tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20835822477065713602024-03-06T02:29:06.248-06:00Nan's NicheNiche: a position or activity that particularly suits somebody's talents and personality or that somebody can make his or her ownNan Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16540907199613341822noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083582247706571360.post-35422456006937756032014-11-26T12:39:00.002-06:002014-11-26T12:39:23.715-06:00MY BLOG HAS MOVED!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84BPR1-6k0Mthy6C62TodD2wZdyfLazq0LG079D1Y686PO83aWoM6xtXz-E77TMSzxa_V9kxAtFynPIOIGxrJIdud0n36T5iD_zcxPhEiuljwBQJE90Q8joPqFD3xF0qmrau8BkO0NWM/s1600/New+Location.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84BPR1-6k0Mthy6C62TodD2wZdyfLazq0LG079D1Y686PO83aWoM6xtXz-E77TMSzxa_V9kxAtFynPIOIGxrJIdud0n36T5iD_zcxPhEiuljwBQJE90Q8joPqFD3xF0qmrau8BkO0NWM/s1600/New+Location.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b>Come visit me at </b></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: blue;">www.nandixon.com</span>!</b></h2>
Nan Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16540907199613341822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083582247706571360.post-82113902882558411482014-11-18T16:00:00.000-06:002014-11-18T17:16:19.281-06:00TEASER TUESDAY! SOUTHERN COMFORTS<div align="left" class="Body-Text" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">There’s only 13 days until
SOUTHERN COMFORTS hits the shelves!</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></div>
<div align="left" class="Body-Text" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="Body-Text" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I thought I would give you
another <i>taste</i> of the story. And there is a lot of tasty food in the book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="Body-Text" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Abby Fitzgerald, the
heroine, received her culinary training in New York City. After a broken engagement, she returned to
Savannah to help her sisters run the family B and B. Now she’s chef of the struggling B and B.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="Body-Text" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="Body-Text" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Grayson Smythe, a Boston real
estate developer, has negotiated a long-term stay at Fitzgerald House. All his meals are included and he spends his
evenings eating dinner with Abby in her welcoming kitchen. Gray has a weakness not just for Abby’s Brandy
Pecan Bars but also for Abby. But he’s
never sure if she’s interested in him—or his money.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="Body-Text" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfaY4thm7dOVJqXd6XWh9XOtIdF_ituGgXLuPWJSLwVfSldyOus6dxzDoO1mOtuQN1O7XEzhbv0GgNRR0KfFadRmv0c3e1D4Z8HjO8feJ0evu2LEp6EhRfomUt0BYWhi0NWwnTK6cyqPg/s1600/Pecan+Bars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfaY4thm7dOVJqXd6XWh9XOtIdF_ituGgXLuPWJSLwVfSldyOus6dxzDoO1mOtuQN1O7XEzhbv0GgNRR0KfFadRmv0c3e1D4Z8HjO8feJ0evu2LEp6EhRfomUt0BYWhi0NWwnTK6cyqPg/s1600/Pecan+Bars.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="Body-Text" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><b>Here’s the excerpt:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="Body-Text" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="Body-Text" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“It’s a cash-flow issue. We’ll
see if we can get a loan, but…” Abby shrugged with a tight smile. “I know how
much you love my brandy pecan bars. How much would you pay for a lifetime
supply?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="Body-Text" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A chill settled over Gray’s
skin. Was she joking, flirting—or testing the waters?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="Body-Text" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">He’d eaten in her intimate
kitchen for the </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">past three weeks. And they’d
spent hours talking. He’d told her more about his life and his family than anyone
back in Boston. They’d become friends. Why couldn’t he tell what Abby wanted?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="Body-Text" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">He was paying her for the
room and the meals. And now Abby suggested he could buy a lifetime of her bars?
Had to be a joke. He kept his own tone light in response. “It might be worth
it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="Body-Text" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">He tugged her out of her
chair, and when her body brushed his, it was as if he’d grabbed a live wire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="Body-Text" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Did she feel this
connection, too?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="Body-Text" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“Do you have a restaurant
you’ve wanted to visit tonight?” He couldn’t stop brushing her knuckles with
his thumb.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="Body-Text" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">He thought he saw confusion
in her green eyes. At least he wasn’t the only one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="Body-Text" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“There’s a little Italian
place over on York Street called Amore. We can walk over if you want.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="Body-Text" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">So, they would go out to
dinner. It didn’t have to be a big deal; they’d had plenty of those already. Then
they’d see what happened next. “I’ll make a reservation.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="Body-Text" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="Body-Text" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Once I launch my new website—you’ll
be able to grab Abby’s Brandy Pecan Bar recipe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="Body-Text" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="Body-Text" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Oh—and it looks like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Southern-Comforts-Harlequin-Superromance-Dixon-ebook/dp/B00L0XGA8M/ref=zg_bs_700123011_16">Amazon</a>
and <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/southern-comforts-nan-dixon/1119738953?ean=9781460344101">B&N</a>
still have the ebook on sale. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Nan Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16540907199613341822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083582247706571360.post-25445539306335075802014-11-11T15:36:00.000-06:002014-11-11T15:36:36.809-06:00Teaser Tuesday! SOUTHERN COMFORTS receives 4 STARS <div class="MsoNormal">
RT Book Reviews have given SOUTHERN COMFORTS 4 Stars! COMPELLING—PAGE TURNER. I’m thrilled. </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHgeSmQrGR1Xzk_umfrUg9jD_wf1OQXxfYeWlgjiI94yHzNZPw21_uixbwyM_JVyFR4cRighY7iVUiuhimM5etn3l2LtmcnSoQaVPVjx6J-vcbVzqvoFy8yioMwr4OHHA9G4Ur_whTQmw/s1600/Fireworks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHgeSmQrGR1Xzk_umfrUg9jD_wf1OQXxfYeWlgjiI94yHzNZPw21_uixbwyM_JVyFR4cRighY7iVUiuhimM5etn3l2LtmcnSoQaVPVjx6J-vcbVzqvoFy8yioMwr4OHHA9G4Ur_whTQmw/s320/Fireworks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>SOUTHERN COMFORTS is a sweet story
with a bit of excitement thrown in. The
romance between Abby and Gray seems to build naturally, and Gray’s complex
personality is particularly well drawn. </i> <b><i>RT Book Reviews December 2014<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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With only twenty day until SOUTHERN COMFORTS releases, here’s
another little teaser. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“Actions speak louder than words.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tears trickled down Abigail’s cheek. The ice in her eyes frightened Gray. “I’m going back to Savannah. I’m going home.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Abby.” This couldn't be happening. Not when he was in love
with her. “Stay. Please.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“We’re done.” She
wheeled her bag around him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Desperate, he blurted out.
“I think I’m in love with you.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She stopped. Her
shoulders shook. She turned around, pity
filled her face. “You can’t buy my love,
Gray. That’s not how it works. It’s something I would have given freely.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Panic bubbled inside his chest like lava in a volcano about
to blow. “I’m not trying to buy your
love.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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She didn’t even stop.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He ripped a hand through his hair. He’d been trying to help her, for God’s sake.
And she’d thrown everything back in his face.
He told her he loved her. He had
the money. He could fix her problems. Make her life easier. Why wouldn’t the stubborn woman let him help?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Hope you enjoyed it!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
Nan Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16540907199613341822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083582247706571360.post-12121897643890252972014-11-05T09:53:00.002-06:002014-11-05T10:02:02.629-06:00I'll be a Guest at Romancing Christmas!Stop over if you get a chance. I'll be there starting at 10:30 Central Time on Wednesday!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/334906006689968/?source=1" target="_blank">Romancing Christmas</a><br />
<br />
there's a ton of Giveaways! One would be SOUTHERN COMFORTS!<br />
<br />
<img height="120" src="https://scontent-2.2914.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10171001_10202951117039936_7361769857736416406_n.jpg?oh=4aa556aeadd519f1f1d2daec858ddb50&oe=54EF7881" width="320" />Nan Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16540907199613341822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083582247706571360.post-70306807997087090172014-11-04T12:59:00.000-06:002014-11-04T19:22:37.146-06:00TEASER TUESDAY!<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8bVzgvtj0-lFPzfqm-HpCN00h4PLKAydqI3hgUbV2CCaaH7DwYZyuv4enjpClsIzwVhTSnECh7tMbcjozAU4cGk1WBE-H3-z_UUtF22XSRIyKWE2k4P4JhJhonuurDwAXPqLWTXkroU/s1600/IMG_0028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8bVzgvtj0-lFPzfqm-HpCN00h4PLKAydqI3hgUbV2CCaaH7DwYZyuv4enjpClsIzwVhTSnECh7tMbcjozAU4cGk1WBE-H3-z_UUtF22XSRIyKWE2k4P4JhJhonuurDwAXPqLWTXkroU/s1600/IMG_0028.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
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SOUTHERN COMFORTS releases in just twenty-seven days! My debut novel and I can hardly wait. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<br /></div>
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The book is set in the gorgeous Savannah historic district. The Fitzgerald sisters run a bed and
breakfast in their partially restored family mansion. Growing up, they'd help Mamma run the place and four years ago they took over the running of the B and B. Even now they still quote their Mamma’s rules
on running Fitzgerald House. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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Here’s a sample of some of Mamie Fitzgerald’s rules on
running a B and B.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Rule #1—The guests are always
right, even when they’re wrong.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Rule #5—Never yell at a guest. Not even under your breath. (I’ve found the second-floor linen closet is
pretty soundproof.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Rule #11—If cleanliness is next to
godliness, then Fitzgerald House must be heaven.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Rule #16—Never let a guest see you
sweat.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Rule #40—Dream big, dream often,
but don’t let it keep you from your work.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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But the rule Abigail Fitzgerald is having the most trouble
with is— <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Rule #2—Absolutely never get involved with a guest. It’s not well done.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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Abigail Fitzgerald has always followed her mamma's rules
when it comes to running their family's B and B. But her mamma never had to
resist a man like Grayson Smythe. A long-term guest, Gray spends his evenings having
dinner with Abby in her kitchen—and it's not long before their attraction
begins to sizzle. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although Gray's kisses are a delicious distraction, Abby's
priorities are the B and B and the dream of opening her own restaurant. And
Gray definitely has the means to help her. But when money seems to be all he
can offer, Abby suspects she might get burned.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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There is a Goodread Giveway happening right now. Stop over and sign up! <o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/" target="_new">Goodreads</a> Book Giveaway</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22474519"><img alt="Southern Comforts by Nan Dixon" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1410170161l/22474519.jpg" title="Southern Comforts by Nan Dixon" width="100" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22474519">Southern Comforts</a></div>
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by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8307477.Nan_Dixon" style="text-decoration: none;">Nan Dixon</a></div>
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Giveaway ends November 12, 2014.</div>
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See the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/113269" style="text-decoration: none;">giveaway details</a></div>
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at Goodreads.</div>
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<a class="goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink" href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/enter_choose_address/113269">Enter to win</a></div>
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<script charset="utf-8" src="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/widget/113269" type="text/javascript"></script>Nan Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16540907199613341822noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083582247706571360.post-1199345841481422092014-11-01T16:01:00.000-05:002014-11-04T15:13:20.390-06:00SOUTHERN COMFORTS Arrives!!!I’m sure every author’s heart pounds at the feel of their debut novel in their hands. I swear it smelled better than any other book I’ve ever held. (Yes I gave it a sniff!) Of course the books arrived while I was out of town. It seems to be the pattern for this book. First I mislaid my phone when my agent was calling to tell me I got The Call. Now with the actual books, my daughter opened up the box.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZCdhuPwy7lOJkG24eMR_BYJMpKb29clTNeegjxg-Q6ceezxlX2xOspompJNwPksarMNKKcvQGlD64sDoVPQxp9vf4WN-uEk_yneK55Q1rfV2ifV8rXJd6A8rP93GXV7uL5ZG8cspOEhE/s1600/Southern+Comforts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZCdhuPwy7lOJkG24eMR_BYJMpKb29clTNeegjxg-Q6ceezxlX2xOspompJNwPksarMNKKcvQGlD64sDoVPQxp9vf4WN-uEk_yneK55Q1rfV2ifV8rXJd6A8rP93GXV7uL5ZG8cspOEhE/s1600/Southern+Comforts.jpg" height="320" width="179" /></a><br />
But who cares -- Aren’t they beautiful?<br />
<br />
I haven’t really done a cover reveal. The cover hit the sales sites before I was ready. So this is my reveal! And I love that my editor is using one of the Bed and Breakfast Rules on the back cover.<br />
<br />
<b>SOUTHERN COMFORTS</b> is about the Fitzgerald sisters' struggle to run their family’s B and B. Mamma Fitzgerald started turning the decaying family mansion set in the heart of Savannah’s historic district into a B and B years ago. Now her three daughters run the B and B and Mamma’s rules live on.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, when Grayson Smythe comes for a long-term stay at Fitzgerald House, Abigail Fitzgerald just might have trouble sticking to <b><i>Rule #2 – Never get involved with a guest. </i></b><br />
<br />
I’m a month away from release date,<b> December 1</b>, and so excited. You can pre-order wherever books are sold!
