t loud enough. But sometimes there are
words.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I see you.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It doesn’t scare her as much as maybe it should. She’s used
to weird things going on around her, both inside and outside her head. She’s
lived with that her whole life. But even if it doesn’t scare her, not really,
it puts her on edge. Why is he here? What does he want? Is he even a he?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Three days. And after breakfast today, when she realizes she
hasn’t heard him, she wonders where he is.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Not very dedicated,
are you? Stalk me for three days and then give up? Weak.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She starts her car and heads in to work. Sometimes she can drive
without the headphones on, but not always. Today she sets them on the passenger
seat and gives it a try. She knows from experience that cops will pull you over
if they see you driving with headphones on. And somehow, the movement of the
car eases the cacophony in her head. It’s a respite of sorts.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today it’s surprisingly quiet, at least once she gets onto
the highway. She takes a slow, relieved breath and leaves the headphones where
they are. Sometimes the music is as disturbing as the voices.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Where is he? she wonders idly. If she can hear him, can he
hear her? Is he, maybe, on the highway with her right now?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She gets that feeling—that weird itch even normal people get
when somebody’s watching them. She looks to the left, at the car coming up
beside her in the passing lane. The driver looks right back at her and smiles.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
God. It’s him. Is it him? She shoots her attention back to
the road in front of her. She doesn’t dare look at him again, but that face is
burned into her memory now, emblazoned on her retinas.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Black hair. Blue eyes. Cheekbones that could cut glass. And
then she hears the whisper.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I see you. I’ll talk
to you soon. Soon.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What do you what?</i>
she demands in her head, though her lips move to match the words. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Why are you following me?</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But there’s no answer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
* * *</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After work she heads downtown. It’s raining, and it’s
dark—the sun goes down early this time of year. It gets quieter downtown as it
gets later. Soon there are only a few people here and there. The din dies down,
but it’s more fractured. Many of the people who linger in the streets after
dark are broken. Anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, PTSD—she’s heard it all.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This time, though, the headphones are as much to strangle
her own thoughts as to drown out everyone else’s. It was a difficult day at
work, overhearing her boss thinking about firing her because she’s withdrawn,
antisocial, and what is it with the damn headphones every damn day? For some
reason she couldn’t block him out, not all the way. It’s never been like that
before, and she can’t figure out what changed to make it happen.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The temperatures have dropped with the darkness and the
rain, and the cold against her face feels good. She shoves her hands deep into her
pockets and ducks her head, just walking.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Suddenly a hand touches her shoulder.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She spins, and he’s right there.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Black hair. Blue eyes. Cheekbones that could cut glass.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We need to talk,” he says, and smiles.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12426149897017251628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1994130502985188173.post-71031434137899268662015-08-24T10:00:00.000-05:002015-09-02T12:58:40.224-05:00Reading Challenge 2015: UpdateI've been busy this summer, and I have some more posts to make regarding my <a href="http://katrienaknights.blogspot.com/search/label/Colorado" target="_blank">Colorado Bucket List</a>, but first how about some updates on that <a href="http://katrienaknights.blogspot.com/2015/01/what-to-read-in-2015.html" target="_blank">reading challenge</a>?<br />
<br />
Here's a reminder of the things that were on the list:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3dYQr_nkakE/VLF0rYMENtI/AAAAAAAAAg4/xTnEL6LkP-Q/s1600/2015-Reading-Challenge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3dYQr_nkakE/VLF0rYMENtI/AAAAAAAAAg4/xTnEL6LkP-Q/s400/2015-Reading-Challenge.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