Nan Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16540907199613341822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083582247706571360.post-75362841085530424182014-10-29T10:15:00.000-05:002014-10-29T10:15:32.438-05:00Goodreads Book Giveaway!In just a little over a month my debut novel SOUTHERN COMFORTS will be released! I'm so excited, I'm giving away 5 autographed copies. Stop over if you get a chance and enter!<br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com" target="_new">Goodreads</a> Book Giveaway
</h2>
<div style="float: left;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22474519"><img alt="Southern Comforts by Nan Dixon" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1410170161l/22474519.jpg" title="Southern Comforts by Nan Dixon" width="100" /></a>
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<h3 style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22474519">Southern Comforts</a>
</h3>
<h4 style="margin: 0 0 10px; padding: 0; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8307477.Nan_Dixon" style="text-decoration: none;">Nan Dixon</a>
</h4>
<div class="giveaway_details">
<p>
Giveaway ends November 12, 2014.
</p>
<p>
See the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/113269" style="text-decoration: none;">giveaway details</a>
at Goodreads.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div style="clear: both;"></div>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/enter_choose_address/113269" class="goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink">Enter to win</a>
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</div><script src="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/widget/113269" type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script>Nan Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16540907199613341822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083582247706571360.post-27359532947931714372014-09-29T15:34:00.003-05:002014-09-29T15:34:55.222-05:00Cover Reveal -- TEACH ME by Ella SheridanI'm welcoming a Golden Heart sister who's revealing her cover this week. (And isn't her hero, Conlan, hot!)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKPXJla4wEXyXaB1JH2E1PWWeR__2gsdC23z36Vl7bPFnIYwNMKQpim9iiKwwC2_eCwlON6JIB0-r7zxU_1BmZZtiintlsk8MV6XdoOhO74GAD95USE1FwYS6ztETyvyLjfI3x24IRjk/s1600/4a_Teach+Me+E-Book+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKPXJla4wEXyXaB1JH2E1PWWeR__2gsdC23z36Vl7bPFnIYwNMKQpim9iiKwwC2_eCwlON6JIB0-r7zxU_1BmZZtiintlsk8MV6XdoOhO74GAD95USE1FwYS6ztETyvyLjfI3x24IRjk/s1600/4a_Teach+Me+E-Book+Cover.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
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<b><i>Teach Me (Southern Nights Book One)<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>A
woman determined to heal…<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Shy researcher Jess Kingston spent
the last eight weeks recovering from her ex-boyfriend’s brutal attack. Body
healed, she’s ready to put her life back together—except her ex isn’t ready to
let go. She won’t cower in a corner while Brit tortures her, but she’s
powerless to fight back.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>A
man determined to resist…<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Ex-military security specialist
Conlan James avoids commitment like the plague. His job, his Harley, and the
occasional one-night stand are all he needs, until the day he rescues Jess from
a tense situation and realizes he can’t get her off his mind. He can teach her
to protect herself, but protecting his heart is another matter.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>A
madman determined to win…<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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As the deadly game of cat-and-mouse
with Brit heats up, so does the hunger between Con and Jess. Safety might be
found in numbers, but in bed, all bets are off—and the wrong move could lead to
heartbreak. Or death.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Oh my - sounds wonderful!</div>
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Here's a little bit about Ella -- </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0ysjpHopKjvumH3la4JvzDksfBJo4gTAWRD8t8nNjGX72EDnkk3wBQwz07KyTq1VBK3Ra_QeEq4XiFk2zSKCWfAqQE5uhyHKu6cNj_uTlHTHaeEUgZRBR1zNSBWkjiV7cmreeV7LWJY/s1600/0_Ella+Sheridan+Author+Head+Shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0ysjpHopKjvumH3la4JvzDksfBJo4gTAWRD8t8nNjGX72EDnkk3wBQwz07KyTq1VBK3Ra_QeEq4XiFk2zSKCWfAqQE5uhyHKu6cNj_uTlHTHaeEUgZRBR1zNSBWkjiV7cmreeV7LWJY/s1600/0_Ella+Sheridan+Author+Head+Shot.jpg" height="200" width="132" /></a></div>
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<b><u>Author
Bio:<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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Ella grew up in the Deep South,
where books provided adventures, friends, and her first taste of romance. Now
she writes her own romantic adventures, with plenty of hot alpha men and the
women who love and challenge them. With a day job, a husband, two active
teenagers, and two not so active cats, Ella is always busy, but getting the
voices in her head down on paper is a top priority. Connect with Ella at <a href="http://www.ellasheridanauthor.com/">www.ellasheridanauthor.com</a> .<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Author Website: <a href="http://www.ellasheridanauthor.com/">www.ellasheridanauthor.com</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Author Newsletter: <a href="http://eepurl.com/IJkRf">http://eepurl.com/IJkRf</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Author E-mail: <a href="mailto:ellasheridan.writer@gmail.com">ellasheridan.writer@gmail.com</a> <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u>Social
Media Links:<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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Amazon Author Page <a href="https://www.amazon.com/author/ellasheridan" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/author/ellasheridan</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Facebook Author Page <a href="https://facebook.com/ellasheridanauthor">https://facebook.com/ellasheridanauthor</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Twitter (@AuthorESheridan) <a href="https://twitter.com/AuthorESheridan">https://twitter.com/AuthorESheridan</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
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Goodreads <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7350508.Ella_Sheridan">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7350508.Ella_Sheridan</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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You can pre-order at the following sites. For only $0.99. And make sure you add the book to your Goodreads to be Read bookshelf!</div>
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Preorder Links:</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Teach-Me-Southern-Nights-Book-ebook/dp/B00NW16WTC/ref=la_B00G3BYYN4_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1411680673&sr=1-4%20%20ARe%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-teachme-1635417-149.html%20%20Kobo%20%20%20%20%20http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/teach-me-11" target="_blank">Amazon</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-teachme-1635417-149.html" target="_blank">All Romance Books</a></div>
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<a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/teach-me-11" target="_blank">Kobo</a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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Here's a teaser -- </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<b><i><u>Excerpt:</u></i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What the hell are you doing here?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This wasn’t the first time in the
last five minutes that Conlan had asked himself the same question. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Maybe if he
had an answer, the revolving door in his brain would stop spinning, but that
didn’t seem likely. Not anytime soon. Not with the beautiful brunette he’d come
to see sitting close enough that, if he let himself look, he could detect the
light dusting of freckles across her nose. But he wasn’t looking, and he
shouldn’t be here, so how had he ended up standing in line behind the
thirtysomething latte league? It sure as hell wasn’t for the coffee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Legs braced wide, he shifted from
one hip to the other, the creak of his motorcycle chaps reminding him he could
be enjoying a few extra minutes on the Harley before work instead of spending
that precious time here, mooning over a woman. Doe Eyes. The first time he’d
seen her all those months ago, he’d thought her eyes reminded him of sweet
Georgia pecans and skittish does. The name stuck, as had the memory of her
eyes—and a hundred other glimpses he shouldn’t have taken.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Another name called, another latte
dispensed, another shuffle forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He hadn’t seen those eyes in eight
weeks, and yet still he’d shown up every Monday, like clockwork, hoping for one
more glimpse and calling himself an idiot. Wasn’t like he planned on asking her
out. So why the hell did he torture himself with these weekly forays into enemy
territory?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sex. Or sex appeal, at least.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Another step closer to the counter.
The move didn’t ease the constriction behind the zipper of his jeans. This was
what she did to him, thinking about her. Especially now, after so long apart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The thought had a snort escaping.
Ahead of him, Mr. Suit and Tie startled and glanced over a shoulder, but Conlan
ignored the look. He was too busy figuring out when “this” had become enough
like a relationship in his head that he would think things like “after so long
apart.” Doe Eyes might appear prominently in his thoughts from time to
time—especially <i>certain</i> times—but
he’d never seen her outside of this coffee shop. And he wouldn’t. A quick roll
in the hay was one thing, but Doe Eyes wasn’t the kind of woman who had
one-night stands. He could tell that much just by looking at her. She was a
relationship kind of woman, and he was a relationship-phobic kind of guy. Which
meant he seriously needed to get a grip—and not on the part of him growing even
harder at the idea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Idiot was right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He should be at work. Southern
summer heat brought out the crazies almost as well as full moons did, and JCL
Security was feeling the impact, juggling cases like they had eight arms, which
they didn’t. Too many sleepless nights had been spent at his office, especially
with the Bennett case coming up. Just a couple more weeks before Thea Bennett
had her bastard of a husband before a judge and hopefully out of her life, but
the paper- and prep work to get the high-profile bastard there had been a
bitch. He seriously needed to—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Conlan, hey!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For a passing moment he was
convinced the voice belonged to the woman filling his thoughts. But when the
high, candied voice called again, he realized it was coming from the counter.
The cashier. Tonya, Tammy? Tracy? He couldn’t remember. She was blonde with a
deep tan he would’ve deemed impossible in a landlocked city like Atlanta, the
shade a stark contrast to her white smile. Stepping up, he threw her a grin.
“Hey.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She batted long lashes, almost
hiding the way her glance slid down to the crotch of his jeans, framed in his
leather chaps. “Long time, no see.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He winked automatically. “It’s a
long wait between Mondays.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The girl giggled. “Your usual?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“That’s right. Thanks,” he said,
passing over a ten-dollar bill.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She made change, certain to caress
his hand as she laid the money in his palm. Conlan was more interested in the
dark Colombian roast another employee was walking toward them. High-octane all
the way. The sight of the near-black brew had him salivating for something
other than Doe Eyes for the first time that morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He reached the condiment counter
just as his phone buzzed in his back pocket. Probably Jack. Retrieving the cell
confirmed his suspicion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Where the hell are you?</span></i><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
his partner had texted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Piss off,</span></i><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Con
replied, a grin tugging at his lips. The irony that he’d spent too much time
asking himself the very same question didn’t escape him. In a half hour he’d be
at the office and they could both stop wondering.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With a little back-and-forth he
managed to cram the phone back in his tight jeans. He glanced around absently,
and his gaze snagged on a pair of amber-brown eyes that suddenly met his.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He froze.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Doe Eyes dropped her chin and
shifted over the slightest bit, enough that her friend’s position blocked her
from view, but not before he caught the blush coloring her creamy cheeks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">His cock banged against his zipper
as if begging to be let out. The bite of pain caught his breath in his throat.
Jesus, what the hell was he—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Don’t! Ask. Again.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> He
knew what the hell he was doing here, and he needed to go; he really did. He
needed to stop letting his dick run this show, grab his coffee, and get back to
reality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He was restless, that was all. He
was a man who needed action. Needed to be doing something, anything, not
sitting behind a desk like he’d been for weeks while prepping Thea’s case.
Usually he worked off his frustration in a way that involved cool silk sheets
and bare skin and satisfaction on both sides, but there’d been no damn time.
Just his hand and the additional chafing it provided, which wasn’t near as
effective—or satisfying. That had to be the reason he couldn’t stop thinking
about his mystery woman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Of course. That had to be it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Popping the lid off his cardboard
cup released the rich aroma of ground coffee beans into the air. He lifted his
cup and blew across the hot liquid, the sound almost a sigh of relief. He was
already reaching for the packets of sugar when black squiggles caught his eye.
There. On the part of the paper sleeve now facing him, he could see a name and
number were clearly written: <i>Tiffany.</i>
A 470 area-code phone number.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So that was her name. Sounded like
an eighties pop star. A glance over his shoulder found the cashier leaning
across the bar where drinks were picked up, her mounded breasts shelved there,
on display. <i>Come back soon</i>, she
mouthed, her shoulders doing a little wiggle. On reflex, he threw her a grin,
but her seemingly seductive move couldn’t pull his glance downward. His dick
didn’t even twitch. Apparently only one thing could trigger his runaway libido
this morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He added the sugar, trying to ignore
the panic in his gut and his one-track mind. The latter was impossible. He
wanted to know Doe Eyes’ name, <i>her</i>
phone number. Were her breasts as full as they looked beneath that starched
white button-down? Was her hair as soft as he swore it would be when he fisted
it between his fingers?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He stirred a bit too vigorously, and
coffee sloshed over the side of the cup.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Don’t look. Don’t. </span></i><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He
realized he’d closed his eyes. A sigh escaped as he rubbed a thumb and finger
against them, but as soon as the lids popped open, he searched for her. Had to
see her. Felt his heartbeat pick up knowing she might meet his eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He was so screwed—and smart enough
to admit it. He let go, let the conflict and the churning in his gut and the
tension cramping his muscles go. And then he looked toward her table.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was empty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Well shit.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He stood for a moment, cursing
himself, the coffee, and everything else he could think of. When another
customer stepped up behind him and cleared his throat, wanting access to the
counter, Con grabbed his cup and headed out the door. On his way, he chucked
the coffee in the trash without a single sip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wow~</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pre-Order Ella's book!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
Nan Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16540907199613341822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083582247706571360.post-73051683477437614502014-08-22T00:00:00.000-05:002014-08-22T00:00:01.624-05:00It's Release day for Bad Traveler by Lola Karns!<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
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I was lucky enough to get a quick peek at the book. It's out today from <a href="http://www.decadentpublishing.com/">Decadent Publishing</a> and is on sale for $0.99 until September 29, 2014 so go grab your copy!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRaPmvJzFJcjzWhA0pEyW65ZyhoaogY8m6wfgcaofPXWVjJ0CVygjL2LKYUTDbew3BmDqwQHiU6TWfxBp-CNNkQdP9Xanlug0X4CMYwXVS-LzGYHHP_dtTOpYypraDwtMp24l0EzxfQ4/s1600/Bad+Traveler+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRaPmvJzFJcjzWhA0pEyW65ZyhoaogY8m6wfgcaofPXWVjJ0CVygjL2LKYUTDbew3BmDqwQHiU6TWfxBp-CNNkQdP9Xanlug0X4CMYwXVS-LzGYHHP_dtTOpYypraDwtMp24l0EzxfQ4/s1600/Bad+Traveler+Cover.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Bad Traveler</b> is a small town Contemporary Romance and all you foodies should be happy, since the heroine owns a bakery. (Books like this make me sooo hungry!)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Here's the book's recipe:</b></span></div>
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Recipes are a way of life for Gwen Jones. Take one single
mother, her infant daughter and a business plan for a small town bakery. Combine
with an eventful cross-country flight, chance encounter with her college crush
and a dash of motion sickness. Stir in a few nuts, or family members, and large
quantities of chocolate. Will this recipe be an oven oops, or as delicious as
her alma matter’s newest coach? <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Having survived an attack in Afghanistan that cost him a leg
and a wife, Kyle Collins developed a strategy to find meaning in life. He may
be an assistant basketball coach but he refuses to sit on the sidelines. When
the runs into the woman whose lips are as unforgettable as her brownies, Kyle
decides to spice up Gwen’s recipes. <o:p></o:p></div>
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When a secret ingredient is thrown into the mix, can their
recipe for a happily-ever-after rise to the occasion, or will it end up a hot
mess?<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 32px;"><b>Lola's given us just a little taste of the book!</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Or we could go
to my shop, drink some coffee or have cookies and milk. I have my keys.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Perfect.” His
heart thumped as he put the car in gear. No one would bother them. They would
be alone in a cozy space she’d created. The absence of students left the
streets virtually empty. Her gloved hand covered his for the five-minute drive.
After a few turns, they parked behind the store and entered through the
kitchen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What will you
have? Unfortunately, I have tons of inventory left from today.” She opened the
back side of the display counter, revealing about a dozen or so of six
different types of cookies. “I swore I wouldn’t sell day-old cookies, but I may
bundle up some at a discount rate tomorrow since there are so many.” The touch
of sadness in her voice made him want to whip out his wallet and buy them all
up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’ll take an
oatmeal raisin, a chocolate chip, and…. Are those ginger snaps?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Actually, those
are molasses cookies. They are spicy like a ginger snap, but different.” She
stacked an assortment of cookies on a plate. “It’s my nana’s recipe. See what
you think. Coffee?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Don’t make
coffee on my account. I’m too wired already. I’d rather have milk.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Me, too.” She
poured milk into a couple of mugs and started toward the corner table, which
featured a plush, secondhand love seat. He followed with the cookies. A rapping
on the window drew their attention to a couple outside. Gwen pointed to the
Closed sign, but the couple persisted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">He walked to the
door. “We’re closed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She rushed to
his side, adding, “We’ll be open Tuesday at seven a.m. We hope to open in the
evenings starting in late January.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The couple
walked away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I could have
made a sale, but….” She sounded frustrated and tired. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I think we
should stay in the kitchen. I doubt people will bother us if we have lights on
back there.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">A spark returned
to her eyes. “If we sit on the floor behind the counter, no one will know we
we’re here. They’ll think someone left the lights on by accident.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Sitting
side-by-side on the floor, backs against the counter, they set the plate of
cookies between them along with their mugs of milk, handy for dunking. He
picked up the firm molasses cookie with large pieces of sugar that stuck to his
fingers. The crisp outside yielded to a softness that melted in his mouth. Sweet
with a hint of saltiness to make it interesting, just like Gwen. Tonight, he’d
see if she would melt in his arms, and his mouth. It was his night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><b>Oh nummmm!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 32px;"><b><i>When I asked Lola what her inspiration, here's what she told me?</i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><b>Lola</b>: For me, inspiration swirls in the ether until various pieces
collide in my brain. Three factors came together for Bad Traveler.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">1. There is nothing fun about flying cross
country with an infant. I have been the screaming baby section and run through
airports with car seats precariously dangling from the stroller. I have
pretended turbulence is “super-fun bouncy ride in the sky” even though I’m more
scared than the kids. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">2. Living near the home of Seal Team 6, I grew
more aware of issues facing veterans as they returned home from war. A series
of reports in the Virginian-Pilot piqued my curiosity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">3. The bakery near me closed. I decided to
invent one, which is much easier than opening a real one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">You can find more information of Bad Traveler <a href="http://lolakarns.wordpress.com/bad-traveler/" target="_blank">here</a>. Stop over and sign up to win a </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">$10.00 gift card to the winner’s choice of
Amazon or Barnes & Noble runs Aug 22</span><sup style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 200%;">nd</sup><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> through Sept 4</span><sup style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 200%;">th</sup><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">
2014. </span></div>
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Here's a little bit about Lola Karns<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN">Having worked as a bartender,
shipping clerk, concierge, document translator, European history doctoral
candidate, and more as she moved through Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New Jersey,
Georgia, and Virginia, Lola decided she needed a more portable career. Writing
fit the bill.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN">Lola currently resides in
Minnesota with her husband, two children, two hairless cats and a fluffy
ex-stray cat. When not writing, she enjoys baking, reading and drinking coffee.
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Here's how to connect with Lola.<br />
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Website/blog <a href="http://www.lolakarns.com/">www.lolakarns.com</a> <o:p></o:p></div>
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Twitter @lolakarns<o:p></o:p></div>
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Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LolaKarns">https://www.facebook.com/LolaKarns</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Goodreads <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6451976.Lola_Karns">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6451976.Lola_Karns</a>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Google+ <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/+LolaKarns/about/p/pub">https://plus.google.com/u/0/+LolaKarns/about/p/pub</a>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Pinterest <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/lolakarns/">http://www.pinterest.com/lolakarns/</a>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Nan Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16540907199613341822noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083582247706571360.post-27757764935057219372014-06-18T10:47:00.002-05:002014-06-18T10:47:21.620-05:00The Call!<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
A funny thing
happened to me on April 30<sup>th</sup> – I lost my phone. I don’t usually do this. Like almost never. Okay, I do lose my phone inside my purse, but
who doesn’t? (I really need to replace
my current purse, just for this reason.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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But on April 30<sup>th</sup>
my phone went missing for hours. Seven
and a half very important hours.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I had a good
reason for misplacing my phone. My
daughter, who’s propagating my first granddaughter, was having chest pains and
really high BP the night before. There
was an ER visit complete with X-rays and CT scans. So the morning of April 30<sup>th</sup>, I
called for an update on how she was feeling.
(They never could figure out what was wrong, but she is fine.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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And I tucked my
phone in my robe pocket. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Mistake!<o:p></o:p></div>
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That day, I was
really focused on the revisions to my 2014 Golden Heart finalist manuscript—POETIC
JUSTICE. After attending Spring Fling in
Chicago and some major thinking on my drive home, I’d finally found the manuscripts
magic. My computer was in Airplane
mode—because I’m pretty sure Windows 8 is using Internet Explorer with my mail
and other apps and that was when Heartbleed was a problem. <o:p></o:p></div>
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And I <b><i>missed</i></b>
the following Tweets!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlm7Cy0BsWbyD5itNG7YO0okePIvq2MJbGWhQys0cm08V_Hq5_xkaIpw-ssUZDQsMXMZINbpz2OnbXjVVa_JWUFe4wMOot36k5vDUwiBjZZrxpcZ3kH7DeVlwW9oIfvTOhQZ7l_NpamaE/s1600/Laura+B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlm7Cy0BsWbyD5itNG7YO0okePIvq2MJbGWhQys0cm08V_Hq5_xkaIpw-ssUZDQsMXMZINbpz2OnbXjVVa_JWUFe4wMOot36k5vDUwiBjZZrxpcZ3kH7DeVlwW9oIfvTOhQZ7l_NpamaE/s1600/Laura+B.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/bradfordlit"><b><span style="color: #0084b4; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Laura Bradford</span></b><span style="color: #0084b4; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="color: #b1bbc3; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">@</span><span style="color: #8899a6; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">bradfordlit</span></a><span style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">WHEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!! OMG!!!! WHHHEEEEEEEEE!!!! *jumping up and
down* More WHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8899a6; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12:57 PM - 30 Apr 2014</span><span style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlm7Cy0BsWbyD5itNG7YO0okePIvq2MJbGWhQys0cm08V_Hq5_xkaIpw-ssUZDQsMXMZINbpz2OnbXjVVa_JWUFe4wMOot36k5vDUwiBjZZrxpcZ3kH7DeVlwW9oIfvTOhQZ7l_NpamaE/s1600/Laura+B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlm7Cy0BsWbyD5itNG7YO0okePIvq2MJbGWhQys0cm08V_Hq5_xkaIpw-ssUZDQsMXMZINbpz2OnbXjVVa_JWUFe4wMOot36k5vDUwiBjZZrxpcZ3kH7DeVlwW9oIfvTOhQZ7l_NpamaE/s1600/Laura+B.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/bradfordlit"><b><span style="color: #0084b4; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />Laura Bradford</span></b><span style="color: #0084b4; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="color: #b1bbc3; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">@</span><span style="color: #8899a6; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">bradfordlit</span></a><span style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So someone is getting the call. I mean THE
Call. A very, very long awaited THE Call.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8899a6; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4:10 PM - 30 Apr 2014</span><span style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #292f33; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yup—didn’t see
these tweets.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #292f33; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I finally made a
concerted effort to find the d*** phone.
I called it. Hubby called
it. I went up and down the stairs,
searching perhaps swearing. Finally, for
some reason, I checked my robe hanging in the bedroom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #292f33; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Voila! My phone.