I already posted about a book in a genre I don't typically read (my choice here kind of felt like a cheat, but oh well). Now I can add a book from my childhood (okay, more than one book from my childhood).<br />
<br />
I'm currently working on a book recommended by someone with great taste and a book that was originally written in a different language (technically the first book could also be the second book, but I think I'm going to split them up because again, that would be cheating...). I've also finished a book I've been meaning to read (for about 15 years or more), and I'll report on that one later. <br />
<br />
So here are the books:<br />
<br />
First, a book from my childhood. In this case, I not only read a book from my childhood, but <b>the</b> book from my childhood, as in the exact same paperback, which I stole from my mom when I was visiting recently (okay, I didn't really steal it cause I asked first). Here's the book:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bkwUoaLTKGc/VddIG6xDSoI/AAAAAAAAAng/qcvD4ckLQ9E/s1600/20150713_062920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bkwUoaLTKGc/VddIG6xDSoI/AAAAAAAAAng/qcvD4ckLQ9E/s400/20150713_062920.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
I read a lot of Andre Norton when I was a kid. And by a lot I mean A LOT. This book is about a dude who specializes in gemstones, the freaky-weird stone he inherits from his father, and his telepathic cat-critter Eet. I remember pretending to be Murdoc Jern and hunting through the front yard for cool-looking rocks, but I didn't actually remember much of the book. Except for Eet. Telepathic cats tend to stick with you.<br />
<br />
I also re-read <i>The Beast Master</i>, which was one of my favs. I had a bigtime crush on Hosteen Storm, and I remember crouching over my typewriter writing a story that was a total ripoff of this book when I was probably 10 or so. Here's that original paperback from when I read it as a kid, although I did the reread on audiobook because I saw it at the library and thought, Wow, I didn't know you could get Andre Norton audiobooks!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmE4QY6pVdqu5SDDfk8edoR_j0Nba8DeFpP-kVvP8CoU11J1JCCWurfRjcUlybqK9BsYAZ9sFQnUPuIkyepTcZHfP8ZFT4YQPwU0B7Ka4GP1qhqkw2SUYMRusWOCXHICmAuimC1gRZg/s1600/2015-08-21+10.08.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmE4QY6pVdqu5SDDfk8edoR_j0Nba8DeFpP-kVvP8CoU11J1JCCWurfRjcUlybqK9BsYAZ9sFQnUPuIkyepTcZHfP8ZFT4YQPwU0B7Ka4GP1qhqkw2SUYMRusWOCXHICmAuimC1gRZg/s320/2015-08-21+10.08.23.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
I enjoyed reading both of these, though I liked <i>The Beast Master</i> more. I think it was because <i>The Zero Stone</i>, is written in first person, and Norton's style, which is a bit sticky and overwrought at the best of times, is even moreso in first person. I'd still like to read the sequel, and I've already started the sequel to <i>The Beast Master. </i>I also discovered the series was extended starting fairly recently with a new Beast Master and her adventures. Somehow I don't really want to read those, though. Hosteen Storm will always be the Beast Master to me.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url("data:image/png; border: medium none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 220px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 114px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12426149897017251628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1994130502985188173.post-32296120221744544962015-07-13T11:00:00.000-05:002015-07-13T11:00:00.377-05:00Weekend Adventure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TMm-vnhamRM/VaMj7tiCtoI/AAAAAAAAAmY/uYA33bYB2WY/s1600/2015-07-12%2B13.54.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TMm-vnhamRM/VaMj7tiCtoI/AAAAAAAAAmY/uYA33bYB2WY/s400/2015-07-12%2B13.54.00.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
For our first summer adventure, the kids and I visited the <a href="http://www.rmdrc.com/archives/category/paleo-learning-center/paleo-links" target="_blank">Dinosaur Resource Center in Woodland Park</a>. My daughter and I "discovered" it when we were driving down to Garden of the Gods in the spring, and we put it on our list of places we wanted to check out.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SHndc2p8pig/VaMkEF_lRbI/AAAAAAAAAmk/N6k71JVo-lw/s1600/2015-07-12%2B13.57.29-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SHndc2p8pig/VaMkEF_lRbI/AAAAAAAAAmk/N6k71JVo-lw/s400/2015-07-12%2B13.57.29-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