And I had missed 5 calls. Okay --
one was me searching for my phone. One
was hubby helping me search for my phone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #292f33; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And there were
three call from Laura.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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1:13 PM<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
1:15 PM<o:p></o:p></div>
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2:19 PM<o:p></o:p></div>
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Laura left an email asking me to call her at
2:26PM. (Remember I’m in Airplane mode
so I’m not getting emails.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #292f33; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Laura and I had just
seen each other at the conference. We
were hopeful that this last revision for SuperRomance would do the trick. She was being so kind, telling me I was
sooooo close. So when I called her back
(3:59 PM) I figured she was going to tell me that Harlequin rejected the latest
revision. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #292f33; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I reached Laura,
we talked about my phone and my daughter.
And then, figuring we’d just been together and she was being letting me
down gently, I asked, “They rejected Southern Comforts?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #292f33; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The answer? Drumroll!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #292f33; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Harlequin
SuperRomance bought SOUTHERN COMFORTS.
And they are slotting it for December 2014. Wheeee indeed!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #292f33; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m going to be
published!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #292f33; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I ran out of my
office. Kicked my slippers off so I
wouldn’t tumble down the carpeted stairs and break my neck and screamed at my
hubby, “I sold!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #292f33; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And Laura’s next
tweet was ----<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlm7Cy0BsWbyD5itNG7YO0okePIvq2MJbGWhQys0cm08V_Hq5_xkaIpw-ssUZDQsMXMZINbpz2OnbXjVVa_JWUFe4wMOot36k5vDUwiBjZZrxpcZ3kH7DeVlwW9oIfvTOhQZ7l_NpamaE/s1600/Laura+B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlm7Cy0BsWbyD5itNG7YO0okePIvq2MJbGWhQys0cm08V_Hq5_xkaIpw-ssUZDQsMXMZINbpz2OnbXjVVa_JWUFe4wMOot36k5vDUwiBjZZrxpcZ3kH7DeVlwW9oIfvTOhQZ7l_NpamaE/s1600/Laura+B.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/bradfordlit"><b><span style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><br />Laura Bradford</span></b><span style="color: #0084b4; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span><span style="color: #b1bbc3; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">@</span><span style="color: #8899a6; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">bradfordlit</span></a><span style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The author who got THE Call lost her phone & so it took me
hrs to finally connect w/her. I didn't mean to leave you hanging for so long :)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8899a6; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4:19 PM - 30 Apr 2014</span><span style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So after five Golden Heart Finals, I have finally sold. (This manuscript finaled in 2011, then I
rewrote the opening and it finaled in 2013.)
As much as I have loved being part of the marvelous sisterhood of Golden
Heart finalists, I’m so glad to be ineligible for the 2015 Golden Heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have taken
perseverance as my motto. I had an agent
offer (on this book) and then rescind her offer. I submitted three other manuscripts to Laura
before she signed me. (She passed on a
previous version of SOUTHERN COMFORTS, but called to say she wanted me to keep
sending her manuscripts.) I had two
Revise and Resubmits from Megan Long before they offered to buy the book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So don’t give up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here’s my question: Do
you lose your phone – if so, what’s the funniest place you have found it or the
most important call you missed?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Originally posted on the <a href="http://www.rubyslipperedsisterhood.com/meet-2014-golden-heart-finalist-nan-dixon/" target="_blank">Ruby-Slippered Sisterhood blog</a>.</span></div>
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Nan Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16540907199613341822noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083582247706571360.post-78070472174401244062014-06-11T10:12:00.002-05:002014-06-11T10:12:36.618-05:00I'm over at the Ruby Slippered SisterhoodI'm talking about THE CALL. Stop on over if you get a chance.<br />
<br />
http://www.rubyslipperedsisterhood.com/meet-2014-golden-heart-finalist-nan-dixon/<br />
<br />
<img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/465360781047910401/ED_xeZFc.jpeg" />Nan Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16540907199613341822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083582247706571360.post-30190546408855798152014-06-01T23:08:00.001-05:002014-06-02T22:13:32.571-05:00My Writing Process Blog Relay<span xmlns=""></span><br />
<span xmlns="">I'm continuing the internet phenomenon of the My Writing Process Blog Relay. The lovely <a href="http://leslielynchauthor.wordpress.com/bio-2/">Leslie Lynch</a>, my 2013 Golden Heart® sister, tagged me last week. You can check out her writing process <a href="http://leslielynchauthor.wordpress.com/2014/05/26/my-writing-process-blog-tour/">here</a>. I'm excited to report her first book, HIJACKED, comes out TODAY!! WHEEEEE!!!! I know I'll be hitting the buy button on this Golden Heart® finalist manuscript. Thanks for the tag, Leslie!</span><br />
<span xmlns=""><br /></span>
<span xmlns="">So here goes - <em>WHAT AM I WORKING ON?</em><br /> </span><br />
<span xmlns=""><em><br /></em></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSI1uCjp22Z3d0EkVNaMOJ4EkdIt91MTlWjh9s3jJa2cxTMAxFOB99HsWqEDkti0ZpjdXfYNv7GI5PDNs61VNznhoStjE8gHKkASBAdujgjDm33gsk5mwSTMbi9gMIhyhHI819mWdKMvg/s1600/Revisions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSI1uCjp22Z3d0EkVNaMOJ4EkdIt91MTlWjh9s3jJa2cxTMAxFOB99HsWqEDkti0ZpjdXfYNv7GI5PDNs61VNznhoStjE8gHKkASBAdujgjDm33gsk5mwSTMbi9gMIhyhHI819mWdKMvg/s1600/Revisions.jpg" height="200" width="112" /></a><span xmlns="">Revisions! I sold my 2013 Golden Heart® manuscript SOUTHERN COMFORTS to Harlequin SuperRomance. I got the call April 30<sup>th</sup> and received my revision letter on May 8th. There were 177 comments from my editor.</span><br />
<span xmlns=""><br /> </span><br />
<span xmlns="">I've been focused on ripping apart and adding scenes. And am just about ready to hit send on this set of edits. I had two revise and resubmit letters from Megan Long, my editor, before they took a chance and bought the book. (I still get a little zing every time I say <em>my editor) </em>Silly me—I thought the next set of revisions would be lighter. But writing isn't for the weak. My publication date is December 2014. I'm so thrilled and grateful Megan Long took a chance on this book and for Laura Bradford, agent extraordinaire, for representing me!</span><br />
<span xmlns=""><br /></span>
<span xmlns="">I've also been working through revisions on my 2014 Golden Heart® finalist manuscript POETIC JUSTICE with my critique group. It is a finalist in the Short Contemporary category and is Romantic Suspense. Once I send the revisions for SOUTHERN COMFORTS off, I have to dive back in and finish those revisions.</span><br />
<span xmlns=""><br /></span>
<span xmlns=""><em>HOW DOES MY WORK DIFFER FROM OTHERS OF ITS GENRE?</em></span><br />
<span xmlns=""><em><br /></em></span>
<span xmlns="">Wow – this is a hard question. I write families. Either groups that eventually find and form families or actual families. SOUTHERN COMFORTS is set in a Savannah Bed and Breakfast run by three sisters. Although much of contemporary romance is set in small towns, I tend to set mine in cities like Savannah or Minneapolis, although I have started a series that I set in a ski resort in Montana. It's actually fun creating a town and if Touch the Sky Montana reminds you a little of Big Sky, its' because my parents had a condo on the mountain.</span><br />
<span xmlns="">I do tend to write too much business in my manuscripts. It is what is familiar. I was a VP of Finance for a pharmaceutical company and also a CFO of medical group. In the current revisions I'm pulling back on tons of the business bits I had included. </span><br />
<span xmlns=""><br /></span>
<span xmlns=""><em>WHY DO I WRITE WHAT I WRITE? </em></span><br />
<span xmlns=""><em><br /></em></span>
<span xmlns="">I didn't know the first hot mess novel that I wrote was a romance. It now lies gathering dust bunnies under the bed (or sitting on diskettes if you remember those). But once I joined my local RWA chapter, I figured out I was writing romance. (Even when I joined, I thought I was joining a Fiction Writers group. I was clueless!) I don't think I'd ever read a true romance, but the books I loved usually included a relationship with a happily ever after. Now I devour romance books, because I finally embraced reading my genre. Love it! What's more powerful than love overcoming all odds and healing the emotionally wounded?</span><br />
<span xmlns=""><br /></span>
<span xmlns=""><em>HOW DOES YOUR WRITING PROCESS WORK?</em></span><br />
<span xmlns=""><em><br /></em></span>
<span xmlns="">I usually have an idea—a <em>what if</em> idea. <em>What if</em> four sisters were struggling to turn their family mansion in Savannah into a B&B? (My sisters and I were visiting Savannah on a sister weekend.) <em>What if</em> a woman was helping a sister by shuttling poets to a conference and was kidnapped. (I was doing just that when I came up with the premise for POETIC JUSTICE) <em>What if</em> three men find out they are <em>almost</em> triplets, but they were born of three different mothers? (THE PERFECT CHILDREN was inspired by a BBC radio story on genetic modification when I was driving home from dropping my daughter off at college.)</span><br />
<span xmlns=""><br /></span>
<span xmlns="">I used to be a dedicated pantster. But as I learned more craft, I began to document more of the plots before I began the first draft. Initially, I used a Big Beautiful Worksheet from an online class by Laurie Schnebly Campbell called Plotting Via Motivation. For the last several books I've revised and drafted, I've begun using Blake Snyder's Beats. I may not be 100% true to every beat, but my books now have more form in the first draft. </span><br />
<span xmlns=""><br /></span>
<span xmlns="">When I begin a book. I complete a GMC for each character. I also create a background document that contains their physical attributes. I give them a birthday and use Linda Goodman's Sun Signs to get character traits that fit with their GMC. In my background document I keep character names, locations, key information, hyperlinks on research I've done, and any other information that I want to be able to access without searching my manuscript. I keep both documents open when I am drafting or revising. </span><br />
<span xmlns="">I also log in and out of a spreadsheet as I work. And because it's data, I might even make a graph or two. Here's one I made while working on revisions. I may not be a financial executive anymore, but I still love numbers and charts.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpsbN-uBxsqyOiMgxsVew0es-C1dNkw6RYSF2LJnPiGm33YOAczc8sb0gcmwgJgzSONKf2REYZYOlbsWWanwcV4_aLVpIG0w6cFEpDZFEe3jwW6z8B47kyn0BP0Jv82TJvcG6ltNbP4w/s1600/Chart+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpsbN-uBxsqyOiMgxsVew0es-C1dNkw6RYSF2LJnPiGm33YOAczc8sb0gcmwgJgzSONKf2REYZYOlbsWWanwcV4_aLVpIG0w6cFEpDZFEe3jwW6z8B47kyn0BP0Jv82TJvcG6ltNbP4w/s1600/Chart+3.png" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
<span xmlns=""><br /></span>
<span xmlns=""><br /> </span><br />
<span xmlns="">I also set goals, another residual activity from my business background. I love to check off completed activities on my To Do lists. </span><br />
<span xmlns=""><br /></span>
<span xmlns="">There are a number of groups that keep me going. I've been lucky enough to final in the Golden Heart® five times. I'm a proud member of the Unsinkables, The Startcatchers, The Lucky 13s and this year's class—The Dreamweavers. The women in these groups are inspiring, resilient, fabulous cheerleaders and wonderful consolers. I'm also very active in <a href="http://www.midwestfiction.com/home.html">Midwest Fiction Writers</a> and somewhat active in WIsRWA . But I learned how to write in my fabulous critique group which currently consists of <a href="http://www.annhinnenkamp.com/">Ann Hinnenkamp</a>, <a href="http://www.kathrynkohorst.com/">Kathryn Kohorst</a>, Leanne Farrell and Neroli Lacey.</span><br />
<span xmlns=""><br /></span>
<span xmlns=""><em>WHO'S UP NEXT WEEK ON THE MY WRITING PROCESS BLOG TOUR?</em></span><br />
<span xmlns=""><em><br /></em></span>
<span xmlns="">I'm tagging the fabulous <a href="http://kayhudson.com/">Kay Hudson</a> a three time Golden Heart® Finalist. We've been Starcatchers and Lucky 13s together. I'm also tagging <a href="http://www.ellenlindseth.com/">Ellen Lindseth</a>. Ellen's a chaptermate at MFW and a 2014 Golden Heart® finalist with her WWII historical novel. So happy to be on this wicked fun ride with her this year. </span><br />
<span xmlns="">Be sure to visit them next week on June 9<sup>th</sup>.</span><br />
<span xmlns=""><br /></span>
<span xmlns="">Thanks again, Leslie, for tagging me! </span><br />
<span xmlns=""><br /> </span><br />
<br />Nan Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16540907199613341822noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083582247706571360.post-32730503143934575992014-01-09T16:09:00.000-06:002014-01-09T16:10:39.100-06:00Exercising Your Writing Muscles<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVvrkByofsuPPh0PyvJD1RWTTg3l-ziVSWF5Tcqkkk6q_pXjMM__46fn1ZDH_sk6p62bUqDj7Ay_CcTI15ZqIWZzeegZAR0foZ2eLyt3U4KJEAsl0ON4a799E2GDJJZ2YaQThqc68zjQ/s1600/Woman+exercising.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVvrkByofsuPPh0PyvJD1RWTTg3l-ziVSWF5Tcqkkk6q_pXjMM__46fn1ZDH_sk6p62bUqDj7Ay_CcTI15ZqIWZzeegZAR0foZ2eLyt3U4KJEAsl0ON4a799E2GDJJZ2YaQThqc68zjQ/s1600/Woman+exercising.png" height="200" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">During
the 2013 NaNoWriMo, I realized I’ve increased my drafting productivity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And this productivity has increased exponentially.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Before
this November NaNoWriMo, it had been a long time since I’d actually drafted a
manuscript.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Since I keep a log, I can
tell you, it had been 5 months.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">That
doesn’t mean I stopped writing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve
revised three different manuscripts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(One three times.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure I rewrote
and added complete new scenes in those books, but I think revising uses a
different part of my brain than drafting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When I’m drafting, even when I’m not writing, I’m thinking about my
characters, about the next scene, or the next chapter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or I’m ripping out my hair, wondering where
the book should go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wanting to wail when
the GMC and other plot tools I’ve created fail to help me out of the corner I
just painted my characters into.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">But
as with any other activity, my writing improves the more I force myself to stay
in my chair with my hands on the keyboard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This
makes sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I took piano lessons,
I had to practice at least 30 minutes a day, the same with guitar and voice
lessons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dance required hours of repetition
to perfect a movement, weeks of practice to perfect a dance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Golf required even more practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hit a minimum of 200 balls a day, spent an
hour around the practice green and usually played 27 holes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Writing
isn’t any different than sports.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
requires practice to improve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I
first participated in <a href="http://www.book-in-a-week.com/about/"><span style="color: #0563c1;">Book-in-a-Week</span></a>,
I was amazed at other writers’ productivity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Here’s
a comparison of April/May 2008 BIW with my daily November 2013 NaNoWriMo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin: auto auto auto 148.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 184px;">
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<tr style="height: 12.55pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td colspan="2" nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1pt solid windowtext; height: 12.55pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 110.5pt;" valign="bottom" width="184"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Words per Hour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; height: 12.55pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.35pt;" valign="bottom" width="97"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Apr/May '08<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 12.55pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.15pt;" width="87"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nov '13<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; height: 12.55pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.35pt;" valign="bottom" width="97"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>706.1 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 12.55pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.15pt;" width="87"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>921.3 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
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<tr style="height: 12.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; height: 12.55pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.35pt;" valign="bottom" width="97"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>476.5 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 12.55pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.15pt;" width="87"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>892.2 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; height: 12.55pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.35pt;" valign="bottom" width="97"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>377.2 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 12.55pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.15pt;" width="87"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1,117.8 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; height: 12.55pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.35pt;" valign="bottom" width="97"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>404.3 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 12.55pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.15pt;" width="87"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1,108.9 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; height: 12.55pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.35pt;" valign="bottom" width="97"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>544.3 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 12.55pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.15pt;" width="87"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1,217.5 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; height: 12.55pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.35pt;" valign="bottom" width="97"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>387.9 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 12.55pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.15pt;" width="87"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1,085.8 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; height: 12.55pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.35pt;" valign="bottom" width="97"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>571.0 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 12.55pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.15pt;" width="87"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1,370.1 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; height: 12.55pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.35pt;" valign="bottom" width="97"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>648.3 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 12.55pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.15pt;" width="87"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1,732.3 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; height: 12.55pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.35pt;" valign="bottom" width="97"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>722.0 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 12.55pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.15pt;" width="87"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1,111.1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 11;">
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; height: 12.55pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.35pt;" valign="bottom" width="97"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>790.6 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 12.55pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.15pt;" width="87"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1,391.3 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 12; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; height: 12.55pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.35pt;" valign="bottom" width="97"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 12.55pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.15pt;" width="87"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I
write more than twice as fast as I did in 2008.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(You can see that it takes a while to get back into the groove even now.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">There
are number of reasons for this productivity improvement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve turned off my internal editor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I plot more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I set goals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Really important to
me.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I think because I am flexing my
writing muscles, I am getting better, faster, stronger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(For some reason the Million Dollar Man theme
is running through my head.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I
know that a lot of the magic happens when I revise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s when I layer in more emotion and add
beats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But to help me really understand
the story and my characters’ motivation, I need to get a first draft down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the faster I can do that, the faster I can
start revising.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So
my advice?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get out and flex those
muscles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Establish good writing
habits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turn off that internal
editor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And don’t use excuses to push
away from the keyboard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Nan Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16540907199613341822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083582247706571360.post-14078658592841299752013-09-08T15:16:00.001-05:002013-09-08T15:16:27.279-05:00Taking Time to Breathe<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I <em>love</em> To Do lists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They keep me grounded and make sure I get things accomplished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(And hopefully help me to remember important things.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But sticking to my lists sometimes means I miss what's going on around me. Sometimes I forget to take a breath and enjoy the world.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Back in July we were up at the cabin celebrating 4th of July.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For some reason I was the last at the lake,
spending one more night before heading back home after the holiday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The beach was picked up, chairs
secured in the boathouse along with the beach toys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The cabin was clean and I was waiting for the sheets to dry. </span>I’d almost put away my kayak the evening
before, but decided I would paddle in the morning for exercise instead
of taking a walk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7sgwh7IObuy4XpyLxBpVpJkanaEwFueo75MIopITHmE0ljmGzPVdNGgFhbdPSpQHWIMCPhQ6OEssbWJvAIGZdLS-z1QpEk1FOw1xv4t1YPBSHe7cP2sujyy3_QpfcbvwPotlinLRph0/s1600/Easter+2013+to+July+4th+weekend+2013+173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7sgwh7IObuy4XpyLxBpVpJkanaEwFueo75MIopITHmE0ljmGzPVdNGgFhbdPSpQHWIMCPhQ6OEssbWJvAIGZdLS-z1QpEk1FOw1xv4t1YPBSHe7cP2sujyy3_QpfcbvwPotlinLRph0/s200/Easter+2013+to+July+4th+weekend+2013+173.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m so glad I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When I woke that morning, the fog was curling off the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t even see the other side of the
lake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The fog muffled any sound and the
air was rich and moist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I grabbed my camera and slung it around my neck hoping to see one of the
pair of loons that come back each summer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLz8P726euhgp07GnJJSAyzxkmxvTCW_1y31lPm4jtaQQ3JQYe3tsSZIQxHaGYOVlxLNb3uYKI3B2WKem5Dw8FdY8Rf5_Wk-AFTT6YtR9QTs4rOf3SCO6i7tEjDe3kYb2tPhAqeu239Q/s1600/Easter+2013+to+July+4th+weekend+2013+178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLz8P726euhgp07GnJJSAyzxkmxvTCW_1y31lPm4jtaQQ3JQYe3tsSZIQxHaGYOVlxLNb3uYKI3B2WKem5Dw8FdY8Rf5_Wk-AFTT6YtR9QTs4rOf3SCO6i7tEjDe3kYb2tPhAqeu239Q/s200/Easter+2013+to+July+4th+weekend+2013+178.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I paddled over to the bay hoping the water lilies had
opened, but as you can see, they were tightly closed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, I found some wild irises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_0XLu07fAYeiMO2eJmqgX0SA5BVRDlUKJpLhioePOJoGAcMetF3Ab_ui_NWkbjaLYfubJT4RY9u7BOWENmvExD2rkCyIRP1BFh4K59WXVJ31J0oytWseHccmQ0ukDcmZiAusn0SlJyE/s1600/Easter+2013+to+July+4th+weekend+2013+176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_0XLu07fAYeiMO2eJmqgX0SA5BVRDlUKJpLhioePOJoGAcMetF3Ab_ui_NWkbjaLYfubJT4RY9u7BOWENmvExD2rkCyIRP1BFh4K59WXVJ31J0oytWseHccmQ0ukDcmZiAusn0SlJyE/s200/Easter+2013+to+July+4th+weekend+2013+176.JPG" width="150" /></a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>As a paddled along the shore, I turned my
head and not twenty feet away from me was the gray heron that hunts in the
lake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The buzz of my camera lens opening made him take
flight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh I wish you could have seen
him fly through the fog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily, he
settled on a boat canopy across the lake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This time I opened the camera before I got close and got some lovely
pictures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somehow I think he posed for
this one.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vHWgmDpDX8nX4s-Zf9TKkbRKpICuZQMf8m_39vYK8ed7BkXVC-wryVARFQ0LYaz5mg_1M6dn2ZoTrv0OTNMDukwkUqzOaCt1HslsAp7CD3HPedCETyQCtnxFcCkb1z7YlsBbj1sDqLw/s1600/Easter+2013+to+July+4th+weekend+2013+185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vHWgmDpDX8nX4s-Zf9TKkbRKpICuZQMf8m_39vYK8ed7BkXVC-wryVARFQ0LYaz5mg_1M6dn2ZoTrv0OTNMDukwkUqzOaCt1HslsAp7CD3HPedCETyQCtnxFcCkb1z7YlsBbj1sDqLw/s400/Easter+2013+to+July+4th+weekend+2013+185.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I'm so glad I took the time to breath that quiet still July
morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>Nan Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16540907199613341822noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083582247706571360.post-89003627730236273582013-08-07T19:29:00.001-05:002013-08-07T19:29:48.178-05:00Elevator Pitch Information PostedFor those of you who were at the Road to Publication Conference and asked me to post the workshop materials, they are now up at <a href="http://www.nandixon.com/">www.nandixon.com</a>. Enjoy!Nan Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16540907199613341822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083582247706571360.post-79434911768051176612013-08-01T10:25:00.000-05:002013-08-01T10:25:59.059-05:00Elevator Pitches Workshop at Road to Publication ConferenceI'll be presenting a workshop on Elevator Pitches at the Romancing the Lakes <a href="http://rtlconference.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Road to Publication Conference</a>. It will be Saturday August 3rd in Prior Lake, Minnesota. I'm looking forward to it! There are still registration slots open.<br />
<br />
I've done this workshop a couple of times, the last time at the Golden Network conference in Anaheim. Always fun! <br />
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Nan Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16540907199613341822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083582247706571360.post-57167457215776950212013-06-13T19:20:00.000-05:002013-06-14T09:01:47.331-05:00Belly Dancing<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I took a belly dancing class last week. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was a fund raiser for Out on a Limb Dance Company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m on the board.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that’s not why I took the class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a fun get together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6M40G5IFNgLJ53kWJkmSUtcjVoBgILb1VYKRQ1UFMRAtXvIIEWHiSupQ0jpYxz_jvSexL9l7j7KKLVfzz-itLDHooLssoSRWF_8_CssvSNhx8ULnyFYWuEzYu02d-5JGbSL8Beem0ruE/s1600/Belly+dancer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6M40G5IFNgLJ53kWJkmSUtcjVoBgILb1VYKRQ1UFMRAtXvIIEWHiSupQ0jpYxz_jvSexL9l7j7KKLVfzz-itLDHooLssoSRWF_8_CssvSNhx8ULnyFYWuEzYu02d-5JGbSL8Beem0ruE/s200/Belly+dancer.jpg" width="141" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Picture a dozen women wearing sweatpants or yoga
clothes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two were in loose dresses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Maybe not the best clothes for doing
Downward-facing Dog.) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ranged from
mid-twenties to mid-sixties and were all body types.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had coin-encrusted scarves wrapped around
our hips, attempting to move them in figure eights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The three young women in their twenties who
dance with the company made it look easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But some of the class members really picked up the hip action.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Although I had taken belly dancing decades ago, that was
when I was a fit college student.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
still remembered some of the moves, but let me tell you, the body doesn’t
always do what you want it to do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The worst for me was snake arms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know if I was using my biceps,
deltoids or triceps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But whatever the
name of the muscle group on the top of my upper arm, by the end of the class it
ached.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And here I thought all that
gardening and yoga planks would keep me in shape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That apparently works the forearms and not
the upper arm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We shimmied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first
we did slow hip pops, one with each beat of the music. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think hip twitches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Feet close together, knees bent, a controlled
shaking of the booty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then the pace
picked up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The jingle of the coins on
the scarves added texture to the eastern music playing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally the teacher had us shimmying as fast
as we could shake it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The instructor
insisted we shake everything that could jiggle, because we were glorious
women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shake the belly, the butt and
those thighs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now the coins were a
steady ching-ching-ching filling the studio with bright sounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Almost covering our groans.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We did a shimmy circle, walking and shimmying at the same
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks goodness we weren’t also
trying to chew gum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our circle wasn’t
round and our shimmies were offbeat, but our laughter was musical.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since the class took place in a yoga studio (Tula Yoga and
Wellness in Saint Paul) we cooled down with yoga breathing, shoulder stands and
stretches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After class, the woman who had donated the event hosted a
wine and food hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The food and wine
were wonderful, but made even better by the graciousness of our hostess, Ann
Blackburn and a community of women who celebrated being <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">women</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Writing is such a solitary endeavor; I sometimes forget to
get out of my office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Writing
conferences provide that for me, but to be a well-rounded writer, I need to
stay open to all sorts of stimuli.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even
though my shoulders and lower back were aching the morning after, I’m so glad I
went!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And some heroine just may take a
belly dancing class in my next book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>Nan Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16540907199613341822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083582247706571360.post-76542517953710702052013-05-19T10:14:00.000-05:002013-05-19T10:14:21.158-05:00Making Conferences Work for You<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I love conference season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a chance to escape my writing cave, meet