It's a small museum, but has a lot of neat stuff. There are displays of fossils here that aren't on display anywhere else in the world, some of which were discovered in Kansas or nearby in Colorado. Some of the fossils are still in plaster jackets, not entirely restored, and some haven't even been officially identified or named yet. There's also a working restoration area where you can watch people working on restorations/reconstructions (no one was working today, but we could still take a look at the workspace).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xVx1P79Wl3Y/VaMkBHut2EI/AAAAAAAAAmg/WcLgy1kZ-RM/s1600/2015-07-12%2B14.19.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xVx1P79Wl3Y/VaMkBHut2EI/AAAAAAAAAmg/WcLgy1kZ-RM/s400/2015-07-12%2B14.19.00.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
I was also really interested in the role 3D printing has played in creating models of different critters. This technique was used to create full-body reconstructions as well as reconstructions of skeletons--using a female pterosaur skeleton to project the size and shape of a male, for example. Overall, a fun beginning to our last-year-in-Colorado explorations.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DUX__RKLiVc/VaMkPwconOI/AAAAAAAAAmw/zuPz4u2wFVA/s1600/2015-07-12%2B14.19.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DUX__RKLiVc/VaMkPwconOI/AAAAAAAAAmw/zuPz4u2wFVA/s400/2015-07-12%2B14.19.49.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
My new phone takes pretty good pics, so you should be able to click on these photos and see big, hi-res versions. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I4T8aKKdR7M/VaMky5qhxpI/AAAAAAAAAnA/X8N6il0v984/s1600/2015-07-12%2B14.45.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I4T8aKKdR7M/VaMky5qhxpI/AAAAAAAAAnA/X8N6il0v984/s400/2015-07-12%2B14.45.33.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hta-t2efPps/VaMkjt260OI/AAAAAAAAAm4/i6TAj98cVss/s1600/2015-07-12%2B14.45.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hta-t2efPps/VaMkjt260OI/AAAAAAAAAm4/i6TAj98cVss/s400/2015-07-12%2B14.45.21.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12426149897017251628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1994130502985188173.post-71406584365554607582015-07-07T16:06:00.002-05:002015-07-07T16:06:41.298-05:00The Colorado Bucket List<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T9GZ2WbHKuE/VZw--7tGC8I/AAAAAAAAAlc/lfW7wbCx708/s1600/IMG_0100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T9GZ2WbHKuE/VZw--7tGC8I/AAAAAAAAAlc/lfW7wbCx708/s640/IMG_0100.JPG" width="356" /></a></div>
In about a year, when my daughter graduates from high school, I’m planning a big change. After 20 years in Colorado, I’m heading back across country to Illinois, where my family lives and where I grew up.<br /><br />
It’s strange to realize that I’ve lived in Colorado longer than I lived in Illinois. But Illinois still feels like home, and there are other reasons for making the move, too, at least one of which is financial, and several of which are personal.<br /><br />
Knowing we’ve got a deadline, my kids and I are making a list this summer of places we want to see in Colorado before we head back out to the plains. I’ll be posting some info about these locations, the trips, why we picked them, and how things went. We probably won’t make it to all of them—in fact, we undoubtedly won’t—but we’re going to do what we can. Some of these places we’ve visited before and just want to see them again. Others are places we want to see before we go.<br /><br />Some locations that have already made the list:<br /><br /> • Elitch Gardens (for one more visit)<br /> • The Denver Zoo<br /> • St. Mary’s Glacier<br /> • Cave of the Winds<br /> • Seven Falls<br /> • Royal Gorge<br /> • Sand Dunes<br /> • Mesa Verde<br /> • Leadville<br /> • Georgetown<br /> • Black Hawk<br /> • Central City<br /><br />That’s just the beginning. We’ll see how far we get.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12426149897017251628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1994130502985188173.post-2425718158330927842015-03-27T10:49:00.000-05:002015-03-27T10:49:00.038-05:00Favorite Things!Favorite things for this week:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--P8Sy_uFNhM/VRQ28P_uiMI/AAAAAAAAAj4/ty1sczFRgXM/s1600/alex-ovechkin-alexander-the-great-607x468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--P8Sy_uFNhM/VRQ28P_uiMI/AAAAAAAAAj4/ty1sczFRgXM/s1600/alex-ovechkin-alexander-the-great-607x468.jpg" height="491" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
3. Alex Ovechkin dressed as Alexander the Great with a hockey stick and a horse with emo bangs. Snagged from Russian Machine Never Breaks.<br />
<br />
2. The <a href="http://tvline.com/2015/03/24/x-files-revival-reboot-six-new-episodes-fox/" target="_blank">Official Return of <i>The X-Files</i></a>! To celebrate, a vintage picture of David Duchovny wearing a teacup.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Td0rKsM48v8/VRQ3ll-iD1I/AAAAAAAAAkA/xy3Rv4Ses5E/s1600/Teacup1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Td0rKsM48v8/VRQ3ll-iD1I/AAAAAAAAAkA/xy3Rv4Ses5E/s1600/Teacup1.jpg" height="400" width="316" /></a></div>
<br />