other writers, learn my craft, pitch my books and just have fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But more important, as an unpublished writer,
a conference is a professional opportunity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Here are my suggestions to make your next
conference—work for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lot of these
suggestions are geared for RWA, but can apply to the regional conferences.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Set
conference goals:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Are
you trying to learn about a specific part of the craft of writing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Conflict has always been my nemesis; so I try
and attend as many workshops on conflict as available.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you have a specific publisher you want to
write for?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Attend the spotlights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They give advice on what they’re looking for
in submissions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check out workshops that
give you critique opportunities like the opening pages or query letter reviews.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Meet
new people:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Don’t
forget your business cards.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>I’ve made so many wonderful friends at
conferences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is my third time to
the Golden Heart dance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year I’ll meet
a new set of Golden Heart sisters and see my Unsinkable and Starcatcher friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Follow your new friends on Facebook or Twitter
and support their successes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Prepare
your Pitch:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you’ve completed and polished your manuscript, prepare an elevator
pitch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just because you have an
appointment with an agent or an editor doesn’t mean that will be your only
contact with someone who is in the position to request your manuscript.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An elevator pitch is your story setup in one
of two sentences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be able to deliver
your pitch in a breath or two – no notes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If that’s a problem, print it on your business card.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Pick
your targets:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Research
the editors and agents attending the conference and determine if your
manuscript meets their submission requirements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Don’t forget, you can query <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">before</i>
the conference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your objective is to be
published.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That means finding the right
fit for your manuscript and making sure you contact all possible outlets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look at their pictures and be able to
recognize the agent or editor in a crowd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Remember, this is a symbiotic relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are there to find new authors; you are
there to get an agent or publisher.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Make
contact:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If
your previous queries have resulted in a request, notify the agent or editor
that you will be at the conference and suggest a meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They may not have the time, but your email
might net you a quick meeting or coffee, or even wonderful advice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Put
yourself out there:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m
an extrovert and even I have trouble pitching my work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But last year at RWA I came home with eight
requests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pitched in the bar, at a
party, in a publishing house spotlight and of course the normal
appointments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t forget, you can camp
in the appointment room and pick up extra appointments with your desired editor
or agent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are there to get your work
requested.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Appointments:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Make sure you’re
prepared and have practiced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I plan for
a three-minute pitch in a ten-minute appointment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the elevator pitch with my hero and
heroine’s GMC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then they either have
time for questions, or if they have requested your manuscript, you can ask
questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the agent or editor
doesn’t like the first manuscript and if you have others, pitch them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At one conference, I gave an agent an option
of two different genre manuscripts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wanted
me to pitch both.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did—in six minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To my delight, she requested both.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Be
Professional:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Conferences
are fun, but you’re working.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lot
happens in the bar, but don’t get too loud, too drunk, or too … anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And this means looking professional.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Torn jeans and a dirty sweatshirt may not be the
image you want to portray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure I write
in my bathrobe, but that’s not my public persona.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Carry yourself with confidence and people
will respect you more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And maybe they’ll
request a manuscript.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Because that’s what it’s about, someone requesting
your work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your perfect story will never
sell, if it languishes in the bowels of your computer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Or under the bed!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There’s lots of competition for few publishing
slots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do everything you can to make
sure that one of those slots is yours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Now it’s your turn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What’s additional advice do you have?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Previously presented at the Ruby Slippered-Sisterhood Blog and MFW eMuse</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>Nan Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16540907199613341822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083582247706571360.post-35830153159179714782013-04-03T12:23:00.000-05:002013-04-04T12:53:48.682-05:00I slept at Nora Roberts’ House!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjckDxF7N66ClW1NeUPLuvxXdEIzkpvejOe0agUNqyrh8dwzkqo3f3oCnmhY4eb2UqftrsSW9SNHEIzVKC3VnSRU693hhyWUC9V0F7O_wnDpQsYJ4MtWg6rp8qF_zPAHUYbbQNUXTfcKQI/s1600/Christmas+2012+thru+March+2013+154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjckDxF7N66ClW1NeUPLuvxXdEIzkpvejOe0agUNqyrh8dwzkqo3f3oCnmhY4eb2UqftrsSW9SNHEIzVKC3VnSRU693hhyWUC9V0F7O_wnDpQsYJ4MtWg6rp8qF_zPAHUYbbQNUXTfcKQI/s200/Christmas+2012+thru+March+2013+154.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Okay, not really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I slept at Inn BoonsBoro owned by Nora Roberts and her husband Bruce
Wilder.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What a thrill. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walking into the Inn was like walking into a
best friend’s house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew every room
and furnishing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew about Luther’s
railings and the names of the all the guest rooms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I couldn’t wait to try out the bathrooms
and heated towel racks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew about
everything, even though I’ve never been to Boonsboro, Maryland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">How?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because
I’ve spent hours with the Montgomery boys and their brides as they created an
inn out of the oldest building in town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I read it in Nora’s books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5r8LvrQPmHm9AlxbHMd_Q3WB66awxmMGtyqBu6N5W3ZThsM74-AtuNWV5uEak03zQ9kAbSYknVIKzDVhQoSbjAJHgFjfq0RK32Iup86kgJskiqa5rjniV8s_rltduPPR35Nbu3j1Ronk/s1600/Christmas+2012+thru+March+2013+159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5r8LvrQPmHm9AlxbHMd_Q3WB66awxmMGtyqBu6N5W3ZThsM74-AtuNWV5uEak03zQ9kAbSYknVIKzDVhQoSbjAJHgFjfq0RK32Iup86kgJskiqa5rjniV8s_rltduPPR35Nbu3j1Ronk/s200/Christmas+2012+thru+March+2013+159.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Writing a book is about creating a world that
readers want to visit and then come back to again and again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s what Nora has done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her trilogy, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Inn BoonsBoro,</i> chronicles the renovation of the actual Inn by the fictional
Montgomery men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stepped off the pages
and into the Inn and knew the features of each room as Ellen, the live-in
innkeeper showed my husband and me around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The entry has a beautiful tile rug. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94S1k6y8YxrmuzQ8gzQSqWtY3iHgRYdwTpfMZqJtOHHvGAR2gcSjDwnWN0Lcwp0lJeZtnDEOmWZozE94vmKGiMXDdHNQaAtZETiMNT6o8yXJt2WEgoP573tcYbY8fXSkLnfR_IY-tXto/s1600/Christmas+2012+thru+March+2013+156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94S1k6y8YxrmuzQ8gzQSqWtY3iHgRYdwTpfMZqJtOHHvGAR2gcSjDwnWN0Lcwp0lJeZtnDEOmWZozE94vmKGiMXDdHNQaAtZETiMNT6o8yXJt2WEgoP573tcYbY8fXSkLnfR_IY-tXto/s200/Christmas+2012+thru+March+2013+156.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Our room, Titania and Oberon, had a fabulous draped
bed with cashmere throw and a huge copper tub along with a magic toilet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Very strange to have a heated seat along
with a dryer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, the bidet
parts weren’t working.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our porch
overlooked Main Street, although I was disappointed that Liza, the ghost,
didn’t show up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The books and video in
out fairy bower of a room were—you guessed it—Midsummer’s Night’s Dream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8ZNHnQvjZ5E8IVsAtdmq5Qep847e4nF9kv0hXEriHpKpCNkhrIbxnr31gtMEk27XtVyfztCEdPCG4oB_PZl1rYYn6OI1L9Ww_ISDaJGIjNIvDTv9Ursc1qLniy8wH4oTdPDe5DFCR7s/s1600/Christmas+2012+thru+March+2013+155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8ZNHnQvjZ5E8IVsAtdmq5Qep847e4nF9kv0hXEriHpKpCNkhrIbxnr31gtMEk27XtVyfztCEdPCG4oB_PZl1rYYn6OI1L9Ww_ISDaJGIjNIvDTv9Ursc1qLniy8wH4oTdPDe5DFCR7s/s200/Christmas+2012+thru+March+2013+155.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Ever since I heard that the books were about an
actual Inn, I wanted to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
marketing concept and reach intrigued me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So I bid on a one night’s stay in the 2012 Brenda Novak Auction for
Diabetes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And the marketing isn’t limited to tying her books
in with the Inn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each room has a signature
scent for infusers, soaps, and bath salts created by a local artisan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(T&O’s was pixie dust.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was able to buy any of the Inn’s amenities and
a mug over at Gifts Inn BoonsBoro.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The gift shop is across the street from the inn and
next to Turn the Page bookstore and Café owned by Bruce Wilder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bookstore was a busy place, but my
favorite room, was the room filled—with Nora’s books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There are two restaurants across from the Inn, both
owned by Nora’s sons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vesta, which
appears in her books and is run by the heroine from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Last Boyfriend</i> and Dan’s, which is MacT’s Restaurant and Tap in
that same book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don and I enjoyed dinner
at Dan’s on our first night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">My husband had his hair cut by Dick who appears in
all three books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dick insisted we check
out Crawford’s (also mentioned), where the sign indicated Restaurant, Guns and
Ammo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(You really could get all three in
the store.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The artwork throughout the Inn is by local artists
and available for purchase. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wine I
drank during the social hour in the Lounge was local and carried an Inn BoonsBoro
label.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tea was designated by each of
the rooms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ended up drinking Eve and
Roarke’s Irish Breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But my
husband’s favorite amenity was the Jameson whiskey available in the Library.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In talking with the wonderful Inn staff, their pride
in this incredible boutique hotel is evident.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not only has Nora rehabilitated a local eyesore, she has brought
business to a small community (3,339), created opportunities for local artisans
and linked everything to three wonderful books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Before, she was my hero because of her outstanding
books and career.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, she’s allowed me
the pleasure of walking through the pages of her stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Thanks Nora! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll be back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Nan Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16540907199613341822noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083582247706571360.post-81730601874396579882013-03-04T20:37:00.000-06:002013-03-04T20:37:01.432-06:00The Importance of Reading
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ZwFjcHQgGzOwvdGgt_1vWjkXj_8LTs6_TBd5qi-U5HviFAwoA_ua8shUaqds1BE25ZZDN1hgBD0K89UT8Dd0-m4opG4cBBaUPzZdx0rMzsSmQ2Mgmdg8UWFQI4KkzNBCy1gC9-XXmtg/s1600/Books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ZwFjcHQgGzOwvdGgt_1vWjkXj_8LTs6_TBd5qi-U5HviFAwoA_ua8shUaqds1BE25ZZDN1hgBD0K89UT8Dd0-m4opG4cBBaUPzZdx0rMzsSmQ2Mgmdg8UWFQI4KkzNBCy1gC9-XXmtg/s200/Books.jpg" width="132" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I love to read. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I read everywhere. If I have a chance to sit
or lie down, it will be with a book or eReader in hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Taking a bath, eating breakfast, or finishing
my word count for the day; all call for the reward of becoming immersed in
someone else’s world.<o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If you read my last column, you’ll know that when I
started writing, I was pretty clueless. (Hoping this has changed.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wrote that first book and didn’t realize
I’d written a love story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But after
joining Midwest Fiction Writers (MFW), I thought I just might be a romance
writer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And at a meeting, I first heard
the refrain—Read Your Genre.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7DM5UKn7CCHVBcYxyzfpAAgRhYhRDFLtmO4_i4Np7CGqWc_MGIpVaXjpkuuJMWMDJkej0rttEZFyNw6v6ogdw4IIl_c-bAa2HB6Jk05269Pcq-f3K-IitXrkEe0bKlwLpAZWNJbL_7A/s1600/woman+reading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7DM5UKn7CCHVBcYxyzfpAAgRhYhRDFLtmO4_i4Np7CGqWc_MGIpVaXjpkuuJMWMDJkej0rttEZFyNw6v6ogdw4IIl_c-bAa2HB6Jk05269Pcq-f3K-IitXrkEe0bKlwLpAZWNJbL_7A/s200/woman+reading.jpg" width="132" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I’d never read a romance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was better than that, more intelligent than
a woman who reads <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">those books.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was a CFO who couldn’t be caught reading a bodice-ripper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But during my next trip to B Dalton, I bought my
favorite sci-fis and thrillers and then snuck down to the Romance section and