1. Marian Hossa celebrating his daughter Mia's birthday with his family. All together now: <i>D'awwwwwww!</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E0oi9veoRFg/VRQ4bjJbsHI/AAAAAAAAAkM/gIiA8WxTmsE/s1600/BDay%2BCake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E0oi9veoRFg/VRQ4bjJbsHI/AAAAAAAAAkM/gIiA8WxTmsE/s1600/BDay%2BCake.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12426149897017251628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1994130502985188173.post-66822893335544593522015-02-20T10:22:00.000-06:002015-02-20T10:22:00.144-06:00Favorite Things--Video Edition!<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pJkRMFu9__U" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
An exuberant 1-year-old American bulldog mix named King interrupts the weather report on live TV, possibly in search of steak treats.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aa4Qm50Vusg" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
This pit bull loves when his daddy sings to him.<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P74nS_6ElIU" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
Jonathan Toews buys Girl Scout cookies and fails at ironing. Also there is a puppy.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12426149897017251628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1994130502985188173.post-44808612374667882572015-02-13T11:32:00.002-06:002015-02-13T11:32:51.648-06:00Favorite Things Friday the THIRTEENTH!!This week's Favorite Things.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rYlogRWEw98" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
Chris Pratt, Chris Evans, and Jimmy Fallon photobomb people at the Super Bowl.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.russianmachineneverbreaks.com/2015/02/09/alex-ovechkin-presents-car-to-washington-ice-dogs-ann-schaab-calls-him-my-boyfriend-photos/" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.russianmachineneverbreaks.com/2015/02/09/alex-ovechkin-presents-car-to-washington-ice-dogs-ann-schaab-calls-him-my-boyfriend-photos/" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlx2YiQKMuYcXDYhfDC1skyxDwkoGm_Bt5o87GJ2L4X6oaVmdfWFY2q2s2apsnOZcQ8u2CnG61ndvU9Pygu5iSUgDfZgCh9hvh5dMbUbYKVPnypHNZhfw0ye3tw9xF9PMR8pdyDxxfw/s1600/AnnOviEvent_17-607x386.jpg" height="404" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.russianmachineneverbreaks.com/2015/02/09/alex-ovechkin-presents-car-to-washington-ice-dogs-ann-schaab-calls-him-my-boyfriend-photos/" target="_blank">Alex Ovechkin donates a car to the Washington Ice Dogs</a> of the American Special Hockey League. You gotta read this whole story. It's worth it. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/11/australias-oldest-man-sweaters-penguins-oil_n_6660962.html" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/11/australias-oldest-man-sweaters-penguins-oil_n_6660962.html" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yO8gmcsmLmc/VN409oWjR6I/AAAAAAAAAjk/96SFXd5ks5c/s1600/s-PENGUINS-IN-TINY-SWEATERS-480x360.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I know this one's been all over, but dude! The <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/11/australias-oldest-man-sweaters-penguins-oil_n_6660962.html" target="_blank">oldest man in Australia knits TINY TINY sweaters for TINY TINY penguins</a> to help them recover from oil spills. If that doesn't make your heart all squishy I don't know what will. (Also, one of these penguins needs a Pens jersey. Get on that, oldest man in Australia!)<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12426149897017251628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1994130502985188173.post-24490597537634157552015-02-09T10:00:00.000-06:002015-02-09T10:00:09.638-06:00Cover Reveal! And some Book RecsDrum roll, please....<br />
<br />
Below is the cover for my upcoming release, <i>Summoning Sebastian</i>, from Samhain. It'll be coming out this August. It's a followup to <i>Necromancing Nim</i>. If you read <i>Nim</i>, you'll know there were some loose ends left behind. This book ties them up.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jVRLZTSxuSE/VNUyEIxSOvI/AAAAAAAAAig/Q2hcPHLrozQ/s1600/SummoningSebastian72web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jVRLZTSxuSE/VNUyEIxSOvI/AAAAAAAAAig/Q2hcPHLrozQ/s1600/SummoningSebastian72web.jpg" height="400" width="266" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And some book recs. I did some editing work on both of these, and they're both very good, very involving stories.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Thine-Kingdom-Marilyn-Gardiner-ebook/dp/B00T54Z53Y" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.amazon.com/Thine-Kingdom-Marilyn-Gardiner-ebook/dp/B00T54Z53Y" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hmyu4ARopng/VNUzB6oPFJI/AAAAAAAAAio/6CCG02hUMHw/s1600/Thine.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When the mine waste dam above them broke, it scoured the entire valley
clean of all vegetation and many inhabitants. Almost every family lost a
loved one or more, as well as their homes, gardens, and live stock.
Worst of all they lost a sense of dependability and security. Life
would never be the same. Clary Gibson was determined that her son, Ben,
would not spend his adulthood deep in the coal mines of West Virginia
digging for coal—like his ancestors. Her husband, a proud miner, wanted
nothing more than having Ben join him in the mine. The marriage which
had been rock solid, took a near fatal blow while they tried to put
their lives back together, as well as cope with opposite dreams for
their children. A very emotional, involving read. (Warnings for child loss.) </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Turquoise-Life-Womans-Triumphant-Journey-ebook/dp/B00M8R0BU2" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.amazon.com/Turquoise-Life-Womans-Triumphant-Journey-ebook/dp/B00M8R0BU2" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kBa-lQViLsw/VNU04CktuOI/AAAAAAAAAi4/HfGt_ehBS2Y/s1600/Turquoise%2BLife-Smaller.jpg" height="400" width="263" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is a really powerful book, but it can be difficult to read. If you have trigger issues, be sure to read the synopsis first to see if it might be an issue. I can disclose that it does have a happy ending. It's an amazing story about an amazing woman. It was a great honor to work with her to get her story out.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12426149897017251628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1994130502985188173.post-39923048540751977462015-02-06T15:21:00.000-06:002015-02-06T15:21:37.516-06:00Favorite ThingsMy favorite things on the Internet this week are:<br />
<br />
3. This mostly naked guy. His name is Cole Monahan and his <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/tornepl/cole-monahan/" target="_blank">Pinterest page</a> is very...Pinteresting... Go check him out. (Possibly NSFW. Which is how we like it.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/tornepl/cole-monahan/" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.pinterest.com/tornepl/cole-monahan/" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QX2UydV7xxY/VNUudZLdS-I/AAAAAAAAAiE/SXTt68ZJg3c/s1600/Blond%2Bhockey%2Bdude.jpg" height="400" width="285" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
2. These two idiots. Because they're awesome.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFsVbEkpAGVhME5tTrJjwqjKcxQZ2u-IOgvVlOM8QbPTSzW6YARMRMG8b-3m4x3gfg8a1tgovFSvKFSQlw2yGgS7IBGgOOqfQnTUT_JT9khO-M16D1SzwpExuobtOSPJLiqi2K4IUk3g/s1600/chris_evans_chris_pratt_a_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFsVbEkpAGVhME5tTrJjwqjKcxQZ2u-IOgvVlOM8QbPTSzW6YARMRMG8b-3m4x3gfg8a1tgovFSvKFSQlw2yGgS7IBGgOOqfQnTUT_JT9khO-M16D1SzwpExuobtOSPJLiqi2K4IUk3g/s1600/chris_evans_chris_pratt_a_l.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/chris-pratt-chris-evans-super-770559" target="_blank"><i><br /></i></a>
<a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/chris-pratt-chris-evans-super-770559" target="_blank"><i><strong>Chris Pratt </strong>and <strong>Chris Evans</strong>' Super Bowl bet has raised nearly $27,000 in total donations for the charities involved</i></a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1xatWvGc7rR_uXK0fkw8-bs_IWrFkU3lIbroC7ElSJYRKeB5sD7LPY3Wn1rJ6z_Kp_NHQcro-JxFDIL_A1nyVdphC2MTzBmJSEycJrO4miJ_8Ahjf5NTIVYTIy-PWvQVhM2qtbjGMQ/s1600/Ovechkin+I+Feel+Pretty.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1xatWvGc7rR_uXK0fkw8-bs_IWrFkU3lIbroC7ElSJYRKeB5sD7LPY3Wn1rJ6z_Kp_NHQcro-JxFDIL_A1nyVdphC2MTzBmJSEycJrO4miJ_8Ahjf5NTIVYTIy-PWvQVhM2qtbjGMQ/s1600/Ovechkin+I+Feel+Pretty.gif" height="283" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
1. Alex Ovechkin. Sing "I Feel Pretty" while watching this .gif.<br /><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12426149897017251628noreply@blogger.com0