tucked some books under my favorite Ben Bova and Michael Crichton.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Thank goodness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t know which book I picked up first, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">To Whitney, My Love</i> or a Nora Roberts, but I fell in love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HQuYMZ_praCb4Z36oYL93JLJmMeR47FxTxIh-c2hyphenhyphenaVUtGeiS2hWwxMyShC24VEGzFQifpG7Wr4i17D1cagqHGQCT89WsgyaxNdqikM3ye8ant7KPQAeKd9dbZtr9ejwU8CawITdTMQ/s1600/Fireworks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HQuYMZ_praCb4Z36oYL93JLJmMeR47FxTxIh-c2hyphenhyphenaVUtGeiS2hWwxMyShC24VEGzFQifpG7Wr4i17D1cagqHGQCT89WsgyaxNdqikM3ye8ant7KPQAeKd9dbZtr9ejwU8CawITdTMQ/s200/Fireworks.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I saw the light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I converted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I bought backlists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(B&N second-hand book stores back then.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Found authors through anthologies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And read and read and read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And assumed that all authors did the
same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To my surprise, I’ve talked to
writers who don’t make the time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Last year, during Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ address
at the Spring Fling conference, she chastised writers to read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To paraphrase:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“How can you expect to be writers, if you
don’t read what’s being purchased by editors?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She clarified that her comment wasn’t insinuating that we should become
mimics, but that we need to understand what was being published.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And further, if we wanted to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">be </i>best-selling authors, we needed to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">read</i> best-selling authors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I should note that Connie Brockway mention at an MFW
meeting that she couldn’t read when she was writing because of the confusion of
voices, but as a mother of 5 kids, I’ve always been able to segment life from
work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In a Mary Buckham Pacing class, her comments on
reading went deeper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Read the genre you
want to be published it, but don’t look to books published more than five years
ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Newer books reflect what the
editors are currently buying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I’ve taken their advice one step further.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I try and read debut novels in my genre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I ask: what caught the editor’s eye?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What distinguished this book from other
manuscripts I’ve read in contests?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
allowed this author to break down the barriers to publication?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So my humble advice?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Don’t feel guilty when you read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m just doing research.</span></div>
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Nan Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16540907199613341822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083582247706571360.post-41466272014243439922013-01-23T14:56:00.000-06:002013-01-25T11:42:46.139-06:00A modern day fairytale -- waiting on a happy ending<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>O</em></span>nce upon a time, there was a clueless writer who loved
telling stories, but didn’t know what she was doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wrote five hot-mess novels before realizing
she needed to learn her craft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She meet
some lovely fairy godmothers in the form of Kathy Eagle and Mary Bracho who guided
her to the path of learning to be a novelist. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7W1PnDjioQNSgMXq-zmtDggxrPb0w8DE76M6U67QLVMFJ-oXIeFVDfi0i-Nu_xCH26wmDFWj1Q4cLibU_2lBNgiTLA-UC_QrmGg5wTAepGB70be2x0se1i0cp-Jehj7r5buTC2iZ-s-8/s1600/pink+fairy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7W1PnDjioQNSgMXq-zmtDggxrPb0w8DE76M6U67QLVMFJ-oXIeFVDfi0i-Nu_xCH26wmDFWj1Q4cLibU_2lBNgiTLA-UC_QrmGg5wTAepGB70be2x0se1i0cp-Jehj7r5buTC2iZ-s-8/s1600/pink+fairy.jpg" width="158" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And because the lovely fairy godmothers recommended
it, the clueless writer joined the land of MFW where wonderful writers visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was intimidated by all the published
writers at the meetings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(What the heck
was a genre?)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But she read and asked
questions and started to understand their discussions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And she took on-line classes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And joy of joys, she joined critique groups
and learned even more about writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaU7_EsHeATExzohjxKMivLZhnrrpd0yZOcqfI6UScfGmFNd_TX1Vgq7FvUDG71CizFJw-nwG07xOAIY_8FKDqdvFOeiYt7-3vBfedNd4yxkQuEzwajH1vmEMIbJWgBS13d6NdDJOK2Jk/s1600/gold+hearts.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaU7_EsHeATExzohjxKMivLZhnrrpd0yZOcqfI6UScfGmFNd_TX1Vgq7FvUDG71CizFJw-nwG07xOAIY_8FKDqdvFOeiYt7-3vBfedNd4yxkQuEzwajH1vmEMIbJWgBS13d6NdDJOK2Jk/s1600/gold+hearts.JPG" width="159" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The clueless writer entered contests sponsored by
the great and powerful RWA chapters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
she began to final. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So she entered more
contests because it made her feel good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally
the writer, no longer as clueless as she had been, entered the big one—the Golden
Heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing happened the first year,
but the second time she entered she got the call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She would be a princess for a week – a Golden
Heart Finalist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And lots of her friends
from the land of MFW were princesses that year, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The writer was still a little shocked because the
book that finaled had only been in one other contest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She furiously revised the book and began
querying agents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And she got
requests!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Yippee.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And rejections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Bummer.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And two of her princess friends from the land of MFW won the Golden
Heart and became queens!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(One in her
category.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joy and bummer.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But no one handed the writer a publishing contract.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So she kept writing and revising and got
lucky and finaled the next year with a different manuscript.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She would be a princess for a week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Joy!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But she had to revise her
manuscript before she sent out her queries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(So much work!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">She got an email from an evil agent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The evil agent requested a two-week exclusive
on her book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the writer was ecstatic
and sent her a full manuscript.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
heard nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So right before the conference, the writer sent out
more queries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And got her first phone
call rejection from a lovely agent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
that didn’t sting quite so much because the lovely agent said she would like to
see more of her work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But then the writer ran into the evil agent during the
conference and they talked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The evil
agent got the writer excited because she seemed to understand where to take the
writer’s career.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The evil agent offered
to represent her, promising to send her a contract after the conference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then the evil agent wished her luck on
winning the Golden Heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Which seemed
odd to the writer, but maybe the wine had made the writer clueless again.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN5JKMTBOhilRAWql7-wVYV1Lj-vhnZxfdj5d-XVu2Rdnurq91L3dKVWEuI1dEUGSslczZNeR-rpwbm5Ms8C0cqgmrRT1oDmQn1dCKltA6AjnEINFq8fmTDTgOjRyIMsMomIhENxmozr0/s1600/ripped+contract.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN5JKMTBOhilRAWql7-wVYV1Lj-vhnZxfdj5d-XVu2Rdnurq91L3dKVWEuI1dEUGSslczZNeR-rpwbm5Ms8C0cqgmrRT1oDmQn1dCKltA6AjnEINFq8fmTDTgOjRyIMsMomIhENxmozr0/s1600/ripped+contract.bmp" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So the writer didn’t pitch her book to the editor
she liked because <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">she was going to be
represented</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She did hurry home and
sent out all the agent requests she had gotten from the conference, because she
still wasn’t officially represented.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">After the conference, the evil agent didn’t send a
contract.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She sent a letter rescinding
the offer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the writer was sad and
embarrassed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And back to feeling
clueless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Then a good fairy agent, who had requested the
writer’s manuscript at the ball (in the bar after the award’s ceremony) called
to reject the writer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">second</b> book she’d rejected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they talked for a long time about what genre
the writer should concentrate on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(And
the writer now knew what that meant.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
good fairy agent didn’t want the writer to stop submitting manuscripts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So the writer sent her a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">third</b> manuscript, which the good fairy agent also rejected with a
kind letter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The writer decided to rewrite another book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It finaled in a couple of contests and an editor
requested a partial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the next
national conference, the writer had almost completed the rewrite, so she
pitched that book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(And actually kind of
stalked the good fairy agent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank
goodness there aren’t stalking rules at the national conference.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although she already had four editor/agent
appointments, the writer worked hard and came home with eight different
requests for three different books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
one of them was from the good fairy agent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Who has always been on her A list.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">One evening, the good fairy agent called to talk
about the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">fourth</b> book that our no-longer-
completely-clueless writer had submitted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And they talked and talked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
good fairy agent wanted to make sure that the writer would be okay if the book
was submitted to e-publishers if the print world didn’t snatch up the book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the good fairy agent waved her magic pen
and offered the not-quite-clueless writer representation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHrH1nCoq9hciVc4eXrGTIoBqMfc4S5D9uYn6mAjpNobkFSxIlADbmjqBdEPR_1wSoeLKh9a5uq2bJN6TB2cWy2WiXDmeb0t8MsxdzFYzW_-NUxLKsQ1v_vPGJTieDW27KBXnRWWiO7j4/s1600/magic+wand.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHrH1nCoq9hciVc4eXrGTIoBqMfc4S5D9uYn6mAjpNobkFSxIlADbmjqBdEPR_1wSoeLKh9a5uq2bJN6TB2cWy2WiXDmeb0t8MsxdzFYzW_-NUxLKsQ1v_vPGJTieDW27KBXnRWWiO7j4/s1600/magic+wand.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The writer, trying not to swoon, said yes, yes, yes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And now the writer is represented by the good fairy
agent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And she is still getting
rejections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But she knows that it took
her <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">four</b> books to convince the good
fairy agent to work with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(And the
not-so-clueless writer was one of only 13 writers the good fairy agent signed
in 2012.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So the writer knows that
rejections can lead to good things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Hopefully
a publishing contract.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The moral of this fairytale:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If at first you get a rejection; submit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again and again and again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Nan is now represented by Laura Bradford. The Bradford Literary Agency.</span></div>
Nan Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16540907199613341822noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083582247706571360.post-41765086880108091642012-08-07T16:37:00.000-05:002012-08-07T16:37:05.586-05:00Self-publishing Mentorship with Courtney Milan<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m thrilled I was the lucky winner on the <a href="http://brendanovakforthecure.org/" target="_blank">Brenda NovakAuction for Diabetes</a> of a four-month mentorship on self-publishing with
<a href="http://www.courtneymilan.com/" target="_blank">Courtney Milan</a>. (This year’s auction raised $320,000 for Diabetes
research.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Courtney and I meet up in
Anaheim at RWA’s national conference to begin the process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A little bit about Courtney.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She was a 2008 Golden Heart finalist in the Historical category and sold
to Harlequin in a two-book deal at auction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She self-published her first novella, UNLOCKED which hit the USA and New
York Times Bestsellers lists in June 2011.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
(I loved it!) </span>Over the last few years, she’s been a self-publishing advocate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has at least a dozen books out, both
through traditional and self-publishing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A talented business woman, she’s currently working with a German
translator on one of her books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
unusual, since foreign rights are typically handled by agent or
publishers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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</o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></span></v:shapetype></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">photo by Jovanka Novakovic | <a href="http://www.bauwerks.com/"><span style="color: #0000aa;">bauwerks.com</span></a></span><span style="color: black;">.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We met in the Marriott restaurant of the Marriott and got to
know each other over tea and breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We both lamented the sad state of tea in the United States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(My mother was British, I believe her father
is British.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since the manuscript I am thinking about self-publishing is
still under review with editors, we’re not starting the clock on the mentorship,
but I did learn a number of gems of successful self-publishing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of this was after the RWA annual meeting
as <a href="http://www.susansey.com/pages.php?ID=9" target="_blank">Susan Sey</a>, Courtney and I chatted about Susan’s self-published book KISS THE
GIRL.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Great book!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reviews <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Objective is to get a significant number of reviews in
Goodreads and Amazon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ten reviews looks
like the reviews were all done by friends and family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So does twenty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fifty is better – one hundred is
awesome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But how do you accomplish
this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the Courtney’s suggestions
is to look at authors similar to your book or writing style.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then send the reviewers an email and ask if
they would be willing to give an <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">honest</b>
review if you sent them a copy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Social Media</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do what you enjoy doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If it’s Twitter or Facebook or blogging, do it, but do it well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you don’t like what you’re doing it will
come across in you presentation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I hope to keep updating this blog as my mentorship
continues!<o:p></o:p></span></div>Nan Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16540907199613341822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083582247706571360.post-4447869714571982722012-06-18T14:10:00.000-05:002012-06-18T14:10:18.577-05:00My Day for Rejections<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></o:p>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This must be my day for rejections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both rejections were nice, personal letters
rejecting my work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Have to remember
they aren’t rejecting me—just my books.)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The first came earlier this morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An agent who’d requested a full of SOUTHERN
COMFORTS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The positives -- <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You
create the setting beautifully and really bring the inn to life.</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Overall, this is a good read, but I'm not
convinced that it will break out of the pack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I'm sorry to keep you waiting only to disappoint you. You have a lot of
talent and have had a good bit of success.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The negatives – sometimes the characters came across as
unsympathetic and the romance floundered.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">TIME ELAPSED:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Initial
query to final rejection – 4 ½ months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Only 3 weeks after she received the full.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And she apologized for the delay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was nice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The second rejection came this afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An editor who had RESTORING MITCH’S HEART.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The positives <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">-- I
like your writing, which is light, charming, capable of conveying warmth. The
characters are appealing, too—especially Tierney and her dad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though this story isn’t working for us,
I definitely think your writing has potential. I wish you all the best with it!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The negatives – Sharing the house may be too much of a
forced conflict.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Public proposal maybe
too cliché.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the slight paranormal
threw the editor off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">TIME ELSPASED: Initial submission to rejection – 12 ½ months,
but she warned me it would be a long time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Back in February, I sent a revised partial because I’d made quite a few
changes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also apologized for the
delay – very nicely.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The editor said she would be willing to look at it again if
I revised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sigh…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am in the process of revising Mitch’s story, but not along
the lines of her suggestion. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s hard
to know when to chuck a project, especially when you’ve spend so much time with
the characters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I look at my log, I think this is my
fourth revision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A couple of revision
passes were because I was actually learning my craft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(The first draft was definitely a
head-hopping nightmare.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I actually have this manuscript out to two other
editors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll see what happens.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Update on querying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This includes my contest requests and conference submissions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Total Submitted Through Queries<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 62pt;" valign="bottom" width="83"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">13<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Total Submitted Through Contests<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 62pt;" valign="bottom" width="83"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<td colspan="4" nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 226.05pt;" valign="bottom" width="301"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Total Submitted through Conferences <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 62pt;" valign="bottom" width="83"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<u><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></div>
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<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 146.95pt;" valign="bottom" width="196"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 5.55pt;" valign="bottom" width="7"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 5.55pt;" valign="bottom" width="7"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 68pt;" valign="bottom" width="91"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 62pt;" valign="bottom" width="83"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">20<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 146.95pt;" valign="bottom" width="196"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 5.55pt;" valign="bottom" width="7"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 5.55pt;" valign="bottom" width="7"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 68pt;" valign="bottom" width="91"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 62pt;" valign="bottom" width="83"></td>
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<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 146.95pt;" valign="bottom" width="196"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rejections<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 5.55pt;" valign="bottom" width="7"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 68pt;" valign="bottom" width="91"></td>
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<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">11<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I should be querying more – but I keep submerging myself in
revisions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When do you give up on a manuscript?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>Nan Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16540907199613341822noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083582247706571360.post-9352520848582459712012-02-03T12:20:00.000-06:002012-02-03T12:20:40.365-06:00The Great Agent Search - 2012<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last week I finished revising my 2011 Golden Heart manuscript.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was after 2 agents suggested revisions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I am on the great agent search.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year I’ve vowed not to give up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s my approach.<o:p></o:p></span> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I printed off RWA’s list of eligible agents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since I love spreadsheets, I am building my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve included the following:<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Agency<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Agent name(s)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Submission requirements<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Email submission address <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">anticipated response time<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">whether they take category romance<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hyperlink to the agency website<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m still surprised to find there are still agencies without a website.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am also working between the agent’s website and </span><a href="http://querytracker.net/index.php"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Query Tracker</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Query Tracker is a free database tracking queries to agents and publishers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only can you review statistics on reported querying results, you can also see who their clients are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Participants can leave comments on querying activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can dig up helpful information out of this database.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All of this takes time – but so did writing the book!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I researched 30 agencies and submitted to 10.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Week One results.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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</div></td> <td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 15pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.75in;" width="72"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></td> <td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 15pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 68pt;" width="91"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></td> <td colspan="2" nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 15pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 96pt;" width="128"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Requests<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 15pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 38pt;" width="51"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></td> </tr>
<tr style="height: 30pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;"> <td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; height: 30pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 48pt;" width="64"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></td> <td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 30pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.75in;" width="72"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Submitted<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 30pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 68pt;" width="91"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Passed based on Query<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 30pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 61pt;" width="81"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Partial<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 30pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 35pt;" width="47"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Full<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 30pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 38pt;" width="51"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Request Action<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"> <td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; height: 15pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 48pt;" width="64"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Week 1<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 15pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.75in;" width="72"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 15pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 68pt;" width="91"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 15pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 61pt;" width="81"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></td> <td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 15pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 35pt;" width="47"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 15pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 38pt;" width="51"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Passed<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Does anyone have another approach?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me know your ideas.<o:p></o:p></span>Nan Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16540907199613341822noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083582247706571360.post-47613173020115388002012-02-01T15:06:00.000-06:002012-02-01T15:06:37.839-06:00Savannah -- Bonaventure CemeteryWhen my husband and I decided to do a driving tour of the eastern half of the US, I took that trip as an opportunity to spend a little more time in Savannah. I have a book series set in Savannah. Even though the internet is a wealth of information, there is nothing like smelling and listening to a city’s rhythm to help authenticate a setting.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3tPTsr0tVXdQL_bHMoaqaIwwuljX77YJQKJI8_XE3MmvBDR6CNVmj1qZs2c-AdrzIiyzGv2lnYdbm4049VmsB9FUA0P4uuADJTxynssnlob5tkYDRm9sVX-yYhykB5jmdHSCDjZTQhw/s1600/Blackberry+Photos+215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3tPTsr0tVXdQL_bHMoaqaIwwuljX77YJQKJI8_XE3MmvBDR6CNVmj1qZs2c-AdrzIiyzGv2lnYdbm4049VmsB9FUA0P4uuADJTxynssnlob5tkYDRm9sVX-yYhykB5jmdHSCDjZTQhw/s320/Blackberry+Photos+215.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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On a cold February day – cold for Savannah – not Minnesota, we spent 3 hours in Bonaventure Cemetery. The 160-acre Cemetery played a major role in John Berendt’s Midnight in the Garden Of Good and Evil. It was here that the narrator sipped martinis. Live oaks, draped with moss, line each road and shade the thousands of gravesites. According to our guide, there are over 40,000 bodies buried in Bonaventure. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbQ_bqcspzLm6ZGty8IO20_vc6feL7IES0-vAYQjqCDQsIOA9CU-qDzggESS0pg1B5fGLvG0hyphenhyphenLsAfJ8TmDSZ8wmPhI_bQ2EC98kl9RsX-RBPUwlqbEOFpcNX-l25OtOu49jBL7k0ZRk/s1600/Blackberry+Photos+217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbQ_bqcspzLm6ZGty8IO20_vc6feL7IES0-vAYQjqCDQsIOA9CU-qDzggESS0pg1B5fGLvG0hyphenhyphenLsAfJ8TmDSZ8wmPhI_bQ2EC98kl9RsX-RBPUwlqbEOFpcNX-l25OtOu49jBL7k0ZRk/s320/Blackberry+Photos+217.jpg" width="320" /></a>I could never imagine spending 3 hours wandering a cemetery but our tour was fascinating. We met Shannon Scott, owner and guide extraordinaire from Sixth Sense Savannah, near the Jewish gate of the cemetery. Shannon has been hanging around cemeteries all his life. One of his first jobs in the Midwest was a caretaker for an old cemetery. His tour talked about first hand ghost encounters, an intimacy with a number of the families and a dramatic flair that kept us wanting more. <br />
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The cemetery is set up in family plots. The plots are typically raised above the non-paved roadways. Some plots are well-maintained, others marked “do not maintain” have fallen into decay. <br />
There are amazing sculptures on the most visited plots. John Walz moved to Savannah and became one of the leading sculptures. Little Gracie Watson is one of his finest pieces. Gracie, much beloved in Savannah, died of pneumonia at the age of six. A collection was taken up to create a monument for her grave and Walz created the sculpture from a photo in 1890. Shannon said that when the moon is full, people swear the statue actually feels warm. The grave is so popular with visitors, tours and ghost hunters; an iron fence has been added to secure the site. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxH6akl_C3QkO5ehyphenhyphenTP_KS-SPa9eo6tSm14gaAqKq3qp16H-nrpBMuzrwOMMpwr-ZSDPlz-3x6dLltcpc4cFuR-fXT7j0LUFXQ-YnnPoTYx6gVFKbd6-r-S-Sr5G5t9LsT-ol8Nl7BnGU/s1600/Blackberry+Photos+226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxH6akl_C3QkO5ehyphenhyphenTP_KS-SPa9eo6tSm14gaAqKq3qp16H-nrpBMuzrwOMMpwr-ZSDPlz-3x6dLltcpc4cFuR-fXT7j0LUFXQ-YnnPoTYx6gVFKbd6-r-S-Sr5G5t9LsT-ol8Nl7BnGU/s320/Blackberry+Photos+226.jpg" width="320" /></a>The Wilmington River adds a pastoral background to a number of the sites. A number of the plots have benches, and it was east to image Savannahians spending an afternoon wandering amongst the incredible monuments or picnicking at their favorite location. Perhaps, family coming to visit loved ones. <br />
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Near the river is the burial site of a young woman who committed suicide. The family buried the young woman in the family plot, but her back is turned away from the family. <br />
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The three hours and the tour were well worth the blisters on my feet. The next time you are Savannah give Sixth Sense a call and enjoy a fact filled entertaining tour of history filled cemetery – Bonaventure – Good Fortune!Nan Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16540907199613341822noreply@blogger.com0